Although being busy might be a burden for some, to me, I enjoy it, I get to learn and harness my capabilities. With moer projects on the pipeline, I'm sure to evolve into someone with more experience, capabilities and maximize my capacities. I always learn something new or get to a chance to correct myself or get corrected which leads to me being sharper and knowledgeable. To add, I have very understanding, patient and knowledgeable colleagues who helps me through our work cycles.

I have learned so many and I hope I have also been able to the same to all I have come in contact to.

My friend Jeff has lent me the book Results Management by Ong Teong Wan, one of his Professor friends at the Singapore Institute of Management. I'm already at chapter 2 and it informative, not groundbreaking but insightful. I'm noting down a couple of questions for the author which I hope to send to him after I have read and digested concepts of the book. One such is how can the concepts be applied to outsourced/non-organic personnel and how do can it be applied vertically upwards on the heirarchy.

I have also been running for a couple of months now, it started with walking 5km everyday and now I run atleast 2km daily with long runs on the weekend. I had to start this after my doctor advised me to loose weight and since I already eat the right foods with no correlated effect on reducing my weight, I had to run. I get sporadic new from Cebu but it would seem that running has become somewhat of a fad out there, with events almost everyweekend. I even heard about 2 events on the same day. I joined the JP Morgan Corporate Challenge 5k run early May and I enjoyed it. It helps me reduce weight and gives me a good feeling and starts my day right. My friend Jeff and I are joining this years Standard Charter Marathon Singapore, will start with the kiddy category of 10k, I'm aiming for the half-marathon by next year.  Best of luck to all runners in Cebu and here in SG.

Universal Studios Singapore has already opened but the flagship Battlestar Gallactica attraction is still closed. The family and I have just been roaming outside the park and plan to go in once the missing attaction opens. Chillis, Hershey and Hard Rock are just outside and are good places to hang-out. Chocolates at Hersheys are expensive, Fairprice is way cheaper, but it does have some products not available at other local stores such are reeses.

An additional River park is planned to be developed at the Mandai reserve, it compliments the already world famous Singapore Zoo and Night Safari. I'm eagerly awaiting this one, it's close to where I stay and the family enjoys a nature respite every now and then.

The 2nd IT Show of the year is due in a 3 weeks time and I'm setting my eyes on a couple of items which I hope to get at a good bargain. Last year, I got a netbook with external DVD for 520, the external drive already is around 90. A lot of bargain on mobile phones are also usually around but I'm really looking forward to the macbook pro, iphone and ipad. The macbook pros recently released upgraded models and I hope to find the previous generation on sale, just like last year when brand new macbooks of the previous generation could be had for 1.1k. The iphone is also expected to release a new generation this June and I hope to find a bargain on the 3GS as well. If I don't find any for both, maybe the ipad will already be available officially be then.

We have been served up with a plate full of projects lately and it has been a busy couple of weeks to say the least. However, I enjoy this situations, It gives me satisfaction, direction and purpose. I am kept on my toes and it sharpens my focus and skills. Best of all, I learn faster and helps me extend my flexibility and adaptability.

I treat this as the best learning experience and I make sure I learn from every aspect of it. It's a lot more effective than learning these situations in a formal classroom setting. Being on the ground and doing it while learning is the best way to evolve.

And so for the times of feeling being overwhelmed, clear out the mind for a while, look at the big picture, prioritize, manage time and talk it out.

It does take a while to get used to learning on your own, but after a while, you do get a hang of things and it feels much the same. It's a flexible option for people who either have limited time, non fixed time and geographical constraints on formal learning.

I have already finished a couple of courses from OU, http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/, and I am very happy to say that I have learned much from the experience, I have made it a part of my daily routine and it is a regular habit to finish atleast one chapter per day including the activity.

I also squeeze in a couple of minutes to learning mandarin, also free from the web, 1 chapter a day as well, just enough info to digest and effectively practice proper pronounciation. Here's the link for those who are interested, http://www.chinese-tools.com.

I do both during my mid-day break while taking my lunch and I am happy to be productive and efficient with my time; achieving time efficiency by managing activities well and learning as well. One of the course I took on OU was for time management and it has helped me refine more my daily schedule, achieving 20% efficiency while giving me extra time which I spend with my family.

Another option for the tech savy is MIT Open Courseware, http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/courses/courses/index.htm.

I do try to continue the learning on the weekend but I find it hard and I have focused both days to my family and I find it strikes the right balance of work and personal life so I will very likely continue this way.

Please do remember that no one solution will fit for all and that you should just use what you learn outside to start you off, eventually you should be able to evolve and refine to what fits you best.

It helps to consider being focused as a habit, be consistent and do it regularly, as they say, 21 days to make it a habit.

Resist everything else that is not related to whatever you are focusing on, try to distance yourself or control yourself.

Do not be distracted so easily, this is a mental challenge, condition your mind. Although, having a little distraction now and then or in-between will always help sharpen and restore your drained batteries, but be wary and stick to the time.

Set aside enough time in-between and stick to it, use it wisely and do not stray from the schedule.

Sometimes you just feel drained, lost or out of steam, try and set aside a short routine related to what you are focusing on. The routine should be easy and must follow steps that does not take too much time. This helps keep you on track and distracts you while still being productive.

If you are in-front of the monitor, you must blink always to wet your eyes and have a 5 minute break every 2 hours and look at something green which is atleast 10 meters aways, this helps keep you from being near sighted and keeps your eyes from drying up which will ultimately help maintain your 20/20 vision.

if you are in one position for most of the time, for example sitting, stretch out every so often, check out stationary or sitting exercises. This helps distracts you while keeping you healthy.

Drink lots of liquids, water is advisable. This is good for your health, The frequent trips to the toilet will help clean your system, loose a little weight as your body does not need to retain a lot of water because you always take in more and the walk to the loo can actually be considered exercise. BTW, I said liquids not food, eat only on the right time and eat the right food.

These are just some which might work for some and not for others. Do try to find your own rythm to things, the important thing is you are focused and that you achieve your objective while learning, having fun and being satisfied.

Image from FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

It is a challenge and it is not easy, everyone must work together, a strong leader to rally the entire organization to move as one is needed, more importantly, flexible and agile middle managers will be the most crucial as this will define how the top level strategy will be implemented, flexibility and agility is key in this aspect. Open communication is one aspect that the entire organization must work for, make sure all lines are open and no idea or innovation falls in-between the cracks.

No idea is to far fetched, as one or two would eventually lead to a more valuable innovation in the end. This is not easy as I have already said, a lot of work must be done and let us always put in our minds to just do it !