What Money Means to a Successful College Dropout?

I remember way back around a year ago, aboutcame from mommy... I was their money that I
exactly a year ago, I was talking with myjust threw away..I lived my teenage life without
workers that pack envelopes. those times, I wasan allowance... I'm not saying that I didn't have
making many checks per bi-month. There weremoney or I wasn't given money, actually if I
checks that were SO high that was somewhatwanted money, my mom would give it to me... If
the peak of my business, that we worked everyI wanted to buy some bling bling, I know my
other day just packing envelopes about 6-7 hoursmom will give it to me... I never had daily
a day.I think I told these to my workers one dayallowance during my high school days, but rather,
when I was gonna give the paychecks.. I think II just spend, and when I'm low with cash, then I
was giving bonuses that time, I cant reallyask for more money... just that simple, no rules...
remember..But I explained to them during myBut I was WISE with money, I spent way less
speech about it..I told them that I see moneythan the average high school student... I wasn't a
differently than most people especially at thatheavy spender..I remember that I always go
point of my life where my business was juststraight to the sale rack whenever I go shopping...
unbelieveable. I told them that for me, money isIf it ain't in the sale rack, although if I wanted
just an award for my hardwork... I made ansomething badly, I would never buy it!I often also
analogy to compare it with basketball... Say forreject money when my mom offers to give me
example we because the champions in our highmoney when times that I know that I still have
school basketball team, we then earn a big shinyenough money still... But money was always there
gold trophy as a reward... But the trophy is reallywhen I needed it..I would say all in all, I learned
nothing, what really matters is the fame and prideabout money habits by EXPERIENCE. I learned to
of being champions.. it is the hard work andspend money INDEPENDENTLY. many parents
determination and how we never failed thatgive their children daily allowance, that the person
makes me happy about myself.. Even if it weren'tis only limited to spend that much, and if the
a gold shiny trophy, rather it was just a crappyperson SAVES, then he would be able to buy the
medal that looks so ugly, it doesn't matter, what'sluxuries that they want... That's how most children
important and what I will be happy of is that weand teens go about, but I was just different from
were the champions of the basketball in highthat.When I was 17 and early 18, I have been
school. a trophy I can just have it made at ahaving businesses... They were almost just slightly
custom trophy shop. And put on it "Chris, highprofitable... Not too much profit, but a little profit..
school champion", and magic! I am the champion! IMaybe I would say a good $5 profit per day.. But
can be happy about it, but deep inside I don't feelwith that $5 I was making each day, I didn't
successful.For business, money is the reward ofspend money differently.. I was still the same
being successful. but in reality, money is not all mymoney spender I was... Its not like I was able to
goal and passion... It is not the main thing I'mbuy nice clothes then, or something like that.. I
after, but its the fame and pride of being able todidn't even mind that $5 at all... It wasn't anything
support myself financially, and the service ofto me... What was important to me was the
business to others, making it a better economy. itexperience of doing business... Knowing the ins and
is to prove to myself, my family and friends, thatouts of business..During then my late 18s, when I
I am successful. it is to show my hard work andstarted to make profits, (3 digit figures profits a
how persistent I am..In fact, even at first when Iday), then I slowly became loose with my
started business when I was about in my earlyspending.. I have been treating my friends out for
17s, I never started that business coz I neededsome shakes and drinks... Treating people out for
money... Or because I wanted to buy something..lunch, etc. I did it very slowly...The Christmas of
Or I wanted to put new stuff in my car... NO! I2004, when I was in my late 18s still, I felt that I
just enjoyed business and wanted to try itwas making so much profits that I wanted to
out..Business was more like a HOBBY to me... Untilgive back to others the blessings I received.. It
now, it is still something I enjoy doing.. people thatwas Christmas, and I made a gift to more than
love basketball love to play basketball -- they look20 people.. I wrote them each a check of $100
forward to play everyday and enjoy it... I loveeach as Christmas gifts... I wanted to prove to
business, so I love to work and do business -- Itsmyself as a non-greedy person, and show to
something I look forward also doing everyday!Untilothers that I am not selfish... These people include
now, even my real estate investment, evenmy close friends, relatives, employees, and even
although there are problems and I am spendingthe mailmen that I see every other day.I wouldn't
