As a child, he made up stories just to satisfy his playmates’ eagerness. It was enough for him to see their eyes widen with excitement, their lips curled into smiles, their imaginations soaring high in the sky, forming hopes and shaping dreams.
As a man, he realized that it was these everyday storytelling sessions that prepared him for the bolder challenges ahead; they also became opportunities for him to move minds, inspire people, encourage change and build better futures.
“I would lead in daily storytelling sessions. I could see that every time I tell stories they look very enthusiastic, very interested, so I will make up stories on the spot,” says Cesar Baltazar, President of iCareer Academy, Inc. “This has prepared me for the kind of job that I later on went into: training. I could tell stories but you still need to think on your feet.”
Cesar sits in his office with his hands lying on top of the table as if feeling the sturdiness inside this old wood that witnessed the birth of iCareer Academy, his own company which provides training and consultancy toward expanding career options. His eyes glimmer together with every experience that he narrates, as if his mind is reflecting on each word that he utters.
During his younger years up to the present, Cesar has witnessed the drastic changes of society and its people, particularly in the working sector and its human resources. After earning a degree in Chemical Engineering and passing its licensure exams, Cesar worked in practically all fields, giving him a taste of every flavor that the corporate world has to offer.
He started as an Industry Inspection-Verification Officer where he was trained to deal with the different companies who were applying for tax exemptions based on the equipment they purchased from other countries. After realizing that he wanted to use his skills as a Chemical Engineer, Cesar moved on to work as Head of the Chemical Control department of a paper manufacturer even if it meant lower pay.
“After a year, I realized that I was still looking for a Chemical Engineering job. I got a good salary for my first job, but I thought salary was really secondary. So I stepped down and accepted a lower paying job, but for a job that was about chemical engineering,” says Cesar.
But after three years of serving his passion for chemicals, Cesar moved on to the career which would mold his future. For more than 30 years now, he has been empowering the human resource departments in companies by developing the potentials of their leaders and stretching their skills to the limits. It is this same passion that helped him realize his true calling.
“Towards the end of your career, the question is not really so much on how many medals you have accumulated in terms of school work or how successful you’ve been in your corporate job. The question really is more fundamental: how have you spent your life in the care of others,” says Cesar.
This fatherly corporate founder recalls his family as his source of inspiration. Although his work stretches his office schedule up to the ungodly hours of the night, he tries to find time for his family especially for his fifth kid who happens to be a special child.
“I’d like to think that overall I have done my share of being a provider but I know I could have done some more in terms of attention and caring. Right now, when I have to bring some work at home---but when my fifth kid asks me to play, I’ll drop my work just to give him my full attention,” narrates Cesar.
Being in close proximity to Cesar makes one realize that fatherliness emanates from him. It is as if his achievements are driven by his desire to make his family happy as well as to help others improve on their crafts.
“When I took my early retirement from the corporation after some reflection, I thought of where I’d want to go. The answer that came to mind was to use whatever knowledge and wisdom I have accumulated through the years and use them for the benefit of others. The best way I could make use of my life is to make use of my potentials, and the best way to do that is to learn, get involved, work and to collaborate with other people,” says Cesar.
He pulls his chair excitedly, his hands starting to draw invisible lines on top of the table as he remembers other inspirations aside from his family. These inspirations drove him to spur not only his personal development but also to serve other people’s needs to grow and improve.
“One of my inspirations is the belief in one’s self because if you don’t believe in yourself, who else will? The fact that I do have to develop myself inspires me to go on.
“Another factor is the people around me. I try hard to succeed not only for myself but also for me to see people around me happy that I’m succeeding.
“The third and maybe the highest inspiration is that I’m inspired to do what I have to do because I know that there’s a God who’s really controlling everything. I get inspired to do the things that will satisfy Him,” concludes Cesar.
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