Reject Rejection!

Jack Canfield - cocreator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul.

Reject Rejection, If you are going to be successful, you are going to need to learn how to deal with rejection. Rejection is a natural part of life. You get rejected when you aren't picked for the team, don't get the part in the play, don't get elected, don't get into the college or graduate school of your choice, don't get the job or promotion you wanted, don't get the raise you wanted, don't get the appointment you requested, or get fired. You get rejected when your manuscript is rejected, your proposal is turned down, your new product idea is passed over, your fund-raising request is ignored, your design concept is not accepted, your application for membership is denied, or your offer of marriage is not accepted.

Rejection is a myth! another concept cited by Jack Canfield. To get over rejection, you have to realize that rejection is really a myth. It doesn't really exist. It is simply a concept that you hold in your head. Think about it. If you ask Patty to have dinner with you and she says no, you didn't have anyone to eat dinner with before you asked her, and you don't have anyone to eat dinner with after you asked her. The situation didn't get worse; it stayed the same. It only gets worse if you go inside and tell yourself something extra like "See, Mother was right. No one will ever like me. I am the slug of the universe!".

Everyone who has ever made it to the top has to endure rejections. You just have to realize that they are not personal. Consider the following:

1. When Alexander Graham Bell offered the rights to the telephone for $100,000 to Carl Orton, president of Western Union, Orton replied, "What use would this company make of an electrical toy?"

2. Angie Everhart, who started modeling at the age of 16, was once told by model agency owner Eileen Ford that she would never make it as a model. Why not? "Redheads don't sell." Everhart later became the first redhead in history to appear on the cover of Glamour magazine, had a great modeling career, and then went on to appear in 27 films and numerous TV shows.

3. Novelist Stephen King almost made a multimillion-dollar mistake when he threw his Carrie manuscript in the garbage because he was tired of the rejections. "We are not interested in science fiction which deals with negative utopias, " he was told. "They do not sell." Luckily, his wife fished it out of the garbage. Eventually Carrie was printed by another publisher, sold more than 4 million copies, and was made into a blockbuster film.

4. In 1998, Google cofounders Sergey Brin and Larry Page approached Yahoo! and suggested a merger. Yahoo! could have snapped up the company for a handful of stock, but instead they suggested that the young Googlers keep working on their little school project and come back when they had grown up. Within 5 years, Google had an estimated market capitalization of $20 billion. At the time of this writing, they were about to launch an initial public offering auction that eventually raised $1.67 billion.

One step beyond is actually one step within!

Bo Sanchez - Spiritual preacher and Motivational speaker.

Ralph Marston - Go ahead, Go ahead and switch on the power to your life. Look back just long enough to remember what you treasure most, then go ahead and expand upon those treasures.

When you feel an excuse coming on, crush it under the wait of your desire to move forward. When you meet up with a challenge, delight in your ability to improve your way through it.

This is your opportunity to taste life's sweetness more fully than ever before. This is your moment to make a positive difference that will forever add value and meaning to the universe.

This is a day in which you can experience your passion from a new and empowering perspective. Surprise yourself and be delighted at how authentically beautiful you are.

Choose with your thoughts and actions to lift yourself up. Then make it all exponentially more wonderful by lifting up another, and another.

Go ahead and fully feel the white-hot energy and marvelous uniqueness of being you. Go ahead and let your own special beauty explode into every corner of life .

Entrepreneurship - Aquabest (Final)

Success stories of Filipino Entrepreneurs - Carson Tan.

Last part. Continuation... With his drive to be an expression of God, there is no doubt that Carson and Aquabest will work hard and smart to live up to its name as the best in purified water. Carson says that this does not end with their product, but also with the type of service they provide their consumers and franchisees.

Currently, Aquabest offers zero interest on 12, 15 and 18 months financing of their machines. They also have low down payment plans, which allow more entrepreneurs to begin their businesses.

In the Aquabest pipelines are plans to come up with machines that will be affordable alternatives for entrepreneurs without compromising quality. Brand names such as Aquabest.Com, AquaRevo, AquaSpree, Alkaline Plus, Mineral Plus, and OxyPlus have been registered with the IPO.

"Life is about choices, so choose the best", the Aquabest slogan says. This is why Aquabest and Bestlife give franchisees a lot of choices when it comes to products. There is something for everyone's needs and budget.

Right now Aquabest is at P420,000. It's a package which includes: Korean Aluminum Signage; six sets of uniforms; electronic gadgets to check the water quality; streamers; banners; flyers; start-up inventories; use of name; business assistance; training, etc. You can also just buy the machine for P300,000. If your budget is P250,000, we can also accomodate you. If you want alkaline then we can do it for you. If you want oxygenated, we can do it. So we would like to offer something that, with only P100,000, one could already open a water station.

Today, Bestlife has over 350 water stations nationwide. It continues to explore more possibilities to improve the quality of life of the Filipino people by providing the technology and solution to make the production of pure water more affordable and within the reach of the poor.

It also plans to offer various water-related products and services to widen the scope of its domain. This includes distributorship of bottling equipment to supplement the ever-increasing demand for bottled water. In the process of registration, Bestlife Franchising will transform from a mere WRS franchising firm into a water-and environment-solution company named Global Quality Waters and Environmental Solutions Technologies, Inc. with engineered design systems to meet the specific needs of its clientele. With Carson Tan's long-term vision and God's blessings, these plans will soon become reality.

Don't Be A Perfectionist

Bill FitzPatrick - Founder of the "American Success Institute".

Action Principle No.26 >> Don't Be A Perfectionist, Trying to be perfect takes too much time and effort. It creates too much stress and is impossible anyway. Instead, strive to relax at the 90% level. This is the personal mastery level. Following the Action Principles, reaching the 90% level in most of your financial and social endeavors will be something that you don't even have to think about. It will happen through your persistence, determination, hard work and nice personality.

Right now, learn about the income and the lifestyle level of those in the top 100% of your profession. If you aren't content earning more than 90% of your co-workers, choose another profession.

It is possible to try too hard business, exercise and relationships. Overwork can produce stress and anxiety, which is the opposite of the inner peace you seek. Your best is good enough. Live to a high standard, not to an impossible obsession.

Throw your trash!

Bo Sanchez - Spiritual preacher and Motivational speaker.

Ralph Marston - Do something about it, Are you frustrated and burned out? What are you going to do about it? Is there something you really want to achieve? What are you going to do about it? Have you just become aware of an incredible opportunity? What are you going to do about it? What are you going to do today? right this moment? What actions will you take to end your frustration, to achieve your dream, to take advantage of opportunity?

Success and achievement depend not on how much you complain, or on your ability to garner symphathy from others, but on what you do. And right now is the time to start.

