Day 68 Quote 16: One may smile, and smile, and be a villain.

One may smile, and smile, and be a villain.

– William Shakespeare, Hamlet

Whether you admit it or not, you hide behind a mask. It could either be to protect yourself or someone you care for. You may not lie but you may also not say the entire truth. Hiding facts from people or disguising your motive is the same as lying and being conceited.

Though this is very common, the problem here is that the people you interact with would see it as a form of deception – which is true. They would think that you’re just talking to them because there’s something in it for you.

Thus, the importance of SINCERITY.

Personally, I think that this is the most important behavior. Yes, it shows that you’re honest with yourself and with others. But more importantly, it shows that you are opening yourself up to me – that you’re making yourself vulnerable.

Especially in this world that’s filled with egotistical people where every man fights for himself, showing your sincerity really means a lot. Sometimes, you just need a doze of that to remind you that humans are naturally good. We may hurt people but in the end, a small hint of “goodness” will turn it upside down.

You have to admit that when you’re down and troubled, a simple gesture of saying, “How are you doing?” by someone (even by a complete stranger) feels good. It uplifts your spirits. We are not living in this world against each other but with each other. Learn to live with others and it starts from being sincere.

Day 60 Quote 15: A camel is a horse...

A camel is a horse put together by a committee.

– Anonymous

Simple.

Can you function effectively without a clear direction? If I tell you to go to the Point B without even directing where point B is, do you think that you’ll arrive at Point B?

Day 60 Quote 14: Do it fast

Do it fast, do it right, do it cheap. Pick two.

– Anonymous

I was browsing through my brother’s yearbook the other day and I came across a quote that really stuck to my head.

The world needs dreamers and the world needs doers.

But above all, the world needs dreamers who do.

- Sarah Ban Breathnach

You can be a dreamer or you can be a doer. The choice is up to you. But what’s more important is that you choose to become a dreamer who does. If you have an idea, act on it NOW. It’s not enough to just have an idea. It needs to be materialized. Some people end up just dreaming or just doing. I pity them. Those are the types of people that make this world full of mediocrity.

I envy children. They are already dreamers who just need a little push (from us) for them to do. But sometimes instead of  pushing them to pursue their dreams, we tear them apart. I hope that we change that attitude. Yes, it's good to keep their feet on the ground or to give them a reality check but that is also the main reason why they stop dreaming. In that case, our world is indeed full of mediocre individuals. 

I hope that when  you choose...you choose to become a dreamer who does. Especially if you're already an adult, please spend some time to look back and re-dream again. What were your dreams? what are your dreams? 

And if you do end up choosing to become a dreamer who does, make sure that you do it right the first time. Even if you will be given a second, third, fourth, fifth, .... chance, make it right the first time. Time is very limited. Don't waste it. Make the most use of it.

But again, here's a Reality check! (so ironic: another reality check) What I’m proposing is hard and chances are if you’re not fully committed into pursuing that path, you’ll just fail.

But please instill this in your head:

Looking back, the easy things were the most forgettable and neglected. The things that I had to scrape my butt off were the most memorable and I’m most proud of.

If life were easy, that’s not life but a fairytale.

Day 60 Quote 13: Murphy’s Law

Murphy’s Law: If there are two or more ways to do something, and one of those ways can result in catastrophe, then someone will do it.

– Edward A. Murphy, Jr.

Sometimes, it’s good to be pessimistic. If you set low standards, the window for disappointment is nearly zero. You also open yourself up to the chance of multiple successes. Since your bar is low, the probability of achieving and surpassing that bar is very high. A world like this seems to be perfect. People would only know successes. They will no longer have to worry about failing.

Wouldn’t the world be a lot better if everyone had low standards?

Though that seems to be a great world to live in, it still wouldn’t be right. Right in the sense that, yes you are happy because you’re succeeding but you’re not going anywhere.

Let’s say that you have a pet dog. Won’t it be a lot easier if you just keep that dog in a cage? You don’t have to worry about losing your dog or it messing up the house. Won’t that be a lot easier?

Yes! Definitely.

But what would eventually happen to your dog? It can do two things: just stay there and keep quiet or act wildly when you let it out of its cage. Either way, those attitudes are not good for any dog.

It’s good to stay within your comfort zone to avoid disappointments. But for you to grow and maximize your potential you have to constantly challenge your standards and break free from it. You have to constantly strive to be better.

Improve!!! Don’t settle for mediocrity.

