Steps to Success for My Friends

Unlock Your Personal Charisma by Eric Feng

noreply@blogger.com (Sincere Lee) — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 08:24:00 +0000

In this society, it is all about relationships. We are constantly selling ourselves to our family, friends, relatives in our personal life. At work, we are constantly selling ourselves to our bosses, our colleagues and our customers. All of us are in the sales line without us knowing. If that is the case, how do we make ourselves more prominent and more well accepted by others? It boils down to our personal charisma.

Recently, I came across this book titled "Unlock Your Personal Charisma" by Eric Feng. It is a very useful and practical book to teach us how to connect to other parties. If you are in the sales department, this is a must read book for you to increase your sales.

In an Asian society, we tend to be more reserve in creating conversations with others unlike the western society where we can make friends with others within seconds. The key to a successful conversation lies with a strong opener. Learn to listen to others, show genuine care for the speaker and find common ground. We always like to talk to people who are keen in what we are speaking and can understand what we are trying to express. In another words, we are trying to find people similar to us. When people see that you are genuinely have their interests in mind, they will also begin to like you more and able to connect to you more.

In summary, there are eight keys to unlocking your charisma: -

Connect: Get the other party to like you within seconds
Have Presence: Be regarded as an equal by high net worth individuals
Aware: Discover your own unique qualities that make you irresistibly charismatic
Relationship-focused: Turn the other party into life-long fans
Influence: Speak the language of top sales professionals and find the fastest way to a "yes"
Standing out: Position yourself as an expert and become highly visible
Modeling: Uncover vital behaviors that set the exceptional salespeople apart from the rest
Altruism: The master key to getting anything you want from life

Winning The Game Of Life

noreply@blogger.com (Sincere Lee) — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 10:43:00 +0000

It has been 2 years since I last updated my blog. Time passed so fast that I did not realise that I have not updated my blog since. So what have you been doing for the past 2 years? Have you been actively pursuing your dreams? Or are you still in your dreamland?

Recently, I read this book by Adam Khoo "Winning the Game of Life!" and this left me ponder whether am I closer to achieve my dreams or am I still at the same spot?

This is a very good book to inspire us to excel and pursue our dreams actively. Like what the book states "Develop the Winning Mindset and Success Strategies to Overcome Defeat, Achieve Lasting Success & Happiness".

Our life is a journey and so is our success. In order to be successful in the future, you have to see yourself as a successful person TODAY and you will start to think and act like one, attracting even more success into your life. This is what many people term as "The Law of Attraction". Of course, during the period when we pursue success, we bound to meet obstacles. Always treat each obstacle as a learning experience so that you will know what works and what doesn't. Never let obstacles stop you from being successful. So you must dare to DREAM BIG and go for it with ALL YOUR HEART.

All of us must have the HUNGER for SUCCESS, so how much do you want to earn per month? No matter how much you want to earn, you have to make it a 'MUST' for you to earn that amount, so that you will have a higher chance to achieve that amount. Always GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE. It is by getting out of your comfort zone, then you will have the drive to exceed, so whatever goals you seek - be it financial or others, it must be something that it is not easily attain.

When you get out of your comfort zone, you must constantly practice and do it so that you can excel and get closer to your dreams. There is no free lunch in this world, you have to put in hard work and effort in order to achieve. Same goes for those world class sports players, they practice constantly and consistently before they participate in a competition.

Sometimes, fear will stop us to pursue our dreams as we are scared to explore the world of unknowns. However, if we see the other side of the coin, fear also tells us to be better prepared. If you get better prepared, it will actually reduce the fear in you.

We only LIVE ONCE and LIVE IT to the FULLEST. Let us work hard together and ACHIEVE OUR DREAMS TOGETHER

The Ant Philosophy by Jim Rohn

noreply@blogger.com (Sincere Lee) — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 15:38:00 +0000

I think everybody should study ants. They have an amazing four-part philosophy.

Here is the first part: Ants Never Quit. That's a good philosophy. If they're headed somewhere and you try to stop them, they'll look for another way. They'll climb over, they'll climb under, they'll climb around. They keep looking for another way. What a neat philosophy, to never quit looking for a way to get where you're supposed to go.

Second, Ants Think Winter All Summer. That's an important perspective. You can't be so naive as to think summer will last forever. So ants are gathering their winter food in the middle of summer.

The third part of the ant philosophy is that Ants Think Summer All Winter. That is so important. During the winter, ants remind themselves, "This won't last long - we'll soon be out of here." And the first warm day, the ants are out. If it turns cold again, they'll dive back down, but then they come out the first warm day. They can't wait to get out.

And here's the last part of the ant philosophy. How much will an ant gather during the summer to prepare for the winter? All He Possibly Can. What an incredible philosophy, the "all-you-possibly-can" philosophy.

Wow, what a great philosophy to have - the ant philosophy. Never Give Up, Look Ahead, Stay Positive and Do All You Can.

Time is Money and here's how to Save it

noreply@blogger.com (Sincere Lee) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:20:00 +0000

The following abstract article written by Stephanie Bernardo is from the September 1985 issue of SUCCESS.

"Hey, Jack, got a minute?"

These words, spoken by a fellow employee, are often a clue to run fast in the opposite direction, according to Dr. Larry Baker, president of the Time Management, Inc., in St. Louis. "Seemingly innocent 'one-minute conversations' can turn into a tremendous time waster in any executive's workday," Baker says. "It's like taking a $5 bill from the company till and putting a match to it."

