Do you feel stuck?

In an ideal world, we know all the answers. We’re clear of what we want and need to do then do it. But we’re not living in an ideal world.

Many times we don’t know where we’re going. We don’t know our next move. Our plans never materialized so we stopped planning. Sometimes we don’t have plan B.

Risk forward

It’s a philosophy of life meaning moving forward even if it feels risky. If taking risks seems scary then just think of it as taking chances. All of us have this wisp of an idea, something interesting and excites us, but then we look around and no one else is doing that. We’re not sure what’s the next step. “Do I have what it takes?” ”I’m not sure if this will make money.” “What if I’ll regret it?”

The idea to retire started in 2017. It was a scary dream but it excites me. I didn’t know that time how or when it will happen but in my journal I wrote the year 2020.

In 2019, the desire became so strong and I wasn’t scared anymore. I took the chance.

Am I regretting it? I’ll be honest with you. Having a steady and fixed income is a blessing no one should take for granted. Looking back, there are moments that I wished I saved more or invested more. All of us have regrets.

But I don’t regret taking the chance to move back to the Philippines.
Spending 24 hours with my kids every freaking day makes me crazy but I’ll treasure these moments forever. We talk more, play more, argue more, learn about each other more every freaking day.

The best part of going home? My husband was able to spent one year with his mom before she suddenly passed away last year. Just thinking about it, I know that all the chance we took is worth it.

How about the money part? Whether we admit or not, we need money and lack of money makes us regret many things, right?

MONEY IS EVERYWHERE. This is true and I believe it. There are many ways to make money. We just need to decide which one is worth our time and energy and take a chance. Nowadays, I earn through TWP, doing online jobs, and selling bespoke jewelries. My income is not yet the same as I was earning in Dubai but that’s fine because I don’t need to anyways. Personally, my target income is P200k monthly and I can live like a madam if I earn this much in the Philippines. I’m not earning this amount yet but that’s my goal.

Inner Courage

When we’re stuck, it feels like being in a fog. We can’t see anything, it’s scary to move and we don’t know what’s on the outside. What if it’s a cliff? Or you hit a car? One wrong step and you’re down in a manhole. Scary!!

But when you’re in fog, it’s stupid to run fast to get out of it. At the same time, staying put wishing and hoping that the fog will dissipate is not advisable, too. The best thing to do is get out of it slowly, one step at a time.

Inner courage. Move forward even though you don’t know where you’re heading. Go to the unknown. Some people like to take several giant leaps, good for them. But there’s nothing wrong in taking baby steps as long as you’re moving forward.

P.S. In case you missed it, my book is now available on Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble, Google Play Books, Apple Books, and other online stores. Kulang na lang pati sa Shopee and Lazada  CLICK HERE to buy.

The post When you don’t know your next move appeared first on The Wealthy Pinay.

I was alone for a few hours on the first night of my mother-in-law's funeral.
I was sad.
I was really tired.
Yet, my mind was listing 100 things I needed to do the next few days - flower arrangements, grocery shopping, talk to the crematorium, force Gibson to rest, write scripts for Pinay Money Bootcamp.

Thinking about it now, I'm amazed at how I managed to pull it all off.
Apart from one big zit on my cheek, I survived that phase.
It helped that I didn't see any wandering spirits at the funeral chapel (Well, I could have seen one or two, but this is not a horror post so I'll spare you with the details)

August and September have been a rollercoaster of emotions for me. 

My mother-in-law passed away.
My kids started their homeschool journey.
I launched the only money mindset course in the Philippines.
And I'm celebrating my 40th birthday tomorrow.

There are days that I'm too sad and worried.
And sometimes I'll be too occupied that I don't have time to be lonely.
Many days I feel there are not enough hours in a day.
But also has this feeling I haven't accomplished anything.

Why am I telling you this?

Because maybe you're feeling the same way, too.
Maybe you're worried, scared, depleted, sad.
Maybe you're feeling alone and tired.
Maybe you're afraid of the future and what will happen next.
or maybe you're ma-drama like me (birthday blues, for sure!)

It's normal to feel all these emotions. 
We are human after all. 
Unless you're six feet underground, you're bound to feel something.

But do you know what keeps us going?
Why are you still working?
Why are you still holding on?
Why haven't you given up?

Because of HOPE.

That one day it will be better.
That one day all your hard work will pay off.
That soon everything that your heart's desires will be yours.

But do you know what's better than hoping? 
Combine your faith with actions. 

If I let my emotions took over my mama's death, I don't know what will happen to her funeral.
If I let my sadness ruled, Pinay Money Bootcamp's participants will find a blank screen on their membership page.
If I focused more on my dramatic moments, I'll just lay down on the bed and watch all YT dog videos on repeat.

It's okay to have your moments but try your hardest to get up and continue.
No one can help you get out of the rut except yourself.
No one can help you save if you won't stop spending.
You won't have your dream business unless you work for it.

HOPE is admirable but FAITH WITH ACTIONS are what will drive you to achieve your goals.

If you're doing all the actions but can't seem to get the result you want, it's time to go deeper and for sure it's your limiting beliefs aka money blocks are the culprit. 

The thing is, people aren't aware of their money blocks. They don't know that they have these deep-rooted negative beliefs about money and success that prevent them from reaching their goals. They think that they are the problem - they're too sensitive, too honest, not good enough, not smart enough. Sometimes, they blame other people for their misfortunes - it's the government's fault, because their parents are poor, or only the rich are getting richer. Or they don't have the opportunities to succeed - if only they can work abroad, if only their salary is higher, if only they finished college, if only they have more friends.

And these money blocks are manifesting in different ways.
You can't start your business.
You can't save.
You spend more than you earn.
You work harder.
You're depressed.
Your relationships are suffering.
You can't attract clients.

If you've been following TWP for years, you know that I'm all about money mindset. Reprogramming your money beliefs will help you achieve anything you set your mind to. You won't rely on 'hope' anymore because you'll gain a deep understanding of how the mind works. You will now easily understand how your faith in Him and the abilities He has given you will work beautifully together to start your business, increase your income, increase your savings, build your own dream home, and whatever dreams you wish to accomplish.

