When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box

Monopoly is a wonderful game. I used to play it a lot with my children and friends.

Life is like a game of Monopoly. You strategize, take risks, and wheel and deal to improve your
position. But when the game is over, all the pieces go back in the box. When the game of life is over,
your body is placed in the grave.

Only eternal investments will follow you into eternity. To get the most out of life, you must arrange
your priorities around what matters most. A life that focuses on temporary prizes will result in disappointment when the game is over.

Life’s greatest fulfillment comes when you love God, love others, and nurture your own soul.

Here is a story by John Ortberg of what Monopoly can teach us about life:

My grandmother taught me a lot about life on the Monopoly board. She was a brutal player. It didn’t matter that I was ten years old. She played to win. But she taught me how to play the game.

Through her influence, I learned the absolute importance of arranging my whole life in light of eternity.

Maybe your grandmother was a pushover and allowed you to win every time. But not mine.

The competitive spirit of my grandmother came out on the Monopoly board. She was a gentle and kind person, but not when it came to Monopoly. I tried to hang on to my money for as long as I could. I didn’t like taking risks.

 My grandmother, on the other hand, knew that to win, you had to take risks. She bought up property as quickly as possible and mortgaged her property in order to buy more. Before long she controlled the board.

As master of the board, she squeezed at my resources and it was only a matter of time before my last dollar was gone, my race car was put back in the box, and the game was over. Another loss. She always told me not to worry because one day I would learn to play the game.

 One summer a friend and I played Monopoly every day, and I became a much better player. I finally began to understand what my grandmother had taught me about the game.

The next fall I experienced the greatest moment of my life. It happened on Marvin Gardens. My grandmother paid me her last dollar. I had beaten her for the first time. I completely controlled the board.

 But then she taught me one more very important lesson. When the game is over, all the pieces go back in the box. 

As much as I wanted to savor the thrill of the moment, the game was over. Is that not an accurate picture of the game of life? Life on earth is not going to last forever. This is true whether you are a person of faith or not. You may act like the game is going to last forever. But it doesn’t.

As we begin 2016 .... and 3 tips to overcome back to work blues

Hello ..

This is the first week of 2016...
and you are probably feeling a little depressed in going to work - whether on the farm, in the office, on the road, or at home... yes, the holidays are over and it is time to get back to work.

Back to Work ...

I don't know if it has ever hit you:
Work is sacred...
Work is God's provision...
Work is a way of making the world better...
         for yourself and others to prosper, and
         for you to understand that God wants to involve you.

So, do recognise that there is a higher purpose to work - it benefits not just us but others as well.

I hope you will have been refreshed during the holidays and with an enthusiasm to go back work. Like many of you, I went back to work this week.

Make a List of Key Projects for 2016

One of the main tasks I did this week was to list out all the key projects I need to do for the year. I'll then make appointments to talk to the relevant people on the implementation plans and follow up actions for this task.

Then it is important to put in timelines to track progress and completion. This may sound rather routine and mundane but this is essential and will help set the work programme for the year.

I am excited about the new projects I am working on this year. It may start slow but I will make sure I see it through. No doubt there will be obstacles, challenges and mistakes. But such is the reality of life and we learn along the way.

3 Tips on Overcoming the Back to Work Blues

1) Start with a clean uncluttered table.
Nothing is quite as depressing as coming back to work on Monday only to find yourself sitting behind a messy desk, with piles of untouched work stacked miles high. To help beat those back-to-work blues, be sure to get organized.

2) Start a project.
Get started on a project. Involve people who are enthusiastic and you will get the encouragement and motivation to continue and see it to the end.

3) Plan your next vacation
Many of us experience a high on vacation. Whether it’s from all the adventure or the relaxation, vacations often bring sensations that our daily jobs do not. The best way to overcome those feelings of loss when you're trying to beat the back to work blues is to get right back to planning another vacation. Even if you’re just considering a short weekend getaway, you need something to look forward to.

In fact, I've started planning for a vacation to Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe in March 2016. See it in my travel blog.

Happy working ....

The Six Lessons I Live By

The Six Lessons I Live By - my wifey sent this to me. Good and simple advice and so I thought I keep it here for reference. 

by Ari Emanuel
Co-CEO at William Morris Endeavor

1. Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you and move out of their way.

If you feel like you know everything, you’re wrong. I know what I don’t know and then I find partners who can teach me. A perfect example is my partnership with Patrick Whitesell, my co-CEO at WME. While we take on different roles at the company and focus on different things, we share the same goals and at the end of the day, we’re working toward the same end. That’s been the key to our success.

2. The only constant in business is change. Get comfortable with it.

When I started in the business, there were four broadcast networks and 19 cable networks. Now there are five broadcast networks, 117 cable networks, Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, HBOGo, iTunes, Amazon Prime, VOD – the list goes on and on. Next year there will be more distribution platforms, and in ten years the landscape will have shifted another 180 degrees. The business is changing quickly, and the only way to succeed is to change with it. I always tell my colleagues, there is no such thing as a traditional talent agent anymore. It’s about pushing beyond that 10% commission and finding opportunity where it didn’t exist before.

