Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Famous last words..

I got writer's block.

I don't know what to write for my "farewell E-mail" to my colleagues..

I got alot to say.. but I got want to sound cocky..

I got loads of proverbs.. but it'll be too cliche..

The nostalgic feeling is too overwhelming, I can't think straight.. Damn!

A wise sensei once said "Being yourself is the hardest thing to do".. and now, I have to go to the loo.. hihi..

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

PAI Concept

I'm sure some of you out there was thought of this 'PAI concept' in high school.. It only 'clicked' in my brain recently and now I've been 'working' on the practicality of it.. See, school does makes sense.. :P

The 'PAI concept' was used in Pendidikan Agama class to define iman (faith).. Don't worry, I'm not going to preach you on Islam here, I just want to share the knowledge..

PAI actually stands for Percaya dalam hati (believe in one's heart), Amal dengan anggota (act through action), Ikrar dengan lidah (pledged verbally).. It is explained that iman (faith) is only complete when these 3 conditions are met.. in other words, for example if you only say you believe in God and act like it (by praying, etc) without actually believing in it deep inside your heart, than you are not truly having faith in God..

So that is the original 'PAI concept'..

Now, my 'revolution' on this concept is.. PIA.. Percaya (believe it) --> Ikrar (say it) --> Amal (do it) in that exact sequence.. and you can use it to keep yourself motivated in reaching you goals - wether in life, studies, career or anything..

Note: I still refer to it as 'PAI' since it's more catchy and easier to remember than 'PIA' (reference: apple pie, pie chart, etc)

Let me explain through this 3 simple steps..

1. What you want (to do, to have, to be etc), first and foremost, you must truely believe it in your heart.

2. Talk about it.. be it with your friends, family, even enemies - basically anybody and everybody including yourself in front of the mirror - that you want it.. verbally not just mentally, you need to hear the words come out of your mouth and into your ears yourself.

3. Act accordingly and seize the opportunity to work in line with what you want. Don't shy away. You want it, so do it!


I'm not just being 'macam bagus je' here.. I'm sharing this because I went through life with several coincidences without realizing that I've been following this 'PAI concept' all this time..

First was my book - Antara Pen & Bola (published name Cemerlang & Menang Cara Bolasepak)
I believed deep inside that I can and would write a book on management.. Then I went on to talk about it.. I told my family and often talked about the concept of relating management with soccer.. I even wrote a short article on it and gave it to my company's training officer to read.. Few months later the opportunity came.. I saw an add via a mailing list saying that they were looking for people who were interested in writing and I responded..

The next PAI cycle came when the publisher said they wanted to publish the book by World Cup season.. I believed that I could write it within 3 months (met them in March 2006).. I had calculated the topics and number of pages with the days I had to write and I knew I could do it.. So of course I agreed and said that I will finish it on time.. I gave my commitment and worked on it.. I sacrificed my weekends and wrote until 3am at times as the ideas kept coming.. and I finished writing 108 pages before the end of May 2006..

At the same time, I had always envied my company's training officer.. I believed that could do her job, if not better! I talked about wanting to be a trainer with my wife and some of my friends.. I even went to my old high school to try out my skills and requested a few minutes time with an audience from my former form teacher.. I also took up teaching Japanese part time to further develop my skills and improve on my fear of public speaking.. yes, I was a shy kid at school and would tremble like an earthquake every time I had to come up front to talk.. :P

Now, that PAI cycle (of wanting to be a trainer, plus the book) has gotten me here.. And as of 21st March 2007, I'll be officially holding the post of Training Consultant.. :)

Dreams are ment to be chased -- just know the correct way of running so you can catch up ;)

Since now I have understood this PAI concept.. I'm not shy or afraid to say (list out) what are my next goals.. I'm also not being cocky because I know by doing this, it will keep me motivated and somewhere along the line the opportunity will come and if I didn't noticed it, one of you guys could point it out to me.. ;)

So you're reading it here first..
--> Within 2 years, I'll be on TV giving a motivation talk
--> Within 3 years, I'll earn a 5 figure salary


I better stop blonging for today and get to work on it.. hihi..

Friday, March 09, 2007

Save our kids..

OK.. so the title is a bit over the top.. but still, I believe in safety - Hey, I'm still a safety engineer until my last day here in this company, ok..? :P

I took this picture while stuck in a jam coming home from work.. How many kids do you see riding this 'Bas Sekolah'?



I roughly counted 20! That's 20 lives of our future in that van they call a bus.. And I'm sure none of them (including the 50plus-year-old-looking drive) wore seatbelts.. Damn!!