You are strong.
You are amazing.
You have everything you need to live the life you truly want.
You just have to have this deep faith that it is possible.
You just need to let go of your limiting beliefs.
Allow yourself to receive.

I have highlighted the last line because many of us, specially women, have this huge resistance to receiving. We always give - our time, our energy, our money, our knowledge - and we do it without asking for anything in return. That's very good quality, of course. The problem is we don't feel worthy to receive. We never ask for an increase in salary. We always deflect compliments. We give discounts and promotions because we feel we're not worthy to receive money from the services and products we offer. Can you relate?

So you see, if you're struggling saving money, can't find your dream job, scared to quit your job, or start your business, then I suggest work on your money blocks first. Because HOPING that one day everything will fall into place is actually just that, hope. You have to take action. And not the actions in the sense that you have to cry blood and tears, but they are the inner works required to release all your limiting beliefs. 

P.S. I just launched the only Money Mindset Course in the Philippines designed for all entrepreneurial Pinays. It makes my heart swell with joy to know that the bootcamp have helped Pinays work on their money mindset stuff as well as taught them practical tips about online marketing. I was like them a few years ago - driven, ambitious, hard worker. But at the same time, doubtful, worrier, scared. I know exactly what aspiring women entrepreneurs are going through. Starting a business is a huge leap of faith and it will require a big change on your money beliefs to start and grow your business the way you have envisioned it. 

* If you feel you have it in you to be successful but can't seem to find the "secret" to make it happen
* If you're confused why your messaging can't seem to reach your ideal customers
* If you keep on giving but have this huge resistance on receiving
* If it's easy for you to earn but then lose the money as fast as you get them
* If you're always over delivering but undercharging
* If you have this huge desire to earn more 

... then Pinay Money Bootcamp is for you. And since I have this 100% belief that this course can change your life if you allow it, I offer Money Back guarantee. If after 7 days you think it's not for you, I'll refund all your money - no questions asked. 

Excited to see you in the bootcamp!

The post Do you know something better than hope? appeared first on The Wealthy Pinay.

I had a very long conversation with one of the members of our community. This is her dilemma:

"You know Lyn Joy, it's easy to start a business and focus on our dreams if the husband has the same ambition and drive. Unfortunately, my husband prefers to play video games in his spare time, which is most of the time. He's not into business and quite negative about money. I told him that we should start saving and although he agrees, his actions say otherwise. He continues spending mindlessly and is never really interested in getting extra income."

Let us set the scene. Your husband is loving and responsible. He might have a few vices here and there but nothing that will put your family at risk. You love him and he loves you. Sounds ideal, right?

But here’s the caveat: you and your husband have different money goals. You already noticed the difference when you were still dating but it was no big deal then. He was a good man (still is) and as the song goes, "when we're hungry, love will keep us alive", right?

Now that you have kids, you suddenly have the realization that love alone can't pay the mortgage or build an emergency fund. For your husband, as long as there’s food on the table and a roof over your head then everything's fine. He works part-time on odd jobs or probably working full-time on minimum wage-paying jobs, and he's totally content. He might have dreams but doesn’t have the drive or intention to chase it. He's always cautious and negative about money.

It hits you then:

You chase your dreams and your husband just dreams.
You want to make an impact on the world and your husband only cares about his.
You are hungry for success and he is just hungry for food.
You want to be the CEO and he's content being an employee.
You create and save money and he spends money.

The total opposite of your drive, ambition, hard work, and determination.
You sometimes even think how you end up with this guy!

Maybe, if your husband is physically hurting you or into gamble and drugs, it will be so easy to just pack your bags and leave, but he is not like that. He is a decent guy with just no dreams. This puts you in a difficult position – should you stay or should you let go?

I'm writing this post because I know our community consists of highly motivated, ambitious, courageous, intelligent women. Our passion and determination to create and build outstanding businesses really separate us from the majority. Although we love being a lady - enjoys fashion, loves cooking, loves anything soft, fluffy, and girly - better not mess with us because we give zero f*ck. 

Our generation, luckily, is now raised to rise above all challenges. We are now encouraged to Lean In - as used by Sheryl Sandberg in her book - be assertive, to move toward a leading, rather than a following, role. It's a very good time to be a woman.

But comes with this empowerment is a risk that the wife becomes more driven than her husband. And I'm not talking about being monetary-driven alone. Wife wants to give more, she's hungry for knowledge, she wants to know her purpose and see how far she can go. It's an exciting time for her but the husband, unfortunately, doesn't share the same excitement.

 Not all of us are married to alpha males. Filipinos, as a culture, are workers, we are excellent workers actually. As an OFW, I heard many times Filipinos are great employees. We are hard-worker, rarely complain, don't discriminate jobs, and are very adaptable. However, when given an opportunity to lead or manage, we refused. We want to follow and just be told. We are uncomfortable standing up and giving orders. It's not our nature.

As a woman who is having your own business (or planning to have your own soon), you start seeing the ambition gap. And it's a reality. Not everything is pretty and in TWP, we will discuss things even if it's difficult. 

Listen to your heart

Our mind always tries to justify our decision. It gives hundreds of reasons why you should stay or leave. This is when listening to your heart will help you.

What does your heart say? Deep down, does it tell you to let go of the relationship and start your new journey without him? Or is it telling you to stay because you really love him and can’t imagine life without your husband?

If you decide to continue your journey without him, I applaud your courage. This is not an easy decision and I think you know that. You might be called a bitch, a money-whore, and other hurtful words just because you allowed yourself to be released in a relationship that drains your soul. I’m proud because you value yourself more which is very rare for a woman to do. We're trained to endure, to suffer, and sacrifice for the people we love. The fact that you dare let go of a relationship that doesn’t give you happiness is a very commendable thing to do. I’m proud of you.

Life is short and we have to live it as meaningful and as truthful as we can be.

Now, if your heart says that you want to stay in a relationship because you truly love him, let me share with you some insights:

You and your husband are two different individuals – different upbringing, different values, different work ethics, different beliefs – who decided to be married and have your life journey together.

When you were newly married, you and your husband decided to be in the same car. This is the honeymoon phase. You love to please each other, avoid conflicts, and have this huge admiration for each other. Being the man in the relationship, you allowed him to take control of the steering wheel.

