The Magnifying Glass

The Magnifying Glass

by Reynor Buenaflor

 

 

 

Back in my childhood day, a friend of mine showcased

his new toy - a magnifying glass.

 

I was amazed by how he burned the paper under the heat of the

sun using the magnifying glass.

 

Taking also his rubber slippers, he scribbled his initials on his

slipper beaming with pride and grinning from chin to chin.

 

The rays of the sun become so much more powerful when concentrated on a

single dot.

 

Many times petty concerns, distractions, urgent things, and the hustles and bustles of life

can take us to different conflicting directions.

 

Our energy is used up and zapped. Anguish takes over.

We feel so we need to so much and we don't know where to start.

We are so busy yet nothing is accomplished.

 

We become busy with activities leading to nowhere.

 

If we can pause, reorder our priorities, get rid of the clutter and pursue the things that matter most...

 

We become like the concentrated rays of the sun...

 

Then we start to think clearer,

we start to breath deeper,

we begin to have more time,

we begin to enjoy life,

and the best part... we begin to make things happen.

 

 

PRIORITIZE. Then FOCUS.

Learn the lesson from the magnifying glass.

 

In Pursuit of Success and Happiness

In Pursuit of Success and Happiness

 

 

 

Life is a cake...

It has the cake and the icing.

 

The cake - the real stuff - in life are relationships.

Relationship with God, Family, Friends, and Business Associates.

 

The icing is wealth, success, achievement, career and financial well-being.

 

I was on a Mach 1 velocity flying like an F150 jet fighter plane in pursuit for the icing in my life...

 

I found my businesses in line with my passion and core gifts.

I lost track of time as I give my all for my businesses...

 

What a life! I love what I am doing so much I would gladly do it for free....

Much more that I earn a lot while doing them...  What a great privilege!.

What a life indeed! Or so I think...

 

... until my wife confronted me.

Why? Why am I so focus in all the things that I do putting all my time and energy

having no more time left for my family.

 

Ouch!

 

Have you ever been hit with a brick on your head?

It feels like that.

 

I could only mumble my reason and say...

"Well, I do this for our future...for you... for the dream of financial independence."

 

I begin to ponder and realize...

My logical reasoning is flawed...wrong.

 

 

Yes, I am doing all these for my family with grand intention in my heart...

What do I gain if at the end of the day I become very successful and

my family I have taken for granted..the very reason for all my doings is destroyed and gone?

 

What a pity! A very lonely picture I never dreamed of.

 

"Here is the man who conquers the world but losses his family and friends."

An Icing without a cake... Sweet at the beginning... Yet never satisfying...

It is lonely to celebrate success alone.

 

I resolve then to pursue the whole cake -- both the cake and the icing.

I still have my dream to achieve financial independence. I still have my dream businesses running....

 

But if I need to slow down a bit and do some pit stops once in a while...

and delay my financial independence by 3 to 5 years.... arriving the finish line with my

family intact, with my relationships intact, with my relationship with

God vibrant and growing and my values preserved... then success would be sweeter

and life will be meaningful.

 

Is it possible to have the best of both worlds? Why Not.

And this is the challenge I want to embrace... finding a way to success

bringing along my family with me.

 

It reminds me of two quotes I read many many months ago:

 

"No external success can compensate for failure inside the family." - anonymous

"Beware of what you become in the pursuit of what you really want." - Jim Rohn.

 

Before wealth and financial success are my God, my family, my friends, and my health.

Then and only then success becomes permanent. God bless us always.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Fun Factor

The Fun Factor

By: Reynor Buenaflor --> http://ebookwormonline.blogspot.com/

 

 

  

I was attending a financial seminar on real state and it was worth some big amount of fortune.

 

The speaker is a very successful real state investor who have been doing his trade for

some time and is earning big bucks... huge income that commands respect and admiration from his

captivated audience. I was one of them...

 

The room was very serious... attentive a more appropriate better term...

everyone was anxious and excited of what nuggets of wisdom we can bring

and apply...

 

The silence was broken. "Are you guys having fun?”

"Because I don't like doing things that is not fun.” our distinguished speaker asked. 

 

It was more of an ice breaker rather than a comment.

