March 31, 2009
You know where you want to go. You need to identify those people who are going to help you get there. No one is an island. Many hands will make light work. You need not go it alone. There is no need for heroes. There is no prize for going solo.
Why not make use of contributions from others? I would rather earn 1% off a 100 people’s efforts than 100% of my own efforts – Jean Paul Getty.
Look at your strengths and weaknesses. Get help and support where you are lacking! There will be plenty of people with the skills and experience you are looking for. There will always be someone who can advise on something.
When you are getting your team in place, don’t just look for yes men. Look for people who challenge your thinking and the norm, people who will push you, who will help to bring the best out of you. At the end of the day what you do together must be greater than the sum of your individual efforts.
Get team in place and lets start working on the goals! TEAM – Together Everyone Achieves More.
2 Comments | 
inspiration | Tagged: always someone who can advise, challenge your thinking, contributions from others, More hands lighter work!, no need for heroes, pick your team, select your team, Together Everyone Achieves More, yes men | 
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Posted by Bruce
March 30, 2009
It’s going to come without warning. Any moment could be that point in time, when everything seems just right. When the iron is hotter than ever and there is no better time to strike.
The time when it’s ripe to take it to the next level. After all those hours of hard work and sacrifice, it is the time to start reaping the fruits. All the sleepless nights you pressed on with your vision in silence and solitude. Though so many doubted, yet you always believed and then you are vindicated. The doubters are silenced and those who kept the faith join you in rejoicing.
“That’s my friend, …that’s my son,… that’s my daughter!” I am hearing it all round! Suddenly everyone is proud to be associated with you. The acknowledgement that you fully deserved now comes your way! And more windows of opportunity will open. This is only the beginning.
Be ready for your moment on the podium. Seize the moment and throw caution to the wind when your time comes. Withstand the forces that against you but in rise in harmony with those for you.
Be ready for the big break when it comes. The breakthrough! – BTM
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Posted by Bruce
March 25, 2009
When the today ends don’t carry forward any hurts, don’t carry with you any negatives but take forward the positives, the lessons, the learnings.
When the sun goes down today, take the baggage down with it as well. Don’t wake up tomorrow with the today’s baggage. If you do so it will drag you down before the day even starts.There will be enough tomorrow to keep you busy without stuff from today!
Tomorrow is a new day! Rise and shine tomorrow just like the sun!
Don’t prejudge tomorrow, from the moment you will wake up, it will be completely unspoilt. Don’t mess things up.
Give tomorrow a chance! BTM
1 Comment | Uncategorized | Tagged: baggage, carry negatives, chance, don't mess things up, don't predjudge, don't spoil, enough tomorrow, hurts, learnings, lessons, positives, rise and shine, stuff from today, sun, today, tomorrow | Permalink
Posted by Bruce
March 25, 2009
There’ll be days when things could have gone better. That’s just how life is gonna be. No matter what there are going to be ups and downs. Nobody is going to be a high forever. And noone will always be in the dumps.
Don’t dwell too much on what is passsed. The milk is already spilt. Let’s not cry over it. It’s water under the bridge. Let it flow!
Let it go! Move on! BTM
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Posted by Bruce
March 25, 2009
Some weeks ago I read a very interesting article which said certain mental activitites peaked at the age of 22. (http://www.health24.com/news/Mind_Psychology/1-930,50108.asp) I follow science articles with great interest and every now and then I read a number that contradict previous ones as new information and knowledge comes to light. Nothing is cast in stone!Some years ago I observed that chess players seemed to reach their peak around this age as well particularly the tactical players. (The tactical style in chess generally requires a great deal of calculating ability, imagination and speed.) However, my observation was not supported by any scientific or objective criteria. I focussed on accomplishments of former World Chess Champions and noticed that around the age of 22 they seemed to accomplish a great deal more than compared to other ages.
After reading the article I asked myself a few questions, seeing as I am way past 22.
- What does this mean for anyone whose best is behind them?
- Is there hope if your best is behind you?
I am sure that as we decline in some areas we improve in some areas. So while our calculating ability might deteriorate on the other hand we might improve in our ability to make sense of lots of data and focus on the bigger picture. So our strategic ability might improve as our tactical ability wanes. As individual I focus on my strengths and will try to target those areas or situation that bring them out or make the most of them.
If you are on the decline create new peaks in your life! Do your best in your current situation.
There is always hope even if your best is behind you. You might not be able to summon the strength and energy of yesterday but today you are equipped with the experience that only comes with the years. Today you can do things that you could not have dreamed of yesterday. We see this from sportsmen, artists, singers…they reinvent themselves, they find another niche, another area they excel in. If one thing, one area, one style, one genre does not work for them, they find another and adapt using all their experience.
At any stage of your life, you need to do the best that you can! Then wait for the rest!
2 Comments | inspiration | Tagged: 22, best, calculation, chess, focus, information, interesting, knowledge, mental, new peaks, peak, science, strategy, tactical | Permalink
Posted by Bruce
March 24, 2009
Don’t sit on that potential. Activate it. Get it in motion. Get it going. Get it working! Give it some hands and legs. Use that potential!
BTM
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Posted by Bruce
March 23, 2009
Can you imagine what would happen if airlines had no limit for luggage.
Passengers would just keeping loading and loading and well, guess, loading!
I’ll bet you some guys would even put some bags on the wings, tying
them tightly so they don’t fall,
I’m pretty sure that in all excitement everyone would forget that
at some stage the plane needs to take off.
