Thursday, January 29, 2015

Woods Mscrobiotics


Day 1 – this Ursula is so sampat.
All of a sudden, she stormed into my room the other, shouted my name Ah J___...and show me a gel pen; made in China. She didn’t bought it, it was left at her desk by her supplier…telling me that this pen is very nice to write. The diameter tip is at 0.4mm. I also take it and try to scribble on it. Testing mah...

Day 2 – on the next day, I went to her room…gave her a similar pen…I somemore can tell her (since this pen is not as slim as the one that she had shown me on Day 1) – that this pen is better, her big hand can have a better grip :)

Day 3 – Ursula came into my room and inform me that she have bought a similar pen…Pilot Pen somemore. Show off :)

Out Of Chaos

Everything I observe makes me believe this is true: order is not natural.
When I consider my office I’m astounded at how quickly it descends into chaos and how long it takes me to restore order. Order requires intervention; it does not happen naturally. I shouldn’t be surprise. God’s role in bringing order out of chaos is a prominent biblical theme. With effort, we can bring order to our living spaces, but none of us can bring order out of the emotional and spiritual chaos of our lives. Only God can do that. He restores order to chaotic situations when we live as God intended – speaking no evil, being peaceable and gentle and showing humility to all.

Father, our world and our lives do have much chaos
And confusion. We need You to restore our souls.
Help us to live as You want us to live –
Loving others.

When we put our problems in God’s hands, He put His peace in our hearts.

Who’s At The Centre?

I am not at the centre of the universe.
The world doesn’t revolve around me.
It doesn’t move at my pace, in my terms, nor in accord with my preferences.
Though we might wish it to be otherwise, life is not all about us. Everything revolves around the Lord. All nature revolves around Him and His control. He assigned the sea its boundaries and locked the ocean in vast reservoirs. Everything in nature operates in accordance with the laws He has set. The nations also revolve around the Lord. No plan or scheme can stand up against God’s. Ultimately, it is the Lord’s plan that will stand forever. His intentions can never shaken. Finally, the lives of all humanity revolve around the Lord. God sees the whole human race. He made our hearts, and He understands everything we do. And He has the power to intervene in our lives and deliver us from situations spinning out of control. Our life is created to be centered on God, not self. How thankful we can be to serve such a powerful God, who has every aspect of our lives under His control.

Waiting…

God does not depend on our time.
Our time is chronological and linear but God…is timeless.
He will act at the fullness of His time. Our prayer…may not necessarily rush God into action, but…places us before Him in fellowship. What a privilege we have to fellowship with God in prayer and to wait for the answer in the fullness of His time.

Pray on! Pray on! Cease not to pray
And should the answer tarry, wait
Thy God will come, will surely come
And He can never come too late.

God may delay our request, but He will never disappoint our trust.

Sunday, January 25, 2015

The Naked Lunch Box


Line selections (for Leaflet & Press Ad), CNY 2015, TTA 2015, Buying Income, GST, New Store Opening, Refurb Store, March Flat Price, HR 2015, Sales, Margin, Stock Days, Deadlines, Supplier’s & Store's Problems, Stock Issues etc…aiyo...

God never intended for you to go through life on your own power. He wants you to trust Him and depend on Him. That’s why He allows problems in your life that you have no possible chance of solving on your own. Actually, He had the solution to your problem in mind long before you even knew it was a problem. He’s been waiting for you to stop trying and start TRUSTING.

The Rebellious Chickpea


2015 is a brand new year. January is a brand new month.
Finishing at a negative figure last year – well, to be honest…I am not really that happy with it either. But now it’s a New Year. Everybody starts at zero again. I just have to be ready to play great all the year :)

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you – one of GOD’s great promises in the Bible.

This is my second time that I am blogging about this phrase. I need to be firmly rooted onto it. I need the Faith. I have to adjust myself, on how I see things. My God is God. He is not limited. God is King, on his throne. Unshakeable. I am the one who is shaking here. He will bless me more and more and more. He will make things better and better and better for me. I will be still and know who my God is.

