31/7/05

I'll be older tomorrow. But today was one of the good days. Ha... mum really treated me very well. First, we went to take my yearly photo in a shop. Every year once, never fail to do so. Then went to bishan to find a gift for my dad. It was a parker pen, can't think of anything else. Then me and my mum went to Ajisen Ramen to eat. Nice food hee.

Then went home to rest for a while before the next round of things.

Evening: First it was international buffet at Suntec. Well, not totally impressive. The food there were just normal, not fantastic. But the desserts deserve compliments. The ice cream... yum yum. Next, we wanted to watch the show Stealth but no chinese subtitles.... bad. In the end, I went to Royce to buy a box of chocolate.... Yummmmm. Ha.

Is birthday such a big deal? I just feel like a king today hahaa. I bet my dad feels it too. But the buffet doesn't suit him. Sigh ha.

30/7/05

Sat, shouldn't have band teaching, but due to a number of performance, the bandmembers were called back for practice. It was fun haha, seeing some cute guys doing some little dance to the Locomotion music. All complaining to me that they want to die haha. Experience of a life time for them.

I felt so tired in the afternoon. Must be that thing again. I have been reading my school notes too. Tonnes of them. I just feel so tired when so many work related things occupies my mind. Mental organizational skills lacking here. ha.

"I sing a song, of wishes and blessing. Leaving of thought, a sense of tranquility. Never say a word, never see a thing. All I do is feel, so way of peace. A bright year ahead, no request or desire. Just live a day, plan a day. Happy year, happy day. Cheers"

29/7/05

I must say this! It has been bugging me. The dreams.... seems to signal something. I know I am thinking too much. I hope that, by talking about my dreams openingly, nothing like that would happen.

That dream.... horrifying, tragic, terrible. I didn't happen once. That kind of dream came to me twice. It was about natural disaster. 1st time.... tornados.

I was in this house, standing near the window, looking at places, far far away. I know I was in Singapore, in my house, situated high. A high rise HDB flat. The sight was terrible. It was the end of the world. Lightning flashing their unmerciful rays. There isn't only one ray of lightning. Its just like the lightings in a disco. Loud thunder accompanied the lightning, as though the ray isn't causing enough damage. Dark clouds covered the sky. It was no longer blue. The sky was a mixture of red, blue, black, and grey. A sight of armageddon. If there isn't enough, there is something else. Tornados.... I could see buildings get sucked into the unknown. Debris flying around. The whole Tornado was visible.... totally. It moves, it roars. It sounds like it is laughing. It looked as though its smiling. Eating everything in its way. And its moving this way!!!

The second dream... nothing better. 2nd time... Water.

Strange sight.... I felt like I was here before. The same room, the same window, the same view. It was the same HDB flat. This time, I had my parents with me. I could hear nothing... but the sight created the ultimate hair raising experience. I wanted to shout when I saw... a huge pillar of water marching towards my direction. It seemed to be very far.... perhaps 10-20 kms. But it was like a moving wall.... so huge, so tall!!. I could describe how big it is but.... I had to tilt my head up slightly to see the top of the water. And to add on to the description, I was on the 16th storey. I saw tall buildings collapsed infront of me when it was hit by the water. I thought I was a gonner as I could only wait for that wall to come towards me. But, I think I was lucky. The water's force could not reach my location. After a while... it was dead silent. My parents and I went to see the area below, trying to find any other people to talk to.... but couldn't find.... Its going to be the end of the world I thought.

I don't know what those dreams want to tell me.

I went to school in the afternoon early to print notes for next week's work. It was a horrific experience. So many people standing in the already small area to wait for their print jobs. It was almost a sardinic situation. I believe printing at NBS computer lab is a much pleasant experience. really.

Slice of life

Create Your Own Perfect Morning

Most of us start the day as if we were trying to catch a plane. We wake up, hurry through a shower, grab a cup of coffee, skim through the first few pages of the paper, then rush out of the house. After that, it's meetings, deadlines, packet lunches, bottomlines. Even after we leave the office, our responsibilities and obligations don't seem to end; for many of us, we only get to take a breath just before we fall asleep and even then, it's not restful sleep. Many of us repeat this routine almost every day. It's like we've entered autopilot mode and we don't even wonder why we do what we do anymore.

Somewhere along the way, we forgot that there is no plane to catch. You are the plane, you are the pilot. But are you flying intentionally or mindlessly following flight paths? Are you mapping out the route to your desired destination or are you simply plying the same route back and forth?

For many of us, our lives feel like they're going somewhere. But are they? Where? What if you realised you could make changes that will make your life more enjoyable, more successful and more fulfilling?

How can we assume more control over our lives and where they're headed, instead of always rushing to some point because we feel we should or because we've been told to?

It all begins with creating your perfect morning. This is your morning, no one else's. A harmonious and reflective start does wonders for the rest of the day. So instead of rushing, wake up half an hour earlier. Wake up gently to soft music, or an alarm clock that produces a gradually-accelerating tone.

Then before doing anything else take 10-15 minutes and sit silently thinking about all you're grateful for. Then start to wonder what the highlight of your day could be. As you leave your house and begin the flow of your day, you look at each experience and wonder if this is going to be the highpoint of your day, knowing there is more to come.

Starting the day this way, that is, gently, introspectively, and on your own terms, increases your energy and efficiency throughout the day. When you leave your house centred and focused, there is a much greater likelihood that you can maintain this balance throughout the day. Begin the day on your own terms and discover the dramatic changes that are possible.

28/7/05

near to the end of first week. I feel so familiar with study. Luckily my touch with studying hasn't disappeared. I think I should thank the FYP research ha. Oh I finally completed my CV, but i know its gonna be a lousy one haha. My first one mah, what to expect?

The lessons for AA205 are very fun. I think its the tutor that makes the difference. The genius in my group also allows me to learn alot from him. I am really adopting the "you are my god" attitude haa. Must absorb as much from him as possible.

In the afternoon, I went to do a check up for my insurance thingy. Luckily the agent is my friend, can talk cock with him one ha.

I guess school days are really peaceful in terms of blogging haha. SO this will be it.

27/7/05

Woke up so early again. I just notice that I have to wake up at 5am for 4 times a week. Killer.

I waited so long for my afternoon class and the tutor told us its not on cuz there are too few people around. One of my friends actually talked to the tutor regarding his unhappiness with the registration on the Education Studies Minor. I guess it really cocks up ha. We year 3s have only 1 year left to complete the minor but so many of the year 2s are hogging the last 2 modules. Most of my friends who had completed the previous 3 modules can't get in. See how frustrated they are? I'm the lucky one cuz i am already registered for the last 2 modules this sem. I will be certified!!! Minor in Educational Studies, Major Accounts...... hmm what a crap combi. Whatever.

I am glad to find out today that I have a genius in my group for my group assignment. I won't need to be so worried now ha. I have 2 project groups with the same genius. Ha. Great!

A conversation with my friend made me did some thinking regarding my professional attachment during this december holidays. I hate to write resume and cover letter. Nevertheless, I'll try to crap something out. Someday...

Slice of Life

Remembering Names

We've all faced this problem - you bump into a familiar face, but try as you might, you simply can't remember his name. Oh the awkward moment, the blank look in your eyes, the expectant smile on the other person's face.

Is this problem keeping you from networking successfully? Some of us admittedly have poorer memory capability for faces and names, but if it happens often enough, surely it's time to see if something can be done.
Today, let's talk about some simple tips for helping you remember names when you meet people.

What's the most fundamental rule when it comes to remembering something?

Repetition.

But simply repeating the person's name after you've parted is not quite as effective as repeating it during the encounter. So when you're first introduced to someone, use their names several times when you talk to them. "Hi, Kok Kiong, nice to meet you. So, what do you do for a living, Kok Kiong? Do you have any kids, Kok Kiong? Kok Kiong, it was great to meet you!"

