Remember to always Think Positive!

“There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.” - W. Clement Stone

When we are feeling blue and depressed, does it really make sense to say: "I am joyous, happy, glad, etc."? Yes, it surely does.

Forcing positive thoughts drives away our negatives. We can't think two opposite thoughts at the same time. By changing your thoughts, you change your attitude and your feeling. Even the Bible says: Let the weak say I am strong.

Keep your mind filled with positive thoughts and there'll be no room for negatives. That's the whole purpose of affirmations - to keep our minds positive.

Finding positive out of every negative - which we don't always often do.

• For the husband or wife who snores all night, because he or she is at home asleep with me and not with someone else.
• For the taxes that I pay because it means that I am employed.
• For the mess to clean after a party because it means that I have been surrounded by friends.
• For the clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have enough to eat.
• For a floor that needs mopping, and windows that need cleaning because it means I have a home.
• For all the complaining I hear about the government because it means that we have the freedom of speech.
• For the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking and that I have been blessed with transportation.
• For the pile of laundry and ironing because it means I have clothes to wear.
• For the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means that I am still alive.

Don't just stop at Positive Thinking
However, you'll develop more power, physical, mental, or any skill in 30 minutes of practice than in 20 years of positive thinking.

No one ever became a champion athlete or master musician in 20 years of positive thinking about music or athletics UNLESS he ALSO PRACTICED. Likewise, your living will only improves when you do all that is necessary for the positive change!

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Aim At Perfection In Everything

“The search for perfection begins with detecting imperfection”

Will you not make very sure that there is no fault before you accept a brand new car?

Similarly, I believe most people will never be satisfied after paying a hefty price for a musical show and find that certain part of the show have audio defect. Am I right?

What You'd Get if 99% Were Good Enough

• No phone service for 15 minutes each day.
• 1.7 million pieces of first class mail lost each day.
• 35,000 newborn babies dropped by doctors or nurses each year
• 200,000 people getting the wrong drug prescriptions each year
• Unsafe drinking water three days a year.
• Three misspelled words on the average page of type.
• 2 million people would die from food poisoning each year.

(Source: Internet; Author: Unknown)

It has become an accepted statement to excuse ourselves by saying, "After all, nobody's perfect."

“They say that nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes perfect. I wish they'd make up their minds.” - Winston Churchill

“This is the very perfection of a man, to find out his own imperfections.” - Saint Augustine

“There is such a thing as perfection... and our purpose for living is to find that perfection and show it forth.... Each of us is in truth an unlimited idea of freedom. Everything that limits us we have to put aside.” - Richard Bach

“Aim at perfection in everything, though in most things it is unattainable. However, they who aim at it, and persevere, will come much nearer to it than those whose laziness and despondency make them give it up as unattainable.” - Lord Chesterfield


Even though, it can be more stressful but each day we must continually strive to do a little better than the day before. What do you think?

"Perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things, but in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well." - Angelique Arnauld

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Learn to Rest and Relax. It is necessary!

It is very important that you recognize the signs and symptoms of burnout. Anyone can have burnout caused by long-term exposure to demanding work situations.

Burnout is the cumulative result of stress. It is a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion. - more details

“Your mind will answer most questions if you learn to relax and wait for the answer.” - William S. Burroughs

“Rest when you're weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work.” - Ralph Marston

Take a look at this illustration:

A lecturer was giving a lecture to his student on stress management. He raised a glass of water and asked the audience, "How heavy do you think this glass of water is?"

They answered anywhere from 20g to 500g.

The lecturer replied, "It does not matter on the absolute weight.
It depends on how long you hold it.
If I hold it for a minute, it is OK.
If I hold it for an hour, I will have an ache in my right arm.
If I hold it for a day, you will have to call an ambulance.
It is the exact same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.

The lecturer continued, "If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, we will not be able to carry on, the burden becoming increasingly heavier." "What you have to do is to put the glass down, rest for a while before holding it up again."

We have to put down the burden periodically, so that we can be refreshed and are able to carry on. So before you return home from work tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it back home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you are having now on your shoulders, let it down for a moment if you can. Pick it up again later when you have rested... Rest and relax.

