« October 2005 | Main | December 2005 »
November 28, 2005
Asian terrorist a master hypnotist?
I was always wondering what kind of belief system is really driving suicide bombers.
Now, an Australian newspaper publishes an article that suggests that one of the top terrorists in the region, Noordin Top, is using "hypnosis to elude capture and recruit more suicide bombers."
It is possible, that is sure. It is also possible that the so-called sleeper cells in other countries are pre-programmed to operate as suicide bombers at a given command. It is possible for the hypnosist to instill commands in the person that can be activated at a later stage. This is done during the hypnosis process with the intention to shorten the induction cycle for the next session. Normally, it can take a while for someone to go into hypnotic stage and in order to shorten the cycle, the hypnotherapist might instill a command that shortens the timeframe. This is simply more effective for both sides. Normally, a person can only be hynothised when the will to be hypnothised is there. A positive attitude. In the sense of the article, it is possible that Noordin instilled the secondary command without the knowledge of the persons - an awful intention!
To misuse hypnosis in such a manner is simply awful, because in itself, hypnosis in itself is a powerful tool to change limited beliefs into more powerful resources. Imagine what good you can do with hypnosis. Things like more confidence, to stop smoking, lose weight, and so on - all possible, but only if the person really wants to change. To misuse hypnosis is just making it more difficult for those with a positive intention to help those who want help.
Posted by Andreas at 01:31 PM | Comments (0)
November 27, 2005
AlwaysWoW – an ongoing development
I trained many, many hours this year, and is has been a major transformation for me. A mental transformation and now, I am seeing the world through a different pair of glasses.
In essence, I completed courses on:
Neuro-Linguistic Programming: Since last weekend, I am a Master Practitioner in NLP. Parallel, I took courses in Timeline Therapy and Hypnotherapy.
My insights will flow into this blog, or better, it actually has earlier already, when I wrote “things” about the mind, beliefs or even as simple as preparing goals for your life.
I will continue to do this but clearly, I am going to develop a coaching practice around these skills as well. I realised through reading of blogs, contacts with many students, discussions with executives employed at different levels that there is a host of issues that holds them back in their career, or personal development.
It is this that inspires me, the "helper" in me that wants to develop my skills, capabilities and knowledge into a tool that helps people excel in their endeavour.
More about this in a different (and ongoing) entry.
Posted by Andreas at 01:05 PM | Comments (1)
Uproar in Malaysia
Malaysia is in uproar over the treatment of a Chinese woman in a police lockup. The Chinese woman was forced to strip naked, and earsquat.
The act was taped, and somehow, came into circulation. Calls for clarification and the "why" are loud. Is this treatment surprising or out of the usual? I guess it is common practice in many counties, not only Malaysia.
I actually believe that this was not an unusual incidence. The difference is that this time the case was revealed.
But ask yourself: how many others were not discovered earlier?
Posted by Andreas at 09:39 AM | Comments (1)
November 25, 2005
If this is true.... Bird flu in China?
Published in the New Scientist:
"Masato Tashiro, head of virology at Tokyo’s National Institute of Infectious Disease – a WHO-collaborating centre for bird flu – told the meeting of virologists in Marburg, Germany, on 19 November that “we have been systematically deceived”. His comments were reported in the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
He told the stunned meeting, called to mark the retirement of a senior German virologist, that there have been “several dozen” outbreaks in people, 300 confirmed deaths and 3000 people placed in isolation with suspected cases."
This news can be exaggerated, of course, but what would be the scenario, if it is true?
Posted by Andreas at 07:43 AM | Comments (4)
November 11, 2005
Another training trip
Okay, once again, I have to travel to Singapore for another 9 days to complete the final training - what means no blogging for a while.
It will be crucial nine days, nine days of fun, nine days of learning, nine days of transformation, with the ninth day an intensive evaluation.
I will write about it when I am back, but let me tell you, that this year with all its training was life-transforming. And, the best is, that this is my personal development programme, not initiated by my company. Which makes me proud, because it is my own personal investment into a different and more advanced person.
But even when I am back, I won't be able to get back to writing in my blog immediately. I will straight head towards 3 days of workshop with my wonderful client, who is already anxious to get us moving. However, with all my training, I will hopefully be able to move them to greater heights as well - I know I write cryptically, but well, such is life.
So long! And make your Life a WOW!
Posted by Andreas at 01:59 PM | Comments (1)
November 08, 2005
The lazy graduate
Thank you very much. The Star Malaysia reports that there are 60,000 fresh graduates in Malaysia and all of them are unable to find a job because they are lazy, lack motivation and communication skills.
All of them?
I for sure know some fresh graduates that were the exact opposite. Sure, there are graduates that are lazy, but may be because they haven't found the right opportunity yet? Is it really better to just take any job and find out, 2 years down the road (if it takes that long), that you actually want to do something differently? Is it really better to do any job and become an unengaged, disruptive employee who job-hobs just to get out of the dreadmill? Isn't it clear that any job you take will somewhat determine how your life turns out to be? A small deviation adds up to a lot over time.
