In a couple of days, another year has passed. Which means that I, along with probably millions of other people, get to reflect on things. I know I have been going on and on about finding my purpose, discovering what it really is that I wanna do, and that sort of thing. And so here we go...
A few minutes ago while I was sitting in my "throne"(read: doing #2), I realized something. I have never really worked hard for anything. I mean, not in the real sense of the word. I've had it easy all my life. And when it suddenly gets too hard, too tough, I bail. It happened in school, in my violin class, in Spanish, in sports. Am I doomed to repeat the same mistakes over and over? I think it was Stephen Covey who said that self-awareness is what makes us human. The fact that we can become aware of our thoughts and actions, that we can look at them from the outside in, signifies that we can change. We are not trapped- we can break free from the things that prevent us from realizing our fullest of potentials.
I gotta do it. Heck, I MUST do it. It's not gonna be easy, that's for sure, but that's what makes everything worthwhile. I'm already 30 years old, for crying out loud. I can no longer use the "I'm in a quarter-life crisis" excuse. I need to commit to something and stick to it. I need all the support I could get. If that means making a vision board, telling my friends and family, so be it. Prayers - well that, I need a lot of, too. I'm getting excited just thinking about all the possibilities.
Come with me as I take a huge leap of faith. Why hello, responsibility. Nice to meet you, adulthood. Great seeing you, destiny.
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Today's Quote
"Apathy is the glove into which evil slips its hand" - Bodie Thoene (http://goo.gl/N6cnR)
I feel that I might be slipping into apathy. Need to reignite my passion for doing things right, for looking at the bigger picture. Need to pray more, too.
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I feel that I might be slipping into apathy. Need to reignite my passion for doing things right, for looking at the bigger picture. Need to pray more, too.
Sent from my BlackBerry®
On motivation
“People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents.”
- Andrew Carnegie (taken from http://goo.gl/nKe3K)
Can I just say, I'm glad to be finally blogging again! I know, I know - I said I shall be blogging every Thursday as part of my routine. This week, though, was a bit different - we were on holiday! The beauty of working for a US-based company is that we also follow their holiday schedules. And of course, since this week included the fourth Thursday of November, it only meant one thing: Thanksgiving! Well, fine - two things. Thanksgiving and Black Friday. The latter is not really a holiday in the real sense of the word, but it's something worth celebrating all right. America, after all, is the land of consummerism. Who else would have thought of having a mega-sale the day after a traditional holiday? You gotta admire the marketing beauty of it all.
Anyway, let me get back on topic. Motivation. Just what is it exactly anyway? Wikipedia says it is the "driving force by which humans achieve their goals" (http://goo.gl/X1t3x). The website Wily Walnut says that motivation is like an engine that drives you forward and gets you going; about getting you "out of that state of inertia and into motion" (http://goo.gl/Xjosy).
(photo credit: http://goo.gl/HzNqd)
I feel that this word is very powerful. At work, I would hear people say that they need the motivation in order to get things done. Or, how one management decision would lead people to becoming demotivated, which might even lead to employee relations issues. The term may be a tad overused, true, but it does not make it any less significant. As human beings, we feel that there has to be meaning to the things that we do. Otherwise, what's the point right? Those who are privilieged enough to have a comfortable life tend to have "motivational" issues. By that I mean: since food, shelter, survival is not an issue for them, they look for a deeper explanation. Something more meaningful, more profound.
The quote at the beginning of this entry struck a chord within me. I know I have been going on for the longest time about how I am at the longest quarter-life crisis ever. For crying out loud, I am already 30 years old! So I got to thinking: what is it that really motivates me? Whilst I am still supposedly trying to figure out what it is that I am destined to become, I might as well think of the things that would take me there, right? Let's see...
Doing a challenging task - I am "fortunate" to be in a position that has a lot of challenges. Fortunate is in quotation marks because, at times it can be too much. But for the most part, I enjoy how my job requires me to think. As we are dealing with systems, designs, and money, it pushes me to really come up with solutions that will be sustainable (i.e., not a band-aid or quick-fix) and beneficial to the customers. Plus, it pays to have team members on your side with the same goals. Time will come when I would have to take on a different role (and from the looks of it, the time may come sooner rather than later). Maybe my new role would be less challenging, I don't know. Given the chance, I would want to continue with this role for the next twelve months or so. But that decision is really not up to me. Enough of that for now.
A generous compensation and reward scheme - I am not ashamed to admit this bit. Like the thousands of employees out there, I feel that I deserve to be paid more. I don't want to dwell too much on the reasons why I am right (ahem). But I do know this - there should be more creative ways to reward people. I mean, it does not always have to be about money, right? I can accept tablet PCs, a new smartphone, a spa treatment perhaps, or even gift checks from a good bookstore. See? I'm not being greedy. Hehehe. Seriously, though, I firmly believe that you attract more flies with honey. So employers should come up with generous reward schemes. Make people feel special. Celebrate their victories.
Seeing the bigger picture - I have always been an advocate of this. One should look at the bigger picture. If there is something you are doing that does not seem to make sense, try to look at the bigger picture. Does it fit in the bigger scheme of things? If you're having challenges with seeing it, then go ask. Seek help. It does not hurt to ask, right? Looking at the bigger picture is a big step towards maturity, I would say.
There are a lot of other motivators that we shall come across in our lifetime. For me, I think the three listed above definitely in my top ten (or maybe even top 5). The point is, knowing what it is that inspires or motivates you puts in a good advantage. It fits perfectly with the seven habits, me thinks, especially when it comes to beginning with the end in mind and putting first things first.
