Hi,
I watched the "Back to the Future 3" at HBO tonight. I love the series and I always mention them in my hypnotherapy classes. The following are my 3 insights learned from the movies that can be applied in hypnotic age regression:
1. Never change the history, you will never know what changes it will create in the future!
2. There is always a reason in the past to your current problem or success.
3. Sometimes, just a small change matters a lot.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Keith To's Ideas & Thoughts on NLP, Hypnosis, Coaching, Facilitation, Personal and Business Development. These seem to be nothing related. But from a Systemic Thinking perspective, they share similar nature and processes. 陶兆輝對身心語言程序學、催眠治療學、教練學、輔引學、個人發展及商業發展的純個人看法；它們看似毫不相關，但當你從合整式思維角度來看，它們卻擁有相近的性質及過程；我將每隔數天不斷加入新的文章, 內容絕不敢認為是肯定正確, 旨在拋磚引玉而矣。 (All articles copyrighted by Keith To)
2007/08/04
2007/08/03
Hypnosis: Leading Suggestions for the Process
Hi,
Do we use Leading Suggestions in hypnotherapy?
Many of you knows that I strongly disagree with the use of Leading Suggestions. This can mislead the clients, causing false memories and confusions. This harms more than helps!
However, if we do not use any leading suggestions, we simply cannot hypnotize anybody. Induction, deepening and all other hypnotic techniques are done through leading suggestions. For example, when you say, "As you close your eyes, you feel more relaxed", this statement is a leading suggestion.
We use lots of leading suggestions in the Process to guide our clients going through it, while we should not use any leading suggestion for the Content within the Hypnotic Process. For example, we will not suggest clients reviewing any particular experience or seeing any particular person during Age Regression. These are leading suggestions for the content.
But we will guide our clients using leading suggestion to the first time of having such feeling in Age Regression. This is the Process of Age Regression, not the Content.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Do we use Leading Suggestions in hypnotherapy?
Many of you knows that I strongly disagree with the use of Leading Suggestions. This can mislead the clients, causing false memories and confusions. This harms more than helps!
However, if we do not use any leading suggestions, we simply cannot hypnotize anybody. Induction, deepening and all other hypnotic techniques are done through leading suggestions. For example, when you say, "As you close your eyes, you feel more relaxed", this statement is a leading suggestion.
We use lots of leading suggestions in the Process to guide our clients going through it, while we should not use any leading suggestion for the Content within the Hypnotic Process. For example, we will not suggest clients reviewing any particular experience or seeing any particular person during Age Regression. These are leading suggestions for the content.
But we will guide our clients using leading suggestion to the first time of having such feeling in Age Regression. This is the Process of Age Regression, not the Content.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
2007/08/02
Learning from Life #136 - #140
Hi,
This is another edition of Learning from Life.
136. When you trust yourself, others follow.
137. When I start to do, things start to be done!
138. Everything happened in the past, good or bad, nourish you if you learn from them.
139. Good manner starts with myself.
140. How you see others is how you see yourself.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
This is another edition of Learning from Life.
136. When you trust yourself, others follow.
137. When I start to do, things start to be done!
138. Everything happened in the past, good or bad, nourish you if you learn from them.
139. Good manner starts with myself.
140. How you see others is how you see yourself.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
2007/07/31
Concepts 101 Part 5: Minimalism
Hi,
Minimalism describes movements in various forms of art, where the work is stripped down to its most fundamental features. The design is reduced to the only necessary elements.
I like to apply Minimalism to all of my works, particularly hypnotherapy and coaching. Only necessary elements are retained, all others are stripped down!
The world is already too complicated. If you want to work faster, easier but effectively, Minimalism might provide the solution.
Here are how I apply Minimalism in hypnotherapy and coaching:
1. Minimal Words. I deleted all unnecessary words. I use those proven-to-be-effective words again and again. This makes it easier for me and for the clients. They do not need to understand so many complex words and instructions. Artful using of very basic choices of words can be as effective.
2. Minimal Steps. I deleted all unnecessary steps. Many steps are just decoration or stuffing without any function. This results in briefer process and faster outcomes.
3. Minimal Interventions. I do not intervene because I want to intervene. I only do the necessary interventions. It will be less misleading and less works for me and for the clients.
4. Minimal Interpretations. I do not interpret what the clients said. I do not paraphrase. These just hinder the discovery process of the clients.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Minimalism describes movements in various forms of art, where the work is stripped down to its most fundamental features. The design is reduced to the only necessary elements.
I like to apply Minimalism to all of my works, particularly hypnotherapy and coaching. Only necessary elements are retained, all others are stripped down!
The world is already too complicated. If you want to work faster, easier but effectively, Minimalism might provide the solution.
Here are how I apply Minimalism in hypnotherapy and coaching:
1. Minimal Words. I deleted all unnecessary words. I use those proven-to-be-effective words again and again. This makes it easier for me and for the clients. They do not need to understand so many complex words and instructions. Artful using of very basic choices of words can be as effective.
2. Minimal Steps. I deleted all unnecessary steps. Many steps are just decoration or stuffing without any function. This results in briefer process and faster outcomes.
3. Minimal Interventions. I do not intervene because I want to intervene. I only do the necessary interventions. It will be less misleading and less works for me and for the clients.
4. Minimal Interpretations. I do not interpret what the clients said. I do not paraphrase. These just hinder the discovery process of the clients.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
2007/07/29
Concepts 101 Part 4: Over-Responding
Hi,
This is Part 4 of our Concepts 101 Series.
When something wrong happened, I get used to Over-Respond. Don't misunderstand me, I am not talking about Over-Reacting. Responding is actions after thinking through while Reacting is animal-like reflex action.
Over-Responding is doing more than what you think is needed. This ensures things are being properly handled. There can be a waste of time & effort in Over-Responding. However, people might expect more or differently from you. We can also under-estimate the effects of what had happened. Over-Responding lowers such risk.
When something bad happened, we want to reduce the adverse effects and to prevent them in the future. Under-Responding and/or Over-Reacting make the above impossible. It is too difficult to strike the right-balanced response. It is usually either Over or Under. You will be better off to be over.
Over-Responding is not contradictory to my another concepts, Minimalism. I will talk about that in more depth in Part 5 of our series.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
This is Part 4 of our Concepts 101 Series.
When something wrong happened, I get used to Over-Respond. Don't misunderstand me, I am not talking about Over-Reacting. Responding is actions after thinking through while Reacting is animal-like reflex action.
Over-Responding is doing more than what you think is needed. This ensures things are being properly handled. There can be a waste of time & effort in Over-Responding. However, people might expect more or differently from you. We can also under-estimate the effects of what had happened. Over-Responding lowers such risk.
When something bad happened, we want to reduce the adverse effects and to prevent them in the future. Under-Responding and/or Over-Reacting make the above impossible. It is too difficult to strike the right-balanced response. It is usually either Over or Under. You will be better off to be over.
Over-Responding is not contradictory to my another concepts, Minimalism. I will talk about that in more depth in Part 5 of our series.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
2007/07/28
Hypnosis: Subtle Leading Suggestions
Hi,
We do not use leading suggestions in hypnotherapy to prevent potential dangers. If you want more information about Leading Suggestions, go here for another article.
There are some leading suggestions, which are very subtle. You even are not aware of them when you use them.
For example: When the clients in waking or hypnotic state telling you that "I am tired" and "I do not want to do my job". If you paraphrase it as "You are tired and so you do not want to do your job", then this becomes leading.
The word "so" creates a relationship between the 2 pieces of information. Such relationship is not mentioned by the client though the 2 pieces of information are. You are leading him/her into believing in something he/she might not believe before.
This can create complication which might make the process difficult or create side effects you never expected.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
We do not use leading suggestions in hypnotherapy to prevent potential dangers. If you want more information about Leading Suggestions, go here for another article.
There are some leading suggestions, which are very subtle. You even are not aware of them when you use them.
For example: When the clients in waking or hypnotic state telling you that "I am tired" and "I do not want to do my job". If you paraphrase it as "You are tired and so you do not want to do your job", then this becomes leading.
The word "so" creates a relationship between the 2 pieces of information. Such relationship is not mentioned by the client though the 2 pieces of information are. You are leading him/her into believing in something he/she might not believe before.
This can create complication which might make the process difficult or create side effects you never expected.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
2007/07/26
Hypnosis: 行銷暗藏催眠術
轉載: 明報
日期: 2005年11月15日
文: 薛偉傑
對於不了解的人，催眠常予人神秘的感覺。其實，催眠近年在商業上的應用之廣，已涵蓋了廣告、游說、減壓、目標設定、消除負面信念或行為等，值得大家對這門學問有更深的了解。
引導受眾分析 直達潛意識
「你可能唔知道，買呢樣對你屋企人係幾咁重要。」
「你可能諗緊，先入會一年，然後再續會。」
「你想唔想睇下，自己上呢件衫之後煥然一新的外表﹖」
「我唔會叫你而家就即刻買，呢個係你決定。」
類似上述的說話，大家是否有似曾相識之感﹖事實上，如果讀者比較多和銷售人員打交道(包括購物)，或者比較留意一些廣告的語法，對於這類說話應不會陌生。
聖雅各福群會延續教育中心潛意識溝通學課程導師陶兆輝指出，上述幾句說話其實都是根據一定的原則來設計，令聆聽者不其然將他的注意力集中在後半部分，以達到成功說服聆聽者的目的。
指示隱沒字裏行間屬最高境界
「前半部分的作用是令意識忙於分析，無暇審查後半部分。於是，後半部分便有較大機會越過意識，直達對方的潛意識。」陶兆輝解釋說。
由於潛意識內的信念遠較意識內的信念為強，所以成功說服對方的機會便大得多。「因此，兩部分的次序絕不能掉轉。」
陶兆輝表示，所謂催眠，其實就是一種跟潛意識溝通的方法。而催眠的應用，就是將一些正面和積極的指示，放進潛意識中﹔又或者從潛意識移除一些負面和消極的指示或信息。
而上述的催眠語法，就可在人們清醒的狀態下應用(毋須真的將對方催眠)，這就有如一些出色的電視廣告那樣。
陶兆輝認為，運用催眠語法的最高境界是，連指示也盡量隱沒於字裏行間中，令聆聽者一點也不覺得受到指示。
舉例說，銷售員可以向客戶說﹕「我阿爸曾經同我講過，一定唔可以買最平。」表面上，銷售員只是回憶他父親對他的教誨，並非對客戶有所指示，但實際上這話卻是說給客戶聽。
此外，用不同的說法重複同一個信息，也可大大加強說服力(一些出色的廣告也是如此)。
「所以，被公認為催眠語法大師的Milton Erickson自己也說﹕『千萬不要下決定，直至你完全明白(對方的說話)為止。』」陶兆輝說。
日期: 2005年11月15日
文: 薛偉傑
對於不了解的人，催眠常予人神秘的感覺。其實，催眠近年在商業上的應用之廣，已涵蓋了廣告、游說、減壓、目標設定、消除負面信念或行為等，值得大家對這門學問有更深的了解。
引導受眾分析 直達潛意識
「你可能唔知道，買呢樣對你屋企人係幾咁重要。」
「你可能諗緊，先入會一年，然後再續會。」
「你想唔想睇下，自己上呢件衫之後煥然一新的外表﹖」
「我唔會叫你而家就即刻買，呢個係你決定。」
類似上述的說話，大家是否有似曾相識之感﹖事實上，如果讀者比較多和銷售人員打交道(包括購物)，或者比較留意一些廣告的語法，對於這類說話應不會陌生。
聖雅各福群會延續教育中心潛意識溝通學課程導師陶兆輝指出，上述幾句說話其實都是根據一定的原則來設計，令聆聽者不其然將他的注意力集中在後半部分，以達到成功說服聆聽者的目的。
指示隱沒字裏行間屬最高境界
「前半部分的作用是令意識忙於分析，無暇審查後半部分。於是，後半部分便有較大機會越過意識，直達對方的潛意識。」陶兆輝解釋說。
由於潛意識內的信念遠較意識內的信念為強，所以成功說服對方的機會便大得多。「因此，兩部分的次序絕不能掉轉。」
陶兆輝表示，所謂催眠，其實就是一種跟潛意識溝通的方法。而催眠的應用，就是將一些正面和積極的指示，放進潛意識中﹔又或者從潛意識移除一些負面和消極的指示或信息。
而上述的催眠語法，就可在人們清醒的狀態下應用(毋須真的將對方催眠)，這就有如一些出色的電視廣告那樣。
陶兆輝認為，運用催眠語法的最高境界是，連指示也盡量隱沒於字裏行間中，令聆聽者一點也不覺得受到指示。
舉例說，銷售員可以向客戶說﹕「我阿爸曾經同我講過，一定唔可以買最平。」表面上，銷售員只是回憶他父親對他的教誨，並非對客戶有所指示，但實際上這話卻是說給客戶聽。
此外，用不同的說法重複同一個信息，也可大大加強說服力(一些出色的廣告也是如此)。
「所以，被公認為催眠語法大師的Milton Erickson自己也說﹕『千萬不要下決定，直至你完全明白(對方的說話)為止。』」陶兆輝說。
Personal Development: Seniorology
Hi,
Why someone can be in senior position? There must be reasons.
