Opportunity is not the same as action

"Our next big thing in Singapore is going to be huge," Anthony declared, giving a hint of what he's about to launch.

Opportunity is not the same as action. Predicting is 1 thing, doing something about it is quite another.

The "cool"man is seldom real

Today is September the 11.

10 years after 9/11.

Not being able to cry is not one of my problems. My eyes well up during a sad or emotional scene in a movie. I know this doesn't sound professional, but when that happens, I know I am alive.

The "cool"man is very macho, aloof and always in control of his emotions. I feel sorry for a "cool"man, who, of necessity, must hide behind a mask to be real. I fear he's seldom real.

Midlife experience

"I think Benny is having midlife crisis,"Kim pondered.

Everyone will have some type of midlife experience.

By the time most people are 47, they have taken a pretty big hit below the water line - a divorce, a death, betrayal by a trusted friend or colleague, the loss of a job, a health event. These things do tend to make us think about what really matters in our lives.

Public speaking is a necessity

"Would you like to be a speaker at our next conference?" the email from the organiser started.

I realise that public speaking is one of people's greatest fears; most people would rather crawl through a snake-filled swamp than to talk in front of a crowd.

But if you're a remotely successful adult, chances are you've had to speak in public at some point. It might be a sales pitch to a customer. It might be an internal presentation.

We want unhappy customers to complain

"I bought a new Blackberry from Singtel, then I saw it offered in Comex and the weekend ads for a better deal. I have complained to Singtel and I am going to do it again,"Chloe was visibly upset.

Statistics shows that only 5% - or 1 in 20 customers - complain to anyone in Management. For every ONE problem where someone has taken the initiative and perserverance to complain to someone at the top at least 19 other complains are never recorded or reported.

The way I see it, it is important to have UNhappy customers complain. Because by satisfying them, we will raise those customers' loyalty by 50%. Customers who don't complain are the least loyal. They simply go somewhere else instead. Through experience, customers whose complains are quickly resolved are the most loyal.

Not where, but who

"Where is the favourite place you have been to?" Melissa was curious.

People always ask me what my favourite places are in the more than 40 countries I have travelled to. I have many favourites, but as I reflect on why they are my favourites, I discover that it is the people I know in those places that attracts me to them. When you have travelled as much as I have, you come to realise that it is not where you are but who you are with that matters most.

Time is money

"Long queues to buy the 60,000 books on offer at half-price. Mr Mohamad Fahmy ismail, 45, who was there since 9.30am, waited for 3 hours to pay for about 15 books," reported The Straits Times today.

We mortals never seem to have enough time or money. We try to get more of each and start by fearing we will secure neither.

How many times has the word "FREE!" taken our attention?

Time is money to me!