However, after passing a few highways and several turns and bumps along the way, you realized that you don’t like the way he drives. Either he is too aggressive, too slow, too fast, loves to take shortcuts, or takes the long way. Whatever it is, you don’t want him to be the driver anymore. Should you ask him then to leave the driver seat so you can take control of the steering wheel? It’s an awkward situation. What should you do then?

Can I tell you one important truth?
You can travel on the same road but in different cars.

If you can accept this reality then you will live a very happy, fulfilling life with your partner.

Expectation is the number one enemy of any relationship.

Your husband expects you to clean the house.
Your husband expects you to take care of the kids.
Your husband expects you not to complain.

You expect your husband to provide for all your needs.
You expect your husband to sweep you off your feet every freaking time.
You expect your husband to remember your birthday and anniversaries.

Failing to meet these expectations results in disappointment. And continuous disappointments result in fights, falling out of love, and worst – separation.

If after careful deliberation you decided that you want to stay then it’s time to let go of any expectations of him. Remember that you had the option to leave but didn’t.

For the relationship to survive, you have to accept that your husband has a different journey than you. Don’t expect him to want what you want. Yes, you can inspire him. Yes, you can encourage him. You can even show him your vision but don’t expect that he would be interested let alone listen.

Do whatever you need to do. Follow your dreams. Take action. Persevere. Reach the top. Always remember your why. He may or may not be helpful or encouraging but it doesn't matter. This is your journey.

Maybe, just maybe, your success will inspire him that it's possible for his dreams too.

A warning though

Choosing to stay with your partner is a good thing but as a result, can affect your own dreams negatively. You might be the type of woman who doesn’t want to ‘hurt’ her husband’s ego and might tend to hold off your passion or goal for fear of emasculating your partner.

If you find yourself in this conflicting emotion, remember that your dreams are not only for you but for your family as well. Your success is definitely a win-win for everybody. This is a journey that you need to take and I know not pursuing what your gut tells you will result in lifetime dissatisfaction.

That's it my fellow TWPs! Always remember...
Live the Life You Have Imagined for Yourself! 

P.S.: If you need more motivation, you are in the right place. I hope these articles inspire you.

Financially scared because of the pandemic?
Why am I encouraging you to stop being too thrifty
My mutual fund experience. Spoiler alert, not a good one!
38 Lessons from becoming a self-made millionaire

The post When Husband Lacks Ambition and Drive appeared first on The Wealthy Pinay.

Luke: I can’t believe it.

Yoda: That is why you fail.

Examples of failure:

– Nag set ka ng ipon goals pero hindi mo na-achieve
– Sabi mo mag start ka ng business pero hindi natuloy
– Increase your profit pero nganga pa din
– Babawasan mo yung pagkain ng sweets pero hindi mo magawa
– Mag volunteer ka pero, as usual, wala kang time

Why do we fail nga ba? Tamad ba tayo? Hindi maswerte? Kulang sa tyaga? Kulang sa sipag? Hindi pa time?

You might have heard these thousand times:
“If you didn’t fail, you would never learn any lessons.”
“When you fail. don’t think of it as the opposite of success. Just think of it as a stepping stone to it.”
“No one would be successful without failure.”

Totoo naman lahat yan so I won’t repeat these lines.

Rather what I’ll share is my honest, no bullshit observation of why most people don’t get what they want. And when I say ‘people’, it includes me.
I won’t pretend I’m perfect and have sorted out my shit. Far from it!
I deal with my limiting beliefs regularly. They pop up in unexpected times and just won’t leave no matter how successful I become.
The only good thing is I recognize when it’s happening and just do all my tricks to deal with them.

Why do we fail with our goals?

Reason 1: We’re lazy.

I’m first to admit that I’m lazy. I don’t like household chores. I’m starting to dislike cooking as I’m now doing it every day. If only I won’t smell, I’ll forego showering. Yup! That lazy.

When we say, “I’m too busy!” it only mean 3 things
1. we’re scared
2. we don’t want to do it
3. we’re lazy

You want to be wealthy but don’t want to commute, don’t want to go out, can’t stop binge-watching on Netflix. Can you see the problem here?

Reason 2: We’re disorganized

Life has so many facets. You have work, relationships, health, spirituality and so on. If we focus too much on work, for example, we tend to feel guilty for lacking time in other areas of our lives. We then tend to slow down and say, “Screw money! Family/Health/God is more important!”

I don’t think I’d be able to publish a book, tutor my kids, have a full-time job and have an 8-hour sleep if not of my organizing skills. Wait, organizing is not a skill. It’s a conscious effort to plan my day/week ahead and do everything I can to follow it. Being a lazy gal, I can read books all day but I’m not. Reading books are fantastic but they won’t pay the bills.

You’re supposed to save 200 this week by preparing home-cooked lunch but you woke up late and didn’t have time to prepare. You’re supposed to finish some important stuff but your husband/child/mother asked you to accompany them and you feel guilty saying no.

That’s why in our Best Year Ever 2020 workshop, you’ll receive templates, step-by-step instructions on how to organize your day/week and really stick to it. I know you’ve tried doing this organizing thing million times and unfortunately, failed, so I’m sharing some science back-up tactics to help you.

Reason 3: We don’t learn from our past mistakes.

Some people live and learn, and some only live. 

Kung nag try ka mag save before at hindi mo na-achieve ang target mo, ask yourself, why? Bakit hindi mo sya na-achieve. Giving excuses (madaming gastos, kelangan ng pamilya, mataas na ang bilihin ngayon) wouldn’t do any good. If you fail and made a mistake, define the problem better, analyze what you did wrong and figure out how to avoid the same failure next time.

Best Year Ever 2020 workshop has a whole module discussing this in detail but for now, know that making mistakes is human but repeatedly doing it (intentionally or not) is a crime!

Reason 4: We don’t believe in ourselves.

Poor self-esteem is a lack of self-respect and self-worth. Looking at successful people, we feel intimidated and label ourselves as not ___ enough to be like them. Sure, we can maybe save 100,000 but be a millionaire, impossible!

We fail because we expect to fail. Kaka set mo pa lang ng goal pero sa isip mo, imposible mangyari. Change your perspective. Don’t think of every unsuccessful attempt as a failure. Few people succeed at everything the first time. 

