The Five-Step Process of Training People

I think it's high-time to start a new category in God and You - one about leadership. I’ve written a handful before but this time God is taking me to new levels about leadership – especially now that our team over at SEO Hacker has grown to about 15 people.

Sean & Apple - Our Story and Engagement

Apple and I got engaged last February 9. Just to explain, in Chinese tradition, there is something we call 'Ting-hun' which is how we celebrate a betrothal between a man and woman. It is a grand ceremony involving a reception, jewelries, exchanging of food, goods, and other respects between families. This is my story behind all that God has done leading up to our engagement ceremony. I basically grew up in a family that is in the middle-class. I praise God for my dad who is a great provider. We never lacked any necessary thing - food, shelter, clothes, you name it. I praise God for my mom who is a great supporter and wife to my dad. The deal was for me to be 'on my own' after I graduate. Since I didn't do too well at school because of my addiction to computer games, 'on my own' came in a little too early in my life. I remember there was a point in my life when I ate Skyflakes (a brand of crackers) for lunch and dinner while I was working in Ortigas area (I live in Las Pinas area by the way). It wasn't because I enjoyed eating Skyflakes so much. It's because I had no money and a bunch of Skyflakes would cost me only 18 pesos. I commuted from Las Pinas to Ortigas every day. I would walk outside our village, rode 1 trycicle, then a jeepney, then a bus, then the MRT, then I would walk around a good 20 minutes to work. Going home was not much different - I would walk to the MRT, ride it, ride a bus, ride a jeepney then the trycicle then walk back home. My shoes were with me for 3 long years - the soles grew thin to the point of my feet being able to feel pain if I stepped on a rock. I couldn't afford buying new ones. I was paid a salary of 6,000 pesos a month for working sometimes from 6am-12am. I told myself that if I were to get married to a girl, I would look for a girl whose family had less money than we had - so that I wouldn't have to provide for a Ting-hun and a huge wedding. I told myself that I wouldn't be able to marry by my dream age of 25 but I'll still try to work hard so I could. I met Apple in a Singles retreat in our local church. Big 5 retreat. There were 1,130 attendees during that retreat. I was in that retreat for one purpose alone. I accompanied my friend - a baby Christian - to attend Module 1. I usually facilitate a Module 2 group, but that time I attended Module 1 with my friend. I wanted to give that time and money (I paid for my friend's retreat fee) to God - to help my friend know more about who God is. Apple was about to go back to her room on the last night of the retreat. I was getting to know people - introducing them to this blog (yes, I was already blogging in God and You during that time). Our eyes met, and as I did with everyone else, I also approached her and introduced this blog to her. We talked about philosophy, we talked about ourselves, we talked about God. It was a good night. I started courting her but in the middle of it all, I just wasn't her type of guy. And God decided it wasn't the right time. I got busted. I'm not going to hide it from you. It was awfully painful. And I couldn't understand it then - but God had a wonderful plan going on. During that time I was working in HP (based in Ortigas - again), and it was at that time that God led me to start an SEO business (which I practiced here in God and You blog). It was at this time that I completely enjoyed being single - helping out in ministry, going on adventures scuba diving (for free since I had a scuba diving company for a client), and being able to buy real meals and new shoes! God is so good! God brought me and Apple back in touch when I served in an event of our local church at Shang-rila hotel in front of the HP building where I worked at. I met her dad there as I ushered people in the event. We talked about their company website and SEO - and he asked me to talk with Apple about it. I was heavy-hearted because honestly I didn't want to do their website anymore but my friend (the baby-Christian whom I accompanied in the retreat) encouraged me that I should. He told me to keep my word. So I did. I met up with Apple and I asked if we could talk. God opened the doors for us again. And the rest as they say.... Will be blogged for another time. What I want to point out is, I never imagined these things would come to pass. Only by God's grace. Looking back, everything that happened in my life with Apple - our love story - is written by the hand of the Lord. There were a lot of close-calls, a lot of impossibilities and miracles. You see, before our Ting-hun happened, I had a client who has failed to pay up for more than 10 months. That was a considerable amount. Apple and I prayed that if God really wanted our Ting-hun to push through, the client would pay up. God told us that it was time. At the exact moment, the client paid up - and I was able to use that money to provide for all the expenses of our Ting-hun. Before, I never imagined that I would have my own Ting-hun. Today, that event has passed. Looking back, everything I have lifted up to God - whether it's money, time, effort, goals, dreams, etc. God has blessed me back - in grand ways that I could not even begin to imagine. It is such a joy to share this story to you. A story that is impossible without God. A story that is truly God's work. And as astounding as it seems - a story that Apple and I can call our own. All glory, honor, praise and recognition be to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I am excited for what is to come! via h3sean.com

Posted via email from h3sean's posterous

The New SEO Era: 5 New Grounds to Avoid Extinction

SEO is an ever-changing industry. We all know it. Not long ago, SEO used to simply be about keywords, then it became about links, then it became about all that plus social signals, plus site speed, plus less ads above the fold, plus, plus, plus. So what do we really need to consider in this new era of SEO?