If you don't catch the name when it's originally told to you, don't be afraid to ask for it again. This is entirely acceptable as people understand that names may not get through clearly the first time. If it's a foreign or unfamiliar name, ask the person to spell it for you, just to be doubly sure. And say the name immediately after you've confirmed it.

Also, try linking the name with something that's related to the person - it could the mutual friend who introduced you, a body feature or personality trait. Do they resemble something that rhymes with their name? Can you make up a catchphrase or a story that uses the feature and the name? Sparkly Sharkee? Action Jackson? It doesn't matter if it's nonsensical; what's important is the strong association you'll remember.

If your acquaintances are the namesakes of famous people, try associating them with those personalities. If you meet an "Anna", for example, you might imagine her as a Russian blueblood and link her with Anna Karenina. Or imagine her playing tennis and associate her with Anna Kournikova.

26/7/05

Busy days busy days. I read an article on my way to the school for band teaching. I haven't been so hard working since the end of last exam. Well, getting more school work isn't a bad thing actually. It makes you appreciate the free time more. Human are just so confusing. Too much free time, complain. Too little free time, complain too.

If i were to label going to school as a negative event, the having a high degree of this negative event would cause your positive events to be happier.

In science, if you hold an ice cube for 1 minute and run your hand in normal tap water, you would feel that its warm. Its the same principle. If your hand is already warm, then you won't feel the effect of the tap water.

Slice of Life

Inspiring Workplaces (Part 2)

Today, let's continue to explore ways of turning our workplaces into inspiring environments.

What's in the air in your office? I mean the sounds. Is the air dead? Is the silence punctuated only by the swivels of the printer?

Never underestimate the power of music to put you on the path to greater creativity. Put on some Mendelssohn, David Lanz or Harold Budd. But what if you don't care for music? True, some people work better in silence, but try putting some relaxing music on at a low volume. You may hardly notice it's there, but it can work powerfully on your inspiration in a subconscious manner. What have you got to lose? Try it out and it might just do the trick.

Colour affects us in very profound ways. Try looking at various colours and feel the emotions they stir in you. Pick out those that seem to invigorate or soothe you and try adding items of those colours in your workspace. If you find that a sea blue colour works for you, try out lamps, curtains, folders, or cabinets in that shade.
Nothing is quite as inspiring as the people we admire. So festoon your office with pictures, magazines, and books on your heroes. What does your idol do so well? Is it a particular sport? Is it an art form? Fill your workplace with material that helps you improve your skill in that area.

You can also add some zest to your business by tapping into a hobby that you can integrate with your traditional work. Are you a coffee connoisseur perhaps? Then set up a coffee bar! Display colourful bags and tins of gourmet coffee from around the world. Serve them to your clients! Your hobby can make not only your workplace more enjoyable, it can also help bring you closer to your customers by tapping into something personal.

Including a chess board in your office is also a good idea. Chess is not merely a game; it's an amazing tool for developing the mind. Playing chess can challenge you and your team to think fast, think under pressure, and to think several moves ahead. It is a fantastic game for developing vision, elements of strategic planning, and for anticipating a potential change from a customer or competitor.

Nature is a potent source of inspiration. If you think you don't have much time to spend outdoors, bring the outdoors in! Whether it's a sun-filled breakfast or conference room, a beautiful potted plant, or a bird bath, you can boost your spirits and create extraordinary joy by bringing nature into your home or office.

I hope these tips have given you some motivation to start turning your workplace into a haven of inspiration.

25/7/05

First day of school. Bravo. I was suppose to be in a very happy mood before today. I just don't know my whole personality changed when I am in school. The hostile feeling in class could be felt on every inch of my body. I was trembling slightly during the class, writing any thing that comes out from the teacher's mouth.

One funny thing happened when I was printing my notes before going home. We had a strange printing system where we have to set our printing jobs to the printing site and then we put in our cash card into a machine to get our print jobs done. There is this guy who prints before me and so I waited. The printer is configured in such a way that it just "vomits" paper out and doesn't stop between different print jobs or for different people. I saw the guy in front of me fumbling with the notes and just took the whole stack and walked away, leaving a piece there for me, which was mine. But I thought I had printed more, as in 10 more pieces. I was so pissed but smiled and laughed at the situation that the guy might have just took everything.

I went back to the comp and resent my document to the printed. "there goes my 50 cents" I thought. When I went to the printing area, I actually found out that I didn't choose to print that whole stack of notes just now. I maligned that guy! ha luckily i didn't run out of the room to confront him. Phew.

Saw my platonic friend today. I was surprised. Beautiful smile I thought. Long time no see.....

Slice of Life

Inspiring Workplaces (Part 1)

Just the other day, I visited my friend at his office. The moment I laid my eyes on the front door, I was impressed. His company's ivory white logo stood out from a wall of the same hue, the edges made visible by the play of shadow and light. This gave it a wonderfully "live" effect, since the shadows shifted as I passed. Inside the office, I was greeted by more design elements - strategically-placed plants, bare spaces, candle-light, small water installations - that created a very tranquil yet inspiring atmosphere. A gentle piano faintly tinkled out zen notes.

Does your workplace inspire you? Since we spend so much time at the office, doesn't it make sense to create a work space that's energising, soothing or conducive for creativity?

Design permeates our living spaces. These days, almost everything can be a design aspect, from your computer screensaver to the way the light streams into your office. How can you revitalise your environments and foster an ongoing sense of innovation?

You might start by finding out what makes you "tick" with the DISC assessment.

The DISC is a fantastic tool that can provide you with amazing insight into understanding your behaviour. It can also help you create motivational environments and interact more effectively with others.

D is for Dominance. Are you a high-D person? Then you will thrive in an environment that is fast-paced, buzzing with energy, and somewhat chaotic. A week-end in a bustling city like Manhattan or Hong Kong may provide you with the motivation you need to get your juices flowing.

I is for Inspirational. High-I people love having people around them. Try joining a convention, a mastermind group, or a cutting-edge community organization that can send you to amazing new levels of success.

S is for Steadiness. If you're high-S, you'll love calm and consistent environments. A peaceful evening at Xiao Guilin at Bukit Gombak by the water might be just what you need to restore the balance in your spirit.

And C is for Conscientiousness. High-C people need order, structure, facts and tradition. But wait? doesn't tradition suppress creativity? Well, not necessarily. Try spending a day at the library or at a museum. Very often, an environment that comforts you can motivate you to new levels of inspiration.

Join me in the next programme as we continue to talk about creating a workplace that inspires you.

24/7/05

Needless to say what I've done in the day. But after all those games, I went out for a little walk in Bugis. After today, I won't even have time if i want to go out for leisure. I must put my mind on the battle.

I went to Sim Lim to check on the latest computer technology. I bet Funan will be having some christmas discount again in dec so its time for me to check on where the current technology is heading to. Actually, I don't know where I'm walking cuz I have left my sub conscious to control my body. Anyone got this kind of feeling too? Its walking without thinking. Then I went to Bugis junction to walk from top to bottom. Similarly, i don't know where i was walking.

Evening, dinner with parents downstairs. Slight drizzle has caused the whole troops of diners to move their tables into the shelter. My table waited for my dad's command before we move. He.... waited too long haha.

This holiday, although no new songs written, had been fun with many events. WASBE, gaming, Ktv, FYP, Band teaching, VCDs, SHopping, Learning about insurance, REading a little Japanese, got pissed by someone in band. Is that all? Seems not alot in 3 months. Sigh haha. But the thing I've achieved greatly is the calmness in the heart again. Its essential because when school starts, I'll get agitated again. I spent too much during the holidays. Sinful Sinful.

I'll be looking forward to the next holidays for my professional attachment. Then I'll meet new people, new faces and new characters.

Dream

*Thankz for watching movie with me in my dream. I couldn't believe that you actually came. Although we were late, you were a bit unreasonable, but I'm contented. I bet you had a great time gaming during the holidays too.*

23/7/05

2 more days to school. I made used of the day totally to play games. Woke up at 7am and played all the way to 6pm. I couldn't bring myself to start doing my tutorials. School hasn't start but school work has been allocated. sad. I'll try to do them tomorrow.

