Sunday, December 25, 2016

Decluttering my kids belongings

Yesterday and today morning I was spending time in decluttering some of my kids stuff at my cabinet and living hall.

Why I target this area first?
Because their stuffs are not suppose to be cluttered around those areas.

I have thrown out 3 bags of unwanted items and 2 bags of items for donations. However, the clutters remains as they really have many stuffs with them.


Extra pencil cases

Those items no longer in use but is still in good conditions like pencil box will be donated to the charity. Guess what, those pencil boxes are fully contained with pencils and color pencils.

I am going to involve them in this decluttering exercise and I want them to adopt minimalism. 

Over the years, I have been explaining to them like it does not matter how many pencils that you have, to write a good essay, what you need is adequate language proficiency, and with that, you just need 1 pencil to deliver your ideas.

Hopefully this exercise will make them a better person.

Less is more, minimalism

It has been a while since I noticed my mind find peace when I travelled for business trips.

Travelling is tired, and yet I find peace, not only at the hotel room, but also at meetings places. 

Initially I thought it was because of I was away from my home, where my attentions are not needed, so that I can focus on my own stuffs.

It could serve as one of the factor, but definitely not the major one.

I believe it is because of the minimal belongings that I brought along when I was travelling.

Usually I travel with only a cabin size luggage and a laptop. I found out that it is because of I have less belongings that I need to take care when I was travelling, it saved me energy for other matters. And because of that, my mind found peace.

Moving forward, I would like to create more peace at home and at my work place.

They are many ways of becoming minimalist. My ways will be as below.

1. Do not simply buy not essential items.
2. Donate or throw away unecessary and extra items.
3. Unclutter the house and workplace.

Even I am not minimalist before this, but I am definitely against consumerism. 

Consumerism will not only make you financially broke, it will also a waste of natural resources and energy.

Consumerism also create bubble economy and causing unsustainability in various perspectives.

Are you minimalist or someone that against consumerism?


Saturday, December 24, 2016

What goes around comes around

There are many cruel people in our society, making people life difficult for nothing important. What they barely gain is feeling more superior than others, bargaining for a few pennies more, or to show off their status or authority. Not sure if these kind of people realize that they are ruining the victims career, breaking their self confidence and may create permanent damage to one mental and emotions.

Below is a good story to share with everyone to make this a better world. However, let start off with the ambitious that all mankind do no harm to others before we even talk about being kind and helpful to others. 

What goes around comes around, these bully will ended up with the consequences they deserved.

Let's start with "do not make others life difficult." 


One day a man saw an old lady, stranded on the side of the road, but even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out. His Pontiac was still sputtering when he approached her. 

Even with the smile on his face, she looked worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn't look safe; he looked poor and hungry. 

He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was that chill which only fear can put in you. 

He said, 'I'm here to help you, ma'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm? By the way, my name is Bryan Anderson.' 

Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady, that was bad enough. Bryan crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt. 

As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down the window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid. 

Bryan just smiled as he closed her trunk. The lady asked how much she owed him. Any amount would have been all right with her. She already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped. Bryan never thought twice about being paid. This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were plenty, who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way. 

He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance they needed, and Bryan added, 'And think of me.'

He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight. 

A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat, and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn't erase. The lady noticed the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Bryan .. 

After the lady finished her meal, she paid with a hundred dollar bill. The waitress quickly went to get change for her hundred dollar bill, but the old lady had slipped right out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. The waitress wondered where the lady could be. Then she noticed something written on the napkin. 

There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady wrote: 'You don't owe me anything. I have been there too. Somebody once helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here is what you do: Do not let this chain of love end with you.' 

Under the napkin were four more $100. 

Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day. That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. How could the lady have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard.... 

She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low, 'Everything's going to be all right. I love you, Bryan Anderson.'

There is an old saying.. 'What goes around comes around.' Today I send you this story, and I'm asking you to pass it on. Let this light shine. God works in wonderful ways and sometimes puts people in our lives for a reason.

Simply, pass it on to a friend.