Many years ago, I modelled many people in very senior positions in organizations. I discovered 10 essential elements. I talked about 5 of them in today's Systemic Business Explorer Program.
Here are the first 5 Elements of Seniorology:
1. Using Concepts. Not just focusing on Procedures and Methods. Understanding concepts of business creates your own flexibility.
2. Dare to Face the Void. No one is going to tell you what to do up there. You need to find it.
3. Seeing More. Willing and eager to see more.
4. Capability of either to Stabilize, Protect, Attack or Care. If you have none, who needs you? If you have all, congratuation!
5. Using Others' Intelligence. Not just their physical efforts.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Why someone can be in senior position? There must be reasons.
Many years ago, I modelled many people in very senior positions in organizations. I discovered 10 essential elements. I talked about 5 of them in today's Systemic Business Explorer Program.
Here are the first 5 Elements of Seniorology:
1. Using Concepts. Not just focusing on Procedures and Methods. Understanding concepts of business creates your own flexibility.
2. Dare to Face the Void. No one is going to tell you what to do up there. You need to find it.
3. Seeing More. Willing and eager to see more.
4. Capability of either to Stabilize, Protect, Attack or Care. If you have none, who needs you? If you have all, congratuation!
5. Using Others' Intelligence. Not just their physical efforts.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Hypnosis: 3 Elements of Effective Hypnotic Suggestions
Hi,
Hypnosis is about bringing about changes. Effective suggestions is one of the keys in bringing out the changes clients want.
To formulate effective suggestions, we must first understand why we do not change, even we know that the change is good to us. We want to quit this and that, we want to lose some weight, we want to speak in front of people, we want more confidence, we want to get better. All these are great things, but why we do not change? There can be 3 major reasons:
1. We do not know what to change!
2. We do not know why change!
3. We do not know how to change!
The first one is our goal or target. The second is our motivation and the third is the method. If we do not know either (or all) of these, we will not change.
Effective suggestion caters for all three's.
1. The Goal makes up the first part of the Main Suggestion (主要暗示).
2. The Motivation is the second part of the Main Suggestion (主要暗示).
3. The Methods are all of the Supporting Suggestions (支持暗示).
For example:
Main Suggestion (主要暗示): 你會係眾人面前輕鬆咁講野, 因為你可以更受歡迎.
Supporting Suggestions (支持暗示):
時間: 當你開會的時候, 你只要稍一定神, 你就能夠講到你想的說話.
人物: 當你面對好多人個時, 你能夠保持鎮定.
地點: 當你踏入會議室時, 你發現自己全身都充滿信心.
特質: 你逐漸成為一個相信自己能夠做到的人.
特質: 你知道自己好瞭解有關自己的工作的知識.
Hoping this can help you understanding more about Effective Hypnotic Suggestions.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Hypnosis is about bringing about changes. Effective suggestions is one of the keys in bringing out the changes clients want.
To formulate effective suggestions, we must first understand why we do not change, even we know that the change is good to us. We want to quit this and that, we want to lose some weight, we want to speak in front of people, we want more confidence, we want to get better. All these are great things, but why we do not change? There can be 3 major reasons:
1. We do not know what to change!
2. We do not know why change!
3. We do not know how to change!
The first one is our goal or target. The second is our motivation and the third is the method. If we do not know either (or all) of these, we will not change.
Effective suggestion caters for all three's.
1. The Goal makes up the first part of the Main Suggestion (主要暗示).
2. The Motivation is the second part of the Main Suggestion (主要暗示).
3. The Methods are all of the Supporting Suggestions (支持暗示).
For example:
Main Suggestion (主要暗示): 你會係眾人面前輕鬆咁講野, 因為你可以更受歡迎.
Supporting Suggestions (支持暗示):
時間: 當你開會的時候, 你只要稍一定神, 你就能夠講到你想的說話.
人物: 當你面對好多人個時, 你能夠保持鎮定.
地點: 當你踏入會議室時, 你發現自己全身都充滿信心.
特質: 你逐漸成為一個相信自己能夠做到的人.
特質: 你知道自己好瞭解有關自己的工作的知識.
Hoping this can help you understanding more about Effective Hypnotic Suggestions.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
2007/07/23
Top 5 Tips： 我的職業秘訣：如何在裁員期間保護你自己
我的職業秘訣：如何在裁員期間保護你自己
公司的縮小化在今天(本文章寫於2003年)依然時有聽聞，很多人會受到損害，在這兒是一些為了在這樣“危險的”時期保護你自己的秘訣。
1. 增加你的可見度，自願出任一些能顯示你的才能的工作，你可以通過加入各種委員會或者加入一些特別的工作項目。
2. 留意謠言，但不要與人討論你的見解。
3. 支持你的上司，幫助他去控制支出，及宣傳你的部門及他的優異成績。
4. 最大化你的聯系來擴展你的人際網絡：令公司的秘書們和人力資源部門同事成為你的『朋友』。
5. 設定你自己的生產力指標並超過它們，知會你的老板你的目標和給你自己完成它們的最終期限。
Article Wriiten in: 2003
Keith
Explore. Exceed & Excel
公司的縮小化在今天(本文章寫於2003年)依然時有聽聞，很多人會受到損害，在這兒是一些為了在這樣“危險的”時期保護你自己的秘訣。
1. 增加你的可見度，自願出任一些能顯示你的才能的工作，你可以通過加入各種委員會或者加入一些特別的工作項目。
2. 留意謠言，但不要與人討論你的見解。
3. 支持你的上司，幫助他去控制支出，及宣傳你的部門及他的優異成績。
4. 最大化你的聯系來擴展你的人際網絡：令公司的秘書們和人力資源部門同事成為你的『朋友』。
5. 設定你自己的生產力指標並超過它們，知會你的老板你的目標和給你自己完成它們的最終期限。
Article Wriiten in: 2003
Keith
Explore. Exceed & Excel
How to Listen?
Hi,
No matter we are doing coaching, hypnotherapy, facilitation, managing or helping others, we need to listen.
There are so many books written on how to listen. There are so many listening skills out there. But do we need any of these skills?
The only way to listen is - Just Listen! Do nothing else, just listen to others. Then you can listen to far lots more information!
In listening, we are doing so many things like judging (what others said), planning (what to say next) and/or wondering around (where to lunch after listening to this boring guy), we are just not really listening.
Listening do not need any technique. Listening skills are B.S.. We have 2 ears and we are already given all the power of listening. It is just about whether we are listening or not!
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
No matter we are doing coaching, hypnotherapy, facilitation, managing or helping others, we need to listen.
There are so many books written on how to listen. There are so many listening skills out there. But do we need any of these skills?
The only way to listen is - Just Listen! Do nothing else, just listen to others. Then you can listen to far lots more information!
In listening, we are doing so many things like judging (what others said), planning (what to say next) and/or wondering around (where to lunch after listening to this boring guy), we are just not really listening.
Listening do not need any technique. Listening skills are B.S.. We have 2 ears and we are already given all the power of listening. It is just about whether we are listening or not!
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Our 2nd Years' Birthday
Hi,
I started to write blog in July 2005. We are 2 years' old now!
In the past 2 years, I have written 295 articles. I am planning to write even more articles to share my ideas with you all in the coming future.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
I started to write blog in July 2005. We are 2 years' old now!
In the past 2 years, I have written 295 articles. I am planning to write even more articles to share my ideas with you all in the coming future.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
2007/07/17
Learning from Life #131 - #135
Hi,
This is another edition of Learning from Life.
131. Sometimes we have to accept what is, is!
132. Everybody has wisdom.
133. The more you want to do, the less get done!
134. Some people will take advantage of you, but most will not.
135. Sometimes your greatest strength and your biggest weakness can be the same thing!
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
This is another edition of Learning from Life.
131. Sometimes we have to accept what is, is!
132. Everybody has wisdom.
133. The more you want to do, the less get done!
134. Some people will take advantage of you, but most will not.
135. Sometimes your greatest strength and your biggest weakness can be the same thing!
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Top 5 Tips: Top 5 Guiding Principles to Live my Life
Hi,
Some people live a easier life than others. One of the reasons is that they have clear guiding principles for themselves. These guiding principles help them to decide and to choose easier and faster. Here are my top 5 guiding principles to live my life. I wish these can inspire you to design your own.
1. I do my best at all time, even though the results are not best.
2. Build reserve of anything that might be useful in the future.
3. Use the best words I can whenever I speak or write.
4. Choose the path of least resistance.
5. Don't wait for the future. Perfect the present.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Some people live a easier life than others. One of the reasons is that they have clear guiding principles for themselves. These guiding principles help them to decide and to choose easier and faster. Here are my top 5 guiding principles to live my life. I wish these can inspire you to design your own.
1. I do my best at all time, even though the results are not best.
2. Build reserve of anything that might be useful in the future.
3. Use the best words I can whenever I speak or write.
4. Choose the path of least resistance.
5. Don't wait for the future. Perfect the present.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Top 5 Tips: Top 5 Ways to Become More Humorous
Hi,
Humor dilutes any difficulty with people. Humor also lubricates relationships and communication. Being humorous, even during hard times, indirectly shows others that you are in control. But it seems to be very difficult to be humorous. Here are my top 5 ways to become more humorous:
1. Don't be Funny. Being funny and being humorous is very different. It will be funny enough if you try to be funny!
2. Look Around Outside. There are lots of humorous things right outside. Promise yourself to discover at least one thing humorous everyday. You are sharpening your eyes for humors and you will then become humorous.
3. Create Crazy Reasons for Things Happening. There must be a reason behind everything. But I don't want that "right" answer. Think of something mad!
4. Play with Your Pains. Pains make us suffering if you resist them and decided not to play with them. Have fun with your pains.
5. Laugh at Yourself. If you are confident enough, you are able to laugh at yourself without hurting. People get used to be laughed at but seldom seeing people laughing at oneself.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Humor dilutes any difficulty with people. Humor also lubricates relationships and communication. Being humorous, even during hard times, indirectly shows others that you are in control. But it seems to be very difficult to be humorous. Here are my top 5 ways to become more humorous:
1. Don't be Funny. Being funny and being humorous is very different. It will be funny enough if you try to be funny!
2. Look Around Outside. There are lots of humorous things right outside. Promise yourself to discover at least one thing humorous everyday. You are sharpening your eyes for humors and you will then become humorous.
3. Create Crazy Reasons for Things Happening. There must be a reason behind everything. But I don't want that "right" answer. Think of something mad!
4. Play with Your Pains. Pains make us suffering if you resist them and decided not to play with them. Have fun with your pains.
5. Laugh at Yourself. If you are confident enough, you are able to laugh at yourself without hurting. People get used to be laughed at but seldom seeing people laughing at oneself.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Top 5 Tips: Top 5 Ways to Learn Faster in Class
Hi,
Everyone needs to learn. Attending classes, especially good classes are shortcuts to learning. Good teachers and trainers share their knowledge they gained through years of experience.
You simply obtain them in hours.
Great teaching doesn't mean great learning. Teaching is their job and learning is yours. We need to learn to learn. Here are my top 5 ways to learn most in class:
1. Set Learning Objective. Tell yourself your objectives of attending a class before even enrolling. What you want from the course? What can be different after you gain the knowledge?
2. Ask Questions. Ask questions to clarify. Ask questions to understand. But not asking a question to show off your knowledge. Even you successful accomplish that, you gain nothing. This is just a waste of time. Ask relevant questions to show your respect to others. Don't waste others' time. Do not feel fearful or embarrass to ask questions. A good teacher likes and appreciates questions.
3. Express Your Points. This helps others' to understand better. Others might be encouraged to do the same to help your learning. But always express relevant points!
4. Listen. Listen for the meaning of the points offered by your teachers. Don't assume anything. The points might be similar to something you heard before, but it might not be the same points.
5. Apply the Knowledge. Use what you learn as soon as possible, or it will simply go away.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Everyone needs to learn. Attending classes, especially good classes are shortcuts to learning. Good teachers and trainers share their knowledge they gained through years of experience.
You simply obtain them in hours.
Great teaching doesn't mean great learning. Teaching is their job and learning is yours. We need to learn to learn. Here are my top 5 ways to learn most in class:
1. Set Learning Objective. Tell yourself your objectives of attending a class before even enrolling. What you want from the course? What can be different after you gain the knowledge?
