Success and Failure (II)

  

Question:

Assuming you are working for a comb manufacturing company and being assigned the task to sell combs to the monks in the temples? Possible?


What is your answer?

a) Crazy!

b) No Way, Impossible!

c) Since it is my boss’s instruction, I have no choice but to try.

d) Maybe, I will try.

e) Ya, I think I can sell ??? (how many pieces?)

Pick an answer above and read below to find out if you are/you are going to be a successful person or not at all. Have some fun with the pictures that show how creative and naughty kids can be.

Now the story is twisted with the same company intending to expand its business and required a new Sales Manager. After advertising the vacancy in the local papers, the response received was quite encouraging. Management has the difficult task of selecting the right candidates for the final interview.

Once the task was made known – “Selling Comb To Monks In Temples” only 3 applicants were willing to come forward for the last qualifying hurdle. They were given only 10 days to try out and report back together on the next appointment.

On the eventful day, all 3 appeared in front of the panel of interviewers: Each of them was given the chance to show their results and how it was done.

Mr A answered shyly : Only ONE. The monks in the temples chided me when I showed them the comb. Luckily on my way back I met a young monk who bought it to scratch his itchy head due to dandruff.

Mr B answered proudly: TEN pieces. The strong wind outside the shrine messed up the hairs of many devotees and they needed combs badly to tidy up before praying at the altar. I managed to convince the monk to buy the combs for them in showing respect to the Buddha statue.

Mr C spoke aloud: THOUSAND pieces. (all were astounded to hear that).  I was observing the crowd at a famous temple for couple of days before approaching the Chief Abbot in charge:

“Sifu, those who come here are much devoted. If you could give them a gift, it will be more elating to them.”

I proposed he raft his handwriting on the combs as a present to the worshippers in appreciation for their visits. He was very delighted and ordered 1,000 pieces immediately.

SELLING SHOES TO AFRICANS…..

The storyline is quite similar. When 2 salesmen were sent to that continent,

The first one reported “Don't waste time. No one wears shoes there?”

The second salesman said: “It is good to market.  A lot of opportunity.”




TO LIVE OR DIE FOR OLD EAGLE…

Eagle has a lifespan of about 70 years. However, nearing 40, it is unable to fly well and the claws start to degenerate and thus cannot grab the preys properly. At this point in time, it has to make a choice – wait for death or undergo a renewal process. To live, it must make a strong attempt to reach the hill top/summit and remain there for the next 150 days. During this time, it will hit its features on hard stone to drop off and wait for the new ones to regenerate in the specified period to continue its balance 30 years life.

MORAL OF THE STORY:

HARVARD UNIVERSITY had done a research to conclude that:

“85% of success is due to ATTITUDE and 15% is capability.”

-  Attitude is derived from self-cultivation, public relation and ability to adapt.

-  Capability is what one possesses in terms of professional knowledge, intelligence, special skills and luck.

Hence, Success and Failure is dependent mainly on our attitude towards problems. Applying the 85% right working attitude fully leads to higher chance of success.

In conclusion…

In life, there are inevitable turmoils and problems to resolve frequently, Dalai Lama used to say: If you only have smooth sail in life, you will be weak. The teething environment helps to shape you up so that you have the gut to resolve problems.

Remember, when times are good, there are still people going bankrupt. When times are bad, they are many new millionaires born as well!

Last noteworthy comments:

“IT IS NOT THE STRONGEST OF THE SPECIES THAT SURVIVES, NOR THE MOST INTELLIGENT, BUT THE ONE MOST RESPONSIVE TO CHANGE.”

Charles Darwin (1809-1882), British naturalist

SUCCESS and FAILURE (I)

  

Failure is often associated with negative connotation much disliked and to be avoided at all cost. However, examine carefully and you should see something positive in it too. Mark these words:

“FAILURE IS THE MOTHER OF SUCCESS AS IT CONTAINS THE SEED OF VICTORY AND OF SUCCESS!”

Why fail?

Every decision we make in life ends up either in the right or wrong way. The right way is mostly met with success and the wrong way with failure. Understanding the dynamics involved puts failure in its proper perspective and diminishes its inherent fear. Thus, a person who experiences temporary failure stops thinking that he is not good enough or that he will never make it.  it just simply means that he has not found the correct method yet!