Today's quote
"You cannot be a leader, and ask other people to follow you, unless you know how to follow, too" - Sam Rayburn, 1882-1961
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Before I doze off
Things have been going crazy at work. There is a particular indirect channel (read: distributor) that has been giving us all sorts of problems ever since they migrated to a different platform. Or, should I say,since WE migrated them to another interface. Did we really bring it upon ourselves? I would like to think not. Hehehe.
Anyway, I am happy to report that we have been pretty consistent with our use of the VMC, daily huddle and activity. Let's go consistency! You rock you rule (sorry, private joke - check it out in David & Goliath retail outlet).
Thanksgiving is coming up! Whilst I live thousands of miles away from where it is actually being celebrated, I am excited for this holiday because of two reasons: long weekend and Black Friday. The latter is a super sale event across all stores. I was checking out the offers they have posted so far online, and man what a steal! The BlackBerry Playbook 16GB is being offered for just $199. Amazing! And the LED screens, Blu-Ray players, PS3 or Wii...the list goes on. This is one of the very rare instances I wish I lived in America. I am thinking of asking my mom or a friend to buy something for me (the Playbook, or another tablet that's a steal like the Kindle Fire); but with my finances being totally whacked right now, I just couldn't afford to do it. Fail.
Earlier I was able to book myself a flight to...Boracay. Total amount? PhP500+. Yahoo! Catch, you say? Well, two things - it's on October 2012 (few days after my birthday), plus I bought a one-way ticket. That's right, one-way. Hehehe. The return flight was not on sale, so I figured I might get better options with other carriers. Fingers crossed.
I am craving for Dunkin Donuts' Premium Choco Wacko. Man, talk about chocolate overload!!!! If you've tried their Choco-Wacko in the past, it's that made bigger, with even more chocolate added. It's amazing, I'm telling you. :)
I have been writing weekly that I should diversify my reading content more. Little Women is on the list. I have already started the first two chapters a couple of months back, but I keep on forgetting to open it. Even if I have already booked it as a big rock for the week. So much for the 7 Habits is practice. Fail. But perhaps I should give myself more credit. I do get a lot of things done, after all. Just need to balance my QI/QII activities more, and really choosing to take out the QIII/QIV activities off my list.
Guess that's all for now. I must say, I am really pleased for having created this post. Never mind if it is just a random mix of things. Laters.
Anyway, I am happy to report that we have been pretty consistent with our use of the VMC, daily huddle and activity. Let's go consistency! You rock you rule (sorry, private joke - check it out in David & Goliath retail outlet).
Thanksgiving is coming up! Whilst I live thousands of miles away from where it is actually being celebrated, I am excited for this holiday because of two reasons: long weekend and Black Friday. The latter is a super sale event across all stores. I was checking out the offers they have posted so far online, and man what a steal! The BlackBerry Playbook 16GB is being offered for just $199. Amazing! And the LED screens, Blu-Ray players, PS3 or Wii...the list goes on. This is one of the very rare instances I wish I lived in America. I am thinking of asking my mom or a friend to buy something for me (the Playbook, or another tablet that's a steal like the Kindle Fire); but with my finances being totally whacked right now, I just couldn't afford to do it. Fail.
Earlier I was able to book myself a flight to...Boracay. Total amount? PhP500+. Yahoo! Catch, you say? Well, two things - it's on October 2012 (few days after my birthday), plus I bought a one-way ticket. That's right, one-way. Hehehe. The return flight was not on sale, so I figured I might get better options with other carriers. Fingers crossed.
I am craving for Dunkin Donuts' Premium Choco Wacko. Man, talk about chocolate overload!!!! If you've tried their Choco-Wacko in the past, it's that made bigger, with even more chocolate added. It's amazing, I'm telling you. :)
I have been writing weekly that I should diversify my reading content more. Little Women is on the list. I have already started the first two chapters a couple of months back, but I keep on forgetting to open it. Even if I have already booked it as a big rock for the week. So much for the 7 Habits is practice. Fail. But perhaps I should give myself more credit. I do get a lot of things done, after all. Just need to balance my QI/QII activities more, and really choosing to take out the QIII/QIV activities off my list.
Guess that's all for now. I must say, I am really pleased for having created this post. Never mind if it is just a random mix of things. Laters.
Sent from my BlackBerry®
Just a few (work-related) updates
I know I have not been updating my blog this past couple of weeks, so here I am, desperately trying to catch up. :) Here's what went on the past week, as well as what is to come. Most stuff will be about work, so consider this a head's up.
Visual Management Content - aka VMC, or VMS (Visual Management Systems), or Kanban. Like my previous post, I have been in a visual management frenzy, what with our competition which happened on Friday, November 4. According to the criteria set by the manager, it should reflect what is going on, stats-wise, but on a team level. It should also be sustainable - materials used should be found in the office, plus it should be sustainable. So for my team, after reading a ton of articles online about this whole visual management, I decided to keep it all about the content. I formed a team of four who will be in charge of the board - its design, of couse, but most especially, its upkeep. I informed them I want to see the board being updated DAILY, and that we will be having daily huddles around the board. This way, we would not lose sight of where we stand, and we would know how to get to where we need to go.
I must say, I am VERY proud of my team and what we have done with our board. We were the first (among 12 teams) to finish making the board, and we have started using the board as a tool days before the judging began. Aesthetically, it is very simple and straightforward. We have decided to make a motel theme, for reasons unbeknownst to outsiders. We all know that motels have taken a lot of flak here in our country, and there have been occasions when we were swapping "mot-mot" stories. Some teammates even have a "I heard" disclaimer - that is, they're claiming that they have not been to mot-mots themselves, they just heard the story from a friend. Hahaha! Anyway, back to the board. As far as content is concerned, it is very clear and easy to understand. We have statistics for the past 3 days, the past 3 weeks, as well as on a monthly basis (starting on the 3rd quarter). We got the sustainability part covered, too - we stuck to using the whiteboard as a whiteboard, and the stats on a weekly and monthly period covers everything until year-end (we just update using pens and markers). I say whiteboard as a whiteboard because some teams covered their entire boards and resorted to having their data printed. Each to his own, of course.
