The Odds of Winning That Giant Stuffed Panda

The Odds of Winning That Giant Stuffed Panda

Surely, everyone of us have been to either a carnival or a leisure/gaming zone offering tons of games and that includes bringing hom te the bacon [that Giant Stuffed Panda] if your sot is 'spot on'  But do we agree that The Odds of Winning That Giant Stuffed Panda is so low such that it's very likely you will run out of tokens till you 'TOP UP' and 'TOP UP' till you run out of pennies.  Surely many of us [and that includes me several times in the past] tend to be so enamored with the glittering prize at the end of the road.  Problem is the probability of winning over the prized reward was NEVER assessed.  Hence, more often we often find ourselves STUCK IN THE MUD.  No thanks to The Odds of Winning That Giant Stuffed Panda📌📌📌

I grabbed this poster because I thought this says it all.  And this tells us that it's all in our MINDSET.  While we WON'T has 0% probability of SUCCESS.  Once you WANT, that probability shoots up to 40% and once you commit by stating "I AM", that probability comes close to 100% not until you access SUCCESS.  What this tells us, we will CHART OUR COURSE, and no one else❗❗❗

What this all tells us is that the chance of SUCCESS affects the effort people put in.  And many of the things you do in life can be improved with additional effort.  In school, spending more time on a report is likely to lead to a better academic grade.  At work, you might enlist the HELP of a team member to look over a presentation to increase the chance that you'll succeed in landing a client.  Doing another workout might make you more likely to win✅✅✅

So, what FACTORS lead us to put in that EXTRA effort to engage additional resources to improve your chances of SUCCESS?  Many studies have shown that a lot of the dependencies in life are outcome-based.  And when one decides to put in more effort to increase his chances of winning, that probability of winning increases.  As an 'ICING ON THE CAKE', people of such mindset would put in MORE effort overall to win a larger prize instead of the small ones💎💎💎

The combination of results reflects that people will feel better if they win than if they DON'T [so they put in MORE effort when the chances of winning are already high] and they feel better winning a larger prize than a small prize.  Our safe conclusion here is that we often focus on the OUTCOMES of our efforts rather than on the process for achieving a goal.  So, are you still hell-bent of Winning that giant-stuffed panda❓❓❓

When ENVY Rears Its UGLY Head

When ENVY Rears Its UGLY Head

Generally, we are NOT that envious BUT When does ENVY Rears Its UGLY Head is what matters most because we need to figure out the CAUSE of this EFFECT.  And generally, what CAUSES us to ENVY others is when we start comparing our own self to others.  Nothing wrong admiring what they have, their fashion, their accessories, their car BUT be cautious if you are breaching the borderline IF/WHEN you start comparing yourself to them💎💎💎

It was Monday morning, now you're back to work and as your email InBox got updated, you received that mail notification that your friend/classmate way back university is now a Vice Pres in a global bank.  By coincidence, you were recently laid off from your last job.  Instantly, you feel RESENTFUL.  And you might start questioning things like WHY the trajectories of your friend's career is opposite yours?  Oh oh, while it's true that studies show 75% of us are indeed envious of others, let us realize that comparing ourselves to others can leave us feeling anxious and FRUSTRATED.  But that does NOT help us at all in life📌📌📌

Now let's focus how to put a STOP to this 'JEALOUSY GAME'.  Identify the triggers of ENVY.  Is it when you scroll through LINKEDIN?  Or is it when you hear your friend BRAGGING about her salary increase?  Use such observations to learn about yourself.  Then make a list of WHO and WHAT you frequently ENVY or COMPARE yourself to. Write down how it impacts you and resolve to be more VIGILANT so you can pre-empt yourself in the future⏳⏳⏳

Back in my early school life, I had a classmate who was perennially entrenched as the #1 in our grade level [across 5 to 6 sections per grade] and initially I was really ENVY because he was so consistently entrenched as our #1 from Grade 1 till we graduated Grade 6 till we went to High School.  BUT in a timely manner, I realized that I should be THANKFUL instead if I was receiving 2nd Honors [versus 1st Honors] because I was still at the top tier of our class/  So, what I did then was to FOCUS on my strengths.  I even made a list of my achievements [and I realized that record was NOT bad]❗❗❗

