[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] good afternoon everyone
good afternoon everyone
good afternoon everyone I’m Martin Martin Lorenzo and today I’d
I’m Martin Martin Lorenzo and today I’d
I’m Martin Martin Lorenzo and today I’d like to share with you some of the
like to share with you some of the
like to share with you some of the lessons that I’ve learned in my journey
lessons that I’ve learned in my journey
lessons that I’ve learned in my journey from being a next-generation leader
from being a next-generation leader
from being a next-generation leader striving to follow in the footsteps of
striving to follow in the footsteps of
striving to follow in the footsteps of my father to an entrepreneur who likes
my father to an entrepreneur who likes
my father to an entrepreneur who likes to invest in food formation and Finance
to invest in food formation and Finance
to invest in food formation and Finance reflecting on this journey made me think
reflecting on this journey made me think
reflecting on this journey made me think first about leadership how do we find
first about leadership how do we find
first about leadership how do we find and develop it what does it mean today I
and develop it what does it mean today I
and develop it what does it mean today I think I’ll begin by saying what it is
think I’ll begin by saying what it is
think I’ll begin by saying what it is not leadership is not and should not be
not leadership is not and should not be
not leadership is not and should not be equated with wealth we’ve seen leaders
equated with wealth we’ve seen leaders
equated with wealth we’ve seen leaders rise from poverty and hardship using
rise from poverty and hardship using
rise from poverty and hardship using adversity as a positive force to reshape
adversity as a positive force to reshape
adversity as a positive force to reshape their destiny and become influencers
their destiny and become influencers
their destiny and become influencers leadership is not equal to Fame just
leadership is not equal to Fame just
leadership is not equal to Fame just because a person is popular or
because a person is popular or
because a person is popular or well-liked does not necessarily mean he
well-liked does not necessarily mean he
well-liked does not necessarily mean he is a leader and leadership by itself is
is a leader and leadership by itself is
is a leader and leadership by itself is not automatically virtuous history
not automatically virtuous history
not automatically virtuous history offers many examples of tyrannical
offers many examples of tyrannical
offers many examples of tyrannical leaders as well as benevolent ones so
leaders as well as benevolent ones so
leaders as well as benevolent ones so what makes good leaders I believe that
what makes good leaders I believe that
what makes good leaders I believe that some leaders are born while others grow
some leaders are born while others grow
some leaders are born while others grow into the role also some leaders are
into the role also some leaders are
into the role also some leaders are perfect for a specific organization at a
perfect for a specific organization at a
perfect for a specific organization at a specific time but not necessarily for
specific time but not necessarily for
specific time but not necessarily for always a leader can set up the company
always a leader can set up the company
always a leader can set up the company and either manage it or find the best
and either manage it or find the best
and either manage it or find the best people to manage it for
people to manage it for
people to manage it for him and somewhere in that mix is a
him and somewhere in that mix is a
him and somewhere in that mix is a distinct but rather indescribable
distinct but rather indescribable
distinct but rather indescribable quality that I can only sum up as the
quality that I can only sum up as the
quality that I can only sum up as the x-factor it is the winning region in the
x-factor it is the winning region in the
x-factor it is the winning region in the success formula the driving force that
success formula the driving force that
success formula the driving force that enables a leader to evolve with a
enables a leader to evolve with a
enables a leader to evolve with a company as it goes through business
company as it goes through business
company as it goes through business cycles leadership is always dynamic and
cycles leadership is always dynamic and
cycles leadership is always dynamic and always seeks change comfort zones offer
always seeks change comfort zones offer
always seeks change comfort zones offer no comfort really to a leader because he
no comfort really to a leader because he
no comfort really to a leader because he considered he considers it rather his
considered he considers it rather his
considered he considers it rather his daily mission to innovate to find the
daily mission to innovate to find the
daily mission to innovate to find the next big idea or to create a new twist
next big idea or to create a new twist
next big idea or to create a new twist on an old idea whether in the restaurant
on an old idea whether in the restaurant
on an old idea whether in the restaurant business or education or in finance I
business or education or in finance I
business or education or in finance I believe it an effective leader inspires
believe it an effective leader inspires
believe it an effective leader inspires his organization to toward creating
his organization to toward creating
