The Bryan Story.... Choose your Uni/College Wisely!

Thanks for many of your positive comments about the last Article, "What..?! Only 1A?"... Hhahaha Gave me inspiration to write more! :P Well... after that article.. i was thinking of a Part 2 in some ways or another... Cos... SPM is one helluva crappy 17 years of life that each Malaysian has to endure.... Yea... Let me tell you a story about my good friend... Let's call him "Bryan" (Not his real name!) 

Bryan remembered after his highly rushed, adrenalin thomping (is that even a word?!!) I-am-so-screwed moment of receiving that lousy piece of paper that judged us for who we are konon (how many A's you got?!) moment... he and his friends screamed out loud....
"SPM.. **** YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Yea... those were the days.... He continued to lepak with his pals... enjoyed life for a few more weeks to come... then enrolled in College....only to realize that...Damn..... This shyt is happening all over again!!!! No kidding.. He thought... after SPM... study life is almost over... and Every senior or older friend would have used that ever-famous line..... "COLLEGE & UNI LIFE IS DIFFERENT!!!!".... (yea right! No need study meh? sot jor ah!!!)

So.. Bryan came to a point... take Form 6... or Go for College? If take Form 6.. have to cut his hair, redye his hair into pure Asian hair colour (i.e. black.. like hello???) and remove his earrings... and UN-Cool himself....And OMFG.. an all-time favourite.... SCHOOL UNIFORM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Imagine Bryan is in some Northern Schools where they had to cut typically botak style.. or Girls school where every chic looks the same! hahahah Pun intended! :P)

From this point.. let's analyze how many versions of BRYAN do we have here.... k?

Form 6
Face it! Parents boh lui... Family boh lui... yourself boh lui.... Shut up and study harder in Form 6 and Change your TYPEs so that you can do better and make your parents proud... so that you can go into local Uni and earn a diploma or degree so that you can come out and work and give allowance to your parents later... again... remember my last article... where I wrote about being a piece of BBQ Pork? Atleast the BBQ Pork serves a purposes rather than you not studying hard!!!

Science Stream
Continue to be in the science stream... since Bryan was doing Bio Chem or Physics classes and had no clue... (hahaha) Now, if Bryan aims to be an Engineer or a Doctor... well.. by all means. What if Bryan still has no clue.... Well... Bryan can either:
i) Shoot himself right this instance
ii) Ask himself if he wanna be into Medicine, Chemical Line, Drugs (pharmaceutical lah.... what you thinking! hahaha) or being in the "Science" field... SERIOUSLY.... No kidding. Many of Bryan's "Friends" really still stuck themselves in the TYPE 9 category... where they just don't bother. Well good luck... BBQ Pork! let's not waste time talking about the BBQ pork (For Muslim friends who are reading this.. sorry la... don't get offended. it's just a Chinese phrase! :P)
iii) Ask himself if he MIGHT be interested in Accounting, Economics, language, Literature (urgkkk), business... meeting people and sell shyt... telling stories and inspire people (hmmmmm....)
Change stream into Arts

Arts Stream
Face it.. if Bryan was originally an Arts Stream student... most likely.. from Form 1-3.. he already know what he wants and who he wanna be... and decided to go into Arts solely because he wants this line in the future. If he is not that...(Ahem) smart initially, means, he eityher scored less than 2-3 A's in PMR and that he had no choice cause the School doesnt want him in the Science Stream and kind'a foced him into the Arts stream! (Hahah) Sorry.. again.. pun intended. If by now you are getting pissed... pls do not post some damn lame Anonymous comments here cause I spoke the inevitable. Face Facts.. ask you to study baik baik in Form 3 dont want..So dont give me the finger now!

If Bryan is smart enough.. he would have thought carefully....!
1) Become a BBQ Pork and stay in Science stream cos he really dont bother.
2) Stay in Science Stream cos he knows what he wants....in the Science field... OR.. he has doubts... about the fact that the only reason he chose Science in Form 4 was because going into Arts in Form 4 damn malu and like.. no friends there... or his school forces him in!
3) Switch to Arts cause he has doubts perhaps.. Maybe.. MAYBBEEEEE he thinks he might be better off here...

4) Arts easier lorrrr

To those who memang chose arts from Form 4 because they want to... well... good on ya! Stay here... shd probably stop reading liao... :P Anyway...WHAT IF...

Bryan comes to Arts stream.... What line pulak?
Well... talk to your bloody counselor and make him/her work. :P

Now.. if Bryan is in Form 6... he'll spend another 1.5 years there... So switch your types... choose your right subjects/streams... and good luck.. I'll see you in the next 2 years for another story. hahaha....
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For 5th formers who are choosing their Uni/College....Here we go...Got a few Bryans here you know...!

1) Don't wanna study liao... just go out and work ... and tells the whole world... wanna rest for a while and study later after "Gaining some experience"... Wow... This Bryan forgotten that he lives in Malaysia and most Malaysian firms look at what cert you have before hiring you.... Well, if you just want to be a normal guy.. live happy go lucky... serves drinks.. cut hair... bla bla bla.. then... ok lor.. Go ahead.... Most likely your salary in the future will not surpass RM1500/mth... (Disclaimer: We do have many miracles amongst us who has no cert and end up a millionaire... Big hand to you... now back to reality....)

