I used to pay a fortune for my lip balm. But now, I can choose the most natural ingredients possible for some pucker protection at a minimal cost!
I am so excited to share with you about the lip blaming workshop I've attended but before we go straight to this instructional post, it's better to have a brief understanding of what is a LIP BALM and what is its importance.
Anatomy of the Human Lips
The surface of our lips is made up of a very thin layer of skin. Underneath this thin layer of skin is a network of tiny blood vessels, hence its red plump nature. This "Red Margin" separates the keratinized area from the oral mucosa. The skin of the lips doesn't have sebaceous glands nor does it sweat because of the absence of sweat glands. It lacks the ability to lock-in moisture unlike the rest of the skin of our body and it constantly needs getting wet. Hence, it becomes prone to dryness and getting chapped. Wetting it with saliva is the most natural way. But due to the food that we eat and vices that we adapt (smoking), sometimes, it adds up to harming our lips more than keeping it safe. As part of the integumentary system which is basically the first line of defense of the body against harmful microorganisms, it's just right to take care of it.
Now, a lip balm is another way of helping the lips stay moist. It is a coat applied to the lips to help it lock in moisture with the use of the fingers upon application. With certain essential oils, topical vitamin E and flavor added to it, it helps in keeping it from getting dry and chapped. The worst part that could happen is that you neglect your lips then it dries up. If you yawn or even smile, the dried part would crack open and will bleed. This opening can be a channel for harmful microorganisms to lodge and make a mess with your asset. The least that you want is to flash a smile with a canker sore. So here, my friends, is how you make your own lip balm at home. Remember: PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE!
Notes:
1. Allot 1.5 to 2 hours in making this.
2. 8 sticks will be made if you follow the measurements as per ingredient.
3. Have these tools at hand before proceeding:
- Beaker
- Stirring Rod
- 8 pcs. lip balm tube
- pot with the right amount of water (on a burner) enough to submerge 3/4's of the beaker
- weighing scale or precision scales (scales used in baking at chemistry labs)
4. If you're making this for a friend or for your business, use gloves to avoid contaminating your product.
5. Prepare these too on the side:
- tape
- pentel pen/marker
- potholder
- medicine dropper
- paper towel Ingredients that you're going to need: (you may get them in local organic shops or online)
1. Sweet Almond Oil = 15g
2. Cocoa Butter = 8g
3. Bee's Wax = 12g
4. Essential Oil for the scent/feel that you like = 10 drops (Depending on how strong you want the flavor, you may add more. Or you may omit this if you want no flavor to your lip balm just like how vaseline is.)
*Our group had used Rose essential oil but some used Orange and Lavender. Depending on the holistic effect that you want, you can base the essential oil to be used on this. Rose always is a feminine flavor but I love Lavender because of its rejuvenating feel. It always reminds me of how relaxing my honeymoon was in Angsana Laguna, Phuket. Orange may be preferred by the active-by-day people because this flavor pops the senses.
Procedure:
1. Make sure your working place is clean, your tools in place and your ingredients, well set on the surface. If you may, label them properly. There were 10 of us in our group for the workshop so we had to label our beakers with our names so as not to get mixed up with whose beaker is which. It is best if everything is within arm's reach.
2. Tape the 4 corners of a ply of the paper towel on one side of the table. This area should be different from your working area. Put your lip balm tubes on top. For now that they're not filled up, they are light in weight so little movement will wreck how they are set up. That is the purpose of the taped paper towel You don't want lip balm to spill on the table and you don't want to make a mess of the tubes.
3. While allowing the pot with water to boil, mix your ingredients (sweet almond oil, beeswax, and the cocoa butter) into the beaker. Make sure you add up your ingredients (sweet almondeswax and the cocoa butter) in total grams as you weigh them. Precision is the key.
4. The water in the pot is boiling, you've gathered your ingredients, it's time to see some action. Submerge your beaker into the boiling water like in the picture below. The bee's wax will blend together with the rest of the ingredients once it melts. It will take 2-5 minutes for it to melt and it's up to you when to stop stirring. If you think everything is evenly stirred thru, use your potholder in taking the beaker out of the boiling pot. (Turn off the burner when not used.)
Use your stirring rod to help melt the bee's wax and for the ingredients to be evenly mixed.
Be careful not to burn yourself. Be careful as you immerse the beaker into the water,
make sure you have a space to hold onto and that it's not completely for water to get into your beaker.
5. Let the mixture cool off a little bit. Cool enough for the beaker to be held with your own hands but not too cool for the wax to harden. When that happens, it will be hard for you to put the mixture into the lip balm tube. (Just put the beaker back into the boiling water then give it time to melt again.) But if you're all set, put 10 drops of the essential oil into your beaker and stir it once again for a final mix.
