Saturday, May 22, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
May Fun Starts
Lazy me! It's been like half of May gone, and only now that i'm going to blog how my May has passed.
First day of May started off quite badly. NATAS Fair this time round proved to be a complete waste of time of money, what got even worse is that, the flu struck me half way through labour day, allowing me to be a free labour for only half a day. Thank god. Work has become too hectic now that fair as on like almost every other week, that most of us doesn't seen the motivation to strive as hard for these fairs. Gone are the days where people will look forward to one spectacular travel fair and make their 'now or never' holiday plans...
Speaking of which, the girl went Hong Kong. No Skype. No calls. Feels very different which provides me a taste on how is it like to miss someone this way, which brings me back to March this year itself. That surprise call marks the most memorable moment through that 4 days which is probably the biggest surprise ever...!
Take my hats off to the power of women. It's of no wonder how they can squeeze tons of stuff into just one luggage. I guess i'll see more of those capability when next week comes. Sweet of her to 'put' her tireness at night at went for a wonderful kbox session with me. Awesome stuff as right now, the promotion cost a superbly cheap $8 NETT per person. Promotion is still on and so, go on and sing till hearts content. Everything ended perfectly well until that very incident which caused my poor toe to suffer for the next few days.
The girl bought lots of stuff with me, which makes me even more amazed on how did she even managed to squeeze EVERYTHING into her luggage. The Tau Sa Piah, apparels, and MANGO! She found Mango! MANGO!!! Yes....so real and true (only i know this little secret)when she passed MANGO to me...fated i must say...
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Sad to say, Man Utd had a rather good season but probably without lady luck on their side. Losing the Champions League and FA Cup this season was indeed disappointing enough. Just themselves to blame for losing the title eventually to Chelsea anyway!
Now that the season is over and it's time to switch over to the 'once is every 4 years' WORLD CUP. Shameful enough, the price of the subscription has turned many people off. I reckon i won't have much chance to watch, especially after i decided boycott them because partly, MioTv simply just sucks...I'll just to depend on streaming online (let's pray it works) as well as catching it over the weekends outside! And for sure, i'll bet on Argentina to lift the cup once again, ever since their last in 1986!
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Mother's Day was a rather simple affair this year. A meal and a nice lily marks my mum's day. But i suppose it's Mother's Day to her for as long as i'm still her son...I Love mum!
First day of May started off quite badly. NATAS Fair this time round proved to be a complete waste of time of money, what got even worse is that, the flu struck me half way through labour day, allowing me to be a free labour for only half a day. Thank god. Work has become too hectic now that fair as on like almost every other week, that most of us doesn't seen the motivation to strive as hard for these fairs. Gone are the days where people will look forward to one spectacular travel fair and make their 'now or never' holiday plans...
Speaking of which, the girl went Hong Kong. No Skype. No calls. Feels very different which provides me a taste on how is it like to miss someone this way, which brings me back to March this year itself. That surprise call marks the most memorable moment through that 4 days which is probably the biggest surprise ever...!
Take my hats off to the power of women. It's of no wonder how they can squeeze tons of stuff into just one luggage. I guess i'll see more of those capability when next week comes. Sweet of her to 'put' her tireness at night at went for a wonderful kbox session with me. Awesome stuff as right now, the promotion cost a superbly cheap $8 NETT per person. Promotion is still on and so, go on and sing till hearts content. Everything ended perfectly well until that very incident which caused my poor toe to suffer for the next few days.
The girl bought lots of stuff with me, which makes me even more amazed on how did she even managed to squeeze EVERYTHING into her luggage. The Tau Sa Piah, apparels, and MANGO! She found Mango! MANGO!!! Yes....so real and true (only i know this little secret)when she passed MANGO to me...fated i must say...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sad to say, Man Utd had a rather good season but probably without lady luck on their side. Losing the Champions League and FA Cup this season was indeed disappointing enough. Just themselves to blame for losing the title eventually to Chelsea anyway!
