In the faint light of the attic, an old man, tall and stooped, bent his great frame and made his way to a stack of boxes that sat near one of the little half-windows. Brushing aside a wisp of cobwebs, he tilted the top box toward the light and began to carefully lift out one old photograph album after another. Eyes once bright but now dim searched longingly for the source that had drawn him here.
It began with the fond recollection of the love of his life, long gone, and somewhere in these albums was a photo of her he hoped to rediscover. Silent as a mouse, he patiently opened the long buried treasures and soon was lost in a sea of memories. Although his world had not stopped spinning when his wife left it, the past was more alive in his heart than his present aloneness.
Setting aside one of the dusty albums, he pulled from the box what appeared to be a journal from his grown son’s childhood. He could not recall ever having seen it before, or that his son had ever kept a journal. Why did Elizabeth always save the children’s old junk? he wondered, shaking his white head.
Opening the yellowed pages, he glanced over a short reading, and his lips curved in an unconscious smile. Even his eyes brightened as he read the words that spoke clear and sweet to his soul. It was the voice of the little boy who had grown up far too fast in this very house, and whose voice had grown fainter and fainter over the years. In the utter silence of the attic, the words of a guileless six-year-old worked their magic and carried the old man back to a time almost totally forgotten.
Entry after entry stirred a sentimental hunger in his heart like the longing a gardener feels in the winter for the fragrance of spring flowers. But it was accompanied by the painful memory that his son’s simple recollections of those days were far different from his own. But how different?
Reminded that he had kept a daily journal of his business activities over the years, he closed his son’s journal and turned to leave, having forgotten the cherished photo that originally triggered his search. Hunched over to keep from bumping his head on the rafters, the old man stepped to the wooden stairway and made his descent, then headed down a carpeted stairway that led to the den.
Opening a glass cabinet door, he reached in and pulled out an old business journal. Turning, he sat down at his desk and placed the two journals beside each other. His was leather-bound and engraved neatly with his name in gold, while his son’s was tattered and the name “Jimmy” had been nearly scuffed from its surface. He ran a long skinny finger over the letters, as though he could restore what had been worn away with time and use.
As he opened his journal, the old man’s eyes fell upon an inscription that stood out because it was so brief in comparison to other days. In his own neat handwriting were these words:
Wasted the whole day fishing with Jimmy. Didn’t catch a thing.
With a deep sigh and a shaking hand, he took Jimmy’s journal and found the boy’s entry for the same day, June 4. Large scrawling letters, pressed deeply into the paper, read:
Went fishing with my dad. Best day of my life.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Motivation
“To get what you’ve never had, you must do what you’ve never done.”
Understanding this short quote can be the difference between winning or losing; between greatness or mediocrity. It captures the essence of discipline.
Understanding this short quote can be the difference between winning or losing; between greatness or mediocrity. It captures the essence of discipline.
Inspire Personal Accountability
As a leader, deciding to make changes is the easy part. Getting your people on board is much more difficult. Why is that? Quite simply, change is an emotional process. We are all creatures of habit who usually resist it, and welcome routine. Unchartered waters are scary!
In the long run, however, sameness is the fast tract to mediocrity. And, mediocre companies won’t survive. Tuli Kupferberg said it best… “When patterns are broken, new worlds emerge.” And, that is your challenge…to convince your team that the new world you are trying to create is better than the one you’re in. Is it easy? Of course not. It takes planning, commitment, patience and courage.
The truth, of course, is that change can be a wonderful gift. In fact, it is the key that unlocks the doors to growth and excitement in any organization. And, most importantly, without it…your competition will pass you by. A big part of success, as a leader, will be your ability to inspire your team to get out of their comfort zones; to assure them that even though they are on a new path, it’s the right path, for the right reasons.
In the long run, however, sameness is the fast tract to mediocrity. And, mediocre companies won’t survive. Tuli Kupferberg said it best… “When patterns are broken, new worlds emerge.” And, that is your challenge…to convince your team that the new world you are trying to create is better than the one you’re in. Is it easy? Of course not. It takes planning, commitment, patience and courage.
