SOKOPI

Bible Study

2010-12-01T17:30:00.004+07:00

At my age, 67 years old, I open my bible, it is so heavy and the prints are so small. It is really an effort to put myself in that position to study the Bible.
It is 47 years ago that I studied the four Gospels, for my Cambridge School Examination. But now I have to study the whole New Testament for my London School of Theology. The three assignments are killing me. Especially, I have not typed for so long
Salvation and Salvation, Revelation, Parables and Miracles!!!
If God is willing, I will try to accomplish my vision and mission

retire gracefully

2010-11-25T16:54:00.003+07:00

I have semi-retired. I am still working at a minumum pace, trying to turn the Indonesian company around. With prayers and hard work, I may be able to do so, working on the business strategy.

I have been serving people, and maybe now I learn to serve God

It is not easy to put myself to the plough again, and study this and that. I am so rusty doing my assignments. Where do I begin? The assignments have to be researched from these bibles and that bibles, accompanied by reading these books of reference, as recommended by London School of Theology.

It is my vision that I am able to serve.

With the help of God, I may be able to complele it.

Amen.

Strange as it may, I read the New Testament, on Salvation, miracles and proverbs, Revelation.
Now it is not difficult, because of Internet

The most insignificant is the most important

2009-06-30T08:00:00.002+07:00

If I mention it, it is distasteful.

Please treat it metaphorically, or picture it as a part of anatomy. It will be alright.

The story begins like this:

One day, the body parts have a meeting to debate, who is the most important part of the body.

The fingers starts first, "Do you know that if I do not pick up the food on the table, and put them into the mouth, you will not have any nourishment.

The eyes, without losing the argument, say, "If I don't see the food, can you the fingers go for the food."

The arms and hands stretch the muscles and state, "You see and the fingers pick up, and what so great about it?. If we do not move, what can you all do."

The mouth chides in, "If I do not open my big mouth, a lot of things cannot be done. Simply this is the opening for the food to go in, and then everybody is happy. If I do not want to take action, all of you are just useless.

The debate goes on and there is no conclusion on whoever is important, some parts already gone to sleep, without caring who is important!!

Then somewhere at the bottom, a voice speaks out, "I am important, the asshole!!!"

All the other parts chorus, "You are the asshole, and don't give me the shit???"

The asshole sounds sad, but determines, "I know you all throw me the shit, and whatever rubbish you all pick, you all clear through me."

"I am the most insignificant, but is important", say the Asshole.

"I do like to prove my point, tomorrow, and the next day too, I am not going to do any clearing," meekly put forward by Asshole.

True enough, after two days, every parts of the body begins to ache, and start to show that they are on the way of despair, and desperation.

They beg the Asshole to do the job.

So the asshole asks them, "who is important, but insignificant?"

They finally agree that the Asshole is the most important.

In my message, it is not to look down on people, who is less significant than us. They too may contribute some how, without having to show themselves, to make you aware of their contribution, no matter how small it is.

wisdom of life

2009-06-27T10:29:00.006+07:00

WISDOM
know beforehand

LUCK
not late

THE GREATEST GAIN
is good health

SORROW AND HAPPINESS
sorrow is the act of foolish acts.
happiness is the act of acting with wisdom

WHY DOES SOMETHING GO WRONG
because of lack of preparation,
preparation in advance for anything, is the path to achievement

THE MOST VALUABLE THING
security
everything devoid of protection, could end in
destruction, suffering, loss and deprivation

LIFE
life is time
success if making use of it,
make use of time by regulating abilities with resources and knowledge with
wisdom

CAUSES FOR PROBLEM AND SOLUTION

THERE ARE FOUR COMMON FACTORS FOR ALL OF LIFE'S PROBLEM
in relation to man, it is haste and delay
in relation to nature, it is decreased or increased

it will be understood that the balance is the solution
the route to solve problems?
First is by giving
second, by getting
third is by abandoning
The progress of time too solves problems

I found the above in my belongings, it was given to me by somebody, to venture out to jakarta, 22 years ago.
Well the paper has turned yellow, and there are truth in the sayings.
Maybe a reminder to the next chapter in life

CARPENTER'S TOOLS

2009-06-20T07:14:00.005+07:00

I like to tell story about a carpenter's tools, to a class, to highlight leadership. It is not everyone's cup of coffee to be able to lead.

The Carpenter's tools were lying about in the tool shed. The Carpenter, who had made beautiful furnitures, had gone to rest, and had made decision to call it a day. His name as a Craftman had made him known far and wide. With the various tools in the shed, he had made furnitures for the poor and the famous.

Since the carpenter was not around, the tools wanted to select a leader, who would utilised the talent to produce the furniture, together. afterall he used them to produce the various pieces. Why not among themselves, elected one and led them to produce the best.

The Hammer, the ruler, the saw, and the screw driver set down and started the meeting.

The Hammer began to make his pitch. He stated clearly, "I should be the leader, as a hammer, I knocked everything into the various places, making them nice and fit. That is my role"

The Ruler then added, "Wait a minute, without my measurement, you could not fit it nicely. I measured and measured to the last centimeter to fit the pieces together."

The Saw with a strange look in his eye, look up, and said, "You meassured and you hammered, but have you ever given a thought that if I did not saw and cut the wood into the various designs, are you able to do your own functions, and roles. Think again, you needed me."

The Screwdriver without even looking up, "hey you guys, you could saw, hammer, and measure, I was always the one to screw all together, and moreover I was the one, who screw everyone for their job to be done. I am the leader"

They argued to and fro, without coming to a decision, who was best to lead them.

In the corner of the tool shed, a tiny voice sounded out. It is a small nail, a very insignificant piece.

The Nail just plainly nailed into their heads, "You are what you are. Without the carpenter's talent and his hands, we are just his tools. You all are useful to him, hammering, measuring, screwing, cutting. The carpenter is our leader. Without his action on us, we were no where, making those beautiful furnitures."

