Lessons from the chicken farm

While it's true that conversations are usually more engaging when both parties share a lot of commonalities, having nothing in common does not necessarily mean the end of lively talks.

Learning from listening is as engaging as exchanging shared ideas. This is one of the many aspects that make interviewing a wonderful experience.

This is the usual scenario every time my father-in-law drops by to visit -- we interview, he shares, we learn.

Some time ago he mentioned an unfamiliar Capiz term: tanghag. It popped up when we were talking about how to build garbage bins from scrap metal and chicken nests from coconut leaves (or nigo).

Tanghag is how the elders call hens that have no chick-raising aptitude.

This breed of irresponsible hens could not maintain quality incubation, resulting to dismal egg-hatching ratio. The chicks that luckily get to be hatched are usually left to fend for themselves.

So to be called a tanghag is not a good thing.

Another chicken-related concept came from my brother just last weekend during our visit in Batangas. Listening to him over shots of Gran Matador and green mangoes for pulutan beats any marketing workshop I could think of.

With over fifteen years experience in sales and brand management, it became second-nature for him to apply his marketing strategies to his poultry business.

Nesting is what my brother and his colleagues call the tactic of quietly introducing a product and observing how it will affect the market. Incubation could take as long as needed and, at the right time, they hatch or fast-track it.

"Boom! (with punching action for emphasis) Kuha mo ang market!"

(Why am I getting the image of that parasitic alien -- from the movie Alien -- bursting out of some unfortunate host's chest? It must be the brandy.)

I love listening to these passionate and inspiring people. Someday I hope to record their stories for our family's next generation.

***

I'm not a big fan of brandy, but I think I got converted by Gran Matador.

No hangover!

Sweet.