The lost 4 years

How long is the life span of man?
I believe the average life span of a male is approximately 70 year-old at this moment.
If we consider 20-60 years old are the prime and productive time of a man, the golden age of a man is 40 years.

What is 4 years means to me?
It is 6% of my entire life.
And it is 10% of my productive life.
Yes, it is indeed very precious years.

My life has gone haywire since 2013 till now (2016). Since the company transferred me to take care of a niche business which did not well manage in the past, and it was left unattended for 3 years.

I overdrive myself as soon as on board with the new department. Giving my very best to run the operations, learning new skills and new businesses.

I have stretched my limit over and over, year on year until I am exhausted. Pushing myself over the limit and getting recover over exhaution has become a norm, and it has become a habit.

The frustrating part is when I see things is getting better, restructure kicked in. All the hardwork gone as certain part of business are being restructure and operate like a fast moving business where it is not suitable for niche business.

The worst scenario is when a growing trends is jeopardize by the new structure and wrong handling, the incumbant team that grow the business with a lot of passions are being questioned and hold accountable. Those people whom do not know the business, who are the one ruins the business are left there to operate the niche business like how they run a FMCG business.

I felt my 4 golden years were wasted, trashed. Yes, I am being paid over these 4 years. However, being a pricipal man and being a leader that walk the talk with burning passions, I do not able to convince myself to accept the fact.

I am at the crossroad now.
Shall i continue to invest my golden years? Or I shall cut lost, join the organization that really have the right policies, and have the right management team that know the business that I have a lot of passions.

No matter what, I shall resume appropriate attention on my personal investment to ensure I will have my absolute freedom to live my life and financially strong to support my kids educations and well being of the family.

2017 shall be the turning point.

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Random thoughts from a picture

It was another work day, around 6:00pm, I was still busy with my office matters as usual, I received a Whatapp message from my wife.

She was driving back from work, it must be traffic jam. "A picture is more than a thousand words", it was beyond words.

It relates me to many thoughs of our life.

It was a sunset, working class including my wife are going home.

It was cloudy sky. The scene is beautiful.

Going to rain.

Traffic jam. Bumper to bumper. Commuters were frustrated. Wasting of precious time.

What a beautiful scenery out there, what am I doing? Where is my balance life? Work life balance please.

Our love ones, my kids, baby and parent are at home, waiting for us.

The picture creates random thoughts from my inner soul.

It is like a message to me.

2016 is ending soon, I shall pray and strive for a better 2017, for my family.

Life is beautiful. Appreciate life.

Yea, many random thoughts oozing to my mind.

Perhaps I am in mid life crisis stage.

A message to my 3 kids, when you read this post, both your mom and dad are going through one of our toughest time in our life.

What come may, let's embrace life.

Monday, December 19, 2016

蜘蛛的启示

     有一天中午,我们一家人都很特空除了我们的妈妈。我们就想打扫我们肮脏的椷,突然,我们看见一只可爱的小蜘蛛在制网。
     
     我们就把网弄破,没想到这么坚持,网破了又制。我们都觉得很谅呀。我们只好又把网弄破,因为我们必须清理干净这么多灰尘的椷。最后蜘蛛还是不放弃的制网。

     最后,我们就拿一张纸让蜘蛛把上来然后放生后才弄破蜘蛛网。我们都觉得这只蜘蛛很勤劳。并向蜘蛛学习不屈不挠的精神。我们都很佩服这只蜘蛛。

朋友之间的感情

     我们应该如何与朋友和谐相处?当你的遇到不会做的功课时,你就去教他帮他。当你的朋友不小心跌倒时,你就去扶他起来,并问他有没有受伤。如果受伤了,你就带他去保健室擦药休息。这样我们的感情就会越来越好。当你的朋友的亲人去世了,你就去安慰他,然后跟他说不要太伤心,每个人都会经历生老而病死,所以你就不要太过伤心💔。就这样你帮我,我帮你,变成好朋友。

我的姐姐

     星期一早上,爸爸和妈妈去做工了。所以我只好和我的姐姐正在一起玩羽毛球。我玩的佷开心,突然我和我姐姐吵架了,因为我输了太多次所以 我们吵了一个小时后来我们又不吵架了,我和我姐姐玩的很开心。我的爸爸和妈妈刚刚好回到了家🏡。过后我们一家大小就开开心心的吃饭。

Sunday, December 18, 2016

Night market

     It was a warm and humid evening. I was feeling very hot and humid and wanted some fresh air. Therefore,I decided to go to the night market. It is just a stone's throw away from my house .          
     
