Of Choices And Circumstances

"If you do not make a choice in your life, your circumstances will make a choice for you." ~John Maxwell

Life happens to all of us. The difference with the successful and those who are not is not in who gets through life without problems, but in who responds to life as a victor or a victim. There is not one person in this world who is not without a problem. I believe that what separates the successful from the not so successful is that single decision of choosing the kind of life you would want to live, no matter what life throws at us.

"The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude toward the problem." ~Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean

Most people go through life thinking that they are where they are because of their circumstances. They were born poor. They were not able to finish school. They don't know enough. They only know a certain skill. They don't know how to sell. They are not confident enough. They don't know how to talk to people. They are busy. They just had a family. They need to work late hours. They have so many bills to pay. They are taking care of a sick relative. The list goes on. They live their lives believing that they have no choice. In reality, they have a choice, they were just afraid to do something different in their lives, because no matter how difficult life is for them, they are in their comfort zones.

Sad, isn't it? People would rather do the difficult stuff than the uncomfortable. Difficult stuff gives you permission to complain, that's easy to do. Uncomfortability pushes you to grow, that's hard.

Exercise your freedom to choose. Your life is based on the choices you make. Choose to be great and your life will be great. Make a choice now, and your circumstances will change. Wait for your circumstances to change, and it will forever stay the same running around in circles.

Make a choice, now. Fix your life. Buenas dias!

Of Money And Choices

Money is never a requirement for the best life, but it can give you more choices so that you can truly experience and live the best life that you can have.

In Looking For Opportunities

For the past few days, I have been meeting a lot of people for a project that I am working on. I am expanding my business and is growing a brand from a billion to 5 billion dollars in 3 years.

I learned two things that made me excited about what I am doing.

What struck me was the kind of people that shows up - mostly 40's and above, earning quite well with their job and those who are in a good position with their companies. Those who usually cancel the appointment are young people or those who are just simple employees. My mentor is right, successful people become successful because they are the ones who keep their commitments and they are the ones who are always open to new opportunities. Those who I believe, really needs the opportunity, are those who are not really open or is not even looking.

Another thing was the question that, why do people in their 40's, 50's and even 60's still look for other opportunities? I mean, one should already be made and enjoying their lives at that age, right? It made me think a very simple yet profound truth: if I stay at work and do the best I can on my job, I will get promoted, earn a good income but at the age of 40 or 50, I would still be looking for an opportunity that will help me reach my dreams (if ever I still believe in dreams).

I was sharing this to my mentor a while ago at our monthly Fast Start Training. I was telling him about what I realized about life and my choices. One, if you are looking for business partners, look for those who are already successful, not just because they are your friends. It's best if they are both. Second, if I do what everyone else is doing, then I will get the result of everyone else. It is very easy to know your future, look at those ahead of you who are doing what you are doing. It you like their life, keep doing what you are doing, if not, then do something else.

I am so thankful that I made a wonderful choice of being in business. I hope that you are also excited about the choices you made in your life.

Buenas dias.

In Minding Your Business

What is stopping from doing something that can actually change your life?

Of Choice and Decisions

Things just don't happen for a reason, things happen because we allow it to happen. Choice is a very powerful thing.

I realized this just today. Yes, there are instances that are beyond our control but how we handle the situation and how we react these moments define who we are and what happens to our life. Nobody is to blame, not the government, not our parents, not even the environment.

Everyday of our life, we are faced by many decisions, questions and choices that we either say yes to, or no to, or those that we push to the side because they are not important or that they are, but we are just too afraid to face them now.

Choose to live the best life possible. Allow yourself to make mistakes. Forgive yourself and be excited for the future. Love yourself and believe that your deserve to be great. You hold the key to your own happiness.

Buenas dias!

In Starting An Adventure

The Hobbit, a prequel of the The Lord of the Rings trilogy is a movie about having the courage to take on an adventure that can change one's life.

image source: decca.com

I believe that we all need to have the courage to take on an adventure. It does not necessarily mean that we have to leave home and be on the road kind of adventure, but an adventure that requires us to face the unknown and leave our comfort zone. An adventure that asks us to be brave, to have fun and to meet new friends.

