Every time we have a Customer Development Conference, my boss asks me to mingle with higher bosses. He told me that a small talk will do. I understand that this kind of initiative will build my rapport with them [...]]]>

Every time we have a Customer Development Conference, my boss asks me to mingle with higher bosses. He told me that a small talk will do. I understand that this kind of initiative will build my rapport with them and, in the long term, will be a criterion for my professional advancement. However, I believe I took this for granted. In between sessions, I get gallons of tea and several pieces of Sofitel’s Chocolate Pistachio Cookies (the best, btw) and talk with my immediate colleagues instead. After some months of building relationships in the company I work for, I realized how important my boss’s advice to me is. Moreover, reading John Maxwell’s Everyone Communicates, Few Connect nailed that advise to the unassailable forces of modern business principles.

The Bureaucracy of Connecting. A Dilbert Comic Strip.

As a communication major back in college, I am bombarded with the following Speech Communication courses: Communication III, Speech Communication (SpCom); SpCom 136 , Form of Public Address; SpCom 133, Debate and Argumentation; and SpCom 137, Group Discussion and Conference Leadership (You can see BA Organizational Communication’s curriculum here). So after earning an OrCom degree, it is highly expected that I’ll be a performing Organizational Communication professional. However, I feel that my communication prowess still needs improvement or needs a supplement related to my field. All along, I felt I am an above average communicator until I encountered difficulties in the workplace and until I finished reading the said book. This blog entry would summarize the book with my related experiences and/or reactions after each part.

Like Maxwell’s Self Improvement 101, this book is logically divided into two parts: Connecting Principles (theories) and Connecting Practices (applications).

Connecting Principles

1. Connecting increases your influence in every situation.

Maxwell didn’t differentiate communicating from connecting. However, given the title of the book, communicating is a default human activity–everyone communicates. He defined the term “connecting” because he said that such activity is practiced by “few”:

Connecting- the ability to identify with people and relate to them in a way that increases your influence with them.

The goal, therefore, is to increase influence through identifying and relating with people. Influence then becomes an important factor to success in any situation. In the context of business and leadership, Harvard Business Review stated:

The number one criterion for advancement and promotion for professionals is the ability to communicate effectively.

Although the term “communication” is used in the quotation, “communicating effectively” means bringing your message across successfully and increasing your influence to your stakeholders.

2. Connecting is all about others.

My communication professors thought me that communication is a dance of two–the failure of a party means the failure of both parties. However, when we talk about connecting, everything is all about the the one(s) we communicate or try to connect to. This notion is supported by Nabi Saleh of Gloria Jean’s:

We aren’t in the coffee business serving people; we’re in the people business serving coffee.

Maxwell presented a variety of ways on how to do it including the need and want to listen. Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People stated this as Habit 5: Seek first to understand then to be understood. Moreover, Maxwell said that listening is not enough–you need to be sincere when doing it as well as when communicating with other people. He argued that sincerity cannot be faked. If you fake it, it shows. Les Geblin, former National Salesman of the Year supported this claim:

You can’t make the other fellow important in your presence if you secretly feel that he is a nobody.

3. Connecting goes beyond words.

Maxwell said that there are three things people look for when we try to connect with them: Thought (something we know), Emotion (something we feel) and Action (something we do). These concepts are actually stated by Aristotle on On Rhetoric as Logos (Thought), Pathos (Emotion) and Ethos (Action). These Pillars of Public Speaking are also the pillars of Connecting. You can see the speech plan I made during my second year as a university student here.

4. Connecting always requires energy.

I remember watching an episode of Ghost Lab on Discovery Channel. The Ghost Hunters want to attract a ghost in a cocktail bar so they invited poetry readers. According to those hunters, poetry readers give out energy and supernatural entities are attracted to it. And yes, the same is true with connecting. Maxwell gave different ways on how to be energetic and how to give out energy. The one thing that made be interested is about humanizing your attempts at connecting–talking about personal failures:

If you want people to be impressed, you can talk about your successes, but if you want people to identify with you, it’s better to talk about failures.

5, Connecting is more skill than natural talent.

Maxwell argued that even introverts can connect effectively with other people though they would use more energy than how much extroverts consume. This theory supports his claim that connecting is more skill than natural talent. In order to sharpen this skill, Maxwell suggested to build on the following: Relationships (who you know), Insights (what you know), Successes (what you have done) and Abilities (what you can do).

Connecting Practices

6. Connectors connect on common ground.

One communication theory argued that in order a communication activity to take place, there must be shared experiences or common knowledge. Of course, that remained a theory because we can communicate with anyone. However, a common ground can be built with anyone and is important for connectors.Moreover, Maxwell asserted that common ground is also a place where people can discuss differences. The concept of “common ground” is presented nicely by Epipheo Studios’ “How the Internet is Changing Advertising.” It is “a short history of communication and how the internet is a new medium that has thrown out the old rules of communication.”

