Scratching The Surface [Really Means SCRATCHING THE SURFACE]

 

Sometimes, we [wrongly] liken the surface to the truth itself.  LIKE WHEN he appears to be nice, then he's damn nice.  In the NBA's competitive world of hoops, WHEN a rookie tops the box scores in his very first foray come the next Summer League, the bar gets raised and he's tagged as one of top rookies to shine.  LIKE someone who tops his academic class and is offered an executive trainee role in an MNC, likely it's because he's been identified as a blue-chip 'New Kid on the Block' rookie💚💛💜

WHEN I was first hired at Global MNC Shell @ the workplace, I was NOT that blue-chip Tier-1 hire.  WHICH means, during my early years of our annual performance appraisals, my CEP [Career Expected Potential] was NOT tagged as either A, B or C [because those are employees seen as potential C-Suite level.  BUT within myself, I told myself, that was the least of my concerns because at that time I was barely SCRATCHING THE SURFACE then💧💧💧

BUT the thing is, many of us [and I was guilty of this early in my career], we tend to get in a comfort zone after barely SCRATCHING THE SURFACE, WHICH WHEN translated in layman's terms, by then I had barely learned anything if at all yet.  The little confidence that comes from SCRATCHING THE SURFACE is good [BUT NOT GOOD ENOUGH] and we just DON'T need to settle there.  Instead, we need to keep scratching and scratching way way beyond the surface.  Sadly, in these times we're going through, many [if NOT a majority] really lack that enduring patience in life.  Instead, we tend to seek fast and quick results very much akin to those social gratifications we instantly receive via LIKES and FOLLOWERs in social media💥💥💥

WHENEVER I get to spare a fraction of my slack time through the years, I tried to test the waters by randomly raising some topics worth discussing and I realized that most of them only seem to touch the surface.  This is NOT to claim that I'm better than them [as there is NO basis for me to say so] BUT I'd rather blame Mr Google the past years and Ms AI at least the past year OR so because they seem to be always within our fingertips and WHEN we throw a question, WHATEVER it is, voila, got the answer!!!

Our takeaway:  AFAIK, the results arising from either Mr Google OR Ms AI [LIKE ChatGPT] might NOT be objectively acceptable in all situation by everyone.  If only we spend some time critically reading and thinking the entire threads, sometimes some learning can be expected to happen.  True, it takes years to get good at something.  We can only create OR contribute anything useful IF we keep learning in systematic manner.  Really, SCRATCHING THE SURFACE literally means the same thing too!!!

Don't Just Tick The Boxes. 'GREEN CHECK' It!

 

Are you just TICKING THE BOXES?  YES, I've seen tons and tons of checklist with all those check boxes and many times I kept thinking about the fate of those boxes.  WHEN you keep checking those boxes, do you ever feel like you're constantly doing things BUT none of it means anything?  LIKE you're busy BUT in reality, you DON'T seem to be moving forward?  YES I'm with you.  It's something I did struggle in the past too WHERE everyday feels like I'm going through the motions, waking up, working, checking off tasks💥💥💥

BUT despite all that, quite a few times in the past, I felt like feeling empty at the end just before I hit the sack.  And I did consult a friend WHO has specialized in Psychology and he dissected and concluded that likely, I seem to be AVOIDING WHAT REALLY MATTERS.  WHAAAAAT?  i was lost with words WHEN I heard his prognosis because let's get real here.  All of us do it.  We fill our days with sometimes those meaningless tasks to avoid WHAT really matters.  WHY? Because it's easier to feel productive than to look people in the eye and face the mess.  For me, it's those hard conversations, the ambitious projects, OR even my personal goals then that I kept putting off❌❌❌

For me then, those were hard conversations I had with my friend even as I realized that the things that could change, things that could be game-changers BUT ironically those stuff did scare me no end.  So, I did face the mirror more than once and asked myself, WHAT really scares me?  And I challenged myself IF I'm ticking the boxes simply to gain that scarce feeling accomplishment?  And finally, I did ask myself, WHAT one thing I know I should do BUT I seem too stubborn to keep avoiding doing it???

