There Is NO SHAME in Losing, ONLY In Quitting

There Is NO SHAME in Losing, ONLY In Quitting

Few months back during the 2023 NBA Playoffs, everything was being thrown to the [supposedly] respected BOSTON CELTICS Team.  WHY? Because the team itself, from the coach down to its star players, they simply QUIT, allowing MIAMI HEAT to take that 3-0 lead.  And as they say, There Is NO SHAME in Losing, ONLY In Quitting💎💎💎

Before we get lost in this exchanges and end up on the wrong side of things, one thing to be clear here is that we are NOT in the SHAMING  thing but instead, we want to push all the positivities of LOSING.  WHEN you  aspired so much in school only to fall short is NO shame.  WHEN you wooed the 'girl of your life' but fell on the wayside, that's NO shame.  WHEN you are in a competition and FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT but still lost, there's NO shame despite that sad predicament💊💊💊

Swinging back to U.S. politics several decades back when then Senator Gary Hart, the then HEAVY FAVORITE to romp off with the Democratic Party's presidential nomination re-entered in the primaries in 1987, with remorse, he still had the gumption to proclaim that 'THERE IS NO SHAME IN LOSING, ONLY IN QUITTING'.  Of course, the rest is history because within two weeks in rejoining the primary races, he withdrew from the race, all because of that DONNA RICE scandal [ironically, traced from that yacht ride in the Bahamas aboard that yacht named 'MONKEY BUSINESS'💳💳💳

Looking back when the paparazzis hounded the late Lady Diana and Dodi Fayed till their tragic death, what used to be 'DOORS CLOSED' and OFF LIMITS for journalists.  Even then, although I cannot declare myself as a 'Diana/Dodi Fan', allow me to piggy-back on what then Senator Gary Hart proudly declared in National TV that 'THERE IS NO SHAME IN LOSING, ONLY QUITTING'✅✅✅

So, dude, c'mon, roll up your sleeves, summon all the grit you have that are yet unearthed.  And never tag LOSING as a stigma because it is NOT.  I'll admit I had a few past 'LOSSES' in life but rather than deter me, that shoved and pushed me forward to just NEVER GIVE UP because as then Senator Gary Hart said, 'THERE IS NO SHAME IN LOSING, ONLY IN QUITTING❗❗❗

Your BELIEF Should Be Stronger Than Any DOUBT

Your BELIEF Should Be Stronger Than Any DOUBT

BELIEF and DOUBT are two of the most symbiotic forces that seems to encapsulize our lives through and through.  Each one tries to conquer and 'TAKE OVER' our pitiful self.  But NEVER say that to Dwayne Wade, one of the NBA's most successful players who was enshrined in the NBA HALL of FAME recently.  And to quote his most quoted one-liner:  Your BELIEF Should Be Stronger Than Any DOUBT💎💎💎

And DWAYNE WADE can beat his chest over and over again because he did overcome numerous roadblocks in his NBA career.  And some of those roadblocks, had he NOT deftly hurdled them, those roadblocks were career-ending ones.  WHEN the Miami Heat ballclub wanted to signup the great LEBRON JAMES, the latter's gargantuan contract would NOT have been accommodated by the Miami Heat UNLESS the Miami Heat had to shave off a significant chunk from its budget, else the NBA will NOT approve such signup. And there was a second potential hiccup.  DWAYNE WADE had to accept that his role in the team will be relegated because LEBRON JAMES will become the very core of the Miami Heat❗❗❗

Having said a mouthful, let us face this harsh reality.  Worst than the dreaded coronavirus, DOUBT will always be part and parcel of our lives.  Live a life, DOUBT creeps in, as early as our infancy.  And morbid as this may sound, even in our last moments when we're fighting for our life to be given a second lease of life, that DOUBT will continue to linger and persist to exist and worst, even supplant anything that is left of you, even if you are bereft of the last ounce of strength and faith in yourself.  How to FIX that?  Boost your BELIEF because that will conversely shoot down any lingering DOUBT✅✅✅

I am no Buddhist but I admire with awe the deep-seated BELIEF of Buddhists, all because their strong faith is founded in the embedded teachings of the revered Buddha.  Are you surprised or doubting how widely accepted Buddhism is?  Look far and deep into the Americas.  Count in respected American celebrities as some of the famous celebrities who converted to Buddhism, all because of their deep-seated BELIEF📌📌📌

To cap off our thread today, allow me to share this oh-so-boring black & white poster but this should throw you off your chair if until this point in time, you continue to be nursing lingering DOUBTS, probably DOUBTS on your own capabilities, DOUBTS on your chances to succeed in your endeavor, DOUBTS with regard your resilience to overcome whatever turbulences in life that may hit you, DOUBTS with regard your health, DOUBTS with regard your fortitude.  The antidote to this myriad of DOUBTS is to bolster your BELIEF no less💊💊💊

Once You PIVOT...

