iPhone Experiences

 Hello all. I have something to share kaaaa! 

Yesterday, my friend and I went to the Apple Central World to have some good experiences to share as follows ka:

1. Apple has its superb systems with quality assistants ka. Definitely, in such a high-end place, they expect both local and foreign customers. Since iPhone15 has just arrived, lots visited the store.....the assistants were obviously busy yet, they were highly helpful, efficient with one-stop service, and those serving foreigners were really fluent speaking English....I was really happy (and proud) ka. Wish to know how they train these young staff too loei ka.

2. Selling older models was prompt and if the model is far too old, we could give it (and the case) to them for recycling ka. The registered outdated iphones were nicely sealed in paper bags back to an overseas Apple station (too bad I didn't ask where it is ka). The recycling process is mainly done by an AI called Daisy ka.The assistant thanked us for helping lessen global warming too ka.

3. One more experience was to observe my friend who agreed to sell her previous iphone online and managed to meet with the buyer onsite kaa. These days, we don't need any informal or formal  relationship whatsoever but old generations like me had some doubts whether we could trust the buyer lae ka. It went so well ka. He came to meet my friend, asked several questions, tested key functions, scanned her QR to pay, and then picked up the phone and left ka. Just like that! Guess it's a matter of getting used to it a little more if I have to manage online selling like this ka.

Real Leadership

 Hello all. I'm finally feeling very happy, knowing what to share this week, even it's Saturday ka.

Honestly, I was thinking of talking about a musical I saw Thursday but it wasn't as good as expected so I kept wondering what to write about. For me, it's still strange to keep thinking of what to share every week. I guess after over 2 decades of writing literally every week, I'm kind of committed to doing it na ka. 

I've been going back and forth to listen to David Novak podcast episode July 6, 2023, interviewing Dr. Bob Grossman M.D. as I'm preparing my talk for one of our medical schools sometime later this year ka. When I first listened to it, what caught my attention was his idea about elevators but I didn't get to read more about him. Anyway, long story short, here's what I've learned from both the podcast show and reading several articles (including Bob Grossman's interview on Forbes back to 2019) ka.

- Be bold earlier on

In this case, Dr. Grossman eliminated a whole level of management, firing 5 people on the first day he assumed office, including the President and Senior Vice President of the Hospital, the Senior Vice President of the School of Medicine, the Senior Vice President of Human Resources, and the Chief Medical Officer.

Far too bold? He was reasoning that they only wanted to maintain the status quo ka. As an insider, he has known who is who!

 

- Be aspired to inspire 

Dr. Bob Grossman wanted to aspire for world class performance so he tried to create a new organization culture of yearning for excellence based on patient-centric approach, accountability, lean, agile and flat organization (open system with no management layers), etc. 

He showed it with accountabilitywhen he was a department head of Neuroradiology to turn it around to be one of the best. His past successful records could be why he was chosen even when he didn't really have any business degree ka. I've learned this new keyword ka....'ether of ambiguity' and this is from the Forbes interview, which reads, 'I wanted to eliminate what I call the ether of ambiguity, the data free atmosphere wherein people are not accountable for their performance'.

-  Steer directions through the big picture and smaller yet, crucial issues

He mentioned his organization as a 747 without control power to see huge deficits every year while facilities were really old. The story I like goes here ka:

It was about the elevators that became an issue because they were so old that doctors and nurses were reluctant to visit their patients since it could take like 20 minutes one way. When it seemed impossible to have new ones in place inside the buildings, he got some contributions to have new ones installed outside the buildings.

- Break the silos with Values and recruitment

Everyone in the administration would wear two hats, one for the school and one for the hospital. He said, 'treat everyone at the medical center with the same amount of respect, whether it was the CEO, the specialist surgeon, the cafeteria staff, or the custodians.' He brought in only people who wanted to be the best, meaning that mediocrity was unacceptable.

The values are PRIDE -- P-Performance, R-Respect, I-Integrity, D-Diversity, E-Excellence ka.

Let me stop here ka. If you wish to listen, go to How Leaders Lead with David Novak, July 6, 2023 at this link:

https://spotify.link/OBvEAOfPjDb

Happy weekend na ka. I'm now very happy and so eager to work more on my talk too.

Inner self through Satir Model

 Hello hello all! Have something I'm excited about to share ka....you say 'what else is new?' plao ka 5555!

