Basketball Fenomenal Player: GEOFF TAN

Showing posts with label GEOFF TAN. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

How to tell a person's true nature

MY PAPER MONDAY MARCH 28, 2011, PAGE A13, VIEWPOINTS,
From http://epaper.mypaper.sg/cnd/fvxen/fvxp/fvxpress.php?param=2011-03-28
Source Website: http://news.asiaone.com/News/Mailbox/Story/A1Story20110328-270445.html
By Geoff Tan, my paper, Mon, Mar 28, 2011

PHOTO: So as it is written in all that is conveyed to script, love thy neighbor, do unto others as you would have them do unto you, good forward, good backward. (Posted: Tuesday, May 25, 2010)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcSpJ5gSEiVwed8WFbDN225a9dE6yiJZCd2TlzrYtn7UL_YDJ8YdtlUS4r-dMkiSTkq43Kz9DmXQv5MCaXEeI-dxyEE5BokuRdrcGNsB-bPGfp7UYnmMqHKGaXnSVJdzTOQh57xAJS6ww/s1600/friendship+photo.bmp
http://messagedays.blogspot.com/

PHOTO: Geoff Tan
The writer is a senior vice-president of Singapore Press Holdings’ marketing division.
MY PAPER MONDAY MARCH 28, 2011, PAGE A13, VIEWPOINTS,

RECENTLY, I went on a six-day trip with a group of friends. It was the first time we were holidaying together.

During the trip, a member of our 20-strong group remarked that one can tell the character of a person by observing how he interacts with others in unfamiliar situations.

That reminded me of what my father once said: There is nothing like a round of golf to bring out the best or worst in a person. My aunt holds the same opinion but with regard to a totally different game - mahjong.

Whether it is playing 18 holes with someone new, or stacking and throwing tiles across a square table, it puts someone in a situation he is not accustomed to.

Organisational-behaviour consultant Robert Sutton said that "the best test of a person's character is how he or she treats those with less power".

Indeed, it is easy to see why someone would go the extra mile and put on a certain persona for a superior.

So, how someone interacts with those who are lower in status is most telling.

The self-centred ones may pretend to put others first if they stand to gain but, as soon as there is nothing of benefit to them, they treat others like dirt.

What else reveals a person's true nature? Some say a good test is to look at what a person finds funny or how he treats a waiter.

PHOTO: The Perils of a Catholic Upbringing Recalling my old pastor, Father Mike, who always admonished me to 'care for the sick, feed the hungry and clothe the naked,' I was moved by some powerful inner urge to reach out to this unfortunate person.
http://static.zooomr.com/images/6400196_e0d78852f0_o.jpg
http://morecoolpictures.blogspot.com/2008_11_01_archive.html

Then, there are some who say that the true test is seeing how a person behaves when he is pulled over by police while driving.

The funniest test I have heard is to look at how a person treats his parents or, better still, his in-laws.

Someone once told me that "you can tell a person's character by how often he uses the bcc function in work-related e-mail".

And how about this one which you have probably heard often - a person's true character is revealed by how he handles good fortune or unplanned wealth.

I make up my mind about a person's character in a few ways.

Firstly, I tend to want to check out who the person's friends are, and social-media networks like Facebook makes this easy.

PHOTO: The intension of mindfulness meditation is gain insight as to the true nature of reality and therefore also called insight.
http://s3.amazonaws.com/readers/2010/10/13/mindfulnessmeditationtorontobaystreetyoungwomanmeditating_2.jpg
http://healthmad.com/alternative/can-meditation-control-pain-yes-says-mindfulness-meditation/

Secondly, actions speak louder than words, so I observe what the person does, instead of just listening to what he says.

Lastly, I find that it is very helpful to look at a person's attitude to life.

For example, I would steer clear of a person who gravitates towards blaming the world, instead of taking responsibility for his actions, and are always pessimistic.

