Weekly Motivation from Dora

You can’t control the weather
But you can control your temper
You can’t choose your appearance
But you can choose to smile
You can’t influence others
But you can improve further
You can’t predict your prospect
But you can improve your aspect
You can’t always have your way
But you can go all the way

From Ms Dora Hoan with love

A team is made up of unique individuals.
No man is perfect; everyone has strengths and weaknesses.
A leader must be able to identify the qualities of the team members for appropriate delegation.
Always make full use of everyone’s strengths.

From Ms Dora Hoan with love

Consternation: Speak thoughtfully
Trivialities: Speak humorously
Emergencies: Speak calmly
Gaieties: Speak more
Gossip: Speak less
Slanders: Speak not
Drivel: Why speak
Present: Speak after you are done

From Ms Dora Hoan with love

Mind at peace when you have done your best
Calm at heart no matter the outcome
Face success with a relaxed mind
Face failures with a tranquil mind
Setbacks obstacles come naturally
Wisdom realisation come eventually

From Ms Dora Hoan with love

Filial piety towards my parents
Proper education of my children
Proper upkeep of my health
Proper care of my skin
Proper maintenance of my matrimonial relationship
Proper manners when speaking with others
Proper behaviour when interacting with others

From Ms Dora Hoan with love

Do unto others as you would have others done unto you
Stepping back to see the big picture
Forgive whenever possible
Happiness should not be at others’ expense
Sharing is rewarding
To sacrifice for the greater good
Forget the grudges; repay kindness with kindness
Treat others with courtesy, win over people by virtue

From Ms Dora Hoan with love

Things today should be done today
Things urgent should be done first
Things unimportant should be done when free
Things difficult should be done with your best
Things very important should be done carefully
Things frustrating should be done with patience
Things personal should be done in personal time
Things bad should not be done
Things good should be done more
All things should be done in earnest

From Ms Dora Hoan with love

Winners act to handle problems. 
Losers are manhandled by problems. 
Winners search for solutions without excuses. 
Losers search for excuses while blaming others. 
Winners look for opportunities in crises. 
Losers become sitting ducks in crises.

From Ms Dora Hoan with love

Winners take the initiative.
Losers act with passivity.
Winners race when others rest.
Losers doze when others rest.
Winners reach their goals no matter what.
Losers dally their way no matter what.

From Ms Dora Hoan with love

Winners: “What can I do for others?”
Losers: “What can others do for me?”
Winners: “I can!”
Losers: “I can’t!”
Winners always credit others.
Losers always discredit others.

From Ms Dora Hoan with love

Interpersonal relationship begins with a conversation.  How can we start a conversation then?

One of the starters is topic on family, for example, living location, family members, number of children and etc.  Another is topic on work.  You can ask where the other party works or whether he or she is satisfied with the job.

However, if the person is evasive, you can select another personal but not too invasive subject, such as whether the person is participating in any clubs, recreational activities, hobbies and etc.  You can also choose safer starters like food, from food court to restaurants, whether he has any recommendations. 

The abovementioned starters are suitable for fresh acquaintances but we still need to be diligent in managing our relationships after that.

From Ms Dora Hoan with love

The worsening of interpersonal relationship comes mainly from the style of communication. Open criticism, backstabbing and squabbles are the beginning of splits. Hence, to maintain a harmonious relationship, one must observe the three don’ts:

1. Don’t criticise
2. Don’t backstab
3. Don’t squabble

We have spent much time and effort on maintaining relationships but if we do not have self-discipline and vigilance, our relationships can easily be destroyed. Hence, we must observe the three don’ts so as to complement our efforts.

From Ms Dora Hoan with love

Conversation is a necessity in interpersonal relationship. Do not only talk about yourself and neglect others during conversations.

The most effective conversational skill is to talk about topics of interest that matter to others. However, this does not mean bootlicking. Compliment is the most beautiful language because everyone will feel great when they are appreciated. Hence, we should praise others frequently so as to make their day.

However, flattery will be misunderstood as sarcasm. Therefore, to let people feel your concern, words of praise have to be factual and sincere, not exaggerated or falsified.

Relationship begins with sincere compliment! Let’s cultivate the habit of praising others every day.

From Ms Dora Hoan with love

When you are all alone on a deserted island, you will not be happy even if you have the largest mansion, most luxurious car, most delectable feast, most dazzling jewellery and most abundant cash. This is because happiness is not only found in an individual; it is also found in a community.

Hence, people live their lives with families, colleagues and friends. This is especially the case for colleagues, since you need to spend most of your time with them. However, how can you be happy if there are distrust, office politics and squabbles? There can only be stress!