"I'm not against socializing," says Baker, "but we can over-communicate. When you're working, you can't afford to be constantly interrupted. You have to be firm, and make sure that your work comes first. It's hard to break habits, but let me remind you of a Mark Twain quote: If you think you can, or you think you can't, you're probably right.'" Baker is clearly someone who thinks in terms of can. At 47, he is a much-sought after lecturer and consultant; he is also blind.

"If you shorten the average drop-in visit by a minute or two," continues Baker, "you could save your company thousands of dollars each year. How can you guard against these time thieves?

"It's unrealistic to think that you can spend the entire day undisturbed. One simple solution is to close your door. Another is to place your desk so that your back faces the doorway; this is sure to discourage casual visitors. To people who pop in and ask for a minute, if necessary simply say, 'It isn't convenient now, but I'll be glad to work with you if you can come back at ___.' This helps impress upon them the value of your time.

"Another effective approach is to stand up to greet the person who enters your office without an appointment. This way you can control the situation. It is rare that a visitor will make himself comfortable when his host is standing. Or you can try a more subtle approach and use phrases such as, 'Well, I guess we have a lot of work to finish,' or 'I don't want to take up any more of your time.' And as a last resort, there is always subterfuge. I know one person, for instance, who cut the front legs of his visitor's' chairs shorter than the rear. The slick plastic seats cause the person to slide forward, making him uncomfortable. As a result, most visits are quite short."

Cut the Weather Report

Some of these methods were recently covered in another time-management seminar, conducted by Peter Turla, director of the National Management Institute in Roanoke, Texas, and co-author of the book Time Management Made Easy. Another longtime foe of that most clamorous of time thieves is the telephone. "Did you ever get a long-distance weather report?" he asks the 50 executives who attended the seminar. "You know the kind. The person calls long distance to waste 20 minutes on small talk, before getting to the point. 'How's the weather up there? We've just had three solid weeks of rain down here ... .'"

To cut off these callers who are short on substance but long on wind, Turla suggests taking a positive but forceful approach. "When the caller identifies himself, immediately ask, 'What can I do for you?' And keep a repertoire of conversation-enders on hand: 'I'll get to that right now,' or 'I'd better let you go.'"

Directness, without question, is always the best approach when you become locked in a conversation with a boor who won't take a hint.

Learn How to Delegate

"If you can't delegate effectively," Turla stresses, "you aren't managing effectively. Delegating not only frees you to be more productive, it establishes you and your subordinates as a team. Delegating also forces you to become more organized; you have to have clearly defined objectives and deadlines. Don't be a would-be delegator. Instead of asking yourself, 'Can others do the job as well as I can?' ask, 'Can they do the job well enough?'"

"When handling paperwork, follow the four D's: Dump it, Delay it, Delegate it, or Do it! And when paper begins to accumulate, follow the G.U.T.S. principle: Give it away, Use it, Throw it away, or Sell it." Also, designate one of your lower desk drawers as a dump drawer, and into in dump items such as flyers, brochures and unimportant mail. Let them simmer for a month and then throw out.

"One approach to procrastination is the salami technique. Slice the assignment into a series of less threatening parts, giving each its own deadline. Take it a slice at a time. Also schedule 'rewards' for yourself: Once I finish this page of the report, I'll take a five-minute break."

The chattering visitor, the screeching phone, the groaning inbox - these are all familiar time thieves, but who is really your worst enemy? You, Turla says. Turla's advice: "Organize! And act! Do something! Babe Ruth was the home-run king. You can't hit the ball unless you swing the bat!"

Management Pot-Pourri -- A Lesson for Every Salaried Employee

noreply@blogger.com (Sincere Lee) — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 14:38:00 +0000

Saw this meaningful article in the internet. What most important is to stay accountability to yourself.

A shopkeeper watching over his shop is really surprised when he sees a dog coming inside his shop. He shoos him away. But later, the dog is back inside again. So he goes over to the dog and notices that it has a note inside its mouth. He takes the notes and it reads," Can I have 12 soaps and a shampoo bottle, please. The money is with the dog." The shopkeeper looks inside the dog's mouth and to his surprise, there is a $10 note in his mouth. So he takes the money and puts the soap, shampoo and change in a bag, and then places it in the dog's mouth.

The shopkeeper is so impressed, and since it is closing time, he decides to follow the dog. The dog is walking down the street, when it comes to the zebra crossing, he waits till the signal turns green. He walks across the street to the bus stop. He waits on the stop and looks up the timetable for the bus. The shopkeeper is totally out of his mind as the dog gets into the bus and sit on a vacant seat. The shopkeeper follows the dog. The dog waits for the conductor to come to his seat. He gives the change to the conductor and shows him the neck belt to keep the ticket. The shopkeeper is almost fainting at this sight and so are other people in the bus.

The dog then moves to the front exit of the door and waits for the bus stop to arrive, looking outside. As soon as the stop is in sight, he wags his tail to inform the driver to stop. Then not even waiting for the bus stop to arrive, the dog jumps out and runs to the house nearby. It opens a big iron gate and rushes towards the door. As it approaches the door, he changes his mind and walks towards the garden. The dogs walks up to the window and beats his head several times on the window. It then walks back to the door and waits. The shopkeeper maintaining his senses walks up to the door and watches a big guy opens the door.

The guy starts beating, kicking and abusing the dog. The shopkeeper is surprised and runs to stop the guy. The shopkeeper questions the guy, "What the heaven are you doing? The dog is a genius he could be famous in life." The guy responses, "You call this clever? This is the 3rd time in this week that the dog has forgotten the door keys."