Chopstick Diner


Yay! My first achievement for 2015 – I finally learned on how to reverse park my car…thanks to Small Ham :) Okay…I am only currently reverse parking my car within my apartment parking lot compound…I haven’t officially try it out in public spaces yet…but it’s still a very positive progress :)

Difficult People

Author C.S. Lewis describes the kind of people who have trouble getting along with. Selfishness, anger, jealousy or other quirks often sabotage our relationship with them. We sometimes think that life would be much easier if we didn’t have to contend with such difficult people. Lewis then turns the tables on us by pointing out that these frustrations are what God has to endure with each of us every day. He writes: You are just the sort of person. You also have a fatal flaw in your character. All the hopes and plans of others have again and again shipwrecked on your character just as your hopes and plans have shipwrecked on theirs. This self-awareness should motivate us to try to show the same patience and acceptance to others that God shows to us daily. In Ephesians, Paul exhorts us to arm ourselves relationally with all lowliness and gentleness, with long-suffering, bearing with one another in love. The one who is patient is better able to deal with a difficult person without becoming provoked to anger and retaliation. Instead, he or she is able to endure, exhibiting grace in spite of upsetting behavior.

Some people can be difficult to love,
And so we do not even try to care,
But God says, Love them just as I’ve loved you,
You’ll bring Me glory as My love you share.

See others as God sees you.

Broken But Beautiful

A broken life can be renewed when it is touched by God’s love and grace. In the Old testament, we read that when the prophet Jeremiah watched a potter working, he noticed that if an object was marred the potter simply reshaped it. God explained that in His hands the people of ancient Israel were like clay, which He would shape as He saw best. We are never too badly broken for God to reshape. He loves us in spite of our imperfections and past mistakes, and He desires to make us beautiful.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay;
Mould me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.

When melted by trial, we can fully molded by the Potter.

Living Bridges

The Bible compares a person who trusts in God to a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river. Because its roots are well nourished, this tree survives soaring temperatures. And during drought it continues to yield fruit. Like a firmly rooted tree, people who rely on God have a sense of stability and vitality despite the worst circumstances. In contrast, people who place their trust in other humans often live with a sense of instability. The Bible compares them to desert shrubs that are frequently malnourished and stand alone. So it is with the spiritual lives of people who forsake God. Where are our roots? Are we rooted in Jesus? Are we a bridge that leads others to Him? If we know Christ, we can testify to this truth: blessed are those who trust in the Lord.

Jesus is all the world to me
My life, my joy, my all
He is my strength from day to day
Without Him I would fall.

Even strong trials cannot blow down a person who is rooted in God.

Lookin’ Good!

Most of us like to look good.
We want to appear that we have it all together – with no struggles or fears or temptations or heartaches. Trying to maintain a facade of perfection on our spiritual journey doesn’t help us or our fellow travelers. But sharing our lives with others in the body of Christ benefits us as well as others. When we are a bit more transparent, we may find people who are struggling in a similar situation. And as we enjoy a growing fellowship with God and become more aware of our own brokenness and inadequacy. God is able to use us more fully to help others. Let’s allow God to strip away any pretense and let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds.

Wearing a mask that shows everything’s fine
Says that life’s struggles are not God’s design
But when we’re open, transparent and true
People will trust God to meet their needs too.

Believers stand strong when they don’t stand alone.

Monday, January 19, 2015

Mobile Suit Gundam

I have a meeting with my supplier; Michel & Ice on last week Tuesday.
Michel commented that Ursula actually quite like me. Now, with Marcus…I have to step up and take the lead. Yes, keep on chasing & pushing Marcus...

Cowboy Bebop

I also got tell Ursula regarding the below post.
She just laughs. She is also going to see Mr. Horton and say her peace. Ursula handles such a big department yet she only has Shawn & Gerrard to look after the Appliance section. But then again…Celtic also saw that Ursula doesn’t look so good when she comes out from Mr. Horton’s room. Maybe it didn't went well as planned.

Mr. Horton also wanted to do a step change for the Stationery Department. I tell Marcus that I wanted to do it physically first, then only on paper. I also tell the same thing to Ursula. Ursula says that we think and do alike.

Valvrave The Liberator



I finally found the courage.

