“Whatever is going on in your mind is what you are attracting.” I was a dreamer when I was a kid, a visionary. I dreamt to be a scientist, an inventor. Hence I literally dreamt my way through elementary with low grades because I was day dreaming during class hours. Kidding aside, when I graduated from elementary, my dad, a hardworking businessman, had a heart attack due to the pressures of work. Thank God he is still with us and is back to normal health. After that serious incident, we had a reality check conversation. A series of mind conditioning followed. He was showing me the benefits of being in business compared to being employed. Obviously, being next to the heir, he wanted me to take care of the family business once he retires. Due to the business environment that I had (everyone in my clan was in business), I wanted to take a business course. I wanted to be a business tycoon like the Gokongweis or the Ayalas. But my dad disagreed. He said he could teach it to me and business was just common sense. He wanted me to take a technical course instead to exercise my brain in logic and analytical thinking. Thus, I took up Computer Science. I am thankful that my dad gave me a good advice since it really did enhance my logic and analytical skills. Aside from that, I was able to use in business what I learned in college. I had edge. And my childhood ambition came true. I became a Computer “Scientist” at least by degree. In the middle of my college years, I was drawn to the employee mindset for a while. I was lured to the high paying jobs overseas and the buzz of a greener pasture. I despised my country because of the government, bad traffic and roads conditions. Then there came a turning point. I was stuck at one of our famous EDSA traffics. One of my muni-muni time. A flame sparked in me to start with my self. It drew me to patriotism. I had a change in mind. From that point, I was even telling other people that are planning to leave the Philippines that “I will stay and make a difference. Because no matter how small I am, if I could find or attract people that have the same idea as mine, it’s going to have a huge impact”. After that, my eyes opened. I started seeing developments. Pink and blue colors appeared. I started seeing U-turn slots, road widening, beautification and lighting. The Philippine economy improved. Today, we even have our own oil from Palawan. Truly, I am living in a beautiful country. We just see what our eyes are focusing on. After I graduated, I engaged in different gimmicks. I sold cars, traded in stocks, consulted for a grocery store about P.O.S. system, opened a photo printing shop, tried to do a shirt business but discontinued, tried to provide programming and website building services while training at the family business. I was still empty career wise because I’m just waiting for the apple to fall from the tree. I was like Juan tamad. I hated it. I never liked being unproductive. July 2009. The feeling of not growing, being unfulfilled, dullness, and wanting to find a greater cause drove me to find answers. I stumbled upon Rich Dad Poor Dad and consumed the book during a visit at KL Malaysia. I was energized. I immediately became a fan Robert. I joined an online fan club and got an invitation to a free Wealth Course by Create Abundance Business Community. I ignored it a lot of times. I was very skeptic. It seemed too good to be true. After a lot of invitations and queries, I finally attended. After the first course, I still can’t believe that there was no catch at all. But I was determined to find out what the bottom line was. So out of curiosity, I finished the whole course. Then I saw a great opportunity and applied to be part of the group. Thankfully, I got in! Turns out, it was even better on the inside. It greatly exceeded my expectations. I felt the empowerment the very first day I joined. The change was so significant it was felt by my family and close friends! I even spoke in front of more or less 50 people even though I am an introvert and have stage freight. It’s like John Robert Powers business school! Now, my dream of becoming a business tycoon has become a goal. And the timeline to reach it has been greatly shortened. The Law of attraction truly does work. CA has opened up new possibilities in my life. I thank God for showing me the abundant life ahead with this selfless community, and for showing me this great opportunity. "Whatever the mind of man can conceive, it can achieve." W. Clement Stone Bringing all the glory back to God!
