Stand up for yourself

You can stick with the team, you can do anything, and when the time is up for you to vote someone out, you're always wrong if you cannot make a decision. You lose if you cannot stand up for yourself.

In all the seasons of The Apprentice, we've seen numerous strong people get voted out at the end of the date, all due to the fact that they did not defend themselves. They ended up cursing why everyone was against them. You may not be the best case, but you definitely won't stand a chance if you don't even defend yourself.

A heart to heart talk with a friend, someone who finally I can call a really close friend, would be Brandon, all the way from primary school. Our relationship was a On-off one, and I was never truly fond of him based on a few early impressions. It was this talk with him that I went to his level and understood him and his well-meaning actions.

We shared a lot, and I realised quite a bit. At the end of the day, One key lesson would be to protect yourself. Do not take the brunt of bullshit people give you. Deflect them back at them if they are not justified.

I had a lonely and unhealthy early school years because I had not defended myself. I take no credit off the fact that it made me the person I am today, with full knowledge and want to cover up those flaws, but in hindsight, I now know what I can do to make myself a better person.

I have to defend myself.

"Who will stand up for you if you cannot even stand up for yourself?" Donald Trump

Starbucks' culture

I love working for Starbucks, even though I hate the pay. There's one thing that makes working in Starbucks a very pleasant one and that is how they do not contradict the culture they are trying to cultivate. In a few companies, salespeople are told to collaborate only to have the company rate their promotions chances based on their sales, which literally tears them apart. Such kind of contradiction is not one I can find in SB.

SB is about putting partners above customers, and just saying yes to all customer needs as much as we can. We are probably talking about service to customers more than profit.

The first part is easily exemplified by this example. What would you think a wine company would do if the promoter breaks a bottle of wine? Would he be forced to pay? Would he be black listed? Just the other day, I was handling food and due to my carelessness, I dropped a tray of muffins. There were a total of 9 in there with a total cost of $27 to be. I wasted company funds of that amount. I was definitely regretful and it was done in front of my fellow partners and managers. They probably knew that it wasn't on purpose and they did not make a fuss of it nor ask me to pay for it though the wastage was all due to my one person's carelessness. To me, they understood how by making me feel degraded, I would have less performance and be unable to deliver the Starbucks experience.

At POS areas, where cash comes in and out, shortages are not a uncommon things. I still remember from a friend that at NTUC, if the cashier cashes in the wrong sum, she would pay the shortfall. Not at SB. Once I had a shortfall of $4, due to some slight confusion and they accepted it, and never did once bring it up to me. Imagine if they would argue penny for penny and I would have worked almost and hour free labour. You would think I will never do POS ever again.

SB emphasis is on providing legendary customer service. Just today, a single customer argued that both her drink would be a grande size and we were rather confused since the order was called out differently. When I asked to see her receipt, I noticed that she was wrong and that a grande size would cost her more. I immediately asked to change her drink for her to her requested size and I made her happy and she smiled before leaving even though I could argue that she place the wrong order. Was I punished for giving the wrong drink? Did I have to pay for the wrong drink? No. SB puts its responsibility on its partners and being empowered, we can do good to fulfil SB's aims.

I wouldn't have noticed this if not from a news about $1 coffees in selected stores in Seattle. Note that in all other SB's there would not be this promotion, and definitely not in Singapore. What hit me was that if a customer insist on that cup, we would "just say yes" and give that cup free to the customer. That really brought me thinking and I realised how the whole culture of SB is suitable for itself and doesn't back stab its self. I feel fortunate working in SB.

acknowledgement

Reading the fantastic book by Norman Vincent Peale made me conceive this idea, of what I'm gonna start practicing soon.

The author had said of worrying and holding grudges and how they harm you, and I totally agree with it. We all know that if we get angry our blood boils and our blood pressure increases. That's no good to our body. In addition to that, chemicals get released into our body and our body takes damage. In addition to weakening your immunity system, you live a tiring life. I know how the drag of every day's life bores us, and as we get on with the monotony of life, we repeat our actions without thinking and get less and less personalized, without any sense of human undertones.

Every phone call to the service center to the agent is just statistics to complete his base call, there's no personalized part of it and you don't feel any better calling them for help. Many a day we don't recognize other efforts people do for us and we hold grudges for whatever little petty issues that happen to us, no wonder that the whole world seems against us!

