Where Does Your Help Comes From?

"I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where does my help come?"

(Psalm 121:1)

The psalmist who wrote this was probably on a journey of pilgrimage to Jerusalem; and he probably uttered this prayer of supplication while feeling inspired looking at majestic mountains along the way.

For me, it was when in the middle of the night, scared, my eyes fixed on the impossible mountain of work, I uttered those immortal words. Never had a deadline literally felt like a line of death, of which my lonely poor soul was felt being dragged slowly towards it, like a lamb to be slaughtered. For the past month, my soul woke up every night in search of something to cling on to...anything tangible, but felt nothing except an ancient promise.

"You're not the devil. You're practice!"

I appreciate a lesson I'd learned from the movie Batman Begins which I now use regularly. In fact I only caught it on my third viewing, sometime early this year. In the movie, Bruce Wayne deliberately got himself thrown into a prison so he could fight criminals behind locked doors. Well, that was probably one extreme way to reach his purpose...but there was something precious which I've kept with me ever since.  

Man (whispers to Bruce): They are going to fight you.
Bruce: Again?
Man: Until they kill you.
Bruce: Can they kill me before breakfast?

Big man: You are in hell, little man. And I am the devil.
Bruce: You are not the devil. You're practice.

(Bruce fights with men)
(Gunshots)

Guard (while carrying Bruce away): Solitary!
Bruce: Why?
Guard: For protection.
Bruce: I don't need protection.
Guard: Protection for them (pointing to men groaning in pain).

Ever since then, I always use that quote to remind myself when I face adversities or adversaries: They're not the devil, they're just practice. I've lost count how many times that one quote has helped to lift me up from the floor.

Today at my work place, a sales consultant was really down after being verbally assaulted by an idiotic shopper who had no intention of buying anything at our retail store. His sole purpose was to heap insults and "pee" on a particular brand (world renown) which my colleague represents. One minute into their conversation, I knew this guy was a trouble-maker. But I didn't stop nor interrupt them. Ten minutes later, I could see the physiology of my colleague changed into someone who was totally battered. He told me he just wants to quit working for that brand, and that he's in need of counselling ever since he became its specialist.


I really felt sorry for the sales consultant as this incident wasn't his first time, and it definitely won't be his last. I took him off the sales floor to have a drink outside. Everyday we have thousands of shoppers in our store, and every salesman probably talk to at least a hundred of them daily. During my observation over three weeks, I could see that less than one percent of shoppers really do have the intention to cost trouble. About five percent unintentionally cause problems, and some are just plain rude. And then there are the skeptics and there are those who perceive sales assistants as "stalkers"! But most are normal shoppers and many are happy buying customers. Many of them are even repeated customers. I mean, our sales reports don't lie, the numbers are there. The millions that we make in our monthly sales revenue (should) keep everyone in the company and the business partners happy.


So I suggested to the consultant that he could view such trouble-makers as just an insignificant statistical number which is part of the overall business. I said "that guy is just your practice" because I know over time, he's gonna make many customers very happy, so why focus on the few insignificant morons and let them knock him down. I also found out all these while, he had low self-confidence and self-esteem as he possess very little academic qualifications and being stepped upon and ill-treated by all his past and current employers. I advised him to focus on honing his selling skills. I'm both convinced and persuaded that if one could successfully learn how to handle customers' objections and face rejections courageously everyday, there is nothing too difficult for him, he'll be unstoppable in any chosen endeavour. The mastery of this ability has very little to do with formal education. I think this is a good place to insert another one of Jim Rohn's famous quotes, one of my favourites:

"Formal education will make you a living, but informal education will make you a fortune".   

Everyday, for the past three weeks I observe how the top sales people in my company engage in selling and serving their customers. Initially I couldn't understand why would their past customers keep going back to them to buy computers, often times buying a few over a ridiculously short period of time. Just didn't make sense to me! I patiently observe the differences of the top sales men from the average. One of them even revealed to me a few secrets on how he "catch his fishes". Those lessons are too lengthy to fit into this post. By the way, I had learned none of them from my so-called high and expensive formal education, I'm learning them from these so-called under-educated but hungry colleagues. A few of them sometimes earn (commission) higher incomes than their managers! I'm now sharpening my skills with them every day.


So, for my dejected colleague, I hope he realized that by practicing selling really well, he can one day "free" himself to do whatever he chooses to do. But for things to change, he has to change how he view himself, not the cruel world out there. Sadly, today is also my last day working together with him as I just received the call for relocation to a bigger store next week. Bigger store = more problems coming my way....I really meant more practices!

Horse Whisperers

As I was re-reading one of my e-books by Josh Waitzkin (I may write about this guy someday!), I was re-impressed (but much stronger this time) by some truths. I'm sure everyone can identify and learn something from them.

There are two basic ways of taming a wild stallion.