3. Fail often, fail quickly.

Nobody fucks up like I do, but you’ll never succeed unless you take risks. Big ones. In 2009, we took Endeavor, a company that was doing incredibly well, and merged it with the oldest talent agency in the world. From a cultural and organizational standpoint, it was a big risk. People had their doubts. But we had a vision and a lot of help from very smart people (see #1.) Three years later, our business is stronger, our bench is deeper and smarter, and our deal-making is more innovative. It’s a better company – period. You have to lead by example if you want to promote a culture where risk-taking is rewarded.

4. Your schedule makes you dumber.

Force yourself outside of your daily schedule. Be curious and take time to learn about worlds outside of the one you live in. Watch the news, read the paper, educate yourself. Don’t be afraid to call people you don’t know, start a conversation, and ask for things you need. At the very least, you’ll be more interesting. At the most, you’ll take your business in new and bigger directions.

5. You only get one shot – make it count.

I learned this the painful way. After being hit by a car and lying face-down in the middle of Wilshire Boulevard, I was confronted with a whole lot more than my mortality. Take advantage of each day that’s given to you and do something to move the needle on your business, even if it’s just an inch. You’ve heard it before, but life is not a dress rehearsal. Don’t waste your time (or mine.)

6. Good ideas rule all.

In the end, it’s all about creative ideas and content – it’s the lifeblood of our business. I’m fortunate enough to work with the writers, directors, musicians and actors who are defining culture with their voices. It’s why I come to work in the morning. In 100 years, when the world looks different, and we communicate in new ways, and we have more devices and platforms and distribution methods, I believe great artistry will still matter most.

HOW DO YOU EAT AN ELEPHANT?

YES! One bite at a time. We all know the saying, but we often fail to apply this lesson in our lives.

Here's the story -

Once upon a time there was a mouse named Strauss who lived in a little bakery in a little village in a little country. Strauss lived a good life by mouse standards, and mice only have three standards. One, get enough to eat. Two, find a safe place to live, and three, make enough friends that you’re not lonely but not so many that you’re overwhelmed.

Strauss had as many friends as he cared to have, but he didn’t have to share the bakery with any of them on account of they were all afraid of the baker who had a reputation for swatting mice. It’s not that the baker was a mean person, but he did have a business to run after all, and it wouldn’t do to have mice nibbling holes in the treats you’re trying to sell. The baker was well aware of Strauss to be sure, but since Strauss left the baker’s goods alone and only ate the crumbs that fell on the floor the baker left him alone in return.

Even though Strauss had everything he needed, he still had big dreams…big mouse dreams that is. He longed to eat an entire bowl of pudding, or lick all the frosting off of a cake or suck the filling out of an entire tray of jelly doughnuts. Any one of those feats would make him the envy of all the mice in the village, and the stories of his conquest would inspire future generations of mice children. In fact, it just so happened that these were the things Strauss was dreaming about when he was woken up one morning by a commotion in the front of the bakery.

Still half asleep but curious, Strauss left his little mouse bed to investigate and was surprised to see a large group of children crowding around the center table in the dining area. Strauss crept along the wall until he found an angle where he could see what exactly all the fuss was about, and when he finally caught sight of it he let out a little mouse gasp. The baker had stayed up all night making a chocolate elephant the size of a large pumpkin. It was the most wonderful and delicious thing any mouse had ever seen.

In an instant Strauss forgot all about pudding, frosting and even doughnuts. This was his dream come true. He was so happy he could have cried until he remembered that he couldn’t eat the food on display or else he wouldn’t be able to stay in the bakery anymore. When Strauss realized that he was heartbroken.

But just then the group of children, who were all jostling each other to be at the front of the circle, lurched forward and bumped hard against the table. Then everybody froze as the elephant teetered back and forth once, twice, three times before tipping over and falling to the floor.

When it hit the ground its trunk broke off along with two of its legs, and wide crack split right down the middle of its back. It was the baker who ended the silence with an angry shout that sent all of the children scurrying out of the bakery like mice running from an alley cat.

The baker knelt down and fumbled with the pieces of the broken elephant. He tried to put them back into place, but the pieces wouldn’t stay together. So the baker piled them back onto the tray his masterpiece had fallen off of and started to carry it towards the garbage can. To Strauss’s surprise though, the baker only took two steps towards the garbage and stopped. He shifted his feet a few times as if he couldn’t decide which direction he wanted them to take him. Then he walked straight towards the hole in the wall that led to Strauss’s den, knelt down and sat the plate right in front of it.

Strauss watched the baker walk slowly back to the kitchen, and when the kitchen door shut behind him Strauss turned his gaze back to the elephant….the elephant the baker had given to him. Strauss was sad for the baker’s loss, but then again, the baker could always make another elephant. In fact, he was probably in the kitchen this minute preparing the ingredients for a new one. For Strauss though, this was a once in a lifetime dream come true.

