Swerte, Sana All

 Unpopular Opinion:

Telling people that they're lucky in business is actually an insult. It invalidates years of hard-work, failure, experience, and learning. You don't tell professionals "You're lucky you graduated", "You're lucky you passed the boards", "You're lucky you got the job", "You're lucky you got promoted". Luck is getting something that you didn't work hard for. 

My Personal Shizzz:

My first experience in sales was when I was 11 y/o. I sold my barbie bags at school 'coz I need extra baon.  At 13 y/o, while I'm on my summer break I worked as a saleslady at our local market with 2,000 pesos per month salary. On my 2nd yr in HS I sold Swarovski accessories which I crafted and designed myself. On my 2nd yr in UST-Nursing , I sold Chocovron goodies at canteens in UST and schools nearby. On my 1st yr in CEU-Pharmacy , I sold health and beauty products. After college I put up businesses that unfortunately failed. I have faced mountains of financial struggles but I always make it through because I needed to, because I wanted to.  Today I have 2 pharmacies, one is stable and nourishing, the other is just surviving. What I have right now was not served in a silver platter. And if there is something my parents gave me, it is ample of opportunities to get out of my comfort zone and work my ass off. They taught me to stand on my own, they taught me to be strong. 

I've met people who'd tell me" Ang swerte mo, sana all". Just because they see that I have a thriving business. Deep down I am  actually offended with these words. They don't know what I have to go through to get here. Am I lucky to have experienced such under-comings? Am I lucky that I have to sell shizzz at school (at a very young age)? Am I lucky that I have to think ways how to provide extra moohlah for myself ?  Am I lucky that I have to stop from med school? Am I lucky that I experienced financial crisis during those times?  I am NOT SWERTE, I am HARDWORKING. I am NOT SWERTE , I am a STRIVER. 

Those people who loved me and stayed when I had nothing, when I was strugling, when I was a nobody never told me I was lucky 'coz they knew what I had to go through. Everything that I have right now is a result of consistent hard work, resilience, sweat, tears, and blood and not f*cking luck.  "Swerte" and "sana all" does not always sound as a compliment, sometimes it feels like an insult.