Stand the test of time?

Do you want to build a Patek Philippe or a XXXX watch?

The most lasting memory of the day has to be chancing upon Patek Philippe's advert in today's papers. The tagline goes like that:

"Begin you own tradition - You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation."

Isn't this just mind-blowing? Such a strong imagery it conjures.. just like a recent commercial on going green that goes something along the lines of: when you are using energy, you are borrowing those resources from the next generation.

->> Before I get to the point, I just want to apologise for the "XXXX" in the not so fanciful line at the beginning. It's not meant to represent a censored brand. I actually did a google search for "the worst brand of watches of the century" to try to get some universally-agreed lousiest watch of the century, but didn't manage to get anything conclusive out of the search. (Well, I just wanted to be as 'generally/factually right' as possible about that. But nevermind. The intent was there. ) I was nearly careless enough to put 'casio' in the XXXX category, but stopped in time. Thinking back, I did survive on a casio watch for the longest time in my school days. The one that could see me through the whole of primary school (despite having to spend a couple of dollars to replace the broken plastic black strap yearly). It had the potential of seeing me through my secondary days, but the school was just too strict about it's rules. The rules stated that the watch had to be smaller than a 50-cent coin (bezel included), plain face, straps either in black or white, no more than 3 colours in the entire watch, cannot cost more than $20... That marked the start of the longest search for a watch that fitted that description. The cheap watches were always too big; a simple small watch was always branded & way too expensive... somehow watchmakers just didn't consider doing up a design based on those descriptions. But well, I was lucky I found a cheena-brand watch that had a glow-in-the dark face for $15! I was so happy when i found it.
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Simplicity was what I was trying to get to. (Simplicity was one of that school's motto btw. Perhaps already a teaser to suggest that getting to simplicity is ever so difficult!) Now, a PP watch and a XXXX watch both tell the time. It's got to be simple, hasn't it? Just a few numbers ain't it? Man, that's just so so wrong. The intelligent man, Einstein, himself said that the hardest thing to do is to represent an idea, a theory simply. And we see this theme recurring all the time! In math, the hardest thing for me, was always trying to prove a formula was "true". The simpler (the less variables) the formula, the harder it was to devise a proof. You had to completely deconstruct it, add in many many more variables to represent something else, prove those other variables actually balance out and come to nothing (and probably prove a few other formulas u used in it was the universal truth, just to be thorough) and ta-da, strike them all out of existence! Now, I'd like to think of these variables that got struck out as the ghosts variables/ variables in parallel universe / whatever you fancy. The ideal one would be one that is not subject to any condition. The purest form, but in real-life economics, you know that never exists.

The issues I want to bring out, related to this in an organisation are the following:

Q1. When we get from the state of the unconscious incompetency to conscious incompetency to conscious competency to the fuzzy state - a conglomeration of unconscious competency & unconscious incompetency, how can we allow the next generation appreciate the state of simplicity (i.e. product of the fuzzy state, typically represented in the form of SOPs & usually in the form of instructions "dos & don'ts" - deceivingly fool-proof to execute but difficult to understand the rationale behind it), without either requiring them to experience the entire growing/learning process?

Q2. How do you know if you've identified all the 'ghost variables'?

Finally, I end this entry with the question, what makes you think the Patek Philippe you looked after during your generation is what the next generation needs/desires?

Ok, that's too depressing. 2012 isn't here yet. Embrace the present right? So, yes, the question should be: Do you want a Patek Philippe that you can resell at a high price or a Cartier Happy diamond collection that still costs a bomb anyway but probably has no resale value (just because no atas tai-tai would buy a second hand one)

Encounters.
These couple of months have been .. absolutely.. 'wow' (for lack of better word) in terms of my encounters with people. Firstly, I've gotten to know a couple of amazing people during my course. And yes, that has impacted my life now, and sparked off the tri-craze. Back at the workplace, i'm starting to see that there are a number of good guys out there.. my heart goes out to them. And just today, i entered the lift with a neighbour who has stayed here for at least a decade like i did. It was the usual 'hi, bye' kind of interaction, but today it was different. I was carrying a handlebar & saddle for my new bike and that sparked off a conversation with him. And I found out that he used to be a cycling enthusiast, and that he used to go on cycling trips around the world with his wife.. That's so sweet and romantic. Mmm the image of cyling down the vineyards of France, touring the countryside with a loved one on a bright, cool summer day.. *dreamy eyes*

Departures.
The movie 'departures' is one of the best movies i've watched within these couple of years, and of course with its theme on one of my biggest interests, life... I gotta get the DVD and rewatch it again. The soundtrack was fantastic too!