“We are like magnets - like attract like. You become AND attract what
you think.” - The Secret
Get on your mark… get set…. Go!!! If you are in a race, how excited are you to get to the finish line? Do you have that same excitement when it comes to the race that God has set before you? As what I’ve said from my privilege speech during the welcoming of new core team members last December 20, 2009; long before I was born, God has already planned my existence here on earth. He already planned who my parents are, to whom I will be married, who will be my children, who will be the people I will be meeting and the circumstances along the way. And GOD planned all these things for a purpose. Long ago, I questioned a verse from the bible, “Jesus Christ speaking; I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). It was during those years that my faith to Him was tested. I resigned from my work abroad, my marriage was on the rocks, and I discovered that I have breast cancer. I was really exhausted emotionally, mentally, spiritually and physically. It was during those times that God showed me with mercy and compassion how much He loved me. He said, my child, I did not promise you a trouble-free life. In this world you have tribulation, but take courage for I have overcome the world, (john 16:33); my grace is sufficient for you, (II Corinthians 12:9). God made me realize that my circumstances are planned, for me to be transformed into a woman He wants me to be. In the same way, joining CA2020 community was not an accident but was God’s plan for me to make a difference in the life of Filipinos and to my fellow Cagayanos in particular. March of 2009, I received an invitation through email from a friend to register for Tagged social Network. After that, I did regret signing in because of the so many emails I was receiving. October of 2009, I was struck by an invitation from a lady whose address is from my city in the name of Jennifer Guasis. I accepted it and that was the beginning of my journey through this community. At first, I thought it’s all for money but when I received blogs of Coach Rovel and the other coaches, I realized that this group are not mentoring just to be rich but it is beyond money. The coaching goes furthest to my transformation as a well being. I thank God for giving me my CA family through Coach Jen. Thank you Coach! You are really a great blessing to my success. When I say success, it means to allow God to unlock the imprisoned potential in my life, to set godly goals and not be content to settle for second best when I realize that God gave everything He could give so that I could have the very best of life, and to realize that one of the greatest sins I commit against God is not reaching the potential He has placed in me. God chose and place me in this community and so provide everything I would need to run the race victoriously for my good and His glory!!! I must press on towards the goal… the rewards are waiting!!! Give your dreams all you’ve got and you’ll be amazed at the energy that comes out of you.- William James Let’s make a difference in the life of our kababayans to make a First World Philippines!!!
My friend Trixie introduced Create Abundance to me. She just texted me about a “Free Wealth Course” and for some reason I was totally interested, I was all hyped up, I don’t know what to expect but I was excited, I had this very good feeling about this course. It felt like, I had attracted it into my life. A few months later, my life went through the craziest experience I have ever gone and *poof! I am part of the core team. Create abundance has changed me. I have been more committed, more reflective on the things I did and I have done, more conscious of my productivity every single minute, and more aware of my goal and dreams. Create Abundance is a business school but the best lesson it teaches is being best person that you can be. My mentor once said, “In order for your business to grow, YOU have to grow and with growth, money will follow.” That line got stuck in my head up to now and from that day on, every single day of my breathing life I am learning, I am growing and I creating my on life to abundant ad full of love. Thank you Trixie! Thank you Create Abundance!
What’s in a name? – William Shakespeare
Who the heck is Jervis? And why are you reading this piece?
Jervis was born and raised in Angeles City, a Kapampangan.
His parents are Ilocanos, from the Nueva Ecija lands.
His father came from a poor family who only knew farming.
His mother is only daughter of a poor couple.
Jervis is an electrical engineer.
He studied hard to become a licensed one.
He even worked for his college tuition to graduate.
He once believed becoming an engineer will raise his status in life.
That he will be able to get rich and improve his family’s lot.
That was his father’s belief too.
So his dad always said, study hard, get good grades, so you can get a secure and high-paying work
7 years ago, he worked in Laguna with a thousand folks.
He worked there for 5 long years.
He worked harder and harder during those 5 years.
One time too many, he even worked 48 hours straight without sleep.
With a mediocre salary that can only support his basic needs without a penny to keep.
In a big factory of hard disk drives.
His father went to Saudi Arabia the year when he was born.
He only see his dad every 2 years when he goes home.
He grew up basically without his father on the side.
He grew up somewhat with an incomplete family and no one else to confide.
Throughout his 28 years of existence, he was only able to be with his dad for less than 1000 days combined.
Today, his father is still in Saudi Arabia, already working beyond retirement age, I'm certain he's tired.
His three brothers are in abroad too.
His eldest and youngest siblings are in Saudi Arabia, with his father.
The other one is in Canada, working for McDonalds.
They are all working overseas as employees for first world nations.
What his dad has demonstrated in life, his brothers are also doing.
But not him.
He choose the other way around.
He choose to stay in his motherland.
He believe that getting a job overseas with a dollars pay is not a solution to the common problems in life—problem of poverty.
He believe he can change the course of his life.
He earnestly believe he can change the course of his family’s plight.
He definitely believe he can bring back home his dad and brothers.
And he sees one day in the future, his family will be in one home together.
So he started changing his ways.
He began changing his thoughts in a haste.
He threw all his old books and old reading.
And read stories of successful people, and mindset-changing.
He quit his first job.
Got a replacement work with low pay, but with more time to spare for his life-changing ways.
And then one fine sunny day,
He found Create Abundance 2020.
A business community who love to help people.
A business school whose passion is to change the mindset of the Filipinos.
A community of persons who are purpose-driven.
A community of people motivated by big dreams and goals.
A community who sees Philippines—becoming a first world nation.
A community who wants financial freedom for everyone.
A community he considers, his rich family, with a rich dad, a rich mom and rich brothers and rich sisters.
Who are always there to support him, through thick and thin.
Who cry with him whenever he’s sad.
And laugh at joyous moments and times.
