Robocleaner has started work

The robots are getting ubiquitous. 

The following 'noisy' robot cleaner has started work at a local shopping mall with minimal or no supervision at all as the human supervisor is not in the vicinity, presumably, doing something else that is more value-added or supervising these robocleaners from a computer or handphone.

Life for the cleaning supervisor has just got better. For one thing, with robocleaners he is spared of the headache to review the work ethics and performance of these 'employees' who are without any rights. 

P.S. If the human cleaners strike back by vandalising theses machines, then new laws have to be quickly put in place to cover such mischiefs in the event that current ones are inadequate. 


Click here for a clip on Robocleaner.

Stay Within The Positive Zone of the Losada Line

What you say and how you treat other people can affect their happiness. Likewise, what you hear and how other people handle you can affect your happiness. 

Photo by Ankush Minda on Unsplash

The critical ratio is 3+ to 1-, approximately, to remain at status quo. This means that it takes 3 positive expressions or interactions to offset 1 negative expression or interaction.

In his research on marriages, John Gottman was able to predict the success or failure of marriages with over 90% accuracy and the ratio of positive expressions over negative expressions was a key predictor.

Based on his mathematical modeling of corporate teamwork, Marcial Losada derived 2.9013 as the critical ratio for success in the team's performance with an ideal ratio of 6.

Barbara Fredrickson, from her research of college students, has found that students with a positivity ratio higher than 3 have high mental and social health. 

The war against negative experiences wages on. Do not allow the negative to rob you of your happiness or the happiness of others within your circle of influence.

Bear in mind the Losada Line, Losada ratio, Gottman ratio or positivity ratio. Stay above it and you will be happy or, at the least, you will not be unhappy. 

Just as you wanna to be happy, show kindness to others, in turn, besides heeding the call of librarians to handle books with care and the urging of naturalists to be kind to animals. 

Bibliography:

* www.happierhuman.com, "The Power of Positivity, In Moderation: The Losada Ratio"

* Shawn Achor, "The Happiness Advantage": page 61

The Duck Knight Rises

Enough of the Dark Knight. It is time for Darkwing Duck (aka the Duck Knight) to make a splash again.

This knight is 'the terror that flaps in the night' and has a penchant for saying, "Let's get dangerous."

Click here for a whacky dosage of good fun laugh-out-loud I Am The Terror That Flaps In The Night.

Click here for more insights from Full Sail University The Duck Knight Rises.

Strap On A Hawker Hurricane

Not everyone has the licence, training and what-nots to strap on and fly his or her own aeroplane.

Source: Wikipedia 

However, you can certainly strap your flight of fancy on your wrist with, say, a Hawker Hurricane or Hawker Harrier and feel the underlying adrenaline rush of flying or even engaging in a dogfight 

Photo credit: David Oates (Source: Airfix.com)

At AVI-8 you will be spoilt for choice with aviation-inspired watches under product ranges such as Hawker Hurricane, Hawker Hunter and Hawker Harrier II.

Here is a sample by courtesy of https://avi-8.co.uk:-

Hawker Hurricane Chronograph
AV-4062-01

Hawker Harrier II
AV-4056-01

Click here and be blown away by what AVI-8 has in store.

And, if you must get your hand on a replica of the Hurricanes, then click here for Airfix.com.

Focus On The Opportunity Rather Than The Problem

When you are stuck with a problem, you can move forward by shifting your mindset. 

Consider the following diagram where the Problem is overwhelming and has left U hanging in the air.

However, by shifting the fulcrum of your Mindset so as to provide more leverage, U will be able to uplift the Problem as per the following illustration:-

An example of shifting your mindset would be to focus on the opportunity which a problem present rather than be tormented by it. 

Photo by Chris Barbalis on Unsplash

It is the same problem, but a positive take along the lines of 'What can I learn from this?' and 'Solving this problem will bring forth tangible benefits' would be more constructive than wallowing in self-pity ('Why me?') or despair ('Sigh, why is this happening again?').

Another change of mindset would be to actually make yourself happy because the problem does not constrain or limit you. You will maintain a happy disposition throughout each day no matter what life throws at you. What's the problem? It can be solved. Got problem? Bring it on. I am going to slay this monster for good, and move on.

When confronted with problems on multiple fronts, an example of a change in mindset would be to compartmentalise them. Imagine going into your workshop and placing each of your five baskets of problems on each of the five workstations there. Then decide which basket of problem to tackle first and focus on it till it is resolved. Do not be like the lion in a circus which suffers from paralysis when faced with a five-legged stool.