6. Easy as it is, the next procedure is for you to pour the mixture into your lip balm tubes as smoothly as you can. Accidental spills are to be expected but that's what the paper towel is for. For you to possibly come up with more than 8 tubes, you may use your medicine dropper as you transport the mixture into it but this may take you a little longer.
7. It doesn't take long for the mixture to harden. But one thing I have to remind you is you have to fill up the tube until the very rim for a smooth finish. If you'd take a good look at the tube on the far left, that's what happens when you don't fill it up completely. Behind maybe not that clear but just to show what happens as it overflows. It's not hard to clean up but it makes the very surface of the top kind of messed up. Not good for business or for a gift.
You have to know that once you put it inside the tube, you can't repeat the whole process of reheating to reform it once again. The best thing to do is to keep it for personal use when it overflows, as compared to the not-completely-filled-up one is easy to be remedied.
As you wait for it to completely harden (even from the inside), it's good to start cleaning up at this point. Keep the ingredients sealed off from unnecessary exposure. Keep them compartmentalized and out of extreme temperature.
The cooled off mixture would look like the one below. It will be completely good to use as soon as it reaches this state. This DIY lip balm post didn't include chemicals to preserve it longer than it's supposed to for the purpose of keeping it as organic as possible. Otherwise, there's no reason why we have to do make our own lip balm. In addition, preservatives are what make the commercial lip balm expensive.
Shell life: 6 months
Upon application: 3-4 months
8. Label your tube accordingly to guide you in knowing which essential oil you have used in each. What I did was the simplest one. Find some printables that you may paste around the tube to decorate it aesthetically.
As you can see, it's very easy to make your own lip balm. Say goodbye to cracked lips, stress because of expensive tubes and say hello to business opportunities and DIY giveaways for events like bridal showers and slumber parties. Suggestions are welcome in terms of which essential oils are best to use. If you also happen to know nice organic stores to get the cocoa butter and bee's wax from, please let me know thru the comment boxes below.
I hope you'd enjoy making your own lip balm as much as I did.
Reminiscing being a chemical engineering student!
Workshop by Kath Tang. Click here if you would want to book a workshop with her.
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1. SPA IN YOUR OWN HOME - Here are some of the things you buy so expensively but you can do it with ingredients from your own kitchen.
2. PRODUCTS I LOVE - Here I have shared some of the products I consider worth investing in.
3. CROWNING GLORY - A post on which foods would help you keep your hair pretty and glowing.
Last Saturday a simple coffee meeting had led me to experiencing the spun chair displayed at the Pacific Place in Admiralty Hong Kong, ground floor where a number of these creations are displayed for anybody to try. With the support of the British Council Hong Kong, Heatherwick Studio would like to hear some feedback via their facebook page.
I find the chair unique and very inviting to try. I didn't actually care how I'd look as an old woman took this video of me because I wouldn't let this chance pass. Unique as it is, the comfort expected of a simple chair gave it a twist. It spins you around so it's a given, that you would need some effort to keep it still. With respect to the creative team, I have never had fun thinking of a chair as much as when I think of this moment with a spun chair.
Do the New British Investors a favor, check it out if you're around the area. It's for free. This trial will last until September 24th. Mall hours are from 10am to 9pm.
A job interview can make you or break you. How you present yourself is one thing and how you give justification to such impression is another. It is important to be yourself but being too comfortable or over smart may lead you to becoming inappropriate.
For my #NoTearsThursday, here is a guide, for you not to worry when that day comes. Here is an opportunity for you to know why they ask these questions. Below are pie charts (as courtesy let me acknowledge.. Art by: Ashwin Hirwe, Copy by: Amol Mahajan) that show you the small percentage window whether you're going to get the job or not based on how smart or over smart your answer is. It also shows that in giving the smart answer, you are most likely to get hired and how over-smart answers affect you. These are just but a few of the common questions that may sound very simple but denotes such great weight on your portfolio.
1. WHAT IS YOUR WEAKNESS?
This question is crucial to you but it is imperative on the interviewer's behalf. This should not be taken subjectively. Analyzing it, answering this with utmost honesty is a suicide. Yet, it tests you on how you acknowledge a window of opportunity to learn. And also, for the interviewer to know if you consider space for growth in a humble way. Most of the people who admit to being weak at something comes with a kind of defense mechanism in return. It is a given that nobody is perfect but it is always impressive when you encounter a great deal of enthusiasm when something negative is turned into something productive.
