How NOT to Fail BUT Succeed

How NOT to Fail BUT Succeed

How NOT to Fail BUT Succeed will always be a polarizing topic to thread.  NOT because it's irrelevant.  NOT because it's a no-brainer.  BUT as I write this blog, I can be asked 'ARE YOU SUCCESSFUL'?  Problem is, SUCCESS is relative.  For one person, just to end up with an office job even as a clerk is SUCCESS by itself while for others, SUCCESS means he becomes a manager💴💵💷

So let's NOT get bogged down with the semantics of SUCCESS.  Instead, let's focus on FAILURE because that's a more 'one size fits all' recipe.  And topping the list of FAILURE culprits is when we DON'T understand the VALUE of TIME.  Truth is, UNSUCCESSFUL people DON'T VALUE their TIME, period.  They are everywhere, anywhere, anytime because they lack the ability to dedicate their time towards their goals.  And sadly, their FAILURES are compounding😡😡😡

Unfortunately, year after year, we can hear many of us make NEW promises WHICH never come into fruition simply because they couldn't be bothered to put in the time required towards achieving their GOALS.  Time management skills, learning HOW to say NO and knowing WHAT commitments to undertake, is a step towards great SUCCESS in any area of our lives📗📙📘

If you DON'T want to waste your time, then learn NOT to procrastinate.  Take actions WHAT you want in life.  Second common culprit is WHEN the things we do are NOT aligned with our GOALS.  The more important a GOAL is, the higher it will be on your hierarchy of VALUES and the less discipline and more disorder you'll have associated with it❎❎❎

There's one other COMMON MISS we commit.  Some of us [wrongly] think that SUCCESS in one area is good enough to compensate for FAILURE in other areas.  Let's look at a rare but realistic scenario WHERE your boss sucks and you really hate your job BUT that is NO reason to slack and produce mediocre work.  You're getting paid to be there so DO IT RIGHT, life has this universal law of giving you WHAT you put in.  It all boils down to maturity and wisdom to pursue excellence no matter the circumstances.  UNSUCCESSFUL people are the ones WHO are okay with getting bad grades and WON'T bother finding an effective method that will help in their learning ability, because after all, being a student is less about how smart you are BUT more about how well you can plan and prepare.  This is all about HOW NOT TO FAIL BUT SUCCEED✅✅✅

How Tough Is It To Improve In Life?

How Tough Is It To Improve In Life?

Do we need to discuss how to improve in our life?  OR is this a non-issue?  Me thinks this is as important as our 'bread and butter' topics.  So, the brutally frank question I'll pose now is:  How Tough Is It To Improve In Life?  And I'll quip:  NOT SO TOUGH.  We all know that SELF-IMPROVEMENT is important BUT let's face it, it's NOT always easy to know WHERE to start, especially when we're feeling STUCK📗📙📘

Now, have we ever wondered WHAT your life would look like IF you could get just a LITTLE BIT better every single day?  WHAT if you could improve your skills, habits, and even mindset by a measly 1% every single day?  HOW much progress could you make in a month?  In a year?  In a decade?  Now, we're in for a BIG surprise💥💥💥

Studies will surprise us because they showed that while 1% may seemingly look [and sound] insignificant on its own, small daily improvements compound over time to create astonishing results.  That is the power of the "1% RULE' coined by researchers, a simple yet profound idea that continues incremental progress adds up to MAJOR progress✅✅✅

So, let's buckle up and understand as to what is this "1% RULE"?  The 1% RULE states that if you can get 1% better at something everyday, the effects compound dramatically over time.  For example, if you improved by just 1% daily for a year:

• After 6 months, you'd be 37% better
• After 12 months, you'd be 371% better [and that's over 3.5 times higher than when you started off]

BTW, this applies to all areas of life, name it, health, career, relationships, finances and more.  While trying to change everything overnight rarely sticks, small consistent actions create lasting results.  BTW, the 1% RULE is about progress, NOT perfection.  You DON'T need massive breakthroughs.  Just focus on incremental improvements.  WHY will this work?  Hmmm, trying to change too much too fast is overwhelming and the 1% RULE takes the pressure off😀😀😀

