RM70 and a fortune...

I'm in kelantan visiting my mum and mum in-law who's not feeling well. Both are in their mid-seventies..then took the opportunity to attend my cousin's daughter wedding...met his friend known as yusof cassette...looked like a wealthy man as he drove a new alphad 'vellfire' with the plate number 70...a friendly and soft spoken person...he told me that 70 is always a special number to him...he started his business selling cassettes at train stations with RM70 he borrowed from his friend about 20 years ago...he is now a very successful businessman selling almost everythig via his multi companies...he also owns more than 400 acres of rubber plantations in Gua Musang...we had a nice chat..he  talked about self-believe and self-determination when nobody believes in you...not bad for a man who failed his SPM...

what is it for us....?

like other renowned institutions, we are working so hard to get international accreditations like AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB...and to put our institution on to the world map...its not gonna be easy...and honestly i don't know whether we gonna get those accrediatations or not or when we gonna get them...but one thing i know for sure is we need to change the way we do business...we need to teach better, and in order to do that we need to do better and relevant researches, publish in better journals, and create better relationships with the industry...its all about being Relevant, Referred and Respected...obviously along the way we have to make several changes which require sacrifices from all...Alhamdulillah so far we don't face much problems in getting helps...though sometimes do feel a bit sad when few colleagues question about what benefits do they get from all these sxxt...hmmm...remember my former boss @ mentor told me long time ago...azizi, if you work hard and be honest with your work the reward will naturally come to you...so don't work for the reward as you will get frustrated...tq for the advice cikgu...

Monopoly sucks...

went to fomema yesterday...wanted to renew my maid permit so has to go to fomema for registration prior to her medical check up and innigration procedures...but there's a slight problem with her previous medical record, so i was asked to photocopy 2 pages of her passport and come back to the office...there's a photo shop that provides photocopy service not far from the office, the young officer told me...however i noticed there's a photocopy machine in the office...i am willing to pay for the service if allowed but was told it was for office use only...frustated, i went to the nearest photocopy shop about 1 kilometer away from the office to find that the machine was not working, then spent another 30 minutes wandering around with my car trying to find photocopy shops...but it was still early in the morning about 9.30am so most shops are still closed...it seems that customer service is the last priority for fomema...but who cares ain't it when customers have no choice...fomema is the only agency that provide the service...easy money but poor service...monopoly sucks...grrrrr

principle...

Man United doesn't have many star players like Chelsea does...and it doesn't play pretty football like Arsenal/Barcelona does...but they are more united and more determined to win...and that matters most...anyway, i really like Arsene Wenger's comment after losing to Bolton which jeopardized Arsenal's premier league campaign..."when you don't win you question your principles, but you have to give yourself the right distance to see what is right and wrong in what you do"...he's really a man with principle...a trophy less principle...sorry Arsenal fans...

...have we ever learned?

prof eatwell from cambridge JBS said start small and focus...prof dave (our aacsb mentor) also said we need to focus to be relevant & referred...dr hischam el-agamy IMD executive director also said be focused...there are many examples of excellent institutes like that...the lesson is simple...focus then you'll be relevant, referred and respected...but we never learned don't we? we wanted to do so many things but always ended up with nothing...worse still we are just competing with each other and trying to be the 'local' champion...hence the territorial issue...we just don't share the same vision...sometimes you just feel sick and tired of what's happening...

Mr Bouncer...

attended Malaysian Deans of Graduate Studies Council (MyDEGs) meeting...most deans are soft spoken...some like to talk (but find it difficult to stop ha3) while others are pretty quite and only talk when necessary...then someone raised an issue which sparked a pretty hot debate...and everyone wanted to be part of the discussion...seemed like its gonna be a never ending debate...i felt like the cold meeting room was getting hotter...suddenly one professor bluntly shouted and asked everyone to shut up and stop talking nonsense...everyone was just shocked and looked at each other...to finally realise that our discussion has gone a bit too far...sounded weird the first time but thinking back...we need this kind of person sometimes to put everyone back on track...we all agreed to call him mr bouncer...and he seems happy with the new title...thank you mr bouncer, you get my respect...remember reading 'Our Iceberg is Melting'...a combination of several characters finally convinced the whole colony of penguins to finally move to a safer place...what a great book...

English oh English...my little baby

My youngest daughter was born in England...after my PhD we went back to Malaysia when she was about one and  a half year old...one day she asked me...she wonders why she can't speak english like her bro & sis...she really envies them and sometimes feels sad about it...her situation reminds me how hard i try to be able to speak english like some of my friends...i know its gonna be difficult for her...just hope she won't give up but try harder like i did and eventually be able to speak good english like her bro & sis...and be proud of it...luv ya aneesa...

