Five Minute Management Course

I received in this in my Inbox early this morning from my dear friend Sarah. I thought of sharing this all to you because we might learn a thing or two from these short excerpts and apply them in our daily lives. You are probably thinking how will a management course apply to you when you are not even a manager!

Technically, you are right but at the same time you are wrong. We are all managers in our own right. We manage a lot of things everyday. We manage our many different roles in life with regards to our family, our work and ourselves.

Here are some lessons that we can learn from:

Lesson 1:

A man is getting into the shower just as his wife is finishing up her shower, when the doorbell rings. The wife quickly wraps herself in a towel and runs downstairs. When she opens the door, there stands Bob, the next-door neighbor. Before she says a word, Bob says, 'I'll give you $800 to drop that towel.' After thinking for a moment, the woman drops her towel and stands naked in front of Bob, after a few seconds, Bob hands her $800 and leaves. The woman wraps back up in the towel and goes back upstairs.

When she gets to the bathroom, her husband asks, 'Who was that?' 'It was Bob the next door neighbor,' she repliess. 'Great,' the husband says, 'did he say anything about the $800 he owes me?'

Moral of the story:
If you share critical information pertaining to credit and risk with your shareholders in time, you may be in a position to prevent avoidable exposure.

Lesson 2:

A priest offered a Nun a lift. She got in and crossed her legs, forcing her gown to reveal a leg. The priest nearly had an accident. After controlling the car, he stealthily slid his hand up her leg. The nun said, 'Father, remember Psalm 129?' The priest removed his hand.

But, changing gears, he let his hand slide up her leg again. The nun once again said, 'Father, remember Psalm 129?' The priest apologized 'Sorry sister but the flesh is weak.'

Arriving at the convent, the nun sighed heavily and went on her way. On his arrival at the church, the priest rushed to look up Psalm 129. It said, 'Go forth and seek, further up, you will find glory.'

Moral of the story:
If you are not well informed in your job, you might miss a great opportunity.

Lesson 3:

A sales rep, an administration clerk, and the manager are walking to lunch when they find an antique oil lamp. They rub it and a Genie comes out. The Genie says, 'I'll give each of you just one wish.'

'Me first! Me first!' says the admin. clerk. 'I want to be in the Bahamas, driving a speedboat, without a care in the world.' Puff! She's gone.

'Me next! Me next!' says the sales rep. 'I want to be in Hawaii, relaxing on the beach with my personal masseuse, an endless supply of Pina Coladas and the love of my life.' Puff! He's gone.

'OK, you're up,' the Genie says to the manager. The manager says, 'I want those two back in the office after lunch.'

Moral of the story:
Always let your boss have the first say.

Lesson 4

An eagle was sitting on a tree resting, doing nothing . A small rabbit saw the eagle and asked him, 'Can I also sit like you and do nothing?' The eagle answered: 'Sure, why not.'So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the eagle and rested. All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it.

Moral of the story:
To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up.

Lesson 5

A turkey was chatting with a bull. 'I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree' sighed the turkey, 'but I haven't got the energy.' 'Well, why don't you nibble on some of my droppings?' replied the bull. They're packed with nutrients.' The turkey pecked at a lump of dung, and found it actually gave him enough strength to reach the lowest branch of the tree.

The next day, after eating some more dung, he reached the second branch. Finally after a fourth night, the turkey was proudly perched at the top of the tree..He was promptly spotted by a farmer, who shot him out of the tree..

Moral of the story:
Bull Shit might get you to the top, but it won't keep you there..

Lesson 6

A little bird was flying south for the winter. It was so cold the bird froze and fell to the ground into a large field. While he was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on him. As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of cow dung, he began to realize how warm he was. The dung was actually thawing him out!

He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy. A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate. Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, and promptly dug him out and ate him.

Morals of the story:
(1) Not everyone who shits on you is your enemy.
(2) Not everyone who gets you out of shit is your friend.
(3) And when you're in deep shit, it's best to keep your mouth shut!

THUS ENDS THE FIVE MINUTE MANAGEMENT COURSE

Okay, okay..I know you may have heard these excerpts and they may seem like just a joke at first but when you take a closer look at the morals of the story they make sense right?

I just wanted to make you laugh, smile, maybe brighten and lighten up your day after a busy and tiring work week..so that you can relax and enjoy your weekend..

I hope my plan worked...Happy Weekend!!! =)

Are you a CMT?...

...a Certified Multi-Tasker =) hehe..got you there didn't I?

I'm sure all your eyebrows were raised trying to figure out what that acronym stands for. It's just my own term for us busy mommies or should I say SAHMies and WAHMies...