Strauss raced to the elephant, leapt on its trunkless head and buried his face in the deep, delicious chocolate. He ate and ate and ate and ate until he couldn’t eat anymore. Then he fell asleep right there on the platter, exhausted from eating so much chocolate. When he woke up he tried eating some more, but there wasn’t any room in his stomach.

Strauss spent the rest of the day in his bed recovering from his battle with the elephant. As he lay there he thought about how impossible it would be to eat the entire elephant. Of course, if he didn’t it wouldn’t be the end of the world. Life would still go on, but this was his personal dream and his shot at greatness. If he gave up and let the opportunity pass by him he would have to live with that the rest of his life. With these thoughts in mind Strauss decided he was going to eat the entire elephant no matter how much work it took.

Over the next few days Strauss went back to the elephant and ate and ate and ate until he couldn’t eat anymore. Then he rested until he could eat some more and went back and ate and ate and ate again. The baker noticed what the mouse was doing and would make it a point to stop by every once and a while to check on his progress, but the baker wasn’t the only one to notice. Eventually the customers began to notice as well and would come to watch him. Then the rest of the mice in the village noticed how many people were coming to the bakery, and they came to watch the spectacle as well, but they didn’t go inside because they were still afraid of the baker.

In no time Strauss was the biggest attraction in town. The newspaper even printed a story on him, and after that people came from other villages to see the mouse who was trying to eat an elephant. People and mice began making bets as to whether or not Strauss could do it. Some people believed in him, and some people said he was a fool and his dream was impossible.

Strauss certainly had shown strength and determination, but he was only just finished eating the head when his strength and determination began to fade. He had been working very hard, but he wasn’t making the progress he thought he would have by now. Despite the early support he received the other mice were starting to doubt him, and he found this very discouraging. At any rate, he just didn’t know if he had the will power to finish such a daunting task. So as the days went by he ate less and less until he stopped eating at all. This caused a commotion, and some people as well as mice thought Strauss had finally failed. However, the baker did not remove the elephant because he believed in Strauss, and the spectacle was brining him a lot of business. The baker tried to encourage Strauss, but Strauss was incorrigible. The baker was smart though and knew just what Strauss needed. He put the elephant in the refrigerator and made Strauss a tiny bowl of warm soup with a tiny piece of warm bread. He closed the bakery for a few days and let Strauss relax.

After Strauss was feeling better the baker cut a little piece off of the elephant and put it on a golden plate in front of Strauss’s hole. When Strauss saw the little piece of chocolate he ate it hungrily, and after he had finished it he was still hungry because it was such a small piece. However, instead of giving Strauss any more chocolate that day he simply gave him a little piece of muffin and some milk.

The next day Strauss found another little piece of chocolate sitting on the golden plate in front of his hole. He ate that hungrily as well, but he didn’t get any more that day. The next day he got another small piece, and it this went on the same way for months and months until Strauss had finished the whole elephant.

On that day there was a big celebration, and the baker baked elephant cakes, elephant candies, elephant pastries, and another chocolate elephant twice as big as the first. People came from all around to have their picture taken with Strauss and the baker and the new chocolate elephant. The people who had bet against Strauss lost their money, but they weren’t all sad about it because they were happy for Strauss. Already the other mice in town began boasting to their children about how well they never doubted Strauss for a moment and what an inspiration he was to mice everywhere.

At the end of the day the baker shooed everyone out of the bakery and cleaned up all the mess they had made. To Strauss’s relief the baker had sold the second elephant to someone from out of town. The baker made Strauss some warm soup and laid some extra soft cotton at his hole for him to add to his nest. That night Strauss had the best sleep of his life.

Not long after that the baker took down the old sign that used to hang outside his bakery to one with a mouse eating an elephant. From then on any mouse who wanted to come to the bakery was allowed to come in without fear of being swatted, and none of them ever ate anything that wasn’t given to them.

As Strauss got older he would often have young mice come to visit him and listen to him tell the tale of how he ate an entire elephant, and when the young mice asked him how he did it he would smile a sly, jolly smile and say, “One bite at a time.”

And the lessons we can draw are:


It’s not just about big goals

Many people make a major mistake in being entirely focused on big goals. If your goal is to become a best-selling novelist, great. But that’s a really big goal. If you base too much of your life satisfaction on achieving it, you’ll be unhappy for a very long time (possibly your whole life).

Long term goals are great, because aiming high lets us strive to be the best we can be. But for every long term goal you have, you want to have many short and medium term goals. If being a best-selling novelist is your long term goal, what smaller goals can you come up with that you should achieve along the way? Maybe for now, you’d be happy to come up with an idea for a character you want to include in your first novel.

The beauty of small goals

When you have small goals like that, there are a couple of advantages. First, a small goal gives you something concrete to focus on. If you want to become a best-selling novelist, how will you make that happen? You can easily be overwhelmed by such a huge task. If you don’t know specifically what to do, you’re only going to get frustrated. As time goes by, you notice over and over that your goal still hasn’t been achieved, yet you’re not sure what to do about it. But it’s a lot easier to come up with an idea for a character. When you know exactly what to do, you’re much more likely to take inspired action.

