Are We Raising Wimps?

Posted by: andrew william Post(s) by this blogger

I have heard a few women saying this; the men these days are not really men, most of them are boys. One of my friends who divorced young said she left her husband because he was just not a man, but a boy. Even in the work force we see men not taking up their roles as leaders but finding easy ways out. If the job gets tough or the boss is difficult, they leave.

 

I know one parent who decided to stop classes with a particular teacher because the teacher reprimanded her son for not paying attention in class.

 

I must say, some mothers are taking it a little too far in overprotecting their children when it comes to discipline. No wonder why they cant take the pressure when they face the real world and run to their mothers when things get tough.

 

Let us do our boys a favor, lets stop baby sitting them and raise them up to be real men, men who can pick themselves up dust themselves up and start all over again.

 

The world out there want men, the women out there want men, not boys.

Walk With the Wise

Posted by: andrew william Post(s) by this blogger

I believe we have heard this phrase before. Be it from Management Gurus or from an ancient proverb, this statement holds truth.

 

I have realized from my life that we only learn from someone wiser than us, be it a colleague or a friend who is smarter than we are in whatever respect of field.

 

Recently I was down in Singapore and stayed with a friend who is a very successful lawyer who is a professional mountain climber and an F1 driver. In just 3 days he changed my perspective of health and a dicipline that totally revolutionized my way of thinking.

 

Once a friend of mine said if you soar with eagles you will fly high but if you hand around turkeys all you will do is gobble noisily and will never take off in life.

 

Another person once said to increase his skills in playing badminton he plays with someone better than him, so that he can improve although he may loose the game. In fact he played with world champions. It won’t do much for your ego but he who humbles himself will be exalted.

 

Spend this year hanging around someone who is a success in the field you want to pursue or just hand around with them, something of them will rub on to you, soon you will soar in life.

A Great Teacher

Posted by: andrew william Post(s) by this blogger

Recently I saw a one hour documentary on CI (Criminal Investigation) channel in Astro on the murder case that took Malaysia by storm. The papers were sold out by late morning during that time as people were following one of the most sensational murder cases in Malaysia. It was the Jean Sinnappa Murder case.

 

What was special about this case to me, was that she was my teacher and I was her pet. (Teacher’s pet) I was very close to her. I was devastated to hear about the murder. Even today watching the case on CI, I can remember clearly some of my encounters with her in school, well especially when I almost got canned by her.

An actress who played the role of Jean in the CI Asia enectment

 

The pictures don’t do justice; she was absolutely stunning in person. She was one of the finest teachers I have ever had. She was also a very strict teacher and no nonsense when it comes to discipline. During the parents and teachers gathering, she sought out my mom to talk to her about me. Her words to my mom were, “ Your son is such a wonderful boy, but he is very naughty and playful”.

 

I always thought that one-day when I am all grown up and successful, one of the teachers I would love to meet again and appreciate would be Jean Sinnappa. I really miss her and hope after 30 years, people will never forget her, not because of the sensational case but because she was a very fine person and teacher.

 

Women, Men and football

Posted by: andrew william Post(s) by this blogger

With the World Cup coming up, I can feel the excitement building up among men and probably no so much with the women. I guess most women who are either married or have a boyfriend who do not fancy football may either support their partners or be a thorn in the flesh.

 

I know of guys who have to crash at their friend’s place, as their women do not like them watching the game at home.

 

I for one do not fancy football, but the world cup is an exception. I just subscribed to the sports channel on Astro so that my friends and drum student’s parents can watch the game while I conduct lessons at the studio.

game of the year

 

I guess it’s a little difficult to explain to the female species why men love fast cars and games ( especially football ). But its just not the game that excites them. I guess it’s the thrill of having to watch it with a group of friends or someone who will share their passion.

 

Maybe for this world cup season, I would like to request all women who do not fancy football to be a little gracious with your partners; they will appreciate your cooperation. Maybe invite his friends over to the house during one of the games and you can fellowship with your female friends while your men scream and make so much noise in front of the TV.

MIA

Posted by: andrew william Post(s) by this blogger

I was quite amused by the catch phrase on the Star Newspaper headlines today, "Missing Indians Abroad with bold capitals to denote "MIA" which means, missing in action.