People think that staying at home to work is a piece of cake but reality says otherwise. We all know very well that there are a lot of distractions when you have a home office. It's not just about accomplishing your work duties but trying to juggle it with mommy duties too such as watching your kids, preparing lunch and dinner, answering the door, attending to calls, doing the laundry, doing homework, naptime and the list goes on and on.

It's so easy to get caught up with all the activities that you need to do at that moment. And by the end of the day, you realize you really did not end up accomplishing the important tasks you set out to do for the day. This has happened to me often.

That's why I try my best to keep track of all the important things I need to do in my planner. Yes, it's still the old school way that I got used to doing ever since I was a kid in spite of having gadgets that can also do the job.

Here are things I do to manage my time and organize my day:

1. Make a list. - I list down all the things I need to do for the week. These would include appointments, things to do, reminders etc.
2. Prioritize. - I take note of which things in my list are urgent, have deadlines and needs my immediate action.
3. Plan it out. - I plan out my week. I write out in my planner the things I need to do according to the day it should be done. This way I will not feel so overwhelmed that I have a lot to do since it has been spread out through the week.
4. Color code. - I like to color code the things I need to do so that it will make the tasks seem lighter when I look at the colorful page in my planner as well as making it easy to spot.
   
5. Check it off. - This is my favorite part - checking out from my list what I have finished doing already. It gives me a sense of accomplishment especially when all I have set out to do for the day are done.
6. Be flexible. - There are some things that you just can't plan like a surprise visit from your in-laws or having to run to the grocery coz you ran out of oil for cooking. No need to panic or get all flustered since things did not go as planned. Just try to get back on track.
7. Be positive. - If at times it seems things are not going as planned, just always look on the bright side and keep trying. You will get it done - eventually. =)

Do you have any tips that you can share with me?

Kung Hei Fat Choi!!!

A prosperpous and happy Chinese New Year to you all!!!

I'm greeting you now since I wasn't able to three weeks ago since I started my blogsite well within the second week of the year. But as they say, better late than never right?

Here is how SM City North EDSA The Block is celebrating the Chinese New Year..



The lobby is in theme with the post designs covered in red paper with a huge Kung Hei Fat Choi greeting in gold and a Chinese symbol. I'm not very sure but I think that's a prosperity symbol hanging down the post (if anyone knows I'd be happy to know what that means..thanks). The lobby pillars are also covered in red with the Chinese Horoscope for the Year of the Ox for each sign printed on it.

SM City North EDSA The Block is doing another record holding event by having The Longest Tikoy display in an in-mall setting. They have on display at the lobby 1,500 pieces of the popular Chinese delicacy over a table top area of over 200 square feet. The display encircles the traditional Chinese characters for Happy New Year. This is the mall's way of sharing the abundance and prosperity in the year of the Earth Ox
.
And since there are enough tikoys on display for everyone (in the picture that is), please feel free to receive one from me as my way of greeting and wishing you all a blessed, happy & prosperous new year!

Kung Hei Fat Choi!!

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Siopao Boy

Two weeks ago - after playing volleyball (my favorite sport!) with my former teammates, my husband and I dropped by Greenhills. We did not want to go home yet and just wanted to stroll around. Maybe do some window shopping. Or maybe get a thing or two while we were at it.

All that strolling got us hungry and it was also time for dinner. So we went to look for something to eat. We did not want to eat anything heavy or too filling. And since the weather was cool, we were in the mood for something warm and soothing. We found what we were looking for at Siopao Boy.



Their noodles had a really unique tasting broth. It had a different twist to it. It's hard to explain but after having the first sip of the soup, hubby and I were a new fan of Siopao Boy! It is not your typical mami broth. Aside from the noodle's soup, they also serve the most flavorful asado not to mention the most tender one we have tasted. Okay fine, I may be exaggerating a little about the tenderness but hey can you blame me if it has that effect on me. But trust me when I say their asado was real tasty! The sweet-salty asado taste just lingers in your tastebuds and seem to taste better as it stays longer in your mouth.

And here is what I loved most in Siopao Boy - the grape flavored Royal!!! I'm just a sucker for grape juice. Hehe. So the next time you're in Greenhills and want a different tasting mami, a flavorful asado or you just want to try the yummy grape Royal..you know where to go =)

Calm Me Music

Whew! I am currently trying to finish off ten student evaluations, two students' debate corrections and twelve online articles that are due so that makes two dozen things for me to do. Not to mention blog duties, more classes later tonight and house chores too.

When I have so many things to do all at the same time, I like to listen to music to calm me as well as get me pumped up so I will finish faster. So glad there are online streaming radios. It helps relieve the stress while working and actually gets me in the mood.

