Take What Is Given

Take What Is Given

British Billionaire Richard Branson was once quoted:  BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES ARE LIKE BUSES, THERE'S ALWAYS ANOTHER ONE COMING.  And we can't argue with that because that's the obvious truth.  But the biggest question that befuddles me is WHY many of us tend to be scouring for any kind of opportunity when opportunities abound📌📌📌

But here's the thing.  No matter what you're after, you'll be presented with a number of challenges along the way.  So how do we prepare ourselves to seize the opportunity of a lifetime from the moment you recognize it?  Primero, develop a crystal clear vision of what you want to achieve. Let me share a bit about my past.  At one point when I was firm that I have saturated and exhausted the local career opportunities, i identified WHAT do I want, WHERE should I go and WHEN should be the timelines to achieve it💎💎💎

Fast-forward, what happened next.  I pegged my 'market search' to complete by November with the next goal that I must be short-listed for interviews by possible employers all within a span of one week because [with no scheduling overlaps] because I intended to buy my return ticket with a week's stay in that city state [yes, I'm referring to Singapore].  Final results:  I achieved all my goals within those timelines and before I flew back,  I already signed off on a tendered 'juicy' job offer⏳⏳⏳

From a scientific explanation, scientists explain that once you put your brain's "RETICULAR ACTIVATING SYSTEM' into function, that can become the difference between achieving your dreams OR simply living a life combined by both desperation + frustration.  Even physiologists have joined the fray, claiming that even your physiology will respond to an image it can visualize in your head as if it were reality❗❗❗

Swinging over to competitive sports, specifically in the NBA, crafty players play as they TAKE WHAT IS GIVEN.  Specifically, when are given the room to drive through the 'paint area', they will drive.  If they get 'double teamed', instantly they'll look for that teammate who's surely free and unguarded because of the 'double-teaming' on him.  All these translate exactly the same way in our daily life  TAKE WHAT IS GIVEN because that's your best card at that time✅✅✅

Delusions of Grandeur

Delusions of Grandeur 

No sirrrrrs, I won't veer into unknown territory.  Not even about Schizophrenia which indeed includes manifestations of delusions and hallucinations. To be aligned, let's agree on the definition of delusions which, per se, is defined as that "STRONGLY HELD BELIEFS THAT ARE NOT AMENABLE TO LOGIC OR PERSUASION AND THAT ARE OUT OF KEEPING WITH THEIR HOLDER'S BACKGROUND"📌📌📌

Frankly though, DELUSIONS are NOT necessarily false or fiction but instead, it is the process by which sometimes, they are arrived at is usually bizarre and illogical.  On the other hand, positive symptoms correspond to the general public's idea of "MADNESS".  The apprehension here is that those with DELUSIONS might evoke FEAR or ANXIETY with others⏳⏳⏳

Surely, everyone of us can bear witness to those DELUSIONS of GRANDEUR.  Like when I was in elementary and high school, I had a classmate who perennially had that DELUSION that he is 'tops' in our class.  When I finally got into the workplace environment, I had a colleague who, despite all the healthy discussions, always insisted he was right because everyone else is NOT, not until he get proven wrong💎💎💎

Lofty ambitions are NOT that bad.  In fact, they are laudable but what if such DELUSION becomes just sheer illogical and unfathomable?  If you're into a relationship, WHAT IF your DELUSION is that you are the superior one and your partner/spouse is the inferior one whose role in life is to simply kowtow to all your💊💊💊

Being overly ambitious is NEVER wrong at all but you got to ensure both your feet are still on the ground.  You got to close to REALITY, to what is FEASIBLE [versus a PIPE DREAM].  I can attest to having witnessed people with all the grandiose plans and lofty goals, which per se, were laudable but what's the probability of success from what I witnessed first hand?  A success rate of less than 1%, if at all.  Lesson for today:  LET US SET GOALS FEASIBLE & REASONABLE enough❗❗❗

Don't Ever 'POKE A BEAR'

Don't Ever 'POKE A BEAR'

