I am extending my invitation to you...

I'm not sure how effective is it for me to announce here, but nevertheless, I'd still try.

PA Humourous Speech Contest 2009 - Finals

It is happening on 3rd October 2009, which also falls on Mid-Autum Festival, how auspicious is that?
Details as follows :-

Event : 6th People's Association Humourous Speech Contest 2009
Date : 3rd October 2009
Time : 1 - 5pm
Venue : Cheng San Community Club

Why you want to be there? To be entertained by the best 12 humourous speakers. Be there so you can be inspired, and to learn from the better speakers who has the ability to make people laugh.

Humour is not an easy thing to learn, just ask around you. If people describe your personality trait as 'humourous', I'm sure you'll be a people magnet.

Don't you want to become a 'people magnet'?

The uncles

Right after my test today, I made my way to a meeting. A meeting that is, in my opinion, not a productive one. Sometimes, I really admire my own patience to sit through that. But if I skipped it, I may not get the information that I need in order to draft my Emcee script for this Saturday's event. That, is perhaps working towards my goal, to take every opportunity I can.

After the meeting ended, the committee members adjourned to a coffee session at a nearby coffeeshop. Usually, I would decline and make my way home. But tonight, I decided to accept the invitation and join the uncles. Well, I called them uncles because they are old enough to be. It is not easy to be the only young lady hanging out with them, but this move to step out of my comfort zone seems beneficial. It is an eye-opener, to learn what these successful businessmen talk about in their 'coffee session'. Current issues, social and welfare, investment, politics and of course, about their businesses. I wasn't able to contribute much to those topics, but I was happy to listen and learn. And that itself, is perhaps one way to network and to let more people know about me, and make my presence felt.

This, is a young girl trying to make her way in this complicated business world.

What is your dream?

Someone asked me yesterday, what would I want to be in future? This question is no stranger. But my answers to this question is usually ambiguous. The truth is, I am afraid to say it out, for fear that I would be laughed at. That's normal right? I have this fear because my dreams seem quite impossible at times, and that I'm afraid I would never be able to achieve it. Or along the way, I might change my mind and decide to do something else. So I would rather keep it to myself, so I won't be laughed at even if I don't achieve it at the end.

But I decided to come clean, because I think I need more motivation. This motivation might come from people that I do not know now.And people who happen to read my blog might read my mind, and give me that little push. To friends who read this, don't laugh at me even if I don't become what I hope to be. Dreams are far fetch at times, but it means alot to me. My dreams keep me sane and remind me that I do not want to just become an ordinary someone.

So here it goes.... and its a list of stuffs.

I want to be a good public speaker, I want to become a trainer in my own field, that is the General Insurance Field. I want to become a good emcee at events, and I hope to be the emcee of as many friends' wedding as possible. I want to be a translator and become proficient in English, Mandarin and Korean. And last of all, I hope to find someone who will stay beside me and give me the support that I need while I work at achieving these dreams.

I just said it, i hope it sounds ok.

Now I just need to work on it.

What do you measure success with?

The type of car you drive? The size your wallet is? The type of house you own? The number of credit cards you have? The size of your bling? The brand of bag you carry?

Material luxuries are merely by-products of wealth, in my opinion, but they are not enough to drive me to work hard. I don't like to work like a cow for the sake of a LV bag, its too shallow, and yeah.... makes me look like a stupid cow. To materialistic girls out there, you either work like a stupid cow, or made your boyfriends and husbands looked like one. Just don't put your 'standards' on me.... don't piss me off like that.
Yes, I do look forward to such material wealth, but they don't drive me. I am more than that.

Go away you shallow bimbo.

Life's a blur

I am dead beat. My day to day is too long and stretch too far.

Reach office by 8.15am....worked all the way to 6.30pm and off to school. Dinner is always junk food because I don't have time to sit down and have a meal.
Then classes stretch all the way to 9.45pm, reach home about 10.45pm, ate some 'dinner' which is real late. Played with Joy a bit, time is already 11.45pm. Online time usually takes up 1 hour. Assignments and projects and revision and other what-not that I have on hand.

Mum is complaining that I am not keeping my mountain of laundry and tidying up my mountain of books and magazines. The thing is.... I really don't have the time and energy to do it. I don't even have the time to read my subsciptions of reader digest, club pet mag and soka times etc.
I think I am more tired than the average housewife who does everything in the home.
I am dead beat, who can understand?

