I have been a fan of Sharma’s book since his The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari. Afterward, each and every title he wrote was a must have and must read. Inspiring maybe the most appropriate single word I would say about his books. He made me realize that the ultimate meaning of our life . . . → Read More: The Leader Who Had No Title]]>

I have been a fan of Sharma’s book since his The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari. Afterward, each and every title he wrote was a must have and must read. Inspiring maybe the most appropriate single word I would say about his books. He made me realize that the ultimate meaning of our life is very simple and can be achieved by consistently taken simple steps. In principle he promoted the importance of being clear with our objectives and focus to achieve them whilst maintaining good relationship with others.

But this particular one released without my awareness. I did not know that he has just released a new title until I saw it at a bookshop. I was really surprised to find it in the “new release” shelf at Periplus close to my office mid of March. A bit expensive for a soft cover book, and I paid only a half of this price to buy his previous titles. Even more surprised when I checked the publication date, March 2010. So I got a book at the same month of its publication. Not a surprise for local book, but for a book published in America, it was amazing. If I make a pre-order at amazon.com, it would take a month on shipping.

Anyway, for a Sharma’s book, even if it was priced more, I would have bought anyway. I spent about $30 for this book plus a bit more for another title which was the reason I went to the shop. I spent budget of the month – for book – only on one purchase.

Now about the book, it was amazing just like any other Sharma’s book. The morale is simple and straightforward, it promotes the importance of leadership in anything we are in, be it personal life or at work. Sharma noted that leadership is not something privileged to those in powerful and influential positions like military generals, CEOs, or nation leaders. Each and every of us has to develop sound leadership to lead ourselves to make our life meaningful to anything we are in, maximum contribution at work, maximum value in business, and maximum joy to beloved ones.

Closing this year I get a number of lucks, bot in personal and professional life, which I take as a gift. One of them is the news that my favorite Formula 1 driver, the 7 times world champion Michael Schumacher, has just ended his three years retirement by signing a three years contract to . . . → Read More: The Legend is Coming Back]]>

Closing this year I get a number of lucks, bot in personal and professional life, which I take as a gift. One of them is the news that my favorite Formula 1 driver, the 7 times world champion Michael Schumacher, has just ended his three years retirement by signing a three years contract to drive one of Mercedes GP car.

I was a fan of Felipe Massa even from the year when he was Michael’s teammate, and was probably got hit as hard as he was when he lost the battle against Lewis Hamilton in the last seconds of the closing race of 2008. I hit me to see that his chance to compete in last year series blown away by an accident. But I have to admit that I was pleased to see that the incident dragged Michael Schumacher to come out from his retirement to replace him, which unfortunately canceled by his physical condition.

Now, just a few months later, I get something even much better, Michael Schumacher is coming back to track, not only as a temporary retirement but for a full season, three full seasons to be exact. A bit of regret that he is not coming back with Ferarri, the team he has been racing for 10 years and still got involved as a consultant until recently, but seeing the greatest German driver racing a German car is no less interesting.

The fact that at Mercedes GP he is teaming up – again – the mastermind of his 7 world championship, Ross Brown, waives away my regret of the fact that he is not coming back on a Ferarri. I personally believes that Ross is a better success guarantee than Ferarri. Ross’s cold hands has been well proven, not only with Michael but also Jenson Button after he left Ferarri following Michael’s retirement.

Next year Formula 1 will be a lot more exciting then ever before I believe. With Kimi Raikkonen leaving Formula 1, there will a number of stars on the track, including be four world champions. The two times Fernando Alonso who has been in many bitter fights against Michael will be in a better shape in his Ferarri. The very competitive 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton who will find his dream to race against his patron comes true. Michael’s golden student who has almost threw away from his 2008 crown Felipe Massa. The last year world champion Jenson Button who will drive one of the faster car on the track, Mc Laren, and will surely motivated to maintain his domination. The young German diver Sebastian Vettel who was hailed as “the next Schumacher”.

Looking back into the old days, Michael’s decision to get along with Mercedes GP makes a lot of sense. More than the fact that Ross Brawn is there and Mercedes is a German brand, Mercedes was his window of opportunity. Mercedes granted him the way to what he is now. He raced Mercedes in his pre-F1 days, and Mercedes spent $150,000 at that time to pay Jordan so they allow Michael to race on one of their cars. So Michael should have every reasons he needs to feel like coming home by joining Mercedes GP.

