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Business Mentor: Inspiring thoughts from the Happy Entrepreneur

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Armando Bartolome

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/business/06/08/mentor-1.jpg"/></figure></div>I would like to share with you my talk with a very successful and inspiring entrepreneur. I am happy to have known this gentleman as I also see myself in him.I had the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Ardy Roberto, an entrepreneur and award-winning author of best-selling inspirational books such as Happy Entrepreneur, Real Men are Pogi and the national bestseller Ang Pera na Hindi Bitin.Roberto is also a proud father to 3-month old Elijah from his wife, former beauty queen Miriam Quiambao.I hope that through this you may also feel the need to strengthen your faith and believe that everything is possible when you know what to do, and how to do it at the right time.<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/business/06/08/mentor-2.jpg"/></figure></div>Business Mentor: Who/What influenced you to start your business?Ardy Roberto: I read a lot of books when I was young and the success stories of different entrepreneurs inspired me. I also worked for an entrepreneur, Larry J Cruz, the restaurateur, when I got out of college.And I was exposed to that too. I had college buddies and we&#x27;d talk a lot about business. A dorm mate, Bobby Bolongaita from P&amp;G, invited me to start our own retail business and concert promotion.My dad was a professor at DLSU and then AIM and he did a lot of marketing research work for entrepreneurs like, Tony Tan Caktiong of Joliibee and Cecilio Pedro of Happee as well as the founders of Unilab and more. His stories about them inspired me also.My second boss, Ashok Nath, was the publisher and founder of World Executive&#x27;s Digest and his training me to be intrapreneurial -- running the books department like it was my own business--was also very influential.Finally, my first late wife, Tingting Roberto, was very entrepreneurial also. We were partners when we started Salt &amp; Light Ventures, the award-winning learning events company that brought in speakers like John Maxwell, Al Ries, Jay Levinson, Tom Peters, etc.I&#x27;m blessed because my wife now, Miriam, is not just beauty but brains also. She has a good mind for business as well and runs a real estate company of hers while helping me out with our food businesses and the Learning Hub as well.Business Mentor: What were your greatest failures? How do you handle difficult situations?Ardy Roberto: I&#x27;ve had many failures. But, the first big one--when I lost all my capital and savings--was the hardest. It was an encounter with God for me because it taught me to trust in God instead of myself. In difficult situations, I remember Proverbs 3:5-6, &quot;Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.&quot;Business Mentor: What keeps you going when things get tough?Ardy Roberto: My faith, my wife, my sons. God will also usually send a mentor or a friend my way who will speak life to me and get me going again. Just like Timothy to Eddie in my latest book, The Happy Entrepreneur.Business Mentor: How has being an entrepreneur affected your personal life?Ardy Roberto: It&#x27;s given me not just financial freedom, but time freedom. Being an entrepreneur constantly tests and molds your character.Business Mentor: What are your strengths and weaknesses?Ardy Roberto: Humility is my strength. Pride is my weakness.Business Mentor: What do you think are the three top skills that an entrepreneur should possess?Ardy Roberto: More than skills, it&#x27;s a mindset of true success--the mindset of loving your people, your customers, your business as a God-given vocation; having a mindset of integrity; and having a mindset of faith.Then hone your leadership skills, communication skills, and money management skills.Business Mentor: What lessons have you learned through your entrepreneurial journey?Ardy Roberto: Business is a trust. That I am a steward. God has given me the ability to create wealth, so I must be a good steward because I don&#x27;t own the business. It really belongs to God.Family first before business. Many successful entrepreneurs have told me that they would gladly exchange all the material gains and successes for a happy family life. Don&#x27;t sacrifice family for business success.Success in business x failure in family = emptiness. So, zero pa rin. Failure in family is a multiplier of zero in everything else.Business Mentor: What was your most satisfying moment?Ardy Roberto: Realizing that I have choices. That I have time freedom and freedom to pursue my God-given passions and assignments.Business Mentor: What is your next step?Ardy Roberto: Wait on the Lord.There are two F’s that have become an integral part of Ardy Roberto’s life: Family and Faith. While he admits being very busy with his work, he still spends quality time with his family.I think that he is an effective inspirational speaker and author because of the strong bond that he has with his wife and the Lord that allows him to keep reaching out to a lot of people. --------------------------------------- For more information, you may contact Armando &quot;Butz&quot; Bartolome by email: philfranchiseguru@gmail.com or https://www.facebook.com/philfranguru/ His website is https://www.gmbmsglobal.com

I would like to share with you my talk with a very successful and inspiring entrepreneur. I am happy to have known this gentleman as I also see myself in him.

I would like to share with you my talk with a very successful and inspiring entrepreneur. I am happy to have known this gentleman as I also see myself in him.