It doesn’t so much saddens me than it irritates the hell of me when I come across colleagues who are nothing more than plain lazy. Here, you’ll have scores of degree holders, masters graduates and the lot telling you that they can’t write proposals or even simple letters because they aren’t writers.
What a load of crap!
That is nothing more than a cheap and lowly way to get someone else to do your job for you.
As some of you may recall from one of my earlier blogs, I had touched on this subject… on how you needn’t get a urologist or gynaecologist each time you need to head off to the toilet and that if it takes a specialist for each job function, you’d have a horde of specialists doing your bidding. Yes, even if it means going to the toilet.
What a sheer waste of money to have spent so much for one’s education just to be an uneducated sod later on in life.
But here’s an absolute truthful secret for those that are willing to take the oft’ and narrow road.
The more you practice at one thing, be it writing or painting (whatsoever, for that matter), you’ll soon find that you can actually master that one thing. It’ll become easier and faster to produce the same, if not better results. But to do this, you’ll need to change your mindset approach to doing and practicing.
There were numerous times (and still are!) that I’ve had to force myself to write when I didn’t feel up to it. I’ve had to write for lazy colleagues because they lament how they weren’t good at writing. For me, I’ve had to mentally tell myself that it’s for my own good because I get to practice writing and that the more writing I get in, the better and faster I become at it.
Yes, it works. I stand as a testament to this. My earlier editors and colleagues from the newspaper used to tell me that I wrote crap. They were right. Well, now I don’t, and it’s not due to some writing course or whatsoever. It came from nothing more than just practice, practice and more practice.
Oh, and for the colleague who’s lazy as hell? Why bother to benefit him/her by revealing your secrets. After all, why throw your pearls to swine where they get trampled upon?
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Friday, April 4, 2008
How the West was won
I remember this one time in downtown Kuala Lumpur when I came across a Muslim missionary who was preaching in the streets occupied predominantly by the Indian-Muslim community. Instead of the common religious garb, he was dressed in modern-day safari wear.
What he said still reverberates in my memory.
Chastising the people for their attitudes toward “the West” in a time when hostility against western nations and influences remained just as high as any summer’s day heat, his words stung through with unusual realities.
He questioned them why they would unilaterally regard the West as bad when there were a lot of good things that they have failed to emulate and instead chose the worse to copy after and then crucify them for their “decadent lifestyles”.
“When traveling, these Westerners wouldn’t be staring out the window blankly like you,” he blasted, “They’ll always have a book in hand to read. But do you do that? No! You just waste your time looking out into space…”
He continued, “I have seen how independent their women are, too. Even in the middle of our rainforests, I have seen how two or three women would be there exploring the wonders of our ecological treasures on their own. All these while our women do nothing more apart from whining and gossiping about friends, family and just about everyone throughout every of their waking moments!”
“So don’t talk about the West being evil and all that when we ourselves are no better! All we ever do is talk about others… How about cleaning our backyard first?” he closed.
And while I’m not a Muslim, nor do I subscribe to its religious beliefs, I was and still am today in awe of this missionary’s foresight and honesty.
So yes, we all criticize the West, well to be more precise, the United States why? Because we can, knowing our lives will not be threatened with death sentences in doing so and that they would still uphold human rights, even if the dices are not in their favour.
Having said that, I really do believe that it isn’t so much of the West’s decadent behaviour that we’re really bothered with. Rather, we are deeply envious of their success, influence, strength and development of civilization – factors to which we have found it so much easier to sweep our shortcomings under the carpet than to come to terms with what we lack.
And unless we make real honest changes to our attitudes, it’ll probably take another millennium or two before we can hold our heads up as a civilization that’s noteworthy. So, its either we start changing now or once again regress into our shell and expect our children to make the change instead because we aren’t brave enough to face our lives. And in between takes… take another bash at “the West” for our misfortunes!
What he said still reverberates in my memory.
Chastising the people for their attitudes toward “the West” in a time when hostility against western nations and influences remained just as high as any summer’s day heat, his words stung through with unusual realities.
