OK this time, I'm thankful for my co-workers. That is, those specific co-workers who have become very good friends of mine. I know that not a lot of people like the people they work with, but in my case, all my teammates in my professional career so far have been very good people and, thus, very good friends :) I'm grateful for them, most of all for my boss JJB who is not only one of the most brilliant and wise bosses you can ever hope to work for, but is also a boss who has your back 100% of the time, who will push for you and push you to go up the next level and who will fight for you all the time, even if it means taking a few punches from others in the process. It is SOOOOOOO rare to have a boss like that, and I'm so grateful to have worked with her for 5 years and to have known her as a friend :)
Come to think of it, I've been pretty lucky with bosses in my professional life. They've all been able to teach me and make me better, both as a person and as a professional. They're inspiring people to emulate and very good friends to have. Thank you, God!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
The issue of tourism
OK, let's take a break from analyzing the ins and outs of my life, and talk about something on a national scale. I got inspired to write this post after seeing a barrage of really hopeful messages and quips all around cyberspace, about the newly installed tourism secretary. Many are optimistic about his appointment because he's a marketing man, an ad man, a communications man. I get it. After the fiasco over the last tourism campaign (a truly embarrassing endeavor), I understand why this new secretary has electrified people and gotten them excited. Yes, we have a good marketing man at the helm. But, frankly speaking, SO WHAT?!
Sad to say, and this may be ironic coming from a marketing person, but I sincerely believe that marketing is not the solution to a political problem. And tourism is nothing but a POLITICAL problem, first and foremost. People have NO idea what sort of political mess our tourism department is knee-deep in. Do you know the many agencies who have a stake in the airport, for instance? A different agency takes care of immigration, another for customs, another for the travel tax, another for airport operations, another to interface with the airlines, and so on and so forth. So to even be able to draft a concrete plan to fix the airport means convening a group of probably a hundred people. That's not a marketing problem. It's a f*cking HUGE political problem.
Also, people think that all we need is a communication campaign, a good slogan and maybe a jingle or an endorser to get tourists come flocking back. Again, this is SOOOO foolish. It's the product that's lacking, guys. It's the poor police system, whereby tourists are not protected from the Abu Sayyaf, pickpockets, or even the shady customs people. It's the lack of proper facilities and amenities. It's the broken roads, the broken traffic lights, the traffic that pops out whenever a little sprinkling of rain drops from the sky, the lack of an efficient transportation system, and many many more "lacking" things that make our product SUCK. And no amount of communication will distract tourists from those issues. C'mon, people, advertising cannot help a bad product. And for as long as we don't fix the root cause of the problem, believe me, the tourists will not come flocking in droves.
Some say, how come Thailand or Vietnam have more tourists than us when they're just as poor? Firstly, they're not "just as poor". Secondly, they have a proper tourism system that enables tourists to get in touch with authorities right away. Also, have you encountered Thai police? They're very professional, not at all like our not-so-trusty cops here. They may not have a rich country, but their tourism system works. And just like many of our other systems here, our tourism machinery is so bogged down it can hardly stand up at all.
I'm not saying we're doomed as a tourism spot. Far from it. I do dream of the day when the overall Philippine tourism system is in place and is something to shout to the world about. But let's please put in proper perspective what the problem really is, guys. We need new laws to create the proper (united) body to govern all things tourism-related. We need good infrastructure, and not just in the airports. We need to solve the political problem, before we come up with a comm brief and talk to agencies about a campaign. That's like saying we can sell a bad cake using really good icing. It's just not the way it works. The tail cannot wag the dog.
I hope Mr. Jimenez has a bigger take on his job scope, not merely the communication part. Again, as I also told my class before, marketing is not the solution to a political problem. Look at how Noynoy was voted in purely because of marketing. Look where that got us, because people bought into the communication idea and not the actual, real, true-blue PRODUCT. You end up with disappointment. We don't want that for our tourists. We don't want them getting lured by a great campaign, only to have a huge WTF moment when they land here. Marketing and advertising can be really convincing, I will attest to that. But to put more teeth into whatever brilliant communication plan, we need to look deep into our RTBs (reason to believe - an advertising concept) and be honest about what we can deliver and where we fall (very) short.
