Is also the education received from experiences. Here are some of lessons I learned (and still learning) that you might find in handy.

1. Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

Security is for the dead. Nothing good comes out if your in your comfort zone.

2. Never Expect Life To Be Fair

There are rich people and poor people, intelligent, dumb and different types of people in the world out to take what’s theirs. Never expect life to be fair just because your poor doesn’t mean you are being taken advantage. We are animals that are product of a long line of evolution in which we do everything to survive. It is still the same after millions of years. If you expect the world to be fair, you don’t deserve anything. If you’re poor, get up and stop whining. Every man is for himself.

3. Solve Your Own Problems

I honestly believe that if an intelligent person asked for help. Let him be, he’ll know the solution soon. You’ll find that by coming up with your own solutions, you’ll develop a competitive edge.  Masura Ibuka, the co-founder of SONY, said it best: “You never succeed in technology, business, or anything by following the others.” There’s also an old Chinese proverb saying that I remind myself of frequently.  It goes like this:

“A wise man keeps his own counsel.”

4. Never Give Up

There’s an old Chinese saying that I just love, and I believe it is so true.  It goes like this:

“The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you are about to succeed.”

5. There’s Always A Reason To Smile

Find it.  After all, you’re really lucky just to be alive.  Life is short. “We’re not here for a long time, we’re here for a good time!”. Warning: Most people will make this an excuse to just party everyday. A good entrepreneur knows when to play and when to work.

6. Always be Improving

Never stop investing.  Never stop improving.  Never stop doing something new.  The moment you stop improving  you die.  Make it your goal to be better each and every day, in some small way.  Remember the Japanese concept of Kaizen.  Small daily improvements eventually result in huge advantages.

“In times of change, learners inherit the Earth. But the learned, find themselves beautifully equipped with the world that no longer exists.”

Why Post?

It’s been a while since I made a new post and I watched an episode on tv featuring a motivational speaker that will let you walk through fire and will say that you’ll be successful. There are lots of seminars and motivational seminars here in the Philippines now. I have been to many of them and I don’t find anything bad with them. It’s just that, they are all the same and it all comes down to the items I wrote above. If you’re really into it, you can read the classic book “Think and Grow Rich” to have more in depth detail about it.

Remember, you don’t need some random guy to tell you that you’ll be successful nor to convince you that you’ll be successful and much more, to even pay this guy to tell you that you’ll be successful. You already know what your dreams are, take a deep breath and work for it.

I’m an advocate of having the right mindset in order to get ahead in life. That is why, my post about why the Philippines is Poor kinda summarize the whole idea (thanks for all the comments btw) that not even the holiest or the most untainted official will not be able to make you rich or kill poverty if you’re not the one pulling the strings of your life. Enjoy the video.

As in any business, craft or career in life, there is no room for negativity or the weak at heart. If you want it, you have to get it. No reasons, no excuses. Only do it or regret it.

Many people grew up with the idea that having a full time job will make you stable. I did. The truth behind this is that, its a lot more risky to have a job than to have a business. Take the economic crisis for example, many people was surprised (and terrified) when they got laid off from their jobs and in financial trouble, you won’t know when it will hit you. Having a business gives you a lot of options to enjoy life. Even though businesses were affected by the economic crisis, you can bet that these businessmen already have other businesses that can keep them afloat. Its all about risk management. “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket”. If you have a job, you only have 1 egg.

Of course not all people are gifted with entrepreneurial spirit and will still choose a job than having a business of their own. Not all people are knowledgeable to start and run their own businesses. And it is easier to just get job and get money monthly though your salary.

I always remember the talk of David Heinemeier Hansson about having a business online. You don’t need to kill yourself working to have a billion dollar business online or offline. You just need to get that first 1 Million annual income. After that, you will realize that you have a lot of free time and will be able to do whatever you want in your life.