And what I feel most proud of is the fact that we have started conducting daily huddles. We discuss what went on the previous day, what will happen for today, and other updates from the center, RDS, etc. I have tapped one of my teammates to conduct small activities, and he obliged. We had sharings about our fears, saying something good about the other person, and even answered random sets of questions, beauty-pageant style as another teammate said. But it's all in good fun. So the challenge is to maintain consistency. Let's go!
Training on Coaching - I have a lot of catching up to do. The deadline has been extended until Wednesday close of business. I have two more assignments left to do. During the close out call last week, we were asked to share any challenges we had in doing the pre-work. A lot of people said it's the time given to complete these. I was like, "Dude! We were given almost two months to complete everything!" Besides, all activities were spread out on a weekly basis, so it is really up to us to finish everything on time. Part of being an effective leader is being able to organize as much as 80% of your tasks/meetings, both on a weekly and daily basis. I know, I know, I am ineffective in that sense too - I was not able to complete my pre-work on time, right? But hey, at least I admit it. It's the first step to maturity. Hahaha!
Virlanie Foundation visit - we have finally started the groundwork for this, and I am REALLY hyped! Been too long since our first visit (Feb 2011). I even asked my team member to consider having us booked in advance for 2012 - maybe 3 or 4 visits throughout the year. My goal is to ensure continuity and making our presence felt with these kids. Anyway, I have a feeling this will be a very memorable one for us. I can't wait to go to Divisoria and buy our supplies. This is going to be awesome!
Dayshift on Tuesday - one of the little things I look forward to, to be in honest. I have a Global Anti-Bribery and Corruption Training going on, so my Monday would extend to Tuesday morning. After the training I will report back to work on Wednesday evening. But I think I would still go back Tuesday night, if only to have our daily huddle and to make sure things are in order. Still undecided on that - I got a whole day to figure it out.
October stats and coaching - have to finish the stats TODAY and start the coaching sessions TODAY as well. Whew! Wish me luck!
Anyway, I am off to meet a friend in Pasig - we are going swimming! Hopefully the traffic is light, considering it is a holiday today. Laters.
Visual Management Content - aka VMC, or VMS (Visual Management Systems), or Kanban. Like my previous post, I have been in a visual management frenzy, what with our competition which happened on Friday, November 4. According to the criteria set by the manager, it should reflect what is going on, stats-wise, but on a team level. It should also be sustainable - materials used should be found in the office, plus it should be sustainable. So for my team, after reading a ton of articles online about this whole visual management, I decided to keep it all about the content. I formed a team of four who will be in charge of the board - its design, of couse, but most especially, its upkeep. I informed them I want to see the board being updated DAILY, and that we will be having daily huddles around the board. This way, we would not lose sight of where we stand, and we would know how to get to where we need to go.
I must say, I am VERY proud of my team and what we have done with our board. We were the first (among 12 teams) to finish making the board, and we have started using the board as a tool days before the judging began. Aesthetically, it is very simple and straightforward. We have decided to make a motel theme, for reasons unbeknownst to outsiders. We all know that motels have taken a lot of flak here in our country, and there have been occasions when we were swapping "mot-mot" stories. Some teammates even have a "I heard" disclaimer - that is, they're claiming that they have not been to mot-mots themselves, they just heard the story from a friend. Hahaha! Anyway, back to the board. As far as content is concerned, it is very clear and easy to understand. We have statistics for the past 3 days, the past 3 weeks, as well as on a monthly basis (starting on the 3rd quarter). We got the sustainability part covered, too - we stuck to using the whiteboard as a whiteboard, and the stats on a weekly and monthly period covers everything until year-end (we just update using pens and markers). I say whiteboard as a whiteboard because some teams covered their entire boards and resorted to having their data printed. Each to his own, of course.
And what I feel most proud of is the fact that we have started conducting daily huddles. We discuss what went on the previous day, what will happen for today, and other updates from the center, RDS, etc. I have tapped one of my teammates to conduct small activities, and he obliged. We had sharings about our fears, saying something good about the other person, and even answered random sets of questions, beauty-pageant style as another teammate said. But it's all in good fun. So the challenge is to maintain consistency. Let's go!
Training on Coaching - I have a lot of catching up to do. The deadline has been extended until Wednesday close of business. I have two more assignments left to do. During the close out call last week, we were asked to share any challenges we had in doing the pre-work. A lot of people said it's the time given to complete these. I was like, "Dude! We were given almost two months to complete everything!" Besides, all activities were spread out on a weekly basis, so it is really up to us to finish everything on time. Part of being an effective leader is being able to organize as much as 80% of your tasks/meetings, both on a weekly and daily basis. I know, I know, I am ineffective in that sense too - I was not able to complete my pre-work on time, right? But hey, at least I admit it. It's the first step to maturity. Hahaha!
Virlanie Foundation visit - we have finally started the groundwork for this, and I am REALLY hyped! Been too long since our first visit (Feb 2011). I even asked my team member to consider having us booked in advance for 2012 - maybe 3 or 4 visits throughout the year. My goal is to ensure continuity and making our presence felt with these kids. Anyway, I have a feeling this will be a very memorable one for us. I can't wait to go to Divisoria and buy our supplies. This is going to be awesome!
