A crazy 2015

Though I’d tried to keep my expectations low (at least in writing) in the last year, I actually expected a lot during that year. As a matter of fact, I told my close friend during the last Chinese New Year (CNY) that 2015 would be a defining year for me. I thought I’d learned enough in 2014 and 2015 was the year for me to get results.

That high expectation didn’t come unreasonably as what had happened many times in the past. It did come with a “carefully crafted” plan which was well in action as early as mid December 2014.

One of my major goals last year was to get an Aussie PR. After going through all their procedures, advice & checklist, my first thought was to take the IELTS, get a good score, and therefore, satisfy their 60-point requirement.

However, things didn’t happen as easy & straightforward as I would expect. It seems I was too excited to take actions (in an attempt to avoid procrastination) that I didn’t plan well enough. I either omit or underestimate too many “trivial” which turned out to be the nitty gritty. This is the first time I experience a planning issue. It’s often said that most people fail because they didn’t take (enough) actions Or they’re not determined enough to follow through their plans. But it was not the case here.

If you fail to plan (properly), you’re planning to fail!” – Benjamin Franklin

I learn that lesson the hard way. In such a crucial year, the first `domino` fells early was apparently not a good sign…

Anyway this is a summary of my 2015.

What I’ve achieved in 2015

I complete 5km in 23:17′.

What a life milestone! I learn the “Hunger & Desire” lesson though as I quickly stop running after achieving my goal.

Massive Traveling

2015 was a massive year for me when it comes to traveling. I’ve been to Angkor Wat & Great Wall of China – one of 7 wonders of the World during my 4 trips to 6 different cities – 5 of them I had never been to. And I finally step out of the SEA to visit China – the second communist country that I visited this year after Laos. A lot of things to learn & ponder!

Seminars & Learning

This year I joined around 6 seminars & workshops including the NAC, Tony Robbins Business Mastery and the S$2,000 plus III. I’ve learned a lot (though applied little) & had chances to meet (& make friends with) many like-minded & successful people, for which I’m deeply grateful!

A Short Love

I fell in `love` again albeit a very short one. It didn’t go anywhere either. I knew it. It was more like a game. I have to admit though sometimes – sometimes only, it felt like a real & awkard high school love. The feeling of losing yourself in love is fantastic.

Trump Story & My Team

What I’ve learned in 2015

Communication is a Huge Problem for Many

I didn’t notice that brutal truth as I myself was an awful communicator. I was surprised if not shocked to find out that most people – no matter who they are, what they’re doing, which positions they’re in, are pretty bad at communication. I notice it through my (old) friends – who I thought were mature & could communicate well, my colleagues and even my boss (& many more). They would all like to back bite, gossip, argue, criticize publicly, talk more than listen, rarely care about others… Gosh!

What left after a conversation with them is usually bullshit as they’d talk about trivia (news, movie, etc.) & nonsense Or emptiness as they’d either make hurtful comments or don’t give a fuck about the person they talk to but themselves.

Skilled communicators will have a huge advantage!!! 😉

How to Judge a Person

First, I don’t think I should judge anyone but myself. But if I have to (for business or recruitment reasons), I would first invite her for a one-on-one conversation. I believe there is no better way to know a person by talking directly to them (not via phone or messages nor through conversations in a group). I realize though there are people who could behave & communicate pretty well in a group, it’s doesn’t necessarily reflect who they really are; what their thoughts and personality is. In fact, they would behave & talk very differently in a group vs one-on-one as sort of fit-in the environment.

Second, I will try to find and read her (personal) blog (not Facebook or other social sites). I believe writing (especially those written not for the public) shows a lot of one’s characters & thinking. People could act (behave & talk) diplomatically to be friendly and pleasant in person but rarely be able to hide their thoughts in writing.

Again there are exceptions though. I’ve met a few people who write very thoughtful writing & comments but turn out to be a childish twenty-something boy in person. Having said that, when combining one-on-one communication & reading their blog, it rarely that I could mis-judge a person!

Every Cloud has a Silver Lining

The news of my Uncle getting cancer came as a real shock to me just a few weeks before my 23 birthday (in 2014). Though he was not personally close to me as he was to my mom, I pretty much admire him for what he has done as a principal of the most reputable secondary school in my hometown for more than 10 years.