more than how much I expected to earn, alsogive them all, but many times that I donated to
including the problems I had with my contractornon-profits, to foundations... I don't think I even
that I had to switch contractors, I was a big painremember half of them..I remember the day
in the ass for me... Even marketing and dealingwhen I bought my car, the Evo, that was Feb of
with unhappy tenants that I have been promising2005. one of my close friend's mom was in
their move in date to be last June 1, then June 12,financial problems.. She was low on cash, and had
then now July 1, I have been embarrassed ofbills to pay... As being a person that is successful
myself.. but all of these challenges I ENJOY! theyand just bought a car, I personally went to her
make me a better person... I love challenges, andhouse and offered her a check to help her with
overcoming them is an obstacle... Its like playing aher finances... I wont say the exact amount, but
game, to beat the enemy.. The enemy which isits around $500.That week also when I bought
the problem or the challenge..With money, duringthe Evo, I had it blessed by our parish priest, then
my earlier years, before I was successful at theafter blessing the car, I told our priest, that I
age of my late 18s, I knew how to spendhave been so successful lately with business, that
money.. Spend it very wisely.. Well yes, my momI was able to buy my own car myself. but I also
isn't selfish with money, that whatever I want,thank God for the blessings, and if I am able to
she will give me.. When we bought a car when webuy my own car, I should also be able to donate
first went to the US, I wanted just a normal usedto the church. I gave him a check for the church...
corolla, maybe something we can buy for $5,000Amount is around the same amount as above..I
and get us to places... I wanted to start with thatfeel so nice of myself, that I can also share Gods
car, and to spend money on more importantblessings to others.Most recent one was just
things... my mom said no, lets get a better caryesterday. my friend Melissa from Gawad Kalinga,
than that... I still insisted on just getting a cheapto keep it short, I made a donation for the tuition
reliable car... Well we ended up deciding to get afee of teenagers that cannot afford their college
brand new car that will last, at the decision of mytuition, since school is starting about now.. there
mom..Well I said that lets just go for a brand newwere about 15 teenagers that we sponsored, I
civic... Its one of the most reliable cars, and one ofgave about 1/3 of the total sponsorship needed. I
the best buys at the lowest price... Its verywont say the exact amount.I have been
practical.. I suggested that... well when we were atindependent with my spending... I focus more on
the Honda shop, my uncle was insisting that I justwhat I earn rather on how much I save... If I
get a Mercedes Benz, and my mom was alsoneeded more money, then I would work more
agreeing with him.. A Benz would just be aroundand thus earn more... most people SAVE MONEY
$5,000 more than the civic.. my mom kept onto have more money... I EARN more money if I
asking me if I should just get the civic, or maybeneed more..Just a while ago my mom was
I wanted a Benz instead? I said, lets just stayoffering me money because she wanted to pay
with the civic... Although if I wanted the Benz, wefor my tuition fee (I am taking a class at Ateneo).
could of got that instead...That's how I look onTuition is 23,000 pesos, she said she wants to
money before...There were times that my friendspay for it instead of me, but I rejected it and I
go to Starbucks, and I don't even buy anything,just paid it myself... I know I have money, and I
but I REALLY was craving for some iced frap...could afford it.. Even the seminars that I attend...
But I stopped myself...I was a very wise personBut I very very VERY appreciate her offer to
with money before. I really didn't spend toome, that education is something that she wants
much... All I spent was on was just cheap fastto offer to me from her end... It was touching on
food and gas... Maybe $100 should last me about 3what she did.Chris Angeles is a young
weeks (not including gas)... I obviously didn't haveentrepreneur, very young one at the age of 20.
a job that time..I was planning of taking out someHe learns more from experiences in the business
friends of mine to a date before, but I have beenworld and making mistakes rather than from
holding back, to the fact that I don't want to paylearning everything from school and entering the
for their food.. As I know that the money ill becorporate world. Well he has been doing real
spending will be coming from mommy.. I wasestate lately, specifically investing in an apartment
actually even thinking of asking my friend if webuilding. He DOES beleive in education, and attends
can have separate bills if I were to take herseveral seminars, entrepreneurial groups,
out..Small gambling, as some of my friends domeetings, cashflow events, etc., and he reads a
(just small stakes), I have been always avoiding... Ilot of books in personal development and
rarely gambled, and each time I lose, I felt VERYentrepreneurship.
BAD deep inside, because I know that money