AkoSiMariaBerta

100 Guys Secret you must know

2011-04-28T19:22:00.000-07:00

1. If a guy cries in front of you during a fight, he’s just using the drama to get your sympathy.

2. We also get self-conscious about our skin (which means zits also stress us out!).

3. Our efforts to impress you are actually very obvious: We show off our shiny new stuff, like a top-of-the-line-gadget or an expensive watch.

4. Wearing makeup isn’t a turn-off. But re-touching every five minutes is, especially if you’re on a date with us.

5. Guys will never understand why girls need to spend an entire hour in the shower.

6. If we feel threatened by another guy, we won’t say anything. But we will definitely do some research to scope out the competition.

7. Guys know their priorities. So if your boyfriend is always “too busy,” he probably doesn’t want to be with you anymore – enough said.

8. We can like someone our family disapproves of, but we can never fall for a girl who won’t even try to change their minds.

9. A guy won’t kiss a girl on her forehead unless he’s really serious about her.

10. We love it when you notice our new haircut – and compliment us about it.

11. Guys can be sensitive and deep – not all of us are pigs.

12. We get embarrassed by too much attention.

13. Girls are much braver than boys.

14. We find it cute when you’re a messy eater.

15. We like it when you can make funny faces for the camera without worrying about looking silly.

16. At the end of the day, all we really want is your approval.

17. We get threatened when you’re more makulit (or playful in a good way) with other guys than with us.

18. When we get upset, we find comfort in chocolate and ice cream, too!

19. We love getting early morning phone calls from you, even if you disrupt our peaceful slumber.

20. We have trouble apologizing, but most of the time, we know that we’re wrong and you’re absolutely right.

21. Guys watch cheesy soap operas too!

22. We always check your Facebook page to see if other guys are leaving flirty comments on your Wall.

23. We gossip with other guys all the time. We’re even more big gossipers than you are!

24. When we choose our clothes for our dates, we actually take note of what we were wearing that last time we saw you. (We don’t want you to think we only have one shirt in our closet.)

25. We still go home and cry to our moms after a bad fight or a breakup.

26. Some guys still have teddy bears on their beds!

27. We believe in fairy tales and unicorns too.

28. On our first date, we’re just as anxious as you are.

29. We’d rather be with quirky, flawed girls than picture-perfect ones.

30. We like girls who can go on unconventional dates with us – like going jogging in the rain together.

31. We’ll let you mess up our hair if we like you.

32. When we tell you that you’re cute, we mean it. Always.

33. We can be really dense, so we also need to be told that we’re cute.

34. We like girls who give us a hard time because when we finally get them to go out with us, the reward is greater.

35. When we pick on you or make fun of you, it means we like you. It’s the good old pigtail-pulling trick.

36. When you force us to watch chick flicks, we pretend not to like them, but we get butterflies, too.

37. Girls who can take care of themselves are way better than damsels in distress.

38. Horror movies freak us out big-time too!

39. Every time we try to make you jealous, it always backfires.

40. We get embarrassed easily. So please don’t laugh at us when we do and say something stupid.

41. We love social networking sites because they give us regular scoop on you.

42. The rain makes us feel all emo and sentimental, too.

43. We really don’t get your “subtle hints.” At all.

44. We’re fine with girls who wear skimpy outfits, but don’t keep tugging and re-adjusting your clothes.

45. Guys feel most of the things girls do. It’s just hard for us to express them.

46. Guys get really shy around their crushes too

47. Malambing girls always win us over – in short, those who are sweet!

48. We’d never admit it, but hearing David Archuleta’s “Touch My Hand” makes us feel all happy and giddy, too.

49. We will always be terrible at remembering dates and details. So we need you to remind us.

50. We try really hard to get you to notice us

51. We like finding solutions to your problems. It makes us feel like a hero.

52. Whether you’re skinny or curvy or somewhere in between, you’re attractive if you’re comfortable about your body.

53. We like it when girls can appreciate spending quiet, alone time with us.

54. We love girls who are upfront about their feelings.

55. When we really, really like you, it’s actually harder for us to make a move because there’s more at stake.

56. We get kilig (shivers or ticklish feelings) when you punch us playfully, even if it hurts sometimes.

57. If we’re really into you, trust us, we will come up with the most complex, most creative strategies to win you over. So don’t say we’re not making an effort, because we are.

58. We like pretty girls, but there has to be more than looks. We’re not shallow.

59. We’re jealous of guys who drives fast cars, in the same way you’re jealous of girls with closets full of designer outfits.

60. Guys also get stressed about maintaining a healthy figure.

61. People think girls are too talkative, but guys are big chatterboxes too.

62. Contrary to what shampoo commercials are always implying, guys don’t always like girls with long black hair. We love short-haired gals too!

63. The songs we play in our car when you’re in the passenger seat have been carefully pre-selected and screened for anything that may be offensive.

64. We love girls who are great with kids. Because if you can be patient with a three-year old, then you can definitely put up with us.

65. We were kind of sad to see High School Musical end. No more Troy and Gabriella!

66. We’re totally vain (especially when it comes to our hair!). But we try our very best to hide it.

67. We think girls in messy ponytails are cuter than girls with salon-perfect hair.

68. We can never be with a girl who is cruel to animals.

69. Before we post a status update on Facebook, we always consider whether you’d think it’s too whiny, or self-absorbed.

70. We like going to the cinema with you because we get to share our popcorn and maybe even hold your hand.

71. We will do absolutely anything for our girlfriends.

72. We love it when you sing off-key at the top of your lungs.

73. We will never get why you love posing for photos so much, but we kind of like it when we get to put an arm around you during group shots.

74. Out “just-rolled-out-of-bed-and-threw-on-a-random-outfit” look is more complicated and calculated than it seems.

75. We’ll start a petty argument with you just to get your attention.

76. We find it cute when we see you fidgeting, twirling your hair, biting the straw, and showing that we make you nervous.

77. We get anxious when you go to the bathroom in groups because you might be gossiping about us.

78. We’re huge fans of Gossip Girl too! We were touched when Chuck Bass finally said those three words, eight letters to Blair Waldorf.

79. We try to act mature, but we will never outgrow toys and cartoons!

80. Guys find it cool when a girl has a big appetite.

81. We can sense confidence from a mile away. We can tell when you know how amazing you are.

82. We get kilig (shivers or ticklish feelings) when we see you’ve viewed our Multiply Albums.

83. We love it when you can laugh freely and unpretentiously. The louder, the better!

84. We like it when we get to make you laugh. It makes us feel important.

85. Guys love being taken care of, but sometimes, you have to let us do things on our own. It shows you trust us enough.

86. We always worry about what you think of our fashion sense.

87. It sucks that we can break your heart without meaning to. We’re definitely not proud of this. (We’re Sorry!)

88. We like it when you show us off to your friends. It means you think we’re completely worthy of you.

89. When we know there’s a possibility that we’d bump into you, we actually spend time planning our outfits.

90. We think it’s weird that you keep tagging people in photos that all look alike.

91. We put up a strong front, but we also get hurt easily.

92. We respect girls who can let us down firmly and clearly without beating around the bush or trying too hard to be nice.

93. Guys also care about clothes and shopping.

94. Guys are also afraid of silly things, like flying cockroaches!

95. We’re very stubborn, but we can be open-minded if we want to be.

96. Don’t believe those teen movies – we’re not always thinking about gross stuff!

97. We know we’re in love with you when your name always comes up in our conversations with other people.

98. We still get jealous when you swoon over Edward Cullen. Even if he’s fictional.

99. We we say we like “simple girls” it doesn’t just mean we like minimal makeup and low maintenance clothes. It also means we want you to be game for anything and easy to please.

100. The most attractive girls are the ones who look naturally beautiful – like they’re pretty without even trying.

Read more: 100 Guy Secrets Every Girl Must Know | Candy Blush Beauty Blog

how do you love??

2011-03-23T08:43:00.001-07:00

genuinely... :)

Ask me anything

when you were young, what was your dream job??

2011-03-23T07:02:00.003-07:00

doctor...

Ask me anything

What's your favorite pasta dish?

2011-03-23T07:02:00.001-07:00

carbonara forever!

Ask me anything

when was the best day of your life??

2011-03-22T16:54:00.001-07:00

everyday was a "best" !

Ask me anything

Human - Computer Interaction 3

2011-03-11T05:36:00.000-08:00

3. What influence does the social environment in which you work have on your interaction with the computer? What effect does the organization (commercial or academic) to which you belong have on the interaction?

The social environment refers to how people and communities behave, their relationships, education and occupation, and the conditions in which they live. Truly, the environment in which you grew up greatly affects your exposure to the new trends of technology especially the computers. One good example I have in mind is our speaker on our multimedia conference earlier namely Madame Myrna. She grew up in an outskirts of a fishing village. Her father is a fisherman and they can’t really afford to have their home an electricity connection. That is why Madame Myrna grew naively about the latest trends of technology especially on the use of computers. When she was able to work abroad, she was able to learn how to use computers and apply it to her work as a helper. Right now, she currently owns a company here in Davao which gives services especially on the field of social media. The great incursion of environment she lives heavily affects her exposure to computers. Since the environment she is now living is banging out intensive exposure to computers, she also is bringing a waft out of her exposure being a venture capitalist.

Human-Computer Interaction 2

2011-03-11T05:35:00.000-08:00

2. Pick a couple of computer input devices that you are aware of (joystick, light pen, touchscreen, trackball, eyegaze, dataglove, etc.) and note down how each has different attributes that support certain forms of interaction. You ought to know a little about all of these devices - if you do not, research them.

Those peripherals you attach to the computer so that it can receive data are what we call input devices. These devices serve as a link between a human and a computer to create an interaction. The two most commonly known input devices are the keyboard and the mouse. As new forms of technology arises, there also spring up many input devices available for us to use. Here are some of them and their descriptions.

The Keyboard

This device presents you with an array of lettered and numbered keys and allows you to provide the computer with the text input. Most keyboards use the QWERTY layout, a design used on typewriters before computers became popular.

The Mouse

The mouse is a small, oblong device that typically has two to three buttons that perform different actions when they are clicked. Some of them include a scroll wheel, which allows you to scroll through virtual document pages rapidly without having to use the arrow keys on the keyboard but usually now, mice uses optical lasers.

Webcams and Microphones

Having a web cam allied to your computer allows you to capture visual input on your computer, though most web cams are used for videoconferencing and as well as for video chat. With a microphone attached to your computer, you can provide your computer with audio input and control your machine by speaking to it.

Scanners

Scanners are input devices that use light and optical sensors to digitize printed information.

Trackballs
They are considered as a mouse variation, essentially a mouse lying on its back. Since this device is stationary, it does not require as much space on your desktop. The ball moves as you rotate it with your thumb, your fingers, or the palm of your hand; this saves wrist fatigue and reduces hand and arm movement. Trackballs are especially popular with those experiencing problems with arthritic hands.
Light Pens
Light Pens let you move the pointer and select items on the display screen by directly pointing to the objects on the screen with the pen.
Touch Screens
Touch Screens allow you to use your finger to touch the screen and choose objects. A special computer monitor or a monitor fitted with special hardware is necessary to provide touch screen capabilities.

Game Controllers

Game controllers are specialized input devices designed to be used when playing video games. They are typically connected to a game console or computer by means of a wire, cord or nowadays, by means of wireless connection Game controllers usually have several buttons that perform different related functions in video games and an analog stick that controls character movement..Game controllers include gamepad, paddle, trackball, joystick, throttle quadrant, steering wheel, yoke, pedals, light guns and many more.

Human - Computer Interaction 1

2011-03-11T05:34:00.000-08:00

1. Observe skilled and novice operators in a familiar domain: for example, touch and 'hunt-and-peck' typists, expert and novice game players, or expert and novice users of a computer application. What differences can you discern between their behaviors?

The level of experiences between these two groups greatly differs from each other. Skilled or expert operators do better compared to the novice ones (of course). A novice operator needs to manage more information when learning a new skill whether a move or a technique for the computer application and consequently possesses less attention ability. Novices are more likely to experience anxiety during unfamiliar situations because they have lesser gone through compared to the experts. Skilled operators are better able to correct for extraneous influences on motor skill. For example, a skilled game player may have a greater chance of defeating the monster in the game compared to a novice player since he needs to master all the techniques needed to kill the hideous monster in the game .Touch typists yields greater jobs done compared to a hunt-and-peck typists. Skilled operators can separate pertinent cues. They specifically know what information to attend to and are better able to focus in on these cues. Captivatingly, expert operators are better able to detect false cues as compared to novice operators. Better to say, expert or skilled operators has longer exposures to these technologies that is why they manage to do their pertinent tasks in an instant.

Wait for Him

2011-03-01T17:26:00.000-08:00

BELIEVING IN MAGIC

Every time I dream
It’s always him
And in my heart
I can feel
We will be together

II

Don’t know where he is
My heart can feel
The day will come
When he’s mine
It will be forever

Refrain

Waiting for him
Too long I feel
To keep this love deep inside me
That so real, so real

Chorus

I’ll keep believing in magic
Someday, some how, my true love will come
This may be my last day alone
"Coz there someone for me
Who will always be
The one I love

III

Happy days may end
If we loose our friend
If we share a love
Its enough to last a life time

Refrain

Wishing for him
Too long I feel
To keep this love deep inside me
That so real, so real

Repeat Chorus

"Coz there someone for me
Who will always be
The one I love

Repeat Chorus

Apollo says,

2011-01-16T05:46:00.001-08:00

Ang sabi sa Census, mahigit 11 Million ang tao sa Metro Manila. Sa dami ng tao ngayon, pano mo kaya malalaman kung sino sa kanila yung para sa’yo? Pano kung nakasalubong mo na siya, kaya lang ‘di mo pinansin? Dumaan na pala sa harap mo, nung yumuko ka para magsintas ng sapatos mo? Nakatabi mo na pala, kaya lang lumingon ka para tumingin ng traffic light? Baka andun na siya, humarang lang yung pedicab? Sa dinami-dami ng tao ngayon, may mga masuswerte na nakahanap na, may mga naghahanap pa, yung iba sumuko na. Pero ang pinakamasaklap sa lahat, yung nasa’yo na, pinakawalan mo pa. Pero pano nga kaya ano, kung isang beses lang dumarating ang para sa’yo? Palalampasin mo ba, kahit nasa harap mo na?
— APOLLO GANUELAS (JOHN LLOYD CRUZ), MY AMNESIA GIRL

BUHAY PAG IBIG KO.

2011-01-16T05:45:00.000-08:00

GUSTO KO MARANASAN/MAGAWA SA BUHAY PAG-IBIG BAGO AKO MAMATAY.

