Increase your Level Of Acceptance

Photo by Daniel Kulinski

While I was still in college, I dreamed of one day working in a big and stable multinational company and earning at least P100,000 a month.

After graduation, my first job was to work for a big multinational company with a salary of P15,000. Of course I wasn't satisfied with that, so I worked extremely hard in improving myself and in looking for opportunities that can increase my salary.

In just three years, my income jumped from P15,000 - P35,000, more than double of my first salary. I felt really happy about it, I felt as if I had achieved my goals already. After that I lost my drive, I didn't feel hungry anymore to achieve my dream. I'd be happy to earn P100,000, but I sure wasn't driven to reach it.

My income didn't increase since then and after almost 2 years, I left that job and abandoned my dream of earning P100,000 a month in salary, to chase my dream of becoming an entrepreneur and to be financially free.

What do you think is the reason I was able to more than double my salary in just three years, but wasn't able to increase it for almost two years already?

It's because I have already reached my level of acceptance.

Your level of acceptance is actually the level at which you are willing to accept, whatever it is that you are receiving. It's not necessarily the goal or dream that you set out, it is the level where your needs and wants have been met already.

In my case, my goal was to earn P100,000 a month, but  I was willing to accept a salary of P35,000. At P35,000 my needs and wants have already been met, that's why my income stopped there. I was happy with what I was getting and wasn't hungry anymore to chase the dream of earning P100,000 a month in salary.

Of course my dream shifted from working in a multinational company and earning P100,000 a month to becoming an entrepreneur and being financially free, but that's not the point.

My point here is that, you're level of acceptance or what is it that you're willing to accept is what will determine what you will get. You can have a goal of earning P100,000 a month. But if you're willing to accept earning P50,000 a month, then that's what you'll get.

Why? Because you're goals and dreams are fueled by your hunger. The hungrier you are the more you will push yourself to achieve your goals and dreams. But once your hunger is satisfied (your level of acceptance), then you will lose the fuel that will drive you to achieve more.

So if you want to achieve more in life, then you have to increase your level of acceptance. Be hungry, so that you'll have the fuel to drive you to achieve your goal.

Work With What You Have

Photo by Joel Addams

A lot of people want to get into business. The problem though is that they don't know what to do or what kind of business to get into.

More often people look for the business with a good track record for success, or the business that is popular right now. Or they look at the cheapest or easiest business to start. They look for something they don't have that actually make things harder and more expensive.

I believe the easiest way to start a business is to work with what you have or make use of what is available to you now, instead of looking for something that you don't have.

I was like most people before, looking on the outside instead of inside in starting a business. I was always researching on what kind of business I can get into, which is easier to start and which has the likelihood of succeeding.

Then I found business that I liked, it was a home-service car wash business. I though it was a good and easy enough business to start, especially for newbie like me. My only problem though is that I knew nothing about the car wash business. How to operate it, the ins and outs of it, and so on.

As I was processing the needed requirements to operate the business, I was always in doubt if I'm capable to start and operate this kind of business, considering I have zero experience. Even if do a lot of research, and learn I'm still not confident enough in my ability to actually make it succeed. In the end though I wasn't able to overcome my mental hurdle and didn't push through with the business.

The funny thing though is that, I was actually already in a small business. I was selling some rice, dried fish (tinapa) and salted eggs that I got from Bataan to some of our neighbors in Quezon City. My girlfriend's family has a small farm in Bataan and their main product is rice. At first I was buying rice to be used for personal consumption. Then an idea to sell some of the rice to our neighbors came about. So we started to sell some of the rice and it did well. 

Then in one of our trips to Bataan, my girlfriend's mom gave us some salted eggs to take home. Since it was a lot, we gave some to our neighbors and they like it and asked us if we can give them some more and they are willing to pay for it, so we also started selling salted eggs. 

The same thing happened when we bought home dried fish. We gave some to our neighbors and they liked it, and wanted to buy some more of it. So we ended up selling dried fish as well. As you can see I already have something to begin with to start a business. But like I said I was like most people, trying to create something out of nothing in order to start a business.

It took a while for me to realize that instead of trying to create something out of nothing, why don't I work with what I have. So using whatever I have in my disposal, I was able to open small sari-sari store business. And so far, it's doing pretty well. I'm now in the process of growing the business.

Had I remained stubborn and kept on trying to create nothing out of something, I probably wouldn't have a business right now. Remember to work with you have. Look around you and see if you have a product, service or talent that you can offer to the world and begin with that. Then just work your way up.

To start a business, just use what's available to you now. Work with what you have.

Paying The Price

Photo by LJM Photo

Do you want to receive freebies?

Of course you do, who wouldn't want to get free things? Free food and drinks, free toys, free movies, free books, free seminars, and so on. You'd be enthusiastic and happy to receive these things for free.

Now if these things are now available for a certain price instead of being free, will you still be enthusiastic and happy to get them? Maybe, but I'm sure you won't be as enthusiastic or happy as when you get them for free.

The problem though for receiving things for free is that it provides you with little value as compared to when you pay for them. You tend to just take them for granted because you received them for free, meaning no risk on your part or you didn't have to work to get them.

But if you pay for them, or you have to work hard to get them, it becomes more valuable to you. You appreciate it more, because of the risk you took to get it or the hardships that you had to endure to achieve it. In short, you tend to learn and grow more if you worked hard for something.

