31/10/2023
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Sixty-five years ago, my father, Henry Sy, Sr., opened a small shoe store in downtown Manila
It was in October 1958, and at that time he thought, "If I could sell a pair of shoes to every Filipino, I would be a successful man."
But he did so much more than that. With his vision, passion to succeed, and hard work, the company has grown over the years and is now a publicly listed company in retail, property, banking, and portfolio investments.
My siblings and I were growing up when my father started his business. We had front-row seats to his extraordinary way of doing things. He has been our mentor, teaching us about business and life through coaching and through his example. Let me share some of these with you, one value at a time.
My father taught us that it was important to have a great passion to achieve. The adversities of World War II deprived my father of a quality education. However, knowing that education would make him go far, he pursued a college degree but had to stop after two years.
Opportunities were open for him to see the world; hence, he had to make a choice of going back to school or traveling to broaden his knowledge. He chose the latter.
Apart from intelligence and education, it is passion that makes a difference. It increases one's willpower. It is, in fact, the fuel for the will. Passion makes the impossible possible.
Your desires, he believed, determine your destiny. The stronger your willpower to achieve, the greater your potential. If you follow your passion, you become a more dedicated and productive person.
