Of Conversations & Story Telling

Good Morning 🙂

I hope everyone is doing ok after the weekend. Yes it’s Monday and the start of another work week, but remember, you are in charge of how you feel. It’s hard, but try to be positive this manic Monday.

I’m not working today, worked the past three days at Machines. I’m loving the job but my legs might not feel the same way, feeling pretty tired today, woke up at 8 and didn’t go for a swim. Yea, but I’ll do it tomorrow! Well, now my good friend Cafe Mocha is keeping me company here at Starbucks as I think of something to write about today 😉

I got it, today I’m going to write about reading.

I know a lot of you are going to be, “but I got no time to read” or “I don’t like reading” or whatever other excuses there are. Whether your want to read is up to you (unless you’re my little brother) but the benefits are very much underrated. I would like you to check out the quote below please,

“a mind once stretched by a new idea can never return to its original dimensions.” Oliver Wendell Holmes

Think about it for a second. I love watching tv but really, after a while I start thinking to myself, ” how does this benefit me?”. Sure a little tv a day helps me unwind, but really, do we stop at an hour? Reading a good book, or a good magazine exposes us to ideas and stimulates our minds. Reading a good biography is like having a conversation with the author. And we all need such conversations to keep out minds sharp.

“Drink Coffee with Gandhi.” Robin Sharma

“Reading a book by someone you respect allows some of their brilliance to rub off on you.” Robin Sharma

One of the main factors in my tremendous recovery over the past few weeks has been reading. My in depth conversation David Schwartz about The Magic of Thinking Big revitalised my spirit and further conversations with Robin Sharma and Richard Branson further fuelled my spirit. They have exposed me to so many new concepts and ideas that have opened my mind up. They have been the main inspiration behind a lot of my articles.

My Top List of books to read
1. 7 habits of highly effective teens – Seaon Covey
2. Screw it Let’s do it Expanded – Richard Branson
3. Tuesday with Morrie
4. the Greatness Guide 1 & 2 – Robin Sharma
5. The Magic of Thinking Big – David Schawrtz
6. Your Money Ratios- Charles Farrell

And when it comes to reading, I have nothing against story books, but try to mix it up with good books that will help you grow. Autobiographies. Personal development books. Etc. of course there are story books that help you grow as well, by all means go for it, but don’t forget to make time to have a conversation with someone like Gandhi or Martin Luther King or Richard Branson. And by all means mix it up with having JK Rowling or Rick Riordan tell you a story, because having conversations with only certain people will add a certain monotony after a while.

So anyway, go and start that book you’ve been procrastinating about. Don’t start any new tv shows! And hey, if you’ve got nothing on your book shelf, take a look at my list above.

Have a great day,

Straight From The Heart

Arkay6

I Will Keep Moving Foward

Good morning everyone! My Cafe Mocha and I are coming to you live from Starbucks Mid Valley.

It’s an interesting scene here, never been to MV this early…. Ever. I’m sitting outside and just observing all the people walking about, the people chilling at Starbucks. Most of them being working people, actually, I think all of them, and I will somewhat be one of them.

I’m doing good today, it could be better, not feeling as great as the last few days. Feeling a little more tired actually, no its not because of the job, I’m nervous yes, a little scared but also excited. It’s a whole jumble of feelings, like now I’m feeling all calm and cool. It’s just this university issue that’s been hanging over me. When I was really sick, like down in the dumps, wanting to give up, feeling like shit, which was in January, I had to drop out of summer school and unfortunately I couldn’t do it cleanly, it was either fail the course or defer the exam, so I deferred the exam but I lost the 30% of the course as that part is course work etc and I didn’t do any of that work, i wasn’t in any shape to. I went for about 3-4 weeks, but I couldn’t think, my mind was so clouded due to the damn brain fog, etc so yea, it was hell, now I’m trying to sort that out because it’s an important subject and will impact my entire major. So it’s stressing me out a little, I’m just worried that this sort of stress would screw up all the progress ive made in the past 5 weeks, that the stress of sitting for an exam in August about a difficult subject that has had some changes this semester would be detrimental, i know i’ll Be ready for uni again in july, but Not for an exam, and the stress that comes with it, that soon after re-starting. But whatever happens, i’ll deal with it, if I have to delay my education a little longer, so be it, but I want that Major in Accounting. Anyway, I can’t do anything about it now, we’ll see how things go. May the Force Be With Me.

