It has been nine months since I last wrote my blog – it’s time I got back into the habit of bringing it up to date. There have been several big changes in my life during the last nine months, including a new environment, and new job and a new lifestyle.
At first it was difficult having to face all the new challenges, but I have been reminding myself to keep a positive outlook with each new challenge. Running a business with trade up and down obviously has affected my emotions.
I suppose this is one of the first things to understand about being in business, to look at the long term and avoid being short-sighted. The important thing is to continue making the effort and plan my strategy to improve the business.
Although I am moving away from my accountancy profession, I feel like putting into practise what I have learned from all those text books. The whole experience of running my printing business is exercising the reality of the business world.
Sales drive the business, therefore the role of polishing one’s selling and marketing skills is critical. Obviously, the procurement of new business, operations and the management of staff are also critical to the success of a business.
The main difference between my previous and current roles is moving from facing figures to facing customers. It takes a lot of courage to be proactive and build good relationships with potential customers.
It wasn’t easy at first, but after some practise it wasn’t so difficult getting potential customers to see how I could help them to improve their businesses. My attitude was, “if I don’t ask, I won’t get it, if I ask but get rejected, what is there to lose?” It can be quite demoralising after several negative reactions, however, it felt good when I succeeded.
I gave myself a challenge by organising a wedding fayre, which is also complimentary to my printing business. I have been preparing this since November last year and next Sunday 15 March is the big day. There was a lot of work to do in preparation for the fayre.
I was felt disheartened at first as I didn’t get much support for my event. However, after continually trying I now have 18 exhibitors who will be at my wedding fayre, plus 10 businesses which are giving support to a half page advertising feature in a local newspaper.
Details of the event are at www.eventsupermarket.co.uk. I will update you all with the outcome of the event after 15 March. Wish me good luck!!
I suppose the above experiences don’t only apply in business. It is also about how we should live our life whatever jobs we are in. Regardless of what we do, we have to stay long-sighted and not be drawn away by short-term challenges. I also believe persistence will yield results in the end.
Friday, 13 March 2009
Sunday, 20 July 2008
Leaving for a Bigger Challenge
After thinking long and hard, I finally decided to leave the company I work for and start a new life as an entrepreneur. I believe it to be a good career change and I am keeping a positive outlook.
There is one thing that I remind myself of everyday: that is, with all my future challenges and obstacles, may I face them with an open heart, gratitude, a positive attitude and compassion.
It is important for me to keep this in mind, as there is a lot of uncertainty ahead of me. Leaving my comfort zone and entering into a whole new life is a step towards insecurity.
However, without making this move, how would I know whether I can succeed or not? Therefore, challenges and uncertainties are not the main barriers; it is the way my mind perceives them that is most importance and could become an obstruction if I keep having negative thoughts about the move.
Following my resignation it is satisfying to know that the organisation appreciated my work and wanted me to stay. However, I decided to move on.
In one of my articles, I mentioned that I’d had a hard time with some of my colleagues because they believed that my intention to improve the organisation was perceived by them as interference in their own interests. I have been sending my loving kindness to them.
Unfortunately, their self-centred attitude didn’t bring them long-lasting careers; some of them have finally been asked to leave the company.
This experience has taught me that as long as we are sincere and have done nothing that is against the organisation’s interests we deserve a good result, and people who are thinking only of their own interest won’t last long and will have to face the consequences.
However, I do feel sad to see the people that I have been working with leave the organisation in such an unpleasant way. I wish them well and hope that they will learn from the lesson.
There is one thing that I remind myself of everyday: that is, with all my future challenges and obstacles, may I face them with an open heart, gratitude, a positive attitude and compassion.
It is important for me to keep this in mind, as there is a lot of uncertainty ahead of me. Leaving my comfort zone and entering into a whole new life is a step towards insecurity.
However, without making this move, how would I know whether I can succeed or not? Therefore, challenges and uncertainties are not the main barriers; it is the way my mind perceives them that is most importance and could become an obstruction if I keep having negative thoughts about the move.
Following my resignation it is satisfying to know that the organisation appreciated my work and wanted me to stay. However, I decided to move on.
In one of my articles, I mentioned that I’d had a hard time with some of my colleagues because they believed that my intention to improve the organisation was perceived by them as interference in their own interests. I have been sending my loving kindness to them.
Unfortunately, their self-centred attitude didn’t bring them long-lasting careers; some of them have finally been asked to leave the company.
This experience has taught me that as long as we are sincere and have done nothing that is against the organisation’s interests we deserve a good result, and people who are thinking only of their own interest won’t last long and will have to face the consequences.
However, I do feel sad to see the people that I have been working with leave the organisation in such an unpleasant way. I wish them well and hope that they will learn from the lesson.
