FCM Volume2 Issue4 by Filipino Canadian Magazine

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 4 | 2017 |

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| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 4 | 2017 |

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| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 4 | 2017 |

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| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 4 | 2017 |

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| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 4 | 2017 |

Message from FCM

HOW TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS By Abel Pagaling

People, myself included, wrestled with this question over and over again in the hope that they’ll find their path to success. What makes this difficult to answer is that for most people, success is not clearly defined. Many of us don’t know what success looks like in our lives. Is it a million dollars? Fifty million? A big house? A successful business? What is it? I’ve spent the last 15 years of my life in the corporate world helping professionals around me. My success was tied on how successful I supported my colleagues. Ultimately, their success is my success. The great thing about the corporate world is that in our little sandbox, we can “define” what success looks like. We have projects that require “deliverables,” and we can “plan” our steps on how to complete these deliverables. Success means completing our project and meeting the expectations of our clients. This is an oversimplification of my experience in the corporate world. The point is that there are fundamental components of success. In my experience, both as a professional and in working with inspirational individuals in the FilCan community, I observed that success has four key elements. Here they are: SUCCESS STARTS WITH A VISION. I don’t believe in luck, but I do believe that there are people who are lucky. These are the people who, when presented with an opportunity, SEES THE VISION in the opportunity and does something about it. When their action turns their vision of the opportunity into reality, then they are lucky. If there’s one common trait of the people you look up to as successful, it is that they have a vision of what they want to achieve and they worked towards it. The Bible says, “Without vision, people perish.” This is true for nations as it is for individuals. If you want to be successful, have a clear picture of what your success looks like. Create a blueprint for it in the same way you would create a plan for a house before you start building. Hard work alone will not guarantee success. There are a

lot of hardworking folks who are not successful. But hard work towards the attainment of a DEFINED VISION will give you a much better chance of success.

group. Again, look closely at successful people, and one thing is clear, they didn’t achieve their success alone. And the bigger your vision, the more people you need to achieve it.

SUCCESS IS A DAILY DISCIPLINE. A vision and a plan alone will not bring success. You have to work on it. The bigger your vision is, the more work it is going to take. This requires personal discipline. For example, say you want to lose 30 pounds by the end of the year. What sort of daily discipline do you need to put yourself into to achieve this? Or say you want to become a manager in two years. How are you preparing for this role? In the case of losing weight, are you carving out time to prepare proper meals, go to the gym, or play team sports? And in becoming a manager, are you networking with other managers? Are you reading up on management best practices?

My principal task as a CERTIFIED LIFE COACH is to help people get to the NEXT LEVEL. I help people reach their goals because I understand that not everyone can do it on their own. Nor should you do it all on your own. When it comes to important goals, two brains are most certainly better than one. Henry Ford said, “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”

The advice I give to people is that success doesn’t come to you. You have to go to it. And you get there through the daily discipline you put in place.

On behalf of FCM, we wish you success. Enjoy our magazine!

SUCCESS IS BUILT ON BELIEF. The Master said, “If you have faith like a mustard seed, you can move mountains.” Great men have successfully moved mountains because of their unshakable belief. This is no different for you and me.

As you read this issue, observe the principles of success shared by our contributors. Like a carpenter in search of better tools, look for insights that you can take with you as you build your own success.

Abel Pagaling Certified Life Federation

Coach,

Canadian

Coaches

CEO - FICA Media Inc. Founder – NEXT LEVEL COACH

If you don’t believe that you can achieve what you want to achieve, then you are right, and you are never going to achieve it. But if you believe you can achieve your goals, be willing to do what it takes to get there, then you are also right. I know because if you look around you, every business, automobiles, product, or building that are standing can be traced back to a person who believed that such things are achievable. If you think a college dropout can’t control a half-a-trillion dollars corporation, read up on Steve Jobs and Apple. If you think a school nerd can’t change our social interactions, read up on Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook. These individuals started with an unshakable belief that they can move mountains. SUCCESS CANNOT BE ACHIEVED ALONE. Your abilities, education, and much of what you’ve learned came from someone else. Your teachers taught you to read and do math. Your colleagues or your manager trained you in your current role. The rules and regulations we work with are created by an individual or a

Photo: Profolio Photography

s I build my “Life Coach – Personal, Professional, and Business Coaching” practice, one of the questions I’m sure I will encounter from my clients is - “Why is it that some people become very successful while I live a life of struggle?”

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 4 | 2017 |

FCM THE TEAM

FCM – Filipino Canadian Magazine PUBLISHED BY | FICA Media Inc. EDITOR | Abel Pagaling EDITOR | Roselle Pangilinan CO-EDITOR | Annabelle Cayetano Pagaling MAGAZINE DESIGNER | Eric Cordero COVER FEATURE DESIGNER | Armand Flores PHOTOGRAPHY PARTNER | PROFOLIO PHOTOGRAPHY www.profoliophotography.com CONTRIBUTORS FOR THIS ISSUE | Jason Comandante, Tim Kwan, Joy Castro Daniels, Jacelyn Olandesca, Queeny Alfetche, Jesse Carnecer, Marvin Casiano, Rolando Perdonio, Jesus Flores Jr., Ponciano Raguindin, Elli Mae Padillo, Ely Rowen Salar, Sarah Kirkpatrick, Abel Pagaling, Limuel Vilela FCM YOUTH COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR | Nicole San Gabriel FCM FITNESS AMBASSADOR | Queeny Alfetche FCM CALGARY AMBASSADOR | Madeahl Yamyamin FCM GLOBAL COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR | Limuel Vilela Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in FCM are not necessarily the views of the publisher. To submit an article to FCM, Email: info@filcanmagazine.com. Submissions will be considered.

FCM Distributors:

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FICA MEDIA INC. Suite 300, 160 Quarry Park Blvd SE Calgary, Alberta T2C 3G3 Toll free: 1-888-844-1633 filcanmagazine.com info@filcanmagazine.com Facebook: facebook/filcanmagazine Twitter: @filcanmagazine Instagram: @filcanmagazine CEO | Abel Pagaling COO | Eric Cordero EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR | Vicky Cordero SOCIAL MEDIA ADMISTRATOR | Annabelle Pagaling FINANCE DIRECTOR | Juvanie Cabbab Bowen BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TEAM | Brent Anotado, Hanes Anotado , Armand Flores, Ning Becada Vicky Cordero, Flory Daloos, Marietta Pangan, Allan Sergio Isidoro, Madeahl Yamyamin, Kathy Arellano, Catherine Diaz, Nora Ragadio FCM Marketing Director | Armand Flores ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Phone: 1-888-844-1633 advertise@filcanmagazine.com SUBSCRIPTIONS To subscribe, email: info@filcanmagazine.com 1 year: $38.50 (GST not included) Written consent must be obtained from the publisher to reproduce any of the contents.

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 4 | 2017 |

CONTENTS Volume 2 Issue #4 2017

From Cavite to Calgary: A Comandante Story Jason Comandante

28 14

Chefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Corner

Pastry Delight Chef Ely Rowen Salar

20 Cover Story Canadian Success Mr. Jim Jiwani

A Recipe For Making Dreams A Reality Joy Castro Daniels

Making Health The Foundation Of A Successful Life (Part 1) Marvin Casiano

Tips For Small Business Accounting Tim Kwan

5 Tips To Get Back On Track Jacelyn Olandesca

Message from FCM

Fusion Living Founders

How to Achieve Success Abel Pagaling

35 36 37 38

Jesus Arce Flores Jr. Ponciano Raguindin Rolando Perdonio Elli Mae Padillo

FCM Business Insights With Sarah Kirkpatrick

From an OFW to New York Fashion Model Limuel Vilela

4 Steps To Build A Strong Family Relationship Jesse Carnecer

Fitness Minute With FCM Fitness Ambassador Queeny Alfetche

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 4 | 2017 |

FROM OFW TO NEW YORK FASHION MODEL

A FILCAN’S STORY OF PASSION, DETERMINATION, AND HOPE! - Limuel Vilela

Photo by Profolio Photography

s I wait for the next flight, I look back at how my journey from an OFW – Overseas Foreign Worker, to a New York fashion model took place. It seems like a fantasy.

