Showing posts with label Purpose. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Purpose. Show all posts

15 May 2011

Miracles

Do you believe in miracles?

Having experienced numerous headwinds and challenges recently, I cannot help but expect to see one. Not sure if you have similar experience like this one. When one's human will power is at the brink of breaking down totally and energy almost depleted? Life seems to be unable to carry on? How come so many things are not moving towards your expectations or targets? Why Murphy suddenly becomes your closest friend? What went wrong? What can we do to improve the current situations?

I am a Buddhist. Buddhism teaches one to be self-reliant in seeking the truth and to attainment enlightenment. Karma is the key mechanics behind all the events in this world. At this point in time, when one's will power is at its weakest, self-reliant seems almost impossible to sustain against the onslaught of so many challenges and headwinds beyond your human control.

Recently I wondered into a church (but I wonder why I did that in the first place). I saw a person, very nice guy, who gave me a book mark bearing the contact details of the church. Today I went back to the church to participate in their Sunday worship session. The session helps me recall my first encounter on Christianity back in my secondary school days. I actually finished reading the whole book of Genesis once. I recall in many stories inside the Genesis that displays God's power through miracles. I also started to recall my days in the Boy's Brigade, when we have to sing tunes praising God. I am still able to recall one tune like this:

He's able, He's able, I know He's able!
I know my Lord is able to carry me through.

He heals the broken hearted, and set the captives free.
He make the limp to walk again and cause the blind to see, Oh Ye!

He's able, He's able, I know He's able!
I know my Lord is able to carry me through.

New questions start to pop up in my mind. Will God help non-believers and non-followers by giving them strength to carry on in life, showing them directions on how to proceed with their life for the better? Will God display his powers through miracles to these group? I don't have an answer. But I do need a miracle right now, I choose to believe in its existence. And I am on the edge of humbling myself before those who can show miracles to change the lives of my families for the better.

What's your take? Maybe you can share your views with me. Greatly appreciated!


Cheers!
Leroy

16 June 2009

Volunteer Contribution with ISCOS @ Sungei Buloh

I had a great time with the kids again, this time round, we went to Sungei Buloh for a field trip on 13 Jun 09, a great Saturday morning. :-)

Am also glad to know more new friends like Duncan, a historian who is writing about our Istana currently and his wife Julia, who is working in the British High Commission.

Our guides are very experienced. They were able to share with us alot of the nature reserves species and flora. I had alot to learn siah! :-P

Below are some of the moments, captured in my camera, for sharing.

* Click on the photos to see enlarged view.






















Out of the blue, my handphone rang. When I answered the phone call, I heard a recorded message from the other end of the line. Xue Ter. It's mobilisation exercise! Why must it be today and at this hour??

As I find my way to the reporting centre, a song by Liang Zhi Qiang came into my mind. It sounds like, "Army, you know, I hate you, cock up all my schedule....".


Happy Volunteering,

Leroy

"When I Stop Learning, I Stop Living."

29 May 2009

Volunteer Contribution with ISCOS @ Sentosa

Did my first volunteer contribution today with ISCOS. Brought some kids to Sentosa to have a fun time together. Our interactions opened my mind to another perspective of life.

The children are so full of energy, expecially my assigned buddy Khairu, and I almost fully depleted mine... LoL

I had made new friends too! Wonderful ladies Trina Teo and Anna Tang and our unbelievable energetic Thomas Tan! I like Thomas's quote on his contact card,


"Work should be a joyful experience
as it enhances the quality of our lives."


*Click on the photos to enlarge.










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Related Links:

Be a Friend of Industrial and Services Co-operative Society Ltd , ISCOS (www.iscos.org.sg)



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I am looking forward to the next contribution time. :-P


Have a great weekend,

Leroy Ang

"When I Stop Learning, I Stop Living."

08 March 2009

Slumdog Millionaire - The Movie

On Alex's recommendation, i went to watch the movie, Slumdog Millionaire. I think the movie deserves the Oscar Awards it had won.