Tuesday, 10 June 2008
Here is my sharing of the talks by His Holiness the Dalai Lama – Part 3
My emotions when seeing His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
On 25 May 2008 at Nottingham Arena when His Holiness entered the stage he was surrounded by young people who had finished presenting the Opening Dance Presentation (the performance was about the possible future, with the entrance of humans after the destruction of the world).
His Holiness thanked the young people for presenting such a wonderful performance and shook hands with them, including several disabled children.
The energy of compassion from the His Holiness touched the audience. We were able to observe His Holiness’ expressions and movements on two giant TV screens.
I was definitely touched by his compassion and kindness and was in tears with an unexplainable energy. I have a similar feeling when chanting Metta Puja (Loving Kindness Prayers).
His Holiness occasionally showed his playful side when taking pictures with the young people.
He was making conversation with the disabled children and giving them a blessing by touching his forehead with their forehead, this being one way of making a blessing.
In 1999 when I was helping to prepare accounts for a temple in London I received a picture of His Holiness the Dalai Lama as a present from a nun there. It was a very good picture taken together with His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, whose details can be found at his website http://www.kagyuoffice.org/karmapa.html.
I was really pleased with the present and the picture has been displayed in my lounge for more than six years. That was my first association with His Holiness.
Naturally, I always hoped that I will meet His Holiness in real life one day. Seeing His Holiness on 25 May was a dream come true for me.
Even though we couldn’t get close to him, I could feel the energy of his compassion by just observing his movements and expressions over the giant screens and by being in the same area with him. His Holiness has demonstrated a character and the power of a great spiritual leader. I am sure a lot of people feel the same.
On 25 May 2008 at Nottingham Arena when His Holiness entered the stage he was surrounded by young people who had finished presenting the Opening Dance Presentation (the performance was about the possible future, with the entrance of humans after the destruction of the world).
His Holiness thanked the young people for presenting such a wonderful performance and shook hands with them, including several disabled children.
The energy of compassion from the His Holiness touched the audience. We were able to observe His Holiness’ expressions and movements on two giant TV screens.
I was definitely touched by his compassion and kindness and was in tears with an unexplainable energy. I have a similar feeling when chanting Metta Puja (Loving Kindness Prayers).
His Holiness occasionally showed his playful side when taking pictures with the young people.
He was making conversation with the disabled children and giving them a blessing by touching his forehead with their forehead, this being one way of making a blessing.
In 1999 when I was helping to prepare accounts for a temple in London I received a picture of His Holiness the Dalai Lama as a present from a nun there. It was a very good picture taken together with His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, whose details can be found at his website http://www.kagyuoffice.org/karmapa.html.
I was really pleased with the present and the picture has been displayed in my lounge for more than six years. That was my first association with His Holiness.
Naturally, I always hoped that I will meet His Holiness in real life one day. Seeing His Holiness on 25 May was a dream come true for me.
Even though we couldn’t get close to him, I could feel the energy of his compassion by just observing his movements and expressions over the giant screens and by being in the same area with him. His Holiness has demonstrated a character and the power of a great spiritual leader. I am sure a lot of people feel the same.
Here is my sharing of the talks by His Holiness the Dalai Lama – Part 2
As I mentioned in my previous article, the talk was about the environment. His Holiness explained that Tibet is Asia's principal watershed and the source of its major rivers. Machu (Huang Ho, or Yellow River), the Tsangpo (Brahmaputra), the Drichu (Yangtze), and the Senge Khabab (Indus) are among the five most heavily-silted rivers in the world.
Nearly half of the global populations, notably in India, China, Bangladesh and Pakistan, depend on the rivers of Tibet for their sustenance.
The Tibetan Plateau is the largest and highest plateau in the world. It sustains a unique, yet fragile high altitude eco-system much of which remains unspoiled due to its remoteness and inaccessibility.
A significant proportion of river flows in Tibet are stable or base flows coming from ground water and glacial sources. This is in marked contrast to river flows in most neighbouring countries, which are determined by seasonal rainfall patterns.
However, human impact is now taking a devastating toll on the natural resources - the wildlife, forests, grazing lands, rivers and mineral resources are now at a point where they may never recover. Unless urgent action is taken now to stop this the rivers of Tibet, which have brought joy and sustenance, may one day bring death and destruction.
"Destruction of nature and natural resources results from ignorance, greed and the lack of respect for earth's living things."
--His Holiness the Dalai Lama, 1993
Nearly half of the global populations, notably in India, China, Bangladesh and Pakistan, depend on the rivers of Tibet for their sustenance.
The Tibetan Plateau is the largest and highest plateau in the world. It sustains a unique, yet fragile high altitude eco-system much of which remains unspoiled due to its remoteness and inaccessibility.