I am now listening to music from the 70's, 80's & 90's in the background. Thanks to Friday Magic Madness! Just click the link http://www.magic899.fm/ and look for where it says "LISTEN LIVE". No need to get up and turn on the radio. Saves electricity too. Hehehe..

Why don't you try it the next time your busy working online...You just might end up grooving! ;)

Break Time

I am taking my break right now. It is already past four thirty in the afternoon...

I have been teaching since nine o'clock this morning. It's not really stressful work but just tiring talking to the students. Sometimes your patience gets tested when the students are not in the mood and don't want to cooperate.

It's time to recharge. I still have a lot to do. The day ain't near over yet...

This is what happens sometimes when I'm on a break or got nothing else to do and in the mood to camwhore...I am sure all of you have done this at one time or the other especially during a break...hehehe =)

Water is Life

I'm sure that all of us have been reminded before to drink at least eight glasses of water a day. At times we ask why we need to do that. The answer we would usually get is that water is good for you that's why you need to drink lots of it. Sounds familiar?

I would just like to share with you something that I think we would all find very useful in our lives most especially our health. I have received this information in my Inbox several times and I think this is the right time for me to actually take it seriously. Some of you may have read this before but for those who haven't - it is worth the read.

After reading this post, you just might look at your next glass of water differently....


Here is the information I got...

It is popular in Japan today to drink water immediately after waking up every morning. Furthermore, scientific tests have proven a its value. We publish below a description of use of water for our readers. For old and serious diseases as well as modern illnesses the water treatment had been found successful by a Japanese medical society as a 100% cure for the following diseases:
Headache, body ache, heart system, arthritis, fast heart beat, epilepsy, excess fatness, bronchitis asthma, TB, meningitis, kidney and urine diseases, vomiting, gastritis, diarrhea, piles, diabetes, constipation,all eye diseases, womb, cancer and menstrual disorders, ear nose and throat diseases.

METHOD OF TREATMENT
1. As you wake up in the morning before brushing teeth, drink 4 x 160ml glasses of water
2. Brush and clean the mouth but do not eat or drink anything for 45 minute
3. After 45 minutes you may eat and drink as normal.
4. After 15 minutes of breakfast, lunch and dinner do not eat or drink anything for 2 hours
5. Those who are old or sick and are unable to drink 4 glasses of water at the beginning may commence by taking little water and gradually increase it to 4 glasses per day.
6. The above method of treatment will cure diseases of the sick and others can enjoy a healthy life.

The following list gives the number of days of treatment required tocure/control/ reduce main diseases
1. High Blood Pressure - 30 days
2. Gastric - 10 days
3. Diabetes - 30 days
4. Constipation - 10 days
5. Cancer - 180 days
6. TB - 90 days
7. Arthritis patients should follow the above treatment only for 3 days in the 1st week, and from 2nd week onwards - daily.

This treatment method has no side effects, however at the commencement of treatment you may have to urinate a few times.
It is better if we continue this and make this procedure as a routine work in our life.
Drink Water and Stay healthy and Active.
This makes sense .. The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals ..not cold water. Maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habitwhile eating!!! Nothing to lose, everything to gain...

For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you.
It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion.
Once this "sludge" reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

A serious note about heart attacks: Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting.
Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.
You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack.
Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms.
60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up.
Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and beaware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive...

Happy Birthday Papa!!!

It is my Papa's 56th birthday today! I just want to say thank you for giving him another birthday to celebrate...

Nearly two months ago, Papa was in the ICU because his lungs were filled with water and he could not breathe. He was in the ICU and under sedation breathing thru a ventilator for nearly 5 days. We were all worried here in the Philippines and felt very helpless since it was only Papa and Mama in Saudi. Good thing we had very nice neighbors and friends who are like family already who helped my parents there.

Miraculously, Papa's condition stabled and before the second week he was able to go home from the hospital to fully recover. My many thanks to all that prayed and supported us during this very tough time.

Truly, God is good.

Laundry Duty

I just finished doing some laundry. And take note, I handwashed it!

Yup, it was a labor of love washing my daughter's Prep school uniform and ballet uniform too. Honestly, handwashing is one of the things I never really enjoyed doing. I did not like the feeling on my hands coz the soap dries it out and even worse my hands get sore from scrubbing. But when you are a mommy things change. Even if you did not like to do something when you were single, it's a totally different case now. As they say, it comes with the territory.

But hey, don't get me wrong. I don't mind being a mommy. I love it! I don't mind the responsibilities either. I am just thankful that there are laundry soaps that do a great job in loosening dirt making handwashing easy for me. I got a new favorite - Champion! That did the work for me.

I just wish the washing machine could be fixed soon so I don't have to do this any longer. Hehehe.

