Correctly setting realistic goals and objectives are your FIRST step to success. If this is not correctly done, it seriously affects how you are defining or measuring the level of success you might attained; in the implementation phase of the goal or objective.
One of the best guides in formulating a goal is to implement the SMART technique. It is an acronym that stands for:
S – Specific
M – Measurable
A – Attainable
R – Realistic
T – Time Bounded
So lets examine the real world goals and objectives set by common persons and examine possible flaws in the formulation of these:
1.) My goal is to become a millionaire before age of 30.
Potential Flaw: Although the goal is specific and measurable; one problem could be that it is not either: attainable or realistic. You should be very careful of setting goals like this, so the best way to know if a goal is attainable to make some rough calculations based on real data available (not estimates).
Say for example, you are on the age of 23 at the time you formulated the goal. Then you have yearly salary of $300,000. You actually spend 80% of those, so what is left is 20%. So the savings will be:
Savings each year = 20% x $300,000 = $60,000
Total savings at the age of 30 (7 years from age of 23) = $60,000 x 7 = $420,000
So it means that having a goal of achieving a one million at the age of 30 is not realistic because according to facts, you can only save up to $400,000 at the age of 30; however if you set your goal to $400,000 that would now be considered as realistic and attainable.
Revised goal formulation: My goal to reach $400,000 at the age of 30.
2.) My objective is to finish the entire job completely by the end of the day.
Potential Flaw: The objective is not specific. It is because the amount of task that you need to do is not being included in the objective. Thus because it is not specific; it is not measurable.
Since there are no specific details in the objective, you cannot tell whether the objective is both realistic and attainable.
Say for example, you are planning to accomplish 4 sets of important tasks in a day and the 1st task and 2nd tasks needs 2 hours each to complete and the 3rd/4th tasks need 1 hour each. So the total amount of hours you need to work in a day:
2 hours x 2 + 1 hour x 2 = 6 hours
So if you have 8 hours to work in a day, this objective is somewhat attainable and realistic.
Revised objective formulation: My objective is to complete my job consisting of four tasks at the end of the day.
Read more!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
How to recover from failure all the way to real success?
I once felt that everything is over and there is no way to recover back and attain success. But something wakes me up to become a stronger person; not the person I used to be before. This “strength” in me helps to attain success for the rest of this life. Here is how I do it:
1.) Reflect what you have done wrong – an honest evaluation about the mistakes you have made is very important. It is because a problem well defined is a problem half solved.
You need to verify that the problem is the exactly causing your failures, below are some ways you can verify it:
a.) Feedbacks from your parents, brother/sisters as well as other relatives.
b.) Feedbacks from your friends, teachers and mentors.
If only one person is always complaining the mistake you have done; this is not verifiable cause. But if two or more persons are suggesting to change your attitude, then you have is a problem. Take note of their comments very carefully.
2.) Plan what you are going to do with your mistakes – for example if you failed your studies miserably then it is a sign that something is causing it such as:
a. No or poor study habits.
b. Lack of determination.
c. Lack of discipline in implementing strict study habits.
If you have verified the causes above as the one causing you to fail as a student, then, just reverse the problem and it will become a solution:
a.) Implement daily study habits.
b.) Be determined to succeed in your studies. It is best you set a goal which you can achieve, in order to create some challenges in your life. These challenges can keep you busy and lets you have a fulfilling life.
c. Be rigid in disciplining yourself to follow through your study habits. This is the hardest part as self-discipline is almost everybody weakness.
3.) Challenge yourself to be the WINNER – if you see yourself positively as a “WINNER” then you will. Aspect #1 and #2 above will not work if you do not have positive attitude when it comes to winning. The truth is that if you:
a.) Know what is your mistake.
b.) Know what to with your mistake
c.) Believe that you can win in your way to success.
Then you have 80% chances of becoming successful. The rest of the 20% will be:
4.) To closely monitor your performance and apply real time tweaks for improvement.
This is another important aspect, the “monitoring” aspect helps you aware if you are making any progress in your life at solving your problems. As simple as a “task to do” list can be a very powerful monitoring tool.
Final tip: The above comprises 100% of the tips to recover from failures and turn it to a success. If you need to achieve 200% of your success level, then the best way you can do this is to further “pray” and “believe in God”.
Read more!
1.) Reflect what you have done wrong – an honest evaluation about the mistakes you have made is very important. It is because a problem well defined is a problem half solved.
You need to verify that the problem is the exactly causing your failures, below are some ways you can verify it:
a.) Feedbacks from your parents, brother/sisters as well as other relatives.
b.) Feedbacks from your friends, teachers and mentors.
If only one person is always complaining the mistake you have done; this is not verifiable cause. But if two or more persons are suggesting to change your attitude, then you have is a problem. Take note of their comments very carefully.
2.) Plan what you are going to do with your mistakes – for example if you failed your studies miserably then it is a sign that something is causing it such as:
a. No or poor study habits.
b. Lack of determination.
c. Lack of discipline in implementing strict study habits.
If you have verified the causes above as the one causing you to fail as a student, then, just reverse the problem and it will become a solution:
a.) Implement daily study habits.
b.) Be determined to succeed in your studies. It is best you set a goal which you can achieve, in order to create some challenges in your life. These challenges can keep you busy and lets you have a fulfilling life.
c. Be rigid in disciplining yourself to follow through your study habits. This is the hardest part as self-discipline is almost everybody weakness.
