Feng Shui for home and office

Very few people think about the location they choose will affect their business. Sure, when opening a restaurant or a spa business, you choose a busy neighborhood, an easy access. Even so, it might not work if you don’t check the Feng Shui ! Even franchised stores of Starbucks, Mc Donalds, Mini Stop etc, located in busy areas, sometimes fail ! How is it possible with such big names and franchises, and when everyone is working in the same direction? The answer: THE FENG SHUI OF THE PLACE!

I am not a fan of feng shui and i don't actually practice it. Until one day we decided to put an end to our business  because despite the tremendous amount of efforts we put into our business, We are not meeting our expectations, after that i had time to think where did we go wrong or what seems to be the problem.

Just recently i happened to read an article regarding feng shui for home and business and how it affects us.I found out that the place we are leasing is not a good location in feng shui because it is located near the parking area and has a slope shaped, now i began to think it makes sense. So i began considering feng shui. 

As i mentioned before we started our laundry business just inside our house and business was good that we need to open up another branches in Pasig area. Maybe it is because we live in a number 8 house. 

Our address was 917 and when added together
 9+1=10 
10+7= 17 
1+7=8

 Eight is considered to be lucky, it means prosperity.

Feng Shui Numbers and their Meaning

In feng shui, numbers play a very important role in the lives of an individual. In fact feng shui has its roots deep in numerology. The Chinese can be considered to be very superstitious in this respect, and often house numbers, telephone numbers, car number plates, etc are chosen accordingly.

In Chinese (or Cantonese to be precise), the numbers are decided to be lucky or unlucky according to the way they are pronounced. Eight is considered as an auspicious number since the sound is similar to that of prosperous in Cantonese.

This is the reason why many people prefer to have their bank accounts, phone numbers, etc ending with the number 8. In fact, a house with the number 8 is supposed to be auspicious.

On the other hand, the number 4 is supposed to bring bad luck. This is because as according to the Cantonese, the sound of the number is similar to that of “death”.

Thus, the number is often said to bring about extreme misfortune and bad luck. Most followers of feng shui avoid anything with the number 4 in it.

All numbers are reduced to single digit numbers with the addition of the digits. In case of really long numbers the total of the addition have to be reduced till we have only a single digit. We can also combine the digits together. According to feng shui the numbers have the following meanings.

1 refers to unity. It also means independence.
2 means easy and it promotes relationships.
3 refers to liveliness or creation.
4 refers to death. However, sometimes it also refers to stability of a foundation,
5 refers to nothing or no. It also means change.
6 refers to profitability and also means beauty and aesthetics.
7 refers to certainty or surety and is supposed to be a mystical number used while preparing a site for burial or “Yin Feng Shui”. The Chinese believe that if “Yin Feng Shui” is practiced properly, its influence will be seen after 7 generations.

8 refers to prosperity, wealth and abundance.
9 refers to enough or longevity, completion and manifestation.

The numbers starting with 1, 2, 3, 6 and 8 are considered lucky or auspicious. You can simply combine the numbers along with their meanings to find out which ones are lucky and which are not.

13 is also considered unlucky as 1+3= 4, which is the most unlucky number in feng shui on account of its pronunciation. In fact, in the same way the numbers 24 and 104 are also considered to be unlucky.

Other numbers that are considered to be lucky are 8, 17, 28, 38, 48, 54, 68, 80, 84, 88, 99, 168 & 108. This is due to the fact that the lucky number 8 is included in each of them in some way or the other. 

Raspberry Laundry Maybunga Pasig Branch

Raspberry Laundry is currently constructing another shop in Capri Oasis Maybunga Pasig City. 
Raspberry Laundry will  cater seminar for aspiring Entrepreneurs who wants to put up their own laundry shop.The Shop will also have its retail and wholesale of different biodegradable laundry chemicals and personal care products. Watch out for our opening this April 2013.

Construction Business

As the Philippine property boom gathers pace, many foreign investors like Donald Trumph, Japanese and Korean investors are investing in construction business in the Philippines.

There are plenty of constructions everywhere like the high rise condominiums, townhouses and commercial establishments around the Philippines.

It is the right time to engage into construction business, fueled by steady economic growth, the buying power of millions of Filipinos working abroad and low interest rates.

I have been into hardware retail business for almost seven years and it is truly a good business to start with.The company started mainly to supply construction materials for residential, apartments and detached family homes. I was clueless into business when i get into construction business but being hands on i learned a lot of things the hardest way. Yes, comes from the name hardware it is indeed hard. I gained knowledge the hardest way yet it is priceless.  

If you envision one day having a large, profitable construction business, starting a small construction business could be the way to go. Starting your own small business will take a little work and money, but it might save you in the long run if you are deciding what you want your business to be and how far you want to take it. 

Managing a construction company requires a diverse skill set and fearless attitude dealing with challenges. You must be able to understand the various business logistics of a company, the specific technical aspects of the construction company, and also the financial outlook of a contract-based business. Managing a construction company requires the ability to wear multiple hats; you are a human resource manager, a purchaser, salesman and an accountant. 