"Learn to relax. Your body is precious, as it houses your mind and spirit. Inner peace begins with a relaxed body." - Norman Vincent Peale

Do you have a lot of burden that you find it difficult to put down? For those that have good tips how to put down your burden, please comments and share your wisdom.

(Source of this illustration: Internet; Author Unknown)

Photo by fortinbras taken from this source

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Engage a taskmaster - The List

Do you realize that great things accomplished had gone through many hours, months or years of planning? Just imagine how much effort and time was spent before a man can be sent to the moon. A beautiful castle is not built without a proper plan. Anyway, remember that both the plan and the planning are important.

“This life is yours. Take the power to choose what you want to do and do it well. Take the power to love what you want in life and love it honestly. Take the power to walk in the forest and be a part of nature. Take the power to control your own life. No one else can do it for you. Take the power to make your life happy.” - Susan Polis Schutz

“We have to do the best we can. This is our sacred human responsibility.” - Albert Einstein

“Success is doing what you want to do, when you want, where you want, with whom you want, as much as you want.” - Anthony Robbins

Walter Chrysler said, "I never started producing until I engaged a taskmaster... a written list of things to be done every day."

List making is a thought stimulator, a mind stimulator, a mind sharpener. List making develops observation, concentration, judgement, will power, memory, initiative, imagination and intelligence. And that led to ambition and a vision of a new life.

A list can even make people think our way and do our will. Making up lists sharpens our mind and they increase our efficiency for getting things done.

Take a good look at the photo on the right. You might have to click here to see a bigger view. I find this list very interesting. This is indeed a great idea where one could come out with their own personal list. What do you think?

Well, do list down worthy things to be done every day and act on it.

Photo by BrittneyBush taken from this source

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Let no one deceive you

It would be nice to think that the Internet was a safe place all the time, but that would be foolishness. Don't simply reply to emails when asked for personal information - especially financial or other sensitive information and got yourself into trouble.

You should always check the source and make sure it's trustworthy. Let's not be another online victim.

Besides, there are many reported cases that PEOPLE LIE ONLINE. There is a lot of gender-switching in Cyberspace. Why? Well, could it be because many can hide behind the safety of their computer screens thinking that they can draw more attention to themselves?

Below are good quotes that can make one wise.

"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it." - Buddha

"True friends are like diamonds, precious and rare. False friends are like leaves, found everywhere."

Do you feel a bit uneasy visiting blogs or sites that don't have the author name or photos?

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Learn to be Humble At All Times

“Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice.” - Anton Chekhov

“Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.” - John Wooden

Let's take a look at this story that illustrate this point:

The Professor and the Oarsman

One day, a professor was conducting a study at sea. He went out to sea in a 'sampan' with an oarsman. The oarsman job is to row the 'sampan'. The oarsman was an old and quiet man. This was fine with the professor as he did not want any disturbance while he did his work.

For many hours, the professor examined water specimens from the sea and wrote down notes in his book. The oarsman looked up to the sky and thought to himself, "Hmm... It looks like it's going to rain". Finally, when the professor had completed his work, he said, "Okay, let's get back to the shore". Only during the journey back did the professor speak to the oarsman.

"How long have you been rowing boats?" asked the professor. "Almost all my life", replied the oarsman. "Your whole life? So you don't know anything else besides rowing boats?" asked the professor. The oarsman just shook his head from side to side.

"Do you know geography?" asked the professor. The oarsman shook his head quietly. "In that case, you have lost 25 percent of your life,"said the professor.

"Do you know biology?" The oarsman shook his head. "You poor soul. You have lost 50 percent of your life.

Do you know physics?" Again, the oarsman simply shook his head. "How pitiful, you have lost 75 percent of your life then, you are so unfortunate; you don't know anything. You have wasted your whole life just rowing boats," said the professor arrogantly. The oarsman just kept quiet.

A few minutes later, it started to rain. Suddenly a huge wave swept the 'sampan' and overturned it. The professor and the oarsman were thrown into the sea.

Now, the oarsman asked the professor, "By the way, do you know how to swim?". The professor shook his head. "In that case, you have lost 100 percent of your life!!," cried the oarsman as he swam to the shore.

