I read a book called 'Outliers' recently. It talks about timing and opportunity.
From there I realized, we are who we are primarily because of the year (generation) we were born. My grandparent's generation is more unlucky, as they were borned in China in early 1900s, and they were forced to go through WWI and WWII, moving around and living in poverty. So majority of that generation lived in poverty and instability, regardless if they worked hard or not. That's why many of them came to South East Asia, trying to look for better opportunity to survive, and there my parent's generation were born.
Our parents were born in the generation (those born in 1930s-1940s and reached their adulthood in 1950s-1960s) that if they work hard, they will survive better than others. That explains why there are so many successful self-grown entrepreneurs in that generation. The community at that time was still not as competitive, so long as one is hard working and frugal, after years of working, he should have some capital and knowledge to start his own business in the small town, with very little competition. Of course, if one happened to be in a bigger town, then the chance of him become wealthier than those living in a small town after 10-20 years, is much higher. The success of this generation is mainly owing to the fact that the world after WWII has growing population and demand for goods, hence many basic businesses were in demand.
Of course, if a person holds a tertiary qualification at that time (1950s-1960s), it's almost guaranteed that he/she will be groomed into a leader in government sector or in the corporate world because most people only have high school qualification. College graduates were rare in that generation, which means they were not necessarily smarter or more hard working than others, they just have a better opportunity than others, owing to their family financial status plus more importantly, the timing they were borned. If they were born 10-20 years later, they would most likely lose all their advantages, even if they were from wealthier family.
So what are the advantages of those being born in 1970s, i.e. people like us?? Oh well, think carefully. We were among the first generation to have computer at home during our high school age. Then we were the first generation having internet when we just came out from college. (Internet only became commercialized after 1990 and growed explosively in 1996-1997.) So what does this fact make us?? It makes most of us professionals. Due to the change from Industrial to Information Age, there were high demand for profession such as engineers, IT experts, corporate managers etc. Hence, these professions tend to have better job opportunity and better income. That also in a way explains why there are less among us that become an entrepreneur.
So what are the advantages of those being born in 1980s-1990s? In my opinion, the world has moved from localization to globalization in recent years, which means there are higher demand for internet business. Therefore many who studied window programming or php language etc in college, have the advantage to start up as online entrepreneurs and be the masters in the cyber world. We were born earlier, where the programming languages we were taught in school were mostly out-dated. Unless we took initiative to re-learn the latest IT knowledge again, we do not own any advantage in this current high demand area.
There you see, isn't the timing in which we were born important in determining who we become? Some generations are particularly unfortunate, while some generations are just super lucky. Of course, besides timing, how successful we become in our field also depends on the location we are at, our IQ+EQ+attitude. It's what chinese called '天时，地利，人和' (timing, location, human factors).
Anyway, I consider our generation the luckier one. What do you think??
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
十年前的媽媽
A good one...
