Nelson's point of view of the world: useless banter on trival matters, photography, automobiles and wrist watches
Monday, 8 March 2010
Turning negatives into positives
Just two days ago, American actress Sandra Bullock turned up at the Razzies Award to accept the "Worst Actress" prize for her role in All About Steve. In case you haven't heard, the Razzies Award is the spoof counterpart of the Oscars, and they're given to the worst performance in the movies. As an actress who's hotly tipped to win an Oscar for her role in The Blind Side the following day, winning the Razzies for being the worst actress is probably one of the worst things that can ever happen.
What would you do in her situation? Most publicists and managers would have told her to pan the critics for being stupid and blind to her talent, and simply focus on the Oscars instead. Not Sandra Bullock. The spunky actress turned up at the Razzies (something big-name artists seldom do) and accepted the award to a standing ovation. Amazingly, Sandra Bullock came with a a trailer full of "All About Steve" DVDs so that everyone at the event can have a free copy of the movie!
"Something tells me you all didn't watch the film because I wouldn't be here if you really, really watched it and understood what I was trying to say," she said in her acceptance speech. "Everyone gets a copy and this is the deal I'm going to make," she told the cheering crowd. I will show up next year if you promise to watch the movie and really consider if it was truly the worst performance. If you're willing to watch, I'll come back next year and give back the Razzie." Needless to say, she was a huge hit with the crowd.
Being nominated for worst performance is something that will go down very badly with most artists, and yet Sandra Bullock is able to charm the pants off the crowd with an amazing twist of PR genius and lots of spunk and guts. The next time you find things going very badly your way, perhaps you will dig deeper and find a way to changes things around radically - to your favour!
It's the beginning of a great new year for 2010, and there's nothing better to start the year than with some inspiring stuff! For me, it is this talented speed-painter who can effortlessly transform a blank canvas in Photoshop to a photo-realistic painting of Indiana Jones. Damn... I've Photoshop too, but I can't draw for nuts! So my friends, work on cultivating your talents this year. We all know it's not the tools that make the artist.
Cheers and have a great 2010 ahead!
P.S: You'd notice that it's a 5-min video, but you're so enticed and so enchanted by the transformation that the entire video looks like it's over in a minute! That's what Einstein meant by the theory of relativity!
I read a book "The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs", and as you probably know, Steve Jobs is the CEO of Apple Computers and he's been rated as one of the best presenters in the world (yes... you're thinking "hey, if I had the chance to unveil the iPhone I'd be a great presenter too!).
Anyway, one of the gems in the book was this - the presentation slides are your props in telling the story. They're important, but not anywhere as important as the story you're going to tell. So the morale of the story is to have an interesting story to tell in the first place! The props are just there to support you - not to replace you as the hero of the day.
What has this got to do with the following video? Well... this comedian had a very humble prop, but an interesting story to tell. And that's what matters!
A professor was talking to his class about the lessons in life, when he took out a dollar note from his pocket and asked if anybody wants it. The entire class put up their hands eagerly without a moment's hesitation. He folded it once and asked again, and as expected everyone raised their hands once more.
The professor then folded the dollar note into a small square and asked, "does anyone still wants this dollar note?" The entire class was waving their hands in the air by now, clamoring to be the lucky recipient of the money.
He unfolded the note carefully, and crushed it tightly into a small ball. "How about this? Everybody still wants this lump of paper?" The students shouted, "yes! We still want it!"
The professor dropped the note on the floor and stomped on it with all his might, while the class watched on in silence. "How about now? You guys still want it?"
Before the class could react, a student shouted, "yeah I want it! It's still money!" The professor picked up the note and handed to the student. He turned back to the rest of the class to explain the moral of the lesson.
"Many times in life, you'd be crushed and stomped upon by others. Without a strong sense of self worth, you might end up feeling small and worthless like a lump of paper. But no matter what I did to the dollar bill, all of you recognized its worth as a dollar, so it retained its value even as I abused it to the core."
"Never depend on others to determine your value - know your own worth. No matter how much others try to crush you, you will always know what you are capable and worthy of. Just like the dollar bill, the outside appearance will never diminish your true value."
"I didn't know it was impossible, so I went ahead and did it."
Knowledge can pave the way for even greater progress, but sometimes knowledge can become a dogma (a principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true). When you are told that the parameters of possibilities are limited, that knowledge inevitably directs your thinking and actions within the possible areas.
This is especially true in some societies where authority is deemed as the final word, either due to respect or genuine belief in the dogma. When someone authoritative or senior says that this is impossible or ridiculous, people tend to concur and consider options or actions in the realm of "possibility". With the advent of the internet and online forums, this phenomenon becomes ever more acute, with some individuals lording over the online discussions and perpetually dominating the forums with their opinions and silencing dissenting voices with their mastery of the language or sheer dedication to posting lengthy verbiage and discussion beyond what others are willing to commit. Such individuals may not be truly knowledgeable in their fields, but their voices are loud enough for them to perceived as the authority. Their advice might not be correct, but many would be willing to listen to their 'advice'.