MORAL OF THE STORY: YOU MAY CONTINUE TO EXCEED ONLOOKERS' EXPECTATIONS ... BUT ALWAYS FALL SHORT OF BOSSES' EXPECTATIONS ...

The Salary Axiom: The pay raise is just large enough to increase your taxes and just small enough to have no effect on your take-home pay.

Isaac's Strange Rule of Staleness: Any food that starts out hard will soften when stale. Any food that starts out soft will harden when stale.

Lampner's Law of Employment: When leaving work late, you will go unnoticed. When you leave work early, you will meet the boss in the parking lot.

Practice Being Like a Child by Jim Rohn

noreply@blogger.com (Sincere Lee) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 11:04:00 +0000

Remember the master teacher once said 2000 years ago, "Unless you can become like little children, your chances are zero, you haven't got a prayer." A major consideration for adults.

Be like children and remember there are four ways to be more like a child no matter how old you get –

1) Curiosity - Be curious. Childish curiosity. Learn to be curious like a child. What will kids do if they want to know something bad enough? You're right. They will bug you. Kids can ask a million questions. You think they're through. They've got another million. They will keep plaguing you. They can drive you right to the brink.

Also kids use their curiosity to learn. Have you ever noticed that while adults are stepping on ants, children are studying them? A child's curiosity is what helps them to reach, learn and grow.

2) Excitement - Learn to get excited like a child. There is nothing that has more magic than childish excitement. So excited you hate to go to bed at night. Can't wait to get up in the morning. So excited that you're about to explode. How can anyone resist that kind of childish magic? Now, once in awhile I meet someone who says, "Well, I'm a little too mature for all that childish excitement." Isn't that pitiful? You've got to weep for these kinds of people. All I've got to say is, "If you're too old to get excited, you're old." Don't get that old.

3) Faith - Faith like a child. Faith is childish. How else would you describe it? Some people say, "Let's be adult about it." Oh no. No. Adults too often have a tendency to be overly skeptical. Some adults even have a tendency to be cynical. Adults say, "Yeah. I've heard that old positive line before. It will be a long day in June before I fall for that positive line. You've got to prove to me it's any good." See, that's adult, but kids aren't that way. Kids think you can get anything. They are really funny. You tell kids, "We're going to have three swimming pools." And they say, "Yeah. Three. One each. Stay out of my swimming pool." See, they start dividing them up right away, but adults are not like that. Adults say, "Three swimming pools? You're out of your mind. Most people don't even have one swimming pool. You'll be lucky to get a tub in the back yard." You notice the difference? No wonder the master teacher said, "Unless you can become like little children, your chances, they're skinny."

4) Trust - Trust is a childish virtue, but it has great merit. Have you heard the expression "sleep like a baby"? That's it. Childish trust. After you've gotten an A+ for the day, leave it in somebody else's hands.

Curiosity, excitement, faith and trust. Wow, what a powerful combination to bring back into our lives.

What's Your Coin? by Ron Kaufman

noreply@blogger.com (Sincere Lee) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 06:14:00 +0000

What can a coin reveal about the service mindset of your leaders and your organization? Watch this video by customer service expert Ron Kaufman to find out now. To be a role model of superior service, pick up YOUR coin and put away today!

The Art of Retail Buying By Marie-Lousie Jacobsen

noreply@blogger.com (Sincere Lee) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 03:44:00 +0000

The Art of Retail Buying
An Insider's Guide to the Best Practices from the Industry
By Marie-Louise Jacobsen

What makes a store? The merchandise makes a store. What makes a great store? Great merchandise makes a great store. It's all about finding merchandise that has the "X-factor."

The retail industry is arguably one of the toughest in the world. Brands come and go, fickle consumers switch their allegiance overnight while the global economy directly affects every level of the market. So how do the top professionals manage to get it right year after year and keep both clients and employers happy?

In the Art of Retail Buying, author Marie-Louise Jacobsen draws on her years of experience to offer insights into the world of the professional merchandiser. This book if for anyone and everyone who wants to expand their knowledge in retail buying, product development, building and creating brands and buy-sell negotiations.

At the core of the book is advice on strategic buying, covering topics as:

- how to buy
- what to buy
- comparative stock analysis
- buying plans vs. selected buying components
- sensible budgeting.

Skilled retail buying entails merchandising ability and know-how in finding and buying merchandise that is market-relevant, customer-relevant, season-relevant, quality-relevant and product relevant. All these skills are ready to be learnt and are now available in The Art of Retail Buying.

From Fry Chef to COO

noreply@blogger.com (Sincere Lee) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 07:34:00 +0000

From Fry Chef to COO

McDonald's Janice Fields says focusing on her job,

not obstacles, paved her way to success.

by Sally Deneen

At 23, Jan Fields - a military wife with a child and no college degree - made a fateful stop. Early for an interview for a secretarial job, she stepped inside a McDonald's for a beverage. She noticed a sign: McDonald's was hiring. She liked the idea of working flexible hours. She applied immediately, got the job, skipped the secretary's interview and spent her first day making french fries.

"I went home that night and cried," Fields says. "I said, 'I don't think I can do it. It's too hard. They have too many rules for french fries.' I now understand why they taste so good."

Fields stuck it out, returning the next night to that McDonald's in Dayton, Ohio, to fill in at the front counter. There she got a chance to chat with customers and realized she loved the work.

