Perils of Solicited Advice

 

This is so mundane and somewhat petty to discuss in our thread.  SO, you might ask, WHY are we covering this today?  Simple.  Families.  Friends.  Trusted parties.  It's quite normal that either party tends to share his/her situation and somehow, one has to retort OR react to it, NOT because we're obliged BUT because it's just normal.  BUT things become unnatural IF and WHEN expectations are NOT aligned.  These are the PERILS OF SOLICITED ADVICE📗📙📘

WHEN someone reaches out to us, YES it is very much normal that we should endeavor to be there for them, actively listening and understand that they're looking for someone WHO will patiently hear them, and better still, guide OR counsel them.  Oooops, for the eager-beaver, before you start blurting out, let that 'sharing' get finished NOT in a hurried fashion.  Remember, WHEN someone is faced with a challenging situation and he/she starts to confide, you might even discern that emotional challenge he/she is going through.  So, sit through the entire conversation, nodding along, and truly empathizing even with the outpouring of emotions💥💥💥

I remember going through the heaviest conversations we can imagine, deep and reflective, sometimes drifting even into that philosophical space.  One thought flows into the next, like a gentle river slipping over boulders, carrying us through their tangled feelings.  Before you know it, there are experiences that would let us feel we're in a journey together, only to realize, in the end, that we were all by ourselves, NOT literally speaking BUT during those moments WHEN you kept listening❎❎❎

WHY?  WHAT IF that person blurting out and pouring it out to you is NOT looking for an advice at all?  Instead, WHAT they want and expect is NO more than VALIDATION.  The only words they want to hear are the ones they want to listen to.  The only thoughts that make sense are the ones they think are right.  It DOESN'T matter WHAT we have to say because there are times WHEN the person 'pouring it out' to you has his/her mind made up long before that conversation began❎❎❎

Our takeaway:  Let us be sharp and incisive WHEN we get into these situations.  IF and WHEN someone pours it out BUT does NOT want new perspectives, all they want and expect is for someone to agree with them, concur and like singing ALLELUJAH!  And NO matter HOW many times you listen, and HOW many times you speak, it often feels like your time and word simply go unappreciated.  WHY?  Because WHAT they needed and expected is VALIDATION and NOT an advice at all😢😢😢

Indeed, Life Is A Puzzle

 

YES, LIFE IS A PUZZLE.  BUT much has been said about that [and it's NOT even debatable].  BUT if we dice-and-drill here, YES, every piece of that puzzle is required to complete that whole PUZZLE even WHILE some may have rough edges and some smooth.  Regardless, both the rough and smooth parts all play the same role to complete that whole PUZZLE.  Up until a few months ago, I hadn't put my hands on a jigsaw PUZZLE for many years.  Recently I worked for a couple of it and looking back, I see lessons from these jigsaw PUZZLES that do illuminate important concepts and parallels to life📗📙📘

Like a PUZZLE, we are all made up of many pieces, probably thousands or more of it.  And YES, we need all of our pieces to be a WHOLE PERSON.   I can imagine a 3D PUZZLE person standing up and walking from the scene of a PUZZLE.  All of the pieces of the person travel together.  BUT WHILE entering into an interaction, the only pieces that are involved are the ones that serve a purpose in that scenario.  Then, the 3D PUZZLE person moves along to the next interaction engaging with whichever pieces are right for the new scenario.  And the people that spend a lot of time with us can see all of our pieces💥💥💥

If we walk around the malls, I do observe that PUZZLES seem popular.  And I did wonder HOW and WHY it can be that popular and powerful.  And psychologists explained this clearly that PUZZLES are a great metaphor in life serving as a symbol of the challenges and obstacles that stand in our way, especially after you would have gone through a lot of 'turbulent challenges' in life💧💧💧

