A couple of weeks ago, Ana Angelica Ricafrente or “Anj” as we call her, shared her inspiring story with our team. She was back from a 49-day Europe trip travelling 11 countries and exploring 26 different cities.
Anj is also an IT professional just like me so I related so much with her stories, and having started the business in around the same time as her 6 years ago I was a witness to her struggles and triumphs along the way. She loved to travel and proved not only that her business can finance her dream Europe trip but she also found a way to have the FREEDOM to live the life she wants.
I totally agree with her when she said that MONEY was NOT the problem. She could earn it! Especially if you’re in IT, you are paid well. She can work harder. She can go abroad. That’s not a problem. The problem was she did not have TIME. I think this is the curse of being a great worker – if you do great work, they give you MORE work! Haha! I used to think “ngayon lang naman to, lilipas din to, makakapag-bakasyon din ako.” But the sad truth is that after the completion of a BIG project, they will give you an even BIGGER project! Obviously, they are not paying you to TAKE A VACATION. They are paying you to WORK.
I too, was there when these words were uttered in Meralco Theater back in 2011. It has become a blueprint for some of us, a goal we are willing to work hard on for a dream to take a vacation and STILL get paid, get paid, get paid!
“Work Work Work Work Get Paid
Work Work Get Paid Get Paid
Work Get paid Get paid Get paid
Until Eventually
get paid get paid get paid.”
— Monica & Bryan Penrod, Meralco Theater, June 30, 2011.
Truly, there’s more to life than earning an income. There’s LIVING the LIFESTYLE of your DREAMS!
Read her story below and be inspired.
When my mom and dad died when i was a teenager, I felt that life can be really short and i must see the world before i die. Left with only P50,000 (roughly US$1000) as inheritance money to finish my final year in the University, I was excited to work and earn my paycheck and use it to see the world! When i got the job as a software development analyst in a Telecommunications company, I made sure that i travel at least once a month! But with 15 vacation leaves a year (15 sick leaves), i felt it was not enough!
Staying in a cubicle for 8 hours everyday felt like life is passing by me. And weekend trips or long holidays felt like an ‘escape’ rather than reality.
It’s true, i believe that anyone who works hard can earn lots of money in IT or any other career. But is there an opportunity out there where i can work hard now and earn lots of time in the future?
June 2011, i was presented with an opportunity that’s not in line with my profession. I saw it’s potential because some people were living the life I wished for: a life where i can choose where to spend my time. I told myself, what’s 2-5 years of learning and working on a new profession if i can create the life i want? What’s there to lose? Time would pass anyway so I might as well try it.
“Work Work Work Work Get Paid
Work Work Get Paid Get Paid
Work Get paid Get paid Get paid
Until Eventually
get paid get paid get paid.”
— Monica & Bryan Penrod, Meralco Theater, June 30, 2011.That’s the future i wanted.
Fast forward to 2017. No longer do i post the words “back to reality” after a vacation… because this is now my reality. 🙂I did not Y.O.L.O. as others might think. I built a passive income source first that can allow me the flexibility of spending my time to things important to me.
My mentor told me, Y.O.L.O is not true. You don’t live once! Y.O.D.O., You only DIE once, but you should LIVE EVERYDAY! <3
Watch this video to learn more about Anj’s amazing travel adventure to Europe!!! 49 days, 11 countries and 26 cities!!! Fully-paid all by her online business!!! The best part is, she was still earning PASSIVE INCOME while travelling since her business is thriving even without her.