Giving Hints about Your Income

It's viral online. To lure people to join them, successful online marketers, vloggers or Youtubers, or those who advertise online, showoff their income or material possessions, or give hints of their 7 or 8-digit incomes. It's an effective marketing strategy, but never forget---there's something more important than making money. It's keeping yourself and your family safe from crooks.

Photo by Sam Moqadam on Unsplash.

I'm an online marketer myself and I understand how effective it is when you give prospects an idea of how much you're making to make them join your business. Merely telling them they can make 6-digit incomes is nothing compared to showing them your actual checks and rich lifestyle. But you make yourself too easy a target---too easy to track down. Your face and videos of your residence and family and routine will give you away. You're making it too easy for crooks to do their thing. 

How to be Brave. Develop a bold spirit in any situation. Click image above.

With today's hi-tech online tools, it's too easy to track a guy by just using his face. Even if you're just tagged. Your online activities and social media participation (including your friends') can all be tracked down leading right to your address and office whereabouts. Yup, even your usual schedules. It'll be too easy to abduct you somewhere or invade your residence.

If you say it hasn't happened to anyone yet, well, be smart enough to avoid being the first one. A lot of victims thought it'd never happen to them. There's always the first time.

So don't showoff. Don't flaunt your opulent lifestyle around, posh cars and new house, or even your costly wears. The more you have, the simpler you should look. You can talk about other people who have made it big or mention big-time people anonymously. That is, if you care for your safety and that of your loved ones. Getting targeted by crooks is never worth it.

You may say, no reason to get scared because there's nothing in the news about big-time online business folks getting hit by crooks. Nothing yet. Again, don't be the first one (wag kang buena mano). Like the open manhole on the street. No one cares about its danger until someone falls in it---and dies. Then they start doing something about it. Don't have that mindset. Crooks are creative, You should be more creative than they.

To keep safe all the time, anywhere, you have to have good imagination. Being paranoid is different. Paranoid is imagining a Martian abducting you. Street-safe mindset is imagining all possible grim scenarios and preparing well in advance for them. Making preemptive plans. I remember in the Old Testament how Nehemiah and company wore swords on their sides as they worked on the walls of Jerusalem to preempt any foolish ideas from their enemies.

So, don't brag about your money or profits. Keep simple.

Beware of the "Humble"

First of all, don't get me wrong. I believe in humility and the meek gets to inherit the earth, says the bible. I believe that with all my heart. But there's false humility and it's cunningly deceitful, combined with fake kindness and generosity. Out there in the streets, crooks wear this mask to prey on the ignorant and carefree. 

Photo by Sammy Williams on Unsplash.

They really look genuine. They've mastered the looks, voice tone, gestures, eye contact and smile. Sometimes they seem so helpful and offer you anything that would make things easier for you. And I'm not just referring to fixers. Nor do I mean strangers or even street perps or felons. They're a given. I'm going farther than that. I'm also talking about some neighbors, friends, relatives and other folks related to you. Sometimes they wear a veneer of humility to capture your heart and then control you.

"They come to you in sheep's clothing," said Jesus of false teachers and prophets. But I believe this is not limited to them. This applies to anyone who's out there to deceive. And neither is it just the street crooks who want to steal from people. It's anybody who wants control of your life and decisions, or worms himself into your safety zone. To trick you easily, they appear as "humble" folks with kind hearts. Sometimes, this is even deadlier than street crooks.

Click image above for more info on how to be brave in the streets.

Gang Modus

But I'll limit the scope to street perps, the lesser danger. I'll deal with the deadlier danger--those innocent-looking folks you allow around you--in a later blog post. Let's get to the basics first. Sometimes, someone looking so innocent or meek would come to you seeking or offering help. It happens in malls or grocery stores and then later the guy turns out to be a gang member. Or even in planes. A sweet-looking individual would act friendly but is actually targeting you as his or her drug "courier" without you knowing it. Beware.

While assuming a smile, appreciating the kind gesture, I immediately put myself in heightened alert. I ask myself, why? Then I watch closely the guy's eye and hand movements without being obvious (watching them from the corner of my eyes), maintaining a safe distance, not just as a Covid protocol, but to allow myself enough space for action. Not too far for a quick defensive hit, but not too close for his attack. You acquire accurate judgment on this through practice. 

Tiger Stare Does It

A tiger-stare from me is all it often takes for a crook to think twice and simply leave. It's happened several times. I have mastered giving a mean but a bit "smiling" tiger-stare while being on red-alert mode. The tiger-stare tells the crook that you're ready for engagement (even a bloody one) and will actually enjoy the process if he wishes to initiate it. You won't hesitate. So a tiger-stare requires combat readiness, just in case, and this means regular training in streetfighting. Because some thugs out there will engage you.

This is not a poker game where you can bluff your way to victory. "Hindi ito duru-an lang." You should know how to end a streetfight within 3 to 5 seconds and then escape.

The Best Thing to Do

However, the best thing to do with "humble" crooks is to stay alert, act smart (because crooks are often discouraged to engage smart people), as you also act a little bit friendly, and go away as soon as possible. Go to a safe place, like a bank or near a mall guard. I myself sometimes do this even if I'm a 5th dan blackbelt in Filipino martial arts and streetfighting. Avoid contact as much as possible but be willing to launch a defensive preempt.

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Fighting an Unseen Killer

A deadly snake inside his posh office? He never imagined it could happen.