Here's a common and recurring observation.  WHEN we open a PUZZLE, all the pieces are scattered and jumbled.  WHAT NEXT?  By focusing on just one piece, one section at a time, we can turn turn things around by turning all the fractured pieces into something complete and beautiful [once formed completely].  Part of the power of PUZZLES are the perspective and optimism they do represent [even in life]💚💛💜

Our takeaway:  Part of the power of the PUZZLES are the perspective and optimism they represent.  That is WHERE we can draw the parallelism with life itself.  Playing itself can be amazing as it calms our anxieties [especially in uncertain times] BUT if your PUZZLING skills seem rusty, as in life, approach PUZZLES one piece at a time, a little delayed gratification never hurt anyone anyway.  And it is important to appreciate all the small details that make up the larger picture and enjoy our journey in life😋😋😋

WE BECOME MORE VALUABLE WHEN WE ADD VALUE

 

WE BECOME MORE VALUABLE WHEN WE ADD VALUE.  I remember that time I got onboarded at HSBC Headquarters, the CEO formally welcomed me and I guess jokingly, he muttered that I seemed 'PRICEY' and rather than bite the bait, I responded that I CAN'T agree less BUT I told him, right through his eyes, that I bring VALUE to the table.  And he gave me a HIGH 5 with a GOT YOU remark.  The thing is, WHEN we start talking as to HOW valuable we are, this leads me to a poetic line I came across before which says:  THERE IS INDEED NO VALUE IN LIFE EXCEPT WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO PLACE UPON IT💜💛💚

And to make things murkier, the poetic line says:  The circumstances of life has NO value.  And if I may add to it, it is HOW one relates to a situation that has value.  And all true meaning resides in our personal relationship to a phenomenon.  And if I that realization today, it is that nothing is valuable until you give VALUE to it.  Things only become valuable WHEN we attach significance to them.  Therefore, the VALUE is NOT in the things, the VALUE is in us, in you as you and me determine WHAT and WHO is valuable📘📙📗

Even WHEN I visit a small cafe OR coffee shop OR even the petrol station for some car maintenance, I can appreciate how valuable the service is WHEN I see a value-add.  Yesterday, the SHELL petrol station clerk called to advise me that her order for my cabin air filter replacement has arrived.  I told her I'll bring my car come next day [that's today].  Earlier today, she called to follow-up if I'm coming.  That is the VALUE-ADD that made the service that much more valuable from a customer experience💥💥💥

Now, here's something puzzling.  I did observe that some things we consider insignificant are significant to other people.  And vice-versa.  And WHEN it comes to trade, we can wonder WHY fairly used products sell better in Nigeria.  It is because we attach values to them, WHEREAS some of these same product were used and abandoned by other people.  I remember WHEN one of my developer/programmer went to Japan for a short-term project assignment.  Lo and behold, WHEN he came home, he had tons and tons of excess luggage at the airport.  To cut a long story short, he said he brought home a lot of stuff WHICH the Japanese natives were simply dumping out [BUT he blurted that those were too valuable for him to ignore✅✅✅

Our takeaway:  My take is that these takeaways are applicable to us all here.  And I believe that everyone is VALUABLE enough in respective of their status.  And if you actually thought that you were NOT, it may be because you are/were NOT attaching values to them.  Heard of people WHO seemed less spirited and seemingly drained of energy BUT all because they felt they had little OR NO value to share in life [which is pitiful if NOT despicable] because each of us are gifted enough to boost our being valuable NOT just to ourselves but maybe even to the people closest to us, and even at the workplace.  If someone walks towards me and declares that he has NO VALUE, I'll challenge him because I really doubt it.  And in most cases, it's all in the mind.  YES dude, WE BECOME MORE VALUABLE WHEN WE ADD VALUE😖😖😖

[Breaking News] Southeast Asia Is The 'GROUND ZERO' For Scam Centers

NOT to besmirch Southeast Asia as I live in this region BUT no less than the United Nations has tagged this region as the 'GROUND ZERO FOR SCAM CENTERS' and to share details published in multiple newswires, the so called 'epicenter is actually that triangulated countries of Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.  According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes [UNODC], there has been a huge proliferation of illicit operations known as 'SCAM FARMS' and that has spilled over even to the Philippines WHERE they operate alongside legal gambling businesses💥💥💥