     When I reach the night market , I saw rows and rows of stalls along the road. As it was very early,many hawkers started to set up their stalls arranging their things. It was very crowded.

     There were many stalls selling cloths, toy and food. There were many stalls selling variety of food such as nasi lemak, fried chicken, asam lasak, noodles and so on. 

     The aroma of the delicious food filled the air. I was attacked to the aroma of the asam lasak soon. I walked toward the stall and bought 2 packets.

     In another corner, there were stalls selling fresh vegetables and fruits sold here were cheaper than in the super market.

     The place was very noisy because hawkers and customers were bargaining very loudly. Some hawkers shouting loudly to attract customer to their stall. 

     After that, I headed to the drink stall and bought a packet of sugar cane juice. Later, I decided to buy some kuih for my family.

     As it was getting late, I headed for home. It was a wonderful experience for me.

伤心的一天

     星期六,我和弟弟一起玩球。弟弟玩小皮球,我则在玩皮球。我们都玩得很开心😄。当时,我不小心把皮球踢破窗口,结果窗口破了一大个洞。突然妈妈听到BANG一声,就赶紧的冲过来,发现窗口破了,当时妈妈超级的生气的骂了我一顿。我很伤心😣。

Credit Card Statement, hard copy or e-statement?

Since the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST), the annual government tax of credit card which cost RM50 has been removed.

The previous annual government tax on credit card was a measure to curb the personal and household debts due to over spending with credit cards.

With the removal of such restrictions, banks were aggressively launching various rebate and loyalty programs to promote their credit cards.

For instant, I do apply a few new credit cards depending on my spending patterns to enjoy rebates and discounts. The rebate can go as high as 5% with certain capping as well as free entrance to Premier Lounge at the KLIA airports.

I noticed that by default, the new credit cads are not sending me physical statements. The banks sent me e-statements instead. Due to the change of mode of receiving the statements, I have unintentionally missed the payment deadline and it causing me time to call up to the call centers for penalty fees waiver.

It was definitely not a very nice experience as I need to communicate with machine before I get to talk to the customer service officer.

Today, not sure what made me think slightly out of box. I did call up the customer service to request for annual fee waiver, before I end my call, suddenly this issue strike my mind, I requested for a physical statement instead of e-statement. The customer officer tried to convince me to compromise with the e-statement initially, however the decision is on the consumer hands.

If you are someone like me that prefer to have hard copy credit card statement, make a call to the call center and exercise your right.


Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Deceased of the great master and mentor

30th November 2016, around 9:00pm, received a short message from one of my business associate that my mentor has passed away.
 
It was very hard for me to accept the news that my mentor has passed on. We just met each other on 29th, a day before he was hit by heart attack.
 
We knew each other since year 2008, at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. He was generous in sharing his knowledge and experience with people, especially to young people. We were very close and spent a lot of great moments until 2013, where I was tied up with my day time career tasks.
 
I went to the wake, can't stop looking at his peaceful face under the mirror of the coffin. Emotions rushed to my mind, could not accept our journeys ended so soon, sooner than what I can imagine. All the moments we went through together was flashing out from my mind, it was too hard to accept you that you were leaving us.
 
"James, you are my great mentor, you have all my respect, may you rest in peace."

