What is the difference between entrepreneurs and laymen? Michael Gerber, author of several business strategy books including The E Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It, says: "The entrepreneur in us sees opportunities everywhere we look, but many people see only problems everywhere they look."

Indeed, being able to spot opportunities is an expected trait among entrepreneurs. There is a group of entrepreneurs, though, who have not only turned every opportunity into a business venture, but have also added value by innovating even amidst great odds.

This December, ENTREPRENEUR PHILIPPINES Magazine honors 2009's trail-blazers through the Ten Outstanding Entrepreneurs of the Year 2009 award. Also known as "Entrepreneur 10", it is an award the magazine has given out annually since 2003 to exemplary enterprising individuals who do not let obstacles prevent them from reaching the goals they have set for their businesses and themselves.

For instance, 2009 was supposed to be a really tough year for business owing to the global recession; yet, for the seventh batch of the Entrepreneur 10 awardees, the challenges actually allowed them to reach greater heights.  

The 2009 Entrepreneur 10 awardees, whose full inspirational stories are featured in the December 2009 issue of Entrepreneur Philippines magazine, are (in alphabetical order):
 

• Patricia Besinga of Prestige Labels Co., which helps startup businesses in research and development, logistics and manufacturing.

• Junie del Mundo of EON Stakeholder Relations Firm. Their services have gone beyond PR work to include helping clients build mutually beneficial trust-based relationships with their stakeholders.

• Benjamin Liuson of The Generics Pharmacy. Liuson always emphasizes that the business itself is a form of corporate social responsibility, as it provides quality yet affordable generic medicines to thousands of Filipinos.

• Roberto Locsin of Locsin International, a company that exports indoor and outdoor furniture and lamps of premium quality to 15 countries worldwide.

• Jerry Perez de Tagle of Integrative Learning International Inc., which has grown into a million-dollar international training and consulting firm with three business units that specialize in organizational development, executive coaching, staff training, licensing and e-learning.

• Jovita Romero, co-owner of Danilyn's Enterprises, which started as a home-based business supplying draperies and other soft furnishings to homes and hotels. Now, its creations are in both Malacanang Palace and the Shangri-La EDSA Hotel.

• Dr. Vivian Sarabia of Vivian Sarabia Optical, dubbed as the "eyewear outfitter to the stars."

• Edgar Injap Sia of Mang Inasal, the fastfood restaurant that has been called "The Next Jollibee."

• Carson Tan of Aquabest, which has elevated the standards of the local purified water refilling industry.

• Kerwin Tansekiao of Jimini Foods and Pizza Pedrico's, who aims to "wow every consumer with a whole new pizza experience every time anywhere in the world."