Entrepreneurialize Your Life

I have been an entrepreneur for some years now, and the most amazing thing about being an entrepreneur is how much I have learnt about myself!

It's so true! When I embarked on this journey of entrepreneurship, I was wondering about what I would really learn, with business skills topping the list. But never in a million years would I have guessed that being an entrepreneur would open my eyes to who I really am as a person.

So, am I suggesting that everyone should drop everything they're doing, quit their jobs and become an entrepreneur to learn more about themselves? On the contrary, and as my fellow entrepreneur pals would agree, we do not need to be an entrepreneur to practise living an entrepreneurial life. All we'd need to do is be open to adopting an entrepreneurial mind and attitude and assimilating these into our daily lives.

Here are some priceless lessons I've learnt and would like to share with all of you.

1- Get up in the morning because no one is going to wake you up!
This is a very fundamental lesson I learnt in the early days of my entrepreneur life. Before being an entrepreneur, I used to dread the awful ringing of the alarm, in its (futile) attempts to snap me out of my sweet, sweet slumber, to get dressed for work. Because most entrepreneurs don't have specific work hours, we must learn to rely on ourselves to discipline our minds and bodies. Just because we do not have a punch card system and no boss to glare at us for strolling in 2 minutes too late, does not mean that we can sleep in. WE become our motivation. So whether or not the alarm rings waking up is a MUST! Else, there will be no business, and that means no moolah, and no retail therapy! Boo-hoo...

2- A pivotal lesson on money
Speaking about all that moolah, I think it would be the right time to say that at some point in most entrepreneur's life, they reach a point of having an absolutely or almost dry bank account - it happens, trust me. And when this happens, all hell starts to break loose! Everything we have ever believed in starts to crumble. We will start doubting ourselves and everyone around us. It is at this point in life, where we will learn to appreciate the finer things in life. And more importantly, it is at this point where we'll learn how to move on without money. We learn to accept this extremely insecure feeling, because we know that we can't get any worse than this, we know we've just seen ground zero - and we become filled with a hope that things can only go up from here. And after this point, money stops becoming something we cling on to. And that's a good thing. Want money, don't need it.

3- The Colonel Sanders attitude to selling fried chicken
I'm guessing you know who Colonel Harland Sanders is? He's the smart guy (with the really white hair) who invented KFC. But did you know that he was turned down 1009 times before he successfully managed to find a buyer for his fried chicken? (Full story on blog post entitled : Think KFC Before Quitting). And that's the reality of being an entrepreneur - people WILL say NO to you. They will. There is no doubt in that. Believe me, being rejected can make one feel extremely low about themselves. But instead of the chin-to-floor reaction, we must learn to pick ourselves up, and with all we have, take one step forward - because if you don't, then accept that that will be the death of your business. Just remember, that while some people love coffee, others get migraines just by walking pass a Coffee Bean or Starbucks. One's person's medicine is another man's poison. It is impossible to have a clientele of 'everyone in the world'. But we learn. We learn to keep on keeping on. Differentiating, strategizing, advertising - but most importantly, just keep on keeping on. And get that chin off that floor!

4- Be the Burger Ramly to the McDonald's
When we first start up as entrepreneurs, we were motivated by the Big Dreams, the Huge Possibilities, the "I Can Definitely Do Better That That Guy" attitude, the Success Stories. But it is only when we're knee deep in our business will we realize that it was not as easy as it was when we were thinking about starting up. One of the problems, stiff competition. Funny how these competitors seem so harmless and trivial when we were Dreaming Big, huh? Well, time for a reality check. Competition is an inevitability. It does exist and it is real. Trick is, to find a way to differentiate. How do you think Burger Ramly's founder would have felt about McDonald's? But he differentiated - we simply cannot get a Burger Ayam Special in McDonald's - even till today, can we? Don't ever be afraid or intimidated by competition - there is always something you can do better. If it's international competition you're worried about, think local. I remember what Resh Monu said in an interview, about how he got to where he is. "Always remember, that there is a Malaysian local market". Never give up just because you're not big enough or smart enough - you have something special to give. Spend some time finding that.

I hope these tips will help you entrepreneurialize your lives.
You don't have to be an entrepreneur - just adopt an entrepreneurial mind and attitude.

Good luck!

The Baseball Theory of Life

Have you ever heard the saying "Life is like a baseball game?" No? Well, neither have I.

But I thought about it once, and it astounded me how much life and living resembled what happens out there on the baseball field.

Well, though, admittedly, I am no expert on the Major or Little Leagues, but thanks to the silver screen, I think I got the basics of the game pretty much figured out.



