When INTANGIBLES Matter

When INTANGIBLES Matter

In the new economy, VALUE isn't where it once was.  Solid, quantifiable assets like plants, equipment and inventory are now often far less indicative of a company's VALUE than INTANGIBLES like ideas, relationships,  and expertise.  This is When INTANGIBLES Matter.  Companies like Microsoft  and Google are at the 'top of the world' because of their INTANGIBLES.  But the truth is, as humans, we generally place a lot more importance on the tangible aspects of life as opposed to the INTANGIBLES.  We like to see, feel, touch, hear, and taste.  Our senses are acute and we need those senses served and stimulated📗📙📘

A TANGIBLE thing is something that can be touched, that can be palpated.  Something real and concrete.  That's WHAT we mostly desire.  The rat race in life is a perfect example of this TANGIBLE quality enthralls us.  And if it is NOT happening now, if the business is NOT growing, NOT making profit, it's NOT a VALUE to us.  If we DON'T get WHAT we want now, the venture is deemed a failure.  Where's the profit?  Success❓❓❓

So, that's the harsh reality.  Our lives are so rushed, so intense, so packed now that we must see tne TANGIBLES quickly, otherwise we will lose hope.  We want results RIGHT AWAY.  PATIENCE has been thrown out the window.  Instead of focusing on the HARD WORK and sustained dedication to the plan at hand, we focus on the results, the rewards💎💎💎

That's our common weakness as a human.  The 'FEEL GOOD' results and outcomes that we connect with better.  Those palpable results!  We want to skip over the process to hold the results in our hands.  We want the TANGIBLES right now, the part of the process we can identify with, because others can also see them and we attribute our VALUE to those TANGIBLES✅✅✅

BUT c'mon dude, let's NOT debate that the INTANGIBLES have the most VALUE.  Those aspects of our lives that we CAN'T measure, touch or palpate are the most valuable. Education.  Dedication.  Self-confidence.  Faith.  Loyalty, and the list goes on, these are examples of INTANGIBLES in our lives.  We just CAN'T skip over these ever-so-important INTANGIBLE traits just because we are so focused on tangible results❌❌❌

How Do We Gain More RESPECT?

How Do We Gain More RESPECT?

How Do We Gain More RESPECT?  Oh, you might react, WHAT A BORING TOPIC for today but allow me to push hard for this to be our thread.  Now, let's dive as deep as we can in our thread today.  Fact is, NOT all human behavior makes a whole lot of sense BUT why DON'T we focus on small-small HABITS that will turn others to us

HOW ABOUT sharing something you dislike about yourself.  I've done this quite a few times, especially when I meet people for the first time.  I would warn them that they need to get used to my persona because my face DOESN'T smile BY DEFAULT [unlike those charming lotharios WHO seem smiling even when strangers walk on opposite directions.  Oh we're all terrified of being banished from the crowd and looked at funny, so most of us put energy into appearing wonderful, flawless and virtuous

WHY don't we GO AGAINST THE GRAIN and tell us something you dislike about yourself.  That immediately puts you in the MINORITY and shows us something cool.  Now, this becomes debatable if we're advised to SMILE LESS.  BUT there seems to be a mystery to those WHO DON'T always smile when you expect them to.  We are intelligent beings and can sense insincere grins.  We're also tired of FAKEDNESS.  If someone smiles at everything, it takes the power out of any smile

Being sparing with your smiles can show discernment, a thoughtful mind and authenticity.  NOW, how about REPEATING THEIR WORDS.  Most people are hell-bent on emptying out everything they want us to know about their lives and problems.  Few take a moment to turn it around and help others feel heard.  A powerful way to do this is to REPEAT BACK some of what people say.  This reinforces a strong bond between you and the person you interact with

NOW, how about being UNDISTRACTED?  The worst 'turn off' is when someone talks and seeks your attention, your attention DOESN'T seem undivided.  Place yourself in the shoes of someone earnestly talking to you while there you are, 'hostaged' by that gadget where you are tied up to social media and even making facial reactions that are obviously NOT related to the person who's reaching out to you.  So, HOW DO WE GAIN MORE RESPECT❓❓❓

How Far PATIENCE Can Bring You?

How Far PATIENCE Can Bring You?