2. Ask Questions. Ask questions to clarify. Ask questions to understand. But not asking a question to show off your knowledge. Even you successful accomplish that, you gain nothing. This is just a waste of time. Ask relevant questions to show your respect to others. Don't waste others' time. Do not feel fearful or embarrass to ask questions. A good teacher likes and appreciates questions.
3. Express Your Points. This helps others' to understand better. Others might be encouraged to do the same to help your learning. But always express relevant points!
4. Listen. Listen for the meaning of the points offered by your teachers. Don't assume anything. The points might be similar to something you heard before, but it might not be the same points.
5. Apply the Knowledge. Use what you learn as soon as possible, or it will simply go away.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Top 5 Tips: Top 5 Basic Guidelines to Live a Life
Hi,
If we have an effective & efficient Personal Operating System to live our lives, we make it easier for us. I am going to present New and Free 8-hours program, Personal Operating System in August this year. I will announce how to enroll later in this newsletter. Let's share with you a very, very small portion of my Personal Operating System. Here are my 5 basic guidelines to live our lives easier.
1. Know the Basics. Learn the basics. Then you can't learn until you work through it.
2. Use the Right Tools. Different tasks require different tools. Find the right tools. Then select the best one you can afford. It will save you time and effort. It can take away most of the Frustrations.
3. Be a Visionary. See what can be possible for the future. Macroscopically, you would see the possible future of yourself and what you expect. Microscopically, you could see the possible outcomes of a task, a project or a product. One can't be creative, even he/she has the best creative skills, if he/she can't see the possibilities!
4. Input the Right Input. Right Input might not necessarily be Good Inputs. Different processes require different inputs. Wrong inputs, wrong results!
5. Start. Preparation is important. Planning is important, too. But Preparation and planning is not doing! They won't give you any result. Plan, prepare and start doing!
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
If we have an effective & efficient Personal Operating System to live our lives, we make it easier for us. I am going to present New and Free 8-hours program, Personal Operating System in August this year. I will announce how to enroll later in this newsletter. Let's share with you a very, very small portion of my Personal Operating System. Here are my 5 basic guidelines to live our lives easier.
1. Know the Basics. Learn the basics. Then you can't learn until you work through it.
2. Use the Right Tools. Different tasks require different tools. Find the right tools. Then select the best one you can afford. It will save you time and effort. It can take away most of the Frustrations.
3. Be a Visionary. See what can be possible for the future. Macroscopically, you would see the possible future of yourself and what you expect. Microscopically, you could see the possible outcomes of a task, a project or a product. One can't be creative, even he/she has the best creative skills, if he/she can't see the possibilities!
4. Input the Right Input. Right Input might not necessarily be Good Inputs. Different processes require different inputs. Wrong inputs, wrong results!
5. Start. Preparation is important. Planning is important, too. But Preparation and planning is not doing! They won't give you any result. Plan, prepare and start doing!
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Top 5 Tips: Top 5 Ways to Unstuck a Very Stuck Problem
Hi,
Sometimes we might become very stuck. What we are facing can be a very difficult problem or situation. Here are my top 5 ways to unstuck a really stuck situation.
1. Lighten Your Burden: Who says that problems must be solved. Tell yourself that some problems are not solvable or some problems are better left them unsolved.
2. Stop Doing whatever You are Doing. If it is useful, it is already useful. Continuing useless methods just add more frustration. Then you are further stuck.
3. Tell Someone about Your Problem. When you describe your problem to someone else, you are organizing your thoughts. This helps.
4. Play. Treat this as a game. If you win, you win. If you lose, you just lose a game. This can “light” up your mind!
5. Seek Advises. Not just one advise, seek at least several. Don't just believe in them. Get some new insights from others' solutions. Then work out your own.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Sometimes we might become very stuck. What we are facing can be a very difficult problem or situation. Here are my top 5 ways to unstuck a really stuck situation.
1. Lighten Your Burden: Who says that problems must be solved. Tell yourself that some problems are not solvable or some problems are better left them unsolved.
2. Stop Doing whatever You are Doing. If it is useful, it is already useful. Continuing useless methods just add more frustration. Then you are further stuck.
3. Tell Someone about Your Problem. When you describe your problem to someone else, you are organizing your thoughts. This helps.
4. Play. Treat this as a game. If you win, you win. If you lose, you just lose a game. This can “light” up your mind!
5. Seek Advises. Not just one advise, seek at least several. Don't just believe in them. Get some new insights from others' solutions. Then work out your own.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Top 5 Tips: Top 5 Things a Coach can Help his/her Clients
Hi,
No matter you are a business coach or personal coach, there are some best things you can help your clients to gain a better life or business. You can do the same to yourself, your friends or your family, even you are not a coach! Here my Top 5 Things a coach can help his/her clients:
1. See Differently. We all have a lot of assumptions. A coach helps others to check their assumptions. Wrong assumptions lead to wrong conclusions! Right conclusion leads to right actions.
2. See More. We get used to see things from a single habitual point of view. Then we can never be creative. A coach introduces new points of view to others so that we can see more by themselves.
3. Become Sensitized. Being sensitized is not being sensitive. We are addicted and become fairly dumb to our normal daily lives. A coach talks to his/her clients to identify anything "strange". Our feedbacks can challenge our clients' usual perceptions. When we are sensitized, we can change quickly.
4. Become Effective. A coach does not just push clients for actions. We help our clients logically analyzing the right things to do. Being effective is not being efficient. Being effective is doing the right things, not just doing things quickly.
5. Understand Themselves. We seldom ask ourselves good questions about our own selves. We always try to understand others, but not ourselves. A coach ask questions, a lot of good questions about his/her clients. When we understand ourselves, everything we do become sensible!
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
No matter you are a business coach or personal coach, there are some best things you can help your clients to gain a better life or business. You can do the same to yourself, your friends or your family, even you are not a coach! Here my Top 5 Things a coach can help his/her clients:
1. See Differently. We all have a lot of assumptions. A coach helps others to check their assumptions. Wrong assumptions lead to wrong conclusions! Right conclusion leads to right actions.
2. See More. We get used to see things from a single habitual point of view. Then we can never be creative. A coach introduces new points of view to others so that we can see more by themselves.
3. Become Sensitized. Being sensitized is not being sensitive. We are addicted and become fairly dumb to our normal daily lives. A coach talks to his/her clients to identify anything "strange". Our feedbacks can challenge our clients' usual perceptions. When we are sensitized, we can change quickly.
4. Become Effective. A coach does not just push clients for actions. We help our clients logically analyzing the right things to do. Being effective is not being efficient. Being effective is doing the right things, not just doing things quickly.
5. Understand Themselves. We seldom ask ourselves good questions about our own selves. We always try to understand others, but not ourselves. A coach ask questions, a lot of good questions about his/her clients. When we understand ourselves, everything we do become sensible!
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
My Point of View: 如果我有權改革教育…
Hi,
向來我對從事教育工作的朋友，均表兩分敬重，沒有他們的努力，我們能有未來嗎？
過去多年，香港的教育改革不斷，可惜成果未算突出，而且反對聲音不斷，我相信主事教育改革的官員立心是好的，但究竟問題在那裡呢？
我不是教育工作者，沒有資格能力批評，但作為只是看見多年來教育改革下，官員辛苦、老師辛苦、同學辛苦、家長辛苦的一個過來人，稍為胡言亂語而矣！
我們的教育制度，可能有很多流弊，故教育當局不停的製定各式各樣的方案，每次的新方案都好像在『加的多、減的少』，無論是什麼（人工福利除外），『加的多、減的少』的長期結果就是大家也在辛苦。
相信大家也明白，教育的目的在於求知識，開發智慧，而不是強記那些反正很快也會忘得一干二淨的課本資料，通識課確是好主意，它能令同學自求知識，智慧並由此而生，但在『加的多、減的少』的大前提下，老師那有時間準備，同學那有時間研究討論！
如果我有權改革教育，我一定會更進一步，把每一科目也化成通識課，蝴蝶的生長過程與作為在香港的中國人有什麼關係？牛頓三大力學法則如何能增加就業機會？如何運用『木蘭辭』來推動在公共交通工具上應有的公民意識？
每位老師也是通識課老師，每節也是通識課，我們的同學怎能不通識？
要做到如此，就必須大幅刪減課程內容，可否每學期國文只教三篇文章呢？
不是Less is More嗎？
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
向來我對從事教育工作的朋友，均表兩分敬重，沒有他們的努力，我們能有未來嗎？
過去多年，香港的教育改革不斷，可惜成果未算突出，而且反對聲音不斷，我相信主事教育改革的官員立心是好的，但究竟問題在那裡呢？
我不是教育工作者，沒有資格能力批評，但作為只是看見多年來教育改革下，官員辛苦、老師辛苦、同學辛苦、家長辛苦的一個過來人，稍為胡言亂語而矣！
我們的教育制度，可能有很多流弊，故教育當局不停的製定各式各樣的方案，每次的新方案都好像在『加的多、減的少』，無論是什麼（人工福利除外），『加的多、減的少』的長期結果就是大家也在辛苦。
相信大家也明白，教育的目的在於求知識，開發智慧，而不是強記那些反正很快也會忘得一干二淨的課本資料，通識課確是好主意，它能令同學自求知識，智慧並由此而生，但在『加的多、減的少』的大前提下，老師那有時間準備，同學那有時間研究討論！
如果我有權改革教育，我一定會更進一步，把每一科目也化成通識課，蝴蝶的生長過程與作為在香港的中國人有什麼關係？牛頓三大力學法則如何能增加就業機會？如何運用『木蘭辭』來推動在公共交通工具上應有的公民意識？
每位老師也是通識課老師，每節也是通識課，我們的同學怎能不通識？
要做到如此，就必須大幅刪減課程內容，可否每學期國文只教三篇文章呢？
不是Less is More嗎？
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Customer Service: Refund Policy
Hi,
I am discussing with John Lau of St. James about refund policy and customer service yesterday.
Our discussion is about whether a service organization should refund if the customer's refund request is not due to dissatisfaction. He has already used up the product and he just wants to get his money back. My opinion is do the refund. If you tell someone that only dissatisfaction can get the refund, he will then claim that he is not satisfy with whatever!
John said that it is quite impossible in social service organization like St. James to do it like that. I do understand his difficulties because St. James has a very strict audit control. The money they earned goes to serving the people in need!
In those commercial organizations, which operate "refund under any condition" policy, not everyone will have such kind of request. Most of us are reasonable people, particularly if we are serving a vast majority of repeated customers (熟客). We have developed a long-term relationship. Relationship is more than money.
Decision in customer service sometimes can be not easy!
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
I am discussing with John Lau of St. James about refund policy and customer service yesterday.
Our discussion is about whether a service organization should refund if the customer's refund request is not due to dissatisfaction. He has already used up the product and he just wants to get his money back. My opinion is do the refund. If you tell someone that only dissatisfaction can get the refund, he will then claim that he is not satisfy with whatever!
John said that it is quite impossible in social service organization like St. James to do it like that. I do understand his difficulties because St. James has a very strict audit control. The money they earned goes to serving the people in need!
In those commercial organizations, which operate "refund under any condition" policy, not everyone will have such kind of request. Most of us are reasonable people, particularly if we are serving a vast majority of repeated customers (熟客). We have developed a long-term relationship. Relationship is more than money.
Decision in customer service sometimes can be not easy!
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Concepts 101 Part 3: Wants
Hi,
Apart from needs, we also have "wants"!
Wants are things that we like to have. If we can't have it, it is OK. But if we do get it, we feel happy for a while. Yes, just for a while since once you have what you want, it loses it power to attract you. We either forget about it or we keep on wanting more of it. More can be attractive than less! This can be addictive. Many people wasted their efforts and time by keeping on wanting more of something!
It can be even worse if we misthink our wants as our needs. We will spend unrealistic amount of effort to get it. It is ridiculous to think that you need a 60 inches TV or a LV handbag. You want them but you do not need them!
Needs are always the number 1 form of motivation. Wants can be the second-best. If you want to increase the motivation, relate the goals with wants!
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Apart from needs, we also have "wants"!
Wants are things that we like to have. If we can't have it, it is OK. But if we do get it, we feel happy for a while. Yes, just for a while since once you have what you want, it loses it power to attract you. We either forget about it or we keep on wanting more of it. More can be attractive than less! This can be addictive. Many people wasted their efforts and time by keeping on wanting more of something!
It can be even worse if we misthink our wants as our needs. We will spend unrealistic amount of effort to get it. It is ridiculous to think that you need a 60 inches TV or a LV handbag. You want them but you do not need them!
Needs are always the number 1 form of motivation. Wants can be the second-best. If you want to increase the motivation, relate the goals with wants!