Home Office Ideas

For generations, the working world has been dominated by men. In fact, it wasn’t until the past fifty years that women were actually permitted to advance to leadership roles. Although women in developed countries today have most of the same opportunities and advantages as men, the style and appearance of the corporate world is still extremely masculine. The offices of many major companies are defined by steely grays and other more masculine neutral tones, and the soft-edged feminine touch is hard to locate. However, there is no reason corporate power can’t be synonymous with femininity. 

Being a working mother can sometimes make it a near impossible task to keep home and work life separate. Creating a space that’s reserved for work-work is a great way of organizing your life and drawing a boundary between home and office. The question remains however: How do you stop yourself from moving your laptop to the kitchen table or ending up on the couch? The answer is simple: Make that office space so inviting, you won’t want to work anywhere else.

Additionally, we spend a lot of time in our office spaces. Whether it’s a home office reserved for handling household finances, a residential workspace created for work-at-home professionals or a room high up in a tower of a city’s corporate district, there are plenty of ways to transform your office into one that reflects your own feminine style.

• Go Earthy – Taking after the most important feminine power force of all – Mother Earth – give your space a little greenery. This can mean adding a few flowering plants (real or fake, we won’t judge), a floral print motif on the walls or a few funky flowered wall art pieces.

• Get Chic – Although black-and-white may seem overdone, there are always new patterns to explore. Give your office area a haute touch with black and white patterned walls, a sleek ergonomic black chair, white desk and plenty of soft lighting.

• Brighten the Mood – Those stiff neutral office shades are yesterday’s trends. For a more modern vibe, add some bright new hues. Shake things up with a few small splashes of neon, or a large block of color – such as purple walls. Don’t be afraid to venture outside of the stodgy spectrum into something much more fun. Additionally, by livening up your work space, you can also re-energize your passion.

Becoming your own Boss!

Possibly one of the most exciting and biggest advantages to becoming self-employed is being your own boss. You never have to listen to, be ordered around or boost your bosses' ego ever again. Now it is your turn to stand in the spotlight! You are now the one in control, in charge - the ultimate decision maker. But just remember becoming your own boss also brings its own huge responsibilities and challenges!

Self-employment has its benefits and risks. 

"You're not an entrepreneur if you don't take risks."

Working From Home

Being self-employed i can work from the comfort of my own home and i can set up my working space how and where i like it. But more importantly i will not have to fork out hard earned cash on travel expenses, travel time or rent for premises.

Reap the Rewards Personally

Working for a big company means that although you can be the best employee, the hardest worker, the most experienced they have, you rarely are rewarded with a cash bonus or incentive. One of the key components to being self-employed is that all the profits belong to you! 

Earn Money For Yourself

Unfortunately the fact is that we spend most of our lives at work, trying everything to earn extra cash, get a pay rise, improve ourselves personally, socially and professionally. Many of us strive to be the best to stand out from the crowd but what for? They say that 'hard work pays of' but does it really. Well yes if you're self-employed. Working hard and focusing your life on your career can pay of and more importantly will solely benefit you not the hundreds and thousands of others also working towards the same goal!

Create Your Own Success

The opportunity to succeed is now in your hands. Becoming self-employed involves a huge risk - you are now solely responsible for creating your own destiny and more importantly success. You will have no-one to blame and no-one to make excuses to or for. So work hard, plan and weigh up decisions before making them because ultimately they will affect you and your potential to succeed. 

Own Working Hours 

Becoming self-employed i decide when and how to work. I choose my own holidays and day off. This is an amazing advantage as i get much time to bond with my kids, enjoy my family while working on my own desired time.

Things you need in starting a business from a scratch.

1. You need guts to start a business

                “The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It’s as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow. Not next week, but today. The true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer.” – Nolan Bushnell

Launching a business out of the planning board require guts; quitting your job to start your own business require guts, believing in your business idea even when everyone says you are nuts requires guts and facing business challenges also require guts. That’s why I listed guts as number one. Guts, chutzpa, boldness, brevity, courage; they all mean the same thing. Without entrepreneurial guts, just forget about starting a business.

                “You are nuts and you should be proud of it. Stick with what you believe in.” – Trip Hawkins

2. You need business skills to start a business

The next thing you need to make your business idea a reality is skills. What are you bringing to the table? This is the question you must answer when seeking joint ventures and business partnerships. Your possessed entrepreneurial skills are very important to the realization of your ideas because your skills can be a strength or competitive advantage for your business. Skills are a necessity when searching for a business team.

                “The ability to sell is the number one skill in business. If you cannot sell, don’t bother thinking about becoming a business owner.” – Rich Dad

Have you heard the phrase that “entrepreneurs are generalists.” I think there is an atom of truth in that statement. Entrepreneurs are generalist, they need to know a little of everything that pertains to business. That’s where your business skills come in. As an entrepreneur, you need to know a little of accounting, investing, sales, marketing, operations and business management in general.

Before ever starting a business; be sure to hone your sales skills, marketing skills, communication skills, negotiation skills, accounting skills, leadership skills, people skills and every other entrepreneurial skills that’s required to succeed in business.

