Living Your Second Wind

Last Saturday, we concluded our "Jumpstart Your Success" Workshop @ The FORT BGC.

After the learning session, I had the privilege to meet Cathy. She asked me to sign her copy of my book and was thanking us, the speakers, for the inspiring event.

She said that she wrote something down that she would like to read to me.

"You have awakened my soul… 

My passions... 

Adrenalin rush is pumping...
I want to live more and I don't want to lose my second wind…
To act…
To implement…
To be in the now…"

And then she smiled and told me, "I'm 7 years old." (which I didn't understand immediately)

Until she told me that she is a cancer survivor. She stayed for a while and shared to us her story.

I left the venue that night touched and more inspired by her.

Thank you Ms. Cathy for showing us how to be courageous and for reminding us to live fully.

Speaker Ardy Abello, Ms. Cathy Altonaga, Ptr,. Ariel Marquez, and Productive Pinoy Author Yeng Remulla (me) 

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TIME TO EARN OR LEARN?

There are two good reasons why you should work for a company or start your own business – to Earn or to Learn. 

Because of your responsibilities, earning may be your top priority today. That is understandable.

But it's also wise to spend some time "learning." Learning may cost you today, but it will pay off and will be worth much more later. 

As an aspiring entrepreneur, you may put up a small business, not necessarily to earn or to make it big, but to learn the disciplines of running a business. 

Learning (the right stuff) is extremely valuable and may increase your earnings later on.

Another way to do it is to work for a company where you can learn the ins and outs of the business or the trade. 

Both can work well.

The danger is to be too busy working without an objective. 

Be intentional and ask yourself, "Is it time for me to learn or to earn?"

Of course, you can always do both.

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YENG REMULLA is the author of the highly-acclaimed book, Productive Pinoy. He is also the founding-partner of Start Learning. Visit http://www.startlearningph.com/

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TO SOLVE A RECURRING PROBLEM

To solve a recurring problem, you need to get to the root cause of the problem. 

Many times we look at the surface and forget to examine what's underneath it. 

You may not have enough money, not because of your income, but as a result of overspending.

You always get complaints from customers, not because of your service people, but because of your company's poorly designed policies.

You're easily bored, not because of your job position, but maybe you're not exploring enough or stretching your potential.

The obvious can be deceiving. When it's recurring, check deeper. 

Find the root cause of the problem. That's the only way you'll be able to solve it – permanently.

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TREAT IT AS SERIOUS BUSINESS

Having fun in what you do doesn't mean you're not doing "serious business."

This is true for writers, artists, musicians, athletes or anyone who 'seems' to have a much easier job. 

As a writer, one of the things that I've learned is that you can't just wait for inspiration. It takes a lot of discipline, planning and hard work to produce quality content and to be heard in this noisy world. 

You may have a job that doesn't sound as glamorous, but in whatever you do, have fun, give your best, and treat it as serious business.

YENG REMULLA is the author of the bestselling books, PRODUCTIVE PINOY & START SOMETHING. Hear him speak at the upcoming "JUMPSTART YOUR SUCCESS" Seminar this November 30 @ The FORT BGC! See details here: www.startlearningph.com

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SHOULD I PURSUE MY PASSION?

I rarely talk about "passion." Not that I am not passionate.

I am passionate about several things. My passion has led me to achieve major aspirations I never thought I could do. But with the same passion or my immature zealousness, I've also failed miserably in a few things I've done before. (a painful lesson)

What I've learned in life is that 'passion' isn't enough. 

You can't just live on passion. 

You also need wisdom. 

Wisdom is the ability to make the right decision at a given time, context or situation. So, how do you get wisdom?

1. Pray and read the Bible.

The bible says "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom…" (Psalm 111:10) To know what to do, pray and ask Someone who knows what's best for you. He holds the bigger picture. 

2. Ask an adviser. 

Asking for advice isn't a sign of weakness. It won't make you look dumb. In fact, with many advisers, you have a better chance of succeeding in any endeavor. Don't be too shy to ask. 