Dayshift on Tuesday - one of the little things I look forward to, to be in honest. I have a Global Anti-Bribery and Corruption Training going on, so my Monday would extend to Tuesday morning. After the training I will report back to work on Wednesday evening. But I think I would still go back Tuesday night, if only to have our daily huddle and to make sure things are in order. Still undecided on that - I got a whole day to figure it out.
October stats and coaching - have to finish the stats TODAY and start the coaching sessions TODAY as well. Whew! Wish me luck!
Anyway, I am off to meet a friend in Pasig - we are going swimming! Hopefully the traffic is light, considering it is a holiday today. Laters.
(I've Had) The Time Of My Life
For the past couple of days, I've been listening to this song over and over again. I especially like the Glee version, although I downloaded the original one as well (sung by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes). I wonder what's with this song that got me hooked? It's not as if I've never heard the song before. Might as well just post the lyrics. Enjoy!
Visual Management
Been caught up in a visual management frenzy these past couple of weeks.
Since we now have our own visual management system (aka bulletin board, VMC, kanban, etc.), I felt re-energized and motivated. I wanted to use that as a tool to really make our goals as a team visible. It is in synch with the One Minute Manager Principle, in that the goals must be clearly spelt out. I also started becoming more communicative to the team, especially when it comes to informing them of my whereabouts, my itinerary, meetings, etc. Of course, I still have a long way to go. I can feel my patience wearing thin at times, and I know that it is obvious to them as well. I have to learn how to look people straight in the eye more often. The latter has always been my thing - I sometimes tend to look anywhere but in the eyes of the person with whom I am conversing. Baby steps - like what I said, I'm getting there.
I just hope I could finish the reprieves so I can look forward to a great week. I am thinking of having everyone work the same schedule - think that would create more cohesion as a team? Let me sleep on it first. I can't wait to do my 1:1s with my staff - WAY OVERDUE. But in order to start doing that, I need to have the data prepared. So help me JC, please!!!
Since we now have our own visual management system (aka bulletin board, VMC, kanban, etc.), I felt re-energized and motivated. I wanted to use that as a tool to really make our goals as a team visible. It is in synch with the One Minute Manager Principle, in that the goals must be clearly spelt out. I also started becoming more communicative to the team, especially when it comes to informing them of my whereabouts, my itinerary, meetings, etc. Of course, I still have a long way to go. I can feel my patience wearing thin at times, and I know that it is obvious to them as well. I have to learn how to look people straight in the eye more often. The latter has always been my thing - I sometimes tend to look anywhere but in the eyes of the person with whom I am conversing. Baby steps - like what I said, I'm getting there.
I just hope I could finish the reprieves so I can look forward to a great week. I am thinking of having everyone work the same schedule - think that would create more cohesion as a team? Let me sleep on it first. I can't wait to do my 1:1s with my staff - WAY OVERDUE. But in order to start doing that, I need to have the data prepared. So help me JC, please!!!
Something to think about
“Love comes when manipulation stops; when you think more about the other person than about his or her reactions to you. When you dare to reveal yourself fully. When you dare to be vulnerable.”
Paul van Dyk Live in Manila: October 19, 2011
This was his fifth time here in Manila. That's right, his fifth. This time, it is for his Evolution World Tour.
My dear friend Jane and I decided to come out of party hibernation and show up at this event. It's a birthday celebration for us both as well, albeit a belated one.
When we got there, I first thought to myself, "I didn't miss out a lot after all." Everything looked strangely familiar to me - the set, the props, the lighting, and most of all, the people. That's right, there were a lot of familiar faces that night. I'm almost certain they just kept on partying, attending events since the last time I saw them. Case in point: a friend of mine, his cousin and their group of friends were there. Didn't get a chance to say hi to them, though. I figured, it was impossible for them NOT to see me. What, with the curly hair, big glasses, and my 6'1" frame? I don't think so. But since no one bothered to approach us, I didn't exchange pleasantries with them.
That aside, how was the event? I loved it. Progressive trance is really one of my favorite types of music, and PVD is one of the best at that. My heart seemed to go up and down along with his music. Jane had a great time too - she kept on dancing nonstop! I restrained myself a bit when it came to dancing to be honest. I am still a bit shy dancing in public. Besides, I feel that I have yet to find a signature move. Hahahaha! Which reminds me: I need to check out the dancing schools in our neighborhood. Who knows, I might have had it in me all along. :-)
Here is a pic taken from the event. This was just taken from my phone, so apologies in advance if it's not that good. Nonetheless, hope you enjoy!
One of my favorite parts was when he played Home. It's one of his more recent tracks, and it became an instant classic the moment it was released. I was hoping he would play White Lies, another favorite of mine. Then again, we left until after 4 am, and I don't know until what time he played. He could've played it toward the end, which would be unfortunate for me.
I'll see if I can post a video which I shot from the event. This was when a videoclip was being shown explaining how evolution came to be, and how it fits in his whole show. I love the concept! Some might find it cheesy, but I'm biased. So sue me. Hehehe.
photo credit: http://www.paulvandyk.com/img/pvd.jpg
My dear friend Jane and I decided to come out of party hibernation and show up at this event. It's a birthday celebration for us both as well, albeit a belated one.
When we got there, I first thought to myself, "I didn't miss out a lot after all." Everything looked strangely familiar to me - the set, the props, the lighting, and most of all, the people. That's right, there were a lot of familiar faces that night. I'm almost certain they just kept on partying, attending events since the last time I saw them. Case in point: a friend of mine, his cousin and their group of friends were there. Didn't get a chance to say hi to them, though. I figured, it was impossible for them NOT to see me. What, with the curly hair, big glasses, and my 6'1" frame? I don't think so. But since no one bothered to approach us, I didn't exchange pleasantries with them.