Living Life With AUDACITY

Living Life With AUDACITY

As we stir by our everyday hustle and bustle of life, the mundane nuances of our days rub into our faces.  We all transcend into the struggles, putting on brave faces, and marching with frantic heartbeats in the uncertainty of tomorrow.  Bestowed with the most powerful weapon of creation, our minds uncover the depths of seamless ideas that revolutionize.  So, are we  Living Life With AUDACITY💴💷💵

As the world today CONNECTS as one global family with millions of UNKNOWN identities, as we CONNECT more, HOW often do we connect with ourselves?  Our ideas of CONNECTION are perceived as being accepted and validated in the social realms.  Our existence is dependent on the identify of society ushers us with.  So, WHAT exactly is identity?  Is it the intangible association that society labels us with?  The notion that deems fit to them📗📙📘

As we humans are multi-layered species WHO are condoned by the world to fit into a box, to be like a balm that soothes the ego of others.  We are so conditioned by the IDEA of pleasing others, it becomes difficult to identify WHAT makes us happy.  The most unfiltered version of ourselves is the authentic selves that live without any concealing and are fearless in the pursuit of WHAT sets us free.  So, how often are you hurt by someone's words yet DO NOT react to them to NOT anger them

Indeed, it is a human tendency to overlook everything OR invalidate our own experiences to derive validation from others. And as we grow older [and wiser], we realize the simple fact that indeed, the world is filled with stories of broken dreams, waiting to be read one story at a time.  We understand that at the end of the day, all we want is to fall into our bed with tranquility and wake up with EXCITEMENT❗❗❗

No matter what we are, let's face it, all of us are broken pieces of the same thread that binds us together.  And in our darkest nights, where we have battles to fight, sometimes on the brink of adversity and despair, we want to be tended with LOVE and CARE.  We all want to be LOVED, a LOVE that gives us a chance to unleash our authenticity, for our souls to dance, and to be embraced with honesty.  So, LIVING LIFE WITH AUDACITY is too tempting to ignore✅✅✅

Do We Have LIMITING BELIEFS?

Do We Have LIMITING BELIEFS?

Do you ever feel like you're NOT quite living up to your full potential?  OR that there's some kind of MENTAL BLOCK standing in your way of truly listening OR understanding another perspective?  If so, you might be experiencing that phenomenon of LIMITING BELIEFS.  So, for alignment, let's agree LIMITING BELIEFS are those deeply ingrained perceptions or assumptions about ourselves, others, and the world that restrict our potential and even hinder our personal growth📗📙📘

Sadly, these LIMITING BELIEFS can cover a broad range of aspects, such as HOW you think about HOW the world works, interacting with people, WHO you are and more.  Some of these LIMITING BELIEFS are as follows:

IT'S TOO HARD

I DON'T HAVE TIME

IF YOU WIN, I LOSE

I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH

YOU CAN'T TRUST ANYONE

So, WHAT's the downsides of these LIMITING BELIEFs?  It is when they either STOP you from going after your dreams, OR PREVENT you from developing relationships with people OR PREVENT you from creating healthy changes in your life.  LIMITING BELIEFS can further arise due to various situations in your life.  They may come from family VALUES, BELIEFS, education and/or life experiences💎💎💎

Most often, though, LIMITING BELIEFS keep us within our COMFORT ZONE.  They STOP us from branching out, from changing WHO we are, and from plenty of PERSONAL GROWTH.  While we might set goals, our LIMITING BELIEFS can stop us from achieving them.  So, HOW can we grow past what LIMITS you can achieve more than you ever thought possible❗❗❗

So, what's our takeaway for today?  Primero, let us REFLECT and be conscious enough of your LIMITING BELIEFS.  Then write it all down.  Then, here comes the hard part.  write down your CHALLENGES like, CAN YOU CHALLENGE THESE BELIEFS?  WHAT DIRECTLY OPPOSES THEM?  WHAT IF YOU WERE WRONG ABOUT THEM?  And while challenging them goes a long way in overcoming these LIMITING BELIEFS, we need to have enough courage to realize that LIMITING BELIEFS is just a thought OR state of mind that you think is the absolute truth and stops you from doing certain things.  And these LIMITING BELIEFS don't always have to be about yourself either.  So, DO WE HAVE LIMITING BELIEFS❓❓❓

What Else Do We Need To Be Satisfied In Life?

What Else Do We Need To Be Satisfied In Life?

