Creating Opportunity

This man peddles his native delicacies on a bike.
His income possibilities only limited by his creativity and imagination.

Intro

I usually hear people always complaining about lack of opportunity. May it be career or additional income. Jim Rohn always cuts the chase and goes direct to the point on what is the right mindset in order for this scenario to be a thing of the past on a person's life. To your Success!  

by Jim Rohn

An enterprising person is one who comes across a pile of scrap metal and sees the making of a wonderful sculpture. An enterprising person is one who drives through an old decrepit part of town and sees a new housing development. An enterprising person is one who sees opportunity in all areas of life.

To be enterprising is to keep your eyes open and your mind active. It’s to be skilled enough, confident enough, creative enough and disciplined enough to seize opportunities that present themselves... regardless of the economy.

A person with an enterprising attitude says, "Find out what you can before action is taken." Do your homework. Do the research. Be prepared. Be resourceful. Do all you can in preparation of what’s to come.

Enterprising people always see the future in the present. Enterprising people always find a way to take advantage of a situation, not be burdened by it. And enterprising people aren’t lazy. They don’t wait for opportunities to come to them; they go after the opportunities. Enterprise means always finding a way to keep yourself actively working toward your ambition.

Enterprise is two things. The first is creativity. You need creativity to see what’s out there and to shape it to your advantage. You need creativity to look at the world a little differently. You need creativity to take a different approach, to be different.

What goes hand in hand with the creativity of enterprise is the second requirement: the courage to be creative. You need courage to see things differently, courage to go against the crowd, courage to take a different approach, courage to stand alone if you have to, courage to choose activity over inactivity.

And lastly, being enterprising doesn’t just relate to the ability to make money. Being enterprising also means feeling good enough about yourself, having enough self-worth to want to seek advantages and opportunities that will make a difference in your future. And by doing so, you will increase your confidence, your courage, your creativity and your self-worth—your enterprising nature.

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Love the Opportunity

by Jim Rohn

Somebody said you have to love what you do, but that’s not necessarily true. What is true is that you have to love the opportunity. The opportunity to build life, future, health, success and fortune. Knocking on someone’s door or making that extra call may not be something you love to do, but you love the opportunity of what might be behind that door or call.

For example, a guy says, “I’m digging ditches. Should I love digging ditches?” The answer is, “No, you don’t have to love digging ditches, but if it is your first entry onto the ladder of success, you say, ‘I’m glad somebody gave me the opportunity to dig ditches and I’m going to do it so well, I won’t be here long.’”

You can be inspired by having found something; even though you are making mistakes in the beginning and even though it is a little distasteful taking on a new discipline that you haven’t learned before. You don’t have to love it, you just have to learn to appreciate where you live, appreciate opportunity and appreciate the person who brought you the good news—who found you.

Appreciate the person who believed in you before you believed in yourself, appreciate the person who said, “Hey, if I can do it, you can do it.”

If you will embrace the disciplines associated with the new opportunity you will soon find that your self-confidence starts to grow, that you go from being a skeptic to being a believer. And soon, when you go out person to person, talking to people, you will find it to be the most thrilling opportunity in the world. Every person you meet—what could it be? Unlimited! Maybe a friend for life. The next person could be an open door to retiring. The next person could be a colleague for years to come. It’s big-time stuff. And sometimes in the beginning when we are just getting started we don’t always see how big it is.

So, before you are tempted to give up or get discouraged, remember all success is based on long-term commitment, faith, discipline, attitude and a few stepping stones along the way. You might not like the stone you are on right now, but it’s sure to be one of the stones that lead to great opportunities in the future.

                         

 To Your Success!    

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FIRST EMPTY YOUR CUP

A Cup of Tea

Nan-in, a Japanese master during the

Meiji era, received a university professor who

came to inquire about Zen.

Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor’s

cup full, and then kept on pouring.

The professor watched the overflow

until he no longer could restrain himself. “It is

overfull. No more will go in!”

“Like this cup,” Nan-in said, “you are full

of your own opinion and speculations. How

can you receive Zen unless you first empty your cup?

