Happy 114th Independence Day

Just saw a very striking message posted on facebook today, and it goes something like this: Today we are celebrating our independence day because we are free! Free to do almost anything, like throwing trash anywhere, crossing the street whichever way we like, whenever we like.

I remembered one of my classes back in college, our professor who is also a nun told us that freedom is not freedom without responsibility. God gave us freewill to choose what we want to do in life and intellect to choose wisely. But somehow, maybe, over time it got lost in translation that we forget to think about the choices we make and how these choices affect the present and the future. We become trapped in situations where, if in the first place we could have just chosen to avoid it.

I just realized that for months now I've been trapped in my own mindset. Thinking that everything I know will deliver the results I want at work. But I was wrong- so wrong. It felt like yesterday, I just graduated from gradeschool then luckily got accelerated to college. Now teachers are different, classmates are different and classrooms are different. I felt like a freshman getting lost in a huge university where I don't have friends, class schedules are long and no more spoonfeeding of information from teachers. I am on my own. I am on my own. Or was I really?

Bottomline is- I just have to accept change. "Don't resist it" as my mentor told me that night, when I was already feeling so hopeless and helpless. Just those three words and I knew I was doing something wrong about the whole situation.

On my way home, I decided to reboot my mindset right away. I looked back and reminisced why I wanted to be here now and why I signed that job offer. Then all of a sudden everything became clearer. And the support I needed suddenly appeared.

Set yourself free. Free from all doubts and fears. If there is anything right now that is stopping you to move forward; to love again; to learn, to unlearn, to relearn; and to forgive. Start now! Start with yourself. Set youself free!

Happy independence day everyone!

Are we meant to be?

I was out last night with some close friends from medical school for our monthly get-together and updates (a.k.a "chismisan sessions").

Our fun and insightful dinner conversations progressed from Piolo Pascual being spotted with Mark Bautista at Belo's Clinic, then the most likely follow-up topic was of course KC Concepcion's new show then showtime's finale episode that morning to K12 educational system implementation and finally PNoy's handsome and hunkylicious PSG hehe. Glad we didn't touch on the impeachment trial for I think it will seem like we are getting old indeed.
Then we talked about some friends we know from school, updates on who got married, who will get married and the likes.

And the story that gave inspiration to this blog was when we were talking about someone (let's just call that person "negatron" to protect his/her identity) who is so negative about starting full-time hospital work- complaining that there will be little or no time to do other things like friday dates, saturday booze and night out, lazy sunday afternoons etc.. I admit I felt that way too before and it is one of the major factors why I left, aside from the fact that I wasn't able to handle physical and emotional demands of being a doctor. Then my friend said, which I think is a very good way of looking at it- "negatron" must accept that being a doctor is the life. It is not as if you are erasing or depriving yourself of a component of life. It is really just a choice to commit to your passion.

What is your true passion? It is never too late to find out today. Ask yourself "What will bring me true happiness?" the one that will last until your days are over.

We only have one life to live, so why waste your time on things or people that only makes you sad. I guess it all boils down to making that one solid decision -to be truly happy. And that happiness depends on you, on how you define it.

And that, ladies and gentlemen is how you'll know if you and what you're doing or whoever you are with are simply.... meant to be.

Inside the mind of a psyCEO

When youhear someone being called a psycho, what comes to mind? That person is crazy or out of his/her mind, adeviant person? Yes, usually the connotation is derogatory in nature. But isbeing different always a negative thing?

About 2weeks ago, I have co-facilitated a Management Workshop for a big localpublishing company. I got so inspired by the CEO’s message, in fact I’ve writtendown some points which I think are worth-remembering. But the real message Igot behind what was being said during her whole opening speech was this- shewas clear about what she wants to achieve. She said “When I started thisbusiness, I wanted to help people, others wanted to help people one at a timebut I’ve always believed I am different and that wanted to help more people so,I chose media as my platform. Back then, I just wanted a small office somewherein the city but now we’ll be having a whole floor and who knows maybe soonwe’ll have a building but that’s just it, I do not aspire to become Henry Sy oranything like building malls. I know my limit.”

Anotheramazing CEO who got big in 2010 was Edgar Sia II; he was only 20 years old whenhe had his first taste of running a business after dropping out from college ofarchitecture. He said “My mind was always somewhere else”. He handled businessesof small hotel, laundry mat and printing press and soon after a food stall in aparking lot imposed such a tempting opportunity. Then, Mang Inasal (Mr.Barbecue) was born he said “I wanted to define a different category to fastfood industry by creating one that is not of American influence”. 8 years later,he sold 70% of it to a bigger and older Filipino fast-food empire, JollibeeFoods Corporation (JFC).

The ownerof Jollibee had a similar story. About 30 years ago he saw an opportunity toown a business and started as a franchisee of Magnolia Ice Cream Parlor. Andwhen Mc Donald’s came into the picture in 1982, some friends were telling themto get a franchise too. But truth be told, he refused because he wanted somethingelse. If you listen to the lyrics of their company hymn, you’ll know exactlywhat he wanted as the lyrics go “We will make the whole world say, the best isJollibee.” From a small ice cream parlorto a global fast food chain, JFC has truly gone a long way.

With allthese stories of success, one important lesson to be learned is that sometimes it’sjust okay to be called a “psycho”- to be different. Who knows you might be the next psyCEOgenius!

Believethat you have the capacity to be anything you want. And never ever be afraid tobe who you really are, no matter what others say you should be.