Linsanity it is!

Basketball is a sport I grew up with, having a father who’s a big fan of it. But when he passed away, I avoided watching any game.

Pat started an FB thread last week about Linsanity, NBA’s mid-season story. It didn’t ring a bell but since her status update was linked to basketball, it caught my attention. And I never for a single second doubted that Jedd would pick up the discussion. Yes, of course he did!  Well, being a damsel not in distress but in nosiness, I followed, too!

I then started  probing about what made the guy an instant trend on sports Tweets and a hot item on sports blogs.  I thought it was just one of those he-made-the-winning-shot tales.

The snoopy me I learned that Jeremy Lin neither received any athletic scholarship offers nor was drafted in any professional basketball team. Yet, he always plays well – giving each game his best. His records, which never caught anyone’s attention until last week, show that he’s not only a baller who plays and competes well but also one who excels against the world’s best players. To top it all, he has an economics degree in Harvard!

One of those rags-to-riches stories. I told myself.

Wait a minute! There’s more to Lin’s story than just being a bench-warmer-turned-global-basketball-star in two weeks. No, I’m not referring to the whats and whys of his NBA career – I leave that to the experts. I’m referring to his Christian faith. And Jeremy Lin speaks of it without batting an eyelash.

In one of those interviews, he said: “I’ve learned how to be open and bold about my faith, but in terms of my influence, I just try to lead in a godly way. What that means for me is to serve them, whether it’s just doing the dirty work, like cleaning up sweat on the floor, or deferring to other people, or carrying equipment bags.”

Lin doesn’t mind warming the bench for many games. What matters to him is to do the task presented to him at the moment – to do it right and to do it well.  To him, it means service to the team and pleasing an Audience of One.  Winning is for his Audience of One. And his Audience of One makes him a winner.

What a man of character.

And I can just imagine the breadth of his influence right now…  As a matter of fact, I think I will watch basketball again!

year-end musings

Every new year’s eve, I usually set aside time for myself just to muse about the past year’s milestones. 2011 went by like a breeze. It seems short yet fully loaded.

As I start reminiscing, I remember the article Roselu showed me last Friday when she was doing her year-end 5S. It is a piece she kept for years and when I read it, I can’t blame her for keeping such a treasure. I would have done the same.

And in this world wide web age when info sharing is close to free, let me share this wealth of wisdom from someone so admired by many us since the time we met him.

Things Leaders Should Do
By Henry Schumacher
Published in Business World, April 6, 2005

The first quarter of 2005 is already behind us. In my view, it was not an exceptionally good one. January was very slow and March was affected by the Holy Week which appears to last longer than a week (at least mentally)! Looking forward to three remaining quarters, here is our list of things a leader can do to maximize potential – theirs and that of their followers. Please note these are not listed in order of importance.

1. Occupy the Land with Character

Norman Schwarzkopf, the charismatic general who led coalition forces in Desert Storm, once defined leadership as a potent combination of strategy and character. “If you have to be without one,” he said, “be without the strategy.” Schwarzkopf understood the impact of Robert Frost’s admonition to “occupy the land with character.” While it’s important to have a viable plan, it is essential to remember that belief in the plan is often contingent upon belief in the planner.

TIP: If this hasn’t been your strength before, start where you are. It’s never too late to become the person you might have been.

2. When the Storms Hit, Stroll the Deck

When my father was a boy, he accompanied his mother on an ocean voyage from New York to Bremen. On that trip, they encountered one of the worst storms of that era. As the ship tossed back and forth, frightened passengers grabbed railings and hung on for dear life. I asked my father if he was scared as well. “It was at first,” he said, “then I saw the captain.” In the midst of all the turmoil, the ship’s captain was seen walking leisurely about the deck with hands clasped behind his back.

TIP: In times of difficulty, a leader’s walk should be both visible and confident.

