Faith of the Heart

Prepare Thoroughly Before You Begin

2011-10-16T04:05:00.000+08:00

Have Everything At Hand
One of the best ways for you to overcome procrastination and get more things done faster is for you to have everything you need at hand before you begin. When you are fully prepared, you are like a cocked gun or an archer with an arrow pulled back taut in the bow. You just need one small mental push to get started on your highest value tasks.

Clear Your Workspace
Begin by clearing off your desk or workspace so that you only have one task in front of you. If necessary, put everything on the floor or on the table behind you. Gather all the information, reports, details, papers, and work materials that you will require to complete the job. Have them at hand so you can reach them without getting up or moving. Be sure that you have all writing materials, computer disks, access codes, email addresses and everything else you need to start and continue working until the job is done.

Make It Comfortable
Set up your work area so that it is comfortable, attractive and conducive to working for long periods. Especially, make sure that you have a comfortable chair that supports your back and allows your feet to sit flat on the floor.

The most productive people take the time to create a work area where they enjoy spending time. The cleaner and neater your work area before you begin, the easier it is for you to get started and keep going.

Assume The Position
When you sit down, with everything in front of you, ready to go, assume the body language of high performance. Sit up straight, sit forward and away from the back of the chair. Carry yourself as though you were an efficient, effective high performing personality. Then, pick up the first item and say to yourself, "Let's get to work!" and plunge in. And once you've started, keep going until the job is finished.

Action Exercises
Here are two things you can do immediately to put these ideas into action.

First, take a good look at your desk or office, both at home and at the office. Ask yourself, "What kind of a person works in an environment like that?"

Second, resolve today to clean up your desk and office completely so that you feel effective, efficient and ready to get going each time you sit down to work.

By: Brian Tracy

Saturdays and Memories

2011-08-06T06:38:00.000+08:00

This is a blast from the past. I was browsing my old files and chanced upon this in my old old blog account. This was one Saturday morning not too long ago. It sort of described how I was feeling at that moment.

How time flies.

Now, it's also a Saturday on a warm August, 2011 morning. And I am on an upbeat mood, though not enough to make another poem. Things have been turning out pretty great for me lately. Thank you Lord.

Indeed, if it is to be, it is up to me.

Saturday Reverie

Jan 31, '09 10:59 PM
for everyone

My dogs are barking.
On this early Saturday morning.

Gosh, February is near!
And I still haven't written here.

January entries, too personal
To be seen in this OPEN journal.

So let me start,
By NOT trying to be smart.

Oh, words, please come out from your cage.
And help me fill this empty page.

Hahaha. I'm having fun now.
In making lines rhyme somehow.

The birds are chirping;
And I'm just typing.

I hear thunder.
Will there be rain? I wonder.

Now, I'm really having fun
Even if there's no SUN.

My stomach is grumbling.
But it's too early to be feasting.

Pandesal... pandedal, shouts a passing boy.
Not too loud, boy, or my wife you will annoy.

Gem is still asleep,
So I'll set my text TONE to a beep.

Oh, what a hectic week!
Glad I was not sick.

Damn, why the need
To be on lightning speed?

Is it a must,
To always run fast?

Or is going out of town
Wearing me down?

I guess, The hardest part
Would be not to take part.

Because if I just stand still
There wouldn't be any thrill.

So the biggest question to ask today:
Will there be an American Idol replay?

And our dogs are barking.
On this wonderful Saturday morning.

The Law of Competence

2011-07-12T16:58:00.000+08:00

You can increase your efficiency and your effectiveness by becoming better and better at your key tasks. One of the most powerful of all time management techniques is for you to get better at the most important things you do. Your core competencies, your key skill areas, the places where you are absolutely excellent at what you do, are the key determinants of your productivity, your standard of living, and the level of achievement you reach in your field.

Work Excellence
The market pays excellent rewards only for excellent work. You are therefore successful to the degree to which you do more things better than the average person. Your great responsibility in life is to determine what things you can and should do very well and then develop a plan to become very, very good in those vital areas.

Key Question
Here is the key question: What one skill, if you developed and did it in an excellent fashion, would have the greatest positive impact on your career? Your weakest important skill sets the height at which you can use all your other skills. Be honest with yourself. What is your limiting skill? What is the one skill that determines the speed at which you complete your major tasks and achieve your goals? What is the one skill, the lack of which may be holding you back?

Pareto Principle
The Pareto Principle, the 80/20 Rule, applies to those skills that are limiting to your success. Eighty percent of the reasons you are not moving ahead as fast as you want is explained by the 20 percent of skills and abilities that you lack. This rule also says that 80 percent of your limits in life are contained within yourself. Eighty percent of the reasons you are not achieving your goals as quickly as you want is because of the lack of a particular skill, ability, or quality within yourself.

Look Within Yourself
The underachiever always looks for the reasons for his or her problems in the outer world. The high achiever looks within. The high-achieving person always asks, what is it in me that is holding me back? Successful people look into themselves for the answers to their questions and for the solutions to their problems. Unsuccessful people always look outside. Who do you think finds the solutions first?

Ask Others to Evaluate
Ask people around you to evaluate you in your critical skill areas on a scale of one to ten. The more accurate you can be about this exercise, the easier it will be for you to focus on the one or two skill areas that help you the most.

Action Exercise
Identify the one skill, the most important skill, the one that, if you developed and did it in an excellent fashion, would have the greatest positive impact on your career. Whatever it is, set a goal, make a plan, and go to work to become excellent in that area. You will be absolutely amazed at the difference it will make in your career.

by Brian Tracy

It Doesn't Take A Hero

2011-05-24T17:49:00.002+08:00

"It Doesn't Take A Hero" is the remarkable autobiography of H. Norman Schwarzkopf, commander of US and Allied forces during the 1st gulf war .

This is probably one of the longest books I've ever read, almost 600 pages long and in fine print. Not sure why I got hooked. Did it felt like I was reading a novel? I don't know.

I've never been a history buff but this gave me a direct, first hand look at major events: Vietnam War, Invasion of Grenada to free captive American students, Dessert Storm and, to some extent, the Korean War, Fall of the Berlin Wall, Cold War, and other smaller conflicts but with major world repercussions; and seeing it through the eyes of someone who was actually in the middle of it.

He truly lived and is still living (I'm sure) an interesting and fulfilling life. His ideals are so defined: taking care of family, honor, duty, honesty, service to country, loyalty and his rules on leadership. I'm starting to wonder, what are my mine? What are some of the unbreakable life principles that should be governing my life? What are the standards by which I should be measuring myself? At the end of my days, will I be wallowing in regret and self-pity? Or will I be triumphant in my victories?

One thing is so crystal-clear: My history will be defined by what I do and fail to do now.

So many thoughts about this book.

"It doesn't take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle." - General Norman Schwarzkopf

It Doesn't Take A Hero

2011-05-24T17:49:00.001+08:00

"It Doesn't Take A Hero" is the remarkable autobiography of H. Norman Schwarzkopf, commander of US and Allied forces during the 1st gulf war .

This is probably one of the longest books I've ever read, almost 600 pages long and in fine print. Not sure why I got hooked. Maybe because it felt like I was reading a novel, I don't know.

I've never been a history buff but this gave me a direct, first hand look at major events: Vietnam War, Invasion of Grenada, Dessert Storm and to some extent the Korean War, Fall of the Berlin Wall, Cold War, and other smaller conflicts but with major world repercussions, and seeing it from the eyes of someone who was actually in the middle of it.

He truly lived and is still living (I'm sure) an interesting and fulfilling life. His ideals are so defined: family, honor, duty, honesty, service to country, loyalty and leadership. I'm starting to wonder, what are my mine? What are some of the unbreakable life principles that should be governing my life? What are the standards by which I should be measuring myself?

So many thoughts about this book.

"It doesn't take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle." - General Norman Schwarzkopf

It Doesn't Take A Hero

2011-05-24T17:49:00.000+08:00

It Doesn't Take A Hero" is the remarkable autobiography of H. Norman Schwarzkopf, commander of US and Allied forces during the 1st gulf war .

This is probably one of the longest books I've ever read, almost 600 pages long and in fine print. I'm not really sure why I got hooked. Maybe because it felt like I was reading a novel, I don't know.

I've never been a history buff but this gave me a direct, first hand look of someone who was actually in the middle of great events: Vietnam War, Invasion of Grenada, Dessert Storm and to some extent the Korean War, Fall of the Berlin Wall, Cold War, and other smaller conflicts but with major world repercussions.

He truly lived and is still living (I'm sure) an interesting and fulfilled life. His ideals are so defined: honor, duty, honesty, service to country, loyalty and leadership. I'm starting to wonder, what are my mine? What are some of the unbreakable life principles that should be governing my life?

So many thoughts on this book.

"It doesn't take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle." - General Norman Schwarzcopf

Make Your Life a Masterpiece

2011-05-16T05:57:00.000+08:00

This is the age of achievement. Never have more people accomplished more things in more different fields than they are accomplishing today. More people are becoming successful at a faster rate than at any other time in history. There have never been more opportunities for you to turn your dreams into realities than there are right now.

The Seven Ingredients of Success
Your ideal life is a blending these seven ingredients in exactly the combination that makes you the happiest at any particular moment. By defining your success and happiness in terms of one or more of these seven ingredients, you create a clear target to aim it. You can then measure how well you're doing. You can identify the areas where you need to make changes if you want your life to improve.

Peace of Mind
The first of these seven ingredients of success, and easily the most important, is peace of mind. It is the highest human good. Without it, nothing else has much value. In corporations, peace of mind can be measured in terms of the amount of harmony that exists among coworkers. The wonderful truth about peace of mind is that it is your normal natural condition. It is the basic precondition for enjoying everything else.

Health and Energy
The second ingredient of success is health and energy. Just as peace of mind is your normal and natural mental state, health and energy is your normal and natural physical state. If you achieve all kinds of things in the material world, but lose your health then you will get little or no pleasure from your other accomplishments. So imagine yourself enjoying perfect health, and think of how you would be if you were your ideal image of physical fitness. Then strive for your mental goal of fitness and health.

Loving Relationships
The third ingredient of success is loving relationships. These are relationships with the people you love and care about, and the people who love and care about you. They are the real measure of how well you are doing as a human being. At almost any time, you can measure how well you are doing in your relationship by one simple test: laughter. This is true for companies as well. High-performance, high profit organizations are those in which people laugh and joke together. Examine your relationships, one by one, and develop a plan to make each of them enjoyable and satisfying.

Financial Freedom
The fourth ingredient of success is financial freedom. Achieving your financial freedom is one of the most important goals and responsibilities of your life. A feeling of freedom is essential to the achievement of any other important goal, and you cannot be free until and unless you have enough money so that you are no longer preoccupied with it. When you decide exactly what you want your financial picture to look like, you will be able to use this system to achieve your goals faster than you might have imagined possible.

Worthy Goals and Ideals
The fifth ingredient of success is worthy goals and ideals. To be truly happy, you need a clear sense of direction. You need to feel that your life stands for something, that you are somehow making a valuable contribution to your world.

Self Knowledge and Self-Awareness
The sixth ingredient of success is self-knowledge and self-awareness. To perform at your best you need to know who you are and why you think and feel the way you do. It is only when you understand and accept yourself that you can begin moving forward in other areas of your life.

Personal Fulfillment
The seventh ingredient of success is personal fulfillment. This is the feeling that you are becoming everything that you are capable of becoming. It is the sure knowledge that you are moving toward the realization of your full potential as a human being.

Action Exercise
Take the brush of your imagination and begin painting a masterpiece on the canvas of your life. It is for you to decide clearly what would make you the happiest in everything you are doing.

By Brian Tracy

Relax and Recharge Completely

2011-04-29T07:06:00.000+08:00

Regular relaxation is essential for a long life and personal effectiveness. Here are some techniques for relaxing physically that are used by the most successful and highest paid people in America.

Take Time Off Every Week
First of all, work only five or six days per week, and rest completely on the seventh day. Every single study in this area shows that you will be far more productive in the five or six days that you work if you take one or two days off completely than you ever would be if you worked straight through for seven days.

Get Your Mind Busy Elsewhere
During this time off, do not catch up on reports, organize your desk, prepare proposals, or do anything else that requires mental effort. Simply let your mind relax completely, and get busy doing things with your family and friends. Maybe work around the house, go for a walk, engage in physical exercise, watch television, go to a movie, or play with your children. Whatever you do, discipline yourself to shut your mental gears off completely for at least one 24-hour period every seven days.

Get Away on Mini-Vacations
Second, take one three-day vacation every three months, and during that time, refrain from doing any work. Do not attempt to catch up on even a few small things. If you do, you keep your mental gears in motion, and you end up neither resting nor properly doing work of any quality.

Take Big Chunks of Down Time
Third, take at least two full weeks off each year during which you do nothing that is work-related. You can either work or relax; you cannot do both. If you attempt to do a little work while you are on vacation, you never give your mental and emotional batteries a chance to recharge. You'll come back from your vacation just as tired as you were when you left.