Today, some three decades later, Fields has worked her way up from fry chef to be the first female chief operating officer of McDonald's USA. As COO and executive vice president, she oversees more than 800,000 employees at more than 13,700 restaurants, and at a time when the chain is rolling out its most ambitious addition in years - adding a broad beverage lineup, including espresso, sweet tea, smoothies and bottled soft drinks.

Fortune calls her one of the 50 most powerful women in business. Forbes ranked her among the world's 100 most powerful women, period. Fields describes herself as "amazed" by how far she's come.

"I never thought that I would be here," says straight-talker Fields, 53, who lives in the Chicago area with her husband and serves on the boards of Monsanto Company, United Cerebral Palsy and the Chicago Urban League. "It was kind of an interesting beginning, but one I am certainly proud of and love to share with people because I think there are certain stigmas attached to certain jobs or entry-level positions and the notion of minimum-wage or 'dead-end' things. At least at McDonald's it certainly isn't true."

Forty percent of top management at McDonald's, including CEO Jim Skinner, started out flipping burgers or filling other crew roles at the seemingly ubiquitous restaurants. What McDonald's defines as career workers - those staying three years or longer - account for 354,000 of its jobs. But in 2007, Crain's Chicago Business called Fields one of 25 women to watch because if she succeeds at keeping sales growing, "she could be the strongest female contender yet for McDonald's CEO spot."

Fields is always mindful of how she started out, and treats everyone within the company with equal respect. "I think that they, in turn, will do anything for you." She also realizes she still can learn from others, no matter their position or their age. She regularly solicits advice and input from front line staff at a McDonald's restaurant next to her corporate office.

After starting in a part-time position, Fields moved quickly to full time, from making fries to filling almost every restaurant-level position. She managed a restaurant for more than two years in Dayton. She moved up, managed multiple restaurants and went into supervision. A few years ago, her job as president of McDonald's Central Division entailed visiting fast-food eateries in almost half of the United States to ensure quality service. She kept a stopwatch in the car (and still does) to time drive-through lines to make sure they're consistently moving. "It isn't necessarily about the time, per se," she says. "It's how you might be feeling sitting in your car. So if somebody isn't moving, their perception could be it's 10 minutes, when it might have only been two."

At each position along the way, Fields clung to her philosophy: Stay focused on the current job and don't worry about promotions. "If you really focus on your existing job, and do it the best you can and do it better than anybody else, your next position will come a lot easier," she says. "You will be recognised and, in McDonald's, you will be rewarded. My career success has been based on doing every job that I've done exceptionally well and not worrying about the next job."

Now one of six executive vice presidents, Fields says she never wasted time thinking about limitations or obstacles. Growing up with five brothers helped foster a can-do spirit. "In McDonald's, we're all competitive - man or woman. I obviously spent more time focusing on my job than I did on those obstacles," she says.

"You know, I've never let things get in my way and get sidetracked. One other philosophy I've always had: Never quit over one person or one thing, and I tell that in speeches all the time," she says. "Stay focused on the job you have, not on all the peripheral things going on around you. I think it's served me well."

She also makes sure credit is shared for any progress, claiming every effort is broad-based and results from input from many staffers, as well as customers. So while Forbes wrote "Big Mac's sales have been up since Fields was made chief operating officer in 2006," and she "championed the idea of serving specialty coffee," Fields refuses to look at these things as her accomplishments.

Along with the hard work over the years, Fields has had fun. She keeps a quote from poet E.E. Cummings in a silver frame on her desk. It reads: "The most wasted of all days is one without laughter." She heeds the advice. "I laugh a lot, and I smile a lot and I think it puts everyone around you in that mood," she says. "Whatever behaviors the boss has, people tend to emulate."

Fields says she is happy about the way her life has turned out. "I still feel like I have an awful lot to offer, both in McDonald's and outside," she says. Her volunteer efforts including chairing the board of advisors for Catalyst, a New-York based women's organization primarily focused on research. "I am very committed to how we give back," she says. "Given the abundance of success and good fortune that I've had, I'm a believer in giving back."

Looking back at her career, she likens it to building a house. She got a strong foundation because she spent a lot of time in the restaurants, so she truly understands the core business.

"I would tell everyone that I believe you can accomplish anything that you set your mind to do, but just do it a step at a time," she says. "People have to recognize that the road is long and far, and you're not going to get there overnight. A lot of young people today want to start at the top. It just doesn't work that way. The skills that you learn as you're going through at lower levels are what make you successful when you do get to the top."

Small is the New Big and 183 Other Riffs, Rants, and Remarkable Business Ideas by Seth Godin

noreply@blogger.com (Sincere Lee) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 07:44:00 +0000

“WARNING: If you want a narrative and lots of research, you’re in the wrong place. But I’m betting you don’t need another dense business book. What you need is a small prod or perhaps a friendly whack. And maybe a few ideas you can really run with. Have fun.”

Seth Godin, one of today’s most influential business thinkers, writes bestselling books like Purple Cow and All Marketers Are Liars. And in between those annual books he delivers a daily stream of ideas on one of the world’s most popular blogs.

Collected here for the first time are eight years of his very best blog posts, magazine columns, and e-books. On literally every page, Small is the New Big offers ideas and stories that can change how you work, what you buy, and how you see the world.

It’s an entertaining snapshot of Godin’s fiercely original brain. Who else would argue that Fluffernutter was a brilliant business model? That we need a service that charges to send e-mail? That you can learn about design at Hershey Park than at an Apple store, and more about marketing at a summer camp than at business school?

