By Atty. Antonio P. Pekas
be assured.”
Earlier this week, I was invited to a Christmas party. They would usually try to make me sit with the highest official/s of the multinational conglomerate. Last night was not any different. The handlers wanted me to join the presidents or vice-presidents of the various companies. I said, fine. I guess that was the privilege of being the oldest, the panglakayen or pangama-en.
“But the table for the VIPs was still vacant. So I sat with the other media people and I got into animated conversations with them. Time for dinner and I did not like anymore to move elsewhere as I was already comfortable with my table mates. “It was just before the pandemic that we had a gathering like that with the same corporate executives. They were looking good then. Last night, they were almost unrecognizable to me. One, a fellow lawyer who was husky is now slender. He must have suffered a stroke or other physical malady.
The topmost honcho’s tummy became big and his used to be black and bushy hair became thin salt and pepper.“Overall, they all appeared under stress, not as relaxed as ordinary people. The price of career success. In just a few years, the long hours of work and sleepless nights took a heavy toll on these people.
Well, unless you are a big stockholder or the scion of one, you have to consistently work your butt off, for years to go up the corporate ladder. “At the very least, they must have MBAs from the top schools. Most of all, they must have proved themselves consistently delivering results for decades.
A flash in the pan does not a corporate career make.“Theoretical or academic ability opens doors but it has to be followed by consistent and extended attaining of concrete results. Otherwise, the achievement on paper would be worthless.
What do you need to make it in the corporate world? Competence, connections and a lot of luck.
Competence means good education, more so in a very competitive world. This process has to be continuous as the world is changing every minute. Effort and brains are needed here. As to connections, some people were born with it like those kids of filthy rich and powerful families. Almost all of us are not as lucky but there are other ways of acquiring connections. The best way is going to a good school. Classmates and fraternity brods/sisters there will usually end up becoming people of consequence. If you go to a school known for drunks and addicts, chances are these will be the kinds of connections you will develop. People who will bring you down or bring you some bad luck. You might even end up going to jail.
The most important though is a lot of luck. The universe is run by causes and effects. If you do good deeds, there will always be equally good reactions. Bad actions means bad luck or bad karma. So do some humanitarian service. Help others, particularly the less fortunate.. Donate to worthy causes. Be a Christian, or a Buddhist
, or whatever. Always remember that service to humanity is service to God. It is as simple as that. It does not need any kind of intellectual brilliance. Just sincerity. If it’s too late already for you to be thinking about these, then guide your children properly so they will have them. Their good future would be assured.**
