土曜日, 4月 16, 2005
“It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.”
# posted by Unknown : 10:04 午後
Postmortem
Conducting a postmortem could be really emotionally exhausting especially if you're chairing this activity. Time and time again, I remind proj members to "not take it personally, it's not them but the process that was done". Probably it's human nature to associate oneself with one's output and thus the "process = person" connotation.
How can you arrive at an objective evaluation? In the corporate world lots have been said and done, good and bad decisions happen everyday but how can one contribute to improve himself and his team? I am beginning to understand that there's no hard and fast rule. We are all human beings, we have feelings and we are never the same. Everything really boils down to impression. A personal impression of how we interpret an event based on our experiences, values, feelings and association or disassociation for that matter. It's hard to make people understand that postmortems are not their PRP but rather a venue to reflect on what happened...
Maybe it's a cultural thing, but I find myself having a difficult time conducting this task with JP counterparts. This is not an audit report, I emphasized but there's a particular member who feels uncomfortable about it. She said she was just dictated by her manager to do what she did, to write what was written and to implement what was implemented, and now everything is pointed down to her. Somehow I pity her but as chair of this event, I cannot console her, I have to remain distant, objective (or at least try to be). And when I talked about it with Ate, she said, how can she say that now when all she heard from this girl before was "this is a great project", "everything is really great". If she didn't believe or she didn't want to do it, why did she abide? It's her fault, she cannot blame her boss for this.
It had me thinking there. Yes, she was probably a victim because of her vulnerability. But Ate has a point, we are ultimately responsible for the words that come out of our mouth, for the actions we do, for the things that happen to us. Our convictions led us to where we are. We owe everything to ourselves and that's a fact.
This postmortem is fast becoming an opening, a bridge to the journey of change...and I bet it's not going to be easy. As I said, there's no fast and hard rule. But, being the head of this activity, I should stay focused and firm and objective...and human enough to realize that it's probably gonna take more time ~ but we'll get there somehow.
# posted by Unknown : 9:42 午後
On Whining
I noticed that the past year, whining is slowly becoming a bad habit... How can I complain when I have so many blessing? Tsk tsk...it's about time I should remind myself stop being a cry baby. I should know better and should be a good example of the people around me. I should inspire, influence and spread positive energy and should not be absorbed into skepticism and complains. Afterall, how can I complain when I am given all what I need?
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When any fit of gloominess, or perversion of mind, lays hold upon you, make it a rule not to publish it by complaints. ~Samuel Johnson
If you have time to whine and complain about something then you have the time to do something about it. ~Anthony J. D'Angelo, The College Blue Book
You can overcome anything if you don't bellyache. ~Bernard M. Baruch
I think that the insane desire one has sometimes to bang and kick grumblers and peevish persons is a Divine instinct. ~Robert Hugh Benson
Oh, wouldn't the world seem dull and flat with nothing whatever to grumble at? ~W.S. Gilbert
I personally believe we developed language because of our deep inner need to complain. ~Jane Wagner
Untold suffering seldom is. ~Franklin P. Jones
Learn to accept in silence the minor aggravations, cultivate the gift of taciturnity, and consume your own smoke with an extra draft of hard work, so that those about you may not be annoyed with the dust and soot of your complaints. ~William Osler
In trying to get our own way, we should remember that kisses are sweeter than whine. ~Author Unknown
I can't complain but sometimes I still do ~Joe Walsh
It is no use to grumble and complain;It's just as cheap and easy to rejoice;When God sorts out the weather and sends rain -Why, rain's my choice.~James Whitcomb Riley
Sweat silently. Let's have no squawking about a little expenditure of energy. ~Martin H. Fischer
People that pay for things never complain. It's the guy you give something to that you can't please. ~Will Rogers
The world is so dreadfully managed, one hardly knows to whom to complain. ~Ronald Firbank
# posted by Unknown : 9:33 午後
The Joy That Blogging Brings
"You hit me right there!"
"I stayed up until 2am just to read your posts...they're so interesting."
"I'd be using these quotes in my scrapbook."
"Reading through your blog has been a morning routine to me."
"It's a cool great site!"