3. Deserve to Win

Young fans often besiege Sadaharu Oh for his autograph. The legendary Japanese baseball player always obliges… sort of. When he signs a baseball or picture, he writes the word doryoku (effort) instead of his name. “I achieved what I did,” Oh says, “because of my willingness to work hard. He prefers to be remembered for the effort he gave, not the 868 home runs (more than Hank Aaron) he hit.

TIP: Avoid a crisis of legitimacy by never asking followers to give more than you are prepared to give yourself.

4. Make Selfless Decisions

According to the Old Testament, when Solomon ascended to the throne upon the death of King David, God appeared to him in a dream and offered to grant him anything he asked for. Imagine the possibilities that lay before this young man! He could have asked for a long life, riches beyond imagination, power to control others. His response is recorded in II Chronicles, “give me wisdom and knowledge,” he said, “to rule them (followers) properly.”

TIP: Remember that leadership is first and foremost an act of service.

5. Connect With the Need

On the wall of a friend’s office hangs a copy of a letter Abraham Lincoln wrote to Lydia Bixby to acknowledge the death of her sons in the war. He wrote, “I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mind which would attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming.” Part of his gift as a leader was this marvelous blend of compassion and humility. He was a tough commander; able to make hard calls, but it was his ability to connect with the human condition that made him a leader.

TIP: Never underestimate the power of a handwritten note of concern or encouragement.

6. Keep the Pipeline Full

At the age of eighty-four, Michaelangelo had reached godlike status in Europe. His paintings and sculptures were the stuff of genius. One day he was asked if he had a motto, something that had guided his work and actions. Responding in his native tongue, he said, “Ancora imparo” (I am still learning).

TIP: Avoid knowledge obsolescence by staying on top of new trends, ideas and concepts. Keep the “product” current!

7. Demonstrate Graciousness

George Washington said, “Every action done in company ought to be with some sign of respect to those who are present.” The principle is simple: people don’t follow a leader because they like him or her. They follow because they like themselves under his or her leadership.

TIP: Goodwill demonstrated by leaders toward followers facilitates everything from creativity to teamwork.

8. Manage Moments of Truth

A number of years ago, Jan Carlson, the president of SAS Airlines, transformed his company with a simple but potent strategy. Realizing that his company’s reputation for service was formed daily by thousands of brief encounters with customers (he called them moments of truth), Carlson challenged his team to make every one a meaning experience for the customer. In similar fashion, leadership is defined by the quality of its “contacts and contracts” with followers.

TIP: Honor the mini-contracts (I’ll be glad to hear your ideas…”) made with followers.

9. Guard Your Words Carefully

Whenever the president of the United States makes a statement, people worldwide parse the words to see if there’s another, perhaps hidden, meaning. Why? Because they understand that words have power, and that serious leaders choose them carefully. Leaders who speak without first considering the impact of their words risk sending a blurred or misleading message.

TIP: Avoid being “hung by the tongue” by choosing words with care.

10. Listen to the Engine

I met a railroad engineer recently, the guy who actually drives the train. I told him as a boy I loved seeing engineers, whistle rope in hand, leaning out the window to inspect the tracks as they drove by. “Actually,” the man said, “that’s not exactly what they were doing.” He went on to tell me that the primary reason the engineer sticks his head out of the cab isn’t to check the tracks but to listen to the engine.

TIP: The best way to keep your engine (team) on track is to listen, really listen, to it daily.

Nine months to go in 2005; let’s rev the engine (team) up.

Coron magic

The mystical Twin Lakes of Coron Island

I was in Coron with a group of friends a few weeks ago. It’s such a magical place. Exquisite. Serene. Unspoiled.

I first heard of the magnificence of this place, its indigenous people, and the Calamianes group of islands way back in 2000 when I was working in an environmental research institute. But I didn’t pay much attention to it; not because it wasn’t part of my writing job assignments, which focused on watersheds, but (I must confess now) it was largely because the mere thought of a group of islands scared me! There sure are bodies of water surrounding them, right? Of course, I take a bath more than once a day, but thinking of the deep scares me – much less traverse it!

