Are You Fine to be JUSTa Spare Tire?

Are You Fine to be JUST a 4th Wheel?

Four-wheel vehicles have breached the 1.4 billion mark.  But today's piece is NOT about vehicles but instead, it's all about us, it is how we parlay our life vis-a-vis the four wheels of a vehicle.  And the nagging question is: Are You fine to be JUST a 'SPARE TIRE?  Or worst, are you just fine being that 'spare tire' in life?  That is pitiful if ever you're somewhere there.

Please DON'T get me wrong.  Nothing wrong to be a 'spare tire' especially since it becomes so impactful during such isolated cases.  But again, we need our awareness to factor-in the fact that the usefulness of that 'spare tire' is very fleeting, simply to fill-in that moment when you ended up with a 'flat tire', be mindful of your usefulness.

In life, do we want to play the role of a 'spare tire'?  Hope NOT.  Why?  Because that leads us to this poster's question:  HOW FAR CAN YOU DRIVE ON A SPARE TIRE?  So, given that this is a GIVEN, we really need to RE-THINK if we want to be just like a 'spare tire'?

Meanwhile, while being a 'spare tire' is no mean feat, it behooves that we widen and expand our perspective to realize that in life, our role is NOT JUST to be a 'spare tire'.  With one too many goals we set in life, with just an overflow of 'deliverable goods' we need to deliver, making a living by just being a 'spare tire' will hardly MOVE THE NEEDLE. Looking at the vehicle tires, why can't we be one of the four tires that are constantly cranking and grinding once the vehicle moves?  Without the four tires, how can we complete our travel?

HOW FAR and HOW HIGH can you go on in life heavily hinges on us, on YOU.  But absolutely, if you remain as a 'spare tire', I can absolutely guarantee that it may be just a 'pipe dream' for you to reach FAR and HIGH.  Bottom line is, if we got to initiate a paradigm shift, if we need to overhaul things in our life, if we need to take a 180-degree needle-moving change, let's go for it. Let's rethink:  ARE WE CONTENTED TO BE JUST A SPARE TIRE❓❓❓

Control What You Can, Period.

Control What You Can

Lazy Sunday indeed.  Why?  Instead of cracking my brain for my Monday piece, I thought I'd grab my topic today from my relative's FB post today RE Controlling What You Can Control.  Indeed, most of the time, we're just fully aware with regard Controlling What You Can.  Those commuters taking the Metro Train ride, we've not seen anyone scampering and chasing the train breezing past him.

In approximately fifty percent of our failures in life, such failure[s] was/were attributable to one or more variables in the equation which was/were way BEYOND OUR CONTROL.  In many relationships that have 'GONE SOUTH', at least one of the protagonists tried to control the other partner.  Maybe NOT in the literal sense of CONTROLLING but more likely, imposing his/her own will over his/her partner/spouse.  If that is NOT CONTROLLING, I'm not sure how to tag it.  But that's the whole nine yards of narrative that seems to become a common narrative across cultures, generational ages and social strata.

Let's swing over to the workplace.  What's one of the most common culprits in frictions between colleagues is that 'CONTROLLING' factor wherein someone literally imposes his will on the other.  Now, let's swing over to miscues or mistakes causing lapses in operational processes?  There are some workers who [wrongly] think that he/she can simply sweep such exceptions under the carpet.  But truth is, he/she is probably a misplaced optimist with a misplaced optimism that he/she can simply cover things up.  Such is not the case though.

In our long journey in life, the roads will always be littered with obstacles, some of which are high-risk and worst, fatal.  And frankly, we get disrupted and distracted by such as our attention and focus veers away from the rightful one and instead get 'hostaged' by distractions which are way beyond one's control.  Even for obstacles itself, figure out what's CONTROLLABLE versus NON-CONTROLLABLE.

