Definition: money available at the present time is worth more than the same amount in the future.
So, simply put, we’d rather have money now than the same value in the future. The same thing holds true for action. Let me posit an integrated theory then:
The Time Value of Action:
Definition: action done NOW is worth more than the same action done in the future.
This blog is a testament to this sort of thinking. The original idea for this blog was that I had wanted to make a book chronicling and documenting the various things I was learning while running a startup. That thought started in the middle of 2011. I had created a table of contents already. I knew it would take a significant amount of time for me to finish the entire endeavor, as I had to go at it chapter by chapter. I was thinking I’d be done by 2013 with the pace I was doing.
Then I stopped and thought, why not do the same idea, but through a blog? This way, I could publish the chapters as I was writing them. So with a small investment, I put up this blog by late November of 2011 – and it has been such a huge blessing and gift for me. If I had waited for myself to finish all the chapters of my intended book, it probably would not have launched at all!
There is great value is action done now. The more time you allot to make a decision, the less the impact is.
Is there a decision you are deferring and deferring? Stop and just choose an option. Chances are, your decision to do it NOW makes it a better decision REGARDLESS of the option chosen.
A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week. – General George S. Patton
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We were around 40 people packed in the Chelsea Room of Astoria. I started out with profusely thanking everyone who came.
I gave a short talk entitled, “The 5 EPIC fails which almost did us in,” which detailed the 5 worst mistakes we’ve ever done in our startup – these were also pretty much the 5 biggest lessons we had to learn.
Incidentally, the five were the following:
1) Bad hiring
2) Failing to listen to customers
3) Failing to think big
4) Saying yes to everything
5) Failing to plan for our own obsolescence
Here’s a short excerpt regarding hiring:
After some Q&A with me, we proceeded to the highlight of the night!
The group was divided into 6 subgroups. Each person had to answer the 2 questions: 1) What is the biggest challenge you are facing in your startup process, and either 2a) What help do you need? or 2b) What’s the best advice you could give?
Since a third of the group already were doing their startups and around two-thirds of the group were in the process or didn’t know where or how to start – the conversations which ensued were scintillating. Interestingly, the random groupings somehow turned out to be the best configuration possible – the right people met with the right people.
The room just had an unbelievable vibe and energy – people were talking excitedly about their plans, their startups, and advice. More importantly, people were doing resolutions: to start something, to help one another, to help push the cause further. So many exciting plans were laid out.
In the end, I had to kick people out of the room because we went way way beyond the allowed venue hours! That didn’t stop people from conversing along the corridors, however 🙂
Was going to do my event update post tomorrow, but I couldn’t help post something right now. Amazing night! Thank you so much everyone for your passion, your energy, and your time!
I was so inspired by everyone’s stories and learned so much!
Two people just backed out due to sudden schedule conflicts. We now have two slots open. If you are interested in going, please send me an email at pcauton@yahoo.com before 12:00 noon tomorrow. Do send it in ASAP so I can reserve your slot.
Event’s on at 7:00 pm tomorrow at the Chelsea Room, Astoria Plaza.
I had always believed and said to people that God was at the center of my life.
Only, I realize now that for most of my adult life, that was mostly just lip-service.
Yes, I would go to Mass every Sunday, quickly pray before sleeping (especially when I needed something), and always tried to do the right thing. Me and God were “good,” I thought.
In the meantime, the decisions I made in my life never involved Him. I would go from job to job never thinking about what God would want from me. I formed relationships in my life with nary a thought on faith. I had always been fiercely independent, leaving my parents’ house to forge my own path as soon as I could’ve. This would partly explain why decision after decision would involve only what I alone felt and thought. I would buy what I want, spend my time doing what I wanted, did what I want. It wasn’t really God who was at the center of my life, eh?
