A Rising Tide Lifts All The Boats

A Rising Tide Lifts All The Boats

No sirrrrrs, today's piece is neither about the maritime industry nor about sailors.  Instead, A Rising Tide Lifts All The Boats attempts to map those scenarios to our life wherein we are the TIDE that directly shapes and influences the lives of our immediate loved ones, our immediate family.  That level of the tide dictates the tempo and even the very fate of the boats itself📌📌📌

Those boats onshore are akin to our loved ones.  Whatever happens to them is dictated by the way you live and lead your life.  If you're the head of the family, too much responsibilities rest on your shoulders.  And it is NOT sufficient that you are soft and kind hearted.  Heads of families need to be ASSERTIVE, DECISIVE and PERSISTENT to the extent of being PUSHY because you DON'T have that intestinal fortitude to be the leader of your family, your family's direction may get waylaid💊💊💊

Your SENSE of RESPONSIBILITY dictates upon you to be the forceful leader who will lead the pack to an outcome favorable to everyone.  Unfortunately, I can attest to have seen people whose BEST TRAITS, if at all, are the dreaded 3 F's namely FEEBLE, FEARFUL and FRIGHTENED.  Imagine that hesitation to step forward as the person gets 'hostaged' by endless apprehensions in life❓❓❓

GRIT, FORTITUDE and WILLPOWER are the most basic traits that one has to equip himself for him to LEAD effectively.  Try to take away GRIT, FORTITUDE and WILLPOWER, what you have at hand is your RECIPE for FAILURE.  Who wants to end up with the family members taking their own separate paths?  Who wants to end up in an 'EMPTY HOME'❓❓❓

Sadly, I have seen lives wasted because it was NOT steered with GRIT and FORTITUDE.  The supposed LEADER can be soft spoken and kind but those are NOT the essential traits a LEADER is expected to manifest.  Take away that GRIT and FORTITUDE [pardon me, a.k.a. 'balls], your life and likely the lives of your loved ones will likely be 'off tracked' till one by one, FAILURE becomes the end result.  Lesson here is that YOU as the TIDE will shape or ship out others lives✅✅✅

When YOUR World Gets Smaller

When YOUR World Gets Smaller

Talking about the world seems huge indeed.  But can we agree that our world is what we want anyone.  If as this poster says, 'EVERYTHING IS OK', so be it, your world will be as what you said it.  Here's the caveat though.  What you say or what you said may not be factual but sadly, it could be more fiction more than anything else.  And when that happens, it is not too far fetched to anticipate that probably YOUR WORLD GETS SMALLER, no thanks to you though💎💎💎

Whether you think the world you live in is that too big and wide OR too cramped or limiting, it is shaped more by your very own outlook in life.  If living marginally is acceptable to you, you can forget dreaming to live in quite a bigger and probably palatial place.  Whereas, if you continue to hunger for the ultimate success, likely your fate is plotted right on your palms.  But let's not be daydreaming for now💹💹💹

Reality is, a lot of news remain bleak.  When we hear breakups, job loss or even your pet getting sick, that can make it even harder to have hope for the future.  Like the recent years, its been tough.  The aftermath of that cruel pandemic caused almost seven million deaths all over.  Taken altogether, it can all feel incredibly bleak and quite difficult to cope with💊💊💊

So how do we extricate ourselves from a deep hole when our WORLD is GETTING SMALLER?  First and foremost, embrace ACCEPTANCE.  Admit that you're NOT OK.  Listing down all your 'down moments' can be powerful and it becomes practical because you simply can't take care of yourself if you DON'T know what's wrong or what you need⏳⏳⏳

It will also be helpful to remind yourself of everything you're dealing with at the moment.  I lost my job.  I broke off with my partner.  I've been ill off and on.  Putting things in such plain terms can help you put things in perspective too.  Most importantly, you can plot your way forward back, regardless if it will take you 'donkey' years as long as you're able to have that 'TURNAROUND' and reverse that worsening pattern to your favor❗❗❗

Are You 'SURFING BACK' The Wave To The Shores?

 Are You 'SURFING BACK' The Wave To The Shores?