When I was young, my family was very poor. I knew that the only way to change my status in life was to leave my country and take a gamble in another country. The kind of job didn’t matter as long as it is legal and pays a good salary so that I can build a better future for myself. I knew then that going to a different country is what will change my life and my family’s life. It’s difficult to accept this but it’s a fact. After I had graduated from university in the Philippines, I was accepted as a manager in a fast-food restaurant. I work for two years. Then I realized I’m just working to survive and to get by each day. I lived paycheck to paycheck. What if something happens that I don’t expect such as getting sick or losing a job. I knew something had to change. An agency found me a job in the UK, but I needed to pay a placement fee of three hundred thousand pesos. I only had 15 thousand pesos in my bank account. I borrowed money from people, but many turned me down. Maybe

because they couldn’t accept the opportunity I have to change my life. Or maybe it was the Filipino “crab mentality.” Just to be able to leave the country, I went to a “5 – 6” lending business – that’s when you borrow five hundred, you have to pay six hundred after a week. For many Filipinos I know, this is one way to meet their needs, but they pay a very high price for it. I am very thankful to the people who supported my financial needs and trusted me. With determination and braveness, I left the Philippines and headed for the UK as a fastfood helper. I was in my early twenties. I worked very hard to pay off my debts and to show to people back in the Philippines that leaving the country was the right choice. However, I felt I was looked down upon because I was doing a job that three people would be doing. While in the U.K. I was lonely. It was difficult, and at many times I felt depressed. However, I didn’t dwell on that. What’s important was to work hard to achieve my dreams for my family and me. There were times where I just surrendered and all I could do was pray. The only motivation I had was my family and my dream.

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 4 | 2017 |

My life consists of going to work then back to my apartment. There were times when I was alone that tears would just flow out from my eyes. On those times, I wish my family called me. I know there are a lot of OFW’s who are remembered by their family only when they need money or when there’s a problem. Many families back home think that OFW’s pick-up money from the streets. They believe that it’s easy to earn money. When I ended my two years contract, I had become a supervisor. However, my job renewal was denied. But what’s important was that I was able to give my father a “Jeepney” so he could earn money, and I was able to put my sister, Mary Grace, to school. As I expected, some of my “kababayans” encourage me to stay in the UK illegally. But I decided to go back to the Philippines to start all over again. I had some savings for my daily needs. After several months in the province, many asked why I haven’t left. I felt like a failure. I could hear people saying, “That’s what happens when you’re too ambitious.” While I waited for the next opportunity, I work on my body. I went to the gym and got into shape.

I applied again to go to the UK but I was denied. I was restless because I wasn’t making as much money and I couldn’t help my family. Then someone saw me and suggested I should be a model. I thought to myself this is an opportunity to bring back some self-respect. I pursued it and went to a national modeling contest. I didn’t win, but I was discovered by a person who was working at a television network and told me to apply at the network. The job was to be a “tour guide” for the network.

two times. But I persisted. I came back the third time to get a spot in his collection. He said, “Don’t come back. It’s my final decision. No.” I was hurt.

I was told during the interview that I was over qualified. I said, “To serve people, there’s no qualification as long as you know how to go above and beyond when serving customers.” I was hired, and I worked at the network for two years, working at different shows.

After the show, on the fashion blog, they said that one of the models that stood out was me. I showed my pictures of the show to the designer. He said he felt sorry for turning me down earlier and that he learned a lot from me.

My friend in Canada, who I worked with in the UK told me to go to Canada. He said he would help me financially because I helped him before. My family didn’t know that I applied to go to Canada. I went to Canada with very little expectation. After my UK experience, I didn’t want to put too much hope that I could stay. I thought to myself that this is my last chance. When I arrived, I experienced firsthand how it’s like to be an OFW. Two or three-hour bus rides in freezing weather. It was lonely, and many days, I was sad.

Luckily, I met with Miss Tourism USA. I asked her, “Can you help me out?” Sometimes when you can’t do it on your own, you need to call on someone to help you. She helped convince the designer to give me a chance to wear his collection and be on the runway.

I learned that day that even if you’re discouraged and have been turned down several times, you just need to be courageous and keep trying. Now I’m very close with the designer, and he’s helped me to connect with other designers. This paved the way for other opportunities to be on the runway. Fashion is about life. It’s always changing. It’s always adapting. It’s always moving forward. My advice to my fellow Filipinos:

Every day, the routine was going to work, go home, sleep, and the same thing again the next day. There’s no expectation of becoming someone or achieving something significant.

If others reject you for the first, second, third, and fourth times, remember you are inspiring the person who is rejecting you not to give up. You have your own challenges and runway in life. Be prepared and be fearless.

I thought about how to break out of my situation. I stayed extra hours without pay to learn as much as I can about the company I work for so I can become a manager. I learned every part of the business, including becoming a manager until the manager trusted me with the restaurant. After that. I was promoted to a supervisor, then to an assistant manager, and then to general manager.

Limuel Vilela New York fashion model GLOBAL COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR, FCM

My hard work paid off. I was given an award as number one general manager in Canada by the fast-food chain. I always led with my heart. I said if I want to become a successful manager, I had to have a multicultural mindset. This was embraced by my staff. I wanted to challenge myself and decided to follow my dream- to be in the airline industry. My dream was to become a flight attendant. In my interview as a flight attendant, I said I would bring a bucket of KFC to the job – Knowledge, Faith and Confidence. WestJet hired me. I felt proud for obtaining my dream job. Then I said I wanted to be a part of the Filipino-Canadian community and represent it a good way. I joined a local male pageant contest. I was appointed Mr. Philippines Alberta 2015, then Mr. Philippines Canada 2015 (I won the title in Toronto), then I was Mr. Pacific World Philippines 2016 representative, and then Mr. Copper World 2016 in Peru. This led to a community award as the Most Beautiful Filipino in Canada 2016. I was given the Most Outstanding Pinoy as Ambassador of Goodwill. I want to use my awards to inspire people. I was bullied when I was young because I was skinny. I was looked down on. I want to use my influence in the community to give hope back to others who are experiencing hard times. I also want to represent my country proudly.

Photo by Profolio Photography

Now, I shifted my focus on modeling. I want to work with fashion designers to showcase their masterpiece. I was given an opportunity to model and be on the runway in New York in 2015 by John Ablaza. He is an international designer who is a Filipino. He helps a lot of people in the Philippines. He inspired me, and I wanted to work with him. Being a model is not easy. As a model, I was given a spotlight and acknowledgment. I was able to connect with different designers, and they got to know me. In February this year, I was given an opportunity to be on a runway in New York for the New York fashion week. But this opportunity did not come easy. I had to fight for it. One particular designer turned me down | FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 4 | 2017 |

CHEF’S CORNER PASTRY DELIGHT With Chef Ely Rowen Salar

reat pastry doesn’t just happen. It a result of creativity, hardwork, dedication, and passion.

When you have a good cake, a delightful dessert, or an amazing halo-halo, remember that there’s a person who made your food experience possible. We caught up with an award winning chef to give us insight on how he became a great pastry chef.

CHEF’S CORNER – PASTRY DELIGHT With Chef Ely Rowen Salar Head Pastry Chef for Delta Hotels by Marriott at Kananaskis Lodge

When did you start as a baker? I started baking since I was 13 years old in our family owned bakeshop back in the Philippines. I was working in our bakeshop after school and during summer. This is where I developed my interest and passion for baking.

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 4 | 2017 |

Photo: Profolio Photography

Why did you pursue this career instead of the traditional professions like nursing, engineering, etc.? Growing up, I've always been interested in baking and cooking. I always enjoyed cooking with my siblings. We also had a small catering business, and my dad would let me do some of the cooking. After I had graduated from college, I started working in different hotels and restaurants in various countries as food and beverage server, supervisor and eventually a manager. I didn't enjoy it as much as working in the kitchen. I get to be more creative and express myself through pastry and culinary arts.

What makes your work unique? I get to turn simple ingredients like chocolate and sugar into a piece of art.

Photos: Profolio Photography

Where do you get your inspiration for your creations? I usually do some research, and I follow some famous chefs on social media. Some of my creations are also inspired by where I came from (Philippines). Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve started recreating some traditional Filipino desserts. I also found inspiration from my travels.

Who inspires you personally and as a chef? My family, especially my parents. We always love food, and we've been in the food business since I was a kid. We had some ups and downs just like other businesses. I've been working hard because I wanted to be successful in what I do and share it with my family. My brother is also a baker, and he is currently running a cake and pastry business in the Philippines. His creations inspire me a lot.

What's the most important characteristic of being an award winning chef?

What's your message to aspiring chefs?

