Going to have a good time reading these books and reflecting on the principles shared. My mental saw sharpening schedule is fully booked for the next 2 months!

Celebration of the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday with a perfect movie

Powerful. Perfect day for the perfect movie. Good education for my girls.

Movie Trailer here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcIXCok9HPg

Good Friday

Good Friday is a solemn day of reverence in the church.

It is a time to reflect on the death of Jesus, which was the ultimate sacrifice He made for those who believed in Him.

In the Gospel of John, it states, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

A good read indeed. Reinforced many important leadership principles I hold dear. Hope I can be a good Leader, a patient Teacher & a Master of self. On to my next book...

I have two! Double the 'beautifulness' 

Korean movie 'My Sassy Girl 我的野蛮女友' with wife on a Sunday afternoon cos I'm down with the flu bug. Nice romantic comedy. Recommended.

Movie details here:

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Sassy_Girl

It has been 10 years and I hope we have 10 more good years ahead

Another eventful year for Yellow Ribbon Project. This is a very special year because we are celebrating our 10th Anniversary. Many people had worked very hard to make this national campaign a success. I am looking forward to another 10 more good years ahead. Below are some pictures taken with people who are instrumental and hardcore supporters of YRP. Thank you peeps.

One of the key drivers of YRP. Desmond was the Chairperson of YRP when he was the CEO of SCORE.

Mr. Chua Kin Kiat was our former Director of Prisons and he is a visionary leader. Learnt quite a few things about leadership and organisational development from this man. I wish him good health and many wonderful years ahead.

Leonie is like the 'mother' of YRP. She and her team 'aka children of YRP' ensured YRP events are executed well every year...for the past 10 years. Talk about passion and commitment. It's my honour to support and work with her (and her team) on YRP for the past 10 years. 10 more good years ahead.

YC, my fellow OD practitioner and professional. Together with my OD classmates, they are always very supportive of what we do in YRP.

Members of the IBM Singapore Ring 115 Magicians. They have been our strong supporter since 2009 when I was the chairperson for the inaugural Yellow Ribbon Run . Thanks for making YRP 'MAGICAL'

Another 2 very passionate supporters of second chances. Tim Leo is our Chief Psychologist in SPS and Matthew is responsible for all the commercial media and corporate relations strategies for YRP. Both of them play very important roles in YRP. Great team members to have.

Lastly my buddy and squad mate Andrew. One of the Directors in SCORE. Making his best contribution and I am sure YRP will be much better in 2014 with him around.

Simple Rules I live by...

Read this article and it resonated with me. These are simple rules I live by as well.

Nurse Reveals the top 5 regrets people make on their deathbed.

My take...

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

Yes, be true to yourself. Be aware that people are not interested in you. As such, don't become who others or society wants you to become. It's o.k. to be who you are and be true to yourself. You don't have to fit in all the time. You will be happier. :)

2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.

I realised this simple life rule several years back. When I'm in office, I give everything I have, but when I'm home or out of office (after office hours), I will focus on things that matter to me, e.g. family, friends and my passions. At the end of the day (on my deathbed), I know I will never be too concern about the emails I have not answered.

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.

Express yourself freely. Asians tend to be shy. Well, perhaps not to all. But I freely express my feelings and love for people I care about. Do it before it is too late.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

I always keep in touch with several close friends intentionally. If you don't plan for it intentionally, you will never have time to do it. Friends accept you for who you are. If your friends are true to you, they will never judge.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

People often ask me how I am able to do so many things, have so many passions and yet I can spend so much time with my family. My answer is "Why not?" If you have a deeper 'YES' inside, you will always have time. If you are clear about what you want out of life, your meaning and mission, you will always have time. When you are clear of 'the end in mind', you will always have time.

Life is a choice. It is MY life. I will be intentional about it....Always. :)

All of us know this and it's not rocket science. How many of us live it?

Reminder to self at all times

Finally graduated! But this is just the beginning...

Finally graduated from my 2013 Developmental and Growth Plan after almost one year of journey. It was a wonderful programme and I discovered much more about OD work and most importantly this amazing instrument called SELF!

Receiving my NTL Certificate and CSC Grad Dip from Dean of Civil Service College (CSC) Mean Luck

Besides gaining more knowledge, self awareness and confidence, I met a bunch of wonderful people that I hope to become close friends that I can trust. We will continue to keep in touch through our Growth Group and gatherings. Collectively, we will do our best to contribute to the OD movement in the whole civil service.

My teacher, mentor and role model is an amazing lady from UK, Dr Mee-Yan Cheung-Judge . She is not only an expert in the field of OD but also a highly compassionate and passionate person. Her experience, presence and confidence is amazing! Her care and feelings for all her students and this country of ours is simply awesome! I sincerely wish her good health and we will be in touch always.

Collectively as a community, we are knowledgeable, experienced, and wise. One of us can never be as smart as all of us. Yes, we are a crazy bunch as well.

Developmental and Growth Plan for 2014 = 

To be certified as a Emergenetics Consultant or a IAF Professional Facilitator? Hmmm

Quality of your life is very much determined by the quality of the relationships you have around you

"Relationships constitute the single most important factor responsible for the survival of homo sapiens," writes one social psychologist. I don't think this is an overstatement. I always believe that the quality of your life is very much determined by the quality of the relationships you have around you. 