his organization to toward creating value and driving innovation my views of
value and driving innovation my views of
value and driving innovation my views of leadership and success have been shaped
leadership and success have been shaped
leadership and success have been shaped by various experiences which I have
by various experiences which I have
by various experiences which I have compartmentalized into three work wealth
compartmentalized into three work wealth
compartmentalized into three work wealth creation and family life while each one
creation and family life while each one
creation and family life while each one is distinct all these also intertwine in
is distinct all these also intertwine in
is distinct all these also intertwine in certain respects first let’s talk about
certain respects first let’s talk about
certain respects first let’s talk about work my first job
work my first job
work my first job 30 years ago was in a bank and in
30 years ago was in a bank and in
30 years ago was in a bank and in working in a bank I relearned how money
working in a bank I relearned how money
working in a bank I relearned how money flowed but more importantly I learned
flowed but more importantly I learned
flowed but more importantly I learned the best time to go to a bank is when
the best time to go to a bank is when
the best time to go to a bank is when they don’t need you and you don’t need
they don’t need you and you don’t need
they don’t need you and you don’t need them my next job was in purchasing and
them my next job was in purchasing and
them my next job was in purchasing and that’s where I learned how money was
that’s where I learned how money was
that’s where I learned how money was spent but more importantly I learned how
spent but more importantly I learned how
spent but more importantly I learned how people can get corrupted
people can get corrupted
people can get corrupted in purchasing and then I learned and
in purchasing and then I learned and
in purchasing and then I learned and ventured into enterpreneurship where I
ventured into enterpreneurship where I
ventured into enterpreneurship where I learned how money was made at 21 years
learned how money was made at 21 years
learned how money was made at 21 years old which was 30 years ago
old which was 30 years ago
old which was 30 years ago well yeah 31 I made my first million
well yeah 31 I made my first million
well yeah 31 I made my first million pesos so a million pesos today isn’t
pesos so a million pesos today isn’t
pesos so a million pesos today isn’t much right but 30 years ago it was it
much right but 30 years ago it was it
much right but 30 years ago it was it had some value
had some value
had some value I guess that’s old by modern tech
I guess that’s old by modern tech
I guess that’s old by modern tech preneur standards but I would say that
preneur standards but I would say that
preneur standards but I would say that work taught me four things about money
work taught me four things about money
work taught me four things about money please take note the first thing I
please take note the first thing I
please take note the first thing I learned about money is how to make it
learned about money is how to make it
learned about money is how to make it how to earn it honestly the second thing
how to earn it honestly the second thing
how to earn it honestly the second thing I learned is how to spend it wisely the
I learned is how to spend it wisely the
I learned is how to spend it wisely the third thing I learned about money is how
third thing I learned about money is how
third thing I learned about money is how to save it and the fourth fourth thing I
to save it and the fourth fourth thing I
to save it and the fourth fourth thing I learned is how to give it away I also
learned is how to give it away I also
learned is how to give it away I also learn certain lessons that hold true
learn certain lessons that hold true
learn certain lessons that hold true regardless of what industry or sector
regardless of what industry or sector
regardless of what industry or sector our business may be in first always have
our business may be in first always have
our business may be in first always have a strategy and develop the discipline to
a strategy and develop the discipline to
a strategy and develop the discipline to maintain it as well as the ref the
maintain it as well as the ref the
maintain it as well as the ref the flexibility to redirect it when the
flexibility to redirect it when the
flexibility to redirect it when the environment changes one of my favorite
environment changes one of my favorite
environment changes one of my favorite quotations has always been this the only
quotations has always been this the only
quotations has always been this the only permanent thing in the world is change
permanent thing in the world is change
permanent thing in the world is change in the previous generation much value is
in the previous generation much value is
in the previous generation much value is placed on the idea of loyalty consumers
placed on the idea of loyalty consumers
placed on the idea of loyalty consumers were loyal to familiar brands employee
were loyal to familiar brands employee
were loyal to familiar brands employee stayed for decades in the same company
stayed for decades in the same company
stayed for decades in the same company today those trends
today those trends
today those trends are gone change is the new normal
are gone change is the new normal