The other issue I find with Mr Jimenez's appointment is the fact that he's not a political player. Not that I don't find him refreshing, because I do, and I do hope he does a good job in spite of his lack of political experience. BUT BUT BUT I also know enough about our government system (through my husband) to know that the system can bog down even the most honest and well-meaning official. Corruption is systemic. The government-style thinking riddled with procrastination, 'what's in it for me' attitude and "makisama ka" way WILL NOT bend for Secretary Jimenez. He will have to work with it, or around it, and that's a herculean task. I hope he finds very good and very adept people to work under him; otherwise, I'm afraid his plans may just remain good on paper.
I do hope he succeeds. I guess that one, we'll have to wait and see.
Bow.
Sad to say, and this may be ironic coming from a marketing person, but I sincerely believe that marketing is not the solution to a political problem. And tourism is nothing but a POLITICAL problem, first and foremost. People have NO idea what sort of political mess our tourism department is knee-deep in. Do you know the many agencies who have a stake in the airport, for instance? A different agency takes care of immigration, another for customs, another for the travel tax, another for airport operations, another to interface with the airlines, and so on and so forth. So to even be able to draft a concrete plan to fix the airport means convening a group of probably a hundred people. That's not a marketing problem. It's a f*cking HUGE political problem.
Also, people think that all we need is a communication campaign, a good slogan and maybe a jingle or an endorser to get tourists come flocking back. Again, this is SOOOO foolish. It's the product that's lacking, guys. It's the poor police system, whereby tourists are not protected from the Abu Sayyaf, pickpockets, or even the shady customs people. It's the lack of proper facilities and amenities. It's the broken roads, the broken traffic lights, the traffic that pops out whenever a little sprinkling of rain drops from the sky, the lack of an efficient transportation system, and many many more "lacking" things that make our product SUCK. And no amount of communication will distract tourists from those issues. C'mon, people, advertising cannot help a bad product. And for as long as we don't fix the root cause of the problem, believe me, the tourists will not come flocking in droves.
Some say, how come Thailand or Vietnam have more tourists than us when they're just as poor? Firstly, they're not "just as poor". Secondly, they have a proper tourism system that enables tourists to get in touch with authorities right away. Also, have you encountered Thai police? They're very professional, not at all like our not-so-trusty cops here. They may not have a rich country, but their tourism system works. And just like many of our other systems here, our tourism machinery is so bogged down it can hardly stand up at all.
I'm not saying we're doomed as a tourism spot. Far from it. I do dream of the day when the overall Philippine tourism system is in place and is something to shout to the world about. But let's please put in proper perspective what the problem really is, guys. We need new laws to create the proper (united) body to govern all things tourism-related. We need good infrastructure, and not just in the airports. We need to solve the political problem, before we come up with a comm brief and talk to agencies about a campaign. That's like saying we can sell a bad cake using really good icing. It's just not the way it works. The tail cannot wag the dog.
I hope Mr. Jimenez has a bigger take on his job scope, not merely the communication part. Again, as I also told my class before, marketing is not the solution to a political problem. Look at how Noynoy was voted in purely because of marketing. Look where that got us, because people bought into the communication idea and not the actual, real, true-blue PRODUCT. You end up with disappointment. We don't want that for our tourists. We don't want them getting lured by a great campaign, only to have a huge WTF moment when they land here. Marketing and advertising can be really convincing, I will attest to that. But to put more teeth into whatever brilliant communication plan, we need to look deep into our RTBs (reason to believe - an advertising concept) and be honest about what we can deliver and where we fall (very) short.
The other issue I find with Mr Jimenez's appointment is the fact that he's not a political player. Not that I don't find him refreshing, because I do, and I do hope he does a good job in spite of his lack of political experience. BUT BUT BUT I also know enough about our government system (through my husband) to know that the system can bog down even the most honest and well-meaning official. Corruption is systemic. The government-style thinking riddled with procrastination, 'what's in it for me' attitude and "makisama ka" way WILL NOT bend for Secretary Jimenez. He will have to work with it, or around it, and that's a herculean task. I hope he finds very good and very adept people to work under him; otherwise, I'm afraid his plans may just remain good on paper.
I do hope he succeeds. I guess that one, we'll have to wait and see.
Bow.
Tuesday, September 06, 2011
Bleh!!!!!
This week has been horrible so far (it's only Tuesday, take note). I feel SUPER "bleh" about work. I don't even think my face manages to hide the sentiment well anymore. I sometimes catch myself carrying such a dispassionate face, even around my boss. I don't know what it is about this week, but so far its two days have been nothing but full of this horrible feeling of "bleh".
