Impact

"Tuesdays with Morrie" is one of my favorite books.

It's about a professor who, in his sundown, was able to teach important life lessons to his student, the author Mitch Albom, in their Tuesday meets.

For sure, there's also someone in school or at work, who made such an impact on you.

One who led you to launch, to face challenges, to go beyond what you think you can do.

I've figured out my Morrie and to him, I say, "Thank you."

Try naming your Morrie, too...


Note: This article is dedicated to Dr. Cayetano W. Paderanga who put me as part of the founding team, as Research Director, of the Institute for Development and Econometric Analysis, Inc. (IDEA).

Complains

Number of reasons to complain? Thousands.

Number of reasons to be grateful? Exactly the same as above.

How you face "negatives" will define your answers.

But I've got a suggestion...

Try changing your options. Pick from the following instead:

1. To give up complaining
2. To rise up to the challenge
3. To be cheerful and optimistic

Direction

Mision --- the statement of purpose and uniqueness.

Vision --- the future state, long-term direction, what you want to become.

Objectives --- the statement of goals and what you are commited to achieve (concrete, measurable, time-bound).

Strategy comes next.

What actions will you take NOW to reach your long-term objectives and make your mission-vision real?

All these apply to yourself, your family, your team, your company, etc ...

We all need DIRECTION.


Ref. Strategic Thinking in the Global Environment (Jet Magsaysay, Ateneo GSB-CCE)

Strategic Thinking

Three sets of complementary skills:

1. Thinking systemically. Seeing the "big piture". Having the "vision of the whole."

2. Thinking critically. Being objective. Challenging assumptions and perceiving trends.

3. Thinking strategically. Contributing to the mission-vision.
Positioning and making choices. Thinking with focus on the future.


Ref. Strategic Thinking in the Global Environment, Ateneo GSB CCE (Jet Magsaysay)

Wide Range

You...Family...Community...Society...Nation...

The more you reach the end of this continuum, the more you become a leader, says a facilitator on leadership.

But, of course, you’ve got to start with the nucleus - You.

A good headstart: unleash your potentials, accept your limits, and understand yourself.

Then, do the same in the next level... and the next... and the next...

Patience

"Whatever happens to you, accept it, and in the uncertainties of your humble state,
be patient, since gold is tested with fire." (Sirach 2:4-5)

Struggles? Endure them. They're are always fruitful.

Yes, results may take time in coming...

But keep going ... Nothing's ever lost!

"He who labors in vain says: 'I have lost so much labor' because the results from his labor are disappointing.

...It does not mean that labor remains forever, but that it was not expended in vain."


Ref. Patience: The Path to Victory (Charles Belmonte)

Habits

They say it takes twenty one days to form a habit.

Great! That means we can acquire lots of good habits... of course, you've got to want it.

In some cases, maybe it's more than 21.

But the point is, it's never too late to be better.

So then ...in the next 21 days or so, what habit are you gonna work on?

Try this exercise... believe me, it works.

Proactive

Einstein: "To do nothing and expect change is insanity.”

You've got to take initiatives if you want things to be better.

All of one's might and talents serve this purpose.

You can't just wait for things to happen...expecting change after sleeping it off.

There are times you need to go against the flow... for not everything comes the easy way.

You don't achieve anything by curling up. Be proactive!

Destiny

(Since we just finished Halloween, I find it timely to tackle the topic.)

Travelers, wayfarers... all are we.

Difficulties, trials ... accept, endure, love them.

Carry on until the end of the journey...your eternal destiny.

This life's only temporary...a prelude to the next - that which is forever.

If you're happy here, most probably you'll be happy there as well.

There, happiness is for always. All sufferings will cease to be.

Want to get there? It depends on how you live in this world.

Nobody goes there unprepared.

Be Happy

A cousin of mine sent me a text message which goes:

"Happiness is something you decide ahead of its time...

It's a decision we make every morning when we wake up.

Yes, we have a choice to spend the day fussing over things we cannot control,
be unhappy and look wasted...

or welcome the new day with renewed enthusiasm
and focus on all happy memories still to come in your life..."

That sounds interesting... makes a lot of sense.

Optimism is something we can always choose to have... the same goes for pessimism.

It all happens in the "inside." Work it out!