A renewal for the new year

For sometime now, I'm slowly accepting the reality that life is really not that complicated.

This is of course a complete 360 degrees of what I've been practicing throughout my life!

Let me now examine the evidence...

First of all, you where born in this world the same as everybody else - naked, drenched in god knows what, without liquid / fixed assets, without any portfolio, any skills, degree, affiliations, certification, and any professional titles.

The only thing that makes you unique is the fact that you're the only person who'll get to grow up to be you! Experience the things that you've experienced (that is, in the same the form, impact, and level of immersion that you did)

The end-product of these experiences together with your inherent abilities is what makes you unique..

Second - believe it or not, growing up, you actually go through everything more than once... Things has its way of giving you another shot of learning from it if you tanked on it the last time.

Think about it - even though you might think your actually learning about physics, bio-mechanics, or logic circuits for the first time - it's actually the same basic concept, same fundamental operations, same old progression of logic and same of body of knowledge!

The only difference is selecting what the correct order or sequence of the information is and coming out with an idea or process that is applicable in the area or subject matter you're dealing with at that time.

Finally, you can take comfort with the saying that water drawn in any part of the world might come in a variety of color, smell, taste, phase, or composition, but the basic most arresting truth that anyone can consider is the fact that it is still, in its most simplest - is just water!

Learning to accept the truth that we are all subject to our own limitations and that we will, with a degree of certainty, encounter challenges and obstacles along the way is an important first step in developing peace and equilibrium within yourself.

Learning to accept that things always go wrong at the most unlikely moment will free your mind from all the unnecessary stress and related physio-degeneration that comes with it...

I remember one of the best advices I got from my dad which goes like this - On the first sign of any problem, ask yourself this one question: is there something I could do about it... if the answer is no, then there really is no point to put yourself up with all the unnecessary stress and anxiety.

For those who really know me, they'll all say that I was like that once... I was the eternal worrier or woes!

I guess being the sole provider and earner to my immediate family, coupled by lack of faith and low self confidence does that to you... but now, I'm glad that I was able to find (or renew) the hard truth that life is too short to compromise on pointless psycho-emotional negativity...

So, the one take away that I can give you in retrospect of the above is that, life always seem to carry on regardless of how much trouble you think is coming your way... so it is only logical to suggest that there is really no reason why you shouldn't...

Notice Period

Before waving good bye to your old boss, one is compelled to render a notice period. This, as they say, is an instrument concocted by the HR Department gods, to serve as protection for both you and the company.

Notice Periods can range from 30 days to 90 days depending on the prevailing legal laws or whatever you where dumb enough to agree with during your more happier encounters with your company's human resources department peons.

Now, even though I see the logic and understand the principles behind this, I simply refuse to allow myself to be forced in to a negotiation on delaying this notice period simply because the company can, within its privileges, call upon the cruelest, most evil invention known to man - the provisional clause.

Personally, I think that the HR and Admin Manager is using this clause to get back at me for giving him several sleepless nights in the past as he struggles on each conference meetings with the big boys to explain his more recent soirees.

Most of us don't really know that within the recessed pages of our contracts lies this diabolical clause of lamentation until it is pretty much too late for us to do something about it.

Some contracts contain the clause with the simple purpose of providing the company, precious delaying time and leverage, if in case you would elect to ditch them.

Statements on contracts like ---

"These responsibilities along with whatever task the company deems necessary in the normal line of your duties..."

I tell you, I can no longer count the number of lives destroyed, mutilated by these words.

In the end though, its every man for himself. One has to be forever vigilant, reading and understanding the contract thoroughly before signing, and to demand clarification if you feel that the clause is too vague or is maliciously constructed.

Business Minded

Often times what starts as a modest  business concept ends up as your own winning lottery ticket to financial independence... This is why despite numerous failed endeavours, I never loose heart on one day managing my own business - whatever forms/size it maybe.

But it's cruel how only a handful of people realize that the security that we are looking for has always been there... staring us at the face... taunting us with its seemingly smart collection of perfect catasthrophies that we so everlovingly call "jobs"...

One of the major constraints of being a single breadwinner is that you can never really count on anyone else but yourself. Regardless of how brilliant your business model and related operation planning, your major concern is not the actual formalities of the business, but the gargantuan task of having the motivation to start it! then later on, sustain it...

Believe it or not, I think this is the same old shitty reason why most of the middle class folks have not turned into business... even with the accrued skills and experience they bring to the table, they simple don't want to risk the sickening foray of the routine of working for someone elses money...

its the risk factor that kills the cat... 

and since most of us depends on our monthly paychecks for subsistence; it is indeed a critical complication to decide whether or not to leave the security of the rat race and brave the elements of what will be, by going into the unchartered territory of entrepreneurship.

reflecting on the fact that we will be coming back home soon - I am eagerly looking forward at some business concept or models that I've been nurturing while I am away, things that would add value to my initial attempts into enterpreneurship. The only problem is not the indication of risk, as I've already consoled myself that risk is already a part of life will always be there; like the bad stain you get on your teeth because of that smoking habit that you once have; but on whether the risk-reward is relevant in what I have made my world into at the moment... I would really like to concentrate with my career right now, but deep-down inside I feel that I am loosing the opportunity if I'd put off going into business...

