Sunday, April 30, 2006

30 Apr 2006 : Tgk

29 Apr

Attended CC cousin's wedding lunch.

30 Apr

Went to Fajar with Yin, Chen & Xiao Ru. This was the 1st time we squeezed into a mega sales with those aunties & uncles. They even grabbed the super value items from the store before the sales assistants had time to push those items to the dedicated location !!

Saturday, April 22, 2006

22 Apr 2006 : Sleepy day

8am
PL felt sleepy again but she woke up at 5am ! And, slept back.

8.30-9.30am
We went for grocery shopping at wet marker. PL urged to have the 豆水, 豆花& 炒kuoy kat.
Bought 2 bawal putih, half kg of prawns, vege, fish balls....etc.

10.30am
After CC's visit to Pathlab, we went to grab his breakfast.

11.00 am
At home, PL started to make the Penang Hokkien Mee's soup & prepare the ingredients. CC waited for the maintenance guy to get the dropped keys.

11.30am - 1.00pm
Shopping in JJ.

1.30pm
Yummy... home cooked Penang Hokkien Mee

4.00pm
PL had a nap.

4.30pm
CC went for a swim

6.00pm
Waited for CC's friend who was going to pay us a visit.

7.30 - 10.00pm
Spent time with the couple & 2 kids. The kids are well trained. Although the younger likes to wind due to her cough, she behaved well when her parents reprimanded her. We had dinner with them at 欢喜地.

Friday, April 21, 2006

21 Apr 2006 : Move

Today, PL moved to new office at 1st floor. She has her own cubicle this time.

The move supposed to happen in the morning. But, PL attended an audit in Spore that she just packed everything in a box while seeked help from her colleague to move her pc.

After lunch, PL started to unpack and arrange her one large carton box of files/stationery/books/etc. "Donated" a cup, a calender, 2 packet of biscuits & some stationery as she noticed she has extra.

PL dropped her keys into escalator gaps. Luckily, CC was back. He was enjoying a few strokes in the swimming pool. After grumbling, he told PL where he kept the keys.

Management office will help to inform maintenance guy to stop the lift for getting the keys.

Saturday, April 15, 2006

16 Apr 2006 : back in pg

11 April
PL caught a flight to pg on 11 April 2006 evening. Checked in Trader's Hotel. There is daily shuttle to company that PL decided to opt for hotel stay for biz trip.

12 April
PL became EMS/QMS audit observer. hmmmm... kind of great experience.
CC called 3 times.

13 April
PL stole some time for a line tour in the newly expanded building. Went back on time. Thus, had dinner at home after shower.
CC called to check on anything for him to bring over.

14 April
CC arrived at 6am. PL checked out, just in time that CC & Mom picked up her for breakfast.
Worked for half day and started out personal leave !
Went to LHDN, bank, explanade for pasembur, penang road for cendol...and back home for the ta pao pasembur & cendol !

15-16 April

Last day in Penang. Visiting guests : Carolyn (we went for shopping at perangin), tailou, cp...yesterday, it was AB & KE & they got a chance to eat PL's mom speciality - Penang Laksa.

Hong's pet was confused when CC drove hong's car. When we were back at home, he followed CC but looked at him one kind because he realized this man does not look like his master. BC did tell us that sometimes, hong drops her & the cat will follow her to the kitchen. But when he finds out it is not Hong, he shows a disappointed look.

Monday, April 10, 2006

10 Apr 2006 : PH replacement

Today is sultan johor birthday replacement. Thus, PL had a whole lazy day to relax.

Morning
Met up with Irene for fish mee hoon. We were thinking to go to Lavender's at Johor Jaya but it was closed. Had a chat for 1 hour. It has been quite some time we did not have girls' talk (opps,, should be women's talk...)

PL then stopped by at Giant to get some toiletries.

Afternoon
PL's lunch : BK's Whopper Jr. + french fries + blackcurrent (MYR10.92)
CC's lunch : big plate of mixed vege rice... chicken, kari vege, steam egg (SGD2.80)

PL had a nap. At about 3pm, there was a loud lightning...The sky darkened. Thought it was going to be raining soon. But the downpour seemed to be withheld by the cloud for a longer period. Perhaps, the sky did not want to cry till another hour.. Finally it started drizzling at 4pm.