No sirrrrs, we are NOT adventurous when we say Don't Ever 'POKE A BEAR' because this is meant more figuratively speaking.  What we meant is that in life, much as we cherish all our freedoms, there are limitations and boundaries that may NOT be breached.  Once you breach it, your guess is as good as mine, as to what happens nexr💊💊💊

Last night, the Miami Heat-Boston Celtics Game 2 was another clutch game [i.e. NBA games that separate 2 teams less than five points within the last five minutes].  And Miami Heat star player Jimmy Butler was having a rare 'pedestrian' game NOT until Boston Celtics' Gary Williams started to verbally challenge him, NOT until it became a showmanship match ending in a [literally speaking] head-to-head confrontation💎💎💎

If you're still attending school, the last person you want to offend are your academic lecturers.  If you're committed to your spouse/partner, health arguments are fine and part and parcel of daily life but the last thing you want is to breach their TRUST in you.  If you're at the workplace environment,  you DON'T want to breach your SLA [service level agreement] with your clients.  If you're an entrepreneur and your business is burgeoning, you DON'T want to hear or receive even a single NEGATIVE customer feedback because of the backlash that may come close on the heels📌📌📌

Last night, at the NBA Game 2 between Miami Heat and Boston Celtics, the latter was leading by double digits until the last six minutes when that 'brouhaha' happened and what happened next was like the slumbering lion suddenly woke up from its deep slumber and went on a rampage.  In another 3 minutes, the Miami Heat had overtaken the Boston Celtics in the scoreboard and by the time the buzzer sounded, it was a lost cause for the Boston Celtics.  In the post-mortem, almost all fingers were pointed at Gary Williams as he did 'POKE A BEAR' in Jimmy✅✅✅

Today, as I was watching the Netflix 'EL CHAPO' Series, this reminded me that indeed DON'T ever 'POKE THE BEAR' even if you happen to be the top honcho of one of the Mexican drug cartels.  WHY?  You DON'T want to cause the ire of your rival cartels.  Instead, you want to CO-EXIST with them.  As Jimmy Butler ended his post-game interview, he's NOT the best person to talk after Gary did POKE THE BEAR❗❗❗

Try Stocking The Fire!

Try Stocking The Fire!

No sirrrrs, we're not talking about fires that will turn structures into ashes.  Instead, we want to Try Stocking The Fire to put more fuel and energy into your 'belly' till it becomes ignitable.  In life, you can be gifted, talented and intellectually ahead but unless you got that 'FIRE IN THE BELLY' nothing will ignite you to kickstart the endeavor you want to pursue.  Try Stocking The Fire💊💊💊

No need to look far.  Although I am NOT into yoga, yogis spend considerable time + effort in strengthening that FIRE IN THE BELLY.  I just heard this for some who went into yoga classes, that they really endeavor to STOKE THE FIRE at the very core.  To quote yogis, every time they consciously breathe out and feel the navel draw back on the spine💎💎💎

Now, this is getting deeper into yoga jargon.  You might wonder why are we pushing for the BELLY?  So, why so much focus on the BELLY?  According to yoga teachers, when you have a strong PRANA in your core, you can burn anything life throws your way and when your PRANA flows intelligently at that 'navel center', you get better at digesting things, whether it be the salad you had for lunch or that incredibly long report you need to read for your work⏳⏳⏳

Yoga experts likened this part of our energetic anatomy to a fire because an 'ALIVE BELLY' warms us.  Experts say, in their own jargon, that the BELLY, when 'full of presence', it strengthens the SENSE OF INDIVIDUAL PURPOSE.  They say, 'A BELLY AWAKENED SAYS "I AM SAFE, I AM HERE, I HAVE A MISSION".  And a belly that is asleep says, 'WHAT's MY UNIQUE PURPOSE?  AM I IMPORTANT'✅✅✅

Now let's swing to relationships.  A relationship without TRUST is like a car without gas.  You can stay in it at all you want but it WON'T go anywhere.  This metaphor tells us that simply depicts that if you do NOT have TRUST and faith in your relationship, it is simply NOT worth your time and emotions.  And TRUST is wanting, how can we dream and hope for our relationship with our partner/spouse will flourish if we are unable to TRY STOCKING THE FIRE❓❓❓

Do You 'CHICKEN OUT'?

