What's In Your Hand?

It's not bad to have a little. At least you have something to cultivate. Just like a little amount of happiness. You can have its fullness when you share it with others. Sad if you have none.

When we speak about talents, I believe everyone has his own unique share. No one is born without any talent. But, many failed to discover what their talents are.

Now, let me throw you the question:

WHAT'S IN YOUR HAND?

You have an ounce of mathematical skills? Practice and develop it.
You have an innate passion for music? Take up a music course.
You have a good memory? Sharpen it more.

The ball is in our hands. Either we dribble it too long or shoot for the goal. Either we play by team or fight alone. No matter what happen to your life, you are responsible to it because you made the tough decisions.

Blackberry inventor Mike Lazardis bagged a prize from a local public library in Windsor, Canada at the age of 12 just because he read every single science book on the shelves. He learned his craft well.

What you have today are the big keys to your success. It may appear senseless at the beginning because you can be focused in its simplicity. Like teaching pre-school. To some, it might be a profession they wouldn't like but for the passionate educators, they know that future presidents of companies, politicians, inventors and bankers will come from their class. Give your talents away, show it, so it will fly high. Perform well as you climb the mountain of triumph.

Empowered to Connect

Yesterday, my idea of connection was disturbed and I figured out I was not really connected to myself. I used to think I need to connect with people and I forget about knowing myself. I shouldn't be somebody else.

The reason excellent communicators are effective is because they are true to themselves. They know what their strengths and weaknesses are. They walk what they talk.

I attended "The Power of Connection" seminar conducted by one of the best communicator I know, Mr. Anthony Pangilinan. This is the first time I listened to him almost half of the day and I enjoyed it. He presented principles on the value of connected and what happens when we get disconnected. As a hungry-for-more-motivation marketing professional, I chopped some insights I caught from his talk that benefited me a lot.

Aside from the 3 major principles of connection that Anthony shared, these insights are my major take-aways from the seminar.


The Mafia Offer Principle
- Know the core need of the other party
- make an offer based on your core competence
And your offer will never be refused!

More often than not, we are disconnected. We talk more than listen. We listen and never talk. In our daily communication, I could say the rate of assumption in greater than the rate of accuracy. We thought we've understood but didn't. We thought we said it right but didn't.

Connection is a life-long process.
I admire the speaker for his transparency. Though he delivered his talk perfectly, what raised his credibility was his humble attitude to admit he that he also fails. Simply, he learned his topic first then he shared the learning to us unselfishly. Connecting with people is a day-to-day basis and lasts till lifetime.

MAX IT

M Find a Mentor
A Look for an Apprentice
X EXercise it
I Invest in it
T Testify

Learning is a continuous process. This principle says:
- We need mentors to guide us.
- We must share learning with a friend or colleague.
- We must live what we learn.
- We should invest to learn more.
- We should share it.

Thank you for reminding me these, Anthony. Till next connection.

End Right

What's in the past that people are scared to face the future?

Think.

On the other hand, those who LEARNED from their past are ready to face the future. No matter how difficult your life were, still the balls are in your hand. Don't make up for the past but rather focus defining your future.

I'm privileged to learn from mentors who have gone through difficulties during their early professional bouts and I witness how they reap their pleasant harvest today.

- Who would ever know that this excellent public speaker and corporate executive's first job was to distribute promo flyers on the street?

- At his early age, this man sold tons of nails at his family's construction business. Now, brands hire him to design their blockbuster marketing campaigns.

- He worked for a worldwide TV network catering to kids and teens. He produced a television program about cars. He is a business consultant and marketing expert. With these achievements, he forgot to finish his college degree.

- His first assignment in a car wash business was not a white-collar job. He was the humble cleaner of customers' cars. When he set up his own language school, he cleaned, repaired and painted the room by himself. Today, he has influenced thousands to become a better speaker and uplift their confidence.

I landed my first job with an awe. I conducted inventory of our precious books in major bookstores in the metro. I dusted off book covers and aligned them on the shelves. Then, an opportunity came for me to be division supervisor handling direct sales. With this, no wonder why I am so passionate about reading good books and this blog is the product of the principles I learned through reading.

Admittedly, it came to my mind that I only wasted the years I spent doing that job. Countless times. Yet, the truth is- that experience always keep me on my knees. My character was built and firmed. That's priceless.

Don't be ashamed of your humble beginnings. It's your stepping stone and your springboard to success.

Who Wants To Be A CEO?

"The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is the highest ranking executive manager in a corporation or organization. The CEO has responsibility for the overall success of an entire organization." (http://humanresources.about.com/od/glossaryc/g/ceo_title.htm)

The CEO bears the "good company image" when things are well, but "suffers the shame" when all things are ruined. As Dr. John Maxwell says, "Everything rises and falls on leadership."

One time, I ask a friend if he wants to be a manager. Surprisingly, I received an answer that was a counter-flow to my personal goal. He said, "No, I like what I am doing. Besides, everything will be dumped on me if I will be the manager." What he thinks, so is he.

Have you encountered person like this? This kind of person fears responsibility and growth. And, to be successful, difficulties and facing tough decisions are best teachers. What kind of decision have you faced lately? What have you learned from it? How were you able to come up with a perfect answer to the problem?

If you are eyeing the seat of a CEO, be willing to solve tough problems and exercise your analytical thinking. Push your brain to work. Also, learn from the veterans- the leaders in your field. Find a way to have a time with them and learn. Throw them your questions and adopt their problem solving strategies. This is what I am actively doing now.

Too many people are satisfied with just small things. They forget what books, trainings and Google are for. On the other hand (and worse), some pretend they know everything. That's dangerous. Wrong decisions will cost you a lot. Much more, the lives of your people will be totally affected.

Well, you can stay at the ranking file all of your life. But always remember, we are all given a choice to improve our craft and climb the ladder of success. It's up to us whether we want to be lazy or we want to be on the top.

I want to be a CEO. How about you?