I've always wondered why the EM course in UA&P is only for men. EM faculty would tell me that it's because men have less entrepreneurial "common" sense than women. Women, they say, are more entrepreneurial. Just take for example female public school teachers who are rumored to be selling tocino, longganisa, and insurance on the side. The wives of OFWs invest their husband's money to put up a small sari-sari store to keep them busy and to give them the impression that they are working and earning.
The examples I gave are all second hand information. After 28 years of living, I finally could say that I have witnessed or am witnessing myself this phenomenon that businesses are not innate in the male species: my brother-in-law. Due to his lack of interest in 8 to 5 jobs (a.k.a. office jobs), he ventured into professionalizing watching movies, reading T3 magazines, and making pa-cute. Afterwards, he finally dived into the world of investment and business. Mind you, he is newly-married to my much loved sister. What does a husband who never had a decent job (while my sister does all the 8 to 5 jobs she could find in New York and here) have financially? His father who is married to an executive working at the heart of the central business district. In short, nothing. That said, he dreams of putting up his dream photocopying and printing business, which according to my father requires around P2M for initial investment.
From a personal point of view, why would he want to put a printing business when apparently there is no need in the area? The offices in Laguna Technopark would surely have their own photocopying machines that they don't need to outsource their printing needs. What the people in our new-born city needs is the tingi: photocopy bio data, birth certificates, etc. Before his "business" would pick up, it would take a lot of money for marketing, and networking. Does he have the drive or diligence to do that? I don't know. So when is he going to get his return on investment? Five years? Two years if he's lucky? The only earnings they have as a couple to spend for their food, laundry, and utilities are from my sister's 8 to 5 job.
Just some common sense: for starting middle-class families, the best is still to have 8 to 5 jobs. When you have enough savings, that's the best time to start a business.
EM is indeed for men only.
No comments:
Post a Comment