I also happened to chance upon Max and his friends, Mindy and Jeremiah at the cinema. I agree with Mindy's view that the movie depicts well on the rich societal culture in India. What I had learnt from this movie, is more than just the plot. It's about what the lead actor, Jamal Malik, protray in the movie.

The movie attempted to summarise the life of Jamal, a "slumpdog" in India. The term slumpdog is used to describe the lowest life form of a human in India, the lowest of the castes in the country. The process showed how Jamal, a honest and pure thinking guy, rose to millionaire status via the TV Show, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.

The most memorable part of the movie, was the scene where the junior Jamal, while doing his "business" in a public open air toilet, saw the helicopter of his favourite movie actor flew past and was about to land in his vicinity. Jamal love this actor so much and wanted his autograph on the photo he had in his hand. At this point in time, Jamal was locked in the toilet by his elder brother as Jamal earlier caused his brother to lost a chance to earn some quick cash by occupying the toilet. Jamal, driven by his love and passion for his favourite actor, overcome this obstacle (locked door), by jumping into the shit hole below the toilet, in order to get out of the toilet and rushed towards his favourite actor's landing site.

Without much thinking needed, it's not hard to visualise, the state that Jamal was in, when he emerged from the pool of shit. Yes, literally pool of shit. As he rushed towards his favourite actor, nothing and no one can stop him in his path. Because he was too smelly!!! :-O

I was so inspired by Jamal's passion, that helps him persevere against all odds, helping him to achieve his goal (of getting his favourite actor's autograph). Of course, there are much more lessons to be learnt, from the life of a slumpdog. You will have catch the movie to experience it all with Jamal.

An Indian movie not to be missed. ;-)


Cheers!

Leroy

"When I Stop Learning, I Stop Living."

21 December 2008

The Power to Dream

I came to know a new friend today during our group's periodical Cashflow game and I am glad that I know him. He'd shared with me one of his experiences and I responded to his sharing. I thought my email response may be a good sharing session with the rest of my blog readers.

His situation is about his family members and close friends "not so encouraging" reactions to his ambition. He continues to hold steadfast to his dreams. And that's encouragement to me! :-)

Below is my response to him:

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Share with you a statement, made by a ex-US President, Mr Abraham Lincoln.

It was so powerful a statement that someone was willing to translate it into mandarin to share. I came to know about this inspiring statement when it was already in mandarin and I don't know the actual English version. So i will try to translate it into English as best as i can here to share:

"Mankind is Great because of our ability to Dream
and
All Great People were once a Dreamer."

As we grow older, our dreams tend to get smaller. Many people allows their dreams to be destroyed by a reality that is not real. We dream our dreams and these dreams are as real as what we see in it. That's the reality i see.

"Believe to See."

Those whom you'd shared your dreams with, may not be able to see what you see. Many are concern that you may be "destroyed" by your pursuit of dreams that may not be realised. This is out of their goodwill, but they may not be presenting their ideas in an encouraging way. We are Asians fundamentally, and encouragement is not our forte. (I am working very hard on this right now too)

"Without dreams, we are but living corpses."

So hold on to your dreams. Hawk over it. Guard it with your life. You are right to commit to your dreams, take actions to realize it! :-)

I am truly inspired by a gentleman, who is pursuing his dream at a young age that I dare not even try. His energy level to achieve success is fueling my drive. His name is Alex and you can read more about him from his blog @ http://thebillionairejournal.wordpress.com

Read more, Talk more, Learn more and act on plans to make your dreams come true. I am. ;-)

For sharing on my Concept to achieve my dreams @ http://leroyang.blogspot.com/search/label/PME2 

Cheers! :-)

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Merry Christmas to All Readers,
With Lots of Love,

Leroy

"When I Stop Learning, I Stop Living."


02 March 2008

PME2 - Concept for Financial Freedom

It has been a good short break for me since I last blogged in Nov 2007. Work and learning had been intensive but I am still spending at least 1 hour per day to continuously improve my financial intelligence.

