Sunday, May 9, 2010

Day 5: Happy Mother's Day

Days Remaining: 86 Days

Today is Mother's Day.

I focused on making my post for the Daily Snacks for the Soul dedicated just to all the mothers out there. Besides today is Sunday; I normally post articles in the Daily Snacks for the Soul every Sun and Fri.

I received text messages from my Coach this morning.

Risk...You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courages to lose sight of the shore.

Coach: You need to finish the book soon so that you can move on to the next lesson.

Hey, I've only read about 1/4 of the book. I want to go on my own comfortable pace so that I won't miss a thing...

Coach: You still need to read a dozen of books more to connect all the dots of Success.

Hey, I can only read one book in a month. What does my Coach expects me to do -- stop working and read books all day?

Coach: One step at a time, but it's not a walk in the park. Remember this is a challenge.

I think his right. I need to step out of my comfort zone, stop doing the usual things that will not contribute to my success, and make dramatic changes to my life.

Coach: This is the best way to stretch the spirit. I told you to imagine that you need a million in 90 days. Whether you think you can or cannot, you're right!

Wow! I can understand that now...

Coach: I have to emphasize, we are not on this challenge for me to teach you to live comfortable secured life and stay in your comfort zone. Got it?

Loud and clear, Coach...I love it when someone will push me to reach for my dream.

Now I need to finish the Cash in a Flash real quick.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Day 4: The Roles of the Heart and Mind to Success

Days Remaining: 87 Days

This morning I read a very fitting passage from the Bible.

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. ~ Matthew 5:23-24


What have I learned so far?

So now it's been etched deeply in my mind the importance of having a dream, and experiencing it as vividly, with all the associated sensation, as possible in your mind. It's like thinking of Crispy Pata, it's looks, smell and taste, while sitting down and waiting for my order in Golden Cowrie; my mouth watered and I can't help it. Had I not been properly trained in the art of social decorum, I would have rushed towards the kitchen, punched a waiter or two, gobbled the cruchy and mouth-watering pork limb, instead of waiting for 15 minutes for my order to arrive while my stomach was yelling at me. This is another way of saying that I have to WOW your mind with my dream, so that my mind will find ways to fulfill that dream with great intensity.

I also learned that I have to listen to my Inner Winner -- that little voice within me that doesn't hesitate to ask what it wants. Come to think of it, I think I just discovered a very good analogy.

My heart is like a little child, it keeps asking unabashly for whatever it wants. My mind is like the father, it receives the wants of my heart, and find ways to do it. Both are separate but interdependent forces within us. Interdependent in an sense that the heart relies on the mind to look for ways to realize its dream while the mind relies on the heart for emotional fuel; the more intense the desire, the easier it is for the mind to look for ways. When the heart is committed, the mind becomes single-minded. Once this state is attained, optimum performance is achieved, and success won't be too far away. And success, the good feeling it creates, will feed the bond of interpendence between the heart and the mind.

Where does visualization or virtualization comes in?

The heart supplies the emotional fuel to the heart but in return the heart can intensify the desire by providing pictures of success to the heart. Both could and should exist symbiotically to insure success.

Eureka!!! I feel like Archimedes when he ran around the city naked after he discovered a brilliant way to detemine if the king's crown is pure gold or not...I think I just discovered the interdependent role of the heart and mind in winning or quitting. Wow!!! I should reward myself with ice cream of something.

Hold on. So what causes failure or more correctly, quitting before success is achieve?

Simple. The heart losses interest of the dream, and quits.

Failure or quitting is a vicious cycle. Once the heart quits, for some reason, the mind will start to doubt the heart. The feeling associated with failure send an ill feeling or discouragement, if you will, to both the heart and the mind. So next time the heart relays a desire to the mind, the mind will not immediately budge in, but instead will ask, "Are you sure?" The mind may even flash many what-could-go-wrong scenarious to measure how committed is the heart. If the heart still confirms its desire to the mind by sending strong emotional signal, the heart will again start finding ways to realize the desire. But if again the heart lost interest and quits again before success is achieved for some reasons, the mind will go nuts over the heart. Both again feel the ill effects of failure. Eventually, the mind stops listening to the heart. Finally, after many failed attempts of relaying desires to the deaf-eared mind, the heart shuts its mouth, and stop dreaming... 

I finally arrive to the next logical question. After years of failure or of having no dream at all, how can I start again my way to success?

Simple. Forgive.(Now I feel like a guru...hehehehe.)