A ccpling's collection was created to place interesting images/articles/......

Evening
PL waited for CC to come back. "pup" Light was out at around 7pm. NO ELECTRICITY !
We had candle light dinner. PL's instinct was working wild : She actually bought torch light in the morning & also cook dinner earlier than 7pm !

Sunday, April 09, 2006

09 Apr 2006 : mini canai breakfast










Sunday
After getting the number at clinic, I quickly sms the intreview organizer. And we had our stomach filled up. This is the first time Yin tried on the mini roti canai. We then rushed to Pan Puteri for PL's interview session. And, we were in time to see the doctor.
Yin arrived in tgk at around 5.20pm. She lost some of her belongings when her bag was robbed at Klang.

Saturday
With Yin's visit, Saturday was a hectic day around with breakfast, wet market visit for grocery, facial, lunch, a visit to see slyn's bb, jj tebrau city, dinner at don sushi, a drink with cc's net friend, tv, sleep......

PL felt uncomfortable. Hope we can get the appointment tomorrow to see the doctor.

Saturday, April 08, 2006

08 Apr 2006 : 出租司機給我上的MBA課

Subject: 出租司機給我上的MBA課
Posted on 2006-03-15 01:14 劉潤

我要從徐家匯趕去機場,於是匆匆結束了一個會議,在美羅大廈前搜索出租車。 一輛大眾發現了我,非常專業的、徑直的停在我的面前。這一停,於是有了後 面的這個讓我深感震撼的故事,像上了一堂生動的MBA案例課。為了忠實於這 名出租車司機的原意,我憑記憶盡量重複他原來的話。

「去哪裡……好的,機場。我在徐家匯就喜歡做美羅大廈的生意。這裡我只做 兩個地方。美羅大廈,均瑤大廈。你知道嗎?接到你之前,我在美羅大廈門口 兜了兩圈,終於被我看到你了!從寫字樓裡出來的,肯定去的不近~~~」

「哦?你很有方法嘛!」我附和了一下。

「做出租車司機,也要用科學的方法。」他說。我一愣,頓時很有些興趣

「什麼科學的方法?」

「要懂得統計。我做過精確的計算。我說給你聽啊。我每天開17個小時的車, 每小時成本34.5元……」

「怎麼算出來的?」我追問。

「你算啊,我每天要交380元,油費大概210元左右。一天17小時,平均每小時 固定成本22元,交給公司,平均每小時12.5元油費。這是不是就是34.5元?」, 我有些驚訝。 我打了10年的車,第一次聽到有出租車司機這麼計算成本。以前 的司機都和我說,每公里成本0.3元,另外每天交多少錢之類的。

「成本是不能按公里算的,只能按時間算。你看,計價器有一個「檢查」功能。 你可以看到一天的詳細記錄。我做過數據分析,每次載客之間的空駛時間平均為 7分鐘。如果上來一個起步價,10元,大概要開10分鐘。也就是每一個10元的客 人要花17分鐘的成本,就是9.8元。不賺錢啊!如果說做浦東、杭州、青浦的客人 是吃飯,做10元的客人連吃菜都算不上,只能算是撒了些味精。」

強!這位師傅聽上去真不像出租車司機,到像是一位成本核算師。「那你怎麼辦 呢?」我更感興趣了,繼續問。看來去機場的路上還能學到新東西。

「千萬不能被客戶拉了滿街跑。而是通過選擇停車的地點,時間,和客戶,主動 地決定你要去的地方。」我非常驚訝,這聽上去很有意思。「有人說做出租車司 機是靠運氣吃飯的職業。我以為不是。你要站在客戶的位置上,從客戶的角度去 思考。」這句話聽上去很專業,有點像很多商業管理培訓老師說的「put yourself into others' shoes.」

「給你舉個例子,醫院門口,一個拿著藥的,一個拿著臉盆的,你帶哪一個。」 我想了想,說不知道。 「你要帶那個拿臉盆的。一般人病小痛的到醫院看一看,拿點藥,不一定會去很 遠的醫院。拿著臉盆打車的,那是出院的。住院哪有不死人的?今天二樓的誰死了, 明天三樓又死了一個。從醫院出來的人通常會有一種重獲新生的感覺,重新認識 生命的意義,健康才最重要。那天這個說:走,去青浦。眼睛都不眨一下。你說他 會打車到人民廣場,再去做青浦線嗎?絕對不會!」