I ask Marcus and Marcus answered my questions. It was a meluahkan perasaan week. Performance Appraisal.

Marcus has no idea when Mr. Horton will reveal the new organization structure. At risk, will be the HouseHold Department & the Baby Goods category. I will still be remain in the Stationery Department :(

If I want to leave, Marcus said that I am free to do so. I am still young. Marcus will not hold me back. I just have to inform Marcus in advance.

I realize that Marcus and I are operating on a different wavelength. For Marcus, it’s just work. But to me…it’s about passion. I mean…I spend the majority of my daily living hours on my work…therefore, it’s important to work in a happy, conducive & thriving environment. Colleagues…no doubt…there are good people out there…and there are some rotten apples as well. You just need the right mix. I think I talk to Ursula & Marcus more than I do with my mom.

Marcus says that even though I smile a lot, there’s a lot of negativity in me :) Marcus expects me to be a very experience buyer but did not expect that I am such a negative person.

Well…I like what I am doing…I enjoy the entire process…but it gets very overwhelming…I certainly appreciate if there is one more headcount or to remove the Books & Seasonal categories from me. This feeling does not happen overnight, it did not happen yesterday, last week, or last month. It all started out since Leonardo’s time. Baldwin and I were supposed to swap. In the end, tak jadi. Of course, thereafter, I was parked under Ursula. Ursula did a great job in removing my background noises. When I found that stability, you all take it away from me. No doubt, Ursula did offer me to swap with Christy…but I also wanted to complete the entire process. I keep on pushing myself and now I have reached the spot…where I cannot move forward anymore. Changing portfolio is the likely option. But looks like, I will not have it.

Marcus realizes that I am such a big kid. Yes, I will always have that childish streak in me. It’s in my DNA, it’s part of my personality. It’s me.

Marcus likes that I keep on chasing & pushing Marcus to get things done. On the other hand, Pietro needs to be pushed. Now, Marcus wants Pietro to come forward. And I have to continue to do what I do. It’s not that I like to chase & push Marcus…Marcus is just too busy and get caught up with so many things.

Marcus also admits that Marcus is also very tired with all these charades.

I think Marcus is also very disappointed that the Textile Team has already forgotten about Marcus. Marcus said that Linda being a senior of Marcus has never listen to Marcus’s feedback. The Textile Team is so overprotective of their one supplier.

Marcus actually has nothing to lose. Marcus actually has the leverage. No one in the office right now knows how to runs the division business. Except for Marcus. But Marcus is worried of the consequences. Sigh…

Madeleine officially takes over the Furniture Department from Baldwin. With assistant somemore. Baldwin will only take care of the Home Furnishing category. Lucky for Baldwin. But I still sense that Baldwin still feels sad about the arrangement. Celtic said that everything should be remain as it is and the assistant should be given to Baldwin and not to Madeleine. There are also rumors going around that Madeleine will be promoted to Leonardo’s position as well.

Well…crossing fingers…see how it goes…

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

Pastor Sean is right – don’t take away the problems but give me the strength to overcome the problems. GOD – but please also help me to remove the clutter, remove the chaos from my life. Restore me.

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Dorssia Military Pact Federation

Guess what…I went for an interview session with The Japanese. It was James who recommended me for it. THANK YOU GOD, PRAISE TO THE LORD, BLESS YOU GOD. Finance Department. Merchandise Controller. The role is very compact and comprehensive. Covers the whole of the Merchandising Team plus the Supply Chain area. Unfortunately, they do not meet my salary scale :(

Trudy & Teddy



My car Gaga is back! The whole of the back is so sexy brand new now. Now, I have to save money; around RM800 to fix up the front portion.

Roscoe Paddy LongBottom


Happy Birthday Small Ham! :) My Baby Sis turns 26 today.

Proud Duck





Liverpool 2 – 0 Aston Villa :)

The Tomorrow People



'I know the plans that I have for you', says the Lord. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope'.

Wah…so damn powerful. THANK YOU GOD, PRAISE TO THE LORD, BLESS YOU GOD. For the Word…such an Assurance from the Almighty.

