Emperor’s Club

– – – Lolo’s Pamana November 23, 2007

One day, Daye was cleaning out her late grandfather’s belongings when she came across a bright red envelope. Written on the front were the words, “To my granddaugther.” Recognizing her grandfather’s handwriting, she opened the envelope. A letter inside read: 

Dear Daye, 

Years ago you came to me for help. You said, “Lolo Pitong, how is it that you’ve accomplished so much in your life? You’re still full of energy, and I’m already tired of struggling. How can I get that same enthusiasm that you’ve got?” 

I didn’t know what to say to you then. But knowing my days are numbered, I figure that I owe you an answer.

So here is what I believe. I think a lot of it has to do with how a person looks at things. I call it ‘keeping your eyes wide open.’ First, realize that life is filled with surprises, but many are good ones. If you don’t keep watching for them, you’ll miss half the excitement.

Expect to be thrilled once in a while, and you will be. When you meet up with challenges, welcome them. They’ll leave you wiser, stronger, and more capable than you were the day before.

When you make a mistake, be grateful for the things it taught you. Resolve to use that lesson to help you reach your goals. 

And follow the rules. Even the little ones. When you follow the rules, life works. If you think you ever really get by with breaking the rules, you’re only fooling yourself. It’s also important to decide exactly what you want.

Then keep your mind focused on it, and be prepared to receive it. But be ready to end up in some new places too. As you grow with the years, you’ll be given bigger shoes to fill. So be ready for endings as well as challenging beginnings.

Sometimes we have to be brave enough to move from the familiar to the unfamiliar.  Life isn’t just reaching peaks. Part of it is moving from one peak to the next. If you rest too long in between, you might be tempted to quit.

Leave the past in the past. Climb the next mountain and enjoy the view. Dump things that weigh you down emotionally and spiritually.

When an old resentment, belief, or attitude becomes heavy, lighten your load. Shed those hurtful attitudes that slow you down and drain your energy. 

Remember that your choices will create your successes and your failures. So consider all the pathways ahead, and decide which ones to follow. Then believe in yourself, get up, and get going. 

And be sure to take breaks once in a while. They’ll give you a renewed commitment to your dreams and a cheerful, healthy perception of the things that matter the most to you. 

Most important of all, never give up on yourself. The person that ends up a winner is the one who resolves to win. Give life everything you’ve got, and life will give its best back to you. 

Love always,

Lolo Pitong 

– – – A teacher’s child November 23, 2007

“There is a difference between education and experience. Education is what you get from reading the small print. Experience is what you get from not reading it!

But isn’t it true that great learning comes from both education and experience? Let me tell you a parable:A young school teacher had a dream that an angel appeared to him and said, “You will be given a child who will grow up to become a world leader. How will you prepare her so that she will realize her intelligence, grow in confidence, develop both her assertiveness and sensitivity, be open-minded, yet strong in character? In short, what kind of education will you provide that she can become one of the world’s truly GREAT leaders?”

The young teacher awoke in a cold sweat. It had never occurred to him before—any ONE of his present or future students could be the person described in his dream. Was he preparing them to rise to ANY POSITION to which they may aspire? He thought, ‘How might my teaching change if I KNEW that one of my students were this person?’ He gradually began to formulate a plan in his mind.

This student would need experience as well as instruction. She would need to know how to solve problems of various kinds. She would need to grow in character as well as knowledge. She would need self-assurance as well as the ability to listen well and work with others. She would need to understand and appreciate the past, yet feel optimistic about the future. She would need to know the value of lifelong learning in order to keep a curious and active mind. She would need to grow in understanding of others and become a student of the spirit. She would need to set high standards for herself and learn self discipline, yet she would also need love and encouragement, that she might be filled with love and goodness.

His teaching changed. Every young person who walked through his classroom became, for him, a future world leader. He saw each one, not as they were, but as they could be. He expected the best from his students, yet tempered it with compassion. He taught each one as if the future of the world depended on his instruction.After many years, a woman he knew rose to a position of world prominence. He realized that she must surely have been the girl described in his dream. Only she was not one of his students, but rather his daughter. For of all the various teachers in her life, her father was the best.

I’ve heard it said that “Children are living messages we send to a time and place we will never see.” But this isn’t simply a parable about an unnamed school teacher. It is a parable about you and me — whether or not we are parents or even teachers. And the story, OUR story, actually begins like this:“You will be given a child who will grow up to become….” You finish the sentence. If not a world leader, then a superb father? An excellent teacher? A gifted healer? An innovative problem solver? An inspiring artist? A generous philanthropist?

Where and how you will encounter this child is a mystery. But believe that one child’s future may depend upon influence only you can provide, and something remarkable will happen. For no young person will ever be ordinary to you again. And you will never be the same.

– – – stephen covey’s seven habits of highly effective people® November 16, 2007

habit 1 – be proactive®

This is the ability to control one’s environment, rather than have it control you, as is so often the case. Self determination, choice, and the power to decide response to stimulus, conditions and circumstances

habit 2 – begin with the end in mind®

Covey calls this the habit of personal leadership – leading oneself that is, towards what you consider your aims. By developing the habit of concentrating on relevant activities you will build a platform to avoid distractions and become more productive and successful.

habit 3 – put first things first®

Covey calls this the habit of personal management. This is about organising and implementing activities in line with the aims established in habit 2. Covey says that habit 2 is the first, or mental creation; habit 3 is the second, or physical creation.

habit 4 – think win-win®

Covey calls this the habit of interpersonal leadership, necessary because achievements are largely dependent on co-operative efforts with others. He says that win-win is based on the assumption that there is plenty for everyone, and that success follows a co-operative approach more naturally than the confrontation of win-or-lose.

habit 5 – seek first to understand and then to be understood®

One of the great maxims of the modern age. This is Covey’s habit of communication, and it’s extremely powerful. Covey helps to explain this in his simple analogy ‘diagnose before you prescribe’. Simple and effective, and essential for developing and maintaining positive relationships in all aspects of life.

habit 6 – synergize®

Covey says this is the habit of creative co-operation – the principle that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, which implicitly lays down the challenge to see the good and potential in the other person’s contribution.

habit 7 – sharpen the saw®

This is the habit of self renewal, says Covey, and it necessarily surrounds all the other habits, enabling and encouraging them to happen and grow. Covey interprets the self into four parts: the spiritual, mental, physical and the social/emotional, which all need feeding and developing.