My mum is really so into cereals. Kept on getting new flavours haha. I don't mind cuz i'll be eating them. More varieties= good ha.

I guess I really have nothing to say. To lazy to think ha.

22/7/05

Band teaching was fun today. There was a shock in the afternoon cuz the band had to learn a new piece in 2 weeks to go for a performance. Amazingly, the kids were able to sight read half the piece in a short time. BUt, 2 weeks for the whole piece plus gimmicks and actions, thats difficult.

School is starting!!! I better enjoy now! THats all i'll type today.

21/7/05

Went to school straight after i woke up. The feeling of the long bus ride has started to be a stranger to me. Had a meeting actually.... 3 person but 1 can't come. So i discussed with one of my friend. I'm really tired about this project because it seems like i'm the one who knows most of the thing. I don't blame them actually but then, I need their support, as in, mutual support too. I'm a person who is easily stressed by things, so if no one supports me, then i might give up easily. That is why I am lucky to have a friend to support me for most of the projects in the past semesters.

After the meeting, Ha, my friend wants to go Ktv. I went with him cuz he just came back to singapore.

I met with my another friend to get some documents regarding the different type of funds that i can put money into. Seems fun. I really want to experience how people do investment, and also to minimise risks. In the end, I'm buying the lowest risks one. I hate risk. haha. Hope i won't declare bankrupt in the future haha. HOpe.

20/7/05

Games day. I completed growlancer 2, finally and started on growlancer 3. Went jogging in the evening.

Met my primary school friend in Toa Payoh for a little catch up. I just found out that he is working as an Insurance agent in AIA. Well, I agreed to his request of listening to his insurance thingy. Anyway, I'm interested in finding out more. Ha but he is really patient in doing all the talking about protection. Actually I prefer to go straight to the point, but I allowed him to finish everything.

In the end, I got interested in one of the plan he talked about and I signed up for it. But then, I'll be breaking my promise to another friend cuz i told him i'll support him. Well, I was so convinced by this pri school friend then. No lost on my part.

19/7/05

Band teaching isnt' that much fun in the morning. Someone pissed me off again. Must be a girl ha. I meet female member that gave me problem last year. After one big scolding session, she became a great member. I wonder if this new problem girl would behave in a same way, that is to change for the good.

Afternoon band was fun ha. I taught a horn player how to play a whole 16 bars of melody. And surprisingly, I find my sound on the horn damn good. Ha I managed to borrow the horn to demonstrate. Wow. I like the sound.

During the prac, my teacher and another assistant instructor chat about the things that happened in the WASBE conference. I guess organizing an event is really bad. I've also learnt about the things regarding fundraising and some things about family, relationships and other things. I just wonder why they wanna talk about those things haha. Then I told them about my thoughts too.

After band, my teacher drove me to delifrance to have a little drink there. Met my secondary school teacher, who was also very active in band scenes. So they chat, and I listen again. Nothing much actually.

Will I conduct a band on my own in the future? Ha. Dream.

Oh ya, those students are really playful. Now they are calling me by my name now. Omg, getting bad haha. But i don't mind, cuz I'm a friend to them. Its fun playing with them ha. They also called me SC Bug. Those who know me will know what it stands for.

Slice of Life

The Lost Art of Listening (Part 1)

I once heard the story of a man who was having lunch at a bistro in St. Paul de Vence, a picturesque hilltown in the south of France. In his fractured French, he tried to order a bottle of beer.

"Je voudrais une bouteille de biere, sil vous plait." He intoned to the waitress.

"In a can?" she asked.

"Non," he said, "En bouteille!" No, not "in a can" as she said; "in a bottle", he reiterated.

With her hands on her hips and a sneer on her face, the waitress repeated, "In a can!"

Now the customer was really getting mad. "Not in a can," he insisted. "In a bottle. En bouteille. EN BOUTEILLE!"

She threw her hands up in despair. "Monsieur, IN A CAN!"

"All right," he said finally. "Have it your way. Give it to me in a can. Anything. Just give me a beer!"

She stormed off and returned with a bottle of Heineken. It was at that point that the customer realised what had happened and laughed so hard he nearly fell off his chair.

You see, when you say "Heineken" in French, it loses the "H" and sounds like, "In a can."

These days, effective listening is almost a lost art. We hear mostly what we want to hear, not what the other person is trying to communicate to us. Many conflicts can be resolved easily if we learn how to listen.

The problem is that we've forgotten how to listen. We are so busy making sure that people hear what we have to say that we forget to listen. But the key to communication, to negotiating, to selling, is keeping your mouth shut and truly listening to what people have to say.

Your prospects will tell you everything you need to know in order to make the sale. People love talking about themselves. The hard part for you is to keep your mouth shut long enough for you to get the required information.

Join me in the next programme when we'll look at some ways to refine your art of listening.

18/7/05

Finally back to normal days. Wake up for games, stayed at home. Do what I want. I've started on playing my keyboard and today is my second practice for the song, "My Memory". Trying to make the whole song flow without slowing down. I'm not a full time pianist so ha, I'm playing it in a jerky manner.

My parents went to JB and their bike got tow away ha. Had to pay 80 riggit to get it back. WHat the hack ha. Just because they park on the curb. THat is just an amazing way they get revenue. amazing. My parents said that they saw tonnes of bikes there. I guess its a big revenue center ha.

At night, I went to collect my jeans. They are really so efficient. Just need one day to alter it. WOw.

Its amazing how time run away. Need to make full use of every second. I'm going to practice my buzzing with the metronome and tuner.

17/7/05

Went to esplanade in the morning 11am. A little work on the loading of instruments. Thats all. It was done after 1 hrs. Teacher drove me back after that.

Played game for 3 hrs, wanting to make full use of the time left in this holiday.

At night, went shopping with mum in Toa Payoh central. I bought a jeans and a school bag. I've completed what I want to buy for this holiday. All done.

I also played my keyboard for a while. Trying to play "My Memory" but slow like a snail ha. Doesn't matter. It still sounded ok with a snail tempo.

Why are my sentences so short? I have no mood to type ha, must be the effect of too much games ha.

Anyway, this blog marks the end of the WASBE week. I've played for a concert, attended 5 concerts in esplanade. German band, Jap band, Swiss band, Holland band + boston brass, Tokyo kosei. Its an experience in a life time. I'll never forget this.

16/7/05

I was asked by my teacher to be at the Esplanade first thing in the morning, so I took bus 145 there. I was so tired from these few days of late nights, and I fell asleep soon I was on the bus. I woke up here and there to see where I was. For one moment, I know that I was somewhere near Bugis..... the next moment, the road seemed so foreign to me. It was like a film that was cut and joined. I didn't feel the gradual process of falling asleep at Bugis. I had to think..... "what to do, what to do". I was going to be late of course. So I got off when I saw an MRT sign. I was at Tanjong pagar. Did something just casted a sleeping spell on me?

When I got to the MRT, I panicked. Late late, die. I hoped for the train to come quick but still, waited for 2 minutes. I jumped into the cabin when it arrived and walked into the other end of the cabin.... saw a friend. It isn't the first time I met her with such high coincidence. Well, this is the second time perhaps. She just graduated and is a capable working woman. Ha worked with her for a project before... I was stressed by her ha. Anyway, everything just linked up so strangely. If not for my tiredness, I won't overslept (even if I'm tired, I don't oversleep on bus that often.), then if not that I wake up at Tanjong Pagar, I won't take MRT, if not for the MRT, I won't get into this particular cabin and met her. What are the probabilities? Anyway, thankz to her, I didn't panick that much.