I'm gonna try, to thank everyone for something they've done for me every shift. I know that they definitely will do something nice for me and I'm gonna acknowledge it. I'm going to let people know they feel appreciated and that I love them for who they are. I'm going to show love to everyone, so that in turn they will show love to me. And of this in work, I will not forget to show love to my everyday family members friends and girlfriend. I will seek to be the person others thirst to be beside since I am so encouraging and positive.

I believe I will find joy in doing so rather than holding grudges inside of me which I cannot release.

My Train Rides.

The book recommended by Donald Trump written by Vincent Norman Peale is absolutely amazing. The book name is The power of positive influence. The book is totally amazing. Despite the fact that I can barely recall the contents in it, I felt totally amazing while reading the book. It kept me feeling so high.

I often tell fellow partners that I live in Boon Keng area to which they inquire.. why? why so far still come Changi Airport? I don't know how to answer them the real reason behind that but I just tell them that it's because SB-A2 is fun.

I won't refute that I came primary because I wanted to get experience in coffee service and I wanted to learn and experience the stress of fucked-up customer which I just did and it made me feel really drained. I in fact treat the journey as a good thing. During this time, I get to catch up on lost sleep, just before reaching SB-A2 occasionally, and more importantly, do my reading and listening to my MP3. My music collection is only around 45 songs but they contain some of the best songs I appreciate.

Songs like ALONEZ, sen no yoru wo koete, You raise me up, and some other songs really boost my morale and make me feel wonderful. My songs are really meaningful to me. Some of them actually describe the ways to success, and sorts. When I sing the 2 japan songs I have it never fails to raise my morale. I guess I've it pretty anchored to good feeling.

I enjoy my journey there, and I enjoy listening to music while reading the books. Though sometimes I can't last through the long journey, I set timers so I won't miss train transfers. And SB-A2 has some wonderful people. People who really make me feel good are people like Ian, Fikri, Jackson, Danial, Charlene, Ariff. Seriously, sometimes I feel so glad I have them. The rest of the partners are just fantastic, always willing to help and even to include me into their groups. I'm new but I'm definitely welcomed there.

My journey to work definitely is worth it.

Starbucks

It's my fourth day with Starbucks, and I love every moment of it.

Starbucks definitely is the best choice I've made. The pay no doubt is challenging, for it's only 3.50 now as I'm training, but I have no qualms as how much the company wants me to be successful. I simply love the culture and the training they have.

I'm exposed to 2 days of training of foundation groundwork, mostly about Starbucks culture and the work ethnic, and it is definitely worth every moment. Although somewhat boring, Starbucks is providing definitely quality training.

Issues like 5's be's, star skills of communication, Latte method, CDR, are all but some of the powerful methods taught to me. They focus on interpersonal relationships, and these are powerful examples, which can even be used in other areas outside of my work life. I seriously doubt that the training is as intense as any other coffee companies, or even renounced McDonald's.

I love how friendly everyone is on the floor, I love how I'm respected. I love how I'm treasured. I know I'm definitely given a chance, and should I screw up, I will be taught patiently and carefully, and not be left alone.

Their 3 star skills for example are these:

Maintain and enhance integrity
Ask for help
Listen and acknowledge

The one I wish to state with pride is the second on the list: Ask for help.

I won't forget, for my interview how Mr Samsuri asked me: " How able are you to learn from people younger than you, as some of the fellow partners are 2-3 years younger than you, but more experienced than you."

I gave a good answer, but I never knew why that question was important. In fact, the whole Starbucks culture is like this. We ask for help. There is not a manager or partner separation. We help one another. I could address Mr Samsuri as simply Samsuri if I wanted. But I respect him.

Starbucks is really a company I'm starting to love. Definitely, I'd want to be like Starbucks in whichever endeavours I finally end up in.

Taking issues too seriously

The Joy of Sadness

As I look outside my window right now, the storm is gone, and the sun is shining once again. No storm lasts forever. Of course, you can still extend the duration of a storm by identifying with it, becoming attached to it, and following it around wherever it goes. Many people do this with their emotional storms. But if you remain still and simply observe the storm, the storm will soon pass on its own.

