National Day Rally 2012 : My Feedback

Hi,

The annual National Day Rally (2012) was held yesterday (Sunday 26 August 2012). I was watched the speech enthusiastically with my wife.

Some of the pointers by the PM were something to think about. The points where he emphasised on the need to keep healthy and self-reliant as much as possible especially during the old age, and urging parents to allow their children to enjoy their childhood and preschool years and not stress them too much with academic and primary one work are excellent. But I was truly disappointed by this year's rally.

It appeared to me as though there are no Indian MPs or Ministers who are as capable enough to give the short speech together with Mr Lawrence Wong, Mdm Halimah Yakob and Mr Heng Swee Keat. It also appeared to me as thought there are no single Indian Singaporean role models (active senior citizens, youths, entrepreneurs and others) who are worth being mentioned in this year's national day rally.No Indian cultural centre development-related matters mentioned too unlike the Geylang Serai project and the proposed chinese cultural centre development beside singapore conference hall.

So, this rises the question in me about the position of Indians and their progress so far in Singapore. As in previous years and like the past PMs, this year too there were no mentions about the Indians in the national day rally. As a Singaporean, I felt sort of inspired by the consultative process that is being undertaken to write the next chapter of the Singapore's story, but as an Indian singaporean, I personally felt insulted, embarrassed and disappointed by this year's national day rally.

PM's Rally speech : http://www.channelnewsasia.com/annex/ND2012_PMLEE_ENGTEXT.pdf

Best regards

Kumaran RN

KRN Movie Review: The Dark Knight Rises

Hi,

I watched the wonderful 3 hours movie (on 28 July 2012) "The Dark Knight Rises" with my darling wife Mageswari.

This is the 7th installment of the Batman franchise and the 3rd one from Christopher Nolan which is fitting and memorable. Will there be another one in future?

Well, we may need to wait to find out, but this particular movie, like the other three predecessors, is on par in terms of its extended plots, excellent screenplay and direction. The actors who portrayed the main characters were excellent choices. The BGM was booming and added to the thrill of the movie. A hero who withholds the justice can be down but not out. A hero is in all of us. We need to believe in it and bring them out with full believe and strength especially in times of crisis. A single hero is of no use if there are no like-minded supports in terms of people. Technological gadgets help too if used creatively.

One portion of the movie that was funny was the time bomb countdown times. Like some Indian masalas, the 10 mins, 5mins and even 1min looks rather looks especially when a deep kiss can also be exchanged withing that one movie. But puting that aside, the thrill factor and the subtle messages conveyed via the movie are excellent.

My all-time favourite comic hero since young and always, Batman, rises excellently to the occassion in a motivating manner. He has always been an inspiration to me. Anyway, this is a movie worth watching in cinemas and it is worth the ticket price.

KRN Movie Review will give 4.5 stars out of 5 for The Dark Knight Rises.

Best regards.

Kumaran RN

KRN Movie Review: Billa II

Hi,

I watched Billa II with my darling wife Mageswari. A quality ganster movie in Tamil on par with a hollywood movie.

Ajit Kumar has portrayed the character Billa excellently with his acting skills, dialogue delivery, body language and style. The actors who portrayed as the villains Abbasi and Dimitri has done an excellent job especially the Dimitri guy.. so stylish and yet apt. The pace of the movie, screenplay being in focus, the special effects, the action sequences, the cinematography, the background music score and title music by Yuvan Shankar Raja and finally the direction by Chakri Toleti who also wrote the story and screenplay with a few others, are excellent and of quality. Chakri Toleti's second movie after Unnai Pol Oruvan, and he has proven that he is not a flash in the pan. The story is thin, but worth watching.

KRN Movie Review verdict: a movie worth watching and especially on the big screen with the digital sound system. I watched the digital version of the movie. I will give 4 stars out of 5.

Best regards.

Kumaran RN

A Thought-Provoking website by Gilbert Goh

Hi,

Recently in my facebook, a good friend of my Dharmendra Yadav, who himself is maintaining a thought-provoking blog entitled "Think Happiness", posted an article from the website called Transitioning.org which is maintained by Gilbert Goh.