Second, you enjoy the satisfaction of achieving a goal and enjoying the benefits. Even if it’s a small goal, you feel good for checking it off your to-do list (whether it’s on paper or just in your head). You also get to have something that brings a little satisfaction right now. When you have your idea for a character, that in itself means something, even though you have a long way to go to your ultimate goal.

Life is a journey, not a destination

Your life satisfaction will probably be a lot higher if you view your life as a series of many small milestones, instead of one huge milestone that you may or may not ever achieve. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t have big goals, only that you should also have smaller ones to focus on along the way.
If you want to lose 40 pounds, great. But don’t just focus on that one huge goal. If you do, then every time you get on the scale, you’re only going to notice that you haven’t achieved your goal yet, and so you continually reinforce failure in your mind.

So break it down into smaller goals. There are plenty of goals you can try to accomplish even before losing 1 pound. Maybe you want to read a book about weight loss, or find a support group, or learn a new healthy recipe. A series of small accomplishments will keep you on track and make you feel good about your life, whether or not you eventually go on to accomplish your ultimate goal. If you end up eating the whole elephant, that’s wonderful. But don’t forget to enjoy the bites along the way.

Week 1 Review

The first week of 2013 came and has ended. How so fast !!

Started the New Year by attending a Watch Night service on 31 Dec 2012. It was a memorable time to close one year and begin another. Thanksgiving to God was the theme of the service.

Managed the week well even without our domestic helper around. Washed clothes, mopped floor, changed bed sheets etc. Worked well together with my wife. Our coordination and tasks division were getting better by the weeks.

Harold twisted his left ankle.

Praying for an internship job for Evan.

Still reading Wild Swans and enjoying it! Goal is to read 3 books a month.

De-cluttered my workspace to start the year better organised.

Made a decision to use less of the internet like Facebook and spend more time reading and more purposeful activities.

Decided to capture weekly events via this blog.

Would like to write my first ebook on fx.

Devotional Reading

The key message I get from my devotional readings is about my identity in Christ.  There is no fear and condemnation in Christ. God's promises to me are:

1) I am Acceptable
Ephesians 1:6 - to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

Not accepted by friends, colleagues? Do not let this hinder me from becoming myself and growing. The Bible says, God has accepted me.

2) I am Capable
Phil 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

When God says I am capable, believe it. Do not believe or dwell in the lies of others or the enemy. Do not let inner insecurity, lack of confidence, self-doubts etc hinder my potential and development. God says I can.

3) I am Forgiven
Isaiah 43:25 “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.

God forgives me and gives me a new chance.

4) I am Lovable
Daniel 10:19  - And he said, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”

God loves me all the time. It does not matter if it is a good day or a bad day, He loves me unconditionally.

5) I am Valuable
 Luke 12:24 - Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!"

I am priceless. Jesus thought it was so important that He took the whole chapter of the bible in Luke 15 to tell three stories of - the lost son, the lost coin, and the lost sheep.

I matter to God and God says I am valuable because He loves me.

Looking forward to another week in 2013!

Starting 2013 - Go Back to Basics

As I start the first week of 2013, I am reminded that the key to living a live of significance is to go back to the basics. I am reminded of the verse in Luke 2:52 ; "Jesus grew in height and in wisdom, and he was loved by God and by all who knew him." This refers to how Jesus grew when he was a young boy.

There are 4 areas of my life which i need to consider here:

1) Grow in 'height'
Reminds me about growing physically. It also speaks to me about maintaining good health with good eating habits and exercise. It is also about taking care of the physical body.

2) Grow in wisdom
Reminds me about growing in knowing the truth, valued principles of life, and the wisdom from the Bible.

3) Loved by God
Reminds me about growing in a deeper fellowship with God. To know Him deeper and more intimately.

4) Loved by all who knew him.
Reminds me about growing in a deeper and loving relationship with others; maybe friends or strangers. Love my fellow humans, do unto them what I like them do unto me principle applies.

Therefore, this is how I would plan to live this year, yes ... back to the basics

2013 - Happy New Year !!

It's hard to believe but another year has come and gone.

Wishing all of you a Blessed New Year. May God continue to bless you with divine wisdom, love and power that will bring much joy, peace, best of health and overflowing abundance in your home.

Remain hopeful because our hope is in Christ Jesus, He has given us the victory over evil, sin and condemnation. We are victorious in God, so have no fear and move out into the new year with hope and confidence that God will be there with you every step of the journey.

The journey continues .... it will be a great year ahead!!

In this new year, live in an assurance of hope for:

1) Abundant blessings
2) Healing - physical, emotional and spiritual
3) Deeper relationships with family, friends, colleagues
4) Deeper walk with God - for He desires greater intimacy with us.
5) Peace on earth and among man.

For God will make it happen if we believe !

Shalom,

The New Bread of Purity and Truth

Nobody likes old bread. They are hard, they taste moldy and they make you sick. What is this old bread. It symbolizes wickedness and evil.