The carpenter is the true leader, he has the talent to visualise the design, measures it, cut it, screw it up and hammer the various pieces together. He builds up the pieces for the rich and poor, be it complicated or simple. he just does what he knows best, with his hands. The tools are his assistants, and they are to be used together to get job done. All the tools depend on the Carpenter.

So it is the same in a company, there must be a carpenter, with his resources to make beautiful successful plans

MENTORING

2009-06-07T17:16:00.007+07:00

A mentor is someone, who can provide support, counsel, friendship, reinforcement, and a constructive model. The person must able to listen, to care, and to help others to know their own potential and strength.

As a Leader, in a company, the mentor must be able to assist with the mentee, the one who is receiving your mentoring
*to plan a project,
*to explore the answer to the question raised,
*to investigate together a topic of mutual interest,
*to set career goals, start taking steps to realize them,
*to learn and to strengthen their communication skills,
*to help them to relate to others,
*to make the right choices.

With that in mind, a mentor can make a difference in the life of the one, who is receiving your mentoring. The Mentor will provide a positive effect on their life.

I believe that when you are mentoring to someone, it does not end in one direction, but it is a both ways, of understanding communication, to give values to the actions, whereby increasing the interests and realizing the goals.
Last but not least, you learn something about yourself. It is shared opportunity for learning and growth.

Mentoring is like giving back and contributing to the future, like crediting back your life bank account. It can also been seen as making the company a better place.

Mentoring is to be fun, is to share the experiences, and there are occasions to share stories and jokes.

Mentoring do bring the benefits, but it is hard work. The rewards will be satisfying.

I bring a wide range of life experiences to the mentoring relationship, as a result I am a pillar of strength, and a great source of advice and information. Moreover I provide a second opinion or giving a different prospective.

Being a Mentor, it is my role to offer an insight to a solution, the advice as to how to handle the concern and to give the answers, and the suggestions to overcome any shortcomings or disagreement.

Mentor must be accessible. I must give them access to people as part of the network, opportunities, and information that are otherwise out of reach. In the end, the mentees can find and get involved in new situations, or find new resources. It cannot be misconstrued that the Mentor is sleeping on the job!! It is a key to succession

There are times, Mentor provides advocacy and diplomacy, and gets a shoe in the mouth. I have to stand up for their right, by assisting them to correct themselves, when they are in trouble with their peers. Which makes it important to know the mentee well!

In conclusion, I have mentored, far too many people. The relationship of loyalty remains well entrenched. because they are engaged, and they "claim ownership of the job". They have learned a lot and have their own objectives, to accomplish their dreams and visions. They do have directions, and they do have plenty of time and energy.

In the end, mentoring is one of the management tools that I have done!

FIRST THING, FIRST....

2009-05-28T04:39:00.003+07:00

What do you want to see and do?

Do you see these hills? What do you want to do first, walk through or just stare at it. Decide then what are importance and what are urgent. there are differences...

After the decision is made, think FIRST THING FIRST.....

To give a simple illustration.

We poise a simple request to a Port Managing Director, but it is so small, and tiny as compared to the amount on the bill. His trivial remark makes us look rediculous, even though he made it jokingly "the people in HQ needs to justifiy their existence".

If I put a big glass jar on a table, I need to put the four earthly elements into it. How would you proceed to fill up the jar. Think which will go into it first and follow by the others. The four elements are, WATER, SAND, GRAVEL, and ROCKS

If the elements are your decisions, or your looking into cost, big saving or small trivial one, we have to make it well, to determine what is importance or urgent?

The experiment was shown to us. The lecturer put the jar on the table. He filled it up with rocks. Then he asked the students, "Is it full?". the students replied "It is".
The lecturer pull out the gravel and poured into the glass jar, and gave it a few shakes. the gravel filled up the gaps in between the rocks. He asked "Is it full?"
The students were then wise up to the show, and replied "it is not"
The lecturer then pull out the sand and poured into it. He shook it a bit, and the sand filled up the gaps between the rocks and the gravel.
The students asked the lecturer, "Are you showing us that to have a meaningful life, try to fill up as much as possible, with all, that are given to us"
The lecturer with a grin in his face, pour the water in, and it filled up all the gaps.
Then he lectured the students, it is not on that matter of life. He tried to show us "First thing, First...." Look at the most important thing first, and look at the smaller later. Do not let the smaller decision or thing crowded out the big decision.
Do not look at the smallest of cost, which so trivial, and big cost are not look into.
He then told us to think in reverse, to illustrate his point. If you have put the water first, followed by sand, followed by graavel, and followed by rocks. Do you accomplish anything.
What would see in the experiment, it will be a huge mess.

Well, am seeing that is happening in real life. Various tiny trivial matters, and time consuming exchanges, drain out the energy of the staff to follow through.
when they are supposed to protect the interest of the company to overcome the crisis.

Look at the above picture of the hills. It is beautiful. Look at the trees, it is possible. Look at the ants, you have to trek through the hills. Do you have the scenery. No no!!!

LOOK AND THINK FIRST THING, FIRST........

Talent

2009-05-15T14:59:00.004+07:00

There are often questions, How do I manage the company? What are your most important formulae to make it successful? Is there any advices that I can impart to the next echelon. Is this an interview!

To begin with, I am what I am. Like Kopi, coffee is hard to drink unless you acquire a taste for it, with or without sweetening.

I am stubborn and a man of few words. To understand others, you have to understand yourself first.

A good example of my stubborn attitude is if I am right, I will not say a word but to remain even keel, I ignore it. Say I am instructed to employ more staff for sales, I will not take action, because there are so many obstacles locally, that we have to envisage. Look at this crisis, I have to make a choice to sack the salesmen, it will cost us a bomb!!!! We have to visualize, before embarking on a mission.

I believe that in this knowledge age, we have to seek talent to run the company.