Once You PIVOT...

To PIVOT has been more common to hear within the sports world but to PIVOT is really happening more in our real life way beyond just the sports world.  So when You PIVOT, it means one deviates from the plan itself and generally, the most common reason to PIVOT is to either accelerate or hasten the way towards a goal or to hurdle a hump that could be a 'show stopper'💎💎💎

An analogy is the approved flight plan of all aircraft way before it takes off for its flight.  And as a ground rule, deviation is NOT a given but the pilots need to secure approvals before deviating.  To deviate is to PIVOT but the challenge here is that to PIVOT is not like a 'walk in the park' because to PIVOT, there are consequences and ramifications which often times, DON'T surface early on✅✅✅

Swinging back to basketball, Once You PIVOT, that is never part of the original game plan but the bench tacticians would give the on-court players the leeway as a workaround [when one either 'hits a wall' or potentially about 'to hit one'].  Question is, what if one does NOT PIVOT, does NOT deviate?  There is that likelihood that that player up front could end up 'hitting a wall'📌📌📌

You could ask me straight in my face:  Have I PIVOTED yet?  Yes I did pivot and I did pivot many times in my life.  NOT because I am fickle-minded.  NOT because I am NOT a good planner and executioner of my own plans.  NOT because I am vulnerable to factors that tend to bamboozle me with my plans.  NOT because I plan things poorly.  BUT in all of the times I did PIVOT, it was the best way to go in executing my plan📗📗📗

So when we PIVOT, here are the triggers.  IF your existing plan MAY likely fail.  IF your current situation seems to be iffy.  IF your current options are giving the tell-tale signs that you will end up off-tracked.  IF maintaining the STATUS QUO is NOT the best way to go for you.  At the end of the day, you may have to grab the bull by its horns when making a JUDGMENT CALL💚💛💜

Money Talks !@#$%?

Money Talks !@#$%?

Who claims that MONEY is our friend?  Everyone does, and that includes moi.  But I believe there is no place to argue that Money Talks !@#$%? But that's not our talking point though.  Instead, we'd like to whet our appetite when Money Talks.  And when does Money Talk?  As soon as Money becomes part of the equation, you can count on your fingers the probability and extent of the ramifications when Money Talks.  Couples break up. Families feud.  Corporate boardroom wars become the 'talk of the town'.  Relationships not only get strained but they end up sometimes with very depressing and sometimes sordid tales that used to be read just in fictional books.  Scenarios peppered with Money Talks scenarios would show both the flip sides of our life📌📌📌

The positive side of things, I guess there is no need to share because positive stories are always splashed all over social media in fact.  But the sad flip side of life which were consequences when Money Talks,  it's sad to share some of those narratives💊💊💊

Heard of that popular FAMILY FEUD TV program?  Not referring to that program, what we mean here is that in numerous narratives, when Money Talks, not far behind you will see a smoke billowing out from the chimney which may likely mean that at that point in time, Money Talks because when Money Talks, frictions are a common thing to happen next💎💎💎

Now, while Money Talks has led to widening gaps leading to 'burned bridges', I have personally witnessed scenarios where parties who were previously NOT on 'talking terms' suddenly reconnected and started talking when $$$$$$ funds surfaced for them to divide and share amongst themselves.  But the saddest part of things when Money Talks is when even people whose current state in life is bad 'at best' suddenly have the gumption to take unprecedented strides which they are NOT capable of.  No thanks when Money Talks✅✅✅

Much as we admit that our need for money is basic enough, there are outlier stories where and when people CHANGED OVERNIGHT, all because Money Talks.  Attitudes flip.  Character changes.  Even values and ethics end up turned upside down.  Relationship end up NOT just strained BUT ruined.  What's our FIX?  Easier said than done but it pays ensure that when Money Talks, we got to endeavor that both our feet remain firmly on the ground because when we get detached with the realities in life, we could end up off-tracked and what happens next is anybody's guess.  Lastly, when Money Talks, we earnestly hope that relationships do get negatively impacted at all❗❗❗

