My Bubble Maker

Rather than think about what bursts my bubble, today, I discovered one of my bubble makers, i.e., having the capacity to work towards a certain goal – I don’t really like being stuck in a puddle, I believe no one does.

Previously, I was wallowing on my puddles or shall I say hang-ups, set-backs, frustrations, name it. I tend to be like this when I don’t have something to work on and I see contemporaries living up to their potential. It is highly imperative for me to have renewed, if not, totally different goals to work on. I tend to be down if I don’t have a goal to which I’d dedicate my effort. And the high feeling when I did achieve the goal is fleeting. I am the type of person who needs to set another goal after the other is achieved or if the goal is impossible to materialize, then I need to find a new one that is more feasible.

The secret to goal setting is dreaming. I get consoled with a dream of having sufficient monetary capacity to send future students to med school and to finance medical research facilities one day. My health condition won’t permit me to engage in highly stressful endeavors, my body responds weakly to stress and so I dream of being a benefactor instead. I also dream of setting up latrines and deep well pumps in impoverished areas. These dreams give me an inner glow.

I don’t know exactly how I’d become a full pledge benefactor but as the cliche says, “if there’s a will, there’s a way.”

Be ACTION Bias, Baby!

Year 2004, my football team were discussing the book “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” and ways on how to invest. I was intrigued but it was a fleet so I didn’t actually get a copy.

2009, I was bored in the water treatment plant laboratory, I didn’t want to read my Reader’s Digest. I looked around the small space and saw an old book at the top of a cabinet. Lucky me! It’s “Rich Dad, Poor Dad,” I scourge through it as fast as I could and thought, “hey, I wanna be a business woman.”

And so, my journey to the corporate world started. I chose a career shift and entered biomedical sales, then came customer service, then management. I read as much as I could on business and management, I find them focusing more on motivation rather than the technical know how to actually start one. And so tonight, allow me to pitch in the technical know how that I am currently administering.

First Phase: PREPARATION when needed resources are not at hand, but there is desire to start a business.

1. Opt for a corporate job specializing on sales which preferably has 10-15 manpower team. Learn as much as you could, look in the different departments/sections and learn what your colleagues do. Check out the software which they use for accounting and inventory, then learn how to use them.

2. Read business, leadership and self-help books on your spare time. Get updates on new market trends.

3. Expand your horizon by meeting new people through church, clubs among other avenues. Just meet new people, get to know them, and ask about their vocations.

4. Save around 10-30 % of your monthly salary.

Second Phase: Preparation, circumstance, RESOURCES and opportunity permits you to start a business.

1. Start immediately, don’t be haphazard. Follow your gut. Choose an industry that you are passionate about.

2. Know your market, choose a market bracket to cater to according to (a) your cash on hand or your capital and (b) regular walk-ins in the area.

3. Seek friends and family who are entrepreneurs. Talk about your business. Be open to uninvited suggestion and advice – weigh them out. Know their connection, i.e., SUPPLIERS/DIRECT DISTRIBUTORS (cheaper that way, no middle man) and acquaintances in your location.

4. Spread the word. Use social media platforms available in hand.

5. MOST IMPORTANT: have an inventory and accounting system of everything in your business. You can start with Excel or waveapp. Project sales vs your expenditure.

6. PRAY, do pray. Hold on to the promise that God has plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you hope and a future.

7. Aim to ADD VALUE first, to your manpower and second, to your market.

8. Expect to break even 3-6 or more months, then profit eventually. Make sure to BUFFER you operation expenses. Leverage yourself, try online marketing, blogging, SEO among others. Learn from http://www.joeseeber.com among others on how to earn from the internet.

The rest is EXECUTION, sustaining energy, enthusiasm and momentum, and a lot of DISCIPLINE.

ADDED ADVICE:

1. Use resources that are available at hand. Check home equipment/provision that you can use. Don’t buy every equipment that you deem necessary. Start with business bare essentials.