That aside, how was the event? I loved it. Progressive trance is really one of my favorite types of music, and PVD is one of the best at that. My heart seemed to go up and down along with his music. Jane had a great time too - she kept on dancing nonstop! I restrained myself a bit when it came to dancing to be honest. I am still a bit shy dancing in public. Besides, I feel that I have yet to find a signature move. Hahahaha! Which reminds me: I need to check out the dancing schools in our neighborhood. Who knows, I might have had it in me all along. :-)
Here is a pic taken from the event. This was just taken from my phone, so apologies in advance if it's not that good. Nonetheless, hope you enjoy!
I'll see if I can post a video which I shot from the event. This was when a videoclip was being shown explaining how evolution came to be, and how it fits in his whole show. I love the concept! Some might find it cheesy, but I'm biased. So sue me. Hehehe.
Monday thoughts
"Happiness comes through taming the mind; without taming the mind there is no way to be happy."
- His Holiness The Dalai Lama (www.twitter.com/DalaiLama)
Sent from my BlackBerry®
What a day
I am talking about the events that transpired starting Wednesday afternoon. I watched The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall at 5:00 PM. Kidding. It was in Greenbelt 3, although TPOTOATRAH was the title. It was over 3 hours long. They showed the history of the musical - how Andrew Lloyd Weber came up with the idea, the success it's gained all over the world, etc. Hard to believe it's been 25 years since its first show in London.
Then came the actual musical. Amazing. The company was fantastic! The Christine they got was beautiful, plus her voice was spot on. The Phantom was creepy. He's that good. Oh how I envy these musical actors and their God-given talents! :)
After the curtain call, Andrew Lloyd Weber came on stage to say a few words. Then the original cast came on stage. Sarah Brightman, ex-wife of ALW and the first Christine, sang The Phantom of the Opera with four of the past Phantoms. Michael Crawford, the first Phantom (who won both a Tony and an Olivier for this role) came on stage too, but he didn't sing. Later on I read in Wiki that he came from another show so he wasn't able to sing.
So that was the highlight of my day, I would say.
When I got to work, I got stuck in two meetings, which lasted for 2.5 hours in all. I already knew I wasn't feeling well - I have a terrible cough and I feel I have so much phlegm inside me that's very stubborn and refuse to come out. Plus, I had very little sleep. So I opted to take a sleeping lunch instead (a term we use when we wanna spend our lunch break sleeping). When I woke up, I grabbed a bite at our cafeteria. But I knew something was wrong still. So I went to the clinic and asked if I could use the nebulizer. The nurse set it up for me, and before I knew it I was out for three hours. Good thing I informed my boss and my senior staff that I was going to the clinic.
It ain't over yet. Let me tell you how I ended up all the way in Cavite. Laters.
Sent from my BlackBerry®
Then came the actual musical. Amazing. The company was fantastic! The Christine they got was beautiful, plus her voice was spot on. The Phantom was creepy. He's that good. Oh how I envy these musical actors and their God-given talents! :)
After the curtain call, Andrew Lloyd Weber came on stage to say a few words. Then the original cast came on stage. Sarah Brightman, ex-wife of ALW and the first Christine, sang The Phantom of the Opera with four of the past Phantoms. Michael Crawford, the first Phantom (who won both a Tony and an Olivier for this role) came on stage too, but he didn't sing. Later on I read in Wiki that he came from another show so he wasn't able to sing.
So that was the highlight of my day, I would say.
When I got to work, I got stuck in two meetings, which lasted for 2.5 hours in all. I already knew I wasn't feeling well - I have a terrible cough and I feel I have so much phlegm inside me that's very stubborn and refuse to come out. Plus, I had very little sleep. So I opted to take a sleeping lunch instead (a term we use when we wanna spend our lunch break sleeping). When I woke up, I grabbed a bite at our cafeteria. But I knew something was wrong still. So I went to the clinic and asked if I could use the nebulizer. The nurse set it up for me, and before I knew it I was out for three hours. Good thing I informed my boss and my senior staff that I was going to the clinic.
It ain't over yet. Let me tell you how I ended up all the way in Cavite. Laters.
Sent from my BlackBerry®
Something to think about
“Do what you feel in your heart to be right, for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be damned if you do and damned if you don't.”
- Eleanor Roosevelt (from http://goo.gl/DOOoy)
Let's put Habit 1 to the test this week, shall we?
This week will be very challenging for me. Why? Because aside from the usual tons of stuff I got to do, I have to prove to myself that I CHOOSE to be proactive. Proactive in the 7 Habits sense. I would not let things which are beyond my Circle of Influence get to me. I'd focus on the things I can control, no matter how small or little they are. I'll start with my chosen response to stimuli.
First, what are the things I need to complete this week anyway?
Finish scorecard coaching for 3Q
Start coaching for first week of October stats
Passport renewal
Bill payments
Drivers License Renewal
Change oil, tune up of suzie
Watch more flicks at the Spanish Film Fest
Watch Phantom of the Opera at Greenbelt
Pray! Especially come Wednesday - Perpetual Help
Fellowship plans with the team
Hear Mass on Friday
Consultation with pulmonologist
Training of team
Also some of the things I hope to do as well:
Get Postal ID
Join weekday choir practice
Swim at Ace Water Spa
Hit the gym
Whew! I'm no super human. It's not going to be easy to accomplish all these. But with careful and strategic planning, plus proper delegation, communication and follow-ups, I reckon it can be done.