Putting on safety gears (helmets, seatbelts, etc) is not only to avoid kena saman, it's for your own protection -- try to get that through your not-so-thick-as-you-think skull.. atleast be selfish in that sense laa..

Thursday, March 08, 2007

He's got THE look..

I've been getting a lot of this comment lately.. People are saying I look different..

I'd say perhaps it's because I'm leaving this company and I feel good about it.. hehe

And many do agree I look happier now.. :)

Well, it just shows that how you feel inside reflects on the outside..

It's all about YOU..

I've been getting a lot of support lately.. and the feeling is overwhelming!

It seems that many of my friends out there see a better picture of me than myself.. when I mentioned to them that I'll be leaving the engineering field to persue a career in Training, many congratulated me and said I'd be great at it.. They say I'll fit in like a glove and that is what I'm destined to do.. To be honest, I have my doubts.. I know I get nervous easily and I'm not that articulate.. I'm just not as good as how I want to be..

But people see me as more than that.. At first I was thinking, "Well, these are people close to me and they're just being nice".. However this morning I got an e-mail from my e-pal (a friend of a friend that became my e-mail friend that I've been in touch with since 2004 but never actually met).. and basically the contents were that she had more faith in me than I have.. probably through the years of our correspondence she saw that I'm not the typical technical guy.. kot?

I've always believed in "Think positive and prepare for the worst".. but sometimes it's just not only to think positive but you have to believe it.. Change to words you use when you think.. For example, from "I know I can score" to "I will score".. and (I know I'm saying this to myself) reduce the negative aspect by reducing the word "but" from you vocabulary..

I'm learning to believe in myself and my true potentials.. If people can see it, why can't I? kan? :)

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

I felt the Earth moved!

This ain't a song.. I really felt it this time.. and so did my Japanese boss..
He said some guys in our Batu Pahat factory also felt the slight tremor earlier (I felt the 1st one at about 10 minutes before noon)..

Well, we'll just have to see the news tonight to be sure..

It's a beutiful day...

Okay.. I know I've been posting alot of lyrics lately.. but this one is not about the U2 song.. I just want to share my happiness with all of you guys out there..

I woke up at about 6am this morning.. got 3 SMSes in my handphone.. all were sent at about 10.40pm (I fell asleep at around 10.15).. One of the 3 was from my new employer.. basically she said my sister got the job!! My dreams to have my sister join this same company and work together with me has came true!

Let me take you guys back a few weeks ago..

I did know from my mother that my sister was unhappy with her current job.. my mom did ask me to help her out but it never clicked in my head to do anything.. basically it was way too out of my league.. all I could say to my mom was - she need to want it, have to work for it.. all the excuses of the newspaper was hard to get, etc was just rubbish.. I referred to my own experience of being called for an interview because I saw the add (from my auntie's newspaper - I also didn't buy newspapers hehe) and acted upon it.. Sungguh riaknye aku ni..

As time went by and I went through the process of actually wanted to get a new job, I tried and prayed to God at the same time.. In my prayers I'd always ask for the best for me and my family.. even in the interviews, I'd always stressed on the importance of my family to me.. I'm the only son (even though the youngest of only 2) but I know its my responsability to take care of my family.. at that time my sis was in the picture but not top priority..

Then on 1st of March, during the Residential Training session, they showed me this DVD.. It opened up my mind.. I saw it and everything clicked.. I reaffirmed my beliefs in the power of "wanting it".. you see, when you want something (bad), you will visualize having it, then you will ask for it (be it to God, or any other way you're confortable with) and at the end of the day, you'll get it eventually..

As I recall the session, I can say that I actually 'saw' my sister in the room.. I understood now that all the years I had though (but never materialized) about working together with my sister, this is the time that it will actually happen.. this is the venue.. this is the missing link between the two of us (we were never close, even in family gathering we hardly even talked) it was a very emotional moment for me..

That night I called her and we worked on preparing her resume.. it was the longest conversation we had our whole life!! And the next day I passed her resume to my (soon to be) boss.. it was truely a last minute thing, but she managed to squeeze in my sis for the interview..

All I kept saying to my sis was think about actually getting the job.. I went to her house and we talked about the 'opportunity' and watched the DVD together (we were given copies).. Sunday morning I brought her and the whole family to see the place so she could visualize her being there.. We were pumped.. the positive vibe was overflowing..

So, yesterday she went for the interview.. she was the last candidate and my boss had partly committed to getting the other gal.. but my sis must have wanted it more and actually caused my boss to go nuts because for the first time she said that she could not decide between the two..

