Are you on the road to a richer life?
This is my first full week back at the officeafter my study trip abroad. My husband Marvin and I took up a Behavioral Economics course at the Harvard Business School (more on this in future articles). Someone asked me how I was able to still publish my weekly articles and FQwentuhans while away. My answer, “I, together with my staff, prepared them all prior to my trip.” 
My first official activity after the trip was to take part in the Road to Richer Life Event of COL Financial, Inc., in line with its 20th anniversary celebration.
What is special about this COL event is that it is their first non-investment related big event, or should I say non-monetary investment, because it was about that all-important investment in the self.
Some 800 COL clients gathered at the SMX MOA last Friday for a whole day affair of listening and interacting with esteemed speakers namely:
1. Dr. Honey Carandang – our keynote speaker who tackled A Richer Life Inside Out is our country’s top psychologist, and National Social Scientist Awardee. She talked about the importance of having a mindful and balanced life in today’s fast changing and technology-driven world.
2. ArunGogna – international motivational speaker who talked about how to create material wealth and manage one’s relationship with money in his humurous manner, making fun of his Indian genes.
3. Dr. Romy Paredes – the founder of Wellness Health Institute and Wellnessland Wholeness Center, talked about “self-health empowerment” and treating the root cause of illness instead of the symptoms.
4. Victor Paterno – President and CEO of 7-Eleven Philippines who talked about the biggest challenges he faced and how these helped him become the man and leader he is today.
5. Mia Tijam – Executive and Life Coach of Talent Management and Development who talked about how to understand the changes we make in ourselves in order to transition from where we are to where we want to be to succeed in the journey to a richer life.
I was privileged to introduce our keynote speaker and moderate the Q&A right after her talk. ANC On The Money co-anchor Salve Duplito moderated those for the other speakers. It’s worth mentioning that two OFWs from Singapore whom I personally know, Richard Macalintal and Rex Holgado of #FinanciallyLiteratePh, also joined the last leg of the Q&A to share their experiences. These two are very dedicated Filipinos who tirelessly conduct finance talks for our kababayans in their host country. Marvin and I have had the opportunity of giving talks they arranged in Singapore.
The event was hosted by MayiLubaton and Bryan Endaya and the opening remarks was delivered by COL president Dino Bate.
Congratulations COL on your 20th anniversary. This was indeed a generous gesture to your clients. May you continue to educate and engage Filipinos in their journey to achieve a richer life! I hope that the 800 attendees took home important lessons to live by.
For everyone reading this piece, especially those who seem to be on that endless treadmill of lifeconstantly running but going nowhere, please remember to pause, assess what’s going on, and be mindful.
As a permanent fixture in my FQ teachings, I always remind people to make sure that what they do with or for money should align with their core values; otherwise, no amount of money in this world can make them happy.
Being oblivious to the above may result in a feeling of emptiness and even depression despite material abundance. This is a sign that one has to pause, and start being mindful. The above alignment is indeed a necessary ingredient in having a richer life.
I’m sharing a short video on the portion covered by the FQMom staff during the event. Cheers to a richer life! 
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Mom and Son Podcast - Season 4 Episode 5 (ARTHUR TAN)
From Manila to New York, Arthur Tan has served as a DJ in both party scenes. After studying in New York, he know lives there and works as a studio engineer in Brooklyn. We discuss his story of becoming a DJ, how he decided to leave the Philippines to pursue his career in the States.
#MomAndSonPodcast
Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2S950CYUlW2Xyc2uvuwBUn?si=G8s9N-cTRAak7alAYMXrfw
Apple iTunes
https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/mom-and-son-podcast/id1449688689?mt=2
Google Podcasts
https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8yNDE0NDcucnNz
Buzzsprout
https://www.buzzsprout.com/241447/1945580-mom-and-son-podcast-season-4-episode-5-arthur-tan
YouTube
Originally uploaded in Anton Fausto’s YouTube link: https://youtu.be/gnCJQJ9HQ_Y
FQ Mom YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cj0gXsOmHg
2. Thanks to those who already bought the FQ Book, especially to those who took the time out to send me their feedback. Your feedback is food for my soul. To those who have not gotten their copy yet, here’s a short preview of FQ: The nth Intelligence
You may now purchase the book in major bookstores, or if you want autographed copies, please go to FQ Mom FB page (click SHOP), or FQMom.com (click BOOKS), or email us at FQMomm@gmail.com
3. Want to know where your FQ stands? Take the FQ Test Challenge now! Click link. http://rebrand.ly/FQTest
Rose FresFausto is a speaker and author of bestselling books Raising Pinoy Boys and The Retelling of The Richest Man in Babylon (English and Filipino versions). Click this link to read samples – Books of FQ Mom. She is a Behavioral Economist, Certified Gallup Strengths Coach and the grand prize winner of the first Sinag Financial Literacy Digital Journalism Awards. Follow her on Facebook&YouTube as FQ Mom, and Twitter&Instagram as theFQMom. Her latest book is FQ: The nth Intelligence.
IMAGE ATTRIBUTIONS: Photos from COL Financial, unsplash.com, and genequityco.com, modified and used to help deliver the message of the article.