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
2007/07/09
Top 5 Tips: Top 5 Self-Suggestions I used to Make Myself Healthy, Physically & Mentally
Hi,
I use self-hypnosis everyday to train my mind and remind myself of what I really want. It takes me only 5 minutes a day. No matter it really works or not, it is just 5 minutes!
You do not need to know Self-Hypnosis to make use of these suggestions. You can use them as affirmations. Just talk to yourself anytime you want. Or even better, talk to yourself just before you sleep and after you wake up.
1. Everyday, in every way, I become better and better.
每一日，每一方面，我都變得越來越好
2. I can find more easier and better ways in any situation.
任何情況，我都能夠搵到更多更易更好的方法
3. My mind is open and I can see any possibility.
我的思想保持開放，我能夠看到任何可能性
4. I feel relaxed and I feel good. 我感覺很放鬆，我心情很愉快
5. I can treat myself better and better. 我能夠對自己越來越好
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
I use self-hypnosis everyday to train my mind and remind myself of what I really want. It takes me only 5 minutes a day. No matter it really works or not, it is just 5 minutes!
You do not need to know Self-Hypnosis to make use of these suggestions. You can use them as affirmations. Just talk to yourself anytime you want. Or even better, talk to yourself just before you sleep and after you wake up.
1. Everyday, in every way, I become better and better.
每一日，每一方面，我都變得越來越好
2. I can find more easier and better ways in any situation.
任何情況，我都能夠搵到更多更易更好的方法
3. My mind is open and I can see any possibility.
我的思想保持開放，我能夠看到任何可能性
4. I feel relaxed and I feel good. 我感覺很放鬆，我心情很愉快
5. I can treat myself better and better. 我能夠對自己越來越好
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Concepts 101: Needs
Hi,
This is Part 2 of the Concepts 101 Series. I am going to write all the 101 concepts that I believe and live.
Needs give us the biggest motivation. Needs are things that we must have to survive. There are some common basic needs, like food and air. However, different people are having different other needs because different people has different definitions of survival.
If you cannot satisfy your needs, you find yourself unhappy. We will do whatever to meet our needs.
Knowing our need is our first step to happiness. If we are clear about our needs, we can focus our energy to get them. Most of us are wasting time, effort and money to chase after something, which is not our needs.
If you want a higher motivation, make it related to your needs. If this is something we need, that is, must-have, not nice-to-have, we have the drive.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
This is Part 2 of the Concepts 101 Series. I am going to write all the 101 concepts that I believe and live.
Needs give us the biggest motivation. Needs are things that we must have to survive. There are some common basic needs, like food and air. However, different people are having different other needs because different people has different definitions of survival.
If you cannot satisfy your needs, you find yourself unhappy. We will do whatever to meet our needs.
Knowing our need is our first step to happiness. If we are clear about our needs, we can focus our energy to get them. Most of us are wasting time, effort and money to chase after something, which is not our needs.
If you want a higher motivation, make it related to your needs. If this is something we need, that is, must-have, not nice-to-have, we have the drive.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
2007/06/26
Business Development: 13 Rules of Today's Business World
Hi,
Doing business today can be very different from the past. I read through the last issue of Business 2.0 Magazine today and write out these 13 rules.
1. Business is a fulfillment mechanism.
Successful businesses are those which can fulfill the needs and wants of customers!
2. Give away something for free.
And do it in a way that it can expand your business.
3. It is OK to make the people around you nervous!
If they are nervous, you must be doing something really new!
4. Businesses that focus strictly on profits will be voted out!
Don't make yourself too greedy!
5. It's OK not to be number 1!
Being number 4, 5 in a big market is still very big!
6. Do something you can be passionate about.
Don't just copy!
7. Don't take it all!
Leave something to others, especially your customers!
8. There must be something being unnoticed!
Then, that is your opportunities!
9. Cost is not the only consideration.
Time, convenience and flexibility matter more.
10. If everyone agrees with you, it's a waste of time.
Everyone is already doing it!
11. There is no problem to be outside the mainstream.
Competition is less over there!
12. Give people a second chance.
They will give their best!
13. Break all rules, including all of the above.
If there are rules, it isn't Today's Business World!
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Doing business today can be very different from the past. I read through the last issue of Business 2.0 Magazine today and write out these 13 rules.
1. Business is a fulfillment mechanism.
Successful businesses are those which can fulfill the needs and wants of customers!
2. Give away something for free.
And do it in a way that it can expand your business.
3. It is OK to make the people around you nervous!
If they are nervous, you must be doing something really new!
4. Businesses that focus strictly on profits will be voted out!
Don't make yourself too greedy!
5. It's OK not to be number 1!
Being number 4, 5 in a big market is still very big!
6. Do something you can be passionate about.
Don't just copy!
7. Don't take it all!
Leave something to others, especially your customers!
8. There must be something being unnoticed!
Then, that is your opportunities!
9. Cost is not the only consideration.
Time, convenience and flexibility matter more.
10. If everyone agrees with you, it's a waste of time.
Everyone is already doing it!
11. There is no problem to be outside the mainstream.
Competition is less over there!
12. Give people a second chance.
They will give their best!
13. Break all rules, including all of the above.
If there are rules, it isn't Today's Business World!
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
2007/06/19
Personal Development: 受惠於艱苦
Hi,
日本企管大師大前研一曾說過: 日本於戰後受惠於貧窮，促成了經濟起飛；現在受惠於政府各式各樣的補助金，反而不會動了！
我認為同樣的推論，同適用於香港。
港人於戰後也受惠於貧窮，更受惠於無法倚賴當時的殖民地政府，促成了依靠自己，最後也能經濟起飛；現在受惠於政府的關懷備致，也不太會動了！
我們的祖父母、父母能，我們也同樣能！只要我們同樣開始依靠自己，我們動得比任何人也快！
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
日本企管大師大前研一曾說過: 日本於戰後受惠於貧窮，促成了經濟起飛；現在受惠於政府各式各樣的補助金，反而不會動了！
我認為同樣的推論，同適用於香港。
港人於戰後也受惠於貧窮，更受惠於無法倚賴當時的殖民地政府，促成了依靠自己，最後也能經濟起飛；現在受惠於政府的關懷備致，也不太會動了！
我們的祖父母、父母能，我們也同樣能！只要我們同樣開始依靠自己，我們動得比任何人也快！
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Coaching: What is a Coach?
Hi,
I remembered someone describing a Coach being a motivational speaker who doesn't speak, but listen.
Great analogy!
I like to add: A Coach is a motivational speaker who doesn't motivate you from the outside, but facilitate discovery of your own motivation (i.e. Inspiration) from within.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
I remembered someone describing a Coach being a motivational speaker who doesn't speak, but listen.
Great analogy!
I like to add: A Coach is a motivational speaker who doesn't motivate you from the outside, but facilitate discovery of your own motivation (i.e. Inspiration) from within.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
2007/06/15
Concepts 101: You are not the Same Person Twice!
Hi,
This is my new articles series - Concepts 101.
I live, teach and practice based on many concepts. Like presuppositions, they are not rules, laws or principles. They are not 100% correct. But they guide my decisions.
I like to document all my concepts, making them consciously available to me. There are more than 100 concepts I am using. So I make it be 101! I will continue to write to complete all the 101 concepts.
My first concept is: You are not the same person twice. Every second passed makes you a second older. You are different from a second ago. As time passes, we change. It can be better or worse, but we are not the same person any more.
You can read the same book 10 times and each time you get something new from it. The content of the book hasn't changed but you changed. It is just like the same book being read by 10 different persons. Just the act of reading the book already make you something different.
Something that is impossible in the past can become possible now or in the future!
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
This is my new articles series - Concepts 101.
I live, teach and practice based on many concepts. Like presuppositions, they are not rules, laws or principles. They are not 100% correct. But they guide my decisions.
I like to document all my concepts, making them consciously available to me. There are more than 100 concepts I am using. So I make it be 101! I will continue to write to complete all the 101 concepts.
My first concept is: You are not the same person twice. Every second passed makes you a second older. You are different from a second ago. As time passes, we change. It can be better or worse, but we are not the same person any more.
You can read the same book 10 times and each time you get something new from it. The content of the book hasn't changed but you changed. It is just like the same book being read by 10 different persons. Just the act of reading the book already make you something different.
Something that is impossible in the past can become possible now or in the future!
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Business Development: Hong Kong is a Great Place to do Business Part 2
Hi,
In Part 1, we talked about there are 3 major causes why a business failed. These are not the only causes of failures, but they are the most common ones. Here are them:
1. Marketing. Many people hate doing marketing. They have great products but not too many people know about them. Marketing is not just advertising. Anything that attracts your target market to you is marketing.
2. Innovation. While Marketing make you successful at the present moment, Innovation creates success for your future. People wants new products. But Innovation is not just about creating new products. People also wants new ways to get your products. People wants new means to know about your products. People wants new ways to pay. People want new ways to use your products. We also need new strategies, new business models or even a new business to survive and prosper. The world is changing so fast that every parts of our business need to renew continuously!
3. Service. Anything that makes doing business easier with you is Service. Service is not just limited to polite, tactful communication. Service can't create more customers and business. It just makes it easier for your customers to do business with you. You still need Marketing to attract customers to your Innovative products.
We are need a systemic, bigger picture view of these 3 vital elements of doing business. Marketing is not just advertising, Innovation is not just new products, and Service is not just politeness and tact.
All the above 3's are not new stuff. Everybody knows that they are necessary. But how much time and effort have you devoted to them?
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
In Part 1, we talked about there are 3 major causes why a business failed. These are not the only causes of failures, but they are the most common ones. Here are them:
1. Marketing. Many people hate doing marketing. They have great products but not too many people know about them. Marketing is not just advertising. Anything that attracts your target market to you is marketing.
2. Innovation. While Marketing make you successful at the present moment, Innovation creates success for your future. People wants new products. But Innovation is not just about creating new products. People also wants new ways to get your products. People wants new means to know about your products. People wants new ways to pay. People want new ways to use your products. We also need new strategies, new business models or even a new business to survive and prosper. The world is changing so fast that every parts of our business need to renew continuously!
3. Service. Anything that makes doing business easier with you is Service. Service is not just limited to polite, tactful communication. Service can't create more customers and business. It just makes it easier for your customers to do business with you. You still need Marketing to attract customers to your Innovative products.
We are need a systemic, bigger picture view of these 3 vital elements of doing business. Marketing is not just advertising, Innovation is not just new products, and Service is not just politeness and tact.
All the above 3's are not new stuff. Everybody knows that they are necessary. But how much time and effort have you devoted to them?
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
2007/06/14
Learning from Life #126 - #130
Hi,
This is another edition of Learning from Life.
126. The more I resist something, the more I am suffering.
127. Smiling is the best form of communication.
128. Being reasonably polite can enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
129. Being smart and being wise is different.
130. Fears, hiding fears, ignoring fears, avoiding fears can be very exhausting.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
This is another edition of Learning from Life.
126. The more I resist something, the more I am suffering.
127. Smiling is the best form of communication.
128. Being reasonably polite can enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
129. Being smart and being wise is different.
130. Fears, hiding fears, ignoring fears, avoiding fears can be very exhausting.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
2007/06/13
Coaching: Business Coaching in Mainland China and Hong Kong
Hi,
This is an article I wrote as a Feature Article for the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches last year:
Business Coaching in Mainland China and Hong Kong
Over the past two decades, China's economy has enjoyed extremely rapid growth and development. More and more business people around the globe are entering China to take advantage of unprecedented business opportunities, and both local and overseas-invested businesses are booming.
Is the emerging profession of business coaching enjoying the same level of growth here? Having been a business coach in China and Hong Kong for almost ten years, I would like to briefly report on the status of our profession in this part of the world. While this isn't intended to be a comprehensive or in-depth analysis, I would like to share several of my observations in order to provide a general picture of business coaching in China.
The country is composed of four parts: Mainland China, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), the Macau SAR, and Taiwan. My study is focused on several major cities in Mainland China (e.g., Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shen Zhen) and Hong Kong.
Organizational Management Style
This year, I completed a small survey of 183 business executives in the area. The results indicate that 79% of these executives view their organizations as maintaining a directing style of management. Only 21% consider their companies to have adopted a more open and collaborative style, utilizing some degree of coaching in their daily operations.
According to these executives, the most common reasons for their companies' using a directing style are listed below, in descending order of frequency:
1. Managers lack time. They are too busy for a collaborative management style;
2. Managers lack coaching skills. They do not know how to coach their colleagues;
3. In small or family businesses, owners are accustomed to a top-down management approach;
4. Managers do not trust their staffs. They don't think their employees can work independently, without clear instructions; and
5. Managers fear losing control.
These responses are quite typical for managers in a developing economy. With more and more overseas investment and injection of management know-how into China, the situation may change in the years ahead.
