There’s something about listening to a 20-something dream about becoming a CEO by age 30 that brings out extremes in people.
Franco Mesina is a classic example, and he is probably used to getting the full range of reactions from admiration to rejection. The far right side of the spectrum — pessimism from other people or even outright rejection of his dreams — don’t seem to have any effect on him.
Even before he graduated from college, Franco has already set up a water-refilling station business with his dad. But while the business flourished, he had no plans of stopping there. With his girlfriend Abby, he stumbled on a business opportunity when they met an importer/exporter of equipment for water refilling stations. They convinced the businessman to take a chance on them, thus the birth of a new company with a business to business (B2B) strategy, aiming to be a major supplier of good-quality equipment for water stations and institutional clients all over the country.
The way Franco declared his goals of becoming a CEO of a nationwide water company by age 30 – that’s less than 10 years from now – makes one think that meeting the big businessman who gave him and his girlfriend a break was not a happy coincidence. He looked like someone who make things happen with sheer determination.
Franco and Abby are now busy with three fledgling companies – a supplier of water refilling station equipment, Icylicious (snow cones from clean water) and a packaging company. If you want to vote for Franco and Abby to be one of eight groups of business owners who will get advice from Willy Arcilla for one year, just comment on this article ☺
Read about contender number one, No Slipping Inc.’s Wilson Sy, here.
Read about the first plenary session in my two blog previous posts here and here.
Click here to watch a video of Franco and Abby.
April 1st, 2008 at 4:51 pm
My vote goes to the brilliant idea of bottling water by Franco and Abby.
Considering the convenience offered by bottled water, not to mention the great need for drinking water, Fountain Cool has the potential of becoming a very successful business venture.
I pray and I hope that Fountain Cool is going to be one of the winners in this contest.
March 26th, 2008 at 10:04 am
I think Franco and Abby are not only enthusiastic and determined but they also do their “homework” and are willing to learn the ins and outs of the kind of business they have chosen. Water is a much needed commodity. Providing clean water systems can alleviate a lot of health problems. I hope that Franco and Abby would continue to engage in business with hearts of servant leaders. We need business people who work with integrity, always thinking of the best way of serving others. God bless you and the work he has entrusted you!
March 26th, 2008 at 4:55 am
Franco is a determined young man. He dreams, he visualize, and he makes it happen, which equates to success. So, Cong, I don’t know who really said this quote, but I will say it to you: Aim for the moon, even if you missed, you’ll still land with the stars. Best of luck.
Auntie & family
March 25th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Franco is a very hard working guy. He has the vision, the drive, and the energy to fulfill his dream. With his friends and families support, and his “go get it” attitude, there’s nothing that he couldn’t do. We’re very proud of you, Cong.
March 25th, 2008 at 3:43 am
These guys have the good stuff. They’ll make. Cocktails and chips on me. Way to go kids.
March 23rd, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Franco Mesina’s sheer determination, hardwork, ambition and business foresight will lead him to awesome business success.
His business also takes care of peoples’ well-being, providing clean water.
May he be able to always get a good business advice.
March 22nd, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Hello Franco and Abby,
Your ka-entreps are 100% behind you in this endeavor.
I wish I have the same vision and enthusiasm that both of you possess.
Go Frabby! Get that mentoring opportunity…
Good luck!
March 22nd, 2008 at 8:00 am
Dear Franco and Abbie,
As Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams”. Best of luck in your endeavors. Your parents must be so proud of you
Prima
March 22nd, 2008 at 5:56 am
For a young man he knows his goals and has the determination to achieve them. He is focused and hard-working.
May he succeed and best of luck in getting the free consultation with Mr. Arcilla
March 22nd, 2008 at 5:37 am
Franco & Abby,
“whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve”… with your clear goal coupled with sheer
determination and compelling action, success is a sure destination!!!
All the best to you both!!!
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:51 am
You have all the ingredients to be successful: vision/goal, determination, experience, education, experience, etc. plus strong support from family and friends. That’s cool. All the best.
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:09 am
Franco & Abby,
When I met you guys in 2006 at the Kamayan Restaurant in Makati, it struck me that at your young age, you already exhibit self confidence. CEO or not, you seem to have what it takes to succeed in life. Come to think of it, you already have what it takes to be a happy person—you MOM.
March 21st, 2008 at 11:34 am
Wow !! what an amazing ambition !!!