Oh no sirrrrrrs, our piece today is NOT about surfing.  Moreover, from A to Z. I DON'T have the sound fundamentals about surfing but this piece is all an analogy of surfing with our life.  So when surfers blurt out, ' Are You 'SURFING BACK' The Wave To The Shores, we got to align with the surfer's jargon and as any surfer already knows anyway, waves are what it's all about.  They would discover the kinds of waves and there's more to that though⏳⏳⏳

And quickly skimming through the basic surfer's basics, I learnt of late that one of the things that make surfing so much of a CHALLENGE is that EVERY WAVE IS DIFFERENT.  Which is NOT far different from life itself.  Life is like the ocean in that, from ashore, watching the magnificent waves roll is one thing.  But stepping into the ocean is totally another story.  Rediscovering that balance of "SURRENDER" and "STRENGTH" in an entirely different element is a whole other thing📌📌📌

Life indeed is like the ocean in that seeing its surface, and even appreciating its beauty, is NOT the same as diving in.  NOTHING can prepare you for that experience of the ocean except stepping into the ocean itself.  From the initial cold water washing onto your feet, legs and torso, to its upcoming currents pulling you in as you walk deeper, to that moment of CHOICE TO SURRENDER to its entirely other element, wherein you need to breathe, move and flow differently.  In the OCEAN OF LIFE, where are you BTW❓❓❓

There are times to sit, peaceful on the beach before or after swimming.  To rest.  To take a respite.  To take that unparalleled view.  Those are the times when you want everything to freeze as those are the moments when you deserve such a break.  And that includes as part of your reflections.  And this is where the analogy of life with the waves as you prepare to take another plunge✅✅✅

So, when are you ready to take the plunge and go out there and face the challenge of the waves?  That's when you have completed your milestones [for READINESS].  And that's when you can beat your chest and proudly shout that YOU'RE READY.  But more than just being READY, you're all primed to surf back the wave to the shores when you complete the two-way trip.  At that point, there is NO ROOM for doubt❗❗❗

Losing A Little Juice Should NOT Be An Excuse

Losing A Little Juice Should NOT Be An Excuse

Nope sirs, today's piece is NOT about the drinks offered in your fav resto.  Instead, this is all about our 'JUICES in LIFE' which are our very strengths BUT again, losing a little juice is A-OK.  Yes it may cause some dent BUT it could wreak havoc in your life unless you're able to manage and handle it to avoid any undue hemorrhage which at worst may even be fatal in life💊💊💊

It's akin to driving and suddenly you're skidding and the only solution therein is to steer out of that skid.  Through the years, we would realize that we may not as in tip-top shape as it was before.  Our reflexes may be less sharper.  Our agility may have taken a few steps backward.  Even our energy levels may not have a china man's chance in the AMAZING RACE but all is NOT lost if we are losing a little juice.  It will be A-OK⏳⏳⏳

One trick I realized that seems to work is to be a NOVICE all over again.  Being a NOVICE should neither be a shame nor a stigma in life.  Learning the ropes of new interests, even non-physically taxing activities like my blogging, that should work wonders to us because I can attest that as much as I may have quite a good proficiency of English, the best way to test is not just the pudding but to eat out the cake itself.  JUST DO IT📌📌📌

Obviously, some things will be OFF-LIMITS to you, especially if you need to heed your doctor's advice.  But other than that, NOTHING is really OFF-LIMITS.  If you're into a relationship and you have been so damn boring all through your life, try to RE-INVENT yourself, taking a 180-degree turn from what you were, along in life✅✅✅

And let's face it, we all have this common ground, that of reaching our homestretch when we taper off and slow down, way away from that dreadful RAT RACE but into a pace that will rhyme with our need to really enjoy in the best quality way what life is all about for us.  So, losing a little juice should NOT cause you sleepless nights.  On the other hand, your adrenalin should remain at FULL-TANK❗❗❗

When Your Performance Is Abysmal

When Your Performance Is Abysmal

Maybe you're still in school and you delivered your dissertation but you felt you flopped.  OR you just got out of your company's annual performance review and the results were NOT good.  Whether you were anticipating the bad news or it was a total surprise, it still stings, right?  You might even currently be feeling some combination of embarrassment, disappointment, shock, fear and anger or you're just too worried that your job may be standing on some shaky ground?  Indeed, we'll all feel that LOW and with our shot-down motivation when our performance is abysmal but again, all is NOT lost because that's NOT the end of the world, trust me💹💹💹

