Do you often put off your most important tasks until later, while you fill your day with the emergencies of others and the jobs you know are not really that important? Do you lie to yourself and say that you will have more time tomorrow to start the task and do it properly?
Do you fool yourself into believing that you work better under pressure when the deadline is imminent? Do you hesitate and worry when you need to make a decision? It has often been said that hard work is really just the easy work that you chose not to at the proper time.
If you often see yourself in these stressful, low productivity situations, then it is imperative that you break the procrastination habit once and for all.
The first step is identifying that procrastination is an issue – why and when do you procrastinate? Here are a few of the most common situations to consider:
• Waiting for the right/perfect time
• Lack of clear goals and priorities
• Underestimating the time required to complete tasks
• Uncertain tasks and/or outcomes
• Lack of control – a sense the tasks are imposed on you from outside
• Poor decision making skills
• Fear of failure/success
• The need to be perfect in the execution of the task.
To make lasting change to deeply ingrained habits (like procrastination) using willpower and positive affirmations alone is not realistic............Everyone knows that positive thinking is undependable and produces inconsistent results, at best.
The self-image on the other hand underpins our level of emotional intelligence (EQ), which is now recognised as being an even more important measurement for success than the IQ.
It has been scientifically proven that our brain circuits take engrams or memory traces, and produce neuro connections only if they are bombarded with the information for 21 days in a row. This means that our brain does not accept ‘new’ data or habit changes unless they are repeated each day for at least 21 days, without missing a day.
The subconscious mind can only ACT or CREATE based upon what is of VALUE – and it is this value component that is influenced by our map of reality, our habits and the questions that we repeatedly ask ourselves.
Remember, 99% of what we do as human beings is purely habit – good or bad. And these habits can be removed, retrained or instilled in the mind by consistently delivering the right information directly to the subconscious over a period of at least 21 consecutive days.Your mind is a natural goal seeking mechanism and you are always successful at getting exactly what the mind thinks that you want.
That is why the quality of your habits and questions directly affect your decisions, your actions, your results and ultimately your life!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Tan Sri Ramon V Navaratnam
In his memoir, prominent Malaysian economist Tan Sri Ramon V. Navaratnam writes candidly of his life and times, and the issues that irked him
Bissme S.
TO WRITE in a way that is honest, sincere and not offensive: that is one of the challenges that Tan Sri Ramon V. Navaratnam faced when writing his memoir, My Life and Times: A Memoir.
"I have to constantly review and revise the sensitive political issues that I have highlighted so that it will not cause any misunderstandings," says the 75-year-old father of three and grandfather of four.
The memoir traced his early years as a child during the Japanese Occupation to his college days and his almost 30 years working for the government, the majority of which was as an economist in the Treasury department, including his promotion to deputy secretary-general of the Finance Ministry in 1979 and secretary-general of the Transport Ministry in 1986.
After his retirement in 1989, Ramon took on the job of CEO of Bank Buruh for five years and is currently the corporate adviser to the Sunway Group.
In My Life and Times: A Memoir, Ramon not only wrote about his life but also stated his opinion on many issues considered sensitive – from the abuse of the NEP (New Economic Policy) to the deplorable state of the Tamil schools.
Ramon is ready to face any brickbats and criticisms that are thrown at him with the publication of his memoir. But he says any criticism must be valid. "Anybody who wants to criticise me must do it on a good basis. That means they must find my information inaccurate and that I’m trying to be provocative.
"If I wrote it as a fact and it had a moral to it, then I think I have a right to express my opinion. "
Ramon’s nationalistic sentiment can be found all over the book. "I hate it when people say ‘this can only happened in this country’," he says. "It is as if they are a great wise sage who has travelled all around the world and can make comparative studies.
"It is the same all over the world. Human beings are human beings … they cheat, they lie and they play politics. It is only at different degrees.
"I am really ashamed to learn that there are five million Malaysians who have not registered as voters! These are the same people who will sit down in the coffee shops and criticise the country."
He says that any kind of extremist and racial supremacy views are bad. "You can see what’s happened in Germany and many parts of the world.
"I am afraid of the silent majority. They do not speak up. You tell me how many people speak up in this country."
Ramon hopes his book will provide a little insight on his generation to today’s youngsters.
"Born just before World War II, my generation had struggled and endured the trials and tribulations during the Japanese Occupation," he says.
"Somehow, we survived and moved along as our country moved towards independence. We became the first generation of Malaysians who had the privilege to lay the foundation of independence and the formation of modern Malaysia."
Ramon adds that he is not one for complaining. "Grumbling and complaining, it can be soul destroying. You will become unproductive and negative. My biggest strength is that I never allowed myself to be bitter, angry or negative. I always kept away from those who grumble and complain."
