Tips, Lessons Learned From Pinoy Pao

I just received an email from a reader.  And I would like to share to you what he wrote, and what I replied to him.

"HI Mam,

I was inspired landing on your blog page and reading your experience on cart business, particularly pinoy pao, But i really do wonder how is your pinoy pao business going? and the system which almost all of them are saying is simple and reliable? I'm about to open similar cart but still wary of the location.

Your blog helped me picture running the business in someway. pls. le me know more about your Pinoy Pao experience.

Regards and thanks! "

Here is my reply to him:

Hi,

I'm glad that I was able to share with you some of my insights and experiences with the Pinoy Pao. 

Our Pinoy Pao was short lived.  It lasted only for 6 months, and we finally decided to give up on it. 

They said that in a business, the first 2 years is survival.  But since we have only minimal capital, we could no longer afford to lose.  

I'm sorry I could not really give you much of the tips since we easily gave up on this.

But I was able to ask some of my friends who were successful with this kind of biz.

So let me give you some crucial points on this. 

1. Location - very important in the biz.

    STUDY YOUR LOCATION.  This means that if you have already a proposed location, you need to COUNT foot traffic.  Use a "counter machine" (not sure of the term).  You may borrow or you can buy one.  I think this is an affordable tool.  

Try this out for 1 week.  Daily counting.  I'm not really sure on the days.  You can search in the internet for more details on this.  Or look for a mentor regarding this.

How to calculate if this is a profitable location:  Usually, only 10% of the foot traffic would buy your product.  So you need to calculate your sales based on the 10%.  If the result is profit and not loss -- (of course you need to consider the overhead costs like the payment for the crew, electricity, rent, etc), then the probability that you will earn would be high.  

2.  If the company promises to provide a locator for you, never fully trust that locator.  He might be able to find a location, but I'm sure he did not study that location.  Just do step 1.

3.  Usually, you need to have a hands-on on the business.  Then, when the system is stable, you could already delegate this.  

4.  Attend more seminars on this.  There are free seminars usually done in WTC.  You may check on the net for the schedules.  

5.  Look for MENTORS.  These people already experienced failures.  You just need to learn from them and not from your experience.  BIG MISTAKE FOR US.  We just plunge into the business without looking for mentors to guide us.  We just trusted the company who told us that they will take care of us.  

6.  Be on guard for competitors.  Have a unique product.  Look for a franchise that offers a unique product.  

If not, the computation of your foot traffic would be divided among those competitors around the vicinity and  you.  Check if the total computation would still be profit and not loss.

The products of Pinoy Pao really tastes good.  But for lack of foot traffic, and for lack of knowledge as to how to run this business (from location, to looking for a crew, to buying of stocks, inventory, etc.), lack of guidance, that was the reason for our failure in the business.  

But then again, failure is part of life.  It's up to you if you are willing to take the challenge.  

Again, I cannot overemphasize the need for MENTORS.  Study and look for mentors before you start the business.  Very important also, is you start the business.  Not just end up in the planning stage.

I hope I was able to effectively share to you what you need for your new business.

God bless you!

yzero

You may also read:


My 1st Pinoy Pao Opening Experience at Guadalupe Commercial Complex
Why A Business Fails - MOP

Outpouring Blessings Last Christmas and New Year 2011

How I Spent My Christmas Holidays 2011?


I was filled with blessings this Christmas season, and I would like to share it with all of you.
Since there are outpouring blessings to share, I would like to do it part by part, so as not to bore you with a long read.  Even during my writing of this post is already a blessing.  God sends me messages from time to time as I went along with this sharing.
So, here it goes.  I believe you will also be blessed with this sharing of mine.

My First Blessing:

I wasn't sure if I was going home or not.  I have a deadline on January 1, and I needed to finish everything before this date.  Since I was still very hopeful that I could go home for Christmas, I already bought a round trip ticket to Tacloban.  I am not sure if this was a good idea.  I don't know if they will allow me to go home.  And I was afraid to make that request since I was still in my probationary period.  It was already expensive since I bought it a few weeks before the vacation. After several days, my boss suggested that I just connect from our home to our office so that I could go home.  But I need to be in the office by January 2, since we need to do implementation on site.  I really felt so grateful that I was alowed to go home. I felt God's love through this. God just made a way for me to go home. And I thank God for this great miracle.

