Life with One Pinch of Salt

ALAMAK! - how to deal with mistakes

2011-11-30T23:51:00.001+08:00

We as humans often find ourselves in the midst of mistakes - be it preventable or not.

In Scott Berkun's article, he discusses how we can actually know mistakes, how to pro-actively prevent them and yet not over compensate.

For readers who want the summary, here goes:

The Learning From Mistakes Checklist

Accepting responsibility makes learning possible.
Don't equate making mistakes with being a mistake.
You can't change mistakes, but you can choose how to respond to them.
Growth starts when you can see room for improvement.
Work to understand why it happened and what the factors were.
What information could have avoided the mistake?
What small mistakes, in sequence, contributed to the bigger mistake?
Are there alternatives you should have considered but did not?
What kinds of changes are required to avoid making this mistake again?What kinds of change are difficult for you?
How do you think your behavior should/would change in you were in a similar situation again?
Work to understand the mistake until you can make fun of it (or not want to kill others that make fun).
Don't over-compensate: the next situation won't be the same as the last.

For the full article, read here - Lifehacker Link

Get ON with It Part 2

2011-11-27T11:48:00.001+08:00

In the 2nd part of this series, we deal with what most people encounter the most - Grief.

I am sure many of our readers have experienced the loss of a loved one - be it a family member, a close friend, a distant relative or your most beloved pet. There are often feelings of intense sorrows and grief, and most of the time you just feel like shutting yourself to the world and cringe at a corner and weep.

I myself have experienced the loss of two loved ones, when I am old enough to know what the death of a relative felt like. It felt awful. According to some masculinity belief that men in general are not meant to weep as readily as females, I personally wept for a couple of days straight when my grandfather passed away. Due to school commitments, there was no way I could fly over and attend his funeral. All I could do was weep and weep and weep. I spent nights sobbing myself to sleep, and for those who were observant enough my eyebags were horrible during that period.

There are 3 main things that helped me move on after that intense period of sorrow:

1) It is perfectly okay to feel grief. An interesting author by the name of SARK spelled this out very well:

Grieving is not something to "get over" as much as it is to "get into". If we rush grief, it piles up at a distant place and will revisit you someday when it gets massive. If we dwell too long, we get lost in it, and eventually get consumed by it. If we try to skip over grief, we find it impossible. If we hate our grief, it will maneuvre our love. If we allow our grieving, and practice it, we can shift, change and transform.

Grieving in my opinion is a process that is inevitable. Accept the fact that the person is loss physically, and that it is fine to feel sad and mourn the loss. It is only human that we feel a sense of lossness and sadness, and hence give yourself some time to grief. Write down the things that you will miss doing with him/her, his/her familar smiles, his/her mannerisms, his/her favorite foods, or any special bond that you share with him/her. Don't worry if you start crying uncontrollably, it is normal and part of the healing process.

2) Notice the care and concern that people render to you, and be thankful. In such difficult periods, it is important to not close yourself up and talk to your close friends or siblings about it. Preferably someone who can lend a listening ear and not judge.

I myself was fortunate enough to have a couple of close friends who called me everyday during that period to check if I was okay, and sent me messages now and then. Even more surprising was that some friends whom I don't see or talk to often sent words of condolences, which helped me to live through the difficult period of loss.

3) When you are ready, move on. Learn to find hope and opportunity. Transform your mentality in regards to the loss of the loved one. I personally found it to be very useful to do a certain checklist of hope and moving forward: what have you learnt from him/her that you can take away and live on with your life, opportunities that enabled you to be or want to be a better person, doing away with the fears of awaiting his/her death, and more importantly, learning to receive help and support from others.

The last step is especially important, as you open your heart to receive help. Learning to receive help is not at all making yourself look vulnerable - it makes you an open and a person of emotions and feelings. Always take it in a positive manner.