Now, before we get 'hostaged' by what is NOT, why DON'T we shift our focus to what are those which we can CONTROL?  That way, you are able to leverage on all the 'positivities' and on the same breadth, negating all the negative vibes.  What can you benefit outright by ignoring the NON-CONTROLLABLES?  First off, you avoid wasting your effort, time and even resources on something that is neither winnable nor doable.  Secondly, you shield yourself from frustrations which should not happen in the first place. Lastly, you've got the right focus❗❗❗

When To Take That LEAP

When To Take That LEAP

Good Sunday.  No sirrrrs, I'm NOT pulling a rabbit trick here.  Instead, we'd like to spend our time for our Sunday morning coffee by looking back and looking forward When To Take That LEAP at any point in our life.  Surely, you have leapt a few times in the past.  And how were your LEAPS?  Was it daunting but successful?  Or was it a FLOP or worst, a FAILURE?

Let me share some of my LEAPS in the past. That LEAP when I abandoned my life in the countryside to explore and figure out opportunities in the Metro Area.  That LEAP when I tendered my resignation from my employer who happens to be one of the Top 5 Global companies.  That LEAP when I risked my arms and limb [figuratively speaking] to explore my LUCK in Asia Region's #1 ranked country in GDP terms, economic and financial clout in the Asia Region.  That LEAP when I renounced my naturalized citizenship from Asia's #1 ranked country to take an offer from the local arm of a Top Global I.T. conglomerate.     

So, you might be itching to ask me.  What triggered me to take all those LEAPS in my life [which I humbly admit were all successes to say the least]?  The answer is quite straightforward.  I always TRUSTED myself as soon as I made up my mind to plan things out before taking those DEEP PLUNGES.  Had I doubted myself, I could have fell short of my goals.  Had I feared to fail as well, I would have ended short of where I should be.  But again, TRUSTING oneself is NOT just a motto, a mantra.  You got to have it embedded within yourself because that has to be innate when you PUSH PUSH PUSH yourself for your goals.

If there is one thing we need you NOT TO BE please DON'T be like Spiderman because his heroic tales are fictional per se.  Instead, what is expected from us is a REALISTIC confidence and trust all rolled into one, because that paves the way for you to succeed in your next LEAP. 

At the end of the day, after you achieve a breakthrough with rounds and rounds of successful LEAPS, that should give you a SENSE of ACCOMPLISHMENT that should lead you to smoother sleeps.  Until then, do consider to take the NEXT LEAP again.  And NEVER rest on your laurels because successes smell good only as long as the scents of success will last.  In due time, it withers and dissipates.  So, never stop asking yourself When To Take That LEAP✅✅✅

Hey, Why is There No 'RECYCLE BIN' in Life?

Hey, Why is There No 'RECYCLE BIN' in Life?

Happy Saturday.  Sharing our piece today while you sip your brewed coffee.  Oh, does this question make sense?  Truth is, we can continue asking this question.  Why is technology many light years ahead than human life.  Why is there a 'RECYCLE BIN' in all devices and even smartphones.  But Hey, Why is There No 'RECYCLE BIN' in Life?  Isn't this a matter of serious concern for us? Because this deprives us to recover, rescind or repeal any previous decision made when you just DUMPED things as easy as 1-2-3.

Indeed, that is a huge gap I doubt humanity can even ever hurdle, not even if you combine all the almost bottomless reservoir coming from Elon Musk, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg combined.  Just as this shared poster goes, once you have decided to jump, there's NO way you can 'UNJUMP' even if you totally miss your goal.  And that's our dilemma because everyone got so spoiled with the 'UNDO' function such that they frequently [wrongly] think there is a 'RECYCLE BIN' in life.

That's the thing.  You can pounce and pour out your frustration [a.k.a. disgust] for whatever ill-advised decision you may have made but that's about it, there is just NO turning back because that's all there is in life. We just got NO 'RECYCLE BIN'.  So, how do we address this?  Throw away that 'UNDO' mindset because tha just DOESN'T EXIST, not in our lives.

Oh, I love this poster as it says it all.  Indeed, when you 'CROSS A BRIDGE', there is toll fee to settle.  But more critically important to note is that once you have CROSSED the BRIDGE, that's it. you are done crossing and you paid that toll fee.  Want to go back?  That's another round of decision you got to grapple with under NO EASY TERMS. 

