Discounting other people's contribution

The banter around the table last night amongst Peter, Yam Seng and David in Capella were about discounting other people's contribution.

One of the biggest mistakes high achievers make is in overestimating their contribution to a success. When was the last time we heard a colleague recount a triumph that we recall as a team effort but, having gone through the rince cycle of our colleague's ego, has ended up sounding like a one-man show? 

People also go too far back in time, digging up an achievement that happened so long ago that it's no longer relevant and may even qualify as ancient history.

Nowadays, I frequently check myself so as not to exaggerate my role in any achievement.

Counting my blessings

I was borned 48 years ago today.

The past is a ghost, the future a dream, and all we ever have is now. I do not know if the days are dwindling for me or if I will make it to ninety three like my grandmother. Nonetheless at forty-eight I am convinved we must live as if we're immortal.

Am I aging gracefully? All I can say is I am counting my blessings and not my time with a pointless pining for yesterday because I keep telling myself, "The older I get, the luckier I am."

~ You can't help getting older, but you don't have to get old. ~ George Burns

Life is a series of choices

The World in 2013 dinner organised by The Economist last week in Hong Kong was both entertaining and insightful. It looked at the past, present and attempted to predict the future.

Our past choices made us who we are today. Our present choices will shape our future.

Ever wondered what would have happened if we had made different choices in the past? - turned right instead of left, said yes instead of no? If we had made different choices, some things might have turned out better - and others, maybe worse. In any case, we'll never know.

Some choices lead up one path, and some down another, but every road lead to lessons and every lessons lead to wisdom.

hamsters running on a wheel

I have just been to a a hot spring. Had much time to stop and reflect.

Too often in the "action is everything" world we live in, we are hamsters running on a wheel. Day in and day out, we run faster and faster, doing the same things in the same ways we've always done them. Trouble is, we're often doing the wrong things: things that drain critical resources from those few effective tasks that really will make us successful.

Leave a legacy

David's bbm this morning read: "The placing of Emmanuel's urn Ceremony will be held at No. 1, Punggol Place at Fo Guang Shan at 11am on Wednesday, 21 Nov"

Emmanuel was 37. He was a colleague and a friend.

I am sure within each of us,there exists a longing to leave a legacy, some proof that we were here. We need to know that our lives, our being here mattered.

Hence, the need to create something of value, to accomplish something worthwhile.

Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry - Mark Twain

Pressure into positive energy

Recent research shows that optimism is essential to strong sales performance.

The higher we go in an organization, the more important our selling and persuading skills are - internally as well as externally. To me, a leader is someone who can translate pressure into positive energy.

Noticing progress

We hold our 9+3 review this coming Friday.

We are goal-oriented beings. We like to see results. Our 9+3 review involves noticing progress, and also celebrating and building on it.

I love the idea of focusing at the same time on how far we've come and on the vivid imagery of where we want to be. Both of these targets are empowering targets - 1 reminds us of our success and creates momentum for more of the same. The other keeps us inspired to continue moving forward.

Recharging batteries

A football game lasts 90 minutes. That's a lot of time to be running up and down the field in continuous motion. Even with the half-time breaks, superstars rarely play the whole game. They can't if they're going to remain effective.

Resting our players at work makes equally good sense. If someone's coming off a tough, time-consuming and energy-sapping project, I now try to let her recharge her batteries, especially if she'd been going flat out for a while. I'm going to help someone recover by resisting the temptation to dump another tough project in her lap immediately.

To this end, I've scheduled a play afternoon with the intention to help people relax, rejuvenate and recover.

Hard work is different from great work

"The hotel team works till late at night. The China team works through weekends," John crowed.

There is a big difference between hard work and great work. And while Asians love the person who "gives it his all", as a coach and sales leader, I will take the natural performer over the grinder every time.

Pareto

"For the next 3 months, just focus on the RFPs and the groups," the direction rang out.

Us, leaders with a track record of fast action have learned to set priorities based on an old maxim called Pareto's principle.