A Zen Story

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Dare to Soar Series - Perseverance and Tenacity

The ants painstakingly preparing for the coming difficult
season. Carrying leaves 50 times their body weight.

Blaze you own trail-don‟t wait others to clear the path.

To develop an idea, you must listen tot he silence of your mind.

There is great potential in dreams, and the cost is free.

Soaring requires great conditioning.

If you don‟t know where you‟re going, how will you know when to get there?

Failure is temporary; defeat is permanent.

Surround yourself with the precious few who believe in you.

Great ideas are spawned during moments of silence.

Focus on how you can vs. why you can‟t.

winning breeds complacency. To avoid that trap requires a constant vigil.

Great things usually follow difficult problems.

Life is a game -be a player, not a spectator.

We only go around once; make the most of it.

A change in habits will yield extraordinary results.

Put down roots. Roots don‟t pull you back -they hold you up like a tree.

When the sun comes up, you better be running.

If you don‟t sow, you won‟t grow.

If men can reach the moon, you can reach the stars.

Replace thoughts with actions.

Great thoughts coupled with intense action produce unbelievable results.

Bury your ego. Don‟t be the star. Be the developer of the stars.

Do not worry about the conditions of the field-just play.

If life was perfect, challenges wouldn‟t exist. Neither would victories.

You can make the difference.

Sitting on your butt accomplishes nothing.

Soaring clears the soul.

“On the plains of hesitation bleach the bones of countless millions who, on the threshold of victory, sat down to wait, and in waiting, died.” -William Moulton Marston

Winners never give up.

Don‟t wallow in your problem; rise above it.

Be a true friend to others.

Soaring provides a different perspective.

If you believe you are beaten, you are.

Winners feel like winners. Losers act like loser.

Watch that ego.

Once you have seen the mountaintop, you will never be the same.

The eagle is mentality is committed to total discipline

Don‟t rely on luck.

Success has a very little to do with intelligence.

People are really wonderful. Some never learn to accept it.

See yourself as a winner.

Don‟t allow the seed of doubt to be planted in your mind.

Be your own navigator.

Cultivate winning thoughts.

The power of human spirit is beyond measure.

If you believe you can, you will.

Always remember, no one is unimportant.

If you don‟t start, you don‟t stand a chance of getting there.

There is spectacular beauty in high altitudes.

Why mingle with mediocrity when you can soar with excellence.

 The thing I admired most was his patience.
 He was always there when and where I needed him, never giving up on me even when I doubted my own abilities.
They say that leaders love what they do and who they work with. Without a doubt, he was powerful leader in my life.
He always focus on giving credit to others, never wanting personal attention and receiving great joy through the successes of his students.
One week before the 95 masters, Ben Crenshaw lost his lifelong friend and mentor, Harvey Penick.

Most felt he wouldn‟t compete in the Masters Tournament, but following the example of strength set by his teacher. Ben Crenshaw not only competed, but won!

Are you up where you belong?

Pick the partners who are willing o soar with you.

Success is found in the opposite side of “Good Enough”.

Never forget the ones who helped you develop your wings.

Choose the passing lane of life.

Choose to be up here vs. down there.

Be committed to a cause bigger then yourself.

“ Come to the edge, he said. They said, we are afraid. Come to the edge he said. They came. He pushed them……and they flew.” -Guillaume Apollinaire

To Your Success!

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Dare to Soar Series - Passion for Excellence

Taking a Leap of Faith

Practice unconditional love.

Nothing can tame a flaming heart.

Don‟t get caught in the downdraft of doubt.

Don‟t leave this world without giving it your all.

Give back more than you take.

“ When you stop giving, when you stop offering something, its time to turn off the lights.” -George Burns

Exercise energizes the mind.

Go for the gold.

The path to least resistance often yields the least amount of success.

Don't start to quit.

Blaming others is a waste of energy.

The ultimate goal: To achieve the maximum potential out of life.

Motivation is a fire. You must add fuel.

Every oak tree began as a tiny acorn.

Powerful combination: Vision of an eagle, heart of a lion.

Live life like a two-minute drill.

Life is like a finish line. What are you doing to get there first?

Venture into the “ uncomfortable zone.”