What's the hardest lessons we can learn from all these 'UNDO' struggles in life?  You got to patiently, assiduously and thoroughly comb all the considerations, all the pluses and minuses of each option at hand before you take that step of NO RETURN, that of making a decision that has to be done.  This way, we can avoid seeing you scratching your head with disgust and 'SELF-BLAME' all because you made an ill-advised decision and worst, there is NO RECYCLE BIN IN LIFE, whew✅✅✅

How To COPY & PASTE in LIFE

How To COPY & PASTE in LIFE

Today's technologies have led us to one too many functions which in the past only the tech savvy had a monopoly.  And one most common [day-to-day] functioin in fact is that COPY & PASTE function.  So seamless, so effortless.  But did we realize that long before these technologies were introduced, to COPY & PASTE in LIFE was as casual as ever?

Of the zillions of quotable quotes, that REINVENTING THE WHEEL thing has hit the chord more than anything else.  Why?  Well, some smart Alecs would believe that after being a 'copycat', reinventing the wheel was the next big thing.  It could be a cosmetic change as long as he/she can claim credit for tweaking after that COPY & PASTE.

On the other hand, tracing back to our childhood, as kids, we would COPY & PASTE the things which our parents did, those behaviors that enamored us. And by the time we were in school, we got exposed to a life wherein to COPY & PASTE was more prevalent given the plethora of options we did see around.  And as we claimed our adulthood, COPY & PASTE was something that led us to complacency, to being more laidback.  We never lifted a finger to improve what we copied.  We never tweaked things, contented enough with that COPY & PASTE, and that's the thing.

To quote popular American bassist Billy Cox, TECHNOLOGY SHOULD IMPROVE YOUR LIFE, NOT BECOME YOUR LIFE.  Indeed that is our human dilemma. Sometimes when we COPY & PASTE, we just copy everything hook, line and sinker.  But hey, are we talking of PLUG & PLAY stuff?  No sirrrrs, NOT in life.  Where you need to tweak things, please do.  You can even fine-tune it.

At the end of the day, let us envision life that will be serene and devoid of all the anxieties and pressures that are zapping our energies.  After all the COPY & PASTE in life, we, you are on our own.  It's your call.  It's your life.  Leverage on it and regardless of the number of times you have COPIED & PASTED, bottom-line is that you should be better off today than yesterday❗❗❗ 

Work SMARTER Rather Than HARDER

Work SMARTER Rather Than HARDER

The old school of thought have educated all our generations [UNTIL NOW] to work HARDER and that was non-negotiable.  Regardless of countries and cultures, that was the mantra that resonated across.  But hold on.  Does that hold water till now?  Unfortunately, that mindset has outlived its relevance because today, we got to SMARTER Rather Than HARDER

Call Centers abound everywhere and what's their common denominator across industries?  It's volume of work that matters.  You could be an Inbound or Outbound Call Center resource but everyone in your organization are all cracking the whip because Working SMARTER Rather Than HARDER.

And to make things murkier than murky, here comes all these plethora of technologies and smart devices.  What else is the next 'IN' thing than to see us all working our butts out, grinding like the 'DAWGS' from the kernel.  But did that improve our lot at least by a notch?  Unfortunately. it did not lead us to Work SMARTER Rather Than HARDER

So, here I am, grabbing this poster which is screaming THINK and WORK HARDER and NOT HARDER.  So, where's the disconnect  here?  It is in the 'HARDER' mindset because that leads os crank up the numbers and volumes of work.  Does that explain why many of us have had 'unpleasant' [to be diplomatic about it] experiences with Call Center interactions?  It's because we have overlook that we got to Work SMARTER Rather Than HARDER.

So, what it is really we want in life?  Simple.  It is to live a life devoid of the undue stress and pressures that hit us from all directions.  The antidote for all this?  Think of shortening the process.  Explore reducing your efforts without compromising quality.  Unless and until we embrace this mantra to Work SMARTER Rather Than HARDER, we will never see the light at the end of the tunnel❗❗❗

Are You HUNGRY & STARVING For SUCCESS?