For a lot of people, it could be having a family. For others, it is choosing to do what they have always wanted to do. For me, it is starting a business. It is an adventure that is making me stronger every single day of my life. I realized that I am becoming a better person because of my choice of being an entrepreneur.

Yes, there is fear. Just like the dwarfs in the movie, I am always in search for success. Along the way, I meet wizards (my mentors and coaches) and elves (business partners). And you guessed right, there are ogres (naysayers), trolls (dream snatchers) and goblins (just pure negative people). But it is okay, because that just makes the whole journey an amazingly unexpected experience.

May your life be filled with adventures such as mine. Buenas dias!

Of The World's End

The Mayan Calendar states that today, the winter Solstice, is the end of the world. I'm not really following that calendar, but if ever today is indeed the end of the world, would you still so what you planned to do for the day?
If not, wouldn't today be a good start to actually do what you really want to do?
You choose, today can either be the best last day of your life or hopefully, today can be the start of the best life that you will ever have. Either way, enjoy your day!

Photo courtesy of: http://www.123rf.com

Buenas dias!

Of Dreams and Goals

Why do people love to dream but hate making goals?

We would probably all agree, everyone has dreams. Whether it be having a long weekend vacation, or having a sprawling house or giving your parents the retirement that they deserve. Everyone has dreams. The question is, why isn't evryone doing something about it? Why isn't everyone setting goals so that they can actually start making their dreams a reality?

Dreams create a "fantasy" or a future that we all know exist in some distant future. Goals remove that 'distant future' and make it concrete by putting a definite or exact date as to where you would want the dream realized. Surprisingly, people are scared of making the distant future concrete. They are scared to fail. They are scared of being frustrated that the fear of pain is bigger than the gain of the sought after dream.

As my mentor was making me realize this, I remember the picture of a donkey pulling a carriage following a hanging carrot that he might never really have. Sadly, we are all contented that we can see the carrot without us knowing when will we ever get it.

I don't like to be the donkey. I like having control on my life. Yes, in some instances, goals are not met. I failed a couple of times. I made a lot of mistakes. And yes, it hurts. It hurts so bad that it is understandable to rest for a while. But all this time, I understand, I knew, that I would rather give it my all, I would rather try my best to get my dreams that live my life wishing, hoping, dreaming of a life that I might not be able to live.

Dreams are meant to be real and lived. Quitting is never part of the picture. Because honestly, I'd be more frustrated to have not done anything for me to succeed. I'd rather die trying out something, not live without ever doing something worthwhile.

Buenas dias!

In Living The Dream

My mentor was right when he told us in the training that the only thing that separates the successful and the not so successful was not hard work or intelligence, but belief. Belief that it is possible for them to live their dreams and have everything that they ever want in life.

I always have big dreams. Since I was young, I already knew what I wanted. I wanted to have big houses to invite family and friends over because I love spending time with the people I love. I want a number of cars because I love long trips and traveling with my family and friends. I want passive income because I know that the more money I make, the more chance I can help my family, my friends and people in need. I love the thought that I can always give to my church, or support a foundation that I love or provide the best for my family.

I remember my mentor telling us that success is not about the money, it is about the quality of life that you can give the people that matters most to you. I agree with him. 

Success for me is having to tell my parents that they can retire, without worries and with all the support that they can get from me. They can travel or live somewhere or experience life and I can provide them that. Success is having the capacity to tell my future children that they can study in wherever school they want because we can afford it. If they want to learn the piano, or learn how to swim or learn ballet, I can look them in the eye and say, yes when do you want to start? Success is having the money to make sure that my family is healthy. That if someone got sick, I don't have to worry about hospital bills or medical bills. My mentor is right, cancer is not lethal if you have the money. Cancer can be cured if you are rich enough to provide the best medicines and to give enough time to look after them. Success is having the time to choose what you will do with your time. Whether that's fishing with your kids on a Tuesday, or golfing with your friends in the middle of the day or just being on a trip with your family for a month. Success is being spiritually connected with your faith not just in prayers but in action. 