One day, I shared this analogous theory of mine to my class of students, and I could've sworn I heard the "Click!" go off in their teenage minds, accompanied by the gaped "I Got It!" expressions. Miss those kids...


The Game - In Layman Terms
Baseball is a sport played with bats and balls. The batter (the one with the bat) stands in the centre, surrounded by 4 corners, known as bases, which are 'secured' by 4 players on the other team. The pitcher (the ball-thrower), who is from the other team, will throw the ball (can this get anymore layman??) to the batter. The batter, will, with all his might (and tactics...) hit the ball. The main aim of the batter is to hit the ball as far away as he can, to disable the opponent team from getting to it and reaching the base before they do.

The opponent team's main aim is to get the ball and 'touch' one of the 4 bases on the field - and when this happens, it's "STTTRRRIIKKKEE OOONNEEE" for the batter. 3 strikes, and he's out. Once the batter hits the ball, his aim is to make it to 2nd base and as many bases as he can before the opponent team reaches the base - or he's out. But if he manages to reach the 4th and final base, that's a Home Run.

Phheeww! Believe me, for a girl that doesn't play much sports, that was an accomplishment of magnitude proportions!

So here it is, my Baseball Theory of Life.


The Baseball Theory of Life

1. The Ball Is Coming...What to Do?
A Lesson in Facing Challenges
In baseball, if you are holding the bat, you will be faced with the inevitable event of the ball hurling towards you. In this instance, what do you do? Well, let's identify the options.

(a) You can do the most obvious thing and hit it
(b) You can duck or run away so the ball won't hit you
(c) You can do absolutely nothing, knowing well the ball will hit you
(d) You can catch the ball and throw it back

Life is very much the same.

In life, we are faced with an insurmountable amount of challenges - this is almost always certain. Challenges must come because we are alive.

Did you know that the word 'life' originated from the Proto-Indo-European word 'lip', which means 'to remain, persevere and continue'? So you see, being alive is more than just being alive - we have to work at it. It's more of a verb, an action rather than a noun, really, if you think about it. So to persevere at life is to keep at it - keep at what? Keep facing everyday in the face so we can still be alive the next day.

One of my favourite authors and self help gurus, Tony Robbins once said, that in life, we are either climbing or sliding. If we strive to improve our lives, we become better (climbing); or if we choose not to do anything to improve, we actually become worse (sliding). So basically, this means, that even if you were to remain in status quo, some work needs to be done. Interesting observation, wouldn't you say?

So in life, challenges are inevitable..but it's not so much what happens that determine what kind of a person we are - it's how we react to what happens that shapes us.

If you look at it from the baseball point of view, you'll see that the options we have when the ball is approaching us are similar to the options we have in life.

Ask yourself - how do you react to challenges around you?

(a) Do you face it head on?
(b) Do you run away so the challenge won't be able to find or hurt you?
(c) Do you do absolutely nothing, knowing well that you will be hit hard by the challenge?
(d) Do you get mad and fight back or retaliate?

What would YOU do?

2. Do you have what it takes to Hit and Run?
A Lesson in Trust and Risk TakingHere, we are looking at the element of trust.

We humans are rather complicated. More often than not, we want to know why we need to do things that are asked of us, before we decide whether or not we want to do it. And often, we want to wait and see the consequence of our actions before moving on.

Now here's a question - if there is a system in place, and you are but one element of this system, and you have your very own role to play, as in all the other elements in the system...can you just play your role without wondering what the consequence or outcome is? Can you trust that if you do your part, that the other elements and the system will follow through?

There is an interesting story in Greek mythology, which backs this up.

Orpheus, was a great musician - and he married Eurydice. Life together was filled with bliss, until one day, Eurydice died of a snake bite. In Greek mythology, it is believed that those who pass on go to the Underworld, ruled by Hades. So, finding himself unable to bear the painful loss of his beloved wife, Orpheus decided to travel to the Underworld himself, to get her back.

The grim Hades, the God of the Underworld was enthralled by the musical charms of Orpheus, that he granted him his wish of having his wife Eurydice back with him in the real world. BUT, Hades' boon came with one condition. Hades said he will send Eurydice with Orpheus, but when Orpheus walks out of the Underworld, he was asked not to ever look back to see if Eurydice is following him. So basically, Hades asked Orpheus to trust him.

Young Orpheus, filled with excitement and anxiety, knowing that it will only be moments before he'd be able to have his wife back, started to walk confidently out of the caves. He walked, and he walked for what may have seemed like days! And then, he saw the mouth of the cave. Just as he was approaching the cave opening, he started questioning Hades' promise.

