A few years ago, I stumbled upon author and speaker Robert Allen's white paper on the Internet titled "The 7 Secrets of Extremely Wealthy People." Also the author of "Nothing Down" and the "One Minute Millionaire," Robert Allen has contributed to my renewed perspective on making money so money itself will work for you.
I've gone back to corporate life after 7 years as a business development, marcom and publishing consultant. It was during those times that I've practiced Robert Allen's techniques as provided in his book "Multiple Streams of Income."
Somehow, I had "Filipinized" some of his views and translated "Multiple Streams of Income" into "pagbubukas ng maraming gripo" (opening many faucets or sources of water). This, I used as a basic coaching term for those seeking to improve their cash flow and income.
Internet-Based Business
Robert wrote about creating income through the Internet. I immediately created my own website. Admittedly, I got some consulting work from it and still receive some calls until now, though I'm so busy in my day job that I just offer free service for charities today. The key is to be an "Infopreneur." As Robert said, anyone can make money 24 hours a day through an Internet-based business. I agree.
Gather as much information as you can and are interested in. See where you can specialize. Create a business from there. Get paid for trading information or goods. A good friend of mine and a high school classmate, Jovel Cipriano, who owns Pinoydelikasi.com, earns huge sums from trading Filipino delicacies online. I was once meeting with him in Seattle's Best Coffee at the Greenbelt (in Makati City) when he paused for awhile to facilitate an order in the U.S. via email. Done in a minute! Whew! Another former elementary school classmate, Alain Villanueva, trades toys through E-Bay. He says he makes good money out of it in his own time. Knowledge indeed is equal to money.
Network Marketing (or MLM)
Another source (or faucet-wallet) is being involved in network marketing. Many have shunned this route due to pyramid scams. A word of wisdom: pyramid (or ponzi) schemes do not sell any tangible products. True MLM's (multi-level marketing) carry tangible products that are worth your investment. Candidly, the rule of thumb is 200% return on investment (ROI) on your first payment. You invest $100 and they give you $200 worth of products or benefits -- on the spot.
MLM is basically a home-based business. You can earn 2 ways: through selling products yourself or recruiting a network of sellers so they can sell the products for you. MLM is a form of direct selling. It is simply a way to distribute goods or services to the end consumer. I advice my friends going into network marketing or networking to check if the products are manufactured by the company or simply distributed. When the products are simply distributed, there's a danger that stocks will run out without a definite replenishment date. When this happens, the network becomes disgruntled as they are the end consumers anyway. The network then dies a natural end.
A company I recently joined is the Royale Business Club. It has strong products and a fantastic business plan, combining franchising, direct selling and binary recruitment. I am currently building a strong network which is destined for riches -- doing this in my spare time! Whoa!
OPM (Other People’s Money)
Money begets money. What if you don’t have money to start with? Then, go to someone who has!People with lots of money naturally want to have more. They can’t have enough. We will always have our reasons for wanting to accumulate money but for those who don’t have much to start with, then tap the one who has. You may have a skill or knowledge that when put into a business plan can potentially make loads of money. You may need an investor initially, but if your idea is presented correctly, then you can be partners. The key to this is an arrangement that both (or several) of you agree on. Some may opt for investing then divesting later, while some want to put money on the long haul. What’s also crucial is the type of relationship you may want with your investor/s. One word of advice – put your friends on the bottom of the list as potential investors. You’d rather keep your friendship than lose it someday if the venture fails.
The Commissioner
I have a knack at knowing what people want and need. This puts me in the middle of transactions. I connect them and I earn a commission. This, I can do, in my spare time. You can sell real estate, insurance, or anything that you can be an agent of. Just make sure you price your commissions based on industry standards. The key skill needed in this situation is to know the value of your connections and information. Keep informed. Keep connected.
Sell Something
Babies sell their need to be carried or fed by crying. When you apply for a job, you do everything in your power to get that job. You sell yourself to employers. Thus, no one can say that he or she hasn’t sold anything.
There are a lot of things that can be bought and sold. You can make something then sell it or buy something at a low price then sell it on value. That’s what car dealers do. They negotiate for a low price on someone selling his car, fix it up, then sell it with a neat mark-up. Think of something you can that you’d love to sell based on your knowledge or love of it. I used to sell magazine subscriptions and ads because I loved to read. I felt I was simply sharing my passion – and I got paid for it!