MAGING LEGAL BOTH SIDES.
UNG YAYAKAPIN KA SA LIKOD NG MAHAL MO
BIBIGYAN KA NG FLOWERS TUWING DATE NIYO.
PUPUNTAHAN AKO SA BAHAY NAMIN PAG MAGKAAWAY KAMI.
MATUTULOG NG MAGKATABI.
MAG PICNIC
MAG-HOLDINGS HANDS NG WALANG SAWA HANGGAT SA MAPAWISAN UNG MGA KAMAY NAMIN.
MAGSUBUAN NG PAGKAIN.
IANGKAS AKO SA BIKE.
IDRIVE AKO PAUWE SA BAHAY.
ISUOT UNG DAMIT NIYA.
HAHARANAHIN AKO.
KANTAHAN AKO. LALO NA ANG FAVORITE SONG NAMIN.
MAG-IINTERNET NG MAGKASABAY
MAG-SHOSHOPPING.
MAG LALARO SA MGA TIME ZONE.
MALIGO SA ULAN
TATAWAGAN/ITETEXT AKO.
BUMABANAT*
YUNG MAGYAYAKAPAN KAYO HANGGAT SA MAGSAWA KAYONG DALAWA.
MAG-AASARAN.
LUMAKBAY KUNG SAAN SAAN.
KUMAIN NG MGA STREET FOODS.
MAGLARO SA PLAY GROUND.
MAG-DATE SA MAMAHALING RESTAURANT NG NAKA FORMAL ATTIRE. =))))
MAGSISIMBA NG MAGKASAMA.
MAG-REGALOHAN SA BAWAT ISA.
AT MAGMAHALAN NG WAGAS.
YUNG TIPONG FEEL NIYO KAYO NA ANG PARA SA ISAT ISA.
MAGBREAK

sa tingin mo, mararanasan ko rin kaya tong mga nakasulat sa taas o magiging pangarap na lang ang mga yon?

palagay ko oo.

sana hindi...

bago lang man ako bawian ng buhay.

40 tips for a happy YOU. :)

2011-01-14T07:09:00.000-08:00

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.

3. Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get more sleep.

4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My
purpose is to __________ today..'

5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

6.Play more games and read more books than you did in 2010.

7. Make time to practice meditation, and prayer. They provide us with

daily fuel for our busy lives.

8. Spend time with people over the age of 80 and under the age of 6.

9. Dream more while you are awake.

10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that
is manufactured in plants.

11. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries,
salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

12. Try to make at least five people smile each day - including yourself!

13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and
flowing energy into your life.

14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, OR issues of the past,
negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your
energy in the positive present moment.

15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems
are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra
class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a
college kid with a maxed out charge card.

17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the NEGATIVE BLUES away.

18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their
journey is all about.

24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years,
will this matter?'

26. Forgive everyone for everything - including yourself.

27. What other people think of you is none of your business.

28. REMEMBER GOD heals everything.

29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

30. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends

will. Stay in touch..

31. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

32.. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

33. The best is yet to come.

34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

35. Do the right thing!

36. Call your family often. (Or email them to death!!!)

37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I

am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.

38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly

don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the

most of it and enjoy the ride.

40. Please Forward this to everyone you care about. I just did. May

your troubles be less, May your blessings be more, May nothing but

happiness come through your door!

♥ ♥ ♥

more!!!

2011-01-10T06:05:00.001-08:00

never.

2011-01-10T06:02:00.001-08:00

I ♥ rubber bands ~

2011-01-10T05:50:00.000-08:00

What a great way to gear up for the year 2011. Hmm, I guess you’re wondering why am I gearing up this late when in fact, isang lingo na ang nakakaraan since the new year started. Honestly speaking, I have this fearful heart when I welcomed 2011. Takot ako sa maraming bagay- studies, service, responsibilities, at marami pang iba. I always tell myself that this would be a doom’s year for me. But God never let me feel that way. He reminded me one sweet thing, “YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS JOURNEY, YOUR HOUSEHOLD IS HERE FOR YOU. I AM HERE FOR YOU.”

I was indeed very blessed to have the North B campus based first household held on our house. Happy ako kasi I will be having my first worship and household for this year and I will be seeing again my household. Every month, I’m always looking forward for it because every household is a chance of FREEDOM, FRIENDSHIP, FUN and FAITH.

Our household last Saturday is about “I LOVE RUBBERBANDS”. We had an activity were we need to follow the writings on the paper made by our household leader. The twist is that, the pen that we will be using has rubber bands tied to it. We will be controlling the pen using the rubber bands and whoever has an output closely similar to the pattern wins. We were separated into two groups, team DMMA-ADDU-USEP and team DMSF-HCDC-SPC. After that activity, we shared our insights about what we have learned and what can we say about the game.

That activity clearly utters about our team especially on our different schools as campus based leaders. We have different ways and different personalities bounded with the same mission – RENEWING THE SOCIETY IN CHRIST THROUGH THE CAMPUSES. Young as we are, we have different views and ways on how we respond to God’s calling but we are all united with the living power of God’s love in us because we believe that loving Christ is about loving His people. The pen is GOD and the rubber bands represent us as His servants. Truly, we are just used by God to evangelize others but it is Him who is really doing the job. We are just instruments and with that idea, we are really blessed because in spite of our unworthiness, he still chose us to be His servants. The writings on the paper we used as a guide symbolize our living mission as YFC members. We wanted to write God’s love to each people’s hearts for them to feel His greatness and compassion. As a team, we need to work hand in hand in order for that mission to become possible and of course, we must work with Christ, the pen - the pen who is capable of creating the writings on the paper. We must love our team because these people will be our companion throughout this mission entrusted by the Lord. Let Christ be the binding power that fuses us together to work and serve for the same cause, that is to Proclaim His name.

Everyone is important in this mission and journey. That activity reminds me that unworthy as I am, Christ still chose me to become part of His servants – his rubber bands that would help Him renew the face of the earth through our simple ways.

Looking forward for another enjoyable household!

I ♥ my HH.

I Love Rubber Bands by Bo Sanchez

2011-01-08T07:51:00.000-08:00

Let me tell you a crazy story I heard recently. There' s this husband who out of sheer love for his wife decided to prove it to her. So he swam the widest oceans, crossed the deepest rivers, and climbed the highest mountains to show his deep devotion to her. But in the end, she divorced him.

Why? Because he was never home. (Get it?)

Let me tell you an experience I had as a kid. One day, I asked Mom, "Why do my shoes keep eating my socks?" As a young boy, that was always a mystery for me. All my other classmates never had that problem. Their socks remained tight and high up their legs the entire day.

Mom didn't answer my question but simply gave me two rubber bands, which I dutifully placed around the top of my socks. To this day, fifteen years later, I still have permanent circle marks around my legs. But aside from giving me this slight defect, the two bands worked like magic.

It never occurred to me that Dad and Mom didn't have the money to buy a new pair of socks for me. So I wore five-year-old socks, all soggy, grayish, and garter less. And yet amazingly, I never complained. I believe it was because Dad was always home when I needed him. Every night, after coming from work, we'd jog together, sit around, and talk about Tarzan, Farrah Fawcett Majors, God, and what I wanted to be when I grew up (a stockholder). On Saturdays, we'd walk to Cubao, eat a hotdog-on-a- stick, and buy new rubber bands before going home.

I've learned that in truth, we don't want our loved ones to show their love for us in big ways. Swimming the widest oceans, crossing the deepest rivers, and climbing the highest mountains seem spectacular - but that's not what we really want. Deep in our hearts, we just want them home. With us.

Sometimes, God will operate that way. Suddenly, He decides not to answer our prayers, or fill our need, or heal our sickness, or give us the miracle we're asking for. (He's got reasons why He won't, and believe me - they're pretty good ones.) So He'll just be there beside you, holding you in a hug. Sharing your pain. Weeping as you weep. Oh, He might give you some rubber bands. And that small comfort from Him will be more than enough to sustain you. Because the most essential truth you already know.

...to be home.

How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not packed as we expected? I trust you enjoyed this.

Pass it on to others.

I DECLARE

2011-01-08T07:44:00.000-08:00

“I declare I’ll have a super-blessed year in 2011! I claim a year of amazing abundance for my life. This year, I shall receive more love and give more love. I shall experience more joy, greater generosity, dreams fulfilled, financial increase, open doors, new opportunities, divine connections, supernatural appointments, great miracles, answered prayers, and exponential growth—Amen!”

Expert Judgment

2010-12-27T15:45:00.000-08:00

What is the best tool use in expert judgment?

It took almost a million times from several writers to say that a project definitely needs to have an efficient and an adjuvant effect not only for the company itself that made the said project but perhaps especially towards the society as a whole. For each project to become successful, careful planning, research and implementation must be done by the project team so as to compensate all of the requirements needed and suggested for the said project that is being done. Successful management of a project cannot always be done and cannot really be done by only one individual; it is always a team effort. Nevertheless, sometimes this team that is being referred to cannot be found inside a particular or the same basket. Often times, we need to seek on the other baskets to find out who or what we need. For some projects that are referred to as larger and more complex, it isn’t strange for even an experienced and adept project manager to ask outside assistance to help with the whole planning or implementing process so as to perform and guarantee a successful project management. Project management planning may only be as good as the information it is based on for some reasons. In some situations, contracting with an expert to collect data that will be used in scope planning and scheduling would definitely make sense. This might be the case when industry-wide information on a specific topic is needed. An outside consultant with lots of industry networking connections may have a better chance of compiling accurate statistics and other information for use in planning than someone on your staff.

In the duration or the process of project management, project managers have the capability or power to ask the assistance over some experts especially during the estimation. Expert judgment is the process that is most commonly used as an estimation approach during a practice. Expert Judgment may be based upon a particular set of criteria and or expertise from a knowledge or product area, let us say a particular industry or business venture for instance and etc. This knowledge that I am referring to is based and/or provided by a project team member, project team leader or external group/person which is/are considered as an expert in that area you are working on. Often times, expert judgment requires an expertise outside the project team, so external groups are consulted. Based on a blog I have read a while ago, there are four sources of expert judgment that may help you during the management of your project.

· Professional and technical associations. Professional and technical groups can provide expert judgment when the information needed is very detailed or referred as very technical. There are some instances wherein the information you need for the project is somewhat very specific or particular; for example, if you need to know what the postal or area code is for a place, you could ask some people who are expert on this track such as those in the post offices.

·Consultants. Consultants are those people who are referred to as advisers because they share their knowledge with you. They can be hired from outside the company to serve as experts for a project. However, this source is sometimes very expensive and can cause costs to rise on a project. For example, a company that specializes in natural gas may be hired to consult on a pipeline project.

· Other units or departments within the performing organization. The best thing to cling on something you didn’t know are those people who do the real job. Ideally, this is the best place to obtain expert judgment because they know for a major thing how the job is done in real time. It is considered very good since it can be obtained at no cost to you. For example, if you need to know how long it takes to assemble an automobile, you can ask someone who works on the assembly line.

· Industry groups. If professional or technical associations could give you the specific thing, Industry groups can offer general information. For example, if you need to know how long it takes for cement to cure, a construction group would be able to answer your question. If you just need a brief description on something, maybe this group could be helpful for you.

The use of expert judgment is not only known widely for business industry but also for the scientific purposes as well. Employed to fill data gaps or to supplement insufficient empirical data, expert judgment serves as critical functions to include medical diagnosis, projects duration and estimation costs, as well as engineering design, and risk assessments. The earliest tools used for formal scientific expert judgment were developed by the Research and Development (RAND) Corporation, to facilitate decision making, between World War II and the Vietnam War (just come to think of it, even in war, expert judgment has widely been used!). The first two methods were the Delphi Approach and Scenario Analysis, both developed through the collaborative project of the RAND Corporation, the U.S. Air Force, and Douglas Aircraft. The methodology involves an iterative process of eliciting expert estimates and providing aggregate responses to group, until realistic consensus occurs. Scenario Analysis, on the other hand, is a process of analyzing possible future events by considering alternative possible outcomes or scenarios. Designed to allow improved decision-making, scenario analysis facilitates more complete consideration of outcomes and their implications. These methods stated are just a big part of history. I am just telling here that expert judgment greatly holds a big part in every project a man upholds to do.

Based on some writings, expert judgment can be obtained by several ways which are very helpful and indeed very simple. One way is about handling interviews. You can eventually have an interview done for an hour or two with the different sources of your expert judgment- whether from professional or technical associations, industry groups or etc. Another way of obtaining the expert judgment we need is by gulping from past project activity so as to gain certain knowledge for your present project. Through this knowledge, you’ll be able to apply all of these for the success of your project. Another technique to be used is through brainstorming. It is done by getting a group to talk and focus on a specific area on your project where problem arises. Through the process of brainstorming, you will be able to gain and share your knowledge or opinions within the project team. After you’ve been able to come up with several plans or solutions, you must be able to analyze each of its effects to be applied on your project.

More often than not, we tend to step on an urcheon believing it is a rock that could help and saveus. Expert judgments may be referred to as these urcheons. Things and people may come on our way to help us, not to work for us. Sometimes, expert judgment may take also disadvantages because some project managers greatly depend on the advices of these experts and not on their own. Expert judgment may also eat up so much time that would greatly affect the whole time frame of your project. As project managers, we must be responsible enough for our own projects. Expert judgment may be very helpful for our projects success but try to apply it wisely.

Project vs. Work ; Project Management's relevance

2010-12-20T19:10:00.000-08:00

How is a project different to any other work? Is Project Management relevant to me?

Organizations and companies all share the same goal that with stands each endeavor’s persistence. If we will take a closer look at these both institutions, we would probably perceive that they happen to be in the same zone that happens to deliver either services or products. Services and products are assumed mainly as the end point for these institutions. But what happen during the middle of the story? Some would answer of course that there arises a functional work as well as a project in the emerging of an ending product. Can the terms work and project be used interchangeably? Do these two share the same meaning? If not, how are they different from each other?

Oooh - project. Everyone talks about project. For several months, it has been the talk of the town of IT people. We have already mentioned it a lot in our past entries. We have tackled its importance, nature, history, steps, and the likes. Ok, back to the offset. What is it anyway? Is a project something that your teacher gave you back in highschool? (Kidding!)Can creating your own version of the Iphone considered a project? Or do you think your education can be considered as one? Well, a project, technically, is a short-term effort to create a unique product or service. A project, in practical terms, is an assignment or undertaking to create a deliverable or in other words a product, which satisfies the mission of the project customers. A project is a set of activities to create something that is outside of your day-to-day operations. It is considered as something that isn’t actually a part of your routine, something new. A project creates a unique deliverable or product. For example, if your organization develops game software the actual creation and development of the code is a project. The manufacturing of the CDs, the Internet delivery, and the technical support you provide to your customers is part of maintenance and operations. Sometimes, we tend to associate project as a work thinking that everything we do is actually a project. Perhaps, we think of taking a bath as a project. Since taking a bath involves also several processes such as shampooing, applying soap and the likes, people perceive it as a project. But, based on several definitions of a project, it can never be something that you always do in a day to day basis. So, taking a bath cannot be considered as such.

On the other hand, functional work or sometimes referred to as operations, is just a routine, an ongoing work. Each day, everyone in the market such as the secretaries, accountants, book keepers, teachers, financial analysts, and car salespeople perform functional work that is routine, even if their activities vary somewhat from day to day. These people though varying in perspective with the jobs they handle might as well have their own petty little projects given by their companies. A manager assigned to the specific function provides training and supervision, and manages them according to standards of productivity in terms of typing speed, sales quotas or the likes. These managers give assistance to these people as to what extent their jobs might be. Their functional loads as individuals primarily constitute to the development of the company’s performance in the market. That is why it is very important to know the difference between the project and the operations or works.

