Monday, January 15, 2007
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Seed Money Groups
The only way for you dear reader to believe me is to see the numbers. The only way for you to believe that it is possible to change your life is to see different people at the different stages of their lives. The following is a summary from Tuhan Joe Arriola of the last year's (2006) results from the financial groups that he conducts.
2006 SEED MONEY GROUP RESULTS
1. C.K.: She bought a house!!! She got a better job, a part time job grading standardized tests, and traveled to Canada. Remember; don’t cut things out of your budget…get an extra job to put away more money. C, is now on the path of doing the things she loves to do. WISHES: I wish for you in 2007 the ability to focus and concentrate on the one or two things that will grant you your desire for success.
2. M & R: Together, they will put away over $35,000 this year. Dr. R continues to be a disciple of Chevron/Exxon/Texaco, got a job teaching at a local high school and is working as a photographer. M wrote a book! She continues to be a landlord and hardly works at her cushy Berkeley job. WISHES: I wish for you the Prosperity that comes with visiting the City of Light. May love, happiness and joy fill your 2007
3. S: Ok Ok Ok…he is over 125,000 in cash and stocks. He relishes his opportunity to be laid off from work, so that he can brag about his good and bad news “I’ve got bad news I’ve been laid off. I’ve got good news I now have more time to think about making money.” WISHES: S, I wish for you in 2007 guts and determination as you take greater risks toward continued success.
4. T: She got engaged and is getting married this coming year. She went into sales last year selling pharmaceutical supplies. She is making more more and more money and she is not enslaved to a desk and cubicle. Hmmmm…maybe she should re-think getting married. WISHES: I wish for you in 2007 more than a memorable wedding…I wish for you a wonderful life.
5. D: He got engaged and is getting married this coming year. His 401k plan kicked into gear at Bank of America. He works part time at Trader Joe’s and is working on his Internet business. Hmmm…don’t think D…just count your blessings and marry that girl before she has second thoughts. You are a lucky man. WISHES: I wish for you in 2007, a deep understanding of what it is to be truly successful as a man, husband and someday a father, “if you put a roof over your family’s head and food on their table, you are a success…everything else is magic.
6. D: Dr. of Anthropology, Gura with the double daggers, the only person in our groups who is disciplined enough use Quicken successfully…made money. She made her goal of $15,000. To do so, she sold “readers” to her students and applied for grants that provided equipment and trips to exotic locals. So, where are you going this summer Gura D? WISHES: I wish for you in 2007 a “world class” prosperity…enough said, now start working on your project.
7. Y: She’s beginning to scare me…$32,000 this year…and in less than two years has amassed over $100,000. But, I still have not heard stories about this supposed trip to Hawaii…I’m still waiting. WISHES: I wish for you…you know what I wish…REWARDS and the enjoyment that comes from rewarding yourself for all your hard work.
8. J: He came into the Seed Money Groups already putting away $30,000 a year. He is driving up his photography business…the new specialty should be fur…ious. I must especially thank him for building my “redmalong website”, taking and posting videos on Youtube, and taking care of Simone while we were out of the country. WISHES: I wish for you in 2007, “appreciation”…few people understand your good heart.
9. J: Go USC…John finally came home from the glitz of Hollywood. He just started the Seed Money Groups. He is shooting “wedding video” till he directs his first music video. I have great hopes for J. WISHES: I wish for you in 2007…a change in your signature. All you need to do to glean the success you desire, is to change the way you write your name.
10. T: Well, in his first year, he took a huge risk. He left his father’s construction company and is now making twice the money in a specialty plumbing business. He became a Guro in Kamatuuran Kali and more importantly he saved $4000 to meet his first year goal. WISHES: I wish for you in 2007, a clear cut direction…when you develop this clearness of purpose you will find your way in the world …and of course I wish for you a trip to your homeland so you can interpret for me as I do Kamatuuran seminars.
11. P: I’ve known P longer than many of you have been alive. It says a lot to me that he still values my opinions after all these years. He has been a successful technical writer working for such companies as SUN and SYMANTEC, a homeowner and investor. He like me has gone through rough patches in our lives. WISHES: I hope to help you put away a lot of money…simple as that.
