MelaUp

Intention and Attention

When learning new stuffs, two factors are required. Initially gather enough intention to learn it. Then pay enough attention to it. Without these two factors, learning doesn’t happen.

Doctoral Advice

Out of circumstances, I have spent some time coaching a few part time PhD and DBA candidates, for free. And they have all graduated.

Recalling my conversation with them, my top advice is listed below:

1. PhD is meant to be 'PhinisheD', so is DBA. They are not meant to be perfect. PhD/DBA research projects aren't the end themselves. Don't be a perfectionist.
2. PhD / DBA isn't enlarged Master degree with larger scope. It is a different animal. "Contribution" is the keyword.
3. Put up structure in your life and your study. Structure means fixing time and space to do specific things, especially those contributing to the study. Manage your doctoral research just like you would with regular work project. You need to put in commitment and resources.
4. Meet your supervisor regularly. This will set the rhythm, or heartbeat of your study. Make sure you make some progress every time you meet him/her. Keep your supervisor enthusiastic about you and your work.
5. Do not underestimate the egos of the examiners. Many examiners think it's their job to fail you. Get ready.
6. Manage your ego too. Take criticism positively.
7. Get support from family members. Without it you can't make it.

Structure: Time, Space and Matter

In the final analysis, structure determines time, space and matter - the fundamental ingredients that make up the universe. Having structure gives us stability such that we have enough time to put in enough effort to accomplish things. Structure fixes when (time) and where (space) we do what we do (matter). With a structure in place, our struggles become effortless, just like a tree with strong trunk that can easily ride through storms.

Yet structure is often deemed lack of freedom. In the age of personal freedom, more and more people give up structure that our culture gives us. The consequence is not hard to imaging - our coming generations will be less structured in their lives, easily swayed by popular culture, and have to struggle harder to achieve what we used to achieve quite naturally.

遇見更好的自己 - 黑幼龍, 書軒講座

黑幼龍書軒講座：遇見更好的自己

影音網址：

20100814-1《靜思書軒。 心靈講座》遇見更好的自己 (上)

20100814-2《靜思書軒。 心靈講座》遇見更好的自己 (上)

20100821 1《靜思書軒。心靈講座》遇見更好的自己 (下)

20100821 2《靜思書軒。心靈講座》遇見更好的自己 (下)

Spoilt for Choice, to the Max

From a friend via email:

Once while visiting a very rich friend, the maid approached me and.....

Question : "What would you like to have....? Fruit juice, Soda, Tea, Chocolate, Capuccino, Frapuccino, or Coffee?"

Answer : " Tea please"

Question : " Ceylon tea, Indian tea, Herbal tea, Bush tea, Honey bush tea, iced tea or green tea?"

Answer : " Ceylon tea"

Question : "How would you like it? Black or white?

Answer : "white"

Question : "Milk, or fresh cream?

Answer : "With milk"

Question : "Goat's milk, or cow's milk"

Answer : "With cow's milk please.

Question : "Freezeland cow or Afrikaner cow?"

Answer : "Um, I'll just take it black."

Question : "Would you like it with sweetener, sugar or honey?"

Answer : "With sugar"

Question : "Beet sugar or cane sugar?"

Answer : "Cane sugar"

Question : "White, brown or yellow sugar?"

Answer : "Forget about the tea, just give me a glass of water instead."

Question : "Mineral water, tap water or distilled water?"

Answer : "Mineral water"

Question : "Flavored or non-flavored?"

Answer : "I think I'll just die of thirst"!

Death in Hard Perspective

I did a quick math yesterday, and the answer is quite revealing.

We know the world population is about 6 billion. Assuming average lifespan of 80 years, we know that after 80 years, the entire population will be dead. Here is the statistics that follows:

World population	6,000,000,000
Death per year (÷80)	75,000,000
Death per day (÷365)	205,479

That means everyday about 200 thousand people die everyday. That is about the number of people that was wiped out during the last South Asia tsumani. It is like that terrifying tsunami happening everyday.

We are not aware of this number because it is not reported in the media, simply because those deaths are not newsworthy.

But it is happening everyday and all of us will be the part of the statistics one day, regardless of who you are and what you have.