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How is a high school volleyball tournament similar to the corporate world? During a varsity volleyball tournament in Manila some years back, I came away convinced we could learn a thing or two about leadership from our kids. My daughter made varsity volleyball in her junior year at high school. This gave her the opportunity to play in the volleyball circuit against other international schools in the region. We arrived in Manila, in a mix of emotions – curious, anxious yet exc

Many of us are familiar with the popular meal option at coffee shops and food courts here in Malaysia - Nasi Campur or mixed rice. The excitement of checking out the spread of dishes, and then selecting what we want to go with a serving of plain rice is something that many of us look forward to. The spread is usually the same – from delicious meats to succulent seafoods, delicate tofu to various crunchy root and leafy vegetables. We are in awe of the variety, a little overwh

What do you do when a beggar approaches you for a dollar? When was the last time that you donated to a charity without being asked? To what extent will you help a friend in need? When do the seeds of generosity get planted in us? My growing up years were especially challenging. My father was a gambling addict, never able to hold down a steady job for a long time. We lived on his unstable income which was never enough. My mother took on part-time jobs to help make ends meet.

“Words are just words. They won’t hurt you,” we tell our children when they have been hurt by the callous words of another child. We just shrug it off when someone admonishes us. Or under the banner of `truth’, we brush it off because it’s the truth at all costs. If you think about it, fights have been started, revolutions have been ignited and relationships torn apart over words. The tongue can be both a blessing and a curse. So why are we still so careless with what we

I’ve often been asked this question and have pondered over it long and hard. It’s easy to be happy when life is good and everything’s going my way. But when life gets complicated, when I feel overwhelmed or experience grief, it’s easy to give up and question the pursuit of happiness. To me, it’s really a choice, an attitude towards life. And it comes with taking charge of my own life and being grateful for what I already have. Here are what my fellow coaches and facilitato

A Year of Growth Amy looked at her sales team with great pride and satisfaction. She had just announced that their targets for the year had been met and this looked like another year poised for growth and success. There had been cheers round the room and it made all the hard work that everyone had put in so worthwhile. But the situation had not always been this rosy. When she first took on the job as Sales Director a year ago, Amy had wondered if she had made a mistake.Chao

by Valerie Lim<br>When I was living in Shanghai, I was fascinated by the lovely doors that I’d pass by each day. Intricate carvings, brass handles, multicoloured hues and shades, and the lovely patina of aged wood would often catch my eye. When I was not caught up in the mad rush of people and errands, I would take the opportunity to capture some of these doors on my humble phone camera..