are gone change is the new normal consumers want to be constantly
consumers want to be constantly
consumers want to be constantly surprised
surprised
surprised so our offerings have to be more
so our offerings have to be more
so our offerings have to be more creative and unique we succeed when we
creative and unique we succeed when we
creative and unique we succeed when we anticipate and create something new
anticipate and create something new
anticipate and create something new ahead of the curve also what is new
ahead of the curve also what is new
ahead of the curve also what is new right now will not be new for long we
right now will not be new for long we
right now will not be new for long we have to continuously innovate and create
have to continuously innovate and create
have to continuously innovate and create new value propositions the second lesson
new value propositions the second lesson
new value propositions the second lesson is that every good strategy needs
is that every good strategy needs
is that every good strategy needs resources to put it to work and the
resources to put it to work and the
resources to put it to work and the right professional resources are
right professional resources are
right professional resources are critical when interviewing potential
critical when interviewing potential
critical when interviewing potential recruits we concentrate on character
recruits we concentrate on character
recruits we concentrate on character rather than competence a candidate who
rather than competence a candidate who
rather than competence a candidate who has character provides a solid
has character provides a solid
has character provides a solid foundation we can build on however a
foundation we can build on however a
foundation we can build on however a weak character falters and crumbles no
weak character falters and crumbles no
weak character falters and crumbles no matter how competent the person may be
matter how competent the person may be
matter how competent the person may be we’re always on the lookout for talent
we’re always on the lookout for talent
we’re always on the lookout for talent and leadership for the X Factor because
and leadership for the X Factor because
and leadership for the X Factor because they will be our partners in propelling
they will be our partners in propelling
they will be our partners in propelling the company and our companies or
the company and our companies or
the company and our companies or investing companies toward success the
investing companies toward success the
investing companies toward success the next step after attracting the right
next step after attracting the right
next step after attracting the right people is keeping them for the business
people is keeping them for the business
people is keeping them for the business to grow we need to nurture a team that
to grow we need to nurture a team that
to grow we need to nurture a team that is motivated well compensated and
is motivated well compensated and
is motivated well compensated and constantly challenged to be their best a
constantly challenged to be their best a
constantly challenged to be their best a good leader knows that the best
good leader knows that the best
good leader knows that the best employees are those who rise to
employees are those who rise to
employees are those who rise to challenges and who value career paths
challenges and who value career paths
challenges and who value career paths that clearly point to an inspiring
that clearly point to an inspiring
that clearly point to an inspiring future they want to know how their work
future they want to know how their work
future they want to know how their work contributes
contributes
contributes the overall business goals and how their
the overall business goals and how their
the overall business goals and how their contribution paves a better life for
contribution paves a better life for
contribution paves a better life for themselves ultimately after developing a
themselves ultimately after developing a
themselves ultimately after developing a strategy harnessing the proper resources
strategy harnessing the proper resources
strategy harnessing the proper resources and building up the businesses to the
and building up the businesses to the
and building up the businesses to the next level
next level
next level be prepared to exit I have learned not
be prepared to exit I have learned not
be prepared to exit I have learned not to get attached to companies or
to get attached to companies or
to get attached to companies or investments I see my role from beginning
investments I see my role from beginning
investments I see my role from beginning to end and I know when it’s time to pass
to end and I know when it’s time to pass
to end and I know when it’s time to pass it on to the next leader who can carry
it on to the next leader who can carry
it on to the next leader who can carry it further or add new value that is
it further or add new value that is
it further or add new value that is beyond me this brings me to the next
beyond me this brings me to the next
beyond me this brings me to the next compartment I’m talking about wealth
compartment I’m talking about wealth
compartment I’m talking about wealth creation let’s face it enterpreneurs go
creation let’s face it enterpreneurs go
creation let’s face it enterpreneurs go into business to make money but that’s
into business to make money but that’s
into business to make money but that’s not the point in employing people if we