I have read numerous comments by Gilbert in the forum pages of The Straits Times. His articles many times address the issues related to Singaporeans from the view point of a common man on the ground. Many of his articles in the website a are simple, straight and yet thought-provoking. I have began to visit the website regularly to read his latest comments. His latest on "7 Ways To Improve Population Growth" is some that was lingering in my mind for a while and he has put it in words in the right way, especially the first point on revamping the employment act.

Adding to that point, I feel that the current working 44 hours work per months should be reduced. Either the total working hours be reduced to 35-38 hours or ensure work ends at 3pm on every Wednesday and Friday. That will create more time for the couples and families to spend quality time with their loved ones.

The 44hrs work was started (I think) during the industrial revolution and when manufacturing was the main sector where productivity mattered as that was tied to the number of hours worked. In the current knowledge economy, I feel that the KPIs, quality of work and the results are more important rather than the number of hours spent in office. We all know that not all of us are continuously working the whole 44 hours. There are definitely slack times excluding lunch and tea-breaks. These are unproductive times that when saved can be used for other better and personal uses and to spend time with the loved ones and also self-improvement. I am not sure why the government still keeps on sticking to the 8 hours work days and 44 hours work month for many work sectors.

Anyway, I hope the revamp of the employment act is timely, rather late then never.

There are of course other thought-provoking articles that I like in this website written by Gilbert Goh and others too. Enjoy reading the articles. Once again it is Transitioning.org.

Best regards.

Kumaran RN

"7 Steps Goal Setting Process" by Zafar H

Hi,

I like to share an enlightening article written by my communications guru Zafar H on goal setting. It is as follows:-

A seven steps process that you can go through to set any goal whether personal or professional. To be effective, the goal you choose must include all seven of the following steps:


1. Identify your goal by writing it down

2. Set a deadline for the achievement. Put a date on it.

3. List the obstacles to overcome in accomplishing your goal.

4. Identify the people and groups you need to work with to reach your goal.

5. List the skills and knowledge required to reach your goal. (What do you need to know?)

6. Develop a plan of action to reach your goal.

7. Write down the benefits of achieving your goal. ("What is in it for me?")


On a periodic basis, it is important to re-evaluate your goals to make certain that they are in alignment with what you truly value and want out of life. Remember, goal-setting is a life-long process. Once you have completed one goal, be sure to replace it with something else. This way you will always reap the benefits that goal-setting provides.

Whether or not people ever reach their goals they have set, people who set big, long-range goals have been found to have higher self-confidence, higher self-esteem, and greater personal motivation. The bottom line is that more than half the rewards and benefits achieved from goal-setting come from actually taking your first step in that direction, regardless of the consequences. ++ Zafar H

Best regards.

Kumaran RN

My Toastmasters Speech: What is Happiness To You ?

Hi,

Are you happy with your life now, this moment?

If you are then join me and laugh out loud ! (HAHAHAHAHA)

Are you happy now ?

Good evening Toastmaster of the Evening, fellow toastmasters and friends.

You would have heard about the Gross National Happiness Index and the New Economic Foundation's Happy Planet Index in the year 2006 that ranked Singapore very low together with other countries like Australia and USA.

We would also have read about Bhutan that has the highest Gross National Happiness even though many in the country still live in the rural areas of the country and have limited access to technology. There were also discussions on forums, think-tanks and politicians on the need to improve Singapore’s Gross National Happiness index.

The issues on happiness are slowly becoming an important national and international matter. There is also a website dedicated to happiness (www.happiness.com) that lists the 10 life characteristic and practices that can make a person happy by following them. It may not also be a surprise if new certificate, diploma, degree or even doctorate studies on happiness may be started in the near future. It may even become a big money spinner and a hype thing to associate with. Happy theme parks, clubs, dedicated television channels, and the list can go on and on.

Let us pause for a moment now.

Let us ponder :-

• Can happiness be measured?

• Can laughing alone make a person happy?

Happiness is subjective and there are no measuring tools or specific indices that can be used to measure happiness as one person’s happiness may not be another person’s happiness.

Of course there are people who like to be made happy but they will not make another person happy. There are also people who like to make another person happy without expecting any favours.

