During the week, Agnes Paranis helps her company look for new areas to open a donut shop. During weekends, she’s hustling as a co-owner of a sweets and dessert bar events company. Take a look at how she juggles the best of both worlds.

Way back in 2015, when I was still working in Japan, I thought it was the greatest decision I have ever made because I really wanted to work abroad. But after six months of working there as an importation staff, I realized it was not meant for me because I can’t feel any self-fulfillment with my job. So I decided to go back to the Philippines.

I tried to look for a job in Manila that similar to my previous work before I left for Japan. But then, I realized that I have to move on and change my career path. As a fresh start, I applied for the position of business development officer for Contemporain Foods, Inc. (J.CO Donuts & Coffee) and luckily, I was hired.

As a business development officer, my main work involves looking for possible spaces for the establishment of new J.CO stores, negotiating lease agreements, and handling government, external issues and other store operation concerns in coordination with mall management and landlords. On the side, I also started an events-related business with my college friends in 2017. We named our business Sweets Fairy Candy Buffet. We set up candy bars suitable for any event. Our business includes customizing and decorating the area according to a client’s preferred theme. We also create personalized souvenirs based on the event’s theme.

Somehow, I could say that at this point in my life, I’m happy and contented because I love and enjoy what I’m doing. So during weekdays, I work as a business development officer. During weekends, I’m a businesswoman and supervise any event for Sweets Fairy Candy Buffet. Read on to see what a typical workday for me is like.

4:00 A.M. – I wake up and check my email and Viber messages through my phone.

4:30 A.M. – Bath time.

5:30 A.M. – I drive to work.

6:00 A.M. – 6:30 A.M. – I usually arrive in the office.

7:00 A.M. – 7:30 A.M. – I check my email, listen to music, read an article over the internet relating to business and news. I also do some research on events management for Sweets Fairy Candy Buffet.

7:30 AM. – I have breakfast.

8:00 A.M. – I start to work.

12:00 NN – This is my lunch break. I normally browse the internet, listen to music, or reply to my partners regarding our business.

1:00 PM. – I go back to work. I sometimes drink coffee or tea.

3:00 P.M. – This is my snack time so usually, I go for anything sweet or just chips.

6:00 P.M. – My work shift ends.

8:30 P.M. – I arrive home.

9:00 P.M. – I have dinner and talk to my mom, sisters, or friends.

10:00 P.M. – I check my email and Viber again. I also prepare my things for the next day.

What is the most challenging part of your job or day?

The most challenging part of my day is to make sure that I can handle my work as a business development officer and, at the same time, address any task in my personal business. This is always what I dreamt of doing. It helps me learn and grow every day. Right now, I am committed to my current job and personal business. I’m trying my very best to focus more and prepare myself for a bigger plan. If I get used to this usual routine, my next step is to pursue a master’s degree in business so that I could learn more and be an expert in any business that may come my way.

What do you like most about your job or business?

What I like most about my job is that every task or concern that I receive, I get to learn more and deal with it alone or with help from other people in the company. I can manage and accomplish my time and work with or without the supervision of my bosses. I can feel my importance to the company and fulfill my mandated task as a business development officer. I also feel satisfied as there is teamwork among us employees, and we trust each other’s abilities.

Also, what’s good about my work is I get to experience meeting influential and inspiring people who can make a difference in my personality and field of work. It makes me learn how to work and deal with different people confidently. This develops my self-confidence and self-esteem and creates a positive attitude that makes things easier for me without having to question my capability in handling my work and all the things that go with it.

What is your advice for women considering your industry?

I always stand with the saying, “Fall down seven times and get up eight.” Every experience we have in our lives will leave a mark and will make us stronger. So, it is always best that we take some risks and to move on every time failure comes our way because this will not only make us grow stronger but also train us in realizing mistakes and learning how to avoid them in the first time.

For what it’s worth, experiencing failures in life only makes us a better person ready to face the realities of life and somehow, be able to learn something from it. Focus on working hard to achieve your goals in life and stay positive in whatever you do to reach your goals.

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