Not that I thought there was anything wrong with how I was doing things. This was no prodigal son story, right? I mean, I wasn’t really doing anything inherently wrong. But when I think of it, I ended up straying from the right path anyway. I was so intent on following my own way I just went around in circles. I conquered my corporate professional dreams, but felt empty. Left to my own devices, I found myself alone, frustrated, and confused. No, I wasn’t leading a ruinous life. I was, however, leading a mediocre one.
In some ways, I think this can even be more dangerous because mediocrity tends to subtly creep up on you. I can see how some people would only realize one’s presence in the mediocrity mire after decades have gone by – but you can even chalk up this late realization as a blessing. Some people never get it.
I guess life phase-triggered crises occur when we realize that the decisions we have made has resulted in a life that’s missing something, and existential desperation sets in. You can call it a search for meaning, or purpose, or pagmemeron, orsaysay, or happiness, or joy, or peace, or even searching for yourself.
All along though, I realized I was searching for God. My infinite hole could only be filled by something, someone infinite.
It was only a few years ago that I truly, fully realized this. It was when my heart caught up with my head. So I resolved not to waste any more time. (why do we waste so much time?)
I had always heard holy people on TV say repetitively “Do you have a personal relationship with God?!” It was only recently that I truly understood this.
If I talked all the time with my close friends, got to know them better, and read their updates, I figured I would do the same thing with God. I endeavored to talk to God everyday during prayer, get to know Him more, and read His teachings.
I endeavored to make Him the center of my life. As in REALLY make Him the center of everything in my life.
This of course, includes career choices.
At first I thought, huh? Really? Careers and God don’t seem to mix. I had never encountered God in the corporations I had been in, save perhaps for the obligatory prayer said before Christmas parties. No one has ever told me to “pray,” when I asked for career advice.
But aren’t “careers” so inextricably linked to WHY GOD PUT US HERE ON EARTH?
God uniquely made each of us, endowed us with a specific set of gifts, for a purpose. And you know what? I bet that if you just find that purpose, more than anything, it would make you incredibly happy. So I prayed to God fervently to lead me to that purpose.
My big mouth.
One day, I found myself in a very difficult career decision point (detailed here) that put everything that I had resolved to do for Him against everything I held dear. It was one of the two most difficult decisions I’ve ever had to do.
In my gut, I knew it was a seminal moment. The decision I made here will determine how the rest of my life would unravel. To the world, it was a blatantly clear decision. To my God, it was a clear decision as well: Take the leap. I will take care of you.
It took guts which I didn’t have, but I took the leap no other career advisor would have recommended.
It was difficult going through that process, but God showed me a career path I never would have thought of in a million years – building startups. And oh boy, I can’t tell you how wonderful the fit is between what I do and who I am. In finding God, I had found myself.
Another interesting side effect is that my life was suddenly integrated. You see, before I would live a life divided into silos. I had my life at work, my family life, my love life, my life with my friends, and so forth. I noticed I was a different person in each silo. So during the times when worlds collided, I would feel very uncomfortable at the risk of being “discovered.” I don’t know if this makes sense to you. I didn’t do anything wrong, but I was projecting a different self, probably because I was trying to live in accordance to what each “world” expected of me. This has all changed. I am now one person. I feel integrated, complete. And the necessary foundation for this was and is, God.
A couple of weeks back, I posted this on a particular online forum. I was told by a reader that he had trouble believing how faith can determine the success and failure of a business endeavor. Friends, my whole happiness with where I am career-wise is a result of my faith and nothing else. The whole “business endeavor” would not even have existed if God had not intervened.
Not only can faith and work mix, but I would posit that NOT doing so would lead to something incomplete. The easiest, most direct way to find yourself is through God.
Of course, you can always do something part-time for God, like build houses, or help street kids, and stuff. This is all good, right? Think about that phrase though: part-time for God.
Hey God, you are my everything! I would give PART of my time to you!
Why not the alternative? I mean, you don’t necessarily have to be a priest or something, right? Why not be a full-time politician for God? An full-time entrepreneur for God? A full-time lawyer for God? A full-time website designer for God? The important thing is you follow that voice which calls within. Then you can still build houses and minister to street children in your spare time.
