YOLO! (You Only Live Once)

I, my father and cousin visited the cemetery last night. Being there we shared the reflection that life is temporary.

Although, I do not want to think of death. But seeing and praying for my relative who had gone ahead, make death ascertain as the rising of the sun and it's setting.

I had goose bumps pondering that someday, whether I like or not I would be visited by my family members.

I better be prepared for it. I better be living the most of life. Before my time comes I hope to have built businesses and ministries.

You are booked for greatness,

Chrislann Catuburan

Love Tank

Filling my Love Tank - a date with my sister.

I spoke to Leah, an acquaintance in a recent retreat. She told me how much the thought of having a love tank that is full has blessed her. Like me she too sets appointment and sometimes appointments gets cancelled. Since she had her love tank full it did not pain her at all to have her plans not going as she expected.

Friend, how full is your love tank?
Who can fill your love tank to the brim?

You are booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

Have You Searched Your Name in Google?

I search using Google if I want to know about something.

Then I started to type my name to see what Google can find about me.

I feel like a star seeing and knowing the fact that anyone may know me just by searching my name.

My stories can be read by anyone who is interested to know more about me. I also need to be careful in what I post online as this becomes a document recorded in the website.

I am building myself online and how I want people to know me.

I have asked myself,
"Have I found something great?
Have I found something of valuable?
Have it been worth my time?"

Friend, what had Google found about you?


You are booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

Do You Want to Fulfill your Dream? WAKE UP!

Courtesy of MySisWorldFamousArtist.Blogspot.com

In one of the events I had attended.

I had the chance to talk to a young lady who for me has achieved much of her dreams in life.

Since she was young she had three dreams.

These were on her checklist:

1. She becomes a flight attendant.

2. She becomes a Surgical Doctor.

3. She becomes a Journalist similar to Cable News Network (CNN)'s Sanjay Gupta*

At her age, I am amazed to know that she had already accomplished two of her dreams. Now, she is on her way to becoming a journalist.

I thought to myself, I had not encountered so far a woman who dreamed big and had accomplished big.

Surely, she is one good example to me. One lesson I had learned from her is this, “More than the dreams is the challenge to wake up everyday to fulfill each dream”.

Friends, what are your dreams?

Are your dreams motivating you to wake up each morning?

What have you already accomplished?

You are booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

*Sanjay Gupta is a media personality on health-related issues and award winning chief medical correspondent

Change of Mindset

I and my birth group in FLEX
(A two days leadership seminar and workshop)

I had started to change my mindset from thinking poor to thinking rich and from scarcity to abundance. 

God had been blessing me with the abundance of his blessing far from what I can ever imagine. 

Although I am not rich. I am able to attend seminars after seminars. As if God heard my prayers after all. 

I had written an article before on "There is No formal Training in the Real World" (To read the article click here) now I am little by little doubting what I said because for the past weekends I had been blessed with an abundance of training. 

This is because I had started to change my mindset. I started to change my prayer from doubt to faith, from just believing in what is true to believing what it is the truth. 

I had learned that there is a difference between what is 'true' and what is the 'truth'.

Something that is true to me is that I am struggling financially and I am uncertain with my future.

But I am changing my focus to the truth, and the truth is I am living in the unbounded limitless, overflowing abundance of the God's universe. A God who feeds the birds in the air and much more myself and my family.

I am surrendering to his infinite provision. I just need to have the vision and the provision would just follow.  

I love it. I am swimming in abundance. 

You are booked for greatness, 

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan 

Filling My Love Tank to Serve

I & my sister, together with
Didoy & Mayi (newly Wed-Fantastic Facilitators).

I had just finished my iLoveLife Retreat. 
I feel so high like I am in the sky. 

A simple nugget of wisdom that struck me is this,
"To fill my Love Tank first then all the rest will follow".
Fantastic Relationship with my family, friends, coworker and to my one true love life.  

I wish my family and friends would have the same opportunity.
A iLoveLife Retreat experience so that they share life out of the a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over love.  


You are booked for greatness, 

Chrislann Catuburan

Unending Hope

Courtesy of Cham Catuburan

My lola (grandmother) told my mother that she would like to live for a 100 years old.

This surprised me as my lola although already 76 years of age has still a lot of dreams in life.

I heard from the news that in this October's Lawyer Bar Exam there is a certain Bienvenido Hilario who is already 88 years old. He had taken the exam. He hopes to become one of the country's laywers.

Friend, how hopeful are for your beautiful future?
What are the activities and things that keep you hopeful?


You are booked for greatness,

Chris Catuburan

Be Open

Courtesy of Cham Catuburan

I had just realized that I am not open to have a relationship.