2. This is my first time, so I am opting to start with a small capital.

3. Seek like minds. I am blessed with childhood friends who are small entrepreneurs. Their experience and insight plus sentiments add up to me. I can talk about my hurdles objectively with the set-up.

Small Entrepreneur Energy Requirement

Why, oh, why little sexy body can you not keep up with the post-shopping requirement?! You actually had five “buko” (coconut) rolls for snack then you had chicken thigh, 2 beef cubes, 2 dimsum, some vegetables and soup. And you also had milk tea.

Argh! I don’t have enough energy. I should have eaten some of the noodles or rice for carb but nay, I omitted as I had too many rolls for snack. Now, I don’t have enough enthusiasm and strength to account and do inventory of the goods and equipment that I purchase.

Marge, your are just starting. You need to take care of your body otherwise you won’t be able to perform a milieu.

So, yes! I am talking to myself out loud. I should know by now that before anything else, HEALTH is imperative regardless of type of vocation. So girl, yes, girl, remind yourself to eat properly. Last night was rather different, you were too hyped that you actually force slept at 5 AM despite your awareness that you need to rest for the next leg work. Argh! What an unpredictable energy spectrum!

I reiterate: EAT PROPERLY then FORCE REST AT THE RIGHT TIME if you can’t. You are just in the beginning. You should sustain the necessary energy, feed the enthusiasm and focus on the stars, or should I say, the goal.

Now, go rest, it’s 10 PM. Wake up early tomorrow to do the rest.

(Pardon my pep talk.)

Brave Heart Behind Cafe 2.6.8.5

“Luck is what happen when preparation meets opportunity.” (Seneca)

The quote is timely for my new endeavor, i.e, starting a 3-table cafe-deli in my mom’s dental clinic lobby. Finally, not only preparation but also circumstance aligned itself with opportunity. The dental clinic has spacious lobby, I am not currently employed, I have lil’ saving, there’s no cafe in the area, I love anything about dining that I make versions of the food & beverages that I like, and there are unused cuisine equipment/utensils in my father’s lodge. I can start.

I’m hyped and excited that despite the 5 H walking to and fro to compare and contrast merchandise prices to get the best deal, I still have a lot of energy past midnight. I am in my sweet spot, i.e., venturing on my own, finally taking control decisively, and envisioning a direct output of my efforts. I now understand why you have to own whatever you do.

Let me explain.

My market income assessment says that the people in the area are from a lower income bracket, thereby, I should offer products at a very reasonable price. I intend though to give them a satisfactory if not excellent dining experience despite this as I, myself, would like the best value for my money. I am thinking of add on services/products which will compensate for the relatively competitive price. As business owner though, I, of course, intend to profit primarily. My gross sales and net sales projection are rather humble. For the meantime, while I’m starting, I am aiming to meet both ends hoping that I get to settle all the necessary bills. I do hope I break even the next 3-6 months. I can’t afford to hire help yet and I now understand why employers are so frugal with wages and strict with inventory and accounting. I just have to make every operation moment count. I will be a one man army for now: chef, barista, waitress, cashier, custodian name it.

My exposure to a small franchise manned by 13 people is paying of. Boy, I was highly stressed in the job when I was there starting in customer service then in backdoor management. I needed to know every function there is as I was in-charge of covering manpower shortage in the different sections. I am glad I get to work there and I will be eternally thankful.

Robin Sharma said “Lead where you are planted. Start where you stand.” I am doing just that now. I am not yearning to go elsewhere anymore to seek greener pasture but of course, travel is still in mind for leisure purposes. I admire entrepreneurs who started at a much lower capital who are able to make it grow so big. Hopefully, this endeavor will flourish. I intend to diversify little by little according to market demand and needs. For now, I’ll start with what is available in the area and also looking to what I can supply in it, thus buffering myself to possible market crash.

I am praying that I can sustain my momentum and that I can both lead and manage at the same time. I’ll just need to feed my enthusiasm regularly. Perhaps, making new concoctions every now and then will do the trick. So help me God.