Being happy

Almost every morning, I have been saying “it is a good day today” and all things either goes fine or I won’t be affected should problems arise. Lately, I have been smiling and sometimes singing in the factory while walking around. I thought nobody would notice but many did. They became curious why I am happy.<>

My answer is that I really have tasks to finish, problems to solve and lots of goals to accomplish. Instead of being in panic or be stressed, I tried to fight it and turn them into what they are seeing as sign of happiness. Simply, it is a choice I made. I don’t want to frown, so I smile. I don’t want to be angry or depressed because of the situation so I just sing and let it all out.

The good thing with it is that they (signs of happiness) are contagious that when they (factory personnel) would also smile when I make those acts or gestures. Especially with my subordinates who see me as jolly person, they also work happily and work better without the pressure.

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Stock Market

Having read Robert Kiyosaki’s books, I gained interest in his game, Cash Flow 101, which he encourages people to play to learn how to be rich - a goal that I have as I want to help other people. A friend of mine have one and I enthusiastically played it when she invited us. I have gained a lot from it and can win after some time, which is why I entered the real stock market. I tried Port Moresby Stock exchange (POMSoX) in PNG and later Philippine Stock exchange (PSE).<>

Though without much knowledge in it, I started trading on November of 2008 and earned some thru my small initial investment in PSE. I thought it is as simple as picking stocks then wait for luck to come and earn from it. After few months, I then thought that I am a good picker ‘coz all of my stock positions earned. All I did was selling when price of stocks goes up then look for another. I doubled my initial investment after a year and happily wanted to put more in it. I thought it is that easy that I became too lazy to study the details.

After some months, my lucky picking did not work anymore and I lost almost all the earnings I previously had in just 2 months. Checking where I went wrong, I studied more and found out that I was just lucky in a sense that all stocks’ price were at the bottom when I started investing.

When the stock market stabilized, there is where my great journey began. I read lots of articles and watched tutorials. I tried to learn everything I can that is involved in stock market and trading. I have a lot more to learn and as expert say, 10 years or less experienced traders are still amateurs. At least I am now recovering from the loss that I had.

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Softwares

During my holidays, I just bought a laptop for me to regain things that I have learned before which I haven’t used for long time and learn new things. It may be near low end but it can do the job. It will be photo editing and website designing this time. As some one who likes to be an architect/graphic artist before, I think now is the time to relive the passion I had in terms of arts and I would say these are good venues to put them in.<>

When I was a kid I like drawing and looking for art pieces such as paintings. I have never been to a contest as there are kids that are better than me and not shy to join. I also love looking at beautiful pictures even then and I envy those who can capture them well. I wanted to take pictures and paint even before but cannot afford one.

Now that things are going smoothly in terms of work and other extra curricular activities I currently have, I believe I can have time for such. When I had a chance, I bought a camera (digital; compact only) for me to use and I have been taking pictures lately, I see that what I have are already good ones, but looking at it closer, there are flaws to fix.

I like colors and pictures, and being good at photo editing is a good thing to gain in such a way that it can boost my creativity. I just hope I am not old enough to start it over again but at least doing what I love is already an accomplishment and I find it stress relieving also. The website designing on the other hand is also a thing to also improve creativity and probably a place to put my future creations.

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Relief

We went out of Lae last Easter and it gave me a different sense of easiness. Looking at the scenery on our way to Goroka, even with the long drive ahead of us, gave me calmness not same as the relaxed feeling I have while making decisions and solving problem.<> Not thinking of and away from work even for a day helped me relieve whatever is in me that I have carried for a while.

Even though I stay calm at work, hearing and seeing adverse events still produces these little things called stress. Stress is something that will come to us inevitably and for me, relieving and handling it is what matters. Instead of letting it build up, best to let it off before it produces problems. I may usually be relaxed but in case pressure builds up on me, I would always have outlets and going some place new to me will be one of them.

