3 Must-Do’s of a Working Traveler

If your work requires you to travel, you are not just a run-of-the-mill traveler. You are a working gypsy.

One of the popular iconic gypsies that the 90′s produced was Esmeralda. Does it ring a bell? Gypsies are built to travel. Whenever they migrate from a place to another, they know what to do. It’s more than just being adaptable. That’s how they are wired–but of course, influenced by nurture.

First of all, remember that you are blessed. Since you are, to wit, not a run-of-the-mill traveler, you are a privileged corporate slave–given that you are part of a corporate enterprise. Being able to frequently travel and explore the world’s beauty is an auspicious privilege. But here’s the catch.

Don’t be overwhelmed.

Pause and think about the purpose of your excursion. You may be meeting new faces, eating local delectable cuisines, and exploring unrevealed terrains. Don’t get me wrong. Those are part of the package. It would be a deep regret if you don’t get to experience such. But always remember that that is not the reason why you’re traveling after all.

Asian Efficiency tells us that there are three paradigms in work traveling.

This is the basic principle in traveling for work. Travel should be a way of life. It can excite you but it shouldn’t disturb you. It must be a natural wiring. If so, it would follow that your workplace are the places you go to. It may be a company condominium, a hotel, or a client’s home. Remember Esmeralda? This perspective must shift your paradigm in traveling. After all, that’s how you’re paid for.

The second perspective suggests your approach in bridging the two realms into a single harmonious journey. Once you do that, productivity will dawn on you and it will prod you to death. Everyone who wants to progress in life craves for productivity. Productivity basically means results–good results, that is. If you love traveling, you will learn to love your work. Two things in one harmonious accord.

There will be distractions. A lot. It’ll come like the serpent who tempted Eve in the garden of Eden. But at the end of the day, you can never blame the external forces. You will always have the last say and when you say yes to these temptations, you know what will happen. If you come home late on weekdays, you will definitely end up tired in the morning. Same goes in getting drunk. Your maturity will also be tested along the way as you decide on what to do when you’re about to be soaked in a boiling water.

Stay productive.

———————————

Inspiration: Getting Things Done While Travelling

JCI Manila: Sea of Life

Life has its own way of protecting itself. One of the most evident proofs of this hypothetical postulation is defense mechanism. If it cannot protect itself, others will.

Last week (20 August 2012), I had the opportunity to take part in a press conference spearheaded by the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Manila together with JCI Davao, Davaoeña, Daba-daba Inc., and Igacos. These cluster of JCIs come together in their thrust for marine life equilibrium and sustainability.

The Sea of Life project is a concept advocated by Christopher Dearne. Its concept is to install artificial coral reefs in order to sustain the marine habitation and its ecosystem. More than its sustainability, it will also give assistance to the marine industry. Fishermen and small-scale fishing companies will be discouraged to pursue illegal practices on how they treat the seawater.

This pursuit is guided accordingly with the organization’s main focus: individual, community, business and international.

The local media, bloggers (Davao Bloggers), and respective delegates from various sectors of the community actively participated the said event.

Among the sponsors that made this press con possible are the following: Pilipinas Eco Warriors (partner, with Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri), Phoenix Petroleum, Megabuild 101, Zeetex Tires, St. Peter’s Chapels, AGP Trading Incorporated, Toby’s Sports, Honda, , Wrangler, Metrobank (Quirino-Leon Guinto), Go Boyz, Hotel Vicente (venue), JBLE Enterprises, Exclure, The Executive Facial Care, One Tagaytay, Rote’s Place, FFPC, and SUS.

——-

Junior Chamber International (JCI) is one of the biggest worldwide non-political and non-sectarian youth service organizations. It is an international community of citizens between the ages of 18 to 40[1]with the aim and purpose of creating positive changes in the world. The organization believes that these changes must result from one taking “collective action to improve themselves and the world around them.”

Excuses = Losers

Never blame the external forces.

If you do, you become a loser––a sour one. It’s hard truth right there. Let’s face it.

I once saw this shirt while I was just strolling around my hometown.

It’s not the exact design though, but it surely looks a lot like that.

Whenever you blame the external forces that caused your detrimental blow, it only means one thing: You are irresponsible. Again, it’s hard truth. But if we won’t face it, how will we be able to move on?

If you start with the internal rather than the external, you will feel responsible with what is going on. You will instead choose action over apathy. It doesn’t necessarily follow that you will relentlessly fixate yourself on whatever problem that may come across your path. It simply prescribes to just…

It’s not easy. But it has never been impossible.

When Good Meets Evil

Things change. Whether we like it or not, it is the only thing constant.

We may not be able to see even a slim chance of a person’s ability to change but we’ll never know. We remember that when the first couple ate the fruit of the tree in Genesis, the fruit was from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Human nature may dictate wickedness. But truth is, the fruit was not just evil. It’s also good.

