Dr.Dave: Curiousity Cures!

Renewal - A week in review

I'd have to admit that the past few days were a test of physical and mental endurance as I was working long hours being part of some amazing training programs (and i made a freaking beautiful manual cover!). Plus I was 'trying' to balance my work life with social activities but in the end, I was over exerting myself.

The lowest part of the week came on Friday. Going to work with a lack of sleep, a nasty cough and over worrying about small problems.. and the fact I had to take care of two concurring events really sucked my mental energy. I told myself, it was just the lack of sleep that was getting me down. So Saturday I woke up 630am to go back to work. There was a team building workshop that day and i had to go to office early to print some last minute stuff. I told myself that today would be a fun-filled day full of laughter and energy...and that's what I got. The workshop conducted today by my colleague Gary set a new standard in his training style. Oh yah, the food was tasty dispite eating the last parts (oh man. im getting hungry now). We ended 1 hour and a half last (730pm!) so was out there by 8pm. Travelling back in a white merc taxi with my manager, I had a sense of contentment and calmness - the week was done.

But that's not where the night ended. I had NLP coach training with a great group of indivual at my office. Even though I arrived late..and got the butt of all the Canadian jokes (shows that i'm popular) I still was alert and cheerful when the training ended at 230AM!! Afterwards we had supper outside at the usual prata shop. Good times. Good times.

It was indeed a fun...and long day.

TODAY

I told myself, "Sunday is relaxation day. I choose not to do any thing work related even though I have tons of pressing matters."

And relaxation is what I got. I woke up 1230pm, went swimming and to sauna. Then had meeting with my Skill Builder Group. Then went to play trumpet with my colleague, friend and highly skilled trainer Ramesh in the office. I brought my trumpet from Canada and it was the 1st time i used it here in Singapore. So naturally i was super super pleased. I love playing music. I love music and i will make it a bigger part of my life...and my career. I got lots of ideas!

And to end the weekend, I spent the evening reading "The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari" by Robin Sharma ...my daily dose of inspiration and enlightment, and a hilarious phone conversation with my funny girl about her drunken Saturday night adventure in KL...silly girl.

Next week...is more relaxing...and the few weeks after that...super kwazy. So must store of up energy and manage time better.

Labels: NLP, Robin Sharma, ups and downs

Posted by Dr.Dave at 11:07 PM | Permalink | Comments  

Can I rant? ...Ok I am going to.

Have a become cynical of AIESECers? It's election time here in AIESEC in Singapore, which only means one thing - election speeches. And upon hearing election speeches from the leadership candidates. Today I heard TWO kind of speeches: 'The Good S#iT' and the 'Full of $hit' speeches. Perhaps it's my experiences in Toastmasters, and in the "grounded' working world, but so many speeches in Aiesec are just full of empty promises and overused ideals (improving society, making more life-changing experiences). Yah i know Aiesecers can't help talking like this, it's in our organisation's culture to talk this way; however, if one wants to really connect with an audience use stories of personal hardships. Stories illustrate points beautifully and eloquently.

And I have to rant about how in (in)efficient AIESEC is here in Singapore...(and in Canada a bit...and the globally of course) The formalities of elections (ie. speeches, and voting) of candidates all which ran unopposed took WAY WAY too long. Ok let me explain why I this annoys me.

1. Time is Precious. Especially in the working world, every second is (hopefully) used efficiently...and we wish we had more of it...way more of it. To students (yes i can relate), time is something which is used without consideration for other non-students.
   
2. A disrespect for keeping to the schedule. Ok from Toastmasters I've learned that if you start late because you're waiting for people, is that it is very disrepectful for the guests who may have other plans after the meeting. In AIESEC, we never start nor end on time, this causes huge frustrations for me because it is inconsiderate and show unprofessionalism.

Why am i frustrated? Well, the fact the I'm using up so much energy for ranting is because I really care about AIESEC, even as an intern. I'm sure many other trainees share the same frustrations I do plus more, but we stay involved because we all believe that the young AIESECers will learn these life skills just like I have and still am.

Yes I agree that this frustration is not very useful, but if students realize this limitation how they run the organisation, then we'll start seeing some real changes. Please change! I'm changing too!

Man, I'm getting old. But I'm still young and naughty. Hehe.

Rant Over. Stay tune for more inspirational posts soon as I prepare to write a motivationa/inspirational speech for Toastmasters....

Labels: AIESEC, Public Speaking, Rant, Time

Posted by Dr.Dave at 3:29 AM | Permalink | Comments  

And the Irony in it all

If you know or not, im have joined the Toast Masters Movement. Tonight a prepared a speech talking about how we as individual over committ to our daily engagements, and as a result, end of dropping or quitting many of these activities because of time constraints or lack of interest.

The speech was great, but what was ironic was what happened after words...

After the meeting was over I had to prepare for going to JB in Malaysia (1 hour away) for training. I had to go home first then go back to the office. At the time i was supposed to be at the office, i was still stuck downtown frantically waiting for a cab. After 30 minutes, I gave up and took the MRT knowing fully that I would never make it in time to meet my colleagues to go. Fortunately, the trip was optional (i mean, they can surive without me), but still, I missed an opportunity to get to know my colleagues better...all because of over committment and poor time managment. Oops!

Lesson to self, never take a cab during 9-1030pm in the city...you'll never find one. So plan alternative routes.

Things I'm considering:

• planning / plotting growth in company. Strategy: meet with manager and Big Boss to formalize the journey. Let people know my plans. (CHECK!)
• Plan on strategies on how i can become 100 times better as a person.
• Toastmasters: leadership roles? How to do more projects faster and get more certifications by end of term?
  