All of these riffs add up to a few essential themes:
- Small is the new big because big has gone from a huge advantage to a liability.
- Authentic stories spread and last, but lies get exposed faster than ever.
- The ability to change fast is the single best asset for any person or organization.
- Aretha was right: Respect is the secret to success.
- It’s easier than ever to become remarkable. There’s no excuse for sticking with mediocrity.

As Godin writes, “I dare you to read any ten of these essays and still be comfortable settling for what you’ve got. You don’t have to settle for the status quo, for being good enough, for getting by, for working all night.”

I would love to share with you one of my favourite article in this book. Its title is " Clean Fire trucks"

"I live in a neighbourhood where all the firehouses are run by volunteers. I don’t know how my family, my neighbours, and I would get by without them – like firefighters everywhere, they do brave work with little credit.

One thing you’ll notice is how clean the trunks are. “why are the trucks so clean?” a friend asked. After all, a clean fire truck isn’t a lot better at putting out fires than a smudged one.

The answer: because when there isn’t a fire, the firemen wait for the siren to ring. And while they’re waiting, they clean the truck.

Sounds a lot like where you work. Most organizations are staffed with people waiting for the alarm to ring. Instead of going out to the community and working to prevent new fires, the mind set is that firemen are working to put out the fires that have started. Hotel desk clerks don’t write letters of make calls to generate new business – they stand at the desk waiting for business to arrive. Software engineers are often overwhelmed with an endless list of programming fires – and rarely get a chance to think about what they ought to build next.

The structure of most organizations (and every single school I’ve ever encountered!) supports this. It’s about cleaning your plate, finishing your assignments and following instructions. Initiative is hard to measure and direct and reward. Task completion, on the other hand, is a factory orientation that is predictable and feels safe.

In fast-changing markets, clean fire trucks show attention to details but rarely lead to growth and success.

What a great way to describe a stuck but busy organization. “they sure have clean fire trucks.”"

So do you want to continue cleaning trucks in your workplace? or do you want to be the leader to initiate change and improve?

I'll Carry You Out Every Morning Until Death Do Us Apart

noreply@blogger.com (Sincere Lee) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 09:33:00 +0000

I got this article from an email. It is a very meaningful story about love and relationship. Please share this with your friends.

When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I've got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes. Suddenly I didn't know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly.

She didn't seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why? I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn't talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to a lovely girl called Dew. I didn't love her anymore.I just pitied her!

With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company. She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Dew so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.

The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn't have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Dew. When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.

In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn't want anything from me, but needed a month's notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a months time and she didn't want to disrupt him with our broken marriage.

This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day. She requested that everyday for the month's duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door every morning. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request.

I told Dew about my wife s divorce conditions. She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully.

My wife and I hadn't had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mummy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don't tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.

On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn't looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realised she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her.

On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me. On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn't tell Dew about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.

She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily. Suddenly it hit me. She had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head.

Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it's time to carry mum out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly, it was just like our wedding day. But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn't noticed that our life lacked intimacy.

I drove to office... jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind... I walked upstairs. Dew opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Dew, I do not want the divorce anymore.

She looked at me, astonished. Then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Dew, I said, I won't divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn't value the details of our lives, not because we didn't love each other any more. Now I realise that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart. Dew seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away.

At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I'll carry you out every morning until death do us apart.....

The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank, blah ... blah ... blah. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves. So find time to be your spouse's friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. Do have a real happy marriage!

Are Your Boss From Hell?

noreply@blogger.com (Sincere Lee) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 08:05:00 +0000

Are your boss from Hell?

Or should i ask, "Will we excel under bosses from Hell?"

Why do I ask you such question?

Because ... ...

One of my favourite's reality show is here!

Hell's Kitchen Season 3

12 aspiring young chefs are put to a very tough and challenging test in this reality competition working under world famous and renowned chef Gordon Ramsay. Each chef came to participate in this competition hoping to win the grand prize of having their own restaurant in L.A and the huge sum of money. But they soon realise that in order to win the grand prize, they must go through hell first, as Chef Ramsay demands quality and expects very high standards from the chefs. After all Hell's Kitchen is well known to serve high quality fine dining to the patrons. The demands are very high from the patrons as well as they will complain with any slight fall in their expectations from the food cooked by the chefs.

Most importantly, you will also get to see what makes a great team work and learnt how to work together as a team with different personalities and working styles among the members. If you follow each episode, you will actually watch how each chef grows under Chef Ramsay's guidance even though Chef Ramsay is very fierce most of the time.

In the first episode, the ladies team told each other that they must cooperate and win the next day's competition and kick all the men in the men's team out of the competition. They promised not to back stab each other and work together. Yet, during the next day's competition, nobody in the ladies team were communicating with each other. They just focused on the workstation that they were in charge of. Because of this lack of communication, appetizers were not being served for some time and when Chef Ramsay asked if everything OK, everybody replied OK. When Chef Ramsay got angry when no appetizers of good quality were being served, then the ladies started to panic and started to communicate with each other. Even when they communicated, they were actually quarrelling with each other and defending themselves. Some refused to accept help from others and kept thinking that they are good and didn't want to look bad in front of Chef Ramsay. In the end, the whole ladies team was in chaos and Chef Ramsay blowed his top and ... ...

Don't miss a single episode of Hell's Kitchen, Channel 5, every Thursday, 12 midnight

Serves You Right!

noreply@blogger.com (Sincere Lee) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:50:00 +0000

A half-hour comedy that revolves around the misadventures of a motley group of adults attending a part-time class to upgrade their service skills. Each one of them is there for a reason, whether it be personal or professional. Some of them even discover their reasons along the way.

