Last night I went to be with Sri Sri Ravi Shanker, more popularly known to his followers as 'Guruji'. It was a dinner at Bayview Beach Resort Garden in Batu Ferringi, Penang.
We reached the place at about six in the evening and although we were early, international course participants were already. We headed for the back of the hotel, past the swimming pool into the garden at the back of the hotel where tables and chairs had been placed near to three long tables of food. There was one table for the drinks and salads, another for an assortment of cooked vegetables with the third table supplying a variety of kueh, cakes, soup and stewed beans.
I searched for a drink first and had sugar cane water with 'chang-mau' which is a fragrant leaf. It is supposed to be some kind of alkaline water, I suppose. After a sip of the delightful drink, I took a little of each of the various types of food displayed at the three tables. The food was fine except that course participants told me they believe the kitchen sifu had already exhausted his talent as they took the same food for the four days they had been there.
It is at such functions where we have the opportunity to renew acquaintances, make new friends and catch up on old friends. It was smiles, laughter and joy the whole evening as we enjoyed the company of members of The Art of Living. We had satsang with Guruji in which we sang sanskrit songs.
Times of love and delight are always too short and soon we had a last look at Guruji before we headed for home. By the time I reached home it was about twelve-thirty at night. A new day has begun when I dropped my head to my pillow to prepare myself for another day of life. Even as I dropped off to sleep I was thinking of the next day's spiritual therapy lesson at Harvard Estate.
Well, life is what we make of it. Go out and enjoy and happiness can be ours. Refuse to seek for happiness and it becomes elusive, difficult to be seen and found even when it is there for us.
Showing posts with label opportunities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label opportunities. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Nothing to lose, everything to gain.
Sometimes it is good to be down on our luck. When we are down, there is simply no other way to go but up. The only thing we have to remember is never ever to stay down forever. We may agonise over our tragedy a little but climb up again we must.
Some great achievers made it because of an earlier failure. When we fail, we are ready to try on anything as there is nothing to lose but everything to gain. In fact, unless we are changing places of work or relationships, if we try for something new, there is always nothing to lose but everything to gain.
'Everything to gain, nothing to lose' were the words in substitute teacher, Kyle DeVan's mind when he was offered a chance to play football for Boise Burn of arenafootball2. You see, not only did he have nothing to lose, he gained the opportunity to show his football talent with arenafootball2. As a result, the Colts noticed him and he landed on their training camp where he was impressive enough to be given a place to play on their team.
The admirable part about Kyle DeVan was his 'never give up' attitude. You see, DeVan played college football, did not get to play after signing up with the Washington Redskins and the New York Jets. Later, back on practice with the New York Jets, he was removed again.
A lesser man would have called it quits but not Kyle DeVan. Here is a man who still hangs around for another chance. He may encounter obstacles but it was not the end for him. The opportunity was still out there.
To tide him over, to get money to pay his bills, he became a substitute teacher. And when the opportunity came in the guise of arenafootball2, he jumped at it and proved himself a footballer of note.
Here is another excellent example of how consistent effort and determination got a man the place he wanted in life. It also shows us why we should be ready and look out for opportunities which are always there. When one door closes, another will open.
Some great achievers made it because of an earlier failure. When we fail, we are ready to try on anything as there is nothing to lose but everything to gain. In fact, unless we are changing places of work or relationships, if we try for something new, there is always nothing to lose but everything to gain.
'Everything to gain, nothing to lose' were the words in substitute teacher, Kyle DeVan's mind when he was offered a chance to play football for Boise Burn of arenafootball2. You see, not only did he have nothing to lose, he gained the opportunity to show his football talent with arenafootball2. As a result, the Colts noticed him and he landed on their training camp where he was impressive enough to be given a place to play on their team.
The admirable part about Kyle DeVan was his 'never give up' attitude. You see, DeVan played college football, did not get to play after signing up with the Washington Redskins and the New York Jets. Later, back on practice with the New York Jets, he was removed again.
A lesser man would have called it quits but not Kyle DeVan. Here is a man who still hangs around for another chance. He may encounter obstacles but it was not the end for him. The opportunity was still out there.
To tide him over, to get money to pay his bills, he became a substitute teacher. And when the opportunity came in the guise of arenafootball2, he jumped at it and proved himself a footballer of note.
Here is another excellent example of how consistent effort and determination got a man the place he wanted in life. It also shows us why we should be ready and look out for opportunities which are always there. When one door closes, another will open.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Bill Porter: TrulyThe Greatest Saleman the World Has Ever Known.
Remarkable persistence were the words in my mind when I discovered this incredible Californian-born salesman, Bill Porter, who, on the 9th of September, 1932, was born with cerebral palsy which caused his body to be twisted and having a speech problem. He refused charity, not accepting disability allowance and went on to overcome everyday obstacles to become the best salesman Watkins Incorporated ever had. Then, when a broken hip-bone due to a 1998 accident, forced him to stop walking the eight to ten miles he had to cover with such difficulty and pain each day in the Portland area to sell the Watkins house-hold products from door to door, he continued to work for Watkins as a consultant and online salesman. In his online business, he was the associate manager and anyone interested in having a business like his can join his downline. In this online business, his assistant and loyal close friend, Shelly Brady, delivered the products to his customers. Besides sales, he gave inspirational talks.