Datelined from PHNOM PENH yesterday, 06.16.2025:  PHNOM PENH: The Cambodian authorities have arrested more than 200 Vietnamese in internet scam centre raids, the police said on Wednesday (Jul 16), as Prime Minister Hun Manet ordered a crackdown on cybercrime sweatshops.  The police in the capital Phnom Penh said that they raided two buildings housing scammers on Monday and Tuesday, arresting 149 Vietnamese alongside three Chinese citizens and 85 Cambodians!@#$%?

In another breaking news just today, without mentioning the 6-star plush hotel in a Southeast Asian city located next to the legalized gambling casinos, a former senior ranking government official checked-in together with family for a staycation only to realize that all his account balances on his credit cards were gobbled up after he connected to the hotel's FREE W-FI services❎❎❎

As that former senior government official had his connections, it was immediately investigated and the culprits were traced to a 'SCAM FARM' being run and hosted by Chinese [this is an ongoing development now].  Lesson here:  DON'T DON'T DON'T connect to free WI-FI services if you plan to initiate banking OR financial transactions with your device connected to that FREE WI-FI😡😡😡

Our takeaway:  As SCAM FARMS seem to have proliferated across Southeast Asia [NOT to mention even in Eastern Europe], let us be doubly-triply security-conscious WHEN initiating financial/banking transactions because we are fighting off faceless predators WHO remain ruthless to siphon and gobble up every hard-earned monies you may have saved for the rainy days ahead.  BTW, one proactive measure I have consistently did is to 'LOCK' [by default] my banking/credit card accounts [YES, I can sleep soundly with that proactive measure].  True, the downside is that if you need to access your accounts, you need to initiate that eXtra step of 'UNLOCKING' BUT that fraction of inconvenience more than just mitigates the risk and exposure we're facing at hand.  To be FOREWARNED is to be FOREARMED!!!

Fear NOT

 

Heard it many times, that 'ART' of combatting FEAR.  BUT I just DON'T agree that to fight off FEAR, that ART has to exist.  It's neither being gifted NOR developing that ART.  Because in the first place, everyone of us [with NO exemption] has his own FEARS.  I've got my fair share of FEAR, name it, heights and being claustrophobic amongst others.  On the other hand, some FEARS are quite unique.  Some even find their FEARS interfere in their day-to-day lives.  LIKE you might NOT do certain activities to avoid the thing that frightens you.  WHATEVER it is that makes you feel afraid, the experts are here to counsel us to at least cope with it.  Fear NOT💚💛💜

The very first practical advice I came across really floored me because it seemed so casual, like it's NOT even worth heeding it, that need to TAKE TME OUT.  True, it's difficult to think clearly WHEN you feel scared OR even just feeling quite anxious. And YES we're advised, take TIME OUT to physically calm down.  Try and get away from WHAT's upsetting you.  I did even bear witness how far and how long can a TIME OUT be❗❗❗

Without compromising confidential info entrusted to me, I had a friend WHO decided to take a sabbatical from his work, for like indefinitely.  Only WHEN I understood WHAT he was going through did I gain crystal-clear understanding of that predicament he was going through.  Either way, I agree to heed that advice, WHETHER it means taking 15 minutes TIME OUT or 15 months.  And here's the hard part though.  Sometimes, FEAR is the root cause of a behavior that's symptomatic of a deeper issue within us.  I vividly remember my past travails where I was cowering in FEAR.  Our heartbeat gets to pump faster and even our palms get sweatier.  SO HOW???