2. WHAT IS YOUR REASON BEHIND LEAVING YOUR LAST JOB?
Never and I mean NEVER say anything bad about your previous employer. First and foremost, no matter what you'll say negative and no matter how you defend yourself around it, it'll always be perceived as you being unprofessional. Why? Number 1, most likely, you were in the same situation way before you got that "now" previous job, wooing an interviewer. That being said, you have loved such position and asked for it. How it had turned out in the end was solely because of you and your choices. From that perspective, you're the one to be blamed and not for your previous employer to be bad mouthed. Number 2, for some twist of faith, the "previous" job may have led you to knowing this new job so if not for it, you're not getting interviewed as of the moment. Number 3, for sure, no matter how long you've stayed there, you still had been a part of it, for sure you have contributed in that company one way or another and for sure, you have learned something from them. Whatever you'll end up offering this new company that you're going for, you will not be the confident you if not for that previous job.
If worse comes to worst and you really had a bad experience with them, (because companies got great connections, they may find out what really happened eventually), you may just mention that such circumstance had made you grow as an employee and that experience will always remind you why failure is not an option.
3. WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS?
Obviously, this is a way for you to build up yourself. Choose a brief individual strength and one that will give your interviewer an idea that your flexible enough to work with a team. Be careful in not sounding cocky nor hollow. In general, focus your answer into how you will contribute to the company's edge. The interviewer relies greatly on this on why the company should hire you.
4. WHY SHOULD WE HIRE YOU?
This is an opportunity specifically asking how you can help the company keep up its good reputation and how efficient are you in maintaining it so. In addition, this is also the chance for you to showcase whatever you can help the company achieve either thru your expertise, experience or vision. Any employer would be moved to hiring you if you have that impact, confidence and much knowledge of the position you're striving for. So a well researched interviewee has a higher percentage of getting hired. At this point, remember how unique you are and it's important that you understand that this is your selling factor. There should be something that you, specifically, do that cannot be attributed or delegated to anybody else. Know it. Fast.
5. DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF SUCCESSFUL?
At this point, morale is analysed. More likely, this is a way of gauging how you react with life circumstances. Again, nobody's perfect and there's always room for improvement. Being successful is meeting your goals and achieving it with full honesty and 150% effort. It's not a bad idea to brag a little but make sure it's kept at a minimum. It's not right to say a lot of things about you, almost sounding like, making it up. It's perfect if your recommendation letter is at hand if there are/is any as per supporting document. Do acknowledge (if the company honours team work) that as a team player, you understand the importance of the role each member holds and that you're more than willing to work with them. This way, you are letting your interviewer know that your eyes are open to the idea that wherever you may be, you can create success.
6. WHY HAVE YOU BEEN UNEMPLOYED FOR SUCH A LONG TIME?
This is only significant if you were really unemployed at the time that you were applying for this new job. Now, based on the smart answer given below, it's highlighting the interviewee's drive in investing on himself. You see, it is important that you find a channel to reach into your interviewer's curiosity. Thru the line of achievements you've presented in your CV plus the most recent learning you've acquired, you may be a secret weapon in the making. Knowing how to multitask is a plus but once you get the job, you should be able to deliver. Efficiency is key. Multitasking efficiently is what's substantial. Answering this way is actually convincing the interviewer of this trait. And that you took a break not just because you wanted to waste time. Hitting two birds in just one stone, you have convinced him that you're an efficient "multitasker" and that you're an efficient time manager.
7. HOW LONG WOULD YOU EXPECT TO WORK FOR US IF HIRED? It wouldn't hurt that you would admit that you are after growth in the company you want to get into. After all, that's how we thrive. As human beings and living creatures, we need to grow. And it is our right to weigh if the environment we're in will facilitate that growth. This is an interesting question to ask your interviewer in the end if questions are welcome from your behalf. It may be constructed this way, "What makes you stay in the company?" In the end, this will help you know what to expect from them.
8. DESCRIBE YOUR MANAGEMENT STYLE.
Time is of importance because this is the most essential commodity that gets you paid. That is money from the company paid to you. No boss would want to see you wasting their money because you're time serving them is not getting maximised. That being said, every interviewer looks for your ability to manage time well. In addition, higher positions require your management skills of people, projects and time, "altogether". With the way you will be delivering your answer for this, you will be able to denote how organised you can be. So, this question is quite an umbrella of knowing everything that the interviewer needs to know.
9. ARE YOU A TEAM PLAYER?
Thou art very good in sports, it doesn't mean that thou have to brag all of the gold medals thou have won. You are lucky if you are able to come up with a metaphor to show how efficient you could be in delegating jobs with the sports you play. Or if your interviewer plays the same sport as you for him to understand what you're saying.