He questioned them why they would unilaterally regard the West as bad when there were a lot of good things that they have failed to emulate and instead chose the worse to copy after and then crucify them for their “decadent lifestyles”.
“When traveling, these Westerners wouldn’t be staring out the window blankly like you,” he blasted, “They’ll always have a book in hand to read. But do you do that? No! You just waste your time looking out into space…”
He continued, “I have seen how independent their women are, too. Even in the middle of our rainforests, I have seen how two or three women would be there exploring the wonders of our ecological treasures on their own. All these while our women do nothing more apart from whining and gossiping about friends, family and just about everyone throughout every of their waking moments!”
“So don’t talk about the West being evil and all that when we ourselves are no better! All we ever do is talk about others… How about cleaning our backyard first?” he closed.
And while I’m not a Muslim, nor do I subscribe to its religious beliefs, I was and still am today in awe of this missionary’s foresight and honesty.
So yes, we all criticize the West, well to be more precise, the United States why? Because we can, knowing our lives will not be threatened with death sentences in doing so and that they would still uphold human rights, even if the dices are not in their favour.
Having said that, I really do believe that it isn’t so much of the West’s decadent behaviour that we’re really bothered with. Rather, we are deeply envious of their success, influence, strength and development of civilization – factors to which we have found it so much easier to sweep our shortcomings under the carpet than to come to terms with what we lack.
And unless we make real honest changes to our attitudes, it’ll probably take another millennium or two before we can hold our heads up as a civilization that’s noteworthy. So, its either we start changing now or once again regress into our shell and expect our children to make the change instead because we aren’t brave enough to face our lives. And in between takes… take another bash at “the West” for our misfortunes!
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Taking a step back
Many a times, especially is one is in position of leadership, it becomes inevitable that they are surrounded by “yes men” almost throughout each waking moment. These followers knows that they need to tread carefully to ensure their survival and importance in that inner circle.
Hence, they offer nothing more than assurances of “how great” their leader is. It’s very much like an emperor who’s surrounded either by eunuchs that sing their praises without reserve and concubines that struggle for special favours.
Hence, if one recalls, China’s Empress Dowager also surrounded herself likewise to the detriment of the affairs of the state. The same also applied to the Romanovs, Loiuse 16th and the list goes on. They have all “misread” the affairs of their subjects due to advisors that convey nothing more than sweet nothings.
So for the leader who may still have a sense of true leadership, they will always tell themselves to take a step back from everyone surrounding them to take a closer and more personal look… without the presence or interference of hordes of advisors about.
They will listen also to the voices of one or two of their advisors that have voiced dissent, where what were said may have caused them to feel hurt or insulted. Nonetheless, true leaders always know that only real friends will tell them painful realities to their face.
Therefore, that time alone to reflect on the day’s happening and ponder in depth of the affairs of the state is crucial to their very survival.
Hence, they offer nothing more than assurances of “how great” their leader is. It’s very much like an emperor who’s surrounded either by eunuchs that sing their praises without reserve and concubines that struggle for special favours.
Hence, if one recalls, China’s Empress Dowager also surrounded herself likewise to the detriment of the affairs of the state. The same also applied to the Romanovs, Loiuse 16th and the list goes on. They have all “misread” the affairs of their subjects due to advisors that convey nothing more than sweet nothings.
So for the leader who may still have a sense of true leadership, they will always tell themselves to take a step back from everyone surrounding them to take a closer and more personal look… without the presence or interference of hordes of advisors about.
They will listen also to the voices of one or two of their advisors that have voiced dissent, where what were said may have caused them to feel hurt or insulted. Nonetheless, true leaders always know that only real friends will tell them painful realities to their face.
Therefore, that time alone to reflect on the day’s happening and ponder in depth of the affairs of the state is crucial to their very survival.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Fighting terrains
There was once that I was sitting down to a serious discussion with an Asian politician who lamented how he didn’t see any problems with having two wives since even France’s former prime minister Francois Mitterrand had two.