Why do you think most lotto winners lose all of their winnings in less than three years (sometimes less than a year)? It's because they didn't have to work hard to get them. They just receive it, so they put less value on it. There wasn't any risk or hard work involved, so losing it all won't really hurt as much.

This goes the same for people who inherit big amounts of money. Like the lotto winners, they tend to lose it quickly as well because of the lack of hard work needed to achieve it, thus having less value to them. 

Same goes for some of the people who just inherit their family business without the necessary process of working in it to learn the ins and outs of the it. They don't put too much value in what they have, because they didn't experience the sweat, blood and tears needed to establish the business and make it successful.

This is also the reason why Bro. Bo Sanchez doesn't offer most of his seminars or talks for free. The price barrier he puts is not because he wants to make a profit (most of the money his books and seminars makes are used to fund all of his ministries), he puts it there because he wants his attendees to grow. By overcoming the price barrier, his attendees will see more the value of his talks and seminars and consider it as investments, thus putting more effort into applying what they learned there.

Yes it's cool and fun to receive things for free. Getting something without the risk or the hard work needed to get it. But for you to really put value into something, you need to pay the price to get it. May it be in terms of paying for money or working hard to get it.

So pay the price, you'll learn and achieve more doing it this way.

Understand Instead Of Criticizing When Fault Comes

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What do you usually do when a subordinate, employee or your own children made a mistake?

Do you get angry outright and criticize them? If you do, how do they usually respond? Do they just nod and say they are sorry? Or do they defend and try to justify what they did?

More often than not, people responded by defending themselves and their actions. They try to justify what they did and would portray themselves as victims as well, instead of accepting your criticism and being sorry for their mistake.

Just look at what Sen. Bong Revilla, Jr. is doing right now. He is portraying himself a victim here instead of apologizing for his wrong doings. He says that he is just a scapegoat to be able to cover up the real issue here.

Friends, what he is doing is actually what most normal person (those who are not considered criminals) would do. Most people don't like to be criticized or attacked, even if they are at fault. They tend to respond by defending themselves instead of being sorry.

Why? Because it's part of human nature. We always assume that we are dealing with a logical person when we criticize and condemn, believing that they understand what they did and what we are saying to them. However, human beings are more emotional than logical. It is mostly their emotions that will dictate how they would react, especially to people who criticize and attack them. That's why most people would resort to defending themselves than just accepting your criticism and feeling sorry for their fault.

So what then should you do?

Instead of criticizing and attacking your subordinate, employee, children, etc. every time they make a mistake, understand them. Put yourself in their shoes and try to understand why they did what they did. 

Why did your subordinate or employee forgot to proof read their documents before sending? Where they working on it all night and was just too tired to even notice it?

Or why is your kid seeking attention from you? Are you working too much that you've kind of neglected your kid?

Trying to understand why they did what they did will help you better deal with the mistake or fault that they commit. You will have an idea of the reason why it happened and will then be able to deal it with, without the need to criticize and attack.

Mistakes will happen. No matter how you hard you try to avoid it, it happens. It's how you deal with them that makes a difference. It's easy to criticize and attack as we are also just overcome with our own emotion. But criticizing and attacking the person who made the mistake won't do much good. Because he/she will also be overcome with emotion and will just resort to defending himself/herself. Worse, the person will just resent you.

The best way to deal with a mistake is to first try to understand why it happened and be patient. Then instead of criticizing and attacking, just talk to the person calmly or just forgive outright and just give the person a chance to redeem himself/herself. 

The 5 Success Myths That Blocks Success

By LJM Photo

Do you want to be successful in life?

Of course you do, who wouldn't right? But why then are you not successful? The simplest and most overlooked answer is the mental blocks that people have about success. Most people think that they are not successful because of a physical obstacle that they have yet to overcome. But in reality, the reason most people are not successful because of mental obstacles. Wrong ideas that they think are what they need to be successful.

I'd like to share the 5 myths that blocks success that Bro. Bo Sanchez shared in his WealthStrategies. See if you can identify with some of them.

Myth #1: I'm not successful because I haven't unlocked the profound mystery yet.

A lot of people think that success is some sort of mystery that they need to unlock. A secret that is hidden to everyone, except for a few lucky people who have discovered its hiding place and is now using that formula to achieve their own success.

The truth though is that success is just a simple pattern. To be successful you just need to do simple activities over and over again. Like finding a mentor, aligning your passion with your potential, having a never quit attitude and so on. These are just simple activities that everyone can actually do. Success is not a complex formula that needs to be solved. It is just a matter of doing certain but simple activities over and over again.

Myth #2: I'm not successful because I'm just not lucky enough.

Most people think that you also need to be lucky to be successful in life. To be at the right place at the right time or to say and do the right things at the right moment.

Yes, luck plays a big part in people's success. But luck here is actually just the offspring of preparedness and opportunity. People who are considered lucky to have a great opportunity come to them are actually just prepared to take advantage of it. They are lucky because they are prepared to receive and take advantage of the opportunity (to read more about luck click here).

Myth #3: I'm not successful because I'm waiting for my big break.

A lot of people think that success is an event that will happen in their lives. One big event that will change their fortunes and current status and sky rocket them all the way to the top.

The truth though is that success is a journey, a very long journey. It won't happen overnight. One big break won't suddenly sky rocket you to success. You need to undergo a long journey full of ups and downs, mostly downs, to reach success. Writing a book, building a company, or managing a big project for your company won't automatically bolt you to success. They are just part of your journey to success.

Myth #4: I'm not successful because I don't know anybody.