3.) Challenge yourself to be the WINNER – if you see yourself positively as a “WINNER” then you will. Aspect #1 and #2 above will not work if you do not have positive attitude when it comes to winning. The truth is that if you:
a.) Know what is your mistake.
b.) Know what to with your mistake
c.) Believe that you can win in your way to success.
Then you have 80% chances of becoming successful. The rest of the 20% will be:
4.) To closely monitor your performance and apply real time tweaks for improvement.
This is another important aspect, the “monitoring” aspect helps you aware if you are making any progress in your life at solving your problems. As simple as a “task to do” list can be a very powerful monitoring tool.
Final tip: The above comprises 100% of the tips to recover from failures and turn it to a success. If you need to achieve 200% of your success level, then the best way you can do this is to further “pray” and “believe in God”.
Read more!
Friday, June 25, 2010
Life Checklist: How healthy, happy and fulfilling is your life?
Life is a process, and like other processes ; the quality needs to be checked. If you have experienced working in a manufacturing environment, IT sector, financial and most high demand sectors, they do audit their process through a checklist to make sure everthing is right and the business will continue to be more profitable.
Life is like that. It can be audited also, with this; it is highly possible to know what is wrong with your existing life and how can you improve it further to lived in a more enjoyable, healthy and fulfilling life. This checklist only applies to married couples although if you are still not married you can still answer provided that is your honest answer if you are married person.
Let's start the checklist (answer honestly only “Yes” or “No”):
1.) Does accomplishing tasks that you plan defines success to you?
2.) Do you ever consider your wife or husband as your “best friend”?
3.) Do you believe that failure is normal?
4.) Do you think that accomplishing tasks in the office is more important than establishing connections in the office?
5.) Do you congratulate yourself or you congratulate your team?
6.) Do you exercise at least one to two hours per week?
7.) Are you still learning on a daily basis by reading tutorials on the internet?
8.) Are you not used to be working very far from your husband or wife (such as seeing only one a year or months)?
9.) Do you save at least 20 to 25% of your income?
10.)Do you think your office mates are not important to your success and happiness?
11.)Do you believe in God and go to church at least twice a month?
12.)Do you set 5 year goals? Or leave everything to God.
Criteria:
1.) If you answered those 12 questions all “YES”. Then you are on your way to eternal happiness. You have correctly set priorities in your life according to what is right , moral and good.
2.) If you have 1 to 3 NO answers, then there are chances that your life may mislead a LITTLE into a wrong direction by putting unimportant priorities to work. This unimportant priorities can collide with a more important one.
In this case, you have one unhappy year for every 5 years that comes to your life. However, you can start to be more happy if you change that answer to YES .
3.) If you answered more than 3 NO answers, then you will be lucky to be happy for only once in every 10 yers, and most of those years will be a struggle to you. It is because you are putting wrong priorities in your life and that takes you all the energy, pleasure and fulfillment that you need to experience.
Read more!
Life is like that. It can be audited also, with this; it is highly possible to know what is wrong with your existing life and how can you improve it further to lived in a more enjoyable, healthy and fulfilling life. This checklist only applies to married couples although if you are still not married you can still answer provided that is your honest answer if you are married person.
Let's start the checklist (answer honestly only “Yes” or “No”):
1.) Does accomplishing tasks that you plan defines success to you?
2.) Do you ever consider your wife or husband as your “best friend”?
3.) Do you believe that failure is normal?
4.) Do you think that accomplishing tasks in the office is more important than establishing connections in the office?
5.) Do you congratulate yourself or you congratulate your team?
6.) Do you exercise at least one to two hours per week?
7.) Are you still learning on a daily basis by reading tutorials on the internet?
8.) Are you not used to be working very far from your husband or wife (such as seeing only one a year or months)?
9.) Do you save at least 20 to 25% of your income?
10.)Do you think your office mates are not important to your success and happiness?
11.)Do you believe in God and go to church at least twice a month?
12.)Do you set 5 year goals? Or leave everything to God.
Criteria:
1.) If you answered those 12 questions all “YES”. Then you are on your way to eternal happiness. You have correctly set priorities in your life according to what is right , moral and good.
2.) If you have 1 to 3 NO answers, then there are chances that your life may mislead a LITTLE into a wrong direction by putting unimportant priorities to work. This unimportant priorities can collide with a more important one.
In this case, you have one unhappy year for every 5 years that comes to your life. However, you can start to be more happy if you change that answer to YES .
3.) If you answered more than 3 NO answers, then you will be lucky to be happy for only once in every 10 yers, and most of those years will be a struggle to you. It is because you are putting wrong priorities in your life and that takes you all the energy, pleasure and fulfillment that you need to experience.
Read more!
Rare Tips for Happiness: Congratulate yourself
Happiness is everybody's goal. There is no sense for success in career, business, love and everything without a feeling of happiness.
Let me share you some rare secret to be happy: “Congratulating Yourself”.
Human is always in need to be recognized for his or her achievements and what is good is that you won't even need someone you can celebrate your success with. You can do it yourself.
How?
First, you need to create challenge in your life. For example, say you are an internet blogger and you are aiming for at least $2 a day passive income from your blogs.