How Far PATIENCE Can Bring You?  Very far, dude.  And probably I shift the klieg lights back to myself because I'm willing to be the advocate of pushing and stretching PATIENCE in our life.  Personally, I've gone through the wringer, where my PATIENCE was tested and stretched way beyond what is fathomable.  And I have to admit that there were a few times in the past when my PATIENCE almost snapped, that last strings and fibers of the rope [I was clinging to] almost gave in.  And the easy way out for me then was to simply give up but I decided to cling on, hang on, and squeeze the last drop of sweat out of myself.  Oh, I did survive💴💷💵

Indeed, PATIENCE is the key to progress towards SUCCESS.  And SUCCESS is achieving WHAT we want.  SUCCESS is carrying out plans so that GOALS can be achieved successfully and SUCCESS in making the people around us happy.  The definition of PATIENCE is very simple if we interpret it using our conscience.  To be a PATIENT individual seems very easy for us to cultivate in our minds BUT it is very difficult to practice it in reality. To become a PATIENT individual, you must understand WHAT your life goals are📗📙📘

You have to know WHY you have to be PATIENT and more importantly, you have to know WHY it is important for every human being to instill an attitude of PATIENCE in their life journey.  My personal sharing goes back to the past difficulties I had to face and then I learned my LESSONS the HARD WAY, that to achieve something, I have to be PATIENT💎💎💎

Just as a farmer takes good care of his plants, if he loves WHAT he does, we can expect that he'll take good care of his plants, waters them, fertilizes them, and waits PATIENTLY, then 100% of the plants will grow ideally and the farmer will get good results for his HARD WORK.  You DON'T even need to push yourself too HARD because that will hurt you❎❎❎

So WHAT's our takeaway today?  You just need to achieve your GOALS with an ideal plan.  Everything will be easy for you to get IF you can plan it well.  PATIENCE is the key to success for every individual.  PATIENCE is the best way to achieve SUCCESS.  PATIENCE will give bitterness t the beginning BUT will give sweetness at the end.  That's HOW FAR PATIENCE CAN BRING YOU❗❗❗

How Powerful Is TIME?

How Powerful Is TIME?

We usually think that in order to complete creative, massive life projects and tasks, we need to put into 'hours and hours' of focused, dedicated work.  Whether it's about baking cake with your latest recipe or blogging or vlogging, we would think 'OH, I NEED TO ADD AN HOUR OF WORK' to make some progress.  That's really How Powerful Is TIME❓❓❓

I have observed this very common habit [and I admit, I had this habit too in the past].  Like when we need to do something to do, we would start either at 9:00, 9:30, 1:30, etc.  Most of us DON'T feel starting at 8:58. 10:07. 1:12.  WHY?  No sensible reasons there except that those time stamps just look UNATTRACTIVE to us📗📙📘

And because of that mindset, some precious minutes have been DUMPED to waste for NO REASON, the minutes that we could have done something useful. And worst of all worse, NO ONE [amongst us] would even consider that as a BAD HABIT !@#$%?  BUT c'mon dude, if we spend one minute doing something productive, like reading as an example, then we'll be one minute closer to have progressed in our reading💎💎💎

In fact, here's my realization from the past.  There's NO real benefit I can think of that comes out of playing games.  Anyway, the point here is that even SMALL MINUTES can add up to certain results and they can even dictate WHO we will become in the future.  Let's do some number crunching.  If I spend only 15-30 minutes reading everyday, I'll be finished reading 15 books in 1 year❗❗❗

Alternatively, if I spend 3 hours every single day watching TV, by the end of the month, I'll be spending 90 hours in front of that screen.  That's almost 4 full days and by yearend, that's 1,095 hours on TV equivalent to 45 days, whew!  Our takeaway today is NOT to undervalue OR underestimate how POWERFUL TIME is because of its impact to us as well✅✅✅

When GOLD Turns Into GARBAGE

When GOLD Turns Into GARBAGE

How often in our life do we get shocked When GOLD Turns Into GARBAGE?  Likely NOT often but likely sometimes, right?  I can say that with confidence because throughout my life, I did miss some opportunities here and there, some which were supposedly potential 'game changers' while most of the time, they were NOT that 'earth shaking' but nevertheless, it would be grossly irresponsible of me to simply sweep all those LESSONS IN LIFE under the bushel of oblivion💴💷💵

