I was riding the MRT (yes, the train), my usual commute to our seminar on one of my volunteer day. It could have been another one of those usual days except for two amazing passengers that left me so overwhelmed with the experience. I was standing facing a lady in red, she was seated but kept on looking at someone or something at my back. I really didn’t gave it much attention but then she suddenly stood up and went to the other side. I, on the other hand, felt thankful for the seat that obviously was left for me to take. When I took the seat, I finally saw what she was seeing. It was Ashley (I heard the child’s name when the lady in red asked for it), and I couldn’t explain how I felt. She was barely two years old, yet her body was so frail and weak because of her sickness. Her skin looks as if it was just healing from burns with so many fresh wounds all over. She has bandages here and there and her eyes is suffering from slight blindness. What struck me the most was what the lady in red did (up to now I kept telling myself I should have asked for her name), she asked with compassion the mother of the child about Ashley and her illness, and then she reached for her wallet and gave the mother some money, along with her contact number and told the mother to call her, if ever she needs anything. The mother told us that they live in Pampangga, and everyday, they travel to PGH just for Ashley to be treated. The child’s disease (forgive me for forgetting the scientific name of her ailment) happens only one in a million cases. One in a million! My first reaction was, why this child, she’s too young to suffer. You could only imagine the compassion we felt for Ashley, and the strength of her mother. You know what happened next? It’s amazing. Two women, reached for her bag and gave the mother some money. Another gave her a calling card to call, and more and more people just keeps on giving their moral and financial support. When I gave my card to the mother (I hope she does call), I just couldn’t help myself by thanking the lady in red for teaching us, everyone in the train that day, the value of generosity and love. I shook her hand with such respect. There was such a happy feeling inside the train that day that I couldn’t help but thank God for showing me what the courage of standing up for someone means.

It made me realize a profound lesson. A lot of people wants to help, they are always willing to lend or share or give. What is stopping them? It is the fear of being the only one who would stand up, being the only who would fight for something, or being someone who would be ridiculous enough to be laughed at. I am just too sure that if the lady in red didn’t stand up, no one would extend to help, and yes, I must admit, even myself. I learned my lesson well. Sometimes, it’s just too hard for us to show everyone that we have the capacity to love and be compassionate and be generous to other people. We would often say, or justify, that we were too busy dealing with our own problems. When we share the possibility of First World Philippines, most people would laugh at us, saying it’s impossible, or they would snicker or raise an eyebrow. Someone even told me it would take a thousand years for that to happen, I mean really, that long? Do we not have faith in ourselves and our country? Then I asked, even if there is so much that you hate about this country, there must be somewhere inside of you that actually wish, if not believe, that the Philippines could be a First World Country.

Okay, so you hate the government, you hate the traffic, resented corruption and all those garbage. You hate the pollution, the everyday stress of the MRT commute, the rising prices and the too many showbiz scandals here in there. But come on, no matter how long you have been working abroad, or no matter how much you want to change your citizenship, you can’t, for the life of you, seem to give up tinapa (smoked fish), or salted egg and tomatoes, or dirty ice cream or mangoes and bagoong (shrimp paste). You still seem to enjoy those provincial fiestas, or hanging out with your extended families, and that very famous karaoke. Let’s face it, this country may have been through the worst leadership and economic crises, but no matter how many different kinds of money currency we hold, we will always want to exchange it to Philippine peso. We love this country, we may have other countries, we call home, but we can’t ever say we were never Filipinos.

The lady in red stood up to offer a hand to Ashley, and people followed. If more and more Filipinos stood up to the possibility of a better Philippines, what do you think could happen? Ashley is like the Philippines, frail, weak and sick. She needs help, are you willing to lend a hand?

Kate Cu

              +639178808021         +639178808021

ckatecu.ca2020@yahoo.com

www.ca2020.net

She smiled at me, and held up her hands. I assumed, she wanted me to carry her, so I reached out and she smiled even bigger. She hugged me so tight, and I asked if she wanted to play, she nodded her head. She weighs so light in my arms, yet I can feel how hard it must been for her to live the way she does. We did face painting, book coloring and hep hep hoorays. She wouldn’t let go of my hands, and I felt overwhelmed and touched by her trust and longing.

