Category: Leisure Reading

I was stunned by this posting on FB.  True enough and sadly it is becoming common among husbands in Malaysia.  Ladies are overloaded with burdens on their weak shoulder.

 

I love the visual most… what do you think? A picture is worth a thousand words, isn’t it?

1. Defend yourself when you cannot defeat the enemy, and attack the enemy when you can. (P39)
2. The skillful commander takes up a position in which he cannot be defeated and misses no opportunity to overcome his enemy.  Thus, a victory is possible under them, whereas an army destined to defeat fights in the hope of winning but without any planning. (P40)

The followings are not only relevant for war, but they can be applied in your daily tasks.

1. A speedy victory is the main object in war.

2. When your weapons are dull and ardor dampened, your strength exhausted and treasure spent, the chieftains of the neighbouring states will take advantage of your crisis to act. In that case, no man, however wise, will be able to avert the disastrous consequences that ensue.

3. A wise general sees to it that his troops feed on the enemy.

4. In order to make the soldiers courageous in overcoming the enemy, they must be roused to anger. In order to capture more booty from the enemy, soldiers must have their rewards.

5. What is valued in war is victory, not prolonged operations.  And the general who understands how to employ troops is the minister of the people’s fate and arbiter of the nation’s destiny.

Sun Tzu’s Doctrine:

1. Know the enemy and know yourself, in a hundred battles you will never be defeated.
2. A sovereign cannot launch a war because he is enraged, nor can a general fight a war because he is resentful.
3. Attack an enemy where he is most unprepared, and act when you are not expected.
4. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the supreme excellence.

 

 

Murray Oxman listed 50 uncommon tips on how to read people

and here are a few tips I would like to share.

1. Trading – people can very manipulative, and trading is a big part of it,…- they expect something in return for their support. Never trade with people. Stand on your own feet. Once people catch on you can’t be bought they’ll shot their true colors.
2. Approval – There are people who beg for approval. … Why do they seek your approval? They dont want to be self-responsible or self-reliant.
3. Flattery – When someone starts feeding your ego, ask yourself, “just what is he after – do I want to go along with this?”
4. People want you to go as fast as they are. Maybe they want you to make a snap decision on an important matter  – right now. Don’t get caught up in their momentum. Deliberately slow down! You dictate the tempo that things will move. Always and in everything, be your own person.
5. Please yourself – trying to please others will get you nothing but anxiety, nervousness and scorn. Please your True Self and you receive the inner-riches of a nice, relaxed, confident life.
6. Feeling sad – cheerfulness is a healthy alternative
7. Friends – A real friend will always tell you what you need to hear – the truth – not what you prefer to hear….Truth is really the only friend a person can have and needs.  Friends in Truth are real friends.
8. Comfort – Don’t push people psychologically. They’ll resist and push back. Use tact, slow down, take your time and introduce new ideas to them gradually, so they’ll feel at ease with you.
9. Priorities – You can tell a lot about people by observing what their priorities are. Not what theybsay they are, but what you observe them actually be.
10. Answers – when you ask some people questions, you rarely get a straight answer. … when you get vague, rambling answers ask, “Exactly, what does that mean?”
11. Accountability – People who hold themselves accountable are to be admired.  They make for good company…
12. Pain – “What a day, the stress was terrible, now I can relax a little.” Don’t buy it! It’s all a self-centred act to feel important and get a false sense of accomplishment.
13. Self-centred people love to get attention any way they can. One trick they use is to mentally make themselves physically ill – psychosomatic sickness. Be strong. Don’t buy into the act. It hurts all concerned.
14. Attachments – “Love the Creator not the creations”. That’s sage advice.
15. Excuses – Never buy into people’s excuses for their actions. There’s only one reason people do what they do – they want to!

Murray Oxman. 2006. How to Read People Like a Book. Petaling Jaya: Advantage Quest.

6 leadership styles highlighted by Professor Ir. Dr. Azraai.

• Coercive
• Authoritative
• Affiliative
• Democratic
• Pacesetting
• Coaching