Is Eurydice really behind me?
Can I trust Hades?
What if I walk all the way, only to know that Hades has cheated me?
Oh no..I can't even hear her behind me...am I fooled?
And with each step he took, his doubts started to become more unbearable. His mind was in a mess because of uncertainty. And he made the biggest mistake in his life.
HE LOOKED BACK!

And as he did, he saw his wife, who was in fact, just behind him, being pulled away back to the Underworld.

I remember first reading this story, and feeling immense sadness and guilt! I mean, can you even imagine being in Orpheus' shoes?

The lesson here is TRUST.
How many of us trust things that are going on around us?

In baseball, the term hit and run is used when there is a player on the 2nd base, waiting to run to the 3rd base when the batter hits the ball. Here's what happens: when the batter hits the ball, he runs to the 2nd base, the player currently on the 2nd base will run to the 3rd, the player on 3rd will run onto the 4th and final base, and the team wins a Homerun.

Here's the trick. The player on 2nd base will start running just seconds before the batter hits the ball, so he gains advantage of time. Now, if the batter is good, he will be able to hit the ball far enough so the opponents would not be able to get to it before they reach their respective bases. BUT, what can happen, is that the batter does not hit the ball hard enough. In this case, the player on the 2nd base would have started running. So he would neither be on 2nd nor 3rd base when the ball is hit. If the opponent gets to the ball before he reached 3rd base, he's out.

So if you understand the game, you will see that the player on the 2nd base runs without even waiting to see how successful the batter was at hitting the ball. He just takes the risk and starts to run! What is this, if not TRUST in its finest form? And this is not easy to do, because you'd know that there is a possibility that you might be out.

What would you do if you're on 2nd base?
Would you run slower, so if in case the batter failed to do his job well, you could run back to the safety of the 2nd base?
Or would you trust the batter with all your life, decide to take the risk and start running the fastest you possibly can to get to the 3rd base?

We all know that sometimes, a choice must be made - you either run slow, or run fast. Because staying on the fence without a decision is the worst choice yet!

Can you trust the system (the game) enough to be able to just play your role without seeing the outcome of it? Do you believe that you are, in fact a part of a bigger picture, without sometimes being able to see the bigger picture?

Ask yourself these questions:
1. When working for an organization, and you realize that your days are filled with repetition, where you basically do the same thing over and over again - you write recruitment letters everyday; you sell the same product everyday; you work on the same programme everyday; you teach students everyday - do you trust that you are an important part of a bigger picture, or that your work is so mundane, it's unimportant?

2. If someone comes up to you and says "Paint this picture" but all you see is a small scrap of paper that means nothing, but he says that 1000 other people are painting little scraps that will later be joined into a big picture that does make sense, would you do it? Would you do it if it took 3 days to complete? 5 days? A week? A year? Would you do it, trustingly?

3. When you are planning a trip with your family, do you organize everything yourself because you simply cannot afford to trust others, in case they make a mistake and forget to do certain things that might ruin the vacation?

4. If you are running the 4 X 100m event, would you trust that once you have passed the baton to your team mate, that she will be able to reach the finish line as fast as you might have?
Do you trust that everything will be ok even if you don't put your hands in everything?
Do you trust your team mates enough to delegate tasks to them?
Do you trust your teacher enough to know that he'll lead you to success?
Do you trust your boss enough when he says that the risk he took or a tough decision he made was going to benefit the organization and you in the long run?
The thing is, sometimes, we are required to trust whole-heartedly. And sometimes, this lack of trust can lead to our downfall, especially when we are working in a system as a part of one whole.


Conclusion
So what do you think? Life is very much like a baseball game isn't it?
It's amazing what and how much we can learn from unorthodox methods.
Remember that learning is not only something you do in the classroom of your school. The whole world is a classroom. And everything and everyone around you can serve as teachers, if you'd only open up your mind enough to want to learn.

Learn what people say, from books, from TV shows, from conferences, from a walk in the park, from shopping, from dining and of course, from games and sports like baseball.

Sharmila is the CEO of the Professional Excellence and Lifelong Learning Centre. The opinions expressed here are of her own, based on her personal experience. PELL is an organization that strives on the concept of learning that is unconventional. The author welcomes comments at sharm79@gmail.com

7 Books That Will Change Your Life Today

My Special Relationship...
I find myself constantly journeying on a never-ending quest to find my success and wealth - and as I am a self-proclaimed 'Reader of the Year', I gratifyingly do so by flicking and losing myself between the magical pages of books.

