Alden Richards, the Businessman: 'There Are No Failures, Only Lessons Learned'
Over a decade ago, multi-hyphenate Alden Richards broke into showbiz, and now, he’s breaking into business. After years of playing the leading man in blockbuster roles, Richards is becoming the leading man in the boardroom as well.
The actor, singer, and celebrity has ventured into business before, often with franchises, but he’s entering a new era of entrepreneurship with Myriad Entertainment Corporation.
His Newest Venture: Myriad Entertainment Corporation
“Myriad Entertainment Corporation is a company I’ve put up for me to venture into the world behind the camera. For 11 years, I’ve been in the industry kasi lagi lang ako nandito sa harap so what really tweaks my curiosity is what’s really happening behind it. How to be a producer, how to be a director, how to be someone to mount a show,” shared Richards during a Summit Sessions interview.
“Myriad Corporation is all about entertainment, in line with production, like producing movies, live concerts, even E-sports. With the help of a lot of good friends of mine, I was able to put up this company. It started with ForwARd, and then of course after the ForwARd concert here in the Philippines, I did the concert tour. And marami pa kaming mga projects na upcoming and I’m really excited about it.”
And it’s through Myriad that Richards will be participating in what could be the biggest pop culture moment of the decade—the Eraserheads reunion concert, which Myriad is co-producing.
“We partnered with Ant Savvy, a marketing firm, owned by a friend of ours. And I can’t really reveal many details on it yet, but ‘yun marami pa kaming projects with them and this is step one for it. So we’re very excited for this concert,” said Richards, who shared his experience in showbiz is invaluable in his new ventures.
“The trust and confidence from people that I deal with now, kahit we’re just starting…since malaking part na ako ‘yung nag-put up ng company and tayo yung CEO ng company, so I really deal with it firsthand. Ang laking bagay din talaga nung foundation ko as an actor before venturing into this business and corporation that I have now.”
In addition to Myriad Entertainment Corporation, Richards is also a food entrepreneur with restaurants in Quezon City, Silang, Tagaytay, and Binan. Although his Concha’s Garden Cafe in QC closed during the pandemic, the Tagaytay and Silang branches are still popular spots, as is Richards’ franchised McDonalds store in Biñan, Laguna. And as many know, it costs a pretty penny to franchise McDonald’s in the Philippines.
Alden Richards’ Best Business Lessons
Fiction mirrors reality, and the saying can be applied to Richards' life at the moment. The actor-turned-businessman is currently starring as startup founder Tristan “Goodboy” Hernandez in the Philippine adaption of the hit K-drama show Start-Up. In his Summit Sessions interview, Richards shared how the show has taught him plenty about Philippine startups, the tech industry, and the struggles of startups.
And from all of his experience in business and in showbiz, he’s garnered three important lessons over the years that he’s taken to heart.
“What is thinkable is possible. ‘Pag naiisip mo siya, paulit-ulit mo siyang iniisip, and you feel like it’s gonna happen, it will happen. But you have to start with step one: ‘a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step,’” quoted Richards.
The actor is taking manifesting to a whole new level. But it’s not unheard of. Believing something to existence is something many businesses take to heart—it’s about grit and faith, something Richards advocates considering his next business tip:
“Never be afraid to fail, because I really don’t believe in the word ‘failure.’ It’s either you’ll be successful in the venture that you ventured in or you just learn from it. You don’t fail. ‘Yung iba kasi, masyadong nate-test ng failure. After a certain failure, hindi na nila tinutuloy,” said Richards. “So I guess that’s also one of the things I’ve learned even way before I entered showbiz. Of course, yung pagpasok sa industry is very difficult. And kung failures lang ang bibilangin, mas marami yung failures kesa dun sa success and acceptance. So there are no failures, only lessons learned. “
Resilience has been his guiding star in business and showbiz, but so have the people around him. Whether you’re in entertainment or rising up in a conglomerate, the same philosophy applies: surround yourself with good people who only cheer for your success instead of tear you down because of it. Richards has found mentors in veteran businessmen who’s helped him along the way.
“You got to have to deal with the right people and be with the right people if you want to make something happen. Kasi ‘yun ‘yung pinakaimportante, it’s also one of the things that I’ve learned, na parang in this industry ang hirap magtiwala. It’s very difficult to trust people right now, even in other businesses,” shared Richards. “You just have to really be careful. ‘Wag naman careful to the point na wala nang nangyari sa pagiging careful mo. Sa sobrang takot kang gawin yung mga bagay because of fear, hindi mo na siya nagawa eventually. So for me, okay maging careful pero be a risk-taker as well. You’ll never know unless you try.”
On Influencing the Next Generation of Artists
When asked what his dream venture would be, Richards got deep. Instead of a business, he shared a vision: one where artists (not merely actors) are more than influencers or idols—but where they aim for the most personal growth.
“It’s really more of being able to change the landscape of actors in a sense of… I want, especially the new ones, na dapat hindi lang tayo artista. We should also be curious enough to venture into more aspects and more angles. I started as an actor, and then eventually with the proper guidance from the people I’m with, eto na natutunan ko nang mag-venture into the things in line with my job, but as the person behind the camera. It’s a business opportunity: You will grow and you will learn a lot from it,” said Richards.
“And kahit papaano, nagkakaroon ng growth within yourself. Siyempre hindi mo naman makukuha ’yan ng one year or in two years. It takes time. But be sure never get tired of aspiring, and never get tired of dreaming and being able to try new things. ‘Yun yung isa sa mga attitudes na natutunan ko as I go along this industry.”
It’s easy to see why Richards envisions this. In showbiz, countless actors and actresses rise and fade, often unable to keep up with trends and demands. But Richards stands apart in his ability to pursue other passions and reinvent himself.
Catch Alden Richards’ new show, Start-Up PH, on GMA Network.
Photography by Cyrus Panganiban
Makeup by Arvie Matibag
Hair by Nelson Cruz
Assisted by Andrei Santos
Styling by Melville Sy and Shark Tanael from Studio 24C
Assisted by Vincent Coriosa
