You Can Thrive During Tough Times: See the Opportunity, Not the Crisis

By Mike Banos, Appreared in American Chronicle September 18, 2009

Planters Development Bank, the multi-awarded bank for Small and Medium Enterprises has extended its SME Advocacy Program to the fastest growing region in the Philippines through its SME Speaker Series.

Plantersbank brought in Anthony Pangilinan, acclaimed management trainer, motivational speaker and productivity consultant to share with local entrepreneurs his winning management techniques and life skills Sept. 2, at a "by-invitation" only session at one of the city´s top hotels with the theme "Managing Through Difficult Times: Why Just Survive When You Can Thrive".

Attended by over 200 of the CEOs of Mindanao´s private companies coming from as far away as Sulu, Pangilinan found himself in esteemed company, many of those present coming from Northern Mindanao, the fastest growing regional economy in 2008.

Region 10 grew by 5.3 percent in 2008, thanks to the robust performance of the agriculture, fisheries and forestry (AFF) sector. This was faster than the national average of 3.8% and faster than all other regions from all over the country.

Northern Mindanao also sustained its status as Mindanao´s biggest regional economy, increasing its share of the island´s economy from 27.9 percent in 2007 to 28.3 percent in 2008.; 30.6 percent of service, 30.3 percent for industry and 24.5 percent for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Region 10 also sustained its growth in per capita GRDP, growing by 3.2 percent in 2008, the only region in Mindanao to record a per capita GRDP rate above the national average, one of only three regional economies to do so in 2008, ranking third nationwide.

In a previous visit, Ambassador Jesus P. Tambunting, chairman and chief executive officer of Planters Development Bank, cited Cagayan de Oro and Northern Mindanao for its forward-looking SME sector .

"In Cagayan de Oro, we see a progressive, empowered SME sector," he said. "We have been enjoying strong gains in our loans in the past four years, with growth as much as 100% in the last two years." He said be believes that's the reason why it is a high growth area and they are establishing a new branch in the city soon.

"We share Cagayan de Oro's vision of a city that is progressive, prosperous and teeming with social and economic opportunities," Tambunting said in an earlier press statement. "We think this vision can be achieved by promoting entrepreneurship, which is the driver for creating new jobs, improving people's incomes and providing a better quality of life."

"Seventeen ago we saw a lot of opportunities here," Tambunting said, citing the time when Cagayan de Oro became Plantersbank's first branch in Mindanao in 1991. "As we go on, we see a lot those becoming reality. As I see development in Cagayan de Oro, it's something you must really be proud of."

Although the present performance of the global and Philippine economies is nothing to cheer about, Pangilinan urged the participants to look at the situation not merely to find ways to survive, but rather to thrive.

"Change your mindset from victim to victor," he said. "See the opportunity, not the crisis."
He cited how many Filipino-Chinese family businesses always seemed to rise about the crisis, even during the dark days of the previous Asian financial crisis of the mid-1990s.

"Companies fail because of a lack of focus," Pangilinan urged. He exhorted the many young entrepreneurs present to know what´s best for them. "Need and competence are the basis for any sale. If you have a passion for it, you won´t give up so easily."

He cited Andy Ferreira, dean of the Asian Institute of Management, who said: "Your top 10 interests are your top 10 options."

Bobby F. Banaag, first vice president of Plantersbank corporate communications, said Plantersbank is reinforcing its commitment to entrepreneurs through the SME Speaker Series, a component of its nationwide SME Advocacy program.

Now on its second year, the Plantersbank SME Speaker Series is just one of Plantersbank´s portfolio of innovations for enabling entrepreneurs, which also include the SME social networking site Bizster.com.ph and the SME Industrial Park, the country´s first industrial development solely focused on SMEs.

Plantersbank has been cited for its Double Bottomline Banking approach during the recent CSR Leadership Awards of the Management Association of the Philippines for its unique focus on Small and Medium Enterprises as lender, advocate and provider of enabling services, and successfully integrating corporate social responsibility into the core business. It also became the first-ever recipient of the President´s Citation for "Best Practice in Improving Access to Finance" during the launching ceremonies of National MSME Development Week on July 8.