They are taught by Faith Foo Li, an attractive young trainer who doesn't realize quite how attractive she is. Representing the ideals of the service profession and in touch with the younger generation, she is a true teacher at heart. The inherent disparity between the different characters will provide much of the humor for the show, as sparks fly, both of the comedic and romantic variety. As they go through their lessons, they learn, along with the audience, the value of upgrading their skills and the importance of service excellence in Singapore's vibrant and dynamic economy.

This variety program is very suitable for those who are working in the service line or wish to join the service line. There are key lessons learnt in each episode as emphasied in the Excellent Service Professionals (ESP) program to help these people to further improve their service standards.

Don't Miss a Single Episode of Serves You Right! by Channel 5, 8pm, every Tuesday.

Simply Joy - Simple Secrets to Happy Life by Mac Anderson

noreply@blogger.com (Sincere Lee) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 08:39:00 +0000

http://www.findingjoymovie.com/

Life can still be happy, regardless how bad the economy is.

Take some time to watch this video and appreciate what you have.

In Challenging Times, Service Matters Most! by Ron Kaufman

noreply@blogger.com (Sincere Lee) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:05:00 +0000

As the wind of economic cycles blows hard, some businesses try to contain costs by cutting corners on customer service. This is exactly the wrong thing to do, because service matters now more than ever. Here's why:

When people buy during an economic downturn, they are extremely conscious of the hard-earned money that they spend. Customers want more attention, more appreciation and more recognition when making their purchases with you, not less.

Customers want to be sure they get maximum value for the money they spend. They want assistance, education, training, installation, modifications and support. The basic product may remain the same, but they want more service.

Customers want firmer guarantees that their purchase was the right thing to do. In good times, a single bad purchase can be quickly overlooked or forgotten, but in tough times, every expenditure is scrutinized. Provide the assurance your customers seek with generous service guarantees, regular follow-up and speedy follow-through on all queries and complaints.

In difficult economic times, people spend less time traveling and wining and dining, and more time carefully shopping for each and every purchase. Giving great service enhances the customers shopping experience and boosts your own companys image.When times are good, people move fast and sometimes dont notice your efforts. In tougher times, people move more cautiously and notice every extra effort you make.

When money is tight, many people experience a sense of lower self-esteem. When they get good service from your business, it boosts their self-image. And when they feel good about themselves, they feel good about you. And when they feel good about you, they buy.

In tough times, people talk more with each other about saving money and getting good value. Positive word-of-mouth is a powerful force at any time. In difficult times, even more ears will be listening. Be sure the words spoken about your business are good ones!

Start and Succeed with Optimism by Robert H. Schuller

noreply@blogger.com (Sincere Lee) — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 07:25:00 +0000

To live God's dream for your life, you must have an optimistic attitude. Pessimists are afraid of tomorrow. Optimists never throw away tomorrow. You will need both positive thinking and possibility thinking to achieve fulfillment.

"Why," I'm often asked, "do I seem to alternate between positive thinking and possibility thinking? Is there a difference?" In my faith and my philosophy there is a difference.

It is the difference between attitude and action.

"If It's Going to Be, It's Up to Me: The Eight Proven Principles of Possibility Thinking" by Robert H. Schuller

Positive thinking comes first. It is a positive mental attitude that replaces a negative mental attitude or a lethargic mental attitude. Positive thinking sets the stage. Your thinking is conceived, but at this point it is still only wishful thinking. To go forward your mind must evolve from positive thinking into possibility thinking.

In possibility thinking, the mental maneuvering moves from attitude ideas to action ideas. We make a commitment to create ways and means to make the dream come true in reality.

Positive thinking asks the question, "Is is possible?" Possibility thinking asks the "get ready to get going" question, "How can I make it happen?"

Possibility thinking puts wings and legs on positive ideas.

"If It's Going to Be, It's Up to Me: The Eight Proven Principles of Possibility Thinking" by Robert H. Schuller

But at the heart and soul of both positive and possibility thinking is the same powerful optimism. Optimism is the all-empowering attitude that unfailingly delivers the energy to:

Start

Stay with it, or

Bounce back and start over again after disappointments.

"If It's Going to Be, It's Up to Me: The Eight Proven Principles of Possibility Thinking" by Robert H. Schuller

Excerpt from Don't Throw Away Tomorrow: Living God's Dream for Your Life

What A Wonderful World!!

noreply@blogger.com (Sincere Lee) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 11:01:00 +0000

All of us are always very busy with our lives.

Sometimes it is good if we give ourselves a break,

And let us immerse ourselves in the land of natural beauty.

The Land of Inspirations!

Nature's Inspiration Movie

Einstein's Formula for Success by Ron White

noreply@blogger.com (Sincere Lee) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 14:02:00 +0000

Albert Einstein had a formula for success. Can you believe that? One of the greatest minds of all time developed a math formula for success! I suggest you read this carefully -- this may be the most important math equation that you will ever see.

Einstein said, 'If A equals success, then the formula is: A=X+Y+Z.

X is work. Y is play. Z is keep your mouth shut."

Einstein no doubt had an excellent sense of humor. Let's look at the 3 variables in this equation.

They are:

1. Work
2. Play
3. Keeping your mouth shut!

1. Work: Albert Einstein had a tremendous work ethic and because of that gave more to society and modern science than any person in recent times

2. Play: Einstein, however, did not work 24 hours a day and made time for fun and relaxation. His idea of fun may have been different than yours, but that doesn't mean it still wasn't play.