Yeap, though some people clearly steer away from the Self-Help section in bookstores, afraid of what 'people' might think of them, I happily gravitate there all the time. I think a big part of the reason why is because I have always, since I was a child, believed that I would be able to contribute more - to my family and the world - if I can improve myself first - and I still stand strong by this prophecy till this very day.

The 7 Titles That Are Transforming Me

Here are 7 titles of books that are helping me find my way to my success. I am sharing this here in hopes that they can help you too.

1- The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

It's funny how I was first introduced to The Secret. I was training the CEO of a company, and she (lucky for me!) took it upon herself to give me some pointers for success.

"Have you watched The Secret?" she once asked me.

"No, I don't believe I have," I replied, at the expense of sounding totally daft. She looked at me like I was from another world!

"You haven't watched The Secret??" I swear I heard her voice rise a little. "Well, I think you should!"

And that's exactly what I did. I headed to Kinokuniya, KLCC as fast as my feet (and the LRT) could take me there, walked on to the Self-Help section (which was, by then, my second home!)and lo and behold, there was an entire case on The Secret. How come I didn't realize that ever being there before?

Without thinking twice, I grabbed The Secret DVD, paid almost RM 200 for it, and went straight home (skipping my usual routine of getting one of those yummilicious Bisou cup cakes...sinful!). I put on the DVD, and excuse me if what I'm about to say is going to sound cliched - but

that experience must have been one of the most life-transforming ones in my life. It's true! I was introduced to the Law of Attraction.

As I don't intend to spoil the fun for readers who have yet to watch the show, I'll make this short - the Law of Attraction basically says, that you attract what you think of and feel. You're sad, you'll attract more sadness; you're angry, you'll attract more angry people in your life; and of course, if you're happy, you'll attract more things that make you happy. At one glance, it's easy to realize that all of us, at some point, have practised this Law before, and not realized it.

This DVD led me to want to know more about how to attract success, leading me to look for and find all the other 6 books listed here.

2- The Science of Getting Rich, Wallace Wattles

This is the book that inspired Rhonda Byrne to create The Secret, so after discovering that fact, I just had to read it. Albeit, the writing style of the author was not really my cup of tea, but what he said had a phenomenal effect on me.

Wattles basically mirrored everything that Byrnes captured (or rather, it was the other way round), but he did it with more depth.

"The race (of man) as a whole is always abundantly rich, and if the individuals are poor, it is because they do not follow a Certain Way of doing things which makes the individual man rich"

That profound excerpt is the idea that Wattles was trying to sell in his book.
In other words, the author was prophesizing that if we're poor, we did it to ourselves. A little "in your face" but it hit me like a tonne of bricks how true it was.

3- You Were Born Rich by Bob Proctor
Bob Proctor was featured on The Secret DVD, and he too, is a firm believer, practitioner and trainer in the Law of Attraction. Frankly, I had not heard of Proctor till then, but there was something about him - the conviction in his voice, the belief in his expressions, the surety of his nonverbal intelligence that made me want to know more about him and his work.

A visit to his website one day led me to this book. And as expected, what he said again, captured my fullest attention.

"Consider this - money will have a greater influence on your life than almost any other commodity you can think of. Indeed, the sudden loss or acquisition of money will affect your attitude to a tremendous extent. Therefore, you must agree that everyone should have a deep understanding of exactly what money is, and of the laws governing its attraction. Yet, the sad fact is, that not one person in ten does. Ninety-five people out of a hundred settle for whatever they get, wishing they had more all the way from the cradle to the casket, never understanding that they could actually have had all they wanted"

It doesn't take a genius to know how true his statement is. How we all go about life wanting more. How we get what we get, by looking forward to Fridays and dreading Sundays as it reminds us how we must get back to slugging at our jobs. Is this what we were created to do? Is this how we were meant to live?

This book made me question my direction and action plan of life. It made me analyze what was important, and realize what I would need to do get there. I am not there just as yet, but it has helped me realize that I need to be.

4- Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill

Bob Proctor too, had a mentor, and for him, that life changing moment in his life happened when he read this book by Hill. Proctor was leading a life of below-mediocrity and was poverty-stricken - and this book gave him a way out.

Hill was inspiring in his own lengthy-style-of-writing kind of way. His book is filled with tales and success stories of those who made it even though it seemed unlikely, and also of those who lost their chance of success by practising negative habits - like quitting too soon.

"When riches begin to come so quickly, in such great abundance, that one wonders where they have been hiding during all those lean years"

I actually smiled to myself after reading that sentence - "those lean years" is said. I wondered secretly, if I will be fortunate enough to one day, look back at "those lean years" and laugh, as it is all behind me. Maybe as I am being driven about in my black Rolls Royce Phantom, to look back at the lean years and bask in the happiness that those lean years are no more.

