sure can win

Aeon in talks to buy Carrefour Malaysia.

HONG KONG/PARIS, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Japan's Aeon is in talks to buy Carrefour's Malaysian business, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters, as the struggling French retailer exits non-strategic markets. Carrefour, the world's second-biggest retailer, is cutting costs under their new CEO Georges Plassat and exiting markets such as Singapore and Greece, raising cash to focus on reviving core European operations after years of underperformance. The Malaysian deal would be worth about $300 million, said the source, who declined to be identified because the discussions were confidential. Carrefour and Aeon declined to comment. Carrefour sold its Thailand business to French rival Casino Group for $1.2 billion in 2010 as part of a broader retrenchment. The retailer had tried unsuccessfully to sell its Malaysia and Singaporean operations at that time. Carrefour's two Malaysian hypermarkets generated 402 million Euros ($525 million) in revenue last year to account for about 5 percent of the group's overall Asian sales. However, the next day Aeon Tokyo issue a statement that denied the news.

GRATITUDE

That is how I feel throughout this week. I have been there when the English took over M13 in 2006. I know what it feels like. No doubt, it was a great experience to be a part of such a transformation process during the take-over period…nonetheless being treated like a stepchild, those insecurities & fear will grips you to the max. I was lucky during that time. I count my blessings and I thank GOD and for people like Juan Valentine, Haakon & Atticus who have given me endless opportunities. Since then, the world has been a big adventure for me. A huge part of that adventure has been understanding the retail work better, meeting new people, getting to know their work, realizing just how much people need other people, and how much we all stand to learn from one another. With this news, again; it’s given me an opportunity to contemplate on my work life, family, friends, hardships, blessings, love, promises, struggles and happiness.

Again - I’ve realized I have been planning so much for the future that I forgot to live in the now. This is good because it makes me pause for a while, take stock of my life, and then move again. Once in a while, it is crucial to have moments like this - because this is when you stop & breath, count your blessings, be humble and appreciate what you have. I just…have SO many things that I wanted to do. And I get carried away with how much other people at my age may have. A better car. A bigger house. A nicer kitchen. An improved wardrobe. A good looking spouse. Adorable children. That I forget how much *I* actually have :) And I’ve just been PUSHING and PUSHING myself to reach that level, reach that goal. Every time I achieve something I set out for myself, I quickly make a new one; more extreme than the last. Because I secretly feel that if I can’t succeed in it, I’ve failed myself or didn’t do as much as I could have. And…I totally forgot how to ENJOY THE MOMENT. I forgot how to enjoy my work. And love what I do. And LOVE my day. And EVERY day.

I’m not going to push for these 15-hour/17-hour days anymore. I want a balance. I want time for my family and friends. I don’t want to rush all the time like I will die if I don’t finish everything. So I’m going to cut down on my workload. I’m turning down jobs. I will try to be more efficient on the job. I don’t want to be one of these people who just work and work and forget about the small things in life. Like Baby Sis said: Do what you love, Love what you do, the rest (money, increment, bonuses, monetary & non-monetary benefits) will come your way.

"Don’t exist. Live. Get out, explore. Thrive. Challenge authority. Challenge yourself. Evolve. Change forever. Become who you say you always will. Keep moving. Don’t stop. Start the revolution. Become a freedom fighter. Become a superhero. Just because everyone doesn’t know your name doesn’t mean you don't matter" - Brian Krans, A Constant Suicide (via melodyandviolence)