"Experience praises the most happy the one who made the most people happy." -- Karl Marx

"As for happiness, it is not something you experience, it's something you remember" --Mark Twain

How true.

Everyday, let us do something that will make us happy. If the action is evil-related, then do also understand that for every action there is an equal an opposite reaction. So be ready to face the consequences of your action that made you happy.

I know what is happiness to me. Do you know what is happiness to you ?

Toastmasters of the evening.

(yet to present this speech)

Best regards.

Kumaran RN

My Toastmsters Speech: Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion

Hi,

I hate being here ! I hate this room ! I hate you all ! You all make me sick ! AAAAAHHHHH !!!!!!

(show your back to audience)

(turn back and face the audience coolly)

Good evening to the club president, fellow toastmasters and friends.

How did you feel when I threw so many HATE words around this room ?

I am sure many of you felt like giving your piece of mine to me.. not literally though!

And knowing the way I behaved – what do you think .. I was ready to accept the reaction?

YES,… I should ! Because That is what Newton’s 3rd law of motion states and this law is not only for motion but it is applicable to our daily lives too.

So what is Newton’s 3rd law of motion … For Every Action, There Is An Equal And Opposite Reaction.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen. When I threw out the Hate words just now, I am sure many of your hated me and I should be prepared to accept the reaction or consequence to that action.

When we start to walk or even talk, is there a opposite reaction ? Oh yes ! we lose our energy. When we say or think negative words, what we will get back will be negative reactions, and positive thoughts and words will bring back positive reactions. When I understood this concept I had a better understanding of the book “Think and Grow Rich”.

The reactions maybe immediate, … if you have been strangers, I am sure you would thrown something at me for being so rude … OR the reaction maybe within hours, days, weeks or even years, but we will definitely get back a reaction like a ball bouncing back to us when we throw it on a hard ball. What goes around will come around because For Every Action, There Is An Equal And Opposite Reaction.

That is why the wise people tell us to think before you say or do something. This is not always possible but we should always keep in mind Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion and that is (as the audience)……

You are right. Regardless of whether we belief in karma or not prepared to accept the consequences of our actions, we will still have face the consequence of our actions.

We start saving some of our income, it will be helpful to us someday. When we eat more unhealthy food, that will lead to obesity or other illness in future (diabetes, heart problems and so on). If you treat our employees and colleagues properly and motivate them, then we may get better benefits back to ourselves and even our company. If we treat our friends and employees badly, then we will get that reaction back one day like for example : when we need help on a crucial project, the colleagues may not cooperate, resignation of our key employee, sabotages from employees, and many more.

That is MAY also be how we behave to our friends, family and those around us.

Imagine if we are nice , kind and courteous to others .. they are also going to behaving the same way to us. So, ladies and gentlemen, please repeat after me :-

I accept the reactions to my actions (3x). 3 is too much ! Try once if the response is not too good another time max twice)

See! When I asked you all nicely, you obliged. Thank you.

I like you all.

That is the universal law. That is Newton’s 3rd Law.

For Every Action, There IS An Equal And Opposite Reaction.

Toastmasters of the evening.

(January 2008)

Best regards.

Kumaran RN

My Toastmasters Speech: The Real Secret of Winning

Hi,

Do you want to know the secret of Winning? Do you want to know the REAL secret of winning?

You would have all heard many Secrets of Winning, but let me share with you the REAL secret.

Gd evening Mr. President, Toastmaster of the Evening, fellow toastmasters and friends.

Once when I was in Primary School, on the eve of children’s day, we were having sports day and many of my fellow students and friends who had participated were getting prizes for their participation. While looking at these, my sister and I started to feel sad that we were not getting prizes.

After the event, my sister and I walked home. My mother was waiting for us at the lift landing. When my sister and I saw her, we ran to her crying. My loving mother, hugged and consoled us.

“Amma, all our friends got prizes and we didn’t get anything” I told my mum and continued crying more than my sister.

“It’s ok. I will get you prizes. Don’t cry.” Said my mum My sister stopped crying but me I was still crying . . Okay I may have been a cry baby.

