Critical thinking

We constantly succumbs to lost direction and moving around the circle or will be unlikely to achieve our full potential in life if we are to take critical thinking for granted. Not only we need to practice critical way of thinking, but at the same time must think accurately and clearly to guide us for insightful and right decision. Few simple and rather useful tips will help us to familiar ourselves how to make it second nature to us:-

1. Learn to identify and know how to separate facts from information.
2. Only spend time with the facts, just filter those relevant facts.
   
3. Irrelevant facts should be filtered out fast to save time.
4. Always cool by not over-react to something and an act of exaggerating is no no in critical thinking which supposed to be accurate, clear and concise.
5. Avoid yourself from trapped into gossip as almost of the time it is false.
6. Making conclusion or wrapping up only when you have enough evidence, else revisit your conclusion.
7. Don't sit down on your laurel - keep asking and questioning all angles including your own thoughts and ideas.If you confident on your ideas and thoughts, then you may proceed to focus on them.
8. Else, repeat the whole steps above...

Public speaking

All of us at one time or another ever remembered our public speaking experience when presenting - ideas, projects, proposals, plans, or anything either in a smaller or bigger group. In fact, we are much likes salesperson because we have to sell out our thoughts and ideas to others so that they would deal with us.

We must possess skilled public speaking if we want to go further in life. No matter how good our ideas or points we would like to express out, it would be a very challenging task to get the message connected to our audiences if we doesn't improve our public speaking skill. To improve our standing in the business community, we need to convince our business associates, suppliers, and potential customers. In corporate world, good public speaking skill would helps if we want to go further in our career. The skill is not so difficult after all. I also experienced it tough at the first place for scare of being caught to make mistakes in terms of grammar, sentences, and chosen of words used. Somehow, over time I managed to reduce this fear gradually.

For those in business, good public speaking would even polish their skill further and help to push them into the next trajectory in their success as they can do many things as follows:

• Re-enforce their self-confidence level
• Will increase their circle of friends and business contacts
• Good connection will give an opportunity to earn extra income from various sources
• Always dare to be at the edge of things and issues because the skill train us to be clear and strategic in our thinking, persuasive, assertive, and strong power of influence.
  
• Reduce inferiority complex syndrome.
• Enjoy the rewarding skill which doesn't need so much money to learn.

Potential

Every person irrespective of born normal or disabled always inherited one possession - potential.

Ironically, this natural potential always claimed by few. Majority may don't realize about this potential within them. Many always settle for mediocre in almost whatever they're venture into. I know for a fact that many kids being pampered with killing ideas and notions especially in developing countries. They being "conditioned" to an extent that their parents always claimed that they know what best for their kids. Thus, parents always trying to control much on the mental development of their children.

One good example of this inner potential can be detected if a kid shows some interest or tendency into something at an early age; e.g. he/she likes music and interested to musical instruments. Instead, parents for being leader in the family will quickly discourage the idea. For reason only known to the parents, they discourage their kids should not explore this tendency. Sorts of reasons will kill this potential. In Malaysia for example only has 26 millions plus population. If one wants to become recording artist, there will be very limited market. They also said it is non-professional job. Their kids should go for something with higher order in society fabrics such as doctor, lawyer, engineer, accountant, etc.

However, I beg to differ on this matter. Whatever professions are always professional. It bolds down to how one can make and execute it professionally. Look at how many successful artists or singers globally and some of them earning more dollars than the real so called professionals group because they know how to professionalized their career. They are targeting international and global markets for unlimited reach. To parents who may visited this blog, kindly don't take my suggestion at face value, but rather look at the total picture. I may not in the position to advise parents because I'm not an expert in parenting. Any bright potential within small kids should be encouraged in parallel while developing them academically. Both skills set are of the same degree of importance for focus and attention. This is not limited to only one particular interest. The interest and potential could be in anything(so long as the interest is something legal). How to discover and develop that potential also no less important.

I guess everyone heard and knew of who Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is? Imagine if his father discouraged his talent and potential into music and encouraged him compulsory to follow his step to become a teacher, we wouldn't have so talented composer of classical era.

Now, all of us inherited that kind of possession - potential within us. Utilize on that potential and sharpen it in order for it to shine. At least, one day we can leave our legacy in a small little way. Go for that potential and listen to it carefully where it want to lead you to in life...

I believe I can fly...