Now that the season is over and it's time to switch over to the 'once is every 4 years' WORLD CUP. Shameful enough, the price of the subscription has turned many people off. I reckon i won't have much chance to watch, especially after i decided boycott them because partly, MioTv simply just sucks...I'll just to depend on streaming online (let's pray it works) as well as catching it over the weekends outside! And for sure, i'll bet on Argentina to lift the cup once again, ever since their last in 1986!
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Mother's Day was a rather simple affair this year. A meal and a nice lily marks my mum's day. But i suppose it's Mother's Day to her for as long as i'm still her son...I Love mum!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
The 'Do Not Say' @ Work
Chanced this upon ChannelNewsAsia and thought it was quite interesting to share, which in actual fact, made you realise that just words as simple as the following could lead to huge misunderstanding and even in some circumstances, landing you in hot soup.
So, welcome to the world of reality...
"Try"
Try is a weasel word. "Well, I'll try," some people say. It's a cop-out. They're just giving you lip service when they probably have no real intention of doing what you ask. Remember what Yoda says to Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: "Do or do not--there is no try." Take Yoda's advice. Give it your all when you attempt something. And if it doesn't work, start over.
Put passion into your work and give it your best effort, so you can know that you did all you could to make it happen. So if the outcome you were expecting didn't come to fruition, it's not because you didn't do everything you could to make it happen. It just wasn't the right time for it or it wasn't meant to be.
"Whatever"
This word is a trusted favorite of people who want to dismiss you, diminish what you say or get rid of you quickly. "Whatever," they will say as an all-purpose response to your earnest request. It's an insult and a verbal slap in the face. It's a way to respond to a person without actually responding. When you say whatever after another person has said his or her piece, you have essentially put up a wall between the two of you and halted any progress in communicating. It's a word to avoid.
"Maybe" and "I don't know"
People will sometimes avoid making a decision and hide behind words and phrases like "maybe" and "I don't know." There's a difference between legitimately not knowing something and using words like these as excuses. Sometimes during a confrontation people will claim not to know something or offer the noncommittal response "maybe," just to avoid being put on the spot. If that seems to be the case, ask, "When do you think you will know?" or "How can you find out?" Don't let the person off the hook so easily.
"I'll get back to you"
When people need to buy time or avoid revealing a project's status, they will say, "I'll get back to you," and they usually never do. If people say they will get back to you, always clarify. Ask them when they will get back to you, and make sure they specify the day and time. If they don't, then pin them down to a day and time and hold them to it. If they won't give you a day or time, tell them you'll call in a day or week and follow up. Make sure you call and get the information you need.
"If"
Projects depend on everyone doing his or her part. People who use if are usually playing the blame game and betting against themselves. They like to set conditions, rather than assuming a successful outcome. People who rely on conditional responses are fortifying themselves against potential failure. They will say, "If Bob finishes his part, then I can do my part." They're laying the groundwork for a "no fault" excuse and for not finishing their work.
There are always alternatives, other routes and ways to get the job done. Excuse makers usually have the energy of a slug, the vision of Mr. Magoo and the spine of a jellyfish. You don't want them on your mountain climbing team up K-2 or Mount Everest.
"Yes, but ..."
This is another excuse. You might give your team members suggestions or solutions and they come back to you with "Yes, but . . ." as a response. They don't really want answers, help, or solutions. You need to call the "Yes, but . . ." people out on their avoidance tactic by saying something like: "You know, Jackie, every time I offer you a suggestion you say, 'Yes, but . . . ,' which makes me think you don't really want to solve this problem. That's not going to work. If you want to play the victim, go right ahead, but I'm not going to allow you to keep this up and I may have to report you." After a response like that, you can be assured that the next words you hear will not be, "Yes, but . . ."!
"I guess ..."
This is usually said in a weak, soft-spoken, shoulder-shrugging manner. It's another attempt to shirk responsibility--a phrase is only muttered when people half agree with you, but want to leave enough leeway to say, "Well, I didn't really know. . . . I was only guessing." If you use this phrase, cut it out of your vocabulary.
