Learning from the Expert, but Execute like crazy

Today I got a chance to listen to a master presenter, whom, very humbly claimed that he is not an expert, but he is there because he has done it so many times that he eventually pulls it off every time. I am touched by his humble opinion of himself and of course, his ability to execute the presentation very well, though the subject are not that exciting. And of course where he is, he also shared what is his current issues.

That lead me to thinking as general and some of the bad habits that I constantly fall into whenever I am about to do something
1. Stop giving reasons why I can't and the hundreds of classes I have not attended. Get on with it, execute and learn on the go!
2. Stop looking for Secrets to...., Ultimate Guide to...., Master Ninja Ways to..... While all this are great learning (I think), don't let it stand between myself and execution. Too many times I have invested my time looking for that one magical (book or Internet article) that will change the world forever. While deep down inside I might have known it may not have existed, but the excitement of spending (wasting) hours just looking for it has really taken a lot of my time away. Just go ahead, seek the expert, ask all the questions, get ready and start execution.
3. Things need to be done, and that is the reason people purchase our services and goods. Nothing come about if nothing is done. Keep that in mind. Often, in entrepreneurship, it is not about the one great idea that no one has thought about that would succeed, but it is the ability to execute like crazy over any idea that would bring succeed.

Take Away: Be the ferocious executor, of the plan. Expert advise is welcomed but not at the expense of wasting time. At the end of the day, what counts is what we have produced, not the search for Ultimate or Secrets. Leave those to free time.

~~~ Life is an adventure where we search for the meaning of the outcome.

To be great is to be misunderstood

Ralph Waldo Emerson is commenting on how many great men followed their own intuition in spite of criticism or misunderstanding from society. He says, "Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh." To that he adds "To be great is to be misunderstood."
In context, Emerson also says that great men are not always consistent. In fact, "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines". Thus, if one is not always consistent, one may be misunderstood. But, since many great men have not be understood by society, then you are you have great company when people don't understand you. What is important, according to Emerson, is that one not violate his or her own nature. You must be true to yourself, even if it mean saying one thing one day and saying something else the next day. That way we show that we trust ourselves and not others to dictate our beliefs.

I must be careful to apply this, as in not to believe in the wrong ways and think that I am on the right path.

~~~ Life is an adventure where we search for the meaning of the outcome.

Your Staff at Work

From worklife.org

The Lord said to Moses, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it. But the Lord said to Moses, “Put out your hand and catch it by the tail” – so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand.  (Exodus 4: 2-4)

This extraordinary story is an example of how Our Lord will use anything to turn our attention towards Him. God wanted Moses to get completely in line with His plans for the people of Israel. That required Moses to:

• Understand once and for all that God calls the shots;
• Put his role and gifting into God’s hands for God to use;
• Use his role and gifting with confidence because they belonged to God.

Moses’ staff was standard equipment for a shepherd, which was his work before God gave him a new assignment. The action of throwing it on the ground was obedience. Running from the unexpected and unwelcome snake was plain common sense. But picking up the horrible creature? – That was obedience and courage, followed surely by huge relief as it became the familiar staff again.

Over time, and with experiences like this one, God trained Moses to take authority in God’s name. As Moses learned through practice and obedience, he became the man God wanted him to become. The staff-serpent would be used several times to work vast miracles as God broke the power of Egyptian rule over Israel.

In our work situations, the staff can symbolize the roles and gifts we have. Throwing the staff down symbolizes our surrender of those roles and gifts to Christ as part of our daily walk with Him. Picking up the serpent, and its change back to the staff, symbolize the reality that once we give our roles and gifts to Christ, He puts His stamp on them and has freedom to reshape them as He chooses. The staff looked the same afterwards, but it wasn’t the same. From then on, God used it even though Moses carried it.

What is your staff at work? You have one. Where is it along the sequence of staff-serpent-staff? Where is your heart of workplace obedience to Christ along the same sequence?

~~~ Life is an adventure where we search for the meaning of the outcome.

How to take on the World!! A Collection of Wisdom and Guides

At times when I feel burned out and asked the question like, why is this happening to me, why ONLY me, does this happen to other people, why it doesn't happen in their lives, why God is so unfair, why, why, why. All this questions enclosed myself in a situation of self doubt, self limiting and self defeating rant to myself (at least in my own head), and discourage me until I lose my way.

Well I was thinking this has to stop, especially now that I am playing many roles, not just as a friend, a colleague, more importantly a father, a husband, a son, a leader etc. It not only dis-empower me but also the people around me and the people who look up to me when they are in situations. I am quite sure I am mature enough not to do a scene in public, but those thought in my mind will eventually be sensed by those around me.

True enough, some people do ask if anything was wrong with me, especially closer friends. Well I try to tell them what the problem is but I cannot pin point the problem. That leads me to begin to think, what is wrong in my head... Well there is no real problem actually, but the combination of repeating the same things day in and out as well as negative thoughts being repeated in my head causes me to not see the richness of life which I already enjoy on a daily basis. It is time I wake up and take on the world, as the title of this post says it.

Here are a few lines I'm sure I will take a look every morning from now on to ensure that the negative thoughts will not distract me off my awesome life.
1. God made me special and awesome :) Stop comparing my life with others. They're probably not as awesome. (By no means I am putting anyone down, it is just something to appease my competitive spirit inside so that I feel better than others, haha, no friends or family are hurt in the process)
2. Misfits will do what misfits do best - Not try to fit in with the rest of the world. This one is from a friend, I read it and liked it immediately.
3. I decided that my life IS extraordinary. Therefore I have extraordinary problems as well, don't look at others and say 'why it happens to me'. My reaction to problems in life will be extraordinary. Bring it on!!
4. Problems are my best opportunities.
5. For anything to happen, I have to take action, not anyone else.

Well that is at least how I motivate myself. I hope you guys have your own ways as well. Have an awesome life, friends.

~~~ Life is an adventure where we search for the meaning of the outcome.

Absolute Power - Corrupts

Interesting point to debate, some people say:

Sometimes I understand why Mr Lee Kuan Yew did what he did to raise Singapore from a 3rd world country to its current developed nation status. He had to remove dissent for the greater good of the country.

What I think:

One will never foresee what is a greater good of a country. Well I think LKY has done good in the short run, but it is yet to be proven in the long run. Well I suppose LKY is very sensible and has not succumb to the power, because absolute power corrupts. LKY may (or may not, because I can't be sure) be righteous and one hearted in creating a better future for Singapore, but, truly, a lot of others have failed such as Hitler, Suharto & Thaksin among the more famous ones. They may not have actually failed, but according to text books and article, they are branded ranging from notorious, corrupt to many other names. If we just use wikipedia and search for the work corrupt leader, tonnes will appear as search result for you.

I believe in free speech as well as openness and transparency. I believe in equality and justice. I believe that no one opinion should be greater than the other and all shall be heard. What say you?

~~~ Life is an adventure where we search for the meaning of the outcome.