Or if you are student, you can create challenge by having all your exams with ratings above 90% as well as no late submissions on assignments and projects.
If you are an employee, you can make sure that all deadlines and projects are meet on time. Also you can even make it as a challenge that you will never received a single customer complaint for the entire month.
As long you have job to do, you can create challenge in your life.
Second, manage your way to success on a daily basis, checked your schedules and daily tasks to make sure you attended and remembered it well. You need to make sure that you are a person of action , not just good in planning and doing nothing.
Third, once you reach the end of the month, assess your challenge if you have achieved it. If yes, then spend one whole day celebrating by the following suggestions:
1.) Do things that you really love. For example, if you are movie geek and Toy Story 3 just came out, watch the movie alone. Or if you have someone you can bring with, it is fine, but make sure that this celebration is for you not for someone else. If you are afraid that someone might destroy your day, do not bring them or else it will just waste your celebration.
2.) Do not ever open your computer for work on that day. This is supposed to be a day of celebration as you are congratulating yourself for the job well done.
3.) Eat well. Go to your most favorite restaurant and spend your money on good foods. This will remove your stresses for the entire month and helps you recharged.
4.) Buy something very important to your job. Now you are on shopping, it is your time you can think of something that will be very useful to you. For example, if you are a musician, maybe you can buy new sets of guitar strings for your old guitar.
5.) Go home early for the day, buy some beers for you and sleep a lot.
Read more!
Let me share you some rare secret to be happy: “Congratulating Yourself”.
Human is always in need to be recognized for his or her achievements and what is good is that you won't even need someone you can celebrate your success with. You can do it yourself.
How?
First, you need to create challenge in your life. For example, say you are an internet blogger and you are aiming for at least $2 a day passive income from your blogs.
Or if you are student, you can create challenge by having all your exams with ratings above 90% as well as no late submissions on assignments and projects.
If you are an employee, you can make sure that all deadlines and projects are meet on time. Also you can even make it as a challenge that you will never received a single customer complaint for the entire month.
As long you have job to do, you can create challenge in your life.
Second, manage your way to success on a daily basis, checked your schedules and daily tasks to make sure you attended and remembered it well. You need to make sure that you are a person of action , not just good in planning and doing nothing.
Third, once you reach the end of the month, assess your challenge if you have achieved it. If yes, then spend one whole day celebrating by the following suggestions:
1.) Do things that you really love. For example, if you are movie geek and Toy Story 3 just came out, watch the movie alone. Or if you have someone you can bring with, it is fine, but make sure that this celebration is for you not for someone else. If you are afraid that someone might destroy your day, do not bring them or else it will just waste your celebration.
2.) Do not ever open your computer for work on that day. This is supposed to be a day of celebration as you are congratulating yourself for the job well done.
3.) Eat well. Go to your most favorite restaurant and spend your money on good foods. This will remove your stresses for the entire month and helps you recharged.
4.) Buy something very important to your job. Now you are on shopping, it is your time you can think of something that will be very useful to you. For example, if you are a musician, maybe you can buy new sets of guitar strings for your old guitar.
5.) Go home early for the day, buy some beers for you and sleep a lot.
Read more!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Positive Mindset Quotes that can change your life
Here are my own positive quotes that I would like to share with you. Maybe this might change how you look at your own life:
1.) There is no such thing as “difficult” when you THINK and re-THINK and then write all possible actions.
Example: If you are working on a very difficult project that is limited with your own sets of skills. You then say it was difficult. But have you really think, how you can accomplish it by writing all possible solutions?
If you hired me to construct a building and I am not an civil engineer, then I will just say NO and it solves the problem. Sometimes NO is a possible solution. Watch the movie “Yes Man” and you will learn why.
2.) Happy face always starts with a happy mind.
How many times someone needs to pretend they are happy when their mind is NOT. How many times someone needs to buy lots of luxurious to stay happy? I think if you can be able to control your mind and control what you will need to “picture” out in there; then you can be happy by just thinking you will be happy.
3.) Intelligence may distinguish a person from each other BUT all of them can work HARD
You might feel de-motivated if you feel you are not intelligent enough to do the tasks and you will never succeed. WRONG - in reality; everyone can work HARD. And by working hard everything can be accomplished with patience.
An average minded person that will dedicate his life to a certain work SHOULD appear successful in the long run than an intelligent person with no dedication in life.
4.) A failure is the best opportunity for improvement
Be happy with failures and upsets in life, you are just very LUCKY to know how you will be able to do something else better next time soon without even receiving bias feedbacks from friends, co-employees or even your boss!
5.) To accomplish a lot of work is to think that time is LIMITED
How many persons might say, “Yeah I will just postpone this work tomorrow”? Then after the end of the month, just accomplished a few sets of tasks.
What if someone thinks time is limited? Then you can do many. It is why a common boss technique in employment is to “pressure” their employees to work fast and hard because they KNOW that they can accomplish a lot of tasks in a limited amount of time.
If you are a working in your own, then you can do this without getting harmed (as opposed to boss yelling at you in the office asking for urgent work outputs).
Read more!
1.) There is no such thing as “difficult” when you THINK and re-THINK and then write all possible actions.
Example: If you are working on a very difficult project that is limited with your own sets of skills. You then say it was difficult. But have you really think, how you can accomplish it by writing all possible solutions?
