There are no coincidences in life. Everything that we are today and whatever circumstances we are in right now are the result of all the decisions we’ve made in the past and the cumulative decisions of everyone else in the world. After all, we are not a solitary island floating in this universe. Sometimes, when one ponders quietly especially in prayer, one can see that there seems to be a guiding hand—or sometimes even an evil hand if one is not wary—pointing you the way.
I joined sulit.com.ph with three clear purposes: to learn, to increase hits to my website, and obviously to sell.
I was building my website when I attended a webinar of LopezLink (the newsletter of the Lopez Group of Companies) as I was to write about the activity in a project. Coincidentally, the topic was exactly what I needed to know: social media marketing. In the webinar I met Janette Toral of digitalfilipino, the webinar resource person, who in turn introduced me in turn to sulit.com.ph in one of the slides in her presentation. Then she posted an announcement for contest in facebook which I got curious about. Janette encouraged me to join so I can learn fast. Coincidentally again, the contest—sulit’s Banner Design contest, and later the Sulit Definition Blog Writing contest—turned out to have everything I needed to learn.
My banner entry that won second prize.
I was hesitant at first to participate. To begin with, I was never really interested chatting or posting anything online. But that I have to unlearn if I want to enjoy any measure of success in social media marketing. I also felt that it was also a big risk for someone of my age and position. But then, I had to face realities. Business was in really bad shape. I had to do everything within my means to resuscitate it back to life. I wasn’t really that much interested in the prizes. But I could not figure out what people were doing unless I actually joined the contest. So join I did.
My other entry that also entered the top 20. Yes! I had two entries that got into the finals.
And learn I did! And very quickly at that. I felt like what Time had described IBM when it went into the making of PCs: an elephant learning to sprint. (The details of this 'experiment' is the subject of what I was supposed to blog for a client. I hope to share that too when I'm done with it.)
An win I did too! But bagging the second place with the Blackberry prize was a fringe benefit. The invaluable lessons I learned make the exercise of participating in the contests well worth it. I have accomplished my first two goals. But my third goal of being able to sell has remained elusive. I guess that has also been providential as I do not have enough stocks to sell anyway and I finally became very busy with a few projects.
One of the most important lessons I learned in sulit is how to write in a different way and relate to different types of people. Sulit is a heterogeneous group. It is so unlike my egroups or the corporate world that I have been for so long a part of. At first, I felt trying too hard but then I got the hang of it. Enjoy and you will groove in to the flow. It’s actually becoming addicting. In the process, I had been encouraged to blog elsewhere to lobby for and support for certain advocacies—like why people shouldn’t favor the RH bill. (RH) I also got myself practicing to blog. (patay, simbang gabi)
Along the way, I made a very interesting and very happy discovery. Generous and patient people abound here at sulit. I’m amazed at how many would put in so much time and effort to help others out. I had far too many questions which I’m sure had annoyed admin and many others. I did get my share of very nasty comments and remarks. I’m particularly grateful to blankpixels, daddyjohn, davidgarciajr, digitalretouching, hscanlas (admin), moshpit, rubiusj, santelmo, and a few others for taking time out to answer some of my questions. I’m impressed and very happy to have made friends with some of them. This is not to say however that sulit is paradise. There are many witches and bitches, of both the male and female gender, who are wont to pick cat fights and resort to wicked tricks to get other people into trouble. But that is a lesson in itself and something I had to learn to deal with without following their ways. The admin people were great examples of civil behavior. They were polite and answered almost every query in detail.
The good humor—santelmo’s laughter, hihihi, can actually be contagious—of my young friends here encouraged me to join the definition writing contest. Nope. The entries were not the sort that would win. But I enjoyed writing them, especially the ‘kalokohan’ entries I did. Here’s one entry that I think somehow captures the spirit of friendship here in sulit.
Kumulog, kumidlat, mangyari na ang di dapat. Ang sulitizen ay nanatiling matapat, laging patas sa lahat—sa pagbenta o pagbili, maging sa pagtulong man o pagsisilbi. Sulit ang bulsa, sulit ang konsyensya!
