Life constantly sends us curve balls. And on this episode, we sit down with the CEO of the Philippines’ most successful travel agency - Access Travel - to discuss how she turned a grievous part of her life into becoming the spark to her business’ huge success.

Angely Dub is an entrepreneur and traveler who founded her own company, Access Travel, at the age of 19. She’s one of the Philippines’ youngest and most successful CEOs and she continues to use her passions to inspire people on her digital platforms, in her travels, and her work as a keynote speaker.

On Starting Her Own Business:

How does it feel to be successful at such a young age?

I never think of the fact that “we’re already here”. I still work like how I used to work 10 years ago. Everyday, there is something new to learn and discover. One of the practices that I’ve learned from a person I look up to is that everyday I have to learn a new word. I believe that if we don’t learn, we get old. The Japanese secret is that they work until the day they die, they move continuously. That’s something that I’ve adapted. (AD)
*Having a small practice like this stems from a bigger practice of constantly learning something new — it’s learning and re-learning things in life that keep us growing. (JP)*

How did your business journey start at 19 years old?

My journey started when my dad died when I was 13. *He was my world then in a blink, he’s gone.* And remembering this, somehow I’m actually thankful that it happened because I will not be as independent as I am today if not for my dad’s passing. When my dad died, my mom gave me the freedom. I started traveling alone at the age of 15. And my mom’s only rule for us is “don’t get pregnant” - no curfew or anything like that. So I became very independent, traveling and studying around the world.
I just saw the world and said to myself, “You know what, the Philippines is as small as a dot.” The world is so big. I even saw Obama and I know that if I just stayed in the Philippines, I won’t experience any of these things. My world will be very small. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always been into business, talking to people and learning from people. I never believed in education in school. That’s just a standard of human beings and the real learning is outside, that’s why I wanted to be *madiskarte*. Most of the things taught in school isn’t practical learning. What’s missing in the education system is that they are not teaching us how to cope up with life. I’m really thankful that our Mom trained us to be responsible enough to be the driver of our life. (AD)

“Everyday, there is something new to learn and discover.”

— Angely Dub

Tell us about ACCESS TRAVEL

Traveling for quite a while to learn and study made me realize that I can’t be an employee. When I came back to the Philippines, I applied as a flight attendant and it didn’t work out. I’m thankful for it because I know I wasn’t meant for that job. Then, I got into Access Travel. It started out with photography because that’s always been my thing and all photos you see in Access Travel are taken by me. I grew the company from there. Now that I’ve reached this point of success where I have the money, the resources and the network — I plan to do more to become even better. I don’t want to stop growing. You should use your power to expand and learn more. I have bigger goals and now I plan to make my masters so I can make Access Travel even better. (AD)

“Sometimes we think that when we reach a certain level of success, we can delegate all the work to other people. We stop working. We get out of touch. And that’s the mistake most owners do that make businesses fail — becoming complacent.”

— Joyce Pring

For young entrepreneurs who want to start their own business:

○ Communicate properly. We have so many means of communicating and yet, we connect less with people. Have a sense of responsibility, consideration and kindness. And when you pay that respect and consideration to other people, it eventually goes back to you. (AD)

○ I don’t give my hard work for free. If you are very good in what you do and you do all the hardwork for you to be able to deliver a good product, it’s okay to put a premium on your product. The right people will always find you. Don’t try to fit yourself in every group. Self-awareness is the key. Know what you want, and what your goals are; look for a group that will fuel your personhood and your goals. (AD)

○ Learn to say “No” and know when to say “Yes”. Saying no to some work doesn’t really mean no. It means saying yes to something else that matters more. Know where your yeses lie and from there, you’ll know how and when to say no. (JP)

○ Practice being disciplined and having professional work ethics — all the time. At the end of the day, even in the small parts of your life, you take those work and life ethics. These practices might seem small to other people but they eventually turn into habits, into your character — and that particular character trait is something that you will carry in all aspects of your life. (JP)

What would be your advice to your people who want to start their own business?

In real life, you have to work and struggle first before making it. **It’s not paradise first. It’s always difficult first, before it becomes better.** You have to work on it. You have to step up. (AD)

What’s the secret to your success?

I always tell people that the secret behind my success is my parents. I always listen to my mom and I tell her everything. It just feels good that you tell everything to the person that gave you life.
Another thing is, I think what’s wrong with people nowadays is that they’re very sensitive about everything. **You need to be tough to be successful.** In my experience, the only mindset I had after my dad died is that, when we meet, he will be proud of all the things I’ve done here on earth. **I want to make them proud and I don’t give up. I embrace change.** People are sometimes too weak to accept change but change makes you more mature, stronger and better. (AD)

**What did you have to give up to attain your success?**

*If you want to be successful, you have to learn how to balance things; sometimes, there are things that you need to let go of or set aside. (JP)*
For me, I had to give up my youth and having fun. Because when all my friends are going out, I was working and building my Access Travel - but I don’t regret it. Also, I had to give up my time with my family for work; but now, I’m making it up to them. I believe that everything we do has timing and we can fix our lives by choice. (AD)

“In conclusion, a change in perspective can alter your whole life. You can take your lowest point and use it as an excuse to stay down, or you could grab it as an opportunity to fuel your drive to thrive.”

— JP