I have learnt in the National Service, that there are many techniques and knowledge to be acquired. To tell people that I am only a logistic officer, they will not believe! I learn from others many skills. They will be surprised what other simple skill I have acquired. I have use my talent to acquire those multifunctional skills. I am a willing learner, there are always many teachers. To write that I had the chance to be a commando, when the unit was started. Nobody will believe it!!!!

I run the company and spot talent. then to train them to be specialists, because they have a talent for it. I have senior and junior officers to take care of the customs office, Ministry of Transportation, IT and others. They are very good at it, especially if you acknowledge their talent.

In the Industrial age, people are inventory, they are asset or liability, just like stock in the godown, cash, products and others in the balance sheet. They are being managed. They are within the system.

In the knowledge economy, people must be led. They are are acted upon. They have been educated, and they need leadership, and not management. They possess knowledge, they do think, and are not machines as in the industrial age, a number in the payroll. They are outside the system

i have also acquired many skills and adapt myself in many roles. I have to seek to ask. What do I want?.... Dependency, Independency, or Interdependency.

I run the company on an Interdependency mode, we share the knowledge and time.

Take an example, the other day, our freight forwarding is having network IT problems, the assistant manager had tried her best, but our IT supervisor was busy in the HQ, and we had no other alternatives. I drove through the traffic jam to the port area, one and a half hour, but I resolved the three computers in fifteen minutes. It showed our interdependency mode. We worked together!!
I show the staff, that i may be a senior manager. I lead them, to show that I am also capable to solve their problems at their place.

Talent is not only in children, and it is with us Adults too. Do we want to acquire talent in our Knowledge Economy.

We have to lead talented people with our Talent, and we act on the system with our Talent, and not within the system, as an inventory

Mission

2009-04-30T08:38:00.004+07:00

Everyone of us is going through the crisis.

We try to maintain our revenue, it means we have to maintain customers at all cost.

Even we have no bonus or salary increase, we try to stay afloat, with slogan, and mission.

It is our guiding light, to focus on.

Together, we will go on in one direction.

It is posted every where, especially in front of the computers, as screen saver.

Even my iphone has it..... one common goal!!!!

Irony of Cost Cutting

2009-04-07T09:18:00.006+07:00

The Irony of Cost Cutting is the manner, how it is handled?
When an instruction to cut cost, it goes like a whirlwind, cutting everything in the path, without analyzing what to cut and what not to cut. Any thing that you cut will be good in the eyes of the Boss.

I stop here to express that I write this article, as my journal, to show my frustration and my concern. It is my opinion, and it may be a fallacy. It can also be treated that 'thinking aloud' in a Kopitiam (coffee shop)

In a booming economy, Revenue (R) minus Cost (C) equals to Profit, so in order to maximize profit, increase in revenue and decrease the cost. very simple formula. But what happen in a RECESSION, Revenue is down, Cost is down and the Profit will definitely be following the effect of the two factors R and C. Instructions to cut cost are given, have they identified the real cost to cut, internal or external.

In my undergraduate day, studying the economic book by Paul Samualson, I was fascinated by the Paradox of Thrift. it is a paradox of economics propounded by J M Keynes. the paradox states that if everyone saves more, during the times of recession, then the aggregate demand will fall and will in turn lower total savings in the population, because of the decrease in consumption and economic growth.

Cutting cost is beneficial to each individual company but deleterious to the general economy. If every companies saves more money (that is the marginal propensity to save increases across all revenue levels), then the total revenues for companies will decline. This decrease in economic growth means fewer salary increases and perhaps downsizing.

in a simplistic view, everyone is looking for cost to be cut, the revenue of everyone will also decrease, eventually what is there left to be cut. So in the process, profit is never there, in this weak economy.
Too much cost cutting may harm the economy. You cut my cost, I cut yours. The level of revenue will fall across the board.

The company must undertake to examine and cut those cost internally. Take a team to look at the profit and loss statement. Examine the fixed cost first and then the variable costs of the company. Not every cost need to be cut. It needs to be adjusted.
As an example, cutting cost does not mean we turn off the light completely, and work with candles. One needs to walk around, and adjust the light, like two neon light, turning off one.

I do need to touch on "TRANSFER PRICING". The definition is " the setting of prices within an organization for goods or services, sold to other subsidiaries of the organization". In the booming economy, the prices of the services is already quoted very low as compared to the market, among the group. Now come the recession, the price is further cut to the bones!! I wonder how the subsidiaries are going to justify their existence.

In conclusion, in this global recession, maybe we do just the opposite, everyone means everyone does not cut each other's throat.. cost. It will bleeds to death!!!

I need to disclaim that this is my journal and it is only my opinion.

Bucket List, Vision After

2009-04-07T09:13:00.004+07:00

I read an interesting article in the Strait Times, "Going Gently into The Night"

Death is always a taboo subject, it is a curse or "sial"?

The following comments quoted from the article:

"Life is fragile, yet most people avoid thinking and talking about it"
"I'm sad about the pain my illness and death have caused my friends and family..."
"Now that I know I may go any time, I want to take good of my family, while I can.."
"...has told me she's afraid that she'll forget me..."
"From panic to peaceful exit"
"Depart Well or Not.....Unnecessary suffering that could be avoided..."
"Don't act like it's not happening"
"He worries not for himself, but for his family"
"Live well to die well"
"Seeing death in different light"
"Dying process is part of life"

I like to pen this "taboo" subject, because people tends to ignore it. I have taken the above picture, sitting in the cafe, what will I look like if I close my eyes?? Look handsome still.

I feel that it is part of a process, one cannot be born or died twice. There is the birth and death, the beginning and the end.

When I am young, I fear death. maybe it is the unfinished missions/goals, or the responsiblilities have not been fulfilled.