To prevent such a disagreeable situation, everyone has to make an effort for harmony. Everyone must be aware of the limits to tolerance and understand what can or cannot be said or done. Besides that, we should be considerate and understanding; we need to be positive and work on a win-win principle. To find delight in interaction, you need to be sincere, grateful, helpful as well as less calculative and jealous. Henceforth, you will be truly happy!

From Ms Dora Hoan with love

In face of difficulties and setbacks, many gave up for expediency. They then spouted some reasons to excuse themselves.

Those people, who give up their goals too easily, may not have enough self-confidence and fighting spirit. They cannot persevere nor achieve success.

Achievers always possess a burning desire to succeed. They have the determination to fight and persevere to the very end. They have an infinite amount of energy, resilience and persistence to push forward. They are the ones who create miracles and perseverance is their inner will power to gain success.

Perseverance can be considered as another term for success.

From Ms Dora Hoan with love

Bad circumstances are common.  Pessimists flee upon facing obstacles.  They escape, complain and give up easily.  Thus, 80-90% of the people around us are not successful.  On the other hand, positive people choose to accept the setbacks.  They think and reflect constantly; they persistently seek to solve problems.  As such, those who are positive are able to overcome challenges and achieve personal breakthroughs.

Life is but a winding road.  The challenges ahead of us get difficult when we are close to success.  As long as you persist in your beliefs, remain confident about your goals and be positive, you can triumph over the challenges and achieve success.

Also, a positive person is able to uncover his potential, create limitless power and display immense creativity.  In truth, only positive people have inspiration, charisma and positive influence.  Thus, let’s embrace the positive mind set and attitude, treat people and matters positively and ultimately create miracles!

From Ms Dora Hoan with love

The best strategy to build self-confidence is to seek out your core competencies and enhance them. When you realise that you have areas superior to others, you would surely be able to build self-confidence.

Cast off feelings of inferiority and become a confident person. With confidence, you can face life with positivism and your potential may then be developed. Gradually, you would become the centre of attraction and become more influential, creative, wise and powerful. Success and wealth will eventually follow.

If Edison had not got strong confidence, it was impossible for him to withstand thousands of failed experiments. There certainly would not be any invention if he was not confident. Edison was not a genius neither was he highly educated. It was confidence that made him suddenly come to an understanding in his work and develop all his potential to become a great inventor. Edison’s success story is indeed the best testimony in the power of confidence.

From Ms Dora Hoan with love

If you don’t believe you will succeed, you will definitely not succeed! This is because you will not expend any effort in working hard to achieve success. On the other hand, if you think well of yourself, you will definitely push yourself to become better to attain new levels of success.

You should also think well of others. If you think that another individual possesses lots of potential, eventually, the resulting outcome may create value for both of you. However, if you think poorly of others, you will not get any value.

Remember, we must think well of ourselves and others. This way, there is nothing you cannot achieve.

From Ms Dora Hoan with love

On the road to success, I have discovered that procrastination is the biggest obstacle!

Some people have formed the habit of postponing their daily to-do tasks. They delayed things in the morning and by the end of the day, these things remain undone. Success can only be realised by will power. If we delay, we may forget. If we forget, the task is undone, then how could we succeed?

Procrastination demonstrates that you are inefficient – poor time management, unfocused and irresponsible. You should be determined to get rid of procrastination before it ruins you.

From Ms Dora Hoan with love

Many spend much time seeking new prospects for selling.  However, they cease to follow up after the deal.  After a long time, they will be too embarrassed to follow up and consequently lose a chance to regain a sale, or even recommend a potential talent.

You must always remember that people will only buy your products if they trust you.  If your products are good, they will continue to buy.  However, people rarely approach you to continue their supply, especially since there will be many other salespersons.

If we can make follow up a habit and part of the time table, you will not only have loyal customers but also gain more referrals or even downlines.

Lack of follow up is unwise; this means the losses.  Do not be overconfident of your memory, but instead, make follow up your habit and part of your business system.

From Ms Dora Hoan with love

You need to make a habit of setting deadlines for important matters.  With a deadline, you will then have the urgency and concentration to accomplish the tasks.  A goal without deadline will be a goal that is forever out of reach.

You must be aware that setting a target does not mean making a promise.  One should not shy away from setting goals for fear of failure.  You can try segregating the goals into those that must be achieved, and those that are ideal. 

From Ms Dora Hoan with love

I observed that there is a common characteristic of successful people – eagerness.  They will act on their thoughts immediately; I feel that the decisiveness and speed have enabled them to move faster than others.  In today society, time and speed are critical.  Fortunately, for those who are slow-moving, the quality of eagerness can be cultivated.  For instance, if you are unable to act on anything immediately, you can write it down and follow up as soon as possible.  However, many just leave the task aside, thinking that they have ample time and consequently, they just forget about it.

"A year from now you will wish you had started today."
— Karen Lamb

Many thought they had many tomorrows for their tasks; they could afford to go slow. Yet, they eventually forgot and did nothing.  Therefore, the solution is to do it immediately or write it down and do it tomorrow!

