We can and will become strong again!—Part II

Last week we discussed the need for our governor to speak directly to us. He must assure us that things are under control while showing us the directions to go in this tumultuous time. Hopefully he will do this. Now let’s discuss the next step we must do to regain our direction and courage.

One of the reasons we are in this economic whirlwind spin is that we have not been truthful to ourselves. We have relied on others to do our work for us. We have spent more than we could afford. And we have not planned for the future. Unless we examine where we have been for the past years and where we want to go, there cannot be any change.

Change comes from small beginnings and grows into larger ones slowly.

First, let’s begin with a small change that can start in our own backyard. With the high cost of vegetables, why not consider planting a vegetable garden in our yard. Many people in the United States have been doing that successfully for some time.

Two things will happen. First, we will enjoy fresh vegetables at great savings. Second, we will be pleased that we did something to help ourselves without dependence on others. This small act will give us confidence to accept bigger challenges to help ourselves. By planting a vegetable garden we will use our hands and mind to satisfy a need. Imagine the pleasure of sitting down to a plate of vegetables that we grew ourselves. Compare this to the pleasure every fisherman gets when he eats his catch of the day.

The next step is to seriously take action to become small business owners and skilled workers. With the inevitable departure of nonresident workers in a few years, we must begin training ourselves to replace them in the skills they have been providing us. Stop thinking of minimum wages. Think instead of what we can do for ourselves. In this manner a small revolution will take place in our community. We must do the work we turned our backs on during the age of cheap labor.

Many of our fathers or relatives were skilled tradesmen. Remember? We failed to replace them and turned to outsiders to do our work. As a result we lost the incentive to work with our hands. Instead we settled for a posh government job with tons of benefits at a price we are feeling now.

One of the most important steps to improving our economy and ourselves is to take over all the small businesses we have so foolishly allowed foreigners to operate. This has happened under the guise of foreign investors. We should be the shop keepers!

A missing part of our cultural background is an entrepreneurial drive. Very few of us have the spirit or know how to operate a business. As a result we have allowed foreigners to take over most of the businesses which we should be operating ourselves. Yet none of these businesses require a high outlay of neither cash nor an especially high educational level. But these businesses demand a commitment of time and effort. Let’s take a look at some of them which we can enter if we have a desire.

There are over 140 grocery stores in Saipan. How many are owned and operated by residents? Merely a handful! The rest are owned by foreigners in every village. So we go there and spend our money and let the foreign owner make a profit which should be in the resident owner’s pocket. Why don’t we have more locally-owned stores?

We have over 70 auto repair shops. How many are locally owned and operated? Only a handful! Why can’t we repair cars in locally owned shops? We have over 70 beauty shops and over seven barber shops in Saipan. How many men or ladies know how to work in a beauty shop or a barber shop? Why not?

I was a licensed barber before I became a businessman. In fact I paid for my college tuition working as a barber. Where are all the local nurses we need at the hospital or in private care? Where are the local cooks and bakers in the restaurants and hotels? Where are the local carpenters, electricians, plumbers—the list goes on and on? Why aren’t we doing this work ourselves? We are fully capable.

I can hear the arguments about why we cannot do these things. But the reality of the matter is we prefer to work for the government where we are catered to or do a job that requires little training or skill but with many benefits. As a result we have created a false economy built on sand. Meanwhile we keep pleading for help from the outside in the form of more handouts. Why can’t we invest in our selves and in our islands? In this manner we truly are people of the land. We must work our land to keep it!

People, help from the outside is not coming unless we want to become a dependent welfare state. In 1999, there were only 3,500 food stamp recipients. Today there are over 8,500 and rising! Why is that?

I have repeatedly said that opportunities here are bountiful. True, some of them will not create an economic boom, but they will help add to it. While we are improving ourselves and competing against foreign owned businesses, we will be amazed at the turnabout in our attitude. Consider the higher income we will realize. But most important is the pride we will feel in helping ourselves.

Forgive my preaching, but we must start helping ourselves. The local government cannot spoon feed us any longer. That era is over. The United States government is not going to tolerate cheap labor any more. So let’s stop the crying that our society is going to implode and/or explode when the guest workers leave. It will do neither if we begin now to take over and run our own small businesses. Let the big investors invest in the big projects, but we must control the small businesses.

There is an interesting article in the Economist magazine dated Aug. 2, 2008, that discusses the efforts to promote entrepreneurship in the developing world is beginning to bear fruit. So you see the rest of the world is waking up to the fact that its citizens must control its own destiny. We must operate and own our small businesses!

I am willing to meet with any one or group to help in developing the entrepreneurship spirit in our community. I am willing to share my 45 years experience with anyone interested. Please call me at 287-8310 or email me at: tonypell @saipan.com. We must and can run our own small businesses.

Over time, sustained food aid and other types of aid create dependence on handouts and shifts focus away from assisting ourselves. External aid drains our will to help ourselves. It becomes addictive. Over time, there’s a loss of key skills, and a country that doesn’t have to feed itself or doesn’t know how to, becomes a country that can’t.

There is no reason why all the small businesses cannot be operated by us. Until we begin to operate them, we will be at a disadvantage and dependent on outside help. Unfortunately, outside help will not come because it is here with us, if only we embrace it. It resides within us if we want it. Let’s become an island of small business operators. We can and must be strong again. But it can only be done by us!