Give Yourself a Break Today
If you are involved in a difficult relationship, or situation at work that is emotionally draining, discipline yourself to take a complete break from it at least one day per week. Put the concern out of your mind. Refuse to think about it. Don't continually discuss it, make telephone calls about it or mull it over in your mind. You cannot perform at your best mentally if you are emotionally preoccupied with a person or situation. You have to give yourself a break.

Go For a Walk in Nature
Since a change is as good as a rest, going for a nice long walk is a wonderful way to relax emotionally and mentally. As you put your physical body into motion, your thoughts and feelings seem to relax all by themselves.

Eat Lighter Foods
Also, remember that the process of digestion consumes an enormous amount of physical energy. Therefore, if you eat lighter foods, you will feel better and more refreshed afterward. If you eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain products, your digestive system will require far less energy to process them.

Be Good to Yourself
Since your diet has such an impact on your level of physical energy, and through it your levels of mental and emotional energy, the more fastidious you are about what you put into your mouth, the better you will feel and the more productive you will be. We know now that foods high in fat, sugar, or salt are not good for your body. The lighter the foods you eat, the more energy you have.

Action Exercises
Here are three things you can do immediately to put these ideas into action:

First, plan your weeks in advance and build in at least one day when you will relax from work completely. Discipline yourself to keep this date.

Second, reserve, book and pay for your three day vacations several months in advance. Once you've paid the money, you are much more likely to go rather than put it off.

Third, decide that you will not work at all during your vacations. When you work, work. And when you rest, rest 100% of the time. This is very important.

The Efficiency Curve

2011-04-20T05:18:00.000+08:00

Focus Clearly on Your Number One Task
By focusing clearly on your most valuable task and concentrating single-mindedly until it is 100% complete, you actually shape and mold your own character. You become a superior person.

You become a stronger, more competent, confident and happier person. You feel more powerful and productive.

Build Your Self-Confidence
You eventually feel capable of setting and achieving any goal. You become the master of your own destiny. You place yourself on an ascending spiral of personal effectiveness on which your future is absolutely guaranteed.

And the key to all of this is for you to determine the most valuable and important thing you could possibly do at every single moment and then, "Eat That Frog!"

Action Exercises
Once you start your most important task, discipline yourself to persevere without diversion or distraction until it is 100% complete. See it as a "test" to determine whether you are the kind of person who can make a decision to complete something and then carry it out. Once you begin, refuse to stop until the job is finished.

By: Brian Tracy

See Yourself as Self-Employed

2011-03-25T06:35:00.000+08:00

Accept complete, 100% responsibility for everything you are and everything you will ever be. Refuse to make excuses or to blame other people for your problems or shortcomings. Stop complaining about things in your life that you're not happy about. Refuse to criticize other people for anything. You are responsible. If there's something in your life that you don't like, it's up to you to do something about it. But you are in charge.

The top three percent of Americans see themselves as self-employed, no matter who signs their pay cheque. The biggest mistake you can ever make is to ever think that you work for anyone else other than yourself. You are always self-employed. You are always the president of your own personal services corporation, no matter where you might be working at the moment. When you see yourself as self-employed, you develop the entrepreneur mentality. The mentality of the highly independent, self-responsible, self-starting individual. Instead of waiting for things to happen, you make things happen. You see yourself as the boss of your own life. You see yourself as completely in charge of your physical health, your financial well-being, your career, your relationships, your home, your car, and every element of your existence. This is the mindset of the truly excellent person.

Self-responsible people are intensely result-oriented. They take high levels of initiative. They volunteer for assignments and they're always asking for more responsibility. As a result, they become the most valuable and respected people in their organizations. They continually prepare themselves for positions of higher authority and positions in the future. And you should do the same.

Here's a question for you: if you were president for a day in your company, or were completely responsible for results where you work, what one change would you enact immediately? Whatever it is, write it down, make a plan, and begin on it today. This decision alone could change your life.

by Brian Tracy

Commit to Excellence

2011-03-25T06:23:00.000+08:00

Resolve today to be the very best at what you do. Set a goal for yourself to join the top 10% in your field, whatever it is. This decision to become very, very good at what you do, can be the turning point in your life. There are no successful people who are not recognized as being extremely competent in their chosen fields. Remember, no one is better than you and no one is smarter than you. And everyone who is at the top 10% today started off in the bottom 10%. Everyone who is doing well was once doing poorly. Everyone who is leading their field was at one time in another field altogether. And what someone else has done, you can do as well.

Here's a great rule for success: your life only gets better when you get better. And, since there's no limit on how much better you can become, there is no limit to how much better you can make your life. Your decision to become excellent at what you do, to join the top 10% in your field, can be the turning point in your life. It can be the key to great success. This decision is also the foundation of high levels of self-esteem, self-respect, and personal pride. When you are really good at what you do, you feel wonderful about yourself. The quality of your work affects your entire personality and all your relationships with other people. You feel terrific when you know that you are at the top of your field.

Here is one of the most important questions you will ever ask and answer for the rest of your career: what one skill, if you developed and did it in an excellent fashion, would have the greatest positive impact on your life? You see, you can't become good at everything overnight, but you can identify the one skill that can help you the most right now, and then throw your whole heart into developing that skill. Set it as a goal. Write it down. Set a deadline. Make a plan and work on becoming better in that area every single day. You will be absolutely amazed at the difference this commitment to excellence will make in your life.

by Brian Tracy

Pay yourself first

2010-12-22T06:21:00.000+08:00

Save and invest 10% of your income throughout your working life. Take 10% of your income off the top of your paycheck each time you receive it and put it away into a special account for financial accumulation. If you just saved 100 dollars per month throughout your working lifetime and you invested that money in an average mutual fund that grew at 10% per annum, you would accumulate a fortune of more than one million dollars by the time you retire. What this means is that anyone, even a minimum wage earner, if they start early enough and save long enough, can become a millionaire in the course of time.

It was once said that if you cannot save money, then the seeds of greatness are not in you. Developing the lifelong habit of saving and investing your money is not easy. It requires tremendous determination and willpower. You have to set it as a goal. Write it down. Make a plan. Work on it all the time. But once it locks in and becomes automatic, your financial success is virtually guaranteed.

Practice frugality, frugality, frugality in all things. Be very careful with every penny. Question every expenditure. Delay or defer every important buying decision for at least a week, if not a month. The longer you put off making a buying decision, the better will be your decision, and the better a price you will get at that time.

The major reason that people retire poor is because of impluse purchases. They see something and they buy it, with very little thought. They become victims of what is called Parkinson's law. This law says that expenses rise to meet income. No matter how much you earn, you spend that much and a little bit more besides. You never get ahead and you never get out of debt if you fall prey to Parkinson's law.

But this is not for you. If you cannot save 10% of your income, start today by saving 1% of your income in the special savings and investment account. Put it away at the beginning of each month, even before you begin paying your debts. Learn to live on the other 99% of your income. As you become comfortable living on 99% of your income, raise your savings level to 2% of your income, then 3% and 4% and so on. Within one year, you'll find yourself saving 10% and maybe even 15% or 20% of your income and living comfortably on the balance. At the same time, your savings and investment account will start to grow. You'll start to become more careful about your expenditures and you'll start paying off your debts. Within a year or two, your entire financial life will be under your control and you'll be on your way to becoming a self-made millionaire. This process has worked for everyone who has ever tried it and it will work for you.

by Brian Tracy

I see you

2010-12-20T19:37:00.000+08:00

"I see you." A greeting I heard from the movie Avatar. What a way to acknowledge the presence of a person! It's taking time to know and discover that in front of you is a human being with his own worries, struggles, and successes.

I have been attempting, to some degree, to have this kind of mind set when I meet an old friend. Of course, I will not say, I see you. This would be weird. But I simply ask how they are doing. Almost always they would narrate about where they work, their business, their kids, where they have been, where they are living right now, some gossips about our common friends, etc. And when the bubbling goes on for quite sometime, I gently interrupt and state it clearly again, "No, I want to find out about you. How are YOU doing? And when they realize that my sincerity in asking how they really are doing, the mood sort of changes, and the conversation shifts gear into a deeper, more meaningful one.

I was at a mall early today. I chanced upon an old friend and we chatted for about maybe five to ten minutes. After the initial pleasantries, I asked him again how he really was doing, I think he sensed that I was genuinely interested because, wow, in so short a time he talked about his struggles: client troubles; relationship problems with in laws and later, his wife; financial burdens with his failing business, etc.

I really had no more time to hear his woes because I was now late for an appointment, so I asked, "In all your problems was there anybody who wass always present at the scene of the crime? I suggested maybe that person needed to change first. This got him thinking. And I had to leave.

Later, I got a text message from him. His answer, "My wife." Hahaha.. But I know he got my point, loud and clear.

Clarity of Purpose

2010-12-13T16:02:00.000+08:00

The Law of Clarity

Clarity accounts for probably 80% of success and happiness. Lack of clarity is probably more responsible for frustration and underachievement than any other single factor. That's why we say that "Success is goals, and all else is commentary." People with clear, written goals, accomplish far more in a shorter period of time than people without them could ever imagine. This is true everywhere and under all circumstances.

The Three Keys to High Achievement
You could even say that the three keys to high achievement are, "Clarity, Clarity, Clarity," with regard to your goals. Your success in life will be largely determined by how clear you are about what it is you really, really want.

Write and Rewrite Your Goals
The more you write and rewrite your goals and the more you think about them, the clearer you will become about them. The clearer you are about what you want, the more likely you are to do more and more of the things that are consistent with achieving them. Meanwhile, you will do fewer and fewer of the things that don't help to get the things you really want.

The Seven Step Process for Achieving Goals
Here, once more, is the simple, seven-step process that you can use to achieve your goals faster and easier than ever before.

First, decide exactly what you want in each area of your life. Be specific!

Second, write it down, clearly and in detail;

Third, set a specific deadline. If it is a large goal, break it down into sub-deadlines and write them down in order;

Fourth, make a list of everything you can think of that you are going to have to do to achieve your goal. As you think of new items, add them to your list;

Fifth, organize the items on your list into a plan by placing them in the proper sequence and priority;

Sixth, take action immediately on the most important thing you can do on your plan. This is very important!

Seventh, do something every day that moves you toward the attainment of one or more of your important goals. Maintain the momentum!

Join the Top 3%
Fewer than three percent of adults have written goals and plans that they work on every single day. When you sit down and write out your goals, you move yourself into the top 3% of people in our society. And you will soon start to get the same results that they do.

Review Your Goals Daily
Study and review your goals every day to be sure they are still your most important goals. You will find yourself adding goals to your list as time passes. You will also find yourself deleting goals that are no longer as important as you once thought. Whatever your goals are, plan them out thoroughly, on paper, and work on them every single day. This is the key to peak performance and maximum achievement.

Action Exercises
Here is how you can apply this law immediately:

First, make a list of ten goals that you would like to achieve in the coming year. Write them down in the present tense, as though a year has passed and you have already accomplished them.

Second, from your list of ten goals, ask yourself, "What one goal, if I were to accomplish it, would have the greatest positive impact on my life?" Whatever it is, put a circle around this goal and move it to a separate sheet of paper.

Third, practice the seven-step method described above on this goal. Set a deadline, make a plan, and put it into action and work on it every day. Make this goal your major definite purpose for the weeks and months ahead.

Get ready for some amazing changes in your life.

- Brian Tracy

Growing inside.

2010-09-19T03:16:00.000+08:00

Just heard this awhile ago: "My compensation plan is tied to my personal growth."

Wow. What a revealing statement. You start to earn when you start to grow, in any career, in any field. When you develop the character, learn and practice the necessary skills, develop the important habits and attitudes -- your financial freedom begins. It also means, when you grow exponentially as a person, inside, all others areas of your visible life grows exponentially, too.

This is just the greatest day of my life!

Why You Procrastinate?

2010-06-23T13:48:00.000+08:00

Slice and Dice the Task
By: Brian Tracy

Why You Procrastinate
A major reason for procrastinating on big, important tasks is that they appear so large and formidable when you first approach them. One technique that you can use to cut a big task down to size is the "Salami slice" method of getting work done. With this method, you lay out the task in detail and then resolve to do just one slice of the job for the time being, like eating a roll of salami, one slice at a time. Or like eating one piece of a frog at a time.

Do One Small Part to Start
Psychologically, you will find it easier to do a single, small piece of a large project than to start on the whole job. Often, once you have started and completed a single part of the job, you will feel like doing just one more "slice." Soon, you will find yourself working through the job one part at a time, and before you know it, the job will be completed.

Just Get Started
Once you start working, you develop a sense of forward momentum and a feeling of accomplishment. You become energized and excited. You feel yourself internally motivated and propelled to keep going until the task is complete.

Action Exercises
Now, here are two actions you can take immediately to put these ideas into action.

First, select one big important task and lay it out in front of you.

Second, select one part of the task and do it immediately.