But hold on, there will always be that COMPETITION.  WHY?  Because you DON'T live in your own world.  And that can be helpful wherein you will view people with ENVY as allies rather than as a threat.  If you avoid people that trigger self-comparison, you may miss out on how those successful people can help you.  So, there you are, draw that inspiration from the successes of others instead of getting dragged negatively.  Think about of things you can learn from them and you can even approach them and seek their advice as to how they did it.  In the end, they can be part of your INSPIRATION.  It's NOT too late to avoid when ENVY rears its UGLY HEAD✅✅✅

Odds Are Just A Number

Odds Are Just A Number

Analytics is a huge business [In 2021, it was valued at US$ 93.08 billion and expected to grow to US$137.51 by 2026.  So, it should NOT surprise us if anywhere, we hear odds are being pegged based on analytics data.  Case in point.  In the ongoing NBA Championships, the underdog Miami Heat Team was given a 3% chance to hurdle the Milwaukee Bucks, then the same 3% chance to hurdle its next opponent, the New York Knicks and the same 3% chance to beat the Boston Celtics.  To cut the long story short, we better throw away on the window all those analytics because today, the Miami Heat plays the Denver Nuggets for the NBA Championship.  Indeed, Odds Are Just A Number❗❗❗

Though 'WHAT ARE THE ODDS' is pretty much the catchphrase of coincidences, a coincidence is NOT just something that was unlikely to happen . The overstuffed crate labeled 'coincidences' is packed with an amazing variety of experiences and yet something more than rarity compels us to group them together.  They have a similar texture, a feeling that the FABRIC of LIFE has rippled.  The question is where this feeling comes from, why we notice certain ways the threads of our lives collide💎💎💎

So, where does this leave us?  How far should we cling and embrace all those analytics?  My 2-cents is this:  Let us accept analytics based on its face value, period.  Beyond that, let us NOT leave our face to analytics.  Ask Jimmy Butler, the Miami Heat superstar.  Ask the respected Miami Heat President Pat Riley and its Fil-Am Coach Erik Spoelstra, not one within that troika and the Miami Heat organization will ever be glued at those analytics⏳⏳⏳

Swinging back to our lives, first hand I have seen people using those odds as their very reason [a.k.a. alibi] to lazily target for a goal.  Heard these one-liners:  OH NO, I HATE THAT COURSE, IT WON'T PAY MUCH.... I DON'T CARE TO STUDY HARD IN THAT SUBJECT BECAUSE THE ODDS ARE AGAINST ME.... THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO WITH MY DWINDLING SALES NOW BECAUSE THE ODDS ARE AGAINST US📌📌📌

What's our FIX?  Oh Oh, success rarely comes without any challenges or hurdles.  It is far too common to see people succeeding after a reasonable delay.  So, what's so special about inspiring success stories?  How do we succeed when fighting against the odds?  What should we NOT do?  DON'T give up easily when the going gets tough because of that FEAR of FAILURE.  We all come across a point in our lives when we fail multiple times but I assure you, one day you will overcome the odds because ODDS ARE JUST A NUMBER✅✅✅

Why Does A TIMEOUT QUELL A RALLY?

Why Does A TIMEOUT QUELL A RALLY?

Timeouts and rallies are NOT just all about games and competitive sports.  In life, we hit crossroads when a RALLY is needed but it can only happen if a TIMEOUT gets invoked.  So, Why Does A TIMEOUT QUELL A RALLY?  Simple.  A TIMEOUT is a multi-pronged head animal which offers tons of advantages and only in exchange for you to invoke that TIMEOUT, that's all it takes📌📌📌

So, for the uninitiated in the world of competitive sports, when do we need to mount a RALLY?  That's WHEN an opportunity gets slipping away.  That's WHEN the tide has swung over to your foe.  That's WHEN you're starting to play catch-up ball.  That's WHEN your window to win gets narrower.  And to RALLY is as relevant to our life as it is to the competitive world of sports.  Heard of couples who had to go for a 'GETAWAY' from the kids to give their marriage a 'SHOT IN THE ARM'❓❓❓

Why do organizations allocate tons of budget for team building activities?  It is to foster and strengthen the bond amongst its employees.  BUT you might challenge.  Is that gargantuan budget really needed all because of the best intentions to strengthen relationships within and across teams?  The answer here is a SOLID AFFIRMATIVE.  We prefer proactive measures that reactive ones❗❗❗

