How Far Is Success From Failure

How Far Is Success From Failure

There is this age-old fallacy that there is a huge differentiation between SUCCESS and FAILURE.  And I'll be the first one to shoot down that fallacy because in real life, SUCCESS and FAILURE are siamese twins.  WHY?  Every time we initiate and commence our journey, we all emanate from the same starting point.  There's even no way to distinguish from where we all start because in life, there is PARITY at the take-off points.  I DON'T buy that crap that someone started off with a handicapping advantage.  So, the question is: How Far Is Success From Failure📌📌📌

And this is where most of us end up falling prey to fallacies.  Instead, what is expected from us is to be absolutely clear on our CHOICES we need to make everyday.  Most of us have good ideas as to what we need to be doing to keep us ON TRACK toward our goals.  Yet many of us have been side-tracked [me included in the past]⏳⏳⏳

Instead of getting dejected, let's face it.  Everyone of us did commit dumb choices in the past.  We commit dumb mistakes that eventually led us to that FAILURE at some point.  And NOT to scare you, those slip-ups are bound to happen AGAIN.  So. what's our hard lesson here?  It is to minimize our FAILURES by coming up with good decisions as we trek down that tricky road to SUCCESS💎💎💎

One most common mistake we commit is to measure our SUCCESS by other people's standards.  If some of your classmates ended up with degrees from the Ivy League in the U.S., ask yourself, ARE YOU ON THE SAME LEAGUE❓❓❓

Thereafter, let TRUTH guide you in your decisions.  A safe roadmap for making good choices should NEVER deviate from your personal values.  Those choices have to come from deep within and speak your TRUTH.  When you know you are truly are and what your TRUTH is, choices are easier to make based on how you naturally behave and see the world on the basis of those values and beliefs, and NOT someone's else.  Remember, SUCCESS is just next to FAILURE.  One misstep, you're toast✅✅✅

You May Get Away But Are You Really Free?

You May Get Away But Are You Really Free?

You May Get Away But Are You Really Free?  Oh NO sirrrrrrs, today's piece is neither about crime nor action pictures.  Instead, we'd like to highlight situational aspects in life where we're either legitimately entitled to GET AWAY or even those situations when it becomes circumstantial for us to GET AWAY even if it's NOT on our own volition.   Let's start off with responsibilities we own NOT by choice but as a natural obligation.  Heard of folks who turned their backs from their responsibilities, [wrongly] thinking that they can just GET AWAY with it?  Or those who end up causing affliction, casualty or impairment only to GET AWAY from responsibilities?💎💎💎

And do we remember instances in the past where a responsibility has fallen on our lap and even with apprehension and FEAR, we just DON'T even have that singular option to OPT OUT?  Example of which is taking care of a parent at an advanced age and if that parent falls ill, you have NO choice but to do the needful?  Another very common mix-up is ACCOUNTABILITY versus RESPONSIBILITY.  Understanding and differentiating these two situations can help us avoid getting into a MIX-UP.  To clear up, ACCOUNTABILITY entails your actions and their effects while RESPONSIBILITY includes efficiently completing tasks you're required📌📌📌
 

Like it or NOT, we got to develop that differentiation because there have been zillion operational problems at the workplace because of the blurred [OR worst, incorrect] understanding of it.  So while ACCOUNTABILITY occurs after a serious situation or problem arises and HOW someone responds to the issue that determines the outcome⏳⏳⏳

Whereas RESPONSIBILITY has broader coverages.  The family's 'HEAD of the FAMILY' carries the heaviest burden on one's shoulder.  Heard of HEAD of a family who simply GOT AWAY?  But did that make him FREE?  Literally, YES but surely, he can have sleepless nights✅✅✅

Our insight for today?  While we can enjoy all our freedom, there are those limitations and constraints ESPECIALLY those turfs or areas where, on our own volition, we stepped in.  Those are the ONE-WAY roads where there is no turning back, NOT because of force or coercion but because of responsibilities one [by default] embraces once he/she steps into an AREA of RESPONSIBILITY.  Lesson here is that sometimes YOU MAY GET AWAY BUT ARE YOU REALLY FREE❓❓❓

How To Handle False Starts?

