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Today, as a career person, one tends to spend a lot of time in the office.  So much so, that we don’t even realise that we spend more time in the working environment than our own home.  A typical day of 8.00 am - 6.00 pm takes away 10 hours. And when we are back home, sleep itself takes up at least 7 hours. That leaves 7 hours to be shared about travelling, doing all sorts of unnecessary things to get by. On a normal working weekday, it takes me about 4 to 5 hours to travel to and back from office.  So how much of real time is really left with us for rejuvenating ourselves. Very little.

So it makes sense that one must learn to keep a stress free and happy working relationship in the office, be it with the superior, the peers or the subordinates so that on a daily basis, the majority of the time, we remain at a higher state of life and become happy.

Unfortunately, in our daily intereactions at the office, our mood and behaviour tend to be affected by the relationship with the office colleagues that we intereact with and from my experieonce, one such intereaction that can be unduly stressful, is having to deal with disciplining staff.  Or so they say problematic staff.  To some, this comes easy, to many others, this leads to uneasiness, sleeplessness and unhappiness and in the process brings this emotional setback back to his home and the family becomes the victim.

Handling such staff is an awful stressful matter, which is why many people remained to become a specialist and can only work by themselves free from managing others.

As a superior, how is one going to manage the situation.  My opinion is that even though you may be very senior, but yet when the situation requires it, one may feel stressed up and unable to handle it well.

The cause of this is predominantly due to fear and the lack of self-confidence.  Such situation requires sincerity and truthfulness which requires a frank, open discussion and dialogue.  In my experience, one has to face the issue straight-on, to be brank but yet sincere. The issue is how does one convey the message that needs to be conveyed so thatthe other party feels the same way, that is the need to improve, failing which action is certain.  That is where experience comes in, and if not some pre-preparation needs to be done before getting into it.  At the end, it is whether the staff feels that he has been given the oportunity, to hear, to be heard and also the time to improve.

Such understanding and relationship needs to be build and work upon, instead of being left to changes. The best is to be sincere in engaging a frank dailogue, be sincere and serious.  One must not just believe in it, but to walk the talk and behave as such.

Posted by

Ivan

I went on a trip to London,  just to see how my son settle down who left for London a month earlier to start his 3 years undergraduate study at the London School of Economics. It  dawn on me that things are so expensive overseas , especially if someone from the Asian countries is travelling to Europe, with the Pound Sterling as high as 6.49 just over 3 months ago.    It  was just recently that I had  this discussions with some friends about sending children overseas for education which is very costly.  At today’s rate, sending a kid to complete a course in London would cost almost 75,000 Sterling Pound which when converted to the Asian currencies, is enough for the retirement of many. So the question of whether it is worthwhile  sending one’s kid overseas  is debatable. 

I am surprised that there are many parents out there who I know  are financially capable, but seem unwilling to part with the big sum of money, and eventually settle with some local education.  I am not saying that local education is no good, but given the choice of a good university, I think as parent, we should not let the children down.   There is this wise saying of  “Give a person a fish, you will feed him a day, Teach him how to fish, you  will feed him a life-time”.

I suppose I subscribe to the idea of the later part and this begins my wife and I working on our travel and holiday plan, booking of hotels and air travel,  travel insurance etc.

My trip to London was  to see how my son settle down, so my 8 days travel  was centered  solely around London.

Day 1 – Over a weekend , rented a car from EuropCar and checked in and stayed a Putow Farmhouse, located just about 18 miles east of London, near a small town Dunmow.  Cost is very reasonable at Sterling Pound 55 a night that comes with full English breakfast for a couple. Had dinner at a pub called  “The Black Lion”  within a short distance from farmhouse.

Day 2 – Drove to Cambridge Town which is north-east of London, and spent some time in town, before driving down to London Town to drop the luggage for my son.  Headed of to dinner at a Chinese restaurant in  China Town before heading  back to Putow Farm
 
Day 3 – Drove around Great Dunmow town a short distance from the farmhouse, walk-around shopping, had tea at a  very nice Tea House by the Lake, and then dinner at another pub called Axe and Compass.