And why do I beg you to trust me?  Oh, I've been there, felt that, done that.  And again, ALL IS NOT LOST ]not even if you got with a streak of extremely bad luck].  So how do we handle this?  First, do allow yourself to feel BUMMED OUT. While you might be tempted to protect your EGO by dismissing or rationalizing your boss' feedback, do RESIST THAT URGE💎💎💎

By giving yourself the chance to experience the negative emotions associated with failure, you'll be more motivated to do better next time. Feeling the pain now can act as powerful FUEL to prevent yourself from making similar mistakes in the future.  Once you have slightly [because I promise you, you cant get over the hump overnight], then that's the time to take a step back and focus on doing something about it.  No one enjoys getting a negative review [and things get worse if we DON'T like how  such feedback was delivered to you]⏳⏳⏳

Still, if you can look at the feedback in a objective manner, you'll benefit from it.  One step farther after you did determine the areas you to work on, do SET CLEAR GOALS no less.  Make them challenging enough but achievable. But do articulate for yourself the SUCCESS CRITERIA you need to meet📌📌📌

After the whole nine yards of your recovery plan is laid out, seek FEEDBACK.  Check it out to gauge yourself.  BTW, just DON'T gauge yourself, that's OFF mark.  Along the way, REBUILD RELATIONSHIPS because you can't underestimate the value of your colleagues because they can be HUGE in terms of influence to repair your tattered reputation  PICK UP THE PIECES, dude❗❗❗

Are You A 'NEEDLE-MOVER'?

Are You A 'NEEDLE-MOVER'?

Serious question.  Are You A 'NEEDLE-MOVER'?  Unfortunately, sometimes, this question gets laughed up, with reactions like 'ARE YOU SERIOUS?'  Which means I need to do a bit of my homework and some 'hard sell' here.  Just to ensure we are all on the same page, let's agree on being a 'NEEDLE-MOVER' and simply put, it means that when you're involved either in an endeavor, an initiative or a deliverable, your involvement creates a positive impact that helps things to be done and delivered⏳⏳⏳

At the workplace, we all want to see and have a good job.  And we all want to be appreciated and recognized for our accomplishments and hard work.  And often, an employee is justified is his or her 'under appreciated' feeling but this is NOT about growth potential or intelligence they bring to the job.  To be appreciated [and for a strong organization to grow], people need to tune into where OR how they are indeed moving the needle, if at all💎💎💎

To be blunt about it, as a worker, if we want to claim that we're a 'NEEDLE-MOVER', we need to use the same gauge as our boss [for consistency if we may].  We might recognize 'NEEDLE-MOVER' as an analog idiom, like when moving the needle on a speedometer, the needle gauge on an audio VU meter or otherwise measure a meaningful difference or progress.  Indeed, context is everything but it usually means a positive or productive gain on the scale.  In the marketing space, the measurable gain would be like achieving growth goals and generating sales💊💊💊

So what's our "SUCCESS LESSON' of moving the needle? For any company, the lesson here is that success is likely to follow when both the boss and the employee are watching and moving the same needle.  A meaningful contribution is based on a mutual understanding of what's important and how it is being measured.  So, the same question just bounces back to us: 'HOW ARE WE MOVING THE NEEDLE?', if at all.  BTW, there's a pitfall in this thread📌📌📌

So this 'NEEDLE-MOVER' challenge applies to us all.  You could be a student but how can you be a NEEDLE-MOVER?  If you're into a relationship, are you a NEEDLE-MOVER such that the health if your relationship has progressed enough to be robust and stable?  At work, how far have you proven yourself to be a NEEDLE-MOVER to warrant your dreamt promotion? As an entrepreneur, have you become a NEEDLE-MOVER enough to push up your revenues and further business growth📗📕📘

Have Those 'NOISE CANCELLING' Earphones In Life

Have Those 'NOISE CANCELLING' Earphones In Life

Oh oh oh, this might sound debatable as our piece today.  Wny not Have Those 'NOISE CANCELLING' Earphones In Life?  But you might get back to me, what has earphones and headsets got to do with our life?  Good question, valid one.  Now, let's agree that in life, there are one TOO MANY NOISES, whether we like it or NOT.  Those NOISES would come in different forms and shapes.  And sometimes, they're incognito such that you WON'T even recognize that such noises do exist.  Oooooops, I'm sure this is when things seem murky enough as how can there be incognito NOISES💊💊💊