First, is the traditional way of breaking down the horse. You tie it up and freak it out. Shake paper bags, rattle cans, drive it crazy until it submits to any noise. Make it endure the humiliation of being held bondage by a rope. Once it's partly submissive, you tack the horse, get on top of it and show who's the boss. The horse resists, twists and fights, but there is no escape. Then, it drops to its knees in pain, frustration and exhaustion. Finally, nearing the point of death and having its spirit broken, it yields. This method is what many called Shock and Awe.

Second, is the way of the horse whisperers. You can click here to wiki on the first few known horse whisperers. Josh's mom was a horse trainer. She trains them from young by handling them gently. Here's an excerpt:

"My mother explains, "When the horse is very young, a foal, we gentle it. The horse is always handled. You pet it, feed it, groom it, stroke it, it gets used to you, likes you. You get on it and there is no fight, nothing to fight." So you guide the horse toward doing what you want to do because he wants to do it. You synchronize desires, speak the same language. You don't break the horse's spirit. My mom goes on: "If you walk straight toward a horse, it will look at you and probably run away. You don't have to oppose the horse in that way. Approach indirectly, without confrontation. Even an adult horse can be gentled. Handle him nicely, make your intention the horse's intention."

"Then, when riding, both you and the horse want to maintain the harmony you have established. If you want to move to the right, you move to the right and so the horse naturally moves right to balance your weight." Rider and animal feel like one. They have established a bond that neither wants to disrupt. And most critically, in this relationship between man and beast, the horse has not been whitewashed. When trained, he will bring his unique character to the table. The gorgeous, vibrant spirit is still flowing in an animal that used to run the plains."

Are you a teacher? Or an employer? Or a parent? Do you run groups or organizations? Do you lead people?

Which of the two is your primary method?

Are the people under you discontented? Do they leave? Do your students shut you out in their minds? Does your child appears to be rebellious? Is there any connection at all? Do you recognize and encourage their natural voice and talents? Or do you shock them into submission? I know, it's much subtler normally, but I think you get the idea.

Goodbye PASB, Hello Hurricane

Yeah, Switchfoot is releasing a new (hotly-anticipated) album 'Hello Hurricane' in November. They've been performing some of the new songs in their tours. And in the many short video clips that they uploaded, they always say Goodbye to the town they were in, and Hello to Hurricane, their next destination eg. "Goodbye Texas, Hello Hurricane".

I'm writing this while preparing for late night trainings for tonight and tomorrow as this is my last week at work in my current job. For some things in life, you've to be brave enough to be put an end to them.

"What's next?" some asked me. I don't know how to answer them. Here in this blog, all I can say for now is that a great storm is up ahead.

This year is probably the most stormy one for me in recent years. I even help planned a "Storm Surfers" Retreat for the Young Adults. But everything I've gone through this year is just a foretaste of what's coming, I believe.

So what's next? Few months back, an elder prophesied over me, and I counted ten parts (ten images) to it. In one of them, he saw me riding a speedboat accelerating straight into a raging storm. That is just one of the many parts...

I'll just leave here with the Switchfoot's upcoming new song (which I've listened and I'm loving it already!) which pretty much summed up my year so far.

I've been watching the skies
They've been turning blood red
Not a doubt in my mind
There's a storm up ahead

Hello Hurricane
You're not enough
Hello Hurricane
You can't silence my love
I've got doors and windows boarded up
All your dead end fury is not enough
You can't silence my love

Everything I have I count as loss
Everything I have is stripped away
But before it started building
I counted up these costs
Ain't nothing left for you to take away

Hello Hurricane
You're not enough...

Goodbye PASB, Hello Hurricane! :)

Goodbye

At my desk in the simulation room. 4 monitors are not enough. I need another laptop! :p

Operation center

Today is my last day at this workplace. October onwards, I'll be back at my Cyberjaya headoffice. Somehow, felt that familiar empty feeling of leaving a place. Guess it's normal. Afterall, I've been based here for 3 years. Gonna say my goodbyes in a few minutes...

The Lord knows what the future holds for me. I won't think too much now...cos I'm packing my bags for a diving holiday at Manado. It'll feel so good to revisit the underwater world. Fly away...

Life Quote

"I never did a day's work in my life, it was all fun."

-Thomas A. Edison. Inventor, Entrepreneur, Scientist, Lifelong learner

Bonuses! Increment!

Wow! Last Friday I received 2 months' bonus. We normally get just before Chinese New Year, not end of the year like most company. And today I received a letter of increment, from the big big boss himself personally. Though it wasn't much (<5%), it was still a nice touch by my employer.

My colleagues thought we'll not get bonus this year due to so many uncertainties. I'm the only contract staff here, yet I've no worries unlike all the other permanent staffs. I somehow knew it'll come and I testified about it last month. I also foreknew it'll be bigger this year, and sure enough I got double! (Bonus is normally 1 month)

And the increment I received today is the icing in the cake!

But really, it's not all about money.

Sometimes my lack of worrying is quite worrying. But with such an amazing God on our side, tell me, how can we not rejoice and let go?

Prov 10:3 - The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry...

Now, should I worry that my extended contract is expiring this June?