Connect the dots

最近換了工作，整個過程有點drama(well, 一如我個人一貫的風格)，不知不覺地令我想起Steve Jobs 2005年在Stanford的演講。他提到connect the dots的概念，讓我對於我career的發展過程相當有共鳴。

現在看起來，我過去幾年跟未來幾年都不會離開IT產業，更精準的說，是IT產業的Product Management領域。這絕對是當年剛從大學畢業的我始料未及的，但是，現下回頭看來，一切都makes perfect sense，包括我在AIESEC的那幾年都是相當值得的投資與付出。

每個人投身AIESEC的理由都不同，為了所謂美好職涯發展的人更是不堪其數。許多學弟妹常問：『請問AIESEC要怎樣能協助我在未來找到一份好的工作?』(說真的，連我媽都問過這個問題。) 說真的，這非常像是一個connect the dots的情境題，我想在AIESEC應該沒有人有辦法保證說在AIESEC run過什麼職位你未來就可以找到什麼樣的工作。我覺得它其實是比較專注於怎麼樣琢磨我們能夠迎接未來各式的挑戰。這樣講可能有點抽象，我來舉一個例子，我最近的幾個面試裡，我都somehow很自然而然提到自己在AIESEC的歷練培養了我一些很珍貴的跨國的溝通、工作、合作的經驗，我想，在一個globalization的就業事場裡，這些是越來越基本的qualification。另外，對於外部的應對進退、public speaking/presentation, 策略計劃(strategic planning)等等，對我們來說真的都是很好的ground work。(不要小看OGSM，有很多大公司的planning都還沒那麼有系統呢!)

除了剛開始工作的那幾年累積的sales experience，真的覺得在AIESEC的日子給了我很solid的磨練，在分會做HR staff與LCP時，常有辦活動的經驗跟處理人事上的小問題，進了總會後，對於planning跟organizational structuring都有更多的涉獵，在當AP Chair那一年，有更多的機會需要跨國跨洲的remote control...我覺得可貴的是，這些經驗讓我能夠更貼近於公司management的思考邏輯，這些東西真的都是當初沒預期的，沒想到走出了AIESEC的大門，能夠把這些點連接起來，變成一個完整的學習經驗(learning experience)。

希望這些小小的分享能夠幫助到一些在十字路口的學弟妹們(to quit or not to quit)，有句話說的極佳：『AIESEC can not give you anything, but you can get everything from AIESEC』裝滿的水的杯子是無法再承載任何東西的，抱著一顆虛懷若谷的心去努力追求、體驗、學習，多年之後再來connect the dots，那種感覺其實是很美好的。不要急功好義，有目的的追求有時其實會帶來更多的挫折跟失落。所以，Steve Jobs說"Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish"真的是有其深義在的。

http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/jobs-061505.html此為Steve Jobs當年在Stanford演講的原稿，共勉之。

signal 8

My 1st "Typhoon Experience" in Hong Kong.

Living on the 46th floor (actually 50th in terms of the actual height) is pretty scary when typhoon hits. There is no tall building in front of my flat so the strong wind and heavy rain can directly hit on the big window in my room. Last night I worried badly that the wind would blow off my window and I would be gone in the typhoon eye. (sorry sounds very dramatic but that was really what I thought last night!)

They use different number to show how dangerous the typhoon is and the possible damage it can bring. When the signal goes up to 8, people get a day off for work and school. Today we got a day off. Now the number goes down to 3 and some people are leaving their houses and going to work.

That's another good thing about Taiwan - when we get a typhoon day off, we get a typhoon day off. No way I am going to work now. :-P

10 months in HK

Believe or not, it has been 10 months since I moved to Hong Kong.

And believe or not, I have answered this question more than 100 times - "Do you like Singapore or Hong Kong better?"

