Mi Choza De Nipa

When do you consider an amount big , or when do you consider an amount small? What size of dividend would you want? To what scale can your investments range?   Given also the situation that your investments are all successful , what do you do with the money after that? Engage more and more in other investments , to gain more and more money? And then , when you have more and more money , you engage more and more and more in other investments , so you gain more and more and more and more money? Whew! The cycle never stops? Well , there is one thing that is sure to stop. Your life. And here comes the big question: what will happen next? When you have so much money , and you die , what happens to your money? What will happen to all your pursuits of making huge money? What will your investments amount to after all? For sure , in your pursuit of money , you would have missed doing other things. What if the things you missed to do in your...

Some more quotes to record, before they are forgotten…     “Situations don’t make or break a man; they show what’s inside of him.”   “The worst situations can bring out the best in a man.”  

The Surgical Stainless Steel Waterless Cookware fever has not stopped.   After a demo on one particular brand of cookware at our place, I was receiving a number of comments and feedbacks, not to mention the ample info found in the net. Here goes:   1.        Those who have purchased the SM set (at a very high price!) attest to the excellence of the product. 2.       A colleague who did a cooking demo at our place happened to run a demo at another house, the owner of which already owned a SM cookware set. Having seen the capability of the cookware brand currently on demo, she didn’t hesitate to try out the recipe of a home-made pizza on the set she already had. The verdict? NOT MUCH DIFFERENCE. She just bought the ‘laba board’ from TW, which is used for marinating, or as a doughboard when making dough. 3.       One person who was trying to be a con...

Yesterday, I was watching the news back in the Phils. They were showing how Juan dela Cruz spends his hard-earned money. The reportes took several individuals, and profiled their earning and spending. They also interviewed a professor from UP, a financial consultant, and a sociologist. The results are very true, and very educational.   1.        Pinoys are having the culture of ‘earn-so-you-have-something-to-spend’ mentality, and this is passed down from one generation to another. 2.       When it comes to money, Pinoys tend to value people more than utilities. Those closest to them get the most benefits, but this also includes the circle of friends within their community. The ‘utang’ is extended outside of the family. 3.       In general, Pinoys don’t have savings. The situation simply does not allow that to happen. 4.     ...

Today is another opportunity for me, and a confirmation, that God is still in control of history, and the times of our lives.   This morning, there was a very peculiar event that asserts this to be true.   He really knows all about us (Ps 139). He directs our steps (Ps 37:23). His plans for us are good (Jer 29:11). He is God from everlasting to everlasting (Ps 90:2)  

Today I started training a number of colleagues in the same group. From the management side, this is just the way to stabilize our processes. If anybody will go on leave, somebody else can cover that person’s job. Or in the worst cases, even with half of the team out, the work goes on.   I would always remember that a person is most useful when he is useless.   What does this mean?   It means that in a group, if only one person is able to do something, and he doesn’t impart the skills and knowledge that he has, so that the rest are made able and capable, that person is useless. Although he can do the job, in a way he is not much help to the organization. Things work when he is around, and things stop to function when he is not. This is disastrous.   There are a number of reasons why a person would keep their skills and knowledge to themselves. One primary reason is job security. But this so-called ‘job...

Contrary to popular belief that leaders, especially those at the top, should be looking mostly at the big pictures, it would benefit much if these top leaders are also knowledgeable and aware of the small pictures and their details. We are surprised now and then when we hear management guys who can list down the steps of a certain process and enumerate the sequence with complete details, and we would appreciate what they would be talking about, albeit their focus is already different.   While it is true that top management folks are focused mainly on keeping the cost down, and hitting a short cycle time, and ensuring a good, if not the best, quality products, it is not an excuse, as it definitely is a plus factor if they also know what is happening at the bottom of the organization. We’ve seen cases of companies failing because top management people simply cannot make the right decision as the data provided to them by their subordinates are incorrect, and ev...

Last night, I am reminded of one very important thing: As you move up the ladder of leadership, there are a number of things that you do less, and, on the other hand, some things that you do more. To name a few, here goes:   1.        You do less of the actual work; you do more of managing your people and resources. 2.       You do less of thinking only about yourself; you do more on managing leaves, MCs, holidays, shutdowns, and the like. 3.       You do less of planning only for yourself; you do more of planning for your team. 4.       You do less of thinking only of your own improvement; you do more of thinking how to develop your team. 5.        You do less of thinking how you can be recognized; you do more of recommending your people for recognition. 6.       You do less of excusing you...

I read of a story about a billionaire who didn’t own a laptop , and so…   I remember a story about an applicant for a low-level job: as a janitor. There were a few people before him , but then , he was selected to fill that post. Came the final interview , then the HR manager asked him for his e-mail , so they can send him the outcome , as well as all other details. To this he replied , ‘I don’t have one.’ The HR manager was surprised , told him that this is required if he were to work in their company , and so , due to this small matter , he wasn’t taken.   The man was sad , but vowed to do his best to make what he can to make it big. He did. He did tomato business. He started small , from the least level , juggling things here and there , bringing boxes from one store to the other. And because of his perseverance , he was soon rising to a level recognizable. Soon , he was managing t...

Interestingly , I’ve had encounters with the devil so much that I’ve recognized some of his tactics. Since he is the father of lies , and nothing he says is true , it would be very easy ro recognize when he is around , and starts to pick on you. He can’t keep to himself his wiles anymore. Here are some of his subtle ways , and you have to watch out for them , or you’ll be in grave danger.   Always remember , ‘Don’t look the devil in the eye.’   1.        Dreams are said to be involuntary and they project what you have been thinking about. Satan has invaded even our dreams. So when you dream of sensual things , dream as if you are awake. Run from the temptation! Pray for the Lord’s help as if it were really happening. Look the other way. Don’t look the devil in the eye! 2.       When your eyes wander , and you glance upon some thi...