5- The Success Principles, by Jack Canfield
I love reading anything Canfield. It's straight to the point, written in simple English, and gets the message through. Canfield was also featured on The Secret, and he was on my list of people to know more about. I read so much about him and his work, as I did Proctor, and found this book. Reading a few pages of the book on Amazon led me to now be a proud owner of it. Retailed at RM 69.90, I would say that this book is a must-have manual to life.

Canfield highlights 25 life transforming principles, and the 1st one resonated very deeply within me.

"Take 100% Responsibility For Your Life", the first Chapter screamed out. And reading that led to a whole new self discovery experience for me. I finished this chapter in minutes, but have re-read it so many times, as I want it to be engraved in every fibre of my being - that I am responsible for my life. No more playing the Blame Game. No more sitting back and attending the Pity Party. Just buck up and take responsibility.

"One of the most pervasive myths in the American culture today is that we are entitled to a great life - that somehow, somewhere, someone (certainly not us) is responsible for filling our lives with continual happiness, exciting career options, nurturing family time and blissful personal relationships simply because we exist"

The reality of what Canfield stated in the first sentence of his book did take time to sink in, and is still in the process of. As I mentioned, this book (to me, at least), serves as a good manual to life. I have often wondered why, when we are born into the same world, we are so different - it is not the colour and creed, nor is it the race and religion - it is more so how we were brought up, what we were exposed to at what age, what we learnt, how we failed and how we bounced back. I have always wondered how much our lives would change if we were handed a manual on how to live the best life ever - and this book is my answer.

Well, for those of you out there who find themselves being lost in the humdrum of daily life, feeling like you're just performing meaningless routines, chancing about life - then you should give this book a try.

6-Awaken The Giant Within, by Anthony Robbins

To be frank, I was introduced to this book during my student days at the university. I was looking for answers, and it came to me through this amazing book. Robbins was the big hype back then - everyone knew who he was. I bought his book, and never got to the end of it. But I remember that it was an eye-opener.

Now, in my search for greatness, I chanced upon his 90-minute audio programme of the same name. And boy, it was just the kind of refresher that I needed! Robbins is a load of energy bundled up in his 6 foot frame of a body. He had a throat ailment that makes him sound the way he does today, but I think it served him well.

Robbins preaches about the importance of Decisions in our lives. How we must decide who we are in this life, decide what we want, decide what things mean to us and decide what we are going to do about them. He never literally mentions the Law of Attraction, but in the end, it's funny how all these successful people think alike. They must be doing something right!

7- The Strangest Secret, by Earl Nightingale

We begin the list with a 'secret' and end it with another 'secret'.
This book is actually based on a message which was played for a group of salespeople at Nightingale's insurance agency. But what was meant to help insurance salespeople succeed, ended up becoming one of the most inspiring success literature for the world.

"Have you ever wondered why so many people work so hard and honestly without ever achieving anything in particular, and why others don't seem to work hard, yet seem to get everything? They seem to have the "magic touch"...The difference is goals. People with goals succeed because they know where they're going. It's that simple. Failures, on the other hand, believe that their lives are shaped by circumstances...by things that happen to them...by exterior forces"

The funny thing about 'goals' is, that we all know we're supposed to have them, but really, how many of us do? How many of us actually have a list of written goals of what we want to achieve in life? How many of us read those goals daily? How many of us know what exactly we've achieved in life and how far we still have to go?

My uncle was admitted to the hospital recently, and when we went to visit him, he asked my sister, who is working in the same field as he is, what her goals were. "Have you reached your milestones?" he asked. The next day, my sister told me that she realized something very important from our uncle's question...setting milestones. See, it is not that we don't know it, it is that for some reason, we don't do it - maybe it's fear, maybe it's lack of confidence - but this book helps a great deal in helping readers understand the importance of goals.


In a nutshell...
We all need help - this is the inevitable truth.
We need help to set our life straight and to be living the life we truly deserve, not one that is mediocre, where we weave in and out of seconds, minutes and days, feeling incomplete, worthless and directionless.

We need to have goals, self confidence;
We need to eliminate our fears, our doubts;
We need to transform our uncertainties into clear paths;
We need to take responsibility and decide;
We need to believe that we are worth much, much more that we think we are;
We need to know that all the wealth, success and happiness in the world is ours if we'd only ask.

I hope these books help you as they have me, to start living with direction, hope and structure.

I wish you ultimate success.

