A Christmas Story

I know I'm quite emotional anyway, even so this story especially touched me ...

A couple were Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve and the whole place

was heaving, packed with other last minute shoppers.

Walking through the shopping centre the surprised wife looked up from

a window display and noticed her husband was nowhere to be seen. She

knew they had lots still to do and she became very upset.

She rummaged in her handbag and found her mobile phoned then used it

to call her husband to ask him where he was.

The husband in a calm voice replied: "Darling, you remember the

jewellery shop we went into five years ago, where you fell in love

with that diamond necklace that we could not afford and I told you

that one day I would get it for you...?"

His wife's eyes filled with tears of emotion, she began to cry softly

and stifling a sob she whispered:"Yes, I remember that jewellery

shop..."

.

"Well," he said, "I'm in the pub next to it!"

What is happiness?

Little darling is helping her client to get young children to enrol for a new tutorial college. Is school holiday here and there is an English in house learning class for 4 days, specially for weak students who could not communicate in this language. Through little darling's strong net work, she is encouraging parents to bring their children for this learning session. Though the course is reasonably  priced, not many parents could afford it but little darling is prepared to sponsor half the fee for each child who is coming.

Little darling spoke to be me with excitement because there are a handful of children who have enrolled for the class next week. She said, "Why am I so happy dear? I had to waste a lot of time to convince many parents to participate in this English program. I don't gain a cent from the enrolment and yet have to pay half the learning fees to the college. Not forgetting much time was wasted for the past month!"

I told her... "Happiness is to make others happy. Happiness is to help others succeed in life. Happiness is to make others smile because of you doing it dear. Congratulation."  

Strictly no smoking and drinking in doing business.

They said 'smoking and drinking' helps to build better business relationship. Is it true?? I'm a non smoker and a non drinker but I have been doing business for the past 45 years and still could conduct business pretty well. 

I remembered 30 years ago when I was a rookie life insurance agent, I tried all ways to meet prospects, made them to be my friends and later sell them my products. There was one occasion when I was introduced to a millionaire at a lunch, where he was entertained by his business associates. Over at the grand table, his guests and the boss were all drinkers and heavy smokers. I was introduced to them as an agent selling life insurance. One of them offered me his cigarette as a welcome gesture which I politely rejected. He was caught with a surprise! I had to tell him that I don't smoke. The next minute the boss offered me a glass of brandy and suggested that I had to drink it 'bottom up' before I could be considered to be their friend. Oh My God! That glass of brandy was never my taste. I took up the courage to tell them that I don't drink too. They were laughing heavily. Their remarks, "How can a salesman don't smoke and don't drink???"  I tried to apologise and to seek for their forgiveness. 

Finally the boss said... If you don't drink but if you could allow me to pour half the glass of brandy over your head, I would still accept you as a friend with us". 

I was not angry but rather I was desperate with his rules. Without hesitation I offered my head to let him pour the drink over me, because I was serious to prove that truly I wasn't a drinker. That arrogant man did what he said and I allowed him to do it with a smile without anger shown. All of them became my friends and they accepted me as a man who doesn't smoke and drink.

Today after 30 years, my good friend the boss who is now at 80 has retired from his business. He has a mild stroke and could hardly walk. He has stopped drinking and smoking. And all those friends, business associates and suppliers have forgotten him now. And I'm the only salesman who still visit him whenever I passed his place. Each time when I dropped over at his shop, I could see in his eyes that he was very happy to see me again. A salesman who doesn't smoke and drink but yet could still remember and to cherish our true friendship. Yes! I will always remember his pouring of brandy over my head.

Food for thought - First the man takes a drink; then the drink takes a drink; then the drink takes the man.

Japanese Proverb

A tongue has no bone but it can be lethal..

"A tongue has no bones, but it's already strong enough to break a heart, and we can't take back the words we've spoken or heal the wounds we've made, so be careful with your words."

Triple Filter Test story. --- One day the great philosopher came upon an acquaintance who ran up to him excitedly and said, "Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students?"

"Wait a moment," Socrates replied. "Before you tell me I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Triple Filter Test."