A significant proportion of river flows in Tibet are stable or base flows coming from ground water and glacial sources. This is in marked contrast to river flows in most neighbouring countries, which are determined by seasonal rainfall patterns.
However, human impact is now taking a devastating toll on the natural resources - the wildlife, forests, grazing lands, rivers and mineral resources are now at a point where they may never recover. Unless urgent action is taken now to stop this the rivers of Tibet, which have brought joy and sustenance, may one day bring death and destruction.
"Destruction of nature and natural resources results from ignorance, greed and the lack of respect for earth's living things."
--His Holiness the Dalai Lama, 1993
Monday, 2 June 2008
Here is My Sharing of the Talks by His Holiness the Dalai Lama - Part 1
I had been trying to book a ticket for the past few months to see His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Nottingham Arena, but without success as the venue was fully booked.
However, my friend Liat told me that there was going to be an extra talk on the afternoon of Sunday 25 May due to the huge demand to hear His Holiness speak.
Thanks to Liat, I had a chance to see and hear for the first time His Holiness and Songyal Rinpoche speak in public. Songyal Rinpoche is a renowned teacher and the author of ‘The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying’.
The public talk was an interview between The Dalai Lama and chosen young people from Nottingham about environmental issues, hosted by Jonathan Dimbleby, the TV and radio presenter.
The most interesting question from one young person was ‘how can we make our friends aware that the environment is important for our future’. My interpretation of His Holiness answer is that the earthquake in China and the cyclone in Myanmar are signs of intolerance from Mother Earth.
Mother Earth has been adjusting to the needs of mankind for past decades. However, it has come to a point where the Mother Earth can no longer tolerate her children (mankind), who are not behaving.
As a result, we will all suffer one day if we carry on harming the environment. It is now happening to China and Myanmar, and natural disasters will continue to happen to us if we are not more compassionate to our Mother Earth.
A positive outcome regarding the China earthquake is that it has united the world - people around the world, regardless of race, have donated money and have given much support to the victims in China.
The disaster has softened the heart of mankind, which has been hardened for a long time - those who thought more of themselves than others.
However, how long will the compassion last? When the disaster is a distant memory, most of the people may forget about it and go back to being self-centred.
I hope that people continue to recall how much the disaster brought suffering to mankind and remember be kind to the environment and to others.
However, my friend Liat told me that there was going to be an extra talk on the afternoon of Sunday 25 May due to the huge demand to hear His Holiness speak.
Thanks to Liat, I had a chance to see and hear for the first time His Holiness and Songyal Rinpoche speak in public. Songyal Rinpoche is a renowned teacher and the author of ‘The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying’.
The public talk was an interview between The Dalai Lama and chosen young people from Nottingham about environmental issues, hosted by Jonathan Dimbleby, the TV and radio presenter.
The most interesting question from one young person was ‘how can we make our friends aware that the environment is important for our future’. My interpretation of His Holiness answer is that the earthquake in China and the cyclone in Myanmar are signs of intolerance from Mother Earth.
Mother Earth has been adjusting to the needs of mankind for past decades. However, it has come to a point where the Mother Earth can no longer tolerate her children (mankind), who are not behaving.
As a result, we will all suffer one day if we carry on harming the environment. It is now happening to China and Myanmar, and natural disasters will continue to happen to us if we are not more compassionate to our Mother Earth.
A positive outcome regarding the China earthquake is that it has united the world - people around the world, regardless of race, have donated money and have given much support to the victims in China.
The disaster has softened the heart of mankind, which has been hardened for a long time - those who thought more of themselves than others.
However, how long will the compassion last? When the disaster is a distant memory, most of the people may forget about it and go back to being self-centred.
I hope that people continue to recall how much the disaster brought suffering to mankind and remember be kind to the environment and to others.
Monday, 14 April 2008
My little mind when I was a child
I lost my father when I was only 10. It wasn’t easy for me to understand why he had left me forever, or to understand what was death about.
For many years after my father died, I was an unhappy child and I felt that my mind was covered in cloud - it was all grey. It was really hard for me as a 10 year old girl to understand the meaning of death and to understand where my father had gone to.
Due to thinking about all these questions, I became really unhappy, quiet and mature for my age. I appreciated my mum more as I was so scared that I would lose her too. I prayed to my father to protect my mum and family and I hope he heard my message.
At the age of 14, I began to learn about Buddhism and it explained to me the meaning of life and death. I absorbed the teachings like sponge as I had been looking for the answers since I was 10.
I also came to realise that it is not important to think of the past and future but that the most important thing is to be happy and appreciate how I am now and what I currently have.
I spent the years from age 10 to 14 very unhappy and I didn’t see where I was going with that. I didn’t know what was going to happen in future. Therefore, I decided not to waste more of my life being unhappy.