Time flies and it has already been 2 years 3 months since I made that choice to achieve financial freedom with the financial enlightenment I'd gained in Dec 2005. Over this period, I am glad that my learnings have improved by leaps and bounds. I have also started to struture my own thoughts and develop my own concept of how one can achieve financial freedom, which i will like to share in this article.

On the journey towards my financial freedom, I have attempted to share my learning experience to numerous learning partners. I have also attempted to spar my ideas with my learning partners to sharpen my thoughts. Most of the sharing or sparring have been in parts, as I am unable to express my ideas as a whole. It is also pretty lengthy to express the parts in details before a holistic whole can be derived. Thus I have decided to share my learning using a simple concept, introduced to me by one of my mentor. The main structure is known as Purpose, Methods and End-State, or in short PME. I have since evolves the PME structure into a concept known as PME2, to suit the context of this discussion.

The PME2 builds upon my limited 2 years of journey in trying to find my ways to achieve financial freedom. I believe many newbies, like me, in the search of their own path to achieve financial freedom, will also encounter what I had been through. What I am going to share here, is nothing more than logic. Yes, plain logic. The difference lies in action. I put the logic into action and evolves it into applied knowledge.

PME2 attempts to conceptualise, shape and synergise my efforts to achieve my desired outcome - Financial Freedom. When expressed pictorially, it is can be seen in the form of constructing a building. The larger framework is enclaved by the Purpose, Methods and End-State. The inner structure are supported by key pillars of Plans, Meta-Attributes and Education. I will attempt to discuss the PME2 concept broadly here.




PURPOSE

The ground forms the foundation on which the building is been constructed on. If this foundation is weak, the building will face a lot of difficulties during the construction phase or the completed building will collapse in no time. The ground is the purpose.

The purpose will also answer the question of "WHY", the key reason for all the subsequent efforts to achieve the desired end-state. When faced with difficulties along the journey, this Purpose will constantly reinforce the practitioner's belief that the journey is worth all the while.

Purpose seems simliar to one of the pillar, Meta-Attributes, as though they are a sub-set of each other, yet are different in nature which I will attempt to elaborate further later.


METHODS

If I have 6 hours to chop a tree, I will spend 4 hours sharpening the axe. This is where I will invest my 4 hours in.

Plan, Meta-Attributes and Education are the three supporting pillars building upon the purpose, supports the way to achieve the desired outcome. The three pillars are also mutually supporting each other.

A Plan keeps the practitioner focused on what requires to be done and synergise his efforts to achieve it. The Meta-attributes forms the backbone without which the outcome will be hollow and empty. Education is established by acquiring Skills, Knowledge and Experience along this journey.


END-STATE

The end-state, in this context, are financial goals / targets in definitive form of 5Ws. It has to be specific, measurable, quantifiable and in the form of Who, What, Where, When and Why.


In the next sharing, I will attempt to discuss more into the methods of Plan, Meta-Attributes and Education. Meanwhile, I invite and appreciate any reader of this entry to share and leave your comments after reading this entry.


Good night,

Leroy :-)

"When I Stop Learning, I Stop Living."

07 July 2007

The Power of Action

When I first know and understand the Power of Knowledge, I have decided that this is the path I MUST pursue and thus set a personal goal to read at least a book per month. I took responsibility for my own knowledge and I start to read. With the help of my mentors, I have learnt how to read books. (You may think that I am going crazy. Do we need mentors to teach us HOW to read books? Just read lor!)

Yes, HOW to read, with some simple techinques. Unknowing, I achieved my goal of reading 1 book per month, after a while of course. In fact, at the end of last year (2006), I was reading at a speed of 3 books per month! I reflected upon my current state and said to myself, "WOW!". I have evolved from a person who hates to read, to a person who can read 3 books per month? "WOW!"

