Live Life With No Regrets!

In one of my previous posts, I wrote that you should let people make mistakes.

The reason for that comes back to God's gift to mankind, which is freewill.

I am in a situation where I have the knowledge, skill and expertise to solve a big mess. Unfortunately, the people in charge will not listen to me and insist on doing things their own way.

There is a time for patience, and even obedience and then there are issues of boundaries--I am not in charge of your life. You are in charge of your own life and you must face the consequences of your actions. That is the inevitable result of free will.

I actually understand more of how God feels so frustrated with his children. Sometimes they just go their own way, and yet God cannot do anything... and they must experience the consequences of their own actions.

I am sorely tempted as the words of proverbs say: "I will laugh when disaster befalls you."

Yet, in all circumstances give thanks. Learn from it.

I must learn in which areas do I consistently experience negative consequences. What wisdom do I not have? Who would have the wisdom to guide me correctly? Or do I have the wisdom but am not obeying it correctly?

Posted by Nico at 11:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

How many Indian footballers can David Beckham's salary hire?

Why doesn't Real Madrid outsource their footballers to India?

Ridiculous, but the thing is a lot of managers believe that outsourcing is the key to lowering their costs.

But from my experience and observation hiring cheaper programmers doesn't necessarily mean the project is cheaper or better in fact, it could lead to failure.

If your programmers are cheap but of low quality there is no sense in hiring them. Because software engineering is not a manufacturing process, it is a design process, it is a talent based activity.

A lot of managers don't understand that, but they should. The reason to hire from India or China is not because of cost but because your local talent pool is limited.

You cannot outsource design, creative genius or intellectual prowess. It must be in ONE person. Two persons with the IQ of 100 do not equal one person with an IQ of 200.

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Ran 5km yesterday evening at Fitness First in about 35 mins.

I've never felt fresher in my entire life, could actually wake up early!

Running is great. You do feel fantastic once your body can do it.

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Integrity and credibility have practical value quite apart from what they do for your soul. The make decisions easier and bring deals to you.

Learn to distinguish between those things which are only done in a certain way because they have always been done in that way and those things which are done in a certain way because business would be impossible without unwritten rules.

If you learn to work within the system, you are far more likely to get things done than if you set out to pioneer and change the rules.

Cheating the system is neither clever nor heroic.

It may be necessary to go south for a while in order to journey north.

Different games and different suituations have different sets of rules nad sytles of play. Be clear as to what they are.

In a bargaining situation there are subjective values and variable values in addition to the real values.

Psychological tactics will be used on you even if you do not care ot use them on others.

Play the percentages rather than the flashy strokes.

Tactics are never and end in themselves but only serve the long-term goal.

Be prepared to concede things as part of the bargaining and also to move your opponent to ground more favourable to you.

Some situations are win-lose but others are win-win. The other party does not have to lose for you to win.

An unexpected (and even irrational) move can throw the other party.

If you are not getting anywhere, try shifting the perspective or frame.

Decide whether you want to conceal what you are up to, or to make it every clear. Both types of tactics have their merits.

Do not get so fascinated by tactics that the overall purpose is lost from sight.

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If there is a chance to try someone out, that is the best test of all. A short tryout may help with personality, but a real tryout must be long enough to allow the experience of proper pressures.

If your style is to be impresario or circus master of talent, then make this an objective and choose the best people around. If you want to exploit your own ideas, then choose a support team.

Remember that many successful people have depended on a partnership in which the second party has supplied qualities needed for the success of the first party.

In almost all cases a success person needs the support of a good team.

The motivation of others can require a clear definition of roles and goals.

The motivation of others means leading them, involving them, and giving them a sense of achievement. All this requires communication.

The reward of recognition or appreciation is as powerful as more material rewards.

Be definite about criticism but criticize the performance not the performer.

Lead the person to realize his (or her) own failure.

Decide whether a person can do the job for which he or she is employed. Keep that decision separate from the action that may then follow.

Everyone wants to be an individual and at the same time to belong.

In the long run, human values may be good business values. It may seem otherwise at a particular moment in time.

Posted by Nico at 7:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Ther are gamblers who enjoy the gamble and there are 'Broadway Risk' players who know that they will win some and lose some. The important point is to stay in the game.

There are others who try to minimize risk as much as possible because they do not need it since the steady growth of their business will ensure success.

Assessing uncertainties and potential dangers comes under the heading of reasonable expectations. There is a spectrum of risk, and you decide the point at which you become uncomfortable.

Things outside your control can go wrong. Success may then involve extricating yourself from the situation in the best way possible.

