10 questions with Datuk Dr Mahani Zainal Abidin

Datuk Dr Mahani Zainal Abidin fields the 10 questions posed by our readers.

1. As an economist, which school of thought influences you most? Melissa York, KL

The economic principle that influences me the most as an economist is the concept of comparative advantage. Based on this, countries should concentrate on producing and exporting goods which they are more effective or efficient at that is the ones in which they have a “comparative advantage”. Conversely they should not try to make goods locally if other countries can make them better, and should instead import them. For the principle of comparative advantage to take full effect, there should be free trade. Over the last half century, free trade has expanded, in line with globalisation, and many economies have grown using this principle and are able to provide their citizens a better standard of living. Malaysia is one of them. However, progressive countries do not just depend on a legacy of comparative advantage such as natural resources; they create a competitive advantage. Dubai, for example, has created a niche as a regional hub for finance, transport and business by investing in infrastructure and importing workers.

2. I'm thinking of joining an investment bank as an economist, but was told that it can get quite boring. What's it like to be an economist? Manjit, PJ

The training of an economist enables him or her to assess a wide range of information, and report how it may affect an industry, a country, a region or any given set of stakeholders. The information will certainly contain numerical measures of value and rates of change, but often there are other very relevant qualitative inputs, such as legislation, opinions and social factors. That, for me, is what makes economics interesting as it delivers a fully rounded analysis of real use to guide companies, administrators and. lawmakers. For sure there is a lot of real practical advice that an economist can give an investment bank, such as how certain sectors of the economy will fare in future, what are the risks and opportunities. You will be at the forefront of decision-making and that is never boring.

3. People say the worst is over. But we still hear of problems coming from the United States and euro-zone economy. When will they recover and what do they mean to us? Ahmad Jalil, Penang

It is difficult to predict exactly when the global economy will recover. In any case, some sectors and countries will recover faster than others. The problem is that the world economy faces a number of systemic problems global imbalances, growth-based consumption, unrestrained financial liberalisation and unfettered capital flows. Global leaders are still unable to agree on how to solve them. However, all agree that the challenges will be more tractable if growth returns. We expect robust growth in China, India and other emerging countries to compensate for slow US recovery and the euro-zone sovereign debt overhang. As we are an open economy, Malaysia needs a healthy global economy to buy our exports. If not, we have to deploy more of our own resources to stimulate our economy. We are also likely to be affected by the response measures taken by other countries changes in global or regional interest rates and monetary policy may impact capital flows into or out of Malaysia, the ringgit exchange rate or Bursa Malaysia.

4. Which is more detrimental to an economy: inflation and recession? Why? Tabitha CC Boi, Penang

I am quite sure that an economy in recession is a worse place to be than one with inflation. In a recession prices fall, and that is good news (unless you are a producer) but the worst thing about a recession is that there are less jobs and weak demand so nobody can afford to buy goods or services. There will be excess capacity and nobody wants to invest because prices continue to decline. Getting out of a recession has proved in the past to be quite difficult. Usually the government will try to revive the economy by increasing public spending but since demand is weak, there may be no takers the so-called liquidity trap. On the other hand, a low level of inflation is quite tolerable and some think it essential for economic growth. If you mean excessive inflation, that is for sure very painful, but governments have learnt how to recognize when an economy is overheating and in danger of high inflation and have developed effective antidotes.

5. What would you consider to be the biggest failure in life? How did you get back on your feet? Susan Ang, Johor

In life there are many challenges I would not call them failures. I believe when a door closes, another one opens, because Allah SWT is most compassionate. It is then up to us to make the best of this new path. The future is not known to us, so the door that closed may not have been all that we expected of it, and the new path is in any case our rezeki.

6. How do you usually relax and unwind after work? Johan Ku, Malacca

Gardening, listening to music and having a massage (spa) help me to relax. I get great satisfaction when my plants grow well and I love the beautiful colours of flowers. Of course, music soothes tensions and likewise a good massage relieves the aches and pains.

7. Does Malaysia still have to depend on foreign direct investments to generate growth? Why and how best can we arrest the decline of Malaysia's appeal to foreign investors? Mat Salleh, PJ

We should continue to welcome foreign direct investment for the same reason that we have always welcomed it FDI provides economic activities and jobs. Most FDI has the additional attraction of new technology, expanding production networks and growing export markets. Other countries in the region and elsewhere are now much tougher competitors for FDI and can also provide many of the things that Malaysia has long offered. To continue to attract and sustain FDI, we have to add to the value proposition with skilled, productive and committed workers, a business friendly environment, clear and consistent rules and regulations, security, safety and no corruption.

8. In your opinion, how have the values of Malaysian youths changed over the last three decades? How will that affect our economy? Balasundram, Klang

The next generation will experience much faster and deeper economic changes than ever before. Global economic events will reach far beyond national boundaries and the next generation will have to learn, and unlearn and relearn many things in the course of their lives. Malaysian youths are now more aware of the need to preserve the environment, that talent is mobile and that financial facilities are available and tempting. They also have higher consumption needs. Technology, especially ICT, access to information and networking is a big part of their lives. These traits will shape the future of the Malaysian economy. For example, in the future, most economic transactions will be done on-line and credit cards or debit cards will almost totally replace cheques.

9. What would be the most glorious moment you've had in your career and why? Suzy H, Taiping

I found great satisfaction when in 1998, I joined the Working Group of the National Economic Action Council (NEAC), which was set up to respond to the Asian economic crisis. Prior to that I was an economics lecturer in Universiti Malaya. At the NEAC, I had a close up and personal view of the economic management of the country. Malaysia's response went against the conventional wisdom, and we were in a way rewriting the rules of how to manage a crisis. That was a unique experience and I am thankful for being given the opportunity.

10. Definitely much effort has been put into drafting the new economic model and economic transformation plan. What would be the biggest internal risk and external risk that could derail such grand plans that we have? Eugene Khoo, KL

The New Economic Model will achieve its goals if its strategies and policies are implemented effectively and if the rakyat are prepared to make changes. Private investments have to take a lead in generating economic activities. Structuring of subsidies and putting in a price system that reflects the true value of resources will mean adjustments to our economic activities. I also hope the transformation of our education system will produce the human capital required. The world economy will have its ups and downs and I hope we can manage these fluctuations well. The gains we make should also be benchmarked with other countries because many of our competitors are progressing faster than us.

TS

Hoping for the new in 2011

Expect more of the same as we enter a new year and new decade.

IT’S the start of a new year. It brings hope, changes and renewal. Yet many things would remain very much the same as it always has in decades, especially in politics.

The same language, same promises and lies are still being voiced by our leaders, regardless of their political affiliation. How we wish they could be more creative this year.

Ironically, many of the politicians calling for change in politics have in fact been in the game for the last 20 years or more. But some have cleverly changed their agendas to suit the current demand for transparency and such.

Same old tune: It’s the new year but we can expect more of the same from our politicians, celebrities and other publicity seekers, whether they are platitudes, promises or excuses. — SHAARI CHEMAT/The Star

And they have found a whole new base of supporters among those whose parents were busy changing their nappies while these same politicians were making a mess of the country.