It is a tough one. Every city/country has its pros and cons. So does Singapore. So does Hong Kong. Singapore defintely has more space, green, fresh air, culture diversity, etc. Hong Kong for sure has more happening night life, shopping activities, access to Mainland's opportunities, and so on. And we, no matter where we choose to live, pay for the price of all the good stuffs and enjoyment.

When I first moved to HK, I miss Singapore very much. I miss my friends, my cheaper and bigger flat, organized streets and easy lifestyle. After a while, HK is not that bad after all. It has great food, fashion, fast pace, good mix of Chinese and western culture, etc. I can't comment because both places have things I appreciate, and both have things that annoy me. Mostly, both places are home for me now. Sometimes, I am not sure which place I shall use this word "return".

My life in HK is simple. One third of the time I am traveling. When I am in town, I either hang out with my AIESEC friends or have friends visiting. If I have no plan during the weekend, I clean my house, go to gym, watch DVD... seriously I have nothing much to complain.

10 months in HK. It's all good,

Blog點名遊戲 -- 傳播幸福

遊戲規則:

A. 被點到名字的要在自己的blog裏寫下自己的答案，然後去掉一個你最不喜歡的問題再加上一個你的問題，仍然組成20個問題，傳給其他8個人，列出其他8個需要回答問題的人的名字，還要到這8個人的blog裏留言通知對方——你被點名了，被點名者不得拒絕回答問題，完成遊戲的人將會永遠得到大家的祝福。

B.這8個人要在自己的blog裏註明是從哪裡接到的，並且再傳給其他8個人，讓遊戲繼續下去，不得回傳。被點到名字的人將會得到大家的祝福，並且所有美好的願望都會在不久的將來實現。

以下是問題開始~~~

Q1.你認為分手後的男女朋友還能做普通朋友嗎？

A1.可以，但是很難，至少對我而言。

Q2.遇到喜歡的人，但是對方已經有男/女友，你還會採取行動嗎？

A2.基本上不會，我對這種人是絕緣體。

Q3.說出點你名的人的3個優點

A3.美艷、魄力、大方

Q4.最想珍惜的人/事是什麼?

A4.爸媽、一些真心對待彼此的好友

Q5.最大的煩惱是甚麼?

A5.世界上太多自以為是、蠻不講理的笨蛋

Q6.你的夢想是什麼？

A6.環遊世界

Q7.你為你最愛的人做過什麼？

A7.折星星、找他所有的朋友寫鼓勵的話給他、飄洋過海去看他...太多蠢事了 :)

Q8.你最想要那一個小叮噹的道具?

A8.任意門

Q9.和戀人/老公/老婆吵架後，通常多久/幾天和好？

A9.好幾天

Q10.戀人/老公/老婆讓你最欣賞的優點是什麼？

A10.聰明、幽默、浪漫

Q11.如果時光能倒流10年，你能改變一件事情，你會做什麼？

A11.高中時好好唸書

Q12.這輩子做過最笨的事情是什麼？

A12.選第二次MCP... 哈哈

Q13.十年以後，你想過什麼樣的生活？你打算如何實現呢？

A13.我想開一家lounge bar，想辦法多賺點錢吧！

Q14.接下來最想去旅行的國家或城市，為什麼?

A14.羅馬或雅典，因為我一直覺得我某一個前世是在哪裡出生的

Q15.如果可以自由選擇，你最想居住在哪個國家/城市？

A15.這問題太難了，不過應該不是印度吧 嘻嘻

Q16.最懷念的年代?

A16.我在總會的日子

Q17.一天當中最幸福的時刻？

A17.洗完一個很舒服的熱水澡

Q18.如果有個天使要幫你實現願望，你目前的願望是什麼?

A18.爸媽長命百歲，然後我可以每年都hit budget....

Q19.近期內最讓你感覺快樂的一件事?

A19.馬英九高票當選台灣第12屆總統！！！

Q20.關於你的第一手消息,都是最先跟誰分享?