So, back to Habit 1. What's up with that, you ask? Well, last week was a real test for me. I was made to feel like I was very incompetent at what I do. I was questioned as to why I am here (position-wise) in the first place, given that I had myriads of issues, especially when it comes to dealing with people. No matter how strong a person you are, you can't say that hearing something like that won't hurt you. I admit, it did. Whilst in retrospect, I know I could've chosen a better response, I'm just glad I didn't do anything worse. I don't wanna disclose what happened - that woudn't be part of me being proactive now, would it? But I am allowing myself to talk about it just one last time here. I choose to focus on the things I can control and influence. It wouldn't be easy, but with JC's help, I can do this.
Oh, did I mention my birthday's also coming up this week? :)
First, what are the things I need to complete this week anyway?
Finish scorecard coaching for 3Q
Start coaching for first week of October stats
Passport renewal
Bill payments
Drivers License Renewal
Change oil, tune up of suzie
Watch more flicks at the Spanish Film Fest
Watch Phantom of the Opera at Greenbelt
Pray! Especially come Wednesday - Perpetual Help
Fellowship plans with the team
Hear Mass on Friday
Consultation with pulmonologist
Training of team
Also some of the things I hope to do as well:
Get Postal ID
Join weekday choir practice
Swim at Ace Water Spa
Hit the gym
Whew! I'm no super human. It's not going to be easy to accomplish all these. But with careful and strategic planning, plus proper delegation, communication and follow-ups, I reckon it can be done.
So, back to Habit 1. What's up with that, you ask? Well, last week was a real test for me. I was made to feel like I was very incompetent at what I do. I was questioned as to why I am here (position-wise) in the first place, given that I had myriads of issues, especially when it comes to dealing with people. No matter how strong a person you are, you can't say that hearing something like that won't hurt you. I admit, it did. Whilst in retrospect, I know I could've chosen a better response, I'm just glad I didn't do anything worse. I don't wanna disclose what happened - that woudn't be part of me being proactive now, would it? But I am allowing myself to talk about it just one last time here. I choose to focus on the things I can control and influence. It wouldn't be easy, but with JC's help, I can do this.
Oh, did I mention my birthday's also coming up this week? :)
Just a few thoughts before I sign off
Watching Russell Peters now while here at work (still). He's so funny! He does accents so well, plus his facial expressions are a treat. There's truth to what he says at times, you have to admit. I like how he portrays Filipinos, especially the ones living in America. "Junjun, show Tito Ray how you play the piano. Show Tito Ray!" Classic!
I just realized, Pelicula has started and I have not seen a single flick! Boo. I have been so caught up with work this week. I have to promise myself to come home on time. I end up staying so long in the office, it's starting to take a toll on my health.
Speaking of work, I stumbled across an article in the internet - 10 Signs You're Unhappy At Work (click here for the article). A lot of the things resonated with me. Sigh. Especially the part with the physical symptoms. I haven't been this sickly since I was in grade school, it's crazy. I get stressed thinking about my health at times, which doesn't help. And what's funny (in a way) is that my health deteriorated because of stress in the first place! Hahaha.
Looking forward to this weekend - watch at the Spanish Film Fest with friends, having a nightcap with my childhood friends. The latter I am excited about more - we haven't hung out for the longest time. To be honest, I don't expect anything exciting to happen. But at least we get to hang out.
My birthday's coming up in a week. Aargh! Hehehe.
I just realized, Pelicula has started and I have not seen a single flick! Boo. I have been so caught up with work this week. I have to promise myself to come home on time. I end up staying so long in the office, it's starting to take a toll on my health.
Speaking of work, I stumbled across an article in the internet - 10 Signs You're Unhappy At Work (click here for the article). A lot of the things resonated with me. Sigh. Especially the part with the physical symptoms. I haven't been this sickly since I was in grade school, it's crazy. I get stressed thinking about my health at times, which doesn't help. And what's funny (in a way) is that my health deteriorated because of stress in the first place! Hahaha.
Looking forward to this weekend - watch at the Spanish Film Fest with friends, having a nightcap with my childhood friends. The latter I am excited about more - we haven't hung out for the longest time. To be honest, I don't expect anything exciting to happen. But at least we get to hang out.
My birthday's coming up in a week. Aargh! Hehehe.
LSS: New York City
New York City - Paul van Dyk
(feat. Ashley Tomberlin)
I watch the sky turn black to blush
Head still spinning from the rush
Of all the things I did the night before
And looking down from my hotel
These dawn-lit streets begin to fill
With memories of you and I
On a New York City night
I shake my head to clear the sounds
The traffic horns, the growing crowd
The sun awaking over central park
But still it creeps beneath my skin
All of these heartbeats in the din
With concrete dreams stirring to life
On a New York City night
And I take it with me when I leave
The crowded skyline, the energy
The sleepless city always leaves its mark
Just close my eyes and I'm back again
The neon flush upon our skin
Still wrapped in thoughts of love and wine
On a New York City night
(feat. Ashley Tomberlin)
I watch the sky turn black to blush
Head still spinning from the rush
Of all the things I did the night before
And looking down from my hotel
These dawn-lit streets begin to fill
With memories of you and I
On a New York City night
I shake my head to clear the sounds
The traffic horns, the growing crowd
The sun awaking over central park
But still it creeps beneath my skin
All of these heartbeats in the din
With concrete dreams stirring to life
On a New York City night
And I take it with me when I leave
The crowded skyline, the energy
The sleepless city always leaves its mark
Just close my eyes and I'm back again
The neon flush upon our skin
Still wrapped in thoughts of love and wine
On a New York City night
Photo credit: Kaldoon
Sometimes I feel like I am fighting a losing battle. Damn if you do, damn if you don't. To say I am tired would probably be an understatement at this point.
I know, I know - focus on my circle of influence. Things on which I have control. It does seem like an exercise in futility when we try to lament over things beyond our control. But hey, I am only human.
It just gets very frustrating at times.