One key to succeed is liking and enjoying what you do. It takes time, energy and effort to climb that ladder of success.
Go slowly but surely.
No doubt, you can make it. You will be there on top as a CEO.
Most of all, I wish you both good luck and looking forward on your BIG SUCCESS in this business partnership.
March 21st, 2008 at 2:11 am
Keep it up, Franco & Abby. Hardwork, perserverance, and the having good and honest ties with people will help you succeed in life. Wishing you the best. (If I may say, Franco looks exactly like her Mom and he inherited her charms and intelligence.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
It is not so hard to pick out the outstanding qualities of young very enterprising people like Franco & girlfriend Abby. With his clear goals, backed by his natural determination to succeed and of course the equally important support of his girlfriend, Franco has simply become so close to his dreams. Good luck & I wish you all the success.
March 20th, 2008 at 11:30 am
All the Best and we hope and pray you will make it in Business! Always remember there are always endless possibilities. Good Luck!
March 20th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Franco and Abby,
I wish you both good luck on this endeavor. With pure hard work and determination tied with a very strong support from family and friends, success is very well within your reach already.
March 20th, 2008 at 12:52 am
It’s encouraging to see young people dream and work hard to make their dream a reality.
All the best to you, Franco and Abby.
March 19th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Franco and Abby,
Your friends and family are all behind your dreams and aspirations. We will pray for your success in business and in life.
March 19th, 2008 at 1:15 am
GOOD LUCK!!!!!! I KNOW YOU WILL MAKE IT!!!!!
March 18th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Good Luck Cong, we’ll see you on the top!
March 18th, 2008 at 12:04 am
Success in business depends on getting superb advice - and that’s what Willy Arcilla delivers! Franco might have the dreams and determination but he definitely need the innovative ideas and practical advice from a great mind. Franco’s success means opportunities - not only for him but for the rest of the Filipino people. Let us help this dynamic and hardworking Franco put his great business mind to work!
Good luck to you and Abby!
March 17th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
We wish you the best in your endeavor.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
I know Franco, or simply “Cong” to his friends, through Ka-entrep, a fledgling organization supporting the needs and concerns of Small and Microentrepreneurs in the Philippines. Through the character formation program of Ka-entrep, I have found Cong to be of exceptional character. I am certain this resourceful, creative and determined young entrepreneur will reach his goals sooner rather then later, and I’m proud to be a friend. All the best to you and Abby, Cong!
March 17th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Franco and Abby,
More power to you guys! I know this project of yours will be a big hit in the Philippine market. Your dream of being a CEO in the near future will be a dream come true. keep the faith.
March 17th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Good luck and more power to both of you, Franco and Abby !
Your strong determination will definitely
bring you to the top.
March 17th, 2008 at 10:02 am
To Franco & Abby,
I watched your video. Good minds! You have my prayers & best wishes for a successful venture.
Cecilia Aquino, Class 73 AHS
March 17th, 2008 at 7:29 am
I wish you luck in your endeavor. I truly believe you deserve it. I admire business minded people like. I was once like you, dreaming of having a business of my own. Unfortunately it didn’t happen.
Keep up the good work.
March 16th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Being a CEO is more of an art than a science. Franco has that gift of art, profile and potential to fulfill his dreams in becoming a successful CEO.
With his vision and determination, achieving his goal will be sooner than later.
Way to go Franco. Good luck…
March 16th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Way to go. Hope to see more young men like you making a difference and leading the way. New generation of entrepreneurs with bright and solid ideas. You definitely have my vote.
March 16th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
We need more young visionaries like him. Hope he gets included. Good Luck!
March 15th, 2008 at 2:21 am
Franco got all the formulas to be successful:
* Good business training from his dad.
* Education.
* Visionary.
* Inspiration and a team mate, lifetime
partner in the future.
* Honest & hard working.
I believe that he will fulfill his dreams.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Franco is such a very hard-working, dynamic and enterprising guy at a very young age. He must inspire a lot of our youth . This country can be great again if today’s youth comprises people like Franco.
March 14th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Franco Mesina has the quality of a successful management executive. He is very optimistic of what the future lies ahead in terms of his business accomplishments. More power to him.
March 14th, 2008 at 11:25 am
I just want to wish you, Franco and Abby the best of luck!
And knowing that Franco has his Mom’s excellent entrepreneurship, he will, undoubtedly, do well with his current and future undertakings.
Again, all the best to both of you!