Eventually, your comfort zone will become bigger and when that does break free from it again. Push! Keep Pushing! There will definitely be disappointments along the way…but what the Murphy Law is telling us (in my perspective) is that if we want to truly succeed we have to be prepared to fall.

Day 58 Quote 12: The Peter Principle

The Peter Principle: In a hierarchal organization every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence.

– Lawrence Peter

Dependence.

When you have an obstacle, regardless of its magnitude, in front of you, what do you do?

When you are faced by the idea of failure amidst this obstacle, what do you do?

When you know that you can’t overcome it with your own strength, what do you do?

You’ll still pursue it.

IF you know that there'll be someone there who’s ready to catch you when you fall, you become more courageous in taking risks.

In religion for instance, we were taught that God is Almighty. When you know someone who’s sick and the doctors tell you that there is no chance for that person to survive, what do you do? You still keep fighting and hoping for the better because you know that if things don’t work out the way you hope for, you have God to rely on.

In any situation, you begin to rely on others when all seems hopeless. You rely on others to help you pass the storms in life.

Last night, someone told me that the world is cruel. It’s full of problems, hardships and failures. To conquer all these negativisms, you turn to your a partner.

That’s why she said that it’s so important to have the right partner supporting you. When all seemed lost, you turn to that person and say… “We can overcome this.”

Day 57 Quote 11: Parkinson’s Law

Parkinson’s Law: Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.

– C. Northcote Parkinson

This reminds me of a scene from the previous Miss Universe when they asked one of the contestants the difference between a man and a woman. She said that you can both tell them to go from point A to point B. But, how they do it is completely up to them. Men will create a straight line from A to B. Women will create a curvy line from A to B. Their journeys may be different or the way they approach things may be different; but, in the end, they still get to where they have to go.

Setting gender aside, it’s the same for us. We can be given the same task but it all depends on us how we will proceed with that task. We can start early and finish early, we can still start early and finish late, we can start late and still finish on time, or we can start late and finish late…there list goes on and on.

We can expand our work horizontally (procrastinate) if we’re given ample time.

We can also expand our work vertically (be more ambitious) if we’re given ample time.

The thing is, we tend to adjust our work given what we have and what we do with what we have – we can expand it horizontally or vertically. That’s up to us to decide and to execute.

Day 57 Quote 10: A dinner lubricates business

A dinner lubricates business

– William Scott, Baron Stowell

Dinner is not just the last meal of the day.

It’s a time for relaxation. It’s where you take your shoes off after a long, tiring and busy day. It’s a point of self-reflection – where you think of what you did that day and what you’re going to do tomorrow.

I consider it as the focal point of my day. Yes, the morning does bring us hope. But, dinner or night, in general, is where we are at our crossroads. It’s where we’re finishing up today and preparing for tomorrow.

Bottom line, it says that in whatever you do, you have to always find closure for you to move forward. Spend some time to think about what you have or have not yet done and what you plan to do in the coming days ahead.

Whether you lead or follow, move on. Don’t get left behind.



Day 57 Quote 9: There was an old owl lived in an oak...

Quote 9: There was an old owl lived in an oak, the more he heard, the less he spoke; the less he spoke, the more he heard. O, if men were like that wise old bird.

– Punch

People tend to be caught up in the bustles of life. In work for instance, we are caught up in it sometimes to the point of extending our work on the weekends. We focus too much on it that we tend to lose out on the other things such as family and friends.

Life is complicated. You work to live but you can’t live because you have to keep on working to live. It’s ironic. We live in this earth and we die. Time passes by so quickly. It’s true when they say that it seemed only yesterday when we were crawling in our diapers and learning our ABCs.

In the rush of things, it’s easy to get lost. Just in the past year alone, I got lost several times – whether it be about my work or personal life. A new friend of mine introduced me to the idea of “mental masturbation.” And yes, I guess, I’m infected by that. I think a lot - especially on the things outside my scope. I guess I believe that we were all given a brain to use it. We shouldn’t have been given a brain in the first place if we weren’t going to use it.

Thinking is fun.

But, I just recently realized that sometimes, you can’t always think. When you think too much, you tend to miss out on the other things.

Like a horse running in the race, when you have those blinders on…yes, you can focus into winning the race. But, what about the bigger picture? What about the race itself?

There are times when it's better to just sit back and relax. Those are the moments when you get to enjoy the view. When you tend to just let everything out and feel vulnerable. Let life control you instead of you controlling life.