I am thankful that Nu Skin has given me the opportunity to be successful without having to sacrifice anything. I can choose the quality of my life because I believe that it is possible for me. Most people just dream their dreams, I am living mine.

Your dreams are possible, too. Just believe. Buenas dias!

In Making A Difference

Here is a challenge given to me by my mentor: why not make a difference by helping create first world Philippines.

Of course I accepted the challenge. Did I believe that it is possible? Yes. Did I believe that it is achievable? Yes. Did I believe that I will see it come true in my lifetime? Maybe. Did I agree to doing it alone? No.

You see, every grand goal starts with believing it is possible even if you do not get to see it end. I also understand that every big dream were never achieved by a single individual. It is always a team effort.

The strategy is improve the country's economy by helping more Filipinos earn more through business and entrepreneurship. If more Filipinos are earning six or seven digits a month here in our country, then it is possible that we can send back our family members here in the Philippines so that we can spend more time with them. It will mean better living standards, better education, better infrastructure and better services because we the people now have the capacity to fund ourselves without waiting for the government.

It may be a far cry for a lot of people right now, but I hope that more people would give it a fighting chance.

A lot of people ask me how can they help if they are but ordinary people?

Simple. If we want to create a first world country, then we must first become first class citizens.

With discipline, strength of character and big dreams, achieving first world Philippines is easier. 

Good luck to all of us. Buenas dias.

Of Vehicles and Destinations

I was on my way to my usual Monday business training in Makati and I suddenly realized something. Traffic wasn't as heavy that day but during a traffic light stop I had a few moments to watch most of the people on the road. Some on commute, others driving their cars and some chose to walk. We are all heading some place, to work or home or for me, a training. It dawned on me that life and success is as simple as this road we are all traveling. We all have our own destination in mind, and the choices we make determines if we will get there or not.

my training look: off shoulder blouse, fitted grey pants

Everyone is going somewhere, but is it where we really want to go? Some people are lucky enough to actually love going to work. But most people, dream of going on a vacation somewhere rather than spend 8 or 10 hours in a cubicle at work. Others are excited to come home to their family while more people come home to an apartment alone. 

the "fountain of youth" logo of Nu Skin

Our destination, I believe are the same. We all want happiness. Whether than happiness comes from having time with your family, or being successful, or having enough money, a big house, a car, a chance to travel, the ability to help other people or give to charity or support your church or whatever. At the end of the day, we all want to be happier. The destination is the same, the difference in our lives depends on the vehicle we chose to ride: are you riding a jeepney on commute (doing what everybody is doing), walking (watching while somebody else is doing something), driving your own Kia (trying something on your own) or riding a Ferrari (doing something out of the box). Nothing is really wrong with the vehicles that we choose, the question is how fast will we get to our destination? Or, should we ask, with what we are currently doing, will we really get there?

It is during these moments that I am thankful for Nu Skin, my Ferrari, the vehicle that I chose to ride. I know I'll get to my dreams faster and surer.

Choose your vehicle well. Buenas dias!

Of Dreams and Success

I am attending a regular training every Monday for my business. It is a great way to start my week since I am learning from amazing people.

My success outfit: polkadot blouse, white belt, black slacks

I have always believed that if you want to be successful, you have to learn from successful people. If you want to learn about business, you have to learn from business people.

I have the privileged to learn from leaders and successful people. My business mentors Ulysses and Gina Paculaba, have been generous enough to train people who wants to succeed as long as you are willing to do whatever it takes. 

My Goal: Team Elite

We all have big dreams. Most often though, we let situations and people get in the way of us making our dreams happen. We let life lead us that we often forget our dreams in the process. I am grateful that I am always reminded of my dreams every Monday. Everyone needs a reminder like that.

Opportunities are presented to us each and every day. Be open. Take risks. Grab the chance to be happier.

My dream for you is that you give your dreams a fighting chance. You deserve it, we all do.

Buenas Dias!