Kick Open the Doors

2010-06-15T06:16:00.000+08:00

Anyone who does a great job consistently, over and over, kicks open the doors of opportunity in all directions. Such a person will be hired, paid well, promoted, advanced and given additional responsibilities because there are so few of them.

Make a Decision Today
You can put your life and career into an upward trajectory by making the decision, today, that you are going to become one of the best time managers in your field. And in this session, you will learn how to do it.

Benjamin Franklin once wrote, "Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of."

Exploit Your Most Precious Resource
Time is your most precious resource. It is all you really have. It is your life. As long as you have lots of time, you can do almost anything. But if your time is cut off for any reason, all of your possibilities are cut off as well.

Queen Elizabeth I of England was one of the richest women in the world. She owned half the country. Yet, when she was on her deathbed, she turned to her doctor and said, "I would give all I have for a few more minutes of time."

Start This Very Minute
The time for you and I to begin to appreciate how valuable and precious each minute is, is right now, not a later time when our minutes and hours are draining away.

Action Exercises
Here are two things you can do immediately to put these ideas into action.

First, resolve to become an expert at time management. Work on becoming more efficient every day.

Second, ask "Why am I on the payroll?" Whatever your answer to this question, work on it all day long.

By: Brian Tracy

Two Key Questions for Maximum Effectiveness

2010-06-08T05:25:00.000+08:00

There are two questions that you can ask on a regular basis to keep yourself focused on getting your most important tasks completed on schedule. The first question is "What are my highest value activities?"

Put another way, what are the most important tasks you have to complete to make the greatest contribution to your organization? To your family? To your life in general?

Think it Through Carefully

This is one of the most important questions you can ask and answer. What are your highest value activities? First, think this through for yourself. Then, ask your boss. Ask your coworkers and subordinates. Ask your friends and family. Like focusing the lens of a camera, you must be crystal clear about your highest value activities before you begin work.

Keep Yourself Focused

The second question you can ask continually is, "What can I and only I do, that if done well, will make a real difference?"

This question comes from Peter Drucker, the management guru. It is one of the best of all questions for achieving personal effectiveness. What can you, and only you do, that if done well, can make a real difference?

This is something that only you can do. If you don't do it, it won't be done by someone else. But if you do it, and you do it well, it can really make a difference to your life and your career. What is your answer to this question?

Every hour of every day, you can ask yourself this question and there will be a specific answer. Your job is to be clear about the answer and then to start and work on this task before anything else.

Action Exercises

Here are two things you can do immediately to put these ideas into action.

First, make a list of everything you do at work and then select your most valuable tasks from that list.

Second, resolve to start in on your highest value task and stay at it until it is 100% complete.

by Brian Tracy

The Efficiency Curve

2010-05-24T20:50:00.000+08:00

The more you discipline yourself to working non-stop on a single task, the more you move down the "Efficiency Curve." You get more and more high quality work done in less and less time.

Each time you stop working however, you break this cycle and move back up the curve to where every part of the task is more difficult and time consuming.

Self-Discipline Is the Key
Elbert Hubbard defined self-discipline as, "The ability to make yourself do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not."

In the final analysis, success in any area requires tons of discipline. Self-discipline, self-mastery and self-control are the basic building blocks of character and high performance.

The True Test of Willpower
Starting a high-priority task and persisting with that task until it is 100% complete is the true test of your character, your willpower and your resolve.

Persistence is actually self-discipline in action. The good news is that the more you discipline yourself to persist on a major task, the more you like and respect yourself, and the higher is your self-esteem.

And the more you like and respect yourself, the easier it is for you to discipline yourself to persist even more.

Focus Clearly on Your Number One Task
By focusing clearly on your most valuable task and concentrating single-mindedly until it is 100% complete, you actually shape and mold your own character. You become a superior person.

You become a stronger, more competent, confident and happier person. You feel more powerful and productive.

Build Your Self-Confidence
You eventually feel capable of setting and achieving any goal. You become the master of your own destiny. You place yourself on an ascending spiral of personal effectiveness on which your future is absolutely guaranteed.

And the key to all of this is for you to determine the most valuable and important thing you could possibly do at every single moment and then, "Eat That Frog!"

Action Exercises
Once you start your most important task, discipline yourself to persevere without diversion or distraction until it is 100% complete. See it as a "test" to determine whether you are the kind of person who can make a decision to complete something and then carry it out. Once you begin, refuse to stop until the job is finished.

By: Brian Tracy

Our deepest fear

2010-05-24T20:30:00.000+08:00

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,

we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

by Marianne Williamson

The ABCDE Method for Setting Priorities

2010-05-18T09:48:00.000+08:00

Efficiency is doing things right. Effectiveness is doing the right things. Your ability to plan and organize your work, in advance, so you are always working on your highest value tasks determines your success as much as any other factor.

The ABCDE Method for Priorities
The process of setting short-term priorities begins with a pad of paper and a pen. Whenever you feel overwhelmed by too many things to do and too little time in which to do them, sit down, take a deep breath, and list all those tasks you need to accomplish. Although there is never enough time to do everything, there is always enough time to do the most important things, and to stay with them until they are done right.

Setting Better Priorities
The best method for setting priorities on your list, once you have determined your major goals or objectives, is the A-B-C-D-E method. You place one of those letters in the margin before each of the tasks on your list before you begin.

"A" stands for "very important;" something you must do. There can be serious negative consequences if you don't do it.

"B" stands for "important;" something you should do. This is not as important as your 'A' tasks. There are only minor negative consequences if it is not completed.

"C" stands for things that are "nice to do;" but which are not as important as 'A' or 'B,' tasks. There are no negative consequences for not completing it.

"D" stands for "delegate." You can assign this task to someone else who can do the job instead of you.

"E" stands for "eliminate, whenever possible." You should eliminate every single activity you possibly can, to free up your time.

When you use the A-B-C-D-E method, you can very easily sort out what is important and unimportant. This then will focus your time and attention on those items on your list that are most essential for you to do.

Just Say No
Once you can clearly determine the one or two things that you should be doing, above all others, just say no to all diversions and distractions and focus single-mindedly on accomplishing those priorities.

Much stress that you experience in your work life comes from working on low-priority tasks. The amazing discovery is that as soon as you start working on your highest-value activity, all your stress disappears. You feel a continuous stream of energy and enthusiasm. As you work toward the completion of something that is really important, you feel an increased sense of personal value and inner satisfaction. You experience a sensation of self-mastery and self-control. You feel calm, confident and capable.

Action Exercises
Here are three ideas that you can use, every day, to help you set priorities and to keep you working at your best:

First, take the time to be clear about your goals and objectives so that the priorities you set are moving you in the direction of something that is of real value to you.

Second, remember that what counts is not the amount of time that you put in overall; rather, it's the amount of time that you spend working on high-priority tasks.

Third, understand that the most important factor in setting priorities is your ability to make wise choices. You are always free to choose to engage in one activity or another.

Resolve today to set clear priorities in every area of your life, and always choose the activities that will assure you the greatest health, happiness and prosperity in the long term.

By: Brian Tracy

Everyone Starts Off Broke

2010-05-14T05:37:00.000+08:00

Starting Small

How and why you can start your own business with little or no money by using sweat equity.

Everyone Starts Off Broke
I used to feel sorry for myself because I came from a limited background and I had no money. Then I found that nobody has any money. Everyone starts off broke. In fact, most successful people go broke or nearly broke several times during their lives. Don't let this hold you back.

Practice, Practice, Practice
Transformational leaders empower others by keeping them "in the know," by keeping them fully informed on everything that effects their jobs. People want and need to feel that they are "insiders," that they are aware of everything that is going on. There is nothing so demoralizing to a staff member than to be kept in the dark about their work and what is going on in the company.

But if you are willing to put in the time to learn, remember about 95 percent of the working population in America have the ability to start and build their own businesses if they would only do it. Multi-level marketing is an excellent second income opportunity where you can learn vital business skills at low cost. Especially selling, organizing, making presentations, accounting, team building, negotiating, persuading, and communicating. 85 percent of what you need to learn to be successful in business you can learn from running a successful multi-level marketing business.

Roll Up Your Sleeves
Remember this, though. Leaders are always willing to do what is called dog work. They're willing to render humble service. They're willing to roll up their sleeves and plunge in. They never think of themselves as being too good for a job. There are an enormous number of people who are presented with second income opportunities who turn them down because they think that they're too good to do something like that. But the people who are thinking that they are too good are the people who retire poor. You'll find that leaders of all organizations are always willing to roll up their sleeves and to get in there.

Action Exercises
Now, here are two things you can do to put these ideas into action immediately:

First, remember that buying and selling things is the essence of all business. Look for opportunities to buy and sell things on your own account. Visit garage sales or hold a garage sale of your own. Visit swap meets and negotiate with people with things for sale. Make it a game to learn these skills.

Second, start in a small business of some kind. Look for a second income or multi level marketing opportunity where you can buy and sell on a small scale. Many people become wealthy starting off with virtually nothing in this way.

By: Brian Tracy

Make Your Life a Masterpiece

2010-05-03T03:48:00.000+08:00

Loving Relationships
The third ingredient of success is loving relationships. These are relationships with the people you love and care about, and the people who love and care about you. They are the real measure of how well you are doing as a human being. At almost any time, you can measure how well you are doing in your relationship by one simple test: laughter. This is true for companies as well. High-performance, high profit organizations are those in which people laugh and joke together. Examine your relationships, one by one, and develop a plan to make each of them enjoyable and satisfying.

Financial Freedom
The fourth ingredient of success is financial freedom. Achieving your financial freedom is one of the most important goals and responsibilities of your life. A feeling of freedom is essential to the achievement of any other important goal, and you cannot be free until and unless you have enough money so that you are no longer preoccupied with it. When you decide exactly what you want your financial picture to look like, you will be able to use this system to achieve your goals faster than you might have imagined possible.

Worthy Goals and Ideals
The fifth ingredient of success is worthy goals and ideals. To be truly happy, you need a clear sense of direction. You need to feel that your life stands for something, that you are somehow making a valuable contribution to your world.

Self Knowledge and Self-Awareness
The sixth ingredient of success is self-knowledge and self-awareness. To perform at your best you need to know who you are and why you think and feel the way you do. It is only when you understand and accept yourself that you can begin moving forward in other areas of your life.

Personal Fulfillment
The seventh ingredient of success is personal fulfillment. This is the feeling that you are becoming everything that you are capable of becoming. It is the sure knowledge that you are moving toward the realization of your full potential as a human being.

Action Exercise
Take the brush of your imagination and begin painting a masterpiece on the canvas of your life. It is for you to decide clearly what would make you the happiest in everything you are doing.

By Brian Tracy

How to Identify Your Goals

2010-05-03T03:45:00.000+08:00

Here are seven goal-setting questions for you to ask and answer over and over again. I suggest that you take a pad of paper and write out your responses.

Question Number One:
What are your five most important values in life?
This question is intended to help you clarify what is really important to you, and by extension, what is less important, or unimportant. Once you have identified the five most important values in life for you, organize them in order of priority, from number one, the most important, through number five.

Question Number Two:
What are your three most important goals in life, right now?
This is called the "quick list" method. When you only have thirty seconds to write down your three most important goals, your subconscious mind sorts out your many goals quickly. Your top three will just pop into your conscious mind. With only thirty seconds, you will be as accurate as if you had thirty minutes.

Question Number Three:
What would you do, how would you spend your time, if you learned today that you only had six months to live?
This is another value questions to help you clarify what is really important to you. When your time is limited, even if only in your imagination, you become aware of who and what you really care about.

Question Number Four:
What would you do if you won a million dollars cash, tax free, in the lottery tomorrow?

How would you change your life? What would you buy? What would you start doing, or stop doing? This is really a question to help you decide what you'd do if you had all the time and money you need, and if you had virtually no fear of failure at all.

Question Number Five:
What have you always wanted to do, but been afraid to attempt?
This question helps you see more clearly where your fears could be blocking you from doing what you really want to do.

Question Number Six:
What do you most enjoy doing? What gives you your greatest feeling of self-esteem and personal satisfaction?
This is another values question that may indicate where you should explore to find your "heart's desire." You will always be most happy doing what you most love to do, and what you most love to do is invariably the activity that makes you feel the most alive and fulfilled. The most successful men and women in America are invariably doing what they really enjoy, most of the time.

Question Number Seven:
What one great thing would you dare to dream if you knew you would not fail?
Imagine that a genie appears and grants you one wish. The genie guarantees that you will be absolutely, completely successful in any one thing that you attempt to do, big or small, short or long-term. If you were absolutely guaranteed success in any one thing, what one exciting goal would you set for yourself?

Action Exercise
Study the pad of paper that you used to answer these questions. This paper represents your future goals. Look at what you wrote every day and shape your life the way you see it on that paper.

By Brian Tracy

Why Money Is Good

2010-03-07T15:56:00.000+08:00

The way you think about money will determine how much of it you accumulate more than any other factor. Your attitude toward money affects your emotions and your motivations.