Keep learning and expand your mindset so that you can shift your mindset to tackle whatsoever problem which comes to test you (and make you stronger). You hold the answers to your problems, including the trump card of knowing where to find the help you need. 

By the way, you may find helpful ideas from the blog feeds of Stunning Motivation, Lifehack and Addicted 2 Success on the top-right of this blog. 

Thank you for reading Daily Refreshing.

Inspired-Tea

Tea is no longer what it used to be. Not being a regular tea drinker, I have often wondered why there is always a crowd of people waiting patiently (the calming effect of tea, erh?) at tea outlets for their number to show up on the display panel when their cuppa is ready for collection.

As it happened, I decided to check out i.tea (I & tea) for a cup of chilled green tea as I recall how refreshing a can of chilled green tea would taste from my occasional indulgence. I ended up better off with fresh lemon included and my selected 25% sugar level. The impeccable blend of freshly brewed tea and fresh lemon made my day and I have been back for more.

 

Refreshing chilled green tea with fresh lemon 

I surmise that there are legit reasons for the crowd and it is not just a fad or a herd mentality of joining the gathering. 

The reasons would include:

1. Variety of tea (e.g. Earl Grey, Oolong, Assam Black and Jasmine Green)

2. Variety of concoction (e.g. milk and Yakult)

3. Choice of sugar level (100%, 75%, 50%, 25% and 0%)

4. Choice of toppings (e.g. aloe vera, mango pudding, grass jelly and ice cream)

5. Freshness of ingredients

Here are some pictures for your refreshing take on tea:-

 

Thank you for reading Daily Refreshing. Join the crowd and have a tea-rrific day!

Message from Deliveroo: eat more amazing

Click here for the menu of i.tea (I & tea).

Success or Happiness -- Which Come First?

For the longest time, the default thinking is that you will be happy when you are successful. 

However, when you have achieved one level of success, you raise the bar for a higher level of success. For example, you were so happy when you could afford to own an apartment until a peer moved into a bungalow in a posh neighbourhood and you kinda lost your happiness overnight.

Thus, it would seem that success is a never ending pursuit and happiness remain as elusive as ever.

As in any conversation, it is helpful to define what we are discussing so that we are more or less on the same page.

Happiness has been reckoned to be a feeling which is fueled by positive emotions. Barbara Fredrickson, a researcher at the University of North Carolina, has identified the following the top ten happiness boosters as follows:

1.  Joy

2.  Gratitude

3.  Serenity

4.  Interest 

5.  Hope

6.  Pride

7.  Amusement

8.  Inspiration

9.  Awe

10. Love

If you experience one or more of the above emotions oftentimes, congratulations as you are more likely to feel happy than otherwise.

Martin Seligman, a pioneer of positive psychology, breaks down happiness into the following three measurable constituents:

1. Pleasure

2. Engagement

3. Meaning

For example, you may enjoy getting rid of dirt and have found that you take to washing cars like a duck to water rather than sweeping the sidewalks. Also, you take pride in doing your job with a middle term view of promotion to team leader and manager followed by the ultimate goal of operating your own car wash franchise. Boy, you would make one happy car washer, for sure!

To digress, you were so sold out to your car washing that you have developed a  routine which involve some dancing and juggling in the flow of work that your customers have uploaded onto YouTube to viral review. Consequently, you are getting interviews and even got to moonlight as a motivational speaker with an inaugural topic "Let Your Glory Shine!"!

Eudaimonia is a Greek word and philosophy which has been translated into different shades of meanings in English such as: happiness, virtue, morality, fulfilment, human flourishing, a meaningful life, spirituality or prosperity. 

"Eu" refers to good while "daimon" refers to soul or self. Thus, Eudaimonia means attaining an ideal state of total well-being. 

Photo by Danica Tanjutco on Unsplash

In his book "The Happiness Advantage", Shawn Achor wrote, "For me, happiness is the joy we feel striving after our potential."

As gleaned from the blurb on the back cover of his book: "Research shows that happy employees are more productive, more creative, and better problem solvers than their unhappy peers. And positive people are significantly healthier and less stressed and enjoy deeper social interaction than the less positive people around them."

Click here for What is the Happiness Advantage? by Shawn Achor

Click here for TEDxBloomington - Shawn Achor - "The Happiness Advantage: Linking Positive Brains to Performance"

You could choose or will yourself to be happy regardless of whether you have achieved your desired degree of success. While success may produce happiness momentarily, at the least, it is not the sole contributor to happiness. That said,  all other things being equal, your chances of success will improve if you have the Happiness Advantage.


