If ever you're wondering where the hell I've been, this is an update.

I haven't posted in months because of two reasons:

One, I don't feel like it. I lost my mojo, drive, passion, fire - whatever you want to call it. I don't feel inspired at all.

Second, I started a new project which I'll tell you more about later.

Let's start with my first reason.

I always think I'm lazy. But honestly, I just say that.
I work hard for things I'm passionate about.
I work efficiently and never stop whenever I have new ideas.

But I always find ways to make my life easier, and I don't buy that "busy" mantra. I want to have productive activities scheduled within the day but I don't want to overwhelm myself doing them. 

I don't feel guilty watching Netflix or reading a book. 
In short, hindi ako martyr.

But whenever I have an option not to do things, I tend to procrastinate. And sadly, writing is the first one to get hit. I'm sorry.

And you know the reason why I feel so uninspired? Kasi parang wala namang nangyayari sa The Wealthy Pinay. Sure, I do have speaking gigs here and there but from a business sense, it's not earning the amount that can sustain my lifestyle. It's depressing to think that I'm not earning from TWP considering that this is my passion.

I love talking about money mindset, money, and helping others achieve anything they want, but in a way, I feel like a fraud. I know it's the Impostor Syndrome kicking in.

And I'm being transparent here because you might be experiencing the same thing. Maybe you lost your mojo, too. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Even the most positive person on earth experiences this punk and it's okay. We just need to ride it out.

Personally, whenever I feel like I'm in this dark hole, I allow myself to be in it for a while. I know I'll get out of that zone anyways. I know myself. 

And then when I get tired of crying and getting depressed, I would start journaling. I am myself's psychologist, coach, and psychiatrist in one. It's good to write everything out and see where the depression is coming from and more importantly, how to get out of it.

Nakakapagod din kayang maging malungkot, di ba?

Then in October, I had an idea. What if I create an online course teaching Pinoys how to be a Virtual Executive Assistant? 

This is the second reason why I was MIA.

As soon as the idea came to me, I started working on it. I planned the content, wrote the sales copy, bought the domain, and shoot the video lessons all in one day. 

I  didn't wait for the website to finish and just launched VirtualWork PH on Facebook less than 1 week after conceptualization.
1 person bought the course on first day. I was elated. 
It has been 2 weeks now and we have 40+ students and counting.
It is amazing!

All the works I've done for TWP - writing, creating websites, developing online courses -  prepared me for VWPh. For someone new in content marketing or online courses, executing this may take a while.

Pero sa dami ng ni-launch ko na courses and sites, completing the new project was quite a breeze. Lahat ng ginagawa natin ngayon, kahit feeling mo na wala naman masyadong value (hello, anong mapapala mo sa stress di ba?) prepare you for something amazing. 

And that's the biggest realization -

You're exactly where you are meant to be! TOTALLY.

"LynJoy, anong mapapala ko sa stress?"

Let me explain...

When I first worked as an Executive Assistant in 2006, my boss was very demanding. As in! Yung tipong kahit puno na yung flight, gusto pa din nya na i-book ko sya sa flight na yun. Suicide!

I resigned because of stress. 

But as I moved to different companies and was given more complex responsibilities, I realized that my first boss' demands were actually very manageable. My stress tolerance increased and I'm not bothered anymore with most nuisance. Sisiw na lang lahat.

And I know you can relate to that. Task that was so difficult when you first tried it, ngayon kaya mo na gawin kahit nakapikit. 

Let me share another story proving that we are exactly where we're meant to be...

I started working as a VA in February this year. In all honesty, I resist the idea for a while. I left UAE because I don't want to work for someone anymore. I mean, why the hell am I going back to being an employee!?!

But I want the money and honestly, it's easy money. I am a very good Executive Assistant. My bosses always complimented how amazing I am but I never really believe them. For me, I'm just doing my job.

But whenever I resigned from any company, they counter-offered. The last company I worked with, they asked if I'll stay for Php 500k monthly.

As you know, I didn't stay because I want to enjoy FREEDOM OF TIME which I don't feel like I had when I was working in Dubai.

So you can imagine my resistance to getting a job. Just thinking that I may need to work at night stresses me out. 

But as I said, I want the money, and being an EA is an easy task for me so I went ahead and started job hunting.

It took me a solid two months before I landed my first client. But the funny thing is I was hired and fired the same day. I didn't even last 1 day. I won't bore you with the details but it was some task that she said "I'm not getting!" Anyhoo, I just laughed it off because she's a psycho and I consider it a blessing in disguise.

After a few days, I saw another ad that I liked and applied. Went into two interview processes and was hired the following day. Yahoo! This was February of 2021.

Do you think I'll have this business of teaching aspiring VAs on how to become an actual VA if I haven't started freelancing? NOPE. I won't. 

The idea came to me because I'm actually working as a virtual assistant and have a better understanding of how remote working works. 

We are where
we're meant to be.

