So, It Begins When YOU'RE FIRED!@#$%?

 

Kenny Atkinson, the NBA Coach of the Year for 2024-2025 admits that he NEEDED TO GET FIRED.  Frankly, in the NBA, the education of an NBA head coach DOESN'T begin with success.  The lessons start WHEN the same red carpet that welcomed you is pulled and the security code is NO longer valid at the practice facility and a search begins for your vacated job, the one you worked damn hard to get it for a lifetime [ONLY to be fired at the most unexpected timing].  YES, so it begins WHEN YOU'RE FIRED!@#$%?

So, YES, Coach Kenny Atkinson admitted that WHEN he got fired as head coach of NBA team Brooklyn Nets, he has 'GROWN A LOT'.  Admittedly, Coach Kenny said that after getting fired, he got a 'LITTLE TAKEN ABACK and HOW DO I TURN THIS AND GET BETTER'?  WHEN I was fired  [due to the corporate shakeup triggered when Dole owner David Murdock decided to buy back his controlling shares] from my plum I.T. role at Dole Food, I took it hard BUT I took it calmly.  HOW did I extricate myself out of it?  YES, that opened up new trailblazing career opportunities for me as it hastened my plans to migrate and try my luck in sunny Singapore😢😢😢

True, we all dread it.  WHO WOULD NOT?  Losing your job is the stuff of nightmares especially WHEN you NEVER expected it.  Everything from your finances to your personal life gets affected and WHO knows WHEN the next opportunity will come knocking on your door OR WHAT will it be, if at all.  BUT WHAT if that uncertainty and chaos that comes from getting laid off actually leads you in a direction that's even better than you could have imagined???

Let's revisit the recovery paths most of us [WHO GOT FIRED from their job] plotted quite successfully:

• That MOMENT OF PANIC - Obviously at that point in time, I felt helpless and panicked, NOT prepared to handle the darkest time in my life
• NEXT STEPS - As I did NOT have a backup plan, I had to go back to my drawing board and assess all my options and decide WHICH WAY TO GO
• BIG IDEA - Like a voice from the wilderness, that temptation to try my luck at sunny Singapore was knocking incessantly on my door.  I took that call

Our takeaway:  LESSONS LEARNT once I got fired were the best ever life lessons I have had.  That's WHEN I learned how useful was my networking.  That's WHEN I realized I [still] had the support structure. That's WHEN I looked within and take stock of things if I was still resilient enough, with that stamina and sanity to get over the hump.  YES, these life lessons come hard and sometimes it will hit you you hard lightning quick even before you realized it.  YES, dude, SOMETIMES IT BEGINS WHEN YOU'RE FIRED!@#$%?

Improving Is Just 'NOT ENUF'

 

YES, we all welcome IMPROVEMENTS.  WHO does NOT want it?  Because any IMPROVEMENT is always a step ahead of things.  BUT oooooooooooops, let those IMPROVEMENTS not become your 'mouse trap' please.  WHY?  Many of us [and that includes moi many times in the past] [wrongly] thought that IMPROVEMENTS is the ultimate achievement we can secure in life.  BUT let's deep-dive as to WHY IMPROVEMENTS may be most welcome BUT it should NEVER be the ultimate goal we should set because beyond IMPROVEMENTS, there is a hell lot more work to do, like it OR not📗📙📘

At the workplace, we have kind of 'institutionalized' IMPROVEMENTS, tagging it as CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENTS BUT please DON'T get us wrong here.  We DON'T settle for 'bread crumbs'.  NOT that we are belittling IMPROVEMENTS but per se, IMPROVEMENTS has a GIVEN  and that GIVEN is that the existing 'CORE' remains and instead, what's initiated are all the tweaks and fine-tuning with the end view of IMPROVING things💚💛💜

SO WHERE do we go from WHERE we are right now?  Experts advise us to assess HOW effective are things as it is at the moment.  And from there, define your 'DESIRED OUTCOME' because if you're on Point B after coming from Point A, does it mean, there is NO Point C to explore?  And that includes the probability of totally overhauling things to reach Point C???

