Learning From The Street

You can learn something useful from anyone.
Whenever we find ourselves ignoring someone because we’ve already determined that they aren’t “smart” enough to say something meaningful, we’ve made a big mistake. Besides being presumptuous and arrogant, this mindset blocks out every useful thing the other person might pass along. Instead of just listening and mining the conversation for nuggets of wisdom, we allow our pre-existing bias to brand everything as  “not smart enough for me.” Incredibly bad idea. I’ve yet to meet someone who couldn’t teach me something.

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If quality slips, it really doesn’t matter how good your ideas were.
The most ingenious design plans, no matter how many brains contributed to them, can fatally falter in the execution phase if quality slips.  This is equally true for intangible plans.  Imparting greatness requires a continuum of effort and attention, not just an initial brain-fueled flurry to get exemplary ideas on paper.

Don’t ever let a bully intimidate you – not even once.
Now, some might say this one is too dogmatic because it’s possible to allow a bully to intimidate you in the short term so you can get the upper hand in the long term. But the best advice I ever received about this came from a retired truck driver who said, paraphrasing, “When you let a bully intimidate you, the bully doesn’t necessarily win, but you definitely lose.” What he meant was, you lose upstairs where the loss takes a progressively worse toll on your psyche. Yes you can recover from that, but it’s going to take a lot more effort to bring your self-esteem up to par again than if you’d stood your ground to begin with. Reasonable people can differ on this, of course, but I think it’s sound advice.

Reciprocity is the name of the relationship game and always will be.
If you can’t find it in yourself to return a favor, or give back more than you got when someone helped you out of a bind, then you are relationship handicapped. While this may seem like basic intuitive logic (and it is), it’s amazing how often it’s ignored.  While relationships shouldn’t be tit for tat arrangements, the underlying willingness to reciprocate—even if it’s really hard to do—must be there for the relationship to grow and flourish. None of us are one-way streets.

Learning is good; Doing is better.
Well, ok, this one is a little bit on the nose.  Learning is more than good – it’s essential. Learning is the elixir that makes the human brain the most powerful organic decision-making and problem-solving tool on the planet.  The main point here (passed on to me by a former co-worker) is that there’s a certain magic in doing that many people simply miss out on. You can learn a lot about car engines, but until you get under the hood and work on one, you can’t see just how remarkable an invention these machines we take for granted truly are.  That’s one example of thousands, but the same principle applies.

Kindness isn’t optional.
Kurt Vonnegut famously said, “There’s only one rule that I know of… you’ve got to be kind.”  Why do some people just “get” this while others find being kind a chore? Personally, I think it has a lot to do with our need to feel right, and an attendant unwillingness to consider that maybe we really aren’t right, and it’s not worth treating another person unkindly to prove whatever point is on the table. Besides that, being unkind is illogical because it only incites unkindness aimed at you, and who wants that?

You can survive anything (assuming it doesn’t physically kill you).
More than one person has said something like this to me, and I think it’s dead on right.  Often it’s rumination about how we won’t survive this or that calamity that really gets us. But usually we can find the inner reserves to overcome just about anything, and will probably surprise ourselves that we pulled it off.  I’m not saying it won’t hurt like hell, or bring us to our very brink, but we usually give ourselves far too little credit for being able to overcome difficulty.

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Money is important, but experience is invaluable.
I honestly can’t recall where I first heard this but I’m putting it on this list anyway because I think it’s really important. When you buy something, you’ll enjoy that thing for awhile, but our in-built tendency toward habituation will eventually assert itself and the thing will become yet another thing we own. When we invest in experience, however, we are buying memories, and new learning, and new ways of thinking, and a whole lot more.  Those are things that become part of who we are, and no physical item can touch that dollar for dollar.

Just be ready.
We’ll end with a nice bit of simple logic. Just be ready…for anything. Quoting that inestimable philosopher, Mike Tyson, “Everyone has a plan – until they get punched in the face.”  Exactly.  So be ready to get punched in the face, and then refer back to #7 on this list.