Risk and reward may be compared. The downside can be compared to the upside. Such comparisons aid decision-taking.

Both investment and innovation involves risk. Both may be essential. So the emphasis is on risk reduction and reward enhancement.

A sense of adventure may impel successful people to take risks--the risks are then reduced as much as possible.

It seems that sucessful eople like doing things that involve risk but do not like the risk itself--so they seek to reduce this.

Instead of being risk-takers successful people should be considered opportunity-conscious.

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Ladies Appreciation Night
Originally uploaded by nicodemus_chan.

Posted by Nico at 9:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The situational needs leadership model shows that we all start out incompetent in any new task.

There is no such thing as automatically being competent in an area immediately. Though natural talent may have some effect of adapting, we all start from zero in the beginning.

We can then take comfort from the fact that we are not 'stupid' in what we do. It just means we have to learn.

However, I often notice that people who are promoted seem to be expected to perform competently immediately in their new role. I have noticed several results of this:

1. They can adapt quickly and learn quickly.
2. They fall back to their previous competencies and neglect to learn the new skills.
3. They cover up incompetencies by using a limited vocabulary: "Do it!" or "Do that!" or "I don't care!"

Truth is important here. We must acknowledge that we are incompetent in so many areas. But grace is even more important. That its alright and that we are all limited in our current knowledge, learning, skills and abilities. Faith plays in part in overcoming in incompetencies because it says that we can learn, we can find a way around our problems.

Posted by Nico at 1:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

With a problem, you look for a solution: with an opportunity, you look for benefits.

The two key things in opportunity assessment are: benefits and feasibility.

There are two sorts of risk in every opportunity: uncertainty about feasibility and uncertainty about benefits.

You can hang back and wait for an opportunity to emerge and then rush in to take advantage of it, but other people will be there too.

The safest sort of opportunity is something already successful that can be copied and made better or cheaper. The market and buying patterns are already in place.

Sometimes an opportunity in the market awaits the development of a concept to turn it into a success.

The simplest form of opportunity is to buy something at less than its value and then to operate or sell it at its true value.

Management and problem-solving are maintenance functions. They are not sufficient in a changing or a competitive world. Conceptual thinking is needed in addition.

There are opportunities that are available to everyone and opportunities that particularly fit your style and resources.

Posted by Nico at 6:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

There is thinking concerned with description, and thinking concerned with action (with getting things done).

Intuition can lead to great successes and it can lead to disasters.

Intuition may represent processes that were once conscious and have now been internalized.

When used for judgment, intuition may be based on experience and aesthetics (for that field) and may provide a complex judgment of many factors, not all of which can be spelled out.

Category thinking can be very valuable. Create your categories and then see if apparent opportunities fit them.

One powerful approach to thinking is to create a map out of information and perceptions and then to find your way about that map.

It can be useful to work with others, but if you are going to be responsible for the idea, then you have to 'design' it.

Different situations require different thinking styles just as in a car you shift gears according to the situation.

Remember that the purpose of thinking is to so arrange the world, in our minds, that our actions and decisions become obvious.

Trust your intuition as you might a friend: on the basis of past experience and a consciousness of human nature.

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Spoke during table topic session on "My Ideal Home"

The speech I would have wanted to speak on after I gave the one off the top of my head would have been that my ideal home is one hewn with righteousness, its pillars with strength, it's walls with peace, the air with the aroma of kindness, it's windows illuminated with the light of love, the air with the aroma of laughter.

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Believe that you are an active force for good in this world. That you are not a spectator, that you are positioned by God in this world with power and authority, to make his kingdom come, not with weapons of the world but with with firm gentleness, and powerful meekness.

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A strategy provides you with a reason for taking an initiative, for getting moving, for taking action.

A strategy provides you with a long-term view and hence the ability to take risks or do things which do not make sense in the short term.

A strategy provides you with guidelines for making decisions: does this fit my strategy?

There can be a specific strategy, a game plan of the steps you are going to take in order to succeed. This is like the strategy in a particular game of chess.

There can also be a general strategy which consists of guidelines and principles, and this general strategy can be applied to all situations.

Individual style, personality, and judgement can all act as strategies, but do not rely on them unless they are being successful at the moment.

A strategy is not a detailed plan (which you may need as well) but a broad overview.

From time to time spell out your strategy in a conscious and deliberate manner. Be conscious of the changes and alterations you may want to make.

Strategy is not only the manipulation of resources but also the developments of those resources.