By Geoff Tan, my paper, Mon, Mar 28, 2011

HELPDESK
我的字典: Wǒ de zì diǎn

Character: 人品 - rén pǐn
Self-centered: 自私自利的 - zì sī zì lì de
Unplanned wealth: 横财 - hèng cái
Attitude: 态度 - tài du

Reference

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Don’t get swept away on life’s journey

MY PAPER, THURSDAY MARCH 3, 2011, VIEWPOINTS, PAGE A24
From http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ebook/web_php/fvbrowserjs.php?urljs=http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ecreator/sphopf/mya030311cnd_opf_files/mya030311cnd.js&ver=Gen
Source Website: http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20110303-266210.html
By GEOFF TAN, my paper, Thu, Mar 03, 2011

PHOTO: Too hetic brings associated inconvenience, leading to frayed nerves
http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/intelligenttravel/bottlenose-dolphins-surf-072709-sw-thumb-500x375.jpg
http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/intelligenttravel/2009/07/

PHOTO: Geoff Tan
The writer is a senior vice-president of Singapore Press Holdings’ marketing division.
MY PAPER, THURSDAY MARCH 3, 2011, VIEWPOINTS, PAGE A24

THE start of the year has been, to say the least, very hectic for me.

Aside from the heavy demands of my work, there's the family to contend with. My daughter quit her job and I felt responsible to suss out career opportunities for her.

We also had our 15-year-old apartment renovated and had to put up with all the associated inconvenience, leading to frayed nerves among members of the household - that's something I probably never want to go through again in my lifetime!

Then, I had a speaking engagement at a Dubai conference which I had to prepare for.

PHOTO: Spirited Away – trip to the world of spirits
http://www.spiritwithinall.com/wp-content/uploads/10_3_orig.jpg
http://www.spiritwithinall.com/spirited-away-trip-to-the-world-of-spirits/

Meanwhile, a good friend of mine died recently of a heart attack, at the age of 59, while a long-lost acquaintance phoned me to ask for help as he and his family were in dire straits - they had been forced to sell their Housing Board flat and were staying at Changi Airport in the meantime.

COE prices have shot sky-high, at a time when my car needs to be replaced. My water heater is leaking.

The cost of living has escalated, and I can certainly feel the effect on my pocket. I am concerned about my health. The list goes on...

This somewhat-unnerving period has made me realise that it's easy to get caught up in the rat race, and plunge headfirst into an unending barrage of occurrences without spending time to prioritise them.

PHOTO: When you step back and stop rushing through life, you understand that the destination is to be found not at the end of your journey but within your journey. As Albert Einstein once said: "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."
http://successdiva.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/road-heaven.jpg
http://successdiva.wordpress.com/category/alexis-wingate/

It is sad, as unnecessary tasks can take a toll on one's health and state of mind. Over time, I have learnt to make a reality check every so often, to ensure that I don't take the wrong route and end up demotivated, stressed and fat.

I'm not sure if it's because my age has crossed the half-century mark, but the last year or so has been really nice.

Having been blessed with good health, a wonderful family and a job that is enjoyably challenging, I'm now trying to tackle what Martin Luther King Jr referred to as life's most urgent question: "What are you doing for others?"

PHOTO: Someday, rested we shall all be, we will live. Live, we all shall, and doves will fly.
Roads to Peace, Tue, 08 Jul 2008 04:36:00 +0000
http://www.absolutearts.com/portfolio3/b/beyonddream/Rural_Children_Playing_Together-1151804994l.jpg
http://www.feedage.com/feeds/1770184/yatra-a-journey-through-life

Lest you think that my life is a bed of roses, let me say categorically that it isn't. To me, it's not so much the issues that crop up, but how they are dealt with.

As Albert Einstein once said: "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

I've taken the path of the latter. Wanna join me?

By GEOFF TAN, my paper, Thu, Mar 03, 2011

The writer is a senior vice-president of Singapore Press Holdings' marketing division.

PHOTO: "Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is its current. No sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept away. Another takes its place, and this too shall be swept away."
- Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (not a Buddhist)
April 11, 2008 11:49 AM
http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/regions/pacificnorthwest/MetoliusRiver/images/metolius_river_pine_lg.jpg
http://www.care2.com/c2c/groups/disc.html?gpp=14557&pst=1130815

HELPDESK
我的字典: Wǒ de zì diǎn

Frayed nerves: 神经紧张 - shén jīng jĭn zhāng
In dire straits: 困境 - kùn jìng
Rat race: 无意义的竞争 - wú yì yì de jìng zhēng
Miracle: 奇迹 - qí jì

PHOTO: "Better than a thousand words, is one word that brings peace." - Buddha
http://users.ecs.soton.ac.uk/km/pics/kirk/landscapes/images/norway-flord.jpg
http://www.care2.com/c2c/groups/disc.html?gpp=14557&pst=1130815

Reference

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Inspirational words to live by

MY PAPER, TUESDAY JANUARY 18, 2011, VIEWPOINTS, PAGE A17 From http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ebook/web_php/fvbrowserjs.php?urljs=http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ecreator/sphopf/mya180111cnd_opf_files/mya180111cnd.js&ver=Gen Source Website: http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Asian%2BOpinions/Story/A1Story20110118-258789.html By GEOFF TAN, Tue, Jan 18, 2011, my paper PHOTO: Enjoy todayhttp://i796.