And for those who are offering kind words, do also take note that your words to a grieving person are very important, again taken from SARK:

THINGS TO SAY TO A GRIEVING PERSON:

a) That you will be there and will possibly find him/her if he/she needs you.
b) Fill him/her with love, and that you would want to share your love with him/her
c) Acknowledge his/her moment of grief, pain and loss.

THINGS NOT TO SAY TO A GRIEVING PERSON
a) It's for the best, at least they are not suffering - who told you they were?
b) How old were they? Oh, at least they led a long life - I wished they had lived longer though.
c) I know how you feel. My dog died ... - It is not and never will be the same feeling. Leave me alone.
d) Let us know if there is anything we can do - well, nice of you to say that, but I won't have the guts to call you for help in this period, it is better if you can approach me directly.

Here is to all those who lost their loved ones, be happy, be thankful of the times you had with them, and learn to let go and move on. Live with new strength from them, and at the same time, miss them and keep them in your mind.

Just Get ON With It! - Ep 1

2011-11-07T20:42:00.000+08:00

Hi Dearest readers,

I will be starting a new multi-episode series for you guys, for you to improve your lives and attain whatever you want to achieve. This mini-series is adapted from a book I read recently - Just Get On With It by Ali Campbell, who is an NLP master and life coach. It focusses how to turn things around, put things in your control and move forward in life. I will be summarising and extracting important pieces of information here and there, so that you can have quick lessons while reading this article. Recommended read! - Mathew

Episode 1: Knowing that you have a choice

Many people are often stuck in the doldrums, feeling fed up with their current life - everyday has become a drag. Monotonous and mundane office work is the main source of stress in the workplace, and in recent years, it has become an inevitable that the average shirted employee has to handle.

To break free of this virtual cuffs, you have to embrace the fact that you have a choice.

To put things in perspective, many people are helplessly holding on to their jobs, and saying that "if I don't work here, I can't pay my bills, I can't support my family, I can't get my home loan, I can't support my car instalments, etc..." All these are the main woes that are invisibly cording people in the workforce to stay in their jobs, tolerate nonsensical superiors and endless deadlines.

If you are one of those that are nodding your heads, then you probably need a gentle kick in the ass, and to do that, you need an awakening. Now, write down on a piece of paper the following:

How else I could be doing to support myself other than what I'm doing now:

1. ________________________
2. ________________________
3. ________________________

It shouldn't take you very long, in fact, you can complete this exercise in under 5 minutes. As you can see, it wasn't that hard. You can be doing so many other jobs, (albeit it may pay lower), but hey, you do have a choice, and so you're not exactly "bound" to your job after all.

Now that you realise you do have choices, you have turned your current situation from an external problem to an internal decision. A clear answer to the question of which is simpler would be to ask yourself: is it easier to change something that you have control over, or something that you are totally helpless with.

Understanding and training your mind to think that you are in control, problems that are within your locus, is the first step to stepping out of the box that you've been trapped in for the past few years. Continue to train yourself and think about how many difficulties and situations can be controlled by you, and soon, you will be a freer person.

This, of course, is just the first step in enlightenment. I will share more in the next lesson, which will be focussed on how to stop bluffing yourself.

What you should not discount

2011-10-24T21:08:00.001+08:00

Shopping is one of the favorite past time among the locals. After all, Singapore is known as a shopping haven. While we are relatively large spenders, one might often encounter situations when you or your friend drop statements like "this is too expensive, I cannot afford this."

This statement is usually not true. The item in question may be pricey, but when one makes such a statement, more often than not, he or she has the required amount of money sitting in the bank. The actual issue is whether or not, one is willing to fork out the money to purchase the item.

Why is this bad then?

The phrase "cannot afford" is naturally self-demeaning. It erodes your confidence without you even realizing it. In making that statement, you are discounting your own merits and strengths before anyone even make any judgement on you!

We love discounts, but never discount yourself!