When the train reached City hall, I had to "fly". But the underground passage way was blocked due to an unexpected fire alarm (why must it be at this time!!). Had to take a bit detour. "Flying" is an understatement. When I reach Esplanade and got to the back stage, I waited for instructions. I was asked to rest and relax, cuz Tokyo Kosei didn't need much of our help. Waited and waited. 1.5hrs later..... "I think you can go off now, nothing to do" ahhhhhhh travelled for fun ha... but I wasn't angry at all, I was delighted cuz my teacher managed to get a better seat for the concert. I am thankful for that.

I took a bus home and waited for the time to pass before I took off to Suntec. I went to search for the chocolate shop the lady mentioned yesterday. That chocolate tasted like heaven. BUt.. check out the price. 12.80 per box. If i didn't remember wrongly, there are 20-25 pieces of chocolate inside. Worth it? Hee if I'm craving for it, then i'll buy.

Then I went to the WASBE exhibition and tried a Yamaha eupho. Wow, it sounded and felt alive. The notes resonate with little effort. My friend and I even talked about the differences between the Besson eupho and Yamaha eupho. I wanna get one if I have money and no where to put haha. I always say that.

5.30pm, the final performance for the 12th WASBE conference 2005. Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra. THe long awaited band performance. It was a full house!! When they started their first piece, somehow I didn't feel the impressiveness in it. Perhaps the pieces are too hard to understand. When the performance comes near to the end, the pieces they played showed their skills and techniques. Bravo on that part. They are great musicians!!

After all these experience with the overseas band, I am really motivated to become a better player. I'm too scared to play individual parts for such big events haha, but if i am more prepared and more skillful, perhaps I can enjoy those individual parts. I'll start by practicing long tones with my tuner and make sure i'm in tune, then I'll do tempo exercises to make sure i produce notes on time. Thats a first step hee.

This marks the end..... no. I have to be at esplanade tomorrow 11 am to help out again haha. I'll do the closing speech tomorrow.

15/7/05

Went to teach band today. I only slept 4 hrs yesterday and felt sooo tired. Don't even have the mood to teach in the morning. Luckily there is a grade 3 pianist in the percussion. So I asked her to teach the rest of the percussion to play some pieces while I teach the rest rythmn study and notes reading.

In the afternoon, Combine band rehearsal. I had 1.5hrs to rehearse the piece that they are going to perform in 2 weeks time. Actually.... they sounded quite good. Just that I'm very picky with things. And they are not stable when it come to performance. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. Kids, what can i expect?

Wanted to watch the night SAF band performance at esplanade but i was too tired, so I stayed home. While I'm typing this, I received a call from my teacher, and got recalled to help out in esplanade. Well, I have to wake up early tomorrow morning to go there. Tokyo Kosei!! here I come.

Slice of Life

Worrying InstinctWorry is a common human experience. It's been around forever, and yet most of us can't seem to get rid of it. Is it a survival instinct? Worry does make you think about what you can do to improve your situation or avoid a disaster, right? The problem is how many of us actually do something about it? If you're like most people, you worry everyday about various things that haven't happened, but do nothing about it.

For example, most of us worry about things like not having enough money, ill health, being alone, getting fired, being hated, growing old, or being seen as useless or incompetent. Our mental well-being suffers, we can't sleep properly, some of us experience panic attacks. Worry eats away at our optimism until one day, we may not feel we have the strength to go on. How many of us act on our worries to create a better future?

What is worry, essentially? It's the anxiety caused by a pending or imaginary problem. The irony about worry is that it can cause immeasurable stress and pain even when the so-called "problem" doesn't exist. People literally lose the will to live over something that hasn't even happened, and which may never happen! Why do we possess such a powerful yet pointless instinct?

Yet, I wonder if there is some use to worry. It can be a motivating force towards positive change. Like anger and discontent, it can propel us to make advancements in areas we wouldn't normally think about. If you're worried about something, do something constructive about it. If you have financial troubles, think about how you can make more money. Trying something, anything, is better than sitting around moaning. Besides, when you try, you create more and more opportunities for yourself.

There are some worries though, that are simply not worth your time. Worrying about failing because of some past experience, for example, is energy-wasting. Worrying about other people's opinion of you is also ultimately pointless. Worrying about yourself and your loved ones is more than enough. Forget the people in life who seem to drain your optimism and sap your confidence.

Worry takes over every moment of every day, ruins happy moments and restricts the capability for one to enjoy life for what it is worth. Worry can quickly occupy so much of your mental energy that hardly anything else gets your attention. So if you're worried about something, do something about it. That's empowering. But if you do nothing, it will consume you.

14/7/05

Went shopping with mum for a hot water flask. My first contribution to the home. I paid for it ha. Went from Toa Payoh to Bishan just for that flask. Went back home after that and waited for my teacher's call at 2.30pm.

My teacher drove me to Ang Mo Kio CC to watch a band exchange between AMK sec+ Commonwealth Sec band and the German Band. Totally enjoyable when I hear the german band. Big broad sound with energy in the gentleness. The repertoire for them today was light and fun. All the audience enjoyed it very much.

At 4.30pm, my teacher and I had to rush down to the Airport to wait for the arrival of the World renowned Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra. We are the hard labor, so sad haha. But I feel soooo honoured to just carry their lugguage for them. I even got face to face with one of the eupho player. It happened like this....

I was one of the helper to load their lugguages into a small lorry. This Eupho guy, placed a eupho hard case and a eupho soft case to load into the Lorry. My first instinct. Its going to get crushed... So, I approached the beautiful translator (She offered the whole hard labor crew some great chocolate from a jap shop in Suntec. The taste was just amazing. I'm going to buy it when i see it!!) and told her about it. She too was concerned and agreed to ask them to carry those instruments to the coach. Then, the eupho guy came down from the coached and talked to me.... "these are clothes, not instrument (in a jap accent)". "orhhhhh" Dumb me. But I "communicated" with him!!

After all those loading, I was assigned to sit in the lorry with the driver. We chatted alot!! And I felt such great happiness in his smiles and the way he talked. We talked on almost everything, from goverment matters, politics, tax, goods, durians, people, young teenagers, his family, the new generation, the casino, the traffic jam, the anxiety of being late in reaching the hotel, army.... everything! I am really intrigued by some of the examples he used to described serious matters. He made me understand some of the things that I've never thought of. He was not well educated as he told me. He told me that some people really has no heart to study. He also told me how come theres durian all throughout the year. I could see the enjoyment of his simple life. Well, he is a boss of his logistic company... small one i think. But he is contented with his life. He told me about the pitfall of Comparison. Comparison with others will make people feel terrible. I agree! Totally!

During the journey, I saw 2 car plates, number 6633 and 7722. Coincidental encounter. The driver told me, "not 5566" . Well, I saw one before ha.

After the unloading was done at the hotel, the hard labor crew took my teacher's car and head towards esplanade. I was so lucky that I was able to get into the hall to watch the band from the Netherlands (Frysk Fanfare Orchestra, and the USA (Boston Brass). They played a half each.

The Dutch band is a brass band. I've always like the sound of the brass band. THe forceful and manly sound is the highlight. The showcase of the versatility of fugelhorns and the beautiful tone of the piccolo trumpet really surprise us all. I sat at the choir's gallery, that is, at the back of the band. The sound at that seat was great, especially at the left side. the Tuba's sound was boosted cuz we are so close to it. We could feel the effect of the Marcato and Accents of the notes. The crash of the concert cymbal gave some after-rings in the ears. The euphos in that band are so great. Watching them really boosted my motivation for more improvement. Too bad, school is starting soon.

The Boston Brass consists of 5 players. Its a brass quintet actually. F.horn, trombone, tuba and 2 trumpets. Those are super world class people!! they play music from classical, funk, and jazz. They form a great Accappella group too!! Best of all, they are soooooo humourous. All of them took turns to speak to the audience at each introduction to the pieces. It was more of the showmanship really. I remember one of the members said," I could not find any Tuba player that does not complain when he is not given any breathing space in the pieces." They are a great group. But I heard from my teacher that Canadian brass doesn't loss in any way too. I must listen to Canadian brass one day. ONe day.