When I was in college, I tried to work 24hrs a day just to pay the rent, bills and college tuition. It was tough and I always remember the things that I want to do but can’t because of that. I always wanted to learn how to play the guitar. Just this month the feeling came back and bought my 2nd electric guitar and start learning. I can now play some music. It wasn’t possible before. But right now its different because of freedom I have.

This is what we call a lifestyle business. A lifestyle business in my own opinion is establishing a business for the sole purpose of supporting a lifestyle. Need a car? Create a business that will pay the car loan. Need a house? Create a business that will pay the mortgage. It doesn’t have to be complicated. You don’t have to beat Bill Gates to get your dream house or dream car or travel the world.

When a person is young, has financial freedom, has a lot of free time, he is not motivated by money anymore. This is the time where he tries to look for the meaning of life and tries to reach and do things that will make him leave a mark in this world. I guess its a man’s instinct to always on the hunt and if he reached his long term goal early, he tries to go for the big shot.

What I’m trying to say is that, if you’re still struggling financially after working for years and years and still haven’t accomplish anything you might want to take a break and reflect on things. You don’t have to rush finishing your work… If you’re done you wont have anything left to do. Take a time to appreciate nature, get a vacation perhaps… If you’re still searching for the perfect job from a far away nation because of its generous salary, and still no hope… Maybe its time for you to start making the perfect job instead of searching. Because there’s no such thing as a perfect job.

Your skill is directly proportional to the money you’ll earn plus your ability to communicate with people multiplied by the amount of confidence, trust and perseverance you have.

I don’t know if its just a fad or just a politically correct way to answer why you want to work abroad… “To help my family” is a little bit cliche now. You can not help others if you can not help yourself. Just like a drowning person. If you don’t know how to swim, saving a drowning person may risk your life and be dragged to death even if you know how.

You can only achieve happiness if you’re being selfish. Happiness can only be real if you share it.

I have been following a thread in a forum about OFWs. The title has something like that OFWs and immigrants are stupid and failures. The good thing about having my own blog is I can put what I feel. I’m really passionate when it comes to the Philippines and if I hold this deep inside I might not be able to contain it. So I’m gonna rant a little bit.

Lets start of by stating what OFWs had sacrificed and endured just to earn money for their family. (Bullshit) They endured hardship and homesickness and be far away from their family. Bullshit. They endured being in an unknown country and making your name there. What else? What’s in it for me? Tumatakas lang sila sa hirap dito sa Pinas.

Lets not be hypocrite and lets state the main reason ofw left the Philippines… To make money. Being practical is always a lot better and are more accepted way of thinking than being patriotic and ideal. Enduring hardships and homesickness is the consequences of your actions… Let’s not include that sissy whinning as every decision you choose has an equal consequences. I am not saying I’m an idealist and i will still choose free vs paid. I’m just saying that when it comes to a more bigger problem like a poor country needing the help of its citizens. Leaving the country to work abroad is something that is just plain selfish. “Tumatakas lang sila sa hirap” - quote from a friend. There’s nothing “Heroic” about going to another country and make your family rich. Then when got kidnapped by terrorists goes whine to the government to save his ass. The same corrupt government that he tried to escape.

I have a friend that is an immigrant and I understand how he feels. I know not everybody is the general OFW - “I WANNA WORK ABROAD TO EARN MONIES”. Both me and my friend studied in the same school. The same upbringing that taught us how to love our country. If given the chance to comeback here I know he would.

Social Responsibility is one of those virtues of an engineer that is embeded into our hearts. No matter how much salary we get here. We must not leave the Philippines, because our country needs us. I still remember my professor who got an award in Japan. His thesis got an award. His works got an award. Offered a job abroad with millions of pesos per month as salary. But still choose to stay here with merely 20k salary. He always tells us that story and he always answer calmly, “Mahal ko Pilipinas, nandito ang laban naten. Responsibilidad ko kayo na susunod na magtataguyod ng bansa.” You might say that that person is stupid. That nowadays you can’t eat virtues and feed your family with it. That being practical is the most important thing to survive. Yeah maybe. But maybe that is what this country needs. The kind of change that ofws and all Filipino want and need.

