Day 14 - Failure and Little Deaths

In order for us to achieve success, we must experience failure.  In order for us to know how to fully live, we must experience little deaths.

I have failed countless times before.  I am not afraid to admit that.  The truth is, saying this makes me feel proud of the achievements that I have so far.  It makes me realize how persistent I am, how determined I am in succeeding.  Admitting I failed is easy.  But having to pick up the shattered courage I have and build up my determination in order to start anew is the difficult part.  I have always maintained a positive outlook on things.  But whenever frustration would get in the way, it manages to push me back in my comfort zone.

I had always considered mysef as a perfectionist.  I had high standards set for everything, even to myself.  And that was the reason why whenever I would fail, I did not find it easy to move on.  Because I did not find it easy to forgive myself for failing.  

The business I started out with friends is not in a healthy state right now.  We are experiencing a setback.  For months, we have tried to come up with ideas to move the business forward.  But most of our attempts failed.  For months I have also tried to analyze and pinpoint why we are not moving forward.  I came up with different conclusions, yet I really could not say that only one of it is causing the problem.  I think each cause I have on mind contributed in one way or another to the slow down of our business.  I feel frustrated.  Yet, I don't feel that we should give up. 

I firmly believe this is temporary.  This is just a phase that we have to go through.  And we'll be able to overcome it.  The vision that we have for our business is bigger than the problems the we are currently encountering.  And I would love to stick to that idea.

Ever since I grew my relationship closer to the Lord, I also have learned to forgive myself a lot.  I am human.  I am bound to make mistakes.  But I am also all set to learn from them.

We all have a huge future ahead of us.  In store for us are big surprises and immmeasurable success.  But in order for us to achieve it, we have to undergo some trials.  Because that way, victory will be sweeter.

I am surrendering to God all the plans that we have.  I trust Him that he shall bring it to execution in His way, in His time.

Day 13 - Rise

Even when I was a kid I already knew that one day I will become an entrepreneur.  I believe it was my mom who first inspired me to be one.  It was amazing to think back how she was able to put up one small business after another.  Though it were small businesses, each had its share of success.  My mom's persistence and efforts truly paid off especially whenever I would think about how these businesses were able to support us during financially difficult times.  Indeed, a degree is not necessary to become a successful entrepreneur.  My mom is a big proof.  She did not even finish high school.  But her desire to provide us a more convenient life served as a great motivation to become victorious.

To become successful, it all boils down to one's powerful why.  Why does one want to become successful?

Aside from becoming a successful business magnate, I also desired to become a writer when I was younger.  And you know why?  I had a big dream.  I want to touch people's lives.  I want to create an impact to as many lives as possible.  And I dreamt of making this come true through writing.  When I said I wanted to touch lives when I was younger, all I thought what I wanted to do was to stir emotions from people's hearts.  But I was wrong.  As I grew older, I realized I wanted more.

Long before President Noynoy Aquino occupied the highest office in the land,  I already had a strong belief that one day the Philippines will rise again and our people will never have to experience poverty anymore.  I am very happy that right now, people are becoming positive that we'll be able to achieve this.  Yes, I have great hopes for the Philippines.  It is one my biggest dream - to see the Phillippines rise.  And you know what's creazier than that?  To know that I have contributed significantly to the rise of our country.  My dream of touching people's lives has now evolved into a more defined objective.  I want to tranform my fellow Filipinos' lives.  I want to make it better.

And I would be able to do that more effectively when I become I multi-millionaire.  I would be able to serve more people.

I love the Philippines very much.  That is my sole reason why working abroad has never been an option for me.  I feel very proud whenever I say that, amidst the economic problems that the country is facing, I deeply believe that I could still make it here.  I will become a multi-millionaire here in our country.  And I think that is one of my greatest purpose - to help my country and countrymen rise.

Day 12 - Peace

This would just be a very quick post.  I just feel very excited and happy right now and I can't wait to share to you why.

I couldn't exactly describe how I am feeling but if I were to sum it up in one word, I would say its "peace".  Years ago, I would not be able to imagine myself being in this state as I was buried in debt, living a lifestyle more than which I can afford, and unsurprisingly not being able to save.  That was me in the early two years of my corporate career.  And this state of "peace" that I have in my heart, back then, remained only as a dream.

I am thankful that I was able to surpass that moment in my life and, of course, now that I am in a very much comfortable state.

Right now, I just couldn't contain the excitement as I started to ride another vehicle which will eventually bring me to the happy millionaires' land.  During the past months, I have two major leaps and these are:

1. I started investing in the Stock Market! - Oh yeah! I never knew how fantastic it felt until I bought the first shares I now have for long-term investment.  The feeling was surreal.  What once just a dream for me was now a reality.  If you may have noticed, it took me months to decide before I bought my first stocks.  Why?  Because of fear.  I must admit that I am very much a control freak.  And it scares the hell out of me if you would tell me to invest on something that I completely do not understand.  That explains why I did not easily jump on stock market investing.  And analysis-paralysis made it worse.  For months, I searched for materials and seminars which could increase my knowledge on the matter.

I was not able to convince myself to invest until...

2.  I joined the Truly Rich Club! - Its an online membership community organized by Bo Sanchez which helps people to understand long-term investing on stock market.  Indeed, the information I got from this helped me to jumpstart my stock market investment.  It provided me the information that I need from how to go about creating my account up to buying my first stocks online.  And I'm looking forward to more meaningful information that I will get from Bro. Bo as I continue investing.

The old Filipino phrase "Magtanim ay 'di biro" is undoubtedly true.  It would entail great amount of effort, suffering and discipline.  But never did anybody tell me that its also fun and exciting!  Most especially when you visualize the fruits that you'll reap come harvest time.  Oh, isn't it such a wonderful idea to retire as a millionaire?