He declares that there is a no greater satisfaction than serving your country. "There are more things in life than money and fame," says this author of economic tomes such as Managing the Malaysian Economy, Malaysia’s Economic Recovery, Malaysia’s Economic Sustainability, and Malaysia’s Socioeconomic Challenges – Winds of Change.
My Life and Times: A Memoir is priced at RM60 and available at major bookstores.
Bissme S.
TO WRITE in a way that is honest, sincere and not offensive: that is one of the challenges that Tan Sri Ramon V. Navaratnam faced when writing his memoir, My Life and Times: A Memoir.
"I have to constantly review and revise the sensitive political issues that I have highlighted so that it will not cause any misunderstandings," says the 75-year-old father of three and grandfather of four.
The memoir traced his early years as a child during the Japanese Occupation to his college days and his almost 30 years working for the government, the majority of which was as an economist in the Treasury department, including his promotion to deputy secretary-general of the Finance Ministry in 1979 and secretary-general of the Transport Ministry in 1986.
After his retirement in 1989, Ramon took on the job of CEO of Bank Buruh for five years and is currently the corporate adviser to the Sunway Group.
In My Life and Times: A Memoir, Ramon not only wrote about his life but also stated his opinion on many issues considered sensitive – from the abuse of the NEP (New Economic Policy) to the deplorable state of the Tamil schools.
Ramon is ready to face any brickbats and criticisms that are thrown at him with the publication of his memoir. But he says any criticism must be valid. "Anybody who wants to criticise me must do it on a good basis. That means they must find my information inaccurate and that I’m trying to be provocative.
"If I wrote it as a fact and it had a moral to it, then I think I have a right to express my opinion. "
Ramon’s nationalistic sentiment can be found all over the book. "I hate it when people say ‘this can only happened in this country’," he says. "It is as if they are a great wise sage who has travelled all around the world and can make comparative studies.
"It is the same all over the world. Human beings are human beings … they cheat, they lie and they play politics. It is only at different degrees.
"I am really ashamed to learn that there are five million Malaysians who have not registered as voters! These are the same people who will sit down in the coffee shops and criticise the country."
He says that any kind of extremist and racial supremacy views are bad. "You can see what’s happened in Germany and many parts of the world.
"I am afraid of the silent majority. They do not speak up. You tell me how many people speak up in this country."
Ramon hopes his book will provide a little insight on his generation to today’s youngsters.
"Born just before World War II, my generation had struggled and endured the trials and tribulations during the Japanese Occupation," he says.
"Somehow, we survived and moved along as our country moved towards independence. We became the first generation of Malaysians who had the privilege to lay the foundation of independence and the formation of modern Malaysia."
Ramon adds that he is not one for complaining. "Grumbling and complaining, it can be soul destroying. You will become unproductive and negative. My biggest strength is that I never allowed myself to be bitter, angry or negative. I always kept away from those who grumble and complain."
He declares that there is a no greater satisfaction than serving your country. "There are more things in life than money and fame," says this author of economic tomes such as Managing the Malaysian Economy, Malaysia’s Economic Recovery, Malaysia’s Economic Sustainability, and Malaysia’s Socioeconomic Challenges – Winds of Change.
My Life and Times: A Memoir is priced at RM60 and available at major bookstores.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Distribution: Etiquette
In efforts to get customers to sign on the dotted line, insurance agents have been reportedly using aggressive tactics to a certain degree, a move regarded by some as lacking business etiquette.
During a series of recent interviews, several people told The Jakarta Post that insurance agents used an “entrapment” approach in attempting to gain new clients.
One private employee who requested anonymity said a male agent came to her boarding house to lend her some DVDs, without her request, on a weekday.
“After a brief chat, he offered me some insurance products. I said no afterwards, but he kept on with his sales pitch,” she said.
The next day the same agent returned, saying he wanted to get his DVDs back — a veiled excuse for him to have a second chance at his sales pitch.
“I ignored his explanation. The product was in fact good, but I didn’t like his way trying to sell it,” she said.
Another would-be customer, Indi, 27, had a similar experience with an overenthusiastic agent last year.
“For about two months, he called me almost every day — sometimes even during office hours, to ask if I wanted to be his customer,” Indi said.
“At first, I was interested. But then I became hesitant ... because of his annoying approach,” she said.
Indi said she did not buy the product, partly because her company already provided her with insurance.
Both the first interviewee and Indi said insurance agents needed to learn and practice business etiquette, since their aggressive approaches would taint their companies’ images.