12. E: You accomplished, 1) a plan to reduce debt 2) a second job at coffee shop 3) a successful plan to borrow money to pay for assessments 4) renting out the condo 5) putting away a few dollars a month. WISHES: I wish for you in 2007 to see, to understand, to incorporate into your life that its not a matter of looking for quick fix answers to enjoy the fruits of prosperity. We are all where we are at in life because of our choices. As such we need to make better choices. The best choice is to organize your life in a way that insures, that “Prosperity” is the only RESULT.
13. K: The newest member of our Seed Money Group was brought in by the “trusted word” of Sherwin. “A man is only as good as his word.” It does not take money to make money. It takes the “trusted words” of a friend and a group that wants to make you successful…so that they have more players to compete with. K, put just a few dollars away each month…and you will be in the game. WISHES: I wish for you in 2007…CONFIDENCE…BELIEVE…AND THE ABILITY TO COMMIT TO ACTION, AND QUICKLY. Put away $100 for January reports and you will begin the path.
I have no regrets about the people who didn’t finish out the year with us. I hope they too do not have any regrets regarding the time they spent with us or the decisions they made to leave the groups. We learned from each of them just as we learned from each other. In the year 2007, I wish them the best and hope they find their paths to prosperity.
14. M
15. T
16. J
17. C
18. V
19. L
20. T
21. R
THE END IS JUST ANOTHER BEGINNING
Certainly, the rest of you, WHO SURVIVED can say that you are “playing the game” and that your “numbers” are up…
Sincerely
Tuhan
2006 SEED MONEY GROUP RESULTS
1. C.K.: She bought a house!!! She got a better job, a part time job grading standardized tests, and traveled to Canada. Remember; don’t cut things out of your budget…get an extra job to put away more money. C, is now on the path of doing the things she loves to do. WISHES: I wish for you in 2007 the ability to focus and concentrate on the one or two things that will grant you your desire for success.
2. M & R: Together, they will put away over $35,000 this year. Dr. R continues to be a disciple of Chevron/Exxon/Texaco, got a job teaching at a local high school and is working as a photographer. M wrote a book! She continues to be a landlord and hardly works at her cushy Berkeley job. WISHES: I wish for you the Prosperity that comes with visiting the City of Light. May love, happiness and joy fill your 2007
3. S: Ok Ok Ok…he is over 125,000 in cash and stocks. He relishes his opportunity to be laid off from work, so that he can brag about his good and bad news “I’ve got bad news I’ve been laid off. I’ve got good news I now have more time to think about making money.” WISHES: S, I wish for you in 2007 guts and determination as you take greater risks toward continued success.
4. T: She got engaged and is getting married this coming year. She went into sales last year selling pharmaceutical supplies. She is making more more and more money and she is not enslaved to a desk and cubicle. Hmmmm…maybe she should re-think getting married. WISHES: I wish for you in 2007 more than a memorable wedding…I wish for you a wonderful life.
5. D: He got engaged and is getting married this coming year. His 401k plan kicked into gear at Bank of America. He works part time at Trader Joe’s and is working on his Internet business. Hmmm…don’t think D…just count your blessings and marry that girl before she has second thoughts. You are a lucky man. WISHES: I wish for you in 2007, a deep understanding of what it is to be truly successful as a man, husband and someday a father, “if you put a roof over your family’s head and food on their table, you are a success…everything else is magic.
6. D: Dr. of Anthropology, Gura with the double daggers, the only person in our groups who is disciplined enough use Quicken successfully…made money. She made her goal of $15,000. To do so, she sold “readers” to her students and applied for grants that provided equipment and trips to exotic locals. So, where are you going this summer Gura D? WISHES: I wish for you in 2007 a “world class” prosperity…enough said, now start working on your project.
7. Y: She’s beginning to scare me…$32,000 this year…and in less than two years has amassed over $100,000. But, I still have not heard stories about this supposed trip to Hawaii…I’m still waiting. WISHES: I wish for you…you know what I wish…REWARDS and the enjoyment that comes from rewarding yourself for all your hard work.
8. J: He came into the Seed Money Groups already putting away $30,000 a year. He is driving up his photography business…the new specialty should be fur…ious. I must especially thank him for building my “redmalong website”, taking and posting videos on Youtube, and taking care of Simone while we were out of the country. WISHES: I wish for you in 2007, “appreciation”…few people understand your good heart.