I couldn't really say I'm an award-winning chef because I am not there yet and I still have a long way to go and a lot more to learn. I think it is important to try to improve and be better at what you do every day. It's continues learning and always try to push yourself.

What's the hardest part of becoming a great chef? It's the pressure and stress in the kitchen to deliver a good product and to be consistent. It involves longs hours and a lot of thinking to be creative.

Follow your passion. You can be anyone if you dedicate yourself to it. It's all hard work, and you have to be obsessed at what you do. No one is born a great chef. You have to work for it. --------------Ely Rowen Salar Company: Delta Hotels by Marriott at Kananaskis Lodge Job Title: Head Pastry Chef Awards: 1.Won People Choice award at the Calgary Sugarcraft Cake competition 2015 2. Second Place for Contemporary Cake Category at the Calgary sugarcraft cake competition 2015 3. Winner of the Chocolate Showpiece Competition at the Pastry Chef showcase competition 2016

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 4 | 2017 |

A RECIPE FOR MAKING DREAMS A REALITY By Joy Castro Daniels

he kids were coming down the slide one after the other and racing up the steps to do it again. They were all laughing and smiling. One boy came down the slide upside down. “The creativity has already started,” I said to my best friend, Isla Ferrier. She gave me a hug and we both had tears in our eyes. We’ve just accomplished a life-long dream of mine to build a playground in the Philippines. It all started 20 years ago while visiting my parents’ village of Saysain in the province of Bataan. I remember walking back from the beach and thinking about a project. I knew I wanted to contribute to the community in some way. I consider myself very fortunate to be born in Canada. Giving back just seemed like a good way to honor my parents and their tireless commitment to provide a life of opportunity for their family. My mom immigrated to northern Alberta in 1974 as a nurse. She was the first person to leave the village to work abroad, besides three men who were recruited by the US Navy. My father joined her the next year, and from then on they built a life and a family in Canada. Growing up in a small town, we always had a Filipino community around us. We were always surrounded by Filipino families, food,

and laughter. We traveled back to my parents’ village in the Philippines every three years. I watched my parents help so many people there and upgrade the community, the school, and the church. I began to realize that this is what life is all about: helping other people! I want to teach my three kids to live a life of contribution, just as my parents have taught me to do. Near my home in Canada we have four parks that are within walking distance. I am in awe of how children play. Playgrounds are important not only for their physical development but also their mental and social development. Playgrounds represent creativity, confidence, and community. It occurred to me that this could be how I contribute to my parents’ village! I could build a playground for the children of Saysain. But how? I shared my dream of building a playground with one of my mentors. She helped me get clear on how to achieve not just this dream, but any dream, no matter how big or daunting it may seem. The first step for making your dream a reality is to get crystal clear on what you want. After some research, I determined our project would cost $20,000. Now there was a goal to work towards.

| FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 4 | 2017 |

“I wanted to contribute to the community in some way. I consider myself very fortunate to be born in Canada. Giving back just seemed like a good way to honor my parents and their tireless commitment to provide a life of opportunity for their family.”

The second step is to share your dream with others. Share your dream with other people and find other people who will help you. I shared my dream of building a playground with one of my friends, Erin Krause. She just shrugged her shoulders as if to say, “That’s easy!” Erin works with Emmanuel Foundation, which sends refurbished playgrounds from Calgary to third-world countries. She said she can help me build a playground in the Philippines. All of a sudden, what first seemed daunting and impossible was set in motion with the first person I talked to. The second person I told about my goal was my best friend, Isla. She asked how she could support me and I asked her if she wanted to come to the Philippines with us. I have always been proud of my Filipino heritage and I love sharing it with others. As other people offer their time and talents and resources, you start to believe you can do it. The third step to making your dream a reality is to commit to it. Very early into the project, without knowing all the details, we picked a date and paid for our flights.

that reality will set in, but I have a feeling that the saying "It is not the destination but the journey that matters" will apply. The most important thing after you complete a dream is to set a new goal. As my friend and mentor, Alan Nagao, says, "Go from mountain top to mountain top." Remember that the valleys and who you become along the way are all part of the journey. The ingredients for making your dreams a reality are simple: get clear on your dreams, share them with other people, and make a commitment. You may not know how at first, but if you get to work, the universe will conspire to help you. I am so grateful for my parents who taught me the importance of helping others. I am also so grateful for my friends who helped this dream become a reality. The most important part about this playground is that we want to inspire children to have dreams. If we dream big, anything can be accomplished.

Step number four is to help others. Help enough people accomplish their dreams, and you will accomplish your dreams. This was the secret that enabled us to host a fundraiser concert to fund our project. The fifth step is to surround yourself with other people who dream big. I have many mentors in my life who have gone before me and I receive a lot of support and encouragement from many people who inspire me. Now the playground is finished. I am glad that I didn't let fear of failure stop me from sharing my dream. I didn't know how this project would come together but I just took steps one at a time until the next step became clear. Most of all I am grateful for the amazing people in my life that kept saying yes to the project, and I am happy watching the kids play. I don't think that the reality of accomplishing my dream from 20 years back has set in yet. Thankfully we have a lot of videos that we will use to document this adventure. I am hoping that as I watch these videos

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FCM Business Insights

with Sarah Kirkpatrick

Photo by ARMAND FLORES of Profolio Photography Makeup by: Nikki Cook - Evanescents - @weddingsbyevanescents

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Hair By: Kirsty Duckett - Kirsteclipse - @kirsteclipse_yyc

arah is a social media manager, copywriter, public speaker, and owner of Jumping Elephant – groundbreaking advertising, www.jumpingelephant.guru.

FCM sat down with Sarah to get her insights on business and entrepreneurship. Here are her thoughts: Why become a business owner? Freedom. I like to travel a lot and sleep-in sometimes. With creative industry, you can’t be forced to work in certain parameters. You’re creative when you’re creative. Sometimes you have to go to a movie then come back and work late at night when the creative juices are flowing. My mom was an entrepreneur. I saw how much freedom she had. I like the idea that when you put in a lot of effort, you reap the benefits rather than someone else reaping them. What are some of the challenges on starting your own business? You don’t really realize when you’re working for someone else how hard it is to find clients. It’s easy to do content writing. That comes in naturally. But when it’s your own business, you have to take on all the admin roles, finding clients, and do customer service. You do roles you never expected. I can’t just show up and get a paycheck. If I don’t find clients, I’m not getting paid.

whether in Facebook or Instagram, or print advertising, it’s staying on top of that and following up with clients. Don’t be afraid to go out and say let’s go meet. You can exchange a lot of email and it might not go anywhere. You have to actually have that coffee and sit down with them. It’s not a waste of time. Some people have cut down on that but I find meeting people very valuable. How important is social media and where do you see it going? It’s already in a transition. People don’t like getting sold to. They automatically have their guards up when they know it’s an ad. So we’re transitioning into communicating and offering advice. A lot of my clients before they hire me, their page is always on “sale, sale, and sale”. I had to remind them to offer free advice and give interesting information. It’s about being everything to them. You’re not just selling to them. You’re offering advice to them so that you build trust. And later down the road when they think about the product you’re selling, you’re the first one to come to mind. Because they’ve already seen you online a lot and they trust you because you offered good info so you must be knowledgeable. It’s a long term marketing process. And if you don’t have a website nowadays you don’t seem like a real company. So website is very important. -FCM

Do you have staff? I have two contractors that work for me. I have one writer and a strategist. What’s the inspiration behind Jumping Elephants? I’ve always had this infatuation with elephants. They’re the most amazing animals. I wanted to incorporate that. It’s a fact that elephants can’t jump so I thought that’ll be ground-breaking. And I like puns so I thought of Jumping Elephants. How’s your business doing? Really well. Strategy is picking up a lot. I used to only do content creation – running everything for people, but with the recession, people didn’t have money to hire me full-time for that. So I started putting seminars to teach them how to do it themselves. Then I offer strategies and consulting. Now I have a more full-rounded company and I can offer multiple budgets. It’s more fun. I love doing public speaking and doing the seminars and getting out of my home once in a while.