The rise of the online community raises another ugly head - which is that of the lazy individual who scours forums/websites for the answer. Rather than trying out the hypothesis to discover the answer, many turn to the keyboards to seek the wisdom of the masses. While searching online certainly can harness the power of other users, many important discoveries in the history of mankind run counter to the beliefs and common sense experience of the masses.
The online forum said, "That darn thing can never fly!" Yeah right...
Had the Wright brothers gone online to seek opinion of their plane design, they would be derided by the others in the men-can-fly.com forum (fictional of course). Had Eratosthenes conferred with Homer (an authoritative figure in ancient Greece, not the Simpsons!), he would have laughed at his own notion that the world could indeed be round (the Greeks believed the world was flat, and that you'd sail off the edge of the world if you go far enough!). Galileo Galile didn't believe the Catholic Church authorities and challenged their "truth" that the Earth is the centre of the universe.
The point is this - if you didn't know that it cannot be done, you will attempt to do it. It may sound foolish, but the fact is that many "truths" are not scientific or empirically impossibilities. When someone says something cannot be done, think whether the statement was in fact referring to "probabilities" or based on nothing more than the experience of the masses. The next time when you hear that something is impossible, perhaps it's better to turn a deaf ear. If you listen only to the masses and ignore your inner voice, you will only be as good as the masses. Ignorance can be bliss.
I always believed that life works in strange ways, and I'm sure looking back at how your own life turned out, you'd agree as well. If we can see life as a linear journey starting with birth and ending with our death, the path we take reads like a decision-making chart with numerous forks along the way.
Each decision we make has the potential to change our life in drastic ways.
Looking back, it's easy to see the impact of each of our decision in our lives. "I can't imagine what my life would me had I not done this or that..." That's something we catch ourselves saying from time to time. And yet, without the foresight of an oracle, we can't know for sure the impact of our choices. But looking back in life, it almost seems incredible how the decisions we took worked together in a linear fashion to put you where you are today.
That is why Steve Jobs' commencement speech at Stanford collage resonated very strongly with me. Jobs talked about "joining the dots" in life, and how seemingly trival and unrelated choices came together in his life to make an impact, and how you can never plan to "join the dots". It just happens in life, and the best way to live your life is to do things you truly believe in, knowing that somewhere along the way the dots will all connect to make sense.
Stay true to yourself, and the dots will connect in life for you.
"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts" - Aristotle, Greek philosopher
Michael Jackson was probably the best-known performer of all times. He was a singer, dancer, songwriter and performer all at once, and no other artiste can match his stature in the entertainment scene since. He possessed an incredible and distinctive voice, he could write his own songs, his dance moves were legendary and his rapport with the crowd was unbeatable. The world had never seen a performer like Michael Jackson, and it is doubtful that we’ll see someone like him any time soon…
Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple Computers, has an incredible life story. Voted by Fortune Magazine as the “CEO of the decade” just yesterday, Jobs founded Apple in the late 70s and was dismissed from his own company in 1985 following a power struggle with the board of directors. He started a couple of businesses (including the computer animation company PIXAR), which were purchased by Apple and he was reinstated as the CEO 12 years later after he was fired. Since then, Steven Jobs revolutionized the music and mobile phone industries with Apple iTunes and iPhones.
Behind the dramatic rollercoaster life events, Steve Jobs is essentially a technologist, designer, businessman and most importantly – a visionary. He’s very much in tune with the latest technology, he loves design (he took calligraphy lessons in college which lead to Mac systems having superior font types), and his business acumen is stunning based on his track record.
And if I were to mention “famous martial artist”, more than half the people asked will immediately think of Bruce Lee. The late Hong Kong movie star was probably best known for his martial arts prowess, followed by his career as a movie star. Bruce was also a philosopher when it comes to the study of martial arts. It was well known that Bruce pioneered his own blend of martial arts Jeet Kune Do by studying and distilling the other martial art forms which he was familiar with. Just like Michael Jackson, Bruce Lee was a phenomenon that stirred the world like never before.
The people I have listed above are doubtlessly incredibly talented, motivated individuals and celebrated as icons. They are considered to be the best in their respective fields, and their works either become the benchmark standards or stand as a legacy of their achievements. However, they compete in areas that are packed with talented individuals. What makes the list of people stand out amongst their competitors? Why are they regarded as exceptional individuals instead of others?
The answer lies in their incredible mix of talents – not just isolated talents, but in the way they have combined and fused their talents to exponentially increase their value. If Michael Jackson had just been a great singer, he would just be one of the numerous notable singers in the world. If Bruce Lee had not combined his love of martial arts and movies, he’d just be another martial artist master. If Steve Jobs did not have a love for design, he’d just be another technologist churning out run-of-the-mill machines instead of great products to change our lives.
