Looking at details...

To the Boys it may seems to be another debrief points from Sir Narash, but to me, it is an important lesson. Looking at details.

Just to keep the reader in the correct context, this happen yesterday while the Origami Team is trying to put together the wall. Because of the choice of materials, the "wall" is pretty heavy and the outline of the heart is done up yesterday, which is 2 days into the rallying for folding of hearts.

For me, when i got into the picture yesterday, it is a very natural response of me to be rather active giving suggestions and orders along the way to the Leaders. However, my Captain whom is also on the scene choose a different posture, a posture of relaxing at the sofa of the UG room.

Now, dun start pointing your finger and judge anyone over here. Matthew 7:1-2. =)

So the team struggle through with people even the leaders doing things that is so hands on that it seems that they do not have the room capacity to look into other details. Can be as straight forward as "Lunch have the Boys/myself taken", "Is the line straight?", "What is going to happen tomorrow?" etc. In one sense, everyone was just looking so inwardly that they are just happy to doing their stuff because it is the task assign to them, that they miss out the details. They miss out details that is necessary for  the success of the full picture, because the full picture is the combinations of all the small details - something i learn from Sir Narash.

So during the last 15 minutes before the School lock us in for the night, Sir Narash did the debrief and that is when he shares that even though he "seems" to be slacking at the sofa, he is really picking up the details that has happen on the ground so that he can share during debrief. He is allowing the struggle to happen so that it will be a learning journey for them. He is Not slacking after all and indeed did a lot deeper work than me whom only focus on the "now" issue. See the difference.

Instead of firefighting, one chooses to focus the details so that there can be learning. No doubt through firefighting there can also be learning, there is much lesser learning as compared to taking a step back and observe.

So for the Boys, i hope that they learn that sometimes "How is it going to look like" is important, but "What steps is necessary to make it happen" is even more important. And as followers, seek to support the leader as much as you can. So that the leader can really see the full pictures and look for flaws, the details.

As for me, I need to level up in the art also. Its hard for me but i going to keep trying.

Cheers!

In tough times ...

Yoz, I thought I want to share what I feel about the project so far and the performance from this 3 young gentlemen. But first, I want to share that these few weeks is pretty difficult for me because my studies are finally catching up and like an normal university student, sufficient sleep is really an privilege more than anything. Furthermore, the happenings among people around me, those whom I work with, those whom I stay with, simply weight me down a bit here and there. All these elements sort of resonate with one another and causes me to feel depressed as in unable to be happy.

Well, it may happen to you sometime along the way and it is of my interest to share with you what I feel about it.

1st. It is okay not to able to meet the expectation of others, provided you tried your very best.
2nd. Dun procrastinate. It is the reason why it spiral downwards in the first place.
3rd. You are responsible for the well-being of the people under you.

Let me address one by one.

Firstly, I thought it is the very nature of Asians to be Mr "Yes". Not that we are proud or what, but we just dun want to be unable to meet the expectation of others. Sometimes, we really did try but it just does not work out the way we wanted. Well, to be honest, if your Officers ever gave you a certain expectation to meet, trust us, we know and believe you can do it. Even when you believe half-heartedly, trust us, we believe in your potential and we will leave you to rot. Only we ask you to give in your best shot. Remember, forget about meeting the expectation (even though you should aim for it), just give your best shot.

Secondly, I thought this generation of kids a higher tendency to say "Aiya, do later la". Well, it maybe okay if you have very little to do. But honestly, if you have the mentality that "I dun have enough time", then I guess you will have a lot more time for yourself. And I believe you have encounter enough situations that if only you acted on it earlier, the outcome will be far better than what it is. So just do it, now! Dun wait for later.

Thirdly, as a leader, sometimes, it is both a weight but another an encouragement that you have people under you. For good or for bad, these people will follow you. If you are wise, they might be able to complete their task easily. If you are not so wise, they might need to put in a lot more effort to make it happen. But like it or not, that is why leaders are they for in the first place. So, really, take care of the people under you, in your case, the squad that you lead for BB Cares. I am not asking you to sayang everyone. Actually, the most straight forward way of caring for your members, is simply to plan ahead. Through planning, you can see whether you are stressing the members too much or too slack with them while maintain the posture of wanting to involve everyone. This is what I call, 1 stone hit 2 birds =)

Tough a not as a Leader? Yes of course. It is not suppose to be easy anyway. But doable? YES!! Start early, plan early. Then you have process your requirement thought thoroughly early.

Now it is close to your SA2. I hope this last stretch you will finish it well so that when the 3 Events are happening, you will have confidence to carry it out, truly your best effort. Remember, I am but a phone call away. Hope all of you learn something today. 

Again, as always, let me bless you with this verse. 1 Corinthians 16:13.

Hoong Sheng