If surveys were true, then...

In the last couple of months, we’ve seen an incredible movement of figures in surveys. If these numbers were true, then it’s a good sign. Let me tell you why.

Without being bias in my discussion, I’ll give you some positive points about the movement of those numbers. I said positive because it’s not only an indication of something positive for Manny Villar’s fans and supporters (and perhaps a negative thing for Noynoy’s following) but also an indication of what’s really happening inside the people’s mind.

Indeed, there’s a good news for all of us.

I’d like to believe that Filipinos are very passionate and emotionally attached to someone or something—to a known personality to a certain telenovela to an event. Such emotional attachment means so much that it started the world’s first bloodless revolt. It’s so effective that it brought about a second people power and installed a new president. Perhaps because we can associate ourselves with local television series that’s why the Philippines has become a country of actors and actresses—you and I are in the plot.

But Cory Aquino would die. Her son, who’s little known in terms of his performance as a legislator, became an instant people’s choice. It’s an overnight success.

And so at the height of Cory’s death, political figures started to see what they could work on to the point even of trying to see if they can fit in. Indeed, fitting in they managed well. Just like his late mother who was unprepared, Noynoy seems to try if the history really repeats itself.

It is yet to find out.

Yet in a matter of months, such emotional hype and attachment of Filipinos seemed to shift. As the election day comes closer, many public debates were conducted. Candidates had to be out in the open and share their piece of knowledge on how this country should be managed.

Presidential aspirants started the battle to win the mind of the people, not the heart. Debates work well on the intellect but never the heart. Events such as death work well on the heart, not the intellect.

If surveys were true that Villar is tied with Noynoy, then I think people start to think and rethink about their preference on the basis of their intellect and not emotion. With all the emotional attachment seemingly gone with the wind, the real deal reveals itself. Again, that is if surveys were true.

Nonetheless, it’s called trending—mental conditioning for people to influence their preference. Those who got the highest rating would probably win in the end. Not that it is tied, who’s going to win?

The game is still far from over. There are still a lot of things in the horizon. There are still millions of pesos to disburse. There are still many issues to be debated upon. There are still a lot of rooms for mistakes.

But the good news is people start to realize one thing: In order for us to move forward we need not only the heart of a leader, but his head and qualification. This is if we want to prevent the history from repeating itself.

Complete entry at http://ping.fm/EwKeX

Number One Motivational Speaker in the Philippines

Who is the number one motivational speaker in the Philippines today?

While I’m tempted to drop a name, I’d rather not. At least that came
from a good friend of mine who told me that I may not be the best
motivational speaker but I’m able to position myself as such. He said
being best is so subjective that you must be able to position yourself
so well to at least be perceived as such.

But my job as the highest paid motivational speaker under the age of
30 is more than perception. When I am up on stage to share my message,
I perform. I’m not just giving it without sweat. I do it with gusto,
energy, power, and enthusiasm. I’m passionate with what I do and I
love how I do it—people laugh, get serious, laugh again, get serious
again—or in other words it’s a dynamic, moving experience.

There are many motivational speaker in the Philippines and Asia and I
must say that I know some of them. I’m 27 years old and I’d like to
meet some more doing almost the same mission that I do—not for the
profit but for the hope that we can make a lot of difference should
we learn to maximize our potentials.

My job as motivational speaker isn’t about being number one or two or
three. I don’t see any competition in this industry although some may
insist there is and that they are older, more established, seasoned,
and experienced. I really don’t care at all. I do my stuff and I do it
with passion.

When I produced a John Maxwell show back in 2008, I had to experience
older people bullying younger people. Even though I was the producer,
it didn’t exempt me from feeling inferior about business. I was able
to work with some guys of great reputation—so great that I almost
forgot my own greatness inside. I was torn out by different ideas and
realities going around. There are people who just don’t let you get
away with some accomplishments without any fight. And I don’t think I
did a great fight.

I started feel small and I looked down to myself. It dawned on me that
I was just, just a small boy trying to penetrate and conquer Goliath’s
country. I didn’t have a known family name or a foreign descent. I
didn’t have the riches and the comfort growing up. I didn’t have a
business background or private education. All my life, I was
struggling.

But then there I was, trying my very best to fit in—and maybe please
those Goliaths. Maybe they will learn to love me and make me feel I
belong.

I only got disappointed and frustrated. At the end of the day, I found
myself homeless and helpless. The people that I used to look up to
turned out to be the people who pinned me down. In my hardest time,
they were there not support me but to tell me to surrender.

“We cannot let you speak on stage Lloyd. You are a risk,” said the gentleman.

But I think that’s the essence of life. You get into something and you
must be able to respond to that “something.” Your response becomes the
basis of your results. And most of those results make up the person
you become.

I got the message. And I decided to get up and turn the table again. I
decided to believe in my own greatness because I knew there’s
something in me that they just cannot take. I’m not sure if they’re
afraid of me and what I can do. But as I said, it’s never a
competition.

In fact, one gentleman from the same Mafia would always tell me,
“Lloyd, there’s no competition. There’s only coopetition.” Well, I
hope he got his own message. Because, that’s exactly what I believe
now. And that’s one of the things that I live up to to this day since
he first told me that statement.

