“It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell.” — Buddha

This morning I felt like I really conquered myself. I didn’t know what “conquering myself” really meant but it sure did feel like I did. Of course I had to Google it and the first thing that topped the search was the quote above from Buddha.

I conquered the loud screaming of hate within me. I conquered that raging anger and the never-ending worry inside me. Yes, I have conquered myself today. Times like these, I feel that success is not just one big event in life. It’s the little things in life where you succeed that you feel most satisfied and content. Success in life simply does not mean success in business or success in family life alone. Success is a collective output of all your daily and even momentary successes.

A successful you is the best you every minute of every second of every day. The little triumphs in life when put together creates a very glorious person.

Today, I am proud that I triumphed. Tomorrow is another day and it is too early to even think or worry about.

Of course I’ve been checking my stats and it hasn’t really increased that much yet. Ha ha, feels weird that I am blogging about my other blog. The thing is, I’ve been thinking about what I’m doing and I wonder if I can really do it. I mean, can I really make the blog stand out, be truly original and play with the big boys/girls in the blog world? I’ve been thinking about this lately and the truth is, I don’t know the answer.

I read in a book that you should be the first one to believe in what you do, otherwise others won’t believe it. Maybe the author’s right.

I wonder if there are bloggers out there who have felt the same way. Hmmm.

Oh and did I mention I worried myself out the whole day over a friggin’ printer?

Yes I did. Sadly. It’s like a stupid habit of mine. Much like crafting and drawing, my next favorite thing to do is worry AND get angry. If Anger and Worry had a school named after them, I’d be a valedictorian.

Sigh. It eats up my sanity, really. It destroys great moments with Allen. It crushes hope. It diminishes love. And it kills life. It kills my life for that matter. Perhaps this first week of the year has been used by the Universe to open up my eyes so I can understand what A&W (my kind of drink lol) does to me and my life. Well kudos to the Universe for it has done its job well.

Before I wrote this entry, I felt terribly tired. It was as if I worked in a construction site and carried 100 bags of cement on my back the whole day. That’s how tired I felt. And then recalling today’s events, I realized I spent more than half of it sulking in A&W. So there.

I will work beyond this ‘cancer’ because I am more than this and I know I can overcome this bad habit.

Time to change, Issa.

Like with all the other projects I did, be it craft, office or even school project, I was a perfectionist. I want to learn, or more appropriately, master the ins and outs of any project. It’s like the obsessive-compulsive side of me instantly wakes up and nudges me to do a very perfect and seamless job. I want to finish this blueprint so I can finally learn how to Bum Market my way online. I have tried Potpie’s Squidoo methods and I got sick the week after. And besides, I didn’t enjoy it because it did not fit my lazy personality. Haha.

Reason 4:  I want to create another stream of income

There’s no better way of saying it. I want to create lots of income streams and I saw (with my soulmate Allen’s help) that Internet Marketing is a very profitable business niche. Since 2007, I have been in business (though small) selling organic products and I have to admit that it is just plain hard work. Brick and mortar business style. I want a new age business that is sustainable and something which I can still grow by being creative.

Reason 3:  I want to travel to different places each month and work from there

Any normal business would not allow me such a lucrative activity. My SPA Ingredients business would not allow me to do that (YET! I’m still growing the business but I’m pretty sure I’ll get there). I believe Internet Marketing, with the help of Bum Marketing, gives me the opportunity to stay at whichever country I wish to stay in and do business from there. It’s my dream life because I wish to see the different places of the world. I’ve read countless marketers who go around the world without missing an income heartbeat (my made-up term lol) and I would feel envious of them. I want to finish this blueprint so I can start the ball rolling and start earning moolah!

Reason 2:  I want to experience more financial freedom

I am in debt right now but of course, that does not define me. I am finishing this blueprint because this is my way to financial freedom. I am slowly making huge leaps to combat indebtedness and I am very sure that sticking to a plan such as this can greatly help me in my quest.

Reason 1:  I want to have so much time and money to spend with the most important people in my life — my FAMILY.

Yes, it sounds so cliche but that is my ultimate goal why I want to finish this blueprint and consequently succeed in Internet Marketing. My family is my life and I will work hard just to give them everything they need and want. I want to spend more time with them and I know IM will give me the freedom of time in the near future. I want to be able to support them financially and I am 1000% sure that IM will give me financial independence. Hence, my drive to finish this blueprint. It is a step towards my goal.

Which is why Allen and I have made plans for 2010. They are our business and life plans. We want to succeed in all the areas of our lives and we believe that by planning things and making sure that we stick to them all year round, we’ll be a success!

To start off, I made 2010 plans with regards to my business SPA Ingredients. I was really amazed at its performance the previous year that it made me rethink selling it. I can’t just sell it off as if it’s worthless because by golly, the business has grown hundreds of percent! Couldn’t believe it myself. I attribute my previous post about quitting and letting SPA Ingredients go to the burnt out feeling I got due to lack of vacay.

So there. I am officially continuing the growth of the business and will constantly improve its financial standing!  Woot woot! Hurray for this major decision! (I would have been a poor girl now had I decided to sell the business hahaha).

I won’t be going into details as to my plans for SPA Ingredients, but for sure I will be more active in marketing our brand and our organic products online and offline. Despite being afraid and shy of T.V. guesting, I am still hoping and praying for more presence on air. It’s exciting but every time I do it I just feel like I am about to cut off air from my lungs and die. Seriously, I am that afraid.

