Paolo Kalaw's Blog

Are You Sleepwalking Through Life?

2016-07-12T10:57:00.003-07:00

How are you? It has been a while :)

I thought I would start writing new articles on a more regular basis. Starting with this one.

I was reading a book on philosophy and there is a section on Socrates (btw I am relatively new to this stuff and by no means an expert). Anyway, something I read jumped out at me:

"Most people sleepwalk through life, never asking themselves what they are doing or why they are doing it. They absorb the values and beliefs of their parents, or their culture, and accept them unquestioningly. But if they happen to absorb wrong beliefs, it will make them sick."

Over the last two years, I have been working on a new technology venture - its a fintech business that processes financial transaction in healthcare. Kinda like a PayPal for healthcare businesses. So far, things are going well. We have hired over 100 very smart people from 15 different countries and we continually challenge them to think differently. Thats how you create disruption in an industry. One of our biggest challenges is finding people who don't sleepwalk through life. So here is a tip: Don't be afraid to ask why? You might just be surprised at the answer.

And BTW:

"Never let formal education get in the way of your learning"

Mark Twain

The Sorry State of Cybersecurity in the Healthcare Industry

2016-01-30T09:13:00.001-08:00

The Sorry State of Cybersecurity in the Healthcare Industry

Given the sensitivity and confidentiality of the data handled by the healthcare industry every day, you’d think that cybersecurity is a top priority among healthcare providers. Sadly, you’d be mistaken. The healthcare sector, it seems, is struggling to keep up with the times, especially when it comes to putting strong cybersecurity measures in place.

IT experts say that many healthcare providers, along with medical device manufacturers, don’t recognize the need for such measures, even as they suffer multiple data breaches. Healthcare companies and energy/utility companies are among the industries most vulnerable to cyberattacks today, according to the BitSight Insights Industry Benchmark report in September.

Any statistics on that?

The numbers don’t lie, and they’re pretty alarming. The healthcare and social assistance industry suffer the highest incidence of data breaches at 56%, compared to the 31% on average among all industry sectors. Public data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human services also say that there have been a total of 55 data breaches in the country in 2015. These data breaches affected the information of over a hundred million victims – 111,802,842, to be exact.

Health insurance company Anthem Inc. demonstrated earlier this year just how inefficient cybersecurity in the healthcare industry is when it lost more than 78 million medical records in a data breach. Similarly, 11 million victims suffered from a data breach at Premera Blue Cross, another health insurance company.

According to Ponemon Institute, a research center dedicated to privacy, data protection and information security policy, data breaches cost the healthcare industry about $5.6 billion each year.

So what’s the healthcare industry doing about it?

Not much yet, if current cybersecurity measures in the healthcare industry are to be studied.

Just from the sheer number of medical records compromised, it’s clear that the healthcare industry needs to adopt stronger measures for cybersecurity. It needs to do more to protect not only the medical and personal information of patients, but also medical devices like insulin pumps and pacemakers. Security threats to these devices could result in the loss of life.

Healthcare providers may also need to train their own staff, as the cause for data breaches 26 to 36 percent of the time was employee error. Focus on proactive, intelligence-driven monitoring and response for data security is also essential for avoiding data breaches.

For instance, one of the costliest, most dangerous employee errors occurred in 2013 at the University of Washington Medicine. An employee downloaded an email attachment containing malicious malware, which ended up compromising the security of critical medical data and personal patient information. The University of Washington Medicine has agreed to settle for its shortcomings for $750,000.

Authorities from the HHS and cybersecurity companies have also emphasized the need for the healthcare industry and government sectors to work together to come up with solutions to cyber threats. To help strengthen cybersecurity for the healthcare industry, the National Institute of Standards and Technology has also released the Framework for Improving Critical

Infrastructure Cybersecurity, a set of standards, guidelines, and practices that promote the protection of critical IT infrastructure and helps IT infrastructure owners manage risks related to cybersecurity.

According to NIST experts, healthcare organizations can use the framework as a way to understand and develop cybersecurity plans.

How does the HIPAA figure into all this?

HIPAA actually helps ensure that healthcare providers and health insurance companies have some cybersecurity measures in place.

According to HHS’ website, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) required the development of regulations that protect the privacy and ensure the security of certain health information. Under the Security Rule of HIPAA, covered entities such as health plans, health care clearinghouses, and health care providers are required to assess their working environments for risks and vulnerabilities and implement security measures to address these risks and vulnerabilities.

So, if you’re covered by the definition of a covered entity under HIPAA, the HIPAA Risk Assessment is something you have to do. It’s required by law for HIPAA compliance. Additionally, under HIPAA, covered entities such as clinics, hospitals, and HMOs must have certain policies in place for protecting patient data.

