“We are what our food eat”

All you have to do is “go back to the basics and use unprocessed oils.” Ano ba ang gamit ng mga lolo at lola natin noong araw? Tama -> Mantika ng Baboy at Langis ng Niyog! Lard or Coconut Oil. These oils have long been used bago pa nauso ang vegetable oils. Mantika ng Baboy eating organic food; like kaning baboy, gulay kangkong atbpa.

Market is down.

Today stock market is down. Time to buy.

IPO initial public offering

Initial Public Offering - IPO An initial public offering (IPO) is the first time that the stock of a private company is offered to the public. IPOs are often issued by smaller, younger companies seeking capital to expand, but they can also be done by large privately owned companies looking to become publicly traded. In an IPO, the issuer obtains the assistance of an underwriting firm, which helps determine what type of security to issue, the best offering price, the amount of shares to be issued and the time to bring it to market

What happened in today's stock market.

 The market is down. Time to buy.

It's Time To Shine.

Yes, its time to shine.....

Reduce waste Conserve trees.

Please take only what you need.  Paper towels also come from trees.

Lesson for today.

Wag muna sumakay ng jeep tingnan muna ang sign board bago sumakay.

stock: ex dividend date

If a sale is before this date, the dividend belongs to the new owner; if on or after the date, the seller is entitled to the dividend. If you purchase a stock on its ex-dividend date or after, you will not receive the next dividend payment. Instead, the seller gets the dividend.

Great inventor 2

Stephen William Hawking CH CBE FRS FRSA (8 January 1942 – 14 March 2018) was an English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, author, and Director of Research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology within the University of Cambridge.^[15][16] His scientific works included a collaboration with Roger Penrose on gravitational singularity theorems in the framework of general relativity and the theoretical prediction that black holes emit radiation, often called Hawking radiation. Hawking was the first to set out a theory of cosmology explained by a union of the general theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. He was a vigorous supporter of the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics.^[

Stephen Hawking/Quotes

Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.

Life would be tragic if it weren't funny.

I have noticed even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road.

We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the Universe. That makes us something very special.

My goal is simple. It is a complete understanding of the universe, why it is as it is and why it exists at all.

I have no idea. People who boast about their IQ are losers.

People won't have time for you if you are always angry or complaining.

We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn’t want to meet.

Not only does God play dice, but... he sometimes throws them where they cannot be seen.

To confine our attention to terrestrial matters would be to limit the human spirit.

Great inventor

Nikola Tesla was a Serbian-American inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, physicist, and futurist who is best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system.

Serbian-American engineer and physicist Nikola Tesla (1856-1943) made dozens of breakthroughs in the production, transmission and application of electric power. He invented the first alternating current (AC) motor and developed AC generation and transmission technology.

Nikola Tesla/Quotes

The day science begins to study non-physical phenomena, it will make more progress in one decade than in all the previous centuries of its existence.

The present is theirs; the future, for which I really worked, is mine.

The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite insane.

Our virtues and our failings are inseparable, like force and matter. When they separate, man is no more.

I do not think you can name many great inventions that have been made by married men.

The spread of civilisation may be likened to a fire; first, a feeble spark, next a flickering flame, then a mighty blaze, ever increasing in speed and power.

Albert Einstein (14 March 1879 – 18 April 1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of relativity, one of the two pillars of modern physics (alongside quantum mechanics). ^:274 His work is also known for its influence on the philosophy of science.

Albert Einstein did not work directly on inventing the Atomic bomb, but his name is closely associated with the bomb. This is because his scientific work and discoveries were key in the bomb's development, specifically his work on energy and mass and his famous equation: E=mc2.

Albert Einstein/Quotes

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Imagination is more important than knowledge.

The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.

Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.

Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.

No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.

I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.

Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.

Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions.

Sir Isaac Newton PRS was an English mathematician, astronomer, theologian, author and physicist who is widely recognised as one of the most influential scientists of all time, and a key figure in the scientific revolution. His book Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica ("Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy") 

Besides his work on universal gravitation (gravity), Newton developed the three laws of motion which form the basic principles of modern physics. His discovery of calculus led the way to more powerful methods of solving mathematical problems.

Isaac Newton Sr./Quotes

If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.

I can calculate the motion of heavenly bodies, but not the madness of people.

To every action there is always opposed an equal reaction.

Tact is the knack of making a point without making an enemy.

Truth is ever to be found in simplicity, and not in the multiplicity and confusion of things.