Do You 'CHICKEN OUT'?

It's neither a crime nor wrong for us to 'CHICKEN OUT' in life.  It should NOT even deserve to be NEWS at all because in life, we do 'CHICKEN OUT' BUT here's a big BUT.  It's fine to 'CHICKEN OUT' maybe once or twice in your lifetime BUT if you tend to 'CHICKEN OUT' every year or so, you have a bigger problem to resolve because that situation becomes chronic.  If the exception becomes the norm, if the outlier becomes the normal occurrence, then we need to arrest that skid to a 'CHICKEN OUT' mindset💎💎💎

If you have been to those entertainment complexes hosting variations of the roller coaster, what if in the middle of the ride you wanted to 'CHICKEN OUT' but you WON'T leap from the top, right [unless push comes to shove]?  One problem with 'CHICKENING OUT' is that sometimes it can pretty publicly embarrassing [or frankly, humiliating].  But there is a bigger problem we'll face when we 'CHICKEN OUT'📌📌📌

That bigger problem to 'CHICKEN OUT is that you will likely feel like you have missed a chance to surprise yourself [with that 'aborted feat'].  Whether you really wanted that roller coaster ride or NOT isn't really the point.  The point is to CHALLENGE yourself to do something you DON'T think you can do⏳⏳⏳

The point is we need to CHALLENGE ourself to do something you DON'T think you can do [and we are all likely to face either professional or personal moments where we must deal with this.  Especially at a time when you're likely to receive a challenge to pour a bucket of ice over your head.  So HOW can you overcome things holding you back, pushing you to 'CHICKEN OUT'?  Here are our FIXES for this dilemma✅✅✅

First off, REDUCE those easy choices [in life].  If you have to wait too long to have an experience, it is easy to 'CHICKEN OUT'?  So, reduce the time between making a decision to do something and the time when you actually do it.  The LESS TIME you have to change your mind, the better.  Secondly, find a BIGGER MOTIVATION.  Winning a personal battle is a nice MOTIVATION but it is much easier when you imagine a bigger MOTIVATION for doing something.  Lastly, FOCUS ON STARTING because most of the time, you can just start, then get on a roll and the rest comes much easier❗❗❗

Get A Grip In Life

Get A Grip In Life

We all come across zillions LESSONS IN LIFE  but if there is one lesson commonly overlooked [let's call it UTTERLY DISREGARDED & DISRESPECTED], it is all about for us to Get A Grip In Life.  And why do we need to Get A Grip In Life?  C'mon, if for brevity I'd have one single word to Get A Grip In Life, it is all about C-O-N-T-R-O-L.  Disclaimer here.  CONTROLS cannot happen 100%.  CONTROLS cannot happen during emergencies, natural disasters, accidents

BTW, CONTROLS may sometimes be leveraged even in the midst of accidents, e.g. if you're behind the steering wheel and your vehicle might be on a head-on collision course with another vehicle, CONTROLS on the steering wheel will help.  But that's the literal part of CONTROLS.  Let's swing back to our daily lives and align on the same page for us to Get A Grip In Life.  And the best takeoff point of our analogy is that above-mentioned example of your skidding vehicle about to get into a head-on collision

For folks sharing a roof with their partner/spouse, aftter the "HONEYMOON's OVER", reality sinks in.  Boredom kicks in.  When that SIZZLE FIZZLES OUT, things start with outliers like one-off disagreements that are few and far in between.  Days and weeks pass, it recurs

So, when your compass is spinning OUT of CONTROL, let's do these.