我不由得開始佩服。

「再給你舉個例子。那天人民廣場,三個人在前面招手。一個年輕女子,拿著小包, 剛買完東西。還有一對青年男女,一看就是逛街的。第三個是個裡面穿絨襯衫的, 外面羽絨服的男子,拿著筆記本包。我看一個人只要3秒鐘。 我毫不猶豫地停在這 個男子面前。這個男的上車後說:延安高架、南北高架~~~還沒說後面就忍不住問, 為什麼你毫不猶豫地開到我面前?前面還有兩個人,他們要是想上車,我也不好意 思和他們搶。我回答說,中午的時候,還有十幾分鐘就1點了。那個女孩子是中午 溜出來買東西的,估計公司很近;那對男女是遊客,沒拿什麼東西,不會去很遠; 你是出去辦事的,拿著筆記本包,一看就是公務。而且這個時候出去,估計應該不 會近。那個男的就說,你說對了,去寶山。」

「那些在超市門口,地鐵口打車,穿著睡衣的人可能去很遠嗎?可能去機場嗎? 機場也不會讓她進啊。」

有道理!我越聽越有意思。

「很多司機都抱怨,生意不好做啊,油價又漲了啊,都從別人身上找原因。我說, 你永遠從別人身上找原因,你永遠不能提高。從自己身上找找看,問題出在哪裡。」 這話聽起來好熟,好像是「如果你不能改變世界,就改變你自己」,或者Steven Corvey的「影響圈和關注圈」的翻版。「有一次,在南丹路一個人攔車,去田林。 後來又有一次,一個人在南丹路攔車,還是去田林。我就問了,怎麼你們從南丹路 出來的人,很多都是去田林呢?人家說,在南丹路有一個公共汽車總站,我們都是 坐公共汽車從浦東到這裡,然後搭車去田林的。我恍然大悟。比如你看我們開過的 這條路,沒有寫字樓,沒有酒店,什麼都沒有,只有公共汽車站,站在這裡攔車的 多半都是剛下公共汽車的,再選擇一條最短路經打車。在這裡攔車的客戶通常不會 高於15元。」

「所以我說,態度決定一切!」我聽十幾個總裁講過這句話,第一次聽出租車司機 這麼說。

「要用科學的方法,統計學來做生意。天天等在地鐵站口排隊,怎麼能賺到錢?每 個月就賺500塊錢怎麼養活老婆孩子?這就是在謀殺啊!慢性謀殺你的全家。要用 知識武裝自己。學習知識可以把一個人變成聰明的人,一個聰明的人學習知識可以 變成很聰明的人。一個很聰明的人學習知識,可以變成天才。」

「有一次一個人打車去火車站,問怎麼走。他說這麼這麼走。我說慢,上高架,再 這麼這麼走。他說,這就繞遠了。我說,沒關係,你經常走你有經驗,你那麼走50塊, 你按我的走法,等里程表50塊了,我就翻表。你只給50塊就好了,多的算我的。按 你說的那麼走要50分鐘,我帶你這麼走只要25分鐘。最後,按我的路走,多走了4公 里,快了25分鐘,我只收了50塊。乘客很高興,省了10元錢左右。這4公里對我來說 就是1塊多錢的油錢。我相當於用1元多錢買了25分鐘。我剛才說了,我一小時的成 本34.5塊,我多合算啊!」

「在大眾公司,一般一個司機3、4千,拿回家。做的好的大概5千左右。頂級的司機 大概每月能有7000。全大眾2萬個司機,大概只有2-3個司機,萬里挑一,每月能拿 到8000以上。我就是這2-3個人中間的一個。而且很穩定,基本不會大的波動。」 太強了!到此為止,我越來越佩服這個出租車司機。

「我常常說我是一個快樂的車伕。有人說,你是因為賺的錢多,所以當然快樂。我對 他們說,你們正好錯了。是因為我有快樂、積極的心態,所以賺的錢多。」 說的多好啊!