To succeed in this world, you have to change all the time.

Want it so bad that you can taste it.

Winners do the little things exceptionally well.

Winning, like losing, is a choice.

Belief yourself far outweighs the doubts of others.

The sky is full of opportunity –

“Dare to Soar”

What's popular isn't always right, and what's right isn't popular.

Those who have vision most often share in the victory.

Vision: the ability to see what others only dream.

Dreaming is the first step to achieving.

You won‟t achieve it unless you are passionate about it.

Choose peak over partial performance.

We must risk failure to achieve success.

When you march to the beat of a different drummer, you'll be out of step with the people around you.

Remember, for all things there is a season.

The “ Thrill of Victory” often comes right after the “Agony of Defeat”.

Quit thinking about thinking to quit.

Eighty percent give up after the first try. Be the twenty percenter.

Moat people talk but few people do.

Great achievers are great dreamers.

The quest for success is not always a comfortable journey.

Like an eagle uses its talons, we must grasp opportunity before it disappears.

Turbulence is a necessary part of the journey.

Potential is your gift. Don't waste it.

Life is like a bank account; we must make the deposits before withdrawals can be made.

Get out of neutral and put your life into overdrive.

Mediocrity is blind to opportunity.

In every thought and action, think excellence.

You don't drown by falling into water, but by staying there.

Motivation is the high octane fuel that drives you to maximum achievement.

Failure is normally a choice.

Like a farmer, we get out of life what we put into it. No more, no less.

We must risk failure to capture success.

Keep your face toward the sun and you won't see the shadows.

Winners focus on “ When they will” not “If they can.”

What you think about is what you will ultimately become.

Goals are like the stars: they are always there. Adversity is like the clouds: they are temporary and will move on. Keep your eyes on the stars.

Pride: Personal Responsibility in Developing Excellence.

The one consistent trait of successful people-they continue to place one foot in front of the other.

In all that you do, give it all you have.Refuse to tiptoe through life.

The true character of an individual is what they think, say or do when no one else is present.

Be an “explorer” in life.

The 5 keys to success in life: what you watch,what you listen to, what you read ,what you think about, who you associated with.

Wealth is within reach.

If an eagle waited for perfect conditions, it would never soar.

Many start, but few finish the race of life.

Winners have an unquenched thirst for success.

Self-motivation is the “turbocharger” of life.

Success is just a little effort away.

Wisdom is much more powerful than knowledge.

Success normally follows an intense commitment to excellence.

Lean from failure-Babe Ruth struck out almost twice as many times as he hit home runs.

One must leave the security of the nest to achieve greatness.

Individuals “ wishing they could” are certain to be passed by those “ thinking they can”.

Those committed to mediocrity will always occupy a subservient role.

Excellence is always available to all who are willing to make the commitment.

Winning habits will separate you from the “pack” of mediocrity.

Just being on the right track is not good enough. If you don‟t move, you will probably get run over.

Due to a serious shortage of excellence, it is in great demand.

The grave is a terrible place to waste potential.

Mozart was 7 when he publish his first musical composition. 

George Bernard Shaw produced an award-winning play when he was 94 years old.

At 10, Yehudi Menuhin was the youngest artist to solo at Carnegie Hall.

Benjamin Franklin helped frame the constitution of the United States when he was 81 years old.

Brent Vogle was 4 when he ran in and completed a sanctioned 26.2 mile marathon.

"How old would you be would you be if you didn't know how old you were?" -Satchel Page

The fact is, it doesn‟t matter when you do something great. Age has a very little to do with ability.


To your success!

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Dare to Soar Series - On Taking Risks and Failing to Succeed

"Your attitude determines your altitude"

The Power of One

One Action, One thought, One Idea that can empower and encourage

One catalyst that can push us to realize the potential that resides in all of us

We must have the courage to bet our Dreams

To take the calculated risk and leave behind forever

the Internal forces that holds us down.

He failed in business in 31

He was defeated for state legislator in 32

He tried another business in 33. It failed

His wife died in 35

He had nervous breakdown in 36.

In 43 he ran in congress and was defeated

He tried again in 48 and was defeated again.

He tried running for senate in 55. He lost.

