Gossip

In fact I should know it better, as long as there are people, people talk. Some people like the attention, some people don't. I personally don't like the attention, don't like gossip.

I tried to keep my life simple these few  years. I thought as long as you don't have anything interesting, people won't talk. Yet, I am wrong. People are bored, they need topics to maintain their social life. They do not care if it would cause hard feelings or if it is true. They will talk and comment on gossips.

If I am a celebrity, maybe I would like people to talk about me. Unfortunately I am not. The funny part is... I don't even know those people! Somehow, they happen to know a lot about me and most of them are false facts.

I understand people need topics for small talks. However, I don't think you should be judgmental and draw conclusions base on those gossips.

Maybe they are not totally wrong or making stuff up. I guess they are only wrong on my part. I shouldn't completely believe what I heard as well. Sometime I should be confident about what I actually see and feel.

Multi-tasking

I always think multi-tasking is a good soft skill, which is transferable in different positions. I was trained to be able to multi-task in all my previous positions. It is good if you can concentrate on certain task one at the time. Yet, it is also necessary to keep yourself observant your surroundings and take care of the all the tasks. In one position, it is not possible to have one task at one time. It is necessary to develop the skill set to manage multiple tasks at the same time.

Around the same time last year, I was 100% concentrated on doing my UFE. It was pretty hard cord back then, even I look at it now. I have never study like that before in my life. Also, I don't think there will be another chance for me to study like that in the future. 

As you grow up, there is a lot more going on your life and a lot more you need to consider. Yes, childhood was simple and happy. Parents will take care of everything for you, everything inside and outside of the house. Now, you have to be responsible for yourself. No one in the real world will forgive you like your parents did. 

You don't really get to focus on one thing at a time anymore. Studying is not everything anymore. Meanwhile, you have to consider family, relationship, career, finance...etc. They are all parts of your life. They are equally important. You cannot really live without any of them. Multi-tasking skill is also important in terms how you handle your life as well.

Of course, not only multi-tasking, prioritize, time management... they are all important. 

Unfortunately, we are not kids anymore. "those years" will be in our memories...

Step back

It is been a while since my last post. A lot of stuff happened and changed. Some decisions were made. I don't know if those decisions were correct, but time will be able to tell.

Read a quote recently, you are living in a life resulted by decisions you made three years ago. Therefore, whatever decision you made right now should have impact on your life three years after. I don't know if it is really 3 years, but I am sure every decision you made would have change your life.

A lot of time, people are trying too hard to move forward and try to score. They tend to forget to make stop, step back and look at the entire pictures. When you don't really see ending of the way you to heading to, maybe it is a good time to step back and take a new road. Maybe the new road would take you to the destination faster.

Maybe I should not desire something I cannot control. But I would regret if I don't desire and try for something I want. I rather try and fail than regret after.

A nice day off

June is actually a busy month due to all the December year ends. I get a day off due to the doctor's appointment. It is a very nice day out today and it feels like I am back to school.

No make up, sweat pants, T-shirts, backpacks... Seriously, it looks like I am a Year 1 all over again. While I was talking on UT campus, I was telling myself the exact same thing I was walking in the western campus few years ago. I like this feeling, it reminds me who I really am. I have the admit, the reality and the workforce twist my view of life made me forgot who I want to be initially.

Maybe the original simple and happy life is all I wanted from the very beginning. All the educations, ambitions and others are just there to prove I can live better, to prove I can do it. Yet, better living does not equal to happier living.

Sometimes, you need someone/something to clear your mind and give you a ring of your real objective of life.

Hawaii Trip I

This Victoria Day long weekend, we went to Hawaii for vacation. It is a very popular destination for vacation, especially for winter time. I think it is a place that is worthwhile to go at least once in your life time.

Hawaii has many islands, this time, we only went to the main island Oahu. This is a vacation, I want to be more relaxing and enjoyable. Of course, there is so much to see in Hawaii. I rather enjoy the sunshine and beach more.

The weather is always nice there. There is sunshine everyday. It is humid but not as sticky as HK. Maybe it is because of the nice weather, people are very friendly there as well. Although many visitors during the year, the local environment is still well protected. The ocean is still clear blue and green.

The itinerary will be updated in next blog.

What is proper management?

Management sounds like a very popular topic. Now days, too many people study management. However, how many of them actually apply their knowledge property and actually well manage a business? The answer can be very questionable.

I have to admit, management style is very subjective as well. Some people would agree with certain style and allow it work effectively. However, the same style may not work with other people. Therefore, I believe knowing your employees/suppliers/clients is very important in order to apply an effective management.

Also, management is not only managing the operation or business. I believe the most challenging part of management is managing the people. Many employers do not understand this and think they are the king because they pay their employees. Acting like a king is much like a dictatorship and it is not going to increase the productivity and loyalty of your employees. A good employer has to be open to different opinions and be a good listener. Employees may provide awesome ideas if you are willing to take them and this will help your company to expand further. You have to realize, you can only know/think of so much, your resources are limited.

Apple is successful because it is open to innovative ideas. The technology is advancing because young people are willing to explore and accept the new ideas. Of course, seniors and elder generation have the experience that youth do not have. However, while young people are learning your experience, seniors should also be open for new ideas.

I believe different types of management style are indicated on books. However, not many people are actually adopting them effective. It is relevant to the managers/employers' personality as well.