If you hired me to construct a building and I am not an civil engineer, then I will just say NO and it solves the problem. Sometimes NO is a possible solution. Watch the movie “Yes Man” and you will learn why.
2.) Happy face always starts with a happy mind.
How many times someone needs to pretend they are happy when their mind is NOT. How many times someone needs to buy lots of luxurious to stay happy? I think if you can be able to control your mind and control what you will need to “picture” out in there; then you can be happy by just thinking you will be happy.
3.) Intelligence may distinguish a person from each other BUT all of them can work HARD
You might feel de-motivated if you feel you are not intelligent enough to do the tasks and you will never succeed. WRONG - in reality; everyone can work HARD. And by working hard everything can be accomplished with patience.
An average minded person that will dedicate his life to a certain work SHOULD appear successful in the long run than an intelligent person with no dedication in life.
4.) A failure is the best opportunity for improvement
Be happy with failures and upsets in life, you are just very LUCKY to know how you will be able to do something else better next time soon without even receiving bias feedbacks from friends, co-employees or even your boss!
5.) To accomplish a lot of work is to think that time is LIMITED
How many persons might say, “Yeah I will just postpone this work tomorrow”? Then after the end of the month, just accomplished a few sets of tasks.
What if someone thinks time is limited? Then you can do many. It is why a common boss technique in employment is to “pressure” their employees to work fast and hard because they KNOW that they can accomplish a lot of tasks in a limited amount of time.
If you are a working in your own, then you can do this without getting harmed (as opposed to boss yelling at you in the office asking for urgent work outputs).
Read more!
Productivity and Motivation Improvement Techniques: Working at Home
It is becoming more popular to work at home than to work at the office. This trend is common for those that are making a living out of the internet, example for the following careers below:
a.) independent musician promoting websites
b.) e-commerce website owner
c.) writers/authors
d.) bloggers
e.) web developers
f.) internet marketers
This list will grow in the future, but currently these are the most common professions that make a living out of the online business world. But the main issues of working at home are pertaining to low productivity and lack of motivation.
If you are working at home, you will be easily distracted by any means (example, tempting to check for Facebook updates, talk with other persons at home, playing games or even watch YouTube) because there is NO boss looking at you. You might take this advantage and a privilege but too much of this habit can seriously affect your productivity.
So how you might be able to deal with this issue other than implementing “strict discipline” in behalf of yourself?
The following are my most effective techniques and habits that can substantially improve home office productivity and working motivation in the long run:
1.) Spend at least one day in each month to draft the entire monthly working schedule.
If you are a blogger, you might list down all your blogs and write how many posts you need to write each day. Then put it in MS Excel to list it down from Day 1 to Day 30 (at the end of the month). The same thing you will do, if you are a web developer, internet marketer, etc.
Plan this in advance (for example if you are drafting the June 2010 schedule, do that in the last days of May 2010). Be realistic with your schedules and goals. Remember the S.M.A.R.T goal setting techniques when it comes to effective planning.
Note: In the planning of schedules, do not include Facebook profile updates and Youtube schedules.
Why should you do this? It is because “failing to plan is planning to fail”.
2.) Monitor those goals in a daily basis.
Before you will start to work in each of the day, make sure to review what work has been done on those previous days and marked them “completed”! This will motivate you to work harder in case something has been lagged behind.
You can add new set of tasks provided these are the ones that will make you money and relevant to your work.
Why should you do this? It is because “failing to monitor your work is planning to fail your plan”
3.) Work straight and stop for breaks around 15 minutes depending on your endurance.
So if I have this long list of tasks for the day, what I will do is eat first, drink coffee and then start WORKING! Do not look at those lists of tasks, just start working. Work straight! You will notice how many sets of tasks you will accomplish in just a period of 5 to 8 hours working straight.
I usually work at the earliest hours of the day (early morning). This will provide me longer hours to work on difficult while enjoying the rest day.
Why you need to this? A journey of million miles must begin with a single step.
4.) If your work has been completed, “CONGRATULATE” yourself by taking long breaks for the rest of the day. You can now do anything you want (watch Youtube, update Facebook), go out and take your bike, etc.
The lesson is: DO ANYTHING IMPORTANT FIRST, and enjoy the rest.
Read more!
a.) independent musician promoting websites
b.) e-commerce website owner
c.) writers/authors
d.) bloggers
e.) web developers
f.) internet marketers
This list will grow in the future, but currently these are the most common professions that make a living out of the online business world. But the main issues of working at home are pertaining to low productivity and lack of motivation.
If you are working at home, you will be easily distracted by any means (example, tempting to check for Facebook updates, talk with other persons at home, playing games or even watch YouTube) because there is NO boss looking at you. You might take this advantage and a privilege but too much of this habit can seriously affect your productivity.
So how you might be able to deal with this issue other than implementing “strict discipline” in behalf of yourself?
The following are my most effective techniques and habits that can substantially improve home office productivity and working motivation in the long run:
1.) Spend at least one day in each month to draft the entire monthly working schedule.
If you are a blogger, you might list down all your blogs and write how many posts you need to write each day. Then put it in MS Excel to list it down from Day 1 to Day 30 (at the end of the month). The same thing you will do, if you are a web developer, internet marketer, etc.