One has to go back to the drawing board to find out where has gone wrong. The next attempt should see a different approach applies. Again if does not work relook at everything done so far. As changes are required each time, most people are fearful of the process involved and choose to give up.  By so doing, you have accepted defeat. What matters most is to study the reasons for any failure and learn from it to find the key to the door of success. Unveil your many hidden talents and start working towards realizing your dreams!

Talk to highly successful people who have made it in this area. The great inventor Thomas Edison knew this truth better than anyone else.  It took him 8000 trials before he perfected the Edison battery.  Afterwards he uttered this famous quote: “At least we know 8000 things that don’t work”.

Borrowing the words of the author and mentor to many great men, Napoleon Hill: “Every failure, every adversity and every heartache, carries with it the seed of an equivalent or a greater benefit“.




ACHIEVING SUCCESS IN A CELEBRATED WAY….

Easy success?

Hard earned success is more lasting as one knows the path to get there. Thus, he is not afraid of losing what has been learned to become successful.

On the contrary, those who easily got success do not really know the path.  By getting there too quickly he has missed out looking around. Hence, the strong fear of losing what is gotten by chance and not likely to be repeated.

Integrity involved?

The world is filled with people like drug dealers, con artists, unscrupulous business-people and corrupt politicians who amass fortunes in questionable ways. If success is measured according to the accumulated riches in a dishonest manner, the key elements of success, namely character and integrity are missing.

In the working class environment, everyone is eager to climb up the corporate ladder speedily and some may resort to taking shortcuts. Does it prick your conscience to see a pile of bodies you stepped on in order to get to the top? If so, be prepared to get stepped on in return. Having the accompanying fear and guilt is never good for any character.

Celebrated portrait photographer, Yousuf Karsh, famous for shooting celebrities and world leaders commented that great people do have in common an immense belief in themselves and their mission. They also have great determination and ability to work hard. At the crucial moment of decision, they draw upon their accumulated wisdom. Above all, they embrace

INTEGRITY.

Quoted from Albert Einstein: “Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character.”


 



In essence, good character is the key to success, be it large or small. By treating others with honesty and respect, you can expect reciprocation and any assistance when the opportunity arises. Success achieved without character and integrity is merely a shadow. What we should strive to achieve is meaningful success in life.

Remember Rome is not built in a day.  Lots of painstaking effort, time and sacrifices required to create these showpieces. Persevere and never quit in the face of adversities.

Success for WINNERS!

  

The only thing more painful than learning from experience is not learning from experience at all.  Do you have to learn just from your own experience when it is so much easier and less painful to learn from the experiences of others?

This list is the anecdote to “expensive experience” simple to understand yet hard to put into practice.  Hope everyone pick up this note if you want to refine your character or, when you are lost or disillusioned.

1. Do not bear a grudge towards those who are not good to you.  No one has the responsibility of treating you well, except your loved ones. Be forgiving of others as to yourself. To those who are good to you, you have to treasure it and be grateful. At the same time, be careful of unreal friend who has a motive for every move.

2. You honour your words, but do not expect others to be so. Do not lay high expectations to all people if you do not want to end up with unnecessary troubles.

3. Loving the right person. This one decision may determine 90% of your happiness or misery. Take good care of those you truly love. However, if love is lost as people around you do not want you anymore, or when you lose what/whom you love most, do not despair. Be patient as time will wash away your aches and sadness. In essence, appreciate the beauty and sweetness of love, but not linger on the sadness of falling out of love.

4. Passion at work. All time and effort are not wasted as the commitment to constant improvement, quality, perseverence, enthusiasm and determination is upheld. Nothing great was ever achieved without such great passion.

5.  Thriftiness is a virtue. However, be generous if you can afford to give to those deserving your help.

6.  Treat everyone as you would like to be treated.  In a relationship, be honest, loyal and respectable.  It is very warming to see how people can give more than expected in a cheerful manner. Happiness is not built on possessions, power or prestige, but on real feelings of mutual love and respect.

7.  If things do not work out well, stop blaming others. Be bold and courageous to admit responsibility as final decision rests on you. Looking back, most people regret the things not accomplished more than those done.

8.  Never stop learning. Learning is a never ending experience to enrich our life. Whatever knowledge you gain is your weapon in life.

Some wise words from a world-renowned Chinese philosopher Confucius:


“If you do not actively make use of what you have learned but continue to study on the surface, your knowledge is increasing but it is only superficial.