How determined he was to make it on his own was the fact that he took more than an hour to painfully put on his clothes and be ready for his work. In order that he could be ready to get on a 7.30 am. bus to reach his sales area by 9.00am, he woke up at the unearthly time of 4.45 am. Each day, he finished his work only after 7.00pm. And that was what he did not just for a year or two but for forty years! And when people closed their doors in his face, he did not break down and give up in despair. He carried on relentlessly to prove to himself and the world it could be done. The next customer would say ‘yes’ to his sales. Eventually, he won as more and more people came to know him and opened their doors and hearts to his perseverance. There is a wonderful message here to all salesmen. Sincere desire to achieve sales finally opened the customers’ doors.
Looks like the pain from cerebral palsy could not stop this man from covering a grueling ten miles a day on foot to earn his pay. Neither could the accident which broke his hip-bone. When one door closes, another door opens for this man. Where many would have dropped everything in despair, this Bill Porter climbed up again to even greater heights. Unable to walk such a distance any longer after breaking his hip bone, he went into the internet with the same business, this time as an associate manager with his own down-line.
How many of us able-bodied guys would be willing to face ten long miles each and every year for forty years? Yet, here is a man with a twisted body who did just that! For forty long years he walked door to door, knocked on every door, showed people pictures of a few Watkins products, took orders, then obtained the products and had them delivered as he could not drive.What a man!
Not only that! Before he got this Watkins job, he was rejected by so many companies for four months until even the employment agency told him that he had better stop searching for a job and depend upon welfare to survive. Did he do that? No, determination is one of the qualities that set great people against the odds they face. Determination, eventually, lead him to a job at Watkins, earning just commissions despite the tough job of having to cover such a vast area each day.
Three person played important meaningful roles in his life. They gave him the necessary support to propel him into the life he mastered and set him along the fantastic route to fame.
In a way, he was fortunate to have a mother named Irene who was always very positive and according to Porter, his mother insisted that he be likewise. The mother sent him to Public High School and when he graduated, his father told him that he had to go and get a job. There was no pampering and the parents moved him on to survive through good honest work. And that was what he finally did and do to this day.
His mother’s positive ways helped him to overcome the rejections he encountered as a salesman as doors were initially slammed shut. Through such positive attitude, he gradually overcame people’s reluctance to open their doors to him. He not only became a successful saleman; he was the best in Watkins.
Another person who played a prominent role in his life was shelly Brady, a lady who was initially employed as his assistant, typist, driver but soon became his friend and cospeaker at inspirational talks.
His marvelous performance in life was so unbelieveably great that he got recognition after the Oregonian had a 1995 column about Bill Porter which was so widely reprinted that he became a popular symbol of optimistic determination. Then, the ABC news magazine 20/20 did a television story on him called ‘A Moving Journey ‘. This received the largest viewer response of any show ever put up by 20/20. Articles were written about him in the ‘Reader’s Digest’ and ‘People Magazine’. Then, there was an award-winning movie about his life, called ‘Door to Door’. After that, in 2002, his friend and assistant, Shelly Brady, published the inspirational book ‘Ten Things I Learned from Bill Porter’.
For his indomitable spirit, his refusal to give up despite facing such seemingly insurmountable obstacles, John Glenn presented Porter with an award from the National Council on Communicative Disorders at the Kennedy Center in 1998. He also received the America's Award, honoring unsung heroes who personify the American character and spirit.
So, we see how obstacles in life can become motivational forces to strength and greatness. Here is a man who could have laid down and refused to do anything but depend upon charity; and nobody could have accused him of laziness. With the help of his parents and Shelly Brady, not only did he perform, he outdid all other able-bodied persons in his field!
If Bill Porter was not blessed with cerebral palsy, he would not have the opportunity to become an inspirational speaker. God gave him the challenge and he was able to take it to such fantastic heights.
So, the next time an obstacle were to drop into our path, let us think of marvelous Bill Porter.
Thursday, January 07, 2010
The courage to try.
We may have all the knowledge, knowhow to perform something but if we do not have the courage to go out there and do it, we can never know whether we can ever make a success of it.
Once upon a time, there were two young men who worked for a company which produces a medicated oil and oilment. It was a very well-known established company with its products already established in the market. It had a fleet of vans with employees to covered not just established Chinese medical halls or shops. It's employees reach out to every nook and corner of the Asian market, going to every possible place to advertise as well as to introduce and sell their product.
The two young men whom I have mentioned through their industry and competency in every aspects of sales gained the confidence of the company. Promotion lead them to the chambers where production and marketing knowledge was available. Soon, both of them were knowledgeable as regards the purchasing and use of the ingredients of the products.
As these young men grew in knowledge and age, the wish to have a family arose. In Chinese companies, they do not give sufficient incentives for their more ambitious employees to remain. They do not believe in giving better pay to keep their best employees. That is the one weakness of many Chinese companies in Malaysia.
However, having worked at the same company for such a long time, they knew not of any other work with a better salary to turn to. They were only capable where making oilment or cream is concerned.
