Skip to main content

A Message to All from a Filipino - Failures Come But Our Pursuit of Success Should Continue - This 2017!

Failure, more likely, comes into your way this 2016. As tragic as unexpected or as tiny as we hoped, failure - and you would definitely agree with me - is a part of our life.



Do not judge by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.
- Nelson Mandela


Failure comes in a variety of ways and depends on how you treat it – big, small, just fine. For most of us, we consider it a failure when: we are unable to get a promotion, there is delay in receiving our bonuses, we suddenly lose our job, we didn’t make it to the leader-board, an unexpected health issue comes, we are unable to pay our debts or a financial issue strikes, one of our family members passed away or got troubled and we are guilty of the negligence (sorry to mention this tragic one), you or your wife filed for a divorce, etc. They’re too many and how I wish none of these (or none at all) became one of your failures.

But still, let me ask you:

What was your biggest failure in life last year? Did you survived it?

Yes, no, on-going, I’m dead on it…whatever that answer is, consider yourself lucky for when failure or obstacle comes your way, success is next.

I failed!

Hard to accept but defeats really happen. Failures often attack hardworking people like you and me. I was unsuccessful (and therefore failed) in a lot ways last year – I got sick and almost died, I sold my car unexpectedly, and sadly, I got no income for almost four months. I got devastated in so many ways – I went broke last 2016. Really painful, hard to swallow, but as they say it, “Life must goes on”. And so do I. I am now back at work and thankful for being still alive. I am to share you my failure story on another post sometime soon.

Friend, if failure came to you too, as a tap on to your shoulder, then let us just accept the fact that we’re both unlucky. But, dearest friend, don’t forget that we need to move on! The great thing is that you and me still have this another chance to get up from where we fall and pursue the elusive success once more. Yes, success can be coveted and who knows, it can be this 2017!

Remember, lots of successful entrepreneurs and now millionaires always say:

“It’s a whole lot of failures before success!”.

Here’s what more exciting now. Despite our failures, we’re still alive. That means we still have the chance to fight and win it - no matter how worst the situation is. Here’s some more words of motivation for you. And please think about them for a minute.

How many companies closed their doors this year? One thousand. Two thousand. Maybe, it’s even more. How many stock traders lose their money this year? Certainly, there is over a thousand pockets that went empty this 2016. How many lose their jobs? How many businessmen and investors went broke? If you would just imagine the intensity of failure that havoc many of us this 2016, it’s as tragic as hell!

Enough of the past. Now, it is for you to mind your strategy, get back into shape and just consider failure a learning experience.

Time to move on! 




I failed. In fact, it is not only this year, even in the past years. But I believe in second chance. I believe that after failures is success for I’ve been into those scary situations in life and I survived them all. Here’s my pieces of advise.

Try the R's Approach

I learned this from Brian Tracy. Why not take this three (3) approach – re-evaluate, re-engineer and re-organize your strategy. I mean, go back to the drawing board and review your plan of actions. Find out why they it didn’t work as planned. Something is wrong, definitely. It could be the tools. It could be the whole system. One way or the other, it could be you – your style, your timing, or maybe your health. Try to figure it out, with caution and intelligence this time around. You can simply go over your list, re-evaluate it and take out the unnecessary. You can even abandon the whole plan and re-engineer everything. Or it could be just putting the right resources to the right place at the right time – for example, that could be the person to whom you delegate the task; and that’s re-organization. Consider that.

Ask for Help and Guidance
In life, business or career, there is always an opportunity coming. This 2017, I’m pretty sure opportunity will knock into your doors. And when it happens, grab it with strategy and avoid failing or do mistakes as much as possible. How? Well, try to consult somebody whom you think can really help you succeed. That could be your best friend, wife, parent, ex-classmate, ex-boss or someone who’s already been into same situation as yours and is willing to help you nail it this time around. You can consult business experts if you may. You can call a life coach, a mentor, a spiritual adviser or a guru. You can even approach your God – talk to him, ask for guidance. But listen. If you still miss the opportunity that second chance is giving you, the next one may take longer to come. So make it sure you’ll win it this time.

