Adjusting to Work

Yesterday I presented the functional design to the business. I spent more than an hour explaining the proposed changes. The business leader liked the presentation and thanked me. In the meeting room was my boss - the project manager and the previous architect who is now a functional analyst like me in the project. It was comprehensive said the business leader and I think I can be proud of the effort. My boss always asks me if I am proud of my work whenever I complete something. Doing a good job gives one an honest pride in his work. I guess this can be used as a standard when deciding if the work was done well by having a feeling of satisfaction.


This morning we met again although with out the project manager who is on holiday until the last week of the month. I am starting to like the business leader and the former architect who are both calm people who don’t feel the need to show other people how smart they are. I sometimes have this problem and I am learning more self-control. We met with the team in France and I like the way they allowed me to think deeply on a problem. Given enough time and without pressures allows one to think of all the possible angles and issues that may come out. There was a point that I could not express very well although they caught my misgivings. I guess I have to talk this issue through with the lead analyst who was on leave today.

I think I have crossed a milestone during these past 2 meetings and feel that I have mustered some respect and approval. But I should still be careful because I am sometimes emotional and easily excitable. I often shoot from the hip without proper aim and thought. I could not think well this morning because my mind was feeling a bit woozy. It was very cold in the early hours and I woke at about 3 am to wear an additional shirt and pants to keep me warm. I am not sure if my fuzzy brain is because of this cold or because of the medication I took last night for cholesterol. I was still able to express myself in the meeting despite this condition and I realize the key is really speaking up and making your self heard.


I spent most of the morning looking at the Vanguard web site. I just finished reading the ‘Coffee House Investor’ and reached a strategy for the coming months. The plan is to invest in the US stock market via ETFs or index funds from Vanguard. I am still trying to determine which will be the best option. The basic strategy proposed by the book is quite simple when growing wealth:

1. Asset allocation and diversification
2. Matching the stock market average
3. Saving money

It is the last point of saving that is often missed. This is why I think I made the right choice in buying a townhouse. It keeps my expenses down and allows me extra funds to invest and maintain a modest but interesting lifestyle.

My mind is now clear with regards to my investment decisions, work plan and personal development via Toastmasters and project management. Most Americans have a clear and quiet mind and don’t appreciate too much thinking or nuances of thought. This simplicity of mind is both a strength and weakness. It’s strength because people can achieve a lot of things and complete projects since this manner of thinking can focus one’s attention. Perhaps it’s a weakness when compared to Europeans who prefer complexity of thought and sophistication of argument. Hence, a lot of thinking is preferred. But I guess I prefer to silence the mind to achieve simplicity and focus and get things done.

First Speech

Yesterday I did my first speech here in the USA at the Toastmaster meeting at my company. It was a good session and it was a different challenge from my previous experiences. The meeting was held in the auditorium which could easily sit 150-200 people and I had to stand in front of the large room without any props. In the past meetings in the Singapore were usually held in cozy rooms that could fit about 25-30 people and I used to stand behind a podium which allowed me to glance at my notes from time to time. I don’t have this buffer anymore and you have to stand right in front of everybody. So it was intimidating and I felt a bit naked and unprotected. But I realized early that one has to be open and sincere to establish rapport and be accepted here.


One sees the difference between the speeches here as compared to Asia. The speeches in Singapore where often grand and presumptuous but the goal was to achieve a certain professional feel though the attempt often falls short. Perhaps because English is not the first native language of these speakers and once one learns English, the temptation is to flaunt and grand stand. The first language often depends on one’s heritage like Chinese, Malay, Indonesian or Filipino. English is more the second language. During one’s daily life, one would shift from one language to another depending on the circumstances and the person spoken to. So making a speech in English is a significant effort so the result is often embellishments although there are quite good speakers who achieve a good balance.