The difference is that one set of activities creates a unique outcome or product while the other centers on organizational process, day-to-day business, and support of the organization’s mission. This is true in disciplines other than IT: consider designing a car versus manufacturing a car. Consider writing a book versus printing a book. Consider building a skyscraper versus maintaining a skyscraper. Projects have budgets, deadlines, and an agreed set of requirements for the deliverable to be accepted by the customer. A project is usually a temporary work taken to create a unique product, service or result as what I always emphasize a while ago. Let us elaborate it on further. Project is temporary and has clear starting and ending time frame. This time frame could range from few days to few years. Resources get assigned to the project at start or during the project and are released on or before the Project Close. Project is closed when objectives are achieved or when terminated early because of non viability. Project is unique as every project has unique objectives. There can be similarities though. Operational Work on the other hand is permanent and repetitive in nature. Resources are assigned to Operations on permanent basis. What makes the work project considered as a work and not merely an organizational work? For the most part, it is the fact that project work produces a unique product and service and comes to an end at some point because it is bounded by a time frame as what stated above. Operational work will produce the same thing again and again. Project work will produce something different than the organization has produced before. For example: Setting up a manufacturing area or plant would be a project. The manufacturing that happens after the plant is set up and operational will be operational work. Operational work will often support project work, or will continue where the project left off, so there is often a lot of interaction between the project and the operational teams. We can clearly see a big likeliness between what comprises a project team and an organizational team since these teams can also be fused but the resources of each teams maybe different from the other. In fine, if the work has a definite beginning and end, and produces a unique product or service, it is a project. If the work has a continuing element about it, and it produces many of the same things again and again, it is operational work. Usually the design and development of a new product is a project, but the continued production of the product would fall to operations. Okay, I guess I have already elaborated way too far for the difference of project from other works.

Knowing what the difference between work and project is underpins a limelight of understanding what project management really means and how it is becoming a valuable agent of every institution for development. Project management discipline mainly drives the economy because many economic activities underlies beneath its name. Knowing how to deliberately manage the projects of our company or business mainly aims a brighter future for your path. In industries as diverse as pharmaceuticals, software and aerospace, projects drive business. And in the public sector, it is effective project management that translates politicians' promises of new roads, schools and hospitals into gleaming new constructions that improve everyday life. Everything surrounds us perhaps are mainly a clear view of what project management does in our society.

So now, you could probably imagine that it is also very important to put some emphasis or figure on the importance of project management in this industry. Try to imagine the world without the aid of project management. Way back in history, do you think Noah could build the ark if he didn’t plan out that project very well? Or the Chinese perhaps, do you think they can build the famous Great Wall of China without creating proper plans and proper work breakdowns for the development of such a huge infrastructure? Definitely, No. I would undeniably agree that project management is a very relevant and important discipline to me. Without the knowledge of project management, I will not be able to clearly understand that everything we do must be really be carefully planned out or done. The knowledge of Project Management on the other perspective may rustle a thought about giving importance to time. “Project Management” is also equal to “Time is Gold”. Project Management doesn’t only tells us how to create templates of certain kinds but might as well teach us that we really need to value our time. In order for us to save money and resources or efforts, we need to first take value of our time. We should know how to set priorities and know what to do when time comes that the implementation of our project runs.

In the real world, we may sometimes divulge ourselves into something that may perhaps be unnecessary for our own personal loads of preference. Project management has gotten all of the necessary steps as well as knowledge for us to be able to succeed not only as entrepreneurs or technopreneurs but might as well as an individual. Almost by definition, innovation can be associated with project management. As we will look at the past discussions of project management, we can see that it primarily aims to develop something, in other words to innovate. As we will be able to get our own jobs two to three years from now, project management can clearly be applied for every one of us. Not only will it guarantees big salaries, it will also guide us to properly do and render our services for these companies we will work on.

Consumers die, Technology lives

2010-12-19T06:21:00.000-08:00

Death of consumers

The word strategy was first associated only with the military tactics in the past. They use corking strategies for them to win in every battle that they got into. As time passes, the word strategy had already been colligated with the underpinnings of the business industry. Magazines, books and even the daily newspapers especially on the business sections are now filled with corporate strategies, investment strategies, and advertising strategies to name just a few. The advancement of today’s business strategies have undergone a wide range of scope; from small businesses to even big companies – all wanting to have a great chance of gaining forward towards the success of their line.

Marketing strategies mainly differs from company to another. Of course, they share a different goal at the end of the line-it is by having a better marketing campaign than the other. For example, by understanding that consumers are more receptive to food advertising when they are hungry, we learn to schedule snack advertisements late in the afternoon because we know that this time is for snacks. By understanding that new products are usually initially adopted by a few consumers and only spread later, and then only gradually, to the rest of the population, we learn that companies that introduce new products must be well financed so that they can stay afloat until their products become a commercial success and it is important to please initial customers, since they will in turn influence many subsequent customers’ brand choices. By those examples stated above, we can clearly see how consumer’s behaviors greatly affect marketing strategies among the market industries.

The history may manifold how the evolution of businesses got into line with the people. During the time when people mainly depend on the environment for a living, many took their products from the environment and thus emerging an agricultural industry. The practice of farming, including the cultivation of the soil, mining, handicraft, and the raising of domesticated animals all fall in this stage of business industry. The units for managing agricultural production vary from smallholdings and individually owned farms to corporate-run farms and collective farms run by entire communities or by the government. Many said that this era led human civilization into light. Another revolution of business industry brought to light during the 18th century. This era was likely to be called and titled as the industrial industry (not good to hear) or industrial revolution for better audibility. It is the name given the movement in which machines changed people's way of life as well as their methods of manufacture. About the time of the American Revolution, the people of England began to use machines to make cloth and steam engines to run the machines. A little later they invented locomotives. Productivity began a spectacular climb. By 1850 most Englishmen were then working in industrial towns and Great Britain had become the workshop of the world for this industry. From Britain the Industrial Revolution spread gradually throughout Europe and to the United States. The most important of the changes that brought about the Industrial Revolution were the invention of machines to do the work of hand tools; the use of steam, and later of other kinds of power, in place of the muscles of human beings and of animals; and the adoption of the factory system. The Industrial Revolution came gradually. It happened in a short span of time, however, when measured against the centuries people had worked entirely by hand. Just imagine how hard life could be without the presence of this industrial revolution- how could the earth be without machines and electricity? Well, it depends on how you perceive this thing. Anyway, after the industrial revolution took place, a brand new revolution happened which is referred to as the information revolution. As e-commerce became all out in the rage during the late 1990s and as the Internet, World Wide Web, and other information technologies rapidly transformed the economic and social environment, many analysts, journalists, and scholars took the time to reflect upon the current transformations and breakthroughs and situate them in a broad, historical context. The fruit of these labors was the conception of the current era as the Information Revolution, akin in its historical importance and impact to previous economic revolutions, particularly the Industrial Revolution. The attempts to theorize a new economic and social era in the society—particularly one whose effects have yet to be fully realized—inevitably generated widely disparate definitions and characteristics of the Information Revolution, not to mention predictions, prescriptions, and levels of enthusiasm as well as persuasions of business ideas and developments for the people. Since even the most enthusiastic proponents of the Information Revolution agreed that, in the early 21st century, the new era was still in its infancy, it remained to be seen whether the Information Revolution would truly revolutionize society on a scale comparable with the Industrial Revolution, which produced greater change in just two centuries than occurred in the rest of human history combined. As of the early 2000s e-commerce still had a very long way to go before turning the information economy to its logical conclusion by propelling commercial activity into the borderless world of hyperspace, where transactions for everything from groceries to industrial equipment take place with little regard for geography and with nearly instantaneous satisfaction of commercial wants into a smooth reality; e-commerce models were still in the gestation process, and no clear paradigm had emerged to set the stage for the explosive e-commerce growth most analysts expected was on the way. But even in its crude earliest versions, e-commerce already altered conceptions of business strategy and relationships, and on the consumer side e-commerce overhauled customer expectations of speed and convenience, pushing the field of business competition to new grounds.

Like the previous business revolutions, the newly grant Information Revolution is marked most noticeably by a series of technological breakthroughs in the history. In this case, the developments in electronics and computer technologies, along with dramatic changes in telecommunications, provided the basis for economic change. Much enforcement had been undergone by both producers and consumers. Even as before this information revolution took place, (even at the time of industrial revolution), consumers have also been undertaking a great revolution between themselves just to make a balance of these shifts. Traces of history tell us that consumers are best likely defined as those people who use goods or services. These people play a very vital role in the society or the economy to be more specific because it is them whom the producers make their products or services. Without the consumers, the economy as a whole cannot be pictured out. Try to envisage that not all consumers can be producers but all producers are considered as producers. Mahatma Gandhi said a consumer is the most important visitor in the economy’s premises. He is not dependent on us, we are on him. He is not an interruption to our work; he is the purpose of it. These words by the famous Mahatma Gandhi were bestowed for producers all over the world clearing out the importance of consumers.
We have already tackled how important the consumers were in the economical system of each country or in the world as a whole, but what if the consumers die? Can the economy still pick up with this consequence?

Well, for instance I am not really saying in here to kill all consumers because I might be one of them. I was referring to something that is of prerogative about being the consumer. This death doesn’t merely says about vanishing but rather, to be replaced- replaced with something that would turn out to be much better and much more fitted with today’s with standards of the convergence of agricultural, industrial as well as the information industry. Yes, perhaps a change may be good but the best term maybe would be an innovated one. Consumers nowadays have evolved into a much better one which is referred to as Prosumers. Many definitions have come its way after the development of Prosumers. It came from the contraction of either the word professional or producer with the word consumer. At first I thought of it as Pro-consumers meaning someone who is in favor of the rights or traditions brought about by the consumers.

Because of man’s great advancement in the field of technology, human beings are being conceived to be godlike because he knows everything, he is in everywhere, and he is anybody. Man made the internet which is considered as the most powerful tool of human progression. It is considered as the best source of news, entertainment, information, communication as well as advertisement. During the rise of the internet, anything about the old media vanished- Gutenberg, copyright, the radio, telegram, television, and even advertisement. The power of the masses has become brawnier in the industry. Consumers gain more power over the producers. Nowadays, consumers have the power to demand on what they want and what they feel about the services rendered by the producers. This is by chance a harder challenge for the producers because Prosumers know how to demand by fact what they want for themselves. The emergence of new technologies also calls for greater and more advance demands for the industry. Nowadays, people wanted to be at ease at so many things that almost everyone wanted to grab their needs in an instant- instant coffee, instant noodles, instant news, instant food, instant movie ticket and even instant wife! Today’s world may seem so fast that everyone or every individual aims to cope up with this very fast change of time. But good to say, internet has got it all for you (just like what the famous SM Shoe mart’s propaganda says). In the internet, you can browse the latest movies (even those that are not released yet), latest news, latest buzz about TV personalities, latest fashion trends, gadgets, -everything you can connect with the word latest. That would mainly be the best reason why many people are indulge in the spring of internet and were able to trash up everything that the old media gave.

The change of lifestyle by many of the people also influences with how they demand. Of course, you would primarily see a great difference between the demands of consumers living on the outskirts rather than in the city. Those who were living with a simple life only demands with what is essential for living rather than what they wanted for luxury or entertainment. Those who are living in the urban areas perhaps would guarantee greater demands because they are more exposed with the latest trends and happenings in the world. They are the ones who are considered mainly in this information revolution because these people are the main consumers of the internet for instance. Consumers or prosumers in the urban areas mainly needs a fast track of life because life in the city moves faster compared to the rural areas. Many industries or businesses as well are being erected on the urban area that is why great competition evolved between them as they aim to tickle and get the attention of these prosumers that would get their product or services in exchange with a cost.
The prosumer engages in activities belonging to either sphere, regardless of time or location. Because of their complex lifestyle, which combines a demanding workload and an active family life, prosumers are eager adopters of Web 2.0 products and services—a convergence of process innovation, global marketplaces, and advanced technologies that fundamentally changes the way consumers buy, retailers sell, and products are brought to market. Prosumers typically embrace Web 2.0 technologies such as social networking (Facebook, MySpace), blogging, video on demand (VoD), podcasting, VoDcasting, virtual realities (Second Life, There.com), mobile communications, and other Internet-based technologies and services that allow people to stay connected whenever and wherever they desire. We refer to this as “Connected Life,” and the prosumer is an enthusiastic and early adopter of the connected lifestyle. Not all prosumers use all these technologies, of course; they access whichever technology subset best suits their individual preferences and lifestyles.

Prosumers for instance is considered to be both producer and consumer – of information. Anyone could be a Prosumer for good. Anyone and everyone can either be the source or the destination of today’s information. News is being posted on the internet so that many people can see it in an instant. Blogs have aroused with a bang because today’s generation is believed to be very self-expressing and verbative in showing what they want, what they feel and what they want to change. These blogs became very influential because these serve as the daily journal of people from different walks of life. Each story unfolding these blogs brought to light with the advancement of communication trailing brought to us by the internet, which mainly serves as the information highway. Compared to the old forms of media, blogs of today’s generation are considered more potent in delivering emotions and expressions. Newspapers nowadays are being released free. Because of today’s high involvement of technology, newspapers become digital for the aim attaining different reader’s profiles and backgrounds. Information for students can now be easily access with the use of Wikipedia which is considered as the most complete encyclopedia ever in the history. Not only that it gives so much information and so much help for the students, Wikipedia also lets these students share what they actually think in a certain topic or even correct information posted which they think are incorrect and faulty. In the main cities of the world such as New York and Berlin, people are being connected for free through instant access for wifi. Through this initiative, people are becoming more free of expressing their thoughts and opinions on certain topic concerning their living or their works. Also, because of free connectivity, people are becoming more aware of the latest happenings in his or her environment. In this way, people may become more alert and more watchful with the environment’s certain issues. Advertisements also become advanced as time goes by. As history told us, in the past, they primarily used paper, books, magazines and the newspapers for flacking a particular product of their company. Furtherance of information revolution brought to light many advance technologies in the field of advertisements. At the corners of the streets, totems of print advertisements such as posters and billboards were posted each saying something about their product. Advertisements also invaded the internet through bringing ads on social network sites as well as other product-giving and service-giving sites available on the net. Digital magazines as well as blogs become also prominent in promoting products and services from the companies around the globe. Communication also becomes very possible with the use of technology. Many communication software and internet services brought to light such as the Yahoo Messenger, Yahoo Mail, Gmail, Skype, MIRC and so much more . All of these things aimed to connect people not only between meters apart but might as well as miles and even islands and continents apart. These also made the life of many people as easy as possible because they can now receive and send their messages to their loved ones in an instant not like during the telegram era when you would probably wait several days, sometimes months, before information can be received. The virtual world of the internet also made possible for an individual to have many or several identities on line. Nowadays, human senses can now be replicated with computers or robots because they wanted to make these machines in real time.