I wrote this blog again upon the prodding of some friends here. I doubt if anyone would learn anything from my story. There is nothing earth-shaking or profound about it. I doubt if it would be up for any prize. If it comes, then it would be most welcome. In writing this blog, there is certainly much more precious ‘prize’ that I would win: that of strengthening my linkages and bonding with new friends. Sulit opened a whole new world for me which only recently had I begun to understand. For certain, it was no coincidence that I had found myself here. Providence led me here. I am able to think clearly and more assuredly that, with my friends and other people’s help here, we can easily overcome whatever problems we may encounter. And for sure, beyond buying and selling, everyone would have a greater purpose—no matter how simple this may seem—for being here in sulit.
P.S.
One lesson I learned in my career and in posting in sulit forums is this: It is always better to make friends than enemies. In my youth, one of my mentors advised me (and it's an advice that I give to staff who are resigning from the office. Never ever burn bridges. You will never know when you need to cross back. That advice has saved my life thorugh the years.
View Message Logs wggozar: updated on October 24, 2010 08:29AM wggozar: updated on October 18, 2010 02:59PM wggozar: updated on October 18, 2010 02:53PM wggozar: updated on October 16, 2010 08:30PM wggozar: updated on October 16, 2010 08:06PM wggozar: updated on October 16, 2010 08:02PM wggozar: updated on October 16, 2010 05:12PM wggozar: updated on October 16, 2010 05:12PM wggozar: updated on October 16, 2010 05:02PM wggozar: updated on October 16, 2010 04:33PM wggozar: updated on October 16, 2010 04:12PM wggozar: updated on October 15, 2010 10:07AM wggozar: updated on October 15, 2010 10:03AM wggozar: updated on October 15, 2010 07:06AM wggozar: updated on October 15, 2010 06:50AM wggozar: updated on October 15, 2010 06:48AM wggozar: updated on October 14, 2010 07:46PM wggozar: updated on October 14, 2010 07:06PM
i like this, "There are many witches and bitches"! hehehe.. great story! we will never know and learn if we don't try..
lolz true ture ^_^
nice entry sir wggozar. marami din ako natutunan dito sa sulit.
sana manalo ka ulit ^_^
Ay naku. Dami talaga nila. Ayun. Nasara tuloy yung isang thread. Malabo nang manalo. Parang hindi na lumulusot ang previous winners, lalo na very recent pa.
Message appended on October 15, 2010 07:41AM
accountno0543210101 posted on October 14, 2010 09:47PM
congratulations poh sayo . . .
Thanks pero baka malayo siya para manalo.
View message logs wggozar: appended post on October 15, 2010 07:41AM
i like this, "There are many witches and bitches"! hehehe.. great story! we will never know and learn if we don't try..
lolz true ture ^_^
nice entry sir wggozar. marami din ako natutunan dito sa sulit.
sana manalo ka ulit ^_^
Ay naku. Dami talaga nila. Ayun. Nasara tuloy yung isang thread. Malabo nang manalo. Parang hindi na lumulusot ang previous winners, lalo na very recent pa.
Message appended on October 15, 2010 07:41AM
accountno0543210101 posted on October 14, 2010 09:47PM
congratulations poh sayo . . .
Thanks pero baka malayo siya para manalo.
bakit naman hindi? kung winning piece mananalo po yan.. Our admins made it clear sa "share your sulit.com.ph experience" how fair their contests are kaya don't worry. :) Nice entry po!
i like this, "There are many witches and bitches"! hehehe.. great story! we will never know and learn if we don't try..
lolz true ture ^_^
nice entry sir wggozar. marami din ako natutunan dito sa sulit.
sana manalo ka ulit ^_^
Ay naku. Dami talaga nila. Ayun. Nasara tuloy yung isang thread. Malabo nang manalo. Parang hindi na lumulusot ang previous winners, lalo na very recent pa.
Message appended on October 15, 2010 07:41AM
accountno0543210101 posted on October 14, 2010 09:47PM
congratulations poh sayo . . .
Thanks pero baka malayo siya para manalo.
bakit naman hindi? kung winning piece mananalo po yan.. Our admins made it clear sa "share your sulit.com.ph experience" how fair their contests are kaya don't worry. :) Nice entry po!