May be they are right - graduates are really lazy, and pampered. But have they been taught life skills? Instead of performance? How many As do you need to be successful? If all of the graduates achieve the same number of As, may be we need to add on some more topics? Where is their life? Is tuition really that important and the A in any topic or subject?
Are those responsible for education actually clear what is needed for Malaysia on the job market in 10, 15 or 20 years? Isn't it clear, from any visit to the bookshop, to conversation with a CEO, to surfing the Internet or reading Fortune Magazine, that what is needed is placed aside of "normal education"?
Let me call it lifeskill and what do I mean by that?
Lifeskill to me are skills that help you manage your life in the future:
- Innovative thinking
- Creativity
- Teamwork
- Being fast in what you do, but also being able to step back from speed, saying that Slower Is Faster (
- Being able to take and understand different positions
- Being able to think cross-functionally
- Being able to learn, unlearn, forget and relearn
- Being able to adjust to new situations
- Being able to find, extract and manipulate information
- Being able to understand what is required in the small and the big picture
- Being able to challenge, adjust and swim along the status quo
There might be more, but thank you, for now, that is enough.
And hey - one more thing: I believe there is no failed student, only failed institutions. How is that?
Posted by Andreas at 04:54 PM | Comments (6)
November 06, 2005
Goals for your life
I recently had a discussion with my executives at work. I just started to work in a new company and to get to know my five guys, I had this personal discussion. During the discussion, I asked them about their goals. Professional or personal goals.
The response, to my greatest surprise (and sadness) was that they had no goals. What is right to them at the current moment - I cannot criticise this. What they are not aware of is that everybody has goals. Few, way too few, have consciously formulated goals. Only a few sat down and really wrote down what they want to achieve over the next 12 months, 3 years or in the next decade.
But it is clear that goals are out there. You are doing something every day. You have the goal to fix your breakfast, for example. A small goal, but it is a goal. How often to you use the words "It is my goal to ...." or, easier, "I want to have a good time tonight!" See what I mean?
Othertimes, other people "push you" into their goal - then, you become their pawn. "Come, let's go out and have a good time tonight," or, "Come on, let's get drunk tonight." Sounds familiar? A company is doing goal formulation (now is budget time), and they plan for you! You will wonder what they are planning, but 12 months down the road, you will know. You have been a pawn, because, where is your initiative?
Whatever happens is out there. Please be aware that your subconscious mind needs goals, needs someone to show it the direction it needs. If you don't have goals and just live in the day, it will find its own ways to get around. It is like the bull that is taking charge. And, then, one day, in the future, don't wonder when you look back and wonder, where the lsat 10 years or months have gone to. And don't wonder, if you should have changed something. Earlier. Like, right now, for 2006 - did you do it already?
nlp
neuro linguistic programming
mind
business coaching
personal coaching
malaysia
Posted by Andreas at 09:24 AM | Comments (3)
November 05, 2005
Choosing domain names and the unintended result
This is something I really like. Or someone. The one who thinks, and gets things right. Doesn't happen too often, does it? Especially in the Internet, where people (which people) rant and trash each other.
Nevermind I digress.
How do you chose your webpage name? I would chose one that stands for something, like Always WoW, that simply stands for "Making your Life a WoW." Gosh, I devoted a whole entry to the position that AlwaysWoW takes.
Anyway - what about those webpage names below - (please, check Orange Dot's webpage - he has got some great stuff to read).
A good laughter for a Saturday afternoon.
Posted by Andreas at 11:28 AM | Comments (5)
November 04, 2005
Burger King's non-carbonated drinks
I am a burger freak - every now and then, I like to gobble one of those things from either McDonalds or Burger King.
I actually prefer Burger King over McDonalds simply, because their burgers are tastier. Okay, that is my preference.
Last week, my kid followed me to Burger King, and toy-driven as he is, he knew that he wanted a kids-menu. Which is okay by me, as long as I can switch the drinks from carbonated to a non-carbonated drinks, such as Milo. There is enough material documented out in the web or in the bookshops outlining that carbonated drinks are not that healthy.
It was quite surprising to see, in the end, before I left, that the switch from a carbonated to a non-carbonated drink was charged with RM1. Wow, this is not something that I prefer, that I believe is customer-centric.
What's your opionion?
Posted by Andreas at 12:18 PM | Comments (3)
November 03, 2005
Greetings to all of you
To those celebrating the end of Ramadan, I would like to wish Selamat Hari Raya.
To those celebrating Deepavali (or Divali), I wish you a wonderful festival.
To the rest of my readers, I wish you a great time as well, and Peace on Earth.
There is nothing more significant than to have two celebrations of two major religions falling into the same week. Because, that is how life is - a way of living and celebrating together, accepting each other, and start an understanding that reaches across diversity and division.
Posted by Andreas at 07:29 PM | Comments (1)