Why We fail Desite Ourselves

Like Yoda said, you just don’t believe it. 
The crucial part of Yoda’s dialogue with Luke is “believe.”  The human brain is a powerful problem-solving and prediction making machine, and it operates via a multitude of feedback loops. What matters most in the feedback loop dynamic is input — what goes into the loop that begins the analysis-evaluation-action process, which ultimately results in an outcome. Another way to say that is — why would you expect a convincingly successful outcome when you haven’t convinced yourself that it’s possible?

Other people have convinced you of your “station.”
I’ve always thought the “know your station in life” idea to be among the most pernicious we humans have ever come up with.  What’s more pernicious than the idea itself is that it’s often heaved upon us by other people, and they convince us that we are what we are and we’d better just live with it because, well, that’s what we’ll always be. 

You don’t want to be a distrupter
Disruption is perceived as a threat to our threat-sensitive brains. Disruption means that consistency, stability and certainty might get jettisoned for a time, and that puts our hard-wired internal defense system on high alert. Sometimes, though, you have to override the alarms and move ahead anyway.  If you never do, you’ll never know what could happen.

You think, “what if I die tomorrow?”
We all think this from time to time.  And you know what, sure, any of us might die tomorrow — all the more reason not to waste time thinking about it and hamstringing yourself from going after what you want to achieve.  Would you rather die as a monument to mediocrity or as someone who never quit striving?  Which leads to the next one…

You wonder how you will be remembered.
The rub here is simply that, if you “die tomorrow,” will people remember you as someone who clung to stability like an existential life preserver — and is that what you really want?  I know for a fact that many people do want exactly that, because it’s a comfortable niche to occupy on the obituary page.  ”She/he was a good person, good friend, good….”  Good is fine, but it ain’t great. You can’t strive for great achievements by dropping anchor in Goodville.  My take on this is: it’s OK to wonder how you’ll be remembered, but don’t let thoughts of “good and nice and stable” effect that all important feedback loop, because if you do your brain will be happy to oblige with lots of good and little else.

You think there must be a pre-established role for your life, and you might be screwing with  it.
This one also touches on the “station” idea discussed above, but it goes deeper than that. We want to believe there’s a reason for everything, and that everything has a prime mover — an agent, whether human or otherwise. So, we think, what if there’s a reason we are what we are — what if celestial agency has determined it so?  The error in thinking here is clear — agency is a figment our brains rely on to manage difficulty with as little trauma as possible. The first thing to do is recognize that, and then recognize that the role for your life has only one true agent — You.

Your career appears to be well-established and that’s good…right?
Well, maybe that’s good, sure.  The question becomes, is “established” what you really want?  Maybe it is, and that’s cool. But if “established” means you can’t reach beyond certain imposed parameters to achieve anything else that you truly want, then maybe it isn’t so useful after all.  Like most things, this is a personal choice and it doesn’t have a right or wrong answer.  But it’s worth acknowledging that you may very well be “establishing” yourself out of greater achievements.

You are afraid of losing what you have built.
A totally legitimate fear, and one we should kick out of our perspectives as quickly as possible.  Here’s one example why:  Remember this little thing we’ve been suffering through for sometime now called a recession?  Remember how many people lost all or nearly all they’d “built” during these last few years of economic erosion? The reality is, you can lose everything in a heartbeat through no fault of your own, so why allow that fear to stop you from reaching out for what you really want?  This goes in the same basket as “I could die tomorrow.”  Yes, true, we can lose, we can die. So what? Push forward.

You think, “maybe I’ve hit my ceiling.” 
The proverbial “ceiling” — so long have ye been with us, and yet so little have ye given us.  I side with the late great Peter Drucker who said -  if you reach a point in your career where you think you won’t progress any further, then start focusing on the next part of your life.  Actually, he added, you should start thinking about the next part of your life well before you begin it.  The point is, forget about ceilings and focus on achievement. When you start using the cultural shibboleth of the ceiling as an excuse, you are achieving nothing and will continue to do just that.

Confusion about where to go.
Of all of these 10 ideas, this one is to me the most difficult because it plagues me almost constantly. Gearing up the cerebral feedback loop for achievement is one thing, but without a sense of focus and direction, all of that energy isn’t going to yield very much in the end.  My experience has been that sometimes you have to let the energy flow for a while without too firm a sense of direction and see if focus emerges organically. Once it does, you can then nurture it into a more structured method for getting where you want to go.

