Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay

While Youtube surfing, I came across this song totally by accident.

I was drawn to the uplifting tempo, the catchy rhythm, and the addictive beat of the song. See if you can stop swaying your head and tapping your fingers on your thigh!

I especially love the guitar solo by "Char" in the middle.

But if you listened to the lyrics carefully, they are by far the most despondent, depressing, dispirited, and crestfallen words to a song I've heard so far.


It got me thinking...  Then a sudden flashback to a forgotten memory...


What's your immediate reaction after hearing this song?

And has anything changed after you reflected on the words a little longer? 


P.S.  Artistically speaking, I am very impressed with the musicians' way of interpreting this song. Would you have sung a sad song this way? 



 

     

The nail don't hurt enough yet...

Ah Seng went to visit his neighbour, who had a front garden that extended across the entire front of his terrace house.

On the garden sat the neighbor's dog, howling . . .

whooo-whooo-whooo

Ah Seng asked his neighbor what the dog's problem was . . .

whooo-whooo-whooo

The neighbor said, "he's sitting on a nail."

whooo-whooo-whooo

Ah Seng asked why the dog didn't just move instead of howling

whooo-whooo-whooo

The neighbour said . . . The nail don't hurt bad enough yet . . .
 

We all know that colleague who always complain the company is so mean, so stingy. Job no prospect, company no future. But after 5 years still in the same job with the same company... it's a bit sad no?

How about the coffee shop uncle in his 60s whining that Singapore impossible to live in. Medical costs too high! Transport costs too high! Property prices too high! It's fun listening until he shared he has relatives already emigrated to other countries... And he boasted he started this tirade when he was in his 30s... What great foresight he had! 
  

Does your nail hurt enough yet?

I had fun last night!

Last night, I had a great time (no, not that kind)! 

I was invited by Roy (he got to know me through my blog) to give a talk at the Singapore Microcomputer Society’s weekly seminar:

http://www.sms.org.sg/template.jsp?p=my/ThisWeekSeminar.html

It was like having a blind date with 14-16 strangers!

Since I have no clue what to say, I decided to use one presentation I gave to our IKEA IT group management when IKEA decided to jump on-board the “out-sourcing” bandwagon.  

Those of you working in IT during recent years would know what out-sourcing means to you personally and your families…I say this with the utmost respect and humility. Since this is a Microcomputer Society, they would understand too? 

I was stationed at Trading Shanghai then. Working with supply chain, we are used to collaborating with carriers, 3^rd party service providers, suppliers, distributors, etc. 

Our IT group management were on a worldwide field trip to study how other IKEA organisations handle vendor management before they start their “reengineering” in their own backyard. Shanghai just happened to be one of their pit-stops.  

The essence of my presentation was:

Corporations focus on

KPIs first,

then Business,

then People.

My personal view (the Asian and holistic way) is

People first,

then Business,

then KPIs

I must have touched on some raw nerves last night! I went from speaker to facilitator (phew! It worked according to plan). I spent ¾ of the time listening to the passionate and hot debates between the participants.

The youngest looked 50 plus while the majority are in their 60s. These are the seniors who made Singapore what it is today. I learned a lot last night. I listened.

It was a great night of diversity of opinions and sharing of past personal experiences! 

I used one example of a public listed transport company who in recent years, had lots of challenges with breakdowns, and recently with employee relations…  

I also used the recent PSLE debate as a moot point for discussion on KPIs first or people first? (If you have recruiting experience, do you look at the PSLE results of your interviewees? LOL! Much ado about nothing right?)

Of course I managed to squeeze in putting People first may help in our investing/trading journey. (No, I not telling you! If want to learn more, you have to invite me!)

At the end of the day, I merely borrowed with pride the Chinese medicine way of diagnosing and treating illnesses.