Professional experience and expertise, essential in business venture

The Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP), in the continuation of its Technopreneurship Learning Series (TLS), recently welcomed clean energy specialist and startup shareholder and board member, Charles Cole Navarro, at the TIP Quezon City campus. According to Navarro, there is a misconception today about just leaving one’s studies to become a startup millionaire, making it easy to ignore the importance of finishing one’s studies, being really good at what one does, progressing organically, and reaching the knowledge boundary of one’s expertise. Citing his own experience as an example, Navarro related how he built his skillset through years of professional experience, eventually allowing him to create his own product. He also shared how he figured out his interests, taking jobs that were akin to what he really liked doing. “It’s important to ask yourselves what you want to do, what tools are available to you, how you are going to leverage these tools to earn, and what opportunities are out there,” he said. Navarro explained that there is no breakthrough in what he did. Although his startup involvements have not made him a millionaire, they have given him sources of passive income. According to him, the secret lies in pursuing your talents, becoming selective of the opportunities you wish to pursue, and doing your best at all times. “If you do your best every time, you will be recognized and new opportunities will open up,” Navarro said. “If you pursue your talents and your talents are tempered by your professional experience, you will become the best version of you. You will be able to develop something unique,” he added.