Are You HUNGRY & STARVING For SUCCESS?

Yes folks, let me borrow this chirping bird's one-liner:  Are You HUNGRY & STARVING For SUCCESS?  We really hope so because success itself can't be added to cart and checked out.  And if you're NOT that HUNGRY & STARVING for SUCCESS, then I am afraid and seriously doubtful that you can make any headway in whatever endeavor you are trying to push for.  Swing back to our daily lives.  When you had taken some snacks then here comes the regular meal, do you see yourself really gobbling up the food on the table?  Or would you give it a pass instead?

Or maybe, are you enjoying life so much, with all the perks and benefits around you such that it becomes so far fetched that you would ever get to be HUNGRY & STARVING, not when you have all the goodies and the freebies.  That's the mother of all ironies in life where we end getting caught up in that vicious cycle because after achieving a milestone of success, our HUNGER FOR SUCCESS just dissipates in thin air.

Looking back. how many times in the past were we like this ambitious guy who would risk his limb and even life just to go across that huge gap via a very fragile wooden plank?  I myself, I would admit that the milestone successes I did achieve in the past were the fruits of my being HUNGRY & STARVING.  With all humility, I realized that if I were not that HUNGRY & STARVING, I would not be what I am now✅✅✅

What Is More Convincing Than The 'TRUTH'

 What Is More Convincing Than The 'TRUTH'

We all want the truth.  We just hunger for the truth and no less than that.  Unfortunately, anything that presents itself as truth cannot just be accepted hook, line and sinker.  It has to go through the gauntlet, through the eye of the needle, so to speak.  Why?  It's because what is more convincing than the 'TRUTH' itself because anything and everything will emanate out of such purported truth although a big bulk of all those stuff will end up rubbished and/or less than truth.  BTW, some are simply optical illusions, whew.

Truth is, we should all cling back to the books because supposedly, they are the very repository of everything that can be tagged as 'gospel truth'.  But alas, as we speak now, even books CANNOT be deemed as the archives and repository of all the 'gospel truth' because half-truths and even the 'false truths' have littered the grounds all over us.  What does this mean?  We got to be ten times more discerning, more suspecting, more validating and less trusting till it's time to

Grabbing this poster from Netflix, this says all that has to be heard that THE TRUTH IS THE TRUTH. What today's piece tells us is that each of us are all expected to carry that mantle of responsibility to help that TRUTH that is less than 100% can never claim to be the TRUTH itself because it is just simply irreplaceable.  Try looking at the possibilities when someone attempts to put up a farcical facade, let's ask ourselves, HOW FAR CAN THEY GO and peddle the half-truths or worst, the 'UN-TRUTHS' ?

Oh, I love this poster.  For those less cynical than me, you could be more likely and inclined to embrace 'half truths' but hey, this poster is alarming, saying:  BEWARE OF THE HALF TRUTH.  YOU MAY HAVE GOTTEN HOLD OF THE WRONG HALF.  Scary indeed, there may be some ounce of truth in a version of a story but WHAT IF, WHAT IF you ended up getting hold of the 'WRONG HALF'?  So, this just tells us that there are NO gray areas when it comes to TRUTH.  It's either a white or black, either it is here or there and worst, even neither nor.

For those frank and blunt enough, this poster should merit your thumbs up because this becomes akin to a 'winner take all', no quarters given or surrendered.  Lesson here is that if there is anyone else who should convince you with the validity of truth, you got to be your own man in CONVINCING yourself for the TRUTH✅✅✅

Keep Anticipating !

Keep Anticipating ! 

Happy Monday folks.  Let me start the week with a seemingly hollowed question.  When do you feel that adrenalin rush, that fidgety feeling of being unable to wait for the next day, next hour.  And BTW, what keeps you going on your feet?  Of course you got your reservoir of energy but is that what keeps you going?  I doubt it.  Instead, I'll confide with you what keeps me going, whether it is a Monday morning because what really ensures the locomotive train to keep going is that it Keeps Anticipating !

