Put into perspective...

A while back I posted on the Stockdale Paradox and mentioned how firm believe in difficult times have helped people to keep hope and ultimately succeed. I tried putting myself in their situation, as a prisoner of war that undergo random torture and don't know whether or not I could ever go back home, let alone leave the prison.

In such a situation, people still had the courage to look towards the future and come back home. I could imagine the worry in their eyes and faces as they think about the families they've left behind and how they could no longer watch after their young ones. Of how the future was bleak inside those prison walls that could quite possibly be the last walls they see before they die.

So why am I sweating? What loss could there be that's possibly worse than the ones those soldiers have faced? Yet my head twirls and spins in absolute confusion and fear and doubt, wandering inside the mind as if lost and not sure where to go.

I've invested far too much to come out of this cool and calm, but I gotta stay level headed to play out the rest of this hand. What a position to be in eh? At the very least, if I lose it all, I can say that the sky is still the limit. If anything, having less will free me to do everything and anything. Cut my losses, put on new wings and maybe fly even higher the next time around.

I am not invincible, but my heart is resilient. Greatness awaits.

1 + 1 = 1

Sometime last year, a mentor of mine proposed this equation, promising me that if I could figure out the proof behind it, that I would have the ability to succeed in life. As an example, he mentioned how the co-founder of KB Home had solved this equation before he went off to start KB Home. Motivated and encouraged, I asked him a barrage of questions to define the nature of the problem, and tried to solve it the best way I could... as an engineer.

Needless to say, I failed horribly and came out of many hours of trying with little to show. 1+1=1. How does this add up? Some of you readers might also be curious and start to formulate your own answer. For those of you who know it, I can only tell you that this is not a very logical problem, but more of a creative one.

"Think outside the box" was the main hint I was given, as I was asked to throw away my engineering instincts to figure this one out. Simple equation, simple answer, but in a world like the one inside my mind, a complex set of pathways to demolish before I could grasp the meaning behind it all.

My success may have nothing to do with this equation, or perhaps after a lifetime of success, I will have realized I knew it all along. Or maybe someday soon, I figure it out, and it'll push me towards some greater places. However, the problem still lingers inside my mind and I think about it from time to time, just wondering what secret the equation holds, and whether it really is something that will lead me to ultimate success.

Whatever it may be, it remains fact that 1 + 1 = 1. The laws and principles behind it will remain just the same, and will help many to a future filled with greatness and glory.

Even good things can go bad

I'm not talking about food here, but about an honest intent at a better life. I think I've stressed myself more than I should have over the past couple of weeks. What was once a healthy attempt to try to do better turned into a horrible obsession towards perfection and delusion.

I'm not quite sure how it happened, but I can say that my ambitions and desires got the best of me, and the slightest shift felt like magnitude 8 earthquakes that broke apart mountains. It was only until today, when I took some time in reflection that I was able to regain some control of sanity and try to figure out a healthy outlook once again.

Even though I know that life has its ups and downs. Even though that every door closed can still leave open a window of opportunity. Even though there's faith, good karma, friends and family. Your own emotions can get the best of you. You drown yourself in those desires and let it take control, and it causes immeasurable stress in mind and body and ultimately your heart.

Finding balance is key in all aspects of your life, but I think it's especially important in managing your goals and objectives. Reach as far as you can, but don't let the fact that things aren't working out get in the way of your progress or overall happiness. I know it certainly took hold of my happiness when I kept looking at the wrong with laser-like focus.

In life, there are things that work your way, and things that don't. I think when they don't you try harder, but you stay open minded to the alternatives. Your heart will probably be jumping and screaming for you to keep going after the one prize that's near impossible to reach, but don't let it take over your entirety and burn inside of you in such a way that it makes you miserable and filled with pessimism, fear and doubt.

Whether or not our goals are achievable, it's more important to have a good head on your shoulder and figure out the greatest happiness that we can achieve, and of all things, I believe everyone is capable of being happy... as long as they pursue the right paths.

Sometimes it's better to stand still

Amid the flurry of changes going on in my friends' lives, I started to reach a point where I wanted to make a big splash too. I've already had my big splash last year when I switched jobs and got myself a hefty raise, or the previous year when Viacom bought our little internet company and paid all of us some nice bonuses.

However, it still boils my blood when I see people progress as I stand by and watch. I really do care about the success of my friends, and I would do anything to help them. It's just that I don't want to be the one watching them make milestones while I wait my turn. It's a horrible habit that I've picked up... this thing called impatience.

The past few days and weeks have been a flurry of thoughts and daydreaming of envisioning myself in new roles and greater things, and while these are all things I would like to accomplish someday, I'm trying to convince myself to slow down. Jumping all over the place will do nothing but stress me out and throw me off course.

It's fitting that I am like this though. I am the type of guy to launch a million projects and finish only one. I'm not very much for details, though I get pretty scrupulous at times. I'd a man of general direction, and I'd prefer to point the finger in one direction as I gaze over the horizon. Perhaps someday, I can do that and earn lots of money while doing it.

