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.

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!

Of Reality and Happiness

Choose your reality. There are always two sides of everything. Choose to see the side that moves you closer to the future that you want.

Today is our Fast Start Training. It's always great to start a new month with reminders of my dreams, aligning of my goals and jump-starting my business. I love learning. I am always amazed that there is always something new to learn. More so, I am so excited.

It is the first day of December, Merry Christmas everyone! It is also another beginning and another chance to make things happen. November has been great but I know that this month is going to be bigger. I am going to end the year 2012, strong and in momentum.

Focus on your future and decide according to the future that you want.

One of my favorite slide from the training - habits for success!

I am happy with what I am getting. I am happy with the people in my organization and I am happy with everything that I have right now. There is more to come and I am full of energy and excitement.

How about you?

Buenas dias!

Of Love and Success

"You are acting as if your heart is breakable when in reality your heart is made to endure a thousand heartaches." ~Ulyssess Paculaba

my notes in the training - "mindset"

Everything starts with mindset. We can all learn about the skills, about what to say or what to do, but without the proper mindset we can never get the results that we wanted.

During our Tuesday T3 - train the trainer's training, my mentor Pax Paculaba was discussing about context and the space we are coming from in everything that we do. Success comes not after you have mastered the skills, but rather, after you have shifted your mindset. 

Love does not come to single people not because they are unlovable or because no one is willing to love them. They are not in a relationship because they are focused more on the fear of being hurt than in the joy of being loved.

Success in business does not happen to people not because they are not smart enough or they are not good enough. They are not succeeding because they are focused more on the fear of failure than in the joy of helping more people succeed.

I learned a lot today. I realized that the results of my life depends mainly not on how I do things but on where I am coming from. What is my context? What space am I coming from?

Here is my stand. I am a space of belief and courage. A belief that everyone wants to succeed and that I am most willing to help them succeed. Courage, because even if I get hurt, I know that the price is always worth it - in both love and business.

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 Time and Money

Everyday is another chance to learn.

I attended a Fly-in event today with our trainor and mentor from Malaysia, Chong Wai Hong. I learned a lot today and if I will summarize everything that he taught us, it would be: "The question is not about having to choose what kind of life you want to live, but rather the question of, do you have the ability to live that way."

Yes, we can all choose to have both time and money. We all have big dreams. Sadly, not everyone can live and enjoy having the freedom to do whatever you want to do without worrying about the time and the money needed. Freedom is a gift. It starts with a choice.

My look: Pinstriped jacket by G2000, black silk long sleeve blouse, white leather belt and black slacks

i love a touch of white on an all black suit

Wai Hong used to work as a Chartered Accountant, a CFO of one of the top 4 companies of Malaysia and a CEO of a Multinational company. He gave it all up to do the Nu Skin business. Why? Because he wants to be free.

the guest speaker from Malaysia, Chong Wai Hong

If you choose freedom, the more you can secure a better life. The more you choose security, the less secure life will be. 

Success is never measured by positions or titles. It is only partly measured by the amount of money you earn or how much you have traveled. Success is measured by how much time you were able to spend with the people you love, or the time you spend doing what you really love. Success is measured by happiness, by how many people you have helped and by having the ability to provide for you family everything that they need.

Success is never a choice between "staying in the Philippines but not having enough" or "going abroad to earn more just so you can provide for your loved ones". Success is about being with your family and having the capacity to give them the kind of life that they deserve. This is the choice and ability that the Nu Skin opportunity has given me. With that, I will forever be thankful.

inspiring people: millionaire members

my mentors: Pax and Gina Paculaba

my great friends (L-R): pearl, me, raphael, patricia, lucci, ryan, dyan, kris and Ms. Gina

with my buddy, Kris Ramirez

my good friend, Mafe Pastorfide

my beautiful friend, May Vicente

my idol, Pearl Pilpil

Choose to learn whenever possible. Choose to fight for your dreams. Choose to live your life the way you have always wanted to. Life is about choices. Of choosing to have both time and money freedom.