9. J: Go USC…John finally came home from the glitz of Hollywood. He just started the Seed Money Groups. He is shooting “wedding video” till he directs his first music video. I have great hopes for J. WISHES: I wish for you in 2007…a change in your signature. All you need to do to glean the success you desire, is to change the way you write your name.
10. T: Well, in his first year, he took a huge risk. He left his father’s construction company and is now making twice the money in a specialty plumbing business. He became a Guro in Kamatuuran Kali and more importantly he saved $4000 to meet his first year goal. WISHES: I wish for you in 2007, a clear cut direction…when you develop this clearness of purpose you will find your way in the world …and of course I wish for you a trip to your homeland so you can interpret for me as I do Kamatuuran seminars.
11. P: I’ve known P longer than many of you have been alive. It says a lot to me that he still values my opinions after all these years. He has been a successful technical writer working for such companies as SUN and SYMANTEC, a homeowner and investor. He like me has gone through rough patches in our lives. WISHES: I hope to help you put away a lot of money…simple as that.
12. E: You accomplished, 1) a plan to reduce debt 2) a second job at coffee shop 3) a successful plan to borrow money to pay for assessments 4) renting out the condo 5) putting away a few dollars a month. WISHES: I wish for you in 2007 to see, to understand, to incorporate into your life that its not a matter of looking for quick fix answers to enjoy the fruits of prosperity. We are all where we are at in life because of our choices. As such we need to make better choices. The best choice is to organize your life in a way that insures, that “Prosperity” is the only RESULT.
13. K: The newest member of our Seed Money Group was brought in by the “trusted word” of Sherwin. “A man is only as good as his word.” It does not take money to make money. It takes the “trusted words” of a friend and a group that wants to make you successful…so that they have more players to compete with. K, put just a few dollars away each month…and you will be in the game. WISHES: I wish for you in 2007…CONFIDENCE…BELIEVE…AND THE ABILITY TO COMMIT TO ACTION, AND QUICKLY. Put away $100 for January reports and you will begin the path.
I have no regrets about the people who didn’t finish out the year with us. I hope they too do not have any regrets regarding the time they spent with us or the decisions they made to leave the groups. We learned from each of them just as we learned from each other. In the year 2007, I wish them the best and hope they find their paths to prosperity.
14. M
15. T
16. J
17. C
18. V
19. L
20. T
21. R
THE END IS JUST ANOTHER BEGINNING
Certainly, the rest of you, WHO SURVIVED can say that you are “playing the game” and that your “numbers” are up…
Sincerely
Tuhan
Monday, January 01, 2007
The Beginning Struggles
When I first started the money group with Tuhan Joe Arriola of the Kamatuuran School of Kali, I did not know a lot about finances. I could see a budget, even make one. But to stick to one was another matter altogether. I suppose some people's predisposition is to be able to be disciplined. I was not naturally born with discipline. I liked to rebel.
But the grain of truth that I knew was that I could not handle money. When my mother passed away, I received insurance money. But, I did not have enough financial control to take care of the money. In a few years, the money was gone. Well not totally.
$8,000 was used to pay off my credit cards. I then cancelled one of the credit cards because I knew that I did not have enough control of my budget. That actually hurt because through grad school and post-doc, I was basically limited to about $500 of credit a month. And I only paid that off because of my salary.
$5000 was used to buy a Nikon F5 and a 80-200 f2.8 lens. That investment has paid off in more ways than one. I was able to develop my photography skills.
$1000 was used to repair and purchase a refrigerator. I was silly when I was younger and I should have asked the landlord to just repair the fridge. But the fear in me did not want me to ask for anyone's help.
$6000 was used during the various states of unemployment which I went through.
So with this experience, I knew that though I had a Ph.D., I was not a financial genius. Of course, during this time, my monthly income that was coming in was something like $1100.
Let us contrast that with the SO. The SO graduated from Berkeley and began work making $35,000. Each paycheck, she put away $600. By her first year of work, she had put away $6000. In addition, she began putting away money in her 401K account. By her third year of work, she had enough money to try and get a condominium under her own name without the name of her parent's on the deed. I still remember that the real estate agent was impressed that a single woman could get a mortgage without anyone else on the title deed.