 

Saturday, December 10, 2016

人生的暮年

来自南洋大学校友的信息供大家阅读北京著名女作家杨绛於2016 年 5月高齡105 歲過世. 下面是她在103 歲時的一段鼓勵:

花開花謝,潮起潮落,不經意間我們正走向人生的暮年。

從呱呱墜地到兩鬢染霜,歲月的行囊裡装滿了酸甜苦辣。接下來,在夕陽的路上能走多遠,取决於我們的體魄和心態。在曾經的歲月裡,每個人都會有大小不一的光環,但這光環已是“過去式”。當光環退去,誰都是柴米油鹽,誰都是一介布衣。

“我們曾如此渴望命運的波瀾,到最後才發現:人生最曼妙的風景,竟是内心的淡定與從容。

我們曾如此期望外界的認可,到最後才知道,世界是自己的,與他人毫無關係。

今天,我們生活的國度裡,銀髮浪潮席卷而來,老年人的比例越來越高,年輕人的負擔越来越重。老年朋友們,何不錯開尖峰時間出行,给公共交通緩解壓力,與年輕人相互理解、相互關懷、相互尊重,何樂而不為?

不要满懷焦灼期待子女常回家看看。子女們有各自的生活和事業,他們像永不停歇的陀螺一樣,上有老下有小,“老”是“夕陽”,“小”是“朝陽”。“朝陽”總比“夕陽”更令人關注和憧憬,這是動物繁衍生息的法則,是規律,誰也不能違背。記住,年輕人永遠比老年人忙。

人生,夫妻也好,母女父子也罷,不管是怎樣的水乳交融、心心相繫,每個人都是生命的獨立個體,因此,我們要學會在孤獨的時候给自己安慰,,在寂寞的時候给自己温暖。

老要有老的風骨,老要有老的優雅,正如春華秋實,四季輪迴,各有風采。
暮年是美好生活的開始,是一種從容、恬闊、悠哉遊哉的状態。願我們保持一顆寧静的心,少些期盼、多些寬容,寵辱不驚、去留無礙,微笑向前,善待暮年的自己。

Monday, November 21, 2016

Time to change

Work life balance is always one of my top priorities back in 2007.

I wanted to pursue my desire life styles, do what I enjoy and spend quality moments with my love ones.

However the priority has been deviated along the way when we progress at workplace as well as entering different stages in life.

Because I am passionate about my work,  I do not and have no intention to draw a line between work life and after work life.

And due to this, I have put in more and more efforts and time to my office. 

Looking back, I have spent more than 12 hours to my work for more than 24 months. 

I am a little bit tired now and felt that it is time to adjust for a betterment.

Maybe I shall thanks to the "adversity" that trigger me to reconsider on how I move on from now.

This is a matter that worth to put some serious thought.

Back to basic and change.

Saturday, November 12, 2016

Honeybees hive being burnt due to human selfishness






During one of the evening of last week, my daughter called me with very serious voice, "Dad, there are hundreds of honeybees flying around a tree near our house."
 
I told her and her mom to be calm. Honeybees are just insects where they create no harm but good to human. In 30 minutes later, she called me again, telling me that the honeybees built their hive in 30 minutes.
 
It is amazing. I am glad that my kids are able to witness this natural phenomenon.
 
Two days passed, it was the nightmare of these honeybees. One of the resident raised their concern over the hive. He or she worries that their kids are having risk of being stung.
 
The committee members of the neighborhood instantaneously called the authority (BOMBA) to remove the honeybee hive, without even identify what kind of bee hive that they are referring.
 
A few of the residents including me were protesting the removal of honeybee hive but nothing can be done. Human is just too ego and ignorance. we put ourselves superior than any other kind of life in this world.  
 
None of them care if the honeybees will escape from the hive when the hive is burnt by the flame. Hundred of honeybees life is being taken away with a simple proposal, which is worrying of the safety of the kid, and being approved within seconds without finding facts and concern of these "hundreds" of life.
 
At the same day evening, the big scale murder was executed. Hundred of honeybees were burnt to death in their hive.
 
We, human, being really selfish, ignorance and apathy.
 
Rest in peace, hundred of the honeybees.
 
The next morning, we found a few of the survivors. They lost their hive, and they temporary occupy a corner of my garden as shelter.
 