Late last week, I attended a three-day training to learn about 'Satir Model', highly recommended by my two nieces ka. Let me put it into 4 categories ka:

1. What is Satir model?  It's the methodology developed by Virginia Satir (founder and leading catalyst in the evolution of experiential family therapies). The model helps us learn about the relationship with our own selves, with others, and with the contexts around us. All mean to make us aware, understand, get over some of the issues to eventually make us happier ka.

2. Who led the workshop? By two experienced psychiatrists ka, one from Med school, Rama, and the other from med school, Chula who managed the sessions for 29 participants who were from diverse backgrounds, from medical doctors and pilates trainer to HR officers and a retiree like me ka.

My niece asked me if I was the oldest in the class. The answer was....good thing one ajarn was older kaaa!

3. What did I learn?

- What makes us happy is to realize our real needs which offer positive energy to our heart. We all deserve to be happier and it depends on our own decisions. 

- We should learn to trace our feelings better, not focusing on thinking and reasoning only.

- Some issues and pains were deeply embedded in our childhood and it would be healthier to tackle the key ones with increased understanding to become happier.

- Looking back to my childhood and family relationships before I was 18 years old enabled me to see more details and how our family of 8 (Mom and Dad, and my 5 siblings) interacted with and among each other ka. 

I consider myself much luckier than others. My real needs could include simplicity in life, good relationships, and social responsibility, I also learned more clearly why I love freedom and become quite creative. It was because of the upbringing with much fewer conditions ka.

4. One touching story

Even with lots of many touching stories shared, what is hanging on my mind is this one ka:

The more senior ajarn told us about her experience taking a cab back to the time when she was younger with only like 4,000+ baht salary. Then, she became restless as the old driver drove far too slowly for her to go back to Rama hospital well in time so she decided to talk with him. She learned then he had to drive again to earn a living for three grandkids after their parents were killed in an accident. He found it quite challenging when schools requested more money for extra classes. 

Before she got off, she gave the cab driver an envelope with 3,000 baht, telling him to use the money when there were extra expenses. He reluctantly accepted it after Ajarn said she was a doctor and she could earn some more later.

Ajarn said if she couldn't think of any nice story during her last transition, this could be the one ka.

Besides feeling very touched, what she said at the end hit me hard ka.

What good story to my heart would I think of if I were in my transition? 

I can't think of it yet and am still thinking ka!

Happy Wednesday na ka.

Green-hearted leaders

 Happy Thursday ka.....thinking of today's color which is orange and feeling amused how it could have been more fun to write yesterday to fit with my sharing on 'green world advocate from actions' ka. 

Very me mai ka? Link ไปด้ายยย 5555!

As usual these few years, I listen to podcast shows quite a bit during the day. Today, the eight-half program hits me with its mentioning of 'leadership' ka.

In fact, Khun ต้อง กวีวุฒิ shares gists from the book he's read, 'Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman' back to 2006 which is still very true and progressive, considering how Yvon Chouinard, the author, has all along held to his heart the awareness and actions of being environmentally responsible.

As a climber and environmentalist, he wanted to get much fewer and lighter climbing clothing and gears that led him to become a businessman and founder of Patagonia, Inc. 

Many may have heard about it but for me, listening to learn in further detail sure amazes me of how dedicated and committed one can be and it's quite inspiring too ka.

Now, back to what ignites my thinking ka:

1. Back to 2006 when the climate change wasn't as known nor this serious, Yvon Chouinard's green heart has been outstanding and become even more admirable and his actions have proven his deep passion for our world till today.

2. His sincere and serious intention to produce quality clothing is witnessed by having  environmentally friendly approaches in all steps, not just empty catchwords to look good for ad and sales ka.

Buy clothes only as needed and send back for repairs. If there's any item that is beyond repair, they do offer recycling too.....so nice to know loei ka.

3. On leadership, 

- the first trait of leaders is the ability to take risks (while managers will avoid risks for their responsibilities to go smoothly). Leaders are courageous, taking their teams to explore new/unknown platforms. and that "true leaders take risks, have long term vision, create the strategic plan, and initiate change."....think more of impacts!

- lead by example to think differently on management like the best parking slots aren't for senior leaders, but for those with the most envi-friendly cars.

The ways Yvon Chouinard has been doing fit well with the leaders' qualities of vision and risk taking all these decades ka.

How to become visionary with courage to take risks is still hard to nurture mai ka? why?