Believe in Yourself

If you are just like the cat that seeing itself as a lion in the mirror, then you are able to see yourself as a winner and not a loser. It is all in your mind and you are what you think you are! When you are told that you were born to be an eagle, then don’t behave like a chicken. Neither do you fly like a pigeon. Stretch out your wings and soar like an eagle into the high sky where there is no limit to vision.

It is a fact of life that everyone wants to be “somebody” such as a doctor, an engineer, an accountant, a successful businessman or a proud planter. Yes. You need to have a burning desire to be “somebody”. Once you have that burning desire, you start to believe in yourself. That is important. There is power in believing yourself. You will obviously build up your self confidence. When you visualize yourself as a winner, then you will succeed and will not become a failure. However, all successful men did go through much failure and even some big failure before they became successful. They learned as they had gone through many trials and errors.

When you give up believing in yourself and lack of self confidence, then you are afraid to try because you are worried that you will fail. You will loss your spirit to give it a try for you dare not fail. But is it not better to try and fail than never try at all? Have you ever heard of “Failure is the mother of success”? How true it is that failure is a major contributor to its success!

It is all right to make mistake for the first time but always bear in mind not to give up the first time you fall down. On the other hand, do not repeat the same mistake over and over again. Otherwise, you will give an impression that you have never learned from your mistakes. However, if you can attempt to do it right the first time, why not?

Believe in yourself, build up your self confidence, have big vision of your future, keep trying and always do your best in whatever circumstances, then you are on your road to success!

Get Them Involved, Not Just Tell & Show

Have you ever encountered that when you tell your subordinate to do something, he/she will come out with a lot of excuses for not doing what had been told to do? The lame excuse is none other than “Sorry, Sir, I forget.” I am sure you’ll “vomit blood” of having subordinate with that kind of attitude.

Worst of the situation is even after showing him/her how to do it, yet the work has not been carried out. What’s an excuse when he/she says, “Sorry, Sir. I can’t remember.” This time, you almost “vomited blood.”

Now you have to involve him/her in actual doing it, then he/she understands not only how to do it but also why and when to do it.

In plantation management, there is no short cut to get work done. Plantation Manager must walk the fields often with his Field Assistants. They may be good in theory but they are lack of actual working experience. Don’t just tell and show them, get them involved in all field operations, from jungle clearing right up to maturity when due for harvesting, one at a time with hand-on training and guidance, then they will understand that there is no way they can forget what had been told. It’s not may but must remember what had been shown in order to grow in their career path as a Practical Planter. No planter can run away from his commitment and integrity.

Likewise, the Field Assistant must walk the fields even more often with his Field Conductors. This is MLM, not Multi-Level Marketing but Multi-Level Management. They must learn the “tricks” from Plantation Manager and know how to involve his Field Conductors to get work done as expected from them.

Get everybody down the lines to get involved. Isn’t this "TEAMWORK"?

A Rare Photo

This photo was taken when Tan Peng Hoo and I were on our way back to Jambi after our visit to plantations in Sumsel Region on 26 July 2007.

When we reached Pauh after Sarolangun, suddenly I saw this man carrying something strange on his back as he walked along the roadside. I took out my camera but my driver already drove pass him. Then to my astonishment, I saw him actually carrying a wounded wild boar on his back. I told my driver to stop the Land Cruiser and waited for him to come near. I quickly rolled down the mirror, stopped him and told him that I wanted to take a photo of him carrying the wild boar. Guess what he said? “Mau bayar, pak”, that’s what he asked from me. No big deal. So I paid him a token sum before I took the photo.

Later on, I told Peng Hoo that this picture is worth much more than the small sum of money I paid the man as it was taken by chance. I wouldn’t have taken this rare picture if I did not bring along my camera.

My friends, whenever you go outing remember to bring along your digital cameras. You never know what you will come across by change to snap a spectacular photograph.

The Miracle Tree

When Pak Joni MS came to see me on 15.1.2008 morning, I felt very happy when he told me that his book on “Kelor” or the "drumstick tree" (Moringa olcifcra) has finally been published. The book was co-edited by Pak M Sitorus and his wife, Bu Nelly Katharina.

