See my collection of “my wandering feet” that somewhat chronicle my travel and adventure. It started in Macau last August. Here are the samples:
at the venetian hotel
the venetian casino
on top of macau tower
in HK train after been denied entry at shenzhen
at HongKong
at fontana clark
at baguio (store site visit)
at tumana marikina (relief operation)
Random Pictures Taken In September 2009…
ALiya’s growth in 365 days will be chronicled in my subsequent blogs… 
Be twice as good at half the price!
In other words: be insanely awesome… go the extra mile!
It’s a powerful principle that we can apply in whatever we do.
For business, or in employment (and in life for that matter), we must constantly ask this question: “How can we give twice the value for half the price?”
As Bo Sanchez put it in business concept, he gave two big reasons why we need to do this:
First: you simplify the sales process! You don’t have to beg them to buy from you. People will be begging you to sell to them.
Second: You make your customer retention easier: Even if they scout around for other suppliers, they’ll discover that they can”t get the same value they get from you… and so will keep coming back to you.”
Same holds true to our life and our dealings with people and challenges. We must be insanely awesome in everything we do so we can leave a mark and make our worth more “worthy” to our “customers” (be it family, colleague, company, team, community… or God).
Go the extra mile, do more as expected.
Anybody can be “extraordinary” by giving a little “extra” on the ordinary!
See also other T&I posts…
A powerful phrase that attracts everything positive.
If one believes on it with conviction, then something wonderful as expected will happen.
This “abundance mentality” proves to be just as powerful if one will become open to all possibilities of growth and learning.
Just as useful if one will act to take a chance and act on opportunities at hand.
If nature provides us everything we need, then we should do all in our power to make use of it and create something good out of it.
Everything I need comes to me……
#79: keeps on the habit of investing in mutual fund, (I have received 10k gift of Lola Baby to Aliya and it all goes to mutual fund, 5k goes to car registration)
#84: have finally decided to pull-out Jolo’s plan so not to diminish its value further (I will just put it in mutual fund)
#87: be more aware of financial matters: Meralco shares is going up (and now going low)… decide… decide… I have so&so shares at stake…
#94: Bought a microwave oven
#91: starting remodelling my purple room
#5: had a good “talk” with Jolo about attitude and habits. Also, bought the Jabbawokeez Mask for Jolo, Chess for Lean and new slippers for Aliya (been in my “to do” list for long), have to spend more time “dancing” with Jolo and playing with Lean and ALiya…
#17: Seen 2 groups of friends (SVS and SJS) and had fun
#30: went out our street to see the fireworks coming from SM, even I was the only one there gasping and amazing!
#34: adding more on my ‘travelling feet’ collection
#48: been conscious about learning new things and keeping tabs on them… (i’m currently reading about physics and religion)
#49: slowly creating habit for my health (ex. drinking 2 glasses of warm water every morning, less rice, take the opportunity to walk)
#58: finally launched by “pledge-gathering” for my Christmas Toy Gift-Giving… (I set-up a ChipIn (see my account how you can make contributions) and formally announced to network friends that I am “desperately” need of pledges)
#67: did “Pay-it-Forward” deed, I bought two tickets for “Truly Rich Seminar” of Bo Sanchez and gave it to two of my favorite cousins! (hey don’t forget me when you get rich!)
#69: inspite of toxic work, I keep on my weekly blog tips for staff
#70: released 1 major policy for implementation and 2 new policies for review
Just want to share some ups and downs and “tamblings” and “boljacks” and some few triumphs at workplace… It’s been a stressful 2 weeks… but then again, at the end of the day, I have to “leave” it behind for a while to enjoy the rest of my day/night… (Carnegie said something about “compartmentalize”).
hired 7 audit staff this week (and 4 staff from last week)… this will definitely change the course of their lives… because I have put my “butterfly effect” on them…
but really having a hard time keeping up with our hiring (due to new stores and resignation and EOC and leaves – am I complaining?)
Helped opened 3 PG stores this week… having been the “silent force” behind stores’ technical training, we have managed to keep the training schedule running on “auto-pilot” mode… thanks to the competency of our trained trainers.
been worried about “deterioration” of auditors’ know-how, or am I just over-expecting (but then, I really need to revitalize our own training program)
a major project may not see-the-light-day because of mis-coordination (just when we have already done 90% of work)
working on another major vital project, but I have a heavy foreboding feeling about it because of the dementors…. (but I know this should not deter me… or else they will just gain power over my potronus charm)
have released one major policy, as in… (this have been in drawing board for 3 years)
keeping up with the releases of other policies and procedures.
learned the lesson of not jumping too fast on proposing procedures, and relying on store managers’ assertion that the transaction of which the procedures are needed was already approved by the Boss.
seen exemplary performances of some auditors. we really just have to keep them motivated and challenged!
Been “bad” again for feeling so “bad” for the “incompetency” of tooot-toot….
got an approval on a new set of training program set until next month
on the right track (I hope)… so far, so good (I pray)….
Today, I really have to get focused on my goal #58 :Gather more sponsors for my Christmas charity work, out from my 101 goals in 1001 days.