People think that you need to know the right person in order to be successful. The person who can pull the strings to help you get promoted or the person who has the know it all to help get your start-up business off the ground.

Yes it is important to know someone who can help you and guide you. But these people won't just magically appear to help you and guide you. You'll need to look for them yourself. One way to do it is to attend seminars or conferences about your chosen career or business. Then interact with the people there, don't just focus on the topics to be discussed or the food or the souvenirs to be given away. Use that event to network as well. Get to know people and pretty soon you'll find someone who can be your mentor as well.

Myth #5: I'm not successful because I don't have enough money to expand fast enough.

One of the things that most entrepreneurs, and to some extent, employees think they need to succeed is to have enough money to expand their business fast or to develop their skills and talents. 

The truth though is that, having money to expand fast is, more often than not, a bad idea for entrepreneurs, especially new ones. Because having money, usually makes the entrepreneur lazy. Instead of doing research, experimenting and studying thoroughly, they are more likely to fire the gun quickly because they have the cash to do so. And those who spend money without the due diligence, just ends up losing it. Instead expand gradually and deliberately. It's your experience and knowledge that will help you succeed and not the money that you have right now.

For employees on the other hand, yes developing your skills and talents as fast as you can is important to achieve success. However, having enough money won't necessarily translate in you using them to develop your skills and talents. On the contrary, most employees, who have extra money, use it for leisure activities and luxury items instead of developing and expanding their talents. Why? It's because it's more fun and entertaining to do it, than to spend all day in a conference room listening to other people talk. It is more appealing to go to the beach than to learn something new. The missing link here would be the mental drive to be successful. Without it, you won't find developing yourself appealing as compared to relaxing in the beach.

These are just 5 of the many myths that people have about success. Once you get rid of these mental blocks, you are more likely to achieve the success that you have been dreaming of.

Be Weird In Order To Succeed

Photo by Neville Sukhia

Yes you need to be weird in order to be successful.

What I mean by weird here is that you need to be different and uncanny. You need to stand out, make waves and not follow what everyone else is doing.

Take the likes of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Henry Ford and all the other success people out there. They stand out, they don't follow anybody and they make their own rules. That's why they are successful. People remember them because they are different, in a good way, from anybody else.

But why does being weird would help you become successful anyway? Here are five reasons.

1. Being weird has less competition - One of the usual things that most people think of when they want to start a business is that they will offer their products and services at a lower price. The business with the lower prices and the bigger capital usually wins this war, but in reality no one really wins. Because lower prices means lower profit. Instead offer a product or service that is unique, strange or weird. So weird that no one would else would do it, until they see that it is successful.
2. Weird is less painful - Trying to be like everyone else is painful, especially if that is not who you really are. Imagine trying to be someone or something that you are not so that you can fit in like everybody else? The things that you will have to undergo to change will be painful and hard. Instead why not just be yourself, even if everyone considers you weird. Who knows, people just might love you for it.
3. Weird creates raving fans - The good thing about being weird is that people will notice you immediately. They will either hate you or love you, they can't be in between because you're too weird not to be noticed. All successful people have their critics and haters, it's just how the world works. But they also have people who love them. And these people are your raving fans. Fans who really really love you and would go to great lengths just to buy the products and services that you offer.
4. Weird makes you change the rules of the game - By being weird, you are free to create your own rules. Since no one has probably done what you're doing, you create the rules. You're the one who will set the tone and the trend that the people who want to be like you will follow.
5. Weird allows you to charge higher prices - If you're offering a product or service that no one else is offering, then you can set the price for it. You don't have a competitor that can drive prices down. You set it yourself because what you offer is unique, strange and weird. And since it is unique and one of a kind, people will pay good money for it (especially if it is a good product or service).

Being weird means that you just have to stand out, be unique and different enough that people will notice you. Following and everybody else won't set you apart because everyone is doing it. So strive to be different, to be unique, to be weird. So that people will notice you and remember you.

How To Spot A Scam

Photo by Roy McMahon

Have you ever been scammed? Have you ever experienced being told to invest in something that is guaranteed to give you good money, only to realize that the business you invested in was a complete scam and the person who asked you to invest in took your money and was never to be found or heard of again?

Friends, I have been scammed several times already trying to make money online. I get suckered into purchasing or investing in several software or websites that guarantees you will make money in a few days if you follow or use their system. Only to realize in the end that their guarantee is a big lie and their system won't make the money that they promised.

Then there's also those that you hear in the news where they dupe people into investing in their business and guaranteeing big interest rates for their money, only to be discovered as a big ponzi scheme or will close down in a few years (or even months) then just run away with all the money they got.

It's not fun being scammed. You believe in the promise. You get excited. You enthusiastically invest your money because you believe that this will be your road to financial freedom. Only to be hit in the face with with a business, product or service that is full of baloney and will never make you money.

I don't want you to be scammed. That's why I'll share with you what Bro. Bo Sanchez shared on how to spot a scam in his WealthStrategies.