Go ahead and move beyond the frustration, begin to work toward the dream, and make the most of your best possibilities. Go ahead right now and do something positive and effective about it.

Entrepreneurship - Aquabest (Day 6)

Success stories of Filipino Entrepreneurs - Carson Tan.

Day 6, Continuation... Unlike most entrepreneurs, Carson thinks entrepreneurship is not for everybody. He believes having the proper mindset and long-term vision is very important. He advises those looking for get-rich-quick schemes or one-shot deals to forget about doing business.

Nobody should get into business and think in the short term. Consider the concept and all the effort you've poured into the business. Think of the value indicators - if you put service, there's your added value already. There's also quality - that's another added value. Also promotion, etc. It's not the product or service alone; it's the intangibles people look for like prestige, quality, corporate social consciousness, environment friendly, customer relations, and after-sales support, etc.

Carson feels that those who have leadership qualities can become entrepreneurs, whether they are born into business or want to make themselves entrepreneurs. Whether the qualities of an entrepreneur are inherent in an individual, they still have to be developed and improved to be useful in business.

The best way to develop these entrepreneurial skills is to develoop one's character, Carson advises, as having a good character means being disciplined, trustworthy, hardworking, prudent, positive minded, honest, persevering - qualities that make up a person's total integrity. You then add your vision and you are set to becoming a succcessful entrepreneur. There are no shortcuts to success, he adds. Building one's character does not happen overnight.

Still he says business is not only about working hard, but also working smart. He advises those who want to get into business to learn ways of making their money work for them, instead of them working for their money. Instead of being businessmen who run the show, be investors and utilize other people's brains and brawns to make the business run.

It is important, too, to see business from different perspectives, Carson adds.

Perspective is a big word. It's how we see things and events. There was a time that I've completely lost perspective on the water business; I lost faith in it. One day, I bought a copy of Buy and Sell and saw the ads of one of my competitors in the water business. I was curious why it's still around and spending large sums on adds. I asked around and discovered that company had more outlets than ours at that time. Aquabest was in deep slumber; but still had potential. That's when we decided to wake up and rise from our slumber.

Marketing and branding are likewise important aspects of business, which Carson credits for Aquabest's endurance. He knows from experience that you can sway the market to your product or service depending on how you approach it with your marketing strategies and how it perceives your brand.

For Carson, the best thing about being an entrepreneur is having the fulfillment to achieve your vision and reach the financial goals you set for yourself. He suggests that employees save money so that they can eventually become their bosses or run their own businesses and retire as investors when they get old and not as pensioners.

If you are a nice-to-five employee, most employers will not pay you a marginal salary so you won't leave the company. You can easily earn up to P50, 000 a month. In a sense you have sold your soul. Because you are potentially more productive, can undertake work and your time exchanged for money from age twenty to fifty. Without time, you are not free to do the things that will give you the financial freedom you need.

Aside from financial freedom there is also the time freedom "aspect. I mean if you're making P1,000,000 a month, you can hire people to do much of the work already. This time freedom is very, very important. You can tell your kids with confidence that you'll be flying to Europe the next weekend because it's possible for you now.

That's time and financial freedom. But if you're employed, there are so many limitations.

However, success can have its downside, too. For Carson, he believes that it tends to get lonely as you go higher. Because people look up to you and respect you, you are not as free to do whatever you want. You are tasked to be a model, an inspiration for others.

This is why it is important to balance the drive for success with time for family and friends, spiritual needs, health. One can do this by learning to delegate to trusted employees.

When asked about who has greatly influenced his life, Carson immediately says Our Lord Jesus Christ, because His perfect example is a pattern for us to follow. Our Lord Jesus, standing in the position of a man is perfect in all His ways: a great friend, an obedient son, follower, citizen, brother, mediator, counselor, and name it, He is.

Carson believes that just like other people, he is there as God's presentative on earth, to become the expression of wh oGOD is.

It's like electricity inside a lamp. Well, of course we cannot see electricity but because of the lamp, the electricity has a way to express itself. In our life we can say that there is electricity when we receive God's divine transmission into us by His Spirit dwelling in our spirit, living out His attributes of love, light, peace, joy, etc. and becoming our human virtues. Thus, when people see us, they see God in our lives.

(To be continued...)

Face Fear

Bill FitzPatrick - Founder of the "American Success Institute".

Action Principle No.25 >> Face Fear, Knowledge, practice and courage are your weapons against fear.

One person can step out of an airplan door at 2,000 feet without hesitation. Another can stand before an audience of 2,000 and give a speech without breaking into a sweat. Fears can be rational or irrational, but they are always personal, and real. Everyone fears something.

To diminish a fear, you must first face it. The one hundredth skydive or speech won't be as traumatic as the first. The best way to face with the first fears is through a combination of logic and bravery. Logically, most people who jump from planes or give speeches don't die. They succeed through preparation. If your equipment is right and your training is complete, you are ready to jump. If your speech is carefully crafted and practiced, you are ready to speak.

Associate with confident people. You have seen many who have already done what you fear doing. Now, do what they have done. Courage grows with action. Fear is learned and must be unlearned. After facing that fear, you will feel exhilarated. Without fear, there can be no courage. Fear provides the opportunity to be brave.

Kid Entrepreneur

Alexandra McDaniel - Kid Entrepreneur.

Ralph Marston - Reach beyond yourself, The higher you aim, the higher you will go. Push yourself a little bit past what you know you can do, and you'll discover new skills and abilities.

If it seems that you don't ever get much done, maybe it's because you're not giving yourself enough to do. Make your dreams and ambitions big enough to be positively compelling.

Be genuinely thankful for how far you've already come, but don't rest on your previous accomplishments. Honor and appreciate those accomplishments by using them as a starting point for even greater success.

You are intelligent, adaptable, creative, flexible and effective at getting things done. Fulfill your destiny and satisfy your purpose by giving yourself plenty of valuable, worthwhile things to do.

Delight in discovering how much more you can accomplish. Thrill to the challenge of moving successfully through new, uncharted territory.

Continue to reach beyond yourself. Know the joy and confidence that come from growing ever stronger.

Entrepreneurship - Aquabest (Day 5)

Success stories of Filipino Entrepreneurs - Carson Tan.

Day 5, Continuation... One way that budding entrepreneurs can counter this problem is by having the correct mindset. Carson believes that one must be willing to start small, if this is what is needed to launch the concept. He believes that if one has to knock on doors to get the business off the ground, this is what the entrepreneur must do. "Just like salesman: they only need to speak. You don't have capital, but you get a percentage of the businessman's profit, "He says.