This most beautiful system of the sun, planets and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being.

If I have done the public any service, it is due to my patient thought.

If I have ever made any valuable discoveries, it has been owing more to patient attention, than to any other talent.

Every body continues in its state of rest, or of uniform motion in a right line, unless it is compelled to change that state by forces impressed upon it.

To myself I am only a child playing on the beach, while vast oceans of truth lie undiscovered before me.

 

Wondering in the darkness moment of night.

Hello...

Hello Friday.

What a good Friday morning....

Advice

So I recently sent an email with the subject line "An embarrassing secret." I talked about recycling gifts and how to get more sales by knowing your customers well, what their needs are, and why it is important to deliver exceptional value. I was actually "kilig" to get a handful of replies from that email.  A lot of my readers have been thanking me for all the business lessons I’ve been sharing with them through my emails and my blog posts. I hope you, too, are getting value from my emails. If there are any more topics you want us to explore, please do not hesitate to email me anytime. As I said before, I reply to emails. One such email was from Nica (not her real name).

To protect Nica’s privacy, I cropped her email here.  Let me just tell you her story without the details. Nica’s husband, Kiko (again, not his real name) went into a freelancing business and Nica helped him by working on setting it up, including the business permits. However, after doing that, the business did not take off as expected and so, Nica went into full-time employment.  Without Nica beside him, Kiko could not make his business work even more. He tried to go into another line of freelancing and still, he could not make it work. Family members came into the picture as Kiko and Nica’s relationship began to get affected by his inability to get clients. This was when Nica finally decided to write me. Here is another excerpt from her email:

And here are excerpts of my response to her email: "Here are some of the things I have learned from being in business with my husband, Angel: 1. Men are expected to be heads of the families, the main provider.  That is the role that our society has programmed him to have.  By being in his position now where you are the main breadwinner, he is not happy.   In fact, whatever his manifestations are, deep inside, he feels like a failure: having failed in both businesses.   Women like us can fail and stand up again.  No problem. After all, we are the weaker sex.   It is not the same with Kiko.  His career is his identity.  It is his life. 2. Opposites attract.  The reason why you and Kiko came together was that most of his strengths are your weaknesses and vice versa.   Now that you are together, all you see are his weaknesses.  I am sure that's what he does, too.  When you continue to do that, your marriage will deteriorate and will finally die.   Is that what you want?   Angel and I got to the point where our marriage almost broke up because of this mindset.   What saved us was when, one day, we decided that we do not want our children to suffer in a broken family.   We decided to work together where he would use his strengths and me, my strengths and we will grow our business together. As a team, we were formidable.  I was weak where he was strong and he was weak where I was strong.   We identified and accepted our weaknesses and appreciated our strengths, and from there, we delineated our responsibilities and slowly made our business work.   It was at that point that our lives turned around.  We started to earn and we paid off our debts slowly. 3. He is not lazy. He is just not entrepreneurial.   Reading is not his strength, nor is entrepreneurship.   You seem to be the "smarter" one while he seems to be the "talented" one in your relationship.  That is a good combination!   With a left-brained Nica and a right-brained Kiko, you are formidable! What your business needs are marketing efforts.   Guess what? Marketing is essentially a left-brained activity.   Once you will have identified your market, and determined how to attract more of it, you will need right-mind creativity in designing the marketing collaterals.  But, it all starts with left-brained research. Nica, the bad news is that even if you walk away from your marriage and leave Kiko alone, he will not be able to make it. You have to help him instead of nag him. 4. Once you are married, two become one.  Do not let him listen to family members, nor should you.   You and Kiko are one team. You need to be on his side.   Always on his side. That's the only way it will work.   Stop nagging and start working together with him. So, here is Mommy N's advice to you: 1. Go away to some place, away from family and have a heart to heart talk with Kiko. Let him know that you are on his side. Highlight his strengths.   Tell him that in the Philippines, even people like John Gokongwei or Tony Tancaktiong became successful because there was a silent woman (the wife) behind him.   We do not even hear about them.   They are the wind beneath his wings.  They are the ones working in the background while the glory goes to the husband.  And it is okay with you. (Ok ba talaga sa iyo ito?) 2. Work out some plan on how you can work together. Agree on who does what, when.   There are Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays where you don’t have to report.  I am sure you can start something together if you want to.  I don't think he needs you to quit your job to help him.   You did not mention that you have kids.   If you have small kids, it will be a challenge, but your love for your kids’ future should help you overcome all obstacles.   If you don't have any, that means you have all the time to help him if you want to.   Think of it as an investment in your future together.  Think of it as your passport to freedom from employment.   Wouldn't you want that for yourself as well? 3. Once you have done 1 and 2 well, you can start working on your plan.   Just like plowing your field, it is hard work at first.   Planting is such a difficult job.  But know that planting is the most difficult part.   Then, you have to grow your plant: grow your market.   Follow the GYBP! Roadmap®.  Before long, you will be able to see your business grow and bear fruit.   The sweetest fruit will be when you and Kiko look back and see how you have learned to overcome all these challenges and finally make it work. Praying for you, Nica.  I wish you and Kiko the best.  Do keep in touch and let me know what happens." I am sharing this email with you, not for tsismis. I know that there are also other "Nica and Kiko’s" here who are in the same situation and who need answers. I hope you have learned a thing or two today that you can use or share to those who need the advice.   If you have another technique that worked for you and you want to share it with Nica, do let me know so I can forward it to her.

