This is based on a true story.
The story of family quarrels over money is a dime a dozen. They are more intense than quarrels among friends. Here is a strange one that warms the heart.
eastwind journals
February 26, 2025, Archives tr614
By Bernie V. Lopez, eastwindreplyctr@gmail.com / www.eastwindjournals.com
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Vincent became a billionaire the hard way. Her mother Elizabeth, who was a pharmacist, had a small business selling home-made deodorant to friends. The sisters at a convent started buying her product in bulk. By word of mouth, the news spread rapidly about her product throughout the whole town. Instantly, she could no longer cope to fill orders with production in her garage. So, she built a separate mini-factory in her big backyard. Still, the business kept growing.
She asked help from her 3 daughters and 4 sons to help expand production and marketing to other nearby towns. But they were all ‘busy’. At that time, Vincent, the youngest sibling, just arrived with a Magna Cum Laude Master’s Degree in Marketing from the famous London School of Economics. Elizabeth asked Vincent, her pet child, to help her, who readily agreed. They had become close to each other when he, as a boy, accompanied her to Mass at a local church every day. When she asked him to help her with business, he excitedly jumped into it.
Vincent first re-packaged the product, using a roll-on design using a plastic ball for easy application, instead of a bottled liquid that was applied by hand, which was messy. He named the new deodorant Instant Joy, with a logo and a nice pink label layout. He did not realize these were simple marketing designs whose quality and appeal could rival the big multinationals.
Vincent went to Manila with two 16-wheelers full of Instant Joy, and started selling house-to-house eight hours a day, six days a week. In less than a month, he needed a new shipment. This time, he graduated from selling to homes to selling to large stores with many branches in the city. And he also graduated from 16-wheelers to ship containers. It was a marketing explosion beyond his imagination. Vincent was not satisfied. His son in Norwalk, California opened up their first U.S. outlet which grew to a dozen in no time. To make a long story short, Vincent was named the deodorant tycoon.
When his mother died, at the wake, all his siblings stared at him green with envy, seeing how he had made a fortune in such a short time. They all wanted a piece of the action, arguing that they were part of the family business. Vincent refused because he did all the work and they did nothing. So, off to the courts they went. His siblings sued Vincent to the high heavens. It was a quick court decision. The judge awarded the business to Vincent who built the empire.
But Vincent loved all of them. He did not get hurt when they sued him. When his sister got cancer of the ovary, he foot the bill. When his brother needed money due to failed business, he gave without hesitation.
MARGARET (his eldest sister) – Vincent, you are a true brother who loves us even though we have hurt you so much. We are sorry. We love you.
VINCENT – No matter how bad things were, family is forever. I also love all of you.
Margaret starts to sob. The others follow. They all go up to him and embrace him.
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AUTHOR’S BOOK – Wings and Wanderlust – Discovering Your Inner Self. At age 26, the author hitchhiked 25,000 kilometers in Europe and North Africa for three straight years. In this book of his wild adventures, he learned deep insights that changed him totally, which he wants to share with readers. It also a guidebook on how to plan your own adventure.
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Author’s Credentials. Blogger – ex-Columnist (Inquirer) – Healing Ministry – ex-Professor (Ateneo University) – Documentary Producer-Director (freelance, ex-ABS-CBN, ex-TVS Tokyo) – ex-Broadcaster (Radio Veritas) – Facebook “Bernie V. Lopez Eastwind” / Pages “Eastwind Journeys and Journals” and “Mary Queen of Peace”.
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