Then there are those who are still in government, after all these years, some clinging on to their positions believing that no one else can be as good. Some are still as arrogant as ever, still refusing to learn their lessons.

So what can we expect from our politicians, celebrities and other publicity seekers for this year? I guess it will be more of the same, whether they are platitudes, promises or excuses.

Here’s a list of the more banal statements and remarks:

> Officials after yet another horrific bus accident: “We will investigate thoroughly. We will take the necessary actions. We will not compromise.”

> The Opposition after an accident, natural disaster or controversial political issue: “We call for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (or a White Paper or an Inquest).”

> Officials after our country is criticised – on any issue – by foreigners: “They are just jealous of us. They are upset with our achievements.”

> Nationalists and “language supremacists” on reports of our declining standard in English: “We are better than Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar.”

> Local actors after talk of romantic link-ups: “We are just friends” or “I am just a good friend of the Datuk/Tengku.”

> Over-the-hill politicians who refuse to retire: “It will be irresponsible for me to leave the party. I need time to groom my successors.”

> Protesters who take part in illegal demonstrations: “The police acted illegally. They over-reacted, they should not have used force to break us up.”

> Police officers at press conferences: “We will leave no stone unturned in our investigations. We will go after them.”

> Police officers on foreigners arrested for crime, and the readers are kept guessing on the nationality of these criminals: “They are from a neighbouring country.” (Hello! Singa­poreans, Thais or Indonesians?)

> Politicians who refuse to commit themselves to anything: “We will look into it.”

> Leaders who use delaying tactics after a controversial issue, and eventually do nothing: “We will set up a committee and other sub-committees to study the matter.”

> Opposition leaders following a controversial issue: “We challenge them to a debate.”

> The Prime Minister/Chief Minister on the date for elections: “I haven’t found inspiration” and “If you (media) continue guessing, you will get it right one day.”

> Opposition politicians before the polls: “This is the dirtiest election ever, we detect phantom voters and frauds” and after emerging victorious: “We accept the election results.”

> Government politicians before the polls: “The people want development and not rhetoric” and after their defeats: “The people must learn to be grateful. They have been hoodwinked by the opposition.”

> University officials on their goals but still not on the top universities lists: “We want to be world class universities with world class facilities.”

> Religious leaders, New Age practitioners and doomsday believers: “The world is coming to an end. All the signs are there.”

> And finally, boring copies by journalists who begin their stories with sentences “like a scene from a movie” or “had the shock of his life” and “selling like hot cakes.”

Nothing much has changed, right?

On The Beat By Wong Chun Wai

Top reads for top people

BOOKS, when chosen carefully, can make great gifts. They enrich, open up closed minds and immerse the reader in another world other than his own. But before books can please, there must be a pleasure found in reading.

All of us have that privilege; it is only whether we want to make time to nurture it. Because reading takes up so much time, it tends to compete with other seemingly more interesting pursuits.

Depending on style, language and other dynamics, there will be certain titles and authors who will appeal to us. The onus is on us to find the time to sate that need within us, for he who reads is richer for it.

In the season’s spirit of giving, here is a selection of hardcover books, suggested by three leading bookstores, for the person at the helm in mind. A couple of them, like Tiffany Pearls, are chosen with the women CEO in mind. The majority of them will appeal to both men and women.

Some titles will take time to chew like David A Lax and James K Sebenius’ 3-D Negotiations. Others titillate and tickle like Shoes. Andy Grove’s biography inspires, while Oprah’s Live Your Best Life leaves little gems along life’s sometimes weary way, when there is only time to browse.

KINOKUNIYA'S SELECTION

Andy Grove by Richard S. Tedlow, RM109.90 (ISBN 1591841399)

Harvard professor and historian Tedlow gives a close-up portrait of Andy Grove. Grove rose from being a penniless Hungarian refugee to an engineer hired as Intel’s third employee, eventually heading one of the most profitable companies in history. A year-by-year account of Intel’s history, punctuated by Grove's musings, drawn from his private notebooks. A primer on Grove’s writings and management philosophy and why his tenure as Intel CEO was so successful despite his personal ups and downs and his fight with cancer.

The Way of the Shark: Lessons on Golf, Business and Life by Greg Norman, RM119.90 (ISBN 0743287746)

In the 1980s and 1990s, Australia's Greg Norman ranked as the world's top golfer for six consecutive years. Despite that, the linksman nicknamed the Great White Shark is perhaps best remembered for some of his final-round heartbreaks in major tournaments. Even after those setbacks, Norman laughed all the way to the bank. His endorsements and investments have made him one of the richest men in the history of sports. The free-swinging star explains his best game tips on and off the course.

Dynasties, by David Landes, RM103.54 (ISBN 0670033383)

Award-winning historian David Landes scrutinises powerful family businesses in Europe, Japan and the US to determine the factors that can cause a dynasty to flourish or fail. He provides fascinating insights into business legends, like John D. Rockefeller and Henry Ford. The life stories of these remarkable individuals contain all the drama and passion expected when extraordinary money, power and kinship interconnect, and are essential reading for anyone with an interest in business and world history.

China Shakes the World, by James Kynge, RM98.03 (ISBN 0618705643)

A journalist in Asia for two decades, Kynge was the China bureau chief of Financial Times until 2005. Drawing on his years in the country and his fluency in Mandarin, he probes beyond the familiar statistics to unearth the surprising reasons for China's explosive growth. He sounds the alarm as China's systemic weaknesses threaten greater global disruptions. Kynge traces the tremors from Beijing to Tuscany to the Midwest as China’s hunger for jobs, raw materials, energy, and food, and its export of goods, workers, and investments drastically reshape world trade and politics.

Alwaleed: Businessman, Billionaire and Prince by Riz Khan, RM106.50 (ISBN 0060850302)

Though Prince Alwaleed bin Talal came to public attention in the US when Rudy Giuliani rejected his US$10mil donation to the Twin Towers fund, Alwaleed's real significance is as a global financial powerbroker. The Saudi royal is the biggest single foreign investor in the US economy and the world’s fourth-richest man. Khan, who has interviewed high-profile figures for CNN International, tags along with Alwaleed and his entourage as they conduct business in Riyadh and Paris, holiday in Cannes and trek into the Saudi desert for a weekend getaway. The resulting reportage has the breezy flavour of a magazine profile awkwardly stretched to book length.

Ideaspotting by Sam Harrison, RM59.30 (ISBN 1581808003)

There is nothing like great ideas. But where do they come from? Harrison, through anecdotes, interviews, quotes, tips and success stories from the biggest corporations in the country, shows you how to think outside the box – then throw away the box, for good. You are encouraged to listen and observe, explore through travel, leave your daily routine and look for ideas from nature. A book for desperate people.

