A Gift as my Tool

Got a call yesterday from the incharge of our pigeonhole. She told I have something from Ms. Jovy, a friend from Cebu. When I opened it, it's a small box with cards of quote in it. The quotes are about friendship - extending network of friends and making the friendship both young and old healthy. I will have this gift as my tool in making my friendship with others grow.

This morning, I took the first card that says, "Life is full of people who will make you laugh, cry, smile until your face hurts, and so happy that you think you'll burst. But the ones who leave their footprints on your soul are the one that keep your life going."

I gotta tell you that I am rich. I don't have properties & wealth but I am rich. I have lots of friends! And I'm still extending my network of friends. I meet new people every now and then. The thing is that not all friends could be with you all the time. No offense but that's a fact! They also have their things to do. But of course, old friends should be treasured. Laugh, smile & cry with them. There are times wherein you should meet and give updates about what's happening to them. And be there when needed.

Some friends come and just go! Some are good & some are true. Some are those you see regularly. But even if some did go, they somehow have left footprints on your soul. I have friends who I no longer see. I failed to let ém stay. But it's their choice and all I can do is just to understand. But of course, no matter how hard it was, feeling left but still I love ém and they're still important to me.

I have learned so many things from my friends. I am thankful for having them. All of ém...

An Open Advice About Career Decisions

"Just a few weeks ago, a friend messaged me about quitting her job. Not because she hates the job but because her relationship with her direct boss was no longer good since their higher boss knew that she was sent to a place alone (without the direct boss). I sent this article to her which, a friend sent me by email. I don't know if this gave an impact to her(hopefully it did) but I also want to share this to you. In no time, this might help you."

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Several of my staff has approached me lately about their
career decisions. I really appreciate my staff opening up
to me. It is quite reassuring to know that they're still
having second thoughts about leaving. Here is part of
the email I sent to a "confused" staff:

I have worked for more than 5 companies already
so I guess you might be correct in saying I have
had considerable experience about leaving and moving
on. I will not stop you nor tell you to leave, though of
course it will be better if you stay. In any career decision,
leaving or staying I believe, based from my personal
experiences, should only be done for the right reasons.

thanks to http://www.camosun.ca for this photo

For one, you shouldn't leave because you don't like
several people in the company, nor should you stay
because of the friends you have made here. At the
end of the day, it is your life. Your friends or
"enemies" should not make or break your career.
If you let them be the deciding factor, then maybe
you should think twice. You are the craftsman of
your fate and the captain of your ship. Captain Hook
shouldn't be one of your worries!

Do not leave nor stay because of the "brand" of
your company. If that was the case, I would have
rushed off and sign my JO in "C"! Ask yourself whether
you want to be a big fish in a small pond or a small
fish in a bigger pond. Know your priorities. Only you
can answer that.

Do not leave the company because you're so damn
frustrated about the way things are being run, or
stay because you have this "messianic complex" that
you can change things overnight. Be realistic
about the things .

Learn to accept that there is no perfect company. Be
accepting that change is a slow and painful process
at times and be thankful that you realize and act on
things that can be changed and improved.
Definitely, do not leave or stay just because
your parents want you to. I know I am advocating
obedience to parents but again, we are talking
about YOUR career. But learn to value their wisdom
and discern well.

Money isn't everything. The package being offered
now might be better but look at the long-term
prospects. Do not leave or stay just solely on the
compensation package . Look for growth prospects
and review their career plans for you . Your
immediate gains today might actually be a loss a
few years from now if you do the Math.

thanks to http://www.masterrepro.com for this photo

Boredom is another challenge all professionals are
faced with during lull periods in their career. Do not
leave because you have become so bored with your
job. Do not stay either because you want things as
they are.

Change is inevitable in any organization. Talk to
your boss. Ask for more responsibilities or other
tasks if you're bored. Enroll in a special course.
If you're satisfied with the status quo and is
just waiting for retirement hoping things will
stay the same, you're in for a big disappointment-
either you will be forced to change or you will
be forced to leave. Be ready before that time
comes. Boredom or complacency is perennial
battle most professionals have to deal with.
Arm yourself with creativity everyday!

Tonight I suggest you rest well. Sit still and
listen to what He is saying. PRAY. I have always
made my career decisions through His guidance.
He was and still is my Career Adviser/Talent
Manager. Your work, our work, is a vocation.
He knows us more than we know ourselves so
trust Him for whatever plans He has for you.
You can never go wrong.

And remember: "Use your head to get to the
top. But use your heart to stay."

Live A Life That Matters (from an unknown author)

Ready or not, someday it will all come to an end.

There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours, or days.
All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else.
Your wealth, fame, and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance.

It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed.
Your grudges, resentments, frustrations, and jealousies will finally disappear.
So, too, your hopes, ambitions, plans, and to-do lists will expire.

The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.
It won't matter where you came from, or on what side of the tracks you lived, at the end.
It won't matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant
Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.

So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured?

What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave.
What will matter is not your success, but your significance.
What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught.

What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.

What will matter is not your competence, but your character.
What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone.

What will matter is not your memories, but the memories that live in those who loved you.
What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.

Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident. It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice.

Choose to live a life that matters.

The 90/10 Principle by Stephen Covey

Discover the 90/10 Principle. It will change your life.
What is the 90/10 Principle?

10% of life is made up of what happens to you.
90% of life is decided by how you react.
What does this mean?
We really have no control over 10% of what happens to us.

We cannot stop the car from breaking down.
The plane will be late arriving, which throws our whole schedule off.
A driver may cut us off in traffic.
We have no control over this 10%.

The other 90% is different.
You determine the other 90%.
How? By your reaction.

You cannot control a red light, but you can control your reaction.
Don't let people fool you; YOU can control how you react.