Photo by Profolio Photography

As a woman, is it difficult to be in business? I don’t know if it matters too much. There’s some snags still. You never know if someone who is asking you for a coffee actually wants to do business with you or go on a date. You have to be really clear more so than men would have to be. So there are a few snags but I don’t think it’s more difficult for a women to start a business than men. You just go for your talents and what makes you happy and you’ll be successful in it. What are the top things you need to do to run a successful consulting business? It’s different with everyone. I have an open profile and I welcome people to communicate with me and I offer tips. A lot of my time is spent on Facebook messages, and always putting content out to remind people about social media. So whatever your advertising is,

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CANADIAN SUCCESS

JIM JIWANI Photo by Armand Flores of Profolio Photography

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Canadian Success

An Interview with JIM JIWANI By Abel Pagaling

nless you’re born into a wealthy or successful family, success doesn’t just happen. For the majority us, success is something we need to attain and work very hard to get to. Such is the story of Mr. Jim Jiwani. Jim is the Dealer Principal of several very successful dealerships in Alberta, including Calgary’s Country Hills Toyota and Edmonton’s Lexus South Pointe. Aside from the dealerships, he manages businesses in the hotel and car parking industry. It’s easy to marvel at successful people, particularly immigrants, and admire what they’ve accomplished. They’ve done

Photo by Profolio Photography

something many of us who come to Canada want to achieve – reach the top. We look at the business or companies they run and hope that one day we’ll have the same success. I was given an opportunity to interview Jim at his Country Hills Toyota dealership. It was an honor to hear his story firsthand. Jim was born in Uganda, East Africa. His parents immigrated to Uganda from India. In 1971, he finished high-school. He wanted to be in the British Royal Airforce and become an aeronautical engineer. He had an option to go to a university in India or take a chance and go to England for the Royal Airforce. “I bought a one-way ticket to go to England,”

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said Jim. “Then I had to figure out how to join the airforce.” But Jim wasn’t able to get into the Royal Airforce because he was not a British citizen even though Uganda, where he came from, was part of the British colony. Jim pursued his other interest – to be a mechanic. He studied during the day, and in the evening, he worked to put himself through college and pay for his fees. “I worked in a chicken factory, cutting chickens at night. I also worked in big laundromats for hotels and airlines,” said Jim. “I worked Friday nights and all nights because you get paid time and a half for overtime. I worked the weekends as well to make ends meet.”

apprenticeship, he asked the shop if he could work free. He got the job and was paid the miminum wage. That was the starting point of his career in the auto industry. In 1974, Jim immigrated to Canada, landing a job in Vancouver at a FIAT dealership. It was a gas station that was converted as a dealership. “There were only three service bays,” said Jim, “I was the fourth guy. So guess where I had to work? I had to work outside with the jack and worked in the rain some days. I did that for about the year.”

“I had to sell my house and cashed out my RRSPs,” said Jim. “I had some bonds for the kids. I cashed that out. I borrowed money from friends and family, and I even took my dad’s car and refinanced it so I could get some money out of it. I went all in and took the risk.”

Jim and his brother-in-law took over the dealership in 1991. “We did very well,” said Jim. “We did so well in T&T Honda. It was the #1 import store in Canada.”

At a Winnipeg Honda dealership, Jim worked as a technician. Through hard work and dedication to his job, he became a shop foreman, then a service manager in the span of 3 years.

One of Jim’s part-time job was looking after a swimming pool that had a café. When one of the owners of the pool asked why he works so hard, Jim said, “You pay me, so I have to work. And I need to grow. If I don’t work hard, I won’t have any growth.” While in college, Jim looked for a job in the auto industry but he couldn’t land a job because, “I was immigrant with no previous experience,” said Jim. But he didn’t give up easily. To get his

Jim soon found that financing was a big hurdle he had to overcome to be able to acquire the dealership. “Who was going to finance us, two young guys?” recalled Jim. They got their break when a venture capital company invested in them. But Jim and his brother-in-law had to come up with their share of financing. “I had to sell my house and cashed out my RRSPs,” said Jim. “I had some bonds for the kids. I cashed that out. I borrowed money from friends and family, and I even took my dad’s car and refinanced it so I could get some money out of it. I went all in and took the risk.”

After FIAT, Jim moved to a Honda dealership in Abbotsford where the working conditions were better. But times were tough back then. Getting ahead was tough. Jim decided to move to Winnipeg and join his family who already immigrated to Canada ahead of him back in 1972.

Jim recalled how some days he couldn’t afford to eat lunch, and he only had a meal a day. There were days when he couldn’t afford to take the bus, so he had to walk to where he needed to get to. “That’s how I put myself through college,” said Jim.

or not,” said Jim. “The new owners could have their own team that they’re bringing.” When the third time the dealership was put on sale, Jim made a bold move along with his brother-in-law (who also worked at the dealership) to buy the dealership. “We knew the store fairly well,” said Jim. “We know what the pros and cons were. We knew what needed attention.”

It was in Winnipeg where Jim met his wife. “Winnipeg is one of those places where winters were tough,” said Jim. “Three years were too many years in Winnipeg, but the good thing is I met my wife and got married.” In 1979, Jim decided to move to Calgary. He tried to get a service manager position at a Honda dealership, but they didn’t have an opening. He took a job as a foreman instead. Jim’s work ethic would not go unnoticed. From foreman, he moved up to a service manager, then to a general manager position. Jim worked at the dealership from 1979 to 1991. During that time, there were two changes in ownership. “Every time there’s a change in ownership, you don’t know if you have a job

It wasn’t long before Toyota took notice. In 1993, Jim was approached by Toyota. “One day I got a call from them to consider buying a Toyota dealership in Edmonton,” said Jim. At that time, there was little interest to go to Edmonton, but Toyota would not take no for an answer. “They invited us for golf and convinced us to take a look at the Edmonton store. I went and took a look. It was in a good location, and it had good product and thought we should consider.” When Jim took over the store, it wasn’t performing well. “But in the first month, we made it into the number one store in the zone in the prairie province. We had put in the right people,” said Jim. But the success of the dealership meant personal sacrifice for Jim. His family was in Calgary. “The first six months, I drove to Edmonton every Monday morning, then came back Saturday,” said Jim. “I spent time with my Family on Sundays.” Given Jim and his brother-in-law’s success, they looked at expanding some more. They decided to split up so they could grow independently. “I kept the T&T Honda store, and I took over the High River Stores, and Mayfield,” said Jim. “We did so well in the Mayfied store. In the first year we were number one.”

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Calgary airport. We did that with partnerships with different people. And also the Park-to-Go parking in Calgary. And we recently started a Park-to-Go in Edmonton as well.” Listening to Jim, I’m amazed at what he’s accomplished, not just for himself but also for the hundreds of people that have jobs in all his businesses. These are people with families and kids who have to pay for their mortgages and send their kids to school. “This is my passion,” said Jim. “This is what I enjoy. There’s never a dull moment within the business. And every day that I come, I enjoy what I’m doing.” Asked if he would consider slowing down, Jim said, “Slow down and do what? I’m doing what I enjoy. Why would I want to give that up? This is what I enjoy and that’s why I push every single day.”

Photo by Profolio Photography

Jim is also a big supporter of communities and charities. “The big one we support is the Aga Khan Foundation,” said Jim. “It’s a non-profit organization that works towards eliminating poverty. They work in all parts of the world. They build schools, hospitals, and universities.”

Jim sold the High River Toyota to a manager and a CFO who was working with him. That allowed him to build the Country Hills Toyota store in Calgary. From day one, Country Hills Toyota became the number one store in the Calgary market. With a successful management of his existing dealerships, Jim acquired two more – South Pointe Toyota and a Lexus South Pointe. “In our first year in South Point, it was number 2 store in Calgary after Country Hills. In the Prairie zone, we were number 1, 2, and 3. Mayfield is #1, Country Hills #2, and South Point is #3.” Jim smiles as he talks about Lexus South Pointe in Edmonton. “It’s one of the nicest dealerships in North America. When we opened the

store, the target was about 380 units. In our first year we did 840 units. Edmonton is the only place in Canada where Lexus is the number one in the Luxury market.” Jim’s success with Toyota caught another manufacturer’s attention. “Nissan approached us and said ‘we’d like to like to partner with you,’” said Jim. “We had the opportunity to buy an existing store in Oakville – Nissan and Infinity stores. So now we have a Nissan and Infinity store. We’re looking to double the numbers they are doing currently. We’re hoping to take another store in Woodbine.” While acquiring and managing dealerships, Jim also worked on other business ventures. “We ventured out in the hotel business, which is the Hamptons and Homewood suites by the

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When asked what it takes to become a successful business owner, “Definitely you have to do your homework,” said Jim. “Understand the business and look at what the public requirements are. And you also need passion. If you don’t have passion towards your business it becomes very difficult. You tend to give up much quicker. But if you have the passion and enjoy what you do. Then the drive will always be there to do better with it.” On what makes a successful business, Jim says products could be the same, and location might be an advantage, but people is what makes the big difference. “Having the right individuals working with you with the right understanding of our vision,” said Jim. “You want to provide to your staff and your customers something you would want as well.” According to Jim, one of the most important skills to have in business is to get along well with people. “There are a lot of different personalities you need to work with,” said Jim. “Treat people fairly. Be ethical and be honest in what you do. Provide the service and the environment you want to receive.” In being a leader, Jim had this to say. “We’re all in the same business with different duties. If I ask someone to clean a car, I shouldn’t be scared to do the same thing as well. Understand the business inside out. Understand the requirements of the business and you become more part of the team.”