The moral of this story is:

It is no use having a high I.Q. or intelligence, if you do not know the more important things in life.

Someone may seem stupid in something that has nothing to do with his career or life. But he is a master in his line of work. So, do not look down on others just because they seem ignorant or stupid, because they may in fact be more successful than us.

“The more a person analyzes his inner self, the more insignificant he seems to himself. This is the first lesson of wisdom. Let us be humble, and we will become wise. Let us know our weakness, and it will give us power.” - William Ellery Channing

Let's acknowledge each individual person is very important. Each person has tremendous potential! Do you agree?

(Source of this story: Internet; Author Unknown)

Photo by The Outsider taken from this source

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Do you really have faith?

A lot of things in life really need faith. Do you really have faith?

According to the bible, in Hebrews 11:1, it tells us that "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

“To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.” - St. Thomas Aquinas

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Faith is not belief. Belief is passive. Faith is active.” - Edith Hamilton

“Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.” - Gail Devers

"Without faith a man can do nothing; with it all things are possible." - Sir William Osler

Faith, belief, positive thinking makes better people and a better world since the outer world shapes itself to our inner thinking. Quit thinking and talking about war, poverty, and hard times. Think and talk peace, health, plenty and success to help bring them about. Guard your thoughts against negatives as you would your house against thieves.

You can always do your best everyday. Faith is necessary to victory. Within you right now is the power to do things you never dreamed possible. Discover this power by changing your beliefs!

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How To Work Better

“Knowing a great deal is not the same as being smart; intelligence is not information alone but also judgment, the manner in which information is collected and used” - Dr. Carl Sagan

Remember to put in extra effort and work smart. There is no point of telling your boss how hard you work. Tell your boss how much you get done.

Let's take a look at this story that illustrate this point:

Chuan and Jing joined a wholesale company together just after graduation. Both worked very hard.

After several years, the boss promoted Jing to sales executive but Chuan remained a sales rep. One day Chuan could not take it anymore, tender resignation to the boss and complained the boss did not value hard working staff, but only promoted those who flattered him.

The boss knew that Chuan worked very hard for the years, but in order to help Chuan realise the difference between him and Jing, the boss asked Chuan to do the following. Go and find out anyone selling water melon in the market? Chuan returned and said yes. The boss asked how much per kg?

Chuan went back to the market to ask and returned to inform boss $12/kg. Boss told Chuan, I will ask Jing the same question? Jing went, returned and said, "Boss, only one person selling water melon. $12/kg, $100 for 10kg, he has inventory of 340 melons. On the table 58melons, every melon weighs about 15 kg, bought from the South two days ago, they are fresh and red, good quality.

Chuan was very impressed and realised the difference between himself and Jing. He decided not to resign but to learn from Jing.

The moral of the story:

A more successful person is more observant, think more and understand in depth. For the same matter, a more successful person sees several years ahead, while you see only tomorrow. The difference between a year and a day is 365 times, how could you win? Think! How far have you seen ahead in your life? How thoughtful in depth are you?

“Today, and every day, deliver more than you are getting paid to do. The victory of success will be half won when you learn the secret of putting out more than is expected in all that you do. Make yourself so valuable in your work that eventually you will become indispensable. Exercise your privilege to go the extra mile, and enjoy all the rewards you receive. You deserve them!” - Og Mandino


"Men who do things without being told draw the most wages" - Edwin H. Stuart


Be always willing to give that extra effort! You can choose to look forward to the day, or choose to complain. It's your choice!

(Source of this story: Internet; Author Unknown)

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Live with Passion!

"One person with passion is better than forty people merely interested." - E. M. Forster

It is vital to find out things that you're passionate about. When you are passionate about certain things, you tend to talk about it all the time! A lot of great thing in the world were accomplished by those with great passion. True happiness comes when you do what you're most passionate about.