Truth is, many IMPROVEMENT efforts we have witnessed in life have, at times, neglected to start with a clear understanding of the desired outcomes and instead focus on more easily observable process metrics.  WHILE focusing on efficiency is NOT a bad thing in and of itself, I'll be the first to argue that a greater emphasis on understanding outcomes is where opportunity arises😊😊😊

Our takeaway:  WHAT has been a recurring narrative many times told, heard and witnessed is that many of us get entranced [over and over again] by that cycle of IMPROVEMENTS.  Given that the rat race we are in, is getting tightening, frankly, IMPROVEMENTS are stop-gap measures BUT we should never end with it.  That's condoning mediocrity, to be frank.  So, dude, think about it, can we think OUT-OF-THE-BOX?  Can we reengineer a process even if it's working fine now but rooms for IMPROVEMENT should egg us to go for the juggernaut because IMPROVING IS JUST 'NOT ENUF' dude!!!

When Some 'KILLERS' Remain Scott-free!@#$%?

 

In all the judicial systems all over the world, most of the time, JUSTICE is fair enough.  BUT do we know that while the sentenced 'KILLERS' are indeed languishing in those jails, there's a breed of 'KILLERS' WHO remain scott-free till now?  Hold your breath dude.  Please DON'T take this so seriously because I'm NOT  literally referring to 'KILLERS' on the run BUT I'm referring to the dream 'KILLERS'.  The Dale Carnegie book titled "HOW TO STOP WORRYING AND START LIVING" says that one of the reasons WHY we are full of worries is because we are trying to take control of WHAT is happening outside, that we tend to overthink allowing those negative thoughts to go inside us💜💛💚

Thing is, we are NOT living in day-tight compartments.  We AREN'T living in the present moment.  Instead, we seem to be living in the past 24 hours OR living in the next 24 hours.  Alas, rarely we live in WHAT lies in front of us.  I myself, I have my fair share of experiences with worries [and many of them are, admittedly, sort of 'horror stories'].  YES, it comes naturally and just pops into our minds. And usually, it might even keep us awake at night just by going over and over it in our heads.  We can rattle off LAZINESS, ANGER, FEAR, EGO, JEALOUSY and DOUBT.  Any of those WON'T do any good on us.  BUT WHAT's perplexing is WHY is it difficult to live in the present💥💥💥

Unfortunately, like a habit, WORRY has been evolving over time. Through many instances, we tend to continue worrying and that alone does solidify our habitual pattern[s] to our own selves.  LIKE a habit as well, being worried most of the time can be broken.  And that patterns ISN'T fixed.  And it might take some time to break it BUT again, it is breakable.  So, HOW can we break those habits as they form the very core of that vicious cycle😡😡😡

I admit though that I HAVEN'T read that book but alllow me to share my practical approaches WHICH I confidently feel helped me extricate out of it.  And my practical approach was as simple as A-B-C because WHAT I always strongly believe till now is to face my worries.  MUCH as I have my fair share of fears, instead of running away from those fears, I would confront myself with frank questions LIKE:  

• WHAT is the worst thing yet to happen?
• HOW would things be without this worry?

Our takeaway:  The realizations I came about were quite hard, to be honest.  LIKE things are NOT easy.  LIKE at times I admitted it's damn hard to break those fears and worries.  LIKE it will never be a one-off thing because it may haunt me back from time to time.  BUT here's the light of the tunnel [and BTW it's NOT a fast-speeding train], that is, sooner OR later, I'll be able to handle and manage it.  And just like anything in life, the more we feed and condition ourselves to worry about things, it will obey.  Our fix:  Let's take control of ourselves because NO one else will do it for us.  Oh YES.  WHAT a life WHEN SOME 'KILLERS' REMAIN SCOTT-FREE!@#$%?