Ana was her name, 4 years old, among the many orphaned children at the DSWD Center at Quezon City where we held our Feeding Program in celebration of CA2020’s second anniversary last 21st of February, 2010. Each core team member was playing with a child or two. It was one of those moments when your time is worth more than what you have given and the shrieks and laughter of the children are enough to take the tiredness you are feeling. These orphans needed, not just the 6-month feeding program we gave, but the attention and love they did not have. No parents to go to at night, no one to keep them company when they needed someone to hold them, or hug them. I felt so thankful about my life that it made me realize how much I have to give in return. I felt so thankful about Create Abundance Community for showing me what is and what can be done. I felt thankful that I was able to help make things happen rather than just dream about it.

CA2020 did not just gave me a chance to touch the lives of these children, the community gave me a chance to reach out to people and empower them to live the kind of life they want to have. Everyday, I look back to that first day I attended the seminar and finished the course, eventually choosing to become part of the core team. It changed my life, and TO PAY IT FORWARD, I am hoping that I could be able to add value to other people’s lives by giving them a chance to experience the courses as well.

Every time I remember Ana and the other children, it motivates me to dream higher and reach it fast. There are more than a hundred kids at the Quezon City Center alone, how many is there around the country? If these children, and those who lives on the streets, cannot survive because of lack of food, or shelter, or clothing, what would happen to the future generations of our land? This may seem like a big dream for one person like me, I may not be able to do it alone, but I know that with your help it is possible. If you have not found your PURPOSE IN LIFE, look around you and ask, WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?, not what is it for me?.

CA2020 dreams of creating FIRST WORLD PHILIPPINES, are you with us?

Kate Cu

              +639178808021        

www.ca2020.net

Rich people are great receivers, poor people are not. We often hear the saying, "It is better to give than to receive", and although I do believe that one must share what he has and be generous enough, I believe the saying is quite unfair. If it takes receiving for the giving to be complete, then why would the other be better than the other? Giving provides the giver happiness and fulfillment. I do agree with this. When you give, whether it be a gift or a helping hand or just a smile, or a love, it goes back to you. And for someone who has given something, I believe the happiness that we feel is based on how happy the people we have given when they receive our gifts. So you see, if one does not receive whatever it is that we want to share, would you still feel great? It one refuses to receive your offer, does it not make you feel sad? Giving is important, it is one's responsibility to serve other people. But without the receiver, accepting what is being offered, the giving will never be complete. If you love to give, why would you stop the other person from giving something buy not accepting it? Most people don't know that they are already refusing something, for some who does, they just feel unworthy or undeserving. Why? When someone wants to give you something, it is because you deserve it and it is because they are happy when you have what they are willing to give you. For instance, when someone gives you a free drink, accept it. It it's a free ride, accept it. If it's a free lunch, accept it. If it's a payment for something you are giving for free, accept it. Why? Because these are blessings. Each little thing given to you unexpectedly is a blessing. Be thankful enough by accepting them heartfelt and sincerely. Bakit ka mahihiya? Hindi ka naman humingi, kusang ibinigay yun sayo! Learn to be grateful for whatever it is that comes your way. The world provides to those who knows how to accept openly and happily. Be a good receiver, so that you may have more to give as well.

"Rich people live in a world of abundance. Poor people live in a world of limitations. Of course, both live in the same physical world, but the difference is in their perspective." Do you want a successful career or a close relationship with your family? BOTH! Do you want to focus on business or have fun and play? BOTH! Do you want money or meaning in your life? BOTH! Do you want to earn a fortune or do the work you love? BOTH! Do you want wealth or faith and spirituality? BOTH! Do you want riches or health and wellness? BOTH! Do you want to follow your dreams or be with the one you love? BOTH! POOR PEOPLE ALWAYS CHOOSE ONE OR THE OTHER, RICH PEOPLE CHOOSE BOTH! Most of us grew up with the idea of scarcity, in the idea that "we can never have everything we want". I mean, of course, we can't have the whole world, but we can always want that which we really want. In what I have written above, I believe most of us would want to choose BOTH! But having had the mindset of limitation,we are forced to choose only one,leaving us thinking about "what if's" and regrets. That for me, is not living life to the fullest. True happiness can only be had when we are living a complete life. In everything you do, whatever you go through with, in every decision you take, ask yourself, HOW CAN I HAVE BOTH?! When you consider, even just the idea of having BOTH, a whole new world of possibilities will open up to you. It is actually amazing how you can find more ways of actually having both of what you want. If you really want to live a life without limits, whatever the situation, let go of either/or thinking and maintain the intention to have "both." KATE CU Life and Business Coach 09178808021 / 09324512374 www.ca2020.net

"The rich buy assets. The poor only have expenses. The middle class buys liabilities they think are assets."
~ Robert T. Kiyosaki

Most people go on with their lives acquiring money problems, not because they are not smart, but because they fail to learn the simplest rule in financial education -- identifying which is an ASSET and which is a LIABILITY.

