what a day...

story about yesterday...arrived my office around 8.30am...quickly reviewed my presentation slides for the CAPs meeting...arrived the meeting room 5 minutes before time (9.30am)...but wasted almost an hour waiting for the chairman to arrive...meeting finally started around 10.30am...which continued until 3pm...but had to exit the meeting earlier around 1.45pm to rush back for another meeting at 2pm which I have to chair (missed my lunch again hu3)...have a quick zohor prayer...chaired the meeting...wrapped up the meeting around 5.30pm...performed asar prayer before heading to the driving range for a quick golf practice (or release my tension)...drove back home around 6.30pm...have a quick dinner with family around 7pm...sent my daugther to tuition at 8pm...then headed to Bustani Hotel for College strategic meeting...which lasted around 11.30pm...my children and wife were having their sweet dreams when i arrived home by 12am...sorry guys...then fell asleep after a brief reflection of the day...hmmm what a day...and there are many days like yesterday...

mobile phone oh mobile phone...

...other than internet, mobile phone is probably the best invention ever created by human...here is the story...i attended global business forum organized by IMD in Kuala Lumpur few months ago...the special guest speaker was Tun Mahathir... in his speech he jokingly said...when he was the prime minister he thought about putting people talking with their mobile phones while walking into jail because they look just like crazy people...talking and laughing to themselves with hands and sometimes feets moving around...but he said he later changed his mind because there were just too many crazy people (people with mobile phones) and they won't fit all jails in Malaysia...that's funny but thinking about it...i guess he may be right because some people (including me...shhh...i said that in a whisper) just sort of over use it...sometimes...we eat with phone, we walk with phone, we pee or even poo with phone, we also drive with phone and worse we text while riding a motorcycle...and that's suicidal...crazy...this morning i attended a meeting...the chairman's phone rung while he's talking...but instead of switching off his phone, he decided to answer the phone (with microphone on so we can hear his conversation)...so we have to wait until he finished talking....then another member who was giving her presentation suddenly stopped her presentation and ran out of the meeting room to answer her phone...so we have to wait again...funny or simply crazy...ha3

the truth hurts...

...does anyone ever feel like telling people what they want to hear and not the truth?...kinda like be kind than right thingy...if you do then you're actually telling lies ha3...hmm but i guess its ok to lie sometimes right?...it depends...but most of the times we say what we have to say...not just what the person wants to hear...this is my story...one of my PhD students came to seek my advice today...he asked me few questions which actually guided me to agree with what he did...but instead of giving him definite answers, i took my turn to ask him questions that were related to his questions...that's my job as a supervisor i guess...i believe asking questions is sometimes better than giving answers...that would lead us to understand better the problems we faced...which sometimes prove that one's idea is wrong...i can see frustration in his eyes...after all his preparations, he has to go back and redo things...but as a supervisor i have to tell the truth...and the truth often hurts...hope he won't give up...best wishes

way forward...

What + Where + Who + When + Why + How = H + E + A + D +A + C + H + E



lost battle...

manchester united...my favorite team lost its battle against barcelona last night...it was the second time in 3 years... it proves that sheer will/determination alone isn't enough...they need better quality players too...the same goes to strategy...even the best strategy/plan or whatever you want to call it won't work without committed and quality staff...that is reality...and reality hurts

dilemma sucks...

odd vs even...positive vs negative...ups vs downs...hatred vs love...forward vs backward...challenge vs opportunity...surrender vs resistance...gave up vs continue...dream vs reality... itashimashite vs sayonara... dilemma sucks...

great warrior...

...frustrated with many things over the last few days...to the extent i felt like enough is enough...will share it when i feel like to...let's talk about Admiral Cheng Ho and Alexander the Great instead...i guess everyone knows Cheng Ho...he commanded a formidable fleet that travelled a great part of Earth's seas including the Straits of Malacca during 1400s...Alexander never lost a battle too...both were not just great warriors but also great leaders with brilliant tactics... but one thing for sure they definitely won't succeed without their strong army who're ready to sacrifice and fight for them...more importantly for their countries...history mentioned that Cheng Ho first expedition included 27,870 strong and loyal men on 317 ships...so to succeed, i believe, a leader must have strong followers...at all levels...who understand the urgency, the importance of the mission, and are ready, together with the leader, to sacrifice and work hard to achieve the set goals...the whole chains must work properly...no one can break the chain...period...without that even the strongest warrior or the most intelligent leader would lose the battle...sayonara

experience could be our worst enemy part II...

