D.E. CURTAINS THE THREAD OF SUCCESS: From a Pandemic Idea to a Thriving Business

Jason's Experience in Funeral Parlor Industry

A strong desire and motivation were the key factors on the start of Mr Atienza's Funeral Parlor The idea of starting a business originated from Mr Atienza's father, who had established the business initially As a successor to his father's business, he took on the responsibility of continuing it His father had a wide circle of friends who were also business owners, and one of them happened to be from Bulacan and owned a funeral parlor business. Recognizing the spaciousness of their location in Bacoor, Mr Atienza's father saw an opportunity and made the decision to establish his own funeral parlor business. Additionally, he considered the opportunity to assist his friends in need and provide quality service to funeral clients This led to the start of their business

Throughout Mr Atienza's business journey, he gained several significant learnings from his experiences. One of the key lessons he learned as a business owner is the importance of taking personal responsibility.

Regardless of the size of the business, he emphasised that it is crucial for an owner to maintain a focused mindset and have clear goals Passing responsibility to employees may result a lack of understanding about the in-and-outs of the business and an inability to personally address arising issues. By actively participating in the day-to-day operations, the owner can better identify problems and take the necessary steps to ensure the success of their business.

Mr. Atienza reflects on the challenges they faced in their funeral parlor business during the COVID-19 pandemic The most difficult aspect during this period was their lack of preparedness. Given the sudden surge in deaths and the increased need for healthcare services, they initially struggled with handling deceased bodies and implementing proper safety measures As people perceived COVID-19 to be airborne, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) became crucial.

While they had already been wearing PPE during their regular operations, the pandemic necessitated the adoption of double safety precautions This unexpected situation highlighted the importance of adaptability and the need for entrepreneurs to quickly respond to unforeseen challenges.

Mr Atienza used to be shy He doesn't usually talk to people because his father is really strict about staying at home, so even when he goes out he doesn't do anything. At funerals, there are people who need help And because of that, since then, He have learned to deal with people and win the hearts of those he talked to. So all the clients become their family. He also added "at the end of the day, lahat ng tao darating doon May manganganak, may mamatay, at may mawawala Kaya malaking part ang pagkakaroon ng respeto."

For Mr. Atienza, money is not the only factor in success In order to be able to say that you are successful in something, you must learn how to communicate well with others. For him, success means you know how to interact with your clients as well as others, and helping people

When Mr Atienza was asked the question "Do you believe you ' ve achieved that success?" He said that It would be far too far to compare his life then and now He used to have a small house back then and he previously had to borrow or work hard for the things they wanted. Him being a father, he doesn't want their children to experience what he had experienced before