When you go out and try to battle a storm, will you ever win? Of course not. You’ll be blown around by the wind and drenched by the rain. The storm will only make you foolish. But when you simply sit back and observe the storm, you may realize that it’s fun to watch. There’s no need to resist these emotional storms, nor to identify with them. They’re a natural part of life in the physical universe.

Part of this article came from: Stevepavlina

I truly identify with what has been said by Steve Pavlina.

Of course, you can still extend the duration of a storm by identifying with it, becoming attached to it, and following it around wherever it goes.

Sharing a small issue about me, I've been known as a guy who's enthusiastic, and having a positvie mental attitude, but with weakness when it comes to sharing my thoughts and controlling my emotions, as said by my BMTC sergeant and PC.

When sometimes, I happen to lose self control, and go into that surge of darkness, where I become disillusioned and lose apparent faith in my friends, I know how positive feedback can be unbalanced. Things go more and more wrong, while I make up more things for them to go wrong.

In other words, I've identified with the storm. And I've moved around with it so much, that I constantly experience it.

In actual fact, no one was in the wrong, only me, for being so negative about normal small things that guys do. It's common that guys don't do area cleaning and becomes reluctant when such a chore comes up, only to accuse others of slacking despite their own laziness, It's all too common, but in these times, I take them too seriously.

I can dare say, what's wrong with me and my working experience with other friends; I expect everyone to show the same level of commitment to whatever task we have, and when they don't I become mad at them. I however don't remain professional and link negative or neutral issues with them in the past to the current. I know it's not right to accuse them of those issues, and I thus keep it to myself, following the storm and appearing too emotional.

It's not easy to say this in a public blog like this, even if it has little readers, but I identify with it because I face it. That's why I'm treating every working experience in army as positively as I can, Where else can I easily find jobs that no one wants to do but someone has to do??

That's a lot to bring home with, since the content of that sentence actually means alot. If you can for once, break out of your ANTS, known as Automatic Negative Thoughts(s), which surfaces almost immediately as a response to what we see and feel, You'll be so much above others. Example of ANTS include, sniping your friends' idea once it's been told to you, immediate thinking of I'm too shagged when told to go for a IPPT test after a 24KM route march.. etc.

Besides these, I've actually been outfield for around 3 days, and it wasn't exactly a good experience, since I had wet boots for the same 3 days, sleeping in them, but I tried to see the bright side of them, and I took it as a bonding with my friends, whom normally other than work, we don't interact together with. I took it additionally as a chance to practice skills when interacting with people. Although I has no way of feedback if I've done it correctly, I'm glad I've tried.

There was this Warrant Ang, whom I wish to comment on. Despite the hatred from the particular platoon being assessed, I found him a tactful person. During the missions, I was darn bored, so when it came to stop points, I'd sit by the side of the road instead of being in vegetation. This was because the vegetation was wet. For me at that point, was that I couldn't care less, my role was almost GODLIKE, and I did so without being scolded. I thought, well, since no one scolded me, I couldn't be wrong.

However, I was awfully wrong. He saw it, but didn't scold me, he just kept quiet. On another day, after the mission during the relaxed times, he told me about it, he didn't want to scolde me despite the fact that he'll be scolded by his commander if I was seen. But why didn't he correct me? His point was that, if he did, I'll be LLST and the rest of the days I'll probably be not happy and won't do a good job. He saw the big picture, and decided which was more important, and went with it. It might sound silly, but it kept me thinking for a few moments about what I could learn from him. I can say, I'd respect him for that, instead of what else he did.

Limit your limitations

"Limit your limitations"

there’s always this website address that I keep in my bookmarks

http://www.wretch.cc/blog/chapters&article_id=6442741

Nick Vujicic is a strong man. In fact I would say stronger than you and me. Born without hand and limbs, he has lived a life not of giving up but more of trying to help others. If you were Nick, how would you have chosen to live your life?

The many of us are so blessed, we have strong and powerful hands and arms, that we do not appreciate. We do not fully utilize them and end up letting our mind limit what we can do.

If only humans act on basis of logic, we do what we need to do most at that moment of time. That would be a highly effective individual albeit he being totally dull and appearing unattached to the real world.

I want to be more effective, and not to become dull in the process.