We’ve had many Pinays who have done their best to stay afloat during the pandemic. We’ve featured teachers who went online and offered tutoring services, a flight attendant who’s now successfully running her own siomai franchise, and several others. Through grit, creativity, and hard work, these women may have found that plans may change in a split-second, but that doesn’t mean that they’ll lose sight of their personal goals.
And while these businesses have thrived during the pandemic, the future remains uncertain: How long will this go on? What will happen when COVID is over, and for how will these entrepreneurs manage yet another shift?
For JG Summit President and Chief Operating Officer Lance Gokongwei, the answer is simple: Keep at it.
“I think that they just have to keep on doing what they’re doing,” he says. “If they’re successful under COVID conditions, I think they’ll even be more successful when the economy opens up because I think people will have more money to spend.”
He also takes note of how quick small businesses have jumped on and adapted to social media selling and e-commerce. “Can you imagine how many people are selling stuff on Viber? I mean if you’re able to survive on that right now, I can imagine after COVID conditions, you would even be more successful. I would plug away and keep on going.”
So if you’re having second thoughts on whether or not you’re doing things right, just think for a moment that you’re actually doing it. You’ve actually set up and grown your own business during such dire times. You’re doing great—take it from one of the most successful Pinoy entrepreneurs himself.