According to data from the General Insurance Association of Indonesia (AAUI), last year Indonesia’s gross insurance premiums (nationwide) stood at a Rp 23.14 trillion (US$2.6 billion), a 5.7 percent increase from 2008.
One insurance agent who asked to remain anonymous said some sellers forced potential customers to take out insurance policies. However, as a professional agent she did not want to make would-be customers uncomfortable by calling them repeatedly, she said.
“I call them three days after I present my products to them. But if I know they are not interested I will stop,” she said.
Insurance sellers were often forceful with customers because of a general lack of knowledge about the importance of insurance, Indonesian Life Insurance Association chief Evelina Pietruschka said.
“Selling insurance is difficult because many people still underestimate its importance,” she said.
Indonesian Insurance Companies Association chairman Hotbonar Sinaga said it was understandable for each insurance seller to be aggressive in approaching potential customers.
“But sellers must follow etiquette regulated by their own company, for the sake of the their firms’ image,” Hotbonar said, adding that each firm must conduct special training in business etiquette.
During a series of recent interviews, several people told The Jakarta Post that insurance agents used an “entrapment” approach in attempting to gain new clients.
One private employee who requested anonymity said a male agent came to her boarding house to lend her some DVDs, without her request, on a weekday.
“After a brief chat, he offered me some insurance products. I said no afterwards, but he kept on with his sales pitch,” she said.
The next day the same agent returned, saying he wanted to get his DVDs back — a veiled excuse for him to have a second chance at his sales pitch.
“I ignored his explanation. The product was in fact good, but I didn’t like his way trying to sell it,” she said.
Another would-be customer, Indi, 27, had a similar experience with an overenthusiastic agent last year.
“For about two months, he called me almost every day — sometimes even during office hours, to ask if I wanted to be his customer,” Indi said.
“At first, I was interested. But then I became hesitant ... because of his annoying approach,” she said.
Indi said she did not buy the product, partly because her company already provided her with insurance.
Both the first interviewee and Indi said insurance agents needed to learn and practice business etiquette, since their aggressive approaches would taint their companies’ images.
According to data from the General Insurance Association of Indonesia (AAUI), last year Indonesia’s gross insurance premiums (nationwide) stood at a Rp 23.14 trillion (US$2.6 billion), a 5.7 percent increase from 2008.
One insurance agent who asked to remain anonymous said some sellers forced potential customers to take out insurance policies. However, as a professional agent she did not want to make would-be customers uncomfortable by calling them repeatedly, she said.
“I call them three days after I present my products to them. But if I know they are not interested I will stop,” she said.
Insurance sellers were often forceful with customers because of a general lack of knowledge about the importance of insurance, Indonesian Life Insurance Association chief Evelina Pietruschka said.
“Selling insurance is difficult because many people still underestimate its importance,” she said.
Indonesian Insurance Companies Association chairman Hotbonar Sinaga said it was understandable for each insurance seller to be aggressive in approaching potential customers.
“But sellers must follow etiquette regulated by their own company, for the sake of the their firms’ image,” Hotbonar said, adding that each firm must conduct special training in business etiquette.
Indonesia: Insurance
A high savings rate and a market with growing affluence are enough to offset risks of terrorist attacks and natural catastrophe losses in Indonesia, leading insurers to expect the industry will continue to grow with the help by favorable government policies.
Regulatory changes due by the end of 2010 would help both local and foreign insurers further develop the Indonesian insurance industry by increasing capital requirements for insurers, implementing compulsory licensing regulations for all agents and motivating citizens to own their own health insurance policies, said Randy Lianggara, chief executive of Axa Indonesia.
"Our goal is to become the number one player amongst joint ventures companies in Indonesia by 2012," said Lianggara. "We will continue to capitalize on our strong distribution networks of our joint venture partner and focus on growing our sales force to reach out to the Indonesian population."
Lianggara said the minimum level of capital required for both life and general insurers will increase from 40 billion rupiah (US$4.4 million) by the end of 2010 to 100 billion rupiah by the end of 2012. "This regulation will make insurance companies who wish to enter the market think thoroughly before entering," he noted.
In 2010, the Indonesian government will also implement a compulsory licensing regulation for all agents, and unlicensed agents will be unable to sell or distribute insurance products. "By this regulation, agents can no longer work for more than two insurance companies at the same time," said Lianggara, who is also in charge of Axa's Indonesian life business.
The Indonesian government also expects all citizens to own health insurance policies by 2014; this includes a 2011 deadline for all employees and 2012 for all self-employed, said Lianggara.
Although Indonesia has been targeted by terrorist attacks and experienced significant natural catastrophe losses in recent years, Lianggara said "our Indonesia business did well," claiming Axa's new business index was up 71% to 1.5 trillion rupiah in 2009, from 878 billion rupiah in 2008.