Posted by Nico at 7:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Thinking is an operating skill that can be learned; it is not just a matter of intelligence.

A brilliant new idea is not the only--or even the best--route to success.

One of the routes to success is innovation within a field. For deliberate creative effort, try using lateral thinking.

There is the creativity of Innocence and there is the creativity of escape. You can only use the first while you are innocent.

Making an idea work is more difficult and more important htan having the idea in the first place.

The 'logic' of lateral thinking arises form the nature of perception as activity in a self-organizing information universe. Humour is a good parallel.

With provocation there may not be a reason for saying something until after it has been said. The provocation does not fit in with existing perceptions but is used to lead us to new perceptions.

In lateral thinking we use 'movement' rather than judgment. We use movement to move on from a provocation to a new perception or concept.

Shifting perspective and frames of reference can lead to new ideas and insights.

Having to react continually to immediate pressures and problems makes creative thinking difficult (except in solving those problems).

Lateral thinking should be treated as a routine part of our thinking equipment.

Look at any area with a traditional high profit margin and apply the innovative thinking tha has probably been lacking in that area.

Posted by Nico at 11:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Perhaps one way in order to appreciate everyone around you is to understand their story.

Everyone has a story to tell, find out their story, find out their tale.

Everyone's story is unique, people may be at different stages of their stories, appreciate them, read their lives, and finally find out how to take part in their story.

Posted by Nico at 2:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Life is one big show.

As Shakespeare wrote, "All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances;"

Woody Allen said this, "80% of success is showing up on time". I.e. show up on cue.

I wrote earlier that we don't wear clothes but costumes.

Psychologists have found out that successful people view themselves as the protagonist in life, not supporting actors.

The Bible says that we have a heavenly audience watching us.

As in storytelling as in life. The only way to progress in our story is to be active and to face up to conflict. Only when we face up to conflict can we resolve issues and progress further.

Posted by Nico at 9:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

There are clearly certain fields in which it is far easier to be successful than in others. There are also fields in which a moderate talent plus hard work will succeed, whereas in others a higher degre of natural talent is required. These are facts of life.

Most successful people do not seem to have selected carefully their field of endevour--that is no reason not to do this.

There is no stigma attached to changing fields, careers, or targets. Many successful people have done just this.

People contacts are extremely important (not what you know but who you know).

The ability to spot an opportunity when it is only a glimmer or a casual remark is very important. So is the ability to take action on that opportunity.

Unusual combination of skills and experience can be important, because there will be little competition in such areas.

In many fields credibility is the major asset.

For many successful people, the first step has been a partnership with someone else.

Moderate success can also be a trap if you are interested in greater success.

Difficult challenges are worth taking on if the elements involved are within your control. If they are not, you may be wasting your time.

You can always define your challenge for yourself.

Posted by Nico at 6:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The purpose of self-examination is to offer tentative perceptions, not dogmatic explanations.

It is useful to become aware of your personal style.

It is useful to become aware, in a realistic fashion, of your limitations, so long as they do not hereafter become an excuse.

It is useful to look for blocks and weaknesses in order to try to put them right.

If you take your personality apart, there is no guarantee that what comes together again will be an improvement.

Always leave enough of you unanalyzed so that this can carry out the analysis on the remainder.

Remember that analysis into component parts may destroy values that arise only from the whole.

Posted by Nico at 6:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Note that a key factor such as ambition, persistence, or stamina can energize all the other faculties you may have. See if there is within your make-up a 'drive' of this sort. Build it up and build on it.

Probably the most important factor is 'expectation'. This can be within your environment or within your mind as your 'self-image'. The notion is that success should be just as much part of your expecation of life as getting married and having children. If you are a parent, such expectation is the most important thing you can provide for your children. The expectations is that an individual can work toward success--not that success will be provided as of right.

Move to an environment which is success-oriented.

Keep and polish certain key images on which to build your style.

Trying to be someone else won't work, and it will ruin your own natural style, which is based on your own qualities.

Important lessons and strategies can be learned from the behaviour of others and then be incorporated into your own style.

Acting out a deliberate role in certain circumstances and for a limited time can be a useful strategy. It can be especially useful to overcome some basic deficiencies.

There is nothing wrong with artificial training provided it is pursued to the point where it becomes natural.

Some aspects of man are improved by digging deeper into the inner self (emotions and temperament), but other aspects are improved by moving in the opposite direction towards role models and manners.

Before a role has been learned well, there is always a difficult time when it works so badly that it is usually abandoned. The problem is to decide whether to persist with it or to abandon it.