I really hope that didn’t put a damper in your morning, me venting like that. It’s just a little coincidental that the day after I get this news about uni that I wake up more tired than usual etc. but if I’ve learnt anything over the past few weeks, actually the past few years, is that it’s not about what happens to you in life, it’s about what you do about it.

I won’t let this be a damper on my Second Coming, on my rekindled spirit and this revival of mine. I will stay strong , I will keep writing, keep reading, keep waking early, keep drinking Cafe Mocha, keep swimming and keep moving forward.

Turbulence is normal. Just fight though it.

I will Keep Moving Forward, one step at a time, no matter what.

Straight From The Heart

Arkay 6

Facing Fears = Power

Good morning everyone,

For a change I’m writing from the Starbucks at Gardens, but still with my cafe mocha. 🙂

Today is a big day for me, I hope it all goes well.

On that note, I want to talk about the power that you get once you face your fears, once you’ve completed that task that you have been resisting. I’m actually pretty scared now, I’m going for a job interview after this, to get a sales position at Machines, hopefully Machines Gardens. I’m scared because I have never done this before, this is new to me. Have never had a real job before. Thoughts have been popping into my head. “what If I can’t do it?” “what of I don’t get it?” “do I really want it?””I can still cancel” “I don’t have to do it” bla bla bla.

But you know what, I want this job, It is a step in the right direction, I want to learn how an apple reseller works, so that maybe i can have my own franchise one day, I want to sell Apple products because I am passionate about them, I want the experience as i want to continue to grow but most importantly, I want to move forward. It’s been a great productive 5 weeks, and I want to continue that flow. I’ve been writing, reading, sleeping well, exercising, dabbled in investing, meeting people etc. I think I’ve mentioned before, this feels like my second coming.

All those questions and doubts, were coming from a place of fear, fear of failure, fear of the unknown. And I will face that fear because once its done…. It will give me power and confidence.

For example, yesterday I finally met a lecturer that I’ve been meaning to meet for a while, I put it off for so long cause I was scared, intimidated, worried etc etc. I was afraid I would mess up the meeting, but finally, yesterday, i just did it. I took the elevator up and met her and you know what? It was a great meeting. She has pointed me in the right direction to sort out my issues reading my Accounting Major and I have a meeting with the Director of Undergraduate Studies today. Hopefully she will be able to help me solve my problem. I’ve been procrastinating for so long simply because I didn’t want to face the fear of not being able to pursue Accounting, or having to delay my graduation by another semester and all those things. The phrase “Ignorance is Bliss” comes to mind, but ignoring the problems isn’t going to make them go away. No. That require conscious effort. Sometimes we run away from our fears so that we can pretend they’re not there, I sorry, but it’s time to wake up.

“I know of no more encouraging fact than th unquestionable ability of a human being to elevate their life by conscious endeavour.” Henry David Thoreau

So today, I’ve got two big steps to take, my first real job interview and a meeting at university. Both are big steps. And I am scared, but I’m not going to run away from this challenge. I will face it

And whatever happens, I will face that as well. If I don’t get the job so be it. If the meeting doesn’t go well I’ll extend my studies by another semester because failure is inevitable in the journey of life, you just have to make sure that the failure doesn’t stop you from moving forward. I’ve had enough of being scared, how about you?

“Fail Faster. Succeed sooner.” David Kelley

“Screw-ups are the mark of excellence.” Tom Peters

“twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do that by he ones you did.” mark twain

“the real risk lies in risked living.” robin sharma

Straight From The Heart

Arkay 6

Dreamers & Realists

“There are dreamers and there are realists in this world.

You’d think the dreamers would find the dreamers and the realists would find the realists but… more often than not, the opposite is true.

You see the dreamers need the realists to keep them from soaring too close to the sun.

And the realists… well, without the dreamers, they might not ever get off the ground.”

-Cameron, Modern Family (Episode: Punkin Chunkin)

A Room of One’s Own

Good morning everyone! I’m just feeling so damn pumped up, was listening to Flo Rida’s Good Feeling all the way to Monash and boy was it an amazing drive here. Thanks to my baby, Giselle, love you.

First of, I’d like to thank all of you for reading what I write on this little site of mine. It’s so amazing how just over 10 days ago I had less than 1000 all-time views and now it’s 2349. Thank you, you guys have been amazing!

Anyway to the topic of the day, A Room of One’s Own. I came across the term I while reading Robin Sharma‘s The Greatness Guide Part 2, and he attributes it to Virginia Woolf.