I would like to have rests like the Goroka trip we had, maximize time and go somewhere whenever I can. Carefree, I was like a kid then playing with the offspring of my friends, taking pictures and being amazed by the views. I felt like a different person coming back to Lae after the trip. I am very close to my 3-week leave and I would also want my family to experience the same – to just have fun and enjoy wherever we will plan to go.

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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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Growing w/ AutoCAD

With the seminars that we had and due to the groups that I joined in college, I learned some things that are a hit for engineers that time - AutoCAD. When I had the chance to study them in Franklin Baker, I really did my best to master it. I read books regarding it and asked a guru, Cliff, who became a good friend of mine. He is a Mechanical Engineer and an expert in that software. Before leaving the company, I can already make 3D models of the manufacturing line we had – after almost 2 years. By drawing the whole system, I get to learn the whole process also. I also had good chats with the experts in the manufacturing process.<>

In GlaxoSmithKline, I have used it in Structural works. I have been updating the whole plant and am usually part of planning when there are modifications to be done. With me included in the planning, I learned a lot of how decisions are made and also the process of project management. I also have done 3D models of our boilers and instrumentations for training purposes.

Before going to PNG, I was sent to China for Paper factory training and had to do a layout using the same software. They had a copy of the software and loaded it to the laptop that we had. After installation, the IT guy told us that there is a problem and that is… it is in Chinese (no English translation of the commands). Confidently, I told the IT guy that it is not a problem and I can work on it. Finishing the task, everybody who knew that the software I am using is in Chinese was amazed how I made it. I just told them that the commands are in my head already and I don’t need to read Chinese in order to prepare the drawings.

Putting it altogether, here in PNG, I have to use all the acquired knowledge I gained in drawing and in talking to other people. I have learned that there is more to drawing than the picture itself. Nowadays, I would also do share to the people I talk to while I get the measurements of the things I have to picture out.

I have used AutoCAD R14 (Franklin Baker Co. of the Phil.), AutoCAD2000 (GlaxoSmithKline Phil.) and now AutoCAD 2008 (K.K.Kingston). The tools I used are mostly the same. It just gets easier to use and more expensive every time a new version comes.

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Habit #2

One day, I just happened to ask Wonia, a fitter of mine, what the date that day is. He said “it is the 16th of January” and said that “time flies and we grow old very fast”. I smiled with what I heard and told him that I am excited to grow old because I already have an idea of what I will become on that time. I told him that I would probably have the things that I would like to have on that time, accomplished a lot of my plans and that it is just a matter of time before I get them. I already have a vision of what my future looks like, I continued.

Habit #2 from Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is "Begin with the end in mind". Other would call it the big picture, other’s term is vision.

"Vision is defined as the ability to see beyond the present and to create what does not exist. A strong vision fuels passion and helps you transcend fear, doubt, discouragement and barriers preventing you from accomplishing your goals."

-Stephen Covey

Here in K.K.Kingston, I have a usual Saturday meeting and before I begin the technical trainings, I realized that I need goal setting first for my personnel. I made a form from which I asked them to write down what they want to become. I would like to know first where they want to go so I can show them the way. The other gives a long term goal and some short. I also asked them the steps they think can help them from achieving it. Others are too shy to write what they want so I told them my story.

In the post The Foundation I wrote: "I envisioned myself of becoming like him (DMR, a Maintenance Manager) managing both Mechanical and Electrical divisions and after 5 years of hard work, it came to life when I accepted the job here in PNG as a Plant Engineer."

I told them that I did not become a Plant Engineer by chance. I have been proactive enough to learn what is needed. From vision to reality, it is a great feeling to achieve something. It took me years to get it... but I got it. After the story, they became very enthusiastic on writing what they want to be and in adding the steps they will take. I gave them more of mine and other’s experiences that may motivate them, and they responded well.

Read post: Habit #1

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Foundation

In Franklin Baker Co. of the Philippines, I had a manager whom I learned a lot. He is also the main reason why I chose to pursue to stay in Engineering and Maintenance. I kept many things that he said and followed what he showed me. People treat him with respect and follows without questions.