2) Choose a college....now in this category alone.. we have a few types of Bryans.... 

i) Dunno what to study... follow friends lah!!!
Note: I have a few friends who chose Mechanical Engineering cos Banyak kawan going ma... so go lor!!!! They ended up burning the parents' hard earned $$$ of not less than RM5k+ for the semester that they barely survived... oh yea.. some even flunked big time.... I mean.. Come on.. These Bryan's where their parents are not that.. ahem.. rich... THINKS that they have the $$$$... hence, what they do? Steaddddyyyy lah!!! pass also maaaa!!!! or.. Shyt.. fail liao.. nevermind la.. re-sit! .. I mean... telling the world they go to Sunway College or Monash... or Taylors.. I mean... WOW... okay what!!!

FACE FACTS: If dy/dx and trigo is not your favourite subjects... or Physics you don't even score 60... face it... You suck....! Go study something else! I mean... come on...!!!! This field is just not yours!!!! you think you HAVE it.. but you don't! you suck!!! "Work harder can maaaa".. ok.. Once again ladies and gentlemen... YOU SUCK at Physics and Maths... Go study something else!!!! please! Dont follow your friends just because.. your friends like to study those field.. AND jeng! Jeng! Jeng!!!!....

Bryan's GF.... wanna study that .. so Bryan follow saja la... Cos... typical lor... GF ma.. can meet everyday ma... at the age of 17... He found his true LOVE....! He found that he really LIKES AND LOVEEEESSSS the GF so much that he would "Die" for her.... Aduih..... Go laaa.. Go.... No problem... :)

ii) Indecisive Bryan
This is where .... Bryan is not very sure what field he wants to do.. but he is better than the above Bryan at least he won't go into a field where his friends of chic goes into simply co there's company! I mean Come on!!!!!!! you are studying not because you want to stay with your friends!!!!

Let me share with you a typical Friendship lifecycle in Malaysia...
Primary Education
Secondary Form 1-3
Form 4-5 (Esp when your hormones start to pump in and opposite sex plays an important role here)
FOrm 6 or College/Uni Life
Work Life
Work Life 2
Work Life 3
Work Life 4?
Work Life 5???
We attend your funeral....

Friends come and go... Good friends stay... Some don't (That's why they are lousy ones!) Some kept in touch.. some even got married to each other... so.. CHILL!!! If your friends are good ones... tthey will stay in touch. Dont go following them!

So..back to our main topic... What Field???

i) Engineering:
You need to define which one! There's Mechanical, Civil, Electrical & Electronic Engineering! Lay man terms... You like machines???(Mechanical).. Build buildings/architectural (Civil) ... High tech gadgets and shyt like that (E&E).....Most "Bryans" who wanna be an Engineer would have known about which one of the Engineering fields they are interested in already... So... These types of bryans I don't really have to talk much cause most likely they are the TYPE 1s or 2s.... (Type2s.. pls la.. go out and get more friends...!) Good luck in your future ya! :) Make sure you build 'em bridges properly or buildings... so they wont's crack or leak... (woo hooo OUCH! :P)

ii) IT
Now.. actually.. this field alone got plentttttty of areas to choose from... The typical being Information Technology per se. These are mostly for those computer whiz kids... those Dota idiots who beat the shyt out of me most of the time... or they read codes on the computer screen and can understand them... like seriously....! This type of Bryan's... don't think anything else... just bloody go for this... Choose to major in some areas if you already know what you want....

We also have the Comp Science, Comp Engineering degrees... We have the designers.... those stuff... And if these type of Bryans...most likely from form 3 since he started Dota-ing or CS-ing... he would have known which field he wants to!... Good Luck...

Now.. our major concern is those Bryans who THINKS that Comp Science or IT Diploma/Degree is cool and wanna "Try it out"... again... my bottom line... Choose wisely... Go understand the field before coming into this before I call you a piece of BBQ Pork again.

iii) Business
There are many business degrees out there... question is which one? Now... A lot of these new "University-College" people will tell you how "highly-accredited" their diplomas or degrees are....! Of course laaa.. you forgot their rice bowl is .. TADA... from that particular College!!!!!!! Be careful upon selection. I have a friend who has a diploma that was "Accredited by the LAN - Lembaga Akreditasi Negara" (Now different name ady... dunno call what.. but same shyt) ... only to find out a few years later that the Diploma is not recognised by the government or the LAN department.. In other words... No LAN use (Hey... not vulgar word ya...)

Those 3+0...4+0.. please study them carefully.... They will show you letters chopped and signed by the new LAN or whatever department there is in Malaysia... but at the end of the day.... you will still have a no LAN use cert if you don't find it out before you sign up for the course!

When you have selected a particular Uni course etc... they will put you through Foundation level.. then Diploma level 1-3 or maybe advanced... then Degree... or some would tell you Foundation.. then Year 1-4... bla bla bla the list goes on! Do note that once you have signed up ... your Foundation or Year 1 MIGHTTTTT not be recognized by another... so-called University-College ya! Especially when many people wanna study in one particular Uni.. then decided to switch to another... you will (again) waste a lot of your parents' hard earned $$$$ cause the new Uni-College you enrolled in.. would tell you that the former cert you got... not recognized wan... cause that Uni from UK or Timbaktu is not very popular wan bla bla bla!!!!! Then, they say... "Nevermind la.. we have checked with our (experienced) Chancellor what not.. that this new Uni will now accept you, BUT (there's always a catch) you have to do additional semesters.... i.e. more $$$$$$$!

