Someone said you (or your company) have to win before you can say anything about social responsibility, and I doubt about this when I first heard about it (and later read about it). Guess what, I saw a real life counter example this morning.
This morning, I saw a beggar searched around inside a rubbish bin, guess what, he found a packet of lemon tea. It's not finished and I guess there's at least 20% content left inside.
Guess what? He didn't drink it.
He used it to extinguish a fire in the rubbish bin caused by careless smokers who left their cigarette there!
This is social responsibility!
You know, none of the people will do this kind of things. But as a beggar, he hesisted nothing and proceeded to find the best way he could do to the small fire!
While you might think it's a small thing, I considered it a big thing! Don't look down on yourself when you have no money, no power. Do look down on yourself if you are just trying to find an excuse to ignore your responsibilities!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Great software
Someone said that a great software is not something which you cannot add any more functionalities to it, but instead, it's something that you cannot really remove anything from it.
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication" applies.
Life is similar.
When you still want to add something to make it better, it's still not great enough. However, when you find that you cannot really remove anything from your life, that means you're living a very meaningful life! Nothing excessive, nothing that could be really removed.
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication" applies.
Life is similar.
When you still want to add something to make it better, it's still not great enough. However, when you find that you cannot really remove anything from your life, that means you're living a very meaningful life! Nothing excessive, nothing that could be really removed.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Models of Employment
I found there are at least two models:
1. Direct Profit Generating
With this model, the employee generates profit for the employer directly. In that case, that means the employer is earning money from the employment relationship, and the salary for the employee is only part of the profit generated.
A simple example will be the dog of the hunter, or a fish-catching bird of the fisherman. In both case, the real profit generating party is the employee.
Of course, sometimes the situation can be a little bit more complex. For example, when the employee cannot generate that much profit by himself alone. The profit generated is a result of economy of scale, or it can only be realized with the whole team. However, the sum of the profit generated by the team should still be bigger than the sum of their salaries added together.
2. Indirect Profit Generating
With this model, the employee does not generate any direct profit. In that case, the employee only helps the employer to do some of their work, and these work were not generating profit but if the employer has to do those work by himself, the employer will not be able to use his time to generate a certain amount of profit. That amount should usually be bigger than that of the salary of the employee.
A simple example will be housemaid, drivers or any other supportive workers.
So?
So if you are in case one, you might be able to get yourself a better position. You should find some places where you can actually do more for yourself instead of for your boss. If you are in case two, I guess you should train yourself up so that you might be able to switch to a better position sooner or later.
1. Direct Profit Generating
With this model, the employee generates profit for the employer directly. In that case, that means the employer is earning money from the employment relationship, and the salary for the employee is only part of the profit generated.
A simple example will be the dog of the hunter, or a fish-catching bird of the fisherman. In both case, the real profit generating party is the employee.
Of course, sometimes the situation can be a little bit more complex. For example, when the employee cannot generate that much profit by himself alone. The profit generated is a result of economy of scale, or it can only be realized with the whole team. However, the sum of the profit generated by the team should still be bigger than the sum of their salaries added together.
2. Indirect Profit Generating
With this model, the employee does not generate any direct profit. In that case, the employee only helps the employer to do some of their work, and these work were not generating profit but if the employer has to do those work by himself, the employer will not be able to use his time to generate a certain amount of profit. That amount should usually be bigger than that of the salary of the employee.
A simple example will be housemaid, drivers or any other supportive workers.
So?
So if you are in case one, you might be able to get yourself a better position. You should find some places where you can actually do more for yourself instead of for your boss. If you are in case two, I guess you should train yourself up so that you might be able to switch to a better position sooner or later.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Changing domestic helper
In Hong Kong, it's so common for a couple to go to work. Therefore, it's again popular to hire a domestic helper to take care of the kids, like cooking and bringing them to school and some other interest classes, etc.
After one or two contracts, we will usually need to change the domestic helper. It is because they will want to come back home to see their own family. And it's also nice in the sense that the reliance on the helper could be reduced a bit. You know, sometimes the kids would love the helper more than the parents since they just spent more time with each others!
Recently, after a lot of prayers, our handover process is smooth and nice. It's also partially due to the fact that I resigned from my job to help the transition. Originally, I anticipated that the kids would suffer most, but then I found that I also suffered. I mean when I went to supermarket, I don't know what I should buy, and which brands that we were using, etc.
Therefore, switching is still a good thing, for you have to reduce the reliance on a certain helper like what I have mentioned in the first place.
After one or two contracts, we will usually need to change the domestic helper. It is because they will want to come back home to see their own family. And it's also nice in the sense that the reliance on the helper could be reduced a bit. You know, sometimes the kids would love the helper more than the parents since they just spent more time with each others!
Recently, after a lot of prayers, our handover process is smooth and nice. It's also partially due to the fact that I resigned from my job to help the transition. Originally, I anticipated that the kids would suffer most, but then I found that I also suffered. I mean when I went to supermarket, I don't know what I should buy, and which brands that we were using, etc.
Therefore, switching is still a good thing, for you have to reduce the reliance on a certain helper like what I have mentioned in the first place.
Monday, December 29, 2008
All in one printers
I've been using this kind of printers for more than six years, it's just convenient!