It was not even a part of the topic, yet somehow it strikes a chord in me.

 

If you are doing something that is in line with your passion...in line with your core gift...

... you are in the flow... and most likely it should be fun!

 

If it is not fun, you better take a deeper look and see if it is something worth doing.

And when I say fun, I mean fun that comes from a worthwhile endeavor.

 

From the words of Donald Trump when he was asked why he loves money so

much... "It is not that I love money. I just love to build buildings. And I do it very well.

And I make so much money from it."

 

To succeed, you find something that you really love to do... Then do it well. 

 

Find a job or a business you really love and you will never work for the rest of your life. 

Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking

By: Reynor Buenaflor --> trulyrichreynor.bookwormonline@blogger.com

 

 

 

There was a time in my life when I gabble up books and believe

whatever written on the book since Mr. So and So said so... 

without taking time to verify them myself.

 

I am reminded of the story of Abraham Lincoln.

 

He asked his ministers, "If you think that the tail of the cat is a leg,

how many then are the legs of the cat?"

 

"Five", said the minister confidently.

 

Abraham said, "Four. Only four. Thinking the tail as a leg doesn't

make a tail a leg."

 

Very witty. What a simple yet profound philosophy.

 

Not all that can be heard and can be read are true.

 

There are 3 types of information - the truth, the half-truth, and the no-truth.

 

Quoting it from a great man named Jim Rohn, "Be a student, not a follower."

 

It is not enough that we seek to satisfy our cravings for learning.

 

Let us make sure that what we are feeding our minds and what we believe to be true

are indeed true.

 

Now that's critical thinking my friend... Use it.

 

 

 

Persistence

"When you become unstoppable, your success becomes inevitable.” - by Brian Tracy.

 

I received an email from a good friend of mine this afternoon stating that his shop is going to close down for 3 days.

He by the way owns an internet cafe that generates a net profit of around 6 - figures a month.

 

A typical good friend and indeed a bit concerned - as I imagine myself someone closing my shop for 3 days - I give him a

short encouragement...

 

"What happened? I hope it is not that bad. If I could be of any help, just inform me.", I recounted.

 

I was taken a back by his simple yet straight forward reply. "It is about the competition. My business rival had played a trick on me.

But it is ok. This is a challenge for me...

 

No non-sense. No complaining. No ranting. Cool yet determined... And willing to do whatever it takes...

No wonder he is a successful guy.

 

Life is a series of two steps forward and one-step backward. There will be times and in fact many times - I find myself unable to make a

breakthrough... With lots of hard work, with burning goals, with all the prayers, with all the sweat of the brow and all the many ways I

took to reach a burning goal...

 

I feel heavy and weary...  with empty hands... without fruits of my labor... nothing but spent energy....

 

Who said success is easy? Who said success is cheap?  

Success belongs to the persistent. To those who keep on keeping on. To those who keep on pushing...

 

If you are a cry baby or a weakling or someone who wants things easy... wake up and realize....

that to succeed you need to have a heart of a winner.

 

Winners never quit, and quitters never win.

 

When we realize that only persistence and only hard work... of course with God's blessing... success is on the way...

 

Because when you become unstoppable, your success becomes inevitable!

 

Perspective

"Where is my coffee? Please..."  

"Just...1 teaspoon sugar and 1 pack of creamer...."

 

For the health conscious ...."no no no…not sugar, put some honey instead"...

 

You want to make things simpler ...  rip open the 3 in 1 instant coffee sachet...

No thinking...Just pouring... and the most favorite part... the drinking...

 

Or maybe you want it brewed with its smelling aroma... 

Watching the droplets of pure black coffee gives you a pleasing sight and some

form of anticipation.... and sophistication. 

 

Guys, for a coffee lover... Coffee is synonymous to friendship, social life, break, energy and round table talks 

 .... with nodding head and reminiscing smile... words are not enough to describe...

 

For coffee haters and the”I-don't-cares", with rising brow and alien look... words are simply irrelevant...

 begetting to reaction such as..."So? Now what?"...to the strongly opinionated.... "What are you guys talking about?"

..."What is so special about this black bitter thing?"... “It is not simply my thing."