But being a team player in the office is totally different.
Furthermore, this information is crucial as to how you deal with budding subordinates. Yes, you are OK in letting other people swim on their own as far as honing them to build and create in order to feed them with experience. But because of this they have the liberty to make errors of their own as well (and hopefully learn from it). What the interviewer would be interested to know is, as the leader of these subordinates, how would you manage implying the principle of making minimal errors yet maintaining big experiences for them? How do you deal with deadlines while working with the team? It's always not a good thing if you'd say you prefer working alone. At every job, whether you are a janitor or a CEO, you will be having work mates.
10. WHAT POSITION DO YOU PREFER ON A TEAM WORKING ON A PROJECT
When you are asked of "your" preference, it's always a test of character. This is your chance to show versatility at your end. Being flexible means you easily adapt. And that's a plus to you if you are always ready to adjust without bending the quality of your services into a compromise. This trait comes in handy most especially when you have specialised NOT involving your emotions when changes have to be made during crunch time. Meaning, when you can outperform your emotions of cramming and panic with a productive gesture, well and good.
11. WHAT IRRITATES YOU ABOUT A CO-WORKER?
This question is very subjective in nature but this gauges you on how well you filter your emotions. It's always a good choice to be the bigger person in the end but be careful in not being labeled as a loser. The interviewer may perceive what kind of personality you have with your manner of answering this particular trigger. Remember that getting fixated on a negative emotion is always a no-no. Moreover, you don't have to tell a specific scenario complete with the dramatic particulars when asked of this. All that the company needs to know is if you are still able to keep your professionalism intact when dealing with personal shit.
12. TELL ME ABOUT YOUR ABILITY TO WORK UNDER PRESSURE.
When you work, expect different kinds of pressure. Most of the time, when there's pressure involved, you are working for something in demand or for someone who got high expectations of you. Don't get me wrong, both are actually positive on your account. So, instead of cracking under pressure, you should be more driven to deliver your best. Yet again, nobody's perfect but there's always a better way in handling even the most difficult situations. You should have discreet ways in your pocket on how to keep pressure under control. This is most beneficial when you are going for a higher position.
Usually, acknowledgement of other team members and delegation to your subordinates are powerful tools to counter failure because of too much work pressure. Though this challenge alone can make you or break you, the outcome of it will still be charged to experience in the end. Anything may help you out in avoiding unnecessary errors later on.
13. HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF FIVE YEARS FROM NOW?
Depending on your planned timeline, it is important that in answering this, your supposed growth will be directly proportional to the growth of the company or at least the account that your handling. It's a plus if there are also some of your subordinates that would get promoted because of your initiative of letting them grow. Your ability to adapt, learn, give support and serve as an inspiration is a promising guide in coming up with your timeline in the company you want to pursue. Aspire for limitless capacity. Putting these thoughts altogether will lead you to a sturdy and reliable response that will surely get you the job.
14. WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS FROM THIS JOB?
After doing immense research of the company you want to get into and the role you would want to have, it's undeniable that you would be having expectations of your own. To your advancement, touch the idea of growing internally alongside your colleagues. Impress your interviewer with your sincerity of becoming superb with the guidance and tools their company can provide. This way, your interviewer would feel that you're not only the kind of person that is well read and knowledgeable about how to make time work for you but that, you can also be an asset in the end for your dedication into your own skill development. Once you are assured of an attainable expectation, most likely, you will get hired.
15. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR US?
There's no other answer to this question except for that one below since it shows your enthusiasm and your unfailing determination to join their team. This is how the question, "How bad do you want this?" is applied. There are a list of good questions too that you may ask such as, "What made you stay?", "What are the short and long term goal of the company?", "What are the company's initiative regarding learning and development?". These are examples of impressive questions that you may learn a lot from. On the other hand, your interviewer would feel that you have a great desire for further efficiency on your part. It gives you a promising status from there.
You may also like:
1. 5 TIPS IN PREPARATION FOR A JOB INTERVIEW - The ultimate guideline as you prepare for the day that will surely change your life.
2. HOMEBAKERS TURNED ENTREPRENEURS - Here are some of the bakers I personally know who have made a name in the cake business. You might be needing their services. Read on!
3. DO YOU BELIEVE IN GOD - a student and a professor having a dialogue justifying God's existence. It is an interesting read.
Since we are made from the image and likeness of God:
"The desire to create is one of the
deepest yearnings of the human soul."