Government Intervention
The Chinese and Hong Kong governments' intervention in our profession is minimal and neutral. They neither encourage nor discourage business coaching. However, there are some organizations in Mainland China that are using the term 'coaching' to describe what some view as 'New Age' style human potential development activities. These activities mirror Large Group Awareness Training, based on encounter groups which emerged with the popularization of humanistic psychology in North America in the '60s. Communist governments are very sensitive to these kinds of groups, since the psychological manipulation involved is perceived as potentially threatening. Anything that smacks of 'New Age' may be considered suspect by a Communist regime.
In my opinion, if you plan to expand your coaching practice into Mainland China, you must clearly distinguish yourself from any such human potential development organizations. Hong Kong SAR, however, is more open, and you are free to practice your coaching function however you see fit, as long as you don't run afoul of the law.
Coach Training in China
There is some 'coach training' in Mainland China, most of which is conducted by local consulting firms. However, an examination of the contents of these training programs reveals that they are not actually comprehensive coach training programs. Rather, they teach NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) and address leadership, personal development and team-building issues. While coaching can enhance leadership skills, personal development and team building, coaching is not just about leadership skills, personal development and team building!
This reflects a misunderstanding of coaching by business people in Mainland China. Business coaching is about helping others to expand their awareness, both of themselves and their businesses, rather than about motivation, persuasion and leadership techniques. As a more developed city, there are quite a few coach training programs available in Hong Kong. Most of them provide training in personal life coaching, and some are ICF accredited. The WABC's RCC Program is still the market leader in the field of business coaching, with about 300 graduates since its launch in 2002.
Impact of Chinese Culture on Coaching
Can North American coaching methodologies be applied equally well in China?
This is a difficult question, and I have studied it for years. I completed my coach training in the US. After practicing here in Hong Kong for the past ten years, I find my answer to the above question is 'yes,' but with some modified understanding of the coaching process.
Nearly every single book about coaching you can find in the bookstores will tell you to coach using curiosity and intuition. How about coaching someone who has very little curiosity or intuition? This is typical of Chinese people. In our country (and many other Asian countries), parents taught us not to be curious. Curiosity is equivalent to danger and is deemed impolite. We have also been educated not to speak if we are uncertain. We keep our intuition to ourselves. So, are curiosity and intuition really critical in coaching?
Let's examine how curiosity and intuition contribute to coaching. As a coach, curiosity sparks your interest in every facet of the client's issue so that you can inquire into every possible aspect, at every possible angle. This helps the client to explore more broadly and deeply. Intuition tells you which parts of a client's dialogue contain potential misunderstandings, saving both your and your client's time.
However, neither curiosity nor intuition works very well for the Chinese, even though the coach is willing and able to provide both. Why? Because the Chinese don't talk much! Perhaps unlike North Americans, the majority of the Chinese population is extremely reserved, particularly in the context of a business environment. They think thoroughly before they speak, and then they speak cautiously. They are reluctant to answer questions they consider irrelevant, and the more curious the coach is, the more questions the client might consider irrelevant.
Intuition is based on the coach's experience, through which the client's answers are filtered. Lacking the rich information provided by the client's answers to numerous 'curious' questions, there isn't much to find through intuition.
My solution is very simple—I have stopped using intuition and curiosity to coach. A coach's major task is to clarify clients' misunderstandings so that clients can discover more by themselves. What people think will be reflected in what they say. If there is some misunderstanding in a person's thinking, there will be signs of that misunderstanding in their conversation. Coaches can use curiosity to search for and intuition to locate those misunderstandings.
We can also be trained to recognize these signs—the openings in the coaching dialogue. Openings lead to potential misunderstandings and thus potential new awarenesses for the client.
There can be many openings the coach can identify and help the client to explore. For example, when the client tells you that none of his people want to work hard, there might be a potential generalization in the client's mind. Or, when the client says that she cannot do something, there is a possibility that she has adopted a limiting belief.
Listen for the openings. When you hear one, simply ask your clients to tell you more about that. This can cast some light on their potential blind spots. Sometimes we put too much attention on questioning. Coaching is more about listening. People new to coaching want to learn how or what to ask their clients. It is where to ask that matters even more.
Conclusion
In China, whatever is popular in the world can become trendy very quickly, but it can cool down really fast. Coaching is one of these trendy things in China right now.
Coaching is still very new to Mainland China and Hong Kong. It has been here for just a few years. Although people talk about coaching in the business sector in China, there is not much coaching actually happening here. Part of the reason is a misunderstanding of what real business coaching is, and part is a lack of managers' awareness of the real benefits of coaching to their businesses.
For our fellow coaches, China is a huge potential market. However, it is still operating in a stage of confusion. Once more people appreciate the importance of true business coaching, a prosperous future lies in store for our emerging profession.
This article first appeared in Business Coaching Worldwide (Winter Issue, 2006).
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
This is an article I wrote as a Feature Article for the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches last year:
Business Coaching in Mainland China and Hong Kong
Over the past two decades, China's economy has enjoyed extremely rapid growth and development. More and more business people around the globe are entering China to take advantage of unprecedented business opportunities, and both local and overseas-invested businesses are booming.
Is the emerging profession of business coaching enjoying the same level of growth here? Having been a business coach in China and Hong Kong for almost ten years, I would like to briefly report on the status of our profession in this part of the world. While this isn't intended to be a comprehensive or in-depth analysis, I would like to share several of my observations in order to provide a general picture of business coaching in China.
The country is composed of four parts: Mainland China, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), the Macau SAR, and Taiwan. My study is focused on several major cities in Mainland China (e.g., Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shen Zhen) and Hong Kong.
Organizational Management Style
This year, I completed a small survey of 183 business executives in the area. The results indicate that 79% of these executives view their organizations as maintaining a directing style of management. Only 21% consider their companies to have adopted a more open and collaborative style, utilizing some degree of coaching in their daily operations.
According to these executives, the most common reasons for their companies' using a directing style are listed below, in descending order of frequency:
1. Managers lack time. They are too busy for a collaborative management style;
2. Managers lack coaching skills. They do not know how to coach their colleagues;
3. In small or family businesses, owners are accustomed to a top-down management approach;
4. Managers do not trust their staffs. They don't think their employees can work independently, without clear instructions; and
5. Managers fear losing control.
These responses are quite typical for managers in a developing economy. With more and more overseas investment and injection of management know-how into China, the situation may change in the years ahead.
Government Intervention
The Chinese and Hong Kong governments' intervention in our profession is minimal and neutral. They neither encourage nor discourage business coaching. However, there are some organizations in Mainland China that are using the term 'coaching' to describe what some view as 'New Age' style human potential development activities. These activities mirror Large Group Awareness Training, based on encounter groups which emerged with the popularization of humanistic psychology in North America in the '60s. Communist governments are very sensitive to these kinds of groups, since the psychological manipulation involved is perceived as potentially threatening. Anything that smacks of 'New Age' may be considered suspect by a Communist regime.
In my opinion, if you plan to expand your coaching practice into Mainland China, you must clearly distinguish yourself from any such human potential development organizations. Hong Kong SAR, however, is more open, and you are free to practice your coaching function however you see fit, as long as you don't run afoul of the law.
Coach Training in China
There is some 'coach training' in Mainland China, most of which is conducted by local consulting firms. However, an examination of the contents of these training programs reveals that they are not actually comprehensive coach training programs. Rather, they teach NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) and address leadership, personal development and team-building issues. While coaching can enhance leadership skills, personal development and team building, coaching is not just about leadership skills, personal development and team building!
This reflects a misunderstanding of coaching by business people in Mainland China. Business coaching is about helping others to expand their awareness, both of themselves and their businesses, rather than about motivation, persuasion and leadership techniques. As a more developed city, there are quite a few coach training programs available in Hong Kong. Most of them provide training in personal life coaching, and some are ICF accredited. The WABC's RCC Program is still the market leader in the field of business coaching, with about 300 graduates since its launch in 2002.
Impact of Chinese Culture on Coaching
Can North American coaching methodologies be applied equally well in China?
This is a difficult question, and I have studied it for years. I completed my coach training in the US. After practicing here in Hong Kong for the past ten years, I find my answer to the above question is 'yes,' but with some modified understanding of the coaching process.
Nearly every single book about coaching you can find in the bookstores will tell you to coach using curiosity and intuition. How about coaching someone who has very little curiosity or intuition? This is typical of Chinese people. In our country (and many other Asian countries), parents taught us not to be curious. Curiosity is equivalent to danger and is deemed impolite. We have also been educated not to speak if we are uncertain. We keep our intuition to ourselves. So, are curiosity and intuition really critical in coaching?
Let's examine how curiosity and intuition contribute to coaching. As a coach, curiosity sparks your interest in every facet of the client's issue so that you can inquire into every possible aspect, at every possible angle. This helps the client to explore more broadly and deeply. Intuition tells you which parts of a client's dialogue contain potential misunderstandings, saving both your and your client's time.
However, neither curiosity nor intuition works very well for the Chinese, even though the coach is willing and able to provide both. Why? Because the Chinese don't talk much! Perhaps unlike North Americans, the majority of the Chinese population is extremely reserved, particularly in the context of a business environment. They think thoroughly before they speak, and then they speak cautiously. They are reluctant to answer questions they consider irrelevant, and the more curious the coach is, the more questions the client might consider irrelevant.
Intuition is based on the coach's experience, through which the client's answers are filtered. Lacking the rich information provided by the client's answers to numerous 'curious' questions, there isn't much to find through intuition.
My solution is very simple—I have stopped using intuition and curiosity to coach. A coach's major task is to clarify clients' misunderstandings so that clients can discover more by themselves. What people think will be reflected in what they say. If there is some misunderstanding in a person's thinking, there will be signs of that misunderstanding in their conversation. Coaches can use curiosity to search for and intuition to locate those misunderstandings.
We can also be trained to recognize these signs—the openings in the coaching dialogue. Openings lead to potential misunderstandings and thus potential new awarenesses for the client.
There can be many openings the coach can identify and help the client to explore. For example, when the client tells you that none of his people want to work hard, there might be a potential generalization in the client's mind. Or, when the client says that she cannot do something, there is a possibility that she has adopted a limiting belief.
Listen for the openings. When you hear one, simply ask your clients to tell you more about that. This can cast some light on their potential blind spots. Sometimes we put too much attention on questioning. Coaching is more about listening. People new to coaching want to learn how or what to ask their clients. It is where to ask that matters even more.
Conclusion
In China, whatever is popular in the world can become trendy very quickly, but it can cool down really fast. Coaching is one of these trendy things in China right now.
Coaching is still very new to Mainland China and Hong Kong. It has been here for just a few years. Although people talk about coaching in the business sector in China, there is not much coaching actually happening here. Part of the reason is a misunderstanding of what real business coaching is, and part is a lack of managers' awareness of the real benefits of coaching to their businesses.
For our fellow coaches, China is a huge potential market. However, it is still operating in a stage of confusion. Once more people appreciate the importance of true business coaching, a prosperous future lies in store for our emerging profession.
This article first appeared in Business Coaching Worldwide (Winter Issue, 2006).