Experts advise us to take a DEEP BREATHE even while we are advised to STAY WHERE YOU ARE.  How many times did we witness someone running berserk like a headless chicken NOT to a fault but he/she was just cowering in FEAR?  Instead, we are advised to STAY WHERE YOU ARE, and let yourself feel that FEAR even thought admittedly it will be that uncomfortable.  Instead, we are advised to place the palm of our hand on our stomach and breathe slowly and deeply.  Apparently, the reason for that is to get our mind get used to coping with PANIC and that takes away that FEAR of feeling panicky❎❎❎

Our takeaway:  A blunt advice I received many times is this:  FACE YOUR FEARS.  For the longest time, I had a hard time conceding and agreeing with the notion that avoiding FEARS only makes them worse.  BUT gradually exposing yourself to the thing you're scared of can help us to maintain CONTROL and even overcome that FEAR [which often exacerbates and worsens before it tapers off].  FEAR NOT dude😌😌😌

If It's NOT Your First Rodeo, There Is NO Excuse

 

Barring outliers, IF IT'S NOT YOUR FIRST RODEO, then there should be NO excuse.  That's all it is in life.  One can be coached and cajoled only up to and until such point that it is acceptable and tolerable.  WHERE it breaches the threshold of patience [that many times gets stretched], let's call a spade a spade.  That's WHAT recently transpired in the ongoing NBA Summer League, now hosted out of Las Vegas WHEN Miami Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra called out his 7'2 behemoth center Kel'el Ware for his professionalism.  One can be flagged down for various specific skill sets BUT when one is called out by the mentor in the strongest terms referring to professional, it could work either way.  Either it becomes the last straw to hit the camel's back OR it will lead someone to have that fiery response via a dominant performance [WHICH was happened yesterday]📗📙📘

I remember WHEN I was a very raw talent joining the workforce for the very first time, joining a blue-chip MNC organization, I felt awed and overwhelmed.  And with the long list of trainings I had to go through, I then felt the pressure gradually building up [because I thought I need to show the results that soon].  BUT alas, my mentor then, our Dutch expat boss WHO was a look-alike of Donald Sutherland at his peak as an actor, gave me all the elbow room to grow BUT the messaging was NOT as soft as it was because in our monthly 1-on-1, he did encourage me to 'show my wares' albeit even if it will be like a 'flash in the plan' because he volunteered that that was understandable given that my skills set at that point in time hardly scratched the surface.  At that point, I could have just sat back and become complascent BUT I realized I have to exceed expectations no less💚💛💜

Luckily then for me, I realized the need [if NOT the urgency] to develop that 'EXCEEDING EXPECTATION' mindset, that attitude and ability for us to perform OR produce results beyond the expectations from the incumbent.  Sometimes, it is NOT fair to benchmark the expectations to the job role if there is 'GAP', WHICH was my case WHEN I was a newbie @Shell Oil.  BUT I told myself, I gotta bridge that GAP fast enough💥💥💥

At the workplace, EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS should NOT be a complicated discussion point BUT it is the way we execute it that becomes crucial.  LIKE taking an extra initiative, delivering higher quality work, OR contributing in ways that positively impact the team and organization.  EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS would showcase our commitment, dedication and sometimes even creativity vis-a-vis our responsibilities.  BUT EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS is the net result of a confluence of stuff WHICH need to materialize in the first place❌❌❌

Our takeaway:  I hate to say this BUT WHAT makes me sad [and frustrated deep inside] is WHEN I bear witness at the front line of things, performing things either half-heartedly OR executing tasks in a 'JUST ENOUGH' level, sort of coasting along.  Sadly, I witnessed those mediocrities zillions of times [BUT NOT in Singapore and Hong Kong WHERE employees are NOT walking BUT literally rushing within our workareas.  So, IF IT'S NOT YOUR FIRST RODEO, THERE IS NO EXCUSE dude😡😡😡

Really, MULTITASKING Just DOESN'T Work!

Really, MULTITASKING Just DOESN'T Work!  True, some days we feel like a master multitasker even as we drink our cup of coffee in the morning and catching up with emails and browsing with no end jumping from one social media platform to another.  BUT again, time and again, experts have been telling us that MULTITASKING just DOESN'T work, period.  WHY?  Because we're all wired to be mono-taskers dude!@#$%?

