INVESTITUDES

Inspired by the eight beatitudes contained in the gospel, I listed the ways financial blessings can be attained. If we live by them, our actions (or investments) will ultimately lead us to great reward (By the word “invested,” I mean “devoted” or “endowed”).

Invested are the financially poor, for theirs is the glory to success How many people do we know who were once unimaginably poor but have eventually climbed up their way to success (the likes of Gokongwei, Henry Sy, and even of a former presidential candidate who claims to have been once belonging to the poorest of the poor communities. As his jingle goes, “Nakaligo ka na ba sa dagat ng basura?”)?


Invested are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted When we are grieving for the loss of our loved ones, we mourn less when we know they invested on what we may have thought we do not need earlier yet we will come in handy during this time – insurance!

Invested are the meek, for in time they shall harvest more We tend to buy things we want like signature clothes, high-technology gadgets, and anything en vogue rather than those things we only need, not realizing that we could have invested more for our future when we grow older and weak, and no longer able to earn a living.

Be humble. Do not live beyond your means.

Invested are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied As a preacher in jeans, Bo Sanchez says, “If you want to grow your wealth, you need to grow yourself… if you’re serious in growing your wealth, you need to make a commitment to never-ending growth.” The problem is that we tend to pay more for amusement (like movies, concerts, outings, etc.) rather than invest more on our own education or self-improvement.

Invested are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy A lot of times, it is easier to forget what a friend owes you than forgeting the money you lent to someone you barely know. Do not forget to invest time and good relationship with others! “If I have the gift of prophecy, I may understand all the secret things of God and have all knowledge…if I do not have love, then I am nothing.” – 1 Corinthians 13:2.

I remember having broken my colleague’s branded powder press. I was so nervous that I had to pay for it but thank God she was forgiving that I got off the hook! She remembered that she also once owed another friend for something she did wrong. Good thing she experienced being forgiven herself!

Invested are the pure of heart, for they shall see gold It is always better to have good intentions in creating a business. A regular salesperson would sell anything to a customer. But a man with a mission, normally would recommend to people what he would only buy for himself.

Invested are the fisher makers, for they shall be called millionaires The more you teach men how to fish, the more sources of income you will develop. A Chinese proverb says:

If you want one year of prosperity, grow seeds.
If you want ten years of prosperity, grow trees.
If you want a lifetime of prosperity, grow people.

Train people how to take charge and multiply your talents in them!

Invested are they who are mocked for the sake of innovativeness, for theirs is the way to opportunity. People with bright ideas are often called crazy people. But oftentimes, they are great inventors. Take for example Mr. Manny Pangilinan’s “corporate activism ." In a speech he made in Ateneo in 2006, he shared, “When we invested in PLDT seven years ago, we faced the massive task of repair and renewal. Critics told us that we couldn’t change the culture of monopoly, that misdemeanors in PLDT couldn’t be eradicated, that our fixed line business had no future. But we made the tough and unpopular decisions at PLDT. Like reducing the number of employees from 14,000 to 9,000. Like changing dubious practices and encouraging honesty and transparency. Like converting the mindset of bureaucrats to that of innovators and entrepreneurs… »

So do not be afraid to do things you have never done before. Embrace change! Do not be afraid to commit mistakes. You will never know what may hit you!