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
2007/06/12
My Point of View: 香港的軟件、硬件
Hi,
很多香港人擔心中國其他城市如上海、廣州等超越我們，這種擔心並非無理，如你認為不可能的話，就請你往上述城市走一趟，便知這肯定並非無的放矢。
雖然政府(中央及香港)不時談到香港地位無法取代，這或許只是安慰說話而矣，如我們掉以輕心，屆時真的被人取代，可能又有其他如『中國好、香港好』，又或『大家本為一家無分彼此』等等安慰出現。
有些人認為，國內城市只在快速發展硬件(如基建等)，軟件(如人才素質)發展需時，就是香港停滯不前，未來要追及我們，還需十多年的光景，大家無用擔心，相信這種說法也有其好處，大家真的不用膽戰心驚，及時行樂，反正現在不是說經濟好轉，管他什麼追不追上！
但如你細心留意，你可能已經發覺，香港真的沒有停滯不前，而是倒退了，以前『只具硬件，沒有軟件』只在國內發現，現在香港也可以找到了，試舉一例，今天我在乘搭東鐵，發現了原來我們也有靜音車廂 (沒搭東鐵太久了！)，這種在境外相當普遍的安排，能讓乘客安靜地乘車，我們也有了，我們進步了！特地走進靜音車廂，原想享受一刻寧靜，但發現遊戲機聲、電話鈴聲、談電話聲、從耳筒中傳出但仍清晰可聞的音樂聲此起彼落，這不是『只具硬件，沒有軟件』是什麼？
再者，已倡導多時的車廂中不可飲食的守則，也淪為『只具硬件，沒有軟件』，就在『禁止飲食』標語下，一名年輕人正在大快朵頤，與他的麥當奴漢堡飽、薯條及大汽水努力戰鬥，原以為只有年輕人不懂規則，那邊廂一名阿叔又在享受其維他檸檬茶，另一位『師奶』則在大啖其卡樂B蝦條，這應是軟件的問題罷！
還有，原來東鐵也已設定了像國外『博愛座』的專為老人家及有需要人士而設的特別座位，但當天車廂滿載乘客，其中不乏有需要人士，但坐在這特別座位的後生仔卻依然大模斯樣地紋風不動，試問這還不是『只具硬件，沒有軟件』？
你可能認為這只是片面，我們不是開拓了景點 (如狄士尼、昂平360等)，但卻忽略了忠誠服務；我們不是辦了很多家大學，但卻忽略了下一代；我們不是建立了數碼港、科學園，但卻忽略了創新…
問題在那？我們積極投資教育卻忘記培養、投資進修卻忘記學習、投資房子卻忘了家庭、投資硬件卻忘了軟件！
我只在投訴沒有建議？有，如果你想聽的話，就留待下一期詳細探討。
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
很多香港人擔心中國其他城市如上海、廣州等超越我們，這種擔心並非無理，如你認為不可能的話，就請你往上述城市走一趟，便知這肯定並非無的放矢。
雖然政府(中央及香港)不時談到香港地位無法取代，這或許只是安慰說話而矣，如我們掉以輕心，屆時真的被人取代，可能又有其他如『中國好、香港好』，又或『大家本為一家無分彼此』等等安慰出現。
有些人認為，國內城市只在快速發展硬件(如基建等)，軟件(如人才素質)發展需時，就是香港停滯不前，未來要追及我們，還需十多年的光景，大家無用擔心，相信這種說法也有其好處，大家真的不用膽戰心驚，及時行樂，反正現在不是說經濟好轉，管他什麼追不追上！
但如你細心留意，你可能已經發覺，香港真的沒有停滯不前，而是倒退了，以前『只具硬件，沒有軟件』只在國內發現，現在香港也可以找到了，試舉一例，今天我在乘搭東鐵，發現了原來我們也有靜音車廂 (沒搭東鐵太久了！)，這種在境外相當普遍的安排，能讓乘客安靜地乘車，我們也有了，我們進步了！特地走進靜音車廂，原想享受一刻寧靜，但發現遊戲機聲、電話鈴聲、談電話聲、從耳筒中傳出但仍清晰可聞的音樂聲此起彼落，這不是『只具硬件，沒有軟件』是什麼？
再者，已倡導多時的車廂中不可飲食的守則，也淪為『只具硬件，沒有軟件』，就在『禁止飲食』標語下，一名年輕人正在大快朵頤，與他的麥當奴漢堡飽、薯條及大汽水努力戰鬥，原以為只有年輕人不懂規則，那邊廂一名阿叔又在享受其維他檸檬茶，另一位『師奶』則在大啖其卡樂B蝦條，這應是軟件的問題罷！
還有，原來東鐵也已設定了像國外『博愛座』的專為老人家及有需要人士而設的特別座位，但當天車廂滿載乘客，其中不乏有需要人士，但坐在這特別座位的後生仔卻依然大模斯樣地紋風不動，試問這還不是『只具硬件，沒有軟件』？
你可能認為這只是片面，我們不是開拓了景點 (如狄士尼、昂平360等)，但卻忽略了忠誠服務；我們不是辦了很多家大學，但卻忽略了下一代；我們不是建立了數碼港、科學園，但卻忽略了創新…
問題在那？我們積極投資教育卻忘記培養、投資進修卻忘記學習、投資房子卻忘了家庭、投資硬件卻忘了軟件！
我只在投訴沒有建議？有，如果你想聽的話，就留待下一期詳細探討。
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
My Point of View: 人前人後待人好
Hi,
什麼樣的人算得上是真好人? 能人前人後待人好的應該是了。
什麼樣的人算得上是假好人? 人前待人好，人後待人差的應該是了。
什麼樣的人算得上是真小人? 人前待人差，人後待人也差的應該是了。
什麼樣的人算得上是假小人? 人前待人差，人後卻待人好的應該是了。
不要問我是那種人，我的志願是想做真小人，輕鬆自在，但有時做不來，結果做了假好人，心裡不太舒服，還是要立定決心，做我的真小人好了！
你呢?
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
什麼樣的人算得上是真好人? 能人前人後待人好的應該是了。
什麼樣的人算得上是假好人? 人前待人好，人後待人差的應該是了。
什麼樣的人算得上是真小人? 人前待人差，人後待人也差的應該是了。
什麼樣的人算得上是假小人? 人前待人差，人後卻待人好的應該是了。
不要問我是那種人，我的志願是想做真小人，輕鬆自在，但有時做不來，結果做了假好人，心裡不太舒服，還是要立定決心，做我的真小人好了！
你呢?
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
2007/06/10
Business Development: MBA? MFA might be Another Great Choice!
Hi,
Are you planning to study your MBA (Master in Business Administration) program? Think again!
In 1993, 61% of McKinsey's consultants had MBA degrees. Today, it is down to less than 43%! MBA is out, MFA is in!
MFA? Master in Fine Arts.
Corporate recruiters have begun visiting the top arts graduate schools, such as the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Michigan's Cranbrook Academy of Art in search of talent. More and more arts graduates are occupying key corporate positions in the US. General Motors says they are in the art business. The MFA is the new MBA!
Why?
MBA Programs are great. But they focus more on the logical side of linear sequential thinking. The today's ever-changing business environment is calling for a more systemic, simultaneous mind. MFA fills in the gap!
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Are you planning to study your MBA (Master in Business Administration) program? Think again!
In 1993, 61% of McKinsey's consultants had MBA degrees. Today, it is down to less than 43%! MBA is out, MFA is in!
MFA? Master in Fine Arts.
Corporate recruiters have begun visiting the top arts graduate schools, such as the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Michigan's Cranbrook Academy of Art in search of talent. More and more arts graduates are occupying key corporate positions in the US. General Motors says they are in the art business. The MFA is the new MBA!
Why?
MBA Programs are great. But they focus more on the logical side of linear sequential thinking. The today's ever-changing business environment is calling for a more systemic, simultaneous mind. MFA fills in the gap!
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
2007/05/31
Personal Development: Don't Assume!!!
Hi,
I was in San Francisco the past few days. I have never been there before.
San Francisco is in California and California is famous for her sunshine. So I did not do my research and was then shocked by her freezing cold weather.
I wore all the clothes I had and I was still nearly frozen to death! It was so cold that the hotel needed to turn on its heating system.
Assume nothing or we are going to suffer!
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
I was in San Francisco the past few days. I have never been there before.
San Francisco is in California and California is famous for her sunshine. So I did not do my research and was then shocked by her freezing cold weather.
I wore all the clothes I had and I was still nearly frozen to death! It was so cold that the hotel needed to turn on its heating system.
Assume nothing or we are going to suffer!
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
2007/05/25
Personal Development: 1-2-3 Let Go!
Hi,
I made a mistake in scheduling my trip and I need to leave Vancouver earlier. So, I am going to miss something important.
I tried everything I can do to make it right again, but unsuccessful. Then it's time to let go!
Tried my best and nothing worked, let go!
This simple 3-Steps Logic makes my life easier, much easier. Even it is your mistake, when you have done nearly everything to rectify but still unsuccessful, let go and give yourself an easier life.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
I made a mistake in scheduling my trip and I need to leave Vancouver earlier. So, I am going to miss something important.
I tried everything I can do to make it right again, but unsuccessful. Then it's time to let go!
Tried my best and nothing worked, let go!
This simple 3-Steps Logic makes my life easier, much easier. Even it is your mistake, when you have done nearly everything to rectify but still unsuccessful, let go and give yourself an easier life.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Portland - One of the Best Place to Live
Hi,
This is my 2nd week of my holiday. I am leaving Portland today. In the past few days, I am staying in and enjoying very much this quiet beautiful city.
Portland is one of the Top 10 Best Places to Live in the U.S.
The city is very green. The people here are nice. Cost of living is low. There is no sales tax here. Public transportation is free of charge in the city centre area! There is lots of beautiful mountains and rivers in the surrounding area.
If you are planning your holiday, Portland can be one of your choices!
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
This is my 2nd week of my holiday. I am leaving Portland today. In the past few days, I am staying in and enjoying very much this quiet beautiful city.
Portland is one of the Top 10 Best Places to Live in the U.S.
The city is very green. The people here are nice. Cost of living is low. There is no sales tax here. Public transportation is free of charge in the city centre area! There is lots of beautiful mountains and rivers in the surrounding area.
If you are planning your holiday, Portland can be one of your choices!
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
2007/05/19
Coaching: WABC Conference 2007
Hi,
I am now in Vancouver attending the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches Conference. It is a truly international conference and WABC is a truly international organization.
You can find members from Canada, US, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, Japan, Netherlands, Belgium, UK and of course Hong Kong attending the conference.
The advantage of going to an international conference is that you can gain varieties of viewpoints, which can enrich your understanding.
If you are a coach, or interest in coaching, I highly recommend the WABC!
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
I am now in Vancouver attending the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches Conference. It is a truly international conference and WABC is a truly international organization.
You can find members from Canada, US, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, Japan, Netherlands, Belgium, UK and of course Hong Kong attending the conference.
The advantage of going to an international conference is that you can gain varieties of viewpoints, which can enrich your understanding.
If you are a coach, or interest in coaching, I highly recommend the WABC!
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
2007/05/13
Business Development: Hong Kong is a Great Place to do Business
Hi,
We are so lucky to live and work in Hong Kong.
It is a very, very great place to do business here. Just imagine, where on earth can you find a place where 7M people concentrating in such a small city?
Furthermore, most of these 7M people are having above average buying power!
With such a high concentration of great potential customers, marketing, selling, delivering, supporting are all super-easy!
Many people doing online business because they can only find such high concentration online. But we can do this physically!
But why are so many businesses failed? Do your observation and you will find the answers!
I am not that smart to discover how to run a successful business, but it is much easier to identify how a business fails.
3 Key Points!!!
What are these 3 Key Points? Guess first and I will discuss this in my next posting.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
We are so lucky to live and work in Hong Kong.
It is a very, very great place to do business here. Just imagine, where on earth can you find a place where 7M people concentrating in such a small city?
Furthermore, most of these 7M people are having above average buying power!
With such a high concentration of great potential customers, marketing, selling, delivering, supporting are all super-easy!
Many people doing online business because they can only find such high concentration online. But we can do this physically!
But why are so many businesses failed? Do your observation and you will find the answers!
I am not that smart to discover how to run a successful business, but it is much easier to identify how a business fails.
3 Key Points!!!
What are these 3 Key Points? Guess first and I will discuss this in my next posting.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
2007/05/12
NLP: Negative Resources
Hi,
Another interesting discussion in NLP Class today.
If positive resources like confidence, happiness, calmness can create the respective positive states, then is the Negative States being created by Negative Resources?
According to NLP, the answer is no.
Negative States are created by lacking of Resources. A Sad State is not created by Sadness Resource, but by lacking the Happiness Resource.
However, no one know whether this is right or wrong. We can't physically locate any resources, both positive or negative. This is just a presupposition.
If something is a presupposition, whether we should believe in it or not depends on its usefulness.
If a negative state is created by a negative resource, we then need to remove the resource. But how?
If a negative state is created by lacking a positive resource, we can go and find that positive resource. Getting something is easier than Getting Rid of something.
NLP has its own ways to get those positive resources, like anchoring. We can also get it using many Non-NLP means, for example, when you want to be happier, do something happy or recalling some happy memories.
Getting is easier than Getting Rid of. Do not agree? Think about your fat and body weight! (or there will also be another big business of gaining weight!)
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Another interesting discussion in NLP Class today.
If positive resources like confidence, happiness, calmness can create the respective positive states, then is the Negative States being created by Negative Resources?
According to NLP, the answer is no.
Negative States are created by lacking of Resources. A Sad State is not created by Sadness Resource, but by lacking the Happiness Resource.
However, no one know whether this is right or wrong. We can't physically locate any resources, both positive or negative. This is just a presupposition.
If something is a presupposition, whether we should believe in it or not depends on its usefulness.
If a negative state is created by a negative resource, we then need to remove the resource. But how?
If a negative state is created by lacking a positive resource, we can go and find that positive resource. Getting something is easier than Getting Rid of something.
NLP has its own ways to get those positive resources, like anchoring. We can also get it using many Non-NLP means, for example, when you want to be happier, do something happy or recalling some happy memories.
Getting is easier than Getting Rid of. Do not agree? Think about your fat and body weight! (or there will also be another big business of gaining weight!)
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
NLP: Too Confident?!
Hi,
In today NLP Practitioner Training, we are discussing whether someone can be too confident.
In NLP, we believe that if we have the Resource of Confidence, we are in a Confident State. But can we have too much of the Resource of Confidence and making us becoming too confident?