Life is Good. Do You Agree.

"Good afternoon po, Ma’am!"

"Hi, good afternoon din po!"

I gave her a second glance. She smiled at me. 

She was wearing an all white blouse and trousers and a brown hat on top of her head. What struck me is that she was wearing a green sash. No, she was not a beauty queen. She’s a mall-greeter. 

It’s as if, the time stopped for a moment. And then, I felt something pinched my heart. I can see she was smiling but I know if there’s another way for her to earn money, she wouldn’t be there. Her skin is wrinkled. Her back was a little bit hunched. Yes, her lips are smiling but her eyes are sad. She’s old, probably 5 years older than I am. Seeing an old woman doing that work is so very tiring.  

Don’t get me wrong. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with working in your senior years. But, the question is, can you not afford to live if you don’t work?

In the Philippines, we are blessed that retirement starts at the age of (60) sixty. According to Merriam Webster, to retire means:  "to withdraw from one's position or occupation: conclude one's working or professional career."


I am a retired businesswoman. I can live the way I want. I can always spend time with my kids and loved ones if I want to. I can choose not to work without worrying that if I don’t work today, there wouldn’t be food on the table.  

Because I have saved more than enough for that during my working years as a business owner. I invested my money that earns passively. Retiring doesn’t mean, retiring from work. It is about working because I choose to, not because I have to. This is very much like what I have learned from one of my mentors, Robert Kiyosaki and his book on How to Become Rich and Retire Young.

Robert Kiyosaki on retirement:
"You can survive at your current standard of living for as long as you live, whether you work or not. And you'll leave infinite money for your loved ones, too."

I started being semi-retired at 57 years old.  That was when I was able to pay off all the debts that I have incurred from the more than 20 failed businesses and decades of mistakes I made through trial and error. Since then, I worked only because I wanted to and not because I had to.

This is my dream for you Pinoy business owners - being able to make so much money at an early age that you can decide when to retire. This is why I organized the lessons I have learned into the Grow Your Business, Pinoy! Roadmap® for you.

I also pray that you retire healthy so that you can still run and play with your grandkids. Walk with your spouse for hours without gasping for breath, and travel all you want. Imagine yourself retiring at an age where you can still move so that you can enjoy the fruits of your labor, spend more time with your loved ones, and most importantly help other people.

This is the life I am enjoying, but you can enjoy it earlier because you have the roadmap now.

Life is good.  Do you agree?

Grow your people.

"My business is a mess!"

While we were struggling with my husband's health problems late last year, I received another big blow.  

Sharon (not her real name), the CEO of one of our businesses decided to resign.  

After running the business for 18 years, she said, she wanted to move on.

Sharon was gracious enough to agree to stay on for one more year to train the next CEO before she leaves.

But, my daughter, Choo, has decided to go full time with her studies in Manila this year. She also accepted some graduate school teaching loads in one of the top Universities there.

She was supposed to be the next CEO!

Suddenly, we discovered that we did not have any succession plan for CEO.  We have always assumed that Sharon would stay forever!

So, guess what! Because the clock is ticking very fast, I had to jump in as the CEO trainee.

I had to stop everything that was going on in my life and come home last January to train under Sharon.

In a single year, I need to get to know the almost 100 employees really fast, to learn the jargon and to familiarize myself with the processes.  I need to know when to do what, to make the business run smoothly after Sharon leaves.

All the details! All the nitty gritty!