Tiffany Pearls by John Loring, RM196.07 (ISBN 0810954435)

Symbols of perfection, pearls are the most classic of gems, bringing an air of elegance and sophistication to the women who wear them. No name in fine jewellery says “classic” more than Tiffany & Co., and the venerable institution’s long-time design director traces the dazzling history of pearl jewellery at Tiffany, from the mid-19th century to the present, including fascinating accounts of many of the world’s most famous pearls since the Renaissance.

Shoes: A History from Sandals to Sneakers, RM189.83 (ISBN 1845204433)

Shoes are now much more than just things to walk in. They say something about you. But, beyond style, this most object communicates much more – our aesthetic sense, social status and personality. Before they became objects of desire, shoes had a history. From ancient times to the present, shoes have had a cultural as well as a practical purpose. Within these pages is pretty much everything you ever wanted to know about shoes. War, sex and the high heel, the irresistible rise of the sneaker, and the cult of shoe designers are all found within these pages.

BORDER'S SELECTION

Trump 101: The Way To Success by Donald J. Trump & Meredith Mclver, RM63.80 (ISBN: 0470047100)

A collection of hard-charging pep talks, inspiration and advice from the world’s most famous businessman. Trump explains 33 success principles that got him where he is today. With a detailed account of a week in Trump’s high-flying life, and a list of 10 books he recommends you read, Trump 101 is a bible for success in business and life.

The Starbucks Experience by Joseph Michelli, RM87.80 (ISBN: 0071477845)

Michelli interviews Starbuck’s leadership and pinpoints five principles driving the chain’s success: Make it your own, constantly look for ways to add customers, increase efficiency, sell more to existing customers, and generate breakthrough products and service. A rich mix of ideas for businesses that want to learn about Starbucks’ phenomenal vision, creativity, and leadership within their company and in their field.

3-D Negotiation by David A Lax and James K Sebenius, RM119.80 (ISBN: 1591397995)

This book adds depth and complexity to our understanding and practical approach to negotiations. The 3-D perspective focuses on the surface process and the hidden, potential value to be unlocked with skillful “deal-design.”

Jeremy Oliver The Australian Wine Annual 2007, RM58.40 (ISBN: 0958103259)

Australia’s most influential wine writer releases the latest edition of his best-selling guide to Australian wine. This title goes through the best and best-selling Australian wines, maker by maker, vintage by vintage, offering a huge amount of easily understood information at a glance. It includes a full-colour image of each wine label, what is happening with each winery, its most important details and reviews of current wines.

The Culture Code by Clotaire Rapaille, RM99.90 (ISBN: 0767920562)

Cultural anthropologist Rapaille reveals techniques he uses to improve profitability and practices for Fortune 100 companies. He sheds light on how business and every human being acts and lives. His notion is that we acquire a silent system of codes as we grow up within our culture. It is these codes that make an American an American and a German, German.

Blue Ocean Strategy by W Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne, RM119.80 (ISBN: 1591396190)

Kim and Mauborgne suggest that the only way for tomorrow’s companies to move ahead will be to make competitors irrelevant. The duo highlight six principles – how to reconstruct market boundaries, focus on the big picture, reach beyond existing demand, get the strategic sequence right, overcome organisational hurdles and turn execution into strategy.

Live Your Best Life from O, The Oprah Magazine, RM119.90 (ISBN: 0848731050)

A goodie bag for everyone whenever you want inspiration, advice, a shot of comic relief or to pop a confidence pill. Divided into three sections. Your Personal Best is about getting you into shape, to be happier, healthier, fitter and thinner. Relationships takes you from meeting your match to dealing with his annoying habits and Living in the World includes conversations with celebrities, politicians and activists.

Fifty Places to Play Golf Before You Die by Chris Santella, RM99.90 (ISBN: 1584794747)

Santella interviews 50 golfers about their favourite courses around the world. From Ballyiffin, Ireland’s northernmost course, to New Zealand’s Cape Kidnappers, photographs capture the histories and ambience of the different venues for one of the world’s most popular sports.

MPH'S SELECTION

Tough Choices by Carly Fiorina, RM80 (ISBN 1857883918)

Fiorina, the former Hewlett-Packard CEO, writes with brutal honesty about her triumphs and failures, her fears and painful confrontations, including her sudden and public firing by HP’s board of directors.

Mavericks At Work: Why The Most Original Minds In Business Win by William C. Taylor & Polly LaBarre, RM89.90 (ISBN 0007244088)

Unconventional ideas and groundbreaking strategies can become your business plan for the 21st century. In an age of hyper-competition and non-stop innovation, the only way to stand out from the crowd is to be original. This book will help you think bigger, aim higher, and win more decisively.

The Leader's Guide To Storytelling by Stephen Denning, RM79.80 (ISBN 078797675 X)

The role of storytelling in a meeting is among the most important leadership challenges today. It motivates others to act, builds trust and helps to transmit one’s values in a non-aggressive way. Denning offers a detailed account of why and how each type of story works, with examples from business settings.

The Business Of Changing The World by Marc Benioff & Carlye Adler, RM111.80 (ISBN 0071481516)

When Benioff founded salesforce.com, his vision was to change the model for philanthropic giving. Along with 19 other leaders, he shares how giving back to the community creates a win-win situation for both businesses and the public.

Break From The Pack: How To Compete In A Copycat Economy by Oren Harari, RM79.00 (ISBN 0131888633)

Everywhere, products are being commoditised, services are being imitated, and traditional barriers to market entry are collapsing. In today’s Copycat Economy, companies must break from the pack. Harari identifies 10 common mistakes that keep companies trapped in the pack and six strategies that will propel your organisation forward.

Ocean, RM204 (ISBN 1405312920)

Explore the last wilderness left on Earth. From the geology of the sea floor and the interaction between the oceans and atmosphere to the extraordinary diversity of marine life, the ocean is a fragile resource for man. A beautiful visual essay celebrates the drama of the sea, while illustrations and the satellite-derived maps explain and illuminate each natural process and phenomenon.

IWoz: Computer Geek to Cult Icon – Getting to the Core of Apple’s Inventor by Steve Wozniak with Gina Smith, RM72.50 (ISBN 0755314077)

A memoir of cult icon Steve Wozniak, the Apple co-founder and inventor, and how he changed the face of the computing industry.

Fred Factor: How passion in your work and life can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary by Mark Sanborn, RM35.90 (ISBN 184413816 X)

This is not a new book but its message is timeless. Motivational speaker Sanborn recounts the true story of Fred, the mail carrier who loves his job and who cares about the people he serves. Because of that, he is constantly going the extra mile in handling the mail of the people on his route. Where others might see delivering mail as monotonous drudgery, Fred sees an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those he serves. Sanborn illuminates the simple steps each of us can take to transform our own lives from the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Cars by Enzo Rizzo, RM84.70 (ISBN 88 544 01722)

From classic to dream cars, sports to luxury wheels, this compendium features the finest luxury cars produced by Aston Martin, Alfa Romeo, Lamborghini, Lancia, Bentley, Triumph and Jaguar.

Masterpieces of Modern Architecture, RM193.45 (ISBN 8854401455)

Architecture is probably the most tangible reflection of the transformation affecting human societies. This book examines the new trends in architecture from the end of WWII to the beginning of the new millennium, highlighting new modernity, from gargantuan structures and hi-tech to postmodernism and minimalism.