Ruthlessness starts with a cold, hard analysis of what's important and what's not. And then we have to choose what is likely to yield the most results and do that first, leaving the rest to solve itself or go undone.

Dealin with hard times in relationships

I've found that when my personal relationships are strong it makes me stronger in all other aspects of my life. But when my personal relationships are troubled, my life strength weakens like a bridge with a cracked infrastructure.

I look at people I know who are doing well in life, people wo seem confident and well-rounded, and then I look at their personal lives. In most cases, I see that they have a strong foundation from which to operate. Those who fall in the face of adversity often do so because when they reach back there is no one to take their hand.

 

I don't claim to have any magic formula for dealing with hard tmes in a relationship but experts say that communication is the most important aspect. Most rocky times in relationships stem from misunderstandings and misinterpretations rather than a lack of love and appreciation.

 

 

If everything is important, nothing is

"Perhaps hurting my knee has a silver lining. I stayed in-house this week and converted quite a few groups," Clarice pointed out.

In my past life, I've frequently worked with having too many top priorities to achieve the level of focus my team needs to succeed. Wanting to cover all my bases, I established a long list of disparate objectives nd spread my team's scarce time andeergy across them all. The result is almost always a lot of initiatives being done in a mediocre way and a failure to accomplish what matters most.

I came to realize this somewhat by accident: If everything is important, nothing is.

1 thing has to be most important, even if there are other worthy goals under consideration. For me, the question these days is, What is most important, right now?

 

Most important things are hardly ever urgent

"These days, I spend 15 to 16 hours working," iAngel lamented.

We may think that we spend more time together today, but do we really, or are we simply in the same place together more of the time? The world is full of people living together alone.

We all want to have great relationships, but we get distracted by all the urgent things. We rush around endlessly doing all these urgent things, and if we are not careful we will rush around doing urgent things for the rest of our lives.

The problem is, the most important things are hardly ever urgent, ie relationships, physical, emotional areas of life. And that is why we have to place them on our schedules, because if we don't we simply won't get around to them.

People developer and talent cultivator

"We were trying our best but you don't seem to appreciate and yet said we were pussyfooting around," the feedback was blunt and brutal.

That was 1 area where I failed to put myself in other people's shows and see things their way. You might say I was arrogantly naive.

On the other hand, there are are occassions when I don't pull punches just to avoid hurting other colleagues' feelings. Getting an entire group to excel is worth any number of offended peers. Maybe it is best to simply accept the fact that excellence upsets some people. It always has and always will.

My leadership role has changed from order-giver to people-developer, from authoritarian boss to talent cultivator. Nowadays, I noticed that the most effective leaders work hard at showing people how to find their own solutions, and then get out of the way.

Selling = problem solving

I went to COMEX this weekend looking for a PC. I ended up with a HP PC, Creative speakers and subwoofer, Samsung, blu ray dvd player, Samsung LED TV and Samsung soundbar. Adam was the sales person who attended to me.

Supersalespeople are extremely attentive to each client's needs and totally intent upon seeking an ideal solution to each client's unique problems. In the end, such individuals are problem solvers. They are the ones who solve problems better and more quickly than their competitors.

Learn to accept you can't change your partner

"The trouble is I am realistic and he is too ambitious and not realistic," Hy moaned.

take it from me...1 of the things I learn from long-term relationjships is that you can't really change your partner. That's like trying to stop the wind. Life is easier when you give up trying.

But here's another bit of wisdom: both men and women change over time. Some quite a lot. Although we can't force someone to change, there is a deep, slow, natural transformation that occurs with maturity and age.

Straight talk

"I put truth before peace," John made it very clear in the first 5 minutes of the meeting.

Senior executives have the least time amd least patience for people who beat around the bush. They are generally straightforward, and they expect the same in others.

I have since learned that I must be direct, honest, frank and follow a straight course. I call that straight talk.

The road will come

"my dad starts his chemo treatment on Monday," Barb's solemn SMS read

Whether we accept the journey or not, the road will come. The road always comes. The only question any of us can answer, is how we will choose to meet it.

Heavy choosing

This weekend I flew into KL for a day to visit my unc who's been inflicted by cancer.  Bad news is hard to share.