By reading more books, I have gained more concepts, both in breadth and in depth. The more I read, the more I enjoy the process. Just last month, at the peak of my work portfolio, I have achieved a reading speed of 5 books per month! Double, WOW WOW!! I am reading at such a speed that I... Someone stop me!!! :-O

Sometimes I am just curious that my brain may be exploding with so much information. I guess this is a happy problem. Now I just need a framework to digest these information at a much higher and faster speed, or at least a speed that match my reading. :-)

I know what is necessary to be done, to reach the end state I have in mind. I drafted a simple plan, hold on to a set simple beliefs, and I took action. (Ah Beng call this "Chiong ah!".) One strange phenomena I have noticed is that.... When I take Actions, the effects multiplies by itself. The more actions I take, the more the effects multiples, until so massive. This phenomena does not just apply to reading.

When I make known to my circle of friends that I am looking out for mentors who are willing to share and to guide me, my network in this aspect expanded! And I am so glad that every mentor I have met is also willing to lead me to the next mentor whom I need. Ever heard of network marketing concept? I guess I market myself well enough for my mentors to recommend me to their friends. I become a product already?! :-)

Massive changes require massive actions. By understanding that actions, no matter how small it may seem initially, taken consistently over a period of time, will have its effects multiple by itself, I "think big, start small". It is this simple.

Of course, everything seems to be balanced in our world. With massive actions, the opposite is procrastination. Warning: "Procrastination" is the number 1 killer of success. It is the single most common state that keeps people from taking action.

So what are you waiting for? Continue to whine and continue to play "victim"? Or choose to take small action steps, NOW!! Your choice. ;-)


Your Learning Partner,

Leroy
"When I Stop Learning, I Stop Living"

"Everybody has the ability to do absolutely anything I do and much more beyond. Some of you will and some of you won't. For the ones who won't, it will be because you get in your own way, not because the world doesn't allow you." - Warren Buffett

24 February 2007

The Power of Choice

Have you constantly hear relatives, friends, whinning about how lousy their current situation is? Sounds very familiar? They choose to whin, but failed to take any positive action. I used to fall in this category and I am pulling myself out.

One book changed my perspective of life and I found that I started living.

In Dec 05, with almost a month-long of leave, life became very "difficult" for a workaholic like I used to be. I got so bored that I started to do something that I used to really hate... Reading.


I was passing by this bookstore called Popular, and a title caught my eyes. The Automatic Millionaire. Almost everyone dream of becoming rich and I had my share too. The word automatic just caught my attention. Becoming a millionaire can be automatic? Yes you can be, with a bit of self-discipline.

Since then, I started reading. Books after books. For the passed 1 year, the amount of books I had read amounts to more then the books I had read for the passed 13 years of my academic education. I'd made a 2006 resolution to read at least 1 book per month. I am doing at a rate of 3 books per month now. In addition, I am also reading more than 10 channels of news everyday, just to broaden my learning of learning and gaining better situational awareness. On reflecting, I told myself, I had evolved.

I had made a choice. I choose to gain knowledge. I found a well of wealth more important than wealth of richness; Knowledge. And because I choose to read more, I feel more powerful than before, gaining strength as I keep reading. This is the power of choice.

Every human being, since the day we had gained conciousness, starts to make choices everyday. Their choices determine their way to life. Those who choose the path of being pessmistism will keep whinning and never take any action to improve their situation. Those who choose to level up their life finds their situation improving day by day, bit by bit.

This is the Power of Choice. It will help you answer to the "why" in your life.
Have you made your choice today?


Warmest regards,


Leroy Ang

"When I Stop Learning, I Stop Living"

The Power of Sharing

Over the course of just 12 months, I'd learned and gained an enormous amount of knowledge... all by sharing what I know or had learnt and in return, being shared with what my learning partners knew. Such sharing and exchanging of ideas, concepts, info, greatly accelerated my personal learning curve. I believe my learning partners have gained from my sharing too and we will continue to grow together.

This is the power of sharing; when "1 + 1 = 4". This power is also in-line with the concept of active learning.

Seeing that blogging can be a great medium for such exchange of ideas, thoughts, beliefs, I'd thought of giving it a try. I will post my learning experiences and wish that those who read my blog, and if it stike a cord or two in you, share with me your thoughts too.


Wishing everyone a fruitful journey in learning,

Leroy Ang

"When I stop Learning, I stop Living"