How I Travel 7-10 Months Out Of The Year

Live everyday like it's your last!

I've been getting a lot of comments here and there on my social media channels about how I am able to travel long term. To be honest, I thought that I posted a blog on this awhile back, but to do something different, I'm going to jot down "for the curious", some of the things that I do that allow me to do just that.....travel on my own terms.

IT'S NOT THAT COMPLICATED

1.  I DON'T SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON ACCOMMODATIONS - I mean, I see no reason for it if I am going to be out most of the time exploring, and going on film projects that take all day and for some, all weekend. I have friends who are so kind that they allow me to stay at their place for free, but when I am not with friends, I save TONS by booking at rare-find Airbnb's, Free Camp Sites, and Hostels. Yeah, I've been to some dodgy places, but don't forget, I film races in some of the most remote places, so I am just not that picky.

Oh, and trust me, every once in awhile I stay at really nice places, but its definitely a rarity. Think about how much of the planet you can see if you didn't spend $300 per night at a hotel, I can fly to two countries with $300 while you're all cooped up in a hotel room!!! =)

Surround yourself with people who care about your future!

2.  I DON'T DO TOURS - All it takes is for you to get on google and do a little research and find how you can do the very same tour that these companies are charging an arm and a leg for. Some tours are even free! If you want to get the best experience from your travels, try doing it yourself, it's much more meaningful.

There are some places where it isn't possible to see a place without a guide, and there are reasons for that, but what I'm saying is if there is a way that you can plan an adventure on your own, then I highly encourage it. The best plans are the ones that are never planned =) Be an adventurer, it will save you some cash, and educate you at the same time.

3.  I STAY AWAY FROM EXPENSIVE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION - Like taxis! I walk, run, or bike everywhere. If I'm too lazy, I use public transportation like buses and trains. Uber is probably the most that I would pay for transportation, and then a car rental from Turo.

Also, if you are using public transportation like trains, I recommend trying to book online, it's a lot cheaper than the ticket machines and tellers most of the time. Again, it's all about making your money last for a long time if you want to travel long term.

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4.  I COOK MY OWN MEALS - if and when possible. Find the nearest market to your hotel, and cook your own food, you can save so much money this way. Eating out is fun especially if you're at a different place, but if you want to travel long term, eating out will drain your pockets really quick and send you back home eating ramen noodles!!!

Spend that extra money for a kitchen in your room, or stay at a hostel or airbnb that offers kitchen use. You will save a bazillion bucks and even meet others who can eventually give you even more tips on long term travel.

5.  IT'S NOT A 3 RING CIRCUS - You don't have to go out every night, you don't have to drink and party all the time. There's a difference between travel and vacation. Travel is more long term, and if you are traveling for months at a time, you have to somehow create some sort of routine, otherwise your money will go bye bye real quick. Make sure that you allow time to relax. Sometimes not doing anything is everything =)

It's all about pacing yourself. If you feel that you have to do something every day, then you'll soon find out that home will be sooner than you think, and who wants to go back to the same old grind?

6.  I FOUND A WAY TO CREATE INCOME ONLINE - So that I can work from anywhere around the world. With technology these days, it's getting easier to find ways to create an online income. I started my online business about 6 years ago, and I continue to work and build it while I travel.

Working an online business remotely is not for everyone, but if you want to travel long term, than I cannot think of another way to do it unless you have a million dollar trust fund.

Always set goals, dream big, and tell those TOXIC PEOPLE to shut the heck up!

Sometimes people work as they travel (hotel work, bartending, working on farms, teaching etc), so that is another option, but I'm sure that you agree that being your own boss and traveling on your own terms sounds more appealing, at least for me it is. There are some online freelance websites out there if you are the creative type. Check out Upwork and maybe even Fiverr. Or better yet, ask me about how you can do what I do.

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So that's about it folks. Travel doesn't have to be expensive. Just a little practice and doing a little research will take you a long way. If I can assist you in any way, please feel free to contact me, I'd love to help out =).

Arnel, What Is Your Real Job?

HA HA, I get this a lot. For me, I think it's natural for people to be curious about what people do, and I actually find it interesting that anyone would like to know what I do for a living, how nice lol =)

Let me start by telling you that my life is not as EXCITING as people think. I work very hard at what I do, and it is not easy, and by no means.....GLAMOROUS!  Just like everyone else, I undergo many struggles and challenges.

