CHANGE

With time,
technologies can CHANGE,
the law, rules and regulations can CHANGE,
our natural environment can CHANGE,
our societies can CHANGE,
our lifestyle can CHANGE,
our appearence can CHANGE,
our way of thinking can CHANGE,
people can CHANGE...

But I believe that UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES & VALUES such as
integrity,
respect,
justice,
love,
freedom,
honesty,
humility,
truth,
service
NEVER CHANGE...

Alain Fok

Urgent is not always Important...

I believe that urgent tasks are not necessarily the most important ones.

For example, why shall we hurry to pick up a phone call when we are discussing or doing something important with/for our family, our friends, our business partners, our colleagues, our customers etc... ?

Self-development, building relationships, realising our life mission, helping others etc...require time, effort, patience, persistence and perseverence and we shall not be 'pressurised' to accomplish such 'tasks' at a given date.

Alain Fok

Do frogs like heated water ?

Those individuals/corporates/states/etc... who continue to highly 'pollute' our atmosphere with heat-trapping gases which are primarily emitted by our vehicles and industries are like frogs.

If you put a frog in a kettle of boiled water, he will immediately jump out of the kettle otherwise he will die.

But if you put a frog in a kettle of normal water and then slowy heat the water, the frog will remain in the heated water as long as he can support the temperature. It is only when he feels that the water is too hot that he will jump out of the kettle.

This is exactly what is happening to our planet earth. We are like frogs and our lands, our oceans, our atmosphere are like heated water. Most of our decision makers are aware that our planet is being slowly but surely affected by global warming but we still continue to remain in our comfort zone and concentrate on economic issues rather than environmental issues in the first place.

When will we realise that the water will eventually boil if we continue to heat it and when that happens, we will be forced to jump out (if it's not too late...). But where will we go ?????

Alain Fok

Préférences, couleurs et....réactions

En pleine ville, une belle femme accompagnée de son copain se fait courtiser gentillement par un jeune passant. La femme sourit et poursuit son chemin tranquillement mais cependant son copain réagit différement en s'en prenant violemment au passant courtiseur. Une bagarre éclate entre les deux hommes et le copain jaloux se blesse à l'abdomen.

La femme emmène son copain blessé à la pharmacie d'a coté pour acheter un kit de premier soin. En voyant des gouttes de sang tomber sur le parquet, le pharmacien se met en colère et ordonne au copain blessé de rester dehors. La femme est choquée par la réaction du pharmacien.

Trois personnages, diverses réactions...

Pourquoi la femme demeure indifférente aux remarques galantes du passant ?
Pourquoi son copain se met hors de lui au point de se bagarrer avec le passant ?
Pourquoi le pharmacien devient colérique en voyant le sang d'un client se répandre sur son parquet ?

Ne sommes nous pas tentés de nous demander pourquoi chaque personne réagit différement à une situation/un évenement donné ?

A méditer....

Alain Fok

What kind of person are you ?

Three computer programmers (Peter, Brad and Nick), married, have children and go to the same church. They all dream to be promoted by their boss to a higher position in the company which they work for.

For end of year celebrations, they were assigned the same tasks (Task A, Task B and Task C) of EQUAL importance which need to be completed within one month.

Task A : organise the annual religious service in the office premises.
Task B : complete the current software program.
Task C : organise the annual corporate family gathering.

At the end of the month,

* Peter was the one who spend most of his time liasing with the priest and he contributed significantly to the success of the religious servicebut however failed to complete his software program and was almost absent in the organisation of the family gathering.
* Brad was the one who worked overtime almost everyday and completed the computer program on timebut failed to complete his software program and was almost absent in the organisation of the religious service.
* Nick was the one who put time and effort to search for a convenient restaurant, and thus was significantly involved in the organisation of the successful family gathering but failed to complete the computer program on timeand was not really involved in the organisation of the religious service.

Have you ever asked yourself why Peter, Brad and Nick prioritised their tasks differently ?

Well, I learned that some persons are RELIGIOUS oriented people, others are WORK oriented people, others MONEY oriented people while some are FAMILY oriented people. Finally, some people are PRINCIPLE oriented ones.

To which category do you belong to ?