So, were they willing to risk starting their own production of such oilment or cream? It was a big question. The knowledge was there. However, starting a business involves more than just knowledge. Do they have sufficient money? Then, there is the organisation. The marketing must be successful.
Of course, they were financially poor, otherwise, they would not have to work starting from the lowest rung. They know the availability of the ingredients, the packaging and the market. Were they willing to start small and strike out from there?
One of them could not see how that could happen. He saw failure from the start. He could not find the courage to give it a try.
The other young man saw it as an opportunity to strike out on his own while he was still young. From his point of view, there was no more room to progress further in the company he had been for so many years. He knew he had only one option left and that was to start his own manufacture and sales. With his knowledge, he knoew he could succeed. So, he resigned from the company and went home to present his plan to his parents. They supported him physically and financially.
With that, that young man started his own production of oilment and cream which brought him popularity among the people where he frequently sold his product. His sales was good as the oilment and cream were effective. His company did not become as big as the company he had worked for, but his income from the sales was and is many times the income he could ever get under the employment of any other company. His is a very small localised company but he is so much better off as his own boss. There is so much pride and confidence with his own effective products, products he had improved on as chemical companies discover better ingredients.
This is a story to show how knowledge alone is insufficient for success. Confidence through one's ability is not enough. There must be courage, the courage to burn your boats and reach out for the possiblities that lie ahead.
Of course, there is no guarantee of success in everything we do. However, if we do not gather our courage and venture forth, we would still be standing at the same spot forever. How would life be like then?
Once upon a time, there were two young men who worked for a company which produces a medicated oil and oilment. It was a very well-known established company with its products already established in the market. It had a fleet of vans with employees to covered not just established Chinese medical halls or shops. It's employees reach out to every nook and corner of the Asian market, going to every possible place to advertise as well as to introduce and sell their product.
The two young men whom I have mentioned through their industry and competency in every aspects of sales gained the confidence of the company. Promotion lead them to the chambers where production and marketing knowledge was available. Soon, both of them were knowledgeable as regards the purchasing and use of the ingredients of the products.
As these young men grew in knowledge and age, the wish to have a family arose. In Chinese companies, they do not give sufficient incentives for their more ambitious employees to remain. They do not believe in giving better pay to keep their best employees. That is the one weakness of many Chinese companies in Malaysia.
However, having worked at the same company for such a long time, they knew not of any other work with a better salary to turn to. They were only capable where making oilment or cream is concerned.
So, were they willing to risk starting their own production of such oilment or cream? It was a big question. The knowledge was there. However, starting a business involves more than just knowledge. Do they have sufficient money? Then, there is the organisation. The marketing must be successful.
Of course, they were financially poor, otherwise, they would not have to work starting from the lowest rung. They know the availability of the ingredients, the packaging and the market. Were they willing to start small and strike out from there?
One of them could not see how that could happen. He saw failure from the start. He could not find the courage to give it a try.
The other young man saw it as an opportunity to strike out on his own while he was still young. From his point of view, there was no more room to progress further in the company he had been for so many years. He knew he had only one option left and that was to start his own manufacture and sales. With his knowledge, he knoew he could succeed. So, he resigned from the company and went home to present his plan to his parents. They supported him physically and financially.
With that, that young man started his own production of oilment and cream which brought him popularity among the people where he frequently sold his product. His sales was good as the oilment and cream were effective. His company did not become as big as the company he had worked for, but his income from the sales was and is many times the income he could ever get under the employment of any other company. His is a very small localised company but he is so much better off as his own boss. There is so much pride and confidence with his own effective products, products he had improved on as chemical companies discover better ingredients.
This is a story to show how knowledge alone is insufficient for success. Confidence through one's ability is not enough. There must be courage, the courage to burn your boats and reach out for the possiblities that lie ahead.
Of course, there is no guarantee of success in everything we do. However, if we do not gather our courage and venture forth, we would still be standing at the same spot forever. How would life be like then?
Monday, December 07, 2009
Opportunities are always available.
Yesterday, I wrote on the DSN Course which brought so much potential for changes in the participants; changes that could only improve their lives.
As the course progressed, one of the values taught was similar to what I had written earlier on in this blog.
It brought back memories of my beautiful wife, of her beautiful ways and how i could have missed such a wonderful person had I then closed the door to such a possibility.
How is that so, you may wonder. Well, before my wife appeared on the scene, I was in love with a girl. She was another lovely woman. Her beautiful nature attracted me to her and I found her company most delightful. Unfortunately, it was a one-way track and she merely liked me very much.
Dissapointed, I was at the time. However, my then great teachers, Dale Carnegie, Napolean hill and Norman Vincent Peale had already taught me that when one door closes, another opens. And that has always been found to be true. The only thing is that even when faced with another door, we see not the opening that it presents. We are often blinded by what had happened earlier.
To overcome any tragic happening in our lives, we ought to understand what has gone can never return. We should only linger a very short while if we need to. We could help ourselves by drying our tears, look forward towards whatever could be in store for us and live the life we still have.
Similarly, even as I treasured the memories, I realised God must still have something for me and it did come in the appearance of my wife in my life.