It should provide some measure of comfort that the state attorney general offices in all 50 states now have the authority to enforce HIPAA.

Up next, let’s discuss what we in the dental industry should be doing to address potential cybersecurity attacks.

Compiled by Paolo Kalaw, CEO of nimbyx – a company focused on seamlessly linking the dental industry - dentists, dental labs, distributors and reps – to help you expand your reach and grow your business. Contact him at info@nimbyx.com

Sources for this article include:

Jeremy Seth Davis, (Dec 2015), Citing Sources. Retrieved Jan, 2016 from http://www.scmagazine.com/hhs-hitrust-deloitte-attack-healthcare-orgs-to-test-cyber-preparedness/article/457790/
Unattributed, Citing Sources. https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/breach/breach_report.jsf (Jan 2016)
Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai, Dec 2015, Citing Sources. Retrieved Jan 2016 from http://motherboard.vice.com/read/55-healthcare-data-breaches-have-hit-more-than-100-million-people-in-2015
Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai, Dec 2015, Citing Sources. Retrieved Jan 2016 from http://motherboard.vice.com/read/one-of-the-largest-hacks-yet-exposes-data-on-hundreds-of-thousands-of-kids
Brian Krebs, Mar 2015, Citing Sources, Retrieved Jan 2016 from http://krebsonsecurity.com/2015/03/premera-blue-cross-breach-exposes-financial-medical-records/
Ellen Rosen, Dec 2015, Citing Sources, Retrieved Jan 2016 from https://bol.bna.com/data-breaches-most-common-in-healthcare-industry-survey-says/
Sara Heath, Dec 2015, Citing Sources, Retrieved Jan 2016 from http://healthitsecurity.com/news/nist-calls-for-public-comment-on-cybersecurity-framework

Don't Be A Boiled Frog!

2015-02-05T20:31:00.000-08:00

My friend Eric once told me, "Don't be a boiled frog!". I said what the (insert word of choice) are you talking about? Eric, by the way, is one of the smartest people I know. A very successful and daring entrepreneur who views business much like I do - he has a passion for the art. He is also a solid, grounded guy with an even greater passion for life.

"Don't be a boiled frog!" He repeated to me. "You have a degree in Microbiology, don't you remember any of this stuff from college?" Frankly, I didn't. I must have skipped out during that class. "If you put a frog in a pot of cold water and heat up the water to a boil, the frog will cook to death. However, if you take a frog and drop him in a pot of boiling water, he (or she) will quickly jump out and escape. Life is the same way. You can get into situations where the world around you slowly heats up and you don't notice it and just live with it. However, if you were walking into that situation for the first time, you would make a change right away".

What Eric was referring to was a business I was once involved with where I loved the Company, but disliked someone I was business partners with. My business partner's moral code was different than mine and it was eating me up.

I went to bed that night and made a decision to either try to buy my business partner out or sell the business. We ended up selling. My enjoyment of life, my passion for living, for the experiences life has to offer, has increased many times since then.

Moral of the story: we are all faced with situations that slowly creep up on us and make our world a miserable one...a negative, needy employee; a profession that we no longer enjoy; friends that are bad influences on us; etc... don't let the water boil and cook you. Don't be a boiled frog!!!

A Mind Expanded Never Contracts

2015-01-05T08:49:00.000-08:00

To be accurate, it was Oliver Wendell Holmes, Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court 1902-1932, who said:

The Mind, Once Expanded To The Dimensions Of Larger Ideas, Never Returns To Its Original Size.

I modernized it to:

A Mind Expanded, Never Contracts
Paolo Kalaw, Entrepreneur, 2012 :)

I have yet to meet a sane person who said, I experienced it and it changed my perspective but I can't apply it in my thinking.

Thus I hope to expand your mind with this:

Over the years, I have learned to assess people I meet based on a simple model of competence such as the above:

Knows - people who have read about the subject matter, have seen it done, but don't really have enough experience to do it themselves.

Knows How - people who can do things if pressed, but have not really mastered the specific subject matter

Shows How - people that have had enough experience to be able to analyse their own actions and show others how to do it. This also makes the teacher improve because by showing others, it forces the teacher to inherently critique themselves.

Does - people that just do it subconsciously. They have done it hundreds of times before and it is just second nature to them. They are masters at their craft.

The difference between going from "knows" to "does" is typically good mentorship and practice. Just like practicing a golf swing without a coach, you can end up perfecting a poor swing if there was no one to correct you.