I must learn to forgive myself from quitting in the past, and start all over again. I have to forgive myself for all the wrong turns I did in the past, and explore all over again. In fact I should not be too hard on myself for making the wrong turns. I should be mad at myself for not making the turn at all, at least I am not a turn wiser. To start my path to success, I must forgive and reconcile with myself. After all, if God can forgive me for my transgression, why can't I not forgive myself for making mistakes or others for that matter. If God can give me many second chances, why can't I?  

Come to think of it, God is really a cool Guy. Jesus taught us to forgive each other. Now I know that He doesn't only want us to live harmoniously with each other, He wants us to succeed with our dreams! God your awesomely Amazing...

Friday, May 7, 2010

Day 3: What are My Dreams?

Days Remaining: 88 Days

Today, I did not read the Cash in a Flash. Instead, I spent my morning figuring out my dreams in life. I opened the curtains of my past, and looked at it to find my old dreams that were buried deep under layers of discouragement, negative feelings and countless NO's.

The problem with too much discouragement and frustration is that you tend to stop dreaming BIG, and just settle for less, for mediocrity. This is were I am right now, and this is the last place in the world where I want to be, now.

What are the things I like, the things that I want to have, and the thing I want to do?

I Am SuperCool Guy 
I like to become a 'supercool' guy -- caring, peaceful, joyful, gentle, kind, patient, righteous, faithful, self-disciplined, courageous and full of wisdom.

Yeah, these are the gifts of the Holy Spirit as stated in Galatians 5:22. Ok this is my reason: One of my passions is to spread the Living Words of God (I'm living it now), One of my DREAMS is to become 'supercool' messenger of God.

There you have it.

                                                            ~ ~ ~

If there is one thing that can stop me from doing anything, it's music. I can't sing that well nor play musical instruments that well, but my spirit will simply dance with joy if I can hear real, beautiful music, and real, beatiful voices. Music can take my breath away. My favorite music are classical, instrumental, operatic, country, OPM, pop, pop rock, and others. I don't like pure rock and metal, to me these are noise, not music. Two of my favorite singers are Karen Carpenter, Barbara Streisand, Laura Pausini, Josh Groban, Billy Gilman,...and others whose voice is simply tantalizing to the ear.

I am Soaking Myself with Pure, Wonderful Music
My dream is to attend live concerts of my favorite artists here and abroad. There is nothing quite like it, seeing your favorite artist sing your favorite tune. I can feel it now.

I also love to listen vividly to a beautiful, crystal clear music -- the harmony of all its various instruments, and distinct, melodious voice of the singer. I can see myself sitting is a very cozy chair, eyes closed, hands swinging in the air as I listened to pure, wonderful music from a very expensive sound system, in my very expensive headset.

There you have it.

                                                            ~ ~ ~

I like to write, no I love to write. Writing makes me think clearly, helps access hidden feelings and emotions the recesses of my being, and immortalizes my belief, my faith.

I am Writing My Thoughts Away Anywhere, Anytime
My dream is to write bestselling books that will touch peoples heart; that will open peoples eyes to the truth and free them from the slavery of false ideas and teachings; and that will move them to do the right thing, to trudge the right way, the way to God. I want to write these books using a brand new MAC notebook that I can take with me anywhere, anytime. I can see myself writing on my notebook in Starbucks or Bo's Coffee, in a park under the shade of a tree, by the river in wooded area, in a vegetable and fruit garden behind my house, inside my music and study room, and just anywhere else I feel the urge to write my thoughts away.
    
There you have it.

                                                            ~ ~ ~

When it comes to my family, one thing I really love doing with them is to date each and everyone of them.

I Am Dating My Love Ones
I am dating my wife now for three straight Saturday's, and I want to continue doing this for the rest of my life. I want to continue eating Taco's, drinking Thirsty, munching Holy Kettle Corn, talking the whole afternoon, and strolling aimlessly with my wife, Ruvey. She is very fun to talk with.

Currently, I am dating with each of my two daughters -- Magsy and Cybelle -- once a month, starting last month. I dream of making it once a week. Seeing there happy, excited faces, knowing that they have a swell time with their Papa, and being able to talk about their dreams, their fears, their likes, their dislikes, their friends, and just about anything in their mind and heart is a previlege, and a priceless moment that I will treasure for the rest of my life. And being able to sprinkle a dash of wisdom and advice here and there, knowing that they listen to because they trusted me is a joy that only a father could understand. My dream for them is for them to grow-up to be God-only-fearing, righteous, confident and filled with wisdom. 

There you have it.

                                                          ~ ~ ~

I never dream of going outside of the Philippines when I was still a little boy. Not one of my folks talked about, and I did not even know that you can visit other places just for fun and relaxation. I used to think that out-of-the-country vacation  is only attainable by rich and wealthy people.

