Posts filed under 'Career development'
Guess what is the most popular class in Harvard Univ? Hint, can it be “how to be rich”? Answer is: No, it is the class taught by Prof Tal Ben-Shahar called “how to be happy”. If you are interested on some common sense that can make yourself happy without drinking or using drugs, keep reading.
Well, my job is consultant, all I do everyday is to travel to places, meet people and solve problems, but a lot of the times I see unhappy faces, people are worried, concerned and upset on lots of things. Comparatively, I am a happy guy and in retrospect what makes me happy? it actually lined up quite well with the six tips for happiness that are offered by Prof Shahar’s class “Positive Physology”. If you want to see the video, click the class website.
1. Give yourself permission to be human. Accept not reject. When we accept emotions — such as fear, sadness, or anxiety — as natural, we are more likely to overcome them. Rejecting our emotions, positive or negative, leads to frustration and unhappiness.
2. Happiness lies at the intersection between pleasure and meaning. Whether at work or at home, the goal is to engage in activities that are both personally significant and enjoyable. When this is not feasible, make sure you have happiness boosters, moments throughout the week that provide you with both pleasure and meaning.
3. Keep in mind that happiness is mostly dependent on our state of mind, not on our status or the state of our bank account. Barring extreme circumstances, our level of well being is determined by what we choose to focus on (the full or the empty part of the glass) and by our interpretation of external events. For example, do we view failure as catastrophic, or do we see it as a learning opportunity?
4. Simplify! We are, generally, too busy, trying to squeeze in more and more activities into less and less time. Quantity influences quality, and we compromise on our happiness by trying to do too much.
5. Remember the mind-body connection. What we do — or don’t do — with our bodies influences our mind. Regular exercise, adequate sleep, and healthy eating habits lead to both physical and mental health.
6. Express gratitude, whenever possible. We too often take our lives for granted. Learn to appreciate and savor the wonderful things in life, from people to food, from nature to a smile.
I think the last one is very handy, spend a few minutes a day and write down the things that you are thankful, the list is not for others to read, but for you to appreciate.
May 31st, 2006
This is by no means a new business book, I’m glad I finished this book as my boss recommneded.
The author of this book also wrote another popular book “Built to last”. It may not be hard to start a business and make it shine, many successful internet startup just showed that. Yet there are very few companies that can sustain that success story into an extended period of time. What the book “From good to great” talk about is to find out what are the common traits behind 14 companies that transfered from good to great and generated substantial improvements overtime, those companies include Fannie Mae, Wallmart, Walgreens etc. Contrary to many conventional wisdom, making the transition from good to great doesn’t require a high-profile CEO, the latest technology, innovative change management, or even a fine-tuned business strategy. At the heart of those rare and truly great companies was a culture that rigrously found and promoted disciplined people to think and act in a disciplined manner. For those who want to start up their own business and produce endured results, they should read this book.
Here are the top level abstract of the book..
1. LEVEL FIVE LEADERSHIP - They had leaders who were a paradoxical blend of personal humility and professional will.
2. FIRST WHO…THEN WHAT - People are not the most important asset. The right people are.
3. CONFRONT THE BRUTAL FACTS - They maintained unwavering faith that they would prevail in the end, and at the same time the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of the current reality.
4. THE HEDGEHOG CONCEPT - Their core business was that at which they believed they could be the best in the world.
5. THE CULTURE OF DISCIPLINE - When a company employs disciplined people hierarchy, bureaucracy, and excessive controls are not necessary.
6. TECHNOLOGY ACCELERATORS - Technology by itself is never a primary, root cause of either greatness or decline.
7. THE FLYWHEEL AND THE DOOM LOOP - Good-to-great transformation never happened in one fell swoop but as a relentless push to breakthrough and beyond.
July 9th, 2005
During one leadership development class, we were introduced to this cool tool called Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI for short). It is used to measur a person’s preferences, using four basic scales with opposite poles. The four scales are: (1) extraversion/introversion, (2) sensate/intuitive, (3) thinking/feeling, and (4) judging/perceiving. A person just need to choose answers from a preset of questions, and the results of the various combinations are 16 personality types. Mine came out to be ESTJ (Extraversion, Sensing, Thinking and Judging).
I think the result is pretty accurate and if you haven’t tried before, give it a shot.
The following are quote from the analysis of my MBTI.
ESTJs thrive on order and continuity. Being extraverted, their focus involves organization of people, which translates into supervision. While ENTJs enjoy organizing and mobilizing people according to their own theories and tactically based agendas, ESTJs are content to enforce “the rules,” often dictated by tradition or handed down from a higher authority.
ESTJs are joiners. They seek out like-minded companions in clubs, civic groups, churches and other service organizations. The need for belonging is woven into the fiber of SJs. The family likewise is a central focus for ESTJs, and attendance at such events as weddings, funerals and family reunions is obligatory.
