Likes and dislikes of iPhone 3G

It's hard not to like iPhone 3G.. simply love its physical design, software interface & fantastic humanistic touchscreen.. but with Google's G-phone on its way in collision path.. Apple had better improve its future iPhone.. 

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What makes me smile

What can brings down a man?

Mmm... what else? anyone?

fine for sleeping at a park

I was shocked to read from newspaper that a man sleeping on a bench at a public park was fined $200 by the park officer. He paid his fine as he didnt want further problem with the authority.

i was sad that we are really a 'fine' city. Perhaps the officers could have wake him up and let him know that it's 'illegal' to sleep at public park.. which most people are unaware.. including me.. Unless he's not cooperative, officers can give him an official warning before dishing out a fine.. 

On further thought, why is sleeping at public park illegal? If the weather is good, why cant i relax and sleep at the park? dont make sense at all.. understand some people may feel uncomfortable or unsafe with people lying around.. But surely not everyone lying in the park are 'bad' people rite?.. 

A sad case..   ;-(

my first Buddhist study

i've never attended any Buddhist study before. Yesterday was my first! And it was a wonderful experience!!   ;-)

The class was organised by Soka at a member's home. It was cozy and the people were friendly.

I learned about how and the reasons to prolong one's life the Buddhist way.

Below's my understanding.. so my opinion.. not Buddha's..

Life is precious and valuable. And not just about humans.. all living things are precious. To live a long life is not the objective. However, to live long so that you can help more of others should be the objective. Having the right motive is most important. Always think about the three good - good for yourself, good for others & serve a greater good. 

Not easy to achieve but can be done. And to treasure one's life is also to take care of our own body - our health. i must admit i'm not too good at that.. really must disciple myself to eat well and exercise enough..

looking forward for my next Buddhist class..  ;-)

Connected movie

One of the best Chinese movie in recent years! And the best adapted movie ever seen! The story is better than the original Cellular movie. I simply love it.  ;-)

Countries i've been to..

The road to entrepreneur

It is really not easy to be an entrepreneur. i will never fully understand it till i become one.. and one i became.. recently.. 

One word. It was tough. a few more words..  a lonely journey. painful at times. sometime feel lost.. sometime not sure.. sometime depressed.. feel disconnected to the world at times..

Well.. on the bright side.. i feel empowered to do anything i want.. freedom of choice.. steer my own destiny.. manage my own time.. sip coffee whenever i want.. rest as i wish.. realise my dream.. experience life like any before..

So, do i regret coming out on my own? No. Whenever i ask myself this question, i find the answer always the same. i think i will regret if i dont come out to try my own biz.. at least i try even if i fail.. 

This will be the best days of my life.. since my resources will last me a year or so.. it makes me treasure every day of my life much more.. coz i know once this period is finished or spent and i dont succeed, i will have to go back working for people and these will become only memories.. 

Everyday now is a blessed day! i will treasure each day of my life.. and i certainly wish i could help others live their dreams and pay forward one day..  ;-)

Decision Making Process

After years of observing management and being a manager myself, i've learned that many of the complaints towards poor management ties to poor decision making.. slow decision making, or a lack of it..

The solution is simple. Define a decision making process that the management endorse, and then adhere to it. It's important to define and agree on such a process before any other decisions are to be made..  otherwise, it will be politically motivated and steered in the wrong direction. The challenge now becomes defining a good decision making process rather than the decision itself.

Feeding fishes for good karma

A few days ago, a Buddhist friend upon hearing my story and how i was feeling bit down lately suggested that i go to feed fishes with a loaf of bread at Rochor Road opposite OG nearer to DBS bank where there's a bridge over a canal.

We (my wife & me) found it a weird suggestion as how can feeding fishes improve or increase my good karma? Nevertheless, we decided to give it a try since there's no other important activities to attend to on Sunday.   ;-)

So we bought a loaf of bread and got MRT to Bugis before walking towards Rochor Road.. oh just before we had lunch at Rochor Centre i think.. The food court Kopitiam there has a stall that sells delicious BaKuTeh soup and stew dark pork leg. Simply wonderful!  ;-)

And to our surprise, the canal is filled with thousands of fishes!!! Mostly small ones.. not sure what species they were.. but from the picture you can see thousands were 'attacking' the single white slice of bread floating on the water.. 