It bring to my mind the accident in Gemas, Malaysia, about 30 years ago, while I was working in Kuala Lumpur. I went off the road, and down the ravine, about 300m below. When the car went airbourne, I was holding tightly to my steering wheels.
The pictures flashed across my mind.
The pictures are of my two young daughters and lovely wife.
The thought that came was a wish, death would not come to me so soon!!!
It did not, I am able to write about it. The Lord has plans for me?

At the present, I am not afraid even to write about death.
That is the reason I title this post, "Bucket List, Vision after"

I am living well, and do enjoy now and then, to go back to my wife's "penthouse" and my dog.

I do have my vision how it will end, will it be how I visualse it??

Just yesterday, some of my staff went on a picnic, I met them coming back with their family, from their outing in the basement, and how their children call me "grandpa". Mind you, the staff has worked with me, when they are single. It strikes a note in my heart, that I am not getting any younger.

It also bring to my memory, those whom I have a part to play in their growing up and career path and they have become successful, will they be grateful to my advice and assistance. Will they display their emotions, and will they leave same legacy too, to others.

I always hear people speaking good and praise of the departed, when he lies there as cold as a stone, cannot listen.
I prefer actions than words. why all the complications? Just cremated and throw ashes into the wind and across the sea. No frills and cost!!! Few weeks ago, I saw the Australian movie, about a group of orphans, set in Darwin, Nothern Australia. they have difficult time being adopted, but in the end the leader of the group, become a pastor, and died in Africa. They met again in Darwin to scattered the ashes of the pastor in the wind and across the sea, to fulfill the last wish of their beloved friend.

The worldly life has ended, and the eternal life begins.

John 5:24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eteranl life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life"

Visualisation

2009-03-30T07:32:00.007+07:00

I believe that visualisation is one tool which will be able to assist in oneself, to achieve goals and missions in life.

Take my sport hobby, Golf. When the ball landed on the green, I have to putt the ball into the tiny hole, from a distance. I have to be able to read the line and break. In fact I have to visualise the ball rolling movement, together with different parameters, taken into consideration, by standing behind the ball, in line with the hole.

I have to visualise the ball going for the hole, and dropping into the hole, with the sound "plong"

The goal is for the ball going into the hole and the mission is having the score, just a simple par. I will jump with joy.

I have always done the same with my private life and work.

As for my family, when I married many year ago, I visualised myself, able to provide all the simple neccessities, in life.

Before, I said "yes", I have to visualise and set my goals/missions.

When writing this post, I look back, I have a happy family. I have my wonderful children. Mind you they are educated and successful, beyond my visualisation. My wife and I have a comforatble life. Each step of the way, the family is brought, closer to God. To be honest, I had not visualised them, being the servants of God. I am blessed.

I have left them the legacy, that they will find their own visualisation, goals and missions in their own life.

I am proud of my family! Like the ball, dropping into the hole, "plong". I jumps with joy.

As for my work, my career path is not that smooth. In beginning of my career, I had no set goals or missions. I wondered aimlessly, each day, as there was always tomorrow.

But, when I landed my job in Jakarta, then I had to visualise.

My personal mission statement is "To be the Best, Do your Best".

I had failed in singapore, simply because of my not visualising, as to what I want to be.

In Jakarta, I had to do my best.
My first caricature (1988) was drawn to show my best, in filling up the space of the ship.
My second caricature (1999) drawn, to symbolise the growth of the companies, under my wings.

I have to visualise!!!!

My visions were then to do be the best.

The achievements are

*The office can achieve more than 100 per on load factor.

*The office will be the first in Web Browser, and the Total internet within the office.

*The office has its ISO 2000.

*The office has grown from 2-level shop houses to an office block of 6-level.

*The office has led to be recognised as one of the formidable shipping agencies, by many.

*The office is also a shipowner.

*The company has grown to have a group of related companies, having the related activities

And many.....

Because of visualisation, all the goals and missions are met.

Definitely it is not an overnight affair.

The legacy to be left to the office is have the officers to have the same visualisation, goals/missions.

That is the reason, am giving them lessons as to visualisation, vision, goals/missions.

I have so many "plong". I jump for joy, and sing of praises to God

EE (Employed Entrepreneur)

2009-03-12T08:34:00.008+07:00

I have read many articles on the crisis, with the PMET (Professinoal, Managers, Executives, Technician) being taken care of.

Pardon My Extreme Thought (PMET), as to the reason so much attention is being levied on these people, when they should have seen the crisis is around the corner, and they should have adjusted to the situation, when they are on the their career path.

They should have planned every five years, to upgrade, in order they are prepared for eventual. Not when the fire started, then to look for water

What about those EE (Employed Entrepreneur), who has gone overseas to start the company, as an Employed Entrepreneur, on owners' behalf. They have successfully made it.

Pardon My Ego Too (PMET), will they be discarded, like the others and put to furlough, like a race horse!

In any case, this is the time of consolidation. Do not think that the EE will be put aside. It is up to the EE, who may have acquired the necessary skill, as he plough along.

In our group of companies, I have taken time to retrain staff myself to cut down the training budget.

I have given in house training courses, namely "Communication", which I have acquired from IAMA, "Attitude" from books, "Goals" from Stephen Covey, and "Supervisory Skills" from training books.

The reasons, are to assist the companies to go through the crisis, with certain understanding, and not fumble along. Taking advantage of the situation, to upgrade the mind to prepare mentally for the crisis and recovery.

My idea is to make every cloud has a silver linning, a positive approach to the crisis. It has been depressing enough to read the newspapers, why not do something to get your mind off on the situation

view life in different perspective

2009-02-24T08:48:00.006+07:00

If we are to see our life in one perspective, it is very limited.

There are alternatives. The manners we see how we can put ourselves in that position is the criteria. Any problems, there is not one solution to it. We must explore whether there is any other way to look at it.

Even an art, like the above, is shown a horse!!!

