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Business, Food, Food truck, Manhattan, New York City, Transportation and Logistics

A guide to the best food trucks in Manhattan

In food, nuggets of wisdom, NYC, scenes in life, thinking aloud!, tips, Uncategorized on May 30, 2011 at 7:15 pm

Image via Wikipedia

A guide to the best food trucks in Manhattan http://ow.ly/565IS

Notes:

A mentor who decided to build his businesses using his knowledge about European culture (he was born and raised in Italy) once remarked to me that I could very well get into the food truck business here in NYC. The business is dominated mainly by Arabs and of course, the Chinese people. But then he thought I may not really like it, which is truthful. I actually don’t like being in and running the business as I gained very practical experiences on it back in the Philippines – it actually entails so much work than what it seems to most of its customers who think they’re paying so much from the food they decide they like to buy from these food trucks. Some of them would even have the gall to point out that profits are derived from charging 200% from costs, & voila, the owner pockets the money! And seldom you’ll see food trucks owned by people from the Philippines; I think most Filipinos know it better that the business is not at all glamorous as some people may think of it when looking at the surface.

But we have to agree that part of being in NYC is to experience having food from food trucks; they certainly offer the best food you’ll have here in NYC. Coffee, hotdogs, shawarma, ice cream, yogurt, pancakes – name it, you’ll see it offered in one of these food trucks and presented lovingly by the entrepreneur and/or his helpers. I’d even see the mayor having hotdogs with some top ranking officials with their pictures splashed on the tabloids, which can be very amusing. What’s so unusual with that? It’s not because you have much cash in your bank account that you won’t consider having food from food trucks. The issue of ‘cleanliness and hygiene’ can be valid for some, but I can see that most who have issues against buying food from food trucks are merely projecting their own uncleanliness in their personal lives – I can say this because I’ve observed it a lot of times with the people I’ve meet here. They behave as if you look ‘dirty’ but you go take a closer look and you’ll see they’re slobs as well in the privacy of their homes. And I’ve got lots of stories to tell about this, which is all together a different topic.

And going back to the topic of food trucks here in NYC, consider exploring them as there is more to be learned from them other than the food. They’ve been built by great entrepreneurs who actually serve as the backbone of the very strong food industry (and industries further in the business and commerce industries) here in NYC. They’re committed and hardworking, and most of them love what they’re doing, which is something you’ll seldom catch a sight of from countless workers who are employed by small/medium/large sized companies alike in NYC. You’ll see the results with the food they offer as you can get an excellent feeling in your guts of their usual happiness, enthusiasm and thrill over preparing, selling, and making profits from meeting the needs of hungry New Yorkers!

This is the worst-tasting food truck ever [LOLCars] (jalopnik.com)
Food Trucks (thesouthlake.com)

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Business, Career, employment, Quitting

Leap of faith: When quitting your job is the best move for your career

In business, moving on, tips, Uncategorized on March 16, 2011 at 9:30 pm

Image via Wikipedia

Leap of faith: When quitting your job is the best move for your career – http://ow.ly/4foGn

Notes on the link above:

For those who are married with children or those with family obligations, taking the leap to quit their jobs to do those works that they prefer to be doing in the first place IS REALLY GOING TO BE A TOUGH SITUATION FOR THEMSELVES TO GET INTO. Looking back, I was more than blessed to have been able to afford to quit my long term job and move on to a career as a full-time small business owner doing writing works and growing an online store (for books, magazines, CDs, DVDs). I don’t lack people around me who always express their utter disbelief over my decision to give up a career doing HR & Admin Works and push the start button again in my career here in the US. In fact, even some of my friends from my Friday evening prayer meeting group, people who are supposed to be people-of-faith, express surprise and amusement over how I manage to run small businesses here in the US when they mostly see Filipino-Americans here who are employed full time and would shun the idea of putting up businesses. I can’t blame them – really, to each his own.

