How to Detect Roadblocks

How to Detect Roadblocks 

Not too long ago, detecting roadblocks was a no-brainer.  It was even a non-issue with all the effective signages prevailing in the yesteryears.  Not anymore these days though.  If the Google browser has introduced that 'incognito' mode, even today's roadblocks in life are mostly running in 'incognito' mode too.  You're left to fend for your hapless self, if you still can.

Unfortunately, in life, there are one too many roadblocks for us to hurdle.  Your family ties. Financial woes.  Health issues.  Woes at work, just one too many of them out there.  Unfortunately, much as technology has progressed, there were no corresponding breakthroughs that can become the human tools and aid in detecting up front these roadblocks in life.

So how do we go from here [once we hit a roadblock] ?  Much is expected from us to hurdle all the roadblocks in life but never miss that element of time as being the most consequential factor even before you're able to detect a roadblock.  You gotta manhandle it fully, totally, wholly.  And there's no easier way out, much as we want to extricate from a huge ball of fire.

Of course, AppStore and PlayStore won't be far behind.  Developers are fast-tracking roadblock applications but not to be cynical, fact is, technology can in NO WAY ever intervene where the human-factor needs to kick-in.  If your car headlights see a looming roadblock ahead, slow down, release your foot from the gas accelerator and just taper off.  

Remember, there's a lot more roadblocks in life not visible and undetectable even from those high-end drones.  Remember, big problems very rarely start as big problems.  A big chunk of big problems start off as a blip in the radar, that irritant you just wanna ignore not until it illuminates enormous light enough to keep you blinded.  So how do we detect looming 'roadblocks' in life ?  There are tell-tale signs to forewarn us of an impending roadblock further down the road.

No pun intended but instead of [falsely] clinging to the Waze Apps, be WISER instead of being a 'WAZER'. One too many tools and aids for us to anticipate those roadblocks.  Body language.  Handwritings on the wall.  Drastic changes should be discernible.  How do we validate our speculative guesses ?  Take random pulse checks.  Take a temperature check.  And BTW, random pulse checks won't lead you to those coined 'false positives' and 'false negatives'.  📌

Make Your Case !

Make Your Case !

To make your case does NOT mean that you're facing the bar of justice.  You can be a student in school, so you need to MAKE YOUR CASE to excel academically.  You can be a worker, so you need to MAKE YOUR CASE to stand out at work.  You can MAKE YOUR CASE when you're angling for a promotion at work.  You can MAKE YOUR CASE if you are in a conflict.  Obviously, MAKE YOUR CASE if you are involved in a litigation.

BTW, it's NOT just to MAKE YOUR CASE.  You gotta make your BEST case !  Palliatives won't be enough.  You gotta make a turnaround and achieve the goal[s] and result[s] you're angling for.  More often than not, the very root cause of our shortfalls in life is NOT because you didn't MAKE YOUR CASE but rather it's because you didn't MAKE YOUR BEST CASE. 

Which leads us back to this very old cliche.  Nothing wrong really for us to aim for the moon because while surely you'll fail, definitely you'll hit above ground and likely way beyond the tree top. Amongst couples, you may want take one approach while your partner is pushing for a different approach.  Quick fix ?  Each of you should MAKE YOUR BEST CASE, whoever wins, prevails.

BTW, at the core of all these is CHANGE.  And this poster says it all: 'IF YOU CHANGE NOTHING, NOTHING WILL CHANGE'.  OMG, I can attest to this a zillion times.  I have seen people who are passive and laidback, literally idle in his couch, waiting for the fruit to 'drop from the tree straight' down to him.  Year after, years after, what changed in that person ?  Nil, Nada, Nothing.

What's the magic word then ?  It's APPROACH no less.  Our APPROACH in life is at the very core as you run the course.  DON'T blame the economy.  DON'T point at global warming.  DON'T pass the buck to this pandemic.  DON'T put the blame to that mean teacher or to that tough boss because 'the buck stops on you', period.  What makes things smooth for a plane's landing at the runway, it's the APPROACH, period.❗❗❗

Are You at the End of the Rope ?

Are You at the End of the Rope ?