Plan this in advance (for example if you are drafting the June 2010 schedule, do that in the last days of May 2010). Be realistic with your schedules and goals. Remember the S.M.A.R.T goal setting techniques when it comes to effective planning.
Note: In the planning of schedules, do not include Facebook profile updates and Youtube schedules.
Why should you do this? It is because “failing to plan is planning to fail”.
2.) Monitor those goals in a daily basis.
Before you will start to work in each of the day, make sure to review what work has been done on those previous days and marked them “completed”! This will motivate you to work harder in case something has been lagged behind.
You can add new set of tasks provided these are the ones that will make you money and relevant to your work.
Why should you do this? It is because “failing to monitor your work is planning to fail your plan”
3.) Work straight and stop for breaks around 15 minutes depending on your endurance.
So if I have this long list of tasks for the day, what I will do is eat first, drink coffee and then start WORKING! Do not look at those lists of tasks, just start working. Work straight! You will notice how many sets of tasks you will accomplish in just a period of 5 to 8 hours working straight.
I usually work at the earliest hours of the day (early morning). This will provide me longer hours to work on difficult while enjoying the rest day.
Why you need to this? A journey of million miles must begin with a single step.
4.) If your work has been completed, “CONGRATULATE” yourself by taking long breaks for the rest of the day. You can now do anything you want (watch Youtube, update Facebook), go out and take your bike, etc.
The lesson is: DO ANYTHING IMPORTANT FIRST, and enjoy the rest.
Read more!
Monday, June 14, 2010
General Tips when Travelling to Cebu City Philippines
If you are not very familiar when travelling to Cebu City, Philippines- then this guide is definitely helpful. I assume that you are travelling to cebu for either:
a. Vacation – there are lot of vacation spots in the Cebu islands.
b. Study – some schools and universities in Cebu are accepting foreign students.
c. Work – Cebu has lots of job opportunities particularly in the manufacturing and IT sector.
d. Important business matters – if you need to travel cebu for business matters, there are lot of conventions done here almost in a montly basis.
General tips ( applicable for any of the above)
1.) Your obvious stop is either Mactan Cebu International Airport or the Cebu seaports. Now this is what will happen:
a. I suggest to board a taxi to Cebu City and find some cheap hotels or accomodations there, it is way to expensive to stay in Mactan based on my experience. The foods there are very expensive also.
Here are the complete list of Cebu city hotels offering cheap accomodation
If you are staying for longer term (more than one month), then hotels might be too expensive, consider renting an apartment in Cebu City.
b. If you are cowboy enough, you can eat at maximum 50 to 100 pesos per meal and your stomache will nearly explode (for those in tight food budgets). I suggest going to Cebu City Larsian and eat some delicious barbecues.
In Cebu City you find larsian food place in Cebu City Jones-Osmena boulevard avenue near Chong Chua Hospital.
If you are in Mandaue city, there is a also a larsian food place in AC Cortes street in front of Kaona food grill.
You can read more about Larsian in the official facebook page here.
c. Do not ride taxi, some are dishonest unfortunately. Especially if you are foreigners or not speaking native Cebu dialect, these taxi drivers will easily take advantage of you and let you spend a lot by encircling the city a lot of times. If you ride in taxi, asked for receipt! This will contain information about the taxi operator and driver which might be useful to file complaints.
The solution is to have little map of Cebu (google it). Then study it as you ride public jeepneys, you can even asked the public jeepney “conductor” to asked for some directions. I can tell you they are more honest to tell real answers to where you should be heading.
Some basic:
a. The jeepney with a tag/route code as 21B (memorize this) is the most important of all. It will pass these very important Cebu City destinations:
a.1. Ayala Center Cebu
a.2. SM City Cebu
a.3. Jones avenue ( of course passing near the larsian in osmena boulevard).
a.4. Santo Nino Basilica church
a.5. Colon area (cebu city oldest street)
a.6.) Travelling from Mandaue city to Cebu city and vice versa.
Some tips if you are coming from the airport, ride a taxi to Jollibee Mandaue city highway. Then once you are Mandaue city highway in front of Jollibee ride 21B to your destination in Cebu.
Most cheap hotels are found in the Jones avenue area. Of course, if you are carrying heavy baggages, then this tip is not applicable.
Precautions:
1.) Do not text or use any electronic gadgets when you are in the public jeepney (never), or wear jewelries, expensive watches, etc. It is unsafe.
2.) Do not put your wallet in the pocket. Instead put it in your bag. Better put some in your socks (really I am serious).
3.) Do not talk to strangers except to jeepney “conductor” , restaurant, foods and the hotel crew.
4.) Do not pay more than 15 pesos when riding a public jeepney. Normal jeepney fare should be 7pesos as of June 2010 with maximum around 14 pesos (from Mandaue to Cebu).
Read more!
a. Vacation – there are lot of vacation spots in the Cebu islands.
b. Study – some schools and universities in Cebu are accepting foreign students.
c. Work – Cebu has lots of job opportunities particularly in the manufacturing and IT sector.
d. Important business matters – if you need to travel cebu for business matters, there are lot of conventions done here almost in a montly basis.
General tips ( applicable for any of the above)
1.) Your obvious stop is either Mactan Cebu International Airport or the Cebu seaports. Now this is what will happen:
a. I suggest to board a taxi to Cebu City and find some cheap hotels or accomodations there, it is way to expensive to stay in Mactan based on my experience. The foods there are very expensive also.
