WORK AND EDUCATION Archives - Truly Rich and Blessed

Starting a Passion-based Business: Tina De Guzman’s Inspiring Story

May 27, 2017 by Tina

I started this blog — then known as “Truly Rich Mom” — because I was inspired by the teachings of Brother/Kuya Bo Sanchez. I also wanted to share our adventures as a then-missionary family and share mom-recommended products and services too. I re-branded to Truly Rich and Blessed last year mostly because I wanted to reach out to non-moms as well.

Still, you really can’t take the “mom” out of me, and I definitely can’t stop writing about things related to motherhood because, well, it’s an integral part of who I am. I also like sharing inspiring stories about how people are becoming “truly rich” (and blessed, in my opinion) in different aspects, especially when they are my fellow moms.

Truth be told, my husband and I are still trying to figure out what kind of entrepreneurship path is best for our family. In the meantime, we are learning all we can from Kuya Bo and other successful entrepereneurs.

One such entrepreneur is a fellow mom and my namesake as well — Tina De Guzman of Fluffy Pwets. I wrote about her last year for one of the Truly Rich Club‘s e-newsletters, which is exclusively for members. (I contribute there sometimes, as I do for other publications.) I’m sharing Tina’s story below, in the hopes of inspiring at least one of you out there to follow your business dreams! (Tina also gave birth earlier this year to their second child — congrats, tokayo!)

Starting a Passion-based Business: Be Inspired by the Mompreneur behind Fluffy Pwets

“Never give up. Today is hard, tomorrow will be worse, but the day after tomorrow will be sunshine.” This quote from Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba.com, can probably serve as inspiration for every entrepreneur out there, especially those who are just starting out, or want to start but don’t have the guts to do so.

The truth is, whether you’re just a newbie or a more “seasoned” entrepreneur, any business has its own set of challenges. Just ask Tina de Guzman, a lawyer, international development specialist, and the mompreneur behind “Fluffy Pwets” (www.fluffypwets.com).

Fluffy Pwets is the Philippines’s first and original brand of hybrid fitted cloth diapers in the Philippines, and all their products are individually handcrafted by Filipino women using both imported and local materials. Having expanded since its first appearance in the market, Fluffy Pwets now also offers coordinating clothing, accessories, and cloth diapering essentials.

Here, de Guzman shares a bit of her story with us – may it inspire us to pursue our business dreams and goals!

The “birth” of Fluffy Pwets

“My husband and I are cloth diapering parents. We would buy diapers locally and from abroad, and the choices in the Philippines were limited,” de Guzman recalls. “I did a lot of research, tested many different diaper types, and one day, we just decided to try making our own cloth diapers.”

At the time, De Guzman was working fulltime, and she is actually still employed to this day.

“It was very difficult to start a business while holding down a job, because you can only do so much within your supposed waking hours,” she shares.

“When Fluffy Pwets started getting hundreds of orders and we didn’t have enough staff yet, I ended up finishing Fluffy Pwets-related work at 5:00 a.m., leaving just enough time for me to hit the shower and get ready for my day job. It was crazy.

“Now, it’s more manageable. I am at risk of getting carpal tunnel syndrome though, because I handle our accounts mostly via phone and laptop, but I can’t say I’ve been forced to pull all-nighters like when we were starting out.”

The blessings behind having a business that you love

Despite all the challenges though, de Guzman says starting and running the Fluffy Pwets business is “very much worthwhile, especially if you believe in your product and there is good reception from your target market”.

“Anything worthwhile won’t come without challenges,” she emphasizes. “It’s overcoming those challenges that make your undertaking victorious.”

De Guzman shares that Fluffy Pwets has actually become a blessing of sorts to her. “Aside from the business side of it, I appreciate how my network has expanded because of Fluffy Pwets,” she divulges. “I’ve met a lot of people and made new friends who I wouldn’t have met through my day job.

“Also, it is so humbling and fulfilling to see photos of #FPbabies! Most parents send us photos of their babies wearing Fluffy Pwets diapers, clothing, blankets, and bags on their birthdays, photo shoots, and other special occasions. We appreciate that we’ve become a part of their lives.”

