ENTREPRENEURSHIP 100 TRAILS OF SUCCESS

Entrepreneurs tell stories of success
Cebu Daily News First Posted 10:41:00 06/15/2009 Filed Under: Entrepreneurship
A local business chamber has launched 100 stories of Cebuano business movers last week with the goal of inspiring more people to get into business even as the remnants of the economic crisis spreads out.

Kate Dychangco-Anzani, chairperson of the entrepreneurship track of this year’s Cebu Business Month, said the 100 Trails of Success project launched last Friday shares the different stories of challenges and hardships faced by Cebu’s very own entrepreneurs.

“If you read through their stories, the common thread that weaves them are the values of patience, perseverance and hardwork but not many people knows about these stories,” said Anzani, co-owner of Anzani restaurant.

The 100 stories of Cebu’s entrepreneurs are featured in the two-week exhibit run in both SM City and Ayala Center—70 stories in SM and another 30 stories in Ayala.

Anzani said it took them three months to complete the project, which involves a tedious selection phase of determining which company makes it to the top 100.

The set of criteria are growth and profitability, sustainability and business size.

“There are companies which started big but we still featured them because we’d like them to share how they take these companies to the next level. There are also companies where we interviewed the sons. How did they supersede the success set by their fathers?” she said.

Anzani said stories like these send messages of hope to people that small businesses can thrive is one is determined and hardworking.

“We need to provide face to these companies. the thrust of the entrepreneurship track of CBM is two-fold—to inspire those not yet in business to start one and to those already in the business to realize that they have mentors, who can help them.”

Stories featured in the 100 Trails of Success include Derek Dytian of Kafe Alde, Creative Cuisine and Chikaan sa Cebu, Steve Benitez of Bo’s Coffee, Lita Urbina of Café Laguna, Bernie Liu of Penshoppe, Oxygen and Memo.

Stories of small entrepreneurs such as Rey Calooy of RNC Marketing were also featured.

Anzani said these stories will be made into a coffee table book.

The entrepreneurship track is part of the celebration of CBM, a monthlong endeavorof the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI). /Reporter Cris Evert B. Lato