“We're constantly striving for success, fame and comfort when all we really need to be happy is someone or some thing to be enthusiastic about.” - H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” - Oprah Winfrey

"You never achieve success unless you like what you are doing." - Dale Carnegie

“Enthusiasm releases the drive to carry you over obstacles and adds significance to all you do” - Norman Vincent Peale

“A strong passion for any object will ensure success, for the desire of the end will point out the means” - William Hazlitt

“Never underestimate the power of passion.” - Eve Sawyer

"Waste no more time talking about great souls and how they should be. Become one yourself!" - Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

I believe that passion must goes with wisdom. Wisdom is not worth acquiring if we could not live with passion. However, if we just live with passion without wisdom, we might end up living foolishly without integrity. So it is very important that we acquire wisdom and live with passion.

Have you uncovered your true passion? Well, what one thing you want to do because you love to - not because you have to?

If you are not pursuing your passion, find out what is stopping you and do something about it.

It's time to stop wishing, find out how and start living!

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Caffeine replacement found!

Today, I came across a thought-provoking post by Ilker Yoldas that mentioned our popular beverages such as coffee, tea, hot chocolate, soft drinks and energy drinks contains the evil caffeine.

Modern drug of choice
According to Steve Pavlina (How to Give Up Coffee), Caffeine is the modern drug of choice in the work world, easily accessible, socially acceptable, readily affordable, and of course perfectly legal.

Well, now that worries me after knowing the fact that it can affect my health because I just got myself addicted to coffee. Somehow, I need a cup of coffee every night to come out with a post for this blog! I am not blaming anybody except myself for being such a perfectionist. Some posts can really take me 2 to 4 hours to complete.

Encouragement - the replacement
What surprises me was that I wasn't tired at all to come out with this post. How come? Well, today I received a message from Jesse about her new post. After seeing her encouraging post about my blog, my passion suddenly shot up. That was indeed a great caffeine replacement for me today!

My heartfelt thanks to you Jesse!

"Taking an interest in what others are thinking and doing is often a much more powerful form of encouragement than praise." - Robert Martin

"The more you practice stepping into other peoples' shoes, the more you'll experience the results and benefits. This encourages and inspires you to do it even more." - Wendy Hearn

Our needs to do well
I believe everyone needs encouragement, support and motivation to do well. Be an encourager! You will definitely feel good after you have encouraged someone. By mutual support, we can build a great community!


Do you agree? If yes, do share your comments, come back often and I will likewise try my very best to visit your blog and do likewise. Hope this is agreeable to you.

“Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after.” - Anne Morrow Lindbergh

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Beware of these...

Below are something that we ought to be careful about:

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.” - George Bernard

“Beware of him that is slow to anger; for when it is long coming, it is the stronger when it comes, and the longer kept. Abused patience turns to fury.” - Francis Quarles

“Beware of the friend who was once your foe.” - Proverb

"Beware of the man who knows the answer before he understands the question." - Anonymous

"The people to fear are not those who disagree with you, but those who disagree with you and are too cowardly to let you know." - Joe Moore

What do you think? Do share other cases that you think one need also to beware of by posting a comment.

Photo by zorilla taken from this source

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The Power of Love vs Fear

Love and Fear are two of the most basic and powerful human emotions. Some promote love, but then there are others that think instilling fear is more effective in getting things done. What do you think?

"Love is always creative, fear always destructive." - Emmet Fox.

"Wicked men obey for fear, but the good for love." - Aristotle.

“Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart and the senses.” - Lao Tzu

Greater is he who acts from love than he who acts from fear. If you want more, watch this video about The Power of Love vs Fear.

Remember to radiates love instead of fear to get your children or employee do what is necessary. Choose love instead of fear if possible. If you do, a wonderful life adventure awaits you! Fear is really nothing and love is everything. Do you agree?

Photo by ithinkchaos taken from this source

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When is the right time to sharpen the axe?

Nowadays, due to tight schedule, many even have to bring home their work. To make sure what you do is worthwhile, you ought to learn to pause and reflect on what you're doing and why.

"If something is not worth doing at all, it is not worth doing well." - Warren Buffett

Have you asked yourself this question: How much time have I spent improving my skills?

Abraham Lincoln says "If I had six hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend the first four sharpening the axe"

Richard C Miller says "Even if at first you do succeed, you still have to work hard to stay there."

Let's take a look at this story that illustrate this point:

Once upon a time, there was a very strong woodcutter. He asked for a job from a timber merchant, and he got it. The pay was really good and so were the work conditions. For that reason the woodcutter was determined to do his best. His boss gave him an axe and showed him the area where he was supposed to work.