Wether it be dentistry, corporate finance, people management, sports, or even interpersonal relationships - the appropriate mentorship and practice, early on, allows one to master their craft, profession, need or passion.

How will you master yours?

When Do You Hire The Right Person?

2014-12-08T10:40:00.000-08:00

Man In The Wall - picture taken in Montemartre

When do you hire the right person?

When the right person comes along.

It takes work, effort and time to find the right fit for every role. Sound simple enough right? Except we are often under pressure to hire as someone is about to leave. So you are either always recruiting or getting temporary help until you get the right fit.

Unfortunately, this appears to be easier said than done (or maybe they just don't like me :)). Firstly, do you know what you want to hire for - what their job objectives are? Secondly, developing a pool of qualified people to select from takes time. Thirdly, how do you interview them to determine that he or she is "the one". Lastly, people who fit the criteria may not agree with your style, vision, compensation so even if you like them, they may not go for the job.

The things I look for in an individual are: Ability to self assess thus learn and develop (as I mentioned in the previous blog), self motivation (some fire in their belly), and someone who can relate to the vision I have for the business (culture fit).

Finding this person usually takes time...about 6 months in my experience. I don't know why, it just seems to be.

So what do I do?

Over the years, I have developed the profile of the people I like to hire. Unfortunately, it has been through trial and error. If you have not done so, at least write down the ten things you want that person to do in your organization. Prioritize them. Think it through. You owe it to yourself and, frankly, to the person you hire, that both of you understand.

I have also built relationships with certain personnel recruiters. I have spent enough time with them that they have an idea of the type of people that work well with me. Whenever they see someone that fits, I ask them to send the person my way. Our companies also run ads throughout the year. This is a mindset...be continually looking for talent.

Interview people all the time. Every week. I do. Even if we have no job openings. It is just part of my leadership role. In fact, we often hire people and give them the support to build businesses around themselves. It is quite a surprise when I say, "I don't have a job for you but I would like to hire you and lets build a business around you."

When do you hire the right person? When they come along. Because the right person - self assessing, self motivated, and buys into your vision - are few and far between. What typically happens is the reverse - leaders are so desperate to fill the role that they hire the first acceptable person that walks in. Thats the difference between high performers and mediocrity.

Lets continue this discussion next week...stay tuned.

Leadership Void

2014-11-03T10:17:00.000-08:00

Early on in my career, one of my business partners once told me:

Whenever someone offers you a leadership opportunity, take it!

I did not really comprehend at the time but, more so than ever, I now realize what he meant. Leadership skills are such a rare talent nowadays (many think they have it, I would guesstimate that less than 5% of the people I meet actually do) - and you can't really learn it from just reading, you have to practice it.

To this day, I volunteer for many roles and activities to try and improve my skills. And to me, true leadership involves different approaches depending on the place and situation. And, If I had to start my career over again, I would:

Seek out good mentors - people I can trust to show me the right and the wrong but also pat me on the back or hold my feet to the fire if need be. This is why choosing who to work for/with is so important early on in one's carer - because these mentors usually come from your place of work.

Volunteer for leadership opportunities - you get out of life what you put in.

I guess the same goes, not just in leadership, but in many things in life - to know the road ahead, ask those coming back.

copied from http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/leader/leadstl.html; study done by Geert Hofstede, Netherlands

What Is Your Genius?

2014-10-06T21:36:00.000-07:00

I am one of those guys who believes that our skills fall into 4 categories:

Our Genius - things we are the best at, that give us energy when we are doing them and we have a passion for, things that never seem like work.

Very Competent - things we are very good at doing, enjoy, but not our primary driver and passion

Competent - things that we can muddle through and accomplish but seem like a lot of hard work to us

Incompetent - things we are not good at, drain our energy whenever we do them, make us dread showing up for work.

Someone asked me, for example, how I motivated myself through the early years of struggling through building a business. I could not answer the question - as I thought about it, I never had to worry about motivation - I worried about a lot of other things (operations, finance, marketing, stress, time, health, etc...lol you get the picture) but I was always eager to get up and fight through the work day.

So the question is, have you ever asked yourself what gives you energy, what are the things you do that never seem like work, what is your Genius?

And the flip side, what are the activities that drain you and you are not motivated by?

If you are daring enough, I am curious as to what they are so let me know once you have thought about it - post it in the comment section below.

I personally like to hire people and encourage their Genius Quadrant - while trying to cover off their Incompetent Quadrant. But it is often very difficult as a lot of people have never evaluated and are reluctant to admit to what our quadrants are. Sort of like soaring on our weaknesses instead of soaring with our strengths.

On this note - I met a couple of people this week who were functioning at their genius category - it was really great to watch.