I feel like much of my work now is so mechanical, I can do it with my eyes closed. What's worse is the feeling of not giving a rat's ass about what I'm doing. Which is even more worrisome for me. I want to care about what I do. I want to feel that emotional connection with my work. And feeling the total opposite is enough to send me into a panic attack... or subdue me to deep reflection mode.
Also quite timely are all these calls from headhunters. To be honest, I've been fending off calls and invitations to interviews for the past couple of months. Getting ultra-prepared for the next phase in our married life, I kept turning calls down and saying I'd rather stay where I am right now, to give way to the entrance of a "little one". After all, who wants to deal with a new employer, new colleagues, new culture and new office, when you are adjusting to being a first-time mother? Anyhoo, recently, I've decided to be open again to these outside opportunities, lest this restlessness kill whatever ounce of career-drive I still have. (In fact, someone mentioned to me recently the concept of "professional plateau"- that stage in your career where you're perfectly okay if your current state becomes your career's ending destination and you just want to work for the pay and go home at 5:30pm,, not having to stretch and "prove anything more). I do not feel like I've reached that stage yet, so maybe I'm doing myself (and maybe even my yet-to-be-conceived child) a disservice by just lying back and shelving my career just to make way for anticipated (and prayed for) motherhood.
Today was one such day again, punctuated by a call bringing external opportunities. Maybe it is high time to move. To something different. Something exciting. Something new. While I'm grateful for what I have now (I have a great boss, great people around me, great office-home distance and great renumeration), I'm sure there's nothing wrong with looking at other (external) greenery and see what else is out there.
OK, so, all those words just boiled down to me declaring I'm open to options. If you know me well, you know I think a lot about things before doing them. Hence all the paragraphs above. Thanks for reading! :P
I feel like much of my work now is so mechanical, I can do it with my eyes closed. What's worse is the feeling of not giving a rat's ass about what I'm doing. Which is even more worrisome for me. I want to care about what I do. I want to feel that emotional connection with my work. And feeling the total opposite is enough to send me into a panic attack... or subdue me to deep reflection mode.
Also quite timely are all these calls from headhunters. To be honest, I've been fending off calls and invitations to interviews for the past couple of months. Getting ultra-prepared for the next phase in our married life, I kept turning calls down and saying I'd rather stay where I am right now, to give way to the entrance of a "little one". After all, who wants to deal with a new employer, new colleagues, new culture and new office, when you are adjusting to being a first-time mother? Anyhoo, recently, I've decided to be open again to these outside opportunities, lest this restlessness kill whatever ounce of career-drive I still have. (In fact, someone mentioned to me recently the concept of "professional plateau"- that stage in your career where you're perfectly okay if your current state becomes your career's ending destination and you just want to work for the pay and go home at 5:30pm,, not having to stretch and "prove anything more). I do not feel like I've reached that stage yet, so maybe I'm doing myself (and maybe even my yet-to-be-conceived child) a disservice by just lying back and shelving my career just to make way for anticipated (and prayed for) motherhood.
Today was one such day again, punctuated by a call bringing external opportunities. Maybe it is high time to move. To something different. Something exciting. Something new. While I'm grateful for what I have now (I have a great boss, great people around me, great office-home distance and great renumeration), I'm sure there's nothing wrong with looking at other (external) greenery and see what else is out there.
OK, so, all those words just boiled down to me declaring I'm open to options. If you know me well, you know I think a lot about things before doing them. Hence all the paragraphs above. Thanks for reading! :P
Thursday, September 01, 2011
China recap
This year has definitely been TRAVEL YEAR. My passport has had so many new stamps and visas, it's quite amusing :) The last time this happened to me was in year 2007-2008, when work-related travel was also monthly, if not bimonthly. Hehe.
OK, our latest trip was to China, on my family's annual pilgrimage trip + trip to see my dad's extended family who are still living there. It was Dennis' first trip with my family, and it was a resounding success. I loved the fact that we got to bond so much during a 3-day period, and I could clearly see how much my brothers enjoy his company and respect him as an older brother. Respecting Dennis as their brother-in-law is automatic and a given. But respecting him as if he were their actual blood kuya is another and a totally optional thing, so for that, I'm very happy and very grateful.