My mother looked at me and smiled. Then she said, “My boy, How do you expect to get a prize if you have not even participated ??? if you had participated, then you would had won prizes. Let’s go home. Don’t cry.” Her gentle words calmed me and reduced my tears.

That night, what she said rang in my mind... “…if you had participated…”

Participation, ladies and gentlemen.. How could I have won a prize if I did not even participate.?!

Then, when I was in Primary 6, we had a song competition among our classmates organised by my Tamil teacher. I had prepared hard and well for the competition, singing in front of my parents and sister. When I went to the front of the classroom, I started to feel a little nervous. I controlled it and sang the chorus. When I was a quarter way through, I paused. (action : as if I forgotten the song) This is what I did. I knew the song well, but still I somehow seemed to have forgotten the song. Then mumbled the rest of the song fast and went back to my seat. My sister stared at me – I looked back at her blankly. Nervousness and Fear got the better of me - I did not win anything too.

How could I ? I was disappointed. I had participated and yet I did not win a prize. What happened.? I did prepare well but on the day it counts I did not deliver my best.

After that experience I didn’t get any chance to sing on stage until I reached Junior college. This time – my experience from my earlier days told me participating and preparing well is not enough - I needed to be focused and give my Best And you know what – I started to win prizes.

Ladies and gentlemen, when we mix all the necessary ingredients and bake a cake, the outcome that satisfies us is when the cake turns out Great! That’s the winning feeling.

Participation is only the first step to winning. The icing on the cake is winning the prize! So what is the Real secret of winning …? Doing YOUR BEST!

So ladies and gentlemen – to put yourself on the road to winning – participate, take part, be involved – whatever the endeavour is And when you are participating make sure you are giving your best That is the wholly baked cake which many times tastes better even without icing.

Now I have the winner mindset because now I just don’t participate, but also ensure I do my best.

Will you do your best too? Toastmasters of the evening

(November 2007)

Best regards.

Kumaran RN

My Toastmasters Speech: The Positive Why

Hi,

Why? Why ? Why?

Why am I here? Why? Am I doing the project today ..?

Gd evening to the club president , fellow toastmasters and friends … Ladies and Gentlemen, have you ever wondered WHY ? asking positive WHY is important?

“To be or not to be.. that is the question”, according to Shakespeare, but “Why” is the more important question.

How many times today did you ask “why” that will lead you to a positive outcome? What did you feel after asking it ?

The positive “why” is a powerful question and it is the mother all of inventions and discoveries. If Galileo Galilee, Benjamin Franklin, Sir Isaac Newton, Thomas Alva Edison, Michael Faraday, Albert Einstein, Alexander Graham Bell and many other scientists and inventors had not kept on asking “why” after “why”, then we will still be living in caves in the dark looking at each other. If Sir Stamford Raffles and then Mr Lee Kwan Yew have not asked that positive “why”, then Singapore will still be a fishing village and way smaller than what it is actually today.

If I had not asked that positive “why”, then I would not had taken the first step to join the Toastmaster Club and speak in front of you.

Do you know that by asking a positive “why”, we can make our lives better ? Let me share with you the POWER of asking positive Why?

Isaac Asimov and Sir Arthur C. Clarke mentioned in their numerous science-fiction stories about man-like robots, (Cyborgs) ruling the world one day. That fiction has already become true and we have been seeing the cyborgs for many years now living, breathing and eating among us. I am talking about the many of us hom we know who, have been going through the motion and carrying on their same old daily routines happily day in day out without questioning or pausing to ask a positive “why” to see that important improvements in their lives and those around them.

Why are we doing this way ? Why can’t it be done another way ? Why must we speak in this way? Why is he or she behaving this way to us ? Why are we behaving such to others? Why why why ?

Just by asking “why”, your mind becomes curious and keeping up the curiosity will lead your brain / mind to work on getting the solutions. That process not only keeps your brain and mind active but your whole body healthy.

When you ask “why”, it is important that it should lead you to a more positive outcome than a negative one. If you ask “Why must I be alive?” and start to plan for suicide, then that is a “ negative why”. Instead, if you ask “Why can’t I have a better live?”, then this will lead you to thinking of ways to make you a more positive person and leading you to achieve your goals in life.

