Read

This is how I read a book at the moment:

• Research FIRST
  • Read recommendations, reviews & rating on Amazon to make sure I only read worthy books
  • Add them to my reading list if necessary
• Finish the whole book within 3 days since getting it
  Otherwise, I know I won’t read it thoroughly after losing that momentum
  • Finish 50-80% on the first day
  • I focus to learn 3-5 BIG lessons from the book
    – no more just reading for “fun”.
    (added on Aug, 2016)
• Update my library on Trello
  • I believe the order of the books I read is very important to how (much) I learn!
  • Categorize the book: which category it belongs to?
• Review them occasionally or when I need to improve knowledge in certain areas
  • Review what is left with me from those books
    by writing down 1-2 BIG IDEAS (max.) from each book per review.

Principle vs Rules

This comparison popped into my head again when i was reading some blog post about the “Rules” that the author strives to live by during a Saturday lunch. Here are some differences between Rules & Principles that I find interesting:

• Rules are specific while Principles are more general yet specific enough to serve as a guideline
• Rules, to a certain extent, are too specific and therefore too rigid for many folks, which sometimes unintentionally set a limit on people/things
  Principles-centered folks don’t care how they do something as long as they complete it & don’t go against the principles
• There are far too many Rules to follow while there should be only a handful Principles to live by
• Rules are set (& therefore meant) to be broken while Principles are meant to guide & therefore will last
• Society is governed by Rules while people should be Principles-centered (7 Habits of Highly Effective People)

Do something that lasts!

Lately I’ve discovered what is really meaningful to me in work & life. Surprisingly, it’s just as simple as to do something that lasts. What do I mean by that? Well, I mean:

We should have meaningful & deep conversations particularly with the ones we love rather than just pure chit chat or shallow gossips with “friends”!

We should acquire skills that will help us in life – not just in school or at work.

We should read! (books, autobiographies & not news nor gossips)

We should write timeless articles, together with daily journalling, rather than just school reports.

We should do something that’s gonna stay for a long time not just temporarily like assignments or homework.

…

Something that lasts is something meaningful, useful & important.
Do something that lasts so that our lives won’t just pass by.

Freedom in Discipline

Freedom

We should be free from any taboos, brainwashing and propaganda.
We should have the rights to talk, to learn & to express our opinions…

We were born under various environments & conditions but have the same abilities.
We have freedom to choose!

Discipline

Without discipline, freedom and rights would likely be used arbitrarily. Guidelines & penalties should be in place when necessary.
Everyone should have their own principles and stick with it.

But…

We’re still human after all. We aren’t robots. We have emotion & feelings. So…

We shouldn’t follow instructions, requirements, etc. blindly.
We should listen to advices but then make our own decisions.
We should live the life we wanna live not the one we’re expected to.

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough. – Mae West

We are all different by nature. So don’t try to act and live the same way as others.

Walk the talk

More than 60 years ago, former president of South Vietnam, Nguyen Van Thieu left a memorable quote on the Communists:

Don’t listen to what the Communists say, but look at what they do” – Nguyen Van Thieu

Well, it turns out to be quite true (!?) But the more interesting thing is it not only sounds true for the Communists but also for everyone in this world.

Don’t trust and believe in those who can only talk

I mean sometimes it’s great and necessary to be sweet and diplomatic, especially in life and love (sweet talkers win many girls’ hearts). But talking alone would lead you no where as far as doing. Promises are worthless if you don’t do anything. Spending a day talking is not as effective and convincing as spending a few hours getting things done.

It’s always easier to talk than do!

If you can’t do, don’t talk

I feel shameful for those who talk and boast about what they don’t do. In case of teachers, it’s even more shameful. Some teaching Entrepreneurship are actually cowards and risk avoiders. Some teaching Leadership can’t even lead their students. I don’t know why they can teach what they don’t do and believe. Or is it just their jobs to teach whatever they’re supposed to do? I hope they still have some integrity to realise this. Teachers can’t even do so what to expect from the students?

Of course as humans we prefer feelings (talking, sharing, etc.) than things (doing, buying, etc.). But the fact that we were all born with both mouths and hands. Why not use both instead of either one? Don’t over-think & hesitate. Just walk the talk & everything will be in order.

I learn them the hard way

What a crazy first 5 months of this year! I learned all of these lessons the hard way.

1. The law of averages

   I’ve mastered “the law of averages”. I skipped seminars after seminars most of which are free. I was waiting for something to happen. I threw away a great chance to meet  one of my idols… (!!!)
   Don’t do what the averages do, you’ll succeed. Keep your promises & reputation along the way as they are probably the most important thing you can nurture #pd

2. Change yourself but not anyone else

   The moment you think you should change someone. Pause & reflect: “You have no right to use your will power upon another person, even ‘for her own good'”. In fact, it’s much easier for you to find a better one rather than to change them. I learned a similar lesson almost 2 years ago, be willing but don’t try to help until you’re asked for. Everyone’s responsible for their own lives. Solve your own problem first. #pd
   

3. Loyalty lesson

   Donald Trump says it best: “You don’t know what makes a loyal man. But guess what!? If they’re not loyal to you the first time, don’t give them the second chance because they won’t be loyal to you the next time!” #love #relationship #business
   

4. Sincere lesson

   Be sincere in your feelings, actions, praise and everything else towards others. If later they realise you weren’t, you know how they would feel and what you would get in return. !?? #relationship

5. Be grateful

   Being happy with/appreciate what you’re having & what you’re given no matter it’s good or bad => Always look at the bright side of the situation. Idk how to describe it better cos it’s as simple as that. #power

6. Don’t ever lie to yourself

   If you have to, lie to anyone else but yourself. It’s simply because the moment you do, you’re killing yourself. It’s even better if you don’t lie at all. Don’t get the habit of lying even from the little small things. White lie? Yup, sometimes but it’s better to avoid it too. #pd

Uncopyright

While I acknowledge the fact that sometimes usually we have to pay a price to get something worthwhile,

I love free stuff! (don’t you?)

Although many agree that sharing is caring & giving is receiving, often-times we have an unnecessarily copyright mindset. We usually come under the illusion that we should copyright everything we own even those deemed not useful at all – while in fact, no one would wanna steal it anyway 🙂

In case it’s stolen meaning our stuff is actually useful, it should be shared even more. We shouldn’t own anything useful. That scarcity mindset of keeping everything for our own good doesn’t help anyone whatsoever, including ourselves!

Again I’ll be glad if you happen to learn something here. You can share, distribute, smile, laugh at or do whatever you wanna with it. Credit is appreciated but not required.

ps: I’m gonna to release a minimalist WP theme called “rexy” based on my blog’s design absolutely for free and uncopyrighted. Stay tuned.