And the major reason why people fail… THEY QUIT!
More people fail not because they lack knowledge or talent but because they just quit. Hanggat sinusubukan mo, hindi ka pa failure. Kapag sumuko ka, then tapos na, uwian na.

If you keep on setting goals and repeatedly not achieving them. maybe it’s time for a different approach – the weathy pinay way. My own tested strategies that helped me achieve my financial and personal goals in a short span of time. A combination of psychology and law of attraction that is being used by athlete coaches, business mentors, and high achievers.

We’re going live on Monday, January 13 and since it’s on Facebook group, you can watch and go through the contents anytime if ever busy ka sa Monday. 

Learn more HERE —> https://thewealthypinay.com/bestyearever2020/

P.S. I hope you won’t make the same mistakes I do initially – being too proud to admit that I need help, being too stubborn to see that my way is really not the only way.
Be open to new ideas. Invest in yourself (heck, the workshop costs 500 pesos only!). I know you’re busy, but you owe it to yourself to try and learn things that you’re passionate about. Your money blocks might be kicking in now saying you don’t need this workshop but if your gut is saying otherwise, follow your instinct.

The post Why do we fail? appeared first on The Wealthy Pinay.

Is it the Virgo in me who’s a perfectionist and love to organize everything? Or is it a trait that most women share?

In any case, I felt totally underwhelmed by my achievements this year because of the nagging feeling that I didn’t try hard enough. I had a lot of unmet goals such as having 10 food carts this year, blogging every week and creating nice and consistent Facebook videos.

I was sulking few weeks ago until I realized what a BS non-sense feeling I have.

I revisited my post early this year of my 2019 income goal and although I didn’t reach them, I was able to start the ball rolling. I launched the book, an online course and started doing training and workshops. These goals will be rolled-over to 2020 and I’m laser clear of what to focus on this time. <I’m sharing all these – my achievements and goals I didn’t achieve – for transparency. I work hard, I work smart, I’m determined and positive, I’m lazy, I’m scared, I’m disappointed, I feel proud. Hindi ko sasabihin sa inyo na dahil magaling ako kaya madami ako na-achieve. That’s bullsh!t. Madami din akong disappointments this year and for sure those people that you look up to experienced failures too. Yun nga lang ang difference, madami at talagang stretch ang goals ko. Shoot for the moon so if you fail you’ll land with the stars di ba?

Here are some of the things I’m proud of…

I retire from my daytime job!

2019 was truly transformative for me. For years, I visualize myself preparing breakfast, tutoring my kids, decorating the house and just focusing on things I love. Since I became a mother, I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. This year, it finally happened!

– Action for you

Visualization is important in manifesting anything. Take my word for that. A child daydreams without guilt nor doubt. They daydream without limitation. I can’t emphasize enough how this tool is very powerful in achieving your goal.

By the way, we do have a group workshop in Paranaque on December 15 about Goal-Setting, Visualization and Vision Board. Just send me a message on Facebook and I’ll share the details with you.

Declutter success

When we did our garage sale last July, I can’t believe how much stuff we accumulated over the years. Note that I’m not a hoarder and we usually give away our stuff to family and friends. But still, the number of clothes, toys, books, kitchen stuff, decorations and whatnots we have was truly unbelievable. The best part of my decluttering this year? I allowed myself to receive money from it.

Instead of just giving them all away which was the case for years, I allowed myself (although, frankly, not easy) to accept money in exchange for these unwanted items. One of my money blocks is actually receiving anything from people. I feel obligated to share and not expect anything in return so to sell my unused and old stuff feels icky. I learned to recognize this money block and constantly remind myself – I serve, I deserve.

By the way, we earned almost 12k on our garage sale!

– Action for you

Declutter your physical surroundings by selling or giving away items that no longer give joy (think Marie Kondo). How many mugs do you need? Until when will you hold on to things thinking you might need them someday (that spare cable you’re holding on for 10 years because, you know, might be useful soon. I know who you are!!!)

This is the best time to unsubscribe to email lists (Lazada, Shopee, discount sites) and give yourself a break from information and social overload.

I became more visible

Being an introvert, I have an ongoing internal debate if doing more videos or social media posts is really necessary. I mean, can writing regular blog posts enough to stay relevant?

Alas, my dream is to be a household name and have at least 2 million followers on Facebook (I know it’s doable. Might take time, of course, but totally possible) and I won’t reach that dream if I’ll hide and shy away from opportunities.

I let go of my inhibitions and fear to show my face to the world – I participated in more Facebook groups using my personal account (and actually engage in these groups), I accepted invites to talk, I actually forced myself to wear makeup, put on some bra and attend several networking events (I enjoyed them tremendously).

By doing all these, my Facebook which has around 250 followers in January has now more than 1400 as of today. That’s almost 500% increase!!! Woohoo!!

– Action for you

If you are offering anything, you can’t get away with selling. “Build it and they will come” is a HOPE marketing. It’s not true. Yes, it might come true, but maybe it won’t. That’s why it’s called hope.

Do you have anything to share? Anything witty, anything funny, anything that might help anyone? Share it. Don’t overthink it and just share.

My learnings this year…

Let go.

Not everything is perfect though and I don’t want you to think that my life is oh-so-rosy because it’s not. I still fear of our income, of my kids’ safety, and get annoyed with my husband.

I hate myself when I’m too lazy and delay things because of it. I figured out that my laziness manifests when things don’t go as planned. Whenever I set a goal and won’t achieve it on my desired timeline, everything goes downhill. Sounds familiar?

This year, I reminded myself to LET GO. Trust God and have faith that everything will fall into place at His right time. I’m not saying though that I’ll sit my ass and wait. No. I’ll do my part and let God do His magic.

When I started my manifesting exercises in 2015, most of my dreams came true when I truly let go. I dreamt it, I believed it, took actions and let go. This year though, I was trying too hard. I wanted some of my goals to happen fast enough which just shows my scarcity mindset. Glad that I realized it soon and that’s why I’m sharing it with you.

– Action for you

Dream. Believe. Take action. Let go.
Have faith that the life you want is possible and will happen.

Start now.