Christmas is getting nearer and people are asking me if there will be such an “toy-giving” event this year as I always do since 1999. I do not want to disappoint them. So far, there are already few pledges but I haven’t asked yet my other colleagues and my former boss and others who helped and contributed in previous years.
Time is rough these days as there are many people affected by previous typhoons… and if generous people would give, I feel that they would rather give to other organizations intended for relief operations for typhoon victims (which I don’t mind). But I have to ask them to pledge in this activity as well and I have bank on their faith to this Project K for K!
Actually, it made me re-think the objectives of my project and asked myself if toys-giving is still appropriate and relevant now, as they would rather receive basic needs than toys. But then, I have to keep in mind that it is all about KIDS! and these kids are those we want to be happy. Toys will be the least thing that their parent will ever think of now… and the most least of their priority…. that’s why we will give it to them.
Help me with this Project K for K and let’s bring smile to kid’s lips!
Please ChipIn (see my account how you can make contributions) or help me promote it (see how).
Thank you all!
Mine is a purple bedroom, but I feel it’s rather gloomy and lacks “drama”…. I want to add character to my bedroom and maybe this inspiration (picture below) is great. Anyway, since I have a long list of renovation and redecorating “to do’s” in “101 in 1001″ then maybe I should start my project with my bedroom…
I am excited about getting a new look for my blog…. Thanks a lot to Tara SG for the ideas and support. Actually, after just few correspondences and email exchanges, she created a nice design that I liked instantly… I just asked for a few enhancements, but she really pulled it off nicely….
To give you a peek, here is Tara’s sample (in progress), see this site!
Check also the sites of this amazing lady here.…
Thanks, Tara, great work! Love it!
(new header now in place (11/6/09 at 7:12am), and the button, I linked and dedicated to this post and you… )
October 8, 2009
We got spontaneous tickets to watch the UAAP Basketball Finals Season 72, University of the East vs. Ateneo…. And we had one great and spontaneous fun and excitement!
It was so great that despite clamor for tickets for this finals, my friend was able to get tickets within 2 days before the game. It was so amazing (as it was quite impossible to get tickets on short-notice). But through the “power” of our ever-enthusiastic, and ever-resourceful friend Flor, we got 22 tickets! So, SVS staff also came! (the Partners and the staff are almost all UE alumni!)
It would have been Super Great if UE won the title (after almost 10 years?)… but unfortunately Ateneo won. (see the score board below)
But regardless, we really had fun and the verge of adrenalin! Even for the not-so-basketball-fans (like me), the game will make you jump and shout and be carried away. The event was really memorable (especially when they sung the UE theme – which amazingly we can still sing)
Great! Great! Hope next year we’ll be able to repeat this! Go UE Warriors Go!
I came across a site: 29-day Giving Challenge: Changing Life One Gift at a Time!. It promotes simple acts of altruism and generosity believing that one simple deed can make an impact to anyone. Thus, I challenged myself to do conscious “effortful” act of giving. (But I have a confession to make, I officially did the 29-thing in 59 days, but there are menial gifts in between).
True to my theme “butterfly effect,” I believe that this will change somehow the series of event in the lives of those people I “touched”… I just hope and pray that only good things will it bring….
see this interesting site: 29-day giving challenge
see also my 29-gift list
by the way, i will not stop on the 29th gift….
There are lots of opportunities to volunteer now…. The tragedy and calamity brought about by super typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng” brought sorrows, grief and devastation to most of us, but amidst of it all, it also brings out the kindness in us and good spirit….
Last week, we have done relief-giving to those hit by flood… I just happened to know that a colleague (a victim one herself) was asking for volunteers to distribute the goods in Tumana, Marikina (the most badly-hit). And it so happened that our department have collected too many stuff, that, after we have personally distributed most of them to affected members of our department, there were still lot more. So I offered them to this group. I packed them in my car trunk, and I volunteered myself and my car to go wherever it is…
The experience was very tiring and perspiring as we have to take down the packed goods from 4th floor (we are not complaining, mind you). Then we took them in the site.
What we saw of the aftermath of the devastation will be forever imprinted in my memories. It was MORE than the mud, the wasted stuff, the smell, the news-worthy river, the debris and the damaged houses…. BUT there was air of despair, expectation, anticipation and frustration. I believe that these people are not used to beg or ask for “alms” or relief… but putting aside their pride, they have to take the long line and endure waiting (and even run after our truck of good) just to get little pack of basic sustenance. Because they need them… badly!
The experience was moving, eye-opening and heart-breaking!
I wish we could do more….
(While we have not yet recovered from the calamity of typhoon Ondoy in Manila, just merely after a week, the Northern Luzon was also hit by typhoon Pepeng and have also experience wrecking flood. And now, we are bracing for the coming of another super typhoon Ramil)
Last night was a celebration of Orly’s Birthday along with our St Joseph’s buddies and friends (from high school and elementary) at Pier One at QC. We have actually representatives from all sections: St Elizabeth, St John, St. Dominic, St. Ignatius! (if you still remember your beloved section!)
We had a really great time, telling stories, updating life-stories, cracking jokes, goofying around, appreciating the “journey” of each of us had from then to now, and amazing how years have not “actually” changed us… we are still young (at heart and spirit!)… and we can be the same good old buddies… and as if no years had set us apart!