not the point in employing people if we
not the point in employing people if we run a losing proposition because then
run a losing proposition because then
run a losing proposition because then the business and those jobs are
the business and those jobs are
the business and those jobs are unsustainable but again a true leader is
unsustainable but again a true leader is
unsustainable but again a true leader is never really attracted to money he knows
never really attracted to money he knows
never really attracted to money he knows that it is just really a tool that he
that it is just really a tool that he
that it is just really a tool that he can use toward an end attachment to
can use toward an end attachment to
can use toward an end attachment to money actually makes and works against
money actually makes and works against
money actually makes and works against the leader because then he becomes a
the leader because then he becomes a
the leader because then he becomes a slave rather rather than the master so
slave rather rather than the master so
slave rather rather than the master so how do I know which venture will produce
how do I know which venture will produce
how do I know which venture will produce wealth we often hear the advice do what
wealth we often hear the advice do what
wealth we often hear the advice do what you love the by enterpreneurs do your
you love the by enterpreneurs do your
you love the by enterpreneurs do your make your passion do what you love but
make your passion do what you love but
make your passion do what you love but that’s only half of the equation you can
that’s only half of the equation you can
that’s only half of the equation you can do what you love
do what you love
do what you love but it’s self-serving if it doesn’t
but it’s self-serving if it doesn’t
but it’s self-serving if it doesn’t relate to your customers without them
relate to your customers without them
relate to your customers without them how can you build a successful venture
how can you build a successful venture
how can you build a successful venture the complete mindset is this do what you
the complete mindset is this do what you
the complete mindset is this do what you love that makes other people happy
love that makes other people happy
love that makes other people happy I’ve learned that the true entrepreneur
I’ve learned that the true entrepreneur
I’ve learned that the true entrepreneur makes money by building on a person
makes money by building on a person
makes money by building on a person personal passion that brings happiness
personal passion that brings happiness
personal passion that brings happiness to his customers one of my sons
to his customers one of my sons
to his customers one of my sons I have 12 children one of my son’s one
I have 12 children one of my son’s one
I have 12 children one of my son’s one of my eight sons once asked me papa
of my eight sons once asked me papa
of my eight sons once asked me papa which business will I inherit when I
which business will I inherit when I
which business will I inherit when I grow up my goodness so my answer to him
grow up my goodness so my answer to him
grow up my goodness so my answer to him was you know Blanc I don’t know if if we
was you know Blanc I don’t know if if we
was you know Blanc I don’t know if if we would even own this business yes 20
would even own this business yes 20
would even own this business yes 20 years from now I repeated what my father
years from now I repeated what my father
years from now I repeated what my father had long told me had told me long ago
had long told me had told me long ago
had long told me had told me long ago all I can give you are the two most
all I can give you are the two most
all I can give you are the two most valuable legacies a parent from a parent
valuable legacies a parent from a parent
valuable legacies a parent from a parent to his children a good education and a
to his children a good education and a
to his children a good education and a good name a good education my father
good name a good education my father
good name a good education my father said what’s he give that we will always
said what’s he give that we will always
said what’s he give that we will always carry with us wherever and whatever we
carry with us wherever and whatever we
carry with us wherever and whatever we may choose to do in life no one can take
may choose to do in life no one can take
may choose to do in life no one can take that away from us and a good name which
that away from us and a good name which
that away from us and a good name which takes a lifetime to establish but a
takes a lifetime to establish but a
takes a lifetime to establish but a moment to destroy would be our
moment to destroy would be our
moment to destroy would be our responsibility to defend and to treasure
responsibility to defend and to treasure
responsibility to defend and to treasure it’s a precious thing we can pass on to
it’s a precious thing we can pass on to
it’s a precious thing we can pass on to our next generation from another wise
our next generation from another wise
our next generation from another wise elderly Chinese man I learned this
elderly Chinese man I learned this
elderly Chinese man I learned this definition of true wealth true wealth is
definition of true wealth true wealth is
definition of true wealth true wealth is he told me when he 70 he was way above
he told me when he 70 he was way above
he told me when he 70 he was way above 70 is that you have enough food on the