After that subject with our bald professor is a subject about Engineering Materials Science… It is a tough subject and I might have not learned anything from it but one thing I’m sure of, is that our professor wants us to take care of this country. After each exam, most of us gets low grades. When the time of questioning why do we get such low grades, the funny part comes in. I still remember clearly this conversation:

Prof:”Ikaw, bakit ka nagengineer?”.
Student: “Para po malaki ang kita.”
Prof: “Akin na lang tuition fee mo dito at ieenroll kita as domestic helper. Mas malaki kita don. Or nurse. Wala ka mapapala sa engineering 6k lang kita mo per month.”

Then the student having his pride hurt started to ask:

Student: “Eh kayo sir, bat kayo nagengineer… Bakit di na lang kayo nag domestic helper?”
Prof: “Hindi ako nag-aral ng 5 taon ng engineering para maghugas ng pwet ng ibang tao.”

Then he will tell us the story of planet biyo. A Dr. Josette Biyo, Filipino teacher whose ability in teaching won her an award. Offered to teach in different countries around the world but still choose to teach his own countrymen. Because of this, one planet was named after her.

Social responsibility is your sense of responsibility to your society. What composes as society is a family. So is that social responsibility? I admire your lack of understanding. But no. Society is a collection of families. And family is just a small part of it. If you’re working for just your own family its just a plain selfish motive.

I have a sister who just passed the board exam this June. It is a popular culture for these new nurses to want to get out of the country. Having studied in an engineering school and dated some nurses during my college days, its a pretty popular goal it makes me sick. Are all nurses like this? Nasan na yung sagot ng mga bata pag tinanong mo sila bat gusto nila magnurse? “Eh para po makatulong ako sa mga may sakeeeet… Para po matulungan ko yung mga mahihiraaaaap…” Sana hindi na lang lumaki ang mga munting nurse.

If you’re still reading this and you are outraged by it because you know a friend, a relative, your father or mother or you yourself is an OFW or immigrant, I tell you this, I am not against you or your decision to leave the Philippines. Go work abroad if you really want to. No one really care nor gonna judge you.

You are a failure in a sense that you failed to see the opportunities this country brings. Why Americans go here to do business and Filipinos goes to America to work is not really that much of a mystery if you put a little thought into it. And you are stupid. Stupid enough to escape your responsibility. I am not commenting on the person itself as a whole, of being a failure and stupid… But the mindset of having no hope and opportunity in this country that made you end up working on another country. For all we know you might be a good person, a good son/daughter, a good husband or wife. Change your thinking and you will see the opportunities in this country. Just like others who made it successful here. You are still a Filipino.

“It is a useless life that is not consecrated to a great ideal. It is like a stone wasted on the field without becoming a part of any edifice.”

- José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda

Not too long ago, I made a post about 10 Ways to Fail at Life. That post has been like a sarcastic point of view on how some people view at life without knowing that they are destroying the possibilities for them to be successful. Now to explain a bit better. Here is a perfect clip from the film Rocky where he teaches his son a thing or too about life.

You might not believe this. But you… used to fit right here. I’ll hold you up and says to your mother… This kid will gonna be the best kid in the world. This kid will gonna be better than anybody knew. And you grew up good and wonderful.. And it was great watching everyday it was like a priviledge.

Then when time comes for you to be your own man, and take on the world, and you did. But somewhere along the line, you changed. You stopped being you. You let people stick a finger in your face and tell you you’re no good. And when things got hard, you started to look for something to blame. Like a big shadow.

Let me tell you something you already know. The world aint no sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place. And I don’t care how tough you are. It will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me or nobody is gonna hit us hard as life. But it ain’t how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. THAT’S HOW WINNING IS DONE.