There is a reason for everything. We're never too early nor too late. 

If you're going through something, I promise it will get better. 
Start writing 10 things you're grateful for every day.
Visualize your dream life.
Believe that you deserve that life.
Then take inspired actions. Opportunities will present itself. If it excites you more than it scares you, take it as a sign and leap.

P.S. If you're interested earning from home (VAs earn from Php 35,000 to Php 80,000 monthly or more!), visit VirtualWork PH. For ony Php 199 for now, this investment is a no-brainer. Ready to Enroll? Register here - ENROLL NOW!

The post You’re exactly where you are meant to be appeared first on The Wealthy Pinay.

I have always wanted to interview successful Filipina entrepreneurs and ask them about their business journeys, how they balance work and life, and ask for pieces of advice that can help fellow TWPs. We will feature ladies who, in spite and despite of challenges they have and are still experiencing, are continuously working to achieve their goals. These are Filipinas who took the risks and followed their hearts. I truly admire these women because of their determination and grit, and you can really feel their sincerity and good heart – a trait of a real Wealthy Pinay.

We would be featuring Filipina entrepreneurs of all business types (online businesses, solopreneurs, service-oriented, brick-and-mortar businesses) that are registered legally in the Philippines or anywhere else in the world.

My sincere hope is that you get inspired by their stories. We usually create our own ‘stories’ why it’s difficult for us to achieve something while it’s possible for someone else.  The truth is nothing is impossible – your age doesn’t matter, how much money in your bank account doesn’t matter, success doesn’t care if you have a degree or not, it doesn’t matter if you came from a broken family – IT DOESN’T MATTER.

The only thing important is COURAGE. Have the courage to take action!

And I hope these ladies featured in The Wealthy Pinay Success Stories will inspire you to take the leap and have that courage 

********

Michelle is one of my best friends in highschool. I can’t exactly recall how we became close. Maybe because we are both quiet on the outside but raging bull in the inside . I have a fond memory of us during our senior prom – we were chatting quietly under a tree, away from the brouhaha of the event when suddenly, we heard someone announcing her name. I think she’s as confused as I am “WTF?!?”, we both muttered. As it turned out, she was awarded Ms. Glamorous that night. Michelle has always been glam, fab and pretty in an understated way. I don’t even know if she’s aware how beautiful she is.

And what I really admire about her more, now that we are both mature in our own way, is how giving she is of her knowledge. She would willingly share her ‘trade secrets’ on how she does her business without fear that these people might be her competitors. As she always tell me “madaming kita” which just proves that she has a mind of abundance rather than scarcity.

You would see in our conversation below how honest and generous she is to share her experience. Michelle wants you to know that her almost 17 thousand followers on Instagram didn’t happen overnight. That she also made mistakes and had her fair share of failures.

And before you read the entire interview, let me first give you a background of her business. Michelle is currently living in the United Kingdom and owns Shoe Away by Mitch, an online shop selling imported goods from the UK to the Philippines. The company is mostly selling rubber shoes, and in a regular month sends boxes to the Philippines with (get ready for this!) more than 1 million pesos of items. That’s a whole lot of shoes, girl!

Are you excited to hear her story? I am!!!

Michelle!!! We lost touch for a few years and nasa Spain ka na when we finally reconnect again (Thanks Facebook!). I also don’t know how you started your business, can you tell us?

First, thank you LJ for choosing me to be featured here in The Wealthy Pinay. Feeling ko hindi pa ko bagay dito. Parang ang layo ko pa. Ha ha! But go ako kasi I just want to share how I started and managed to succeed in my online business. It wasn’t easy but it’s all worth it.

I used to live in Spain from 1999-2011, and for some personal reason, I went back to Philippines in 2011 and had to stay there for a few years.

I started selling tutus and other kids’ clothing way back 2012 if I recall. That time I talked to my brother who lives in UK and was convincing him na ang gaganda ng clothes and tutus in Manila and told him that we’ll buy items in Manila and sell them in UK. It turned out to be a total failure because the weather in UK is not appropriate for this kind of clothes. Hindi namin naisip or pinagaralan kung anong market ang papasukin namin. I also tried selling it on FB and Instagram but I don’t know why hindi ko makuha ang market nya. But I see a lot of sellers na may same items like mine and maraming bumibili. So I quit. I lost my interest in selling. In short lugi. I even tried selling high end bags, like buy and sell preloved bags but it did not work out well because I ended up selling it at a lower price.

I also I tried going to random shops, take pictures and post it on Instagram like what other sellers do. They charge for 50-100 pesos per item as service charge but I found out it wasn’t my thing. I needed more time to do that and a lot of patience. But as a mom of 2, my hands were totally full. No time to spend all day at the mall just to take photos.