We, my wife and I, had thirty wonderful years together and she was still holding my hand the night before she passed away in Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. We still had love and comfort during her seven month sickness as we went from the Sungai Petani hospital to Nam Wah Ee Hopital in Penang before flying to the University Kebangsaan Hospital in Cheras, Selangor. I had taken leave from work to be with her during those months.
The point is, I would not have had known her if I had closed my heart for her love to enter. From the very beginning she had cared for me in such a memorable way and that could not have been my joy and pleasure had I not lived according to the teachings of those three great teachers.
As the course progressed, one of the values taught was similar to what I had written earlier on in this blog.
It brought back memories of my beautiful wife, of her beautiful ways and how i could have missed such a wonderful person had I then closed the door to such a possibility.
How is that so, you may wonder. Well, before my wife appeared on the scene, I was in love with a girl. She was another lovely woman. Her beautiful nature attracted me to her and I found her company most delightful. Unfortunately, it was a one-way track and she merely liked me very much.
Dissapointed, I was at the time. However, my then great teachers, Dale Carnegie, Napolean hill and Norman Vincent Peale had already taught me that when one door closes, another opens. And that has always been found to be true. The only thing is that even when faced with another door, we see not the opening that it presents. We are often blinded by what had happened earlier.
To overcome any tragic happening in our lives, we ought to understand what has gone can never return. We should only linger a very short while if we need to. We could help ourselves by drying our tears, look forward towards whatever could be in store for us and live the life we still have.
Similarly, even as I treasured the memories, I realised God must still have something for me and it did come in the appearance of my wife in my life.
We, my wife and I, had thirty wonderful years together and she was still holding my hand the night before she passed away in Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. We still had love and comfort during her seven month sickness as we went from the Sungai Petani hospital to Nam Wah Ee Hopital in Penang before flying to the University Kebangsaan Hospital in Cheras, Selangor. I had taken leave from work to be with her during those months.
The point is, I would not have had known her if I had closed my heart for her love to enter. From the very beginning she had cared for me in such a memorable way and that could not have been my joy and pleasure had I not lived according to the teachings of those three great teachers.
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Let our children be prepared. Language a must.
Opportunities abound. It’s everywhere. From time to time they emerge in newspapers, magazines and places of study as well as promotions. Be aware of all such venues where opportunities pop out from time to time. However, just being aware of these opportunities is not enough. Are we prepared to take them on?
Perhaps, one day, we see ‘Application for Asian Scholarships’ in the media. Our children are at the right age or level of studies to apply for such a scholarship which gives our children financial aid and free education up to university level. The opportunity has appeared. Are our children ready for it?
Having knowledge that such scholarships are available, parents should work towards not just this scholarship but also other possible opportunities that we may not yet be aware of. It is not merely preparation for one particular scholarship. Rather, it should be thought of as a preparation for life.
The whole world is ours to play, live and work in. We should never limit ourselves to one small particular place. To live well, we ought to equip our precious children and us with language abilities to take on whatever comes. Language is of utmost importance as without it, there can be no communication or understanding of the written word. Without language, a lot of opportunities are not within our reach.
Without a minimum language proficiency, we cannot understand what the television news and documentary are delivering to our brain. What we cannot understand, we cannot act upon. Even when a great opportunity is staring at us, we do not know it.
Without a minimum language proficiency, we are unable to benefit from the experiences of others. We are unable to appreciate the thoughts and feelings of writers. We are unable because we cannot read bout them in books and magazines. Without an understanding of what is in the written words, we miss the chance to try out recipes, improve ourselves by practising the many countries’ arts and crafts, learn of tourist spots, understand how certain problems can be overcome, enjoy the wit and humour of so many throughout the world, sharpen our intelligence and have a better understanding of the cultures and religions of people we may never get to meet.
The three most important languages, no matter where we live are English, the national language of our country, and our own mother tongue. Master at least one of them. English is important because it is an international language. With it, we can communicate with a huge portion of the world. Mandarin is next as the Chinese are adventurous and had ventured far and wide, taking along with them the language. Besides, China is gradually but surely emerging as a prominent nation in the world of trade. The Chinese market is so big that businesses are thinking of trade with China. Communication being a tool for understanding negotiations, it is inevitable that Mandarin will rise to become a language of trade and commerce. In the meantime, not to be left behind, china is fast improving its peoples’ proficiency in the English Language.
Thus, to be prepared is a necessity. Besides languages, we ought to have our children be well prepared in various matters too. What’re the other matters parents ought to look into as preparation for success in life not only for ourselves but also for our precious children?
Perhaps, one day, we see ‘Application for Asian Scholarships’ in the media. Our children are at the right age or level of studies to apply for such a scholarship which gives our children financial aid and free education up to university level. The opportunity has appeared. Are our children ready for it?
Having knowledge that such scholarships are available, parents should work towards not just this scholarship but also other possible opportunities that we may not yet be aware of. It is not merely preparation for one particular scholarship. Rather, it should be thought of as a preparation for life.
The whole world is ours to play, live and work in. We should never limit ourselves to one small particular place. To live well, we ought to equip our precious children and us with language abilities to take on whatever comes. Language is of utmost importance as without it, there can be no communication or understanding of the written word. Without language, a lot of opportunities are not within our reach.