Here are the complete list of Cebu city hotels offering cheap accomodation
If you are staying for longer term (more than one month), then hotels might be too expensive, consider renting an apartment in Cebu City.
b. If you are cowboy enough, you can eat at maximum 50 to 100 pesos per meal and your stomache will nearly explode (for those in tight food budgets). I suggest going to Cebu City Larsian and eat some delicious barbecues.
In Cebu City you find larsian food place in Cebu City Jones-Osmena boulevard avenue near Chong Chua Hospital.
If you are in Mandaue city, there is a also a larsian food place in AC Cortes street in front of Kaona food grill.
You can read more about Larsian in the official facebook page here.
c. Do not ride taxi, some are dishonest unfortunately. Especially if you are foreigners or not speaking native Cebu dialect, these taxi drivers will easily take advantage of you and let you spend a lot by encircling the city a lot of times. If you ride in taxi, asked for receipt! This will contain information about the taxi operator and driver which might be useful to file complaints.
The solution is to have little map of Cebu (google it). Then study it as you ride public jeepneys, you can even asked the public jeepney “conductor” to asked for some directions. I can tell you they are more honest to tell real answers to where you should be heading.
Some basic:
a. The jeepney with a tag/route code as 21B (memorize this) is the most important of all. It will pass these very important Cebu City destinations:
a.1. Ayala Center Cebu
a.2. SM City Cebu
a.3. Jones avenue ( of course passing near the larsian in osmena boulevard).
a.4. Santo Nino Basilica church
a.5. Colon area (cebu city oldest street)
a.6.) Travelling from Mandaue city to Cebu city and vice versa.
Some tips if you are coming from the airport, ride a taxi to Jollibee Mandaue city highway. Then once you are Mandaue city highway in front of Jollibee ride 21B to your destination in Cebu.
Most cheap hotels are found in the Jones avenue area. Of course, if you are carrying heavy baggages, then this tip is not applicable.
Precautions:
1.) Do not text or use any electronic gadgets when you are in the public jeepney (never), or wear jewelries, expensive watches, etc. It is unsafe.
2.) Do not put your wallet in the pocket. Instead put it in your bag. Better put some in your socks (really I am serious).
3.) Do not talk to strangers except to jeepney “conductor” , restaurant, foods and the hotel crew.
4.) Do not pay more than 15 pesos when riding a public jeepney. Normal jeepney fare should be 7pesos as of June 2010 with maximum around 14 pesos (from Mandaue to Cebu).
Read more!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Study methods for college students: Using assignment notebooks
Studying in college is a very difficult tasks. It is because you need to develop a lot of patience, sacrifices, careful planning (like what A-team does) and hard work in order to get things done. Not only getting things done, but getting it right also.
There are only two objectives in studying college and that is getting good grades and completing your courses.
This short guide will elaborate the methods on the use of assignment notebooks in order to develop a good study habit especially useful for college students.
I suggest you to have one notebook with around 100 or more leaves (the more leaves the better), divide it into parts. The 1st section is the “task input” list and the 2nd half for “daily organized tasks”.
To generate the “task input” , list down all tasks:
a. Instructed by your college professor (example the assignments, projects, appointments or pages/books to be studied).
b. Have in mind studying. For example, you need to study that specific subject a lot because you find it difficult. Write that subject here and as the topic details.
c. Other extra-curricular activities (such as practising schedules pertaining to your activity in university glee club for example)
d. Your daily class schedule, so you will never forget attending important classes (common in college because of irregular scheduling).
This also includes the other list such as time to meet your girl friend or boyfriend, or do some shopping.
This task input should be updated in hourly or daily basis. Marked “complete” for those tasks that are not any more relevant or important to you. For this to be very effective, you need to list down ALL possible tasks that you might think you need to do, again including all possible inputs from your teacher (such as clue where he/she might get the exam).
I have found this page to provide good tips in studying college.
Now you have a complete list of “task input”, it is now the time to organize it. You need to answer to following questions:
1.) What should I do for today? Again you will need to see it from your task input. List down relevant tasks that are needed to be done today, including any assignments, quizes, long exams, important studies, etc.
2.) What time should I need to get this done? Time management, get those difficult things done first before you get tired for the day.
So you will need to put this input in your “daily organized tasks”. An example output will be:
June 14, 2010
1.) Attend the following classes:
a. 8:30 to 10am- algebra
b. 10:00am to 11am – effective communication
c. 1-3pm – trigonometry
d. meet with husband- 3pm-4pm
e. read 3rd chapter on algebra – 4pm to 7pm
f. dine out- 7pm – 8pm
g. doing algebra exercises – 8:30pm to 10pm
h. prepare for effective comm exam -10pm to 12am
Read more!
There are only two objectives in studying college and that is getting good grades and completing your courses.
This short guide will elaborate the methods on the use of assignment notebooks in order to develop a good study habit especially useful for college students.
I suggest you to have one notebook with around 100 or more leaves (the more leaves the better), divide it into parts. The 1st section is the “task input” list and the 2nd half for “daily organized tasks”.
