The Day I Climb a Mountain

Yes, I just had my first climb. It was very exhausting. Many times I gasped for breath. Then I had to drink water immediately to soothe my tired and dried throat. And here’s the thing, I sweat like hell. I’m not actually the sweaty type so I was amazed how the activity made me sloppy.

However, no matter how tiring, it was very engrossing at the same time. Walking between tall shrubs and trees. Stepping over some vines that slit my skin. Being bitten by ants which sting long enough for me to feel. And the dizzying narrow, high cliff that we have to walk on. It all forced me to be alert about my sorrounding. It led me to pay attention and kept my mind from wandering. That made the trip wonderful. I was able to free my head from imagining all sorts of things and give my full attention to what’s in front of me: the danger that awaits with one wrong step and of course, the breathtaking view.

I was there. I walked amidst the wilderness. I felt the mud on my feet and slid down. I held through the strong shrubs that kept me from falling down the cliff. I soaked into the cold water feeling relieved by its dampness. And saw the picturesque view from the top of the mountain. I was the one who went through all of it. I knew because the vivid picture of it still lingered in my mind.

The whole experience was very exhilarating. It freed me from all the thoughts that would otherwise bug me had it not been such a challenging trip. I was able to live in that moment. And that in itself was priceless. 

5 Reasons Why Having Cloud Based CRM App is Good for your Business

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Cloud based CRM app has been in the limelight recently, coming in as one of the disruptive inventions of the new generation. And with how it consistently fares in terms of cost and ease of use, cloud based CRM app is seen as the gateway of every workplace to digitize its business process.  And why not, with this new technology, business offices need not hire any IT personnel or install complicated hardware or software —an internet enabled computer device will suffice to get in the cloud.

However, understanding the benefits of availing this cost-friendly application seems to evade many. So here, we will provide some reasons on why having cloud based CRM app can make your business process easier and more efficient.

1. It keeps all your contacts in one place—how many of you keep a storage box for all the business cards you collected? From suppliers, to consultants, colleagues (past and present), to clients or customers. The cloud can store all of them in one place. You may access and communicate with all your contacts—whether through chat, message, email or even phone call—in the cloud.

2. Enables team collaboration—files and documents that are saved in the cloud can be easily accessed on a computer device that has an internet connection. And, once someone from your team updates a file or document, it will be automatically altered. No need to download or upload a file again. Your team may also access the file at the same time; hence, you may update each other in real-time.

3. Manages end-to-end sales cycle—using the cloud, you can keep track of every lead captured and nurture each of them to make sure that they will be converted into a paying customer. You can also send quotations and invoices directly to your customers either via email or print—your choice. And, once you create a quotation or invoice, a template will be automatically saved, which you can send to your next customer—saving you a lot of time.

4. Helps speed up customer service's process—to ensure that you get ahold of all your customers concerns, cloud computing technology can help you keep an open line to receive inquiries and resolve issues fast. It also saves all the answered concerns that entered through your email or website, helping you build FAQs page that can be accessed by the customers who may encounter the same problem down the line.

5. Accessible on mobile— with the cloud based applications, you can work anytime, anywhere. It automatically syncs the updates you made from one device to another. You don’t have to wait to be back at your desk again to manage or receive updates about your tasks. This is very ideal, especially if you are someone on the go or if your team is working on different geographic locations.

Using cloud based CRM app as a platform for your business is a win-win solution. It will not only help you make your business process easier, but it will also hasten it. 8Force, a cloud based CRM app offers the abovementioned capabilities, and more! It has a 30-day trial period to know whether the technology fits your or not. If interested, you may contact Gerald Corteza through +63 905 5715932, email him via gerald@8force.com, or like 8ForcePH on Facebook.

Showing Off Our Downsides Make Us Human

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With the rise of social networking sites, people can now share their triumphs and losses among their friends and to those people they care about. However, the trend seems to favor only the triumphs rather than the losses. Actually, I think this has been going ever since. We- well, most of us- only want to show our better part. It is as if to appear that we remain untainted in spite of the licking that the universe does. We therefore share only about how successful we are, how contented we are about our career, how perfect our relationships, etc. Perhaps it is because we want to gain the favor of our friends and loved ones. And the idea is that, the more successful we are the more people will be fond of us.

But recently, I’ve had a realization. While I was talking to a high school friend, whom I am very fond of because among us, I can tell he’s the most successful, so far. He humanized himself in my eyes by admitting his shortcomings and frustrations. Prior to our talk, I felt like I was fond of him because I looked up to him. I even came to the point where I think I’m idolizing him (yeah, big word). Anyway, I based all of my perceptions from his FB photos and his posts, to his tweets. Did I mention that I was actually stalking him? (I guess, it’s obvious now). And every time we’re together, he’s always the one to say a lot about his whereabouts.

