Two Things

Two major things happened to me yesterday… I say yesterday since now its 12:55 in the morning. So those two major things actually happened just a few hours ago.

First: I had my drastic short haircut. I had short since like 5 to 6 years ago. For 5 or 6 years, I had super long hair and now I decided to have it cut short. I have a new look, new reactions on people’s faces, new me. I’m happy actually coz for the longest time, I can now proudly cut my hair short. That’s because I sorta lost some weight and now have the guts to reveal my lesser plump face with a shorter hairstyle. I’m still adjusting to it right now actually. But I’m happy and I hope this will look the same even after I have showered off this blown dry hair.

Second: I have taken the most difficult employment exam yet. And I failed! I had an exam earlier with p&g. Actually, I was not really looking forward to work with them since I knew that the job assignment will be based in Manila. I could not work there for some reasons. My life here in Davao is so good that I cannot exchange it with a chaotic place. Anyway, after taking the exam… or should I say, after failing the exam, I felt sad. Admittedly, I am sad. I am sad not because I cannot work with p&g. I am sad because I did not pass the exam! L

Ever since my grader years I was an honor student. Although in college I was in the dean’s list only once, I never failed any subject... which makes me proud since it was typical for an engineering student to have at least one failed subject. My siblings too were quite good in the academics. My brother is successful in the medical field (He’s a doctor by the way) and my sister was among the top of their high school batch. My father, is suppose, is an achiever as well. He was in the medical field also (A surgeon). He was labeled as the “wonder kid” from his class since he was the only one who can solve complex math problems. And he had so many accomplishments in his lifetime. My mother, on the other hand, was among the top of their class as well.

So academic excellence, I guess, is in my genes. I never really exerted much effort to belong to the top but I was confident enough that I am better than the rest. I never really studied my brains out to ace an exam or do anything drastic just to pass. I just did what I can… and fortunately, I always was able to (quite) excel from the mediocre group.

But right now I feel sad. I feel that my pride was taken off me. I now belong to the mediocre class. And it saddens me. Part of me says that it’s okay since I was not able to prepare for the test.

But I am sad.

I hope this will end soon. Coz I know I cannot have everything I want. I guess only 1% of those who took the exam passed so it really shouldn’t affect me that much.

Oh well… I should just take Bo’s words this time… “Profits are Better than Wages”. It means to say that in order for one to truly be rich (and succeed), one must not become an eternal employee to their employer. Wages are constant whereas profits could come in tenfold. Or a hundred fold. Or a thousand fold. Employment is not the only key for success. Building your own empire does make you succeed not only financially but also intellectually, morally, and psychologically.

I had always been fascinated with the art and the craft of creating your own source of income. For me, it encompasses all lessons as a student and as an employee. It is one manifestation of all your KSAs combined. I guess I will be on this track… on building my own empire. On establishing my own self to build an income-generating business that efficiently works. Employment may not be my thing.

As what Bo Sanchez have said in his book: “We have now become a country of employees. That is why we are preferred by foreign employers since we excel in that field. But I believe that migration is only a temporary solution to our economic problem. I envision our country to become a country of entrepreneurs. That would be the ultimate solution to the economy.”

I am so moved with Bo’s statement. Yes, we should help this country by contributing to its economy. Maybe entrepreneurship is really my piece of the pie. Maybe it will be my career (and intellectual) fulfillment. I should try go into that field. God Bless me .

I should cheer up now. After all, I have a new look =)