I know, I know - focus on my circle of influence. Things on which I have control. It does seem like an exercise in futility when we try to lament over things beyond our control. But hey, I am only human.
It just gets very frustrating at times.
Talk about busy!
For some reason, my entry about how crazy this week will be was not saved. #boo Oh well. I now need to get ready to officially start my week, so wish me luck! Remember: circle of influence.
Calvin: I'm a genius, but I'm a misunderstood genius.
Hobbes: What's misunderstood about you?
Calvin: Nobody thinks I'm a genius.
Hobbes: What's misunderstood about you?
Calvin: Nobody thinks I'm a genius.
- Calvin & Hobbes (taken from http://goo.gl/aNc5E)
Comfort food at Italianni's
Saturday after shift, I was feeling kinda tired. I got back to work after being under house arrest for 8 working days; and the fact that I worked for twelve hours on the first day made me kinda loopy. So, I decided that I deserved a treat. I was initially thinking of going to Flapjacks, a pancake place in Greenbelt 2. But, when I got there I just discovered that they had already closed! Fail. Good thing, right beside it was Italianni's. So I decided to have my lunch there instead (this was approaching twelve noon already).
Given that I am on a limited budget (I've decided not to go over 1k - heck, I'm broke enough as it is), I was kinda torn on what to order. I decided to order the bruschetta with tomato salad and mushroom, and for the main course I went with the herb roasted chicken. For the drink, I was pleasantly suprised they had Hi-C Apple. You see, I always order that whenever I'm at a Burger King. So to see that in Italianni's, well, you just have to go with it, right?
Overall, I had a very pleasant meal. I was stuffed after consuming almost everything (there were two pieces of bruschetta left). But it was very comforting, you know? Whenever I eat there, I always end up having a good time. Perhaps we can charge it to the fact that whenever I eat there, it was with friends. And it is always a treat to have good food with friends while sharing stories and laughing. Granted, I was by myself when I went there. But still, I guess it's also the feeling that I am blessed to enjoy good food, even when alone.
Given that I am on a limited budget (I've decided not to go over 1k - heck, I'm broke enough as it is), I was kinda torn on what to order. I decided to order the bruschetta with tomato salad and mushroom, and for the main course I went with the herb roasted chicken. For the drink, I was pleasantly suprised they had Hi-C Apple. You see, I always order that whenever I'm at a Burger King. So to see that in Italianni's, well, you just have to go with it, right?
Overall, I had a very pleasant meal. I was stuffed after consuming almost everything (there were two pieces of bruschetta left). But it was very comforting, you know? Whenever I eat there, I always end up having a good time. Perhaps we can charge it to the fact that whenever I eat there, it was with friends. And it is always a treat to have good food with friends while sharing stories and laughing. Granted, I was by myself when I went there. But still, I guess it's also the feeling that I am blessed to enjoy good food, even when alone.
The classic complementary ciabatta with balsamic vinegar dip.
My drink - yummy Hi-C Apple
Italianni's Menu (at this point I was pretty bored while waiting for my food)
Condiments
Finally, the bruschetta arrives!
Herb Roasted Chicken
Here, I poured the gravy over the chicken.
All gone! Yum!
“Basing our happiness on our ability to control everything is futile”
- Stephen R. Covey (from http://goo.gl/Xv36Z)
Thursday is blogging day
I think I am a creature of habit. Therefore, starting today I declare Thursday as blogging day. The point is I need to make sure I write every week. It doesn't mean that I shall only be writing every Thursday. The whole point of having a "live" blog is to keep everyone posted. As it happens, if possible. It doesn't matter if no one's reading. :) I just wanna get back to one of the things I love doing, which is writing.
So, earlier I had breakfast with my friends from Instituto Cervantes. I'm really blessed to have them as my friends, they're really good people. We talked about a lot of things - from "budol-budol" to love. More importantly, we talked about the upcoming Spanish Film Festival. We are super excited for this! One, we get to watch films in Spanish. Granted, some flicks are boring. But personally, it gives me a wider appreciation of filmmaking. It's not just all Hollywood out there. Another reason to be excited is the fact that this festival becomes a reunion of sorts. Some of our friends whom we haven't seen in months come out of their shells (or wherever it is they came from) and attend the film fest. Lots of catching up to do! Better make sure I got my camera handy. Or, at the very least, have my phones fully charged. My samsung takes pretty decent pictures, methinks.
What else? Oh, afterwards I met up with a friend who works in the same building where I had breakfast. Good thing he decided to grab a smoke before starting to work. I told him how I am a bit down since I'll be turning thirty in a couple of weeks. It's not turning older per se, but more of the lingering question: "What is my purpose in life?" You know, that sort of thing. It wasn't really a serious discussion, as I told it to him in jest. Besides, he's a lawyer, so I would think he's all set out as far as doing what you want, having a career is concerned. Either that, or he's got no choice. Hehehe.
So here I am now at the company clinic, waiting for my turn. Need to get a Fit-to-Work clearance from the physician before I can start working again. I've been at the office for almost two hours now actually; I figured I could get some work done before showing up at the clinic. If in case I get sent home again. Fingers crossed.
Sent from my BlackBerry®
Note to self
Passport Renewal appearance: October 4, 2011. 8:00 am (Tuesday).
Sent from my BlackBerry®
Sent from my BlackBerry®
Pelicula: 10th Spanish Film Festival
Here's the schedule for your reference. See you there!
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Sent from my BlackBerry®
Good times, great vibes
To celebrate, I'll be attending Bigfish's event on October 19. I am talking about Paul van Dyk!!! Suddenly it's like 2007 all over again. LOL
October also means Cream, the Halloween Ball also by Bigfish. Guess what? I got tickets for both! :-)
Here's a pic from the Benny Bennasi event on January 2011. Here's to good music, good friends, good vibes!