My angel in pink and pigtails =)

All in One Companion

I got my "new" toy exactly a week ago - an HP iPAQ HW6965 PDA Phone.

Personally, it has all the things I need for a mobile phone since it is also a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or PPC (Pocket Personal Computer). I am not really into the multimedia features such as radio, 3G and using my phone as a digital camera.

Here are some of the specifications I liked about the HP iPAQ 6965: It is Quadband. It has WIFI, Built in GPS Receiver, Bluetooth and Infrared Port. You can input information via the 240x240 pixels touchscreen or thru its QWERTY keyboard. It supports mini sd memory cards and has all the organizing features that I need.

But most of all, I liked HP iPAQ HW6965 because it is equipped with the latest version of Windows Mobile 5.0 including all its standard features such as Mobile Office Word Mobile, Excel Mobile and PowerPoint Mobile. I know you are probably thinking that it already sounds like I am lugging a computer around. It's possible since the phone runs on Intel PXA270 processor 416 MHz. Isn't that so cool? Which means I can always work on the go, and synchronizing it with my pc or laptop will be no hassle at all.

I know I am sounding a little techie right now even if I keep convincing myself that I'm not. But who can resist a gadget that suits all my needs. My perfect companion for business and pleasure - HP iPAQ HW6965.

I am a WAHM

I never though that it would actually be fulfilling and satisfying to be a WAHM (Work At Home Mom). I did not even know that there was such a word or should I say acronym. When I first heard it, flashbacks of the popular ‘80s pop band that George Michael belonged to who sang “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go” came to mind but I soon realized that it was spelled differently – WHAM. Hehe =)

After doing some research online (thanks to Wikipedia and Google Search) and reading articles about it, I have come to my own understanding of the word. WAHM describes a new generation of mothers who are striking a balance between family life, parenting and earning a living all in the comfort of their home.

This new title or should I say concept is not very popular yet in the Philippine society who is accustomed to the mentality of branding. To a majority of the Filipinos, your career success as an individual is based on the company that you work for (how popular and how big is it in the business sector), the job title that you get with it (the flashier sounding, the better) and where your office is located.

Even though the amount of salary may matter to most, it may not weigh as much in value as the previous items mentioned not to include the other perks and benefits of the job such as travel, company car or free gym membership etc. This ideal may work for the fresh graduates who are still hungry to prove themselves to their parents and the world as well as wanting to have their chance to be part of the highly competitive corporate world. But it is no longer true for the individuals who have been part of the “rat race” and want something different.

I guess you can say that this is what happened to me. Though it definitely was not an overnight decision. But one thing was for sure ever since I started working at home I did not want to leave the house again. Why should I? I was "Home Sweet Home."

Lechon Cebu and Coffee Ice Cream..Heaven!!

I have been up since five in the morning and have not had the chance to nap again. Not even for just 15 minutes for a much needed "power nap". Too many things to do. A busy day ahead. No time to take a breather.

I only got three to four hours of sleep last night. My mind was to awake and busy with my new "project". You know how it is when you are too excited. You no longer stop to think of resting. You just keep going until it's your body that tells you it is time and you got no choice but to follow.

Relax. Breath. Eat. At last, I am actually free to do that - for now. What better way to take away stress than to eat. And that's what I did, plus the fact that I have not eaten my lunch yet and it's already past two thirty in the afternoon.

When you are as hungry and drained like me, it is such a relief to have chopped Lechon Cebu (courtesy of my beloved Tita Nits) that you can just heat in the microwave for a minute plus a cup of white rice and viola I got myself a late lunch!! Yum, yum!! I think you can already imagine how satisfying that was. No words are needed to describe the joy of eating Lechon Cebu with white rice. Hehehe. Isn’t it obvious I am a fan bad as it may be for my health. But hey, who says we can't indulge once in awhile, right?

After finishing off the last bite of tasty lechon meat with it's complimentary spoonful of white rice, what better way to finish the meal with something sweet. How perfect can it get to have some coffee ice cream in the freezer. I helped myself to a half cup full of coffee ice cream. Now this is the ideal dessert to cap off a satisfying meal.

Wash it all down with a glass and a half of purified drinking water and I’m all set again for the day.

This is it...

It seemed forever to actually get started and now I am finally here.

I never thought that coming up with a name would be so hard. It only took me less than five minutes to think of what to call my dog. That is more than I can say for my blog name - it took me nearly a month!

I guess being O.C. (obsessive compulsive) or maybe more of a perfectionist got the best of me, and I could not seem to just settle for the first few words that would come to mind. This is going to be my pseudonym or pen name for life. It has got to shout me when one sees it. But then I remembered NIKE's motto: Just Do It! And so I did.