The first day, the woodcutter brought down 18 trees. The Boss was very much impressed and said, "Congratulations keep it up!" Very motivated by the words of the boss, the woodcutter tried harder the next day, but he only could bring down 15 trees. The third day he tried even harder, but he only could bring down 10 trees.

Day after day he was bringing down less and less trees. "I must be losing my strength", the woodcutter thought to himself. He went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could not understand what was going on.

"When was the last time you sharpened your Axe?" the boss asked. "Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen my Axe. I have been very busy trying to cut trees."

The moral of the story:

Our lives are like that. We sometimes get so busy that we don't take time to sharpen the axe. In today's world, it seems that everyone is busier than ever, but less happy than ever. Why is that? Could it be that we have forgotten how to stay sharp?

There is nothing wrong with activity and hard work. But we should not get so busy that we neglect the truly important things in life, like our personal life, taking time to care for others, taking time to read, etc.

We all need time to relax, to think and meditate, to learn and grow. If we don't take time to sharpen the axe, we will become dull and lose our effectiveness.

So starting from today, think about the ways by which you could do your job more effectively and add more value to it.

(Source of this story: Internet; Author Unknown)

Photo by Robot Apocalypse taken from this source

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A Gift of Life! - BlogCatalog Community Organ Donation Awareness Campaign

Donors Needed! In Australia, more than 1,700 people are waiting for organ transplants. In Latin America, more than 50,000. In Europe and the United States, more than 95,000. In China, more than 2 million. In Africa, there isn'’t enough organization to really know. Without an organ transplant, these people will die.

Organ donation is a gift of life. We can save lives!

"Don't think of organ donations as giving up part of yourself to keep a total stranger alive. It's really a total stranger giving up almost all of themselves to keep part of you alive." - Author Unknown

You have the ability to enhance and even save the lives of countless transplant recipients by becoming an organ and tissue donor.

Check out what you can do from any of these sites:
http://www.organdonor.gov
http://www.organdonor.gov/donor/index.htm
http://www.unos.org
http://matchingdonors.com

"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you." - John Wooden

“Why should someone have to risk their life to donate an organ? If enough people were organ donors there would be no need for living donor surgery....” - Karen Randall, liver recipient, Georgia

Do you know that you can carry a donation card with you to give hope to others when you leave this world? On such card, you can opt to donate only certain organs or any needed organs.

This is indeed an opportunity for you to make a difference!

Photo by Henry Chen taken from this source

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How to Make Progress

We all want progress. Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. However, if you know that you are heading toward the wrong direction you need to make an about-turn. Otherwise, you will drift further away from your goal. Be sure your directions are clear and accurate. If you aren’t going forward, you’re going backwards.

Many of us like to utter the favorite phrase - "I am very busy". However, we ought to remind ourselves that we must "Never mistake activity for progress."

What counts is what get done. Thus, "Don't tell how hard you work. Tell how much you get done."

“It is important that you recognize your progress and take pride in your accomplishments. Share your achievements with others. Brag a little. The recognition and support of those around you is nurturing.” - Rosemarie Rossetti

If you really spend some time to learn at least one thing a day, or improve one thing a day, you will be amazed how much you have learned and accomplished.

Manageable chunks or bite size chunks is always the way forward. Make progress on something every day. It doesn’t really matter how big or small the level of accomplishment - just make progress.

Photo by Poppyseed Bandits taken from this source

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Information is not knowledge

We are now living in the Information Age. There is no such thing as not having enough information. Nowadays, with the Internet, we can find almost anything. The sad thing is we are all drowning in information but are starved for knowledge.

Below are some interesting information or facts:

Do you know that?

1. You can't fold a paper in half for more than seven or eight times. Try it if you don't believe and you will be amazed! Thinner or longer paper doesn't matter. You just can't do it. Nevertheless, Britney Gallivan had managed to fold paper in half 12 times.
   
   
2. Cooking gas has no smell. The odor is artificially added so that people will be able to identify leaks and take measures to stop them.
   