To put it in numbers, for example, if you rate yourself 10/10, and someone else gives you a 7/10, your overall "compounded" score will be 70/100 (derived from 10/10 x 7/10). However, if you decide to give yourself a discount before that, say, 8/10, and your friend rates you 7/10 again, you will barely achieve a pass with 56/100!*

So next time you see something out of your budget, do yourself a favor, say "I can afford it, but I choose not to."

*For those who have trouble understanding why the overall score is compounded, try looking it at this way: If you discount yourself, the amount confidence will be lowered and you will be presenting your "discounted" self to others. From the the other party's point of view, he will then judge you based on your "discounted" self. That is why the score is compounded instead of a simple addition.

3 Things I Learnt Before My Plane Crashed

2011-10-17T21:02:00.001+08:00

When disaster strikes, things change in an instant, just before it all ends.

Ric Elias shares his thoughts on 3 things that he learnt, just before his plane crashed in the Hudson River in 2009.

a) You should never postpone anything in your life.
b) Don't let your ego in. Don't do things that don't matter, with people that matter. Don't force yourself to be right, choose to be happy.
c) Don't be afraid of death, embrace it, and treasure your loved ones.

Readers, don't reflect and regret when you are about to die, live differently, and change your life and relationships, before you really can't undo.

Are you living YOUR life?

2011-10-09T01:49:00.002+08:00

Had Steve lived the life of someone else, had he allowed the noise of others to drown out his inner voice, had he not have the courage to follow his heart, would he be who he is today? Would he still be able to touch millions and millions of people on Earth?

Actually..., I have no idea. Nobody knows.

But, one thing for sure. Deep down in your heart, you will definitely be happier.

When you do what you want to do, when you get what you want to get - the world seems to become a better place. Agree? That is how I feel, personally, when my decision to follow my heart proved to be a better choice. Of course, not at the expense of other's happiness, but adding on to the happiness and positivity of the people around me.

Positivity begets positivity. When you feel happy doing the things you like, others can naturally feel it, and soon, they will begin to support you doing the things you like instead of objecting to what you do. The opposite is true. When people feel that you are unhappy, sometimes they try to "help" by pointing you in all sorts of direction.

Nobody owes you a living. You must FIGHT to live your life your way, FIGHT to keep your dreams, and FIGHT to be happy.

Bookend Routines

2011-10-08T21:41:00.000+08:00

It's already 2am in the morning.

You had planned to take your dog out for a walk, go for a short run, meet up with friends, pick up some breakfast for tomorrow, spend some time reading that article that you have backdated for a month.

Yet, none of these had been done.

You swear to yourself: Damn, I better make good this routine tomorrow!

Doesn't this sound so familiar to you? Day in and day out you have plans to achieve so many things, yet you end up being backposted everyday.

The solution? A Bookend Routine.

What this does, is a set of to-do tasks everyday before the start of your work, and before the end of the day.

Brett and Kate Mckay explains how to prepare yourself for a vigorous routine before and after work, just to make sure you get things done effectively, routinely and systematically.

[Link] Bookend your day - The power of Morning and Evening Routines

Journey to the Midwest

2011-10-05T19:55:00.000+08:00

Annually, an increasing proportion of Singaporeans decide to spend part of their lives overseas. Some decide to go overseas due to the better opportunities and salary available, others leave because they enjoy experiencing new cultures, yet others seek new horizons because they desire freedom from the heretic lifestyle of Singapore. Whenever I'm asked why I chose to pursue my studies overseas, the story 'Journey to the West' comes to mind. The story retells the experiences of the monk Xuanzang who undertook a perilous journey for the sake of obtaining new knowledge. Certainly, I believe that spending time overseas has taught me many useful lessons in life and has equipped me with valuable skills which I could not have obtained locally.

My first trip to the States was definitely both a great adventure and trial. Coming from a typical middle class family in Singapore, I never had the opportunity to vacation in the USA, and did not have the privilege of being accompanied by family in my first voyage into the unknown. I found that it was extremely helpful to have sought the advice of friends who had spent time overseas and learn more about their experiences, it was also very important to network and make new friends when I arrived in university.