What Else Do We Need To Be Satisfied In Life?  We are all neck-deep in the clutches of consumerism such that MONEY has become the currency of VALUE. MONEY can get you anything.  And that is WHY everyone runs after MONEY.  BUT can we agree that beyond and besides that stack of CASH, there are many other things in life that can bring us SATISFACTION?  Topping our list is EMOTIONAL INDEPENDENCE.  Let's look at our everyday life where we generate gazillion of thoughts BUT not all of them are doing good to us and our body, right?  But WHAT IF we say that it is possible to train our minds NOT to think bad thoughts?  WHAT IF we said that it is possible to NOT react in anger WHEN someone hits your car by mistake.  WHEN someone calls you cuss words.  WHEN someone shouts at you.  That is EMOTIONAL INDEPENDENCE no less📗📙📘

Thing is, our reactions DON'T depend on situations and people.  It only depends on you, on us.  And if we had to choose between emotionally independent and getting a million dollars, I'll admit I'll choose the former.  NOT because I DON'T want MONEY.  BUT because if I have emotional independence, I can earn and make ten times that amount❗❗❗

Segundo, GOOD HEALTH.  I'm sorry I DON'T buy the one-liner that HEALTH IS WEALTH.  It is NOT.  Because it is MORE THAN JUST WEALTH.  And nobody knows this better than us because I am quite sure, many of us have had their fair share of woes and challenges with regard failing HEALTH happening within the family.  Frankly, this is like buying QUALITY FOOD and investing in our HEALTH no less💎💎💎

Tercero, let's have that PASSION.  When I was studying hard back then, sometimes I pitied myself thinking I would NOT have to put in those efforts had my family been WEALTHY!@#$%?  BUT as I reflect now, I feel lucky NOT to have generational wealth.  Because it taught me the importance of working hard.  It taught me to be passionate enough about my goals so I can achieve anything I want📌📌📌

Today, I CAN'T fathom living a life without the PASSION that I have.  And as I type these words, I am thankful for having found my latest PASSION - writing.  NONE of which MONEY can buy.  Cuarto, that FREEDOM FROM WANTING.  Essentially, things for which I have to depend on the outside world, I DON'T want to want things from others.  What Else Do We Need To Be Satisfied In Life❓❓❓

Cover Your Tracks, Dude

Cover Your Tracks, Dude

Much as we should live life freely, with no qualms, I guess everyone will agree that regardless, in life, we got to Cover our Tracks.  Oh yes, this thread is most common in the technology space.  WHERE we're reminded NOT to use personal credentials in shared or public computers.  WHERE we're discouraged from connecting to UNSECURED access points [a.k.a. WiFi].  WHERE we're told NOT to access banking and financial accounts besides your own computer.  BUT for our thread today RE 'COVER YOUR TRACKS', this goes beyond technology💵💴💷

In the past, I did come across published articles on HOW TO TRACK A HUMAN IN THE WILD.  But WHAT do we do if the shoe is on the other foot, and you're the one being HUNTED?  Of course, if for whatever reason you find yourself evading a band of marauding outlaws in some dystopian future, you'll want to consider counter-tracking measures to evade them📗📙📘

e

Even if you never end up being the one pursued [and I fervently hope you never do because that means something has gone terribly wrong in your life], understanding counter-tracking measures will make you a better tracker as you'll know WHAT to look for in targets trying to evade your pursuit👣👣👣

NOT to scare BUT again when we are in peril, it's true we can run BUT it's really difficult to HIDE.  In the internet world, we really got to PROTECT ourselves and the information you access online from a perpetrator finding out.  Websites and technology itself are commonly exploited by perpetrators to find information and for them to maintain control and track your movements.  Without pushing you to be a techie, it is imperative to have the sound fundamentals of internet❗❗❗

Let's wear the hat as an Internet 101 coach for now.  First and foremost, know what BROWSER are you using, e.g. Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, etc and in most of these browsers, Go To TOOLS to enable your 'IN-PRIVATE' browsing.  In Chrome, it's "INCOGNITO" browsing.  Caution:  Even if you are in that "IN-PRIVATE" or "INCOGNITO" browsing, internet browsers keep a record of all the web pages you visited.  That is the browser's "HISTORY" which you got to invoke.  BTW, even TOOLBARS, e.g. Google, AOL, and Yahoo, they keep a record of your SEARCH WORDS you typed in the TOOLBAR search.  Now for the most critical reminder.  If ever you login using your own credentials, ALWAYS LOG-OFF.  COVER YOUR TRACKS, dude✅✅✅

How Are JOYFUL People?