So the next time you read about someone exceptional, think deeper about why they stand out amongst those who are merely good at what they’re doing. In all likelihood, the truly fantastic possesses a combination of traits that let them excel ahead of their field. Likewise, you can step ahead of the competition by looking at your strengths and weaknesses, and work not just on reducing your soft points, but on cultivating strengths that will catapult you right ahead of everyone else.
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
“Worrying is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you anywhere.”
I came across this phrase a couple of weeks ago, and I chuckled.
It’s funny – many years ago my secondary school teacher taught us about unfounded fears and worry. He said that many people hold off doing certain stuff or making certain decision because of unfounded fear or worry. “What if…” precedes every thought in their minds. These fears and worries paralyze people, and many whom had tried were amazed to discover just how much of their deepest fears and worries were misplaced and imaginary.
Imaginary fear and worries can be your worst enemies, for they stifle your potential for greater things in life. A little fear is a good thing – it helps you respect your challenge. There is a Chinese saying that “only a new-born calf is fearless of the tiger”. A small amount of fear helps you prepare for the fight and increases your chance of success – it is a good thing.
On the other hand, worrying over unfounded fears stops many people from accomplishing something that they could have succeeded otherwise. Unfounded fears not only stop you from trying, it has that inert ability to come back and haunt you in the later years – “what if I had gone ahead with what I wanted to do?”
Recall the things you did not have the courage to do, especially those which you fussed and worried over the consequences at that time. Do the “disastrous” outcomes seem less disastrous to you now? Do you often wonder what would have happened had you tried, and succeeded? Or looked back at the decisions which you had the courage to make. Would your life be different now had you not had the courage to make that decision then? Would you have missed out on the wonderful results had you shrank from the challenge and let your worry overwhelm you?
Whenever you are faced with a challenge in life, evaluate your own chances very carefully. While it is often difficult to accurately gauge your success rate, it is easier to self-examine your own evaluation of the outcome. People who are leaning towards an appraisal of success in their chances often convince themselves by over-inflating the worth of a victory, and downplay the cost of a failure. And vice-versa, people who think they might not succeed will usually exaggerate the cost of failure and convince themselves the fruits of success are not all they’re made up to be. Be honest with yourself how badly you want to taste success, rather than moderating your evaluation of the rewards according to your chances of success. Sour grapes taste especially bad in the wine of life.
But whatever you do, don’t worry unnecessarily. “Worrying is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you anywhere.” Keep walking fellas.
“Retribution is the exclusive revenge for the powerless.”
Let me first qualify - the following blog entry did not come about because I'm angry with anyone or anything. This is purely a philosophical self-discovery piece.
I came up with the quote because I’m always fascinated when people talk about retribution and bad karma. And I realize retribution is a theme that always comes up in those periodic drama, and less so in modern movies. I get attentive when someone around me says, “don’t worry… I’m sure he/she will get retribution for the deed!”
Not being one who’s naturally inclined to religion, the concepts of “retribution” and “karma” do not occur to me other than watching movies and hearing people talk about them. Of course, as a kid I was petrified of the horrific scenes in the 18 levels of Hell at Haw Par Villa. You got to give it to the Chinese – they have a way of making the punishment really visual! Don’t bother going to the temple to confess your sins – it doesn’t work that way. Once a person committed a sin, it’s recorded down in the book of life so the proper punishment can be meted in the afterlife accordingly. You can’t click “undo” or clear the “cache” like other religions. Nice… and they wonder why people are turning to other religions?
Back to “retribution” and “karma”, you’d notice that people only use these concepts when they are not in the position to take revenge? Of course, there are a lot of people who are capable of claim vengeance but not keen to do so, and they also rely on the concepts of retribution. However, people who are powerless to take revenge can only use “retribution” to console themselves, that Heaven will punish the evildoers (in time to come – no less).
Will “Heaven” really punish evildoers? Perhaps not now, but at the opportune moment? That’s what powerless people want to believe, for they are unable to seek revenge with their own strength. They believe divine powers will seek redress for them, and since it is improbable that the redress will happen immediately, they will “wait” for retribution to hit the evildoers. Should something unfortunate befall the evil parties, “retribution” is deemed to have occurred.
The point is – even if some people can get back at the other party they can choose not to avenge any wrongdoings and instead rely on divine “retribution” for redress. The powerless on the other hand, have no choice but to depend exclusively or solely on heavenly punishment, since they are unable to avenge any wrongdoings. So other than being more superstitious, people in the past also live in a feudalistic period where the justice system is subdued under a class/caste system. There is little you can do about the evil and rich upper class other than to curse them with retribution if you’re a poor peasant.
