An Interview With Salt And Light Ventures Founder Ardy Roberto
Ardy Roberto has changed the game of publishing in the Philippines. He has brought both interesting books and speakers so that we can be inspired by their examples and teachings. He is also a regular writer for the MarketingRX section of the Philippine Daily Inquirer every Friday together with his dad, marketing guru of the Philippines, Ned Roberto.
Here's our exclusive interview:
Take us back to when YOU were starting Salt and Light Ventures. What key lessons did YOU learn?
A: Key lessons I hope I've learned:
You can't do everything yourself.
God will use and bring angels to help you in your business or mission (with or without that person realizing that he/she is an angel!) when you just pour yourself into your mission.
Being in business with your wife/spouse will magnify the essence of your relationship. Make sure that you have a solid relationship, or else you'll be super stressed.
As a kid, did YOU dream to be a maketer? How did YOU end up in Marketing?
A: Nope. I wanted to be an NBA player, or a Time/Life Photojournalist, or a diplomat. I'm not really "in" marketing. I am a writer/entrepreneur by profession or calling and use marketing as a tool or vehicle...
We read this from YOUR Twitter account recently: “Just bought majority shares into an existing digital publishing business. Excited about this new medium.” Can YOU share with us what company?
A: Ha ha! Thought nobody would read that or pick that up. I can't say which one right now and make it public since the contracts are still being ironed out and finalized. Should be final by the end of November. But more than 100,000 subscribers are already receiving digital content through SMS via this brand/business. We are able to reach a much larger audience and readership through this market. Coming up soon is a MarketingRx Mobile together with the Maxwell Mobile content that we are already providing. So that's a hint....
What/Who was YOUR inspiration when YOU wrote The Heart of Healing?
A: Hmmm. That would have to be my wife, Tingting. I say hmmm' because there were many other factors and life cross roads that led me to write that book. But it was a gift and a responsibility to be on the receiving end of a healing miracle. I just had to share with people how they too could position themselves to be a candidate for a miracle. I was "inspired" by the many people who would tell me about a friend or family member who was diagnosed with a life threatening disease. I had this burden in my heart to just share my discovery -- that Hope, Encouragement, Love and Prayer are powerful medicine.
When are YOU going to bring back Tom Peters in the country (Philippines)?
A: Perhaps when he has a new breakthrough book again. Bringing in celebrity authors and speakers is pretty risky and stressful thought.
What's it like having Ned Roberto as a dad?
A: It's like being an AIM student, I guess :-)
What is the Achievers and Leaders Summit about? How can we help?
A: The ALS is about inspiring people to become Salt of the Earth and Light of the World. You can help by spreading the word when we organize it again.
Who are YOUR personal heroes?
A: Ninoy Aquino, my Dad, my Mom, Davis Bunn, Alexander Flek, John Maxwell, Gov. Grace Padaca, Roselle Ambubuyog, Josette Biyo, Andrew Liuson, my grandfather, Tony Buzan, Albert Einstein, Norman Vincent Peale, David Robinson, Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Robin Gunn, Alex Haley, King Solomon, Daniel, Moses, the Apostle Paul, Billy Graham, Ruth Graham and their kids who are carrying on their work, Martin Luther King, Steve Jobs, Pastor Peter Tanchi, Pastor Joey Bonifacio, Fr Robert Reyes, Gary V, Manny Pacquiao, Flash Elorde... every Filipino who is striving to eradicate poverty and suffering in the Philippines.
What are YOU hungry for?
A: Right now, I am hungry for sleep. I'm at this airport in Kenya and I'm sleep deprived from this week-long writers and publishers conference held in Brackenhurst Conference Center in Limuru, Kenya. Just a beautiful place to write and brainstorm.
What's YOUR favorite book?
Every book that LifeCycle Press (the publishing house of Salt and Light) publishes has to be a favorite. (My Father's Business by Peter Tsukahira, Work - Prison or Place of Destiny by David Oliver, all of my Dad's books. John Maxwell's Thinking for a Change and Winning Attitude and Failing Forward are favorites). Recent favorite reads include Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller. Great read.
How has the world changed in the last 5 years?
A: Will need a thesis to answer this... But just look at this. I am answering your questions from a netbook, with free wifi in an African country. Couldn't do all that 5 years ago...or could I?
About Ardy Roberto
Ardy Roberto is an author, entrepreneur, speaker and international award-winning seminar producer. He co-writes a weekly column, MarketingRx, for the Philippine Daily Inquirer together with his father, marketing guru, Dr Ned Roberto. He is co-author of S4-Success Secrets of the Sales Superstars; and The Fundraiser’s Guide to Fundraising with Mayan Quebral. OMF Literature published his booklet, Ang Buhay Na Hindi Bitin—How to Live Life Content, Blessed and Worry-Free, now on it’s 4th printing and The Heart of Healing last August 2008.
Ardy, together with his wife, Tingting, is the co-founder and Chief Encouragement Officer of Salt & Light Ventures, Inc. They are the only learning event organizers to have won both local and international awards for the seminars and conferences that they have produced and marketed.
A writer by calling, Ardy has also discovered the joy of creating and launching new events and business ventures—such as the Achievers and Leaders Seminar, Inspire Leadership Consultancy, and the Buzan Center for Creative Thinking—that inspire and bring out the best in people.
No comments:
Post a Comment