Will we look at it again, to find any other interpretation for which we may not be familiar with.

There it is a "frog" and not a "horse", if you look at it in another postion.

In times of crisis, let us pray, for the best that we can get, not matter how you see it, it is there.

Well look at it in a different perspective!!!

Crisis, like the face in the coffeebeans

2009-02-20T01:31:00.003+07:00

Look at this pile of coffee beans

Can you find the face of a man??

It is like the crisis, when is it going to end.

People will find the answer, like finding the needle in the haystack.

As for me, it is like finding the face in the pile of coffee beans.

You will find it, if you look hard enough.

Like the crisis, face it!!!

CHARISMATIC LEADERSHIP

2009-02-11T22:09:00.008+07:00

Looking into the dictionery, the meaning of charismatic is, the power to inspire devotion and enthusiasm.

The Question is this. Can it be found in every Leader? In my opinion, I doubt it.

Affirmative, if we are talking about the country club leaders, everyone will like to follow that type of leader. It is fun!! But what happen when the fun is over?? The followers will neglect him, I will say he will be dumped.

Neither will I say about an authoritarian leader. When he is not in power, the followers will forsake him and rebel against him.

Therefore the Chrismatic leader is a different leader from those briefly described above.

Before we talk about the Charismatic Leader, let us examine the four Elements of a whole person: the Body, The Heart, The Mind and The Soul. What are these elements? Respectively, they represent the Four Dimensions of a person, the Physical, the Social, the Mental, and the Spiritual.

From these, we will understand the characteristic of each element and dimension.

The Body (Physical) will give the instinct to live and survive.

The Heart (Social) will have love and relationship.

The Mind (Mental) will service one's talent and development

The Soul (Spiritual) will contribute towards the meaning of life and to leave a legacy.

A Charismatic Leader will be able to view these elements in different light/dimensions, and to see the truth in that person. The Leader will be able to give the followers, the opportunity to satisfy the above four elements. He is not to control that person, but to inspire devotion and enthusiam.

These are the reasons, why Charismatic Leaders are hard to come by, that is, can he read that person and lead him!!!!

2009-02-07T10:43:00.005+07:00

I have seen the movies RED CLIFF I & II, and have read the Chinese Classic "The Strategy of War" many times.

There is a familiarity in the Red Cliff story line with the Treatise and Chinese Military science written about 500BC.

I will not dwell in all the aspects, like Planning, Preparation, Strategy, Tactics, Organisation, Seizing Opportunities, Manoeuvres, Variation in Tactics, Sites and Observations, Terrian, Postions, Fire, and Spies.

Pictures really mean a thousand words! In the movies, I can see the actual strategies being applied and outlasted the enemies.

I like the fire that destroy the fleet of ships, by the observation of the timing of the wind, the formation in the bay

I like the manner, of how to promise and provide the thousands of arrows.

I like the sacrfice being made to delay the war, with only one woman. The tide of war changes!!

Last but not least, hasty decisons are not good, when the angry General ordered the beheading of the Commanders of the fleet, because false informations were being fed to him. Without the expertise of the Commanders, mind you they were the best, his armada of ships had no formation and were totally destroyed.

Usually I go to the shows, to relax and also to see whether the theme can be applied in my daily life of management.

So in time of Crisis, there will be some mistakes made!!

LEARNING CURVE

2009-01-30T05:07:00.003+07:00

My daughter had an assignment to look at Sunset, the family tagged along, as it was near dinner time.

For me, what is so great about a sunset? I have seen countless of sunset in my younger days.

Well, we set down and stared at the sun. It was quite an experience. It was what she described to us. The change was in the colour of the sun.

It brings into my mind, at my age, I am still learning, and it is not harmful to acquire some knowledge, and participation in whatever, no matter how small it may be. One needs to be humble, to go with the flow.

WE WILL LEARN!!!

corporate ladder

2009-01-19T14:47:00.005+07:00

I have always thought of writing a self-improvement book, titled "A Ladder".
Oh well, in my blog maybe I can put it as a synopsis.

What is a ladder? From Oxford English Minidictionary: "a set of crossbars between uprights, used for climbing up; a series of ascending stages in a career etc....;

Therefore, to go up, you need to look for an equipment to help you to ascend, and that is to look for a ladder. If you want to go up in a career, do you want to wait for someone to give you, a ladder. You have to look for it, analyse the place where you are. If you just sit down and do nothing, you will forever at the bottom. You will only look up at the wall, and forever wondering what is beyond it.

Let's say, you have found your ladder, you have to decide which wall you want to put it, leaning against which wall. The best for which It will help you most. That will be hard!!! Because you may find yourself going up the wrong wall.

If you are leading, and you are at the top of the wall, you look around, it will be frustrating to yell, "It is the wrong wall"
Moreover, if you are leaning against a wrong wall, every step you take, will put you nearer to the wrong place faster.

I also forgot to mention that you may find a small ladder for which you may not reach the top. You just grab the nearest ladder, without thinking of height of the wall and the length of the ladder. when you reach the top of the ladder, you found you are short of few rungs, you are not there!! What a waste of effort!!

Be it your career or your decision as a leader, it has profound effect, if one is not careful in selecting and in leaning the ladder

The choice of a leader

2009-01-17T10:29:00.004+07:00

I came across this Shakespear's writing:

There is a tide in the affairs of men,
Which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the vovage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries,
On such a full sea are we now afloat,
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose our venture.

The Tragedy of Julius Ceasar
Act4, Scene 3, lines 218-224

I have not fully understood this statement until recently, even though I have taken Literature as one of the Elective subjects. This is one of the books, which I had to go through for the examination. The above then was a text of misunderstood words, or jumble of words, which I was clueless about what Shakespear trying to project.

Having gone on in life, through ups and downs, the above does have a clear meaning. I have seen managers muddle through it. The above is clear on what they are trying to do. In this period of "Crisis", it is so clear, what they are trying to do.