Today we have a much more advanced justice system in place, and society is generally considered to be more fair and just. However, little acts of injustice continues to plague our society, and there are times which we are powerless to get back at the other party. So the next time you wish retribution upon the other party, look deep within yourself and ask if you’re simply powerless to take revenge, or do you seriously entrust the Heavens to mete out the punishment to your tormentors. If vengeance is a commercial product, it’s probably something that a Swedish furniture company can probably sell under a name called REKVENGE perhaps. It’s best to do-it-yourself, and it’s cheaper and a lot faster too!
I hate cheap bastardized cover versions of classical pieces. Playing a classical piece with electronic instruments to a faster beat does not make it modern – it makes the music sound like cheap crap. And please… don’t make it worse by mixing it with some Gregorian chat rubbish.
But I was bowled over when I came across this video sometime ago on YouTube. The video featured a kid with baseball cap covering his face, playing Johann Pachelbel's Canon (playing… not playing with… scrub your mind). Even if you’re not familiar with classical music, I’m sure you’ve heard this piece (popularly known as Canon in D major) being performed at some wedding ceremony. Canon (the music piece, not the camera company) is a classic piece that one would normally associate with slow and stately pace. What happens when someone else turns it on its head and churns out a version on the electric guitar?
Normally that would be dog crap, but not in this case. Much to the chagrin of pure classical music lovers, the rendition of this re-arranged Canon in D Major was an instant hit on YouTube, becoming one of the top ten most viewed videos with over 60 million views and counting. Taiwanese guitarist JerryC rearranged the music, and a South Korean teenager Lim Jeong-hyun (known by his online alias funtwo) played the amazing piece on guitar. The new arrangement was now known as Canon Rock.
The success of this hit hinged on several factors. First is the arrangement of a classical music piece that many people played but nobody imagined that it could be rearranged to such an extent. Secondly, the growth of the internet made it possible for unintentional collaboration between two teenagers from different countries who did not know each other to build upon each others’ talent. And finally, the ability of the internet to showcase the immense talent of the teenagers. Both JerryC and funtwo became overnight internet sensation and received coverage on traditional media after the video was posted on YouTube.
For me, I’m just amazed at the clever rearrangement of music and the skills of funtwo in playing the piece. I’ve no musical talent whatsoever, but I believed it took many hours of practice to get to that stage of guitar skills even for a talented individual. Unfortunately, Lim expressed no wish to carry on playing as a professional guitarist, and would rather carry on playing guitar simply as a hobby. Perhaps he understood that once he turned professional, guitar playing would cease to be fun?
Whatever his path lies, the moral behind this story is simple - the fusion of talent and potential of youth is intoxicating. Lim Jeong-hyun may not see it, but many people would die for his talent and fame. If you have a talent, be sure to guard it well and build upon it, and not take the high and haughty stance by walking away from a gift you were born with. Do not worry about handling success; you can deal with it later when it comes. But let success walk through your door first, by welcoming it with your talent and hardwork.
Get inspired. Recognize your talent and take charge of your own life.
Why Michael Jackson will always be the King of Pop
Michael Jackson will always be the King of Pop. Period.
In case you have not already noticed, I’m a big fan of Michael Jackson. For someone who cannot dance or play music to save his own life, I’m extremely impressed by Michael Jackson’s immense talent in music. From a child prodigy in the Jackson 5 to the music genius who swept 8 Grammy awards in a single night, Michael’s meteoric rise to stardom was built on his incredible talent of music and dance. Why is it that Michael Jackson was crowned the King of Pop and never dethroned for the past 30 years? Here’s a short look of we can learn from what Michael the greatest performer of all time.
Be yourself – black or white Michael battled allegations of his skin condition for most of his career, and he claimed that he suffered from vitiligo – a condition that causes blotches of paler skin. The media alleged that MJ was bleaching his skin to become a white because he was ashamed to be African American, or that being white made album sales better. Michael always maintained that his condition was medical, and he never strayed away from his family, friends or black people. Even as the media intensified their criticisms and published allegations of him having “weird” behaviour, Michael seldom caved in to change anything. It takes a truly strong person to resist social pressure to change, especially if your behaviour has nothing to do with the rest of the other people.
Never forget the child in you Michael Jackson’s Neverland ranch was always in the news for the wrong reasons – for MJ’s alleged childhood abuse, his excessive spending habits and his weird love for Peter Pan’s ability to never grow old. What many people fail to see is MJ’s embrace of the child in him. The Neverland ranch was Michael’s refuge when the commercial world became too much for him, and it provided the only privacy and sanity he desperately needed as the King of Pop. MJ would pen his songs while he sat on the branches of the trees, and he enjoyed the rides in his own amusement park. By embracing the child in you, you can take refuge from the cruel demands of the world.