My realization then during those agonies is that indeed it was uncomfortable BUT avoiding the important things in life was effectively killing my potential.  Something that, maybe you too, fell for.  Those times, I tend to believed that there has to be a justification for more doing, more goals, more tasks, more hustle.  BUT there was one thing I failed to grasp, NOT until my friend spoon-fed me then.  He brutally told me that MORE DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN BETTER.  Sadly, many of us are always behind the idea of "MORE" , NOT wondering IF it's the right stuff BUT I realized that doing much more would NOT solve a problem.  And it DOESN'T matter IF it actually does anything at all😓😓😓

Our takeaway:  These days, I keep hearing that BUSY IS THE NEW LAZY.  And I can't disagree with this because it is indeed true, we seem to be confusing our activity with achievements.  BUT that's NOT apples-to-apples dude.  NOW let's go down to our main point here.  Are you running after other people's dreams?  We get things done that DON'T make us happy.  All because of conditioning, that is, being taught HOW to live a life based on 'majority approval' which is all skewed, right?  WHICH means, we should NOT just CHECK BOXES BUT GREEN CHECK IT dude!!!

A Real Heart-touching Love Story

 

NOoooooooo sirrrrrs, I'm NOT switching careers to become a Dr LOVE adviser cum counsellor but allow me to paste herein EN TOTO the Quora.com post by Fano:  

Actor Vin Diesel broke up with his partner 3 years ago, but when they separated he didn't ask her to leave his house, he feared she would live on a lower level, so he left her the marital home and went to rent a small apartment near her.

He also sent weekly bills for her and her daughter, and paid all monthly internet, phone and electricity bills, and categorically refused to let the media publish anything about their separation.

Six years later, his partner had an accident while returning from a shopping trip. He went to the hospital, stood by her side and even donated blood to her. When she recovered, they got back together.

Conclusion: Love and respect must always remain present, preserve precious memories and respect each other. This is true love, human sacrifice and the purpose of life💚💛💜

Much as I DON'T want to be a copycat, allow me to share here this 'helpful framework' [WHICH I'd rather call as a FORMULA] in life:  COMMITMENT = (TREASURES - TROUBLES) + CONTRIBUTIONS - CHOICES.  This AI overview highlights the fact that even in a linear manner, POSITIVE aspects in life clearly outweigh the NEGATIVE ones.  l remember one marriage counselling book WHICH sums it all as follows:  SUCCESSFUL RELATIONSHIPS priority QUALITY TIME, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT and jointly work for both the individual and shared growth.  WHICH brings me to the dire reality of diaspora impacting a huge slice of populations especially from third world countries💥💥💥

Looking back, regardless of culture, country OR even religion, divorce rates are a fact of life.  And although we're seeing and witnessing that the human diaspora from third world countries are a major factor in the fragmentation [and eventually separations] of couples, you'll be surprised that the countries registering the highest divorce rates are first world countries like Canada, Netherlands, Sweden and even Spain and Portugal.  In short, we CAN'T simply point to third world countries registering high divorce rates❎❎❎

Our takeaway:  WHILE there is 'no one size that fits all', once I remember this touching VIN DIESEL love story, this makes me realize that you could be a major part of Hollywood's tinselworld BUT you can be as human as possible.  That unique love story also reminds us that WRONGs will always happen in life BUT we can always 'RIGHT THE WRONGs' BUT before I end up eating my own words, allow me to qualify that human relationships can either look like that SIMPLEST equation to the most convoluted and complex one.  BUT all hope is NOT lost if we can still pick up a lesson OR two from Vin Diesel's real HEART-TOUCHING LOVE STORY💚💜💛

When Our Path Ahead Is NOT Clear Enough

 

99% of the time, we would hear sage advices LIKE follow the path, take the road, go along the course and the like.  BUT in reality, sometimes, we DON'T have that path OR road ahead clear enough for us to follow.  Worst, sometimes, there is hardly any traces of a road OR even a trail out there in the forest.  WHAT do we do then WHEN we CAN'T find a path forward especially WHEN we DON'T know WHAT to do?  WHAT's our course to take then???

YES YES yow, in life, we all have times WHEN we are either confused, uncertain OR worst, as a net effect, indecisive.  Sometimes it pertains more as to how to resolve a problem we're facing, LIKE preparing for a job interview OR even transitioning into your new job role OR it could as casual OR petty LIKE filing your annual income tax OR in real life, LIKE fixing a leaky bathroom faucet.  And there are tons more of issues we face day to day, YET we do get lost😡😡😡

BUT for these samplings, these are quite straightforward enough.  And the bottom line in these samplings, we just need to earnestly learn solving OR fixing that problem at hand.  BUT there are times WHEN our problems are NOT so much about skills BUT about emotions that make us indecisive.  So WHEN do we get stuck?