When Dreams Die,..

2014-09-08T08:37:00.000-07:00

"In regione caecorum rex est luscus.""

In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king

Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus (28 October^[1] 1466 – 12 July 1536), known as Erasmus of Rotterdam, was a Dutch Renaissance humanist, Catholic priest, social critic, teacher, and theologian.

Whatever happened to your dreams and ambitions? As I talk to people from all over, I am often surprised by how tempered their dreams are. A fear of failure maybe? I am a believer in the human potential and time and time again, I have seen that the biggest limiting factor to our own personal growth and fulfilment is ourselves. Maybe it's because at some point in time, we end up wrapping ourselves and getting caught up in an environment of the mediocre? Hence the quote above - In a distant land, a long long time ago, where magnificent mountains soared, where the fields were lush, and the sun shone golden every day - where everyone is blind, a person with one eye was crowned the king.

The environment we surround ourselves in has, what I believe, a large impact on how we see the world and how we see our potential. If you can, choose wisely. And most of all, dare to dream:

Hold fast to dreams

For if dreams die

Life is a broken-winged bird

That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams

For when dreams go

Life is a barren field

Frozen with snow.

Langston Hughes

Managing Fear

2014-08-11T09:06:00.000-07:00

No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear.

Edmund Burke

In my experience, one of the biggest limiters of us all is FEAR. And courage, to me, means not the absence of fear (I call that delusional) but the management of fear. Developing the ability to manage ones fear allows one to make more rational decisions about different situations. I believe that in order to maximize ones potential, one has to learn fear management. How? Usually by taking small steps that turn in to larger ones.

Years ago, I was as shy as could be. I used to be intimidated by talking to people...so I decided to start smiling and saying hello to one person a day. Then it became two, then three, ... you get the picture. Then I decided I was going to smile and say hello to 50 people in a row and I would keep trying until I got 50 in a row. It took me tree days of trying...

How did I even think to do this? Well I credit the martial arts. I started studying martial arts at an early age. Started with Judo, then Kung Fu, then Tae Kwon Do. I practiced the punches, kicks, flips for hours. the whole time we would down our punching gloves and kicking gear to practice sparring with each other. Then a friend introduced me to a type of Karate called Kyokushin.

Kyokushinkaikan (極真会館) is a style of stand-up, full contact, bare knuckle/bare foot karate, founded in 1964 by Korean-Japanese karate master. One of the goals of kyokushin is to strengthen and improve character by challenging oneself through rigorous training. That it did. Famous practitioners of Kyokushin include George St. Pierre (one of the top UFC fighters today and Dolf Lundgren (the Russian specimen who fought Sylvester Stallone in Rocky).

The best thing I learned in Kyokushin is how to manage fear. In fact, the final test in Kyokushin is to fight 50 individual fighters one after another (I never was devoted enough to take this test but as I write this blog, I actually regret that I did not pursue the art to that level).

Whats the point to this story: fear management is a learned skill. And it is one of the most important skills we can learn in order to maximize our potential. All it takes is one small step at a time

Like I said, I believe that the ability to manage fear is a skill that can be learned. It takes practice and it starts with a small step. But it can be done. And a small improvement in your fear management can lead to exponential personal growth.

In the most basic form, fear even affects how some people love others. Here is a quote I once read:

"When I saw you, I was afraid to meet you... When I met you, I was afraid to kiss you... When I kissed you, I was afraid to love you... Now that I love you, I'm afraid to lose you."

Fear becomes a habit. Don't let it imprison you. Learn to manage it!

But then again, what the heck do I know? I'm just making my way in this world...

What Makes A Good Cosmetic Dentist And How Can You Tell?

2013-06-09T08:05:00.000-07:00

Having gone through the process of getting veneers, it made me wonder what makes a good cosmetic dentist? My viewpoint comes from three perspectives:

1. As a patient chronicling the process and experience.

2. As an owner that has acquired and operated one of the largest groups of dental laboratories in North America (dental labs make the crowns and veneers from "molds" sent to the dental laboratory by dentists). Thus they are able to observe the skill level of many different dentists.

3. As a lecturer and CEO of one of the leading advanced training and mentorship programs for dentists - The Frontier Institute.

Here are some points to consider:

1. Having The Training and Mentorship - where did the dentist learn and who taught them. Did they have a mentorship program (like the Frontier Institute). Some dentists advertise that they are "cosmetic dentists" even though they have had inadequate training, experience and mentorship.

2. An Eye For Style/Fashion - because this is about making you look and feel good, it helps if the dentist has an eye for it. Do they evaluate your face shape, skin tone, and give you feedback on what shape and shades (color) would best suit your face.