...remember a participant at AAPBS conf in hong kong also commented about b-schools being headed by old (i would prefer to call it experienced) professors...while it is good to have experience people heading b-schools but their old paradigm or way of thinking may sometimes hinder progress...many may not agree with the statement but thinking deeper i believe he has a point there...the world is different now...we are living and working in a .Net or global environment... .Net thinking...fast, ubiquitous and flexible...so the demands for b-schools are greater than ever, hence our KPIs...and b-schools must rise to these challenges to remain relevant, referred and respected...i look at it as an opportunity to reinvent ourselves...we must change the way we run our business...and change fast...hmmm but change is difficult...always...becos people just hate to change...so probably we just need crazy people with crazy ideas to head b-schools...people like Sir Richard Branson or Datuk Seri Tony Fernandez...who are willing to do anything and sacrifice everything to succeed...but can we find one?

experience could be our worst enemy...

attended asia pacific regional conference organized by aacsb in singapore last week...funny, i've been to more than 20 countries but that's my first time in singapore...yeah singapore is interesting...quite a modern country but i'm not gonna talk about it...i'm more interested to share about the conference...it was a great conference with more than 200 participants...i had great times meeting and discussing with many business school deans from this region...but one that really caught my ears was the cliché mentioned by one of the speakers...he talked about the way forward for b-schools and the kind of leadership required for the changes...he then quoted Paul Getty who said 'in times of rapid change, experience could be your worst enemy'...hmm very interesting...it sounds a bit wrong ain't it?...people always talk about the importance of experience...and its relationship with wisdom....but this guy said experience would hinder progress...wow but thinking deeper he may be right...to be continued...gotta go to sleep now good night

a bad apology is worse than no apology...

...i hate it when people don't keep their word...that really bothers me...i hate it even more when people simply said 'sorry, i forgot'...is that it?...to me it means nothing from the heart...no sense of guilty...i find halfhearted or insincere apologies are worse than not apologizing at all...randy pausch said a good apology is like an antibiotic while a bad apology is like rubbing salt in the wound...to me the most important question is have we put enough effort to keep our promise? one needs to show sincerity not ignorance...yes people do forget...we all forget sometimes...but at least show that one has tried one's best but one just can't make it...that is much better than a mere sorry...i believe if we try hard enough, we can improve our memory...cheers

dad...my pants is getting shorter...

...today my son told me he needs a new pants becos it is somehow getting shorter and that makes him looks nerd...are you sure? i asked him...he then confidently showed me his pants...yes i can see that the lower part of his pants is about 2 inches above his ankle...i then burst into laughter and told him that it is not his pants that is getting shorter but he is getting taller instead....which made him smile...i guess he can see the logic ha3...also remember when my daugther told me her shoes is getting smaller because it doesn't fit her anymore...kids are funny and make us smile...don't they?...but how about us, adults? we are like kids too...we also don't see the other side of the coin sometimes...just like the half empty half full glass story...

sometimes it is better to be kind than to be right...

...i always love meaningful quotes...which i often keep in my small notebook or memo pad...here is one that i'd like to share..."sometimes it is better to be kind than to be right...and sometimes it is better to have a patient heart that listens than an intelligent mind that speaks"...puhhh...this is the one i'd like to imprint in my brain and try not to forget...my job as a dean requires me to attend various meetings...and to confront many people with different characters...i've met few who are willing to spout off unsupported opinions and ready to confront your statements no matter how factually supported your statements may be...and that require lots of patience (which i often not ha3)...or probably the 'management of compromises' type of skill (what the hack is that? ask Tan Sri Leo Moggie for explanation)...remember last few months when I bit my tongue and was surprisingly nice rather than right...this guy took me to task about something that was absolutely insignificant to our discussion...worse he insisted to be right (when he was factually wrong) and he tried to involve me in an argument, which i wasn't interested...so i ended up letting him think he is right...we all knew he was wrong anyway...so this quote is pretty much a good reminder to us all...especially those impatient type like me...try not to be blunt and to forgive and forget...that would make us feel better...

substance over form...