As a leader of a company or a small group, the leader always takes the easy way out, and takes the low road. Simply because when they are weak, they want to get over with it, are caving in to those temptation of fulfilling their task only.

The choice then in this period is the manner we are going handle ourselves in this difficult situation. Are we going to make a very simple choice, and walk away.

Or are we going through to see it done, with our gifted talent, with the appropriate response and stimulus, and with our senses, to our awareness and freedom to do the best we can.

checklist 2009

2008-12-29T11:15:00.002+07:00

Everybody makes resolutions for the coming year 2009, but do they really mean them and follow them through.
I believe that it is better to have a check list and reflect on things, you have done
We have to look into our items that have gone past us in 2008, namely 1)goals, 2)accomplishments, 3)failures, 4)relationship 5)commitments

Goals: What are our long and short goals, and their relationship between them
Accomplishment: Did I accomplish what I have planned in year 2008 or did accomplish what I have not planned. Was there any failure in my accomplishment and that I need to look into in 2009.
Failure: What cause the failure? Is there anything that I can learn from it. Can it be repair or reverse?
Relationship: What is your relationship with God? Relationship equals to Influence. Relationship is not to God only but also employer/employee, friendship, family and others. One must know, are you being influenced or you are influencing.
Commitments: Am I committed to all that have an influence in my life, namely God n Church, Family,Friends and Work

FAILURE

2008-12-12T21:54:00.006+07:00

I bought a book, the other day, at the Changi airport.

I found it interesting, because most of the books on self improvement will tell you to do this and that to improve and to be successful. If not, you fail

The book titled "The Ten commandments for Business Failure" by Mr Donald R Keough, Former President of the Coca-Cola Company.

The book states that if you do take those actions, you will have failures in whatever you do. The book is different in the manner, it is done.

You fail, if do these......

The list is as follows:
1) Quit Taking Risk
2) Be Inflexible
3) Isolate Yourself
4) Assume Infallibilty
5) Play the Game Close to the Foul Line
6) Don't Take Time to Think
7) Put All Your Faith in Experts and Outside Consultant
8) Love Your Bureaucracy
9) Send Mixed Messages
10) Be Afraid of the Future.

These are the blunders that I have seen, some of the corporations made. Mind you, the companies or the individuals will still continue doing it, after they have made the same mistakes again and again.
It is a how-not-to manual!!!

The famous people commented on this book, Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Jack Welch, Rupert Murdoch, Andrew McKenna, and Barry Diller.

It is must read book

Seeds planting

2008-12-04T20:38:00.008+07:00

Read Matthew 13:3-9

Then he told them many things in parables, saying, "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It spring up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they have no root. Other seed fell among the thorns, which grow up and choked the plants, which grow grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produce a crop -- a hundred , sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear."

continue to Matthew 13:18

"listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not undersand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in the heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The ones who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hear the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good sol is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty time what was sown"

The above parable does show what is happening in the secular world, in a company. We have educated them with our process and procedure. We have focused them on the shortcomings.

We tell them to stay focus, love your work n cherish your employment, love your friends in your office, and reach out to your customers.

If they lose the values, they have no understanding, become unproductive, and finally achieve nothing.

If they indulge in office politics, they are rootless, rumours will take them away. They will lose sight and lose their direction.

If they have self-interest pursueing their own interest, and have worried about their own well being, they lose their goal and become unfruitful.

Last but not least, an excellent worker is one who follows the process and procedure, he will go a long way

Panda story

2008-11-01T10:33:00.004+07:00

What is the moral of the Panda story.

The story was created in my mind and imparted to my young and naive children.

In their young days, the father was never wrong, but it did make them proud. They had a story telling father.

Can it be true!! But it is funny. Does it matter!!!!

Years later, they found they have been fooled, but they have enjoyed the story. They found it creative and have been taught to think out of the box. Think up any idea, and give it a story. and wrap it up with words to give it an illustration, like putting colours on a painting.

Like the Panda story, the black patches are as where it is, with each movement.

So, it is good sometime to think out of the box, for any situation. Life is so dynamic, it is not in compartments, moving from one to another. It needs to adjust, but to think of many possible outcomes, and there will be many consequences attached to the choice

My Panda story for my children

2008-11-01T07:23:00.006+07:00

When my children were very, small, I always tucked them in and told them the Panda story. There are many variations, but the Theme is the same.... lost and covered themselves in black

Once upon a time, there were two white bears sitting on an iceberg. The iceberg had broken off from the icy mainland, with the two beautiful white bears on it. They had been floating on the sea and they were frightened! They did not know what they should do. They were desperately clinging on to each other. The iceberg, they were sitting on, was getting smaller, as the sun was getting hotter and hotter.

After sometime, they saw land ahead, they became excited but they did not rock the small piece of ice. They knew they would be drifted towards the land.

Finally, they reached the land, and they were very happy. They sat down to think what they had to do, seeing they were in a strange place.

Suddenly, one bear realised they had not taken any drink and suggested to go to look for it together. They explored the land, and moved further into the land. When they were about to give up, they saw a small pool, filled with blackish water. Well, they had no choice.

They waded in, the white fur on their legs turned black. They were still not aware of their black legs. They put their hands into the pool of water. Their hands also turned black.

Now they did see their beautiful white fur were stained with black colour. They were at lost what to do! They hugged each other, and now their backs were blackish.

They were desperate, and they put their paws to their eyes and ears to rub them, as they were now crying.

Now imagine these two beautiful white bears, with blackish legs, shoulders, hands, paws, ears and black eyes.

What do we have here.

The first Panda bear. Ha Ha Ha

So the story ends.

Mind you I have to repeat night after night the Panda story, they have grown. It stops!! Happy but sad, nobody listens to me anymore.

Choice

2008-11-01T06:39:00.006+07:00

Everyting, that we do, there is always a choice. Either it is a simple yes or no, or a shiftng of choices to adjust the balance on that decision.