Fast forward to 2014, That time Instagram was so famous na. Madami na nagsesell ng ibat ibang products. I tried selling some of our preloved clothes on Instagram. And one of my buyers asked me where I am based and told her I’m living in Spain. She then asked, “Why don’t you sell Zara?” I did not know that the clothing brand Zara is famous and like pala sya ng mga taga Pinas. Then I talked to my brother who lives in Spain about it. We agreed about how it’s going to work, payments, orders, etc. I looked online for products, took a screenshot then posted it. One item I posted was a sandals for girls. Surprisingly, everybody wants it!

I gained more followers because of that sandals, and by recommendations of my buyers to their friends as well. But that stint in Spain was not a happy ending din. I failed again. Not because wala akong buyer but because I had issues with delivery timing from Spain to Pinas. Estimated time of arrival was supposedly 3 months but my boxes started arriving only after more than 6 months! So we lost some profit because of refunds. And we had to sell it at a lower price. Some clients were understanding and still took the items even though hindi na kasya sa anak nila. I decide to stop taking Spain orders.

After some time, with my brother’s help, I went back to UK orders. This time, UK to Pinas.

Ha ha! Yes, I never give up!

One product from UK was a hit (a pair of kids fringed boots!). Just like the ZARA sandals, everybody wants it. Swak sa bulsa ang price and arrived on time! Everybody was happy. And I gained more followers. Then I moved finally to UK in August 2015. And that’s when everything falls into place. From 1 box a month to sending 5 boxes a week now!!

(Lyn Joy: Kung hindi ito inspirational, I don’t know what is. Her story proves na walang ‘get rich quick’. She started, failed, started again, failed again but didn’t give up. If you are online reseller, naririnig ko na ang naiisip mo (talent ko kasi yan) “Nasa ibang bansa kasi sya.” “Imported ang binebenta nya kaya mura” yada, yada, yada… Asus! We can obviously see her success now (I mean sending 5 boxes a week is a lot!!!) but you can also see that Michelle didn’t stop just because of 1 or 2 failed attempts. She just continued.

Wala talaga tayo mararating if we just see the obstacles ahead of us rather than the opportunity. “Gusto ko sana, kaya lang…,” “Kung hindi lang ako….,” “Kung pwede lang sana pero….”. Hay naku, girl! Dami mong dahilan. If you have the same bullshit reason, can I tell you the fucking truth? Wala kang mararating. Yes, maybe you’ll move a few inches forward but that dream will forever stay as a dream. And I’m not saying this to mock you. Alam ko na madaming tao sa paligid mo who always keeps you feeling good. Sobrang comfortable mo na nga kaya ayaw mo na umalis kung nasan ka man ngayon! Consider me as the Cruella de Vil of your life. But I’m here to tell you the fucking truth dahil gusto kita magising kasi alam ko na isa kang ambitious, determined, strong person who wants some fucking success sa buhay nya. And walang change na mangyayari kung wala kang gagawin. #EndRant (Promise, I won’t use bad words na. Nabigla lang. Sorry mommy!))

Have You ever been employed? And if yes, was it an easy decision to go full time on your business?

Yes, I had a job when I was in Spain. But now that I’m  living in UK, I work 2 days/11 hrs a week. Can I tell you again something? My first year and half in UK, I didn’t have a job. I came to UK with just £1,000 in my pocket. I have no choice but to make the business work and ensure that there’s enough profit to pay for my expenses. At first yes it’s a bit challenging. But alam mo na pag wala ka na makain and you have 2 kids to feed talagang gagawa ka ng paraan. Ngayon, I don’t really need to work na since medyo mabilis na ang pasok ng pera at medyo malaki na ang market. Most of my expenses sa profit ko na kinukuha. My salary sa daytime job ko goes to our savings na.

(Lyn Joy: Oh my gosh! Samatanlang ako eto at kinakabahan pa din sa sa pag-uwi namin sa Pinas for good next year kahit na meron ng naipon. Michelle only had 1000 pound! #BraveGirl It’s really nice to learn about others’ stories because it gives you the confidence that, yes, it’s possible. Obviously, you need to use your common sense din and logical thinking (bawal tanga, wag papaloko) but having a goal, and the courage to do it is more important than anything else. Samahan pa ng faith! )

How much was your initial capital when you started?

When I started in Spain, I needed like €2000 (around 120k PHP more or less) which I borrowed lang sa kapatid ko since sya ang bibili sa Spain. But I paid him right away after mag settle ng payables ang mga clients. Actually parang wala ngang capital since its already paid in full ng mga clients ang orders nila.

With my UK orders naman, I only had that £1,000 I mentioned earlier and that’s my budget between orders and paying our expenses here in UK. But most of my clients naman I demand full payments since wala nga akong malaking pang capital. So, I wait till they pay me saka ako bibili ng orders nila.

 Just like most business, hindi talaga madali sa simula. What do you think is the biggest issue of doing a retail online business?

TRUST And PATIENCE! And the assurance na makakarating ang items mo ng safe at hindi mawawala.