Army Navy
Anyway, the good thing about Army Navy is that their interiors are all similar (then again, isn't that one of the main points of having a restaurant chain?). This Army Navy "quonset" is bigger than the one we have in Makati. But the same feeling is there. Hehehe.
I just ordered the classic burger with extra cheese. Thanks to the pics I took, I realized that they forgot the extra cheese!!! Had I not spotted it, I would've said goodbye to the 30 bucks.
Anyway, enjoy the pics! :-)
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Sent home...again
Apparently I am still unfit to work. Such a shame - I am actually looking forward to working again. But I have to heed the doctor's advice.
Hopefully you guys are safe at home. Let's pray for the safety of our loved ones. Pedring's a big one.
While waiting
Turns out this email blogging thing works just fine. Now I'm just thinking if I should auto-publish all posts sent via email, or if I should save them first as drafts. Currently it's set to the former, but we'll see.
Craving for Sesame Milk Tea from Serenitea! I know, I know - added expense. Additional calories, to boot. But it's a lot cheaper than Starbucks, let me tell you that. Plus, isn't tea supposed to be healthy? Of course, whole milk added to it probably changes the whole equation. Hehehe.
Hopefully the company doctor will give me the all-clear signal so I can start working again. In the office, I mean. One week is too long. Especially since not too long ago, I was gone for a week due to asthma and bronchitis. What's happening to me?!?!
You know how when you're under house arrest, you get too lazy to shave? Well, that's what happened to me. Only this weekend, I was going to shave everything off when I thought, "Hey, let's see if I can rock this moustached look." So far, I haven't received any feedback whatsoever. Heard mass on Sunday, no reaction from choirmates. Let's see what the people from work will say.
Tonight I need to get a lot of things done. Finalize my team's September scores, catch up on emails, check on projects. For personal, send email to co-op to inquire on something. Send an email/fax to two offices for my birthday plans. There are other things, just can't remember them offhand.
As of this writing, I am on a cab, plying the convenient road that is Skyway. I thought against bringing a car to work, since I might get stuck or something. Taking a cab is really expensive, but I pretty much have got no choice. All good.
Sent from my BlackBerry®
Craving for Sesame Milk Tea from Serenitea! I know, I know - added expense. Additional calories, to boot. But it's a lot cheaper than Starbucks, let me tell you that. Plus, isn't tea supposed to be healthy? Of course, whole milk added to it probably changes the whole equation. Hehehe.
Hopefully the company doctor will give me the all-clear signal so I can start working again. In the office, I mean. One week is too long. Especially since not too long ago, I was gone for a week due to asthma and bronchitis. What's happening to me?!?!
You know how when you're under house arrest, you get too lazy to shave? Well, that's what happened to me. Only this weekend, I was going to shave everything off when I thought, "Hey, let's see if I can rock this moustached look." So far, I haven't received any feedback whatsoever. Heard mass on Sunday, no reaction from choirmates. Let's see what the people from work will say.
Tonight I need to get a lot of things done. Finalize my team's September scores, catch up on emails, check on projects. For personal, send email to co-op to inquire on something. Send an email/fax to two offices for my birthday plans. There are other things, just can't remember them offhand.
As of this writing, I am on a cab, plying the convenient road that is Skyway. I thought against bringing a car to work, since I might get stuck or something. Taking a cab is really expensive, but I pretty much have got no choice. All good.
Sent from my BlackBerry®
Email blogging
Checking out if I have correctly setup the email blogging features of my new blog.
Meanwhile, I hope everyone's keeping safe. Typhoon Pedring is very strong, indeed.
Sent from my BlackBerry®
Meanwhile, I hope everyone's keeping safe. Typhoon Pedring is very strong, indeed.
Sent from my BlackBerry®
And a new blog is born!
In line with my "back to the simple things" personal campaign (more on that later), I have decided to create a new blog under blogger. I was hoping to get the classic "earlpatrick" name; however someone beat me to it. Upon checking his blog, I discovered that his last entry was on 2008. Dang!
"Earl_Patrick" was also unavailable. So I was wondering, what else can I use that will have my name in it still? Aha! Earl Patrick Live! Thus, this new blog. Anyway, what will I write in here? Anything that I fancy, really. Random thoughts, moments spent with friends, travel, music, food, movies, anything and everything under the sun. The fact remains that writing is very therapeutic for me. At times, I end up not knowing what to write at all! But I'll just keep on writing.
I'm excited about this blog. I'll be celebrating my birthday soon, and Im hitting the big 3-0. As always, a lot of thinking, reminiscing, planning, etc. occurs whenever my birthday approaches. It's up to me now to follow these through and (finally) see my plans come to fruition. Think Seven Habits. Think the glass is half-full. Join me as I get my life back on track. To greatness (as what I wrote on Twitter)? Definitely.
"Earl_Patrick" was also unavailable. So I was wondering, what else can I use that will have my name in it still? Aha! Earl Patrick Live! Thus, this new blog. Anyway, what will I write in here? Anything that I fancy, really. Random thoughts, moments spent with friends, travel, music, food, movies, anything and everything under the sun. The fact remains that writing is very therapeutic for me. At times, I end up not knowing what to write at all! But I'll just keep on writing.
I'm excited about this blog. I'll be celebrating my birthday soon, and Im hitting the big 3-0. As always, a lot of thinking, reminiscing, planning, etc. occurs whenever my birthday approaches. It's up to me now to follow these through and (finally) see my plans come to fruition. Think Seven Habits. Think the glass is half-full. Join me as I get my life back on track. To greatness (as what I wrote on Twitter)? Definitely.
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