We can't ignore or deny it.  Throughout our iives, we are literally clinging to our rope.  And it takes consistent dexterity and focus to ensure you are in full control at every point within your rope.  Remember, our time to cling on to that rope is NOT UNLI.  Can't be UNLIMITED.  You DON'T scroll through instagram instead of getting on to your important tasks.  You DON'T put off work assignments until the last minute. You DON'T want to start dieting or exercising or saving money but repeatedly delaying it by saying 'I'LL START SOON'.  You DON'T want to go into business but till now, you're in RESEARCH Mode. You DON'T perform a task until 'you're in the mood'.

Remember, although we're clinging to the rope, we've got the 'WHOLE 9 YARDS' to navigate throughout our lives.  It's like we were pushed in a decrepit corner with no room to wiggle.  What compounds our problems is that we tend not to recognize the domain given us.  Instead, we look for the ideal circumstance, that ideal scenario and anything less than that, we tend to feel handicap, which is unfounded.

If at all, rightfully, we must have that gumption to hang on, cling on to the ropes regardless of the difficulties we face in life.  And when things become edgy, when you feel you are at the very edges of fate and at the precipice of your destiny, eke it out, extricate yourself from that deep morass.  Summon all the remaining energy and motivation that can kick-in.  Liken this situation to a rickety car struggling to drive up a steep slope so the driver has to fully step on the gas to fuel up things so that all cylinders will be 'on fire' even uphill.  Where you are half-hearted or hardly motivated, trust me, even your call will conk out in that uphill struggle.

Oh, i dread that, seeing that last thread, that one last string and fiber about to snap off.  Who won't get scared with that in the first place ? So what's the fix ?  Things shouldn't get stretched as to reach that last fiber, last thread, last string.  And what could be the root cause ?  Studies show that 80% of the time, procrastination is the very root why we have to reach that last thread, last fiber, last string.  No time ?  C'mon.  How about five minutes ? You can do anything in five minutes. 

 There is an 80% chance you'll continue working once you put in those five minutes but even if you don't, you're still five minutes closer to your goal.  And most importantly, you've taken one more step to breaking that detestable old habit of not starting things on time, on the dot.  There's just no tomorrow.  Just do today, do things right now where you can.  Lastly, you can have your family but it's only you who'll define your destiny.  📌📌📌

Wanna Be Happy? Make Others Happy

Wanna Be Happy? Make Others Happy

Yesireee, this rabbit says it all, happiness is all over the body language.  And this is one area where most of us [including myself in the yesteryears] may be somewhat guilty of, when and where personal aggrandizement was the norm of the day.  We used to be so obsessed with happiness to the extent that we ended up being self-centered and selfish because we [wrongly] thought that we would achieve happiness by feeding ourselves with everything where we wanted to be personally happy.  However, most of the times, whatever happiness we achieved, it was very fleeting, very temporary and very much short-lived.

And not to totally blame ourselves, we have to blame here technology itself.  Who else gave us that frivolous 'SELFIE' application.  With 'SELFIES' becoming more as part of our daily habits, unconsciously, we tended to be so self-centric, self-focused for that obsessed happiness.  Don't get me wrong, i love 'SELFIE' much but let us not be lost that that 'SELFIE' is sufficient for us to achieve happiness. Not at all.

The formula.  The solution.  It's never a complex thing.  We just need to literally switch from our own selves to other people, your partner, your family, your loved ones.  If we go back to SELFIE's, that's fine but let's pull in beside us our partner, our loved ones, our family.  Surprisingly, it will not take a gargantuan effort for you to exert if you want to achieve that happiness.  Once you see your partner smile, your family or loved ones smile, trust me, you would instantly achieve that happiness you were always nursing for.  And that is the beauty behind this cycle of happiness because it comes back to you in a very positive note.

If at all,  we just never forget that we always have that capacity to further scaling up.  To manifest that principle of selfless sacrifice, we should try planting trees under whose shade we do not plan to sit.  To accentuate on this, we can't be what we can't see.  On the other hand, if we see ourselves achieving happiness by making others happy, then that proves that we can be what we can see.