Without a minimum language proficiency, we cannot understand what the television news and documentary are delivering to our brain. What we cannot understand, we cannot act upon. Even when a great opportunity is staring at us, we do not know it.
Without a minimum language proficiency, we are unable to benefit from the experiences of others. We are unable to appreciate the thoughts and feelings of writers. We are unable because we cannot read bout them in books and magazines. Without an understanding of what is in the written words, we miss the chance to try out recipes, improve ourselves by practising the many countries’ arts and crafts, learn of tourist spots, understand how certain problems can be overcome, enjoy the wit and humour of so many throughout the world, sharpen our intelligence and have a better understanding of the cultures and religions of people we may never get to meet.
The three most important languages, no matter where we live are English, the national language of our country, and our own mother tongue. Master at least one of them. English is important because it is an international language. With it, we can communicate with a huge portion of the world. Mandarin is next as the Chinese are adventurous and had ventured far and wide, taking along with them the language. Besides, China is gradually but surely emerging as a prominent nation in the world of trade. The Chinese market is so big that businesses are thinking of trade with China. Communication being a tool for understanding negotiations, it is inevitable that Mandarin will rise to become a language of trade and commerce. In the meantime, not to be left behind, china is fast improving its peoples’ proficiency in the English Language.
Thus, to be prepared is a necessity. Besides languages, we ought to have our children be well prepared in various matters too. What’re the other matters parents ought to look into as preparation for success in life not only for ourselves but also for our precious children?
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Look! Opportunities are everywhere!
Opportunities are always around. The opportunity to be a lawyer, a doctor, to be anything exists at all times.
However, that does not mean you can decide to be a doctor today, just open a clinic and become one.
That is because, to be a doctor, you have to earn a certicate to perform. The opportunity is there but you have to prepare yourself for it. Are you prepared for such an opportunity?
You are the one who decides what you want to be through your thoughts or someone else’s thoughts. You plan to be one. You have to prepare to be one. When you are prepared, you can grab hold of the opportunity as it presents itself.
Okay! You or your mother wants you to be a doctor. She prepares you in language proficiency; starts you with lots of talking to you in the language with the whole world as your audio visual aids. Then, as you grow older, she gives you the Lady Bird Reading Programme to improve your English. Next, she prepares you for the science stream with books and other materials that are suitable. As you grow older, if you agree with her, you study hard to ensure you get a place in the university to study medicine. Each year, those who are eligible because they have the best suitable results, find places in the universities. Of course, if at any time you change your mind, it has to be early enough to give you the chance to change to another stream of study.
Thus, if you are prepared and ready for whatever you want, opportunity is always there.
Tiger Woods was never handed the opportunity to be a golf champion. He planned for it by practicing golf. If he had never wanted to swing a golf club, he would not be where he is today. He went for competitions; competitions which emplaced him to be a golf champion. The opportunity has always been there and he reached for it with the right preparation.
I once taught the English Language to graduates who could not find jobs because the jobs or professions require a certain proficiency in English. Initially, they were not prepared for the opportunities offered them. By improving their English, the opportunities were within their reach.
One such student told me she found a job as an adventure guide. She was required to remove her head-covering cloth. Apparently, her boss believed that her attire did not impress anyone who needs an adventure-guide. However, as a Muslim, she refused to remove her head-covering which covers her hair totally. She told me that her boss was a Muslim too. She wondered why he could not understand the necessity for Muslim women to do that. She was told that she was not suitable for the job.
It was a delicate question as I was not a Muslim. I understood her boss’ view just as I understood hers. Her boss was thinking of hiring a person who looks capable of trekking the hills and jungles. With her shawl or ‘tudong’, she did not give tourists the confidence of going on an adventure trek with her as their guide.
I told her if she was not prepared to abandon her shawl, it was her right but that also implied that she was not prepared to have that Muslim man as her boss. She just was not prepared for that opportunity.
So, we have to be prepared in every way possible. You may be well qualified to teach English Language to others but unless you are willing to show your face and the movement of your mouth and lips, you cannot be a good English Language teacher.
To learn a language well, students must know how the words are pronounced. Correct pronunciation can better be obtained through not just hearing the sound but also through observing the movement of mouth and lips as well as the placement of the teeth and tongue. Thus, a teacher must be prepared to expose the face for students to observe while teaching a language.
So, despite the fact that the opportunity to be a language teacher is always present, if a teacher is not prepared to do the necessary to teach effectively, then the opportunity to teach will never be within reach.
Understanding this, we should realise we need not worry about opportunities. All we need is to prepare our children for whatever they want to become.
Give them language efficiency and all the necessary knowledge possible. Imbue them with the desire to improve themselves. All these can assist them to grab the opportunities they want.
However, that does not mean you can decide to be a doctor today, just open a clinic and become one.
That is because, to be a doctor, you have to earn a certicate to perform. The opportunity is there but you have to prepare yourself for it. Are you prepared for such an opportunity?
You are the one who decides what you want to be through your thoughts or someone else’s thoughts. You plan to be one. You have to prepare to be one. When you are prepared, you can grab hold of the opportunity as it presents itself.