Do You Feel That You Have Enough?
In psychology, money is what is called a "deficiency need." This means that it only motivates you when you feel deficient in it, when you don't feel that you have enough. Above a certain level, when you feel that you have enough, it is no longer a motivator. Put another way, when you have enough money, you don't think about it very much. But when you have too little, you think about it all the time.

Determine Your Attitude Toward Money
The effect money has on your emotional life depends on your attitude toward it. If you feel that you have too little, money can become an obsession for you. It can dominate your thinking, feelings and actions. Arguments over money are a major reason for marital breakdown. Problems with money are the primary reason for business failure, the ruination of friendships and psychosomatic illnesses of all kinds. It's not uncommon for people to even kill themselves over money problems.

Practice the Reality Principle
The Reality Principle applies especially to matters of money. This principle states that, "You must deal with life as it is, not as you wish it were, or could be." Most people live in a world of partial self-delusion, with regard to money. They wish, hope, and pray about their financial futures while at the same time, deep in their hearts, they know their dre ams will never mat erialize. In Lewis Carroll's book, Alice in Won derland, one of the characters says quite happily that he is quite capable of believing several impossible things before breakfast each day. In the same way, many people believe quite impossible things about money and then they wonder why they are having so many financial problems.

Overcome Deep Sea ted Beliefs
One of the most common obstacles to achieving financial ind ependence is a deep-sea ted belief that somehow money is wrong and that people who have a lot of it are inherently evil. This belief is not based on any factual foundation. It goes back to early childhood conditioning when the growing child is often told this because of other people's desire to rationalize away their own financial failures.

Money Is Good
The fact is that money is good. It takes money to buy homes, cars, clothes, food and most of the good things in life. Money has an energy of its own and it is largely attracted to people who treat it well. Money tends to flow toward those people who can use it in the most productive ways to produce valuable goods and services, and who can invest it to create emp loyment and opportunities that benefit others. At the same time, money flows away from those who use it poorly, or who spend it in non-productive ways.

Action Exercises
Here are two things you can do immediately to improve your attitude toward money:

First, be perfectly honest to yourself with regard to money and to the amount you want to acquire in life. Pretending that you don't care about money when you really do will only make you unhappy.

Second, begin today to think about all the wonderful things that you could have in your life if you had more money. Then, begin to think of all the things that you could do to increase the amount you ear n and the amount you keep.

By: Brian Tracy

Evolution of a pig

2010-02-21T01:39:00.000+08:00

This made me laugh.

Change Your Attitude Toward Problems

2010-02-01T08:02:00.000+08:00

In flying, the word "attitude" refers to the angle of flight of your approach relative to the horizon. The way you think about a problem determines your attitude, or approach, as well. You can use three words to change your attitude and your approach to any difficulty you face.

Situation
First of all, change the word "problem" to the word "situation." Whereas "problem" is a negative word that triggers feelings of fear and anxiety, "situation" is neutral. Instead of saying, "We have a problem," you can say, "We have a situation."

Challenge
My personal preference is to change the word "problem" to the word "challenge." Whenever something goes wrong, immediately say, "We have an interesting challenge facing us today." "Challenge" is a positive word. When you think of a challenge, you think of something that you rise to, something that brings out the best in you and others. Challenges are what make life exciting and worth living. By rising to the challenges of day-to-day life, you fulfill more and more of your potential.

Opportunity
Perhaps the best word of all is "opportunity." Instead of saying, "We have a problem," you can say, "We have an unexpected opportunity." Napoleon Hill is famous for saying, "Every problem or difficulty you face contains the seed of an equal or greater advantage or benefit." Your job is to find the benefit, and this way of approaching a problem is determined by your attitude.

Attitude
This attitude of looking for the good in every situation, of looking for the advantage or benefit in any problem or difficulty, is the way that the most successful people think most of the time. Superior people, leaders in all areas, face the inevitable ups and downs of daily life on the way to their destinations by taking complete control of their thinking and their emotions. They do this by choosing the words they use to describe a situation, their tone of voice, and their behavior in dealing with problems.

Action Exercise
A mark of maturity, a vital quality on the road to success, happiness, and balance in life, is expecting problems and difficulties as normal, natural, and unavoidable parts of life. Becoming a superior person requires accepting that when you set off toward a big, exciting goal or destination, you will experience unexpected turbulence.

By Brian Tracy

I promise myself

2010-01-26T08:59:00.000+08:00

What a day!

2010-01-19T18:43:00.000+08:00

Sleepy....
Been a long day.
Home at 11 pm.

But it's worth it.

Never expected my Day would turn out this way.
Talking to a lot of people,
Sharing the benefits of my product.
Meeting new friends.
Forging old ones.

The responses had been great all throughout!

I am so thankful for the opportunity to do this.

What a birthday treat.

Your personal growth schedule

2010-01-18T04:30:00.000+08:00

There are seven disciplines you must develop if you want to achieve all that is possible for you. You can learn these disciplines through practice and repetition until they become automatic.

Goal Setting
Every morning, take three to five minutes to write out your top goals in the present tense. Get a spiral notebook for this purpose. By writing out your ten goals at the beginning of each day, you will program them deep into your subconscious mind.

This daily goal writing will activate your mental powers. It will stimulate your mind and make you more alert. Throughout the day, you will see opportunities and possibilities to move more rapidly toward your goals.

Planning and Organizing
Take a few minutes, preferably the night before, to plan out every activity of the coming day. Always work from a list. Always think on paper. This is one of the most powerful and important disciplines of all for high performance.

Concentration on your Highest-Value Activities
Your ability to work single-mindedly on your most important task will contribute as much to your success as any other discipline you can develop.

Exercise and Proper Nutrition
Your health is more important than anything else. By disciplining yourself to exercise regularly and to eat carefully, you will promote the highest possible levels of health and fitness throughout your life.

Learning and Growth
Your mind is like a muscle. If you don't use it, you lose it. Continuous learning is the minimum requirement for success in any field.

Time for Important People in Your Life
Relationships are everything. Be sure that in climbing the ladder of success, you do not find it leaning against the wrong building. Build time for your relationships into every day, no matter how busy you get.

Time for Important People in Your Life
These seven disciplines will ensure that you perform at the highest level and get the greatest satisfaction and results from everything you do. Study these seven disciplines and then make a plan for how you can incorporate each of them into your daily life.

By Brian Tracy

Who is the hero of the world?

2010-01-14T07:45:00.000+08:00

You have to see this.
Who is the hero of the world?

http://en.tackfilm.se/?id=1263501745437RA48&q=low

Who is the hero of the world?

2010-01-14T07:43:00.000+08:00

You have to see this. Who is the hero of the world?

http://en.tackfilm.se/?id=1263501745437RA48&q=low

Become Everything You Are Capable of Becoming

2010-01-13T05:01:00.000+08:00

Cause and Effect
By Brian Tracy

The turning point in my life came when I discovered the law of cause and effect, the great law of the universe, and human destiny. I learned that everything happens for a reason. I discovered that success is not an accident. Failure is not an accident, either. I also discovered that people who are successful in any area usually are those who have learned the cause-and-effect relationship between what they want and how to get it.

Determine Your Personal Growth and Development Values
To realize your full potential for personal and professional growth and development, begin with your values as they apply to your own abilities. As you know, your values are expressed in your words and actions.

You can tell what your values are by looking at what you do and how you respond to the world around you. Your values are the root causes of your motivations and your behaviors.

Clarify Your Personal Growth and Development Vision
Create a long-term vision for yourself in the area of personal growth. Project forward five or ten years and imagine that you are developed fully in every important part of your life. Idealize and see yourself as outstanding in every respect. Refuse to compromise on your personal dreams.

Set Goals for Your Personal Growth and Development
Now take your vision and crystallize it into specific goals. Here is a good way to start. Take out a piece of paper and write down ten goals that you would like to achieve in the area of personal and professional development in the months and years ahead. Write in the present tense, exactly as if you were already the person you intend to be.

Determine exactly what you want to be able to do. Decide who you want to become. Describe exactly what you will look like when you become truly excellent in your field and in your personal life.

Upgrade Your Personal Knowledge and Skills
Set specific measures for each of your goals. If your goal is to excel in your field, determine how you will know when you have achieved it. Decide how you can measure your progress and evaluate your success.

Perhaps you can use as a measure the number of hours you study in your field each week. Perhaps you can measure the number of books you read or the number of audio programs you listen to. Perhaps you could measure your progress by the number of sales you make as the result of your growing skills.

Develop Winning Personal Growth and Development Habits
Select the specific habits and behaviors you will need to practice every day to become the person you want to become. These could be the habits of clarity, planning, thoroughness, studiousness, hard work, determination, and persistence.

Action Exercise
Decide today to develop yourself to the point where you can achieve every financial and personal goal you ever set and become everything you are capable of becoming. Write down your goals and make sure to look at them every day, then ponder ways you possibly achieve these goals.

10 New Years Resolutions Every Photographer Should Make

2010-01-06T18:02:00.000+08:00

This is a re-post originally from Andropov Abad (http://vopordna.multiply.com/).

All Photographers must consider this...

I am clutching my 5DMKII and literally buzzing inside, thinking about the photographic potential of the new year. The possibilities are endless.

Now, I just have to commit the time and passion required to become a great photographer. In that spirit, I think we should all try to keep these 10 New Years Resolutions. Now, everyone say after me:

1. I will learn how to use my camera.

This seems like an obvious point, but we are all guilty of skipping our camera manual and just fiddling with settings. Ah, this one works right? Spot-metering? Why not. Hey, what does that button do? Seems to make things darker. Hmm. I'm going to admit something to you that I ask you to keep hush-hush. I haven't actually read my 5DMKII manual. I know. Horrible! I'm guilty of arbitrary button pushing and royally messing up shots because I don't really know how to use my camera. Let's all become technical experts of our cameras this year. Deal?

2. I will not use the Auto setting on my camera.

Instead of relying on your camera's dubious Auto settings, force yourself to learn how to use manual settings. Upgrade to Aperture priority mode (AV) first. Once you understand Depth of Field, jump into Manual mode. You will make mistakes and feel frustrated when you completely blow-out a shot, but this is the way we learn. Don't get discouraged by your mistakes. Learn from them and push on!

3. I will not use on-camera flash

The only photos you should take with an on-camera flash are ones that end up on your Facebook wall of shame. Tape down that pop-up flash if you have to. Instead rely on your skills as a photographer to capture shots in low-light.

Shoot with a wide-open aperture, as low as your lens will go. Decrease your shutter speed & increase your ISO. Steady your camera on a tripod, gorilla pod or table top. Invest in a good lens. I suggest the 50mm f/1.4 or the f/1.8 if you are on a budget.

Canon Rebel Xti (400D) + 50mm f/1.4

4. I will not be hindered by the gear I do not have.

You can take great shots with any camera. From an iPhone to a $20 Holga to cheap point and shoot to a 1DMKIII. Don't let your lack of gear limit you, but rather let it open up new possibilities to be creative. Until 6 months ago when I upgraded to a 5DMKII, I was shooting on a Canon Rebel Xti (400D). I shot weddings, actor's head shots, fashion, landscapes, you name it. You don't need a 5DMKII to work as a photographer. Get creative. Be resourceful. Rent lenses. Make reflectors with $2 poster boards. There is always a way to do things cheaply, you just need to hunt around a bit.

5. I will shoot in RAW

Everyone, go find your camera right now. I'll wait for you. Got it? Ok. Set your picture quality to RAW. Done? Good! Take some snaps in RAW right now. Feel the power. Now you can start shooting for real.

5DMKII, 85mm f/1.8, 1/200 at f/2.0, ISO 100.

6. I will learn how to process my shots

No shot comes straight out of the camera perfect. Every shot needs a little bit of processing TLC to take it to the next level. Learning how to process photos can feel overwhelming at times especially if you are technically challenged. It really isn't that scary, just time consuming. I recommend starting with Lightroom. You can download a free trial and take it for a spin. If you are completely confused, sign up for a Lynda.com account. It's the best video tutorial site on the web.

7. I will share my photos with others on the web

I know so many photographers that take thousands of photos, upload them on their computer, and never share them. Some lack the confidence, some are worried about copyright infringement, and some just don't find the time in their busy schedules to share their photos. What a waste! If you are not currently sharing your photos, go right now and join Flickr, Tumblr or Facebook and post three of your best shots. Done? Great. Hi-five!

8. I will accept critiques of my work.

Receiving criticisms about your photos is difficult and sometimes hurtful, but it is the only way we can progress as photographers. Yesterday I asked Joseph Linaschke to look at my portfolio and tell me honestly which shots should go. He told me to ditch 4 pictures out of 16. Pictures that I had spend hours shooting and retouching. I didn't want to get rid of them and it physically hurt me to remove them, but after I did, my portfolio was much stronger.

Canon Xti, 85mm f/1.8.

9. I will set goals and be proactive about my photography career

I have personally been in a photographic rut for the past couple of months. The weather has been rainy and miserable. I've had been taking on other work to pay the bills and I've lost focus with what I want to do with my photography.