How To Handle False Starts?

No sirrrrs, our piece today has got nothing to do with Usain Bolt or anything about sprints and the Olympic track and field runs.  Instead, this is How To Handle False Starts [IN LIFE].  Now, before we move on, I am assuming that NO one will claim that he/she has had NO false start in life?  I myself I have to openly admit I had FALSE STARTS along the way and those spate of FALSE STARTS could have easily doomed me to fail with NO reprieve.  Alas, i had a trick or two to extricate myself out💊💊💊

Sadly, there are bad days way before it even starts.  Sometimes, there are those moments when a bad day seems to begin and on the surface, there seems NO WAY out of it and you seem doomed to fail till the end.  BUT indeed it does end and trcik to making that happen a little sooner involves one part 'time travel' and one part humor.  Oh yes, most bad days start with a FALSE START [or even a combination of it].  One too many scenarios for this⏳⏳⏳

One morning you get up late [when you should be early on your feet].  And when you rush to your car, you realized you forgot something.  Then you start driving with the fuel gauge at a low but sufficient until you hit a huge traffic gridlock that's a mile-long and you realized your car is running low on fuel.  And when you wanted to call for help, your mobile phone just conked out💎💎💎

So, how do we handle such FALSE STARTS?  If it seems 'emergency' in nature, tap your helpline.  If your back is against the wall [i.e. your mobile phone is DEAD as well, whew], that's when you need to approach even strangers, hoping you will find a Good Samaritan.  If your FALSE START is in your workplace, fix things PRONTO and if you need guidance from your SME [Subject Matter Expert] or your leader, DON'T hesitate and DON'T waste time dilly-dallying because you hardly have ant 'wiggle room' left [NONE in fact] once your locomotive journey becomes a train wreck✅✅✅

For brevity, the key things to consider in handling FALSE STARTS are as follows:

• URGENCY of the situation
• VERY LIMITED options for such urgency
• SWIFT decision-making is a MUST
• Reach out to your HELPLINE, asap
• NO ROOM for ERROR during false starts

Since there is no one size that fits all, our recommendations are as generic as possible. Bottom-line, fix your FALSE STARTS ASAP❗❗❗

Think Things Through

Think Things Through

Do we really Think Things Through?  Uhmmm, some may say, SOMETIMES.  Others would react, LET'S NOT EVEN TALK ABOUT IT.  But hey, WHY is THINKING THINGS THROUGH so hard to do?  Procrastinate on thinking out important personal problems and you will [probably] doom yourself to repeat them. Of course, if you wait long enough, your problem MIGHT go away.  REALLY❓❓❓

Sweeping problems UNDER THE RUG is a formula fpr continuing to feel burdened by unresolved problems and/or conflicts.  And that is SO EASY to do.  THINKING THINGS THROUGH can be hard to do.  Thus, it is EASY to skip [frankly, to IGNORE] it.  BUT, dodging problems carries a PRICE TAG.  You'll probably [and VERY LIKELY] keep repeating the same problem [over and over again].  You may then likely to accumulate more pain over time than facing to resolve the problem early📌📌📌

On the other hand, resolving problems can feel LIBERATING.  You'll gain a big benefit.  And you'll likely have fewer painful recurring problems.  So, here I am, have grabbed this 'THINKING IT THROUGH' sheet.  Very practical, no frills.   But the challenge is whatever cheat sheet you have, you got to commit yourself to follow through it no less.  This is NOT a piece of paper for semantics and documentation.  This is here to likely compel you to do things the right way💊💊💊

If ever you count yourself amongst the millions who selectively put off thinking out and resolving some of their personal problems, the chances are that you may end up to fictionalize reasons for delaying.  In exploring this ART of MISDIRECTION, this does NOT lead you away and farther from that hated world of procrastinators.  Now, let's be fair and square here✅✅✅

That big, huge gaping hole that traps many of us is PROCRASTINATION.  And despite your awareness of PROCRASTINATION, you have your VALID reasons.  MAYBE you DON'T want to stir up unpleasant emotions. MAYBE you feel uncertain about how to approach a problem.  MAYBE you're engaging yourself in defensive tactics.  So, do THINK THINGS THROUGH❗❗❗

