Every Cent Counts

I used to work in a solar company and our favorite line is that "every wafer counts". We are manufacturing solar cells and one of the challenges the company is facing is cost reduction because of the stiff competition in the market. Therefore every solar wafer breakages means a loss to the company. The employees must help in reducing yield loss in order to help in the cost reduction drive of the company especially now that solar companies are facing a tough time.

When I decided to venture in business, I have to have a paradigm shift with regards to money. When I was still an employee a one peso coin doesn't mean a lot to me. I could give it away. It doesn't matter. For me, it's not a big deal.

When I started having my own business, suddenly I realized that just like in my previous company where every wafer counts, in business it's "every cent counts". A lost cent or a peso would mean a loss of profit for the day. What if there were a lot of peso which were lost then that would mean trouble.

Business is All About Service

Lately, I was plagued by a lot of challenges in starting my own business. And I mean really a lot that it seemed endless. One after the other, they came. There are a lot of people discouraging you, telling negative things that make you think twice if you're doing the right thing. Sometimes you want to believe them. Sometimes you really just want to give up and return to where you came from, to your comfort zone. It takes a lot of positive thoughts to help you go through when you're starting out.

Nevertheless, I learned something lately. When you hear about business, automatically what comes to mind is a lot of profit, peso sign or dollar sign and of course the thought of risks. But I learned something different. Business is more about service.

When you're in a business, you're serving people. The more people you serve, the more you earn. The more you improve the quality of service you offer, the more you earn because people will be satisfied and they will keep coming back which in turn gives you more profit. 

When you focus on the profit you will get, it's more likely that you will fail because more often than not you will neglect about quality service. But when you focus on giving quality service, the profit follows. 

Today is my birthday. That's why I have all the right to be wacky, mushy and all the likes. hehe.

As I'm writing this post, I am sitting here in my store in front of my laptop. I opened my store as early as 5:30 in the morning. As I opened, I prayed to God that since it's my birthday I ask that He will send a lot of customers today. I waited expecting in my heart for my customers.

An hour passed and still there's no customer! I said oh my God! I guess that my store is not that bad. So I waited.

Then out from nowhere one customer appeared! I smiled and told myself, my store is not that bad after all. (^_^).

Then one thing happened. One customer discovered one of the products I'm selling at a discount. After awhile, more customers were appearing. I was told that she advertised my products that's why they had come. Thanks God and thanks to the woman, too!..(^_^).

But then hours passed and my customers are appearing less and less. There were also beggars who came, then those who are asking for donations and those who are early in doing Christmas caroling. I have a mixed emotions regarding this one. I have a hard time sending them away without me giving them some money. But then as they come one after the other it makes me sad. They are getting the little profit that I have! It's not fair! (^_^). Where does compassion fit in here? It's disappointing but I choose to power up my mind with positive thoughts. Talking about being tough!..hehe.

I remember my brother whom I used to help in his store before. When there are beggars, he just told me to send them away. It seemed to me that my brother has a cold heart and no compassion at all though I've known him to be a good man. I was confused then. Now I understand why. Oftentimes, you really have to be tough on them. Otherwise they will take advantage of you. They will keep on coming and perhaps like the woman, they would also advertise to their co-beggars. And your profit will be at stake! No one would love that.

I believe there are a lot of life lessons that I have to learn as I go along my journey towards wealth.

If you want to share your thoughts, comments and experiences in doing your business please feel free to add your comments in the comment box.

Thank you.

Happy investing!

Starting your own business is terrifying, really. This is especially true if you are investing your hard-earned money and if this would be lost, you are into trouble. 

There are a lot of challenges you'll meet along the way. You're  lucky if you have a mentor at your side but if you're threading the path alone, it's really hard. Time and again, there are disappointments along the way. Sometimes you get excited, you plan vigorously with great passion and then the next day BOOM! something nasty happens and then you begin to think twice. You begin to ask yourself if you could really do it.

My dream is to become wealthy, to be truly rich. This is the reason why I'm thinking of different ways on how to make money. It's not easy considering the many problems I'm facing right now. Stress, emotional problems, financial problems, problems at work and lovelife (^_^).

I tried some ways and it feels awesome that I'm earning. Not so big but I am learning how to save and invest. I don't have that much yet but I believe that starting is the key to reach our dreams. I learned that from the power talks of Bro. Bo Sanchez.

Right now, I'm still investing in the stock market and recently I decided to venture in a traditional business. I'm so afraid if you may ask. A lot of things, negative things, invaded my mind. So many what if's adding to the negative stories from friends and relatives and so many times I wanted to backed out. I thought of what may become of me if my hard-earned savings would be bankrupt or gone.There's nowhere to go if that happens.

The one thing that kept me going is the thought that if I wouldn't start right now, when will I start. If I wouldn't start, who would. If I would give in, how would I know, how would I learn to put up a business.

As of now, I had already met a lot of challenges. There are times when I thought of surrendering and submitting to the old life I had. But I chose to move on and meet the challenges head on. I believe I can. Anything could happen but this was also the challenge most successful people had experienced. I might as well try.

Starting Your Own Business

I had been so busy these past weeks trying to figure out what kind of business I'm going to put up, where and how.

I had been to and from several locations. It's tiring especially when the distance you're travelling are miles away. There are so many things that have to be considered.

I'm hesitant at times and when things go wrong I wanted to just stop right there and then. But what makes me think twice are the lines I've read from the book "Think Rich Pinoy" by Dr. Larry Gamboa that says "Becoming rich and staying rich involve HARD WORK. But it's only difficult the first time and for a limited period of time. Then it becomes EASY".

Anyways, I'm going to post some of the things an aspiring entrepreneur should consider when starting his / her business and the things I'm learning along the way. (^_^).