Simple but meaningful tips for starting your own business

Whether you’re employed now and hope to start a business based on something you love – like cloth diapering, as in de Guzman’s case – or already have a business of your own, you will probably find the following tips from de Guzman helpful:

1. Do your research.

2. Be original. Be the first and constantly innovate.

3. Prioritize customer service and excellent product quality.

4. Don’t skimp on investing on experts – be it expert craftsmen, illustrators, or marketing professionals.

If you want to get more inspiring and practical tips on how to be “truly rich,” I encourage you to join the Truly Rich Club. You may do so just by clicking here. 🙂 God bless us all so we may bless more people!

How to Retire as a Multimillionaire: Learn from COL Financial’s Edward Lee

December 17, 2016 by Tina

‘Tis the season for giving and sharing so I thought I’d pop in for a really quick post to invite you all to learn with me as COL Financial‘s very own Edward Lee — one of Kuya/Bro. Bo Sanchez’s mentors when it comes to being “truly rich” in the financial aspect — spills his secrets to investing in the stock market.

As you may (or may not! 😉 ) already know by now, my husband and I have been stock market investors for a while now, but we are still a looooong way off from being “truly rich” like Kuya Bo and Sir Edward are! That’s why we are committed to learning and investing as much as we can, not for our own personal gain but so we can bless our loved ones and those in need, too!

That’s why I’m extending Kuya Bo’s personal invitation to YOU, to join the webinar by Sir Edward Lee.

Below is the letter Kuya Bo sent out to us Truly Rich Club members:

Dear Tina,

For many years, I’ve been investing in the stock market.

And because of this, I know that I will retire a multimillionaire. As a
member of the TrulyRichClub, I know that you will also be the same.

Let’s bless other people more.

This coming December 18, 2016 at exactly 2:00 P.M. Manila time, I will hold
another webinar. But this time, I have a special treat for everyone. My
mentor, who has been investing in the stock market for 42 years, will spill
all his secrets, so you too can retire a multimillionaire.

The last webinar had thousands of viewers, and many of them are now
applying what they learned. I have no doubt that in a few years, they too,
will enjoy the fruits of what they’re planting now.

Let’s empower people to do the same to take charge of their finances, and
then become a blessing to others.

Invite people to joing us for another webinar happening this December 18,
2016 at 2:00 PM.

Blessings,

Bo Sanchez

Remember, this webinar is ABSOLUTELY FREE OF CHARGE! You can sign up for it NOW here. I hope and pray it will bless you somehow!

By the way, if you’re looking for ways to have a more meaningful Christmas, please do follow my #TRBFaith and #LiturgicalLiving posts on and . I’m actually thinking of doing a Facebook Live session about it — would you guys be interested in something like that, if ever? Let me know in the comments, please! Thanks in advance. 🙂

Oh, and if you know someone who might be interested in attending the FREE Webinar by Sir Edward Lee, please feel free to share this post by clicking any of the buttons at the bottom of this post. Thank you and God bless!

P.S.

Remember, you can learn how to retire as a multimillionaire from one of the best financial “experts” around, just by attending the webinar. Click here to register.

3 Ways to Encourage Literacy at Home

August 31, 2016 by Tina

In one of my earlier posts, I wrote about the importance of encouraging kids — and even adults — to write. Writing actually comes hand in hand with reading, and literacy is something that is close to my heart as an intentional parent and a homeschooling mom.

Sadly though, with today’s high-tech gadgets and society’s seemingly endless need for fast-paced, immediate entertainment, good old-fashioned reading and literacy-related activities may seem “boring” to some people. This should not be the case — especially if you are a parent.

Thankfully, there are many ways we can encourage literacy at home. Here are just three of them:

1. Be mindful of how we spend our time with our kids.

The writer of this helpful article on EducAsian Learning’s website, Barbara Kitane-Boero, hit the nail right on the head when she wrote:

As parents, while being light, we need to be intentional.