My delaying tactics:

• I’ll start doing live workshop once I’m back in the Philippines.
• I’ll start launching this training once I learned about this <insert some online system>
• I’ll start charging once I have X number of free events.
• I’ll start shooting videos when after I take a shower, put on nice clothes, put on make-up and straighten my hair (which never happens)

It was always a struggle to start NOW because of whatever excuses I’m giving myself. I’m not yet ready. My audience is not yet ready. I still have a small list and network, I don’t know anyone, blah blah blah.

– Action for you

There will be no perfect time. You will only regret not starting sooner. Believe me, start now. Whatever your situation or circumstances today, start from there.

This 2020…

I have simplified my goal for The Wealthy Pinay this year:

• Have a bestseller book.
• Earn 50k a month from TWP (might be small for some but note that I haven’t really earned much from TWP since I started. My income goal from other business ventures is different.)
• Relaunch the Pinay Money Bootcamp and start an online book-writing course.

Sound simple but I understand the Big Rocks I need to overcome to achieve them. I’m not afraid though. Again, FAITH.

This will be my last blog post for 2019. And let me end this year by thanking you. Thank you for being with me. You might be subscribed to my newsletter, following me on Facebook or a regular reader of the website. I appreciate being part of this journey and I hope, in my own little ways, you get inspired and encouraged that the life you want is possible and achievable.

Cheers to 2020 and I pray for an amazing year for you. You Deserve It

The post 2019 Year in Review appeared first on The Wealthy Pinay.

Nowadays, the term boss is thrown around quite easily.

“Boss, pakitabi yang trike mo.”
“Boss, pahiram nga ng lighter.”
“Boss, magkano yan?”

This post is not about if you want to be called a boss or not.
Rather, it’s about being able to LEAD.

If you want to start and create anything – a business, a community, a gang – whether you accept it wholeheartedly or not, you must LEAD. For a group, business or community to grow and thrive, someone needs to hold it together and ensure that it’s going into the ‘right’ direction.

There is a stereotype that a leader is someone who’s charismatic, extrovert, and has a strong personality. He is someone who can stand on stage and persuade his team to follow his ‘vision’. He is smart, articulate and knows how to get what he wants. A leader is an alpha male or alpha female.

For the longest time, I was an employee. I was a great team member. My boss can give me a task and I’ll complete it with flying colors. You see, in a company set-up, I don’t see myself as a boss nor a leader. I might have people reporting to me but I treat everyone as my equal. I don’t act like a boss.

However, deep inside, I know that I can lead.
I’m not easily persuaded by someone else’s opinion.
I take on responsibility and tasks and own them.
I take care of my team, my siblings, my friends.
I know that if people around me need help, I’ll be there.
I realized that I have the ability to turn an idea into reality.

The problem is, people around me think otherwise. I might feel like a leader, but they just see me as someone who follows.

My boss keeps on telling me that I have to take my stand and be more firm.
That I have to say NO more often.
That I have to network and be out there.
That I shouldn’t let others treat me like their personal assistant.

So you see, the way I see myself (I’m a leader) is not how others see me (I’m a follower).
Does it bother me though?

HELL NO.

I don’t give a sh*t to be honest. The reason I created The Wealthy Pinay is to inspire everyone to live the life they’ve imagined for themselves. A life that they really want and not what others expect them to be.

I want everyone to live their life with ease. To have FREEDOM – of time, of money, of choice. To do things that make them alive rather than out of necessity.

And while slowly creating that FREE life, I want you to be true to yourself. Of course, you will improve and be wiser and better, but honor your true YOU.

Be the rich and wealthy person you want to be.
Wealthy and sexy.
Wealthy and loves ukay-ukay.
Wealthy and flashy.
Wealthy and loves cat.
Wealthy and a vintage motorcycle collector.
Wealthy and a volunteer.

You can LEAD without changing your truth.

Based on this article, there are 10 signs that you are a leader and don’t even know it. It talks about having an open mind, being approachable, being genuinely caring and so on.

I used to think that being a leader is pointless. It’s the last thing on my mind and have no desire to pursue it. My mindset changed though when I started to dream. For everyone to believe that they can live the life they imagined for themselves, I need to inspire them. They need to hear my message. I have to prove that it’s possible.

The number one core principle about leadership:
Serve others before yourself.

Today I lead people for a living and mentor them to take a leadership role too. It’s a very fulfilling role and I enjoy every second of it.

How can you be a leader if you haven’t been one before?

1. Be a role model.

More than being a leader, you have to think and act as a role model. Whether you like or not, you will be emulated. They’ll look up to you, copy your style, and try to follow your footsteps

Your job is to role model the right behaviors. The way you talk, the decisions and actions you make, and most of all, how you treat other people.

If possible, share your ideas, business financials, and vision with your team. Even if you think they won’t understand. Respect and let them feel valued.

2. Inspire

Get stuff done. You can’t be a leader if people can’t see results or you can’t paint the end result in a way that is inspiring that they would like to take action.

Share your struggles and mistakes so others can relate. Vulnerability is not a sign of weakness rather can be your greatest strength.

3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help

You can have the greatest idea in the world but without a group of people rallying behind your idea, then achieving your goal will be difficult. Leaders realize that they can’t do their job without the support of people who have the skills they are lacking.

It’s ok to ask for help.

4. Delegate tasks thoughtfully

You may feel like you can do everything but leaders delegate tasks thoughtfully. Being a leader means holding the vision together for the team – you need to inspire and empower. That would be a challenge if you try to do everything and be everywhere.

How to delegate thoughtfully? Assign tasks that support the interests of each team member. When you go to a negotiation meeting, invite one of your team members who like to be a sales rep to join you. Later on, you can easily delegate this task to her/him.

5. Be ready for hard conversations.

A leader consistently acknowledges and praises her team. Praising is important and so is having the tough conversations when someone isn’t giving their best. 

On the other hand, you might see someone giving their best efforts but still fail in achieving the required results. How to fix this? Be ready to talk to them and then decide if they are the right fit for the role.

We all know that the best learning is done under pressure or in uncomfortable circumstances. Don’t try to be the leader who wants to high-five and please everyone. They will never grow if you do.

6. Look people in the eye.

Our self-worth grows if someone gazes into our eyes in a positive context. When we talk and the person look at us intently, we feel worthy of their attention.

