5 years later, I wanted to own my time

Tags

Corporate Slave, Corporate World, Dreams, Lifestyle Entrepreneur, own your time

How time flies so fast. The photo above was taken before my graduation rite inside the PICC. Facebook just reminded me that it was five years ago since it was posted. Ang bilis lang. And looking at that photo, I remember the struggle to get there – even telling my mom that I can’t possibly graduate on time.

But since bidding goodbye to academic student life, I thought, how far have I gone for the past five years?

For sure, my batchmates and friends are in way better position now than myself. I know some have been enjoying their corporate life. Some are engineers while others are in sales and marketing. Some are accountants, while others are in financial institutions and in government positions. For sure, they’re having a good life. Their posts in social media tell they are.

Me? I can’t even share a solid success story.

I landed a job in Johnson & Johnson Philippines 4 years ago. It was a high paying job (if not the highest) relative to the industry, not to mention the incentives quarterly and annually. I was able save a lot (me being matipid in all ways). I can travel and buy the food and things I want while supporting my family needs. After 3 years, I got the promotion which means there is salary increase. And for me, it was a massive increase. My team and the management were really the people you want to be part of.

That was my success story. But it came to an end when I submitted my resignation almost 4 months ago.

I always feel that I am not a corporate person, that I can’t be a corporate slave, against what the academe tells us where to go. One of the weird things I always think of when I was still in corporate was, what if I want to travel the world? I only have 15 days leave credit per year. That was way too short for me. LOL. Yet, I always dreamt of travelling around the world. That will always be my ultimate dream.

And I can’t do that if I can’t own most of my time. Thus, why I left JNJ. I just wanted to live my life with my rules of the game, instead of playing around others’ rules of the game.

As such is, yung hindi ko na kelangan magpaalam sa boss ko na magbabakasyon ako. O kaya hindi ko kelangan madaliin yung bakasyon ko kasi may trabaho pa. Or I dont have to go to work nang walang gana, instead will work based on my body’s clock.

I just wanted my time to be with myself and my loved ones so I can live my life based on my timeline. Most importantly, I don’t wanna be in any of the scenario below.

Credits to owner of the photo.

I already put up my own website for my internet business as a lifestyle entrepreneur. The only challenge now is I can’t find my rhythm yet in this new endeavour. I haven’t found yet my perfect business.  My concept is not peaking up yet. So I am stuck now thinking about changing my niche market or strengthening my position.

And I am feeling the pressure while doing that. I have to sustain my family support while at the same time, securing my everyday expenses. (This is when I realized that ‘adulting’ is real 😂)

But I just wanna keep going. Although may mga araw na tinatamad ako kumilos, I still wanna make an impact. Kung paano, I can’t really say how but I’d like to think that someday, every effort and every struggles will all be worth it seeing better results day by day.

Hopefully, that will be the start of my success story. I hope I can prove to people that owning your time is achievable while at the same time living your dreams. Some of the people in the closed group I joined in Facebook were able to achieve it. I hope I can too.

 

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Kervy James Villajero

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general santos city, Kervy James Villajero

I was having a break from my research when I came across this Facebook post from General Santos City where a Grade 5 student knocked on an office door asking if they need somebody to mop the floor or clean anything in the office. When asked why, he told them that he needs to buy stuff for his project. For full Facebook post, click here.

The netizens were touched by this hardworking boy who wants to be a pilot in the future. Personally, I was moved by his determination to earn money so he can comply with his school requirements. At a young age, he’s already aware of ways he needs to do without depending too much from his parents. Of course, we just want children to enjoy their childhood instead of doing adult things. But like in his case, how can he pass a school requirement if his parents don’t have money to accomplish it?

I salute this boy for being determined and humble enough to go out of his comfort zone at an early age. I can feel his struggle everyday yet, still positive that his education will be fulfilled despite the financial challenges.

When I was younger, I used to do assignments and projects of my classmates so I can have savings – like an emergency fund so that when my mom have nothing to give me, I still have money to go to school and buy me some snack during break. I also used it to buy perfume (aficionado, hehe) because it was a thing during my time and my classmates and friends were also using it. You know, peer pressure. Kakainggit lang. :)

Anyway, this kind of stories inspire me the most. I know the struggle of young ones from underprivileged family as I was once one. I used to go to school without breakfast and baon. In fact, there were times na naliligo ako without sabon or shampoo before going to school. Those were the hard times.

Now, I always pray for my nephews to have a good life and a good childhood. I really don’t want them to experience the struggle I and this boy experienced. I will always be here for them. I am working hard for them as well.

