Learning from life
Credit to Author: Leah C. Salterio| Date: Sat, 15 Feb 2020 16:20:26 +0000
“If you want to be successful, you should surround yourself with people more accomplished than you. You need to have a strong support base where you can turn to and consult on pressing matters.”
“The best way to judge a person is not through his (or her) triumphs, but by how he (or she) responds to failure and reflects on the sorrow of losing.”
Businessman Jardin Brian Wong, 29, stands by this maxim, readily admitting to disappointments early in his professional life. Yet, the chief operations officer (COO) of Golden Bay Fresh Landholdings Inc. has not allowed such incidents to define him. He prefers to view them as learning experiences from which to move on. “One of the proudest moments of my life was when I tried (but failed) to run for public service during my early years,” Jardin recalls. “I remember being so attached (to the idea of) and passionate about serving people back then.
New lessons
“That loss was (actually) a blessing in disguise for me, because after that heartbreak, I slowly began to discover my real self. That’s when my motor really shifted towards wanting to be great at something,” he adds.
Jardin’s attempt to enter the political arena at a young age was no surprise to those who knew him. He took up political science at De La Salle University in Manila, landing on the Dean’s List for four semesters (two Jose Rizal first honors and two Dean’s List recognition).
“I was aiming to be a lawyer. I liked reading about history and the different political schools of thoughts,” Jardin explains. “I was amazed how these shaped the course of history and I felt an innate desire to learn about the political foundations of society.”
But despite being a driven achiever, Jardin still found time for the lighter side of university life, “balancing academics with extracurricular activities that allowed me to become a well-rounded person,” he says. “But generally, I never considered student life as being tough. I felt so blessed just to have the opportunity to study in one of the best universities in the country.”
After his initial brush with politics, Jardin decided to channel his energies elsewhere. “I am now focusing on improving my craft as a businessman. I feel that I have much more to learn and improve if I want to turn out to be a success story in that field.
“I have so many things to be proud of, but I have to prove that I can stand the test of time, difficulties and challenges and persevere. The accomplishments and increase in stature or position are just the by-products and testimony to the dedication and hard work put in.
“I am also proud to continuously enjoy the support of our board, shareholders and employees. Their continued faith (in me) allows me to further sustain my vision as well as legitimizes my leadership of the company.”
As head of Golden Bay Fresh Landholdings, Jardin aims to power his company toward enhancing the architectural landscape of Bacoor City, Cavite province. “In general, people in the area greatly appreciate our desire to upgrade their lifestyle,” he beams. “The area, I believe, is ripe for fresh investments that would transform its identity. For years, it was neglected, but today, we are slowly seeing a lot of developers recalibrating their strategy and doubling down on investments in and around this new growth corridor.
“Another notable catalyst has been the government’s aggressive infrastructure development there. This has resulted in an unprecedented uptick in commerce and trade that directly benefits the city of Bacoor, thus offering a more strategic direction for its future residents.”
Jardin wears two other hats besides his property sombrero. He is director-manager of Jing Cheung Asia Industrial Corp., a manufacturer and exporter of buttons and interior finishes made of shell. He also serves as president of Bridgewonder Construction Corp., a very hands-on manager who supervises daily operational activities from his desk and closely monitors finances and procurement of heavy equipment and machinery.
MuItitasking, which is second nature to him, is an activity he genuinely enjoys. “I see to it that I practice proper time management when dealing with the various companies that I help run and manage,” Jardin reveals. “Although my involvement with them is varied and diverse, I always see to it that I entrench myself in their operations.”
Right structure and people
How does that work out for Jardin?
“I guess what’s important is having the right structure and people to collaborate with. Most companies I deal with are part of a broader family company umbrella, so that makes it easier for me to integrate innovative ideas and eventually harness synergy between them,” he says.
Jardin’s family has proven to be one of the great influencing factors in his career path. The third child of entrepreneurs Bong and Cely Wong’s brood of four cites the example they set for him and his siblings. “My parents have been instrumental in instilling in me the values of hard work and determination at an early age.
“I also look up to self-made, successful people in business such as John Gokongwei, Robert Kuok and Li Ka Shing. Their stories ingrained in me grit, passion and perseverance and how important honesty is in commerce, and more importantly in our daily life dealings.”
Jardin still manages to spend quality time with his family, thanks to their mutual love of good food. “When we were kids, our parents would always take us abroad to enjoy sumptuous dishes,” he remembers. “It’s a tradition we wanted to incorporate (and celebrate) when we and our partners decided to open Golden Bay Restaurant along Macapagal Boulevard (in Pasay City).”
With friends, he likes to enjoy basketball sessions, “whisky nights” and travel overseas. “Every year, I ask our board to allow me travel time with like- minded friends.
“I’m a big fan of the saying that if you want to be successful, you should surround yourself with people more accomplished than you. You need to have a strong support base which you can to and consult on pressing matters. Having that group of people with the same mentality as you is crucial.”
Jardin will never turn down an opportunity to acquire new knowledge. After college, he enrolled in a non-degree course in Beijing to improve his Mandarin language skills. “I ended up taking three courses in a span of 20 months,” he says. “I got exposed to a variety of cultures and the diaspora (existing in Beijing), which opened up a whole new understanding about the complexities and joys of life.” He intends to take an EMBA (Executive Masters in Business Administration) degree with a global focus in three or four years’ time.
Brimming with confidence and a can-do vibe, Jardin is certainly poised on the cusp of greater corporate accomplishment and personal realization. He knows where he’s heading, and that’s already half the battle won.
About me
ROLE MODEL
My parents Bong and Cely Wong, John Gokongwei, Bruce Lee, Kobe Bryant and Vladimir Putin, among others
GOAL
To be the best at what I do and hopefully, inspire many others while doing so
FIRST PAYCHECK
I was 12 years old, and in exchange for 12 days of night-shift work, I earned P3,000.
MORNING RITUAL
Jog and do light exercise. Check email and messages. I take a blended fruit and veggie shake before leaving for the office.
BEST SKILL
I’m a very sociable guy. I can get close to any age group. They say that’s my gift.
TIME SPENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA
A good one to one-and-a-half hours a day