Declared values sound good, but your operating values run your week—so when pressure hits, you protect comfort or approval, and you quietly betray what you said matters. In this article, Jef Menguin shows the clean contrast between the values you say and the values you live, using your calendar and small moments as proof. Practice the shift and share it at work so your team stops performing values and starts turning them into visible rules.
Your calendar is the clearest proof of your values—because what you schedule is what you actually protect, and the gap quietly creates regret and burnout. In this article, Jef Menguin shares the Values vs Calendar Proof Audit to expose where your week supports your priorities—and where it leaks. Use it, then share it with your team or family so your time starts matching what you say matters most.
Filipino values are cultural beliefs and assumptions about what is socially desirable, and therefore, there are expectations on how one must behave in certain situations. Filipino values are inherently positive, however, some values like utang na loob and pakikisama are often abused.
30 Filipino Values: Cultural Beliefs that Shape Our Behaviors Read More »
When I enter a Filipino home, I often hear the same words: “Tuloy po kayo! Kain na!” It doesn’t matter if I am a close friend or a stranger. The welcome feels the same. A chair is pulled out, food is offered, and in a
Hospitality with Heart: What Filipinos Teach Us About Belonging Read More »
Bringing back malikhain isn’t about making grand gestures. It’s about small steps that rekindle the creative flame within each of us. It’s about remembering that creativity is a vital part of who we are.
Reviving ‘Malikhain’: Bringing Back Filipino Creativity Read More »
Filipino values get tested in real life, especially when pressure rises—because it’s easy to talk about values and hard to live them when work gets messy. In this article, Jef Menguin reflects on Filipino values like bayanihan and why they must travel with us as we grow and modernize. Read it, practice one value this week, and share it at work so culture becomes behavior, not just tradition.
Adversity makes us stronger. To thrive in the VUCA world, we must develop a growth mindset and resiliency skills. Today, let’s reflect on the wise words of Epicurus.
Pakikipagkapwa-tao breaks down when work turns people into “resources,” and the cost is cold teamwork, tense conversations, and trust that slowly leaks. In this article, Jef Menguin explains pakikipagkapwa-tao as treating others as equals—with empathy, respect, and dignity—and shows where it gets misused as blind pakikisama. Practice the shift—see the person, not just the role—then share it at work so your culture becomes more human and more effective.
Pakikipagkapwa-tao: Authentic Interpersonal Relationships Read More »
Utang na loob is a Filipino cultural trait that may mean debt of gratitude and reciprocity. We keep to heart the good deeds we receive from someone, especially when we need help.
Utang Na Loob: Filipino’s Sense of Gratitude & Generosity Read More »
Pagpapahalaga means valuing, and the values you carry will either lift your life—or quietly limit it—especially when pressure hits. In this article, Jef Menguin breaks personal values into something you can see, name, and choose, not just admire in theory. Practice the shift and share it at work so you stop reacting by habit and start acting with intention.
Pagpapahalaga: When Your Values Look Great… But Your Life Doesn’t Read More »
“Bahala na” often gets mistaken as fatalism—and when leaders live that way, planning weakens, accountability slips, and problems repeat. In this article, Jef Menguin reframes bahala na as courage and faith in action, not “bahala na si Batman” resignation. Practice the braver meaning and share it at work so your team faces uncertainty with calm action, not surrender.
Bahala na: When Filipinos Do the Unreasonable to Succeed Read More »
If accountability stays weak, problems keep getting recycled, and leaders end up carrying the weight while others “report” instead of resolve. In this article, Jef Menguin explains accountability as being someone others can count on—and why accountable people don’t hide behind excuses, victim stories, or
Accomplishment is not just a word; it’s a testament to one’s ability to set, pursue, and achieve meaningful goals. It sets apart the good companies from the great ones. Highlighting this value underscores the importance of achieving milestones, both big and small. Accomplishment acts as
People measure success based on their achievements. One can accomplish a task by finishing it. Achievement is when you get something done, a project, or a challenge, perhaps. Achievement as a Core Value Mary Ann has been working in the company for 15 years. She’s
If you don’t amplify your life, you stay small on purpose—your strengths sit unused, your impact stays limited, and your days feel like repetition. In this article, Jef Menguin shares how to amplify by using your strengths, grabbing opportunities, and growing 1% at a time. Practice the shift and share it at work so your team stops playing safe and starts expanding what they can do.
Boldness, which implies a flair for entrepreneurship, and a desire to take considered risk and show commitment. This is how Capgemini defined one of its seven core values. Boldness as a core value means that the organization encourages everyone to take risks and show commitment
Because you want your people to give excellent service, you must give them excellent service. Business owners are quick to accept that every manager and supervisor must model excellence. That way they’ll get the respect of their subordinates. Managers and supervisors are expected to perform