Even a simple example of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemana, Jesus did make a choice.

Mathew 26: 39 ...."My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from. Yet I want your will, not mine"

Mathew 26: 42....."My Father if this cup cannot be taken away until I drink it, your will be done."

He would die for our sins!! He also knew that the Heavenly Father had plans for him and the betrayer was near. He had his choice in line with what God had planned for Him. You notice that he prayed with God's plan in mind.

Everyday, I have to make choices and choices. Sometimes at that moment, it looks it is wrong, but subsequently it turns out right. There is an Almighty hand, guiding me to have that one choice, which has finalised into my biting the bullet, and it has become my decision.

So it is good to start a day with a prayer, to guide us along in order to have a right choice

Memory of Late John Soh

2008-10-15T19:20:00.008+07:00

Pam n Pet's grandfather Late John Soh was called to be with the Lord on 18th November 1995, thirteen years ago. At that time, my children are young, and will not have fully understood the meaning of mission outreach.

My father, late John Soh, had truly done his best to bring everyone of his family to hear the Words of God. I will not dwell into the manners he got us going to Church. Cell group and mission trips are not even in our dictionery. Strange happenings, for which we have not a clue about it. We will all love his Cell nite, because we will have a share of the delicious pot of porridge.

Reading the articles above, which pay the tribute to this man, called "Father Moses", may bring out a picture of the man, who has turned from drinking to be soldier of Christ.

The last few words, from me, are these, "he planted the seed of mission outreach in the legacy, and leave it in the bloodline to continue his works"

Am glad that Babe, Helen, Pam and Pet have soldiered on what he has left behind.
What about myself? I have done my share in bringing people to Christ, in a different manner, like finding the lost sheep, or lost coin.

my family, how did I manage?

2008-10-06T07:26:00.003+07:00

I have been often asked, how did you manage your family, when I have been in Jakarta for 23 years. My reply is that my going away is a neccessity, to look for a job, which I can maintain my family, as earthly head of the family. It is not that easy, all the sacrifices, I have to make, leaving my children at a tender age. I did not do this alone. My wife Helen and I have discussed about the situation when, I take the plunge. She knows plenty well that I am below standard husband type. I have often think, it is God's plan. to make this journey. With God's blessing and Helen's permission, I make my own journey to jakarta.

I do say I have neglect my job, as a father. Have I?

This verse Col 3:21 "Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discourage." Or this Eph 6:4 "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; Instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord"

All the words above are not worthy of any thing, if I have not the other better half, ie HELEN. I must confess that she has done very well in bringing up the children Pam n Pet. By the way, this is not Mother's Day message. I want to express it. That is all. it is never too late to express to her. Right?

Moreover, I want to enclose an old article, which I found, written by the children to her.

This verse 1Pet 3:3-4

"your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of inner self, the unfading beauty of gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's spirit."

The above describe her, she is such an ordinary mum or sister!!!

gratefulness

2008-09-30T13:57:00.005+07:00

I open up the bible and read the Words of the Lord. I went to the Verse Matthew 20: 1:15 The Parable of Workers in the Vineyard.

I read through it many times, and try to observe what it means to me, in relation to the last few days happening in the office. Does it has an application to my understanding of what I am doing.

It is right to question the authority on the punishment given, and it is not right to clarify on the reward given.

In the verse 15 "Dont I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious, because I am generous"

Why is it that given more is not right? Every one in the vineyard is given the same, not matter what time they start. It has not been pro-rated as to the contribution of the time through the day. So we are generous and give a wee bit more, do they have to ask for more. Sometime life is like that, never satisfied.

It hurts to have such situation. I do have a need for prayers, and hope that God will uplift me.

Praise the Lord

S O A K

2008-09-28T13:49:00.005+07:00

We are to read the bible daily to soak up the Words of God, like a sponge, soak up the water.

Pastor Dave always uses the word SOAK for his teachings. What does it mean? Definitely, the word SOAK has its objectives.

Well, here goes!!

S for Scripture

open the bible and search for your favorite verse.

read it and allow God to speak to you

O for Observation

in the specific scripture, what is God saying to you.

in your own words, try to put it down in your journal, agenda, or even in your blog

A for Application

put up your thinking cap, and picture the scripture as it applies to your life

is it instructive, encouraging, promising a revelation, giving a corrective action to your deed or need

K for Kneel in Prayer

take time to pray about the passage you have read.

pray for annointing to understand the passage, or the insight of the scripture

write it down.

As for me, I put it down in my blog.

You can see that my blog is portraying, what is in mind, and looking for an expression in the Words of God. It will become my opinion, on things that make me happy or sad, coupled with some scriptures, that God may have put into mind, during our conversation with HIM, simply a prayer to Him

Argument on money

2008-09-27T06:44:00.009+07:00

I sat in Coffee Bean, having a cup of coffee. And I asked myself, why with my generousity, people view it in different light.

I like to start off with bible verses, "Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can't take anything with us when we leave it. so if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content 1Timohty 6: 6-8

"For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows" 1Timothy 6:10

Money by itself is not evil. It is used for any transaction, be it good or evil. It will be bad, if there are any bad intention on it. It will be bad, if it is accumulated for selfish gain. It will be good, you give away to help the poor and the needy, or contribute to the church.

"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctanly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to in every good work. As it is written: He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever" 2Corinthian 9:6-9

Money is an earthly thing, that is all!!!! It is only an earthly media for things done.

Then it becomes an argument on money, when there is conflicting desire.

"what is causing the quarrels and fight among you?Dont they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want something but you dont get it..... James 4:1-2

so the cure for an argument on money is to "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up" James 4:10

At the end, pray and believe me "God will lift me up". Praise the Lord!