Who cares if the plane can take off?
That’s not my problem.
Whoever needs to deal with it will sort it out!
That’s not my baby!
It’s the pilot or captain’s baby I don’t know.
Honestly, I really don’t care.
As long as my luggage is on the plane, that’s really what I’m worried about.
As long as I got all the space I need,
As long as I’m sure that everything I’ve brought is on the plane!
Ladies and gentlemen!
You got to know your limits!
You got to define the limits!
You got to set the boundaries!
Nobody’s gonna do this for you.
When you don’t set the limits like this plane, everybody
just comes and dumps their stuff on you,
They don’t care that other folks are already dumping their stuff on you,
Everyone’s loading, we might as well!
You think you are kind,
They say you are stupid.
You think you are patient,
They say you don’t have a life.
You think you are being a friend,
They say what a fool!
You don’t set the limits,
Nobody knows when to stop loading the luggage,
stop adding to the problems,
Because you are around, every day of the year is Christmas
Set the limits,
Or before you know it,
You gonna be like that plane, filled to capacity but going nowhere.
Then everyone laughs at this overloaded plane that’s all over the runway but flying nowhere!
BTM
(inspired by a chat I had with a friend weeks ago. This was originally written under my Facebook notes on 9 February 2009 but I have now decided to reach a wider audience.)
2 Comments | Reflections | Tagged: define the limits, don't set the limits, flying nowhere, limits, luggage, our limits, plane, plane wont take off, set the boundaries, set the limits, the limits | Permalink
Posted by Bruce
March 23, 2009
What ever you are trying to do, there is a good chance that someone has either tried to do it before you or someone has already done it. Somebody has probably been there before.
But just because they did not make it should be no reason to discourage you. Build on the progress of those who have already attempted before you. Learn about their mistakes of both those who have failed.
If those before you have succeeded then it has been demonstrated that it is indeed possible. You need not look any further than those before you who showed you the way, who showed how it is done. Now it is your turn. Go for it!
Stand on the shoulders of those before you that you might reach higher. Hold on to what’s already there that you might extend your reach. Add your weight to the effort that you might topple the obstacle, overcome the challenge at last. Continue from where they left off and see if you can take a step further or even all the way.
We see this phenomenon across many fields and areas of life, in business, in leisure, in personal life. There is always need for a point of reference. Before we can improve, we need to find out what exists and why it needs to be improved. If we all had to start from scratch all the time, how much progress would we make? Where would we be? Before we could take to the skies, did we not need to have an idea of how to move on the ground?
Where you stop, someone will continue. Sometimes you will not be the one to conclude but rather he who begins or extends the quest to achieve. Do not lose heart that you have not been the one to take the glory. For indeed the ultimate achievement will not have be possible without the cumulative effort, without the effort and without the learnings.
Don’t reinvent the wheel! – BTM
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Posted by Bruce
March 23, 2009
Let’s face it. Due to anxiety there might be a couple of false starts before the race really starts.
Some guys will sprint off the blocks. Others will get off the blocks at a snail’s pace and even keep it that way for the whole race.
Others will decide somewhere during the race that they would rather walk. During the race it’s not unusual to find people pre-occupied with other things besides the race itself, chatting, laughing, anything but the race! “Why did I take part in this race?” – wrong question. “Am I running a good race?” – that’s more like it.
Some athletes will accelerate somewhere in the middle and look like just might finish the race in an instant. Some will hold their waist almost in belief at the distance still to be covered and wander if it’s really worth it.
Some might feel so accomplished at the distance run so far but sadly forget about the race still to go.
Some chaps will use other runners as a pacesetters, basically their speed and progress will depend on how someone else is running.
At the end of the race the runners throw up their hands but for different reasons. Some are just delighted to have finished. Others really believe they have won. But everyone is definitely relieved that the race is finally over.
So everyone else is running their race at a different pace with different reasons?
Who cares! Run your own! Race at your own pace! (BTM)
Leave a Comment » | Reflections | Tagged: athletes, distance, own pace, own race, pace, race, run your own, who cares | Permalink
Posted by Bruce
March 23, 2009
In the afternoon I bumped into my old chemistry teacher from St Ignatius College. I was very excited to meet my old teacher. I instantly recognised him and rushed up to greet him. He had not seen me. We soon got to catch up on what has happened since I left high school in 1997.
I recalled the lessons with great fondness. The man just made his subject look simple. I had imagined the subject to be very difficult and complicated but here was someone who broke it down to its elements.
So after 11 years the impression still remains and is as clear as ever. He was passionate and dedicated to his craft. Though I cannot remember the specifics of what I learnt then I have not forgotten the principles. The principles of a methodical and step-by-step approach in problem solving. Several years later our paths have crossed again and based simply on the two years that he taught me I would gladly give him a recommendation if I had to.
Reflecting on this chance encounter, I believe that in whatever you do, seek to make your mark in some way. Be positive, be forward looking, be excited with what you do. Make a lasting impression. The benefits of your actions should continue to be experienced long after the event. As you go about your daily business your legacy and reputation are also slowly growing and developing. At some stage they will crystallise into something whether positive or negative.
Its up to you to decide what mark you are making. It need not be a big mark. It should be a mark you are proud of and can look back on with pride.
Your mark, your impression, your signature, your effort!
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Posted by Bruce