 

Life is like a coffee. You either love it, hate it or you don't care....Which side are you? 

Your choice.

 

As for me, life is worth living.  

 

Everyday I start the day as if opening a gift containing precious irreplaceable 24 hours... whether it brings with it

joys or sorrows ...ups or down... variety makes it even more special. 

 

I am grateful for the gift of life. 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review: The 8 secrets of the Truly Rich

Book Review: The 8 secrets of the Truly Rich

 

 

The book is written by Bo Sanchez from his wealth of experience and the depths of his spiritual wisdom springing from his healthy and intimate relationship with God.

 

Let me quote / paraphrase some of the fascinating thoughts:

 

"The ultimate purpose of earning wealth is to share and give it away."

"Money is not important yet it is necessary to do important things in life."

“Don’t stop only with being financially rich... Be truly rich... rich in all areas of life... spiritual, physical, financial, family, career,

 

90% of the financial problem is mind problem.

 

This book reveals the 8 secrets that made the rich richer and the poor poorer by virtue of neglecting them.

 

If you wanted to have a bank statement of a great millionaire and a heart of a religious monk... this book is for you.

 

It is about getting rich without robbing the peace of your soul.

 

It is about becoming a part of the new breed of millionaires.

 

I signed in and join the club. Why don’t you join? Grab the book and start your journey to become truly rich.

 

If you happen not to know the author Bo Sanchez, He is an international Catholic lay preacher who gives talk all over the world. He founded the Light of Jesus Community (catholic charismatic community), Anawim (home for the aged), Shepherds’ Voice Publication that published Kerygma (the most read catholic magazine in the Philippines), Didache and Sabbath, Catholic Home Schooling, Beacon Light (training company) conducting the truly rich program series, written at least 8 best-seller books, and have several businesses on the side. The author is indeed truly rich and generous.

Book Review - HTML 4 for the world wide web

Book Review: HTML 4 for the world wide web

 

 

 

Good day!

 

What kind of animal is HTML? Is it a name of a company?

For non-tech friends out there, it simply stands for Hypertext Markup Language.

 

A language or program used in making websites... Not an interesting thing for non-tech people. huh? Can be quite overwhelming at times...I know some friends who shut there minds off and start to hibernate

upon hearing the words "computers" and "computer programs".

 

Well, we can't blame them. Since immemorial, computer world came up with lots of jargons that geeks and computer experts love so much yet intimidating to newbies. Computer world had been an exclusive arena for the great software guys.

 

Well not anymore. Got some good news for my non-techie friends!

 

I made my blogs without even knowing much about this HTML language. Just the basic maybe...  Thanks to the blogger.com and similar programs. They made it easier for everyone to post things on the internet world.  

 

I had been surfing on the web for quite some time and occasionally stop and stare on some fabulous websites. I wish I could have same savvy cool websites. Then and there, I made it a goal - some form of stretching myself - of learning something different. I wonder if I could learn how to tweak some colors, frames, put some cool images, and moving gifs on my simple website. I resolved to learn more about HTML.

 

Voila! HTML 4 for the World Wide Web is such a great buddy. Written by Elizabeth Castro. It was copyrighted on 1997 yet 10 years after, it is still relevant to the current website - making. 

This book is not just for beginners and newbies. It has wealth of information that even seasoned programmers can make use of it as a reference or book - per - need - basis.

Thanks. It was a timely encounter. 

 

What I like in the book is it is straight to the point, with lots of graphics that break monotony and boredom and made my HTML adventure a little bearable and of course enjoyable.

I feel sleepy reading on long program codes and long explanations. This is more or less a “look and click”.

 

So much for that.

 

Will I be a good website designer someday? We will, see...

 

Planning to apply what I learned and put up a better website soon!!!

 

 

 

 

I remain your friend,

 

Reynor Buenaflor

You are what you read! Feed your mind.

 

Paradigm Shift

By Reynor Buenaflor

Paradigm shift.... Heard about this word?

Typically cahracterized by exclamations of "Now I get it !"

"Men, my eyes were opened."

"Awesome, How could I miss this one before?"

