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| 03/01/2010 |
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A NEW START
By Om Nath Panday @ 1:51 PM :: 389 Views ::
0 Comments :: The Young Ones, Women, Far and Away: Overseas Singaporeans, The Physically Challenged, The Golden Years : Elderly, REACH Events/
Activities/Workgroup Activities, Aspirations for REACH, General
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A NEW START
The
excitement of a New Year reached its peak as people around the world ushered in
20110. People have been indulging all form of merriment and joyful activities like
partying, drinking, dancing, chatting away on the phone, going to the movies or
even travelling abroad for a short while.
Yesterday
as I looked out of my room, I saw an unusually large bright full moon. It means a
powerful start to 2010. Many of us feel disappointed when something bad happens
as reported in the news. They feel that at least the bad happenings should
pause for a while, at least allow 14 days to pass by.
However,
this is wishful thinking. Time is perpetual. The flow of good and happenings
cannot be stopped. It is the course of natural events. The calendars invented
since ancient time is to measure time; a year is a good measure of human
activities and for organisations, it is the start of a cycle of many things –
closing of accounts, new funds released, review or proposal of new directions
or investments, work plan and etc.
For
the individual self, it could be some regrets that last year passed by so quickly
and not much has been achieved. However, this year is significant because a new
decade has started. When reviewing in terms of past 10 years, surely many
achievements – small or big – has been made by individual people. The next
start of a decade to come would be in 2020.
As
the hangover of the New Year begins to recede, we see things in proper
perspective. The world is going round as usual with human activities as normal.
The shops and supermarkets are packed with shoppers. The roads are as busy as
ever and people are taking the train just like last year. Thus reality strikes
and it back to school, college or work. The family has to be cared for and also
our health.
How
should 2010 be made more significant for ourselves? Already the year has started and
it is time to progress for new achievements and happiness.
MAY GOD BLESS ALL.
Om
Nah Panday
3
Jan 2010
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| 02/01/2010 |
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My BAD experience with SMRT's Restriction of Food and Drink Consumption
By rizalwong @ 11:46 AM :: 402 Views ::
0 Comments :: REACH Events/
Activities/Workgroup Activities, General
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My wife and I were at Lavender MRT station on 31 Dec 2009 @ 1145am. We
had just got down onto the platform when our 2 month old son start ‘making noise’ for milk. As we are aware that
it is an offence to be feeding in the MRT, we decided to go to the Customer
Service/Control Station to ask if the SMRT staff could let us use an area to
feed our 2 month old child . As
there was only 1 SMRT staff in the control station and he was busy with another
customer, we decided to check with the transit security officer who replied
that the SMRT staff will probably let us use the staff room and then she
proceed to assist us to ask the SMRT staff. When we explained to him our
request, he paused and thought for a few seconds and to our horror, suggested that we feed our 2 month
old son in the handicap toilet!!
I find his suggestion
very, very ridiculous!! How can he make such a ridiculous suggestion??!!??
Would he even take his meals in the toilet himself !?!
IS THIS HOW THE SMRT
TRAIN ITS STAFF IN CUSTOMER SERVICE??
On top of this, I had
tried to call the customer service line and so far have NOT been able to get
through, left a message and still have NOT heard from anyone yet!!
I demand a proper and
formal explanation for SMRT, and in my opinion, this staff should be terminated
IMMEDIATELY, and not be allowed to further damage the image of our nation
transport system !!!
So I guess SMRT
should remove the below mentioned statement from its FAQ as it is not what the
staff will do anyway!!
Q:
Are mothers/care givers allowed to breast feed/feed their children in stations
and
trains?
A: Under the RTS Regulations,
passengers who eat or drink in the MRT system are liable to
a fine of up to $500.
While we understand the need to
feed children may be pressing, passengers are
encouraged to feed their
children while outside the MRT system. Should the need arise
while travelling within the MRT
system, they may approach our customer service officers
who
will accord them the temporary use of the staff room.
http://www.smrt.com.sg/pdf/FAQ_Restriction%20of%20Food%20and%20Drink%20Consumption.pdf
Rizal Wong 91816552
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| 01/01/2010 |
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New Year Resolution
By Om Nath Panday @ 12:03 PM :: 361 Views ::
0 Comments :: The Young Ones, Women, Far and Away: Overseas Singaporeans, The Physically Challenged, The Golden Years : Elderly, REACH Events/
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New Year Resolutions
Two men were busy talking to
each other on the NEL train. From travels to food, the topic finally drifted to
making resolution. Stranger A said that he wish to prepare a New Year
Resolution on a clean note pad on his desk after his lunch. As it was New Year
Eve, the resolution made would be timely and could be put into practice from 1
January onwards.