...in accounting 'substance over form' is the concept that the information shown in the financial statements and accompanying disclosures of a business should reflect the underlying realities of accounting transactions, rather than the legal form in which they appear...it is indeed an interesting concept...remember my informal discussions with several businessmen and academicians couple of months ago...it was about Malaysia and South Korea ...both were successful in attracting foreign investments many decades ago...but unlike the Koreans...with few exceptions of course...other than the improved infrastructure (form) we are slow in acquiring the skills (substance) brought by those foreign companies...take Proton for example...we have yet to produce good quality 'local' cars that we all can be proud of...most MSC companies are still relying on geniuses from India and China...Malaysia is also a hub for electronic/electrical appliances with many foreign companies invested here but we are yet to see local companies as global players like Sony or Samsung...Vietnam is catching up very fast...we are probably losing out to Indonesia too...so what's wrong?...is it becos of our policy? i doubt it becos we often produce the best 'blue prints' in the world...the government has also introduced many incentives...then how about implementation?...may be we don't work hard or smart enough like the Koreans or Japanese...or may be we are just slow learners?...Prof Lord Eatwell said Malaysians are sometimes too kind and polite...so a little (or maybe a lot like the Singaporeans) toughness is probably needed...to be honest i believe our professors also do not contribute much to the development of the Nation...we have yet to hear earth-shaking ideas from our professors...me included hmmm...remember when our PM talked about nobel laureatte...i believe one day Malaysia will have one...no doubt about it...but to achieve that we need to focus more on the substance than the form...so probably instead of talking global, we should focus on our local contributions that would eventually attract global attention...glokal versus lobal? ha3...cheers and have a great weekend...

accomplishing our dreams...part III moral of the story

...ten years later, most of my school/university friends were suprised when they first knew i became a lecturer...and giving my lecture in English...remember the day when i received an unexpected call from my school friend...he read my article published in Accountants Today...yes i never complete my Enid Blyton stories but i wrote many academic articles and give lectures in English...he just can't believe it...i could imagine them thinking that guy can't even talk...what more in English...i don't know but i just try (many times) and i made it...stage fright was and is still my nightmare tho less scary...i'm a big admirer of Tun Mahathir...i like the way he talks...he's a really cool guy...soft spoken but full of ideas and sometimes cynical too ha3...i always carried a small notebook with me to jot down interesting words/sentences/phrases i heard/read....i still do but with my blackberry...though most of my dreams were just dreams...but looking back, i sometimes think that i got more from pursuing those dreams, and not accomplishing them, than i did from many of the ones i did accomplish...so keep on dreaming and pursuing your dreams...cheers

accomplishing our dreams...part II

...remember my school days when i always admired those who can speak good English...so i started 'listening' to the TV rather than 'reading' the Malay translation....my vocabs improved (tho i didn't even understand or pronounce some of the words correctly...who cares...i'm always proud of my Kelantalish ha3)...but i always struggle with grammar...even now...funny but true, my rule of thumb is simple, as long as the sentence sounds ok, then the grammar should be alright ha3...during my university days i liked to admire those who can freely speak without fear before big audience...i would rather skip my class presentation and lose 5 or 10 marks than standing in front when everybody is looking at me...i don't really care becos i still have 95 or 90 marks to cover...tho i have lots of ideas but i always stop short of throwing them out...just thinking about it made my heart pounding...pity me hu3...so most of the times i would end up imagining myself standing on a big stage...and confidently giving my lecture...and everyone would applaud and admire my speech...that was my dream...i still remember my whole body shaked when i gave my first presentation...i was so scared, i felt like i want to pee in my pants or even poo...weird feeling...i had no choice but to go for it becos my lecturer told me she woud fail me if i miss the presentation again and that was my last semester...it was the day i will always remember...day that changed me and my life...

accomplishing our dreams...part I

...i have lots of dreams and fantasies when i was a kid...i wished i could fly like Superman or crawl like Spiderman or be as fearless as my chilhood hero Sergeant Saunders...Combat was my favourite drama those days which was in black and white...and unlike most of our friends, we brothers knew our family couldn't afford to buy us stuffs we wanted...but we still wished we could have this and that...and that made us creative...my brothers and i would design and create something from whatever we can find around the house...remember when we combined several pieces of plywoods we found under the house to create our home-made table that was about 2/3 the size of the real table tennis table and 2 pieces of old planks/woods for the rackets and nets...the only equipment we bought from the shop was table tennis balls which were pretty cheap...then i wanted to become a writer...i wasn't good at drawing/painting but i knew i can write...i wanted to write adventurous stories like Enid Blyton...i did try you know but never completed one ha3...those dreams changed when i became a teenager and later an adult...

fundamental...

last month i wrote about unhealthy competition, local champion and territorial issues...this time the issue is about fundamental (refer to ...have we ever learned?)...which is the root cause of the ealier issues...always to our detriment we simply forget/ignore our fundamental...the reasons of our establishment...i just don't understand...are we just simply being selfish or what? the answer is i don't know...what i know units/departments/business functions are established with a specific and different mission...but despite the differences, together they will help achieve the institutional ultimate goals...if everyone is clear with its own mission (by getting back to the fundamental) then we won't fight among ourselves...it is a lose-lose war...always...lets go back to the basic and try to understand that everyone has its specific roles to play...hence territory is not an issue...but that doesn't mean we have to work separately...what i meant is, by not forgetting the fundamental, we (TOGETHER) can avoid the unnecessary conflicts and achieve wonder...and everyone can be a champion in its own context/territory...remember what Randy Pausch wrote in his book The Last Lecture, "you've got to get the fundamental down, because otherwise the fancy stuff is not going to work"...