Treatment and photography by Dr. Steve Fisher, California / Frontier Veneers by Frontier Dental Laboratory

3. An Experienced Dental Laboratory That Understands Cosmetic Dentistry - ultimately, the lab has such a big impact on the final product. Do they deal with a lab like Frontier that specializes in smile makeovers or are they dealing with a lab that focuses on single tooth dentistry? Research the lab. Ask if the lab has been involved in cosmetic dentistry courses and which ones? Were the courses hands-on programs with patients or just lectures? Dental labs like Frontier invest a lot of resources in training via hands-on programs. These programs involve dentists with patients in clinical settings. Very few dental labs have experience in hands-on programs. As a patient, demand that your dentist deals with a leading cosmetic dental lab. I promise there is a difference in the end product.

4. Team Members That Have Actually Had Their Own Teeth Done - so they can relate to the experience. This inspires confidence if people in the dental office have actually opted for veneers themselves. It tells me they are believers in the process and its impact in changing ones life. They understand the psychology behind it. Does the dentist have a nice smile?

5. Drilling Into Your Needs -pardon the pun :). Did the dentist ask you questions to uncover why you want your smile done? Do you want to look friendlier, more approachable, sexier, etc... Do you want to look younger?

6. Is Your Dentist Cutting Corners - this procedure requires time, preparatory work, and quality materials. At least if you want a smile that will last you a long time. The devil is in the details. So does he or she seem to be rushing you through your consultation? How many pictures of you are they taking (the dentist needs to take multiple pictures of you from various angles to be able to communicate your features to a dental laboratory). Are they explaining the treatment plan thoroughly? Are they guiding you as opposed to "selling" you?

7. Do they have photos of other patients that have had their smiles done? How do they look? Do the smiles fit the patient or do they all look the same?

8. Do you hear terms like golden proportions, buccal corridor, embrasure? Signs that the dentist and or lab understand how to get you the best result.

Smile Makeover By Dr. Andrew Chandrapal, Bourne End, UK and Frontier Veneers by Frontier Dental Laboratory

I love my new smile. I wish I had done it sooner.

As a patient, you owe it to yourself to do some research. The results vary according to the skill of the dentist and the quality of the dental laboratory. Done properly, I am sure you can get the "look" you desire.

I welcome your comments to this article. Let me know what you think.

Are You Interested Or Committed?

2013-05-05T07:20:00.000-07:00

I was clearing out my travel bag the other day and a slip of crumpled paper fell out. On it was scribbled:

There is a difference between Interested and Committed. When you are interested in doing something, you can do it only when circumstances permit. When you are committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.

(I researched and found that this was a quote from Ken Blanchard).

I must have heard this from one of the talks I attended in the last year. I could not even remember from where. It made me think though . . . what are the things, goals, objectives that I am interested in or that I am committed to? It is a good exercise to do. Are you committed/interested in fitness, nutrition and diet, your work objectives, etc...? Are you committed to changing your life for the better?

And what's the difference?

In my experience, spending time on the things I am interested in are fun, but often lead to average results. I am interested in playing the guitar (for example). Am I committed to practicing my guitar skills every day for 2 hours? Maybe not. Ultimately, it is the slogging through the tough times that leads to above average results. Be it Work, Personal, Family.

Most importantly, recognize the difference between the two.

But then again, what do I know?

Carving this out of the side of a mountain, was that Interested or Committed?

What Price Are You Paying?

2013-04-21T06:39:00.000-07:00

Step Up And Pay The Price

There is a price to pay for education...

There is a price to pay for ignorance...

There is a price to pay for good health...

And a price for sickness and disease.

There is a price to pay for attending to relationships...

And a price to pay for neglecting them.

There is a price for love and trust...

And a price to pay for fear and hate.

We cannot choose whether or not we will pay...

We can only choose for what.

PS. i also learned from someone who changed my perspective on life:

Don't sweat the petty stuff and don't pet the sweaty stuff.

Compared To What?

2013-04-14T09:28:00.000-07:00

As I write my weekly blog, I look back and think, what were the interesting things that happened this week. Reflecting on the week, the thought that jumps out at me is: compared to what?

It appears that I spent a lot of last week asking compared to what? - trying to help myself and others see the forest from the trees. What do I mean?

Sometimes, we are so focused on drilling down to the details of a situation that we forget to look up and ask, "in relation to what?" or "whats my best alternative?" Only by asking that do we put our opportunities, and opportunity costs into the appropriate decision framework.

Research from Harvard University is credited with this: whats your BATNA - Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement. I look at most situations and I go through this thinking process:

What is my current situation?

What's my goal?

