For MMA fighter Miguel Plana, the leap from a boxing ring to the corporate world of cosmetics is when the gloves come off.
It was once joked that a boxing championship is nothing more than “two half-naked guys getting sweaty, fighting over a belt and purse.” As comical as that is, for at least one pugilist, the fight for the lucrative female beauty market is all in a day’s work.
Enter Miguel Plana, a 29 year-old boxer who currently serves as a Business Development Officer for his family business – Euro Chemicals Inc. “We’ve recently celebrated our 28th year of operations,” says the firm-spoken Miguel, “we supply chemicals for manufacturing, particularly those used in the beauty industry.”
For some, sports and beauty/chemistry may seem like a contradiction – physical and mental, practical and theoretical. But for Miguel, the two are agents for a perfect formula. “They balance out each other,” he says, “and keeping short and long-term goals for each make sure I stay on track.”
Beauty in Combat
“I ventured into Mixed Martial Arts and the Fitness industry when I was 22,” shares Miguel, who graduated with a degree in Entrepreneurial Management from UA&P,” along with several friends, we started Safehouse MMA – a homegrown fight gym in Quezon City.” While Safehouse, like many other gyms, is now closed, Miguel says being a part of that was a privilege. “I learned that commitment is paramount, and the importance of what Steve Jobs once said – about how work is going to fill a huge part of our lives, and that we can only be satisfied if we do great work, and the only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
At 25, Miguel took a crash course in chemistry. “I was called on board by my family’s company,” he recalls, “and coming from a competitive scene, I wasn’t expecting the beauty industry to be even more vicious.” Miguel, who personally handles sales, says he gets no special treatment even if he was the son of the owner. If anything, he had to work even harder. To cope, he forced himself to love it. “I approached the challenge like I would training for a competition. I woke up at 5:30 daily, prepped short and long-term goals, learned from errors, and followed through.”
He also organized his team akin to a Spartan Phalanx – with ranks closed, supporting each other quickly, and being proactive in any situation. Miguel considers 2018 as his best year to date – with him bagging both a boxing championship and reaching his sales quota.
“But if I had one trait I could credit my current success on, it’s probably grit.” A Star Wars fan, he also cites Master Yoda’s famous adage – “Do or do not, there is no ‘try.’”
On the Ropes
Currently however, Miguel is on the ropes. Covid has knocked out usual operation schedules, as well as his workout routine through shuttered gyms. “I’m focusing now on boxing. Most of my training is cardio, a lot of shadow boxing, jumping ropes and a bit of weight training for strength and conditioning.” In the business-side of things, he looks forward to science-based innovations in the beauty industry. “In particular, brightening masks, as well as other health, skin care and wellness products,” he says.
For all his motivation though, Miguel credits his family and close friends as a huge factor in any fight – both in and off the ring. “They will be your source of motivation, inspiration and will truly know you for who you are,” he shares, “they should be able to understand your true nature and the right people will lift you up in tough times.”
Fighting words from someone driven to succeed by the same thing he wants to be – The Best.
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