Stop Wanting So Badly

 

Stop Wanting It So Bad [AND LIKELY YOU'LL HAVE IT].  BUT it's human nature for us to be tempted to spend $$$$$$ even WHEN we are on a budget.  OR even perhaps we are trying to give up watching silly TV programs OR those video games.  SO, WHAT should we do WHEN we want to stop wanting something?  Sometimes, the answer seems counter-intuitive BUT it may be surprisingly simple📗📙📘

SO HOW?  Experts do advise us that as a first step, we should admit that we want something that we have decided it so badly [OR sometimes even so wrongly].  To an extent that we would tell ourselves to ignore that desire and we end up admonishing our own selves if we continue to want it [up to the point of being obsessive].  That dance between our desires and in our attempts at self-discipline creates a tension that, unfortunately, can only be resolved by eventually giving in and having the thing.  Instead, to fully admit that we want WHATEVER it is.  SO HOW did I go through this dilemma before?  After I admitted my own WANTING, I told myself just to get things done [although it may seem admitting that we desire something and then NOT getting it would be torture BUT you'll be surprised to find that the opposite s true.  In fact, it can actually relieve that tension😌😌😌

One thing that challenged me head-on was that inner conflict I had then WHEN WHAT I wanted was sometimes NOT consistent with my behavior then.  YES, I realized then that you can want something and still choose NOT to have it OR do it.  And one way to do this is to make decisions about your behavior before you are tempted with the opportunity.  LIKE if you are attending a company OR networking event for the second year in a row.  Like last year, knowing that drinking alcohol takes you off your game, you decided you DIDN'T want to have any drinks.  BUT once you arrived, you found beautiful glasses full of tasty wine everywhere you turned and then, you caved in.  You would have been much more likely to keep this promise if you had dedicated more than just a passing thought to the goal before for the actual event took place.  WHEN I reached those crossroads, I was confronted with a couple of questions I was hard pressed to respond to💥💥💥

Questions like:  WHY was that restraint important to me?  HOW will I behave if someone offers me a drink?  Would there be any exceptions?  Is there a way my plan to reward myself for complying with my own request?  And HOW can I best support myself in keeping that promise?  I realized that admitting WHAT I wanted and keeping it separate from WHAT I do about is a habit that can build into the discipline we have always wanted for ourself. BUT like all good things, start small and work on it💧💧💧

Our takeaway:  Looking back, I noticed HOW I felt WHEN we do something we wish we HADN'T but instead, pay attention only to the facts.  Another realization was that part of least resistance by learning to become the 'creative force' in my life. Oh Oh, I wish I could say I thought up the ideas on HOW to change behavior patterns all on my own BUT the seed for that wisdom came to me quite donkey years ago.  The hard-earned lessons that resonated through my travails is that, NEVER force your something on something that may NOT be for you.  BUT if at all it is intended for you, it will come.  Trust me, dude!!!

Was Your Personal Credentials Compromised?

 

These numbers from 2024 may seem obsolete BUT these are like current statistics WHICH should send shrivers through our spine.  Just for email addresses alone, 183 million accounts and their associated data have been breached.  BUT let's NOT understate it because those numbers are beyond statistically alarming.  Unfortunately, breaches are an unfortunate reality of this digital era.  Chances are, some of the companies to WHOM we trusted our personal data are going to get potentially hacked📗📙📘

In straight terms, some of the data stored in servers [way beyond our control] may be going to be leaked.  And if you've been online for a long time, that means quite a bit of your and my data is floating around various corners of the internet.  And WHILE there is no single centralized database for all those stolen credentials on the web, one researcher compiled quite a fairly large database, which later we can check if your OR my email address/accounts were somehow breached beyond our awareness💧💧💧

To quote from lifehacker.com, Cybersecurity research company SYNTHIENT has compiled a massive database of stolen credentials from [almost] countless sources across the internet.  Guess HOW big is that compiled breached data?  It is 3.5 terabytes !@#$%? And to quote lifehacker.com further,  the database itself contains [hold your breath] 183 million email addresses alongside the websites they were associated to [I'll admit my own email address is one amongst those breached data ].  Check this site if you may:  https://haveibeenpwned.com/ by typing your email address/acount [with NO passwords]💥💥💥

As such, if your email address happens to be one of the breached data, that will show up and likely, your next question is:  WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? Change your password ASAP, pronto, immediately because the best countermeasure with the least efforts you need to exert.  NOT to be threatening BUT if someone attempts to access your compromised credentials, your exposed data becomes a potentially serious risk❌❌❌