Happy people have better relationships than do their less happy peers. Happy people are exceptionally good at their friendships, families and intimate relationships. The happier a person is (in my opinion), the more likely he or she is to have a large circle of friends or companions, a romantic partner, and ample social support.

So spend time in investing in relationships and making lasting friendship. My family is important to me. My friends are important to me. I will always have time for them. What about you?

Why am I writing about happiness? read here: 

http://jimlearningandinspirationalmoments.blogspot.sg/2013/08/what-is-happiness-and-where-is-it.html

Don't think too much!

Happiness Tip: Don't think too much! Over thinking is thinking too much...needlessly, passively, endlessly, and excessively (any more "ly"?) When you over think, you ponder over the meaning, causes and consequences of your problem. This will only create more negative thoughts and feelings. 

Becoming happier means learning how to disengage from over thinking about your negative experiences, learning to stop searching for all the leaks and cracks (at least for a while) and not let them affect how you feel about yourself and your life as a whole. 

For example, when my audience over think the trick I perform, they get frustrated (because they will never find out how it is possible) instead of enjoying the magic performance. The happy ones are the ones who just focus and enjoy the miracle just happened in front of their eyes. They do not think too much! 

So, if you want to be happy, don't over think!

Why am I writing about happiness? read here: 

http://jimlearningandinspirationalmoments.blogspot.sg/2013/08/what-is-happiness-and-where-is-it.html

Change your questions, Change your happiness level

Happiness Tip: Identify automatic negative questions in your head and question them with new and empowering questions.

Change your questions and change the quality of your life. To increase optimistic thinking and happiness, you need to learn how to identify negative voices in your head. Once you learn how to be aware of these negative thoughts, use the following questions I use to reinterpret the situation.

a. What else could this situation or experience mean?

b. Can anything good come from it?

c. Does it present any opportunity for me?

d. What lessons can I learn and apply to the future?

e. Did I develop any strength as a result?


These were powerful questions that helped me to reframe when I fell. They helped me to stand up and come back stronger. What are the questions or voices in your head right now? Are you able to reframe them with new questions?

Why am I writing about happiness? read here: 

http://jimlearningandinspirationalmoments.blogspot.sg/2013/08/what-is-happiness-and-where-is-it.html

Reflections on priorities in life

Reflections on priorities in life. You may be an engineer, manager, consultant, or whatever positions you hold in your organisation. You will retire one day. But as a father, mother, husband or wife, brother or sister, sons or daughters, you will never retire. Something to reflect on with regards to our priorities in life.

Happiness Tip: Write down your goals and purpose

To live a life that is happy and meaningful, I write down my goals and personal mission. Writing about your goals and life purpose helps me to put my thoughts together in a coherent manner, allowing me to find meaning in my life experiences. Writing about my dreams also gives me an opportunity to learn about myself - that is, to understand better my priorities, my emotions, and my motives, my identity, who I really am and what's in my heart. 

See my life purpose here:
http://jimlearningandinspirationalmoments.blogspot.sg/p/why-am-i-doing-this.html

Why am I writing about happiness? read here:
http://jimlearningandinspirationalmoments.blogspot.sg/2013/08/what-is-happiness-and-where-is-it.html

Happiness Tip: Cultivate Optimism.

Happiness Tip: Cultivate Optimism. 

Strive to make out the positive side of your situation as much as possible. Building optimism is not about just the celebration of what's good in the present but it is also about anticipating a bright future ahead. When I noticed that I am down or challenged. I will talk to myself and tell myself that I will make it through this day, this month, this year, that there may be ups and downs, but everything will turn out all right in the end.

Why am I writing about happiness? read here: http://jimlearningandinspirationalmoments.blogspot.sg/2013/08/what-is-happiness-and-where-is-it.html

Reflections for the day...

The longer you live, the less you know! Think about it, when we were young, we were fed with knowledge and information and with that, we thought we knew the world as it is. When we grow older, the more questions we will have (about life, about the world as we experience it, etc), then we will realise that we don't know a lot of things. Humanity itself is searching for meaning and answers in life. Yes, the older I become, the less I know. Therefore, the more I need to learn and experience life.

A nite out with my OD kakis!

It was a great nite out with my friends in the OD community. Added a little magic to the gathering. Yes, the gathering was simply magical!

Reflecting about the concept of Thinking Win-Win

Reflection for today: Thinking win-win is the most challenging concept to share with people. From a realist point of view, this is a dog eat dog world, if you think win-win, you will end up in a win-lose situation. There is no such thing as thinking win-win in this world. What planet are you from? I don't disagree with this perspective. I live in this world too. 

However, I see it from a different perspective. If I were to frame it differently, I would say, thinking win-win is about relationships and people. If you value the long term interdependent relationship with the people you care about, then you have to think win-win when you relate to these people. The key phrase here is 'long term interdependent relationships'. For example you must always thinking win-win with your spouse, family and colleagues you care about. For example, imagine your interaction with your spouse is a win-lose all the time. If the relationship is interdependent, what will be the relationship like? What will you get? Any win-lose situation will always end up a lose-lose sitiation. That's why win-win in relationships is the only realistic alternative. Hmm...