What I love about you is how you are so generous of your knowledge and you are more than willing to share the process of doing an online business. A true Wealthy Pinay trait! What drives you to share what you know? Aren’t you scared that others will copy your business model?

As much as possible I try to share it to everybody kasi it makes me realize na kahit pala hindi ako nagwowork, I can earn money pa rin and I don’t need big capital to do it. I actually earn more on my business than working for a company. I don’t need to depend on others for my personal needs and wants. And it feels good to share something na alam mong ikakaunlad ng iba.

It’s a bit scary to share information siempre kasi isa sila sa magiging ka kumpetensya mo. But business is like that naman. Hindi naman nawawala yan. For me it’s much better may competitor because you get to learn from it too. You will think of something na makakapag improve sayo and your business ng mas maganda so clients will stay.

(Lyn Joy: A true TWP trait di ba? To grow in business, the motivation is not really to be the number one, the only one, or money. Yes, true, it could be a good motivator, but in a long run, it’s really the desire to make an impact and contribution. I agree with Michelle that you shouldn’t be afraid of your competitors. You can observe them but don’t copy them. Model your business based on your personality and values. Treat competition as a friendly game – exciting and shouldn’t be stressful. Kalaban mo lang dapat is sarili mo at wala ng iba.)

As an entrepreneur, what is it that motivates and drives you?

Every morning when I wake up, I always plan my schedule for the whole day. I always think of where I can get good deals for my clients and how I’m going to give them a price na swak sa budget. It motivates me to do this kasi feeling ko exciting ung maghahanap ka ng affordable items and pag nabalita mo sa kanila they all want it. And the fact na napasaya mo na sila nagkaprofit ka pa.

 What do you do for encouragement or to be motivated?

1. I set my goals. I challenge myself especially when I feel like I’m so tired and want to quit.
2. I give myself a reward every time I reach my goal
3. And I always tell myself to be positive. And remind myself that I’m doing this for the people I love and the people who look up to me.

What do you do to unwind?

I go to work. It’s funny because I consider my daytime job which is 2 days a week as my day off! It’s the only time I get to rest my mind. Away from everything. Away from my phone.

Minsan when I want to disconnect from the real world of selling, I travel with my kids. Somewhere without internet is much better! But sa selling kasi you can sell everything kahit na ref magnet yan. So parang kahit nag travel ka yun pa rin naiisip mo – mag benta. So parang hindi ka pa din totally disconnected but slight na lang. Depende na siguro yun sa’yo how you want to spend your time.

Where do you see your business growing these coming years?

I’ve been thinking of setting up a store in Manila. But I am looking pa on how I can provide a lot of stocks pag nagbukas ako. My Instagram acount has a few resellers din kaya mabilis maubos ang stocks. We can easily sell 200 pairs of shoes in less than 2 weeks if we really want. So if I open a store gusto ko yung mas madaming stocks. We just need to work on it.

I am also thinking of selling high-end items like bags and shoes. Pa level up ng konti. In God’s time!

What do you think it takes to succeed in business?

Be financially responsible and always make improvements in your business. Like, there are times na nagkakamali on orders or clients have complains. You just have to make sure that next time it won’t happen again.

Lastly, what advise can you give to all our TWP community members who want to grow their online business?

PATIENCE at COURAGE. Always take courage to do everything to succeed. Sabi nga nila try and try until you succeed. If you have to take the risk, do it! But be patient sa lahat ng pinagdaanan. Meron times na nalulugi, and that’s OK puede kang bumawi sa ibang paraan. If konti ang sales, think of other strategies na magpapa-boost ng sales mo. Or magpapadami ng clients. Laging may paraan. We just need to be creative to be able to find a way para magawa yon. But the most important advice I can give is to have fun and love what you do.

******

Thank you so much Michelle! I will continuously say this – I LOVE YOUR GENEROSITY! I know that hundreds (if not thousands) of Filipinas in our TWP community are now inspired and buzzing with excitement knowing that everything is possible. Being a single mother is not easy but you make it look like a breeze. I always admire your strength.

If you want to follow Michelle and her business adventures, you’ll find her on Instagram and Facebook – Shoe Away by Mitch Since 2014

I wish you abundance, love and joy my fellow Wealthy Pinays. Have a good day!

P.S. Do you want to be featured at The Wealthy Pinay Success Storiesor know someone who can serve as an inspiration to the community? Please drop me an email. Let’s connect!

The post TWP Success Story: Michelle Vicente appeared first on The Wealthy Pinay.

I have always wanted to interview successful Filipina entrepreneurs and ask them their about their business journeys, how they balance work and life, and ask for advices that can help fellow TWPs. We will feature ladies who, in spite and despite of challenges they have and are still experiencing, are continuously working to achieve their goals. These are Filipinas who took the risks and followed their hearts. I truly admire these women because of their determination and grit, and you can really feel their sincerity and good heart – a trait of a real Wealthy Pinay.