The truth, of course, is that change can be a wonderful gift. In fact, it is the key that unlocks the doors to growth and excitement in any organization. And, most importantly, without it…your competition will pass you by. A big part of success, as a leader, will be your ability to inspire your team to get out of their comfort zones; to assure them that even though they are on a new path, it’s the right path, for the right reasons.
Power To Focus
The power of focus is critical to your success in business…and also in life. I must admit, however, that this is something that took me a while to learn, and I have a few “battle scars” to show what happens to slow learners regarding this issue. “More is better” sounds reasonable, but I’ve learned the opposite is usually true. Less, I’ve discovered, is usually more. The reason, of course, is that there is something powerful about laser-like focus. Having a simple, clearly defined goal can capture the imagination and enthusiasm of your people. It can cut through the night like a beacon. It can bring an idea to life.In 1985, Jan Carlson had just been named the CEO of Scandinavian Airlines. His company was in trouble. They had just been ranked by a consumer poll as the worst airline in the world. Last in service, last in dependability, and last in profits as a percentage of sales. Yet one year later, in the same poll, they were ranked number one in all three categories. What happened?
Carlson had decided to focus on what he thought was the most critical issue…serving the customer. He wanted to keep it simple: identify every contact between the customer and the employee and treat that contact as “a moment of truth.” He set out to let his people know the importance of that moment…the captain, the ticket agent, the baggage handler, the flight attendant. “Every moment, every contact” he said, “must be as pleasant, and as memorable as possible.” He figured that he had approximately ten million customers each year, and on average each customer made contact with five of his people for approximately fifteen seconds apiece. Therefore, in his mind, these fifty million contacts, fifteen seconds at a time, would determine the fate of his company.
He set out to share his vision with his twenty thousand employees. He knew the key was to empower the front line. Let them make the decisions and take action, because they were Scandinavian Airlines during those fifteen seconds. He now had twenty thousand people who were energized and ready to go because they were focused on one very important thing…making every moment count.
Carlson had decided to focus on what he thought was the most critical issue…serving the customer. He wanted to keep it simple: identify every contact between the customer and the employee and treat that contact as “a moment of truth.” He set out to let his people know the importance of that moment…the captain, the ticket agent, the baggage handler, the flight attendant. “Every moment, every contact” he said, “must be as pleasant, and as memorable as possible.” He figured that he had approximately ten million customers each year, and on average each customer made contact with five of his people for approximately fifteen seconds apiece. Therefore, in his mind, these fifty million contacts, fifteen seconds at a time, would determine the fate of his company.
He set out to share his vision with his twenty thousand employees. He knew the key was to empower the front line. Let them make the decisions and take action, because they were Scandinavian Airlines during those fifteen seconds. He now had twenty thousand people who were energized and ready to go because they were focused on one very important thing…making every moment count.
Intelligent !?
A big city lawyer went duck hunting in rural North Cowra. He shot and dropped a bird, but it fell into a farmer’s field on the other side of a fence.
As the lawyer climbed over the fence, an elderly farmer drove up on his tractor and asked him what he was doing. The litigator responded, “I shot a duck and it fell in this field, and now I’m going to retrieve it.”
The old farmer Peter replied, “This is my property, and you are not coming over here.”
The indignant lawyer said, “I am one of the best trial lawyers in Australia and, if you don’t let me get that duck, I’ll sue you and take everything you own.”
The old farmer smiled and said, “Apparently, you don’t know how we settle disputes in North Cowra. We settle small disagreements like this with the ‘Three Kick Rule.’
The lawyer asked, “What is the ‘Three Kick Rule’?”
The Farmer replied, “Well, because the dispute occurs on my land, I get to go first. I kick you three times and then you kick me three times and so on back and forth until someone gives up.”
The lawyer quickly thought about the proposed contest and decided that he could easily take the old codger. He agreed to abide by the local custom.
The old farmer slowly climbed down from the tractor and walked up to the attorney. His first kick planted the toe of his heavy steel-toed work boot into the lawyer’s groin and dropped him to his knees!
