Name: Tin Ferrera
Occupation: CPA/Finance Consultant, Managing Director – Right Sources, CFO-Bumblebee & Company Costumes/Sasha Clothing
Sports: Running
Fitness Goals: Core Strengthening
Favorite CrossFit Exercise: Burpees, Squats
What do you do for a living? Why so many jobs?
I left the corporate world three years ago and started to act as consultant to clients in the field of finance.
Having extra time on hand, I got myself involved overseeing the retail operations of Bumblebee & Company Costumes and Sasha Clothing. These are my sister’s baby, being the designer. Right now, I only oversee its Finance/Accounting side. Of course, I also get the first dig into Sasha’s collections and can even have my wardrobe customized. Bumblebee & Company Costumes on retail is only for kids so I don’t really get to sample them. (I actually brought a Santa costume with me on the Christmas Crossfit workout – that could have been my only chance to strut our costumes! Kidding.)
At the moment, I am more hands on with Right Sources, a professional and executive search firm, being on its start up year.
Why so many jobs? I’m saving so I can eventually buy out Facebook. LOL!
What do you enjoy the most? You’ve seen both sides – as a client and as a consultant. Which do you think is more challenging?
It poses a different kind of challenge. I enjoy being a consultant. Most of my consultancy jobs entail putting system or controls in my clients for them to be more efficient in what they’re doing. There’s a greater sense of fulfillment when you see the plan fully implemented and working and converted into good bottom line results.
It’s like being an athlete, and eventually coaching. Can you relate? Which feels better – doing the crossfit workout or whipping the crossfiters?
If we both played six degrees of separation, we would in one way intersect because of our past careers at SGV. How did you like that experience? Did that help you in your present career?
Really, you worked at SGV? They have a gym in SGV now. Well, they had it during my last few years but I never stepped in it. Why don’t you just convert it to a Crossfit Gym? I’m sure the short workouts would fit the auditor’s schedule better.
On your question, SGV has trained me to endure being up for twenty-hours with piles of client working papers in front and a cup of coffee. I guess this helped me to last running for ten hours straight in my recent ultramarathon. LOL! SGV was my first job and I would consider the training I got from them as the foundation to my present career. It has molded not just my technical skills but also my sense of professionalism in everything I do.
We recently interviewed Mr. Paulo Tatad of Viventis Search Asia. You’re also into the headhunting gig. Do you consider him & his company a) friend b) foe c) foiegras (meaning you devour him alive upon entering your territory)?
It would be an A – I just added him as a Facebook friend. LOL!
Viventis has been in the business for years (or decades). Right Sources came in to get a piece of the pie in the industry. There is a big demand out there for talents from our clients. At the same time, a big number of jobseekers in the market exist. The challenge really is on matching the client and the candidate’s preferences perfectly. And the competition lies on who can deliver the match first among the headhunters. (That’s why I got to watch how fast Paulo finishes his repetitions in crossfit. What does your record say?) It’s really a healthy competition in the business, helping people land their dream job is what we all aim for.
If I’m not mistaken, you are an Ultra Runner right? What’s the longest distance you’ve run? How in the world do you train for that despite your numerous jobs?
Ultra Runner – Yes, because I train regularly at Ultra. Seriously, I have finished three marathons and three ultramarathons in 2010 – the longest of them is a 70-kilometer run from Pasuquin to Pagudpud in Ilocos.
I am not sure if that qualifies me yet to be an ultramarathoner, though I am a member of the Philippine Association of Ultrarunners. But I want to challenge myself further, so I registered for the Bataan Death March 102kilometer which I hope to finish – alive!
A big part of training for an ultramarathon entails hours on the road, running. The key is ones commitment to a training plan and schedule. Personal discipline and time management is essential. I am fortunate that I don’t have an 8-5 job, so I can always let my work schedule go around my training plan.
There is The Bull Runner, The Kikay Runner, The Bald Runner, The Diabetic Runner. What name would you give yourself? Why?
Can I be the Crossfit Runner? Or is that reserved for you already? Seriously, I can’t think of any, let me know if you have any suggestion.
Do you think running is another badminton or sports fad? If you are Madam Auring, what are your predictions for running as a sport in 2011?
It is but natural that a new thing becomes a fad and is at first overemphasized, until it naturally falls into its place of worth.
I guess there will be more people to try out running and join races in 2011. More people will level up and join longer distances races. This would be good as more people would get into some kind of fitness. What’s good with running is anyone can do it. You can do it shorter or longer, slower or faster – depending on your own fitness goal and own capacity. So, compared to badminton, its place of worth will definitely be a lot bigger. It’s here to stay.
Also, those who take running seriously will find the worth of cross training and strength training. I can sense more people will check out your gym. Do you like my crystal ball?
How did you get into Crossfit? Who suckered you? Why even bother doing Crossfit when you have your training regimen set?
My friend, Mari Javier introduced me to Crossfit. “sometimes I think he is both a masochist and a sadist (lol), he keeps repeating this crazy mantra “love the pain”, I think I’m a convert.” Didn’t Mari use these exact words to describe the guilty party, Ferdie, for bringing him to crossfit? These guys are really strong (elite) runners/triathletes, so I guess I’m in good company. (Wait, what level am I now in the pyramid of the crossfit network? How many downlines before I earn commission? Lol!)
Seriously, my training plan really requires me to incorporate strength training. Hence, I have it on my calendar to go to the gym twice a week. I’ve been faithful with the schedule at the start but the routine bored me and I’ve find excuses not to go regularly (despite my lifetime membership). I tried Crossfit as an alternative and surprisingly, it was a good choice.
Have you benefitted from Crossfit? What do you like or not like about it? (yes you can be honest, I won’t bite)
I joined crossfit to strengthen my core which would help me increase my speed endurance in running. It may not be solely attributable to that, but I have met some personal goals in running both in my workouts and races recently. I’m a work in progress, I would say Crossfit would spice up my training recipe as I prepare for my big races this year.
I like the short, high intensity workout which is always diverse and CHALLENGING. It makes me look forward to the next workout day. I hate rolling and getting dirty with the tartan surface during the workouts in Ultra. (I’m glad the gym is opening soon!)
Please complete the sentence. If the secret to the Kenyans running fast is that the lions and cheetahs are always running after them, the secret to Crossfit training is ______________.
‘the whip that the coaches carry with them during the workout.’
It starts actually with setting a personal goal. You have to know why you are doing crossfit and keep that in mind as you do the workouts. Before you even think of quitting, the workout is done. Doing the workouts with a group also adds spice as you get motivated trying to keep up with the rest of the group.
You usually get 3 wishes after completing Simbang Gabi masses. At Crossfit, we give you also three wishes for 2011. What are they?
That I get a free Crossfit workout on the first, second and third quarter of 2011?
I hope to finish my first 102kilometer Ultramarathon, break my personal records in running and probably get a stint into multisports before the year ends while being injury free and maintaining a good fitness level. Crossfit would play a big role on this one, so can I get my three wishes I’ve mentioned above?