十年前的媽媽
文/于東輝
那是一個老師告訴我的故事，至今都珍藏心裡，讓自己明白在人世界，其實不應該放過每一個能夠幫助別人的機會。也許你早已忘記，但這種光，卻可以溫暖一個個冷漠的心靈。
那是在十年前的一天，當這位老師正利用中午休息時間，在家裡睡覺時，突然間，電話鈴響了，她接過來一聽，裡面卻傳出一個陌生粗暴的聲音說：「你家的小孩偷書，現在被我們抓住了，你快來啊！」
在話筒裡還傳出一個小女孩的哭鬧聲，和旁邊人的喝叱聲。
她回頭眺望著一邊正在看電視的唯一女兒，心中立即就明白過來。
肯定是有一位小女孩，因為偷書被售貨員抓住了，而又不肯讓家裡人知道，所以，胡編了一個電話號碼，才踫巧打到這裡。
她當然可以放下電話不理，甚至也可以斥責對方，因為這件事，和她沒有任何關係。
但自己是老師，說不定她就是自己的學生呢？
透過電話，她隱約可以設想出，那個一念之差的小女孩，一定非常驚慌害怕，正面臨著也許是人生中最可怕的境地。
猶豫了片刻之後，她的腦海裡突然冒出了一個念頭，對了，就這樣做。
於是，她問清了書店的地址之後，就趕了過去。
正如她預料的那樣，在書店裡站立著一位滿臉淚跡的小女孩，而旁邊的大人們，正惡狠狠的大聲斥責著。
她一下衝上去，將那個可憐的小女孩摟在懷裡，轉身對旁邊的售貨員說道：「有什麼跟我說吧，不要嚇著孩子。」
在售貨員不情願的嘀咕聲中，她交清了幾十元罰款，才領著這個小女孩，走出了書店，並看清楚了那張被淚水與驚恐，弄得一塌糊塗的臉。
她笑了起來，將小女孩領到家中，好好清理了一下，什麼都沒有問，就讓小女孩離開了，臨走時，她還特意叮囑道，如果你要看書，就到阿姨這裡來，裡面有好多書呢。
驚魂未定的小女孩，深深的看了一眼，便飛一般的跑走了，便再也沒有出現。
時間如流水匆匆而過，不知不覺間，十年的光陰，一晃而過，她早已忘記了這件事，依舊住在這裡，過著平靜安祥的生活。
有一天的中午，門外響起了一陣敲門聲。
當她打房門後，看到了一位年輕漂亮的陌生女孩，露著滿臉的笑容，手中還捧著一大堆禮物。
「妳找誰？」她疑惑的問道，但女孩卻激動的說出一大堆話。
好不容易，她才從那個陌生女孩的敘述中，恍然發現，原來她就是當年偷書的那個小女孩，十年之後，已經順利從大學畢業，現在還特意來看望自己。
這個年輕女孩眼睛裡泛著淚光，輕聲說道﹕「雖然我至今都不明白，您為什麼願意冒充我媽媽，解救了我，但我總覺得，這十年來，一直都想喊您一聲∼媽媽！」
老師的眼睛裡，也開始糊模起來，她有些好奇的問道﹕「如果那天我不幫妳，會發生怎樣的結果？」
女孩的臉上，立即變得陰沉下來，輕輕搖著頭說道﹕「我說不清楚，也許就會去做傻事，甚至是去死。」
老師的心中猛然一顫，開始暗暗慶幸。
自己當年在一念之間所做出的決定，竟然可以如此影響到一個人的一生。
望著女孩臉上幸福的笑容，她也一起笑了起來。
逃避.不一定躲的過
面對. 不一定最難受
孤單.不一定不快樂
得到. 不一定能長久
失去.不一定不再有
轉身. 不一定是軟弱
看看現在的自己的生活條件，再回想十年後的自己
也許你現在所做的決定，可以影響自己或另一個人的一生呢！
十年前的媽媽
文/于東輝
那是一個老師告訴我的故事，至今都珍藏心裡，讓自己明白在人世界，其實不應該放過每一個能夠幫助別人的機會。也許你早已忘記，但這種光，卻可以溫暖一個個冷漠的心靈。
那是在十年前的一天，當這位老師正利用中午休息時間，在家裡睡覺時，突然間，電話鈴響了，她接過來一聽，裡面卻傳出一個陌生粗暴的聲音說：「你家的小孩偷書，現在被我們抓住了，你快來啊！」
在話筒裡還傳出一個小女孩的哭鬧聲，和旁邊人的喝叱聲。
她回頭眺望著一邊正在看電視的唯一女兒，心中立即就明白過來。
肯定是有一位小女孩，因為偷書被售貨員抓住了，而又不肯讓家裡人知道，所以，胡編了一個電話號碼，才踫巧打到這裡。
她當然可以放下電話不理，甚至也可以斥責對方，因為這件事，和她沒有任何關係。
但自己是老師，說不定她就是自己的學生呢？
透過電話，她隱約可以設想出，那個一念之差的小女孩，一定非常驚慌害怕，正面臨著也許是人生中最可怕的境地。
猶豫了片刻之後，她的腦海裡突然冒出了一個念頭，對了，就這樣做。
於是，她問清了書店的地址之後，就趕了過去。
正如她預料的那樣，在書店裡站立著一位滿臉淚跡的小女孩，而旁邊的大人們，正惡狠狠的大聲斥責著。
她一下衝上去，將那個可憐的小女孩摟在懷裡，轉身對旁邊的售貨員說道：「有什麼跟我說吧，不要嚇著孩子。」
在售貨員不情願的嘀咕聲中，她交清了幾十元罰款，才領著這個小女孩，走出了書店，並看清楚了那張被淚水與驚恐，弄得一塌糊塗的臉。