I wrote an article entitled "Being in a Relationship vs Being a Breadwinner" (click here to read on the article).

There are a number of people who said to me that I can actually do both. Yes, it may be challenge but is it possible.
It does not have to be always either sometimes you may have both.

Friend, how open are you to the possibilities of having both?


You are booked for greatness,

Chris Catuburan

Be Teachable

When I was in the province. I taught my Lola how to use the the cellphone. I did not know that my sister had taken a photo.

Looking at the picture. My lola (grandmother), although hardly hears eagerly listened to my demonstration on how to use the cellphone. This reminds me of my lola's humility to be teachable.

Friend, how teachable are you?
Are you teachable to someone younger than you?

You are booked for greatness,

Chris Catuburan

Surprised

I was surprise today. I came to the office and my office mate, told me, “Chris, did you blog yesterday?” I responded “I actually did upload a phrase or two and a picture. I am sorry I was not prepared yesterday for a topic.”

Then she told me how she had been anticipating my write ups everyday. How she had even shared it with her family circle.

It dawned on me that she had just given me more reasons to blog daily. To continue my 30 days blogging challenge with much passion. (Click here to read my article on 30 Days Challenge: How to Change your Life) Thus, my heart is grateful to my office mate who had given me that feedback.

I realized that through my blog I am able to share some helpful stories and thoughts.

Friend, if you have been blessed by my writing feel free to comment or message. If you have questions or topics that you think I may have ideas please let me know.

It would be an honor to hear from you.

Your booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

The Leader in Me

I am so happy to have joined a leadership workshop.
I am so thankful for Ate Tata for sponsoring my sister and brother to that fantastic 2 day event.

I learned that the qualities of a leader is found in the a child. A child is by essence responsible. The child responsibility is to play and true enough this is true to most of children. A child is influential. A child's influence is seen in the attention that family members given to the child.

One important part of being a leader is being able to communicate and relate with others. Day 1 talked about the different type of intelligence. That each person is smart in different ways. The challenge is to see the smartness in each person.

To top it all, a leader needs to know thy self so as better lead others.
I hope I am a better leader to the people around me starting from my family.
If not I hope to improve with the love of the people around me.

Your booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

Starting a Culture of Sharing Cycle

I remember Jesus' Multiplication of the five pieces of bread and two fishes that came from a pack lunch of a child who willingly shared it. The food that was just good for the child was able to feed the five thousand men not counting women.

My sister, cousins and I run a small library. We started sharing self-help books with one another. Then our books grew in number that we had decided to have the books circulated among our family and company.

Because of the sharing of books. It started a culture of sharing among our family and the company around us.

One challenge of sharing is thinking that what I have is not enough for me and all the more for others. But sharing the little that we have sparked our hearts to become generous. This would then create a sharing cycle.

What can you start sharing?

Your booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

The Prodigal Father

I had been told that today's time mirrors one of a Prodigal Father.

There was a rich family. Then all of a sudden, the father without warning left to a different land. Their he used his wealth in all that he though would give him pleasure. 

After all the money had been spent, he found himself with nothing to eat that he needed to beg for food. He thought of coming back to his family, thinking that he is the father and thus deserve honor and respect from his family. 

But when he arrived home the father was not well received. In fact, his children had considered him long dead.

My papa is a loving father. He is not perfect but he tries to be. My father's mother died at an early age. My father's father remarried and tried to ask my father to live with the new family but he did not like the idea. Thus my father lived with his maternal grandparents.

My father longs for a family, although his grandparents had treated him well. He feels that they were abandoned children as his father had left them to build a new family.

My father today draws strength from that painful experience of abandonment. I believe one of his focus in life is being a present father.

He had opportunities of going abroad but he had not pursued it. Please do not get me wrong, I am not saying that going a abroad is big mistake. I come from a long line of uncles who are seamen and they are loving fathers to their families as well.

On the other hand, I hear stories of fathers who had not left home but are better off absent because of the abuse they inflict to their families. Hmm... There seems to be no perfect position for a father to be.

My mama is one strong of character. She is not perfect but she loves us anyway. I would often hear from mama how he's father had been a father who wants all his children to be always at peace.

My mama is a forgiving woman, although her father had made mistakes in the past in terms of marital affair. And I have heard this dark past of my grandpa rarely. I think I have heard it only once and there was never an elaboration of such story. 

My aunts and uncle never mentioned it too. As if it was a no big deal. I mean surely it is a big deal but the family chose to forgive and bury their father's unwanted past and accept him as their loving father. I believe my grandpa has changed through the unconditional love of his children and his wife. 