And I will work hard so I can also help other kids achieve their dreams. As a child we always dream of being somebody someday. I hope and I pray that they will not stop dreaming by giving them the chance to achieve what they wanted to be. God bless you Kervy and God bless all the kids who wants to be somebody someday! I will do my part, I promise!

For those who wanted to help, below are the details. They only accept goods and school supplies for Kervy. They will open bank account for the kid so they can already accept money donations. I will keep you posted. 

Chriszel S. Vicente
Charter Ping An Insurance Corp.
Metrobank Bldg, 1st floor. San Miguel Street. 
General Santos City
(0917) 893 7135

Sherry Rose Yan
Charter Ping An Insurance Corp.
Metrobank Bldg, 1st floor. San Miguel Street. 
General Santos City
09055022437

Goodbye and hello

Tags

Business, Entrepreneurship, goodbye

 

During my first year in JNJ with my batchmates!

 

Shall I say, this is it?

Well, it’s an absolute yes. :) After a couple of months of contemplating about leaving JNJ – the most admired pharmaceutical company in the world, after talking about it with my mom and convincing her of my plans, after building two small businesses to start up my road to entrepreneurship, after emotionally and mentally preparing myself from the uncertainties of the future, be it good or bad, and after standing firm of pursuing my ambitious dreams, finally, I already tendered my resignation last May 12.

Yes, I am leaving a company a lot of people dreamt of being a part of. 

It was really a hard decision to make because it seems like I am in an organization that already helped me fulfill my goals. From family responsibilities, job security, financial stability, etc., it leveled up my economic status and seems to make life easier and more fun. I was able to travel to different places, experienced a few luxurious vacations, tried low-budget to expensive restos. I was provided a car that I can use even for personal na lakad, free unlimited data on my iPad, etc. It’s like my sahod is all take home money. We’re well provided by the company that’s why I couldn’t ask for more. And it’s rare to see companies that care for their employees like the way JNJ is to us.

But there are things talaga that you have to give up to pave way for another opportunity especially if it’s your dream that you want to have its way in your life. 

Don’t get me wrong by thinking that I am not contented with what I have. It’s not the point. Well actually though, I also thought about it before – that maybe I am not just contented with all I have. However, I’m pretty sure it’s not. Hehe. I am always grateful with JNJ because I don’t have all of these years before. It’s just that, I am really firm about making my name in the business world.

I always wanted to be an entrepreneur since my college days. 

Kaya I am willing to start all over again. If it’s the price to pay, I will whole-heartedly face it. In fact, for the past couple of days, I am already planning my next move because, in around one month, fixed income will never be my thing anymore; though on the bright side, 8-5 job will also not be a thing to me (sometimes, it’s 10-10 haha). Yahoo!!!

Honestly, it makes me quite worried to think how will I then support my parents (they’re my dependent). I wasn’t thinking about myself because I know I can always find a way for myself. Kaya lang sila, they’re not getting any younger. Soon, both of them will be senior citizens. They have maintenance medicines to sustain and of course, they’re more prone to diseases (knock on wood). But for the record, I bought them medicines good for a year. I hope and I pray (really hard) that it’s enough to buy me time to get a momentum for my business so that whatever happens to us (knock on wood, again), I am financially stable already.

On the other side, I am very excited for every tomorrow. Finally, I can do what I want!! Haha. I can start making my ideas a reality. In fact, I have a lot of business ideas that I wanna do since 2015. It was just difficult for me to manage my time. (This made me realized that I am not a multi-tasker, hehe). Pero ngayon, I have all the time. No reasons not to make it.

Also, I have this urge to hire people who are undergraduate and looking for a modest job. Ako naman, makita ko lang yung dedication matuto, I will patiently teach them. If they deserve the job, I will hire them so they can also fulfill their family responsibilities. Honestly, kapag nakikita ko mga kapatid ko at mga kapit-bahay namin na walang trabaho pero gusto magkatrabaho, I always wanted to help them by creating businesses where I can offer them opportunities. I wanted them to feel hopeful that life could be different if they have decent jobs. I don’t want them to be contented with ‘isang kahig, isang tuka’ mentality. I really believe that each person has capabilities yet to discover, maybe not as decorated as others but at least, it can help them improve their lives.

‘Where’s the good in goodbye?’ 

Well, it’s simply in what’s gonna happen after the goodbye. Personally, I am excited with this goodbye. I am positive of all the opportunities to come, especially this time that I am seeking for opportunities based on the dreams I wanted to achieve and based on things that I wanna do.

There is good in goodbye because it opens another door in life. What’s important is how we make it matter. Kaya, hello new door! Here I come!! :)

I am Anthony. Resigned from work. But not resigned to life. (edi wow! haha)