But until the, I must understand that sometimes, it's better to stand still and not run around in the same circle over and over again. Plan, execute and move forward to the next step. Ah... patience and discipline... where hast thou gone??

Grownups should get summer vacations too

Of course, this is just one of those far-fetched thoughts on life that really wouldn't apply so well in real life. However, adults should get summer vacations too! Just like students who work so hard all fall~spring before going crazy and unwinding over the summer! I mean, adults are people too, and they need time to reduce stress and enjoy life!

Of course, there would be major issues with running businesses, as businesses don't close for the summer. But what if there was some sort of well-developed shift system, where people can have up to a month of vacation at a time? Perhaps similar to the public school "track" system? Now THAT would be the coolest thing since the internet!

I know. It's just my lame excuse as I breathe in the last few breathes of vacation air before I head back to the office to work tomorrow morning. Not that I don't enjoy work. I do like what I do, at least enough to spend an entire day and not be bothered by it. However, lately I've been feeling some major pressure and need to unwind for a bit longer.

Perhaps it's my own ambitions built up into a flaming snowball that builds up over time? I need some better stress management skills I guess. Perhaps some of you can offer some good advice? Otherwise, I think I'm going to kamakaze into my dreams! A one way trip to paradise... hahaha

the bigger picture

It's easy to be positive when things are good. It's easy to be negative when times are bad. Our outlook is often times tied to the experiences we go through, and though this is a very human thing to do, I sometimes feel we should strive to be above it.

Being human, our vision is limited. We rarely see the entire picture, but just bits and pieces of it, and we have to figure out how to fill in the rest of it. We're artists of our own lives and we paint the void according to our own liking, with colors that reflect our dreams and strokes that define our passion.

So when times are good, we use vibrant colors. Likewise, when times are bad, our strokes turn to paint over those vibrant colors with darker ones and destroy the beautiful painting in progress. Few times, however, will we step back to take a look at all the other pieces and make a reasonable guess to what the picture may look like.

I bet if we all just stepped back and took a look at the big picture, we could realize something significant in our lives. Too often we see what's in front of us, and we forget the goal we strive after. We look at the fact that there's a forest in front of us and forget that the map specifically pointed out that we'd have to walk through that forest to reach our destination.

While it's not good also to look at the goal and not what's in front of you, I think we should not forget to keep an open mind and see through the opportunities provided within hardships in life. Some of us we can simply avoid and ignore, while most others we will overcome, but ultimately, these are temporary moments, and they'll help you along the way.

Somehow, someway, the bigger picture had already taken it into account. It's no fun sometimes, but there's purpose and reason. And for that, all you can do is to smile and walk forward and be thankful the picture is slowly being completed as the masterpiece it should be.

The tree and the bird [revised and unfinished]

This is just a little folk story I felt like writing... it's not done yet, and I've certainly written something similar before. But I decided to edit it a little and redo it. I'm thinking perhaps someday, this could make a nice bedtime story. Until then, it's a work in progress. It's a step different from my usual topics, but I figure it's good to switch things up a little sometimes :)

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There once was a small bird flying by on a windy winter's day when it flew down to a tree to rest. Upon landing, the tree, noticing the little bird, gathered up its branches to shield it from the wind. The tree was intrigued to see such a bird flying in this weather, and introduced itself to the bird. The bird likewise returned the introduction and started to converse...

After a while, the tree had learned of the bird's journey, of how it had dreamed of flying high up into the endless sky, up to the stratosphere and beyond. The bird had big dreams, and even on windy days like this, it was determined to give everything it has to fly through and reach its goal. The tree was inspired, and admired the young bird. It too wanted to do its best, and wanted to see the bird reach its goal.

Over time, the bird would fly out and return every once in a while, always to and fro in a flurry, but sharing its tales of working hard to fly higher and higher each day. However, one day, it didn't return as it usually did. The tree was saddened by this, as it seemed to have lost a friend to grow together with, and soon started to wither here and there.

It was a little bit before the tree decided to get out of its funk and strive towards improvement and better things. Although it wasn't much at the beginning, the tree made a choice towards a this new way of life. However, not before long, the bird reappeared onto the tree's branches, as if a ghost returned from the grave.

Soon after, it was as if nothing had happened, and the bird made its routine stops by the tree, telling it of its adventures into the open skies, and its struggles flying into higher altitudes. The tree would then, in turn, talk about life on the ground and the things going on in the world below. The tree was happy again to spend such wonderful times, but still felt a partial fear that the bird may one day fly off again and not return. It had hoped the bird would stay, that it could watch the bird fly high up in the air and fly up into its dreams.

Soon, the tree's passion and ambition grew as a result of this desire, and it too decided to dream big and strive for the unending skies. However, the tree realized that it was not a bird, so it could not do the same things like a bird. This didn't stop the tree's ambition. In fact, it only made it bigger as the tree decided to be the best tree that it could.