The GAP From INTENDING To DOING

The GAP From INTENDING To DOING

Our thread today has got nothing to do with road infrastructures.  Neither is it about DRIVING.  I just grabbed this round-about picture [a.k.a. ROTONDA or ROTUNDA [in Italian] referring to round infrastructures.  Instead we'd like to zero-in on that huge gaping GAP between INTENDING and DOING.  WHY?  Our journey in life is shaped and impacted by the extent of that huge GAP between INTENDING and DOING.  What we are TODAY versus WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN could be totally different 

I myself, I am farthest from being perfect but with all humility, I can attest that while I am NOT in that big league of the business magnates, I can comfortably admit that WHAT I am today could have been ten times worse had I missed out in reducing the huge gap between INTENDING and DOING,  If my intentions was kilometric-long and my 'DOING' plate was empty, things could have been utterly different

Oh, this is a very picturesque poster I grabbed but beyond the surface, this highlights people WHO did WHAT others were simply INTENDING.  The differences between such two segments of people could be ten times wider when the Red Sea waters parted.  But this tells us is that in life, what matters is the DOING because that leads to RESULTS

Let's do a quick REWIND with the recent pandemic wherein around 20 percent of those who fell ill with the Covid coronavirus NEVER complied with the health and hygiene protocols at all.  But let's give them the benefit of the doubt.  Let's NOT assume thst they were opposed to such protocols.  It's even likely they wanted to comply but DIDN'T have the means to comply

Yesirrrrs. we agree everything starts with I-N-T-E-N-T but even if such is done in good faith, STILL, it does NOT matter because at the end of the day, it's either a BLACK or WHITE, DONE or NOT DONE.  Sadly, I have witnessed people who got STUCK and STALLED because for the longest time, they had all the best INTENTIONS but they never pushed themselves to bridge the GAP from INTENDING to DOING❗❗❗

The Wisdom of STEVE JOBS

The Wisdom of STEVE JOBS

STEVE JOBS is a household name both in the business and technology spaces but for those unsure,  STEVE JOBS was an American business magnate and inventor who co-founded the very successful APPLE company [who has not heard of iPhones, iPads? and MACs?].  Why does STEVE JOBS really deserve today's space for our thread?  I thought this is long overdue for us to share and dissect some of the most substantive and messaging-heavy words STEVE JOBS has left for us to ponder.  For the doubting Thomases, sharing The Wisdom of STEVE JOBS WON'T cost us even a cent because he bequeathed all these to us before he died💎💎💎

Dying at the very young age of 56, on his death bed, STEVE JOBS blurter:  WHAT's the difference between a wristwatch worth $30 versus $300 when both will show you the same TIME?  What about a purse worth $30 versus $300 when it may have the same amount?  And if you drive a car worth $30k versus $300k. both can cover the same journey, distance and destination💊💊💊

Please DON'T get me wrong.  there is NOTHING wrong if from time to time we do SPLURGE.  When we achieve some of our milestone successes, we do deserve to REWARD ourselves for us to enjoy the fruits of all our hard work and labor.  But to SPLURGE and REWARD ourselves from time to time is NOT akin to those who are so enamored to peg their [default] standards to the top tier luxury brands whether it's for watches, cars, perfumes, bags, name it.  WHY?  Let us just go back to the words STEVE JOBS' words of wisdom whether it's all about cars, wallets, watches📌📌📌

Even for things SIMPLE versus COMPLEX, STEVE JOBS had very insightful words for it as part of his mantras.  He espoused FOCUS and SIMPLICITY amongst his mantras but he forewarned his believers that "SIMPLE CAN BE HARDER THAN COMPLEX".  WHY? It's because, to quote him again, "YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD TO GET YOUR THINKING CLEAN TO MAKE IT SIMPLE"✅✅✅