The next year he ran for vice president and lost.

In 58 he ran for senate again and was defeated again.

Finally, in 1860 Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th president of the United States

Failure  is only absolute when you give up.

Everyone gets knocked down; the question is, will you get up?

Why walk when you can soar? The only limits are self-imposed.

Humans are like airplanes. If we not move forward, we will not

create aerodynamics momentum required to soar.

Expect  excellence.

When confronted with turbulence, rise above it.

Opportunity is as big as the sky -grab it!

Accept the risk and expect the rewards.

Like the eagle, we have to move our wings to soar.

If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything.

You are as young as your last new idea.

Adversity tempers the spirit.

To your Success! 

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The Mousetrap Story

And so you thought other people's problem and dilemma shouldn't be of your concern, think again! Let this mousetrap story tell you why should you bother and give others the attention they deserve ...

 A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. What food might this contain? The mouse wondered - he was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.

Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning:

"There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr.Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it."

The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"

The pig sympathized, but said, I am so very sorry, Mr.Mouse , but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers."

The mouse turned to the cow and said "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"

The cow said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose."   

            

So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap alone.

That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey. The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital, and she returned home with a fever. 

Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.

But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.

The farmer's wife did not get well; in fact, she died.

So many people came for her funeral; the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them.

The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.

So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you, REMEMBER:  

When one of us is threatened, we are all at risk.

  We are All involved in this journey called LIFE. 

We must keep an eye out for one another and 

make an extra effort to encourage one another. 

To Your Success!

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17 Principles of Personal Achievement

by Napoleon Hill

This is a summary or list of those lessons. It is my sincere belief that mastering even just 1/4 of these lessons will make a significant impact in your career or way of living. May you find inspiration on them, a single flash of idea that may change your life and those around you forever.

Lesson 1: Definiteness of Purpose

Definiteness of purpose is the starting point of all achievement. Without a purpose and a plan, people drift aimlessly through life.

Lesson 2: Mastermind Alliance

The Mastermind principle consists of an alliance of two or more minds working in perfect harmony for the attainment of a common definite objective. Success does not come without the cooperation of others.

Lesson 3: Applied Faith

Faith is a state of mind through which your aims, desires, plans and purposes may be translated into their physical or financial equivalent.

Lesson 4: Going the Extra Mile

Going the extra mile is the action of rendering more and better service than that for which you are presently paid. When you go the extra mile, the Law of Compensation comes into play.

Lesson 5: Pleasing Personality

Personality is the sum total of one’s mental, spiritual and physical traits and habits that distinguish one from all others. It is the factor that determines whether one is liked or disliked by others.

Lesson 6: Personal Initiative

Personal initiative is the power that inspires the completion of that which one begins. It is the power that starts all action. No person is free until he learns to do his own thinking and gains the courage to act on his own.

Lesson 7: Positive Mental Attitude

Positive mental attitude is the right mental attitude in all circumstances. Success attracts more success while failure attracts more failure.

Lesson 8: Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is faith in action. It is the intense emotion known as burning desire. It comes from within, although it radiates outwardly in the expression of one’s voice and countenance.

Lesson 9: Self-Discipline

Self-discipline begins with the mastery of thought. If you do not control your thoughts, you cannot control your needs. Self-discipline calls for a balancing of the emotions of your heart with the reasoning faculty of your head.

Lesson 10: Accurate Thinking

The power of thought is the most dangerous or the most beneficial power available to man, depending on how it is used.

Lesson 11: Controlled Attention

Controlled attention leads to mastery in any type of human endeavor, because it enables one to focus the powers of his mind upon the attainment of a definite objective and to keep it so directed at will.

Lesson 12: Teamwork

Teamwork is harmonious cooperation that is willing, voluntary and free. Whenever the spirit of teamwork is the dominating influence in business or industry, success is inevitable. Harmonious cooperation is a priceless asset that you can acquire in proportion to your giving.

Lesson 13: Adversity & Defeat

Individual success usually is in exact proportion of the scope of the defeat the individual has experienced and mastered. Many so-called failures represent only a temporary defeat that may prove to be a blessing in disguise.