"Triple filter?" asked the man.

"That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my student let's take a moment to filter what you're going to say. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"

"No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it."

"All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's true or not. Now let's try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my student something good?"

"No, on the contrary ...".

"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, even though you're not certain it's true?".

The man shrugged, a little embarrassed. Socrates continued." You may still pass the test though, because there is a third filter - the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?"

"No, not really..."

"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither True nor Good nor even Useful, why tell it to me at all?"

Have you ever tried living up to it? Do you believe people can?

Well.. Don't just sit there! Share this lesson! this is a good one!

Happy 12 - 12 - 12

Positive mindset...............

I was having a coffee break with Rose Tham today at SS2 P Jaya. We meet three times a year to discuss about her family insurance programmes. Though SS2 is a very busy shopping venue with limited parking bays, I could get a parking right in front of our usual Hailam Kompitam where we always meet.

I was early when Rose arrived and she could identify my Honda was parked right at the door step of the Kompitam. She was curious by asking, "Robert! How could you always be able to park your car in such a convenient place here. Each time we meet, I used to see that you have no problem with parking with your car. Though the place is busy you are always lucky to find one lot for yourself. Tell me what is your trick?"

I told her. There is no trick at all but rather is my belief that works. Each time when I needed to meet some one important, I always talk to the Almighty Universe for help. I seek His Strength and  Power to allow me to get an ideal parking place upon reaching my destinations. I focus my mind, strongly to believe that there is one parking lot make empty for me on arrival. Believe me! I have been practising my mindset on such unbelievable request ever since I was selling life insurance. Being tight with appointments and driving in our hectic cities, Kuala Lumpur and P Jaya, it isn't easy to look for parking, especially during the peak hours of the day. Thanks The Almighty Universe! I really have no problem working and moving around to get my business done. I always be able to get the right parking place, and this really have solved and saved a lot of my time and convenience. Like I told Rose, no trick but a strong positive belief that I will get one when I reach there.

Quote on mindset -  Once your mindset changes, everything on the outside will change along with it.” - Steve Maraboli, Life, the truth, and Being Free.

I love my parents......

I was glad I spoke to Kadija recently. She is a 25 years young single attractively woman, working for the past 4 years as a corporate lady earning a decent income of 5k a month. Not only she is intelligence, she is a very kind person who loves her parents greatly. Ever since she completed her university education and took this job four years ago, she had never pocketed her salary herself. The first month when she drew her pay, she went straight to both her parents and gave her entire earned income to them. She felt that her income should be given to her ageing parents. She remembered when she was young, it was the parents who took care of her. From the day she went to the nursery class till her final year at the university, it was the parents who were responsible to her financial. Though the father was not rich, he never failed to give what she wanted at those younger days of her life. Sometime father had to borrow to provide her for the needed fund on her education then. He paid and gave those cash willingly to her loved darling daughter of the house. Now that Kadija is a grown up lady, she felt it is her full responsibility to repay her kindness to both her great parents. Each time when she drew her salary, she will cash out the exact pay from her ATM bank and would be proud and happy to handover this cash to both father and mother at home. In turn parents would give her $10 per day for her to go to work everyday. In case if she needs extra cash urgently, she would then ask her parents again. She promised that even if she gets marry one day and is still working, she will continue to give her income to her parents till the day when both are not in this world.

Giving her earned income every month to her parents is a joy and happiness for Kadija. A rare breed and practice you hardly could find today. I cried while listening from my dear friend. Because I remembered when I was young and when I took my first job at the age of 18, I also gave my entire salary of only $138 to my mother who was still alive then. It was not in my mind that salary earned should be kept by me. A son's duty is to earn as much as he could, and gives all his income to the parents instead. My mother cried with tears when I gave my first payroll to her. I asked mum why you cry! She said my son is now a grown up child and mum cried because I know my son loves me. I could only give three years of my salary to mother, because three years later she left the world. 

The world has changed. I wonder how many children of today could be like Kadija. 

Food for thought -  Love Your Parents . We are so busy growing up, we often forget they are also growing old.