What is effective people ?

I have been working as senior manager in an organization many years, I expect my staff to work efficiently and effectively. 

Well, am I doing the same ? Haha .. to be honest, I some how not live up to the expectation :)

What are the differences between efficiency and effectiveness ?

Efficiency - As an efficient person do thing fast and they are task achiever and get thing done quickly. They can complete project on time and generally they are organised and competent. 

Effectiveness - As an effective person, they do right task and project. Even though they are slower but they do the right things. 

Many a time, we are rushing to complete a task without looking into the subject matter in detail. In many of my experiences, due to the deadline and work pressure from bosses, we are rushing to get thing done with checking in detail, and ultimately the result is unfavorable or full of errors.

Same happen when we see a problem arising, without checking on the root cause of the problem, we come out with "Solution" that we think it works, but at the end, the result is unsatisfied and end up need to redo or more problem arising from the rush job.

Therefore, being efficiency is insufficient, we must also do think effectively.

I read a articles sharing what is an effectiveness personality :

1) Effective person has goal and they know the reason behind the job.
2) Effective person know how to plan and create a system on how to acheive the goal.
3) Effective person has strong believe system and they believe they can conquer all sort of difficuties.
4) Effective person do not waste time to worry about not successful but they focus in control.
5) Effective person willing to help others.

Finally, Effective person always focus in doing the RIGHT THING. They will pause and recheck their goal / action to ensure their path is moving forward to the right direction.

Where to stay in Taiwan?

A friend shared a link in facebook on some recommended accommodation in Taiwan. Being kiasu and afraid I would lost the link (As you know facebook posts keep replacing with the new one, you couldn't find it after a while), I decided to place the link in my blog so that I can refer to it easily in the future. 

Well, it is not a bad choice if you wish to keep some links to avoid missing. Hahaha!!

http://tw.gigacircle.com/1305271-1

Love the design ... at least my whole family can stay in together :)

By the way, if you come across my post here, you may check out this website where to get decent and affordable accommodation in Taiwan. I am not sure how good are they but do write to me if you find anything nice.

Cheer!!

Cheese Souffle Recipie ... feel craving for it now!!

Suddenly I felt like having a cheese souffle ...

... and what better to get the right recipes from YouTube, you will find many cooking video clips in YouTube. All you need to do is to find one that you feel comfortable, then follow and do it yourself.

 INGREDIENTS IN THIS DISH:

4 Large Eggs (Separated, at room temperature)
1/2 Cup of Dry Breadcrumbs (Store Bought)
30g of Butter (plus extra, melted, for brushing)
1/4 Cup of Plain Flour
1 1/4 Cups of Milk
2 Cups of Grated Cheddar Cheese
2 Teaspoons of Dijon Mustard
Pinch of Cayenne Pepper
Salt and Pepper

Preparation Time: About 20 minutes
Cooking Time: About 10 minutes

I have seen a few videos, but I like this one most because it is not sweet and is kind of savory taste, that is what I like most.

 



 

Thank to OnePotChefShow ... 

Can't wait to try .. hahahaha

A 37-Years Seperation

What is 37-years mean to you? It is indeed a very long duration for most people. Generally, human live about 70 years old averagely, and 37 years are more than half.

After 37 years, I finally reunion with some of my old classmates during my primary school time. I knew them since standard one, about 43 years ago, ever since our graduated from primary school in 1977,  I never see them at all. 

Time sometime is very strange, while everyone is staying around KL, especially a few stayed near my area,  but we never notice and meet up, not a single time. Except just one friend who is still in touch, however, suddenly, through this friend that I knew, I have been invited to a WeChat group...

Woow!! This is awesome, in the chat group, I meet back all my long lost touched classmates again, there are 18 of them being added into the group and the number is increasing. My friends are trying very hard to trace back all those long lost touched classmates. In the group, most of us are meeting up first time ever since we were graduated. I couldn't recall some of their names ... 

Time is like a wash detergent, it washed away many things, good or bad. Many of my childhood memories had watched away and leave with minor memories in broken pieces, but after chatting for a while, more and more pieces of my memories flashed back in my mind.

The WeChat's room has becoming my favorite place to hang around, I enjoy reading conversations between classmates. Mostly still communicate in mandarin, but I try my best to use my "half pass six" mandarin to communicate with them too. I felt close and warms again for using back my mother tongue to communicate. Since started working life, I seldom using Mandarin. But a after a while, I feel my Mandarin improved a lot.