Now, if you know what’s your worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But you’ve got to be willing to take the hits. And not pointing fingers and say, you aint what you want to be because of him or her or anybody. Cowards do that and that aint you. You are better than that.

Unless you start to believe in yourself… You will aint got a life.

This is the article by Tsao Chip or To Kit in real life. The great Tsao Chip who called the Philippines as the Nation of Servants. Read below for full details.

The War at Home by Tsao Chip

“The Russians sank a Hong Kong freighter last month, killing the seven Chinese seamen on board. We can live with that—Lenin and Stalin were once the ideological mentors of all Chinese people. The Japanese planted a flag on Diàoyú Island. That’s no big problem—we Hong Kong Chinese love Japanese cartoons, Hello Kitty, and shopping in Shinjuku, let alone our round-the-clock obsession with karaoke.

“But hold on—even the Filipinos? Manila has just claimed sovereignty over the scattered rocks in the South China Sea called the Spratly Islands, complete with a blatant threat from its congress to send gunboats to the South China Sea to defend the islands from China if necessary. This is beyond reproach. The reason: there are more than 130,000 Filipina maids working as $3,580-a-month cheap labor in Hong Kong. As a nation of servants, you don’t flex your muscles at your master, from whom you earn most of your bread and butter.

“As a patriotic Chinese man, the news has made my blood boil. I summoned Louisa, my domestic assistant who holds a degree in international politics from the University of Manila, hung a map on the wall, and gave her a harsh lecture. I sternly warned her that if she wants her wages increased next year, she had better tell every one of her compatriots in Statue Square on Sunday that the entirety of the Spratly Islands belongs to China.

“Grimly, I told her that if war breaks out between the Philippines and China, I would have to end her employment and send her straight home, because I would not risk the crime of treason for sponsoring an enemy of the state by paying her to wash my toilet and clean my windows 16 hours a day. With that money, she would pay taxes to her government, and they would fund a navy to invade our motherland and deeply hurt my feelings.

“Oh yes. The government of the Philippines would certainly be wrong if they think we Chinese are prepared to swallow their insult and sit back and lose a Falkland Islands War in the Far East. They may have Barack Obama and the hawkish American military behind them, but we have a hostage in each of our homes in the Mid-Levels or higher. Some of my friends told me they have already declared a state of emergency at home. Their maids have been made to shout ‘China, Madam/Sir’ loudly whenever they hear the word ‘Spratly.’ They say the indoctrination is working as wonderfully as when we used to shout, ‘Long live Chairman Mao!’ at the sight of a portrait of our Great Leader during the Cultural Revolution. I’m not sure if that’s going a bit too far, at least for the time being.”

Watch out for the fail whale!

Whatever you say, people won’t stop from using twitter, friendster nor facebook. Not until they got eaten by the FAIL WHALE!

If you are a regular reader of this site, you might have noticed that I admire people that loves his / her country. I believe that people that embraces his roots and managed to stay with it through thick and thin is a sign of matyrdom and courage and love for its people. So I made this post as a sign of respect to the late Francis Magalona. The rapper that changed and shaped the music industry through his patriotic music.

An entreprenuer that sells shirts with patriotic symbols. Even have the symbol of the Philippines tattooed on his back. 3 Stars and a sun. The sign of the Philippines.

Much respect to you. I hope more people and especially the youth will learn to love the Philippines as much as you do. No matter how good or bad the image of our country is.

Francis M with Parokya ni Edgar Singing Kaleidoscope World

Wonderful speech by Gary Vaynerchuk on Web 2.0 Expo. Gary is the owner of TV Wine Library, a successful video blog about the thing he loves, wines. Check out his site at http://tv.winelibrary.com/

If you don’t like it, there’s no reason doin it.