Okay! You or your mother wants you to be a doctor. She prepares you in language proficiency; starts you with lots of talking to you in the language with the whole world as your audio visual aids. Then, as you grow older, she gives you the Lady Bird Reading Programme to improve your English. Next, she prepares you for the science stream with books and other materials that are suitable. As you grow older, if you agree with her, you study hard to ensure you get a place in the university to study medicine. Each year, those who are eligible because they have the best suitable results, find places in the universities. Of course, if at any time you change your mind, it has to be early enough to give you the chance to change to another stream of study.
Thus, if you are prepared and ready for whatever you want, opportunity is always there.
Tiger Woods was never handed the opportunity to be a golf champion. He planned for it by practicing golf. If he had never wanted to swing a golf club, he would not be where he is today. He went for competitions; competitions which emplaced him to be a golf champion. The opportunity has always been there and he reached for it with the right preparation.
I once taught the English Language to graduates who could not find jobs because the jobs or professions require a certain proficiency in English. Initially, they were not prepared for the opportunities offered them. By improving their English, the opportunities were within their reach.
One such student told me she found a job as an adventure guide. She was required to remove her head-covering cloth. Apparently, her boss believed that her attire did not impress anyone who needs an adventure-guide. However, as a Muslim, she refused to remove her head-covering which covers her hair totally. She told me that her boss was a Muslim too. She wondered why he could not understand the necessity for Muslim women to do that. She was told that she was not suitable for the job.
It was a delicate question as I was not a Muslim. I understood her boss’ view just as I understood hers. Her boss was thinking of hiring a person who looks capable of trekking the hills and jungles. With her shawl or ‘tudong’, she did not give tourists the confidence of going on an adventure trek with her as their guide.
I told her if she was not prepared to abandon her shawl, it was her right but that also implied that she was not prepared to have that Muslim man as her boss. She just was not prepared for that opportunity.
So, we have to be prepared in every way possible. You may be well qualified to teach English Language to others but unless you are willing to show your face and the movement of your mouth and lips, you cannot be a good English Language teacher.
To learn a language well, students must know how the words are pronounced. Correct pronunciation can better be obtained through not just hearing the sound but also through observing the movement of mouth and lips as well as the placement of the teeth and tongue. Thus, a teacher must be prepared to expose the face for students to observe while teaching a language.
So, despite the fact that the opportunity to be a language teacher is always present, if a teacher is not prepared to do the necessary to teach effectively, then the opportunity to teach will never be within reach.
Understanding this, we should realise we need not worry about opportunities. All we need is to prepare our children for whatever they want to become.
Give them language efficiency and all the necessary knowledge possible. Imbue them with the desire to improve themselves. All these can assist them to grab the opportunities they want.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Names can bring opportunities.
Well, allow me to tell you the story of a good natured, usually smiling yet very bad-tempered young teacher. How contradictory can I be in my description of this man! This man admitted that he found it difficult to control his temper which can flare so easily that those who know this part of his character do not dare to trifle with him. Yet, despite this, most times he has been found to be so good-natured and jovial with people of the same social standing as himself because he had acquired the habit of being so in the face of cheeky adults and teachers who often meet him with ‘Ask me.’. You see, his name is Azmi. So as to counter such mischief, he always answered friends and colleagues who called out ‘Ask me!’ with ‘Sorry, no questions.'
Azmi had reacted positively to that cheekiness. He was quite happy with his name and his fun-loving colleagues and friends as he realized that it had made him popular among them with his smiling reply of ‘Sorry, no questions.’. Furthermore, according to him, this had helped him to suppress or overcome his terrible temper and helped cultivate the new likable personality everyone was delighted with. You see, opportunities to be a better man are everywhere. Azmi saw the mischief in the creativity of his friends and put that opportunity to his advantage.
Well, almost everything can be turned into an advantage. In my previous posting, you must have read of my sons’ surname being a source of fun to students in a residential science school. My sons could have become irritated with the constant teasing and ostracism or enmity could have been the result. Fortunately, being brought up to exercise restraint and to be of good nature, they turned to their tormentors with smiles and waves that won them friendship and popularity. With such experiences behind them, they are able to mix very well with others and are able to conduct themselves correctly in many kinds of situations.
The opportunities brought by people's names are found in articles and websites.
There was an English article in which a judge bears the name of Justice. According to writers who commented in ‘Dear Abby’, a website; there was a professional landscape artist by the name of Ross Weed. Then, there was this funeral director named Graves. A Dr. Needle gave injections in his clinic. We are told a college disciplinary dean’s name was Dick Justice. And in Texas, there lived a dentist with the name of Toothacker. Was it a coincidence that these people had such appropriate names? What do you think? Or did they take on the jobs most suitable for their names? Did their names pave the way to their jobs? Let’s hear what you have to say.
Azmi had reacted positively to that cheekiness. He was quite happy with his name and his fun-loving colleagues and friends as he realized that it had made him popular among them with his smiling reply of ‘Sorry, no questions.’. Furthermore, according to him, this had helped him to suppress or overcome his terrible temper and helped cultivate the new likable personality everyone was delighted with. You see, opportunities to be a better man are everywhere. Azmi saw the mischief in the creativity of his friends and put that opportunity to his advantage.