We're not even talking here about life at the metropolitan area of today's megacities.  You could be living in the lowly-populated island of Hokkaido but noises will be noises and they will be there pestering you, like it or not. When you are with your partner/spouse, loved ones, close friends and workmates, noises will be intrinsically part of the equation.  You just CAN'T shun them off because they seem to carry such NOISES📌📌📌

Let's face it.  It can seem our lives are filled with 'busyness', noise, distractions and sometimes, meaningless activities.  WHAT IF we could filter out all that noise and focus on the meaningful?  WHAT IF we could find 'stillness' instead of such constant distractions?  But again, much of the noise is there by choice but we've fallen into patterns over the years and it seems we're unable to change them💎💎💎

So how do we fix all these noises?  Try to take the rest of today to notice what noise you find in your life.  Even better if you take a little time to make a list.  Example, the noises that come in my life comes from emails, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, Viber, Whatsapp or Telegram.  Of course those SMS and text messages come in as NOISES alongside [even] Messenger, Netflix, name it💚💛💜

Whoah, there you go, a plethora of NOISES that are very much part of our daily lives.  So you might blurt, HOW CAN NOISE CANCELLING happen with these realities.  Simple.  First off, TURN OFF notifications.  That is the crucial first step that does NOT take much effort.  Secondly, cut down on redundant communications platforms.  Ask yourself, DO YOU REALLY NEED Whatsapp, Viber, Telegram and all that stuff?  Seriously, please consider TO HAVE 'NOISE CANCELLATION' earphones in your life✅✅✅
 

DON'T Let The Highs Go TOO HIGH & The Lows TOO LOW

DON'T Let The Highs Go TOO HIGH & The Lows TOO LOW

Famous American soccer player Heather O'Reilly said: 'DON'T Let The Highs Go TOO HIGH & The Lows TOO LOW'.  It may sound a humdrum, another dull and boring quote but please join me to dissect what she says for us to have an insightful appreciation of it.  First and foremost, she's just stated one of the most obvious truths that in life, there are HIGHs and LOWs and that hypothetically, things go TOO HIGH [that's when we are at the zenith of our successes] or TOO LOW [when we get badly battered with those really hard falls which sometimes may prove fatal]. So, should we claim that those TOO HIGHs or TOO LOWs are 'force majeure'?  Not so fast, dude.  That just doesn't add up.  Let's do an apples-to-apples comparison   While there will be outliers and exceptions, by and large, we always have strong influences that push our HIGHs way TOO HIGH and the LOWs get pushed way TOO LOW💎💎💎

Let's patiently dissect this on a piecemeal basis.  First off, let's peg the HIGHs to our successes.  So, you might debate, what's the fuzz if the HIGHs get TOO HIGH?  Ok, let me share a move I made two decades back.  One time, I lured a very technical guy to join my team and I lured him with a salary offer that was 600% higher than his current pay💹💹💹

To cap off my story, while my technical recruit did 'deliver the goods' at work, in his personal life, unfortunately, things just went on a downturn.  In the shortest words, his success in his career DIDN'T translate to an appropriate uptick in his personal life.  It's indeed a puzzle why things turn up [downward] that way but to go back to Heather O'Reilly, DON'T let those HIGHs get TOO HIGH because you might be unable to catch up and cope with stratospheric changes in life.  Swinging over to our LOWs, the caution is DON'T let things go down TOO LOW because it will be damn difficult to recover from such TOO LOWs⏳⏳⏳

There's that clear and present danger when the LOWs get way TOO LOW.  But hold on, how can LOWs get TOO LOW.  There are zillion scenarios that can play out.  Let's look at couples who start off with OFF & ON arguments and quarrels and as it gets more frequent, the quarrels turn to screams and shouts and one day, things turn to physical till one day, they had to go separate ways💊💊💊

So, where do we go from here.  With those HIGHs, yes you deserve to celebrate it BUT don't let those 

kampai's go way too long.  DON'T get choke.  DON'T start to be complacent.  Pick up lessons from your success.  And after all the celebrations, decide if you're fine where you're now or do you want to move the goal post and aim higher?  Where you hit the LOWs,  fix it ASAP.  DON'T leave a single stone unturned so that such LOWs DON'T go TOO LOW because by then, probably only God knows if you can still recover at that point📌📌📌

Is CHAOS Your Friend?