Everyday in life, we face lots of opportunities.  Many are obvious WINS, others are clear LOSSES  and the majority of the time, hindsight is twenty-twenty.  As a worker and as part of our families, we do make lots of decisions that impact us as well as others' lives.  And much as we endeavor that our decisions align with our core values, hindsight is twenty-twenty📗📙📘

I did had my early MISSED opportunity in life when I purposely passed off that opportunity for me to pursue my 'DREAM JOB' [to be a lawyer] and at that time, I was enrolled in my country's top law school.  BUT when I received a job offer to join a multinational oil company, I lost no time in abandoning my law studies and did a 90-degree and shifted over to information technology.  Of course, I had to weigh the PROs and CONs, and I admit I did my due diligence that time💎💎💎

Fast forward today, it could come out as a bad DECISION.  BUT again, DECISION from the past are always easier to make in the future.  You've learned new information , seen the ACTS OF GOD play out, and watched FATE direct destiny.  There's just nothing like the feeling of looking back on a great DECISION, one that makes you a ton of money or puts you in the right spot at the right time❗❗❗

On the other hand, there are DECISIONS that play out differently than expected.  Most of the time, if you are teachable and dedicated, we can call these as learning experiences.  Then, there are the other ones, the life-changing DECISIONS that you can never take back, maybe you could have been on the founding team of a startup that grew BIGGER than BIG like Uber, Grab or Facebook BUT took another path.  Indeed, those past DECISIONS will impact one deeply.  And they will stay with you and visit you in our MOMENTS of WEAKNESS.  Our takeaway is, where possible, let us avert GOLD Turning Into GARBAGE❎❎❎

In The Eyes Of The People

 "In The Eyes Of The People"

Citigroup, the world's biggest bank recently announced a 'major-major' reorganization [a.k.a. SHAKEUP] that would cut down many management layers to accelerate decision-making and at the helm is its CEO Jane Fraser a.k.a. 'FRASER THE RAZOR' and what struck me right into my nerves was her statement "YOU ARE GIVEN THE JOB OF A BOSS BUT YOU HAVE TO EARN THE RIGHT TO LEAD THE BUSINESS In The Eyes Of The People

It's true that whenever we mention 'BUY IN', by default, it ALWAYS refers to things happening within a work environment OR organization.  BUT hey, 'BUY IN' applies to both our personal and work/business life.  In most endeavors or initiatives, getting that 'BUY IN' is a MUST-do, a MUST-have📗📙📘

Speaking from a generic perspective, 'BUY IN' is critical to initiate a CHANGE whether it's something to happen in our home or at work.  Let's simplify the scenarios at home wherein you want to renovate your home, add extra floor space by adding a new room.  You may be the head of the family and the financier for the home renovation BUT you need to get the 'BUY IN' of your partner/spouse at the very least💎💎💎

In a work or business environment, getting that 'BUY IN' is equally imperative.  UNLESS you win the support for your ideas and/or proposed CHANGE, that idea OR that proposed CHANGE will likely NOT happen OR if there is an attempt to roll out that CHANGE, that roll out may FAIL.  BUT as any leader can attest, getting the true 'BUY IN' is never easy.  One significant factor is that the process we use to secure 'BUY IN' is inherently flawed.  In fact, we DON'T approach it as BUYING at all but instead, about SELLING IN that idea, that proposed CHANGE❗❗❗

While we always here getting the 'BUY IN', it's apt to call this as "DESCRIBE and DEFEND".  We develop an idea, sell it to ourselves first, and then go about selling it to others.  We consider every objection and develop an 'air tight' defense for each idea.  The problem is that we need others to be open to our influence, be it at home or at work.  When they feel SOLD to, they are more likely to resist OR ignore our entreaties.  Real 'BUY IN' involves at least some element of 'CO-CREATION' where it invites discussion, debate and allows everyone to feel even more vested in the outcome.  As Citigroup CEO 'FRASER THE RAZOR' said, "IN THE EYES OF THE PEOPLE"😁😁😁