On the other hand, English here is the first language so there is less temptation to embellish the speech. The meetings here are business like because it is held during lunch time at the company premises. Meetings are held 3 times a month so the goal is to do as many projects as possible. Speeches here are very down-to-earth with emphasis on sincerity and everyday occurrences. There are less abstract concepts being talked about so there maybe a tendency towards boring speeches. My challenge is to gain this ‘native fluency’ with English and to stick to every day matters. I don’t have the stature or gravitas to bluster my way like the great speakers here like Bill Clinton or Barack Obama.


My speech was about Toastmaster and how it has helped me in my career. I also spoke about my life in the company and how Toastmaster made me a better person to adapt to changes brought about by outsourcing. I got a good review and I think most people liked my speech judging from their smiles and faces. There are fewer members here as compared to the clubs in Singapore. But it is a diverse group and there was a good speech about walking yesterday which I liked. I realized that people here are poetic and there is a natural rhythm and cadence to their speech. I guess it is the normal American way of speaking which foreign speakers like me admire. I guess my main challenge is how to speak without notes, use my body effectively and without props and tailor my speech with the appropriate emphasis and focus on everyday matters though with an Asian flavor.

In the weekend, I will attend the Fall Conference of my local Toastmaster district. I understand it will be the first time it will be held here in the Upstate at Spartanburg. The Fall Conference is usually held at Columbia, the state capital. It will be a good experience for me to see the speakers here perform as compared to Singapore. I mentioned in my speech yesterday that attending Toastmaster club meeting helps newcomers like me acclimatize, adapt and learn the local culture. It’s a good chance to network and meet new people. It’s the major reason for me to continue with my Toastmaster experience aside from improving my speaking abilities. It gives a good picture of local Americana.

Coffee House Investor

I am reading a book called the “Coffee House Investor.’ It’s a simple and down to earth investment book written by a financial adviser. I like the tone and style of this work. It’s plain common sense and removes all the delusions that I may have. Basically it gives a simple prescription on how to grow wealth. It says the same thing such as asset allocation, diversification, matching the stock market average and saving. Its good advice to follow. I have traveled his same path and I understand what he is talking about. The goal is really to focus in order to achieve good results.

I think the underlying assumption is that the stock market is the best option to grow wealth. But investing in the stock market has many paths. I have been trying to follow the Warren Buffet method but realistically I will never have his skill. There are 3 ways to invest in the market:

1. stock picking common stocks
2. managed mutual funds
3. low cost index funds

I have invested directly in common stock focusing on high cap, high dividend criteria, REITS and a China stock based on corn. I did some sort of triangulation wherein stock that fall in high growth, high cap, high dividend at a good P/E price at low cost was a defensive play for me. I ended up with shipping stocks, food company (since sold) and REITS. The price has gone down recently but I have been receiving modest dividends during the years. All of these stocks are so-called emerging market stocks since they are traded in Singapore stock exchange.



I have also traded in mutual funds focusing on country funds such as Malaysia, Japan and the Philippines. I also bought other mutual funds focusing on Asian countries and bonds. These are all emerging market funds and I have re-invested my dividends towards buying additional shares. So the power of compounding is working here. The country funds have gone down in the recent crisis and I guess I may be losing based on the management fees that are deducted. Since I am a long term investor, I hope the value will increase 10-20 years down the road.

According to the book, the best option is to invest in index funds. So I plan to invest in the US market to further diversify my portfolio. I think I have a good 10-20 years more before I retire. I think this will remove my delusions of being a good stock picker like Buffet although this experience will increase my exposure and maybe one day I will have that knowledge. But still the philosophy of owning an index fund is better for one’s peace of mind because I don’t need to constantly monitor the market and watch show like MSNBC to learn about the latest trends.

This focus will remove any requirement in my part to study individual stocks and spend time researching. I guess this is the best way to achieve things. Recently I completed my annual medical check up and the next step is to make a health plan for next year. I narrowed down my goals to lowering my cholesterol and losing weight. I had a lot of ideas in my head such as learning to meditate, doing a marathon, hiking and learning to ski and so on. But all these are still OK as a means to achieve my goal. I guess the annual health plan allows one to focus on the essentials and losing weight and lowering cholesterol are my essential goals. So focusing on specific health goals like focusing on specific financial goals like investing in index funds is a good way for me to remove all unnecessary thoughts from my brain.