1. Insane Interest Rates - Have you ever been approached by someone to invest in their company and promises that you'll be getting 4% interest rate per month? That's a scam right there. Why? Because that is an insanely high interest rate, that real companies won't be able to pay to their investors. 4% a month adds up to 48% a year, meaning you're suppose to get almost half of what you invest in a year. That's clearly impossible for any company to sustain because most of their profits then would go to paying off investors, nothing left for operation and other expenditures. Companies who offer high interest rate usually operates a pyramiding scam. It is called a Ponzi scheme where the business pays off old clients with the money they get from new investors. This scheme will always require new investors to come in to keep on paying the interest rates of old investors. Once they fail to get new investors, the business will eventually die.
2. Guaranteed High Interest Rate - Didn't you notice that only banks provide guaranteed interest rates? They are allowed to do so by the regulating body because they only offer a measly growth for your money (less than 1% a year for savings account and about 3-5% a year for time deposit). No company or bank will guarantee a high interest rate because they won't be able to afford it. Companies who guarantee high interest rate won't be able to stay in business for long because they need to operate a scam to be able to keep the guarantee.
3. You Can't Understand How They Earn Money - A business' primary goal is to make money. It needs money to pay its employees, pay the suppliers, pay the government and other fees needed for its license and permits. In short it needs money for it's operations. So if you're offered an investment opportunity and the person you're talking to can't really explain how the company makes money, you better walk away. Earning through trading in foreign currency or the stock market is not a legitimate way for a business to earn money, because the volatility of these markets would prevent any business to consistently earn good money for its operation cost alone, let alone pay its investors.
4. It's Just Too Good To Be True - When you encounter something that is too good to be true, it usually is. Have you received an email or a text message that says you won a big amount of money? Too good to be true right? These messages will usually require you to pay upfront fees needed for the transaction process. If you do, then it's goodbye money.
5. They Seem To Be Good And Credible People - Scammers usually use people who seem nice and honest to do the selling for them. Most likely, these people are also as ignorant as you are of the scam that is happening. But there are those who are just really good pretenders. So just because the person you talked to seemed nice and honest, doesn't mean that what they offer is already legit.
6. Your Financial Adviser And Financial Manager Are The Same - If the people who advises you about your money is also the one who manages it, then you are threading in dangerous territory. Your financial manager has control over your money, he's the one who invests it, so he can actually run away with it. Your financial adviser is the one who advises you on what to do with your money. So if your adviser and manager is one and the same, then what will keep him/her from advising you to invest in something that will gain you nothing but will gain him/her everything?

Scams are everywhere. It's important that you always do your due diligence first and research thoroughly about the investment opportunity before you invest your hard earned money in it. At the end of the day, it is you who has control on where you put your money. So do your due diligence first, so you won't be scammed.

How You Can Take Action On Your Plans Or Ideas

3 Tips on How You Can Take Action on Your Plan or Idea

Don't Be Like The Filthy Poor

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I'm sure you're familiar with the filthy rich? The person who lives a miserable life because they got destroyed by the money they possessed.

Well have you heard of the filthy poor? The person who lives a life full of debt so that they can live like a rich person even though they are poor? Yes there is such a person. And these persons borrow money like there's no tomorrow in order to acquire material possessions to project that they are rich, even if they are not.

The filthy poor is an example of someone who abused to power of debt to acquire liabilities instead of assets. Debt, as Robert Kiyosaki put it, is the best leverage that people can use to get ahead financially. However, it is also the worst tool that people can use to get into poverty.

The financially educated people uses debt as leverage to help them get ahead financially. They use it to purchase assets that can earn them money regularly. These assets then will be the one to pay off their debt while also putting money in their pocket. This is what Robert Kiyosaki calls as good debt.

But for most people, they use debt to buy things that don't generate money for them, just like the filthy poor. They see something they want, like a new Plasma TV, a brand new car, a new house, but they don't have the money for it. So they resort to borrowing money in order to be able to afford it. The problem though is that the items they usually buy are items that doesn't put money in their pocket, it takes money out of their pocket. Robert Kiyosaki calls it bad debt.

I was once like that, using credit card to buy things that I couldn't afford. I was disciplined enough though at first to pay off my debts in full so as not to incur interest rates on my debt. But the more I use it, the bigger my debt became, until it became too big for me to pay it in full.

Through hard work and determination though I was able to pay off my debt. It wasn't easy, but I was able to pull it off.

So don't be like the filthy poor, living a life full of debt so that you can live large like a rich person. Instead, be financially educated and use the power of debt to help you achieve financial freedom.

You Should Splurge Once In A While

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There are two extremes in money management. One is the impulsive buyer, the one who spends like there's no tomorrow. These people can't seem to hold on to their money for a long time. They always have an itch to buy or spend on something, even if they don't necessarily need it, whenever they have money or there's still some credit left in their credit cards.

Then there's the scrooge, the one who saves like his life depends on it. These people have a hard time letting go of their money. They always cringe and get irritated every time they spend money on something, even if they need it. They hold on to their money like glue.

Are you one of the extremes? Or are you in between them? How can we balance between being an impulsive buyer and a scrooge?

By having a want fund.

Yes a want fund. A fund in your budget where you can use to spend it on anything that you want but doesn't necessarily need. It's important for you to have this because it allows you to enjoy what you have worked hard for without the worry of spending too much. 

You can buy that gadget or clothes that you always wanted or take that much needed vacation (as long as it is within the budget of your fund) and need not worry about spending your money and disrupting your budget.

It's important that you have a balance between spending too much or saving too much. A want fund will allow you to stay in between the two. You get a feeling of satisfaction with the money you earned by spending it on the things that you want. At the same time, you also get the satisfaction that you're budgeting your money properly and living within your means.

The suggested percentage that you allot for your want fund is 10% of your income. If what you want is expensive, then you just have to save for a while until you can afford it.

