"Oppa...Gangnam Style"

Dear Friends,

By now you would have heard of the YouTube hit "Oppa...Gangnam Style". If you have not where have you been? I first heard it on the radio and the phrase was catchy but I did not know what it meant. Then a friend told me what it was, a video hit from South Korea. The singer who write, produced and starred in the YouTube video is an unlikely, nerdy and paunchy singer. The music video has a very catchy tune, interesting dance choreography and it was funny.

It was only when I read the Sunday Times on 2nd September (page 36), that I realized that it was also a song that was making a socio-political statement. Please read the article for the detail.  Gangnam is a district in Seoul where the rich and famous live. It represents a lifestyle that most people who are materialistic would want to have. But it also creates a distaste for for people who dislike such a lifestyle. "Gangnam Style means pretentious display of wealth" (Sunday Life). Gangnam also symbolises success. Gangnam represents an interesting perspective between success and materialism. How do you choose between the two? I would like to share my views about the subject.

Well, my take on this has always been to live within your means. Don't be jealous of others or chase after material things. You can be successful and be grounded by doing what you do well and living within your means. If you earn $5,000 a month salary make sure you live a $4,000 lifestyle and save and invest the $1,000. If earn $1,000 than live a $900 lifestyle and save $100. If your salary is $10,000 a month and you live a $15,000 lifestyle than you are in trouble. You will have a deficit of $5,000. How are you going to pay that off? Think carefully. Do you want to enjoy your life with little worry or are you going enjoy the extra $5,000 then worry for the next month on how you are going to pay it off? Do you want that additional stress or do want to enjoy life and get what you want by planning for it? If you save $1,000 a month you will have $12,000 at the end of the year and you can have a nice holiday or buy something for $5,000 and save the rest and at the end of next year you will have $19,000. In 10 years you will have $70,000 in the bank if you only took $5,000 from the $12,000 you save. If you had invested in a dividend paying stock, your capital may increase to even higher amounts if you have chosen the right amount. It si OK to aspire for expensive things but it should not be an overwhelming  priority that neglect your values and people who love and care about you.

I recently walked into one of my favorite brands called E.Z. (for short). I saw a polo shirt that cost more that $1,000. While I love the brand and the cutting is really nice and the material really soft, I told myself I could buy 20-30 such Polo-Shirts under lesser known name for the next 5 years. I would invest in a jeans from E.Z. when it is on SALE but never at full price. Shirts and T-Shirts can be of a lesser known brand. I don't need to show others that I my worth by wearing expensive brands from top to toe. All us have a choice. From the money you save you could allocate some money for Charity on a monthly basis.

Stay grounded no matter how rich and famous you become. Appreciate and treasure people-family and friends. You can always earn money but it is difficult to repair damaged relationships. Don't chase material things. It will come to you when you do things right and you do the right things.

Now here is the link to the YouTube hit "Oppa...Gangnam Style"- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bZkp7q19f0

Enjoy!

Cheers,
Mark

Discover the 90/10 Principle by Stephen Covey-Part 2-Applying It

Hi Friends,

Since I last published the "Discover the 90/10 Principle by Stephen Covey" blog post, I have been trying to practice what I preach and follow what Stephen Covey advised. I must say that it feels really good and I feel a lot calmer and happier.

Why? Because I have forced myself to react calmly to situations. Though I am still impatient and still get angry, it happens less often and my relationship with people has really improved. For example, I do not honk at drivers who cut into my way when I drive. I just give way to them even though I have the right of way. My blood pressure remains normal and I do not get frustrated. When I get into an argument, I try to understand the other person and if it makes the person feel good by venting their anger ,so be it. I remain calm and cool.

As the principle states, you can't control how others react but you can control how you respond to a situation.

I urge, you to pass this principle by Stephen Covey to your friends and family members. I am certain you will see a positive change. If you have not read the principle - Discover the 90/10 Principle by Stephen Covey, see my previous blog entry.

In addition, I have also embarked on YOGA & MEDITATION. If you want to know more about Yoga & Sports please read my other blog http://www.exercise2energize.blogspot.sg/. The application of above principle and Yoga has definitely helped me and I am sure it will help you feel better and stronger mentally, physically and emotionally.

Have a Great Day!

Cheers,
Mark

Discover the 90/10 Principle by Stephen Covey

For your reading pleasure to lead a better life. 


