dawnyimin

you can't pay someone to watch tv for you.

[dawnyimin-blog1]

As typical travellers, we were running late. The Taksim Square metro station was closed and we decided to take a cab. Major roads were either occupied or blocked by the police. We went by rioters burning car tyres and saw public buses withcracked windscreens. Most of them are decked in masks and goggles as ammunition against the tear gas firings by the police.  While there were many rioters, there were also vehicles holding up Turkey's National Flag and also waving flags in support of PM Erdogan's AK Parti.  The protesters are noticeably youths. Our driver was an older guy in his late fifties, and referred to the protesters as "crazy".  Got to admit it was an exciting escape from the city!

[dawnyimin-blog1]

So far, the best idea I've heard about building grit in kids is something called "growth mindset." This is an idea developed at Stanford University by Carol Dweck, and it is the belief that the ability to learn is not fixed, that it can change with your effort. Dr. Dweck has shown that when kids read and learn about the brain and how it changes and grows in response to challenge, they're much more likely to persevere when they fail, because they don't believe that failure is a permanent condition.

[dawnyimin-blog1]

Aristotle

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. 

[dawnyimin-blog1]

Defeats are reminders

to be humble and to strive and to know that things don't come easy.

[dawnyimin-blog1]

"Luckier people tend to try more frequently, and by trying more often they also succeed more. Think about a basketball player who attempts to shoot three times in a game, compared with one who tries 30 times. Even if the first one has a better shooting percentage, in absolute numbers, you can’t compare the two. First, life is a numbers game—so try more frequently. Second, it’s good to look at the number of things that other people attempt—not just their successes"

Via Dan Ariely.  This I believe. Know what you want and nothing's gonna stand in your way. ...You know, wasn't that what they said about knowledge being power when we were in primary school ;)

[dawnyimin-blog1]

Closer to Full Employment

This makes interesting food for thought.

This Rowan guy basically is saying that financial markets have developed to great sophistication and automation. Cue those graphs that tick and show you how demand and supply is working out internationally. In contrast, the markets of industries lower down the pyramid haven't had the automated breakthrough of the financial markets.

Think of how amazing it would be If there was a way to enter and exit these markets smoothly, and also to get these units of labor smoothly. 

Rowan thinks the government should be the ones enabling this modern market infrastructure through the passing of a bill as a guidance. The ultimate aim is for people to buy and sell their time knowledgeable of when's the highest value, where's the shortage. 

Just that I don't know how it's going to work. 

[dawnyimin-blog1]

Flippance

Personally, I find it flippant that we acknowledge that the law is malleable and is shaped and defined by society. Or that there is no right or wrong because what is right or wrong is what society accepts. Likewise, what is justifiable depends on that which society defines to be justifiable. Fine and sure, there is no hard and fast rule. It is one thing to recognize that, but another to accept. 

We are the composites of society. Or let's break it down to this. I am a composite of society. My moral conscience is possibly influenced by the society I'm in. But my society's moral compass takes into account my moral conscience. And the collective moral compass is unnecessarily my moral conscience. 

I reverse a liberal stance I've been taking. There is a right and wrong. I'm my own judge. I decide what is right and what is not. We must not use society as a benchmark for what's right or wrong. The collective rarely reflects the individual's position. 

[dawnyimin-blog1]

Blind beginnings and deaf endings

This must be the first time in my life I'm experiencing this. This, now let me put a finger to it, this feeling of blindness. 

I think that best describes my current state. That dark, powerful and peaceful blackout. And my steady legs wobbling forward. 

That's the feeling of blindness. 

Let me point out that there's a silver lining too.

I’m finally listening. 

[dawnyimin-blog1]

What makes someone give you their time?

Often times, about once or twice, I've received mail from our customer base. They are long and detailed. They reflect investment of time and thought. 

They are lovely to receive and read. 

But why would someone an anonymous someone care enough to do that? 

What makes them care? 

[orangesageprincess]

[sharonxrila]

[idonethis-blog]

From looking at the time logs of extremely successful people, I’ve learned that they focus on three categories: nurturing their career, nurturing their family and nurturing themselves.

Laura Vanderkam

[dawnyimin-blog1]

In the afternoon and evenings, we get sleepy at two times: at 4:30 pm and at 11:30 pm. But in the morning, we get sleepy every 90 minutes. These 90-minute cycles are our ultradian rhythms which define when we're naturally feeling awake and productive. We perform our best in between those periods of drowsiness.

[explore-blog]

People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that’s what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life. A soul mate’s purpose is to shake you up, tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light can get in, make you so desperate and out of control that you have to transform your life…

Elizabeth Gilbert (via explore-blog)

[industrialist]

[blua]

renting a glass igloo in Finland to sleep under the northern lights

[dawnyimin-blog1]

3 Short Life Learnings

Three learnings I thought I would share from reading this article. It's about a highly "successful" person - doctor, ferrari, famous - who gets diagnosed with cancer.   

1. “Endure hardship as discipline as God is treating you as His children.” Hebrews 12:7-8

As a masochist, I like this a lot. Pain is present for a reason you might not yet know. 

2. Trust in the Lord your God with all your heart.  I'm not Christian, so let me rephrase this. I think it's about having faith in the uncertainty of the future and learning how to embrace change.   

3. Love and serve others, not just ourselves. This means spending time with people who matter, not bearing grudges and letting go. Also, it means putting a smile on another person's face. 

Have a good weekend =)