Just stay silent and listen to what’s happening around you. Great things come in the most unexpected ways.

Don’t force things to happen; allow things to happen on their own.

Day 17 Quote 8: Every individual...intends only his own gain...

Quote 8: Every individual...intends only his own gain, and he is in this, as in many other cases, led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of his intention. Nor is it always the worse for the society that it was no part of it. By pursuing his own interest he frequently promotes that of the society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it.

- Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations

There are things that are out of your control. Death, for instance. No one's going to know when he or she'll die. You can fight death but in the end, you're going to succumb to it. We're all going to die. That's life. It's just a matter of time.

I guess, what it's trying to say is we have to accept the fact that there's a stronger force out there.

Quite ironic isn't it? Although we know that there's that "greater power" out there, we can never really prove it. I guess, that's why the terms fate and destiny emerged.

Setting religion aside, it's the closest explanation we have to the "greater power." If it's meant to be, it will be. You just have to learn how to let go and let things take on its natural course.

Easy to say. Hard to execute.

When will you know if you should stick to something or let go of it?

For that matter, when will you know if you should still hold on to someone or let go of that someone?

If letting go means that you're allowing things to unravel for themselves, you should also be prepared for the possibility that it wouldn't go in your favor. If letting go means that you're opening yourself to the possibility of being hurt, you just have to learn to live with it. Move on! If it's meant to be, it will be.

Sometimes, people tend to hold on for the sake of having security and an assurance. Sometimes even to the point where it's no longer right to keep on going. You just have to be courageous and say no. Let go!!! Think of it in this way, it is not the end of the world.

Really? Yes. I’ve done that before and I turned out okay. You just have to keep yourself busy with something else. Right now, that’s work.

Day 17 Quote 7: For Unto Every One That Hath Shall Be Given, And He...

Quote 7: For Unto Every One That Hath Shall Be Given, And He Shall Have Abundance: But From Him That Hath Not Shall Be Taken Away Even That Which He Hath.

- Matthew 25:29

Ancient Language J This actually put me off a bit. Thanks to our best friend, Mr. Google, I got the modern translation:

To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.

It’s pretty straightforward. Again, this gave me a flashback of what I blogged before particularly the one where I talked about the Parable of the Talents.

http://niksmyown.blogspot.com/2011/04/day-5-quote-4-engine-which-drives.html

In our society, everyone favors the poor and impoverished. Gov’t agencies and NGOs launch numerous projects such as food outreach programs and the like to help these people.

But, are we actually helping them? For me, it’s a BIG NO!

Yes, we’re helping them by giving them food, clothes and shelter. But, we’re definitely not "helping" them in the sense that we want them to stand on their own two legs. What we actually end up doing is spoon-feeding them. We're helping them dig their own grave.

If this keeps on happening, it's gonna turn into a vicious cycle. The rich will become richer while the poor will become poorer. Because they [poor] rely on others to provide for them, they wouldn't do anything at all to change that. They already found their comfort zone by relying on others. Why would they move away from their comfort zone?

There's this 40 year old woman at Ortigas (near the J. Vargas and San Miguel Ave. Stoplight near El Pueblo) who begs for money. I've seen her several times already. She asks for some change (piso to be exact) from passers-by by telling them that she needs money to pay for her ride home.

Sometimes, I just want to tell her: Come on! Are you serious? You're wearing decent clothes, you have a big purse, jewelries and yet you're asking us for money?

I have no problem with lending people some cash especially since it's only one peso; the problem is that there are those who just keep on asking for money instead of earning their own.

Instead of giving them what they need, we should, in fact, give them the tools that will allow them to (on their own) get what they need. No wonder the rich are already getting richer and the poor are getting poorer.

Day 17 Quote 6: If You Can Run One Business Well, You Can Run Any Business Well.

Quote 6: If You Can Run One Business Well, You Can Run Any Business Well.

- Richard Branson

Everything is created unique. Even biologically identical twins have differences. The main idea here, I think, is that once you’ve already proven yourself to be successful in a given project, don’t stop there. Push yourself to take on other projects. Don’t just settle for one success, no matter how huge it is. Always keep on growing and find successes in other places.

Musicians, like Madonna, for example. She got a huge hit that skyrocketed her to the top. But, she didn't stop there. She continuously reinvents herself (through new and exciting songs) to stay on top. No wonder she has been a household name for several years now. Or in the cases of best-selling authors like Paulo Coelho who wrote the widely famous book “The Alchemist.” It was such a huge success that he wrote more books such as the “The Fifth Mountain” and the “Eleven Minutes.” Although the succeeding books weren’t as successful as the “The Alchemist,” they still had a relevant impact among avid readers. It just goes to show that he didn’t stop with just one success.

