You know the sum....but can you solve a differences problem?

How to solve a differences problem? May I propose the following solutions:
1. Add up the short for to make it whole again. - Patching up.
2. Subtract the differences from the whole and do nothing. - Maintaining status-quo.
3. Write-off the differences and make it a new whole. - Moving on.

In any human relationship, when you encounter differences in view points, opinions, ways of working,  just like doing a maths problem, at different stages of the relationship, there is a need to evaluate what's the best approach to solve the problem. In practice, it's not so easy, of cause. 

Differences are not necessary a bad thing if you learn how to handle it well...It requires a mature mentality and controlled emotion and it's better if you start thinking about the solutions while your mind is still working :)

Break What? Break all the rules of conventional wisdom...

This is one of most pragmatic and thought provoking book on how to be a good manager (by breaking all the rules of conventional wisdom.)

In summary, the 4-Keys propound by Marcus are  :

Key1: Select for talent
Key2: Define the right outcome
Key3: Focus on strengths
Key4: Find the right fit

I like the way Marcus started off the entire methodology hinging on finding the right talents. One of the sub-topic, "Why is talent more important than experience, and will power" says it all.
To know why someone perform certain task naturally with total ease while another person struggle just to meet bear minimum requirement is how talents work at it's very best.

This book is a gem if you can afford the time to slowly gleans the many wisdom derive from many years of research and interviewing with the best managers in many corporations. Rather than spending many hours trying to follows conventional wisdom, this book provides a fresh breath of "life" to the frustrating managers trying to figure out what went wrong in his own management style.

From personal point of view, knowing where ones' talents are had also make him/her a happier person at work. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants to find enjoyment in his work and career!

Another Kiddy Movie?

Yesterday, Cat and I brought our young friend, Christine for a sneak preview of a movie "Diary of Wimpy Kid" adapted from a popular quirky comics-style books, called the "The Wimpy Kid" series...

I must admit, initially I am a bit apprehensive ( I almost wanted to use the word "sianz" ;) ) when I heard about movie title like this. For one, I'm not a fan of comics book, neither have I read what the book is about. Anyway, I decided to just support the 2 ladies here and accompany them for an afternoon session of R&R, bearing in my mind as what was stated in the GV website that it's a "94 M I N U T E" show. Subconsciously, I was planning how I can wondered my mind during the hour and half ;)

To my very very pleasant surprise, I was not bored during the entire 94 min. In fact, I kind of enjoy this movie.

The storyline is simple. It started with a scene of a boy called Greg, first day in middle school ( I suppose the equivalent of our secondary school in Singapore), his adventure meeting his elementary school friend, Rowley, a simple-minded carefree boy and later becomes his "good" friend, amidst some adventures around the school scenes.....

A simple to understand story for even a "three decades" generation gaps people like me.... Kind of refreshing I must says. For once I had almost forgotten those "first days" in schools days and our own little adventure of making friends and learning....

I guess the one theme that stand out in this story is about friendship.

What the author of the book intelligently portrayed is how Greg, a little 13 year old boy with an adult cynical mind, and perhaps called "wimpy", aims to be successful in his school, for some undue reasons were surrounded by the not so favourable circumstances, that somehow also lead to him getting further and further away from his goal. However, one thing remains....his friendship with Rowley and for that, they entered the school book as the "funniest friends".

Interesting, lasting friendship does not necessarily equate friends with complete like-mindless in some occasions. For Greg and Rowley case, they are completely poles apart. Greg represents one with far-sighted and ambitious mind while Rowley, on the other hand, a simple down to earth, happy-go-lucky type. Somewhat, somehow, in God's providence, sometimes lasting friendship were formed this way.

Okay, so much for some "wimpy" thoughts from a "40s" years old man. If you too are feeling a bit stagnant in your own world, go catch a kid's movie :)

The Law of "Association" or Simply,Habit :)

I remembered learning about this in Psychology 101 during the college's day. Noticeably, the Frued's test experiment on Learning by association or academically known as "Classical Conditioning". In a nutshell, it is something like how our brain conditions itself according to some triggers that was learned through some past experience....

http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/topics/behsys/classcnd.html

I found this very "real" in the animal world. My dog at home exhibit this bahaviour almost everyday. Every night, when I'm back home from work and as I walk to the kitchen, somehow my dog knows that it's about "dinners' time". The moment I took the mug out, she will jumping around and waited with strong anticipation that I will next walk to the yard with the mug of water and then follow by her food.....

Now back to human world... are we somehow like that as well? Did you consciously or unconsciously realise that sometimes when you walk through some "places" or smell of something, you will immediately reacts with the "same" responses? Yes, for me it does..... :)

In layman, this is what's we term as "habit"......

Makati - A city less travelled

By a stroke of providence, I was asked to attend a regional meeting in Manila on 4-5 March. There was a little bit of excitement I must admit (secretly). The chance to visit and explore a new place, sailing through uncharted water (from my perspective) is always something that kind of "re-ignite" me.....

Makati, Makati, Makati....... (not to confuse with our MM Lee's famous "Merdeka" incitement, during the pre-independent era) Where on earth is this place? I bet not many Singaporean except those who have traveled to Manila (mostly for work) and some well read people would know that this is one of Metro Manila's famous city that houses the major financial and commercial institutions. I seriously doubt the value conscious Singaporean would want to dig in to their pocket to go and tour Manila (as they believe there are more exciting place with the equivalent dollar spent) though some may want to venture into Cebu outside Manila for it's exotic diving, the beautiful beaches and seaside resorts....

Anyhow, I reached Manila Ninoy Aquino International airport T1 at about 10min to 6pm on 3-Mar. First impression, to be frank, nothing impressive. The place looks like a typical south-east asia airport (except Changi, KLIA). A clamp type of feeling... not overly crowded in the arrival hall at that time. The customs staffs are reasonably friendly and efficient. No language bearer.

After clearing the customs, I was greeted and escorted by hotel transfer staff who then led me to the cabby that was scheduled to drive me to my hotel. It was about half 6 when I reached the city area and the place looked as dark as half 7 in Singapore's equivalent. I then quicky checked-in and spent the next few hours roaming around the vicinity area.

Dusit Thani Hotel (where I stayed) is located very close to the shopping belt, which boast to house the biggest mall in Asia....( well i take that claim with a pinch of salt nowadays ;) ) As I'm not that much into shopping, so my assessment after a quick comb of the area is that, yes, indeed you can find Katong, Queensway, Lot1, People's Park, Takashima all in around the same area, either link by an overhead bridge, underground passage or a short traffic light. As usual, the "People's Park" type of complexes are crowded with shoppers and the higher end mall (I suppose those around GreenBelt area) are less crowded. The disparity is distinctly clear. There are few night-out area with pubs and restaurants mainly around the Greenbelt area that are mainly crowed with lot's of foreigners and the upper class pinoys....

Rather unfortunately, my experiential knowledge of this M city is contained within the limited few hours of care-free roaming on the first day of arrival... Due to work, I am restricted myself to Hotel meeting room, dining area and my temporary hotel room for most of the 3 days stay.

Finally, I took some photo shots on the last day, 2 hours of R&R before I head back to the airport. Below were some shots I took from my phone camera.

Hotel view from outside

Another Hotel view

Inside Seattle Best Coffee, I like the taste of Java Chill :)

View from overhead bridge that link Landmark and Greenbelt Shopping Malls

View taken outside Glorietta Shopping Centre.

SM Mall, the nearest Shooping mall from Dusit Thani Hotel

Finally, the view from airport gallery (not my plane though ;) )