If you do apply your knowledge diligently, but stop studying, you will only do things based on your own opinion, thinking it is correct.  In fact, what you know is not the truth!


To believe in what you read is equally important. 

Do not read books that block your intelligence and wisdom, undermining your aspirations and sense of direction.”


9.  Be positive. A positive person is constantly looking at the positive side of the situation and thus viewed as a natural motivator. In life, every encounter bears two choices. One can choose to be in good or bad mood to face the consequence. Even bad result is not a hindrance if you choose to learn from the experience.

In a nutshell, the key is to continue making yourself a more attractive person by the skills you have, the disciplines you have, the personality you have acquired, the character and reputation you have established, the language and speech you use – all of that refinement makes you more attractive to the marketplace.

Life is short. When you waste your life today, tomorrow you would find that life is leaving you. Most people would idle around and wait for fate to take them wherever the destination may be.  We have to take each day as it comes in good spirit, do not waste anymore time and chance. The earlier you treasure your life, the better you enjoy life. 

DONT LIVE LIFE TO REGRET.  TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR OWN LIFE!

WINNERS Are People Like YOU!

by Nancy Sims

Winners take chances

Like everyone else, they fear failing

but they refuse to let fear control them

Winners dont give up

When life gets tough, they hang on

until the going gets better

Winners are flexible

They realise there is more than one way

and are willing to try others

Winners know they are not perfect

They respect their weaknesses

while making the most of their strengths

Winners fall, but they dont stay down

They stubbornly refuse to let a fall

keep them from climbing….

Winners don't blame fate for their failures

nor luck for their successes

They accept responsibility for their lives

Winners are positive thinkers

who see good in all things

From the ordinary, they make the extraordinary

Winners believe to the path they have chosen even

when it’s hard, even when others cant see where they are going

Winners are patient

They know a goal is only as worthy

as the effort that’s required to achieve it

On reflection, winners must have the right minds….

GREAT minds speak of IDEAS

AVERAGE minds speak of EVENTS

SMALL minds speak of PEOPLE.

Indian chief vs Red Indian chief (jokes)

  

Case 1 :  Indian Chief

One day, an Indian father makes a proposal to his grown-up son.

Dad: I want you to marry a girl of my choice.

Son:  No way. I will choose my own bride!!!

Dad: But the girl is Bill Gates’s daughter..

Son: Really? if so… ok

Next dad approaches Bill Gates

Dad: I have a husband for your daughter….

Bill Gates: But my daughter is too young to marry !!!!

Dad: But this young man is a vice-president of the World Bank.

Bill Gates: Ah, if so … ok

Finally dad goes to see the President of the World Bank…

Dad: I have a young man to be recommended as a Vice-President.
President: But I already have more vice- presidents than I need!

Dad: But this young man is Bill Gates’s son-in-law.

President: ‘Ah, if so… ok’

See this is how wonderful the Indian businessmen conduct their dealings.

Case 2 :  Red Indian Chief

It was autumn time, and the Red Indian tribe asked their New Chief if the coming winter was going to be cold or mild. As a modern Red Indian chief, he was unable to provide the weather forecast.

As winter is usually cold, he replied that this time should not be an exception and that the members of the village should be prepared and start collecting wood.

After thinking over the matter for few days, he came up with a brilliant idea to make it happened. He called the National Weather Service from the phone booth and asked ‘Is the coming winter going to be cold?’

‘It looks like this winter is going to be quite cold indeed,’ the weather man responded.

So the Chief went back to his people and told them to stock up more wood.

A week later, he called the National Weather Service again.


‘Is it going to be a very cold winter?’

‘Yes,’ the same guy replied,

‘It’s definitely going to be a very cold winter.’

The Chief again went back to his people and ordered them to collect every scrap of wood they could find. Two weeks later, he called the Centre again.

‘Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?’

‘Absolutely,’ This time the same guy replied. ‘It’s going to be one of the coldest winters ever’

”How can you be so sure?’ the Chief asked.

The weatherman replied, ‘The Red Indians are collecting wood like crazy.’

This is how stock markets work!!! It is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

See any similiarity in both cases?

BIRDS OF THE SAME FEATHERS FLOCK AND DIE TOGETHER !!!

The influential power of HEARSAY applies in any community.  Do your diligent homework and do NOT be fooled by others easily.

Learning Chinese the fun way (jokes)

  

If you are bored, have some laughter.  The texts seem to be ridiculing the modern people but the contents definitely hold some grains of truth.

