Inspiring Excellence

Francis Kong — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:42:02 +0000

Complete the sentence. If at first you don’t succeed………Do not try again. Find out what went wrong. Correct the error and then try again. It’s crazy to continue doing the same thing over expecting a different result. Working harder on the same mistake is not a virtue. Humble yourself and find out where you went wrong. Then correct it and try again. This takes a lot of discipline to do.

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PRODUCTS OF THE PAST

Francis Kong — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 01:23:39 +0000

A teacher arranged her young students into a circle. She then went around the circle and asked each one a question.
“Robert, what sound does a cow make?”
Robert replied, “It goes ‘moo.’”
“Albert, what sound does a cat make?”
Albert said, “It goes ‘meow.’”
“Oscar, what sound does a lamb make?”
Oscar said, “It goes ‘baaa.’”
“Noel, what sound does a mouse make?”
Noel paused, and said, “Uhh … it goes … ‘click…click!’”
This is the age of technology
There was a time when mouse used to be a rodent and windows were fixtures inside your home. Today you have mouse, wireless mouse, mouse that operates with radio frequency, track pads is replacing the mice. Disruptive technology is here to stay. There was a time when it took a long time before a new product is accepted in the market place. Today the market eagerly awaits the launching of the next big thing in technology
I was giving a seminar then and people began to smile, some were giggling and a lot more of them began laughing. I asked, “What’s going on?” One brave soul responded and said, “Francis, you said we need to read books and we need to listen to tapes. But nobody listens to tapes anymore.” “Oh boy, “ I told myself, caught in a time warp. How could I have missed that?
After giving a talk, one lady approached me and said, “Francis I love your talk. Have you recorded it in a cassette?” “Cassette?” I half smiled but that’s exactly what happened to me. The only difference is that I said, “Tape.”
This makes me think. What has happened to the products of the past? The hits? The wonders? The breakthrough technology that made the world marveled? Products like:
The video recorder? (Circa 1983) The one with the flashing 12:00? Never figured out what that function was for anyway.
Brick (circa 1990) – I remember my first cell phone was a phone named ANTEL. Compare the size of that today to the newer ones my first cell phone was as small as my Coleman Water Jug. You charge the battery for 8 hours and you get to use it for only 2.
Cloning (same time) – The biggest worry at that time was not virus but cloning in an Analog platform not digital.
Let’s go back – way back. Remember phones had party-lines and you fight them all the time?
What about Caller ID (circa 1995) – Staring at a number that came in and you shock the callers by knowing it was them.
And for those who first saw the light in a hospital after 1990, a quick fad then was called the DAT. DAT stands for Digital Audio Tape. Sony Corporation introduced this in the mid-1980’s. This replaced the old cassettes that really lasted many years.
And the CD’s came into the picture and is now losing ground to Ipods and MP3 Players. A couple of years back I remember entering the last 2 days of Tower Record’s existence in America and everything in there was sold for just $2 and less. Today online music purchasing gains momentum everyday.
My son plays the drums for a popular band. He says that their first hit became a hit without a CD. It was placed on line and people here and even in places as far as Belgium and Germany listened to it.
Products of the past. I wonder why as I think about them the same products bring back memories of events tied to the same.
And what about future products?
I read about scientists and researchers developing the next generation paper battery. A supercharged battery that can be bent, rolled, twisted and cut to size like a piece of paper. It looks like the next great thing; a breakthrough technology which becomes today’s hit would in a short span of time quickly turn into tomorrow’s museum piece.
May I make a suggestion? Don’t be too much of a hurry in having to HAVE that new toy. You spend a great deal for it and then a few months later that “new” thing will be left with just the “thing” when the novelty of newness is gone. Just because you are using an old cell phone does not mean you’re second-class and old. It may mean you are frugal and practical that’s all.
Somebody says: “The world is getting complicated. Somebody just gave me a battery operated paperweight.” And you’re probably asking, “Paperweight? What’s that?”
Don’t let technology complicate your life. Live it simply but live it to the full. With or even without the latest technology.

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Francis Kong — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:17:50 +0000

You like someone “BECAUSE” they have pretty eyes, nice smile, or an elegant nose. You love the person “EVEN THOUGH” they are not rich, a good cook, or can’t put the toilet seat down. Liking someone means that you are fond of their good traits and loving someone is that you accept that other person fully even though they are not always perfect. Liking and loving are different. Know the difference. It’s easy to like but it takes a lot of heart and discipline to love.