How to Overcome Jealousy

Jealousy. For many of us who have finished school and are now at work, we think jealousy is so High School. For some men, being jealous is a girl thing. Still for others, it's for immature people. As for me, I look at jealousy so much differently after attending one Bible Study 3 years ago. Have you ever been annoyed by someone who has done nothing wrong to you? Have you ever had that feeling of not wanting to associate yourself with someone but there is no apparent reason as to WHY? That my friend, is jealousy. Sadly, it's not just for women and does not die after high school. This article is for men and women out there who have avoided a number of people because of "not knowing why". It is also for brothers and sisters in Christ to remember that God is never pleased when jealousy creeps in your relationships. And more so, this article speaks to remind WHAT WE SHOULD DO when we are humble enough to ADMIT that we are jealous. Jealousy as wikipedia defines is: "an emotion that refers to negative feelings towards someone". It pertains to feelings such as insecurity, fear and anxiety. And because we are humans, we normally wouldn't want to feel inferior or less able compared to others. This is of course, thanks to our logical, most of the time selfish and sometimes unreasonable, hard to please ego or pride. So, we avoid people who tend to bring about these 'feelings' and say, "I just don't like her.", "There's something about him that pisses me off." Creates a Gap Needless to elaborate, this negative emotion separates potential best friends to become strangers to each other. It feeds on our pride that we are better off without that person. And tells us it's because there's something wrong with him or her. Jealousy makes sure that no relationship will grow out of both parties, thus, NO IMPACT, NO GROWTH. Where did it all start? "Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" - Genesis 3:1 "The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.” Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” - Genesis 3:12-13 The serpent used Eve's emotions (a delight, good for food) and crawled its way to feeding on her curiosity (your eyes will be opened) and pride (you will be like God). And then when God confronted them, they passed the bucket to one another and started pointing fingers. Result: GAP between man and woman, GAP between man and his work. And ultimately, GAP between God and His masterpiece - you and me. How then can God be pleased when there's a gap? What to do? 1. Be Masters of Your Emotions Writing from experience, I once avoided a girl who was close to Sean (my fiancee) before we met. I avoided her because I know (women's intuition) that this girl likes Sean. She's committed to the Lord, pretty, spontaneous, etc. I never admitted it to myself but because God asked me to write about jealousy, I have to admit this to you that I was, in fact, jealous. (covers face! @Sean.. sshhh) But God being Sovereign, Perfect and delightfully, a Gentleman, orchestrated an event for us (me and this girl) to sing together. In this event, I got to know her better, enjoyed her company and there, became friends. :) I have been impacted by her servant heart, blessed by her devotions and more. 2. Be Proactive Know and remember that the people in your life are there for a purpose. And if you don't know it, then focus on this one thing - IT'S ALL ABOUT GOD. Not your feelings, not your thoughts. GOD. So glorify Him and please Him even by just being kind. Start a conversation. Offer her your seat at the lunch table. Let him cue first before you. You will be surprised how God will bless your obedience. 3. Remember who you are You are a child, friend, ambassador of the King of Kings! Step up to who you truly are supposed to be. Jealousy kills opportunities to be a friend and to please God. Don't let it happen. via h3sean.com

Posted via email from h3sean's posterous

Google Analytics Tutorial for Beginners

Google Analytics is one of the best tools you can freely use to measure and improve your website. It deals with your visitors, user activity, dwell time metrics, incoming search terms, and what have you. Thus far, we have compiled a series of tutorials for you to jump-start your use of Google Analytics:

How God Understands Your Loss

Have you ever lost something? Before you did, did you look for it with all your heart, strength and mind? Frustrating, isn't it? I remember when I was still studying and I couldn't find an assignment I did days ago for our Chemistry subject. Back then, this professor was not only my class adviser, she was also our batch adviser and need be to mention, the most TERROR teacher I've met. No kidding, even my mom was afraid of her! So going back, I couldn't find my assignment.