My Second Blessing:

I was able to arrive at terminal 2 airport a bit early, so I had the time to take an early lunch. I went to the 3rd floor of the terminal where the restaurants are located.  I wanted to eat something really good but I did not know what food to eat.  So I searched which restaurant to dine in.  Finally, I found a perfect place -- Kenny Rogers.  I missed this restaurant.  I ordered classic healthy plate.  It was one of the best lunch I ever had.  I brought my book with me (How To Be A Millionaire God's Way). While waiting for my order, I was able to read.  Double treat! That was a complete course.  Food for the mind, and body. And that was one of my perfect Lunch.

After eating, I headed to the pre-departure area.  There were many people waiting.  There was a long line of chair with people sitting.  Finally, almost at the end of the line, I found 1 vacant chair.  I sat beside a friendly lady.  I found out from her that the flights were delayed that's why there were many people in our area.  These people had different destination all mixed up in 1 pre-departure gate. We had a nice chat while waiting.  Even if our flight was delayed, I did not feel any tiredness or boredom because of this.  Finally, it was boarding time.  The flight was really smooth.  That was another double blessing from God.

My 3rd Blessing:

When I finally arrived home, I found out that Mama was still sick with severe cough. She was just lying in bed when I saw her. Yet I felt so happy seeing my family again. And I saw them really happy seeing me again. I thank God that I got to be with my family this Christmas Season.

My stay at home was a colorful one.  It was not purely a joyful one.  There was the joyful, sorrowful, and the glorious part. :)
There were series of events that happened that created chaos and joy.  I found out that Mama was not just sick physically.  She was also sick emotionally and spiritually.  I think it was the other way around.  The reason why Mama is sick physically, is because of her emotional and spiritual sickness.  And that created a snowball effect.  Because she is sick physically, her emotions weakens.  And because her emotions weakens, her sickness would not heal. And it greatly affected the rest of our family. But nevertheless, I was still happy since I was home.

My 4th Blessing:

Because no medicine could  cure her, she was advised to go to Cebu to have her further check up.  Papa and I went with her to Cebu, and during our way to Cebu, we had so much fun. Mama did not experience any more fever.  Yes she was still coughing, but she was a lot more rested during our trip.

We had a nice chat in the bus to Ormoc.  The best part was I was able to open up to Mama some of my thoughts on staying positive. I was able to share with her the negative moments of my life and how I became really restless and not at peace during those times. But when I shifted my mind and decided to think positive, it became lighter for me.  And I gained true freedom and peace.
I told her that it is only how we misinterpret things that makes us truly miserable.  Of course everything I said was based on my very own experience.  I'm not really sure though if Mama got my message.  But it was worth a shot. And it was truly a great ride.

My 5th Blessing:

Upon arriving at Ormoc, we hurriedly bought our ticket to Cebu.  The Supercat was already fully booked, but it was good since there was still available ticket in the slow boat (Roble).

We had a nice breakfast at a bakery in Ormoc since the boat was leaving at 1pm. We bought coffee and 3 bread.  But our main course was a very delicious food that Mama prepared.  We had a hearty meal and more laughter during our meal.
After eating, we cleaned up the table, and went in the boat.

My 6th Blessing:

When we got on the boat, Mama continued sharing her thoughts.   After an hour, I felt tired and wanted to go to sleep.  But I did not want Mama to cut her sharing.  But when she saw me that I was already closing my eyes, she just gave in and told me to go to sleep.  Finally! He-he-he!  I was able to restfully sleep.  Mama woke me up since she was already hungry.  She asked me if I wanted something for lunch.  I told her that we already ate brunch.  She told me, that was not brunch (branch), those were just "leaves".  It took me a few minutes to realize that that was a joke.  And I started laughing in the inside since I was still too tired to wake up.