7. Connectors do the difficult work of keeping it simple.

One of my college professors differentiated simple from bare.  Simplicity can engage because it has something–it has content amidst simplicity. Bare, on the other hand, looks simple by not having anything. Even Albert Einstein who contributed crazily complex scientific knowledge strives for simplicity by saying:

If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it enough.

I try to explain complex ideas by telling analogies. This kind of technique is something I learned from being a varsity debater back in college. Through this, people can relate with what I say (with the analogous concept) even if they didn’t know or experience the complex concept I want to talk about. Even people who are not bottom-line thinkers want to know the bottom-line, Maxwell said.

In the end, people are persuaded not by what we say but what they understand.

8. Connectors create an experience everyone enjoys.

When I was debating for our university’s debate varsity, we often talk about “bad adjudicators”–no matter how good you are at debating, you will still emerge as a loser when you have a bad judge in your room. One of my seniors, Lee Yarcia, told us that our mindset should be this: “Even if the adjudicator is a bad one, you still need to emerge as the winning side.” Maxwell supports this mindset when he said that, in general, there are not bad audiences, only bad speakers. He said that we should take responsibility for our listeners. There are a variety of ways on how to do this like using humor, creating a sense of anticipation, creating common ground, interacting with the listeners and telling stories. The latter technique, telling stories, is supported by Jesus Christ (yes, Jesus Christ) when he said in the Gospel of Matthew:

If there is no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears. That’s why I tell stories: to create readiness and to nudge people toward receptive insight.

9. Connectors inspire people.

Inspiring people can be done by having conviction, confidence, gratitude and passion. According to Maxwell, vision alone does not inspire change. It must be strengthened by passion. Moreover, he said that Action is the highest form of Inspiration. In order to put people into action, a connector must provide them with an action plan so they know what to do.

10. Connectors live what they communicate.

According to Maxwell, the first six months performance of a newly hired professional is dependent on his or her communication ability. In this period, communication ability overrides credibility. However, after six months, credibility will override communication ability. So, in order to gain credibility, professionals need to connect or to communicate effectively. Moreover, Maxwell argued that the relationships we have with others are largely determined by the relationships we have with ourselves. This kind of claim is supported by the Private Victory Habits of Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

Connecting with other people is a long-term endeavor. Maxwell said that “the true power of connecting with others does not come from the superficial interactions with others. It comes from connection with people long term.” Now I fully understand why my boss wants to jumpstart my connection with others. Not only with the other bosses but also with the people I handle–my sales agents. I remember him telling me that connecting with them can mean buckets of beer but if that’s the only way or if that’s the most effective way to connect with them then I should do it. He said that to me while we drink his favorite Scotch Whisky. Yes, I understood. And he was able to connect to me.

Self Improvement might be the cheesiest topic about career and leadership but no one can really talk about “general happiness” or “life in general” without stepping on this platitude. Being listed on the Grand List of Clichés,  Self Improvement is [...]]]>

Self Improvement might be the cheesiest topic about career and leadership but no one can really talk about “general happiness” or “life in general” without stepping on this platitude. Being listed on the Grand List of Clichés,  Self Improvement is either taken for granted or overlooked as a default human experience. I recently received a book from a colleague before leaving my first area of assignment. The book is John Maxwell’s Self-Improvement 101. This book is a part of Maxwell’s “What Every Leader Needs to Know” series. I’ll be sharing my insights and/or reflections about this book because I promised to do so. Haha. Well, I actually want to have a  ”public self reflection” and to be an “inspiration”–if applicable, LOL.

Don't worry, I'll practice what I preach. Hah.

The book is divided into two parts. The first one tackles about the foundations of Self-Improvement and the second one talks about the process of Improvement.

Part 1: Laying a Foundation for Self Improvement

Requirements. Like maturity, Self Improvement is a choice. As the book contends, no one grows by accident. The intention and willingness to pay the price should be there. I have the intention to “improve” ever since but, sometimes, I do not really want to pay the price. Intention is just a one-liner thought but putting it into action takes more than a line to do. Moreover, Maxwell argued about Initiative and a Now Factor. You can delay initiative and you can delay paying the price–but those things actually manifest the choice not to improve. Wow, the word “now” is scarier now. Oh Time, you affect everything. Lastly, a Plan should be present. Some people boast about “success amidst planlessness.” Even though these people might not be as organized as me, I believe that they have planned something (how little or how short term it is) that eventually lead to success. By the way, this part is highly related to Covey’s Private Victory Habits.

