September 2004

A few Thoughts, Observations, and Wisdoms

Getting a "lay-off" notice reminded me of getting "served" my divorce papers.  But as I tried to compare, I find it did not have the same impact as a divorce document.  We've been "conditioned" for almost a year that this day was inevitable.  Yet, it is definitely a symbolic ending of a long term relationship. Pragmatically thinking, any relationship, inevitably, ends. But life goes on.

People and events come to my life in certain  timing that just fits right.  Serendipity?  This is even true with books and other information sources I come across with.  In Day 81 of "Years to Success" by Bo Bennett, he writes about "the law of diminishing returns" where he states "that at some point the same effort returns less favorable results."  He argues that this universal law can be adapted to many areas of life.  He advises that any one who can recognize and understand this can sow and experience success (http://www.yearToSuccess.com).

He continues that "In business, recognition of this law and its presence is vital.  In the business world, this law is often referred to as 'spinning your wheels,' that is, putting forth much effort with little return.  However, it is harder to recognize when your actions produce great results at the onset and then diminish.  Very often people become stubborn and proceed with the same action without change.  Learn to recognize the point where it is time to move on to something else."

These statements hits me right smack as I assessed my career that is soon coming to an end.  Assimilating this information timely adds to the confidence level needed for me to move on to something else.

I've outgrown the firm that I have known and loved the past 30 years.  A blessing in disguise perhaps, being made "redundant" due to cost reduction, downsizing, and (sic) off-shoring, is a positive change event catalyst and opportunity to move on to the next level.  I ponder the truth of an old saying: "as one door closes, another door opens."

In "Beans," authors Leslie Yerkers and Charles Decker write about the "four principles for running a business -- in good and bad times" and tagged these as the four "P's" and added an "I."

Passion, People, Personal, and Product are the four Ps. The "I" is the eye for "Intention" or also called the plan.  Each of these points are discussed in parable style, using a fictionalized (although based on a real life story) coffee shop business based in Seattle.  The small business thrives and compete with bigger coffee shop chains (such as the ubiquitous chain that starts with "$tar").  Despite being successful at the onset, they experienced a downturn in customers and profits.  The owners were at a loss about what has gone wrong and were searching answers to how to make things turn around.  Enters a business consultant to help them out. As in Psychiatry, the owners eventually find they had all the ingredients all along - except - they have just forgotten to recognize how.

The simplistic and universal messages of the book provides the reader the interdependent ingredients not just for attaining success, but also for sustaining success.  Unless each and every principle is practiced and applied together, no honest business can survive nor can it last.  Common sense perhaps, but often times we  get caught in the "thick of things" common sense is forgotten - or sacrificed.

In observing my chef friend Patrick cook, the same lessons presented in Beans applies in cooking.  if you even just leave one ingredient out or if the quality of one ingredient is sub-standard... any food you prepare will never be a great entree, no matter how pretty it is presented.

To be a successful chef, one has to master how to be a cook.  All the ingredients must be available and must be of top quality.

These are the wisdoms I've learned that I'd like to share to those who wants to listen:

• Be passionate with what you do.

• Make it personal, whatever you do.

• Respect, recognize, and reward the people that makes you successful.  After all, loyalty is a two-way street.

• Thank them, help them, build them - daily!

• Never undermine your people and don't you ever consider them merely as "resources."

• Act morally and ethical.

• Take good care of who supports you -- they make you look good to your superior.

• Never sell yourself short.

• Don't sell yourself to the devil just for a paycheck.

• Provide the best personalized service and customers will come back to you.

• Be in the business of building relationships and communities, NOT in tearing down relationships and communities.

• Never be deterred by pessimists and zealots.  No matter what others may tell you what you cannot do, no matter if others may think you as incapable -- do your best always and keep pursuing your ambitions.

• Never give up your goals and plans.

• The stars do line up eventually. And when it does, grab on it and take massive action to execute your strategies.

• The last laughs will be on the detractors.

• Oh, one more thing: in working towards your goals, don't run people over.  For if you do, your turn to get run over will be next.

Anything is possible if we put our hearts into it.  Work hard and we will prove negative people wrong.

Of course, we've know all these all along right?  But are we all living it?  And if not, why not?  Once again we are being reminded about what success is really all about.