I choose to live my life to the fullest because I know I deserve it. I believe that you deserve it too.

Buenas Dias!

Of Blessings and Gratitude

Everyday is reason enough to be grateful. Life is truly amazing. If you cannot see the wonder and greatness of the world around you each and every minute of your life, then you are not opening your eyes.

I like celebrating Thanksgiving Day. And it is not just because of the turkey or the family dinner, but rather, I like the thought that we are reminded to give thanks. Because in honesty, we all have a lot of reasons to be thankful for. If we really look at our lives, despite the challenges and the problems and the heartaches, we are all still blessed.

I look at my life and I am amzed how God never ceases to bless me. Yes, I have been through a lot of things this year. I lost my dear grandmother, business was a bit slow, some things got out of hand and well, it was never a walk in the park. I made a lot of mistakes, was frustrated a lot of times and failed more times than I could ever hope for. But through it all, I came out strong and I am still fighting. We become who we need to be because of what happens to us.

A wise person once told me, it is not in what happens to us that determines our future, it is in how we react to what happens to us that dictates where we are going. I agree. We need to go through everything in our life because we need to grow and develop to be the kind of person we wanted to be.

I have an amazing life and my dreams are within reach. I am not there yet but I will be very soon. With that, I can never be thankful enough.

Here is to our wonderful life. 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!

In Following Your Heart

No, this is not about romantic love, but love still.

I believe that each one of us have dreams. That "I've always wanted to be, do or have" kind that we have always wanted to achieve in our lives. Sadly though, not everyone gets to fulfill their dreams. Maybe because they've given up, or they tried once and got hurt that they never wanted to try again, or they never had the courage to even try.

I am talking about following one's heart, doing what one loves despite everything else and choosing to fight for one's dreams.

my photo shoot look - khaki polo, skinny jeans with brown leather belt

Just recently, a good friend of mine, Charmaine Loise Clamor, asked me to take her picture for she needs it as requirement for an audition in an upcoming Broadway and West End musical. I agreed to do it excitedly. Of course, it would not be as fun if I would not be working with talented people such as Mel Nunez, our make-up artist for the day.

I admire Charmaine's courage. She has an amazing voice and is a very talented singer. I believe that she was born to sing. But one must first step up, be brave enough to really want it, to be given the chance to live their dreams. Making things happen is not easy but it is always worth it.

Mel Nunez prepping our beautiful model, Charmaine Clamor

I am not a professional photographer but my love for this art led me to venture into this world of looking at life through my lens. Here are some of the pictures from the shoot. Hope you like them:

I just love the effect of mirrors and minimum lighting

Charmaine's sexy look: dark smokey brown eyes, nude lipstick

Blurring the background to highlight an off-center subject

Charmaine's fresh look: minimal eye make-up, pink lipstick and blush

I believe that God does not put the desire in out hearts without giving us the possibility to put it into action. He gave us the talent to be a singer or an artist or whatever it is that you love to do, because that is what we were meant to do. Our life's purpose is doing what we love. It is fulfilling our heart's desires. It is following our hearts.

A lot of people thought that when you follow your heart and go for your dreams, it will be a lonely ride. It doesn't have to. Success is best accomplished with a great team. I am thankful that I have great people to share my dreams with. Moments like these are etched into our memories because they are experienced with friends:

with my friends: Charmaine (model) and Mel (make-up artist)

When asked how I can be thanked after the shoot, my honest reply was: "to be given the trust of taking the pictures is thank you enough for me". As for my friend Charmaine, I pray that she gets the part. She'll be amazing on stage, I just know it.

It is not often that people get to do what they love and love what they do. I have that in my life. My dream is that every person can have the chance to do what they love and what makes them happy. But first, one must know what they want to do. Mine is capturing moments, Charmaine's dream is singing on stage, what's yours?

I hope that you will give your dreams a fighting chance. Buenas dias!