Is CHAOS Your Friend?

Is CHAOS Your Friend?  Sorry about that, this is NOT to put down CHAOS because it is part and parcel of the realities in life.  BUT before we start putting down CHAOS as a no-no, there are very understandable cases why some are indeed a friend of CHAOS.  I may not be a U,S, resident but over there, it's just normal for some families relocating every few years.  And while they may not live out of moving boxes, how can you restore order if in another year or two, you're on the move💎💎💎

In brief, growing up in CHAOTIC conditions like those regular relocations will exact its toll on us no less.  And under those circumstances, it's pretty normal to hear a HOUSE IS NOT A HOME since it was just a house.  So, it's always kinder to remember that there's a reason than to fall back on judgment.  But other than circumstance like this, we should abhor CHAOS because it will do more harm than good in a normal life💹💹💹

But the 'rat race' we're in continuously pushes ourselves in situations of being squeezed.  So, as we continually find ourselves squeezed, what's left for us to is to find alternatives other than just being in that 'squeezed' situation that would then lead to CHAOS.  And as we are led towards CHAOS, we must be conscious enough for us to pre-empt it, if at all

So, when we feel squeezed, there's a tendency for mind to become small.  We then feel miserable, like a victim, like a pathetic, hopeless case.  Yet, believe it or not, at that moment of hassle or bewilderment or embarrassment, our minds could become bigger.  Instead of taking what's occurred as a statement of personal weakness or someone else's power, instead of feeling we are stupid or someone else is unkind, we could drop all those concerns about ourselves and others.  We could be there, feeling off guard, not knowing what to do, just hanging out there with the raw and tender energy of the moment.  That then becomes the point where we can pre-empt CHAOS📗📙📘

So, what's left of us?  COUNTERACT CHAOS!  HOW?  Clinical studies led to developing a simple practice called NOTING and it's often used in mindfulness meditation.  It's a simple practice of NOTING your experience in the current moment.  That NOTING practice brings an awareness to our mind's incessant wanderings while taking the vulnerability out of it.  One key highlight here is STAYING PRESENT when you feel overwhelmed because that's when CHAOS creeps in and takes over you❗❗❗

Timing Is 'EVERTHING'

Timing Is 'EVERTHING' 

Life is too complex.  There are no canned answers for repetitive questions.  NO guaranteed solution for every problem.  WHY?  It's simply because there are one too many iterations you need to churn out before you deep-dive into that plethora of data akin to data mining but many of us still fail and fall flat.  WHY?  It's because of the fact that Timing Is 'EVERTHING' whatever is your pursuit in life right now⏳⏳⏳

A week ago in the NBA game between Miami Heat and the Houston Rockets, the game-winning shot was an alley oop play that was perfectly executed by Jimmy Butler with the 'PERFECT TIMING'.  Yes, the inbound pass of Guard Gabe Vincent was excellent.  And so is Jimmy's agility to literally leave behind his guard for him to 'eat his dust' in 0.3 [or one third] of a second💎💎💎

Outstanding sportsmen who have been lording it over the competition, it's true they spend tonnes and tonnes of time in their punishing training regimens but at the end of the time, when it's GAME TIME, in most cases, it is in the execution when TIMING IS EVERYTHING.  That's the moment of truth which can make or break one's back and even credibility📌📌📌

As opportunities are all over the place, many of us [wrongly] think that we DON'T need to grind and kick our butts hard enough.  That job you have been angling.  That promotion you have been hoping for.  That sales transaction you have been hoping your prospective client will sign up.  That major discounted SALE you wanted.  TIMING IS EVERYTHING💊💊💊

BTW, never miss out the 'emotional piece' in the equation.  You DON'T seek the sweet nod from the girl you've been wooing when you were a 'NO SHOW' in your confirmed dinner.  You DON'T push for your prospect to signup the sales transaction when the economy is depressed.  You DON'T persuade your spouse on your proposal after a big quarrel.  At the end of the day, TIMING IS EVERYTHING❗❗❗