I've never understood the credit crunch the way I have now after watching this video.
This makes the truth all the more difficult to swallow after seeing how obvious it was from the start, but not bothering to pay heed to them.
Saturday, June 06, 2009
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Fighting your way up
I think one of the most inspirational quotes that I know of comes from President Theodore Roosevelt. It uses boxing as an analogy:
"It is not the critic that counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
This quote speaks of having the courage to take action and taking a leap forward towards your dreams. There will often be bystanders, who will stand at a safe distance and place their bets on you failing. When you do, they will say "It's a good thing I decided not to take his path." But what they are missing is the whole point of undertaking the challenge in the first place-
"That brick walls are there to prove how strongly you want to overcome them." (A quote from Randy Pausch)
Is it the fear of failing that prevents us from moving that one step forward towards our dreams? I think it is something more sinister than that- it is the lack of desire to succeed that separates the warriors in the ring from the spectators.
"It is not the critic that counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
This quote speaks of having the courage to take action and taking a leap forward towards your dreams. There will often be bystanders, who will stand at a safe distance and place their bets on you failing. When you do, they will say "It's a good thing I decided not to take his path." But what they are missing is the whole point of undertaking the challenge in the first place-
"That brick walls are there to prove how strongly you want to overcome them." (A quote from Randy Pausch)
Is it the fear of failing that prevents us from moving that one step forward towards our dreams? I think it is something more sinister than that- it is the lack of desire to succeed that separates the warriors in the ring from the spectators.
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Blind to our surroundings
So I was at the bus interchange today. The old fashioned kind where you have to enter between two metal railings and queue up for the bus.
As I approached it, I noticed something out of the ordinary (Strange) about it. There was nobody queueing up for the bus, yet there was people waiting for the bus 173 gathering about it.
Ok I thought. Maybe they're semi-claustrophobic and don't want to be surrounded by large poorly designed metal bars?? That I can understand perfectly well until I see two blind middle-aged men waiting at the front of the "non-existent queue".
It made perfect sense to me why there was a teen playing his PSP sitting in the middle of the metal railings and not willing (?) to move to the front until a number of people moved in before him. I wonder where he learnt that tactic from. Well anyway, nothing to shy away from. So I moved to the front and I was cut by an Aunty (40 Plus age) as she approached from the front and not the back of the queue. So she fell nearest to the blind men, and naturally, the obligation to provide them assistance fell upon her- I actually wanted to observe the correct method of providing assistance to the men because the last time I helped some people told me that the method I used was wrong.
Well anyway, when the Bus was about to depart, I just shouted out to them that it was ready to leave. The aunty was quick to react and gave a quick glance of the surrounding. After deciding that I was the next nearest person to her, she quickly grabbed my arm and told me "You go over and help them."
?????????????
Does it ease her conscience knowing that the two gentlemen before you will be receiving some help even if you do not? Or are you teaching the younger generation what they should do?
I think us Singaporeans are too often indifferent to our surroundings.
"It does not concern me as long as I'm not in the area."
"I just want to play my PSP. DND."
Pure ugly.
As I approached it, I noticed something out of the ordinary (Strange) about it. There was nobody queueing up for the bus, yet there was people waiting for the bus 173 gathering about it.
Ok I thought. Maybe they're semi-claustrophobic and don't want to be surrounded by large poorly designed metal bars?? That I can understand perfectly well until I see two blind middle-aged men waiting at the front of the "non-existent queue".
It made perfect sense to me why there was a teen playing his PSP sitting in the middle of the metal railings and not willing (?) to move to the front until a number of people moved in before him. I wonder where he learnt that tactic from. Well anyway, nothing to shy away from. So I moved to the front and I was cut by an Aunty (40 Plus age) as she approached from the front and not the back of the queue. So she fell nearest to the blind men, and naturally, the obligation to provide them assistance fell upon her- I actually wanted to observe the correct method of providing assistance to the men because the last time I helped some people told me that the method I used was wrong.
Well anyway, when the Bus was about to depart, I just shouted out to them that it was ready to leave. The aunty was quick to react and gave a quick glance of the surrounding. After deciding that I was the next nearest person to her, she quickly grabbed my arm and told me "You go over and help them."
?????????????
Does it ease her conscience knowing that the two gentlemen before you will be receiving some help even if you do not? Or are you teaching the younger generation what they should do?