Doing What You Love
We dream of working on something that we are passionate about and get paid well to do it. This, I believe can be done if we seek in our hearts what is that that inspires us. When I do volunteer or evangelization work, I get fired up. All my communication and management skills are put to work for good causes. Do I make money on them? The work is for free. But by having a job that gives people jobs (I'm in executive/people search!) is truly empowering. When I recently joined Royale Business Club, my aim was to bring more people into their own business or at least have extra income. I have a friend who recently had a heart bypass. He's 60+ years old but has money to invest in a business. I told him I'd "partner" him with someone who can work on his network but doesn't have the money to spare. They share the profits. (This is also a variation of OPM)
Find what you love to do. You love books and coffee? Open a coffee shop with a bookshop. You want to the outdoors? Sell camping equipment. You love cars? Open a carwash business.
Everyone has his or her own passion. Make money out of it!
Hopefully next time, I’d be writing about the MONEY TREE. Tah-tah!
Friday, March 14, 2008
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Paskong Pinoy
Heto na’t malamig na ang simoy na hangin sa gabi hanggang sa madaling araw. Ang tunog na Top 40 sa mga mall ay napalitan na ng mga Christmas Carols. Puro “Buhos na din ang trapik sa buong kamaynilaan. Lalu na yung malapit sa mga paliparan dahil sa pag-uwi ng mga kamag-anak na nasa abroad. Ang mga palitan ng dolyar sa mga mall at Ermita ay mahaba na din ang pila. Di man naka-uwi ang iba, pera na lang ipinadala. Dagsa na din ang mga mamimili’t mandurukot sa Baclaran at 168 sa Divisoria.
Sa tulad kong kayod marino sa pagtatrabaho ng isang buong taon, ang inaasam na 13th month ay ubos na. Naikasa ko na rin ang mga perang nakuha sa mga raket. Kaya hayun, yung suweldo na pang-Disyembre ang ibabakas sa panggastos sa Pasko.
Ang sabi nga ng mga tusong negosyante, tuwing piyesta at Pasko nga lang gumastos ng todo ang Pinoy. Kahit pa katayin na ang kaisa-isang baboy sa bakuran at limasin ang ipon sa tukador at banko, makapag-handa lang sa okasyong ito. Tama nga!
Bakit nga hindi? Minsan lang sa buong taon ang tumodo sa gastos para lang maranasan ang lubos na kasiyahan sa pagbibigay kesa ipagdamot ang kita. One day millionaires daw tayong mga Pinoy. Siguro nga. Hindi kasi tayo likas na madamot. Masayahin at matulungin dala ng pagiging maka-Diyos at maka-pamilya.
Sabi nga ng asawa ko, over-quota na daw kami sa budget sa Pasko. Madaming regalo ang naipamigay at maraming beses na ding nagbalik-balik sa mall at grocery para sa iba’t-ibang handaan. Bukod pa yun sa Noche Buena ha!
O sige, baka makalimot tayo sa tunay na diwa ng Pasko. Ito ang pagsilang ng Panginoong Hesus na nagbigay ng bagong buhay sa atin. Ito ay ating ipinagdidiwang sa kapaskuhan. Ang bagong buhay na ito ay ating ipinadadama sa lahat ng ating mahal sa buhay. Maging kapamilya, kapuso, kabayan, kabagang, kakosa o ka-anu-ano pa natin sila.
Sa bispiras ng Pasko, kabi-kabila na ang mga concert ng mga kabitbahay ko! Kanya-kanya na ang mga hari at reyna ng videoke. Bumabaha na din ang San Mig Light at Pale Pilsen at Duty Free na alak.
Sa di kalayuan, naririnig ang pagtawag ng simbahan para sa misa. Naglalakad na ang mga taong naka-pustura. Karamihan ay kulay pula at berde ang mga suot na damit. Dagsa na rin ang mga nagtitinda ng tradisyunal na puto bumbong at bibingka na lumaki ang kita mula ng magsimula ang simbang gabi. Salamat naman.
Lord, salamat po at ako’y isinilang Niyong Pinoy.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
The Call
Choosing to Be a Father
Budz Nievera
Tito. Brod. Kuya. Kapatid. Dad.