Hook It, Cook It

Hahaha…I was wearing a green top to work the other day. This green top reminds me that Ursula also has a green dress which she rarely wear these days. Then…mana tahu…the next day…she wore that green dress :) Yes, I missed Ursula. I truly do. And I am not ashamed about it.

Divine Perspective

Those who don’t show any regard for God may seem to prosper at the moment, but God will ultimately right all wrong. God is sovereign over all that comes to pass so that everything works toward His good purpose, God’s plan will surely take place and be on schedule. We can’t sort out the whole picture from where we are in life; only God can. So let us continue to live by faith and not by sight. From His perspective, all things are working together for the believer’s good and for His honor.

Sovereign Ruler of the skies
Ever gracious, ever wise
All my times are in Your hand
All events at Your command.

Our times are in God’s hands; our souls are in His keeping.

Courageous And Consistent

Every follower of Jesus can be a consistent giver and receiver of courage.
The Lord can use us today to encourage and strengthen each other.

O keep up your courage, each day to the end
Go forth in the strength of the Lord
Trust wholly in Jesus, thy Savior and Friend
And feed on His own blessed Word.

When people share their fears with you, share your courage with them.

All We Need To Know

The first step in becoming a truly good person as a follower of Christ is to stop pretending that we’re good on our own and to ask God to make us as good as we can be. We will fail many times, but He will keep growing us and changing us. God is faithful and – in His time and in His way – He’ll do it.

In his final years, the writer of Amazing Grace, John Newton, suffered from dementia and lamented the loss of his memory. Yet he confided, I do remember two things: I am a great sinner, and Jesus is a great Savior. When it comes to faith, those are the only things anyone needs to know.

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.

God’s grace accepted is God’s peace experienced.

Breaking Free

In Christ, we are set free.

He has our salvation wrought
He our captive souls has bought
He has reconciled to God
He has washed us in His blood.

Experience true freedom – take every thought captive in obedience to Christ.

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Jaws at work





Liverpool 1 – 0 Sunderland :)
Lazar Markovic seals the win.

The Upright Thumb

According to an African fable, four fingers and a thumb lived together on a hand. They were inseparable friends. One day, they noticed a gold ring lying next to them and conspired to take it. The thumb said it would be wrong to steal the ring, but the four fingers called him a self-righteous coward and refused to be his friend. That was just fine with the thumb; he wanted nothing to do with their mischief. This is why, the legend goes, the thumb still stands separate from the other fingers. This tale reminds me that at times we may feel we’re standing alone when wrongdoing surrounds us.

We, too have been shown God’s grace through His Son Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. We have every reason to bring Him honor and stand strong for Him in our daily lives. He is always near, even abiding in us, so we never really stands alone. His ears are open to our cry.

They show their colors when they stand
For what is true and right
And those who venture all on God
Are pleasing in His sight.

It’s easy to stand with a crowd; it takes courage to stand alone.

Finding God’s Pathway

God can create roads where we see only obstacles.
When the way ahead of us seems uncertain, it’s good to remember what God has done in the past. He specializes in pathways in any circumstance – pathways that points us to His love and power.

Thank You, God, for the miraculous ways
You have worked in the past. Help me to
Remember Your power and faithfulness when
I can see only trouble and difficulty.

The God who created a way for our salvation can certainly see us through our daily trials.

A Shared Bond

For all who knows Jesus, there is a shared bond, a oneness in Christ, a joy of fellowship that can brighten even the darkest day. Praise God that he brings a bond of unity to all who know Him as Savior.

What a miracle it is, dear Lord, that You can
Bring together people of all tribes, tongues and
Nations to be like-minded in Christ – to share
A bond of love and affection for Jesus.

Christian fellowship builds us up and binds us together.

GRACELAND

Paul tells us that even in times of despair God showers us with sufficient grace to see us through. No matter what life may bring, nothing can remove us from the realm of God’s grace.

Lord, for the blessings of Your grace
I am forever grateful! Teach me to accept
Your grace and to live in its power. Help me
To share Your story with others.

Remember where you live and rejoice in His grace.