I guess I prescribe in the saying "opportunity passed is opportunity lost" too literally.... but I do believe (well, somewhat) that being a high powered mogul of a business enterprise while at the same time being a conventional glorified pencil pusher might actually work... at least I'm praying it could work, then later on, I'd just be worrying about important stuff like deciding whether to quit the 9-5 thing or go to a summer vacation in an exotic polynesian escapade... yeah.... that would be something, huh...?

This may prove to be a challenge, but I feel that its a challenge I cant afford to answer... so, I guess I'll be talking back about this in the (hopefully) near future...

Live and let live

There is something about the old addage I mentioned in the subject line... 

I mean, how can you expect to have your way (live) without expecting any form of compromise with the welfare of other people (let live)... 

Who ever coined that statement obviously knows nothing of social responsibility, and is probably ignorant of the law of cause and effect...

You see, sometimes when we let other people guide us, we end up hating ourselves for it... There is one saying though that I cant stress enough of and that is..... 

"Shit happens, sometimes more than once..."

When is loosing a good thing?

When can we say that loosing is actually an advantage? 

Is it when we get to stay home and miss class because we're sick?  What about getting an extension for a project but will have to settle for least priority because the budget committee has already deliberated.

No sooner than I can stretch my legs after settling into our own pad am I once again confronted with a dilemma. Another crossroad in this never ending highway of terror and grimace.

I am at a decision point from which I am still unabashedly clueless, completely frozen by the complications that may arise from the decision that I am about the take.

I've been in several similar situations before, and honestly, I don't remember having to make any easy decisions. But despite the exposure that I have, I still get prison-bitch jumpy every time something like this happens.

Maybe because, I never really got comfortable in taking risks - which is actually a mockery of what my entire life stands for. I always figure that the next "jump" would be the last one.

Leaving this place at this time raises some valid question, and of course the feeling of remorse for returning home without something to show for. I swear, if I'll have a penny for every time I felt this way, I would've had enough money to buy a new car.

There is just something in me that always begs to challenge fate. I know, it sounds all too egocentric but that's the truth. A lot of times I ask myself, why do I have to tempt what I have been dealt with? Sometimes, I'd say a candidly short answer and pacify myself. But often times, I spend the entire day wondering what to do.

It is not always clear cut when it comes to major decisions. You are always confronted by fear, remorse, insecurity, and sometimes even hatred (not necessarily in that order) - whenever you cross paths with decisions that doesn't have obvious answers.

Maybe I am feeling this way because I felt like I am abandoning the battlefield, deserting the warpath, escaping the rift that I once put my everything on the line for. In reality though, I am merely being re-deployed to another place where the fighting is more intense. A place where friends and foes are not marked and everyone seems to fight alone for themselves.

But after everything has been said and done... we still need to face the music... even if it meant possible regretting it later...

So the question remains, when is loosing a good thing? 

Let me know if you found the answer....

Getting in gear

Getting in shape should be ones priority in life... I mean, its the single most important investment you can make in your life... 

Lately, I've been a little carefree lately that I've put on some weight... well, okay... a lot of weight...!

Anyway, I vow to get in gear again, and get the right motivation to go back to the sweat shop...

Believe me all those times you missed watching Lost, Heroes and Prison Break while you're breaking it down at the gym will pay for itself later on....

And if you've become chronic and absolutely can't miss your tv show(s)... I have an advise. for ya.... TiVo

Bored of hanging out

Have you ever gone tired of scurrying about every day, playing catch up with your routine schedules, turning the same old hamster wheel in a grand rat race we participate in until we're old and gray...? 

Have you ever asked yourself why the hell are you doing it or for what reason are you compelled to continue doing it?

A lot of you will say, it's because they're just playing their part as responsible/capable members of society. Some will actually say that they don't have a choice - they do it to survive... 

Actually, we all have a choice... believe it or not you've made a choice... you've chosen be responsible, or you've chosen to be the bread winner.... the point is... you've chosen to run the "race"

Sometimes I wonder how can some people go on everyday doing nothing... wondering what the day will bring them... not having any cares whatsoever... 

I mean, sure, everyone dreams of this.... after all, who doesn't want to stay late every night and also wake up late the next day? Or go partying with friends till dawn, get hammered, then get up around 3-4 pm only to do the same thing afterwards... 

It all seems like a dream... to live a carefree life.... without anyone bartering for your time, no responsibilities, no regrets.... ah, pure bliss....!

I guess for the most part, I can say that I have also dreamed of it for most of my life... I idolize the ranks of the common "tambays" who seems so unfazed of the goings-on in the world around them... there is a curious aura with these folks that I find so appealing...