Self-importance.  Self-absorption.  Self-righteousness.  That intolerance.  Inflexibility.  Impatience.  Intolerance.  Incorrigible.  Self-conceitedness.   These are traits that are no-no for us to achieve happiness in good faith.  More importantly, when we see that streak of happiness from our partner, our family, our loved ones, trust me, that feeling to achieve meaningful happiness becomes doable.❗❗❗

Don't Give Up Your 'FARM'

Don't Give Up Your 'FARM'

We may not be living in the countryside now.  We may not be owning farms.  Not a problem.  Your FARM is your FAMILY.  In life, nothing is most paramount than your FAMILY.  Not any of your assets and properties.  Not even your job.  Not even your businesses.  At the very core of our lives is our FAMILY.  Once you give up that very core, sad to say, your life will crumble down to the ground because by then, the very foundational legs of your structure has collapsed.

This 'unknown' poster did catch my attention because in the shortest words possible, it tells us everything that does comprise the very legs and foundation of your life, that is, your FAMILY, your HEART. It could be the most petty thing or the most challenging issue at hand.  Brene Brown, a respected American storyteller summed it up that we need to establish that 'CONNECTION' because that will bind us to the very people where we will find the meaning and purpose to our lives.  That SENSE of WORTHINESS, that follows once we get that SENSE of BELONGING.  You can't spin off and go on that orbital route all by yourself.  By then, you will realize you DON'T have a purposeful life.

There will be episodes in our life where the horizons show you nothing but gloom, the darkness of an imminent super storm about to ravage us all.  Will you compromise or sacrifice your family all because of that impending gloom ?  No senor.  On the contrary, that should egg you more to dig in, grind harder and kick your ass damn hard, all for your family.

These days, especially in the First World, 8 out of 10 don't live in those farm environments.  But that's never an excuse for us to ignore the symbolic meaning of the farm.  And that farm is our family.  Break up the farm.  You'll end up breaking your family.  And in a snap, you'll be breaking up your life by then.  So let's dig deep into the foxholes even if all the cards are stacked against us.  NEVER sacrifice your family.  That's one of life's handful of NON-NEGOTIABLES, the others being yourself and your GOD.

Oh, this crap of sheet, this is no crap.  I found what's scribbled herein as very incisive, i.e. "I DON'T WANT SOMEONE WHO WALKS AWAY SO EASILY".  Well said. And I think the key word here is "SO EASILY" because this does NOT imply that walking away is a No-No.  What strikes the chord here is "SO EASILY" because quite many of us DON'T have that intestinal fortitude to be resilient amidst difficulties in life.  Bottom-line is, DON'T give up your FARM, NEVER sacrifice your family. not under any circumstances.📌📌📌

Crack the Code !

Crack the Code !

Have you cracked the code [in life] yet ?  Is it feasible to crack the code within our lifetime ?  Hmmmm, literally speaking, cracking the code is more than just rocket science because that brings us into those 'cloak and dagger' scenarios.  So let's just discourse about cracking the code of our life and let's not venture beyond that.

Indeed, on the surface, it's just damn tough to crack the code of our life.  Many of fallouts we know in our life must have failed practically all throughout their lifetime till their lives just gave up on them.  But again, our path walk may be riddled with potholes [or worst, planted with landmines] but never lose sight of the spot you fell or failed because you gotta rise up from that fall and pick up the pieces to trudge on again.

Let's do pick things up from this poster that if it ain't rocket science, then it should not be difficult.  Precisely, point taken.  C'mon, let's NOT make a mountain out of a molehill.

On the other hand, think of our life as a jigsaw puzzle.  You pick up clues here and there, piece things together but DON'T force a square peg on a round hole because that won't work.  Take the cues in life, pick up lessons along the way.  To quote Former US First Lady Michelle Obama, what is important is not your failure but it's what you do after that.

On the other hand, let's NOT over-simplify things here.  Let's NOT falsely raise expectations because we'll end up on the wrong side of the road then.  Let's accept that life ISN'T easy and it WON'T be easy.  You'll fall flat on your face many times in your life, till you become battle-scarred [and probably with lingering scars embedded within to remind you that you went through the wringer.

Put it this way, for our mutual alignment.  Life can be simple but it's NOT that easy.  You gotta learn things the hard way.  A lot of PAIN, SWEAT and TEARS will need to be endured even before you can inch yourself forward BUT.  And here's the BUT.  Once you have that breakthrough in life, it's like a well-oiled machine that will go in full throttle to move you on the fast last.  C'mon, let's CRACK THE CODE, figure out how you'll eventually succeed in life.✅✅✅

Are We Now Ready for the 'NEW NORMAL' ?