Small Ways In Small Places

We should all work and pray for large numbers of people to enter the kingdom, but numbers mustn’t be the basis for self-esteem. God doesn’t call us to find fulfillment in the amount of work we do for Him, or the number of people who are a part of that work, but in faithfully doing our work for His sake. Serving our great God with his strength in a small way is not a stepping stone to greatness – it is greatness.

Lord, help me remember that there are no
Small places or small people. All are precious
In Your sight. May I see the value of my work
And cherish it as You do.

Anyone doing God’s work in God’s way is important in His sight.

Whoppers Or Adventures?

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.
This can lift our hearts above our daily trials to remind us that an unchanging, trustworthy GOD rules over even the chaos of a changing world.

Our God is God – He does not change
His truth, His love remain each day the same
He’s faithful to His matchless name
For God is God – He does not change

Let the sameness of God waft over your heart with His peace in your storms.

a party in Cap d’Antibes




Ursula’s office door knob…hanged a Christmas ornament…a bauble to be exact…blue & white in color…the color of the Disney’s Frozen animation. However, on yesterday evening…I saw that the bauble was missing. Either, Ursula took it off because Christmas is already over…or is because that Ursula is no longer in charge of the department or…Christy also hang 1 bauble at the door knob as well. So, why did Ursula removed the Bauble? Which is her actual reason? Could it be because of Chrsity? I always feel that this Christy likes to copy Ursula & wants to impress her very badly but Ursula does not like it. Hahaha…

we become mediocre beings

I should not be blogging about Ursula anymore :)
As I have just came back from a very leave…I was on leave from Christmas all the way to New Year…a lot of the suppliers & the store people were looking for me. Some phone calls I will entertain and some; I just didn’t pick them up. One of the books suppliers (not knowing that Ursula is no longer my boss) called her, looking for me. So, Ursula drop by at my room and pass me the message. I was very tired at that point of time and didn’t feel like to layan her…she just politely and in a very caring manner remind me to call back the supplier, maybe they want to do a book promotion or something.

A Map Drawn




The recent flash floods in the East Coast states is really bad.
I really feel for those who have been lost, and for those who have survived. We, who make a living in the urban area already complaining and making noises about the high cost of the standard of living in the city…but how about these people now…who have lost everything in 1 day. Imagine that. Their house, their car, their assets, their everything.

Sigh…how lucky I am. Most of us take the world that we live in for granted.
I won’t pretend to be a Good Samaritan. Because I’m not. I try to help which ever way that is possible. So, Small Ham & I went to TUDM in Bukit Jelutong to volunteer ourselves. We help to pack provisions into boxes, we folded & separate the clothes…it was a bit chaotic, unorganized over there but we chip in whatever we can. I was also very disappointed on how the whole processes are being managed. It just shows the incompetency of our government officials at work again. I mean come on…these are military people…they are suppose to be the best war strategist than the civilians and yet they do not have the common sense on how to manage the floor. No floor manager was in sight to coordinate the whole flow. And these armies are fat. Yes, they are supposed to be bulky but not fat. I mean, how are they going to protect our country when we are in war.

I’m usually very critical but I am more forgiving about this issue because Malaysia is still the best country to live in right now…compare to elsewhere where there are one disaster after another.

BRAND PROMISE



THANK YOU GOD, PRAISE TO THE LORD, BLESS YOU GOD!

On Monday…when I was so bersemangat to go to work…I was involved in a car accident at the Persiaran Kayangan round-about. A MSU college student bangs into me from behind. My car bumper cracked, tail light cracked and the but was dented in.

Oh…I am just so grateful that it was a minor one. I am even further more grateful that I am still alive. The kid was slightly shaken because it was his second time. I even have to help Luqman (that is his name) to call his father to meet us at the police station.

THANK YOU GOD, PRAISE TO THE LORD, BLESS YOU GOD!

That I was calm because in general, in such a situation…I am already in a very panic mode. Everyone was very helpful; Luqman, Mr. Zakaria (Luqman’s father), the police officers, the Sergeant, the workshop people, Adeline (my AIA insurance agent), Celtic (who has been picking me up to the office & sending me home after work almost everyday)…everyone who are involves.

