"Who thinks an inch, but talks a yard, needs a kick in the foot." ~ Chinese Proverb
That is a quote I read before way back in college. I still remember it till now by memory. I just don't know who said it so for the benefit of the doubt, I Googled it. And so, I still learn something new: geez I'm getting old (aside from it's a Chinese Proverb).
I really like that quote because it has some wit in it to use the words of measurement and to imply to disdain inaction.
Here in The Philippines we have a proverb that says, "Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan, hindi makararating sa paroroonan." (The one who never looks back won't ever arrive to his destination.)
That proverb tells something about looking back and paying tribute to the people that were behind your success. Because no man's an island and there is really no 'self-made' success.
But what I also like about the proverb is that it tells something about another thing: action.
Think about this, you will only know that you moved if there is a movement. If you look back now and you see the same rock then definitely you are not going anywhere. Then if you look back again and see that rock has been in another place then what that does mean? You are going somewhere. Unless that rock is moving!
A Few Yards Back
In my journey, I never really wanted to be a CEO before. I did not thirst for excellence. I was contented to have a job, to have a high paying salary. I just thought about doing my best, working hard. I did not think about things like personal development. I did not have a clue. 'Leadership' puzzled me and 'success' neither. For me, we all have our own 'business'. I did not care about other people's success as long I have my job.
To be honest, I couldn't even say that I can be a CEO someday. It can't even slip my tongue. That's because I had no plans on becoming one.
Then what on earth made me to strive to be a CEO?
Y: the big WHY.
Honestly, I am not really sure or how accurate I can recall how that idea transpired.
Last August of this year, I broke up with my girlfriend. Not a good memory to put here but after what happened I began to ask questions about myself. I think the break up was a blessing in disguise. No. It's not that I was not sad and I was happy about the break up but because there were a lot of things that got in my mind. I began to ask things to myself. Things like: 'What to do now?', 'Where am I really going?', 'What have I missed?' Then in solitude, questions began to prod deeper like, 'What am I good at?', 'What do I really love doing?', 'What really makes me happy?' These questions indicates that maybe my past relationship was not healthy for me to grow on my own because I was too dependent on the person instead of growing together. I realized there were a lot of things going on around me. Before and after the break up, I was also having financial problems with our family and with my own. So, after the break up I had the time to think about my financial status. On how to control it, minimize and live below my expenses and live within my means. At that point I got interested in financial matters. Loneliness still getting under my skin, I decided to fight the negativity in me. That time I heard that my officemate Mico is attending a weekly Catholic prayer gathering called The Feast and I asked if I could join. During the Sunday service, there was a prayer that declares about our dreams coming true and about abundance. Then the Sunday service ended.
Every year I usually make goals. It started in 2013. In my list, I always put Read 10 Books. In 2017, it was the first time I included socializing or participating in group gatherings. That made me put the 'The Feast' on the list. Then, one of my connections in Linkedin, and a good friend, Renz posted something in his page. It was an invite to join the Makati Life Group. That time I didn't know what a life group was. And there was free chicken! But so I went. The topic was about choice. Then the meeting ended.
After a week, something struck the strings inside of me. I reflected on the things going on at that time and the words abundance and choice stuck on my head. It had something very interesting about it. I couldn't explain what was that, but now I really think it was God who whispered in my heart. The word abundance has something to do with my finances, while the word choice has something to do with my choices in life which happens to be my past relationship. The topics about choice made me realized that my current state is caused by my past ideas, thoughts and decisions. That my happiness depended on the quality of my past choices. Then I encountered the Bible verse Jeremiah 29:11 that says: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. That summed up the two ideas about abundance and choice.