• WHEN we DON'T want to upset others
• WHEN you're UNSURE of what you want
• WHEN you want to make that perfect choice
• WHEN you have too many options to choose

NOT wanting to upset others happens WHEN we're afraid of a disapproval OR conflict OR just being put on the spot and needing to defend yourself, WHICH is especially difficult IF you're NOT solidly sure of yourself, of your plan, of your idea.  And WHEN you're NOT sure of WHAT you want, that happens WHEN we got tons of ideas as to WHAT to could be the best course to take.  YES, I vividly remember many times WHEN I had one too many options at hand, causing myself to get stuck and stalled.  And before I realized it, I was indecisive during those times.  And of cour se we're sometimes too perfect, too good to be true, we end up struggling with all the mix of options we have, figuring out and eventually getting caught in a loop of indecision as to WHICH IS THE BEST OF THE BEST💥💥💥

Our takeaway:  This may be like a play of words BUT WHEN there is NO clear path, the best practical advice we need to heed is to KEEP WALKING and along the way, you'll be making that path by moving forward in spite of your NOT knowing it beforehand.  And as you move forward, trust me, things will become clearer, albeit NOT magically instant.  YES dude, we CAN'T go on WHEN OUR PATH AHEAD IS NOT CLEAR ENOUGH😗😗😗

Moral Of The Story: Wine Drinkers Are REALLY Kind-hearted!

 

Sharing this EN TOTO from Quora.com [Alex Writes]:  The Helsinki-Toronto flight was carrying 400 passengers and only 200 lunches. The airline made a mistake, and the crew found themselves in a difficult situation. However, one quick-witted flight attendant had an idea. About 30 minutes after takeoff, she announced: "Ladies and gentlemen, I don't know how this could have happened, but we have 400 passengers on board and only 200 lunches." "Anyone kind enough to give up their meal for someone else will receive unlimited free wine for the entire flight." Their next announcement came 6 hours later: "Ladies and gentlemen, if anyone wants to change their mind, we still have 200 lunches available!"💦💦💦

As we titled our blog today, Moral Of The Story:  Wine Drinkers Are REALLY Kind-hearted!  Seriously though, this speaks volumes WHEN heartedness and KINDNESS itself kicks.  A month ago when I drove twelve hours from the metro to my province, after swooping down local products WHICH were scarce [and 3 to 5 times more expensive in the metro area, we just road the 3-wheeled trike [for obvious reasons].  On the way back to the hotel, I asked the trike driver, HOW much will he charge and he replied 50 bucks.  WHEN I alighted at the hotel, I repeated the same question, and WHEN he said 50 bucks, I gave him a 100 bucks [and suddenly, he grabbed my hands with gratefulness]😀😀😀

NOW, here's another day-to-day mix-up we sometimes misconstrue.  That's WHEN we often mistake 'NICE' for being 'KIND' WHEN there is world of difference between them.  Because being NICE is quite easy to manifest, a social gesture WHICH we often manifest out of politeness.  BUT to invoke being genuinely KIND, that's a wholly different ball game, dude.  Because it's about empathy, selflessness and geniune care for others. NOT to be nitpicking, HOW can we feel and experience a genuinely KIND soul???

A bit of KINDNESS 101.  As KINDNESS goes beyond just being polite, polite people follow social norms and even etiquette.  And HOW about KIND souls?  YES, they go the XTRA mile.  Genuinely KIND people DON'T just say THANK YOU or PLEASE.  Instead, they genuinely care about the well-being of others and show empathy.  YES, they would strive to understand WHAT others are going through and help in any way they can.  YES, WHAT may NOT be so obvious on the surface is that genuinely KIND people often make sacrifices for others NOT because they expect something in return BUT because it is in their nature to be compassionate and that considerate.  Oh YES, listening from psychologists, KIND souls are always LEARNING, LEARNING about others, LEARNING how to help, LEARNING HOW to change their own lives in order to better serve those around them [p.s. I'm NOT referring to tradpols [traditional politicians], ouch]!@#%?