Sometime, we think that we don’t have a choice of choosing a happy mind, but in fact, we are able to choose. It depends how we would like to think. If we would like to feel miserable about our life, we will feel unhappy, but if we feel satisfied with our life, than we will feel happy. The difference is in how we choose to think about it. You can decide your own happiness.
For many years after my father died, I was an unhappy child and I felt that my mind was covered in cloud - it was all grey. It was really hard for me as a 10 year old girl to understand the meaning of death and to understand where my father had gone to.
Due to thinking about all these questions, I became really unhappy, quiet and mature for my age. I appreciated my mum more as I was so scared that I would lose her too. I prayed to my father to protect my mum and family and I hope he heard my message.
At the age of 14, I began to learn about Buddhism and it explained to me the meaning of life and death. I absorbed the teachings like sponge as I had been looking for the answers since I was 10.
I also came to realise that it is not important to think of the past and future but that the most important thing is to be happy and appreciate how I am now and what I currently have.
I spent the years from age 10 to 14 very unhappy and I didn’t see where I was going with that. I didn’t know what was going to happen in future. Therefore, I decided not to waste more of my life being unhappy.
Sometime, we think that we don’t have a choice of choosing a happy mind, but in fact, we are able to choose. It depends how we would like to think. If we would like to feel miserable about our life, we will feel unhappy, but if we feel satisfied with our life, than we will feel happy. The difference is in how we choose to think about it. You can decide your own happiness.
Sunday, 6 April 2008
Be Clear with your Ultimate Goal
When I arrived in the UK, it took me a while to find a job that related to my profession, so I had to accept any job that was available to me.
I was a student looking for part time work. My first job was working in a Sausage factory despite being a vegetarian. It was tough, because the environment was against my principles.
I had to wake up at 4:00 am and walk 45 minutes to work for a 5:00 am start. It was dark and cold too! . The temperature in the factory was approximately 8° c degree constantly which was the requirement for production. I worked 8 hours standing in the cold packing sausages. This lasted for one and the half years.
In the beginning, I felt sorry for myself because I had to work in such an environment despite my qualifications. Many times, I burst into tears and felt negative about my life.
However, every time when I felt negative about my life, I tried to think about the positive future ahead. I sincerely believed that things would get better, nothing comes easily without going through hardship first.
I did it because I want to complete my education (Master & doctorate degree). I had the choice before I started and I decided to do it so I just had to stick to my decision which I believed would be best for me in the long run.
There were also positive aspects about that job, I was a good worker and the supervisor really like me and made me a line leader to manage the line. I did the best I could do at what I was doing.
I tried not to feel miserable about it because I believed that is only part of my road to success and I would just have to adapt to whatever the environment was during that process.
What I learned from this was that when we are clear about our ultimate goal, we should stick to it and be prepared for the challenges and obstacles on the road to success.
I made the decision to study in the UK under self support for my doctorate and therefore I had to be mentally prepared for whatever job was available to me to support my studies because, I believe the job is only part of the journey towards my ultimate goal – doctorate degree.
For people who feel miserable with their job, remember that it is only part of the path to your ultimate goal. Think of the long term rather than short term. We will feel more positive that way.
I was a student looking for part time work. My first job was working in a Sausage factory despite being a vegetarian. It was tough, because the environment was against my principles.
I had to wake up at 4:00 am and walk 45 minutes to work for a 5:00 am start. It was dark and cold too! . The temperature in the factory was approximately 8° c degree constantly which was the requirement for production. I worked 8 hours standing in the cold packing sausages. This lasted for one and the half years.
In the beginning, I felt sorry for myself because I had to work in such an environment despite my qualifications. Many times, I burst into tears and felt negative about my life.
However, every time when I felt negative about my life, I tried to think about the positive future ahead. I sincerely believed that things would get better, nothing comes easily without going through hardship first.
I did it because I want to complete my education (Master & doctorate degree). I had the choice before I started and I decided to do it so I just had to stick to my decision which I believed would be best for me in the long run.
There were also positive aspects about that job, I was a good worker and the supervisor really like me and made me a line leader to manage the line. I did the best I could do at what I was doing.
I tried not to feel miserable about it because I believed that is only part of my road to success and I would just have to adapt to whatever the environment was during that process.
What I learned from this was that when we are clear about our ultimate goal, we should stick to it and be prepared for the challenges and obstacles on the road to success.
I made the decision to study in the UK under self support for my doctorate and therefore I had to be mentally prepared for whatever job was available to me to support my studies because, I believe the job is only part of the journey towards my ultimate goal – doctorate degree.
For people who feel miserable with their job, remember that it is only part of the path to your ultimate goal. Think of the long term rather than short term. We will feel more positive that way.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
