I tried to reflect on these Mark Twain's Quote. These passages run from the mundane to the profound. Yet somehow they evoke simplicity packed with powerful wisdom for everyday living. Here goes:
1. Buy land, they're not making it anymore.
2. Don't let schooling interfere with your education.
3. Education consists mainly of what we have unlearned.
4. Facts are stubborn, but statistics are more pliable.
5. Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please.
6. I am opposed to millionaires, but it would be dangerous to offer me the position.
7. It is better to deserve honors and not have them than to have them and not deserve them.
8. It ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand.
9. It is easier to stay out than get out.
10. Name the greatest of all inventors. Accident.
11. Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits.
12. When in doubt tell the truth.
13. The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them.
14. The Christian's Bible is a drug store. Its contents remain the same, but the medical practice changes.
15. No sinner is ever saved after the first twenty minutes of a sermon.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Basketball and Leadership
Today, another milestone is about to take place in our family!
My eldest son has finally become so passionate about basketball! (Reminds me of myself and my younger kid brother who were as enthusiastic as he is now). My younger one is closely following the footsteps of his older sibling.
And to support their passions, I have indulged myself in re-visiting the sport I once loved, relearn the tricks of the trader, in the hope of imparting to them as much experience I have. Obviously goal is to make them the best players and leaders for tomorrow.
Not to mention, I have had the exhilirating opportunity to bond with my 2 boys like no other. Hence, I came up with this "10 Commandments in Basketball: Life Skills and Leadership skills" philosophy I will follow up as they grow old.
1.If you trip over;
Teaches you persistence
2.If you face bigger opponents;
Teaches you Bravery
3. If you have attempts blocked;
Teaches you Perseverance
4. If you have attempts made;
Teaches you Humility/Success
5.If you train hard;
Teaches you Discipline
6. If you Assist;
Teaches you group dynamics
7. If you play in a team Position
Teaches you Role playing/Leader
9. Finally, if you master the overall game
Teaches you how to become better manager, coach
My eldest son has finally become so passionate about basketball! (Reminds me of myself and my younger kid brother who were as enthusiastic as he is now). My younger one is closely following the footsteps of his older sibling.
And to support their passions, I have indulged myself in re-visiting the sport I once loved, relearn the tricks of the trader, in the hope of imparting to them as much experience I have. Obviously goal is to make them the best players and leaders for tomorrow.
Not to mention, I have had the exhilirating opportunity to bond with my 2 boys like no other. Hence, I came up with this "10 Commandments in Basketball: Life Skills and Leadership skills" philosophy I will follow up as they grow old.
1.If you trip over;
Teaches you persistence
2.If you face bigger opponents;
Teaches you Bravery
3. If you have attempts blocked;
Teaches you Perseverance
4. If you have attempts made;
Teaches you Humility/Success
5.If you train hard;
Teaches you Discipline
6. If you Assist;
Teaches you group dynamics
7. If you play in a team Position
Teaches you Role playing/Leader
9. Finally, if you master the overall game
Teaches you how to become better manager, coach
Friday, June 22, 2007
Hydraulics Engineering Leadership
I admire the Dutch!
They not only embody the family oriented work-life balance culture. Time and again, they have thought of simple, easy-to-use, user-friendly,ingenious and revolutionary hydraulic engineering feats the world has never before seen.
Consider this:
Problem Solution
======= ========
1917 North Sea Flooding Massive seawall ever built
1953 Storm Surge Revolutionary movable series of dams.
1975 Flood Threat Rotating floating dam.
With a price to pay. Almost all 3 major obstacles nearly destroyed the country. But with their people's relentless pursuit for mini miracles, they have turnaround yet again!
What a feat of leadership!
They not only embody the family oriented work-life balance culture. Time and again, they have thought of simple, easy-to-use, user-friendly,ingenious and revolutionary hydraulic engineering feats the world has never before seen.
Consider this:
Problem Solution
======= ========
1917 North Sea Flooding Massive seawall ever built
1953 Storm Surge Revolutionary movable series of dams.
1975 Flood Threat Rotating floating dam.
With a price to pay. Almost all 3 major obstacles nearly destroyed the country. But with their people's relentless pursuit for mini miracles, they have turnaround yet again!
What a feat of leadership!