God bless…
March 14th, 2008 at 8:19 am
I know his dad! so “Like father, like Son!” and God fearing Man. GoodLuck to you and your Girlfriend.
March 13th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
I’ll pray that you will achieve your goals in life since childhood. Keep on praying. Goodluck!
March 13th, 2008 at 9:31 am
I know his Dad Frankie and am very happy for him. His project looks very good and with hardwork and persistence could make him realise his dream.
No matter how good the business plan is, no matter how hard and how smart we work, we need God to bless the work of our hands and make these grow.
March 13th, 2008 at 8:50 am
I know Franco since he was a kid, he’s full of ideas and aspiration. I know that he will be a successfull businessman someday. Hoping someday we can work together in partnership. Good luck Cong, keep up the good work!
March 13th, 2008 at 8:16 am
To Franco,
I pray that you will achieve your goals thru CASH (Commitment, Action, Speed and Hard work). With dedication and
business acumen which I think you inherited from you mom, hopefully you’ll realized your ultimate “dream” sooner than later with God’s help!
God bless and don’t forget HIM!
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”
-Philippians 4:6
March 13th, 2008 at 6:43 am
I am Franco’s mom. He is 23 yrs old and I am 52. I knew of his big dream when he was 2 yrs old. We were walking along Reina Regente St in Binondo when he pointed to me an 8 storey building. He said, ” pag laki ko ganyan ang magiging bahay ko at airconditioned mula sa taas hanggang sa ibaba” ( when I grow up I will have a building like that fully airconditioned.) I smiled and replied ” yes you will have a building when you grow up.)
Since then, he always saved money from his bday gifts, x’mas gifts and daily school allowance (he entered nursery school at 3) for his building.
This dream never left his mind. Now he has more and even higher goals.
I am confident he will realized all his plans coz he is very hardworking, God fearing, has love for the less fortunate and wants to give employment to his countrymen.
You know how I supported you son. I will always be here for you.
To Abby, you are very intelligent and knowledgable in all you undertakings.
GOODLUCK TO BOTH OF YOU !!!
March 12th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Back in college, all he could talk about were his plans to set up his own business. And now he has three?! Way to go!
Good luck Franco!!! Wish you all the best!
March 12th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
He has always shown his drive and dedication, and as expected Franco is really on his way to achieving his goals! Godspeed Cong!
March 12th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I’ve known franco since college and he is really a hard working guy and a good friend. I salute him for having these business ideas at such a young age. Hope he gets to achieve his goals and help as much people along the way =)
March 12th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
he’s still young and he’s very determined. I’m sure he can still learn a lot of things and be able to reach his dreams.
March 12th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
It’s good to know that you’re pursuing the dream you were discussing with us all the way back in college, Franco!
I hope that you would also branch out to other areas and eventually create your own product that we will see in the market. Remember that innovation is good
But for now, I wish you the very best in your endeavors and more success!
March 12th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
I think franco will do great in his endeavors. He has that business mindset since college. I think he has the characteristics of a great CEO.
Good Luck kong!!
March 12th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Being able to provide clean and affordable water for everybody is a very good business. Clean water makes one healthy, thus increases the performance and productivity of the institution he/she is in.
Good Luck in your endeavor.
March 12th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
I personally know Franco from way back in college. And even then, he has always been passionate on being a great entrepreneur.
We always believed he would go far. And I can say that I am very proud of what he has achieved so far.
I wish him more strength, more opportunities. ^_^
March 12th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
A man with a clear vision and pure determination. Mr. Franco I vote for you.
March 12th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
A vote for future CEO Franco!
Goodluck!
March 12th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
I hope he gets picked to be one of the companies for the talk. he has big dreams and he should be given an opportunity to bring it a step closer into making it a reality
March 12th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
I vote for encouraging 20somethings in business. It is admirable to break out from an employee mindset and dedicate to entrepreneurship at so early an age.
Good luck!
March 12th, 2008 at 11:33 am
With his determination and the knowledge from experts, I know he achieve his dreams in no time.
Goodluck!
March 11th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
What I really like to see is Filipino-made equipment that’s better than imported equipment. We have lots of innovative Filipino inventors. What’s lacking in our country is the partnership between entrepreneurs and inventors. Our inventors are excellent scientists but lack commercial skills. Our entrepreneurs are more interested in trading than technology.
This year, I’m supporting inventors and technologists. It’s a break from my real estate and stock investing.