These are just a few titles I’ve been called by my friends and loved ones. Though these days, though I’m still called “all of the above” titles, I love being called “Dad” most of all.Among the vocations I was thinking of getting, there were actually two that I short listed when I was in elementary school. Amusingly, both had one ultimate description: Father.
Yes, I wanted to be a priest. But I also wanted to be a Dad. Both are called “Fathers,” right? One is head of a church while the other heads a family. Both calls were towards serving God’s children anyway.
The First Call
I spent my elementary years at Don Bosco in Makati City. Coming from a lower middle class family, it was quite a struggle for my parents to send the three of us to private Catholic schools. We took the opportunity to study in exclusive schools. We studied hard and even reaped honors as sort of repayment for our parents’ efforts.I went through ordinary stages in my elementary years. I studied hard and played even harder. I had a lot of friends. The school was residence to priests and brothers under the Salesians (as the congregation was called). Our religion teachers were brothers or priests. Our rector was of course a priest. Even our sports and scouting heads were brothers.
During dismissal, there was this particular priest we kids were very fond of. His name was Father Roozen. He was Caucasian, wore dark-rimmed glasses, and had a ready smile and hug for us. I saw him as a father and a teddy bear at the same time. I guess all of us kids had at least at one time hugged Father Roozen. He was very accommodating and had an aura of holiness around him.
Given that environment, when there was a call to join the Junior Aspirants Club, I joined. The JAC was a first call to those who felt they were being called to be a priest. I was in grade 5 then. We had various activities which included a camp to Calatagan, Batangas. We just hang-out and enjoyed each others’ company. Through all our activities, we were always accompanied by either a priest or a brother.
I really can’t remember what happened but I simply lost interest in the priesthood going into grade 6. But guess what? My best friend, who wasn’t interested in the priesthood, was the one who eventually entered the seminary. He’s now the head of the Marian Missionaries, Rev. Fr. John Ma. Cordero, who is also Youth Today’s spiritual director.
The Path I Chose
The realization of wanting to take another road in choosing my vocation came sometime in mid-high school. I believed that there was a role God wanted each one of us to take. I took note of this when I joined a Catholic renewal group in our parish. I tried to discern God’s plan for me early on and thus, chose to have an advertising profession and eventually marry and yes, be a Dad.
I studied hard in high school and even graduated with honors. I knew that this will be my foundation when I got to college to hone my skills further. Eventually, I graduated with a Communications Research degree from the University of the Philippines in Diliman.
I soon specifically chose to be a professional communicator and have a stable God-centered family.
Meeting My Match
In order to accomplish God’s plan for me, He also chose a match for me – the woman who would eventually be my lifetime partner and be the Mom of my children. Her name is Jinky.
I truly believe that Jinky is God’s gift to me and to our three children. It was a mutual decision for us to bring up our children in the Catholic faith. This, we believed, would bring our family closer to each other with Jesus Christ at the center. We even decided to join a religious organization (Couples for Christ) to strengthen our faith, bringing our children into the greater Catholic community.
Living My Chosen Vocation
I never regretted having chosen to be a father. My children are my flock. I enjoy being their shepherd. I feed them and protect them against the world’s wolves. Despite the challenge of being the sole breadwinner, the hardest role a father has, I believe, is making sure that our family sticks to the faith. This, I also believe, is the greatest challenge that
priests have for their flock. We are then, the same.
I double time in my prayers now that my own children are fast growing up. I want them to be guided when they start choosing their vocations. Whatever their calls will be, I will be there to support them. In the end, they are free to choose. This is what God, our Father, has also given us out of love. Who am I to do otherwise? I am just their steward. But I sure love to hear it when they call me “Dad.”
Budz Nievera
Tito. Brod. Kuya. Kapatid. Dad.
These are just a few titles I’ve been called by my friends and loved ones. Though these days, though I’m still called “all of the above” titles, I love being called “Dad” most of all.Among the vocations I was thinking of getting, there were actually two that I short listed when I was in elementary school. Amusingly, both had one ultimate description: Father.
Yes, I wanted to be a priest. But I also wanted to be a Dad. Both are called “Fathers,” right? One is head of a church while the other heads a family. Both calls were towards serving God’s children anyway.