With a wrong management style, you may be able to survive, however, it would largely limit growth potential of the business.

你够不够勇敢

昨天去了一個朋友的farewell party。一個勇敢的令人羡慕的朋友，准备離開多伦多去韩國教英文。先聲明一點，這位朋友是个白人，一點韩文都不會说。他一個Ivey畢業的會计师，放弃加國一切稳定的生活，去亚洲過自己想過的生活。那不是勇敢是甚麽？

人生的經歷很多時候不是用金钱和地位来衡量的。很多人，每天做着自己不喜歡的工作，為升职加人工，為那所谓的出人頭地，那更好的生活。當然了，每個人的性格不同，有權选择自己的想過的生活。有人想過物质上好一點的生活，還有人想要精神上的满足。但最重要的是，你過的是自己的生活。人生就那几十年，有時候人要自私點。

他們说的對，you should pursue your dream while you are still young instead of regret it after. You got nothing to lose, the worst case is to start all over again. Complaint自己工作和生活的人很多，但真的在做改變的人很少。自己不做改變，安于现状不是别人的错，所以complaint是没有必要的。If you hate your current situation, either do something to change it or shut up and continue.

找到自己想走的路，而且要勇敢的走下去。世上是没有后悔药的。

Asia Trip III - Hong Kong

HongKong is the last stop of my Asia Trip.

有五年没有回香港了。刚下機時真的有種回家的感覚，回到了中國人自己的地方。但是這趟“回家”却有很多的不适應。香港變了，差點都不認得了。

還记得，那時的香港，天是蓝的，维港景色很美。那是小時候的事了。在香港一個星期，天都是灰蒙蒙的。我還转門去了维港一趟找童年。童年是找不到了，混浊的空气和大陆游客倒是一大堆。其實我對大陆人並没有甚麽不好的觀點，也知道大陆的强人很多。但是我也親身見识了那一部分素质有待提高的同胞。说到底，就是太自私了。如果稍微爲其他人想一想，有些事就不會做了。

不否認，靠着大陆，香港的经济才能持续增長。没有他们的消费，香港的旅游業又如何蓬勃。有得必有失，人不可能只得到好的那一面。

站在维港吹了好一阵的海風，不知我還能否在这里立足。

Asia Trip II - 雲南

我從没到過雲南，难得此次到中國有機會。雖说去的不是甚麽大理，丽江等旅游热點，但也算是看到了中國的另外一面。

近来的中國發展迅速但贫富差别很大。别说其它地方了，光廣州就是。有很多新建，華麗的建筑，但在旧城区為那幾块钱挣扎生活的人還有很多。有人吃幾十块钱一碟的點心，也有人連五块钱的饭盒都嫌贵。


我們去的地方很近边境，很靠近缅甸。那里的雲南真的很穷。雖然有旅游業的帮助，但當地人的生活水平和环境還是很差。坦白说，在雲南的那幾天，真的十分不习惯。恰恰是因為他們還没發展，环境也没有被污染。在大陆和香港的两個星期，只有在雲南的那幾天看到了蓝天白雲。

那里的天很蓝，没有甚麽雲，所以紫外线很强，那里的人都晒的很黑。當地的温差很大，晚上是冬天，中午是夏天。但總的来说是舒服的，没有中國南方潮湿。在當地照了很多照片，真的很中國。那種中國特有的乡村風光，看似艰苦，但很独特。雖说他們的生活质环境没有我們好，但他們也有自己楽趣吧。

可以走弯路吗？

没有人的路是一帆风顺的，可能有些人的會更崎岖，有些人的會比较平坦。每個父母都希望儿女走一条平坦顺利的道路，但很多時候都事與願违。人生總有低潮，有不顺利的時候。人會遇到瓶颈， 對人生迷茫，不知该如何走下去。

不是每個人都可以幸運的走一条笔直的路。再说了，那些计划好的，令人羡慕的路又是否真的好走。我不覚得走弯路是一件不好的事，怕就怕弯路走错了，费力而不讨好。其實要人生，工作經驗，哪里都可以，人家認可與否都不够自己認可重要。

有時候不必太勉强，随着自己的心意做并不一定是一件坏事。可能是任性了一點，但趁年輕就應该做一些自己喜歡的事。

Asia Trip - Tokyo

Hope everyone is doing well in 2012. I started my 2012 with a trip to Asia. Like my friends said, I deserve a vacation.

My first stop is Tokyo and I spent a week there.The time we spent there is amazing. We really enjoyed Tokyo.

There are a couple things I like about Tokyo.

• Streets in Tokyo are very nice and clean. Although there are not many garbage bins around, Japanese still maintain clean streets.
• Japanese are very polite. We got nice service from airport, train station, hotels and stores. 
• Japanese really care about their appearance, they are well dressed up at all times. ( compare to Canada, we wear sweats out. >3<)
• Japanese food is cheap and tasty. 
• Tokyo is more entertaining than Toronto and more spacious than HongKong. 

Of course, Japan has its downsides. I can tell that they are really suffering from the recession. While Japanese are so polite, it also implicates the fact that they retain a lot of stress inside. This would result problems in the community and culture.

Two things I was surprised.

1.  Japanese's English is not as bad as I expected.
2. Japanese guys are not as short as people said.

Overall Tokyo is a good place to travel to. However, if you want to live & work there, think twice for people like us.