Leveraging Success

Soft Power over Hard Power

Power is the ability to influence others to get desirable results. Their concepts and accessibility can determine the effectiveness of both soft and hard power. Having both abilities is a sure hit towards achieving goals; however, only one should outstand in the pursuit. The vigor that is significant to the organization's mission is the one that should stick out.

Photo by Avel Chuklanov

Hard power may mean transactional. It can be executed through military threats, economic stimulation, and tangible resources. In employing hard power, there is a chance at large of bullying and buy and bargain. It is less useful today because of its global system changes due to its undesirable features.

Soft power, on the other hand, is inspirational. It is the ability to manage relationships, emotional awareness, and control. It can change the preferences of others. The capacity to attract others to achieve goals or to have what someone wants is another feature of this power. 

How significant is power? Can we use both powers to ensure growth and sustainability? Would it be useful in re-structuring the less favored right to live fruitfully? Could it quench the thirst for quality education? or Could it build a haven for the homeless?

Both abilities are essential in optimizing the level of tolerance in most cases. But in achieving goals to alleviate poverty, scarcity of resources, and limited access to education, one power may dominate the other. The dominance that carries out a mission brings on success to the table without enforcing threats, inducements, and exchange. 

Shared objectives, one feature that makes soft power protrude. It is leveraging the level of failure to acquire appropriate resources for the achievement of ones' ends. The ability to put oneself in another's place is an incentive to engage in public benefit acts like placing donations and or volunteer work. Now, this is the challenge of achieving success. Supposing someone's disposition is somehow better than the one that seeks help. 

Thinking beyond limits...

It was 2017 when they referred me to the home for orphaned and abandoned boys in Bacolod City. It happened when people around us noticed how our family was getting complicated. There were times we couldn't eat for at most twice a day due to the instability of my father's job.

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          Money plays a significant role in the lives of every family or to a particular person like me. In my family, it became one of the main factors of misunderstanding. I could not even go to school once because I needed to find a temporary job or sidelines to earn money, so we could be able to eat dinner. Several people, relatives or non-relatives, wanted to adopt me, but I don't want to leave my grandmother just for this little cause. I refused them, of course. Throwing all of my dreams into trash is the one thing that I will not ever do in my life.

          My brother was referred to in that orphanage, first, because he became involved in trouble, and personnel got them. After a few months, I followed him not because I made a mistake, but because they wanted to help me in my study. I doubted, of course, because I was not getting used to doing it then, to deal with new people. There were still worries before I leave my hometown, but whispers on my ear on grabbing a prize challenged me to deal with it.

          An adjustment was never that easy, and it took me months to adapt to another environment and to familiarize different faces of different people. I met friends - some were true while others were not. But, they made a little bit change on me, to hold back for just a while and to take a nap for just a second. The only thing I did not wholly change was my focus on reaching my dreams. No one has ever hindered me to quit dreaming, neither. In fact, I gained more confidence and more trust in myself than ever been before. I became stronger because I knew that I was on my way to success. Yet, I did not do it with ease.

          This home, I thought firstly, was not the right place for me because I expected it was just for those who have done wrong against human rights, and I wasn't right. Inside this home, I discovered a lot of potentials that I never expected. I awaken the sleeping dream of mine, which is to become a pilot that I still do not know how I came up with dreaming it. The home also provided me options like to pursue engineering, but I don't think I am sure to do it. I also discovered my passion for music, except playing instruments tho. I worked wisely with my academics, and I was thrilled when I became the first honor of my batch. 

          Before I finished my junior high school, I have been through a lot of tests that proved to me I am strong. Many people tried to underestimate my strength, my capacity, but it didn't work for me. Yes, I failed many times, not just once, not even twice, but hundreds of failures, though it doesn't mean you just lay down there and wait for your fall to cover you up with negativity. Somewhat, I stood up, and I fought for I believed I could not let it just happen.

          Now, I am a senior high graduating student, and I know that it only takes fewer steps on the ladder before I put my dreams on my palm. 

          See, my life's not that too broad, right? Well, it is just part of the pages of my book. It is just an important chapter that I could not even deny into the whole world.

No perfect life can make you satisfied...

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No quitting...

          "No man is an island." No man has ever been born just to savor his life solely. As social beings, we are here to go with the people who will mold us into a suitable version of ourselves.

          Notwithstanding my family's circumstances, I grasp giving up is possible. Likewise, I was not here to deal with it. I exist because I believe I am capable of attesting myself.

          Firstly, I never give up because of a woman who taught me to articulate righteousness, my grandmother. She is a selfless but the mightiest woman I have ever met in my whole life. Nonetheless, behind these strengths, there were still secrets she never showed us about, and we should not know definitely. We have a good relationship with each other, more intimate with my mother and my father. I discovered how to look at the very seeming point of this life. Soon I concede how this life of mine deviates from others. It is quite low, but I know there is something better plan served for me in the future.

          Secondly, I have one and only brother, one year younger than me. Many people are comparing me to him, that we were totally unlike in terms of intentions, motives, plans, and even in intellect. They have a point. My brother is exactly my opposite. I prefer to study hard to aim for good grades, but he does not. He does not mind as if he expects nothing for his life. He prefers to get involved in a conflict, which drives people to recognize him badly. He attempted several times to steal something because he likes to. But, I also do not care about our diversities as a brother. I do not know what he is proficient in that maybe I am not. I know he is someone who is just waiting for the right moment to bloom and take a blast afterward.

          These two people I have mentioned are very significant to me, and I would not even possibly find out the real me without them. My grandmother and my obstinate brother, I love them both. I owe so much for who I am today because of their motivations and influence.

          I assert I would never waste any single tears for them. It is not because I do not miss them but because I'm doing all of these, to be good, for them. Besides, I know they are stronger than me. I live my life naturally, so do they.

Mishaps to Live...

Before we born, we are already pre-destined to create our stories. We have our books, blanked and spacious, to fill in with words and everlasting memories of our lives. 

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          I was skeptical in life after I lost my mother, and after my father abandoned me. Actually, they did not have time to raise me since then. My grandmother did. Alone. 

          Afraid to not survive, I began to dream bigger, which makes me learn to strive in life. For me, this life is not just all about success. Yes, it is. Sometimes, it is about progress. 

          For over nine years of sparing my foot at the rocky six-mile distant road every day, I never attempted to pause nor hold my breath to end the game. I know I don't have a perfect family, but they are still great for me. They are always will be. Nonetheless, I don't even hate them because I know they were the ones who shape me to be a strong man today. I think I already have recognized the twenty-five percent of my potential, and now I am still seeking the best version that I can be. 

          I tried to surrender everything from me. I tried to pretend that I am okay, but in fact, I'm not. I tried to swallow my pride every time I see people are bashing me and to keep my lips zipped whenever I hear somebody's trying to drag me down. Before, I don't know how to fight, but as time went along, I learned it. I realized I must choose the accurate time to let go and the exact time to open up considerably. 

          This story is not just for you to believe in me and to be proud of me. I am writing this because I want to inspire everyone that no matter how hard your life becomes, you must never stop. Just keep going. When there are people who say you cannot ever make it to the end, prove them they are wrong. 

          To those who are reading this, you are lucky. Unlike people who tirelessly go anywhere in search of food, clothing, shelter, or even money to spare, they can not feel what you have.

          
          I want to keep everyone reminded that this life has a broad sense of responsibility. There is no need of dragging others down. Instead, let us help everyone to rise from the ashes for us to create another innovative flame, again.

Planting Rice - A village effort

A scene of the farms in Kuyaoyao village and of the villagers working together to plant rice. After a days work, the villagers still manages to put a smile on their faces.