It's important that you manage your money properly. Budgeting it on things that are necessary while saving up for the future. But it is also important that you splurge once in a while to allow yourself to enjoy what you have worked hard for and be motivated to earn even more.

Formula For Growing Your Wealth

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What do you usually do after you receive your income?

Do you save and invest your money first then use the remaining to pay off your debts, bills and other responsibilities? Or do you spend it first on paying off your debts, bills and other responsibilities and then save and invest the rest?

If you do the latter, then it will be hard for you to increase your wealth. Why you ask? It's because, more often than not, there is rarely any money left for savings and investment after spending it on paying off debts, bills and other responsibilities. So without any money left for savings and investment, there is no way you could increase your wealth, even if you are earning a big amount of money.

What should you do then?

You need to follow this formula

INCOME - TITHE - SAVINGS/INVESTMENTS = EXPENSE

Once you receive your income you need to allot your money in this way in order for you to increase your wealth. You need to allot 10% for tithes 20% for savings/investments and the 70% is the one you use for your responsibilities. In short, you pay God first, then you pay yourself, then you use the rest to pay everyone else.

100% - 10% - 20% = 70%

Tithing is a way for you to say thank you to God for the blessing that He has given you (see post on Tithing). That's why it's important that you pay Him first. Then you pay yourself second. Because if you don't allot money for yourself, no one else will do it for you. You can't work forever, so it's important that you also take care of yourself and your future. So when you retire, you won't have to be a burden to others because you'll have your own fund to spend on.

Then you use the rest to pay everyone else. Your debts, your bills and all your other responsibilities. It will be hard at first, because 70% might not be enough to cover everything. The good thing though, is that this will teach you to monitor your expenses and become a wise spender. Something that will help you in the long run.

So if you want to grow your wealth, just follow this simple formula and watch your personal wealth grow continuously.

Rich And Successful People Should Be Admired, Not Resented

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What do you usually feel or think about every time you see someone driving a very expensive car?

Do you say, "wow that person is rich and successful. I wonder what he does? Maybe he can teach me and become my mentor so that I too can be rich and successful like him one day."

Or do you say, "another one of those rich snobs or probably just their driver. Maybe a greedy businessman or a corrupt politician. Life is so unfair, how come they get all the riches. I don't like them."

If you mostly react like the second one, then I'm sorry but I have to tell you that you won't become rich and successful in life. Because if you resent, envy or think that rich and successful people are bad, then it is likely that you wouldn't want to be like them. After all, why would you want to be something that you think is bad?

However, if you admire them like the first reaction, you're more likely to follow and imitate their success and become rich and successful as well. You'd want to learn from them, do what they do and know what they know so that you can be like them and also achieve success in life.

Friends, envying and resenting the rich and successful people won't do you any good. Because your resentment doesn't affect them at all. Heck, the rich guy you're resenting probably doesn't even know that you exist. 

What your resentment does is affect you and what you think. If you resent the rich and successful, then you are conditioning yourself to resent being rich and successful. It's like you are telling yourself don't be rich and successful because you'll be resented as well.

But if you admire them, you'd want to get to know them and learn from them. When you admire the rich and successful people, you condition yourself that being rich and successful is something to be admired about. Which will make you wanting to be rich and successful even more.

I remember feeling envious about people who drive fancy cars. I'm always thinking that their probably just the driver or their parents are the ones who bought that from them so they shouldn't be boastful about it. I'd always feel envious and irritated, even if they're not doing anything wrong. 

But after learning about this, I now just admire them. Thinking to myself that I need to get to know these people so that I can learn from them and also achieve the success that they have achieved.

So the next time you see someone who is rich and successful, don't resent them. Admire them, cheer them, be friends with them and learn from them. If you do this, you are more likely to be rich and successful as well.

Use Your Time Wisely

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Have you seen the movie In Time?

It's a movie where time is the most important asset that a person has. Starring Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried, the plot of the movie is that time is used as a currency. Whatever it is that you need or want, you pay for it with time. The more time you have, the richer you are. But if time runs out, then you die.

Do you believe that time is important? I believe it is. The movie is an excellent portrayal of how important time is to a person. Although time can be earned there, it does show a good portrayal of how time would affect us if it ever runs out.

Anyway, time is very important to a person. It is something that we cannot get or earn back (unlike money or what is shown in the movie). We cannot say that we made a wrong decision here, let's just reverse time and try again. Once we use it, it is gone.

That's why it is important to make proper use of your time.

Don't waste it in activities that won't help you or any of your loved ones. Like watching too much TV, playing too much video games, gossiping (unless of course they are relevant to your career or business), procrastinating and so on.

Instead use it in activities that can help you like learning a new skill that you can use in your field or networking with people who share the same interest as you do. Or you could use it to rest and relax your body and mind to replenish and re-energize you.

I remember after graduating from college, I told myself that I'll use the time until I reach the age of 25 to just have fun and explore what career path I'll be taking. Once I reach 25 I should know what I want to do already and I should be doing it already.

Looking back, I wish I didn't took that long to figure out what I want and started getting serious earlier. In this way I could have given myself more time to learn and develop the skills needed in order to be successful. I also think that starting earlier, will probably allow me to achieve my goals earlier than my current pace.

But I can't do anything about it now. I just have to move forward and do the best that I can and use my time wisely. 

Successful people always use their time wisely. They spend it in activities that will help them achieve their goals or help develop their skills and talents.

Remember time is valuable, so spend it wisely. Because once you use it, you can never get it back.

Learn To Be Successful

Photo by Vidar Askland

I'm sure everyone wants to be successful in life.