When he opened up his problems, part of me was trying to elicit reactions about knowing how he is just like me -- frustrated about almost everything and someone who thinks he has yet to realize his full potential. However, I haven’t found any. Well, nothing that would trigger me to belittle him and think that he was actually far from what I conceived. Indeed, it makes me want to look up to him even more. Because now, I can relate to him and that just like me, he’s going through some problems that he has to deal with every day. That makes me want to be with him further, knowing that we’re on the same stage of life. I think, that would even open up a whole new conversation (and better friendship) between us from hereon. Our talk that day wasn’t just about how successful he was but also, how we shared common flaws.

I realized that opening up your downsides to other people would not make them think that you’re short of being awesome. On the contrary, it would actually make them be fond of you even more, because by knowing your flaws, they feel much more connected with you. If what you’re really after is to be likeable and to gain affection, being honest about the state of your life would be ideal. By that, I mean sharing your triumphs and losses. So, if you’re the kind of person who thinks that showing off will make you favorable to those people around you. I’m’ telling you, you might be wrong.

As for my friend, he’ll always be someone I look up to, just more human. 

Falling Short– the Only Thing You're Good At

You’ve done all you can, and therefore thought you’re ready for your dream job. You quit your old one, and pinned all hopes that this time, you’ll land the very role you’ve been aiming since you can remember– in a top, reputable company.

You’ve passed the initial interview, and were all hurrah as you received the notification on the text that told you of your next interview, but this time, with the head of the department where you wanted to be part of. 

You arrived on time. As questions were asked, you gamely answered in a smart and confident manner. At the end, you seemed to glean from the manager’s face a look of satisfaction. However, she told you to wait for another text from them to know whether you passed or not. Although disappointed and anxious by the prolonged verdict, you warmly shook her hands as she told you, “we’ll just text you”.

On your way home you were fervently praying – with the advent of even kneeling (never mind if you will look weird to all the people who could see you!) – that you may land the job.

Weeks have passed and you still haven’t heard from them.  You gathered all the strength that you can muster and texted the number that notifies the result. You cordially stated your name and the position you were applying for then inquired whether you made it or not. No reply.  You firmly wrapped your hands around your mobile phone – as if in a praying stance – hoping that it will sound off an incoming message.  You do not care anymore if it will be a good news or bad for as long as you get hold of the result.  You just wanted to end the agony of waiting, which you thought was the hardest part, since you were stuck in the middle of hoping and not hoping at the same time. You wanted to pass but, you don’t want to hope because you knew it would just hurt you, when you learned otherwise.

A little later, your phone beeped- you received a text. It was them saying, yes, you’ve passed. You cannot hide your joy. You felt like jumping in euphoria. However, it didn't end there. Indeed, after the line stating that you’ve passed, the line stating about your next interview came next. This time, it was with the managing director. And you’re like, “seriously, the managing director is going to interview me and check if I qualify for the position? It couldn’t be any harder, for sure”.

The fateful day where you’d face the managing director arrived. Again, you came in early. Your butt hasn’t warmed up your seat yet, when he texted that he’s going to run a bit late. You sighed, and replied saying, “sure, Sir.  Take your time”, and ended it with a smiley. You were happy to be given some time to prepare and compose yourself before facing him. Minutes have passed and you were already waiting for an hour but he hasn’t arrived yet. And you’re like: “My composing time staled; now I’m tired”.

When he finally came he was very apologetic for making you waited for too long. So, you were like, “Oh, Sir. Don’t mind it. It’s okay”. At the back of your mind, you wished he hadn’t arrived so soon, because you were not ready yet. As to when you’ll be ready, you didn’t know.

As he began asking questions, your heart started beating faster. Your voice became shaky. Your face – which was trying to project confidence – was betrayed by your shameful stutter. The managing director looked at you intently, which made you become intimated  all the more. It has caused you to falter all the way till the end of the interview. When he finished the interview, you were swearing in your mind. You’ve known you failed.

Your walk to the bus station was all blurry as tears gushed down your cheeks. Hope seemed to have abandoned you. Agony encompassed and ate you right down your very spine. You just lost your dream job! “What now?” You were thinking. You have nothing. No back-up plan. No whatsoever. You have clung to your hope so much; you have even forgotten to devise a contingency plan. You’re screwed up. An undefined sorrow started to swallow you. There’s nothing but tears around your eyes. Your cheeks are all damp. Your tears kept on rushing down all the way to your neck. To make the scene more melodramatic, you pulled out your earphones and put on an appropriate song, and then went your way as if you were the only person in the world. 

