For the sake of being cost efficient....

I understand that we should be cost efficient and everything but I was stunned to see a Vendo Machine being pushed inside an elevator. The men pushing this huge Vendo machine told me that their boss doesn't have a cart or a trolley. This picture was taking around August in my building at Cybergate. I was coming back from lunch with my officemates when we saw this. What bothers me is that there are employees at the back of the lift waiting for the vendo to fit in so they can go. The picture is quite funny but DAMN! A vendo machine in the elevator? What would you do if you were inside?

Notes from Late Night Coffee session

I often take time to see friends and hang out at coffee shops talking about anything and everything over a cup of coffee at least once a week. We would talk about fashion, gossips, tax deductions and sometimes random business ideas. We would laugh about it and just forget we even talk about it. But being a business minded freak I would really consider those suggestions we all think are stupid. Here are a couple. 

1. Taka-tak boy business

These are boys/men or sometimes women who sell cigarettes in a box who walk around the streets and they make sound to attract customers. Ever thought how much they earn? I heard from a friend working in a call center in Libis that since 1 pack of cigarette costs around 35 to 40 pesos they would just look for takatak boy who sells 2 pesos per stick. With the vast traffic of customers as per manong taka-tak boy he would use almost 10 to 15 rims in a day. You do the math:

1 rim has 12 packs of cigarette which has 20 sticks. hmmmm quite the earnings right? considering they don't have tax deductions and supervisors pushing they ass for quota. 

2.Basahan

We all heard that this is really a good form or a small business. Just look for old clothes and cut it in rounds and sew them by hand. You can now sell them on the streets. Neat right?

3.Housekeeping

Imagine cleaning in a centralized posh room and getting dollars as tips. Yeah but the downside is if you can take cleaning dirty toilet and bathroom. But hey its dollars $_$.

Sidelines this Christmas Season

Christmas is just around the corner, spending here and there is the goal of everyone these days. But how about those people who doesn't have anything to spend? Those who got pulled of their work because of cost cutting, or those students wishing they could buy something nice this holiday season? So I thought of tossing in a few tips to produce extra cash this time of giving.

Tip 1: GARAGE SALE

I bet when you check you closet, you can see tons of unused clothes that still look like new or designer bags that were given by relatives from other countries. How about CD's that are hard to find or even old batteries of printers and cellphone perhaps? You can sell these stuff at ebay.ph or auction.ph or even in your friendster or myspace account. You can earn as little as P50 per item to as high as P500. Its worth selling the items we don't really use anymore. I have tried this already and I already earned as high as P1500 pesos for clothes I was able to use only once. 

Tip 2: OFFER YOUR SERVICES FOR CASH

I'm not encouraging this if your thinking of selling S_X. Like for this season alot of parties are being held and so if your into photography, you can offer your services in exchange for cash. You can burn them in CD's or upload them in kodak sites where they can download the pictures. You can borrow a friend or your parents digital camera if you don't have your own. 

Tip 3: GET A PART TIME JOB

You can get a part time job in job fairs that hire within the day. Call Centers offer one day processing of application and you can start a couple of days after. You can commit to them in working for a month especially if your a student. Assisting in photo shoots or fashion shows is also an option. 

Tip 4: WORK AROUND THE HOUSE AND ASK YOUR PARENTS FOR EXTRA CASH

I know this might not apply to everyone but hey, it always works. Clean the car or just throw the garbage and ask for atleast P30 pesos. If you do this everyday just image how much money you can have by the eve of Christmas. 

These are just a couple of tips you can use to earn money this holiday. It may not apply to everyone but I'm sure you can use any one it. Hey, it's better than to have nothing. :)

Entrepreneur Magazine Philippines for Dec 2008 already out!

I just got a hold of the new Entrepreneur Magazine for Dec 2008 and I'm happy with all the articles this month. Here are some of the reasons to buy this magazine this month

• 5 ways to survive difficult times - quotable quote "always be on the lookout for business opportunities and focus on growing your business"
• Home-based Net biz - helpful in these trial times where as every single counts, so if you have internet access at home don't waste your time watching videos at youtube. Sell online, start blogging and create a solid network.
• Start your picture - frame business on less than P70o - this is just a shy short on buying myself a new pair of Havaianas slippers 

It also come with a free MASIGASIG magazine sponsored by GLOBE Telecom. 

There are alot of reasons to buy business related magazines. But I truly recommend the Entrepreneur Magazine for Dec 2008. What better way to start the year by start grilling new ideas taken from money making glossy mags like such.   

The Call Center Life - My Personal Tips

With the global crisis right now most of the unemployed turn to the job openings in Call Centers. Who wouldn't get attracted with such adds like "STARTING PAY - 18 to 23 thousand, accepts undergraduates, with or without experience, SIGNING BONUS - 5 thousand pesos!" Need I say more? It's like a magnet that even the most tenured employee in a banking firm considers to leave her/his current employment for these kinds of perks. But being in the Call Center Industry for roughly 5 years well I can personally attest that it's not a walk in the park. People should understand that besides talking in straight English for 7.1 hours over the phone (formula: 8 hrs - your lunch and coffee break), being scolded by your supervisor for not hitting your quota and failing your Quality Score are a few of the pressure a typical Call Center agent experience daily. But if your really decided to have a career in the this industry, let me provide you a couple of tips on how to get accepted in the number 1 most viewed add in Jobstreet and Jobsdb. 

1. LIVE, THINK AND BREATH ENGLISH

-Just imagine you getting morphed in the US or another country going in to work. So read alot of English Magazines/Books and Watch TV shows or Movies most especially the one's that have slang and hard accent. Sometimes you'll be talking to New Yorkers that talk fast and some from Georgia that have alot of Black Americans that have thick accents. Make you wanna think your talking to a rapper. 

2. A great RESUME still matters

-Just because some call centers are really ampped on getting applicants to fill in their vacancies, doesn't mean they don't look at your curriculum vitae.They still look at it since it indicates alot of information about your educational attainment, family background and all other details. 

3.BE ENTHUSIASTIC!

- Show genuine interest to your interviewer and make your interview feel that your just not up for the money alone. 

4. RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH

-Literally research on the company you'll be joining or if your already in, have an idea of what kind you clients you'll be taking to try to. It will be an advantage for you once you start taking in calls. 

There are alot of tips which I can probably give you but for now, the 4 mentioned above can help you land the job you want...