In the group, there are a few outspoken ones, very talented and great command of mandarin. Excellent writing skill and do create many funny and entertaining conversations, love it !!.. 

Some are very touching and emotional too.

I just enjoy each other company, sometime friendship does not necessary disappeared over period of time, if time is right, it is like wine, it becoming more smooth over period of time. I guess our friendships are like that loh.

Thank to 慧丽, 长发，彬龙, 建昌 等等

You guys are awesome. They have taken efforts to scan this memorable photos in high resolution and take efforts to put our names and reconnect us back ....

 

Next, I am looking forward for an old classmate get-together, I can't wait to see them in person.Hahaha!!Yeah!!

Reality of Fact

Two days ago, I have gone through a two-day intensive training on positive problem solving skill. It was tiring as discussion continue for hours without stop. After the whole session, I was not only physically tired but also mentally exhausted. Nevertheless, I was very excited and impressed with the tools and technique on problem solving solution.

So, I wanted to use this problem solving technique with my son to solve his study problem. It always our concerns over his study. Knowing him very playful but he is going to face his SPM examination by the end of the year, anxieties was started building up as time approaches and stress level gone up not only himself but we as parent too. 

So, I checked with him about the recent exam result, off course not in satisfactory. Certain subjects were even in danger zone of below passing mark. it becomes alarming ....

I called a family meeting to discuss this issue, hoping this more scientific approaches can solve the problem.

Step 1 - Clarify the Problem

First, I need to identify what is the problem. Clarify problem is important, we don't want to simply guess what is the problem, it may tackle wrongly. After much deliberation (normally we can use 5W1H to help), we all agreed that the problem is "Problem having poor result in examination".

Step 2 - Facts Finding - Desire Vs Current

After we have the problem statement, second step is to do fact finding. We something assume without checking on facts. So, I was using the "comparison table of desire vs current status". Off course, after the finding, I have to face the reality, the variance of meeting expected results were too much, the gap is so wide... Hai~~~ 

It is like "wacking" on my head ... (as father, I was thinking my son study was okay ... but after fact finding, I then realized, is not okay at all ... or dear!!)

 

Step 3 - Zooming in Critical Areas

So, we move to 3rd step, to zone in the critical areas. 

But how ? 

So many areas affecting may cause the problem. I use the radar diagram to help me. This diagram is to help me finding critical area. There are many other tools such as flow chart analysis and so on, but I think the radar diagram use lesser time and more simplified to use in my situation.

So I divided into Effort of Study, Teacher Quality, Parent Encouragement, Leisure Time (such as handphone, games, tv etc). Actually can have more area, but for this case, 4 areas are sufficient.

First, I need to set"what is I wish ......." For example, I wish to use how much percentage of efforts in study ... my son said, 80% ..... then I asked him, how much percentage you have used to study ... he told me 20%.

(shock!!!)

Anyway, after asking repeatedly question in the 4 areas ... the radar diagram show me this:

The greatest gap differences is the critical areas .... and turn up to be his study efforts.... oh dear !!

At least I have found out the critical area.

Step 4 - Finding out the actual root cause 

What is the "main killer" that cause my son efforts of study was to low ?

I decided to use the Inter-relationship diagram to help me to find the killer who cause why my son has low efforts in study. I started to give all family members 8 pieces of small paper and request everyone list down one possible cause in each paper. Afterthat, we sort out those possible causes together according to their nature. Initial, it has quiet a lot, but then we start grouping in similar form. Then we picked up the highest 6 possible causes to analysis.

1) Spent too much time in h/phone, computer & games

2) No mood to study

3) Teacher do not know how to teach

4) Parent

5) Physical Tired

6) Study environment in house

So, by looking at it, who is the real "Killer"?

Outright, from the result (highest number of paper), everyone in the family think that spending too much times in hand phone, computer and games was the killer that kill my son effort in study. 

(at the time, I thought so ......)

Then I continue to use the IR Diagram to decode the results.