Putting a dent in the universe

“I want to put a dent in the universe” Steve Jobs, Apple CEO

A few weeks ago, I received a book from publisher McGraw-Hill on Steve Jobs by communications coach Carmine Gallo.

I started recollecting the “Think Different” Apple ad campaign. The ad was the starting point in Steve Job's revival of a company he founded, was fired from and later brought back to turnaround.

The ad was memorable because it was essentially about Steve Job's leadership and his desire to “change the world.”

The copy of the ad, read by Richard Dreyfuss, goes like this: “Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The trouble-makers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. And the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones that do.”

This campaign featured Thomas Edison, Einstein, Gandhi, Amelia Earheart and other Apple heroes.

Steve explained that “you can tell a lot about a person by who his or her heroes are” and his role models were people who “changed the world”.

Steven Paul Jobs has become “the most successful CEO today” according to Jack Welch, reshaping the computer, entertainment, music, telecommunications and the book industries.

Born to Joanne Schieble and Abdulfattah Jandali, a Syrian, he was adopted by Paul and Clara Jobs who promised his biological parents that they would send Steve to college.

Steve did go to Reed College but dropped out after one semester.

Although dropping out, he continued attending classes he was passionate about. He worked briefly at Hewlett-Packard meeting Steve Wozniak, who would later co-found Apple with him, then took a job with Atari to save money to go to India to “find himself”.

He travelled to India and came back a Buddhist with his head shaved and wearing traditional Indian clothing.

Steve began that trip wanting to “change the world” but he did not know how. During his time in India, he realised that “maybe Thomas Edison did a lot more to improve the world than Karl Marx or Neem Karolie Baba put together.”

Steve's trip to India convinced him that his purpose on earth was “to put a dent in the universe” through innovation like his great role model Thomas Edison.

Studying Steve's leadership, I uncovered that he, like Mandela, Gandhi, Napoleon, Jack Welch and other great leaders, all began their leadership journey in silent retreat “finding themselves and their passion”.

In fact, interestingly, I found six key steps which enabled all great leaders across time to “put a dent in the universe”.

The steps are as follows:

1. Take time to be with yourself to know yourself and find out what you truly love to do and what drives you

2. Define your vision of a better tomorrow and redefine it till the vision excites you

3. Sell and excite the world with the message of your vision

4. Build a plan of execution to achieve this vision, including the mobilisation of people to ensure the vision becomes a reality

5. Say “NO” to distractions and focus relentlessly on achieving the vision

6. Execute! Execute! Execute! and keep executing flawlessly with high quality overcoming obstacles that come your way

Finding yourself and your passion

Steve Jobs dropped out of college, disappointing his parents in the process. But he was always curious claiming, “the minute I dropped out I could stop taking the required classes that didn't interest me, and dropping in on the ones that looked interesting.”

He attended a calligraphy class because he was passionate about typefaces even though he knew that this class had no “hope of any practical application in my life.” Yet ten years later, this calligraphy class was the reason that the Macintosh had beautiful typography.

Steve believes his philosophy of following his heart is a key part of leadership adding “you must have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.”

Then Steve went to India spending time with the surroundings and the Creator discovering his “calling.”

In fact, when Steve in an interview with the Smithsonian postulates: “I think you should go get a job as a busboy or something until you find something you are really passionate about. I'm convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure PERSEVERANCE. It is so hard. There are such rough moments that I think most people give up. Unless you have a lot of passion, you're not going to survive. You're going to give up. So, you've got to have an idea, or a problem or a wrong that you want to do right that you are passionate about, otherwise you are not going to have the perseverance to stick it through. I think that's half the battle right there.”

And he is right. You have got to find what you love and are passionate about first.

Define your vision of a better tomorrow

Steve always sees a future with possibilities.

He looks beyond today and sees something better in everything. He saw computers as much more than dreary productivity tools. He saw the MP3 player as more than a Walkman.

On the iPhone, he remarked, “We all had cellphones. We just hated them, they were so awful to use. The software was terrible. The hardware wasn't very good,” and so he challenged his team, “Let's make a great phone that we fall in love with. We're going to do it. Let's try.' It was the same with the iPad. Steve had a way of seeing a greater future.

In Gallo's book, he cites a story where Steve was recruiting a top talent to Apple 30 years ago.

This talent asked, “What is your vision for the personal computer?” For the next hour, Steve painted a picture of how personal computers were going to change the world.

He weaved his vision of how it would change everything from work, education, entertainment and everything. After hearing Steve's vision, he immediately signed up to work at Apple, a small startup then.

Great leaders have vision. According to former Apple leader Trip Hawkins, “Steve has the power of vision that is almost frightening. When Steve believes in something, the power of that vision can literally sweep aside any objections or problems.”

Articulate the vision

One of the key leadership lessons Steve internalised is the CEO's role as company evangelist and vision spokesperson. Leaders can dream big visions but can they articulate that vision ensuring it's appealing, vibrant, and gripping?

How does Steve message his vision so perfectly? Firstly, he is passionate about the vision and his energy flows from this passion. More importantly, he spends hours practicing and preparing ensuring his vision is fully understood.

A BusinessWeek week article notes that Steve's articulation of his vision “comes only after gruelling hours of practice.”

And he communicates by simply allowing you to visualise the vision. Most leaders have visions but the problem is they don't communicate that vision effectively.

Mobilising people to execute the vision

A big part about Steve's leadership is his ability to hire people who are “inspired to make the dream a reality” (Gallo).

Ultimately, people are the key to success as no single idea Steve had would have been successful had not others joined his crusade.

Similarly, Martin Luther King and Gandhi did not develop followers just by his inspiring speeches.

Instead, they spent the greater part bonding, building coalitions, and connecting with communities one person at a time.

Their powerful agenda moved forward as they mobilised people together on a personal level.

Great leaders have powerful one-on-one dialogues mobilising people to their cause.

Focusing on the journey

Steve Jobs seems to be all over the place with so many new ideas and innovative products. Yet, he was extremely focused and clear where his journey required him to go.

Steve said, “the people who are doing the work are the moving force behind Apple. My job is to create a space for them, to clear out the rest of the organisation and keep it at bay.”

He ensures that he removes hindrances from the focus.

Focusing on the most important issues means you have to say “NO to 1000 things” including distractions, which is difficult to do.

Steve adds, “Apple is a US$30bil company, yet we've got less than 30 major products. The great consumer electronics companies of the past had thousands of products. We tend to focus much more. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully.”

Steve is clearly focused on a few key items that will truly “make a dent in the universe” adding, “I'm actually as proud of many of the things we haven't done as the things we have done.”

Likewise, we too can learn to prioritise and focus on truly value-added vision-related activity.

Execute flawlessly

It's easy to execute on your vision when things go well.

Usually, things never go to plan.

Steve recalls, “at Pixar making Toy Story, there came a time when we were forced to admit that the story wasn't great. We stopped production for five months.”