3. Don't wear yourself out chasing "MORE" money. Instead, show restraint and put your time on living out your "purpose." Do this, and most likely, the money or provision will follow. 

Self-centered pursuits or a get-rich-quick aspiration won't do you any good. The key is to be passionate about the right things. 

4. Learn from your mistakes. 

If you fail, get up again, then apply what you've learned. Don't let a failed business, project or a failed attempt stop you. Don't get stuck living in a "state of failure." You won't learn if you won't move on!

5. Win small victories. 

Even small battles can teach you big lessons. Be faithful even with the little. Small victories will lead to bigger opportunities. 

6. Remain humble. 

Pride often leads to a loss of respect. (see Pr 11:2) Be willing to listen. Consider the point of view of others. Put other people first and be of service to them. 

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THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE

We all want the truth. The question is, are we going to believe it when we hear it?

There's a tendency for us to believe only what we 'want' to believe because it's convenient for us.

Jesus is the truth.

And by knowing and following him, you will find freedom.  The freedom to resist things you don't want to do anymore.

The freedom to pursue God's perfect plan for your life. 

The freedom to be who you are meant to be.

You don't need to be a wandering stranger anymore! Your Father tells you "You're free to go home where you belong." 

Home is a place where you don't need to 'pretend' to be somebody else – it's the place where you can find rest and truly live.

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Attend a Free PRODUCTIVE PINOY Talk this Oct 27! 

Register and check the details HERE.

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MY 14-YEAR OLD SON IS NOW AN ENTREPRENEUR

When Trey was a lot younger, people would ask him "what do you wanna do when you grow up?" With his cute lisp he'd reply, "I yike my dad's work. I yike to be a businessman." That brought joy to me.

Even when Trey was growing up, it was natural for us to talk about business concepts whenever we're together.

Whether it's the food in a restaurant, the feature of a gadget, or the design/flow of a website – Trey and I would always discuss ways on how we can improve a certain product or service. We'd even come up with better ways it can be presented or sold. 

This was an exercise we'd always do for fun. But I didn't realize he was really taking it seriously. (Even I didn't expect that he'd become an entrepreneur this early.)

FUNDING HIS FIRST VENTURE

Every time that Trey would get his allowance or receive gifts from us or from his grand parents, he'd put away some money in the bank. The amount can be as little as P200 and to as much as P1,000. 

He didn't have a plan where to spend his money. At times, I would even suggest, "why don't you buy a PS3 or an XBox with the money that you've saved?" 

Trey would always say "No, it's ok. I'll just wait." 

A few months ago, he came up with a business idea – to print his own statement shirts. Coming from the Twitter generation, he would name his brand #HASHTAG. 

Trey would regularly bounce off his ideas to his very supportive mom and me. It became a trending topic during dinner. 

Until one day, he finally decided to do it.

He told me that he'll use his own money (his savings of P21,000) to fund his business. And at that moment, I knew he was serious.

So he went on to source the raw materials and visited a manufacturer that can bring his designs to life. 

His first factory visit

"Design meeting" with supplier/manufacturer

After a week, Trey received the samples and wore the first Hashtag Shirt. That got him really excited about his new business. 

HASHTAG Clothing Co. Founder Trey Remulla with his First Shirt

As of this writing or update, he has about 7 shirt designs and has sold over 500 shirts in 4 months time. He has more than tripled his capital. He makes more than what a minimum wage worker earns. 

100% Cotton. Eco-Friendly. Lead free. Phthalate free. Eco-friendly paints. Machine washable. EXPORT QUALITY.

Logo at the Back

*Latest Design*  100% Cotton. Lead free. Phthalate free. Eco-friendly paints. Machine washable. EXPORT QUALITY.

#HASHTAG Clothing Co. is now officially online. You can check it out HERE. 

#HASHTAG Clothing Co. website 

Website: www.hashtagclothingco.com

Facebook Page: #Hashtag Clothing Co.