Learning to focus is also important for me to limit my almost insatiable desire to borrow so many books and DVDs and music CDs from the library. So I am constantly reading and watching movies so I can return these materials in time before paying any penalty. Sometimes it is almost promiscuous to be so open and keep accepting anything that attracts you. So one needs to scale down and focus on the essentials. I don’t think I need to read everything that is out there so I can have the confidence to be a writer. I guess I have to work with what I have and just move forward. This is the good thing about focusing on the essentials which is what one can learn reading ‘Coffee House Investor.’

Think Smart

I finished reading Richard Restak’s book ‘Think Smart’. It’s the second time I read his work. Earlier I thought his style of writing is a bit convoluted which could be improved with some editing. But I realize that he sounds like those types of people who seem to talk a lot and say the obvious thing but suddenly you realize that there are a few bits of wisdom. His earlier book was like that such as ‘Mozart Brain and the Fighter Pilot’ but I did not like his lack of precision like it was more a rehash of his works. But this book is different with new material though his style would benefit with more conciseness.

The main idea is that the brain needs a certain set of exercise to be in tip top shape. Unlike physical exercises, one can have a general improvement over all. But the brain needs to have a specific set of exercises in order to improve. For example, exercise to improve spatial thinking or logical thinking and so on. I like his book because it provides a holistic strategy from diet and nutrition, to social strategies to thinking exercises to late brain research. I borrowed a DVD from the library about this subject and it was essentially saying the same thing.

I think my goal of writing fits in with keeping the brain fit as one gets old. With the rise of mental illness and decline, one should not only focus on one’s physical health but also one’s mental health. I guess it is all the more important for people like me who belong in the so called ‘knowledge worker’ category. It’s the way your mind reacts to new situation and problems that will spell the difference between being successful and handling stress. Also, physical exercises also have good benefits on one’s mental health so working out can also keep your brain fit.

An interesting concept is also ‘cognitive fitness’. I guess this covers a more abstract level and not only the biological impact of the brain. This more about the structuring of knowledge and the strengthening the synapses between the neurons of the brain when one handles different sorts of problems. Tools like mind-mapping and other forms of visual thinking help in this process of re-structuring knowledge. The role of sleep is also important in synthesizing all these new knowledge that is coming into the brain and how one can react effectively to one’s circumstances. Otherwise, one can be accused of being ‘clueless’ or lacking social or emotional intelligence.

Social situations are also important in keeping the mind fit. I also like his quoting Haruyuki Murakami regarding his running and writing. I had read Murakami’s book and the fact that a neuroscientist confirms his observation is a good turn. It shows Restak is well-read and has good sources that I appreciate. For me, the lessons are significant because I have abused drink, cigarettes and food in my youth that it may have slowed down my mental prowess as I approach middle age. So I must constantly battle any mental decline while still keeping my dream to be writer alive. It is books like these that keep me active and on the road moving forward.

Third World Living

I met with the 2 contributors helping me in the project. Both belong to different organizations but both are from India. One is from Utter Pradesh (North India) while another is from Tamil Nadu (South India). I also witnessed the general saying that North Indians are generally more aggressive while South Indians are generally kinder and soft spoken. They are both sharp technical people but sometimes they miss the big picture. I see the big picture but sometime I am lost in the details. It was an interesting meeting and I tried to understand what they were trying to say. I think Indians are more like Americans than anything else. They seem to have the same characteristics of a people living in a large country.