Admittedly, what we're espousing now runs counter to the adage "WHY FIX THE CAR IF AIN'T BROKEN".  But our retort is this:  When managing relationships. taking a proactive stance will entail lesser efforts [and costs, if applicable] versus being reactive to repair a relationship that is either strained or damaged💎💎💎

Whether we're talking of relationships for couples, loved ones, family. at the workplace or even in the business environment, think about being proactive in managing with the relationship cycle.  If you need to INVITE your valued clients for a testimonial event, go for it.  You may fork out $$$$$ now but the dividends and returns will be unquantifiable down the road.  So, Why Does a TIMEOUT QUELL A RALLY?  You know by now✅✅✅

Stop The Bleeding

Stop The Bleeding

When do we Stop The Bleeding?  The old school of thought tells us to Stop The Bleeding when blood starts to bleed.  Or, for the more conservative [and cocky], they'll Stop The Bleeding when the bleeding goes unabated by untold proportions.  Where do we stand with these different schools of thought when we swing back to our lives?  From my battle-scarred past, I'll be strongly egging each of you to Stop The Bleeding even before the first blood oozes out.  Oh really?  Yesirrrrrs, as long the probability is there already, WHY WAIT FOR THE BLOOD to ooze out❓❓❓

In short, you don't Stop The Bleeding when you enter DANGER ZONE because way ahead of entering DANGER ZONE, we could smell blood if that's the next thing to happen because you can NEVER be a step late.  In our relationships, WHEN do you 'move your ass' [pardon the expression]?  Only WHEN your spouse/partner walks out of your home? That's TOO LITTLE TOO LATE

In our relationships with our spouse/partner and loved ones, we should be fully aware of what is NORMAL or NOT.  When things seem to breach the threshold, even assuming we are kids playing out there, when things are getting awry, let's Stop The Bleeding, let's call a truce temporarily.  Why do things go from BAD to WORSE?  It's because most of the time, we DON'T take that pre-emptive move to Stop The Bleeding when it's the best NEXT MOVE

So, why is it most of us miss to Stop The Bleeding in a timely manner?  First, we [REGRETTABLY] missed that out.  We're unaware that th Stop The Bleeding is one of our options.  Second we're aware of it but simply because of sheer over-confidence [a.k.a. cockiness] we thought there was NO NEED for it.  Third, we were so [overly] optimistic that the situation will SELF-CORRECT itself.  No, SELF-CORRECT happens in MS Office only✅✅✅

Outstanding academic performers in school get DERAILED to achieve their scholastic results because they FAIL to Stop The Bleeding.  Relationships end fatally because couples/partners FAIL to Stop The Bleeding.  Performance at the work place FAILS to get back on trach because the employee [and sometimes together with his manager] FAIL to Stop The Bleeding.  And some enterprise business eventually fold up because they FAIL to Stop The Bleeding.  Even our Mother Earth has gone from bad to worse because we all did FAIL to Stop The Bleeding when this was long overdue decades back❗❗❗

Can You Still Control?

Can You Still Control?

Everyone of us just went through the gauntlet, that harrowing Covid pandemic and the most difficult part of it was that UNCERTAINTY that was looming all over us for more than two years.  But there's this study that states that that UNCERTAINTY unlocks a desire from within us to CONTROL what we can. So,  Can you still control❓❓❓

So HOW do we navigate through those UNCERTAINTIES [oooooops, even after the Covid pandemic ended, let's admit that UNCERTAINTIES remain in life]?  When we're anxious, we're likely to IMAGINE the worst-case scenarios BUT we gotta remind ourselves that the worst-case scenarios is only one of many possible outcomes.  It can be helpful to think about the BEST-CASE scenario and the MOST-REALISTIC scenario, which falls somewhere between the BEST and the WORST.  Now, let's dissect.  WHY do we crave for CERTAINTY?  Simple. The way you view things affects how you feel💎💎💎

Going back to the recent pandemic, IF we knew when the virus would die out, we'd feel better.  If we knew for sure that when it died out, we'd be okay, with a job and a roof over our heads and food to eat and we'd feel better.  NOT knowing leads to UNCERTAINTY and once we experience that, we often try to reduce our discomfort by trying to take CONTROL.  BUT there's just not much more that we can do other than sheltering in place, limiting our exposure to other people.  Unfortunately, most of us CAN'T reduce our risk to ZERO.  So it's imperative to accept that we CAN'T always take 100% CONTROL❕❕❕