If we feel this way, you bet the person you’re talking to will feel the same if you look at their eye. Eye contact is your way of saying, “I’m listening”. And if you truly listen and understand, you gain the person’s trust.

7. Know there will be few people who won’t like you.

And that’s fine. I told Gibson the other day, “I’m looking forward to have my first basher!“
He looked at me like I lost both my eyes and said, “WHATTTT!!!!???!!“

You see, having strong critics (pinaganda ko lang yung tawag, hater talaga yan ) means you achieve a certain level of success. As we grow and make a bigger impact, we attract all kinds of people, and inevitably, even haters.

If you have not accomplished anything, then, almost certainly, nobody would be paying enough attention to give you criticism. I always say that my dream is to be a household name. And it is impossible that the 108 million Filipinos will all love me. You will be loved and you will be hated.
That’s a fact and embrace it.

8. Be clear about what you stand for.

People follow you for what you believe in. Be firm with what you stand for and don’t try to stand for everything.

******

I keep on saying that the world needs more heart-centered leaders. If you’re currently helping now kahit walang wala ka, kung nagvo-volunteer kahit pagod ka sa work, kung may puso ka na magbigay at magturo, I highly encourage you to reach your highest potential.

Don’t shy away from monetary success. Strive to be heard. Stand tall.
Be a leader and make our country and our world a better place.

The post How To Be A Leader — For Someone Who Hasn’t Been A Leader Before. appeared first on The Wealthy Pinay.

Let me try to put some order on how I’ll share info instead of just blabbering like a crazy, confused, doesn’t-know-what-she’s-doing kind of gal because, you know, I’m totally not like that.

House

We arrived on May 31 in a totally empty house. The only furniture available are the bed frames and we made sure that air conditions are at least installed.

My gracious MIL who lives a few minutes drive away from lent us some mattresses, blankets, and pillows.

The first few days were spent buying stuff – fridge, microwave, mattresses, groceries, curtain rods – name it, I think we bought it. It’s a good thing that we expected these expenses and budgeted for them. If you haven’t read, we had an exit strategy for our going-home-for-good plan.

These past 21 days, we’ve probably opened 20 balikbayan boxes. Just when I thought we’re done, another batch of boxes will be delivered by the shipping company. It’s a never-ending unpacking, sorting, organizing, discarding. It’s tiring.

We will definitely have a garage sale of clothes, books, toys and a gamut of things which we have accumulated over the years. “Why haven’t you discarded them while you’re in UAE?”, you might ask. We’ve already donated and thrown a lot of things before we left but stuff that we just recently purchased or has memories attached to it were, you know, a lot harder to dispose.

But our new home signifies new life and I don’t really want to fill it with clutter, and from the looks of it, we brought home 5 mega jumbo boxes of things that don’t spark joy anymore so it has to go (very Marie Kondo, right?).

School

One of the things on our agenda when we arrived was to ensure that kids are enrolled in our chosen school. After they passed the entrance exams and interviews, we paid their tuition fee and books and the journey to find that Mongol number 2 started.

Seriously, why does it have to be Mongol number 2. You see, we had a stock of Staedtler pencils which we have accumulated over time. We buy those pencils whenever they’re on sale. I thought Biel will never run out of pencil for the next 3 years but I am sooooo wrong. It has to be a Mongol no. 2. Will it be Mongol no. 3 next year?

Then the notebooks. It has to be 100 leaves writing notebooks. “Well, that’s easy”, or so I thought. We went to at least 3 stores and can only find 80 leaves notebooks. I then asked my ever reliable sister for advice. Where the hell can I find them???

Instead of an answer, she made me more confused. “Ate, note that there are 2 kids of notebooks – writing and composition. Make sure you’re buying the correct one.” WTF are those!!!

While in the middle of National Bookstore, I called the school and asked the Registrar. “Uhmm, can you tell me which notebook should I buy. Writing or Composition?” Writing she said. “Should it be spiral or those things with ties?” It doesn’t matter she quickly replied. “Can I choose any design?” It’s up to you ma’am, she patiently said.

I wanted to prod her with more questions but I feel embarrassed asking her what’s a music notebook or how long should a long plastic envelope be. The kids will have a school orientation tomorrow and I am so ready with my long list of things to ask.

My children were enrolled in a UK-based curriculum in Dubai. We buy everything – books, uniforms, school supplies – directly from the school. Even bags can be ordered from them. I never have to deal with any of these back-to-school activities (hello covering of books and notebooks!) and it’s an experience for me.

I’m informed that if I just enrolled my kids early enough, we could have purchased everything from their new school and spare ourselves the task of sourcing them. Reminder: April 1, 2020 – Enroll the kids NOW.

Kids

One of the questions being asked by friends is how my kids are adjusting. I always say they’re almost crazy living in an internet-less house because I think it’s kinda true. Cole asks everyday when will PLDT come and when I say I don’t know, he will pull his hair and scream some unintelligible sounds.

Internet aside, they are actually doing pretty well.

It helped that they experienced 3 weeks of school break (classes start this Monday) so they had some time getting familiar with our new place, the area, nearby malls and restaurants. We even watched Godzilla last Tuesday.

Whenever it rains, they go outside with their umbrella and play. They also finally got a dog! Tibo is a rescued dog and he was there at home when we first arrived. He was picked from the dumpster by my father-in-law and decided to keep him to watch over the house while it was still in construction.

Our new pet gives Cole and Biel much needed diversion from boredom and maybe sadness being away from their Dubai friends.

We also created a Messenger account for Cole so he can chat with friends and his cousin Lance in Dubai.

One of the biggest adjustments for the kids especially for Cole is they need to help at household chores. We always had someone helping us out with everything but now that it’s just the four of us, I expect them to at least take care of their rooms and do light chores.

Oh, by the way, they experienced their first flying ipis. You should have heard the screams. I think the cockroach’s ears exploded and that’s the cause of its death.

Documents

My husband converted his UAE driving license to a local one on our first week. He just took an eye and blood test. Bring your original passport, original DL and around P1600 for all the fees. Expect to stay in LTO for half-day.

I don’t have plans to drive in the Metro traffic because I’m terrified but my husband said I need to have a driving license in case of emergency. And to have at least one ID that I can carry around because I don’t think my SM Advantage card will do.