So, how exactly do you know what God wills for you? Three quick suggestions: One, it would help if you TALK to Him for starters, right?! Take a designated 30 minutes (say, 6:00am-6:30am) of your morning to pray. Everyday. Can’t overemphasize this. Second, search within yourself for your DEEPEST desires. I can guarantee it isn’t money. Our deepest, most intimate desires were put there by God. He sometimes can talk to us through our desires. Third, notice what sort of work you do makes time speed up remarkably fast. Notice what work you do brings you complete joy that you can do it for free, that you would PAY someone for you to do it. What did God put in your DNA?
Be warned though, that oftentimes in your journey, you will find that there will be a conflict arising between what God wants and what can bring in money.
So is following God truly strategic then?
It will depend on what you determine to be your ultimate end goal is.
Okay! We’re 40 strong on Tuesday for the first ever JUANGREATMEET!!! (I couldn’t say no to the 5 additional people). I had to put my foot down at 40 people – the venue cannot accomodate it.
So – Arnold, Melissa, Dennis, Glen, Gep, Ian, JP, Carlos, Jonathan, Jonathan’s business partner, Johann, Mrs. Johann, Joey, Robbie T., Artie, Jeff, Sherwin, Andrew, Kathy, Ryan, Chey, Cesar, Roy, Ansyl, Lauren, William, Macky, Reggie, Irene, Erica, Gigi, Raffy, Kiyo, Martin, Peter I, Brenda, Robbie G, Alex, Sharon, and RG, see you all on Tuesday!
I’ll be sending you guys a quick survey in a while, kindly please answer and email back to me. The survey will help me prepare better for Tuesday. Again, please don’t flake!!!
For those who didn’t make the 40, don’t fret – I’ve learned my lesson here and will get a bigger venue next time.
I’m totally psyched to meet everyone and learn from everyone on Tuesday!
I know this is short notice, but if you’re interested in joining a startup, our Startup incubator / community, called Bizkitchen, is holding a Recruitment Event on THURSDAY March 22, 7pm at the 28th floor, Union Bank Plaza, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. The event will consist on a short talk on startups, a primer on all the companies which belong to the group, as well as an idea as to what kind of openings there are.
Do email me at pcauton@yahoo.com if you are going so I can reserve a slot for you.
Please don’t confuse this event with JuanGreatMeet which is occurring the week after, on the 27th. Juangreatmeet is about FORMING startups. This Bizkitchen event is about JOINING one.
I remember years ago when I was congratulating my friend Jigger Galvez for the opening his BreadBag Pandesal store in Ortigas Home Depot. (which by the way, has awesome, original food – the roast beef pandesal is divine)
He said something which made quite an impact on me. He said “Try lang.” He was referring of course to the whole entrepreneurial endeavor.
Try lang.
The way he said it was almost apologetic, conveying a sense of – if it works, it works, if not, don’t blame me for trying. When you think about it, it’s a bit funny that he responded to my “Congratulations!” with a “Try lang.” But this attitude is totally understandable. We all have a fear of failure. So when we put something out there for the world to see, it’s a risk. Jigger put an original-themed restaurant smack in the middle of Ortigas. It’s only natural to feel a bit of trepidation. I can totally relate.
I remember when I finished my very first blogpost for Juan Great Leap. It took me around 2-3 days to finally publish it. I remember dilly-dallying about the design, and what widgets to put. But I was really dilly-dallying because of fear. Never in my life had I blogged before. What if no one visited the site? What would people think? Who am I to blog about startups? What if I run out of things to share? What if they think I’m a hack?
These are the times when telling myself TRY LANG is so powerful. TRY LANG demystifies the oftentimes large mental barriers we like to erect for ourselves, barriers that often paralyze us from doing even the smallest of actions. TRY LANG subtly puts our fear in its place – by the side.
Okay, I’m afraid of what people will think and if it will fail, but hey, I’m just trying here.
