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I am a Practitioner of 'The 7e Way of Leaders' where a Leader will Envision, Enable (ASK for TOP D), Empower, Execute, Energize, and Evolve grounded on ETHICS!

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Daily Lesson from Life 04 January 2009

"Pink slip can be a recipe for success

Retrenchment was a blessing in disguise for sous chef who helped create Chatterbox chicken rice. -Sun, Jan 04, 2009 The Straits Times

When Mr Steven Low was retrenched two years ago from his sous chef job at Meritus Mandarin hotel, he received calls from hotels in Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines with job offers the very next day.


But the man credited for helping to create the famous Chatterbox chicken rice had already made up his mind to be his own boss.

He took the pink slip, the $20,000 payout for his 31 years of service and his winning recipe to start a stall selling - what else - chicken rice."

We will be reading a lot more such positive stories about a supposedly unfortunate event occurring in one's working life as the aftermath of the financial tsunami originating in 2008 bites into 2009! A lot more people will lose their jobs and livelihood and for those who are ill-prepared or not prepared or worst, in no position to negotiate the tight spots, they have to keep up a positive mindset to pull through the crisis that will last for at least 12-18 months!

Lessons for me are:

1. no matter who you are, be prepared for the worst when the pink slip comes your way. Be financially prudent in that don't spend beyond your mean, save for a rainy day, actively budget your spending and take actions to change your spending habit NOW! Learn a skill that can help you earn an income or make a living. Be prepared to do works that you have never thought of doing for a lot less money that you ever asked for!;

2. surround yourself with positive thinking people. Remind yourself they are your friends who are willing to help. Do not be jealous of them because they are still gainfully employed or so-called better off than you! If you can put this negative thought away, you can begin to appreciate the friendship and help they are willing to offer. Sometimes they may have their own issues or devils to overcome, so when help is not forthcoming, try to be understanding. Again, this will help build up your positive mindset and set you free and far away from being depressed!;

3. if you cannot get another job or start a business, go find out where to get social welfare help! Let your past, especially if you have a glorious and glamorous past, behind. Be humble and ask for help. Be ready for some insensitive people who may pass some hurtful and sarcastic comments along the way, just ignore them and focus on getting social welfare for yourself and your loved ones if they depended on you.

In other countries, many jobless seek the ultimate way out by committing suicide. This will not solve the problem for anyone who dependent on you. You just pass the problem on. This MUST not happened.

I always remembered this scene during the 26 December 2004 tsunami triggered by the Indonesia earthquake off shore that killed nearly 300,000 over people across many Asian cities and countries.

A mother who went totally insane after losing a child while another mother who lost 2 or 3 of her children said it is fate and I have to live on for the living! One has no chance of building her life as she has lost it while the other will rebuild her life and live on! So, keep positive and love on!!

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