His second kick to the midriff sent the lawyer’s last meal gushing from his mouth. The lawyer was on all fours when the farmer’s third kick to his rear end, sent him face-first into a fresh cow pie.
Summoning every bit of his will and remaining strength the lawyer very slowly managed to get to his feet. Wiping his face with the arm of his jacket, he said, “Okay, you old fart. Now it’s my turn.”
(I love this part)The old farmer smiled and said, “Nah, I give up. You can have the duck.”
When you are educated, you’ll believe only half of what you hear. When you’re intelligent, you know which half?
As the lawyer climbed over the fence, an elderly farmer drove up on his tractor and asked him what he was doing. The litigator responded, “I shot a duck and it fell in this field, and now I’m going to retrieve it.”
The old farmer Peter replied, “This is my property, and you are not coming over here.”
The indignant lawyer said, “I am one of the best trial lawyers in Australia and, if you don’t let me get that duck, I’ll sue you and take everything you own.”
The old farmer smiled and said, “Apparently, you don’t know how we settle disputes in North Cowra. We settle small disagreements like this with the ‘Three Kick Rule.’
The lawyer asked, “What is the ‘Three Kick Rule’?”
The Farmer replied, “Well, because the dispute occurs on my land, I get to go first. I kick you three times and then you kick me three times and so on back and forth until someone gives up.”
The lawyer quickly thought about the proposed contest and decided that he could easily take the old codger. He agreed to abide by the local custom.
The old farmer slowly climbed down from the tractor and walked up to the attorney. His first kick planted the toe of his heavy steel-toed work boot into the lawyer’s groin and dropped him to his knees!
His second kick to the midriff sent the lawyer’s last meal gushing from his mouth. The lawyer was on all fours when the farmer’s third kick to his rear end, sent him face-first into a fresh cow pie.
Summoning every bit of his will and remaining strength the lawyer very slowly managed to get to his feet. Wiping his face with the arm of his jacket, he said, “Okay, you old fart. Now it’s my turn.”
(I love this part)The old farmer smiled and said, “Nah, I give up. You can have the duck.”
When you are educated, you’ll believe only half of what you hear. When you’re intelligent, you know which half?
Mindset Change
Many of us do not realise or take it for granted on Change. Everything is changing every second, minute, days ….the list can go on. However, the fact is that Change is not avoidable and we have not only learn to accept but also to deal with it. We grow older as time passes….
Thus’ it become more important that we stay postive and think positively. This is the mindset of individual. In one of the course that I attended, they talk about “Law of Attraction”. If you are postive, you tend to attract alot of positive people around you. But if you are negative, chances is negative ideas or things will creep towards you.
In this sense, we have to stay positive and be positive !
Thus’ it become more important that we stay postive and think positively. This is the mindset of individual. In one of the course that I attended, they talk about “Law of Attraction”. If you are postive, you tend to attract alot of positive people around you. But if you are negative, chances is negative ideas or things will creep towards you.
In this sense, we have to stay positive and be positive !
One Word that can change your life
“Life’s not about waiting for the storms to pass…It’s about learning to dance in the rain.”~Vivian Greene.
This beautiful quote by Vivian Greene was one of Author’s inspirations to write the book…Learning to Dance in the Rain…The Power of Gratitude. The quote was sent to him by a friend about six months ago and he thought…that’s it! We all face adversity in our life. However, it’s not the adversity but how we react to it that will determine the joy and happiness in our life. During tough times do we spend too much time feeling sorry for ourselves, or can we, with gratitude…learn how to dance in the rain?
It almost sounds too simple to feel important, but one word…gratitude, can change your attitude, and thus, your life forever. Sarah Breathnack said it best…”When we choose not to focus on what’s missing from our lives, but are grateful for the abundance that’s present…we experience heaven on earth.”
WEATHER REPORT~by BJ Gallagher
“Any day I’m vertical is a good day”…that’s what I always say.
If you ask me,“How are you?”
I’ll answer, “GREAT!” because in saying so, I make it so.
When Life gives me dark clouds and rain, I appreciate the moisture that brings a soft curl to my hair.
When Life gives me sunshine, I gratefully turn my face up to feel its warmth on my cheeks.