Memories.
I revisited my BMT memories again during a visit to the Army Museum. somehow, when i was one with the tour, the Tower caught my eye. Then, as if already pre-choreographed, familiar songs that I used to listen to back then started playing softly at the back of my mind. Look at where I am now.

Life. I think alot about life.

An unhurried morning

It is nice, nice to be able to take a morning drive to work feeling good and knowing that I will able to have an unhurried day. Often, this feeling comes about on ‘off’ days when the rest are not around or occupied. I suppose that is why I thought I would just swop duty and come back to work when I had initially looked forward to clearing ‘off’.

Now, that brings me back to the question I’ve been pondering about for the longest time on how work-life balance can be achieved. I think it’s really dependent on one’s working style. If I choose to lock myself in the office all day, sure enough I can be highly-efficient.. but I would be pretty much working in isolation, wouldn’t I? That brings on the next question of what motivates one at work, or rather, what constitutes a happy working environment? If it hinges solely on one’s work performance (which is implied that that depends on how much the boss recognizes your effort and whether he/she/organisation decides to reward you, And whether that reward is within your expectations… In short, there are way too many layers/ barriers before one learns about whether one is a valued employee). Am I not wrong to say a large part of how successful one feels about oneself is really beyond oneself to control? Ok, I digress. I suppose my own little solution to work-life balance, however imperfect or incomplete it is, is to not bring work home. How many times have I brought home work thinking I would work on it… and how many times have I actually gotten down to complete the work I was so determined to do while I was in the heat of things at work? Close to zero percent of late. And yes, the plan for my ‘off’ day was initially to clear some work, then go exercise. Alas. I might as well be back at work where I would definitely focus on completing work and take my ‘off’ another day when I would really be out doing anything but work.

I look back occasionally at the ‘Informal end-of-tour report’ I crafted around Nov last year. How different I feel now. Would I be able to craft something like that at this time of the year? I don’t know. Why do such reports have to be crafted only after the dust has settled? It is really difficult to a ‘Doing-Action-Review’. How can one psych oneself up to be in the right frame of mind to step out of the reality and reflect? To qualify, I think everyone is always taking on a ‘self-corrective’ mode while they are in the middle of things, but it has to be pretty much ‘top-down’ or by orders of a higher authority to set aside time to get everyone to sit down and share about such things. Perhaps, what makes it harder to do is that the outcome of the entire operation is still unclear. There is definitely a slight discomfort to wanting to comment about past actions or decisions at that point in time because there is no basis (aka outcome) as a benchmark to draw comparisons, or ‘on hindsight’ insights.

But you know, the hard reality is that such is life! The reel of life is always unwinding, it never stops. I do not want to cruise along with life and hit the mid-30s before I know it, and feeling like I’ve really reached a mid-life crisis, not knowing what I’ve been doing and my direction in life. I have many dreams, pieces of dreams. Do I see leading a fulfilling life to be defined by how many of these dreams I realize? Increasingly, I am inclined to think they just serve as a guide, and something for me to focus my energy on. I derive the greatest sense of fulfillment and happiness from the journey of getting there, so much so that whether it is quite independent of whether I get there at the end.

One thing I’m sure about is that I want a lead a healthy lifestyle. As I’m slowly picking up and realizing my dream to be a triathlete (ironman too eventually), I must continue to train hard and watch my diet more! One aspect of it would be time management which is very closely tied in with my ‘energy’ management, and motivation management. Haha. There are times when I feel life I have boundless of energy, and there are times when I feel like I’ve had my life sucked out of me. Again, straddling between extremes. What’s new huh? =)

On others, a few things that have ringing in my mind over and over again. My take on the little lessons I’ve picked up so far:

1. Success begets success
Ironically, I’ve been exposed to this phrase since young. It is(was?) RGPS’s motto. I never quite understood the underlying meaning of this statement. Now, 15 years later, I finally see why it makes so much sense. It appeals to human nature and makes perfect sense. Letting your guys have a taste of success and that would motivate them even more to strive for success. I guess that’s the premise for many HR practices too.
2. See things as open, not broken.
3. Do what is right, not what is convenient.

The Land of Milk and Honey.

The convergence of history and the present.

Sovereignty - fighting for the right to one.