Inspirational words to live by

MY PAPER, TUESDAY JANUARY 18, 2011, VIEWPOINTS, PAGE A17
From http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ebook/web_php/fvbrowserjs.php?urljs=http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ecreator/sphopf/mya180111cnd_opf_files/mya180111cnd.js&ver=Gen
Source Website: http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Asian%2BOpinions/Story/A1Story20110118-258789.html
By GEOFF TAN, Tue, Jan 18, 2011, my paper

PHOTO: Enjoy today
http://i796.photobucket.com/albums/yy243/vrkm2003/enjoytoday.jpg
http://www.vrkmphoto.com/tag/today/

PHOTO: Geoff Tan
The writer is a senior vice-president of Singapore Press Holdings’ marketing division.
MY PAPER, TUESDAY JANUARY 18, 2011, VIEWPOINTS, PAGE A17

OVER time, I have amassed a respectable collection of inspirational quotes. Here are the best of them, to help us kick off the new year on a positive note.

The first quote is an anonymous one guaranteed to put those who are, perhaps, somewhat negative and tend to see the glass as half empty in their rightful place.

It defines a "pessimist" as "a person who says that O is the last letter of 'zero', instead of the first letter in the word 'opportunity'".

Time to check ourselves? Speaking of opportunity, Thomas Edison - the famous inventor, scientist and businessman - once said: "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."

So, I guess sitting around and contemplating the world will probably not bring too many things to pass!

And, if we have not done so yet, this year is as good as any to think things through a little differently, because, as motivational speaker and writer Zig Ziglar has said: "Your attitude, not your aptitude, determines your altitude."

But, even with the right mindset, reality has it that not everything we do is guaranteed success.

Life is not necessarily a bed of roses, and there will be setbacks and failures arising from the decisions we make but, as Confucius said: "Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."

Persistence and timing invariably play important roles in how our ideas pan out. Edison was also quoted as saying that "many of life's failures are people who did not realise how close they were to success when they gave up".

But, before you jump in headfirst and start working really hard, never forget to dedicate a portion of your time to dream dreams!

As Time Warner's Steven Ross said: "There are those who work all day. Those who dream all day. And those who spend an hour dreaming before setting to work to fulfil those dreams. Go into the third category because there's virtually no competition."

PHOTO: Green Nature screensaver
http://i796.photobucket.com/albums/yy243/vrkm2003/nature_screensaver.jpg
http://www.vrkmphoto.com/screensavers/green-nature-screensaver/

On the topic of dreams, Christopher "Superman" Reeve was indeed inspirational when he said: "So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they will become inevitable."

With this, I would like to wish all of you a dream-filled year ahead.

May you achieve success in whatever you set out to do because, in the words of Benjamin Mays, who was a minister, educator, scholar and social activist, "the tragedy of life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goals to reach".

Go for your goals, but also take time to enjoy the wonderful "now".

I'd like to recall the precious words of B. Olatunji: "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery. And today? Today is a gift.

That's why we call it the present." Cherish it!

By GEOFF TAN, Tue, Jan 18, 2011, my paper

PHOTO: Quotes
http://i796.photobucket.com/albums/yy243/vrkm2003/quotes.jpg
http://www.vrkmphoto.com/love/quotes-orkut-scraps/

HELPDESK
我的字典: Wǒ de zì diǎn

Amassed: 积累 jī lěi
Pessimist: 悲观主义者 bēi guān zhǔ yì zhě
Motivational speaker: 激励讲师 jī lì jiǎng shī
Social activist: 社会活动家 shè huì huó dòng jiā

Reference

Monday, December 27, 2010

Have you grown up or just older?