And while going through the tasks, I discovered my worst nightmare!

They have not been fully implementing the GYBP Roadmap that I had given as my contribution to Pinoy business owners!  

I have been out there teaching it to so many people!

I even wrote a book about it!  

And, my own business is a mess!

"Do I really deserve to be your Negosyo Mom?"  

I started to doubt myself.

A month into it now, amidst a lot of firefighting and learning from Sharon, a new supplier for another business, Kevin (not his real name) came to visit and we invited him out for dinner.

In between mouthfuls of delectable Zamboangueño cuisine, he talked about a lot of business stuff that I did not know.  

Kevin is a third generation businessman who owns more than 10 businesses. All of them are very successful.  

He is a 30-year old millionaire!

Quietly, I asked myself: "What can I teach him?"

"Nothing!"

Next, I asked myself: "What right do I have in writing a book about business when I know so little compared to this man half my age?"

"Who am I to claim that I have the roadmap all figured out?"

"Now that I am fighting fires, what right do I have in putting videos out to give my 2 cents?"

"I am too old, too tired, and too busy.  Might as well throw in the towel and really retire."

I have been getting paralyzed slowly with fear and self-doubt for months with all the stressful firefighting.  And, Kevin's visit hit my dying dream with the final blow.

Then, an email came in this morning from a young businesswoman-

friend saying:

"Thank you for your ebook!  You have helped us so much!"

And another email from another businesswoman who wrote:

"You have inspired me to grow my business by growing my people.  Now, I look at them through your eyes, and I see how we can grow together! I am so excited! Thank you!"

As I read their emails, I heard a little voice say: "The Kevins of the world are not your market.

"Kevin runs his businesses with his wife, his siblings and his in-laws. The business model they use is still the traditional model where family members are the managers of the different functions themselves.  The only reason they are big is that unlike most startups, they started with big capital that has been handed down from the previous generations of businesses.

"He is rich because he was born rich.  He had a head start.

"For each Kevin though, there are thousands of startups like you out there who are lost, and who need your roadmap to show them the way out of the maze.

"And, each of them has the potential to grow their businesses to employ 100 people.

"Think of those groups of 100 people and their families!"

It was then that it hit me!

My blog posts, my video business tips, my emails, and the "Grow Your Business, Pinoy!" book may not be of use to the Kevins of the world, but they will make a difference in the lives of the families of these hundreds of thousands of "100 people".  

I suddenly understood why I am now a CEO-trainee.

There are lessons that I need to learn now because you need them.

I just need to stop resisting this phase of my life and continue to be open to learning and documenting these valuable lessons.

Every day, I will learn new materials that I can share with you in my next emails.

Are you ready for them?

For today, just know that even the most confident person will experience self-doubt. That is the lesson for both of us.

You and I are no exceptions.

So, when having those self- doubt attacks,  let’s do these:

1. Balance the negativity. Write down 5-10 self-praises to drown out all the negative chatter in our brains.
   
2. Take a timeout. We are just overwhelmed with all the challenges in our business. Let’s take a short vacation, or if this is not possible, let’s enjoy our favorite hobby. We can even just play our favorite music and dance along for 5 minutes before we get to work again.

3. Connect with people who support us. This is one of the times we need to be surrounded by the people who matter to us most. People who believe in us. These are our family, friends, coaches, and mentors who will cheer us up and will re-boost our confidence.

4. Remember, you are not alone. Everyone experiences self-doubt some time.
   

Recognize it as what it is: a moment of self-doubt. And then, think of the smiling faces of all the customers we serve.  Think too about the family members of our employees, especially the innocent eyes of their little ones.

There will be haters.  There will be naysayers.  There will be people who will ignore us no matter how we try to attract or please them in business.  This is a given.

Know that these are not our market. Let us wake ourselves up and know that someone else out there needs our product or service.

All we need is to know who they are and where they are.

We cannot cater to everyone.

We serve a specific niche because we are not amateurs.

"Turning pro is a mindset. If we are struggling with fear, self-sabotage, procrastination, self-doubt, etc., the problem is, we're thinking like amateurs. Amateurs don't show up. Amateurs crop out. Amateurs let adversity defeat them. The pro thinks differently. He shows up, he does his work, he keeps on truckin', no matter what."

- Steven Pressfield

What about you, what helps you overcome doubts in your abilities?

Do share your strategies with us so we can all bounce back and totally overcome self-doubt.

I have bounced back for you, my friend, and once more, I am