We would be featuring Filipina entrepreneurs of all business types (online businesses, solopreneurs, service-oriented, brick-and-mortar businesses) that are registered legally in the Philippines or anywhere else in the world.

My sincere hope is that you get inspired by their stories. We usually create our own ‘stories’ why it’s difficult for us to achieve something while it’s possible for someone else.  The truth is nothing is impossible – your age doesn’t matter, how much money in your bank account doesn’t matter, success doesn’t care if you have a degree or not, it doesn’t matter if you came from a broken family – IT DOESN’T MATTER.

The only thing important is COURAGE. Have courage to take action!

And I hope these ladies featured in The Wealthy Pinay Success Stories will inspire you to take the leap and have that courage 

*****

Our next featured guest has been on MARS (not the planet nor the chocolate, sorry lame joke ), a GMA 7 talk show, not only once but twice. It just proves her credibility and knowledge on topics about personal and professional development and I’m glad she said yes to this interview.

Mai Lorenzo is the owner of Meraki Training Services (formerly Aimmai Training Services) that provides trainings, team buildings and seminars to small and medium sized businesses including government institutions. When I asked her what does Meraki (may-rah-kee) stands for, she said it’s a Greek word that means “putting your heart, mind and soul in everything you do.” Isn’t it amazing?!

Can you tell us something about yourself and your business? And what made you finally decide that it’s time to start your own?

When I was a little girl, I was exposed with our family business which my mom and dad started. We were into selling of local and imported fruits. We also had a small general merchandise which the whole family used to managed. But then, the family business need to stop and close when my mom died in 2004.

I also became an employee for about 10 years until I decided that I know the career path and business I want to have. I started in 2009 as a freelancer in the event and training industry and decided to go full-blast in 2010 in the training industry as corporate trainer, facilitator and motivational speaker. I left my job because I really wanted to pursue my passion, that I know in a way can lead me to the business and new career that I am dreaming and wanted to be in.

Meraki showcases my core talent in public speaking. I love talking, sharing, engaging, inspiring and empowering people. And my passion leads me to a fruitful career, being a corporate trainer, facilitator, motivational speaker and life coach. Meraki offers corporate training services which includes teambuilding, leadership services, personality development, customer service seminar, values and work ethics seminar, strategic planning facilitation and motivational talks.

How much was your initial capital when you started?

I just started with a very small amount of money since the business does not require a big capital.

(Lyn Joy: I love that she mentioned this because a lot of people think business requires thousands of pesosesoses to start. Not necessarily. Whatever skill you have can be turned into a successful business – tutoring service, accounting service, artists/designers, and whatever talent you possess can turn into a profitable money-making machine. We just need COURAGE. And if your only talent is kumain kahit busog (eat even when full) then I suggest start as a food blogger  I’m always on the lookout of great restaurants to try and I can follow you )

How many employees do you have currently (full-time or part-time; virtual or in-house) and how many when you just started?

As of now,  I got 4 employees, and just 2 when I started the business.

(Lyn Joy: I asked this question because I want to understand for someone like Mai who uses her ‘talent and skill’ in business, does it have to be a one-woman show? And as she mentioned, she started with a team which, in my opinion, is smart. I’m an advocate of delegating tasks to others so that us, the business owners, can focus more on money generating activities. If you dread answering emails, pay someone to do it. If you think others can do a better job in doing your website, delegate it instead of wasting your time figuring out how html codes work. And having someone work for you (doesn’t matter if it’s just 2 hours a week or a virtual assistant) will instantly make you feel like a proper and serious business owner. How grown-up and professional to say that we have a team, right?

On the flip side, don’t make it as an excuse and wait until you can afford hiring staff to start a business. Remember, the perfect time is NOW. Do whatever you need to do now.)

How is it like when you were starting?

I can really recall how hard it was. I took lots of hours on the internet making all the advertisements, marketing, planning, proposals and programs. I dedicated almost all of my time until I got my 1st deal closed, my 1st client, until finally clients and inquiries just started pouring in. Looking back, It’s a good feeling that I made it all through the hardships, knowing that I survived and was able to get out of the ordinary “employee life”.

I was able to stand and provide for myself and family by being on my own. I am very proud that I have that confidence or shall I say, “guts” to pursue what I want to do and what I want to become. Now, I am touching lives through my craft.

(Lyn Joy: There is no sugar-coating – entrepreneurship is not for the faint hearted. It ain’t for people who easily give up. One should really have the resilience when things get tough, and the courage (or as Mai mentioned – the guts) when you’re scared. But the reward is something that money can’t buy.)

Mai in action! She has been invited 5 times (yes, five times!) by the City Government of Valenzuela. Wow, repeat business only means you deliver

How did you build up an entrepreneurial spirit, do you believe you were born with it or something that can be developed?

Since I was young I really like to be in business. I usually used my savings as capital to sell ice cream sticks. During that time, I know already how to separate my capital, income and savings. My parents were very supportive and encouraged me a lot.