Now, I know that it may not sound appealing to some of you and may not be interested in religion or a specific religious group but I am sharing this because it is how I started. It gave me a sense of direction. Some other way may work for you like joining a community group. Join a group that you shares the same idea with you. It may be a music club, a hobby, anything that you are interested about. After I discovered that my 'inner voice', I decided to join other groups like a TBC, a small writers club I found on facebook and Truly Rich Club, a group that talks about financial freedom. Whatever works for you and interests you. Join it. Because you can learn a lot of things from other people. Ideas that you may not think of on your own, for the rest of your life. And even if you do think of their ideas, it might take you a long , long time to realize and learn those lessons. Then, I attended seminars and trainings about leadership. I attended the seminar of Francis Kong, one of the sought after motivational speakers and entrepreneurs in The Philippines. It was entitled Developing NextGen Leaders. That seminar was about identity and purpose. That again amplified my hunger to awake and develop the inner me.
Once I finally heard my inner voice, I developed it and nurtured it by feeding positive thoughts and partnered with actions. What actions? Education. By reading books. At the middle of my Read 10 Books list, I stopped and started reading from fiction to non-fiction: financial literacy and personal development.
Fast Best Foot Forward
Now, I still read books. One of the books I still read now is the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Before, my approach to reading is one book at a time. But then I changed my perspective in reading and tried reading different books everyday. I've realized that if reading books is like talking to the author, and we talk to different people everyday, so why not apply it on books? So I did. And it works for me now. Since, the books that I read say the same message. (That's what you'll learn in 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, using the right principles in different areas of your life).
I still continue to attend the Makati Life Group and attend The Feast as I find spirituality affect my thoughts and direction.
Being surrounded by the people you want to be helps you to become one. You want to be successful then surround yourself with successful people.
If you still can't find a group that you can join, that's ok. You can start by subscribing to great videos in Youtube. I can suggest videos of Simon Sinek, Jim Rohn, Francis Kong, and Chinky Tan. I know you'll love their talks.
So I think being kicked by the foot in life is good sometimes. (But don't break up with your boyfriend/girlfriend.)
I still have a lot to share on my learnings but I think it's all for today.
See you next time guys.
Let me know your thoughts and leave your comments below or you can email me at nicson_fajardo@zoho.com
Have a great day :)
That is a quote I read before way back in college. I still remember it till now by memory. I just don't know who said it so for the benefit of the doubt, I Googled it. And so, I still learn something new: geez I'm getting old (aside from it's a Chinese Proverb).
I really like that quote because it has some wit in it to use the words of measurement and to imply to disdain inaction.
Here in The Philippines we have a proverb that says, "Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan, hindi makararating sa paroroonan." (The one who never looks back won't ever arrive to his destination.)
That proverb tells something about looking back and paying tribute to the people that were behind your success. Because no man's an island and there is really no 'self-made' success.
But what I also like about the proverb is that it tells something about another thing: action.
Think about this, you will only know that you moved if there is a movement. If you look back now and you see the same rock then definitely you are not going anywhere. Then if you look back again and see that rock has been in another place then what that does mean? You are going somewhere. Unless that rock is moving!
A Few Yards Back
In my journey, I never really wanted to be a CEO before. I did not thirst for excellence. I was contented to have a job, to have a high paying salary. I just thought about doing my best, working hard. I did not think about things like personal development. I did not have a clue. 'Leadership' puzzled me and 'success' neither. For me, we all have our own 'business'. I did not care about other people's success as long I have my job.
To be honest, I couldn't even say that I can be a CEO someday. It can't even slip my tongue. That's because I had no plans on becoming one.
Then what on earth made me to strive to be a CEO?
Y: the big WHY.
Honestly, I am not really sure or how accurate I can recall how that idea transpired.
Last August of this year, I broke up with my girlfriend. Not a good memory to put here but after what happened I began to ask questions about myself. I think the break up was a blessing in disguise. No. It's not that I was not sad and I was happy about the break up but because there were a lot of things that got in my mind. I began to ask things to myself. Things like: 'What to do now?', 'Where am I really going?', 'What have I missed?' Then in solitude, questions began to prod deeper like, 'What am I good at?', 'What do I really love doing?', 'What really makes me happy?' These questions indicates that maybe my past relationship was not healthy for me to grow on my own because I was too dependent on the person instead of growing together. I realized there were a lot of things going on around me. Before and after the break up, I was also having financial problems with our family and with my own. So, after the break up I had the time to think about my financial status. On how to control it, minimize and live below my expenses and live within my means. At that point I got interested in financial matters. Loneliness still getting under my skin, I decided to fight the negativity in me. That time I heard that my officemate Mico is attending a weekly Catholic prayer gathering called The Feast and I asked if I could join. During the Sunday service, there was a prayer that declares about our dreams coming true and about abundance. Then the Sunday service ended.