What then is wickedness and evil, do we see them in our modern civilized society? Yes ... they come in the form of:

- selfishness

- lies

- envy

- hatred

- cheats

- anger

- vengeance

- etc

The bible exhorts us to eat the new bread of 'purity and truth' ( 1 Cor 6: 8). And what are they. they take the form of:

- integrity

- honesty

- abundance

- generosity

- charity

- upright

- righteous

- goodness

- cleanliness

- etc.

Therefore, choose wisely what you eat and eventually what eats you !!

The Lady (2011) - Story of Aung San Suu Kyi and her husband, Michael Aris in Full HD

The Lady is one movie which I missed in the cinemas. I  have been trying to search for it and watch it free online or perhaps a free download from any of the movie portals. I am fortunate to find it on youtube and it is given at the end of the page.

The Lady is the extraordinary story of Aung San Suu Kyi and her husband, Michael Aris. It is also the epic story of the peaceful quest of the woman who is at the core of Burma's democracy movement. Despite distance, long separations, and a dangerously hostile regime, their love endures until the very end. A story of devotion and human understanding set against a backdrop of political turmoil that continues today. The Lady was written over a period of three years by Rebecca Frayn. Interviews with key figures in Aung San Suu Kyi's entourage enabled her to reconstruct for the first time the true story of Burma's national heroine.


Michelle Yeoh is superb as Suu Kyi, daughter of modern Burma’s founder Aung San, an Oxford academic, wife of British Tibetan scholar Michael Aris (well handled by David Thewlis, who also plays his own twin), and mother raising two young sons in their English home.

She finds herself thrust into politics when she returns to Burma to care for her ailing mother and discovers a nation struggling beneath a brutal military regime and is persuaded by supporters to stay to found the National League for Democracy, taking on a crazy general who relies on soothsayers to tell him how to run the country.

The story covers all these bases efficiently in telling Suu Kyi’s tale, focusing on the period from 1988 to 1999.  The Lady is little more than a history lesson — although a beautifully presented one — wrapped in the pink gloss of a G-rated potboiler evidenced in Suu Kyi’s and Michael’s storybook romance.

We never get to the heart of the matter: why did she feel so compelled to choose country over family? And why did husband Michael so easily accept her decision?

Glimpses of the enormous price Suu Kyi is forced to pay comes as Michael faces a cancer diagnosis and she weighs the agony of losing her husband against the knowledge the Burmese government would never let her back into the country she is determined to liberate if she went home to England.

Yeoh is inspiring as the serene Suu Kyi, a thin figure for whom an always-present ring of orchids in her hair could weigh her down. If only she showed us the nature of her strength as well. Watch an interview with her here.

Below are some beautiful scenes from the movie. Enjoy!

The movie above is mostly in English. There are however some segments where Burmese is spoken but no English sub-titles are displayed. You may wish to separately download the sub-titles in English from here.

Alternatively, you can also watch the movie here. ENJOY!!

Do all the good you can ...

I and my wife was visiting a friend in Tan Tock Seng hospital, Singapore. We were about to leave when we had an Aha! moment .... lo and behold a group of young volunteers came in and offer to sing a few songs to bring cheer to the patients. 

It was already about 8.05pm, visiting hours is supposed to be over and yet this group of good Samaritans choose to spend their last few hours of the day to bring cheer and joy to the depressed and sick. 


It brings to mind this quote by John Wesley:

“Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as ever you can.”

I am very inspired by the simple acts of this group of young people; they could have stayed at home and play computer games, twittering, watching TV or out for a drink to enjoy themselves. Yet, they choose to do something simple but very meaningful to brighten the day of the patients before they retire to rest. Significant acts like this need not be expensive, do not need a lot of imagination, nor a lot of hard labour. It its about having a loving heart and a giving spirit. Little acts of kindness goes a long way.


May God bless them richly for being so kind and giving. 

Why Walk When You Can Fly

Once there was a king who received a gift of two magnificent 

falcons from Arabia. They were peregrine falcons, the most 

beautiful birds he had ever seen. He gave the precious birds 

to his head falconer to be trained.

 

Months passed and one day the head falconer informed the 

king that though one of the falcons was flying majestically, 

the other bird had not moved from its branch since the day 

it had arrived.

 

The king summoned healers and sorcerers from all the land to 

tend to the falcon, but no one could make the bird fly. He 

presented the task to the member of his court, but the next 

day, the king saw through the palace window that the bird 

had still not moved from its perch. Having tried everything 

else, the king thought, "Maybe I need someone more 

familiar with the countryside to understand the nature of 

this problem." So he told his court, "Go and get a farmer."

 

In the morning, the king was thrilled to see the falcon 

soaring high above the palace gardens. He said to his 

court, "Bring me the doer of this miracle."

 

The court quickly located the farmer, who came and stood 

before the king. The king asked him, "How did you make 

the falcon fly?"

 

With his head bowed, the farmer said to the king, "It was 

very easy, your highness. I simply cut the branch where 

the bird was sitting."

Do Something You Have Never Done

Yes, it is about moving out of our comfort zone, our mental models and fears. You will be amazed at how the new experience can enrich your life and the 'aha' feeling after you have tried something you've never done. Be bold, take the first step.