We have Moringa trees planted in Bukit Indah Estate in Jambi Region and I was told by Pak Hendra Sugianto that it was our Agronomy Consultant, Mr. Chiu Sheng Bin, who introduced it. It was Pak Tan Peng Hoo who downloaded all the information on the botany, method of cultivation and its great nutrition value and encouraged them to translate into Bahasa Indonesia.

Moringa tree is well known as “The Miracle Tree” because its leaves and pods can be an extremely valuable source of nutrition for people of all ages. Our intention is to have many Moringa trees planted near labour quarters in our plantations as if we are growing multi-vitamins for our workers so that they can have Moringa leaf powder and pods in their daily meals.

Do get hold a copy of this book. It’s on sales in bookshops in Indonesia. By the way you can get more information when you visit the website of www.treeforlife.org

Friends, Pals & Buddies

On 8 January 2008 morning, I was waiting for Pak Chiu Sheng Bin at Sun Plaza, Medan. We had an appointment at 11.30am to have lunch at Super Kitchen Restaurant on LG floor. He was taking 1350 flight to Penang. While waiting, it came across my mind that those people passing by in front of me were all strangers to me. None of them was my friend until Pak Chiu arrived. Then I suddenly realized that the friends I have are actually very few in number.

Even though we may claim to have a thousand friends but if we feel that we have none to spare, then the thousand in number is still inadequate. We have to make new friends in areas of our residence, our workplace and marketplace and ensure that they keep growing in number. Nevertheless, we will have to choose our friends wisely. Select those who are with us and not against us.

Obviously, birds of feathers flock together. We choose friends of same dream and same vision. We select friends who have same purpose in life and are going in the same direction with us. We are able to click closely with friends with same hobbies and share more on same interests. Make friends with those who can give us constant support and big hope and are able to lift up our spirit. These are the people with whom we want to expand our relationship.

Mix with the right type of friends. Truly, it pays to keep the right company. Spend more time with friends who have the same philosophy and discipline like us. They are able to influence us to move on and change our way of thinking with positive words and encouragement. They are able to help us to achieve our goals in life.

Gather a group of people as our friends or advisors who are able to assist us along our career path. They should include teacher, lecturer, doctor, dentist, accountant, engineer, banker, lawyer, tax consultant, insurance agent and of course, fellow planters. Do make friends with mechanics, plumbers, electricians, air-conditioner technicians and other handy men. How true it is that “a friend in need is a friend indeed.” We never know when we need their service and assistance.

In Proverbs 18:24, the word of God teaches us that “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Be friendly all the times and there are surely some close friends whom we can call “brothers”.

However, God warns us in 1 Corinthians 15:33,” Bad company corrupts good character.” Disassociate ourselves from people who are not right for us.

Happiness is….

• receiving an unexpected phone call from a childhood friend
• receiving sms from good friends during weekends
• receiving emails from many friends
• receiving a postcard from a close friend on an oversea trip
• looking at photographs of old pals
• drinking coffee with buddies in a kopitiam during weekends
• reading comments posted by friends, pals & buddies in my blog

Postive & Negative Words

A man, who was unhappy in his work, unhappy with his family and unhappy with life in general, decided to escape to get away from it all. He joined a mute monastery, where he took a vow of silence. He could say only 2 words every 5 years.

This is perfect, he thought. No stress, no one to bug me, nothing but silence.

So he stayed there 5 years without uttering a syllable. At the end of that time, his superior called the man into his office and said,”You have 2 words you can speak. Would you like to say anything?”

The guy nodded his head and said, “Bad food!”

He went for another 5 years without uttering a syllable, and again his superior called him into his office and asked if he would like to say anything.

He nodded his head and said “Hard bed!”

Another 5 years passed, and his superior called him in and asked him if he would like to say anything, and the guy said, “I quit!”

His superior responded, “Well, I’m not surprised. You’ve done nothing but complaining since you got here!”