We’re paying everything in cash ‘coz we don’t have a credit card. Since SLIAN NAILS is not on our name and we haven’t registered any of our planned businesses yet, we basically don’t have any proof of income. Without any proof of income, obviously, we can’t apply for a credit card.

I therefore suggest (might not be an ethical advice) that if you want to get a card, ask for an employment certificate from your company before you resign and apply for a Philippine credit card. Otherwise, you will need to wait for a number of months until you’ve settled before getting one.

Business

Now that we spent almost a month in the Philippines, I know that we need to start earning soon. Although we save for at least our 1 year budget and quite realistic that our business ventures won’t earn from Day 1, it doesn’t mean that we’re relax and doesn’t care about our spending.

I try not to convert our expenses to dirhams because otherwise I find everything cheap except for that shrimps, apples and lemons which are shockingly expensive here! Anyways, I always remind myself that I’m not earning yet so a daily milk tea indulgence can wait (although I bought that double soft Sari Roti bread yesterday).

Once we’re all settled with the school schedule in a week or two, Gibson and I will start the ball rolling. I’m very excited! Until then, I’ll keep you posted.

I haven’t met any friends yet but I’m keen to have some meet-ups for our TWP readers based in Manila. If you’re interested, just message me on Facebook.

The post An update: Our first 3 weeks in PH appeared first on The Wealthy Pinay.

This is what the building manager asked us yesterday when we were vacating our apartment. I just laughed.

Sure, I can tell him about our desire to live a ‘free’ life, that we want financial independence, that we aspire to live the life we have imagined for ourselves, but then again what’s the use? I know that his mind is set that we’re making the stupidest decision of our lives.

“Who knows, maybe next year we’re back again asking if you have a vacant apartment in this building!”, he then smiled. He wants to hear that he’s right and I gave it to him.

After announcing our plan to move back to the Philippines for good, Gibson and I have heard all kind of comments, feedback, and advice.

“So matututo na kayo magtipid?”
“Ang hirap ng buhay sa Pinas.”
“Lahat ng tao gusto umalis ng Pinas kayo gusto nyo bumalik.”
“Ikaw na lang mag stay dito Gibson, tapos pauwiin mo na lang family mo. Misis mo muna mag start ng business.”

Are these comments non-sense? No, not all. I know they are all valid feedback and advice coming from the person who said it. They stem from their own experiences and worries and I totally get it.

But they are THEIR fears.

We all know that we should learn from the mistakes of others but we must also be careful when others’ fears start to become our fears. Most of the people who gave us business advice never really experienced going into business. They have an idea of ‘patok na negosyo‘ but they haven’t tried doing it.

Those who give ‘relocation’ advice never really relocated back home. Their advice is based on their fear as they can’t imagine earning the same salary if they go back to the Philippines. What we don’t understand, we fear.

“LEAP OF FAITH”

This is the only phrase I keep on repeating whenever someone asked me why I’m going home. I read this quote from Nora Roberts and it best describes my way of thinking now:

If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it.

If you don’t ask, the answer is always no.

If you don’t step forward, you’ll always be in the same place.

Nora Roberts

If you’re unhappy with your situation right now, there are 2 options. Either you change your perspective that the glass is half full rather than half empty OR do something and make the change.

And these 2 options always serve me well. When I was depressed in 2015 because I wanted to resign but feeling trapped that I can’t – I started my jewelry business. When I felt so down again because life is boring (don’t judge me) – I started blogging. Whenever I feel I’m not a good mother – I prepare my kids’ lunch boxes and try to be more hands-on with their everyday needs.

And every time I take actions, I feel in control of the situation. I don’t let ‘life’ take me whenever it wants me to be. Taking control of our emotions, mindset and actions are very empowering.

What’s new in my life nowadays?

Well, as I mentioned earlier, we just moved out of our apartment yesterday which has been our home for the past 8 years. Gibson posted this on his Facebook account and I can totally relate to it.

My SIL and BIL are very generous to let us stay in their home for a month before we fly back to the Philippines. We’re actually ready to go (sold our cars, returned our apartment, closed all utilities, etc.). We’re just waiting for our kids’ exams to be completed and then we’ll fly.

It’s once we arrive that gives me jitters. We have to:

• Enroll the kids and make sure we have everything is ready (uniforms, books, school orientation, etc.)
• Buy all the appliances, mattresses, dining table, etc.
• Get sim cards, apply for credit cards/debit cards, driving license conversion
• Unpack dozens of boxes (I’m dreading this! I need Marie Kondo!!!)

Our house construction is in the final finishing. Finally!

Apart from all the practicalities that we needed to complete after arrival, the most important task that me and my husband need to focus on is setting up our businesses.

All the things I mentioned earlier (school enrollment, buying appliances, driving license application, etc.) requires spending moolah and of course, money spent is money lost so we need to start rolling out our business plans, asap!

I’m trying to document everything that I’m going through and I promise to get back to you in a year or so to share the experience – the good, the bad and the ugly (I hope there’s no ugly). Hopefully, my journey will guide you on how to plan your own journey.

P.S. Is our decision to settle back to Philippines a stupid move? Are you planning to move back home too? I want to know!

The post A stupid decision appeared first on The Wealthy Pinay.

Almost all of us have the belief that money is evil. This belief is subconsciously ingrained in our minds that unless we recognize, accept and understand that it’s not true then only we can let go past this major money block.

But first, let us all understand that rich is subjective. It’s when one feels that he/she owns more than the needed amount of money to enjoy his/her lifestyle. A person can have 50,000 pesos and feel rich, while others might have the same amount and consider it as normal.

One of The Wealthy Pinay’s goal is to normalize wealth. I want women to talk about money and not feel guilty, shameful, or bitchy about it. Money is a tool that we can enjoy. I believe that once we stop worrying about money – let it work for us than the other way around – that we can really focus on our purpose and truth.

We don’t need to be wealthy to find our purpose but can we be frank? How can we reflect and find our truth if creditors are knocking on our door? When we do worry about our kids’ school fees? When we know for a fact that people most precious to us might struggle financially if we stop working?

I find it hypocritical that those who say money is not important are the one slaving their ass off working for money.