That Realm Of Possibility

That Realm Of Possibility

Heard of people stuck up?  Stalled? In limbo?  Neither here nor there?  With time fast fleeting while everything that is status quo prevails in one's state?  But  are we NOT supposed to be intrinsically aware of That Realm Of Possibility in life?  But thinking about it, it should NOT surprise us why some of us DON'T get looped at all in That Realm Of Possibility in life✅✅✅

Let's take a full pizza pie as an analogy.  Take a thin slice of that pie and have it as representing for everything you know, e.g. you know how to drive, how to bike, etc.  Then take another slice of pizza to represent everything you DON'T know, e.g. I DON'T know how to speak Mandarin, I DON'T know rocket science, etc❌❌❌

The rest of the pie?  Consider it to represent everything YOU DON'T KNOW THAT YOU DON'T KNOW.  Do consider that vast realm of possibility of what we DON'T know that we DON'T know as the realm of 'Divine Intelligence' where our potential resides❗❗❗

This what we need to remember when we do get stuck in our life.  Remember that something radically new and indeed magnificent is available to us but it's something we DON'T know yet.  And it does exists in the infinite and limitless realm of the 'Divine'.  And that is the place we may be 'invited' to open to as we do the visioning process.  And this is where I'm tempted to do an apples to apples to apples comparison between VISIONING and VISUALIZATION📌📌📌

While VISUALIZATION refers to selecting from that which is already in the world, it means we can VISUALIZE only that which we already know. Whereas VISIONING is opening to that 'divine inspiration' that allows us to catch something from the REALM of infinite potentiality [other than what we can currently see including those unfolding in our lives.  Which brings me back to my question, why do each of us end up fated with something unique?  The NOT so simple answer lies in the fact that there is a huge gap between VISIONING versus VISUALIZATION, which then influences and shapes up the 'END RESULTS' of each of our lifelong journeys💎💎💎

Understand How The UNDERBELLY Works

Understand How The UNDERBELLY Works

How often have we seen these days when corporate executives are enjoying the comforts of their swivel chair while they signoff this and that document?  Yes it is still happening but comparatively, that has drastically gone down by approximately 90%.  WHY?  Because these days, we need to Understand How The UNDERBELLY Works📌📌📌

Whether you're still in the academe or now at the work place or even in your commercial forays, we would hear people who describe themselves as DETAIL-ORIENTED all the time.  We also hear employers who say they need DETAIL-ORIENTED people in their teams.  And sometimes, we ourselves would indicate in our resume that we are DETAIL-ORIENTED.  So, while it's good to include that as part of your 'ARSENAL of SKILLS', what exactly does it mean?  Moreover, should we actually describe ourselves as DETAIL-ORIENTED [even if it's NOT the case]❓❓❓

Now, let's ask ourselves, what is the most common error we come across in documents amongst others?  Isn't it most of those recurring errors are those TYPO ERRORs and MISSPELLINGS?  Now, while one TYPO ERROR here and a spelling error there do NOT define you, trust me, it can be the KEY DIFFERENTIATOR between your resume heading into the queue OR the bin.  So, what is a DETAIL-ORIENTED person?  He/she is one who exercises extreme and consistent attention to DETAIL.  And they are thorough, accurate, organized and consistently focused💊💊💊

DETAIL-ORIENTED people focus on the details and eXert eXtra attention down to the little things.  Many donkey years ago, one could be a manager managing things from a macro level.  Today, as we speak, if you are a stubborn manager who will insist to manage things from a macro level, you can be led to the door come next day, that's NOT a threat❗❗❗

In the simplest terms, let's translate how to UNDERSTAND HOW THE UNDERBELLY WORKS, how to be DETAIL-ORIENTED.  Numero UNO, REMEMBER the little things.  Numero DOS, REVIEW & PROOFREAD what you did before submitting.  Numero TRES, when it comes to grammar, those combing your documents or resume are grammar geeks, so sharp when either 'THERE, THEIR or THEY'RE'.  Please do UNDERSTAND HOW THE UNDERBELLY WORKS✅✅✅