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Leadership and Becoming an Entrepreneur
I just finished reading an inspiring speech by a Chinese tycoon back home. I have outlined what I understood to be key principles that propelled him from becoming a 'rags to riches' story:
1. Boldness: the audacity to conquer unknown territory in business, perhaps including competition.
2. Diligence: the will, guts, perseverance to accomplish tasks/goals in the business world.
3. Frugality: denial of short term loss (comforts) for long term gain (financial reward)
4. Shrewd Business sense: the creativity to make something out of nothing, find and fill a need, identify and solve people's problem are hallmarks of a true businessman.
Now, as leaders, we can learn a thing or two from above description. Think about it, leadership and entreprenuership does have a lot of things in common. Now that I know, shall i dive? Hmmm, a little more time perhaps...
1. Boldness: the audacity to conquer unknown territory in business, perhaps including competition.
2. Diligence: the will, guts, perseverance to accomplish tasks/goals in the business world.
3. Frugality: denial of short term loss (comforts) for long term gain (financial reward)
4. Shrewd Business sense: the creativity to make something out of nothing, find and fill a need, identify and solve people's problem are hallmarks of a true businessman.
Now, as leaders, we can learn a thing or two from above description. Think about it, leadership and entreprenuership does have a lot of things in common. Now that I know, shall i dive? Hmmm, a little more time perhaps...
Prolific Leader Profile
One of the Leadership sermons I heard talked about a prolific leader's profile or description to which I liberally quote:
1. Insight: the ability to zoom into the main points of a discussion or idea. No wasted words, time and energy.
2. Foresight: the ability to see into the future. Where others see despair, he/she sees opportunities, others see obstacles, he/she sees a way out.
3. Hindsight: the ability to review past histories or patterns, and learn the lessons of it.
The speaker goes on to enumerate above 3 as the very ingredient to becoming a successful leader. Do you agree?
1. Insight: the ability to zoom into the main points of a discussion or idea. No wasted words, time and energy.
2. Foresight: the ability to see into the future. Where others see despair, he/she sees opportunities, others see obstacles, he/she sees a way out.
3. Hindsight: the ability to review past histories or patterns, and learn the lessons of it.
The speaker goes on to enumerate above 3 as the very ingredient to becoming a successful leader. Do you agree?
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
No Pain No Gain
Never been truer!
Two weeks ago, my son had his circumcision. How time flies! Eleven years later and I recall with a grin in my face those similar times I had mine. To our culture, its the passage from boyhood to adulthood.
Looking back, one generation ago and here we are, living in a different country far superior in economic and social standard compared to our homeland. The trappings could be aplenty. But the rudiments of a nascent culture still pervades every aspect of our lifestyle.
I recalled one person who said: I am standing on the shoulders of giants! This cliche could never been more truer!
Two weeks ago, my son had his circumcision. How time flies! Eleven years later and I recall with a grin in my face those similar times I had mine. To our culture, its the passage from boyhood to adulthood.
Looking back, one generation ago and here we are, living in a different country far superior in economic and social standard compared to our homeland. The trappings could be aplenty. But the rudiments of a nascent culture still pervades every aspect of our lifestyle.
I recalled one person who said: I am standing on the shoulders of giants! This cliche could never been more truer!
Leadership Losses
Today, two colleagues of mine, both of whom are pillars and strong leaders in their own right, left the company. As I reflect on their many contributions, I came across Mark Twain's quotes. For reflective purposes, I took the liberty of posting them here...Read on!
1. "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog".
2. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
3. “Dance as though no one is watching you. Love as though you have never been hurt before. Sing as though no one can hear you. Live as though heaven is on earth.”
4. "People will always talk about you, especially when they envy you and the life you live. Let them... you affected their lives, they didn't affect yours
And as I personally reflect on my own career path, I thought hard on what matters most in my journey. Questions such as " what would people remember of my leadership legacy when I leave?
Changes as these forces you to reconcile your thoughts, think hard on the near, medium and long term, refocus once goals and be thankful for the past blessings from up above! Solomon is ever right - nothing new under the sun!
1. "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog".
2. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
3. “Dance as though no one is watching you. Love as though you have never been hurt before. Sing as though no one can hear you. Live as though heaven is on earth.”
4. "People will always talk about you, especially when they envy you and the life you live. Let them... you affected their lives, they didn't affect yours
And as I personally reflect on my own career path, I thought hard on what matters most in my journey. Questions such as " what would people remember of my leadership legacy when I leave?
Changes as these forces you to reconcile your thoughts, think hard on the near, medium and long term, refocus once goals and be thankful for the past blessings from up above! Solomon is ever right - nothing new under the sun!
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