Many people in the world are now becoming more advanced in their kind of thinking and the way they live. Yes, all of us might as well be considered as true blue Prosumers because mainly, we are living in this time and in this era when people are so much hungry of information from his or her environment. Prosumers for instance was brought to light mainly because of these human reasons- man will forever be ceasing. Man will forever be willing to improve and will continue to hunger and starve for something more. Serving prosumers is a very complex task to do; their needs cannot be defined by any location, application, time of the day, or device alone. In fact, that is what makes them prosumers. They seek to be connected and serviced no matter where they are, what they are trying to do, or when they are trying to do it. They will keep on asking solutions to everyday’s problems in a very unique but very simple way. Interfaces of the product soft wares for instance might as well be very accessible both for work and their social life so that these may be easily enforced with them. In these cases, work and social life of prosumers may be easily converged in a very efficient and effective way exactly what they wanted to be.
The prosumer segment may be considered a very small entity to look, but its influence is growing rapidly day by day. You can just witness the enormous popularity of Frienster, Apple’s iPhone and iPod, YouTube, MySpace, Google, Yahoo and Facebook. Prosumers are not hard to find or identify. Why not even ask yourself if you’re actually one of them? I guess the answer would be yes. But capturing this desirable segment requires a systematic program of research, development, and testing of Prosumer oriented offerings—plus education of prosumers about the value of your product or service. Perhaps you will notice how hard it would be to please the demands of the-now-reffered-to-as- consumers (Prosumers) but what is the most amazing is the fact that these prosumers also created a very impact in what the face of the world today upholds. The emergence as well as the advancement of today’s technology all became alive as the consumers of olden days died. This balance in our industry greatly draws out how amazing the human mind can pull out the strings and make the earth the best place to live in.

Merry Christmas! Ho ho ho ho.

Priceless.

2010-12-19T05:24:00.001-08:00

Project Management: a tool for change!

2010-12-15T06:34:00.000-08:00

Change we must, change we need. Change? What for? We have the best! These statements are just some of those floppy propagandas by some dire politicians wanting to get peoples attentions and make them believe that they really wanted to change the world for the better. Geez, are they kidding? These melodramatic statements just rags of my brain whenever I hear it because I, exceedingly, am really sure that they aren’t capable of really promoting this “change” that they want. Oh well, so much for that. This essay isn’t for those hypocrites actually. Before we would come up with the answer, we will first know what change does it need, is it for the better or for worse? Change mainly can be achieved based on different perspective but since we are tackling about real time scenarios, this change would definitely for the betterment. Ok, when we say changing the world, what comes to your mind first? Does is really make sense? Or have you ever thought of changing really “the world”? Some people would react that,” if you want to change the world, the change must first begin within ourselves. “But for technopreneurs or entrepreneurs in a simple sense, “Change begins with Project Management.” Agree or not?

Based on some references, Project management is a carefully planned and organized process that aims to accomplish a successful design or project. Hence, a project is a one-time effort that produces a specific or single result, for example, a new computer system or a new extended building for your company. Project management also includes developing a project plan in which it includes knowing, defining and confirming the project goals and objectives that the team wants to achieve at the end of the time allotment, identifying different tasks and how goals will be achieved, quantifying the resources needed, and determining budgets and timelines for project completion. It also includes managing the implementation of the project plan, along with operating some regular controls to ensure that there is accurate and objective information on performance relative to the plan, and the mechanisms to implement recovery actions where and when it is necessary. It is indeed very vital for the development of the market as a perspective. It has developed in order to plan, associate and coordinate the complex as well as the diverse procedures of both commercial and industrial projects. Its importance is known to be very important since each project, whether big or small, shares one common characteristic -the projection of ideas and activities into new endeavors as well as to solve or answer a problem that would improve the whole machinery for the company.

We could associate the world we are living today as a hungry lion in a den. Even if you keep on feeding it, it would ask for more. Humans have this nature of always asking for more. You feed him with something, he would still ask for something. That is why people keep on making several things that would mostly like to aim a more sophisticated and convenient life for them. We were introduced with buttons, we wanted remote controls. We were given electric fans, we wanted air conditioners. Even in making money, many are associated with creating projects that would improve their business strategy or performance. But mostly, all of these projects aren’t working well and are subject for disapproval or even doomed. In this part, many factors would come across the story. It would be because of improper time management, wrong budget allocations or maybe because the project hasn’t been planned well and was done abruptly. That maybe is the main reasons why many projects fail.

In a more riveted sense, project management can definitely be the best method for implementing change. Try to look at this very simple example. Try asking yourself when was the last time you failed on something in your life, perhaps in your studies? Ask yourself why you failed that subject. Maybe because you didn’t study your lessons well or maybe you haven’t submitted your assignments on time? All of these factors could all be answered with a simple project management. If you’d just planned ahead of time that you will pass the subject, you will surely pass. But on the other hand, if you didn’t plan or you planned but it is for failing, well, you surely will not pass the subject. I am saying this thing in a very simple sense. Like the steps in project management, planning – plan what you need to do in order to pass the subject, organizing –prepare the things you will need for the subject, staffing – choosing the right activities to pursue or setting priorities, directing –monitor your standing in the subject whether good or bad, controlling – creating immediate actions for the problems you’ve seen during the directing or monitoring period and innovation- creating something new strategies that would enhance your study skills or something that would help your grade gets higher on the subject. Simple as it is, you will surely see how project management twists your fate into something good or what we call change.

For King Whitney Jr., change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better. In implementing change, we must first know and understand the basic principles of what we are doing. Sometimes, in a project team, there is someone who would be fearful to implement change thinking that things may get even worse; someone may be the hopeful one who will try to work on the problems and the one who will be confident that the change within the project will be implemented. This confident one must be the project leader.

In achieving change, one must be dauntless enough to accept the outcome, like a soldier ready enough to face the battle with project management as its armor and sword.

*simbang gabi naaa! Ho ho ho ho*

2010-12-12T14:49:00.000-08:00

Helvetica is a feature-length film that recites about human’s perception culture, graphic design and typography. It tells about the story of one of the oldest known typefaces which is the Helvetica. It was created by Mr. Max Miedinger in 1957 for the Haas foundry of Switzerland, the name is derived from Helvetia, the Latin name for Switzerland. Actually, the former name for this font face is Neue Haas Grotesk but since they thought of this name as rummy for international use, they changed it into something dainty that the people may appreciate.

People in this documentary film includes some of the most creative and innovative names in the graphic design world, including Massimo Vignelli ,Erik Spiekermann, Hermann Zapf ,Matthew Carter, Wim Crouwel, Neville Brody, Stefan Sagmeister, Michael Bierut, David Carson, Paula Scher, Jonathan Hoefler, Tobias Frere-Jones, Experimental Jetset, Michael C. Place, Norm, Alfred Hoffmann, Mike Parker, Bruno Steinert, Otmar Hoefer, Leslie Savan, Rick Poynor, and Lars Müller who told us their different narrations about Helvetica.

It was kinda boring at the start but then a certain gist woke me up. This font face has been known for about 50 years and I’ve been hearing its name before. Never did I realize that I was actually seeing it everyday –without me knowing. This documentary film opened my eyes unto how powerful these letters could be- like these one that I’m using to type this sentence. Yeah, I admit, I am a fan of visual graphics but I really never give an eye for words. I love writing but for me, the content tells more on the typeface used. Never did I take in that even the font face of these letters tells something in the whole story we are conveying. That is why many people gave so much time and effort on choosing the right font face to be used for their visual art, advertisement, writings and design.

Because of the timeless power of words beyond the communication space, Helvetica has also paved its way as much as these words did. Helvetica acts as the straw man while the contents or the meaning of these words acts as the ground man. Just imagine how many times we see Helvetica in our everyday lives – every time you see words, they are mostly written in Helvetica. The speakers in the documentary film told about their different stories with Helvetica. One speaker I would not forget secerns on why he loves Helvetica. He said clearly that because of Helvetica’s simplicity, it delivers a message quickly and efficiently enough without imposing itself- meaning, when you read something out of it, you will surely focus on the meaning of the word and not on the type faced used. It is how well- designed Helvetica is. It's crisp, clean and sharply legible, yet humanized by round, soft strokes. Many type designers have said that they cannot improve on it. That is why many people believed in the power of Helvetica as a font face. Can you believe it, even Pres. Obama used this font face in his “Change We Can Believe In” and “Stand for Change” banners.

While many people in the film tell about how they love Helvetica, some also showed that they disfavor Helvetica as a font face. Some people believe that Helvetica is just to plain and sheer, it’s as if you’re just sticking to something that is subjectively arbitrary. Some artists believe that in order for us to create something that is big and freshly, we must try to innovate on something and not just stick to what is known to be a standard. They think the notion of a default font is completely and utterly ridiculous because they believe that font faces also served a big role in conveying the whole message in the story or scene that is delivered.

Typographers in the documentary film were generally happy with the state of their art –whatever face it could be. They primarily conceive that people are waking up to the importance of word design, as well as design in general. Yes, design as a language of art is very crucial in our very lives but what is most important is that we may be able to understand each other in whatever font face it would be.

2010-12-12T13:45:00.000-08:00

Opportunities and trends in convergence

Many people would likely to assume and expect nowadays that the door of opportunity could be opened using a remote control. Funny though, many still thought of pondering around and make money with just sitting. But the truth is, though our world today may be pictured to be very provocative of creating opportunities, we still need to work for ourselves. The best part of the picture maybe is that, technology made these opportunities closer to us inch by inch.

Through the emergence of the vast technologies, many people have given the chance of creating money out of it. Take a look at how implausible the human brain could be- who could ever imagine creating a machine that could count how many vehicles had passed by the street or how many strands of hair are there in your head? Or maybe make an indoor sundial or even a fruit cake powered Christmas tree? - Only us, humans.

Almost everything around us is new. Maybe some people would settle to something that is obsolete or old, but merely 95% of the human population would grasp into what the world commands in the present. Many would divulge in creating things that maybe new to the human eyes. Some would also create things that are unique or peculiar for some reasons that they wanted to be noticed. Perhaps, everyone wanted to be known for their works and for their identities whether it would be old or new. Because of these great characteristics inhibited by some genius mammals, they became grandest in their professions or their tracks. They made money out of their ingenious minds thus paving their way to success.

Technological convergence is the trend of technologies to unify into new technologies that bring together a myriad of media or somewhat referred to as multimedia. The term technological convergence is widely used in academic literature, whereas its meaning differs amongst parties depending on their interests and organizational objectives. For instance, Wikipedia defines the technological convergence “as a vast array of different types of technology to perform very similar tasks”. Deloitte characterizes it as the combination of the discrete technologies into one to create the new value chains and economic models. Tang distinguishes it as a process of qualitative change that connects two or more existing, previously distinct markets. Conceding with these, it’s possible to argue that technological convergence is the further development of one or the integration of various technology enabling infrastructures, end-user devices or services in order to acquire new functionalities. In practice, in the ICT industry, the term technological convergence is commonly used in reference to the synergistic combination of voice, data and video onto a single network or junction of the fixed and mobile. While historically, technology handled one medium or accomplished one or two tasks, through technological convergence, devices are now able to present and interact with a wide array of media. As we have noticed in the past, machines, gadgets and other technological equipments could only perform a specific job. For example, cellular phones are only used for communication services such as call and text. But now, due to the emergence of technology, you can already take pictures from your phone, play games, send emails, surf the net, draw images, play music, and many more. Everything can be stocked in a thing due to the demand of consumers. As technology development accelerates and converges, humans are becoming more capable of maximizing new and better means of communication, as the mobile smart-phone has illustrated.

In this instance, technological convergence maybe defined as the interlinking matter between computing and other information technologies, media content, and communication networks that have arisen as the result of the evolution and popularization of the Internet as well as the activities, products and services that have emerged in the digital media space. Many experts view this as simply being the tip of the iceberg, as all facets of institutional activity and social life such as business, government, art, journalism, health, and education are increasingly being carried out in these digital media spaces across a growing network of information and communication technology devices. Technological convergence has both a technical and a functional side. The technical side refers to the ability of any infrastructure to transport any type of data, while functional side means the consumers may be able to integrate in a seamless way the functions of computation, entertainment, and voice in a unique device able to execute a multiplicity of tasks.

Convergence of technology has opened the doors for opportunities and has lowered barriers of entry to the market for new operators and service providers that gradually changed the way people preview communication nowadays. The emergence of new market players intensifies competition, giving consumers an extensive pool of providers and services to choose from and lower communication costs. Additionally in a technological convergent environment industry boundaries become blurred, allowing service providers to offer services in multiple markets. For example, besides access to television, cable operators can also offer voice telephony and internet services. Content providers can now easily access consumers with no need to own the distribution network. For example, a company may produce TV content and distributed it through cable networks without having to own it. Because of these great advancement towards the telecommunication environment, many people have realized to create something out of these things thus relating them to grasp opportunities towards technological convergence.

Those big companies who are already been establishing with a grand will find in technological convergence an opportunity to operate more efficiently, increase returns on technology investments and realize other business benefits through development of new services and rapid market expansion. Convergence opens up new sales markets for these companies, a case observed in mobile operators. As the market saturates, they look to non-voice services, such as video streaming, portals, messaging, information services, and gaming, to drive future revenue growth for the benefit of their company as well. New applications have given rise to new ways of entertainment such as online gaming and socialization through chat rooms and social networking sites such as Friendster, Multiply, MySpace, Twitter, Formspring, Facebook and many more. The convergence of voice, video and data gives consumers new ways of communication as we can all talk, send text and video over one single network, using one single application at much lower costs than compare d before when it was unusually used by the people. At device level, consumers find in technological convergence an opportunity to enjoy and experience the convenience of having many devices all in one, saving on both size and ownership costs as what I have mentioned a while ago in mobile or cellular phones. For example, a single mobile phone device can receive television programs and play videos, thus enabling simplicity and convenience in device ownership as one device can be used to access multiple services that maybe very useful for the users or the consumers. The combination of services over the same platform is challenging common perceptions about the best means to license and regulate those providers who are ready to catch up with the enormous demands coming from the public. Traditionally, regulatory frameworks were designed for an era when clear functional differences existed between services and infrastructure, style and use, as well as system and interconnection, but these regulations are increasingly inadequate for dealing with today’s world. At first glance, the ability to exchange and use information usually in a large heterogeneous network made up of several local area networks, interconnection, consumer protection and universal access appear as the most relevant challenges that are being faced. Existing interconnection mechanisms focus basically on interconnection of telecom networks based on circuit switching technologies, while for instance broadcasting networks are either unregulated or subject to different types of regulation. Additionally, in a convergent environment, which relies greatly on packet switched networks; circuits are neither connected nor provided. In this way distance and time become less determinants as cost factors, requiring adoption of new units of measurement.

Nowadays, we are all surmounted by a multi-level convergent media world where all ways or preferences of communication and information are continually reclaiming to adapt to the enduring demands of technologies, "changing the way we create, consume, learn and interact with each other". It can definitely viewed that due to the influx of the demands from the people, companies also need to divulge their greatest time on how they can adapt to these rapid change in today’s demands for their companies or businesses to survive. The advancement of technology day by day can also create a big lump on companies back day by day. Of course, the companies’ main goal for them to be on top of the game is to give what the people needs so they must work all their might to provide great and emerging convergences so as to give reliable and efficient products for the society.