My unc has some heavy choosing to do, and I wish there were a button I could push to make it easier for him. How do you help elderly relatives make difficult decisions? I feel responsible for helping him see and understand al the options. The decision, however, is his to make. If asked I will volunteer my opinion. Otherwise I try hard to remove myself. In this case, it is important that my unc own both the decision and its consequences. The quality of his life, even his life itself, hangs in the balance.

Choosing quality of life is a very intimate and human experience. It is not black and white. It is not right or wrong. It cannot be counted or quantified. It is personal, private and protected from techniques and technologies. It is what makes us human. And sometimes it is hard and very painful.

Other cultures

We had 14 people on the conference call last night from all 5 continents. Knowing the difference between what is acceptable and unacceptable in a given culture is not only interesting, it is increasingly critical in our global economy where cultures interact everyday and in multiple ways. Whether we are travellers visiting different countries, a business person with international dealings or simply someone who deals with diverse people every day, it is well worth the time and effort to learn as much as we can about other cultures.

Criticism is a learning process

"You are the first boss I work for who chases me for things. Usually, I am the one doing the chasing," Minte pointed out in the taxi.

No one is immune to criticism. If you hold a position of responsibility, you will be subject to criticism.

There is no reason to be too disturbed by a certain amount of criticism. I am always willing to acknowledge criticism that is true

We all enjoy being praised. It is only natural to think we deserve praise for our efforts. But the disagreeable and critical things people say about us can also be of use. I make criticism a learning process. If I find that criticism of my methods or actions is justified, I act upon that criticism and change my methods and actions.

Team member and team captain

"I am calling you to let you know that I am available now and am in the market looking for a job," Sharon announced on the phone.

People, not products make the difference. They have to be absolutely dedicated to the idea of giving their best. In short, this is the kind of people I look for.

Ideally that person will have to be both a team member and a team captain. I want to hire people who are comfortable leading as well as following.

We can teach skills. We can even, to some degree, teach people to think. But we can't teach attitude.

Giving up vs giving in

Euro 2012 ended yesterday.

The glory of the Olympics will soon fill our living rooms, and we will watch in awe celebrating the triumph of the athletes.

Do we ever think about the thousands of hours spent on the track with few observers, often in indement weather, the injuries, defeats and the lack of normal social life , indeed the many sacrifices that must be made to participate in the world's greatest sporting event?

If this sounds like hard work, consider the alternative - the life of the uncommitted.

I understand the important distinction between giving up and giving in. You have been exhorted to never give up on what you want for life, but there could be many times on your journey when it is wise to give in.

The power of 2

"I used to cycle alone, but I am glad I have now found someone to cycle with," Francis said as we were stuck in that 2 hour traffic jam on our way to Insa-dong.

The "power of 2" works well for even personal objectives such as losing weight or athletic training.

Some of us enlist a friend to attend yoga class or commit to training for a marathon (an inherently lonely sport). We enjoy the companionship and support but knowing we're answerable to someone else, is also motivating.  That small obligation keeps us focused. At some point we reach a point of no return where we don't want to disappoint a friend or don't want to be the 1st to give up.

The lesson is clear: we don't just have to rely on self-help! Pairing up provides us with a discipline that we cannot summon as readily working solo.

We can do much more

I watched a clip from the movie "facing the giants" during the extreme coaching training. It was a scene of how the head coach guides and urges each one of his players to give maximum effort, and motivates them to believe they can win. I, too, believe that if we treat an individual as he is, he will stay as he is. But if we treat him as is he were what he ought to be or could be, perhaps he will become that. We can all do much more than we think, but 1st we have to believe it.

Disconnect between understanding and doing

Extreme Coaching course ended today.

There is an enormous disconnect between understanding and doing. Most leadership development revolves around 1 false assumption...if people understand, then they will do. That's not true.

Most of us understand, we just don't do. For example, we all understand that being grossly overweight is  bad for our health, but not all of us actually do anything to change our condition.

What might be lies ahead

"What happened, happened  and there's not much we can do about it now." GT sighed..

