Between Algebra and Geometry
1,546 views
I remember the battle cry of the 80’s and the 90’s was: “Quality!”
Consultants were busy and excited in bringing out cases after cases of Japanese businesses that modeled quality of which Toyota reigned king!
Even Filipinos and American executives engaged themselves in corporate babble using Japanese words and terminologies of which the word “Kaizen” was chief. Quality was the buzzword. You may be familiar with other words like TQM. Six Sigma. Zero Defect.
Quality rules.
And then something happened. Computers and technology came into the picture. Suddenly all the management programs become commoditized. Companies with money buy the same program which in effect led to consumer’s benefits as products and services improved dramatically. However, quality now no longer becomes cutting edge. Quality now becomes minimum entry requirement in order to survive the highly global competitive world.
Anger Can Be Contagious
1,566 views
In his autobiography, Number 1, Billy Martin told about hunting in Texas with Mickey Mantle.
Mickey had a friend who would let them hunt on his ranch. When they reached the ranch, Mickey told Billy to wait in the car while he checked in with his friend. Mantle's friend quickly gave them permission to hunt, but he asked Mickey a favor. He had a pet mule in the barn who was going blind, and he didn't have the heart to put him out of his misery. He asked Mickey to shoot the mule for him.
When Mickey came back to the car, he pretended to be angry. He scowled and slammed the door. Billy asked him what was wrong, and Mickey said his friend wouldn't let them hunt. "I'm so mad at that guy," Mantle said, "I'm going out to his barn and shoot one of his mules!" Mantle drove like a maniac to the barn. Martin protested, "We can't do that!" But Mickey was adamant. "Just watch me," he shouted.
When they got to the barn, Mantle jumped out of the car with his rifle, ran inside, and shot the mule. As he was leaving, though, he heard two shots, and he ran back to the car. He saw that Martin had taken out his rifle, too. "What are you doing, Martin?" he yelled. Martin yelled back, face red with anger, "We'll show that son of a gun! I just killed two of his cows!"
Oh no! Anger can be dangerously contagious.
As Proverbs 22:24-25 puts it, "Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man... or you may learn his ways" (Prov.). [1]
It’s the Traffic
1,597 views
It’s a rare opportunity for my wife and I to take a casual and leisurely walk along the mall. What is normal for us is to rush from one place to another doing all those talks and giving all those seminars.
And so after our workout in the gym, The Ilocana and I took our sweet time, strolled inside a shopping mall; afterwards got inside my car and drove to a gas station and that’s when my cell phone rang. It was my all time faithful and reliable associate Rara sounding-agitated-trying-to-keep-her-nerve-tone-of-voice as she practically screamed, “Sir where are you? They are waiting for you.” I realized to my horror that I have forgotten about giving a talk that evening. I have mistakenly assumed that the talk was for the next evening but I was wrong.
The Wind and The Fog
1,175 views
Arriving late at Heathrow Airport, after a long flight, taking a long walk riding a long bus ride I finally arrived at the heart of Commercial London called Oxford Street. It’s not easy traveling alone but somehow I have gotten used to that. I had to spend the night in the city and prepare to leave for Queen’s College in Oxford University and attend a one-week conference – another item in my bucket list that I have drawn up years before.
And as I look at picturesque London my mind brought me back to some historical events that happened many years to this country that few people in ours remember. Steve Farrar in his beautiful book entitled “God Built” talked about this and allow me to share it with you.
The Jump Shot
1,859 views
One day, two elderly men were talking about their favorite sport, basketball.
"I wonder if there'll be basketball in heaven?" Ed asked.
"Of course there will," Henson responded, "or it wouldn't be heaven."
Not long after that, Ed passed away; then, one night while Henson, was sleeping, Ed appeared in all his radiant glory- in a bright light at the foot of Henson’s bed. Henson was badly shaken.
"Calm down, Henson," Ed reassured his friend.
"Everything's going to be all right. I just came back to visit and to bring some good news and some bad news. "
Mayonnaise and Coffee
1,824 views
One day a conversation took place between the husband and the wife.
The wife was not in a very happy disposition that morning and so she complained:
"You think so much of your old game you don't even remember when you were married."
The husband calmly replied: "Of course I do, my dear; it was the day I sank that 30-foot putt." Oops. Priorities!
Happy Father’s Day
563 views
"My father did not tell me how to live. He lived, and let me watch him do it," says Clarence Budinton Kelland.
This is why I am so careful. I know that my children may not believe 100% I say but they certainly believe 100% I do. The best thing I can leave my children is a good example.
To all the warriors out there: Happy Father's Day!"
What is a Father?
1,401 views
Somebody wrote this material and I simply added a little side comments of my own.
What is a father?
A father is a person who is forced to endure childbirth without an anesthetic.
He growls when he feels good and laughs very loud when he is scared half-to-death. He needs to be a picture of strength even though he may be scared and sad from the inside.
A Short Elevator Ride
1,053 views
A career military man, who had retired as a Master Sergeant, was telling the new recruits how he handled officers during his years of service.
"It didn't matter a hoot if he was a full bird colonel, Major General, an Admiral, or what! I always told those guys exactly where to get off."
"Wow, you must have been something," the admiring young soldiers remarked. "What was your job in the service?"
"Elevator operator in the Pentagon."
No wonder. Now let’s go to the serious side of the story.
Control What You Think
1,961 views
Aboard a flight from L.A. to New York, Grandma Esther was taking her very first flight.
They had only been aloft a few minutes when the elderly lady complained to the stewardess that her ears were popping.
The girl smiled and gave the older woman some chewing gum, assuring her that many people experienced the same discomfort. When they landed in New York, Grandma thanked the stewardess.
"The chewing gum worked fine," she said, "but tell me, how do I get it out of my ears?"
Well obviously, grandma was not thinking.