Every year I usually make goals. It started in 2013. In my list, I always put Read 10 Books. In 2017, it was the first time I included socializing or participating in group gatherings. That made me put the 'The Feast' on the list. Then, one of my connections in Linkedin, and a good friend, Renz posted something in his page. It was an invite to join the Makati Life Group. That time I didn't know what a life group was. And there was free chicken! But so I went. The topic was about choice. Then the meeting ended.
After a week, something struck the strings inside of me. I reflected on the things going on at that time and the words abundance and choice stuck on my head. It had something very interesting about it. I couldn't explain what was that, but now I really think it was God who whispered in my heart. The word abundance has something to do with my finances, while the word choice has something to do with my choices in life which happens to be my past relationship. The topics about choice made me realized that my current state is caused by my past ideas, thoughts and decisions. That my happiness depended on the quality of my past choices. Then I encountered the Bible verse Jeremiah 29:11 that says: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. That summed up the two ideas about abundance and choice.
Now, I know that it may not sound appealing to some of you and may not be interested in religion or a specific religious group but I am sharing this because it is how I started. It gave me a sense of direction. Some other way may work for you like joining a community group. Join a group that you shares the same idea with you. It may be a music club, a hobby, anything that you are interested about. After I discovered that my 'inner voice', I decided to join other groups like a TBC, a small writers club I found on facebook and Truly Rich Club, a group that talks about financial freedom. Whatever works for you and interests you. Join it. Because you can learn a lot of things from other people. Ideas that you may not think of on your own, for the rest of your life. And even if you do think of their ideas, it might take you a long , long time to realize and learn those lessons. Then, I attended seminars and trainings about leadership. I attended the seminar of Francis Kong, one of the sought after motivational speakers and entrepreneurs in The Philippines. It was entitled Developing NextGen Leaders. That seminar was about identity and purpose. That again amplified my hunger to awake and develop the inner me.
Once I finally heard my inner voice, I developed it and nurtured it by feeding positive thoughts and partnered with actions. What actions? Education. By reading books. At the middle of my Read 10 Books list, I stopped and started reading from fiction to non-fiction: financial literacy and personal development.
Fast Best Foot Forward
Now, I still read books. One of the books I still read now is the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Before, my approach to reading is one book at a time. But then I changed my perspective in reading and tried reading different books everyday. I've realized that if reading books is like talking to the author, and we talk to different people everyday, so why not apply it on books? So I did. And it works for me now. Since, the books that I read say the same message. (That's what you'll learn in 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, using the right principles in different areas of your life).
I still continue to attend the Makati Life Group and attend The Feast as I find spirituality affect my thoughts and direction.
Being surrounded by the people you want to be helps you to become one. You want to be successful then surround yourself with successful people.
If you still can't find a group that you can join, that's ok. You can start by subscribing to great videos in Youtube. I can suggest videos of Simon Sinek, Jim Rohn, Francis Kong, and Chinky Tan. I know you'll love their talks.
So I think being kicked by the foot in life is good sometimes. (But don't break up with your boyfriend/girlfriend.)
I still have a lot to share on my learnings but I think it's all for today.
See you next time guys.
Let me know your thoughts and leave your comments below or you can email me at nicson_fajardo@zoho.com
Have a great day :)
Worth Reading bro. You have such a great mindset and perspective in life. I would like to share with you of my favorite Bible Verse: Delight yourself in the name of the Lord and He will give the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
ReplyDeleteHi, JP. That's a beautiful verse :) Thank you for sharing that. I will add that to my Life Verses :)
ReplyDelete