Now that they let the killer virus in and still tracing the people who came in contact with the patient or carrier confirmed as Covid positive, what do we do? Some people act carefree, as if the virus threat is nothing. But don't let it fool you. Precautions after you contract the lethal virus is useless if you're in your last breaths--and almost useless when intubated. Remember that. Of course, there's always hope after falling into trouble. But prevention is always the best, and better than cure--better than making a game plan after danger has set in. 

Image above by Duncan Sanchez, Unsplash.

Same with street crimes. People are shocked to immobility once they find themselves falling victim to a sudden crime. Why? They never thought it would happen to them. This naive street outlook is what gets people in big trouble and become easy prey. They think the city is a paradise where only good people reside. Or, danger can strike everybody else except them. "It can never happen to me!" So they put down their guards and live carefree. They think serious precautions are OA (overacting) and paranoia--until danger hits them. Then it's too late.

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Invisible Killers

Street attackers are, in a sense, "unseen killers." You won't see them until it's too late. Or at least, you won't see their real intention or the weapons they'd use on you. You're not suppose to. These guys are not stupid. They won't announce their presence or appear obvious or scary. They're invisible. They'd try to look as low profile as possible. As innocent-looking as they could. But don't get them wrong--they have one thing in mind, and that is to hurt or kill if things go wrong. They think deadly from the start of day.

And what about you? If their mindset is "kill," what's your mindset each time you get out of the house? Do you also think deadly? Nope, you think like how a regular victim would--you think nothing bad would happen to you. Especially if you're religious or think you're nice or spiritual or have no enemies. People think their spirituality will keep attackers away from them. If you're like that, you do not live in the real world. You live in your own make-believe world where you and your loved ones live happily ever after. That's your daily mindset, 24 hours a day.

And then bang! Danger strikes. You meet danger face-to-face. You're caught off-guard and freeze. You couldn't believe it's happening to you. This is why many people get victimized so easily--over and over again. They're so naïve and carefree. They're not aware of reality. Being absorbed with their gadgets while in the streets makes things worse. These are conditions that crooks want you to be in. And you willingly cooperate without intending to.

I strongly believe in prayers and how God protects believers supernaturally. I believe in angelic protection. But that doesn't mean we just walk straight in the path of danger mindlessly even if we know how fatal it is. I've heard religious people take risks in stride because they have faith in God. Well, God's warriors in the Old Testament all took serious precautions in the face of danger. Even God himself tells us to do so.

A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. [Proverbs 27.12]

Stay Alert

I have trained myself to be in full red alert anywhere I am. I'm enjoying life and often a jolly, relaxed person--I'm known for being a cool and easy-going individual--but in my mind, I stay fully alert. I'm always aware of my surroundings, though often pretend I'm not. I'm ready to spring into action for any eventuality. I'm sincerely friendly and courteous but I closely watch every person, near or far. Most nice-looking folks have crooked ideas in their minds. I've proven that many times. They may appear affectionate now and then betray the next moment.

Even the "righteous" and "godly" are not exempt. And you'd be surprised to find that even supposedly smart or intelligent persons do stupid things when real danger is present or death is imminent due to a sure killer out in the streets. You've seen in thriller movies what type of people get killed first? Well, in real life, there are such people. Amazing.

Like in the present Covid crisis. I never take anything lightly. Only idiots and smart Alecks do--those who think they live in paradise. They never take wearing masks or shields seriously. Some even claim face shields are useless. They laugh at you if you're too careful. I stay out of people like that because they're apt to cause you trouble. They serve as breaches, cracks or entry points to your defenses. Immature amateurs. They don't know a thing about street safety.

I stay out of danger zones and always protect myself, no matter how safe places seem to be. I don't give danger a chance or a foothold. You give criminals or Covid one chance and that's it. There's no known cure for Covid as of press time. China released a news item showing patients getting well from the deadly disease. Well and good if it's true. But in chaotic times, we can never trust governments to tell us the real score. We may listen to news items and consider, but we must apply careful discernment.

Don't be naïve.

The Safest Place

I hear lots of folks say this or that place is safe for me because there is no crime incidence there. Good if it's true, but I don't take things at face value. Crime is no respecter of places or persons. Even Jesus suffered violence he didn't deserve--though he knew about it and was all part of the plan. It's different if it's meant to be. But being careless and mindless to danger as a lifestyle is not meant to be. It's useless to suffer if it's not God's will, if it's all due to carelessness. Anything can happen out there. So I always get ready.

If a crook dwells his thoughts on doing violence or killing his victims so that he starts his day focusing on this--and If I do the same, I dwell on preparedness and readiness to face danger in deadly ways--who do you think would get the shock of his life when we meet in the streets? Remember, there's no such thing as "a nice person without enemies" in the streets because you can always be a victim of mistaken identity. And criminals just choose any victim, particularly the mindless. 

Where's the safest place to be? Anywhere God is and where you're alert and prepared.

This is how I prepare myself everyday:

1. I pray and study God's Word.
2. I workout, focusing on shadow boxing, honing fast execution of practical but deadly techniques.
3. I keep on talking to God in the streets, asking for protection, discernment and guidance.
4. I take note of everyone in the streets--where they are, what they're doing, their eye and hand movements.
5. I relax and enjoy while in deadly combat mode. Yup, it's possible to be relaxed and enjoying life while in ready combat mode.

Train yourself to be like this. There's no guarantee you'd always be safe if you do, but you have a better fighting or escaping chance than if you are carefree, gullible, mindless and stupid.