The First Call
I spent my elementary years at Don Bosco in Makati City. Coming from a lower middle class family, it was quite a struggle for my parents to send the three of us to private Catholic schools. We took the opportunity to study in exclusive schools. We studied hard and even reaped honors as sort of repayment for our parents’ efforts.I went through ordinary stages in my elementary years. I studied hard and played even harder. I had a lot of friends. The school was residence to priests and brothers under the Salesians (as the congregation was called). Our religion teachers were brothers or priests. Our rector was of course a priest. Even our sports and scouting heads were brothers.
During dismissal, there was this particular priest we kids were very fond of. His name was Father Roozen. He was Caucasian, wore dark-rimmed glasses, and had a ready smile and hug for us. I saw him as a father and a teddy bear at the same time. I guess all of us kids had at least at one time hugged Father Roozen. He was very accommodating and had an aura of holiness around him.
Given that environment, when there was a call to join the Junior Aspirants Club, I joined. The JAC was a first call to those who felt they were being called to be a priest. I was in grade 5 then. We had various activities which included a camp to Calatagan, Batangas. We just hang-out and enjoyed each others’ company. Through all our activities, we were always accompanied by either a priest or a brother.
I really can’t remember what happened but I simply lost interest in the priesthood going into grade 6. But guess what? My best friend, who wasn’t interested in the priesthood, was the one who eventually entered the seminary. He’s now the head of the Marian Missionaries, Rev. Fr. John Ma. Cordero, who is also Youth Today’s spiritual director.
The Path I ChoseThe realization of wanting to take another road in choosing my vocation came sometime in mid-high school. I believed that there was a role God wanted each one of us to take. I took note of this when I joined a Catholic renewal group in our parish. I tried to discern God’s plan for me early on and thus, chose to have an advertising profession and eventually marry and yes, be a Dad.
I studied hard in high school and even graduated with honors. I knew that this will be my foundation when I got to college to hone my skills further. Eventually, I graduated with a Communications Research degree from the University of the Philippines in Diliman.
I soon specifically chose to be a professional communicator and have a stable God-centered family.
Meeting My Match
In order to accomplish God’s plan for me, He also chose a match for me – the woman who would eventually be my lifetime partner and be the Mom of my children. Her name is Jinky.
I truly believe that Jinky is God’s gift to me and to our three children. It was a mutual decision for us to bring up our children in the Catholic faith. This, we believed, would bring our family closer to each other with Jesus Christ at the center. We even decided to join a religious organization (Couples for Christ) to strengthen our faith, bringing our children into the greater Catholic community.
Living My Chosen Vocation
I never regretted having chosen to be a father. My children are my flock. I enjoy being their shepherd. I feed them and protect them against the world’s wolves. Despite the challenge of being the sole breadwinner, the hardest role a father has, I believe, is making sure that our family sticks to the faith. This, I also believe, is the greatest challenge that
priests have for their flock. We are then, the same.I double time in my prayers now that my own children are fast growing up. I want them to be guided when they start choosing their vocations. Whatever their calls will be, I will be there to support them. In the end, they are free to choose. This is what God, our Father, has also given us out of love. Who am I to do otherwise? I am just their steward. But I sure love to hear it when they call me “Dad.”
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Second Wind: Time to Consolidate
I'm back to "Blogger" -- and Blogging
Homer "Budz" Nievera
After a 12-month hiatus, I'm back to writing for my "Blogger" blog with a new title. I wanted to consolidate all my posts into one blog site, so here it is. This will represent my e-journal.
For this purpose, I had to have my two laptops repaired. One, the Redfox Navigator, was overheating while the other, an older Toshiba Satellite A20, needed a new board -- and so I thought. Miraculously, the Redfox Navigator only needed to be cleaned while the A20 didn't even have something wrong with it! Hmmm, really strange, most especially for the Toshiba A20. Two years ago, I sent it to the Toshiba Service Center (Tricom Dynamics) and they said it needed a new board. That would've cost me 33,000 pesos! I only paid SST (the generic service center in Alabang) 400 pesos! So, I bought a brand new Asus wireless LAN adapter for only 750 pesos. Another blessing since everything else cost 1,500 pesos and up. Voila! Am back to blogging.