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Top Motivational Speaker: Tony Alessandra, PhD, CSP, CPAE

Tony is a Sales, Customer Service, Relationship-Selling and Marketing Expert.
These are the common topics that he delivers:
  • Customer Service
  • Sales
  • Relationship
  • Selling

Tony Alessandra's Key Accomplishments Include...
Dr. Tony Alessandra helps companies build customers, relationships, and the bottom-line. Companies learn how to achieve market dominance through Dr. Alessandra's specific strategies designed to outmarket, outsell, and outservice the competition.


Dr. Alessandra has a street-wise, college-smart perspective on business, having fought his way out of NYC and eventually realizing success as a graduate professor of Marketing, an entrepreneur, a business author and sought-after keynote speaker. Tony Alessandra earned his MBA from the University of Connecticut and his PhD in Marketing from Georgia State University. Dr. Alessandra is president of a company that offers online assessments and tests; co-founder of an online e-learning company; and Chairman of the Board of a company that offers online digital accelerated-learning programs.

More About Tony Alessandra...
Dr. Alessandra is a widely published author with 14 books translated into 17 foreign languages, including Charisma, The Platinum Rule, The Art of Managing People, Collaborative Selling and Communicating at Work. Tony Alessandra is also featured in over 50 audio/video programs and films on Relationship Strategies, Effective Listening and Non-Manipulative Selling. Dr. Alessandra is also the originator of the internationally-recognized behavioral style assessment tool known as The Platinum Rule.

Recognized by Meetings & Conventions Magazine as "one of America's most electrifying speakers," Dr. Alessandra was inducted into the Speakers Hall of Fame in 1985--and is a member of the Speakers Roundtable; a group of 20 of the world's top professional speakers. Tony Alessandra's polished style, powerful message and proven ability as a consummate business strategist, consistently earns rave reviews.

Suggested Programs:

  • The Platinum Rule™
  • Collaborative Selling: How to Gain the Competitive Advantage in Selling
  • Customer Loyalty: How to Get and Keep Customers


What People Are Saying:


Great presentation and message! Tony is outstanding. He achieved total audience participation, everyone learned while having fun. A home run.
---Lucent Technologies

A standing ovation and a ballroom that had more people at the end than at the beginning is a winning keynote! Your ability to relate so much of the Platinum Rule to the SUBWAY experience drove your message right to the franchisees' front doors!
--- SUBWAY Restaurants

Tony was the ideal speaker to kick off our meeting. Everyone not only enjoyed his presentation, but took away valuable tools to use in their everyday work situation.
--- The Hartford

Our association needed a presenter that had meaty customer relations content and left you laughing. Tony Alessandra fit that to a tee. His approach to customer relations and empowering our members to be in control of the presentation process was the message we needed to hear.
--- Gene Waddell, Florida Association of Insurance Agents


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What is an After Dinner Speaker?

An after dinner speaker is someone who is hired, usually for a fee, to entertain a group of people. The after dinner speaker will usually be the highlight of the evening. He or she is rather like the best man at a wedding, and is someone who is knowledgeable on a particular subject and can speak at length about it.

After dinner speaking can be seen as an art in itself. The speaker must have the ability to entertain their audience in a captivating manner. Part comedian, part lecturer, the after dinner speaker should have a certain "wow" factor. They should be someone that the audience or guests are looking forward to hearing and seeing.

After dinner speaking has become big business. It can be seen as a way of rewarding your company at an official lunch. They can also be brought in at a charity evening to help promote the charity. You can now hire speakers from all walks of life. Sports stars, celebrities, politicians, musicians and even mountain climbers are just a few of the types of after dinner speaker that can be hired.

If you have ever been a best man at a wedding or had to make a speech in front of a large number of people, you will know how daunting it is. The after dinner speaker will have gone through the process many times. They will have their talks and speeches honed to a fine art. Many have come from backgrounds where speaking in public is part of their everyday job.

The after dinner speaker will also have a number of tricks up their sleeves. They will know how to deal with hecklers in the audience. It takes either a very brave or a very drunk person to heckle a professional after dinner speaker. Many speakers will have a stock of comebacks and put downs for the heckler that will leave the heckler looking decidedly embarrassed.

An after dinner speaker will be able to tailor their speeches or stories to a particular audience. If a business is having a dinner, then the speaker may be someone who has achieved a degree of success in that field. A College dinner may have an ex student to speak who has since went on to achieve some recognized expertise that the current students aspire to.

