Myrna Frago
Many years ago, spouses Myrna and Joselito Frago resorted to tending plants to shake off the stress brought about by their first business ventures in trading coal and multi-level marketing. Joselito was always interested in plants, but his wife, an architect by training, soon shared this hobby. “Plants were our therapy to keep from getting burned out,” Myrna says. Their businesses were doing fairly well but the couple felt that something was amiss, was not quite right.
Soon their love for plants enabled them to accept small projects in landscaping. The Fragos did it for fun but were happy that they could actually earn from it.
It was around this time that a neighbor casually mentioned CARD to Myrna, a unique microfinance company that granted startup loans even without the benefit of collateral. Myrna had no need for a small loan. Her needs were larger since they were already exploring the possibility of pursuing landscaping as a business. Still, she remembered the adage that great things start from small beginnings, so she decided to join.
Since then, there’s been no turning back for the Fragos. Through the small amount they obtained from CARD, they put up Forest Wood Garden and started accepting job orders designing gardens and hotel and restaurant lobbies.
This time, Myrna and her husband were in the business of doing what they loved to do best. They did not mind the long hours. Through word of mouth, more clients came, and the Fragos began to join trade fairs where they would showcase their products and services.
Their good payment record and attractive business prospects enabled the couple to obtain even bigger loans from CARD, having moved up to capitalize on the new needs and emerging preferences of the market. CARD supported their plan and became instrumental in granting them access to new funds as well as sound advice on finding their niche. Today, Forest Wood Garden still accepts walk-in landscaping projects, but they now have a healthy mix of individual and corporate clients which now includes a multinational retail giant and a famous chain of malls.
The Fragos know better now. They are always on the lookout for opportunities to serve their loyal clients better. They are exploring other applications for their talents. For example, according to Myrna, there is emerging demand for landscaped funeral services to create a cocoon of peace and tranquility for the bereaved while they mourn. Also, the couple is busy developing health and wellness products from medicinal plants, and their aloe vera soap is proving to be a bestseller.
As far as the business is concerned, Myrna and Joselito are trying to meet their amortizations consistently. They expect challenges, but remain confident that they will do just fine. Experience has taught them a lot over the last several years. CARD’s genuine support for the success of their venture is invaluable and drives them to do better. When issues arise, options are discussed, and solutions are implemented. Unlike before, the business only hires on a per-project basis and includes a trusted supervisor to manage the couple’s interests on days when they are out. Meetings are more regular. Good performance is incentivized through extra allowances or non-monetary benefits. They are more hands-on this time and more approachable, ready to praise and compliment staff to recognize excellence and boost morale. however, they are also quick to call the attention of erring employees — although these confrontations happen in private, away from the eyes and ears of the others. Joselito is the stricter of the two, while Myrna assumes the role of compassionate mother or sister, dispensing heartfelt advice.
Myrna thinks it is crucial that each employee always thinks of himself or herself as part of a larger team. “Talent is not limited to just me or my husband,” Myrna says. “We are a family and we should nurture each other’s talents.”
And if the Fragos choose to remain accessible to their employees, so do they consciously make themselves always available to their clients. After all, they are in the services sector, and their line of work ultimately demands customer trust and confidence to succeed. Myrna believes that people shouldn’t work just to put food on the table. They need to love what they do. They need to be able to find meaning and happiness in their work. Otherwise, what are they in business for? Money, after all, is just a by-product of the dedication, time and effort one is willing to invest in a venture that they truly love.
Myrna and Joselito will always be grateful to CARD for allowing them to live their dream.
~ Myrna Frago