The Power of Words and Faith

Make and keep a promise - even if it means you're going to get up in he morning a little earlier and exercise. Be sure you don't violate that commitment and be sure you don't overpromise and underdeliver.

When we make and keep commitments, such as setting and achieving goals, we make emotional deposits. We increase our confidence in our own trustworthiness, in our ability to make and keep commitments to ourselves and to others.

Build slowly until your sense of honor becomes greater than your moods. Little by little, your faith in yourself will increase. A high balance in this emotional account is a great source of strenght and security..

Source: Covey S, First Things First Every Day- Because Where You're Headed Is More Important than How Fast You're Going, Daily Reflections, Simon & Schuster NY, 1997, pg 27 & 275

Change, a step ahead

What prevent us from making a change? Some of our beliefs, both personal and cultural, can hold us back.

Many people don't believe they can make a change merely because previous attempts have failed. Or they might think change has to be a long, painful process; if not, they argue (where objection handling starts), then why haven't they chaged already? Furthermore, if you resolve a problem you've been dealing with for year in a matter of minutes, you have to face your friends and family: they might ask, "If it was that easy, why did we waste time worrying about you?" With all these negative "incentive", we've learned to take a long time so people can "appreciate" our change.

Shake off this cultural hypnosis and realise that new actions will produce new result now.

Source: Robbins A, Giant Steps- Small Changes to make a big difference, 365 Daily Lesson in Self- Mastery, Simin & Schuster, 1994, pg 151

Charisma + Charm

My colleague praised me for my irresistable "Charisma" just now. Well, I think the desciption was not good enough to describe me. Perhaps she should include the word irresistable "Charm" as well..

Emm, you see, not everyone has the irresistable double Cs - "Charisma + Charm" together like ME normally. Such attributes are both precious and unique. In my unique case, the irresistable "Charisma + Charm" extends from inside to outside, physically, verbally and mentally, flowing out from the Charming ME naturally and continously...

Thus, I would like to suggest the most brilliant idea in this century...

OK, we shall set up a "Kuan Fan Club".

Yes, "Kuan Fan Club", undoubtedly.

You will be entitled to a number of benefits if you join the Club NOW. I shall outline them as follows:

1) You will have the exclusive right to enjoy my irresistable "Charisma + Charm" in your business area + areas within the radius of 20km. Please note that such exclusivity will be extended to you for life.

2) You will be given timely counselling, advise, emotional and monetary support, within 24 hour should you call me directly at 12345678 (Toll Free).

3) You will be supplied with periodicals and newsletters about the latest development of the "Kuan Fan Club", on-line articles, the future activities and the schedule in admiring my double Cs- the irresistable "Charisma and Charm".

4) The rest of benefits are not important because the 1st one is the most beneficial to our exclusive members, YOU, life long, endlessly...

We are expecting overwhelming response from the public at large. So, please ACT NOW while stock lasts.

Kindly fill in the form as follows:
(Please note that you will be given MYR50.00 upon successful registration of normal membership with Us. For registration of committee, you are entitled for MYR200.00 per person. Remember, membership is free for life to enjoy my irresistable double Cs - irresistable "Charisma + Charm")

Name:
Gender:
Age:
Occupation:
Address:
NRIC:
Colour of NRIC:
Nationality:
Weight (in kilogram):
Height (in milimeter):
Income range: > MYR1,000.00 MYR1,000.00 to MYR2,500.00 > MYR2500.00
Occupation:
Marital Status:
Number of Children, if any:
Type of Membership: NORMAL / COMMITTEE
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SORRY, FREIDNS. THIS IS MERELY A JOKE TO CHEER YOU UP FOR A HAPPIER WEEKEND

Competitive Advantage

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE IS CREATED, NOT INHERITED
Porter M, "Competitive Advantage of Nations"

The Global Competitive Report 2008- 2009 by Porter M (Harvard University) and World Economic Forum
http://www.weforum.org/documents/GCR0809/index.html

A comprehensive study about why some countries without natural resources can thrive, prosper and become international lenders. In contrast, Porter also studied why some countries with plentiful natural resources have vast majority of population living under critical poverty, intensifying social unrest, limited economical growth and become international borrowers.

Priorities

The KEY is not to prioitise what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities. And this can best be done in the context of the week.

Ideally, there is harmony, unity, and integrity between your vision and mission, your roles and goals, your priorities and plans, and your desires and discipline. In your weekly planner, there should be a place for your personal mission statement so that you can constantly refer to it. There also needs to be a place for your roles and for both short- and long-term goals.

Source: Covey S., Daily Reflections for Highly Effective People, Living the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Every Day. Page 224-225.

The Golden Rule

The Golden Rule says to "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." While on the surface that could mean to do for them what you would like to have done for you, I think the more essential meaning is to understand them deeply as individuals, the way you would want to be understood, and then to treat them in terms of that understanding.

Source: Covey S., Daily Reflections for Highly Effective People, Living the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Every Day. Page 221.

A walk from Ampang LRT to Kg Tasik Permai

Due to unforeseeable circumstances, I had to embark on an LRT trip to travel from KL to Ampang today. When I reached the Ampang LRT station, I crossed the road and waited for a bus. At a sudden, a strange idea crossed my mind. Perhaps I should take a walk home instead of waiting for a bus. With the cloudy weather, this was perhaps not a bad idea.

So, I started walking. Emmm..., there was a fruit stall before I reached the Shell petrol pump. Oh.., I see, the durian is off season now. Then, I reached the shoplots of the first phase of Ampang Waterfront. Wah..., there were shops selling chandelier lights, adorable toys, pharmaceutical products, etc. Then, I came across people sitting in some restaurants enjoying the aroma of the black coffee. They enjoyed the companionship of their friends in such cloudy and windy atmosphere. Before I reached the junction leading to Taman Bukit Indah, I saw a shelter with a canvas. A police sat inside it. Curiosity led my attention to the display in the said shelter and my leg hit a big stone accidentally. Ouhh..., I almost fell down. The police came out and gave me a hand. Then, I took a rest in the shelter and had a short chat with the police. After a short rest, I continiued my walk and the rain started pouring. Now, I am sitting in a shelter in the second phase of Ampang Waterfront, seeing the river behind the shoplots and keying in this message for YOU, my dear friend. Indeed, without the car, I saw things that I can never see even though I used to passing by this road..

Such slow and gradual walk is fruitful and effective if the result is the main concern. Going slow does not mean losing out. You may be delighted by the treasures that you may not pay attention all this while. Indeed, these treasures could be more precious and enriching. However, if I can go even slower, be more observant and conservative to the environment, I think I would have avoided the stone which may cause injury. Moreover, I do not need to exercise tonight in order to burn my lipid... (scientific name of "fat"). He he he...

The rain is about to stop shortly. I shall continue my slow, gradual and fruitful walk toward Carrefour Ampang, Taman Dagang and then my village again. In fact, I am worrying about walking up the steep slope before I could reach my house now. Nevertheless, I am pretty sure that I will have a good sleep and sweet dream tonight.

If I drive, I will miss out all these enriching experiences and precious treasures. Indeed, such walk allowed me to pay more attention to my surrounding, to discover the treasures which I may have taken for granted and be more observant to the stones which may cause us injury and slow down the journey overall (otherwise, I would have hit more stones).

Good luck, my dear friend..