An Advice from a Mrs. Ferrer

I was waiting for a jeepney ride, standing on a waiting shed in front of Ateneo. I just came from a mtg with my  business partners, discussing about Solar.

It was starting to rain hard. To make matters worse, I forgot that I don't have an  umbrella with me. Poor me, I left it at home.

A lady was there beside me, waiting for a taxi together with her grandson, whom I presume is studying or going to prep school at Ateneo.

When a taxi finally came, she found it hard  to carry her grandson's backpack / stroller  into the taxi. So I naturally helped her as  she looked at me like she was asking for  assistance.

I wasn't asking for a return of the favor.  But she begged me na sumakay na rin daw ako  sa taxi. Kasi daw inalalayan ko sya sa  pgsakay nung bag ng apo nya, that it's just  ryt kung maisakay nya ko and then along the  way ibaba nya ko kung saan ang sakayan ko. I  thankfully accepted the invitation.

We had a short chat. She asked if i working  daw. I said i just came from a bisnes mtg.  She asked wat my business was, and I replied  with a smile. I told her we have a Real  Estate cmpy, as well as other businesses like  Solar Energy. But i said I am still starting  as an entrepreneur. She said nasa Real Estate  rin daw sya, but not in the usual way - she  said she owns & rents out apartments in the  University belt. She said ngpaayos daw sya ng  kotse nya kaya ngayon ngtaxi muna sila. I was  amazed that at her age, sinusundo p nya  grandson nya. Around 50's na cgro sya.

She asked me what's the state of Real Estate  and i replied it's booming now, pero marami  kumpetensya. We had quite a chat about  business, about wat we both do for a living.  Then she asked, "u know wat the best business there is?" She said, simply, it's "Food business."

I asked why. She said, with no hesitation,  "becoz everybody eats." Hindi pwede d k  kakain. Tinanong p nya yung taxi driver, "d b  mamang driver.. D pwede d ka pwede  magstopover minsan at d kakain?" Kaya daw  kahit mga maliliit na carinderia lang  kumikita p rin kahit papano. Above average  profits p nga daw kadalasan.

Come to think of it. It makes real sense.
U can make good bisness with a product that  ppol rly needs, that ppol are rly using or  consuming everday.

This gave me an "A-ha!" moment and shed light   into one of my businesses, which is my  prepaid loading business with Vmobile (and  the Solar Energy business). It feels right,  and i felt like God is answering my prayers  to continue on serving & working on the  businesses that i bliv in.

After that i had to go down at Philcoa. I  gave her my calling card, and she said her  name is Mrs. Ferrer.

I braved the rain. Basang-basa ako pero sakto  rin sa me babaan ko, me bilihan ng payong. I  felt like I was put there for a reason. That  all that just happened meant something, and  that there r no coincidences. That God may be  telling me, he answers all my prayers, for me  to be brave. To be strong. That he has given  me a message.

God bless u, Mrs. Ferrer. Kahit d ko po kyo  kilala, u gave me somthing to ponder on. Some  bits of street-smart wisdom from a fine &  typical Filipino Lady of her age.

:)

PSE back on track

This is what I was talking about (from my last post http://investinggeek.blogspot.com/2012/02/why-philippine-economy-is-strong-and.html). Stock market experts say only 1 thing with regard to our Philippine economy: if not with the crises being felt in the US, Europe, and Middle East these past few months, there is no way for Philippines but up.

And look now as the coast is getting clearer:
http://ph.news.yahoo.com/stock-market-barrels-time-high-171439212.html

"The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) soared 114.14 points or 2.4 percent to close at 4,880.71 as investors gobbled up shares of PLDT, Ayala Corp., Ayala Land, Aboitiz, and Bank of the Philippine Islands."

Imagine if you patiently waited for boiling waters to settle down, if you have bought a few sure pick (meaning fundamentally & technically stable) stocks in the Philippines, you would have been wearing a shining-shimmering-splendid smile right now.

My advice? Get the timing. Yes, it's getting up right now. You can ride the wave - but you should also be careful. My best bet - it will fall down a bit after a few days or weeks, but it will regain momentum again; which is then the precise time to get in - theoretically, that is, for those who did not get to join the ride before this record news came up.

Why the Philippine Economy is strong and resilient despite Global Crisis

There are at least 2 primary reasons why the Philippine economy is gaining strength despite Global Crisis in the US, Europe and the middle east.

One, our OFW heroes.

See the link below regarding the latest news, stating that:

OFW inflows hit record $20.12 billion in 2011

http://ph.news.yahoo.com/ofw-inflows-hit-record-20-12-billion-2011-193833636.html


Second, our BPO industry continues to be booming.