Always Blame Others

Blame the goverment. Because it is the reason why there are many poor people that can’t eat 3 times a day. Blame your boss because you can’t be promoted. Blame the professors because you can’t learn a thing. School time is for trying to figure out what the professor said and time at home is only for dota. Blame the economy and high gas prices. Whine about these things and its a surefire way to waste your time, energy and saliva and after 10 years, you’re still at the place where you are before. Only older.

Do Not Think For Yourself

There is always someone that knows everything. Including the “know-it-alls”. They are the wise sages of our time and they’re opinion, even though free, is the best treasure there is. Opinions are free because they are golden crap. It allows you not to think and just follow everybody’s advice. This is a great excuse for yourself. You will feel that you know a lot because of what other’s have told you, in the end they are not the product of your thinking and you don’t even know what those ideas meant. Do not get to know who is the person giving advices. If someone went out to you, a friend or stranger and told you its the next big thing to get rich and earn “passive income”, If it seems logical, rational, believe it immediately & join. You will always be dependent on others and you don’t want to think too hard.

Don’t Allot Time For Productive Things

One of the best reason and probably the most popular alibi there is is “I have no time”. We all have no time. I have 24 hours a day. How about you? Do you only have 10hrs a day? We all have the same hours a day, days a week and there is always a reason not to do things that are productive. I’ll play dota because its fun. I’ll work later because its a drag.

Do Not Spend Money To Learn

The best investment is the things that I can see and touch and can be bragged to my colleagues. Investing in myself is just a waste of money and i would probably forget it anyway so why do it? I’d rather buy new clothes than books. I know books are a lot cheaper but clothes and gadgets are waaaaay cooler. I don’t want to come of as a nerd. I can always ask other people for their opinion and get their knowledge for free. Also, I think going to school is a waste of money.

Tell People Information That Are Half True

Jose Rizal said, “if I only know half the truth, I won’t speak”. That’s crap! If I know a little about something, I will tell it to all my friends so that they will see me as good and intelligent. Even if I don’t know it entirely I will just tell it anyway so I have been the first to talk about it and they will always think of me as the pioneer. I don’t care if I tell them half truth, did the advices I said and fail. We will fail together and I have the excuse I didn’t mean to.

Always Have The Reason For Anything

I am broke because of the government. I can’t feed my family because of the government. I have small salary because of the government. I was lay off work because of the government. My goldfish is dead because of the government. Don’t admit that you are wrong. You are not responsible for your future.

There Is One Magic Bullet To Get Rich

I just need to search for that one technique to be rich in affiliate marketing. I just need to know what numbers to bet to get rich in lotto. There is only one way to get rich and I have to search for it. It doesn’t matter if it takes longer than I expected or if my family die in hunger what’s important is this magic bullet can make me a millionaire overnight.

Always Dream And Don’t Act

Dreaming is fun working isn’t. Why should I work for that dream if I can always go back in paradise island on my head and be happy. I am content with my situation right now and dreaming is not hard to do. I will not work for my dream because it makes me feel lazy. Even if I have no money, I will get myself drunk and party so I can have fun and share my dream to my friends. They will think highly of me as someone who has an ambition and dream in life even though I am not working to achieve that dream.

Think Negative

We are all doomed. The world will end on 2012 and starvation is already at hand. Global warming is killing us and we should be prepared for the coming of the world. I want to go to business but fuck that, I don’t want to have business debt. I might fail. I can always bet at lotto where I can make my 20 pesos into 100 millions.

Be Afraid To Fail

You don’t want to be criticized by your friends and family. Why would I risk my good reputation? I will not take risk that might ruin my stability right now. I’d rather work 10 hours a day for a minimum salary than go into business that might fail. If I got laid off, I’ll join the rally to get us back. It’s the government’s fault and its my right to freedom of speech. I want my family and friends to be proud of me so I will do anything in my power not to take risk so that they won’t change that image of me. Thomas Edison’s 10,000 light bulb experiment is an epic failure! That guy is stupid.