Slice of life

Circus Humans?

I once heard the story of a grown bear that lived in a cage and travelled with a circus ever since he was a small cub. The bear spent everyday of his life pacing back and forth in his cage while countless spectators looked on. When the bear-keepers were not looking, some of the spectators would poke the bear with sharp sticks. Sometimes they would throw pieces of food filled with broken glass into the cage. When the great bear ate what he thought was a wonderful treat, the broken glass would cut the inside of his throat and stomach.

One day a wealthy animal-lover visited the circus and saw the harmful acts committed against the bear. Because he felt great compassion for animals he approached the circus about purchasing the bear. He explained that he would take the bear and place him in a large open area. In this area the bear would have cool pools of water to play in and verdant fields to run. The circus agreed to sell the bear to the man and set up a delivery date.

When the day arrived for the bear to be delivered, everyone was anxious to see what would happen when the door of the cage was opened for the first time. To everyone's amazement, when the cage was opened, the bear did what he spent every day of his life doing. He simply paced back and forth the length of the cage. The bear didn't even seem to care that the cage door was open. Finally, the bear-keepers got the bear outside the cage and rolled it away.

The bear looked around at his beautiful new home. He looked at the cool pools of water and the lush green pastures. Then to everyone's surprise and disappointment, the bear began his pacing. Back and forth he would go, as in an imaginary cage. Eventually he had to be put to sleep because he simply could not function in his beautiful new surroundings.
This is the powerful way we become slaves to our past, to our habits. This is how many of us, not just circus animals, learn to accept that there is nothing better for us. Even when it's staring us in the face.

To a large degree, our history and past experience determine the person we are today. Yes, we are the result of upbringing, of education, of constraining social norms. But that's no excuse for accepting a routine, meaningless lifestyle. That's no excuse for not being the person you want to be.

Many of us have responsibilities towards others - our families and loved ones. Some of us put up with less than desirable conditions because of those obligations. But how many of those obligations are really excuses for not making things better?

In a world of possibilities, are you pacing the length of your imaginary cage?

13/7/05

Wanted to start work again but mood dies after a while of surfing the law database. I'll just leave it to next week.

When I thought that my day would be a normal gaming day, a surprise call from my friend in Westwinds lighted my fire for the whole day. He had tickets to give away for the afternoon concert and the evening concert. Afternoon- Stadtharmonie Zurich Oerlikon-Seebach, Switzerland. Evening- Senzoku Gakuen College of Music Wind Ensemble, Japan. Of course, I sat alone during those 2 concerts, got used to it. I was looking for musical satisfaction.

Afternoon

The Swiss band was quite like the Westwinds. Loud sound and forceful brass. The players were of mature age too. Adults in short. However, it seems like they had the same problems as us (westwinds). Tuning, and entry of notes. The commendable thing was a flute player who expressed well the solos in the pieces. Somehow they didn't impressed me, perhaps due to my seat location. I was located on Circle 2 on the right. It was a side seat. Luckily the seat could be turned to make myself comfortable. The sad thing was that I only discovered it during the second half. FIrst half.... neck pain. ha

Evening

The senzoku wind ensemble. When the performers walked out, "OMG" came up to my mind. They look so much like secondary school students. Perhaps some look like JC students. Age estimation, 14-20. I have always know that japanese bands focus on precision, accuracy and tuning. I thought today's band isn't going to express much. I was wrong.

One piece that i remembered clearly was the last piece. It was entitled Jupitar's fantasy, composed by ITO Yasuhide. The composer conducted that piece himself. I remember seeing him when I was in the SAF band. He came down to Singapore from Japan to give a workshop on conducting. No doubt that his conducting skills is great. His composition is excellent! The melody, the decoration, the texture, the style, all combine to portray a story beautifully.

That piece, A Jupitar's Fantasy started with a solemn tune adopted from the famous Jupitar of the Planet Suite by G.Holst. It then moves into a fast pace section that is light and powerful. How can that be possible? Jazzy beats- light. Solos within- powerful.

THe trumpeteer started the solo that showed the power of a jazz trumpet. I was astonished by his skills and improvisation ability. On top of that, he looked very very very young. Drop Jaw.

The soprano sax took over, showing its versatility and precision. The notes played were so high that I thought it would be impossible for a player of such an age to reach it. Very young.

Before the piece ended, the solemn section came back after the jazzy part and started with a flute solo, playing the melody Jupitar. The sound and expression of that flute sound seems to resonate with the E string in my heart. The Emotional string. I could feel the dryness in my eyes, gone. Beautifully played. The eupho solo that followed after that gave a little slow jazz feel to that melody. Amazing composure showed... better than me, i must say.

The whole piece ended with a pause on the peaceful chord that triggers off thoughts and tastes of the colours of music. THe conductor then beautifully used his hand to run through the wind chime that was placed beside the podium before the start of that last finale. Bravo.

Another feature of the evening concert is an accordian solo piece. It's the first time I come across an accordian. Beautiful sound, beautiful expression from the soloist. Each movement on the fingers, each pulling and pushing of the instrument itself seems to create the beautiful harmony of colours that was represented by sound.

The Japanese band sound was the loud and forceful kind that is not irritating at all. Compared to the german band sound, the Japanese band is just in a different side of the ball. Both are good sound, both represent different culture backgrounds, both represent different expression. They are both great.

This band, changed my thought about japanese bands. "Japanese bands CAN express music".

After so many concerts in Esplanade, I have a feeling of connection of being an audience of big concerts. Its some kind of feeling that cannot be described easily by words. When I sat there, I felt as thought its my home. So comfortable, so close, the feeling. I like to attend concerts. World class concerts. Perhaps i'll attend more orchestra concerts in the future, who knows.

SLice of Life

Be Open to Possibilities

When you imagine your future, do you see unlimited potential or do you see a lack of opportunities? Almost everyday, we are overrun by bad news, bleak outlooks, and people who complain about how miserable their lives are. In such a climate, it's no small task remaining upbeat and optimistic. But it is precisely that kind of positive attitude that will open your eyes to the opportunities that are always present.

According to Rosamund Stone Zander, author of "The Art of Possibility", many of the circumstances appear to block us only because of the assumptions we make. In other words, if we colour our view of the world with negative energy, our behaviour towards it will appear to elicit an unfavourable response. If you look at your environment through cracked and grimy glasses, you won't see a pretty picture.

When you participate in negative dialogue, either with yourself or with others, you are setting yourself up for failure. It's almost as if there's an instinct to prove oneself right, and if you think things will turn out badly, your thoughts and action will contribute to that result. When you retreat from a world you perceive as grim, you're closing yourself off to the possibilities.

But what happens if you remain open to the possibilities? When you view the world from a perspective of unlimited potential, your attitude will shift. So will the way you engage your employees, customers, friends and family; everyone you come into contact with. You will project an image of abundance, and your drive and hope will inspire those around you. You will become a motivating force in a climate of openness and courage, a climate that gives back to you just as much, if not more, than what you gave to create it.

When we're open to possibilities, we see further and are more inclined to take risks. Risks that may not always yield the results we want, but which create more paths towards our goals. You're only a failure if you stop trying. Because opportunities for success are limitless - when one doesn't pay off the way you imagined, there's always the next, and the next. One of them will be the one to catapult you forward, and it could just be the next one.

Being open means that you have to stand confident in the realm of possibilities - no matter the competition and no matter your fear. If your entire focus is on what your competitors are doing, your attitude will be passed on to your employees, and, ultimately, your clients. But if you focus on what you do best and how to better satisfy your clients and engage with them in new and powerful ways, your results will be quite different!

12/7/05

The 12th of July marks the day where I performed on an international stage with Westwinds in the 12th WASBE conference held in Singapore. This conference allows people in Singapore to interact with bandmembers of other countries as well as broaden our horizon of band music. SIngapore has long sticked to the loud and wacking style, its time we hear how a band sounds like an Orchestra.