We went to the temple of our patron buddha, as well as 3 other temples of different buddhas. It was also during this trip that we prayed the hardest to be blessed with a child soon. I don't know if this makes sense to people who are not or have never tried waiting for a child to enter their life, but once you start on that path of wanting one, it can oh-so-easily consume every corner of your praying life. You can still ask for the usual keep-us-safe-from-harm and always-guide-us requests, but you will notice that your pleading and asking, sometimes reaching the point of begging, will always revolve around this deep desire. It's not that we're desperate, because we're not (yet) and we've only been really trying for 4 months, but I guess that's just how it normally develops (or at least I hope that's how it really is for everyone). Your heart naturally bares itself once your knees touch those padded red pillows, and since that's the one thing that consumes your heart's desires, it's what will automatically come out from your mind and your lips.
One of the key memories from this trip also involves my dad, and all the funny moments we had with him. I tell you, my dad is one of the most amusing travel companions ever, and I would like everyone to have the pleasure of traveling with him. Even the smallest quips from him were so funny, and I guess a big part of it is because he was so relaxed and stress-free. I'm glad Dennis got to see that side of my dad as well :)
I know we'll do this every year, it being a tradition in my family. But I'm glad that our first outing with Dennis was a huge success and it made him closer to my family. I hope next year will be just as happy, for my brother, since his fiancee (by then his wife) will be joining us :)
Here's to family! *click glasses*
OK, our latest trip was to China, on my family's annual pilgrimage trip + trip to see my dad's extended family who are still living there. It was Dennis' first trip with my family, and it was a resounding success. I loved the fact that we got to bond so much during a 3-day period, and I could clearly see how much my brothers enjoy his company and respect him as an older brother. Respecting Dennis as their brother-in-law is automatic and a given. But respecting him as if he were their actual blood kuya is another and a totally optional thing, so for that, I'm very happy and very grateful.
We went to the temple of our patron buddha, as well as 3 other temples of different buddhas. It was also during this trip that we prayed the hardest to be blessed with a child soon. I don't know if this makes sense to people who are not or have never tried waiting for a child to enter their life, but once you start on that path of wanting one, it can oh-so-easily consume every corner of your praying life. You can still ask for the usual keep-us-safe-from-harm and always-guide-us requests, but you will notice that your pleading and asking, sometimes reaching the point of begging, will always revolve around this deep desire. It's not that we're desperate, because we're not (yet) and we've only been really trying for 4 months, but I guess that's just how it normally develops (or at least I hope that's how it really is for everyone). Your heart naturally bares itself once your knees touch those padded red pillows, and since that's the one thing that consumes your heart's desires, it's what will automatically come out from your mind and your lips.
One of the key memories from this trip also involves my dad, and all the funny moments we had with him. I tell you, my dad is one of the most amusing travel companions ever, and I would like everyone to have the pleasure of traveling with him. Even the smallest quips from him were so funny, and I guess a big part of it is because he was so relaxed and stress-free. I'm glad Dennis got to see that side of my dad as well :)
I know we'll do this every year, it being a tradition in my family. But I'm glad that our first outing with Dennis was a huge success and it made him closer to my family. I hope next year will be just as happy, for my brother, since his fiancee (by then his wife) will be joining us :)
Here's to family! *click glasses*
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
thankfulness post 2
Today, I'm grateful for great friends - people who know me and accept me and share my life's ups and downs with me. Some of them are here in Manila and are easily accessible whereas others are abroad as far away as Canada, but they are all friends I hold dear to my heart just the same. I got especially reminded of this last night when a friend based in Singapore took time out of his busy schedule to call me to chat about a work-related semi-problem I have, which we didn't really get to discuss the last time he was home in Manila (which ironically was just last weekend). It was just a 25-minute call, far shorter than our usual meet-ups, but it was substantial enough to clarify some things in my head and give my thoughts a bit more direction. He's always known me very well, and knows just what to say, when to say it. It also helps that we have similar outlook in work life and work success. It was just what I needed.
Thank you for friends. Real friends.
Thank you for friends. Real friends.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Watch out for winter!
As Guia put it, maybe it's time we adjusted our lifestyle. Admittedly, the past couple of years have seen generous bonuses and additions to our savings, thanks to the good annual performances of the company, and as such, there have also been a few indulgences that were a celebration of this abundance.
While I am thankful that I experienced, at least once, the famed big bonus that starts with the letter L, I am also afraid that "winter" is fast approaching, and we will need extra reserves of "coal" to make sure our finances remain stable. Oh well, nothing that a good, old-fashioned belt-tightening cannot do.
Maybe this is also a reminder that not all good things last forever, and you will do better to appreciate them and remember always to save for a rainy day (or a wintery one, in keeping with my blog post theme)...