Skepticism Vs Cynicism

Skepticism Vs Cynicism

Skepticism Vs Cynicism are often getting mixed up because of the very thin line that separates them.  BUT before we get mixed up, we're all skeptics and CYNICS in some aspects of our lives.  Having a 'jaundiced' view of politicians is quite understandable BUT in a business or in relationships, CYNICISM can be a deathknell💴💷💵

While a SKEPTIC questions the world about him and seeks the truth while basing his own opinions on the most recent, most credible facts.  In contrast, a CYNIC feels NO need to seek the truth because they believe they already possess it.  Yes, CYNICS are without faith, yet they have absolute certitude of the validity of their beliefs📗📙📘

Skeptical contrarians question conventional wisdom, where appropriate, BUT not as a reflexive response.  They ZIG when everyone is ZAGGING.  A SKEPTIC accepts conventional wisdom until presented with information that leads him to a different opinion.  In contracts, CYNICS reject conventional wisdom outright, without analysis or a studied critique.  Being SKEPTICAL of conventional wisdom is healthy and can lead to the discovery of opportunities.  However, studies show that CYNICISM seem to automatically reject conventional wisdom is intellectually lazy and foolish💎💎💎

And according to researches, the highest form of SKEPTICISM is to be a SELF-SKEPTIC.  Successful entrepreneurs accomplish this by overcoming confirmation bias which psychologists define as "A TENDENCY TO SEARCH FOR OR INTERPRET INFORMATION IN A WAY THAT CONFIRMS ONE'S PRECONCEPTIONS, LEADING TO ERRORS".  Unlike a CYNIC who is certain everyone is wrong, the only thing a self-skeptic is assured of is that they might go wrong✅✅✅

But let me clarify this out.  At some points in our life, each of us could have been either a CYNIC or an SKEPTIC.  As humans, we CAN'T deny that we are vulnerable to let our own pendulum swing, sometimes from one end to the farthest end.  BUT I was far more a SKEPTIC many times as against being a CYNIC because being a CYNIC will bring me nowhere while as a SKEPTIC, I'm cocksure to still be able to more than just MOVE THE NEEDLE ❗❗❗

Surprise, Surprise - BENEFITS of EXERCISE

Surprise, Surprise - BENEFITS of EXERCISE

You'll be SURPRISE, the BENEFITS of EXERCISE goes way beyond our HEALTH.  In fact, studies have mostly come to the conclusion that BENEFITS of EXERCISE befits its tagging as the HOLY GRAIL OF MOTIVATION.  While to many people, 'EXERCISE' is offensive, fact is, a significant percentage of people [and I'M ONE OF THE GUILTY ONES!] find little reason to EXERCISE at all💴💷💵

Here's like a worldwide perception that Americans are EXERCISE buffs but a study by the CDCP [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] says only 28% of Americans are meeting physical activity guidelines as set by the agency, whew.  What percentage can we guess from the Third World Population which according to UNCTAD [United Nations Conference for Trade And Development] comprises 83% of the world population as of 2022📗📙📘

Back to EXERCISE, the most obvious reason [where these should be consensus] is that it improves our HEALTH as it strengthens our body, helps manage our weight, and enhances our everyday abilities.  Now here's the BONUS stuff.  Being fitter and healthier is a great MOTIVATOR.  Often, people DON'T jump out bed in the morning ready to work towards their goal because they simply DON'T feel well💎💎💎

That link between physical strength and mental strength is well established across as is the link between a healthy diet and mental health.  Aside from the obvious health benefits, the act of EXERCISING can feel good and give you a BOOST.  Studies show that during the EXERCISE, our body produces dopamine, serotonin and endorphins, chemicals released in our brain when things are PLEASANT✅✅✅

Studies further revealed that these mood-boosting chemicals also improve our ability to focus and alleviate negative emotions as they are essential part of one brain's 'REWARD SYSTEM'.  These hormones are also produced WHEN we do things we love such as eating our favorite food, laughing at a funny joke, getting positive recognition. among others.  NOW, I have to admit that I have to 'WALK THE TALK' given these BENEFITS of EXERCISE lest I be misconstrued of a double-speak❌❌❌