Find out more about the College/Uni you want to enrol at first... Don't because they have "affiliations" with some UK canggih names that you can't even pronounce.....you reckon that your future piece of paper that cost your parents 40k+ is actually a piece of crap.... :)

If it's Business related degrees or diplomas.... you might even want to look at ABE, CIM etc... these are professional courses where they are recognized worldwide ya!

iii) Accounting?
Some already debating that they want to take CIMA or ACCA already... and without much knowledge of what they are.. or actually what they stand for! Friends say maaaa.... CIMA not so good.. ACCA better... more recognized... these sorta Bryans....(again) shd be BBQ porks... cause they listen to their "friends"... i kind'a forgotten Bryan's Friends are all professors and doctors or great accountants eh?

CIMA is Chartered institute of Management Accountants and ACCA is Association of Chartered Certified Accountants .... Do these words mean anything to you? I bet 9/10 wouldn't have a clue.. just like Bryan!!!!

Laymen term.... CIMA is more towards management accounting... ACCA is more towards Auditing etc etc... Now if these laymen terms also you don't understand.. and yet.. you are like this Bryan who really has some form of passion for Accounts (urgkkk)... shut up and do LCCI first please... or some basic foundation in Accounting....

You have to go through some phases before you actually know whether CIMA or ACCA suits you better... So, Bryan shd really start with those basic accounting.... decide later cos your lecturers will guide you and at the end.. you yourself will know CIMA or ACCA is better... Otherwise... go be a BBQ Pork.... :)

Other fields:
Now.. there are plenty more fields to go into for Bryan... but this writer really can only speak about so much that he knows.. hence... good luck OTHER BRYANS....! :)

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Now...What if Bryan Studies his Form 6... and comes out.. and didn't actually get an offer to a local degree... harrrrrrr..... jeng jeng jeng......!!!!!!!!

1) Firstly, dai sei... cos never Change TYPEs... still stay like before in Form 5... so.. cry also no tears eh! :P
2) He has options now.... just like the above.... but do note... If a sixth former who fails to get into Local Uni... with the STPM cert and after yet another 1.5years of torture... Bryan comes out and joins some College... he only exchanges probably 6months of the foundation level of the private studies. This means.... Bryan's peers would have been in Year 2 by the time he wants to do private education after form 6... OR let me put it in a more torturous way.... Bryan's Juniors.. most likely 2 years younger.. might end up in the same class as he is! Cause... Bryan's juniors who went straight into  College after Form 5... spends only 6 months for Foundation or at most 1 year (for those bloody LCLY Colleges like T******) ...

SUMMARY
What should Bryan Do?

i) Smart Bryan... already know his destiny (konon)... Go ahead... Good luck in your future and Change your Types!!!! :P
ii) So-So bryan.... But already decided.... Go for it!!!! If that's what you wanna do.. don't follow your friends etc etc... Go study that field/line!!!

iii) The SH Bryan... Dont waste your parents' money... spend 2 more years in Form 6 to see if it really changes your type and keep you focused on what you realllllly wanna do. otherwise.. go out and work!

All in all... Choose your courses or fields wisely... Don't make a mistake and it will simply cost loads of money to make that U Turn later. And once you have selected that course.... Don't turn back and focus on achieving good results! Don't tell me the owners of Facebook is a College drop-out.. or a lot of millionaires are just SPM holders.... The right thing to point out is... ARE YOU ONE OF THEM? if you are.. you would not be reading my article by now cause half way through you would have thought "Crap! Waste time.. not worth my time reading"... Hence... ya... face facts...!

Disclaimer:
Sorry to offend anyone if I Bryan-ised your life... but again.. this is my blog for the benefit for all my Leos and their friends. you don't like it, don't read.. but wait. if you are reading this.. means that you have finished reading the entire long and lame blogpost... Still don't like it? Go find some wall to bang...

Good Luck!

Regards

Lion Alan Thoo
DC for Leo Clubs
District 308B2 (Malaysia)

WHAT???? only 1 A in SPM?!

I had to type something when I got so much news from my Leos about their results. Some were very happy because they scored straight A's... Some scored so-so... some only had a handful, some had none at all! Well .... Gaining Straight A's is something you should be extremely proud of! You have done well.. and congratulations! Also to those who scored the number of A's... Bravo!!!!! Let me tell you this... My sibblings... Elder and younger brother  and me.. with all the A's we got during our time at SPM... probably still cannot classified as a STRAIGHT A's student. Mark my words... all three of us combined you know! hahaha! 

Let's start to classify the types of students you are:

TYPE 1: Straight A's and active in your extra-curricular activities

TYPE 2: Straight A's and stay at home, number of friends on Facebook exceed 500, but number of real friends ... "10 fingers can count all" (typical chinese translation.. my apologies)

TYPE 3: 6-8 A's... not too bad in your social life... and very happy of your results cause you earned it!

TYPE 4: 6-8 A's... very active in your social life.. and not happy with the Type 1 & 2... cause you think that you should be there! You are now blaming yourself for not spending enough time in your studies and you are thinking the famous phrase... "I wasted my time in XXXX club/association.. I should have bla bla bla...."

TYPE 5: 4-5 A's... very happy with whatever you have achieved... cause you led a life at school.. got friends.. got family... got facebook (hahaha) and you're just happy! No issues!

TYPE 6: 1-3 A's... Very active in social life.. FB most likely >1000 friends.. real friends lagi banyak... Should be some key persons in their clubs, associations etc etc... Don't bother much about all the other types as above.. cos you felt that you led your life happily.. gained a lot of street-smart experience.. and don't bother about anything in the world at this stage

TYPE 7: Just as Type 6, but the problem is you damn tulan with yourself now... cause you felt that you should have studied harder.. you shouldn't have joined all those clubs or association! Your parents are screaming down at you.... for such lousy marks and that you disgrace them... The word that constantly pop up in your mind right now is... "I should have..."... or "I Could Have...."