I would like to suggest another possibility. "What might be still lies ahead." The opportunities are still there. The potential for making them better is always present.

If you're among those parents with regrets, you probably look back and ask why things went wrong. Maybe your work took you away from home too much in those critical child-rearing years.



Even if you were not the parent you wish you had been, you can begin now to love your children in ways that will make them feel truly valued.

Build pedestals

There was a report I read about psychologists in studying human motivation: "Positive reinformcement is infinitely more effective than negative reinforcement"

To be constantly critical of a young person is obviously a dangerous thing. It tends to undermine his confidence. I build pedestals so my son will climb up on them; if we keep our hands on the edge of the rug, always ready to pull it from under our children, there can only be trouble ahead.

Ripple effect

"Your father keeps refusing to go get his leg checked. If it turns gangrene, the worst case scenario is amputation. When that happens, it will affect the lives of the family around him", nurse Bernie said solemnly.

Our choices always affect others. It's like throwing a pebble in a pond; there's a ripple effect.

Power of praise

"RECOGNITION TIME" the email starts out.....

"Our “South Asia, Australia, India, Japan & Korea Market Engagement Webinar” is on this Thursday, during our call, we would like to recognise associates with outstanding achievements, so if you have an associate or team that you would like to recognise, please send the nominees with a brief description"


There is a strong correlation between telling people that they have done something well and them repeating that behaviour..
So if you want to change something about someone, this is by far the best way of starting out.

Act of forgiveness

I returned the book "Lost december" to the library today. Lost december is Richard paul Evan's modern day holiday version of the biblical story of the prodigal son, a tale of redemption, hope and the true meaning of Christmas.

One of the most important aspects of fathering is the act of forgiveness - both asking for it and giving it.

It's 1 thing for us to admit our mistakes and ask for forgiveness, but it's quite another to expect our children to admit to us when they were wrong. I can only hope that by my modeling the ability to admit wrongs and seek forgiveness, he will do the same. Sometimes we must forgive them when they don't even realize they need forgiveness or they're not strong enough yet to admit that they need forgiveness.

How we see ourselves is irrelevant

"We need to discuss what training we as leaders need to further develop our leadership skills,"Nancy stated on the telephone conference call.

When I 1st became a leader many milleniums ago, I didn't see a need to change my style since I had achieved success while being "one of the boys". I member of the gang can become its leader easily enough, I figured.

But I soon realized that how we see ourselves is irrelevant.

Having sought wise counsel, I have replaced the social interaction at the pub with regular, slightly more formal team meals. The risque jokes retreated into history. In meetings with my team, I often try to paint the big picture, positioning topics within the wider view of the company's goals and resources and helping people see how they fit in.

Integrative approach to reducing cholesterol

"I do 85 step tai chi", Rosalind said.
"I do yoga 2-3 times a week"KC quipped
"I don't run anymore but I go yoga now,"Michelle added
"I go biking on my mountain bike,"Mark piped in
"I golf" Loong said

The 3 pillars of cholesterol healing which has worked for me are: a healthier diet, exercise and statin. I now feel more joy and gratitude at having a second chance at life.

"Time really flies, doesn't it?" Anna commented

Take a look back. If you knew 10 years ago what you know today, how would you re-order your life? Would you have studied harder? Played harder? Given more time to people rather than things? Budgeted your money more defensively?

If I knew 30 years ago what I know now, goodness, there is a long list of things I would have changed. Not that I'm unhappy with how life has turned out so far. On the balance, it has worked our for good. But I note I should have got into that big space in my life called "room for improvement"

Overseeing personal brand

Beckham is the highest paid footballer in the world. It's official.

David Beckham is a legend, and legend sells. For Beckham, the potential is enormous. There are probably at least 30 countries where he is a household name, and a similar number of products he could put his name to.

So it is with overseeing our own personal brand. In every area of a leaders' private and public life, it requires a 24/7 commitment. indeed, it is probably the most demanding form of man management there is.

Official teen

ACE turns 13 today. Thirteen.