That’s what we should all do. Don’t be a plateau. Be a growing and well-connected graph.

           

Day 17 Quote 5: There are Three Secrets to Real Estate: Location, Location, Location.

Quote 5: There are Three Secrets to Real Estate: Location, Location, Location.

- William Dillard

Setting real estate aside, location is not the only thing that’s important. It’s also about timing as well. Much similar to the saying that “you have to be at the right time and at the right place.”

Finding the right time and place is actually pretty tricky. You wouldn’t know if it’s the right time and place unless it has already expired. For instance, if you’re planning to go to the South (from Manila), there are two routes that you can take (Edsa or C5).

Choosing which route to take to reach your destination faster is often difficult. Though you’re pretty sure that there is traffic in Edsa, you can still opt to take that route considering that it connects to the Skyway. For C5 however, it can go either way. Sometimes there’s a huge build up of cars upon exiting C5. Other times, it’s smooth cruising all the way.

You wouldn’t really know if you’ve chosen the right route to take unless you get to the “no turning back point” and get a glimpse of the traffic in the other route.

Sometimes, you wouldn’t know if an opportunity has passed you unless you’ve already reached the point where there’s no way for you to get that opportunity back. It’s true when they say, “an opportunity only knocks once”.  If you close your door to it, you’ve lost it forever.

There’s also another view to this… *tracing back my blog from the “Only A Fool Holds Out For Top Dollar” http://niksmyown.blogspot.com/2011/04/day-2-new-realization.html

Sometimes, it’s also good to say no to an opportunity because you’re leaving your doors open to the possibility of something better. The sad truth is, you’ll actually never know if there’s something better that will pass your way. You can only HOPE for it.

Day 5 Quote 4: The Engine Which Drives Enterprise Is Not Thrift, But Profit

Quote 4: The Engine Which Drives Enterprise Is Not Thrift, But Profit

 – John Maynard Keynes

I find it amazing that even though I’m just in my 4^th quote, everything is actually very familiar to me. The quotes seem to share a common language that I understand.

It’s much similar to the “Parable of the Talents (Matt 25: 14-30).” Three servants were given talents by their master. After a period of time, their master summoned them again. He [master] was very pleased to see that the 1^st and 2^nd servant increased their talents. However, to his dismay, the third servant kept his talent and didn’t do anything to increase or use it. He just buried it.

Here’s the basic moral lesson:

If you have a talent [money], don’t keep it to yourself…Use it! Invest it! Grow it!

Going back to what I said earlier that these quotes all seem to share a common language. Much similar to the three servants, these quotes [talents] are given to us not to be kept or hidden but to be used.  There’s a lot of information available in the world; what sets people apart from each other is how they use these information. Quotes are a perfect embodiment of this. It [quote] speaks to us and is made available to us…but the manner of how we understand, use and apply it will definitely vary. You may have all the information in the world but if you just ignore it and don’t do anything about it…I have one thing to say to you:

You’re useless!

This is just what the quote says…thrift or savings may be good since it gives you a safety net during times of trouble; but, looking at the bigger picture, if you keep saving and saving…you actually end up with nothing. If what you have now is similar to what you have 3 years ago, you actually have nothing. Nothing in a sense that you didn’t do anything to improve yourself…again, nothing ventured, nothing gained!

That’s why profits are the engine that drives enterprise… because they constantly have to stay competitive and ahead of the pack, there is little room, if not zero, for doing nothing with the resources that are given to them.

I am not discouraging you from saving. I still save. Saving is good; but the thing here is that you shouldn't just keep saving your resources (money). You should constantly look for ways to make it grow. Before, I thought that if I wanted to buy something that is expensive, I would need to save up on my allowance. This is a very common practice.We save up our money to be able to buy something that costs more than what we already have. A car for example. For me, I want to buy a mini cooper (similar to the ones they use it the Italian Job movie) which costs around $30,000.

$30,000 is roughly around P 1.3M with a DP of 20%. Basically, I'll be needing around 260,000 just for the DP. If I save 10,000 of my salary per month, it will take me around 26 months or a little bit over two years. But, what if instead of just saving my salary per month, I invest a portion of it (if not the entire thing) on something that will give me profit. If I have a good investment portfolio and if the odds are with me, I can get P260,000 in less than two years. See the point?!