TYPE 8: No A's... Still ok to you.. you are really not that affected la. Chill-ing all your way and laughing at the Type 7s!

TYPE 9: No A's... Blames the world... don't care.. and no idea about whatever...

Let's analyze now aite!!!

TYPE 1.. well congrats! You earn it.. studied hard... well done! For the Type1, I respect you really. How I wish I could be just like you! You know, I have friends like you peepz... Active in all that you do at school... prefect maybe.. scouts? Leo? Interactor? Bandie? Debator? Someone in school lah! You are awesome wei. You work hard and play hard! Good luck in our future! Don't look back now and say that you have achieved this great and awesome results and start slacking k? Your SPM and high school life is over! Now's College and Uni time! Continue to be that top student out there and continue to enjoy your College & Uni life! Definitely you'll love it as it's a whole new ball game!!!!!

TYPE 2: Firstly, congrats lah.... Secondly.. Sorry I have to say this... You might end up with thick glasses somewhere... maybe earning a couple of thousand and driving a brand new proton sudah cukup makan gua? A small house and 2 kids already cukup. Good on ya... But really... if you end up in some Uni.. stop facebooking and go out there to actually "LIKE" what your REAL friends are talking about man... Seriously! I mean.. ya lor.. you will most likely end up working for the TYPES 4-9 anywayzzz... think about it... Staying in this "TYPE" will make you so old in thoughts that you would end up being a bloody anti-socialite. But then again, if that's the journey of life you want to lead... Go ahead man! Really... and my apologies for pointing out the inevitable.

TYPE 3, 5, 6, 8... Do you know.. how many people out there are just like you? You'll survive in the open , real world faster than anyone else! You have principles in life and you would have no issues mixing around with anyone, from any race, country or religion cause you have the brains and you go for it!

TYPE 4, 7... I think you should just go out and get and chill! You need to move yourselves to the 3,5,6,8....! You have the brains too.. but you have the jealousy heart and soul in you that should have been wiped out! You need to seriously think about the examination is something to challenge yourself and not against one another! Life is a competition. Whether it is a healthy one or a dead serious competition... you'd better stay clear pls! You may have the brains... but if you let the heart tells you where to go and lead you to the "I will do all I can to bring him/her down" mentality.. then you'd better stop that feeling right now! How to? 

Oh well.... look yourself in the mirror....scold the person facing you kau kau!!!!! :) It might work. Hahahaha..Otherwise...

Chill... and work harder next time! Life is just at the cross roads... not even started yet!

Types 9: Erm... go get a job and make yourselves useful la. Don't waste your parents' money for tertiary studies no more.. better let them use it for a European holiday or something.. at least they earn it! :) Otherwise.. it's time to think about your life and move yourselves to the other Types already lehh! it's time to make your past 17 years of life... a slightly more useful one.. not to the world or your family yet.. but atleast to yourself! Think about it! It ain't cheap raising you... Like Chinese Saying... your parents should have gave birth to a block of Honey BBQ Pork. atleast the prok serves a purpose. :)

Time to wake up from your life and make them proud of you!

Summary
I scored 3A's in my SPM back then. I was very active in my Leo Club, school band and prefect activities! The number of extra-curricular certs that I have received would add up to at least an inch thick (then)! To blame it on my activities, I must say it will be a little to harsh to do. But I did. YES.. I was really a TYPE 7! No kidding! Still failing to think that I could have balanced out my activities and my studies... I just couldn't be bothered with my life and went into Form 6.

When I was in Form 6... I must have thought I was a bloody Romeo or something.. and because of chicks and all... I kind'a screwed up my life and also at the same time I was really not studying much. I didn't fail any subjects though.... but I had 1A, 1B, 1C, 2 Ds in my STPM! i only really tried to study 2-3 months before the exams! Throughout the 1.5 years in my Form 6 life... I think I hurt many of my friends by choosing wrong words and doing the stupidest shyt anyone could have thought of (we'll leave that for another blog post k?)....

Hence, when I got the results... I kind'a like ... stayed at TYPE 7... blame the world.. blame this and that... and forgetting to blame that one thing that is undeniably the root to my "failure"... ME.

Well, application to the local university came....at that time... we didn't have online submission.. no facebook nor friendster even.. for friends to post "I'm going to apply for this bla bla bla" on their status. We just had word of mouth! Yup!!! I grew up in the Malaysian Internet Revolutionary period of time.... hence.. yeah.. MIRC was a cool thing then! Oh ya. ICQ came about later! hahahaah! Those were the days man!

Anyway... I applied for some courses and yes.. I didn't get anything! Yup!!! Nothing! So where do I turn back to? My parents of course! My parents and elder brother supported me in my tertiary education... Both of them were just teachers in public schools and my brother was only an accounts executive then... he just finished his accounting course and started working not too long ago then.

Well... I told myself that... all my life as a TYPE 7... and failing to see it when I was like that.. i started to think otherwise. I told myself... I can do it if I want to.... I changed my life entirely. I seriously and really.. really studied hard... cause I knew the extra tuition classed my dad had to give was to support me in my private tertiary education. True enough... I bought loads of books...revised constantly with my friends... and stayed focused! Well.... the results...? In that sem, 2 students scored straight A's for our Level 1 Business Diploma... and I was one of them. I then applied for a degree completion course doing an ADP course (American Degree Program) and I graduated top of my class.... and gave a speech at my graduation ceremony! My parents were thrilled!

