Hi there!

It's been awhile!

Today, I was on MC as my heart was palpitating very strongly and I felt quite weak and lethargic. Felt really strange and discomforting to miss a day at work though and I guess that's how it is like in Singapore (and maybe any other busy workaholic city you have today). That guilt when one misses a day at work. Thoughts about what else you must rush the next day just to make up for the loss of time today will flood your mind and rob you of that much needed peace of mind to recuperate. (Unless of course you make a conscious choice to not let such thoughts steal that away from you and just REST. I tried my best to do that for how else would I be productive? haha. I sound like a workaholic, don't I?

Anyway, during that short period of resting, I managed to read a bit of Akio Morita (one of the Founders of Sony Corp)'s book 'Made in Japan' and one interesting excerpt got me thinking. His philosophy of what keeps workers happy at work. He argues that it isn't and can never be just pay and he is therefore (understandably) against the practice of paying big bucks to attract and retain talents (I think this mindset is adopted by most Japanese companies actually, based on what I hear about their remuneration schemes). So Morita-san argues that what's more (and arguably, most) important is that employees feel like they are doing something important in the company and are contributing to a greater purpose in the organization which will attract and retain them. It relates well to what drove him and Ibuka-san to start the company and to sustain the motivation despite all odds, I guess. How they constantly seized the opportunity to want to build that innovation that was totally unique and never heard before. The need to do things differently (that till today is something we wish to retain and cultivate further in our organization.)

My thoughts? I agree. But there's always that tipping point which becomes obscure. That the pay difference cannot exceed that tipping point for then these talents may be easily poached to other competitors. And also of course, the ongoing challenge of how to ensure that the challenge is something that can be sustained on a daily basis whilst creating an environment that is conducive to proactive responses and which supports efforts that seek to tackle these challenges and seize opportunities.

Anyway. now on a more self-reflective note..

I just realized that over the past year or 2 that I have not been doing anything actively on a social/ community-front that would make myself proud. (ie. like be a director of a community project or leading in some cause, etc. and this lack of contribution on that front has made me a tad restless and unhappy and I don't like that feeling..

I used to have that personal self-evaluation chart of mine which I use to keep track of my performance and development across various important aspects: physical, spiritual, educational and career (now to replace academic performance previously which was applicable while I was still in Uni).

Well, some efforts have been made thus far that I'm happy about that but the community involvement aspect is something that I definitely need to work more on:

1) Physical: I just bought a Deals.com.sg coupon for discounted swimming lessons. Bought for myself and Pish. It's $42 for 4 lessons (usual price: $60/ 4 lessons).

They have swimming classes for groups of ladies every Monday evening at Bedok swimming complex. So yeay, lookign forward to that. Swimming lessons has been something that I have aspired to learn since last year! And despite emailing several swimming trainers and companies, I received no response! Hmm.. hopefully I do make genuine progress on this front now given that I have already paid for it.

2) Spiritual enrichment:

This is something I must say that I am very proud and happy about. I have signed up for Fardhu AIm (Beginners' Class) every Friday evening for about 12 lessons I believe with Uztaz Zhulkiflee. He is a knowledgeable man, Mashaallah. (Nadz was the one who recommended this course to Mairah and me. And thankfully (after publicizing this course on my facebook profile, even Irdhawati and Adibah have signed up too.) I do genuinely look forward to his classes.

May Allah AWT guide us all in our pursuit of knowledge and may we be better Muslims with greater Taqwa (Amin who can then make use of this knowledge to lean improved lives with higher quality ibadat and spread thhis knowledge with others.

3) Educational:

Hmm, I will be attending Japanese classes every Sunday afternoon (for about 10 lessons first). This is to prepare us (the Fresh mInds) for our 3 months attachment in Japan come Sept-Dec 2012. Hmm, to be completely honest, I have mixed feelings about this, but as Uztaz Zhulkiflee mentioned, go and learn with an open heart and a humble attitude. Knowledge is an obligation of every Muslim and I should put in as much effort as I can to show my appreciation (to my company which is paying for this) and to do my best for it.

Other than that, I do wish to recap past knowledge or to somehow pass forward the much knowledge that I have gained from the talks I have attended or the courses I have been to. (like EQ management, progressive leadership (how to coach), women empowerment talks about how to be better women leaders without the need to compromise on our feminine traits, consulting tips: how to categorize and structure out thought patterns). But how? Facebook? Blog? Maybe blog will do the trick.

But hmm, come to think of it. (back to he topic of my lack of comunity involvement and contribution lately). Perhaps I have chosen to make a trade-off currently. To reduce the time I spend on community engagement and involvement by spending more time with my family instead. Hopefully Alllah SWT guides me in my pursuit of becoming a better Muslimin who is more responsible, disciplined and who fully utilizes my time on earth to add value and touch the lives around me (with His guidance), Inshaallah, Amin.