How a Taxi Driver Became a Bank President? by Bo Sanchez

[smurky]

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hi guys... i heard Bo Sanchez name a year ago... pero wala lang ko magbali-bali...

now, i'll be posting articles nga makatabang nimo not only on the business aspect, financial
literacy, but to your personal life as well...

kung naay mo maikadugang nga Bo Sanchez articles, i-post lang sad diri...

[smurky]

How a Taxi Driver Became a Bank President?
by Bo Sanchez

It all started when my plane to Cebu was delayed by 5 hours.


While my fellow-passengers around were acting like enraged volcanoes spewing lava, cursing the catastrophe that befell upon us—I smiled and closed my eyes. Instantly, I felt peace. I whispered, “Lord, you have a special surprise in store for me.”


And in minutes, I discovered my gift.


That special surprise was Ray, a man who would bless me with his life. He also gave me key business ideas that would double my income.


He greeted me with a firm handshake and a friendly smile. “I watch you on TV,” he said, “and I text my family and friends to watch you.”


Like me, Ray’s flight to Mindanao was delayed for 8 hours. (All the flights that day were delayed. The airport looked like a refugee camp with people sitting on the floor and crowds begging for food from the airline personnel.)


I didn’t know why, but I sensed a connection with the man in front of me.


Later on, I discovered why.


As we found seats and ordered coffee, Ray shared with me the riveting story of his life. I was so swept away by his experience, I forgot all about my coffee.


“I went to Bible School and became a Pastor,” he said. “I pioneered a small church.” But after being a Pastor for 3 years, tragedy struck. His wife lost a baby boy in her pregnancy. The trial caused Ray to think about his family more.


“It’s lonely being a Pastor,” he explained. “The problems of my flock are all my problems. But my problems were only mine! So I asked my people to pastor their pastor too.” Slowly, he delegated his roles to his congregation as he felt a need to focus on his family—especially their financial needs.


His joined corporate life. For 6 years, he worked for a big company as their Regional Manager for the entire Mindanao (Southern region of the Philippines). He was earning P50,000 a month (US$1000+), a big sum during that time. But at the end of the day, he was still broke. In fact, he was in debt to the tune of P1.2 Million (US$26,000+)—including a warrant of arrest.


To survive and feed his children, the former Regional Manager became a Taxi Driver. It was an incredibly humbling experience. But he learned important lessons that would change his life forever.


Rey was now only earning P350 a day—a far cry from what he was earning before. But it was here where he learned how to manage his money.


It was here where he learned how to live within his means.


It was here where he learned how to save.


Ray said, “People like to manage what they don’t have. That’s why they’re poor. By borrowing for stuff they can’t afford. During that year as a Taxi Driver, I learned to manage what I had. And I was actually better off earning P350 a day than earning P50,000 a month! Because now, I learned to manage my money.”


After one year of being a Taxi driver, he borrowed enough money to buy cabs and became a Taxi Operator. But that was only a transitional step to learn how to run a business. His real goal was to be in the “money” business.


Ray wanted to own a bank.


So his first step was to work in a Rural Bank—without asking for a salary. He simply wanted to learn. And 3 years later, when he learned enough, Ray built his own Rural Bank.


Today, his Rural Bank is going strong. So far, after 7 years, the bank has given micro-loans to over a thousand people in his city, providing them with capital for their small businesses. And with 97% repayment efficiency! Because of this, his bank is transforming the lives of the poor. He teaches them the habits of saving, investing, and entrepreneurship.


Ray explained, “I ask people, ‘Do you want to prosper? What do you have? You may not have money. But you have time. Not just time, but time to learn. So use that! Join an insurance company and be an agent. Or join a company and sell their product. The important thing is to learn—and from there, branch out. Don’t get a job to earn money. Get a job to learn! And don’t start a business to earn money. Get into a business to learn! The money will follow.”


He continued, “Some people start a business and want to earn right away. But that’s not wise. Starting a business is like a slingshot. You have to pull back. That means clearing the way. Take time pulling back. Because when it’s time to release, you’ll be surprised that your business will rapidly shoot towards the target.”


Ray is a Serial Entrepreneur. At the back of his calling card is a list of his other businesses: a construction company, a property management company, salons, restaurants—plus a few more.


“I never manage my businesses,” he said, “I pass it on to people who can do a better job. I make them part owners. That’s why I can own many businesses.”


As Ray spoke, it was though I was hearing myself preach.


We both have the same beliefs about money.


We’re both Preachers that address the practical needs of people.


We’re both Serial Entrepreneurs.


And we both are fighting poverty by teaching three things to the Filipino: (1) a practical spirituality, (2) a more positive financial mindset, and (3) financial literacy.