It is normal for children to want assurance that they are loved. Hence I write this now for him.

To Alexander Charles Er...I've always loved you because you are our first and last miracle. You sustained us streetfood years: the first apartment in Kuala Lumpur furnished in early poverty...our first mode of transportation (our Hyundai Coupe)

You wore new and had unused grandparents. You were the original model for unsure parents, uncles, aunties, granduncles, grandaunties trying to work the bugs out.

You were the beginning. The first baby in the Er family for 20 years.

Toughness in negotiation

"After consultation and review, we revised the honorarium as follows: Per day: $1000," Merla wrote in her email.

What do you do when the person you are negotiating with hits you with you'll have to do better than that? Do you cave in or do you refuse to panic?

Toughness in negotation is not about aggressive stances or contests of intimidatory toughness. The toughness I refer to is of the only worthwhile and long-lasting kind - tough in resolve. Not to give in easily. Not to lose heart. Not to wilt under intimidatory pressure.

Personal downsizing

"We have just completed our divestments of our units in Japan and Malaysia," Hwee Liang of ExxonMobil announced. Focus - a book by Al Ries shows with an overwhelming number of case studies that it's the narrowly focused companies that are the big winners, those that focus on core products and get rid of extraneous, energy-wasting ventures.
Just as corporate America pursues its strategy of diversifying in order to grow, I now realise that what I call "personal downsizing"is the only way to help keep us focused on what we do best.

Going forward, we need to regain control by eliminating those things which distracts us from our goals. Our game plan is a program of "planned abandonment". We will look at everything that's on our plates and decide what must be cleared in order for us to make a significant contribution in the rest of the year that lies ahead of us

Boardgames as education

Playing monopoly and "Game of Life" are a very important part of my kid's education.

The Game of Life teaches him to get good grades so he can get a good job in order to earn money.  In Monopoly, he learns that he not only have to earn money, he needs to have a plan what to do with the money. he can't win the game by earning the $200 each time he passes "GO". He needs to buy one green house, and then another, until he has 4 green houses. The  convert the green house into a red hotel.

Hence, from the 2 games, he learns he needs to have 2 plans in life....one plan is how he plans to earn money. The 2nd plan is what he plans to do with the money after he earns it.

Get up, get over it and get going

2 days ago, Ryan Giggs urged his Manchester United team-mates not to beat themselves up over Wednesday night's shock defeat at Wigan.

Each time I find myself envying what successful people have achieved, I recognize that they have probably gone through many negative experiences that I could not see on the surface. I think this from my personal experiences: a lot of failure goes into success.

Today, at 47, I understand the incredible distance I have journeyed because I have turned mistakes into stepping-stones for success. I always got back on my feet, got over it and got going.

CMO

There are a series of ads in the Straits running a contest to rename job titles, offering $50 Starbucks vouchers to the winners every week.

We sales leaders should have a new title...CMO : Chief Motivation Officer

It's a mistake to assume that everyone in our organization is motivated only by money.

The way I see it, the ultimate goal is to achieve business results - the financials are real and measurable - and there is no doubt that aligning people with purpose is the way to do it.

Motivating and inspiring people is an integral part of our business strategy. A motivated team aligned around a common goal will take our business to the next level. And even better - it's fun!


A motivated team = a happy organization
Motivation = energy + productivity + profit

The telephone interview

"I have completed the telephone interview of both the candidates,"Chui Fung informed me.
Odds are good that you will experience telephone interviews during your job search. Perhaps the most important consideration about telephone interviews is that the employer has only his ears with which to judge you. How you perform will determine whether you move ahead or bite the dust.
Keep up your end of the conversation by giving verbal signals that you are engaged in the conversation. Comments like "uh-huh,""that's interesting,""yes", "great", and "I see"are verbal equivalents of the body language techniques we use to show interest during a face-to-face meeting.
On a personal note, on the few telephone interviews I went through as a candidate, I've found that standing for the interview calms the adrenaline a little, helps my breathing, and allows me to sound confident and relaxed. It might work for you, so give it a try.