Ever since Trey started his business, he's been asking me a lot of questions. I can see him learning and enjoying it. I'm really proud of him.

Please visit his Online Store, like his Facebook Page or buy a shirt! 

I hope this will also encourage you that you're never too young (or never too old) to "Start Something."

~

Join me this Friday, May 31, 2013, for the START SOMETHING Book Launch in Powerbooks Greenbelt 4, Makati. 5:30pm–8:00pm. I'll be sharing a few tips on how you can start the work that you've been thinking about. 

If you're free to come, simply fill out this FORM. Many thanks!

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CAN YOU 'ATTRACT' MONEY?

I don't think you can attract "money." 

You can only attract PEOPLE who'd like to work with you, do business with you, or buy from you because ...

1. You're good at what you do. 

2. You're easy or fun to work with. 

3. You're brand is interesting.

Now, if you want to become (financially) rich, follow the above three and practice good financial management along with it.

Don't ever think that you can 'magnetize' money. Money is earned by delivering something of value – or is a gift out of someone else's generosity. 

Many times, getting "rich" has nothing to do with money, but a lot to do about servanthood, discipline and good stewardship.

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Get P50 off when you buy a PRODUCTIVE PINOY book online. Free delivery nationwide via LBC. To order, simply click HERE.

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"IT CAN'T BE DONE."

"It can't be done" can be received in two ways. You can accept it as it is – or you can take it as a challenge and make it into the most motivating statement you've ever heard. 

When you reach for the skies, the impossible can become possible.

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Get P50 off when you buy a PRODUCTIVE PINOY book online. Free delivery nationwide via LBC. To order, simply click HERE.

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WHY FAILING CAN BE A GOOD REMINDER

After one success after another, failing the next one can be a good reminder.


1. You're not Superman. 
You're probably multi-talented. But hey, we all have our limits. The sooner you find out where your boundary lines lie, the earlier you can focus on the work where you can excel or contribute well.


2. There's still so much to learn. 
The problem with success is that it tricks you into thinking that you already know everything. "Been there, done that. Now, I can also do that" is an expressway to failure. Guard your heart, remain humble.


3. Success or Failure isn't final. 
A failed attempt is just what it is, a failed attempt. You can leave it behind as long as you don't quit. Don't get stuck, move on or try again.

Now, when you succeed again...remember #1 and #2.

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Get P50 off when you buy a PRODUCTIVE PINOY book online. Free delivery nationwide via LBC. To order, simply click HERE.

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START SOMETHING! Powered by PRODUCTIVE PINOY

It was almost 1:00pm. Our guests were coming in. 

Ms. Michelle could've won the early bird award if there was one! It was a pleasure to meet her.

More people were coming in...

Meanwhile...

That's me on your left with my partner, Bob Barcebal. (Spark Learning) We were about to launch the "Start Something" campaign. And just like any "Start", we had no idea how it will turn out. (I know we look calm, but deep inside we were nervous.)

We waited for a few minutes for the other participants to arrive. At this time, everyone looked so serious. Remember when you were in high school and you were asked to go to the principal's office? That's how serious they were. 

To break the ice, my partner and host, Bob Barcebal, encouraged everyone to stand up, "Talk to least five people you don't know."

Ms. Aldreanna and Ken

Jay and Mark

Marvin and Ms. Barbie

After the exercise, Bob gave this takeaway, "To succeed in any endeavor, you've got to take the initiative." 

Now, we wanted to make sure that everyone was awake the entire event. The Solution... 

Chocolates!

Coffee. Not just coffee, but good coffee.

....and Humor!

We take FUN seriously. Like you, we hate boring presentations too!

Now, when Bob introduced me, I thought he was introducing another speaker – the person he was describing was a bit too impressive. I guess that's what friends do. They build you up, then leave you alone on stage!

I shared what it means to be a Productive Pinoy. (... and the story how Angry Birds became the #1 game)

Photo Courtesy : Francis Supe

Before that, Mr. Buddy here won a Productive Pinoy book by guessing who quoted this line, "Trabaho lang ito, walang personalan." If you don't know who, be happy, that proves that you're still young. 