4 STEPS TO BUILD

A STRONG FAMILY RELATIONSHIP By Jessse Carnecer

n the movie Gladiator, Maximus the Gladiator played by Russel Crowe said, “My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions and loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius, father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife . . .” As we can see, Maximus identified himself through his relationship with his son and his wife. If you were him, would you have also identified yourselfthrough your family relationships or through other affiliations such as your job or social status?

What is a family? • • • • • •

•

It is a picture of a mother cooking dinner for her loved ones. It is through them that our character is molded and shaped. It is through them that we learn that we are loved and cared for. It is through them that we learn how to forgive one another. It is through them that we learn about God and what it means to obey and love Him. It is through them that we learn to share and live unselfishly. When we have been wounded by the world, our family surrounds us and comforts us.

When you ask someone about who they are, they may tell you something about the kind of job they have. Although this tells us what they do for a living, it does not answer the question of who they are.

•

But what is a family anyway?

And that is the reason why we need to build a strong family relationship.

It is important for us to define the word family so we know what kind of a relationship we are talking about. • • • • •

Charles Manson called his gang his family. The Pittsburgh Pirates call themselves a family. Members of the Mafia call themselves a family. Gangsters treat each other as family. Two men living together with their adopted child call themselves a family.

Families are part of God’s grand design for the world.

So, learn to appreciate your spouse and your children. • •

• • • •

•

But how can we strengthen our family relationship?

•

Our home should be a place where we learn to appreciate and be appreciated.

Balance wisely your professional life with your family life. Spend more time with your family. Plan more family activities that you will all find enjoyable. Invest your time and energy into building relationships with your spouse and children.

3. LEARN TO COMMUNICATE.

•

Try not to miss an opportunity to give each other a sincere compliment. It is important to let family members know that they are important.

2. LEARN TO MAKE TIME FOR YOUR FAMILY.

Remember this:- A family can survive without a nation, but a nation cannot survive without a family.

1. LEARN TO APPRECIATE ONE ANOTHER.

We like to be around people who appreciate us.

•

A relationship without communication is dead. Yelling out to your spouse is not communication. Throwing temper tantrums is not communication. Losing one’s temper is like getting hit by a tornado: It is over in a few minutes but it can take years to clean up the mess it leaves behind.

From Cavite to Calgary: A Comandante Story

by Jason Comandante

y name is Jason Comandante. I am 37 years old, a husband, and a father of two. I am a Vice President at a publicly traded and independent power producer, Capital Power. I hold a bachelor’s degree in commerce and master’s degree in business administration from the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary. I have been a competitive fitness athlete, I read 30 books a year, I volunteer as a financial literacy teacher to young students, and I also love watching TV series with my wife. I’m pretty lucky. Filipino Canadian Magazine asked me to tell my story in hopes of entertaining and inspiring those with Filipino backgrounds like me. Despite the good fortune that has afforded me with a wonderful life, my story would not be complete, interesting, or motivational without starting one branch back in the family tree. I was born and raised in Calgary, Canada, but this story started in the Philippines through my father, Danilo Comandante. It was his journey and drive to provide for my family that set the stage for me. My father’s story started in Cavite, a relatively small city south of Manila and with just over 100,000 residents. He was the oldest son among Julian and Juliana’s five children. While being the “kuya” always carries fatherly responsibilities, in 1966, when my father was just 14 years old, he was thrust into leadership. My grandfather ventured to Canada both in search of a new place to call home and an environment to provide his family with greater opportunity. This left my dad firmly as head of the household, an early training for raising a family.

pressure and stressful situations throughout the rest of his life. My upbring was much different: humbled by Canadian standards but privileged in comparison to his. I really struggled in my early years. My grades were subpar, my behavior landed me in the principle’s office all too regularly, and aside from video games, I didn’t gravitate too much towards anything. I even failed to pick up music despite years of lessons. My father used to be an accomplished musician. His parenting wasn’t quite what you’d call old-country authoritarian. He was firm but fair with me, but when I did wrong, I heard about it. My younger sister, on the other hand, excelled. While we had a happy childhood, being only two years apart, we were also competitive. I developed a jealousy that did nothing positive for me. Then something changed.

From the ages of 14 to 16, my father went to school, raised a family, and prepared for a journey to a foreign land. Thinking back to when I was at that age, I can’t imagine the weight of duty my father must have felt. I think it was this experience that allowed him to deal with

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At Braeside Elementary School there was only one teacher everyone dreaded, Mrs. Schwarz. She had a reputation for being hard on students. She taught in fifth grade, and wouldn’t you know it, the kid who needed a tough teacher got one. I was really upset as I pleaded with my parents to have me

transferred into a different class. I knew they considered it. Ultimately, my father decided it was time for me to learn my lesson, one of the first I’ll always remember and one of the most pivotal in my life. My father, with a heavy heart, told me there would be no changes. I would play the hand I was dealt. I would be in Mrs. Schwarz’s grade-five class. Mrs. Schwarz was strict and she turned me right around. Everything got better fast. In seventh grade, at John Ware Junior High School, I picked up basketball, like all Filipinos do. In eighth grade, I belonged to the top of my class and joined school teams in multiple sports. By ninth grade, I was awarded both student and athlete of the year and was set up well for high school. At Henry Wisewood High School, I breezed through academics, made it to the basketball and volleyball teams, and developed relationships with friends that have lasted through to today. Life was good. Going back to my father’s story, in 1969, he and the rest of the Comandante family landed in Calgary. While enrolled at St. Mary’s High School, he also took summer jobs at a mattress factory and at CP Rail. As a young boy, he was encouraged by his church mates to explore his natural talent for music, specifically singing and playing the guitar. In Calgary, this led him to play in a band. You may know him as a member of Cream and Sugar. During the seventies playing in a band was really cool, but getting paid in gigs was even better. My father’s knack for translating his passion into a paycheck stuck in me. For years they played as a regular house band at Barrio Fiesta. To this day I still find my father in his music room sometimes trying out new songs on his guitar whether for fun or to practice for an upcoming gig.

By 1970, the influences of Canada had begun to take hold on my father. He changed his name from Danilo to Danny. He grew out his hair, he perfected his English, and he had a thick jacket in the closet. Being from a westernized part of the Philippines, the transition wasn’t too tough for him aside from dealing with winter and having to do without some of his favorite Filipino dishes. All of these changes were minor in comparison to what came next. It was love at first sight, literally. My mom, Darcy, was an artsy blue-eyed blonde from a good family who loved music. Almost immediately after meeting his now-wife of 41 years, my dad was smitten by my mom and proposed to her within days. They set out to build their life and family together. They grew very close, very fast. Both joined the family business, Copy Inn Ltd., affectionately referred to as The Shop. They spent almost every waking and sleeping hour together. This resulted in a strong bond that served them well as they embarked on the next stage of their lives together, boarding the baby train. Life was in full swing. While my mom tended to me and my sister, my dad took to work, building both the Copy Inn Ltd. business and creating more space for our growing family. I remember very well the countless hours my father, his brothers, and my grandfather worked to build a deck, detached garage, and basement on our Braeside home. I wish I picked up more from my father in this respect as he was always willing to teach others. Whenever I am able to do something handy, I’m quick to call my dad and share my accomplishment with him. The years enjoyably rolled by. It was busy but pretty smooth-sailing, with kids in school and