70 is that you have enough food on the
70 is that you have enough food on the table you have good health to enjoy life
table you have good health to enjoy life
table you have good health to enjoy life and the certainty that your children are
and the certainty that your children are
and the certainty that your children are doing all right
doing all right
doing all right he said that it doesn’t matter how many
he said that it doesn’t matter how many
he said that it doesn’t matter how many courses of meals you
courses of meals you
courses of meals you can afford your stomach and only eat so
can afford your stomach and only eat so
can afford your stomach and only eat so much it doesn’t matter how many houses
much it doesn’t matter how many houses
much it doesn’t matter how many houses houses you can own you can really only
houses you can own you can really only
houses you can own you can really only live in one and ultimately all these
live in one and ultimately all these
live in one and ultimately all these things pale in comparison to the wealth
things pale in comparison to the wealth
things pale in comparison to the wealth of feeling of the feeling of being
of feeling of the feeling of being
of feeling of the feeling of being surrounded by happy children and
surrounded by happy children and
surrounded by happy children and grandchildren this brings us to the
grandchildren this brings us to the
grandchildren this brings us to the third compartment which is my family
third compartment which is my family
third compartment which is my family first the family formed by my by my
first the family formed by my by my
first the family formed by my by my parents and asked eight siblings I have
parents and asked eight siblings I have
parents and asked eight siblings I have no siblings here today but I’m sure they
no siblings here today but I’m sure they
no siblings here today but I’m sure they would agree I was always considered and
would agree I was always considered and
would agree I was always considered and I always considered myself the black
I always considered myself the black
I always considered myself the black sheep of my family the Maverick who
sheep of my family the Maverick who
sheep of my family the Maverick who always took the road less traveled
always took the road less traveled
always took the road less traveled nothing ventured nothing gained
nothing ventured nothing gained
nothing ventured nothing gained I often say and this has enabled me to
I often say and this has enabled me to
I often say and this has enabled me to actually turn opportunities into gains I
actually turn opportunities into gains I
actually turn opportunities into gains I found or I have I have found that it was
found or I have I have found that it was
found or I have I have found that it was when I was pushed to the limits of my
when I was pushed to the limits of my
when I was pushed to the limits of my expectations of expectation that I
expectations of expectation that I
expectations of expectation that I always reap the most rewards and
always reap the most rewards and
always reap the most rewards and experiences my late father recognized
experiences my late father recognized
experiences my late father recognized that in myself and whether to test me or
that in myself and whether to test me or
that in myself and whether to test me or not the first after I had graduated from
not the first after I had graduated from
not the first after I had graduated from business school the first business he
business school the first business he
business school the first business he gave me to run had negative equity of
gave me to run had negative equity of
gave me to run had negative equity of three million pesos and he said bahala
three million pesos and he said bahala
three million pesos and he said bahala Panna Jana negative equity but it was a
Panna Jana negative equity but it was a
Panna Jana negative equity but it was a losing firm which we turned around which
losing firm which we turned around which
losing firm which we turned around which was makan during and then eventually we
was makan during and then eventually we
was makan during and then eventually we use it to buy the mountain and
use it to buy the mountain and
use it to buy the mountain and eventually it made about ten or fifteen
eventually it made about ten or fifteen
eventually it made about ten or fifteen to twenty billion pesos in cash so in
to twenty billion pesos in cash so in
to twenty billion pesos in cash so in 1999 I also made my first venture
1999 I also made my first venture
1999 I also made my first venture outside my family business I acquired
outside my family business I acquired
outside my family business I acquired and developed pancake house same story
and developed pancake house same story
and developed pancake house same story after 15 years I also sold it to the
after 15 years I also sold it to the
after 15 years I also sold it to the Max’s group but the restaurant venture
Max’s group but the restaurant venture
Max’s group but the restaurant venture was significant for me because it
was significant for me because it
was significant for me because it represented my choice of defining my own
represented my choice of defining my own
represented my choice of defining my own path away from my family I made the leap
path away from my family I made the leap
path away from my family I made the leap from a successor to an entrepreneur
since then I returned to my roots in
since then I returned to my roots in agriculture and Finance I’ve also found