Day 4 – 8  Checked  out of farmhouse and checked  into a studio unit at  the Citadines at Tralfagar Square right in City center, just opposite my son’s Residence in Northumberland Avenue for convenience.  Price a bit pricey at Pound 130.

On day 4 -  attended a friend son’s graduation ceremony at the Imperial College, conducted at the Royal Albert Hall   

Spend a lot of time walking around and probably covered 30 Kilometer of walking for the 4 days, visiting places around Trafalgar Square over the next few days. Places visited included    Trafalgar Square , Leciester Square,  Coventry Garden/Open Market , British Museum, LSE Campus Area – around Houghton, Kensington Park/Hyde Park – A long walk across both Hyde Part and Kensington Park, Bayswater Area  - along the streets of Bayswater area.  The Whiteleyse Mall  around the corner is also a good shopping stop. 

Recommended places to have meal includes
- Four Seasons  Restaurant at both  China Town   and  Bayswater
- Cheng Chuan Ku  China Town
- New Fortune Cookie Restaurant next to Queensbay Tube station

Day 9 – Checked into a budget hotel, Premier Inn near London Heathrow Airport  for convenience for next morning boarding flight.  Rate of 55 Sterling Pound , though without breakfast was value for money. Reach home  early morning next day after 13 hours flight, and gone through the usual jet lag for the next couple of days.

My friends have asked that for spending so much money, and just staying put in London which is extremely costly and whether it is worth .   My plan was to visit my son to see that he is well settled down for his next 3 years course.  As a parent, I can only say that it brings me great satisfaction to see the children grow up, and be able to be independent. There is no greater satisfaction than to give them the best which will stay with them wherever they go.  And I am looking forward to at least another trip to visit London, before he completes the 3 year programme.

Posted by
Ivan

Posted by Ivan

My attention was caught by the Forbes Asia March 24, 2008 issue with the cover page title starring out “1,125 Billionaires”. Flipping through it immediately gave me the names of the Top 20 richest people in the world, wanna know who they are? I am sure you would like to find out. New faces to this year’s leagure included 3 Russians and 1 Indian. Success in life at most times are equated to riches at least to many people. How much can one amass over the years, it makes one wonders. While many would argue as to riches as an indicator that is key to such measurement of success, one cannot deny the fact that riches do come hand in hand with success in life.

Forbes has kept the world informed of those that have really made it to the Billionaires club. In the latest Forbes Billionaires 2008, some interesting facts do come up;

- Bill Gates ceded the title of richest to his friend Warren Buffett, after several years in the position
- People from other parts of the world is fast catching up
- Number of billionaires kept increasing and now exceeded 1000 with 226 new comers
- People making to the list now is inceasingly coming from the younger age group. 50 of the billionaires are under the age of 40
- Average age of billionaire is 61 down from 62 the previous years. This has been dropping with more younger age making to the club
- Top 20 richest, previous years dominated by the Americans are now seeing Russian and Indian making to the list
- 2 years ago, half the top 20 billionaires were from the U.S. Now there are only 4. India and Russia now also have 4 each
- One in six billionaires are resident of Moscow, New York or Hong Kong
- The Asian are fast catchng up

With such riches, it must be mind boggling, what to do with so much of wealth and one wonders how the rich lives out their lifestyle. It made my mind run wild that wealth created and in control at the hands of those few people who have the well-being of the world and its people at heart, can do so much. And many of the richest have indeed, led and played their part in this area. I am just hoping that these people will continue to be blessed with much good fortune and lead a healthy and lengthy life, so that whatever goodness they are doing, will continue and expand in the years to come.

Many would frown on such degree of wealth, but come to think of it, what’s wrong with it. It is only a means to something and so long as one has within his heart the spirit to share with the rest in need, and for the good cause. How I wish I can have ability and start imagining the good that I can bring to this world.

Find out the Top 20 Billionaires of the World by clicking at http://www.forbes.com

Where do you think the richest hangout, wanna know a bit of their lifestyle. Check this out at http://www.forbes.com/2008/04/30/billionaires-london-moscow-biz-billies-cz_cv_0430billiecities.html

Yours truly,
Ivan

Feel free to share your feedback on the topic by clicking the Comment below.