How Are JOYFUL People?

Everlasting JOY is our innate quality and it's NOT an external accomplishment.  So How Are JOYFUL People managing things? We're always chasing something, be it a promotion, a new car, OR a significant other.  This often leads us to the belief that "WHEN ____ HAPPENS, I'LL FINALLY BE HAPPY".  And it's true.  While those major events do make us HAPPY at first, research shows this HAPPINESS doesn't last💴💷💵

A study covering major winners of large lottery prizes to measure their level of HAPPINESS versus a group of regular people.  Lo and behold, the researchers were surprised to discover that the HAPPINESS RATINGS of both groups were practically identical.  The mistaken notion that major life events dictate your HAPPINESS and SADNESS is so prevalent that psychologists have tagged a name for it:  "IMPACT BIAS".  The reality is, event-based HAPPINESS is fleeting.  In fact, HAPPINESS is synthetic.  You either create it OR you simply DON'T📗📙📘

So, let's take a leaf from the pages of HAPPY people who shared how they do manage such HAPPINESS.  Primero, they are one in unison to declare that they SLOW DOWN to appreciate life's little pleasures.  By nature, we fall into routines and in some ways, this is a good thing.  It saves precious brainpower and creates comfort💎💎💎

BUT sometimes, we get so caught up in our routines to the extent that we fail to appreciate the little things in life.  HAPPY people knew how important it is to savor the taste of their meal, revel in the amazing conversation they had, OR even just step outside to take a deep breathe of fresh air.  Secondly, they surround themselves with the RIGHT PEOPLE📌📌📌

HAPPINESS spreads through people.  Surrounding yourself with HAPPY people builds confidence, stimulates creativity, and it's flat-out FUN.  Hanging around NEGATIVE people has the opposite effect.  They want people to join their PITY PARTY so that they can feel better about themselves.  If a person was smoking, would you sit there inhaling the second-hand smoke?  You should distance yourself, right?  And gravitate towards JOYFUL PEOPLE✅✅✅

When NEGATIVITY Becomes Pervasive

When NEGATIVITY Becomes Pervasive

Many think that NEGATIVITY is just another 'fly in the ointment' BUT it's NOT.  Factually, let us realize that NEGATIVITY has become so pervasive.  It cuts across cultures, social strata and it's all over the place whether you are from the First World OR Third World.  And surprisingly, some of us [wrongly] think that a disease OR illness are the reasons for your tired body OR prolonged aches, BUT have you ever thought that thinking NEGATIVELY could be the reason?  In fact, various researches resulted in the common conclusion that pervasive pessimism affects more than just our emotional health

In medical studies, doctors have found that people with high levels of NEGATIVITY are more likely to suffer from degenerative brain diseases, cardiovascular problems, digestive issues, and recover from sickness much slower than those with a POSITIVE MINDSET.  So, WHAT causes NEGATIVITY? Generally, studies show that it is a product of INSECURITY or DEPRESSION

Studies also showed that it can stem from illness, life events, personality problems, OR substance abuse.  Like many things in life, NEGATIVITY too can [alarmingly] become a habit.  Frequent criticism, cynical thoughts, and denial can create "NEURAL PATHWAYS" in the brain that would encourage SADNESS.  These NEGATIVE tendencies can cause our brain to distort the TRUTH and make it even more difficult to break the NEGATIVITY❎❎❎

BUT here's the GOOD NEWS!  Experts claim, or so, that like most habits, we can break this NEGATIVITIES if they are so pervasive till now.  HOW?