Granted, the SO's parents helped her out with the downpayment. But this practice is becoming standard nowadays. The point of the above paragraph is that the ability to save in three years allows one to accumulate $18,000 and if you were using the 401K, you can parlay that 401K to your credit such that you can afford a house.
What's the point of the story above. It's simply this. I hoped and prayed and counted on the fact that once I had a graduate degree in molecular & cell biology that I will make money. All that hoping and praying can sometimes not be enough. You still need the financial smarts to figure things out.
So you say to me that you don't have a financial TUHAN in the community to help you. If I remind you of you, then resolve to save $600 and max out your 401K if you don't have anything at all. That is a beginning. Then learn to budget.
But the grain of truth that I knew was that I could not handle money. When my mother passed away, I received insurance money. But, I did not have enough financial control to take care of the money. In a few years, the money was gone. Well not totally.
$8,000 was used to pay off my credit cards. I then cancelled one of the credit cards because I knew that I did not have enough control of my budget. That actually hurt because through grad school and post-doc, I was basically limited to about $500 of credit a month. And I only paid that off because of my salary.
$5000 was used to buy a Nikon F5 and a 80-200 f2.8 lens. That investment has paid off in more ways than one. I was able to develop my photography skills.
$1000 was used to repair and purchase a refrigerator. I was silly when I was younger and I should have asked the landlord to just repair the fridge. But the fear in me did not want me to ask for anyone's help.
$6000 was used during the various states of unemployment which I went through.
So with this experience, I knew that though I had a Ph.D., I was not a financial genius. Of course, during this time, my monthly income that was coming in was something like $1100.
Let us contrast that with the SO. The SO graduated from Berkeley and began work making $35,000. Each paycheck, she put away $600. By her first year of work, she had put away $6000. In addition, she began putting away money in her 401K account. By her third year of work, she had enough money to try and get a condominium under her own name without the name of her parent's on the deed. I still remember that the real estate agent was impressed that a single woman could get a mortgage without anyone else on the title deed.
Granted, the SO's parents helped her out with the downpayment. But this practice is becoming standard nowadays. The point of the above paragraph is that the ability to save in three years allows one to accumulate $18,000 and if you were using the 401K, you can parlay that 401K to your credit such that you can afford a house.
What's the point of the story above. It's simply this. I hoped and prayed and counted on the fact that once I had a graduate degree in molecular & cell biology that I will make money. All that hoping and praying can sometimes not be enough. You still need the financial smarts to figure things out.
So you say to me that you don't have a financial TUHAN in the community to help you. If I remind you of you, then resolve to save $600 and max out your 401K if you don't have anything at all. That is a beginning. Then learn to budget.
Living with Fear
I suppose to a certain extent, fear is controlled by genetics. I have a feeling that a lot of my fear comes from my father's side. There were moments of my life in which I remember my father worrying about things. And it is not just simple worrying. The closest thing I can describe it is that I try to live every single possibility in a fraction of time. When deciding about a course of action or a situation, I live through and experience the whole gamut of the emotions involved. But usually, I end up experiencing the negative and the unhappy or embarrassing emotions over and over and over again.
Perhaps, there was a biological use for this in the twilight of man's development in the world. After all, perhaps only those homo sapiens who had the ability to remember the bad things through the emotion of fear were the only homo sapiens who went on to reproduce.
But in this day and world, fear only serves to stop a person from acting decisively or boldly. I often encounter this pattern of behavior at the law firm. Individuals know that there is an issue to be resolved. But they pass the buck or do not act because they are afraid. The issue becomes less and less manageable until it breaks the system down.
Everyone is afraid. It is difficult to overcome the emotions and the rush of hormones adrenaline and cortisol. But, the power of the mind is stronger than all the emotions. You can choose to control your thoughts. All it takes is to decide to choose happiness each and every single day you live.
At first, it will be difficult. You will be sucked back by your emotions. You will get lost in the despair and the agony. But always have a trigger to reset yourself. Find something that you can cling onto so that you can take yourself out of the emotional well of despair. For me, this has often been trophies. My achievements written on index cards. I read my triumphs and I get myself out of the emotional well. The triumphs do not have to be significant to everyone. The triumphs should be the small daily things that make life worth living.