My 7th Blessing:

When we arrived in Cebu, my sister and her husband picked us up at the terminal.  We were not able to go to the hospital that day since it was already late in the afternoon.  So, we decided to go home in my sister's house.

When we arrived, I was so happy to see my pamangkins.  I was specially surprised by how the youngest of them had grown.  The last time I saw her was she was still a baby.  And now, she was already walking and talking a bit clearly.
After diner, we played Monopoly.  I felt like a kid again.  I remembered when we were young, we used to play Millionaires Game.  And I often ended really rich by the end of the game.  We had so much fun. We just ended the game since it was already late in the evening.  I was almost bankrupt when we ended it.  But we had so much fun.

My 8th Blessing:

The next day we went to the hospital for mama's check-up.  She needed to undergo several tests.  The last test of mama was a long procedure.  My sister and I just bought food outside and we ate it inside the hospital.  It was like we had a picnic.

Those were the few of my blessings during my Christmas Vacation.  I could go on and on listing these blessings.  Isn't it that we should be the one who should give Jesus our gift?  Isn't it that it's His birthday?  But yet, it was Jesus who gave me a lot of present during His day.  And those are truly beautiful presents that I certainly would like to keep.  And now, I think it's my turn to give.  I pray that this year, God would grant me the grace to be able to give back to Him.  To give more to Him who truly loves me dearly.

What about you? How did you celebrate Jesus' birthday?

Focus On Your Goal

I attended a very powerful talk in Macau last  October 2011.  One of the striking points that was  instilled in my mind was about the 3 P's to become successful.  The first one was Patience, the second  one was Persistence, and the third one was  "Pocus"  (Focus).  Everyone laughed.  But the message was crystal clear not just to me, but to all of us.


Yes, it's true.  If we have a goal that we want to  reach, we need patience and persistence.  Or else, we would give up easily really soon specially when we come to the difficult part on reaching this.  Since there will be hurdles and bumps along the way, therefore we need these first two P's.


Another major ingredient in success is the 3rd P - "Pocus" (Focus).  The question now is - what are we constantly focusing on today?


"...Seek and you shall find..." Matthew 7:7


Even if we have loads of patience and persistence but focuses on the wrong stuff, the goal will never  be reached. Most people misses opportunities.They  miss these things that would lead them to their  success,  not for the lack of focus, but for focusing on stuff that would lead them nowhere.
   
Let me share to you 1 experience I had just recently.  This experience is very simple,  yet the message it gave me was like a megaphone to remind me to stay focused.


Trash Can Experience

One relaxing weekend afternoon, I went to the dining table to eat my merienda.  After eating, I then went in the kitchen to throw away the plastic that contained my food.  I looked for the 2 small trash cans that used to be found in one part of the kitchen, but could not find it.  I looked again, and again.  Searching in all areas of the kitchen but still I could not find it.  When I was about to give up, suddenly, I noticed that there was a bigger trash can just right in front of me, waiting for me to throw my trash! I did not see that because I was looking for the 2 small trash cans.


What is your goal this 2012?


Do you have a goal that you want to achieve?  Did you have a goal last 2011 that you were not able to finish it yet?  It's never too late to finish the run.


As for me, one of my goals is to reach a certain income level in one of my businesses. It has been  more than a year that I started the business, and found out that it was not that easy.  I encountered a lot of rejections and failures along the way, and it really weakened me.  Because of this, there are several attempts to quit in the business.  I no longer have the energy to go on. I became focused on the rejections and feared more rejections.  Because of this, I became slow in spotting opportunities that would potentially help me in growing my business. When I became aware of that opportunity, it was already gone.  And these opportunities often times just shows up right in front of my face!  Even if I could have acted upon it with lesser effort.  But since I focus on my failures and fears of rejections, it just slips away.  And there is a sense of regret.


But then again, missed opportunities doesn't mean failure.  "It's part of growing" (a friend of mine likes saying this line).  It's a constant reminder to stay focused and adjust your focus so that it will point to the right one.  There will always be opportunities coming.  It will never cease to flow.  So, just focus and keep on looking for this so you won't miss it.  And that you may finish this strong.