   
3. Ninety-nine percent (99%) of people cannot lick their elbow.
   
   
4. Antarctica is the only land on our planet that is not owned by any country.
   
   
5. The opposite sides of a dice cube always add up to seven.

Well, even though it is interesting to know the above, according to Albert Einstein - “Information is not knowledge.”

“The important thing in science is not so much to obtain new facts as to discover new ways of thinking about them.” - William Bragg, Sr.

“Those people who develop the ability to continuously acquire new and better forms of knowledge that they can apply to their work and to their lives will be the movers and shakers in our society for the indefinite future." - Brian Tracy

What do you think? Do you agree with Albert Einstein?

Photo by Knilram taken from this source

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The Habit Of Going The Extra Mile

In order for one to be successful, one would need to work earnestly, think positively, develop good character, continue to learn and be prepared to go the extra mile. Nothing extraordinary will be achieved unless one is prepared to go the extra mile.

“Do more than is required.
What is the distance between someone who achieves their goals consistently and those who spend their lives and careers merely following?
The extra mile.” - Gary Ryan Blair

“Never neglect the little things. Never skimp on that extra effort, that additional few minutes, that soft word of praise or thanks, that delivery of the very best that you can do.

It does not matter what others think, it is of prime importance, however, what you think about you. You can never do your best, which should always be your trademark, if you are cutting corners and shirking responsibilities. You are special. Act it. Never neglect the little things.” - Og Mandino

"And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two." - Matthew 5:41

“The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.” - Jimmy Johnson

Always remember to deliver more than what you are getting paid to do!

Photo by squacco taken from this source

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Emotional Intelligence versus I.Q.

In this last decade, science has discovered a tremendous amount about the role emotions play in our lives. Researchers have found that emotional awareness and the abilities to handle feelings are much more important than I.Q.

Either you control your emotions, or they control you.

Studies have shown there was very little correlation between a child's success in examinations and his/her success in adult life.

At best, I.Q. contributes 20% to the factors that determine life's success, which leaves 80% to other forces - Emotional Intelligence.

"Emotional Intelligence is a way of recognizing, understanding, and choosing how we think, feel, and act. It shapes our interactions with others and our understanding of ourselves. It defines how and what we learn; it allows us to set priorities; it drives many of our daily actions." - Freedman et al.

"What really matters for success, character, happiness and life long achievements is a definite set of emotional skills - your EQ - not just purely cognitive abilities that are measured by conventional IQ tests." - Daniel Goleman, Ph.D.

Below is an I.Q. game. If you are interested, try it out. Do share the lessons you had acquired from this IQ game!

Can you help them cross over the river?

(I had adapted this IQ game post with permission from this source)

Below are the rules that apply for this IQ game.

1. Only 2 persons on the raft at a time
2. The father can not stay with any of the daughters without their mother’s presence
3. The mother can not stay with any of the sons without their father’s presence
4. The thief (striped shirt) can not stay with any family member if the Policeman is not there
5. Only the Father, the Mother and the Policeman know how to operate the raft
6. To start click on the big blue circle on the right.
7. To move the people click on them.
8. To move the raft click on the pole on the opposite side of the river.

Click the above screen to load the game and then 開始 button to start the game.

Photo by slark taken from this source

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Be Tough Enough To Follow Through

I believe tough times are time of filtering where only the fittest remains. During tough times, many might lose their jobs when their company downsize. And making matters worse, job opportunity slow to a crawl so it isn't easy finding a job after losing one. It is then the employer market, where one cannot be anymore choosy.

What many don't realize is that tough times create enormous opportunities for those willing to seize the moment. Check this out: The Benefits of Tough Times

"The most important thing when confronted with adversity is to concentrate on what to do next, not on what has gone wrong" - Tom J. Fatjo

Let's take a look at this story that illustrate this point:

There was once a farmer who owned an old mule. One day the mule fell into his well. As the water was not very deep, the mule did not drown. However, the farmer decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. He then asked his neighbors to help bury the mule in the well.

The mule was frightened at first when shovels of dirt fell on his back. But later, a thought struck him: "if I could shake the dirt off my back and use it as a platform to elevate myself, I would soon be out of the well…" So he kept his cool and bore the painful blows of every shovel of dirt.