A20.黃安安跟吳查理

幸福傳播給:

1. Jessy

2. Wei

3. Charlie

4. Jack

5. Jessica

6. Jenny

7. Zev

8. Crema

2008 New Year Resolution

Can't believe we are approaching end of March and I haven't had any new year resolution.

A quick review on my 2007 New Year Resolution:

1. Start doing hot yoga - sort of done. I signed up a package of hot yoga classes, but let go when I left Singapore. I should try to pick it up somewhere in HK if possible.

2. Celebrate my birthday in Taiwan - done, and well done. :-)

3. Host MCP gathering in Indonesia - well, not many people were keen so at the end we didn't have anything. The timing was also bad for me as I was moving to HK during that period of time.

4. Buy a new cell phone - company gave me a Blackberry when I moved to HK. Does that count?

5. Do lasik surgary - done. The best decision made in my entire life!!!

6. Learn some new dishes - done. I have been cooking often since I have my own kicthen in HK.

7. Visit Korea, somewhere in Europe, Japan and Cambodia - I only went to Japan 3-4 times for work. This one I failed badly. Have to catch up this year.

8. Improve my biz English - almost there. With my new boss, my English is getting better...

So, what needs to be done this year?

1. Do more excercises. Ideally once a week since I have gym downstair.

2. Buy a new laptop

3. Visit Cambodia, Korea, Great Wall in China, Hokkaido in Japan and some nice places in Taiwan.

4. Lost 3 kgs. haha :)

5. Have siginificant breakthrough at work

Only 5 things. I have to make them all come true!!

眷村長媳之十誡

今天跟幾個閨中密友一起喝下午茶，心有所感，特別寫下這篇 "眷村長媳之十誡"提供給有需要參考的姊妹們，各位覺得有理且銘記在心，認為我說的不符事實便當我譁眾取寵吧。

Criteria: 未婚女性，男友在家中排行老大，其父母為軍人及其眷屬。

1. 脣紅齒白 清秀可人

一般說來，他們的平均身高與五官會比較接近北方人。因此，對他們來說，所謂的"美"也會很接近他們所相信的或所看到的。就算你不是沉魚落雁，但基本的眉清目秀是一定要有的。像是弱不經風啦、賊眉鼠眼啦、都很容易被打回票。

2. 衣著中庸 端莊得體

穿衣其實是基本禮貌，也是展現你大家閨秀的第一步，所以呢，露胸露臀是萬萬不可，拖鞋球鞋膠鞋最好也是盡量避免。配色上以不刺眼為優先，質料上最好也是要講究一點，你穿麻自以為流行，人家可能誤以為你出身寒微。

3. 飽讀詩書 入得廳堂

眷村孩子的雙親大多有基本的知識水平，他們對中國傳統文化的涉獵也稍深，所以四書五經孔孟老莊的中心思想需得朗朗上口，雖不需上知天文，下知地理，但對中國歷史地理一定要有基本了解，與長輩應對進退成語與敬語為基本配備，現下流行之火星文與注音文最為大忌。

4. 煎煮炒炸 下得廚房


這類的家庭以外省人居多，口味大多偏好北方菜，其中又以大菜為首選，例如：糖醋松鼠魚、紅燒獅子頭、口袋豆腐等等。若不知如何烹調，但至少要會品嘗，如果未來婆婆廚藝極好，其子必為挑嘴之人，一般小吃或速食是絕計看不上眼。

5. 麻將桌上 能屈能伸


打牌人人都會，但要打得能讓長輩開心可不容易。許多媽媽特別注意牌品，而且認為一個人的牌品通常反應一個人的人品。故在牌桌上虛心請教，大輸不掉淚、小輸不癟嘴是非常重要的。吃牌打牌務必配合長輩的速度，適時地放炮也是可以考慮。

6. 青天白日 老蔣萬歲


眷村老一輩的人還是以泛藍居多，其中更不乏深藍份子。若你為民進黨的支持者，最好死也不要表態，一起看新聞時，眉宇之間更切勿透露對國民黨有些許不認同，如果你不認同他們家支持的黨，你很可能被歸類於反動份子而不被他們家認同。