At least these days, I’ve known and have been meeting real-honest-to-goodness people whose intentions when they meet up with me are not to just to turn me into a mere and unwilling stepping stone to further their careers. I can always help people, but nowadays, most of them shy away from me because they’re aware I’ve no regular income drawn from salaries. I make my own money, save and invest them, and grow my business.

Quitting your job now without offering any clear plans to others around you can indeed be a foolish move. Actually, don’t even try to explain unless they pay you at least $20 for your time to explain to them your decision. At least, if they pay, you’ll earn somehow. It’s high time that you charge others for your time at your own terms. If they refuse, then continue keeping your position and move on to something more significant.

But if you’ve got children or other dependents, MAKE SURE you meet up with them at least 6 months before you quit your job. Ask for inputs from them, and come up with a strategy, which will make them involved and probably come up with better solutions for everyone to be happy and not just be turned into people who are always expected to shell out money come spending time. You’re in a way helping your children and dependents to become reliable and capable in figuring out what they need to do to overcome material challenges of everyday living. Come to think of it, most of what you need in life boil down to having the strength and courage to face life every moment as it happens now.

When quitting is a smart job move (cnn.com)
Trying not to impuslively quit my (new) job (ask.metafilter.com)
Should You Quit Your Job to Travel in a Still Uncertain Economy? (bootsnall.com)
When/How to Quit (marlasgimmeaminute.wordpress.com)
Should I Quit My Job? (online.wsj.com)
Overworked? Make a Leap to America’s 10 Least Stressful Jobs (newsfeed.time.com)
Life Without Regret-Taking the Leap (blogher.com)
Before Taking That Leap Of Entrepreneurship (businessinsider.com)
You should probably quit your job (ottawacitizen.com)
How to quit well. (spitandmud.wordpress.com)

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Business, employment

How to ask for help at work without damaging your career

In career tips, take it as it is, tips, Uncategorized, work on February 28, 2011 at 8:00 pm

Image via Wikipedia

How to ask for help at work without damaging your career – http://ow.ly/44m2t

Notes to the link above:

The article’s been written mainly to share my experiences after having spent at least 20 years being in the corporate world, mostly doing HR and Administrative works. If you are employed, it takes a lot of implementation of tactical approaches on your part to make sure your career direction go on the upswing all the time, unless you get so tired of the politics usually found in organizations (no matter what the size) and you just try to keep your job to bring home a paycheck.

1) Actually, you may have to start to visualizing first what career do you expect to pursue in a matter of time, i.e., 5 years. Be very clear about this vision about your career so you won’t get distracted by a lot of matters that you expect to be around you all the time. You’ll always refer back to this vision especially when failures happen in your way.

2) Try to figure out how to get the help of your boss and the boss of your boss on how your career will grow and become meaningful to you and to the organization. This will ensure support that may come your way from your bosses — if you don’t see support coming, then it’s better to consider your other options.

3) Be a very good teamplayer. This calls for being always ready to help others in your team. If you’re mostly doing solitary jobs, then consider being a good team member with your boss – the two of you form the team and you’ll draw help from each other.

4). Always try to explain in your own words what you think is happening at the workplace. Don’t let others define any work situation to you – this will be your basis of getting into a position of clarity at work. You’ll use these definitions whenever dynamics at work seem to be confusing and not working to your personal interests.

5) Keep your cool, even amid rough situations at work. Don’t easily lose your temper. But try to be always in touch with your emotions, which you can do by writing them down or talking to your self about how exactly your feelings are during difficult work moments.

6) Be a good listener to others’ concerns. You don’t really have to say anything to whatever is being told you, unless the one talking to you is asking a valid question. They will eventually sense that they can turn to you whenever they need help at work, which at most cases involve the need to be listened to.

7) Get a sounding board for your ideas on tackling problems at work. You may have a ‘team of advisors’ at work, which will be made up of members whose trust and confidence in you as a person remain strong even during difficult periods at the workplace.

8) Celebrate small successes at work with everyone in your team, and other stakeholders including your customers. This will send signals to them that your success is also their success.

