- Joined
- Nov 11, 2016
- Messages
- 10
Hello, my name is Terrence Feliciano. I am from a small town of Roxas, province of Isabela, Philippines.
I was born from a poor family. My mother was a clerk and my father was a farmer. I am the eldest among my two siblings.
Back in the day, we'd be very grateful if we get to eat instant noodles. To make it more memorable, we usually use gas lamp during dinner.
When I was a kid, my grandfather used to bring me with him at the public market and sell tomatoes. I enjoyed this a lot.
This was the time when I had my "first taste" of entrepreneurship.
And when I was in high school, I stealthily sold wafer sticks inside the classroom
Then, when I was in college, I read Richdad Poordad. And this was the start of my rollercoaster entrepreneurship journey...
My mindset was, "the only way toward financial freedom is entrepreneurship"
From 2009 to 2012:
I started a grilled fish business.
I started an ice cream cart business.
I started a motorcycle helmet selling business.
I started a mini-restaurant business.
I joined a MLM food supplement business.
I started a congee food cart business.
I started a fried chicken business.
I started a burger stand business.
I co-founded a water refilling station business.
I started a custom-designed helmet business.
I joined a congee selling corporation.
And all of them, failed.
I had zero money on my bank account. So I went to Doha, Qatar and worked as a Document Controller.
While I was working on my 9-5 job, I enrolled to different online courses such as: The Foundation with Dane Maxwell and Consulting with Sam Ovens.
After 2 years, I decided to go back to Philippines and start a real estate digital marketing consulting business.
That business gained traction, I helped a low-rise condominium developer sell out their 32-unit condo in 3 months.
As an immature entrepreneur, I thought I was the king of the world.
So, I wasted my money to partying, drinking and buying things which are liabilities.
Sadly, I found myself broke for the second time around.
So I said, f*ck it I am going to Singapore and work as a Digital Marketing Executive.
And I did.
In Singapore, I read the book, The Millionaire Fastlane by MJ de Marco.
I looked at entrepreneurship in a new perspective. In a new light.
After 1 and a half years in Singapore, I went back home.
In 2017, I started my 13th business endeavor - an Internet Service Provider business.
This business aimed to provide fast and reliable wireless internet to household, private offices and government agencies (customers pay on a monthly basis)
I was earning decent amount of money... and then!
In 2018, I got scammed by a medicine distribution company via a Ponzi scheme.
In total, I invested $66,318. This includes money of my friends and acquaintances who invested thru me.
All our money was gone.
This was my pit - the darkest days of my life.
Some people wanted to sue me. Some people harassed me. I was traumatized.
I lost it too.
I remember shouting inside my car, "God, why did You let this happen to me? I am a good person! Why?! There are other people who are killing people, murdering people! But why me?! Why?!"
And then I cried in prayer, "God, please help me. I know this too shall pass. And it is going to be okay"
Then next day, I knew that the solution was simple, to pay these people back. But I also knew, it was never an easy solution.
So, I asked the help of my parents. They allowed me to loan their house and lot at a cooperative bank for $29,258 on a 5-year amortization period.
I used this money to pay some of the people who invested thru me. But was not enough to pay-off all I owe from them.
$66,318 minus $29,258. I still need a lot of money to pay-off these people.
So I borrowed from local banks. And got into the pit of debt mess.
With the emotional and financial challenges, all I focused on was keeping myself healthy and this mindset:
"If money is the problem, increasing income is the solution"
But it was not that easy - especially when Covid 19 started. But I got to fight! I have to give a good fight.
As my fate unfolds, big telco companies entered our town to provide Internet services, I lost 50% of my customers.
Sleepless nights. Anxiety. Stress.
In 2021, I found my finances in a negative -$600 per month cashflow.
And the wake up call? We have an upcoming first newborn baby along the way.
So I decided to take out another loan from the bank to upgrade, rebuild and expand my business by providing Internet services to remote and rural areas within our province.
After 2 months of operation, I got my finance into positive +$390 per month cashflow.
To be honest, positive +$390 per month cashflow is not enough. Considering the potential collapse of my Internet business and the financial needs of my upcoming newborn baby.
I needed to make a move, fast.
I got three options to increase my income.
A. To expand my Internet business
B. Create an online business
C. To find a high paying job abroad
If I expand my business, I have to wait for few months to generate capital for expansion from the monthly cashflow.
If I create an online business, I need to spend some money to start.
If I find a high paying job abroad, I could earn a good amount of steady paycheck.
I chose option C and decided to find a high paying job.
With the grace of God, I was hired as a New Product Intro Engineer... to work in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico!
Right now, I am processing my work visa.
My entrepreneurship journey does not end here. Not today.
My plan is to love my job as NPI Engineer. To work as if I am a shareholder of the company (I know how it feels to have an excellent employee)
Create online business on the side (I plan to relaunch my Acid Reflux X online program)
And ultimately, get back my parents' house and lot title, pay-off all my debts and become debt-free!
“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9)
With this rollercoaster entrepreneurship journey, I am blessed to gain wisdom from this experience.
I was ambitious. I was reckless. I was greedy.
And I learned from it - in a hard way.
And with all the learnings I had in life and business, I know I have the tools to be BETTER.
It is really one hell of a ride so far - I am excited to embark on a new chapter of my life.
If I may, please allow me to share my personal definition of a "Good Life"
1. Being healthy both in mind and body.
2. Be able to have a restful sleep and a peaceful night.
3. Life without enemies, just good relationships.
4. No huge debts or no debt at all.
5. Have a less stress source of income.
6. Be able to enjoy the simple moments of life.
With humility, thank you for reading this far.
I hope to journey with you and together, let's achieve financial freedom... and The Good Life.