3. Keeping your mouth shut: Finally, my favorite part of his success formal is to keep your mouth shut. I genuinely believe that the person who talks the least says the most. A friend of mine complains that the woman he is dating talks too much. I don't know how to break the news to him; however, the problem is not that she talks too much. It simply is the fact that he is irritated that he isn't able to talk. Now, let me just say this is not a generic man and woman statement. I am speaking about a specific person that I know. His desire is to constantly talk and because he likes to talk so much, he will talk in circles. If you let him talk long enough he will repeat the same thing three times and then contradict himself. His desire is not to hear but to be heard.

Albert Einstein, on the other hand had nothing to prove. He felt no need to be the "Chatty Cathy" he could have been with his knowledge. It wasn't important to him to talk to everyone he met and talk over their heads to demonstrate his IQ. Instead, he learned the value of quietness and solitude.

Shift your mind set from being a talker to a listener. It has been said that you can make more friends in 5 minutes by becoming interested in others than you can make in 5 years of trying to get others interested in you! How do you become interested in others? You ask questions and then keep your mouth shut!

"Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish"

noreply@blogger.com (Sincere Lee) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:27:00 +0000

Steve Jobs, CEO and co-founder of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios encourages us to pursue our dreams and opportunities by sharing with us his life story.

In this video, he shared 3 stories and the key learning points.

Connecting the Dots

Steve was dropped out of college as he was not sure what he interested in. Since he was a drop-out, he only took those courses that he is interested in and one of the courses was calligraphy and typography was part of the course. Ten years later when he was designing the first Macintosh computer, he applied what he learnt for typography and thus he was the first person who introduced typography in personal computer.

Lesson: You can only connect the dots backward, not forward. Follow your heart and the dots will connect you to your future.

Love and Lost

Steve was the co-founder of Apple Computer and Apple grew steadily to a $2 billion business. But Apple’s board of directors fired him due to the conflict of opinions. To Steve, he saw his termination as a blessing as it freed him and allowed his creativity to flow. He formed two companies – NeXT and Pixar Animation Studios. Apple Computer bought NeXT and Steve went back to Apple Computer. Pixar Animation Studios grew very successfully after its first animation movie "Toy Story"

Lesson: Life will hit you with a brick but do not lose faith. You got to find what you love. Only do what you believe is good work. Keep looking, do not settle. It will get better and better.

Death

Almost everything will fall away in the face of death. Remember that since you are going to die, you will not fear that you have something to lose. Death is a destination we all share. Your time is limited and don’t waste your time away. Follow your heart and intuition, they somehow already know what you truly want, other things else are only secondary.

Lesson: “If today is the last day of your life, will you want to do what you are about to do today?” “Stay hungry, Stay foolish.”

A Peacock in the Land of Penguins

noreply@blogger.com (Sincere Lee) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:43:00 +0000

Are you a peacock in the land of penguins?

Or are you the penguin in the land of penguins?

What will you do if a peacock join you and the rest of penguins?

Will you welcome the peacock for who it is?

Or will you expect the peacock to behave like a penguin?

Check out this website for an inspiration movie: -

THOUGHT OF THE DAY -

DO YOU WELCOME CHANGE OR RESIST CHANGE?

WHAT IS THE IMPACT IF YOU WELCOME CHANGE OR RESIST CHANGE?

THE DECISION LIES IN YOU

One Step That Makes The Difference!

noreply@blogger.com (Sincere Lee) — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 15:47:00 +0000

At 211 degrees...water is hot.
At 212 degrees...it boils.
And with boiling water, comes steam.
And steam can power a locomotive.
And, it’s that one extra degree that...
Makes all the difference.

Best-selling author Mac Anderson declares that the 212° concept is one of the most powerful communication ideas he has experienced in his 30 years as an entrepreneur.

So many times, in business and in life, it’s that one extra degree of effort that separates the good from the great.

What is fantastic about the 212° idea is that you can use it to fit your own needs. It may be 212° service that you’d like to reinforce, or 212° attitude, leadership, or quality. Or maybe, you’ll choose to build your entire culture around the 212° concept...to differentiate you from your competition.

The real beauty of 212° is the simplicity of the idea. Once explained...everybody gets it. And once you get it...it’s hard to forget!

View the 3-minute inspirational 212° movie

dreams, actions, asks, manages ... ... goals

noreply@blogger.com (Sincere Lee) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:04:00 +0000

"Don't Wait.
The Time Will Never Be Just Right."
By Napoleon Hill

"Circumstances Don't Create Character,
They Reveal Character."
By Zig Ziglar

"Once You've Done The Mental Work,
There Comes A Point Where You Have To Throw Yourself Into Action
And Put Your Heart On The Line."
By Phil Jackson, Coach of the Los Angeles Lakers

"Asking Is The Beginning Of Receiving.
Make Sure You Don't Go To The Ocean With A Teaspoon.
At Least Take A Bucket So The Kids Won't Laugh At You."
By Jim Rohn

"Good Management Consists In Showing Average People How To Do The Work Of Superior People."
By John D Rockfeller, American Industrialist

"He Who Is Not Courageous Enough To Take Risks Will Accomplish Nothing In Life."
By Muhammad Ali, World Heavyweight Boxing Champion

"By Failing To Prepare, You Are Preparing To Fail."
By Benjamin Franklin

"The Weak Can Never Forgive.
Forgiveness Is The Attribute Of The Strong."
By Mahatma Gandhi

"The Person Who Would Like To Make His Dreams Come True MUST STAY AWAKE."
By Richard Wheeler, Rotarian

"The Basic Goal-Reaching Principle Is To Understand That You Go As Far As You Can See,
And When You Get There You Will Always Be Able To See Farther."
By Zig Ziglar

Use Your Head by Tony Buzan

noreply@blogger.com (Sincere Lee) — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 13:27:00 +0000

"Are you worried that you're not achieving your potential?"

