‘Seeking to spark the most potential within you per word of any online newsletter’

1 thought

Recently, some youths organised a panel discussion with Tharman Shanmugaratnam (who was later elected as Singapore’s President), during his presidential campaign.

Two stories struck me in particular.

During his visits to the community, he would keep a Pilot G2 Pen in his pocket, and a piece of paper inside. He would then jot down items to take note of.

Firstly, the fact that despite earning quite a bit of money today, he still keeps a Pilot G2 Pen, which costs all of $1.70. It’s testament to humility and not living to make an impression.

And perhaps the question we should ask ourselves today is,

What am I doing to try and make an impression amongst the people around me?

Because if we look at some of the things we buy, wear, or carry around, we might inevitably notice that we are doing it to make an impression.

Secondly, the moderator shared how Tharman had replied his cold email about an initiative he wanted to start. At the time when he was still Senior Minister, with a packed schedule, Tharman still made time to listen to this youth’s idea, and give him suggestions on how to improve it.

Tharman replied my cold email too when I asked him for an endorsement.

The biggest test of someone isn’t when they are nobodies. It’s when they are a somebody, and people start asking things of them.

Today, in our own jobs, there will inevitably be inconvenient requests of us. I’m not saying that we should keep giving. But I’m saying that we should take time to consider the person at the end of the request, rather than quickly turning it down just because we don’t know the person.

It’s not easy to ask.

And when we can’t do anything for the person, the next best thing we could do is to refer them on to someone that could help.

1 talk

We often buy things we don’t need, to impress people we don’t like, only to make ourselves even unhappier at the end of the day.

1 tip

When we don’t owe anything to the person, sometimes our behavior may be rude.

Downright rude.

But we may tell ourselves that it’s okay, because after all, we don’t owe anything.

Or do we?

I think we do. We owe it to ourselves to treat people with dignity and respect, not because they deserve it, but because we deserve it.

John

Live Young, Live Well - Work Your Love

Think others might benefit? I’m counting on you. Forward this on.