BDJ Passion Series: Moments of Success!

Everyone of us is dreaming of having our own business. Last September 16, 2018, I was happy to be invited at the 2nd BDJ Passion Series: Moments of Success.They have invited three entrepreneurs from different fields to share their successful stories to inspire everyone to work hard in the pursuit of their dreams in life and bellas of BDJ got the chance to hear the successful inspiring stories!

The first speaker studied BS Health Sciences. He joined SEA Camp and he took a solid waste Solid Management class in Romania. He was also involved in environmental-related activities. It was Mr. Pocholo Miguel-Espina, young CEO and founder of Sip PH.

Did you know that the Philippines is the 3rd largest contributor of plastic waste in our oceans? And did you know that 1 million seabirds, 100,000 sharks, turtles, dolphins and whales die from eating plastics every year?

Mr. Pocholo noticed that one of the biggest problem of the world today is having so much plastic waste and using a single-use plastic straw are adding so much on that waste. That's why he got an idea of establishing a business where we can reduce the usage of plastic straw by selling a steel straw that are reusable for a long period of time. He also selling a bamboo utensils for a living.

At the event, he has an example picture of a plastic bag and a jellyfish. We see the difference but the turtle does not. So when the turtle ate the plastic, the turtle's stomach tells to the brain that he's full. So they'll eventually stop eating and die.

Plastic releases toxins over time and many fish in the oceans ate plastics and we eat the fish so at the end of the day, It all comes back in the food we eat.

That's why it's a great idea to reduce our plastic bag footprint by simply bringing our own reusable bag when doing a grocery, bringing a tupperware if you're going to buy fish and also bringing our own mug when buying coffee outside. And by simply doing that, it makes a big difference!

Check out their website:
www.sip.ph

Follow them on Instagram:
@sipsteelstraws

The second speaker was Ms. Abigail Joyce Victorino Mendoza, founder of Stylegenie PH. She graduated at University of Santo Tomas, degree in Business Administration, major in Marketing Management.

She has so many previous experiences before she became an entrepreneur. After graduated, she worked on advertising agency. She easily gets bored when she felt no challenge of what she's doing that's why she tried being an flight attendant for only 6 months, became a full time modeling here in Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia. She even tried being an extra in Television show and in a movie. She became an International Fashion buyer, and seller at lazada, also went to zalora as a fashion buyer, applied in CashCash Pinoy.
She also worked at PLDT Voyager.
She tried everything because she really want to explore things.

And up to now she's a StartUp Founder, E-Commerce Professor and Ambasadress of Change.

At the event, she share her entrepreneurial story in Turning An Idea Into Reality talk.

She and her bestfriend thinking about creating an app where they can grant somebody's wishes to wear like sending a photo of what exactly you like to wear and they will be the one to saw it and produce it for you but they pause that idea for a while because of some legal restrictions.

Instead of an app, they created a website where you can answer a quick quiz to know your preferences like your size, favorite color, fabric you like and don't like, parts of the body you want to hide and the body parts you want to emphasize, etc. And they will be the one to saw it and produce it for you.

She used to wake up, take a shower, open her closet and scream "I have nothing to wear!" even though she has a lot of clothes to wear. That's how she came up with that idea and realize that maybe many women experience that.

Some people think that styling is only for celebrities but styling can be for everyone! 

They are the first styling and clothing subscriptions box in the Philippines and it's very easy to use.

You can visit their website:
www.stylegenie.ph

Instagram:
@stylegenieph

Last speaker was Ms.Theresa Carbonel-Buenaflor, the beauty and brains behind the homegrown brand Ellana Mineral Cosmetics. She share how she established her brand through hardwork and passion in her talk entitled Turning Your Passion Into A Business.

Back in 2013 survey, 8 out of 10 entrepreneurs that starts business fail within the first 18 months.

So she shared the top 3 useful tips to be passionate about. First, be passionate about your product. Know your product well and know what your coming into. She says that while in a business, she put herself in seven makeup artistry schools here in the Philippines and abroad. She sent herself in countless cosmetic science training to know more about makeup line.

Second, be passionate about your customers. It's very important. As an entrepreneur, its not about you, it's about your customers. So know what do they need and what do they not need. Be passionate about customer experience and being passionate about keeping them for a lifetime.

As an entrepreneur, you have to career the customer service because this is the key thing to deliver outstanding customer service by helping them solve their issues and problems.

How well do you know your customer, their needs, their wants, the experience they have with your product?

Listen to them carefully and help them solved issues.

Third, be passionate about your business. You should be knowledgeable about the details of operations. Accept the fact that when doing a business, you can't do it alone, you have to search for the right people to help you build and grow your business. 

Business is about building people, you're working for other people and other people are working for you. Business is about building everybody else around you to go up and focusing yourself to your strengths is the key to a lasting business. So before you even start your business, know that the odds are against you but remember the 3 things to be passionate about, your product, customers and your business.

Because of hard work, being passionate to all she does and with the support of her team and family, Ellana Mineral Cosmetics is now 11 years in the industry and still counting.

Ellana Mineral Cosmetics is the Philippines' no. 1 mineral cosmetics - formulated to suit. All skin types including dry, oily to combination and even acne prone and sensitive skin. They give us not just makeup but both makeup ans skin care in one. 

Follow them on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/ellanamineralcoametics/

Website:
http://www.ellanacosmetics.com/

Instagram:
@ellanaminerals

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