My name is Roch, and I am richโbut money is not that abundant to me as I wish. With this, my inner self says, “Brace up! Don’t you worry. You can turn it the other way around, in time.” This I know of. This I’m sure of. In the mean time, I value my richness in life’s every other aspect and live by these “secrets”:
First, I’ve learned that I should understand more the importance of time. Nowadays, so many people want to amass wealth in the shortest time possible. Ever noticed how long the lines are when the lotto jackpot runs into several millions?
Yes, I also took my chance and drew numbers for the last lotto run with the take-home prize of 741 pesos. There are employees like me who want to get the juiciest positions right away. In parallel, there are merchandisers who sell at outrageous mark-ups, hoping to make a killing with just one sale.
But becoming wealthy doesn’t work that way. So many game winners are now bankrupt after indiscriminately throwing away their winnings through unwise spending. Employees who keep on dreaming about getting the highest positions right away don’t guarantee instant success. And other businesses have shrunk or closed down because the prices of their wares or services were too steep.
As my mother has once advised, it takes time to earn money, and it also takes time to make that money to grow. Before, I had a really strong inclination to rush things up: while I was in grade school, I was too envious of students who were in high school; come my high school years, I was too excited to enter college; in college, I was too apprehensive to land my first job right after graduation. Mom told me to take things one step at a time and just enjoy the now.
Time can be a powerful tool. The younger we are, the more opportunities it can bring for us to build wealth. The less time we have, the less likely it would be to build any significant wealth–but still, we can!
I’m naturally a patient person, and I should even more be patient, as mentors say if we can be patient enough to work hard first and scrimp around for the first years of our lives, we would be amazed at the amount of wealth we would have at the end.
The wealth I’m pertaining here is in the form of monetary. But in life as we know it, being rich isn’t all about money. I am guilty of thinking otherwise sometimes, and I confess that I have to implant somewhere in my brain the thought “Rich in the inside and beautiful in the inside are the things that we should pursue.”
How do I get there? As I have read books on how to become successful, I noticed one thing: all these authors suggest that we should set clear goals. This, by the way, is the second secret.
During the middle of this year, I have started writing my goals–for both short and long terms. Short-range goals span for a period of a year; long-range goals extend to three to five years. What are my major goals in life? I’ll discuss them separately in another blog post.
Anyway, I’ve saved my goals (and steps or action plans to achieve them) on a tracking sheet in Excel. The books said that while we may have to take life as it happens, we should also try to make it happen the way we wish to take it. In other words, we must know what we want to happen so we have to have goalsโsolid ones!
Thirdly, we should learn to accept failureโsuccessfully. Oh God, I know this is hard.
Of course, I don’t want to fail. I think nobody does! This is because human nature tells us to strive for success, but it is also common that people who work diligently to become financially stable and successful fail along the way. Again, from the books I’ve read, those people who made it on top all have the same answer on how they made it: they made their failures a learning experience.
To quote Thomas Watson, founder of IBM, “If you want to be successful faster, you must double your rate of failure.” He adds, “Success lies on the far side of failure.”That’s because failure is what actually makes us stronger, much more resilient and much more driven. Hence, we should not fear failure. It will come no matter how safely we chart our course, and it’s facing these failures that we can increase our courage and boldness for what comes next. And hence, this became my daily mantra ever since the start of the year: โSuccess is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.”~ Winston Churchill
I made it a habit to do the things I fear, like presenting in front of a large audience, becoming more sociable, laughing louder, going to places I’ve never been, learning how to drive a car, and the list goes on. Eventually, I’ve reached the point where I’m not afraid of doing them anymore. I’ll be continuing this habit on the coming years ahead. The golden lesson? Every failure eventually becomes a stepping stone to success.
This bridges us to the fourth secret, which is to develop winning attitudes and habits. I have just been reminded by Louie about this over the weekend. To persist in doing something we want to achieve, we have to develop attitudes, habits, skills, traits and other personality characteristics which can help us become happier and more successful. Examples are: being determined, goal-oriented, self-motivated, organized, resourceful and most of all, positive.
The fifth secret is the most important: develop faith. I’d like to share the e-mail signature of Gela Velasco, my former The LaSallian-Menagerie editor, which I have memorized (because of the hundreds of times I’ve seen her messages) and have shared with many of my friends already: “Faith is a floor. If you don’t work at making it for yourself, you have nothing to walk on (Mirror Mirror, p. 75).”
Faith means believing in something or someone that we don’t necessarily sense but feel and know is true. As all great accomplishments require a reservoir of faith, if we believe in ourselves and our capacity to become rich and successful in our endeavors, this kind of faith will propel us to a heightened sense of greatness.
I’m lucky to have supportive friends. They are the ones who remind me to believe in myself. Whenever I feel down, they cheer me up saying that they have faith in me and my abilities to overcome the challenges upfront.
The bottom line is: as the greatest truth, money should not be the end itself, but the means to a greater end. Money will never buy us happiness. It should be used not to make us happy but othersโfirst and foremostโour family.
The Golden Rule? “If you want to get everything you want in life, you have to help others enough to get what they want.” The more you give, the more you receive.
I’ve long realized that throughout my 21 years of existence, I always am the one who gives and gives and gives and gives… hopefully someday, I can be the other end who receives. But if ever this day won’t ever happen, I would be okayโbecause I’m richโand happy with what I give.
About Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco
Health and technology freak. Food and lifestyle blogger with a large appetite for food and travel.
