Have you ever been "down" before - where the feeling of helplessness is so depressing that you feel like not continuing on. Today, after a good deal concluded in the morning, I got the news that for another project, I will have to walk the path of learning and negotiation all by myself. All this while, I had been depending on someone else to do the work and she had committed to me that she will help me through. Then I got the call that she will no longer be doing it.
So here I am - left in a lurch and not quite knowing what to do. I have to carry the meeting tomorrow and it will be a really really tough call. I will be approaching it without knowing the details and the approach. How helpless is that feeling of ignorance in the face of a challenge!
I just know that I must go through it and I will still need to do a good job. This is what makes us stronger and I know that I will be the better for it. What a life! I will let you know how I got through the meeting and the difficulty of going through such times. It is no fun walking such a path.....
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
LIFE AT BEST IS VERY BRIEF
Isn't this title statement so true?
The rest of the song goes:
"Life at best is very brief,
Like the falling of a leaf
Like the binding of a sheaf
Be in time
Fleeting days are falling fast
That the die will soon be cast
And the fatal line be passed
Be in time."
I was at a dinner party just last Saturday night and there I heard about three friends who had been 'hit' by that dreadful word cancer. They were in their forties and fifties. What a tragedy! What a great misfortune! For the victims, it was like the whole world falling in on them. No amount of words could console, neither could there be comfort.
It was a sentence of futility and hopelessness. What would you do if this same sentence were pronounced on you. Yes, what would you do?
The rest of the song goes:
"Life at best is very brief,
Like the falling of a leaf
Like the binding of a sheaf
Be in time
Fleeting days are falling fast
That the die will soon be cast
And the fatal line be passed
Be in time."
I was at a dinner party just last Saturday night and there I heard about three friends who had been 'hit' by that dreadful word cancer. They were in their forties and fifties. What a tragedy! What a great misfortune! For the victims, it was like the whole world falling in on them. No amount of words could console, neither could there be comfort.
It was a sentence of futility and hopelessness. What would you do if this same sentence were pronounced on you. Yes, what would you do?
Dear Daddy, no money.....
If you have not heard about the following story, read about it now!
A young Malaysian studying in England was prone to overspend and each time he did that, he would write letters asking his parents for money. On the last occasion he needed money he wrote the following to his Father - "Dear daddy, no money, not funny, your Sonny."
His Daddy who was now much wiser in his ways replied simply.
"Dear Lad, Too bad, So sad, Your Dad."
In every case of taking the right response, we should understand the situation first before we respond. Once we understand the situation, we can respond correctly to such situations. Isn't this so true?
Life is all about taking the right turns and making the right decisions where it matters. Timing is all about taking the correct paths and making each step count. Yes my friends, learn to see what the situation facing you isall about. Then look for the right alternatives and adopt the one that is the most effective.
A young Malaysian studying in England was prone to overspend and each time he did that, he would write letters asking his parents for money. On the last occasion he needed money he wrote the following to his Father - "Dear daddy, no money, not funny, your Sonny."
His Daddy who was now much wiser in his ways replied simply.
"Dear Lad, Too bad, So sad, Your Dad."
In every case of taking the right response, we should understand the situation first before we respond. Once we understand the situation, we can respond correctly to such situations. Isn't this so true?
Life is all about taking the right turns and making the right decisions where it matters. Timing is all about taking the correct paths and making each step count. Yes my friends, learn to see what the situation facing you isall about. Then look for the right alternatives and adopt the one that is the most effective.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
The need to persist.....
I will never forget this story of the boy who was walking home one day from school. His journey home had to pass a beach and in the dim evening twilight, he started kicking at the many stones that littered his way. One of these 'stones' turned out to be a lamp where a genie suddenly emerged from it. The boy excitedly asked the genie if he could be granted a wish. "But I am not that kind of a genie," was the reply. "However for freeing me from this prison I will give you a sound piece of advice. Pick up all the stones you see along the way home," whereupon the genie disappeared.
The boy did as the genie said and he loaded up his empty school bag with stones. As he did this, the bag get heavier and heavier. Soon his shoulders hurt and he started to throw one stone away and then another and yet another. Soon he had thrown away almost all the stones. When he reached home, he thought nothing of what had happened and he tossed his bag to his mother to be washed.
After a while, his mother excitedly ran in and asked him where he had found his stones. she exclaimed that there was one small little stone there and it was piece of gold nugget. The boy realized the fantastic advice of the genie and he quickly ran back to pick back all the stones he had thrown away but alas, there were none that could be found. All of the 'gold' that were his were all gone.
Opportunities like this story of the boy's stones come once in a long while. The big question is our response to the opportunities that come our way. How often do we miss out on what we could have been because we were put off by the difficulties and the loads!