“Rarely do we find men who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think.” Martin Luther King Jr

Now what i think Robin meant through this idea is the concept of having your OWN space. It doesn’t have to be a physical space, but just a space in our head for you to be alone. For you to do your own think. Analyse your life, evaluate where you’re going, whether you’re in line with you values…. Reflection. I cannot emphasise this enough, it so so very important for everyone to do this. Having this time to think, it can be done anywhere as long as you’re comfortable and like it, whether it’s in the car, in your room, Starbucks, and so on. It’s just aye an hour of your day, preferably in the morning, for you to think.

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” Steve Jobs

So many of us are busy being busy, do you want to end up climbing the wrong mountain? Doing all that work for the wrong goal? That’s why this concept is so DAMN important. It’s a time when you walk away from The world, a time you find to avoid any and all distractions. You’ll be amazed at where your mind will wander of to. This little bit of your day will provide you with so much clarity that will definitely make you’re life easier, less clumsy, cluttered and messy.

“Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it.” Henry Ford

It won’t happen instantly, it’ll take time. Start by getting a journal, I use a Moleskine one cause I want it to last,and it looks good :), but you can use any book. Just leave it open in front of you with a pen in your hand. Listen to some chilled out music, or a motivational/inspirational podcast, and let your mind run free. Here are somethings to help you out.

Think about:
1: where do you want to be in a year.
2: what are your top 5 priorities.
3: what is your Genius? Your talents, skills, wtc
4: what are your top 5 values.
5: talk to yourself via writing.

I know that you probably dont have any reason to take my word for it, but please trust me, it has done wonders for me in the past 3 weeks. I was in such a shitty place a couple weeks back, and now I’m blogging everyday, waking up early, swimming, reading an hour a day, watching a lot less TV, making more friends… All these things I’ve been blogging about have made a world of difference to me… This could be my second coming? Steve jobs, Howard Schultz. 🙂 read my previous post A Rekindled Spirit.

“When the mind is thinking it is talking to itself.” Plato

Another point I must emphasise, ELECTRONIC BLACKOUT. I love gadgets, I social media, I love my iPad and I love my iPhone. But when it comes time to think, put them away. Don’t reply messages, don’t check FB, don’t tweet, don’t read emails, just think. In fact, do this when you’re socialising as well, but I’ll address that in another post.

Turn off everything, Go Ghost Prototcol, Go Dark, Go Covert Ops, Go Black Ops, Go Ninja.

When you’re in your Room of Your Own, Go dark. Tell all your emails, texts, notifications etc that you would like an hour break. That’s why is a lot better to do this in the morning. I like doing this at about 6am, like what I did today. my aim: 5am Thinking Time by the time I start university again. I’m not asking you to wake up at 5 or 6, but the Earlier it is, the less the potential distractions, which will make your Thinking Time more effective. But please, make sure you sleep enough. Don’t skimp on sleep, you can do it for the short term, like a week before an exam etc, but never for long periods, I wrote about this in a previous post, Waking Up Early & Sleeping Well and also check this one out, Getting to Greatness without Burning Out

“No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking.”
Voltaire

Clarity leads to Awareness leads to better Results. Robin Sharma

Have a Great Day Ahead,

Straight From The Heart

Arkay 6

Tuesday Morning Inspiration 2

Good morning everyone, any guess where i am? 😉 hope Monday didn’t take too much of a toll on you.

As for me, I wasn’t feeling in tip top shop on Sunday, but I’m doing way better today. Got up at 7:30, swam for a bit, and came over to Monash. It’s feeling like a good day.

I have said before, motivation is something that we need regular doses of, just like showers they eventually wear off. So put together your own regular dose of motivation, I’ll help you if you want it, all you have to do is ask. Have I told you about my wall? It’s covered with papers. Quotes, sayings, lessons etc. I read it every morning before I go out into the world, and it helps. I’m not bullshiting. It has made a huge difference in my attitude and mood.

For every “issue” of ‘Tuesday Morning Inspiration’, I will attach a video with it, a video that I feel is great motivation and hopefully you feel the same way. Today’s video is a scene from the Al Pacino’s movie ‘Any Given Sunday’, please do watch it and tell me what you think. I first watched it last year, sometime after Arsenals colossal screw up in the Carling Cup, the original clip I watched was Pacino’s voice over an Arsenal clip, if you are an Arsenal fan, take a look at it, it is a fantastic clip called Arsenal – March 2011, Down But Not Out‘.

I just finished re-reading Richard Branson’s Screw It, Let’s Do It (Expanded), a great read, I highly recommend it. Here are a few quotes from this amazing, persistent, innovative, entrepreneurial, Crazy Humanitarian Capitalist.

