By Lcid Crescent Fernandez
I had the pleasure to be a speaker for the UPV Business Leaders Summit 6.0 last week, where I talked about Prometheus’ journey “To the Infinite Stars.” I talked about our humble beginnings working out of bedrooms and apartment spaces to eventually having a team of 40-strong storytellers. Due to time constraints, I was unable to respond to all the questions that our young business leaders had so I’ll respond to a few of them in this special edition of “Get better”:
With all the technicalities taught in academic books, did you have to follow any of it or
any of the steps you’ve learned throughout your undergraduate years?
You should look at your education not as a set of steps you need to do in order to succeed, but as a set of muscles that you need to exercise and progressively overload. It’s not about memorizing the things taught to you, but understanding the patterns in when and how things are done. The capability to memorize does make it easier, but schools train you to recognize patterns and then to figure out the right response. I will say, however, that metrics for your rate of success will be really helpful in the long run.
I don’t know how to start a business without the support of my family. What should I do?
First understand why your family may not be supporting you. Sometimes, a little understanding goes a long way in keeping your own mind at peace. On the business side, find partners – the right partners. These are people who share your vision, who understand the risks involved, and who complement your particular set of skills well. Anchor yourselves on what the business means to all of you, develop the right values, and keep things professional as you start to build from the ground up.
What is your advice for students who aspire to put up their own marketing agency in the
future?
Don’t. You’ll be in competition with me, and you’ll lose. JK. Invest in Data Analytics and Data Science. Creative storytelling may be the glamorous part of the industry, but the actual money is derived from the data and results you’ll be able to deliver.
What is the most important life lesson you’re still believing in or practicing today?
I don’t know if this is the greatest, but I’m a big believer of Nietzche’s philosophy to “seek power, not happiness.” I will discuss this more fully in a future column, but the power he talks about is more the innate traits we have that we can improve. The more we get better, the more power we acquire and the necessary by-product of accumulating power is joy (see: fulfillment).
Where do you envision Prometheus five years from now?
Internally, we call Prometheus “Progenitor” as in the thing from which others emanate or originate. Prometheus is meant to create other businesses, and opportunities for young people to chase their own dreams. While we have begun that now, perhaps the group of companies it has created will have achieved their own statuses as the best. As an agency, we hope to have expanded beyond borders and have multiple teams working throughout the Philippines. As long as it continues to be a strong vessel for synergistic and profitable pursuits, I will be happy.
It’s all about mindset; How you talk to and view yourself in your journey to be a better you. Every monday, we’re going to talk about getting better.