While I am thankful that I experienced, at least once, the famed big bonus that starts with the letter L, I am also afraid that "winter" is fast approaching, and we will need extra reserves of "coal" to make sure our finances remain stable. Oh well, nothing that a good, old-fashioned belt-tightening cannot do.
Maybe this is also a reminder that not all good things last forever, and you will do better to appreciate them and remember always to save for a rainy day (or a wintery one, in keeping with my blog post theme)...
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Thankfulness post
Had a new idea this evening, as I got home from visiting a friend who had just given birth.. And while waiting for Dennis to come home from his boy's night out. I will make a more conscious effort to be a grateful person - someone more deliberate and conscious about appreciating my blessings, and actually take time out to feel this gratefulness. Looking at my friend's newborn baby and seeing her joy with her newly delivered blessing, I couldn't help but feel wistful and, I dare admit, jealous. I want what I was seeing soooo very badly. And afterwards while walking the short distance home, I felt guilty for my impatience and for complaining about one thing I don't have (yet) whereas so many good and happy things grace my life. So here's my small effort to be more appreciative of what my life has been so blessed to have.
Ok let's start with what I am most grateful for. I am very thankful for the love that has filled my life, starting from my loving family to my super dedicated husband. Not everyone has such a concentration of love in their life and I am humbled by the blessing that my life is one such existence. There's a huge degree of esteem and inner strength that stem from being so well-loved, and all I can say is thank you.
So there. First effort. Let's keep this up as much as possible :)
Ok let's start with what I am most grateful for. I am very thankful for the love that has filled my life, starting from my loving family to my super dedicated husband. Not everyone has such a concentration of love in their life and I am humbled by the blessing that my life is one such existence. There's a huge degree of esteem and inner strength that stem from being so well-loved, and all I can say is thank you.
So there. First effort. Let's keep this up as much as possible :)
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
lightbulb moment!!!
I have always loved the brand Benefit. Their skincare and makeup lines are so fun, girly and always has a unique benefit (sorry for the repetitive use of the word). Whenever I find their sales counter, whether it's in Singapore, HK, Malaysia or even Paris and Macau), I always make it a point to stop by. Usually too, I end up buying a couple of products. This last trip to Macau yielded additional purchases too, namely:
and
I've used them for the past 3 days. Love them both!!
Other products of theirs that I have and love are:
I also love going through the Benefit blog:
http://blog.benefitcosmetics.com
Which leads me to a lightbulb moment today!!!! I've been thinking of what business to put up, and maybe, just maybe, I can be the official distributor of Benefit in the Philippines!!!
I know this may be a HUGE stretch, and there might be millions of capital required, but it would be so cool to be able to work with Benefit, a brand I so dearly love! Also, for the first (and maybe last) time in my life, I actually wished I lived in the States so I can apply to work there! They actually have openings for marketing!!! Aaack!!
Or, if it's really impossible, just to get this brand to have a physical presence in Manila would be enough too. That way, I don't have to go abroad for my stash and to get to know their new products :)
and
I've used them for the past 3 days. Love them both!!
Other products of theirs that I have and love are:
I also love going through the Benefit blog:
http://blog.benefitcosmetics.com
Which leads me to a lightbulb moment today!!!! I've been thinking of what business to put up, and maybe, just maybe, I can be the official distributor of Benefit in the Philippines!!!
I know this may be a HUGE stretch, and there might be millions of capital required, but it would be so cool to be able to work with Benefit, a brand I so dearly love! Also, for the first (and maybe last) time in my life, I actually wished I lived in the States so I can apply to work there! They actually have openings for marketing!!! Aaack!!
Or, if it's really impossible, just to get this brand to have a physical presence in Manila would be enough too. That way, I don't have to go abroad for my stash and to get to know their new products :)
stay positive....
Stay positive. Stay positive. Stay positive. Stay positive. Stay positive. Stay positive. Stay positive. Stay positive. Stay positive.
Repeat.
Repeat.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Macau recap
We're back from Macau! :)
It was a fun trip, overall. Everybody enjoyed, and Dennis kept thanking me for arranging everything. Told him it's my pleasure. The trip was, after all, partly his birthday gift. And partly our gift to his parents for their birthdays as well. It was a good trip, with a healthy mix of shopping, sightseeing, eating (a lot!), gambling (a bit!) and just hanging out and being together. It was a great family vacation, and I look forward to the next ones :)
I realized something from the trip though. Every family has its own culture. Much like country-level culture, each family has its own language, its own set of rules, its own ways of thinking and own methods of operating. Throughout the trip, I made so many comparisons between the Chans and my family, esp during points when I felt disoriented because my family's "way" was so different from theirs. I guess it just boils down to making adjustments, not making comparisons and just appreciating a family for their own virtues. They do love me, and for that I am very grateful.