I WORK FOR MYSELF

But it wasn't always like that. Before becoming and online fitness coach (affiliated with the company Beachbody), I worked 3 jobs and put in about 100 hours per week. I rarely had time for myself or my family, it just SUCKED. But, I was grateful that I had a job. I was grateful that I could put food on my daughter's table. I was just grateful that I COULD BREATHE.

SO YOU'RE AN ENTREPRENEUR?

Yes, you can say that. I was never excited about the idea of being told what to do, or being controlled. I disliked the fact that someone could tell me when I could travel, and how long I could travel. It took me many, many years to become independent from a BOSS, but it finally happened in 2013 when my online coaching business allowed me to become full time, it was truly a blessing.

SO YOU'RE A BEACHBODY COACH?

Yes, and very proud of it. Why you ask? Well, to keep it to the point, it saved me from alcoholism, and helped me on a new path of healthy and positive living. It also helped me find my passion in obstacle course racing and later filmmaking. I could go on and on, but I just don't want to sound like a salesperson. The bottom line: becoming a Beachbody Coach/Entrepreneur was the BEST thing that ever happened to me in my career life. One of the best quotes that I continue to remember stems from the Beachbody CEO himself "Carl Daikeler", he said that "Beachbody should not be your life, it should give you a life", and I truly live by that daily.

THE CHALLENGE

Other than the most common challenges with growing an online business and coaching people to reach their goals, there is the challenge of fighting NEGATIVITY from people who do not understand what I do, and the industry that I represent.  All I can say is that it all comes down to RESPECTING PEOPLE FOR WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY DO.

I do not ever frown on what other people do for a living. I do not ever lead people to believe that I am better than they are. Just like people have jobs, I have one too, and that is to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to provide for my family, nothing else.

IN CLOSING

Life is all about being happy, healthy, and leaving a legacy. What I do may not be for everyone, and that's ok, it shouldn't be. If having a job and working for someone makes you happy, then by all means, continue doing that. But if you don't like what others do, then I encourage you to ask yourself this question: "is it really doing you any harm by what people choose to do with their own lives?"

BE HAPPY, MY LAST AND FINAL WORDS

Be more happy and content with your life, and always respect what others do even it you do not want it for yourself. Everyone has their own reasons for what they do with their own lives, and we should be nothing but happy for them.

I am a Beachbody Coach, I am a Life Coach, I am an Entrepreneur, I am a filmmaker, I am an athlete, but most of all....I am a family man, and THAT IS MY REAL JOB =)

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#1 Reason Why Beachbody Coaches Fail

#1 Reason Why Beachbody Coaches Fail, and how to prevent it from happening to you! 

You're like, "why so negative Arnel!" =) Ha ha, this is not by any means intended to be negative, I am only here to speak the honest truth and to hopefully provide some helpful tips. I have been a Beachbody Coach since late 2010, and it took me almost 3 years to fire three of my jobs and have total control (freedom) over my life, and I can honestly say that it was totally worth it. I have been through a lot of failure, countless obstacles and hundreds of rejection, but that's life right? Most people will not endure the pain long enough to become successful, which brings me to the #1 reason why Beachbody Coaches fail.

In my experience and talking to a ton of my friends who are also very successful Beachbody Coaches (earning 6-7 figure incomes), we have all agreed that one of the main reasons for failure in the Beachbody Coaching business is DISTRACTION.

So what is DISTRACTION? According to Google, distraction is a thing that prevents someone from giving full attention to something else. So distraction can come from a lot of things depending on what is going on in the life of a Beachbody Coach. Here are some examples of distractions in regards to Beachbody Coaching:

-  The workplace
-  Family
-  Hobbies
-  Negative and unsupportive family and friends
-  Media and network influence
-  Insecurity
-  Financial struggles
-  Not having enough time
-  Spouse
-  Boyfriend or Girlfriend
-  Television

These are just a few things that can distract a Beachbody Coach from becoming successful. Now if you notice, there are some very important examples listed such as family, spouse, time, and finances. As someone who continues to build a thriving Beachbody Coaching business, I have seen so many people who use the excuse of not having enough time with family (so I can't build the business), or "my spouse is not supportive", or "I just don't have enough time", and lastly, "I just don't have the finances to make it happen" (isn't that a reason to build an extra income in the first place, so that you can eventually come out of financial debt?) These are all distractions hindering Beachbody Coaches from achieving their greatest potential.