I notice the same characteristics in some Chinese. I guess it is this awareness of living in a large land that gives them this expansive feeling. A feeling that does not succumb to pettiness most of the time; also having a big heart with a tendency to look at the large picture. But it does not mean that all inhabitants have the same expansive view but having the tendency towards this expansiveness. I guess I come from a small land where people have a limited perspective and susceptible to a narrow view. But I guess poverty plays a big part and people who are not living below the poverty line may be exempt. I mean being poor in a large country will also give that person a narrow view. I guess a good education may sometimes elevate the people.


India and the Philippines have extreme cases of poverty and the quality of life is not good even in most cities. For example, I used to travel 4 hours every day to get to work. My wife usually brings me to the train station where I ride to another train stop to take a bus. Then I take a jeepney or a tricycle to the office. The same routine is repeated when I go home but this time I take an additional jeepney and tricycle to reach my house. I used to bring my car but the traffic and the multiple accidents that I have due to tiredness and drink forced me to take public transportation. Moving to Singapore changed all that and I now had the luxury of spending only about 1 ½ traveling to work while riding probably the most efficient subway and bus system in the world.

Nevertheless, despite the relative wealth of my adopted country, rising to the first world ranks in one generation, has not removed the narrow world view of living in a small country. Its leaders of course are a different story because they really are a broad and far sighted leadership but its people remain small hearted and narrow. So moving to a large country like America or China or India changes one’s perspective when one comes from a small country. I guess reading also broadens minds and well read people may not need to adjust much when moving to a large country. Still the actual reality of living in an expansive land is a better experience than just reading. Nowadays people read less and less so the challenge exists more and more today to rise above ones petty and narrow viewpoint.

Weekend Procrastination

Last weekend I wanted to continue work on the remaining functional design documents I needed to complete. I had brought my laptop home which I needed to bring back anyway due to the pandemic alert. Starting this month, all of us are instructed to bring home our laptops in case a pandemic occurs. I had completed the first half of the documentation last Friday for the other team to begin their review and I sent it out before the weekend. I had planned to complete the other half for the other team working on the project. Throughout the weekend, I had an idea on how I should proceed and I was actually itching to start. I had difficulty sleeping Friday night and even last night thinking about this topic. I am under pressure to complete this design fast because the project is already delayed. Fortunately, I am not the only one because IBM has committed to deliver the environment next year which is a delay of 2-3 months.


Unfortunately, the Asian procrastination pattern has repeated itself. Although my present home is a bit bigger where there is privacy in certain areas, I still could not proceed as planned. I set my laptop at the dining table on Sunday morning so I could have something done by the afternoon. We had planned to go shopping in the afternoon so I hopped to have a draft completed by then. By I was distracted by the book I was reading ‘Clinton in Exile.’ A good book that talked about the work he has done after his presidency. I was attracted by his work on the “Clinton Global Initiative’ so I searched the Internet. I found their website and watched the videos on 2008 Asian CGI meeting with Lee Kwan Yew and Filipino business man Fernando Zobel de Ayala.


I also watched the 2009 CGI meeting in New York with Barack Obama as keynote speaker. It was an interesting event and opened my eyes to the type of work that is being done now to address world wide issues. The book mentions that it’s a better model of working as compared to the annual Davos meeting. According to the book, CGI is a more productive initiative because it’s structured around commitments and follow-ups. I am amazed that Clinton is initiating this kind of forum and acting as host, facilitator and mover. I think this type of work is uniquely fitted to his type of skills. I guess he is trying to bury the ghost of his impeachment trial. From the book and what I could see, he is a man of extraordinary skill and energy.

Comparing him to Barack Obama and Lee Kwan Yew was interesting. He shared the stage with both of them and one could see the difference. I guess Lee is more a wise statesman and ruthless doer; someone I believe who is not prone to endless policy discussion like Clinton. Obama is more like a preacher and I don’t think he has the patience or the inclination to grasp the minute policy requirements and solutions needed to get things done. But he seems to be more disciplined and focused than Clinton. Despite his many faults, Clinton is a genius both as a political strategist and as a political leader delivering effective solutions. After all, he did reduce the deficit and resurrected the Democratic Party. His continuing work is a well structured and organized effort to help solve global issues which only he could provide in this sort of venue.