Career Growth. Maxwell narrated a short story about a Bull and a Turkey.

A turkey was chatting with a bull. ”I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree,” sighed the turkey. ”But I just haven’t got the energy.”

“Well, why don’t you nibble on some of my droppings?” replied the bull. ”They’re packed with nutrients.”

The turkey pecked at a lump of dung and found that it actually gave him enough strength to reach the first branch of the tree. The next day, after eating some more dung, he reached the second branch. Finally after a week, there he was proudly perched at the top of the tree.

He was promptly spotted by a farmer, who shot the turkey out of the tree.

Moral of the story: Bull Shit might get you to the top, but it won’t keep you there.

In every role we have in life, whether in our personal or career life, we are entitled to “unwritten privileges” which are, more likely, against a principle present in the context where we play a specific role. I have been seeing many of those privileges. I admit, once in my life, I used one to take an advantage or to simply satisfy myself. Bull Shit is scattered everywhere. It’s Bull Shit, but come on, many want to taste it. Still, it’s Bull Shit for Bull Shit’s sake.

Because I’m talking about Bull Shit and telling you not to taste some (because it’s plan Bull Shit), I need to practice it myself. I learned a craft and talked about it. It’s about time to practice it. Learn. Talk. Practice. Yeah.

Teachable Attitude. The first thing we need to know about teachability is knowing how to be interested and how to listen [emphatically]. This is actually Habit 5 of the 7 Habits. The primary hindrance for listening is pride and the immediate desire to react. If you’re not interested, then don’t listen at all. I asked myself: How do I force myself to be interested? This question is crucial for listening since interest is a prerequisite. I found out that I don’t have to force myself because I need to choose the things (Maxwell called them “Teachable Moments”) I need to listen to (see Focus of Time and Energy on Part 2).

Role of Others. Although Self-Improvement is tagged with the term “Self”, the role of others is still highly significant. Before you can learn from someone, you need to remove arrogance and value the people around you. You can learn something from anyone because, as Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “I have never met a man who was not my superior in any particular.” Asking questions and choosing the right mentors (Maxwell elaborated the standards of a good mentor) maximize the role of others for self improvement.

Part 2: The Ongoing Process of Improvement

Focus of Time and Energy. This simply says that in order to improve effectively and efficiently, we need to focus our time and energy to our strengths and things that interest us (our passion, perhaps). This part is related to Stephen Covey’s Circle of Influence principle:

Circle of Influence

We have many things that we care about (Circle of Concern), but for some reason, we cannot address the problems or concerns brought by them. So, we need to focus ourselves to the things that we can do something about (Circle of Influence). We should not worry because, as Covey argued, focusing on the Circle of Influence would make it larger to the extent that it is roughly as the same size with our Circle of Concern.

Obstacles. When we are in the process of improving ourselves, just like any kind of process, obstacles are on the way to inhibit our progress or to prevent us from getting there. However, Maxwell said that adversities have many benefits.These include: development of maturity, creation of resilience and prompting of innovation. For me, creativity will be a great help to see obstacles in a new light. The Right Brain!

Role of Experience. Experience cannot make sense unless we examine ourselves after garnering sone (i.e. self-reflection or self-examination). Some people boast about “extensive experiences” but these don’t make sense unless we emphasize the improvement or progress we got through those experiences. Moreover, Maxwell argued that getting an experience is costly but the lack of it is costlier.

Giving up. No, I won’t talk about giving up self-improvement. I’ll talk about giving up something for self improvement instead. When I was assigned in a land far away, I gave up may things: being physically together with my family and friends, being a Manila Boy and, of course, being dependent. All of those things paid off–really. Here are some things we can trade for better things:

Of course, this is not a barter. You can’t trade security for significance right away. All of these pairs have big spaces in between. Moreover, obstacles and risks will always be on those spaces. For me, the end goal is not just the sole manifestation of growth. Choosing to trade something and becoming willing to take the challenge is already a growth potential in itself.

The book is very general and very basic. With this, it is up to the reader to contextualize the whole book in a specific role he or she plays in her life. Moreover, I suggest that further reading about improvement in a specific role should be done in order to gain specialized knowledge.

