Fail To Plan

"If you fail to plan, you plan to fail" - author unknown

How many times have you set goals and did not accomplish anything at the end of the day? Is it because your targets were too ambitious? Maybe, but let's say they were realistic. Then, what went wrong? After setting your goals, did you set up a plan to achieve your goals? If the answer is no, then chances are that your goals were just mere dreams or illusions.

When you were in school, you probably wanted to do well in your studies and pass exams. You did not plan to fail. Your plan was to study hard, do your home work, attend classes and ask questions. That helped you graduate and get the necessary qualifications to get a decent job. As you enter the workforce, you probably wanted to show your employer that you are a good worker. You start planning to climb the corporate ladder. Do you notice the similarities, whichever stage of your life you are at? When you decide to start your own business, it all boils down to careful and meticulous planning. No banks or venture capitalist will loan you any funds if you do not have a business plan.

If you do not plan to fail, start planning for your future now.

Life's Challenges

Life always seem like an uphill challenge, especially when you are facing a hurdle after another. But that is because we tend to see things from the bottom. Try changing your perspective. Look at things from the top. It will then be a more enjoyable, smoother and fun ride downhill all the way.

Do Something Wonderful

"Do something wonderful, people may imitate it." - Albert Schweitzer

After a long and tiring day out with the kids, my wife finally got the chance to settle down on the sofa. We switched on the television and began what has became second nature, that is, channel surfing. Watching dinosaurs come alive in a museum was not really our type of movie, so we moved on. By chance, we stumbled upon a charity show called TrueHearts organised by Community Chest of Singapore. It was a fundraiser event for needy Singaporeans.

It has been a while since we last watched any charity events on tv. The negative news of the old NKF scandal a few years ago and the more recent news linked to a venerable monk who headed the Ren Ci charity fund and hospital had dampened our confidence. As a result, we tend to be more cautious towards any fund raising activities. How do I know if the organisation or the people running it are trustworthy? How do I know that the money I donate are used properly for the people who deserve it? These are basic questions that come to mind when such negative news happen in a supposedly "clean" country like Singapore. There are always bad apples around. We just need to weed them out.

There will always be people around who believe that it is worth doing what is right, especially for others who deserve help. And I believe this is what drives organisations and people to keep on serving the community. And when you believe that someone is doing the right thing, there is a tendency for you to follow their steps. Watching the fund raising show on television must have triggered something in my wife's mind. She just popped out her phone and dialled the 1900 number shown on the screen. That was a small deed but it was started but someone who did something wonderful.

Have you done something wonderful?

Value Of Life

"It is not what you get, but what you become." - Jim Rohn

When you achieve the goals that you set, the important outcome is not about the goal. Whether you set a goal to have your first million or to setup a charity, at the end of the day, you will realise that it is not just about reaching your goals. Think of what you have gone through to get what you want. Probably you would have started learning how to run a business on your own, how to read financial statements, how to sell your services, how to negotiate, etc. It takes time to reach your goals. The process that you go through is definitely more valuable, as these form part of your lifelong learning skills.