I looked intently into his eyes and told him, “It’s not about whether you have two or three or even 10 wives. Your country will not accept you like that”.
Within almost an instant, he bowed his head in realisation and said nothing. He knew, as a millitary person himself that there is one fundamental rule that cannot be changed despite his elevated political position.
The terrain is to be worked with, not fight against.
Whether we like it or not, we have to work with the world and its expectations, not challenge it with blind fervour or so called “personal principles” because the result will not only be painful, they can sometimes be deadly, as in the case of political leadership.
I looked intently into his eyes and told him, “It’s not about whether you have two or three or even 10 wives. Your country will not accept you like that”.
Within almost an instant, he bowed his head in realisation and said nothing. He knew, as a millitary person himself that there is one fundamental rule that cannot be changed despite his elevated political position.
The terrain is to be worked with, not fight against.
Whether we like it or not, we have to work with the world and its expectations, not challenge it with blind fervour or so called “personal principles” because the result will not only be painful, they can sometimes be deadly, as in the case of political leadership.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Perception vs. reality
Ever find yourself in a situation where you get momentarily “paralysed” just worrying about what that interview or leap that you’re about to take will cost you? How you fret over the possibility to making the wrong choice and perhaps live to regret your decision later?
Yes, we’ve all been there and yes, we’re reliving that same scenario, some more often than others. We’ve been through so many mistakes and “wrong turns” along the years that such fear can become crippling. Some experience it so badly that it becomes socially debilitating.
While the grass does appear greener on the other side, experience has shown us that sometimes that green grass turns dry too.
But let’s take a while to look at it from another perspective. Yes, all change, or the possibility of change is stressful. So, whether it be for good or bad, we will feel the stress. It’s just our mind and body preparing us for the “just in case” result.
However, if you consider that life is indeed just a fleeting moment, that the years seem to fly by at the blink of an eye, wouldn’t it be a waste not to have explored and gone for the green grass on the other side of the fence.
Remember the times when we were “young” and willing to take all sorts of risk just to experience life to the full? Well, have we now aged beyond wanting to experience life anymore? Or are we just scaring ourselves with the possibilities of failure?
See, there is a vast difference between perception and reality. Perception tells us to sit tight and just admire the possibilities because we might fail again or even end up in a more miserable position than we already are while reality tells us that we’re painting too much of a “what if” picture before we even take that first step.
So, by the end of it all, we have to make a choice – are we going to go through life living in fear until we die or will we allow ourselves to be young again, live life and yes, even make a few more mistakes along the way?
“I’m getting too old to make mistakes anymore,” you may say.
But what’s the alternative?
It is okay to continue making mistakes. Why? Because life’s too short not to.
Yes, we’ve all been there and yes, we’re reliving that same scenario, some more often than others. We’ve been through so many mistakes and “wrong turns” along the years that such fear can become crippling. Some experience it so badly that it becomes socially debilitating.
While the grass does appear greener on the other side, experience has shown us that sometimes that green grass turns dry too.
But let’s take a while to look at it from another perspective. Yes, all change, or the possibility of change is stressful. So, whether it be for good or bad, we will feel the stress. It’s just our mind and body preparing us for the “just in case” result.
However, if you consider that life is indeed just a fleeting moment, that the years seem to fly by at the blink of an eye, wouldn’t it be a waste not to have explored and gone for the green grass on the other side of the fence.
Remember the times when we were “young” and willing to take all sorts of risk just to experience life to the full? Well, have we now aged beyond wanting to experience life anymore? Or are we just scaring ourselves with the possibilities of failure?
See, there is a vast difference between perception and reality. Perception tells us to sit tight and just admire the possibilities because we might fail again or even end up in a more miserable position than we already are while reality tells us that we’re painting too much of a “what if” picture before we even take that first step.
So, by the end of it all, we have to make a choice – are we going to go through life living in fear until we die or will we allow ourselves to be young again, live life and yes, even make a few more mistakes along the way?
“I’m getting too old to make mistakes anymore,” you may say.