"Why did I only realize these things now! "

Moving to the next level. Defining moments. Eye-opener. Awakening. Enlightening. A great aha!

Call it in any name you want but the experience is always characterized with a realization... some awe and grandeur...

followed by a desire of change.

A desire to do things in a different way. Simply stated... a change in perspective.

I got some trivias (might be a common sense to some....)

Do you know that you can learn literally hundred years worth of wisdom by reading the life of other people?

Do you have someone you look up to? Want to learn how he thinks and how he lives his life?

Just read their biography or auto-biography.

Do you know that you can speed up your growing curve by learning from other people's goofs?

Business? Read Business stories and be inspired by entrepreneurs who rise up after failures and triumph.

Learn from their wisdom and save yourself from lots of pain and lost of money.

Career? Learn from people who make it big time... What about Jack Welch from GE.

Family? There are lots and lots of bits and pieces about family.

Do you know that your future 5 to 10 years from now is determined by the sum total of the books you read and the people you are with?

Wow! What a claim. What a truth plainly stated! "Any proof guys?", you might ask.

Try it for yourself!

For the next 5 years. Change your closest friends and the books you read. Garbage in, garbage out.

Make sure you apply all the things that you read.

It is that simple.

I am saying it again.... Your life 5 to 10 years from now is determined by the sum total of the books you read and the people you are with.

How's that for a start.

Want to improve your life?

Change your mind. Change what you feed your mind. Change the books that you read and the people you are with.

Take it from Jim Ronh, "If you don't like how things are, change it! You are not a tree."

Paradigm shift...perspective shift...can spark a big "life shift".

Make sure you shift your life to the better side.

It is your choice.

Now do something! Choose what you feed on!

How to get the most from your books (part 2)

By Reynor Buenaflor --> trulyrichreynor.bookwormonline@blogger.com



-- Continued from previous article



*Discontentment Stage*



"Is this all there is? How come I keep on reading financial literacy books

and self-development books but nothing seems to change? I am the same me".

If this sounds familiar to you, Congratulations!



You are now on the second stage of book lovers. This is when we finally

realize that reading books per se though entertaining is never beneficial if

what we read is just an added fact, an added information but never applied.

It is more of an FYI without any action item from us.



This is the time when the book lover realizes that books without action will

bring no noticeable change. Read and read and read without doing anything is

equal to someone who reads a lot of books without growth…well, at least you

have learned something and improve your speed in reading. Haha.



Life is fun, isn't it?



We never learn to ride a bicycle by just reading a book on how to ride a

bicycle nor learn to swim without putting down the book on how to swim.



We learn as we do… Apply and grow.







*Deeper Love Stage*



"Now it makes sense. This is what the book is saying. I get it."



We began to see some illumination. We applied what we learned and voila we

appreciate more the book we were previously reading. This is how I feel when

I reread some of my business books after launching my first business.



This is the stage when book lovers discover and mine additional related

golden truths. This is the stage where the book reader has some testimonials

to share. The reader gets additional body of knowledge that enhances his

understanding of the topic. This is the time when the book lover can

evaluate more accurately the soundness of the materials that he has

previously read.



We may hear ourselves talking like this – "This part of the book makes

sense. I experience the same thing when I did it. This on the other hand is

an exaggeration. Hmm. Maybe true for him but not for me."





*Sharing Stage*



This is the stage when the book lover realizes that he has something to

share. Something that his fellow book lovers or the rest of humanity can

learn and enjoy from. This is the time when he begins to draw from the

wealth of his readings and life experiences and share it to others. This is

the most fulfilling part and could be a scary part.



We are in different stages. The pace of the process to go from getting to

know stage to sharing stage is not same to everyone. We can also be in

different stages in the different areas of our life. It can be a cycle for

some. Some people may never complete the whole cycle and never reach the

sharing stage due to fear of criticism or simply hoarding the knowledge

within him. Regardless of what stage we are, regardless of our pace, it is

noteworthy to point out that reading book is one of the most productive,

enjoyable and worth-doing experiences we can have.



You are what you read. Feed your mind!

