All in a Day's Work

Wow, I had at least eight people asking me if I was local, three in the morning (when I went for the AIESEC simulation programme at NTU) and another five in the evening (when I joined Yao Long for the network marketing introduction at Boon Keng. Varying comments put me as a Vietnamese, a Chinese scholar (*gushes), one said I have mixed blood (Which may hold some truth :P) Any comments from the panel?

Are you a Mover or a Shaker? (Source)

A mover and a shaker

Larry Boucher has a reputation for staying ahead of the curve

Douglas E. Caldwell

Why do some Silicon Valley companies succeed wildly and others fall into the "dustbin of history" with barely a whimper? Larry Boucher, founder and CEO of Alacritech Inc., says there are commonalities that set the successful high-tech companies apart.

My take on the issue?

To be an industry shaker, the finer things in life might just count. It is no use promising to help each other out when one is indifferent to even insignificant issues such as giving up a seat to the needy.

Start being a SHAKER today!

I can recall an incident last Friday on campus - A worker was trying to push his trolley up a ramp, but the trolley simply couldn't get onto the ramp. As there were many boxes on the trolley, he was worried they might drop if he was to jerk the trolley onto the ramp. Passers-by opted not to notice, nonchalantly by-passing him as he struggled with the trolley.

A simple act, I'd thought. Just help him lift the trolley onto the ramp. Why didn't anybody rise to the challenge?

For the record, I did, and am glad for having done so. It made the worker thankful for assisting him, but even more so, because that instilled in him confidence in the human spirit of forthcoming assistance, and myself, pride on having made a difference to someone's (otherwise tedious and tremendously mundane) life.

Take another example:

I was on the bus last week, when an elderly man boarded the bus. There were many typical Singaporean commuters (you can recognize them by the way they select their seats - by the aisle) on board. Of course, plonked upon the green seat meant for the aged was this young chap, who promptly shut his eyes and began meditating, as soon as the elderly man boarded. The elderly man tried to squeeze his way across the young lad to his seat, but he did not budge. In the end, in frustration, he shook the young fella awake and promptly got his seat.

Me 1, Society 0

Went to Waterways Watch Society this afternoon to plan for our bicycle patrol. It poured, but that did not dampen our spirits, and we eventually started the patrol proper at four. It was fun cycling down to the Esplanade while keeping a lookout for errant picnic-goers and fishermen. :)

Oh well, will be having lessons tomorrow, so better call it a day.

Probably more on the Groupthink phenomena brought up by Prof Kong (during LTB lesson) in future. It's an interesting concept!