But what’s the alternative?
It is okay to continue making mistakes. Why? Because life’s too short not to.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Rethinking development
Each person has different rhythms and stages of mental development, but the need of society to dictate how fast children should develop may be more harmful than good. While it may help serve as a helpful barometer of intellect development, the absolute requirement for all children to develop according to its standards means that we will have under nurtured some, resulting in school dropouts.
Additional tuition after school doesn’t help much either simply because they too, are conducted with another barometer-ed system of development in mind but not directed to the student on an individual basis (Ever wondered how home-schooling has succeeded where traditional education failed?).
That is why you will come across people, who in their adulthood will turn out to be total opposites to their childhood, both in character and intellectual capacities. Some excelled in schools while others only after. It is not often that you will get to see someone excel in both eras of their lives. The key to that lies in being able to persevere for a prolonged period.
So what does this all mean?
If you’re being told that you’re a failure in school, know that your intellectual development has not peaked as yet. Rest assured, however, that it will come. And if you’re excelling in school now, you will need to persevere and force yourself to absorb knowledge even when you don’t feel like it.
But perhaps the one who really needs intellectual development to peak at this time is society. To rethink and understand that everyone comes with different stages of development at different stages of their lives.
And who is society? That’s us. We are the ones who make “rules” and therefore, we too, are responsible to amend them.
Additional tuition after school doesn’t help much either simply because they too, are conducted with another barometer-ed system of development in mind but not directed to the student on an individual basis (Ever wondered how home-schooling has succeeded where traditional education failed?).
That is why you will come across people, who in their adulthood will turn out to be total opposites to their childhood, both in character and intellectual capacities. Some excelled in schools while others only after. It is not often that you will get to see someone excel in both eras of their lives. The key to that lies in being able to persevere for a prolonged period.
So what does this all mean?
If you’re being told that you’re a failure in school, know that your intellectual development has not peaked as yet. Rest assured, however, that it will come. And if you’re excelling in school now, you will need to persevere and force yourself to absorb knowledge even when you don’t feel like it.
But perhaps the one who really needs intellectual development to peak at this time is society. To rethink and understand that everyone comes with different stages of development at different stages of their lives.
And who is society? That’s us. We are the ones who make “rules” and therefore, we too, are responsible to amend them.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Affirmations
The continual need for affirmation from peers is a lifelong disease that seems to plague just about everyone, regardless of how senior or junior their station in life has taken them.
This comes from either lapses or on-going habits where people hid away from taking personal responsibility for their choices, believing that if they obtained affirmations from another before taking decisions, any failure wouldn’t be half as bad… at least they wouldn’t be considered entirely of their own doing. There is still another to lay blame to. This blame can then be attributed to either another person or even to God.
But honestly, this is nothing more than people shirking from taking charge of their lives, for being accountable for each and every one of their own actions or inactions. It is yet back to an earlier blog on blaming heaven and earth… but themselves.
No wonder history has seen many so disasters and misendeavours of which their authors never attributed such mess to themselves but always either to the “circumstances” of the heavens or the “evolution” of the earth.
Yes, it is true then – “mankind left to their own devices soon disintegrate into chaos”. Though, oh, it probably wasn’t their fault. Yeah, right…
This comes from either lapses or on-going habits where people hid away from taking personal responsibility for their choices, believing that if they obtained affirmations from another before taking decisions, any failure wouldn’t be half as bad… at least they wouldn’t be considered entirely of their own doing. There is still another to lay blame to. This blame can then be attributed to either another person or even to God.
But honestly, this is nothing more than people shirking from taking charge of their lives, for being accountable for each and every one of their own actions or inactions. It is yet back to an earlier blog on blaming heaven and earth… but themselves.
No wonder history has seen many so disasters and misendeavours of which their authors never attributed such mess to themselves but always either to the “circumstances” of the heavens or the “evolution” of the earth.
Yes, it is true then – “mankind left to their own devices soon disintegrate into chaos”. Though, oh, it probably wasn’t their fault. Yeah, right…
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