Tuesday 15 April 2008

Law of Paying Attention

Remember the Law of Paying Attention of the 21 Irrefutable Laws of relationship which suggested that we should pay attention to our loved one? We are to observe and maybe surprise our partner with something that he or she really desire. On the other note, I really wish to continue the series again soon.

Do you know when you really DESIRE something, you usually will get it? And on last week, I got what I desire because my partner has been paying attention to me. Although the desire is not too wishful and neither it is difficult to be fulfilled, it certainly made my day and I still feel sweet until now when I think about it.

So, the story goes like this. On one fine day when I went out with my darling to run some errands and while we were waiting in the queue, there was this advertisement banner in front of us. The banner has a picture of my favourite food and drink, nasi lemak and teh tarik. I stared unconsciously at the banner for quite sometimes. Actually, I was staring at the mouth-watering picture to be specific, but I tried to act like I was reading the texts on the banner, which was trying to depict the features of the advertised package.

The next thing I knew, we were on the way to another appointment, which was at a mamak restaurant. In no time, I was having my nasi lemak and teh tarik, the exact food of what I have pictured about half an hour ago. But now, I got to smell and taste it. Though the food is not expensive at all, and the restaurant is not of high standard as well as there is not famous chef in the restaurant, incredibly, I had an unmeasurable satisfaction out of it.

I thank my dear and told him that it was a very enjoyable lunch because I just thought of having exactly the same thing.

That was when he showed to me the Law of Paying Attention in full demonstration. He said "You think I don't know that when you were looking at the banner just now? I saw your expression and I know that is what you desire, so I brought you exactly here. It is not as easy as it seems, as I have to think of a restaurant that still sell nasi lemak (with the same packaging) at this hour of the day. Also, I have to call my business associate who will pass me something, to change to here at the last minute. "

I was incredulous. I asked him how would he notice I was actually looking at the food and craving for it, and not at the rest of the banner. I remembered I did make some efforts not to act like so gluttonous while staring at the picture and I definitely remembered there was absolutely not a single drop of saliva from my mouth. He reminded me he had a degree in psychology and he definitely is qualified enough from the years of study to be able to tell that from my expression despite my efforts.

I smiled sweetly. Inside, I was dancing and jumping. Passionately.



Well, although this story is a bit trivial, but sometimes, a simple action can really lighten up someones' day. Even though it is just a small thing, but it can be really sweet. I bet you all have your share of sweet stories too. So, let's pay attention to the one we really care about and make them happy. The world will definitely be a much happier place to live in.



I took a picture of the lovely meal after I gluttonize it passionately. It did not occur to me to take the picture before I dive in the meal (obviously), although that would be much more alike to the picture that was in my mind and on the banner.

Thursday 10 April 2008

Corporate Games aka Office Politics (Part 2)

First of all, I would like to thank my mentor for writing this part for me. Additionally, he told me there is a total of 16 corporate games. I never thought it can be that specific and I definitely curious to know more. So, there will be a lot of articles coming on this topics.

I encourage you readers to direct any questions you have about corporate games in the comments of this post. I shall get my mentor to answer your questions. He warned me though, the corporate game players are going to hate him (and me, since this is my blog) for all these exposures. I guess the last thing I will be affected both emotionally and spiritually is to upset all these players. I, basically, may even be elated to do this.

Here it goes:


Why does corporate games exist and rising?

Statistically over 65% of Malaysians are unaware of what their future holds in their work life.

It is actually a phenomenon which have been observed for the past few years among the working class at the age of between 20-30 years old.

There are primarily 4 reasons to such phenomenon:

Firstly, it is noticed that after graduation, most people would (with the exceptions of rich sons and daughters of the upper class) simply apply for any jobs that are available due to the pressures of the unemployment. "What happens if I don't get a job? What are my peers going to think of me? What will my parents say? How am I going to get the things I want?" That would be some of the thoughts in their minds. This we call, "The Pressure Point".

Secondly, after working on a job which they have not thought through carefully, the people would be hunting again for another job which they thought would be a better job than the current one, thinking "Hey, now that I have some working experience, I can get a better job with my qualification". But in actual fact, they are again considering the pay package as a major factor rather than the job which suits them in the long term. This we call, "The Monetary Factor".

Thirdly, within the companies of which they are working in, they had noticed that some people actually did not work as hard as they ought to be. And some were not as smart and efficient as they should be. But they managed to get promoted, getting authority and also making the "big bucks". So, after the observation, they are now beginning to learn what we call "The Corporate Games". Play their cards right, stick with the herds, play along with the crowd, bully the weak, make use of others, ignore the feelings of others. The list goes on and on. Suddenly, they thought they had found the shortcut to success. "The Corporate Games", so we call it.

Lastly, after being a seasoned "player" for a few years and playing their games, some actually "lost out" due to being exposed of their inability to perform. It can also be the herds had broken up , or they have failed once too many times to cover up. But try as they may to maintain their positions for "survival", they would resort to the most vicious of all corporate games, i.e. they sabotage others. Playing the back stabbing trick, the traps they laid out to their targets, the false achievements which they claimed away from others. The bad things go on and you do not want me to delve into that right now. This we call "The Ultimate Games".

For every beginning, there will be an ending. So, someday, a true leader comes along, hired by the company to "clean up" everything. Thus the day shall be the end of the players.

So, if corporate games are way of life, why don't these people succeed in their life permanently? The answer lies in the most basic law of nature, that is, as the Chinese saying goes, "For every mountain, there is a higher mountain". No matter how good they are, there is always someone who is more skillful in playing games.

My review and reflection for The Garden of Words

I just watched this short animation work from Makoto Shinkai. I had previously watched his grand hit 'Your Name' and absolutely fel...