This an excerpt of this month’s MEGAMan cover star Mike Lagman and his work ethic that leads to success.
Related: Mikee Romero’s Work Ethic For Self-Actualization
Relationship. Responsibility. Retention. These are the “3 Rs” that the CEO follows to succeed in the entrepreneurial world. “You need to have a relationship with your client. The client has to know that you are a credible contractor and you’re not an overnight guy or fly-by-night guy. You also have a responsibility to the market.
It’s your social and cultural acceptance of who you are and who the people you work with,” he advises. His belief is not a matter of “who’s the boss?” but rather how one can motivate his people to deliver to the best of their capabilities.
“It’s your job to use the position to deliver the inspirations that these people need in order to do it, because construction is a form of art.”
MIKE LAGMAN
In his construction contracts, retention assures that the job will be completed. For Lagman, it ensures a circular work approach the always leads back to the people. “Be a good leader, a good soldier, and a good follower. We have a responsibility here in this world, not just with our jobs and our families, but also to our country and also to God,” he declares.
Through every crisis he’s faced, Lagman has stayed true to his company’s mission and vision:“together we build.” When the pandemic hit, his company went over and beyond for all the employees, which Lagman refers to as his co-workers. “Our co-workers are also in the frontline in this job and if they lose their jobs, they are not able bring food to the table. We feel that this is our responsibility, first and foremost to help them because they are the frontliners of their families,” he expounds further. “We shared every single material that was available in our warehouses and in our job sites and even during the unexpected natural disasters, the community would need these materials to rebuild.”
SILVER LINING
While I’ve asked the golden question of “what is the secret to your success?” so often to men of hid caliber, it was apparent from the moment you meet with Mike Lagman and his wife that it’s the support they have fostered for each other as partners. Their partnership makes for the strong foundation of their company. “Whether it be academic, non- academic, past, present or future it will always be family first,” he says firmly. “True success of a man’s business is within his family and outside of it, I only count it as a bonus.”
When I asked about how they set the boundary between work and personal life especially in the new normal, like a young and playful couple, they used the chance to tease each other. “To be honest with you, it’s actually harder now—there’s no break. It’s a 24/7 job!” the businessman jokes, prompting Charmaine to get on-screen of our Zoom interview and defend herself, “I can hear you loud and clear!” she laughs. The modern-day couple both agree that the bond they have in their workplace has only strengthened their relationship. “It’s a complementary relationship.
If one of us wants to take the lead, then we allow it. There’s no masculinity or femininity here, it’s all a give and take. There are times when a man has to stand up for his rights but equally, there are also rights of women that a man should recognize and respect,” Lagman proudly says.
In March of this year, the formidable duo also celebrated 25 years of marriage in an intimate silver anniversary on the white sands of Amanpulo. “It’s our family triumph and we are very grateful to have the opportunity to celebrate together,” he says. Despite their three kids Anya, Mica, and Elijah being the only ones in attendance, it was all they needed to feel that they have overcome such challenging times, especially when the onslaught of the lockdown kept them apart from their children who study abroad. “The harder the battle, the sweeter the victory,” Mike Lagman quotes the motivational speaker Les Brown. “It also became a celebration of the open communication, respect, and love we have for each other. As parents, we realized that we have inculcated into them the values we’ve hoped for.”
Read more about how Mike Lagman’s company survived the pandemic in MEGA Man’s August 2021 issue available on Readly, Magzter, Press Reader and Zinio
Photography HARIS TIJO and FELDY SUWITO