• How can i make 600 'purple ribbons' by Sunday...?
  

Posted by Dr.Dave at 11:46 PM | Permalink | Comments  

The list of banned words keeps on growing:

I can't say:

• Nice, and Good (what exactly do they mean? Use words like: excellent, exuberant, extraordinary!)
• Fine ("I'm doing fine"), fine means "I don't want to share with you how i'm feeling", use words like the above to replace this meaningless word.
• Try. "I'll try to get it done by tomorrow" Unconsciously implies failure and putting in half-hearted effort and easily overcome by adversities. Use 'Do' instead. Do says you'll do it with heart or not at all. No in between.
• Don't. When making suggestions, avoid using "Don't", it's confusing. (ex. Don't Put the Paper like this...(then how do you put the paper then?). It doesn't offer any solutions. Instead say things in a positive manner. "Please put the paper upright like this."
• I hate. Just say 'I love..." and feel the difference in your reactions. "I Love Work"
  
• Wawaweewa! From Borat...so childish.
  

it's 4am. why so late? friends helping friends. friends staying up late and travelling far to help another out in need. friends helping friends when they are at their lowest. friends helping friends change for the better. I'm glad stayed up late from my friend.

1st Commandment.

Labels: banned words, friends, NLP

Posted by Dr.Dave at 4:02 AM | Permalink | Comments  

More words of wisdom...heh from my Boss, Adam Khoo that i heard from his recent talk.

"The Greatest Failure in life is not giving yourself a chance. Not putting in 100% effort for everything you do" ~Adam Khoo, CEO, motivator, celebrity, ordinary guy

Ah so true. Reading this just makes me want to take more chances, do new things, explore, and grow as a person. As a look back on 2006 and even way back in my life, there was so many times where I just didn't take any action...didn't risk it all to grow as a person. The biggest regret for me is Inaction. The times where I didn't do it, and just sat back and accepted what I had. Boy, does that hurt even more than actually doing it and 'failing'. So my mantra ' just take action just take action just take action. Give it your best!'

Simple yet so hard to do.

I think in many aspects of my life I've been 'expanding' my horizons...like at work I've been doing a lot of projects that I have full creative control over, learning more about marketing, learning about other things i can 'specialize in' ie. how to be more creative, how to transform company culture. In my personal life, I've started going to church regularly, not to the same kind of church i've gone in the past, but to other types of churches. Same Message, different kind of music. i enjoy that a lot and the people i meet. Speaking of people, I think over the past few weeks I've met so many different people and i've gone on different social activites with them as well.

Other insights...

I just love to reflect on my life and how i've progressed...I love reading old diary entries and remember how i was feeling at the time. Oh Dave, you were a fool back then...and still are.

I'd like to share an exercise that i read on my Adam's blog (adam-khoo.com). I invite you to do this activity and see how it helps you focus your life. :D

WHAT’S UP AHEAD FOR 2007?
As one year comes to an end and another new year begins, I think it is very important for all of us to do an exercise which I would like to share with you. I actually do this exercise at the beginning of every year without fail. First, write down all the accomplishments & achievements you have made in the past year and allow yourself to feel really good about it.

Secondly, write down all your learning experiences and start to really reflect on how you can learn from the mistakes of the last year and what changes you must make in your thoughts, your behaviour and your life! Remember, if we keep doing the same things the same way, we will keep getting the same result.

Thirdly, write down ways of how you can improve every single aspect of your life (even though you may already be doing well already). Ask yourself, ‘ In what ways can I be better this year than I was last year?’ I believe that we need to have the attitude of CONSTANT AND NEVER ENDING IMPROVEMENT. We have to keep growing and becoming better. The day we stop growing is the day we start sliding back. I am now reviewing all my training materials and presentation styles and finding ways of how I can be even better in 2007. I believe that if the way I speak in 2007 is the same way I have been speaking in 2006, then I am doing myself and all my participants a great disservice. Every seminar I give must be better than the one before. So expect my PATTERNS OF EXCELLENCE, WEALTH ACADEMY and all my SUPERKIDS programs to be better than IT EVER WAS.

Finally, write down specific goals and deadlines you will achieve for the coming year ahead. Don’t be like most people and put aside these goals, only to look back at it one year later. Goal setting never works this way. Instead, once you have written down your goals, read it to at least 20 people you know (this is the power of commitment), post it on your BLOG if you do have one and stick it up as a poster where it will be in your mind every single moment!


Peace!
DrDave

Labels: focusing your life, reflection, the greatest failure

Posted by Dr.Dave at 1:15 AM | Permalink | Comments  

Dave is 23!

Yes, 2 days ago was my bday.

The small things matter. I had a relatively 'quiet' new years eve. Usually I'll spend it at an Aiesec conference around many stupid drunk people...which is not my idea of fun. So this year I went for dinner, had martini's (first time in singapore) and then made my way over to a crowded marina bay and watched the fireworks.

What I feel like saying is that the last few weeks have been so much fun. So much exploring; I've met so many new friends and grown closer with my existing friends. On one hand, it's important to do new things, extend your horizons, and take risk. And on the other hand, it's easy to lose sight on long term goals. I find it so easy to get lost / carried away in the day to day ups and down, in the heat of the moment but I always need that sense of direction and purpose.

I have a few friends in their late 20's. I always wonder if they feel that they're on the 'right track' in their life...

I may only be 23 and a young face but I take life seriously. Life is meant to be spent to the fullest yes. Life must be spent with purpose.

My New years Resolution: To be more musical...Join a band, sing more while sober, learn an instrument. I love music in my life.

Posted by Dr.Dave at 1:33 AM | Permalink | Comments