Lesson 14: Creative Vision

Creative vision is developed by the free and fearless use of one’s imagination. It is not a miraculous quality with which one is gifted or is not gifted at birth.

Lesson 15: Health

Sound health begins with a sound health consciousness, just as financial success begins with a prosperity consciousness.

Lesson 16: Budgeting Time & Money

Time and money are precious resources, and few people striving for success ever believe they possess either one in excess.

Lesson 17: Habits

Developing and establishing positive habits leads to peace of mind, health and financial security. You are where you are because of your established habits and thoughts and deeds.

To your Success!

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How to Become Prosperous and Successful?

^{You can find the answer on these passages from the bible. I received this text message from a friend asking me to look for this verse..that was last Sunday. It was only now Tuesday night that I was able to look for it and found what it says. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I hope you will enjoy reading and reflecting on it as well ...Read on} 

Joshua Installed as Leader

¹ After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: ² “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. ³ I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. ⁴ Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. ⁵ No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. ⁶ Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

 ⁷ “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. ⁸ Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Now, be the leader you are called for! Just don't forget JOSHUA 1:8 and Prosperity and Success will be Yours!

To God be the Glory!

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15 Challenges to Pursue in Life

by Jim Rohn from the 2004 Jim Rohn Weekend Leadership Event . In life, this is one of my important realization, we are designed to pursue dreams and face challenges along the way. It is a never ending dream, attainment, new dreams, new goals, achievements and yet breeds to new more desires and dreams. Let us all enjoy the journey and I know you - The Smart Pinoy is up to it =)

1. Review Your Performance. Whether it’s communication, whether it’s activity, whether it’s a CEO, whether it’s on the job. Here’s what my father said: “Always do more than you are paid for to make an investment in your future.” Now some unions would argue with that. My father was so unique. Review your performance—your language with your children. Say, “Have I been too harsh, too strong, too stubborn? Should I have learned to be easier and mixed more compassion with the tough stuff I have to deal with?” And yes, prayer will help. Ask for help to say the right thing, not to ruin it all by poor communication.

2. Face Your Fears. That’s how you conquer them. Don’t dismiss them; face them. Say, “Here’s what I’m afraid of. I wonder what I could do to change that.”

3. Exercise Your Willpower to Change Direction. You don’t have to keep doing what you’ve been doing the last six years if it’s not yielding the benefits you want. My mentor helped me review the last six years so I wouldn’t repeat those errors the next six. Pick a new destination and go that way. Use your willpower to start the process. You don’t have to repeat last year. Clean up the errors. Invest it now in the next year. Watch it make the difference.

4. Admit Your Mistakes. Sometimes you have to admit them to others. Parents have to do it. We ask our kids to do it. We have to do it. Here is one of the best phrases in the English language: “I’m sorry.” The reason those are good words is because they could start a whole new relationship. It could start two people going in a whole new direction. Simple, not easy. You get this done, the turnaround can be dramatic. The early years can be big in payoff. Here’s the big one. Admit your mistakes to yourself. You don’t have to babble about them to everyone in the neighborhood. But it doesn’t hurt to sit down and have a conversation with yourself and say, “There’s no use kidding myself. Here’s where I really am. I’ve got pennies in my pocket and I’ve got nothing in the bank.” That’s what I said after a Girl Scout left my door. I had a conversation with myself and I said, “I don’t want this to happen anymore.”

5. Refine Your Goals. Start the process. Set some higher goals. Reach for some higher purpose. Go for something beyond what you thought you could do.

6. Believe in Yourself. You’ve got to believe in God and you’ve got to believe in the community. You’ve got to believe in the possibilities. You’ve got to believe in the economy. You’ve got to believe that tomorrow can be better than today. Here’s the big one. Believe in yourself. There isn’t a skill you can’t learn; there isn’t a discipline you can’t try; there isn’t a class you can’t take; there isn’t a book you couldn’t read.

7. Ask for Wisdom. This is communication of the highest source. Ask for wisdom that creates answers. Ask for the wisdom that creates faith to believe things are possible. Ask for wisdom to deal with the challenges for today and tomorrow, to deal with the challenges your family brings you. Don’t wish it was easier; wish you were better.