The conjunction and means “connecting two identical comparatives, to emphasize a progressive change.” In other words, they are equally having the same level of intensity. Combined, they contribute to a much immense synergy. It can be taken as 50/50.

People can be evil. But they can also be good.

I hope that this simple perspective will create a progressive stir in your mind as you evaluate the people around you, and most importantly, yourself.

 

Life Spent. Life Lived.

Life is Here.

Being Early and Productive

It was early in the morning. I was early for work. On my way.

Usually when we are early for something, we tend to get lax. Or relax, simply put. We tend to drag our way in any way because we know that we won’t get late anyway. Early.

What does it mean to be early? A friend once mentioned that when you’re on time, you’re late. Being early, in this context, means getting yourself to your point of destination earlier than the given time. Of course, it’s easily understood.

Here’s my point. We get too clouded with what we think of ourselves like how late we may get, or how early we may be. Most of the time, we forget about the opposite end beyond the chasm. We forget about the people who may be affected when we’re late.

Or miss out the point or opportunity of being earlier than early.

If it’s a corporate meeting, you might be able to come across with significant people who could help you out with your problems on hand. If it’s a date, being early would connote your eagerness or desire for him or her. If it’s a high school reunion, your friends would definitely appreciate the value that you have invested for the indelible occasion.

When you’re early, it can mean two things: (1) You are interested (2) or your alarm is broken.

The Pursuit of Photography

I always wanted to be a photographer.

I want to capture detailed features of life’s beauty. I want to preserve memories that are yet to be extinct. I want to encapsulate every moment, no matter how superficial it represents. I want to break clichés and social stigmas that continue to plague the cerebral paradigm.

In simple terms, I want to remember.

Having the adaptability strength as my top theme, it is somehow difficult to just remember things. When a friend would ask me what I did last summer, I couldn’t respond in a snap. It would take a few oblivious moments in order to just stir up my cauldron of thoughts.

Nostalgia.

Taking pictures gives me the opportunity to appreciate life even more. It could even exemplify the old aphorism, “Live life to the fullest.”

What hinders me to pursue this desire is the lack of tool.

This is what I’m talking about. I really want to own a vintage designed digital camera. This (above) can be an absolute stepping stone for this… (Similar to owning a Suzuki Swift in pursuit of, eventually, owning a Mini Cooper)

When Life Gives You Lemons

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

Oftentimes, we misconstrue ourselves with what we can do beyond our resources. Truth is, we can only work on a limited scope, no matter how hard we try to recoil or just spring back in any given scenario. Good thing, though, is that we can maximize. Maximize what we have.

If you believe that you are rooted in a certain field or craft, maximize. If you think that playing basketball makes you a sour loser, try another sport. And when you figure out what sport leverages you among the rest, maximize. If you try to work as a sales associate and you know it deeply in your heart that you are geared for a marketing position, decide now; then maximize.

Don’t change within your bounds. Let seasons change you. Seasons reveal your inner maturity that will eventually pump up your potential.

But of course, you won’t be able to maximize anything if you haven’t touched base on your true identity.

Rule of thumb: Know yourself [better]. Knowing what you can do will just follow.

Irresistible Force vs. Immovable Object

Most of the time, we do things out of our own effort. We strive rather than thrive, and embroil ourselves with all possible undertaking. If we remain in that state, we will definitely end up groggy and all stressed out. And that’s not the best way to commit suicide.

What happens to the irresistible force when it meets the immovable object?

This paradoxical question was posed by Ultra-Sphinx, a DC Comics character in the animated film All-Star Superman, to Superman himself. Knowing that he––whether people like it or not––is the most formidable and powerful superhero in the DC Universe, he simply responded,

It surrenders.

Even the best knows his limitation. (You will be able to determine his nifty prowess in two of his animated movies: Superman vs The Elite and All-Star Superman.)

He even has his team of valiant superheroes who never cease to strike justice, well, the American way.

Similarly, when we do things our own way, we become that irresistible force. When things get from tough to tougher, eventually, we will surely encounter that immovable object. If we fervently press on with all vigor, we might find ourselves in a corner slashing our wrists with a broken glass, eyes painted with a black eyeliner.

To surrender is not a weakness. To quit is. The simple disparity is the thin line of humility.

What Most People Lack

Getting used to what you do is actually a good thing. It gives you a clear understanding that you’re already on the verge of mastering something. It may be writing, blogging, copywriting, speaking, marketing, selling, promoting, teaching, designing, or web developing.

Similar to playing a six-stringed instrument. At first, it would be uncontrollably painful. A friend once told me that it would, more or less, take four layers of finger callous to get the hang of it. As soon as you’re getting used to it, you are now leveling up.

It is now your initiative whether you want to stretch yourself a little further.

If you get used to doing a lot of things, you may attempt to label yourself as a jack of all trades and master of none. But in reality, you are who you think you are. Instead of labeling, try asking yourself this time. There may be a missing element that would break that cerebral complacency––focus.