So right now, you and I are going to sit down and set some goals, both small stepping-stone goals and big lofty life-changing goals. These are some of mine:

*I will learn one photography-related skill every day

*I will continue to improve my Photoshop skills on a daily basis

*I will book at least one creative fashion shoot every week.

*I will build a network of creative producers, stylists, make-up artists, and models

Lofty goal: *I will get my photography published in a major publication this year!

Your turn! Write them down and post them on your blog, Facebook page, Twitter, Tumblr, etc. Get them out there in black and white type where you can't dismiss them.

10. I will connect with other photographers

There is a vibrant and passionate photography community sharing their knowledge and experiences everyday. If you aren't currently visiting the vast array of photography blogs and resource sites, you are missing out on a wealth of knowledge that won't cost you a cent. Right now, join Twitter and follow these photographers.

Let's make 2010 a productive and inspirational year! What New Years resolutions are you are making?

Happy New Year!

10 New Years Resolutions Every Photographer Should Make - A re-post

2010-01-06T17:58:00.000+08:00

Link

As Within, So Without

2010-01-04T06:04:00.000+08:00

As Within, So Without
By Brian Tracy

Aristotle said that the ultimate aim or purpose or human life is to achieve your own happiness. You are the very happiest when what you are doing on the outside is congruent with your values on the inside. When you are living in complete alignment with that which you consider to be good, right, and true, you will automatically feel happy and positive about yourself and your world.

Know What You Really Want
Stephen Covey once said, "Be sure that, as you scramble up the ladder of success, it is leaning against the right building." Many people work hard to achieve goals that they think they want only to find, at the end of the day, they get no joy or satisfaction from their accomplishments. They ask, "Is this all there is?" This occurs when the outer accomplishment is not in harmony with your inner values. Don't let this happen to you.

Trust Your Intuition
Self-trust is the foundation of greatness. Self-trust comes from listening to your intuition, to your "still, small voice" within. Men and women begin to become great when they begin to listen to their inner voices and absolutely trust that they are being guided to a higher power each step of the way. Living in alignment with your true values is the royal road to self-confidence, self-respect, and personal pride. In fact, almost every human problem can be resolved by returning to values.

Watch Your Behavior
How can you tell what your values really are? The answer is simple. You always demonstrate your true values in your actions and especially your actions under pressure. Whenever you are forced to choose between one behavior and another you will always act consistent with what is most important and valuable to you at that moment. Values, in fact, are organized in a hierarchy. You have a series of values, some of them very intense and important and some of them weaker and less important. One of the most important exercises you can engage in to determine who you really are and what you really want is to organize your values by priority. Once you are clear about the relative important of your values, you can then organize your outer life so that it is in alignment with them.

Determine Your Hearts Desire
The spiritual teacher Emmet Fox wrote about the importance of discovering your "hearts desire." What is your hearts desire? As a friend of mine asks, "What do you want to be famous for?" What words would you like people to use to describe you when you are not there? What would you like someone to say about you at your funeral? What kind of reputation do you have today? What kind of reputation would you like to have sometime in the future?

Your Past is Not Your Future
Many people had difficult experiences growing up. They fell on hard times and became associated with the wrong people. Some were convicted and sent to prison for crimes. But at a certain point in life, they decided to change. They thought seriously about what kind of person they wanted to be known as, and thought of, in the future. They decided to change their lives by changing the values that they lived by. By making these decisions and sticking to them, they changed their lives. Remember, it doesn't matter where you're coming from; all that really matters is where you're going.

Action Exercise
Describe your picture of an ideal person, the person you would most want to be if you had no limitations.

An inte

2010-01-01T05:05:00.000+08:00

This is interesting. Next time I sit down and listen to a boring presentation, I'll do this.

A Professor's Lesson 30 Years Ago

(from DailyGood)

One winter semester during college in upstate New York., I took an 8 AM history class to fulfill a requirement. It was hard to get up for that class, but about 15 of us met 3 times a week to brave the cold winds and trudge to that lecture in a nondescript classroom.

The professor for the class was an odd fellow. He had flaming red hair, usually looking slept on, and wore galoshes with one pantleg in and one out. He would creep shyly into the room wearing his hooded winter coat , once not even removing the hood during the lecture. He was terribly ill at ease with the class and clutched the lecturn barely looking up at all through his gold rimmed glasses at his students.

I felt that I needed to do something to stem the boredom that woud ensue in his lecture, so I created a little game for myself. I would vow to find something in his lecture to ask him an intelligent question about, forcing me to pay attention rather than letting my eyes close. The first time I raised my hand, you could tell he was suprised and a little reluctant to find out what I wanted. But he was obviously pleased to have a question to answer. In fact, his answers were always interesting.

I continued to do this every day of the course and found myself actually enjoying the material. The professor seemed to become a bit more relaxed and some of the other students even joined in from time to time. My little game had saved me from being bored, as it was designed to do. And, I learned quite a bit about ancient world history in the bargain. The professor obviously knew his material, but had a hard time passing it on to undergraduates in an interesting way. For all of his odd appearance, he was indeed quite an expert in his field.

But the real lesson I was to learn had yet to happen. On the last day of class we gathered our books and headed out the door for the last time. The shy, red-haired professor stepped directly in front of me, with obvious effort, as I reached the door and put out his hand. He said, "I want to thank you for making this class so interesting," as he shook my hand vigorously and smiled for the first time. I was so suprised. To me, it had been a pleasant way to pass the time in an elective. I had no idea that all of my question asking had any effect on him or the others at all.

That moment has stayed with me for 30 years. Each of us, through the things we say and do, the kindnesses we can freely offer, can have a profound effect not just on our own experiences, but those of others. I don't recall the facts I learned in his class, but I'll never forget the professor who taught me a lesson about the power of acts of kindness, intended or not.

Managing my time well

2010-01-01T04:37:00.000+08:00

What a fitting lesson to start the year.

Manage Your Time Well

By Brian Tracy

To achieve all your goals and become everything you are capable of becoming you must get your time under control. Psychologists generally agree that a "sense of control" is the key to feelings of happiness, confidence, power, and personal well-being. And a sense of control is only possible when you practice excellent time management skills.

Choices and Decisions
If the front side of the coin of success is the ability to set clear goals for yourself, then the flip side of the same coin is the ability to get yourself organized and work on your most valuable tasks, every minute of every day. Your choices and decisions have combined to create your entire life to this moment. To change or improve your life in any way, you have to make new choices and new decisions that are more in alignment with who you really are and what you really want.

The Right Thing to Do
The only way that you can determine that is right or wrong, more or less important, high or low priority is by first determining your aim or goal at that particular moment. From that point forward, you can divide all your activities in to "A" activities or "B" activities. An "A" activity is something that moves you toward your goal, the faster and more directly the better. A "B" activity is an activity that does not move you toward a goal that is important to you.

Begin with a List
The basic tool of time management is a list, organized by priority, and used as a constant tool for personal management. The fact is that you can't manage time; you can only manage yourself. That is why time management requires self-discipline, self-control, and self-mastery. Time management requires that you make the best choices and decisions necessary to enhance the quality of your life and work. Then you follow through on your decisions.

Use Advance Planning
Begin today to plan every week in advance, preferably the Sunday before the workweek begins. Plan every day in advance, preferably the night before. When you make a list of everything you have to do the following day, your subconscious mind works on that list all night long. When you wake up in the morning, you will often have ideas and insights to help you accomplish the items on your list.

Separate the Urgent from the Important
In the process of managing your time, you must separate the urgent tasks from the important ones. Urgent tasks are determined by external pressures and requirements. You must do them immediately.

Action Exercise
Make a list of everything you would like to be, do, or have in the months and years ahead. Analyze your list and select those items that can have the greatest possible consequences in your life.

2010

2009-12-31T21:07:00.000+08:00

Welcome 2010.
So many plans for you.
Many oppurtunities waiting.
I can't wait to start doing them all.

Excitement fills me now.
The cup is once again empty.
I will fill this empty cup
With all the hopes and dreams,
And ambitions that's begging
to see the light of day.

Let me start by allowing
my body to recharge
with a good, deep sleep.
It's 2 AM, Jan 1, 2010.

So fired up.
Good morning world!

Fired Up!

2009-12-15T21:44:00.000+08:00

It's amazing how a simple plan -- conceived in my dreams -- wakes me up and keeps me fired up at this early hour.

Indeed, if an endeavor is grounded on a deep purpose, on a powerful WHY, the HOW, no matter how absurd, now seems feasible. Though it's still far away in the future, the triumph feels so real
now.

Back from the grave

2009-12-10T04:14:00.000+08:00

Finally!

Wow. It's been long while since I've posted here. After my hard drive crashed, I can't for the life of me remember my password and ID. I should have disallowed the "remember your id, password" option in the first place.

That old 80 GB hard drive stored three years of priceless documents, PICTURES, videos and memories. Now, gone forever. I still can't figure out why a hard drive -- untouched and unmoved inside the CPU -- will crash when it practically does nothing but store data - in 1's and O's. I always thought of getting an external, inexpensive hard drive. Now I should really get one.

Anyway 2010 is coming, I might as well start the rebuilding process now. Time to get my old Nikon and start firing away. Hopefully I can still save some images on what's left in 2009.

Open letter

2009-08-28T14:43:00.000+08:00

Is hell exothermic or endothermic?

2009-08-01T09:55:00.000+08:00

The following is an actual question given on a University of Washington engineering mid-term. The answer was so "profound" that the Professor shared it with colleagues, and the sharing obviously hasn't ceased.

Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or Endothermic (absorbs heat)?

Most of the students wrote Proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law, (gas cools off when it expands and heats when it is compressed) or some variant. One student, however, wrote the following:

"First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changing in time. So we need to know the rate that souls are moving into Hell and the rate they are leaving. I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to Hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are leaving. As for how many souls are entering Hell, let us look at the different religions that exist in the world today. Some of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to Hell. Since there are more than one of these religions and since people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all souls go to Hell. With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in Hell to increase exponentially.

Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in Hell because Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in Hell to stay the same, the volume of Hell has to expand as souls are added. This gives two possibilities:

1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter Hell, then the temperature and pressure in Hell will increase until all Hell breaks loose.

2. Of course, if Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in Hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until Hell freezes over.

So which is it?

If we accept the postulate given to me by Teresa Banyan during my Freshman year, "...that it will be a cold day in Hell before I sleep with you.", and take into account the fact that I still have not succeeded in having sexual relations with her, then, #2 cannot be true, and thus I am sure that Hell is exothermic and will not freeze."

This student received the only A.

- Unknown

Eating fruits

2009-07-22T02:13:00.000+08:00

Got this from my email. Seriously considering a purely fruit diet in the next three days... lol.

------------------------------------------

EATING FRUITS

We all think eating fruits means just buying fruits, cutting it and just popping it into our mouths. It's not as easy as you think It's important to know how and when to eat..

What is the correct way of eating fruits?

IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUITS AFTER YOUR MEALS! - FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH. If you eat fruit on an empty stomach, it will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities.

FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD - Let's say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit.. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so.

In the meantime the whole meal rots and ferments and turns to acid.. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil.

So please eat your fruits on an empty stomach or before your meals! You have heard people complaining - every time I eat water-melon I burp, when I eat durian (fruit from Asia with a foul smell yet delicious flavor) my stomach bloats up, when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet etc - actually all this will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. The fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas and hence you will bloat!

Graying hair, balding, nervous outburst, and dark circles under the eyes - all these will not happen if you take fruits on an empty stomach.

There is no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruits, you have the Secret of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal weight.

When you need to drink fruit juice - drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT from the cans.. Don't even drink juice that has been heated up.. Don't eat cooked fruits because you don't get the nutrients at all. You only get to taste.
Cooking destroys all the vitamins.

But eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it.

You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse your body. Just eat fruits and drink fruit juice throughout the 3 days and you will be surprised when your friends tell you how radiant you look!

KIWI: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E & fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

APPLE: An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoid which enhances the activity of vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.

STRAWBERRY: Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.

ORANGE: Sweetest medicine, eating 2 to 4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessens the risk of colon cancer.

WATERMELON: Coolest thirst quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene - the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are vitamin C & Potassium.

GUAVA & PAPAYA: Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene; this is good for your eyes.

A thousand words

2009-07-19T03:27:00.000+08:00

Budget setting

2009-07-15T20:09:00.000+08:00

We're now in the middle of July. I analyzed our expenses for the month: the OTHERS portion seem to be getting bigger and bigger.

Groceries	16%
Bills	21%
Eating Out	14%
Gasoline	19%
Others	30%

The others include: vitamins for dogs, key duplication, airsoft reg fee, mailings, tips during eating out, newspaper, dog chain, blank cds and many other small, unimportant stuff.

As it is with my life, I realize that the minor, even negligible, things when added together take up a huge portion of my time and energy. I guess learning to manage these small things could mean greater productivity in the long run. As Covey clearly puts it: small, private victories precedes great, public ones.