At Pixar, there was a story crisis' for every film. And at Apple, according to Steve, there is a crisis for almost every single major project or product. But executing flawlessly means overcoming these challenges and tribulations through discipline, as he claims, “To turn really interesting ideas and fledgling technologies into a company that can continue to innovate for years, it requires a lot of discipline.” Every Monday, Steve has a marathon process' meeting with his team.

He says, “what we do every Monday is we review the whole business. And we do it every single week.” Ram Charan, famous business guru whom I interviewed recently on the “Leaderonomics Show” wrote a book on execution.

The key message is the same as Steve execution is boring and tedious and repetitive. But it's this rigour that ultimately enables organisations to be successful. Steve understood the power of ruthless execution. Finally, every journey will require overcoming obstacles.

At 21, Steve was the charismatic boy wonder who co-founded Apple.

He was worth US$200mil by 25, but was thrown out of the company he founded by age 30.

Steve lost everything when kicked out of Apple and could easily have given up and thrown in the towel. But he started all over again with NeXT and Pixar not losing his passion. Leadership is never an easy journey. It is hard work and filled with challenges.

Steve recently had to fight two near-death experiences with cancer but takes the positives out of it saying, “remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life.”

No one said leadership was easy but it is definitely worth the journey.

TS

Golden Rules

what you see , you can pursue

• Start with a clear , concise Vision
• Write it down
• Make sure you can see it
• Review it daily
• Share it with people who will help you
• Focus on it
• Give it your dedication and commitment

First you visualize,then you actualize

Inventing our Future.... 11.1.11

Yes here in Malaysia it is 11-1-11.
I am old enough to have lived through the 8-8-88.…9-9-99 ...10-10-10 !Nothing out of the ordinary happened on any of those dates...so I expect the same old today and also on the 11-11-11 and 12-12-12.....These are only numbers on a calender. But thanks for reminding us...it is interesting.

so we understands that diversity spans the whole array of human characteristics that differentiate and shape us, including, but certainly not limited to, race, gender, culture, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic background, age, religion, and language. For us to contribute to future research areas and lead in global communities, we must prepare them to step outside their own worldviews, to appreciate other people’s life experiences and to engage their perspectives.

Therefore, we has reenergized its efforts to create a culture of inclusion, so we can actively capitalize on our community’s diverse skills and perspectives, and better advance the fundamental mission of “to advance knowledge and educate everyone in science, technology, and other areas that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century.”

Inventing Our Future

What do I look for in interviewing and recruiting

Many asked me to write about this, so here goes.

I'm not really the most conventional person in conducting interviews but I have been blessed with getting good people.

What do I look for?

1) The hunger in their eyes -- the look that says they're determined to go out and prove to everyone that the world has missed them, and made a mistake doing so.

2) Looking at their present job. If they are bored, then that's what I want. Someone who's raring to go.

3) People who believe in themselves. Believe in meritocracy.

4) Team players with little politics (not always easy to find).

5) Humility. I hate people who are into how large their office is going to be, or "what car do I get?" And, of course, "what's my title?" Being humble and proving one's own ability is the key. Then everything else follows.

6) The ability to adapt to change and move from department to department (much like Holland's total football concept). And innovators: People who dare to take risks and change the norm.

7) Adding extra value to the organization. In whichever way and whichever area. Musician, artist, sportsperson, etc. I like all rounders.

8) Doers rather than talkers.

9) And last on my list: academic credentials.

That's it. Good luck for all those dreamers. Remember, always be postive. Life is much more fun that way. And live your dreams. You only live once so go out there and do whatever you want. You only have one life - make the most of it.

Tony Fernandes CEO Blog

The Entrepreneur

Dare to dream

So your decade hasn’t been a perfect 10? Maybe it’s time to take a cue from life’s more conscientious students.
IT seems like just yesterday when the dawn of the new millennium was on everyone’s lips. But now that the decade has drawn to a close, many of us now realise that there is no Y2K bug, no Armageddon and nothing to stop us from living our dreams.
But do you really believe it? No?
Then here are some questions to ponder over: How much has your life changed? Are you any wiser? What’s the biggest lesson you have learned? What do you want to achieve in the next 10 years?
We talk to a few individuals on how the decade went down for them. Life is an art of drawing without an eraser, says novelist John Gardner; now, if we can only get it right for the next 10 years.
Agent of change: ‘My dream for the next 10 years is to become an advocate of unity, not just in Malaysia, but in the world, through my writings,’ says Anas Zubedy.

Anas Zubedy, 46, entrepreneur
I believe my mission on Earth is to advocate unity among people. I knew this from the time I was a really young boy, growing up in Penang.
When I was three, my family moved to a Chinese area in Fettes Park, Penang. We were the only Malays living there. So while we were a Malay family at home, I grew up just like any other Chinese boy outside. I was an odd sight — a skinny Malay kid chattering in Hokkien.
There were children who refused to play with me, and there were those who refused to play without me. From that young age, I learnt that there were no bad races, just “unconscious” people.
Our immediate neighbours were Eurasians. They welcomed my siblings and I into their homes and taught us English. Then one day there was a new Indian kid at school. He became a good friend. Once, when I was at his house, my friend’s father reprimanded his mother for serving me chicken that had not been slaughtered according to Islamic tradition. I was just a small insignificant boy, and yet this man respected my faith enough to make sure that it was honoured in his home.
These experiences growing up taught me that no matter the colour of our skin or the language we speak, there are universal values we all share.
My experiences in university and in working for one of the world’s best multinationals has taught me conceptual skills and leadership skills, business pragmatism and the power of innovation, but there is one thing I’ve learnt which never fails, and that is God. He allows us to experience the fullness of life — which also means making mistakes, so that we may learn from them.
It sounds ironic, I know, but when we know our limitations, we start to perform. It means we have a good base to work on so we won’t fall as many times as before. That’s what my past 10 years were like. Growing older and accepting my limitations. These days, I’m able to see the bigger picture. I have also become more forgiving. For instance, I realise now that unity doesn’t happen in a day. You have to work towards the transition period.
Writing ads about racial harmony is one thing but we also work at the ground level to get the message across. Talk less, do more — that’s my philosophy. We need to have more conscious people, which is why I aspire to help more people discover their potential at the personal level. My dream for the next 10 years is to become an advocate of unity, not just in Malaysia, but in the world, through my writings.
Listening to her heart: Chim Li Yen left the rat race to set up a holistic centre with two partners. – SAM THAM/The Star

