My people take precedence

"Brian is a very good staff," Winston pointed out before starting on his soju and beer. "He is very well connected and respected in Hana Tour in Korea."

I take people business very seriously. I truly realise that it's people, not capital investment nor automation that bring about quality improvements and productivity gains. I also know that people are the only true source of creativity, innovation and new ideas. As far as I am concerned, my people take precedence over everything else.

Appreciating the fact that people are my most important resource is not enough by itself to achieve extraordinary results.

I need to home in on the self-interests of my people if I expect to achieve extraordinary results.

Chloe (right)

Eliminate obstacles to success

"My father told me that my objective is not to get an MBA," Eu Khoon recounted. "It is to hire people with MBAs"

I obtained an MBA through distance learning so that no one could say I couldn't handle the job technically. I attended many seminars and read many books on managing people and adopted the techniques I could that would help me to better manage my people.

You, too, can eliminate obstacles to your success. Aspects of your job can be enhanced by night school and seminars.

Action speaks louder than words

The Hana Convention started yesterday. After all the planning, it is time for action.

Everybody is familiar with the cliche "action speaks louder than words."

It is important to say the right things. It is even more important to do the right thing.

Ultimately, our actions are of greater consequence than our words. I always say what needs to be said, then act accordingly. Temporary discomfort is better than temporary relief. Results, for me, are judge and jury.

Sustaining intensity in middle years

"I started going mountain biking," Alvin declared after a sip of his vodka sprite. "I have done it 3 times already. Twice with a friend, and once, recently, on my own."

I have come to realise that if a person sustained some of the intensity after his school days, he would be in better shape in his 40's.

If a man in his middle years does not sustain his conditioning with a certain intensity, he will not be able to counteract the effects of time; and after an injury, he will not be able to heal the way he once did. In fact,life for him will become one long quiet injury; he will begin to hear sounds in his body that belong in a car that is being recalled.

Young men dream dreams, old men see visions

ACE flew off to Shanghai and onwards to Suzhou yesterday with 67 others Primary 5-yers from his school yesterday. This is the 1st time he is travelling on his own. He has indeed growing up fast.

Adolescence is the short hour between the springtime and the summer of life. Before the teenage is reached, there is a very little individuality or personality but as soon as the teens begin, the emotional life is like water taking shape from the vessel into which it is poured.

Some youths, like some fruits, ripen too soon, and others never seem to ripen at all, but there are others who fulfill the best aspirations of an older generation.

"Young men dream dreams; old men see visions." The young look ahead, the aged look back.

me-1st-and-you-and-the-son-can-have-what's-left-over

May 29, 2010 has been set as Eat With your Family Day. This is a Singapore National movement serving as a reminder on the importance of having meals as a family.

Amazingly enough, many couples make time for just about everything - and everybody - but each other. I'll have to confess that I am possibly the most guilty person alive on this one, or at least I was very guilty. I still am to a degree, but not nearly as much as I was a few years ago.

In the past, when acquaintances or business associates would pass through town and say, "It's my only night here," or "I'm here for the next couple of days," I would expect my wife to "understand" that I had to see my friend or business associate.

Basically, it was a "me-1st-and-you-and-the-son-can-have-what's-left-over" approach to marriage.

I'm pleased to say that now, in most cases, I have my priorities in order and weigh the importance of the get together before accepting or turning it down.

Fear of looking foolish

"Please tell me how people perceive me," Clement asked. "I am not one to mince my words."

Almost everyone fears looking foolish. Everyone has refrained at least once from asking questions out of fear that someone would say, "You mean you don't know that?" We've all held back emotions - whether laughter or tears - for fear of being thought a fool, losing face, being humiliated, losing respect and position.