When Life brings fog, I hug my sweater around me and give thanks for the cool shroud of mystery that makes the familiar seem different and intriguing.
When Life brings snow, I dash outside to catch the first flakes on my tongue, relishing the icy miracle that is a snowflake.
Life’s events and experiences are like the weather - they come and go, no matter what my preference.
So, what the heck?!I might as well decide to enjoy them.
For indeed, there IS a time for every purpose under Heaven.
And each season brings its own unique blessings.
This beautiful quote by Vivian Greene was one of Author’s inspirations to write the book…Learning to Dance in the Rain…The Power of Gratitude. The quote was sent to him by a friend about six months ago and he thought…that’s it! We all face adversity in our life. However, it’s not the adversity but how we react to it that will determine the joy and happiness in our life. During tough times do we spend too much time feeling sorry for ourselves, or can we, with gratitude…learn how to dance in the rain?
It almost sounds too simple to feel important, but one word…gratitude, can change your attitude, and thus, your life forever. Sarah Breathnack said it best…”When we choose not to focus on what’s missing from our lives, but are grateful for the abundance that’s present…we experience heaven on earth.”
WEATHER REPORT~by BJ Gallagher
“Any day I’m vertical is a good day”…that’s what I always say.
If you ask me,“How are you?”
I’ll answer, “GREAT!” because in saying so, I make it so.
When Life gives me dark clouds and rain, I appreciate the moisture that brings a soft curl to my hair.
When Life gives me sunshine, I gratefully turn my face up to feel its warmth on my cheeks.
When Life brings fog, I hug my sweater around me and give thanks for the cool shroud of mystery that makes the familiar seem different and intriguing.
When Life brings snow, I dash outside to catch the first flakes on my tongue, relishing the icy miracle that is a snowflake.
Life’s events and experiences are like the weather - they come and go, no matter what my preference.
So, what the heck?!I might as well decide to enjoy them.
For indeed, there IS a time for every purpose under Heaven.
And each season brings its own unique blessings.
What is Integrity ?
This is the most powerful word in the work place as well as our individual life.
This is the value and principles we carry ourselves wherever we go. Without which we can incline to do something which is immoral or unethical. Therefore, some functional or departments can be consider more expose than the others. For such departments, they ought to have a high intergrity.
I am delighted to said that among the member of my study group, one of them has showed tremendous positive integrity. I remembered one night when we were preparing the Access assignment, another peron was asking for advice to hack into others computers and he did not agree. And, in the next occasion when he was asked to check for examination questions, again he did not agreed. I have so high respect for him !
This is the value and principles we carry ourselves wherever we go. Without which we can incline to do something which is immoral or unethical. Therefore, some functional or departments can be consider more expose than the others. For such departments, they ought to have a high intergrity.
I am delighted to said that among the member of my study group, one of them has showed tremendous positive integrity. I remembered one night when we were preparing the Access assignment, another peron was asking for advice to hack into others computers and he did not agree. And, in the next occasion when he was asked to check for examination questions, again he did not agreed. I have so high respect for him !
"Duck to Eagle School"
A few years ago Mr X had lunch with a top executive from a company known for their legendary retail service. His wife and himself are both big fans, and over lunch he shared with Mr Y some of the great service stories his people had provided the Anderson family. Mr Y said, “With the service your people give…you must have a training manual 2 inches thick.”
Mr X looked up and said, “Mr Y , we don’t have a training manual. What we do is find the best people we can find and we empower them to do whatever it takes to satisfy the customer.”
Then he said something Mr Y’ll never forget. He said, “We learned a long time ago that you can’t send a duck to eagle school.”
“Excuse me,” Mr Y said. He repeated… “You can’t send a duck to eagle school.” Mr X said, “You can’t teach someone to smile, you can’t teach someone to want to serve, you can’t teach personality. What we can do, however, is hire people who have those qualities and we can then teach them about our products and teach them our culture.”
As long as Mr Y live he will never forget this simple analogy about hiring people. It is branded on my brain forever. And since that day, with every hiring decision Mr Y’ve made, Mr Y find himself asking the question: “Am I hiring a duck thinking they will become an eagle?” I can also honestly say that asking this simple question has saved me from making some important hiring mistakes. I just wish I’d heard it 20 years sooner.