THANK YOU GOD, PRAISE TO THE LORD, BLESS YOU GOD!

For my family & the real friends and occasionally the random strangers who make the process simpler and less stressful :)

Wednesday, January 07, 2015

3cm Short

Life has many ways of testing a person’s will, either by having nothing happen at all or having everything happen all at once - Paulo Coelho, The Winner Stands Alone.

today continues tomorrow

Even if you’re doing the same thing over and over, you need to discover something new, fantastic and unbelievable that went unnoticed the time before - Paulo Coelho, The Winner Stands Alone.

Jasmine Tiger

A sense of gratitude is important; no one gets very far if he forgets those who were with him in his hour of need. Not that you have to be constantly thinking about who helped or was helped. GOD has His eyes fixed on his sons and daughters and rewards only those who behave in accordance with the blessings that were bestowed on them - Paulo Coelho, The Winner Stands Alone.

love & loathing

Carry on, even if you’re not so sure now of what you’re doing. GOD moves in mysterious ways, and sometimes the path only reveals itself once you start walking it - Paulo Coelho, The Winner Stands Alone.

Charisma. Luck. The Right Agent.

Try the impossible. Don’t start low down because that’s where you are now. Climb those rungs quickly before they take the ladder away. If you’re afraid, say a prayer, but carry on – Paulo Coelho, The Winner Stands Alone.

Saturday, January 03, 2015

Existentialist Movement




Precious leadership lessons from The Lord Of The Rings.

Choosing To Lead.

Frodo: I will take the Ring; though I do not know the way.

We have been conditioned, probably by society, possibly by typical Hollywood movies that leaders are born, and are heroes by virtue of being the smartest, bravest, strongest or all of the above. The beauty of LOTR is that Frodo is none of this – he has not the wisdom of Elrond, the courage of Boromir, the skill in battle of Legolas nor Gandalf’s magical power. Yet among the great people assembled for the Council of Elrond, it was Frodo who stepped up and volunteered to take the Ring on the quest to Mount Doom, despite not knowing how.

Leadership is a choice.
But it is not a half-hearted option of – let me try first and see. A true leader commits to doing what it takes to make a difference.

Strength Of Fellowship.

Aragorn: If by my life or death I can protect you, I will. You have my sword…
Legolas: And you have my bow.
Gimli: And my axe.
Boromir: You carry the fate of us all, little one. If this is indeed the will of the Council, then Gondor will see it done.

A leader may choose to make a difference but rarely can an individual achieve much alone. LOTR emphasizes a strong sense of fellowship. Where a diverse motley crew of individuals come together to save Middle Earth and despite their differences, they remain committed to each other and to the cause.

Eomer: We cannot achieve victory through strength of arms.
Aragorn: Not for ourselves. But we can give Frodo his chance if we keep Sauron’s Eye fixed upon us. Keep him blind to all else that moves.
Legolas: A diversion.
Gimli: Certainty of death, small chance of success…what are we waiting for?

Compassion And Values.

Frodo: It’s a pity Bilbo didn’t kill him when he had the chance.
Gandalf: Pity? It was pity that stayed in Bilbo’s hand. Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends. My heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play yet, for good or ill before this is over. The pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many.

As it happens, Bilbo showing mercy to Gollum, a character seemingly undeserving of mercy, ultimately saves the day. Beyond compassion, there is a strong thread of ethics and values running through LOTR. Promises are sacred and honor is to be upheld even in battle. This is important as in choosing to be a leader, it’s all too easy to sacrifice ethics and values in pursuit of one’s goals. Tolkien ensures his heroes and leaders never stray from the moral high ground, showing both compassion and integrity even in desperate times. Hence, we are reminded, to truly care for our people in the organization, whilst preserving our values.

Perseverance.

Galadriel: You are a Ring-bearer, Frodo. To bear a Ring of Power is to be alone. This task was appointed to you, and if you do not find a way, no one will.
Frodo: I know what I must do, it’s just that…I’m afraid to do it.
Galadriel: Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.