Simple tip: Always look for ways to make a profit given what you have!

Day 3 Quote 3: Cut Your Losses, and Let Your Profits Run

Quote 3: Cut Your Losses, and Let Your Profits Run

- Anonymous

This is definitely one of the most basic ideas that you have to instill in yourself.

Don’t settle for mediocrity!

If it’s pulling you down, let go of it! Go for something that will push you to the top…

But, this doesn’t give you the right to step on other’s shoes. It’s simply telling you that you should always strive for success. Don’t settle for what you have now; always try to push the boundaries. Improve yourself!

I recently talked to a friend of mine about perfection… it’s true that you can never be perfect. But, that shouldn’t stop you from chasing perfection. He told me that I should actually be thankful for the fact that I can never be perfect. It means that there is always room for me to grow. More knowledge to seek…more techniques to master… basically, making myself “more”. “More” doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re just learning more things it means “more” of things that matter to you and are of value to u.

We also talked about physically living and really living. Physically living is where you just live for the sake of living. You don’t do anything more… you don’t add anything to yourself or to the world. Really living is when you try to be “more.”

If you’re just going to “physically live” in this world, it’s better that you just not live at all. You’re sucking all the energies and resources in this world. You’re a waste of time!

So, please…do yourself a favor and do us a favor. Live!!! As in, Really Live!!!

I recalled another line that from one of the LG commercials… “Live Borderless”

Day 2 Quote 2 Continued

Only A Fool Holds Out For Top Dollar

Just wanted to add something....

I said that I like to take risks. If you don't risk anything, the chances of you getting that BIG prize in the end are minimal. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Although taking risks is commendable, it's also scary. If you take risks, there is that chance of being awarded the grand prize. But, what if the worse happens? Can you overcome it? Can you survive it? The prize may be very appealing but it's a complete 180 if you end up in the other direction.

Are you ready to take that leap?

Am I ready to take that leap? really ready?

Or maybe I shouldn't do anything at all... Say no to the present gain and say no to the future gain. Maybe none of the two options are best for me.  Come to think of it, it's really confusing. Should you go for what is being offered to you now? Should you go for what is being offered to you but is in the future? or should you wait for a totally different opportunity?

You're being asked to choose between option A or B. But, wouldn't it be better for you to just choose Option C?

I'm not sure if you're still following my trail of thought..but, think about it. In reality, the options that they give you are not the entire spectrum of paths that you can take. You have the decision to create your own option. To say no to them and say yes to something else. But still, there is that uncertainty that maybe that "something else" [or Option C] is not good for you also. In that scenario, you LOSE!

Whether you take Option A, B or C...there's is always that possibility of losing. Are you ready to lose? Am I ready to lose?

Right now...I'm still deciding.



Day 2 Quote 2: Only A Fool Holds Out For Top Dollar

Quote 2: Only A Fool Holds Out For Top Dollar

- Joseph P. Kennedy



Question: Would you rather opt for a guaranteed short-term gain or an unsure (but is definitely better) long-term gain?

Let’s say I’m giving you two options:

-         Option 1: I’ll give you a million pesos right now

-         Option 2: Depending on my mood, I’ll give you five million pesos or 0 pesos two years from now.

Considering the inflation rate, the second option still sounds waayy better. However, there is a catch to it – it can either be zero or five million. Yes, you can use the DCF (Discounted Cash Flow) equation to find out which option would yield a higher return. But in accounting for uncertainty (or, in this case, the chances of getting the “bokya” money), you would need to at least have a solid probability [of the chances] of either getting the five or “bokya” million pesos. Overall, what you can get is what’s called the “best estimate.” But since the differentiator or the decision maker is my mood (which is obviously qualitative), how you can logically decide what option is better? Or what is the “best estimate of returns”?

Going back, this is what Day 2’s topic answers. Only a fool holds out for top dollar! Following this thought, the risk of waiting for the five million pesos after two years is not worth it. You have to live for the now! Only fools turn down current opportunities in the hopes of receiving a very BIG opportunity in the future. It’s all about guaranteed success!

On the flip side, it’s also true that the biggest winners are fools! If you don’t risk anything, the chances of landing a BIG success are minimal. Risk Takers are those who defy the odds and take chances. They are the ones who have the guts to pursue something regardless if the cards are stacked against them. They seek for the bigger prize instead of settling for the small but guaranteed win.

But, be warned!