- DIETER UCHTDORF
Being influenced into widening my horizons in pursuit of financial freedom, I've come to a realisation that the road to being rich is not easy. Time is of the essence, that's consideration number one. It's easy to say that everything follows after that. Taking advantage of the power of habit, compounding and your biggest emotional WHY are key factors. But I encounter bumps in the road every now and then such as slacking, procrastinating and doubting. According to the books I hold very substantial with my aims and goals, they always remind their readers to find a way to sustain such drive. This is due to the reason that at one point, it will be hard to keep up with your goals because of certain reasons, dilemmas and personal challenges. In short, we may find ourselves going back to our own bad habits when we don't feel some sort of gratification or reward with our chosen investment tools. And this is not just 1% of the people who tried to keep a budget (for example) to give justice to their goals. Most of the time, 99% fail because they didn't establish ways to continuously inspire themselves to keep the fire burning.
The books mentioned about choosing the people you hang out with and having mentors. Better yet, finding people that you may look up to who are experts in the field that you'd like to achieve. The most important thing is, establish your deepest WHY then find the people who'd respect and support it.
With that being said, I continuously observe myself as to how I'm usually moved, how do I get driven... Blessed be, the presence of an old colleague who now directs shows in the Philippines, taking a photo of me while performing had made me figure out that people, who become successful with their pursuit inspire me (like her) more than ever. That night, I thought of how far some of the people I knew from before had gone and I decided to feature them in terms of the small businesses they now own.
At first, I just wanted these people to be in my vision board to serve as an inspiration to me but I thought of sharing their story to all of you as well. Besides the recognition they deserve, it maybe one of the small business ideas that you were eyeing from the beginning but never had the courage to go for because of huge amounts of doubts in your head.
1. METRICA ENTERPRISES, DEL MUNDO ARCHITECTS
Townhouses built by Architect Alvin Gloda Del Mundo
a sample of what an accordion gate
looks like
OK people, I've got to start with the very familiar to me. I basically grew up seeing my mom and her siblings reign in Sampaloc, Manila (Philippines) with their real estate businesses. My parents had owned a Realty Corporation and a second-hand lumber before. They resell antique furnitures, sturdy accordion gates, high quality G.I. sheets (to name a few) in line with demolishing, building and selling town houses all over the district. Eventually, none of us had continued the business since, I ended up being a licensed nurse turned performing artist, our eldest became a dentist and our youngest graduated Information Technology turned nurse. (That almost sounded like a cycle I know!)
Any legacy ready to be built starts with a calling. And my cousin, ALVIN GLODA DEL MUNDO was called upon to design and build the modern town houses of today when he became a full-pledged architect.
"Never be afraid of CHANGE.
It will always be constant in our lives."
- Architect Alvin Gloda Del Mundo
I grew up with my cousins and Alvin was the youngest of us all. Because of that, he gets bullied most of the time and the way he reacts was actually funny. He would always mumble, "You will see, I will be somebody someday." And from then on, I know that he was a man of his word and failing was never in his vocabulary.
He graduated from Mapua Institute of Technology and had earned his license after several projects involving his mom.
My auntie, as I remember (and I hope she won't hate me saying this), was very strict on my cousin, Alvin. Being the only son, he was the only heir to manage the business that his mom had put up in great efforts. Eventually, it had paid off. No bias, but before Alvin reached 30, he had established a good reputation as a reliable manager of the family business involving her wife who's an architect as well and had been helping out in each of his project's design and utilisation.
Name of Company: METRICA ENTERPRISES, DEL MUNDO ARCHITECTS Nature of Business: Design, build and sell, demolition of houses Ownership: Family owned Location: Manila, Philippines Number of years before it was established: since he was college, 12-15 years Edge of the Product (how is it different from others): They proudly design it from ground up. Their passion and profession are their edge over the other realtors.
Invested money on the business: Php 0.00 - since family owned Price range of the product: Php 5-7 million/unit
Planned Investment, a hobby or ultimate dream? "Definitely an ULTIMATE DREAM!"
Training: MAPUA Institute of Technology for the engineering degree. Own enterprise for practice.
Is this your first business? Yes.
Further plans (expansion)? Bigger design office to cater more clients.
Little trivia about the business? I treat this business as my playground. It's the type of business that has no redundancy... every project/design is like a new toy to be played in the mind.
When Alvin was young, I would always see a lot of model vinyl collector's item sort of toys for his collection. The ones that you have tinker with to build its form. He was a fan of lego too and we loved playing in the second hand lumber back then. I am more than proud of how he had become that I look up to his achievements. You can contact him at his email if you're interested to avail of his services: hellspawn_alvin@yahoo.co.uk
2. EDGE 'N POINTE DANCE CENTRE
As a performing artist, I hail dance schools. Moreover, I know how hard it is to get kids into liking dance most especially when their parents are not even fond of this form of art to begin with.