The truth is that money doesn’t change our core. Instead, it allows us to be more of whoever we already are.

I’m here to help you release this money block because I know that this belief is subconsciously preventing you to grow your money.

Whether you are aware or not, having the belief that money is evil (in whatever way) derails your success. Can you recognize any of these thoughts?

“Ayoko mag-ipon, may magkakasakit.”
“Madami nga sila pera, may diperensya naman anak nya.”
“Mayaman kasi kaya mayabang.”
“Mawawalan ako ng time sa family ko pag dumami ang orders ko.”
“Hindi mo madadala ang pera mo sa hukay.”
At madami pang iba…

If you ever wonder why even with continuous hardwork, dedication, hustling, saving and planning – nothing works then maybe because your money mindset sabotages you.

We have so many money blocks that unless you learn to recognize and release them, they will impact your ability to create wealth and success.

So what can you do whenever a negative thought about money or success comes up?

1. Say the TWP mantra aloud.

“I am safe.”
“I am blessed.”
“I deserve all the good things in the world.”

It’s better if you do EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) and tap yourself on pressure points while reciting the TWP mantra.

2. Forgive

List down all the negative qualities that you associate with being rich. Things like greedy, selfish, boastful, corrupt, power-mad. Think of real-life people you associate these negative things with and allow yourself to feel whatever you want to feel towards them. Afterwards, forgive them.

I know that it’s easier said than done but forgiving others is the best thing you can do to yourself. Releasing all the negative energy will benefit you. Things will shift in your real world. You will feel happier and lighter.

Believe me. I’ve done this forgiveness ritual many times and it always work.

3. Figure out what kind of rich person you want to be.

Now, think of real-life rich people who you want to emulate in terms of work ethics, charitable works, relationship with others, advocacies, etc. They are people who have money and using their wealth to make this world a better place.

You can be like them. You can start now.

*****

Can one be rich and spiritual? My answer is yes.

Personally, I feel more spiritual now. I strongly feel responsible to change the lives of others. I’m more in tuned with myself, my belief, and my faith.

I can help more if I encourage fellow women to dream, believe and take action to live the life they truly want. By doing so, they will inspire and encourage others to do the same. Imagine all the wealthy, smart, and heart-centered women using their money to improve their lives and others.
We can create a ripple effect of positivity and in our own little way, we can truly change the world.

The post Can You Be Rich and Spiritual? appeared first on The Wealthy Pinay.

Less than 3 months to go and we’re finally saying adios to our 2nd home for 14 long years (cliché but where did those years go?). I sometimes feel a little sadness and nostalgia but with lots of things happening, I can’t really think about it now. Maybe I’ll have the full MMK drama during our last week (but I’m not looking forward it).

What keeps me on my toes these past few weeks?

First, our house. We’re on the finishing part which is exciting and stressful. Exciting because we get to choose any material, color, texture, design that we want from the most basic (like the cornice and cabinet hinges) to the larger pieces (ceiling lamps and toilet bowls). Stressful because of the same reasons. Can you imagine deciding for each and every piece in your home? I sometimes feel it’s better to buy a pre-built house and just modify the interior later on. Building a house is not for someone who doesn’t have a patience and attention to details (unless you give the contractor and architect the free will to do whatever they like).

Of course, new house requires new things. New furnitures, new appliances, new kitchen items, new bed frames, which all leads to one thing… shopping!!! If we’re not buying stuff in the store physically then I do online shopping.

I got myself 150 pieces of new hangers. Joy! Haha

Also bought some IKEA stuff for kitchen.

Speaking of CMG, we’ve sent more than a dozen boxes already which makes me wonder, mas mura siguro na pina container namin. But actually, we’re shipping few things in a container later (like the irregular and over-sized items that won’t fit inside the box). Magastos mag relocate dear.

Aside from the house, what else keeps me occupied? Well, helping the hubby with his new business! It’s super exciting and the creative and problem solver in me is having the time of her life.

With all the things I’m sharing with you, I know there might be an impression that our move back home is very easy, planned well, sorted out, etc. I know because I’ve seen and heard so many comments on how ‘blessed’ and ‘lucky’ we are for finally going back home. I know lots of people think we have millions in the bank and we can afford to risk everything because we’ve got so much money. How I wish!!!

Yes, we planned an exit strategy. Yes, my husband and I have few income stream ideas. But are we sure if these ideas will work out?

The answer – NO. We don’t have 100% certainty.

I’ll be frank, now that our leaving date is nearing, I have these moments of being shit scared. Are we making the biggest mistake of our lives? Are we so stupid and cocky to think that we can live a nice life in the Philippines? Why are we risking our comfortable life in Dubai just because of a dream?

Do you know what I do when I feel scared or stressed? Tapping. “What the hell is that Lyn Joy?”

I mentioned this in my book, tapping or Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is simply a combination of Chinese acupressure and modern psychology where you tap gently on different parts of the body with your fingertips to release anxiety or stress. Call it a placebo effect but it always work for me.

Aside from tapping, I learned how to manage my fear.

Venturing into unknown and stepping out of our comfort zones are always a scary endeavor. Our subconscious will always give a warning sign whenever we try or even think of change. It meant to keep us safe. Our mind is also trying to protect us from shame, sadness, disappointment and a gamut of other negative emotions that change might cause us.

I never aspire to have a fearless life. Fear is good. It prevents us from jumping off a building or driving crazily at 160 kms per hour. So how do I deal with my fear? I have a lengthy and clear talk with it.

“Thank you fear for keeping me safe. I appreciate that you’re always with me. But you know what, it’s ok. 
I want to try something new and I really want to do this or I might regret not pursuing it. I’ll allow you to be my passenger but you can’t control the steering wheel. I’ll be the driver and you’ll just sit there quietly eating popcorn. Don’t even touch the radio!”

When planning out your next step, be aware that fear will be there. Acknowledge that you have it because it’s futile to deny that you’re scared. It’s better to understand where your fear comes from then from there try to answer each concern.

Don’t stop just because you’re fearful. Live the life you’ve imagined for yourself.

I reached the end of my post yet I still haven’t figured out the title of this article. After reading this, anong tingin nyo na title ng blog post na ‘to?

The post Halo Halo atbp. appeared first on The Wealthy Pinay.