Jervis found a rich home.
Where he will grow strong, rich and abundant.
He welcomes failures so he can achieve success.
He empowers others to reach for their visions.
He breathes abundance so he can realized his dreams…
For himself.
For his family.
And for others.
This is his story.
A story of choosing to live a life of abundance.
How about you? What are you living for?
“…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”—John 10:10
The Moment
It was a Sunday. The message given by the pastor was about giving. I don’t even remember the points anymore. What I remember is that at the end of the message, my pastor posed a challenge for everyone. He invited anyone who would be willing to give P1M to our church to come forward. I am a Baptist and we are known to be adamant in teaching about giving 10 percent of our income to God… In my mind, I know that being able to do that would mean that I had a gross income of P10M. So, I was one of the few people who came to the front. I wanted to have that blessing in my life and become that channel of blessing to others. Since that time, I believed and I am convinced in my heart that God has something really big for me to do.
The Making
Even before that Sunday morning, I have already read Robert Kiyosaki’s “Rich Dad, Poor Dad”. It was during my vacation to the United States. While I was in the U.S., I was able to purchase a couple more of his books and of some others that he recommended for reading. I even bought the board game, CASHFLOW 101 out of the earnings I got from babysitting… I continued investing on my education even after that.
What stuck on my mind after reading most of his books was that one does not really fail when he finds lessons from his experiences. I adapted that attitude so when something happens to me I look for lessons or the purpose behind the situation. Because of that attitude, I get to have that purpose to become my reality.
Even the previous jobs I had and the “learning” I got from them, I knew, happened for a purpose. I experienced working at a popular franchise, as a real estate and an insurance agent. After reading Kiyosaki’s books I wanted to learn a lot about investments. Someone introduced me to investing in the stock market, then I was able to attend a training/seminar on mutual funds and then on forex investing. I was able to put up my own small business by using OPM (other people’s money). I was able to systematize it although later on it folded due to lack of additional capital. I knew I have in me the makings of an entrepreneur. However, none of these resulted to my immediate achievement of my desired financial freedom.
The Mentor
Since I came back from the U.S. and read those books, I knew I needed a mentor, my own rich dad especially after all the jobs and experiences that I had. I’ve met people whom I thought were rich but who are really not. Although I am learning a lot, I don't really take action. In spite of that, I stumbled onto an ad about a Free Wealth Course Seminar. Reading through the description of the seminar, I got really interested with it. Even though I was six months pregnant then and I still have work by 9PM that day, I still came. That opened the door for me to finally find the mentor that I had long been searching for!
Nevertheless, there are huge challenges along the way before one can qualify as an apprentice. Doubts started to creep in if this is the path for me. I knew a lot of verses in the Bible about God’s promises of an abundant life but I heard a lot of others who would say that it can be anything but do not always include material wealth. It was the community that made me realized that such thinking is a “scarcity” mindset. I am not only limiting myself, but most importantly I am also limiting God on what He promises to do for me or for anyone else for that matter. Today, here I am enjoying and growing myself in the community even with all the challenges I have to face along the way. I chose to claim God’s promise of an abundant life for me with Create Abundance!
John Gokongwei Jr. calls it the principle of self-determination. As for me, I call it the talent of hardwork. I don’t have any secret formula to succeed in life. I just had the knack of “not giving up when everyone else will.”
Before, my mentors always referred to me as someone who doesn’t listen, someone who’s comfortable with his life. I came from a rich family. I didn’t like following instructions. I found it difficult to listen to criticism. I hated confrontations. I love breaking rules. In short, I wasn’t exactly the best apprentice. But one thing’s for sure, I don’t know when to quit. And luckily, my mentors had no plans of giving up on me either.
When I was starting, I was being lax and I wasn’t really giving my best to complete my tasks. I was playing computer games instead of practicing Internet Marketing strategies. I was sleeping instead of creating new business networks. I was playing the guitar when I was supposed to read business books. Probably it was the universe, or maybe it was divine providence, that conspired to deliver my defining moments a few months after I began business. I was unemployed by choice. My parents and grandparents weren’t very supportive of my business. My car was off limits. My allowance was non-existent. My key for our house was confiscated. To put it simply, I was broke, jobless, and virtually homeless.
I could have left the business world right there and then. I could have told my parents and grandparents to take me under their wings again. I could’ve stopped dreaming. But I didn’t. Instead, with nothing else to lose, I swallowed my pride and I asked my mentor if I could work for him. But he didn’t give me a job. He just told me one thing.
“Hopelessness is a gift. Give up hope that a job can give you the life that you desire and start building your business empire.”
It didn’t make sense at first. Of course I felt betrayed. But I read the message again and again. And I realized something. There should be no plan B. Going back to employment is not part of the equation of success. If I want to succeed in business, then I should do business, eat business, and breathe business. I should work it early and late. I should never let a single hour pass while procrastinating.