朋友您好，為了你好，請您坐好，用心聽好。

 

錢多錢少，夠吃就好。人醜人美，順眼就好。

人老人少，健康就好。家窮家富，和氣就好。

老公晚歸，有回就好。老婆嘮叨，顧家就好。

孩子從小，就要教好。

 

博士也好，賣菜也好，長大以後，乖乖就好。

房屋大小，能住就好。名不名牌，能穿就好。

兩輪四輪，能駕就好。老闆不好，要忍就好。

 一切煩惱，能解就好。堅持執著，放下最好。

人的一生，平安就好。不是有錢，一定會好。

心好行好，命能改好。誰是誰非，天知就好。

修福修慧，來世更好。天地萬物，隨緣就好。

很多事情，看開就好。說這麼多，明白就好。

人人都好，日日都好 。你好我好，世界更好。

總而言之，知足最好。

沒錢的時候，養豬

 

有錢的時候，養狗。


沒錢的時候，在馬路上騎自行車；

 

有錢的時候，在客廳裡騎自行車!

 

說股票是毒品，都在玩； 說金錢是罪惡，都在撈

 

說美女是禍水，都想要； 說高處不勝寒，都在爬

 

舊社會戲子賣藝不賣身， 新社會演員賣身不賣藝。

 

說煙酒傷身體，就不戒； 說天堂最美好，都不去

 

過去把第一次留給丈夫； 現在把第一胎留給丈夫

 

鄉下早晨雞叫人， 城裡晚上人叫雞

 

沒錢的時候, 想結婚； 有錢的時候, 想離婚

 

沒錢的時候, 老婆兼秘書； 有錢的時候, 秘書兼老婆

 

沒錢的時候, 假裝有錢； 有錢的時候, 假裝沒錢

 

沒錢的時候 在家裡吃野菜；

 

有錢的時候 在酒店吃野菜。

 

如今, 沒結婚的像結婚的一樣同居，

結婚的像沒有結婚一樣分居;

 

動物像人一樣穿上了衣服，人像動物一樣露著肉;

 

小孩子像大人一樣成熟，大人像小孩子一樣幼稚;

 

女人像男人一樣爺們，男人像女人一樣娘們;

 

沒錢的像有錢的一樣裝富，有錢像沒錢的一樣裝窮;

 

 

人生是什麼?

 

  1 歲時出場亮相

 

10 歲時功課至上

 

20 歲時春心盪漾

 

30 歲時職場對抗

 

40 歲時身材發胖

 

50 歲時打打麻將

 

60 歲時老當益壯

 

70 歲時常常健忘

 

80 歲時搖搖晃晃

 

90 歲時迷失方向

 

100 歲時掛在牆上

以前提到結婚、想到【天長地久】

現在提到結婚、想到【能撐多久】

當初會結婚、說是【看上眼】

後來會離婚、說是【看走眼】

婚前、愛情是【神話】

婚後、愛情是【笑話】

戀愛時【情話綿綿】

結婚後【謊話連連】

戀愛時的男人、喜歡【毛手毛腳】

結婚後的男人、變成【沒手沒腳】

婚前的男人、大都很【幽默】

婚後的男人、大都很【沈默】

戀愛時、一見面就【親嘴】

結婚後、一見面就【鬥嘴】

戀愛時、總想許下輩子【再結良緣】

結婚後、懷疑是上輩子【造作孽緣

Challenge your mind

  

(1)  The fishing story

The Japanese are famous for loving fresh fish and eating them raw (sushi). However, the supply is fast depleting in the coastal waters of Japan in recent times. To feed the increasing Japanese population, more catches are required and fishing trawlers have to be bigger and venture further out. However, this poses a problem as the return trip takes more than a few days and the fish will not be fresh then. Freezers have to be installed to preserve the freshness of the catch once harvested at sea.

Even then, the Japanese could tell the difference between fresh and frozen fish. As freshness is compromised, prices fetched are not desirable. The fishing companies were left with no choice but to install tanks to keep the fish alive. It was subsequently found that after a little thrashing around, the fish became exhausted and bored, but managed to keep alive. Again, the lively taste of freshness was below satisfaction.

If you were consulting the fish industry, what would you recommend?

Tips:  To preserve the freshness of the fish, let them remain in the tanks. Small sharks are placed inside every tank with the fish caught. The shark needs to eat only a few fish, but keep the rest arrived in a very lively state.