To our counterparts at the workplace, here are strong words from STEVE JOBS: 'THE ONLY WAY TO DO GREAT WORK IS TO LOVE WHAT YOU DO'.  If I may piggy-back on these words, allow me to extend these words to almost anything and everything you'll do in life.  THAT's why two weeks ago when I drove back for vacation in the countryside, it took me fifteen [15] hours driving one-way but did I get tired?  Of course I was.  BUT I did I regret getting into that quagmire?  NO, not at all.  WHY?  It's because 'I LOVE WHAT I DO'❗❗❗

Quid Pro Quo [DAR y RECIBIR]

Quid Pro Quo [DAR y RECIBIR]

I am no linguist here as My Latin is putrid and my Espanol is pidgin at best.  Having said it, Quid Pro Quo [DAR y RECIBIR] is worth our piece today because in life, there has been one too many negotiations, horse-trading and the like.  And that's just normal and a given but we need to revisit the essence of Quid Pro Quo [which in Espanol means DAR y RECIBIR]💎💎💎

Whether we're talking commercials or the intangibles, 'VALUE versus PRICE' should be at the core of our thought process way before we make up our minds to reach to an INFORMED DECISION.  IN fact, this infographics is a no-brainer.  Simply put, if the PRICE outweighs the VALUE, it is a NO GO.  Whereas if the latter weighs heavier, that should be the input and trigger for your INFORMED DECISION📌📌📌

BTW, in the Untied States, one of the most rewarding career is to be a LOBBYIST, a legitimate party who will push hard and so goal-centric that they will do what it takes to meet his client's marching orders.  Obviously, in the U.S. landscape peppered with lawsuits any and everywhere, such QUID PRO QUO need to be legal and legitimate✅✅✅

Swinging back to our own lives, in many instances, that option to uptick is driven by our desire for MORE.  MORE security.  MORE happiness.  MORE peace.  MORE stability.  And for the more responsible ones, the 'MORE' is a motivation if it will be for his/her spouse, loved ones and family, which are all very laudable.  Bottom-line is, you should NOT get short-changed when you're willing to pay that EXTRA in exchange for an uplift💊💊💊

So, where you are that lobbyist at the U.S. Capitol or an Espanol focused on DAR y RECIBIR, everything should be equitable, fair, just and reasonable.  DON'T emulate the high-stakes games at the Las Vegas Strip where the high-rollers go for the max, NEVER TAKE THAT PATH, dude❗❗❗

At Some Point, You Gotta Pick A Horse

At Some Point, You Gotta Pick A Horse

Life can never be a zone of neutrality.  And in the midst of healthy discussions and debates, we would sometimes come across parties who would be buying time before they make up their minds to formulate a specific decision.  That 'WAITING GAME' can only wait for so much because At Some Point, You Gotta Pick A Horse.  And frankly, in life, there will be many instances when we reach decision points which can only wait so much.  As a first person account, I have witnessed close friends and relatives who took their own sweet time in the name of prudence and caution💎💎💎

Chocolate or strawberry?  BLACK PINK or BTS?  Life or death?  We make some choices quickly and automatically, relying on mental shortcuts our brains have developed over the years to guide us in the best course of action.  Understanding strategies such as maximizing versus satisfying, fast versus slow thinking, and factors such as risk tolerance and choice overload can lead to better outcomes   At Some Point, You Gotta Pick A Horse💊💊💊

When making a decision, we tend to form opinions and choose actions versus mental processes which tend to be influenced by biases, reason, emotions and even memories.  That simple act of deciding supports the notion that we have FREE WILL.  We weigh the costs and benefits then cope with the decision's consequences⏳⏳⏳

So, what kind of decision should we all make?  It should be INFORMED DECISION which, briefly, it is that ability to think critically because that is key to making decisions without easily succumbing to the very common errors or bias.  This mean, NOT just going with your GUT but rather figuring out what knowledge you lack and obtaining it✅✅✅

So how do we choose between two or more options that seem equally appealing on the surface?  That would entail a mixture of INTUITION and RATIONAL THINKING, critical factors including personal biases and blind spots which are often unconscious, which then makes decision-making hard to fully operationalize or get a handle on.  At some point, YOU GOTTA PICK A HORSE.  Just DON'T wait way too long❗❗❗

What Do You Bring To The Table?