Late last year, I went back to formal corporate life after 7 years in consulting and being an entrepreneur. I turned over the advertising business to my wife Jinky and the events company to my able partner Arman. I "quit" the consulting business to pursue a new career that hopefully leads me into stuff that will bring me more challenges.
Life begins at 40, they say. I'd say it's the new 20's wherein you re-direct your life into seemingly unchartered territories. The excitement is doubled as you see things more clearly since you've had 20 years of experience -- both failures and successes.
I'd say those past 7 years were well spent for my family. It was a long sabbatical after a successful run in advertising. I admit I burned out too soon, as an effect of peaking in my career too soon as well. The experience was worth it. I can say that I've seen my children grow in those 7 years. They're growing up so fast that my eldest ( a son) is graduating from high school and will join the next batch of would-be nurses next school year, while one of my daughters moves up to high school from grade school. Time flies so fast.
It's time to consolidate.
The year's almost ended. It's been more than a year since I joined Manpower Inc. (Philippines). The road has been bumpy but it's been leveling the past quarter. A new career, a new industry. What a way to start your 40th year.
I still do free consulting for start-ups and foundations. I'm still writing for the Foundation for Christ-Love Asia as editor of 2 magazines. I just finished 9 units for my march to a teaching certificate (and a masters degree in education) from the University of the Philippines Open University. I've also recently accepted a Chapter Head assignment for the CFC-Foundation for Family & Life. Whew! What a way to consolidate your life.
I have more than 20 years ahead of me yet. Life may be short but I want to make sure that I make it worth my time on earth. Keep healthy, work hard, play harder, pray longer! This is my second wind. Pull up the sails!
Homer "Budz" Nievera
After a 12-month hiatus, I'm back to writing for my "Blogger" blog with a new title. I wanted to consolidate all my posts into one blog site, so here it is. This will represent my e-journal.
For this purpose, I had to have my two laptops repaired. One, the Redfox Navigator, was overheating while the other, an older Toshiba Satellite A20, needed a new board -- and so I thought. Miraculously, the Redfox Navigator only needed to be cleaned while the A20 didn't even have something wrong with it! Hmmm, really strange, most especially for the Toshiba A20. Two years ago, I sent it to the Toshiba Service Center (Tricom Dynamics) and they said it needed a new board. That would've cost me 33,000 pesos! I only paid SST (the generic service center in Alabang) 400 pesos! So, I bought a brand new Asus wireless LAN adapter for only 750 pesos. Another blessing since everything else cost 1,500 pesos and up. Voila! Am back to blogging.Late last year, I went back to formal corporate life after 7 years in consulting and being an entrepreneur. I turned over the advertising business to my wife Jinky and the events company to my able partner Arman. I "quit" the consulting business to pursue a new career that hopefully leads me into stuff that will bring me more challenges.
Life begins at 40, they say. I'd say it's the new 20's wherein you re-direct your life into seemingly unchartered territories. The excitement is doubled as you see things more clearly since you've had 20 years of experience -- both failures and successes.
I'd say those past 7 years were well spent for my family. It was a long sabbatical after a successful run in advertising. I admit I burned out too soon, as an effect of peaking in my career too soon as well. The experience was worth it. I can say that I've seen my children grow in those 7 years. They're growing up so fast that my eldest ( a son) is graduating from high school and will join the next batch of would-be nurses next school year, while one of my daughters moves up to high school from grade school. Time flies so fast.
It's time to consolidate.
The year's almost ended. It's been more than a year since I joined Manpower Inc. (Philippines). The road has been bumpy but it's been leveling the past quarter. A new career, a new industry. What a way to start your 40th year.
I still do free consulting for start-ups and foundations. I'm still writing for the Foundation for Christ-Love Asia as editor of 2 magazines. I just finished 9 units for my march to a teaching certificate (and a masters degree in education) from the University of the Philippines Open University. I've also recently accepted a Chapter Head assignment for the CFC-Foundation for Family & Life. Whew! What a way to consolidate your life.
I have more than 20 years ahead of me yet. Life may be short but I want to make sure that I make it worth my time on earth. Keep healthy, work hard, play harder, pray longer! This is my second wind. Pull up the sails!
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