"Overall, it is a country with an increasing affluent market, high savings rate and low life insurance penetration," he said. "Therefore, we are confident that we will continue to expect growth."
Market Opportunities
Indonesia has a population of 220 million. Its total insurance penetration rate [premiums as a percentage of gross domestic product] in 2008 was 1.3%. Of that, life insurance was 0.9% and nonlife was 0.4%, according to a Swiss Re sigma report.
As of the first quarter of 2010, life insurance gross premiums in Indonesia reached 17.53 trillion rupiah, up 31.5% from 13.32 trillion rupiah in the correspondent period of 2009. First-quarter market penetration was 1.63%, compared with 1.55% in the first quarter of 2009, according to the Indonesia Capital Market and Financial Institutions Supervisory Agency.
In a diverse Asian market such as Indonesia, the mix of insurance distribution channels is better than a "one-size-fits-all" model, according to consultancy Deloitte.
Lianggara said Axa Indonesia's strategy is to leverage multidistribution channels, including tied agents, salaried sales force and tele- and direct marketing, to gain a strong foothold in the market.
The company has done business in Indonesia since 1995. It has four business operations, including PT Axa Mandiri Financial Services, a bancassurance partnership with the largest domestic lender, Bank Mandiri. The others include PT Axa Life Indonesia; PT Axa Financial Indonesia; and PT Axa Asset Management Indonesia.
"We are now running one of the most profitable bancassurance channels with Bank Mandiri, which has 1,000 branches and more than 10 million customers," said Lianggara. "[Our] shareholders' return on equity has been averaging in excess of 50% since our partnership in 2003. We achieved break-even after two years of operation, and by the fourth year, our shareholders' capital investment was fully repaid."
The bancassurance partners have started tele- and direct marketing with the bank's large credit customer base in 2009. Lianggara said this segment today is one of Axa Indonesia's fastest-growing channels, "contributing 19% to our new business index growth in the first quarter of 2010."
"From a business perspective, we would be able to create economies of scale from the Axa Group and Bank Mandiri's operations locally, regionally and globally," he said.
Other insurers such as Asuransi AIA and Prudential plc, are selling products in collaboration with domestic banks. As of 2008, 19 life insurers and seven nonlife insurers had partnered with banks, selling a total of 131 different products through 27 banks, said Deloitte in a report.
Takaful Openings
In countries with high or growing Muslim populations, such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, banks are teaming up with insurance companies to provide an increasingly wide array of Islam-compliant finance and takaful products, Deloitte noted.
Consultancy Ernst & Young said the global takaful market grew 29% to US$5.3 billion in contributions in 2008, and is expected to surpass US$8.8 billion in 2010 (BestWire, May 4, 2010).
Axa Indonesia has seen a huge potential to tap into the takaful market as Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world, said Lianggara, who added the insurer is distributing Shariah (Islamic law) products and services across more than 300 branches of Bank Syariah Mandiri, a subsidiary of Bank Mandiri.
The company offered its Islamic unit-linked products that are investing in takaful mutual funds and managed by Mandiri Manajer Investasi, an asset management company of Bank Mandiri, in June last year.
"For year ending 2009, these products contributed 226 billion rupiah or 30% of our new business index, which is quite substantial," said Lianggara, who added the company will continue to grow this sector by leveraging on the distribution of its bancassurance partner.
In addition, as a company with a French parent, AXA Indonesia started a distribution partnership with Carrefour, a leading French supermarket, at the end of 2009 to distribute its customer insurance products through its kiosk in the supermarket. It said it now has access to 29 out of the total 42 branches of the supermarket through this partnership.
For the year ended March 31, 2010, Axa Indonesia reported growth of 205% on its new business index to 545 billion rupiah, from 178.8 billion rupiah at March 31, 2009.
Regulatory changes due by the end of 2010 would help both local and foreign insurers further develop the Indonesian insurance industry by increasing capital requirements for insurers, implementing compulsory licensing regulations for all agents and motivating citizens to own their own health insurance policies, said Randy Lianggara, chief executive of Axa Indonesia.
"Our goal is to become the number one player amongst joint ventures companies in Indonesia by 2012," said Lianggara. "We will continue to capitalize on our strong distribution networks of our joint venture partner and focus on growing our sales force to reach out to the Indonesian population."
Lianggara said the minimum level of capital required for both life and general insurers will increase from 40 billion rupiah (US$4.4 million) by the end of 2010 to 100 billion rupiah by the end of 2012. "This regulation will make insurance companies who wish to enter the market think thoroughly before entering," he noted.