What Do You Bring To The Table?

Oh, this very frequently quoted statement resonates and reverberates across over and over again because it holds water! What Do You Bring To The Table?  You can be student in the academe now OR you're part of the workforce OR you're wooing your 'ideal' lifetime partner OR you're getting into a business venture⏳⏳⏳

Oh, this picture was lifted straight from your fav comic strips but this speaks volumes.  When financially you hit rock bottom, DON'T be surprised if you're asked with this brutally frank question because IT IS WHAT IT IS.  In life, we could be asked this interrogative statement a zillion times especially if we're skidding down, your life-journey going down south.  Unless your trajectory takes a 180-degree turnaround and bounces back from a negative shortfall to a positive note, you better be prepared to spew out the tangible response that will be scrutinized like a needle💎💎💎

Turns out, one of the most IGNORED boring question is:  WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS?  Many of us have seldom considered this question.  Sure, you might love drawing, your friends might laugh at your jokes, and you might have an impressive collection of THANK YOU notes.  But maybe you have NOT thought of creativity, humor and kindness as your STRENGTHS.  In the various studies by psychologists, the studies show that the strength-based approach lies in its paradigm-shifting capacities before considering their flaws and weaknesses.  In short, let us train our brains📌📌📌

In relationships. researches also show that feeling appreciated in a relationship is a significant predictor of whether the relationship endures.  Over time, we can start taking our spouse/partner for granted because when we intentionally train ourselves to see our partner's STRENGTHS and place attention on their good qualities, we begin to see them with 'NEW EYES'✅✅✅

The question I tried to find an answer was this:  WHY DO RELATIONSHIPS FAIL?  Studies show that lack of recognition and appreciation is the most common reason.  A strength-based relationship helps partners to feel being seen and more importantly, appreciated.  But all these are semantics.  So HOW?  Step back and look at your partner with fresh eyes.  Remind yourself of their STRENGTHS.  From thereon, YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING TO BRING TO THE TABLE❗❗❗

An Easy Sail NEVER Makes A Good Sailor

An Easy Sail NEVER Makes A Good Sailor

Who buys this one-liner.  That indeed, An Easy Sail NEVER Makes A Good Sailor.  I buy this.  WHY?  Because this practically applies to any endeavor in life.  You want an easy ride, an easy life, a low-effort journey, a flight where you can just activate the AUTO-PILOT?  Of course that's feasible for aircrafts but if you are an up and coming pilot, will you learn your trade effectively via that AUTO-PILOT button❓❓❓

There's a saying that LIFE IS WHAT HAPPENS.  While you may try to be ready for every eventuality, setbacks will happen along the way regardless of your intense preparedness.  We've all been in a situation in which an obstacle would have left us either intimidated or worse, quite frightened.  Seriously, given all the variables in our life, t becomes imperative that we view these times NOT as an invitation to give up BUT rather as a chance to prove our mettle📌📌📌

So, when you get hit with challenges, what do we do?  Remind yourself that what you are going through is relative in nature.  Think of others are are facing much bigger obstacles than yourself.  Instead, BE THANKFUL that your challenges are NOT as intense [as what others are facing].  Take a deep breath, make a plan of action and prepare for both the BEST and the WORST scenarios.  Being in that game is already half the battle.  You've got to figure it out to survive the second half of the game⏳⏳⏳

Fears, any?  Obviously we have all our fears.  So, how do we handle it?  REFRAME YOUR FEARS because the more we think about something, the bigger it gets.  Acknowledge your FEARS and sense of feeling overwhelmed and ask yourself for another perspective.  Do engage in SELF-TALK.  When FEAR arises, we are often too quick to react to it BUT living it out or pushing it aside only feeds it further❗❗❗

In brief, LET GO OF WHAT YOU FEAR. That fear of losing those things is usually strong enough to prevent us from accepting the loss.  If we can imagine life 'without the thing', we can proceed with COURAGE [and be detached from the OUTCOME].  Truly, AN EASY SAIL NEVER MAKES A GOOD SAILOR✅✅✅