In the near future, people may somehow look back at this time and see it as very confusing era of this world. Corporate turf battles have slowed the promise of “the everything displays” where all that is need to be seen is through all screens in the TV or monitor. And in many cases the public wasn’t ready to make the leap for this advancement. All of that is about to change. Cable TV companies and the major television networks are not going to like the years ahead as their market shares of the video content world begin to dwindle. Until now, consumers have felt ill prepared to deal with the dizzying array of options when they enter an electronics store and manufacturers have interpreted that confusion as a marketplace not ready to make the switch. Before this big change of convergences to happen, everyone must first take the big leap to create wholling hundred eighty degree shifts for our technology.

This technological convergence made internet for the people available. Yes, we must admit, internet is one of the monsters of the industry today. It can offer a whole lot of everything that a simple market can offer. Through the internet, you can meet and greet people, buy stuff, pay bills, play games, chat with friends, create business transactions, advertise for your business, deliver information through text and images, many more. Everything is made possible by the internet. So due to the presence of the internet, many companies took a big step or big leap out of their shell just to make their services or product as unique, as relevant , as useful and as complex as the living internet. They must first know how to seed out from all the opportunities that the world has to offer so that he may be able to know what is still lacking and what he can still give for the people.

The Technological convergence between IT, telecommunication, broadcasting and other media allows for formerly dedicated services to be delivered on new platforms. Telephony can, e.g., be delivered on cable TV networks and broadcasting via Internet. This potentially opens the different communication and media markets for increased competition, as the technological possibilities for providers of communication services and content to enter each others' market segments increase. The new technological possibilities, therefore, change the conditions for horizontal and vertical integration market-wise and put new focus on the rules and regulations for horizontal and vertical integration with respect to mergers and joint ventures.

Technology convergence offers massive opportunities for the development of new value-added services, convenience, efficiency and the expansion of markets and consumer choice that was definitely based on the consumer’s taste and demands. It also raises a number of issues of adjustment to the new environment by telecommunications operators, service providers, policymakers, regulators, and users. The great twist of industrialization made by our market made us possible to see clearly what this life ahead of us has to offer. After making up these words, I realized that this world isn't really a hard place to live in. the only thing is on how you deal with each opportunity that passes at your window pane.

Prayer for healing

2010-12-09T06:31:00.000-08:00

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for you are my praise.

I praise you, mighty Father.

You forgive all my iniquities, and you heal all my diseases.

Thank you, Lord. When I am sick, you send your Word, and it heals me and delivers me from all destructions.

Your Word is life to me, and it brings healing to my flesh.

Thank you for the healing power of your Word, Father.

I will never let it depart from my eyes.

I will keep your Word deeply implanted within my heart.

Praise your name, holy Father.

I love you, and I thank you for healing me and keeping me in good health.

:)

2010-12-08T15:33:00.001-08:00

You are beautiful

2010-12-08T15:31:00.000-08:00

Plant and Feed

2010-12-05T07:54:00.000-08:00

Have you ever thought of changing the world for it to be better? As a kid, I once thought of it as well. I started planting mongo seeds believing that they would grow into huge trees and could help avoid floods and create papers from it as what my teacher always says. I used to feed our chickens in the backyard so that I could go help our helper from all her work. Well, as a kid, I thought helping someone would definitely change the world- in a snap. But as I grew old, I realized that changing the world was not that easy. It wasn’t just about planting mongo seedlings and feeding chickens. It is about planting meaning and feeding knowledge to the whole humanity.

Years had passed, I’m now a grown up, and honestly I’ve become more selfish everyday. I wanted to be great in what I am doing. I wanted to be known and be famous. I wanted to earn a lot when I’ll be having my business. I wanted to earn for a grand living. I wanted so much for myself that I forgot about what I wanted when I was young – to plant and to feed.

During our technopreneurship lecture, our facilitator laid out a video with Guy Kawasaki , not the one who made the Kawasaki Motors but mind you, he’s one of the most prominent Silicon Valley venture capitalist who is originally responsible for marketing Macintosh in 1984. It was just a very short video but it does have a very remarkable message for every one of us, especially those Technopreneurs or even those entrepreneurs.
At first, I had a leery glance about this man because he seems to be very bare. How could you ever think that he’s actually now the Managing Director of Garage Technology Ventures? Well, I can only say, geeks definitely rule the world.
He only had one great message in his video. It is about making a meaning. Was it about being a dictionary for instance or merely saying to be a legend perhaps? As one of the most prominent Apple fellows, Guy Kawasaki is noted for having brought the concept of evangelism, initially focused on creating passionate user-advocates for the Apple brand, to the high-tech business. He was indeed an inspiration to be called having about to twist each entrepreneurs’ mind into a stirring hundred eighty degrees change.

Was it I who’s declassing about him or just the infinite words being mounted on how great man he was? Well, to think it of clearly, we can see around us huge and grandiloquent buildings piling up the urban city. Companies and organizations were all racing up to reach the highest mark to be known who among them are most adept as well as who’s the most beneficial for the people. Some of them even have their huge billboards couched on the streets as well as their commercials banging on the television screens. Okay, let’s say that those companies are really BIG, but, do they have this “meaning” which Guy Kawasaki is referring to?

The moment I heard the words of Kawasaki, I was strucked up. I know I haven’t gotten any of these meaning. Well, perhaps as a student or even as a friend. I still don’t know if I have a meaning for others. Uncertainties came up to me and asking myself that if right now, I am at the stage of figuring out if I have any meaning because I think I didn’t have any, what else if I’ll become a technopreneur? Will my business earn me a meaning?
Many companies with their products and services nowadays have stirred “having a meaning” into oblivion. Many people have forgotten about the true essence of what entrepreneurship really is. We can’t blame them, they just wanted to earn –period.
When you see the world today, left and right, many people have been choosing to up business rather than to work for someone. It is pretty much better to become an employer rather than being an employee isn’t it? If you’re the employer, you’ll have all the time you want. Of course, no one will command you on what to do or not. You have all the decisions to make for yourself as well as for your business. This is what my father always says to me. He grew up with their family business and I guess my grandpa instilled that thought in his mind. That’s why my father chose to become a businessman rather than to work for someone else. Though business industry has been booming like a splash, not everyone who engages in this career becomes successful.
Yeah, it is hard to decide first on what kind of person you would likely to be in the future, whether an employer or an employee. For me, I planned to become an employer for good. And, Guy Kawasaki greatly served a big lesson for me to remember.

Guy Kawasaki stressed out that in putting up a business or a company, the first thing you must always remember is to make impact on other peoples’ lives. Your company must be remembered in a way that it helped improve the lives of the people and help them understand their lives as well. In short, it is about making a meaning.

It is quite sad to see companies nowadays who’re just divulging themselves on creating products and services that would eventually harm the humanity. Not merely in the ways that their products are spifflicating but in a way that it makes people forget that they are humans and they are more powerful than any other thing in this world such as the computers. As bounds of technology arise today, people also are getting dependent day by day to those computers on handling every task they intended to do. In Japan, some companies manufacture robots that would serve as helpers in their homes thus, making people indolent day by day. Can you say that these companies really have or possess a meaning towards humanity? Well, I don’t think so.
In Guy Kawasaki’s video, he said that making a meaning is the main core in starting or putting up a business or even any organization. He said, “If you make meaning, you would probably make money. If you go out to make money, you would definitely not make any meaning and, you would also definitely make any money.” I know that most people do create business and some organizations for merely one purpose – to create money. But, before going to the leg of having money, each company or organization first must create meaning.
He told that making a meaning comprises of three essential ways or steps.

Increase the quality of life.

Who would not want to progress? I guess only those dire people would. In putting up a business or an organization, we must always put to mind this specific goal – increase the quality of life. This thing only says enough for being generous. Increasing the quality of life would mean helping other people to become as more creative, productive and generative as they can be. It would not mean to make them feel at ease every time. Our products or services must always be somewhat a pushing element that would drive them to become a better person and an individual for their family, their friends and also for themselves. Guy Kawasaki told about their experience when he was still working for Macintosh. He said that their primary goal was not to earn money but to help improve the lives of the people through their products and services. They would wake up each day having that beautiful goal of touching the lives of people and making them as good as they can be.

Sometimes, I would think of some business ideas that really don’t fit to this first element of making meaning. The best examples for this are those companies or people who make cocaine and other drugs that don’t aim to cure diseases but instead, aim to ruin the lives of many people with their product. Many of these people or should I say all of these people don’t think of what might be the effect of their product for the people. All they wanted was just to earn money for their living –that’s all.

Right something that is wrong, to fix something.

Yeah, our world isn’t perfect and so do we. But, chances are there for us to make each wrong a right. This is one of the elements Guy Kawasaki stated to in creating a meaning. It is about finding solutions to problems the world is facing. It may be in the field of medicine, education, arts, science, etc. Your product may contribute to help lessen global warming. It may be the drug for HIV or aids. Anything that would help fix something would definitely create a meaning.

Prevent the end of something good.

It is very visible how wonderful this earth could be. The bad thing is that, this beauty diminishes day by day because of the activities of people. Many things are being ruined and destroyed just to soothe their needs as well as their wants. The third motivation that Guy Kawasaki imposes to is about preventing the end of something worthwhile. If you are seeing something that is beneficial for everyone or maybe good for everyone, try to prevent it from diminishing. Help protect its resources or help make it numerous so that other people may also experience its benefits. Preventing the end of something good may definitely dig up much on improving the quality of life as well as fixing something that is destroyed. It is about continuing the good works of other people that aims to help the humanity make a better living.

I know for a fact that this Earth has a lot more things to offer. In an influx of time, many innovations and inventions have been discovered and brought to light. The only thing that matters is how to secernate the things that is beneficial from what is not.

It isn’t at all easy to say, “I am a meaning-maker.” First, it sounds a little pompous and arrogant. Who am I to make meaning? How self-important that sounds! Second, it flies in the face of tradition. Most traditions ask you to blend in, serve, and bow to the common will. Third, it isn’t that clear what the phrase means or what you might be agreeing to. Sometimes, you yourself may find it really hard to understand when do you make meaning and when do you start to dissemble as one. The mantle of meaning-maker is there for you to don but you refuse, consciously or unconsciously objecting. Human capital is the most important asset there is. While many people today think their actions are insignificant, nothing could be further from the truth. Using little more than the Internet and imagination, your small yet powerful actions can touch the lives of people thousands of miles away and instantly change the world.

As what I realized even before I got into the Technopreneurship course, putting up a business was indeed a very hard thing to do. It’s like a gage that everyone would look up to. It only ends with two distinct ends – whether it will succeed, or it will not. Being an entrepreneur, proper understanding of oneself as well as other people will be a great step towards success. If you are able to understand yourself better, you’ll be able to know what you really love, limit yourself from what you can do from what you can’t, and being able to know what would be the best business venture for you. On the other hand, being able to have a wide understanding for other people would help you create a meaning in their lives. If you can understand them, you could help them become a better person in a way that you can do. Creating a business isn’t really about making a living, it is also about making a society and money comes along. The true essence of putting up a business is helping others through your products and services. I am not insisting on helping the whole human race, my only point is to make yourself a channel for love and generosity. Like what Mother Theresa said:

“If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one.”

Like what I did when I was just a kid, I would also want to do it again- not with mongo seeds and for chickens but for the people who will be needing my help and my skills to solve their problems and as well as to improve their lives as I am improving mine. In everything that we do, it must all be rooted with love so that we could create meaning and become the greatest technopreneurs that history will tell. Continue planting and feeding!

What have you noticed?

2010-12-05T07:52:00.000-08:00

WHAT DO YOU NOTICE ABOUT THIS PICTURE?

Let me guess. You noticed that spot there, didn’t you? That little spot, amidst all the white that surrounds it.

My teacher back in my first year of high school showed something like this to us.

Point?

You noticed the flaw.

And so?

More often than not, we tend to do the same when we look at other people.

Instead of seeing people as a whole, we tend to let a single flaw outweigh the plethora of good traits the persons possess.

Look at that picture, there’s a whole lot of white out there, but your eyes most probably focused on that tiny bit of black right there.

Think about it. Meet a person, a new friend. They’ll have a clean slate, but once something you don’t like about them surfaces, it’ll stick out like a sore thumb.

I hope that the world would be less judgmental, and choose to see more of the white amidst the black.

Serendipity Walk

2010-12-02T05:33:00.000-08:00

   With the advent of technology and the wonder called internet, new ways of making money and earning a living have paved its way to success. Apart from the conventional business ideas, the internet also has given people various new means to earn profits. A number of successful online businesses have been born out of apparently weird ideas. Even a few years back the concept of social networking was not popular and no one estimated how some of the sites can become popular worldwide. Farmville which is a hugely popular Facebook application would have seemed ridiculous to anyone even a few years back. It succeeded despite the presence of numerous graphics heavy computer games. The same can be said about the success and popularity of the blogging sites. Nobody earlier thought that people would be interested about knowing the personal lives and activities of others through the web but it worked. The sites that let the users make virtual world and do literally everything they do in real life have also become very popular with the web users. The owners of such services are now laughing all the way to the bank. Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook is now considered as one of the richest in the world being a billionaire at the silly age of 24. The online services now have millions of users all over the world. Yet when these applications were launched a lot of people laughed at the inventors and questioned their feasibility. Sharing and posting of music videos online also made a star out of kid singer Justin Bieber. He achieved stupendous fame and success and it was beyond his wild imagination. Technology has got intimately involved with modern life and with each year people with creative brains are finding newer ways of making profit using technology. Indeed, technopreneurs who uses technology and entrepeurship are the stars of today’s business market. While typing those words, I come to realize how those geeks really ended up with those great ideas they had which make them rich and famous. Maybe, some of them were just being guided by others, somewhere told about the trends, some conducted researches, some just stole the ideas, some just dreamt over it and maybe some just had their serendipity walks. So there it goes, I got my own serendipity walk with me. Let’s see if I got something out of it.

   Here I go again finding a hard time thinking what could be the possible ideas I could get. Why is it that whenever we are tasked to create our own business ideas, I would just find myself looking at the empty screen and cannot seem to answer a thing? Is it a sign that I actually am a failure when it comes to entrepreneurship? Well, I guess I wouldn’t.

   Mr. Randy Gamboa, our ever loving and ever supportive facilitator asked us to have a walk and thought of something unique which may eventually an entrepreneurship idea. And for me, being a traveler at some point, it feels very exciting to have something entrepreneurial while just having a walk.
Since at this point we are already taking up the second part of technopreneurship course, we are already equipped with the standards of business ideas and business plans. So, let’s settle and go back to our basics. First thing we’ve got in having our business plans is we must first know what we truly love. Isn’t it a crap on working on something you really didn’t like? I have known many people who engaged into businesses or works that they really didn’t like. Well, of course they didn’t succeed. When finding your own business, it is very important to put your heart and soul unto it. Having a business of course always deals with money matters so you would probably invest your money into it. You don’t want your money put to waste do you? The next thing to keep in mind is to become sensitive on what really your community needs. Of course, you are having a business not only just for your sake but for the community a as well. How will you be able to get money out of your business if the community doesn’t merely need what you sell. Take a lot of time for research to know the best business in that certain area. The next thing to consider when having a business is about having the available resources needed for the buildup of your business. Of course, you wouldn’t want to get your products from the moon would you? Think ahead about what are the perfect business ideas you could propose so that you could come up with something big. Don’t just settle for an idea; settle for ideas- with s meaning plural or many. Another thing to consider is the skills which will act as your weapon when you will be heading for the war of the business world. The skills you are possessing at the present and those you will be developing soon enough may be your ticket for success. Choose a business in which you are confident that you can handle well especially which you are good at. Example, when you are good at baking, tries to build a bakery for you. Every business doesn’t need to be new to the eyes of people, it just needs to be unique and beneficial to them.