"We'll see ..."
How many times did we hear our parents say this? We knew they were buying time, avoiding a fight or confrontation or really saying no. It's better to be decisive and honest by saying, "I need more information. Please present your case or send me the data--both pro and con--so I can make an informed decision." That way the interested parties will contribute to an in-depth, well-researched "verdict."
So, welcome to the world of reality...
"Try"
Try is a weasel word. "Well, I'll try," some people say. It's a cop-out. They're just giving you lip service when they probably have no real intention of doing what you ask. Remember what Yoda says to Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: "Do or do not--there is no try." Take Yoda's advice. Give it your all when you attempt something. And if it doesn't work, start over.
Put passion into your work and give it your best effort, so you can know that you did all you could to make it happen. So if the outcome you were expecting didn't come to fruition, it's not because you didn't do everything you could to make it happen. It just wasn't the right time for it or it wasn't meant to be.
"Whatever"
This word is a trusted favorite of people who want to dismiss you, diminish what you say or get rid of you quickly. "Whatever," they will say as an all-purpose response to your earnest request. It's an insult and a verbal slap in the face. It's a way to respond to a person without actually responding. When you say whatever after another person has said his or her piece, you have essentially put up a wall between the two of you and halted any progress in communicating. It's a word to avoid.
"Maybe" and "I don't know"
People will sometimes avoid making a decision and hide behind words and phrases like "maybe" and "I don't know." There's a difference between legitimately not knowing something and using words like these as excuses. Sometimes during a confrontation people will claim not to know something or offer the noncommittal response "maybe," just to avoid being put on the spot. If that seems to be the case, ask, "When do you think you will know?" or "How can you find out?" Don't let the person off the hook so easily.
"I'll get back to you"
When people need to buy time or avoid revealing a project's status, they will say, "I'll get back to you," and they usually never do. If people say they will get back to you, always clarify. Ask them when they will get back to you, and make sure they specify the day and time. If they don't, then pin them down to a day and time and hold them to it. If they won't give you a day or time, tell them you'll call in a day or week and follow up. Make sure you call and get the information you need.
"If"
Projects depend on everyone doing his or her part. People who use if are usually playing the blame game and betting against themselves. They like to set conditions, rather than assuming a successful outcome. People who rely on conditional responses are fortifying themselves against potential failure. They will say, "If Bob finishes his part, then I can do my part." They're laying the groundwork for a "no fault" excuse and for not finishing their work.
There are always alternatives, other routes and ways to get the job done. Excuse makers usually have the energy of a slug, the vision of Mr. Magoo and the spine of a jellyfish. You don't want them on your mountain climbing team up K-2 or Mount Everest.
"Yes, but ..."
This is another excuse. You might give your team members suggestions or solutions and they come back to you with "Yes, but . . ." as a response. They don't really want answers, help, or solutions. You need to call the "Yes, but . . ." people out on their avoidance tactic by saying something like: "You know, Jackie, every time I offer you a suggestion you say, 'Yes, but . . . ,' which makes me think you don't really want to solve this problem. That's not going to work. If you want to play the victim, go right ahead, but I'm not going to allow you to keep this up and I may have to report you." After a response like that, you can be assured that the next words you hear will not be, "Yes, but . . ."!
"I guess ..."
This is usually said in a weak, soft-spoken, shoulder-shrugging manner. It's another attempt to shirk responsibility--a phrase is only muttered when people half agree with you, but want to leave enough leeway to say, "Well, I didn't really know. . . . I was only guessing." If you use this phrase, cut it out of your vocabulary.
"We'll see ..."
How many times did we hear our parents say this? We knew they were buying time, avoiding a fight or confrontation or really saying no. It's better to be decisive and honest by saying, "I need more information. Please present your case or send me the data--both pro and con--so I can make an informed decision." That way the interested parties will contribute to an in-depth, well-researched "verdict."
