FROM ONE CORPORATE EXECUTIVE TO ANOTHER ...part 2

FINDING A BETTER WAY EVERYDAY

A lot of times you feel bored doing the same old thing, day-in and day-out.

How you wish for some excitement - landing a BIG business deal or making a 
new discovery. How nice if you could play hero; succeed where others fail.

Getting money back from a difficult debtor that everyone had given up hope on....  
solving a big problem....  wowing a deserving customer ....saving the day.

Wouldn't that be dandy?  Playing Superman.

Once upon a time you thought you WERE Superman!

It wasn't so long ago that you had the confidence, the courage, the desire - 
the fire - and you did it. 

Taking on the sort of challenges and difficulties that others told you couldn't be 
overcomed.  You proved them wrong.

Today you hesitate.  You take the easy way out and make excuses instead.
You back out and retreat into the safety of your shell.

I know it's tough. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy.

Hey, you owe it to yourself. 

You don't want to be just average or mediocre, do you?
It's not much fun being lukewarm - neither hot nor cold.

Focus on something BIG.  Put your whole heart, mind and soul in what you do. 

Expect results.  Don't do things merely because of forced compliance.

1. Improve on your sales techniques - broaden your knowledge, sharpen your skills.

2. Be brave and proactive.  Take the initiative. 

3. Build friendships.  If you have kept in touch with the people you have       established contact one, three or five years ago,  today,  you would have a 

strong following of prospects who might well be potential customers and great friends!

4. Don't give in to lethargy.  Don't be a worrier. Be tough physically, mentally and spiritually.  Don't be a softie.  You've got to be made of sterner stuff if you hope to make it in business.

5.  Plan your work and work your plan.

6.  Laziness is a killer but you don't recognize it at first because it comes in  many disguises. 

      

There was a time you were bursting with ideas.  
You couldn't stop talking about them, remember?

Today you are content with just following the pack.  Why?    
Having your bubbles burst all too often?  I know.  I've been there as well.

Afraid people might laugh at your silliness?  Well, if you don't share those ideas, 
you will never know if they will work.  And even if they don't, what's wrong 
with having a good laugh over them! 

Laughter is good. There is no shame in trying.  No one ever laughs at a baby 
fumbling when he takes his first wobbly step.

If one idea doesn't work, try another, and another and another and another until 
you find one that WILL work.  There has to be a way.

How can you do things better?  How can you make your sales call more interesting?  
What about your existing clients?  Are you doing enough for them?  
Try improving on that quotation.    How can you enlarge your circle of influence? etc. etc

Look!   There is SO MUCH you can do - find a way!

FROM ONE CORPORATE EXECUTIVE TO ANOTHER...

BUDGET AND CORPORATE PLANNING

It has been said that the strength of an organization lies with its people:- 

GOOD people

COMMITTED people 

PASSIONATE people

POSITIVE THINKING people

FORWARD THINKING people

People with the 'CAN-DO' attitude

People who are 'UP-BEAT' - full of ideas; not afraid to attempt something new

People who give more than is expected of them 

People who find work to be exciting

We need our people to be bursting with ideas, energy, 
creativity and innovation.

Some of you have lost it; some are losing it - I tell you, snap out of it. 

It does you not one bit of good.

You're not good at hiding it - that negative attitude!

If I were you, I'd get rid of it and quickly!

We are more interested in the other group - the one that comprises of people who are;

enthusiastic, energized, eager and burning with the spirit to excel.

You're not good at keeping it under wraps either - that fire!

To you, I'd say, keep on burning and be the light that shows the way.

Keep going and don't stop until you've arrived at your destination.

Your dream is within reach!

So, what IS budget?

Budget is not about producing good-enough results or making the figures.

It's about having the COURAGE & ZEAL to reach for what you know can be done!

Don't settle for the norm, be the exception.

ENJOYING THE CHINESE LUNAR NEW YEAR 2011 ...

From 2nd till 6th February, 2011 the nation remains at a standstill.

The Chinese New Year is observed in a big way here in Malaysia as well as 
around the world in countries populated by Chinese. 

Schools, government agencies, factories, banks, businesses and even hospitals 
'shut down' during this period.  

They do this to allow the masses to head home in other states (and countries) 
to join their families in this huge celebration.


(In Malaysia we do not have the four seasons but in China, this occasion heralds 
Spring time - the beginning of new life - where flowers bloom and birds sing.  
Everything seems to come to life again.  And the Chinese people celebrate just that.)

The reunion dinner (2nd February for this year) must surely be the most significant 
and closely guarded tradition followed even to this day with much fuss and fervor.

There is great excitement as people plan their exodus usually a week or so before the 
actual day.

For those who remain in the big cities, the best part is the traffic.  The roads are 
virtually empty and driving is sheer bliss.  There is something really relaxing and 
soothing about cruising on the highway with hardly any traffic and immediately one's 
stress level during this period is significantly reduced.

In contrast the smaller towns and villages are bursting at the seams with the influx 
of city folks who have come home and all at once there are jams and congestion and 
probably rising tempers!

It's packed everywhere - at the restaurants, coffee shops, shopping centres, 
markets, cinemas etc. People need a place to go when they are 'home'.  For those 
who prefer to stay indoor, there is always "mah-jong" to entertain and keep them 
occupied.  But of course, the best part of the CNY is eating, eating and more eating.

  

Before the big day, there is frantic shopping, house (and office) spring cleaning, 
baking deep into the night, decorating the house in all things red!

Red is not so much used for its representation of 'passion' during this season but 
rather for 'good luck'.
Red is also the favorite colour for new clothes and attires for the young and old.  
Women delight themselves in elegant red qi-pao. The men must have new shirts and 
trousers as these signify 'success and abundance'.

No one seems to complain about this particular tradition!

Everyone loves a good story and what better to tell than the folklore that were 
passed down from generation to generation. 

Like a million years ago, my grandmother used to chide us when we innocently 
washed our hair on the first day of the New Year which was a "no-no" according to 
tradition - bad luck, she said.

She also made sure all brooms were removed and kept locked in the utility room 
lest one forgot and swept the floor  with one. 

She insisted that this would sweep away all the good luck and at its worst bad luck 
would follow throughout the year!

We were also sternly reprimanded if on the first day, we broke anything even 
accidentally.  And so we had to be extra careful when we did dishes and there were tons 
of them considering the amount of eating!
Some people wouldn't be able to relate today but back then washing dishes was a 
duty to be revered!

There were so many rules to follow and no one dared question or defied them. 

Those were superstitions that we remembered in our growing years but today 
with the advance of the modern world and with Science explaining away a lot of the 
'taboos', people are beginning to be less incline to preserve these customs. 

Many practices that used to matter in the past, don't anymore and some of them 
that still make their rounds during the season have been watered down. 
Most people follow them just for fun and don't really think much about them today.

Can you imagine having your children (or grandchildren) kneel with heads bow and 
holding a cup of tea with outstretched hand, respectfully inviting you to partake 
of their offering before they get their ang-pows on New Year's day? naaaaa..... 

I doubt this would work today but you know, in the olden days, this was how they did it ...

"KONG HEE FATT CHOY"

Wishing you accelerated exponential increase and great abundance in every area of your life.

WHY I LOVE HONG KONG ...(part 2)

A picture paints a thousand words!

Although the photography is amateurish and considered child's play, 
nevertheless every shot tells a story.

Each click of the camera captures an emotion - of glee, surprise, 
wonderment, awe, appreciation, abandonment etc. etc

"Happy and radiant", someone remarked. 

Come, please follow me. We should continue our walk ... Hong Kong (and Macau) beckons.

WHY I LOVE HONG KONG...

What makes a good holiday?

Why are people drawn to certain places more than others?

What keeps them going back for more?

Well, I think it is the combination of several things.

People have a wide selection of holiday destinations today and they can go just about anywhere they wish.  

Tourism is big business in some countries. The competition is rife and much effort, energy and expenses are deployed to attract more visitors. 

Travel can be fun in large groups as well as for honeymooners.

It really depends on what one is after.

Some travel to savor the exotic food, visit interesting places, enjoy wonderful cool weather, learn about diverse culture, rich history and unique customs. 
There are others who travel just to visit with old friends and family.

What a huge bonus if one could do all of the above at one go which is exactly what I did on my recent visit to mystical, mesmerizing and magical Hong Kong.
There really is no place like this 'Aromatic Harbour' that is 'Siang Kang'.

It takes only a few days mingling with the locals for one to unconsciously pick up Cantonese and speak like them with their distinct Hong Kong accent which is rather endearing. 
Somehow Hong Kong Cantonese sounds more polish ... refine.
Then again, I could be biased!  hahaha

For you who have written and expressed your sheer enjoyment of visiting this blog for its many pictures and candid views on day-to-day issues, I invite you to join me to walk the streets of Hong Kong (and Macau) and be enthralled by this exciting, vibrant, alluring and charming city.

Put on your walking shoes and let us together discover and admire its beauty, magnificence and splendour...