Almost is the same as never

CEBU, Philippines - You cannot go back and start a new beginning, but you can start today and make a new ending.

Erlwin Abanggan often hear people talking about living life to the fullest. "I took this advice to heart and started my quest in finding the answers. I discovered that a lot of people work so hard, eat, sleep, have fun and then die as if they have never lived and live as if they will never die," he mentioned in the author's note of his recently launched 118-page inspirational book "Almost is the Same as Never."

Abanggan, a financial planner and life coach, seeks to share what he thinks: that regret is a worst feeling. "I'm just glad that I still have time to reshape my life and make the most out of it."

He shared that a few years ago, he conducted a seminar on time management and preparation. He noticed that an old lady was sobbing at the back of the room during the discussion on the pain of regret. "I asked her if there was anything I said that might have hurt her feelings," Abanggan shared. The woman replied in a low voice, "No. I just wish I knew these things when I was your age."

The principles Abanggan wrote in this book are a collection of lessons and realizations. According to him, these are drawn from personal experiences and from those of other people.

"One of the writers I truly admire is Aesop (an Ethiopian slave who wrote numerous fables that teach great truths). His story of the Fox and the Grapes tells that just like the fox, many of us miss the opportujnity to enjoy the sweet fruits of life. Some call it quits when the going gets tougher and tougher. Others continue the journey but they consign to a state of mediocrity just to get by," he stressed.

"What you are about to learn from this book," he added, "can change your life. These principles are simple, effective, and fairly easy to apply. They have been proven over and over and over again and they will work for you if you will let them."

Dr. Ophelia Veniegas (educator, human resource specialist and international trainer) wrote the foreword of the book. According to her, there's a great difference in being a positive thinker and an effective thinker. A positive thinker focuses on the bright side of things; an effective thinker focuses on both the positive and the negative side of things and thinks through the situation. He is not bogged down by defective thoughts, such as "It's all or nothing," "I need to cover my back," or "I'm a loser." He takes responsibility for his actions.

She then called on everyone out there "to read this book. Remember to act now for almost is the same as never."

"This is a book written not to entertain you but to help you get on with life and to live it more fully and intentionally," Abanggan enthused.

To enjoy the book and its impact on your life, contact EC&C International Consultancy at (032) 512-5457 or 09054187316. Email [email protected].

The company conducts the following programs, among others: Power with People Seminar, financial management, time management, goal setting, will power and discipline, emotional intelligence, perspective and mindset change, customer service, management versus leadership.

Abanggan is the president of EC&C. He is a dynamic leader, career and business coach, organizational consultant and author whose advice has given insights to people from different walks of life. He is also a licensed associate financial planner and trainer.

He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Talamban), International Marketing Group-Warriors Team, Toastmasters International - Queen City Club, and BYU Business Management - Cebu Group.

He and his wife Ayo Gutierrez lives in Cebu City with their son, Carlos.

The book is also available online at Stratus Marketing (stratusmall.com), which then seeks to sell over 10 million copies in both e-book form and hard copy. Moreover, in a month's time this will be carried by major bookstores here, Abanggan vows.

For the first one hundred copies last December 28 during the launch at SM City Cebu, the book was sold at P175, half of its original price.