We observed the fishes and found it quite interesting and relaxing.. i felt kind of funny or a little embarrassed throwing white bread into the canal.. hope i'm not breaking law.. few other people were fishing there too..  ;P

We also saw a bird trying to prey on the hungry fishes feasting on the bread.. It was quite a sight in the busy roads of Rochor, which is very near the city..

So, will feeding fishes with bread improves my karma? Mmm,.. at least it helps me relax, makes me feel good, recharged and in touch with a little nature and fishes.. Life's simple side.. 

Change Management

Change Management - Focus on TCS: Teamwork, Communication & Strategy.

8 Steps:

1. Define present state
2. Define future state
3. Communicate need to change
4. Plan change
5. Motivate change
6. Implement change
7. Assess change
8. Maintain change

IT Change Management:

1. Requesting change
2. Assessing change
3. Authorizing change
4. Implementing change

notes: 

• Prevent unauthorized change, minimize disruption, coordinate build, test & implementation.
  
• Fair Process. Not just focus on outcome.
• Fair process is not consensus. But gives ideas a fair chance - is what drives decisions making.

3 Es Principles:

1. Engagement - involve individuals in decisions that affect them.
2. Explanation - explain to everyone why certain decisions were made, and to gain trust.
3. Expectation - once a decision made, managers state clearly the new rules, targets or instructions. Focus that they understood.

Communication Cycle:

• Awareness, Understanding, Buy-in & Ownership
• Channels, website, newsletter, change agents, roles, commitment curve, target audience, key stakeholders, set & manage expectations.

Cause and Effects, and Conditions

i was and am still reading the book "The Universe in Single Atom" by Dalai Lama. Rather deep for me.. but beginning to see some light..  ;P

i like page 146 as it says "the Buddha himself argued that if one wishes to avoid certain types of results, one needs to change the conditions that give rise to them. So if one changes the conditions of one's state of mind, one can change the traits of one's consciousness and the resulting attitudes and emotions".

So, if i want to break free from my present problems and situation, i need to alter my thoughts first.. which will change my behavior and speech and affect the environment around me.. and likely it would bring a change to the overall results of my life.. 

Strategic Management

A. External Environment Scanning

• General Environment - PEST Analysis
• Industrial Environment - 5 Forces Analysis

B. Internal Environment Scanning

• Strengths - Identify Resources, Capabilities & Core Competencies
• Value Creation - Value Chain Analysis

C. Overall

• SWOT Analysis

D. Strategy Formulation/Development

• Define Strategic Options/Choices followed by Evaluation. Finally, put the selected options into Strategic Themes/Thrusts.

E. Strategy Execution/Implementation

• Develop Strategic Map with objectives, indicators & targets set.
• Use Balanced Scorecard.
  

Are your plastic bottle safe?

see video.

Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams

Really inspiring! Must watch! ;-)

a nice plate of Chee Cheong Fun

A simple breakfast dish of Chee Cheong Fun (with Chai Siew embedded) always make me feel good & refreshed. And of course, not forgetting a cup of hot Coffee-C.   ;-)

Dream on

it's great to know there are people out there who still dreams.. many of us have stopped.. which is a sad thing.. 

Let's dream on.. 

Helping others to help yourself

"You can get everything you want in life 

if you just help enough other people to get what they want."

- American author & motivation speaker Zig Ziglar.

2 approaches to strategic management

Two common approaches to strategic management.

1. Opportunity based. Study the business environment. Identify gaps or opportunities. Acquire resources and capabilities needed to accomplish the tasks. Execute.

2. Capability based. Study the internal capabilities. Identify internal strength. Find opportunities in the external business environment that requires the strengths. Execute.

In both the above approaches, the company must think about sustainability and defensive strategies in the face of existing and new competitors.

Beijing Olympics Medals Score