I am really quite perturbed by all that's going on at that side of the planet.

Random thoughts (2)

Other randomised Items that I just find amusing when I look back at them - these were the things i had intended to write about months ago, but I can't quite remember what I wanted to write about them now. Anywayz, the list:

- Dozer on building - Yes, i kid you not! I saw it on the top floor of a half-demolished pagoda at the what used to be Tang Dynasty. The only thing that came to my mind was '1. How did that dozer get up there? 2. What's it doing up there? It can't possibly be dozing what's remaining of the floor it's 'standing' upon - there're completely no walls surrounding it.

- http://www.bspcn.com/2008/11/12/gods-facebook-wall/
A lame joke on Adam & Eve on facebook - probably inspired my 'Life's' weekly articles on what the facebook homepage of celebrities would look like.

- the "just because" moments:
- iphone vs pda. [ I heard the iphone calling out to me. But the amt of time i get to actually use it doesn't justify the hefty cost. Occupational hazard. ]
- black Dr martins boots. [I can't believe I actually would find a pair of boots look-a-like nice! I should be sick of boots now. ]

- Travel plans (definitely not all within this year) - Israel, Europe, Russia, Japan [ I wanna snowboard too!]

- A reading book list classified according to books that are good for me to read to accrue some subject-matter knowledge over time vs some that can be attained piecemeal. [Crap, i think only i would understand what i just wrote here.. heck it]

- Woes of growing up - A costly one (collectively over the years). I think i've changed my wardrobe and have gone for a wide selection of clothes; pretty much a little of everything, akin to buffet. Oh, but I love the shoes mum got me! And I'm also happy that dad managed to survive long enough to be around throughout our shopping trip!

- Bundle of horrors! - citibank. [why is it that i only knew i had 'signed up' for a ready credit acct after receiving a bill for the annual fee? Why?? ]

Oh, and my latest discovery - anything that you type within << >> actually disappears once you post it. Must be the html formatting. Luckily i didn't have to retype alot.

Random thoughts

This entry will be very itemised and incoherent. There have been ideas floating around in my mind, but none seemed to invoke such deep emotions to actually get me seated in front of my com to blog. In short, I've just been plain lazy when it comes to my own 'personal admin' and chewing on those ideas at the back of my mind.

Firstly, my greatest accomplishment for 2009 is signing away my commitment to learning to play the violin. Yes, you've heard me, i've signed up for a year of lessons of violin, and it's gonna start after CNY. And well, I can't think of a better time to start, purely because there is probably never going to be a better time, ever. So what if i'm not a young kid taking up music lessons - don't you laugh at me. In one year's time, i'll play a kick-ass 'twinkle twinkle little star' tune, and i'm just gonna laugh out loud cos i know many can't actually do it. Eventually, i've a good mind to go into tai chi n wing chun (though yeah, i'd hate to begin it now as if i'm one of those who've caught onto the recent craze cos of Ip Man (Though it's a hands down awesome show)).

Anyway, my boss has been passing comments that I seem abnormally happy these days at work. Well, perhaps. Firstly, I think everyone's starting to get their act together, and we're finally starting to see the need to get aligned now. And more importantly, I think I know where I’m heading. Definitely there’re many ‘distractors’ and I’ve been getting the sensing that there’s a glass ceiling. Now the question is what kind of end-state can I get to? And, I know.. I don’t want to regret my choice. And I’m beginning to think I prob won’t regret my choice. I think I just need to have a feel of my own position in this organisation.

On another note, perhaps another reason why i'm 'happier' is due to the fact that I really appreciate being born to modern times. I've been following a China production 'Yan Zhi Xue' (7pm on Ch 55) that revolves around the lives of a family run by women in the old times, the times where women were still oppressed and didn't have a place in society. If it's true that people get reincarnated and everyone goes through a cycle of life and death, I wonder what kind of woman I would have been if I was born in those times. I suppose if I didn't love the guy I was arranged to get married to, I would have been a trouble-maker. I definitely would have prefered being single for my entire life.

Sometimes, I'm amused at myself. The sight of beautiful flowers, the smell of rain, the comfort of having a cup of coffee with a good book etc can pretty much make me forget about all my worries, and just be happy. Simple pleasures in life. I can be a dreamer, a crazy dreamer at times, but i know that deep down, my feet has always been grounded...