To do the IR diagram, I have to do relationship finding using clockwise. We have to ask ourselves, is the "handphone" and "no mood" have any connection that affect the study effort low? Everyone voice out... either yes or not, if yes, why? If no, why? If they have connection, draw a line between the two, then asked another question, which one is affecting which? Will "handphone" affect  "no mood" or vice verse? Everyone has to discuss their points of view, picked the correct answer and draw an arrow to indicate who affect who. In this example, it is "no mood" that influence "handphone". It is  because my son no mood in study, you will think to play more handphone/games....

Then we do another establishment of relationship between "handphone" and "teacher" ...... the list go on and on until complete the whole circle.

After our family "playing" this games, we summarized the result by establish how many IN and how many OUT for each causes. IN represent the victim and OUT represent as killer. The highest score in IN, is the worst victim and the highest score in OUT, is the Master KILLER!!!!

OH MY GOSH!!

We PARENT turn out to be responsible for my son low efforts of study!! Honestly, my wife suddenly cannot accept the fact, because she believe she has done a good job in children education .... off course I have to dis-fuss the situation a bit. Sometime, we have blind spots in life, we thought everything was okay, but maybe, we did not realize it is not as good as we think. The diagram clearly shown the killer is the Parent, we have to admit the fact we did not do good enough, then we then can open up for correction and improvement.

The analysis is good because it helps us to focus on the right cause. Form the look, blaming my son low effects of study because he has playing too much of handphone games etc may sound correct, but is it the root cause ? What cause him playing it ? Who bought all these gadgets for him? Who explore all these games in their young age ? 

We, parent, isn't it ?

We are the root cause!!

Hai~~ is a "pluak" on the face

We are not putting sufficient efforts in helping our son in study... we only know how to scold him for not study, always play games lah .......... etc ...

Step 5 - Possible Solution - Evaluate Solution - Finalized Solution

Step 6 - Measurement Indicator (setting up Lead and Lag Indicator)

Step 7 - Action

We did not manage to complete step 5 to 7 due to limited time. Nevertheless, ultimately, we have recognized Parent is the main influential for our son success. We have to set our next agenda for our family meeting, i.e., is to identify solution to rectify the problem.

I am grateful for what I had learned in work and able to bring it back my home to share with my family. Many times, we are so professional when worked, but we hardly use some of those skills to help our family. I am also happy for my son take it positively. His action told me he wanted to improve further in his study. ... 

I guess, tomorrow, mummy will start working with him to form his study plan.

Thank God!! Praise Him! Is never too late to take action now.   

Find something nice - Slideshare

Lately I like to visit slideshare.com. This is a website that allow people post and share their PowerPoint presentation. I called it slides-share.

You may get many information in various subjects / topic, these are the information uploaded by its members. The amounts of knowledge are tremendous and you can learn so much from all these presentation. Some of them are beautiful done. I have learned how to make beautiful presentation and it indeed had helped me a lot in work.

Off course, not every slide-share are useful but if you select carefully, you may find a lot of treasures and surprises.

I love the part that the slide-shares are being feature in various selection such as "Most liked", "Most popular", "Most feature" etc ... It can help you to identify the useful and good slides easily. 

Lately I come a cross a lovely slideshare, below is the link for your enjoyment.

 

Trust me – this is important! from Christof Braun

source :slideshare.com

A Sip Of Happiness

I decided again to change the website name to a sip of happiness. I have been searching for a name for my blog that satisfy me but never ... but I guess this one is alright.

I guess human being is hard to please. Normally, after getting something, we want some more.

That is why many unhappy people around. I read an article, it said, happiness is a choice that happy people choose. I do agree but is hard to do. Our emotions are easily affected by someone or something that happen in life.

Life is always unfair, unless you are accepting it as a fact, you will never be happy. Life will not always goes your way, but as long as you have done your best, even it doesn't go your way, let it go and you can still choose to be happy.

Okay ... 

Believe in yourself, do your best and be happy.

A joyful seller. I can sense a true happiness in her.

Coconut Shake in Melaka

Melaka is my favorite place for vacation. Although I have been here many times, but I love to re-visit it because of its rich heritage culture, typically the baba and nyonya. You may find all sort of cuisines here, like Nyonya, Hannan Chicken Rice ball, Satay Celup and many more. 

My friend Wilson recommended the famous coconut shake at Klebang, a place located about 30 min drive from town. With Google Map and Waze, finding this place is easy.

Initially, I thought is a café style, but disappointed to find is just a hawker store at the road side. It was crowded with people queuing to order. Many cars parked along the roadside causing slow moving of traffic. 