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Francis Kong — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:38:09 +0000

Totally enjoying the Leadership Class today and my appreciation to participants who came all the way from Mindanao just to attend my once-a-month 2-day Leadership Training Program at EDSA Shangri-La Hotel.

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Francis Kong — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:30:12 +0000

The late business philosopher Jim Rohn says: Affirmation without discipline is the beginning of delusion. Every single successful professional or business person I have met is a disciplined person. There can’t be any exception to this rule.

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THE POISON PLOT

Francis Kong — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:36:28 +0000

Think about this. No matter how successful a man is in business, he is seldom as smart as his mother thinks, or as dumb as his mother in law says he is.
Somebody asks this question: “What is the difference between outlaws and in-laws?” And here is the answer: Outlaws are wanted.
We lovingly call her “Auntie Carmen.” If you want to talk about being a “people person” then Auntie Carmen surely qualifies as one of them. We met in church a couple of years ago and have become friends. She sent me this beautiful story that is credited to anonymity.
Once upon a time in China , a girl named Li-Li got married & went to live with her husband and mother-in-law. In a very short time, Li-Li found that she couldn’t get along with her mother-in-law at all. Their personalities were very different, and Li-Li was angered by many of her mother-in-law’ s habits. In addition, she criticized Li-Li constantly. Days and weeks passed. Li-Li and her mother-in-law never stopped arguing and fighting. But what made the situation worse was that according to Chinese tradition, Li-Li had to bow to her mother-in-law and obey her every wish. All the anger and unhappiness in the house was causing Li-Li’s poor husband great distress.
Li-Li could not stand her mother-in-law any longer so she decided to do something about it. Li-Li went to see Mr. Huang who sold herbs. She told him about the situation and asked if he would give her some poison so that she could solve her problem once and for all.  The wise Mr. Huang thought for awhile, and finally said, “Li-Li, I will help you solve your problem, but you must listen to me and obey what I tell you.”  Li-Li said, “Yes, Mr. Huang, I will do whatever you tell me to.”
Mr. Huang gave Li-Li a package of herbs. He said, “Li-Li, you cannot use a quick-acting poison kill your mother-in-law, because that would cause people to become suspicious. Therefore, I have given you a number of herbs that will slowly build up poison in her body. Every other day prepare some delicious meal and put a little of these herbs in her serving. Now, in order to make sure that nobody suspect you the day she dies, you must be very careful to act very friendly towards her. “Don’t argue with her, obey her every wish, and treat her like a queen.”   Li-Li was so happy. She thanked Mr. Huang and hurried home to start her murder plot against her mother-in-law.
Weeks and months went by and every other day, Li-Li served the specially treated food to her mother-in-law. She remembered what Mr. Huang said about avoiding suspicion so she controlled her temper, obeyed her mother-in-law, and treated her like her own mother. After six months, the whole household had changed. Li-Li had learned to control her temper and she hadn’t had an argument with her mother-in-law in six months. The mother-in-law now seemed a lot kinder and easier to get along. Her attitude toward Li-Li has changed, and she began to love Li-Li like her own daughter. She kept telling friends and relatives that Li-Li was the best daughter-in- law one could ever find. Li-Li’s husband was very happy to see what was happening.
So now Li-Li has a problem. The situation has changed but what about the poison inside her mother-in-law that would eventually kill her.
Li-Li rushed to see Mr. Huang and asked for his help. She said, “Mr. Huang, please help me to keep off the poison from killing my mother-in-law. She’s changed into such a nice woman, and I love her like my own mother. I do not want her to die because of the poison I gave her.” 
Mr. Huang smiled and nodded his head. “Li-Li, there’s nothing to worry about. I never gave you any poison. The herbs I gave you were vitamins to improve her health. The only poison was in your mind and your attitude toward her, but that has been all washed away by the love which you gave to her.” 

Now I want you to think about this. You will be amazed at how people would change when the change starts with you. And couldn’t it be possible that God is using other people to work on you?
Never forget. Behind every successful man stands…….a surprised mother-in-law.

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Francis Kong — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:22:03 +0000

It’s a parenting talk this morning and then I get to speak to the science teachers this afternoon. I don’t charge fees when it comes to parents, students and teachers. This is why I love my life. Happiness comes through doors you didn’t even know you left open.