From that point on, I engaged in businesses. I engaged in Network Marketing. I engaged in IPOs and PPMs. I engaged in money partnership and expansion investments. I learned a lot of things; from Real Estate Marketing to Internet Marketing to Guerrilla Marketing; from mastering my thoughts to mastering my emotions. I was overwhelmed with all the new experiences and, honestly, I didn’t think that I would have this much fun. I had breakdowns, rock bottom scenarios and I was bringing packed lunch and snack everywhere I went because I only had enough cash for a bus fare going home. I was even confined in a hospital for ten days because I fainted due to dehydration, stress, and lack of sleep. The amazing thing was that my business was booming even when I was stuck in the hospital! Though some set expectations were not met, I’m still very thankful to my mentors who always challenged me to BE more, DO more, and HAVE more. To the mentors who taught me to live life unafraid even during times when I should be afraid.
With Kiyosaki’s book in hand and JG’s words in my head, I started this journey. I was hungry for learning and I was looking for a way to satisfy it. This program made me understand that every time I learn one thing, I will discover a hundred things that I don’t know. I, from this point forward, am a student of life. And now that my parents, grandparents and I are stronger than ever, I seek a new adventure, a new mission. I realized that the best way to learn is to share the knowledge with other people. And now that I experienced a lot and I’m credible enough to be called a business coach, I’m going to enter a new playing field. It’s time to pay the experience forward. I offer discomfort, pain, and challenges to those who are willing to become entrepreneurs and business leaders. For it is in these trials of fire where man can do things he never thought he could.
I offer you growth, learning, wisdom and new perspectives. But what have you to offer?
“I hope that many of you… will some day choose to be entrepreneurs. Choose to be an entrepreneur because then YOU create value. Choose to be an entrepreneur because the products, services, and jobs you create then become the lifeblood of our nation. But most of all, choose to be an entrepreneur because then you desire a life of adventure, endless challenge, and the opportunity to be your BEST SELF.”
–John Gokongwei Jr.
Raphael L Mercado
Entrepreneur and Business Coach
Create Abundance Business Community
When I was a little girl, I had a complete collection of Disney Fairy Tales. The set of tapes had been a favorite and back then, I would usually find myself watching the Disney cartoons over and over. As a result, I grew up a hopeless romantic. And just like what Rhonda Byrne has been emphasizing in the book "The Secret," you attract what you think. So for a period of time, the recurring flashback of the evil stepsisters, wicked witch's poisoned apple and the rest of the villains turned me into one hell of a Damsel in Distress!
I always thought Prince Charming would come an sweep me off my feet and lead me to happily ever after. I was wrong. I jumped from one heartache to another, one struggle to the next... I was busy looking for the Prince in every person's eyes. Until I got tired. I realized, "Prince Charming.. is not coming." --- and then, I was happy.
I was happy because I realized I just have to search inside so I can find the never ending stream of happiness. I learned I cannot control people, circumstances, everything external. But, I can always summon the heroine in me to take charge of my life.
I vowed to myself - in the presence of the moon and the stars - that I will never cry over wrong decisions and will never let anything or anyone get in the way of my dreams.
I was in one chapter of my "Dark Ages" when I saw Coach Willy's invitation to the Life Entrepreneurship Program. I was struck. I felt RENAISSANCE creeping into my system! Every part of it seemed to make sense at that moment:
LIFE - I need one, a good one. Quick!
ENTREPRENEURSHIP - I know, I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur.
PROGRAM - I felt there was a solid plan in it.
Without much hesitation, I sent an e-mail to Willy and convinced him why I deserve to learn from their experiences. I have the skills (but not enough on how to make them all work in harmony), I have the passion, I don't have money. I believe I will need a lot of their wisdom. It all started there, and the rest, as they say, is HISTORY. (Read: I became the first Online Core Team member - it's because I am based in Iloilo.)
CA2020 made me stronger. I thought I was, until they pointed out that the failures I experienced was out of my tendency to express so much emotion on something. I usually get too happy, sad, angry, bitter that I end up wasting a lot of time to create a life full of possibilities. I started to meet the rest of the core team members both virtually and personally. I found a new family in them. I learned the following too:
- Attitudes of Success
- Leadership Skills
- Communication Skills
- People Skills
- Overcoming personal fears, doubts and lack of confidence
- Overcoming fear of rejection
- Money Management Skills
- Investing Skills
- Accountability Skills
- Time Management Skills
- Goal Setting
- Systemization
DECLARE. PLAN. EXECUTE.
See you in the CORE!
Entrepreneur. Accountant. Goddess (Told you I ain't damsel in distress.)