A leader’s path is not easy. It can be a lonely and difficult journey, where leaders will often doubt themselves. As with the dilemma faced by Frodo, it is often the case that we know what needs to be done. It is a question of whether, we can summon the leader in ourselves to make the difficult decisions and stay the course.

Savoy

Most people have the will to win; few have the will to prepare to win – Bobby Knight, American basketball coach.

The biggest killer of your career is the fear of taking on new, better or bigger things – Hee Kim Fah, CEO of GTI Media.

The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn – Alvin Toffler.

First rule of leadership: Everything is your fault – A Bug’s Life.

I know what I have to do now, I’ve got to keep breathing because tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows, what the tide could bring – Tom Hanks’ character in Cast Away.

Dung is good…pain is better!




No pain, no gain holds true for leadership development at all levels.

The difference between a happy person and a depressed one is how we respond to difficulties and disasters in our life. Imagine being out and returning home to find a huge truckload of manure (dung) left in front of your home’s entrance. The dung is awfully filthy and stinks your whole house. And worse, you have no idea why this manure is in your front porch. You are stuck with it!

In this metaphor, the truckload of dung in front of the house stands for the traumatic experiences that are dumped on us in life. How we react to this dung defines us.

We can lament, moan and complaint – Why Me?.
And slowly see this dung destroy our happiness and ruin our friendship. And soon, we sink into a negative state and our lives spiral into depression and anger. This happens to many people and businesses. The adversities of life affect us and we end up making excuses for the terrible calamity that has befallen us. And before long, our lives & businesses that we lead spiral down a unsalvageable state. Yes, I can see the shadows of my range review case already :)

Another way to respond is to first moan and sigh because of the calamity. But then, we proactively figure out a way out of the mess. This type of folks will bring out the wheelbarrow, the fork & the spade. They fork the dung into the barrow, wheel it around the back of the house, and dig it into the garden. These folks go through much pain & difficulty to move dung slowly into the garden. It may take months but little by little every day, the pile of dung gets smaller. Till it finally disappear. But, another amazing thing happen…the flowers in the garden are bursting out in a richness of color all over the place. Their fragrance wafts down the street. Then, the fruit tree in the corner is nearly falling over; it’s so heavy with sweet fruit. There are so many that it is able to share with the neighbors.

Welcoming tragedies in our life can sometimes act as fertilizers to enhance other parts of our life. And going through painful times may actually help us become better leaders and allow us to become a richer & wiser person.

Pain prompts us to face who we are and where we are. What we do with that experience defines who we become. Most us run away from pain but the best leaders embrace pain and constantly work to get more pain into their lives.

Accept the hardest roles & jobs – you will learn the most even if you didn’t succeed but also it would provide you the biggest upside if you were to succeed. Face your Fears & Pain head on – the most terrifying thing about pain experience is the present moment when faced with the pain. Don’t avoid or run away from the pain. Usually, they last for short bursts only and soon you will look back at those moments and joke about it to others going through similar pains. Remember, pain is temporary but gains may last a lifetime.

With that…on Monday, I am stepping in to the office…with renewed hope & courage…smile & be grateful for the pain. Bravery opens doors of opportunities.

Certainties & Doubts can co-exist




I don’t like The Ice Queen…but now…thinking back…the range review report & the presentation…was not that hard to be completed anyway…I was limiting myself…I put the barrier in front of me…I use the excuse that the stationery category have too many skus to deal with in the first place…I said that now (BTS & Xmas) is the peak season for my business as an excuse…The Ice Queen report can be done…but the pace is just overwhelming.

Two things that I can take away from The Ice Queen is to have a teachable spirit and if you treat this business as your own, you can never go wrong. Sometimes…we are so in the zone that we become stubborn and reluctant. We find it more work, inconvenient and troublesome. But, we must change because times change, seasons change, things change & people also change. We cannot remain stagnant, we need to have improvement, we need to make progress.

Every negative event is a momentary setback. Success is never final, failure is never fatal. Whether good or bad, whatever I experience is never permanent. Realize that things happen because they happen, and then move on. Decide instead to keep calm to keep you moving forward. Be more curious than afraid. What bugs you the most may be what builds you the most, if you let it. Embrace change, uncertainties and the unexpected. Embrace life and its wonderful surprises. All it takes is a simple switch on how you see your world, and how you respond to it.