Crabs Dragging You Back

Crabs Dragging You Back 

Good day folks.  Our thread today is neither about gourmet nor culinary arts.  Moreover, I am not that of a fan when it comes to seafoods but for today, I'm tempted that we spend a bit of time about Crabs Dragging You Back [in life] because this is a stark reality happening in our life and I strongly believe it will be an outlier of a story if someone proclaims that Crabs Dragging You Back has never happened [YET] in his/her life @#$$%

So, WHEN and WHERE are Crabs Dragging Youis  Back?  It could just happen ANYWHERE ANYTIME.  Be it in school, at the workplace, in business and even in our personal relationships with our family, relatives, friends.  So WHY do Crabs Dragging You Back  really happen? For various reasons, e.g. sheer SELFISHNESS, embedded ANTAGONISM, unresolved CONFLICTS and natural COMPETITION [whether in school, at the workplace or out there in the market].  Across personal relationships, in most cases, it is the consequence arising from unresolved conflicts.  Lesson here is, where possible, resolve conflicts, else it can drag you down [till CRABS DRAG YOU]  ⏳⏳⏳

In a nutshell, it is something that is totally within our control [in fact, most of the time, it is way out of our control] Crabs Dragging You Back but tjere are steps to take that leads towards mitigating such risks.  You wanna ignore it?  Please DON'T unless you wanna PLAY WITH FIRE? BUT if you do, if you thought it will quell the fire, the fire will, in fact, just worsen💊💊💊

So, what's our proactive fix to probably 'nip in the bud' Crabs Dragging You Back?  First of, have your AWARENESS be as sharp as ever.  Just DON'T look the other way around when things happen.  Secondly, let us not be TOO cocky, TOO confident, TOO complacent because those manifestations can claim, for its record, tons and tons of casualties and victims.  Part of our human fault is to be provocative and that's the worst misstep to happen because it courts trouble and worst, it incites negativities that even veer towards Crabs Dragging You Back📌📌📌

Yessirrrrrs, we hate to ever copy this regrettable one-liner  "I DIDN'T LOSE A FRIEND, I JUST REALIZED I NEVER HAD ONE" because I can attest to these exceptions whose ROOT CAUSE[s] were traceable to Crabs Dragging You Back.  In brief, this is a situation where we can do our part to mitigate it or at the very least, soften its impact to us❗❗❗

Don't Keep Things 'BOTTLED UP' !

Don't Keep Things 'BOTTLED UP' !

No sirrrrs, our thread today is NOT about booze, drinks and wine.  It's this problem that is NOT seen or felt much on the surface simply because Things seem to be 'BOTTLED UP' !  And we're referring to the intangibles, our EMOTIONS, our FEELINGS and no more than that.  So you might wander why this serves a space in our thread today?  Precisely, it's because this dilemma is prevalent amongst us BUT if it NOT easily felt, it's simply because the fact is, it really seems Things are 'BOTTLED UP' !  Obviously, when Things are 'BOTTLED UP', even we ourselves would suddenly become oblivious, if at all, when Things seem to be 'BOTTLED UP' ❗❗❗

So, what really happens when we BOTTLED UP our feelings?  Hmmm, we all must learn how to express our emotions in a healthy way.  And the very first step is having that AWARENESS or knowing the signs that you're indeed BOTTLING UP your emotions and understanding the repercussions if that miscue continues.  So, let's assess that situation when we BOTTLED UP.  Likely, that's when we either feel worried or anxious all the time. And if you choose NOT to deal with your feelings, those BOTTLED UP emotions will likely start to creep out of nowhere💊💊💊

Let's take a real-life experience IF/WHEN you face financial woes.  Once you OPEN UP with your spouse/partner, trust me, you will feel better.  WHY?  Because you will receive the support you need, and your partner/spouse can even help in your budgeting and that happens by NOT BOTTLING UP.  Too bad some of us would resort to some unhealthy coping mechanisms when there is just one too many emotions to mask.  Other people will drink all night to forget their problems.  While a more extreme action is when some would do resort to substance abuse [simply to have that euphoric feeling]💎💎💎

Others take the worse path by expressing their negative emotions in an unhealthy way by lashing out at their loved ones.  Some even harm themselves or contemplate on suicidal thoughts when too much emotions CAN'T be handled anymore.  These unhealthy coping mechanisms will NOT do you any good as they are all self-destructive behaviors that ironically will HARM you and HURT those who care for you.  BUT we can avoid all that if we let all our emotions OUT in a healthy way✅✅✅

So what's our FIX?  Numero uno.  KNOW THE CAUSE of your negative emotions.  Create a journal, write down those struggles to increase your self awareness.  Numero dos.  TALK TO SOMEONE because that's the best way to vent out BOTTLED UP emotions.  Bottomline is, DON'T KEEP THINGS BOTTLED UP at all📗📘📙

Is Time Our 'ALLY'?