sports, family dinners, summer vacations, and an extra job here and there. It was the Canadian dream. One last challenge for my father on the path to offering me and my sister all the opportunities he didn’t have still existed: university tuition. One university education is expensive, two can be financially crippling, yet both my sister and I got a shot at earning degrees from the University of Calgary, barely needing to work along the way. In hindsight, the signs were there that my parents really stretched themselves financially to make this happen, but at that time we barely noticed their struggle. While the freeride to ensure success at school was important, I’m just as thankful for the way my parents went about providing it. Savings were cashed in, creditor calls were answered, and multiple jobs were taken. My parents made it seem effortless and they never succumbed to stress. Both my sister and I graduated with bachelor degrees. A picture proudly displayed in the Comandante household is one with my sister in a graduation gown and mortarboard holding her degree and flanked by our beaming parents. The journey ended, and my mom and dad completed a mission they may not have even known they had taken on. It was bittersweet. My parents became empty nesters. My sister moved to Vancouver to work for Shaw, where she met her husband. I moved out with my own blue-eyed blonde who later became my wife. In a way, Jenna is everything I’m not: a contagious extrovert with a slowto-boil temper and wit for days. This is a story about my father and I, but Jenna’s impact on the success I’ve enjoyed, like my mother’s

impact on my father, cannot be overstated. Upon graduation, I started my career at EPCOR (which later spun out Capital Power). I’ve met great coaches and mentors along the way who’ve taught me many things such as the importance of strong communication, the benefits of working efficiently and effectively, and the value of loyalty. I’ve been with the same company for over 15 years and I hope to continue working here for the rest of my career. I’m thankful to be on the side of the minority. A quick Google search on the subject of job changes shows that Canadians have an average of 15 job changes over their work lives. Remember The Shop? My parents finally closed it earlier this year. Mom and Dad are now all but retired. My father still runs tours and mans Gasoline Alley at Heritage Park, but his performing days are behind him, I think. These days you can find them tending to their garden, tinkering in the garage, trying out new recipes, or awaiting a visit. Growing a family is now a spectator sport my mom and dad reminisce about playing and now are proudly watching from the sidelines. I can’t express enough my gratitude for this opportunity to submit my profile. I encourage you to do something similar. Writing it provided me with an extraordinary chance to reflect on relationships and life. It also reminded me of how lucky I have been and still am, and to thank my mother, father, wife, and family. I hope this story about how a boy from Cavite was able to build a springboard for a man in Calgary inspired you and warmed your heart as it did mine.

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Photo: Profolio Photography

BEFORE

AFTER

MAKING HEALTH THE FOUNDATION OF A SUCCESSFUL LIFE (Part 1) By Marvin Casiano

ften times we try very hard to organize and separate the many aspects of our life. We often juggle having to take care of our family, our careers, our finances, and our obligations to the community while maintaining the desire to keep taking care of these things concurrently. However, we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t actually multitask because of how our brains work. It is impossible for a normal person to have multiple simultaneous thoughts. We instead change tasks very quickly giving that task a sliver of time for intellectual dedication. Those slivers keep shrinking and multiplying given the way our world works. Yet we take on more responsibilities only to find ourselves burned out, and forgetting why we took on multiple responsibilities in the first place.

These aspects simply cannot be separated. They overlap over each other and are connected through you as the central hub. They cannot be disconnected nor run as their own entity. They all tie into each other as a complex network. When you change one you affect the other.

family which is part of the community. The desire to maintain these is a journey from an inspiration to do something, an idea of how and finally insight from having tried.

So what do we do?

I am going to propose that if you are looking for change, start off with your health. Without it, none of the other things in life matter.

Some will just eliminate many of those aspects in exchange for a simpler life away from society. While that is a very simple solution, for many of us that is simply too irresponsible.

You cannot take care of those around you if they have to take care of you. It seems selfish but in reality, you are better able to take care of everything with a strong foundation of health.

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s re-organize these aspects in a different way. Let health be a foundation upon which, family, career, and finances rest on in order to be a meaningful contributor to the community.

From personal experience, I can say that health was the best place to start. There were so many spin off side effects that have positively transcended into other aspects of my life. There is a reason I organize these aspects of life this way.

There is a particular hierarchical organization starting with yourself as the core, serving your

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If life is a card game, you have to play the cards dealt you and learn from the cards you gave away. This is just to say that you cannot blame the current circumstances or past decisions on why things are the way they are right now. In the past, I chose the comfort of fast and sugary food. It was comfortable to accept being overweight and the risks that came along with being so. It was oddly comforting knowing what the future was despite how bleak it was. I was afraid of what would happen if I changed because it was unknown. After making bad food decisions for so long, it would be too monumental an undertaking to try to reverse those decisions. Why start now since I thought at the time it was OK - not awesome but OK. But deep down I knew I could not accept being OK on this path. I noticed a coworker who lost a lot a weight. It wasn’t weight loss due to stress either. His demeanor changed from being a naysayer. He seemed to be more positive and upbeat about work and life in general. Despite all the adversity he had gone through in his personal life with a divorce and custody battle, he still maintained a positive attitude and his career prospects started to grow after focusing on health. I didn’t even have the troubles he was having, and he turned himself around starting with excellent health first and foremost. How did he do this? I had no idea, but I wanted to do what he did. If he could do that, I thought I could. He started with health. I found myself truly inspired. “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” is a quote Confucius is credited with. Keeping it simple is another relatable cliché. What these have in common is that given what I knew at the time about losing weight, it didn’t really matter how much. I just knew I had too much on. So going in the general direction of losing weight and not the exact goal of getting down to 165 pounds from 240 had to be the guiding principle for every decision I made I decided to quit pop, choose salads instead of fries, and stairs instead of elevators. I had to implement a daily caloric deficit and basically burn more calories than consume. Those simple choices added up. I also had to get on a weekly routine of working out but dreaded watching a countdown timer that seemed to slow down as I gasped for oxygen. There happened to be an idle elliptical at my in laws house and an awesome friend of mine who let me borrow her Battlestar Galactica Collection to watch. I put both of those together to watch TV while working out. This took care of dreading the workout as I was so engrossed in the TV show I forgot I was actually working out.

Photo: Profolio Photography

Part 2 will be on the next Issue. Patrick Marvin Casiano I am an Electrical Engineering Graduate of the University of Calgary who dedicates his livelihood to applying technology for solving problems. I am fortunate to have landed a career doing what I do as a hobby with the motivation to take care of and support from my loving wife Ronalyn and three boys, Isaiah, Lucas and Arthur. I have recently embraced a healthy lifestyle reaping the benefits of positive changes. Exchanging and acting upon ideas that solve problems are a guiding principle in how I interact with people.

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TIPS FOR SMALL BUSINESS ACCOUNTING By Tim Kwan, CPA, CA

im obtained his Chartered Accountant designation through articling at a Big 4 accounting firm and a boutique accounting firm. He then opened Kwan + Co., leveraging his knowledge to build his business from the ground up. He loves to volunteer, including being the Treasurer of Hearts and Hammers, which provides renovations to individuals with mobility challenge. Tim decided to become a Chartered Accountant because he is passionate about building relationships, both personally and professionally. He loves to help individuals thrive and grow, and having his own practice allows him this opportunity with individuals and businesses. As a CA, Tim uses his extensive knowledge to create a positive social impact through his practice. Tim’s comprehensive small business expertise will alleviate the burden of your

accounting needs so you can focus on running your business. By providing concise, timely, and accurate financial reports, he can help you get the financial details you need to make informed decisions to expand and grow your business. Tim, through his experience of building his own business, understands your needs and can help you maximize tax deductions and optimize solutions through tax planning to save you cash, giving you more freedom to do the things that you are truly passionate about.

Accounting and Tax Tips Inadequate accounting procedures and practices could be the financial downfall for your business. Poor accounting could lead to catastrophic business consequences such as: •

Overlooked or unpaid expenses

•

Penalties for late tax filing or inaccurate tax filing

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•

Difficulty paying employees or bills (law suits, interest, penalties)

Here are a few tips to get you started on your road to accounting mastery. 1.

Keep your personal and business expenses separate.

There is nothing more stressful and timewasting than having to sift through old receipts or expense reports trying to figure out if they are personal or business-related. If you just hand this to your bookkeeper, remember that they charge by the hour, so you can save yourself a lot of money by just being organized from the beginning. I recommend using a separate bank account and credit card for business expenses so that you are set up right from the get-go, but if you still use receipts and boxes, write a P or a B on the top of EVERY receipt or invoice so you can have some kind of reference.

Use an accounting software (Excel does not count).