Several times in my daily morning operations call, often I share my screen and sometimes, I'll request my team member to share his/her screen and voila, I CAN'T stop asking, WHY he/she got tons and tons of Excel tabs concurrently open [and it's not even 900am, whew!].  YES, this is the truth.  Even WHEN we think we're MULTITASKING, most often we AREN'T really doing two things at once.  BUT instead, we're doing individual actions in rapid succession OR task-switching.  In fact, studies show that generally, just around 2.5%  of people are able to MULTITASK effectively💥💥💥

YES, here's a post-mortem conclusion:  MULTITASKING can hinder our performance.  Studies have shown that WHEN our brain is constantly switching gears to bounce back and forth between tasks [especially WHEN those tasks are complex and require our active attention], we then become less efficient and MORE likely to make a mistake.  This might NOT be as apparent OR impactful WHEN we're doing tasks that are simple and routine, like listening to music while walking, or folding laundry while watching TV💚💛💜

BUT WHEN the stakes are higher and the tasks are more complex, trying to MULTITASK can negatively impact our lives.  YES dude, that MULTITASKING does divide our attention.  It makes it harder for us to give our full attention to one thing.  For example, in one study, attempting to complete additional tasks during a driving simulation led to poorer driving performance.  Other studies even led to scarier results which suggest that people WHO frequently "MEDIA-MULTITASK" [like listening to music while scrolling through social media are more distracted and less able to focus their attention😗😗😗

Our takeaway:  Besides talking about all these, a pitfall NOT so obvious is that trying to do too much at once makes it harder for us to be mindful and TRULY PRESENT in the moment.  Have you either experienced OR witnessed someone talking to another one who keeps scrolling through social media and gives perfunctory remarks like 'A-OK' OR 'REALLY'' OR 'YES'?  Likely they DON'T sincerely mean it because their attention gets divided by that MULITASKING.  Let's just stop that dude❗❗❗

Are You In That 'RINSE & REPEAT' Mode?

Are You In That 'RINSE & REPEAT' Mode?  OR is this NOT a 'talking point' at all for you?  Me thinks we need to devote our thread today about RINSE & REPEAT patterns.  Other than normal daily chores like eating and sleeping [and of course working for your rice bowl], we all get caught up, more often unconsciously, in that RINSE & REPEAT pattern. Everyone, it seems, is talking about CHANGE and the need to CHANGE.  No look farther than WHEN yearend is coming and everyone's talking about NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS.  Looking back, year-on-year, how many of us were [and are still] dead serious in doing a post-mortem to find out HOW did we fare with that perennial NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS.  Are You In That 'RINSE & REPEAT' Mode???

BUT alas, we keep repeating that familiar pattern.  It's like going to the edge of a 50-foot cliff and jumping WHEN all you've witnessed are others ahead of you jumping away.  As a result, you DON'T see WHAT they did before they jumped and WHAT the landing area looks like OR WHAT happened WHEN they landed down there!  So, the $64 question is, are we dead serious enough on the right things for us to pursue if we are serious enough to have change roll out and for us to progress along?  Through the years at the workplace, I've heard BEST PRACTICES a zillion times BUT the question is, HOW impactful are those BEST PRACTICES IF and WHEN we are caught up in the RINSE & REPEAT mode???