I would like to share four things which I would/wouldn't have brought along with me in retrospect.

VISA debit/credit card with good international rates
A VISA (or Mastercard) is often the best method to pay for items in USA; I use my VISA even if I'm just buying a cup of coffee. The primary advantage of using a VISA includes the fact that you can easily track your monthly expenditure through online banking and manage your budget more effectively.

More cash in the form of traveller’s cheque
Bringing about 6-12 months of cash in the form of a traveller’s cheque is probably a good idea as you would want to set up a US bank account when you reach the States. Having a US bank account and credit history (social security number) will also enable you to take loans more easily when you purchase a car/apartment.
Singaporean Driver's License
Obtaining a Singaporean driving license can also be helpful as it enables you to drive for a year in the States and prior driving experience also makes it very easy to pass the US driving test.
Less clothes and winter clothing/boots
Finally, I wouldn't recommend purchasing excessive winter clothing before you arrive in the States (unless you plan to arrive in winter). The plethora of outlet malls almost ensures that there will be a huge winter sale a couple of months after you arrive and you will be able to purchase winter clothing that is specifically tailored for the weather in the state you are in. ●

Joel Sng

** The Author is a graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA.

Four Words That Make Life Worthwhile by Jim Rohn

2011-10-05T01:05:00.001+08:00

I would like to share something which my mentor shared with me by Jim Rohn:

Over the years as I’ve sought out ideas, principles and strategies to life’s challenges, I’ve come across four simple words that can make living worthwhile.

First, life is worthwhile if you LEARN. What you don't know WILL hurt you. You have to have learning to exist, let alone succeed. Life is worthwhile if you learn from your own experiences—negative or positive. We learn to do it right by first sometimes doing it wrong. We call that a positive negative. We also learn from other people's experiences, both positive and negative.

I've always said that it is too bad failures don't give seminars. Obviously, we don't want to pay them so they aren’t usually touring around giving seminars. But that information would be very valuable—we would learn how someone who had it all then messed it up. Learning from other people's experiences and mistakes is valuable information because we can learn what not to do without the pain of having tried and failed ourselves.

We learn by what we see, so pay attention. We learn by what we hear, so be a good listener. Now I do suggest that you should be a selective listener; don't just let anybody dump into your mental factory. We learn from what we read, so learn from every source; learn from lectures; learn from songs; learn from sermons; learn from conversations with people who care. Always keep learning.

Second, life is worthwhile if you TRY. You can't just learn; now you have to try something to see if you can do it. Try to make a difference, try to make some progress, try to learn a new skill, try to learn a new sport. It doesn't mean you can do everything, but there are a lot of things you can do, if you just try. Try your best. Give it every effort. Why not go all out?

Third, life is worthwhile if you STAY. You have to stay from spring until harvest. If you have signed up for the day or for the game or for the project, see it through. Sometimes calamity comes and then it is worth wrapping it up. And that's the end, but just don't end in the middle. Maybe on the next project you pass, but on this one, if you signed up, see it through.

And lastly, life is worthwhile if you CARE. If you care at all you will get some results, if you care enough you can get incredible results. Care enough to make a difference. Care enough to turn somebody around. Care enough to start a new enterprise. Care enough to change it all. Care enough to be the highest producer.
Care enough to set some records. Care enough to win.

Four powerful little words: learn, try, stay and care. What difference can you make in your life today by putting these words to work?
—Jim Rohn

"My mentor said, ‘Let’s go do it,’ not ‘You go do it.’ How powerful when someone says, ‘Let’s!’" —Jim Rohn

The balancing act - Work and studies

2011-09-25T02:27:00.005+08:00

Chersiong is a 4th year Economics student at the Nanyang Technological University School of Humanities and Social Sciences. He is not your typical student as he started working part time two years ago. Find out about his experiences and how he juggles between work and school in the following interview.