Human, we are not super power, nor we are superior.
Live in peace with the rest of the God made creatures.
We, human, is just one of the God creation.
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Selfish and Careless Nissan Sentra Driver WGQ6208

As usual, the urban streets in one of the Klang Valley townships are busy and full with vehicles, and many of the cars are double parks.
 
The driver of Nissan Sentra WGQ6208 is believed to be overshot to the auto accessories shop he wanted to drop by. Instead of making a turn, which will not cause him much time, he was reversing his car along the street that were packed with double parked cars.
 
I was just behind this selfish driver. Trying to reverse park my car. It took me a while as the road was narrowed with double parked car. The Nissan Sentra WGQ6208 driver did not care about the road safety, he just reverse his vehicle, going very close to my car, even thought I have put up the "honk" as signal for him to stop. This selfish driver did not stop, and his vehicle go backward all the way to almost hit my car.
 
Shame of you, Nissan Sentra WGQ6208 driver.

Saturday, October 22, 2016

Dilemma of Team Leaders

It is not an easy journey if one want to be a hands-on, understanding, process oriented and yet result oriented team leaders.

A good team lead will be someone who is consistently be on top of the team objectives, driving results and yet looking into the processes that will make the results possible.

The team lead will be hands on and understanding the challenges face by the team members.

Besides, he or she shall consistently reward  performers and coach the non performers.

Yet, the very key elements of the team leaders are able to see a bigger picture and make necessary planning for the team activities.

A team lead is not merely a supervisor or manager that can perform better result if he or she step into the subordinates territories. A team lead shall focus on how to make the subordinates perform up to the company expectations.

In many occasions, I seen team leads put themselves completely into the shoes of their subordinates. It is vital to be a understanding team lead. Those who put themselves into their subordinates situations are generally good supervisors. 

However, these leaders often unintentionally neglected the higher management challenges and priorities.

I believe, as a team lead, one shall strike a balance, view, plan and execute directions that meet the management priorities and team objectives.

At the other hand, the management shall also value team leaders that strive for results instead of looking at the surface, presentations and reports.



Sunday, February 07, 2016

A Better 2016

2015 was a very challenging year for me and my family.

My wife pregnancy turned into complication in weeks 20, at the same time my father was diagnosed with end stage lung cancer.

My wife was unable to work from her week 22nd pregnancy, admitted to hospital a few times and finally need to deliver the baby at first day of week 28th of pregnancy. My baby was extremely premature and he was admitted to NICU upon delivery for more than 4 months.

My father fallen down injured one of his arm, the whole family daily routines turned haywire as my kids transportation to school and meals were rely on him. It took him 3 months to recover, and the cancer cells has weakened him over this period, he lost 12kg in 3 months time.

What I have gone through in 2015 was beyond imagination. I was exhausted, but I told myself that the 2 pillars of the family, my wife and my father were in trouble, both of them and the family need me, I am the backbone of them. Even though I gone through hell, I still need to keep going.

Despite of all the family issues, I still need to run my operation in my day time job. 2015 was also a very challenging year for Malaysia. I have been not resting for 24/7 for many months in a row.

There were tears, frustrations, hopelessness and worry in most of the nights.
There is no room for me to slow down, to think or consider, I just need to move forward.
There is no luxury for me to fall sick, no reason for me to rest.

I learn to accept. I cried a few occasions, while I were alone, driving back from hospital after visiting my baby. Never been so sad and being such hopeless in the past.

Everything becomes less relevant and not important to me except that I need to keep the family moving on while coping with the circumstances.

At my day time job, I need to run the operation like business as usual as there is no room for any slowdown.

Thanks God, my baby is home and healthy now. I learn to appreciate for being healthy.

As for my father, he is already 77-year-old, we are fighting the cancer disease with him. Make sure he eat healthy diet and eliminate sugar intake.

Lunar new year is the time for me to think over last year lessons and set right priority in the coming year.

Being healthy and fit is definitely my priority and I need to ensure all of my family members are well taken care off.

Life is short and none of us know what will happen next. Live life now and appreciate every moments.

Because life is too short to regret, I will pursue happiness, live a life that is worth living.

I am looking forward for a better 2016.

God bless!



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