Very well said. I agree that happiness is not about money. You just have to be contented and appreciate what you have. Always share your happiness! ๐
Happiness is even doubled when shared. We can choose to live a life of contentment as life is full of wonderful people, places and moments that makes us happy.
True wealth is not having everything you want but wanting everything you have. Contentment is what makes us rich in spirit.
Agree. Happiness and fulfillment are not attained by acquiring material things we wish for. Rather, they are achieved and experienced by choosing and looking forward to live that way. We get real wealth by being aware of our creative power and by giving thanks to whatever we receive in return from nature.
I’m assuming you’re 23 now, based on the date that you wrote this piece. ๐ And believe me dear, your article has given me a drum full of inspiration, considering how young you still are! Just continue to set your goals, keep working hard and the rest (and I mean money as well) will certainly follow. I applaud you for your accomplishments. ๐ Continue inspiring others. ๐
Correct! This year I’m turning 24. I thought I made a good decision from that turning point when I wrote this. Now I feel abundant with His grace and blessings, and I’d always be thankful. ๐ Thanks for your support.
Sweet.. I know you are rich roch! I declared the same thing, I am rich! .. and then it dawned on me what richness really meant.. and I am – we all are! we just need to acknowledge and be grateful! Thank God!
Right on. Hey Gemma, I’ve also read your post about making the impossible happen. And yes, I’m like you, I believe all things are possible and doable. We just have to keep believing, and good things will come to pass. ๐
Do you know why God didn’t the world and everything in it in an instant? Why does he have to wait for 6 days to create everything? It’s because TIME is essential for anything that’s good – wealth creation and accumulation included.
Last year from one of the church services I’ve attended, I learned that God knows the end from the beginning. He already has the solution to everything and he also knows what things to put into perspective and materialization in perfect order and timing. With this assurance, we can walk in greater peace and confidence and live the life of victory God has in store for everyone. ๐
true!! it is much a greater plaeasure and feeling of happiness and satisfaction once you start giving than receiving! Its like your an angel to a certain people seeing them happy and their smiles are the greatest things. xx
That’s right. To date, I don’t regret anything I’ve done to help others. ๐
I used to feel bad whenever it’s just me that always give to my friends or family – whatever I can. I always felt taken for granted. But it got me thinking: “Isn’t this what I want – to help people? Isn’t this what makes me happy?”
Sometimes we end up being selfish, even if we don’t intend to, but God enlightens us and leads us back to the right path.
Yeah. Not all of our choices are the better ones to take. Still, on my end, even though I may not be getting the expected outcome doesnโt mean that Iโm not getting something else, just as valuable, in return. Life lessons, divergence on the roadโlearning how to get back on track.
I was kinda laughing (but not scornfully) knowing you tried in lottery. Rock your mom’s advise was correct, to earn money takes a lot of time. You have a great start and great mindset. Go for it.
I had also the same insights on what you have shared. I agree that money shouldn’t be the basis of everything. Its not about the money. Its all about the lists you have written on your article.
Wow, good post, and one that I agree with. I’m a naturally impatient person but my adherence to positive thinking have led me to a more “strategic” and patient life ๐
When I was young, all i can ever think was what I wanted to receive expecting that I will derive joy from getting them. There was happiness alright, but not really joy. As I grew older, I discovered real joy in giving and helping others. One of my daily prayers is for God to give me the capacity to help especially when someone asks for it and so far I have been able to help in different forms in spite of the fact that I am not rich at all.
optimism is a good start to live a prosperous life. Way to go ๐ I think i have to set my priorities again!
God is exactly the answer to everything. If we seek him then money will be just secondary, it will come along the way because God knows our needs.
I agree that one must set up short and long term plans or goal. But I live by the Scriptures principle that one must not worry about tomorrow. Just make the best of each day. Hindi kasi natin alam kung bukas buhay pa tayo.
There are many statements in the Scriptures that talk about that. Let me share one: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” – Matthew 6:34
wow.. i love the things that you said here! i have set my short term goals for this year 2013 and i am so excited to happen.. well actually to MAKE IT HAPPEN. im only 22 and have experienced lots of failures in my life, that sometimes i felt like crying and quitting to what I am pursuing, but just like the games, every time i think of the trophy in the end, my body’s shaken to rise again. ๐
Go, Girl! Eyes on the goal! ๐
I do agree with the importance of time in our lives and we should make the most out of it. Personally, I would have been more successful if it wasn’t for the bad choices I made a decade ago.
Now I guess you’re fixing those bad decisions and had turned to a new leaf, to a better life. ๐
Oh my, this post is what I need in today’s time. Yes, time is money and time is gold. No overnight success will happen, we need to dedicate our time into something that can make us reach our goal. Thanks for this very insightful post Rochkirstin! Awesomeness!
The younger generation nowadays appreciate the value of financial literacy. That is exciting times for me. By the way, since we are talking about personal and wealth growth, are you aware of the APEC Summit that will be held on the 20th of January. The registration fee is very affordable for entrepreneurs and you only pay half if you are a member of the academe or a student. The line up of speakers are pretty impressive. You can find out about the details of the seminar on the Special Education Philippines website. It’s just a half-day event and I hope it will add more to your wealth of wisdom.
Oh, thanks for sharing about the event! I’ll check about that later.
I agree … you’re rich ! i think, i’m also rich and happy. The Happiest people don’t have everything they want…but they make the most out of what they already have! – this is one of my fave quotes that always thinking of what’s happening in my life ๐