I am Walking Around the Globe and Framed it
My dream is to visit with my family Jerusalem, The Dead Sea, The Jordan River, The Pyramid of Egypt, St. Peter's Basilica, and other notable places in the Bible, and in the history of the church. I want to savor the same air, and walk on the same ground that Jesus, the apostles, and other notable characters in the Bible had been. I want to feel the emotion and tension that occurred in these historic places as events unfolded. That is a great, great feeling.

Finally, I dream of taking my family for a vacation outside of Cebu at least twice a year. My immediate destinations are Bohol, Palawan, Negros, Cagayan de Oro, Manila, Baguio, Banaue, Vigan, Albay, Pangasinan, Babuyan Island, and other places. Then we will go outside of the country. Why I dream of this? I love the excitement, the feeling of conquering your fears, and the experience of seeing new places and new people. God bless us with this wide span of land, might as well explore and enjoy it. And I love to take pictures of these new places, new people and new experiences using a state-of-the-art Canon digital SLR camera.

There you have it.

                                                            ~ ~ ~

I don't intend to stay where we live right now, because it's not my dream home.

My family and I are Dwelling in Our Dream Home
My dream home is a bongallow-type building with a music and study room, put-up in a 1000 sq. meter lot well above the city. It is surrounded by small fruit trees. The mini-library in the study room contains the Bible, and the best books in writing, personal development, financial and marketing field, and many others. At the backyard, I nurture and grow my own vegetables, and fruits. Everyday, I will smell the plants, and gaze at the fruits as I remove the grasses, and water it.

My fully-airconditioned car is big enough for the whole family, and strong enough to climb any steep road put before it. 

The neighbors are caring, friendly and love nature, like me. And the neiborhood is awesome.

There you have it,
                                                             ~ ~ ~

The surest way to sadness and boredom is to center your feelings and thoughts only on yourself.

I want to Leave a Lasting Legacy to the World
I know that one day I will pass this world, and I want to leave a lasting positive impact to the people that I will leave behind. To do this I dream of:
  • Writing books that will change people's lives, that will show them the truth, and that will lead them back to their creator.
  • Teach people to dream and conquer their fears (I already made initial steps by creating the ConquerYourFearAndGetOverIt.
  • Contribute 10% of my incomes to advance God's kingdom.
                                                            ~ ~ ~

The lessons from Cash in a Flash that I learned yesteday made me think deeper. Finally, I understand that money is not my goal, my goal is my dream. The One Million Dollars is my means to my dream.

It's time for my monring walk...

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Day 2: I Have Two Powerful Forces Inside Me!

Days Remaining: 89 Days

Last night I slept very late, 2AM. This was contrary to what my Coach told me.

(Shhhh, this is just our little secret.)

My Coach instruction was, "Sleep early and wake up early. This is good for your creativity."

The reason I stayed late last night was because I tried to finish my bi-weekly blog about my God. To read it, go to Daily Snacks for the Soul. My first passion is to spread the Words of my God. For a couple of reasons, I was not able to update it since last week.

Since I couldn't take my morning walk this morning since the sun was already way up in the sky, and it was not fun to take a walk around this time specially that it was still summer, I decided to dig for more wisdom in the "Cash in a Flash" book.

Important points I picked up from Cash in a Flash

The Inner Winner
* All of us can hear two voices -- the inner whinner and the inner winner.
* The inner whiner is the one who criticizes, discourage, and look for excuses for you not to do what you love doing.
* The inner winner one who forgives, encourages and look for reasons for you to do what you love doing.
* Successful people learned to listen more to their inner winner, and to silence their inner whinner. They realize that listening to the inner whinner will only hold them back.
* The inner whinner is the voice you heard from your mind, the inner winner is the voice you can hear from your heart.

(So it's like this, "The heart says I want, the mind says you can."

Therefore, my wants and dreams come from my heart. It is my mind that will encourage me by focusing on the reward or discourage me by focusing on the many what-if's, the nameless fears... hmmmm very interesting. Therefore, I have two separate and independent powerful forces within me. The heart says I want to the things that make me "feel good", the mind looks for ways how to get what I want. If I can make them both agree with each other on one particular goal, I can do great things, even earn One Million Dollars In 90 Days! Eureka!!! The  First, I need to do now is to find something that will knock me off my shoes, and Wow me to the max that as a consequence I will badly want to earn One Million Dollars. For example, I can still hear a nagging whisper from my mind that says, "Can you really do it? I really need to find a terrific WOW dream fast...")

The Dream Team
* To succeed in life you need to network with other people who have the same mind wavelength as yours, the same awareness of the world around as you have...