Who wouldn't?

However, not everyone though is willing to experience the hardships and challenges that goes with it. Most people are always looking for the easy and sure way to get it. They are in search of the magic formula that will show them what they need to do without the discipline, hard work and commitment needed to be successful.

But that's just it. There's no easy and sure way to success. It just won't happen overnight. No matter how hard you look, you won't find a secret formula out there where you just press a button and poof, you're successful.

To be successful you have to learn how to be successful.

Do you think all of the successful people started as a success right away? No! All of them learned how to be successful. They all underwent certain processes, challenges, hardships and so on, to get where they are right now. 

Most of the time we hear about their accomplishments, achievements and what they did in their respective careers or businesses. But all of those accomplishments and achievements didn't come overnight. All of them went through a learning process. They committed themselves and learned how to be successful in what they do. As T. Harv Eker, author of the "Secrets of the Millionaire Mind" said, "Every master was once a disaster."

All successful people today started out as a disaster. They were beginners, still learning the ins and outs of their respective fields. The difference though was that these successful people were committed. They were disciplined and eager to learn what they need to do in order to be successful. No matter how hard it is, they learned it and did it.

But that's the beauty of it. Success can be learned. If someone has done it already, then you can do it as well. Learn from people who have done it already. Find someone who is willing to mentor you and help you succeed. Commit yourself and stay disciplined, and pretty soon you will achieve the success that you want.

Money Just Magnifies Your Character

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Some people believe that having money changes a person. Some think that it makes a person greedy and selfish. Others think that it makes them more generous.

The truth, however, is that money doesn't change a person much. Money, actually, just magnifies what you already are. Because having money just allows you to be more of what you are.

If you are already greedy and selfish when you are poor, becoming rich won't suddenly change you into a generous person. It will just magnify your character, making you greedier and more selfish. Likewise, if you are already a generous person when you are poor, becoming rich will make you even more generous and unselfish.

Yes there are rare cases where becoming rich changes the person's character. But more often than not, it just magnifies what's already inside of you.

Having money won't change a person, because change comes from within and not from any external factor. Regardless if you have money or not, you can choose to become greedy or not. That decision comes from within you and not outside of you.

So if you want to be generous, don't let being poor stop you. You can be generous even if you don't have any money. Begin with small acts of kindness, then just gradually increase it as you get used to it. Once it becomes a habit, that character will just be magnified when you become rich. Because being rich will allow you to do more of that kindness.

It's Time You Take Action

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Do you have an idea for a business? How about an idea for a great project? Or plans to start exercising and eating healthily?

If you do, how come you're not executing them?

This is actually the problem of most people and the primary reason why they are not successful or are not where they want to be, the lack of execution. I'm sure everyone has a great idea in them. An idea that can propel them to fame and fortune. An idea that can positively impact a lot of lives.

The problem though is that it just remains an idea. It never becomes reality because the person who though of it didn't take any action to make it a reality. I've read in a book (forgot though which one) a statement that rings true, "if you want to know a place on earth where you can find a lot of great ideas, just go to the graveyard." It's true though. The graveyard is a place where there are a lot of great ideas, because these great ideas died with the people who have thought of them.

Why is that? It's because of fear. The fear of failure, the fear of rejection, the fear of being ridiculed and laughed at, the fear of the unknown, etc. A lot of people who have great ideas don't start it because of fear. Well I've got news for you, yes you will fail, you will be ridiculed, you will be rejected and so on.

But so what? It's not like the end of the world for you. Just because you failed, doesn't mean you can't try again. And just because some people rejected, ridiculed and laughed at you, doesn't mean that everyone will do the same. Mos of the successful people experienced that as well. But they didn't let it faze them. They kept on going, they pushed on, they persevered until they reach the success that they are aiming for.

Yes it will be hard, it will be messy and it will be full of challenges and obstacles, but that's ok. All the failures, rejections, ridicules and bumps you'll experience along the way can be used added to your learning experience. Use these bumps as a learning tool. It is in these failures that we would magically see what we need to do to successfully execute our idea.

So take action first and execute your idea. Who knows what success might be waiting for you if you do. And if you fail, don't fret. Use it as a learning experience to improve on your idea. Remember your idea or plan won't just magically build itself. You have to make it happen.

Don't Just Be A Spectator, Take Control Of Your Life

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Are you in control of your life?

Do you make things happen or do you just let things happen?

Do you do something about the things that you don't like or do you just accept things as it is, even if it makes you miserable?

More often than not, people just let things happen in their life. Content on being just spectators in their own lives. It's like they are watching a blockbuster movie of themselves. Laughing and feeling happy when they see that things are going well. Crying and feeling depressed when things are really down. Angry and feeling irritated when things are not going their way.

Friends, if you want to be successful or want things to go your way, then you better take control of your life. Stop being just spectators in your own movie. Take control of it, write it, direct it and produce it. It's time you make things happen then just let things happen.

Successful people have control over their lives. They don't just let life direct what will happen to them. They take control and make things happen.

It's not easy to do though, because if you take control of your life, you have to be in control of everything. From your actions, emotions, words and thoughts. As in everything. But with practice and committment, you can do it.

How will you take control of your life?

You be the scriptwriter of your life. You dictate what will happen in your life and write it down. Put what you want to happen in words and be very specific. 

To know more about how to write your own script, check out my previous post on how to write your own script.

Never Stop Learning

Photo by Alex

Do you believe that you've already learned everything you need to learn in your business and career?