The “Duck to Eagle School” lesson is one of many “simple truths” of leadership that Mr Y’ve learned on my journey as an entrepreneur. In the past 30 years, Mr Y ’ve had the good fortune to be involved with three successful start up companies, each becoming a leader in its niche. And, as you can imagine, there have been many peaks, valleys and “lessons learned” along the way.
I’ve also been very fortunate to have met a lot of people who are a lot smarter than Mr Y . Successful entrepreneurs, authors, speakers, educators, coaches, and CEO’s of large companies, have all helped shape my thinking. It has been their wisdom and their knowledge, combined with my own life experiences, that have helped shape who Mr Y is today.
For me, one of the most exciting things about business and life, is that one great idea can change our life forever.
Mr X looked up and said, “Mr Y , we don’t have a training manual. What we do is find the best people we can find and we empower them to do whatever it takes to satisfy the customer.”
Then he said something Mr Y’ll never forget. He said, “We learned a long time ago that you can’t send a duck to eagle school.”
“Excuse me,” Mr Y said. He repeated… “You can’t send a duck to eagle school.” Mr X said, “You can’t teach someone to smile, you can’t teach someone to want to serve, you can’t teach personality. What we can do, however, is hire people who have those qualities and we can then teach them about our products and teach them our culture.”
As long as Mr Y live he will never forget this simple analogy about hiring people. It is branded on my brain forever. And since that day, with every hiring decision Mr Y’ve made, Mr Y find himself asking the question: “Am I hiring a duck thinking they will become an eagle?” I can also honestly say that asking this simple question has saved me from making some important hiring mistakes. I just wish I’d heard it 20 years sooner.
The “Duck to Eagle School” lesson is one of many “simple truths” of leadership that Mr Y’ve learned on my journey as an entrepreneur. In the past 30 years, Mr Y ’ve had the good fortune to be involved with three successful start up companies, each becoming a leader in its niche. And, as you can imagine, there have been many peaks, valleys and “lessons learned” along the way.
I’ve also been very fortunate to have met a lot of people who are a lot smarter than Mr Y . Successful entrepreneurs, authors, speakers, educators, coaches, and CEO’s of large companies, have all helped shape my thinking. It has been their wisdom and their knowledge, combined with my own life experiences, that have helped shape who Mr Y is today.
For me, one of the most exciting things about business and life, is that one great idea can change our life forever.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
My study group members!! Cheers...
This is the study group where I am associated and wonder what will it be without them. Apart from sharing, learning and exchanging ...we also car pool to reduce the cost and expenses on each of us.
This is the picture taken in the Dmen office in Kulim Hi Tech. We are the gang - UUM-MBA !!
Well, I am personally very glad to have them as part of my student life. We are not only study together but they also manage to cheer and boost my energy when I am down.........:)
So guys, no words can describe my appreciation for each and everyone of you. All the best to each of us in our journey towards the UUM - MBA !!!!
The Team consists of David Khor Wei Min, Jacky Teo, Mark, Ghaful & KC Lim.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
My Blog !!
Hi all,
This is my first blog and this is one of the assignment requested by the lecturer for Information Technology for Manager's subject. First of all, I would like to thank my lecturer to give such a topic so that as I can have this opportunity to own a blog of my own.
Secondly, I would like to express my thanks to all those who has assisted me to create this blog in internet
Last but not least, pls feel free to comments and post in my blog and provide advice, comments or ideas ....
Thanks in advance. Good luck and keep in touch.............DK-MY
This is my first blog and this is one of the assignment requested by the lecturer for Information Technology for Manager's subject. First of all, I would like to thank my lecturer to give such a topic so that as I can have this opportunity to own a blog of my own.
Secondly, I would like to express my thanks to all those who has assisted me to create this blog in internet
Last but not least, pls feel free to comments and post in my blog and provide advice, comments or ideas ....
Thanks in advance. Good luck and keep in touch.............DK-MY
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