Killer instincts with unshakable belief Before the Thriller album was released, Michael went against the advice of his managers and music producers and insisted on his concept for the music video – to dress him up as a werewolf. MJ pushed ahead for the music video and the result was revolutionary – it pushed the envelope of consumer acceptance and defined the style an concepts of MTVs. Michael Jackson had killer instincts in defining style, and unshakable belief in his instincts. Most people will follow the herd in opinions and not risk failure, but as the saying goes “nothing great has never been done without risks”.
Develop your own style and signature While many artistes are happy just to remain at the forefront of the latest style, Michael Jackson defined the style of music. In 1983, MJ made jaws dropped and he performed the moonwalk for the first time in front of a live television show. For the teens who grew up in the 80s, everyone was talking about Michael Jackson, breakdancing and the Thriller video. And who can get away with wearing white socks with black pants and shoes (the fashion police would kill for such a crime) except MJ? Or wearing a single white sequined glove? Michael did not care for following styles – he defined styles and created signature moves and icons.
Recognize your genius– and break away if you have to Even though Michael Jackson started his career as part of the Jackson Five, he realized at a young age that he had immense talent, and he knew he had to go solo if he were to make it big. It wasn’t easy to break away from the comfort zone, especially when his stint with the group gave him the experience and exposure, but MJ had to do it if he were to fully exploit his talent. It is difficult, but an eagle can never soar if it stays within its nest – so break out from your comfort zone and explore the world if you feel constrained.
Be altruistic – help the world A great part of Michael Jackson’s appeal to the world stemmed from the fact that he was a great philanthropist and humanitarian. MJ wrote songs about the plight of the third world, the suffering of the people and the environment. He donated generously to worthy causes and was always ready to perform at charity events. Michael always appeared genuine and consistent in his message – he loved the world, the people and his fans. He used his greatest talent to help the world, and the world loved him for that. It was this strong relationship that set foundation for his success, and that was why vicious rumours and allegations failed time after time to topple the king of pop. Help the world – and the world will help you when you need help the most.
Surround yourself with talents if you want to do great things Michael Jackson had talents the world had never seen – but that alone was not enough to bring him to such stratospheric heights. MJ worked closely with talented individuals such as Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie to take his music to greater heights. Michael understood that unless he worked with other talents, he would only be restricted to his own shell and unable to grow. The collaborations were crucial in developing his talents, and often resulted in win-win scenarios.
A powerful combination of talents This is probably the biggest reason why Michael will never be dethroned as the King of Pop. Unlike many artistes who excel in one or two areas, Michael Jackson had a multitude of talents which he fused together as the unstoppable power in pop music. He was great in singing, dancing, performing and songwriting, and that made him invincible in the music arena. Nobody else could control their destiny like MJ could, because his talent gave him the power to control every aspect of his performance. If you have multiple talents, explore the ways you can harness the power of your talents combined. The results can be remarkable.
In his short life of 50 years, Michael Jackson has done what no other musicians could have accomplished in their lives. He was the best-selling artiste and music genius, and most importantly a music icon that touched lives everywhere. Rest in peace Michael – you were the King of Pop and you will always be.
Michael Jackson: Aug 29 1958 to June 25 2009
One of my favourite videos of Michael Jackson is "Smooth Criminal". Catchy music with incredible dance movement and impeccable timing. Like his trademark moonwalk, Michael pioneered the anti-gravity lean which set people talking for years to come. In case you're curious, no... there wasn't any wire-harness or digital editing involved in that move, which made it even more amazing.
You know the popular saying "Think out of the box". People have been quoting it so often that they often forget that the flip side of "thinking within the box" is equally challenging and rewarding! What is thinking within the box? The "box" does not always denote conventional thinking or ideas. The "box" can refer to the constraints that you are facing, and that includes your budget, legal restrictions, deadlines etc.
It is great to think out of the box, but if you can develop a great idea while thinking within the box (staying within the budget and deadline etc), that is truly phenomenal! There are a lot of great ideas that one can conceive, but many will either blow the budget or cannot be done in time. If you can be the individual to come up with a amazing idea that can be accomplished within the limitations, that will really help you grow much faster as an individual.
Take the example of this Malaysian advertisement for creative awards. They took a limitation (which I shall not elaborate and spoil your viewing pleasure), and turned it into something creative.
Clever? It is. The role of advertising agencies is not to ignore all limitations and come up with something clever. Rather, it is to take into consideration the operating parameters such as the budget, the timeline, the brand's value, the consumer's perception etc, and come up with an effective campaign that stays within these boundaries. That is a clever campaign.
Let's end off with another clever campaign that defines thinking within the box. This time, the box is probably the budget. What if someone told you that he wanted to run for president, but he could only afford to pay for the TV air time, and had hardly any money left for production? You need to do a TV commercial without any budget for filming. Most people would have dropped the project like a hot potato. The agency who did this ad didn't get fazed, and by thinking within the box, came up with one of the most brilliant political campaign TVC ever...