– – – Leadership Behaviour for the nEw Managers November 16, 2007

Leadership skills are based on leadership behaviour. Skills alone do not make leaders – style and behaviour do. If you are interested in leadership training and development – start with leadership behaviour. Leadership is mostly about behaviour, especially towards others. People who strive for these things generally come to be regarded and respected as a leader by their people:

• Integrity – the most important requirement; without it everything else is for nothing.
• Being very grown-up – never getting emotional with people – no shouting or ranting, even if you feel very upset or angry.
• Leading by example – always be seen to be working harder and more determinedly than anyone else.
• Help alongside your people when they need it.
• Fairness – treat everyone equally and on merit.
• Be firm and clear in dealing with bad or unethical behaviour.
• Listen to and really understand people, and show them that you understand (this doesn’t mean you have to agree with everyone – understanding is different to agreeing).
• Always take the responsibility and blame for your people’s mistakes.
• Always give your people the credit for your successes.
• Never self-promote.
• Back up and support your people.
• Be decisive, but be seen to be making fair and balanced decisions.
• Ask for people’s views, but remain neutral and objective.
• Be honest but sensitive in the way that gives bad news or criticism.
• Always do what you say you will do – keep your promises.
• Work hard to become expert at what you do technically, and at understanding your people’s technical abilities and challenges.
• Encourage your people to grow, learn and take on as much as they want to, at a pace they can handle.
• Always accentuate the positive (say ‘do it like this’, not ‘don’t do it like that’).
• Smile and encourage others to be happy and enjoy themselves.
• Relax, and give your people and yourself time to get to know and respect each other.
• Take notes and keep good records.
• Plan and prioritise.
• Manage your time well and help others to do so too.
• Involve your people in your thinking and especially in managing change.
• Read good books, and take advice from good people, to help develop your own understanding of yourself, and particularly of other people’s weaknesses (some of the best books on leadership are not about business at all – they are about people who triumph over adversity).
• Achieve the company tasks and objectives, but never at the cost of your integrity or the trust of your people.

– – – Welchian Advise November 16, 2007

Jack Welch, respected business leader and writer is quoted as proposing these fundamental leadership principles:

1. There is only one way – the straight way. It sets the tone of the organisation.
2. Be open to the best of what everyone, everywhere, has to offer. transfer learning across your organisation.
3. Get the right people in the right jobs – it is more important than developing a strategy.
4. An informal atmosphere is a competitive advantage.
5. Make sure everybody counts and everybody knows they count.
6. Legitimate self-confidence is a winner – the true test of self-confidence is the courage to be open.
7. Business has to be fun – celebrations energise and organisation.
8. Never underestimate the other guy.
9. Understand where real value is added and put your best people there.
10. Know when to meddle and when to let go – this is pure instinct.

– – – Q&@ November 16, 2007

Question 1: If you knew a woman who was pregnant, who had eight children already, three who were deaf, two who were blind, one mentally retarded, and she had syphilis, would you recommend that she have an abortion?

Remember your honest answer and go to question 2.

Question 2: It is time to elect the world leader, and yours is the deciding vote. Here are the facts about the three leading candidates:

Candidate A: He associates with crooked politicians, and consults with astrologers. He’s had two mistresses. He also chain smokes and drinks up to ten Martinis a day.

Candidate B: He was ejected from office twice, sleeps until noon, used opium in college and drinks a large amounts of whiskey every evening.

Candidate C: He is a decorated war hero. He’s a vegetarian, doesn’t smoke, drinks an occasional beer and hasn’t had any extra-marital affairs.  

Leave your email, i’ll send you the answer once you gave your comments…

– – – SuPeR DeCiSiVe November 16, 2007

There was once a training manager who attended a decision making course. He had performed extremely well on the course and, in turn, he was very impressed by the content and training methods.On his return to the training centre, he called his senior trainer into the office to tell him how impressive this course had been. He finished by saying, ‘You know, you really should go on this course.’

‘That’s a good idea,’ replied the senior trainer, ‘when am I going?’

‘I don’t know — I haven’t decided yet!’ came the decisive reply.

– – -The Devil and the Politician November 14, 2007

                                                                                  

While walking down the street one day a Philippine senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

    “Welcome to heaven,” says St. Peter. “Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we’re not sure what to do with you.”

    “No problem, just let me in,” says the senator.

    “Well, I’d like to, but I have orders from the higher ups. What we’ll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.”

    “Really, I’ve made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,” says the senator.

    And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

    Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.

    Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who is having a good time dancing and telling jokes.

    They are all having such a good time that before the senator realizes it, it is time to go. Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises. The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens in heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him, “Now it’s time to visit heaven.”

    So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

    “Well, then, you’ve spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.”

    The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: “Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.”

    So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

    Now the doors of the elevator open and he’s in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.

    The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulders.

    “I don’t understand,” stammers the senator. “Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there’s just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?”

    The devil smiles at him and says, “Yesterday we were campaigning…Today, you voted.”