Truly,
Terrence Feliciano
P.S. We had our simple gender reveal party yesterday and... it's a boy!!!
I was born from a poor family. My mother was a clerk and my father was a farmer. I am the eldest among my two siblings.
Back in the day, we'd be very grateful if we get to eat instant noodles. To make it more memorable, we usually use gas lamp during dinner.
When I was a kid, my grandfather used to bring me with him at the public market and sell tomatoes. I enjoyed this a lot.
This was the time when I had my "first taste" of entrepreneurship.
And when I was in high school, I stealthily sold wafer sticks inside the classroom
Then, when I was in college, I read Richdad Poordad. And this was the start of my rollercoaster entrepreneurship journey...
My mindset was, "the only way toward financial freedom is entrepreneurship"
From 2009 to 2012:
I started a grilled fish business.
I started an ice cream cart business.
I started a motorcycle helmet selling business.
I started a mini-restaurant business.
I joined a MLM food supplement business.
I started a congee food cart business.
I started a fried chicken business.
I started a burger stand business.
I co-founded a water refilling station business.
I started a custom-designed helmet business.
I joined a congee selling corporation.
And all of them, failed.
I had zero money on my bank account. So I went to Doha, Qatar and worked as a Document Controller.
While I was working on my 9-5 job, I enrolled to different online courses such as: The Foundation with Dane Maxwell and Consulting with Sam Ovens.
After 2 years, I decided to go back to Philippines and start a real estate digital marketing consulting business.
That business gained traction, I helped a low-rise condominium developer sell out their 32-unit condo in 3 months.
As an immature entrepreneur, I thought I was the king of the world.
So, I wasted my money to partying, drinking and buying things which are liabilities.
Sadly, I found myself broke for the second time around.
So I said, f*ck it I am going to Singapore and work as a Digital Marketing Executive.
And I did.
In Singapore, I read the book, The Millionaire Fastlane by MJ de Marco.
I looked at entrepreneurship in a new perspective. In a new light.
After 1 and a half years in Singapore, I went back home.
In 2017, I started my 13th business endeavor - an Internet Service Provider business.
This business aimed to provide fast and reliable wireless internet to household, private offices and government agencies (customers pay on a monthly basis)
I was earning decent amount of money... and then!
In 2018, I got scammed by a medicine distribution company via a Ponzi scheme.
In total, I invested $66,318. This includes money of my friends and acquaintances who invested thru me.
All our money was gone.
This was my pit - the darkest days of my life.
Some people wanted to sue me. Some people harassed me. I was traumatized.
I lost it too.
I remember shouting inside my car, "God, why did You let this happen to me? I am a good person! Why?! There are other people who are killing people, murdering people! But why me?! Why?!"
And then I cried in prayer, "God, please help me. I know this too shall pass. And it is going to be okay"
Then next day, I knew that the solution was simple, to pay these people back. But I also knew, it was never an easy solution.
So, I asked the help of my parents. They allowed me to loan their house and lot at a cooperative bank for $29,258 on a 5-year amortization period.
I used this money to pay some of the people who invested thru me. But was not enough to pay-off all I owe from them.
$66,318 minus $29,258. I still need a lot of money to pay-off these people.
So I borrowed from local banks. And got into the pit of debt mess.
With the emotional and financial challenges, all I focused on was keeping myself healthy and this mindset:
"If money is the problem, increasing income is the solution"
But it was not that easy - especially when Covid 19 started. But I got to fight! I have to give a good fight.
As my fate unfolds, big telco companies entered our town to provide Internet services, I lost 50% of my customers.
Sleepless nights. Anxiety. Stress.
In 2021, I found my finances in a negative -$600 per month cashflow.
And the wake up call? We have an upcoming first newborn baby along the way.
So I decided to take out another loan from the bank to upgrade, rebuild and expand my business by providing Internet services to remote and rural areas within our province.
After 2 months of operation, I got my finance into positive +$390 per month cashflow.
To be honest, positive +$390 per month cashflow is not enough. Considering the potential collapse of my Internet business and the financial needs of my upcoming newborn baby.
I needed to make a move, fast.
I got three options to increase my income.
A. To expand my Internet business
B. Create an online business
C. To find a high paying job abroad
If I expand my business, I have to wait for few months to generate capital for expansion from the monthly cashflow.
If I create an online business, I need to spend some money to start.
If I find a high paying job abroad, I could earn a good amount of steady paycheck.
I chose option C and decided to find a high paying job.
With the grace of God, I was hired as a New Product Intro Engineer... to work in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico!
Right now, I am processing my work visa.
My entrepreneurship journey does not end here. Not today.
My plan is to love my job as NPI Engineer. To work as if I am a shareholder of the company (I know how it feels to have an excellent employee)
Create online business on the side (I plan to relaunch my Acid Reflux X online program)
And ultimately, get back my parents' house and lot title, pay-off all my debts and become debt-free!
“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9)
With this rollercoaster entrepreneurship journey, I am blessed to gain wisdom from this experience.
I was ambitious. I was reckless. I was greedy.
And I learned from it - in a hard way.
And with all the learnings I had in life and business, I know I have the tools to be BETTER.
It is really one hell of a ride so far - I am excited to embark on a new chapter of my life.
If I may, please allow me to share my personal definition of a "Good Life"
1. Being healthy both in mind and body.
2. Be able to have a restful sleep and a peaceful night.
3. Life without enemies, just good relationships.
4. No huge debts or no debt at all.
5. Have a less stress source of income.
6. Be able to enjoy the simple moments of life.
With humility, thank you for reading this far.
I hope to journey with you and together, let's achieve financial freedom... and The Good Life.
Truly,
Terrence Feliciano
P.S. We had our simple gender reveal party yesterday and... it's a boy!!!
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