Business Books Update

1. Recently finished: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
2. Reading: Everyone Communicates, Few Connect by John Maxwell
3. Will read next: Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

When I was in first year high school, my Values Education teacher asked the class to read the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. The book itself is actually integrated in our curriculum that our exams [...]]]>

When I was in first year high school, my Values Education teacher asked the class to read the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. The book itself is actually integrated in our curriculum that our exams will include some questions based on the book. Being a devotee of the Iskol Bukol philosophy, I didn’t read the whole book and survived the subject by using the ever-reliable book summaries and outlines found on the internet. Almost 7 years later, a company I worked for as an intern conducted a 7 Habits seminar for us interns. Being the Nah I Already Know That Student, I listened as if it’s just a repetition of things I already know.  Now, almost a decade has passed after my first encounter with that book and I decided to read its entirety. I can now say this—I should have followed the instruction of my Values Education teacher.

After reading the whole book, I suddenly felt that there is a big untapped potential hidden beneath my boxers. Of course, that’s a me-ta-phor. You got it anyway. The book urged me to have a shift of paradigm in the various roles I play in my life. I recently made a promise to blog a reflection entry about all the [business] books that I read. Actually, I failed this promise since this book is the second book that I finished after I made that promise, haha–and the 7 Habits is currently haunting me for not fulfilling such. Anyway, here’s a nuthshell of the whole book.

The 7 Habits Framework from Change-Management-Coach.com

A. Private Victories: The Independence Habits. These are the different victories one should achieve in order to be effectively gain public victories although Covey contented that the Private Victory habits are not prerequisites for the Public Victory habits.

1. Be proactive. The habit of choosing a response to a specific stimulus.

The book has a different approach in defining “proactive.” Modern literature tells us that being proactive means doing something immediately before a bad situation could commence or become worse. In the book, Covey defined proactive as having the freewill to choose a response for specific stimulus. Proactive people do not blame the environment or anything external (the stimulus) for their current situation because they can do something that would alleviate the status quo (choosing the response).

Wow, I must say I’m really guilty of blaming anything external. But when Covey said that there’s a big space between stimulus and response and it’s a human ability to choose what response he can make, I realized that I am this powerful. Let’s stop blaming something (or someone) or transferring burdens and do something instead.

2. Begin with the end in mind. The habit of personal leadership.

The book says that everyone should have a clear mission statement and life plan with your real purpose in life stated therein. I have been planning my life plan just recently–what career course to take and how could I get to my destination but after reading the book, I realized that the planning that I have been doing is just the tip of the ice berg. I should reflect on my real mission and real purpose in life with all my staple values as a guide–no matter how cheesy it may get.

3. Put first things first. The habit of personal management.

Management means doing the first things first. Leadership, on the other hand, is knowing what those first things are. So, before we can be good at doing this habit, the second habit must be done accurately. Anyway, the book showed a Time Management Matrix:

Time Management Matrix

According to Covey, most of our time are devoted to Urgent and Important things (Quadrant 1)–which is quite logical. However, when we don’t devote some time to other important things (Quadrant 2), although not urgent, Quadrant 1 will go bigger and bigger until it can eat us alive. Covey suggested that we give some time to Q2 through getting some time alloted to not important things (Q3 and/or Q4). They are, after all, not important.

I admit that my daily tasks are a big carnivore and I always complain to Mr. Universe that I don’t have much time. After reflecting on this habit, I realized that every task, endeavor or even leisure activities can have their own time allotment if managed strategically. Covey even proposed a planner structure to accommodate this kind of strategy (visit my Grand Wish List page to see the planner).

B. Public Victories: The Interdependence Habits. These are the habits that we can have to attain social and/or emotional effectiveness. Covey said that we can practice these habits right away although the Private Victory Habits are a good starter to have effective Public Victory Habits.

4. Think Win/Win. The Habit of Striving to Win Together.

Covey offered different scenarios of social negotiations or transactions: Lose/Lose, Win/Lose, Lose/Win, Win, Win/Win and Win/No Deal. Of course, we’re all after the Win/Win scenario to be highly effective. There were several strategies offered by Covey in order to achieve this. However, I want to share the most striking lesson I learned here: Win/Win is different from Compromise. Back in college, I experience a lot of group works. I mean, a lot. The prevailing philosophy during that time is to meet halfway, to compromise. But the problem with that  is that no party is fully satisfied. Covey contented that there’s always a third alternative which is fully beneficial to all parties involved.

5. Seek first to understand then to be understood. The Habit of Empathic Communicating.

As a debater back in college, I was trained to quickly prepare a (killing) response to a person (or to a debater) while he or she is speaking (or debating/delivering his or her speech). Until now, I admit, that it seems to be a personal instinct of mine to form reactions or rebuttals in my head while someone is speaking. Covey contented that a highly effective individual can listen to and empathize with someone speaking (seeking to understand). Moreover, the author suggested to refrain from using autobiographical responses when responding because it defeats the purpose of empathy. However, I felt that the to be understood part is not as exhausted as the to understand part. Probably, the latter needs to have more attention than the former. After all, our response is highly dependent on what we understood.