Sharmila is the CEO of the Professional Excellence and Lifelong Learning Centre. All the opinions expressed here are her own, based on her personal experiences. She welcomes comments at sharm79@gmail.com

7 Tips To Improve Your Business E-mail Writing Skills Today

"Aarrrggghhh!!" is what most people say, think and feel when it comes to writing - especially business writing. Most of us (I definitely do not refer to those avid journal writers who would die if they couldn't pen in their Dear Diary for a day), cringe, wince and whine at the mere thought of having to draft a letter, formal e-mail, proposal, or worse...(worse for me, anyway) the minutes of a meeting. Yes, we dread those days, but unfortunately, if they pay our salaries to write, then write we must...and with all the technology we're surrounded in today, e-mail seems to be the most favoured formal communication method.

7 Tips to Improve Your Business E-mail Writing Skills Today

1- Begin with the key point
Before starting to pen down your thoughts, always remember this. Imagine that you're in deep slumber at 3.00am and you are (rudely) interrupted by a phone call. How would you feel if the call is a prank call, with no substance. You'd get really mad, and probably slam the phone even before you've heard why the caller has called. Writing is very similar. Everytime you write an e-mail to someone, remember to appreciate the value of the recipient's time, and get straight to the point.

2- End with class
On the other hand, you wouldn't want to end your e-mail in a rush. It will make you seem unprofessional, and like you are someone who just could not care less. When writing an ending to an e-mail, always remember this tip. Imagine that you're giving someone some bad news. You could go outright and just say it, "Ali, your grandma is dead" (bear in mind that this might kill Ali too!) OR, you could ease into it, "Ali, I'm afraid I have some bad news for you. I just heard that your grandmother has passed on. Please let me know how I can help". See, that sounded much better. More often than not, even in life, the message remains the same - the trick lies in how we deliver it. So when ending an e-mail, do it in style.
- Offer your assistance
- Provide a number you can be contacted at
- Offer to provide the recipient with more information

3- Cut the short forms, tq!
When writing informal e-mails to friends or when chilling out at the chatroom, short forms are allowed - in fact, they are encouraged. In fact, if you don't use them, you're just not cool enough! Well Newsflash, Mussolini, short forms should be reserved for informal emails only. I actually had a lecturer once tell our class that she would immediately delete any emails written to her with short forms (bad grammar and spelling too, but you get the point.) Examples of short forms that we usually use in SMSes, and probably out of the force of habit, may accidentally insert into our formal e-mails are:
- Pls (Please)
- Thru (Through)
- Wif (With)
- Other contractions (can't, won't, mustn't, she's) - write them out in full (cannot, will not, must not, she is)

4- Emoticons, NOT! :(
We have to admit - emoticons make us sound human in that otherwise cold SMS or chatroom. It gives us character and personality and adds that much needed spice in every conversation. So here's the thing - emoticons are a big NO-NO in the world of formal business writing. I mean seriously, imagine reading a job resume filled with emoticons. If you find that preposterously annoying and unacceptable, then imagine how the recipient of your email feels when he/she sees all these emoticons 'adorning' your email. You have to be able to manipulate words to make them sound happy or sad or angry or demanding.

Instead of this:
"See you tomorrow :)"

Try this:
"I really look forward to our meet tomorrow"


5- Good writing is like a vacation - too short and it is not enough, too long and it gets boring!
It's absolutely true! In business writing, long emails are considered unnecessary and a waste of time. Emails which are too short are mistaken as less important. So, it should be just right. I'm sure you've heard of the KISS concept (Keep It Short and Simple). Make sure that your emails are to the point, in that it must deliver the message clearly, but do it in a concise manner.

6- Don't put it all out there
When we speak, it is imperative that we put the right emotions in the right places. Pausing for effect, speaking faster if you receive the non-verbal signal that the person you are speaking to is in a hurry, ditch the topic if you see the person in front of you starting to become uncomfortable. However, we do not have the privilege of sight when writing to others, so we use the common principle - Practise Professionalism. Keep your sentences short, and try to eliminate words, phrases and sentences that might sound too emotional.

For example, look at this paragraph:
"I am so terribly sorry about the mistake I made in the letter. As you know, I am not well, and that may have reflected in my writing. You know that I am very professional in my work, and I hope you know that I will not let this happen again"

How did that sound?
It would sound perfect if you are saying this to someone standing in front of you, but remember, you do not have that privilege. In this instance, it would be much better and personal to just pick up the phone and say all you want to say instead of writing such a long piece - plus, it sounds rather unprofessional to be laying all your emotions on the table.