Chim Li Yen, 29, co-founder of The Violet Flame
The past 10 years have been like a path of self-discovery. I have transformed from an insecure teenager to an independent and confident adult. Moving from student life to the working world was both exciting and scary.
A nine-to-five job, responsibility and commitment were huge words to digest for a fun-loving, happy-go-lucky girl. Mid-20s was somewhat like a quarter-life crisis for me. I questioned the meaning of life when I became depressed, and turned to alcohol as therapy.
When my parents separated, I started a quest of introspection to truly understand myself and why I was here. I attended many spiritual courses and meditation retreats, travelled to ashrams in India, underwent alternative therapy sessions, devoured metaphysical books, wrote in journals every day and rekindled the connection to the divine. That was the missing piece I was searching for — the connection to myself and to God.
After five years of being in the pharmaceutical rat race, I grew disillusioned with the entire game and left to set up a holistic centre called The Violet Flame with two partners in 2008. I found the courage to be who I really was after I realised that I was not my identity, the money in my bank account or my material possessions.
One of my greatest lessons in life is the ability to trust myself and surrender to the divine. All these years, my training as a pharmacist had required me to use my head and analyse my way through life. Navigating life using the mind prevented me from taking unnecessary risks, but I also missed out on the unlimited possibilities along the way. It kept me safe from harm but I lost my vitality, the joie de vivre.
Over time, I realised how much I was missing out so I started to learn to listen to my heart, and life immediately became more magical. I wake up every morning with the intention to give my best in everything I do and to serve in every way I can. I am passionate about assisting others to find their way back to themselves. I pray for the wisdom to see things as they are, for humour so I may take myself lightly, and for humility to trust the guidance in my heart.
‘The greatest lesson I’ve learned about life is to live it fully every day, making each moment really special, and spending it with the o nes who really matter. Very often, we get so caught up chasing dreams that we forget to smell the roses,’ says Tiara Jacquelina.
Tiara Jacquelina, managing director of Enfiniti Vision Media
In the last 10 years or so, I spent my time doing the things I loved most — travelling the world, bringing up my two wonderful kids and working on meaningful projects.
Travelling has opened my mind and my eyes to a new perspective on life and living meaningfully, novel ideas and different ways of doing things. I always return inspired and re-energised. It makes me want to do better in my personal life and pushes the boundaries in the work I do.
Bringing up a “tween” or a teen in this day and age comes with a whole new set of challenges, but my two kids are as perfect and complete as they come; I can’t ask for more. They are intelligent, creative, artistically inclined, spirited, opinionated, but at the same time respectful, kind and loving. And I have the full support of a wonderful husband to thank, for helping me in this area.
Career-wise, the last 10 years have seen my best work ever as an actor and producer, and I’ve been fortunate to work with some of the most talented and passionate individuals in the country and even in the region.
The greatest lesson I’ve learned about life is to live it fully every day, making each moment really special, and spending it with the ones who really matter. Very often, we get so caught up chasing dreams that we forget to smell the roses.
Goals and ambition are important to have, but I really cherish precious moments like watching my children grow up, having the freedom to be impromptu enough to read a brochure, pack a bag and travel with my husband, spending quality time with my mother, making time for good conversation with good friends over a cup of coffee, and setting enough time aside for myself, too. Sometimes, you just need to BE.
‘I had a choice: Fulfil the needs of one — myself — or the needs of many,’ says Tsem Rinpoche, who has chosen to invest his time and effort in helping others.

Tsem Rinpoche, 45, founder of Kechara
I had many people tell me that I would never make it. Some people just gave up on me and walked out when times got tough. There were times in my life when I had no money, no food and I had even been confronted by dangerous, life-threatening situations. My life often played out like a movie.
I persevered. My mentors believed in me and in the potential of every person to be better. Meeting, studying with them and having the rare chance to serve them have been the most significant and transformative experiences of my life.
By their advice, I came to realise that I am only one person while all other beings in the world are many. I had a choice: Fulfil the needs of one — myself — or the needs of many. I realised that I couldn’t take anything with me when I die anyway, so why waste all this time feeling sorry for myself? It would be much better to invest that effort and time in helping others.
I was also blessed with many friends with warm, spiritual hearts. We started Kechara House in the year 2000. From a small shoplot, Kechara grew quickly, driven by the commitment of its members. Kechara celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with 13 departments and nearly 100 full-time staff dedicated to reach out with spirituality in action from Kechara Soup Kitchen to Kechara Care and Kechara Animal Sanctuary.
I’ve learned that all of us basically want the same thing. We all want to be appreciated and to feel that we have done something of use with our lives. Not only that, we want to feel a sense of purpose, although our means might vary. However, we have to respect differences in our social or cultural backgrounds, to genuinely look past the differences and look at the similarities we all have.
Self-worth is very important and it can only be developed if we realise all of us are in the same situation and want the same things. If we can do that, I think we can achieve a lot of peace within ourselves and with the people around us.
My plan for the next 10 years is the same plan for the rest of my life: I would like to do more social work and establish different organisations to help a more diverse set of beings. I would like to help battered people, abandoned animals and the homeless.

Yvonne Foong, 24, student and motivational speaker
As a kid, I watched a psychologist talk to her client on TV. She was able to help her client through empathy and unconditional positive regard. This stirred something within me so I decided that I wanted to be a psychologist when I grew up.
But life took an unexpected twist 10 years ago. I learned that I had a genetic disorder that made tumours grow and impede my central nervous system. I lost the hearing in my right ear at 13, and discovered that I couldn’t walk at 16. I have had nine brain and spine surgeries to remove different tumours since then and started a public fundraising campaign to finance better medical treatments in the U.S.
So I’ve been the patient myself, the one needing help and charity. In the process of taking care of myself, I experienced firsthand what the people I intend to help go through and feel. All the surgeries I have had, the social involvements and getting to know other patients have taught me something I found shocking at first: What people need more than short-term monetary assistance is the motivation to take responsibility for their own lives.
When I tried to help other patients acquire better treatments, I realised that not everyone was willing to put in the effort to help themselves. People often told me when I started fundraising: “Yvonne, we are helping you because you first helped yourself”. I didn’t understand it then, because I was merely doing what I needed to. Now, I finally get it.
My campaign has taught me self-worth by the distance that people were willing to go to just so I could have surgery in the U.S. Some promoted my T-shirts and books to their friends; some went on hands and knees to help raise funds. Whenever I was still short of money, many gave out of their life savings and said: “I’ll top it up”. They were once strangers. Their sacrifices made me feel worthy.
My campaign has also taught me humility. The distance that people are willing to go to for my sake has humbled me. Who am I to deserve such great sacrifices from people? Therefore, I always remind myself to pay it forward through my writings and public speaking.
As for what lies ahead of me, I still have one year’s worth of college credits to earn before I graduate with a psychology degree. But my campaign — Heart4Hope — is already inspiring people to think. I’m glad that despite everything, I am living according to my calling. But I try to be flexible and not rigid in planning my future. Que sera sera ... what will be, will be.

