Why I Chose to Become an Entrepreneur

by Enrisa Marie

For a very long time I've wrestled with career decision goals. My 20's was a very tough time for deciding what to do with my life. My first job was a QA Analyst for a huge company. After that I became a manager, a college instructor, an executive chef, an academic, a part-time mom, a scholar. These were all just part of the search. I'm a licensed dietitian by profession. A master's in business, and a second master's in education however opened more opportunities, so my path practically diversified. Yet everywhere in this searching always comes a dead-end. After a few years, five years at most at each organization, I get tired. I experienced depression, boredom...and even overeating!

After much reflection, I decided to make that jump: from the safety of being an employee, to the unknown risky world of entrepreneurship. And, would you believe, I even consulted palm readers, tarot card readers...and there's always that common 'prophecy' among them. I will not tell you. However, as far as daily work is concerned, I could never imagine myself doing any other job, nor joining other organizations. I think this is what I've always wanted to do.

 

This is my very first photo that I took on my very first smart phone, in my very first office. I almost have this impression of having that 'sunshine' on my face, realizing that I've finally found the job that I wanted to do. Who says it isn't fun?  

There. Listen up. 

Photo credit: www.virgin.com 

Business as Usual

-by Enrisa Marie 

Politics is very hot and vicious these days in the Philippines. National elections is just a few days away on May 9th. Personally, I tend to get distracted - following political news is like reading a novel. There's action, there's drama, suspense...some days I tend to be very emotional at it all.

But it's business as usual. Yesterday, Sunday, I had to stay up late to finish a business plan. Today, which is supposed to be my day off, I had to go to work because production is in full swing.  

Vacation and rest can wait another time.


Today's thought:

 

Thanks to:  http://99covers.com/Henry-Kravis-facebook-covers/27357/0 

Beginnings

One Northeast Enterprises was established in 2015. Classified under the "custom tailoring" category at the Department of Trade and Industry, it designs, manufactures, and distributes textile-related items such as children's clothes, school uniforms, sources and designs t-shirts, and recently, textile-based hair accessories.  

Founded by Enrisa Marie A. Reyes, the Philippines-based correspondent and consultant for the New York-based Culinary Concept, LLC, 1Northeast also makes  makes aprons for culinarians. One Northeast has three full-time employees and four casual part-timers. 

Today's Insight:

“I'm convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance.... Unless you have a lot of passion about this, you're not going to survive. You're going to give it up. So you've got to have an idea, or a problem or a wrong that you want to right that you're passionate about; otherwise, you're not going to have the perseverance to stick it through.”- Steve Jobs 

Vision/ Mission/ Core Values

VISION  

One Northeast envisions itself to be a globally competent organization that designs, manufactures, and distributes innovative textile-based products that add value and meaning to people’s lives all over the world.  

MISSION 

1.      Develop products that are inspired by our vision to enhance people’s lives

2.      Improve people’s way of living through product quality and functionality through our environmentally friendly operations practices

3.      Continue to observe in our manufacturing practices a balanced consumption of power and relevant resources

4.      Promote community by our observance of professional practices in the areas we operate

5.      Support the interest of our business partners and add value to the business network where we are a part of

6.      Support the education and advancement of our employees through practically competitive benefits.  

    

    CORE VALUES 

Competence - Urgency-  Innovation- Sense of Fun- Industriousness- Dedication- Teamwork- Artistry 

The Startup

From an interview with Ben Horowitz, Founder, Andreessen Horowitz (Inc. April 2014)

"A lot of being a successful CEO is not quitting...Winners never quit and quitters never win. But there's something deeper. When you're in it, you are building a tremendous amount of knowledge about the company, about the market, about the customer, and about the product. The longer you have to apply that, the better your chances are. If you can somehow stay in the box, then, amazingly, you might find yourself in a good position."