Instead, re-look things from two vantage points, namely, those things that MATTER and those things that you can CONTROL.  And when you plot those circled areas in juxtaposition, they overlay area surfaces out and that becomes your FOCUS AREA.  Note that there are many things that matter but are way beyond your CONTROL, hence that's not even within your radar or telescopic view.  To cap this all, always know where and when CAN YOU CONTROL✅✅✅

Be damn sure though that when you blurt out 'EVERYTHING IS OK', that really is the case INSIDE-OUT.  Because the common pitfall where we end up stalled is that, based on human nature, we are often in DENIAL.  We refuse to take a BP even when we feel our blood pressure is spiking.  We refuse to rest and take a break even if our energy is zapped.  Worst, we end up lured to controlling.  But CAN YOU STILL CONTROL❓❓❓

When Sustainability Matters MORE Versus LESS

When Sustainability Matters MORE Versus LESS

As we all live in the midst of RAT RACES all over us, with communities becoming more borderless and even virtuality becoming the [default] norm rather than an option, even in our social life, we are sometimes exposed to situations when and where we end up interacting with people who even come from the highest strata of our society.  But did we realize that unless we belong to the same societal strata, it's next to impossible to keep up with the 'JONESES'?  So, we need to be awareWhen Sustainability Matters MORE Versus LESS📌📌📌

If you're still part of the academe now, as a student, you become euphoric each time your test results are above par.  BUT you got to sustain that level of academic of performance for you to achieve the end result.  That's when SUSTAINABILITY is needed more.  BUT that level of SUSTAINABILITY may be needed LESS.  BUT WHEN?  That's when you are much nearer to your goal and an example is if the academic term is about to end [and before that, you have had sterling performances that were consistent].  That's when you can taper off, slacken off without compromising your end goal⏳⏳⏳

If you're new at the workplace and to date your performance is above par, you might ask, how far do you need to sustain that level of performance?  The quick answer is:  You need to sustain it as far as you need it.  For relationships, the same principle applies.  Until such time your relationship has become rock solid, then you got to sustain it💎💎💎

If you're an entrepreneur, sustainability is needed in very long stretches of your [commercial] journey.  In most of these business, there is hardly an 'AUTO PILOT' mode [unless you work right there inside the aircraft cockpit].  WHY?  Because entrepreneurship is very volatile and unstable.  It even becomes more vulnerable to a myriad of factors in business.  Maybe, not until your business balloons to become ROCK SOLID❗❗❗

And this poster says it all.  Both SUCCESS and SUSTAINABILITY are like Siamese Twins.  There is just NO way to cut their umbilical cord.  In a nutshell, to avoid any 'mix up', let us align on the same page and agree that, per se, we need to SUSTAIN our little and minor SUCCESSES because the road towards our goal is treacherous✅✅✅

Why Going UP Is 1000x Times Tougher

Why Going UP Is 1000x Times Tougher

Everyone likes and loves FUN.  Especially during fiestas and festivals where event organizers will always include that pole contest for that challenge to climb up that greasy pole.  YET, many are called BUT few are chosen.  Exactly, that is a factual statement.  Majority of those contestants eventiually give up [even if it's just for FUN].  So, here's a petty riddle.  Why Going UP Is 1000x Times Tougher💊💊💊

Of course, eventually there will be winners BUT do we agree that MANY ARE CALLED BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN [to win and prevail that climb]?  The sad truth that makes our horizons look gloomier than ever is that in life, we all go through bad times, we all experience disappointment, loss and change, and we all feel sad, anxious and eventually stressed at various times in our lives.  BUT building resilience can help you to maintain a positive outlook when facing an uncertain future⏳⏳⏳

So, the biggest question is WHY do some people seem to be better able to cope in these troubling times than others?  While everyone's situation is different, it is true that people with RESILIENCE tend to have higher tolerance for the emotional distress caused by the HARD TIMES📌📌📌

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So, in our endeavors to climb up the steep slopes, we need to realize that it will be one hell of a climb where statistics show that there are as much FAILURES as SUCCESSES.  Now, for the high level of FAILURES, what's the most common culprit?  It is the READINESS aspect that's always wanting to be addressed.  Why is READINESS the common culprit?  Studies show that a plurality have that READINESS issue not because they are uninterested but because they belittled that endeavor, thinking they can have it half the effort✅✅✅