Click here for previous post on Einstein's Theory of Happiness

Click here for previous post on You Can Be Happy  

Bibliography:

* http://philosophyterms.com/eudaimonia/

* The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor

Wouldn't You Fancy a Gorilla Watch?

As gleaned from its website, these are the salient unique selling propositions of Gorilla Watches:

1. Power

"Fuelled by a combined passion for cars and watches, exploring the fine line between far enough and too far, built on solid horologic design pedigree."

2. Performance 

"Radical material combinations pushed to the edge of reason, engineered to be worn and be seen, delivering addictive product experiences."

3. Rarity 

"If you’re looking for a brand that plays to the status quo, we are not for you. Our relentless spirit of disruption is only for those seeking the exhilaration of creating a new way."

GORILLA FASTBACK (ACID GREEN)
Image courtesy of Watch Wonderland;
https://wonderland.watch/collections/gorilla

GORILLA GT MIRAGE
Image courtesy of Watch Wonderland;
https://wonderland.watch/collections/gorilla

Click here for Gorilla Watches.

Click here for Watch Wonderland.

Click here for a review of Gorilla Watches by Watch Collecting Lifestyle.

Imagination + Action = Success

We are the sum of our thoughts, including imagination. This may be true where our thoughts and creative ideas/images/concepts translate into corresponding actions. 

We are the sum of our actions. However, we could end up saying or doing things which we do not intend.

What or who are we then? We are a hybrid of our thoughts and actions. When we are deeply convicted in our thoughts, we will work things out accordingly and realise our true self, undistorted, and become powerful as all our stars have become aligned, so to speak.

Let the words of J.K. Rowling inspire you to find greatness in the good stuffs that you are passionate about. 

By the way, passion is not just about being interested in some endeavours. More than that, passion entails doing something which you are willing to suffer or sacrifice for even when there is no recognition or rewards. That is, until you are discovered! So, be encouraged to go for your it.

Click here for 13 Most-Inspiring J.K. Rowling Quotes to Make You Stronger by Shawn Lim at StunningMotivation.com, which are summarised as follows:

1. “It is impossible to live without failing at something unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default.”

2. “We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.”

3. “It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”

4. “Failure meant a stripping away of the inessential. I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was, and began to direct all my energy into finishing the only work that mattered to me. Had I really succeeded at anything else, I might never have found the determination to succeed in the one arena I believed I truly belonged.”

5. “I have never been remotely ashamed of having been depressed. Never. What’s to be ashamed of? I went through a really rough time and I am quite proud that I got out of that.” 

6. “You’ve got to be prepared for hitting wrong notes occasionally, or quite a lot. That’s just part of the learning process. And read a lot. Reading a lot really helps. Read anything you can get your hands on.” 

7. “Sometimes, you have to stop trying to force it, walk away and let your subconscious show you the way. Fill up on life for a while.”

8. “The world is full of wonderful things you haven’t seen yet. Don’t ever give up on the chance of seeing them.”

9. “Failure is so important. We speak about success all the time. It is the ability to resist failure or use failure that often leads to greater success.”

10. “Imagination is the foundation of all invention and innovation.”

11. “If someone asked for my recipe for happiness, step one would be finding out what you love doing most in the world and step two would be finding someone to pay you to do it.”

12. “The discipline involved in finishing a piece of creative work is something on which you can truly pride yourself.”

13. “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”

May you see the light soon at the end of your tunnel and find good success. All the best to you, my dear readers. Never ever give up on your dream.

What Are Dreams Made of?

Dreams are made of stuffs such as spider webs, eggs, organic cells, precious gems and fireworks. These are the recurring images which crop up in Sunny Chyun's dreams.

Sunny Chyun is the 2017 UOB Painting of the Year (Singapore) Award Winner under the Established Artist Category. In her works on media like linen and canvas, she utilises materials and techniques such as acrylic, oil paint, marker pen, glow-in-the-dark thread, beading, digital print and embroidery. 

The following is a sample of her works in a solo exhibition What Dreams Are Made Of organised by UOB Bank Limited.

Golden Age

Shot in the Dark

EggCellent

Lucid Dreaming

Creativity Clusters

Exhilaration

Zero Some Gain

Lighting Up The World (With Your Shine)

Dyspraxia
2017 UOB Painting of the Year (Singapore)
Established Artist Category

"Dyspraxia explores the combination of elusive perceptions, memories and meanings. Sunny challenges pictorial conventions using the physicality of paint to resonate emotions. The use of Abstract Expressionism creates an imagery that symbolises the anarchic nature of the world that undermines all attempts at understanding it." 