Take your heart to the gym

"Your cholesterol levels are good," - my latest blood test results showed. 2 years ago it was dangerously high.

I am convinced that physical activity remains an essential component of a heart-healthy lifestyler, and it also affects cholesterol levels. We must get out of our chair and show our hearts we really care.

First of all, you'll feel better. No kidding. You'll have more energy, more get-up-and-go. You'll sleep better, and you'll enjoy life at an amazingly improved level.

Exercise is an essential component of any weight loss program and vital for keeping off those pounds. Exercise is 1 of the greatest stress-busters.

You'll be more productive at work. Most people feel sleepy by midafternoon. Those who exercise regularly find that midday letdowns are a thing of the past.

Oh, by the way, you'll live longer. You'll prevent heart attacks.

Moreover, it's not only a matter of quantity of life but also quality. Exercise can make those senior years golden. Look around us. Notice men and women who seem much younger than their years. They have more energy, get things done, and seem a lot happier. 9 times out of 10, you'll find that those men and womenj make exercise a way of life.

Aligning with the boss

Avril and I

The conclusion of a few studies: "There is frequently a significant gap between what a superior thinks a manager's job really entails and what the manager thinks that job entails."

As a sales leader, we have to meet the needs and expectations of our superiors while at the same time performing critical functions for our direct reports who need us to get their work done.

I find that my boss is more likely to get behind my efforts at improving the performance of my work unit when my support and actions are properly aligned with what my boss needs.

The unspoken need

"What do people need at work?" a recent survey asked.

I personally think it is a sense that we are progressing and advancing...the belief that we are moving toward the fulfillment of our dreams. Because people spend most of their lives working, so we should enjoy it, or at the very least know it is moving us in the direction of our dreams.

Win over or weed out

"3 strikes you're out,"- Baseball rules

Unhappy workers are an infection that can cause lingering damage. If some employees do not respond to efforts to win them over, they may become like a virus and spread their discord. People who clearly will never be won over should be weeded out.

The parenting years

"We are trying for a child. If it comes, it comes,"Nico murmured before downing a mouthful of Tuborg beer.

By choice or chance, life has blessed some of us with a son. In raising him, we undertake one of the most important, creative and demanding practices that life offers.

I reach out to you as another parent: The years go so quickly. Enjoy them while you can

Borrow a solution

Albert gave a few ideas on eldercare products during the steamboat dinner last night.
Whenever I want to try something that's new for me, I look around to see how other people have handled it. Why reinvent the wheel, when there are other people who've already figured out the best way to do it?
I borrow ideas every chance I get, because it just makes so much sense. Why would we want to figure out a problem on our own, when somebody has already done it for us? Sometimes we don't have nay choice, of course. In some situations, what we want to do is unique. Most times, we can borrow a solution.

Change happens

I started with the on-boarding program for the new GSA today.
Change is tough - but history has proven - it happens. It happens all over the world.
I have began the change process. I have a vision for the organization and will use that vision to accomplish my new strategies.

Caregiver withdrawal

It's 11 days since gramma died.
My aunt is having "caregiver withdrawal". She's tsruggling to define the strange feelings that accompany all her memories of all the things that were so hard to do. And she's trying to learn to let go of some memories and accept the relief that she feels without guilt.
The 1st thing she should learn is that the journey continues.

Fulfillment @ work

From left: Fernando, Chris, Patrice, Jeff, Nancy, Dave

Last month I posted three job vacancies on JobsDB.com. I was overwhelmed by the number of people who applied.

Work is not everything, but when you're doing work that doesn't engage you, or worse, work that you despise, it can massively affect every other aspects of your life. Ideally this means finding work that you are passionate about, but even if you are not in your dream job, there are ways to thrive at work.

Most men and women lead lives of quiet desperation.

Not a day goes by that I am not grateful for the gift of meaningful work. I have work that I can throw myself into with passion, energy and enthusiasmm and I am infinitely aware of how rare that is.

Surviving death

Grandma was cremated today.

Grief has come. This is my 1st real time at it and I'm a novice. It's like trying to play a game without knowing the rules.