• WRITE DOWN YOUR THOUGHTS
• FOCUS ON ONE THING
• MAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF
• DON'T [as in] DON'T BE A CONTROL FREAK
• PRACTICE POSITIVITY
• RESET/REBOOT WHEN YOU PERCEIVE YOU'RE OFFTRACK or LOST
• GET ORGANIZED [and NOT CHAOTIC]

Really dude, GET A GRIP IN LIFE✅✅✅

In Life, You Got to 'CIRCLE THE WAGONS'

In Life, You Got to 'CIRCLE THE WAGONS'

In Life, You Got to 'CIRCLE THE WAGONS'.  Tracing back this expression is NOT tough as this western wagons circle around.  Literally, this is meant to PROTECT YOUR TURF.  And in life, this might sound so obvious but the truth is, many adults [supposedly RESPONSIBLE] are NOT protecting the turf they need to protect, literally and figuratively💎💎💎

How I got this CIRCLE THE WAGONS' thing, I was watching the Netflix movie 'THE SENTINEL' and David Rasche [as the U.S. President] ordering his Secret Service to 'CIRCLE THE WAGONS'.  Back to our lives, we just can't over-emphasize that blight in society when we witness supposedly responsible people JETTISON & DITCH their given responsibilities⏳⏳⏳

So, what's our take?  If you're a student, to 'CIRCLE THE WAGONS' mean yourself protecting the interest [and investment] of your parents in your schooling.  If you are committed to your partner/spouse, to 'CIRCLE THE WAGONS' means you got to protect your relationship, whatever it takes for you to achieve that📌📌📌

If you're over at the workplace, you got to 'CIRCLE THE WAGONS' by protecting the interests of your organization, your team, your clients.  And most importantly, doing so is part of your vested interest as your butter and rice bowl must be getting sourced out from your income.  Did we miss out anything else?  Yes, we got to 'CIRCLE THE WAGONS' on our very own persona, our mission, vision and goals✅✅✅

WHAT IF we don't 'CIRCLE THE WAGONS'? WHAT are the consequences?  Let me hit where it is most impactful.  Let's hypothetically say that up front, you implicitly share to any Tom, Dick and Harry your short-term, medium and long term plans for your business.  What's the probability that by 'telegraphing your punches', the market competition will pre-empt you by jumpstarting ahead of you?  In Life, You Got to 'CIRCLE THE WAGONS'❗❗❗

SMILE, You Don't Own All The Problems In The World

SMILE, You Don't Own All The Problems In The World

Yessss, this is not a run-of-the-mill sentence but quite a heart-wrenching one, if you may acknowledge.  SMILE, You Don't Own All The Problems In The World.  Why should we spend time on this thread today?  It's because many [truth is, ALL OF US] are all facing various kinds of problems in life⏳⏳⏳

BUT, who has NO problems?  You can't even exempt Sultan Bolkiah, Bill Gates and NOT even Pope Francis.  WHY?  Because to be beset with problems is part and parcel of our very own life.  So, where's the beef?  Our concern lies with those who are so overwhelmed [call it DROWNED] with all the problems they have at hand to the extent that you would hear some desperate voices that they DON'T want to spend an extra minute longer breathing, if at all.  BUT hey, I WON'T give you any wiggle room to disagree that You Don't Own All The Problems In The World💊💊💊

Oh Oh Oh, I really love this picture-less poster, I really do especially when it tells us what we should be concerned more than anything else, that coffee to remain HOT and that EYELINER to be EVEN [when all things are done].  So, while those rich in wisdom will offer insightful ideas for us to get a good handle of our problems, this poster tells us, C'MON, WHY DON'T YOU STEP BACK for a while because you deserve to be in that moment, enjoy and appreciate that moment you have at hand📌📌📌

True, we should NOT be dictated to smile.  Who deserves to be told anyway?  I remember when I was working with the Shell Group and one day, when I stood up from my desk in my cublcle, my colleague across our partitioned cubicle blurted 'WHY ARE YOU ANGRY'?  Next thing I did was to rush to the comfort room, rushing to see myself on the mirror and I realized my [default] face seemed to be FROWNING, ouch.  From that time on, I instantly changed my facial behaviors because that DIDN'T help my cause at all✅✅✅

Now, please DON'T get me wrong.  I'm NOT egging you to run away from your problems, NO sirrrrrs.  All I'm begging is for you to pull the brakes for now, take a breather, a respite from all the stressful moments triggered by all our problems.  It's a WIN-WIN thing, to exert a small ounce of effort for us to SMILE, because we DON'T OWN ALL THE PROBLEMS IN THE WORLD❗❗❗