There are a lot of different kinds of accounting software out there that have many different functions. If you are doing your accounting in-house, your software will be critical in organizing revenues, expenses, invoices, receipts, vendors, and employee lists, and some software can directly upload bank statements, making bookkeeping a breeze. A software can even create or manage budgets and forecast revenues and expenses for your business, which are essential skills for longterm viability of your brand. Excel, while good for some things, is simply insufficient for business needs. Accounting errors will lead to even more errors in your tax return and cause you serious headache in the future. Talk to any professional accountant as there are many cost-effective, cloud- based solutions that will allow you to easily manage your bookkeeping with your phone or tablet. 3.

If it is not documented, it is not done.

So many people use their own vehicle or even their house as part of their business. The business-related percentage of your vehicles and property (insurance, maintenance, heating, fuel, lease, etc.) costs can create a sizeable deduction, but I see the same mistake over and over again: documentation is simply not done. Think total business km divided by

total km in year and home office square feet divided by total home square feet, multiply these ratios by the total expenses. The onus is on you to prove how much you use your vehicle or property for business and personal use, and the only way to prove this is by documenting your usage. Extend this mindset to all expenses and deposits into your bank account, keeping statements and receipts for evidence and audit proofing. Always remember that if it is not documented, it is simply not done. Don’t pay tax when you don’t have to, and always document it. 4.

Be proactive with your taxes.

Right from day one you should have a procedure in place to track sales taxes (GST/HST). Open an account with the Canada Revenue Agency to receive your tracking number and have access to make changes, charge GST/HST, file a GST/ HST return, and make payments to settle your GST/HST balances. Filing a GST/HST return is a yearly requirement so there is no getting away from it, and if you want it to be less of a headache, you must track this information. Good accounting software will have this included, so if you are using a software, make sure it is included as that is not always the case. Having no knowledge of this could lead to a rude awakening as I have seen back balances owing in excess of $10,000. Don’t let this happen to you. Put aside a bit of money every month to help alleviate tax bills in the future so

you are not hit with a big lump sum payment after filing. Be proactive rather than reactive with your taxes. 5.

Know when to let go.

Eventually you will reach a point in your business when doing your own bookkeeping becomes tedious. You will realize that you should be spending your time handling the actual business and worrying less about the books. This means it is time to hand over the accounting needs to a professional accountant. Yes, it is going to cost you more than seeking help from the real estate agent down the street, but understand a few things. Professional accountants have years of experience in understanding how critical it is to be accurate and timely with your bookkeeping. Canadian CPAs are governed by a nationwide organization that requires CPAs to continually learn about Canadian accounting standards and taxation rules that directly affect your business. When that time comes, put your books in the hands of a professional and give yourself more time to do what you love. While this list will not ensure you will never encounter any problems, it is a great starting point for things to consider. The most important advice I can give you is to plan ahead. Understand your obligations as an entrepreneur and ensure you can meet all those obligations. If you cannot do it yourself, seek help from those who can help you.

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5 TIPS TO GET BACK ON TRACK By Jacelyn Olandesca

e’ve all been there: The holidays have come and gone and you’ve told yourself that you would get into the “new year, new me” craze, right? But where do you start? What are you really “getting into”? Sometimes the hardest part of making a lifestyle change is knowing and planning your goals. Here are some tips to help you get started:

2. Drink lots of water. Water has many benefits including helping you lose weight. Did you know that you should be drinking at least 2 litres of water every day? Having enough water in your system will aid in flushing harmful toxins from your body and replenish the water lost throughout your day. Other benefits include helping with digestion, regulating your body temperature, giving you better-looking skin, and combatting headaches. Extra tip: Buy a bottle that you really like and carry it with you everywhere so you can measure your water intake by the bottle, not by the cup. If you’re forgetful, set an alarm to remind you to drink water several times a day. It may seem a little silly but it’s better to be hydrated than sorry.

1. Set realistic goals. It’s very easy to say, "I want to lose weight and be more active, healthy, and strong." But making a plan of action will help you stay more accountable to your goals. Use the SMART principle. What is your specific goal? Is your goal measurable? What is your action plan? Is your goal realistic? What timeframe are you giving yourself to achieve your goals? Here are some examples of SMART goals when it comes to losing weight:

S - Lose 10 pounds so I can_____________. M - Weigh myself every Saturday morning. Ask my friend to measure

my body in certain areas and track my progress every month. Make my own lunch instead of eating out. A - I will go to the gym 5 times a week right after work and dedicate 3 days for resistance training and 2 days for cardio. R - A realistic goal would be to lose 1–2 lbs per week. T - I should be able to see significant changes within 3 months. Extra Tip: Write down your goals and post them where you can see them every day, or you can share them with a friend that can help keep you accountable. A trainer can keep you on track as well.

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4. Stay active. Staying active can be achieved through playing a sport, taking a walk, going to the gym, or taking a class. If you can do something active at least 30 minutes per day, you are on the right track to hitting those goals! Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s that simple.

5. Keep in mind the importance of resistance training. I believe that resistance training can help in so many ways to meeting and exceeding your goals. Adding resistance training into your routine will burn calories more effectively and over a longer period of time versus just doing a cardio session. It will also turn body fat into muscle which will help you look more toned and solid. If you can work out in a gym, use free weights to help strengthen your core and muscles. Proper execution will engage the core more than you think. Even body weight movements such as squats and push-ups will need the help of your core to keep you stable. Females can especially benefit from weight training to prevent bone diseases such as osteoporosis.

3. Eat appropriately to match your goals. Are you eating at least 3 times per day? Do those meals have the right amount of calories and the right balance of carbohydrates, protein, and fats? If not, you are doing your body and your metabolism a disservice. You may think that to lose weight, you should eat less than your body requires. When you do that, your body actually goes into a starvation mode, which will cause your body to consume even more food. I recommend taking 3 meals with small snacks in between. Having something in your stomach every 3â&#x20AC;&#x201C;4 hours will keep your body nourished and boost your energy levels throughout the day. There is a time and place to set a calorie deficit, but ease your body into it. Get the right amount of calories first!

Please do not hesitate to ask a professional to learn more about achieving a healthy lifestyle. Be consistent. Stick to your routine. If you can take one or all of these points and stay committed, you will be on your way to achieving your goals. Conquer one goal at a time. The biggest mistake you can make towards achieving your goal is to take on too much only to fall behind and end up believing you are a failure. You got this! Article written by: Jacelyn Olandesca Personal Trainer Goodlife Fitness

Extra tip: If you are unsure of the minimum amount of calories you should be taking, there are great websites that can calculate the right amount of calories you need based on your weight, age, height, and activity. Or if you go to the gym, ask a trainer to help you figure that out as well. You may be surprised to know how much you should actually be eating. Protein is another nutrient that often gets overlooked. If you are doing any kind of resistance training, protein can be beneficial to help turn body fat into muscle. Examples of protein include meat, fish, nuts, legumes, beans, certain vegetables, and eggs.

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ONE WINDOW MANY SMART APPLICATIONS. FROM SECURITY TO RECREATIONAL

www.fushionliving.ca Leenk & Wink Inc. is a Calgary based Smart Glass/Smart Film manufacturer, provider and installer. Our Smart film/glass technology brings magic to your house and office windows.

ATION OF

ENER THE NEXT G

WINDOWS

Can turn from opaque to transparent within 50 milliseconds. No more clumsy blinds and curtains. Can turn your house or workplace a minimalist look. Can also be used as a rear projector screen. Can turn shopfront windows into giant advertisement displays. Allows you to control the privacy and illumination level in your home/workplace with a touch of a button.