Carson says that training and the principles in sales and network marketing can help entrepreneurs gain the skills and mindset needed to succeed. He himself underwent this process and to this day, uses the 4 Ps of network marketing principles, which he later developed to seven Ps in running a franchised business.

The Seven Ps are: product; profile of the company; plan or promotion; price; place; potential; and prayer. According to Carson, you have to consider all seven to know if your business will be successful.

For "product", it is important to consider whether it's a necessity or a want, and if there is a market for it. For "profile," it is necessary to develop the image of the company that will provide the products and the services. "Plan" means knowing your goals and marketing/ promotion strategies. "Price" is studying what the market will be willing to pay for your product. "Place" is the strategic location of your target market. "Potential" is the chances of your concept for making it as a business, and "prayer" is the dash of blessing only the Lord provides.

For Carson, there are infinite opportunities available to those who would like to become entrepreneurs. He cites the ingenuity of the Japanese in taking existing products, and improving on them; making them smaller and better. It is important for entrepreneurs to recognize what needs improvement because constant improvement is an essential part of business.

I read somewhere that the Japanese would buy, say, a copier machine and ask their engineers to tear it apart and make something better and smaller. THey do this with automobiles. Korea does the same, heavily borrowing economic practices from Japan. Here in the Philippines, since there's minimal government support, we tend to buy a lot of surplus junk from abroad instead and just make them work.

In the regions, Filipino creativity abounds in enterprises. Bacolod's jeepneys are more modern than those in Metro Manila that still carry the WWII basic makeup. It's unfortune that we have in our blood this thing called "RTC" or "resistance to change." When we're comfortable with something, it better be left alone. But if we don't change, there won't be growth, there won't be any business.

Another thing Carson laments is our strong regionalism, which hampers the country's unity and development of national pride. Instead he sees regional pride and competition among Filipinos of various regions.

It's sad that when a Filipino succeeds abroad, fellow Filipinos gossip about him or her. When a row of stores sell the same products, instead of forming an association, the sellers badmouth each other to get more sales. They even lower the prices to entice more customers. It's degrading for sellers to beg customers to buy their products.

Integrity is key for entrepreneurs. Carson stresses.

It is hard to expand a business without integrity. Whether it is your suppliers, creditors, employees, and franchisees, people have to be able to trust you. It is different when you are starting and the credit you need is by the thousands of pesos only but once you are growing with a need for higher credit that runs in the millions, you should have earned the trust of your creditors and suppliers already - that is financial integrity. Leadership is also about integrity in a broader aspect because no one follows somebody who doesn't have integrity.

(To be continued...)

Listen to Your Instincts

Bill FitzPatrick - Founder of the "American Success Institute".

Action Principle No.24 >> Listen to Your Instincts, "I don't feel comfortable here. I don't like the sound of this. This doesn't look right to me."

With regard to your body or surroundings, your instincts are your best early warning system. Listen to the inner voice. Listen to that gut feeling. Go to the doctor. Leave the party. Get away from these people. Quit this job. Don't open that door. Duck into that store. The world is an imperfect place. There are dangerous places and people.

Every once in a while, your instincts may be off and you may feel foolish. Err on the side of safety and your instincts may save you from danger. Give yourself time or space to consider your options. It is foolhardy to do otherwise.

Desire what you want to be!

Dr. Michael J. Duckett - Desire what you want to be.

Dr. Michael J. Duckett, began life in an extremely impoverished and dangerous environment. As a young child he was orphaned and left on the streets of Detroit with seven sisters, and through perseverance and hard work became a multimillinaire by age 23. For over thirty years, Dr. Duckett has studied the fundamentals of human behavior that most affect achievement on personal and professional levels. Having learned the secrets of happiness and wealth, and having built several successful businesses, he now concentrates on developing and sharing his discoveries with others. As a result, Michael has established another reputation in addition to "master of success" - that a dynamic educator who has been described as the Napoleon Hill (Think and Grow Rich) on the 21st Century.

Mr. Duckett founded the International Coaching and Seminars in 1996 because he wanted to give back to others by creating and teaching a unique and effective technology of life. He discovered that "success" has a definite pattern, and he formed a number of these patterns into exclusive technologies available only through International Coaching and Seminars. These technologies are unprecedented, and will bring positive, effective changes to your business, organization, or personal life in a short time with measurable results. A successful entrepreneur and avid student, Dr. Duckett holds advanced degrees in eight discipline including Business, Theology and Law. He has lived and studied in many parts of the World, and is an International Author, speaker and trainer in high demand by individuals, groups and corporations. Dr. Duckett's high energy and enthusiasm around his work is contagious and creates an event that will be entertaining, fun, and enlightening.

Make the world sparkle

Bo Sanchez - Spiritual preacher and Motivational speaker.

Ralph Marston - Make the world sparkle, What can you do to give life substance and meaning? How can you express the unique miracle of your existence?

The deepest purpose you feel, drives every other purpose in your life. Allow that ever-abiding, timeless purpose to be fully nourished by your actions.

See the beautiful reality that is hidden by nothing more than the shallow distractions of your mind. Feel the energy of life as it flows through your every experience.

Welcome each moment as it arises. Live the treasure that comes with every day.

Celebrate this day for the one-of-a-kind miracle that it is. Grab the possibilities and make the world sparkle with your special light.

Let go of your inhibitions and allow your purpose to make its beautiful and powerful presence known. Breathe in the sweet air of true fulfillment.

Entrepreneurship - Aquabest (Day 4)

Success stories of Filipino Entrepreneurs - Carson Tan.

Day 4, Continuation... Carson believes that if an entrepreneur has a vision and commits his plan to God, and works hard, God will eventually lead him to success. He also believes in not just jumping into the bandwagon, but being original in some way, tweaking the concept to give the market better, innovative products.

Keep on visualizing the future. It's not the product, it's the idea. It's the concept of what you have to offer. Today, we have a lot of services and products that are truly innovative. Take the barbershop. The old barbershop had basic services before and catered only to males. Now, even females can go to the new "barbershops" that have been transformed to something like spas, thus offering much more. Some establishments even have swimming pools so families can partake of the services.

It's the concept, like I said. Right now after Aquabest, we are trying our best to visualize our future. After pure water, there's alkaline. Next time, it will be oxygenated water. We also want to venture into the "air" business. For now our vision for Aquabest is "An Aquabest store in every barangay!" patterned after Bill Gates' "A computer in every home."

Aside from vision, Carson believes that timing is also very important. Therefore entrepreneurs should be able to time the carrying out of their visions perfectly. Part of this is having the conviction to forge ahead even if those around you do not support your vision.