Our takeaway:  Before our readership will get me wrong, being KIND is NOT always about those grand gestures OR even financial aid.  Sometimes, it can be as simple as giving your time.  In this frenzied world WHERE we live in, we're constantly busy [even for reasons we CAN'T fathom] BUT for now, can we take a pause and consider giving even just a fraction of our time to someone WHO needs it the most as it can be one of the most valuable things you can offer sans the pecuniary OR financial considerations.  YES, let's look back at that Helsinki-Toronto flight, short of 200 packed meals, ending with an extra 200, all because the WINE DRINKERs are really kind-hearted [at least in that flight]💚💛💜

When Is Something NICE May NOT Be That NICE?

 

When Is Something NICE May NOT Be That NICE?  WHICH reminds me of a travel blog we read recently WHERE the HOT topic was Japan.  And we admit that although I had prior travels to Japan, they were all business trips so there's that stark difference if you're on a holiday with your family WHICH we did had it spanning two weeks last year.  And even as we speak now, we WON'T stop blurting out all the positive words about Japan.  BUT recently, I came across insightful sharings from expats WHO have lived in Japan for the longest time, an American WHO's been living there for 18 years and an Indian WHO's been there for 20+ years.  Without mincing words, they blurted that Japan is a NICE place if you're a tourist😡😡😡 

Well said BUT out of respect to the sensitivities, I WON'T delve much as to WHY those two expats in Japan have that kind of insight.  Having said that, I realized that being NICE works well with strangers.  BUT beyond strangers, we are more after the long haul, the long term.  I remember an academician WHO had a PhD student WHO was smart in all the researches BUT was struggling in his comms skills, so he gave the student that frank feedback.  This is a sampling where he was NOT NICE BUT he was kind enough to share him his honest feedback💥💥💥

True, most of us want a NICE romantic partner because a NICE person is expected to be considerable and generally agreeable.  So, WHAT'S NOT LIKE? And indeed, NICENESS in a partner can be that appealing at first, limiting friction and making them easy to be around.  BUT some of that positive behavior comes at a cost of more desirable attributes like genuine kindness OR authenticity, both of WHICH may sometimes struggle to coexist within someone WHO's always busy placing NICE💚💛💜

If at all, experts counsel us to be wary of tell-tale signs that may lead to a potential RED FLAG down the road:

• Trying to CHEER YOU UP - YES it's one thing for someone to care about your well-being and another to have them monitor your mood instantly.  And YES it can be stifling and quite exhausting to feel AS IF a partner always has their finger on the pulse of your emotions
• AVOIDING Conflict - Disagreements and conflicts are difficult so we may appreciate if a partner avoids it BUT just as crops need sunshine and rain, constructive conflict is essential in a health relationship

Our takeaway:  Much as we like NICENESS, the truth is, we'll get more out of our relationships with a 'WHOLE' human being WHO has passions that AREN'T centered to me OR to you.  They can still love you fiercely and also find deep meaning in things that have NOTHING to do with you.  OH YES, with a too-NICE partner, that NICENESS comes at the expense of honesty and let's face it, an honest partner is and will always be our best long-term bet in life as they WON'T shade the truth in ways that make today easy at tomorrow's expense.  Instead, they're willing to be FULLY themselves and want you to be exactly WHO YOU ARE.  That's WHEN SOMETHING NICE MAY NOT BE THAT NICE at all dude😡😡😡

How's Our SELF-IMPROVEMENTS?

 

Does SELF-IMPROVEMENT [still] have a slot in our queue?  Hoping so.  Because per se, I would admit that SELF-IMPROVEMENT [inside out] sounds boring to even spend a second.  WHAT are the ramifications then?  Even without us becoming aware of, many of us unconsiously experience regressing in their respective performances, be it work, in school or even in managing their day-to-day lives.  That explains as to WHY SELF-IMPROVEMENT is hardly a thread to spend time on.  BUT despite the frenetic pace of our daily lives, can we do a PULSE CHECK NOW???

Key challenge in tackling SELF-IMPROVEMENT is that we got to set goals and I'll be the first one to agree that setting goals, anything from getting a university degree OR landing a new job to achieve that next level of our career, is a huge and big step towards SELF-IMPROVEMENT.  BUT following through to achieve WHAT you set out to accomplish can indeed be challenging, especially on those days WHEN motivation seems to be waning.  SO HOW?  HOW can we follow through on the goals we set and reaffirm + reinforce our commitments to it [especially during those days WHEN you DON'T feel doing it]?  True, for whatever factors, everyone of us may lose our motivation, from time to time❎❎❎

Allow me to share HOW I managed to [barely] handle those times WHEN my motivation waned:

• I wrote my goals on paper [yesirrrreeee, I do tap on our smart phone's Notepad as well.
• I intentionally make it a habit to work on my goals.
• I plan and aim for IMPERFECTION [even if frankly, I want every action I perform to be as perfect it can be]
• I 'drilled and dice' so that I got small goals enough to build up the momentum I need to gain.