MY PAPER TUESDAY DECEMBER 28, 2010, VIEWPOINTS, PAGE A13 From http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ebook/web_php/fvbrowserjs.php?urljs=http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ecreator/sphopf/mya281210cnd_opf_files/mya281210cnd.js&ver=Gen Source Website: http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Asian%2BOpinions/Story/A1Story20101228-255101.html By GEOFF TAN, Tue, Dec 28, 2010PHOTO: Very happy to wish you all Happy

Have you grown up or just older?

MY PAPER TUESDAY DECEMBER 28, 2010, VIEWPOINTS, PAGE A13
From http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ebook/web_php/fvbrowserjs.php?urljs=http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ecreator/sphopf/mya281210cnd_opf_files/mya281210cnd.js&ver=Gen
Source Website: http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Asian%2BOpinions/Story/A1Story20101228-255101.html
By GEOFF TAN, Tue, Dec 28, 2010

PHOTO: Very happy to wish you all Happy New Year 2011
http://ajitkumar.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/happy-new-year-wallpaper-017.jpg
http://www.designsmag.com/2010/12/65-glorious-new-year-2011-wallpapers/

PHOTO: Geoff Tan
The writer is a senior vice-president of Singapore Press Holdings’ marketing division.
MY PAPER TUESDAY DECEMBER 28, 2010, VIEWPOINTS, PAGE A13

IN A few days' time, we're going to leave 2010 behind and welcome a brand-new year.

At this juncture, I would like to pose a question to everyone: "Have we grown a year older or have we grown up by a year?"

Readers who have been following my column would know that I love to embellish (Make a statement or story more interesting or entertaining) my "viewpoints" with stories which I have read. This piece is no different! Take the story of an 87-year-old woman, Rose, who was determined to pursue a university education.

She enrolled in a university and - because of her bubbly personality and affable (being pleasant and at ease in talking to others) demeanour - quickly became the campus icon, making friends easily wherever she went.

Rose's sense of humour, coupled with her love for dressing up, went down very well with her much-younger peers.

When invited to speak at the annual football banquet, she gave a memorable and inspiring address.

She said: "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy and achieving success.

"You have to laugh and find humour every day.

"You must also have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.

"We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!

"There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are 19 years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will still turn 20.

"If I am 87 years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything, I will still turn 88.

Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability.

The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change.

"Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets."

Rose died one week after her graduation, and over 2,000 students turned up at her funeral to pay tribute to the wonderful woman who taught them by example that it is never too late to be all you can possibly be.

Although I never knew Rose personally, reading this inspirational story has certainly stirred up the somewhat-complacent giant in me.

And, being a music man, I can appreciate what Rose meant when she challenged the people around her to live out the lyrics of The Rose, a heartrending ballad made famous by Bette Midler.

PHOTO: Once you have discovered it, then follow that passion and live a life of eternal bliss.
http://d3cwz66e8e5nz1.cloudfront.net/discover-your-passion.jpg http://apps.facebook.com/blognetworks/blog/change_your_thoughts

The second verse of the song goes:

"It's the heart afraid of breaking that never learns to dance.

"It's the dream afraid of waking that never takes the chance.

"It's the one who won't be taken, who cannot seem to give.

"And the soul afraid of dyin' that never learns to live."

This reminds me always to take the bull by its horns and live life with passion - passion fueled by a determination to find opportunity in change.

May next year signal the start of a new journey for you and me, a journey during which we "grow up" more than we "grow old".

Happy New Year everyone!

By GEOFF TAN, Tue, Dec 28, 2010
The writer is a senior vice-president of Singapore Press Holdings’ marketing division.

PHOTO: Happy New Year everyone!
http://ultimatebakugan.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/0_thumb.jpg?w=455&h=393
http://ultimatebakugan.wordpress.com/

HELPDESK
我的字典: Wǒ de zì diǎn

Juncture: 关头 guān tóu
Affable: 和蔼可亲的 hé ǎi kě qīn de
Banquet: 宴会 yàn huì
Heartrending: 令人心碎的 lìng rén xīn suì de

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Yummy rojak packs a valuable lesson

MY PAPER, THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2010, PAGE A17, VIEWPOINTS
From http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ebook/web_php/fvbrowserjs.php?urljs=http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ecreator/sphopf/mya300910cnd_opf_files/mya300910cnd.js&ver=Gen
By GEOFF TAN

PHOTO: Singapore Favourite Foods – Chinese Rojak with its crispy You Tiao, tau pok, turnip, cucumber, dried squid all mixed in a big bowl of prawn paste with chopped nuts.
http://j2k3blogs.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/dscf3556.jpg
http://j2k3blogs.com/?p=549

PHOTO: Geoff Tan
The writer is a senior vice-president of Singapore Press Holdings’ marketing division.
MY PAPER, THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2010, PAGE A17, VIEWPOINTS

THE issue of taking pride in how we administer our craft, with special reference to food-stall owners, has been bugging me for a while.