There are a lot of people who have a vision but are easily discouraged. They have no conviction and patience. Thomas Edison could have stopped at 999, but in his 1,000th experiment, he discovered filament. Now that's real perseverance. A lot of people have excellent idea, but most of them don't spring into action. They don't have the conviction to execute their plan.

Carson believes one big advantage that Filipino entrepreneurs have is their creativity. He is amazed at the constant innovations being done on existing products. He calls the people who are behind these "innovators."

Carson also wishes that small-and medium-scale entrepreneurs can be given more access to capital. As a longtime businessman, he has seen how large businesses are given better access to loans and how they are able to haggle for better interest rates. This, he believes, is the reason good concepts from small entrepreneurs fail - big entrepreneurs eat them up.

Filipinos have a lot of brilliant ideas to produce better products, but there's always the fear of big companies eating up their concepts. Because of this fear, a lot of Filipino entrepreneurs, to protect themselves, are relegated to handling small-scale, service-related businesses that can't be easily duplicated or franchised.

Carson also sees the need for the Filipino entrepreneurs to be more serious about controlling the quality of their products and their way of doing business. He has tried oftentimes to be a supplier or distributor for foreign corporations but is often disqualified due to the bad image the country has when it comes to product standards and how business is done in the country. As a result, the Philippines loses out on many opportunities to bring its business to the global market. He knows it is a problem that cannot be solved overnight but he feels that something must be done now, even if it starts at the local level.

(To be continued...)

Entrepreneurship - Aquabest (Day 3)

Success stories of Filipino Entrepreneurs - Carson Tan.

Continuation... The same story happened here in the office. My sales manager/ contractor was cheating. When there's an inquiry (we're advertised in the yellow pages), he'll just discourage the potential clients, telling them of high franchise fees. Instead, he'll sell to them personally, direct from the supplier, and then just give the office a commission. When we discovered this activity, we let him go. One of our former sales agents who once visited confirmed the unethical transactions. I had to do several batches of cleaning up, and no one was spared - from the general manager down to the technicians. Even my secretary who reported such activities and whom I thought was trustworthy, was operating the same way apparently corrupted by one of the technicians who turned out to be her lover. The operation manager was guilty, too. He always insisted on hiring a particular contractor who quoted exhorbitant prices, because he was promised commissions on the side.

>>

From the time he took over in 2001 until 2004, Carson had to clean the ranks of dishonest employees, while trying to get the company back on its feet. He worked for a non-salary per diem of P600.00 per week, but eventually his efforts and faith paid off, as 2005 was a tremendous year for Aquabest.

Right now Carson has over 250 franchisees in the Aquabest network. Their approach to franchising is slightly different as they do not collect franchise fees or royalty fees, but rather a flat and minimal monthly due which include free marketing and tri-media exposure, uniforms, streamers, and filters. Aquabest is proud to provide its franchisees with top quality machines and consumables for the water-refilling business at a very low markup.

Aquabest, under Carson's leadership, was also able to salvage the strained relationship between mother company and franchisees. There was a time the franchisees did not want to pay fees during the period the company was mismanaged. Today, the relationship of the franchisees and Aquabest is very much improved, although some of the old-time franchisees decided to just continue on their own.

Most franchisees however decided to stick it out with Aquabest because of the services it provides, such as check ups and free membrane cleaning. Franchisees also benefit from the affordable consumables and the very active marketing and advertising position the company has taken in recent years.

The Aquabest brand has indeed made a stronger impression with its marketing drive. From caps and shirts to colored flyers, the company has made it a point to become more recognizable as the name to beat in water refilling.

Franchisees also benefit from the company's comprehensive operations manual, which clearly outlines the do's and don'ts of the business. Everything a franchisee needs to know about how to operate the business is touched on, including proposal letters to companies.

Since Aquabest is growing, Carson now has moved from a small fiftysquare-meter crowded office to a 330-square-meter spacious office located at the primie vicinity of Quezon Avenue. He encourages his thirty four employees to multitask, often overlapping functions so that everyone is well-versed in the business.

At this point in Aquabest's timeline, Carson does not think of whether or not it is a success, but one thing is for sure, he acknowledges how God has blessed the company. This is why Carson continues to entrust the business to God while doing his best in his job.

The Lord is so generous to us. He is so faithful that if we entrust Him everything, His blessings abound, sometimes in disguise. I just do my job. I believe the Lord is guiding me. He gives me a lot of ideas and inspiration.

(To be continued...)

Entrepreneurship - Aquabest (Day 2)

Success stories of Filipino Entrepreneurs - Carson Tan.

Continuation... So while successful in his endeavors, in the end, Carson's profits and savings were gobbled up and his resources were flattened to zero. This experience led him to analyze what was going on in his life. He realized that he was trying to be successful on his own, striving by himself, without the help of God. That was when he vowed to consecrate himself and his business unto God and allow His sovereign arrangement to take charge.

Today, at the helm of Aquabest, he has learned to commit his business to God. It is no suprise that the company is doing very well. But in the beginning, it was a hard uphill climb for Carson and Aquabest. He used to be a silent partner, part of a group of businessmen who in 1997 saw a big market in the water-refilling business.

Initially, Carson and his partners were skeptical because only one water shop store existed at that time. Nobody bought water then, there was plenty of water gushing out of the faucet. But with skillful marketing and educating of the public, the market soon became ready for the health benefits purified and mineral water brought and so the Aquabest Company flourished.

The good times were short-lived, however, when, due to mismanagement, the company soon found itself on the brink of bankruptcy. Carson and his family decided to buy out the shares of the other incorporators in order to save Aquabest and the franchisees that would be left orphaned if the company closed down.

With the help of family and friends, Carson raised P1 million to buy out the other partners and pay for the company's debts. He started anew with nothing in the office except two tables and a skeleton workforce.

Since he used to be a silent partner and the business was so highly technical, he let the current manager operate the business. The initial goal was just to sell water, to pay the debts, and survive. Little did Carson know that inside that store, massive stealing was going on in the form of unrecorded sales until someone blew the whistle on the perpetrators. Only then did Carson learn the full extent of the problem.

They sell the new bottles in exchange for the broken ones so at the end of the day, the inventory's complete. Also, I found out that they tampered with the installed water meter, so it will not register the correct water consumption. Slowly, these were fixed, but it took so many years!

(To be continued...)

Entrepreneurship - Aquabest (Day 1)

Success stories of Filipino Entrepreneurs - Carson Tan.

AquaBest Water bottling and refilling business, CARSON TAN REMEMBERS A TIME in high school when he saw one affluent classmate's refrigerator filled with bottled water. He did not understand the need to buy drinking water then, as tap water was perfectly potable at that time. He never thought that he would one day be in the water bottling and refilling business himself.