Against All Odds - When The Betting Public Would Nod Like Bobbleheads

Against All Odds - When The Betting  Public Would Nod Like Bobbleheads

How often in life do we stand Against All Odds?  No doubt life is HARD at times.  That recent pandemic was most brutal to us all.  Everyone suffered not just financially but even mentally. Illnesses, death in the family and numerous other difficulties all contribute to make and let life look so damn miserable NOT worth living.  But hey, even before we got hit hard by that pandemic, life was already HARD, right?  For many of us, life is HARD more than it is NOT.  And that egged me to present this as our thread today but our purpose is NOT to minimize the experience or those feelings📌📌📌

In the ongoing 2023 NBA Playoffs, the Miami Heat almost bid adieu to the season when they were in the brink of elimination.  Moreover, during the regular season, in all the data analytics, they were ranked anywhere between 25th to 27th [out of 30 teams].  In the shortest words, the Miami Heat were playing AGAINST ALL ODDS. But as we speak now, the Miami is one of NBA's Top 4 teams battling to be the top NBA championship contender.  Talking about AGAINST ALL ODDS❗❗❗

In brief, everyone, even these NBA clubs do experience hardships and challenges that seem unsurmountable.  BTW, some experience hardships much more than others.  But hey, are we living hurried lives?  Me thinks so.  My point is that much of what we experience is simply perception.  Being alive today, it has to be hard to imagine that life by our forefathers way back the 18th or 19th centuries were fast-paced❓❓❓

Now, let's veer towards whining.  How often do we hear people whining?  Problem is, some feel they have to complain, as if their complaints are some sort of badge of honor.  My guess here is that everyone of us have indeed experienced expressing something NEGATIVE only to have a peer try to "one-up" one's complaint.  Studies say that this actually an error in EMPATHY.  Now, clinical experts have proven that our brain has that NEGATIVITY BIAS [and this is well recognized in Psychology].  

What's our FIX?  Experts say that or us to combat NEGATIVITY BIAS, we have to consciously work at paying attention to GOOD THINGS.  And one way is through GRATITUDE.  Focusing on GRATITUDE called POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY. which in concrete terms ask us to FOCUS on three unique things  that one has to be GRATEFUL for.  In the Harvard Report, it says that GRATITUDE is strongly associated with GREATER HAPPINESS so one can hurdle when all odds are against you, when even the betting public would nod like bobbleheads and when the data analytics show that all CARDS ARE STACKED AGAINST YOU💎💎💎

Keep Moving, Cover Your Tracks

Keep Moving, Cover Your Tracks

Keep Moving, Cover Your Tracks.  Is this worth to be our thread today.  Absolutely, because with social media platforms lording over our daily lives, it seems, unconsciously, our lives become an OPEN BOOK, which BTW is NOT wrong per se except when that 'OPENNESS' does stretch way beyond bounds📌📌📌

As businesses, educational institutions and workplaces are replacing face-to-face interactions and telephone calls that are considered ARCHAIC and time-consuming with texts, emails, online video conferencing and web portals.  As more communications exchanges are digitized, it makes PRIVACY information more vulnerable and susceptible to compromise and data breaches.  Even sensitive information like driver's license, bank account, medical records, social security and our credit card numbers are linked to individuals💎💎💎

Indeed, sensitive personal data should be protected similarly to the safeguarding of computer login credentials.  A recent IT Security report showed that in the United States alone, over 1.4 million people are victims of IDENTIFY THEFT each year and this has been most rampant among students.  And to align us all, IDENTIFY THEFT is defined as when an individual using another person's information to obtain access to credit card facilities or even medical care⏳⏳⏳

What does these all tell us?  We got to COVER OUR TRACKS, especially living in a highly digitized world where footprints are not literal but instead digital.  Although uninhibited social media posts may pose a threat, acquaintances can also use friendly exchanges to steal from unsuspecting targets.  All these does call for vigilance from us all.  Be LESS trusting when handling your personal information✅✅✅

DON'T get us wrong.  We are NOT encouraging people to shut off and just get ensconced in those cavernous caves.  Instead, while we encourage you to healthily interact with your friends, colleagues and even business contacts, be wary and consistently conscious in securing your personal information.  COVER YOUR TRACKS❗❗❗