A friend sent this to me and I thought that I should post this on my blog. If there is one thing that this blog can help, it would be this principle. We can literally change our life for the better by applying this principle to our lives from this moment on.....
Discover the 90/10 Principle

by: Stephen Covey

"It will change your life (at least the way you react to situations).

What is this principle? 10% of life is made up of what happens to you. 90% of life is decided by how you react. What does this mean? We really have no control over 10% of what happens to us.

We cannot stop the car from breaking down. The plane will be late arriving, which throws our whole schedule off. A driver may cut us off in traffic.

We have no control over this 10%. The other 90% is different. You determine the other 90%. How? …By your reaction. You cannot control a red light. but you can control your reaction. Don't let people fool you; YOU can control how you react.

Let's use an example.
You are eating breakfast with your family. Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto your business shirt. You have no control over what just happened. What happens next will be determined by how you react.

You curse.
You harshly scold your daughter for knocking the cup over. She breaks down in tears. After scolding her, you turn to your spouse and criticize her for placing the cup too close to the edge of the table. A short verbal battle follows. You storm upstairs and change your shirt. Back downstairs, you find your daughter has been too busy crying to finish breakfast and get ready for school. She misses the bus.

Your spouse must leave immediately for work. You rush to the car and drive your daughter to school. Because you are late, you drive 40 miles an hour in a 30 mph speed limit.

After a 15-minute delay and throwing $60 traffic fine away, you arrive at school. Your daughter runs into the building without saying goodbye. After arriving at the office 20 minutes late, you find you forgot your briefcase. Your day has started terrible. As it continues, it seems to get worse and worse. You look forward to coming home.

When you arrive home, you find small wedge in your relationship with your spouse and daughter. Why? …. Because of how you reacted in the morning.

Why did you have a bad day?

A) Did the coffee cause it?
B) Did your daughter cause it?
C) Did the policeman cause it?
D) Did you cause it?

The answer is "D".
You had no control over what happened with the coffee. How you reacted in those 5 seconds is what caused your bad day.

Here is what could have and should have happened. 

Coffee splashes over you. Your daughter is about to cry. You gently say, "Its ok honey, you just need to be more careful next time". Grabbing a towel you rush upstairs. After grabbing a new shirt and your briefcase, you come back down in time to look through the window and see your child getting on the bus. She turns and waves. You arrive 5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff. Your boss comments on how good the day you are having.

Notice the difference? Two different scenarios. Both started the same. Both ended different.

Why? 

Because of how you REACTED. You really do not have any control over 10% of what happens. The other 90% was determined by your reaction.

Here are some ways to apply the 90/10 principle. If someone says something negative about you, don't be a sponge. Let the attack roll off like water on glass. You don't have to let the negative comment affect you!

React properly and it will not ruin your day. A wrong reaction could result in losing a friend, being fired, getting stressed out etc.

How do you react if someone cuts you off in traffic? Do you lose your temper? Pound on the steering wheel? A friend of mine had the steering wheel fall off) Do you curse? Does your blood pressure skyrocket? Do you try and bump them? WHO CARES if you arrive ten seconds later at work? Why let the cars ruin your drive?

Remember the 90/10 principle, and do not worry about it. You are told you lost your job.

Why lose sleep and get irritated? It will work out. Use your worrying energy and time into finding another job.

The plane is late; it is going to mangle your schedule for the day. Why take outpour frustration on the flight attendant? She has no control over what is going on.

Use your time to study, get to know the other passenger. Why get stressed out? It will just make things worse. Now you know the 90-10 principle. Apply it and you will be amazed at the results. You will lose nothing if you try it. The 90-10 principle is incredible. Very few know and apply this principle.

The result? 

Millions of people are suffering from undeserved stress, trials, problems and heartache. We all must understand and apply the 90/10 principle.

It CAN change your life!!!" 

"The Green Thing"

This story below is so true. We have created the mess that the world is suffering from. From Industrialization to Modernization to Globalization, we are responsible for the Environmental problems. Some may say it is a necessary evil but we can help reduce the problems by being a little self-aware of how we use and abuse our resources example- use of water, air-conditioner, driving the car to the mall instead of taking public transport, leaving electric appliances on when they can be switched off and the list goes on. 


Here is a heartwarming story to enlighten the case about global warming. And, yes....don't make old people mad.

"In the line at the supermarket, the young cashier told an older woman that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment.

The old woman apologized to him and explained, "We didn't have the green thing back in my day."

The young cashier responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment."