JESUS FLORES ROLANDO PERDONIO Business Owner: Kyani Business Owner: Kyani Co-Founder: Leenk&Wink Co-Founder: Leenk&Wink Co-Owner/Founder: Fusion Living Co-Owner/Founder: Fusion Living Contact: 403-889-9701 Contact: 403-822-6351 E-mails: E-mails: Flores@leenkwink.ca Rolando@leenkwink.ca 34 | FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. Partners@fushionliving.ca 2 Issue 4 | 2017 | Partners@fushionliving.ca

ELLI MAE PADILLO Business Owner: Kyani Co-Founder: Leenk&Wink Co-Owner/Founder: Fusion Living Contact: 403-615-0433 E-mails: Mae@leenkwink.ca Partners@fushionliving.ca

PONCIANO RAGUINDIN Business Owner: Kyani Co-Founder: Leenk&Wink Co-Owner/Founder: Fusion Living Contact: 403-992-5414 E-mails: Ponciano@leenkwink.ca Partners@fushionliving.ca

JESUS ARCE FLORES JR. “I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I cannot accept not trying.” - Michael Jordan “Surround yourself with people who push you, challenge you, make you laugh, make you better, and make you happy.”

am grateful for my parents because growing up in my family everything was handed to me in a way. Both my parents are hard workers who are always there to support and give advice. I would say I was always the oddball in my family. Both my brothers are doing very well in their careers. As for me I worked as an accountant in a known dealership for 4 years and cooked in different restaurants. I often struggled with looking for the right job, but I always knew I was going to be successful although I didn’t know how to get there. I knew that working for someone wasn’t for me and that I wanted to be my own boss. I knew my value and I didn’t need someone telling me how much I was worth. I wanted to write my story, my happy ending. I wanted to have the lifestyle that I dreamed of, a big house, nice cars, but most importantly, to spend my time with my family and have the opportunity to help others who are in need and sharing with them my blessings. My goal is to impact as much lives as I can

and have my legacy to be remembered. The reason I chose to be an entrepreneur is for my daughter Alessandria to grow up pursuing her dreams and for me to be able to spend more time with her and be there for all her success. There were times when I wanted to give up, but I’m thankful for my wife Aileen who never gave up on me and was always there to support and motivate me to pursue my dreams and goals. I want to help my family, my team, and everyone I work with to reach their goals and achievements. My biggest motivation is to keep challenging myself. I see life almost like one long university education that I never had: every day I’m learning something new. Experience taught me a few things. One is to listen to your gut feeling no matter how good something sounds on paper. Second is that you are generally better off sticking with what you know. And third is that sometimes, your best investments are the ones you don’t make. Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal, a commitment to excellence, that will enable you to attain the success you seek.

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PONCIANO RAGUINDIN Entrepreneur Business Owner: Kyani Co-founder: Leenk & Wink, Smart Fusion Marketing “My passion and belief are to enrich the lives of people by impacting them through health and wealth.”

onciano Raguindin is a long-time professional entrepreneur. Prior to joining the networking industry, he studied at SAIT Polytechnic and graduated to become an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer. He worked as a Ground Support Lead at a well-known airline company for four years and spent most of his free time fulfilling hours for his AME apprenticeship. He enjoys travelling the world and spending time with his family. He was fascinated about the networking industry and took a huge step to venture into the business world. He soon realized that there was a better way to become successful rather than earning the traditional nine-to-five linear income. He

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was very intrigued by creating a lifestyle where his money works for him and not the other way around. One day he told his mentor he wanted a change in his life. His mentor responded, “For things to change, you have to change. If you want your life to be different, you have to start doing things differently.” This has given him the strongest belief that no goal is too big to accomplish. He provided his soon-to-retire-mother an option to live the rest of her life in freedom without having to work. He is strongly confident that he has found the right vehicle to take him to his goal. Ponciano also enjoys helping others and inspires them to achieve their own success. Just like many of us, throughout his life Ponciano was focused on the past and pondered how he could have done things differently. But he has finally come to realize that people should not spend the rest of their lives thinking of ways to change the past when they can live in the present and focus on writing the future.

ROLANDO PERDONIO "Nothing changes if nothing changes." - Courtney C. Stevens

've always lived my life the same way: I get up, go to work, and come home. That was programmed into my mind having the same routine every day because that's all I knew. I woke up one day and realized I will never get anywhere if I do the same thing over and over: this is the definition of insanity. Then an opportunity came knocking on my door and my brain was giving me excuses not to go for it: What if it's a scam? What about your bills? How are you going to have money to survive the week? This was all running through my mind, but then I remembered reading an article by Mel Robbins saying there is a five-second window before your brain tells you not to take that risk. Without thinking I jumped into the opportunity and never looked back. Now I'm starting to make changes. I started reading

more, I started living my life out of my comfort zone, and now my life isn't a routine anymore. The one thing I want to tell you is for you to not let your life become a routine. Take risks because you will never know what will become of them. Life teaches you many lessons and we all think that at times life is very hard and it's in our human nature to be afraid of failure. Our brain is programmed to protect us from failure, and that's why we have our comfort zones and most us stay there. But if we don't take that leap of faith, how are we going to know what our true potential is? For example, a baby bird will not learn how to fly unless it falls to the ground more than once. Don't be afraid to fail because failure is not the opposite of success but a part of it. When I was a kid, we weren't very wealthy,

and my mother sacrificed her time to make ends meet. I think this is the reason why I believe time should always be valued more than money, because we can always make money but it is impossible to get our time back. This is the reason I chose to become an entrepreneur. I may not get that time back with my mother, but I can at least pay her back for all the sacrifices she's made for me. Being her only child, I wasn't the greatest or the smartest, but what I do know is that whatever I did to make her life harder she always loved me and took me back in. People ask me why I'm doing what I'm doing, and I always have the same answer: to repay my mother and to give her the life she's always wanted but couldn't have. Rolando Perdonio Senior Partner Fusion Living

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ELLI MAE PADILLO Entrepreneur Business Owner: Kyani living.kyani.com Co-founder: Leenk & Wink , Smart Fusion Marketing “You know you are successful when your expectations have become what you are grateful for.”

lli Mae Padillo is a young, ambitious, big-hearted entrepreneur. Raised in Calgary, she came from the Philippines at the young age of one. Growing up with a passion for music and dance, she was highly involved with our city’s dance community, from performing at various events to taking classes at multiple studios. She was also a member of a local dance crew called BasXX. Elli Mae’s career path has led her to live in the corporate oil and gas world. With a background in finance/accounting, she has great knowledge about how money works. She also understands that no matter how high you climb up the corporate ladder, you are at the mercy of the economy as you do not have true job security. Understanding this made her realize that there is more to life than just living a nine-to-five lifestyle. Being stuck in the rat race is not a good thing. Venturing into the world of entrepreneurship, Elli Mae is focused and dedicated to creating a life of time and financial freedom for her mom and the rest of her family. Being a sibling of two and a daughter to a single mom is her greatest motivation to succeed and achieve any goal. No goal is too big for her. Through learning the foundations of network marketing, Elli Mae soon realized there was much more to it than meets the eye. Network marketing doesn’t only teach you the basics of how to own and run a business, but it also teaches you how to create good and lasting relationships with people that will help make your business successful. One thing she is truly grateful for is personal development. Without this, she would have never seen the vision of how great life could be. Because she has learned so much and has such a positive, healthy outlook in life, Elli Mae’s passion is to help many people to get healthier, achieve their goals, help them see that there is another way, and to create vision. She definitely wears the biggest heart on her sleeve.

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FITNESS MINUTE WITH FCM FITNESS AMBASSADOR

QUEENY ALFETCHE

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Have a healthy diet. Drink at least 4 litres of water a day. Perform cardio and ab exercises. Get at least 8 hours of sleep. Minimize alcohol-drinking.

Photo by Profolio Photography

FIVE Ways to Lose Belly Fat

FOUR Abs Workout 1. Leg raises – 4 sets and 20–25 reps. 2. Sit-ups/crunches – 4 sets and 20–25 reps. 3. Flutter kicks and scissor kicks – 4 sets of 30 minutes with 30-minute breaks in between. 4. Elbow planks – 45 minutes with 30-minute breaks in between.

Diet Tips to Increase Energy

FIVE Butt Exercises while at Home – 4 sets of 20 reps 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Sumo squats Bridges Lunges Standing kick backs or donkey kicks Curtsy cardio exercise for women – Stepper or stair master or treadmill inclines or even running around the blocks from your home for at least 20 to 30 minutes for 2 to 3 times a week

Proper food intake such as: • Eat more iron from plant-based foods – spinach, whole grain, lean protein, herbs/spices • Start your day with an energized breakfast – eggs, oats with high antioxidant fruits, and good fats like nuts or seeds. • Fuel your body with real food, which means food closer to nature. • For snacks, eat fruits instead of processed chips or crackers. • Food to increase muscle mass: • Lean meat for building lean muscle • Brown rice helps boost your growth hormones. • Eggs are a perfect source of protein. • Spinach - good source of glutamine and amino acids • Fruits Apples – for muscle strength Orange – for endurance Cantaloupes – for curbing appetite | FCM | filcanmagazine.com | Vol. 2 Issue 4 | 2017 |

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