Let's just picture out that l'il girl who's looking forward for her birthday come next day.  What keeps  her anticipating !  Hmmm, it's that never-ending anticipation of all the possible gifts she will receive come next day.  Back to myself, what's my trick for maintaining that momentum and adrenalin rush?  It's simply to keep anticipating! And when do I start anticipating? I do start that anticipation as early as Sunday evening!

Here's the key, though.  What will you be Anticipating?  Ok, anticipate the do-good stuff, the positives and not the negatives  You DON'T anticipate FEARS and WORRIES.  It has to be your probable higher academic grades in school, that possibility of you receiving a customer commendation,.  It has to be your 1-on-1 with your team members who'll get promoted with your approval.

As American Author Iris Johansen says, ANTICIPATION MAKES PLEASURE MORE INTENSE.  That PLEASURE of promoting your team member, that PLEASURE of helping the needy, that PLEASURE of surprising your partner/spouse on his/her birthday come next day, that PLEASURE of breaking your daily revenues as you kickoff promoting new restaurant menus

In the midst of your travails, you would need any drop of anticipation, in whatever form and shape it may be.  Now, let's play devil's advocate.  WHAT IF we stop anticipating?  Oh ok, that's not a crime but do you know that that deprives you of starting things with the right foot?  Imagine your Monday list of appointments and deliverables start off on a placid Sunday night when you start to psyche up yourself because to KEEP ANTICIPATING is all that will keep you going, your energy pumping, your motivation would have reached a ceiling that keeps going up for you to realize that your ceiling is higher than expected✅✅✅

That 'HAIL MARY' Shot

That 'HAIL MARY' Shot

No sirs, today's piece is NOT about religion at all.  Instead, we'd like to spend a bit of our Sunday time to look back at those times when we were in a such state of DESPERATION such that we'll do anything including throwing desperately That 'HAIL MARY' Shot regardless of the probability you making the shot or not.  BTW, such is life, there were times in the past [and even possibly in the future] where everything will be DEJA VU for you.  But c'mon, let's take a step back for now and ask ourselves, do we really need to take that DESPERATION 'HAIL MARY' Shot?

We DON'T need to look far.  When this more than two-year pandemic struck us hard, many of us, especially the lower strata of society, were the hardest hit of its impact.  And both in the media and surely within your communities, we heard or read very 'desperate' situations especially in early 2020 when the pharma companies had yet to complete their R&D and successful production of vaccines.  How many lives were lost.  As of last count, we did witness 6.4 million deaths across, a number that was depressing enough to trigger DESPERATION.

Allow me to even borrow this poster from CBN Asia because obviously DESPERATE times would tend to lead us to DESPERATE moves, and of course, with prayers as the very last straw we tend to cling, hoping that while clutching that very last straw, it won't snap and cause us to drop dead in that abyss. Now, let's clear up the mixed up air.  Do we really need to take that 'HAIL MARY' Shot when we are in that desperate situation?  The answer is a clear and loud YES but with a qualifier though.  Ensure that you are into that precipice of failing.

Ensure though that 'HAIL MARY' Shot you're about to take is your LIFESAVER no less and NOT something that will push you deeper in that deep morass.  It is a a huge blunder if that 'HAIL MARY' Shot you're about to take will push you from worse to worst.  Remember that if you're successful with that 'HAIL MARY' Shot, that should be the ultimate 'GAME-CHANGER'.

On a lighter note, we got to take this poster seriously.  Taking a deep breath and grabbing a cup of coffee will do wonders to snap the 'vicious streak'. streak'. And whether you are at the workplace or in your entrepreneurial activities, when you are in an extreme situation that approximates a desperate scenario, consider taking a SABBATICAL and you can take that respite for a year or more.  Bottom-line is you're able to rise up and recover even if it will take you to go for a  'HAIL MARY' Shot❗❗❗