Now, moving on. You've definitely heard of the phrase 'structure drives behaviour' alot. My interpretation of this is that the ‘ghost’ of the legacy lingers in the organisation, surfacing in the form of legacy issues, mindsets etc, even if the winds have changed and new people have come and go. It's such a powerful thing - memory, that is. Does one cease to exist only if one is forgotten, not just if one no longer takes on a physical form. What are memories if they mean nothing to those left behind? Would anyone even bother to want to know the story of the one that used to exist? Perhaps, it’s time to break up the pieces and reconstruct again. I’d like to think of this as a more palatable option as opposed to the ‘shock doctrine’ theory of seizing the opportunity of a crisis to bring upon radical change… Honestly, what kind of change are we looking at? It can’t be all that radical, right?

Musica!

“It is cruel, you know, that music should be so beautiful. It has the beauty of loneliness and of pain: of strength and freedom. The beauty of disappointment and never-satisfied love. The cruel beauty of nature, and everlasting beauty of monotony.”
-- Benjamin Britten, English Composer

I am falling in love with classical music.

Perhaps it's Nodame Cantabile that has opened my heart to classical music. I'm almost convinced our tastes change with age. I'm now listening to 'ave maria', and I feel my soul drawn into it. I really wonder what Bach was feeling and thinking of when he composed this piece. A perfect piece for a quiet night like that. A wonderful christmas night.

I must thank HX for that conversation we had on saturday.. I'm so inspired to pursue music. Music has always had a big place in my life, and all my life, i've only been a pursuer, a listener of music. I think it's time i took this further to bring the level of music appreciation to a higher level. Well, I had a little experience in music when I was in primary school (I'm not refering to the recorder lessons). I remember going to an english music teacher's house for piano lessons when i was primary 1 (i think). Unfortunately it didn't last for long. Don't get me wrong - it's not that i didn't like piano lessons. On the contrary, i enjoyed playing the piano! It was just that I was totally put off when my teacher told me that I had to take music exams. I wanted to pursue it for entirely leisure purposes, so exams were totally out of the question. So i dropped piano lessons.

Thinking back, it's funny cos i still had to take music exams in school. Well, at this stage in life where i am finally free of the woes of exams, i suppose i don't mind taking music exams. Shucks, i just miss the times in university where i had such easy access to musical performances by our own school orchestras, as well as all the other accomplished musicians who put up a show for the night during their tour around the state. And it cost only $5 for a performance. What a great way of spending the fri/ sat evenings - imagine having a sandwich at Panera bread (my fav bakery) and heading down to the school of music for 2 hours of 'take me out of this world' experience. I was also really comfortable catching such performances alone if my friends couldn't join me.

Anyway, i'm still considering whether i should take up violin or piano. Either way, it won't fulfil my secret dream of playing in an orchestra. Well, maybe it would come true if i actually unravel a hidden musical talent in me, if any at all. Awwww. Dreams often remain dreams, but i'll nevertheless never cease to dream. Speaking of secret dreams, i've so many i think i lose focus easily. For example, top gun's "the need for speed" always stuck with me - i wished i was a fighter pilot. And even before that, i dreamt of being the top martial arts pugilist - the traveling lone ranger who saves the damsels in distress and fights for justice - Even in my dreams, i could almost feel my blood boil in the face of injustice. Then again, I don't always have to be the hero -- 'Twilight' just totally rocked - damn, i wish i was Edward cullen (ps. and i was swooning at the baseball scene.) In short, i dream of being that special one, and preferably an underdog. Hah. Among other dreams that come and go are the likes of being a world-class ice-skater, musician (oddly my dreams didn't indictate any inclination towards a particular instrument, but i know horns are clearly out.), artist, food n wine connaisseur, writer. It's funny. I'm a true-blue engineer for physics n numbers used to get me high (speaking from the girl who put a picture of einstein at my desk when i needed inspiration during my O level period) yet I dream of such artsy fartsy stuff. I guess I'm just weird this way. =)

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Anyway, Back to Nodame Cantabile. My heart goes all out to Nodame. Somehow, I see a bit of me in her. Oh and one perfect illustration of this speaks for itself in the name of this blog 'verbatose' - a fragment of my imagination that such a word existed. The realist would say 'dude, you just don't know a word you're saying'; the philosopher would say 'now that's interesting, relating back to freud's theory on dreams, this blurred memory could be traced to a childhood memory ...'
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Pardon me if i've turned into a Ninja this christmas. I just need to be away, alone in my own world for a while to reflect on a number of things.