In 2010, the Indonesian government will also implement a compulsory licensing regulation for all agents, and unlicensed agents will be unable to sell or distribute insurance products. "By this regulation, agents can no longer work for more than two insurance companies at the same time," said Lianggara, who is also in charge of Axa's Indonesian life business.
The Indonesian government also expects all citizens to own health insurance policies by 2014; this includes a 2011 deadline for all employees and 2012 for all self-employed, said Lianggara.
Although Indonesia has been targeted by terrorist attacks and experienced significant natural catastrophe losses in recent years, Lianggara said "our Indonesia business did well," claiming Axa's new business index was up 71% to 1.5 trillion rupiah in 2009, from 878 billion rupiah in 2008.
"Overall, it is a country with an increasing affluent market, high savings rate and low life insurance penetration," he said. "Therefore, we are confident that we will continue to expect growth."
Market Opportunities
Indonesia has a population of 220 million. Its total insurance penetration rate [premiums as a percentage of gross domestic product] in 2008 was 1.3%. Of that, life insurance was 0.9% and nonlife was 0.4%, according to a Swiss Re sigma report.
As of the first quarter of 2010, life insurance gross premiums in Indonesia reached 17.53 trillion rupiah, up 31.5% from 13.32 trillion rupiah in the correspondent period of 2009. First-quarter market penetration was 1.63%, compared with 1.55% in the first quarter of 2009, according to the Indonesia Capital Market and Financial Institutions Supervisory Agency.
In a diverse Asian market such as Indonesia, the mix of insurance distribution channels is better than a "one-size-fits-all" model, according to consultancy Deloitte.
Lianggara said Axa Indonesia's strategy is to leverage multidistribution channels, including tied agents, salaried sales force and tele- and direct marketing, to gain a strong foothold in the market.
The company has done business in Indonesia since 1995. It has four business operations, including PT Axa Mandiri Financial Services, a bancassurance partnership with the largest domestic lender, Bank Mandiri. The others include PT Axa Life Indonesia; PT Axa Financial Indonesia; and PT Axa Asset Management Indonesia.
"We are now running one of the most profitable bancassurance channels with Bank Mandiri, which has 1,000 branches and more than 10 million customers," said Lianggara. "[Our] shareholders' return on equity has been averaging in excess of 50% since our partnership in 2003. We achieved break-even after two years of operation, and by the fourth year, our shareholders' capital investment was fully repaid."
The bancassurance partners have started tele- and direct marketing with the bank's large credit customer base in 2009. Lianggara said this segment today is one of Axa Indonesia's fastest-growing channels, "contributing 19% to our new business index growth in the first quarter of 2010."
"From a business perspective, we would be able to create economies of scale from the Axa Group and Bank Mandiri's operations locally, regionally and globally," he said.
Other insurers such as Asuransi AIA and Prudential plc, are selling products in collaboration with domestic banks. As of 2008, 19 life insurers and seven nonlife insurers had partnered with banks, selling a total of 131 different products through 27 banks, said Deloitte in a report.
Takaful Openings
In countries with high or growing Muslim populations, such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, banks are teaming up with insurance companies to provide an increasingly wide array of Islam-compliant finance and takaful products, Deloitte noted.
Consultancy Ernst & Young said the global takaful market grew 29% to US$5.3 billion in contributions in 2008, and is expected to surpass US$8.8 billion in 2010 (BestWire, May 4, 2010).
Axa Indonesia has seen a huge potential to tap into the takaful market as Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world, said Lianggara, who added the insurer is distributing Shariah (Islamic law) products and services across more than 300 branches of Bank Syariah Mandiri, a subsidiary of Bank Mandiri.
The company offered its Islamic unit-linked products that are investing in takaful mutual funds and managed by Mandiri Manajer Investasi, an asset management company of Bank Mandiri, in June last year.
"For year ending 2009, these products contributed 226 billion rupiah or 30% of our new business index, which is quite substantial," said Lianggara, who added the company will continue to grow this sector by leveraging on the distribution of its bancassurance partner.
In addition, as a company with a French parent, AXA Indonesia started a distribution partnership with Carrefour, a leading French supermarket, at the end of 2009 to distribute its customer insurance products through its kiosk in the supermarket. It said it now has access to 29 out of the total 42 branches of the supermarket through this partnership.
For the year ended March 31, 2010, Axa Indonesia reported growth of 205% on its new business index to 545 billion rupiah, from 178.8 billion rupiah at March 31, 2009.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Leadership: Lesson 101
1: Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me alone.
2: The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and a leaky radiator.
3: It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.
4: Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.
5: Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.
6: Never test the depth of the water with both feet.
7: If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.
8: Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
9: If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is probably not for you.
10: Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day .
