Brainy Quote

Sunday, April 6, 2008

You Are the CEO of Your Company: "ME Inc."

Many people have said that they would like to be a BOSS running their own company. But many of us do not realise that we are our own company. How well do you run "Me Inc"? Many of us will say, I never looked at it that way while others would reply .....we have managed "Me Inc poorly. You would probably want to turn back the clock. But the fact of the matter is you can't.

First and foremost you need to run "ME Inc" well before you can run ABC Company well.

In "ME Inc.", you are the Managing Director, CEO, GM, Marketing & Sales Director, Accountant, Receptionist, Office Boy, etc. So you need to run each department in your "Me Inc" company well just like you world a regular comapany. You will also have to balance your accounts well and have a budget if you want better control of income and expense.

You need to think like a boss, act like a boss, train yourself so that you get better at what you do, market yourself, conduct business development (i.e. network), pay yourself before you pay other like the bank, government, etc, have health checks so that you can work with a peace of mind, the liat goes on. It is not hard work becuase you are already doing it. Being aware will only help you operate more effiiciently.



My wife sent me this quote which thought was apt for the above subject matter:


"One day all the employees reached the office and they saw a big advice on the door on which it was written:'Yesterday the person who has been hindering your growth in this company passed away.


We invite you to join the funeral in the room that has been prepared in the gym'.In the beginning, they all got sad for the death of one of their colleagues, but after a while they started getting curious to know who was that man who hindered the growth of his colleagues and the company itself.The excitement in the gym was such that security agents were ordered to control the crowd within the room.The more people reached the coffin, the more the excitement heated up.Everyone thought: 'Who is this guy who was hindering my progress?


Well, at least he died!'.One by one the thrilled employees got closer to the coffin, and when they looked inside it they suddenly became speechless. They stood nearby the coffin, shocked and in silence, as if someone had touched the deepest partof their soul.There was a mirror inside the coffin: everyone who looked inside it could see himself.There was also a sign next to the mirror that said: 'There is only one person who is capable to set limits to your growth: it is YOU.You are the only person who can revolutionize your life. You are the only person who can influence your happiness, your realization and your success.


You are the only person who can help yourself.Your life does not change when your boss changes, when your friends change, when your parents change, when your partner changes, when your company changes. Your life changes when YOU change, when you go beyond your limiting beliefs, when you realize that you are the only one responsible for your life.'The most important relationship you can have, is the one you have with yourself'Examine yourself, watch yourself. Don't be afraid of difficulties, impossibilities and losses: be a winner, build yourself and your reality.The world is like a mirror: it gives back to anyone the reflection of the thoughts in which one has strongly believed.The world and your reality are like mirrors lying in a coffin, which show to any individual the death of his divine capability to imagine and create his happiness and his success. It's the way YOU face Life that makes the difference."



So take charge of your life. Make positive changes to the way you live your life. You will be happy and you will be able to live a more fruitfull life.



Don't Worry! Be Happy! :-)



Mark Fernandaz

Monday, March 17, 2008

Save The Earth

We are all neighbours in this world whether we accept it or not. We only separated by distance. This world we live in is our home. Hence, what each one of us does in some ways affects others indirectly without us realising it. Pollution has been a major problem since "Industrial Revolution" and it has been exacerbated by technological advancement. Though technology attempts to curb or reduce pollution, the problem seems to far outstrip progress made through technology.


The reason for this is, we are far more concerned about our selfish needs that that we ignore the environment. We want fast cars, we want to travel around the world, we smoke, we do not recycle things, we waste paper by photocopying unnecessary stuff, we waste electricity & water, we buy clothes, shoes, etc., that we do not require, and the list goes on. And this writer is also guilty of some of these things.


Our weather system has also gone out of control. The recent snow storm in China where many could even make back to their hometown for Chinese New Year. In Singapore, there has been unusual period of rainy weather in March when usually it is in November and December when it used to be rainy. Malaysia had unusually high volume of rain that caused huge amount of damage and displaced thousands from their homes. In some parts of Australia, the weather has been so hot it has been causing large bush fires. These are just some minor examples of chaotic weather which is caused by our irresponsible action through the years.


So what can we do?


1) Each one has to take responsibility for our actions. It is up to each one us to make the difference. Governments can only do so much and some governments in the name of National interests refused to sign the "Kyoto Agreement" (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).




2) Recycle things. It can be plastic bags, bottles, printed paper, clothes, shoes, CDs, laptops & PCs, etc. Somebody may have a use for it. There are more and more places with recycling bins. Use them.

There organizations such as "Salvation Army" that collect used things if you don't want them. If you have no use for shoes, clothes, toys, etc let somebody else have it. You will make them happy and you will save the environment as the item is being used rather than destroyed which adds to the pollution.

You can bring your own marketing bags when you go supermarket shopping. Many of us can down the use of plastic bags significantly. Make recycling a way of life.


3) Leave your car and take public transport such as buses and trains whenever you can. With oil prices sky rocketing it will save you a lot of money by traveling by public transport. Moreover, it gets frustrating to drive as our roads have traffic jam almost every day. If we can reduce energy consumption we can significantly reduce "Green House Gas" (GHG) emissions.




