Advice from The Apprentice Asia winner Jonathan Yabut
Fast-tracking your career from good to great isn’t easy, especially when the odds are against you.
Pero para kay Jonathan Yabut, Pinoy winner ng reality show na The Apprentice Asia, you make it possible. While in the show, pinasikat niya ang linyang, “You can never be too small to dream big.”
Overcome the odds
May pinaghuhugutan si Jonathan—his parents were modest government employees so he strived to become a scholar, graduating with honors in Economics from the University of the Philippines.
Naging management trainee siya sa Globe Telecom bago maging Product Manager for the OFW market. Later, he became a successful Senior Brand Manager at GlaxoSmithKline, at nakilala dahil sa kanyang marketing expertise kahit pa under 35 years old siya at the time.
Aside from ability, the right attitude really gives you an edge.
“I think everyone knows by now how passionate I am with whatever I do,” sabi ni Jonathan. As a big fan of the show since college, he didn’t pass up the opportunity to join the show when it was aired in Asia.
Love what you do
Kahit busy as the Chief of Staff of Air Asia in Kuala Lumpur since the show, he finds time to share his insights on empowering the youth and using passion and leadership to move up the corporate ladder.
Enjoy si Jonathan sa pagbibigay ng talks, binansagang Journeys of
Inspiration, sa mga schools at companies.
He is also publishing From Grit to Great, a book on how to ‘hack’ at move up the corporate ladder na available sa kanyang website www.jonathanyabut.com at mga bookstores by November.
“I love writing, and sharing information and learning with other folks,” sabi niya.
“This book that I wrote was the perfect avenue for those types of passion—especially now that I can share my Apprentice Asia story (which seemed to have inspired many people). The book is entitled “From Grit To Great” shares my journey to winning the show, as well as tips on how to “hack” and be successful in the corporate world.”
Isa sa kanyang mga strategies para mag-succeed: “Search and pursue a career that you would do even if you don’t get paid well. And if you find one, that’s the job that you most love.
Kung hindi ka pa tapos sa iyong search, sabi ni Jonathan, focus on a reason to love what you are currently doing. “If you meet those criteria, you’re already halfway done with success,” he says.
“Successful people are those who love what they do.”
Be passionate but professional
Importante rin para kay Jonathan ang professional growth kaya payo niya, always work on areas for improvement.
One of the things that wd for him well was improving his communication skills, both writing and speaking.
“The best leaders and workers of our time are those who are able to express exactly what they’re thinking and convey that exact message to their people,” dagdag ni Jonathan. “Being able to convey that message in an inspiring and motivating way further reinforces that strength.”
Kapag estudyante, sumali sa debate club sa iyong school. He also recommends joining a chapter of the Toastmasters Club.
If you’re at a point na pursigido sa career, hindi maaiwasan na magkaroon ng konting drama sa workplace. You need to keep this in check. Even if we are generally a passionate people, pwedeng maging negative quality ang ganitong klaseng intensity. Kasi naman, most of us Pinoys are “emotional workers,” pansin ni Jonathan.
“We take professional critique, especially the bad ones, personally,” explanation niya. “Pinoys should take these comments as means of improving oneself and not as indicators of rejection.”
Imagine mo na nasa shoes ka ng iyong critic, and you can have a better understanding of the other person’s point of view.
In a way, pareho lang kayo, di ba? Sabi nga ni Jonathan, you are both doing a job.
Images from the Facebook page ni Jonathan Yabut, www.facebook.com/AAJonathanYabut
