Book #5: Stop Worrying and Start Living

Worrying is one of my problems before. I am very afraid to make mistakes and can’t keep my focus on the thing I am working as I am always thinking what other people will think of it. Fortunately, I have read this book by Dale Carnegie and became aware of the mistakes I had. This is the second book from him that I read. How to win friends and Influence people is a very good one and helped me a lot in terms of dealing with other people and also as self-help.<>

Following the ideas and principles in it is also a great help in my personal life as I have been very cautious. Without worrying, I can do more. Being worry free, I have learned a lot more as I can talk to wiser person that I meet. It is also a great help for relationship and my wife, Joecy, have reaped some of the benefits of it and I have written them down to some of my other blogs.

At work, these helped me to be more relaxed… even in tough situations. Especially in the department I am have been my entire working years– Engineering and Maintenance. It is a department where a lot of problem is handed down. The principles and examples that Dale Carnegie has collected are priceless and are worth following.

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First Lessons

One thing that DMR kept on telling me, even until I came to PNG when I asked for some advice is “You cannot manage what you do not understand”. I have never understood it at first but I tried to remember it as I can sense that there is something big on those words of him. DMR is a generalist and not a specialist so he studies at least basics of the things that he handles. In our department in Franklin Baker, when any men under him are stuck in a problem, he is usually the person who has the answer.<>

Another thing that I learned when I just started working is that it is best to start from the bottom so that when you acquire a better/higher position, your men cannot make a fool of you. This is very evident as I have faced some subordinates that are good in their field i.e. air-conditioning. I really have to strive hard, learn the basics and later learned how industrial refrigeration and air-con works as it part of the Facilities department. After learning them, I can easily tell how to handle that part of our division.

In GlaxoSmithKline, I also have been a follower where my supervisor doesn’t have any idea on the division (facilities) he is handling and has no plans of learning things on his own and want everything to be “spoon fed” to him. He is bossy. I did not give him anything unless he asks. And a lot of trouble happened since then. Due to this, he was again transferred to other area where he is more competent. I have not been a good follower then and changed later, but the main thing that I learned then was that you should know at least basics of the area you have to handle or at least try to learn them.

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Lost Wallet

Just last month, I and my friend Jun decided to meet and eat in a fast food chain – Big Rooster. I came earlier and while waiting, I just thought calling Jun so I can order beforehand so when he comes, we are ready to eat. I grabbed my back pocket and felt no wallet in it. I went back to the car and did not see it in there. I called Norman, an office mate, to have a check at my seat and desk if it is there and he saw no sign of it.<>

Jun came and I told him the problem so he has to pay first for what we ordered. We discussed what happened and I told him what I already did. He was very worried and was very affected of what happened as I can see it in his face. I told him not to worry, if I lost it, worrying could not bring it back. I told him that I will just check all the other places where it may possibly be.

After eating, I calmly re-checked other parts of the office where it can possibly be. Not in there, so I checked the Boardroom where we had a meeting earlier that day. Still nothing, so I went home to check and found it in another of my jean’s pocket. I just smiled as it just meant that all day… I have no wallet in my pocket. I then sent a text message to Jun saying: “I found it. If I worried, I would have wasted some of my time.”

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Personal Healing

During my grade school years, I am very prone to diarrhea. Just a simple change in water source or some food that is unwanted in my stomach and I'm off to the throne. One day, I had one of those feelings again so I went to my mother and asked for the medicine that I usually take which is very effective. I went to the medicine cabinet and just picked up a blister pack and pulled one of them. I took the dose and immediately the problem is solved. <>

Later that day, my mother checked the medicine cabinet and asked me why the medicine is still there. I told her I took only one. She then said that there is only one left of that kind. I checked it and surprised when I found out that the blister pack where I took the tablet from is for headache.

Later when I felt the same thing, I just experimented and just think that I just took a medicine – the effective one, and suddenly, I felt fine. Sounds funny but I tried it in minor problems such as headache and mild fever and it worked well – no need for medicines. I have not consumed a lot of medicines since then. When an incident happens, I just have to say “it’s all in the mind”, just think that I will be fine and of course, a bit of rest and things turn out fine.

I have read books and listened to audio books of Deepak Chopra, an Indian-American medical doctor and writer, and on those are the theories behind the healing I have undergone. Below is the excerpt from one of his article and one that I always do remember:

“You have an inner pharmacy that is absolutely exquisite. You name it - the body can make it in the right dose, at the right time, for the right organ, with no side effects, and all the instructions are contained in the packaging.”

- Deepak chopra

Read the Deepak Chopra article: Why do I forget who I am? Part 1 and Part 2

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Habit #3

As the production side of the plant is running fine, I thought of giving lectures again to my personnel on technical matters. With it, I reviewed the things that I taught them when I was just starting here in K.K.Kingston. I then realized that it is better to ask them first what they want to become instead just giving them any technical mini-seminars.<>

Habit 3 from Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly effective people is Put first things first. In that situation I knew that it is better to know what they want first and giving them sense of direction first before giving them any technical trainings. From my posts Habit #2, I knew where they wanted to be and asked them for the steps that they have to make in order to achieve it. These steps I told them are the things that we have to focus first to attain their goals.

Putting the 3 first habits together, I told them that we have been proactive in keeping the Saturday meeting/seminar/training work and that we have a vision of what we want to attain. In order to attain them we have to put first things first and focus on the things that have big impact in reaching their goals. I have been saying these words to them over and over and as I see, after that, I know that they are more than ready for the electricals, mechanicals and other things that may help them to reach their destination.

“The main thing is to make the main thing the main thing”
-Stephen Covey

Read post: Habit #1 and Habit #2

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The box

Beside every single task in my planner is a tick box which I use as an indicator if it is finished or not. It really keeps me moving as I don’t want these tasks to be left unfinished so I do lots of follow ups or do it myself if I can whenever I see an open one. I also write down even the small things that need to be done.<>

I don’t trust my memory and it has failed me lots of times. Seeing all jobs that need to be done, I can also easily do prioritizing. I still forget to write some things but they are sure to be manageable, urgent things should be well listed and finished the soonest time possible.

I really prefer it instead of the electronic task list as I can easily access it in from my desk and scan thru pages with boxes with no ticks or x-mark in it. Even though I am a fan of electronics, I only use them for listing new task when I am far from my office so that I would not to forget it. I will still later write them down on my planner – with a tick box beside it of course.

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A student forever

I remembered the time when we had a seminar on Kepner Tregoe’s Analytical Troubleshooting where the facilitator looks very successful and was proven by his achievements when he was introduced to us by the Plant Director. He is nearing 60 year old mark but doesn’t look like one. I told myself to talk to him during lunch time as I know that no one would dare get close to him. And at lunchtime, after ordering my meal, I looked at him and think twice for a while, but my motivation to talk to him is too much that I ignored the nervousness I feel inside.<>

We had a nice chat and knew that he is also an avid reader. He read some of the books that I have read and followed. At his age, he isn’t thru with learning. He still engages in enrolling on on-line courses.

Like him, I want to continue what I have started – continuous learning (thru reading self-help books plus talking to experienced people). I have learned a lot out of life and still learning more everyday. I appreciate even the smallest lesson I can have each day. It keeps me moving. Another thing that I do to gain more knowledge is sharing what I know. I also learn some things while sharing, either my mistakes or other people’s points of view. I promise to continue this while I can. When I am able, I would also go thru more seminars regarding things that can make me grow more either on-line or in institutions.

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