It was a fun trip, overall. Everybody enjoyed, and Dennis kept thanking me for arranging everything. Told him it's my pleasure. The trip was, after all, partly his birthday gift. And partly our gift to his parents for their birthdays as well. It was a good trip, with a healthy mix of shopping, sightseeing, eating (a lot!), gambling (a bit!) and just hanging out and being together. It was a great family vacation, and I look forward to the next ones :)
I realized something from the trip though. Every family has its own culture. Much like country-level culture, each family has its own language, its own set of rules, its own ways of thinking and own methods of operating. Throughout the trip, I made so many comparisons between the Chans and my family, esp during points when I felt disoriented because my family's "way" was so different from theirs. I guess it just boils down to making adjustments, not making comparisons and just appreciating a family for their own virtues. They do love me, and for that I am very grateful.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Macau in 3-2-1
We're off to our first Chan family overseas trip this coming Wednesday evening - to Macau! We also plan to go on a daytrip to HK, since the total trip encompasses about 4 days. :)
I'm really excited! It's our first time in Macau, and our first time to travel with his side of the family. I'm also excited to shop (heard about the crazy summer sales!) and to eat!!! :D
I love traveling! :)
I'm really excited! It's our first time in Macau, and our first time to travel with his side of the family. I'm also excited to shop (heard about the crazy summer sales!) and to eat!!! :D
I love traveling! :)
Wednesday, July 06, 2011
Tuesday, July 05, 2011
my life's work
I must say, no matter how much I whine about being moved back to Usage, I believe this is really my life's work. I get a great deal of fulfillment and excitement when I work in this kind of setup. Hence, it might make me rethink any plans to change industries (esp those that sell actual products). I know stress also comes at the flip slide of this exciting work, but I guess it really comes hand in hand. Everything worth doing is just wired that way.
Wala lang. Just realized that so I thought I'd jot it down before I forget.
Wala lang. Just realized that so I thought I'd jot it down before I forget.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
marginal utility of money
Something our boss said this morning hit home more than I care to admit. He said the marginal utility of money is very small, much smaller than we give it credit for. When you've earned enough to cover your basic necessities, the quest for additional money just to keep up with the luxuries of life is often where you get into trouble. Definitely, when you are in need of money, because you cannot cover the basic needs of you and your family, then money is at its most use (and of most importance) to you. Then you crave more, to cover life's little luxuries, which I guess is still okay. After all, what differentiates life from existence is quality. And certain aspects of a quality life do require some measure of money. For example, travel is life-enriching but is also a rather expensive hobby. Education is another, though basic education would mean getting educated here whereas "luxury education" would mean a foreign degree or even an additional degree like an MBA. You would also need a cushion to cover a rainy day (or days, as last week proved to be), especially when you have aging parents or many dependents or simply just for your sanity. In Manila too, a car is almost a necessity, as is the occasional movie and dinner date to destress.
However, after you've checked those marks, and you crave more money, you'll find this incremental moolah to deliver way less than what the earlier amounts did, at least in terms of satisfaction and happiness. In fact, you'll discover that what you need to sacrifice, in the name of this additional money, may cost you more than the benefits to be derived by the possession of these incremental pesos. Such examples are time with your family, your health, your spiritual life, or simply just your life. In the quest for more money, you run faster and faster on the hamster wheel, only to end up not being able to enjoy the very money for which you exerted that much effort for. Worse, after earning so much money, you find yourself dying due to the stress of the quest.
So I guess the point is to continually reflect and evaluate the "point" in everything we do, including everything we sacrifice. There's obviously a tradeoff, and the reward that you're working for may or may not end up to be as satisfying as it appeared to be in your head.
Definitely, at this age, my husband and I are still very much justified to stay in the rat race. After all, we don't have children yet, and I've heard children tend to cost a substantial amount of money. Plus, we do have dreams yet to be achieved, before we can say we've had enough of our work. But it's good to see this perspective from a 50-year-old marketing veteran and learn that, after a certain point, you really don't need "more" anymore. Life is not about that at all. What's tricky is knowing where to draw the line and keep your sights at it, no matter the temptation (whether in your head or through people around you). Hopefully, you'll also be brave enough to get off the horse when you need to, in recognition of better things to allocate your time, effort and attention for, even if these things do not appear in a bank statement or chequebook. Unlike in the corporate world, achievements in life are not supposed to be in numerical format.