Okay, if we will base it on the first basis on creating a business idea which is finding what I love, I would probably end up with an art shop or a boutique since I really really love arts and fashion. But, the thing is it never ends well with the second basis. The community doesn’t need to have a new dress every day. Maybe the average person would just buy shirt or dress whenever there are special occasions or they just wanted to give someone a shirt as a present. That’s why whenever we are tasked to create our own business plans, I usually find a hard time because I couldn’t find the right business idea suited.
   While most people do analyze and do a lot of rational thinking when setting up a business, there are other techniques that some people are using when setting up their own business. To some, these techniques are riskier because of the varying nature of how the process of how the business is brought about. But for those who are more creative than analytical, it makes sense to them. Forming a business based on intuition and creativity is not a new technique but it is slowly gaining popularity as the emergence of "whole brain" thinking has been gaining ground. A serendipity walk is a technique used when wanting to resolve a problem. The trick of the walk is to not actually think consciously about solving the problem, and more often than not, by being in a relaxed state, the answer presents itself. Again, this is something we have always been doing. When there are major problems faced, it is often a good practice to stop thinking about it, and then do something that has nothing to do with solving the problem, let's say exercise, go and have dinner, and more often than not, the solution present itself when one is in a relaxed mode.

   We know so little on how much our mind works and the present research indicate we use less than 5% of our brain's capacity. The attempts to understand our mind working on the subconscious state has slowly been making progress and what the scientists are beginning to realize is that there is so much to know more about our subconscious that relate to our conscious thinking and actions. What they do know is that both the subconscious and the conscious thinking are related to each other and with more research; we hopefully get to use more of our mind and brain.

   Toodles! Just later this afternoon, I had my own version of my serendipity walk. I had with me my pen and my notebook so I could jot down whatever things I would see because I had a tendency of forgetting something I just though. Aw, is it Amnesia as I think it is? Haha. I just want to share something about our movie date last Sunday. After we had our covenant orientation, we headed readily to the church since we haven’t attended the mass earlier that day. After the mass, we’ve decided to catch a movie in a nearby mall just to relax ourselves and make the most of our night since after Sunday, it will be a whole lot of jolts and bolts since the following week will be a very busy one. We suppose to have the movie around 8pm but to our amazement, all the chairs are already occupied and the next schedule for the movie will be 10pm. It sounds very late for us so we’ve decided to go to the other mall. Since one of our friends is still eating with some colleagues in the other restaurant, we waited for him outside. While waiting, I keep on looking my watch over several times because I got quite excited and anxious that maybe we will never be able to get seats on the other theatre. I just realized that what if, right in our watches, we will have a tracker that would know if a specific mall has this movie on showing and if there are still available seats on it. Then, we can actually book or get a ticket right on our watches. Isn’t that cool? Not only our watches can give us time, it could also serve as our movie theater guide. Haha. Nutilly crazy but somehow, cool. I also would want to have my own theatre house someday since I’m a big fan of movies. I thought of having it in a very conventional way for the viewers. Yet, I would want each of the seats to have a button. There’s a tendency for moviegoers to miss some parts of the movie whenever they feel like they wanna pee or when they are hungry because they will go and get some food. I shall have a button that will tell some personnel to hand over some food for the moviegoer and then he’ll just pay it right ahead after the delivery. I also thought of having a theatre in which the viewing scenes may be personalized by the moviegoers. They can rewind, pause, replay or forward the movie whenever they want to. It may sound crazy and impossible because a movie theatre definitely doesn’t only have one person inside it so how can several people personalize the movie if it has only one screen? I thought of having shades just like those used on 3D movie theatres. These shades could help the viewers personalize their movie by having its own memory. Whatever is seen from the shades could be saved in its memory so the viewer could personalize how the movie will be going whether they want to rewind, pause, replay or forward the scenes. The same thing will be happening like in Youtube where there can be a replay, pause, forward or even stop. It highly depends on what the viewer really wants. During my own version of my serendipity walk or discovery trip for some, I realized a lot of things. How this earth changes in a span of time due to information explosion, how people interact with each other using the technology and how life gets easier because of the great inventions of men. If we will think of it thoroughly, we would definitely find ourselves looking a hard time thinking of something unique because the world can offer almost everything right at this time. Everything is possible. It depends on you on how you are able to dig up and smunch up your ideas into a wonderful idea which may possibly lead you into a billionaire just like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg. Though the serendipity walk I had was quite short, I know that I can still create and innovate great ideas that could help me live through this IT career I chose to pursue. An interesting paradox is that even within a plan we can serendipity – listen to the ‘tug’; be open to the unexpected; wander our imagination … and still stay focused on our goal or dream … or maybe let go of that dream for a new one as a result of a serendipity walk.

And yeah, our life is the ultimate serendipity walk we are having. Enjoy your walk! Godbless us all

Why do project fails?

2010-12-02T05:31:00.001-08:00

Why do project(s) fail(s)? cite examples (at least 3000 words)

Way back in my early days of school, I learned from a Chinese proverb that failure is the mother of success. I understood the saying back then but never really knew it till years later. Slowly, in the journey of life, I learned that failures really do happen. I've failed at something sometimes and I learned that I don't die from my failures. Instead, each failure humbled me, taught me some lessons and I learned to pick myself up and move on. Many people don’t like failure. Because of the stigma attached to failure we regard it in a negative light, but we can also learn much from failure. Even those we see as great individuals in our history also do fail at some points in their life; the only thing is that they make each failure a one inch step to success. Isn’t it nice to taste each bit of success if you know you really work hard for it? Success tastes much sweeter when we know what failure tasted like Indeed, failure is inevitable.
Failure, as defined by the English dictionary, is an event that does not accomplish to its intended outcome. It may also be referring to a particular person with a record of failing or someone who loses consistently. But, for some people, failure may be defined for some ways. Here are some stories about failure and success that I got.

• As a young man, Abraham Lincoln went to war as a captain and returned home as a private. Afterwards, he was a failure as a businessman. He never succeeded on all of his businesses. As a lawyer in Springfield, he was too impractical and temperamental to be a success. He turned to politics and was defeated in his first try for the legislature, again defeated in his first attempt to be nominated for congress, defeated in his application to be commissioner of the General Land Office, defeated in the senatorial election of 1854, defeated in his efforts for the vice-presidency in 1856, and defeated in the senatorial election of 1858. At about that time, he wrote in a letter to a friend, "I am now the most miserable man living. If what I feel were equally distributed to the whole human family, there would not be one cheerful face on the earth."

• Sigmund Freud was booed from the podium when he first presented his ideas to the scientific community of Europe. He returned to his office and kept on writing until he come up with something great.

• Thomas Edison's teachers said he was "too stupid to learn anything." He was fired from his first two jobs for being "non-productive." As an inventor, Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. When a reporter asked, "How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?" Edison replied, "I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps."

• Rocket scientist Robert Goddard found his ideas bitterly rejected by his scientific peers on the grounds that rocket propulsion would not work in the rarefied atmosphere of outer space.
I didn’t put these stories here just to make my essay longer , I just wanted to emphasize that even those who were known to be intelligent or even genius, great, prominent, rich and respectful in their respective fields were never been excused from the bondages of failing. Setbacks, disappointments, rejections and unsuccessful attempts were not failures to these people. They were steps to their success. That's the difference between people who are winning at working and people who aren't. How you deal with your setbacks whether how big or how small will determine your results. You see, failure is not the lack of success. Failure is staying down when you trip or stumble. It's giving up, checking out, or shutting down.

Information and communication technology plays an essential part in our life and the way we react with the external environment. Information systems are one of the information and communication technology elements which shape our daily tasks by introducing value and quality to our daily activities. Technologies are emerging fields and are rapidly changing and the changes are moving around the globe in developed and developing countries. The rising of the new information technology age has brought so many changes in the face of the world. Not only does it improve our living, it also bestowed some things that help people become more intricate, complex and innovative. Because of this information explosion that we are experiencing nowadays, large amounts of money, time and resources have been bestowed on the IT (Information Technology) projects particularly on software and hardware developments. Many emerging companies and as well as individuals have paved their way to success because of their great inventions and projects which leads to this information explosion which we are experiencing today. Despite best practice and defined procedures and methodology applied in project management, as well as the development and the advancement in the project management field, the world is still experiencing failures in implementing information system based projects. The gravity of information systems is increasing day by day around the globe, but at the same time the failure rate of information systems projects is still high.

We can see what failure does really mean if we see different angles in a project. Before a team project can be labeled as failed, the term failed must be defined. Failure is defined as to what perspective you will be seeing in the said organization. We can say that a project fails when there is project cancellation, the project didn’t achieve the desired outcome, the project costs more than the anticipated prize or amount, the project was later considered as ‘going-live’ than it is anticipated and project implementation process costs higher than foreboded. Many things would come up to our mind as we will be able to see these failures. We can say that the project lacks budget, time, relevance, resources and the likes. Some may say that the main problem lies within the project manager itself. What do you think why projects do fail?

Different research and studies, regarding information systems or information technology project failure show the highest risk factors that were behind the project failure. One thing to consider mainly would be the lack of appropriate skills. It is indeed a very hard thing to indulge into something you aren’t in to. I mean something you are not knowledgeable with especially when creating a project. In creating your own project much knowledge is needed to create successful, reliable, and efficient results so as for the project to be approved. When making a project and you don’t know what it is, what can you expect? Of course, it wouldn’t be successful and for instance, it will fail. In the big scenario of global living, it is hard to attest which or who are those people that are skillful enough to do the job. Since most projects require a wide vast of skills for it to pursue, appropriate skills are needed for the whole project implementation. If we fail on having appropriate skill in our project, our project will also fail because the project itself relies on the working group. One thing that may also contribute is about failure to plan. Suring our discussion in our class, we were asked why most of us failed our subjects last sem. Many said it would be because of improper time management. Some would say, it maybe because of stupidity and laziness. I say, it would probably because we lack proper planning. We plan to fail rather than we fail to plan as what our facilitator would state. Yes, we did a lot of sacrifices just to make our projects last year be a success, but we weren’t able to have it on the right time. We haven’t managed our implementation as what is anticipated. During our planning, we weren’t able to see the limits, pros and cons of our every action. We weren’t able to manage the whole thing wisely. So I consider those sacrifices as trash because they weren’t actually sacrifice, they were actions needed to be done earlier. If we just plan ahead of time to succeed, we will never fail. Another thing to consider is the unclear goals and objectives of a project manager. The very thing you usually need when having a project is to know and state your own goals and objectives. These goals and objectives serves as your own path towards the end of the project. These objectives are somehow your guide during the implementation process and these goals serves as the finish line. When you finally achieved your objectives and goals, you can say that your project is a success and not a failure. Sometimes the goal of a project may be only partially clear due to poor requirement gathering in the definition stage of the project. Defining clear requirements for a project can take time and lots of communication, but sometimes goals and objectives might be unclear because project sponsors lack the experience to describe what they really require and what they really want to achieve. Another thing to consider is the attitude of a project manager to become very unrealistic. Delusive estimate of time and resource estimates usually end up with a failing project. One common reason why men usually ended up failing is because of much self trust and confidence. Men usually things that he can achieve many things in a period of time. I’m not really against this idea but one thing I didn’t want is when a man acts barely confident enough and does nothing. How can he be able to achieve the desired task when he gains confident enough? Unrealistic time management sometimes pushes a project to become a failure. Being a project manager, we should always take in charge of whatever circumstance our project would be in. we should know the proper estimate for time as well as proper estimate for the resources to be used. If we fail to declare the proper time allotment as well as the enough resources needed, we may affect out budget as well as our time which makes our project abortive. I can also see that lack of unity and cooperation between or within the group or team can lead to a failing project. The team or the group will comprise those who will work for the whole project implementation process. If there will be a lack of teamwork and cooperation or should we say, when conflicts will arise, it is very hard for the whole team to work as one and make the project possible. A project team can usually fail because they lack proper communication with each other. Even on large IT projects, improper communication is also common. Because complex IT projects often involve large amount of analysis of data and large amount of work, the project teams are busy and the executive management sees no progress. IT project managers do not communicate progress regularly because they believe that progress will not be seen by the executive management. We can also state that lack of executive support could lead to the failure of our project. These executives I am referring to are the people who are much knowledgeable or those who are the bosses. The project manager is the interface between the business and technology sides of the company. Without executive support project managers in the organization find difficulty in aligning business with their projects. The executive management also needs to be straightforward if they have reservations about the project. Otherwise, once problems are encountered in the project their support will weaken. It is by view a very important factor because executives know a lot of things which a manager doesn’t. Proper communication should be established in order to have a successful project. Another thing to consider during the project implementation process is about poor requirements gathering and change control. In every project implementation, excessive research and analysis, as what I have stated above, is needed. These intensive research aims to develop another area of a project to be solved. Since in the first place, a project is actually an unanswered question, intensive gathering of the needed requirements is of valuable need since our primary goal is to answer the question that underlies each project and to give solution to it. I can say that lack of proper understanding of the project matter also has a great role upon project failure. If and only if the project manager as well as the team know or understand what the project really is, they will not be having a hard time doing the said project. Inexperienced and inadequate trained project managers may somehow also contributes to a project failure. Good project manager is essential to a successful project but being a successful project manager is more than the result of project management training; it takes ability. Asking the question -- what makes a successful project manager? -- will usually result in a number of different answers that rely on general project management knowledge or character/personality/behavior traits. The qualities of a good project manager would be someone who understands and has a formal training with one project management methodology. Because of this particular characteristic, a project manager can handle the team as well as the project well enough for it to become successful. Another quality of a good project manager is someone who has effective leadership skills. This leadership skill I am referring to is mainly about the ability to get things done through other people- on how he relates with the different personalities of every individual in the group. Having soft-skills such as good communication and problem solving skills also contributes on being a good project manager. The last and maybe I can think as the most important aspect to see whether a project manager is good or bad is when he/she possesses general knowledge on related topics about software and hardware development or anything that is mainly regarded in your project. If the project manager is well versed enough about many things, he or she can handle the whole thing smoothly and with much confidence. There are many project managers that can tick the box with a long checklist of skills and relevant content knowledge. However, whatever the length of the list of good project manager skills, there is something missing -- what the project manager can actually do.
The successful project manager knows what to do, how to do it and they can also do it. Whilst many may aspire to project management as a career path choice not everyone is capable of being a good project manager. This is exactly the same as not everyone being an engineer, artist or CEO. The project manager is essential to a successful project and so they must be selected [or developed] carefully. Of course, the project manager is not solely responsible for a successful project, or project failure, but they have a very significant part to play in making every project a successful one.