The majority of food-stall owners tend to just go through the motion of producing the dish, be it chicken rice or fishball noodles. Nowadays, many even buy finished or nearly finished products from suppliers and mark them up to resell.

Take tau huay (beancurd), for example. When you see that the stall has no beancurd-making machine, chances are that it is getting the stuff from some mass-production facility.

What about wonton noodles? Many stalls get their char siew from a supplier. So all the hawker does is dunk the noodles in hot water and add the respective condiments.

I understand that there is a need to buy certain food components if it is not cost-effective for stalls to prepare their own.

However, to me, it all boils down to how much pride one takes in creating a highly palatable “masterpiece”, which not only tastes yummy but will also entice foodies to traverse the length of the island just to get a piece of it.

This brings me to Mr Alan Koh, who runs a rojak stall in Ghim Moh.

PHOTO: Fruit Rojak.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hnHKYGQGaW-0d9NENw4D2bCxYK9FGnWiyEEaS2NL2bLUdSjoLWYoJ5IZwAUgbYBOs1m6T_XczlTTav7Vj83auKKl7BhAFKaShRLtSlUwLaFGBev28EUXVXDKoTFMPsxlqloS2zlmY0Y/s1600/rojak.jpg
http://singapuradailyphoto.blogspot.com/2007_03_01_archive.html

While having lunch with my son at a coffee shop about six months ago, we noticed the newly opened stall and decided to give it a try. It was love at first bite! We ordered another two plates and I asked Mr Koh how he concocts such a tasty treat.

He recounted the steps he takes to create the dish, from the careful selection of fruit and vegetables at the wet market each morning, to the ingredients he uses to formulate what he calls his 6A hae-kor (prawn-paste) sauce.

Every order is made individually and, when it all comes together and that last spoonful of crushed peanut is showered over the dish, it is perfection!

PHOTO: http://www.girlandthemachine.com/Quickstart/ImageLib/Rojak.gif

Whenever I order a plate and put that first piece of you-char-kway (deep-fried dough stick) into my mouth, I can feel my taste buds being called to attention instantly. To me, this is the king of rojak – the one that beats it all!

If you agree with me that life is all about giving of your best in whatever you do, then you may want to treat yourself to a “shiok” plate of rojak at: Xiang Zhi Xiang, Block 19, #01-263, Ghim Moh Road.
By GEOFF TAN
The writer is a senior vice-president of Singapore Press Holdings’ marketing division.

PHOTO: Rojak Sotong, Rojok Buah - Yummy
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxi0U5WtWs6B4AGqtXWTgVUjH_Cj6mZwVRaD6W7Gd3zeNHEXdimQX80YXI4iKqRMN_j0Ib4ZbVtSa1PbDK2Ybp_RVBbBV3DjKNWHb-YZmwDPuGy9i8yahgt1oSPV3H0nH_NfV8RcLZA28/s1600/Rojak+Bua h.jpg
http://akzlifestory.blogspot.com/

HELPDESK
我的字典: Wǒ de zì diǎn

Craft: 工艺 - gōng yì
Condiments: 调味品 - tiáo wèi pǐn
Palatable: 合口味的 - hé kǒu wèi de
Concocts: 烹调 - pēng tiáo

PHOTO: Chinese Rojak with Century Eggs, sweet tasty prawn paste, and crispy you tiao
http://j2k3blogs.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/dscf3551.jpg
http://j2k3blogs.com/?p=549

Reference

Basketball Fenomenal Player

Pages

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

How to tell a person's true nature

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Don’t get swept away on life’s journey

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Inspirational words to live by

Inspirational words to live by

Monday, December 27, 2010

Have you grown up or just older?

Have you grown up or just older?

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Yummy rojak packs a valuable lesson

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