Well, almost everything can be turned into an advantage. In my previous posting, you must have read of my sons’ surname being a source of fun to students in a residential science school. My sons could have become irritated with the constant teasing and ostracism or enmity could have been the result. Fortunately, being brought up to exercise restraint and to be of good nature, they turned to their tormentors with smiles and waves that won them friendship and popularity. With such experiences behind them, they are able to mix very well with others and are able to conduct themselves correctly in many kinds of situations.
The opportunities brought by people's names are found in articles and websites.
There was an English article in which a judge bears the name of Justice. According to writers who commented in ‘Dear Abby’, a website; there was a professional landscape artist by the name of Ross Weed. Then, there was this funeral director named Graves. A Dr. Needle gave injections in his clinic. We are told a college disciplinary dean’s name was Dick Justice. And in Texas, there lived a dentist with the name of Toothacker. Was it a coincidence that these people had such appropriate names? What do you think? Or did they take on the jobs most suitable for their names? Did their names pave the way to their jobs? Let’s hear what you have to say.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Perhaps even more important than a formal education.
What could be even more important than being literate? It is curiosity, the desire to learn and the courage to do the necessary. Look around you and you can see a good number of people who are successful although they missed the opportunity for a good formal education through one reason or another.
Nevertheless,whatever the reason may be, without a formal education, certain knowledge may not be within reach and certain careers are no longer possible but success and happiness in life can still be achieved if the urge to know, the desire to gain information and the courage to put all that knowledge into some tangible benefit. So, success and happiness in life need not necessarily be lost just because a person is not literate. Success and happiness are ours as long as we put in some effort to secure them.
Well, I have practiced whatever I have shared here. Of course, for me, with my fairly good formal education behind me, most things were within my grasp. As a result, besides being a successful teacher, I have at one time or another been a Holiday Magic cosmetic distributor and sales agent (1972) before the product was banned not because of its product which was excellent but for its multi-tiered distribution, an orchid planter, a canary bird breeder, a discus fish breeder, a freelance professional video cameraman, a florist, a state-level gymnastics coach and a masseur. And my strong desire to learn even more has not stopped. As a volunteer with a non-government organization, I discover there is still so much to learn and this is what makes life so interesting. And this year, I have learned how to start a blog so as to share my knowledge with as many people as possible and hope others would put in comments so that even more things can be learned here.
How did I manage to be and do so many things? Well, you can do it. It is not difficult. All that is needed is for you to grab the opportunity to learn whenever such opportunities offer themselves. Sometimes such opportunities come in the form of having to do work for others. Some lose the opportunity when they feel being taken advantage of and benefitting others by doing things for others. Many think there is no advantage in working for others especially when there is no immediate benefit in sight; no financial or material gain. For me life is so wonderful with so much precious knowledge and fun derived from just being allowed to participate in it, in the opportunity of living life to the full.
There was a time when I joined a Shaolin martial arts association. They wanted to film the performances of the lion dancers. The association bought a second-hand video camera recorder. I was approached to help. As usual, it was difficult for me to refuse the opportunity. That was in the 1980s. The camera was not automatic. So, I had to learn how to use it, to zoom in and out and learn the various techniques the previous owner had used. By helping out, I was given so much joy and experience. I not only found knowledge and pleasure. Later, someone asked me to partner him to film weddings and birthday parties. And that was how I became a professional video cameraman at one time of my life. Eventually, I stopped as too many assignments were taking me away from my children who needed my quality time.
Take for example, floristry. When I was asked by a friend to help arrange some flowers, the idea of being a florist did not enter my mind. I saw it as just an opportunity to learn something new and being given the opportunity to try my hand at it. I was amazed to find that I enjoyed the work. So, I read books on floristry. Whenever I could, with the knowledge to back me up, I observed how flowers were arranged for opening ceremonies and other certain occasions. Then, years later, when I planted orchids to take part in competition as well as decorate my compound with orchid flowers, I was approached to do floral arrangement for someone’s birthday. I went shopping for all the necessary equipment and my first sale was made. This was followed by floral arrangements for various occasions. I was so successful I even did arrangements regularly for a bank. I gave all this up when my first child was born in 1986. I did not want the spraying of insecticides for my orchids or flowers carrying insecticides to be around my child. That is a sacrifice my wife and I decided on to ensure the safety of our precious children. And all that started by helping a friend without any thought of any gain whatsoever.
Today, I am still learning by doing whatever needs to be done whenever someone wishes to give me the opportunity to do something. Recently, for the 2009 Art of Living Chinese New Year Celebration, I was told about seven hours before the event that a banner was needed urgently. Although I had never done a cloth banner in just a few hours, I told them I was willing to start on it at noon. Well, it was a non-stop effort for the next seven hours, drawing letters, half a sun and two swans, cutting stencils from whatever paper was available, fixing the stencils to the cloth, (From this point onwards I had the help of two other God-sent friends,) and spraying the letters and pictures with paint. By half past six, the job was completed. Well, tired but happy with a beautiful sense of achievement I could never have the chance to feel had I not agreed to help. I have learned how to make a banner using just a few materials.