If yes, are you already where you want to be? If you answered yes, then congratulations on achieving what you want to achieve in life. If you answered no, then it only means that you haven't learned everything you need to learn in your business or career.

One secret of successful people is that they never stop learning. Even if they are already successful, they still look for ways to improve themselves and increase what they know. They don't assume they know everything, because they know there are always new things to learn in their business and career. They are always looking for people who have achieved more than they do and strive to learn from them.

They are eternal students.

Why do they do this? Because they believe that their success is determined by their value. The higher their value, the most likely they would succeed. And in order to increase their value, they need to keep on learning and improving themselves.

Just look at Kobe Bryant. He's already considered as one of the best shooting guards to ever play the game of basketball. Despite all of the championships and individual success that he has achieved, he still strives to improve his game. He still practice hard, learn new moves and skills and just gets better every year. That's why even at the age of 35, where most players would start to lose much of their physical abilities, he can still consistently play at a very high level. Much like Michael Jordan, arguably the best basketball player who ever played and who Kobe patterned his game with.

Successful people are always students of their respective field. They know that in order to be successful and to remain successful, they should never stop learning.

Don't Be Afraid To Fail Or Make Mistatkes

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Are you scared of failing or making mistakes?

How do you usually feel when you fail or make mistakes?

Do you feel bad or horrible about it? Do you mope around all day feeling worthless and ineffective? How about feeling angry and frustrated?

If you feel all that and more, that is normal. Everyone usually feel that way whenever they fail or make a mistake. You feel horrible, you feel angry at yourself, you feel worthless, it's all normal. And no one is expected from it, even successful people feel it. The difference though is that successful people don't let it get them down. Yes, initially they feel bad, they feel worthless. they feel angry. Then they get back up, learn from the failure and mistake, make adjustments, and try again. Even if they make fail again or make another mistake they just repeat the cycle, not stopping until they succeed.

This is because successful people know that failing or making mistake is not the end of the world, but the beginning of learning. They know they failed or made a mistake because there is something they did not know, so they use that mistake as a learning process. They examine the failure or the mistake and look for the lesson that they need to learn, then make the necessary adjustments and try again.

Most people though react differently. They feel bad and mope for a long time. Then they swear or make a promise that they will never make another mistake. So they become cautious in taking projects or starting something, because they only want to partake in something they know they will succeed at.

Failure or mistakes is actually a natural way of telling us that there is something we don't know. Like in my first attempt at starting a business. I was too focused on making sure that everything would be in order before I start operation. I was always tinkering even the tiniest details to make sure that when I start things would run smoothly.

However, most entrepreneurs would tell you that you cannot ensure that everything would be perfect before you begin. If you're aiming for everything to be perfect before starting your business, you likely won't be able to start it. It's better that start then learn quickly along the way. Something that I had to learn the hard way.

Failures and mistakes will happen. It usually signifies that there is something we don't know. So use your failures or mistakes as a way to learn something new. As Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, said in one of his books, "Winners are not afraid of losing. But losers are. Failure is part of the process of success. People who avoid failure also avoid success."

Learn To Be Lazy To Be Successful

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That's right, the title of the article is correct. You have to learn to be lazy to be successful.

I don't mean the kind of lazy where you just sit around or lie around all day on your couch and watch TV or play video games. Being lazy here means to be lazy from doing hard physical work. Because for you to succeed you need to be more of a hard thinker than a hard worker.

I'm not saying that hard work is not necessary, it is also important. But hard work alone won't make you successful. Just ask the millions of people who work very hard, but are somehow not getting ahead in their careers or business. Now take a look at the successful people. Yes they may work hard, but not nearly as hard as you'd think.

The difference between average people and successful people is that successful people work smart. They focus on the most important task at hand and just delegate the rest to other people.

Have you heard of the 80/20 rule? It's also known as the Pareto Principle wherein 80% of the results we want comes from only 20% of what we do. In short, in everything that we do in our business or career, only 20% of it will bring about majority of the results that we want. 

Think about it, among the things that you normally do in a day, which among them actually provide them with the results that you desire? Yes you can say that everything you do is important. Perhaps, but which among them actually bring about the results that you really want?

Try not to do everything yourself, focus only on what is important, then just delegate the rest to others. It's not being lazy if you delegate work, you're just working smart. And that's what you need to be successful.

Focus On What Is Right Instead Of Focusing On What Is Wrong

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• 1+1 = 2
• 2+2 = 4
• 3+3 = 5
• 4+4 = 8

What do you notice about the 4 bullet points above?

I'm sure most of you would say that the third bullet point (3+3=5) is wrong. That is true, but did you also notice that the bullet points above have 3 right answers?

One of the things that most (if not all) people do unconsciously is to focus on what is wrong. They tend to look for the bad thing or the negative or what went wrong in their lives, the people they meet, their relationship, their career or business, and so on. "I live in an old and small house," "my wife doesn't cook for me," "my job is hard," "I made a mistake on a project," and so on.

I am guilty of that as well. One of the reasons why I've changed jobs so often is that I always find something that I don't like in my current job. It could be the company, the policy, the job itself, the people, or whatever negative thing that I see. So I'm always looking for a new job in a new company with new people, to get ahead and increase my salary and also to get away from something that I didn't like.

I never appreciated the benefits or the right things that I was getting at in my jobs. Looking back at all of it now, the positives and the right things always outweigh whatever negative or wrong things I see or experience. I don't regret the choices that I made, because I'm happy where I am right now. However, I probably would have done things differently if everything happened today, with what I know now. At least this can be  reminder for me to be more appreciative and focus on what is right.