What's the best alternative?

Then I make a decision.

At least I have factored in the choices available to me at the time. Surprising how many people never do that.

And yes, there is an opportunity cost for everything...wether it be time, dollars, mindspace, passion, life balance, etc...many of us just never look up to compare.

Which reminds me of one of my favorite poems (I have tried to find the author but can't seem to):

Step Up And Pay The Price

There is a price to pay for education...

There is a price to pay for ignorance...

There is a price to pay for good health...

And a price for sickness and disease.

There is a price to pay for attending to relationships...

And a price to pay for neglecting them.

There is a price for love and trust...

And a price to pay for fear and hate.

We cannot choose whether or not we will pay...

We can only choose for what.

Hence I found myself asking this question a lot this week: Compared to What?

The Cost Of Inexperience

2013-04-06T21:01:00.000-07:00

I recently met with a friend who was having some business challenges. About 5 years ago, he had asked me to become an investor in his business venture. I was seriously considering it at the time but decided to pull out, not necessarily because of the concept, but because of the way he was approaching the structure of the organization. It affected our friendship for years and only recently did we connect again.

At the time, I outlined to him what I saw would happen to his venture. Then, I said:

Trust me - this thing is not worth the brain damage it will give you.

He looked at me glaringly and asked: How can you tell?

I responded: I've made my share (and more) of mistakes on business transactions and I see all of them in the way you are proceeding. I have paid the Dumb Tax on things like this - and the Dumb Tax is very expensive. I don't want to pay again and again. And you will pay it on this one. Big time.

Fast forward 5 years later and we get together for lunch. Of course I ask how his venture is doing. And, to his credit, he was very open and honest. Exactly as I said would happen, the partnerships he had are dissolving, his finances are struggling, and even more ... his personal life is in a mess. And then he says, for the last few months, I have been seeing your face in front of me and hearing your words: This isn't worth the brain damage and you will pay the Dumb Tax on this one. Big time.

As Derek Bok, the former president of Harvard University, is quoted as saying:

If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.

That is why I am a firm believer in mentorship - learning from people who have made their share of mistakes, have paid their share of the Dumb Tax, and - this is the most important part - have been able to still achieve their goals despite that.

And how do you find these mentors?

Well, the question is really two fold. What makes a great mentor? Why would they choose you?

I get approached every month by people asking me to mentor them ... and I used to do it. I rarely do it now. That's because, as the example above shows, many will continue to repeat their patterns regardless of what you tell them. And why?

Because people don't generally change unless the pain of "staying where they are" is more than "the pain involved in changing".

Let me continue this next week...

Lost In Thought

2013-03-17T07:47:00.000-07:00

I was recently in Toronto and it reminded me that the last time I was there, I wrote this blog post. I have been preoccupied with other things so I hope you enjoy this post from some time ago.

I was in Toronto this week to give a talk and to attend some meetings. Whenever I got asked "what do you think?", I had to respond "It depends...what is your objective?". A few other things happened that made me think of this blog post. Enjoy.

One reason people get lost in thought is cause it's unfamiliar territory.

I laughed when a 12 year old said that to me. I also thought he was correct.

I am one of those guys who starts with a goal in mind and works backwards. I find it the most efficient way to achieve anything - to frame an objective first and then trace the steps to reach it.

Before you take on a project - whether it be starting a business, building a website, or taking on a workout regiment, first ask: What's the goal?

The hardest part about goal setting is really understanding what one wants to achieve. If you are running a small business where you are working "in" the business as opposed to "on" it, it requires stepping back from your daily activities to be able to look at the forest from the trees. If you are running a large enterprise, it is sometimes about getting enough data points to be able to formulate your goal.

Without a well framed goal, people tailspin into a series of mental gymnastics that never get anywhere - truly getting lost in thought without moving forward. No different than the GPS in your car - to guide your actions, you have to enter the destination first!

Very few people practice the art of effective goal setting. I encourage you to be the exception - practice it! This simple rule has worked wonders for me...hope it helps you.

As I write this blog, I reminisce about walking into a Chinese restaurant and the lovely woman at the counter saying "you have the face of a boss - a bossface". Maybe it's because focused thought leaves a trace? Whatever the reason, it was a moment of laughter and happiness :) Especially since I'm just a guy making my way in this world.

Failing Faster Part 2

2013-02-24T08:32:00.002-08:00

I was in Chicago last week for a dental conference. And it is the perfect topic for continuing my last post on Failing Faster. Dentists, in general, have a high demand for "perfection". Rightfully so…I would want my dentist to have a high demand for quality and attention to detail. However, a lot of their success in business and in life depends on their ability to moderate those demands for excellence in the other aspects of their lives. Hence the challenge. In my experience, people in general struggle with switching from one mode to another. And the cost? The most important one of all: TIME. What do I mean?