Social Media - Too much time in it?

Many of us spend too much time on social media, do you - well, i do at times. It can be to the point of excessive. Sometimes unknowingly we have send several hours a day on facebook, twitter and watching those youtube vids. We ask ourselves, is there a better way to spend my time.

I'm not saying that we should not use social media. The question is - is it becoming too excessive that it becomes a hindrance to other more productive things we like to do, like reading a book, or going out to help someone in need or learning a new language.

Here's something I found rather interesting. In order to entice more people to read, rather than spend time on social media and the Internet, Milwaukee Public Library launched an interesting advertisement campaign that puts a funny twist on the famous social media logos we've all grown to love. Specifically, they've put a clever spin on the Facebook, YouTube and Twitter logos, giving people a friendly reminder that we should be spending more time reading than checking status updates, watching videos or tweeting our thoughts.

Steps to Stillness

    "When you lose touch with inner stillness, 

you lose touch with yourself. 

When you lose touch with yourself, you lose yourself in the world."

                                            by Eckhart Tolle


We all live very hurried lives. We rush from home to work and at work we rush from meetings to meetings. We run according to the datelines set for us. There is hardly time to take a deep breadth, to say hello to a colleague sincerely, to say Thanks or to wave to a friend. Life becomes so mechanical running the rat race.

At home, we still check our never ending string of emails. We read the news hurriedly. We respond to sms and before we finishing texting another sms comes.

So with such a life, how can we ever be still to reflect, to give thanks, to appreciate our self and our loved ones. Let me share with you the following steps to Stillness so that you can enjoy the blessedness of living a full life. Stillness will save and transform your life.

STEP 1: Physical Relaxation

Be relaxed, be comfortable.  So choose a comfortable position that will keep you awake and aware. Now, take several deep breaths and release them slowly. Let your body thoroughly unwind. Close your eyes and let yourself thoroughly relax.

STEP 2: Mental Stillness

The mind is naturally active – thoughts, worries, plans, fears and anxieties can all come rushing in. Tell your mind to "be still!" Pick a centering point: repeat a verse, listen to instrumental music, visualize a pleasant scene to refocus your thoughts when your mind begins to wander. If you find the other thoughts come into your mind, simply re-focus on your centering point. Then, when you feel relaxed and at peace, direct your thoughts to opening to the relationship you share with your Inner Spirit and begin:

STEP 3: Worship

Worship is simply giving thanks and appreciation for everything good in life that has been given as a gift. Offer your praise to God of everything true, beautiful, and good. What do you have to be thankful for? Everything! Life, love, family, friends, health. Recognize the hand of God in your life and simply acknowledge Spirit’s contribution.

STEP 4: Prayer

This is your time to talk to God. He is listening. What help do you need from God? Ask Him.  Remember, there is always a solution; everything is resolvable with Spirit’s help. If you do not know what to pray for, ask your Inner Spirit, “What do I need now to grow spiritually?” Also, spend a few moments praying for others – you say the prayer for them that they cannot say for themselves.

STEP 5: Silent Listening

Now is the time to listen within — What does your Inner Voice wish to say to you? Return to your centering point, tune your listening within and wait. You may not hear a booming voice telling you what to do, but you may begin to perceive that God is trying to talk to you from afar; the message may only be subtly and faintly discerned. You may even think you haven’t received anything at this time. But later, tomorrow, or in a few days suddenly an answer will flash into your mind, or someone may say the words you need to hear, or you might find them in a book. It takes a while sometimes for the Spirit Within to pierce through the static layers of consciousness. But rest assured, your Inner Voice will indeed respond.

STEP 6: Receive

Receive the love and guidance God has for you. By opening your heart and mind from the previous steps, it is now your time to just relax and receive. Envision and sense yourself in the most beautiful and loving situation you have ever experienced, and ask for Spirit to amplify that feeling in you. You will become refreshed and renewed from within. Your Divine Source is feeding you internally; this is your soul’s nourishment. The more you experience Divine Love, the more you accumulate the desire to be in that state. And the more God’s love and wisdom radiates within you, the more you take into the outer world. Life begins to unfold in faith and joy!

Melinda Gates Answers Your Questions

Ms. Gates, of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, recently returned from a three-day trip to Bangladesh. She, along with Nick, agreed to answerreaders’ questions about development issues focusing on that part of the world. Here is the first installment of the Q&A session.


Read more here.

Summary of her thoughts:

1) It's not about how rich you are. Every little bit you can give helps. Don't under-estimate the power in numbers.

2) Real giving starts in caring about others and wanting to learn more.

3) Use your own network of friends to share the passion of helping others less fortunate.

I, Steve: Steve Jobs in His Own Words

So I’m thrilled for the release of I, Steve: Steve Jobs in His Own Words — a wonderful anthology of more than 200 quotes and excerpts from his many appearances in the media over the years.

(And if you’re quick to write this off as a heartless exploitation of Jobs’ recent death, it turns out the publisher had the book in the works since last spring, set to publish in March 2012, but they moved it up after Jobs resigned as CEO in January.)