The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box.
“There are 5 things you need to know,” he told the pencil, “Before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be.”
“One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in someone’s hand.”
“Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you’ll need it to become a better pencil.”
“Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.”
“Four: The most important part of you will always be what’s inside.”
“And Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write.”
The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart. It was shipped to a household in Britain, where it served its owner well on the desk. However, the pencil was always left out of the limelight by the collection of shiny new fountain pens.
The fountain pens laughed at the poor pencil, “look at him, shaved and chewed by the owner. He would never do such a thing to us!” The pencil grew ashamed, for he knew that he was no match for the beautiful fountain pens. Over the years, he was used and sharpened countless times, and his once proud wooden frame has been reduced to a dirty and short stump. His tattered pride was barely held in place by what the Pencil Maker told him before.
The war had come to Britain, and the pencil’s owner was conscripted to the air force as a pilot. The pencil and the fountain pens were left in disuse, waiting for the day the owner would return. It was months before that happened, and the owner came home to meet his wife with the grave news that he was selected for a mission over enemy skies.
When it was time for him to say goodbye, the owner reached into the drawer to pick up a writing instrument for his dangerous mission. He reached for the proud fountain pens, but they were all clogged up from the long periods of disuse. His wife picked up the old pencil and passed it to him.
“Take this pencil with you. It is the most dependable writing instrument you have, and you need something that will never fail on you at the most critical moment. The fountain pens will leak at such high pressures in the cockpit anyway.”
The pencil followed the owner into the heart of the war, flying over enemy lines and dropping bombs over the cities. The owner charted the squadron’s maps with the pencil, making sure that everyone accomplished the mission and returned home safely. The enemy was brought to its knees and the war was over soon.
The owner was released from the air force conscription, and upon his return home placed the pencil back among the fountain pens. There was barely a stump left of him, but yet the other pens knew that they had someone special among them. The pencil has fulfilled the destiny that the Pencil Maker had set.
Know that you are a special person and only you can fulfill the purpose to which you were born to accomplish. Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that your life is insignificant and cannot make a change.
Here's one of my favourite poem, which was written by an anonymous author. As a kid, I saw this poem on a small wooden plaque, and although I didn't fully understand the prose then, I liked it so much that I kept it with me through the years. It is still sitting on my desk at home...
Don't Quit
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, when the road you're trudging seems all uphill, when the funds are low and the debts are high, and you want to smile but you have to sigh, when care is pressing you down a bit Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns, As everyone of us sometimes learns. And many a failure turns about when he might have won had he stuck it out. Don't give up though the pace seems slow - you may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than it seems to a faint and faltering man; often the struggler has given up when he might have captured the victor's cup; and he learned too late when the night came down, how close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out - the silver tint of the clouds of doubt, and you never can tell how close you are, it may be near when it seem afar; So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.
Do not rush to grow up - you only walk by each stage of life once. Cherish each stage in time and enjoy it for what it is. You'd never walk by the same way again, so take a deep breath and appreciate where you are in life.
Take a critical look at yourself now. Many of us wish that we can move forward in time - be it towards the time when our children grow up and do not need our incessant attention, or towards the time where we can comfortably retire and do what we always wanted to do. Some wish that we can move backwards in time when life was much more simple and we did not have so much responsibilities on our shoulders, or we hope to go back to times when we were much fitter and younger (late nights were easy, and we can eat without fear of piling on weight).
"Do or do not... there is no try"
Not many of us can appreciate the time in which we live. As the Jedi master Yoda says, "All his life has he looked away... to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. What he was doing." We always postpone happiness to the future, and recall regrets of the past. What we should do is to seize the day and make the best of today!
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote an entry about the Sunscreen Song by Baz Luhrmann. One of the lines in the lyrics go, "Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded. But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked…."
That's right... we all looked back at photos of the past and see how alive we were in our youth, before all these responsibilities were heaped upon us. Sure we looked dorky in the old photos, but hey... the glow of youth made everything seem possible! Those were carefree times, and we wanted to conquer the world. Who cares if we didn't look our best in those photos? Youth does not need any make-up or branded material to look good... youth itself is priceless.
So what happened to us in-between then and now? Work... stress... responsibilities... the demands of adulthood and working life took its toll on us. Our aspirations and energy were sapped away by the relentless demands of work and life, and time passed us by in an instant. We stopped appreciating life and the things around us, content to be able to grasp a moment of respite from work and life. Our personal time became a precious commodity, and we hated people and situations that wrestled the precious few hours from us. Anything that required our additional attention, such as cars or refrigerators breaking down, or family members falling sick ... such issues become irritating because they interfered with our personal time. We want time to pass by quickly to a stage in life where we are no longer irritated by the lack of time to handle such matters, or where such matters ceased to be an issue.