Posted by Ivan

Gone are the days of and lining up and queuing long lines to conduct one’s banking needs and services. Today, the tag line is “Click is replacing the brick.” And with the advent of the internet that started it all, banking has ten on a new meaning, with most banking needs now made available and can be performed via electronic means anytime, anywhere and anyhow.

A check around the banks in town will tell you that electronic banking is now the order of the day, if the Bank does not offer electronic banking or its associated product and services such as e-debit, credit cards for convenience banking services, it is unlikely for the organization to remain in business for long.

Today’s banking services can be performed over a myriad of devices and channels, be it at the conventional branch teller service center and outlets or a range of so-called e-channels comprising the ubiquitous self-service devices such as ATMs, Cheque Deposit Machines, Cash Deposit Machine, Kiosks, Telephone Banking, Mobile Phone Banking, Web/Internet Banking, Interactive Voice Center or Call Center.

Customers have never had it so good, with such a multitude of channels to suit their needs and preferences. The associated ATM, Debit and Credit Cards with linkages to the respective accounts at the financial institutions, have also foster much quicker, speedier and convenient banking services that can be performed in the comfort of the home or remotely so long as there is an internet or telephone connection.

Apart from this, banks have also come together and collaborated in a lot of ways, to facilitate inter-bank and cross-institutional transactions and payment. Such collaboration has also seen the effort being extended to cross countries at the regional level. For example, ATM accounts for some banks now offer cross-country withdrawal from ATMs for countries such as Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, China etc.

Banks and financial institutions have invested tremendous amount of money into building such infrastructure and likely to continue in the near future. And different banks have also lined up their own respective initiatives and programmes to out-do each other to capture the share of wallet of the customer. One cannot deny the fact that today’s banking is so much more convenient and easy compare to the olden days. Such convenience is likely to improve further with most banks lining up many projects to improve customer convenience, satisfaction and overall service excellence.

What have some local banks done about this?

Find out More >> AsiaBanking&FinanceJun/Jul2008

Fee free to share your feedback on the topic by clicking the Comment below.

Posted by Ivan October 7, 2008

Going through some of my old emails, I stumbled upon one article that was sent to me some time back. And going through it, it make me realize that what life has so much to offer, it is only for us to see and seize the opportunity. It makes me wonder that one must be grateful for whatever we are endowed with, while striving for the best.

What you are about to see was seen at a Chinese modern dance competition broadcasted on one of China ’s TV stations. One couple won one of the top prizes. The lady has one arm and the guy has one leg. They performed gracefully and beautifully.

The lady in her 30s was a dancer and was trained as one since she was a little girl. Later she got into some kind of accident and lost her entire left arm. She was depressed for a few years. It seemed that someone asked her to coach a Children’s dancing group. From that point on, she realized she could not forget dancing. She still loved to dance. She wanted to dance again. So she started to do some of her old routines. But by her losing an arm, she also lost her balance. It took
a while before she could even making simple turns and spins without falling. Eventually she got it.

Then she heard some guy in his 20s had lost a leg in an accident. This guy also fell into the usual denial, depression and anger type of emotional roller coaster. She looked him up (seemingly he was from a different Province) and persuaded him to dance with her. He had never danced. And to dance with one leg? Are you joking with me? No way. But she didn’t give up. He reluctantly agreed. ‘ I have nothing else to do anyway.’ She started to teach him dancing 101. The two broke up a few times because the guy had no concept of using muscle, control his body, and a few other basic things about dancing. When she became frustrated and lost patience with him, he would walk out. Eventually they came back together and started training. They hired a choreographer to
design routines for them. She would fly high (held by him) with both arms (a sleeve for an arm) flying in the air. He could bend horizontally supported by one leg and she leaning on him, etc. They
danced beautifully and they legitimately beat others in the competition.

I would like to share with you this most magnificent and touching performance I have ever seen! It is a living proof that strong spirit can conquer any physical limitations! View the performance below;

Find out more >>

I hope the video has inspired you to view life more positively and start to take actions to become better.

Yours truly,
Ivan

Feel free to share your feedback by clicking on the Comment below.