Do you think your mindset has anything to do with your success?

Yes, Having a good and right mindset really helps me to where I am now. Positivity and a “Can Do” attitude is one of my mantra to keep moving and make things happen. To be successful in business, one must have a great interest, passion, time, hardwork, strong will, right mindset and good and right people in the business.

(Lyn Joy: I cannot agree more with everything she said. Can-Do attitude, passion, hardwork, right mindset and right people in business = Formula to Success!)

You mentioned “Can Do” attitude – I think most Filipinas want to have a business but scared of failing or they think they are not enough (smart enough, pretty enough, rich enough, etc), what can you advise them?

I think, the best advice I can give is to have a positive outlook in life. When you start a business, that mindset will really help you to go on. I really believe in “Law of Attraction”. That if you think of something good, it will happen.  It has become my mantra throughout the years and I credit Law of Attraction on why my business is still here.

Many times I will think of something and by just being believing that it will happen, it really came along. I felt that all the forces in the universe, the stars and God are into it, making way, helping me to make things turn to a good outcome as I envisioned it. Never allow any negativity to run into your mind because it will break your spirit. Just have faith. Do what you want to do.  Never look back. Just walk on and make your dreams come true and everything else will follow. Don’t be afraid to commit mistakes or failures. It’s part of the process. In failure, we learn and become the best version of ourselves. Through it success is possible.

(Lyn Joy: Well, you know that I’m a firm believer too of Law of Attraction, that like attracts like. My book will talk about Law of Attraction intensively and I will share with you on how we can make the most out of it. No, it’s not voodoo although it sounds woo woo but in the end you will shout woohoo! (again, lame joke but at least it rhymes ha  Promise I’ll stop na)

As an entrepreneur, what is it that motivates and drives you?

The people who needs personal and professional development motivates and drives me to pursue more and to be always at my best because they are the reason, the main purpose why I am here and so the business.

(Lyn Joy: Ahhh, the true trait of The Wealthy Pinay. It’s not really money or fame that motivates us (although of course, that’s a great incentive too) but it’s always the people.)

What do you do for encouragement or to be motivated?

I always think of the things needed to be done, people to be reached, that everyday there’s an opportunity to offer. We just need to work hard for it.

(Lyn Joy: Again, a fave topic of mine. Honestly, one doesn’t wake up everyday and feel motivated. Lucky you if you are. Most of the time we just want to sulk and do nothing. And this is when trying to remember your WHY will help. Why do you want to start a business? Why do you want to succeed? Why do you want to lose weight? Our why will help us snap out of whatever dark hole we are currently in. Read this, it might help you : Feeling Stuck in Life? Then Let’s Turn it Around!)

How do you balance your entrepreneur life with being a mother?

I see to it that I have a work-life balance. I make it a point to spend quality time with my baby. Now that I have a daughter, just playing with her relaxes me. Hearing her laugh loudly makes me feel good instantly. I also give time for self-pampering – facial, body massage and spa, and meeting friends too.

Beautiful smile and a brilliant mind like her mom

Where do you see your business growing these coming years?

I see my business in the international platform of training industry.

(Lyn Joy: Dream big girl! The Wealthy Pinay community is here cheering for you!)

What are your advices to our fellow Wealthy Pinays just starting out?

For Wealthy Pinays who are just starting out or would like to start a business, put your heart and soul in everything that you do because that will be your greatest trademark in the business. With the right perspective in life and in the business, you will never go wrong. Lastly, ask for God’s guidance.

*****

Thank you Mai for taking the time to answer my back and forth questions. Hopefully we can have our one-to-one interview very soon

Again, the purpose of The Wealthy Pinay Success Stories is to inspire all of us that success comes in different forms. There is no one-size fits all criteria. You don’t have to be poor to have the drive. There’s no need to have money to start a successful business. One doesn’t need to be a college graduate or come from a happy home. Your past doesn’t define your future. And I hope Mai’s story, including our past and future featured Pinays will make you believe that everything is possible.

Visit Meraki’s Facebook page for more information about Mai Lorenzo and other training programs provided by the company.

P.S. Do you want to be featured at The Wealthy Pinay Success Stories or know someone who can serve as an inspiration to the community? Please drop me an email. Let’s connect!

The post TWP Success Story: Mai Lorenzo appeared first on The Wealthy Pinay.

I have always wanted to interview successful Filipina entrepreneurs and ask them their about their business journeys, how they balance work and life and ask for advices that can help fellow TWPs. We will feature ladies who, in spite and despite of challenges they have and are still experiencing, are continuously working to achieve their goals. These are the Filipinas who took the risks and followed their hearts. I truly admire these women because of their determination and grit, and you can really feel their sincerity and good heart – a trait of a real Wealthy Pinay.

We would be featuring Filipina entrepreneurs of all business types (online businesses, solopreneurs, service-oriented, brick-and-mortar businesses) that are registered legally in the Philippines or anywhere else in the world.