Oh, one last thing: We both love our families.


At the airport, I met Ray’s lovely wife and beautiful daughter with him.


I sensed the happiness in his family. It was refreshing.


That day, my catastrophe turned out to be a rich blessing.


Not only for me, but everyone who’s reading this blog right now.


Talking to Ray made me realize more than ever before that we should never tell ourselves, “I’m stuck where I am. My life will never change.”


Keep dreaming my friend.


God has a wonderful plan for your life.


Pursue it with passion.


May your dreams come true,


Bo Sanchez

[smurky]

Wise Words from Bo Sanchez on True Wealth

How to Be More Emotionally Present to Your Family No Matter How Busy You Are

6 Steps to Enjoying Your True Wealth
By Bo Sanchez

We were going to Hong Kong that day. I was going to preach for three days but had two extra days to be with my family. Picture us at the airport: My wife carrying our baby in her arms, my eldest son bouncing about like a rabbit and announcing to the whole world, "I'm going to Hong Kong Disneyland!" And the poor skinny father? Straining to push eight massive bags on a wobbly cart with a stubborn right wheel. (I've noticed that these deranged carts supernaturally end up with me wherever I go.)

That was when we heard the crying.

Correction. Not crying. But spine-chilling, lung-busting screaming. Two kids were holding onto their mother. They were separated by four-foot tall steel bars. But to those distraught children, those steel bars represented two years of being without their mother - the contract of a domestic helper in Hong Kong.

Four small arms clutching, grabbing, not letting go.

The whole world heard their pleading scream, "Mommy, please don't go! Please don't go!" I'll never forget the mother's pained, tortured face - as though a knife was ripping through her body. My wife cried openly. I wept inside and held onto my kids more closely.

That was two days ago. Yesterday, the story continued...

Those Small Arms Continue to Reach Out Yesterday was Sunday.

And I walked around Central.

If you don't know Hong Kong, Central is where thousands upon thousands of Filipina Domestic Helpers congregate. They sit on sidewalks. They sit on overpasses. They sit by storefronts.

I walked passed one woman who was reading a handwritten letter.

The handwriting was obviously a child's penmanship.

I walked passed another listening to a little cassette player - not to listen to music - but to a voice of a kid telling stories.

But what broke my heart was the news given to me by Shirley, the head of one organization that tries to help them get financial education. I was shocked by what she said. "Brother Bo, out of our 700 members who are married, 80% is already separated from their husbands."

Families aren't designed for prolonged separation.

They're not just made for that.

We're supposed to spend time together.


6 Steps to Spending More Time with Your Family
No Matter How Busy You Are

"Bo, why are you telling me this? I'm not in Hong Kong. I'm living with my family under one roof."



Listen. Yes, you're not in Hong Kong.



But if you don't have time for your family - and your heart is not focused on them - you might as well be in another country.



You could be physically present - but are you emotionally present as well?



Let me share with you five important steps you could take to become more emotionally present with them...



Step #1: Be Close.



I'm still in Hong Kong as I write this piece.



It's five in the morning as I type this article in bed. And my little family is literally around me because we're all sleeping on one bed. Yes, we've become one mass jumble of intertwined humanity - our limbs, legs and arms crisscrossing each other. And that's when I realize - gosh, I don't know how blessed I am.



Why?



Here I am with my family. I feel their skin. I smell their scents. We're so close, I feel their breath.



And yet I'm surrounded by 148,000 domestic helpers here in Hong Kong that have been away from their families for months, for years, for decades.


And for those who've separated - forever.



Let me say it again: We don't know how blessed we are.



We complain that our families are nutty. But we don't understanding how blessed we are to have them close enough to experience their nuttiness. We complain about our petty quarrels, our cold wars, our dysfunctionality.



But whose family isn't dysfunctional?



I've talked to some people here in Hong Kong who would give anything to be with their families again - even for just one day of nuttiness. The first step is to be more emotionally present to your family is to actually be physically present to them. Be close!



You need to know how precious your family is - and treat them that way. You need to see them as your true wealth - that nothing is more precious than your relationships.




Step #2: Be Deliberate.
Because you need to protect this treasure or they get stolen from you.

No matter how busy I am, I schedule a weekly romantic date with my spouse.



Yes, I actually write it down in my appointment book and treat it like a meeting with the President of the Philippines. These weekly nights are blocked off for the entire year. Nothing can touch it, except some dire emergency.



Why? Because if my marriage fails, everything else stands to fail as well: My ministry, my businesses, my soul... So it is an emergency that I bring her out every week.



I also schedule a weekly date with my kids.



I believe parents need to do these one-on-one dates with each of their kids. Unless of course you've got 18 children and may need to bring them out by two's or three's.