THE FISH ARE DELIBERATELY CHALLENGED !


(2) Who to pick up?

Driving down the winding road in your two seater car on a wild, stormy night, you spotted three people at the bus stop seeking help -

1. A frail-looking old lady in her dying moment;

2. A great buddy who once saved your life;

3. The dream partner you have been looking for all these years.

Given the limitation in helping only one, which one would you choose to offer a ride to, As your decision may involve moral/ethnical consideration, think hard as life is at stake, chance to repay your saver and the perfect mate you are craving for.

This case study was once actually used as part of a job application. During the session, 200 candidates attended but only one was on the right track.

He simply answered: ‘I would give the car keys to my buddy and let him take the lady to the hospital. I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the partner of my dreams.’

Bravo!

Recommendations

Most people are fearful of challenges because failing can ruin their perspective of life. The situation can be tough if challenges are too big or too many presented at the same time. If your challenges are the correct size, and if you are steadily conquering them, you can gain lots of satisfaction.

What is constantly pulling us back is our stubborn thought, and thus changing the mindset is necessary. A burst of energy can propel us to take on new challenges and change that perspective of life if we learn the episode with the right frame of mind.  The sheer determination to success lies on how to reorganize, counting on our resources, skills and abilities. In fact, people who are intelligent, persistent and competent appreciate a good problem. These positive thinking individuals are excited to try new solutions and enjoy the fun of discovering new ways.

For the majority of the people the best solution is derived in a simple manner. It was observed by L. Ron Hubbard in the early 1950′s.

“Man thrives, oddly enough, only in the presence of a challenging environment.”

They lead a simple life. As soon as a wonderful mate is found, start a family and bear children. At the later part of their lives, clear off all debt commitments and stay free. As there is no need to work so hard anymore, a person tends to relax and lose passion. This is alike the same experience of lottery winners who waste their money, wealthy heirs who never grow up and bored homemakers who get addicted to prescription drugs.

Life is a challenge if we dare to set bigger goals once the smaller ones are met. As an extension, once you meet your personal or family needs, move onto goals for your group, the society and the great mankind!

Hello! Are you HAPPY?

  

With the success of Bhutan in achieving high rating for Gross National Happiness Index, some countries like Canada, France and UK are adopting benchmark to measure the level of national happiness too.  This is a deviation from traditional practice of measuring success using economic indicators such as GDP.


With the basic needs (eg. food and security) met in an affluent society for majority of the population, philosophers, researchers and politicians understand people are doing a lot of soul-searching, with religion usually being a solace to achieve inner peace and harmony with the environment.


Wealth and consumption no longer equate with happiness if the law of diminishing return applies.  Hence, wealthy nations enjoy higher standard of living may not necessarily be better off than the poorer nations in terms of Happiness Standard.

Measuring happiness and well-being can be very subjective.  Bhutan considered individual and societal values like psychological well-being, education, health, time management, culture, ecology, living standard and governance.  Other indexes include freedom, safety, entrepreneurial opportunity and inequalities of income.

No wonder the mega-rich are giving away like there is no tomorrow.  It is reported that 40 billionaires have taken the Gates-Buffett pledge to commit in handing out at least half of their fortunes during their lifetimes or at death.  Sure their descendants would inherit much lesser but the world is made a better place as life-saving and life changing causes can kick off with the colossal sum available now. 

China with many newborn super-rich is now represented on the list, as the American tradition of philanthropy continues to spread around the world.  Thanks all to the full dedication of Gates to enable his Foundation clinched the top spot of philanthropist list with cumulative pledged sum in the region of US$190-240 billion.

How to be happy with or without money?

The 12 Commandments of Being Happy:

1.  Make up your mind to be happy.  Learn to find pleasure in simple things.

2.  Make the best of your circumstances.  No one has everything and everyone has something of sorrow intermingled with gladness of life.  The trick is to make the laughter outweighs the tears.


3.  Dont take yourself too seriously.  Dont think that somehow you should be protected from misfortune that befalls other people.

4.  You cant please everybody.  Dont let criticism worry you.

5.  Dont let your neighbour set your standards.  Be yourself.

6.  Do the things you enjoy doing but stay out of debt.

7.  Never borrow trouble. 
Imaginary things are harder to bear than real ones.

8.  Since hate poisons the soul, do not cherish jeolousy.  Avoid people who make you unhappy.  Treasure your loved ones.  Be appreciative to those who care to help and share.