Many people believe so. When we are over-confident, we can then be in trouble. The same reasoning applies to many of the positive states, like too happy or too curious.
So we do our best to stop from being too confident, too happy and too curious! The result is either we just can't stop it or we become not confident, not happy and not curious at all.
Can we have too much the Resource of Confidence?
No!!!
The problem of Over-Confidence is NOT because of we are having too much Confidence, but because of the lacking some other useful Resources, like Observation and Self-Control.
We can be very confident, without overdoing anything, if we can also observe the situation and be self-controlled.
This is an example of More is Less. More of some other useful resources, then less the negative outcomes!
Be flexible, it is not a must that More is More or Less is Less.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
In today NLP Practitioner Training, we are discussing whether someone can be too confident.
In NLP, we believe that if we have the Resource of Confidence, we are in a Confident State. But can we have too much of the Resource of Confidence and making us becoming too confident?
Many people believe so. When we are over-confident, we can then be in trouble. The same reasoning applies to many of the positive states, like too happy or too curious.
So we do our best to stop from being too confident, too happy and too curious! The result is either we just can't stop it or we become not confident, not happy and not curious at all.
Can we have too much the Resource of Confidence?
No!!!
The problem of Over-Confidence is NOT because of we are having too much Confidence, but because of the lacking some other useful Resources, like Observation and Self-Control.
We can be very confident, without overdoing anything, if we can also observe the situation and be self-controlled.
This is an example of More is Less. More of some other useful resources, then less the negative outcomes!
Be flexible, it is not a must that More is More or Less is Less.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
NLP: Useless NLP!
Hi,
Many years ago when NLP is still new to Hong Kong, nobody claims NLP has magical power.
However in today, so many people are telling others about NLP's magical power in changing people. I have even heard someone saying just with a touch, he can make you fully filled with power by using NLP! (This makes me thinking of He-Man!) This is a problem.
Overstating the effectiveness might draw you more clients but it will hurt the goodwill of NLP. (Though NLP does not have much of it!)
Are NLP Skills Useful?
From my experience, many the so-called very effective NLP Skills can be quite useless with some people. Every skill has its limitation. It can be effective on someone does not guarantee its effectiveness on others. People are different. The classic Fast Phobia Cure and Swish Pattern of NLP can be useless with someone who are not very visual!
NLP is just one of the many choices you can use to help yourself or others. If it doesn't work, use something else!
Is the Effect of NLP Skills Long Term?
The effect might not be long term. Some NLP Skills are having long term effect while others having short term. It is not the former are better the latter. It is just because of their designs.
Skills affecting Filters (i.e. Belief, Value, Rule, Attitude) can be long term, and skills directing towards your Behaviours and Thoughts level can be just short term. But short term skills can be useful when you want an instant change of state.
For example, you are in a very bad mood, you dissociate and you get a short term relief. But if your Filters or your environment do not change, you can then easily swing back to the bad mood again. Another example: You are very angry and you are facing your naughty son. A simple Personal Editing Skill can make you into a temporary calmer state. Then you can talk with your son. These are just short term changes but they serves some purposes.
Effective is not Useful!
Even the NLP Skill is effective, it doesn't mean it is useful. For example, by using Logical Levels, you might be able to change some of your beliefs effectively. But the resulting beliefs can be even worse than the original ones.
Whether the change is smart or stupid depends on the quality of your information, knowledge and wisdom. A wise person, when using NLP can make wise changes and vice versa.
So, NLP is NOT an alternative to other forms of skills and knowledge. It is just a might-be-effective tool when use wisely. NLP can't make a person becoming master or guru. Wisdom can!
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Many years ago when NLP is still new to Hong Kong, nobody claims NLP has magical power.
However in today, so many people are telling others about NLP's magical power in changing people. I have even heard someone saying just with a touch, he can make you fully filled with power by using NLP! (This makes me thinking of He-Man!) This is a problem.
Overstating the effectiveness might draw you more clients but it will hurt the goodwill of NLP. (Though NLP does not have much of it!)
Are NLP Skills Useful?
From my experience, many the so-called very effective NLP Skills can be quite useless with some people. Every skill has its limitation. It can be effective on someone does not guarantee its effectiveness on others. People are different. The classic Fast Phobia Cure and Swish Pattern of NLP can be useless with someone who are not very visual!
NLP is just one of the many choices you can use to help yourself or others. If it doesn't work, use something else!
Is the Effect of NLP Skills Long Term?
The effect might not be long term. Some NLP Skills are having long term effect while others having short term. It is not the former are better the latter. It is just because of their designs.
Skills affecting Filters (i.e. Belief, Value, Rule, Attitude) can be long term, and skills directing towards your Behaviours and Thoughts level can be just short term. But short term skills can be useful when you want an instant change of state.
For example, you are in a very bad mood, you dissociate and you get a short term relief. But if your Filters or your environment do not change, you can then easily swing back to the bad mood again. Another example: You are very angry and you are facing your naughty son. A simple Personal Editing Skill can make you into a temporary calmer state. Then you can talk with your son. These are just short term changes but they serves some purposes.
Effective is not Useful!
Even the NLP Skill is effective, it doesn't mean it is useful. For example, by using Logical Levels, you might be able to change some of your beliefs effectively. But the resulting beliefs can be even worse than the original ones.
Whether the change is smart or stupid depends on the quality of your information, knowledge and wisdom. A wise person, when using NLP can make wise changes and vice versa.
So, NLP is NOT an alternative to other forms of skills and knowledge. It is just a might-be-effective tool when use wisely. NLP can't make a person becoming master or guru. Wisdom can!
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
2007/05/10
Personal Development: Goals, Surrender and Release
Hi,
One of our participants emailed me some good questions and she allows me to publish here:
1. 我上過你五堂的NLP簡介課程, 昨天, 又參加了你的 Round-Table講座, 印象中, 你一直強調發展的重要, 可是, 昨天講座完結前, 你又提出十五個簡約生活法, 包括減少期望和放棄目標, 這個, 跟不斷追求向上發展, 好像有矛盾。
They are not a paradox if you can understand it. Most of the people do not have a goal and do not know what they really want.
But some have too many goals or expectations. When goals and expectation become too many and are not well think-through, these goals and expectations turn into barriers to understand and work towards what they really want.
If you are clear about your goals and expectations, of course you do not need to reduce them. But if you are not, it can be a good idea to stop having any of them and start to define your own success. Go Back to Basic to start again is a great way to simplify one's life.
2. 是不是懂得「放手」, 重要過未經思考, 便跳進簡約生活? 我覺得, 如果心不平、心不靜, 無論你採用任何一種生活方式, 也會不斷給自己製造問題。
「放手」is admitting something that might not be able to change and there are facts of life. Then we change what we can change. Release those can't be changed and focus on those can!
3. 你昨天解釋 放棄 vs 放手, 我接收得不太清楚。我想, 「放棄」會不會是當事人在事情仍有迴旋的空間的時候, 當事人選擇不再付出努力, 是撒手不做也不理; 而「放手」, 則是事情已經完結, 完全不由當事人主動再去做些什麼, 這樣, 當事人唯有放手。
I had explained 放手 in Q2. 「放棄」 is surrendering. One who gives up before studying the situation clearly simply because the situation seems to be difficult. It is good to 「放手」. But 「放棄」 can be misleading.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
One of our participants emailed me some good questions and she allows me to publish here:
1. 我上過你五堂的NLP簡介課程, 昨天, 又參加了你的 Round-Table講座, 印象中, 你一直強調發展的重要, 可是, 昨天講座完結前, 你又提出十五個簡約生活法, 包括減少期望和放棄目標, 這個, 跟不斷追求向上發展, 好像有矛盾。
They are not a paradox if you can understand it. Most of the people do not have a goal and do not know what they really want.
But some have too many goals or expectations. When goals and expectation become too many and are not well think-through, these goals and expectations turn into barriers to understand and work towards what they really want.
If you are clear about your goals and expectations, of course you do not need to reduce them. But if you are not, it can be a good idea to stop having any of them and start to define your own success. Go Back to Basic to start again is a great way to simplify one's life.
2. 是不是懂得「放手」, 重要過未經思考, 便跳進簡約生活? 我覺得, 如果心不平、心不靜, 無論你採用任何一種生活方式, 也會不斷給自己製造問題。
「放手」is admitting something that might not be able to change and there are facts of life. Then we change what we can change. Release those can't be changed and focus on those can!
3. 你昨天解釋 放棄 vs 放手, 我接收得不太清楚。我想, 「放棄」會不會是當事人在事情仍有迴旋的空間的時候, 當事人選擇不再付出努力, 是撒手不做也不理; 而「放手」, 則是事情已經完結, 完全不由當事人主動再去做些什麼, 這樣, 當事人唯有放手。
I had explained 放手 in Q2. 「放棄」 is surrendering. One who gives up before studying the situation clearly simply because the situation seems to be difficult. It is good to 「放手」. But 「放棄」 can be misleading.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Hypnosis: Leading Suggestions (主觀引導暗示)
Hi,
Yesterday we were doing the 2nd attempt of Practice Assessment for last year's Certified Hypnotherapist Program. One of our graduate assistants raised a good question and I like to discuss here. I added some more questions to make understanding easier.
How to define a Leading Suggestion?
Any suggestion, which contains a message the client has never said can be leading. There is a danger of leading the client believing something which does not actually exist or misleading the client to a conclusion that is not the intention of him/her.
Then, can we use Leading Suggestions?
I would say NO under any circumstance. This is the basic code of ethics of hypnotherapist.
But can we use Leading Questions to help clients to improve?
I would also say No. This is just as bad, or even worse than Leading Suggestions. You embedded the suggestions into a question. This enhances its effectiveness in misleading!
How about using Leading Questions to help clients to discover more?
Tricky question. Our standard questions of "Because...?" and "That is....?" are leading questions. ("Because" implies there is a reason and "That is" implies there is an alternative description or definition) If we are taught to use them, that means we can use them?
Yes, but with caution. It is OK to use some of the Context Leading Questions, but absolutely NOT OK to use Content Leading Questions.
Context Leading Questions are leading questions without content. The 2 examples above is Context Leading Questions. You just give a structure for the clients to think. This makes discovery easier.
Content Leading Questions are leading question with content. For example: "Can you just forget about it?" The content is "forgetting something". You indirectly suggest the client to do or believe something that he/she never told you.
Conclusion?
Using Context Leading Questions to help clients to discover can be very effective. But if you are not sure about whether your questions are Context or Content Leading, don't use them. Using our 2 standard questions is more than enough in most cases.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Yesterday we were doing the 2nd attempt of Practice Assessment for last year's Certified Hypnotherapist Program. One of our graduate assistants raised a good question and I like to discuss here. I added some more questions to make understanding easier.
How to define a Leading Suggestion?
Any suggestion, which contains a message the client has never said can be leading. There is a danger of leading the client believing something which does not actually exist or misleading the client to a conclusion that is not the intention of him/her.
Then, can we use Leading Suggestions?
I would say NO under any circumstance. This is the basic code of ethics of hypnotherapist.
But can we use Leading Questions to help clients to improve?
I would also say No. This is just as bad, or even worse than Leading Suggestions. You embedded the suggestions into a question. This enhances its effectiveness in misleading!
How about using Leading Questions to help clients to discover more?
Tricky question. Our standard questions of "Because...?" and "That is....?" are leading questions. ("Because" implies there is a reason and "That is" implies there is an alternative description or definition) If we are taught to use them, that means we can use them?
Yes, but with caution. It is OK to use some of the Context Leading Questions, but absolutely NOT OK to use Content Leading Questions.
Context Leading Questions are leading questions without content. The 2 examples above is Context Leading Questions. You just give a structure for the clients to think. This makes discovery easier.
Content Leading Questions are leading question with content. For example: "Can you just forget about it?" The content is "forgetting something". You indirectly suggest the client to do or believe something that he/she never told you.
Conclusion?
Using Context Leading Questions to help clients to discover can be very effective. But if you are not sure about whether your questions are Context or Content Leading, don't use them. Using our 2 standard questions is more than enough in most cases.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Coaching: The Origin of the A --> B Model
Hi,
If you had attended any of my coaching program, I introduced you our universal model, the A --> B Model.
What is A --> B Model?
I started to teach this model since 2000 in my first coaching program. This is a simple model describing everything in the world:
1. You are now in A and you want to go to B. --> is the path of going from A to B.
2. A happens and it leads to B.
3. A happened and it leaded to B.
Misunderstanding of the Origin:
Some people think that this is "copied" from Albert Ellis's Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy. That is the famous ABC Model. A is for Activating Experiences, such as family troubles and all the many things we point to as the sources of our unhappiness. B stands for Beliefs, especially the irrational, self-defeating beliefs that are the actual sources of our unhappiness. And C is for Consequences, the neurotic symptoms and negative emotions such as depression panic, and rage, that come from our beliefs.