"I stayed up until 2am just to read your posts...they're so interesting."
"I'd be using these quotes in my scrapbook."
"Reading through your blog has been a morning routine to me."
"It's a cool great site!"
These bring so much joy into what I do. Blogging helps me stay sane, I gather. It's really great to be appreciated and it even feels greater to know that somehow, what I write, how I think, what I feel, it impacts at least one person. My blog is really a personal project, it's my open diary, it's something that I bravely decided to do to share my thoughts and my feelings, my hopes, disappointments, succeses, and others as well in the hope that it could bring smile into someone else' lips, or warm a lonely heart, or inspire a soul to do more with what he has by merely who he is.
But the joy of blogging is a journey that starts the moment I open my eyes in the morning, as I go about my morning routines and goes on with me as I take my daily route to work. It is sustained by the endless possibilities that could happen anytime, anyday whether in the office or out. It is the anticipation that something is going to happen, something good will touch my life and I would be able to share it with the readers. It is the bitter truth about life's UPs and DOWNs. And as the sun sets, my heart starts beating faster, the day is almost over..But not quite so, as something usually unexpected holds me from a boring routine of going home. As I open my apartment door my mind is already scanning for things to write. I'm so excited no matter how tired my body feels my spirit just wouldn't succumb to fatigue. And I open my laptop, logs in to edit my blog...and then I just type and type and type and then friends from US starts to get online and pops a message or two...and we drown ourselves into chats, until I finally yawn...Tomorrow is another day ~
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We all know people who are inspiring. But just how does one inspire others? Here are ten simple ways you can inspire people to be their best:
- Be a good example. People watch what you do more than they listen to what you say. Be someone worth emulating.
- Care about others. People don't care about how much you know until they know how much you care. Ask questions. Take a genuine interest in people.
- Encouragement. Everyone goes through tough times. When you support people and encourage them through these times, you'll be inspiring them to see the best in themselves and in the situation.
- Be inspired yourself. Look for people, ideas, environments and knowledge that you find inspiring and motivating.
- Share from your own experience. You have more to share than you realize. Mine the rich experiences of your life and share your wisdom from your unique point of view. You may be the only one who can touch someone with your inspiring message.
- Be vulnerable. Be willing to share your failures as well as your successes. Others will relate to you. They'll understand that they池e not the only ones with challenges.
- Tell stories. Facts tell and stories sell. They inspire, too. We learn best from parables and we all need to develop our own inspiring stories.
- Be a good communicator. Increasing your ability to communicate effectively is a critical element for you to inspire others. Watch how you speak and what you say. Invest in your communication skills.
- Challenge people. Many of us have had teachers who at times seemed more like tormentors than mentors. They challenged us to do our best, and we were better for it. Practice "care frontation"the careful and caring confrontation of others.
- Read. It may not follow that all readers are leaders, but certainly all leaders are readers. Stay informed. Share what you read with others. Tell people about books that have inspired you. Share the knowledge.
# posted by Unknown : 12:54 午前
A Crazy Professional Life...
The week didn't exactly flitter away. My company has made the most out of me this week. Whew~ What is happening with my life?! I never had a glimpse of cherry blossoms. I missed the passing of cherry blossoms in 2005, such a feeble personal life.
Toxic Monday ~ barely 8 hours after arriving, I had to deal with an All-Japanese audience for a 3-hour hearing. With my bare hands. You read it right, haven't received the ref docs yet and there I was, still exhausted from my flight, trying to stay awake and give 100% attention to something I still don't have a clear idea of.
Even more toxic Tuesday - Error Msg & UI-related bugs ballooned to over 200. How much worse could it get???
Wednesday - Have to do firefighting..again for the Nth time....how much worse could it get??? Mama took over the preparation for Thursday's meeting with Accenture and I got no feedback, all day long was trying to reach her, still no reply..and then the clock strikes 5pm. What do I do? Of course, I had to force all my nerves to try to recall Monday's meeting results to come up with a reference material..
Thursday - 8am meeting. 'Twas fairly OK. But I needed to rush to German E. to get my visa. Why do I feel as if I'm always running after everything lately? Then P-mark meeting...Even more work.....I went home early though, I'm so tired...
