Skills - relevancy

"I have not touched a bicycle for many years, I don't know whether I still know how to ride or not" said a friend when she was "given" a bicycle to ride some days ago. After much coaxing, she decided to give a try - with much worrisome look on her face.

She put her hands on the handles, sat on the seat and her feet firmly on the paddles. Then, with a heave and exerting her feet on the paddles, she "cycled" herself forward. The wheels began to roll, initially with awkward wobbly motions - swaying from side to side. However, she persevered and a short distance later, the wheels were aligned, a smile flashed across her face. She was cycling!

What she lacked initially was confidence. Once she focused herself into "cycling" her subconscious took over and her fear vanished as the "learnt cycling skill which she had acquired in the past" took over. She began cycling!

How do we define "skill"? Simply, "proficiency or special ability to do something well arising from talent, training or practise".

Skills that we learnt or acquired over the years will always be with us eg swimming, cooking, playing badminton etc. What we need is to surface these from our subconscious mind, if we have not been using these skills, and with a little practise, we will be like "pro". However, the proviso is whether our physical bodies can "still support the activity or not" is a challenge.

The other "soft professional skills" like "administrative, management, leadership" skills, that we have acquired earlier in life may also be lying low in our subconscious mind if we have not been using these for a while. If  in later years, when we are required to use these skills, we could also "summon" these from within. However, the only caveat that we need to understand and to discern is whether these skills are still relevant for use today or not.

Always remember that "the same skills that made us successful yesterday may not be relevant today as the challenges and working environment are different from yesterday" or simply "what made us successful yesterday may not make us successful today". Therefore acquiring new skill sets are never ending and we have to keep on learning. Do NOT STOP learning! Do not rest on your laurels ... thinking that you have learnt it all ...




Read more

NKEA healthcare progress update

The Minister of Health, Malaysia announced five new projects, on 2nd August 2013, under the Healthcare National Key Economic Area (NKEA) with a total investment value of RM388.1mil and a projected gross national income of RM445.2mil.

These initiatives could potentially reduce reliance on imports of these healthcare products by manufacturing them locally instead through locally incorporated companies and multinational ones. “Currently Malaysia relies on imported infusion products which are costly. It is timely to have a manufacturing capability on our home ground,” he said in his speech.

Five locally incorporated companies will expand their investments through this initiative.

They are: (1) ABio Orthopaedics will invest RM224.5mil for the expansion of orthopaedic devices contract manufacturing in Penang, (2) Karl Mueller Scientific Sdn Bhd will invest RM1.4mil to produce single and disposable medical devices and accessories, (3) Kotra Pharma will invest RM60mil to produce sterile injectables or infusion products, (4) RB Lifescience Sdn Bhd investing RM94.5mil for the construction of a new pharmaceutical plant and (5) S-ima Medical to invest RM7.7mil for the development of orthopaedic clinical devices.

the STAR 02-08-2013

Read more

Malaysia: Rising Healthcare Expenses

The country’s healthcare expenditure is projected to rise about three percentage points to 7% of gross domestic product (GDP) by the year 2020, said the Health Minister.

“The healthcare sector is expected to generate RM35.5bil in gross national incomes and create 181,000 jobs by the year 2020,” he said at the National Key Economic Area (NKEA) healthcare progress update yesterday.

The healthcare sector is fast becoming a crucial segment in the overall economy and the Minister wants the private sector players to be involved in this vital industry to drive growth including to improve citizens’ accessibility to quality healthcare.

“It is mandatory that we set in place industry-friendly policies to sustain high growth momentum in the coming years. We will support collaborative efforts between public and public healthcare providers”.

He noted that to date, 15 out of 17 sub-sectors had been completely liberalised including dental specialists, private hospitals, medical specialists sub-sectors where 100% foreign equity participation is allowed.

the STAR 02-08-2013

Read more

Management Lessons with Smiles: Part 3

Lesson 5

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!   

 

Source: Thanks and Appreciation to Internet Public domain

 

 

Read more

Malaysia: 10th most visited country in 2012

Malaysia is 10th on United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s (UNWTO) list of most-visited countries.

The country recorded 25 million tourist arrivals in 2012. Out of the figure, 74% or 18.5 million tourists were from Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei and the Philippines.


This was due to the strong economic growth in the region, as well as the good working relationship among the Asean countries. “Market and political stability are also contributing factors, while Malaysia’s service industry is one of the best and friendliest in the world”. Besides, Malaysia has a good mix of heritage sites, beautiful beaches, diverse cultural attractions and good infrastructure.

Malaysia slipped one rung to 10th place on this year’s UNWTO list, with the Russian Federation overtaking it by recording 25.7 million tourist arrivals in 2012. France still remains at the top with a whopping 83 million visitors, followed by the United States (67 million) and China (57.7 million).

However, Malaysia was not in the top 10 spots for international tourism receipts. It was led by the United States (US$126.2bil/RM407.8bil), Spain (US$55.9bil/RM180.6bil) and France (US$53.7bil/RM173.5). Malaysia recorded US$20.25mil (RM65.44mil) in comparison as Malaysia’s predominant market mix are from Asean tourism arrivals.

Asean tourists, as compared to tourists from other Countries, have shorter stays as there was no need to sit through long-haul flights. “Also, because many of these are still developing countries, tourists’ purchasing power will be lower than those from developed countries.”

the STAR/06-08-2013

Read more

Management Lessons with Smiles: Part 2

Lesson 3 
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 4

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..  

Source: Thanks and Appreciation to Internet Public domain

    

Read more

Management Lessons with Smiles: Part 1

I am reproducing herewith from the public domain which I believe is worth circulating. Some of you may have read this, some may have not. Nevertheless, here goes! This will be a series of 3 Parts: "Management Lessons with Smiles".

Using simple yet amusing anecdotes to relate to Management Lessons are indeed a creative and innovative ways to teach basic management lessons. I call it "Fun and Joy in learning". Do enjoy!

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 neighbour.

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 neighbour,' she replies.

'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 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.   

  Source: Thanks and Appreciation to Internet Public domain

 



 

 

  

    
 

Read more