B is a strange man: he was quiet, listening with his eyes closed – concentrating on how
to prepare his ammunition to bombard A’s plan. After A has finished talking, B
blurted out: “Resolutions are for weak people, people who do not know how to
care about themselves. You can see that I don’t need any resolution to support
me throughout the year”. A felt offended about B’s bragging. In reality B has
many weaknesses but he fails to see himself and is always criticizing others.
To
upset his colleagues in the office, B went on to propagate negativity. Some of
the colleagues wondered why is he spreading pessimism to spoil the good mood of
people happy to usher the New Year. B is cynical by nature; it is deeply rooted
in his behaviour; perhaps this mindset was inherited due to bad circumstances
in his life in childhood and early adulthood. Could he be a mock convert due to
his distrust of others and unhappiness over the way society is progressing.
Looking at another perspective I remember what happened in To Kill a Mocking Bird.
Some people become victim of society due to many reasons.
A
resolution is a good thing to adopt because it becomes a guide for a person to
follow faithfully, follow it with religious flavour in order to achieve a goal
which may be quite difficult to achieve. A resolution can be of many aspect of
life like weight loss & management, learning to reduce stress, taking up a
new skill or course of study, becoming a better person and etc.
Persistence
pays in the end. A boy, on an errand to buy for the family some items, was
frustrated because he could not find an item (a plastic case of a certain
size). Instead of giving up, he went to
another lane of shops where he has never ventured before. Luckily he managed to
get his item. In addition to that he discovered that the new shop sells a lot of
items to his liking which he used to travel far to purchase them. This surprise
discovery was a pleasant one for him.
He
can now save on his travelling expenses. Moreover, the shop sold a lot of items
cheaper than he could find elsewhere. Hence if you explore, you would learn
more and this year promises to be much better with your good effort.
Om Nath Panday
1 JAN 2010
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| 30/12/2009 |
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COUNT OUR BLESSINGS
By Om Nath Panday @ 7:35 PM :: 389 Views ::
0 Comments :: The Young Ones, Women, Far and Away: Overseas Singaporeans, The Physically Challenged, The Golden Years : Elderly, REACH Events/
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COUNT OUR BLESSINGS
The media is full of stories that happened from the year 2000 to 2009. Of course many of the stories are sad ones - tales ranging from the Great Asian Tsunami of 2004 December on Boxing Day to the 9/11 saga of the World Trade Center in New York.
It is usual to note that news often carries sensational stories. Majority of us have survived the challenges of daily living. It is great to see and feel the coming of 2010. As you know, we have seen a decade of the new millennium. Every year from 2000 to 2009 were different in nature.
The common thread that binds us is the watching of the various events unfolding on the TV. However, we must not forget the good news too. The decade has seen many innovations or inventions like the coming of the Internet, Google, Facebook and etc.
Let us count our blessings and look forward to the New Year with confidence and happy spirit.
Om Nath Panday
30 DEC 2009
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| 28/12/2009 |
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OPPORTUNITIES LOST
By Om Nath Panday @ 7:33 PM :: 314 Views ::
0 Comments :: The Young Ones, Women, Far and Away: Overseas Singaporeans, The Physically Challenged, The Golden Years : Elderly, REACH Events/
Activities/Workgroup Activities, Aspirations for REACH, General
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OPPORTUNITIES LOST
As the year is drawing to a close, there are many things you would remember or reflect upon the year 2009.You might feel cheated that why the year came to an end so fast. At the beginning of every year, time moves on slowly. As the year moves on, speed apparently picks up.
Actually time is moving constantly; it is our perception that makes us think or feel the speed of time moving slowly or fast. There are many options open to us but then whatever decision is made, we travel on that road until we arrive at a junction. Here is another point to decide which road to take.
Many of us may regret that we could have done better if we have taken the other route. However, it may not be true because any route can lead to obstacles or even failure if there is lack of planning and reflection.
Many a big project entails a lot of planning and the plan is charted, worded or even tabulated to create the overall roadmap. In the course of 2009, we have come across many signpost and traffic lights. If things were done with strategy, then it is green lights all the way.
Opportunity lost is considered by many as opportunity cost. However, if the opportunity was not picked up, then it has not cost us anything because the vehicle did not travel that road and fuel was not consumed at all.
As life is limited, we cannot use all the opportunities that presents itself along the road that we travel. Life journey is such that sometimes we don't even recognise the opportunity at all.
Let us move on with confidence into 2010.
Om Nath Panday
28 DEC 2009
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| 21/11/2009 |
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HOW SMART IS YOUR RIGHT FOOT ?