6. Synergize. The Habit of Creative Cooperation.

I recently said in my latest Triumvirate entry, that eating Reese’s Ice Cream is yummier than eating Reese’s and Chocolate Ice Cream individually. I know, I know, this is such a juvenile example. My point is, the combination of something is a lot different from its individual components. But cooperation or teamwork alone is not enough for synergy to take place. The culture, creativity, trust and cooperation levels are defining factors. There must be an environment conducive enough that all brilliant ideas can be juiced out from all the parties involved.

C. Renewal

7. Sharpen the saw: The Habit of Continuous Improvement

I completed a thesis about Total Quality Management. One of its major tenets is Continuous Improvement which is highly related to the Sharpen the Saw habit. Covey even said that the TQM movement can be related to the 7 Habits in general. Anyway, sharpen the saw basically means improving the following dimensions: Physical, Mental, Social/Emotional and Spiritual. Covey suggested to devote at least an hour a day to sharpen any of the said dimensions so that all dimensions are covered in a week.

The 7 Habits are hard to master but everything can be readily applied. I am quite glad that every time I decide on something or every time I am about to do something, these 7 Habits are haunting me. Haha. This summary-slash-reflection isn’t enough for you to imbibe the lessons found in the book. Trust me, I saw something like this back in High School and in my college internship (see Paragraph 1, k) and it never engaged me to do something to be an effective person. I also keep notes on my journal so that I can immediately reflect on its application to my daily life. There is also a Personal Workbook available that I want to buy–yes, I’m that willing to live the 7 Habits. However, like most other philosophies, I’m not willing to succumb myself to it to the extent that I’m not willing to learn other things or to listen to criticisms about it. I’ll practice these habits but I’ll never be a hardcore fan.

Business Books Update

Finished Reading:

1. Freakonomics by Steven Levitt & Stephen Dubner (Further Reading for Sharpen the Saw; Mental Dimension)
2. Self Improvement 101 by John Maxwell (Further Reading for Sharpen the Saw; Spiritual Dimension)
3. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

Currently Reading:

1. Everyone Communicates; Few Connect by John Maxwell (Further Reading for Seek First to Understand then to be Understood)

Growth is uneasy. And this will be one of my growth manifestations (sorry for not qualifying the term “growth”) that the public will ever witness. My friends and I had a serious question back in college after [...]]]>

Growth is uneasy. And this will be one of my growth manifestations (sorry for not qualifying the term “growth”) that the public will ever witness. My friends and I had a serious question back in college after I published my last The Way We Plan (TWWP) entry, college edition. TWWP is actually my annual attempt to showcase the planners and/or journals of my college friends. I think I’m just obsessed with organizing my life to the extent that I want to see and share how other people do it (through choosing a planner, that is). Or, maybe, I just want to showcase my friends. Or, maybe, the former has more truth in it.

Back to that difficult question, how do I showcase  the planners of my corporate colleagues without “annoying” them amidst corporate turmoil? Will they regard this tradition of mine as a juvenile act? Well. I don’t know. But this is something I really know: When you graduate to the corporate world, you’ll think that everything about college is a component of a very large playground where kids play with shiny red balloons and dirty sneakers. You thought that college is a big serious (and political) stuff until you meet a new monster in the survival camp. For the record, I don’t underestimate my college years. Having a career, is just different. Just different.

Anyway, for continuing the tradition, I’ll present the planner I am currently using:

Yes, it’s the almost overrated Starbucks Planner. Please don’t mind the messy cover, thanks. Anyway, I haven’t seen time as gold for a while so I just considered the planner that first came to my mind. Every after work during the December of last year, I go to Starbucks, sip some whatever Frappuccino or whatever Christmas Frappuccino, go home and do my corporate homework–almost not looking forward to getting The Season’s Most Coveted Planner. Man, I just want a planner. I got the Wood variant because the two other variants are not my type. Wow, I love simple reasoning.

Bookmark with the Iconic Cup

The Good: The prestige (nah, of you’re looking for one) of having more or less 2 grand worth of planner; nice paper–acid free I think? At par with Moleskine’s; Simple and Straightforward–it’s nothing but a planner! Well, with some promotional coupons inside.

The Bad: Limited designs–and those designs have limited fans; the artistic paper structures on the cover are fragile–I think I just broke a piece (see the last photo at the gallery above); You can never be unique. Worse, you can be branded as a poseur. Haha.

The Lowdown: If you just want a decent, elegant planner without worrying too much about the presence of too many options, then get it.