7. 靜如處子 動如脫兔


眷村裡的女性很多都身兼數職，出門要可提重物，在家要能握針線。在長輩面前，最好表現出自己也有這樣的淺質。但千萬不要矯枉過正，例如，家裡有重要客人來訪時，你一個人在角落看雜誌，或是全家出遊時，你躲在樹下擦防曬乳，諸如此類，都是大忌中的大忌。

8. 親戚鄰居 個個擊破


眷村子弟的家庭觀念比較深厚，他們很多跟鄰居的關係也都很好。在這樣的大家庭與大環境裡，"得人緣"絕對為致勝關鍵，因為殊不知誰在最後關鍵會大喊我反對，到時怎麼被甩的都丈二金剛摸不著頭腦。故，族譜一定要被得滾瓜爛熟，誰要生了誰要上小學誰有高血壓誰想買保險等等，最好得搞得清清楚楚，每次見面時寒喧問暖是一定要的，偶爾也要效犬馬之勞才能將好印象深耕。

9. 內兼外顧 八面玲瓏

若你的未來老公上有祖父母與父母，下有弟弟妹妹，最好要有與他們同住的心理準備。如果你有幸不需要與他們同住，仍要將他們視為至親，妥善安排他們的未來，大事包括如何辦就學貸款、哪個靈骨塔比較合算，小事包括哪條街的炸醬麵比較好吃、過年紅包袋上要有家族姓氏等等都得了然於心。

10. 幫夫旺夫 上上之選

眷村家庭的長子通常都會被寄予很高的期望，如果你在事業上、經濟上、人脈上可以有所助益，絕對是有加分的作用。但是他們的家庭大多還是以男性為主，如果你要表現的比較強勢，或是一直強調自己各方面的條件其實比男方家庭更為優越，則是反其道而行，畢竟這些兒子們的自尊心都會比較強，事業心也會比較重，"小白臉"之類的行為可是會讓家族蒙羞的。

話說回來，你未來老公愛你才是基本盤，不然"眷村的長媳"可不是人人都能當的，就算你硬著頭皮上了，也可能落得兩敗俱傷的下場。

姊妹們，共勉之！

Quote of the day

You can compromise but never need to compromise in doubts. Your compromising should be in an emotion of "very willing" until you may not even felt it is compromising.

Merry Xmas!!

I can't believe that 2007 is reaching its end. Looking back my 2007 new year resolution:

1. Starting Hot yoga class

-> Well, I bought a package in Singapore and went for a few classes. However, I gotta move to HK and didnt manage to complete all the session. Miss Ying Ying Wu is enjoying my package now. :)

2. Celebrate my birthday in Taiwan with friends

-> This is absolutely a good one. We need to continue this next year. :)

3. Host 2002-2003 MCP gathering in Indonesia

-> Well, this somehow didnt turn out. People just have too many commitments in life. Friends may not come to the first all the time. I would still look forward to meeting my MCP gangs for sure.

4. Get a new mobile phone

-> I got a Blackberry from my company when I landed HK. Does that count?

5. Save money for lasik surgary

-> This is the best decision I have ever made in my entire life. I am serious. Now I can't imagine how it feels to wear glass everyday. Wow!

6. Learn some new dishes

-> This is on track. Apparently I can do it better when no one is forcing me.

7. Vist Korea, somewhere in Europe, Japan and Cambodia

-> Well, this year I simply have too may business trips. I went to Los Angeles once, Tokyo for 3 times, HK for 3 times. Not to mention going back to Taiwan 4 times, Bangkok once, and Malaysia I can't even count.

8. Improve my Business English skill
-> I think I have improved a lot. I just need to learn more on how to BS in English without any hesitation. haha :)

Time to think about New Year resolutions for 2008. I'm off to Singapore tomorrow to see my gangs there. Wish everyone a Merry Xmas!! :-)