All Good Things Come To An End

All Good Things Come To An End

True, All Good Things Come To An End and everything we experience and do encounter will NEVER last forever, though there are times it does feel like it lasts FOREVER.  Still, life goes on.  It is inevitable and NO one ever can avoid it and honestly, do we want LIFE STOPS for us WHEN good things come to an end?  In this sense, we would get the feeling that we have more time to recover from it.  It may be true that we'll recover in the end💴💷💵

BUT here's the downside.  Life stops which means NOTHING will ever happen then.  NOT now.  NOT ever.  It may feel soul sucking to go through several losses which are good things to begin with.  Like a cousin WHO used to play with during our childhood BUT ended abruptly, NOT knowing WHY he never came again to your house to play, which in the long run has turned us into strangers WHEN we have become adults ourselves.  Of course we WON'T have any idea WHAT happened to his dreams.  And we WON'T have the slightest idea WHAT kind of person he has turned out📗📙📘

BUT hold your breath.  ALL BAD THINGS COME TO AN END TOO.  The self-doubt which I constantly felt in high school, like, AM I SMART ENOUGH?  Then,, we could be more conscious about our appearance BUT which teenage DOESN'T?  I never would dare to thought that all these SELF-DOUBT would go away at some point.  Maybe NOT all at ones BUT until this day, the worries just became different than before though💎💎💎

When GOOD THINGS come to an end, there is space again for other GOOD THINGS to happen, right?  We would then collect memories from the GOOD old days and place it somewhere safe WHERE no one can touch it, and you would make new memories again while you live through it.  On the other hand, when BAD THINGS come to an end, there is space again for other BAD THINGS to creep in and happen, right❌❌❌

We would then collect life long lessons from our previous experiences and look back at to remind ourselves to NOT make the same MISTAKES and yet we continue to learn while making other MISTAKES while we live through it.  It's true ALL GOOD THINGS COME TO AN END but lest you forget, SO DOES ALL BAD THINGS❎❎❎

Living In The Moment

Living In The Moment

Living In The Moment reminds me of this story shared in Quora.com wherein a friend was walking n the desert when he found the telephone to GOD.  A phone booth in the middle of the desert with a signage "TALK TO GOD" was a surreal sight.  So, when GOD was on the line, the guy asked 'HOW CAN I LIVE IN THE MOMENT?' A soothing mail voice replied "BREATHE'.  And GOD continued: 'WHENEVER YOU FEEL ANXIOUS ABOUT YOUR FUTURE OR YOUR PAST, JUST BREATHE'💴💷💵

So. life unfolds in the PRESENT.  BUT so often, we let the PRESENT slip away, allowing time to rush past unobserved and unseized. , and squandering the precious seconds of our lives as we worry about the future and ruminate about WHAT's past.  Indeed, we're living in a world that contributes in a major way to mental fragmentation, disintegration, distraction OR decoherence.  We're always doing something and we allow time to practice STILLNESS and CALM📗📙📘

When we're at work, we fantasize about being on vacation and then on vacation, we worry about the work piling up on our desks.  We tend to dwell on intrusive memories of the PAST or even fret about WHAT may or may NOT happen in the FUTURE.  We DON'T appreciate the LIVING PRESENT because our 'monkey minds' seem to vault from thought to thought❎❎❎

Frankly, most of us [even myself in the past] DON'T undertake our thoughts in awareness.  Rather, our thoughts CONTROL us.  Effectively, the ordinary thoughts course through our mind like a deafening waterfall.  And in order to feel more in CONTROL of our minds and our lives, to find the SENSE of BALANCE that eludes us, we need to step out of this current, to pause, to FOCUS ON JUST BEING☝☝☝

We really to LIVE MORE IN THE MOMENT, that state of active, open, intentional attention on the PRESENT.  And when we become MINDFUL, we will realize that we are NOT your THOUGHTS.  Then, we become an OBSERVER of our own THOUGHTS from MOMENT to MOMENT. without judging them.  MINDFULNESS involves being with your THOUGHTS as they are. , neither grasping at them OR pushing them away.  Instead of letting your life go by without LIVING it, we can awaken the experience.  Yes, studies proved that MINDFUL people are happier, more exuberant, more empathetic and more secure.  All because when we are LIVING IN THE MOMENT✅✅✅