Freedom, Security, Misery...

"There's a crisis coming your way. One you can avoid. Or one that will smack you right across the face if you choose to ignore it. That crisis centers around your retirement..." -Dian Vujovich, author of Straight Talk About Investing For Your Retirement

Almost all of us wants or dreams of becoming financially free someday just like Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Donald Trump, Robert Kiyosaki, Henry Sy, Lucio Tan, Tony Tan Caktiong, and many more. Who wouldn't want to be financially free? Only a man with a sick mind would say that he doesn't want to be. Either he is plain sick or plain "I-don't-care-at-all". Financial freedom means having money for ALL your needs and wants. But the road to financial freedom is a hard one. Not that it is impossible to achieve, but it is a hard journey. People who say that it's easy to become financially free are full of crap. Yes, you heard me, full of crap! If it is REALLY easy to become financially free then why am I not financially free? I do want to be financially free. I do know things on how to become financially free. But why am I still not financially free? It is not enough to want to be financially free, it is not even enough to know how to become one. The journey to financial freedom is hard one. But again, it is not impossible, it is definitely attainable. You just have to be patient about it. You need to be financially literate to become financially free and apply everything you learned from the subjects. And if you happen to fail after applying it, don't despair. Just stand up, assess where you went wrong, and try again until you become financially free. To be financially free you need to learn how to buy a business, how to start a business, how to invest in stocks, how to invest in bonds, how to invest in gold, in silver, in platinum, in oil, how to invest in real estate, etc. of course at the end of the day, you need to apply everything you want to apply to those things you learned.

At the other end of the stick, there is financial misery. This is the simplest. All you have to do to become financially miserable is NOTHING. Just don't do anything. I bet you'll become not only financially miserable, but you'll really become miserable as a whole. No one and I mean no one in this world wants to become miserable. If there is someone, well I don't know what he/she wants. Do I still need to expound on this? I don't think so!

Between financial misery and freedom, there is financial security. This may not be the easiest but it is definitely easier than financial freedom. Financial security means having enough money for your needs and some of your wants. You don't have to learn all the mambo-jumbo stuff about becoming financially free to become financially secured. All you need to learn is where you can invest safely for the long term. An investment vehicle that yields 2-4% higher than inflation is enough to become financially secured in the future. Time is of the essence if you want to become financially secured not like financial freedom where you can attain it at any point of your life. To be financially secured the formula is: More Time to Invest + More Money to Invest + Safe and Moderately High Yielding Investment = Financial Security

My advice: I think while you learn and do the things needed to become financially free, you put some effort in achieving financial security. As I've said it is not easy to become financially free. If it is REALLY easy, then almost all of us should have become like Bill Gates and the like, do you agree? It is NOT WRONG to work on financial freedom, it is not because even me, I'm working on becoming financially free. But I think it is NOT RIGHT either not to work on becoming financially secure WHILE working on becoming financially free. I think it is wiser to simultaneously work on financial freedom and security, at least if you don't attain financial freedom, for sure you'll be able to attain financial security. It is like having 2 plans, Plan A and Plan B. Sad truth is majority of the people unconsciously chose to become financially miserable in the future than to be at least financially secured or better yet to be financially free. You are in control of your future, remember that!
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The above post (October 24, 2006) came from my Multiply account. I will be using the Multiply account to upload my photos and use it plainly as a photo hosting site.

Anyway, this is a good post to determine whether you want to retire free, secure or miserable.

You think you're invincible? Think again!

I was brawled by 2 guys last June 2, 2006 in our condo unit, for an unknown reason. This is the first time I experienced being beaten because a long time ago that is what I do. I always thought that I'm strong.. Actually stronger than anyone else in this world.

BUT I WAS WRONG! The experience is mentally painful for me. I found it hard to accept that somebody beat me in "suntukan". I was furious about this experience!

But then, during my recovery period.. I realized some things. I realized that I can't beat them all sa "suntukan". That in a fight, most of the time it will not be a fair fight. I realized that I'm really getting fat because I hardly lasted 2 minutes with the incident. I realized how hard it would be if I'm in jail for whatever reason. I realized that life is not about bullying other people or being the bravest person (in terms of "suntukan"). I realized a lot of things...

...A lot of things that made me decide to make a drastic change, personally.

JUNE 2, 2006 is the turning point of my life.
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The above post (July 10, 2006) came from my Multiply account. I will be using the Multiply account to upload my photos and use it plainly as a photo hosting site.

Anyway, about the post above... I used to say to my parents "Time change". And they always joke about that statement all the time. But I never thought that it is really true. Time do change. I thought I was invincible. It proved me wrong when the above incident happened to me. I'm changing, little by little. I'm becoming more patient now though not as patient as my dad, but I'm going there. Well, I do hope that I change fast enough before I hurt myself again or people that I love.

The result of being hot-headed

The other day I punched a bulletin board glass in our condo because I was pissed off with our elevator (not to mention I was under the influence of alcohol) which resulted to a 6 deep cut injuries in my right hand.

I know what I did wasn't good but my intention behind punching the glass was good. The management already had a meeting regarding the elevator but it seemed nothing happen.
I hate the Batasan 5 and all other activists here in the Philippines but for the first time I experienced to become one. I am not proud about what I did, but I am certainly happy that I had the courage to stand up and show the management that we badly need a working and efficient elevator especially during times of "personal emergencies".
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The above post (May 12, 2006) came from my Multiply account. I will be using the Multiply account to upload my photos and use it plainly as a photo hosting site.

Anyway, about the post above... I must say that it is really painful to be a "hot-headed" activist. Take it from me. I'll be forever in pain [literally] because my right hand is hurting everyday. So, if you are hot-headed, better think a million times.

A personal lesson about drinking to much!

I went home so drunk last Sunday (12:30 am). Well this is not new to me. I mean, whenever I drink, I normally drink like there's no tomorrow. My wife told me I was drowning in my own puke when I got to our room. She thought I was already dying because she said I was gasping for oxygen. She said I hardly breathe.

This is the crazy part. This is certainly the first time I feel nervous about drinking. Why? For all I know, I might have hit someone because I still drove and went home even when I'm drunk. I don't want to think about it but what if I hit someone, what if someone died because I drove while I'm under the deep influence of alcohol. I really hope and pray to God that I hit no one. This is the first time that my heart pounds like hell because I'm so nervous of the worse-case scenario. I hope I haven't hit anything especially anyone.

THIS IS THE LAST TIME I'LL EVER DRINK LIQUOR OR ANY ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LIKE THAT! I PROMISE.

Latest news about ATM Philippines

ATM Philippines or Association of Artists, Talents and Models of the Philippines no longer exist because my partner didn't pursue the business. Anyway, this is just to remind everyone that it no longer exist. In due time I might personally start my own business in line with this but for now, I have more important things to do.

So, see you all next time - Aspiring Artists, Talents and Models of the Philippines! More power!!!