I use this planner both for business and personal life planning (it is actually less serious and grandiose than it sounds). However, the company I am working for also gave us one:

Just like the SB Planner, it’s simple and straightforward. Except: I have my name on it (yey?) and it can remind you about work all the time (yey?). Haha. I use the SB Planner [more] just because I got it first and I started planning my year with this Wood-like journal already. Yes, the train of thought needs to have a single track.

Going back to “growth”, I think this process or term has been used extensively in the modern business and psychology literature to the extent that we use such at no-brainer will. We know its simplest definition but, more often than not, we use it as a whimsical pinky promise to self. As a kid who lived a hardcore independent life for some time, I believe I am slowly imbibing its truest principle-based essence. Do not grow for growth’s sake because you won’t grow anyway. Growth is more than a promise to self. It’s something you plan for more than 24 hours of Buddhist-like self-reflection (yes, I’m serious). You engineer your habits and your lifestyle. And, the prerequisite of it: You need to leave something behind, even how uneasy or uncomfortable it may seem.

When you take a look at my last year’s installment for the TWWP series, it seems that I just enjoyed doing such as if I don’t have any more sensible things to do. I enjoyed doing it and I am willing to continue the tradition. However, my present life context isn’t applicable to a jumping-for-happiness entry anymore. I gone more formal and business-oriented I think (thank you, career).

This could be the last entry of the The Way We Plan series. Starting this year, It’ll be continued as The Way I Plan–not because I’m selfish (duh) but because I want to have a more personal reflection about personal [life] planning in general. If you noticed, I put a lot of dramatic growth shit here as compared to the previous installments of the said series. I assure you, this is not the last thing I’m leaving behind or the last thing I’m changing. And this is definitely not the last thing that would manifest my personal growth. This is not a pinky promise. This is a big manly thumb assurance (hah!). So, where’s the gargantuan tear drop to top my dramatic ending?

For those who want to look back and create an aura of nostalgia, here are TWWP links for 2009 and 2010:

1. The Way We Plan 2009
2. The Way We Plan 2010

One of the business meetings I have attended was held in a resort in Sipalay, Negros Occidental. The virgin (well, almost) beaches, dive sites, coral reefs and the sights in general make up a good alternative vacation spot. Unfortunately, [...]]]>

One of the business meetings I have attended was held in a resort in Sipalay, Negros Occidental. The virgin (well, almost) beaches, dive sites, coral reefs and the sights in general make up a good alternative vacation spot. Unfortunately, when I got there, I don’t have any decent, tourist-standard camera with me so I forced myself to be satisfied with my good old camera phone. Here are some photos I personally took and some information regarding the place I got from the official website of the local government of Sipalay.

12►

Sipalay has various natural fascinations that one can see & experience. The 3-hour land trip to the city is truly rewarding as you start exploring the bounties that abound the place.

15-minute boat ride from the city proper is the Sugar Beach - German, Swiss and Filipino-owned resorts line this sugary beach, which offers an excellent place for swimming, and various water sports activities.

Not far from the Sugar Beach is the Tinagong Dagat - a hidden sea sprinkled with a dozen islets covered with lush vegetation. The sea bottom is covered with patches of sea grass beds, with the shoreline lined by old-growth mangroves.

Punta Ballo Beach is located in close proximity to Tinagong Dagat- This fine white sandy beach is more than a kilometer stretch. It’s the nearest jump off point towards the sea ideal for snorkeling & diving due to the rich marine life.

Going more or less 10 minutes from the Punta Ballo Beach is Campomanes Bay – The bay is excellent not only for diving but for jet skiing, kayaking, and all sorts of water sports. It has an existing port that caters to medium-sized sea craft. The enclosed shape of the bay and islets in its opening provide calm waters even in harsh weather conditions. Entrance to the bay is a wide expanse of coral garden with various species of corals and fish.

Personally, I like the place since I appreciate nature more when it’s untouched or when it just experienced First Base of human intervention. The Party Boy in me (a minuscule personality of mine, I promise), however is not satisfied. If you want a real romantic getaway and nature tripping in its truest sense, then Sipalay can make you fall in love and experience nature in its virtuous form respectively.

Source and Additional Information: http://www.sipalaycity.gov.ph/

As you grow older, the mess in your life increases in number. Fortunately, although men haven’t made mechanisms to make these horrific entities disappear, humans have at least made them easier to acknowledge, easier to solve. Thank you, Mr. [...]]]>

As you grow older, the mess in your life increases in number. Fortunately, although men haven’t made mechanisms to make these horrific entities disappear, humans have at least made them easier to acknowledge, easier to solve. Thank you, Mr. Planner Inventor. Every December, I’m always excited to plan for the coming year; of course, the activity would be nicer if you have a great planner with you–ready to help you visualize your new life. Moreover, a planner is a secretary that nags you everyday as if it’s not your alter ego.