Friday - Woke up feeling a little bit refreshed. I decided I have to charge of my own life. Nobody could fix my sched but myself!
Then again...
Monday - Met two wonderful Taiwanese ladies, JingT and Irene H! I really like them ~ and they actually waited for me even if I went home at almost 11pm.
Tuesday - Yukiko and Jo-anne did their best to assist me in my German V. req. I really really appreciate it.
Wednesday - Trying times really do bring the best out of me. Trying times bring me & HB closer together and it matters a lot.
Thursday - Nice conversation with Agdie - most needed breather.
Friday - Thank God It's Friday! Got A-san to cooperate and define P-mark projects appropriately. Shida-san helped me access G1G3 folder. And I can finally have a window to catch up on Global CRM.
# posted by Unknown : 12:25 午前
金曜日, 4月 15, 2005
Great Gift...
"When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your life that you'll never get back. Your time is your life. That is why the greatest gift you can give someone is your time.".
# posted by Unknown : 1:16 午後
木曜日, 4月 14, 2005
God doesn't ask us to be successful but to be faithful
# posted by Unknown : 2:09 午後
Patience Is A Virtue
Day's Sidelights>Finally got Martin's fax(after 2 days!) tomorrow I'd be off again to the German E...My blood is rising and I am about to explode! I'm quite nearing the edge of patience, Breathe in.....~ Breathe out.... thanks to Tita, but no thanks! Yukiko, Joanne, HR all bothering me I guess I have to stretch my strings a little bit more. Stretch it, girl! Life is really teaching me this valuable lesson...
Day's Hightlight>>Thank goodness my angel came back! HB had been patient helping me decipher those handwritten memos. I usually tell him I wouldn't know what to do without him. Time and again, he proves me right. Now, I'm beginning to fear losing him, for I might lose my way too.
# posted by Unknown : 12:06 午前
水曜日, 4月 13, 2005
Love and vows of marriage
Love is patient; love is kind and envies no one.
Love is never boastful, nor conceited, nor rude;
never selfish, not quick to take offense.
There is nothing love cannot face;
there is no limit to its faith,its hope, and endurance.
In a word, there are three things
that last forever: faith, hope, and love;
but the greatest of them all is love.~ 1 Corinthians 13 ~
***
Love is never boastful, nor conceited, nor rude;
never selfish, not quick to take offense.
There is nothing love cannot face;
there is no limit to its faith,its hope, and endurance.
In a word, there are three things
that last forever: faith, hope, and love;
but the greatest of them all is love.~ 1 Corinthians 13 ~
***
"To have and to hold, from this day forward,For better or for worse, for richer or for poorer,In sickness and in health, to love and to cherish,Till death do us part." - a promise to be with but one person through out your lifetime. A promise to share a life, to be with each other, to hold each other's hands in good and in trying times...
***
"Sensual pleasure passes in the twinkling of an eye,
But the friendship between us,
The mutual confidence, the delights of the heart,
the enchantment of the soul,
These things cannot perish and can never be destroyed.
I shall love you until I die" - Voltaire
***
Love is a slow kiss goodnight.
It is anticipation.
Love is an imperfection in yourself not bothering you.
It is acceptance.
Love is passing up an opportunity because the time isn't right yet.
It is patience.
Love is a back massage that starts above the hairline and ends around the innersoles.
It is exploration.
Love is not having to say, "Let's make love", because you know what the other person wants. It is understanding.
It is consideration.
Love is both of you remembering protection.
It is responsibility.
Love is saying the perfect phrase to make a solemn embrace dissolve into giggles.
It is humor.
Love is reviewing the damage to your living room and realizing personal effects are strewn in a clockwise pattern from the front door to the bedroom.
It is desire.
Love is seeing what your lover really looks like for the first time.
It is truth.
Love is knowing what time it is and not caring.
It is joy.
Love is the arms around you tightening their embrace.
It is ecstasy.
Love is seeing a new side of a person you thought you knew.
It is renewal.
Love is telling a person if you have to leave, you will let them sleep, and being told they would rather be awakened.