My mother's respect for her father had been that of a merciful daughter. I admire my mother's respect for his father. She chose to see love a midst the mistake.  

Your booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

Regrets to Hope

One of the regrets I have is that I had not listened to my parents about going for a seaman career. During those times I honestly did not feel like taking the course just for the scholarship. Even if it was the most financially practical decision to do.

I regretted this decision knowing I could have earned more. This regret hunted me for the past years. My mind kept bugging me that I even tried to apply for the same scholarship even after I had graduated my bachelor degree in education.
At that time I was actually desperate for better financial opportunities.

Today, I learned one big message and that is 'to move on and to leave the baggage of regrets and past problems'. By doing this, I would be able see with a better sight that there are actually more opportunities

surrounding me.

Your booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

No Formal Training in the Real World

When I was in the seminary, we were trained for priesthood. When I did not feel at peace of going for the priestly calling, I left the seminary. I feel at peace to be with my family and serve them.

When I came to work as a teacher as it is my profession and earned my first income, I then realize that my income was not enough for me as I had to help with my brother's schooling.

There came a time that I had  nothing left that I can't even afford eating in a Jollibee. (haha) I was trying to meet ends.  And then I thought if going for priesthood entails training. Then how come when you go out in the real world there's no formal training after college. Surely I need to go to some sort of traning if I wanted to survive with my money life.

I started to learn from my cousin who for me seems to have a head start as he started young on how money works. I began to check on books in the mall. I remember going to National Bookstore and staying there for a day standing while reading a book since I did not have the money to buy it.

I went to look for people who may guide me as to how to go about my life and on how to increase my money. And then, I attended seminar after seminar. I searched for groups and community who can help me grow.

I am happy to have found a group and a community where I belong. It doesn't matter if you're a 'kuya' or an 'ate' or the middle child or the youngest of the family, If you want to help then you surely can. I wish you would open yourself to the abundance of help that surrounds you.

Being in a Relationship vs Being a Breadwinner

In my life, there things that sometimes I like to rush. Like love life (haha) I have been asked by a lot of my aunties if I already have a girlfriend. I normally reason out that my mother is very strict (Sorry Ma for the bad publicity. haha).

Honestly, I find it a challenge to have a girlfriend. I tried to do it and it does not work for me. I had been told by a friend that having a girlfriend can be somewhat inspiring and enjoyable.

I agree with what my friend told me. But I believe that there are times that I simply have to sacrifice for now because for most Filipino Family the elder child needs to sponsor a brother or a sister to graduate through college. As of now, I can't afford to divide my attention.

Anyways, my sister would be graduating in a matter of two years. I believe there are just times that we need to sacrifice for one another.

My mother was the eldest among eight siblings and she had to sacrifice a lot, putting on hold the thought of having a boyfriend until she was able to help two of her sisters to graduate from a prestigious university.

There is a saying that says 'There is a time for everything under the sun'. For now, I am happy to be single. Yes! There are times that I think of having a girlfriend to share my time with. But what I may lack is compensated by a loving family, happy friends and a supportive community.

Presently, I am swimming in the abundance of love. A love that is more than enough for me.  

Your booked for greatness, 

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

30 Days Challenge: How to Change your Life

After I had read the book “How to Change your Life in 30 Days “. I discovered the power of doing something for 30 days straight. 

  It is a simple concept saying, “for you to change your life, you need to replace something you don't want with something different.”

  In my end, I was experiencing daily fatigue even if had slept for 8 to even 9 hours. So I decide to do exercise for 30 days straight. Every evening I try to exercise for 30 minutes.

  Since, I have a football, I kicked the ball as a way exercise. After 7 days I felt bored and wanted to give up. So, I alternately jogged or hiked. On the 20th day I felt sick (hehe). I had to stop my 30 days challenge exercise. I failed the challenge but it is okay, because they say failure is recipe to success.

  If you fail, the 30 days challenge says, you need to start all over again. I found it challenging to start all over again. I though, I may have to pick a lighter substitute to exercise that would still make feel good and not tired. I decided to do blogging in Facebook. (by the way, I thank the people who had liked my blog since day 1. he he...)

  I hope to make it for the 30 days straight Facebook Blogging.

  How about you?

  What change do you want in your life that you may replace with something better? Let us try together the 30 days challenge Should we fail. No problem, we'll simple try again.

We just have to remember. It is not the challenge that matters. It is the effort we put to change for the better.    


Your booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

I Want to Retire at the Age of 35

When I was a Grade 3 student I was saving money to buy a dream toy. A robot that cost Php 500 pesos.
I love that robot because it can transform into a Lion and has sounds and lights.