「要懂得體味工作帶給你的美。堵在人民廣場的時候,很多司機抱怨,又堵車了! 真是倒霉。千萬不要這樣,用心體會一下這個城市的美,外面有很多漂亮的女孩子 經過,非常現代的高樓大廈,雖然買不起,但是卻可以用欣賞的眼光去享受。開車 去機場,看著兩邊的綠色,冬天是白色的,多美啊。再看看里程表,100多了,就 更美了!每一樣工作都有她美麗的地方,我們要懂得從工作中體會這種美麗。」

「我10年前是強生公司的總教練。8年前在公司作過三個不同部門的部門經理。 後來我不幹了,一個月就3、5千塊,沒意思。就主動來做司機。我願意做一個快樂 的車伕。哈哈哈哈。」

到了機場,我給他留了一張名片,說:「你有沒有興趣這個星期五,到我辦公室, 給微軟的員工講一講你怎麼開出租車的?你就當打著表,60公里一小時,你講多久, 我就付你多少錢。 給我電話。」

我迫不及待的在飛機上記錄下他這堂生動的MBA課。

===================================================
[注一]關於真實性。事情絕對是真實的,並且我盡最大努力忠實於這名司機的原意, 包括數字、選詞、語氣、構句等。除了我記憶力所限不能100%精確外,基本重現 了當時的場景。我沒有「潤色」,因為我以為他的感染力比我要大。

[注二]關於星期五。我發出了誠摯的邀請,希望他能來公司做一場演講。但這要尊 重司機本人的意願,如果他並不願意、或者不感覺合適而未能成行,只能表示遺 憾了。希望文章能夠彌補希望參加的人的一些遺憾,也不枉我寫了這麼長。

08 Apr 2006 : 生活小秘訣

螞蟻怕酸,蚊子怕辣,蟑螂怕香

螞蟻怕酸味?
家裡的甜食擺沒幾分鐘,螞蟻大軍立即來襲,讓人又氣又厭! 我以從事糕餅業的經驗,獻給各位一項無毒無污染又安全有效的妙招——整粒的新鮮 檸檬,對切成兩半,在看得到螞蟻的地方及其動線,擠出檸檬汁,並拿著切半有果肉的 那一面,沿途塗抹,神奇效果讓您再一次驗證大自然的奧妙!

蚊子怕辣味?
蒜頭嗆退牠 我家院子百花爭豔,誘使我常流連其中不忍離去,然而花多蚊子也多, 叮咬得我腫包累累。 一天,友人送了一袋蒜頭,媽媽留下夠用的量,其餘的分植於花壇四周,其特殊的辛 辣味隱隱飄散。令人訝異的是,平日兇猛的蚊子不見了,連下雨過後會出現的超大隻 蚊子,也銷聲匿跡了!所以,驅蚊除了打掃環境、清除枯枝爛葉,試植蒜頭絕對是上 上之策!

蟑螂怕香味?
神出鬼沒的蟑螂,最愛隱身於掌管我們民生大計的廚房裡。 面對「打不死的蟑螂」,我的辦法是——將一塊浴用香皂切成數小塊,置於容器內注 入清水,擺放在蟑螂出沒的櫥櫃內,不出數日,打開櫥櫃將令您訝異於蟑螂的無影無 蹤,櫥櫃內還多了怡人的香味。想要效果持續,僅須定期補充香皂容器內的清水。

Source : Unknown

Sunday, April 02, 2006

02 Apr 2006 : 清明时节雨纷纷 路上行人欲断魂

02 April 2006

Back to tgk for qing ming. Although PL could not join, she got to eat lots of food.

Chicken, duck, fish (2 types - sweet & sour; teow chew steamed), vegetable and Balsam pear soup are dishes for lunch. Not forgetting those 豆沙包, 花生包, 发糕.

01 April 2006

We went to Angie's house for passing her 沙茶酱. She invited us for her daughter's birthday party. We thought it would be crowded. But it was crowded with... small kids..hahah... But, got to taste on her homemade Tiramisu. Tasted like ice cream cake more than Tiramisu.

As we were still have a full stomach, we went back after a piece of Tiramisu (shared), a fruit cream cup (PL) & a few pieces of fried seafood cake (CC).