Now we know asking ourselves positive "Why?"s Can bring about positive changes that can improve the life for us and those around us.

Lets keep our inquisitive part of our mind active always – asking why? Is not only for the child – but for the child in all of us!

So, ladies and gentleman ask “why” and the truth for a better living shall be revealed to you as the truth is out there for you to discover and benefit.

Why Do I have to end my speech now?

Toastmasters of the evening

(August 2007)

Best regards.

Kumaran RN

My Toastmasters Speech: My Most Favourite Course

Hi,

We have all been attending courses throughout our lives. Some courses, we like. Some courses, we don’t like. Some courses, we are forced to attend. Some courses, we are willing to attend. Some are expensive and some are very affordable. Some we pay out of our pockets (cash, credit card, cheque or NETS) and some are sponsored.

I, too, have attended numerous courses. Many are for free which means the investment is time and energy. Of all the courses I have attended so far, there is this course which I have grown to like, so much that it has become my most favourite course. Sexual Intercourse you may think, but that is my second most favourite course, and after marriage, it has been only with my wife. So, what is this favourite course?

I have been attending this course since the day I was made to realise that it is to be treated as a course and not a stress or burden. Although, I started to accept it as a course only after some enlightenments by some people like my parents, especially my mother, some of my teachers, friends, situations and recently some books and visual media. Only recently, I have started to like and have fun with this course.

This course has many modules and tests after tests. It is stressful sometimes. It is enjoyable other times. You need to pay for some of the modules and some modules are free. Some modules and accompanying tests can cause so much stress and pain that sometimes, it may lead one to the extreme end of life – death to himself/herself or others near him/her.

I remember watching this Batman cartoon where he will answer to his sidekick on a particular incident, “When there is a will, there is a way.” That is the mantra I say to myself when I encounter such challenging modules and tests of the course. That mantra, too, I started to apply only after the year 2001 when I had a heart-breaking love break-off and being unemployed for a year after encountering my first retrenchment.

I encountered two subsequent retrenchments too and still I carried on with the course taking other modules and tests. Sometimes I do fail my tests and had to retake the tests. That have many times gave me better results than before. That is how I got my lovely wife. That is how I met and got linked with great friends like Zafar. That is how I am where I am now talking to you.

When will I graduate form this course ? Well, there is still a very long way to go and that time will come one day. Until then I have to complete some other modules and tests I am being presented to.

What is this course I am taking about? You would have guessed by now. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, my most favourite course is called "Experience".

We all have experiences and it has many modules and accompanying tests. So, we can pass and get over them only when we learn a thing or two from them. If not we maybe required to retake them.

I have come to a point and realisation that experience is good and that is invaluable course that life have given to me.

(March 2007)

Best regards

Kumaran RN

Thank you Zafar H and Toastmasters Club

Hi,

Its been a long time since I updated this blog of mine. I was caught up with my facebook account and the updates and article/thoughts sharing were happening there. It still continues there but I thought of maintaining my blog continuously too especially for those who do not have a facebook account or not in my "Friends" list.

I thought of sharing some my toastmasters club speeches that I had delivered during my stint at Whampoa Toastmasters Club (Singapore). Toastmasters club is something I will strongly recommend to anyone who wants to improve his or her communication skills and their confidence in communicating. It helped me so much and all thanks to my communications guru Zafar H who himself is an award-winning speaker and an active toastmasters club member and participant for many years now. I did not continue due to my work schedules and personal commitment but I am always grateful to Zafar and toastmasters club for improving my communication skills, the confidence in delivering a speech and off-the-cuff (table-topics) speeches especially when caught off-guard. The evaluation skills I learnt in toastmasters club is excellent too and I still follow their "Evaluate to Motivate" motto when I have to evaluate someone - formally or informally.

Though I only completed 6 projects and had 4 more to attain the Competent Toastmaster title, I am confident that I will join a club in the new future and completed all the 10 projects even if I have to redo the first 6 projects again. I will be more than glad to do it.

In my following blog posts, I will share my past speeches.

Best regards.

Kumaran RN