Shortly after, I asked the participants to do this simple activity. "What's one thing that you've been putting off?" And in the spirit of Draw Something, I asked them to draw it!

Looks like the guys at Logorama is brewing something...

Ms. Hannah, is that a hotel? Hope you can invite us when it opens. 

Francis, are you sure about this? We will be first in line when you give away that money!

Alright, it's time to tell someone about it. Go ahead, don't be shy!

Jim and Marvin

Kevin and Ms. Barbie

Ms. Hannah and Ms. Carmen

Everyone seems to enjoy what the others have to say. So, I called for volunteers, "Who wants to share what you're about to Start?"

MoneySwap Marketing Manager Ms. May Shelle told us about "Gadgets Unlimited," an exciting project she's working on. (Ma'am discount ha!)

Krizia wants to become a motivational speaker someday. After hearing her, I'm convinced that she will be one ... maybe sooner than she thinks!

Now, before Adrian becomes a best-selling author, I suggest for you to take advantage of his writing now, visit his blog... Seeker's Portal.

The best is yet to come. I asked three of my friends to tell their story on "How they Started Something"

Malvin Dinlasan told us how he is now living the exciting life. (now a social media consultant)

He concluded with this, "The ACHIEVERS created the bags of chips and television that the SETTLERS munch and watch TV shows all day." (Another memorable quote from him would be something related to "Boy Bawang.") Read Malvin's take here.

Rochelle Chua

This proves that you don't have to be a motivational speaker to inspire people. Rochelle, the blogger behind Hearty's Haven told us her story.

She works for a multinational company. Her boss told her that she needs to improve her writing skills. Instead of being discouraged, she took it as a challenge and decided to start a blog to improve her writing.

She didn't even expect people to read it. Today, Rochelle's blog has 60,000 visits per month. Now, she enjoys writing and meeting new people. Rochelle made us realize that even our weaknesses can become our strengths if we are willing to work at it! (read Rochelle's take here)

Gospel Yoyo Man

Cornel Bongco tells his story on how he started using his Yoyo to share a life-changing message. This unique idea has allowed him to speak to different groups of people and has brought him to many places. (local and international) 

We all enjoyed his story, especially when he was talking about the mysterious "kwan!" 

It was a fun afternoon. 

Maybe more fun than you would think...

Even this guy is thinking ... "Hmmm what business should I start?" 

You're never too young or too old to learn!

This young lady told her brother the next day, "Kuya, before you start anything, decide to finish it!" (A point I made during the presentation)

I continued with "How to Achieve Major, Major Goals" and shared the story on how my book idea came to life. "To write a book, learn how to write one page a day."

That's my pretty wife wearing fuchs... What's the spelling again? Ok, pink na lang daw. Alongside our good friends, Kat, Rudyard and Sol, my brother-in-law.

Mr. Buddy wrote a dedication for me. See the left side of the book. 

The next two books I signed was addressed to the two Ronalds of Red Ribbon. To avoid confusion, which book belongs to whom, I wrote the same dedication! (Ayos ba, Nalds?)

Nice to meet you, "Ms. Nyc". Yup, that's her name. 

It was fun working with Cornel, Rochelle and Malvin. Hindi kompleto 'pag walang group shot. (Sorry, we didn't do any jump shot.) 

Me (Yeng Remulla), Cornel Bongco, Rochelle Chua and Malvin Dinlasan

Special thanks to May (my editor) and Ms. Shawie for helping us during the event! Big thank you to Maan Villanueva for taking our photos!

This was held last June 8, 2012. The Forum, 4th Level of FullyBooked Bonifacio High Street in Taguig City. 

We are excited to see our participants start their something. Hope you can join us next time! 

Let's Start Something! 

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WE ARE DOING IT AGAIN THIS OCTOBER 27! TO JOIN US, SIMPLY CLICK HERE.

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