I stand against those who think that 41 years, Michael’s age next year, will become a problem for his competitiveness. I stand against those who thinks that Michael is putting his reputation in danger by returning into the track. First Michael is as competitive as he was before, maybe even better, because he was refreshed by his retirement. Second how can someone loose reputation by loosing in a fair fight? Wisdom says that the real champion is not the one who knows how to win, but the one who knows how to loose.

There are a lot of speculation about Michael’s reasons to come back. I personally believes that money is not among them. Being the most expensive driver on the track for years and built a fortune of approximately 500 million Euros, his 10 million basic salary he will get from Mercedes is nothing. It is way below the top paid drivers on the track, including McLaren Mercedes’ driver Lewis Hamilton. I think he could not cease his need of challenge and he knows that he is still competitive enough. Back to Formula 1 is definitely better than draining his adrenaline in amateur motorbike races.

Two things I should do next year then. First I have to go an see as many F1 racing in real as possible, at least the ones nearby. I hold a ticket for Singapore. I think I need to add Malaysia and possibly more close by like Australia, Bahrain, Qatar, and Macau. Second … hmmm … to trade my car with a Mercedes. Well, Meredes is expensive, but still more affordable than Ferarri. Mercedes’ top of the line is not less expensive than Ferarri, of course. But at least Mercedes has consumer product line.

I took this at Periplus for only one reason, small, so it is easy to carry, and will do accompany my flight without leaving some to continue at home. Noting special in its excerpt as well as glancing into the content. So having it very interesting came as a surprise. In fact . . . → Read More: The Dip by Seth Godin]]>

I took this at Periplus for only one reason, small, so it is easy to carry, and will do accompany my flight without leaving some to continue at home. Noting special in its excerpt as well as glancing into the content. So having it very interesting came as a surprise. In fact it is a lot more than just interesting. It was a motivating motivational book. You know what i mean? Right, because most motivational book is not really motivating.

As of its size, the book talks about something small, something simple. But as you read it you will understand that having the grip over this small thing can make a huge change into your life, just like many successful fellows you may only hear their name in the news.

Dip in his terms in this book was referred to the lifespan of everything good you are working on. Anything, from significant project to as simple as diet program. It has two main messages. First is that in everything you will face a difficult period where quitting is easier than struggling to get through, and only those who are prepared to take the pain to get through it will get enormous success at the other end of the curve.

The second message is something contrary to the common believe about stopping. Whilst wisdom tells us that the successful persons are those who never quit, Seth told us the opposite. He convinced that the successful persons are those who stop for good reason, not just because stopping is easier.

The best time to stop is before your dip starts. If you know that you are not strong enough, you do not have enough resource behind you to fight through the dip, then you have to stop. It will be very stupid to stop after you waste a lot of your time, energy, and all other resource to get through the dip, especially before success starts to appear. Seth had a good example to express this. He pointed to a statistic of sales research saying that 80% sales are closed after 7th contact, and on the other hand in average salesperson stops contacting their prospect after their 7th attempt.

Dip is a certain thing in life, so it is not something to avoid. In fact you have to love the dip in anything you do, because it makes you stand the competition, it makes the real different between the winner and the looser.

I have been a programmer for years before leading a team and finally manage overall IT operations. Obviously being . . . → Read More: IT leadership pattern.]]> Be a boss, not a friend. If someone does not perform, kick him out immediately. Giving another chance to low performers are just a waste of time, energy, money, even your own and your corporate credibility.

I have been a programmer for years before leading a team and finally manage overall IT operations. Obviously being a superior needs different skill, different talents, even perhaps different personality. I am confident with my technical insight, but am “I the right leader for my team?” have been in my mind for years.

I have read at least twenty leadership books and anything related like interviewing, hiring, motivating, and so forth. Never found one which really do fit for my situation however. I have been in IT inferior position before, so I know exactly what I want from my boss to makes me productive. Anything can share their advise, opinion, thoughts, are very much welcomed.

I remembered what my former boss has said about this. It may also be a formula to cure all disease, though. Maybe managing group of multi-cultured IT specialists with different nationalities was different. But at least, with his simple philosophy, he successfully brought his almost-bankrupt dotcom into 20 million Euros of income.

1. Understand their need, open your mind and your door.
2. Be a good example consistently.
3. Be a boss, not a friend. If someone does not perform, kick him out immediately. Giving another chance to low performers are just a waste of time, energy, money, even your own and your corporate credibility.

Obviously I like the last one most. So anyone who works for me, look into and make up yourself. Make sure that your performance is rather satisfactory.