• Track/monitor your progress consistently
• Embrace those 'peer pressures' around
• Reward yourself NOT just for BIG WINs
• Do some 'mood lifting' [when it's gloomy]
• Practice gratitude.  That really pays off
• Remember your "WHY".  WHY are you doing this and that for you

Our takeaway:  SELF-MOTIVATION seems so easy to come.  WHEN we're offered incentives [call it CARROTs], our MOTIVATION spikes.  WHEN we get promoted to a new job role, MOTIVATION becomes 'matic'.  BUT those are fleeting moments only.  The need to sustain and carry on with your SELF-IMPROVEMENT initiatives has to be consistently reinforced, RAIN or SHINE dude😂😂😂

Do We Need A 'MENTAL SHIFT'?

 

Do we need a MENTAL SHIFT? OR put it this way, WHEN do we need a MENTAL SHIFT?  BUT before we delve into it, let's have a quick alignment.  MENTAL SHIFT is typically understood as that significant change in HOW we, as an individual, perceives the world, approaches challenges and embraces opportunities.  It involves NOT just adopting new ideas BUT also even rewiring our own perspectives [WHICH sometimes can swing like a pendulum from one end to the other extreme end].  And it involves NOT just adopting new ideas, BUT also even 'unlearning' beliefs that seem to be outdated and instead, embracing the future with unqualified curiosity and openess📗📙📘

Our common problem is that we as humans are so heavily conditioned to favor outcomes over process.  WHEN we prepare for a competition, it's all about the ultimate plum, the prize, the reward at the end of it.  And WHEN we get involved in a pursuit OR project, it's all about its successful implementation.  Whew, been there gazillion times, CAN'T deny it.  WHEN we work hard, it's all about getting that promotion.  BUT here's the thing.  The outcome is just a small fraction of the time we spend on completing the task!!!

NOT surprisingly, researches show that about 95% OR more of the time, we seem to be engaged in the process of getting OR achieving that outcome we are so focused and obsessed.  True, in the business world, this is all that matters.  BUT these same researches tell us that having an OUTCOME-focused mindset in our personal lives can have a NEGATIVE effect on our well-being.  And WHEN we subconsciously focus on the end result, we might likely sacrifice the pleasure we could have enjoyed along the way because we tend to focus only on those fleeting moments of achievement right at the end📌📌📌

NOW, the challenge is for us to shift our focus.  IF we shift our mindset to focus on the process, rather than just the achievement itself, we can find enjoyment in almost many of our everyday activities.  Experts tell us that a process-focus is more applicable than WHAT we might expect for our daily routine.  LIKE driving in traffic.  The outcome is for us to get to our destination.  And it's easy to see HOW an outcome focus here can eventually lead to frustrations due to delays [and God knows, road rages happen in traffic gridlock WHEN almost everyone's patience gets pushed to the limits💚💛💜

Our takeaway:  The key here is for us to be able to recognize WHEN a process of an outcome focus is more appropriate.  LIKE if we have deadlines to meet, let's keep an open mind.  LIKE if you're planning to have lunch with a friend, let us focus on the process because by switching between focuses depending on the situation, experts are telling us that by doing so, we can make the most of every moment.  So, let's not shy off if that 'MENTAL SHIFT' will be worth it after all😄😄😄

How Is It LIVING YOUR LIFE?

 

WHO says that LIVING YOUR LIFE is a no-brainer?  Many people share that same mindset and you know WHAT?  WHERE are they now?  They're in the doldrums.  Many would wake up sluggish almost every morning [except if there's an upcoming thing that excites them] and then have their caffeinated beverages as their constant necessity to help them power through the day?  Imagine if you'll struggle right from the firing line right at the first hour of the day???

