Lessons from a CEO:
72 Failures & Unshakeable Faith
Minsan, may mga pagkakataon na akala mo simpleng meeting lang, pero pag-uwi mo, baon mo na ang mga aral na habambuhay mong dadalhin.
That's exactly what happened when I had the privilege of sitting down with Jonathan Dela Cruz Taguines, the CEO of ARNOKS FOOD CORPORATION and ARNOKS ACADEMY. Sa unang tingin, you see a successful and cheerful entrepreneur. But as he shared his story, I realized I was talking to a man built by resilience, powered by faith, and guided by brilliant wisdom.
The Shocking Truth
The most shocking part of his story? Hindi nagsimula sa tagumpay si Sir Jonathan. In fact, it started with failure—72 times.
Imagine failing not once, but seventy-two times. For most people, that's a sign to quit. Pero para sa kanya, it was 72 lessons learned. Ang bawat pagkabigo ay hindi naging hadlang; bagkus, naging hagdan ito para maabot ang kanyang pangarap.
The "Water & Laundry" Analogy
One of the most mind-blowing lessons he shared was a concept I initially called "residual capacity." He corrected and explained it with a simple yet brilliant analogy about Business Synergy:
"Isipin mo, may business ka na water refilling station. Ang asset mo ay tubig. Ano pa ang pwedeng gawin ng tubig? Pwede kang magtayo ng laundry shop sa tabi nito. Dahil may access ka sa tubig, may synergy na. Dahil sa laundry shop, pwede ka namang mag-offer ng food or coffee sa mga naghihintay."
— Jonathan Dela Cruz Taguines
It's about seeing your business not as a single entity, but as an ecosystem where one part can feed and grow another. Isang asset, maraming business opportunities.
Faith as the Anchor
Beyond strategies, what struck me most was his deep-rooted faith. He emphasized that despite all mishaps, he held on to his prayers and trusted in God. It’s a powerful reminder that in the unpredictable world of entrepreneurship, faith can be the ultimate anchor.
As a developer, this encounter fueled my own aspirations. It sparked a desire in me to, hopefully, one day partner with him—to lend my skills in handling the online platform of Arnoks, kung papalarin at loloobin.
"Success is not defined by the absence of failure, but by the courage to rise again and again."