So, the bigger question is, WHERE have those best practices gone?  Me thinks this all boils down to human nature.  In the corporate world, when the top honcho cracks the whip and rolls out an initiative, verily true, more often, everyone toes the line, no exception.  BUT count 2-3 years down the road.  Can you look back, WHAT and WHERE are those initiatives as it stands today?  More likely, it's been [NOT intentionally] buried in the bushels of oblivion.  NO THANKS to the latest 'flavor of the month'.  YES, I do experience that de ja vu over and over again😌😌😌

Question that befuddles me.  WHY too many of us do chase the latest fads and instantly, we tend to [unconsciously] sweep under the rugs the previous initiatives?  OH YES, there is only one explanation here.  It's that many of us do still get trapped in that RINSE & REPEAT mode.  NOT being an expert in the field of psychology, my take here is that only one single word explains this conundrum.  MOMENTUM.  Unless and until we can keep that MOMENTUM going, we will all get caught up in that RINSE and REPEAT mode.  So, WHAT fix can we consider so that we DON'T get locked-in to that vicious cycle?  Again, it's spelled M-O-M-E-N-T-U-M.  Unless and until you can sustain it, along the way, you may get waylaid [again and again]❌❌❌

Our takeaway:  This is NO rocket science.  It all boils down to our self-discipline to stick to our goals [and timelines we committed to] WHILE sustaining that self-drive.  BUT you might challenge me, WHAT's wrong with the RINSE & REPEAT mode?  Nothing wrong EXCEPT that WHEN you're in RINSE & REPEAT mode, you will LIKELY miss out initiating new improvements OR you will LIKELY miss out even correcting existing flaws OR mistakes.  In a nutshell, WHEN you are in RINSE & REPEAT mode, you may likely stall and even stagnate.  BUT WHO wants to end up in that rot?  Lastly, WHAT will you lose if you endeavor to override your RINSE & REPEAT mode?  Nothing really because that's the win-win step to go❗❗❗

Visszanyal A Fagyi [The Ice Cream Licks Back]

 

I am neither a linguist nor an ardent student of languages but skimming through today's news wires, allow me to borrow this Hungarian quote:  VISSZANYAL A FAGI [THE ICE CREAM LICKS BACK].  You can buy Cellato, the most expensive ice cream OR even midstream Haagen-Dazs BUT it all boils down to the same Hungarian quote, THE ICE CREAM LICKS BACK💚💛💜

Hungarian this may be, BUT this quote runs deep across our life.  Let's start with FINANCIALS.  If you are now awash with $$$$$$$ and you're spending like there's NO tomorrow, would you expect your tomorrow to be the same as today?  Absolutely you're totally wrong if that's your train of thought because to spend frivolously can only go so far before it breaches that threshold, that POINT of NO RETURN.  We've heard a global sportsman successful in his sports WHOSE total earnings of US$ 750 Million ranks him as the 22nd all-time when ranked with all global sportsmen.  YET, just last month, he came out of retirement and is now in the midst of wrapping up his training for his return championship bout on July 20th.  If you hear his spiel, he came back from retirement 'FOR THE LOVE OF THE SPORTS'.  That's hogwash, baloney rubbish💧💧💧

That brings us back to the weight carried by the Hungarian quote VISSZANYAL A FAGI [THE ICE CREAM LICKS BACK].  Let's move our samplings from financials to relationships.  If someone is guilty [enough] of disrespect and hurtfulness in a relationship, surely that will NOT just cause a dent in a relationship.  Sooner if NOT later, a breakup is NOT far fetched to happen.  I've witnessed first hand WHERE the other spouse/partner simply walked away, catching his 'abandoned' ex-spouse/partner 'high and dry'.  Surely you have heard OR witnessed those narratives.  Throw away the feelings of regret OR guilt.  Let's just go back to the Hungarian quote VISSZANYAL A FAGI [THE ICE CREAM LICKS BACK].  From relationships, let's go back to health.  HOW many of us [OR at least people WHOM you know] WHO are wantonly abusing their health these days, with excessive eating, with heavy alcohol, and even chain-smoking.  We are NO experts BUT would you agree that the Hungarian quote resonates again in those circumstances???