11: If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably a wise investment.
12: If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.
13: Some days you're the bug; some days you're the windshield.
14: Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
15: The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.
16: A closed mouth gathers no foot.
17: Duct tape is like 'The Force'. It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.
18: There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.
19: Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving .
20: Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
21: Never miss a good chance to shut up.
22: Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
2: The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and a leaky radiator.
3: It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.
4: Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.
5: Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.
6: Never test the depth of the water with both feet.
7: If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.
8: Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
9: If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is probably not for you.
10: Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day .
11: If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably a wise investment.
12: If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.
13: Some days you're the bug; some days you're the windshield.
14: Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
15: The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.
16: A closed mouth gathers no foot.
17: Duct tape is like 'The Force'. It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.
18: There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.
19: Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving .
20: Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
21: Never miss a good chance to shut up.
22: Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Turtles, Frogs and Pretty Ladies
The Turtles
A turtle family decided to go on a picnic. The turtles, being naturally slow about things, took seven years to prepare for their outing. Finally the turtle family left home looking for a suitable place. During the second year of their journey they found a place ideal for them at last!
For about six months they cleaned the area, unpacked the picnic basket, and completed the arrangements. Then they discovered they had forgotten the salt. A picnic without salt would be a disaster, they all agreed. After a lengthy discussion, the youngest turtle was chosen to retrieve the salt from home. Although he was the fastest of the slow moving turtles, the little turtle whined, cried, and wobbled in his shell. He agreed to go on one condition: that no one would eat until he returned. The family consented and the little turtle left.
Three years passed and the little turtle had not returned. Five years...six years... then on the seventh year of his absence, the oldest turtle could no longer contain his hunger. He announced that he was going to eat and begun to unwrap a sandwich. At that point the little turtle suddenly popped out from behind a tree shouting, 'See! I knew you wouldn't wait. Now I am not going to go get the salt.'
Some of us waste our time waiting for people to live up to our expectations. We are so concerned about what others are doing that we do not do anything ourselves.
The Frogs
A farmer came into town and asked the owner of a restaurant if he could use a million frog legs. The restaurant owner was shocked and asked the man where he could get so many frog legs! The farmer replied, 'There is a pond near my house that is full of frogs - millions of them. They all croak all night long and they are about to make me crazy!' So the restaurant owner and the farmer made an agreement that the farmer would deliver frogs to the restaurant, five hundred at a time for the next several weeks.
The first week, the farmer returned to the restaurant looking rather sheepish, with two scrawny little frogs. The restaurant owner said, 'Well.... where are all the frogs?' The farmer said, 'I was mistaken. There were only these two frogs in the pond. But they sure were making a lot of noise!'
Next time you hear somebody criticizing or making fun of you, remember, it's probably just a couple of noisy frogs. Also remember that problems always seem bigger in the dark. Have you ever laid in your bed at night worrying about things which seem almost overwhelming like a million frogs croaking? Chances are pretty good that when the morning comes, and you take a closer look, you'll wonder what all the fuss was about.
The Pretty Lady
Once upon a time a big monk and a little monk were traveling together. They came to the bank of a river and found the bridge was damaged. They had to wade across the river. There was a pretty lady who was stuck at the damaged bridge and couldn't cross the river.
The big monk offered to carry her across the river on his back. The lady accepted. The little monk was shocked by the move of the big monk. 'How can big brother carry a lady when we are supposed to avoid all intimacy with females?' thought the little monk. But he kept quiet.
The big monk carried the lady across the river and the small monk followed unhappily. When they crossed the river, the big monk let the lady down and they parted ways with her. All along the way for several miles, the little monk was very unhappy with the act of the big monk. He was making up all kinds of accusations about big monk in his head. This got him madder and madder. But he still kept quiet.
And the big monk had no inclination to explain his situation. Finally, at a rest point many hours later, the little monk could not stand it any further, he burst out angrily at the big monk. 'How can you claim yourself a devout monk, when you seize the first opportunity to touch a female, especially when she is very pretty? All your teachings to me make you a big hypocrite.
The big monk looked surprised and said, 'I had put down the pretty lady at the river
bank many hours ago, how come you are still carrying her along?'
This very old Chinese Zen story reflects the thinking of many people today. We encounter many unpleasant things in our life, they irritate us and they make us angry. Sometimes, they cause us a lot of hurt, sometimes they cause us to be bitter or jealous. But like the little monk, we are not willing to let them go away. We keep on carrying the baggage of the 'pretty lady' with us.
