MANILA, Philippines --- Many of us are familiar with the condition known as anorexia nervosa which is an abnormal dislike to eating.

This condition is usually characterized by a severe and excessive loss of weight. Women are principally the victims of anorexia nervosa especially obese women who are obsessed to have the figure of Marilyn Monroe overnight. In short, many women who are on a reducing program and are on a lean diet eventually lose their appetite to eat and continue to lose weight.

Many exporters are suffering from export anorexia. They have lost interest to pursue their export business. Some of them have diverted into other activities; others have enrolled in schools for further studies; still, not a few have already suspended their export business without any alternative business plan.

Someone I know suddenly developed the habit to go to movie houses 3-4 times a week and neglected to attend to his export business. What triggers such loss of interest to pursue export business? I have talked with exporters, or should I say former exporters and here’s what they say:

• “Too much tension. The continued appreciation of the Philippine peso vis-à-vis the US dollar during the past months has drained me so much. Life is so short. Why should I sacrifice my health and well-being?”

• “My workers are so spoiled already. They keep asking for increases while their performance is getting worse. I can’t compete with the prices of other Asian countries;

• “Everytime we cannot meet our delivery dates, my wife gets sick because of stress. My children’s moods are also affected.”

• “I have problems with financing. I hate going through that tedious process of applying with the bank for export advances.”

• “Look at my face. I have so many wrinkles already. I have spent thousands of pesos to look young but the best doctor cannot restore the glow and radiance in my face that suddenly vanished when I started my export business.”

What a tragic situation it would be if the majority of our exporters get caught with export anorexia! If there is an epidemic of export anorexia, controls will be inevitable in imports, exports and foreign exchange. Probably too, cases of nervous breakdowns among exporters will increase.

The stress factor makes all the difference. Many of us can take stress gracefully. In fact, many of us who can take stress gracefully perform better under crisis situation. In contrast, others cannot take stress.

The message is very simple – if one cannot take stress, he should not venture into export business or other businesses for that matter. Export business or other work must be one’s play. This is the only way to enjoy work despite the problems cropping up along the way.

Thinking of a business without problems? This happens only in fantasy land. As the saying goes – “uncrossable rivers, untunneled mountains, and impossible circumstances really aren’t unusual.”

Have a joyful day!