Our prayers had eventually been answered last night.. :)

Now I'm more excited to start my new job and my energy level is at a new high.. no more turning back, it's all me (and my sis) now.. it's up to us to be more of what we can be..

"You are who you are now because of the past, the future you depends on who you are being now"


p/s: I'm sure my mom is the happiest amongst us - she always wanted us to be closer like other 'normal' brother and sister.. :P

Monday, March 05, 2007

1000 words worth of picture each :)

A couple of pics I got via a forwarded mail...

Seriously la..



How stupid can the girl be?? :P



And here's what I call a good sign!


Should have this one standardized for the whole nation.. :)

Rockened Roller Coaster

The past few days have been a very INTERESTING.. I went for my "preview" at PJ Hilton and 2 additional session at Pearl International Hotel..
Man, words can't even discribe how I felt..

First was the PJ Hilton sint.. It was the company's 4th Quater Business Plan Meeting.. it was like a hammering session for everybody.. even a water bottle went flying at one point.. Man, you can't imagine the culture shock I had..
I came back home that night mentally exhausted and my body was aching due to my stress level that went sky high (the traffic jam didn't help much either).. I was having doubts about my choise.. (I'm sparing the details as the past is the past and need not be dwelled upon hehe)

Then came the Residential Training.. suddenly everything fell nicely into place.. the working environment that I had longed for over the years was right in front of me.. it was too good to be true!

I guess that's life.. nothing is perfect all the time.. and more importantly, the bad is only as bad as you make of it.. I'm sure this new place would help me grow and realize my full potential.. ;)

So the songs that has accompanied me the past few days were these two.. Love it or hate it..


Relax, Take It Easy
by
Mika

Took a right to the end of the line
Where no one ever goes.
Ended up on a broken train with nobody I know.
But the pain and the (longings) the same.
(Where the dying
Now I'm lost and I'm screaming for help.)

Relax, take it easy
For there is nothing that we can do.
Relax, take it easy
Blame it on me or blame it on you.

It's as if I'm scared.
It's as if I'm terrified.
It's as if I scared.
It's as if I'm playing with fire.
Scared.
It's as if I'm terrified.
Are you scared?
Are we playing with fire?

Relax
There is an answer to the darkest times.
It's clear we don't understand but the last thing on my mind
Is to leave you.
I believe that we're in this together.
Don't scream – there are so many roads left.

Relax, take it easy
For there is nothing that we can do.
Relax, take it easy
Blame it on me or blame it on you.

Relax, take it easy
For there is nothing that we can do.
Relax, take it easy
Blame it on me or blame it on you.

Relax, take it easy
For there is nothing that we can do.
Relax, take it easy
Blame it on me or blame it on you.

Relax, take it easy
For there is nothing that we can do.
Relax, take it easy
Blame it on me or blame it on you.

It's as if I'm scared.
It's as if I'm terrified.
It's as if I scared.
It's as if I'm playing with fire.
Scared.
It's as if I'm terrified.
Are you scared?
Are we playing with fire?

Relax
Relax


--

Grace Kelly
by
Mika

Do I attract you?
Do I repulse you with my queasy smile?
Am I too dirty?
Am I too flirty?
Do I like what you like?

I could be wholesome
I could be loathsome
I guess I'm a little bit shy
Why dont you like me?
Why dont you like me without making me try?

I try to be like Grace Kelly
But all her looks were too sad
So I try a little Freddie
I've gone identity mad!

I could be brown
I could be blue
I could be violet sky
I could be hurtful
I could be purple
I could be anything you like
Gotta be green
Gotta be mean
Gotta be everything more
Why don't you like me?
Why don't you like me?
Why don't you walk out the door!

How can I help it
How can I help it
How can I help what you think?
Hello my baby
Hello my baby
Putting my life on the brink
Why don't yo like me
Why don't you like me
Why don't you like yourself?
Should I bend over?
Should I look older just to be put on the shelf?

I try to be like Grace Kelly
But all her looks were too sad
So I try a little Freddie
I've gone identity mad!

I could be brown
I could be blue
I could be violet sky
I could be hurtful
I could be purple
I could be anything you like
Gotta be green
Gotta be mean
Gotta be everything more
Why don't you like me?
Why don't you like me?
Why don't you walk out the door!

Say what you want to satisfy yourself
But you only want what everybody else says you should want

I could be brown
I could be blue
I could be violet sky
I could be hurtful
I could be purple
I could be anything you like
Gotta be green
Gotta be mean
Gotta be everything more
Why don't you like me?
Why don't you like me?
Why don't you walk out the door!