CA2020, SCAM OR NOT A SCAM? That is the Question

Have you been invited or are you being invited by any member of a so-called community named "Create Abundance 2020" or "CA2020" for short? They say that they would like to make the Philippines a "First World Country" by making Filipino "multimillionaires". 

If  you are not aware, here is a brief introduction to this community.

CA2020 Free Wealth Courses

They have 3 "free" wealth courses in which you have to finish a task to be able to attend the next module.

Their first module "Awareness". They make you aware of what the future holds for you with your current situation. But for this module I think the concept of "Money Jar" stand out. It did help me manage my money more efficiently.

Money Jar as Money Management

Necessity - 50%

FFA (for Investment) - 20%

LTS (Lifetime Savings) - 10%

Education - 10%

Play - 5%

Give - 5%

To be able for Mr. Wings to attend the second module "Unlearning", he have to invite 2 people to attend Module 1 and 101 ways on how he can be get Php1,000,000.00 in a week. This can include logica/illogical or legal or illegal ways. If he is having second thoughts, he will still be follow-up by this community.  Even if you say "NO", they will still ask you few more times. Now, let us say that Mr. Wings attended this module, he is able to invite 2 of his friends. This lecture is about what is your way of thinking about rich people. How you're thinking is influence by your parents and their previous experiences, media and your surroundings. They will ask you to keep an open-mind during the discussions and to be as honest as possible. The moderator for this lecture was good and got me more interested and intrigue.

Module 3 "Relearning", to be able to attend this module, Mr. Wings have to invite 2 people more to attend module 1 and write 101 reasons why he want to be rich. The reason that he will he be stating will be based on his dreams, ambition and goals. Still, CA2020 will do continuous follow-up on him to finish his 101 reason. Again, the discussion was good and believable. This is the part that he is asked if he will continue or stop. He can say "YES" or "NO".

Wealth Courses are held in the following:

Monday/Tuesday - 3:00~5:00 and 6:00~9:00

Before: Starbucks, Pearl Drive Ortigas Complex, Pasig City

Now: Shangrila, Near the Cinema

Wednesday/Thursday - 3:00~5:00 and 6:00~9:00

Paseo de Roxas Bldg. Makati

Most of what they teach are from Robert Kiyosaki and T. Harv Eker Books. They also quote some entry in the books and tell it to the attendees of the modules.

CA2020 Cash Flow 101 and Cash Flow 202

I was also able to attend the cash flow game of R. Kiyosaki organized by this group. They asked for Php400.00/player or 200/player of group of 3 which is used for the players lunch and rent for the place . I only played once but I have to admit the game was fun and educational. It is something new for me. It was done every Saturday and  Sunday or special events. They usually hold it in "Spicy Fingers" and "Makati Stock Exchange". By the way, Cash Flow 101 Board game made by R. Kiyosaki costs approx. Php15K and we only found 1 in Toy 'r Us at Robinson Galleria.

Start of the Dilemma

Again, let us assume that Mr. Wings said "YES" after module 3, to be able to attend the Module 4,  He have to state 101 reason why he want to be a member of the"Core Team". Also, he have to read "Why We Want You to be Rich" or what they call "3WYTBR" by R. Kiyosaki, CA2020 Power Investing Plan, Do you have what it takes to be rich and Top 10 to do before joining the CA2020 Core Team. Of course, he finished them all, so he was able to attend the next module. Now, during Module 4 another coach gave some questions during the discussion which  the goal is to get his "deeper why". He wrote down on the paper Php1,000~Php50000 denominations and asked mr. Wings to write names of friends that he think will lend  him the money that will have a total of Php100K.  Yes, I repeat Php100K. Then, he was asked to send text messages to this people and see if how many will lend him the money.  This is what they call "NT" or "Network Test".

What is the money for?

This is the fun part, most of the people who attended the wealth courses were fueled by their curiosity. Why? because if you talked to a coach and he said that "I did not experience employment, after graduation I found this community and joined. Now, I am earning passive income.". Who would not want that kind of life, or who would not want to earn passive income? So you start to ask how can they do that, what are their businesses? They will say that if you are not a member of the core team, it is a secret. They will tell you that "if   this secret/system  is broadcast to the public then many would like to join, anyone can join. Here are some more lines that you might hear:

1. Have we sold anything to you?

2. Big Business owner do leverage on "Other peoples time (OPT), "Other people money(OPM)", "Other people resources(OPR)", "Other Peoples skill(OPT)", etc.