The performance today is really nerve wrecking. The rehearsal on stage was already a terrifying time for me, needless to say how the actual performance affected my composure. I am a person that is not suitable for important roles, such as solo playing or individual performance on stage. My heart beats like hell and I can't regulate my breathing. During the rehearsal, I've mispitched on places where I have never made during the normal practice. Ridiculous isn't it? It just show how much pressure the atmosphere can be felt.

Although the hall wasn't quite filled up, I have told myself that I must not make any major mistake. It is to be answerable to my heart and answerable to the recording. As i've said, I'm going to buy the recording of the concert and it cause $25. I don't think I wanna get that CD to remind me of any sad memories.

Ah... the most important duet in my life, just for 4 bars with the soloist Adam Frey. I didn't not mispitch at the 2 instances. Although my heart nearly popped out during those few bars, but I was able to get rid of all the negative thoughts and anxiety in my mind. It works. Don't think so much, just breathe and go. No mispitch! But during the second instant, I thought my high A and his high A didn't kinda blend so well. Out of tune... most prob its my problem.

Through this concert, I have achieved another level of music playing. I am able to pitch high notes with a firmer and more secure embourchure. This will allow me to further my high ranges in the future. I'm sure this is the kind of high pitch sound i like. But then again, how long will I be playing my eupho? I believe its not long.

The concert ended in a peaceful manner, with no regrets or disappointments... thats for me. I believe the band sounded quite crap ha but i don't care. Tuning was off sometimes. Entry of notes were off sometimes. Togetherness was not there sometimes. The colour of the tone was quite off sometimes. What can I say?? We sounded like a Singapore band haha. Nothing bad abt it I think.

In the evening, I attended the concert performance by a German Band. Its called JungeBlaserPhilharmonieNRW (translate to The Young People's Symphonic Band of North Rhine-Westphalia). The performers are of age 14 to 28. Guess what..... all of them are winners of the biggest German youth competition. That competition is for soloists! SO all of them are great soloists. To get into this band, the award winners will be allowed audition. They will only play with the band if they pass that audition. Sounds real tough.

I've heard before that German bands sound alot like orchestra. Today is the day that I hear it with my own ears. The tranquility of chords, the thick texture in sound, the colour of winds blending with brasses, with the light percussion adding on to the feel like stars in the dark blue sky. Ensemble playing.... Bravo. Soloistic playing you ask? Remember they are all winners of a soloists competition? Beautiful expression of feelings and mood. Its really the OMG. Pro is Pro, cannot bluff. When would Singapore have this kind of soloistic competition? Can i try? even though i can't handle the stage very well. hahaa I just go and mess up bah. Gotta try everything during my young age (am i still young?)

Well, Standing ovation throughout at the end of that concert. The kind of sound control and tone I like. I want to fly to Germany for another German band concert!! In the future. ha

Slice of life

Improving Communication With Your Partner

Consistent, healthy communication is vital for your relationships. It's like the heart in the human body. It's easy to see why really - if you don't talk about your feelings, how will your partner know how you feel? And if your partner doesn't know, how can he or she react properly?

There are some things to note for healthy communication though; some couples seem to communicate often but it doesn't help the relationship because they're just venting and not listening. Or they're presuming too much, or taking things too personally.

Start by learning to listen. Now, some people seem to do that, but what they're really doing is waiting for their chance to cut in and defend themselves. They often sit while the other person is talking, waiting for a space to jump into the conversation to defend their actions, explain themselves, or explode in anger.

What you should do is listen actively and emphatically to your partner. Watch the facial expressions, the body language. Learn to listen to more than just the words since we often can't express what we're really trying to say in words alone.

Also, don't assume that you understand what your partner is trying to say. Ask for clarification. Sometimes, it can seem as though your partner is being sarcastic or insulting, or making a cruel joke about you, but you're basically just being over-sensitive. If you're not sure, ask. Very often, you'll find that you were off the mark completely. And trust your partner's clarification. If you can't trust your partner, then the relationship is doomed anyway.

Also, words have different meanings for different people. Some people say "interesting" when they mean "I think it's awful but I don't want to hurt your feelings". Learn to remember how your partner uses certain words or tones and what he or she is trying to convey. Take the time to study what he or she means by saying certain things. This will make your sharing experience much more pleasant.

There are certain topics that may trigger a fight-or-flight reaction. Sometimes in sharing you might bring up topics or feelings that scare your partner and put them into a flight situation where they close-up and avoid sharing or it might be something that touches a painful memory and they get into a defensive mode. Being aware of these triggers helps you learn how to either carefully back off or gently probe for answers.

Yes, healthy communication is tough, but if you're serious about making your relationship work, few things are more important.

11/7/05

I have completed that suikoden 3. Finally. Then I quickly started another one hoping to finish it before school starts. Chance seems slim but i'll try.

Anyway, I have prepared the things i need for tomorrow. I wanna take picture with adam frey!! Don't care haha must catch him before he go. And make him sign my program booklet. oh ya!! must bring it. hmm maybe don't need him to sign bah. Haha i sound a bit crazy.

I went to shop for something in the evening. I got what I wanted. That was bugis that I went. Then i came back to toa payoh and window shop one round again. I find that I always let my subconcious take over my body. Somehow, after a while, my mind starts to go into the state of "don't know whats happening". It happens during my exams as well. I wonder if theres any medical explaination for this phenomenum.

Slice of Life

Life Management Skills
Most of us lead increasingly stressful lives. This world is moving fast and none of us wants to get left behind. So we nearly break our backs trying to achieve the things we think will make us happier. But the demands of modern life often leave us feeling dragged out and inadequate.

Does this sound familiar? "Life just seems to be whizzing past. I don't feel as though I'm spending enough quality time on the things that matter most to me. I worry a lot that I'm going to somehow miss my life and then it will be over."

This is a very common anxiety. Too often, we spend so much of our lives hopping on and off trains that we don't even think about whether we would be happier simply taking a walk and breathing in Nature instead.
So how can we ensure that those things of greatest importance to us get the amount of attention they deserve?
First, identify the top four priority categories in your life. For most of us, these are spirituality and personal development, family and relationships, career, and personal care and health. Honestly assess how much time you give to each category.

Do you devote 80% of your time to work and expect your family life to be rich and rewarding? Do you spend only 10% of your time caring for your health and wonder why you're ill so often? Do you dedicate 70% of your time to your family and are upset that your career isn't exactly taking off?

Something has to give. We can't all be corporate superstars, fantastic parents, wonderful spouses, devoted friends, and joyful and healthy individuals. Well, some of us appear to be but we often don't see the areas where they're lacking. Identify your priorities and give yourself credit for growth in those areas.

Practice being in the present moment only. Worrying on Saturday about that application you can only send in on Monday is pointless. Worrying takes precious time and attention away from your priorities and increases your feelings of dissatisfaction about life.

Be patient and loving with yourself. Always remember, life is an ongoing process and it will throw you curve balls from time to time. But with practice, you will find coming back to equilibrium gets quicker and easier.

10/7/05

Band practice started at 10am. Just feel so dreamy. Well, I mean tired. Tomorrow is a rest day then tuesday is the big day. My most important concert in my life.... till now.

Regarding the duet part, I haven't miss my pitching during the combined rehearsal with him. I hope it'll be the same for that day. When I see him, I have the courage to do the tough up slur. My new idol. I wonder if i have a chance to see Steven Mead in my whole life. Ha just hope.

The evening Hongkong show is really interesting. I recommend all to watch. Only showing on weekends evening. Today is the third episode. Catch it!

9/7/05

I played game for the whole day from 9am to 5pm when i started to prepare to go for band prac.