• STOP being CYNICAL
• STOP being HOSTILE 
• STOP FILTERING - only noticing BAD stuff
• STOP JUMPING to conclusions
• STOP BLAMING others
• STOP EMOTIONAL reasoning

So, let's hear from the medical experts as to HOW NEGATIVITY affects our body.  Alarmingly, they say that headache, chest pains, fatigue, upset stomach, insomnia, anxiety, depression, and even drastic changes in metabolism [e.g. over-eating] are some of the common effects of NEGATIVITY.  So, if and when NEGATIVITY becomes pervasive, it's ON US to rectify it ASAP and DON'T let it go from BAD to WORSE❗❗❗

That Thing Called 'LONELINESS'

That Thing Called 'LONELINESS'

That Thing Called 'LONELINESS'We human beings are SOCIAL CREATURES.  While it's normal to feel LONELY sometimes, we thrive within relationships and communities of people.  WHEN you feel isolated and cut off from others, it can take a toll on both your mental and physical health, sending your stress levels soaring, triggering anxiety and even depression, and worse, increasing your risk for heart disease and worst, stroke.  That Thing Called 'LONELINESS' is something most of us have to deal with at certain times.  You may have to quarantine away from loved ones for health reasons [during the recent pandemic].  Just one too many scenarios for That Thing Called 'LONELINESS'💴💷💵

In other circumstances, you may find that you have a number of casual acquaintances BUT no friends close enough to make you feel understood OR cared for.  WHATEVER the reasons for your feeling LONELY, know that it is a normal human experience and there are steps you can take to alleviate that LONELINESS predicament📗📙📘

So, HOW do we fix this seemingly casual concern?  Primero, find creative means to KEEP IN TOUCH.  Studies show that during in-person interactions, your body releases hormones that reduce stress and stimulate positive emotional responses.  That's WHY face-to-face contact with friends and family is so integral in our MENTAL HEALTH💎💎💎

BUT let's face reality here.  It's NOT always possible to connect in-person with loved ones whenever feelings of LONELINESS would creep in.  Whether you're travelling with work, living far away, or kept apart for another reason, there are other ways of staying CONNECTED and avoiding ISOLATION.  These days when technology and social media are right on our finger tips, there's just NO excuse on this❎❎❎

Segundo, engage with communities and that could include volunteerism.  WHEN I lived in Singapore and LONELINESS did strike me, I became a Volunteer Probation Officer of the government's Ministry for Community Development and Services.  And I can attest that drastically softened the impact of LONELINESS.  WHY?  Because I became busy, period.  I just had NO time to sulk, NO reason to be cynical, NO chance to further push myself down in a deep morass.  With my hands full, I was literally, engaged with my volunteerism.  THAT THING CALLED LONELINESS, let's shed that off❗❗❗

How's Your ELEVEN O'CLOCK Performance?

How's Your ELEVEN O'CLOCK Performance?

'PEAK MOMENTS' is an all-encompassing term used to describe the flow of performance, normally in our productive activities either at home or at work and this has become more popular in competitive sports.  BUT how about that ELEVEN O'CLOCK Performance?  BTW, this was coined from the musical theaters where the prime number starts around eleven o'clock in the evening.  You can guess what's the energy level of the audience when eleven o'clock kicks in💴💵

BUT from a theater perspective [think about Broadway scenarios], the audience's feedback will revolve as to How's Your ELEVEN O'CLOCK Performance.  Imagine ourselves being part of the audience, so before eleven o'clock, you could be yawning, falling asleep OR at the very least, getting either fidgety OR bored, so that explains the utter importance when eleven o'clock kicks in.  As you're getting bored, the performer is in his final phases of rehearsal and 'final preps'📗📙📘

Otherwise, if you're into your other productive activities, like an F1 formula driver, your "eleven o'clock" moment kicks-in when you're a few pit stops away from the FINISH LINE and you're within striking distance of the leaders from the first pack, such that all you need is the final adrenalin rush💎💎💎

In a work setup, whether you've peaked already or still about to peak, obviously we as workers are expected to be on a 'constant peak' because we CAN'T be like a 'flash in the pan'.  Regardless though, even as workers, we got to manifest that "eleven o'clock" performance, even if it means, constantly.  Otherwise, it is inexcusable and acceptable to our bosses and clients if we'll claim that we've already peaked at eleven o'clock❓❓❓

WHAT's our takeaway today?  It just behooves that we all should ALWAYS endeavor to give an "ELEVEN O'CLOCK" PERFORMNCE, NOT JUST by "ELEVEN O'CLOCK" but as much as possible from end-to-end, from the time the game's buzzer sounds on till it sounds off because the expectation from us is to be 'almost constantly' at the level of an "ELEVEN O'CLOCK" PERFORMANCE❗❗❗