The spine-tingling crevice that leads to the second of the Twin Lakes

But since going to Coron is an escapade with water and water bodies, I had to muster some courage and conquer my abstract fear of the deep. And I did the exercise in no less than the second of the Twin Lakes! Let me inform you if you haven’t been to Coron yet (or remind you if you’ve already been there): in going to the second of the Twin Lakes, you have to first negotiate a narrow crevice fenced by jagged rocks. This small cavity is covered during high tide that you have to make sure you’re back to it at the right time. Otherwise, you have to cross by swimming and holding your breath underwater for about 5 minutes (if my imagination is not amplified!) to get back to the first lake that leads you back to the open sea.

And yes, I conquered the Twin Lakes – specifically the more perilous of the two!

Guided by Mari, the mermaid, I braved the perilous water known to be the lair of some mysterious underwater creatures.

But I must admit that being in the company of good swimmers and divers helped a lot. What’s a better deal than being towed (since I was wearing a life jacket!) by no less than Mari who is as comfortable with the water as a mermaid? Seeing that I was wearing my snorkeling gears, she told me not look down as there’s nothing beneath but blackness. Instead, I must look up and enjoy the grandeur of the place. And true enough, fear of the deep was replaced with bewilderment of the splendor surrounding whatever lies in the blackness underneath.

Yielding was what I did; and trusting the one guiding me.

It is when we simply trust that the one guiding us knows better and then yield to whatever circumstance we are in, no matter how dreadfully uncertain, that we forget our fear and start to enjoy the journey.

too much to express

beyond jogging…

It’s been quite awhile since I last jogged because the weather is simply not cooperating. In Cebu nowadays, when it rains it really pours!

I remember jogging with Mikmik and Jeannie one time in IT Park. My pace was naturally not the same as theirs as they’re practically half my age. So, I jogged and brisk-walked in between, sprinted a bit, and brisk-walked again.  I kept circling the oval and when they passed me by, Mikmik muttered something like “we finally found you ‘te,” as Jeannie exclaimed “keep jogging ‘te!”.

I wonder what Patet would have said if she, too, was around.  Maybe a “go, go, go ‘te!”

I could only smile while catching my breath. Try jogging with kids and you’ll find yourself at the tail end of the line; try jogging with these Ang Lahi kids and there will be no more line left for you!  And I’m not exaggerating.  Take note: these kids do Muay Thai like luksong tinik.

The experience made me realize two things, though.

One, we grownups take a lot of things for granted that we need the youth to remind us about where we are.

“We finally found you ‘te.“

My initial reaction was Why? Am I lost or something? Yes, sometimes I am; and even oblivious to it most of the time! That quick reminder told me about where I should be, and where I must be when the youth finds me.

Two, grownups are arrogant. We thought we’re doing well and that we are in shape when, in fact, we’re supposed to “keep jogging” – even if sometimes we run out of breath!

A great man some two thousand years ago kept jogging until the end. He fought the good fight, ran the race, and kept the faith. Not even a shipwreck could keep him from his journey. Paul’s story recorded in Acts and in his letters is timeless.

Two years ago another great man did the same. Daddy O finished the race strong and alive that not even death could keep him from fighting the good fight. And his life was not just a story I heard. It’s one I witnessed. His story is real.

May I have the strength to finish strong for the next generation – no matter the cost…

stuff over a cup of coffee

There’s so much writing to do but nothing comes to my mind and caffeine is just not helping. So, I told myself “why bother”? After all, daytime to me is not for compositions. ( A lame excuse…)

I thought of doing some warm ups; like, just scribbling anything that came to my mind. My lips formed a smile as I remembered this morning’s video chat on FB with Longgay and Lory when I finally saw little Lara in action – doing a 360 degree turn on the bed! She waved at me. And yes, she smiled, too!

My phone rang, leading my eyes to the just-finished project that kept me busy in the last two weeks: my own personally designed and hand-sewn bag!

It’s no joke working on it for hours for several nights! I deserve a price. And a pair of shoes is not a bad idea.