Friends, if you want to be truly blessed in your life, then you should focus on the good and right things that has happened or is happening in your life right now. Doing this will give you a more positive outlook in life, thus attracting more good things to happen. Use the negative or wrong things that has happened in your life as a learning experience. See what you could have done differently or how you could have reacted differently. Learn what you can from these wrong things, then move on and don't dwell on them anymore.

If you focus on what is wrong, you'll just attract more of it in your life. But if you focus on what is right, then you'll attract more right things. As Oprah Winfrey puts it, "Be thankful for what you have, you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never have enough.

Put Love In What You Do So You May Prosper

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I'd like to share a passage that Bro. Bo shared. It's in Deuteronomy 29-91, "Therefore keep the words of this covenant, and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do."

What this passage means is that if we do the covenant, we will be able to prosper in anything that we do.And what is the core covenant? It is actually love. So to translate, the message simply means that if we put love in anything that we do, we will prosper.

Do you love what you do? If you want to prosper you should. You see whenever you put love in your business, people will notice it. They will feel it and they will get attracted to it. Once people feel the love in your work, they'll want to come back because they feel good about your products or service. They feel your love, they feel that they are getting more than what they paid for.

This is also true for employees. If you put love in any project that you do, your boss will notice it. Because if you love what you do, you'll make sure that you'll do a good job on it and deliver on more than what is asked of you.

Just look at Steve Jobs. Why do you think Apple flourished under his watch? Aside from being a creative genius, it's because he loved what he was doing. He made sure that the products and service he would provide is of excellent quality, thus people gravitate towards the products that his company made.

If you can't put love in what you do, then why do it in the first place?

I'd like to end with a quote from Steve Jobs about loving what you do. "And the only way to do great work is to love what you do."

Don't Be Cheap, Improve Yourself

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Do you want to achieve quantum growth in your life? Then you need to have mentors who can teach you and guide you to achieve your quantum growth.

Mentors doesn't have to instantly be people who you meet a couple of times a week guiding you and teaching you what you need to do. Mentors can come in the form of books, audio books, video courses, newsletters, online courses, seminars or conferences of successful people. By buying their books, audio and online courses or by attending their seminars and conferences, you start learning from them through the things they teach in their seminars, books and conferences.

The problem for most people is that these things cost money. They find it expensive to spend on books, seminars or online courses that will teach them valuable lessons and insights that can exponentially increase their development and help them succeed and achieve their goals. Most people just look for free seminars to attend or free books to read for their development.

I was like this before. I never put too much value in my own development, always thinking that I can gain my development through the things that I'll be experiencing as I move forward. It was only when I wanted to change the path that I was walking in that I decided to purchase books and attend seminars.

I was amazed at the things that I learned and how it helped speed up and increase the growth of my development. Like Bo Sanchez's Wealth Summit that attended in 2012. I learned a lot of stuff there, as well as met a lot of like-minded people. The things that I learned there have been a great contributor in my journey to achieve my dreams and goals.

Friends don't be cheap on yourself. It's ok to spend money on these things. Remember, you're number one asset is yourself. So it is very important for you to keep on improving yourself and increase your knowledge and wisdom.

Freebies are ok, and it will also help in your development. The problem though is that, most people don't put too much value in something that they receive for free. You most likely won't listen too much in a seminar that you're able to attend for free. Same with books, video courses or online courses that you receive for free. But if you pay for them, you'll surely make sure that you'll get your money worth by learning everything that you can.

Successful people never stop learning (even if it will cost them a lot of money), that's why they continue to be successful.

So don't be cheap on yourself. To achieve quantum growth, you have to keep on learning and improving. Even if it means spending for it.

How To Be Awesome

3 Ways on How to Be Awesome

Be Awesome

Photo by Raphye Alexius

Have you ever been to a store or establishment where the employees there are not very accommodating? They aren't smiling, they're not approaching you, they're just talking to their co-workers and when you call for them they point finger as to who should be entertaining you? Then after buying their product, you realize that you bought something that isn't even worth near what you paid for it.

That kind of store or business comprises 10% of businesses all over the world. You can classify them under the Awful Business.

How about a store or business where everybody's pleasant. The nearest employee approaches you and ask if you need any assistance? Then assists you in any way they can or waits for you to ask or inquire about something while you check out their wares? Then thanks you after and you can see that the product you bought is of good quality.

You can classify that under Average Business, where it comprises 80% of businesses all over the world.

Then there are stores that as you enter their establishment, employees there happily approach you and greet you with a smile. They already anticipate what you will be asking or inquiring about so they guide you to it and tell you what you need and want to know. They do more than what is asked from them, always going the extra mile just to serve you and make sure you have a very wonderful experience.Then after purchasing the product, you feel more than satisfied and see that what you got is worth more than what you paid for.

These businesses are the Awesome Business, and they comprise 10% of businesses all over the world.

Among the three (3) categories, which business or employee (if you are employed) will succeed the most? Of course it's the Awesome one.

Friends, one secret to a successful career or business is to be awesome. To provide exceptional service and do more than what is asked or required of you. By being awesome, you will stand out in a good way. People will remember you and they will like you. If they like you, they are more than likely to go out of their way to come and get you or visit your store again.

No one likes awful and average are a dime a dozen. So for you to stand out, you need to be awesome.