Open your safe

By Lloyd Luna

Dear Lloyd,

Our ability to dream big doesn't make us better than anybody else. Our ability to take action does. If dreaming can be the most precious ability that we can do, it can also be the cheapest since dreaming is absolutely free.

Achieving your dream, getting whatever you want in life, and living the best life you can imagine, however, come with a high price and stake—that is why taking action itself is one of the prices you pay if you want to succeed.

Same is true with our Overseas Filipino Workers who, in my calculation, have also come to a point of dreaming to get back and start their own business. While at that, they have to support their family back home. It seems to be a battle between saving and spending money all the time.

But the good news is this: You don't have to choose between the two. For one, I really don't believe that saving can save your future, maybe in some instances it can.

Investing and putting money to work regardless of its worth is one key to better your life.

My business started at P500. That's true. When I started in December of 2005, I only had that much. But with the imagination, faith, and passionate labor which included some skills and organized ideas, it turned out to be a case of creating something small to something big.

In less than two years, The LLOYDLUNA Communications has served and has been serving some of the top brands in the country: The Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (Gonegosyo.net), RFM Corporation, Bobson, Reyes Haircutters, The Manila Times, National Bookstore, Petron Foundation, among others.

There are only a few things to think and do to start a business and make it running. But as I said, starting a business is taking good care of a new born baby. You have to really be there and see for yourself how foundations are laid.

First, I think you're like most of our workers overseas who also didn't want to leave their family. Would there be choice between staying and going, majority would choose to stay. I think is more than enough motivation for you to think and plan about your future.

Study the country and the business model where you are now. Being a worker today doesn't make you a worker forever unless you let it stay that way. Develop business ideas that you can adopt when you get back. I tell you monetary capital is the least problem you have if you're thinking to start a business. If you have the best ideas, you'll have more than enough support and resources available.

Second, create a short- and long-term plan. Many startup entrepreneurs fail because they also fail to plan. Many of them had the best ideas, best location, more than enough capital but they also don't have any blue print of what they intend to do and accomplish.

If you don't have a target, any shooter or archer would tell you, you can't hit anything. Try to sit down, have a self-talk with yourself, and plan with yourself. I got some experience at working from other country for a while and I know how lonely can be really, really lonely.

So instead of being down and depress, why not try to be up on your senses? If you don't want to be away from your loved ones anymore, you can always do something to avoid it next time. So, get a piece of paper, a pen, and a calendar and start writing your thoughts.

Third, put your money to a “safe” where you're the only person who can unlock it. Know the combination and keep it guarded.

“Safe” means your passion. If you love cooking, don't ever try to put your money in engineering. You won't know the combination there. If you love automation, don't attempt to put your money running a publishing company.

History will tell you that people who have worked on their core strengths and passion succeeded on their chosen businesses. Browse the Internet, make some research, and analyze some of the country's top entrepreneurs today and you'll see where they've started.

The best time to think and strategize is now while you're still there away from the playing field of business. If you delay to plan for yourself and your business, you also delay your chance to succeed. And without me saying, but I'll say it anyway, you automatically delay your opportunity to just be with your family, live a happy life with them, and be your own boss.

You can believe that there's no going back overseas to work because you can think you can always go back and travel the world for leisure. Isn't this a kind of life you'd want to live if given a chance?

You know the answer very well. And you know what to do to make it: Take action.

Value your dreams,

BIG