A missive at a mass - run towards not away from your problem

It is about getting better...

Rizal Philippines
January 29, 2017

A leader runs towards problem not away from them

I went to Antipolo Church last Friday and at the end of the mass after the blessing he enjoined everyone who was in attendance to run towards their problem and not away from them. As we focus on the problem, we will realize how God will help us, give us a new perspective on the problem and have this solved soonest.  Most of us are in denial, drink to to death when we have a problem or even commit suicide for really big problems.  

This is challenging and difficult as I have seen in my 65 years of struggle.  But we hang tough and strong.  When we give up, that is the end.

Observe Learn Observe (OLO) even at an old age we must continue learning

It is about getting better...

Rizal Philippines
January 21, 2017

I met the chairman of the largest memorial park group in the Philippines today.  They have 23 memorial park sites, 17 of which are operational (others are pending or have difficulties) and I remarked that no matter how many businesses or project you have completed, you will have problems and you must struggle with each of them, learning new things along the way.

He disdained people who have shallow understanding of their work and their business.  He said he met many people who claimed to be experts in the field but really have shallow understanding of the business.

When I mentioned the feature of the business, he remarked that old as he is (79 years old vs  my 65) he learns from me. and to which I said the same thing here.   We should be open to learn from each other from competitors and all people we meet.  To do otherwise is hubris and then we start growing old.l

He will never grow old, and the Lord will bless us with longer life because we help so many people have jobs and leave poverty behind, improve the bereavement industry and improve the way, people immortalize the memories of their loved ones.

Which reminded me of an entrepreneur from our place who despite his limited education established a hazardous waste disposal business, a resort, a restaurant, a scrap and recycling business from automobile factories.  He said that one of the key skills and abilities he has is his ability to learn quickly

There are many young graduates and trainees we have who do not and probably can not learn fast

Lessons learned from the TV series Tyrant

It is about getting better...

Rizal Philippines
January 1, 2017

Happy New Year every one.

During this 3 long holidays, I found nothing much to do, after biking and cleaning bikes, except to watch TV. One that caught my attention is the TV series at CT channel Tyrants

I found to be entertaining and riveting and I had my eyes glued to channel almost the whole day today watching last night before and after new year. I found interesting insights and twists in the series:

1.  Extreme paranoia drove Jassam  the current President, to suspect his own son his general plotting against him and even tried to kill his own brother, Bassam, the main protagonist, the pediatrician from USA turned politician.  He even suspected that the whole thing was happening like his daughter in law getting miscarriage and having hysterectomy, the war with Calipahate, the losing of the City of Maan at ficitional country of Abuddin at the Middle East to the Calipahate were perhaps punishment of God to him.

2.  Love of brother and parents.   The series emphasized that although at one point in the interrogation at the Calipahate side of a brother who turned against another, it was said " he was your brother"  The President even said that disobeying your parents or even turning against a brother could bring ill tidings to your business or regime.   (I am glad my paranoia about my brother not doing business with me as an ill act was unfounded, because he is interested to do business with me.)  At the end of the day, brothers will be brothers and country men will be country men. as Khalid (aka Bassam) decided to stay instead of running away to Lebanon, decided to stay and fight Caliphate. and even join forces with Gen. Said (the son of Jassam) and well with Jassam

It is noteworthy how Bassam aka Khalid motivated and inspired the tribal fighters that their tribe resisted the Romans and barbarians early on.  And this time, they will do the same.

3.  The real tyrants were the ladies and not the men presidents nor the generals.  Who were the puppet runners?   The mother (who died in a mistaken bombing) and the first lady. The thing with the First Lady though, compared with Jassam and the current PHL president is that she recognized her mistake and corrected her action although it may mean treason.  She knew how to plot and leverage vs the Generals under the President.   How to cajole, threaten them.

   When Bassam was on a mission to disable the SAM of the Caliphate and Gen Said was arrested for alleged bombing of her grandmother, the First Lady wasted no effort in freeing Gen Said, mobilizing the Gen. Solomon through Molly, the husband of Bassam to rescue Barry aka Bassam.  (Would Digong swallow his pride)

   When the Arab league was investigating the alleged use of chemical weapon vs its own people (to save face with the Chinese ambassador at city of Maan) she said she can testify vs Pres. Jassam in exchange for her sons position in the govt.   How daring and how bold.  GMA would be put to shame.

These are great l lessons in nego and power play.

4.  Power trips

     The head will always nit prick the subordinate and accuse the subordinate of treason or insubordination for certain procedural matters (leave the matter to me even if the subordinate is after the group's goal.  But sometimes in the case of Caliphate, personal revenge got better of the black Calipahate leader although he was instructed not take revenge against the man Khalid.   In the end, he was badly injured to be saved by Bassam (Barry, Khalid)

Well you get great insights into power, politics, diplomacy oil terrorism etc.  mercenaries, weapons deal.

Unfortunately after 3 years, the series breathed its last this October 2016  (you cant keep on building excitement forever in a series.   Somehow, they will live happily ever after, you cant keep on killing the villains or protagonist or repeating the same plots