Long gaming hrs will make a person's temper bad. Its true. I am really very agitated but I tried so hard to contain myself. Its lucky i know I will have bad temper so I can counter the effects of it. The band practice was really crap. Rubbish.. break down here and there..... lousy balance sound.... moreover, trombones behind me blasting their sound into my ears. I just cannot be bothered. But thats really very irritating.

Anyway tomorrow is another day of band, and I have to be there by 10am. soooo early. This concert really makes me a better player. I can fly with my notes haha.

8/7/05

So busy so busy.... Went to teach band from 9am to 3pm. Then went home to have a little rest before taking off for band practice. Today Adam Fray came. Fantastic playing!! He is friendly and humble too. THe eupho solo piece will be a nice nice one.

As for me, the duet part, I think its easier to play when Mr. Fray is around. Because I won't feel so empty and scared to play the difficult 2nd part of the duet. I have also practiced very hard for the 3 notes maneuver. Octave jumps is crazy for the A note. I cannot afford to make a mispitch during the concert for this duet. Wish me good luck?

I had a little chat with him actually. I find that I'm really quite shy when it comes to meeting new people who are so called higher authority than me. I really can't pick a topic to talk to him. I just smiled and replied the things he asked when he talked to me. And I have a problem to leave the conversation. When theres no more conversation between us, and he talked to another person, I don't know if I would be rude to walk away. Someone must really teach me on this socializing aspects.

This coming concert will be the most important one in my life for now.

Abt the trombonist that usually irritates me. He actually can't play for the concert now, and had a replacement that far sounded better and easier to blend into the brass sound. Is that a bliss? Lets hope it is.

7/7/05

Read 4 law cases in the morning. I have been treating those law cases as stories. Reading about other people's lives is really something. Those cases are no more the dry and uninteresting legal documents. They have become my source of learning about life. There is really much to learn.

Then i played game for abt 7 hours. I realise that i'm still far from completing it. OMG no time no time.

It was 5.30pm when i started preparing to go out to watch Mus Art's pre-world music competition concert. I was mesmorised by the percussion band that played the first half of the concert. Its really an enjoyment watching the high level performance. I realise that percussion is not just about hitting notes and getting the right rythmn. Its about a whole body performance. Unlike the wind players, percussionist stand while they are playing, so it is important to perform using all parts of the body. The facial expression, the nodding of heads according to tempo, the side stepping in a rythmic style, the preparation beat before hitting a note, all of which contributes greatly to the visual enjoyment of the audience. I'm starting to like percussion music. I might even wanna try joining a band just to play percussion. Its a different experience. Good Job Mus Art Percussion club.

The Mus Art Wind Ochestra isn't any far off. They have prepared well enough for a division 2 competition. They sound totally different from the previous few concerts. THe balance, the togetherness, the articulation, the mood, all blended together. They are the sort of loud band but they don't sound ugly. Nice. I wish them good luck for the competition. Gambatte Kudasai.

Slice of Life

Becoming a Great Leader

What's the difference between a "good" leader and a "great" one?

First of all, a great leader has a clear vision. You have to know exactly what you want, where you want to go, and how to get there. Asking your workers for ideas is one thing, but relying on them is entirely another. When you do that too often, your subordinates wonder if you have any ideas of your own. So take all the time you wish, but get that vision right, and get it cast in concrete.

Next, a great leader is continually rowing for safety, even when the raft seems doomed for sharp edges, and after the rest of the team have let go of their oars. This chestnut, at least, is true - the most powerful way of learning is by example. If you can consistently show your team how they can achieve a preferred future, they will begin to believe in it and live it.

Do you believe in yourself as a great leader? Are your passions and values aligned with your vision? If you're afraid to power your team forward, stop squeaking at the meeting. Or worse, pretend to be a lion when everyone knows you're really a mouse. It de-motivates your staff and makes them lose their faith in you.
If you're in a position of power, the burden of responsibility is unavoidable. If you're scared of responsibility, the best thing you can do is step down. If the careers or lives of many are in your hands, either lift them up, or give them to someone else. You know that the world would be a better place if certain world leaders simply relinquished their power to someone who truly cares about making the world a better place.

If you strive to be a great leader, establish measurable goals and plans. Know how to invest your time. Identify and eliminate time wasters. Know your priorities. Take time to set and evaluate goals. Learn to say "no".

To have an A-Team in your organization you need acquire the best talent possible. Talent is many times hidden, but once found it is like a polished gem. The leadership skills and abilities in your team will only be increased as you increase yours. Simply stated, the better leader you become, the better leaders your team members become. As a leader, you must always remember that your team is watching and waiting for you to lead them with committed excellence and exuberant passion. As your team begins the journey to A-Team status, your job will be to show them how to think with creative minds, and to empower them to accomplish your organisation's vision and mission.

6/7/05

Went to ktv in the afternoon. Then went to Amk library to search for the jap book that i always wanted to borrow. There is one in AMk and one book in Toa Payoh, but the toa payoh one seems to be on loan forever. ITs supposed to be returned last month but its still no returned. I guess the person lost it. Now i'll be waiting for the amk one...

Then I went home to play game. I still haven't complete my suikoden3. I believe its going to end soon. over 40hrs of game play. That shows how much time i've really spent on playing games these 2 weeks.

I think I should be able to complete one more before school starts. That will be my aim.

In the meantime, the research for my FYP is really killing me. I'm reading all those law cases until damn blur. You'll realise how easily people sue another for damages. I'll be really careful in the future when I deal with monetary things and human injury things. Better be save than sorry.

5/7/05

Teaching band. Ha, one strange percussion kid came to me and said," Thank you". I asked, " what for?" He said," for teaching us loh". And he ran away after that. I was thinking " hmm its my job?" But its really a strange feeling when you are being appreciated. Ha, guess what... I scolded him last practice.

I went shopping with my mum in the evening. She bought quite a number of things, while me.... only a hair spray. I wanted to look for a japanese book that will teach me how to read, and speak jap... but... i guess they are too expensive for my liking. I would rather borrow from library.

I feel so "heated" today. Yesterday slept at 1+am. Today wake up at 5.45am. My mum bought me a lohan herbal tea. Thats nice. Last 3 weeks of holidays, and the busiest of all. WASBE conference is next week. Performance is next tuesday. This week 3 westwind practices. Where is my leisure time?

Slice of Life

Managing Your ExpectationsIf disappointment and failure are reducing you to a pulp, try lowering your expectations. Yup, you heard me right - you have to lower your expectations. Now this idea runs counter to the conventional wisdom of "reaching for the stars", and "being the best in the field".

In theory, these are excellent objectives to work towards, and it's been said that "if you aim for the moon, even if you fail, you'll land among the stars". That's a beautiful idea, and I'm not disputing it, but without some control, such ideals can burn you out, create frustration, and literally destroy your drive to attain any goals. Very often, it's a case of wanting everything yesterday - you simply cannot wait for success to happen to you now, and when it doesn't, you lose hope.

The key is managing your expectations. This does not necessarily mean changing your goals or lowering your targets. You can keep your goals high, just don't expect to make huge leaps every time you try. Every successful businessman knows that in order to win big in the end, you may have to lose big in the beginning too. By all means, set a quota for yourself, but when you don't hit it, there's no need for your self-esteem to take a hit.

So if you feel like you've run into a wall, or bumped your head on the ceiling, your expectations of what should be are probably forcing you to take too big a bite. How can you still work towards your objectives at a more reasonable pace?
Before you go ahead and jump across that canyon, make sure that you know exactly where you want to land. It is imperative that you define exactly what it is that you ultimately want in your life. Once you know what you want, break the process to reach this "vision" down into reasonable steps.

As the crow flies may appear the fastest and easiest way to your dreams, but very often, it isn't. Achieving great success in life is hardly ever as simple as making a beeline for the goal. It's like soccer or basketball, where you often have to dribble past and around defenders, sometimes even turn back, in order to score. So if you're being pummeled by consistent letdowns, try changing direction. Sometimes walking around the mountain is better than climbing beyond it.