By Yakaya @ 2:56 AM :: 121 Views ::
0 Comments :: The Young Ones, Women, Far and Away: Overseas Singaporeans, The Physically Challenged, The Golden Years : Elderly, REACH Events/
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You have to try this please, it takes 2 seconds. I could not believe this!
It is from an orthopaedic surgeon. This will confuse your mind and you will keep you trying over and over again to see if you can outsmart your foot, but you can't. It is pre-programmed in your brain!
1. While sitting in front of your computer, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles.
2. Now, while doing this, draw the number '6' in the air with your right hand. Your foot will change direction.
I told you so! And there's nothing you can do about it!
Yakaya de Vupjes ?
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| 12/11/2009 |
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Check your best customer
By Yakaya @ 11:21 PM :: 488 Views ::
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If information is power, how much do you know about your customers? Try this quiz.
1 Who are your three best customers?
2 Why do they do business with you?
3 What is their competitive edge?
4 What are their greatest challenges?
5 Who are their chief competitors?
6 What significant trends are impacting their industries?
7 What do your best customers have in common?
Why are each of these questions and the answers important to you? If you want to keep your best customers and find more like them read on.
1 Who are your best customers?
How do you define `best'? Is it the one who paid you the most money this year, the one who has paid you the most over the last few years or the one who provides steady business, pays promptly and is easy to service? You decide. Maybe you need to create several categories of best and deal with each category differently. However you define best, establish your criteria then measure it regularly. Know who your best are and what they're doing. Treat them special. Stay informed and keep them informed. Stay in contact with them more often.
2 Why do they do business with you?
Stop patting yourself on the back and announcing, "Because I'm the best and they are smart enough to realize that." Maybe that's true. But don't assume. Forget surveys, ask them directly, over coffee or lunch, "Tell me why you selected my company as your supplier?" Follow up with, "I am always trying to improve my service, and I want to ensure I don't make the wrong changes. So if there is one thing that I should not change what is that?" You may be surprised by their answer.
3 What is their competitive edge?
Would you do business with your best customers? After you ask them why they do business with you, ask "Why do your best customers do business with you?" Watch their reaction at your interest in them. If you know their competitive edge then you can demonstrate how your company can help them with that important edge. You can also offer them ideas to help achieve and promote that edge. They will love you for it.
4 What are their greatest challenges?
Is it competition, staff, or finding time to relax? If they don't want to tell you then back off. Likely they will be only too happy to share their concerns with a trusted colleague. Listen and don't try to solve their problem unless that is your area of specialty. Ask them how they are approaching this challenge. You will learn more about them in understanding how they think. You may be able to recommend a book, seminar, or associate who specializes in that challenge. Or you may be able to help them directly by adapting your service to help. If you can help your customers with the ghosts that keep them awake at night, you will become invaluable.
5 Who are their chief competitors?
If you know who they see as their chief competition you gain insight in to how they position themselves. Are they the market dominator or the underdog? Each will have entirely different corporate cultures, styles and needs. You will market to them differently.
You also need to decide if and how you will deal with the key competitors to your best customers. It will depend on the nature of your business and the level of trust and confidentiality needed to maintain good customer relationships. If you are tempted to sell to their competition remember that the surest way to create allies is to have a common enemy.
6 What significant trends are impacting their industries?
Be aware of threats to your customers' viability and discover new opportunities for your business. How is their industry changing? How will they do business in one, three and five years? And how will you fit into that?
If you are aware of these trends then more news about them tend to grab your attention when you read the news or talk to others. You might clip and send your customer an article that talks about the trends. Your customer will appreciate your interest. When you market your product you may explain how it protects them from a negative trend or takes advantage of a positive trend.
7 What do your best customers have in common?
If you want more `best customers' then know how to find them. Describe your best customers and post it on your office wall. It's like a wanted poster for good customers. If you know what you are looking for you are more likely to find it.
Think how a hunter tracks their prey. They learn the habits, smells, likes and dislikes.
You can do the same to find your big game. Here is a sampling of the information you might collect about your best customers; clubs and associations of which they are members, where they live, what they read, their education, special interests, sports and hobbies, recreation, demographics & ethno graphics, etc.
You can do two things with this information. Direct your marketing to these groups or places. It is like fishing. Discover where to catch the best fish and concentrate your efforts in those places. Find where you will catch the best customers and concentrate your marketing there.
Secondly ask your best customers to refer you to others like them in their groups. We prefer to do business with others who are like us. These referrals have greater weight and it helps you catch the customers you want.
Regards
Yakaya
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