Last year in February, before all the craziness of COVID-19 hit, I had the chance to go up to the Summer Capital of the Philippines, Baguio City. It was a 6-hour bus ride from Manila. And, if you’re wondering what got into me to take that long trip, I was invited to speak before e-commerce entrepreneurs there. The workshop was …
Why Rico Moved to Asia
I caught up with my friend, Rico Ngoma, CEO of Source Find Asia, in Manila, Philippines early this year. This was before the whole COVID-mania took over most of our lives. We talked about why we moved to Asia, what made us take that leap from where we were and why we decided to stay. It was fun thinking about …
Meeting Mica From Wizards of Amazon in Manila
Meeting Mica From Wizards of Amazon in Manila Trying to make the most of my time here in Manila and meet as many people as I can – one of them is Mica on the Wizards of Amazon team (headed by Carlos Alvarez). We have been talking since I first arrived about meeting – and the volcano erupted so it …
Connecting With Andy Amazon Advocate in Philippines
Connecting With Andy Amazon Advocate in Philippines Being stuck in Philippines has its perks – Andy Lee who is running a top Amazon FBA and e-commerce training business all over Southeast Asia (He’s growing fast!) and his team met with me and a few of our amazing Alpha Rock Capital team for dinner earlier this week. The conversation was fascinating. …
Watch a Budding E-commerce Community Grow – Trip To Baguio, Philippines
Catching my breath after two 7 hour bus trips to Baguio and back in a few days- but it was quite the experience! Note – if you go to Baguio – bring a light jacket – it is cold. 5,000 meters above sea level, you will take a coach bus for 7 hours and towards the last hour you will …
One Person At a Time
By being here in the Philippines, this is what I look forward to the most – having 1 on 1 time to develop people who want to improve their skills. Manuel is a great case of that. He does some freelance graphic design for me – as well as many companies in USA. One of his current clients is an …
True Passion – Sharing and Teaching People How to Earn a Living
“Back at it” – The Alpha Rock Capital partners have let me loose and to do what my passion is – to share and spread the good word. Alexa and I took a trip to Quezon City (my old home from 2010!) to speak at Ace and Andi Estrada’s Manila Mastermind e-commerce event. A few hundred attendees there, all local …
Meeting Old Friends in Manila
Had a pleasure to meet up with Alimatar Alli Garangan II and his wife for dinner last week. We met back in like 2009….now we are here 11 years later at dinner with his amazing wife. Reflecting on the meetings we had and the stories. Rounding up more old contacts as we develop local training and help here in Manila, …
First Week in Manila: Volcano Hit, Studio Work
Been a week now in Manila and I know I’ve been quiet. Busy – rested up last weekend after a rough flight w/ bad connecting flight. And Monday morning started off the week with a volcano eruption Welcome to Manila! So in today’s video blog just a walk through some of BGC / Makati and meeting the team I’m working …
Arrive in Manila + a Volcano Erupts [Taal Volcano]
Welcome to the Philippines. Just a days in town, and the volcano an hour or so drive away in Tagutay – Taal – decides to perk up a bit. Here in BGC district of Manila, not too much more than a long weekend, and Sunday evening an announcement (I didn’t hear the news until Monday morning) that a volcano nearby …
Team Catchup, Manila 2019
Meetings in Manila For anyone actually following these blog posts – you may wonder where is Mike now? The last couple weeks on the road for consulting and deal making in Bangkok and then to Manila to discuss cooperation with Alpha Rock Capital. Like many online business owners, I have a good amount of people on the team based in …
New Management Approach in Philippines (Filipino Leaders)
Changing my Approach to Working With My Team in Philippines It has been quite a ride in 2019 and we are half way through. One thing I am thinking about deeply is how I am managing the team. Some people on the team (those brave enough maybe) have given me critical feedback I have been micro-managing. Maybe that is because …
Amazing Business Developments in Cebu, Philippines
Typing this up on my Cebu Pacific flight back to Hong Kong, bright and early on Saturday morning. Riding a high, even though I only had 4 hours of sleep! Though sometimes those nights you don’t get much sleep you have this sudden burst of energy. That is me right now. Why do people sleep on flights? This is when …
Going to Cebu, Philippines in July!
I’m really excited to be going to the Philippines after a couple years! I’ll be going right after July 4th, on Sunday morning July 5th from Hong Kong. Heck, I haven’t left China in so long, never mind going to the Philippines – I am looking forward to a change of pace. When I’ll be in Philippines I’m flying from …
Teambuilding Sunday With Philippines E-Commerce Support Team
Extended my Manila, Philippines trip a couple more days to wait for Leon to get back from Australia, and to have a teambuilding meeting with the e-commerce support team we have been building up here in Manila for a couple years. There have been a few hiccups along the way, due to my traveling and doing too much, personal staff …