Ideas...

attended a conference organized by Association of Asia Pacific Business Schools in Hong Kong last week...it was one of the best conferences i've attended...many issues/ideas were raised/discussed during the 2 days conference...not much time for HK tour but i brought back lots of interesting ideas...remember reading what the two times nobel laureate scientist Linus Pauling once said "the best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas"...one good idea typically leads to several more good ideas, and that, as a result, good ideas are typically accompanied by other good ideas...but good ideas only come from lots of reading and experiences and brainstorming/thinking...one just can't be a good leader without many supporting good ideas from his/her followers throughout the value chain...hmm but that's exactly what we are lacking...ideas...somehow we often prefer critics than proposals...maybe bexos proposal requires lots of homework...and that's hard...while we all like to talk about achieving something...but without great ideas how can we achieve our dreams...we simply need more ideas to move forward...sometimes we are just too lazy to think...but please gimme ideas anyway...and i need critics too...critics are also important (tho i may dislike them) as they show that someone cares about you and wants to make you better...

the four way test...

...took this picture at Professor YK Bushan's office, Senior Advisor to IBS Mumbai...he looks just like Mahatma Gandhi...Bushan is an incredibly wise man...a very humble yet challenging and soft spoken yet commanding type of person...really adore his speeches...the four-way test is kinda very interesting reminder of the things we think, say or do...especially leaders...and we are all leaders anyway...feel very lucky to know him in person...

 

half empty or half full???

...depending on one's point of view or interpretation...one can be optimistic (half full) or pessimistic (half empty)...i've met many people in my life who always have a downbeat view of life...people that have the tendency to look at the negative side of the things...worse, unlike the half glass story, they prefer to worry about the 5% anomaly rather than looking forward to the remaining productive 95%...so everything looks worrying to them...there are so many 'if's that need answers which unnecessarily create uncertainties...in a positive way, asking 'if' questions help one to self-learn and become more creative and innovative...that's what i always believe...but asking too many 'if' questions can be very negative as well...which can affect their way of life...work, family, friendship etc...we are not living in a perfect world anyway...that's the beauty of life...

united we stand....

Manchester United won against Chelsea 2 -1 and is now just 1 point away from the premier league championship...and to become the first team in history to win it 19th time...looking back the team have faced down adversity throughout much of the season...but in the end, belief was what pulled MU through...Fergie the great (old grumpy) manager salutes the determination of his players, their work-rate, and their refusal to lie down...he later said that while he has had better groups, more gifted individuals like Eric Cantona, and the odd unstoppable force like Roy Keane in the past...but what set this team apart is sheer WILL...hmmm at least we have something to learn from football...divided we fall...

building up confidence...

i wondered when my daugther came back from school smiling yesterday...she's in year 6 and will be taking up a big exam this year, UPSR ...she's a bit of a slow learner compared to her big bro & sis especially when it comes to math and science...tho she's pretty good with english, she often failed her math and science subjects...that makes her feeling a bit inferior....what my wife and i can do are to motivate her...build up her confidence and self-believe that she can actually do it...we keep on telling her stuff like 'i know you can do it' or 'i always believe you can do it'...kinda like you need to try just a littttttle bit harder...we try our best not to scold her (she's a bit babyish and like to be cuddled anyway) or make her feel more inferior...somehow that approach works...and it shows that motivation can achieve wonder...to our suprised she passed her math test 2 months ago and then scored an A for the first time in her test last week...her science subject has also improved...no wonder she can't stop smiling...so i hugged her and said 'seeee...i told ya you can do it'...congratulation Tasya...you have the sweetest smile in the world...just like your daddy ha3...

a little dose of humility...