Not only can we see failures on these large IT projects, we can also defy how even our own projects made by ourselves fail. Our life itself is composed of series of projects. Thus, each project abets instructions, techniques, and tools as well as a time frame for it to become achieved or successful. Of course, it yields only two possible outcomes: whether to fail or to succeed. Even as you awake in the morning, you are very much certain that you will be heading a lot of task to do for the whole day. Each task, for example, cooking the dishes may also be considered as a project. In general, for every project not only for IT projects, the main problem why it fails is the persons involved in the project himself or herself. If the one involved in the project is you, maybe, the main problem why your project or task fails is you. Lack of self determination primarily leads to failure. If you are not sure or aware of what you are supposed to do, well, that would be a big problem my friend. Ehem, I guess another thing popped out my mind by this time. A thing called procrastination. I am an admitted procrastinator. Sometimes, because of my laziness and stupidity, I used to delay things. I guess being a procrastinator ruins everything especially a project. Since a project as defined is a sequence of unique, complex and connected activities bounded with a specific budget and time, being a procrastinator may change the flow of the activities. If the project manager postpones everything because of unreliable reasons, definitely, your project may fail to the end. Being diminished by procrastination should be avoided by project managers so that each task within a project may be done smoothly and effectively. Time is a very big factor in project implementation so proper time management should be implemented by everyone.
All in all, the failure in every project mainly rotates within the project elements itself. The time, people and budget that comprise the project are also the things that may comprise its failure. Since, failure is inevitable, all we can do is to strengthen what we’ve got. The past failure need not discourage project managers from future efforts. Past examples of IT project failures gives us the opportunity to point to the relevant lessons that can be derived from recognizing areas where IT projects is more likely to fail.
The math is magical: you can pile up lots of failures and still keep rolling, but you only need one juicy success to build a career. The killer is the category called 'neither'. If you spend your days avoiding failure by doing not much worth criticizing, you'll never have a shot at success. Avoiding the thing that's easy to survive keeps you from encountering the very thing you're after. And yet we market and work and connect and create as if just one failure might be the end of us. Remember that life doesn’t end when you fail; it ends when you give up.

YFC Campus based Campus tour 2011

2010-11-28T17:50:00.000-08:00

coming soon...

OH YEAH. I ADMIT IT

2010-11-26T07:07:00.000-08:00

I WOULD LIE IF I'LL SAY I NEVER THOUGHT OF YOU.

I JUST MISS YOU BIGTIME.

HEY YOU! I MISS YOU.

ARGH*

I HATE THIS..

BUT ...I REALLY DO.

*TEARS*

WOOSH

2010-11-26T07:04:00.000-08:00

BEING A GIRL ISN'T ABOUT GLITZ AND GLAMOUR....

THERE'S A LOT OF STORY BEHIND THAT

WHY LIFE IS SO HARD?

2010-11-26T06:58:00.000-08:00

Why do people get cancer? Why are there earthquakes that destroy entire cities? Why do people have to work so hard just to have enough money to barely feed their families? Subconsciously, we probably ask ourselves questions like these quite often. But consciously we rarely do. We're so busy living our lives we rarely stop and wonder WHY?

But then something happens to wake us up. Our parents get divorced. The girl down the street gets abducted. A relative gets cancer. That wakes us up for awhile. But then we can often sink back into the denial. That is, until another tragedy hits, another incongruence. Then we're likely to think, Something isn't right here. Something is really, really wrong. This isn't how life's supposed to be!

So, WHY do bad things happen? WHY isn't this world a better place?

There is an answer to the WHY question, found in the Bible. But it's not an answer that most people like to hear: the world is the way it is because it's the world that we, in a sense, have asked for.

Sound strange?

What or who could make this world different than the way it is? What or who could guarantee that life is pain-free, for everyone, all the time?

God could. God could accomplish that. But he doesn't. At least not right now. And we're angry with him as a result. We say, "God can't be all-powerful and all-loving. If he were, this world wouldn't be the way it is!"

We say this hoping that God will then change his position on the matter. Our hope is that putting a guilt trip on him will make him change the way he's doing things.

But he doesn't seem to budge. WHY doesn't he?

God doesn't budge -- he doesn't change things right now -- because he's giving us what we asked for: a world where we get to treat him as though he is absent and unnecessary.

Remember the story of Adam and Eve? They ate the "forbidden fruit." That fruit was the idea that they could ignore what God said or gave them, and strike out on life apart from God. For Adam and Eve sort of hoped that they could become like God, without God. They consumed the notion that there was something more valuable in existence than God himself, something more valuable than having a personal relationship with God. And this world system -- with all of its faults -- came as a result of the choice they made.

Their story is the story of all of us, isn't it? Who hasn't said -- if not audibly at least in their hearts -- God, I think I can do this without you. I'll just go this one alone. But thanks for the offer.

We've all tried to make life work without God. Why do we do that? Probably because we've all bought the notion that there's something more valuable, more important, than God. For different people it's different things, but the mindset is the same: God isn't what's most important in life. In fact, I'd just as soon do it without him altogether.

What is God's response to that?

He allows it. Many people experience the painful results of others' or their own choices that run contrary to God's ways...murder, sexual abuse, greed, lying/fraud, slander, adultery, kidnapping, etc. All of these can be explained by people who have refused to give God access and influence over their lives. They are going about their lives as they see fit, and they and others suffer.

What's God view on all of this? He's not smug. In fact, God could rightly be viewed as leaning forward, compassionate, hoping we will turn to him so that he can bring real life to us. Jesus said, "Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest."1 But not all are willing to go to him. Jesus commented on this when he said: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing."2 Again, Jesus brings the issue back to our relationship with him. "I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."3

But what about when life is unfair? What about those horrible circumstances that hit us in life, caused by someone other than ourselves? When we are feeling victimized, it's useful to realize that God himself endured horrendous treatment from others. God more than understands what you are going through.

There is nothing in life that could be more painful than what Jesus endured on our behalf, when he was deserted by his friends, ridiculed by those who would not believe in him, beaten and tortured before his crucifixion, then nailed to a cross, in shameful public display, dying of slow suffocation. He created us, yet allowed humanity the freedom to do this, to fulfill Scripture and to set us free from our sin. This was no surprise to Jesus. He was aware of what was coming, foreknowing all the details, all the pain, all the humiliation. "And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, 'Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day."4

Imagine knowing something that awful was going to happen to you. Jesus understands emotional and psychological anguish. The night that Jesus knew they would arrest him, he went to pray, but took some friends with him. "And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, 'My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here and watch [keep awake] with me. And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will but as thou wills."5 Though Jesus confided in his three friends, they didn't understand the depth of his torment, and when Jesus returned from prayer he found them asleep. Jesus understands what it's like going through pain and extreme sadness alone.

Here it is summarized, as John describes in his gospel: "He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God."6 "For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."7

There is no question that there is pain and intense suffering in this world. Some of it is explained by selfish, hateful actions on the part of others. Some of it defies an explanation in this life. But God offers us himself. God gives us the knowledge that he has endured also, and is aware of our pain and needs. Jesus said to his disciples,"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."8 There is ample reason to be afraid, troubled, but God can give us his peace, which is greater than the problem before us. He is after all, God, the Creator. The one who has always existed. The one who created a universe on the backstroke.

Yet even in his power, he's also the one who knows us intimately, even the smallest, insignificant details. And if we will trust him with our lives, relying on him, though we encounter difficulties, he will hold us securely. Jesus said, "These things I have spoken to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."9 He went through our ultimate threat -- death -- and overcame it. He can take us through the difficult circumstances of this life, and then bring us into eternal life, if we will trust him.

We can either go through this life with God or without him. Jesus prayed, "O righteous Father, although the world has not known you, yet I have known you; and these have known that you sent me; and I have made your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them."10

To find out how to begin a relationship with God, please see Knowing God Personally.

Source: http://www.everystudent.com

be called

2010-11-23T07:21:00.000-08:00

God doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the called...

Project Management

2010-11-22T08:04:00.000-08:00

Project defined

Unremarkably speaking, people have been into something that they enforced to achieve. Almost everyone and mainly even you has some things in mind that would probably be concerning of anything that will be a definable measure of something you would likely to happen -whether a thing, a person or an event. Some would refer it into a dream, a goal, a vision, a commission or inspiration. Creating these thoughts in your mind will come up into something small or big and relating it into a somewhat project that you can contrive to.

In the influx of time, people have been involved into projects even at the earlier stage of organized human activities. People on those times maybe creating plans whenever they go hunt for the whole village and definitely there were temporary undertakings directed at the goal of obtaining meat for the community. Our ancestors would likely be in line with some agricultural strategies that may be considered as projects. The crops that they plant as to when will they water it or harvest it may also be considered as a project for instance. Our history also tells us many stories of large projects. One of which is about the great pyramid in Egypt which is believed as made for the tomb of their pharaohs and took 35-40 years to build. Another great and complex project we have in our history is the Great Wall of China as well as the great Apollo mission to the moon. We also use the term project in our everyday conversations. Especially for us, students we work all night long burning our eyebrows for our said projects. Our education is actually a project of our parents because as we can see, it follows a time frame depicted on when we must graduate. Hunting for food, planting crops, building walls and pyramids and going to school all share certain characteristics which made them projects.

A project has a typical feature that will distinguish it from an operational work or a typical business operation. Even though sometimes, these terms are used interchangeably by some people, we can clearly see their differences as we dig dipper to what really a project means. Based on the discussion we had during our first meetings in this subject, projects do have characteristics that will explain to us why it differs from an operational work. Projects are temporary in nature. They are not an everyday business process and have definitive start dates and end dates. We will know the project’s end if we have already achieved the objectives we had set on the beginning of our project method structure. Sometimes, we will also know if the project is about to end if we will realize that its objective will never be met and the need for the said project is no longer needed and it must be terminated. The characteristic of a project having a start date and end date is important because a large part of the project effort is dedicated for ensuring that the project is completed at the appointed time. To do this, plans and schedules are created showing when tasks should done, begin, and end. Project’s characteristic’ temporary doesn’t merely mean short in duration, projects can last minutes, hours, days, weeks, months or years. Nevertheless, the duration of a project is finite. Generally, being temporary doesn’t construe about the product or service rendered itself. Projects are generally made to create longer lasting outcomes. Example of which is the project of creating a drug medicine. The effect of having an available drug for everyday use will be a lasting effect for people but may end as machines for curing diseases may come out.

Projects also exist to bring about a product or service that hasn't existed before. In this sense, a project is characterized as unique. Unique means that this project is new; this has never been done before. Maybe it may appear to be done in the same way as before, but it will definitely have difference compared to the new. An example I can give you is about the trend today, our cellular phones. In the past, we only knew 5110 and 3310 as the best cellular phones available. If you have these two, you’re famous! LOL! But can you see how cellular phone companies created and innovated our phones today? Right now you can actually send email and surf the net using your cellular phones. You can even capture videos and pictures and put them on the internet while lying on your bed using your cellular phones. That is how their cellular phone project made unique. It was made for the same purpose which is communication, thus creating another use for it such as email, internet, games and photos. Uniqueness is definitely a very important characteristic of every project because the presence of repetitive elements cannot give a brighter speck for a good project.
Another characteristic of a project is about progressive elaboration. This characteristic implies the concepts of both uniqueness and being temporary. Progressive elaboration defines mainly that a project is a project itself. Meaning, a project is composed of several steps and processes upon achieving the desired goal and objective. Mainly, every project as what I have visualized is composed of sections in which every section is also framed with individual objective. In the whole process of creating a project, you need to know first the main objectives, develop in every step and improve in every action and mode. Another primary point of progressive elaboration is that a project must be coordinated with a proper time structure that is also aligned with proper scope definition especially when a project is worked under contract. Everything regarding the specifications of this time frame should be followed and must not be controlled so as to yield a good outcome for the project.

Based on our discussions, a project mainly is also covered with a cost or a budget for it to be implemented. Every project needs to associate and be aligned with the budget allotted for it so that proper utilization of resources will be achieved.

In contrast with projects, operations are ongoing and repetitive. They involve work that is continuous without an ending date and you often repeat the same processes and produce the same results. The purpose of operations is to keep the organization functioning while the purpose of a project is to meet its goals and to conclude. Therefore, operations are ongoing while projects are unique and temporary. The project is completed when its goals and objectives are accomplished. It is these goals that drive the project and all the planning and implementation efforts are undertaken to achieve them. Sometimes projects end when it's determined that the goals and objectives cannot be accomplished or when the product or service of the project is no longer needed and the project is cancelled.

To sum it up, a project is a sequence of unique, complex, and connected activities having one goal or purpose and that must be completed by a specific time, within the budget and according to specifications.

Management defined

Imagine an army with no general, a team with no coach, or a nation with no government. How could the army beat the enemy? How could the team win games? How could the nation avoid complete anarchy? They couldn’t. And a project plan can’t succeed without a manager. Managers make sure that a project stays, well … organized. Organizing and directing the work of others is the work of the manager. People need organization and direction if they are to work effectively, and managers provide that. All of us are considered as the managers of our own lives. We by how far, are in charge of everything that is happening in our lives, whether a good or bad instance. So, by anyhow, we are all managers because we do the job of directing our lives.

Management is generally defined as the art and science of getting things done through others. This definition emphasizes that a manager plans and guides the work of other people. Some cynical individuals think that this means managers don’t have any work to do themselves. It is maybe a common thought that a manager is just someone who orders and commands its members in a particular group or organization. But, this belief is merely a big mistake because underlying each manager is a heavy task and job to do.

Okay, I have already said much about being a manager but during our discussions, our facilitator created a twist on our heads about what must really be considered – whether a manager or a leader. He stated that in our everyday lives, we meet several people who usually control us in whatever thing we do. It may be our father who demand us to wash the car, our mother who ask us to cook for our food and even our teachers who give us assignments and projects to be passed. He considered them as managers because they control us with their commands. Some of our teachers are really considered as managers because they hold us in our necks. We must obey their rules in the class, we must listen to their discussions, and we must pass their requirements and sort of things they want so we may pass their subject. Our facilitator cleared out that it is really better to become a leader than being a manager. Being a leader is about being an inspiration rather than controller. Let your members follow not your commands but your good qualities for them to do their job. Let them learn what they need to learn rather than directing them always of what has to be done and what is not. Leadership is by far different from a manager because inspiration is the key root of being a leader within an organization or a group.

