FORMER NATIONAL EQUESTRIAN APIPU PHROMYOTHI HAS USED THE QUALITIES HE LEARNED AS A SPORTSMAN TO EVOLVE INTO A REAL ESTATE MOGUL
LOOKING RELAXED in a deepblue shirt paired with jeans, Apipu "Wave" Phromyothi, director of lifestyle mall The Portico, stretches out in his office chair, a happy smile on his face.
The young businessman has every reason to be happy: The Portico,which he launched three years ago, is doing a roaring trade and his second mega project, Na Vara Residence, an eight-storey condominium just up Soi Langsuan from the mall, is all ready to welcome buyers seeking a prime location in downtown Bangkok.
"This project has been quite a challenge," says Apipu, who is in his early 30s. "The location, of course, is perfect, but creating a project that stands out and blends landscape, architecture, interior design, functionality, taste, and lifestyle is not easy."
Apipu firmly believes that practise makes perfect, and that success comes from trying again and again.
"I've been trained as a sportsman.Continuous practice is the only way to succeed," he says.
As a youngster, Apipu was very involved in sports. "I loved horseback riding. I started when I was nine. My family is in the real estate business and my dad bought a project in Rayong, that had a riding activity with its home owners."
His parents totally approved of their son's new hobby and soon Apipu and his siblings were spending plenty of time on horseback. The youngster quickly made friends and it wasn't long before riding became a passion.
"I was very serious about horseback riding. I felt it was a challenge for me. I knew I liked it, and I wanted to do as much as I could. Talent alone isn't enough - practice is the only way," he says.
"You also have to become one with the horse - a living being who needs love and understanding," he continues. "I worked hard and went to Europe for training while I was still in my teens.
In 2001, when Apipu was just 16 and a Mathayom 5 student at Bangkok Christian College, he represented Thailand in the SEA Games in Malaysia and won a silver medal in the team category.
"I was so proud of my accomplishment and that pushed me to go further," he says.
Apipu did indeed go further,joining many other competitions and also coaching Thai equestrians in regional and international competitions. He participated in the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, the final of the 2003 FEI World Dressage Challenge in Germany, the 2004 World University Equestrian competition in Tokyo, and wound up his equestrian career at the 2007 SEA Games, where he won a bronze medal in the team category.
"I was an Asian horseback rider. At a certain point, my family's support was simply not enough. I stopped because I knew I would not reach my ultimate goal. It's different in Europe, where there is support from the private sector and the government. My goal was to reach the Olympics, and that's just not possible."
Although he did not reach his equestrian dream, being a sportsman taught him all about power and perseverance.
"Sportsmen are strong. We don't give up easily. We know that anything can happen, so we just keep trying our best."
He's adapted this way of thinking to his multimillion baht real estate development business.
The Phromyothi family owns land in prime locations in Bangkok and other provinces. Among them are the two plots in Langsuan, an area in which most of the land is owned by the Crown Property Bureau.
"We have three plots in this area, which have come down to us through my grandparents, General Mangkorn Phromyothi and Thanying Barnacheud Varnavaranga [Varavarna]," Apipu says.
"It's all about waiting for the right time. We have been preparing the Na Vara Residence project for a few years, but there were many external factors that prompted us to delay the launch of this project. Right now, those factors have been resolved. I think the changes in this area are in line with today's urban lifestyle. More importantly, considering current land prices, I think the plot is great for a residential project like Na Vara."
Ambitious and determined both as a horseman and a businessman,he has applied his sporting experience to running a business. "In horseback riding, I could control my horse. In business, there are many people involved, and I cannot control everyone. I am constantly trying to understand others. Human resource management is vital to my business so I really need to work on interpersonal skills," he says.
"I also believe there is a solution to every problem and I never give up."
"I was an Asian horseback rider. At a certain point, my family's support was simply not enough. I stopped because I knew I would not reach my ultimate goal. It's different in Europe, where there is support from the private sector and the government.My goal was to reach the Olympics, and that's just not possible."