“The lesson I learned throughout all this is that no goal is beyond our reach and even the impossible become possible for those with vision and belief in themselves.” Richard Branson

“Don’t Give up, stick to your guns and find another way.” Richard Branson

I hope this post has helped you, even a little. 🙂

Straight From The Heart

Arkay 6

“You need to stretch to grow.” Richard Branson

The Power of the Hug

Good evening everyone, here’s a little post to end the day,

It’s the simplest thing in life that we are most guilty of taking for granted, these little things that can spur the best type of joy, happiness or love; enjoying the stars in the night sky whilst lying down on the cool grass, or having a great conversation with someone or the look on the face of someone you care about when you perform some simple random act of kindness, such as giving them a flower. It is these moments that can really make life worth living. However, my favourite among the simple things is, the hug.

The hug is such an underrated way of showing appreciation or affection. It can help someone feel safe, feel at home, feel like they matter, feel like wanted, most importantly it can make someone feel loved. The act of embracing your fellow human is so universal, so versatile. It can be used for almost anything whether it be a moment of congratulations or a moment of condolence; a moment of bliss or a moment of sadness; a moment of friendship or a moment of love.

The Hug is a simple act of which results in a more than proportional result, when executed right.

A hug should be all embracing, not mere bumping of the shoulders at an awkward angle, no person ever felt appreciate from a half hearted borderline pathetic hug. Do it right. Make the person you are about to hug feel like you actually want to do to and that it’s not just a formality.

I never truly appreciated the power held in a hug until an uncle of mine talked to me about it after he saw me give my mum a “hug”. He said that he never went a day without giving someone a proper hug because that hug made his day all that much better.

So stop being stingy with your hugs. Show the people you care about that you actually do care about them. You’re actions speak much louder than words. If you tell someone you love them or care for them, make sure your actions are in sync.

Good night,

Now go give your parents a hug, 🙂

Straight From The Heart

Arkay 6

Heart Appeal & Brands

As much as some companies would love customers to use their heads, most use their hearts

What do the biggest brands have in common?

A customer-fan base. Loyalist. Supporters.

The brand appeals to their emotion, their hearts and then their heads. Whether it’s environmentally friendly products, cool products, a great environment, or top-notch staff. Brands like Apple, Virgin, Body Shop & Starbucks have learnt that most people buy with their hearts first before their heads. Hence the Apple Fanboys & Starbucks loyalists. I’ve talked about Apple products before, so let me talk about Starbucks… Why do I come here almost everyday and pay a little more than 10 bucks for a drink?

1. The Cafe Mocha is awesome
2. The staff is so damn friendly and are great talk to. They remember your name, they make an effort to make you feel appreciated.
3. The have a great environment here. The slight feel of humanity through the buzz of conversations slightly drowned out by the delightful and great music they play. It just has such a nice feel; a comfy setting, plug points every where. They make you feel at home.
4. The pride themselves on being socially conscious, more specifically environmentally conscious. They practice Earth Hour and I just saw this sign on their counter about a waterfall clean-up tomorrow organised by them. They encourage you to use reusable tumblers, yes you need to buy theirs, but you get a 2 buck discount if you bring it and use it. So over time, if you are a regular, you’ll cover your “expenditure”. Amazing.

Starbucks doesn’t just appeal to me, it appeals to million in the country and many more across the globe.

Anyway, this isn’t about Starbucks but about how to become a great brand. Like Apple, Body Shop, Starbucks & Virgin.

As much as people say we should shop with our heads, we really love the brands that appeal to our hearts.

“business is in so many ways is about love. Think about it. Success comes by treating your customers with love. Acclaim comes by doing your job with love. Market leadership comes with selling your wares with love. If your customers only like you, you are vulnerable to losing them when a competitor with a cheaper product or a more economical service comes along. Why? Because you’ve failed emotionally. Connect with them. because when customers love you- because you’ve touched their hearts but the way you occur in their lives – you become a part of their extended family. You’re now part of their community. They become loyal. They tell the rest of the family about you. And they’ll take good care of you should times get tough.” Robin Sharma, the Greatness Guide

Straight From The Heart

Arkay6

Small Daily Improvements Lead to Stunning Results

Good morning again,

I was just watching one of Robin Sharma‘s Vlogs and came across this:

“Small daily improvements overtime lead to stunning results.” Robin Sharma

He makes such a good point, we underestimate the importance of daily improvement and practice. No matter how small the progress, daily progress eventually builds up a momentum that will propel you further forwards. W just have to keep moving forward.