I agree with the books’ contention that the most effective and successful model for post-presidential work is Jimmy Carter and his Carter Center. He is more focused and he himself does provide certain services and solutions to specific problems like observing elections in places like Haiti or the Balkans, helping in peaceful solutions in the Middle East and so on. He has the moral authority and he is willing to speak out such on controversial subjects like racism and on apartheid in Israel. So it’s a more focused approach to help resolve issues in the world that earned him a Nobel Prize. Similarly, Albert Gore’s focus on the environment and climate change is a similar precise endeavor that also earned him the Nobel Prize.

What is interesting is that CGI seems to be a unique solution that combines elements of social networking (but not in the Internet sense), collaboration (again not an Internet model), facilitation plus unique ability to follow-up commitments. I think there are a lot of website out there who act as a market place to connect donors with people who need resources for certain problems. But these sites lack the ability and draw of Bill Clinton who can attract world leaders and billionaires and artists together. It is an inclusive and people based event that does not seem to have the elitist connotation of Davos or even any event sponsored by the Republicans. It is a unique forum that only Clinton can organize but lacks the limited focus of Carter or Gore in their efforts which maybe the reason for their success.

And so I was distracted and I could not focus on my work because I was attracted by this unique and interesting idea of CGI. It was a refreshing and eye opening endeavor that appealed to openness and urge to make a difference. I also liked the videos and to see people express their ideas and express themselves. I guess I could use their examples to emulate when I start working on my Toastmaster speeches. It seems that people here who express themselves well here have a clear sense of who they are and what they stand for. It is something like Stephen Covey’s ‘The 8th Habit’. I guess the only sincere expression of me is not to be like an American and blend in but to express myself as an Asian who has moved here and is trying to adapt. I guess it’s the most sincere and only credible story that I can express.

Social Intelligence

I had my first minor clash with a contractor here. It’s a difficult situation because the company is reducing staff so they are a bit pressured. Not really a blow out but an exchange of defensive emails. I don’t know if this is the proper thing to do here because emails are often exchanged back in Asia which is often nasty and harsh. But I think I am trying to uphold a principle. From my point of view, shared by other folks, is that most of the business knowledge lies with the contractor. I think now is the time to re-assert the company’s knowledge and authority. So I think I am acting out of a principle.



It’s a delicate situation and I am glad we are able to handle it in a manner that is civil. My boss handled it very well and I was also able to control my offensive reactions. I often turn people off and I remember the times I had in the past where I have made some enemies. I have often been accused of being in my own world perhaps but it’s actually my own perception. I think I may be abrasive or brusque to other people and may even come of as arrogant and aloof. I am afraid that I see it in my youngest son as well. I guess I lack emotional or social intelligence to keep everyone on an even keel. I need to develop the grace to keep everyone in a good mode.


I am under pressure to finish the functional design document. But I accept this pressure because I think I need to prove myself. This is a country where you have to fight to have a seat at the table. I am also trying to fill up very big shoes because the analyst before is quite good who is treated with deep respect. On the other hand, I am the brash upstart who is trying to upset everyone’s apple cart. But I think I have paid my dues and I should be given the appropriate respect. After all, I have been working with the company for nearly 15 years although I have been here in this country for only more than 6 months.


So I have to complete the document as well as observe the social graces to keep everyone happy. It is a bit difficult because there is a real threat where people will lose their jobs. So it will be painful and I maybe a symbol of the threat because I am the new guy around. So I maybe the focus of disenchantment and abuse. I guess I have to curb my attitude of being a know-it-all or smarty pants. Sometimes I can’t help it because I feel I have to be vocal and prove myself. So I guess I have to find a balance and I think my strategy is to hunker down, keep my head low and focus on the work and deliver what I can. I also need to be honest and express that I do need help and will not produce an excellent document being just new on the job.