I think us Singaporeans are too often indifferent to our surroundings.
"It does not concern me as long as I'm not in the area."
"I just want to play my PSP. DND."
Pure ugly.
Monday, February 02, 2009
I'm back!
It has been some time since I last blogged. How time flies! What have I been up to? Well aside from work, I think my life has been pretty ordinary. What do you expect?
I've recently finished Richard Branson's second book: Business Stripped Bare. It is more of an autobiography than a source of management secrets of Sir Branson's Virgin Enterprise. Branson's definition of Business is very simple. In his introduction, he explains that business is not about formality, or winning, or "the bottom line" or profit, or trade, or commerce, or any of the things business books tell you it's about.
"It is about what concerns us. If you care about something enough to do something about it, you're in business."
How true this is when applied to my life! When asked by my peers what I am doing in my co right now, their expressions is similar: disbelief.
"Is this your temp job?"
"You own this store?"
"Working for your family?"
Yada.Yada. Is it that strange that I chose to work in the retail line or some kind of low paying job? Why settle for less?
Not much of a mystery really. I like my job. I like the things that I learn. I'm not really into the money for the moment.
For my friends that understand me better, thanks for all the encouragment that you've given me =)
I've been digging my library of unread books and picked up "The Warren Buffett CEO". I'm so hooked to the book. It's excellent! Robert P. Miles went round interviewing and writting up on the lives and mindsets of some of the greatest CEOs that Berkshire Hathaway possess. It really amazes me how great leaders are able to break away from the odds and make difficult decisions to keep the company running. It makes me wonder how I will react when the time comes and I'm poised with the same dilemnas as them.
One particular verbatim that touched me was that of Tony Nicely, the Co CEO of GEICO insurance. When faced with increasing debts and financial and operating troubles, Tony Nicely was forced to downsize his company in order to keep GEICO alive. He says, "That period frmo 1975 to 1976 changed my life, at least as far as business is concerned. I started out as a young man, and in two to three years I became an old man. I had no middle age. because of all the hours I had to put in, for a couple of years, I was neither a father nor a husband. But it wasn't the long hoursor the lack of time off that changed me. It wasn't even the stress of not knowing, after 15 years with the company, whether or not it would still be there at the end of the day. What made me an old man was all the times that I had to look people in the eye- people that I knew well, some of whom had been with the company 20, 25, or 30 years- and say, "I'm sorry. I know you to be loyal and hardworking, but through no fault of your own, as of Monday you no longer have a job." I don't want to ever have to do that again."
The life of Mr Al Ueltchi is one to admire too. Not wanted to relinquish his childhood dream of being a pilot nor willing to let go of the opportunity to provide a more secure training ground for pilots, Ueltchi founded FlightSafety International while remaining a fulltime pilot of Pan-Am. It just WOWS me.
On a side note, I just deleted everything humanly possible of you. No more HP number, old messages, FB, friendster, MSN. Much as I enjoy your company I think we need some time apart for now. I don't want to wrestle with what can be as opposed to what shouldn't be. I'm sorry things had to come to this and even if I regret today's decision, I have no means of contacting you any more. It was a hard decision I've made up my mind and there's no turning back.
Goodbye
I've recently finished Richard Branson's second book: Business Stripped Bare. It is more of an autobiography than a source of management secrets of Sir Branson's Virgin Enterprise. Branson's definition of Business is very simple. In his introduction, he explains that business is not about formality, or winning, or "the bottom line" or profit, or trade, or commerce, or any of the things business books tell you it's about.
"It is about what concerns us. If you care about something enough to do something about it, you're in business."
How true this is when applied to my life! When asked by my peers what I am doing in my co right now, their expressions is similar: disbelief.
"Is this your temp job?"
"You own this store?"
"Working for your family?"
Yada.Yada. Is it that strange that I chose to work in the retail line or some kind of low paying job? Why settle for less?
Not much of a mystery really. I like my job. I like the things that I learn. I'm not really into the money for the moment.
For my friends that understand me better, thanks for all the encouragment that you've given me =)
I've been digging my library of unread books and picked up "The Warren Buffett CEO". I'm so hooked to the book. It's excellent! Robert P. Miles went round interviewing and writting up on the lives and mindsets of some of the greatest CEOs that Berkshire Hathaway possess. It really amazes me how great leaders are able to break away from the odds and make difficult decisions to keep the company running. It makes me wonder how I will react when the time comes and I'm poised with the same dilemnas as them.
