Persistence: Be Like a River

Let's imagine a mighty river such as the Rajang River in Sarawak. A powerful river gains its natural power, size, and landscape from its smaller tributary or contributory rivers. It begins in the higher parts of the catchment; then the rain water run off down the slopes upstream and proceed with its journey to the lower parts towards the open sea.

The water as we can see never get tired in penetrating its long journey to the sea. Water also always consistent in looking for its own level.

I bought a very good motivational poster on persistence of a running water with a picture of a tall waterfall and pasted it on the wall of our common area in the office to keep motivating sales team. Attach here are few photos of a river taken at a famous picnic spot at the foot of Gunung Nuang; Hulu Langat; Selangor.





The poster said something like this:

"In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins... not through strength, but through persistence."

Another poster on the same topic of persistence also said:

"You will need to make many turns and overcome many obstacles to create the path you desire."

Lesson learned: In the same way, in our confrontation between our journeys(in whatever we do) and the obstacles, we also can always win and successful at the end... but remember; it is not through our physical strength per se, but it has something to do with our level of persistence or never give up attitude.

Yearn For a Return To Normalcy?

The world's economy is not fully emerge from recession after global meltdown. Post-crisis was creating many wishes and fantasies that thing will be going back to where it used to be. However, to be realistic, let's call it out here - that there will be no going home again for the average of us.

The surest thing now is that the business environment and its whole landscape has been forever altered. Many global companies(MNCs) and financial institutions not only affected badly, but some even wiped out from the market such as Lehman Brothers. Googling for and browsing at Lehman's website today creates a kind of loss and historical feeling; and it is as good to say - study about dinosaur extinction !

In the aftermath of this unprecedented crisis, regulators(Central Banks) and governments around the globe will now map out better control mechanism. Expectation on "rational behavior" that suppose to safeguard us from faulty or bad decisions economically is now no longer reliable.

In assessing this post-crisis issue, the psychology is now also going to be totally different. The new economic order is very interesting and promising, however, it is too early to yearn for "return to normalcy" after many months living in uncertainties.

Isn't Planning Without Execution Pointless?

How often have you spent hours, days, weeks, or months formulating a life master plan, but only to follow it for a little while or never follow it at all? This is happening many times among us. Isn't it pointless to formulate a life plan that we might not intend to follow? It is good to make a pledge that your life plan should be a promise to yourself- a promise for your life path to your future. Also it is good thing that you formulating the life you want to live - your own storyline and travelogue for your legacy.

You need to remind yourself all the time by coming back to the master plan so that you not deviate from your original goals. You need to see your promise or pledge at the first place to assist you clearly, else you would not make the sustained effort to achieve your goals.

There are many factors could preventing you from executing and achieving your goals outlined in the master plan such as fear of failure or fear of success. Always remember the famous saying - 'plan your work and work your plan' and 'if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail' may be just sounds cliches but they have proven to be withstood the test of time.