With so many varieties of planners available in the market, choosing what planner to get is the hardest phase before actually making your life easier. So here I am, featuring my colleagues in the industry (I’m practicing–I’ll be a young professional soon!) who joins me in the Planner Craze of the 21st Century. This is ALPSaguado.com’s Concise 2010 Planners Review.

Starbucks Planner 2010

Featured Owner: Arvin Razon

The Good: Vertical columns. weird and different, but it surprisingly works for me. There are  fancy tidbits about Starbucks. I mean, I’m not crazy about the coffee but it helps to know a thing or two about anything.

The Bad: The cover looks like it’s going to deteriorate within a year; it’s big and doest have space for notes.

The Lowdown: A planner that’s more than good enough in doing what it’s supposed to do: plan people’s lives.

My notes, not Arvin's. Haha.

I also got an SB planner. And my sister too.

Nash's has a different design.

The coffee bean bookmark looks nice!

Luxe Monologue 2010

Featured owner: Nikki Mailom

The Good: Corporate looking; it has important international codes and a world map; light-weight and not bulky; it has spaces for other stuff like notes, contact details and others.

The Bad: Smells bad; others might think that it’s an imitation of Moleskine!

The Lowdown: It’s an ideal planner for soon-to-be corporate people for a reasonable price.

Design Your Life 2010

Belle de Jour 2010

Scribe Planner 2010

Navi Planner 2010

teNue’s Alice in Wonderland-inspired Planner

This Planner Will Actually Change Someone’s Life 2010

Moleskine Planner 2010

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The Good, The Bad, The Lowdown: A Concise First-person Review @ www.alpsaguado.com

Belle de Jour, Moleskine, Starbucks, Luxe Monologue, Scribe, Design Your [...]]]>

The Way We Plan 2010

The Good, The Bad, The Lowdown: A Concise First-person Review @ www.alpsaguado.com

23 January 2010

Belle de Jour, Moleskine, Starbucks, Luxe Monologue, Scribe, Design Your Life, Navi, This Journal Will Change Someone’s Life & teNeues’s Alice in Wonderland Inspired Planner

While waiting for Saturday, you can check out The Way We Plan 2009.

After some sort of celebration, I already need to face my school chores. Well, that’s a need I refuse to fulfill simply because I’m not in the mood–and my mind and body haven’t achieved a state of enlightenment just [...]]]>

After some sort of celebration, I already need to face my school chores. Well, that’s a need I refuse to fulfill simply because I’m not in the mood–and my mind and body haven’t achieved a state of enlightenment just yet. But for now, I’m a happy bum. Actually, I’m waiting for my 2010 planner because it will start a spark of gusto and will kick my ass towards my unused study desk. I thought Red Moleskine’s coming to me, but I changed my mind–I’ll settle for the mass-adored Starbucks Planner. Four stickers before possession; not bad.  Okay, I did break my words about this thing. But who cares?

Maxwell & Hayden

I think I can get mine by Monday. And this means I’ll start working by that day–ah promise. For the mean time, I use my laptop and smarty pants phone to lay everything on the table. Things-to-do lists, appointments, meetings, assignments–yes, I’m pretending to be busy like this. I like my phone and its complementary, partner-in-crime PC suite very much. They’re actually easier to use than a planner. Just bring it out from your pocket, press the calendar key and start typing your business stress. Unlike an old good planner which is a brat. You have to open your bag, look for the day, bring out your pen and scribble like a corporate cat. In my case, I schedule/note everything when I’m in school and synchronize the information to my laptop at home so I can see an overview of how I’ll be murdered for a week or for a month. But well, handwriting is priceless. Planners are also identifying themselves as journals. This kind of identity crisis will cater to your hardcore business mindset and contemplative private life.

Nokia PC Suite

So I’m going for both: a journal-slash-planner and an electronic version of such. I actually synchronize both so they’ll tell me consistent blabbers of busy life.  The personal entries would remain on my journal though–my laptop won’t care about my emotional ink anyway. With two entities constantly reminding me of what to do, I hope I’ll never miss a date next year. I’ll be romantic to you, 2010.

I usually read round-per-round post-bout analysis every after Pacquiao’s fight. The reason behind this is not mere curiosity but my relatively short-attention span that I rarely remember what happened in each round or, worse, the fight in general. BBC [...]]]>

I usually read round-per-round post-bout analysis every after Pacquiao’s fight. The reason behind this is not mere curiosity but my relatively short-attention span that I rarely remember what happened in each round or, worse, the fight in general. BBC Sports or Yahoo! Sports are my usual web channels for such articles but I only read brief ones. This kind of length is pretty consistent with what the fight has become–brief.