An Economics-degree holder from the University of the Philippines, Carson was fresh from college when he began his first business, a fastfood stall called "Naka-Goto". This was when goto was a hot new concept in fast-foods. His store was doing well but since there were not enough tenants in the building where he was leasing space, the business went down due to lack of foot traffic. Says Carson:

You do need competition to make the place appealing to the public. Just like in the Banawe area, car accessories and auto supply stores are practically beside each other, yet the place is thriving. Maybe our fast-food place was mismanaged. But if you ask me, the business was making money. Unfortunately, the area became kind of sleazy, with all the drinking and bold whows. It used to be an all-food area.

Things went downhill when they changed the set-up. I even did a little extension when the stall next to me closed shop. Since few contribute to the rent, the place deteriorated and became spooky. When there are unattractive "holes" or "gaps" in establishments, why bother patronizing them?

After his first business closed, he became a salesman. He saw sales as a way of learning about business at its grassroots. He did not have the capital to put up his own so he literally peddled encyclopedias, absorbing the rudiments of sales and sharpening his skills.

During this time, he also put up another enterprise, portion-sachet packaging of sugar, coffee, and ketchup to capitalize on the requirements of other fast-food restaurants as safety in food handling was becoming an issue. Once the business took off, he left the encyclopedia business to concentrate on marketing the packaging services, eventually also supplying the disposable burger wrappers and other flexible packaging materials.

Carson was doing well in this business when globalization made his clients change their strategy. Instead of purchasing from local suppliers, multinational companies based in the Philippines opened bidding to all suppliers in Asia Pacific. As it turned out, bids from the Philippines were not competitive, so most of the business went to foreign suppliers.

Then the Asian-currency crisis of 1997 happened and Carson's loans and other businesses were affected. His interest rates zoomed to 38 percent per annum, which was too much for a businessman whose stocks were not moving. His other business, imported computer tables, affected his cash liquidity because PC sellers were holding on to their stocks in anticipation of better returns on their dollars. As a result, nobody was buying computer tables as well.

The exchange rate was only P24 per U.S. dollar, but went up to P27 and then P40. Because of the sudden increase, consumers deferred their purchasing. Computer prices soared overnight. Our sales dropped by 90 percent. I was renting a warehouse, paying interest at cost, but I didn't have sales. So to avoid bigger problems, I sold my stock even at a loss.

Though Carson tried to wait out the financial crisis, it lasted for years, longer than anyone expected. He decided to take the loss and pay up his loans by swapping his condominium investments, since he did not want to lose his good credit standing with his fellow Chinese businessmen.

If you let your cheques bounce, your credit integrity will be at stake. You'll be branded in the Chinese community with a bad credit record; you know, word spreads around quickly. We put so much value on credit integrity.

(To be continued...)

Control Conflict

Bill FitzPatrick - Founder of the "American Success Institute".

Action Principle No.23 >> Control Conflict, Remain calm and detached. Allow others to rage while you consider the appropriate response. Should you reason, agree, apologize, fight or leave? Which is to your benefit and to the benefit of those you must protect? Arguing often makes the other party become more defensive and determined to prevail. Let go of your anger. It only clouds the issue and draws you into a quick response. Whenever possible use kindness as your weapon against evil. Neutralize shouting with soft words. Answer threats with serene confidence. Speak plainly. Don't use foul language or sarcasm. Breathe deeply with long exhalations. Let the anger wash over you. Maintain your presence. Don't exaggerate. Don't lie. Attack the argument and not the person.

Long term relationships are almost always more important than short-term problems. Be an active peacemaker, building bridges of understanding.

Reaching Your Potential

Robert Britt - Reaching your potential.

Ralph Marston - Reach beyond yourself, The higher you aim, the higher you will go. Push yourself a little bit past what you know you can do, and you'll discover new skills and abilities.

If it seems that you don't ever get much done, maybe it's because you're not giving yourself enough do to. Make your dreams and ambitions big enough to be positively compelling.

Be genuinely thankful for how far you've already come, but don't rest on your previous accomplishments. Honor and appreciate those accomplishments by using them as a starting for even greater success.

You are intelligent, adaptable, creative, flexible and effective at getting things done. Fulfill your destiny and satisfy your purpose by giving yourself plenty of valuable, worthwhile things to do.

Delight in discovering how much more you can accomplish. Thrill to the challenge of moving successfully through new, uncharted territory.

Continue to reach beyond yourself. Know the joy and confidence that come from growing ever stronger.

Lead by Example

Bill FitzPatrick - Founder of the "American Success Institute".

Action Principle No.22 >> Lead by Example, Start acting immediately as the person you will be, a person of character with a sound reputation. Your words, your manner, your attitude, your dress, your posture and your actions are all reflections. In modern society, people are constantly bombarded with visual and auditory messages. People need cues to sort good from bad and to find order so that they can make decisions. In many different aspects of your daily life, you are giving off cues that can be positive or negative. If you speak well, dress appropriately, smile, are courteous, work hard, volunteer and don't complain, you give people short cuts to view you in your best light.

You must never expect others to do what you would not do. You must be fair, firm, friendly and dependable. If you have to correct someone, do it in private. You have succeeded as a leader when your team works just as well in your absence. Be constantly on the lookout for heroes in your own life to admire and emulate. Adopt their styles, Then, lead by example.

A year from now

Bo Sanchez - Spiritual preacher and Motivational speaker.

Ralph Marston - A year from now, Where will you be a year from now? Where would you most like to be?

There is so much you've learned and experienced on your journey to this day. Imagine what you can now do with it all.

This new year is a grand opportunity, filled with promise and possibilities. Choose now the very best of those possibilities, and know that you have the power to bring them to life.

You will spend this coming year moving in one direction or another. Commit now to making that direction the one that will take you toward what you sincerely desire.

Life in each moment is influenced by your presence and participation. As this new year unfolds, continue to make that influence a positive and fulfilling one.

Consider today where you would like to be a year from now. For now is the beginning of the year in which you can truly make it happen.

Andre Rieu - Author of Music

Andre Rieu - Violinist.

World-Class Violinist. Andre Rieu was born into a musical family on October 1, 1949 in Maastricht in the Netherlands. He began studying violin at the age of five. His father was a conductor. From a very young age he developed a fascination with orchestra. He studied violin at the Conservatoire Royal in Liege and in the Conservatorium Maastricht, (1968-1973). His teachers included Jo Juda and Herman Krebbers. From 1974 to 1977, he attended the Music Academy in Brussels, studying with Andre Gertler, winning the Premier Prix at the academy.