To generate the “task input” , list down all tasks:
a. Instructed by your college professor (example the assignments, projects, appointments or pages/books to be studied).
b. Have in mind studying. For example, you need to study that specific subject a lot because you find it difficult. Write that subject here and as the topic details.
c. Other extra-curricular activities (such as practising schedules pertaining to your activity in university glee club for example)
d. Your daily class schedule, so you will never forget attending important classes (common in college because of irregular scheduling).
This also includes the other list such as time to meet your girl friend or boyfriend, or do some shopping.
This task input should be updated in hourly or daily basis. Marked “complete” for those tasks that are not any more relevant or important to you. For this to be very effective, you need to list down ALL possible tasks that you might think you need to do, again including all possible inputs from your teacher (such as clue where he/she might get the exam).
I have found this page to provide good tips in studying college.
Now you have a complete list of “task input”, it is now the time to organize it. You need to answer to following questions:
1.) What should I do for today? Again you will need to see it from your task input. List down relevant tasks that are needed to be done today, including any assignments, quizes, long exams, important studies, etc.
2.) What time should I need to get this done? Time management, get those difficult things done first before you get tired for the day.
So you will need to put this input in your “daily organized tasks”. An example output will be:
June 14, 2010
1.) Attend the following classes:
a. 8:30 to 10am- algebra
b. 10:00am to 11am – effective communication
c. 1-3pm – trigonometry
d. meet with husband- 3pm-4pm
e. read 3rd chapter on algebra – 4pm to 7pm
f. dine out- 7pm – 8pm
g. doing algebra exercises – 8:30pm to 10pm
h. prepare for effective comm exam -10pm to 12am
Read more!
Monday, June 7, 2010
Best Snorkeling and Diving Locations in Visayas island Philippines
Philippines are an archipelago of 7107 islands. It lies near the equator, it is a tropical country characterized by only two seasons: dry and wet.
If you are traveler into these islands particularly in Visayas islands; you might be interested in doing some snorkeling and diving into the Visayas island crystal clear waters.
Below is the best snorkeling and diving locations into these islands based on my experience (best during dry season: February to May).
1.) Balicasag Island Bohol
What you can do: Snorkeling and Diving
How to get there: You need to go to Cebu, Philippines. Then board a ship to Bohol islands via a ferry boat. Then board a vehicle to Panglao Bohol. Once you are in Panglao, you can rent a boat as well as diving/snorkeling equipments to Balicasag Island.
What you can see: Really stunning fish sanctuary and walls of coral reefs.
Cost of Travel:
a. Panglao accommodations are around 1000 pesos per night
b. Boat rental for diving is around 800 pesos.
c. Scuba dive master is around 1500 pesos per dive (do not go with the expensive dive shops).
d. Ferry boat from Cebu to Bohol is around 500 pesos.
e. You can save a lot in food if you do not dine in restaurants.
2.) Malapascua Island Cebu
What you can do: Snorkeling and also Scuba diving
How to get there: If you are in Cebu City, Philippines you need to ride a bus at the Cebu City North Bus Terminal to Maya Cebu. Board a bus with a signboard (Maya-Bagay).
Then, upon arriving in Maya sea port, ride a boat to Malapascua Island. The travel from Maya to Malapascua takes around 45 minutes in boat.
What you can see: If you are a certified open water sea diver, you can see Thresher Sharks in deep waters which can be best seen in the early morning. You need to rent a boat to go to Monad Shoal, a place where Thresher sharks are found. These sharks are big but they are friendly.
There are also numerous reef sharks around Gato Island (within Malapascua reach). You can also have a chance to dive a 1982 passenger shipwreck and a Japanese Naval ship destroyed during WWII.
If you are into snorkeling, you can enjoy the Malapascua sanctuary on garden corals which is one of the best I have seen in the Visayas Sea. The corals reef gardens are a collection of blue, red and a mixture of bright colors, along with numerous species of fish.
Cost of Travel:
a. Bus from Cebu City to Maya- 100 pesos
b. Boat from Maya to Malapascua – 50 pesos (high tide) but in low tide, you need an additional 10 pesos to board a small boat prior to riding the big pump boat.
c. Accommodation: There are some cottages there that charge 800 to 1000 pesos per night.
d. Boat rental for Snorkeling and diving- 800 pesos
e. You can save a lot in food cost if you do not dine in expensive restaurants.
3.) Moalboal Cebu
What you can do: Snorkeling and diving in Pescador Island.
How to get there: Ride a bus from South bus terminal Cebu City to the town of Moalboal Cebu, or alternatively you can ride either a taxi or V-hire.
What you can see: Sea turtles and reef fishes if you are doing wall diving in Pescador .Wonderful coral reefs can also be seen along the shallow waters.
Cost of Travel:
a.) Taxi- 2000 pesos
b.) Accommodation: 2000 pesos per night (not air-condition)
c.) Boat rental- may vary but 500 to 1000 pesos is ok.
d.) Diving equipment rental- similar to other diving locations mentioned previously.
Read more!
If you are traveler into these islands particularly in Visayas islands; you might be interested in doing some snorkeling and diving into the Visayas island crystal clear waters.
Below is the best snorkeling and diving locations into these islands based on my experience (best during dry season: February to May).
