Life's journey & lessons from a 65y old

MY SIXTY-FIVE YEARS OF LIFE – DR. DEAN PAX

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Having lived beyond two quarters of life (QTR1-ages1-30 is all about schooling & job hunting, QTR2 -ages 31-60 is all about building a career, a family and nest egg, QTR3- ages60-90 is all about enjoying the fruits of your labor & ageing graciously), I now share what life has been.

“We may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by experience, which is the bitterest; and third, by imitation, which is easiest.”

?—Confucius

1. What has brought me happiness? (Personally, it is joy/contentment)

-????????Family Milestones (Baptisms, Family trips – ORLANDO DISNEY & CARRIBEAN, big birthdays, weddings, birth of grandkids, Graduations, whole family reunions)

-???????My expat status in Kuala Lumpur with the whole family (incl schooling Mont Kiara)

-????????Masterminds monthly lunch/ Power Morning sessions 2nd & 4th Wednesdays

-????????Continuous learning (HBS, AIM Masters, SAIDI PhD) …now online

-????????My Mommy talks & her simple life lessons

-????????Writing books (bonus it became 5 best sellers)

-????????60th birthday at ASCOTT with family & friends

-????????25th Wedding Anniversary (75 guests incl quartet) …all came

-???????My bunso (Cisco) graduated as Most Outstanding Intern UST 2004

-???????Cisco graduated as youngest PhD in Physical Therapy in Arcadia Philadelphia.

-???????Graduating Valedictorian in Elementary & becoming a high school scholar

-???????Graduating 4.5 years in engineering ahead of my 1980 batch.

-????????My first business trip to UK-Europe-USA

-???????ITSPAC summer & Christmas outings

?2. What gave life’s meaning (fulfilled)?

-????????ITSPAC transition to next gen (Francis & Franklin managing it well)

FAMILY & FIRM & FINANCES

-????????Angelpreneurs-MNBK, 3A/3R, USAID-WGDP, JAPI

FILIPINO (business advocacy) & FUN (passion & joy)

-????????Teaching@AIM + ESA & mentoring @ TRC + writing books

FUN (passion & joy) & FILIPINO (business & financial advocacy)

-????????Seeing my grandkids Frances Franco Francine & giving College Fund- 5M each- FAMILY FINANCES FUN (contentment & joy)

-????????Building house for Francis & 5-storey residential for Franklin

FAMILY FINANCES FUN (contentment & joy)

-????????Organizing Power Morning & Reborn ‘1WALKER’ concert

FAITH FUN (joy) FILIPINO (spiritual advocacy)

-???????My best friend Tophie introducing me back to Christ

FAITH & FUN (joy & gratitude)

-????????TGIF with Pastor Gerry Davis

FAITH & FUN (joy & peace)

-????????(Jerusalem pilgrimage) Renewal of Jordan Baptism

FAITH & FUN (joy & peace)

-????????KCON plenary with Bro Bo (2017)

FAITH FUN (passion & joy) FILIPINO (spiritual advocacy)

-???????My adopted daughters (Bennett, AJ, Marivic) & inaanaks who calls me Tatay FAMILY & FUN (passion & joy)

-????????Giving better job opportunities to those wanting to come home (OFW -IT professional) or needs a job.

FIRM & FILIPINO (career advocacy)

Public-private partnerships on entrepreneurship with USAID for 600 nanays to do digital marketing. DTI program for resiliency, recovery & rebuild for struggling entrepreneurs.

?3. What was a waste of time?

Golf (because of my PhD studies) & TV & window shopping

?4. What would I do differently if I could live again?

None really…but on second thought it’s below

-????????Exercise more consistently

-????????Proper nutrition (leafy veggies & fruits) &hydrate

-???????Invested in a family farm not commercial

-???????Learned global stocks

5. What were the secrets, and how did I put those secrets to practice in my life?

-????????I retired early to look after my growing boys.

-???????I have always lived with my mom in the family compound. TRADITIONS: Sunday mass WHEREVER I am/ Weekend family lunch is sacred. Christmas eve dinner is sacred. Wedding before baptism.

-????????Learned to invest early & teach it to my sons early as well

-????????Nurtured only VERY close friends

-????????Mentored my sons into maturity & responsibility (all worked after graduation)

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6. What were the major crossroads that changed the course of my life?

-????????Moving out of SMC into SHELL

-???????Deciding to get married unprepared because of early pregnancy

-???????Decision to leave Cebu 1988 (and London 1996) to go home & be with family

-????????Decision to quit corporate@42 at a time of promotion

-???????Taking up my AIM MASTER’S degree after retirement – June 2001

-????????Lost $500K on first IT company & recovering it after 3 years

-???????Giving up best of friends over issues of integrity & advocacy

-????????Integrating & closing several companies (2014)

-????????Golf accident (2002)/ Almost Bled to death- hypovolemic shock (2017)

-???????Meeting Mon Lopez (GoNeg Exec Director) & Bro Bo Sanchez 2009

-???????Accepting to write my 1st book 21 Steps (2008). Launched July 2009

7. How do I feel about dying?

I think of it every time with funeral music (and I cry) that if I die, I know I have lived well with few regrets.

That I have used my talents well and have multiplied thru others.

?LIFE LESSONS IN SUMMARY

Celebrating my 65 years of life, I've learned that it is a race that you CHALLENGE the track w/ the best of your God-given abilities. It is not about winning/losing but rather LEARNING along LIFE's track of curves, bumps and eventually some checkered flags.

?Let me share with you as my friends/loved ones my life's learnings (still it continues IN GRACIOUS AGEING)

1. Concentrate on connections (relationships) not collections (material things)

?2. Passive income plus active income must always be greater than lifestyle

?3.The greatest success of a parent or teacher is seeing his children or mentees BECOME better than him (the mentor or parent)

?4. Contentment is wanting what you have rather than having what you want.

?5. Finally, our Time/talent/treasures are all gifts from God that we need to share to improve the lives of others.

?I already announced my semi-retired status...to go slow (JUST ENOUGH-TAMA LANG)

Both my 2nd generation (Francis & Franklin) are running ITSPAC & LEADMORE even better than me (even in 18 months of pandemic) …the family fund is managed well by Frank (COL FINANCIAL) & his wife (BDO Private bank). By next year, my bunso moves to NYC to pursue his PT career having completed his PhD in Physical Therapy (I support his dream of a gay marriage).

God has blessed me with 3 grandchildren (Frances Franco Francine).

My 65 years of life has been good because of the good people like yourselves that I had the privilege to give/receive love.

?Thank you for the overwhelming messages that i have received from every one of you. LOVE THEM ALL. I will continue to aspire to inspire even as I retire.

?THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR FRIENDSHIP Keep safe and keep God ?? ?

As a final note...The PURPOSE of life is to find your gift and be the best at it. To Be the best version of yourself.?

The MEANING of life is to give away that GIFT without the issue of money to help and lift others…. Dean Pax