“The journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step.” Confucius

Once we “Just do it” and get something started, we just need to keep improving on it, a 1% daily improvement is better than a 10% gain one day and then being stagnant. Daily improvement will lead to breeding a great habit, daily practice.

Practice is so incredible important in our journey to achieve greatness, in a our attempts to climb mountains, cross rivers, you get the picture. If we do not practice, how do we expect to achieve results & goals?

All experts began as amateurs, all geniuses began as beginners.

Over the past week or so I’ve been focusing on a few things.
1. Waking up at 7
2. Swimming first thing in the morning
3. Blogging daily
4. Reading for an hour daily
5. Sleeping well

I didn’t achieve all this on the first day, but over the past 10 days I have seen great results, it just took daily improvements. I started by waking up at 8:30, and then 8:15 etc. I started my morning swimming by swimming 5 minutes the first time, and now I’ve progressed to 20 minutes and doing it at least 5 mornings a week. The blogging, well you know that story. The reading has been pretty steady, an average of 45 minutes a day now. And I’ve made it a point to go to bed by 10:30 everyday, so that my sleep cycle is readjusted, and the adjustment is indeed happening. I find myself feeling more refreshed in the mornings, and wanting to sleep at around 10. Next week I’m. Going to try waking up at 6:30, let’s see how that goes.

Anyway, I hope you get my point, daily improvement. Tattoo that on your brain. Before going to bed, take your journal and write about the things you did well, the things that weren’t so brilliant and the ways you can’t make tomorrow better. It set’s your actions in alignment with your goals. Don’t be busy being busy, don’t work so hard climbing the mountain only to realise that you climbed the wrong on. We all have limited time in a day, be smart about it.

Improve daily, be in line with your vision, put more living in your day.

Straight From The Heart

Arkay 6

Music

Good morning 🙂

How’s your morning been so far? I know my post is a little later than usual, was catching up with a friend I bumped into at Starbucks.

So, while chatting with Lauren I figured out today’s blog topic… Music. This hit me while I was listening to the great music here at Starbucks. (I do not get anything from starbucks, this is not product placement 😉 )

So anyway, what kind of music do you listen to?

Music is the soundtrack to our lives. It so incredibly important. It adds colour to our lives, makes life more exciting, cheers us up when we’re down, calms us down, and most importantly, it relates to us. It appeals to our emotions, our feelings.

As for my taste in music, it is…. varied.

What do you think I like?

Most people would say hip hop, and they’d be correct, but my taste is not limited to only that. Let’s take a list at my top 10. (plays collected over the past 2+ years)

1. Right round – Flo Rida
2. Marvin’s Room – Drake
3. Ultimate victory – chamillionaire
4. I’m on a boat – lonely island
5. Danza kuduro – Don Omar
6. Up all night – drake
7. Cookie jar – gym class heroes
8. Heartless – Kane west
9. Champagne showers – LMFAO
10. Tik Tok – ke$ha

So yes, most of my music is concentrated on hip hop and mainstream stuff, but further down my list you’ll see 30 Seconds to Mars, Slash, Michael Buble, Sinatra, Tiesto, Aoki, Santana, Linkin Park, Busta Ryhmes, One Republic, and … Taylor Swift. Yes, that is correct I listen Taylor Swift, sue me.

Each artist or genre appeals to a different side of me, a different area. And I’m sure you feel the same way too. I can’t listen to one style for too long, hence the varied selection. Right now I’m going through a Sinatra & Buble phase, thanks to my singing lessons.

Aside form listening to music, making music is great as well. Singing has been great for me. It’s helped me and I would really love to have a band in due time and make some great covers with certin people. Making music is a great form of personal expression, whether it is playing a song you know or composing your own stuff. It’s a great outlet for stress, creation and expression. Everyone should dabble in making music… it will boost your confidence and help you express yourself better. Whether its playing the piano, DJing, singing, mixing, producing, strumming the guitar, etc…… Anyone of them would be great…. It all matters.

So yea, don’t forget about music, don’t underestimate it’s power. It can motivate you, it can cheer you up, it can perpetuate your emotion, it can make you feel like a champion. Music is a force to be reckoned with…. a great source of power.

Here’s my cover of Frank Sinatra’s The Way You Look Tonight. Click here. it’s a little pitchy, I think, but definitely an improvement. #progress

Have a great day ahead,

Straight From The Heart

Arkay 6

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