Tradition is important to the ESTJ. Holidays, birthdays and other annual celebrations are remembered and observed often religiously by this type. The ESTJ is inclined to seek out his roots, to trace the family heritage back to honored ancestors both for a sense of family respectability and for a sense of security and belonging.
Service, the tangible expression of responsibility, is another key focus for ESTJs. They love to provide and to receive good service. The ESTJ merchant who provides dependable service has done much to enhance her self image.
ESTJs have an acute sense for orthodoxy. Much of their evaluation of persons and activities reflects their strong sense of what is “normal” and what isn’t. ESTJ humor is frequently centered around something or someone being off center or behaving abnormally.
ESTJs promote the work ethic. Power, position and prestige should be worked for and earned. Laziness is rarely viewed with ambivalence nor benevolence by this type.
Some men can make decisions and some cannot. Some men fret and delay under criticism. I used to have a saying1 that applies here, and I note that some people have picked it up.
–Harry S. Truman, Mr. Citizen
1″If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”
The ESTJ is outspoken, a person of principles, which are readily expressed. The ESTJ is not afraid to stand up for what she believes is right even in the face of overwhelming odds. ESTJs are able to make the tough calls.
Occupations attracting ESTJs include teaching, coaching, banking, political office, and management at all levels.
P.S. Jane said she did several tests before and that type turned out to be: INFJ. Read the following for this type…
Beneath the quiet exterior, INFJs hold deep convictions about the weightier matters of life. Those who are activists — INFJs gravitate toward such a role — are there for the cause, not for personal glory or political power.
INFJs are champions of the oppressed and downtrodden. They often are found in the wake of an emergency, rescuing those who are in acute distress. INFJs may fantasize about getting revenge on those who victimize the defenseless. The concept of ‘poetic justice’ is appealing to the INFJ.
“There’s something rotten in Denmark.” Accurately suspicious about others’ motives, INFJs are not easily led. These are the people that you can rarely fool any of the time. Though affable and sympathetic to most, INFJs are selective about their friends. Such a friendship is a symbiotic bond that transcends mere words.
INFJs have a knack for fluency in language and facility in communication. In addition, nonverbal sensitivity enables the INFJ to know and be known by others intimately.
Writing, counseling, public service and even politics are areas where INFJs frequently find their niche.
June 29th, 2005
Wow, can’t believe I have been at Lenovo for 2 days already! As I am in the “ramp-up” period, I have not done much yet - just trying to settle in, get my badge to work, get acquainted with all the business processes/acronyms/tools, and understand the different areas of responsibilities. The coworkers have been very friendly and helpful and my manager seems to be a great manager so I am really looking forward to my time at Lenovo! I think what makes it especially exciting is the fact that since the company (Lenovo International) is new, many things are up in the air so there is a lot of opportunities to learn and try out different things!
June 14th, 2005
Started reading a NY best seller “The Little Red Book of Selling” and it described 12.5 Red Principles, which is quite eye-opening because I never delt with sales in the past, but the sales activity just happened every day in our life - talking to the leader about implementing new ideas, get approval for new projects etc, these principles can be applied so easily..
1. Kick your own ass
2. Prepare to win, to lose to someone who is
3. Person branding IS sales:
Its not who you now, its who knows you.
4. Its all about value, its all about relationship. its not all about price.
5. Its NOT work, its NETwork.
6. If you cannot get in front of the real decision maker, you suck
7. Engage me and you can make me convince myself.
8. If you can make them laugh, you can make them buy!
9. Use CREATIVITY to differentiate and dominate.
10. Reduce their risk and you’ll covert selling to buying.
11. When you say it about yourself its bragging.
When someone else says its about you its proof.
12. Antennas up!
12.5 Resign your position as general manager of the universe.
June 14th, 2005
Breaking news: On 4:30 PM EST May 13, Jane landed her first local JOB offer from Lenovo via its contracting company. After two days of extensive negotitation, Jane and the company agreed on the final terms with the undisclosed salary - Jane seems satisfied with the offer and would like to take the new job after the graduation trip from Switzerland and Italy.
May 13th, 2005
“First, Break All The Rules: What The World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently” This books presents 12 questions, and if your employee answers all of them positively, the chance is that you are a great boss.
1) Do I know what is expected of me at work?
2) Do I have the materials and equipment I need to do my work right?
3) At work, do I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day?
4) In the last seven days, have I received recognition or praise for good work?
5) Does my supervisor, or someone at work, seem to care about me as a person?
6) Is there someone at work who encourages my development?
7) At work, do my opinions seem to count?
8) Does the mission/purpose of my company make me feel like my work is important?
9) Are my co-workers committed to doing quality work?
10) Do I have a best friend at work?
11) In the last six months, have I talked with someone about my progress?
12) At work, have I had the opportunities to learn and grow?”
January 31st, 2005
@PriceWaterhouseCoopers Business Consulting.. OMG! this is the historical achievement.
We will most likely to reject the offer since we don’t want to move to New York city..
January 31st, 2005
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