The Rudder

2008-09-23T19:52:00.004+07:00

When I was young, in a Christian Brother School, learning about Christianity, I was impressed with the Beatitudes, Mt 5:3-11.

The reason is simply that we can learned them by heart, and they can be your guiding light. And the other truth is able to pass the subject "Bible Knowledge"

After finishing school, all are forgotten!!

As we go through life, I have become a new born Christian, and am still in the shipping industry. The passage on the rudder will always strike note on me, because James wrote in Chapter 3: 4-9, "Or take ships, as an example. Although they are so large, and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go................

I always believe that it is the tongue, even though it is small, it can steer us into trouble or happiness. Out of it, we can come praising or cursing.

So when we are together, we must tame our tongues!!

Financial Turmoil

2008-09-21T23:54:00.004+07:00

I have two verses in mind, when I read about the financial crisis, sweeping the globe, starting from the States, where the loans were given easily, in turn led to the mortages, and then greed settling in.

The word "sub-prime" is referred to the given loan to borrowers, with no substantial income. Bubbles when they are over blowned, will burst. The Housing bubbles busted, and crisis settled in. The dust settled down. What does one see? There, you can see the casualties. Not only the banks, but the investors, who are seriously hurt.

"Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you" James 5: 1-2

"Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don't have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless-like chasing the wind" Ecclesiastes 6:9

BLOG BLOG BLOG

2008-09-18T23:40:00.004+07:00

what is blog?
it is now a fad to have one, to put up your pictures, and your comments.
it is also like a diary book, to put forward your feeling, be it spiritual, or just plain facts on life.
I do wonder how the word came about. It also sounds like "blot", some mark left on plain piece of cloth, a stain???? It has become a powerful tool now, to express yourself in praise or discontentment, in happiness or sadness.

I looked into the word, and found that with a bit of intelligence, some smart human-being coined the word from WEBLOG to WE BLOG! Blogging becomes so popular, that it is happening in different languages.

Then it dawns on me that BLOG can also be taken as Babel Language Over the Globe. No one has ever enviaged that blogging is a sort of media language, a dialogue on the web, crossing all boundaries, in different languages, in different countries under the virtual internet tower.

I came across the verse "the unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple" Ps 118:130

Looking back

2008-09-17T22:36:00.011+07:00

After having my usual cup of coffee, before going to bed, I went through my junks in a box. I found an old photo of me. There are hairs on my head. Or do I?

Thoughts went through my head! I wonder and realise that we do get old. It is the work of God. We age, mellow, do go through life, with experiences and wisdom, trusting and having faith in God. We have aged, like old wine in an old wineskin

What will happen? If all the inexperiences and lack of wisdom, are transplanted to the old man on the right. If it can be done, what will happen? That old man on the right will be going to his second childhood, his behaviour will soon have some doubts........

Then I remember the Words of God, "Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skin will burst, the wine will run out, and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into the new wineskin, and both are preserved" NIV Mt 9:17.

Therefore, we are what we are, as we move forward. But we have to accept that is a fact, no two ways about it.

Youth Gathering

2008-09-17T22:36:00.010+07:00

Last Saturday, after travelling from East to the West of the Singapore island, upon reaching the destination, I was dying for a cup of coffee at Mac-Cafe (did I get it right?).

Then I joined the Youth Gathering. Prior to that, I went through the playground, for the kids. I even tried some of the so-called obstacle course. It brought memories of my army days.

This is my first experience in the Youth Gathering.

I also get a chance to speak to few boys. They did baffle me, with few questions, even with my competency in mediation. I do enjoy them. The older boy will tell and explain to the young boy. It is curiousity and attention, they need. Moreover I am someone they have not met!!!!

It is interesting!

Why, what, when, where, how

2008-09-09T23:05:00.000+07:00

Having a cup of coffee, I start to think about 4 Ws and 1 H of life.

Then it dawns on me, you can get the answer from the God's Word.

Just refer to James 4:13-17.

What is wrong with us, for making plans?

Why is it dangerous to presume we can handle any challenges tomorrow?

How do we know the good, that we ought to do, and not to do. is a sin.

When do we take action?

Where? Here on earth

To get the answers:

It is wrong to plan without God being part of it. It is the Lord's will

With our limited life span, we do not have endless tomorrow. We appear for little while and will be gone tomorrow, like a mist

We do recognise and know the difference between God's trial and Satan's temptation, respectively one helps us to grow, and the other leads us to sin. That answer to the question as to how do we know the good, that we ought to do, and not to do, is a sin

Kopi Susu (Coffee with Milk)

2008-09-05T13:16:00.000+07:00

Well, order a cafe latte!

Coffee taste different with milk.

So is our appearance, with touchup here and there, the picture has another look. Beneath it, it is the same person with his bad and good attitudes, the same mannerism, and it will be the same, if you remove those makeup.

As for social grace, it will be the same, like the coffee. Add the milk, the colour and taste change. It depends very much the enviroment, and influence.

my thought for the day

2008-09-04T15:12:00.000+07:00

Gathering the candles and the number of years, I am actually counting the blessings that God has given graciously to me.
What else can I ask from Him?
When He on high has given me and uplifted me, when at times I really feel that I do not deserve them at all.
In anycase, I thank you Lord

Have cup of coffee

2008-09-03T01:59:00.000+07:00

Sitting at a cafe, having a cup of Americano, I think about the next thing to do, after I retire, really retire!!!!

Technically, when I reach a certain age, I have to call it a day, or I always state "I ride into the sunset"

But if I continue working and am still contributing the same and nothing less, do I need to have my pay cut, and facilities taken away.

Am working in the same enviroment, having the challenges and concerns, I have to face.

Sometime I wonder, do have value, after reaching that age

Is it too long in jkt!

2008-08-31T22:24:00.000+07:00

A fter twenty years and looking back to the years I spend in this city. It has its bitterness, and occasionally it was sweetened with some adventures. It is SOKOPI, the so black coffee!!!