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.

Copy Exactly

“Copy Exactly!” is a philosophy used by some companies, notably Intel, to quickly duplicate the process capabilities that are proven working in the lab into the production environment. The “!” mark behind the two words emphasizes the unquestionable copying – just copy, don’t think!

The key benefit is fast volume ramp. However, some time this sort of practice can be a laughing stock. There were times that you find some computers used in the production floor having full multimedia features, just because the computers used in the lab had them.

Nowadays Copy Exactly is frowned upon. That term has gained a bad name because it didn’t allow people to think. People have learnt its wisdom and benefit, and have let go of it.

Brand Awareness

The Art of Learning

I can’t put “The Art of Learning” down once I started reading it. It answers so many of my questions about learning. Since I name this blog “Growinglane”, you can guess how serious I am about personal growth.

Here is what you can (and should) do: (i) watch the video “Searching for Bobby Fischer” – it’s about how Joshua learn and excelled at Chess; (ii) Read more about Joshua on the internet – in Wikipedia, and his foundation website, (ii) read “The Art of Learning”. (iii) After you are through reading the book, watch this video:

Tzu Chi Recycle at Desa Relau 1 (14 March 2010)

<From Tzu Chi via email>

Please be informed we will have the Recycling Program on coming Sunday morning. 
Date:            14 March 2010   (Sunday)
Time:           9.00 am - 12.00 pm
Venue:          Desa Relau I (Taman Desa Relau, 5-storey apartment) ( Address: 1, Lebuh Relau 2, Taman Desa Relau,11900  Penang) 

Here are the recyclable items:-
1.         紙類 Paper   
2.         塑料 Plastic  
3.         鋁罐 Aluminium can                           
4.         鐵罐/鐵類 Metal can/Iron item
5.         玻璃瓶 Bottle   
6.         舊衣物 Cloth     
7.         舊家電 Electrical Waste 
8.         乾電池 Battery   
You are welcome to invite your friend to join this event.

Bliss is Intense Focus

It is not difficult to see this pattern: when we immerse in activities that draw our full attention, we experience the ultimate happiness – the bliss.

The top of the list:

• Travelling to a new attractive place
• Playing computer games
• Watching very interesting movies
• Playing board games, such as chess
• Playing intensive sports, such as football, badminton, table tennis, etc.
• Practicing Tai Chi, Yogo
• Totally absorbed in your breathing during your meditation
• Writing an article
• Programming a software
• Engaging in an intresting SMS or IM
• Reading newspaper in the morning

Our minds fell most at home in absolute absorption. It is like fish dwells in water. The more our minds concentrate, the more joy we experience.

Actually, the mind is not that difficult to please. Have you noticed a child can get totally satisfied when given a new toy? The mind of the child will be totally absorbed in exploring the new toy – at least for a while. That short while is his/her happiest moment.

Even though we have grown up, that propensity of the mind has not gone away. We keep giving ourselves new toys: latest clothes, hair styles, phones and gadgets, latest novels and movies, and latest seminars. Some of us who are more adventurous go further: latest sport cars, latest jobs, and latest vacation tour, latest girl/boy friends, latest religion, and latest businesses.

But the real deal with the mind is simple: as long as it is given a chance to fully engage with something, it is happy. It doesn’t know the difference between luxury and simplicity. That explains why many poor people are happy.

Yet not many people understand that. Most of us still think that better and more expensive toys make us happier. We should not be surprised at all. The capitalist society is designed to make us desire for more and more, so that the GDP will continue to rise. The advertisements keep telling us we will be happier if, and only if, we eat at McDonald, ware Poh Kong jewelry, drive a BMW, use iPhone, have totally flawless and silky hair with Pantene, be a Manchester United fan, and etc.

Until we find a better ideology that is better than capitalism, we will need to understand and manage the effects of capitalism on us – it will keep telling us that we will be happy “only if …”

In short, happiness is not a function of the “toys” we have. Marketers will keep telling us it is. The mind is simple and unsophisticated thing, just give it something meaningful to engage, it will be happy, and we in turn will be happy.

Turn a Hypocritical CSR to Genuine One

This is posted about two months ago: Michael Porter talked about how we can genuinely and effectively carry out CSR. The good news (and the key message) is that CSR is not in conflict with profitability, rather, they support each other.

Retreat goes Online

Firstly, our family duties often prevent us from being absent from home for several days. Secondly, we might not be able to find a suitable teacher. Note that I avoided saying “good” teacher because different people find some teachers more helpful than others. One very important factor for learning in spiritual development is the language. For instance, most English-speaking people have problem understanding translated texts/speeches, and vice-versa.

Time has changed. Now you can go online for retreats. I have been following the US medication community for some years now. One of my favorite teachers and authors Sharon Salzberg is leading an online retreat.

If you haven’t got chance to go for retreat, maybe you can give it a try, here.

My 2009 in Review

Here is my personal list of happenings:

• Did sizable management consulting engagements with a multinational company and a local conglomerate. Finally made full use of what I learnt in MBA and PhD. Learned a lot too, especially the human side of a consulting project.
• Did a business intelligence project with a large local company. Learned quite a bit of T-SQL and ASP.NET.
• Completed a statistical library product and sold a couple of copies online.
• Continue to build community in UPSR-TODAY.com
• Started a bookshop, both online and physical
• Developed a courseware on studying skills
• Started developing a workshop for business partnering with software consortium of Penang
• Learned to play chess (so that my son can’t beat me that easily)
• Has a big gathering (20 year anniversary) for a group of Buddhist friends who went to Air Jernih for community service.
• Read quite a few books. Lost count of it.
• Many other small things which didn’t succeed, too trivial, too confidential, or too embarrass to list.

