failure

Otemachi station stairs

a friend and I had a debate whether persistency and success are related and if you aren't.. then you are bound to fail.

I think they are... and I have a story about it.
Some people are bound to fail.

Terry and her big business idea:

a friend, let's call her, Terry was always telling me how she is very frustrated at her job and wanted to change jobs. After some talks and convincing, I was able to gather that she wanted to open her own jewelry shop. Since I come from a business development background, Terry asked if I could help her with the proposal. After hours of talking, we talked about how we will execute her business plan and eventually retire. Everything seemed very positive.

a week after our conversation, I reached out to her to ask how she was doing, and as usual, she complained about her job... so I asked her about her business proposal. She responded that work got really busy but she will get it done.

a month after, I still haven't heard from her, so I asked how she was doing and just like before, she complained about her job and the likes... I then asked about her business proposal and whether she was still interested. She said she is definitely interested but she simply cannot write it because she has a lot of social events to go to. I asked whether she has even started writing it and she confessed that she hasn't even started.

ten months later, we got to meet at a common friend's gathering, and just like before she kept complaining about her job and how frustrated she was with her coworkers and she is determined to change. After hearing all of this, I walked up to her and asked her how her business proposal was coming along and whether or not she has ever done any research in regards to the jewelry business. Just like the previous times, she told me she was very busy and she just does not have the time to even think about starting a business.

After that, I stopped mentioning her business plan...  We still meet up sometimes and every time it is the same thing... she is complaining about her life and how she wants a change...

If you want to complain then do something about it... if not, then live with it. complaining and not finding ways to fix it is very disturbing and has become one of my biggest pet peeves.

time flies

yes, this is my wrist :)

A reminder of the day: time is precious... don't waste it!

Ever felt like you are constantly wasting time? over this past month I have reflected on this and wanted to change (it has something to do with my career... if I see a problem, I want to fix it).

things I notice when I waste time:

• no purpose
• no goal
• no motivation

So my fix is... always have a goal of the day (no matter how minor) such as:

• give yourself small tasks to do )e.g. pick up that annoying piece of paper on the floor (you'd be surprised how this little task will lead you to do more cleaning))
• think of a benefit to a task (e.g. buy milk at the grocery store so you won't have to when you get really busy)
• limit yourself from meaningless things (e.g. pointless games, daydreaming...) not saying you shouldn't do these... but limit it to say... after an hour of doing this, I will do other things...
• if you have a few days, then give yourself ONE slack day (because we need a lazy day sometimes... if we can afford it ;) )

you can start there... and before you know it... you will stop wasting time.

Past revisited painfully...

random necklaces from Banana Republic... (I think)

Ever walked into a reunion and wondered why you have gone desperate ways with a group of friends?

I have... In fact, this was just weeks ago where I went to a reunion with a group of friends I haven't seen for quite a while. During the reunion, I can't help but wonder "wow, this group of friends are amazing... What was I thinking to leave them"? 

A few days after the reunion, I continue to keep in contact with them... Then the inevitable happened... I got hurt.

In fact, I got hurt almost the same way I did when I made the painful decision to part with them a few years ago. 

In my mind I was thinking: Steph, you are dumb... Why can't you trust your past self more? You made that painful decision, you ought to stick to it...

I admit that the time at the reunion was truly enjoyable... But some things will always be the same... People. 

I learned this time that... There is a reason why reunions should only be kept as reunions... It is wonderful to reconnect with friends and catch up with them over dinner or lunch... but always remember, there is a reason why you have decided to drift off... Never forget that reason.

Regret.... Not!

I find regretting one of the most tiring and nonsense of things you can do to yourself... What's the point?

Instead... Use that energy to make yourself promise and swear to not do that ever again...