Negosyo

Kapag may negosyo ka, bawal ang tamad.

Kasi pag tamad ka, or even ningas-kugon, or kung kelan lang may gana saka kikilos, hindi maggogrow ang negosyo. Baka mawala pa sya.

Para syang pagiging hands-on na nanay sa isang anak. Lagi mo syang iniisip, 24/7. Kaya importante talaga na yung negosyong papasukin mo, mataas ang passion mo for it. Driven ka talaga to succeed in it. It's what will get you through those "tamad" times, those times when you crave for more sleep, more rest, more tunganga/rest time. Your passion will get you past those cravings of the flesh and stay focused, to stay disciplined.

Isa pa, kapag may negosyo ka, kailangan matibay ang loob mo. Dahil ang problema, laging susulpot. In various degrees of kalalaan. Minsan may lugi. Minsan may reklamo ang kliyente. Pag didibdibin mo everytime, pag maga-unravel ka emotionally sa bawat problemang dumating, paano na? Kailangan matibay ka. Harapin ang problema, hanapan ng solusyon, and charge to experience. Para hindi na maulit.

Lastly, and this I got from watching this Kdrama Itaewon Class--- kapag may-ari ka ng negosyo at may mga tao ka, mas importante ang pagiging makatao sa mga tao. Lalo na kung pamilya mo sila. Hehe. Dalawa lang naman ang kasama ko sa maliit na negosyo-- ang nanay at kapatid ko. We are not perfect people, not even me. Booboos will happen. Oversights will happen. Tiredness, exhaustion, personal problems will happen. Grabe ang pagmamahal ko sa negosyo namin, pero note to self ko na mas mahal ko ang mga taong kasama ko. Lalo na dahil sila ay nanay at kapatid ko. Mas importante ang physical and emotional well-being nila. Importante that I be fair and reasonable and considerate about their needs. Dahil walang negosyo na kinakaya ng iisang tao lang. At ang negosyong nagtatagumpay at the expense of people's well-being is not a business worth pursuing.

So ilang beses na akong nagpapraktis maging negosyante over the years. Little businesses online, since 2013. Pero late 2019 lang talaga ako nagseryoso sa isang negosyong pangarap kong palakihin as a brand balang araw. And because I dream of that for this business, kelangan fulltime. Kelangan tutok. Kelangan masipag 24/7, never lose sight of the big picture and the end goal, at dapat tibayan pa more ang loob. Kasi kung meron mang makakasira ng araw ko these days, it's when something not so good happens na related sa business. That's my greatest vulnerability right now--- this thing na para ko nang anak na sobrang mahal ko.

More learnings:

Clients should stay happy. Kahit mawalan ka ng kita for one transaction, kung kelangan mong mag-abono para hindi maramadaman ng client na diskumpyado sya o unfair ka sa kanya, do what it takes to compensate.

Basic na dapat maganda ang product mo. Pero Marketing is VERY important too. Kahit gaano kaganda ang product mo, kung hindi alam ng mga tao na it exists, sayang.  Kaya 60% of my business-related activities everyday, nakatuon sa Marketing. Wala naman ako malaking budget for it, just internet, free apps, and the occasional sponsored ads on FB and IG. Every now and then, promo sa mga clients with discount vouchers if they help market the product. Pero I keep thinking of ways to get my products out there. That's what keeps me up at night. HOW DO I GET THEM TO BUY MORE? WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?

Ang hirap mag-accounting. HUHU. I wish the day will come when I can afford to focus on the business and nothing else. Para pati accounting maharap ko. kasi ang dami talagang iaaccounting everyday.

Pero hindi ako nagrereklamo. I can run this business and have my dream job at the same time. Pangarap ko yan talaga, Lord. Sana, Lord. Sana ikayaman namin pareho.

Life begins at 40!

I just turned 40 last April 25! Wow. Dati 14 lang ako.

Happy and grateful. And proud. Kasi dahil maliit akong babae, at bilugan ang mukha at (EHEM) pumayat na, hindi pa ako mukhang 40. Mukhang 39, ganern. Haha.

And this year, I feel, is when my life will REALLY, TRULY begin. So much hope in my heart. In two specific aspects of my life. So much to look forward to in the future.

Despite what's been happening. The COVID scare. The uncertainties. This worry and fear and anxiety that we all share. There's hope in me. Kasi si God ang nagdidirek ng buhay ko. Ng buhay nating lahat. Si God ang nago-orchestrate ng mga bagay bagay, He decides when things will come at the right time, what challenges to give us, and I believe He gives us only the challenges na kaya natin. With faith. With prayers. With hope.

Yung mga challenges na hindi natin kaya, may ibang reason kung bakit Nya ibinigay. Not just for our benefit. Siya ang nakakakita ng big picture. Kaya yung mga challenges na dumarating na hindi natin kinakaya at nabibigo tayo... hinahayaan nyang mangyari because it will eventually be for the greater good.

I'm just grateful na so far, sa 40 years na inilalagi ko sa mundo, napakabait ng Diyos sa akin. Sana huwag syang magsawa. Sana walang mahihirap na challenges na hindi ko kakayanin.  I promise to give back. To pay forward. In return. I promise to keep praying. To keep believing.

So ang anak ko, mas malungkot pa kesa sa akin, dahil 40 na daw ako. "Matanda" na daw ako. Aray ko naman anak! HAHA! Siguro takot syang mamatay na ako agad, chos.

Yung totoo, ang daming gagawin for today. Kahit Sunday. Kahit ECQ. Pero nagsusulat ako dito. Kasi namiss ko 'to. Kahit andami nang ways para magexpress at magkwento. Sa FB, IG, Twitter, even messenger sa mga kaibigan. Namimiss ko pa rin mag-essay writing. HEHE.

Just want to say Thank You, Lord. For my first 40 years.  May my next 40 years be even more meaningful, more productive, by Your grace. For Your glory. Ang dami ko pang pangarap, Lord. Alam Nyo po yan. At Kayo lang po ang makakapagpatupad ng lahat ng iyon, kaya sa Inyo ako magdadasal, imbes na magbirthday wish sa cake na may kandila. I pray that I may get to keep all the good things in my life that I already have. And I pray too, that I may get to have what I have been hoping to have, starting 2020.

Please, Lord. Thank You so much. Life truly begins at 40!