Now there are definitely some very legitimate excuses why some Beachbody Coaches are distracted, and I don't want you to think that I am being a too harsh, because that's definitely not what I'm doing here. What I do know is that Beachbody Coaching is not for everyone, and there is never a right time to become a Beachbody Coach, it's just something that people do in order to make a positive change in their life and the people around them. It's also because their goals and dreams (yup, I said it) are bigger than their excuses. I think that most successful Beachbody Coaches would agree that if you turned some of the distractions into a MOTIVATION, then it would really change the game. Here are some examples:

- I hope to one day not have a job, so I plan to work full time at my job now, and part time on my fortune.

- My family is the most important thing to me, which is why I need to sacrifice some sleep and maybe some softball games, or marathons so that I can spend more time on building my business to eventually have all the time in the world with my family.

-  I'm glad that I have a secondary income so that one day I will have time to do the things that I've always wanted and not have to rely on the 9 to 5 rut.

-  I know that my girlfriend doesn't understand what I am doing right now, but I will continue doing this for us, so that one day she will understand, because she means the world to me. My relationship is worth the struggle.

My family is my motivation, not a distraction

These are just a few ways to turn a DISTRACTION into a motivation that will eventually lead to becoming a successful Beachbody Coach.

If you are already a Beachbody Coach, then I applaud you for making the decision to better your life and the people around you. I encourage you to keep moving forward and continue setting big goals and sticking with them. Surround yourself with people who will support you, and be there for you no matter what.

If you are not a Beachbody Coach, and you are on the fence about it, then please know that it's ok. Becoming a Beachbody Coach is a huge deal. It can turn you into someone that you never thought possible, in a very good way. You will be amazed by the camaraderie, and most importantly, it will ultimately change your life. This business is all about being a better version of yourself, and helping others do the same, simple as that.  If you would like more information on Beachbody Coaching, feel free to connect with me here, or you can view some immediate details by clicking here. I'm looking forward to your success, and I'll see you on the beaches of the world! =)

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How To Be A Successful Filipino Beachbody Coach

Success as a Filipino Beachbody Coach

For the record, I am a Full Time Star Diamond Beachbody Coach, and also a PROUD Filipino-American. I decided to create a blog post about this to help other Filipino-Americans understand that it is very possible to become successful as a Beachbody Coach, as well as an ENTREPRENEUR.

I have been a Beachbody Coach since late 2010, and when I started, there were not very many filipinos pursuing the goal of becoming a Beachbody Coach. Even to this day, you do not see very many Filipinos on the recognition stage at the Beachbody Coach events. My question that I always ask myself is WHY? Filipinos are one of the most hard-working, loyal, and committed people on the planet, so why aren't there very many filipinos flocking to the opportunity? Since my success with P90X in late 2010, I have been contacted by hundreds of filipinos from all over the world about getting in shape. One of the questions that I always get is "Can I still get good results while still eating filipino food?" Yes, there is a huge difference in the food culture with the filipino community, but just like anything, it's all about wanting to change some things in your life, to change some things in your life, and sometimes it means having to do things differently from what you're accustomed too.

There are many reasons why I believe that you cannot find very many filipinos striving for success as a Beachbody Coach, or an entrepreneur for that matter, and I will share some of them with you below, but I will mainly focus on ways that filipinos can be successful in this fast-growing industry. Before I begin, I would like to say that I love my filipino culture, and this post does not represent all filipinos. I know that there are many filipinos who are moving up the ranks in the Beachbody Coaching Business, but it would definitely be nice to see more. Also, for the record, I do not support and promote racism, and although this post is about success as a filipino Beachbody Coach, anyone can use and customize this information to succeed as a Beachbody Coach whether they are filipino or not. Beachbody Coaching is for everyone!

Here are some ways to become a SUCCESSFUL Filipino Beachbody Coach:

WHITE RICE - Get rid of it! Now this might seem pretty intense, but the truth hurts. It's no secret that if you want good results (you know like abs), it is best to get your CARBS from whole grains. Trust me, it was very tough for me to switch from white rice to brown rice, but my goal was bigger than my craving for eating white rice. You don't have to quit cold turkey, try eating it in moderation first, then slowly make the switch to brown rice. Once you have achieved your health and fitness goal, you can simply eat it as a cheat meal every now and again. This goes for a lot of filipino foods that are not very healthy. In order to become successful as a Beachbody Coach, it starts with you, making yourself better and healthier. Just because you do not eat white rice everyday doesn't mean you're a filipino sell out, it means that you care about your health, your life, and your family, so don't let anyone tell you differently. I've seen way too many filipinos live short lives because of chronic illnesses that could have been prevented by eating healthier foods. Make good food choices, be open to Beachbody Fitness and Nutrition, and share it with the community, you can make a difference!