I was about to buy the robot on a Saturday. Then, I had over heard my parents talking,

"We are out of rice".

Thus, they approached and asked me, if they may use my saved money.

Of course, I did not like the thought of my only saving being bought for our food.
I was willing to starve just to have my dream toy (That's how crazy I was for the toy).

Plus the Php 500 pesos was worth seven months of saving which meant not buying any school snacks.

I had always thought of saving that way. Saving means saving money for some months then buy it.
But then I have realized that there's a better way of saving and that is to save for retirement.

Saving for retirement now means investing for life. This means at a lot of sacrifice from my old way of saving to spend.
But it's okay, no problem for me, as the reward is much greater.

The reward of saving to retire is retiring young. I am 26 years old at present.
I want to retire from working for a company at the age of 35.

This may sound not ordinary as normally retirement means 60-65 years of age.
But I believe, this would soon become the norm as we change our saving mentality.

By the time I retire, I hope to spent more time for my family and built my business to help create more jobs.

Of course, I cannot do this alone. I need a team.
I am thankful that step by step I am being surrounded by people who are also wanting to retire young.


Your booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

4 Major Life Concerns and Realizations

For the past 4 years I had these 4 major life concerns and realizations:

1. Family Life vs Work Life 

I remember, Zig Ziglar said that people when at work say, 'I ought to be spending more time with my family' then when I am with my family I say, 'I ought to be spending more time working for my family'. Funny but this is true for me, I believe the challenge is staying focus at each moment life's journey.   

2. Being the Eldest vs Being the Youngest

Often times, the responsibility of helping my family first often gets the 'bitter' part of me (haha) Yes, I have to confess it is difficult to share monetary responsibility to my family especially when I am thinking of my future as well. 

But I found out that I am not alone. I can name a number of cousins who are in the same position as well. Also, I have a friend who is the third in the family but carries the burden of thinking for his mother's concerns just because the father is abroad and the eldest brother is not doing his part. Another, I know of someone, who is the youngest in the family whose concern for parents's health and retirement may seen to be like that of being the eldest.

Knwoing this people, reminds me that I am still in the better part after all. But this is not really easy, I am thankful that I am able to find same minded people and being able to learn how they over come these challenges. They are partly a huge factor that  helps me joyfully joggle both my 'Kuya' responsiblies and still being about to save more than enough for myself.

3. Accepting Reality vs Dreaming Big 

This is hard for me, Bo Sanchez and a lot of inspirational leaders had been saying, 'Dream Big, write and set goals' and yet there just times when the waves of reality are just against me. When reality bites, it makes me bend to my knees and just surrender. Yes there are inspiring days that fires me up to do my day's routine. But often, I just have to fake it just to make it all through the day. 

Bottomline, I don't feel like always positive, but when I fake it, it does work and relationship become much better, my feelings change and I feel better. Plus, I believe it is something common to feel bad and just have to fake it as a way of discipline. The iphone founder Steven Jobs said, 'Real artist ship', simply saying the artist is able to deliver the service or product in the rainy season or in the sunny season.

And I thank my parents for being an example. My mother ever since I can remember wakes up early for us and cooks breakfast. She even stays late to wash laundry just so we can hopeful focus on our priorities. My father also wakes really to clean the house. I even think they act as robots just to do this daily routine. hehe. (Opps! I think I am exposing that living like a king at home.. not good.. haha)  

4. Life's a burden vs Living a Fantastic life  

I think it is on being kind to myself than being brutal. I am living a fantastic after all. Yes there are problems. I may just have to tell myself life is made up of problems whose solution is also given. I believe the solution is just around my circle of family, friends and even acquitance and just in my hands reach.  

Your booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan

Being Debt Free

I just finish my class on eliminating debt.
I realized how challenging it is for me.

My assignment. I have to write all my debts. Haha
But I believe I would be able to eliminate my debt with the right group of friends.

As I ponder on this, I realized I am not the only one having debt after all.
So why so serious. Haha

Although, debt may be a common thing. I believe it is still not a worthwhile reason
for me to have a debt mind set. 

I hope shift little by little to the position on becoming to person who is able to lend to someone.
I guess, in one way or another somewhere I may have to start to lend for some important things that are very important. But like growing up, I also need to reach a certain state of maturity to understand that I may not need to be forever on the borrowing side.

That there is a need to grow up and step up to shift on being the person who would be able to have others borrow my money. Haha...

So that I may be able to fund projects and dreams.

Your booked for greatness,

Chrislann Lodovice Catuburan