Also, this year, I bade fare well to my late father.

Bye 2009.

May year 2010 be a fulfilling year for me and everyone.

My Favorite Restaurant Coming to Changi Airport

I have tried Ananda Bhavan in Penang Little India, Sungai Petani, and Tanjung Bungah. They have never failed to impress me. Especially the one in LIttle India – where there are two shops, one serving pure vegetarian food – really delights me.

As I walk around Changi Airport Terminal 2 two days ago, there is this sign:

Seems like the shop is expanding fast – outside Malaysia now. I think they deserve to be so successful. If you have tried their food, don’t wait, go try it asap.

Singapore National Museum Goes High Tech

Every time Malaysians visit Singapore, they can’t help returning home with many “ideas for improvement” for their home land. This trip is no exception for me.

I had an exceptionally good experience this time at Singapore National Museum. This time, it introduced a personal digital companion (as they call it). As you move around sections in the museum, you just punch in the number indicated on the floor. You will get detailed explanation on what you are seeing. Here is how the “companion” looks like:

It is multilingual, with a version for children.

I’ve never enjoyed a museum that much. Thanks for making this works.

Take Two

A common scene of a public toilet

(1) Malaysia:

    A desk collecting money from you for using the toilet.

(2) Singapore:

    No desk in front of the toilet. Inside the toilet:

Logical and Illogical Logics

There are always two sides of a coin. Take logic. It helps us to understand many things. On the other hand, people can twist and turn it to serve their purpose.

The following is a case of "logical thinking", which shows over-generalization of "pattern" without validation:

Fact 1. The Japanese eat very little fat
and suffer  fewer heart attacks than Americans.

Fact 2. The Mexicans eat a lot of  fat
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

Fact 3. The Chinese drink very little red wine
and suffer fewer heart attacks than  Americans.

Fact 4. The  Italians drink a lot of red wine
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

Fact 5. The Germans  drink a lot of beers and eat lots of  sausages and fats  and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

CONCLUSION: Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

I know you don’t buy the conclusion here, simply because the conclusion is quite far off. But how about the false logical assertions that is more subtle and believable?

Like: “All good students go for tuition. If you don’t take tuition, you will lose out.” or, “We need a lot of protein for growth, therefore we must eat meat.” Recently I heard there was a so-called health expert going around to promote Vitamin-C as solution to all sorts of illnesses. This guy can put up a lot of “evidence” to support this points.

Our world is full of all kinds of assertions. It is not so easy to differentiate fads from facts. With the advances in marketing and selling, anything can be packaged so that you buy their stories. Packaging essentially show you something and hide from you something – to get you to buy their ideas or products.

Without critical minds, we will just get sucked into the zeitgeist, or the prevailing belief of the time.

The solution is: think twice, think through, get second opinion and don’t get emotional.

There is Tomorrow, Isn’t It?

One day King Yama (阎罗王), the ruler of Hell, walked the torture chambers to see what is happening in his kingdom, after learning the principle of “management by walking about” from a management guru.

It was rather quiet compared to the last time he walked the place a few months ago. He asked his immediate officer, Bull-head, “We need more people here to justify our capacity. Do you have any idea?”.

Bull Head thought for a while and said, “perhaps we can send someone to the human realm and tell them that there is no hell. Then their will commit more sins and come here.”

King Yama said, “we tried that but it didn’t seem to work. The legal system has become so good and their enforcement has become so efficient. Most people observe the law. Look at Singaporeans, they don’t even chew bubble gums!”

“What do you think?” King Yama turned to Horse Face, the other top-ranked officer.

Horse Face thought of the opposite, “Why don’t we tell them there is no heaven? They won’t bother to be good then.”

King Yama said, “Again, that won’t work either. Most of the people have learned that doing good itself makes them happy. There is quite a lot of spiritual movements up there. So they will do good anyway, regardless of whether there is heaven.”

Then King Yama observed that the operators in the torture chambers often have little chats with the people they torture. So he thought the operator would understand better from their first hand information. So he posted the same question to the operator, who is busy frying a couple of snatch thieves.

Without thinking much, the operator replied King Yama, “It’s easy, just tell the people up there that there is tomorrow.”

“That simple?” King Yama doubted.

“Yes. The people who end up here know they should stop doing bad and start doing good. They end up here because they think there is tomorrow. So they kept postponing and postponing. By the time they realize they are here, it was too late.”

“Bingo! Good idea.” King Yama was delighted. He now convinced that management by walking about works. And he gave the operator a banana, emulating how the Hewlett-Packard manager reward an engineer who solved a major problem.

“Guys, let’s send the message up there and start telling everyone there is tomorrow.” King Yama ordered.

King Yama pondered for a while and ask the communication department head, “Transmit the message using the subconscious wavelength, so that the human won’t resist the message consciously.”

-- The End of the Story

p.s: Wonder why you have the urge to postpone good things you wanted to do and bad things wanted to quit? Obvious, right?

p.p.s: The operator then peel the banana given by King Yama. But he accidentally dropped it into the boiling oil. When he finally managed to take up the banana, he found that it was extraordinarily delicious. His innovation of pisang goreng in Hell earned him even more awards later.