It expanded its roots to reach the river over the hill, and grew bigger and stronger. Its branches thickened and created a safe haven for the bird to sleep. It bore fresh, ripe fruit to provide nourishment and energy. It also grew taller, and allowed the bird to sit atop high in the air and watch the land below as if it were flying.

Everyday, as the bird broke barriers, so did the tree, and the two continued to progress forward in their respective paths. Both becoming stronger, and closing in on their goals. It was a memorable time that the tree and bird shared, and through the tough times and good times both thrived in their passions and ambitions.

These were quite happy times for the tree, but even after a little while, it was still troubled. Perhaps someday, the bird may have to move on to other places to reach even higher skies. The tree, however tall it may be, realized it could not catch up with a bird's movements. Trees could not fly, and could not roam free like birds. Another day could come, where the bird may fly, and being the best tree in the world could not suffice.

The tree, once again distraught, was unable to figure out what to do. In the end, all it had left was a simple prayer... perhaps hoping it would wake up as a bird the next morning, or that somehow, it could hold the bird's key to unending skies.

With great emotion and conviction, the tree prayed and asked for a solution...

The following morning came...

unemployment and the future

I'm not much for trends, as trends tend to come and go, but as a young 26 year old who's goal is to prosper financially all the days of his life, I have to think ahead and figure out how I'll go about doing that.

That in mind, nowadays, the unemployment rate continues to show unfavorably and the target group of people who are getting axed are those who are old, but not old enough to retire. Those who are 50~64 years of age who have too much experience to be compensated fairly in the down market and have health-care liabilities. It's an unfortunate situation, and having to watch this happen from the sidelines is a bit unnerving.

Someday I'm going to be 50 years old [God willing I survive that long... haha]. When that time comes, I must secure a stable source of income. In order to do this, however, I must figure out a way to break free from working for someone else OR be at the top of the food chain, where I will have to make the painful decision to axe others. It sounds very cruel, but at the same time, we're talking worst case scenarios. If you had the choice, which end would you rather be in?

I certainly would like to live to see the day I turn 50 and 60 and beyond, and I would like to live it without struggling to survive. I am sure there are plenty of ways to ensure this, but the one most secure to me is by securing my cash flow.

It's pretty crazy when you think about the current situation. Most of us tend to think about as far as just a few years from now. When you were in grade school, you thought as far ahead as summer break. In Jr. High, a few years to high school. In high school, a few years to college. In college, a few years to your first permanent position.

But from there on out, you can't simply think about what you'll do until you reach senior level. You'll have to think beyond that. You'll have to think about what you'll do when your industry goes through a meltdown. About what you do when you've hit peak. About 10 years down the road, and then 15, and then 25 and all the way up to... say 50 years ahead.

People envision saving up and enjoying financial prosperity until they're 65, and then cruising their way through life until they rest in peace. The world is not so simple or as easy anymore, at least not here in the US. It used to be the land of dreams and unending opportunities, and while it still is for many people, the price of this dream has gone up a few more gallons in sweat and tears, and perhaps a few pints of blood as well.

Do you have it in you?

the upper class... and then everybody else

I was reading a few real estate articles today, and the general trend I've been noticing lately is not only how prices are still sharply declining [5~10K a month!!] but also how homes in more affluent areas are not only staying afloat, but still appreciating in value. Though I guess this may be no big surprise, it does reflect a little bit of something more interesting of note, and that is the current standing of people in the upper class.

Currently, our country is going through a recession [though some are still in denial], and with food and gas prices going up, a whole lot of people are straining their belts a little bit to get by in these tough times. Yet, there are still people shopping for multi-million dollar homes in affluent areas across the US; Homes which have accrued more value since the credit crisis that blew up last August.

It just comes to show, at least to me, just how far up the upper class really is. It's lead me to the feeling that middle class is far from a truly middle class. Middle class is just another term for those people who can get by with paying for food and bills and have just a little bit extra breathing room to enjoy a few more simple things in life. It's come to the point where the gap between middle class and upper class has become almost like the gap between upper class and lower class.

To put more clearly my case in point, the difference between upper and middle class are in hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. The difference between upper class and lower class are a mere 50K. Though these numbers are a bit arbitrary, I do feel it's accurate enough to get my point across.

The true middle class is fading away fast, and now I believe that it's the upper class, and then just everybody else....

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on a side note, i haven't posted in a while, but i'm glad i had something to post. it seems i still got quite a few visits while i was 'away.' i appreciate y'all checking up on this blog. =)

I'm still alive y'all

Just to let you all know, it's the freelance gig that I picked up that has caused me to slow down in my posts. I'll get back up to posting when I have more time to do so! For now, I hope you all are well and that y'all continue to kick ass in life [like me! hahaha... sorta... umm... nevermind!!]

That said, I leave with this note:
“It is the set of the sails, not the direction of the wind that determines which way we will go.”