Success

How to Pray for Solutions and Blessings

July 24, 2021 by Ray L. Leave a Comment

Tagalog Version (Click Here)

When life feels completely overwhelming and nothing seems to work despite how desperately you struggle, sometimes there’s really not much you can do but sit down and pray. Fortunately, prayer and meditation actually does give a lot of physical and emotional benefits, and they may also lead you to the breakthrough you need.

To help you persevere during tough times, here’s a guide to help you calm your mind and seek help from a higher power.

More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams.
Alfred Lord Tennyson

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How to Avoid Phone and Internet Scams

July 9, 2020 by Ray L. 1 Comment

Tagalog Version (Click Here)

*This article contains affiliate links.

Because of the covid-19 pandemic, it’s become more dangerous to go out and do things we once normally did, like line up to pay bills at the nearest Western Union or BayadCenter branch. Learning to pay bills as well as send and receive money online is very important as it helps keep us safe these days, and it’s also far more convenient.

Unfortunately though, while we know how to spot scammers and thieves hanging around ATMs, shopping malls and busy streets, a lot of Filipinos (especially the older generations) don’t know much about the kinds of scams that happen online. Here’s a short guide on how to spot most phone and internet scams.

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“Too Good to be True” (and How to Spot Scams)

October 3, 2019 by Ray L. 5 Comments

Tagalog Version (Click Here)

Some time ago my mother discovered a real estate investment opportunity. A luxury resort was accepting investors, so for the price of around P200,000, you can own a room at the resort and get a share of the profit whenever you rent it out. In my opinion, it sounded like a decent deal. It was somewhat risky as we don’t know how much business that new resort will get and the location might not be that good.

I had my doubts especially when they didn’t immediately send us the terms and conditions of the contract and they only gave us a brochure, but our family did have money for it. After my mother sent the first deposit and she started asking about the full terms, the representative finally told her the details. We’ll get to use or rent out a room… for one week every two years. We’ll also need to pay some maintenance fees every month.

That’s no investment. That was a scam! It was WAY different from the “own a resort room and rent it out” deal that the first promoter said. It was blatant false advertising. Although my mother couldn’t withdraw the initial P18,000 deposit, we were glad to have exited that scam before things got worse.

Well, that was just one example of a scam. What does it mean when something seems “too good to be true”? Let’s talk about the most popular kinds of scams here in the Philippines next.

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3 Short Lessons About What Life Gives Us

August 15, 2019 by Ray L. 1 Comment

Tagalog Version (Click Here)

Self-improvement and self-help books usually contain some incredibly valuable lessons, and I remember one from a poem that I’ve seen in several of them. It’s called “My Wage” by Jessie B. Rittenhouse, and that will be the subject of our lesson today.

“My Wage” by Jessie B. Rittenhouse

I bargained with Life for a penny,
And Life would pay no more,
However I begged at evening
When I counted my scanty store;

For Life is a just employer,
He gives you what you ask,
But once you have set the wages,
Why, you must bear the task.

I worked for a menial’s hire,
Only to learn, dismayed,
That any wage I had asked of Life,
Life would have gladly paid!

I’m sure you were able to understand the lesson that Jessie has been trying to teach. Life gives us what we ask of it, therefore we shouldn’t limit our dreams. There’s another very famous quote that illustrates that lesson and you can find it in the bible:

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Work Smarter, Not Harder: Three Short Tips About Success and Productivity

July 25, 2019 by Ray L. 1 Comment

Tagalog Version (Click Here)

Have you ever heard the phrase “work smarter, not harder”? One day I was hanging out at a coffee shop and I overheard a young man talking to his older companions (potentially his relatives) about his potential business plans. From real estate, to online businesses, to vending machines, that man had a lot of decent business ideas.

Unfortunately, it felt like he was vastly underestimating the financial risks involved and it also seems like he has very little business knowledge and experience. That’s a recipe for disaster. I still hope he succeeds at whatever he plans to do though.

In any case, while he was talking to his older companions I heard him repeat the words “work smart” and “not work hard”, and how nobody gets rich being an employee (there IS a way if you know how to save and invest properly). It’s thanks to him that I got something I want to write about this week.

What does it mean to “work smarter” and not harder? We have three tips for you here!

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