Are We Now Ready for the 'NEW NORMAL' ?

Are We Now Ready for the 'NEW NORMAL' ?  So sorry this could be toughest question which even myself I'm unable to spew out a clear and confident answer.  But as we're all in a bind now, we can't run away from this question because the end is nowhere in sight, not even that sight of a faint light at the end of a long tunnel.  Like it or not, we need to ride on this bandwagon for the long haul, wherever this might lead us to.

So, what's in store for us ?  Buckle down your seat belts as we reassess today's landscape and figure out what will be our DOs and DONTs:

DO tighten your $$$ [even if you're awash with it]

DO prepare for unexpected scenarios for $$$.

DO remain cautious when you leave your home.

DO keep your interaction to the barest essentials.

DO remain flexible to adapt to contingencies.

DO keep persevering & patient @ every step.

DO remain persistent despite setbacks you face.

DON'T be lax and loose financially.

DON'T be frivolous in your things to buy

DON'T be that optimistic of the unknown

DON'T believe every social media info

DON'T buy hook line & sinker any rumor

DON'T be picky if you got limited options

DON'T expect pandemic to be over soon

If we do care less about ourselves, think about the FUTURE, your children, your immediate nephews and nieces.  Nothing is more important than the upcoming generations.  If and where you got sufficient assets for your family, let us not be too confident that that will tie us up till the next generations.  

One fell swoop of this scary virus, whatever funds you kept and saved for so long can be gone in a wink.  Testimonies of families whose loved ones spent weeks in the hospital ICUs are tear-jerkers to hear.  I may not be the best messenger of FRUGALITY but if this is the pill we need to swallow, please do.  This is what the doctor ordered us to follow, no questions asked.  How you intend to translate FRUGALITY into concrete action will be your call but do take the best possible JUDGMENT CALLs no less.✅✅✅

Idealism is DEAD

Idealism is DEAD

Not long ago, if you were an IDEALIST, you deserved a homecoming parade when you go back to your place.  You will be the TOAST of the TOWN where politicians and kibitzers will be hobnobbing with you, eager to prey on the next photo ops.  But that was long ago before the pundits relentlessly pounded on the hollowed and misguided trajectory of the idealists.  These days, try it and you will become 'toast'.

For those idealists whose respective journey became ill-fated ones, they were very much aligned and 'in sync' except that they opted out of the WHAT IFs in our life.  They left no quarters open to entertain those WHAT IFs.  Nothing wrong with their optimism but more often, such optimism goes overboard, way and beyond.  Nothing wrong with ignoring pessimism but totally shunning it off will be a stretch.

If there's one thing we should not replicate in our lives, it's the horse's blinders.  But remember, those galloping horses were fitted with blinders not to blind them but instead, to keep their focus straight across their path as they are vulnerable to disruptions and distractions.  Sounds familiar to us humans ?  Those vulnerability to disruptions and distractions ?

A decade ago, I was working on a daily basis with the CIO of HSBC India as we were sharing the same office for a year and when we were in the midst of planning for capex proposals, he was quite vociferous in standing his ground that  we can paint what we want, all the ideal technology infrastructures that offers us the best of both worlds but the question that always stomped us was this:  Are we willing to wait for 3-5 yrs to achieve all the ideal plans when we can push for a realistic rollout in 2-3 yrs?

That American dream, who doesn't cherish those dreams ?  As the cliche goes, America is the land of milk and honey, literally and figuratively speaking.  And would you believe, I have first-hand knowledge of quite a number of people whose lives have been in a standstill [after several decades] simply because they are so glued at that ideal dream, that dream of becoming an American immigrant one day.  But is that acceptable ?  Our lives will be in 'suspended' mode as we wait for our ideal dream to shape up ?  What does all these tell us ?  That being idealist is laudable to hear BUT having an "ALL or NOTHING"  mindset will be self-defeating because it can cause you a setback where any hopes for you to rebound from that FREE FALL can happen.  In fact, once you get into that FREE FALL, we can agree that IDEALISM is DEAD. ❗❗❗

Is Your Life a 'CLINT EASTWOOD' Movie ?

 Is Your Life a 'CLINT EASTWOOD' Movie ?