Edited by George Beahm, the volume is a wonderfully curated curtain-peeler that offers a singular look at Jobs’ mind as an entrepreneur, his heart as a passionate visionary, and Apple’s fundamental DNA. Here are a few of my favorite quotes:

On broad-based education:

Reed College at that time offered perhaps the best calligraphy instruction in the country… I decided to take a calligraphy class to learn how to do this. I learned about serif and san serif typefaces, about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations, about what makes great typography great. It was beautiful, historical, artistically subtle in a way that science can’t capture, and I found it fascinating. None of this had even a hope of any practical application in my life. But ten years later, when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it all came back to me.” ~ Commencement address, Stanford University, June 12, 2005

(Be sure to watch his entire Stanford commencement address, it’s a piece of existential poetry.)

On the importance of broad life experiences:

A lot of people in our industry haven’t had very diverse experiences. They don’t have enough dots to connect, and they end up with very linear solutions, without a broad perspective on the problem. The broader one’s understanding of the human experience, the better designs we will have.” ~ Wired, February, 1996

On being the best:

We’re not going to be the first to this party, but we’re going to be the best.” ~ Apple event for iPhone OS 4.0, April 8, 2010

On media monopoly and lowest-common-denominator content:

When you’re young, you look at television and think, There’s a conspiracy. The networks have conspired to dumb us down. But when you get a little older, you realize that’s not true. The networks are in business to give people exactly what they want. That’s a far more depressing thought. Conspiracy is optimistic! You can shoot the bastards! We can have a revolution! But the networks are really in business to give people what they want. It’s the truth.” ~ Wired, February 1996

On Bill Gates:

I wish him the best, I really do. I just think he and Microsoft are a bit narrow. He’d be a broader guy if he had dropped acid once or gone off to an ashram when he was younger.” ~ The New York Times, January 12, 1997

On the importance of saying “no”:

And it comes from saying no to 1,000 things to make sure we don’t get on the wrong track or try to do too much. We’re always thinking about new markets we could enter, but it’s only by saying no that you can concentrate on the things that are really important.” ~ Business Week, October 12, 1994

On selling out:

The problem with the Internet startup craze isn’t that too many people are starting companies; it’s that too many people aren’t sticking with it. That’s somewhat understandable, because there are many moments that are filled with despair and agony, when you have to fire people and cancel things and deal with very difficult situations. That’s when you find out who you are and what your values are. So when these people sell out, even though they get fabulously rich, they’re gypping themselves out of one of the potentially most rewarding experiences of their unfolding lives. Without it, they may never know their values or how to keep their newfound wealth in perspective.” ~ Fortune, January 24, 2000

On Apple’s existence:

What if Apple didn’t exist? Think about it. Time wouldn’t get published next week. Some 70% of the newspapers in the U.S. wouldn’t publish tomorrow morning. Some 60% of the kids wouldn’t have computers; 64% of the teachers wouldn’t have computers. More than half the Websites created on Macs wouldn’t exist. So there’s something worth saving here. See?” ~ Time, August 18, 1997

On computers:

What a computer is to me is the most remarkable tool that we have ever come up with. It’s the equivalent of a bicycle for our minds.” ~ Memory & Imagination, 1990

On creativity and cross-pollination:

Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. That’s because they were able to connect experiences they’ve had and synthesize new things. And the reason they were able to do that was that they’ve had more experiences or they have thought more about their experiences than other people. Unfortunately, that’s too rare a commodity. A lot of people in our industry haven’t had very diverse experiences. So they don’t have enough dots to connect, and they end up with very linear solutions without a broad perspective on the problem. The broader one’s understanding of the human experience, the better design we will have.” ~Wired, February, 1996

On legacy:

Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me … Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful… that’s what matters to me.” ~ The Wall Street Journal, May 25, 1993

The Optimist Creed

I like this creed from Optimist International. They are a volunteer organization that values all children and helps them develop to their full potential.

The aim to to set up Optimist Clubs all over the world which are dedicated to "Bringing Out the Best in Kids" and do their part through community service projects. Each Club is autonomous and run by members in their community, and so Optimists have the unique flexibility to serve the youth of their area in any way they see fit.

Optimist Clubs see a need in their community and react to it.

Here is the creed

The Optimist Creed

Promise Yourself ...
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

Hope it helps ...

The Great Dictator speech

I came across this great speech by accident. The Great Dictator Speech that was made by Charlie Chaplin in 1940 in the film The Great Dictator, and it a favorite speech of all time of many people. It's amazing after over 70 years how much of this is what we live with today.

Charlie Chaplin is said to have added his 4 1/2 minute final speech to The Great Dictator (1940) only after Hitler’s invasion of France. The speech both showcases the actor’s considerable dramatic gifts and makes a prescient, eloquent plea for human decency.



The speech is given below:


" I'm sorry but I don't want to be an Emperor, that's not my business. I don't want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone if possible, Jew, gentile, black man, white. We all want to help one another, human beings are like that. We all want to live by each other's happiness, not by each other's misery. We don't want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone and the earth is rich and can provide for everyone.
The way of life can be free and beautiful. But we have lost the way.