I saw two pieces with a truly compelling story. The one by a single mom whose sister died and left her depressed, the other yung tinulungan ng mga taga sulit to pay for his hospital bills. Maganda yung story nila. Tingin ko dapat manalo yun.
Really excellent writing style up po para sa entry ninyo!!! :-) I wish one day gumaling din ako magsulat kagaya ninyo, kaya lang very limited talaga experiences ko hehe. A good writer ata kelangan maraming naeexperience para marami pwede ikwento at sabihin. Good luck to your entry din po. Thanks!
Really excellent writing style up po para sa entry ninyo!!! :-) I wish one day gumaling din ako magsulat kagaya ninyo, kaya lang very limited talaga experiences ko hehe. A good writer ata kelangan maraming naeexperience para marami pwede ikwento at sabihin. Good luck to your entry din po. Thanks!
Really excellent writing style up po para sa entry ninyo!!! :-) I wish one day gumaling din ako magsulat kagaya ninyo, kaya lang very limited talaga experiences ko hehe. A good writer ata kelangan maraming naeexperience para marami pwede ikwento at sabihin. Good luck to your entry din po. Thanks!
Thanks. You don't really need to have much experience. You can experience things viariously, mainly through reading, even watching movies and television (selectively, not showbiz talk shows). Read, read, read. PRactice. Write, write, write. Teddy Boy Locsin wrote about it, Teddy Benigno showed off. You must also read classics, history, and philosophy. These kinds of readings help polish your thought processes. What is important is clarity of your thought. Not to say that language is not important. But substance counts first before expression.
Really excellent writing style up po para sa entry ninyo!!! :-) I wish one day gumaling din ako magsulat kagaya ninyo, kaya lang very limited talaga experiences ko hehe. A good writer ata kelangan maraming naeexperience para marami pwede ikwento at sabihin. Good luck to your entry din po. Thanks!
Thanks. You don't really need to have much experience. You can experience things viariously, mainly through reading, even watching movies and television (selectively, not showbiz talk shows). Read, read, read. PRactice. Write, write, write. Teddy Boy Locsin wrote about it, Teddy Benigno showed off. You must also read classics, history, and philosophy. These kinds of readings help polish your thought processes. What is important is clarity of your thought. Not to say that language is not important. But substance counts first before expression.
Nako sir, never in my life na inisip ko na pwede ako maging writer, pero dahil senyo eh parang gusto ko magbasa tungkol sa creative writing hehe. At nakita ko ang website ninyo ha sobrang award winning pala ang company ninyo. Keep up the good work. Hope eh makakuha kayo ng maraming clients sa Sulit.
Message appended on October 17, 2010 06:12PM Baka pwede din kayo mag open ng thread parang creative writing for dummies lol Tapos with reading materials na din starting with the basics ba, grammar. Common mistakes in grammar. Tapos papuntang creative writing na. Tapos mga must read para sa inyo lol. Or better yet, baka pwede na kayo magtayo ng school :-) Tapos discounted or free (joke) pag member ng Sulit.
View message logs miloeverydayok: appended post on October 17, 2010 06:12PM
Message appended on October 17, 2010 06:12PM Baka pwede din kayo mag open ng thread parang creative writing for dummies lol Tapos with reading materials na din starting with the basics ba, grammar. Common mistakes in grammar. Tapos papuntang creative writing na. Tapos mga must read para sa inyo lol. Or better yet, baka pwede na kayo magtayo ng school :-) Tapos discounted or free (joke) pag member ng Sulit.
i like this, "There are many witches and bitches"! hehehe.. great story! we will never know and learn if we don't try..
lolz true ture ^_^
nice entry sir wggozar. marami din ako natutunan dito sa sulit.
sana manalo ka ulit ^_^
Ay naku. Dami talaga nila. Ayun. Nasara tuloy yung isang thread. Malabo nang manalo. Parang hindi na lumulusot ang previous winners, lalo na very recent pa.
Message appended on October 15, 2010 07:41AM
accountno0543210101 posted on October 14, 2010 09:47PM
congratulations poh sayo . . .
Thanks pero baka malayo siya para manalo.
hinid malayong manalo yan lahat dito sa sulit panalo walang talo
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