People are curious, when they see many people queue up, they will perceive the food must be good. Henceforth, more cars will pull aside and join in the queue.

The Coconut Shake tastes refreshing in a hot day. The way to made is simple. First, chop off coconut to extract the juice and meats, add in few scopes of ice cream with sugar syrup and ice, blend well in a blender ....

Da! Da! 

A cup of cooling and refreshing coconut shake is ready to serve! The sweetness was just nice, the coconut juice turned into milk shake texture due to the ice cream, the coconut meats were blended into fine pieces which added some chewing sensation while we drink the shake.

Not bad at all ... especially in a hot day.

Each cup cost RM2.50 which is affordable.

You don't have to go Melaka to drink it. Why don't you make it at home? 

But if you are at Melaka at this moment, try it la!!

Year of Learning

2014, Time has passed 14 days without waiting for anyone. If you live aimlessly so far, then life had wasted and shorten 14 days already. Lately, I keep finding what to do in 2014, beside working hard, something ought to be done.

My church encourages us to read the whole bible, they come out a motivation plan to challenge us to complete the reading of the whole bible by May 2014, then we journal what we learned in a book which later submit to Pastor for review. Church will reward whoever complete the challenge.

Woo ... that isn't easy because one bible has 66 books, if divided by 5 months, I need to finish 13.2 books averagely per month. If count by chapter, with 1,189 chapters, I need to accomplish 8 chapters per day.

Sound easy, isn't it ? Definite not! To do that, it involves a lot of discipline and persistence to do that. Nevertheless, I will try my best, after all, the more I read, the better I anchor myself in the word of God. Henceforth, I decided to give it a try la ... 

Beside bible reading, I wanted to start off a business to give training or to develop of website design on part time basis, hoping the sideline business can help me a bit financially, who know if God willing, it can be flourished into an online business that give me a steady income. However, I still think my knowledge and skill are limited. So this year, is the year of learning and upgrade myself in these areas, typically in graphic design and webdesign skill.

The best place to learn all these with lesser cost will be in Youtube. I have found many generous people in Youtube that are willing to share their knowledge and skill. Thank to these wonderful people and I started picking up pieces here and there to improve myself.

In fact, I have learned something yesterday from Lesa Snider who is famous in graphic design, she has shared "4 secrets of great design" in graphic design in Youtube. which is 

•  Proximity - Group related items together
•  Alignment - Create Visual Connection
•  Repetition - Repeat element throughout piece
•  Contrast - Make unrelated items different 

 

I was impressed with her simple and easy to understand presentation, she gave me ideas and what went wrong in my design. Unfortunately, she stay the other side of the world, otherwise, I would love to attend her session.

For many people, youtube is a place for fun and gossip place, people spend many hours looking for funny stuff, but I see the serious site of youtube and it is for sure a hidden treasure for many people.

 

Time for a Change

When thing didn't go your way, is time for a reflection to uncover what went wrong. 

Self reflection is needed and is very important because it will help us to find our hidden or blind spots. We need to deal with our own weaknesses and get improvement in it.

Lately, work didn't go smooth and having difficulty meeting bosses' expectation. It affects my work morale and emotion. 

However, I am over-comer. I will deal with it!! 

Whatever is it, my Father God remains my protector. He will show me the way. As long as He is with me, who can be against me. 

Thank you Jesus because I have you.

Happy New Year

New Year is a new beginning. Whatever things that are unfinished in 2013, is given a new leaf to get it done. 

I suppose to be happy celebrating the new year and busy planning my new year resolution. However, I am feeling gloomy and restless in pass few days.  Something gone missing.

Reflect back, my sense of achievement had gone missing!

Har!!

I don't feel the joy and motivation in my working life. I didn't keep my commitment with God. My financial obligation remains high. I spent too much time in reading fiction story books. I wasted energy in unproductive tasks and so on.....

Negative thinking surrounded me and I am low in self esteem.

I kept reading the sickening news in newspaper about my country especially news on racist, corruption, injustice, hike in price, inflation, supremacy of one race etc. All these negative news make people wonder are we still worth living in Malaysia.

With expected economy slow down and rising cost of living, life in Malaysia no longer easy.

Ha! Ha! Ha! Enough of all my complaints.

Well, although is not really happy at this time, but I would like to greet everyone who is reading this blog a Happy New Year....