You’d be surprised at what a little “trying” can do.
There are also times when we worry too much about THE FINISH, and we ask ourselves questions like: would I really have time for this on a day-to-day basis? Would this be profitable enough to get me to leave my day job? Who would I hire as my GM? Would my company find itself in NASDAQ?
These are important questions, sure. But these questions might be too early, and could be debilitating if asked right at the start.
Just start. See what happens.
Try lang.
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When I was in high school, I dreamt of someday owning a huge firm.
Then I entered college.
When I was in college, only the ones with the highest grades were given the most recognition. So I figured, only they could one day “own a company.”
So, from thereon, I dreamt of becoming a high-ranking corporate employee – perhaps a C-whatever-O!
Then I joined a corporation.
I came in as an entry-level HR Officer. The more I learned about my field, the more I realized how incredibly difficult it is to overcome my chosen corporate function and make truly strategic decisions.
So, from thereon, I dreamt of becoming a “Head of HR” one day.
Moreover, I also saw that in corporations, the best managers were often given “car plans” or “company cars.” Of course, I wanted to be the best.
So, from thereon, I dreamt of getting my own car – a FORD ESCAPE if possible, because I thought it looked good.
More than once I thought. “Hey, I’m not really happy! I can’t wait for the week to end and the work is getting repetitive.” But then when I asked around, everyone else felt the same way.
So, from thereon, I thought, “That’s life.” And then I just forced myself to chug along, day after day after day after day after day.
Then, one day I was the Head of HR for an entire firm. My salary was higher, so naturally, I quickly got a loan to purchase a FORD ESCAPE (which I eventually loathed because it was such a gas-guzzler) The monthly loan payments were debilitating, and in truth I could have used the money for more important stuff. But hey, who cares? I had my car, right?!!!
Then, after some time, I got a bit confused. Wait, so what was left to dream of? I dared not dream of being a CXO. Owning a firm was even more laughable.
So, I instead “dreamt” of just getting higher pay, year after year. Maybe get a job outside the country to earn higher currency. That’s it. I figured, nothing wrong with that right? Everyone I talked to dreamt of the same thing, and talked about the same thing.
In around a decade’s time, society and corporate life had subtly diminished my dreams from “owning a firm” into “receiving a higher salary increase next year” and “owning an Escape.” At one point, these two were my professional dreams. DREAMS. Egad.
My friends, our dreams should be saved for bigger, much more meaningful things. God placed us on this earth for far greater things than a nice car and nice pay. Our dreams fuel our hopes, which in turn, fuel our souls. We should take great care of our dreams.
Buy hey, you know, my dreams include the really big things, like having a family and travelling to Europe and stuff, they don’t involve work. Work is just work.
Stop thinking this way. Work is such an important part of our lives. It is where MOST of our waking hours are spent. A person who feels broken about “just work” is simply just a broken person. I was.
What, so inspiration, meaning, and feeling great are just reserved for the weekends?
When I took stock of where I was, and I made a conscious decision to follow my younger, more childlike dreams, I noticed something very different.
My dreams grew.
My initial dream was to “just earn enough to get out of corporate.” And I did (with a great leap). Then I figured we could “grow this baby” into an industry leader. We did. Then I figured I could use the experience to create more startups. I did. Then I figured I could use everything I learned to help people create more startups. This is my passion dream now, and it excites and burns within me furiously. I would do this for free. And when I think of it, I think it’s an aspiration worth being called a dream.
Are your dreams getting less and less worthy of being called a “dream?” Are you a victim of the Diminishing Dreams Syndrome? If you are, then this recognition alone can prove to be a monumental asset. Get out of this downward spiral, fast.
It might be good to take a long leave. But don’t go to Boracay with your friends first. Retreat. It might be tough to see the forest from the trees, so take a step back first. Take stock of who you are and what is meaningful to you. Pray. Consider. Be open.
Then ask yourself this question: what do you REALLY want to do?
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