Hi all! Newbie's on board and juz wondering ...

Hi Everyone!
How are you doing?
I am Donna D. 22 yrs old, from the small 'lil island called Singapore. I am so glad I bumped into this discussion forum. One of the friendliest and helpful forum I've ever found!

I just graduated from uni last year and currently working in a small IT firm as (hhmm still wondering what's my post actually is) but I'm called project consultant (sometimes it just sounds too good to be true though) ... but it's a pretty interesting job, get to meet lots of people and get to be slamed by the boss from left and right sometimes. Welcome to the university of hard knocks hehehe .... enjoying it like a rollercoaster ride.

Being a newbie in this "real world" and have encountered with some motivational/inspirational/business how-to, etc .. books .. I'm wondering ... with so many available guidances around, through books, tapes, seminars, etc ... even INTERNET!!! why most of the people are still not where they want to be? Well, at least most of my peers, they are working and grumbling ... when I ask them to try on their own, they will have tons of excuses!

Even those friends of mine who have attended so many seminars, read so many books are still in the same league with those who don't! :o ...???

Just wondering ... what do we really need to kick off and just do it? There's definitely something inside us ... what do those books, seminars, tapes not have to bring us up there? Or is it just, what're the things inside us that we haven't cultivated? or ... I have no clues anymore. :o ... Any ideas, seniors?

I believe this forum will have very enlightening answers! Looking forward to reading all of them!
Thanks in advance and have a great day ahead!

Sincerely

'Lil Donna D. - S'pore

Hi,

I'll barter my answer for information from you. What I need to know is:

What kinds of good jobs in Singapore are Americans welcomed in?

Now, to your query...

You wrote:
> I'm wondering ... with so
> many available guidances around, through
> books, tapes, seminars, etc ... even
> INTERNET!!! why most of the people are still
> not where they want to be?

You also wrote:
> What do those books,
> seminars, tapes not have to bring us up
> there? Or is it just, what're the things
> inside us that we haven't cultivated? or ...

Here's the deal, and I know this from painful personal experience with it.

Wanting to succeed, and knowing how to succeed is nullified by peoples' mysterious tendency to Block Themselves from succeeding. I'm the poster child for this syndrome.

In the past I've blocked myself in various ways, such as:

- I've made projects grandiose or impossibly complicated, in a deliberate attempt to keep them from working.

- I've insinuated to myself that the result wasn't worth the effort it would take. "Why should I do this?" I'd ask myself.

- I've installed clouds of confusion in my mind as a way of slowing myself down and causing myself to make mistakes.

- I've immersed myself in seas of fear of what could result from taking action, as a way to block myself from taking action.

It's not just entrepreneurs such as I'm proud to call myself who Block Themselves from succeeding--employees do the same thing. If you've ever worked with an employee that you knew was smart but who couldn't seem to catch on to rather simple procedures, you're seeing Blocking in action (in my opinion).

The tendency people have to Block Themselves must be hardwired into the human brain; in an evolutionary sense it must serve some purpose (possibly to cut down on the competition faced by the leaders).

The good news is that I'm making really good progress in freeing myself from my Blocks--so it can be done. It takes willpower, patience and endurance, but those are all traits that can be learned.

Hope this was helpful in some way...

Best,

- Boyd

Hi,

I've also blocked myself by spending time on things that I knew were unimportant.

The result of Blocking Oneself is that time drifts by. The more time that goes by, the greater the chance that a random event will occur that will blow you out of the water.

Bad luck results from blocking. Good luck seems to result from the opposite.

Recall Goethe's couplet:

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it."

These two messages were rather tiring to write, for some reason--I even felt I was trying to keep myself from writing them.

Best,

- Boyd

Hi Boyd

Thanks for your response.
Jobs in Singapore that I personally feel Americans are welcomed are those in the line of coaching, training, consultancy, IT, etc ... as definitely they are more advanced and creative in those areas.

So, you have a thought of setting up a business here or looking for opportunity to settle down here?