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
- 1 Corinthians 10:13

Wala pang pagsubok na dumating sa inyo na hindi nararanasan ng lahat ng tao. Tapat ang Diyos, at hindi niya ipapahintulot na kayo'y subukin nang higit sa inyong makakaya. Sa halip, pagdating ng pagsubok, bibigyan niya kayo ng lakas upang mapagtagumpayan iyon. - 1 Corinto 10:13


Be the Real You
Finally, your success this 2017 lies on your ability to put everything into their proper places. It’s like executing a magic trick. You can only fool your audience if you deliver the trick the right way (watch Penn and Teller if you like). There are reasons behind our failures, certainly. And it is you, number one, who can identify those reasons before anybody else. What’s next is for you to act. Think of the best decisions. Execute the right actions with full confidence and persistence. If you do that, trust me, you’ll succeed – even if more failures come your way.

It’s 2017. May we find great successes this year!


About this Post
The author, Noriel Panganiban, wants to encourage everyone to fight every battles in life and move on. In the Philippines, every Filipino family experience struggles, hardships and difficulties in life. Many of us happened to embrace failures in life - being poor, being sick, being broke... but the underlying truth behind every failure is that success could be next. We just have to move on - think of ways how we can handle our problems or bad situations and act positively to start a new beginning. No matter what failure you have been into, definitely, there is a way to forget it and move on.

Comments

Popular Posts

“I Love Baguio City” - My Travel Story in the Summer Capital of the Philippines

The Strawberry Farm, Burnham Park, Mines View Park, the Mansion, Wright Park, Lourdes Grotto, and Session Road; these are among of the popular landmarks in the more commonly known “Summer Capital of the Philippines” – Baguio City. Why so? Well, the temperature here seldom exceeds 26 degree centigrade. During the cold season of December to February, the temperature falls down to even below 10 degree centigrade. The record low temperature was 6.3 degree and that was on January 18, 1961. How to Travel to Baguio City? Going to this cold city in the mountainous province of Benguet, Philippines is a six to seven hours travel by passenger utility bus from Manila. Starting from EDSA, traversing the NLEX, entering SCTEX, exiting the province of Tarlac and going through the neighbouring provinces of Pangasinan and La Union, and then exploring the zigzag road of either the Marcos Highway, the Kennon Road or the Naguilian Road, the coldest place in the Philippines will be reached. Baguio is a

"Business as Usual" as the Filipinos Define It (Vulcanizing Shop, Sari-Sari Store, Bakery) – Part 1

I asked the shop owner about these old unused tires on what are they doing with it. The Vulcanizing shop owners says, “Oh, someone will pick up those tires and pay us 5 or 10 pesos each. Sometimes they just take it for free”. Vulcanizing Shop - A Classic Example of Filipino Business You’ve most probably seen and been into a local, typical vulcanizing shop like this one in the photo. The business concept is very simple. Here’s a customer with his flat or deflated tire and the vulcanizing boy will repair it using a rubber compound patch, a heating tool, and an air pump. If it’s a regular car or van tire, repairing one may only take 10 minutes the cost of which is around 30 to 60 pesos. If it’s a tire from a truck or bus, it could be around 30 minutes and the repair would cost the vehicle owner around 100 to 150 pesos. Here’s the thing. A shop like this one could potentially earn a revenue of 1000 up to 2000 per day just by repairing a flat tire. Why? Well, with thousands of

Jesus Christ’s Hands (Kamay ni Hesus) – an Image of Ultimate Devotion

We visited Kamay ni Hesus in 2011. That big statue of Jesus Christ, similar to that one seen in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, is a magnificent wonder. Probably, this hidden place in the province of Quezon is not yet known to the world. Then this post is a good starting point to share it. More than 85% of the Filipinos are Catholics. Many are truly devoted. Some are not. This holy place is a place of worship for many Catholics. At about 50 feet tall, this statue of Jesus Christ is a magnificent structure made even more noticeable when placed on the mountain top. About two thousand to three thousand visitors come into this place everyday to pray, to stroll and to witness the beauty and holiness of this man-made mountain park. On the Photo: A view from the Foot of the Mountain at Lucban, Quezon, Philippines Kamay ni Hesus “Kamay ni Hesus” in Lucban, Quezon is proving it all. A structure, a park , a holy place – many believes that it will last for a lifetime. On a larger scale, Chris

The Solutions to the Problems in the Philippines – an Appeal for Help from People Like You