It is tenderness.
Love is waking up to find the subject of the dream you were having asleep on your shoulder.
It is where fantasy meets reality.
Love is being there to wake your lover.
Slowly.
It is sensuousness.
Love is belatedly knowing why you bothered to buy a queen size bed three years ago.
It is practicality.
Love is two people only taking up a third of a queen size bed.
It is closeness.
Love is knowing you gave the extra set of keys to the right person.
It is trust.
Love is saying goodbye and knowing you will be back by mutual consent.
It is faith.
Love is stretching your arms and discovering the real meaning of the word "sore".
It is a lesson in human frailty.
Love is opening your medicine cabinet and finding your toothpaste turned into a pretzel.
It is adaptation.
Love is sitting at the window, looking out and remembering who you were the night before.
It is reflection.
Love is hearing the weather forecast for a winter storm and wishing you could spend it in bed with your lover.
It is loneliness.
Love is stories that will never be told.
It is personal.
Love is a slow kiss goodnight.
********************************
We often pass up the opportunity to be with the one person that keeps our mind sane when everybody else are insane, or keep us insane when everything we do or think are sane. Why is that? Why do we sacrifice not to be with this one person who makes our heart skip a beat? And yet we ache so much just to have a glimpse of their shadow. Why do we fight this most primitive, carnal, pure passion for this one special being that never fails to lighten our days? And could instantly turn our brightest sunshines into the darkest of nights in a split of a second? Why can't we sometimes just hug and kiss and never let go? Strange cosmopolitan world. Proud. Standing tall. Rich. But lame.
But what could possibly happen if we find the courage to hug and kiss and never let go? Wedding bells. A sharing of a lifetime together through out good and bad times. Miracles. Of love..and new life sustaining this mystic cycle of mankind.
********************************
# posted by Unknown : 12:17 午前
火曜日, 4月 12, 2005
Evil Step Sisters Reunited!
Gone are the days when bullying and bumming around with my evil step sis M & Vek are pasttimes! Soon my evil step sis Vek (in fab blue ) will be tying the knot and our baby evil sis M who happens to be thinking 'bout tying the knot as well...and that leaves us with a soon-to-be evil step-spinster me! wahhhh ~~~~~
# posted by Unknown : 11:52 午後
Jack's Loft must have heard a thousand cries from different Trenders (not excluding myself hahahaha) 
# posted by Unknown : 12:46 午前
It is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the doing. It is not how much we give, but how much love we put in the giving.
Manic Monday
Was really surprised to find out the airports have been so crowded...probably because it's already vacation season? My usual cramming self rushed to NAIA with a speed that could probably earn me a ticket for beating the red light! I made it nonetheless with a little help from my angel ^o^ in heaven. Yup yup, who would have thought I'd land on really nice immigration officers and a really nice bus driver.
After finding my way to the hotel at around 11.30pm I took the liberty of a long luxurious bath to reward my tired and aching body ~ otsukaresama! I didn't even feel the strong early morning earthquake that stopped a lot of trains. At 8.30am I rushed to the office. A 9am, 3-hour morning meeting, followed by a couple of others, and 2 big CPW issues raised by WebMark is not exactly a good welcome home greeting for me. Add to that my urgent assignment to come up with the summary of what was discussed in the morning's Global CRM meeting. I know it's my job but a little break to catch my breathe first and catch up on those 2 ongoing project weeks would have cheered me up a little bit more. Not to mention that both HR and Yukiko are hunting me for German Visa, COE and the search for my new place...whew, such a Manic monday...
On the brighter side of life, I met 2 new wonderful Taiwanese Trenders, Irene H and JingT who were kind enough to wait for me ~
Global CRM User Advocacy Group seems to be passionate about the project (good sign good sign!)
Was able to clarify my priorities and have Lolo J approve my suggestions ( on how to offload myself a little bit).
Yukiko has been really soo kind and accommodating to me especially in taking care of my german visa app.
And of course who else could turn my blues into blossoming cherry blossoms but my HB...need I say more?! :)
# posted by Unknown : 12:07 午前
Thanks for visiting!