There're actually clubs for American expats in Singapore, you can check out
www.aasingapore.com

Hope this will help! :)

Sincerely

D.D. - Singapore

> Hi,

> I'll barter my answer for information from
> you. What I need to know is:

> What kinds of good jobs in Singapore are
> Americans welcomed in?

> Now, to your query...

> You wrote:

> You also wrote:

> Here's the deal, and I know this from
> painful personal experience with it.

> Wanting to succeed, and knowing how to
> succeed is nullified by peoples' mysterious
> tendency to Block Themselves from
> succeeding. I'm the poster child for this
> syndrome.

> In the past I've blocked myself in various
> ways, such as:

> - I've made projects grandiose or impossibly
> complicated, in a deliberate attempt to keep
> them from working.

> - I've insinuated to myself that the result
> wasn't worth the effort it would take.
> "Why should I do this?" I'd ask
> myself.

> - I've installed clouds of confusion in my
> mind as a way of slowing myself down and
> causing myself to make mistakes.

> - I've immersed myself in seas of fear of
> what could result from taking action, as a
> way to block myself from taking action.

> It's not just entrepreneurs such as I'm
> proud to call myself who Block Themselves
> from succeeding--employees do the same
> thing. If you've ever worked with an
> employee that you knew was smart but who
> couldn't seem to catch on to rather simple
> procedures, you're seeing Blocking in action
> (in my opinion).

> The tendency people have to Block Themselves
> must be hardwired into the human brain; in
> an evolutionary sense it must serve some
> purpose (possibly to cut down on the
> competition faced by the leaders).

> The good news is that I'm making really good
> progress in freeing myself from my
> Blocks--so it can be done. It takes
> willpower, patience and endurance, but those
> are all traits that can be learned.

> Hope this was helpful in some way...

> Best,

> - Boyd

Donna -

> Being a newbie in this "real
> world" and have encountered with some
> motivational/inspirational/business how-to,
> etc .. books .. I'm wondering ... with so
> many available guidances around, through
> books, tapes, seminars, etc ... even
> INTERNET!!! why most of the people are still
> not where they want to be? Well, at least
> most of my peers, they are working and
> grumbling ... when I ask them to try on
> their own, they will have tons of excuses!

Boyd's answer, especially the part about "block themselves", is *right on* target. Earl Nightengale (one of the founders of Nightengale-Conant which you have probably heard of) recorded a record called "The Strangest Secret." To boil it down, YOU are responsible for your own success just as I am responsible for mine. It's easier to pass blame and criticism and do NOTHING than it is to accept responsibility, take ACTION and DO SOMETHING.

Rick Smith, "The Net Guerrilla"


Click Here to Get a Great Life Without New Year's Resolutions

Hi Rick

Yupw, Boyd's answer on "block oneself" is so "hit-on-the-spot" .. OUCH!!
But, though most of the time I realise the thing that I'm doing is not going to bring me anywhere and it's definitely just a time waster ... but yet, silly to say, but I can't get away from it ... for example ... hhmm ... chatting online .. or on the phone ... it just goes on .. and the next thing you know ... it's time to sleep! OUCH!!! :( Sigh ... laziness is the greatest enemy of all ... any cure? :o ... :o How do all of you tackle this nottie rascal? Mind to share?

Thanks in advance!

Small lil D.D. - S'pore

> Donna -

> Boyd's answer, especially the part about
> "block themselves", is *right on*
> target. Earl Nightengale (one of the
> founders of Nightengale-Conant which you
> have probably heard of) recorded a record
> called "The Strangest Secret." To
> boil it down, YOU are responsible for your
> own success just as I am responsible for
> mine. It's easier to pass blame and
> criticism and do NOTHING than it is to
> accept responsibility, take ACTION and DO
> SOMETHING.

> Rick Smith, "The Net Guerrilla"

> INTERNET!!! why most of the people are still
> not where they want to be? Well, at least
> most of my peers, they are working and
> grumbling ... when I ask them to try on
> their own, they will have tons of excuses!