Our takeaway:  UNLESS you DON'T have an email account [WHICH I really doubt that you DON'T have], I very strongly encourage you to consider visiting that above-mentioned site and check if your personal credentials was/were one of the compromised ones.  If you're skeptical about this 2-cents advice, we leave things as it is, hoping you're personal data remain very much uncompromised till to date😡😡😡

Fishing For Trout In Saltwater Is NO MEAN FEAT

 

Fishing for trout in saltwater is NO mean feat.  By analogy, even as we are constantly obsessed to find for opportunities, finding and exploring in a wrong approach may NOT land us to catch that trout as we dreamt of.  Looking for opportunities in a wrong way can mean being reactive instead of proactive, sometimes ending up for us to be focusing on negative aspects instead of seeing potentials OR ending up being overwhelmed by the sheer number of possibilities.  It can also involve NOT leveraging on our existing 'networks' or even missing subtle cues about opportunities disguised as 'problems'📘📙📗

At the workplace, a lot of us [and that includes me sometime in my not so distant past] fail at work and even in life because we tend to focus too much on the obstacle rather on the opportunity at hand.  I'm sure it is often true to many of us.  And WHEN something goes wrong, we spend donkey hours and even days and weeks dissecting it.  Then, we often refer to those episodes as 'post mortems' [whew, I had a fair share of it many times in the past], which, literally means, 'after death'📌📌📌

Nope, I'm NOT suggesting that we should stick our heads in the sand.  BUT I do think we should spend more of our time and our resources focused on WHAT we want to create, WHERE we have been successful, and HOW we can leverage our strengths.  That age-old story of David and Goliath provides us an excellent example of someone WHO focused on the opportunities rather than the obstacle😕😕😕

Whether we are Christians OR not, I guess we have heard that thousands of sermons have been preached about that David and Goliath Story and even hundreds of books have been invested on it.  NOW, skimming back quickly to that story, before David arrived on the battlefield, everyone was focused on the problem, which is Goliath.  No wonder, the eventual champion of the Philistines was nine feet four inches tall and WHO can ignore that kind of behemoth?  And in the midst of that, David arrives on the scene and sees Goliath😡😡😡

Our takeaway:  As everyone knows, David won it BUT NOT because of sheer size WHERE he was severely handicapped BUT because he put more focus on the opportunity and NOT on the obstacle.  Perhaps, if we were David, we would have spent more time focusing on the problem, analyzing Goliath and digging deeper into the problem and trying to understand the various options before us.  NOT David BTW as he NEVER flinched.  Takeaway here is we should rethink about FISHING FOR TROUT IN SALTWATER!!!

Finding The GOOD In The BAD

 

WHEN we're going through something difficult, I'll be the first to admit that it's doubly hard to think positively.  And if you're already feeling depressed OR anxious, it even becomes that harder.  You might even have a hard time noticing anything good about your situation OR about your very life.  BUT that can become a 'double whammy' because if you'll get into that situation, that may even put you on track for that downward spiral.  Thinking positively NOT only feels better than simply thinking negatively.  BUT more than that, it may also help you find ways to improve your situation.  So, HOW do we find the GOOD in a BAD situation💚💛💜

To be happier WHEN we're dealing on something that's tough, as the more common advice goes, we can consciously look for that bright side of life's challenges.  As an example, we can reframe the thought itself.  LIKE 'WHY was I unlucky to have my bike stolen?'  to 'I'm lucky to still have my insurance coverage to buy the newer bike I've been wanting to.  And WHEN you take that approach, experts tell us that it is likely you'll feel better by then💧💧💧

LIKE if you're into dire financial straits, be positive that you still have your home, your family and your basic daily needs met.  BUT of course, you DON'T stop there, right?  If you're facing that home mortgage payment which have compounded with the skyrocketing interest, pick up the phone OR visit your mortgagee bank so that you can propose a restructuring OR refinancing.  LIKE you just went through a serious medical illness, be thankful that you did survive the ordeal and you're very much alive now.  Of course you DON'T stop there because you've got be steadfast to go through a rigorous therapy program.  LIKE if you're grieving when a loved one died, be thankful that your loved one does NOT need to suffer again from that ordeal before he/she passed away.  LIKE if you're given the pink slip because of an economic downturn, be thankful that you are skilled and experienced enough.  Imagine if you're a fresh and very raw graduate from the university???