Iconic

2009-07-11T04:54:00.000+08:00

After days of being bombarded with Michael Jackson's stories -- death, life, songs, videos -- I am tired of hearing about him anymore. And so I have tried ignoring any MJ related news, but this pic, posted in a FB account of a friend, caught my attention.

Two icons: one just made his final, albeit celebrated, farewell; the other is, well, silently vanishing into oblivion.

Cotabato memories

2009-07-05T14:03:00.000+08:00

In the news today: A homemade bomb exploded in front of Immaculate Conception Church killing five people and injuring more than 40 others.

Bombings in and around Cotabato City are almost no longer a big news. This one though caught national attention because it happened in front of a Catholic Church.

Across the Church is a Mc Donald's restaurant. A short distance away from Mc Do is Dr B's clinic. When I was still travelling to Cotabato, I frequented these places: Dr B's clinic, Mc Do and the church.

I get nostalgic when I hear news about this troubled place. There has been so many memories there -- happy and not so happy ones -- that I think help shaped the person I am today. I was assigned there for less than one year in 1998 and came back in 2008, that's a full ten years gap. The long, five to six hour drive to Cotabato has been precious contemplative, even productive, moments for me.

Early rise

2009-06-27T19:27:00.000+08:00

We arrived at the pier at around five in the morning to shoot the rising sun. We ended up shooting each other most of the time.

photo by RGC photo by ARD

Dex

2009-06-22T08:23:00.000+08:00

I surprised Gem with a new puppy. We call him Dex, short for Dexter. He's a 2 month old golden retriever.

The other dogs seem to ignore him; except for Chase who plays with him.

Long live and prosper.

Rules to live by

2009-06-02T04:36:00.000+08:00

Over the years, I have tried to live by some simple rules. I do stray from them a lot. But I strive, sometimes with great difficulty, to get back on the right track again.

I started with three simple rules: the first three on the list below. Over time, my list increased -- usually because of a personal life changing event or because of a powerful insight. I have tried to make these life rules as few as possible; it would be difficult and unrealistic to create more and not follow them.

Today I add a new one: I will listen.

I will listen, and listen well, to what other people have to say before making any response. I regularly interrupt while the other is still talking, and I do this a lot especially with those closest to me. And sometimes this has caused some hurt and strain in my relationships. Darn.

1. I will never put off later what I can do now.
2. I will honor all commitments big and small.
3. I will never think, talk, and harbor ill will against any man.
4. I will be kind especially those who have less in life than me.
5. I will do something everyday to improve my life.
6. Five minutes of deep prayer every morning right after waking up.
7. I will not squander my time with worthless activities.
8. I will listen.

Accepting Consequences

2009-05-27T20:57:00.005+08:00

Hayden should accept the consequences of his actions. He should say, "I f__cked up really bad, I accept the punishments due my crime. I can go to jail, I accept the revocation of my doctor's license." If only to preserve what little dignity left of his family name.

Taking video without the consent of his sexual partners is WRONG. I don't know the specific law he violated but taking advantage of his partner's trust, in a devious way, should be enough to condemn him to eternal damnation and shame. Saying that Hayden is mentally sick is an understatement. Deranged would not even come close.

Now the question: who dispersed the videos for all the world to see? That is clearly the crime here. Because, if the vids didn't come out, Katrina's lips would still be sealed. Yes, sealed forever with the most powerful Epoxy.

Katrina shouldn't say, "binaboy nya ako". Lol. I saw the vid. (on a tv doc, hehehe) In no way was she forced to do anything. She willingly, lustfully went up and down on her own. She committed a grave blunder in having illicit encounters (note: encounterSsss) with a man, whom she -- and, apparently, the whole universe -- know is in a long-standing relationship with Belo. With or without the video, that is wrong. And that mistake has severe consequences, as well.

The police are serious again in cleaning the streets against the proliferation of sexual videos, not just of Katrina's; and, whatever their agendas, fiery talks of privacy and pornography resound once more in the sacred halls of our Congress. Now that is not a bad thing for our country.

Light and Shade

2009-05-23T22:38:00.011+08:00

I was basking in the glow of the setting sun at the top of DBP Building. I took this shot of the San Pedro Church Cross as the sun began to disappear over the horizon.

As I turned to leave, I came face to face with this shadowy figure.

Survivor

2009-05-23T15:13:00.004+08:00

Still you survived. You are all over. How do I control your growth?

Blake

2009-05-23T15:07:00.005+08:00

Blake remained still, long enough for me to take this shot.

The dark horse wins

2009-05-21T10:15:00.041+08:00

The dark horse, the underdog wins.

Although Kris has always been safe in the voting for American Idol, I always thought Adam will win. It's a bit of a shocker, for me, at least; Simon did not even stand when the camera zoomed in on the judges when the result was announced. Throughout the season, Adam made great performances, one after another, while Kris seesawed from good to exceptional. Kris last performance was ludicrous considering he is a finalist of a song competition where thousands auditioned for. It exposed the weakness and limits of his voice.

Last night, despite Adam's phenomenal performance, Gem sensed that Adam will be in trouble; especially after Kris's teary-eyed Mom and Dad narrated the free song coupon that Kris, as a child, gave to his mom. I think, Gem was silently hoping -- even pleading with the American voters -- that they had cast more votes for Adam than for Kris.

I texted Gem as soon as the result was announced. She immediately called and asked if the difference in the number of votes was announced, too; the sound of despair evident in her voice. I said no.

Earlier in the season, there were talks of a Christian vote going strongly for Kris and Danny, both very active in their respective churches. Talks of the Christian votes began after photos of Adam, like this below, and a gay porno video, with him as an active participant, started circulating around the net. Kris said he hoped the outcome wouldn't be decided by "having the christian vote."

I think this is why Simon consistently remarked that this is a singing competition and that the better singer should win.

“After the third one leaves, you wonder where do the votes go from that third contestant,” Paula Abdul said after Tuesday's showdown. Evidently, Paula, you have your answer.

It's amazing how a reality TV show can evoke a feeling of loss or triumph not just from my Gem but from a lot of people, as well. The time and effort invested in following the progress of each contestant week after week, perhaps, created a special bond by viewers toward the competitors. And the hopes and despairs, the joy and elation of the contestants are shared, too, by their loyal followers.

Wilderness Time

2009-05-19T23:15:00.004+08:00

I'm halfway into finishing "Living in Wilderness Time" by Melissa Walker.

Someday I will experience some of the excitement, the peace, the calm, the clarity of purpose she experienced in her months of solitude in the wilderness of America.

I was reading blissfully at the coffee shop at Caltex until around 9 Am when some lawyer (I think) sat down, opened his laptop and started talking loudly on his phone.

I moved to another coffee shop.

About the book: Soon after her fiftieth birthday, Melissa Walker set out on a journey that many women of her generation have mapped only in their dreams. Having spent her adult life raising children and climbing the academic ladder, Walker decided to put some of the environmental theories she'd taught into practice. Leaving her suburban life, she ventured into the wilderness.

Treky once more

2009-05-15T23:19:00.013+08:00

That's it. After watching J.J. Abram's Star Trek, I'm a treky fanatic once more. I never expected the movie to be great. I thought a pre-kirk-the-captain story will be boring. Totally not. Even Gem couldn't stop talking about it through most of our late dinner.

Easily one of the best Star Trek movie ever. The story on how its famous crew came to USS Enterprise was fresh, original, thrilling, even exhilarating. It captivated me from start to finish with almost no lull in the pacing. Hell, even those who know NOTHING about the world of Star Trek will find this enjoyable. This reinvigorated the Star Trek characters and its universe.

This is not the same Enterprise crew that I have grown to love -- being on an alternate reality, with the Vulcan world destroyed and two Spocks coexisting -- but I'm craving for another adventure with these guys.

Main Door

2009-05-13T10:00:00.004+08:00

Repair or replace? $$$ Darn.

I need you

2009-05-13T09:45:00.004+08:00

One of our all time favorite songs.

I Need You

I wanna drink that shot of whiskey
I wanna smoke that cigarette
I wanna smell that sweet addiction on my breathe
I wanna ride across W Virginia in the back seat of a Cadillac
You know some cowboys like me go out like that
So I need you

Like a needle needs a vein
Like my uncle Joe in Oklahoma needs a rain
And I need you
Like a lighthouse on a coast
Like the father and the son need the Holy Ghost
I need you

I wanna get lost in some corner booth, Cantina Mexico
I wanna dance to the static of an AM radio
I wanna wrap the moon around us, lay beside you skin on skin
Make love til the sun comes up, til the sun goes down again
Cause I need you

Like a needle needs a vein
Like my uncle Joe in Oklahoma needs a rain
I need you
Like a lighthouse on a coast
Like the father and the son need the Holy Ghost
I need you, OOH I need you

I wanna drink that shot of whiskey
I wanna smoke that cigarette
You know some cowboys like me go out like that
So I need you, wohh I need you
I need you I need you I need you, I nee-ed you

Multiplicity

2009-05-11T19:36:00.011+08:00

For a long time, I have been planning to create a multiply account. Well, I finally did it. http://manuelcartagena.multiply.com/

Blogger is uncomplicated, easy going, and smooth while Multiply is elaborate in its attention to details and organizes lots of things I want to see in a webpage. My multiply account can be programmed to update blogs every time I have new entries or changes in my blogger account. Amazing. It has links too with my flickr and youtube accounts. But if I can an make auto updates on these accounts too -- I still don't know.

I think I'll maintain both Blogger and Multiply accounts for now. But journalling (open journal, that is) will still be done in blogger.

Leading With His Chin

2009-05-11T09:46:00.030+08:00

Reading "Leading with My Chin" by Jay Leno

I was laughing most the time when I read this book, which prompted a waiter to ask what the book was about. Jay Leno always sees the funny side of life. Because of his job as a comic, he'd been turned down and ridiculed many times that it's just amazing he didn't give up early on. His love for his parents, his humorous childhood escapades, his hard life on the road, all his odd jobs are some of the funniest -- and inspiring -- stories of his life.

As I go through this pivotal moment in my life, Leno's life is, somewhat, an inspiration. I realize that with his persistence and his hard work, there was really no way he could have failed. A lot of people, too, helped him along the way, come to think of it, even those who tried to bring him down gave him the tenacity to persevere with his trade. I remember this quote: when you walk with purpose and perseverance, the world will step aside and let you pass. This is so true. People who have no goals and just drift through life will give way and, even, help someone who moves with purpose and determination.

Leno is very persistent:

"To audition in places like Catch a Rising Star and The Improv, we would start lining up outside the clubs at two in the afternoon with hopes of getting onstage sometime after eleven that night. You'd spend your whole day sitting in the curb, waiting and waiting. Inevitably, somebody in front of you would say, "This sucks!" and walk away. I always enjoyed that. All of a sudden, I had moved up! Without doing a thing, my standing had just improved! That process seemed to encompass my philosophy in life."

"The point is, any idiot can have a life. If you're breathing you've got a life. I've never been better at anything than anybody else. Which meant that I would always just have to work a little harder to keep up or maybe even pull ahead. Like the turtle who raced the hare, I plowed forward, slow and steady. Even if it meant sitting on curbs all day or sleeping on the back steps of comedy clubs all night."

I guess, this story summed up how I felt when I decided to make the crucial change in my life, too. From the book:

"One comic I knew just left for California and, within a few months, POW!, he was booked on The Tonight Show."

"That night, I was back in my Boston apartment, watching the Tonight Show. The comic did okay, nothing special, but there he was --- performing ten feet away from Johnny Carson's desk. I thought, "Geez, I often did much better that this guy when we played clubs together." And I couldn't shake the thought. Now my gut was burning and I knew it."

"I'd already quit my job at Foreign Motors to focus on comedy. Now it was time to make the next big decision. If I stayed in Boston, I would want to have a nicer apartment or a better car --- and suddenly I'd be stuck there, married to these possessions. In such pivotal moments, you either stay or you go. I imagined there'd been a fire in my apartment -- which wasn't far from the reality of what a dump it had become! What would have I really lost? A refrigerator? A christmas tree?"

"Sometimes before The Tonight Show ended that night, I just said, "That's it. Let me call the airlines and book the next flight to California."

"Which is what I did. I told the neighbors that they could take anything of mine that they wanted. I packed up whatever else I needed and just walked out of the door. And that was that."

It took him more than a decade before he eventually became the host of The Tonight Show.
.

Moon Lighting

2009-05-10T21:20:00.010+08:00

It's cloudy and rainy tonight. But, for a brief moment, the moon shines through illuminating my part of the world, casting this soft, gentle light over our home.

8:30 PM / Shutter 15 sec / Aperture 7.1 / ISO 200

Hang to dry

2009-05-09T00:09:00.002+08:00

Red pajama.
White dots.
Hang to dry.

Nailed down

2009-05-09T00:03:00.003+08:00

Nailed to a dead tree.
For what purpose?
I don't know.

reminder: ask Aunt Baby about this nail

Her Nursery

2009-05-08T23:56:00.004+08:00

Make it as comfy, as snugly, as cozy my friend.
Your kids will live here for some time.

