The Leadership Dilemma

As team leader, my job was to create a concept that fit within our team's skills and capabilities. If I made it too ambitious, we'd run out of time. Too simple, and it wouldn't stand out.

Reading through the criteria, a flashback hit me. I remembered the countless hours I spent training under my family's company. I thought about the leaders and followers, the mentors and mentees—and the powerful support system that helped our business survive tough seasons.

Then it clicked. We needed to build an app that reflects that same support system—something that helps individuals shift their mindset and grow into better versions of themselves.

Pitching the Vision

When I shared the idea with my team, I knew it might be difficult to understand right away. So I simply told them to trust me because I had already seen it in action and knew it worked.

That was enough. Without hesitation, they headed straight to their stations and began working. In that moment, I knew we were on the right track—we had a clear goal, and we were all in agreement.

One Brain, One Team

I started sketching the app models and writing all the necessary details. Not once did anyone on the team doubt the vision. And to be honest—not to sound arrogant—but I believe this is how a team should function.

A strong and trusted leader is essential. One brain is essential to effective teamwork.

I made them a promise that if they trusted me, we would win.

But of course, there was one downside to this one brain strategy. If the brain sleeps, the body doesn't move. Our progress hinged on my ability to lead—and I had to keep working, thinking, and pushing, side by side with the team.

The 48-Hour Sprint

Fast forward to the final hours: 48 hours of straight coding.

At one point, I literally collapsed on the floor. I was exhausted and praying for the time to just be over. But guess what? We did it.

We achieved our goals. We pitched our app—and the judges loved it.

There were hiccups along the way, sure. But a good and effective leader doesn't just keep the team together—they also lead themselves to go the extra mile when needed. That's exactly what I did.

The Victory (and the Baguio Trip)

After we won, we rewarded ourselves with a trip to Baguio. Our eyes were heavy with fatigue, but our hearts were full of joy. We truly enjoyed that trip—tired, yes, but victorious.

Final Thoughts

This experience wasn't just about building an app or winning a competition. It was about vision, trust, and leadership—and how, sometimes, you just need one brain with a clear direction and a team willing to follow it.

To my teammates, thank you for trusting me. To myself, thank you for not giving up. And to God, be all the glory.