Some examples of triumphs:
bowling a 150 game
getting complimented by someone
looking good in a suit
talking to someone
graduating from something, anything
completing a certain phase of your life.
Use the documentation of your life as a shield to cover yourself from the unrelenting pressures of daily life.
After some use, you will find that your mind can automatically take you away from all the pain and sorrow of memories. The next step then is to let go of all the physical reminders.
Perhaps, there was a biological use for this in the twilight of man's development in the world. After all, perhaps only those homo sapiens who had the ability to remember the bad things through the emotion of fear were the only homo sapiens who went on to reproduce.
But in this day and world, fear only serves to stop a person from acting decisively or boldly. I often encounter this pattern of behavior at the law firm. Individuals know that there is an issue to be resolved. But they pass the buck or do not act because they are afraid. The issue becomes less and less manageable until it breaks the system down.
Everyone is afraid. It is difficult to overcome the emotions and the rush of hormones adrenaline and cortisol. But, the power of the mind is stronger than all the emotions. You can choose to control your thoughts. All it takes is to decide to choose happiness each and every single day you live.
At first, it will be difficult. You will be sucked back by your emotions. You will get lost in the despair and the agony. But always have a trigger to reset yourself. Find something that you can cling onto so that you can take yourself out of the emotional well of despair. For me, this has often been trophies. My achievements written on index cards. I read my triumphs and I get myself out of the emotional well. The triumphs do not have to be significant to everyone. The triumphs should be the small daily things that make life worth living.
Some examples of triumphs:
bowling a 150 game
getting complimented by someone
looking good in a suit
talking to someone
graduating from something, anything
completing a certain phase of your life.
Use the documentation of your life as a shield to cover yourself from the unrelenting pressures of daily life.
After some use, you will find that your mind can automatically take you away from all the pain and sorrow of memories. The next step then is to let go of all the physical reminders.
New Year's Resolutions
It has been a while since I have tried implementing into my life a new year's resolution. Partly because of a lack of discipline, I often rebelled against what I set out to do. Talk about destructive tendencies.
This year's top ten goals are:
1. Prosperity in the mind, body, spirit and finances for me and everyone I know. Spread the word that prosperity lies in the mind. Prosperity is a choice.
2. Continue to improve my health by walking in the morning and or evenings.
3. Continue being selective about my food choices. Tasting delicious Pinoy food is on the books. Just don't eat it for seven straight days. Choose leafy vegetables.
4. Continue to bowl with a goal of a clean game. The physical activity does me good and it will allow me to bowl with my father in law.
5. Let go of some of my older clothing. Donate them to the Philippines. It is nice to remember the good times. But, it is even better to create the good times in the present.
6. Become a teacher who changes lives. I began teaching at a city college. I hope to affect the lives of my students for the better.
7. Plan for the start of children in our lives.
8. Begin preparing for the next purchase of a house somewhere in Alameda. I already saw the Kapitolyo, the model house where I hope to live someday. It was about 3.4 million. I figure with a side business, maybe we can achieve it in five to ten years.
9. Continue to promote and explore my photography and consulting for college job.
10. Have fun!!!
This year's top ten goals are:
1. Prosperity in the mind, body, spirit and finances for me and everyone I know. Spread the word that prosperity lies in the mind. Prosperity is a choice.
2. Continue to improve my health by walking in the morning and or evenings.
3. Continue being selective about my food choices. Tasting delicious Pinoy food is on the books. Just don't eat it for seven straight days. Choose leafy vegetables.
4. Continue to bowl with a goal of a clean game. The physical activity does me good and it will allow me to bowl with my father in law.
5. Let go of some of my older clothing. Donate them to the Philippines. It is nice to remember the good times. But, it is even better to create the good times in the present.
6. Become a teacher who changes lives. I began teaching at a city college. I hope to affect the lives of my students for the better.
7. Plan for the start of children in our lives.
8. Begin preparing for the next purchase of a house somewhere in Alameda. I already saw the Kapitolyo, the model house where I hope to live someday. It was about 3.4 million. I figure with a side business, maybe we can achieve it in five to ten years.
9. Continue to promote and explore my photography and consulting for college job.
10. Have fun!!!
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