I went around asking my friends if they knew anyone who could possibly cure or delay the cancer development… It turned out not as bad & fast as I thought and that he’d still be OK for … a while. My mom said hopefully he could survive this year (and he did until after the last CNY). I totally didn’t expect that I could lose an uncle or aunt and I could never imagine it was him as he was relatively young (at least much younger than many of his sisters) and seemed still very healthy. In fact, he just asked me to drink a glass of beer just 2 months ago when I went back home…

In such chaos (a few weeks later I found out my first love also got engaged), I went to read more about “Birth & Death” & try to find a definite answer to questions like “is there a life after death?“. In the midst of searching, I accidentally and fortunately came to know Thich Nhat Hanh – a Vietnamese Zen Master. I listened to some of his videos on Youtube and somehow got addicted. His calmness and gentleness clearly showed in his voice and eyes totally attract me. As I told my good friend, he is only the 3rd Vietnamese person who makes me spend hours watching his videos (I become kinda less patient towards long videos as I rarely finish a 90-min movie unless it’s really good). To dates, I’ve finished watching almost all his videos available on Youtube both in English and Vietnamese. Without doubt, I become a better person than I was before getting to know him. I’m now much more patient, calm and gentle than before.

During his funeral, I also gotta a chance to catch up with an old secondary friend of mine who would become my travel buddy for my next 2 amazing trips to Laos, Cambodia & China.

There is always a positive side on every sad & difficult situation!

Find vs Change

Soon after talking & planning with her about our first trip, I realize it’s much easier to talk to someone who shares the same interests and hobbies than to convince or change someone who doesn’t (especially my existing friends). Everything was so easy & straightforward. There is absolutely no need to persuade or convince anyone anything. I still remember how difficult & time consuming it was to convince a few friends of mine to travel to Brazil to watch the World Cup 2014. I tried hard but ultimately failed. If I could invite someone like her instead, I think they would probably accept it quickly.

• As a leader, sometimes I have to be tough, decisive – though sometimes it makes me look like a `dictator`. Don’t care about that `thought` (what others think of me). Let results explain – I don’t need to explain everything < They don’t even care #Chloe #Po. I can’t please everyone anyway!!

999 Rules for my unborn Children

They’re called “Rules” but they are actually lessons that I’ve been experienced & learned. They’re said to be for my Unborn Son but they are for me as well. I am not allowed to repeat the same mistakes. It’s stupid. I know & remember that.

1. Don’t make the same mistake twice (whether it’s in love, work, business, personal stuff)
   

   What to do when you’re a youngster

2. Play a main sport > football? 😀 Open to other (kinds of) sports too.
3. Learn to play a musical instrument > Guitar at least
4. & Sing
5. Draw
6. Swim
7. Break something – anything
8. Play outdoor (board) games >”Ô ăn quan”
9. Walk
10. Run
11. Play computer games with Friends
    

    What to do when you’re a teenager

12. Know what to do with a dollar earned/given
13. Build something small
14. & Sell it (& make money)
15. Learn to cook > at least your favorite dishes sons!
16. Listen
17. Give speeches
18. Have your first love
19. Learn some skills
20. Do not have a mobilephone
21. Make friends
    

    What to do when you’re a adult

22. Meditate
23. Master those skills
24. Accomplish some challenges > 100 push ups, marathon > ultramarathon
25. Create./ build your own business
26. Have a girlfriend

What I love

“- I like pretty, long legged girls!
– I also like to have lots of money.

Opps, sorry this article is about what I love not what I like.

Like vs Love?

Like & Love both describe what we want. But they are different (significantly different!).

For me Like is more about. In terms of time, it’s more like instant, now, at the moment & probably doesn’t last (long). Maybe I’d like to have a beer now (becos it’s hot) but I wouldn’t wanna have it later at night. I may like a tall & pretty PR girl but it doesn’t mean I want to live with her forever.