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Discipline is Key to Everything (video)

Francis Kong — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:26:55 +0000

Transcription of the video:

I’ve got something for you. Listen to this. Wrong standards equals wrong measurement, wrong measurement equals wrong results. You don’t say “Ilang kilo ba itong lupang ito?” Once you start with that one you’ll gonna end up messing the whole thing, right? So my next question now is what is your standard for success? Is it money? Is it accomplishment? You know what? The way to getting successful is to get the right standards of values, righteousness, doing things correctly. And all of these things require discipline. Discipline is the very platform where you get things done. In other words, one of the best descriptions I have for the word discipline is simply two words: delaying gratification. You control what gratifies you and you go through the chores of doing the things you may not like doing but you got to do it anyway. And then once you’ve done it, you enjoy the gratification later on. Discipline is key to winning. Discipline is key in relationships building. Discipline is key to practically everything.

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ANGER

Francis Kong — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:49:09 +0000

What does it take to turn a person into a Judas? What motivates someone to betray deep-seated loyalties? Unresolved anger and resentment, for one thing. Consider the story of Earl Pitts, FBI agent turned Soviet spy.

According to Evan Thomas in Newsweek, Pitts was raised on a farm in Missouri and was recognized as a Future Farmer of America. His parents said they disciplined him firmly but fairly. He was a captain in the army who regarded himself as a patriot. Even today he is described by his wife as a “good man.”

So what happened?

After getting his law degree and serving as a military policeman for six years, in 1983 Pitts realized a lifelong ambition by going to work for the FBI. In 1987 he was assigned to the New York office, and there his troubles began. He did not see how he could afford to live in the Big Apple on his $25,000 a year salary.

Thomas writes, “Morale in the office was poor, and petty cheating on expense accounts was rampant. Burdened with debt from student loans, Pitts had to ask his father for a loan. He felt humiliated. Pitts later told a psychiatrist that he was ‘overwhelmed’ by a sense of rage at the FBI.”

One morning he came up with the idea of spying for the KGB. That way he could kill two birds with one stone: he could solve his money problems and get back at his bosses. He later told a psychiatrist, “I was shoved by the bureaucracy, and I shoved back.”

Over the next seven years Pitts worked as a Soviet spy and for his services received $224,000. When he was finally caught and convicted, the judge sentenced him to twenty-seven years in prison. At his sentencing the judge asked him point-blank why he had become a traitor. Earl Pitts replied, “I gave in to an unreasonable anger. ”

Never allow anger to fester. Deal with anger as God prescribes.

Here is another story:

Shirley Belleranti shows the negative impact of anger on our most important relationships:

I remember one summer day when my ten-year-old son and a friend were getting a pitcher of lemonade from the refrigerator. I’d spent hours that morning scrubbing, waxing, and polishing the kitchen floor, so I warned the boys not to spill anything. They tried so hard to be careful that they innocently bumped a tray of eggs on the door shelf. Of course, it fell, splattering eggs all over my clean floor.

The boys’ eyes widened with alarm as I exploded angrily. “Get out of here now!” I shouted, while they headed for the door. By the time I’d finished cleaning up the mess, I had calmed down. To make amends, I set a tray of cookies on the table, along with the pitcher of lemonade and some glasses. But when I called the boys, there was no answer—they’d gone somewhere else to play, somewhere where my angry voice wouldn’t reach them.

Anger separates us from those we want to be near. Anger shatters intimacy.

It sure does.

Do not let the sun go down on your anger that’s what the Bible has to say because the Author know the stuff we are made of. God has given us a mind to use and we need to use that mind to educate our moods.

I sure appreciate the fact that God does not blow His top the way I do.

It takes a lot of discipline to be able to deal with anger emotions but we simply have to deal with it correctly.

Just remember this. Anger can sure be an expensive luxury. And we simply can’t afford it.

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Francis Kong — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:36:03 +0000

We all desire relationships in which we are accepted, valued, and wanted. We desperately long for this esteem from our peers, but seldom experience the real thing. This is why teens succumb to peer pressure. This is why people enter into disastrous relationships wanting to be needed.
Inspire your people by appreciation and recognition. This goes a long way. Make their work life meaningful.

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