And true enough, the mule soon managed to step out of the well, battered and exhausted, but still alive. The dirt that was supposed to kill him turned out to be a lifeline because of the way he handled the situation.

Well, life is like that. If we respond to our problems positively and refuse to panic or wallow in bitterness or self-pity, we will prevail.

"If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably does not lead anywhere." - F.A. Clark

Tough times are there so you can have a good time later on - and really appreciate it! What do you think?

Photo by Pulpolux !!! taken from this source

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Human Change When Their Status Change

“To the generous mind the heaviest debt is that of gratitude, when it is not in our power to repay it.” - Benjamin Franklin

Source: Internet e-mail

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6 Weird Things or Facts About Sam Chan

I was tagged by Jenny How (6 Weird Things about me). In fact, I was also tagged by Sindhu for similar topic (8 Facts about me) last month. Sidhu, sorry for the delayed response!

Finally, I had decided to disclose some of my Top Secret! Here are some weird things about me:

1. I don't like fruits! Well, maybe because when I was very young, I had to drink a lot of orange juice after both of my hands scalded by a pot of boiling sugar mixture.

2. Many girls admired me because of my fair complexion. Many had mistaken me as a "Mat Salleh" and asked me how I got such a fair complexion? Well maybe because of Chilli :-)

3. I love hot and spicy food so much so that Chilli is like my vitamin. I used to spread chilli sauce to my bread during my younger days. During my younger days, I don't even eat a single piece of vegetables.

4. I don't exercise at all. My fingers does the most exercise in front of my computer. I believe I got to change this, my body is showing me symptoms that I gotta.

5. I only admire two great singers in my life. In my younger time, it was Sam Hui. I can sing almost every songs - word by word eventhough I was English Educated. Sad to said, during that time, Karaoke hasn't become popular. Otherwise, I might had become a singer or at least a Malaysian Idol. Now you know why I called myself Sam Chan :-) Anyway, nowadays, I could only sing church songs. Of late, the singer that I like most is Janice Wei Lan. She can sing so well, that her songs become my breakfast, lunch and supper.

6. I had experienced owning a car that I need to remove water by buckets early in the morning after a heavy downpour at night. In one occasion, that same car wiper flew off while I was driving in the rain. Another occasion, the car clutch cable snapped and I could only drive using the first gear (manual transmission) and everybody honked me thinking that I was driving so slow. I had sold a car below the price I paid for my HP Ipaq pocket pc.

Ohh... I gotta stop, I had shared too much....

Okay, now I am curious to read some weird things about these people in their blog too: Jennifer Jones, Surjit, Philip Stolle, Christy, Ilker Yoldas and Janice Ng.

If you are reading this then you are also tagged! Go ahead and tell me what is the weirdest thing about yourself.

Photo by Idiolector taken from this source

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What are you telling yourself and others?

"The casual, instantaneous nature of email and SMS has heightened the potential for misdirected communication and offenders can now achieve worldwide infamy at breakneck speed." - Source

I remembered reading a true story that happened during one of the Valentine's Day. It was about a lady that happened to read an SMS that was sent wrongly to her husband when he was taking his bath.

Well, anybody can get messed up in their lives, if they continue to take actions based on invalid assumptions. We must always avoid jumping to assumptions!

“Assumptions are the termites of relationships.” - Henry Winkler

“Begin challenging your own assumptions. Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in awhile, or the light won't come in.” - Alan Alda

“Don't Make Assumptions. Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.” - Don Miguel Ruiz

"The way we communicate with others and with ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives." - Tony Robbins

Stephen R. Covey says, “We simply assume that the way we see things is the way they really are or the way they should be. And our attitudes and behaviors grow out of these assumptions.”

So let's remind ourselves that we mustn't assume anything seen or heard is the final truth. It is always better to validate and find out more first! What do you think?

Photo by kevandem taken from this source

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A Happy Marriage

My brother-in-law got married last week and today I came across a post - "Why we wear wedding ring on the fourth finger". These inspired me to write this post.

According to Wikipedia, a wedding ring symbolizes marriage: a spouse wears it to indicate a marital commitment to fidelity.