These are just but a few reasons why the Philippines is strong and resilient. This is not just apparent in our stock market, but also on our booming and getting-bullish Real Estate. Because right now, we can simply see the skylines in Manila - it's full of high rise condo's and commercial buildings; proof that urban development is growing.

It's REALLY more fun in the Philippines.
Let's bring it on.

Good Intentions

It's not how far can good intentions go.
It's how far can people's good intentions last.
  
  
Yes. Good intentions will go a long looonnggg way. Even Erap Estrada may really have had good intentions all along. But did it really last? Did it stick to him? Or did bad vices or bad choices got into him?


The important thing is, how far can your good intentions go.


Just like New Year's Resolutions.


Question...
Did you even write it down?
Do you even read them every morning when you wake up?
Do you plan your day, week, or month - and made sure your resolutions were included on your plans?
Do you even think of it when executing your plans, or when going through your everyday routine or work? 


If you said NO to these questions, then your good intentions are not good intentions at all.
They are just plain words. 
  
Failing to Plan is planning to fail.
  
   
Consistency. 
This best describes it.

Bullish Stocks in the Philippines

I have been quiet for a while now when it comes to the state of Philippine Stocks.

I just chanced upon it right now and just out of curiosity, I checked the technical data of our Composite Index -  this is for today, Feb. 9, 2012.

Here it is:

I didn't know that Philippine stocks has been very bullish for a time now. It broke the past records set last year.  It's only gonna get better. If I had the money now, I would wisely choose promising stocks. I can't say which ones, but you can try checking some (like PGOLD / PureGold, and maybe SMPH / SM Prime Holdings) and see for yourself. I am not endorsing these stocks. I just looked briefly on their charts and had an initial check on some stocks that I feel were good the last time I checked. If you are not a member of an Online Stock Brokers, like CitisecOnline (which I am a member of) - you can check with our Philippine Stocks Exchange (PSE) website for the stock quotes and charts [see www.pse.com.ph]. I'm just saying you need to know Fundamental and Technical Analysis, and you need to have discipline, before venturing into Stocks. NO EMOTIONS allowed.

All I can say is....

WOW.

“Why set realistic goals when you can do the impossible?”

John Calub once said:

“Why set realistic goals when you can do the impossible?”

Well, here are my thoughts about what he said....

 ·  · Share · 

• • 

    Investing Geek I believe there is some degree of truth here.
    
    This is ideal for explorers, not maintainers or scientists.
    
    Think about it.
    Before there was the Western world or before Columbus got to discover the US Mainland, what were people's goals then?
    To live their lives simply and not dream of other things, of the impossible?
    
    They wouldn't know of the impossible if not for explorers like Columbus.
    

My Review on the Franklin Covey "The 5 Choices" Seminar Overview

As promised on my last post.. here is my review of the Seminar Overview of "The 5 Choices" by FranklinCovey Philippines.


7 Habits and 5 Choices

The whole idea of the 5 Choices to Extraordinary Productivity is all about thinking long term and following through with your goals. It successfully integrates the 7 Habits of Hghly Effective People (the higly-acclaimed book) but focuses more on productivity - and doing it extraordinarily!

Thus, the main focus is on how you are going to be able to realistically & effectively achieve goals – not just getting mediocare results – by doing Q2 activities (focus on the important but not urgent) & scheduling the Big Rocks (things of higher value) first. This, for me, is the essence of FranklinCovey's 5 choices. By knowing and clarifying your roles and goals, you are able to practice Habit 2 (beginning with the end in mind), and Habit 3 (First Things First).

To know more about the book "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People", you can check on Amazon.com:

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

This paradigm by FranklinCovey offers a panacea for a realistic & effective Time Management and ensures high Productivity for ordinary people, employees, managers, and business owners – and maybe even investors.

In everyday living, they say we have 5 Choices for us to achieve Extraordinary Productivity. Checking on their website and doing screenshots of their website, we will see that in everyday living we have 5 Choices:

Here is Step 1:

From the book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, we can identify our daily activities into 4 Quadrants or what we call the Time Management Matrix:

As a rule in effective Time Management, we have 4 Quadrants - we separate them by Importance and Urgency. When you are feeling like your life as an employee is running you over, or that your business is owning you instead of you owning it – that only means one thing: you are focusing most of your life and your time in Quadrant 1.

From being able to clarify what’s important to us, may it be business, family life, spouse or love one, son / daughter, your role as president of your company, the project manager, a salesperson, an investor or entrepreneur – and knowing what activities are in Quadrant 2, relative to these various roles that you have in life, you can then set realistic goals.