3. Imagine through if there is 150 members in the community and each member net worth is 1,000,000, you have 150,000,000 total net worth.

4. Answers will be given one step at a time

Now, I think it is time to answer the question what is the 100K for?

Mr. Wings was able to gather 100K, he have to bring the money and attend the Pre-Panel. What is Pre-panel? Mr. Wings will be given a "application form" (but they call it a contract) of NU Skin Enterprises (NSE).  NSE is a legal and good company (you can check their site if you like). Yes, it as you think, the 100K that you leverage with other people will be used to buy NSE starter kits. Normal process, to be a distributor you can spend 12,600 or 21K++ and they are point basis, CA2020 is no exception.

How to return your 100K?

Mr. Wings is not familiar with this company, that it is a kind of network marketing. He gave the 100K and buy the kits. To return his 100K, he is shown the "compensation plan", but to make it short you have to, as to what their term is "invite" 4 people who will join the core team and spend 100K. This is what CA2020 call "Innovative Franchising". It is their "First step" to earn passive income. To increase Mr. Wings passive income through network marketing he and his other invites must invite more people who are willing (sort of).

They say, they have other source of income, that NSE is only 5% of the whole picture. They will say "We are looking for leaders", or in network marketing term "downline". They will also differentiate "downline" from "leaders",  they say leaders because they train you how to talk and express your self, "to prepare you to be an entrepreneur". Well, they do provide leadership trainings which include their free wealth course. Furthermore, they say to a new core team member, "all you have to do is invite, we will do the rest". "The rest" means the community will "convert" your invites so they might join the community.

For my points of view, 

a. Nothing should be kept especially if it involves that amount of money.

b. It is like that the dreams, goals or ambition of the person attending the wealth course is being used

    as ammunition for hypnotizing these person.

c. Since the person joining the core team is entrusting their dreams to the community, everything 

    should be open or cleared.

d. Do not call people "LOSERS" just because they quit. It is said that personal growth is developed in 

    this community but this behavior does not show it.

e. If you are not prepared to do their system, STOP now, cause it will be a lot harder getting out

   and it is hard to return the 100K.

I wrote this blog so that people who are searching about CA2020 will be able to see what they are getting in to especially if details are being kept from them. I am not saying that they are a scam or not a scam. The judgement to this will still be from the person who is going to enter this community. For those who will be or planning to join, please do proceed with caution, Do not let your curiosity get the best of you. Remember that "curiosity kills the cat".

Way Way..No Way!!!

Just ask a friend about what should I write today, it took her about 15 minutes before she gave me a topic
 "How to get rich?". Also she provided me with 2 steps, first, "resigned in the **** company. Second, find another job then start a business.

I don't blame her because for bread winners like us, additional income and high compensation or great benefit  policy not only for the employees but  also for our family is necessary. For an IT company, I can say that we have the smallest salary and has very slow growth. Some says that we are lucky to have jobs and I do not disagree with respect to the current economic situation of the country. But the current promotion policy promotes slow (very) self-growth and career-growth. It is a great source of demotivation for most of the employees especially for those who should have proven themselves to be technically good and feels that they deserve a promotion. But, before it happen they should stand out among the rest. How? as I was informed by another colleague in order to stand out, we should pass a language exam, when I say language it means English, Filipino, Japanese, French, etc. I asked her that does that mean that even if  I have 10 projects , I will not still be promoted if I don't pass this language exam? She said, Yes. Again, the reason is it is our job to be good in programming or bug fixes so having many projects does not make you stand out.

Moreover, the company aims to give the clients delight, happiness and satisfaction but how about the happiness and satisfaction of their employees? It is ok to achieve the clients needs even if it causes employee demotivation and dissatisfaction? There are company that is proven to be successful and gives client satisfaction because their employees are happy. With our type of, management, no wonder turnover is high this year. Right now, the following questions are yet to be answered.

1. What is more important, good technical skills or language skills?

2. Is it ok to have the senior staff resigned or hire and train new employees?

Plans of my resignation is already in motion, resumes has been updated and sent to online job finders. I just wish that I could do this in until January 2010.

Sand Castles and Waves

“The wave knock down the kids castle that they have carefully and eagerly built but when the wave knock it down you never see them cry instead they hold hands, laugh and try to build another one.”

Its supposed to be a story pero ito ung summary nun, well personally I dont know how to make a sand castle pero malamang mahirap yun. In the story, the sand castle is compared to a relationship either friendship or love relationship, magbibigay ka ng effort para mabuo, magtagal, maging maganda. Sa sand castle tubig ang medium mo para mabuo, sa isang relationship kelangan mo ng trust para maging matatag. Ang mga challenges at ang influence ng mga taong nasa paligid siguro ang masasabi kong wave na pwedeng sumira sa isang relasyon.