 

During the early 1400, China was one of the most prominent and civilized generation in the world and they traveled the world to bring the countries under a tribute system to China. They traveled in large numbers probably in the region about 600 hundred leviathan and treasure ships with over 10, 000 crew. The Indian Engineers, their business partners used to sail with them because they were good in mining while the Chinese were good in navigation and geology. For e.g just by seeing certain plant life in a particular place,  they can say with fair accuracy if that place has certain minerals and metals such as gold, copper, diamonds etc.

A potrait from Ming Dynasty

That's how the Indians and Chinese had amassed large quantities of gold and diamonds when they traveled. It was when China closed their doors to the outside world due to a freak fire in the Forbidden City, Most countries such as Malaysia, India, Egypt and Africa which were under China's protection became vulnerable to foreign invasion and theft. During the spice trade years, the Portuguese, Spanish and British fought among themselves to get a piece of the action.

 

Today, the biggest diamond in the world called " Kohinoor", or the African diamond which used to belong to the Emperor of India Shah Jehan, is on the crown of Queen Elizabeth.

Emperor Hung Wu, first Emperor of Ming Dynasty and father to Zhu Di in early 1400

 

The Chinese at that time when they traveled around the world left a few Chinese citizens to colonize the country or region, thus bringing prosperity and knowledge to the land. The Chinese who were left by Admiral Cheng Ho in Malaysia were traders, that's why the Chinese in Malaysia today have a business mindset as they come from that generation.

 

I guess when Admiral Cheng Ho returned to China with lesser than the number of Chinese he set out, The Emperor Zhu Di, must have asked him what happened? To this he must have replied, " Missing Chinese Abroad."

How Does the Year Fare?

Posted by: andrew william Post(s) by this blogger

Have you ever wondered what would be in store for the year 2010? I mean we have for every year reviewed the good and the bad things of the year toward the closure of each year. I mean who would ever have thought we would loose Michael Jackson at such a young age? One financial expert said” The year 2009 was a year from hell”.

 

Wow, you must say he felt quite strongly about it. It was a year of financial meltdown and nobody really knows where we are heading next. As 2010 unravels, at the back of our minds, we keep thinking what good or evil might happen this year.

 

We cannot predict or prevent certain disasters but how we respond to it is what makes the difference. For example, the recent Arson incident in K.L. I like how the church responded to the incident by saying that they forgive them and hold no records of wrong.

Don't worry about tomorrow, each day has enough trouble of its own

 

We need to overlook offences as we live in one of the most peaceful countries in the world. Strife never brings benefit to anyone. Many foreigners who visit us are amazed how we being a multicultural society live in harmony. That’s an honour for us Malaysians. Lets not become a laughing stock to the world.

 

I believe in this world we will have troubles. It is how we respond to it that will make all the difference. Let us not worry about the year ahead, each day has enough trouble of its own. Lets live one day at a time.

 

As the wise turtle master in Kung Fu Panda said, “ Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is a mystery, live for today, it is a gift,that’s why it is called…,”Present”.

Boys Toys

Posted by: andrew william Post(s) by this blogger

 

Men never grow out of this. When we were kids, we loved the toys that has lots of gadgets in them. Toy guns, soldiers, trains, cranes, remote cars and others. When we are in our teens, we go for the techie toys; hand phones, mobile devices, cameras and notebooks. When we enter the workforce, we love to own some of those nice cars, and whatever stuff we can afford to get our hands on.

 

When men pass their forties, I don’t know, call it mid life crisis. If they can afford they will buy expensive sports cars , motor boats etc. I can contest to a fact that a couple of my friends in their forties went on to buy a GTR, one of them got a Ferrari and another recently got a BMW Z4. Well most of them could have afforded it years ago, but they got it after they crossed their forties.

 

The point here is, boys will always be boys. Women will have to understand that. I mean we guys cant comprehend why would diamonds turn on a woman. The bigger the better? Its only a rock, it cant do anything more than just shine. And we cant give why they love shopping. Women would love to flaunt their purchases with another of their girlfriends. If one of them buys something, another women will notice it, men don’t. They only notice things that move and one that moves fast. Women notice things that don’t move.

Boys toys?

 

For eg a guy can be looking at the same place for his misplaced car keys but the women will notice it at one look.

 

I guess we are two different species, which are likened to be on the two ends of the Earth Poles. One directed by Canopus and the Southers Cross for navigation while the other Polaris.

 

I guess we will have to learn to understand one another and stop criticizing one anothers gender differences which is a unique quality and gift that God has given us. Don’t try to be like us or try to make us become like you. Opposite poles attract.