Oh.. just incase if you are wondering... when i said I migrated from TYPE 7 upwards.. I really didn'y go to the extend of a TYPE 2 ... hahaha... I was the Org. Chairperson for my college's Prom Nite... and in 96, I obtained Top Leo (Omega).... I organized a project called Literacy Week that was a nominee for the International Lions Club Literacy and Cultural Award... Though the project didn't win, being able to be selected by the Multiple District 308 (Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei) for the award was already something I am proud of! I also went back to my school band and actively supervised projects, practices etc etc etc! 

I think I managed to migrate from TYPE 7 to somewhat of either a TYPE 1 or 3...

NOTE: Telling you all these is not to flare my successes. It's not to tell you what awards I got.. what achievements I obtained whatsoever! telling you all these was because i wanted to tell you that I realize at some point that.. "IT'S TIME TO CHANGE"!!!! Some people see it back in Form 1 when they screwed up their UPSR (hahahahah.. wtf!) Some after their PMR.. some after SPM.. and it wasn't until my Tertiary years.. my college/uni years... that I realize I screwed up my entire high school life.. and because of me... my family had to work twice harder to put me through college! Even so... HOW MANY PEOPLE out there would not realize even until they die that they stayed at a certain TYPE for life?

I have friends who have stayed in TYPES 7 .. or 9... or whatever you wanna call it.... even at Uni... and they ended up failing their subjects etc etc.. and become a college/uni drop out.. and end up selling some stuff for some companies.. earning a starting pay of not more than RM1200/mth? And still... complaining about their lives.. bla bla bla???!!! How often do you hear some people.. seniors... saying the following:

"Don't follow my footsteps.. Study hard now. It's your future"
"I f***ed up my life... cause I didn't study well"
"When i was your age.. I was bla bla bla bla bla"

WHAT TYPE ARE YOU????!
It's time to make a difference... If you are a LEO Member... and you were serving as a Leo during my terms as RCC or DC, I am sure you would have been to a M.A.D project (Making a Difference) for the community as well as for the environment... But have you ever thought that.. it's really the time to stop and MAKE A DIFFERENCE in your LIFE now!!!!

If you are highly active in your activities, but seriously suck at your studies.. It  is time to really consider doing a lifecheck and balance things out! If you are a studious Type 2....Really.. go out there and stop complaining why you have no friends! You are a smart person.. but it's time to CHILL!!!! Go watch a movie from the actual cinema rather than downloading from youtube!

This is your LIFE!!!! Do you want to just drive a small car when you grow up? Live in a small sized apartment or house? Work 9-5pm and end up at home having no idea what life is all about?  (Disclaimer: Sorry to those who are in this state... my respect for you if you feel that your life is full with this conditions... My apologies for using your life as an example. I do not mean to insult your current state)

Time to switch and upgrade your TYPEs. Time to Make a Change in your life and Make a Difference for your future!!!!Time to strike that balance and start to think....!

Regards

Lion Alan Thoo

DC for Leo Clubs

District 308B2 (Malaysia)

Something interesting about seeds.... :)

A Senior PDG sent this to us and I think it would be useful to everyone of you! :)

Really applies to our work!

A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business.

Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together.

He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you. "The young executives were Shocked, but the boss continued. "I am going to give each one of you a SEED today - one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you.
I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one
I choose will be the next CEO."

One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow.

Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew.

Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still
nothing.

By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure.

Six months went by -- still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however, he just kept watering and fertilizing the soil - He so wanted the seed to grow.

A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection.

Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at
the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful -- in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!

When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives.

Jim just tried to hide in the back. "My, what great plants, trees and flowers you have grown," said the CEO. "Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!"

All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!"

When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed - Jim told him the story.

The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, "Behold your next Chief Executive Officer!

His name is Jim!" Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed.

"How could he be the new CEO?" the others said.

Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow.

All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new
Chief Executive Officer!"

* If you plant honesty, you will reap trust

* If you plant goodness, you will reap friends

* If you plant perseverance (Consistency, Persistency...), you will reap contentment

* If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective

* If you plant hard work, you will reap success

YOU'RE VALIDATED!!!!

A senior Lion forwarded this to me and I reckon i should share this video with all you peepz out there! I'm all EMO whenever it comes to short films, art films and any emo-fied films that one can ever produced. No kidding. When i was younger, I cried watching Beast (almost) die in the arms of Belle in Beauty and the Beast. I'm no good at tear-jerkers and that's no kidding. Yea yea yea.. laugh all you want... but this one.. touches me deeply. Take that 10 minutes off and happy viewing!!!!

Yea.. only about 4million views.... you're not too late if
you relate this to your club management!!!!

Imagine if YOU are in the movie as the lead actor. Imagine YOU are the President or Org. Chairperson leading your members... WORDS matter!!!! Key learnings from this:

 1) As a leader, whatever comes out from your mouth MATTER! The motivation. The thoughts. The spirit. The feel! If your member really suck-ed at doing some job you gave him/her. YOU have the choice of (a) screaming (b) insulting (c) scolding (d) saboh-ing (e) sarcastically commenting..... OR.. none of the (a) to (e)....! Why don't you divert the negative energy to a more positive one like....
"I know you have done your best.. and I know you have tried hard. Let's see what went wrong"
"YOU.. yes.. YOU... have contributed a lot of time and effort into this. yes.. it didn't turn out the way it did. Why not we sit down with everyone and see how we can rectify future problems"

2) Leaders loosing focus! As the main character was soooooo focused on making Victoria smile.. he lost his entire focus and energy.. A leader MUST never let that happen! Remember to try your best and not to loose focus! Once you loose focus, your negative energy will be transferred to the rest of the people. If you are the President.. THEY look up to you.. YOUR members!!!!!