And for a brief time in my life, I actually got to experience it... Though I am not sure how brief, I'm pretty sure it's long enough for me to get over the idea and pass it of as one of those things you grow out of - like wearing torn jeans, Black Sabbath tee's and tattered chuckies... 

Soon, I was seeing reasons left and right about why not to stay out late... like that premier screening I've been waiting to go to... or that uber cool convention that opens at 7 am and closes before lunch break.... 

Slowly, you get your head straight and wonder why you spent you all that time going to gigs that makes absolutely no sense anyway.... you grow tired of waking up late only to wonder what you can do with the malls closing with the next 5-6 hours... and you've seen the same guys playing at the the bars and gigs like a gajillion times already.... 

Slowly, you start to think that it's boring to stay with a bunch of halfwits at the basketball courts, talking about "why the latest noontime show rocks..." or "how you got your weired looking girlfriend to give you head"....

Correct me if I'm wrong, but sometimes, doing nothing overtime can become such a chore....

So be thankful you have to go through the same old shit everyday on your never run for the rat race... after all, you'll have all the time to feel burdened later doing nothing during your retirement years....

Tips to screw your officemates (Tip #1)

Because of the tremendous body of knowledge I've amassed on how to extend the misery, remorse, and loathe you're feeling with the company during the course of my stay with them, I am willing to share them with the rest of the world for the benefit of society.

I'll be writing daily snippets on this subject under the tag "Office Hassle Tips".

So lets start...

Office Hassle Tip Number 1:

The scenario:

As usual, another project is about the hit it's target date... temperature is rising, and all hell is about to break loose when the project leader asks for the final copy of the project charter from you because you've offered your selfless services of proofing and editing it a couple of weeks ago.

The Pay-off:

First, you have to do your fair part on elevating the tension by asking annoying questions like "ooohhh where did you get your hair done" (if its a girl) or "Did you see the game last week? (if its a guy)...

This will probably carry on the conversation providing you with precious delaying minutes.... then at the last minute, tell him/her that you'll just email them the document... then, send the document as a (broken) link through email instead of the usual attach file method. Repeat this procedure all the while engaging them with irrelevant questions as mentioned above...

When finally, the project leader questions your email method, tell her that you're being responsible and you are helping the company put down the cost on data storage by keeping a single copy of the file in the network and not sending each time an independent copy.

Continue sending her broken links and engaging them in irrelevant conversation until he/she burst into flames or get a nervous breakdown... then you simply grab the bottle of vodka you kept chilling on the fridge, pour yourself a glass and have the best time see your leader get grilled by higher ops for the delay...

Another Mindf*cked Rant

Do you sometimes wonder why, for the simplest of things you end up breaking your head; carefully planning meetings, churning-out KPIs and forecasting analysis but still end up ruining it all?

What about underestimating something to the point of practically neglecting it only to find out later on that it's actually one of the critical action point in someone else's grand design?

It's a shame how most of the people whose entrusted to take the helm of companies, portfolios, projects, industries, even countries and armies are leading lives whose in total contradiction of their jobs. Meaning that most of these so called managers/directors/presidents/chairmans are they themselves unable to manage either their very lives or their households.

Small wonder why societies will turn at each other at a drop of a hat with the smallest provocation on something they will later on consider as a trivial matter - case in point the latest Georgia conflict (click here to read more on this topic).

Sitting here writing this entry, I find these types of news as "concerning" or maybe even "alarming"... still, I couldn't imagine how it would feel like if you yourself would be in the actual situation....

Although still undecided on whether or not to go back home for a promising opportunity, I'm already mind-fu*cked from the stress because my decision might put me and my family in the same circumstances mentioned above... unable to justify if the risk-reward ratio if this decision will be on our favor...

Today, I may not just very well be reading about the violence, unfair trade practices, escalating prices on oil and commodities, tax scamming fiascos, police incompetence and brutality, rub-outs, trade insolvency issues about mi querida patria... Tomorrow I'll be again, immersed in all the sensationalized splendor and drama that is home...

You might ask: "Then why the f*ck do you have to go through it all over again?"

Answer: "Yo busco la mejor las cosas ... y estoy siempre un estudiante de la vida y las oportunidades..."

My God, please help me and my family see through this!
Let it not transpire according to my will, but with your will be
done...

To leave, or not to leave... that is the question!

A fervent attempt to empower one's self will almost always end-up to be an insult to someone else's sensibilities. Being around uncertainty all your life, you somehow find yourself sinking deep into the recesses and obsessive goings-on of your sheer lack of trust with your own good judgement.

How some people carry on, candidly striking deals at will is beyond me! I am forever unabashed by the stirring uncertainty and obliterated thought process mostly brought about by repeating circumstances of defeat and high risk taking.

I know that a friend's honest assessment on any decision matter would be worth its weight in gold, if you prescribe to that person's capability and judgement. Otherwise the cycle repeats itself.

Sad facts, huh?

I guess in the end, you just have to be a man... cover your eyes... and pray your guts out that things will work out fine in the end...

En Dios, confío en ...

Voy de vuelta a casa!