agriculture and Finance I’ve also found
agriculture and Finance I’ve also found new inspiration in in buying schools
new inspiration in in buying schools
new inspiration in in buying schools k-12 schools and renewable energy for me
k-12 schools and renewable energy for me
k-12 schools and renewable energy for me this represents important investments in
this represents important investments in
this represents important investments in our future but for the present
our future but for the present
our future but for the present it seems that food will always be a
it seems that food will always be a
it seems that food will always be a special interest to me and I continue to
special interest to me and I continue to
special interest to me and I continue to get excited by game-changing trends and
get excited by game-changing trends and
get excited by game-changing trends and opportunities in the restaurant industry
opportunities in the restaurant industry
opportunities in the restaurant industry being an entrepreneur provides requires
being an entrepreneur provides requires
being an entrepreneur provides requires rather blood sweat and tears but when
rather blood sweat and tears but when
rather blood sweat and tears but when you succeed and start reaping the
you succeed and start reaping the
you succeed and start reaping the subjective dividends that is making
subjective dividends that is making
subjective dividends that is making other people happy it is the most
other people happy it is the most
other people happy it is the most fulfilling thing in the world
fulfilling thing in the world
fulfilling thing in the world as for my own family my 12 children with
as for my own family my 12 children with
as for my own family my 12 children with my wife Leah that’s them I often think
my wife Leah that’s them I often think
my wife Leah that’s them I often think about what the future holds for each one
about what the future holds for each one
about what the future holds for each one of them I know not all of them will be
of them I know not all of them will be
of them I know not all of them will be entrepreneurs they are actually all
entrepreneurs they are actually all
entrepreneurs they are actually all different and they will no doubt take
different and they will no doubt take
different and they will no doubt take different paths like fingers in our
different paths like fingers in our
different paths like fingers in our hands each one is unique but like the
hands each one is unique but like the
hands each one is unique but like the palm that joins the fingers it’s
palm that joins the fingers it’s
palm that joins the fingers it’s reassuring to know what they hold the
reassuring to know what they hold the
reassuring to know what they hold the like the common virtues we have tried
like the common virtues we have tried
like the common virtues we have tried tried to instill in them such as honesty
tried to instill in them such as honesty
tried to instill in them such as honesty hard work
hard work
hard work integrity and a competitive spirit these
integrity and a competitive spirit these
integrity and a competitive spirit these are the constant forces that will keep
are the constant forces that will keep
are the constant forces that will keep them in good stead as they make their
them in good stead as they make their
them in good stead as they make their way through an ever-changing world over
way through an ever-changing world over
way through an ever-changing world over the years in managing these three
the years in managing these three
the years in managing these three compartments work wealth creation and
compartments work wealth creation and
compartments work wealth creation and family life I have made my choices and
family life I have made my choices and
family life I have made my choices and learned my lessons some more painful and
learned my lessons some more painful and
learned my lessons some more painful and more costly than others I have also seen
more costly than others I have also seen
more costly than others I have also seen the common factors which are always have
the common factors which are always have
the common factors which are always have a plan from entry to exit take
a plan from entry to exit take
a plan from entry to exit take calculated risks calculate the risks
calculated risks calculate the risks
calculated risks calculate the risks don’t just take risks invest in the
don’t just take risks invest in the
don’t just take risks invest in the right resources get the best people
right resources get the best people
right resources get the best people around you create value and always focus
around you create value and always focus
around you create value and always focus on true wealth through wealth I believe
on true wealth through wealth I believe
on true wealth through wealth I believe that if I can successfully weave these
that if I can successfully weave these
that if I can successfully weave these common factors into the lives and
common factors into the lives and
common factors into the lives and choices of my children as well as impart
choices of my children as well as impart
choices of my children as well as impart the same to my employees then I will
the same to my employees then I will
the same to my employees then I will have done my job that’s all thank you
have done my job that’s all thank you
have done my job that’s all thank you very much
”
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