TBS...

a wet, slippery and winding journey to TBS...but there must be bright lights at the end of it... no choice but to believe and go for it...so have a safe and fun ride...

Why Shud Anyone be Led by You?

...my mind is always active...so my sleeping problem...but my wife's already dreaming so pity me...as usual my notebook is my best mate...browse thru leadership slides from the workshop I attended about 2 years ago...found an interesting quote from Antoine-Marie-Roger de Saint-Exupery "if you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to love the vast and endless sea"...hmmm uum wants to become a research university and TBS...so leadership at all levels is crucial...then remember what the speaker said at the end of the workshop..."leadership is getting harder, so good luck"...i guess he's right especially with clever people, they just don't want/like to be led...betul ke?

'Second....'

Somehow azizi become a popular name...there are 9 azizi in uum...you can find azizi songkok, ustaz azizi, azizi graphic, azizi junior etc...once there are rumours that I have a second wife...a young, tall, beautiful siamese girl and what not...(wish it's true hak3)...my gud friend told me...the story was plotted so well..."kinda like you know...azizi...the professor...who drove the red bimmer...got one big secret...pity his wife...he got married again...in Thailand...i saw him several times with his 'second' wife in his red bimmer...she lives somewhere in Alor Setar"...yes it's true one of the 9 azizis has a second wife but not me...the funny thing is the real one doesn't own a bimmer or even a red car...so to those who spread the lies you better apologize to my dearest 'first' wife...

Mind Therapy

My wife is quite a regular blogger...and she's the one who suggested me to have my own blog...it's not just about sharing knowledge or getting popular but good for mind therapy she said...kinda like talking to one-self thingy...and I think she's right...it does reduce tension a bit...

Wonderful Day...Hepi Family

Been very busy lately...with so little time to spend with my beloved family...my youngest daughter always asked me why I have to work all the time...is your boss a very grumpy man, would he scold you bla bla she would ask...my wife also worries about me working so hard...but today we spend time together watching a 3D cartoon movie 'Rio'...free mind, no work just laugh what a wonderful day...can see happiness in their eyes...aneesa the youngest is the happiest...luv ya all...

Opportunity Costs...

Success always comes at a price...like we have to pay a good sum of money for a pair of quality shoes...it requires big sacrifices too...like one has to work hard to earn enough money etc....to become a TBS, we have to go for quality rather than quantity...but less number of students means less fees (money)...and better quality faculty members means higher salary which would suck up the already less money...in contrast, better quality faculty members means better research, publication and consultation, hence better teaching, better teaching means better program, better program attracts quality students, hence better price (fees)...however all that require time and investment (and patience)...stick and carrot is also important...then the issue of politeness versus toughness or to be liked or to be hated...hmm what a difficult trade-off ain't it?

Lesson 2...Small & Focus

Lord Eatwell is the founder and Director for Center of Financial Analysis and Policy JBS...so my next question to him is how did he set up the center and become so successful? His answer is pretty simple...he started small together with few passionate (passion again...) colleagues and students, focus, learn from it and grow bigger...anyway, success is not like instant noodles...a simple yet important lesson for us all...

Lesson 1...Passion

During his 4 days in UUM...I managed to ask Professor Lord Eatwell few important questions...first, about his personal experience as the former student of both JBS and HBS. Interestingly, he told me JBS and HBS practice two different approaches...professors at JBS practice collegiality...weekly seminars attended by professors, research students and people from the industry are common (and it is always full house) but professors at HBS are more individualistic...in contrast, students at JBS are taught to be independent while HBS's students are more guided...but both are the World TBS...in both cases individual passion is important...anyway academic world is about freedom ain't it?...whether you work in a group or individual, collectively it will bring your institution to the top...a good point to ponder ain't it?

Love Letter...

It took me 2 nights to write the best love letter to Prof Lord John Eatwell from Cambridge Judge Business School...why is it so hard? Hmm...UUM is still far from becoming a Top Biz School like Cambridge JBS or Harvard Biz School....so to persuade a prominent professor like Lord Eatwell to come and visit UUM needs something really special. Money, though necessary is not the main factor, in fact we don't have much money to offer him, so I end writing about our BIG dream of becoming one of the World Top Biz School...and what an interesting institution UUM/OYA is...something like an intellectual offer...and Alhamdulillah it works...Thank you Lord...

Alhamdulillah...

We organize a big event today...after a sleepless night thank God everything goes smoothly as planned. The speaker is happy, participants are happy, VIPs are also happy, basically everyone is pleased with the way the event is organized...what a wonderful day...trillion of thanks to all my colleagues who worked really hard over the past few weeks to make this event a success...so what lessons do we learned? That's a pretty tough question...looking back I think being humble, respectful, giving trust and believe are the key lessons, and not to forget be honest and ask for help from the Al-Mighty...cheers

We are different...