High expectations set on a vision that is "unknown" or vaguely-defined can easily get you lost. We see where we want to go, want so badly to get there, but have no idea what it takes or what it is that we're really pursuing. Even though the vision might be reasonable, it is the perception that we have of the vision that adds unnecessary stress to our daily lives in our pursuit of that vision. So take small steps to reach your vision, and adjust your path along the way.

4/7/05

Now is really very late and I have to wake up by 6am. I just cannot sleep if i don't complete my blog. TOday is really too happening.

First up, boring stuff. Law case. 1 read today.

Next up, game. Hope to complete by this weekend (suikoden 3).

Next up. Halfway through the game, my teacher called. He asked me out for Movie, saying that someone put him aeroplane (meaning last meaning couldn't make it). So it was the War of the World. Not as exciting as I expected.

Next up, outing with army band friends. Always enjoyed their company. Laughing most of the time and talking about serious and stupid stuffs too. Went to Newton to have our dinner!! Had a nice nice stingray. SUperb chili taste. Ha, induced me to talked about the little chili with them too. DAr. Then then, went to watch movie again. Its the second movie of the day. Damn tired now. It was Initial D!! I never thought I would watch it, but I didn't regret it. Its one of show that I enjoyed. Recommend my friends to watch it.

I'm quite picky with shows now. I only like romance, comedy, cartoon, and sad elements. War, battles, honour, loyalty, thrillers, mystery are out of my liking. NOw i finally know what i want haha.

thats all for today!

Slice of Life

Cleaning: Outside and In

When you feel upset, discouraged or out of control, do you feel the desire to clean? Well, I don't, but when I do try it, it often works for me. There's a deep connection between our personal environment and our innermost selves. Our senses reach deep, and those same senses also feel our surroundings. So is it possible that by shifting the arrangement of our belongings we can re-arrange the molecules of our emotional lives as well?

When our homes become cluttered and disordered, other aspects of our lives also tend to feel stuck. A cluttered home reflects a distracted and cluttered mind, and it also makes it hard to focus and think clearly. It gets easier to put on hold decisions that could put you back in control of your life. Eventually, we give up. The task seems overwhelming, and the clutter is so pervasive that we can't decide where to begin.

Clutter saps your energy and erodes your spirit. Clutter makes it difficult to get things done, enjoy peace and quiet, or spend time the way you really want to. It adds to your stress, slows you down and drains your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual strength. Clutter makes you lose your focus, and that makes you lose your confidence and power as well.

On an energetic level, all this stuff is preventing a clear vision of self. Anything that is neglected, unwanted, or unappealing to you will drag your energy down every time you look at it. Even a beautiful object of great value does nothing for you or your home if you don't like it. So if you don't love it, get it out of sight.

Look around you. If you could only choose ten items to live with for the rest of your life, what would they be? When you're considering this question, ask yourself - What do they really do for you? Do they empower you? Are they motivating you to improve yourself?

Everything that surrounds you should be working for you in some way. If the things in your space are not supporting you and contributing to the positive quality of your life, it is time to do something about it!

The defeat, fatigue, and depression that you feel when you think about your clutter will start to evaporate as soon as you put yourself in action. The hard part is getting started, but once you do the magic will begin.

Clutter-clearing creates space for us to discover our true path in life and to define who we want to become. With this new vision we can consciously choose to surround ourselves with objects and imagery that reflect and support our authentic concept of self.

3/7/05

Read a case in the morning and then toook off to band. 2 weeks to performance and I'm really nervous for one of the piece. If I mis-pitch it, it'll be a crack in my music life. Its just so difficult to do the jumping octave move. faint. I'm buying the recording of this coming concert tooo. Its 30 bucks, so i don't want to make a scratch in the sound that all will be able to hear. Scary.

I can't remember whats my activity for tomorrow. I'll bother about it later. Anyway thats all today.

2/7/05

Finally, some progress in the research project. Although its moving really slowly, but its moving, and thats all it matters. After that its games until afternoon.

It was 2.15pm when i realised that my clock has stopped moving. It stayed at 12.30pm. The clock illusion did made me feel that I was at 12.30pm. I think its really a kind of making yourself awake when you are actually tired. Try it when its at night. Purposely set your clock to 8pm and see how long you can last through the night. I bet it will do magic.

Whats so important about the time today? Because I'm late to go to orchard. My disciple wants me to watch a performance loh. Well, I was 2 mins late, but I didn't miss any pieces. The sun was big. And they played in the sun. Well, non of my business because I was hiding under the shade near an air con area.

The performance ended at 3.45pm and I walked all the way to the bus stop outside heeren to take a bus to city hall. My destination- funan sakae sushi restaurant. I have a $10 voucher haha, so I better use it before it expires. I ordered TOri Katsu Don and one chocolate ice cream for dessert. Hmm somehow I just wonder how people think when they see a guy eating alone in a restaurant. I think there is a difference between a girl eating alone and a guy eating alone. Will they think that I'm an abnormal person? haha. Just some thoughts, cuz, whats the probability that a guy would eat alone in a restaurant? I think I see more girls doing it. Or, I'm just being bias in my judgement? hmm. Well, $1.75 for that meal was totally worth it haha. Thankz to the voucher.

It was a tough time trying to get home. The MRT is just packed with people. Today, 2/7/05, a national day parade rehearsal was taking place just now. All roads near cityhall area were blocked. Ha, theres always something big happening when i go out.

Thats all for today.

1/7/05

Last mth for holidays. So sad. Holiday is going to end soon.

Today went to teach again. I think my temper is quite bad when I don't have enough sleep. But then... those naughty students really are so bad that I really have to scold them. Like what my teacher says, we need to give them little little stress to build up their discipline. I feel like I'm the father of sooooo many. Yup, thats what I'll like to feel. My sense of achievement for educating young kids. Come to think of it, I am using the breathing method to cool myself down before scolding them. When anger goes up into the head, the things that come out of our mouth will be rubbish. Teachers shouldn't scold students at the top of their anger level.

Ha, today my teacher asked me about accounting stuffs. He needs them for his company stuff, so he asked me some accounting terms. I told him," wah you ask me equals to ask the correct person" Haha. I'm so happy to talk about accounting stuffs. Just don't know why.

Slice of Life

Separating Personal and Professional

In life, we each play many different roles. One could be a son, a father, a teacher, a learner, a manager, a lover, an artist, a joker. The intricate dynamics of these roles is what gives each of us our uniqueness and our value to others.

In our professional lives however, it's often prudent not to allow our personal roles and emotions to carelessly slip through. Bringing your emotional baggage into the workplace is inappropriate for all the reasons you may imagine. Many corporations today may tout themselves as being a "big family", yet how many of them truly tolerate workers who bring their personal frustrations or opinions into the work sphere?
So how do you take the personal out of the workplace?

It requires discrimination and distinction. If you are having communication problems at work, look at how you view your manager, boss or employee. Does he or she represent a parent, mate or partner? Are your frustrations about what is and is not working in your life manifested on the job? Learn to leave your troubles at the door. Decide that what you do in the workplace is your contribution ?to yourself, your peers and the community. This is your opportunity to commit to what you are best at doing and get paid for it.

Examine your values. Values are how you live your life, about what is important to you. Choose values that help make you what you truly are. Your personal values and professional values can be the same.

As a manager or business owner, you have to know what your values are; what the values of your company are, as well as the values of the people you manage. The basic rules of respect and acceptance apply. The Golden Rule is: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you", not: "Do it to them before they do it to you".
People who bring emotional baggage into the workplace can be temperamental, grasping and neglectful. Even more frustrating is that they act out all their pent-up, misplaced emotions on the job without consideration for others. Employees and co-workers react to this, work efforts and results go by the wayside, and profit and productivity go down.

Leave your unexpressed feelings at the door. Take a break if you become frustrated. Know that you are at work to provide results.

Heal yourself first, determine your values, then you will be a better employee, manager or business owner.