Random Personal Updates – July 2020

Somehow I blinked and the entire month of July blew past?? Not sure how that happened, but I’m grateful for everything.

I feel motivated writing my monthly personal updates blog posts because it allows me to assess what went well (and what went wrong) during the previous month. Blogging about it is like my personal account on what I have accomplished and how I could improve next month – not only in my work but also in my personal affairs.

So here are some of my updates for July…

Blogging and YT Updates

Pinay Investor Revenues in July 2020

• The Pinay Investor Blog earned $70
• The Pinay Investor YouTube Channel earned $360

I’m happy with how my ThePinayInvestor blog and YouTube channel are growing in terms of revenues. It’s not a big jump from the previous month, but I see some progress. I know I can do better, but I’m not really focused on the revenues for now. I’m focused on how I could serve and help people get what they want through what I do.

I like what Zig Ziglar said,

You can have everything you want in life if you just help enough people get what they want in life.

That’s why I’m trying my best to give as much value as possible by publishing contents that answer questions, solve problems, and make other people’s lives easier.

We are created to do different things according to the gifts, talents and opportunities that God has given us, and I believe that publishing helpful content is part of what God called me to do and I’m doing it not to please others, but to please Him.

I’m also motivated to keep doing what I’m doing knowing that my content is serving its purpose based on what some of my viewers say about them…

I also receive negative comments, but having been in this online publishing world for a few years now, I learned to ignore and let them pass and I just focus on the positive ones. I know that my intentions are good, and even if I try, I can never please everybody.

Content Publishing

I only published 4 blog posts and 7 videos in July – way less than my goal of publishing 10 blog posts and 15 videos. But… I’m glad I have recorded more than 10 videos last month which I have yet to edit, optimize, and publish on YouTube this August.

I’m also grateful because my sister will be helping me edit some of my videos this week, and I’ll have more time to record new videos and write blog posts.

I’m looking forward to achieving new milestones and breakthroughs this month.

New Ebook for Lead Magnet

One of the reasons why I wasn’t able to publish more content in July was because I spent a lot of time creating a short ebook about Stock Market Investing for Beginners which now serves as my lead magnet (freebie) to grow my email list.

I even purchased a course on Canva and Powerpoint and I spent one week learning and applying it to make my first ebook. I’m so happy with my new skill and I’m excited to create more products applying what I have learned from the course.

I also spent another week learning about Email Marketing. It was challenging because I’m not a techie, but I’m glad I managed to set up my first landing page with the help of Convertkit’s customer support.

If you’d like to get a copy of this simple ebook, just click the image below and you’ll be redirected to the download page.

My Goals This August

I’m passionate about personal finance and I have been wanting to start publishing content about this topic, but new ideas keep popping up and I now have a backlog of posts that I need to work on.

That’s why I really want to focus on creating content about Personal Finance this month. I already have a content plan, but I need to manage my time more efficiently so that I could really focus and work on it.

In terms of content publishing, the goal is to publish 10 blog posts on TPI blog and 15 videos on TPI YouTube Channel. It’s the same goal that I set last month (and I failed), but I’ll do my best this month to achieve this goal. Fighting! 🙂 

In terms of revenue, the goal is to earn $100 for TPI blog and $400 for TPI Youtube Channel. Not too big of a goal, but let’s keep it conservative for now. 🙂

With my new lead magnet already in place, I’m also hoping to gain at least 100 email subscribers this month and I’ll work on how I could start building a relationship with my email list soon.

Family Matters 

It’s been a challenging month for my family’s side. My older brother’s business has been heavily affected by the pandemic and they are struggling financially right now. My youngest sister lost her job in March due to the lockdown and she’s been trying to make ends meet through her baking business, which did well during the past three months, but it might not get any better in the coming days especially now that we’re on MECQ again.

My brother in Qatar is also going through some serious challenges right now. His wife went through preterm delivery last week. (I shared more about this here.) Although she was discharged from the hospital the day after her unexpected delivery, her baby will have to stay in the NICU for another month or more until he’s ready or when it’s safe enough for him to go home. Because my sister-in-law had to go to the hospital everyday to see their baby and feed him with her breast milk, the risk of getting Covid-19 disease is a bit higher for her. What’s more, they have no other family or relatives in Qatar who could help and support them personally during this challenging time.

I pray that God will continue to protect and provide for their needs in Qatar. God knows everything and I know that He is with them and He will not abandon them. I chat with them everyday and I always encourage them with this bible verse…

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. -Joshua 1:9

Giving and Sowing Seeds

I thank and praise God everyday for protecting and providing for my own family.