And now, I think I need another cup!

bugs, thoughts, coffee, sleepless nights and a legacy

It’s past midnight and our day is just starting. I am watching Patet and Jean fix the technical bug that forever haunts our team. The video that they are both rendering seems to work on their laptops but not on mine. And it works on a DVD player, too! Is it my laptop? The video software I’m using? Or the way the video is rendered, or the DVD burned?

The more I try to find answers, the more questions rush in my head. Since I’m not equipped in this area, I decided to brush it off and push the frustration away. A frustration for not being able to help technically and pinpoint the whatever this thing that is bugging us down.

But our deadline was yesterday!

All of a sudden I miss writing on my journal. My real journal. The one I can touch and feel. The one where I scribble just anything I think about – not type them and delete afterwards! The one where I sometimes just sketch my thoughts away or write anything that comes to my mind no matter how senseless.

And I do miss my solitude. The times when I simply allow myself to get lost in the ocean of my thoughts or in the sea of unread books that are still scattered on the floor in my pad. Which reminds me of a very important backlog: 48 books to read! Not to mention the latest one given to me by no less than the book author himself! With the way my schedule looks like, will I ever find time to read them?

I drifted too far I didn’t notice Jean giving me the DVD for the video that I now have to check. This makes me realize two things. I’m writing on a journal, a different one but a journal nevertheless. After all, this is the 21st century. And I still have my solitude even if I’m not alone: swimming in my own thoughts while Jean and Pat are busy working.

Nothing beats having a good team giving it all for a very important task of leaving a legacy. And with bottomless coffee, the sleepless nights don’t count.

unexpected getaway

I just came home from a Christmas weekend escape to a secluded cove north of Cebu. I first thought of it as an obligation; an invitation I couldn’t refuse anymore because I already ran out of excuses. It turned out to be something I much needed.

My gracious host had me fetched in the city, making me enjoy a little over two hours of road trip (I always look forward to road trips) while reveling in the music selection I stored on my phone.

A glass of freshly made lemon grass brew and a basketful of tropical fruits greeted me when I arrived at the inlet wrapped by a habitation of lush foliage. Plant-based lunch was served (yes, my host is sensitive to my food preferences) when I settled down and after savoring every spoonful of the scrumptious adobong alugbati and utan bisaya, nothing came close to a cup of coffee while indulging in the richness of nature embracing me.

I took pleasure in the songs of the waves as they gracefully danced with the sugar white sand beach of the cove down the main villa where I stayed.  My dashboard was the breath-taking view of Camotes island framed by cottons of white clouds with stains of pale blue and some shades of gray. It looks like a stone’s throw away but I know a deep channel with strong undercurrents still needs to be traversed before touching its shores.

Blissfully beautiful. A seamless seat that knows no stress.

God’s surprises are splendid. There are moments when He gives answers to needs even if they are still unrecognized…

shaping and fixing

On Abraham and Lot
Abraham didn’t mind even when he got only what’s left of the flock and the land after Lot made his choice.

On Abraham’s walk with God
He simply followed wherever God led him.

On Jacob’s life
He had to sacrifice 14 years with Laban before he finally got to have Rebecca for a wife.

On Joseph
He had a dream. He saw the vision. Yet he had to go through Egypt.

 
God’s ways are magnificent – not as senseless as our common sense.  Most of the time we don’t understand them as we go through them. We simply have to trust him.

He allows us to go through the highest of mountains and the deepest of valleys not just to shape us… but also to fix us…

another phase of uncertainty

It’s another season of uncertainty and the most spontaneous reaction of my whole system is to panic and craft a plan in desperation…

Then I’m suddenly reminded of this song I always love to sing:
How did I fail to see
You are the love that rescued me
So all I am is devoted to You…

How could I fail to see then when everything that happens to me – good or bad, desired or undesired, certain or uncertain – is crafted by no less than the One who is molding me?

When my devotion starts to falter, I know it’s a time of testing.  Of strengthening.  Of deepening.

May He give me wings that I may soar high in the midst of this yet another strong wind of uncertainty.

May I run and not be weary…

May I walk and not faint…