Experts would recommend that all it takes is to have the time and mindfulness to view each time spent with children to be a teaching moment.

No matter what time of day it is, when you (we!) are with your kids, be all there. And take that opportunity to encourage literacy as well. As Kitane-Boero writes: Let us promote “literacy with the purpose of lifelong learning, a perspective that is local and global, and a sensitivity that extends beyond the self and family.”

We can do this by taking the time to read books to and with our children, no matter what age they may be. Reading aloud to our kids — even if it is just for 20 minutes a day — has many benefits.

2. Use books as discussion starters.

I personally love it when we are able to use books — good books — as a way to engage with our kids. Kitane-Boero of EducAsian Learning agrees too.

“Good children books are really good conversation starters especially when we are aware of the specific issues we would like to have a dialogue with,” she writes in her article. “It does not put children on defense; it makes them reflect on their own situations, which then facilitates joint or independent problem solving.”

Some of the books we have used as discussion starters are the children’s Bibles we have at home, plus books with specific themes like death, pregnancy, sickness, etc.

3. Keep a home library.

Whether you live in a small, rented, old apartment like we do, or a big, airy house, having a library will do wonders in encouraging literacy in your home. You need not have thousands of books in your home library, of course — the key is to select quality books that have passed the test of time and are recommended by generations of readers before us, though there are newer titles that are worth collecting as well.

Browse through different booklists or head on over to curated bookshops like The Learning Basket to get started on — or add to — your home library. Of course, make sure your kids know that they can access the home library at all times. Encourage them to have a regular reading time every day (we call it “DEAR” time in our home — DEAR stands for Drop Everything And Read.)

And there you have it, a few simple but effective ways to encourage literacy at home. I want to thank EducAsian Learning for graciously sharing their tips with us as well — you can head on over to their blog for more tips, and if your kids want to experience firsthand what an “integrated balanced literacy program” is like, feel free to check out the third module of EducAsian Learning’s Kids Writeshop.

Oh, and if you have more tips for encouraging literacy at home, please feel free to share them in the comments! Here at Truly Rich and Blessed, we believe that our resources are part of our “riches” — and by “resources,” we also mean education. We are all about lifelong learning!

Why Kids (and Adults) Should Be Encouraged to Write

August 24, 2016 by Tina

When I was a child, I would write regularly in my diary. I wrote about each day’s events, about the TV shows I watched, about my adventures with friends, and even wrote my own stories. I loved my English classes at school because they gave me the opportunity to write.

When I was a teenager, I did not write that much anymore, except for school assignments. Still, I knew that writing had become a great part of my life.

When I was about to finish secondary school (that’s what they call high school in Brunei), I wanted to apply for university courses related to writing but chose one in the medical field instead (Physical Therapy, one of the most popular pre-med choices back then). I loved my parents (still do!) more than I loved writing, so I chose to pursue medicine and become a doctor one day.

In U.P., I still loved writing. I loved our English classes. I wrote for the organizations that I was part of (I didn’t realize it then but I was actually writing “copy” for the events we would organize!).

I thought I would become a doctor who writes on the side.

But then God intervened. (Remind me to tell you more about that in another post!)

Fast forward to today.

I’m now a writer/editor. Writing is my passion and my profession.

Which brings me to the whole point of this post: Why should kids (and adults) be encouraged to write?

Here are three important reasons:

1. Writing helps us tell our stories.

Every person has a story to tell — yes, even young kids! And the world is in need of storytellers; not just any storytellers but those who pursue and promote truth, goodness and beauty.

2. Writing can be healing to one’s soul.

I’ve experienced this time and time again, as a child, as a teen, and now, as an adult. When one writes about one’s need for healing, for encouragement, for inspiration, it can be a cathartic, restorative experience.

3. Writing can be one way to bless the world.

Think of a book or a story that has blessed or inspired you in one way or another. Now imagine if the person who wrote it didn’t write it. Get my point? When kids write, when adults write, we have the opportunity to help, love, serve, encourage, tickle the imagination, make people laugh, etc.