The usual opening ceremonies were expected. I also expected such devious rendition of our National Anthem by Mr Nievera. National Historical Institute actually approved the version. With this, NHI is inconsistent. The institution requires everyone to sing a marching song version of the anthem: without the drama, without the high note at the end part. I believe that they allowed such rendition because emotion just defeated logic. This is a high time for the nation so is for high notes.

British chants and Hatton-themed songs were bouncing to and fro inside the stadium. I think it’s a nice way to boost Hatton’s confidence but I realized that it’s a little too much. Pacquiao’s vain theme song had its own glory and I thought it’s more than vanity; More than a self-recorded self -theme-song, it’s actually for the nation. (Yeah right). Haha.

Round 1 started with the meeting of the minds, or shall I say, meeting of the fists. Hatton introduced his aggressive self earlier than Pacquiao did. It received applause from the Brit audience but, generally, it’s a harmless stranger. A minute before the first round ends, the Filipino taught the Brit how to properly introduce oneself. Hatton seemed to be not listening so Pacquiao repeated the same lesson seconds before entering Round 2. Two knockdowns for Hatton. First round obviously goes for Pacquiao.

Round 2 started as if nothing happened. If there’s one thing Hatton is deserving for an applause, then that would be showing a poker-face. Apparently, the pain and restlessness are becoming more and more apparent. He throws punches to nowhere; His accuracy is at an all time low. Fifteen seconds after the second part of the tale has started, Hatton restlessly backed off to the ring side, but he still managed to continue. Some seconds before the second round ends (which, actually, did not end), Hatton suddenly fell down.

Wait, what happened?

I thought it was an accident, some foot slip; I thought Hatton consciously fell down because he is just tired like that. I told you, I can’t see details. The devil of the details was explicitly shown during a slo-mo replay. Slam, that was a left-hook. Pacquiao’s death blow, almost literally, made Hatton stare at the MGM Grand Garden Arena’s ceiling (But can he see anything during that time?). A knockdown for Hatton, a knock-out record for Pacquiao. The second round and the bout goes for Pacquiao.

The thousands of Brits in attendance should already start composing a requiem chant. Mayweather Jr, who loves trash-talking, should thrash-talk his self.

Congratulations to Manny Pacquiao if that’s what they feel. [But] I take that away from Manny Pacquiao. (Mayweather Jr).

If Manny Pacquiao wins, I wouldn’t be surprised. The reason why is that I took everything out of Ricky Hatton (Mayweather Jr).

I hate the way Jr thrash-talks. The second quotation is obviously playing safe. He is actually aware of the fact that Pacquiao could defeat Hatton. To continue, Mayweather Sr, who did not show-up during the post-bout conference, should rechoreograph his monotonous boxing dance for Hatton. Lastly, Hatton, err, should take care of his pretty girlfriend. :P

MoMo! is our newest tambayan (where you could suck wi-fi and power for free). I never fail to see a batchmate having some MoMoMoment every day. Don’t get MoMo! wrong–even though it has a rather unconventional, seemingly baby-uttered name, [...]]]>

MoMo! is our newest tambayan (where you could suck wi-fi and power for free). I never fail to see a batchmate having some MoMoMoment every day. Don’t get MoMo! wrong–even though it has a rather unconventional, seemingly baby-uttered name, MoMo! is the place to be. I’m not good at making food shop reviews (a euphemistic statement for I’m lazy to write things), so I just compiled some photos I took randomly–taking pictures (and uploading them for that matter) is already an involuntary action of my system anyway so this would be relatively effortless.

Inside MoMo!

The red couches are red. Haha.

This is where you fall. in. line.

Group meetings @ MoMo

Pastries. Some are infamous; some are anonymous.

MoMo! Goods

MoMo Blasts, from right to left: Cookies ‘n Cream, Banana-Chocolate, Butterfinger, Chocnut-Choco. UPDATE: I like Mocha Chocnut better!

This is what I buy when I feel that my blood composition is already 87% Chocnut: Mango-Strawberry Smoothie

Speaking of Chocnut, MoMo made it fab! They have products that contain the original Pinoy sweet treat.

Ham, Tomato and Cheese Omellete. This is heaven from an eggshell. Must try!

Banana Nutella Waffle. I hope for a more generous serving of Nutella sauce

Get the S.I.P.! (Super Important Person) Away Card! For every drink you buy, you can get another drink with the same or lower value! We actually abuse maximize the power of this card. *Looks around* This is only a hundred and fifty bucks that you can use for one month. Our card is a communal property for 6 people. Haha.

MoMo!: Food + Drink. You’ll see me there.