Andre Rieu is one of the World's best musicians. He is the mirror of all geniuses in many kinds of expertise. Indeed, there is no impossible if we just believe in our own talent and skills. Learn to expand your borders and limiting thoughts.

Give yourself the Gift of Self-Reliance

Bill FitzPatrick - Founder of the "American Success Institute".

Action Principle No.21 >> Give Yourself the Gift of Self-Reliance, If there is one gift that you can give yourself that will enhance the overall quality of your life, it is self-reliance. You already possess everything you will need to succeed. You can work on your own schedule toward your own goals without feeling pressured by the demands of others.

When you are self-reliant, if you lose your job, you'll get another. If you lose that job, you'll start your own business. You can make more money as a self-employed handyman applying the Action Principles to your work than a lazy lawyer will ever earn. You need the will, the self-confidence and a realistic plan. As a follower of the Action Principles you will have them. Life just can't get you down because you are in control of yourself.

Experience Today

Bo Sanchez - Spiritual preacher and Motivational speaker.

Ralph Marston - Experience Today, Today you have the opportunity for a great experience. Today you have the undeniable chance to really live.

It is up to you to take advantage of that opportunity. It is up to you to make the most of this day, and to live the great, unique experience this day offers.

Perhaps you'll conclude that there are too many problems keeping you from experiencing a great day, yet that would be an unfortunate mistake. For even in the face of overwhelming problems and obstacles, today can be a truly unique and positive experience.

In fact, those problems can play a very positive role in the great experience of this day. By working your way through whatever way come along, you build a greater appreciation for all the goodness that surrounds you.

You also build your confidence, strength and effectiveness to higher and higher levels. And that opens the doors to vast new areas of opportunity and achievement.

Today is here now, so go ahead and jump into it with everythings you have. Experience the richness of this day, and you'll carry its unique value with you always.

Christmas Countdown

Christmas Time - Week 8 Special

The Essence of Christmas, Christmas is not just being happy because we are in a good health condition or we are together with our family and friends but also being happy to see other people who are celebrating this special season with smile in their hearts same as what we have. Let's pray together for our brothers and sisters who are suffering from illness, critical problems and victims of war. Christmas is for everyone. See the goodness in our hearts and share it to other people. God bless us all.

Applaud the Beginner

Bill FitzPatrick - Founder of the "American Success Institute".

Action Principle No.20 >> Applaud the Beginner, You walk into a karate school for a first visit and see kicking, punching, blocking, chopping and flipping. It can be intimidating if you've never done these things. Or, you may look and feel awkward learning to snow ski or rollerblade or taking a foreign language. But persist; this is your first day and there will never be another first day.
Any new endeavor may be tough in the beginning. Accept this. You must believe in yourself. Initially, critics may feel free to ridicule your ideas and goals as foolish and unrealistic. When you ultimately succeed, everyone will claim to have been on your team from the beginning. Take action and persist. Applaud those who try, because the first step is often the toughest. Welcome the newcomer.

The key to finding opportunity

Ron Davis - Financial adviser.

Property Tips, One of the most difficult aspects of being a home owner is changing with the times. Trends in technology and architecture move rapidly, often forcing home owners to constantly remodel and update their homes just to stay current with other similar homes in the same area. A sudden change in styles can make a once modern house seem old and stale, possibly adversely affecting a home's value. However, there is one aspect to a piece of real estate that is largely immune to the temporary ups and downs in the market and the changing of style-location.
By selecting a home with a great location, your real estate property will have a timeless quality that will appeal to buyers for years to come.
When selecting a location, it is always essential that you look at the house itself in context to the actual land layout. A simple, modest home may be right for a small suburban neighborhood, but may not fit in as well in an area filled with larger land tracks. Likewise, a large, ostentatious home would be a great fit where land is plentiful. Finding the right combination of home and location will take some time, but the extra effort will be worth it in the end.
For some buyers, a location in high demand is an obvious and wise investment. A location with 'heat' will be able to weather whatever market bumps may occur. With the ease and popularity of do-it-yourself home remodeling, many buyers are ready to redesign a home immediately upon moving in. Since most property owners like to put their own unique stylistic mark on a home, the actual layout of the home will often be secondary to the factors that cannot be changed, such as location.
For those in the real estate market, sometimes a long term vision may suit them well. While a home location may not be particularly attractive at the moment, it is important to look at developments in the area that may be on the horizon. Areas due for redevelopment may experience a rise in potential buyers. Today's bargain may be tomorrow's goldmine if they are surrounding the real estate property ends up growing or expanding.
So what is the right location? The proper answer is whatever the potential buyer think is right keeping in mind all the perspectives. It is essential when buying a piece of property to tour the outlying areas. Is the location close to schools or shopping malls? Is the commute time to large business areas manageable? Airports in the area may be attractive to some buyers, but getting a home too close to a major airport can either be a disaster or a gigantic bargain.
An experienced real estate agent will give you fair idea and help you find the location that best suits your needs. It can be a short term investment or a long term stay. Does your research examine your needs? Do consult a well-respected real estate agent before you dive in. Remember, the three most important aspects to real estate are location, location, and location.

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Let Go of Your Fear

Bo Sanchez - Spiritual preacher and Motivational speaker.

Ralph Marston - Let life flow, Life will flow easily and gracefully when you simply allow it. Choose right now to simply allow it.

Allow the problems to come and then allow them to go just as quickly. Peacefully accept the disappointments and you'll have no trouble with peacefully letting them go.

Accept the joys without worrying about clinging to them. They will always be with you if you simply let them be.

Stop fighting against what is, and you'll clearly see how to make the most of it. Welcome each new experience and you'll quickly find the value it brings.

Leave the worries and anxieties behind, for they add nothing to your life. Be at peace, and you will feel the fullness of your power.

Allow the rich abundance to flow naturally and unhindered through your life. And delight in the fulfillment that is yours to create.

Spread Your Enthusiasm

Bill FitzPatrick - Founder of the "American Success Institute".

Action Principle No.19 >> Spread Your Enthusiasm, Putting the Action Principles to work in your life will elevate your soul and lift your spirit. You will feel a zest for life. You will live full, enriched days. This will happen because you will have taken the quiet time to think, organize and prioritize your days. You will love many things and these things will become part of your day. You will be in control. Every day you will do good things for yourself and others. Words like boring, bland and uneventful will rarely describe your work or your relationships.

Listen to your favorite CD. Call a friend. Read a good book. Smile. Hear. See. Feel. Smell. Take a walk and look at all the wonders of your world. Let everyone in your life know that life is worth living.

Be known as a motivator. Ask others about their goals and how you can help them. Make people feel part of a successful team. Solicit their input. Keep everyone informed and involved. Establish performance incentives. Look for opportunities to praise and reward. Enthusiasm is contagious.