Happy feet: Joseph Gonzales (centre) teaching dance to his students at Aswara.
Joseph Gonzales, 50, Aswara’s Culture and Heritage dance department head
The first 10 years of this new millennium has been a greater challenge than I imagined. I was given the responsibility to helm a nearly dead dance department, Aswara. It was sink or swim. However, I was willing to take up the challenge and give it my best shot.
Since then, I have slaved over dance education and focused on fine-tuning the Diploma programme and instituting a Bachelor of Dance programme, creating what I think is an amazing syllabus of dance that is unique not just in Malaysia but on a global scale.
These 10 years was also about finding a “home in the world”. In my youth, I had naively assumed that I would have a wife, a house and 2.5 children at this age! However, I am still a bachelor after all these years. I still intend to celebrate life, and live with the choices I have made.
I am able to indulge in my passions for watching film, playing sports and travelling. I also visited my parents’ homeland of Kerala for the first time this year and plan to make many more visits in the future. The greatest lesson I have learned is ilmu padi which means that the more knowledge I acquire, the more I should be humble. I have learned patience and perseverance, being consistent in all my dealings and to follow through to the end.
I have been penniless in London, and learned that what does not kill me can only make me stronger. Yet, I never let the doubters or failures drag me down. I’ve kept myself open, kept my faith. I remember the tough times and I am grateful for the people who were there for me.
My new dream is to create a full-time professional company like Alvin Ailey’s American Dance Theatre or Lin Hwai Min’s Cloud Gate Company in Taiwan, with dancers trained at Aswara. My mind explodes at the thought of our best dancers performing regularly with professional wages. The world is going to be astounded!

Stop chasing success and start pursuing significance

LAST month, I shared the stage with Patch Adams at the Gathering of the Great Minds. Patch Adams is building a legacy of greatness through his simple message of love.
Patch was a renegade medical student who vowed to build a hospital where no one would ever have to pay for care. Upon becoming a physician, he immediately invited patients into his home, and for 12 years lived with his wife, two children, four other physicians and as many as 50 homeless patients. He has never turned anyone away and never charged a penny for care during these years. He has treated tens of thousands of patients out of love with nothing asked in return.
Years later, Patch set up the Gesundheit Institute which offers free, holistic medical care to everyone.
Patch Adams uses love and humour to heal, creating a legacy that will outlive him.
Patch learnt love from his mother. His father was killed in the military when he was only six and since then he has championed love in everything, including in business. Patch, now 65 years old (and famous from the movie about him!) uses love and humour to heal, creating a great legacy that will outlive him.
As the year winds down, it may be a good time to consider the legacies we leave behind. An ancient proverb says, if you lead a meaningful life, you never really die. Instead, you break into 1,000 pieces, each of which stays alive within the people whose lives you've touched along the way.
I recently read about Nick and his wife Drana. Nick was a great businessman who earned enough to make most of their dreams come true. Their children were set to follow their similar route to success. But Nick and Drana decided that they did not want the same success for their kids. Instead they wanted to raise their kids to achieve significance.
They realised that they needed to change their own lives from a successful one to an enduring one. They opened their home to strangers, started serving instead of receiving, volunteered and helped countless people. Their youngest daughter, Agnes, decided that she would devote her life to being significant. She was smart, pretty and industrious and knew these were keys to being successful, but she learnt from her parents that to be significant, her heart, character and love were more critical.
In 1997 Agnes passed away and I was asked to do a TV obituary special on Agnes. The world knew Agnes as Mother Teresa. Her parent's decision to forego success in lieu of significance ensured that their legacy lived on in their daughter and lives on today in millions of lives affected by Agnes' grace and mercy.
Great leaders leave legacies that transcend them. Ken Blachard says, Many people measure their success by wealth, recognition, power, and status. There's nothing wrong with those, but if that's all you're focused on, you're missing the boat. Instead focus on significance.
The Wright Brothers focused on significance not to become rich but to change the world through flight. Their competitor Samuel Langley worked tirelessly for monetary success in aviation. Langley was never successful.
In July 2006, Enron founder, Kenneth Lay died, leaving a tainted legacy. Jeffrey Skilling, Bernie Ebbers (Worldcom), John Rigas (Adelphia), Dennis Kozlowski (Tyco) were CEOs focused on short-term monetary success which ended in shameful legacies. Lee Iacocca and Jack Welch painstakingly built their businesses on solid foundations, achieving a leadership legacy admired the world over.
Have you given thought to your legacy? Will your legacy be like Jack Welch, Nelson Mandela, Patch Adams, Steve Jobs or Nick and Drana who raised Agnes to greatness? Or will your legacy be tarnished by deception, misdeeds, shame, regret, hypocrisy, or a failure to reach your potential?
Legacy is a powerful word closely associated with leadership. We are all leaders. Parents are leaders. Teachers are leaders. If you lead one person, you are a leader and have a responsibility to leave a positive legacy.
Wikipedia describes legacy as something handed down from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past; or something acquired without compensation. It is synonymous with birthright, inheritance, heritage and tradition. Leaders create and pass down legacies.
So, how does one start one's journey of building a lasting legacy? The answer begins by taking an inventory of yourself. You need to find out what makes you tick. It starts with passion.
Legacies are built on passion
A recent survey indicates that 75% of the world's population are unaware what their true passion is. Finding your true passion isn't as simple as it seems. Asking yourself some pertinent questions like what puts a smile on your face, what do you find easy to do or what sparks your creativity may help begin this journey of discovering your passion.
Steve Jobs had a lot of time in honest soul searching before he figured his true passion. Doing what you have a passion for brings out your best, and this leads to greatness. Greatness is the starting point of significance.
Legacies are built on significance
Mother Teresa's parents, Nick and Drana, consciously made a decision to move away from chasing success to chasing significance. Patch Adams made a resolution as a medical student to move away from being a rich, successful doctor to making a significant impact in medicine. How do you move from pursuing success to significance?
Here are a few questions that may help you:
1. Who am I?
2. Why am I here?
3. Where should I be going?
4. How will I get there?
5. When I get there, will I feel significant?
You can also make a list of the 10 most significant achievements of your life and why it was significant. As you discover where your deepest passions intersect with your greatest abilities, you begin your blueprint for significance.
Two construction workers were asked to describe their same jobs. The first employee says his job was to lay bricks. The second says he was building a cathedral. Which employee would you hire? The second employee works for significance while the first works for a pay-cheque.
I spent two years working at Johnson and Johnson. In 1942, Gen Robert Wood Johnson wrote a one-page document that came to be known as the J&J Credo. The Credo outlines the company's priority and responsibility to conducting business firstly to people who use its products, secondly to its employees, next is to the community and environment and finally to its stockholders. He believed if J&J focused on significance (patients and employees) first and relegated success (shareholder value), shareholder value would ultimately be realised.
And he was right. Additionally, every employee at J&J finds personal significance in their lives by the Credo.
Legacies are created daily
John Maxwell states the success of my day is based on the seeds that I sow, not the harvest I reap. Too often, leaders bypass the process of sowing seeds in favour of short-term results. This is what led leaders like Ken Lay to their ruin.
Sowing unwearyingly is better than instant results as real reaping is dependent on the seeds you sow today. Legacies are the results of giving today as sowing daily into the lives of others will compound over time.
Legacies are not created instantaneously. It is built daily through values, hard work, integrity of leadership and character. The choices you make every day with your time and efforts directly impact how you will be remembered. The secret of significance is determined by your daily agenda.
It's not about leaving a legacy, it's about living a legacy. Leaders have been conditioned to think about the future. But in doing so, they have forgotten about the present. And the present is how they create their legacy, claims author Shane Yount.
Legacies take years to build but can be lost in a moment. CSPAN commissioned a study to judge the 41 past American presidents on 10 leadership qualities. The top three presidents were Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt and George Washington. The bottom two Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon. Both Clinton and Nixon would have ranked higher if only they had moral authority, which they tarnished due to scandals.
Legacies endure through succession
Finally, legacies must have succession. Peter Drucker said that there is no success without a successor. Abraham Lincoln's leadership ended slavery in America. After the war, Lincoln rebuilt the south, ensuring goodwill towards the freed black slaves. However, he was suddenly assassinated and Andrew Johnson took over as President. Johnson reconstructed the South's oppressive system of white domination and destroyed Lincoln's legacy of freedom stunting the civil rights movement and perpetuating injustice for another century.
As Maxwell rightly states, a leader's lasting value is measured by succession. If Lincoln had a successor who shared his vision, America's torrid racial issues may not have plagued them into the 20th century.
As leaders close out their tenure, leaders must channel their being toward helping their successor continue the legacy. The best leader creates new leaders, which includes developing, training and equipping others for leadership success.
The great leaders who leave lasting legacies are the ones who are most generous with their knowledge and expertise. These are the people who wind up creating the most economic value and create lasting leadership legacies.
Final thoughts
It is always morbid to think of death, but when we die, what will be said at our eulogy. We become immortal not through material possessions but through the legacies we leave.
People do not remember us for what we do for ourselves but for what we do for them. At the end of the day, no one remembers what numbers you closed for each of the quarters you were in charge. They do remember your leadership, service, character and inspiration.
Patch Adams' talks about love as his purpose in life. Lennon and McCartney, echoes Patch by saying in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you give. Likewise, your legacy is more dependent on what you give today, then what you take.