Love is something with a stronger feeling than like. It usually last longer as well. If I love beer, I would drink it very often (unless I’m sick :D) & would wanna try different kinds of beer to see what’s best. If I love someone, I will want to do lots of things with her (to see what we like best). But if I like someone, I may like to do one thing with different girls (to see who‘s the best).
Don’t blame me, it’s just an example which is probably true as well 😀

We may like to have money but surely we don’t wanna sleep with money. Money is just a old & dirty paper. Money alone doesn’t have or carry any meaning nor feeling… We may hear someone says they love money. Wrong! They don’t love money they love what money may bring them – which they may not know either…

So I think there is a misunderstand & intepretation between LOVE & LIKE.

Okies so What I love?

pretty tough question, isn’t it?
Alright:

I love numbers
Don’t tell me that you don’t. Get it? 😛

I love stats & probability
that’s why sometimes I’m tempted to my “knowledge” & luck in gambling 😀

I love traveling

I love beaches
I’ve visited quite a few beautiful beaches so far

I love meeting & talking to new people
though actually I’m really not good at it.

In a broader view,

I <3 History

Yea I know. History is such a boring subject. You would say. But I think otherwise. Born in Hue – the last imperial capital of Vietnam – where one of the most devastating & longest American war took place; My great great grandfather & his children were also like minister & mayor (Thuong Thu) under the Nguyen Dynasty; Growing up watching (& being influenced by) many Chinese imperial movies,… So I can’t do anything & but fall in love with history.
Most of all, I’m forever curious – I’d love to know what really happened in the past…

I <3 Psychology

Have you ever loved someone so much that you feel like you would die if you lose him/her? Have you ever seen girls who always claim her Mr. Right must be a good & nice guy would eventually fall in love with a bad & playboy-kind of guy? Have you ever noticed some guys with some seemingly born-traits that could enable him to get anything he/she wants while the rest of us can’t?
Have you ever wondered why it happens?
90% of those “magic” things would be attributed to “psychology” – which is fun, practical, learn-able & useful if not utterly important. That’s why I just love it!

I <3 Personal Development

If I would ever be successful (which I believe I will :D), I will attribute all to PD. There are many born gifted people but so do poor-to-rich people who overcome their terrible environment, conditions,.. to be great. These stories are just forever inspiring for all of us!

I <3 Teaching & Inspiring

I started “teaching” others since very young but the real & official teaching would only start in high school when I made some money (sometimes in form of free breakfast or drinks :D) teaching my friends English, Maths (?)…  Teaching is the ultimate form of learning & inspiring.

If we can’t teach & empower our friends, our employees & especially our kids to be better than us, we may be considered failures because our success (wealth, happiness, etc. if there is) is not sustainable. I remember I taught & guided my ex in some subjects that she ignored, which eventually helped her to have excellent & even better grades than mine in our graduation exam. Honestly, it’s a bit embarrassing 😀 but I realise when my “students” are better than me, I know I’ve succeeded (whether they acknowledge it or not) 🙂

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to be cont…

What about you? What do you love? Please share with me your list in the comment below. Please.

My Ideal Day

No more 9-to-5. No more working for a dime. I’m living my life (!?) & not someone else’s!

My Ideal Working Day

• It’s a sunny day & I wake up at 6 5 am.
  After washing-up, my ideal day starts with:
• Do some work-out & exercises for 20′
• Read some book for another 20′
• Cook or help my love prepare our breakfast
• ….

Details here:

In total, I will spend:
– 5.5 – 6 hrs of sleeping
 vs 7 – 9 hrs as of now
– 7 hrs of productive working
 vs 8 for 2 – 3 hrs of productive work as of now
– 0.5 – 2.5 hrs of excercising
 vs 0.5 – 1 hrs as of now
– 0.5 – 1 hr of reading/learning new stuff
– 3 – 4 hrs of dining
– 1 – 1.5 hrs of planning
– ~ 1 hr of personal hygiene
– ~ 1hr of complete chilling out
& have ard 1.5 hrs dead time (commuting, etc.)

A few years back, I fantasized my ideal girl in which I said I don’t wish to find nor expect any girls to be that ideal. That saying’s not applicable here though. I do want and will do whatever it takes to make my ideal day happen!

What I wish I had done

This used to be in my reading archive list. However, because of its importance, I think it deserves to have a post of its own.