Herein lies the problem - it is escapism at best, and escapism is never a good thing. By always looking forward to the future, we miss the moments that defines our stages in life (yes... the stages that we only walked by once). I know of people who can't wait to get past a stage in life, only to find that the next stage carries its own set of problems. Perhaps that is that why girls always want to remain 21. At 14, they can't wait to grow up to have the freedom to go out without curfew and buy whatever they want. At 36 they wished they were back at carefree 21 again with that terrific figure and flawless complexion.
We face different opportunities and problems at various stages in life, and it is up to us to see the bright side of life at each point in our life's trajectory. If you are married and you can't wait till your kids grow up and stop bugging you incessantly with their questions, you'd regret sixteen years down the road when you wish they'd even speak to you about their lives and friends. If you are single, enjoy your personal time. If you are attached or married, enjoy your partner's company. Enjoy where you are now, and behave like your age. Don't be in a rush to grow up.
Here're pictures of my car - a MINI Cooper S Cabrio Sidewalk edition. I love it - and I love many other cars as well. I love the new Mercedes Benz C-Class, but I picked the MINI over the C200. Why? Because I know I only live life once, and at this stage in life when I'm single and I've no family commitment, I can buy the MINI without guilt and enjoy the wind in my hair (while I still have a crowning glory). The Mercedes can wait - it's a typical saloon car that you can fit a child seat so you can buy it when you have a family. The MINI on the other hand... is a gorgeous car that fits nicely into only a short time in your life. (No... MINI does not pay me for this triade)
While you are fit and nimble, go forth and seek adventure. Travel to places you always wanted to see. You will never remain so dexterous - the next time you spot an any elderly persons with walking difficulty, remember that they were once as frisky as you are. And that you will one day have as much mobility issues as they have now. Until that day comes, run like the wind and never look back or look forward.
So live your life without regrets - one stage at a time...
If you've not watched the movie "Click" by Adam Sandler... go watch it. I can't explain the concept more vividly than the movie.
Ellen DeGeneres Commencement Speech at Tulane University (2009-05-16)
Hot off the oven... this is Ellen DeGeneres' speech at the commencement ceremony at Tulane University last week.
It's not as philosophical as the "sunscreen" commencement speech, but it sure is funny and sobering at the same time. Sociology students will especially understand the speech about social pressures, conformity and deviance. The message though is simple - stay true to yourself and live your life the way you think it should be. You only live once, so do not let others run your life. Live free and be yourself.
The next time others pressurize you to make a major decision in your life against your wishes, think about how you'd like to be remembered in death. Will you be "the guy who's really easy-going and with the crowd", or "the guy who lived his life to the fullest in the way he deemed fit". I certainly know what I want inscribed on my tombstone.
There are many things in life which we remember and hold close to our hearts, whether it is an act of kindness or a grudge against someone else. Over time, the burden gets heavier and the bitterness grows stronger. However, the other party may not even remember what happened, and this creates a distinct disparity of experience between the two parties who are involved in the same incident. This Zen Buddhism koan is a great example to illustrate the burden of our minds.
Two monks were at a river crossing when they saw a young lady standing helplessly by the broken bridge, unable to get across. She requested the monks for help, and the younger monk refused outright. The elder monk kneeled down and carried the young woman across the river on his back, and the two monks went on their way back to the monastery.
A few days later, the young monk reproached the elder monk for his act which was unbecoming of a monk, and that he shouldn't have carried the woman on his back. The elder monk laughed, "I carried the woman across the river because she needed help, and I left her at the other bank of the river. Why are you still carrying her in your mind?"
This is an ancient fable about passing on knowledge to others with dubious morality...
When the world was made, cats roamed the earth for thousands of years. Tigers were created very much later, and when the first tiger cub was born, he was helpless as he could not hunt or fend for himself. Weak with hunger, the tiger cub begged the cat to teach him the life skills to survive in the world.
Taking pity on the tiger, the cat agreed to teach him how to hunt and evade detection. Everyday the cat would teach the tiger how to stalk the prey, lie in the downwind and conceal his outline. The tiger was a fast learner, and soon he became as good as his teacher. Other animals called him the lord of the jungle, and he was mightily pleased.
One day, the tiger thought to himself "why should I continue to listen to the cat when I'm the lord of the jungle? I've no more use for him, and I should eat him as a reward for my immense skills!" The tiger found the cat lazing by the edge of the forest, and he pounced towards the cat in a mighty leap!
The cat raced out of the tiger's reach and made a beeline for the trees and scrambled up to the branches. The tiger screeched to a halt at the bottom of the tree and glared at the cat, "you didn't teach me about climbing trees!" he growled at the cat.
"Fine thing I didn't," said the cat. "Or I'd be dead by now."
Moral of the story: be careful who you impart your knowledge to, and keep an exit strategy for yourself.