I BELIEVE I CAN FLY LYRICS (SUNG BY R KELLY)

I used to think that I could not go on
And life was nothing but an awful song
But now I know the meaning of true love
I'm leaning on the everlasting arms

If I can see it, then I can be it
If I just believe it, there's nothing to it

[1] - I believe I can fly
I believe I can touch the sky
I think about it every night and day
Spread my wings and fly away
I believe I can soar
I see me running through that open door
I believe I can fly
I believe I can fly
I believe I can fly

See I was on the verge of breaking down
Sometimes silence can seem so loud
There are miracles in life I must achieve
But first I know it starts inside of me, oh

If I can see it, then I can be it
If I just believe it, there's nothing to it

[Repeat 1]

Hey, cuz I believe in me, oh

If I can see it, then I can be it
If I just believe it, there's nothing to it

[Repeat 1]

Hey, if I just spread my wings
I can fly
I can fly
I can fly, hey
If I just spread my wings
I can fly
Fly-eye-eye

Why vs. What

It is become second nature for us to ask "why?" instead of "what?" when something not quite right happen to us. "Why" seems to be our common natural respond to our surrounding. I can say it is one of the FAQs. Regardless of which tendency you fall into, there is nothing wrong with asking either one. However, there will be a different results may emerge. Let's see one by one.

"Why" - is the term of seeking to understand things and surroundings especially among the children. We even experienced the same curiosity when we are still young like them. The only drawback is "why?" fails to assist us in looking for permanent solution(s) to issues or challenge(s). Instead, we tend to be trapped into unending search for clues with questions such as why did this... and why did that... why aren't I successful? The more we ask why the more we keep reasoning and would never find the answers.

Ask "what?" will help us in gathering better facts and answer to solve issues or challenges facing us. "What" will produce wisdom questions and answers instead of reasoning. It will guide us to move with the right resources because we are more clear about what we need.

On top of these two very famous "why" and "what", we also always asking common questions such as "who", "when", and "how". All these questions can be classified into 3 categories:

• "Who?", "When?" and "How?" are for information gathering.
• "What?" is for solution and wisdom - e.g What do I need in facing this toughest moment in my life? What it takes to be successful in my business? What kind of training and support do I need to upgrade myself in my existing career?
  
• Unfortunately, for "why?", it always make us end up with just the question. There is no certain answer to satisfy us.
  

Early bird

'Early bird always get good food' - this cliché always used by Marketing gurus to attract savvy customers in pushing their products and services.

Early bird catches the fresh and first worm. Opportunities always goes to an early raiser or morning person. They stand a bigger window of opportunity and chance to be at the front runner in life. Having said that, this is not to offend those night owls people. Night person also stands the fair chance to be successful in their works and life.

It is a matter of timing for us to strike the right chance and opportunity to be successful in everything. At times, it is about our ability to dictate and position ourselves at the right time and place. However, most of us must be agree that it is better to be early rather than late because many good opportunities always ready for those who come early.

Garbage in garbage out

Human brain is the most powerful processor. Even the most sophisticated and advance computer processor unable to match human thinking process ability.

In the span of a day(24 hours), we are processing many ideas, thoughts and words to support our life function as normal human being. In the midst of doing that, all the ideas, thoughts and words spark in our mind or obtain from various input will be centralized at one center - the brain. For such overloading of information, we have to be smart in processing the right thoughts so that we may reap positive outcomes.

My IT friend who graduated in Bachelor of Science Computer always sharing with me that the hardest part is programming subject. Why the hardest? Computer language involve with inputs and outputs. Wrong program input will result wrong required output. Worst still, that's how computer viruses created.

The same process also applies to what we absorbing into our life. If we absorbed garbage ideas and thoughts, then garbage will be the final output. We can equate the virus to negative elements in our thoughts. It is nothing wrong to be negative a little bit for that is normal, but too much negativity will reflect our inner defeat. Thus, be cautious on what "thoughts" we try to plant into our mind daily so that we always produce fruitful results and avoid unnecessary negative and bad outputs.

The power of feel good

One of the most beautiful things about pet such as cats and dogs is they always live for affection for the owner. I believe many of us are very kind to animals. They are just lovely for us to take care of their simple needs without asking something in return. It doesn't matter either you just had a good or bad day at work, they will never fail to great and see you while you back at home. They always passionate about giving and receiving affection.

For a long time, dogs have earned the reputation as "man's best friend" be you in good or bad mood for the day. Dogs always the same - never ask for something in return and honestly never pretend to be good to try to bribe you. Similarly, we can learn a very good lesson from the dogs on how we connect with the people be at home, at work, or on the street. We must be glad to meet people. Not only we must be glad, but always make the person we met feel important. If you like to be treated in the same way people treated you so that you will feel good and important, please take note to always create good feeling to others around you.