 

If we were both alike, I don’t think we will be interested in each other

Words of Power

Posted by: andrew william Post(s) by this blogger

Yesterday I took a friend of mine, who was healed of cancer recently to meet my neighbor whose wife was diagnosed with cancer. Sherry, my friend was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and the doctors had told her to go home and live one day at a time as she was to die anytime. Through her faith and confession of the word of God she was completely healed. Sherry had appeared in the Star papers, on TV and has written a book and done a DVD called “ There is Hope”.

 

Sherry shared her experience and recognized the anxiety and pain my friend’s wife was going through. Sherry was not there to convert her into another religion but was  just there to tell her how through her faith in her God and his word, she claimed and confessed healing upon her body.

Put on your full armour

I was very encouraged by what Sherry shared. I realized that most of us go through life hearing the wrong words spoken over our lives. When we were children, parents or teachers have without ill intentions, spoken words of discouragement that a child may carry all through his or her life. Everyday sometimes, bosses, colleagues or friends may say something negative or discouraging.

 

An ancient proverb says, “ Guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life”. When you know someone who is negative, who spends most of his or her time complaining about everything, about the boss, about work about the country etc, try to spend less time with that person if its really unavoidable and surround yourself with positive people instead. That’s why business gurus will advice you to hang around successful people because they don’t waste time with negativity but will encourage you and help you to move forward.

 

If you have been hurt by people who have said negative words to you, firstly, forgive them, the healing is for you, not for them and secondly begin to counter those negativity with positive affirmation, you can use the word of God and or some positive motivation from some good books written by management gurus.

 

Finally, put on your full amour, as you are doing battle everyday, affirm yourself with words in the direction you are going, be it career or other things, confess the good confession. Put the right words in your mouth and never say anything negative about yourself. If you make a mistake don’t call yourself, “ dummy”, rather say, “you are such a brilliant person, its just that sometimes you do silly things”, and laugh over it.

 

Start your day well on a positive note and your year will go well for you.

Striking the Right Balance

Posted by: andrew william Post(s) by this blogger

Someone once asked the question, what is knowledge and wisdom? Are they both the same? Well, knowledge is an accumulation of facts. Wisdom is the ability to execute the knowledge at the appropriate time in varying situations.

Knowledge alone is not enough to build something, you need wisdom

 

Why when someone who had worked so many years in a company is far more smarter than a fresh graduate who may have more qualifications than him or her. The senior employee has the wisdom to act upon situations with tact and timing.

 

This applies in all aspects of life, be it in religion, running a business, working for someone, relationship etc. One gets wiser with time. But just experience alone is not sufficient to attain wisdom. You need knowledge. If you wish to be successful in any endeavors of your life, get as much knowledge on that particular subject. Once you have sufficient knowledge, don’t brag about it, an ancient proverb says, “ a wise man keeps his knowledge to himself”.

 

Keep absorbing like a blotter paper when you meet people and come across situations, be the last to give your opinion but the first to learn from the situation.

 

Coupled with your knowledge and experience, wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will be sweet to your soul. It is more valuable than gold or silver. Long life is in your right hand and in your left are riches and treasure.

 

You will succeed in anything and everything you set your heart to.

 

Have a great New Year!

Reflection

Posted by: andrew william Post(s) by this blogger

 

Since we are at the final day to the New Year, its time once again to reflect on our lives what we have achieved or things we may have certain regrets on.

 

Sometimes we tend to be a little hard on ourselves and think about the mistakes we did over the year, failures, failed relationships, missed promotions and setbacks. As long as we have life in us and air in our lungs, we still have hope. Let’s not focus on the failures but the successes we have had this year.

What do you see yourself as?Even a clown is successful when he can make others laugh

 

Sometimes when we exaggerate our losses, we are unable to see the positive things we did for the year. Sometimes we may have had successes in a number of small things which may exceed the number of our failures such as helping someone in a small way, giving when we had limited resources and helping to do something that may have had a significant effect on the company, people or projects. But one failure can cloud our vision thus it’s difficult to feel positive.

 

Lombardi, the famous coach of the Green Bay Packers (American Football team) once compiled a series of video clips on the team’s mistakes they made on the field. He went on to teach them not to repeat such mistakes. On the next season, the team failed miserably again. This time Lombardi decided to show the successes they made on the games, thus boosting their morale.

 

The result, they had a series of successes and went on to win the World cup.

 

Have a positive mindset, focus on your successes for the year and give yourself a pat and celebrate the New Year, the next year, you will have more success.

 

Pick yourself up, dust yourself up and start all over again.