Top regrests

What’s Your Biggest Regret?

 love/romance issues (~20%), family issues (16%), education (13 percent), career (12 percent), money issues (10 percent), parenting mistakes (9 percent) and health regrets (6 percent).”

(Infographic) The Top 10 Regrets In Life By Those About To Die

Regrets of the dying – Bronnie Ware

=> response: Life Regrets Of The Dying – How To Live Life With No Regrets – Sid savara

=> response: The top of my to do list – Paul Graham

Don’t ignore your dreams; don’t work too much; say what you think; cultivate friendships; be happy.”

9 Things We Regret Not Doing in Our 20s – lifehack.org

How To Die With No Regrets – Amir Khella

I realized that all regrets were things that people DID NOT do, rather than things they DID
And the only person with no regrets was someone who did what he wanted over and over again.”

An interview with my cousin – Rexy

What I wish I had been taught

What you’ll wish you would know – Paul Graham

“The second biggest regret was caring so much about unimportant things. And especially about what other people thought of them.”

What I Wish Someone Had Told Me 4 Years Ago – Amir Khella (start-up)

“Successful people aren’t necessarily smarter or luckier than others. They just try so many things and fail until something works out.”

20 Things I Wish I Had Known When Starting Out in Life – Leo Babauta

“I hope life isn’t a big joke, because I don’t get it.” – Jack Handey

16 Things I Wish They Had Taught Me in School

80/20 – Parkinson’s Law –—

What Everyone Should Know at 20: Life Lessons That Nobody Teaches You

>> You will ignore everything on this list: Like most 20-somethings, you’ll just ignore the elders advice, make the same mistakes, and wish someone had told you earlier. Prove me wrong. I dare you!

10 Leadership Lessons I Wish I Learned In My 20’s from Todd Wilms

66 things to do before 22

Life is too short to live someone else’s dream; to do something we don’t love & to forget to challenge ourselves!”

1. Write & constantly update a compelling list of 66 things to do before 22
   

   Art & Sport

2. Learn the basics of a martial art.
3. Learn how to play Guitar; then sing & record a signature song
4. Draw some “masterpiece” pictures   // which I feel outstanding regarding my drawing ability 
5. Take a dance class/ Learn how to dance
6. Get in great (sexy – healthy) shape! 
7. Get 6-pack abs [got 4 abs already] 
8. Learn to play piano
9. Push up by 3 fingers [1 attempt failed]
10. Do a 100 consecutive push ups [‘ve failed three times (twice in 2010 & May 2012) but will def try again – 70%]
11. Earn a medal and a trophy // football
    

    Languages

12. Be able to speak 4 foreign languages (basics) (English, French, Chinese, Japanese …) [60%]
13. Know how to say “Hi, Good Bye” in 50 different languages [40%]
    

    Traveling

14. Take a trip throughout Vietnam (North to South) to visit more than 40 provinces & cities
15. Go to unvisited places in Hue [60%]
16. Live in a foreign country
17. Travel to 10 different foreign countries (Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Laos, Campuchia, Thailand, Philippines, China, Australia) [30%] => Travel to 10 different foreign cities (Malaka, KL, Tioman, Langkawi, SGP, Phuket, Bangkok, Changmai, Taiwan, Hongkong, Borocay)
    Watch some World Cup 2014 matches (Go to Brazil)
    Watch some Manchester United matches (Go to England)

    Life & Entertainment

18. Have some photos taken of me that I really like [80%] // see my photos 😀
19. Meet one of my idols // shit i missed the chance!!! grummmmmmmmmm
20. Learn to drive
21. Shoot a gun (real one)
22. Stand up in front of a large audience and tell a great joke
23. Master a few fancy dinner recipes // made with <3
    Drink a full bottle of wine
24. Master at least 1 really cool magic trick // I failed badly when performed it in front of ‘real audiences’ 😀
25. Make others drunk while I’m still fine
26. Get a new stuff (car, mobile, etc.) where I am the first owner
27. Walk in a girl’s shoes !?
28. Go on a ghost tour
29. Ride a horse
30. Get a tattoo => wear earrings!?
    