9.  Have many interests.  If you cant travel, read about new places.

10.  Dont hold postmortems.  Dont spend your time brooding over sorrows or mistakes.  Dont be one who never gets over things.

11.  A busy person never has time to be unhappy.

12.  Be charitable. Do what you can for those less fortunate than yourself.

It is the season of giving.  Give generously to receive many more doses of happiness!!!

More comments

+  Famous Zen master Shi Xiqian of the Tang Dynasty had a peculiar recipe for the secrets of good health and longevity – benevolence, wisdom, sincerity, integrity, love and caring are strong virtues one should uphold to lead a happy life.

+  Happy at all times and places:

(1)  Career

Frederick Herzberg: ‘THE POWERFUL MOTIVATOR IN OUR LIVES ISNT MONEY.  IT’S THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, TO GROW IN RESPONSBILITIES, CONTRIBUTE TO OTHERS, AND BE RECOGNISED FOR ACHIEVEMENTS.”

(2)   Family

A family can be a constant source of happiness if we are able to masterfully allocate our resources, namely time, talents and energy. Naturally people become unhappy to see ruined relationships.

(3)  Oneself

Many times in life we are caught in a situation between doing ‘right‘ or ‘wrong‘.  Most of us are guilty of this ‘marginal costs’ mistake by allowing ourselves to do it wrong ‘just this once’.

(4)  Others

By noticing and appreciating others gives a person a purpose in life with good sense of well being and life satisfaction.  These individuals are more disposed to feel thankful in a bigger way when the occasion arises and constantly look out for such opportunities given their ability to appreciate a wider range of people and events.  For instance, being helped they are ready to show much appreciation and offer help in return instantly to repay others’ kindness.

In general, gratitude receives deserving rewards whilst ingratitude begets its own penalty.  Hence, the road to happiness is to increase the level of gratitude.

He explained that under such circumstances, the neuroendocrine system is in balance and function effectively, boosting one’s immunity.  On the other hand, a selfish individual who harbors negative thoughts are up to no good and has to be constantly on the alert.  This chemical imbalance pushes the boundaries of the cerebral cortex to a high state of tension, resulting in organ and immune system dysfunction that are detrimental to health.  Hence, a selfish mentality does not lead to a long life.

+  Recently, a Brazilian doctor named Martins did a 10 years’ studies and found that most long-lived people were good and respectable.  With always calm minds, they enjoy healthy relationships with people around and are always happy.

Wise saying:

^^The happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

^^May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to make you happy.

^^When the door of happiness closes, another opens, but often times we look so long at the closed door that we don’t see the one which has been opened for us.

Any HERO out there?

  

Since time immemorial we have witnessed great leaders who undertake mammoth tasks at the helm of their careers. The trend for human evolution to the present era lies closely to leadership sought after for the survival of a group. The best-led group gets the most benefits and prevails whilst the worst-led group is likely to be eliminated.  Thus, the leader plays a vital role in steering the direction for the mass.

In the modern contemporary societies, capable leaders are seen holding corporate and political positions well-motivated with monetary benefits and showered with endless attention because they are so blessed to be the only few gems in a population of millions!

MIDDLE MANAGEMENT

The connecting link in the corporate hierarchy is the middle management comprising 50-60% of managers directly supervising about 80% or more of employees and majority of clients.  Sad to say, majority of them are not acting in their supervisory roles but merely performing as instruction bearers following the top directives.

What top management usually does not realise is that people skills at this level can contribute to 80% of a leader’s career success, whilst technical skills account for about 20%.  Failing to develop the right leadership skills can be disastrous, making strategic change and alignment difficult all through the business, and adversely affects the overall performance.

What can essentially go wrong is that most first-line leaders are promoted based on work performance only.  Hence, they have trouble in changing mindset required to be a leader. As they are technically sound, their work continue to be more of an ‘individual contributor’ nature rather than people-leadership focused.  As a result, most expend too much effort and time on low-value activities. Do not expect any coaching on their staff as they may not know when and how to do it.