There are fools and there are smart fools. Fools are those who just keep on hoping for the promise of the future. Smart fools are who that still do the same but carefully analyze the situation if they have a realistic chance of getting the big prize in the end.

Smart fools are the true winners!

For me, I’d rather risk something than not risk anything at all. I love the thrill of chasing something that you are unsure of. It gives me a sense of an adrenaline rush. But, I still have to be careful as to what extent am I willing to take risks and if the prize in the end is all worth it.

I try to be a smart fool!

How ‘bout you? Do you want guarantees or do you want to be foolish? If you answer the latter, are you just a plain old fool or are you a smart fool? Pick a side.

Day 1 Quote 1: Buy Cheap, Sell Dear

Quote 1: Buy Cheap, Sell Dear

– John Greenleaf Whittier

This officially marks the start of the 365-day journey.

 “Buy cheap, sell dear.” Where have we all heard that before? It’s the most common line or rule used in the stock market.

I’ve been dabbling in stocks for almost 4 months now. From my perspective (that of the stock holder), when prices go up (higher than your acquisition price), you have to sell your stocks. That is the most fundamental way of earning a profit: buy low, sell high.

Sell it!!! But, to whom and how?

What is the most recent thing that you purchased? Why did you purchase it? Did you think about the price? (of course, you did) But, what else influenced your decision? This other factor is what I like to call the “umpf” factor.

Yes, price can be a factor in your decision-making. But, overall, you buy something because it’s important to you or because it adds some value to you. That’s what I like to call the “umpf” factor. It’s pretty simple. It’s the value of possessing it that makes you want to buy that product, service or any other thing that has a price tag.

It’s just a matter of weighing out which is more important:

-         The opportunity cost of spending your money on it instead of keeping your money or spending it on something else

   --> then don’t buy it

-         The opportunity cost of not having that object in your hands

       --> then buy it

This is where sellers strike the difference. Successful sellers are those who are able to position their products in a way that it appeals to their target market. In a way that makes the product very “dear” or with a high “umpf” factor to their market. 

  

Two sellers can sell the same product. Let’s say, bottled water. Everything is the same.

  

What will make you choose an Absolute water from a Wilkins water? A factor may be availability. If you go to a local sari-sari store, you don’t ask them for the brand of water that they have. You just tell them, “Isang water please.”

                                          Availability – that’s the “umpf” factor.

It’s that simple. Buy cheap and sell dear to earn profits. It’s not necessarily buying something cheap and then selling it with a high margin. It’s selling something at a price that is above your total unit cost (acquisition cost, overhead cost, etc.) in a way that emphasizes the “umpf” factor that your market looks for. Like for the bottled water example, make sure that you sell it at a price where you still make a profit. But, for your customers to buy that product make sure that you have a good logistics/distribution scheme.

 For the stock market example, the “umpf” factor is the type/nature/name of the stock. If it comes from one of the prominent companies (Del Monte, Ayala Corp., etc.) there’s a very good chance that you will easily be able to make a profit from your stocks.

Bottomline, buy cheap and sell dear. Choose your product. Choose your market. Find what makes your market choose your product over others. Find the “umpf” factor. Highlight it!

Cheers to the start of something wonderful!

I recently watched the "Julie and Julia" Movie and was inspired by how a simple person changed herself for the better just by committing to do a task that required her time, effort and patience. She may have encountered problems along the way such as the temporary separation from her husband and several nervous breakdowns; but, overall, the journey and the end goal were all worth it.

I created this blog to pay homage to that. But, since I am not an avid fan of cooking, I'll dab into something else - something that's more in my neighborhood and have the knack for it. That's reading books and philosophizing about it! In my 4 years in the Ateneo (and even prior to that), I've always found a soft spot for asking the questions "WHY?" and "How does that relate to me, the society, family, etc.?"

This blog will be about all of those.
The first book on my list is the "MBA In A Book" (edited by Leslie Pockell). I will commit 365 days trying to master (in this case, philosophize) the 328 pages of the MBA in a Book.

I will go through the book page-by-page. And as a general rule, I will not read through the other pages while I'm still philosophizing about a certain page.

Good Luck!! I hope I pull it off.

Looking forward to the great journey and end goal ahead.

Day 1 Quote 1 - April 18, 2011

Day 365 Quote 321- April 16, 2012

***That's exactly 365 days (http://www.convertunits.com/dates/)

"It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action, and discipline that enabled us to follow through"

- Hilary Hinton "Zig" Ziglar