My sincere hope is that you get inspired by their stories. We usually create our own ‘stories’ why it’s difficult for us to achieve something while it’s possible for someone else.  The truth is nothing is impossible – your age doesn’t matter, how much money in your bank account doesn’t matter, success doesn’t care if you have a degree or not, it doesn’t matter if you came from a broken family – IT DON’T MATTER.

The only thing important is COURAGE. Have courage to take action!

And I hope these ladies featured in The Wealthy Pinay Success Stories will inspire you to take the leap and have that courage

******

For our first TWP Success feature, we have interviewed Ciara Bernadete Ng-Tuquero. Ciara is a childhood friend and a schoolmate in Obando, Bulacan. Growing up I recall visiting their house whenever we have a class music project and her lola was always there welcoming us. Ciara has a beautiful voice and plays the keyboard very well too. We lost touch after high school and I’m glad that we reconnected through Facebook a few years ago (social media is not so bad after all).

I’ve always consider Ciara as my brainy-friend. She was a working student while earning her academic units for the Masters  in Psychology Program major in Human Development Psychology (told you she’s smart!). Before she became full-time in her businesses, she has worked as Kumon assistant instructor, guidance counselor, ESL teacher and HR practitioner. She is an active member of Couple for Christ together with her husband and has 2 children and another one due in October!

Ciara is now married for 10 years to Atty. Sherwin N. Tuquero and together they own and manage several businesses including Orange Blush Salon (a franchise she bought in 2013), Tuquero Law Office, Naty Computer Shop and Tuquero Rice Dealer & General Merchandise (started in 2010). I am so privileged that they agreed on doing this interview.

How did you get your idea or concept for the business?

RICE BUSINESS (GENERAL MERCHANDISE)
– inspired and motivated by mother-in-law who was a successful businesswoman (palay buying, grocery, rice milling)

SALON
– the idea to go with franchising this type of venture was the dream of my mother-in-law
– inspired to become the “first” branded salon in Victoria, Tarlac

(Lyn Joy: How lovely that she give credits to her mother-in-law and acknowledging her MIL’s success )

How much was your initial capital when you started?

RICE BUSINESS (GENERAL MERCHANDISE)
– around P500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Pesos)

SALON
– more than 1M Pesos including construction of outlet and training of staff

(Lyn Joy: I love entrepreneurs who share their numbers not to brag but just to state the fact. When I’m researching for business ideas, I’d like to know how much owners spent on their startup and they rarely mentioned it. Is it the shame of having money (or not having enough) or they think it’s not important? Well, it is important and very useful to newbie entrepreneurs. By the way, in case you are interested to know, SLIAN NAILS costs us around  P700,000  from construction until the time we launched.)

I guess you also faced some problems all entrepreneurs experienced when starting? Like, no clients, things are not moving well, etc? How do you keep moving in spite of all these?

Of course, no one is exempted. We are thankful that we have survived the “honeymoon” period of being fully operational in both of our ventures. We still are being challenged until now, but wiser this time when it comes to decision-making. I am lucky that I have a husband who was very supportive and determined to surpass all the challenges.

I’m also thankful for the marketing support by the owners of Orange Blush Salon Head Office Management. And lastly, family support through referrals and prayers extended to us especially by my Daddy Ver, Nanay Naty and Mommy Nory.

(Lyn Joy: I love this couple! Ciara, from the onset, has been gushing about her husband and that I should actually be interviewing him instead of her. It just shows how much she respects and honor Sherwin. Just love!)

How did you build up an entrepreneurial spirit, do you believe you were born with it or you developed it?

I guess I have this “entrepreneurial spirit” already within me which started when I was 7 years old. I used to sell homemade ice candies with my cousin after school and from there I realized how to value hardwork and money. Wayback in college, I used to sell 2nd hand phones and colognes to my colleagues and friends.

I believe that I was born business-minded. It was just that my direction when I was young was unclear then since I grew up in a family where all were in the employment sector. It was only in the past decade that I saw the vast opportunities that business can offer.

The skills I think were only developed through time. A work in progress through the years.

Do you think your mindset has anything to do with your success?

Yes, having a “positive” mindset is very important if you want to go into business. A lot of people would call us successful, but we attributed what we have gained to our faith – in our capacities and in our team. I believe that I can only be fully successful once I have seen the professional growth also of our team.

(Lyn Joy: Having the right mindset is the most important attribute required for every entrepreneur. I think all Filipinas who would be featured here will agree with me. And this is what The Wealthy Pinay really focuses on – Positive Mindset)

As an entrepreneur, what is it that motivates and drives you?

Giving decent jobs to a lot of locals. My solid background in HR I guess had helped me a lot in the management of our small ventures.

Well, this question might sound funny, do you think it is easy to be an entrepreneur?

It is not easy. It will make you crazy! Crying and laughing at the same time literally! Especially, when times are getting tough and set goals are not met for reasons which you cannot explain you really need to have an overdose of kindness to yourself.