The missing links for successful first-line management development:

+  Think like a leader
+  Engage people
+  Coach a team
+  Get results through others


TOP MANAGEMENT

Data shows that the personality of the CEO counts for somewhere between 14-17% of the variance in a firm’s performance.  Again, research shows not all bosses can lead.  The hypothesis that leadership is an ART not a SCIENCE seems to be accurate. Hence, talent for leadership seems an inborn characteristic that is hard to be replicated. Those who are gifted with the essential qualities pick up such skills readily while those who are less inclined have to put in more conscious efforts.

As an extension to how middle managers are elevated, close observation in many organisations showed people are rarely promoted to senior positions based on their talent for leadership.  Rather, the high designations are often based on internal policies which favor promotion by default.

As most people are born followers, having someone in the group to lead the pack is vital for co-existence.  Real leaders are independent people who know who they are, what they believe in and think for themselves. Expectations for him or her revolve around some distinctive traits:

+  INTEGRITY –  Great business leadership is characterized by honesty, truthfulness and straight dealing with every person, under all circumstances. To them, integrity should never be compromised and an utmost willingness to devote resources to the group and not for his own purposes.

+  JUDGEMENT – In an imperfect world, there is no such thing as good judgment.  The basis of good judgment in business is at best 50% or half of all decisions made are wrong.  Most importantly, good judgment is being willing to repair bad judgment.

+  COMPETENCE - Leaders are committed to excellent performance of the business task and to take opportunities present in the environment his organisation is operating in to seek continuous improvement. People at all levels are also engaged to continually innovate, improve and embrace change which may require thinking “out of the box”.

+  VISION – With an intense desire to perform, a true leader is able to explain and justify his actions for any worthwhile goal. To do that, he or she needs the ability to predict and anticipate the future (pro-act). However, in the face of setbacks, disappointments and temporary failures experienced, he acts courageously and radiates the confidence that all difficulties can be overcome and all goals are attainable (re-act).

+  EMOTIONAL MATURITY - Leaders are calm, cool and controlled in the face of problems, difficulties and adversity. At the same time, they are sensitive people with empathy, feelings and motivations towards their people.

Summary

Differentiating leadership and management is necessary. A manager only manages things or project. An effective leader is capable of inspiring people to soaring performances because no one wants to be a disappointment.  Studies have revealed that employees do not leave a job for money alone (pull factor).  More often, people tend to leave when they feel unappreciated or not making an impact (push factor).

The prime responsibility of a top leader is to orchestrate the entire process with sound planning and a lot of hard work, delivered consistently from across the entire organisation. To create this impact everyone must be able to understand, accept and reflect the true values that define the corporate culture and drive people to be committed in going the extra mile to achieve higher individual success so as to help in achieving ultimate corporate success in the fastest way.

Anyone keen to take up the challenge?

Job ! Job !! Job !!! (with jokes)

  

Very often we write and fine tune resume many times before sending out the application. However, do we seriously think hard how to handle an interview when the opportunity comes?

Wonder how some people can easily clinch a job during an interview when most applicants failed to impress. 

The trick lies in how prospective employees stand in their power and enlighten employers on their VALUE.

Listed below are some tips and strategies for effective interviewing from preparation through delivery.  Successful interviewing is essentially a quick process in closing up an offer.  Knowing as much as possible about the company can make your interview more interactive and could be just what you need to get ahead in a competitive job market.



HOT TIPS TO APPLY DURING INTERVIEW !

1.  Take the opportunity to learn the business conditions, rather than handling questions passively.  The purpose of this exercise is to differentiate individuals who can be a contributor.  Thus, dare to throw in ideas how the job can be done in a better way, if possible.

2.  Relate past working experience to new job and be able to share some useful information.  Most people are competent enough to complete assigned tasks and find the job mundane and not fulfilling.  If this is the attitude adopted, there is not much to share in the next job.

3.  Show, rather than tell, what you can do.  This shows you understand how the new job should be carried out and thus you are ready for it.  This is the same example of a staff who is capable of covering his senior’s duties well and thus ready for a promotion.

4.  Dare to propose non-standard ideas as you work through the hiring pipeline. Forward looking companies are constantly seeking out better corporate performance and this can only be accomplished with high quality and resourceful people at disposal.

5.  Be truthful. An interviewer usually wants to see your true self and judge how best you can work with them. If possible, the company may make provisions in your career plan to groom you to take on bigger role if you have a big dream to realise.

6.  Express you need.  No employee will value a candidate who does not value himself or herself.  This is to ensure you really fit into the job nicely and ready to give your best shot.