First of all, the output quality is good. If you buy photo-paper for it, it will really print photographic quality output! The only downside is the price of the ink and the paper, but it could be very convenient if you were asked for photographs at night for the homework of kids.
It features photocopying capability. You don't even have to turn on the computer to use this function. The output really likes photocopy in some cases. Of course, if your model is like mine which only has a roller type scanner, you could not easily make copy of thicker stuff.
Next is the fax function. Yes, it's not exactly high tech stuff, but it could be handy for some cases. Fax is still very popular!
Finally, the scanner function is not bad especially for converting your paper photographs into digital. Other functions like OCR are useful sometimes. Storing a backup copy of important document by digitalization is a nice thing too.
First of all, the output quality is good. If you buy photo-paper for it, it will really print photographic quality output! The only downside is the price of the ink and the paper, but it could be very convenient if you were asked for photographs at night for the homework of kids.
It features photocopying capability. You don't even have to turn on the computer to use this function. The output really likes photocopy in some cases. Of course, if your model is like mine which only has a roller type scanner, you could not easily make copy of thicker stuff.
Next is the fax function. Yes, it's not exactly high tech stuff, but it could be handy for some cases. Fax is still very popular!
Finally, the scanner function is not bad especially for converting your paper photographs into digital. Other functions like OCR are useful sometimes. Storing a backup copy of important document by digitalization is a nice thing too.
Overshooting and Realignment
Sometimes we overshoot. We actually have a tendency to overshoot, or our environment forces us to overshoot.
For example, when you want to buy a lunch to fill your hungry stomach, the restaurants, fast foot shop or whatever will usually offer more than you wanted, but since you have no choice, you will end up buying more than you needed, eating more than you wanted. The side effect is not just about spending more, but you actually waste something, or you ended up with more fat inside your body. All these could be harmful in the long run.
We all want a balanced life. But when you go to work, you will be pushed to spend more time in your work than you might want. Yes, that could bring you more money but that could eventually squeezed all your schedule and you ended up with no time to spend.
When all these become excessive, it's time to realign ourselves. To find out what we really wanted, to make sure that we're doing what we wanted. It's not something that we could never change, but instead, awareness is the key.
Overshooting means that, we are working for others. We are trying to fulfill the goal of other people, more than for ourselves.
So, act now, do realign your life and your priority. Define your goal and act accordingly, the choice is really here, and the decision is yours.
For example, when you want to buy a lunch to fill your hungry stomach, the restaurants, fast foot shop or whatever will usually offer more than you wanted, but since you have no choice, you will end up buying more than you needed, eating more than you wanted. The side effect is not just about spending more, but you actually waste something, or you ended up with more fat inside your body. All these could be harmful in the long run.
We all want a balanced life. But when you go to work, you will be pushed to spend more time in your work than you might want. Yes, that could bring you more money but that could eventually squeezed all your schedule and you ended up with no time to spend.
When all these become excessive, it's time to realign ourselves. To find out what we really wanted, to make sure that we're doing what we wanted. It's not something that we could never change, but instead, awareness is the key.
Overshooting means that, we are working for others. We are trying to fulfill the goal of other people, more than for ourselves.
So, act now, do realign your life and your priority. Define your goal and act accordingly, the choice is really here, and the decision is yours.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Asus P535 Ring tone tricks
If you put MP3 ring tone in the Mini SD card of a Asus P535, you will know there will be some issues.
When you connect your mobile phone to the PC, it then becomes a card reader. And the Mini SD becomes accessible only through the USB port, but not to the mobile phone itself. That means you cannot see the Mini SD card, you cannot access the file through any installed applications, etc.
Another important implication is that, the MP3 ring tone which is stored in your Mini SD will not be accessible, that means when there is incoming call, the ring tone cannot be used and you will fall back to the default ring tone. That could be confusing enough. You might not even recognized that it is your phone which is ringing! Since the P535 recharges via USB, you will even lost the ring tone during charging! That is troublesome enough if you use your MP3 files for alarm!
To solve the problem, one of the easiest way is to put your MP3 ring tone in your phone instead of to your Mini SD. Of course, it is not a very smart idea since MP3 ring tone could be quite large which wastes valuable memory spaces.
A better way is to set the USB to ActiveSync mode, and your Mini SD will remain accessible by the mobile phone, and thus the ring tone will still be accessible.
When you connect your mobile phone to the PC, it then becomes a card reader. And the Mini SD becomes accessible only through the USB port, but not to the mobile phone itself. That means you cannot see the Mini SD card, you cannot access the file through any installed applications, etc.
Another important implication is that, the MP3 ring tone which is stored in your Mini SD will not be accessible, that means when there is incoming call, the ring tone cannot be used and you will fall back to the default ring tone. That could be confusing enough. You might not even recognized that it is your phone which is ringing! Since the P535 recharges via USB, you will even lost the ring tone during charging! That is troublesome enough if you use your MP3 files for alarm!
To solve the problem, one of the easiest way is to put your MP3 ring tone in your phone instead of to your Mini SD. Of course, it is not a very smart idea since MP3 ring tone could be quite large which wastes valuable memory spaces.
A better way is to set the USB to ActiveSync mode, and your Mini SD will remain accessible by the mobile phone, and thus the ring tone will still be accessible.
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