Tony (T): Tell me who are you currently working for?

Chersiong (CS): I am doing free lance consulting services, providing technical and management advice to a property agent. We have been working together to share and experiment ideas on how to make use of the internet to open up new markets or to expand her customer base.

T: How long have you been working?

CS: For 2 years already.

T: How did it all start?

CS: It all started from a friend’s recommendation as a photoshop consultant. As I started working, the property agent requested me to do more things. As her ideas bloomed, we discussed about the ways to materialised and carry out these ideas. There were many learning opportunities and she gave me the free rein to experiment and learn about web design and email marketing in the process.

T: How much time is allocated on a per day basis for your work and on your studies?

CS: It really depends on the situation. If the work is urgent, I will dedicate time for the work first. However, I will try not to spend more than 2 hours per day on the work. The rest of the time will be for studies and other things.

T: Describe to me a typical week.

CS: During weekdays, I will work in the morning and meet my client before my lesson starts. At night, I will dedicate some time for work and for studies. Weekends will be reserved for revision as well. To keep in touch with my friends, I will study with a group of friends. I volunteer on Saturdays and have a weekly basketball session every Sunday with my secondary school friends.

T: Wow, that’s hectic. What is your most challenging assignment so far?

CS: It has to be image piercing. It took me three days to complete this assignment.

T: What is image piercing?

CS: Hmmm. Just take it as joining different images together to form a large collage. I cannot disclose the actual assignment. I will have to kill you if I do. :P

T: How do you feel this job? Does it value-add to you as a soon-to-be graduate?

CS: Personally, I have a deep interest in I.T. I have been exposed to these skills sets but kind of lost it along the way. Therefore this job helped me in revising my photoshop, webpage editing and video editing skills. Though it does not add value to my studies, but one must realise that in the future, there are bound to be instances where you will be forced to do things you are unfamiliar with. Therefore, one has to be prepared to pick up new skills from scratch and have the right attitude to approach things.

T: What are some tips or advice you would give to someone who wants to work adhoc assignment like yours? How should they go about looking for one?

CS: These jobs mainly come by word of mouth. So don’t hide your skills. If you have the skills, make use of opportunities to show them off. Through your CCAs or projects maybe? If you are good, you will get noticed and assignments like these will come. ●

Feel free to post questions/comments about Chersiong's work and how he juggles between work and studies!

Simple Meditation

2011-09-24T22:30:00.002+08:00

Before you start thinking of how grim or sad your current life is, take some time to do a short pause. Close your eyes, sit in a comfy position, listen to your own breathing.

Let your thoughts run through your head, and appreciate the little aspects of life that make you what you are today. Keep tab of things that you could have done better, and things that you did well. Now open your eyes, and start off the day anew.

Remember, you can do this at the end of everyday, to keep your mind relaxed and focussed on things that matter. We all have a busy life, so take at least 5 - 10 minutes everyday before you sleep or when you return home, meditate in this way. It really helps to concentrate better at work or other tasks that you are assigned.

5 things I wish someone had told me before I started investing in stocks

2011-09-19T22:58:00.005+08:00

Are you itching to start investing but you have no idea how to start? Here are 5 essential things you need to know before you start your own investment!