8. Conserve Your Time. Sometimes we get faked out. Bill Bailey says the average person says, “I’ve got twenty more years.” No, Bill says you’ve got twenty more times. If you go fishing once a year, you’ve only got twenty more times to go fishing, not twenty years. That fakes you out.

9. Invest Your Profits. Here’s one of the philosophies that Mr. Shoaff gave me. Profits are better than wages. Wages make you a living, profits make you a fortune. Could we start earning profits while we make a living? The answer is yes.

10. Protect Your Family. These are troublesome times. At school—troublesome times. Protect your family as best you can from the hidden dangers, the lurking evil one.

11. Live with Intensity. You might as well turn it up a notch or two. Invest more of you in whatever you do. Be a little stronger; be a little wiser. Step up your vitality contribution. Put everything you’ve got into everything you do and then ask for more vitality, more strength and more vigor, more heart and more soul.

12. Find Your Place. If you just work on a job, find the best place you can serve well, and sure enough they’ll ask you to occupy a better place. And if you keep doing a job well, do the very best you can. That’s your best way out. Here’s a Bible phrase. If you work on your gifts, they’ll make a place for you.

13 Demand Integrity from Yourself. Integrity is like loyalty. You can’t demand it of someone else; you can only demand it of yourself. Be the best example of loyalty, and you’ll get some loyal followers. Be the best example of integrity, and you’ll have people around you who have integrity. Lead the way.

14. Welcome the Disciplines. Can’t give you much better advice than that because disciplines create the reality. Disciplines build cities. A well-disciplined activity creates abundance, creates uniqueness, productivity.

15. Fight for What’s Right. It’s a fight we’re in. The storyteller says “And there was a great war in heaven.” One of the writers of later Scripture said, “I fought a good fight.” That’s extraordinary to be able to say. I fought for my kids, and I fought for what was right and I fought for good health, and I fought to protect my company and I fought for a good career that would bless my family. I fought a good fight. It’s good to fight the encroachment. Opposites are in conflict, and you’re in the middle. If you want something valuable, you’ve got to fight for it. Then this writer also said, “I fought a good fight and I kept the faith.” See, that’s the deal. Keep faith with your family. Fight the enemy and keep faith. Fight the illness and keep faith. Fight the evil and keep faith. I can’t give you much better advice.

To your Success! 

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So I have a blog...what now?

It is more difficult than I thought....the pressure is now on to deliver good content and something really useful.

Well then this is what this blog is for....getting out of my comfort zone and trying out things that will benefit me and you the reader of this blog. I used to write a lot and actually had good grades in English during high school, my teacher actually find my essays respectable. Now, after 21 years....my grammar,my sentence pattern, or even my spelling may not be correct...but what the heck, let's give it a shot! Now, that for me is the essence of Self-development and I hope you agree with me.

Now, why Self-development? I'm already good with what I do, i relate well with different types of people, am physically well, emotionally stable, have a good support system, know my place in this world...why then exert the effort?

Between my expat years living in Indonesia and going back to the Philippines in 1999, is when I found the answer to this question. I went to a Catholic School in high school and heard Sunday mass every week, I have heard of the " Parable of the Talents" and it did not register on me. If you have not heard of it, it is a parable wherein a Master went out of town for awhile, left his three servants certain amount of money and ask them to make good use of it. Upon his return, the first servant invest his money and make a handsome profit. The second servant did the same thing and performed better than the first servant. The third servant afraid that he might lose the money, hid it on the ground. He proudly informed his master that the money is intact and what he did with it...he did Absolutely Nothing! The Master rewarded the first and second servant with their effort. The third servant , he ordered to take whatever he had given him earlier. Now, that's painful!

It dawned on me that the marching order from our Creator...is to multiply our talents, nurture it, make best use of it, for our own benefit and for the benefit of our community. Knowing this, it is actually a SIN, if we stay as we are...we need to continually improve ourselves, be better today than yesterday. Thus I find this saying the primary reason why we need to pursue Self-Development:

"Your life is God's gift to you, what you do with your life, your talents, is your gift to God!"

To a better you! Let's go!

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