From Ms Dora Hoan with love

Everyone has 24 hours a day, the way we spend our 24 hours marks the difference between a winner and a loser.

Some people do not practise proper time management; they just do whatever comes to mind and never get their schedules organised. 

As the saying goes, “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail”.  We should get organised, prioritise the important tasks and settle the least important tasks during our free time.  We must make full use of our precious time and not to waste time on unproductive matters. 

My habit is to look at my schedule every morning.  If I have free time, I would write down some tasks and accomplish them during my free time.

One should remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day; success is achieved through accumulating the completed priority tasks.

From Ms Dora Hoan with love

Dreams and goals can only be fulfilled through hard work and effort.

When we have the burning desire to fulfil our goals, we will then be able to overcome all obstacles.  The plane was invented because someone had a strong determination to fly no matter what.  An astronaut managed to walk on the moon because he wanted to walk on the moon no matter what.  Advancement of civilisations and science happened because people had dreams to fulfil no matter what. 

The successful outcomes were simply because of their burning desires and strong beliefs.  When we want to complete a task or set a goal, we must have the burning desire and strong belief; then we will have a greater chance of success.

Let’s power up our passion to achieve our mission!

From Ms Dora Hoan with love

There is no one in the world that can defeat you except you.

In face of obstacles, some chose to complain or rant or even give up.  This mentality can only magnify the problem, and the negativity will only demolish one’s confidence and fighting spirit. 

Life is always filled with challenges.  We have to accept that life can be tough and face the setbacks with equanimity.  As long as we still have confidence and fighting spirit, we will have the chance to get out of the nadir. 

While learning to walk, a child had countless falls, yet he or she continued trying and eventually succeeded; however, an adult lost the courage to recover from setback, how sad!  One must learn to be a courageous warrior, who does not fear adversity.  No matter good or bad times, one must maintain their confidence, passion, courage and fighting spirit.

This principle may look too idealistic but this is true wisdom that only the wise can possess.

From Ms Dora Hoan with love

A good manager or leader not only has to be capable, he or she has to be also armed with people skills.

This principle can be demonstrated from the study of Xiang Yu and Liu Bang (before the founding of Han Dynasty). The latter was an inept but empathetic leader. Consequently, with support of his subordinates, he defeated the intelligent Xiang Yu, who was born in a prominent family and possessed excellent martial arts skill. Liu Bang showcased people skills, while Xiang Yu exhibited capability. Liu Bang later became a cruel and petty ruler, who eliminated some of his supposed threats. This was a historical story. Nevertheless, this demonstrates that most people only cared about whether they are well-treated, not whether you are capable.

In fact, both people skills and capability are important. One with solely people skills may be a likable and popular person but his or her achievements may be limited because he or she needs to leverage on others’ capabilities. Another person with only capability may also be restricted by obstacles from indifferent people.

Therefore, as a manager or leader, you are expected not only to be capable enough to solve problems and be innovative, but also to be equipped with people skills to prevent obstacles, and move forward to gain greater achievement.

From Ms Dora Hoan with love

Passion is infectious; it brings about light and hope.  Without passion, leaders will be listless, and may even cause their subordinates to lose interest and direction (and cause unmanageable consequences).  On the contrary, a passionate leader can motivate the subordinates to excel and from there, achieve success. 

If you choose to be a good leader or manager, you must be full of passion to lead in any situation, regardless of good or bad times.  Do not lose your passion because of failures or obstacles.  This is disheartening to your team.  You may need to pay a greater price (or maybe even impossible) to regain their commitment and passion.

Therefore, do embark on a mission of passion for leaders.

From Ms Dora Hoan with love

Success is a gradual process. We need patience, action and a set of good habits. The habits determined our efficiency and productivity as well as helped us formulated a set of modus operandi for success. Hence, even if you don’t have the talent and educational background, your life can still be transformed if you possess lots of good habits.

To succeed, you must be determined to correct the following faults:

• Procrastination and lack of action
• Lack of planning and time management
• Laziness
• Wilfulness
• Giving excuses and avoiding responsibility
• Demanding and complaining
• Indecisiveness

From Ms Dora Hoan with love

Attitude is a double-edged sword. Positivity will help us to have a healthier and happier life, while negativity can only make us melancholic, demoralised, or even adversely affect our health. If we wish to be happier, healthier and more successful, we must cultivate a positive attitude in dealing with people and work.

To achieve this, here’re some suggestions:

• Have dreams and hopes for the future
• Have confidence in yourself and others
• Set goals with massive action plans
• Do not be bothered by failures or unhappy experiences
• Let go of all dissatisfactions and hatred
• Continuously learn and improve
• Have a packed schedule

From Ms Dora Hoan with love