leaders need to show the way and inspire...so to be a good leader one must be confident and optimistic...that's what most leadership books teach us...but that's not always true...too much confident can be seen as arrogant and self-centered too...worse you may irritate your peers and lose their respect and trust...i came across a senior guy who really wanted to be respected...but the more he wants it the farther it moves away from him...he probably forget that respect is something that is earned...it doesn't just happened because you are in a leadership position or used to be the VIP/VVIP...boasting about your great past won't help either...i always believe that one needs to be down to earth sometimes...treats others with respect and one will naturally be respected...like Dan McCarthy said...a little dose of humility can play a big role too...there is nothing wrong in admitting your mistake or asking for help ain't it...but no one would want to follow a wimpy and pessimistic leaders either...cheers

believe...

last week one of my colleagues came to my office...he struggles with his PhD...also having problems with his supervisor...lack of guidance he said....and asked for my advice...hmmm i wish i have one...after listening to him explaining his predicament, i ending up telling him to start believing himself...only he knows his capability and what's best for him...not his supervisor and obviously not me...one just needs to work harder and trust oneself more...and never say NO or give up before trying very HARD...and i really mean HARD...try to test your upper limit...you don't actually reach your highest limit until you really feel the pain...then believe me...you'll be surpised to discover that you are actually capable of doing/achieving much more things than you normally think you can...i remember reading a magazine about building up muscles...the physical trainer said most people would stop when they feel the pain...that's their biggest mistake...what we need to do is to just keep going...bit by bit...keep on pushing until you reach the boundary (i mean the real PAIN)...the new tissues will then develop and replace the old ones...then only you get a new and better shaped muscles...so be more resilient...all the best bro...

common sense...

i rarely follow the course syllabus when i teach my undergraduate students...i trust them to read the recommended text books with minimal guidance...i believe my job is to teach them how to think...fast and sometimes the opposite way...by giving cases i would ask my students to solve problems without giving definite answers...there's no right or wrong answer in real life anyway...it always depends...and discussing cases from both sides would be more meaningful in teaching students to think...i would encourage my students to participate and throw out ideas without fear of being wrong...to me the ability to give spontaneous answers "confidently" is crucial...and that requires skills...no one fails my class as long as they talk...last week, my ex-student came to have a chat with me...she just reported her duty with UUM as a tutor about a week ago...she graduated 4 years ago with 1st class honours...and worked with one of the big audit firms after her graduation...she said what i told her was true...i used to tell my students that probably only 20% of what they learned from the text books will be relevant when they work...and probably they will remember only 10% of those...so i told them to never be a text book worm...general knowledge is more important than text books...that's what i always believe...most of the times you only have your own instinct and common sense as a tool to solve problems especially when you are at the management level...it is all about being innovative, creative and inventive...that's what my own experience taught me...but then how to become innovative, creative and inventive? hmmm...good question but unfortunately i don't have the answer...it is about common sense i guess...and common sense comes thru knowledge, experience and self-believe...cheers

little things make a BIG difference...

we often heard about leadership skills...leading/managing change...coaching...presentation skills...but to me they are all damn hard to learn and do...and sometimes impractical too...in reality people just like to be comforted and praised...in fact little gestures like a small pat on the back can make a BIG difference...and that's what I felt this morning...my friend came and pat on my back...then showed his concern by asking how has things been going lately...and kinda let me know if you need any help etc...what a great relief and that changed my day to a more productive one...thank you my friend...

keep it cool...

keep it cool after a hot heated day at work...hmm it's always nice to be a kid ain't it?...nothing else matters (my favourite song from Metallica)...

expensive experience...

started our journey back to Jitra about 4.30pm yesterday...the engine suddenly stopped at Jeli but luckily a repair shop was just near by...so changed to a new battery and the mechanic said it should be sufficient to arrive Jitra...but surprisingly the battery gone again at Sungai Lebir rest area near Grik...it was really dark at that time and not many people were there...and none of them know how to help except one guy who claimed he's a mechanic...but instead of fixing the car he broke my car key...worse he pretended not to know anything about it...grrrr...donno what to do so we went to a small surau and performed our prayer...a bit worry about my kids as the area is famous with elephants and tigers wandering at night and sometimes robbery do happen occassionally...finally managed to get the tow truck number...it was nearly 11pm when our car was pulled on to the tow truck. The kids were hungry so we have to stop for late dinner at the nearest restaurant...then around 12am our interesting, bumpy and expensive journey begun...we arrived at about 3am...received message about Dr Syd passed away about 4am...

remembering death...

...lost a dear friend today...still remember his smiling face and his jokes about work etc...but "kullu nafsin dzaa-iqatul maut...setiap yang hidup pasti akan mati: everyone shall taste the death" (Ali Imran: 185)...have 3 meetings today but who cares...I need a break and attend his funeral...remembering the death and looking back all the things i have done...al-fatehah to the late Dr Syd Abdul Rahman...