Well, as you may have guessed by now, my blogs have been more erratic because I have been busy lately with the launch of the Frontier Institute. I will not be able to blog as regularly until April. Stay tuned.

Failing Faster

2013-02-11T09:55:00.001-08:00

Often times, one's fear of failure drives their actions. And yet, failure is part of growth and development - even the best atheletes can't win all the time.

Soo, one thing that helps is the way one looks at success and failure: before doing something, decide what both would look like to you. What are the areas that you can treat failure as a learning experiment? What are the areas that you can't take the chances.

I will continue this next week.

Confidence

2013-02-03T07:02:00.002-08:00

I have not blogged for the last few weeks - I felt like I needed a break. But, I'm back:)

A group of us from the office went to a program at the University of British Columbia's Sauder School of Business last Friday. One of the topics discussed was leadership and leadership styles. This made me reflect on my own style of leading. I have often been told that I come across as confident. Well, the reality for me is that I am not confident or courageous. The reality is that I am just not afraid to fail.

And maybe Eleanor Roosevelt was right: Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong.

What's there to be scared of?

Next week - I plan to blog about failing faster.

Dumbing Down A Generation

2013-01-06T09:04:00.002-08:00

I love my career as an entrepreneur because it is challenging (intellectually and because of long days even physically), because I meet a variety of driven, passionate people, and, since many spend more hours at work than at anything else, entrepreneurs can actually make a difference in people and maybe even leave the world a better place. As I meet people from all over, I am able to expand my "bell curve" of experiences in life and in people. Part of that bell curve reminded me of this book by Charles Sykes - Dumbing down our kids: Why America's children feel good about themselves but can't read, write or add. I believe it was first written in 1995 but I see the effects of it in the US and Canada - and to function in a global economy, awareness and action will help us shift our own thinking.

50 Rules Kids Won't Learn In School

1. Life is not fair. Get used to it.

2. The real world won’t care as much as your school does about your self-esteem. It’ll expect you to accomplish something before you feel good about yourself.

3. Sorry, you won’t make sixty thousand dollars a year right out of high school. And you won’t be a vice president or have a company car. You may even have to wear a uniform that doesn’t have a designer label.

4. You are not entitled…

5. No matter what your daddy says, you are not a princess…

6. No, you cannot be everything you dream…

7. If you think your teacher is tough, wait until you get a boss. He won’t have tenure, so he’ll tend to be a bit edgier. When you screw up, he’s not going to ask you how you FEEL about it.

8. Your navel is not that interesting. Don’t spend your life gazing at it.

9. Your school may have done away with winners and losers. Life hasn’t.

10. Life is actually more like dodgeball than your gym teacher thinks.

11. After you graduate, you won’t be competing against rivals who were raised to be wimps on the playground.

12. Humiliation is a part of life. Deal with it.

13. You’re not going to the NBA, so hold off on the bling and spare us the attitude.

14. Looking like a slut does not empower you.

15. Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping. They called it opportunity.

16. Your parents and your little brother are not as embarrassing as you think. What’s embarrassing is ingratitude, rudeness, and sulkiness.

17. Your parents weren’t as boring before as they are now. They got that way paying your bills, driving you around, saving for your education, cleaning up your room, and listening to you tell them how idealistic you are.

18. Life is not divided into semesters. And you don’t get summer off.

19. It’s not your parents’ fault. If you screw up, you are responsible.

20. Smoking does not make you look cool….It makes you look moronic.

21. You’re offended? So what? No, really. So what?

22. You are not a victim. So stop whining.

23. Someday you will have to grow up and actually move out of your parents’ house.

24. Batman’s girlfriend is right: “It’s not who you are underneath, but what you do that defines you.”

25. Pi does not care what you think.

26. A moral compass does not come as standard equipment.

27. Your sexual organs were not meant to engage in higher-order thinking or decision making.

28. Somebody may be watching…

29. Learn to deal with hypocrisy.

30. Zero tolerance = zero common sense.

31. Naked people look different in real life.

32. Television is not real life.

33. Be nice to nerds. You may end up working for them. We all could.

34. Winners have a philosophy of life. So do losers.

35. If your butt has its own zip code, it’s not because McDonald’s forced you to eat all those Big Macs. If you smoke, it’s not Joe Camel’s fault.

36. You are not immortal.

37. Being connected does not mean you aren’t clueless.

38. Look people in the eye when you meet them…

39. People in black-and-white movies were in color in real life. And no, the world did not begin when you were born.

40. Despite the billion-dollar campaign to turn your brain into tapioca pudding, try to learn to think clearly and logically.

