RajahJun

A hot topic today is China’s encroachment of Philippine  territory.  This has been going on for quite a while and now it is getting to be serious.  China recently established a municipality with a duly elected mayor.  This is just a few nautical miles away from us. A metaphor can best describe this encroachment.  It's like a distant neighbor who sets up his home right on our own backyard without any forewarning.  Then (he) shrugs it off when we complain and we can't do anything about it. Unfortunately the Philippines (my country) seems incapable of dealing with this issue head on.  It is simply because China is strong and mighty compared to our country, small and weak.  The Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs, from news reports, has filed countless diplomatic protest through formal diplomatic channels but apparently ignored by China.  The only option the Philippines has right now regarding this issue is to rely heavily on its ...

Getting a driver's license in Doha, Qatar is quite easy if you're allowed to take the test immediately.  It's a different story when you have to go through driving school.  I needed the driver's license because my job as a sales executive requires me to go around Doha everyday. In securing a driving license, first you have to go to the Ministry of Transportation and file an application for driver's license.  Afterwards, the applicant will be required to undergo physical examination.  Then  a police officer will review your application and do a customary interview.  If you have a driver's license from your country, you need to present it along with your application.  If the police officer feels that you are already an experienced driver, he will recommend the applicant to take the practical driving exam. Unfortunately, when I presented my driver's license from the Philippines, it was a bit worn-out and the police officer thought that it was fake, s...

After product development, social enterprises in the Philippines will be looking for markets to sell their products.  Market development is the next task on the list.  This task is important because it will decide the fate of the social enterprise. This blog, for now, will focus on the definitions of the various market segments.  Having an idea of the market will answer the question on where to sell the products. Below is a list of possible markets for social enterprise products.  It is important that products should fill the needs of the markets.  Sari Sari Stores - these are the typical mom and pop stores Wet market - market stalls inside public market Groceries - small groceries owned by owner Convenience stores - chains of convenience stores either operated by large retailers or individuals Institutions - companies that are usually industrial accounts requiring raw materials Export - countries with markets requiring social enterprise product ...

To achieve selling success, a salesperson should masterfully play a repertoire of roles, to project a more professional persona.  The salesperson should skillfully utilize a mix of roles fit for the selling situation he or she might be in, and clinch sales and make customers satisfied and happy. I will attempt to define the roles based on my experience as a salesperson: Front-liners - Salespersons usually are the first to interact with customers.  A first impression can make or break a sale.  A salesperson's decorum and demeanor should project a professional selling persona. Revenue-generator - In the traditional view, salespersons were expected to contribute to the company's topline. Back in the day, during sales huddles, the sales manager would cajole salespersons to hit the number by month's end.   Now, companies are training salespersons to be more conscious of the company's middle line, as well as bottom-line performance while they do business with custom...

Selling success in today's highly competitive selling environment requires a salesperson to have an effective set of sales roles that the saleperson can slip into at moments notice.  This will either spell success or failure for a salesperson.  A more informed and discriminating class of customers expects nothing but the best service from a salesperson.  More importantly, the salesperson is expected to bring home the "bacon" so to speak. The salesperson's roles have expanded from mere selling or order-taking.  In fact I have performed these roles during the span of my selling career. I have listed down below, selling roles that have evolved based on what I've seen in the selling environment since the 1980's.  Likewise, most of the roles have become buzz words in current sales training programs and books: Front-liners Revenue-generator Service provider Trouble shooter Negotiator/Intermediary Communicator Consultant Strategic collaborator I w...

In order to successfully migrate to the right side of the quadrant, Robert advised in his book "Rich Dad's Cash Flow Quadrant", take baby steps.  He also advised readers to build assets not liabilities". In my current situation, I have more liabilities than assets.  This was the result of sending my three children to college.  Fortunately, they've all finished college.  Having kids that finished college might be considered assets being parents, but not from a financial perspective. Going back to my liabilities, I have several.  I have a credit card debt from consumer purchases. Secondly, I have debts owed to relatives, when I took out personal loans from them to pay for college tuitions.  Lastly, I took out salary loans from the Social Security System and Pag-Ibig.  These loans are already in default and incurring penalties and surcharges. Again, take baby steps towards the right side of the quadrant.  But first things first, I need to retire ...

I was reading Robert Kiyosaki's book "Rich Dad - Cash Flow Quadrant" over the weekend. I bought the book a year ago and finally got the chance to read it.  Although after reading it, my (financial) life was still the same. After reading it again, it got me to seriously think about my own financial situation. The book mentioned about a cash flow quadrant that points out a person's sources of income. Readers are made to ask where they get their source of  income. The quadrant illustrates four sides namely: Employee, Self-Employed, Business owner and Investors quadrant. The employee and self-employed quadrant is on the left side while the business owner and investor is on the right side. File Image:  http://www.empowernetwork.com/tatipasa/files/2013/06/Quadrant-Inggris-explained.jpg My income comes from the employee quadrant, which has been my source for most of my adult life. Robert said that "E" quadrant will not give you financial freedom.  It will o...