Share this with as many people as you know. You might put a SMILE on their face! :)

"40 Years in Service... STRONGER THAN BEFORE!"


 
Regards

Lion Alan Thoo
DC for Leo Clubs
District 308B2 Malaysia

What Kind of Balls do you Have?

I am sure the title would have attracted 9 out of 10 people! :) Anyway, in fairness, this theory is superbly important when it comes to the leading and management of your Leo Club, association, workplace or any organization for that matter! Treat your members or Board of Directors.. or members of an Organizing Committee, as balls... Okay, sounds wrong, and guyz, wipe that smirk off your face! haha!

Now, by now you must be wondering how can balls be related to membership management? Why, how about if I tell you all your members are different types of "balls"... and that your goal is to get these balls from this side of the field, to the opposite side of the field. See my point? So, the goal is simple... Get the Balls from Point A to Point B.. right?

That sounds easy. Just roll them, you must be thinking. how about this... let's go through now.. the types of BALLS that we have in our club aite!

The Normal Balls
These are like your typical football, basketball or any normal balls that rolls whenever you move them. It only depends on how much strength you use to push, these balls will just move... and they will take on that "momentum" and move on.

All you do is to "Motivate" these balls by giving a slight push, guide the ball a little with directions and then... you will be able to move these balls from Point A to Point B, achieving your goals anytime you want. Very "co-operative" balls I must say!

Fast Balls

Now.. be careful of these type of balls. They are "hyper-active"!!! These balls are light and fast and when you hit it, kick it.. it goes very far.. very fast! Sometimes its good to keep some of these type of balls simply because of the fact that by the time you wait for the "Normal" balls to come, the fast balls would have reached the destination. These fast balls are good, but you as the leader need to control the speed and pace at times. It's pointless to have the entire group of Normal balls, and only 1-2 "fast Balls". Well, a Fast Ball may reach the goals, but might also have tendency to over-shoot it! and that might also be a problem. A Fast Ball over shooting its target might be difficult to trace. The ball might end up too far away to be retrieved. And you would loose your Fast Ball.

METAL BALLS
Metal Balls are the ones that are "heavy"... and roll very slowly. It might need extra push and guidance in order for it to reach your goals. It tends to stop, simply because it is "heavy". As a leader, you need to identify what are the areas that make these types of balls "heavier". Sometimes, you can't blame them too. These balls are made that way. They didn't want to be heavy you know! So, as a leader, are there any ways to decrease the weight of the metal balls? Can we put some oil to ease the "journey"? Can we arrange for a guide to "lead" the metal ball, or kick it every now and then, to let the ball move?

HIGH TECH BALLS

Fu-yohhhh! These balls are so geng, they actually can fly and reach your destination on its own. You just have to click a button and it'll just go! Some of these balls can also lead other balls.. shoot some electricity, use telekinesis (like jean Grey) to move the other balls and also turn into a large robot and pick up the rest to the destination.

The only problem is, these balls have a mind of their own! you may be the person with the control equipment, but they might just over-ride you one day, and Arnold might have to come back from the future to save your A**! (Khum wit meh if U wanah lif) You must always check the activities of these balls. if you don't, you might end up loosing other balls too.

SENSITIVE BUT EXPENSIVE ANCIENT BALLS
Be smart la ya. These are exclusive ancient balls. They are sensitive, but will also get from Point A to B if you know how to "handle" these balls. They are very expensive, but sometimes, rolling them too often might not be wise cause if the balls break... you had it! Be careful when it comes to these balls. If you do not know how to handle them, please make sure you consult those who know... There are "equipment" made to "carry" these balls from Point A to B. You cannot throw them away or ignore their presence simply because your "family" rules state that these Ancient Balls MUST be around because they possess the mystical powers of speech where they can deliver orders but never fulfill them. Some of these balls are simply there to make your lives miserable. So.. remember.. HANDLE THEM WITH CARE. Do not throw them away, do not try to break them! Just move them along... you'll be fine! :)

Last but not least.... THE TITANIUM SQUARE BALLS!!!!!

I must say.. these kind of balls are the worst of them all. They are there and they cant roll. They are there but they cant move! Sometimes, you tend to ask yourself.. WHYYYYYYYY ah these balls are lying around. Well.. look at it on the brighter side! This doesnt present you with a problem! I believe it gives you a CHALLENGE!!!! The challenge is to move these Square balls from point A to Point B! Now, it's not easy! Cause you kick them, your feet hurts! You push them, it barely moves (titanium ma.. so heavy how to move!) So, instead of complaining about how "square" these balls are, why don't you SERVE with PASSION... bring out the balls in you.. gather your BALLS up... and perhaps, a few Normal Balls and fast balls with the help of a High Tech ball... you might be able to roll the Square ball? Or....

Why not try to mould the edges of the ball a little. Make them "rounder" and I know it's not easy. You have to have the right equipment to do it! Then, with the help of others, move the Square Ball! it'll move... eventually it will. The thing is..

If YOUUUUU are able to move the other balls from this side to the other... why leave this one out? The thing is, if you leave the Square Balls out... YOU LOOSE! You might not know, maybe, when the Square Balls go to the other side... it might turn into something else that you might regret not having it there? The challenge is not leaving it behind.. the challenge it to make sure all BALLS get to the other side. When that takes place.... You are inevitably.. A GREAT Leader of all Balls....!  i mean.. erm.. you get what I mean! :)

Roar!