People are different...different colours, sizes, characters and ways of thinking...that makes our lives beautiful ain't it? Remember one of my good buddies told me when I complained about someone, he advised me to accept the fact that people are different...so we cannot expect others to behave like us...accepting the way they are would make us feel better...and he's right...just look around us...I have four wonderful kids with four different characters but that makes our family fun and lively...will tell ye about the kids later...good  night

..the BIG question is are we ready?

...its nice to have a dream......we can dream to be this and to be that...and many people say if you wanna dream you better dream BIG...but the BIG question is are we ready to do it and ultimately achieve what we dream? What's important a big dream must be followed by the right strategy...and don't forget to be realistic too...there is no such thing like instant noodles...one can start with a small effort, learn and slowly grow (you must be good first prior to becoming great ain't it?)...otherwise your dream we'll end with just a dream...anyway, have a nice dream my friends...good night

Good Golf Day...

Anything can happen on a good golf day...look at the chicks helping the lucky golfer...pity McIIroy...sometimes experience play a big role...what's important never give up...cheers

Temper...

There is one thing I really hate about myself...my bad temper...I always tried very hard not to loose it but somehow it happens again...what I really need is just to control that split seconds...but sometimes when it happens it happens...at least the good thing is it is not as frequent as during my younger days...

Meeting oh Meeting...

I have 4 meetings today, all are important meetings. Many of my colleagues brand UUM as "universiti untuk mesyuarat" or university for meetings...hmm but my boss said without meetings how can we review our progress or assess our performance...and he's right right? but if you have too many meetings, then when can you start doing your work...and that's right too right?...hmm confuse lah...I believe both are right, what we need is a balance, no meeting at all is bad but holding a meeting to discuss when our next meeting going to be is worse...enjoy your meeting my friends...ha3

La Salle...Life is an Experience

I had a short stint (about 4 months) at La Salle after being deported from sdar and a month staying at home do nothing. I was in Science class A and one of the only three malay students, sitting at the back of my class. Everything was different from sdar. Except my ustazah, other teachers were either chinese or indian. Even my Bahasa Melayu teacher was a chinese. The Head Teacher was Reverand Brother John Felix, still remember him, a nice old man. Most of my friends were from Art stream classes. So, I was more at the shopping complex window shopping than in my class or watched Metallica concert at my buddy's house (my mum didn't know this until now). The only books I always brought to school were Add Maths and Chemistry. Most teachers won't bother me (I'm free to do what I like, self studying my favourite subjects or just sleeping) but my ustazah loved me and she treated me nice, thank you...and I got an A for Agama (that's for you my Ustazah) and both Chemistry and Maths my 2 favourite subjects...Life is an experience...

English oh English...University Days

University days were not much different, though slightly better when it comes to English. The turning point was, may be or may be not, when I finally got the chance to further my study in the US (thanks to UUM and 1994 World Cup which motivated me to study hard and passed GMAT). My first semester there, however, was a nightmare, I can't understand a bit what my lecturers said, the cowboy accent made my life so difficult then. Anyway, I still graduated with flying colours ha3. Then comes PhD (permanent head damage, that's what my seniors used to call it). I guess I have more confident conversing in English after my doctorate degree...of course with Kelantalish accent, it is still in my blood...what an identity ha3.

Bad Golf Day...

Bad working day turned into a bad golf day...lost 4 golf balls today. Golf should be fun...lesson learned, no golf on a bad working day, it would further ruin your mood...go home and have a nice teh tarik with your dearest wife...

PS1

Melayu oh Melayu

Malay Dilemma...to stay (means more sacrifices) or is it time to go and do what we like and have fun (am I selfish then?) The Truth Hurts sometimes...ain't it?

English oh English...School Days

At SDAR, we were divided into separate classes when it comes to English (A - E). I was in class D, not bad though considering there were some of my friends in class E, jangan mare....I didn't even complete my school in sdar (can't tell ye why, that's my secret but you can ask Cikgu Simbab and Cikgu xxxxbudin, they knew me well), took my SPM at La Salle PJ (many interesting stories there as well). What an experience...from a famous boarding school to an ordinary school (sorry mum for being so naughty...anyway, I fulfilled your wish to choose UKM and do accounting instead of chemical engineering in the UK, hu3 but still UK what just an extra M ha3). Chemistry and additional maths are the only 2 subjects I liked most those days...