PS.  If you are interested to know more about the Truly Rich Club, please click on the image that appears at the left side of this blog.  God bless. :-)

Day 11 - Looking Back and Planning Ahead

It was an awesome day yesterday!  My day started early as I woke up around 3am.  I decided to engage in my weekend morning ritual which was walking and a little bit of jogging around the Marikina Sports Center.  Then, I attended The Feast at PICC, which had a very inspiring topic.  Right after, I met with friends slash former officemates to watch Sherlock Holmes and stayed around the MOA for until around 9pm.  Crazy schedule right?  Well my schedule for the past months has always been like that!  Now you should know why this blog went on hiatus for quite a time.  But now, I'm back!  With greater fervor than before!

Let me backtrack a little and update you of some small triumphs I had which I know would eventually lead me towards the achievement of my goal.  Here are some:

1. The evaluation I got from the students I handled during the first term of my teaching was very satisfying.  During a faculty meeting that we had, I was announced as one of the faculties who got an "Outstanding" remark from students.  Not bad for an amateur, right?  But that won't definitely make me rest on my laurels.  This actually served as a challenge for me to serve even better and to aim for a higher goal.
2. I was hired last September as an accountant for a multinational company which operates in the IT distribution industry.  I was back on the rank-and-file level.  But it doesn't matter.  Right now, I am perfectly enjoying learning new skills in this job.  The process I'm handling was quite simple and easy.  And now the challenge is on how I could deliver more from the small process I perform.
3. The shoe merchandising business I started out with friends did great during the Noel Bazaar last December.  We had an amazing time!  From the planning phase until the last day of the sale, we enjoyed it!  And not just that.  We even earned money while enjoying.  Now I'm looking forward to the fulfillment of our greater plans.
4. I was able to cross out one special thing in my dream list last December.  And it was "to take my family in an all-expense-paid trip to Baguio".  Oh yeah, I have no idea that it would happen sooner than I expected.  I guess I wanted it too much in my heart that the universe truly conspired to make it happen.  Again, I'm looking forward to new family vacations and trips that I would be crossing out in my dream list.

Time indeed flew fast.  The next thing I knew it was already 2012.  And I feel very excited.  I bet you would want to know why.  Well, it is because 2012 is my banner year!  This is the year that I will become a millionaire.  I am claiming it with all my heart.  I knew God will prosper and bless me more this year so I could bless more people.  He will make my dreams come true.  And I completely trust Him.

Bro. Bo talked about planning last Sunday and since this is my first post for 2012, let me share with you some of the small dreams or plans I wish to accomplish this year (aside from earning Php 2 Million by the end of the year).

• Start earning a masters degree
• Invest in the stock market
• Start new businesses
• Grow my current business
• Develop my accounting and teaching skills and start freelancing

Bro. Bo shared a very important thought.  He said that our mind would usually be filled with only two things: Memories and Imagination.  Planning takes a very important role in terms of how we live our life.  If we don't plan, we live our lives based on memories.  But if we plan, our lives will be lived based on our imagination.  Isn't that a great realization of how critical and important planning is?

My next post would focus on my purpose, my higher cause.  I know I have touched on this topic before, but let me do a quick reassessment and reinstating of my purpose.  I know this should have came rather ealier than this post, but I believe its never too late to go back and do some quick fixing.  After all, the chances given to us to recreate our life is unlimited.  So as our opportunities of redefining our purpose.

God bless everyone!  Yes to the fulfillment of our dreams! :-)

Day 10 - Mentors

I have received my God Whispers recently and I was greatly inspired by what it contained.  God's message for me was as follows:

Dear Kenneth,


I have sent (and will continue to send) people into your life who will make you discover the gold within you.  They will see things in you yourself cannot see.  They will make you grow.


Love,
God


PS.  These people are one of your greatest blessings, Kenneth.  Appreciate them.

The message I got was very clear.  To succeed, I knew that I would need the help of others - to mentor me, to guide me through and to provide me courage and determination.  I wouldn't be able to do it alone.  So right now, I just feel very excited for the people that I would yet to know and just thankful for those who were already in my circle.  In one way or another, I knew they've contributed or will continue to contribute to the realization of my dreams.  So I would like to thank them.  And for those whom I am yet to meet, thank you in advance.

Let me just give one very special thanks to one person I consider my greatest mentor so far.  He was a former boss and still a very dear friend.  He was not a perfect boss back then and definitely until now.  But he did one thing that completely changed my perspective towards my work and myself.  He believed in me.  He believed that I had a huge potential to succeed, persisted on honing my skills and patiently taught me, corrected me and encouraged me.  He constantly reminded me of the great qualities I possessed and he gave me the confidence to believe in myself.

Before I got to work with him, I was a very shy associate; always feeling incapable of accomplishing great things and, in the fear of committing mistakes, would rather keep my mouth shut most of the time.  But he changed me.  He changed certain beliefs I had with things around me and especially with myself.  He inspired me to do better.  And I did.  Because of his unfailing support, I was even awarded as the top performer in a training seminar I attended.  I would like to believe that that reward wasn't given not only to recognize my accomplishments but his as well, for being a very effective mentor.

Well, I hope I could get to know more people like him in the coming days.  People who would make me believe in the power of my dreams.  And in the Infinite Power inside me that will make it come true.

PS.  Just recently, I stumbled upon some great videos by Drew Canole and Darren Hardy in Youtube and they provide great lectures on how we could achieve success by believing in the power within us. Search them out in Youtube and go check their videos.  Its awesome.

By the way, if you want to receive your God whispers as well, please check out this site.  It is for free so go grab the chance.