Read this instead:
"My sincere apologies for overlooking the error in the letter. Please find attached the amended version"

What did you think of that? Short, to the point and classy. Aim for that effect.
A good tip is to re-read your email, and ask yourself these questions if you're unsure if a particular word, phrase or sentence is required:
1- Is this necessary?
2. If I eliminate this word/phrase/sentence, would my message be affected?

If you answered NO to both, then you know what to do.

7- Practise the KERR system everytime you writeKey points - In the first paragraph, head straight to the point.
Elaborate - In the second paragraph, elaborate more on your first point.
Recommendation - In the third paragraph, recommend an action that the recipient can take.
Request for action - In the fourth and final paragraph, let the recipient know what you expect from him/her

Let's say you wish to send an email to the Human Resources Manager of a Company, requesting for a status update of your job application.

Your email can sound like this:

Dear Ms White,

I am writing to find out about the status of my job application dated 12 February 2011. (K)

I applied for the position of a Sales Executive, and have yet to hear from you. (E)

Should you require more documentation from me, or if you wish to see me, I am contactable at this e-mail address or at 0121234123. (R1)

I would appreciate if you could update me on the status of my application by the end of the day. (R2)

Thank you

Writing is not as difficult as we think it is.
Remembering and putting these 7 tips into practice should help.

Good luck!

If you wish to improve in your Business Writing Skills, give us a call at 03 2149 9382 or drop us an email at courses@pell.com.my and ask us about our Business Writing Solutions. Alternatively, you can read more at our website http://www.pell.com.my/Business-Writing-Skills.php

To MBA or Not To MBA

My Story
So there I was, in the CEO's office of one of the biggest projects in Johor, a tad nervous for this 2nd and final interview session. I was pleased with myself, as I knew I aced the first interview with the Vice President, and quite confident that I would breeze through this one as well. In walked the CEO, larger than life (as CEOs always are) and sat in front of me with barely a smirk on his expressionless face. There was an awkward silence as he browsed through my Resume, one page at a time.

Then he stopped, looked up at me from behind his glasses and asked me a question I never thought I'd ever hear..."Why did you do an MBA?"

Weird question, I thought, but answered with poise and confidence "Because I wanted to know more about business, and that was a fantastic ticket"

"Couldn't you have just read about business from books? Did you need to pay and spend 18 months to learn about business?" If anyone were to ask me that now, I would have a list of plausible answers to choose from. But then, barely fresh out of grad school, I was stunned by his persistence at questioning me about my degree. "Well," I started, "...of course I can read about business from books, but the MBA was a good guide for me"

"Guide to do what?" he pressed on

"Guide to life. Guide to know where to start learning about business. I really don't know what I don't know, so an MBA was a good start" I was relentless too

"So, it says here that you're in the top 5% of the class. Does it make a difference?" he probed further

"I guess it does, it means that I started off determined to do what I wanted to, and succeeded at it" I was losing my cool now, mainly because I was running out of 'smart' answers

And for the next 10 minutes or so, he, and the Vice President, who both graduated with a Masters in Economy, bluntly told me that my 18-month and RM 30,000 MBA was worthless. They were actually laughing so hard, I felt like a little kid being laughed at by her kindergarten mates for wearing socks of a different colour on each feet! I should've just walked out saying something smart like "I don't expect you to understand the value of an MBA, because you don't have one. I do not wish to sit here any longer and be laughed at for the choices I made. I will go to a place where I am valued"

The Question
So, to MBA or not to MBA? I realize that many people are in this predicament. They want to further their studies, but should they consider an MBA? Some say the MBA is losing its value. Some say it's too common, you'd just have to throw a rock and the person it hits has an MBA (wow, really?)

At the expense of sounding biased over my suggestion to do an MBA, I've listed some pros of doing it. But to be fair to the rest of the world, I've also listed the cons. You decide.


To MBA

- The Doorway - Coming from an IT background, the MBA was an eye opener to me about the world. It was a doorway to everything that's happening all around me. I began to look at the world differently - I even started to relate the movies I watched to what I had learnt. What 'adults' were saying started making sense. It had a big part to play in making me the person that I am today.

- The Enabler - Whether or not the theory of what I had learnt in the classes changed me, just being able to sit and listen to the experienced lecturers share what they know about their subject matter, business and the world was a phenomenal experience. The MBA inspired me to think. It encouraged me to want to know more. It motivated me to push myself to break my own limitations. Frankly, the MBA played a big part in enabling and empowering me to want to start up on my own. The ambition, drive, spirit and energy of everyone else in the room were to strong not to notice.