Regards

Lion Alan Thoo
District Chairperson for Leo Clubs
District 308B2 Malaysia

The Brick Wall Challenge & the Jumpers

I recently spoke to a "bruder" (trying to act young.. sorry) cause he had some frustrations and disappointment about being in a youth organization as he always have felt there are obstacles ahead of him, especially that he feels there are those senior members who are "controlling" him and his members, and also... not respecting them as individuals. The complaints have always been as follows:

i) He should have respected us before asking us to call him or address him properly as RESPECT is earned and not given

ii) Who does he think he is? Very big meh?

iii) I dont like him, his style, his method

iv) He Yong Suey (cantonese for 'face problem')

v) Outside our activities, why do we still have to address him as XXXX? We should be just normal people what. I call by the name enough lah...!

Well, let me tell you all a story of JUMPERS and BRICK WALLS.

Inevitably, in any organization.. be it government, private sector, school, Leos or Lions Clubs, other NGOs, or even in our family.. there is always the BRICK WALL in front of us. Now, we need to understand one very simple point... Sometimes, these brick walls are there for a reason. Valid reasons would be... they are there to assert uniformity, discipline, support, encouragement and so on. There are many types of brick walls. Let's start with the good ones....

There are those brick walls that are there to support other structures.. To ensure that when the entire "building" is built, the brick wall is always there to support the base.. the roof, the sides everything!

There are also those brick walls that encourages growth and don't mind the growth is actually dependent on the brick wall... Without the brick wall, these "plants" would probably not see the light of day...Some brick walls don't even mind if the plants "overshadow" or "overtaken" its surface... cause to these brick walls.. as long as they see the light of day.. they get to live .. and be happy.. these brick walls would rather stay in the shadows...

And Of course... there are the brick walls that don't mind and allow you to creatively "use" them to be converted to something else? These brick walls would go to the extend of ensuring that ... as long as you are happy and successful, even the brick wall converts itself to something else.. it's fine to them...!

However... there are those brick walls... that are there, simply to ensure that nothing else lives. Some feel that these walls are useless and they are there and blocks growth! What about the old walls, dirty and ugly looking ones that are really a bad sight to just look at? Not only they are there to block growth, other "insects" and rubbish grow in them!

What about those walls that are built simply to ensure that no one gets out.. or gets in!? The Brick wall that is so long and strong... if you are within it's areas, you would feel "small", feel useless at times, and feel that... "What is a world without these walls? What would people on the other side be doing?"

 I BET SOMETIMES YOU WISH THIS WOULD HAPPEN!!!!

HOWEVER... some brick walls are not easily crushed or taken down! You organize a battalion of army and bulldozers to bring the wall down... and the only thing you managed to "hurt" is actually the surface.. and within the walls... there is a stronger layer! Then, you might just realize that... you are just being a dumb and silly person for trying the "break" the wall as all your efforts and energy are wasted! Not forgetting also, what would others think of you and how would they feel about you trying to bring down the wall? Have you ever thought... "bringing down the wall" would probably be a silly thing to do as .. 

At the end of the day, you didn't hurt the wall at all (simply its a brick wall for crying out loud!) and the person you hurt most is YOURSELF!!!! Aiyo.. pain mahhh... try to tembus ... your hand sakit only.. stupid!!!  

Drive a car and crash into the wall in hoping to bring down the wall??!!! HELLO!!! Got brains or not?!

You will bleed ... and do you think the brick wall will cry for you and come and help you recover? Oh please.. It's a BRICK WALL. If it has a face, a heart and a mouth, it'll probably laugh at you and talk to the wall next to him how dumb you are for trying to bring him down. Will the other "walls" help you? Oh puh-leaseee.. they are walls. Walls of the same bricks ..err stack together? haha!"

INSTEAD...

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED....

HOW can you get to the other side of the wall.. without having to crash a car directly into it.. punch it, bring it down.. or do anything stupid that will hurt yourself more than it will hurt the wall? have you ever thought... instead of going "against" the brick walls...   trying to break it down, why not... DON'T Break it down...?

Or.. have you ever thought of another pointer... 

Your growth; development are stopped... 

simply because of YOU 

and not really the brick wall? I mean.. SERIOUSLY....!

Why not you do something else and 

GO AROUND IT, maybe?

All these while .. have you ever thought that whatever you do, you keep thinking about the brick wall! You will blame everything on the brick wall...! You will complain about the brick wall... You will always use the existence of the brick wall being there and THATTTTT.. is the cause of your failure!

Have you ever thought of the fact that.. the brick wall WILL ALWAYS BE THERE whether you like it or not! The Brick Wall was there even BEFORE you were even born! you reckon you will be able to bring it down? Pleaseeee lah!

To live a happy life, why not change your perception of the BRICK WALL? Why don't you try to:

i) Move around it, climb over it, or Jump over it?

ii) If the Wall is really that long, why don't you re-think your methods of getting to the other side of the wall? Why don't you MAKE THAT U TURN, and go back to where you have started and try to look for another possible way out?

There is always a solution to every possible problem you face in life. The only thing that is stopping you here is not really the BRICK WALL. It is YOU... YOURSELF!!!!

If you continue thinking about the brick wall blocking you in every way possible, then.. you will FOREVER live within the areas of the wall! You will FOREVER be lost and you will FOREVER be filled with hatred, anger and everything around you would seem more negative than ever because simply YOU chose to see the Wall as a PROBLEM and not a CHALLENGE!

Take my advice. Don't avoid and ignore the wall. The most successful person in this world would be able to make that wall a benefit to his/her growth rather than to destroy it. Making your enemy your friend is never easy, but worth a shot. You will see it from a different point of view one day if you choose to see it differently. 