Alain Fok

Think twice before speak

When interacting with others, We should hear/think twice before we speak because what we say might be wrongly interpreted/understood and thus could affect relationship/trust.

But how many times a day do we follow this basic rule for a healthy human relationship ?

Alain Fok

Do you like Apple or Orange ?

I am proud who I am today and I value my strength while accepting my weakness. However I want to be a better person so I must change myself. But if I am an apple by nature, I don't want to become an orange. But I can work on myself to taste better so that more people who like apple will eat me. But I also accept the fact that some people don't like apple but prefer orange. So what... I am who I am and proud to be...

Alain Fok

IFAW : Think Twice pledge: Don't buy wildlife souvenirs.

Have you ever thought about what you – and the millions of other tourists who travel every year – are really bringing back with you from your holiday?

South Africa and Southern Africa are popular destinations for tourists from Europe – over half-a-million tourists from United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands visit South Africa every year. They represent the biggest number of inbound tourists to South Africa.

Visitors from the UK are the fourth largest spenders when on holiday in South Africa contributing handsomely to that country’s income from tourism.

Buying gifts, souvenirs and curios to take home from your holiday in one of the most exciting destinations in the world is a must. But we ask: "Think Twice before you buy".

Each year, customs officers seize thousands of wildlife items from travellers, many of them souvenirs made from endangered or threatened species. Examples include elephant ivory and jewellery, tortoise and turtle shell accessories, big cat skins, reptile skin handbags and shoes, porcupine quill coasters and lampshades, coral and shells, and many more.

Sadly, many tourists buying souvenirs made from wildlife have no idea that they have done anything wrong, often because these items are sold openly in holiday resorts, airports and markets – masking the bloody truth behind the wildlife trinkets being sold.

South African born actor, Arnold Vosloo, has joined forces with IFAW to champion the Think Twice campaign urging tourists not to buy souvenirs made from wildlife when visiting South Africa.

The international cinema star and distinguished stage actor is a passionate and committed environmentalist. Watch Arnold Vosloo and join him in signing the Think Twice pledge.

Is There An Endangered Species in Your Home?
Which Animal Souvenirs Should You Avoid?
Ecotourism Guide: Wildlife Souvenirs By Country
Exotic Cuisine: What Are You Really Eating?
Take Action: How to Be a Responsible Tourist
Travel and Tour Operators: Help Promote Think Twice
Ecotourism and Other Helpful Links
Endangered Species and Wildlife Souvenir FAQ

Start Minding your own business !!!

I just want to share something I learned today. A father of a young family recently had some problems at work. He worked for so many years in a well respected government organisation. Fortunately, he started his own business some years ago. And with this sudden and unexpected drawback in his career, he is now thinking of expanding his business in order to be able to take care of his family.

What I learned from this is that, as an employee or self-professional, we shall start minding our own personal business when we don't need it right now because one day we might rely on that same businesss. And what that day comes, we will be mentally prepared because we will already have acquired the required business mindset and skills (a process which takes time) to bring it to a higher level.

cheers

Alain

Proud to represent Mauritius in Asia

Hello guys,

After spending almost one month in Accra, Ghana for work, I came back to Mauritius for 3 days and then fly again to Malaysia.

I'm now back home after attending an international world class conference in Malaysia with almost 5,000 participants from more than 40 countries (Middle East, South East Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, Canada...).

We were around 20 delegates to represent Mauritius and we felt very proud to sing and dance our national sega song/dance, to wear the Mauritian costume and raise our national flag during the opening ceremony.

We had almost one week of intense seminars on various business and self-development issues.

It was an really AMAZING and ENRICHING experience and I encourage everybody to attend such conference !!!

Alain

West African Trip April-May 2008

Hi again guys,

Sorry for this long silence....

Akwabe Ghana.

I came back from a long trip from West Africa for work. I was glad to experience the west African culture again. It was nice to fly again to the africa mainland. Glad to enjoy again the west african music, taste the delicious 'goat peanut soup' and eat the 'Tilapia' fish....West African culture is rich and you never stop learning new things... The women dressed in african prints look simple and charming. I tried to learn speak some Ashanti dialects this time but was a real challenge hehehe...

alain