Nothing ever comes easy and those who are afraid of carrying the burdens can never hope to build the dreams that could have so readily be theirs.
The boy did as the genie said and he loaded up his empty school bag with stones. As he did this, the bag get heavier and heavier. Soon his shoulders hurt and he started to throw one stone away and then another and yet another. Soon he had thrown away almost all the stones. When he reached home, he thought nothing of what had happened and he tossed his bag to his mother to be washed.
After a while, his mother excitedly ran in and asked him where he had found his stones. she exclaimed that there was one small little stone there and it was piece of gold nugget. The boy realized the fantastic advice of the genie and he quickly ran back to pick back all the stones he had thrown away but alas, there were none that could be found. All of the 'gold' that were his were all gone.
Opportunities like this story of the boy's stones come once in a long while. The big question is our response to the opportunities that come our way. How often do we miss out on what we could have been because we were put off by the difficulties and the loads!
Nothing ever comes easy and those who are afraid of carrying the burdens can never hope to build the dreams that could have so readily be theirs.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Climbing your Everest
TAKING THE FIRST STEP IS THE KEY
Some will call it foolishness. Others will think that I am crazy. Yet others will ridicule me for what I have decided. But I will press on and push to that goal that has been my dream since I was a young boy. I have decided to climb Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain.
"WHY?" YOU ASK. "WHY NOT?" I REPLY
Climb Everest at the age of 60? Yes, that is my target and I believe I will do it! "But why?" you ask. "But why not?" is my reply.
BUT I HAVE MADE UP MY MIND
I will take 2 1/2 years to prepare but I have made up my mind. I will make that endeavor because I have a dream - a dream that requires me to take the first steps towards that totally unbelievable endeavor. It is something that we have to wrestle with ourselves but it is something that I will have to walk alone through.
THE SOURCE OF MY INSPIRATION
I had the privilege of meeting Khoo Swee Chiow who has since become my good friend. Swee Chiow who is married and has two young children has climbed Mount Kinabalu two times and he has also scaled all the highest mountains of the 7 continents beside walking to the North and South poles. His stories thrilled me to the core and although there are inherent dangers, the lure of moving beyond my own limitations and overcoming my own fears drive me on.
WHAT IS LIFE IF IT IS NOT LIVED TO THE FULLEST?
I believe that God is most important in our existence and beyond what he is to us, we must live life as he has ordained it for us - a life of victories and a life of overcoming the biggest hurdles before us. Yes we all have our Everests and it is how we respond to the overtures of challenges that are set before us that makes our lives count. I pray that you will also take the same steps to climb your own "Everests".
Some will call it foolishness. Others will think that I am crazy. Yet others will ridicule me for what I have decided. But I will press on and push to that goal that has been my dream since I was a young boy. I have decided to climb Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain.
"WHY?" YOU ASK. "WHY NOT?" I REPLY
Climb Everest at the age of 60? Yes, that is my target and I believe I will do it! "But why?" you ask. "But why not?" is my reply.
BUT I HAVE MADE UP MY MIND
I will take 2 1/2 years to prepare but I have made up my mind. I will make that endeavor because I have a dream - a dream that requires me to take the first steps towards that totally unbelievable endeavor. It is something that we have to wrestle with ourselves but it is something that I will have to walk alone through.
THE SOURCE OF MY INSPIRATION
I had the privilege of meeting Khoo Swee Chiow who has since become my good friend. Swee Chiow who is married and has two young children has climbed Mount Kinabalu two times and he has also scaled all the highest mountains of the 7 continents beside walking to the North and South poles. His stories thrilled me to the core and although there are inherent dangers, the lure of moving beyond my own limitations and overcoming my own fears drive me on.
WHAT IS LIFE IF IT IS NOT LIVED TO THE FULLEST?
I believe that God is most important in our existence and beyond what he is to us, we must live life as he has ordained it for us - a life of victories and a life of overcoming the biggest hurdles before us. Yes we all have our Everests and it is how we respond to the overtures of challenges that are set before us that makes our lives count. I pray that you will also take the same steps to climb your own "Everests".
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Living free
It is the objective of most ordinary people to be able to live freely and fully but this is an elusive dream that seldom turns into a reality. Unfortunately, the path to financial freedom is usually one that requires involvement in business and this is where the issues become a problem.
The most appropriate time to move into business is when a person is young, ready, pliant and able to put in optimal effort to bring into reality the proposition. This is the time when mistakes can be made and the learning curve is at its maximum.
The most appropriate time to move into business is when a person is young, ready, pliant and able to put in optimal effort to bring into reality the proposition. This is the time when mistakes can be made and the learning curve is at its maximum.
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