About
This Blog
One of my favorite quotes is “you don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” It is scary how strong this mental barrier hold us from doing the things we want.
Every day, I used to read tons of blogs’ articles. Listening hours of talks from famous speakers while cooking or doing the chores. Trying to learn every piece of content I could about blogging.
And for a long time, nothing else.
I always thought I wasn’t ready yet to set up my own blog. That I still had to read more. That I still had to listen more. That I still had to know more.
Just like that, I was trapped in a Circle of Procrastination. When you think that everything should be perfect before showing it to the world. And because nothing is perfect, nothing is shown.
To all the perfect procrastinators…
The best time to create your blog was 10 years ago. The second best time is now.
Blogging as a business
What I know most is about blogging and business. This blog is a way to share this knowledge to those who want to learn more about those two areas and that, through my own voice.
I am fed up of articles with too formal writing style; full of clichés, of marketing tools, of ads, without any real emotions, and with the sole purpose of selling sh*tty business products.
More than that, I do not want any flashy or popping-up Google AdSense ads. You won’t see it here. If you do, send me an email right away. What you will see though, is something made with research and dedication.
Most of all, it is perfectible! As much as I progress on my blogging journey I am learning new tips that I can share with those who want to start their own.
If this blog is my voice. With your help, it can be ours. If you have an interesting story or thought that you want to share. I invite you to go to my contact page and email me.
I’d be glad to talk or post it here. People I know already shared some great experiences and advice that you’ll find here. So I look forward reading yours.
The Author
The Short Story
Today, I am living in Manila, in the Philippines, but fly back to Paris from time to time. I am Country Manager Philippines of a French international company.
I was born and grew up in France, which means that my native language is French. And as a half French-Filipino, I aspire to bridge both cultures, which is why I am writing in English.
Working in several industries and setting up my own freelance activities, my expertise is mostly about business (management, operations, development, sales & marketing, etc.) and blogging. Topics that are inspiring me when I’m writing.
I love blogging. I really think it is a powerful tool, which helps you becoming greater in what you do as you keep learning. It allows you to give value – if what you write is relevant – to people, looking for self-improvement.
Plus, if you want to have a great blog. Learning about business is intrinsic.
If you want to quickly know my background, below is a summary wrote by the CCI France Philippines:
Yes, this blog had another name before.
The Long Story
Since the past few years, I’ve been reading about personal development, business and blogging. Which really helped improving my life in many aspects:
Let’s brag a bit, I’ll look more credible:
- In my studies, I’ve successfully finished my Master’s degree in International Business Management at a French Business School.
- In my career, among a hundred of applicants, I was chosen to fill the job position I am now handling.
- In my personal life, I feel motivated becoming a greater person, which is something you need if you have some ambition.
And those are the areas, you can easily improve if you want to. The key is to keep learning.
“Once you stop learning, you start dying.” – Albert Einstein
Real-Estate, Small Jobs, Internships & College
When most of my peers were going on summer breaks, I started to work. This gave me access to the business world quite young.
Beginning with real-estate, I had to sell flats on paper. The next year, same industry, I was in charge of finding lands. Using urbanisme plans, I was contacting and negotiating with owners to take over their property. So that I could enable developers to build residences on it. I was 16.
Then I went to college, studying 2 years an intensive program for the national competitive entrance examination to top business schools. That I joined after to get a Master’s degree at a French Business School.
At the same time, I did a lot of small jobs for several companies: intensive phoning, street-marketing, receptionist, etc. On my spare time, I was teaching French to Filipino newcomers in Paris or I was giving school lessons to high school students.
I then had my first internships, assisting a project manager to reinforce the Alumni network of the school. After that, I worked closely with consultants dealing with sales and customer relationship management in the B2B industry.
And this was only the beginning…
Volunteering: flying 10,000 kms away from home
One day, I decided to volunteer abroad. Volunteering during 2 years in a French student NGO, supporting childcare in six countries: Benin, Haiti, India, Madagascar, Peru and Philippines. I had the opportunities to go to those countries and live with the local communities we were trying to support.
I then traveled to India during one month. Going from orphanage to orphanage, giving school and hygienic supplies and bringing smiles to the kids.
And as a half Filipino I wanted to go to the Philippines. Partnering with Gawad Kalinga, a local NGO, I stayed 4 months in Bacolod City, in the Island of Negros.
I just loved my experience, mostly thanks to the people I met. Filipinos are unique and are great to live with.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay I was still studying at college.
First Experience in Manila
With a friend I volunteered with, we planned to go back in the Philippines the next year. We had one-year free from studies, so we wanted to see if we could live there.
With our low resources – we were still students and our family couldn’t really help – and with our young age, we honestly struggled.
Anyway, despite my origin, this trip was my first time in Manila, capital of the Philippines. I had almost no idea about the city. And also no idea, how I was going to live there.
I had a four-month safety budget, but if I wasn’t able to generate any income. I had to go back in France. I looked for a job directly there. The access to job offers from France to the Philippines was really limited.
Fortunately, I met there two General Managers who were looking for an assistant to settle an operation site in Manila for a Hong Kong Tech Startup. As I joined them. I conducted some business activities on the side with the friend I came with.
We organized events, worked our social media accounts and created videos. We are still running it. I am the co-founder of 2frenchinmanila.We stayed 10 months before going back to France, we had to finish our Master’s degree.
Today, I’m based in Manila
After graduating, I’ve been recruited by a French company looking for young managers to expand their business overseas. I had the desire to create something in the Philippines.
We matched and here I am.
Blogging and having a corporate job might sound really tough. But both can work together, if one knows about time management. I once gave a talk about how social media helped me getting my job.
If you don’t know how to separate those two activities. You’ll just do a bit of one and a bit of the other. So, you’ll just suck at both.
End & Beginning
“All those experiences have shaped the way I am thinking. It was tough. It required a lot of sacrifices. It created a lot of headaches. It is far from the end., mostly a new beginning…”
If you have this desire to create something on your own and to provide greater value to others. I can only suggest you to set up your own blog. That’s a very great to achieve such goals.
Click here if you want to know where to start.
We won’t regret the things we’ve done. We will regret the things we haven’t. That’s enough for the narcissistic post.
My name is John Fisalbon and I’d be happy listening to you.