BUT I'll play devil's advocate here.  All these scenarios I did rattle off awhile back might risk leaving the impression that we should be able to turn every negative into a positive.  NO sirrrrrrrs.  NOT guaranteed.  In reality, it can feel forced OR even futile to tell ourselves upbeat stories about life's biggest hardships.  Here comes the experts WHO tell us that sometimes we forget about those BIG STRESSORS as they tend to come in complex situations.  Take that Covid-19 Pandemic as the threat of illness was threatening BUT many of us enjoyed more time with our family💥💥💥

Our takeaway:  Some of life's BIG STRESSORS can be super negative BUT positive things can still happen out of it.  And even as stresses are complex and heterogeneous, experts advise us that another way to feel better is NOT to change the meaning of anything BUT instead, let us zero-in on those positive elements and just focus on that.  That distinction might seem subtle BUT WHAT that means we DON'T have to feel pressured to feel grateful OR optimistic about a difficult experience in its entirety.  Instead, we're just invited to pay attention to some of the smaller good things that happen alongside it.  In a nutshell,  even overcast and gloomy skies will still show a streak of sunlight at some point.  YES, we can still FIND THE GOOD IN THE BAD😀😀😀

Your NORTH STAR?

 

Your NORTH STAR?  WHETHER your NORTH STAR is a dream, your goal OR your lifetime inspiration, you're right, we've got to have that NORTH STAR in life!  For alignment, NORTH STAR is metaphorically defined as something that could represent your core values, your guiding principles OR even your overaching purpose that provides direction and meaning to your life.  Assuming you're NOT consciously aware of your NORTH STAR, let's go📘📙📗

The reality, however, is that [culling from my past experiences] many of us [at one point I was guilty of this] really DON'T take the time to think about WHAT fuels them, WHAT guides them, and WHAT they were put on this planet to achieve, if at all.  It's true life has a way of keeping us distracted and focused only on the moment.  Day after day and week after week, many people go to work without much thought of anything else.  That's sad, right❌❌❌

BUT I beg to defer that by default, we should really live life like that, right?  Because I believe we are built to do so much more than just to simply survive.  Because we are built to thrive and build a life that we love, NOT just make a living.  One of the true joys really living life is to be of help to anyone other than yourself.  And it's even heartwarming WHEN I end up helping someone WHICH, as an afterthought, I believe that helping is one of my NORTH STARs😁😁😁

Frankly, finding your NORTH STAR would VERY LIKELY help you live a more purposeful life, NOT to say that you are NOT living one now BUT somehow it gives us a reference point to keep ourselves moving in the right direction.  And it DOESN'T mean that life ISN'T still challenging.  Of course, we all have our UPs and DOWNs BUT it's entirely different if we're living with a purpose because by then, it will be much easier for us to stay on track and weather the storms that come our way.  That's WHEN our NORTH STAR really comes into the equation😔😔😔

Our takeaway:  Now let's drill and dice things because we can keep repeating NORTH STAR but it might sound hollow.  Instead, we can do a pulse check of ourselves and ask ourselves, WHAT gets you motivated and WHAT gets you inspired?  And WHAT are the causes and beliefs that will get you out of bed in the morning, rain OR shine, fired up and ready to go?  Yes, DON'T be surprised if you realize that your passion about causes and beliefs DON'T even tie up to your work BUT it could be your NORTH STAR!!!