Good Luck Jumpers! :)

Regards

Lion Alan Thoo

District Chairperson for Leo Clubs

District 308B2 (Malaysia) 2009/2010

Branding Asserts Presence ....!

Over the last couple of years, probably some Omega Leos will tell you Lion Alan Thoo and his favourite line..."BRaaanNNNndddDDDiiinnggggg!!!!!!! might strike a thought in mind that goes "ya ya ya". To be honest with you, branding is a term in marketing where it is very essential in preserving the existence of an organization, a product or service or even an individual. Let's look at the products and services that we have in our market at random...

Out of the 6 logos above, which one does not strike anything at all? Which one you do not know? What about the popular phrases.....

1. Which drink will assure you "Minum XXX Anda Jadi Sihat Dan Kuat!"
2. Tastes Good eating it on its own
3. Always the Smarter Choice
4. Inspiring the Next Generation
5. Connecting People

Ring a bell? Well, if you already know 70% of the above, this means you have already bought into the products and services. Do you know how much large corporations pay to assert branding into our daily lives? A simple layman theory would be a short 30second advertisement on prime time free-to-air TV would be able to get you nothing less than a Kancil! that is just ONE advertisement alone. 

BRANDING is very important to the Lions movement.. to our work and what we do! Take a look at the website of Lions International and study the colours. Even the new Lions logo follows the colours and blended well with the website. The entire Sydney International Lions Convention also bears this image..

BRANDING exists amongst Leo Clubs and Lions Clubs although most of you might not realize it.

i) Vest with badges - "Oh he must be from the Leo Club"
ii) Leo Club Banner - "Thereeee... Leo Club again la!"
iii) Charity Event... with lots of people in yellow vests .. and without seeing the logo..."Lions Club again lorrrr"

Have you also noticed that some of the trademarks and traditions that were brought down from your seniors were actually Branding practices all these while.. that you don't even realize it?

i) Have you ever seen members of the Leo Club of Sam Tet, Ipoh, wearing any other T-Shirts besides that Blue-ish one with the yellow words and Leo logo at the back? As in any official or even fellowship functions (mostly) ...

ii) Ever seen Leo Cabinet officers wearing a different coloured coat at official events besides the Banquet Nite?

iii) Who would ever forget the creative ROARRRR of Batu 8 Leo Club with their foot-thomp-ing sequence as well as Sri KL's "Roar..roar..roar..roar.. meow!" ? What about Penang City's "T-T-t-t-T-T-Tttttt"

iv) What about the strong branding of IMO via personalities?

v) Have  you ever seen how the Andersonians take photos? Am sure the banner is very well in placed! Not to mention the posts!

v) How about the LTv!, Leo Idol Season 3 logo...the 40 Years Logo ??? Even MLSA has reached a certain 'frustration' point where people go.. WTH?! 

Sometimes, one might not realize it but your club.. your leadership and your management.. have already brought your club's image and its brand to a certain level. Now... the trick here is...

Do you realize what to do next? or where to start? Or what am I babbling about since the first paragraph (If it is really the last one, please stop reading this posting and you might just wanna go back to Pokemon comics pls)

Branding exists in our society.. our lives.. and Our Work here as Leos and Lions! The question is how are you able to bring your club into the NEXT LEVEL.. How are you going to be able to use the branding of your club to your benefits? let's explore ya:

i) Does your club have a logo? Do you change that every year.. or every 2-3 years once?!
ii) Does your club have any colours that you all have been using all these while?
iii) How different is your Roarrrrr? is it just "ABC Roar! ABC Roar! ABC Roar! Roar! Roar!" (i.e. lame)
iv) Do you change your club t-shirt EVERY YEAR?!
v) Have you ever thought of ensuring all BOD arranging badges on your vests in a certain special way?
vi) Does your club have a blog? an FB account or fanpage?
vii) We sent 20 people to a function and at the end of the day, we were not even noticed...! (like duhhh.. is it their fault?) 
viii) Do you know what I am talking about (totally random!!! wth!? hahahaha)

BRANDING is not just about physical outlook only. Branding can also be personalities of your members, BOD or the way you carry yourselves in the eyes of many. Let's try this:

i) Crazy, fun - PJI
ii) Big projects, creative - GTM
iii) Talents - IMO
iv) Seriously disciplined and no guys can go 5 ft near their members - AMC (Sorry, during my time - hahaha)
v) Kiasu - Leo Club of XXXX (hahahaha.. am not even going to try say this. later I kena scolding again for making fun to assert a point)

See my point or not?

To be able to be recognized... To be able to project an image of great leadership.... management.. and PRESENCE... it all boils down to BRANDING! A wise man once told me this:

"Branding ensures Substance

Substance ensures Strength

Strength Gives you Presence 

Presence ensures SUCCESS!!!!!!"

You need to start to think ...
WHAT our club's brand?
WHY are we different from the others?
HOW do we ensure that our club's presence is felt when we walk into registration and the venue?
Is changing my "Roarrrr" going to be enough?

Is sticking to the same T-Shirt going to be enough?
Is disciplined members and well-trained ones going to be enough?
Is being "crazy" going to be enough?

The answers lie in your hands.. my dear Presidents, Vice Presidents and B.O.D....! You make that change. You make that difference... YOU DEFINE YOURSELF!

It's only then.. we would have a strong District that proudly shouts out...

Best of Regards

Lion Alan Thoo
District Chairperson for Leo Clubs
District 308B2 - Malaysia