她笑了起來，將小女孩領到家中，好好清理了一下，什麼都沒有問，就讓小女孩離開了，臨走時，她還特意叮囑道，如果你要看書，就到阿姨這裡來，裡面有好多書呢。
驚魂未定的小女孩，深深的看了一眼，便飛一般的跑走了，便再也沒有出現。
時間如流水匆匆而過，不知不覺間，十年的光陰，一晃而過，她早已忘記了這件事，依舊住在這裡，過著平靜安祥的生活。
有一天的中午，門外響起了一陣敲門聲。
當她打房門後，看到了一位年輕漂亮的陌生女孩，露著滿臉的笑容，手中還捧著一大堆禮物。
「妳找誰？」她疑惑的問道，但女孩卻激動的說出一大堆話。
好不容易，她才從那個陌生女孩的敘述中，恍然發現，原來她就是當年偷書的那個小女孩，十年之後，已經順利從大學畢業，現在還特意來看望自己。
這個年輕女孩眼睛裡泛著淚光，輕聲說道﹕「雖然我至今都不明白，您為什麼願意冒充我媽媽，解救了我，但我總覺得，這十年來，一直都想喊您一聲∼媽媽！」
老師的眼睛裡，也開始糊模起來，她有些好奇的問道﹕「如果那天我不幫妳，會發生怎樣的結果？」
女孩的臉上，立即變得陰沉下來，輕輕搖著頭說道﹕「我說不清楚，也許就會去做傻事，甚至是去死。」
老師的心中猛然一顫，開始暗暗慶幸。
自己當年在一念之間所做出的決定，竟然可以如此影響到一個人的一生。
望著女孩臉上幸福的笑容，她也一起笑了起來。
逃避.不一定躲的過
面對. 不一定最難受
孤單.不一定不快樂
得到. 不一定能長久
失去.不一定不再有
轉身. 不一定是軟弱
看看現在的自己的生活條件，再回想十年後的自己
也許你現在所做的決定，可以影響自己或另一個人的一生呢！
The Super Duper Ah Huat Sifu
Yesterday I bumped into my Yoga teacher. She seems weak and I knew she has been absented from the Yoga class for 1 whole week. I saw some bruises on her right arm so I asked her what happened. She told me she injured her arm during her Yoga instructors' update session in KL the week before last week. She has tried many massage sifu including '拔罐' etc. that caused the bruises on her arm, but so far there is no sign of recovery.
So I suddenly thought of a person that may be able to help her. It's this magical '推拿' sifu called Ah Huat. Few months ago, I have neck pain so I went to see a chiroprator who asked me to do an MRI and sign up a RM7000+ package to get my problem solved. I was shocked with such a high bill, so I looked for other doctors.
One friend referred me to this Ah Huat sifu. He is about 60 years old and has his 'clinic' set up at home. When I went there, there was a long queue waiting. When I told him my problem and that the chiroprator suspected that my neck disc has dislocation etc, he just pressed on my neck and shoulder and right away concluded that it's not my neck disc problem, then he went on to press a few spots on my arm and shoulder and asked me to 'test it out'. Surprisingly the problem is gone. Moreover, he only charged me RM30 for that!