Drinking my Shakeology before attending a Beachbody Event - Las Vegas

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NOT ALL SUCCESSFUL FILIPINOS ARE DOCTORS - Growing up in a filipino household and attending a lot of filipino events, there was always people talking about how successful this filipino doctor was, and how rich they were as a medical professional. Almost every single time, I would hear someone brag about how rich their doctor friend was. I mean, I get it already. These people have worked hard for what they have, but what about the other successful people? What about the restaurant owners, the financial gurus, the self-made people, and franchise owners? Why weren't they getting any credit? I grew up in a family of entrepreneurs. My grand parents owned small retail shacks and restaurants. My father ended up owning a number of restaurants, and even a very successful catering and concession business in Florida. I grew up wanting to be in business for myself. The idea of working for someone just DID NOT interest me one bit, and I knew at an early age that it wasn't for me. So yes, I get it. Not a lot of filipinos grew up in households with entrepreneur minds, but that doesn't mean that you cannot be one. Beachbody Coaching teaches you how to become an entrepreneur, and how to make it on your own. Most filipinos have the mind set of working for other people all of their working lives, it's how they were raised. But I want to tell you that filipinos come from a very hard-working culture, so why not work hard for yourself? All it takes is a decision, because you already know what hard work and dedication is all about. So take that hardcore work ethic, and go in business for yourself, it will be a lot more rewarding! There are many medical professionals who have retired and have gone on to make Beachbody Coaching their full time gig. Isn't is cool to be able to help people as a medical professional as a hobby versus a career? Doctors volunteer their services and help people all over the world. Whether you are a doctor, lawyer, or whatever.... Beachbody Coaching can allow you the freedom of doing your passion when you want, where you want, and most importantly, on your own terms. Now that's freedom!

Straight Up Facts on Beachbody Coaching

INFLUENTIAL -  We all come from a culture where we are easily influenced by media, and other things such as your job, friends and family. I think it's ok to be influenced, if what is influencing you is positive and can better your life. I think that this is always a challenge by not just filipinos, but for everyone. I remember growing up and hearing conversations like: go to school, get good grades, go to college, and get a good job! "Everyone is doing it!" Now I'm definitely not knocking education, in fact, I highly encourage it! But instead of going for a good job, why not start a business? Don't wait after 20-40 years to find out that all that time you were making your boss rich and paying for his/her family vacations, when you could've been building a strong financial future for you and your family. Beachbody Coaching teaches you how to build a business part-time while you are working full time at your job, and in 2 to 5 years, you will eventually be able to enjoy a 6-7 figure residual to help you live the rest of your life, the best of your life! It doesn't have to take 20-40 years to retire if you play your cards right. Be careful who you are influenced by, if it doesn't benefit you and your family in a positive way, then most likely you are wasting your time, and nobody has time for that! =)

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CULTURE - I can't give up white rice, working out is a western thing, I can't speak good english, I don't have a big network, I don't have a lot of friends, my job is a workout so I don't need to workout.....I've heard all the excuses in the book. Just like anyone else, filipinos will also make excuses why they don't have any money and time to live a healthier lifestyle, and even become a Beachbody Coach. Listen, it's not a culture thing, a money thing, or a time thing, it's your life that we're talking about here. Rather than making excuses about not having enough time to workout, or not having the skills on how to become a better version of yourself financially, maybe try focusing on what is the most important thing in your life, and start making things happen. I used to make a lot of excuses, and I hid behind them all the time, because it was the easy way out. You may think that you have to work harder as a minority, but that should even be more motivation to become successful, to fight for you and what you believe in, and to show the community that yes, filipinos can also be successful as a Beachbody Coach. Now I'm not saying that Beachbody Coaching can be the solution to your health and wealth problems, I'm saying that it is, and I am proof of that. =) If you want a better life, I encourage you to refrain from making any culture excuses, just start making things happen. If you need help, I am here for you!

Working out in Baclaran, Philippines

Arnel Banawa is a Star Diamond Beachbody Coach focused on ending the trend of obesity though Beachbody fitness and nutrition, helping the sport of obstacle course racing grow, and promoting independent world travel. Connect with me on Facebook!


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