growing in adversity

6 months ago, i was hit by a tsunami. looking back, it was akin to taking up the challenge of a 42km run without any practice sessions.

as the saying goes, no pain no gain. i wouldn't have realised how much i've grown if not for the catch up session with my ex-colleagues. most of them were complaining about their bosses and have got accustomed to their growing nonchalant attitude towards work. their comments brought me back to those days when i would sit and despair daily over my meaningless work.

i left them 10 months ago and athough i've been more unhappy than before, ironically i've been growing through the daily avalanche of work. interestingly, one of them actually commented about how blessed i was when i announced my decision to quit!

my growth rate had been exponential. it has been a period of self discovery - knowing my limits, needs and wants. in fact, i'm getting much more than i've expected. the initial euphoria of a fat pay cheque is over. with new found knowledge about myself, the 2nd half of the year will be used to chart my next crest of growth.

escaping from reality

holidaying in vietnam has been on my mind for weeks. work has been consuming me... but just when i was trying to brush off thoughts of escaping from reality, someone just asked me about my vietnam trip at toastmasters last night.

is this a sign that i should start planning to let my hair down? the humid weather, busy traffic and the living conditions don't really matter as the warmth from my vietnamese friends more than make up for the shortcomings about the place.

if i get a chance to travel again, here are the list of things i wanna do:

1) get a suntan

2) explore the streets on foot

3) enjoy a cuppa at the sidewalk cafe

4) travel to halong bay

5) take a boatride to revisit mekong river

6) crossing the busy roundabouts on my own

nailing down a date is tough but am planning to squeeze out 1 week to reward myself before the year ends.

Get to the POINT!

Nowadays, I will always either hint or boldly say out loud that i need you to summarize your thoughts in point form - simply crystallize it for easy understanding. most importantly, SAVE TIME ppplsss...

Many jobs can be done quickly if you can simply stop telling all the sob stories and get on with the main point.

Get to the point! imagine how much time we can save. unnecessary meetings can be avoided. higher productivity can be achieved. some pple just don't realise their mistakes. they talk around the problem instead of tackling the crux of it. perhaps it's the upbringing or a bad habit that is acquired from those around them. does saying little mean that you are incapable?

why am i so impatient?

maybe the job has molded me to become like what i am today. i'm by nature, a task oriented person who is only keen to complete the tasks on hand and frequently, i had unknowingly disregarded their feelings.

the damage will only be clear when i look back and observe their facial expressions. for most pple, they chose to remain silent. some assertive ones will quickly express their displeasure outrightly.

maybe i don't listen enough. i jump to conclusions or assume wrongly. it takes alot of patience and wisdom to be a good listener. whenever i find someone who displays such qualities, he earns my respect instantly. i feel good that someone cares. the world needs more pple who listen and less impatient pple like me.

beggars can't be choosers

the important lesson i've learnt today...

"leveraging on the situation to extract benefits to further our own cause"

though this is not new, having the practical experience surpasses reading all books and theories based on this strategy.

What a breakthrough in my learning journey today!

With the bargaining chip in our hands, the ball is in our court. what's next? planning the next step would be easy. afterall, their long term survival is dependent on our green light. sad to say, beggars can't be choosers.

District Contest

The mood was sombre. The situation became tense. We waited with abated breath for the District Contest to begin at AIA Changi, a yearly event where the best congregate. The onlooking crowd was almost a hundred strong.

The contest ended on a high note when Guan Hau and Daniel clinched the first runner up award for both categories, missing the first place by the skin of the teeth! Both fought all odds and emerged as the champion from the Area Club Contest to get to where they are today. The top winners get a chance to fly to Hong Kong to compete on an international platform where the cream la cream will vie for the most coveted award in August.

As a saying goes, you reap what you sow. Lots of practice coupled with hard work had to be invested to become the best. This was evident in selection of the winners for the contest. The most senior contestant was again handpicked by the panel of judges to represent Singapore. Clearly, our club winners are still not there yet but they are fast molding themselves to become better by active club visits and participation. To be at the pinnacle of success, it starts from a small seed of desire - a passion to want to do well in public speaking.

Every baby step taken by participating in club contests paves the way for greater success towards the international platform. My random chat with past contestants reaffirms the same point. Without stretching yourself, you will never experience growth.

If there is fear within you that is stopping you from participating, you are not alone. Many have chosen to take the bull by its horns and face the fear. The fear factor can be overcome. For a start, try out table topics and speaking off the cuff! Try taking your first step in a prepared speech and listen out for constructive feedback. The fear of losing face will be pale in comparison to the growth pace you will soon experience. The helpfulness of our toasties will encourage you to do better each time. Begin to uncover the speaking abilities that you already have and learn new ones.

“It does not matter how much time we have, but how we spend it.”

This was the table topic question posed to the contestants. In some sense, it caused me to reflect on my past achievements and review the road ahead if I have limited time. One of the important goals is to experiencing personal growth by going out of my comfort zone. This is an addictive path that I tread on to measure my self worth and accomplishments.

Have you found the source of energy that will spur you on? FRET NOT! The upcoming humorous speech contest in late August will give you a chance to display your wittiness. Organised by yours truly, I sincerely hope you will take up the challenge thrown at you to emerge the winner. Make our club stronger. More importantly, start clocking your achievements to begin the journey of self discovery.

it's not easy

have u ever been caught sandwiched between opposing sides, trying to get both parties to understand one another?

imagine doing it for a living...

the toughest part is having to be firm and not be swayed by the reasoning of the opposing party. many a times, they have a relevant point of view and i ended up sympathising with them and compromising my own beliefs, sacrificing the very people who are counting on me to speak up for them.

my team are silent individuals who see themselves from a lower hierarchy, feeling unfit and unconfident to speak their minds. often, i feel as though i'm standing alone in the battlefield.

where's my arsenal? where's the chatter and banter that everyone is so accustomed to behind close doors? when can you people stand up for your own cause?

i've to act firm when i'm actually not aggressive. i've to think of innovative ways to solve the situation while facing veterans who are trying so hard to force me into a corner. i'm always hard pressed for time. i see faces of villians who are trying to twart my progress. some have funny and out of the box thinking that is hard to comprehend. relationships are strained. to maintain harmony, i've to seek a compromise that is pleasing to all.

the many rounds of meetings have stretched me beyond my wildest imagination. it's growth in the midst of adversity and it's a high price to pay. i'm still treading on the path less travelled. at times, it's unbearable. but sometimes things take a drastic 180 degrees turn for the better.

reached home with a exhausted mind... 4 hours of heavy duty, marathon meeting.

when will this end?

a day well spent!

a break will truely be considered a good holiday if i can totally forget about the troubles brewing back at home.

today, i made my first trip to malaysia via the new checkpoint. gosh... the impressive structure made me feel as though i'm taking a flight out of sg. perhaps the fines that singaporeans paid have been put to good use!

the man-made waterfall, high ceilings and clear directional signs are all so reminscent of our local airport. cruising through the checkpoint with ease and comfort has brighten up my day! :)