Also,

7.  View from the employer’s perspective what is needed.  Hence, it is not “I need the job” but ”Here is why you might need someone like me“.

Fine example

An elderly lady attended an interview for a customer service position and ended with the job, having competed fiercely with many young candidates.  She spoke about her past experience in handling clients, her profound interest in meeting requests and ability to explain procedures patiently.

Lastly, social networking can help you to land up on the right job. The people you associate with are your best conduits to jobs that become available as they know you well before you step into the interview room.

No excuse for not getting your NEXT job!

More comments

Good academic achievement is likely to put you on a better footing.  The rest is up to an individual to prove his or her ability to perform.  Having the right attitude and aptitude are basic pre-requisities for success.  The sky is the limit for anyone to move up the corporate ladder.

Hence, getting the highest possible salary right should not be the priority if you are just starting out to hunt for a meaningful job. Most people are too pre-occupied with short term benefits and do not plan for long-term success. A dead end job or one which offers at best a rise of a level or two in the organization for the long term may not sound interesting for an ambitious person. The training and the contacts are far more important to really get a head-start in your career. A more organised approach can make a couple of raises and a promotion happening to advance your career in the next few years. You can then foresee what is in store for the next 10 years to come, and then map out a path to reach a higher goal.

No matter what stage of life you are in, you can organize yourself for success. Having a few years of related experience enables you to set your long term goals and then map out your own path for achieving them. Similarly, if you own a business or thinking about starting one, the same strategies should work too.

Career planning is a long-term commitment till you fully retired. Planning a good start in life is important for faster success. Having an objective in mind is critical to avoid losing track of time and direction out there.

FUNNY Applicants (jokes)

Bad examples

 

An applicant was filling out a job application. When he came to the question, “Have you ever

been arrested?”

 

He answered, “No.”

The next question, intended for people who had answered in the affirmative to the last one, was “Why?”

The applicant answered it anyway: “Never got caught.”

+++++++++++++++++++++++

Employer to applicant: “In this job we need someone who is responsible.”

Applicant: “I’m the one you want. On my last job, every time anything went wrong, they said I was responsible and I admitted each time.”

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


“Young man, do you think you can handle a variety of work?”

“I ought to be able to. I’ve had ten different jobs in four months.”

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



An applicant was being interviewed for admission to a prominent medical school. “Tell me,” inquired the interviewer, “where do you expect to be ten years from now?”

“Well, let’s see,” replied the student. “It’s Wednesday afternoon. I guess I’ll be on the golf course by now.”

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Several weeks after a young man had been hired, he was called into the personnel manager’s office.

“What is the meaning of this?” the manager asked. “When you applied for the job, you told us you had 5 years’ experience. Now we discover this is the first job you’ve ever had.”

“Well,” the young man said, “in your ad you said you wanted somebody with imagination.”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++


A Manager of a retail clothing store is reviewing a potential employee’s application and notices that the man has never worked in retail before. He says to the man,

“For a man with no experience, you are certainly asking for a high wage.”

“Well Sir,” the applicant replies, “the work is so much harder when you don’t know what you’re doing!”

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The classified ad said, “Wanted: a very experienced lumberjack”.

A man answered the ad and was asked to describe his experience.

“I’ve worked at the Sahara Forest.”

“You mean the Sahara Desert” said the interviewer.

The man laughed and answered “Oh sure, that’s what they call it now!”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

New Job techniques for INTERVIEWERS…..

Take the prospective employee and put him in a room with only a table and two chairs. Leave him alone for two hours, without any instruction. At the end of that time, go back and see what he is doing.

*  If he has taken the table apart, put him in Engineering.

*  If he is counting the butts in the ashtray, assign him to Finance.

*  If he is waving his arms and talking out loud, send him to Consulting.

*  If he is talking to the chairs, Personnel is a good spot for him.

*  If he is sleeping, he is Management material.

*  If he is writing up the experience, send him to the Technical Documentation team.

*  If he doesn’t even look up when you enter the room, assign him to Security.

*  If he tries to tell you it’s not as bad as it looks, put him into Marketing.

*  If he is wearing green sunglasses and need a haircut, Software is his niche.

*  If he mentions what a good price we got for the table and chairs, send him to Purchasing.

*  If he mentions that hardwood furniture does not come from rainforests, Public Relations will suit him well.

Source:  http://www.workjoke.com/applicants-jokes.html