If you're either a Millennial or Gen Z, I swear if you heard anything about Clint Eastwood, you'll retort WHO WHAT WTF.  Can't blame them because Clint Eastwood's western movies got exposed more to Gen X and the boomers.  Nevertheless, lessons can be picked here.

Most, if not all, Clint Eastwood movies were those western stuff where he's the Sheriff who ALWAYS [as in ALWAYS] ends up as the HERO [or even Super HERO].  And that was good entertainment until it lasted not until that 'Super Hero' stereotype has worn out and over-stretched itself across the welcome mat.  Back into our lives, we hope your life till now is not akin to a 'Clint Eastwood' movie because if it is, I would strongly encourage to push yourself to what is real and genuinely real till both your feet do touch the ground.  Otherwise, it won't be fair for you to seemingly enjoy the best of worlds, the reel world versus the real world because that reel world will remain as such.

It could be a ceramic platter and that's fine because that's an authentic artifact.  In our life, truism should be at our very core, our very mantra.  We could be as tough as a nail or as soft as marshmallows and that's fine as long as that is you.  What is detestable is for you to lead and live a farcical facade that is as hollowed as it can be. 

Fake Life ?  No one wants to lead a life that is either a bogus, a phony, a sham and spurious at that because that kind of does not lead one forward but instead to regression.  Moreover, there is no exit routine in fake lives because you end up at the far end of the tunnel with no escape route for you to take.  In life, if you led and lived a fake life, be it across years or decades, that despicable life will haunt you as you hit the homestretch of your life.  If it's all fun and fun galore, things are good while it lasts but trust me, that 'PARTY WILL BE OVER SOON'.

BUT life is NOT a lost cause if you get to be honest with your second wind, second chances, second life.  We all deserve second chances but you gotta stand for what justifies a second life. Recoup your missed opportunities, recover from your missteps but you gotta do this pronto, soonest asap.  Your life needs to get back to shape, dude.📌📌📌

Nail It Home !

Nail It Home !

Remember the first day of classes in school, you were so excited days before Day-1 ?  Remember your Day-1 at your new job where you were oozing with energy ?  Remember when you tied the knot, you were 'heels over head' to your partner ?  Remember when you finally had your first-owned business, you were on your feet almost round-the-clock ?  Remember when your life was at its lowest point, you were praying to all the Gods and saints [DON'T get wrong, nothin' wrong with that] ?  Remember when you saw your first-born child, your emotions were relentlessly overflowing ?

My, how time flies, really !  In a snap, that excitement has dissipated in thin air.  In a wink, the energy is all but spent.  In a snap, the overflowing emotions have simmered down.  In a moment, that fervor is gone, literally.  In a moment, the telco's network cell site has gone from full-bar to 1-bar.  In another time, the battery has gone from full strength to low-batt to a drained battery.  What the hell happened in that span of time ?

Such is life, very much akin to a lithium battery.  Regardless of it's full-strength straight from the factory floor, it will cycle down and needs to be recycled up via that recharging process.  That truism can't be farther in real life.   Nothing can be static.  Nothing is imprinted for life.  The steadfastness of our efforts is needed at the very least for us to survive this vicious cycle.

What's the antidote for all these ? You gotta swing for the fences, boy.  You gotta give it all, like it's your last trip to the baseball diamond.  DON'T assume that you'll have second chances.  DON'T assume that you'll catch a second wind. DON'T assume for a china man's chance again. DON'T assume that lady luck is always with you. DON'T assume that the sun will shine next day.  DON'T assume that you'll not run out of luck.

Thing is, ideally, values and habit formation start from our early childhood days but if that didn't happen [for whatever circumstances], it's NOT a show-stopper for you to declare that you won't NAIL IT HOME and HIT FOR A HOMERUN because it's too late in life.  That's a baloney to say the least.  Again, it's your mind playing tricks with you !

More often, in our failings, it's not because we didn't aim for what we need to achieve.  To be fair, most of us knew the goal[s] to achieve BUT there is a big BUT.  Along the way, there are disruptions and distractions BUT c'mon, those are the harsh realities in life.  We didn't expect to live the life of a monk up there in the monasteries in Nepal and the Himalayas where there is ZERO-disruptions and ZERO-distractions.  C'mon guys, let's NAIL IT HOME, let's HIT FOR A HOMERUN ❗❗❗