Dragon Boat Festival
5-05-2012
Saturday, October 6, 2012
2012 Chinese New Year/My First Program
2012 Chinese New Year
1-21-2012
Chinese Zodiac
Artist/Aaron C.
Friday, October 5, 2012
She Reads My Mind!
Abby must not be human being today. She reads my mind as if she is an angel God sent today to deliver the message and sign I have been waiting for a long, long time.
Recently I found myself in smog of
doubt about who I am, what I can do, how to do it, where to go, questions no
one could easily answer for me. As troubled as I was, all I could think of
going through the days was to focus on tasks and meet daily goals I set for
myself. At nights, I kept awake listening to the clicking of the alarm sitting
on the sink in the bathroom. The pitch darkness, the only company I had,
taunted me into fitful sleep. I wondered, I pondered, I doubted…
“You could say Mei-Wan is good.”
Jennifer laughed out loud hearing what I just said to Abby as she looked up at
me from where she was shelving. Abby reads the most among us and this becomes
her leverage. “You are good. But I am better” said Abby as I affectionately
embraced her shoulder touching her soft, long hair. God, how I enjoy and love
such moment as the three of us camped at the 650’s area talking and teasing
each other. The air seemed to overflowing with love, joy, pride, with feminine
fragrance. At that moment I was so touched by the power of teamwork. I left
them there but my heart stayed with them.
When I finished shelving the
children’s truck, I stood behind the door leading to the lobby watching Abby. I
tried to catch her at action with my camera. But my hands were shaking with
excitement I was afraid I might ruin the effort taking pictures of her. Who
would understand how one must be feeling as one stood behind a door gratefully
enjoying the sight of a delicate woman working as a working bee. It’s not my first
time doing so. Due back when I was a page, I did the same thing: watching a
peer to reinforce my belief in the workplace, a place called public library. I
have to feel and see other’s commitment to keep mine intact and reserved. I
have to know I am not alone. I might feel lonely but I have the need and hope
that I am not alone at loving this workplace, enjoying the people and the
place, and serving the purpose of the public library.
My previous manager scolded me once
as she saw me touching Abby’s hair. Abby said that it’s fine. So I didn’t stop
doing so. I like to touch Abby’s long, soft hair. Each time as I caressed her
hair, the softness and delicateness remind me of an innocent baby. Today not
only did I enjoy touching her hair I also had a glimpse of her womanly smile as
we teased each other at the aisle. The bright red lipstick she had on couldn’t
compete with her genuine smile this afternoon. She is a beauty in my eye.
The four questions this book
proposed helped me to focus and know where to find the answers. They are:
Who you are and what do you want?
Where are you and why are you there?
What will you do and how will you
do it?
Who are your allies and how can
they help?
From the beginning the book stated: your journey begins with
a destination. I figure the destination is success done by a great teamwork;
this is what I have dreamed of.
Today I
strongly felt the magic of teamwork, thanks to Abby and Jennifer. Only when one
helps oneself then God would send heavenly help. One is too small a number to
create greatness. It’s like it would take two coins to make a sound, take two
hands to applaud making clapping sound. Applause and praise come from, at
least, two people to make it really authentic.
Abby, I
thank you.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
October Read/1
Title: The Art of War for Executives
Author: Krause, Donald G.
Subjects: management; leadership; success in business;
Sun-tzu
Call Number: 658.4 K91A 2005
Number of pages: 136
ISBN: 9780399531507
Book Description: “Master Your Own Destiny”—Success is an
art form that few can master. Armed with this ancient manual, you can join the
ranks of business professionals who have looked to Sun Tzu as their mentor and
gained a competitive advantage from his classic wisdom. His ancient principles
of war, reinterpreted for the modern businessperson, offer the skills to gain
an advantage and achieve success in the workplace…and the strategies to win at
work when battles arise.
Learn to compete—but never lose emotional control
Do it right—proper planning leads to success
Know the facts—whenever possible, rely on firsthand
knowledge
Expect the worst—and have the resources to counter any
setback
Seize the day—speed and innovation are the keys to staying
ahead
Do it better—innovation is the one weapon that makes you
invincible
(quoted from the back cover of the book)
My Read: There are many valuable points explored, explained,
and detailed in this small book. As I finished the book and pondered over the
words, terms, and phrases in the book with my eyes closed the first impression
about the author and the book was the keen observation Sun Tzu has on the
nature. Nature world is full of continuous variation and cycles of change. For
instance he observed how the water flowed and made connection with his
strategies: how to avoid the enemy’s strength, find his weakness then focus
one’s resources on the weak points to win. This reminds me of Sherlock Holmes’s
famous methods: observation, deduction, and analysis.