Let me show you the three different types of CASH FLOW, one of the poor, the middle class and of the rich. These are FINANCIAL STATEMENTS and BALANCE SHEETS that show the flow of money into our lives.

This is the cash flow pattern of the POOR:
Their income just flow to expenses and out of their pockets.

This is the cash flow pattern of the MIDDLE CLASS:
Their income goes to liabilities, believing that they are buying assets, thereby incurring more debts and adding more expenses.

This is the cash flow pattern of the RICH:
Their income goes to ASSETS, thereby producing more income. This is the very reason why the rich gets richer. They invest into increasing their asset columns.

So what exactly is an ASSET and a LIABILITY?
An ASSET is anything that puts money into your pocket.
A LIABILITY is anything that takes money out of your pocket.

So yes, your house, if you are still paying for mortgage is a LIABILITY. It takes out money from your pocket every month. While, if you have a house and have it for rent, then it is an ASSET, since it puts money into your pocket regularly. I am not saying you don't buy a house, I am just giving you an idea that if you want a bigger house, increase your asset column first to generate more cash for you to buy your house using your asset cash, not your working income.

FINANCIAL EDUCATION is important if you want to get ahead in life. These ASSET vs LIABILITY rule is one of the simplest yet overlooked by people. Do not fall into the trap of doing what most people are doing. Take control of your life and your money. THE FUTURE IS YOURS, take it!

Kate Cu (+639178808021)
Life and Business Coach
www.ca2020.net
ckatecu@createabundance2020.com

"The poor and the middle class work for money. The rich have money work for them." ~ Robert T. Kiyosaki

We Filipinos value education so much. Our parents go through great lengths just to bring us to school. They even borrow and pawn their things just to have us finish a degree, saying that it is the only inheritance that they can leave us. A lot of us go to college for four or five years. Some even take graduate studies and some other take second courses.

There is really nothing with being educated. In fact, it is better to be educated than be ignorant. The sad part of it though is that SCHOOL EDUCATION IS NOT ENOUGH. It never is. It may teach you about your professional career and how to work for money, but school will never teach you how to be rich. If you want to be successful financially, then you can never rely on school learning alone. Why? Because there are no subjects about MONEY in school. After graduation, majority of us go to work, get our paycheck, balance our finances, and that's it. We go along day by day, working for money, and then we wonder why we have money problems. Most often, people think that more money will solve the problem. Only a few realize that it is their lack of financial education that is the real problem.

People wake up everyday dreading to go to work. They work long hours, hoping for promotion or a raise. They worry about their bills and all the other expenses at hand. They are living a life dictated by the size of their paycheck. They are working for money. That I believe, is not how you should live your life. WHY NOT LEARN HOW TO MAKE MONEY WORK FOR YOU? Instead of you working hard, you work smart and let your money do the working. You only need to learn how to identify an opportunity.

People say that they haven't had any opportunity and that they are still waiting for their chance. They didn't know that if they focus on educating themselves financially, they would be able see what most people miss. Making your money work for you is easy. You only need to use your thoughts, creativity, and be open to learn new things everyday. Do not be afraid to try something new. Most successful people didn't do what most of the people are doing, successful people are the ones who stood out of the crowd and walked on a different path.



The Create Abundance Community are groups of business people that mentors people on how to cross from working for money to having your money work for you. If you are interested about financial education, you may visit our site www.ca2020.net.

Kate Cu (+639178808021)
Life and Business Coach
ckatecu@createabundance2020.com

Of course, when I say boss, they are the owners of your company. Your immediate bosses and supervisors right now are doing the same thing as you are, you are both making your real boss rich. And you? I bet, you're just making ends meet. Now, don't tell me that you're earning enough money, and you just bought a new car, or that new house, because I could bet, you bought it on credit! Bank loan? Pag-ibig? Meaning, if you are to stop working right now, you will be broke. Meaning, you are not rich, just earning a lump of cash.