He was right - our generation didn't have the green thing in its day.

Back then, we returned milk bottles, soft drink bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled. But we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks. But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.

Back then, we washed the baby's nappies because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 240 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that old lady is right; we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen almost the size of the wall.

In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.

Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We either used a push mower that ran on human power, or we use manual sickle.

We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she's right; we didn't have the green thing back then.

We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled fountain pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. But we didn't have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the tram or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their mothers into a 24-hour taxi service.

We had one power point in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances.

And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.

But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?

Please forward this on to another selfish old person who needs a lesson in conservation from a smart-ass young person.

Remember: Don't make old people mad.

When we get mad we use logic!"

Give me a sense of humor. Lord, Give me the grace to see a joke, to get some humor out of life, and pass it on to other folks."

Everyday Heroes!

Dear Friends,

It is always nice to know when somebody puts their money where their mouth is. Talk is cheap. And there are people who do charitable deeds for fame or to promote their business. I especially like Celebrities like David Beckham, Tiger Woods, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga (Born this way Foundation), Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Will Smith, who gave to charity because they became famous as a result of the man or woman in the street or students watching their shows in the theaters, watching their concert or soccer game or buying their jerseys, etc. They need to give back to society because with them who will watch their show or buy their products.

"Everyday Heroes" throws up group of ordinary individuals who make a difference to lives of others right here in Singapore. They share what they have and that is important. They may not have millions of dollars. But they have a million dollar heart. Watch the show "Everyday Heroes" which premiers 17th May2012 (Thursday) at 9pm. You will realize that people with simple backgrounds can make a difference.

May the show move more individuals come forward to serve society and make this world a better place! Do your part to help those in need of help! Be inspired by these heroic individuals.

Love All, Serve All.

Best Regards,

Mark

Stop Complaining How Bad Your Life is!

Hi Friends,

If you are one of those who like to keeps complaining how difficult life is and how life is unfair, I hope this story about the 25 year old Italian Footballer will make you cry and stop you feeling sorry for yourself. You should count yourself lucky to even be able to complain ( read my blog entry prior to this entry "You are Blessed").

Stop Complaining!

I watched the news about this incident last weekend and this story appeared in New Paper today (16/4/2012) Piermario Morosini was gifted footballer who died of heart attack while playing football (Soccer for Americans) on 14/4/2012, last Saturday in the 2nd Division Italian League for Livorno (On loan from Udinese a Division 1 club) against Pescara, It was only after the incident that the real story of Morosisni tragic family background came to light.

-orphaned at 17 years of age.
-gifted player who represented his country at every level from under 17 to 21.
-but his senior career did not take off.
-had a handicapped brother and sister
-shortly after his father died his brother committed suicide leaving only his sister.
- according to people who knew him he was a gentle soul with a sad face according to his coach.

Despite all this he persevered to become a good footballer so that his parents will be proud of him. Though his soccer career was going nowhere he kept trying until the heart attack robbed him of his dream. But I respect him for trying. I watched the news where he tried to get up at least two times before his collapsed the third time and had to be brought to hospital where he died.

I respect him for trying so hard despite carrying the burden of his family's tragedy. I wished he had received more help. Well, now with his death, his club Udinese has promised to take care of his handicapped sister.

So, stop complaining. Take Charge of your life. Do something with the life you have. And remember to help others. You could make a difference to someone else's life and you will be blessed.

The World Needs More Loving and Kind People!

http://helpyourselfnhelpothers.blogspot.com/2010/11/world-needs-more-loving-and-kind-people.html

God Bless Piermario Morosini!

Take Care! Love All Serve All.

Regards,
Mark

You are Blessed!

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, 

you are more blessed than the million people who will not 

survive the week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, 

the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture or 

the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million 

people around the world.

 If you attend a church /temple/mosque meeting without 

fear of harassment, arrest, or torture of death, you are 

more blessed than almost three billion people in the world.

If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, 

a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than

75% of this world.

  

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change 

in a dish some place, you are among the top 8% 

of the world's wealthy.

If your parents are still married and alive, you are very rare, 

even in the United States.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are 

truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority of us can, 

but most do not.

If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over 

two billion people in the world that cannot read anything at all.

When you compare our day to day problems with 

bigger problems around the world our troubles may 

not seem so large.

We are all truly blessed!

Give me a sense of humor. Lord, Give me the grace to see a joke, to get some humor out of life, and pass it on to other folks.