:)
However, after you've checked those marks, and you crave more money, you'll find this incremental moolah to deliver way less than what the earlier amounts did, at least in terms of satisfaction and happiness. In fact, you'll discover that what you need to sacrifice, in the name of this additional money, may cost you more than the benefits to be derived by the possession of these incremental pesos. Such examples are time with your family, your health, your spiritual life, or simply just your life. In the quest for more money, you run faster and faster on the hamster wheel, only to end up not being able to enjoy the very money for which you exerted that much effort for. Worse, after earning so much money, you find yourself dying due to the stress of the quest.
So I guess the point is to continually reflect and evaluate the "point" in everything we do, including everything we sacrifice. There's obviously a tradeoff, and the reward that you're working for may or may not end up to be as satisfying as it appeared to be in your head.
Definitely, at this age, my husband and I are still very much justified to stay in the rat race. After all, we don't have children yet, and I've heard children tend to cost a substantial amount of money. Plus, we do have dreams yet to be achieved, before we can say we've had enough of our work. But it's good to see this perspective from a 50-year-old marketing veteran and learn that, after a certain point, you really don't need "more" anymore. Life is not about that at all. What's tricky is knowing where to draw the line and keep your sights at it, no matter the temptation (whether in your head or through people around you). Hopefully, you'll also be brave enough to get off the horse when you need to, in recognition of better things to allocate your time, effort and attention for, even if these things do not appear in a bank statement or chequebook. Unlike in the corporate world, achievements in life are not supposed to be in numerical format.
:)
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
building a pipeline or hauling buckets
I stumbled upon this story from a blog of a friend and wanted to post it here so I won't forget it. I feel it can be related to many things in life, most obviously to the ever-lingering idea of setting up my own business vs staying in this corporate rat race forever. Read on!
Are you building a pipeline or hauling buckets?
A village in Africa needed water, so they gave 2 people, Bill and Ed, the contract to supply it, reasoning that the competition would keep prices reasonable and the service good. Bill immediately ran out, bought to buckets, and started making the trek to and from the lake, which was a mile away. He started making money immediately, which was great, especially as Ed disappeared from the village. The downside was that he had to get up before everybody else to make sure that the village had the water, and his work was very tiring, as he spent his whole day carrying buckets of water.
Several months later, Ed returned with a construction crew, and built a stainless steel pipe from the lake to the village. Once it was ready, he announced that he would charge 75% less for his water than Bill, that his water would be cleaner than Bill’s, because it would be covered the whole way, and that it would run 24/7, unlike Bill’s, because Bill didn’t work on weekends.
When Bill saw everybody run to the new faucet at the end of Ed’s pipeline, he dropped his prices by 75%, bought covers for his buckets, and employed his sons to work night and weekend shifts. Once his sons had left for college (and inexplicably never returned), he had to hire more workers to cover their costs, and spent his days dealing with accounting and labor issues.
Ed saw the success of his pipeline in this village, and went on to build them in several other villages as well, earning only pennies on every bucket delivered, but delivering millions of buckets a day. He oversees his business from a beach in Hawaii, as the water flows whether he is working or not.
THE END
The story ends with this advice: don’t spend your days working for money when you could be designing systems to have money flowing to, and working for you. But I feel that it can be related to so many more things other than money. Are you sacrificing long-term gains for short-term contentment? Are you missing the bigger picture in the quest to have something solid now? Are you building a pipeline or hauling buckets?!
Are you building a pipeline or hauling buckets?
A village in Africa needed water, so they gave 2 people, Bill and Ed, the contract to supply it, reasoning that the competition would keep prices reasonable and the service good. Bill immediately ran out, bought to buckets, and started making the trek to and from the lake, which was a mile away. He started making money immediately, which was great, especially as Ed disappeared from the village. The downside was that he had to get up before everybody else to make sure that the village had the water, and his work was very tiring, as he spent his whole day carrying buckets of water.
Several months later, Ed returned with a construction crew, and built a stainless steel pipe from the lake to the village. Once it was ready, he announced that he would charge 75% less for his water than Bill, that his water would be cleaner than Bill’s, because it would be covered the whole way, and that it would run 24/7, unlike Bill’s, because Bill didn’t work on weekends.