Here is Step 2:

Step 2 says: Decide now. What are your roles? List them down.

What do you want to be the outcome (the “end in mind”) for your role, say as a business owner or investor? Okay, I want financial freedom. Check.

But don’t be contented with just getting ordinary results. Get Extraordinary results! Okay, I want to be rich but be spiritual / religious at the same time, and be able to give willingly to my fellow Filipinos especially my family, my katribus, and then the impoverished, once I am financially free. Check. 

Now set your goals and activities to reach that outcome. Okay, I wanna learn how to acquire foreclosed properties and have it rented out so my tenants will be paying for the mortgage, while at the same time the property is slowly gaining equity. Check. I want to know how to do technical analysis in stocks investing. Check! I want to know more about investing in MLM and opening my mind to the possibilities, accumulating wealth while at the same time helping out my business partners. Check!

To know more about the book "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People", you can check on Amazon.com:

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

Here is Step 3:

From knowing your goals for every role in your life, you can then proceed into renewing yourself every week, resolving to schedule and do high-value activities first, you will be able to accomplish more in life. This requires serious amount of discipline. I mean SERIOUS discipline. So expect that. Don’t fool yourself believing you can go far even without hard work and discipline.

But knowing that you have already set goals and listed your activities, you will find that you are finally getting some direction in your life! You will see & feel this when you are slowly transforming your life week after week after week by constantly revisiting your roles & goals (the goals you’ve set & written in the first place). You will see that by scheduling the big rocks (which is similar to what renowned business author / guru Brian Tracy refers to as “Eating the Frog”) first, you are able to accomplish more things in less and less time.

Because if you really understand the importance of Q2 (important/not urgent) activities, of "eating the frog" or scheduling the big rocks and finishing what’s important first (w/c is usually the hardest thing to do), you will end up having MORE TIME in the END! Hey, this week, I’ve finished doing that presentation slide and made sure it effectively and clearly shows the benefits of going Solar. Check. Hey, this week, I got a very satisfied customer! Check!

Now I can really enjoy life and enjoy some real recreation!

It only gets better. Because the faster you finish those Q2 activites, the faster you will have more time so you can enjoy & relax, or do the things you realy love doing while not being pushed on by any urgencies or pressing activities.

Here is Step 4:

This only means 1 thing. Use that iPad to show the Business Plan, or that Meeting Agenda, or that Sales Presentation more effectively! Not play Angry Birds or DOTA and end up getting Angry Management courses.

Here is Step 5:

The real great thing here is that this paradigm will give you more and more balance in your life. Short-term thinkers won’t see the impact of this because all they do is act on what they feel like doing, or what they are being pressed on doing - were they easily end up feeling victimized, or get easily tempted doing unimportant escapist activities. They tend to put up the important things they really need to do and easily choose the gravels in life instead of the big rocks, feeling more pressure, procrastinating.. the list goes on and on. What you end up having is a life where you are not in control - but rather, a life that controls and owns you!

It's not a "purpose-driven life".
It's an "autopilot-driven life".

A life without a purpose! 

That’s why some people say, own your business – not your business owning you (because they don’t do the Q2 activity of careful planning and handling of finances)!

By understanding the 5 choices and the 7 habits of Highly Effective People, by acting based on principle-centered time-management, you will end up overcoming fear & procrastination without thinking about it.
It's a wholistic, tightly-integrated approach not only applicable to productivity - but also to living your life, I repeat.. YOUR LIFE, in general.

You will not only end up freeing yourself, having and spending more time on what matters most to you - your relationships, enjoy reaping what u sow: the fruits of real & lasting success born out of your hard work; and ultimately… you will get to attain true contentment, true health, true wealth in all areas of your life - not just financially (if that is just your goal).

Who wouldn't want a life were you get to reach your goals, your dreams, while at the same time being genuinely happy inside & out? There's a higher plain out there, higher than attaining financial freedom. It's called Balance. It's called Inner Peace.


If there's something you realy need to invest wisely on, it's this. Investing is not only applicable with using your money wisely. The wisest investment is investing on wisdom.

Practice the 7 habits. Be aware of your 5 choices and act on it.

And soon the phrase "live happily ever after" will be transformed from fantasy to reality.


JCV


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Next time. I will tell you about how at one very low point in my life, the 7 Habits book changed my life and saved me from Tuberculosis.

And how, with God willing, it seems that it is saving my life again.

To know more about the book "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People", you can check on Amazon.com:

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey