It was a leap for my running affair.

What took me so long?

I was thinking to myself  these 6 years of running 5km, 10km mostly. If it was so tough mentally and physically to run 10km, can you imagine how bad it would to be? The picture of pain was always in my mind.What if I  ran 10km and my leg hurts so much till I have to limp another 10km? Ouch! Another awful scenario. Pain aside, I think I was simply coward.

So how did I end up running 21km this year?

• I wanted to find out how it was like: was it going to be painful, what if I could only run half of it and walk the other half? What if I was the last one to finish the run, wouldn’t it be embarrassing?

• I wanted something different this year: I wanted to challenge myself mentally (more than physically) so on the first day of 2010, I set 3 resolutions ‘witnessed’ by my other 3 friends, one of which was to complete a 21km run. I’m happy to announce out of the 3, 2 goals are achieved.  It was a stretch for me, a good one though! I believe I’ve gained so much from the run.

About the race

• So was the run as tough and painful as what I thought it was? NO! It was easier though I didn’t expect so many slopes in Sentosa. I’m glad that the half-marathon route includes Universal Studio. It was a huge bonus for the runners! More so for me since I’ve never been there. Sometimes in life, we think too much, our mind cooks up many ‘what ifs’ to prevent us from moving out of the comfort zone. We need to step out to expand our mental capacity, just like how my 21km run has proven to myself that it’s achievable.

• Did I run half and walk the other half? NO! Though I didn’t run the entire race but I’m proud to admit I was running for at least 15-16km before I walked 400-500m at every drink station from 16km onwards. It took a much louder voice to overshadow the other to start running after the walk.

• Was I the last one to finish? NO! I competed the race in 3.5 hours, much better than the expectation of 4 hours. Actually time wasn’t too much a factor for me as all I had in mind was to complete the race.

It was a memorable and proud moment for me, largely due to the running I’ve done over these months. Though not consistent and I didn’t even ran the half-marathon distance before the race, it was a great start for me!

In my attempt to be a minimalist runner, I was running with my running shoes, nike shorts, event tee and a arm pouch with an Ezlink card, ATM card and keys. No mobile phone, no watch, no music player! It works perfectly for me. I love the distraction-free run and perhaps most importantly I didn’t have to walk back another 2km (yes, after the 21km) to retrieve any baggage which was deposited before the race.

Proud of myself.

Recently, I have been reading one book after another. All non-fiction. I enjoy reading them leisurely. Here are the books:

• Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh (my review here)
• Rework by 37signals.com (thanks to Daniel for lending me the copy)
• The Art of Non-Conformity by Chris Guillebeau
• The Luxury of Less ebook by Karol Gajda
• Current book: Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

RUNNING

I’ve running on average 10 – 15km per week, without the pressure of time, gadgets. It’s just running and listening.  I have stopped this week due to the haze. Going for Nike Run tomorrow! Excited, first ‘paid’ run for the year then in Dec, my virgin 21km. Really nervous and excited at the same time.

That’s all I’m busy with. Certainly, ending and preparing for 2011 academic year. Another fruitful year ahead.

So, wad’s up for you? Leave me a comment.

=)

What intrigued me at first was the young age of Tony who is the CEO of zappos.com and I was interested to find out how he transformed a company from scratch to $1 billion within a short period of time.

I didn’t know what zappos is all about and suspected it was the brand of the lighter people use to light up their cigarette.

I really love the book as it is written in a story manner, casual yet informative and inspiring. It’s contains the life story of Tony’s experiences, his ups and downs and how he handled his challenges.

I notice quite a number of similarities between entrepreneurs; one of the more distinctive one is that they had very enterprising mindset when they were young. Both Tony and Richard Branson (of Virgin Airlines) shared this in their books.

Who doesn’t encountered failures? It’s the way to react to the unsuccessful experiments which make them stronger, more determined. This is part of what ‘Delivering Happiness’ is all about. It involves the initial struggle of Zappos facing cashflow problems, lack of investors to pump in the money, failure of their 3rd party logistics company to meet up with expectations…

Tony’s (and his team) strong belief in Zappos led him to take risk to purse taking Zappos to a higher level. It’s really WOW for me to read his adventures, given the fact that at the age of late 20 – early 30, he was able to steer the company through such storm. It speaks volume of his foresight and entrepreneur’s spirit.

Next part of the book dedicates to the USP (unique selling point) of Zappos which differentiates itself from its competitors. Initially I thought it would be a boring section as it discusses on the company culture which to me is merely some SOP (standard operating procedure) meant for the sake of being on the wall. I was totally wrong. Zappos walk the talk, the entire company, everyone from management to customer service. I enjoyed the stories by their employees to illustrate each of the 10 core values Zappos follow.

Delivering Happiness isn’t a autobiography of Tony Hsieh, isn’t about Zappos but it’s a book which compasses the essential elements which created Zappos to be what it is now, courtesy of remarkable leadership in a fun and enjoyable environment!

I highly recommend this book for everyone who’s interested to

• Bring your passion to another level
• Create a more enjoyable working environment
• Understand what leaders do and their way of thinking in creating great companies
• Get some inspirations on creating ever-lasting business
• Broaden your perspectives on business-building in this new age period
• Doing differently for outstanding output
• Get more happiness

PS: It was written in the book that Zappos has a culture book for anyone who’s interested in reading more about their cultures through their employees. I thought I would have to pay for their book but instead there wasn’t any payment details when I went to the sign up page. The WOW thing is that I saw the UPS package on my desk 3 days later! Totally blew me off. When they meant fast delivery, it’s really fast!

My requirement for accommodation is really basic.

• Clean toilets & bathrooms (can be shared type or within the room)
• Bed-bugs free please
• Safe environment
• Great location is a bonus

I went to Penang recently for a food trail and to find out more about the education system over there.

I’m so pleased to find this concept hotel chain which is paying for what you really need. For example, you can buy credits for usage of air con, hair dryer, wifi or rent towels or buy toiletries.

This hotel concept is what I call it the ‘minimalist’ accommodation. When I first chanced upon the website (www.tunehotels.com) in the beginning of the year, I knew I would stay there.

The cost is unbelievable affordable at RM84 (USD 26) for a 4 days 3 nights stay! It would have cost me lesser if not for the flight (thus room) changes. Note that the cost doesn’t include any add-ons. I didn’t buy any credits for air con as me and my partner have difficulty sleeping in air con rooms.The booking was also done 6 months in advance for us to enjoy such great deal.

So what did it come with? Everything we need!

• Ease of booking procedure
• Clean bathroom & toilet with hot & cold shower (the lovely thing is that you can be using the basin tap without affecting the temperature of the shower head)
• Comfortable bed & clean pillows
  
• Working ceiling fan (with controller for speed and even timer)
• Safe hotel with security and reception on 24 hours stand-by
• Safety deposit box in the room for travellers to place valuable items and documents
• Great housekeeping service daily
  
• 24 hours convenience store (I got my ointment for stomach discomfort there!)
• Availability of Internet for 30 minutes at the lobby (Great for last minute locating of places)
• Excellent location (which is within walking distance from the city central, many attractions and eating places)
• Environmental friendly practices (Energy saving technology is in place)

Tune Hotel isn’t for everyone who needs a typical hotel room with

• Room service
• Television
• Swimming Pool
• Breakfast (There wasn’t any breakfast option on Downtown Penang but for other locations, there is. Anyway, just walk 50 steps, you can get great food next door)
• Plenty of walking space (Every inch in Tune Hotel Penang is fully optimized)

Me and my partner were very pleased with the room and Tune Hotels have indeed lived up to its promise of ‘ 5 stars bed at 1 star prices’. I’m sure we will return to Tune Hotels for our future travel plans and recommend their hotels to our friends and relatives.

Just one suggestion for Tune Hotels, perhaps their staff should be more familiarized with some of the famous food and attraction highlights. We were checking with two of the staff on the location of Lorong Bangkok. They gave us the wrong location of being two blocks away. We realized our mistake when we checked with a local. (After 15 minutes of exploration)

If you’re looking for a hotel with minimalist concept plus great value, Tune Hotel (available in different parts of Malaysia, Indonesia & even London!) is definitely worth every cent.

Thank you, Tune!

Today, my student asked me ‘Are you still getting your BMW?’, ‘Which model do you like?’

Most likely not for the first question.

Series 3 or 5 for the second question.

I set myself a goal (in 2004) to get a BMW by 28 years.

My thinking changes especially this year: I become more curious of what I want verse what I need. I’m inspired to lead a minimalist (got this spelling correct, thanks to spell-check) lifestyle. I’m influenced by Leo Babauta of Zenhabits.net

So getting a vehicle seems something un-necessary to me at this stage due to the nature of my work, my movement.

I enjoy taking a bus ride (with seat of course), reading a book, watching the world goes by…

Sure, getting a car is measure of one’s success for most people. But it doesn’t apply for me. Success is enjoying the work you’re doing, have the time to slow down, have the freedom to choose, have the ability to give back.  That’s success to me; not measurable by physical possessions, number on bank account.

What’s success to you?

I enjoy quite considerable savings when I travel.

• I fly budget airline instead of SIA for flight less than 6 hours.
• I prefer staying in hostel instead of hotel to feel more bagpackers style. In fact, I like the fact that hostel has a common kitchen for you to prepare your foodstuff even though I hardly utilize it.
• I plan my travel plans at least 6 months in advance. I have the luxury of doing that as I’m self-employed so I’m in more control of my schedule.
• I travel during off-peak period. Thanks for my work, I can do that!
• I hardly buy souvenirs when I travel. But I do have the habit of collecting the flags (real size) of the countries I visit.
• Shopping for clothes and bags is usually not in my itinerary.
• I do my own booking online for flights, accommodation and even day tours, skipping the middleman fees.

All these helps me to see the world at a low cost.

It isn’t the amount I save that gives me the kick, the sensation but the fact that I get really good deals when I’m an early bird in terms of booking.

This July, I’m heading to Penang for a short trip. I booked the air tickets with JetStar in January and paid less than S$70 for 2 pax!

I found a really cool accommodation in Penang, Tune Hotel which offers an interesting concept of ‘paying for what you use’ . For a 3 nights stay, it costs me only about RM80! Unbelievable. The website is great, easy to use and the booking process is fast. Simply love it!

However, last week, I received an email  from JetStar, informing of change of flight schedule. I did read it in forum that budget airlines have this happening often but my previous experiences didn’t affect my plan much. This time, due to the flight change which I can’t accommodate, I made to travel a day earlier and be back a day earlier.

And because of this, I had to call JetStar. I wish they could offer email support.

I made a total of 3 calls, of which the waiting time was at least 23 minutes regardless if I call in the daytime or weird hours like 7am on Sunday. It was the same!

A friend on Facebook suggested that I on the loudspeaker on my mobile while I wait. It was really a great idea! I was washing up while waiting for a human voice during the 23 minutes of wait.

Another advice: ask all you need to ask in one phonecall!

I didn’t as the hotel didn’t response to my enquiry fast enough. Once flight schedule is confirmed, I need to make changes to Hotel too. Though the flight changes weren’t within my control, we have to pay for a standard fee of RM30 for cancellation of room on the last night. This standard fee is even higher than my per night stay. And this is in spite of my cancellation made 2 months in advance. I was rather upset that Tune Hotel wasn’t able to make an exception as flight changes aren’t within my control. Well, I do  understand that it wasn’t the hotel problem too but considering the fact that we’re making the changes 2 months in advance, they could at least consider on a case-by-case basis. I don’t have such issue from other hotels and hostels on changing arrival and departure dates previously as I always informed months in advance for any last minute changes due to flight.

So this is something I learnt on travelling on budget airline. Flight schedule may change and it may disrupt your original plan. We just have to act accordingly or maybe I will consider SIA for the airline in future.

Photo Credit: Debasis ~~

Finally I decided to head back to the optician shop at Jurong Place.

A Malay optician was there, she was the one who gave me my spectacles and contact lens. I told her my problem, she did a thorough check. In the process, I was impressed with her level of professionalism, the rapport built by addressing me by my name and also her superb memory that I went with my bf previously to collect the items.

Before all these, I was somewhat disgusted with the state of my contact lens. It was my first time at the optician shop and I was absolutely sure that it would be my last trip then.

I was bought over … by the way the optician reacted, her friendliness; she mixed English with terms in Chinese as well. That somewhat eases the dissatisfaction I had with the shop at first.

She patiently pacified and I left as a happier customer as she did what she can in her capacity to make a new pair of contact lens with a smaller size to solve my problem.

This incident taught me the importance of proper training each and every staff must have and their image and attitude represents the company.

They either make or break the company.

I was introduced to this simplicity author, Elaine St James by Leo Babauta of Zenhabits. Being a lazy person who doesn’t like to do cleaning up and organizing, being simple is the best way I think I should head.

I started with uncluttering in early Feb which was during the Chinese New Year spring cleaning period. I took the chance to ‘get rid’ of clothes that I didn’t wear for the last six months. It was a great feeling! Though I didn’t totally throw them away, I put off clothes I won’t be wearing back in the cupboard, sold a few running tees on eBay. My current wardrobe is simply a clothes rack in front of my desktop.

I notice a few changes in me after I take serious view of being uncluttered and simple:

• I reduce unnecessary buying to a larger extent. I didn’t want to add on to the items I already own. I buy things that I really need. I love technology items like laptop, ipod and even iphone. But I convinced myself that my current Fujistu Tablet is working fine so there isn’t a need to get a new laptop. The same applies for ipod and iphone. I just found out yesterdat that my old Zen mp3 player is working just as fine, so is my Nokia E71.

• I throw away (and recycle) things more readily instead of keeping them aside, thinking that ‘one fine day’ those items will be in use again.

As a result of these changes, I feel happier without having to be nagged at for my tardiness by my folks and sister. I can work more effectively with a less cluttered work area. I’m more at peace with myself since everything is in my control again.

I have to thank Zenhabits and Unclutterer for sharing the stories and benefits of simplifying and uncluttering.

I feel good!

To simplify more, I bought the book ‘Simplify Your Life’ by Elaine St James. She shared 100 ways to slow down and enjoy the things that really matter. I totally enjoy the book despite the first section on ‘Simplifying your Household’. I realize that there are quite a handful ways which I have been practicing like:

• Cancel your magazine subscriptions
• Re-think your use of your cell phone
• Build a simple wardrobe
• Get out of debt (I’m glad that I have been using my credit card the correct way all these while)
• Get rid of all but one or two of your credit cards. (I actively use only my HSBC card and I have a Citibank supplementary card seldom use)
• Live on half of what you earn and save the other half
• Reduce your needs for goods and services
• Work where you live or live where you work
• Do what you really want to do
• Work less and enjoy it more
• Include your family in your work life (I get my dad to help me to deposit cheques)
• Make water your drink of choice (I still drink my isotonic 100 Plus after my run)
• Do one thing at a time
• Just say no
• Get rid of your cars (I rethink about my plan to own a BMW)
• Stop making the bed! (I love this)
• Kick off your high heels – and keep them off (Luckily I’m tall so I don’t need high heels)
• Take off your plastic nails and throw out the nail polish (I always keep my nails short, no nail polish as I do bite my nails at times)

I’m going to do what I have read to practice on these:

• Do nothing
• If it’s not working, stop doing it
• Just be yourself
• Get up an hour earlier
• Be in bed by nine one night a week
• Take time to watch sunrise
• Spend one day a month in solitude

Do you live a simple life too? Or are you too busy to appreciate what’s around you? I would love to hear from you, leave me a comment.

Photo Credit: RonAlmog

Here’s one up for grabs for now:

You would be interested to read the reviews at Amazon here.

Reason for sale: Completed the book.

Kinokuniya selling $27.29

My price: $19 (inclusive of normal local postage , SG)

Item strictly by postage. Add $2.60 for registered mail.

Contact me if you’re interested.

I won this item in a blog contest. Thought I would put this into good use but after much consideration, I decided to stick to my yearly planner (given by our insurance agent). Simple and good!

So I have decided to sell this Moleskine Colour a Month Daily Planner in 12 notebooks. The proceed shall be donated to Children’s Cancer Foundation.

Start price: $18
Close on Jan 11, 11pm

Just email me or leave your contacts in the comments section with your offer price.

Thanks.

PS: Read more details about this planner here.