Is Time Our 'ALLY'?

Is Time Our 'ALLY'?  Let's face it.  Our societies, regardless of culture, all promote for us all to be busy at all times and at all costs.  As a result, it seems that we all end up always rushing.  But before we deep-dive in this thread, let's face the fact that TIME can be our ALLY or our NEMESIS depending on the circumstances at hand.  Time being our ALLY should not be a hard-sell because TIME as our resource makes them as our best ALLY we can ask for📌📌📌

Oh, we all learn that we learn early on in our life that we better be ON TIME for things or bad stuff may happen.  Be late to turn-in your papers and your grade may end up potentially lower.  Be late to pay your bills and you may end up stuck with penalties and surcharges.  Be late to finish your work and at worst, we might end up out of job.  As a result, many people conclude that TIME is our NEMESIS.  THAT it must be battled and beaten⏳⏳⏳

NOT being akin to turtles, we all agree that prevailing and winning over TIME can never be permanent.  WHY?  Because the clock gets RESET either tomorrow, the next week, the next month or in that next cycle.  How often have we heard "LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO HOLD ON TO REGRET" or LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO WORK ON A JOB YOU DISLIKE" or "LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO BE ON HOLIDAYS WITH MY FAMILY"💎💎💎

Aphorisms like all these tend to imply that TIME is our NEMESIS !@#$%  But should we agree that TIME is NOT the reason why we ought to to give up regret or to 'UP' our game?  Even the shortness of life is NOT the reason.  There is an assumption going on that the entirety misses where the real problem lies.  Obviously, a short life and limited TIME would be a blessing❗❗❗

But when we approach our problems and challenges at hand from this standpoint, TIME becomes NOT only 'NOT OUR NEMESIS' but TIME can become our ALLY.  When we have that habit that needs fixing, imagine how our life would be if we delayed action to fix it?    So, let's be TIME-conscious every step of our way because in an instant, TIME can turn from our ALLY to our NEMESIS✅✅✅

Don't Make Your FIRST TIME The LAST TIME

Don't Make Your FIRST TIME The LAST TIME

Finding or sometimes being given an opportunity is NEVER a monopoly of the chosen few.  We all have had our fair share of opportunities.  Whether it's about our family and relationships, OR in school, OR at the job market OR even in the commercial space.  So, our thread today is figuring out if we should reinforce this 'unpublished' mantra for everyone's consideration, that is,  Don't Make Your FIRST TIME The LAST TIME✅✅✅

I remember those years I was enjoying my work life @ Shell Oil until I was given an all-expense paid roundtrip to the location hosting one of the biggest pineapple plantations in Southeast Asia.  The rest is moot and academic because I then 'jumped ship' coming from a European MNC to a U.S. Fortune 500.  Thing is, I made sure that FIRST TIME opportunity won't be the LAST TIME❗❗❗

When I took a 'HIGH RISK' step many years ago of exploring my opportunities out there in Singapore, I admit I accepted each email and call I received.  And I accommodated EACH request to meet me up.  After those flurry of face-to-face appointments, myself as a PRODUCT I was marketing, I had as much choice/options as much as my prospective employers were having.  It was a WIN-WIN thing, just so I made sure the FIRST TIME someone reaches out to me, it won't be the LAST TIME💊💊💊

Looking back, if I'll do some hypothetical WHAT IFs.  WHAT IF I ignored one call or that other email or what if I just decided to be a NO-SHOW in a face-to-face interview, worst case, I could be in another situation likely NOT as good as where I am right now.  The chances that things could have been better is nearer than farther in terms of probabilities, if I may say💎💎💎 

Indeed, it is TRUE that generally, the 'grass seems greener' across the fence, so obviously, even the flowers will be more alluring to us.  Lesson here is that even in our relationship with our partner/spouse, your FIRST TIME to shower him/her with expressions of love should NOT have been the LAST TIME, right❓❓❓