Don't wait for the right place and timing to happen to you, but be sensitve to place and timing, and plant the right seed at the right time in the right spot.

Posted by Nico at 12:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Sometimes, it is better to let people make mistakes.

It is easier for them to learn by themselves and suffer the pain (as long as it is non-fatal).

Some of the greatest lessons learnt are when we make mistakes. Then only do we change.

The only problem with that is when we do not change, and we keep on making the same mistakes over and over and over again.

These are God's lessons. We are sent to back to repeat the lesson before we can move to the next.

There is an adage that says "If we keep on doing the same things, we will keep on getting the same results." If we are satisfied with the results that we get then good for you.

But the problem with that is this, why are we satisfied with the results we are getting? Can things get any better? Can we imagine something even more better than what we have? If so, we must consider changing ourselves again and again, reinventing ourselves to adapt to the environment and changing conditions.

But again, as we continually change ourselves, we must expect to make mistakes along the way. Riding a bicycle can be painful but when it is over, there a reward of joy and freedom.

Posted by Nico at 11:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Motivation seems to be a natural part of the expectation and self-image of the successful person. Be positive and cultivate such an expectation. Expect to succeed.

Use and set challenges in order to have a specific focus.

Use anxieties in order to push yourself forward rather than to hold yourself back.

Do not use money as an end in itself but as the method of play in the game of success (at least one type of success).

If you do not enjoy making things happen, you should reconsider whether you want only the end-point of success (and what goes with it) or the process of getting there. If you only want the end-point, then forget it--unless you can find a way of getting there quickly.

If your own motivation is insufficient, then marry someone who can push you along.

Posted by Nico at 1:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

What's he doing? He's making his first mistake...

It's not a mistake.

They don't make mistakes. And they don't do random. There's always an objective, always a target.

If he's in Naples, on his own passport, there's a reason.

It shows that we must have a purpose, every moment we must think, what is my objective? What is my target? What am I trying to achieve?

Hone yourself to be like a supremely trained assassin. When you have found your purpose, make every moment count towards your objective.

Keep on thinking every moment, Do I know my target enough? How am I going to achieve my goals? What are the obstacles? How can I minimize the risk? What is my escape plan? What is my plan if things go wrong? Do I have the right equipment? Is the environment right to make my hit? Do I understand my quarry?

Posted by Nico at 1:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Take time to think everyday.

Think about what you want, what your goals are, how you are going to achieve them, what problems you have and how to solve them.

A lot of people don't take time to think. A lot of them are on auto-pilot everyday. They don't make adjustments to their flight along the way.

Posted by Nico at 4:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I truly believe that there is no problem that has no solution. If there is no solution, then we shouldn't worry or get upset over it.

The way to solve a problem is to find a solution and implement it.

A good leader is a problem solver, he doesn't let problems continue to vex him.

Unfortunately a lot of us are upset over problems when they come, we lament, we hate them, we grumble over them.

That will not solve it.

Rather, let's take a page from the Bible 1 Thess 5:18 "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus".

Welcome problems, see it as a way to prevent further bigger problems down the road.

The one thing that I have learnt is that people sometimes don't want to hear the solution. If you are overweight, the solution is to diet and to exercise. If you are having problems with money, the solution is to work out a budget and to stick to it. If you have problems with motivation, read up books on motivation and learn techniques.

Life isn't easy. Noone said it was. Jesus said that in this world you will have trouble. Sometimes it isn't solved overnight, but He did promise that He will be with us through it all.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

Posted by Nico at 3:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Try to determine your own style even to the point of verbalizing it or writing it down on paper. You might even ask your colleagues how they would describe your style. Do not always believe what they say. Do not be trapped by this assessment of your style.

Build up the strong points of your style rather than try to alter it to a completely different style.

Use your style as a way of making decisions, plans, and choices. Does this fit my style?

Be aware of any deficiency in your style, but don't be cowed by this or use it as an excuse.

Choose the circumstances that best suit your style.

Be bold, be confident, be egocentric, but do not expect me to tell you how.

Use your failure as the shadow that gives dimension to the picture.

An inflated balloon is vulnerable, but that is the only way it is going to fly.

Posted by Nico at 10:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Knowing what you want to do, determination, and persistence are important. You may have these qualities by temperament or as a strategy.

Make the most of your talent and do not expect it to be enough by itself. Do not be trapped into one field by some talent for that field.

In some fields it is just easier to be successful than in others. The "me-too" and bandwagon effect has always been powerful, so try to choose not only an opportunity field but preferably a growing one.

Posted by Nico at 7:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)