Management, as defined by Merriam- Webster’s dictionary, is the act or art of managing : the conducting or supervising of something (as a business), judicious use of means to accomplish an end and the collective body of those who manage or direct an enterprise.
The term “management” encompasses an array of different functions undertaken to accomplish a specific task successfully. In the simplest of terms, management is all about ‘getting things done’. However, it is the way and the process of how one achieves ones objectives or goals and it is in this respect that management is considered an art and a science as well. Art, because you are free by anyhow to create something out of organization and a Science, since it includes deep study and processes to arrive at a specific outcome. The term management may be recently defined, but it existed at a time when men started learning the art of organizing, strategizing (especially during wars) and or simply planning. At the core of it, management was quintessentially considered as an art of ‘managing men’ and hence the term “manage-men-T.”
As what the project is defined above, it composed of steps and sections thus observing a definite objective and time frame. It is where management takes place. Management is about how those procedures or steps are done, how the whole structure of the project was fitted with the allotted time structure as well as the allotted budget.
A management scholar, Peter Drucker defined management as “Supplying knowledge to find out how existing knowledge can best be applied to produce results is, in effect, what we mean by management. But knowledge is now also being applied systematically and purposefully to determine what new knowledge is needed, whether it is feasible, and what has to be done to make knowledge effective. It is being applied, in other words, to systematic innovation.”
From the words of Mr. Peter Drucker, we have comprehended that management is clearly defined with two words- creative and systematic. It is systematic in a way also that it uses human resources to create effective results and proper outcomes done in a very effective way. Today the importance of management from an organization’s point of view has increased multifold. It is only through effective management that companies are developing and executing their business’s policies and strategies to maximize their profits and provide with the best of products and services. Management today combines creative, business, organizational, analytical and other skills to produce effective goal-oriented results. Some of the key functions in management includes learning to delegate, planning and organizing, communicating clearly, controlling situations, motivating group mates, adapting to change, constantly innovating and thinking of new ideas, building a good team and delivering results which are not just figure -bound but results that also focus on overall growth and development. Management focuses on the entire organization from both a short and a long-term perspective. It is the managerial process of forming a strategic vision, setting objectives, crafting a strategy and then implementing and executing the strategy. Management goes beyond the organization’s internal operations to include the industry and the general environment to produce proper and essential outcome for the people’s usage.

What is project management?

After both the project and the management have been defined, we will know give meaning to what is called the project management. Does it merely say that project plus management equals project management?
Project Management usually focuses on integrating solutions that are designed with an aim of enhancing the company’s management capability. By incorporating the project management practices into the business processes and strategies, any organization can maximize the transfer of knowledge and skills to the organization. In a specific project, objectives are being initialized so as to provide direction for the project track. Each project as well is composed of series of steps which are interrelated and are vital for each minor goal. Project management is the process of handling, evaluating and organizing the steps and processes within a project so as to make them reliable and efficient to achieve the right outcome for the project proposed. Reduced to its simplest project management is the discipline of maintaining the risk of failure at as low a value as necessary over the lifetime of the project. Risk of failure arises primarily from the presence of uncertainty at all stages of a project. An alternate point of view is that project management is the discipline of defining and achieving targets while optimizing the use of resources such as time, effort, money, people, space and etc.
Proper project management entails that all the elements of a project are success fully managed. These elements stated are the resources, time, money and scope. Resources are referred to those that are essentials upon project implementation such as the people, the people and the equipments or materials. Time merely involves dependencies, time structure, critical path and task durations. Money of course, is the amount you use for operational uses such as the costs, contingencies and profits. The scope refers to the project size, goals and as well as project requirements. Most literature on project management speaks of the need to manage and balance three elements: people, time, and money. However, the fourth element is the most important and it is the first and last task for a successful project manager. First and foremost you have to manage the project scope. The project scope is the definition of what the project is supposed to accomplish and the budget which deals with both of time and money that has been created to achieve these objectives. It is absolutely imperative that any change to the scope of the project have a matching change in budget, either time or resources
It is stated above that in every beginning of a project, objectives must be clearly identified. Based on our discussions, when clearing out an objective for your project, it should be SMARTER- specific, measurable, attainable, reliable, time-bound, enjoyable and rewarding.
Almost all of the organizations and industries, regardless of size, primarily needs proper knowledge about project management .Not only those people who are well equipped with making money should be the one to become furnished with the knowledge of project management. I tell you; even us, students need really to study the essentials of project management. Remember that our life is a project itself. Every one of us aims minor objectives in everything that we do. Upon waking up in the morning, we are bombarded with lots of specific projects which may lead to greater projects in our lives. Through these subject, project management, I realized that I am really isn’t a good project manager/leader for myself. Honestly speaking, I hate fitting out on schedules and deadlines because I have this attitude of a maniana habit. If I will be given a project right now, that project would definitely fail. Not merely because of lack of the resources nor money but because of me. I know I got a lot of things to fix within myself. I need first to set myself as a project that needs to be pushed through. I wanted to be time sensitive enough so that I will never be late in anything that I will be doing. I need to stick at a budget because I’m such an impulsive person.

Primarily, project management holds a defined pattern which is usually followed by the project managers for them to become a winner on their projects. The first is the definition stage where the manager / leader defines or clears out what the project really is and what would be the possible outcome of the project. Next stage is the planning stage where all project activities are defined. Of course, each plan or decision yielded in this stage is tied up with the time structure initiated at the start of the project planning as well. Next stage is the implementation or execution stage where you would now build your team. The manager/ leader define the amount or cost of the project and thus assigning each task to his or her members. It is where the work of the project usually begins. The next is about the controlling stage. It is when the manager monitors and updates the project execution so as to supervise proper time elapse for every plan to succeed. Last but not the least is the closing stage where the manager/ leader analyzes the project outcome if it’ll be essential and cost efficient for consumers to buy and use.

To sum it up, project management plays a very vital part into our lives. Without proper understanding and knowledge about project management we won’t be able to become as successful project leaders we all wanted. After all, a real and successful project management is, above all, a practice where art, science, and craft meet for the benefit of sufficing other people’s needs as well as ours.

Techno 1- a look back

2010-11-22T00:03:00.000-08:00

What I learned in Technopreneurship 1.

I was quite dumbfounded with tons of incertitudes upon enrolling last semester. Many things would come up to my mind like, should I proceed with this course or what would be my standing at the end of the first semester. Many doubts had construed on me and all I think was to end the whole thing. It may be funny though, I realized that I shouldn’t be afraid. Nevertheless, I was quite surprised with first semester’s outcome since it was fun and very informative. One of the subject that really strucked me was Technopreneurship 1. For me, it wasn’t just a course we need to take for a semester but a course we will need for the entire span of our careers in the future.

Technopreneurship one really had a great impact in my life not only as a student but as well as a person. It taught me many things I never thought I would learn. It helped me not only to understand my subject but as well as a person or an individual with regards to the subject matter of what the subject Technopreneurship might probably engraves. Honestly, my first two years of college taking up this course was indeed a doom for me. In the first place, this course isn’t actually my option nor my passion. I was just, perhaps forced to take it since it was an in demand course and they say that it yields bigger earnings. The most things I thought first of was my family of course. I thought that inspiration was enough to make me persevere in this field. I only viewed it backwards. My forward vision was as dark as it could seem to be. This was how Technopreneurship one took its place in my journey. It served as a light in my dark path. It made me understand and learn what this field could lead me to. It painted a bright picture of what can I become in the future if I will be good in this profession.

I learned many things in Technopreneurship one. During the first weeks of our meetings, we were able to understand ourselves first. Series of activities were given to us. One thing I can’t forget was our activity where we were tasked to connect the dots. Honestly, I wasn’t able to get the whole thing. We were taught then on how to think outside the box. We weren’t able to connect all the dots because we were afraid to take chances and go outside of what it seemed to be the requirements, I thought. We were perhaps on our comfort zones and are very scared to get out of our shell to explore. This activity made us realize that in order to succeed, we must know how to search the world. We must know how to get out of ourselves and surprise the world on what we can create. The next thing we did was to know about the life of the two living giants of the IT industry –Bill gates and Steve Jobs. They were known worldwide because of their genius contributions and creations like the Microsoft and Apple. Bill Gates was then renowned as the richest man on earth mainly because of Microsoft. We were all stunned with the story of Steve Jobs. Achieving what Jobs had reached is actually a hard thing to do. His success is like a pie in the sky. I would definitely believe that Steve Jobs is not actually as genius as Einstein but I can say that the best thing that he got are his guts and his big dreams. He never ceased to believe that someday, somehow, he would be able to shoot down IBM from his own creations of computers. Who would actually say that it was all possible? It’s only him. We then realized that what they have achieved as individuals, they didn’t get it overnight. Rather, they worked really hard for it. They suffered hardships, failures and rejections thus creating them as geniuses of their field as what they are right now. I learned that for us to become successful technopreneurs, we must strive and work hard for our dreams to turn into reality. Gates and Jobs’s wishes didn’t just come true with the help of a fairy godmother on their windows. We must always think that for us to succeed, we must make our dreams into reality. Steve Jobs’ commencement speech also brought to light many things. He made me realize that our journey towards life was indeed amazing. He taught us the essentials of being successful. First, we must always first listen to our heart. We’ve got to find what we love so that we will be able to work hard for it. He also taught us to connect the dots. Our life is composed of events that relates with each other. Whether it’ll be good or bad, these scenes will always be connected to our present situations. If what happened to us is bad, it may probably the best lesson God wants us to learn. Again, you can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. The best thing his commencement speech taught us is to stay hungry and foolish. We must keep on eagerring for something. Do not settle for less, or else you will not be successful.

Becoming a better person was I think one of this subject’s goals for us students. We were able to implore our individuality through some personal tests that we had which, perhaps you would think as just a course related personality test, but actually isn’t. it is also related to our everyday lives as students who go to school, as children who does the chores and as friends who mingles with people. These are some of the lines I wrote about my personality test blog.
“From the past discussion until the present, I have summarized the basic personality trait every technopreneur should possess. Technopreneurs should be independent minded and always think outside the box. They should not be conformist who will be easily swept to toe the line for the sake of agreeing with conventions but rather self-thinkers who follow personal intuition at the expense of popular opinion. Successful technopreneurs aims for excellence and perfection but merely having still the right conducts and behavior within him/her. Success doesn’t merely measured with how rich or popular you would become. It is about finding true happiness in anything that you will do.”
These statements say it all. Knowing thy self is the best weapon I think that every individual should possess in order to understand life and living.
We were also enquired on creating our own purpose in life. Honestly, it took me several hours and even days just to think of what my purpose on living in this planet might probably. I guess, everyone not only me does have a hard time thinking on what on earth are we here for. Technopreneurship one pulled the strings for me to realize those boggling things.

Technopreneurship - technology plus entrepreneurship. How could I ever outlast this thing? Honestly, I was not a techie person afterall. I am not aware of the latest trends nor the latest inventions that were made available to make life convenient. Gladly, being an entrepreneur was a lighter thing for me since I grew up in a business oriented family. Techno one helped me realize that technology plus business was indeed very enjoyable. You can create something very amusing and perhaps very effective. Not only you could help make the world a better place, you could also help yourself experience the richness of this world. I would never forget the time we were tasked to visit a particular food chain and think of something innovative to help the management improve their products and services. I was like, ”Are you joking?” I wasn’t pretty much aware of what’s really on trend nowadays specially that techie thing about businesses. I just got in my mind what I want first and ta da… that’s it! I just made some crazy yet amazing ideas that just came out my mind. Pretty amazing that those ideas, I think which are very impossible to achieve, are actually done in reality nowadays. I just realized then that for us to become globally competitive on our own tracks, we must also dig in and explore what is on trend right now. For every business to boom, it must be of course, ESSENTIAL- essential in a way that people will really need your products. Settle for those which are related to an individual’s primary needs. In this way, you’ll be assured that many will appreciate your products. Next, in a business, you must be CREATIVE and UNIQUE. Being creative and unique isn’t about how you make your business an extra crockpot just to make people notice it. It is about making your business a very indulging yet substantial to the people’s needs. I chose then a pizza parlor with sort of crazy stations which the customers will definitely enjoy.

At the start of our meeting, we were actually introduced with a model referred to as the SEED model- S for Self Mastery, E for Environment, another E for Enterprise and D for development of the business. Sadly, because we really have no enough time, we just covered the S which is about Self Mastery. Though people may think that self mastery is a very bare thing to handle, technopreneurship one made us realize its functions not only for us to become better entrepreneurs but as well us for us to know ourselves more and become better individuals not only for our family but as well as for ourselves. Nevertheless, every activity we did during the first step of the SEED model was worthwhile. Our discussions about self-mastery brought to light many lessons which an individual must know.

Technopreneurship one taught us that self-mastery is not an inborn quality. Those who have it developed it through years of experience. They have learned the techniques that created wealth and made themselves a valuable asset to themselves, their families, their employers and their communities. Anyone who hopes for the same level of success need to develop those of the same qualities. Success is based on a feeling that no matter how difficult the objective is, it can be achieved and that requires a personal belief that everything is possible. Those who become wealthy have an unshakable belief in their talents and abilities. They know their strengths and use them to full advantage. They don't approach problems with fear. In fact, they welcome the challenges they face throughout life as they know that overcoming them is what builds character and builds self confidence. If you know yourself more, you would be able to face the world with confidence that whatever struggles that may attack you; you would definitely win over it.
We are tackling the rest of the SEED model right now on our technopreneurship two.
Aside from boundless lessons about knowing thy selves and creating our business ideas, I also consider technopreneurship one as English 101 since we are tasked to make long essays that would definitely sharpen our English vocabulary as well as our writing skills. At first, I thought that this won’t be a hard thing for me since I really love talking and writing ever since. But then, Techno one was a whole heck of a new thing! You must definitely know what you are saying and what you are writing. I remember the time we were about to write about our business plans. Do you know how long it took me to write even a single letter on my word document? I guess it took me almost 2 days just to come up with the best business idea ever. I reckon that technopreneurship also taught me to become sure of everything that I will be doing and avoid the “bahala na” manner which most Filipinos possess. It taught us discipline that in everything we do, we must give it a 100% shot.

To toss it up, the technopreneurship one subject was a whole lot of fun, learning and experience that I will truly hold dear up to my entire career in the near future. It taught me a lot of things which would probably help me achieve my dreams and goals in this track I chose to.

To our facilitator Mr. Gamboa : merci monsieur!!

if papipiliin ka ng kakainin mo for the rest of your life karneng may sakit? or isdang panis?

2010-11-12T00:56:00.001-08:00

if papipiliin ka ng kakainin mo for the rest of your lifekarneng may sakit?orisdang panis?

Answer here

What would be your weapon of choice if you were to mortally wound Justin Beiber and how would you use it?

2010-11-12T00:50:00.001-08:00

What would be your weapon of choice if you were to mortally wound Justin Beiber and how would you use it?

Answer here

What do Real Men have in their pockets?

2010-11-10T16:41:00.000-08:00

Real Men have hanky and Rosary in their pockets.♥

Unfailing love

2010-11-10T16:37:00.000-08:00

HIS love is UNFAILING. Only HIM will I ADORE.♥

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA!

2010-11-10T16:34:00.000-08:00

11.11.10

I LOVE YOU MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY.

Your arms were always open when I needed a hug, Your heart understood when I needed a friend.Your gentle eyes were stern when I needed a lesson. Your ears always listens to the voice of my heart..Your strength and love has guided me and gave me wings to fly...God knows how much i care about you..and how grateful i am because you raise me well..Thank you so much mom! I love you ♥

The journey with Christ continues...

2010-11-10T16:26:00.001-08:00

Prayer is Power

2010-11-10T16:25:00.001-08:00