I need your help

I am collecting some data for my school project, will really appreciate if you can help me out with a survey. I promise you, this will not take up more than 10 minutes of your time.
Click Here to take survey
I will also be really grateful if you can help me to circulate this link to increase my sample size.

Kamsahamida! (Thank you)

The Importance of networking

Some people has the fear of  networking events, especially when you know that you do not know 99% of the people there. I am fairly new in my area of work, hence I do not know many people within the industry. But when I was invited to a cocktail party for a work-related event, I immediately knew that I MUST go. I think tonight's event has been fruitful for me. Being there to link the names that I know of to their faces, and getting the hierachy right.

So what do you do when you are mingling in a room full of strangers? I realised that so long I appear relaxed, smile alot, and just helping myself with the food, people would come to talk to me.

Networking is not as frightening as most people think of, it is a effective marketing tool to 'market' yourself.

The Alpha Female, 我是个大女人

Someone has pointed out to me that I am the female version of 大男人. The best English term to describe this would probably be 'the alpha female'. Honestly, I have never thought of this. Maybe they are right, such conclusion must have derived from their observation of me.

And come to think of it, I am not that 'family-oriented'. To ask me to conform into a traditional 'wife-fy' material like child bearing and home making is almost impossible. I have the 'prerequisites' of a wife, I know how to cook, wash, clean and teach. But its all trained up because of my upbringing. If I have a choice, I won't mind the SO (significant other) taking care of the household. Just like what men these days expect of their wife -- earn a decent income and taking care of the house plus child bearing, I would place the same set of expectations on the SO. He not only has to work and get a decent income, he has to get home after work and transform into the 'househusband'. Bravo!

But if such men do exist, they must surely be 'out-of-stock' already. Because they're a rare commodity.

No time for exercise? exscuses is the culprit

In the midst of H1N1 and what not viruses that are spreading around, I did my best to keep healthy so that I don't fall sick easily. My office is a 'sick building' now, everyone around me is coughing non stop. And its hard not to spread the virus because we are all cooped up in an air-conditioned office environment. My busy schedule does not permit me to fall sick and still get by. Hence, I really need to keep vigilant.

This morning, I woke up at 5.30am! This is a victory for me! Because I am mostly nocturnal and am a heavy sleeper. Why the hell did I wake up so early for? To get my arse off for yoga lessons in the morning at 7am. Unbelievable? I couldn't believe it too. Anyway, the yoga class work wonders for me. For the first time, Monday doesn't feel that blue, really! My energy level kept up for most of the day, except for that drowsy after lunch moment. Woohoo.... I love it man!

I think I can keep up with this madness schedule, waking up so god damn early is a miracle for me.

Follow me on Twitter

I have just signed up for a twitter account. It's hard not to, just like facebook and friendster in the past. Social media is improving at such breakneck speed that I have to jump on before I get kick out. Afterall, I do belong to the Y-Generation. So if you have decided to get a twitter account, do look me up! http://twitter.com/lamlani

Out of order

Definition from 'Idioms and Phrases', dictionary.com :
Not functioning well, not operating properly or at all.

Clocked too much mileage and raced too much in the terrains. Needs to be send in to the workshop!
I need a brrrrreak,

How time flies

How apt is my title? Very. I was reminded that 2010 is only about 4 months away and I really got a shock from it. No joke! Perhaps because I am still dreaming and living in 2008 / 2009. And that millennium year 2000 seem to be over just a few years back. But no.... it's gonna be a decade.

At age 26, I can still stubbornly label myself belonging to 'mid twenties'. Now that I am approaching 27... the word 'mid' would have to change to 'late'.

Well well well.... the next 4 months would be madness for me in any case. When I'm busy and numb with so much work, I would not have time to dwell on this fact.

Goodnight.

The Routine starts again

Let's have a look at my schedule from Monday through Friday, after getting off from work.

Monday - School
Tuesday - Korean Class
Wednesday - School
Thursday - nothing (but something is always filled on that day, since other days are blocked)
Friday - Advance speechcraft (3 more Friday evenings to go)
Saturday - emcee-ing
Sunday - touch base with my comrades

lalalalala.... I am not getting much rest with such schedule, but somehow I am just happy.

I am going to Emcee a PA event this coming Saturday, this is already outside my comfort zone. Because the audience are experienced public speakers. I am getting a little jittery, at the same time excited. Will I do well? Or will I crash and burn? But nothing will get me down, I will treasure this airtime because if I handle this well, I can take on a bigger challenge the next time. Even if I flop, its a good lesson.

Hwaiting!