If I would become the political adviser of the Philippine president, I would propose to him solutions on how to resolve the problems and issues happening in this country. But if I would not become one, I will continue to become an adviser if not to the president then to the people. Manila, Philippines There are hundreds of problems the government of the Philippines is facing today and even in the past. Some of them can be considered solved while some are not. Some problems are recurring while others are permanent and therefore the solutions are only temporary. However, it is worth commending on how the current government is responding to the needs of time of the Filipino people. Ads by ProjectPilipinas Click Image to Learn More The rise of the Philippine Stock Exchange index is a valid proof that several economic measures are taking effect. The legal measures are showing results in the sense that the fight against corruption is not a “ningas-kugon” platform. The call

The Divisoria Malls - Defining Shopping in the Philippines

They call it the 168 Mall. It is one of the busiest places in the Philippines during shopping days like Christmas season when longing for enjoyment and relaxation is on the air once again. From Cavite, my home place, going to Divisoria, it will take you about an hour travel under normal traffic flow. What is in this place? Well, Divisoria is the Bargain Shopping Capital of the Philippines . This is where wholesale and retail prices make shoppers say “WOW!” on delight. Visiting this place will definitely give you a realization about shopping on a different dimension. Find out why on the next paragraphs. On the Photo: The Popular 168 Mall in Divisoria, Manila, Philippines Divisoria is located in Binondo, Manila. It is accessible via Quiapo(where the famous Black Nazarene of Quiapo Church is) thru Recto Avenue and via Lawton near Manila City Hall. Divisoria has been there since the early 90’s. As it is near the North Harbour, Manila’s main seaport, the freshest and cheapest produc

“Fixer” in Philippine Government Agencies Like the Social Security System (SSS) and Land Transportation Office (LTO) – What We Filipinos Can Do About it?

Maybe in this post, I can clearly explain how “fixing” works in many government offices in the country. The idea is first, to warn you that such illegal fixing happens, and second, to give you tips on how you should avoid them. Plain and simple, we will not in anyway damage or speak against anyone or any particular office of the government in this post. It just happened that this is about my experience with LTO and SSS Tagaytay. I want to emphasize that still many government employees in the Philippines are doing their jobs right - including those who are working in the said branches. If you have experienced transacting with any government offices here in the Philippines, whether you're a Filipino or not, you should already be familiar with these signages. NO TO FIXER Banner in an LTO Office NO NOON BREAK Banner in LTO Tagaytay Here’s a bit of knowledge for you to digest first. What is “fixing” or who is a “fixer” by the way? In the Philippines, these good w

Beautiful Life in the Philippines in These Times of Pandemic

Life is beautiful if you will find ways to make it beautiful... This is what I learned from life experiences here in the planet. As the line from the poem Invictus states: I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul. We are responsible for our happiness, at least in a world where everyone has freedom. Now, as to what happiness would mean to you, it something you must know. But defining happiness should not be complicated. Perhaps, this blog post can explain...  Cows Freely Eating Grasses in a Green Field A Lady Witnessing the Rising of the Sun Morning Sun as it Climbs Up to Start the Day We all experienced the horrible impact of pandemic over the past two years, and yet we still feel the difficulties and challenges up to this very moment coping up with the so-called "new normal". Maybe its already too much to say what this COVID-19 virus bring us...that's enough! An inspiration may cure our broken hearts and souls. This is the best way to calm us down, make us

Interesting Facts from the Historic Province of the Ilocanos - Ilocos Norte, the Philippines

In 2016, my friends traveled to the northern part of our country – in Ilocos region. The views there are truly amazing, so I decided to create this post about Ilocos Norte. No wonder, some of the places I am going to share here do exists in the Philippines for centuries. Yes, that old! Not only that, I researched more facts about these places that may help you appreciate more the beauty or importance of them. Ready to be fascinated? Here we go. Sand Dunes, Paoay, Ilocos Norte The Sand Dunes in Paoay Ilocos Norte is in some ways comparable to the desert safaris found in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Marrakech. Land cruisers or 4x4 rough terrain vehicles will tour you around the dunes. The place is also known as the Ilocos Norte Sand Dunes (INSD) and is considered a National Geological Monument. The locals call it La Paz Sand Dunes or Bantay Bimmaboy. Notable feature of this tourist destination is that it is an 85 square kilometers dry zone facing the West Philippine Sea. Today, adventu