SimplifyLife

Kite flying

MikeAaron — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 13:12:42 +0000

Good parenting requires an understanding of the basic techniques of kite flying. You must hold on to the string that keeps your kite where you want it to be, yet learn to release the line just enough for the kite to explore the world by the currents of the wind.

Your children will explore the world, whether you like it or not. They will go to places and do things that you may never have done in your life. The string that holds them in check and keeps them safe when they were young, will eventually need to be cut so that they can live their own lives.

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Think Different – Be The Master of Simplicity

MikeAaron — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:47:01 +0000

Of all the lessons and wisdom that Steve Jobs had shared with the world, perhaps the greatest of them all is his obsession with bringing simplicity to all Apple products. From product and packaging design, ad campaigns, and physical and online store design, Apple is the epitome of simplicity in this complex world and the people love it!

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The Luxury of Space

MikeAaron — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 08:03:08 +0000

Having been living in a 146 sq m home for over a decade, I realized I have taken the luxury of space for granted. Looking at the current prices of HDB apartments where home buyers got to pay over $600,000 for an under 90sq m apartment at the fringe of the city, it finally hit home.

The ordinary bloke really have to prioritize the value of space vs location, because these two parameters run in different dimensions. If you value space more than location, than you may have to be satisfied with getting a place further from the city. If you value location, than you must be prepared to pay more but yet own only a “shoe box” apartment in the city. Unless of course if you are well heeled, then you can have it all.

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Remember Everything

MikeAaron — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 04:41:16 +0000

Getting organized has never been easier. With my very capable assistant, iPhone, and making full use of free tools and resources such as Evernote, I’m able to record audio and visual notes, type in critical follow ups during meetings, and create shopping lists, etc. Retrieving all these information and records is a breeze by searching relevant tags.

There are many useful apps in AppStore such as Awesome Notes, Simple Note, etc that you may want to explore. My personal preference is Evernote for it’s beautiful interface and cross platform syncing capabilities.

Are you under-using your smartphone? You should explore using your smartphone for purposes other than visiting social media sites.

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Slow down and you will see beauty in the most common places

MikeAaron — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:11:15 +0000

One of the art pieces on Singapore’s rapid transit station.

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Results Only Work Environment

MikeAaron — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 05:41:24 +0000

MikeAaron | SimplifyLife

Are you really working when you are in office?

I came across this story posted on Tim Ferris’s 4-hour work week website.

Some food for thought with these questions…

Isn’t it funny that we rush to work everyday and then spend the first hour at our desk reading the paper and drinking coffee?

Isn’t it funny that if you’re done with your work for the day at four, you can’t just leave? Why do you have to stay that extra hour and pretend to be busy?

Why do we assume that time = productivity instead of talking about the kind of results the person is actually getting?

Why do we talk about people being “out of the office” when everyone is reachable by cell phone or e-mail?

Once people start to challenge the absurdities of the workplace, they start to realize that there is no reason why they can’t deliver results on their own terms. The ripple effect a ROWE creates in a team, department or organization is huge, but the core idea is very simple.

It really makes sense to me. The endless unproductive meetings that we find ourselves sitting in are simply wasting away our precious time.

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Feeling alive ‘cos life is exciting?

MikeAaron — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 05:30:27 +0000

MikeAaron | SimplifyLife

Life is exciting!

The beginning of new lifestyle is exciting as well as unnerving. But it sure means having to get use to the new routine and adapting to the flow and what little surprises that are thrown upon you.

Having a great partner and wife who sees to the nitty gritty of logistics certainly helps!

The demands from career and work still need to be managed well. And in this area, I am glad I have always been a positively charged person and one who possess a high tolerance for stress. And stress to a certain extend is an extension and source of excitement. I have learnt to embrace it.

Life is full of excitement, it is whether you feel it.

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Let the dust settles

MikeAaron — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 05:37:21 +0000

MikeAaron | SimplifyLife

Let the dust settle

The 4 cornered fight had drawn to an exciting close. The results were not surprising as Singaporeans are a pragmatic people. As the out-going President aptly remarked that Singaporeans may have gripes, but they will make sensible decisions at the polls.

Now we shall let the dust settles and life in our politically maturing island will go back to business as usual, carving out a livelihood and ensuring that our next generation will lead better lives.

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Basic Instinct

MikeAaron — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:54:26 +0000

MikeAaron | SimplifyLife

Never assume that all pet dogs are docile

You may want to believe that your pet dog is your best friend and that pebble will never do anything to harm any member of your family, nor any human being. The following story I read reinforced what I have always felt. No matter how close you are to your pet dog, it is after all an animal, no matter how domesticated it is and how much effort you have trained and socialized it with humans, pebble’s behaviour is ruled by basic instinct. http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_705046.html

Although in that story a rottweiler had snapped and killed a silky terrier that crossed path with it, it could well been a toddler wobbling towards the 40kg canine, and for unknown reasons, bitten and killed by one bite. The owners of the two dogs may argue over this and push blame on each other, but only the attacking mutt will truly know what provoked the deadly attack.

Never take your pet dog for granted. A canine can and will inflict mortal wounds to any human if provoked at their basic instinct. Never leave your baby unattended and unsupervised with your pet pooch.

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Who will you vote?

MikeAaron — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 01:06:39 +0000

MikeAaron | SimplifyLife

Who will you vote?

Now that we have 4 candidates to choose from, some may find this even more challenging to cast their vote compared to the General Election.

But, it is not that complicated.

First, you should establish your own criteria for a President. The criteria would include both subjective and rational considerations of your choice. Let nobody tell you what they must be. However, I can bet that within your criteria, one of which would be whether a candidate can pass your visual and auditorial criteria for a President. Does he look like a President? Does he sound like a President? There is Chinese saying that a person may be wearing a royal robe, but still looks like a eunuch. Although this may not be politically correct statements to make, we are humans and can be excused for using abit of “discrimination” in our assessment for a future President.

The rational criteria will depend on your personal values and believes of what kind of politics you want to have a hand in shaping. All 4 candidates have made their stand very clear about what they want to bring to the Presidential office. If you want more opposing views and a person who will not bow to the government, you know the candidate whom have stepped up from an opposition party. If you want more consensus building approach in a President, you know the candidate whom have proposed to establish his own Presidential Council comprising people from wide spectrum of the society. If you want a President whom will fight for Singaporeans’ rights and “Singaporeans first” approach, you have seen and heard the candidate whom had headed the first Feedback channel of the PAP government. A candidate whom has no qualms in speaking out in Parliament against some of the policies whom he felt strongly against while being a PAP MP. If you want a time tested politician whom have the personal network and experience in dealing with the Singapore government as well as foreign government, a person whom have the financial literacy and capabilities to undertake one of the key roles of a President in being the custodian of Singapore’s reserves, it seems that there is only ONE.

The choice can be as clear as crystal, if you know what you are looking for. May the force be with you on voting day.

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