Since I have handled a class for two whole summers in Jill Ngo's Peak Dance Studio 8 years ago, I can totally relate to short attention spans, bratty attitude and clueless faces as to why they have to dance. I feel that it is such an achievement every time I am able to make a kid move somehow back then. That's why I look up to a dance teacher's dedication.
Personally, dancing had been a way for me to balance myself. Besides writing, it is an utmost way to express myself. I love it very much that I don't mind doing it everyday. Now, that I get to do it, it gets a little harder to accept each day that there will come a time that I would get old and would not be as flexible or active as I am today. To that, I always see to it that I dance like my last each time.
"Put your passion as a front liner.
Nothing will work if you're not passionate
and if you don't love what you're doing."
- Verna Fajila-Brazil
As I get to work in the happiest place on earth, I was able to come across a pool of the most talented people.
Verna, one of the prima ballerinas of her time is both a blessing and an angel for me. Trained in Ballet Philippines, I had known Verna to be part of the chorus dancers (as a gazelle) of Hong Kong Disneyland's Lion King Theatre Show.
At a volleyball match, she was one of the people who had saw a spark between my husband (now) and I upon our first meet-up 8 years ago. Little did I know then that he kept on asking her who I was.
Verna's aspiration was to become a professional ballerina since she was little. In fulfilling this dream, she worked hard and looked up to all the people that helped her reach her dreams. She realised that she was being called to teach as her passion for dance had grown enormously thru the years. She believed that she could inspire younger generations thru performing arts.
One thing I know about Verna is that, she is a very selfless person, very thoughtful and kind. This shines thru her wide range of scholarships thru the dance workshops she offers at Edge 'N Pointe. She offers a long list amounting from HK$0 to HK$500/month. She got encouraged to put up Edge 'N Pointe in Hong Kong since she had seen the difference she believes she could make. And that is to cultivate it more to those who are interested. Name of Company: EDGE 'N POINTE DANCE CENTRE
Nature of Business: Dance and performing arts school.
Edge 'n Pointe Dance Centre caters to kids from 2 to adults that and is teaching a wide array of dance classes including:
BALLET, ZUMBA, JAZZ, CONTEMPORARY, LATIN DANCE, TAP, KINDERMUSIC. Ownership: Verna Fajilan-Brazil Location: Hong Kong Number of years before it was established: She had dedicated all her life for this to be established. Business wise, it was never her intention to come up with a business but it was her ultimate dream to have a school.
Verna as part of Ballet Philippines takes a flight
in its production of Cinderella, 2002
Edge of the Product (how is it different from others): The main edge is the quality of learning they provide. As a lover of arts, Verna's aim is to cultivate the art of dancing in our society much further. For that objective to be given justice, it is important for her that the team she's working with are not half-baked. This way, the passion and the art of dance would be instilled to the students at its finest.
Invested money on the business: Money or earning is just a plus for Verna. TIME is of the essential investment since she had dedicated all her life to making this happen. She had invested in herself and the learning she got from her teachers are priceless. With that being said, she is willing to share what she had learned for the sake of learning and exploration on her students' behalf. Price range of the product: HK$0 (for scholars) up to HK$500/class
Planned Investment, a hobby or ultimate dream?"Definitely an ULTIMATE DREAM!", says Verna.
Training: Ballet Philippines
The Nutcracker, 2003
Is this your first business? Yes.
Further plans (expansion)? A number of centres have asked their help with their programmes and they're more than glad to do so. They have one with Baumhaus (Hong Kong), Wan Chai, Admiralty.
They've also won the Group Of the Year in participating in the Aberdeen International Youth Festival in Scotland.
Now they are in Portland, sharing further their talents and widening their horizons more and more in the name of arts.
Little trivia about the business? "We just came back from the Aberdeen International Youth Festival in Scotland. It is one of the best and biggest youth arts festivals in the world. Without government or corporate sponsorship, we depended on individual donors. Although we were only able to raise 1/3 of the costs, and I personally loaned the rest, I decided to take this risk just to foster the arts in the youth. The dancers did very well there and although the festival is not a competition but a gathering of young artists worldwide, we were surprised when we were presented the Group of the Year Award at the end of the festival. Truly heartwarming."
- Verna
Here's a glimpse of how their rehearsal went. This is truly inspiring. What more you would watch the real performance!
"If you are passionate about your dreams,
and you are willing to work hard for it,
GO FOR IT!
Don't let anyone or anything stop you.
Go straight to the path,
don't even contemplate on having a fall back!
Because once you do,
you're just allowing failure to seep in!