One particular verbatim that touched me was that of Tony Nicely, the Co CEO of GEICO insurance. When faced with increasing debts and financial and operating troubles, Tony Nicely was forced to downsize his company in order to keep GEICO alive. He says, "That period frmo 1975 to 1976 changed my life, at least as far as business is concerned. I started out as a young man, and in two to three years I became an old man. I had no middle age. because of all the hours I had to put in, for a couple of years, I was neither a father nor a husband. But it wasn't the long hoursor the lack of time off that changed me. It wasn't even the stress of not knowing, after 15 years with the company, whether or not it would still be there at the end of the day. What made me an old man was all the times that I had to look people in the eye- people that I knew well, some of whom had been with the company 20, 25, or 30 years- and say, "I'm sorry. I know you to be loyal and hardworking, but through no fault of your own, as of Monday you no longer have a job." I don't want to ever have to do that again."
The life of Mr Al Ueltchi is one to admire too. Not wanted to relinquish his childhood dream of being a pilot nor willing to let go of the opportunity to provide a more secure training ground for pilots, Ueltchi founded FlightSafety International while remaining a fulltime pilot of Pan-Am. It just WOWS me.
On a side note, I just deleted everything humanly possible of you. No more HP number, old messages, FB, friendster, MSN. Much as I enjoy your company I think we need some time apart for now. I don't want to wrestle with what can be as opposed to what shouldn't be. I'm sorry things had to come to this and even if I regret today's decision, I have no means of contacting you any more. It was a hard decision I've made up my mind and there's no turning back.
Goodbye
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Thought of the Day
"Hope in reality is the worst of all evils because it prolongs the torments of man." -Frederich Nietzche
Friday, September 12, 2008
Cloths of Heaven
I love this poem. It's so simple; there is neither flatulence nor bombastic words.
The author uses the same word to form the poem's rhyme- Cloth with cloth, light with light.
Beautiful.
: ) Hope you'll enjoy it as much as I do :)
Cloths of Heaven
by William Butler Yeats
Had I the Heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
The author uses the same word to form the poem's rhyme- Cloth with cloth, light with light.
Beautiful.
: ) Hope you'll enjoy it as much as I do :)
Cloths of Heaven
by William Butler Yeats
Had I the Heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
The Strategy of Preeminence
"The strategy of preeminence is quite simply the ability to put your clients' needs always ahead of your own." -Jay Abraham
Have not blogged for quite some time. Some of you may already know that I'm currently working in the sales line at Comics Connection (Causeway Point). Recently a competitor (PlayCraft) has opened just next door to my outlet. Their strategy is to outplay us based on lower prices.
One particular incident today that is of interest to me is my encounter was a couple (in their late 30s) who was looking for a PlayStation Portable (PSP) for a boy residing in America.
They came to my outlet and inquired about the price of the PSP. I replied that our basic set is retailing for 280 dollars. They gave me a friendly feedback that our competitor was retailing for only 268 and asked me what's the difference between our sets. Fortunately, I did my homework and explained to them that although both of our sets are an export set, we provided 1 year warranty whereas PlayCraft only provided 3 months warranty.
In terms of pure monetary comparison, obviously PlayCraft has a better offer since a set brought into America will not be able to benefit from a longer period of Warranty. I advised them that for their needs, it would be better to purchase from PlayCraft instead of ours and joked to them that I had committed a cardinal sin by recommending them to our competitors. They laughed about it, thanked me and left my store.
It was pretty demoralizing for me since I had not made a single console sale today which is my worst day in the 2 month period I have worked here. I was wondering whether it was wise for me to apply Jay Abraham's Strategy of Preeminence- to protect my client's needs above my own.
Just before I ended my day, the couple came back to me with a warm smile and greeted me with a cheerful "I'm back! We're here to buy a PSP from you. *laughter*" I was pleasantly surprised and confused. I had to ask for a reason. "Hi! Was PlayCraft not good enough for you?" Their reply:
"We're back because of what you said before- the cardinal sin part."
I suspect that they purchased from me because I decided to protect their interest over my own. If my hypothesis is true, what Jay Abraham describes as Altruism, makes business sense and works hand in hand with a sound philosophical strategy.
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