- The 'How Much More Can I Take' Factor - I was working full-time in a highly stressful, time consuming career when I pursued my MBA, and then my husband decided to propose. So I was juggling 3 life transforming things at the same time. It was, in not so many words, havoc! Just to add to the tumultuousness of life at that point of time, I had a thesis to complete. Really, I thought I was going mad. I was at home, but I was never at home! My parents knew I was upstairs somewhere, and rarely saw me. But that was my test. Could I do it? Could I juggle it all?

- Feel good time - Yes! Once it was over (though I was almost pulling out all my hair out of the sheer stress!) it felt goooood! (just imagine Jack Black saying that). I was ecstatic that it was over, and the plethora of knowledge etched into my brains was definitely an added advantage!

- The 3 letters behind your name - Well, I am not a Dr (yet) but I go around proudly parading the M.B.A behind my name on my business cards and training brochures. Does it carry any value? You tell me. Sharmila or Sharmila, M.B.A

- The Network - Oh, yes. I met some of the most interesting people in my MBA class, and they hail from all parts of the world - there's Morad from Morocco, my dear, dear friend. I used to tease him for always bringing in a large cup of black coffee from San Francisco Coffee, knowing well that there's free coffee in class. "It's just not strong enough, Charm" he would say. He says that the pronunciation of my name in French is Charm. Ah, the French...I have no complaints! And then there's Leonard from China. He has a good hand in photography..he took some of the best photos at my wedding! And what's-his-name from Maldives - good guy, but he came in when I was busy slugging it out at my thesis, so he might have known me as the 'Crazy Haired Girl'


Not To MBA

- The Cost - Simply put, an MBA is not cheap. The one I did cost me RM 30,000. There are some cheaper and some more expensive, depending on what you want. I wanted a good institution with good library facilities. Some are online, but to do this, you must be really strong, persistent and disciplined.

- The Time Sacrifice - Once I was done, I looked back at the 18 months and wished I didn't work so hard to get exemplary results. I wished I had spent more time with my family, as just months after, I got married and left to live 300km away! Believe me, I went through my fair share of "I wish" and "If only I...".

- The Sleepless Nights - I slept very little (wait...did I sleep at all??). Black rings and bags around my eyes was nothing new...in fact, I still have my black rings till today! Well, it adds personality, I guess, but be really prepared to do a lot of work...and I mean a lot! I even used to rush from Damansara to Sunway during lunch to meet my supervisor. A lot of dangerously fast driving involved! Hope my mum doesn't read this...

- The Realization - When you're spending all that time in your room by yourself, studying or completing an assignment or doing research or worrying about not being able to complete your assignment, it does things to you. You start thinking and realizing a lot of things. For me, it was the realization that I cannot do everything perfectly. The MBA actually, in its own unique way, introduced me to the value of balance in life...and I am still practising what I have learnt then, today.


The Grey Areas

- Will I be worth more than a non-MBA holder?
Not necessarily. Some companies actually seek for and pay more for an MBA graduate. For others, it really doesn't matter to them whether or not you have an MBA - they pay you just the same. So, be smart and choose who to work for.

- Will I be promoted to a managerial position with an MBA?
Again, it depends. Some companies actually state in black and white that an MBA will help. Some companies pay for your MBA, and then promote you once you're done. While it is obvious that an MBA should carry some weight in your career directions, some companies do not value it or require it for a promotion. Communication with your management is crucial before you make this decision - else, you might get extremely disappointed!

- Will I be guaranteed a job after completing my MBA?
Definitely not. I think I've lived long enough to know that nothing can be guaranteed. In fact, some employers might see you as a threat and others might think you're simply overqualified or too expensive for the position they have.

- Will I be looked at as more valuable that a person who is more street-smart?
Not really, it depends. Some companies and management actually value and reward book-smarts, while other prefer to see the number of years of experience that you have rather than the number of degrees.

Conclusion
Whether an MBA is for you, is your decision. Think well before you decide, and try not to turn back once you have started. It is a huge commitment, yes, but it reaps huge rewards (or as they say in the business world, the ROI makes it all worth the while). It'll take a lot out of you, yes, but it pays. As Tony Robbins preaches in his book Awaking the Giant Within, "Never underestimate the power of a truly committed decision, that is acted upon, no matter what, on a continuous basis".
Doing an MBA changes you - it changes how you perceive the world, how you look at other people and how you see yourself. I wish you luck in making this decision!

Sharmila is the CEO of the Professional Excellence and Lifelong Learning Centre. The opinions expressed here represent her own, based on her personal experiences. She welcomes comments at sharm79@gmail.com