World-Class Filipino Talent

Ogie Alcasid - Filipino Singer and Actor.

World-Class Filipino Talent. Ogie Alcasid debuted as a singer in 1989 with the release of his self-titled album. Ogie Alcasid reached gold record status, while his debut single "Nandito Ako" (Here I am) was awarded "Song of the Year" by local radio station Magic 89.9. He has since released 18 albums, including a Christmas album (Larawan ng Pasko/ Images of Christmas, 1994), a live album (OA sa Hits (Live), 2002), and four greatest hits albums.

He has received a total of five gold records, three platinum records, and three double platinum records.

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Jack Canfield cited in his book "The Success Principles" Believing in Yourself is an attitude, Believing in yourself is a choice. It is an attitude you develop over time. Although it helps if you had positive and supportive parents, the fact is that most of us run-of-the-mill parents who inadvertently passed on to us the same limiting beliefs and negative conditioning they grew up with.

But remember, the past is the past. There is no payoff for blaming them for your current level of self-confidence. It's now your responsibility to take charge of your own self-concept and your beliefs. You must choose to believe that you can do anything you set your mind to - anything at all - because, in fact, you can. It might help you to know that the latest brain research now indicates that with enough positive self-talk and positive visualization combined with the proper training, coaching, and practice, anyone can learn to do almost anything.

Christmas Countdown

Christmas Time - Week 7 Special

The Essence of Christmas, The essence of Christmas is to remember that God our creator is always with us. Christmas means happiness and loving our brothers and sisters. As Filipino, we always make sure that we celebrate this very special season with our families, friends and loveones.

Christmas is not about the gifts we give or receive, nor is it about the tasty food and the Christmas tree. It's not about the Kris Kringle or Santa Claus. It's a time to meditate about Jesus and His Father.

Wherever you are this season, give a warm hug or call to your loveones and make them feel that you are always there and really care for them.

Be a Master of Success

Bill FitzPatrick - Founder of the "American Success Institute".

Action Principle No.18 >> Master Success, There is a master inside you. It is an ideal. It is you at your best. Keep working.

You are calm, thoughful, patient and confident.

You are honest, trustworthy, responsible and reliable.

You are loyal and proud.

You are humble and reverent.

You are tough, self-reliant, persistent and hard working.

You are organized, neat and poised.

You are inquisitive and teachable.

You are healthy, vibrant and enthusiastic.

You are kind, friendly, helpful and generous.

You are brave and daring.

You are moral and ethical.

Life is a journey

Bo Sanchez - Spiritual preacher and Motivational speaker.

Ralph Marston - A grand adventure, Don't back away from life just because it gets difficult. Instead, jump into it more fully.

Don't slow down just because the road upward becomes steep. Speed up and get the extra momentum to carry you forward.

There's no good reason to let the challenges get you down. Choose instead to be energized and motivated by them.

Life is a grand adventure. You wouldn't want it to come too easily.

You have all sorts of wonderful skills and abilities. Relish the opportunities to put them to the test and to make them even stronger.

Live with passion and purpose and the resolve to handle whatever may come your way. Never stop discovering how much more you're able to do.

Compounding interest

How to make money work for you.

Compounding interest, is the concept of adding accumulated interest back to the principal, so that interest is earned on interest from that moment on. The act of declaring interest to be principal is called compounding (i.e., interest is compounded). A loan, for example, may have its interest compounded every month: in this case, a loan with $1000 principal and 1% interest per month would have a balance of $1010 at the end of the first month.

Interest rates must be comparable in order to be useful, and in order to be comparable, the interest rate and the compounding frequency must be disclosed. Since most people think of rates as a yearly percentage, many governments require financial institutions to disclose a (notionally) comparable yearly interest rate on deposits or advances. Compound interest rates may be referred to as Annual Percentage Rate, Effective interest rate, Effective Annual Rate, and by other terms. When a fee is charged up front to obtain a loan, APR usually counts that cost as well as the compound interest in converting to the equivalent rate. These government requirement assist consumers to more easily compare the actual cost of borrowing.

Compound interest rates may be converted to allow for comparison: for any given interest rate and compounding frequency, an "equivalent" rate for a different compounding frequency exists.

Accept Differences

Bill FitzPatrick - Founder of the "American Success Institute".

Action Principle No.17 >> Accept Differences, See each person as an individual and not as part of a group. All humans from all countries and cultures are equal without regard to race, color, creed or gender. Believe with confidence and trust that the vast majority of people whom you meet, befriend or do business with are more similar than different from you.
People are inherently good. Most people act in good faith. They mean you no harm and would assist you in time of need. Don't waste your time thinking otherwise. Do not become a party to rumor or gossip.
Reject stereotypes and the divisive and demeaning policies that group people into categories. Be the first to build bridges of tolerance and understanding.

Christmas Countdown

Christmas Time - Week 6 Special

The Essence of Christmas, The essence of Christmas is sharing and giving. For many people, there's what we call celebration where everyone's busy with parties and other social gatherings. For others, they can't feel the essence of Christmas without this spree.
But wait... Let us reflect and ask ourselves... Is that all what it takes to have a joyful Christmas? Celebration isn't bad; however, Christmas reminds us of God's love... so much love that He gave His only Son to save us. He gave all that He could to show us the reason to live. Let us treasure our lives and everyone else.
As we celebrate this season, as we eat and drink, as we savor the happiness being together with our loved ones, let us not forget that there are many parents today whose tears unnoticeably drop from their weary eyes while watching their children eating less or even nothing. Let us not forget that as we buy toys and new outfit for our children, there are children who need to be clothed and cared of. Let us not forget that as we bond together in the family, there are broken homes that need to be prayed for. These thoughts are what we call LOVE. Let's, therefore, give love not just this season but for as long as we live. Let's nurture that passion to love for without it, it is impossible to give and share. Let us also thank God for everything.

You are Special

Bo Sanchez - Spiritual preacher and Motivational speaker.

Ralph Marston - You are worthy, You are worthy of the best in life. It's not because anyone tells you so or gives you permission to be, but because you know deep down that you are.
You have every reason to feel great about the good and valuable things you have done. You have the ability to expand on that goodness, on that value, on your own special gifts.
Where you are is a very good place to be. For you are in a position to truly make a difference by expressing and fulfilling your most deeply held values and dreams.
Certainly things are not perfect, and your world is filled with difficult challenges. Yet there is real treasure hidden within those challenges, for you have what it takes to move successfully through them.
You know how great it feels to accomplish something positive and meaningful. Listen to that feeling, for it connects you to your purpose and your ability to do great things.
Whatever you can imagine, you are worthy of reaching. Choose to make everything in your life worthy of the unique and valuable person you are.