We let them keep on coming back to hurt us, make us angry, make us bitter and cause us a lot of agony.Why? Simply because we are not willing to put down or let go of the baggage of the 'pretty lady'. We should let go of the pretty lady immediately after crossing the river. This will immediately remove all our agonies. There is no need to be further hurt by the unpleasant event after it is over
A turtle family decided to go on a picnic. The turtles, being naturally slow about things, took seven years to prepare for their outing. Finally the turtle family left home looking for a suitable place. During the second year of their journey they found a place ideal for them at last!
For about six months they cleaned the area, unpacked the picnic basket, and completed the arrangements. Then they discovered they had forgotten the salt. A picnic without salt would be a disaster, they all agreed. After a lengthy discussion, the youngest turtle was chosen to retrieve the salt from home. Although he was the fastest of the slow moving turtles, the little turtle whined, cried, and wobbled in his shell. He agreed to go on one condition: that no one would eat until he returned. The family consented and the little turtle left.
Three years passed and the little turtle had not returned. Five years...six years... then on the seventh year of his absence, the oldest turtle could no longer contain his hunger. He announced that he was going to eat and begun to unwrap a sandwich. At that point the little turtle suddenly popped out from behind a tree shouting, 'See! I knew you wouldn't wait. Now I am not going to go get the salt.'
Some of us waste our time waiting for people to live up to our expectations. We are so concerned about what others are doing that we do not do anything ourselves.
The Frogs
A farmer came into town and asked the owner of a restaurant if he could use a million frog legs. The restaurant owner was shocked and asked the man where he could get so many frog legs! The farmer replied, 'There is a pond near my house that is full of frogs - millions of them. They all croak all night long and they are about to make me crazy!' So the restaurant owner and the farmer made an agreement that the farmer would deliver frogs to the restaurant, five hundred at a time for the next several weeks.
The first week, the farmer returned to the restaurant looking rather sheepish, with two scrawny little frogs. The restaurant owner said, 'Well.... where are all the frogs?' The farmer said, 'I was mistaken. There were only these two frogs in the pond. But they sure were making a lot of noise!'
Next time you hear somebody criticizing or making fun of you, remember, it's probably just a couple of noisy frogs. Also remember that problems always seem bigger in the dark. Have you ever laid in your bed at night worrying about things which seem almost overwhelming like a million frogs croaking? Chances are pretty good that when the morning comes, and you take a closer look, you'll wonder what all the fuss was about.
The Pretty Lady
Once upon a time a big monk and a little monk were traveling together. They came to the bank of a river and found the bridge was damaged. They had to wade across the river. There was a pretty lady who was stuck at the damaged bridge and couldn't cross the river.
The big monk offered to carry her across the river on his back. The lady accepted. The little monk was shocked by the move of the big monk. 'How can big brother carry a lady when we are supposed to avoid all intimacy with females?' thought the little monk. But he kept quiet.
The big monk carried the lady across the river and the small monk followed unhappily. When they crossed the river, the big monk let the lady down and they parted ways with her. All along the way for several miles, the little monk was very unhappy with the act of the big monk. He was making up all kinds of accusations about big monk in his head. This got him madder and madder. But he still kept quiet.
And the big monk had no inclination to explain his situation. Finally, at a rest point many hours later, the little monk could not stand it any further, he burst out angrily at the big monk. 'How can you claim yourself a devout monk, when you seize the first opportunity to touch a female, especially when she is very pretty? All your teachings to me make you a big hypocrite.
The big monk looked surprised and said, 'I had put down the pretty lady at the river
bank many hours ago, how come you are still carrying her along?'
This very old Chinese Zen story reflects the thinking of many people today. We encounter many unpleasant things in our life, they irritate us and they make us angry. Sometimes, they cause us a lot of hurt, sometimes they cause us to be bitter or jealous. But like the little monk, we are not willing to let them go away. We keep on carrying the baggage of the 'pretty lady' with us.
We let them keep on coming back to hurt us, make us angry, make us bitter and cause us a lot of agony.Why? Simply because we are not willing to put down or let go of the baggage of the 'pretty lady'. We should let go of the pretty lady immediately after crossing the river. This will immediately remove all our agonies. There is no need to be further hurt by the unpleasant event after it is over
Friday, July 2, 2010
Embrace Failure For Success
The fear of failure has been a hindrance to many potential success stories, Lotus 1-2-3 designer Mitchell Kapor said today.
Kapor stressed that the United States’ famed Silicon Valley is not a formula to be copied blindly. Instead, it is important to understand how to successfully apply the same principles, which is to embrace failures and to learn from mistakes.
“If we’re not going to take risks, we’ll never going to get started,” Kapor said when giving a lecture on “Innovation & Entrepreneurship” in Shah Alam today.
In addition to Lotus 1-2-3, Kapor was the first chairman of the Mozilla Foundation and a member Wikimedia Foundation advisory board apart from being made the honorary adviser in Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Selangor.