Know what you want to get out of investing in stocks. I know, I know. This seems to be a dumb question. Of course everyone wants to earn $$ in stocks. But before you move away from this page, please at least give me a chance to explain myself. In stock investing, you can earn money through capital gains or dividends. Capital gains are gains you earn when your stock increases in trading price, while dividends are regular payments (usually once or twice a year in the local context) given by the company to its shareholders. Depending on your preference or investment strategy, you can opt for stocks which have proven track records of recording capital gains, or companies which give out regular dividends.
Build up a portfolio! Yes. We have all watched movies in which the main character dumps ALL his money into one stock and before you know it. the price shoots up like crazy, doubling/tripling/quadrupling his cash. Not bad huh? Well, in reality, that’s next to impossible. Firstly, (seriously), what are the chances of you spotting a stock which is about to sky rocket? Secondly, assuming that you have managed to spot such a stock, and the stock indeed is going off the charts, the board-lister (SGX in our case) will probably call for a trading halt to investigate on this unusual increase in stock price, which will probably break its upwards momentum, inject uncertainty into investors etc etc, resulting in the stocks tumbling back down. The more practical way is to build up a portfolio of stocks. As the saying goes, never put all your eggs into one basket. A later post will be dedicated to show you mathematically why building up a portfolio is the right way to go.
Spend some time comparing the different brokerage firms on the way they charge the trades. There’s no free lunch in this world and so is the world of trading. You have to pay commission for every trade you make. However, different brokerage firms offer different “packages”. One firm may work on a high commission rate but with no minimum charge, while another may charge a lower commission but has a minimum charge.
Following the table below, if you were to buy 1 lot (1,000 shares) of a stock worth $1, your commission rate under Firm A would be $25 (as 1,000 x 0.10% = $1 is lesser than $25, the minimum charge applies) and the commission rate under Firm B would be a mere $2 (1,000 x 0.20%=$2). However, if you were to buy 1,000 lots (1,000,000 shares) of a stock worth $1, the commission under Firm A will be $1,000 while the commission under Firm B will be $2,000. Think about it.

	Firm A	Firm B
Commission rate	0.10%	0.20%
Minimum charge	$25	-
Investment of $1,000	$25	$2
Investment of $1,000,000	$1,000	$2,000

4. Understanding the different types of orders. An order is an instruction you give to your

brokerage firm to buy or sell stocks. There are three common types of orders which I will share with you here.

a. Market order- This is an order which is executes your trade immediately at the current market prices. This is useful when you want to wants to buy or sell your shares quickly.

b. Limit order- The limit order is slightly more complicated. It is an order to buy a stock at not more, or sell at not less, than a specific price. For example, when a buy limit order is placed at $1 the stock will only be bought when the price of the stock goes below or equal to a dollar. Likewise, when a sell limit order is placed at the same price, the stock will only be sold when the stock is above this price or higher. This kind of order is useful when you want to control the price you buy or sell your stocks.

c. Sell Stop loss order- A sell stop loss order is an order to sell the stock once it has fallen to a specific price. For example, you own a stock which is currently at $1.The stock climbed up to $1.20. In order to “protect” your profits of 20 cents, you could place a stop loss order at $1.10. In the event the stock suddenly decides to go for a dive, the brokerage firm will sell your shares at $1.10, and in turn protecting your profits.

5. Budget your finances and maintain your liquidity. Although you could buy and sell your stocks in an instant, the actual transaction takes up to three working days. Once you buy a particular share, the brokerage firm chases you for your money only three working days later. Sounds like a good deal?

Oh well, it definitely is if it works only one way. When you sell your shares, the firm also takes three working days to give you the cheque. Therefore, investing in stocks is not as liquid as it seems. It is always good to have spare cash on your hands just in case of emergency.

Measuring What Makes Life Worthwhile

2011-09-19T01:42:00.003+08:00

TED has always been one of my sources of inspirations. This is one of my favourites from these thought inspiring and reflection intense talks.

Many people have learnt what is Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Yet, we often overlook the intangibles and over-emphasize on tangibles that are at the lower levels of the hierarchy.

I will touch on the hierarchy of needs on a later post. Stay tuned!

Have a great week ahead!

What is Life without Making Mistakes?

2011-09-19T00:12:00.003+08:00

What is life without making mistakes? But do you really have to make ALL the mistakes yourself?

We are here to make the mistakes for YOU!