Of course, not all after dinner speakers are celebrities or stars. People from all walks of life can add to the evening’s entertainment. The ability to entertain and hold an audience’s attention is one of the most important factors. Some people have this ability while talking in length just about their lives. But if you do require a celebrity or particular expert, be sure your budget can cover their asking price. A top of the range after dinner speaker can cost as much as 5,000 to even 10,000 US dollars (USD) for a few hours.

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After Dinner Speakers And Event Fundraising

Charities require a lot of money and support in order to carry out their good work across the country and overseas. Whilst many people pick a handful of causes to support on a regular basis by giving them monthly or annual donations, many people are prepared to donate their time and money to a one off, worthwhile cause on top of this as well. For centuries there have been fund raising events attended by people from every walk of life. Organisations like the Prince's Trust is just one of the charities supported by the royal family, who raise millions of pounds every year for charity. But people with less money also give to charity, every level of society has members who donate.This is what makes Britain so generous, they are always willing to help out those in need or less well off than themselves.

When compiling an invitation list, make sure people from your target audience are included. Some charities have a gender bias where one of the sexes is more likely to donate than the other, for example cancer charities that focus on testicular and prostrate cancer attract more donations from men. Breast cancer charities get more donations from women.
Wealthier people tend to sponsor charities working with animals and there are people who focus their charitable giving on local causes. If you know people already donating to your cause, invite them and you will raise more money at your event.

Promote your event in the local community and entice more people to come by using an after dinner speaker. If you choose a celebrity from the world of sport, music or politics, they are sure to attract more guests and many bring items to auction which can raise large and unexpected amounts of money.

An after dinner speaker will provide guests with a memorable experience following a humorous speech and entertaining banter. This experience will leave guests with a vivid memory of your event and the cause it was supporting, which will ensure future donations to your charity.
To raise a lot of money in little time, events prove the best forum. Reduce the amount it costs to host your event by using donated food and drink, or barter down the venue hire. Reducing your expenditure in hosting the event will mean that all the money you raise will go directly to your cause, which is after all the purpose of fund raising events.

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How to Become a Keynote Speaker

Are you a good public speaker? Are you able to grab the crowd's attention to focus on a subject? Do you want to make money out of it?

You should try your chances in becoming a professional keynote speaker.
Keynote speakers set the color and tone of an assembly and create an audience of a single mind. Keynote speakers play a very crucial role in business gatherings. They aim to synergize the mentality of the crowd to a particular theme or idea.

Keynote public speaking is a specialized discipline which involves humor, motivational skills, and flair. One can only measure its effectiveness when it has delivered its purpose of energizing the audience. If the spectators are left wanting more, then you can justly say that the keynote has been conveyed effectively.

Keynote Speakers are of high demand especially among corporate professionals. The success of the agenda immensely relies on the ability of the speaker. That is why their services are significantly compensated.

If you want to be a successful keynote speaker, you have to adhere to the highest of standards. Here are few tips on how to be a great keynote speaker:

Start with a quotation or an anecdote.
A good keynote speaker should start with a thought-provoking story or quote and build from that. Of course, the anecdote or saying should be suitable to the meeting's agenda. The audience is such a sucker for this. They will love it especially, if you can follow through with your performance.

Know the crowd. Know the schema.
It is very helpful to your goal as a keynote speaker if you know your audience. You must remember the cliché "Different folks, different strokes."

You wouldn't address business executives the way you would address blue collar folks, would you? They have different frames of mind. They operate in different frequencies. So you must customize your material in accordance to your audience.

Your clothing and body language
As a keynote speaker, you must exude confidence and radiate enthusiasm. The words you say are only half of the equation. The other half is the way you present yourself. You are there to create impact and influence the crowd with your zest and zeal.

If you don't dress accordingly you will immediately lose respect from your audience. You better have something up your sleeve to recover from this blunder. Great speakers can get away with it. But even so, why should you leave everything to speaking prowess?

Humor against boredom
The audience is your measuring stick. You will know if you are doing poorly if the crowd appears to be bored and uninterested. Humor and quick-wit in keynote speaking is crucial. People love to laugh. They want to be amused.

From time to time, make the crowd laugh. The audience will the humor and wit and they will listen to your every word.

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