I really believe that we became what we are now because of the friends we made and the dreams we shared with them… as we inspired, aspired and gone separate ways…. then, to meet again with stories to tell!
see also related posts:
Just as I Remember
101 Minus 4 – Seen Old Friends
“Filipinos may be poor… but they are not poor in spirit”
Amidst calamity and disaster, Filipinos still find ways to survive and brings the best out of the situation. Filipinos cannot be defeated by any crisis, but can always rise from the rubble…. with a good spirit!
catching fish amidst the flood for their meal (with smile on his face!).... (self reliance)
taking a break and comprehending where to start (hope)
building foot bridge amidst city street (ingenuity)
image of mother and child in flood (acceptance)
cleaning, salvaging what's left.... life must go on.... (endurance)
religious procession of the faithful (faith)
working together to rebuild the nation (bayanihan or volunteerism)
a school girl going to school in a improvised raft driven by a boy (perseverance)
JUST NOTHING CAN BRING THE FILIPINO SPIRIT DOWN!
Tips and Insights:
Our influence has less to do with our position or title than it does with the life we live. It’s not about POSITION, but production. It is not the education we get but the empowerment we give, that makes a DIFFERENCE to OTHERS.
The key word is CREDIBILITY. We gain credibility when our life matches our talk and when both add value to others.
How are you doing when it comes to credibility? To find out, answer the following vital questions….
Consistency: Are you the same person no matter who is with you?
Choices: Do you make decisions based on how they benefit you or others?
Credit: Are you quick to recognize others for their efforts when YOU succeed?
Character: Do you work harder at your image or your integrity?
Credibility: Have you recognized that credibility is a victory, not a gift?
- From Maxwell Bible
I used monitor my daily goals or “to-dos” at a site “Joe’s Goals” (a free online habit tracker) but was not able to keep at it… anyways, I will just list them here, as my reminders. I set these “daily” goals to improve my habits (which contributes to my 101), that inspite of busy toxic days, my life is still on-track…
(scores are for 44 days)
1. Do it now! (stop procrastinating) – 29
2. Daily good deeds – 24
3. Learn new things -26
4. Do/experience “first time” -18
5. Mentor staff -15
6. Write -12
7. Exercise -6
8. Practice driving -2
9. Practice entrepreneurship -19
10. Create arts – 3
11. Do something for my charity project – 5
12. Save, thrift, live simply – 23 (minus 9 of splurging)
13. Kids’ daily lesson – 14
14. Enrich relationship – 34 (minus 9 “bad” days)
(image is from spongebob…)
I am starting a project of one good deed a day. My Project Kindness.
I believe that every little act of kindness multiplies thereafter. Just like a ripple due to a drop of water. We may not know what happens after the act is given but I am assured that somehow it is being “paid forward.” Altruism is a contagious thing (or as I want to think it is).
Talking (journaling) about it doesn’t mean an appreciation is expected. I just want to inspire and be inspired….
As a goal, I will practice kindness for it to become automatic…. I will do it everyday, and it will become an unconscious thing!
Mother Theresa is a perfect example of “automatic” natural kindness, because (I think) it became unconscious, it became second-nature (or first-nature, so I say) for her.
I’m no saint and I’m not aspiring to be one. I just choose to be kind and be happy.
Typhoon hit Philippines again! October 6, 2009 (barely 2 weeks after typoon flooded Manila in Sept 26)….
This time it hit the northern Luzon causing devastation to ricefield, livelihood, mountains, roads and lives of too many people…. How sad…
see related posts re: typhoon pepeng (see) and its aftermath (see)….
I am not a quitter!
But there are things, situation, habits… and people that we have to let go… for me (for them) to grow, to prosper, to live on!
This week and last week are just that:
saying bye (but not giving up) — to a favorite, good friend who will be going back to States, and we don’t know if it is (again) for good or she will be coming back here (also for good?)
saying bye to another favorite friend who will be leaving for San Francisco, too. The prospect of seeing him again is quite too far (again), say 2-3 years.
letting go – two good audit staff are resigning (as their mentor, I really want them to explore/grow more, but at the same time, I feel bad because of feeling of “inadequacy” by not providing them enough reasons to stay…)
giving up (but to where it goes, I’m glad)…. our clothes and things for the flood victims! (included there is my “benchmark pants”… the one I want to squeeze into someday…)
saying good bye to the things we’ve lost during the flood… we are not complaining! we are not badly hit and, thank God, we have no serious casualty from our family, friends, or people we personally know.
giving up the habits of unconscious credit card spending….
saying good bye to my 7lbs… (really!!!)
giving up the plan to arrange my “adopted” sister’s medication… because she is giving up HERSELF…. (this one I still have to reconsider… I should not really give up on her)
letting go of the concept and image of Jolo as just a kid… I have to accept that he is a “grown” boy now! (whaaahh).
giving up the thought of keeping these people, things, situation, habit… with full understanding that “giving up, letting go, saying bye….” is just a phase for us to move on, grow and have better perspective….
Life goes on and on and on….
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