Artical by Roshan Thiran is CEO of Leaderonomics, a social enterprise passionate about creating a leadership legacy in our nation. For more information on world-class leadership programmes for your organisation or opportunities to provide leadership education to the under-privileged, call +60122792744 or login to www.leaderonomics.com

Tapping youth power to reach the sky

AMERICAN novelist Pearl S. Buck once said, "The young do not know enough to be prudent, and therefore they attempt the impossible -- and achieve it, generation after generation."

During the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa, Germany and Spain gambled with their younger, albeit untested, players. What they lacked in experience, they overcame through passion, hard work and team spirit. The young players played their hearts out because their future depended on the team's outcome and performance. Germany was stopped at the last four, while Spain went all the way to the finals to beat Holland.

It was not easy for the manager to choose to leave out the more experienced players in favour of the young. Fortunately for Spain, the manager stuck his neck out and adhered to his strategy -- playing a young team despite having to put up with much criticism and intense media pressure.

The manager not only had to convince the football federation but also the public and the media of his decision. At the same time, he hoped the young players would not be overwhelmed by the occasion, and be intimidated by the seniors.

In many ways, this situation is not much different for governments and business management. In Malaysia, the leadership needs to engage the youth in the country's pursuit of economic transformation and innovation.

We need managers who better understand youth to leverage on their strengths to support the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP). But we must first make them aware of the importance of the ETP, as well as understand its objectives and the drivers to get them interested to participate.

There lies the first challenge. The youth, through their social networking platforms, have created their own paradigm and language of communication. This transcends geographical and cultural boundaries, allowing them to communicate effectively among their groups. Could they be attracted to ETP as much as Facebook, Twitter or even cloud computing? Would it be necessary to "translate" the ETP into their language or even better, an extension of the ETP that spells out clearly the roles and opportunities for them?

One way of overcoming the communication barriers is to collaborate with the various youth movements.

One good example is myHarapan. It is a youth trust foundation that supports youth and youth projects that contribute to the country's social economy by providing platforms and opportunities.

It facilitates youth development by ensuring continuous value creation from the youth, for the youth and via the youth. Its intention is to be the platform for the youth to get their voices and projects heard.

From my brief encounter with myHarapan, my first impression was as Buck described: fearless. The youth have different perspectives of the ETP. They are quite wary of the inconsistent and seasonal engagement initiated by the public sector.

The lack of a clear framework makes it difficult for them to provide effective feedback. They have a dislike for formal meetings. They prefer more informal yet result-oriented engagement like Web conferencing, for example. It is as effectual as live meetings but with less cost or even no cost at all.

It is highly recommended that we utilise the Internet and electronic media to engage them. We need to take advantage of the social networking platforms which youths use a lot.

Through the Internet, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) have become more accessible. The earlier they are aware of STEM and the consequent opportunities, the more likely they will choose these fields for their career. The nation needs STEM-qualified people to drive the economic transformation. In many economic activities, data mining is often crucial. The more IT-savvy youth can undertake desk research and analysis faster. This will support the business community which needs quick quality intelligence for market access and business development.

In order to fast-track the STEM initiative, an alternative thread to the formal education is strongly recommended. We can engage the youth during holidays on projects supported and guided by industry. They will be grouped according to age; foundation club (15-20 years), the idea generation club (21-30 years) and niche builder club (31-35 years).

The foundation club will focus on STEM and innovation fundamentals, the idea generation club on ideas and the niche builder club on early entrepreneurship. We will profile the youth and select the best.

The initial target is to transform 100,000 youth to be ETP-certified next year. This way, the nation would produce at least one million youth leaders in their respective skills to continue the economic transformation beyond 2020.

There are similarities in managing football and the economic system. Not unlike football, the economic transformation game requires appropriate resources and strategies to move ahead.

We have youth as our resource. They are at the age of discovery and dreams with limitless energy and ideas. All we need is the right mix of resources to match our strategies. It's a team game and therefore, requires the contribution of all members of the team, not only the players, but from the coaching to the pitch maintenance person and even the fans. It's time for us to return to the premier league of economic and market competition, and to strive to emerge champion. With youthful support, the sky is the limit.

By Yusoff Sulaiman

Malaysia Won the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup

The Indonesian National Team beats the Malaysian Team last night with a 2-1 score in the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup Football Tournament in its second leg of the final round held in Jakarta. Last Sunday however, the Malaysian team won against Indonesia with a 3-0 score in Kuala Lumpur in the first leg of the competition.

The Malaysian team, therefore, was declared the champion of the tournament followed by Indonesia in the silver medal position. Congratulations to both teams and to the entire participants of the said competition! May you continue to strive for excellence and put Southeast Asia as one of the strongest footballers in the world.

Rio praises team via tweet

Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand’s Twitter message.

ENGLAND defender Rio Ferdinand has praised the Malaysian Tigers, who lifted the AFF Suzuki Cup on Wednesday, via Twitter.

The Manchester United football star tweeted a couple of hours after Malaysia's historic win: "Congratulations 2 Malaysia who beat Indonesia in the Suzuki Cup final.

"I played against Malaysian U(nder) 23 team 18 months ago, quite a good team."

Thanks for the praise on Malaysia team... Glory Glory Man Utd...