When Bill saw everybody run to the new faucet at the end of Ed’s pipeline, he dropped his prices by 75%, bought covers for his buckets, and employed his sons to work night and weekend shifts. Once his sons had left for college (and inexplicably never returned), he had to hire more workers to cover their costs, and spent his days dealing with accounting and labor issues.
Ed saw the success of his pipeline in this village, and went on to build them in several other villages as well, earning only pennies on every bucket delivered, but delivering millions of buckets a day. He oversees his business from a beach in Hawaii, as the water flows whether he is working or not.
THE END
The story ends with this advice: don’t spend your days working for money when you could be designing systems to have money flowing to, and working for you. But I feel that it can be related to so many more things other than money. Are you sacrificing long-term gains for short-term contentment? Are you missing the bigger picture in the quest to have something solid now? Are you building a pipeline or hauling buckets?!
"Not much to look forward to this year"...
Some of my friends said this at the top of the year, especially in the context of 2010 being a action-packed, exciting year for all of us, peppered with memories of weddings and babies. I couldn’t relate to this feeling at first, since we had our Europe trip (of the decade!) in the pipeline during that period. I was too busy looking up itineraries, comparing hotels, preparing flight schedules, etc, to feel that there’s not much to look forward to. My heart was so full of excitement and happy anticipation. Now that that has peaked and we’re back to regular life, I can’t help but agree with the statement now. Especially given the recent work challenges, which either pull me to the direction of feeling work is so humdrum, or haul me back to the other direction of feeling overwhelmed and tired by this new assignment. Granted, the resurrection of my teaching career does put an exclamation point to my weekly sched, and my MBA does keep me extra busy, but I don’t know, I feel like something is off. Or, better said, something seems dissatisfying. I can’t quite pinpoint what it is exactly. All I know is what it is NOT about – I’m 100% happy with my marriage and 100% happy with my personal and student-related lives. I have a sneaking suspicion it’s about work.. and about my impatience with the next stage in life.
There's no solid point to this post. I just wanted to jot down this feeling, in hopes of untangling the mixed emotions and finding the center of it all. I'll let you know if it worked...
There's no solid point to this post. I just wanted to jot down this feeling, in hopes of untangling the mixed emotions and finding the center of it all. I'll let you know if it worked...
Monday, June 20, 2011
Not this time :(
Erased my last post about crossing fingers for good news this month because, well, the good news didn't come. I would be lying if I said we're not disappointed. Frankly, the feeling resembles heartbreak way too closely- and I doubt we can be faulted. The signs all pointed there, and I can be sure that while some may arguably just reside in the place in my heart that really wants it to come true, the other signs were so real they really had us fooled :(
Oh well, no use agonizing. We can always try again.
And let it be said that I have the best husband in the world. Hope every girl out there finds someone as devoted and as loving, to be with in good times and sad :(
Oh well, no use agonizing. We can always try again.
And let it be said that I have the best husband in the world. Hope every girl out there finds someone as devoted and as loving, to be with in good times and sad :(
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Guam Guam
OK, this is an update from my earlier blog post today. Due to several circumstantial roadblocks to our plan to go to Bora, we've revised the plan and moved the destination to...
GUAM!
The biggest dependency for this plan, though, is a Mabuhay Miles Half-Off promotion. It's a showstopper (or show-go-er, depending on how you look at it), because we plan to use my miles to go Guam for free! (Thank you to Citibank Premier Miles VISA card!) Definitely a much better beach destination for us, and it also allows us to hit a second bird with the same stone - getting our US visas renewed! Yooohooo! I'm definitely more psyched about this plan. I really really pray it pans out.
:D
GUAM!
The biggest dependency for this plan, though, is a Mabuhay Miles Half-Off promotion. It's a showstopper (or show-go-er, depending on how you look at it), because we plan to use my miles to go Guam for free! (Thank you to Citibank Premier Miles VISA card!) Definitely a much better beach destination for us, and it also allows us to hit a second bird with the same stone - getting our US visas renewed! Yooohooo! I'm definitely more psyched about this plan. I really really pray it pans out.
:D
Bora Bora
I wish a thousand million times that PAG-ASA does NOT declare the end of summer by the end of this week. Just when we decided to go to Bora (in about 2 weeks' time), this happens. GRR GRR GRR!
Please! Extend summer just a teeny bit longer!!!!
Please! Extend summer just a teeny bit longer!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)