There is one overriding quality of mind and personality that weighs more strongly than anything else in determining eventual success.  It is CHARACTER no less.  Eventual SUCCESS depends more than anything else on the ability to keep striving in the face of disappointment and rejection.  And FAILURE.  Remember the festivals with those high greasy poles where everyone is eyeing on.  BUT again, MANY ARE CALLED BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN.  WHY?  Because GOING UP is 1000x TIMES TOUGHER THAN GOING DOWN❗❗❗

DON'T Play 'HARDBALL' Unless.......

DON'T Play 'HARDBALL' Unless.......

YES and NO. We'll talk about HARDBALL but NO, it's NOT about baseball though.  Instead, it is to egg everyone to please DON'T Play 'HARDBALL' [in life] by default UNLESS you can mitigate the risks based on our sharing below.  The consequences when we bungle the opportunities when playing HARDBALL could be serious enough💊💊💊

Negotiations are always part and parcel of our lives.  And for less experienced negotiators, it may be tempting to try to outsmart the party across the table with clever tactics or worse, we might tend to end up CLAIMING instead of CREATING value in the negotiation.  BUT aggressive and heavy-handed ways are rarely successful, if at all💎💎💎

But I might be asked:  we are NOT trained negotiators.  SO HOW?  Here are some sound fundamentals.  First, PREPARE AHEAD OF TIME and KNOW WHAT YOU WANT.  This is very basic.  Unless you are crystal clear with what you want to achieve in that negotiation, you would likely miss out hitting the bullseye of an opportunity📌📌📌

So how exactly should you prepare?  DEFINE what you want [NOT the result].  IDENTIFY what success looks like for you so you DON'T set the bar way too low.  DEFINE your interests and your priorities [including HOW much you can trade-off when negotiating]✅✅✅

You might ask. what's the most difficult part?  It's when negotiating things that impact our relationship with our spouse/partner or loved ones and immediate family.  That becomes complicated because relationships are next to impossible just unquantifiable in $$$$ and cents.  And please consider all possible WHAT IF scenarios.  WHAT IF your spouse/parner does NOT acquiesce, what are the consequences?  And BTW, consequences covers both indirect and direct ones.  When a relationship hits rough patches, it could trigger a 'domino effect' of the consequences.  So, think about it before playing HARDBALL❗❗❗

As Good As Your LAST PERFORMANCE

As Good As Your LAST PERFORMANCE

Yesirrrrrs, this is not to scare you and cause you to fall off from your chair but here's a harsh reality in life.  You are....... As Good As Your LAST PERFORMANCE and there is NO exemption to this rule, NOT even the highest paid star players in the world of sports or within the cruel world of corporate board rooms.  The latest casualty [fresh from the newswires] now is no less than NBA Milwaukee Coach Mike Budenholder.  He was FIRED just a week after his #1 ranked team was eliminated by the #8 ranked Miami Heat📌📌📌

You can be the perennial 'A-Lister' in school for several quarters OR the top sales grosser for five straight years or the top employee for donkey years OR your business sales turnover has over-achieved its target for many years OR you have been the most effective CFO juggling the corporate finances despite the myriad of challenges you faced.  BUT UNTIL WHEN❓❓❓

That is the HARSHEST reality ever in life.  You CAN'T rest on your laurels.  You CAN'T remain at the top of the totem pole via the status quo.  You CAN'T dream of being etched on the HALL of FAME because the way to reach that far is, to borrow the NBA jargon, you got to be a GOAT [be the GREATEST PLAYER of ALL TIME]❗❗❗

This poster is spot on, defining GOOD as SOMEONE WHO GETS THE JOB DONE.  If I may add, 'OVER & OVER AGAIN'.  If there's the slightest gap or shortfall, or even a blimp, that's it, you're out of the running💎💎💎

Our key takeaways for today?  BE ON YOUR TOES EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.  Moreover, your 5-star performances should be consistent.  This is much tougher than the F1 Formula Race.  WHY?  Because in life, there is NO PIT STOP, NO timeouts, NO respites, nothing, nada.  WHY?  Because you're ONLY AS GOOD AS YOUR LAST PERFORMANCE, dude✅✅✅