Life Is NOT Just RED Or BLUE

 

I'd rather NOT delve into COLOR PSYCHOLOGY because that's a foreign domain to me BUT having said that, it's inevitable that we sometimes veer about colors because Life Is NOT Just RED Or BLUE because it's NOT our choice or expectation that WHEN we see RED , we seem energized?  OR WHEN we see BLUE , we feel calmed and relaxed?  So it behooves that we listen to the insights of artists WHO, for the longest time, believe that COLOR can dramatically affect our moods, feelings and emotions📗📙📘

So YES, even as layman, it's NOT difficult to agree that COLOR is a powerful communication tool and it can be used to signal action, OR influence mood OR even influence physiological reactions as certain COLORS are associated with physiological changes, including increased blood pressure, increased metabolism, and eyestrain.  Just like today, we're about to celebrate an event, I decided to be attired with fiery red shirt with matching maroon socks and my tangerine walking shorts💚💜💛

NOT to showcase my Mazda CX-5 [because it's like 9 years old now], BUT WHEN I bought it then, I decided to fork out quite an additional premium cost WHEN I decided that SOUL RED model.  WHY?  It's because I want that WHENEVER I drive my CX-5 , it will in a way influence me even before I get into the driver's seat.  In short, I want to feel that I am energized enough and NOT lethargic once I drive it💥💥💥

In short, as I'm stepping out of my home in a bit, I believe I have that fiery spirit in me now, energized to  outwit the simmering heat of summer.  YES, while COLOR may seem so trivial to be deserving as a thread, it can play an important role in conveying information, creating certain moods and even influencing the decisions people make.  COLOR preferences also exert an influence n the objects people choose to purchase, the clothes they wear, and the way they adorn their environments✅✅✅

Our takeaway:  Much as COLOR itself seems so trivial, please DON'T shun it off OR just simply sweep it under the rug once you start your day because I can attest that COLORs really does factor-in and influence our energy.  And WHAT else do we want but to be energized, right? Rather than be lethargic because that will be a struggle, a drag as you carry on with your activities for the rest of the day [NOT to mention if you will be driving through those traffic gridlocks OR you'll be going for a long drive.  YES dude, LIFE IS NOT JUST RED OR BLUE😍😍😍

Even As The Raft Will Drift, The Lotus Will Reunite

 

Sifting through my current events updates over in Malaysia, Nurul Izzah, the smart daughter of its PM Anwar Ibrahim, confirmed she was joining the fray as a deputy president candidate for the upcoming PKR elections.  And as she noted that everything, including the kitchen sink, seems to be thrown on her even from within the PKR party, she lamented that EVEN AS THE RAFT WILL DRIFT, eventually THE LOTUS WILL REUNITE📗📙📘

Indeed, this has been the perennial challenge everyone of us will face, WHEN the real nemesis will come from within your family, your party, your own aggrupation.  p.s. Let's exclude the woes of politicians because they live in the rough-and-tumble world of the rowdy world of politics.  BUT for us laymen, life is always full of UPs and DOWNs.  One day, we may feel like we have figured things out.  Then, things become fluid💧💧💧

In a moment's notice, we could be thrown that dreaded curve ball.  YES, you're NOT alone in those feelings.  Everyone of us has to face their own set of challenges. Learning HOW to overcome those challenges will help us stay centered, on course and remain calm even WHEN we are under intense pressure and stress.  True, everyone has his/her own preferences for HOW to face a challenge in life📌📌📌

NOW, much as I'll share HOW did I go through all these in life, the caveat here is that there is NO ONE SIZE THAT FITS ALL.  I can only share HOW I extricated myself BUT WHETHER one can replicate WHAT I did to his/her situation, it's something you will have to figure out tweaking and fine-tuning it to adapt to your very unique circumstances.  BUT first and foremost, we got to have a PLAN.  MAKE A PLAN.  WHILE you DON'T know WHAT is going on to happen in the future, you can plan ahead and look at the shaping patterns in your life and see WHAT challenges you've struggled with😌😌😌

Our takeaway:  I've been in that quagmire countless times and WHAT kept my head above water was my unsullied faith and belief that much as I was going through one of the toughest ordeals in life, I always reminded myself that surely, others were in much worst situations.  Realizing that, I would even tap my shoulder to remind myself that I'm fortunate enough because my situation is NOT the worst ever.  YES, EVEN AS THE RAFT WILL DRIFT, THE LOTUS WILL REUNITE💚💛💜