Mabuhay with Aloha

“Mabuhay!” is a Philippine greeting in which one wishes another well.  I’m told it means “To Life!” or “To Live!”  The first group of Filipinos arrived in Hawai’i 100 years ago in 1906.  The men came to work as laborers on the sugar cane and pineapple plantations so they could provide for their families back in the Philippines.  Eventually, the women and children followed them to the Islands.  Today, the Filipinos in Hawai’i are celebrating their Centennial and are well on their way to becoming the largest ethnic group in the state.  Many have prospered and entered the business world, or become respected doctors, lawyers, teachers, and more.  Hawai’i elected the first Filipino-American state governor, Ben Cayetano, in 1994.

It’s obvious to me that at the core of this success are found the basic values of hard work and education.  But, I also feel strongly that networking played an important part as well.  My beliefs were confirmed when I attended a conference entitled “Strategies for Business Success” put on by FAMES, which stands for Filipino American Multi-Ethnic Society (www.fameshawaii.org).  FAMES is a Hawai’i non-profit organization designed to educate, motivate and assist businesses on how to become successful.  It also is dedicated to promoting and developing strong leadership in the community.

The Special Guest Speaker at the conference was Sonia L. Aranza (www.soniaaranza.com) who is an internationally-acclaimed speaker and consultant specializing in Diversity, Cross-Cultural Communication and Leadership.  In 2002, she was named “Outstanding Woman of the Year” by the National Association of Professional Asian American Women.

I arrived to find the conference room packed with an energetic, multi-cultural group of business people eager to hear what Ms.Aranza and the other speakers had to say.  I sat in the back (next to the buffet table, as my priorities are in order) and took notes as fast as I could in order to be able to share this experience with you.  Ms. Aranza spoke of how to build relationships, which she says is different from what we consider traditional networking.  Networking, she says, can often degenerate into undirected, unfocused chance meetings in which our first priority is in letting other people know what WE do.  Building relationships, by contrast, is the deliberate cultivation of associations with key people who relate to one’s business.  There is sharing as well as give-and-take in the relationship.  Over time, the bonds strengthen and each person is more likely to help the other achieve success.

Ms. Aranza spoke, too, of factors that prevent us from networking and building relationships:  limiting beliefs, fear, poor communication, etc.  She encouraged us to confront these issues and to not be afraid of our own greatness!  She gave us the acronym PIES (which made me look at the buffet table again) and suggested we work on four areas daily:  Physical issues, Intellectual issues, Emotional issues, and Spiritual issues.  “Do inner work first,” she said, “Then, take on the world.”

This philosophy is actively practiced by the Founder and President of FAMES, Joni B. Redick.  Joni organized FAMES in mid-2005 with an all-volunteer board and officers.  Joni herself volunteers for numerous community causes, including the Skin Cancer Coalition and the Filipino Chamber of Commerce, where she says she “volunteers and networks at the same time.”  Her advice to novice networkers is to be VISIBLE and ACTIVE in the community, and to understand the give-and-take process of building relationships.  “If people see you working hard for good causes, they will respect you more and you can do more business,” says Joni.

Joni, who was Mrs. Hawai’i U.S. 2002, maintains a jaw-dropping schedule and yet is very personable and open.  When she speaks with you, she gives you her total attention---even if the room is filled with hundreds of people.  “Service to others” and “Givers Gain” are phrases that come to mind when I think of Joni Redick.  In addition to her charitable causes, Joni serves the community through her work at Guardian Life Insurance Company and is a consultant for Mary Kay Cosmetics.  “Mary Kay was my mentor,” Joni says.  This explains why she is always beautifully dressed and exquisitely groomed.    

As if all that wasn’t enough, Joni is the current President of the Million Dollar Chapter of BNI (Business Network International, www.bnihawaii.com) which meets at Dave & Busters in Honolulu.  She is also writing a book entitled “Million Dollar Attitude in Paradise” which is due to be published in July 2007.  What exactly is a “Million Dollar Attitude”?  According to Joni, it can be as simple as smiling and saying a bright “Hello!” to the cashier at the supermarket.  “Maybe they are having a bad day and the only happy thing they will remember is your positive greeting.” 

When you think about it, that’s what “Mabuhay!” and “Aloha!” are all about.

FAMES is having its Second Annual Fundraising event at the Hilton Hawaiian Village on Friday, October 27, 2006.  It is a formal affair with the theme “The Phantom of the Opera”.  FAMES will resume its regular monthly networking meetings in January 2007.  For more information, please visit their website at www.fameshawaii.org.

With aloha from Hawai’i,

Sandy McKee

Contact Sandy at SandyM@TheNationalNetWorker.com or TNNW Blog.

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