Rich Dad Poor Dad

Excerpt from Book Review of Rich Dad, Poor Dad

By Alastair Harris Platinum Quality Author

Alastair Harris

Alastair Harris

Level: Platinum



BookWorm Online Note: To state that reading Rich Dad Poor Dad changed my outlook in finances is an understatement.I did not come from a business-minded family nor business is ever my hobby.

After reading the book, I literally believed that becoming rich is not a privilege of a few but is achievable to everyone. If we just only know and grow in Financial Literacy...



Rich Dad, Poor Dad is an advice book by Robert Kiyosaki about financial lessons learned from his own life experiences and two examples of successful men - one his real Dad - a successful educator who while having succeeded in his field was forever financially enslaved and another - a friends Dad who although he starts poor ended up very rich indeed. By contrasting these two men very clear lessons are learned.



Firstly very few people get rich by working for others. The rich get so by understanding money and the importance of leverage time and effort of others, and leveraging money to make it to work for them. One classic sentence which says in my mind and which if you learn nothing else is alone worth the cost of the book, or the time to visit your public library is "an asset is something that puts money in your pocket - a liability is something that takes money out of your pocket. Hence a house is not an asset because it generates you no money, only maintenance expenses, likewise with cars and many other things people call assets. He demonstrates real assets earn income like savings, shares, rental property and businesses.



Many people criticize Robert for not spelling out a path for everyone to follow - i.e. buy this, sell that. Robert though acts as an educator - giving his readers the tools to achieve their own financial freedom through any means they wish. He recommends real estate investment or starting a business as the best means of achieving wealth. Whilst he acknowledges the risks involved he illustrates the greatest risk is to do nothing and be enslaved to a wage for your entire life.



In rating this book I give it a 10 out of 10 and if Robert reads this - my many thanks. I went on to read the whole series and you might be tempted to do the same.



About the author:

Alastair HARRIS is the main promoter for article-gems.com article directory (visit http://www.article-gems.com) and the getfinancialfreedom4u family of websites, blogs and projects, specializing in online business opportunities and education, income being generated by affiliate marketing, google, GDI, eBay, ebooks, clip flipping and more. Alastair is rated as an expert author on numerous article directories and is very open to assisting others on the internet

How to get the most from your books

How to get the most from your books (part 1)

By Reynor Buenaflor --> trulyrichreynor.bookwormonline@blogger.com

Hello there.

Life is understood better when we look at it backward.

I was contemplating and trying to figure out things myself how my journey to blogging world began.

What rush into my mind in a split of a second are the following body of thoughts:

….. stages. growth. journey. process.

Indeed, where I am now did not happen in an instant. It never accidentally happen. Day in and day out was the evolution of this journey and I am here to share with you some insights that I have realized along my journey.

Believe it or not there are STAGES in the life of a book lover !!!!

Getting to Know Stage:

This is our first encounter with books. The first aha. The first time when we say, now I know... books are indeed good.

This is the time when our hunger for knowledge or hunger for some wholesome fun and entertainment, hunger for information is satisfied.

Hmmm. This is the stage where we begin to "fall in love" with books (weird... don't have the right term for that) for different reasons we can ever think of... We begin to love books for fun, for knowledge or wisdom, for the joy of being considered as learned or geek (some people love to be called as one), for an effective "don’t-bother-me" thing to do when we are seated in the plane and we want to have our precious space (this works for some but not all the time especially if someone at your side is as persistent as the best salesman. hahaha).

This is the time when we make a decision that whatever happens... whether the sun won't shine... we will make reading the book a part of our everyday routine (just make sure you have some lights turned on).

How do you know if you are in this stage?

When you rather read than go shopping... rather read than watch movie... rather read than eat (I love food, this never happened to me)….or rather read than ______ (kindly fill in the blank with whatever usual activity of people around you).

... More to come (to be continued)

The Bookworm

Hello There

Hi There!



Books...



You love them...You hate them...



Depending on what category of people you belong...



If you happen to open this blog, chances are you

belong to minority of people who treasure these lumps of binded

papers.


Welcome to the site of book lovers! If you are not a book lover, it is not yet late.

This day could be a new beginning....


Nevertheless, may bookworm online give you valuable insights

on getting the most out of the books you read.


Feed your mind.



Have a nice day.