Weekends with Archie

An Inspiration from Mr. Chris Gardner

August 25, 2007

I just finished watching Pursuit of Happyness.  It features the struggles and success of Mr. Christopher Gardner who now owns a big stock brokerage company.  I'm sharing below a synopsis of the movie from his own website:

In The Pursuit of Happyness, Chris Gardner (Will Smith) is a family man struggling to make ends meet. Despite his valiant attempts to help keep the family afloat, the mother (Thandie Newton) of his five-year-old son Christopher (Jaden Christopher Syre Smith) is buckling under the constant strain of financial pressure. No longer able to cope, she reluctantly decides to leave.

Chris, now a single father, continues to doggedly pursue a better-paying job using every sales skill he knows. He lands an internship at a prestigious stock brokerage firm, and although there is no salary, he accepts, hopeful he will end the program with a job and a promising future. Without a financial cushion, Chris and his son are soon evicted from their apartment and forced to sleep in shelters, bus stations, bathrooms or wherever they can find refuge for the night.

Despite his troubles, Chris continues to honor his commitment as a loving and caring father, using the affection and trust his son has placed in him as an impetus to overcome the obstacles he faces.

While watching the movie, I can't help but reflect his life on mine. I am not exactly homeless and I do not have a son but I am financially challenged.  I absolutely earn my own money, live on my own, and help sustain the needs of my family while working in one of the most esteemed company that is pursued by many. And like Mr. Gardner, I also wanted to be a good father and a philanthropist someday. He once said to his son, "Don't let anything or anyone stop you from achieving your dream. Protect it and make it possible."

As I go on with life,  I am looking and pursuing my own state of happiness.  I'm having this movie as my inspiration.

Posted by archieriva at 4:45 pm | permalink | comments[2]

My New Phone (Again)

I finally got a new phone last Sunday and if you're asking me why, my answer is the usual reason -  I lost my old phone.

Yes, I lost a phone again and I know it has been happening every year. The one I lost was a Nokia 3530 which I also bought for a pretty similar reason - it got lost while riding a public transportation last Friday.  My records in the dorm show that my number changes every year since freshman. You might probably know by now that I only buy low-end phones since I might be losing it in a year's time.  Perhaps it's a curse, oh well, I must have accepted it by now. The one I lost last Friday was already a year old and so I just believe time is up for him already. Funny!

 

Here now is my new phone: Alcatel OT-C 825.  It was recently featured in FHM having the functionality of a media player and a style of a high-end business phone. What actually amazes me is its direct USB connection which means that I can directly transfer and store files, capture photos or music or videos, and even view people online by making it a portable webcam.

Trivia: it's my first time to have a phone with a camera and a music player in it so I might be able to enjoy it for now. I was actually looking for a phone with a built-in FM radio but unfortunately this new buddy doesn't have it. Reviews say it's one of the best phones for this quarter and so far, I receive positive feedback from the people about the way it looks. Seems like I made a good decision then. This is so far the most valuable asset I bought since I came in to work. So that curse? It must be no more!

Oh by the way, you can now reach me at 0921-9692020. Yes, I already changed to Smart. The people closest to me are subscribed to Smart, so fine, now's the right time to change networks. Goodbye Globe and goodbye to that good old blue ribbon that's now changed into bursting bubbles which I don't like at all.

Posted by archieriva at 2:50 pm | permalink | Add comment

Teambuilding in Canyonwoods

 

Last Thursday and Friday, the whole FSS (Financial Solutions and Services) Group went to Canyonwoods Residences in Tagaytay for its annual teambuilding activity. It's my first teambuilding in P&G and I had a good time. It was engrande and I know that there will be a lot more to come. Meaning, I should work more diligently then because I realized the company is ready to give you whatever you need if you prove you're deserving enough to have them.

Posted by archieriva at 1:30 pm | permalink | Add comment