Paano kung ang castle na pinoprotektahan mo ay nasira una, dahil sa hinayaan mo na lang na tangayin ito ng alon at di mo man lang hinarangan. Pangalawa, pwede din naman na ang mismong kasama mo sa pagbuo ng castle ang naghagis nito sa dagat. Pangatlo, nagsawa ka na lang, napagod ka na dahil kahit anong gawin mo lumalapit pa rin ang castle mo sa wave at nagpapasira.

Kung paano mo mahahayaan ang isang bagay na mahalaga sayo at matagal mong pinaghirapan na protektahan na masira lang ng mga waves ng buhay at di mo na susubukang buuin ulit ay pagsuko, isang reyalisasyon sa buhay na kahit anong gawin mo ay di na mababago lalo na kung ang pinakapundasyon ay nasira na.

     Isang uri rin ng pagbabago sa buhay na dapat nating tanggapin gusto man natin o hindi. Kung ang takot mo naman na masaktan ang hahayaan mong kumain sa pagkatao mo, isa iyong kawalang saysay na kaisipan. Kung gusto mong pagkatiwalaan ka dapat ibigay mo rin iyon sa taong hinihingian mo.

Mr. Wings and Friends

Grabe talaga. Natututo na akong magreklamo. Wawa naman si Mr. Wings and friends. Wala daw silang pag-asang mapromote kung di papasa sa isang pagsusulit. Ok lang kaya na magresign na kaming lahat? Nawawalan na kasi kami ng motivation na hinihila na lamang ang sarili upang makabangon sa hinihigaan. Sana naman mabigyan nila ng pansin ang makakabuti sa aming mga munting manggagawa at hindi lamang ang kanilang kaginhawaaan.

Wow ha!

Last  week, we received  a good news. Ano ung good news? Meron daw kaming market adjustment "YEHEY" pero round to the nearest 50 pesos ng current salary mo.  Ano daw? paki-ulit, ang sabi OO may market adjustment pero round to the nearest 50 pesos. Paano un sabi ko, binigyan ako ni Mr. Wings ng sample.

HALIMBAWA:

Current salary: Php1050.00

NEW salary: Php1100.00

INCREASE: Php50.00 -> wow

Current salary: Php1049.00

NEW salary: Php1050.00

INCREASE: Php1.00 -> wow pa rin sa piso

Current salary: Php1049.50

NEW salary: Php1050.00

INCREASE: Php0.50-> ang laki

Pinagpawisan ako, di ko alam kung saan ko gagastusin ung increase ko.

Makakabili na ako ng isa pang kendi. Tayo ay magpasalamat sa increase. 

Tapos magtataka tayo bakit mataas turn-over.

Promotion Daw

Most of us are employees, we live through our monthly salaries. We pay credits cards, house, rent, food and many more through it. And like most of us, we ask for an increase in our paycheck, we want to be promoted to the next position. We would like our efforts to be recognized by it.  Recession, a lot of company closed, thousands of employees were terminated and my company is not exemption. They say we are lucky because no employee were terminated.

How? Well, new policies were implemented. For example, one is forced leaves were implemented. At least half of our leaves were planned which in a way is OK, maybe for some it is not especially if you are one of those who already exhausted all their leaves before the end of the year.  Two, freeze hiring was also done. Three, which in a way annoys me is "new promotion" policy was implemented.

Promotion does not only leads to increase in salary, it also says that your good hard work and effort is being recognized.

so why does the new promotion policy pisses me off? The old promotion policy was already a pain. For my first promotion it took me almost one and half year, for my second promotion it took me around 1 year. For me to be promoted for the 3rd time, depends on my grade on the PA, this is if there is a promotion every semester . How does the new promotion policy, promotion only happens once every fiscal year. Also, you have to reach a minimum grade to be able to go the next level. For example, a new employee already stayed with the company for almost 2 years and he has not been promoted even once. Maybe your thinking maybe he is not working enough? This is how he spent his time, he was already involved in a project while he was on probation. How many? 2 projects to be exact. After regularization, he became a member of another project. He is the only developer of that project which involves bug fixes, etc. Did he get promoted?, no he did not because of the new policy and the fact that he had not pass a certain exam inside the company. After that, he supports another development project. Until now he is not yet promoted. There are many like him, performance should be taken into account before any grade that is very objective.