After that, I brought a few friends with pain here and there to see him. All of them got their problems fixed in just one single visit. Ah Huat sifu usually just told them that it's some 'alignment' issues with their 'urat' and within a few presses, the problem is gone.
So now I have almost become an agent for Ah Huat sifu's '推拿' business, referring friends to him almost every month. Of course, not earning any commission lah.
I was jokingly telling my friends that I should probably start chartering a shuttle bus to carry those friends of mine who got 'alignment' issues to see Ah Huat sifu, and gain some commission from this special service.
So I suddenly thought of a person that may be able to help her. It's this magical '推拿' sifu called Ah Huat. Few months ago, I have neck pain so I went to see a chiroprator who asked me to do an MRI and sign up a RM7000+ package to get my problem solved. I was shocked with such a high bill, so I looked for other doctors.
One friend referred me to this Ah Huat sifu. He is about 60 years old and has his 'clinic' set up at home. When I went there, there was a long queue waiting. When I told him my problem and that the chiroprator suspected that my neck disc has dislocation etc, he just pressed on my neck and shoulder and right away concluded that it's not my neck disc problem, then he went on to press a few spots on my arm and shoulder and asked me to 'test it out'. Surprisingly the problem is gone. Moreover, he only charged me RM30 for that!
After that, I brought a few friends with pain here and there to see him. All of them got their problems fixed in just one single visit. Ah Huat sifu usually just told them that it's some 'alignment' issues with their 'urat' and within a few presses, the problem is gone.
So now I have almost become an agent for Ah Huat sifu's '推拿' business, referring friends to him almost every month. Of course, not earning any commission lah.
I was jokingly telling my friends that I should probably start chartering a shuttle bus to carry those friends of mine who got 'alignment' issues to see Ah Huat sifu, and gain some commission from this special service.
Bye Bye my Brazil & Argentina!
I watched FIFA World Cup since it began last month. My support goes to Brazil and Argentina. I just love the spirit and the skill of these two South American teams.
Last weekend, I almost cried watching the game between Brazil vs. Netherland. All I can say is I hate the way Netherland played. On the other hand, I was speechless when Brazil's Felipe Melo scored an own goal in the 53rd minute and got himself sent off 20 minutes later for a stamp on Dutch winger Arjen Robben. Well he may have made serious mistakes in this important game but I was actually happy that he stamped Arjen Robben hard for play-acting.
There were just too many simulations and physical attacks from the Netherland team, which the referee just somehow kept one eye closed. I was angry watching it, so as Brazil team, and Robinho was so mad at the way Netherland team played till he shouted fiercely at them many times. I was so sad seeing Kaka cried after losing the game. Basically I just sat there speechless for 1 hour+. Anyway, I think whichever team wearing dark blue shirts will sure lose the game. Brazil is supposed to wear their famous yellow that day, not dark blue.
Then I watched the next game between Uruguay and Ghana. I supported Ghana as they were the only African team left. In the quarter final tie against Uruguay, Ghana's Asamoah Gyan missed a penalty in the last minute of extra time hitting the crossbar. He converted his penalty in the subsequent penalty shootout, but Uruguay went on to win the shootout 4-2. There, I went speechless again.
Before watching the following game of my last favorite team Argentina against Germany, I prayed hard that Argentina will win the game and go on to win the World Cup. Who knows... they scored a big fat zero and ended with a shocking 4-0 defeat against Germany.
Oh well, after watching almost 60 world cup games since last month, my conclusion is.... the problem is probably, ME.
Basically whichever teams that I supported sure ended up losing the game, including my favorite Brazil and Argentina. I joked about this with Pig Pig and guess what, she shared the same feelings as me that whichever teams that she supported also lost the games eventually.
Now, it seems that Germany and Netherland are likely to make it to the Final. Since I hate Netherland team so much, I choose to support Germany. If Germany too lose the game, then I shall conclude without any doubt that it's ME, who brought bad luck to all the losing teams, nothing to do with the dark blue shirts, and I shall not watch FIFA World Cup 2014 for my favorite teams sake.