“It is important to understand that societies can encourage innovation and encourage the entrepreneurs if there are favourable conditions to it,” he added.
Kapor highlighted the importance of promoting science, technology, engineering and medicine fields of studies.
He also said investment in affordable broadband would contribute to the growth of interest in entrepreneurship.
With the worldwide users of virtual entertainment such as World of Warcraft and Second Life, Kapor expressed his vision to have the convenience of having a face-to-face conversation with avatars, instead of being present physically.
Kapor stressed that the United States’ famed Silicon Valley is not a formula to be copied blindly. Instead, it is important to understand how to successfully apply the same principles, which is to embrace failures and to learn from mistakes.
“If we’re not going to take risks, we’ll never going to get started,” Kapor said when giving a lecture on “Innovation & Entrepreneurship” in Shah Alam today.
In addition to Lotus 1-2-3, Kapor was the first chairman of the Mozilla Foundation and a member Wikimedia Foundation advisory board apart from being made the honorary adviser in Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Selangor.
“It is important to understand that societies can encourage innovation and encourage the entrepreneurs if there are favourable conditions to it,” he added.
Kapor highlighted the importance of promoting science, technology, engineering and medicine fields of studies.
He also said investment in affordable broadband would contribute to the growth of interest in entrepreneurship.
With the worldwide users of virtual entertainment such as World of Warcraft and Second Life, Kapor expressed his vision to have the convenience of having a face-to-face conversation with avatars, instead of being present physically.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Distribution Model
The distribution channels for the insurance market in Asian countries are diversifying, according to research released by Boston-based research and consulting firm Celent.
The report notes that life insurance companies in many Asian markets have previously depended on individual agents as their main sales channel. However, the market share of this channel is decreasing, while that of banks is growing every year. In its new report, “Distribution Trends in the Asian Insurance Market,” Celent says that Asian insurance companies are moving away from a sales model that is built around agents, developing a diverse model that encompasses various channels such as agents, banks, direct sales, and financial advisers.
Although the level of development of bancassurance varies with different countries and regions in Asia, insurance sales through the banking network are becoming a common trend. In some Asian markets, the premium income for new life insurance businesses generated via banks has exceeded the traditional model of selling via individual agents.
"In some Asian markets, telemarketing has become the next big thing after the selling of insurance through banks," says Wenli Yuan, senior analyst with Celent's Asian Financial Services Group and author of the report. "A growing number of insurance companies in Asia are collaborating with organizations with huge customer databases, such as banks and public utilities departments, to reach out to their customers through database marketing. Simple and low-premium insurance products such as household property insurance, accident insurance, and health insurance are promoted through this channel."
Besides insurance-linked factors such as the maturity of the insurance market, customers' preferences for special insurance products, staff quality, market competition, and different pricing policies for different channels, the market share of the distribution channels is also influenced by factors such as the local economy, the culture, and the banking sector, as well as the regulation of the financial sector. Although Asian insurance distribution channels are diversifying, the potential share of each channel varies greatly based on the market. In addition to providing an overview of general trends, the Celent report looks at distribution channels in mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and India.
The report notes that life insurance companies in many Asian markets have previously depended on individual agents as their main sales channel. However, the market share of this channel is decreasing, while that of banks is growing every year. In its new report, “Distribution Trends in the Asian Insurance Market,” Celent says that Asian insurance companies are moving away from a sales model that is built around agents, developing a diverse model that encompasses various channels such as agents, banks, direct sales, and financial advisers.
Although the level of development of bancassurance varies with different countries and regions in Asia, insurance sales through the banking network are becoming a common trend. In some Asian markets, the premium income for new life insurance businesses generated via banks has exceeded the traditional model of selling via individual agents.
"In some Asian markets, telemarketing has become the next big thing after the selling of insurance through banks," says Wenli Yuan, senior analyst with Celent's Asian Financial Services Group and author of the report. "A growing number of insurance companies in Asia are collaborating with organizations with huge customer databases, such as banks and public utilities departments, to reach out to their customers through database marketing. Simple and low-premium insurance products such as household property insurance, accident insurance, and health insurance are promoted through this channel."
Besides insurance-linked factors such as the maturity of the insurance market, customers' preferences for special insurance products, staff quality, market competition, and different pricing policies for different channels, the market share of the distribution channels is also influenced by factors such as the local economy, the culture, and the banking sector, as well as the regulation of the financial sector. Although Asian insurance distribution channels are diversifying, the potential share of each channel varies greatly based on the market. In addition to providing an overview of general trends, the Celent report looks at distribution channels in mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and India.
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