A lot of us are having this problem - short term memory; forgetfulness; can't seem to be able to remember. Whether we are in school or at work, we are always overwhelm with information that we simply can't seem to remember what we are supposed to remember.

Is it really we are forgetful? or is it just that we don't know how to capitalize our brain so that we can remember things better?

Tony Buzan's Use Your Head will provide the answer on how to capitalize your brain so that you can use its full potential and remember things very well.

A few years after this classic book on how to improve your brainpower was first published, a fairly average student announced that he intended to try for a place at Cambridge University. His chances were assessed as 'slim', since his grades were usually unexceptional. But with the help of Use Your Head, he went on to achieve four As at A-level, two starred firsts at Cambridge and a top job with a multi-national company.

Since 1974, Use Your Head has been translated into over 27 languages, has been published in five continents and 100 countries, has sold well over a million copies and still the demand increases! Its author Tony Buzan now travels the world teaching his thinking, learning and memory techniques to help people awaken that sleeping giant - the human brain.

Use Your Head will: -

- teach you the vital skills of learning how to Think and Learn

- increase your creative thinking and problem-solving capacity

- enable you to make the best of your brain

- provide you with both the confidence and the means to fulfil you own mental potential.

Tony Buzan is the inventor of Mind Maps and the world's leading authority on the brain and learning. His books have achieved massive success in more than 100 countries and have been translated into 30 languages. He lectures worldwide and acts as advisor to numerous multi-national companies and governments. He is also President of the Brain Foundation, founder of the Brain Trust Capacity and the World Championships of the Brain.

Key to Success

noreply@blogger.com (Sincere Lee) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 13:15:00 +0000

"The Starting Point of All Achievement is Desire.
Keep This Constantly in Mind.
Weak Desire Brings Weak Results,
Just as a Small Amount of Fire Makes a Small Amount of Heat."
By Napolean Hill

"A Genuine Leader is Not a Searcher for Consensus,
But a Molder of Consensus."
By Martin Luther King, Jr., civil rights leader

"Don't Worry About Impressing Others,
Impress Yourself.
Who Are You Trying to Please, Anyway?"
By Mark Mckeon

"In the End, All Business Operations Can Be Reduced to 3 Words:
People, Producer and Profits.
People Come First."
By Lee Lacocca, auto executive

"Excellence is to do a Common Thing in an Uncommon Way."
By Denis Waitley

"Don't Be Distracted by Criticism. Remember - the Only Taste of Success Some People Have is When They Take a Bite Out of You."
By Zig Zaglar

"Motivation Alone is Not Enough.
If You Have an Idiot and You Motivate Him, Now You Have a Motivated Idiot."
By Jim Rohn

"Only Those Who Dare to Fail Greatly Can Ever Achieve Greatly."
By John Kennedy, 35th president of USA

"Bigness Comes From Doing Many Small Things Well.
Individually, They are Not Very Dramatic Transactions.
Together, Though, They Add Up."
By Edward S. Finkelstein

"I Remember Saying to My Mentor,
"If I Had More Money,
I Would Have a Better Plan."
He Quickly Responded,
"I Would Suggest That If You Had a Better Plan,
You Would Have More Money."
You See, it's Not the Amount that Count; it's the Plan that Counts."
By Jim Rohn

Rich Dad's Increase Your Financial IQ: Get Smarter with Your Money by Robert Kiyosaki

noreply@blogger.com (Sincere Lee) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 07:02:00 +0000

This book focus on the five key financial IQs to help us get smarter with our money. The five financial IQs are: -

- Making More Money

- Protecting Your Money

- Budgeting Your Money

- Leveraging Your Money

- Improving Your Financial Information

1) Making More Money

Emotional intelligence is essential to financial intelligence. Many people are unable to make more money as they can't live without instant gratification. Furthermore, instead of taking on new challenge and learning, they play it safe and stick to what they know. The higher a person's financial IQ, the less he works while acquiring more and better quality assets.

2) Protecting Your Money

Financial IQ #2 measures the % of income a person keeps against the % of income financial predators take. Working for earned income does not allow for much protection from taxes.

3) Budgeting Your Money

Increasing income, rather than reducing expenses, is a better way to solve the problem of a budget deficit. Spend time, money and energy to increase your income. Don't cut back on expenses. Budgeting your money is measured in % of income that reaches your asset column.

4) Leveraging Your Money

Leverage makes your money work harder for you by using other people's money and if you have high financial IQ #3, you can pay less and less in taxes. If an investor lacks the financial intelligence to control the investment, the use of leverage is very risky.

5) Improving Your Financial Information

Information is the single greatest asset of this era. It is not the asset that makes you rich, it is information and intelligence that makes you rich.

The integrity of all 5 intelligences is required if a person wants to grow rich, stay rich. If people want to become rich, they need to find an environment that allows them to develop and apply their genius.

For more details, please read the book "Rich Dad's Increase Your Financial IQ: Get Smarter with Your Money" by Robert Kiyosaki