*Jozzua Notes from a Business and Marketing Strategist/Tactician

Why don?t I just write you a Cheque for US$100,000?

On a visit to Powerbooks in MegaMall, I chanced upon 'The Google Story' - book by David Vise. I?ve always been interested in successful technology companies so I browsed it. I soon found myself engrossed for 3 hours. Luckily, there was a coffee shop just inside the bookstore, so I ordered Caf? Mocha and virtually read the entire hardback.

Essentially, the book talks about the friendship between Page and Brin; how they tried to license early versions of their search technology to different Silicon Valley firms (including Yahoo, AltaVista and AskJeeves); how the pair initially started their company in a Palo Alto office, then eventually moved to a bigger, futuristic campus dubbed the "Googleplex"; how the company found its main revenue source through keyword-targeted Web ads. Many people consider it a Public-Relations book, but heck, it's still a good read!

The Google Story is a long and inspiring tale. I particularly liked the anecdote on how Sergey and Larry received their first major investment. There were able to get in touch with Andy Bechtolsheim, one of the founders of Sun Microsystems. Following a Google presentation, Andy immediately recognized its enormous potential. Being a busy man, he had to leave in a hurry saying, ?I don?t have time to discuss details, why don?t I just write you a Cheque?? He made one out for $ 100,000 to Google Inc.

Unfortunately, there was no company Google Inc., so Larry and Sergey had to start one immediately. This eventually laid the groundwork for Google's later success and wealth. Some might say, that they were just lucky. God must have graced them with His favor. One could also say, that they just did the right things at the right time. It made me mull seriously about it -- what is IT that really makes people successful and wealthy?

Briefly, this book read made me think of other inspirational technology people. I particularly thought of Migs Paras. He?s quite popular among the tech and Philippine Linux circles and is considered on of the Pillars of Philippine Internet. He?s credited to have started a blog on Philippine Technology, at a time when people were looking more and more for tech information. Another person worth noting is Janette Toral ? who has provided a number of research information about eCommerce, the Internet and what the trends are looking like.

Perhaps Google became successful because they were able to provide enormous value to people? At the time, there was really no other competent search engine. I remember my first experience in finding websites at AltaVista. I?d search a key word, then trim the search by adding another keyword based on the previous search results, and narrow it again, and again, until I find the most relevant topic. It was really such a tedious process. (As a side note, I thought I was rather good at it and was even thinking of making a business
out of doing Internet research for people. That idea was trashed when Google came out.)

On the same note, people like Migs Paras and Janette Toral have also gained fame and (maybe?) some fortune by providing information/technology just as the Philippines needed it.

I am reminded by a short and simple lesson from ?One Minute Millionaire? by Mark Victor Hansen and Robert G Allen. According to them, basically to become wealthy, you have to:

• Do what you love doing
• Add enormous Value to it
• Leverage it

If you haven?t read this book, you might want to just browse it at National Bookstore. I liked it. The way the book is written is quite original ? it appears to be two books in one. There is a side that discusses only about how-to-be-wealthy concepts and ideas. On the opposite pages tell a fictional story of how the concepts/ideas are applied. There are a lot of ideas presented (some of them not really practical, in my opinion) but the lesson on ?adding value to what you love doing? particularly stuck to my mind.

Do what you love doing ? It?s so easy to say it. We?d all love to do just that. Practicality, however, sometimes dictates us the other way. I?d love to paint, but how do I make decent money there? I?d love to compose music, but how many musicians have actually become rich?

Add Enormous Value ? I love to paint, so why don?t I make a masterpiece? I love music, so why not make a timeless melody? It?s a puzzle worth solving? how does one give something of value to people?

Leverage it - If one does succeed in creating a masterpiece, then, perhaps there can be money made from it. Songwriters become wealthy from royalties, don?t they?

This concept is simple yet truthful. Sergey and Brin, the two great minds of Google, loved working with technology. They were Philosophers who were not happy with the search technology of their time. Both worked on finding a simple solution and provide a very unique contribution to society. After making a valuable web-based app, they leveraged on the number of people who used their technology. Now, we all see a galaxy of Google applications on the Internet. They?ve leveraged on their brand and now we have Gmail, Google Maps, Blogger, Googlegroups and many others.

This concept is also applied locally. Just look at some of the local Philippine Books out recently. There is one by Dr. Larry Gamboa called ?Think Rich Pinoy? and another book entitled ?Pwede Na? on finance by Efren Cruz. Correct me if I?m wrong, but I believe these are bestsellers.

For a long time, after reading ?Rich Dad, Poor Dad? by Kiyosaki, I was puzzling on how to apply these concepts in the Philippines. I was able to find many answers from Dr. Gamboa and Mr. Cruz. ?Think Rich Pinoy? applies money-earning methods in local real estate. Dr. Gamboa details his experiences with his mentor and how they were able to get passive-income. ?Pwede Na ? Personal Finance? gives simple yet very useful insights on how to manage one?s money. It?s a guide to financial literacy for Filipinos.

Now, I'd like to believe that the two authors are leveraging on their books to earn a bit of income themselves.

Personally, this all makes me dream. Perhaps one day, an investor would also hand me a cheque for US$100,000. Maybe then
I'd be earning 100,000 pesos a month!

*smile* Never stop dreaming..