Click here to visit Sunny Chyun's homepage. 


Bibliography:-

Renew Your Mind and Take Action

Life can be different and better. You can be happier with a meaningful and purposeful life as you keep learning the ropes of navigating your own life.  

"They can because they think they can." -- Virgil

Photo by Lieue Marine on Unsplash

To do that you have to set your goals, self-discipline your mind, believe in your in-built potential, envision your future, unshackle your past and take consistent action.

"Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later." -- Og Mandino

I believe that you will find the following two clips to be revitalising:

We Become What We Think About Most Of The Time - Positive Thinking Motivation

TAKE ACTION - Best Motivational Video

Have You Found Your Path To Financial Freedom?

Most of us would dream of growing a money tree, owning a cash cow, or finding the proverbial goose that lay golden eggs.

Thoughts alone are futile if we do not take actions. We need to start searching for those who have found a way to achieving their financial goals and learn from them so that we, too, could find our way to financial independence.

Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash

In my search, I have found Brian Halim's blog "A Path to Forever Financial Freedom (3Fs)" to be inspiring and well-written. I have requested for an e-interview with Brian and he has very kindly and generously share his thoughts and insights with us in response to the following questions: 

What got you started on blogging? 

Brian: I started blogging back in 2010 and have since written over 700 articles to date. Blogging has been a very important component to many of my milestones in life. 

The first and foremost blogging has allowed me to pen my thoughts and articulate them in an organized manner such that it will allow for representation and also commitment to everything that I promised to myself. For example, when I purchased a stock with a specific thesis, I’d like to remind myself why I had bought such company in the first place. This allowed me to take responsibility for my own action and also to strictly follow the guidelines which I enforced myself as an investor.

How would you define financial freedom and what is your path to achieving it?

Brian: Mathematically, financial freedom is defined as a crossover point between income and expenses, i.e when my passive income cashflow is able to feed expenses without the need for a day job to depend on it. It is always a bit more prudent to put in a conservative estimate of both the income and expenses so it can survive any external events impact.

My goal to achieve financial independence is through the vehicle of dividend income, that is by buying a list of solid companies which pay out dividend every year.

Is your path to financial freedom workable for everyone as they may not be a Financial Controller with an MBA like you?

Brian: I think everyone should try to work out and achieve financial independence as this is something that would impact everyone. Whilst high paying jobs are a nice boost to the income, anyone with a decent salary to start with should be able to save a decent amount at the end of every month. While initially the amount of compounding will be slow, it will progress and snowballed faster as the capital gets bigger over the years.

Having an MBA definitely does not expedite the path to reach financial independence if that person does not have the traits of saving or trying to grow their money through investing.

How has your achievement been like since embarking on this path to financial freedom?

Brian: I gave myself a stretch target to reach financial independence at the age of 35 knowing this is an almost impossible task to begin with.

There are 4 stop-over milestones ($250k / $500k / $750k / $1m) that I usually try to emphasize since this gives a good chance to take a breather to see where I am in terms of the journey.

So far, it took me 6 years to reach the first milestone, followed by 3 years to reach the second milestone, followed by 1 year and 7 months to reach the third milestone.

Slowly, I can feel the effect of compounding that works in favour of the portfolio.

What would you consider to be the top three investment principles that you have been able to capitalise on?

Brian: My top 3 investment principles have to be:

i)  Know your company well inside out – This means you have to study the level of details on the company really well that it is within the grasp of your hands.

ii) Buy with margin of safety – Buy companies with such a low valuation with many downsides baked in that any small increase will result good double digit percentage gain for you.

iii) Focus on the cashflow – Cashflow is the heart of any company and is the lifeline to any increase in its share price.

How would you define success and happiness?

Brian: Success and happiness is when you can make the people around you, families or friends, live life better at the deeds of your action.

What is the most important lesson(s) that you have learnt about life? 

Brian: Life is a continuous breed of Monday to Sunday with you determining the activities you should lead in that 24 hours.

Dear Readers,

May this conversation spur you to start working on your path to financial freedom, if not already done so.

Click here for A Path to Forever Financial Freedom (3Fs) and gain useful financial knowledge from Brian Halim. 

What is an okapi?

There is nothing new under the sun, but it will be a while before we can all reach that conclusion.

For now, we can do our part to spread the word and make the okapi as common as a giraffe or zebra.

Click here for Okapi: The Definitely Real Giraffe of the Forest.