Since gramma became bed-ridden over a period of 3 years, I had time to brace myself for her death. Time to say "I love you." Time to do what I needed to do, what I wanted to do. I had time to come to closure, to deal with many issues long repressed. I had time, and I didn't always accomplish all these things. But I tried, and trying felt good.

My grandmother's death

My grandmother Cecilia, died at her home on 22 Jan 2012 - Chinese New year eve - surrounded by those who loved her and those who cared for her. I wish to honour these people.

These were her children, my parents and uncs and aunts, who for the past 3 years, bathed her, helped her to eat, attended to her medications, helped her dress. They had encouraged her, cajoled her, been annoyed with her, answered her questions, teased her whole-heartedly, dealt with her demands, and offered her friendship. Some close, some distant, some warm, in a special way, they were always there.

And perhaps by honouring their work and recognizing what these people did to make that final moment more sacred than profane, I can find a positive meaning to my grandmother's death.

Listenh with your eyes

"Sometimes when you are not interested, you tend to show it," Ah leng rebuked.

"Listen" with your eyes. Look deeply. Mirror your interest - not the far-away look of preoccupation.

Our speaker is speaking because he/she wants us to listen. I find that when I listen more attentively - the speaker will pay more attention to me.

Should leaders apologize

"Should leaders apologize? Is it a good leadership skill? The absorbing discussion centred around these questions up at Amer Fort.

Many leaders mistakenly believe that admitting wrongdoing and asking forgiveness from their subordinates will strip them of their ability to lead, or weaken them in the eyes of the others. Quite the opposite is true. In fact, the very thing the leader fears - loss of leadership - is most often brought about because the leader did not settle the issue sufficiently in the minds of his followers by showing genuine regret and asking for forgiveness.

Show you are sincere in wanting to improve

"Our Friday presentation will be about the 4 disciplines of execution," the email started.

People only become critical of those who are not willing to try; they usually overlook lower-than-usual results if they see that you are sincere in wanting to improve.

Travel is education

SG344 touched down in Jaipur yesterday at 14.30


One of the greatest forms of education is travel. I now make it a practice to travel and experience the lifestyle and culture in a different region of the world at least once a year. A trip can combine geography, art and music in one comfortable package.

Intentions mean nothing without action

"I have no response from him 2 days to an email I sent him," Brenda wrote in an email to me.

An article of wood or metal or glass can achieve nothing. Set on a mantel in a fine home or on a mountaintop for all to see, it will never, by itself, plow a field or tend to a sick person o cook a meal. An object can inspire, arouse, prove, encourage, justify and confirm. But it can never produce.

Intentions are like physical beauty - they mean nothing. At some point, a person must actually do something. One's beliefs must become works.

When teaching, words are not enough

I visited Mani Bhavan yesterday. That's the house where mahatma Gandhi lived from 1917 to 1934.

I recalled reading about a story of a mother who brought her young son to mahatma Gandhi. She begged, "Pleae Mahatma. tell my son to stop eating sugar."

gandhi paused, then said, "Bring your son back in 2 weeks." Puzzled, the woman thanked him and said that she would do as he had asked.

2 weeks later, she returned with her son. gandhi looked at the youngster in the eye and said. "Stop eating sugar."

Grateful but bewildered, the woman asked. "Why did you tell me to bring him back in 2 weeks? You could have told him the same thing then."

gandhi replied, "2 weeks ago, I was eating sugar."

When we teach, words are not enough; we, too, must teach by example what we've realised through experience.

Stepping stones

The opening sentence in the GM of Capella's message was: "We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day." ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

In this 1st hour of January 2012, I recall january 1987 when, at 23, I left home to start my career in Kuala Lumpur as a computer operator with American express. I worked on three shifts...including the graveyard shift. I had to overcome many obstacles all throughout my professional life.

Reflecting on those times, including 2011, I now know that rejections and obstacles continually arise, and our success is often dictated by how we deal with them. However, I've proven that an obstacle can be a stepping stone on the path to success. I hope that the information I provide will help someone overcome obstacles and reach new heights of achievement.