Something to share……

This story reminds us of someone who might have complained in silence for years since started working in plantations. “Bad boss”, “Hard job” and finally “I (bag and) go!” What’s a pity! He just could not make it to become a practical planter.

Negative words such as “I can’t”, “No way”, “What for?”, and “So what?” are damaging and could even pull us down and make us becoming failures. It is not surprising that people with negative thinking always find excuses not to do the possible!

Whereas positive words such as “I can”, “No problem, “Why not?”, and “Let’s try” will lift up our spirit to accomplish our job assignment. People with positive thinking always find ways and means to do what others cannot do!

In Proverbs 16:24, it was written, “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb. Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.”

Words of encouragement such as “Do your best”, “You can make it” and “See you at the top” can fill us with burning desires and motivate us to act fast with full commitment.

Every one of us is seeking happiness in life. Someone says, “I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.”

When employees are valued, appreciated, and treated with proper respect by their employers only then they feel happy to work in the organization. However, to most employees who desire of being rewarded with annual increment and bonus, I believe that the real happiness in them is getting job satisfaction when they also hear words of praise such as “Excellent”, “Well done” and “You’re great!” We will surely feel proud of ourselves when we know that we have contributed towards the achievement of the organization’s goals.

The Bibles teaches us that in regardless of which company we work for and who we serve, we are actually serving our heavenly father. As written in Colossians 3:23-24, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to Lord and not men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance, for you serve the Lord Christ.”

Once we understanding this, there bounds to be happiness and joyfulness in serving as we give our very best to do what needs to be done with all our heart.

Max Anders teaches us that “The surest road to happiness is living for God, placing our ultimate hope in the next world, and learning to be grateful for the small things that come our way in this world.”

Friends, give a thought about it.

When To Retire?

The hard-working late retirees probably put too much stress on their aging body-and-mind such that they are so stressed out to develop various serious health problems that forced them to quit and retire. With such long-term stress-induced serious health problems, they die within two years after they quit and retire.

The late retirees are small in number, tend to die quickly after retirement and disappear from the population of old people beyond the age of 70.

On the other hand, people who take early retirements at the age of 55 tend to live long and well into their 80s and beyond. These earlier retirees probably are either wealthier or more able to plan and manage their various aspects of their life, health and career well such that they can afford to retire early and comfortably.

These early retirees are not really idling after their early retirements to get old. They still continue doing some work. But they do the work on the part-time basis at a more leisure pace so that they do not get too stressed out. Furthermore, they have the luxury to pick and chose the types of part-time work of real interest to them so that they can enjoy and love doing that “fun” work at a more leisure pace.

However, when you get older, you should plan your career path and financial matter so that you can retire comfortably at the age of 55 or earlier to enjoy your long, happy and leisure retirement life into your golden age of 80s and beyond. In retirement, you can still enjoy some fun work of great interest to you and of great values to the society and the community, but at a part-time leisure pace on your own term.

On the other hand, if you are not able to get out of the pressure-cooker or the high-speed battleground at the age of 55 and “have” to keep on working very hard until the age of 65 or older before your retirement, then you probably will die within 18 months of
retirement.

By working very hard in the pressure cooker for 10 more years beyond the age of 55, you give up at least 20 years of your life span on average.

Something to share…..

My colleague, FN, used to tell me, “Before 55, it’s working time. After 55, it’s overtime. After 60, it’s extra time. After 65, it’s anytime.”

I am thankful to God for his constant blessing on me for staying healthy and able to work extra years and walk extra miles (as a planter) well passed my age of retirement at 55. Like many other cheerful retirees, I would like to spend quality time with my dear wife so that we have our free time to travel and visit our children whenever we feel like to.

I did plan to retire in December 2007 as I have just passed 60 and it’s extra time for me. However, in obligation to my boss’ request, I will stay on for a while till my youngest son’s graduation in June 2008. I look forward to get out of the high pressure cooker on the day my boss agrees to release me.

Retirees of my age will certainly like to enjoy long, happy and leisure retirement life. God goes to these people who have past retirement and He recharges them so that they will age gracefully and live like Bob Hope who passed away at the age of 100. Continue giving and sharing......