Courtesy of the early worm

2009-05-08T23:49:00.002+08:00

Oh if you’re a bird, be an early bird
And catch the worm for your breakfast plate.
If you’re a bird, be an early early bird
But if you’re a worm, sleep late.

--Shel Silverstein
Where the Sidewalk Ends

Be still

2009-05-08T23:23:00.009+08:00

Be patient.
Be still.
The wait maybe long.
The future unclear.
But hang on.
And be tough.
Be strong.
Be true.
Soon your time will come.
Soon you will bloom in perfect splendor.
You'll see.

Vet for a day

2009-05-08T22:47:00.008+08:00

Became a vet again today. I vaccinated Aunt Baby's new puppies against common dog diseases.

These are difficult times. The 5 in 1 vaccine just cost P150; a vet charges around P400. With four dogs and counting, big savings for me.

Aunt Baby's new puppy: Kobe

Lighter Side

2009-05-07T13:38:00.010+08:00

I love to see sunlight pass through the glass windows and settles on the floor tiles. It lights up the house; and starts another great day.

One of Gem's steel musicians plays on the floor

Morning readings

2009-05-06T09:53:00.003+08:00

After a rush of morning chores, settling down with a good book makes for a perfect morning -- one of the benefits of my early retirement from work. Reading, at least, one book a week these days. And loving it.

mornings at home

Turning 60

2009-05-06T09:07:00.008+08:00

The best thing on turning 60, Mama says, is the 20% senior citizen's discounts! Plus free movies on any theater every Tuesdays.

She is thankful and surprised of the two dozen red roses we gave her. We invited them for a simple dinner at home.

What is left of her cake.

Escaping to Mati

2009-04-23T21:13:00.015+08:00

I believe in angels,
The kind that heaven sends,
I am surrounded by angels,
But I call them friends.

Dinosour Island, Mati

Back to some good times in Tagum.

You don't even have to try
It comes easy for you
The way you move is so appealing
It could make me cry

Go out driving with my friends
In Bobby's big old beat up car
I'm with a lot of people then
I wonder where you are

I don't want to say goodbye
Don't want to walk you to the door
I spend a little time with you
I want a little more.

Good times, bad times, give me some of that
Good times, bad times, give me some of that
Good times, bad times, give me some of that

Tagum Team,2003

Song: Good Times
Artist: EDIE BRICKELL
Album: Picture Perfect Morning (1994)

Rules from God

2009-04-18T08:32:00.012+08:00

Wake Up

Decide to have a good day.
"Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it"
Psalms 118:24

Dress UP
The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart."
I Samuel 16:7

Shut Up
Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking "He who guards his lips guards his soul."
Proverbs 13:3

Stand Up
Stand up for what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything.. "Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..."
Galatians 6:9-10

Look Up
Look up to the Lord.
"I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me."
Philippians 4:13

Reach Up
Reach up for something higher. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, And He will direct your path."
Proverbs 3:5-6

Lift Up
Lift up your Prayers.
"Do not worry about anything;
Instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING."
Philippians 4:6

(A friend emailed this.)

Life Quest

2009-04-16T10:24:00.043+08:00

Life is more than a series of events that happen to us.

If we stand on the sidelines,
we will watch the world go by without us.
To regret, someday, what might have been.

We are always faced with a stream of choices
to test the depth of our convictions

Circumstances will make the course challenging
but let us not be disheartened.

It is through times of struggles
rather than of ease and comfort
that bring out the best in us.

Life on autopilot
takes out the thrill of living,
the sense of being alive,
and the joy of purposeful living,

Life by choice and in constant pursuit of a goal,
makes our lives special.

So, Life--we stand at the crossroads of our past and future
Ready to face You.
Ready to brave the rapids --
To buck the tides and gales of an unstable world around us.

Watch out! Here we come.

At Tudaya Falls

(poem from the net)

Palm Sunday

2009-04-07T18:34:00.005+08:00

Last Sunday

will I lay my cloak before you,
when they arrest you on olive mountain,
or pull it tighter around me,
fading into the ranks of the deserters;

will I shout
'Blessed is the one who comes
in the name of the Lord!'
when they parade you
before the authorities,
or will I tell any one - and every one - around me
I never met you in my life;

will I lay my palm branches at your feet,
as they march you to Calvary,
or use them to put more stripes
on your bloody back;

will I run behind you
when they carry you to the tomb,
or turn away
as the ashes of my hopes
are rubbed into the
wounds in my heart?

Hang over

2009-04-07T18:14:00.003+08:00

Biking again, at last!

I wanted to go riding.
It was all my heart desired.
Instead, I’m stuck at home because my bike said, “I’m two tired.” - G. k.

Corners of my mind

2009-04-07T17:45:00.004+08:00

Gem made some changes to this small corner of our house.
I like it.
Change is good.

What is the secret?

2009-04-07T17:39:00.001+08:00

Kissing You

2009-04-02T10:42:00.004+08:00

I was looking for vids of Grace Lee of Good Times. Instead found this girl. I love the control of her voice.

Kissing you.

Pride can stand a thousand trials
The strong will never fall
But watching stars without you
My soul cries

Heaving heart is full of pain
Oooh, oooh, the aching
'Cause I'm kissing you, oooh
I'm kissing you, oooh

Touch me deep, pure and true
Give to me forever
'Cause I'm kissing you, oooh
I'm kissing you, oooh

Where are you now
Where are you now
'Cause I'm kissing you
I'm kissing you, oooh

Growing old

2009-04-01T09:58:00.004+08:00

Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years. People grow old by deserting their ideals. You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope, as old as your despair. -- Douglas MacArthur, General

The Pup with no name

2009-03-28T20:21:00.002+08:00

What are we going to name you?

Failures

2009-03-25T17:22:00.002+08:00

Dashing away

2009-03-22T07:31:00.010+08:00

Dash died today.

I found him early this morning, under the car; stiff and lifeless. His eyes still wide open, fixed towards the door to the house. He must have been waiting for me to come out during the night and rub him and ease his pain. I feel guilty not bringing him to the vet sooner.

I don't even know why he died. Darn. This is totally unexpected.

He was very weak yesterday but managed to look at me when I took this shot.

Miracle Landing on the Hudson

2009-02-09T00:11:00.010+08:00

Animation of the US Airways landing at the Hudson river with real audio. The best video I've seen so far of the landing.

Another video from Today.

Finality

2009-02-08T19:51:00.005+08:00

Moving on.
What a relief!

How do geese know when to fly to the sun?

Who tells them the seasons?

How do we, humans know when it is time to move on?

As with the migrant birds, so surely with us,

There is a voice within if only we would listen to it,

that tells us certainly when to go forth into the unknown.

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Saturday Reverie

2009-01-31T06:59:00.039+08:00

My dogs are barking.
On this early Saturday morning.

Gosh, February is near!
And I still haven't written here.

January entries, too personal
To be seen in this OPEN journal.

So let me start,
By NOT trying to be smart.

Oh, words, please come out from your cage.
And help me fill this page.

Hahaha. I'm having fun now.
In making lines rhyme somehow.

The birds are chirping;
And I'm just typing.

I hear thunder.
Will there be rain? I wonder.

Now, I'm really having fun
Even if there's no SUN.

My stomach is grumbling.
But it's too early to be feasting.

Pandesal... pandedal, shouts a passing boy.
Not too loud, boy, or my wife you will annoy.

Gem is still asleep,
So I'll set my text TONE to a beep.

Oh, what a hectic week!
Glad I was not sick.

Damn, why the need
To be on lightning speed?

Is it a must,
To always run fast?

Or is going out of town
Wearing me down?

I guess, The hardest part
Would be not to take part.

Because if I just stand still
There wouldn't be any thrill.

So the biggest question to ask today:
Will there be an American Idol replay?

And our dogs are barking.
On this wonderful Saturday morning.

GSK News

2009-01-23T20:58:00.008+08:00

Just read this:

GlaxoSmithKline to acquire UCB portfolio for $666 million

LONDON (MarketWatch) --

GSK said Friday that it has signed a deal with UCB to acquire its current marketed product portfolio across certain territories in Africa, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Latin America for 515 million euros ($666 million) in cash. GSK said the deal includes the drugs Keppra, Xyzal and Zyrtec and will strengthen its product portfolio in emerging markets. Completion of the deal is expected to take place in March. UCB said it will continue to strengthen its core businesses, such as immunology.

----------------

UCB receives lb515 Million from GSK

Friday 23rd January 2009

UCB has agreed with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), to sell current UCB business and UCB affiliates in selected emerging markets for a cash compensation of €515 million upon closing of the transaction expected in late March 2009.

The commercial operations and product distribution rights to be acquired by GSK represent approximately 3-4% of UCB's 2008 expected revenue of at least €3.3 billion.

The agreement includes more than 50 UCB operations in the following geographic regions: Far-East, Middle-East, Latin America and Africa. This agreement does not include among other countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South-Korea or Mexico which are considered by UCB as strategic emerging markets.

The agreement covers principally all currently marketed UCB products and staff in the regions mentioned above. It does not include UCB's new core products such as Vimpat (lacosamide), Neupro (rotigotine), Cimzia (certolizumab pegol), nor does it provide rights to any of UCB's research & development pipeline programmes.

"This is a win-win agreement", said Roch Doliveux, CEO of UCB.

"Consistent with our core strategies outlined by the SHAPE programme, UCB focuses on its core areas while GSK acquires assets which fit with its growth and diversification strategy. UCB will continue to strengthen its core indication areas CNS and immunology and its presence in its key strategic markets to bringing new medicines to patients who suffer from serious diseases."

Happy New Year

2008-12-31T22:49:00.003+08:00

The world has gone crazy

2008-12-29T15:35:00.048+08:00

This is a repost of the BLOG of Bambee dela Paz, 18, after she watched helplessly as her father and 14 year old brother were beaten by the son and goons of Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman at the Valley Golf and Country Club in Antipolo City.

Shameless!

Inquirer: Bloggers whip up a storm for Bambee

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, December 26, 2008

The world has gone crazy by Bambee dela Paz

So, I just had the worst day of my life.

At around 1:30 PM today, at Valley Golf and Country Club, Antipolo City, Mayor Nasser Pangandaman, Jr., Mayor of Masiu City, Lanao del Sur, his father, Secretary Nasser Pangandaman of the Department of Agrarian Reform, and company, beat my defenseless 56-year-old dad and my 14-year-old brother to a pulp because of some stupid misunderstanding on the golf course.

This is a golf course. I have been a golfer all my life, and I have never seen anything like this. NOTHING. This is hard to comprehend. And it happened to my own father and my own brother too. Right in front of my eyes.

My brother and I were playing golf at the South Course of Valley. We were on the 3rd hole, and we see two golf carts going past us, overtaking our flight, and setting up to tee off on the next hole. My dad goes up to them and asks them why they would do that, why they would overtake us without even asking for our permission. Golf etiquette 101. One of the guys says that they're with the flight in front of us. (So what? That doesn't give them the right to just pass us WITHOUT asking.) So, we go to the 5th hole. The flight behind us catches up with us, and asks us what caused the hold up. We said that this flight just slipped in front of our flight. So we complained to the marshall. We play the 5th hole and walk towards the next hole, where there is a teehouse, and both the flights in front of us were there, talking with the marshall. The mayor of Masiu City, Lanao del Sur talks with my dad. Things get heated up. Voices were raised. But never, in my wildest dreams, did I ever imagine that someone would pull out a punch. Apparently not. He attacks my father. His flightmates, maybe 2 or 3 of them, rush to his aid and beat up my father. My 56-year-old father. My younger brother and I could not just watch. We rushed to break the fight. My younger brother pleads to the mayor to please stop it. To not hurt my dad. To just stop. His words still ring through my head..."Sorry na po, sorry na po...tama na...tama na po..." With his hands in front of his chest in a praying position. PLEADING. The mayor socks him in the face. My brother defended himself. My dad is still on the ground getting clobbered. My brother is the same way. I try to stop the fight, but all I can do is stop one person. There were 4 or 5 of them attacking now.

Someone breaks up the fight. I thought it was all over. The mayor shouts to his caddy: "Hindi nila kami kilala! Sabihin mo nga sa kanila kung sino ako!" And believe me, I had no idea who this person was. But now I know. He's the person who, with 4 other men, beat up my 56-year-old father and my 14-year-old brother. He's the person who sacks a pleading 14-year-old kid in the face. He's a person who, I am sure, is gonna rot in hell.

I lash out, but my dad held me back. I was screaming my lungs out, shouting to this mayor, telling him about what he had done. I said: "Nakakahiya kayo. Singkwenta'y sais anyos ang tatay ko. And kapatid ko kakatorse anyos. Anong ilalaban nila sayo?"

The mayor looks at my brother, point to his face, and says, "Tatandaan kita!" And he tells me that my brother has a bad attitude and that I need to watch him. WHAT THE HELL?! So, my brother's bad for defending his father?!