You thought you were ready. You thought you wouldn’t be intimidated. You studied every time you’ve had a chance. In fact, you even know the latest trends about the industry. But as you faced the man you’ve got to convince, you’ve lost your words. You went by your sentences unknown of its substance. You went around the bush– unable to convey the very core of your message. You ended up shaming yourself to the bigwig man who could’ve been your boss, if only you did better. But how can you.. when falling short seems to be the only thing you’re good at.

Living in a Dream

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Have you ever had a dream where the world you live in is exactly how you pictured it in your mind? A dream where you have everything you want in life? Maybe some of you already had. But for those who have not experienced it yet – having known that it is possible, you might be very excited by now, jumping right at your bed, and trying to dream about the perfect world you so long to be in.

That might be ideal, right?

If we could manipulate our dreams and control what will occur in them, I'm sure everyone will comply with or even surpass the healthy 8-hour sleep rule.

However, since it is not possible, how do you escape from reality to your fantasy world? By daydreaming, right? You go about a certain task while your mind wanders to a setting you persistently dream of.

Not bad, if you could do both things effectively at the same time. You know, going about the task perfectly while coming out of a dream, and then producing something that was as if you had focused on it all throughout. But it could be a disaster if you couldn't. Mishap or faulty output awaits the job at hand.

Anyway, isn’t it just normal? Surely, everyone daydreams.

So, how about if you came to a point where you’re so full of your reverie, you lost track of reality. It is where you totally abandoned going about your task – or even your life as a whole – to go and live in your world of make believe.

I don't know if that what makes you a crazy person. I'm not an expert. I don't even know how to tell if a person is crazy or not. All I know is, according to our contemporary society, if you go against the norms upheld by the majority, you could be crazy. But as long as you're harmless and laughs when everyone else is laughing, then cry when others likewise do, you can stay out of an asylum.

As for you, snapping in and out of your world is like a second nature. You answer logically to questions, and can still be talked with properly. It’s just that, you don’t have the gumption to beat the odds and make your dreams come true; nor you forget about it. Thus, you build your own world. And in that world, you have everything you want in life.

You "consciously" live a full life in your dreams and go about your real life in mediocre. For you, it doesn't matter. Since in your mind, you have everything.

Gas Remote Control Cars: Toys for the Big Boys

Boys are greatly fascinated with toy cars, especially when they are young. As they grow up, they tend to like big things or something real, for that matter. The attention will then be diverted from wanting to control toy cars to actually riding and driving a real one. But if somehow the child within you wants to go back to nostalgic days, where running cars can be controlled by handheld remote controls, however you are too big for those little cars you've once played a long time ago; then why not try the following remote control cars that are creating buzz among adult men.

There are different types of remote control cars. One is electric, which uses electric motors and is rechargeable (might be the type boys are using before, albeit the design and the motor undergone drastic changes nowadays, which go with contemporary style and new technology). Another is nitro remote control cars. These are considered more identical with real cars- as per speed. It uses nitro- fuel. And lastly, gas remote control cars. It is basically gas- powered. The first two have been among the hobbyists' favorites over time, but the last is gradually being famous as well. Arguably, it may even surpass the mark that has been made of the first two remote control cars, as it offers non-conventional experience against the current.

Simply put, if you are among the kinds who want to try something else apart from what exist, then gas remote control cars can be your best buddy. The unit is rather expensive as compared to electric and nitro remote control cars, but the high side of it is that, it has lower cost with regards maintenance, plus it has longer life span. Hence, in the long run, the overall cost of maintaining gas remote control cars are more economical compared to the other two.

If you want to have a gas remote control car, you must have a big space. These types of remote control cars usually come in big sizes, thus need big areas to run about. It can’t run as fast as a real car but it is well- built not to mention powerful. It also needs just a little fuel to realize speed at one’s satisfaction. And if it runs out of fuel, you just need to refuel it on a gas station. That will surely take only a minute, then it will go speed up again- definitely a less hassle for you.

Toys of these types are fast emerging as one of the preferred hobbies among the big boys today. There are even race tracks that are being built everywhere by the manufacturers and the hobbyists themselves to compete and showcase their remote control cars. It not only brings together enthusiasts but it also encourages more people to join the hobby. It serves a bonding to a father and son or even among friends. Fun and enjoyment await you in this field of hobby. Anyway, who says playing with remote control cars stop when you age?