A Good Horse never goes back to eat at the same Grassland

       We all have a limited time on Earth.We have our hopes and dreams and want to raise families with the correct values of honesty, thrift, courage, modesty and selflessness. Unfortunately we are thrust into this world where bigger is better, more is celebrated and beauty is aspired. Money or the love of it is the root of all evil. I couldn't agree to that more. 

      When opportunities come our way, be it in work, business or life. We look at it and apply both our intuitive and logical minds to it. After assessment, a decision is made.Once the opportunity is taken or not, its time to move on. It is the same in the Chinese phrase A Good Horse never goes back to eat at the Same Grassland.

       There are plentiful other opportunities out there but time like a river is ever flowing.

       Seize the Day. 

Tiong Bahru Market

Resilience is key to success

50 years in this world ; a celebration no less

oub 

         Last year 2012, we celebrated out 50 years alive. This was the St. Andrew's old boys all of whom  started Primary 1 in 1968 or 1969. Yes, I feel older, in the joints and bones department. However, some wisdom has been bestowed upon me through life expe    riences and we are indeed blessed to be living in Asian region which is wealthy and full of expectations.    

         I have had  several setbacks these few years, one being a business principal pulling out of our partnership. I am not bitter about the event as every cloud has a silver lining. The point is that I must show that you cannot keep a good man down for long, he will always come back and the return is doubly satisfying.  

Cognitive Dissonance

          I am currently reading a fantastic book called the Art of Thinking Clearly. This is by Rolf Dobelli, I believe is an Italian thinker and ha been translated into many languages. In it, he describes how the human mind works and its biases towards many things and its outlook towards life.

          One particular topic is fascinating, which is called cognitive dissonance, whereby he cites the fable from Aesop about the fox and the grapes. The fox is hungry around lunchtime and spotting the grapes hanging overhead from a nearby farmer's yard, he makes several attempts to jump at and reach the grapes.

         First, he envisions the grapes to be sweet as they look juicy and inviting. So he musters all his strength and jumps up high and far. Snap, he bites nothing but air. Argh ! he mutters, and puts in his all 110 percent to try again, he leaps into the air and slightly higher, but again, he is only chomping dry air.

         Finally, he gives it one last and best shot at it ; He runs from afar and jumps. Up he goes and Snap, again he lands with nothing but a bruised ego and a mouth munching at dry air.

        "Bah" he says. "they're probably not sweet and small. Its not worth my effort !"

         The fact is many of us when faced with failure, delude ourselves that the prize we have sought so hard to win is in fact not even good and worth it in the first place. This is cognitive dissonance ; we distance ourselves and put down the meaningful pursuit and prize as 'not worth it'.

         Push yourself to achieve your goals, once you fail, you pick up and press on again. You can and will achieve them !!!!  

Gender Bias

Socialite Jamie Chua

        I read a very enlightening book called Lean In by the COO of Facebook, Ms. Sheryl Sandberg. In it, she highlighted the fact that women in modern society face a negative bias when they are rich, successful and pretty.  They are always criticized for the way they look. If they look  really good, glamorous or sexy, other women (especially) will label them as 'sluts' or women of vile character  who use their sexiness to make that pile of cash.

        Terms such as 'bitch' , 'ah lian made good', 'back-stabber' and 'sleeping to the top' are bandied around as the reasons why they make it. On the contrary, the lady may very well be talented, speaks her mind, and seizes opportunities (just like any man) to make it. So why are  so hard on their 'sisters' she asks ?

        On the other hand, if a man has made it to the top of the business world and socializes with the captains of industry. Have you heard anyone claim that he 'slept his way to the top', 'slutty' or has a 'vile character'  ?  So why the double standards ?

        Men and women give women a doubly hard time to get there. Gender bias. It exists in our society and its time we changed our mindsets and let women 'come to the table' to talk,debate and even rule the organization.

ICC International Commercial Center Kowloon 100 stories tall

                                                 

View from 88th floor ICC building

Another development in China

4th tallest Building in the World ICC Tower

Malacca Part 2 - Holiday Inn

Fresh from a trip last month to Malacca, I stayed at this fabulous hotel (4 *) along the beach front next to Malacca Raya (or Main street). Holiday Inn has been open for about 3 years now, and it definately is value for money costing only RM 330 or S$ 132 per night on weeknights. I had a 2 day 1 night work trip and the hotel is located right next to the entertainment center called the Jetty.

View of the Infinity Pool from the Gym

          The gym on Level 3 is right next to the spa which offers both Balinese and Shiatsu massages for couples, families and single travellers. I did my 5 km after driving almost 220 km on the road, so in total it was 225 km for 220 for the car and 5 km for the legs !   

Infinity Pool on 4th Floor 

      

             Breakfast is on level 2 and starts from 6.00 am till 10.00am, serving Intercontinental Halal food (no pork and according to Muslim rites). All in all, it is a perfect getaway for a couple of nights from the hustle and bustle of the cosmopolitan cities like Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. I understand, on weekends the town is packed with 'tourists' from these 2 cities plus many international travellers from Asia and the world over. 

             This is a modern business hotel with all the amenities for the business traveller plus holiday makers who want a classy short holiday.