Who moved my Cheese?

This book was written by Dr. Spenser Johnson together with his other inspirational business books!  The shortest that I have read thus far, just 2 hours because it's very simple and practical.  It is applicable to almost everybody and it's just amazing how one person can relate to another even if they are having a different life path. 

I think what's effective in this book is that  four characters were presented, everybody who will read the book can easily relate to any of the characters.

There is a quote that says "I can give sound advice but I cannot apply it to myself" -- same case here.  A situation is given to the characters and as a third person looking at the situation, it is likely that we will advice them of the same actions to take but if we are in that situation, will we do what we have adviced?

An interesting story that talks about how life gets complicated if we do not accept change as it happens.  Change is inevitable, it's the only constant thing in this world.  If we cannot adapt with the changes then it will be doubly hard for us to move forward.

Change happens any time to any one at any place and the best way to deal with it is to face it with an action plan! Here are the changes that may occur to us: 

- Changing schools

- Graduating from college

- Changing roles within an organization

- Changing supervisors or subordinates

- Changing companies

- Getting married

- Having children

- Change in financial situation

- Changing business strategy

- Changing location (home)

and a lot more that I can think of.  From simple to complex they are all the same.  So how do we deal with it?  

Simple: we accept the fact that change happens and we need to act fast in adapting to it.  Here are some tips that I learned from the book:

1. Recognize change even before it actually happens - this means being sensitive with the situation we are at and anticipating that change can occur.  In anticipating, we are preparing ourselves for what is about to happen and avoiding surprises along the way. 

 

2.  Let go of Fear - most of the time, its our fear that makes our decisions clouded.  We spend all our energy fearing what's beyond rather that directing the energy to finding better ways to do things.   We need to let it go because it will clear our mind on what we really need to do.  If we are afraid to move forward to an unfamiliar place then we will be in a "no good place" situation.  Sometimes (or most of the time) it will help us grow and mature as individuals if we (just try to) move out from our comfort zones.

3. Looking at change in a positive way - a change can happen as an effect of a difficult situation.  In any case, we need to look at changes as an opportunity for us to do better.  Another saying goes "If the door closes, a window will open" -- but let me add to that -- we do not wait for the window to open, we need to make it happen and act positively.

4. Simple is better - sometimes we, humans, tend to complicate things.  Though it's best to assess a situation and do root cause analysis (if something went wrong) it's also not good to dwell too much on it.  We need to act fast.

Now what's next? Let's all be ready for the change that we have been waiting for.  Let's anticipate, accept and act on the changes that comes along!

Xoxo

 

The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom

My favorite motto from Highschool until now is this: 

If you come early, you are wasting your time.

If you come late, you are wasting somebody's time.

If you come on time, you are wasting nobody's time.

So please come on time!

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I had the chance to read another Mitch Albom book and it's all about Time (the title was very clear :))
From the time that we were born up to this very minute, we are all bounded by time. 

Was born on November 15, 2007 at 11:15am

Was wed on May 22, 2010 at 2:30pm

Everything is time and motion, like every move is timed and this was how the story was presented.  One wanted to have more time (to live) and another wants time to stop (to savour the moment) -- but in reality, what do we really need?

If you ask me, I would have wished if there can be another day in a week; making it 8 days a week. I think it's enough time to go through the normal route of ones life.  And in that additional day, i wished that we can do more!! 

But that's not the way the world works.  Time is as it is, time! There is nothing we can do to extend it -- we can only live with it and make the most out of it.

How?? By being thankful, contented and happy.  Sometimes being too pre-occupied with things or fame makes us forget how precious time is and I mean spending each time to the things that matters most to us.  To the things that money can't buy but only time can give. 

Here are some simple examples on how we can make use of our time wisely: 

1. Spend more time with family - this is what you call "Emotional Insurance" (from the Last Lecture of Randy Pausch).  Creating memories that can last a lifetime is something money can't buy; because giving our laughters and cheers then recieving warmth and comfort from your family is just priceless.

2. Spend more time with ourselves - Health is wealth and thus it is important to also take care of our physical, emotional, phsycological self because it is from being healthy that we can give back. How? There are many ways and doing them effectively will make us more productive. 

3. Do something that interests you - may it be reading a good book, cleaning the house, painting, cooking, DIYing, crafting and many more -- things that can make you productive and fulfilled.  Things that you can pass on as a legacy and can leave a memory of you! Though internet surfing and watching tv might be classified as interesting, I say that it should be minimal.  Like Randy Pausch, I also believe that watching TV is an ultimate time waster. 

4. Do not over sleep - this is just me.  I believe that over sleeping is not "catching up on sleep", for me it's a waste of time! We need to get the daily sleep required per day so that we don't need to catch up on it on a weekend, where we could have been doing something productive - like cooking for our family. 

5. Work 8 productive hours - though this is something where we get a living, we are only required 8 hours per day to do this. Therefore, we need to make each minute of the 8 hour workday productive.

We all have our strategy on how we can make do of the time that we have here on earth because each precious moment that we live in is a gift from Him.  We then should be thankful because He made it all possible.  Giving thanks may require some time for us but it's always worth doing because it will be given back to us in thousand folds! ^_^

Xoxo

Five People you meet in Heaven

This is my fourth book and I am happy to read another Mitch Albom inspiration.  This is all about life and how things happen for a reason.