I always copy beause I am a NLPer and we are good at modeling. But I do not copy from the ABC Model.
If you fully understand Ellis's ABC Model, you can easily see that the 2 models are totally different, though there are A and B in both models!!! Ellis's Model is about depression and negative emotions. A --> B is about life, current situation, intentions and possible paths. It is a planning model (coaching for actions) and understanding model (coaching for causes) when using in coaching.
Origin of A --> B Model:
Many had asked my the origin of this model. This is not a new model. Many coaches in the U.S. are using a similar model for years. But they have a different interpretation from mine.
Amercian people are generally very goal-oriented. When they coach, they usually start with setting goal, i.e. B. My understanding is that if we are not clear about where we currently are, i.e. A, our goals or expectations (B) can be just pipedreams or others' imposed goals. So we start with A.
Where do I get this idea?
I copied it from Logic. This is just a variation of the Cause & Effect Principle. Casues (A) always come before Effects (B). If we don't fully understand the Causes (A), we can't understand and change the Effects (B).
Then I enriched the model with different depths and perspectives to make it more usable in coaching.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
If you had attended any of my coaching program, I introduced you our universal model, the A --> B Model.
What is A --> B Model?
I started to teach this model since 2000 in my first coaching program. This is a simple model describing everything in the world:
1. You are now in A and you want to go to B. --> is the path of going from A to B.
2. A happens and it leads to B.
3. A happened and it leaded to B.
Misunderstanding of the Origin:
Some people think that this is "copied" from Albert Ellis's Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy. That is the famous ABC Model. A is for Activating Experiences, such as family troubles and all the many things we point to as the sources of our unhappiness. B stands for Beliefs, especially the irrational, self-defeating beliefs that are the actual sources of our unhappiness. And C is for Consequences, the neurotic symptoms and negative emotions such as depression panic, and rage, that come from our beliefs.
I always copy beause I am a NLPer and we are good at modeling. But I do not copy from the ABC Model.
If you fully understand Ellis's ABC Model, you can easily see that the 2 models are totally different, though there are A and B in both models!!! Ellis's Model is about depression and negative emotions. A --> B is about life, current situation, intentions and possible paths. It is a planning model (coaching for actions) and understanding model (coaching for causes) when using in coaching.
Origin of A --> B Model:
Many had asked my the origin of this model. This is not a new model. Many coaches in the U.S. are using a similar model for years. But they have a different interpretation from mine.
Amercian people are generally very goal-oriented. When they coach, they usually start with setting goal, i.e. B. My understanding is that if we are not clear about where we currently are, i.e. A, our goals or expectations (B) can be just pipedreams or others' imposed goals. So we start with A.
Where do I get this idea?
I copied it from Logic. This is just a variation of the Cause & Effect Principle. Casues (A) always come before Effects (B). If we don't fully understand the Causes (A), we can't understand and change the Effects (B).
Then I enriched the model with different depths and perspectives to make it more usable in coaching.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
2007/05/08
Hypnosis: What is Hypnotherapy?
Hi,
Many people asked me the above question. If you like to read, you can always go to Hypnosis is about Change for more details.
Here is my briefest introduction of my understanding of hypnotherapy:
Hypnotherapy is NOT Psychotherapy. A hypnotherapist does NOT have the knowledge and skills to treat any psychological problems. A hypnotherapist is NOT a Medical Practitioner. A hypnotherapist does not know how to diagnose and treat physiological problems.
A responsible hypnotherapist only helps clients to improve themselves through adopting a better habit or behaviour.
A hypnotherapist put people in a very relaxed state. The process can be in form of relaxation and/or concentration. Then he/she can do 2 things to assist the clients to improve:
1. Tell to the clients what he/she wants to believe or act. For example, we can tell a dieting client to eat only 3 regular meals a day. Hypnotherapist call this Hypnotic Suggestion. When in this very relaxed state, people are less stubborn and are more willing to accept new ideas. This then makes Hypnotic Suggestions effective.
2. Ask clients non-leading questions to make the clients to think for solution of their problems. As mentioned above, people in this very relaxed state, they are less stubborn and are willing to search and consider new options.
So a hypnotherapist cannot do any miracle. The usefulness of hypnotherapy is also very limited. But if one's problem can be relieved through a new and better habit or behaviour, it might be useful.
Even under the above condition, hypnotherapy is not 100% effective. Some people can have really strong beliefs about his/her original behaviours. So, being a responsible hypnotherapist, we should advise his/her clients to seek other form of assistance when we find out that hypnotherapy is not effective to the clients.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Many people asked me the above question. If you like to read, you can always go to Hypnosis is about Change for more details.
Here is my briefest introduction of my understanding of hypnotherapy:
Hypnotherapy is NOT Psychotherapy. A hypnotherapist does NOT have the knowledge and skills to treat any psychological problems. A hypnotherapist is NOT a Medical Practitioner. A hypnotherapist does not know how to diagnose and treat physiological problems.
A responsible hypnotherapist only helps clients to improve themselves through adopting a better habit or behaviour.
A hypnotherapist put people in a very relaxed state. The process can be in form of relaxation and/or concentration. Then he/she can do 2 things to assist the clients to improve:
1. Tell to the clients what he/she wants to believe or act. For example, we can tell a dieting client to eat only 3 regular meals a day. Hypnotherapist call this Hypnotic Suggestion. When in this very relaxed state, people are less stubborn and are more willing to accept new ideas. This then makes Hypnotic Suggestions effective.
2. Ask clients non-leading questions to make the clients to think for solution of their problems. As mentioned above, people in this very relaxed state, they are less stubborn and are willing to search and consider new options.
So a hypnotherapist cannot do any miracle. The usefulness of hypnotherapy is also very limited. But if one's problem can be relieved through a new and better habit or behaviour, it might be useful.
Even under the above condition, hypnotherapy is not 100% effective. Some people can have really strong beliefs about his/her original behaviours. So, being a responsible hypnotherapist, we should advise his/her clients to seek other form of assistance when we find out that hypnotherapy is not effective to the clients.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Announcement: 100% Satisfaction Policy
Hi,
I like to inform you that no matter which program you are studying with me, we have a 100% Satisfaction Policy.
If you are not happy with the program, you can withdraw from the program at any time and get your full refund!
If St. James can't handle the refund, I will do it myself. I will pay you back out of my pocket.
I want you be able to learn and be happy. If you are not happy about the program, I can't keep your money.
If you have never attended any program from me, I strongly urge you to attend any of my free seminars offered throughout the year. My style is quite different and I am NOT a nice person. I am not a guru or a master and I am not a perfect person (to be more accurate, I am far, far from perfect). I am just an ordinary person like you and them.
My style is to use whatever (of course it must be legal!) to ensure participants understand and learn.
So, you might not prefer me as your trainer. You can always try me by attending my free program first before going for a paid program.
You can go to www.excelcentre.net to check for any free and paid programs offered by me.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
I like to inform you that no matter which program you are studying with me, we have a 100% Satisfaction Policy.
If you are not happy with the program, you can withdraw from the program at any time and get your full refund!
If St. James can't handle the refund, I will do it myself. I will pay you back out of my pocket.
I want you be able to learn and be happy. If you are not happy about the program, I can't keep your money.
If you have never attended any program from me, I strongly urge you to attend any of my free seminars offered throughout the year. My style is quite different and I am NOT a nice person. I am not a guru or a master and I am not a perfect person (to be more accurate, I am far, far from perfect). I am just an ordinary person like you and them.
My style is to use whatever (of course it must be legal!) to ensure participants understand and learn.
So, you might not prefer me as your trainer. You can always try me by attending my free program first before going for a paid program.
You can go to www.excelcentre.net to check for any free and paid programs offered by me.
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
2007/05/07
2007 Prediction: 4-3-5
Hi,
If you have attended my Prediction Seminar earlier this year, you will understand my 4-3-5 prediction for this year. That is, the middle 3 months, May, June & July might not be good for the stock market.
Don't trust me. Do your own homework!
This is just a reminder for you to to take good care of your investment.
From the record of past 10 years, May was a bad month in 7 years!
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
If you have attended my Prediction Seminar earlier this year, you will understand my 4-3-5 prediction for this year. That is, the middle 3 months, May, June & July might not be good for the stock market.
Don't trust me. Do your own homework!
This is just a reminder for you to to take good care of your investment.
From the record of past 10 years, May was a bad month in 7 years!
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
2007/05/03
The 5 Guideline for Professional Observer
Hi,
Last week, I was teaching a course about Mystery Shopper in the new SGS Internal Auditor Program. I talked about the 5 major Guidelines for a good Mystery Shopper. A Mystery Shopper is someone who pretends to be a customer and observe objectively the service process.
A Mystery Shopper observes and report, while a Coach observes and inquire, a Facilitator observe and guide and a Salesperson observe and lead. We all observe and these 5 guidelines can also be applied.
1. See/Hear but No Feel. It is nothing about you. We only see and hear what's happening and our feeling is not important when observing objectively.
2. Yes/No but No Good/Bad. It is not our responsibility to judge what we observed. They is no good or bad, only yes or no - something has happened or not.
3. A Structure to Follow. There are so many things out there. If you don't have a structure to guide you to observe, you either observe nothing or too many things. Mystery Shopper has a well-designed survey form. Coach has Coaching Models and Facilitator has Principles.
4. Focus on what you are Observing. Don't try to see everything. We just can't. Recent research proved that multi-tasking is not really possible.
5. Things happen to You and to Others. Mystery Shopper observes both, while facilitator and coach focus on Others only. However, I always think that a truly objective Mystery Shopper should consider what happened to Others being more important to those happened to you. It is more objective!
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
Last week, I was teaching a course about Mystery Shopper in the new SGS Internal Auditor Program. I talked about the 5 major Guidelines for a good Mystery Shopper. A Mystery Shopper is someone who pretends to be a customer and observe objectively the service process.
A Mystery Shopper observes and report, while a Coach observes and inquire, a Facilitator observe and guide and a Salesperson observe and lead. We all observe and these 5 guidelines can also be applied.
1. See/Hear but No Feel. It is nothing about you. We only see and hear what's happening and our feeling is not important when observing objectively.
2. Yes/No but No Good/Bad. It is not our responsibility to judge what we observed. They is no good or bad, only yes or no - something has happened or not.
3. A Structure to Follow. There are so many things out there. If you don't have a structure to guide you to observe, you either observe nothing or too many things. Mystery Shopper has a well-designed survey form. Coach has Coaching Models and Facilitator has Principles.
4. Focus on what you are Observing. Don't try to see everything. We just can't. Recent research proved that multi-tasking is not really possible.
5. Things happen to You and to Others. Mystery Shopper observes both, while facilitator and coach focus on Others only. However, I always think that a truly objective Mystery Shopper should consider what happened to Others being more important to those happened to you. It is more objective!
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
2007/05/01
往前走就是了...3
Hi,
今天晚上看了電視重播的一套劇集－『醫道』，之前未有看過，中途插看，不知上文下理，劇情緩慢老套，但仍看得津津有味！(莫非真的年紀大了?!)
故事說到主角許浚身為低級醫官，但其上司遇到王子病危事件，上司為免禍及自己，遂推薦許浚主診，明知接受任命則危機四伏，但仍努力尋找療法，適逢王子病情惡化，罪怪下來，但仍堅定相信自己的治療方法，最後治好王子，王上龍顏大悅，下旨連升兩級，官拜正三品大員。(對不起，劇情真的十分老套!)
他的突然成功，我們可以看成勇於接受挑戰，有危則有機嘛!
但亦可看成既然找對了路，堅定往前走就是了。
勇於冒險，當然也是成就之路，但我等常人，實沒法動不動即大談冒險，有時真的無需胡亂犯險，能找對了路，堅定往前走就是了。
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
今天晚上看了電視重播的一套劇集－『醫道』，之前未有看過，中途插看，不知上文下理，劇情緩慢老套，但仍看得津津有味！(莫非真的年紀大了?!)
故事說到主角許浚身為低級醫官，但其上司遇到王子病危事件，上司為免禍及自己，遂推薦許浚主診，明知接受任命則危機四伏，但仍努力尋找療法，適逢王子病情惡化，罪怪下來，但仍堅定相信自己的治療方法，最後治好王子，王上龍顏大悅，下旨連升兩級，官拜正三品大員。(對不起，劇情真的十分老套!)
他的突然成功，我們可以看成勇於接受挑戰，有危則有機嘛!
但亦可看成既然找對了路，堅定往前走就是了。
勇於冒險，當然也是成就之路，但我等常人，實沒法動不動即大談冒險，有時真的無需胡亂犯險，能找對了路，堅定往前走就是了。
Keith
Explore, Exceed & Excel
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