(Lyn Joy: When we are so stressed with our daytime job, we might be tempted to submit our resignation letter and just leave with no turning back. We then plan on having our own business and think that finally life will be easy. Reality is IT’S NOT. I’m not saying this to discourage you, but rather to show you the truth. I don’t want you to face hardship on your 1st month of business and then throw-in the white towel immediately. As Ciara said, you will cry and laugh at the same (I’m literally like this too!) and I love that she said to be kind to yourself. Very true and I cannot agree more!)

What do you do for encouragement or to be motivated?

– Our people are our driving force. When we see them that they can buy the things that they need and provide financial support (though a small amount) to their families, it gives us a different kind of satisfaction!
– I read books, articles and attend seminars.
– I consult my lawyer, my better half for legal action hahaha!

(Lyn Joy: Frankly, money is a good motivation for business but you know the truth? It might sound corny, but helping people (empowering them, helping them financially, etc) is way more powerful motivator than anything else. I love that Ciara mentioned this )

How do you balance your entrepreneur life with being a mother and wife?

Family comes first. Through the years, I have learned how to juggle moments of being an entrepreneur, mother and wife. My advantage is that I have a very supportive husband who lets me be who I want to be since we got married.

I can consider myself an OC (Obsessive Compulsive) when it comes to handling matters in our small ventures. It is like taking my everyday vitamins, checking and monitoring our teams online and being with them as much as we can. But looking back, prayers really helped me go through with all these. It is a deep personal relationship with God that enabled me and my husband to overcome the most tried times in our lives. People may see us strong and blessed, but we consider ourselves more than that and we have seen that through the years that we have a mission to be an inspiration to others – to become a great tandem in love, life & business!

Where do you see your business growing these coming years?

I want to expand of course and a lot of ideas are in the pipeline already but due to financial constraints these are still on hold. Husband and I are still praying for it!

What do you think it takes to succeed in business?

– Financial capacity
– People-handling skills
– Legal knowledge (doing business especially here in our country!)
– Strong entrepreneurial spirit
– Must be a team player as well
– Humility
– SAVE!
– A little of luck
– A lot of HARD WORK and PRAYER!

What are your advices to our fellow Wealthy Pinays just starting out?

– If single who is starting out, be open with your ideas to your parents; If married, be open about everything to your husband.
– Do extensive research first whether you are into franchising or you are into a “start-up.”
– Consult a lawyer.
– Create a Business Plan. Write it down. Record everything.
– Do not be disheartened when things get tough. It is part of the journey.
– Spread out your investments. Do not put everything into one jar.
– Once operational, be systematic and organized.
– Listen to your people! Train them. Believe in their talents.
– SAVE!
– Give back…

******

There are so many things she mentioned here that are so juicy I want to ask for follow-up questions (create a business plan, spread out your investments, do extensive research, etc.). But I know that managing several businesses while running after 2 kids and being pregnant is not easy – at all. So let me park these questions for next time and I hope she will grace us again soon .

Thank you so much Ciara for taking the time and answering all my questions . I know it’s not easy to do this interview by email with all the back and forth correspondence but you have been very generous of your time and knowledge.

Please follow the Tuquero Group and all their business ventures!

My fellow TWPs, remember to Live the Life You have Imagined

The post TWP Success Stories: Interview with Ciara Bernadete Ng-Tuquero appeared first on The Wealthy Pinay.

In this feature of The Wealthy Pinay, we will celebrate Success and Women Empowerment! Two things that we are very passionate about in our community.

I have always wanted to interview successful Filipina entrepreneurs and ask them their about their business journeys, how they balance work and life and ask for advice that can help fellow TWPs. We will feature ladies who, in spite and despite of challenges they have and are still experiencing, are continuously working to achieve their goals.

We would be featuring Filipina entrepreneurs of all business types (online businesses, solopreneurs, service-oriented, brick-and-mortar businesses) that are registered legally in the Philippines or anywhere else in the world.

My sincere hope is that you get inspired by their stories. We usually create ‘stories’ why it is difficult for us to achieve something while it’s possible for someone else.  The truth is nothing is impossible – your age doesn’t matter, how much money in your bank account doesn’t matter, success doesn’t care if you have a degree or not, it doesn’t matter if you came from a broken family – IT DON’T MATTER.

The only thing important is COURAGE. Have courage to take action!

And I hope these ladies featured in The Wealthy Pinay Success Stories will inspire you to take the leap and have that courage

TWP Success Story Number 1 – Ciara Bernadete Ng-Tuquero

TWP Success Story Number 2 – Mai Lorenzo

TWP Success Story Number 3 – Michelle Vicente

Do you want to be featured on TWP Success Stories or know anyone who can inspire our community? Please send an email to lynjoy (at) thewealthypinay (dot) com. See yah! 

The post TWP Success Stories appeared first on The Wealthy Pinay.