Greed has poisoned men's souls, has barricaded the world with hate;
has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed.


We have developed speed but we have shut ourselves in:
machinery that gives abundance has left us in want.
Our knowledge has made us cynical,
our cleverness hard and unkind.
We think too much and feel too little:
More than machinery we need humanity;
More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness.


Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost.


The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men, cries out for universal brotherhood for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world, millions of despairing men, women and little children, victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people. To those who can hear me I say "Do not despair".


The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed, the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress: the hate of men will pass and dictators die and the power they took from the people, will return to the people and so long as men die [now] liberty will never perish. . .


Soldiers: don't give yourselves to brutes, men who despise you and enslave you, who regiment your lives, tell you what to do, what to think and what to feel, who drill you, diet you, treat you as cattle, as cannon fodder.


Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men, machine men, with machine minds and machine hearts. You are not machines. You are not cattle. You are men. You have the love of humanity in your hearts. You don't hate, only the unloved hate. Only the unloved and the unnatural. Soldiers: don't fight for slavery, fight for liberty.


In the seventeenth chapter of Saint Luke it is written:
"The kingdom of God is within man"
Not one man, nor a group of men, but in all men; in you, the people.


You the people have the power, the power to create machines, the power to create happiness. You the people have the power to make life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then in the name of democracy let's use that power, let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world, a decent world that will give men a chance to work, that will give you the future and old age and security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power, but they lie. They do not fulfil their promise, they never will. Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people. Now let us fight to fulfil that promise. Let us fight to free the world, to do away with national barriers, do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men's happiness.


Soldiers! In the name of democracy, let us all unite!


. . .


Look up! Look up! The clouds are lifting, the sun is breaking through. We are coming out of the darkness into the light. We are coming into a new world. A kind new world where men will rise above their hate and brutality.


The soul of man has been given wings, and at last he is beginning to fly. He is flying into the rainbow, into the light of hope, into the future, that glorious future that belongs to you, to me and to all of us. Look up. Look up."

If you are interested, you can actually watch the movie The Great Dictator here.

Kick Start 2012 -12 Insightful Questions

As we begin the New Year, some of us may be thinking of new year resolutions etc. To me it is important to reflect on some key lessons learnt last year and move on to set some goals for this year.


Here are 12 insightful questions to kick-start a transformative 2012.

1. What were the top three highlights of 2011 and why?

Perhaps it was a trip, an accomplishment or just an exciting moment that shines above the rest.

2. What’s working in your life right now?

It’s so easy to focus on the negative, yet there’s so much good all around you.  So what’s working right now?

3. What was your greatest lesson in 2011?

With every disappointment or hurt, comes a lesson. What was yours?

4. Who do you want to be in 2012?

HINT: If two friends were talking about you and you were the fly on the wall, what roles, qualities and personality traits would you be thrilled to have them say about you?

Oh that , he/she is so ________.

5. If you could change one thing about your life right now, what would it be and why?

Write down the first thing that comes to mind. Just imagine what else would magically fall into place if you gave the time and attention to change this one thing.

6. What do you keep making excuses for and why?

This could be the same as #5 or different. What we make excuses for is something we really want to look at because there’s usually a huge limiting belief tied to those excuses. And once the belief is identified and replaced with a more empowering belief… look out!

7. What activity would you like to do more of in 2012? Less of? Stop?

It’s all about choice. And ideally, your weekly calendar reflects your passions.

8. Who are the people you want to spend more time with? Less time?

You can name specific people or just the characteristics in new people you want to attract more of (e.g. fun, honest, adventuresome)

9. What would you like to be different about your life by this time next year?

That is, what is the one thing that you would be ecstatic to have mastered or made major progress on?

10. What are you prepared to do about it?

This is where rubber meets the road. Knowing our desires, talking about them, and even saying pretty affirmations doesn’t manifest them without inspired action. So, what are you prepared to do to make change that sticks? Develop a plan? Carve out time each day to take action? Clear space in your home for that passion? Sign up for that class? For now, just identify the first step.

11. What are your greatest gifts and strengths?

Yes, you are a rock star in your life. What makes you so amazing? P.S. if you can’t answer this, ask your favourite friends. They can shower you with answers.

12. How can you use your strengths to help with the change in #10?

If you are a great planner, develop a fantastic plan. But don’t stop there. Then get a coach or accountability partner to help you on the follow through.  That is, play to your strengths and find others to help with things that aren’t your natural ability.

Paying it Forward - Give and it will be given you

Found this inspirational video and it reminded me of the movie " Paying It Forward". 


It also reminded me of an Indian proverb .. "All that is not given is lost". Most of the time, it is part of our selfish nature to possess things and hold tight to what we have .. our time, our money, our material goods and our selves. 


Actually it only takes a small effort to given or share what we have with others. The joy that you can bring from giving is usually much more than we can imagine.


As we start a New Year, it would be a good time to start a spirit of sharing and giving in our life. The Bible teaches that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Try it and you'll be surprised that it is indeed so ....