From financials to relationships to health, let's move over to career.  HOW many narratives have we heard WHERE a person realized he is in the wrong calling, vocation or career?  BUT you might ask, WHAT could have caused them to be off-track?  Probably, during the job hunting days, they signed job offers on the dotted line for jobs WHICH was NOT WHAT they really wanted BUT simply signing off for $$$$$$ considerations.  UNTIL, before you know it, he was in that job for years and years, only realizing of late that he ended up spending years in a job that was farthest from his interest.  The worst part in that narrative is that he realized he was [and still IS] off-track too late for him to change course at that point in time.  We can rattle off on and on numerous phases in our life WHERE much as we like and enjoy 'ICE CREAMS', later if NOT sooner those times WHEN we did 'swoon over heels' with the ICE CREAMS, eventually that ICE CREAM LICK BACK [and by then, it may be too little OR too late for us to make a move, to change courses or at least to pivot💥💥💥

Our takeaway:  In the shortest words, we should be reminded that in life, we need to be extra and consciously mindful of the potential consequences of each of our actions and WHERE there is a need to do some 'balancing act', we need to endeavor in striking that balance between PRESENT enjoyment versus our FUTURE well-being as this should be our thoughtful approach to decision-making [rather than take that 'impulsive' way for the sake of immediate gratification.  Apologies for being blunt here but I'll still hang on to the Hungarian quote VISSZANYAL A FAGI [THE ICE CREAM LICKS BACK]😡😡😡

NEVER Rely On Luck!

WHEN was the last time you heard about LOTTO?  That was WHEN someone bagged the $100 Million jackpot.  WHEN was the last time you heard about BMW?  That was WHEN someone won the raffle's top prize.  BUT WHAT becomes mind-boggling is some of the Paris Olympics athletes WHO went over to the podium to receive their medals, many of them were tagged as LUCKY@#$%!? Just because the winner won by a close shave of 2 seconds, of 0.1 inch in the pole vault OR high jump events.  NEVER Rely On Luck!!!

For someone WHO did NOT have that exalted 'cakewalk' in life, even as we speak now, I can humbly admit that LUCK ISN'T WHAT got me WHERE I am today.  No sirrrrrrs.  I'm NOT beating my chest because my own successes may pale in comparison to many more success stories out there.  BUT if there's something I have to admit, it is something far more practical and easily attainable WHICH enabled me to be WHAT I am today and that's all because of PREPARATION.  WHETHER it is in our personal life OR in our business forays, the end result is NOT your burden to bear BUT it is being PREPARED.  Perfection in the moments leading up to WHATEVER decision you're making is your own burden to bear❎❎❎

WHILE the outcome may NOT be in your own control, the actions you take leading up to that point are absolutely up to your own discretion.  WHEN you take the time and energy to PREPARE, you become ready for the unexpected.  You become hyper-focused and are able to respond in a much heightened state of functioning.  Those days WHEN I was active in the job market, once a headhunter has scheduled me for a face-to-face discussion [there were NO Zooms & Google MEET those days, hehehe], it was NOT sufficient for me to have a thorough deep-dive of the role's job description.  BUT way and beyond, I'll do my due diligence and research about that prospective employer, its core business, its industry, the footprint of its operations and presence and most importantly, I ask myself, how can I be that vehicle OR tool that can create a positive impact to the organization once I have settled down in that possible job role✅✅✅

Translating things into actionable concrete terms:

• Let us continuously CULTIVATE an A+ work ethic - Nothing beats PREPAREDNESS from within.
• Let us NOT hesitate to ask for HELP from others - Leverage on your helpline, your family for one.
•  Anticipate potentials - Mapping your strength and your preparedness together, find your potentials
• NEVER leave your fate to chance, NOT to variables WHERE you DON'T have any control, because by then, you'll be doomed to fail

Our takeaway: Eventually, YES you will cross your fingers, hoping for the best BUT at the back of your mind, prepared for the worst case scenario.  Regardless, we have to constantly remind ourselves that LUCK is WHEN opportunity and preparation collide head-on.  BUT even more so, we should find opportunities that present to ourselves anytime.  Let us LET GO OF LUCK and BE PREPARED😀😀😀