Many of us look at our lives as a journey.  We always look forward and we always learn from the past but this book tells me that life is not just me moving forward or learning from the past -- it's more of understanding what we didn't know in the first place. 

There were five people whom Eddie met in Heaven and from those five, I have gathered my own inspiration that I would like to share with all of you. 

I. Life is a coin; there can only be one head  - in our daily grind we will encounter a lot of people.  People who has their own business in life and might have their own struggles.  If we come across difficult people, sometimes it pays to be quiet for 5 seconds and think if it will be worth it to be angry to them.  We don't know what they went through or have been going through and so being quite sometimes gives them a favor or the other way around.  

II. Sacrifice - we often hear this word when somebody died.  In sacrificing it does not always mean that someone has to die -- not all the time.  For me it's simple; I can relate it to decision making.  Decisions, decisions, decisons -- they are an integral part of our daily lives, whether or not it's a huge decision or not, still we need to choose.  Most of the time we want everything in our favor but that's not how the world works, there will always be trade offs and that is when we sacrifice. 

When Sweets left for Malaysia to work, I had to make a decision on whether or not to follow him there.  I was having a blast with my career and yet I felt that I will be incomplete if Sweets is not with me.  I had to make a tough decision; it seemed no brainer but I had to think thoroughly, I had to consult a lot of people then finally came with the decision to go to Malaysia.

That for me was sacrifice worth doing!

III. We are all connected with Love - scientifically speaking, we were all made out of love and that's why love is so special.  It made us all connected.  Therefore, it's important that we value where we came from, our parents.  When I was younger, I tend to look at them as the villain who wants to chain me up -- i didn't understand it.  Now, it's a whole lot different story.  My parents and my parents in law are one of the ultimate individuals in my life and I will be forever thankful to them! 

IV. For the bitter and the sweet - how I loved this line!  It was mentioned by the one and only love of Eddie, Marguerite.  Her heaven was weddings in different countries and for me, my wedding was one of the best moments in my Life and it felt like Heaven.   It was, when all I can think of was spending my entire life with Sweets and spending it with him "for the bitter and the sweet". 

V. Peace of mind - this is the ultimate heaven.  Having to think about nothing and just be carefree is a special gift that we can give to ourselves.  Therefore, if something is bothering us then we need to speak up.   Most of the time, we just need to ask to get the answers that we need! 

Lastly, Heaven for me is everything!  It's the way we percieve things.  If we look at things on a positive note then anywhere we go, anyone we meet will be a piece of heaven here on earth! 

Xoxo

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

When I told my manager, Ms My, that I was doing some reading, she lend me her book. 

It was "The Last Lecture" written by Randy Pausch.

The book was really about his life and was very inspiring.
He had pancreatic cancer and had just months to live.  One of the things that he decided to do while he was still physically fit was to give his last lecture.  He was a professor, a scienist!

I want to share again the items that struck me the most.  The things that I want to relate in my life and to share to people who are important to me.

Time is Precious - especially when you are trying to win a battle over a terminal illness.  

When I look at my life, I am more inclined to spend my time with my family and friends rather than watch a movie or browse the internet.  One item that was mentioned in the book was "Emotional Insurance" -- aside from investing all our money for life insurance, we should invest our time for Emotional Insurance.  We will never realize it but the premiums for an Emotional Insurance is worth every memory that we can build with our family.  Thus, now that we have all the time in the world, let's make sure that we are investing them the right way.  Seing travel escapades, happy lunches and get together photos are more exciting and memorable than a branded bag (This is just me investing memories that can last a lifetime!).

Gratitude - Randy was very specific when he mentioned the people who have helped him along the way.  His parents, his wife and children, his colleagues, mentors and football coach.  He was very pleased and thankful for all the opportunites that were given to him. 

In our journey in this wonderful life, we will come across people whom will become instrumental for our success.  We need to recognize them as a special part of our lives and give back what we have achieved by thanking them. Personally, I am a recipient of good leadership, and I always make sure that I pay it forward.  We are sharing the wisdom so that future generations will realize the importance of gratitude. 

Brick Wall - according to Randy, "Brick Walls are there so that we can assess how badly we want something".

In all reality this is very true.  The things that we badly want are not easy to get, most of the time we need to fight for it.  I think what's important is for us to identify which of the Brick Walls in our lives are worth fighting for and which are just hallow brick walls.

Ask - many times in Randy's life and career all he had to do was to ask and most of the time he gets what he wants.

In our daily grind, whether at work or at home, it always pays to ask.  Most of the time it helps fasten processes or tasks, sometimes it even helps build long term relationship or even success in career.  

Coach Graham - Coach Graham taught him the fundamentals.  

On their first football practice, coach didn't bring any football.  He said that there are 22 football players in the field and only one is holding the ball.  He wanted to teach them what the other 21 people should be doing.

Sometimes we are more focused in shooting the ball, we forget how the game is played.  

Like in our lives -- we are busy achieving our goals and we forget about the little things that should matter to us, the fundamentals on why we are alive.  I am not discounting the fact that dreaming big is essential but we need to be always grounded and reminded on where our motivations and drive to succeed are coming from in the first place. :D

This book is just magical! If I will write my book maybe it will look like this and if I can share more information about this book, I could go on and on and I won't have space to write on!  This book is mostly shared in the corporate world and I hope you will also have the chance to read it! 

Again, let's nurture our lives! We can never tell when our time is up! 

Xoxo