English oh English...Kampung Boy

Remember when I was a kid in Kelantan (we brothers called it langgotians as our kampung name is langgot), my friends and I always racing 100m, 200m bare-footed. Our favourite saying prior to the racing was 'redi...ayumak...gesek...gooo', we all said it loud and then run, I didn't know what it means until I was in about form 4 or probably form 5. My Chinese English teacher really hated me for never been serious in class. She always shouted at me, still remember her shouting 'asisi (she can't even pronounce z ha3), how many times I have to tell you bla...bla...bla but you never bother, get out of my class now'. So there I was standing outside of my class holding my English book over my head as usual and...smiling to everyone who passed by (my english class was near the toilet). Who cares, I wasn't the only one, its kind of a fun outing with my few friends ha3. Anyway, if you wanna know 'redi...ayumak...gesek...gooo' means 'ready...on your mark, get set go' ha..ha..ha..what a kampung boy..

Finance

Wanna know about accounting/finance but you are not an accountant or don't have an accounting or finance degree...don't worry. Try read this book Warren Buffett and the Interpretation of Financial Statements by Mary Buffet & David Clark...who knows you can be Warren Buffett junior, Malaysian version ha3...

MR2

If you wanna know...here is my favourite car, Toyota MR2 MKII, production year 1990-1999. A very powerful 2 seater sports car, nice T-roof, mid-engine, rear drive, twin turbo with 245bhp, 0-100 in less than 6 seconds. It is also known as baby ferrari. I love this car, tested drive several times but never buy one, wanna know why? my dearest wife will get angry...you are not young anymore...bla...bla...bla...hmmm not that I'm afraid of my wife but I guess she's not afraid of me too...ha3...

Favourite Book

The book I enjoyed most reading is Life is an Open Secret: You, Me and We by Sis Zabrina. A very simple book full of inspirational stories from ordinary life experiences and supported by Hadith and the Holy Quran and inspirational leaders from all over the world...a must read book. You don't need to be a Muslim to read this book...

Choices

We have so many choices in our lives...to love or to hate...to read or to sleep...to work hard or just relax...to improve our weaknesses or to blame others...to be cool or to be angry...to be polite or to be rude...to play golf or to go home early today ha3...we make our own choices...so never blame others...we all know it is very hard to change oneself but at least one should try to be/do better...have a good day...

Book versus Football

Book versus Football? of course football always comes first ha3...will tell you my all time favourite book tomorrow...got to watch Man U versus Fulham now...go-go Man U you are the champion...

How to Win Friends and Influence People...

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie...is one of the first few books I bought when I started reading as a habit few years ago...it is a great book, sold over 40 million copies...a must read book.

Inferior...

We all feeling inferior...low...lack of confidence sometimes in our lives...acknowledging our weaknesses and work hard to overcome those bad feelings are better than blaming the fate...often referred to as 'excusities diseases'...wanna know more...read The Magic of Thinking BIG by David Schwatz.

Golf Masters Fever

Tried swing using iron 5 today which I've never used before. Easier than iron 7 I guess...now have a good reason to play golf tomorrow to practice it ha3....go Tiger...

Photo?

Sorry...no photo yet, hard to find a good one, not so photogenic I guess...the thinking baby photo should suffice to represent me ha3.

Boring?

Boring...donno what to do? I hate reading text books but here are the titles of some good motivational books for you to read. Really enjoyed reading them all...

1. Life is an Open Secret: You, Me and We by Sis Zabrina
2. Life is an Open Secret: Think About It by Sis Zabrina
3. The Present by Spencer Johnson
4. Who Moved my Cheese? by Spencer Johnson
5. Our Iceberg is Melting by John Kotter
6. Peaks and Valleys by Spencer Johnson

Enjoy your reading...zzzz

Golf...

Like other football crazy fans, I used to brand golf a lazy game. My friends forced me to try it early last year. Hmm not a bad game but had to abandon it after few months due to heavy work loads. After 9 months, here I am...back on the golf course again. Surprisingly, I become a better golfer after a 9 months rest (that's what my coach told me, anyway I'm his boss so he can't give bad comments)  ha..ha..ha..and the good thing is my wife seems not to hate me for playing golf anymore. Wanna know why? Hmm that's my secret.  Bought a new (cheap one ha3) golf set for my boy as well. At least I have someone accompany me to the driving range...

my boy...afiq in action

New Blog...

Hi all, this is my second attempts to have a blog. Used to have one but deleted it due to time constraint. My dear wife helped me created this new blog. She is a regular blogger, can visit her blog if you like http://www.rose-duniaku.blogspot.com/ ...Cheers

Salam...

Hello...Namaste...Sawatdee Khrab...Hola...Bonjour