    Education

31. Get a degree in 2 years
32. Write 10 awesome articles that I can be proud of [100%] // done, the list is coming soon 🙂
    

    Career

33. Be asked to teach others something (be their teacher)
34. Write a 20-page book // I’m writing sth called “How to date any girls you like” to help you vastly improve your relationship. However, I may not be able to publish soon as it’s related to some ppl around me.
35. Write a short story // Got one… sad <3 story – wanna write 1 more…
    
36. Start a blog // used to be hoanghuuthinh@blogspot.com & now this site 🙂
    
37. Own a (personal) website // huuthinhhouse.com
    
38. Make money from selling something I make // I make quite a few but never sell leh 🙁
39. Make passive income // Yea I did! :xx
40. Get a job before 20
    Ask for a raise
41. Become a public speaker => give my first public talk // trying!!
42. Win an award or a contest I enter (online & offline)
43. Have an editorial published in the paper/magazine
44. Find my loves (those I can spend a straight 24 hours with them everyday!) [80%] // I did ya. I did.
    

    Personal Development

45. Take an IQ test  // Guess what my IQ was? 😉 I took it @ http://iqtest.dk for quite a long while before. My English was not so good back then, which probably decreased my IQ. haha. Should take another one soon 🙂
46. Understand how fortunate I really am
47. Break my “dull” patterns of activities often
48. Make new year resolutions – write down, do then review them later on // 2011 resolutions..
49. Read & Write reviews for 20 books  [80%] // soon soon
    
50. Write in a journal for a full month // keep a good note from now onwards
51. Live with purpose
52. Learn how to say good “NOs”
53. Possess some powers of persuasion
54. Make an impact on others’ lives // Give, sometimes sacrifice & don’t expect the return
55. Be a man – Be a gentleman ^^
    

    Love & Relationship

56. Fall in love – true love // to love & to be loved
57. Make someone really happy // yup, I think I did!
58. Date someone older than me
59. Go on blind dates // want some more. lol
60. Kiss someone in the snow <3
61. Research my family tree
62. Forgive my parents for whatever they did wrong
63. Find someone who can really understands me
64. Develop a close friendship with people of different generations
    

    Contributions

65. Donate little by little till S$ 1.000
66. Give blood

Updated Fri, Apr 6 2012, Sun, July 15 2012 Thu, Nov 17 2012, Sun, April 14 2013, Wed, May 1st 2013, Wed, May 22nd 2013

* The red ones are those I am attempting to do
* The strike-through ones are those I have completed
// My comment on a challenge
[ ] My progress
[] Deleted task

YOU SHOULD HAVE A SIMILAR LIST OF YOUR OWN! Share it with me in the comment below.

Tips:
– The first thing that I’ve learned from writing and doing this list is to try not to get yourself overwhelmed. Writing 66 things to do is so exciting; but looking at brand new 66 things to be completed is scary. So what I did is I recalled if I have done anything special before, wrote it down and crossed it (but I don’t think any single task in my list is straightforward. It’s kinda challenging for anyone to complete it). Doing that made me motivated to keep doing other tasks and less overwhelmed, which would likely cause procrastination. But don’t overdo it, self-satisfaction also leads to procrastination.

– The second thing is to try to break a big task into smaller & easier ones that you feel it’s can be achievable in the near future. Say if you’re overweight, don’t try to get 6-pack abs straight away. Instead, try to lose weight first. In fact, many tasks in this list are subsets of big challenges that I want to do in my lifetime. Again don’t overwhelm yourself, writing “to be a millionaire” while you’re broke is utterly impractical and useless as you’re unlikely to achieve it soon.

– Last but not least, it’s not necessary to have competitive tasks. Generally, for those that’s in my speciality, I usually set higher standard or more difficult tasks than the rest. Moreover, in my opinion, the important thing is for you to challenge yourself. So try to get out of your comfort zones and do different kinds of new stuff. Don’t just go around doing things that you’re good at. Set and do formidable tasks! (Feel free to change to more interesting tasks)

I’ll upload & share with you guys about those challenges I’ve completed. Just click on the strike-through titles to view it. Stay tuned!

2012 New Year’s Resolutions

– 62 – 65 kg

– Start/Establish a business – join leerit.com

– Networking

• Network
• Friends
• GF

– Skills

• Communication (4/10)
  American accent
• Web (6/10)