Number one motivational speaker, anyone? Whew! I hope I can volunteer.
But let’s ask some people around who have experienced how we deliver
our message or hope and fulfillment.

I may not be the best. But I’m sure I’m always doing my best once I’m
up on stage. More than half a million people have listened to me in
the last four years. That’s make me feel I am able to do my best—for
now.

You can also have this viewed at http://ping.fm/Vgyix

Meeting with Paolo Villar; posing with President Manny Villar

(Note: This blog post can be best viewed here: http://ping.fm/wxxRT)


Pocholo was able to set an appointment with Paolo Villar, the son of President Manny Villar. Before 2009 ended, we knew this will come. We sat down and talked about his father's campaign.

We left our office at around 9 am and arrived at Paolo's office in Shaw Blvd at around 10:30. The purpose of our meeting is to introduce our team formally, to discuss who we are, what we do, and how we do it.


LLOYDLUNA with President Manny Villar
It was almost five years ago when our team got deeply involved in making a president of a country elected—too deeply yet too young to understand better the political dynamics in a highly political environment. We were technical assistants in the Office of the President of the Philippines who cascaded the president's Strong Republic vision.

I think selling that vision to the youth made her number one in the sector at based on surveys prior to 2004 elections where she said she's not running.

We were too young to understand however too passionate with what we were doing—motivating, inspiring, and involving the sector in a democratic process. We certainly didn't have the power to decide nor to choose what we do but we simply love what we do and we do it by heart. Perhaps that made our team an effective political machinery that the President has had at the time.

Today is a special day. We were called to present what we can do for President Villar through his son, Paolo, 34, and very much dynamic entrepreneurs like us. And yes, we are almost on the same age bracket.


LLOYDLUNA with Paolo Villar (and my book The Obvious)
But this is just a very small step to coming back to what was once our passion in politics and governance. We're just exploring some possibilities of working together. Not bad for our team, which has been constantly connected with the youth.

But we appeared because we believe in something. This time though, we were no longer the kids who just loved what they do. We are grown ups who are thinking deeper and certainly now standing on our own, can't be dictated upon by bosses. We own our own businesses and we're able to make not just a company but brands that people love and support.

I wasn't surprise when I saw Paolo in a polo shirt (just like what I was wearing) although a friend of mine said he was expecting him to be in a long sleeves, coat, and tie. Well, it really doesn't matter. My experiences with "the rich and powerful" in the past showed me that most of them really dress up so simply that you can't recognize who they are.


LLOYDLUNA and Paolo Villar: Be the Best you Can "V"
We sat down. I did the introduction of the team using a Keynote (Mac only) that I only did before we left the office. Pocholo asked me to prepare something at around 8 a.m. and it's a miracle coming up with a 12-slide comprehensive presentation.

The introduction was very light and we had laughs in between points and slides. I hate boring presentations so every time I have the time and opportunity to break the ice, I really break it. So I did this morning.

Paolo is a bright thinker. He's logical and analytic, too. I'd add that he's humble, open, and pretty much cool. If he doesn't know, he wouldn't pretend he knows. He asks questions and he makes sure that he knows where people are coming from. He know what he's saying and knows exactly what he wants from you. He's in it.

That's exactly the kind of guy we'd love to work with. We pretty much share the same wavelength (I hope I'm right) although his string is way, way longer than any of us in the room. But he precise and focus.

The meeting lasted for an hour or so. And I'm sure we're able to present what we can offer to him (and his assistant Brian Edang, who is very kind and accommodating, too!).

Then Jing Serrano came in. She joined our meeting. When I gave her my card, I was surprised when she said, "Lloyd Luna? I'm one of your newsletter subscribers." And then we continued our discussion.

After the meeting, Jing gave us a very, very good news. President Villar is in Starbucks. She asked us if we want to have a photo with him. So we said, "Of course."

We went back to Conference Room B, got our bags, and pause for lunch and then coffee before we headed back to our office for a supposed meeting with aspiring senator Gilbert Remulla. Due to some valid reason, our meeting with Gilbert was reset for tomorrow morning in a breakfast.

On the side: Got a call from an American company, his name is Judah and he set a meeting with me regarding a survey thing. He was looking for Political Consultant in the Philippines and I think my website ranked first or at least in the front page of Google that's why he got my number. That's another meeting for tomorrow.

So this is it. We've finished our proposal and sent it to Paolo for his reference.

Filipino political consultants in a Crossfire session

Before lunch time, Ian Barcelona got in the office and asked me and Pocholo if we can join him in an ocular inspection in Island Cove in Cavite. We'd like to see the place where the National Sales Kickoff Rally of Camella Homes South and East divisions.

It was an appointment that's not in my calendar. In the afternoon, I was supposed to interview my potential trainees. It was then moved (they waited patiently) until around 4 p.m. I accepted the applicants, briefed them about my company. We also agreed on their primary and secondary tasks. I said I'm willing to help them experience a real on the job training.

Unlike other big companies, mine is very lean one. So obviously I don't have anything to lose.

And then we went to our war room and discussed our proposals to a presidentiable and and senatoriable. We fine-tuned our campaign proposals and come up with an excellent nationwide campaign strategy for the two gentlemen. I even called the senatoriable and asked him something about his campaign.

It was a long day. Brainstorming session (Crossfire) is a tiring thing but it's worth the time and effort. So until then...