For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. Hebrews 8:7, NIV We only emphasize that Christian life we are in is not based on another form of religious ritual but on a covenant. The question is what type of covenant are you in? Is it a covenant of religion or a covenant of love? It should be a covenant of love. Love is a person and that is God (see 1 John 4:16). The covenant we are in is a covenant based on who He is and not on who we are. It's based on what He has done and not on what we have done. When you sign an agreement form, you understand what type of covenant or agreement you are signing in. And this is the reason why still many Christians missed the true essence of Christianity. It's because they don't understand the covenant they are in. In result, many are so called Christians are still living a life like they don't have Christ. There's no real transformation happened. They think Christian...
John Gokongwei, Jr. is a force to reckon with. In his 90s, he is still a top player in the Philippine economy, and has consistently retained a spot on Forbes' annual Billionaires List. His net worth is $4.4 billion.
Gokongwei, Jr. is the founder of JG Summit, a conglomerate that has stakes in various industries, including Cebu Pacific, Robinsons Land, Universal Robina, Robinsons Bank, PLDT, and Meralco.
He was only 13 when his father died and he had to work to help his family get out of debt. He started selling roasted peanuts to his classmates in Cebu. He later sold soap, thread, and candles in the town market. With the profits he made there, he went back and forth to Manila to sell his products in a bigger market. He went into trading, and then manufacturing. Today, Gokongwei, Jr.'s conglomerate has diversified businesses around the world.
Gokongwei, Jr.'s only son Lance has a lot to say about his father’s wisdom. In the privately published book Lessons from Dad, written with Yvette Fernandez, Lance outlines what he has learned from a lifetime of lessons his father taught him and his five sisters. Here are some of them.
Work hard. If you don't work, you don't eat.
Let your children find their passion, and be the best they can be in the field they choose. And then make them work hard at it. When they were young, Gokongwei, Jr.'s children were not given cash gifts at birthday or Christmas. They had very small allowances. They spent their summer vacations working in the stockroom or putting prices on groceries. They had to work hard for their money.
The dinner table is a place for ideas.
Make time for your family and show up for dinner, as Gokongwei, Jr. did when his children were growing up. Turn off all gadgets so there is room for conversation, which is just as important as healthy food on the table. Tell stories about your day and learn lessons from each other. Dinner is a great time to exchange ideas and opinions.
Ask for advice.
You can never stop learning from others. Even when you are the boss or manager, you will benefit from the ideas of your colleagues. If you must, hire consultants and join industry groups that discuss problems in your field. No matter what challenges arise, make sure to find the solution, even if it doesn't come from yourself.
Women are just as smart and as strong as men are, maybe even more.
Gokongwei, Jr. has five daughters who are doing what their mother did: They go to work every day. Women are just as capable of running projects and businesses as men are and should be given the same opportunities.
Thank the people who helped you along the way, and give back.
Helping others is a circle. Friends and family assist you in hard times, and when you are able enough, you should do the same for other people. Never forget the people who helped you. And pay it forward. Get involved in an advocacy. Make a difference where you can.
Live simply, but spend on experiences.
The Gokongweis dress simply and remain humble. They don't spend on designer brands or flashy cars. They spend on travel and books, their means to expand the mind. This is how they constantly come up with new ideas.
Deciding on the one you marry is the most important decision you’ll ever make.
Marry a good person. Your spouse should be an ally in happiness and not a source of misery. The challenge is to find someone who shares the same beliefs and principles and can be your partner in parenthood and all aspects of your life. For women: The right man will work hard to win your heart.
Source: Town and Country