My new business focus for this year will be Internet Marketing. Allen and I have chosen a method which we’ll try for a month and see how we’ll do. I made Internet Marketing efforts last year and I only lasted a week or so with it. I thought it was simply too hard for me. I did make loads of articles but I lost hope and perseverance.

For 2010, I will be more driven than ever. I will be more focused and I will be more confident. No more losing hope. This year, I will do better because I have learned.

Anyway, I am following the 30 Day Bum Marketing Blueprint and I am supposed to write a 400-word article on my I will finish this course. I am posting it on my next entry as a reminder (to me) of why I am making another huge leap in my life, my reason for wanting to succeed so badly.

As Walt Disney said it, “Keep Moving Forward!” 

We both think Go Greek rocks.

Chicken Gyros Platter

But since I generally love Christmas, I guess I’ll just focus on the best things about this season.

This December, not only did our sales go higher than our regular months (which was expected) but we, as a small team in SPA Ingredients, did a darn good job at keeping most of our customers super happy.  We supplied organic bath treat souvenirs to birthday parties, baby showers, weddings, and so many other personal occasions.  And I still could not believe that most of our customers loved the packages we made for them. They just LOVED the personalized and customized packages.

There are times when I really feel proud and glad about SPA Ingredients. I read an article this morning in NY Times about an Etsy seller who made a 6-figure income over selling handmade scarves. WOW! I mean, we’re talking about P4.7M here! Hmmm…. I’m a pretty crafty person and I’ve been thinking about joining the Etsy community and try my luck out there with my handcrafted stuff.

I’m feeling giddy again just thinking about my future endeavors online. Woot!

Anyway, I feel that one of the coolest things that will be happening this year for me is my first Christmas Party with my humble SPA Ingredients team. From attending parties hosted by employers, I am now, officially, hosting this year’s Christmas party for the team. I’m glad I can get to share and give back to the Universe. Just talking to my two soap girls (Marian and Janine) about our party, I can already feel the blessings pouring in. I can hear their excitement as they plan out the activities for the night. We have invited their families over for a simple yet fun dinner tomorrow at our newly painted house.

Oooh, btw, I haven’t posted photos of our house yet. But I will soon post them here. In the meantime, I am posting some photos at my cousin’s wedding held yesterday at Mary Immaculate Church in Las Pinas. Allen and I didn’t get to enjoy the night together as I had to do the hosting since my cousin Daffodil was brought to the hospital yesterday. Long story.  

The lovely bride

With the Newlyweds

Me with my Ate Gina

Auntie Erna

Me and Aunt Aida

Mary Immaculate Parish Church

Waiting for the mass to start

With the beautiful bouquet

With my two lovely Aunts and my niece Rachelle

Posing with the Bride

My niece Gabrielle with some boy... LOL!

And of course, my soulmate Allen

You see, unless something pushes me so hard that it would hurt already, I literally won’t do anything about my case. But now, something awesome triggered me. Finally.

I am giving up SPA Ingredients.

Earlier tonight, one of my new clients barked at me and I was just so angry that I finally (using the word again) realized what I already knew — myself and what I want.

I want ZERO customer relationship. I want friends and NOT customer friends who measure me by how well I did their job requirements or how awesome my products are. I don’t want to be loved because of that. I don’t want so-called friend customers who shout at me because of delayed meetings, delayed deliveries, delayed whatever due to things I personally have no control over.

Because in this life, I want to spend time making friends and building friend-base who are worthwhile. I don’t want to spend my precious time (so cliche yet very very true) making deals with customers and building customer bases that don’t really mean anything. I have wasted a good amount of my life making time for people that don’t really matter to me. Those who have nothing to do with me. I am giving up on them as well. Had I spent my time building friend-bases, I would never get shouted at for things beyond me and they would simply love me for being me.

I give up because this (set up, business, lifestyle) is not working for me. This is the last time I give meaningless service.

And as sure as I’ve been a year ago when I quit my tiresome job, I know everything will be OK.

Allen and I have promised each other to build a new business again. I’m excited for 2010!

Life is about NOW. Nothing more, nothing less.

If you have made the most out of your NOW, then you have certainly lived.  I was consumed by the brightness of tomorrow and I have forgotten that today has slipped past me already.  It’s amazing how one can aimlessly float through the day and end up not knowing whether they learned something or not.

Never forget today and now. Make the most out of your NOW.

I realized that I might die tomorrow and I spent my today and now thinking, worrying and planning my tomorrow when all that will face me tomorrow is….nothing. The essence of life is pretty simply and basic.  Make the most out of your NOW.  Many people, guilty of it myself, have been focusing their minds on either the past or the future.  You won’t be able to enjoy today because all you ever think about is what “might” have been or what “could” be.  Focus on what is now, what is happening at this very moment.

Finally, I let go of my need to understand my past and plan so much ahead for my future. I know my soul-mate slash therapist would be very happy to know that I have finally let go of that destructive need.

So now, this is my new mantra:

Make the most out of your now. Seize your now. Every moment is your moment so never let it slip away without being happy and positive. You’ll never get today back and tomorrow’s too far away to even think about.

Frankenstein-o

Clowny-lady

Another weird guy

Cat-Boy??

Alien Quintos

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!