"All marriages are happy. It's living together afterwards that is difficult."

"The first year of marriage is like wet cement - the impressions made in it are much harder to change once it has set." - Robert Wolgemuth

"Success in marriage does not come merely through finding the right mate, but through being the right mate." - Barnett R. Brickner

"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, but always with the same person." - Mignon McLaughlin

"What counts in making a happy marriage is not so much how compatible you are, but how you deal with incompatibility." - George Levinger

"Ultimately the bond of all companionship, whether in marriage or in friendship, is conversation." - Oscar Wilde

"Let the wife make her husband glad to come home and let him make her sorry to see him leave." - Martin Luther

There is an advice: "It is better for a woman to marry a man who loves her than a man she loves." What do you think? Do you agree? Looking forward to hear from anybody who is willing to share his or her experience.

Photo by crystalspman taken from this source

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Be Courteous and Considerate

One of the good thing I could recalled when I was working in Woodstock, Connecticut, USA is that people there are very courteous and considerate. They won't slam the door behind you. They will hold the door and wait for you. That is indeed a good culture.

It is sad to hear this sayings: “It is difficult to find a courteous person today who isn't trying to sell you something”.

Everyone gets along better when they're considerate of each other. What do you think?

“When employees respect each other and get along in the workplace, it's amazing how productivity increases, morale increases and employees are more courteous to customers.” - Maureen Wild

“The habit of being uniformly considerate toward others will bring increased happiness to you” - Grenville Kleiser

"Take care, be kind, be considerate of other people and other species, and be loving." - John Lithgow

“A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love.” - St. Basil

“You should always be courteous and considerate. For most professionals, it's a small world. People know each other and you don't know when you'll run into them again.” - Ben Dattner

I am looking forward to hear from you the experiences you had.

Photo 1 by KRHamm taken from this source
Photo 2 by zorilla taken from this source

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Understanding Stress

A little bit of stress is useful to get things going but too much of it can kills!

"Stress is the trash of modern life - we all generate it but if you don't dispose of it properly, it will pile up and overtake your life." - Danzae Pace

"If your teeth are clenched and your fists are clenched, your lifespan is probably clenched." - Adabella Radici

“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” - William James

"For fast-acting relief, try slowing down." - Lily Tomlin

"One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one's work is terribly important." - Bertrand Russell

"Whether a person is spiritual or not, we all seek to get away from the stress, anger, and anxiety of everyday life. Some people drink, do drugs, or do worse to escape, and they hurt themselves in the process. Some people listen to music, mine included, and feel better." - Yanni

Check out this website for the Signs, Symptoms, Causes, and Effects of Stress.

The bible tells us in Matthew 6:31-34 (NKJV) -

"Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Well, do you have a lot of stress? If you have, do feel free to share how you overcome it.

Photo by Georgie Sharp taken from this source

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Live a balanced life

Nowadays, in our lives, we are taking on so many roles that we ought to constantly remind ourselves to do our best to find the right balance. As for me, I am a Husband, Father, Son, Manager, Employee, Friend, Christian, Preacher, Blogger and the list can just go on.

"People with great gifts are easy to find, but symmetrical and balanced ones never." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

"At times, it is difficult to keep a proper balance in our lives. But, over time, an improper balance will lead to problems." - Catherine Pulsifer

“Just as your car runs more smoothly and requires less energy to go faster and farther when the wheels are in perfect alignment, you perform better when your thoughts, feelings, emotions, goals, and values are in balance.” - Brian Tracy

“Wisdom is your perspective on life, your sense of balance, your understanding of how the various parts and principles apply and relate to each other. It embraces judgment, discernment, comprehension. It is a gestalt or oneness, and integrated wholeness.” - Stephen R. Covey

"In fact, everyone should take time out once in a while to recharge and revitalize their energy. The key is to have a balanced life." - Michael Lee, CPA

"Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony." - Thomas Merton

Bill Gates says "In my 20s, I worked very, very hard. I have a much more balanced life now."

Check out: The Interactive Wheel of Life - maybe it can help you to find and map your life balance.

Well, what is your balance? Is it family, work and service?

Photo 1 by Sipula taken from this source
Photo 2 by bubblestar taken from this source

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