Singapore Blog Awards 2014 | My Journey In Retire – Do What?
Thank You For Your Votes And Support
The count down to the final few hours of the Singapore Blog Awards 2014 voting has begun. The voting ends on 31 July 2014 at 3.00 pm SG time (30 July at 12 midnight US Pacific/LAX/SFO & 31 July at 3.00 am US East Coast/New York, 07.00 am London, 09.00 am Budapest, 3.00 pm Beijing, 4.00 pm Tokyo, 5.00 pm Sydney). You can still support me with a final vote before the deadline (steps to vote are in this post.)
Never mind the long nights spent in crafting my blog posts and the 28 days of voting to reach this moment. It is magical. The main purpose here is to thank all my friends and supporters from the bottom of my heart.
Retire – Do What? My Pictorial Journey :
1. There Can Be Miracles When You Believe
There Can Be Miracles When You Believe
This plant believes it can grow out of the dark because nobody has told it that it cannot be done. And Whitney Houston left an inspiring legacy in her song, When You Believe. So, from the very beginning, the central theme of Retire – Do What? is “Stay positive in Life.”
2. At 66, I Still Believe And Imagine What This Boy Had Believed And Imagined
Me! at About 8 Years – Love of Wonder and the Sweet Amazement at the Stars – YOUTH by Samuel Ullmann)
Growing up in the close proximity of Mother Nature, I had observed its wonders and its stars twinkling across the universe. Staying young means that “the love of wonder, the sweet amazement at the stars” have not diminished.
3. Active Ageing With Continuous Learning
After retiring from Corporate Life, I Continued my Learning. Joel Bauer speaking at a seminar by Patric Chan
After my corporate life (Click here to read My Journey To Becoming A Big Potato), I continued my quest to Learn, Unlearn and Re-learn as part of my next “Dash” in living my life ( Click here to read the inspiring poem by Linda Ellis). I aim to champion “active ageing.”
4. Continuous Learning To Bridge The Gen Y – Pioneer Gen Divide
Continuous Self Improvement To Fulfill Your Dreams
Believing in “Stay hungry, Stay foolish” helps me to stay on course. Read the origin of this famous quote here.
5. My Resource Centre Of Books
Reading The Amos Case Study at My Collection of Books
My collection of books is my permanent resource centre. Learn to distinguish between resources and resourcefulness. Resourcefulness is my application of the book resources in crafting my posts.
6. Develop A Mentor-Mentee Relationship
Building A Mentor – Mentee Relationship With My Son & Daughter
I believe in building a healthy two-way mentor – mentee relationship with my children. Using a book, such as “How Full Is Your Bucket,” is a good source of idea generation. It was from a conversation with my son during my visit to the Cooper Union that the foundation of Retire – Do What? was built. Lawrence had urged me to share my experience, insights and knowledge with his generation to make my bucket fuller.
7. Tapping Into The Wisdom Of My Ladies
Women Are Resourceful and Think In Multi-Dimensions
Men think in one dimension and women can think in multi-dimensions. Hence I chose a colourful umbrella to illustrate my point. And if you doubt what I said here, click to watch this insightful and entertaining video, A Tale Of Two Brains. Hence my Retire – Do What? is richer by the inputs of my wife Melinda and daughter Carolyn 🙂
8. Discover Your Passion And Do It
Be Passionate & You Want To Work Anywhere. Our 2 Laptops Are Powered Up For Work At The SG Chinese Swimming Club.
Since both Lawrence and I, with support from both the ladies, share the passion of building Retire – Do What? we have so much fun developing the blog. Sir Richard Branson often said “Do Good, Have Fun & The Money Will Come.”
9. Do Other Things To Enjoy Variety
Inspire The Next Generation of Aviation Professionals
Variety is the spice of life! So do other things to add variety. Since I had started my career as an aircraft structure specialist, I am now devoting some of my time to help build the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP).
10. Stay Positive In Life
Stay Positive In Life & You Can Even Sing In The Rain
I live my Life in metaphors! Singing In The Rain is a long-running and lovely musical in London. I often used it as my metaphor for staying happy when clouds appear in my life. This is the reason for using “Stay Positive In Life” as my central theme for my Retire – Do What?
Singapore Blog Awards 2015 – Anyone?
I have enjoyed my 22-month journey in the planning and the execution of Retire – Do What? And I have enjoyed the camaraderie of bloggers in the Singapore blogging community, re-discovered the joy of sharing and encouraged by the support and feedbacks of friends from ‘across the universe.’ Above all, I am honoured to be selected as a Top Ten finalist in the Best Individual Blog category in the Singapore Blog awards 2014 competition.
With my experience, I would like to encourage new bloggers to start now and work towards the Singapore Blog Awards 2015.
My Special Thanks
I should like to acknowledge Grace Tan for encouraging me to participate in this Blog Awards 2014 and thank her for the many hours of dedicated and generous sharing of her “secrets.” Grace is the 2013 Best Individual Blog winner. I hope to succeed her.
And to my friends in the Blog Club, the many other Facebook groups as well as my family’s Grandma’s 24 group – a big thank you. As for my many other supporters who are “strangers” (my Retire Do What? definition of a stranger is a friend whom you have yet to meet) a big thank you. And thank you to the organisers, sponsors and judges:-)
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Steven,
Great Blog post! Really enjoyed it. Below are comments that I shared in my facebook. Learning is a lifelong process. No matter how young, how old you are, we all need to be constantly learning.
Hence, I would like to share a great blog post here by my great and wonderful friend, Steven Lek who is vying for the Singapore Blog Awards 2014. He is an inspiration to the younger generation that anyone can achieve success if you put your mind,
soul and taking action to whatever you desire.
Every one of us has the potential to succeed. But it is not the potential that gets you to become a success.
It’s the Performance that determines your success. It’s not the Potential. It’s the Performance.
When you perform, you are doing things, taking action. Taking massive action is what determines your success.
My key takes on his blog post are that you must believe in yourself. Don’t try, just do and act. Learn from a mentor, in his case was Grace Tan. Invest in yourself by continuous learning and personal development, no matter how old you are.
The best investment that gives you the best ROI is investment in yourself.
Read Books that inspire you. To know whether a person is successful or not, look not at his “purse” but by the size of his library – the resource center of books.
I am honoured to know Steven Lek as a personal friend and I wish him success in the Singapore Blog Awards 2014 and that he will emerge as the winner for his Best Individual Blog category – Retire Do What?
Thank you Michael. You have also inspired me with your professionalism, your successful business and as a perpetual learning machine. With all good wishes. Steven
Nice! I’m loving the pictures you used to illustrate each point. 🙂
Thank you Grace. My previous company and us championed this phrase : “Relentless Pursuit Of Excellence.”
Your maxim “improve 1 per cent a day” is great for anyone to adopt. Steven
Hi Steven, ever since we we shared time together on the Salkantay Trail in Peru, I have loved listening to your wisdom. Now your blog perpetuates this joy! Many thanks!
Hi Werner,
Thank you for your kind words. You are full of wisdom and humility, and your Seven Summits achievement is an inspiration for all. Cheers