41. You are not the first and you are not the only one who has gone through what you are going through.

42. Change the oil.

43. Don’t let the successes of others depress you.

44. Your colleagues are not necessarily your friends, and your friends aren’t your family.

45. Grown-ups forget how scary it is to be your age. Just remember: this too shall pass.

46. Check on the guinea pig in the basement.

47. You are not perfect, and you don’t have to be.

48. Tell yourself the story of your life. Have a point.

49. Don’t forget to say thank you.

50. Enjoy this while you can.

In point 6, he mentions "No, you cannot be everything you dream...". What I would add is have dreams and goals - if anything, focus them on big ones as opposed to too many small ones.

But then again, what do I know - I'm just making my way in this world.

Title   Dumbing down our kids :why America's children feel good

                        about themselves but can't read, write, or add 
Author   Charles J. Sykes 
Year   1995
Published in  New York State

End of the world?

2012-12-21T13:13:00.001-08:00

Just checking if it is true...is anyone out there?

Quote From Aristotle

2012-12-09T09:55:00.000-08:00

In the last week or so, I have had at least 3 instances wherein someone quoted Aristotle to me. In one instance, I cleared my morning to meet with a friend whose cancer had spread throughout. We talked for a few hours just about life in general (I may expand on our discussions later).

So this weekend, I started to read up on Aristotle (Greek Philosopher, 384BC - 322BC).

Here is a quote that I would like to share:

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.

Aristotle

Just to be clear, in my mind, there is a clear difference between excellence and perfection. Perfection to in my humble opinion, is unattainable. Excellence is trainable.

I will add to this later this week. A bit short on time as I am volunteering for some social causes during the Christmas Holidays. I encourage you to try it as well. I have to run - I believe I am working the soup/sandwich line today.

2012-11-18T10:39:00.001-08:00

I received a card this week with this written on it:

Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.
Booker T. Washington

It pretty much sums up my perspective.

A couple of things that I have learned from Dr.Seuss

2012-10-28T01:27:00.001-07:00

I have been busy travelling for a couple of weeks and my schedule has been packed so I am quite pleased to finally have some time to update my blog. I was reflecting on some of the people that I have met over the last few weeks and decided to share two quotes with you:

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...

And the second one:

Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.

Quotes from Dr. Seuss, writer of children's books.

After all, I am still a kid at heart.

Btw. Picture from my travels. Any guesses ?

Am I Better Today Than I was Yesterday?

2012-10-07T08:48:00.000-07:00

Taken from my Iphone - Deep Cove, North Vancouver at 6AM.

In the last few weeks, about half a dozen individuals have told me that I have changed. When I ask what they mean, the response has been something like "You seem to be calm about everything - like nothing rattles you. And happy inside regardless".

And if I am honest with myself, I have changed a lot over the last two or so years. One day, my eyes were opened to what life could be about, and since then, I seem to be getting better at figuring it out. As a result, I am more of everything - more passionate about life and the people I choose to share experiences with, more energized and enjoying not only the ups but also the downs in business, health, family, etc... and overall more at peace with who I am. Odd - but aside from being calmer, I am even tougher as a result.

Why is that?

Firstly - I am learning to appreciate what I have, who I am with, the events that are happening around me - in the present. Cliche as it is - learning to appreciate the moments in life for what they are.

Second - I am learning to let go - by that, I am more referring to not having any emotion towards the negative things that happen to me or the "bad" things that people do.

Third - It is very liberating when you stop allowing other people's opinion of you to determine who you are. You just start living your own life.

As I turned on my Mac this morning, the video of the tribute to Steve Jobs appeared. One of the lines that Job's quotes is:

“I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.” – Wayne Gretzky

Hope this opens your eyes to the things I see.

But then again, what do I know? I'm just making my way in this world.

PS.

Given that it is Thanksgiving Holiday here in Canada, I just wanted to say thanks to all the people that have touched my life in the last couple of years. You are certainly a part of who I am today.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Chinese Proverbs

2012-09-29T21:20:00.003-07:00

If you have not read it, I added to my Swami article from last week. This week, I feel like sharing some Chinese Proverbs:

He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is a fool...shun him.

He who knows not, and knows that he knows not, is willing...teach him.

He who knows, and knows not that he knows, is asleep...awaken him.

He who knows, and knows that he knows, is wise...follow him.

And my favourite:

Man who waits for roast duck to fly into mouth must wait very, very long time.

Enjoy!

BTW. For all the women who read my blog...the same applies ;)