4) Teach your children the virtues of recycling and about saving the environment. You have to set a good example before you can expect others to follow and children are the best people to start with as they are our future.




"Ms Edna LeShan, a legendary American Psychologist and author of over 20 books on parenting, once made a statement that has now become famous: “The only way to raise a decent human being is being one.”

Children learn by observation and imitation, so a parent’s actions, values, beliefs and expressions slowly become a part of the child’s too."

(From Mind Your Body page 16, Oct 17 2007)



5) Increase the temperature of the air con to between 22 to 25 degree in your home and office and you will save quite a bit of money. I am sure we have worked in offices where we had to wear two of three layers of clothes. This affects productivity of staff with such work environment. The money that is saved by the company can be given away as bonus for staff.


6) Find and use new sources of cleaner energy such as Solar Power, Wind, Water (steam), etc.



Remember, if we all can work together and do our part, we can make a difference. We will have cleaner air to breathe, fall sick less often, have more predictable weather (as opposed to freakish weather), more savings, and a better place for us to live in for ourselves and the future generation.

Save Mother Earth!



Warmest regards,

Mark Fernandez.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Resolutions for 2008?

This is a favourite subject of mine. You need goals/targets/objectives to keep you focussed on what you want out of life. Hence, "Resolutions" are a great way to achieve your goals much like how companies try to achieve revenue and profit goals. Don't just think of "New Year Resolutions" because you will forget them after a week ot two. Write them down.

Its now February 2008. The Year of the Rat is here. How many of you are still at it...I mean trying to achieve your goals? How many of you out there have written them down. Or have you forgotten your so called New Year Resolutions?



Let me make a suggestion. Make Resolutions for 2008, not new year resolutions because the year is still with us. You are supposed to write them down and look at them at least once or twice a week. Place a copy in your wallet, in your PDA, in your PC/laptop, etc. I keep a book and I have been able to see which goals I have achieved and they have worked for me and which I need to continue to work on.



What are some of the goals you can set?



1) Lose weight-By how much? 5kg? 10kg? What steps are you going to take? Join a gym? Run 3x a week for half and hour? Swim? Cycle? Play Tennis? Eat healthier? Don't diet. Eat only what you require. Too much of anything is bad. Cut down on Alcohol? A beer or two is fine but to drink till you throw up or have a hang over...that is sad. Common on grow up. Remember, there are people out there who can't even get decent meal. Donate some of the money to "World Vision" or "Children's Society". By cutting down alcohol binging, you can help the poor by donating that money and it will go some way to help you reduce your weight becuase you will reduce adding useless calories into your body and your liver does not have to work overtime.

Remember, you need a combination of exercise routine and good eating habits to bring your weight down.



2) Become a Better Person- How?
"Become more Patient, Courteous and Friendly"? Say "Hello" to your neighbours. Say "I love you" to your Boyfriend /Girlfriend /Husband /Wife /Children /Parents. "Have a more Positive Outlook of Life"? Analyse your thoughts and actions. Ask yourself..."Am I a Good Person"? Yes....Really? Be honest. Ask yourself -"Am I a Good Husband, Son, Father, Colleague, a friend"? Everybody has weaknesses so everybody has to work at becoming a better person.



3) Save more and Invest more-What are you going to do to achieve this goal? Save 10 to 15% or more of your salary. You must be deciplined about it. Learn to invest by reading books and attending talks. Always make informed decisions so that you protect your hard earned money. Find a good financial adviser who can guide you. Set a retirement fund so that you can look after yourself when you are in your 60s and 70s. Don't wait till you are 50 to start the retirement fund. Don't live on credit. Pay all your bills on time. The interets on credit card balances are high and they are not to be taken lightly. As long as you live within your means you can save quite a bit.



4) Be more Charitable- Look around the house. You probably have things that you have bought but never used. The extra pairs of shoes, handbag, golf clubs, toys for your kids, clothes, foodstuff, etc. If you can donate a share of your income someone else can benefit from your kindness.



Look at the football players in England. The likes of Joey Barton, Wayne Rooney, David Beckham, Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerad, Frank Lampard, Ronaldo, etc are earning about Singapore $300,000 a week. Do they need that kind money? No. They are good players but are they worth that much? No. What do they do? Buy 5 or 10 cars worth about S$150,000 each or more. Live in a palaces. Some of them organise parties that for football groupies so that they can take advantage of them and vice-versa. Is this really necessary? There is more than enough to go around only if can share some of our wealth around instead of being wasteful. My personal role model is Kaka of AC Milan and Brazil. He is good example of good football player and a man with a good heart.



5) Other Resolutions- Stop Whining, Be more Confident, Learn Speed Reading, Learn Another Language like French or Italian, Improve your Value in the Company, Clean up the House, and the list goes on.



Important thing about "Resolutions" is that you write them down and be diciplined about it. Tell your friends and family to help you. You may not achieve all your resolutions in 2008 but if you priortise and work at it you will have a pretty good chance of achieving some of them.



Good Luck!



Mark