Sometimes my son and I just walk around the village and talk.



It doesn't have to be big. But swapping stories and opening our hearts to one another on a consistent basis is already very big to them. It means they matter to you - that you value them - and you'll see their self-esteem grow.



Step #3: Be Expressive.



I tell my wife "I love you" seven times a day.



I hug my kids countless of times a day.



At night, I tell my kids, "I'm so proud you're my son. I'm so proud I'm your Daddy. You're a genius. You're a loving boy. You're an incredibly gifted young man..."



This is true. I have met 40-year olds who long to hear these words from their parents - "I'm proud of you," and feel an empty space - like a gaping wound in their souls because their parents have never told them this.



Don't do that to your kids.



And before I forget: Praise your kids seven times a day.



And praise your spouse seven times a day.



I'm not kidding. It will revolutionize your marriage.



If I say, "Criticize your spouse seven times a day," I bet you'd say, "Kaunti naman. I do that already." But that's the problem. We don't realize that when we criticize our spouses, we actually destroy our marriage bit by bit - not just our spouses.



But when you praise and honor your spouse - you build up your marriage.



It can be very simple stuff:

Ang sarap ng luto mo ngayon, Hon.

I thank God He gave you to me.

You're so hardworking.

I love it when I see you play with the kids.

You know how to make me happy.

Ganda mo ngayon.



Keep on doing this and you'll see changes in your life and your marriage you thought were not possible.



Let me say it again: Praise your spouse - and your children - seven times a day.



Step #4: Be Deep.



Your weekly dates shouldn't just be watching movies, eating out and going home.



Talk deep.



Talk about your feelings.



Enter into each other's worlds. Dive into each other's dreams, hurts, desires, worries, hopes and burdens.



When you open yourself up to your spouse or your child, there are more chances for the other person to open up to you.



Step #5: Be Simple



Yesterday afternoon, I preached to 700 people in Hong Kong.



I usually give my talks for 45 minutes. That's been my trademark. But yesterday, I gave a solid two-hour talk. Vein-popping, heart-pounding, passion-driven talk - because I had a burden in my heart.



Because I preached on Financial Literacy.



I challenged them, "Raise your financial I.Q.!"



I scolded them, "When you left the Philippines, you told your kids, 'Anak, two years of separation lang 'to. After two years, Mommy will have saved enough and will go home and we'll be together again.' But after two years, you go home and you haven't saved. Because you repainted the house. Because there's a new TV set in the living room and a new gas range in the kitchen. Because the kids have new designer rubber shoes.



I taught them how to live simply and ruthlessly save 20% of their income.



Because unless they do this, they will be forever trapped in Hong Kong.



Look at your life.



Are you living simply?



Are you saving 20% of your income?



Step #6: Be Financially Intelligent


I also taught them where to invest.



I told them, "It's not enough to just save. You need to know where to put your money. Because savings accounts at 1% and time deposits at 5% won't do. Inflation - which is at 7% - will simply eat them up."



So I taught them about mutual funds and other investment vehicles, including the ability to sell something and get into business.



Here's the truth: The more you know about money, the less time you need to make money. So the more time you have for your family.



Actually, a time should come when you don't need to make money. Instead, you let money make money. And that requires financial intelligence.



Read. Attend seminars. Look for mentors.

Go Home.

After giving my talk, I took a deep breath and told my audience in Hong Kong, "When you follow these principles and have saved enough - please go home. Please go home to your children."



I made a lot of people cry that day.



I'm telling you the same thing.



Oh yes, you may be living with your family in one house, but it's possible that your heart is so far away from your spouse and kids - and they are far away from you as well.



You need to let your heart go home.

Go home my friend.

Your heart belongs there.

[Probelemado]

Gaw daghang salamat jud gaw.. nice story dah.. Tulo akong sip on ug luha...

Will ra jud brad ug diskarte..

Morepower

[smurky]

gaw, basin nakahilak ka kay naghiwa ka og sibuyas... hehehe...

yes bro, will og diskarte plus a couple of prayers and faith ang kinahanglan...

Gaw daghang salamat jud gaw.. nice story dah.. Tulo akong sip on ug luha...

Will ra jud brad ug diskarte..

Morepower

[knightcross]

very inspiring

[smurky]

got something up my sleeve for tomorrow... another Bo Sanchez article...

[smurky]

if it's something worth reading dapat pirmi nato i-up....


up... up.. up.... and away!!!!

[cryptkpr]

gotta bump this up... great stories and advise from a brilliant man, bo sanchez...

[P-Chan]

nice story... time to learn.. get a job to learn.. hehehe... very nice..