Recently, the kids who attended Educasian Learning, Inc.’s Kids Writeshop program were able to “publish” their own books, after completing another module which focused on persuasive and opinion writing (which I only learned about in secondary school, I think!). I applaud the organizers for helping these kids become good storytellers! 🙂

If you are someone with kids in your life who need encouragement, guidance, and information on how to be good storytellers through writing, please do check out the upcoming Kids Writeshop module, which is set to begin on September 3. You can find more details here.

Do you like writing? Even if you don’t, I encourage you to write something every day.

*This post is brought to you by EducAsian Learning, Inc. Thanking God for them; for being a blessing to our family! 🙂

3 Simple Ways to Support Your Child’s Dreams

June 9, 2016 by Tina

Are you a parent like me, who wants to do whatever it takes to support my children’s dreams and hopes for the future? If your answer is “yes,” here are a few tips for doing just that:

1. Tell your child you believe in him or her.

Some of us may think this comes naturally to every parent but in the midst of everyday routines and the busyness of our lives, we sometimes forget to do this — affirm our kids of their abilities, and tell them that we believe in them.

This is probably one of the most important things you can do to support your child’s dreams. Children feel empowered knowing they have people around them who believe they can accomplish their dreams.

2. Help your child discover what he or she is good at.

No one can be good at everything, so it’s important for us to help our kids discover what they are good at. We can do this by exposing them to different activities — they don’t have to be good or great at all of them, but they should be encouraged to do their best.

To cite a concrete example, recently, some parents enrolled their children in EducAsian Learning’s Kids WriteShop*, because their kids dream of becoming authors. They invested time and treasure in giving their kids the training they needed, plus the opportunity to have a whole publishing experience through the writeshop.

The “fruit” of their investment? Their children participated in a “Publishing Party” last May 28, complete with read-aloud presentations wherein they launched their first published books, a compilation of their written outputs from previous sessions composed of poems, letters, short stories and other works. They even had their own ribbon-cutting ceremonies!

These young authors’ families were there to support them, and the parents and grandparents present had mixed emotions, feeling happy and teary-eyed at the same time, but most of all feeling proud of their kids. What an awesome way to support your child’s dreams, don’t you think?

3. Pray for your child — including your child’s dreams.

A parent’s prayer is powerful, so we must never fail to pray for our kids. Pray for their good health in mind, body and spirit; pray for the company they keep; pray for their dreams and hopes — pray for every aspect of their lives!

Now, I want to hear from YOU! In addition to what has already been discussed, what do you think we can do support our children’s dreams? Let’s talk in the comments!

P.S. If you’re interested in having your child join the next module of the Kids’ WriteShop, enrollment is still ongoing. 🙂 Just e-mail for more information. Below is the schedule for the remaining modules:

		June-July 2016
June 11		Introduction to Reading and Writing for new enrollees / Next Level: Reading and Writing for continuing enrollees
June 11
June 25		Opinion Writing
July 9		Persuasive Writing
July 23		Publishing Party

3RD MODULE		August-October 2016
August 27		Introduction to Reading and Writing for new enrollees / Next Level: Reading and Writing for continuing enrollees
September 10		Journal Writing
September 24		Informational Writing / Cultural Writing
October 8		Publishing Party

4TH MODULE		October-December 2016
October 22		Introduction to Reading and Writing for new enrollees / Next Level: Reading and Writing for continuing enrollees
November 12		Math Literature
November 26		Science Literature
December 3		Publishing Party

5TH MODULE		December-February 2017
December 17		Introduction to Reading and Writing for new enrollees / Next Level: Reading and Writing for continuing enrollees
2017
January 7		Procedural Writing
January 21		Book Making/Shaping Literature
February 4		Publishing Party

SPECIAL MODULE		February-April 2017
February 18		Patricia Pollaco and Maurice Sendak Author Study
March 4		Holiday Celebrations Around the World Literature
March 18		Additional Genre/ Bonus Genre Lesson
April 1		Publishing Party/ Culmination

This post is brought to you by EducAsian Learning, Inc.