Next, I
found the importance of leadership on success. In the book it stated: Effective
leadership is everything! Authority must reside in the hands of those who can
lead (p48). The goal of leadership is to make the soldiers think and fight as
one team (p108). In my notebook I underscored the last two words: ONE team. I
truly believe only when everyone is committed to the agreed goals would success
become a constant reality. One can not make a person do things s/he has no
passion or heart on. Commitment comes from the will (passion) and drive (enthusiasm) of people to make
things happen, great things.
You might
ask: what’s the benefit or reward for me in meeting goals or making commitment to my team? Asked why he didn't take any credit or accept rewards, Sherlock Holmes
said: solving a mystery itself is the best reward I got from the case.
Sense of achievement comes from
sweating and hard working. It’s teamwork of your body system: your gray matter
is the team leader who organizes and plots the plans. Your torso and limbs are
soldiers who communicate with the head, follow the order, and fight for the
team. When one part is lazy or doesn't work as hard as the others, the body is
crippled. The system might still be working but the effectiveness and
efficiency are compromised and others might get hurt or damaged due to the
missing due effort from that one part.
It doesn't matter if it’s for a war or
competition a team is still a team: it composes of people, equipment,
resources, and strategies. The last three elements are made of either materials
or ideas. In general they are substances; therefore, they don’t breathe, move,
or think. It’s the people who are alive, active, and living. They think, act,
and make things happen.
The book stated: Only people can make success happen (p111). We have people and success. So what’s
missing? Do you think YOU can fill in something to make the connection? I know
the answer. But do you?
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Do You Have Your Jennifer?
I have been working in the library for more than 5 years. There are people who have helped me go through the days with joy and delight. As I was a page, there was this soft-speaking lady who would say “I love you, dear” as often as I could remember. At difficult times, she would pull me aside and talk me into a calmer person. We shared the same love working in the library. Sometimes when I was really down and in tears feeling miserable she would ask me why I worked in the library. “Because it’s the library and we love it.” We would say it at the same time and that made me smile. Her warm words and gentle touches kept me intact and having faith in the library and in myself. Though she works in another branch, she still tells me she loves me whenever I made the phone call and she answered the phone. Her name is Agahdas.
Now, it’s Jennifer who would make my day when we did something great together. Her childlike dance and the high fives we have had bring in pride and joy in my life. A person could just do this much as I came to understand recently. One is a number a bit small to make greatness. The best reward I could think of from workplace is a great team and the greatness teamwork could possibly achieve. Working with Jennifer allows me to have dreams. No one is perfect. But together people could have something great to be proud of.
Do you have your Jennifer? It starts from YOU!!!
Lynette Has Her Yoga, What’s Yours?
Yesterday, as we gathered at the back door ready to call it a day, I overheard a conversation Lynette had with the others. Someone asked about the Yoga class our branch manager, Lynette, was going to attend the next morning at 6 am. It’s awfully early and the commute was a long one. It’s too bad that the unit doesn’t have a shower. Otherwise it would save some time and energy to go back and forth from different places.
Lynette further shared with us what Yoga has helped her in her life. It’s a healthy way to keep a person in good shape, physically as well as mentally and spiritually. Living in the modern world with changes being the constant fact, one has to deal with lots of issues including the unavoidable stresses and pressures from living, from being a decent human being. I didn’t know that much about Yoga. But I did know what benefits my manager: she lost 10 pounds and looks great. She would walk in the building in the morning with a ready smile exchanging nice pleasantries with each and every staff. The friendliness and a unique womanly gentleness are so obvious that one would automatically smile back. That’s a great thing a leader could influence upon her people. The message is sound and loud empowered by a silent, wordless gesture.
A person is blessed with various things happening at each day. Do you notice the change of the weather and its effect on things around us? The other day as I drove by my neighborhood I saw the yellow leaves on my neighbor’s tree. The bright yellowness woke up my sense of happiness that day. Do you say your “good morning” to anyone today? If not, it’s never too late to say “good afternoon” to others for the day is still young. Blessing comes from inside, with every breath you are taking in.
Everyone can be a giver. The will to give defines who you are and what you can accomplish. Happiness comes as you smile to others. Lynette comes to work with a ready smile and that tells me she is a good leader.
Ready to smile?
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