Well, what about people who have no knowledge from books to help them? Well, In Penang, Malaysia, we had a the Honda company started by a small bicycle shop man who was willing to grab the opportunity to sell the then unknown Honda brand of motorcycles. He became a well-known millionaire.
There is a restaurant in Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia. The owner was a poor hawker who became a rich restaurateur through his own hard work and through seizing the opportunity to improve his status in life.
There are many more who found success despite poverty and sometimes hardly any education. You can read about Jay Sorensen, Thomas Chen and Jewel in the
blog:
http://money.cnn.com/2003/05/21/pf/saving/dreams_q_ragsriches
Nevertheless,whatever the reason may be, without a formal education, certain knowledge may not be within reach and certain careers are no longer possible but success and happiness in life can still be achieved if the urge to know, the desire to gain information and the courage to put all that knowledge into some tangible benefit. So, success and happiness in life need not necessarily be lost just because a person is not literate. Success and happiness are ours as long as we put in some effort to secure them.
Well, I have practiced whatever I have shared here. Of course, for me, with my fairly good formal education behind me, most things were within my grasp. As a result, besides being a successful teacher, I have at one time or another been a Holiday Magic cosmetic distributor and sales agent (1972) before the product was banned not because of its product which was excellent but for its multi-tiered distribution, an orchid planter, a canary bird breeder, a discus fish breeder, a freelance professional video cameraman, a florist, a state-level gymnastics coach and a masseur. And my strong desire to learn even more has not stopped. As a volunteer with a non-government organization, I discover there is still so much to learn and this is what makes life so interesting. And this year, I have learned how to start a blog so as to share my knowledge with as many people as possible and hope others would put in comments so that even more things can be learned here.
How did I manage to be and do so many things? Well, you can do it. It is not difficult. All that is needed is for you to grab the opportunity to learn whenever such opportunities offer themselves. Sometimes such opportunities come in the form of having to do work for others. Some lose the opportunity when they feel being taken advantage of and benefitting others by doing things for others. Many think there is no advantage in working for others especially when there is no immediate benefit in sight; no financial or material gain. For me life is so wonderful with so much precious knowledge and fun derived from just being allowed to participate in it, in the opportunity of living life to the full.
There was a time when I joined a Shaolin martial arts association. They wanted to film the performances of the lion dancers. The association bought a second-hand video camera recorder. I was approached to help. As usual, it was difficult for me to refuse the opportunity. That was in the 1980s. The camera was not automatic. So, I had to learn how to use it, to zoom in and out and learn the various techniques the previous owner had used. By helping out, I was given so much joy and experience. I not only found knowledge and pleasure. Later, someone asked me to partner him to film weddings and birthday parties. And that was how I became a professional video cameraman at one time of my life. Eventually, I stopped as too many assignments were taking me away from my children who needed my quality time.
Take for example, floristry. When I was asked by a friend to help arrange some flowers, the idea of being a florist did not enter my mind. I saw it as just an opportunity to learn something new and being given the opportunity to try my hand at it. I was amazed to find that I enjoyed the work. So, I read books on floristry. Whenever I could, with the knowledge to back me up, I observed how flowers were arranged for opening ceremonies and other certain occasions. Then, years later, when I planted orchids to take part in competition as well as decorate my compound with orchid flowers, I was approached to do floral arrangement for someone’s birthday. I went shopping for all the necessary equipment and my first sale was made. This was followed by floral arrangements for various occasions. I was so successful I even did arrangements regularly for a bank. I gave all this up when my first child was born in 1986. I did not want the spraying of insecticides for my orchids or flowers carrying insecticides to be around my child. That is a sacrifice my wife and I decided on to ensure the safety of our precious children. And all that started by helping a friend without any thought of any gain whatsoever.
Today, I am still learning by doing whatever needs to be done whenever someone wishes to give me the opportunity to do something. Recently, for the 2009 Art of Living Chinese New Year Celebration, I was told about seven hours before the event that a banner was needed urgently. Although I had never done a cloth banner in just a few hours, I told them I was willing to start on it at noon. Well, it was a non-stop effort for the next seven hours, drawing letters, half a sun and two swans, cutting stencils from whatever paper was available, fixing the stencils to the cloth, (From this point onwards I had the help of two other God-sent friends,) and spraying the letters and pictures with paint. By half past six, the job was completed. Well, tired but happy with a beautiful sense of achievement I could never have the chance to feel had I not agreed to help. I have learned how to make a banner using just a few materials.
Well, what about people who have no knowledge from books to help them? Well, In Penang, Malaysia, we had a the Honda company started by a small bicycle shop man who was willing to grab the opportunity to sell the then unknown Honda brand of motorcycles. He became a well-known millionaire.
There is a restaurant in Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia. The owner was a poor hawker who became a rich restaurateur through his own hard work and through seizing the opportunity to improve his status in life.
There are many more who found success despite poverty and sometimes hardly any education. You can read about Jay Sorensen, Thomas Chen and Jewel in the
blog:
http://money.cnn.com/2003/05/21/pf/saving/dreams_q_ragsriches
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