1.) Balicasag Island Bohol
What you can do: Snorkeling and Diving
How to get there: You need to go to Cebu, Philippines. Then board a ship to Bohol islands via a ferry boat. Then board a vehicle to Panglao Bohol. Once you are in Panglao, you can rent a boat as well as diving/snorkeling equipments to Balicasag Island.
What you can see: Really stunning fish sanctuary and walls of coral reefs.
Cost of Travel:
a. Panglao accommodations are around 1000 pesos per night
b. Boat rental for diving is around 800 pesos.
c. Scuba dive master is around 1500 pesos per dive (do not go with the expensive dive shops).
d. Ferry boat from Cebu to Bohol is around 500 pesos.
e. You can save a lot in food if you do not dine in restaurants.
2.) Malapascua Island Cebu
What you can do: Snorkeling and also Scuba diving
How to get there: If you are in Cebu City, Philippines you need to ride a bus at the Cebu City North Bus Terminal to Maya Cebu. Board a bus with a signboard (Maya-Bagay).
Then, upon arriving in Maya sea port, ride a boat to Malapascua Island. The travel from Maya to Malapascua takes around 45 minutes in boat.
What you can see: If you are a certified open water sea diver, you can see Thresher Sharks in deep waters which can be best seen in the early morning. You need to rent a boat to go to Monad Shoal, a place where Thresher sharks are found. These sharks are big but they are friendly.
There are also numerous reef sharks around Gato Island (within Malapascua reach). You can also have a chance to dive a 1982 passenger shipwreck and a Japanese Naval ship destroyed during WWII.
If you are into snorkeling, you can enjoy the Malapascua sanctuary on garden corals which is one of the best I have seen in the Visayas Sea. The corals reef gardens are a collection of blue, red and a mixture of bright colors, along with numerous species of fish.
Cost of Travel:
a. Bus from Cebu City to Maya- 100 pesos
b. Boat from Maya to Malapascua – 50 pesos (high tide) but in low tide, you need an additional 10 pesos to board a small boat prior to riding the big pump boat.
c. Accommodation: There are some cottages there that charge 800 to 1000 pesos per night.
d. Boat rental for Snorkeling and diving- 800 pesos
e. You can save a lot in food cost if you do not dine in expensive restaurants.
3.) Moalboal Cebu
What you can do: Snorkeling and diving in Pescador Island.
How to get there: Ride a bus from South bus terminal Cebu City to the town of Moalboal Cebu, or alternatively you can ride either a taxi or V-hire.
What you can see: Sea turtles and reef fishes if you are doing wall diving in Pescador .Wonderful coral reefs can also be seen along the shallow waters.
Cost of Travel:
a.) Taxi- 2000 pesos
b.) Accommodation: 2000 pesos per night (not air-condition)
c.) Boat rental- may vary but 500 to 1000 pesos is ok.
d.) Diving equipment rental- similar to other diving locations mentioned previously.
Read more!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
How to Plan For a Vacation
1. Know the place for a vacation to search all the information about the place.
2. Quality and rates of accommodation is important. There are cheap rates but great services.
3. Know how to get there. Bring your map to that place to ensure your safety.
4. Food to eat. If you are type of person who saves money, find some place to buy cheap food. Don't eat inside the resort restaurants because it's only burn your money. Go outside find some Karenderia. The reason why, they offer cheap food price it is because their store rental is not expensive.
But some people, have different point of view about vacation, they don't mind about the costs as long as they are happy and contented of the services.
5. Lists all the things to bring. You must keep in mind that if you're super enjoy of your trip, you can almost forget your things. To stay away with that problem, you must write all your things in a piece of paper from smallest to biggest. Before you going home review everything if all are in tact. These Pictures here were taken during my Vacation;
Bohol Island. During your first vacation in a long travel or trip is not easy because it needs an adjustments in the environment but once you experienced it, you will always wanting vacation.
Most people rich or poor likes to go to the beach during summer for a full enjoyment. Beach is great for relaxing; the air is cold, white sands and playing volleyball sport.
There are many beauty spots all over the
world I suggest Philippines is one of the best tourism in asia
especially beach resorts in an Island like, Malapascua Island, Sumilon
Island, Camotes Island, Bohol Island, Mactan Island and etc.In every Island there are several beach resorts, much better choose the best beach resorts for your accommodation by reading reviews of the people online. Inquire the rates of accommodation if it fits to your budget.
It is advice not to pay any down payment through online by using credit cards because it is too risky and frustrated sometimes. To give cash is necessary.
No worries if you can not find a room to stay at the moment
you arrive, just keep on inquiring and the more you asks you can choose
affordable accommodation. Then, don’t forget to know how to get there; this will help you through easy long travel for a vacation. Beware of restaurants at the beach because their menus prices are too high, it is cool if you eat outside the beach resort and find affordable food eatery.
Beach restaurant is great for drinks only during at night. Finally, lists all the important things you need to bring for a vacation like extra money, camera, snorkel, flippers, medicine, extra food or snacks and dress.
Malapascua Island. It is located in North of Cebu this is one of the amazing tourist spot Island. You'll meet friendly people there, and is not populated place. The sea is so blue and clean it is the best time to go during summer. Bring lots of friends or your whole family, you're all enjoy.
Look at the picture, and find the volleyball net over there, you can play as you want. It is nice to sleep in the sand. And don't worry about the coconut tree it's safe it has no fruits.
God speed everyone!
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