I think it is fear that holds people back - fear that people will disagree with/dislike them, that they will fail, or that they will make a mistake (Mark the latter for me :-) ).

These are all uncomfortable situations. Unless there is a compelling incentive to act, I think it is all-too-often easier to simply do nothing.

Best of courage to you as you venture into the "real world".


Marketing Plan Guidance - Named a top 15 book of 2002 by NonFictionReviews.com

Hi Bobette

How true it is .... it's the fear ... it's the blocking ourselves ... but another thing is, for me ... being too comfortable! :o .... (GASP) ... I'm originally from Indonesia ... due to the riots and God's grace ... being "shipped" to Singapore for further study heheh ... and now kind of settled down in this "so called" peaceful island ... and gosh, it's just too comfortable! :o .... It's like heaven and earth to compare it with my small little hometown (which only has 2 main roads!) ...

Question is ... how to bring oneself out that "TOO COMFORTABLE ZONE" to the realm of endless possibilities? How did you manage to come out from yours, Bobette? Mind to share? :o

Hope to hear from ya! :)

Sincerely

D.D.

> being too comfortable! :o
> .... (GASP) ...

> Question is ... how to bring oneself out
> that "TOO COMFORTABLE ZONE" to the
> realm of endless possibilities? How did you
> manage to come out from yours, Bobette? Mind
> to share? :o

Ah, yes, I know about the "Too Comfortable Zone". I struggle with it now. I purposefully dropped out of Corporate life to go it on my own a little over two years ago. When moved back to our home town area of St. Louis, MO, we made it so we did not have to rely on my income.

So, my comfort zone right now is that we don't need my income to pay the bills. Another comfort zone is that I have only to answer to myself (Career-wise, that is. :-)).

So, how do I stay motivated? For one, I am naturally a business person, so my conscious nags at me if I do not do "business stuff". Here are some other things I do to stay productive...

1) Just recently, I have joined a couple of business discussion groups. In one, each of us are posting our 2003 goals this week. Somehow, if I tell other people, it is "official" and the above-mentioned conscious kicks in if I get lazy.

2) My rule is if I do not work on business, I must do other things - like cooking and cleaning (ick.).

3) I have a marketing plan. A one-page summary is taped to my desk, staring at me. I try to make sure everything I do somehow relates to one of my strategies. This helps keep me focused.

4) I also keep a "to-do"-type list. The summary page in #3 helps me choose which projects I work on. The to-do list helps me get them done.

Well, that's what I can think of now. Hope I've answered your question :-).


My Marketing Plan and Promotion Guide - Named a top 15 book of 2002 by NonFictionReviews.com

Hi again, Bobette
Thanks for the prompt reply!

Oh wow!! :o .... Dropping out of your corporate life!!??? :o !!!!! WOW WOW WOW!

> So, my comfort zone right now is that we
> don't need my income to pay the bills.
Eh? :o ... so w/o relying on your income to pay bills is the comfort zone for you? :o ...

For me is the otherwise ... it's because of my "peanut" income ... I'm being too comfortable, though it's sooooooooo insignificant amount! :( .... ARGH!

And, wow, you did do a lot of things to keep yourself motivated! The key here is action! :o ... hhmm ... action does kill laziness! No short cut to it, eh! :p ... hehehe.
And that business discussion group you are having is really cool!!! Hhhmm ... wonder whether Singapore can have one .. hhmm ....

> 2) My rule is if I do not work on business,
> I must do other things - like cooking and
> cleaning (ick.).
Ehm ... ehm ... tried to clean my room too but gosh ... does anybody know what's procrastination??? (sob sob sob)

Anyway, thanks a lot for the tips! :)
By the way, I'm unable to open your link :( ... it's the same problem I encounter with www.freeplants.com :( ... which my technical friends believe is because my ISP doesn't support some stuffs! :( Sigh .... I will keep it in mind and when I'm with other provider will definitely take a look!

Thanks again! :)

D.D.

PS. BTW, how did you feel when you quit your corporate job? Won't you feel sad to step in to the the so called unknown? :o (or is it already known to you as you already have a plan?