We often get emails with articles or stories of inspiration, which leaves us with good feelings in life - for all of five minutes, until we receive a nasty email from someone else and it's back to office politics again. However, sometimes we do come across gems of wisdom that may prove to be life-changing (so something along that line).
When I first heard about this song "Everybody's free to wear sunscreen", I was immediately struck by the lyrics and the obvious truths it held. It didn't change my life, but it did change my perception of life. In just a few paragraphs, the lyrics captured very much the essence of what it means to live a fruitful life, especially for those of us who have experienced enough in life to understand the lyrics, and probably have enough years left in us to benefit from understanding the lyrics.
Contrary to what many people believed, this song did not originate as a graduation class speech. It was originally written by a journalist Mary Schmich in 1997 for the Chicago Tribune, and subsequently turned into a song by director Buz Luhrmann. The "Sunscreen Song" became extremely popular, and for those of you who've not heard it, do pay particular attention to the lyrics.
P.S: The MTV looks really dated because it is!
We often get emails with articles or stories of inspiration, which leaves us with good feelings in life - for all of five minutes, until we receive a nasty email from someone else and it's back to office politics again. However, sometimes we do come across gems of wisdom that may prove to be life-changing (so something along that line).
When I first heard about this song "Everybody's free to wear sunscreen", I was immediately struck by the lyrics and the obvious truths it held. It didn't change my life, but it did change my perception of life. In just a few paragraphs, the lyrics captured very much the essence of what it means to live a fruitful life, especially for those of us who have experienced enough in life to understand the lyrics, and probably have enough years left in us to benefit from understanding the lyrics.
Contrary to what many people believed, this song did not originate as a graduation class speech. It was originally written by a journalist Mary Schmich in 1997 for the Chicago Tribune, and subsequently turned into a song by director Buz Luhrmann. The "Sunscreen Song" became extremely popular, and for those of you who've not heard it, do pay particular attention to the lyrics.
P.S: The MTV looks really dated because it is!
Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ’99
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.
The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience…I will dispense this advice now.
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded. But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked….You’re not as fat as you imagine.
Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing everyday that scares you.
Sing
Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Floss
Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.
Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.
Stretch
Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.
Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.
Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children,maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…what ever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s. Enjoy your body, use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own..
Dance… even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.
Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.
Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.
Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good.
Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.
Understand that friends come and go,but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.
Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.
Travel.
Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.
Respect your elders.
Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.
Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.
Once in ancient Thailand, the King led his Ministers on a hunt for deers. They passed by a small village and the King decided to stop by for a visit. The villagers welcomed the King and his entourage with great warmth as they passed through. The pompousness and the grandeur of the entourage contrasted greatly with the humble nature of the village, with the royal hunting party decked out in the finest of silk and gold. One of the villagers was offended by this disparity and made a disparaging comment, which the King overheard. He called for the villager to be brought forth...
"I heard you are displeased with the fine clothes and food that my ministers are having," the King said. "Your Majesty, we are all human beings. Why should some be treated so much better than the rest?" the villager asked.
The King did not say anything more, but he asked the villager to go ahead of the hunting party and come back with what he saw. The villager soon returned, and the King sent forth one of his Ministers with the same task.
While the Minister was gone, the King asked the villager, "What did you see?" The villager replied, "There's nothing there, just some wild dogs."
"How many dogs are there? Tell me more about the dogs." the King asked.
"Well... I did not really count, but there are probably eight to ten dogs. Some are puppies and they are just playing around in the woods," the villager said.
The Minster returned and the King asked him the same question.
"There are eleven dogs in the pack, out of which four are females, three are males, and the other four are puppies around one year old. They are brown with short-fur, do not seem to belong to any pedigree species, and are probably mongrel breed. The dogs were abandoned by some villagers who moved out, and an old lady living nearby has been feeding them. One of the female dogs look pregnant, so the group population is likely to increase by the end of this month. The old lady did say the dogs usually keep to themselves, and do not pose any danger to the children playing nearby."
The King turned to the villager and said, "the rule of the land requires the best people to serve, and the ministers that I choose are incredibly perceptive and analytical. While many people see only the superficial issues, great men go above and beyond to see the circumstances and repercussions. While we are all human beings, our responsibilities vary greatly and this is reflected in their standings in society."
The powers of observation and analysis go beyond this ancient tale, and they are more relevant in today's society than ever. Where others see obstacles, the most perceptive and talented individuals see opportunities. As Einstein is often quoted, "there is opportunity in every difficulty". In your daily life, observe what is happening around you and dig deeper into your analysis of why things happen in certain ways, or why people behave the way they do. Gain precious insights of the world around you. People like politicians, businessmen and marketeers will kill to gain insights on how people behave, but it is something that you cannot glean from textbooks. Question everything, assume nothing. Keep your eyes open, and your mind even more open.
One of the millions of insignificant masses who wants to publicize my point of view online. Don't I wanna be famous? Hell... no! I like my privacy very much thank you.