(Now I know why my Coach tapped me...hehehehe...he wants me to be a part of his dream team. Great!)

* The key to success is interdependence, not independence and definitely, not dependence.

(So to succeed we really need to know how to care, work and cooperate with other people. No wonder Jesus said that the 2nd greatest commandment is, "To love other people as much as ourselves. Jesus doesn't just wants us to live harmoniously with each other, He also wants us to succeed in life! God is cool!)

Recapped of the three Key ingredients to success
  • Wow Now. yourself with your dream such that you will badly want to reach it, such that your dream becomes more real than your fears. The technique called virtualization can help a lot
  • Inner Winner. Listen to your heart, listen to what your heart wants most specially the positive and the worthwhile, and train yourself to silence your inner whinner.
  • Dream Team. Join a team of people that has the same mindset as you are, or better yet, has better mindset as you are.
(Wow! Now I belong to a dream team under the leadership of my Coach. What I need to do now is to find a WOW dream, and to zip my inner whiner. Yahooo! One Million Dollar come to Papa...)

- - - - - - - - - - - CLOSE THE BOOK - - - - - - - - - - -

My Coach just texted me to do something "different" this morning. I will wash my car...

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Day 1: A New Beginning

Days Remaining: 90 days

Yesterday my Coach challenged me to a new challenge: creating one million in ninety-days!

My first reaction in my mind was, "Why not? I will have everything to gain and nothing to loss." 

Since I started just recently a new direction in my life -- to dream again and conquer the fears that I will meet along the way -- I make it a point to accept any "worthwhile" and "positive" challenges. I've been scared most of my life, I want to break free from it. To see my site about conquering fear, go to http://conqueryourfearandgetoverit.com/.

Today is the first day of my 90days challenge.

As suggested by my coach to wake up early in the morning, I woke up at 4AM ready to read the book that he lent to me, Cash in a Flash. I was gearing to start my day right when Leyan, my 2-year old daughter, woke up, so I spend the next one hour to send her to sleepy land.

At 5AM, my house was quiet again. After doing my morning ritual, I grabbed my Bible (Today's English Version) and read Proverbs 16:1-3.

"We may make our plans, but God has the last word.
You may think everything you do is right, but the Lord judges your motives. Ask the Lord to bless your plans, and you will be successful in carrying them out."

Just perfect! Now I know that with God's blessing I will succeed in this challenge.

After saying my sincere prayers to God to bless my plan to "create" one million in ninety-days, I settled down to read Cash in a Flash.

Since I cannot underline the book since I just borrowed it from my Coach, I decided to start this blog as a my diary and notebook, all in one.

Important points I picked up from Cash in a Flash
  • There is an ingredient to success much like the that there is an ingredient to cooking, and financial success can only be achieved if you have the right ingredients, and follow the right procedure of the master chefs of financial cooking. (Hmmmm, I feel hungry already.)
  • The arrival of money into your life can be of either of the two: by chunks or by streams. By chunk, the authors mean that money arrive to you in bulk and not regularly, while by stream, means that the money goes to your pocket on a regular and repetitive manner. To know more about chunk money, the authors suggested that I read the One Minute Millionaire.
  • There are two types of streams: Linear and Residual.
  • Linear means that you work for money like salary, commission, professional fee, etc. This is like renting yourself to someone else like your employeer, you clients, etc.
  • Residual means that money works for you like a profit, earnings, royalty, rent, etc. It's like renting your money to other people, and make it multiply by itself without you doing anything. (I like to have residual incomes...) 
  • There are three key ingredients to financial success: Wow Now, Inner Winner, and Dream Team.
Wow Now - A clear vision of your outcome
* Do you have a clear picture of the kind of lifestyle you want to create?
* Virtualize that image in your mind by experiecing it with your five senses.
* Imagine in full details the house, the neiborhood, the car, the lifestyle, etc.
* Virtualization makes your dream real to your mind.
* What is real in your mind will become real in your life!
* Heightened your virtualization by asking these questions:
       Whom did I built this for?
       Why did I built it?
       Where did I built it?
       What did I build?
       When did I build it?
* Don't concern yourself with the how! Imagine that you already did it.
* Fear is the dangerous ingredient to success. (Now I know I am on the right track when I make it one of my passion to conquer my fear. Click HERE to see my site about conquering fear.) Since fear is usually experienced by the five senses in your mind, it becomes real to you!
To conquer your fear, you have to WOW yourself with your dream. Make the your desire to succeed outweighs your fears, your dream should be more real that your fears (WOW! What powerful ideas...)

- - - - - - - - - - - CLOSE THE BOOK - - - - - - - - - - -

It's time for my morning walk...