Pass the Test

Bill FitzPatrick - Founder of the "American Success Institute".

Action Principle No.16 >> Pass the Test, Life is a test and the points on that test are earned by how much attention you give to improving yourself and helping others. When your test is graded, to what will you attribute your success: study, hard work, personality, talent, skill, opportunity, connections, patronage or luck? No amount of material success earned and kept will be awarded credit. The greater your blessings, the greater your obligation to share your good fortune.
Use your special talents to serve the common good. Let your actions be motivated by a commitment to charity and justice. Be compassionate, kind and considerate. Free yourself from your attachment to things. Right now is the time to consider your blessings. Start scoring points.

World-Class Filipino Talent

Arnel Pineda - Singing "Open Arms".



Singing "Faithfully"

World-Class Filipino Talent. Arnel Pineda is a Filipino Singer-Song writer and is currently the lead singer of the American rock band Journey . Pineda has enjoyed the successful musical career in Asia for the last 25 years. His singing style was influenced by Steve Perry (Journey), John Farnham (Little River Band), Freddie Mercury (Queen), Sting (The Police), Survivor, Heart, The Beatles, Van Halen, Aerosmith, U2, Warrant, Deep Purple, and other bands.

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Jack Canfield cited in his book "The Success Principles" Believing in Yourself is an attitude, Believing in yourself is a choice. It is an attitude you develop over time. Although it helps if you had positive and supportive parents, the fact is that most of us run-of-the-mill parents who inadvertently passed on to us the same limiting beliefs and negative conditioning they grew up with.

But remember, the past is the past. There is no payoff for blaming them for your current level of self-confidence. It's now your responsibility to take charge of your own self-concept and your beliefs. You must choose to believe that you can do anything you set your mind to - anything at all - because, in fact, you can. It might help you to know that the latest brain research now indicates that with enough positive self-talk and positive visualization combined with the proper training, coaching, and practice, anyone can learn to do almost anything.

Cause Change

Bill FitzPatrick - Founder of the "American Success Institute".

Action Principle No.15 >> Cause Change, The status quo may be comforting, but for there to be growth, there must be change. Since you seek growth, you must seek change. You must see yourself and your environment not only as it is, but also as it could and should be. You seek the changes necessary to reach the better you so that you can play your part in making a better world.

First, you change yourself. Can you change your day and spend more time with your family? Can you change your standard lunch routine and take a walk? Can you change your drive home and stop at a nursing home for twenty minutes and see someone who may have few visitors? Can you change your office habits and find the time to make five more phone calls? What are the possible consequences of not changing? Realize that many people don't make plans because they don't want to risk any change. Doing little with your life is much easier and safer than taking risks, but then you will be a small person. Instead, seek the changes which will allow you to be all that you can be.

Saving vs. Investing

How to make money work for you.

Saving and Investing, Most of us know how to spend the money but many do not know how to make use of money to work for them. Spending is not your only option when it comes to make the smart choices about using money. You can smartly combine Savings and Investing of your money to make your money work for you and help you to generate passive cash stream to your account.

Saving and investing are two different things. When you save you earn interest, when you invest, your money makes money. Saving is for the short term, investing is for the long term. When you combine saving and investing, you're not only setting money aside, you're also putting your money to work for you.

You create your emergency fund through savings. This fund is important to protect you if you lose or quit your job and need time to find a new job. An emergency fund is important to save you from any financial crisis and helps you to sleep well at night because you know you are prepared for what might happen.

After protecting your short-term needs through savings, you can grow a portion of your money for long-term needs or generating a steady stream of income to improve your living style. Here comes the importance of Investing. The main purpose of investing is to use money to make more money for you. Almost all investments have certain level of risk; in general. the higher the risk, the better the potential return. It's also means that the higher the risk, the higher the potential loses. You may need to take on additional level of risk in the exchange for a higher level of return than what you can earn in an ordinary savings account. That's why the combination of savings and investing works perfectly to make your money work for you through investing while protecting you from any financial disaster through savings.

When we talk about investing the money, commonly, it means that putting your money into the money markets. Money markets are really mutual funds of cash investments like U.S. Treasury bills, CDs (certificates of deposit), and cash, and are managed by professional money managers. Many investment companies that offer a money market account will waive your initial investment if you set a regular investment plan with them such as $25 or $50 per month. You can utilize this advantage to get your money market account open and put your money to work for you.

In Summary: Investing into money market gets you a higher return than savings accounts. It is a good way to use your money to make more money for you. While investing your money into the money market, you need to create your emergency funds in your savings account so that you are protected from any unexpected financial crisis.

Surround yourself with friends that will support you

Bo Sanchez - Spiritual preacher and Motivational speaker.

Colin Powell - Surround Yourself with Serious People, Organization doesn't really accomplish anything. Plans don't accomplish anything, either. Theories of management don't much matter. Endeavors succeed or fail because of the people involved. Only by attracting the best people will you accomplish great deeds.

Look for intelligence and judgment and, most critically, a capacity to anticipate, to see around corners. Also look for loyalty, integrity, a high-energy drive, a balanced ego and the drive to get things done. Surround yourelf with people who take their work seriously, but not themselves, those who work hard and play hard!.

Get Tough

Bill FitzPatrick - Founder of the "American Success Institute".

Action Principle No.14 >> Get Tough, Tough means that you are willing to stand tall and persevere. Even when your mind and body signal perfectly good reasons for giving up, you go on. This tough is obvious. But tough can be seen every day if we choose to look. Tough may be a patient undergoing cancer treatments or a single mother struggling to raise children. Tough can be an alcoholic ready to face rehab or an athlete living in a wheelchair. Tough can be rejecting false praise and honestly accepting you and your children for who and what you are. Tough is an ability to make the best from what you are given. Tough is making the decision to replace self-pity, complaints and dependence with self-reliance, independence and action.

You've got to be tough to do the big in life like taking risks, admitting mistakes, and changing bad habits. You've got to be tough to do the little things like biting your tongue, waiting your turn and putting up with fools. Self-reliance and self-confidence will demand your toughness. Then, you must temper toughness with kindness, realizing that many times it will be tough to be kind. Be kind anyway.

Christmas Countdown

christmas Time - Week 5 Special

The Essence of Christmas, Christmas is the most awaited moment of many Filipinos especially Overseas workers who are working far away from the Philippines. It is the time that we are longing to go back home and be with our loveones. Christmas symbolizes the unconditional love of God to us. Also a reminder that we should be loving and generous enough to help other people in need and share our blessings to anyone who are less fortunate. The essence of Christmas should be always in our heart.