Climbing Corporate Ladder

1. Ask questions instead of making a statement

When you lead in with a question you give someone the opportunity to immediately disagree with you. Instead, put your idea out there first. Be courageous about the thing you most want to achieve and make everyone understand it. Eg: I strongly think we should implement this strategy and here are three reasons why.

2. Avoid negotiation

Good negotiation is a communication. Go into every negotiation knowing exactly what you want to come out with. Don't be afraid to promote your value and your worth. Be clear, upfront and decisive.

3. Tolerate jerks

We often put up with someone or a situation far longer than we should. Do this for too long and we run the risk of exploding. You don't have to be unkind to the person who treats you badly; you just have to set boundaries. Be honest about how much you can achieve and offer the person choices. For example, "I am happy to do that for you but with the resources I have available it will take me this much time".

4. Act like a financial ostrich

We often say "I don't need to be rich I just want to be comfortable". That's usually because we separate the idea of doing good work and getting paid well. You need to aim for having enough money to live your life the way you want, free from concerns about anything. Also, always keep your hand in the money pot at home. Know exactly how much money comes in and comes out. You always need to know what's going on.

5. Forgetting that you have to compete to win

Aim high. True workplace gains are made on the edge of the boundaries. Learn the rules of your organisation and look beyond them if you want to succeed.

6. Perfect perfection

Know when good enough is good enough. Don't fuss over something. Get it out, get it done and move on.

7. Volunteering

Don't offer to organise anything that has a low pay-off for you either professionally or personally. Only volunteer for things that are close to your heart or high profile. Any work you do must get you in front of the decision makers.

8. Over-explain

As an adult there is no reason for you to justify why you need something. We often try and fill the silences with apologies to soften our message. Don't do that. Use an economy of words. Example: I need to take Friday off for personal reasons. If you need anything done before then please let me know and I will arrange to take care of it.

Also, engage more in active listening.

9. The tiara syndrome

Don't expect praise for your work. Always present a business case for what you want and what you set out to achieve. Don't just expect to be handed a tiara for your efforts.

Sun Life Malaysia

Sun Life Malaysia made its grand entrance into the Malaysian insurance community today with its celebratory launch at a reception held at The Westin Kuala Lumpur.

Sun Life Malaysia consists of Sun Life Malaysia Assurance Berhad and Sun Life Malaysia Takaful Berhad, the renamed CIMB Aviva Assurance Berhad and CIMB Aviva Takaful Berhad entities purchased by Sun Life Financial Inc. (Sun Life) and Khazanah Nasional Berhad (Khazanah) from Aviva International Holdings Limited and CIMB Group Holdings Berhad (CIMB Group).

The launch comes just four months after completion of the RM1.8 billion (C$602 million) acquisition in April this year. Sun Life and Khazanah each own 49 per cent and CIMB Group retains a two per cent share.

With the launch of Sun Life Malaysia, Sun Life Financial now has operations in seven Asian markets and builds on a history in the region that reaches back 120 years. It is also a significant launch for Khazanah and is its first entry into the insurance sector.

Under the new partnership, Sun Life Malaysia has the exclusive right to distribute takaful and life insurance products through CIMB Bank's network of 312 branches and eight million customers across the country.

Naming Trustee Under Life Insurance

Policy owners and insurance companies have an inevitable headache looming, as they scramble to make sure they comply with a new rule which stipulates that policy owners can no longer name themselves as the trustee to their life policies. This applies to both new and existing policies. 

Under Schedule 10 of the new Financial Services Act 2013 (FSA), which came into force on July 1, 2013, it is stated that policy owners "may appoint any person other than himself to be trustee of the policy moneys". (This wasn't the case under the previous Insurance Act 1996).

In the past when a person buys a life policy and names his spouse or kids as a beneficiary, he would usually appoint himself as the trustee. But because of the change in the law, they can no longer do so. Potential problems may occur in situations where the spouse of the policy owner doesn't want to be appointed the trustee and their children, as beneficiaries, have yet reach the legal age of 18 years.

If the policy owner dies and his children are still minors, the policy moneys would automatically be held by Amanah Raya Bhd (as the country's public trustee) until the children reach 18 years of age or unless there is a competent trustee available to take over.