If this sounds familiar, YES dude, it's high time to ditch those quick fixes, those palliatives you've been relying on and dependent to.  True, getting started [especially after waking up] may sometimes seem daunting [till now, I do have my fair share of it BUT I'll consider them as outliers] BUT you got to realize that eventually, sooner you will be energized to keep going once you recap the benefits of being healthier, happier and more productive💚💛💜

If there's a magic word I learnt through the years, it's ENERGY MANAGEMENT dude.  Let's recraft our mindset such that we'll try to think of our energy as that limited and finite resource [unlike those bottomless pit we wrongly think of] just like money in our bank account.  Regardless of your high-octane running bank account balance now, if you keep depleting it everyday, before you know it, you would have ran kaput, empty, nada, nil, keiner.  Problem is, WHEN our balance is running high, WHO CARES???

BUT here's the uniqueness that separates each of us.  At any point in time, we have differing balances of our 'bank accounts'.  That's WHERE I draw the analogy with regard our respective energies.  Activities and interactions would mean withdrawing energy from OR deposit energy into your bank account.  And WHILE you may NOT always have control over activities that deplete such energy, YES you can take steps to deposit more energy into your account.  SO HOW?  Allow me to mimic WHAT our health gurus keep preaching.  EAT NOURISHING FOOD.  I'm a late comer to this advocacy BUT yes, I have embraced this by now.  Having a well-balanced and healthy diet is at the very core of our well-being.  BUT it's common to regard healthy eating primarily as a tool for weight loss.  Quoting a recent research by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a balanced diet high in fruits and vegetables, lean protein, low fat dairy and whole grains are MUST HAVEs✅✅✅

Our takeaway:  The toughest act to replicate is pushing ourselves damn hard to CHANGE.  BUT in the past, WHEN I became aware that some quarters OR circumstances were either hemorrhaging OR sabotaging my deep reservoir of energy, rather than be tempted to tackle them all in one go [because likely that will be an exercise in futility], I would choose a very small opening, a very slight opening of an opportunity that I deem important to me and then, I would set modest BUT realistic goals to achieve within the near-term.  From thereon, I planned and prioritize in a rational and reinforced manner, sustaining small gains until at one point, I would realize my life is on an upward trajectory again, LIVING LIFE indeed at my own pace, on my own terms dude😃😃😃

FACT CHECK: Vishing Is Onboarded!@#$%?

 

FACT CHECK:  VISHING IS ONBOARDED!@#$%? Just for the past 30 days, my 24x7 phone has received more than 10 VISHING threats, whew!  Before I get misconstrued, our thread today is and should NOT be tagged as a threat OR scare to our readership.  Instead, my modest intention is to share the most urgent stuff whose relevance cuts across countries, cultures OR even callings.  BUT WHILE this is our very latest faceless nemesis to pop-out, it's NOT too late to be alerted

Just to share highlights from CROWDSTRIKE:

• 442% growth of VISHING from 2023
• 79% of detections were malware-free
• 52% of vulnerabilities were related to initial successes in the past
• 30% increased VISHING in 2025

For alignment, VISHING [a,k.a. voice phising] is a type of phishing attack were scammers use phone calls to trick individuals into revealing personal information, such as passwords OR credit card numbers by pretending to be a legitimate caller, normally from your depository bank or credit card issuer.  True, this type of scam can be executed by real humans OR via pre-recorded robocalls.  And from my observation post, they're damn smarter

WHILE most of these scammers [a.k.a. criminals] leading this type of attack aim to pressure their victims on a live phone call, sometimes they would leave voice messages to increase their credibility, thereby increasing their chances of success.  Very true, these scammers WHO use VISHING attacks commonly pretend to be respected institutions and they will use psychological techniques to simulate urgency.  In one of the most recent VISHING attempts I had, this past month, the caller new that my new credit card was recently delivered, whew!  And initially, I believed the caller NOT until he concocted a script that apparently, I received the incorrect version of the credit card.  SERIOUSLY???

Our takeaway:  You may consider my default one-liner WHEN an unknown number calls me:  PLEASE CALL ME VIA THE BANK'S LEGITIMATE LANDLINE, period  [HOW I'd do it, IF EVER I'll receive a landline call, I'd alert my RM [Relationship Manager]  and sometimes, concurrently, even the bank officers who support me.  Once I blurt that out, the caller gives up and simply evaporates in thin air.  On the other hand, if my phone rings and I DON'T hear any voice at the other end of the line, I would hang up the call within one second.  YES dude, VISHING IS NOW ONBOARDED, whether we fear it OR NOT!@#$%?