Archive for June, 2010

More advice from another taxi driver

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

taxi top

My boss (aka The Wife) takes the cab rather than drive her own car. One advantage of that are some of the priceless words of wisdom (mostly unsolicited) from cab drivers.  Here’s one more she received today.

The taxi driver was a retired civil servant who was a team leader. He knew all about dealing with Gen X staff and baby boomers. An early advice he gave to his younger team members was the 3 Hs.

He would counsel that regardless of one’s position and job status, always remember this route to career success: Happiness, Health and Humility.

Do the job and activities that make you happy. And do them happily. Always take care of one’s health and not let the job affect your health – and vice versa. The most difficult one is humility.

Mr Cab Driver had worked with graduates, scholars, and Type As, amongst his many colleagues.  A lot of people would indeed pursue job and personal happiness. They would also worry and take care of their health.

However, when it came to eating humble pie, being simple and grateful, there was a sudden lack of self-awareness. Mr Cab Driver noted that the ones who rose through the ranks, AND were happy and healthy in their jobs for a long time, tended to be those who were humble and less self-serving.

Humility moderates extremes. It is a righting mechanism for our words, actions and thoughts.

Good advice, but the cab fare was still expensive.

What is essential is invisible to the eyes

Friday, June 11th, 2010

A brilliant phrase by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, who wrote that in “The Little Prince” (1943). It is a book I recommend to be read and re-read whenever we adults get too caught up in the daily grind, or have crashed in our own desert, desperately looking for a well.

We can do with our Little Prince every now and then, to remind ourselves that the stars above are not meant to be counted and recorded in a ledger; and that each rose has a voice that speaks to you.

What is essential is invisible and it lies in the hearts and minds of men. We need to strip away the superfluous, the pretentious, the vulgar. Less is indeed more, for only than can we perceive, appreciate and elevate the essential.

Cut the clutter and savour the essence.