His name is Danilo M. Reyes, better known as DMR. He’s the Maintenance Superintendent at that time. He knows detailed mechanical things and understands civil and electrical works. He is the type that would pull his sleeves up when needed and do hands on job in critical issues. He is very keen on documentation and follow rules.

He is the one who told me “In maintenance, you have to be a generalist and not a specialist”. I understood what he meant and have been following this for years now. As an Electrical engineer, this is the main reason I am delighted if any tasks other that electricals are given to me.

I dreamed of becoming like him managing both Mechanical and Electrical divisions and after 5 years of hard work, it came to life when I accepted the job here in PNG as a Plant Engineer. Even though the department I am in is a very challenging one, I know that the foundation he has given me, along with the other knowledge I acquired since then, will get me thru the coming challenges. I will be imparting other things that I learned from him in the coming blogs.

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Jerry

Jerry (right) and Roy (middle) are friends we had when Roberto and I went to China for Factory acceptance of a Paper machine on July to August, 2007. Jerry, a Mechanical Engineer, is one of the few people in that factory who can speak English well. He is a bit older than me. He is a very serious person but became a bit jolly person when he was with me and Robert. He was our tour guide during our stay there. Before I left, Jerry confessed a problem he has on their factory. <>

Being new to the factory, Jerry really wanted to learn how the machines are made and how everything in it works; trouble is that the designer won’t let him get close to the machines whenever there are critical things to be made. He narrated his resentment regarding this matter that he is always told to go far whenever the designer has to make changes on the machines and would never tell him what the amendments done.

I understand why the designer doesn’t want him to see things and one thing is that machine is yet to be patented. I told him that if he cannot learn when the designer is working on the machines then ask the people who are near it at the time installations and changes are made. I recalled telling him “I have been with people who hoard knowledge but I never stopped looking for other options until I learn them and nobody can stop people who want to learn.” I remember telling this to him in a tone of a wiseman. He was very motivated with my words and promised to do what I told him to.

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the console

I loved playing video games since the time of famicom or family computer made by Nintendo. Today, what I have is a black slim PSP. I just finished a game which has a title: “Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core.” The scenes are amazing and I really adore the animation. The game is about Zack, a 2nd class soldier who wanted to be 1st class and he got it early on. The main issue that story wants to disseminate is embracing dreams and protecting honor. It was stated a hundred times by Zack and his mentor, Angeal. Unfortunately, he died but his dream came true – to become a hero.<>

Playing the game, Zack battles enemies, levels up and had to finish lot of stages. The story is a long and complex one (I finished it in about a week at least 4 hours a day.) In it is an option that is called missions. There are certain areas only where you can play them. This option is a training ground where the character can also level up, gain some points and get other things he can use as well. With them, when he goes back to the flow of the main story, he will be stronger and more armed to face the enemies. I would finish some missions whenever I can so no monster can be big enough to stop me inside the main phase. Sacrificing some time for those missions, I knew I would finish the game easily.

Compared to my own flow of story, reading books and talking to experienced people are some of the options I am taking so that there would be no monsters such as problems that will be big enough to stop me from achieving my goals. These are things that I do to make me more armed to face the real world. What are your missions?

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record

“Make your own Bible. Select and collect all the words and sentences that in your reading have been like the blast of triumph out of Shakespeare, Seneca, Moses, John and Paul.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

I have been writing things that I have learned from books, articles and also inspirational quotes in a blue notebook of mine.<> In there, I also have listed down my goals and check them once in a while and add new goals whenever there are things that come into my mind. Some of them are already done and looking at the unfinished ones gives me motivation to achieve them. I jot down daily activities that I have done that add value to my life (in another file.) Robin Sharma mentioned in his books and Anthony Robbins said, “A life worth living is a life worth recording.” These are the inspiring words that influenced me to do this. I may be a nobody today, but who knows where all my learnings can bring me?

When my wife, Joecy, sees me writing things down she would always smile and tell me that I am writing on my diary again. Most leaders call it a journal and one thing that they would usually recommend for their students and followers to have.

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