Moment Of Minor Glory

The 10 ‘A’s of Personal Excellence:

Awareness
Attitude
Action
Ability
Aim
Adaptability
Affability
Accountability
Achievement
Appreciation

Phew! On the right track!




GOD – I pray & hope that 2015 will be the year of great positive changes, a year of ‘first steps’ for new things and a year of positive impacts.

The Gump Way



Inspiring lessons from Forrest Gump…who was a simple and gentle man. He was brave, honest and ever ready to help those in need.

Don’t Be Hindered By Uncertainties.

Life is like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re going to get.

The future is full of uncertainties. Like a box of chocolate, we get different flavors. Sometimes we pick up the sweet, creamy fudge filled one while other times we might pick the ones that are less pleasing to our taste buds. We can’t tell for sure what it will be like, eight months down the road. Although things may seem bitter & difficult at first, but there’s always a way to turn it around and make it into something wonderful. Take a different approach to the negative things. There is a good thing to bring out from most situations. Things can get much better when you focus on the bright side. Most importantly, don’t stop yourself from taking on new challenges. The next chocolate you pick could be the best in the box.

Set Your Own Path.

Forrest: What’s my destiny, Mama?
Mrs. Gump: You’re going to have to figure that out for yourself.

Look Forward.

You’ve got to put the past behind you before you can move on.

We all have made mistakes and choices which we wish to correct. There’s no point in dwelling on past mistakes. Although it is good to sometimes reflect back on mistakes, instead of letting them burden you or wear you down, let them instead be lessons for you to move on. Let the past remain in the past, and move forward to doing better next year. Life has to go on. It’s not about stopping oneself from falling; instead it’s about falling, getting up again and moving on.

Challenge Yourself.

From that day on, if I was going somewhere, I was running.

Forrest had to wear braces when he was a little boy to help with his mobility. One day, to flee from his bullies, he ran until his braces broke and then he kept on running. We often limit ourselves from doing certain things because we believe that we can’t do it. Sometimes, all you need to do is just to start.

Closing Credits

Rewind: like history lessons, it is wise to look at past events of the year and learn from them. It is not about harping on past unpleasant issues, but to revisit how we have grown personally from the challenges and look out for areas where we still can improve on. Learn to forgive others and free yourself of bitterness and discouragements too. On the other hand, for the many favors that you received throughout the year, always have an attitude of gratitude and humility to keep grounded.

Pause: after a year of toiling and hard work, remember to be kind to yourself by taking time off work to rejuvenate and refuel your body, mind & soul. Make up for lost time by catching up with loved ones, family & friends or reconnect yourself with nature by going on a retreat away from the hustle & bustle of the city.

Play: after a time of repose, and when you are all recharged and raring to go, it is time to face the world again with a new perspective and refreshed brand new you. Continue to feed your mind with thoughts and deeds that are noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable and excellent to help you refocus and realign your purpose in life. Stay inquisitive and humble to learn new things. Be open for feedback from your peers and leaders so you can continue to discover yourself and grow as a person.

The Curtain Call

Reflect, Repent, Renew.
Reflect on our shortcomings and the lessons learnt from them.
Repent & acknowledge our human flaws and take appropriate actions to improve ourselves.
Renew our hope with clarity of mind & heart, and focus on the journey that lies ahead.

Thursday, January 01, 2015

Just Heavenly



2015 – the story begins…the journey begins…

Tomorrow, is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one – Brad Paisley.

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right – Oprah Winfrey.

We can’t rewind the past, nor fast-forward the future, so today, all we can do is play, record, pause and keep moving, until something should press the stop button – Anthony Liccione.

How very true…

So, today I spend the whole day with Mama Ham…we went shopping at Paradigm Mall, had lunch together and visited my nanny & her husband. Bonding time :) Sometimes, I forget. To spend quality time with my loved ones and what it meant to them. Yes, Mama Ham can get on my nerves sometime…well, most of the times but she is the best mummy ever.
Overall, yes, it was a fantastic day out! :)