Changing Need For Insurance

Increasing inflation, shift to nuclear families, and the fast track change in life style patterns throw a financial challenge which can be addressed only by life insurance. Your financial plan needs to be in sync with your life stage, and the requirements that are specific to a particular stage of life. The need for life insurance coverage changes as you enter a new stage of life and the same amount of coverage may not be sufficient with this change. So whenever your life stages change, you need to re-evaluate your need for life insurance coverage.

1. Single with dependent parents:
If you are single and you have financially dependent parents, then you need to take life insurance even before your engagement. You cannot compare yourself with other singles whose parents are not financially dependent. You are in a unique life stage. In case of any accident, your parents should not financially suffer. Keeping this in your mind, you need to take required life insurance coverage.

2. Newlywed:
When you are married, the need for life insurance increases. You need to cover yourself with adequate life insurance in order to financially protect your spouse. The right time for you to take the first policy is as soon as you get engaged.

3. Entering parenthood:
You need to increase your life insurance coverage when you are blessed with a baby. You are responsible for the financial well being of the child, his or her higher education and wedding. As a responsible parent, you need to protect your child's future with adequate life insurance coverage. As soon as your wife's pregnancy is confirmed, you need to re-evaluate your need for life insurance.

4. Acquire a new home:
Whenever you buy a new home on mortgage, your outstanding liability goes up. In case of any eventuality to you, this financial burden falls on your family. So as to place your family in financial comfort, you need to take enough life insurance which covers the outstanding loan, maintenance of the property and property taxes to be paid. This coverage will make your new home a happy and peaceful home.

5. Job promotion:
Job promotion results to increased income and this paves the way to a better lifestyle. Your family needs this increased income in order to maintain that new lifestyle. As you need to protect your family's new lifestyle, you need to re-evaluate your life insurance requirement.

6. New debt:
All your debts like car loan, personal loan need to be covered with an insurance policy. Whenever you apply for a loan, you need to increase your life insurance coverage. You need to make sure that you are leaving assets for your family and not the outstanding loans as liabilities.

7. Children education:
Policies on life of growing children especially those studying for expensive courses like engineering or medical or MBA's from India or abroad since money outgo is fairly large

8. Changes in marital status:
If your marital status changes because of death of your spouse or divorce, then you need to rework your life insurance requirement. The reason that, your family is solely depends on you now. Also you need to make necessary changes in the nomination of the existing policies in which you have nominated your spouse.

9. Business liabilities:
If you are a businessman, then your business liabilities are also an important factor in determining your life insurance coverage. All your trade debts and business loans are need to be adequately covered with insurance coverage. This will help especially when it is not a family business. Also insurance policies cannot be attached in case a decree is passed against a judgment debtor and it helps creation of a protection fund.

10. Post retirement:
After your retirement, you do not earn. So there will not be any financial loss for the family in case of any mishappening to you. So all your insurance policies can be closed or cancelled on your retirement. During your working life, whatever the policies you take, you need to make sure that the policy matures or closes on or before your retirement.

In a nutshell, understanding the life stage in which you are presently in, and taking the life insurance coverage that suits your life stage, gives you and your family a peaceful mind.

Anti-Cheating Helmet

Photographs posted to a Bangkok’s Kasetsart University alumni Facebook page appears to show students wearing a “helmet”, which consist of a piece of paper wrapped around the head and pieces of paper stapled to either side.

Kasetsart University is a public university, ranked one of the best in Thailand and with a focus on agriculture, food, technology and innovation.

The low-tech anti-cheating helmet invention doesn’t look sophisticated, but would function like horse blinkers and prevent wearers from glancing to the side — which should prevent any sneaky peeks at neighbours’ answers.

And it seems the anti-cheating helmet has caught on, with Weerachai Phutdhawong, a University of Agricultural Sciences associate professor, posting photos of several versions on Facebook.

One design resembles a cardboard box, with a hole cut out for the neck and one side removed, so that wearers can see.

But another version has only a small slit cut out for the eyes, to limit vision even further.

In February this year, the Thai Education Ministry on Wednesday asked the Department of Special Investigation to investigate suspected cheating in its teacher recruitment examination.

And claims of widespread cheating in a national police exam was alsoinvestigated by the Royal Thai Police Office (RTPO).