We have been through some rough patches (who hasn’t?), our lives were littered with bad decisions, but every time that happens, we learn, we grow and we come back stronger than ever. I wish someone was there to tell me I am heading the wrong way, or to guide me down the right path, so I will not waste my youth bumping around corners and finding the right way.

And here we are, that “someone” who hope to make a difference to your lives. Our advice might be unconventional and unorthodox, but rest assured, they are genuine and sincere advice coming fresh out of the oven.

At the end of this introductory note, let me share with you an interesting trivia: A cup of chocolate milk tastes better with a pinch of salt (try it!). ;)

You've Got To Start Somewhere..

2011-09-19T00:12:00.000+08:00

The following has been copied from my personal notes on Facebook:

Most people around my age or my friends haven't the slightest idea. They are still mostly basking in their dwindling youth, enjoying the day like there's no tomorrow - thanks to the media pumping lie after lie that parties, booze, clubbing, and mindless expenditure are fundamentals of people in this age group. Until they reach the age when they finally graduate, from whatever they are studying, and then they panic. "Oh no, I'm graduating in months and I don't know what I'm going to do."

For some fortunate souls their parents have a gold mine where they can simply dig through when they graduate. They can easily pull strings and land jobs even before they graduate (I'm sure those who know people like that are sniggering hard.) For the majority, the moment you end education is the moment you're thrown into the far end of the pool, and before you know it, you're drowning.

There are those who prefer to bitch, moan and groan, showing their discontent and "why wasn't I ...", and shimmery eyes of envy. Teenage angst is passe, youth discontent with the world is vogue. So they endlessly ignore the deep pit lurking in the front closing in, and continue to discuss their daily rantings and 'mishappenings'. Oh so melodramatic, oh so emotional.

Instead of spending time on such pointless pursuits, I do think it's better off if you start planning for your future. It doesn't differ much if you plan earlier or later than others. The point is to START PLANNING. Rome isn't built in a day, so everyone has to start somewhere.

It's not hard. All you have to do is to have an aim of what you want to achieve eventually. That's your long term goal. Then place a 5/10 year aim that is challenging but achievable. There is no hard and fast rule of what's feasible and what's not. There's no one who knows you better other than yourself.

After all the goals are set in place, you start to jot down what have you done so far to work towards what you want. If this list is empty, it simply means, yeah, you've got to work harder in this field. Since starting out on this journey may be hard, I suggest start by taking small steps.

Of course, before you set your goals, aims and steps to achieve them, you need to know your own strengths and weaknesses. Notice I used the words strengths and weaknesses NOT likes and dislikes. There's a distinction between the two. Knowing yourself is important, I recommend Kaplan's articles on self discovery. Once you are pretty sure of these you can set forth to get your goals aligned.

We're on Twitter!

2011-09-18T23:33:00.000+08:00

Hey readers,

We are now on Twitter! Follow us to keep track on newest blog posts and other updates! Click the button on the right to take you there!

Otherwise,

http://www.twitter.com/LifeWithOne

See you there!

First of many to come

2011-09-18T22:55:00.000+08:00

Finally, after much work and preparation, this site is now a reality.

Welcome to our first blog post. This will be an excited moment for the both of us, as we have discussed the possibilities of this site for a few months, and finally realised our dream.

Our aim for this site is to be a catalyst of change, sounds cheesy, but that's what we want to achieve. We want to inspire you, lift you up, raise you up, and eventually hope that you will do the same for others.

For us, we have been through some incidents in life that we would like to share, especially in terms of life choices, which will be a recurring topic in our blog. These will include relationships, course of studies, life direction and so on. We hope, that with our happenings (or mishappenings), you will not have to follow our path to learn it the hard way. We have gone through it, so we hope that via this site, you don't have to.

Kudos to those who have visited this site and supported us. If you haven't already, please let us know your thoughts about this site, if you have some topics in mind you will like us touch on, or want to contribute,k you may mail us at lifewithone@gmail.com.

Thank you, and have a nice day. and... a warm welcome, beloved reader!