Asking help at work can be done in may ways, which can also be done very creatively according to whatever resources you have on hand. Ask for help and express gratefulness. You’ll be helped by others when they see you’re actively helping yourself as well.

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Allegedly Unethical Firms, Amazon.com, Business, Entertainment, IPad, Online shopping, Recordings, Shopping, YouTube

blog: moving on-my ‘Spring Awakening’ CD sold on amazon.com

In artists, artworks, awareness, being honest and more loving with myself, being strategic, death, friends, fun, grief, happiness, take it as it is, Uncategorized on February 28, 2011 at 11:00 am

Image via Wikipedia

blog: moving on-my ‘Spring Awakening‘ CD sold on amazon.com – http://ow.ly/44m2b

notes on this posting:

It’s a posting to narrate and share my happy-sad feelings over having sold my copy of ‘Spring Awakening’ through my online store on Amazon.com. You must have heard by now that I’ve been doing sales of used books, magazines, CDs, DVDs through online means, mainly Amazon.com (my storefront here) and eBay.com, which endeavors have been getting good revenues for me even if these entrepreneurial activities call for a lot of detailed work that would not fit everyone’s tastes for work or small (but always growing) business. My ‘Spring Awakening’ CD meant personally a lot to me because it belonged to my dear friend who committed suicide 2 years ago (as of this writing); I got it at a time when his belongings were being thrashed and given away. We would be watching the Broadway show together, and we would be listening to its tracks at least 50 times whenever we’re together. Something’s really so awesomely wonderful and moving with the music that includes, among others, ‘Totally Fucked.’ Watch the YouTube video below:

‘Twas happy but it was sad, too. This CD was sold so soon after I posted for sale on Amazon.com, which I didn’t expect would be getting its buyer’s attention as soon as it was posted online. This just says that online buyers know what they want and they know where to get it before others get ahead of them with the actual purchase. And personally, I took the sale as a sign for me to ‘move on,’ which is the very main theme of this blogsite. I like to believe it’s a clear sign from my dear friend for me to take more solid steps to transitioning myself into what I’ve wanted to accomplish with life while I’m still around. He’s done what he wanted with his life, as far as I could remember the many things we talked about. Being among the most accomplished persons – he was a musician/composer among other things – I’ve known when he died at age 50, he’s done a lot of active reflections on his life, which he also openly shared with me while singing, drinking, dancing, chatting, sharing art experiences, listening to music, discussing about life’s many awesome wonders and terrible upheavals, among other things.

Here’s wishing that the one who bought the CD so soon is enjoying the music, and finding meaning from it as [s]he attempts to apply the thoughts the songs convey to his / her life now.

Spring Awakening (advancedstyle.blogspot.com)
Duncan Sheik: Covers 80′s (Review) (popmatters.com)
Theater auditions: ‘Spring Awakening’ at Breakthrough (orlandotheater.wordpress.com)

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Business, Magazines and E-zines, Small business

Inspirational books for small business owners

In business, motivational, thinking aloud!, tips on February 27, 2011 at 8:15 pm

Image by ShashiBellamkonda via Flickr

Inspirational books for small business owners http://ow.ly/44knh

Small Businesses & Non-Profits: Internal Threats are Biggest Hurdle to Growth CEOs Admit: Small Business’ Greatest Threats Come from Employee Behavior (prweb.com)
Ten best small business stories of the week (theglobeandmail.com)
Listening to Small Businesses at the President’s Forum in Cleveland (whitehouse.gov)
President Obama Meets With Small-Business Owners (boss.blogs.nytimes.com)
Marie Johns’ Story: Supporting Small Businesses and Growing the Economy (whitehouse.gov)

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Business

My article on ‘Pros & Cons of running a business w/a friend’

In business, tips on February 21, 2011 at 2:30 pm

Image by plj.johnny via Flickr

My article on ‘Pros & Cons of running a business w/a friend’ – http://ow.ly/3ZYef

Take all your time to ponder on ideas of doing business with a friend. There’s more behind you can learn from the experience of being in business with a friend – some are able to become successful in it, some simply falter.