I believe God gives us blessings not only to provide for our personal needs, but also to help others who are in need especially during this time of crisis.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. – Philippians 2:3-4

Every time I receive financial blessings, whether it’s big or small, I always thank God and I pray for wisdom and guidance on how He wants me to manage it.

In July, aside from the tithes that I give to the church every month, I also donated financial blessings to a ministry that has been helpful in my personal, professional, and spiritual growth.

I’m also blessed and grateful to God for allowing me to help my siblings in anyway I can – in cash, in kind, and in prayers. For my brother and his family in Qatar, there’s nothing much I can do but encourage and pray for them. For my older brother and his wife who is due to give birth to their second child this October, I took the initiative to help them settle their SSS and Philhealth contributions so that she can avail of maternity benefits, and to somehow help them with their current financial worries. For my sister, I offered her a part-time job and she’s helping me now with some of my online work.

Even if I don’t have plenty, God always makes a way to let me share His blessings to others according to His will and purpose. I know how it feels to be in need because I’ve also experienced that many times. That’s why if God tells me to give, I obey.

I am not trying to relieve others by putting a burden on you; but since you have plenty at this time, it is only fair that you should help those who are in need. Then, when you are in need and they have plenty, they will help you. In this way both are treated equally. – 2 Corinthians 8:13-14

I’m sharing this not to boast, but to honor God because everything that I have comes from Him. Everything belongs to Him and I am just a steward of His gifts and blessings.

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace. 1 Peter 4:10

If you are desiring a harvest in your life, one thing is sure—you can’t reap if you don’t sow. Jesus said in Luke 6:38,

Give to others, and God will give to you. Indeed, you will receive a full measure, a generous helping, poured into your hands—all that you can hold. The measure you use for others is the one that God will use for you.

What is seed? Seed is anything you give. It can be time, money, resources, faith, hope or love.

The most important part of sowing is the heart behind the gift. So, when you sow, be sure you are acting as a good sower. Second Corinthians 9:6 says,

He who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously will also reap generously and with blessings.

Unexpected TV and Radio Interviews

This has nothing to do with The Pinay Investor, but I thought I’d share it here too for my personal updates. 🙂

In July, I was invited to share my experience in Urban Gardening as Maijan Garden, and my interview was featured on UNTV. I was hesitant at first because I felt shy and I didn’t want to appear on screen, but I was reminded by God to share my knowledge in gardening – again, not to please people but to please Him.

And I’m glad I did! It was a new experience for me and I enjoyed talking to their staff on Zoom. I only appeared for about 20 seconds on the final video, but in reality, we spent 2 hours filming my interview. Haha! They enjoyed asking me and I enjoyed answering them. They were very nice and friendly, and they’re also thankful for the knowledge and insights that I shared with them. And I’m thankful too for the opportunity that they’ve given me.

Actually, I didn’t want to share it on my personal Facebook account, but the peeps from UNTV encouraged me to share it so that others will also be inspired to start gardening. So I did.

Few days later, I received another invitation for an interview from a radio station about my gardening experience. When she heard my voice, instead of having a quick interview, she gave me a 9-minute time slot to share my gardening story like I was reporting on radio. Haha! Since it was my first time, I recorded my gardening story and submitted it to her immediately to know if that was the kind of content and “reporting style” they want. When she heard it, she said she liked it and no need to edit or rerecord. I was surprised! I didn’t even know if I did it right because I was just testing my mic. Haha! But I’m happy she liked it and I can’t wait to hear it when it airs this month. 🙂

Other Things I’m Grateful For

My husband, John, manually built a new office table for me which I am now using upstairs during my muni-muni sessions. 🙂

I’m also happy with this old papag which my supportive husband placed in the perfect spot where the sun rises – perfect for my morning meditation and yoga.

And of course, the fun wouldn’t be complete without the presence of my little girl, my mini me, who always wants to follow where I go and what I do. 🙂

Finding time each day to think about the things I’m grateful for and keeping a gratitude journal where I can quickly jot down a list of little joys gives me a sense of happiness and contentment.

Things may not be perfect, but when I see how far I’ve come and all of the difficult storms I have weathered, it makes me more appreciative of what I have in my life now. And I will always be grateful to God for everything.

If you’ve read this far, thank you, and I appreciate your time. If you’d like to read my other personal updates, you may click HERE.

I pray that all is well with you and your family, and may God’s blessings of peace, abundance, and happiness be with you always.