We leave. We walk to the clubhouse to file a complaint. My brother asks for a doctor. My dad could barely walk. Their group comes to the clubhouse, sees my brother. Once again my brother pleads, says sorry, and is crying. He was CRYING, for crissakes. But no. The relentless mayor still punches him in the face, and then sees my dad and goes after my dad again. Him and his friend pull my dad to the ground, pulls at his feet, and steps on him like he's dirt. I run to him and try to hold him back, holding him back by his shirt, while this other guy and this girl tries to stop me. She tells me to just stop it. I scream in her face "they're beating my father up and you want me to stop?!" I pull at his shirt--I don't let go. All I can see was my dad being trampled on. I didn't even see my brother getting beat up.

People pull them away. I get my dad, and I saw my brother. His right ear was bleeding. I freaked out. I told the receptionists to bring my brother to the clinic. I pull my dad away. People were separating us.

My mom and my older brother come. I tell her Bino's right ear is bleeding. They both look like they could kill. My dad holds my brother off, I hold off my mom. When I finally got my mom under control, my older brother gets away and I hold him off. Two of the mayor's bodyguards pull out guns. I embraced my brother from the back, just holding him back, crying. The receptionists came to us, crying, hugging me, my dad, and my mom, whispering to us to just leave. "Maam, umalis na po kayo, may mga baril sila...Maam...umalis na po kayo please..."

I am pretty sure the Secretary of DAR did not take part in the fight, but he just watched all this happen. He watched two of his sons, as we figured out, the other guy was his son, too, beat up my father and my 14-year-old brother. He didn't do anything to stop it. And this person is what now? A cabinet member. A politician.

Sounds like something out of a movie, doesn't it? But this is what happened. TODAY. The day after Christmas. To my family. And all I ask for is JUSTICE. The people at Valley Golf did not seem to want to help us. None of the security guards even tried to stop the fight. Right in the clubhouse. I came back after the fight was over and talked to the receptionists. They say they did not see anything. The general manager of Valley Golf would not give us the names of the men who made my brother's ear bleed. It took him an hour. Maybe even more than that. He seemed to not want to help us. Because, we were against the SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM and the MAYOR OF MASIU CITY, LANAO DEL SUR. They were all scared.

The world has gone crazy. Two politicians beat up a defenseless 56-year-old father and his 14-year-old son. At a golf course. I swear to God, I thought golfers were decent people. You would think politicians were decent people. I guess not. I guess they gang up on 56-year-old men and beat up pleading 14-year-old kids.

Please pray for my dad, my brother and for my whole family. Please pray that we get JUSTICE. Oh God, please, give these people what they deserve.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Abante: Mag-ama binugbug

Inquirer: Barbarians on the green

GMA News: DAR Chief's son and 5 bodyguards maul 2 golfers

Our Flight to Zamboanga

2008-12-29T14:08:00.067+08:00

We were halfway on our 50 minutes - Cebu Pacific flight to Zamboanga City when the pilot announced they could not communicate with Zamboanga airport. He added that should communications be restored, we will still be arriving on time. We left Davao at around 6:00 AM.

The tone of the pilot's voice seem to indicate, at least to me, that this was not an out-of-the ordinary situation so I found it odd that he had to include this in a routine announcement.

And, as announced, we did arrive on time. But by Cebu Pacific standards, this means, we were already late. Cebu Pacific always brags: ladies and gentlemen, we arrived ten minutes ahead of schedule. Not this time.

However, with no communications from Zamboanga Airport, three flights ahead of us were forced to linger in the air for 30 to 40 minutes before landing. The respective pilots had to decide among themselves who would land first. The Cebu Pacific plane from Cebu, which had been circling for 40 minutes and already consuming more than 1,200 kilograms of fuel, was forced to land first. This was a dangerous landing because the pilot had no idea if there were any obstacles on the runway. The PAL flight from Manila came in next and was followed by the Cebu Pacific flight, also, from Manila.

The reason for this forced landings: the five air traffic controllers (supposed to be) on duty were either ABSENT or LATE.

I read somewhere that this is almost unheard of in the airline industry.

The air traffic controllers had received their bonuses the previous day, december 25th, and, probably, spent it celebrating with their families. I read somewhere, too, that the average salaries of the controllers were just P13,500. It's pitiful. They are responsible for so many valuable lives everyday, and, ironically, get paid so little.

Of course, it doesn't excuse them from being absent or tardy on that Dec 26 morning when many lives, including ours, depended on them showing up for work. Now, they are suspended and will, probably, be fired. There are even talks of a possible criminal liability with some jail time.

What a tragedy!

The Phil Star: Three flights unable to land in Zamboanga.
GMA News: Tardy air controllers delay landings.

Kumbinasyon

2008-12-07T22:14:00.023+08:00

by Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao
07 Dec 2008, Las Vegas

Magandang, magandang araw po sa inyong lahat. Malamang sa oras na binabasa ninyo ang kolum na ito, ako po ay kasalukuyan nang lumalaban sa ibabaw ng ring, ang ring na pinapanood ng buong mundo.

Iniaalay ko sa Diyos at sa inyong lahat ang laban na ito at gagawin ko lahat ang aking makakaya upang gapiin ang kalaban na si Dela Hoya na nagsabing patutulugin daw niya ako. Isa lang ang aking masasabi. Ang aking kamao na lang ang magsasalita sa takdang araw dahil ang mahal na Panginoon lang ang s’yang tanging nakakaalam kung sino ang magwawagi sa aming dalawa.

Matagal at mahirap ang tinahak naming daan para paghandaan ang laban na ito. Dugo, pawis at pagod ang puhunan namin, kasama ang aking coach na si Freddie Roach. Tiniis naming lahat ang lamig, sakit ng katawan, pagkauhaw at mga pagsubok upang marating ang kundisyon ng pangangatawan, pag-iisip at ispiritwal na kabuuan upang masasabi namin na handing-handa na ang lahat.

This is the fight of my life, this is the biggest challenge in my boxing career, and I know that if I emerge victorious in this battle, all of us will reap the blessings and we will share all the glory.

Kaunting oras na lang at bakbakan na. Sana po, ipagpatuloy ninyo ang pananalangin upang lahat tayo ay tatanghaling KAMPEON NG BUONG MUNDO.

Hanggang sa muling Kumbinasyon. God Bless Us All!

http://philboxing.com/news/columns.php?aid=1130&id=20727

Pacquiao - de la Hoya fight. HBO PPV version.
http://www.biliranisland.com/video/pacquiao-delahoya-dsl.html

-----------

It's an early October afternoon in San Francisco, and in Pacquiao's suite on the seventh floor of the Ritz-Carlton, fire ordinances are on the verge of being violated. In town as part of a press tour, Pacquiao steps over one of his Filipino drivers, who has been sleeping on the floor next to the TV; meanwhile, another man is passed out near the doorway, one arm slung over his face.

Who are these folks? "It's a lot of people without titles," Roach says. "I once went around the room and kept asking, 'What does he do?' Nobody could tell me." In Gen San about 30 guys hang out at Pacquiao's mansion every day, playing darts and eating. One friend calls it "social welfare."

----------

Joaquin Hagedorn Jr., the boyfriend of Pacquiao's sister-in-law, recalls walking into the champ's hotel room in Las Vegas this summer and finding him lying on a blanket. Pacquiao, Hagedorn says, "just didn't think to call for a roll-away bed." Out of the filipino "hospitality" instinct, Pacquiao has been known to take a turn sleeping on the floor.

----------

Amid revelry in his suite at the Ritz, he started to gather empty beer cans. He says he had nothing to do.

----------

Flying on a private Falcon 900 jet, he used the bathroom faucet to fill an empty water bottle . He needed a drink.

Wheel Power

2008-12-05T19:51:00.043+08:00

They both reach their destinations.

One sweats it out.
The other has it easy.

One rides his bike.

The other, ah well, his bike rides on top of him.

Working all day in the banana plantations of Madaum, Davao del Norte, is exhausting for him; he longs for the comfort of home. The P8 motorcycle ride is the fastest and easiest way of getting there. But he has one, big problem: what the hell is he going to do with his bike? ...

With only one leg, he has accepted his fate. He finds it hard to enjoy a stroll on the beach or a walk in the park. With his wheelchair, he is used to the pitiful stares from strangers; it no longer bothers him. In the silence of people's minds, he knows, he will always be labeled as incapacitated.

But not today. Not while he's on his bike.

Today he rides like the wind, and conquers a grueling, 35-kilometer climb towards Calinan, Davao City.

Who's incapacitated now?

(from my other blog. This story still inspires me!)

Midcourse Correction

2008-12-03T00:44:00.099+08:00

It's 1:41 in the morning and I can't sleep.

I am on the verge of making one of the biggest decisions in my life. I haven't fully decided yet, but I'm ninety percent leaning towards making it. The ten percent is just about choosing the right timing and the appropriate way of doing it, which can give the best results for me.

It's like waking up, recharged and relaxed, after a deep sleep. Or as Wayne Dyer calls it, Zathura, an instant awakening. Yesterday afternoon, while wasting away on the couch with a fever -- with the TV on and with a meaningless book on my hands (Cosbyology by Bill Cosby) -- I just STOOD UP and decided to DO IT: to say goodbye to this companion of over 14 years; to fiercely shout my farewells to a journey nearing its end; to say yes, too, to the promise of another great adventure; and to bravely choose the road less traveled by. (Please be right, Robert Frost.)

Enough with the uncertainties.

Now, I can't sleep. I am so reinvigorated. Excited. Really optimistic.

I'm so alive!

I think Richard Bode's First You Have to Row a Little Boat triggered this surge of decisiveness. While cleaning the storage room yesterday, I saw this forgotten, old book, and scanned its pages. Across one page, I had drawn a big, yellow check mark. The highlighted page was about the necessity for ships to make midcourse corrections: it's a navigational correction made during the journey of ships. Without these corrections, sometimes in very small degrees, the ships may end up at the wrong ports, or, worst, arrive at the wrong countries, and, ultimately, fail to reach their planned destinations.

And would Titanic be so infamous now had her navigator turned her a few degrees to the right? (Or to the left) Damn. I will not end up like the Titanic.

A midcourse correction. This is what I need.

And Robert, for now, I'll walk with you.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Levi's ad

2008-12-02T23:01:00.002+08:00

Her note

2008-12-02T22:28:00.013+08:00

After months of procrastination, I'm starting to clean the storage room. It's all there: bills, important documents, books, hammer (there you are), notebooks, Christmas cards, birthday cards, expired meds, receipts, a slipper, a deodorant, etc.

I found this note given by Gem on August 28Th, 1995 -- tucked inside Richard Bode's First You Have to Row a Little Boat. It was written on a half-sheet, white bond paper.

Each of us
by Danielle Steel

Each of us, with our secret gifts,
lovely potions, lovely notions
Waiting to be aired, waiting to be shared.

Each of us, a half, a whole,
a mind, a soul, a heart,
And yet, a part of a better, richer, more.
Looking for the door, the key, the You, the We.

Growing day by day, looking for the way
To find what I’d always dreamed but never seen.
Always tried but never been.

Always thought but never knew.
Until at last,
I discovered
that the gift
I always sought
was YOU….

Gem
August 28th
1995

Astigggg

2008-12-02T13:58:00.012+08:00

I once heard Aegis, live. I was totally mesmerized.

Powerful voices.
High notes.
Sentimental Tagalog lyrics.
Spirited.
And as they say: Performance level!

Like this song:

Basang basa sa ulan

Heto ako ngayon, nag-iisa
Naglalakbay sa gitna ng dilim
Lagi na lang akong nadarapa
Ngunit heto, bumabangon pa rin

Heto ako, basang-basa sa ulan
Walang masisilungan, walang malalapitan
Sana'y may luha pa, akong mailuluha
At ng mabawasan ang aking kalungkutan

Dumi at putik sa aking katawan
Ihip ng hangin at katahimikan
Bawat patak ng ulan at ang lamig
Waring nag-uutos, upang maglaho ang pag-ibig.

More Aegis:

Luha

Halik

I love the whole world

2008-12-02T13:36:00.002+08:00

I like this ad:

I love the mountains
I love the clear blue skies
I love big bridges
I love when great whites fly.

I love the whole world
and all its sights and sounds

hoom-di-a-da
hoom-di-a-da
hoom-di-a-da
hoom-di-a-da

i love the ocean
i love the dirty things
i love to go fast
i love egyptian kings

i love the whole world
and all its craziness

hoom-di-a-da
hoom-di-a-da
hoom-di-a-da
hoom-di-a-da

i love tornados
i love arachanid
i love hot magma
i love the giant squids

i love the whole world
it’s such a brilliant place.

hoom-di-a-da
hoom-di-a-da
hoom-di-a-da
hoom-di-a-da
hoom-di-a-da
hoom-di-a-da
hoom-di-a-da
hoom-di-a-da
hoom-di-a-da
hoom-di-a-da

High School

2008-11-17T22:30:00.006+08:00

Song: Cinderella
Singer: Stage crew
HCAS 88

Trapped

2008-11-17T14:34:00.001+08:00