Jordan Punsalang, Art Director,
Parallax Dance Company
There is yet another colleague of mine that had put up his own dance company in Australia.
I have been under Jordan Punsalang for a scholarship grant from FEDEX Philippines. Cheerleaders were to perform every halftime for every game FEDEX team would play in the annual Philippine Basketball Association League. He was our choreographer. During the course of the season, there were dance classes in between for us cheerleaders to be aided in adapting to jazz style. Specifically, Jordan's style.
This had sharpened my skills, pushed me to my limit and had helped me love dancing even more because its orgasmic high that takes place every after show keeps me energetic enough to keep up with my studies. I had benefited on the endorphin release that takes place because I took dancing as my form of exercise back then.
Jordan was strict on all of us in general back then but it moulded me into getting more aware of my physique. What it can do and how it can perform better. Jordan emphasised the cliche, "Dancers are the athletes of God." and he continuously aims to serve his purpose by using his talents at its maximum. He teaches, conducts recitals, makes projects happen all to hail the craft of dancing, a talent that is a gift from God. I remember him saying, "I would never have a shy attitude because God had blessed me with enough armour to make me confident enough. I would never choose to take this gift for granted because I know that everyday is an opportunity to make myself better at it." as a form of encouraging shy girls that I was team mates with back then.
Of course, every now and then he has gigs so I also danced under his group, Dancecap. With that being said, windows of opportunities had opened up (choreographing for commercials, corporate events and shows).
Jordan is one of the few teachers I had that truly inspired me into digging deeper as far as passion is concerned. He influenced me greatly not only in terms of dance but also in life. Being talented is just one of his great qualities but on top of that, he's smart, confident and fearless. These are the major attributes he exemplified on me. And yet again, I am in awe when I learned that upon his migration to Australia, he had established a dance company of his own in approximately 6 months.
Parallax Dance Company is one of Geelong's finest dance companies,
composed of highly skilled dancers all over the region.
Name of Company: PARALLAX DANCE COMPANY
Nature of Business: Dance Company and Dance School Ownership: Own Company Location: MAAD Studios, Geelong, Victoria, Australia Number of years before it was established: 6 months upon moving to Australia Edge of the Product (how is it different from others): Before Parallax Dance Company had been established, Jordan Punsalang had taught in countless studios in the Philippines. With that much knowledge from his collegiate years to teaching commercially, now he's in Australia to share this extensive amount of knowledge and infusing it with what Australia had grown used to. Price range of the product: Php AUS$12-15/class/person
Planned Investment, a hobby or ultimate dream? Primarily, Jordan did it in the name of passion. As planned, it is both an investment and a dream.
Training: He admits that he's not trained in business. But he has experience in handling dance companies and had facilitated dance schools.
What encouraged you to take the first step? Knowing how confident Jordan is, he follows his gut most of the time in making decisions. What he feels right inside is usually his decision maker.
Contact Details:
Get in touch or be abreast with the latest shows, workshops and events by liking their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/parallaxdancecompany.
Contact Number: +61 434 036 933
Is this your first business? It is his first in Australia.
Further plans (expansion): "Hopefully, in the next couple of years, I can put up another studio.", wishes Jordan
Little trivia about the business: Jordan had emphasised the number of dance schools in their cities which is around 40. And his dance company is the only one run by a male.
4. MAUI O.M.W. (ONE MORE WAVE)
"A positive attitude is very important.
So you need to be a people person."
- Shane K Dudoit
One thing I quite remember so well as I feed my brain with the do's and don't's of acquiring riches is that, you should always be open to opportunities. Everything starts with an idea. And if we are going to truly listen and focus, ideas are everywhere. We may even attract them. Even with the simplest things we do and the most usual events occurring every time, every day, what you usually are obsessed with, could be a good idea. Most often than not, to turn into a business. What you love doing is what you do best. A fun fact to consider is that, when you see yourself procrastinating to give way to this thing that you do best, or time stops when you actually do it, that's what usually gives you loads and loads of money. You deny to yourself that you're working nor you feel the load because you LOVE what you're doing. Hence, there's no labor to consider. It's amazing if you'll be aware of this power that you have early on. But for some people, it's never too late.
That's why the last, but not the least, person that I would be including is the one that made a business out of what he loves to do. SURFING.
Now, to be honest, I don't really know much about it but it's something worth trying. I have never surfed before. But I am more than willing to learn provided, affordable surf lessons are available.
To cater to that need of many a number of tourists like me who don't know how to surf, yet are interested, Shane K Dudoit had put up MAUI O.M.W. in Maui, Hawaii but he had made it available to Asians by making the booking doable here in Hong Kong as well. Marketing wise, he is a Hong Kong resident so, he makes MAUI O.M.W. accessible to both the east and west. But before I go further, let me tell you something about Shane.