Don't cry for me Argentina
The truth is I never left you
All through my wild days
My mad existence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance...
Last weekend, I almost cried watching the game between Brazil vs. Netherland. All I can say is I hate the way Netherland played. On the other hand, I was speechless when Brazil's Felipe Melo scored an own goal in the 53rd minute and got himself sent off 20 minutes later for a stamp on Dutch winger Arjen Robben. Well he may have made serious mistakes in this important game but I was actually happy that he stamped Arjen Robben hard for play-acting.
There were just too many simulations and physical attacks from the Netherland team, which the referee just somehow kept one eye closed. I was angry watching it, so as Brazil team, and Robinho was so mad at the way Netherland team played till he shouted fiercely at them many times. I was so sad seeing Kaka cried after losing the game. Basically I just sat there speechless for 1 hour+. Anyway, I think whichever team wearing dark blue shirts will sure lose the game. Brazil is supposed to wear their famous yellow that day, not dark blue.
Then I watched the next game between Uruguay and Ghana. I supported Ghana as they were the only African team left. In the quarter final tie against Uruguay, Ghana's Asamoah Gyan missed a penalty in the last minute of extra time hitting the crossbar. He converted his penalty in the subsequent penalty shootout, but Uruguay went on to win the shootout 4-2. There, I went speechless again.
Before watching the following game of my last favorite team Argentina against Germany, I prayed hard that Argentina will win the game and go on to win the World Cup. Who knows... they scored a big fat zero and ended with a shocking 4-0 defeat against Germany.
Oh well, after watching almost 60 world cup games since last month, my conclusion is.... the problem is probably, ME.
Basically whichever teams that I supported sure ended up losing the game, including my favorite Brazil and Argentina. I joked about this with Pig Pig and guess what, she shared the same feelings as me that whichever teams that she supported also lost the games eventually.
Now, it seems that Germany and Netherland are likely to make it to the Final. Since I hate Netherland team so much, I choose to support Germany. If Germany too lose the game, then I shall conclude without any doubt that it's ME, who brought bad luck to all the losing teams, nothing to do with the dark blue shirts, and I shall not watch FIFA World Cup 2014 for my favorite teams sake.
Don't cry for me Argentina
The truth is I never left you
All through my wild days
My mad existence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance...
I am not an outlier
Months ago, I quit my job for freedom, i.e. flexible working hour.
Weeks ago, I was prompted to write down my life purpose on a card during a workshop, which I wrote "To make a difference in my life, and in other's life".
So I want freedom and want to make a difference.
Yesterday I read a magazine and saw a survey about 'What tomorrow's Malaysian workers want'. Guess what??
Survey A:
31% - Flexible working arrangements
26% - Performance-based cash bonuses
15% - Paid academic training & development
12% - Exposure to advanced social activities
8% - A good company pension plan
8% - Paid time off to do charity work
Survey B:
43% - The knowledge that I am making a difference in the world
29% - Quality relationships
28% - As high a profile as possible - as quickly as possible
I smiled while reading it, thinking to myself that I am not really an outlier after all. I am just may be more daring than others in taking action to pursue what most of us wish for.
Weeks ago, I was prompted to write down my life purpose on a card during a workshop, which I wrote "To make a difference in my life, and in other's life".
So I want freedom and want to make a difference.
Yesterday I read a magazine and saw a survey about 'What tomorrow's Malaysian workers want'. Guess what??
Survey A:
31% - Flexible working arrangements
26% - Performance-based cash bonuses
15% - Paid academic training & development
12% - Exposure to advanced social activities
8% - A good company pension plan
8% - Paid time off to do charity work
Survey B:
43% - The knowledge that I am making a difference in the world
29% - Quality relationships
28% - As high a profile as possible - as quickly as possible
I smiled while reading it, thinking to myself that I am not really an outlier after all. I am just may be more daring than others in taking action to pursue what most of us wish for.
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