Let's use an example.

You are eating breakfast with your family.
Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto your business shirt.
You have no control over what just what happened.
What happens when the next will be determined by how you react.
You curse.
You harshly scold your daughter for knocking the cup over.
She breaks down in tears.
After scolding her, you turn to your spouse and criticize her for
placing the cup too close to the edge of the table.
A short verbal battle follows.
You storm upstairs and change your shirt.
Back downstairs, you find your daughter has been too busy
crying to finish breakfast and get ready for school.
She misses the bus.
Your spouse must leave immediately for work.
You rush to the car and drive your daughter to school.
Because you are late, you drive 40 miles an hour in a 30 mph speed limit.
After a 15-minute delay and throwing $60 traffic fine away, you arrive
at school.
Your daughter runs into the building without saying goodbye.
After arriving at the office 20 minutes late, you find you forgot your briefcase.
Your day has started terribly.
As it continues, it seems to get worse and worse.
You look forward to coming home, When you arrive home, you find
a small wedge in your relationship with your spouse and daughter.
Why? Because of how you reacted in the morning.

Why did you have a bad day?
A) Did the coffee cause it?
B) Did your daughter cause it?
C) Did the policeman cause it?
D) Did you cause it?
The answer is D.
You had no control over what happened with the coffee.
How you reacted in those 5 seconds is what caused your bad day.

Here is what could have and should have happened.
Coffee splashes over you.
Your daughter is about to cry.
You gently say, "It's ok honey, you just need, to be more careful next
time."
Grabbing a towel you rush upstairs.
After grabbing a new shirt and your briefcase,
you come back down in time to look through the window and see your
child getting on the bus.
She turns and waves.
You arrive 5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff.
Your boss comments on how good the day you are having.

Notice the difference?
Two different scenarios.
Both started the same.
Both ended different.
Why? Because of how you REACTED.

You really do not have any control over 10% of what happens.
The other 90% was determined by your reaction.
Here are some ways to apply the 90/10 principle.
If someone says something negative about you, don't be a sponge.
Let the attack roll off like water on glass.
You don't have to let the negative comment affect you!
React properly and it will not ruin your day.
A wrong reaction could result in losing a friend, being fired, getting
stressed out etc.

How do you react if someone cuts you off in traffic?
Do you lose your temper?
Pound on the steering wheel?
A friend of mine had the steering wheel fall off!
Do you curse?
Does your blood pressure skyrocket?
Do you try and bump them? WHO CARES if you arrive ten seconds later at
work?
Why let the cars ruin your drive?
Remember the 90/10 principle, and do not worry about it.
You are told you lost your job.
Why lose sleep and get irritated?
It will work out.
Use your worrying energy and time into finding another job.

The plane is late; it is going to mangle your schedule for the day.
Why take out your frustration on the flight attendant?
She has no control over what is going on.
Use your time to study, get to know the other passenger.
Why get stressed out?
It will just make things worse.

Now you know the 90-10 principle.
Apply it and you will be amazed at the results.
You will lose nothing if you try it.
The 90-10 principle is incredible.
Very few know and apply this principle.

The result?
Millions of people are suffering from undeserved stress, trials,
problems and heartache.
There never seem to be a success in life.
Bad days follow bad days.
Terrible things seem to be constantly happening.
There is constant stress, lack of joy, and broken relationships.
Worry consumes time.
Anger breaks friendships and life seems dreary and is not enjoyed to
the fullest.

Friends are lost.
Life is a bore and often seems cruel.
Does this describe you? If so, do not be discouraged.
You can be different!
Understand and apply the 90/10 principle.
It will change your life.

..... but only if you really try it!

Let it go for 2008... By T. D. Jakes

There are people who can walk away from you. And hear me when I tell you this! When people can walk away from you: let them walk. I don't want you to try to talk another person into staying with you, loving you, calling you, caring about you, coming to see you, staying attached to you. I mean hang up the phone. When people can walk away from you let them walk. Your destiny is never tied to anybody that left.

The bible said that, they came out from us that it might be made manifest that they were not for us. For had they been of us, no doubt they would have continued with us. [1 John 2:19]

People leave you because they are not joined to you. And if they are not joined to you, you can't make them stay.
Let them go.

And it doesn't mean that they are a bad person it just means that their part in the story is over. And you've got to know when people's part in your story is over so that you don't keep trying to raise the dead.
You've got to know when it's dead.

You've got to know when it's over. Let me tell you something. I've got the gift of good-bye. It's the tenth spiritual gift, I believe in good-bye. It's not that I'm hateful, it's that I'm faithful, and I know whatever
God means for me to have He'll give it to me. And if it takes too much sweat I don't need it. Stop begging people to stay.
Let them go!!

If you are holding on to something that doesn't belong to you and was never intended for your life, then you need to......
LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to past hurts and pains.
LET IT GO!!!

If someone can't treat you right, love you back, and see your worth.....
LET IT GO!!!

If someone has angered you........
LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to some thoughts of evil and revenge..... .
LET IT GO!!!

If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction... ...
LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs or talents.
LET IT GO!!!

If you have a bad attitude.... ...
LET IT GO!!!

If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better......
LET IT GO!!!

If you're stuck in the past and God is trying to take you to a new level in Him......
LET IT GO!!!

If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship. ......
LET IT GO!!!

If you keep trying to help someone who won't even try to help themselves.. ....
LET IT GO!!!

If you're feeling depressed and stressed ........
LET IT GO!!!

If there is a particular situation that you are so used to handling yourself and God is saying 'take your hands off of it,' then you need to......
LET IT GO!!!

Let the past be the past. Forget the former things. GOD is doing a new thing for 2008!!!
LET IT GO!!!

Get Right or Get Left. think about it, and then....
LET IT GO!!!