                “Skills make you rich, not theories.” – Rich Dad

3. You need the right mindset to start a business

You probably must have heard this over and over again but I think it’s worth repeating. You can’t build a business if you lack the right mindset. Entrepreneurship is not really about starting or building a business.

Starting a business is like building a ship and embarking on a voyage, armed with a plan, a map and a team. You will have to sail against storms, unpredictable weather and uncertainty. If your ship sinks, it’s either you quit or you swim back to shore, build a new ship and sail again.  

Entrepreneurship is simply a change in perception or core value. It’s the process of developing your mindset from being job dependent to being financially independent. It’s a shift from being handicapped in the face of challenges to being a problem solver. In all, entrepreneurship is simply a change of mindset.

4. You need capital to start a business

I believe you know that no business idea is worth a pinch of salt without capital. I don’t want to stress much on this because I believe you know the significance of capital to any business. But in retrospect, I always advice my protégés not to be deterred by lack of capital. I encourage them to get creative when it comes to financing their small business startups; where there is a will, there will surely be a way.

                “There are three components to starting a business. One is the right plan; two is the right team and three is the money. Rarely do these three components come together when starting a business. It’s the duty of an entrepreneur to grab one piece and start the business, the remaining two pieces will be found along the way. Finding the remaining two components may take a year or more than 10 years; the point is, start with what you have.” – Robert Kiyosaki

5. You need the right business management team

                “Individuals don’t win in business, teams do.” – Sam Walton

Finally, you need the right business management team in place to build a business around your idea. For your business idea to leave the planning phase, it’s going to require the right business team. If you can assemble the right team to deliver on your plans, I bet you will find the venture capital because a strong business team is an essential ingredient to the process of raising capital from Venture capitalists.

Now how do you find the right team? I don’t know. How do you know you’ve found the right business team? Once again, I don’t know but what I do know is that the right team is a team that complements your weakness and adds value to your business. A good way to know you have the right team in place is that your business will take off like wild fire and gain grounds seamlessly with little or no effort on your part.

As a final note, these are the five things I believe are fundamental to either starting a business from scratch or building a successful business. So don’t get too excited because you feel you’ve got a creative idea up your sleeves; instead, start strategizing on ways to assemble the five elements listed above for your business. Remember, the world is filled with brilliant million dollar ideas waiting to be funded but the world lacks seasoned entrepreneurs. Take this lesson to heart and I will see you at the top.

Buy and Sell For a Living

I want to share with you on how you can start your own buy-and-sell enterprise. Mostly everyone is qualified in operating this enterprise. All you need is a product to sell. You can start by selling your pre-owned items such as used appliances, cars, old books, magazines and a lot more. Buying and selling knows no boundaries-anyone with a need or desire to earn extra money, work from home or to start and own a business can buy and sell, regardless of age, experience, education and financial resources. This is perhaps what makes buying and selling the ultimate self-employment option for the vast majority of people; it's cheap, easy, quick and proven to work and generate huge profits. Imagine the flexibility that buying and selling offers. You can buy and sell part time to pay off debts. You can buy and sell full time to replace your current income and in all likelihood earn more. You can buy and sell seasonally, enabling you to pursue other interests like travel.

Nowadays, it is easy to reach your customers with the help of the internet. It is easy to sell your products and make profit for a living. The mantra of every buy-and-sell enterprise is simple, and easily memorized: Buy low, sell high. 

Buying and selling for profit is nothing new. It has been around for thousands of years. There are two primary reasons why buying and selling has recently exploded from being the closely guarded secret of a few, to the popular occupation of hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, who are now buying and selling as their sole source of income. The first reason is the advent, wide acceptance and use of the internet, and the second reason is what I refer to as the new economy.

The Internet Makes It Easy to Buy and Sell

The internet has not only made it easier to sell products into the global marketplace utilizing online sales venues such as eBay, olx, sulit, e-classifieds, and e-storefronts, but to also source a nearly limitless number of in-demand products, which can be bought cheaply from domestic and overseas suppliers and resold for a handsome profit. Once this task was out of the reach of most small business people because of the amount of time and money required to research and often travel to foreign and domestic product suppliers to inspect, negotiate, and ink an agreement. Much of that has changed. Now with the simple click of a mouse you can buy products cheaply from thousands of suppliers spanning the globe, and resell these same products worldwide through numerous online marketplaces, or locally through community retailing opportunities like your weekend flea market-all for incredible profits.

The New Economy Is Buying and Selling

The new global marketplace has also created a second reason why buying and selling is not only the wave of the future. It is no secret that manufacturing, technology and middle-management jobs continue to disappear daily. In fact, some studies suggest the job drain in these areas is occurring at an alarming rate, faster than most people, including politicians and policy makers, are aware of or care to admit.  Many people who have been or who will soon be affected by the new global economy have chosen self-employment as a way to keep in tune with changing times, make money, and secure their long-term future. History has taught us evolve or end up like the dinosaurs-extinct!