I've known Shane to be one of my husband's co-workers at the happiest place on earth. A true performing artist as he loves and enjoys dancing. I remember a cha cha number we did altogether and he opened it with a breathtaking choreography that was sizzling hot to put an intro to it. But going back to where he had been born and where he grew up in (Makawao, Hawaii), he was a traditional dance performer owning the authentic Polynesian grace and style entertaining hundreds of tourists that visit.
Fire Knife Dancer, Festival of the Lion King,
Hong Kong Disneyland, 2005-2014
His calling to perform to different kinds of people didn't stop there as he came to Asia to be part of the Hong Kong Disneyland's Lion King Theatre Show. He had performed in stilts, danced in chorus and was a fire knife dancer. There's not many of them here in Asia so he shares that when he sees one, they instantly know they are connected somehow.
Hoku, as he is known to us, is fond of sports (he's a rower, shoots some ball and is very good in any water sports, most especially surfing) and he loves going to the gym. He loves doing Capoeira. Furthermore, he is attached to the ocean and he owns a shark tattoo that signifies his love for it hidden in the traditional Polynesian tattoo.
Since he was 7, he had sworn love to the ocean. He was actually a certified life guard before coming over to Hong Kong. As he becomes inspired by an acquaintance in Hong Kong to think about his life, what he wants to do and how that person believed in him lit a fire in his heart to go for it.
Name of Company: MAUI O.M.W. (ONE MORE WAVE)
Nature of Business: Surfing Schools, Private Surfing Lessons and Sales
Description of Product: My products are 9-11 ft. Soft Top Long Boards, and Stand Up Paddle Boards, and a couple of Epoxy Stand Up Boards Ownership: Own Company Location: Maui, Hawaii Number of years before it was established: 7 years Edge of the Product (how is it different from others): The approach I'm taking is not just to teach them how to surf but to educate the guests regarding the culture of Hawaii as well as this is very important to me. That way, tourists and guests wouldn't miss out on what they should see and experience in visiting the beautiful island.
Planned Investment, a hobby or ultimate dream? It had been an ultimate dream for over 7 years.
Training: Not everybody can surf. I have studied in a good surfing school in Hawaii and joined several Surfing Competitions after that. Overall, I did 30 years of training and competing.
What encouraged you to take the first step? "First step was to put God in the lead of my business. And I gotta keep telling myself to JUST DO IT. Thank God for a video in youtube. I don't know his name but it was the lead star of the first transformers and he just kept on shouting in this video, 'JUST DO IT!' Now I try to put off negative vibes that the DEVIL tries to put before me.", says Hoku
Contact Details:
For booking a session, Email:
Maui.OneMoreWave@gmail.com
hokugosurf2003@yahoo.com
or call him at,
Maui Tel: 808-205-4286
Hong Kong Tel: 852-9840-3069
Is this your first business? Yes
Further plans (expansion): Right now, the business is yet to be officially up. Contact Hoku to book surfing lessons in 2 or 3 months. "I am waiting for my boards to be made which usually takes 15-30 days to make and 20-30 days on the boat for shipping.", he adds.
He is also interested in putting up a school here in Hong Kong because he loves this city.
Little trivia about the business: As the business is situated in Maui, here are some of the fun facts that Hoku may share about the place for you to further be in love:
1. HAWAII became the 50th US state declared on August 21, 1959.
2. The highest peak on Maui is Haleakala Volcano 10,023 feet, 21 miles across and 4,000 feet deep. Large enough to hold the island of Manhattan.
3. Maui has 81 accessible beaches, 16 golf courses, 10 state parks and 1 national park.
These are who I have gathered so far. It's interesting how they have turned their obsession, passion, hobby and talent into a commodity available for others to learn from, adapt and share. As a reminder, selling is not wrong. Moreover, selling personal service defy nothing. FEAR is the only thing that can defy everything that you have worked for. And SELF-DOUBT feeds it.
Related posts:
1. SIGNED, A 32 YEAR OLD - A message for 20 year olds onwards.
2. CASHFLOW - A game that may take you out of the rat race of real life.
3. HOW FINANCIALLY WEALTHY ARE YOU? - Assess yourself and know your financial status with the help of these six simple questions.
Right before you graduate, know that time is the most essential commodity ever known to man. Give it to the ones who deserve it, give it to yourself when you need it and establish a legacy over it. Once you get to achieve all these, being timeless is not impossible. Nobody is exempted from dying but you were born with a purpose.
Notes:
Ingredients that you're going to need: (you may get them in local organic shops or online)