Being rich is not how much money you make but how much money you keep. It is also about how long you can survive without having to work and depend on anyone for money. Your boss can have a vacation for a year and come back still having money. Why? Because you are working for him. If you think that you are working for yourself, you are so wrong. In fact, you are making everyone else rich, except yourself. You are making your boss rich, you are making the banks rich (because you know when you loan, they earn on interest, so they love it when you buy things on credit), you are making the mall rich, I'm sure you love to shop, again on credit. And you don't invest. Ah yes, you have savings, you say? How much interest? 1% annually, then less taxes and inflation, in a few years time your money will be worth half or less that its value today. You think investing only happens in the stock market and you are so afraid of going into business because of risk.

So what do you plan to do now? Continue making others rich? When do you plan to retire, by the way? If you keep on doing the same things, you will keep on having the same results. Make a choice now. Who do you want to make rich? Other people will not make you rich, unless of course, you are the bank or have your own business that people will work for.

Ckate Cu
+63 9178808021 / +63 9208149571

For a lot of people, this may be an out of this world, craziest thing, so impossible, where did you get that idea kind of thing. I laugh out whenever I open this idea to a lot of Filipinos and get a smirk, a raised eyebrow or a flat out no for an answer.

How can we not believe that this is possible? When the Wright brothers thought of a flying machine, they were ridiculed and laughed. When Thomas Edison proposed the idea of wireless telephone, he was considered a lunatic. When the bullet trained was designed in Japan, it was thought impossible because they thought that people's brain would burst out because of the train's speed. We all know now that these are all possible and we use them everyday. We ride planes like it was so normal, we use cellphones and we ride trains. Now, I ask again, is First World Philippines possible?

Yes, it is. I can't do it alone. Two or three more can't do it. A hundred would not even stand a chance. We need thousands of Filipinos who would believe in this cause, and work hand in hand. Everything is possible if we give it a chance to be possible. Let us not wait for the government, or another civil revolution to push us to make a difference. Let us be proud, head up high and say to the world, Yes, I am a Filipino!

Caren Kate Cu - +639175135217 / +639208149571
Create Abundance 2020
www.ca2020.net/profile/CKATE

What you are afraid of is never as bad as you imagine. The fear you let up build in your mind is worse than the situation that actually exists. Fear cripples your imagination, limits your results and stops you from succeeding. You cannot stay the way you are, if you are not growing then you are dying.

From the book, "Who Moved My Cheese" by Dr. Stephen Johnson, stated that change happens. Whether you like or not, it happens. It is up to you how you will react. The book is about four characters (Sniff, Scurry, Haw and Hem) in the maze of their lives, looking for their cheeses (or dreams). They were able to find the cheese until suddenly, it was gone, or did someone moved it?

Sniff was the one who can see a change coming and is ready for it. Scurry who, when he realized that change is coming, eagerly got ready to move into action as fast as he can. Haw, waited till he was way far behind, realizing later that he needed to face his fears and should have moved on with the change earlier. Haw refused to change at first then learned to laugh at his stupidity and understood that one should be ready to adapt to change quickly. He decided that change is important if you want to survive. Hem never accepted the change, blaming others for his failures, never realizing that life could have been better if he had accepted change from the beginning.

If you are Hem, you will never get your cheese back, not unless you get your butt off that couch and move on. Get out of your comfort zone, let go of your fears and find your cheese. The story ending, Sniff and Scurry was able to find their cheeses quickly. Haw went looking for it later, and eventually found it after he choosed to act inspite of his doubts. Hem, of course, never did leave his comfort zone, and continued to lived his life wondering where his cheese went. Be a man, don't be like Hem, if you want that cheese, get it. Don't sit there, forever in your little area, waiting for a miracle that your cheese will arrive. It will not come, you need to go looking for it.

Do you have the courage of a man? or are you a whimpering coward mouse?
The only permanent thing in this world is change. Face it or whither and die.

The difference between a successful person and a failure is not the size of their dreams, but the actions they take. Before sending me a message, ask yourself first, Are you willing to take the action?

CKate Cu - +639175135217 / +639208149571
Create Abundance Business Community
www.ca2020.net