Book Sale Treasure: "The Score Takes Care of Itself" by Bill Walsh

Digging in book sales can turn up the most unexpected treasures.  Under those stacked up books are reading materials that can be life changers.  I used to buy brand new books---bestselling novels mostly---but with a big family to support, the purchase of brand new books is a luxury that I needed to sacrifice.  It did not however dampen my craving for a new book to read.  So where else does a book lover go if you don't have the dough to buy a new one---BOOK SALES!

Life is a continuous learning process; however, you need not experience everything for you to learn.  Other people's stories can provide you life lessons that you can learn from.  Living life can be difficult sometimes and you need a boost of hope whenever things don't go as you want it to go or if it doesn't move at all.  Reading gives me that boost. 

Successful athletes provide a rich source of positive vibes.  Hard work, persistence, perseverance, and hope.  These are the common denominator in the lives of sports greats like Joe Montana, Larry Bird, Joe Namath, Earvin "Magic" Johnston, Wilt Chamberlain, Terry Bradshaw, Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman, Steve Young, and Kurt Warner.  (Well, obviously, I'm a basketball and football fan.)  In terms of leadership insights, sports coaches provide a cornucopia of values particular to people management, planning, and strategizing.  Bill Parcells, Pat Riley, Mike Ditka, Vince Lombardi, Phil Jackson, and John Madden.  (I suggest you read John Madden's books if you want to learn and be entertained at the same time.) 

My recent trip to the book sale shop turned up yet another treasure for me---Bill Walsh's "The Score Takes Care of Itself".  Bill Walsh was the father of the Westcoast Offense and the legendary coach of the San Francisco 49ers.  His Standard of Excellence in running the San Francisco 49ers' is a leadership rich manuscript that is by no means limited to sports but to business as well.  In a nutshell, what this book would like to say is, "When you prepare for everything, you are ready for anything."

This book did almost did not get printed.  Bill Walsh was in collaboration with Steve Jamison for a book after Walsh retired the head coach of the 49ers in 1988 but the publication of the book was shelved when Walsh was re-hired by the 49ers in 1999 serving as Vice President, General Manageras, and consultant until 2004.  Steve Jamison's manuscript for Bill Walsh's book on leadership was put in a box and accumulated dust for 10 years.   In 2007, Bill contacted Steve to see the book through, but before they could start, Bill died of leukemia.  Bill's son Craig gave Steve the go signal to publish the book in 2009.

Where Do You Want to Go?

Your success is bound by the limits of your VISION.  Everything starts out as a dream, however, a dream will remain a dream without ACTION.

So the question is really---"Where do you want to go?"  Once you've answered this question, it's time to takes steps towards your destination.  Well, you don't expect to teleport, are you?  That's science fiction.  In reality, the journey is long and often times---HARD (unless your father is filthy rich like Paris Hilton and you're set up for life). 

The journey is important.  It is the one that builds character.  The hardships that come with it is even more important since it is the source of life's education; hence the saying, "failure is the best teacher".  So do not be afraid to fail.  Be afraid of NOT LEARNING from your failure because life is but a cycle of different circumstances.  Learn not from your mistakes and you're bound to repeat them over and over again.  Not a fun way to live, right?

Don't lose sight of where you want to go---detours and all.  Build yourself up towards your goal.

Negating Good Food with Bad Service: A Yellow Cab Experience

I've been a patron of Yellow Cab since I first got a taste of their Hot Wings and Charlie Chan Chicken Pasta way back in 2003.  Naturally, being a staple entity at SM Fairview, this is where I take my family for a Yellow Cab treat. 

Needless to say, the food is good to come back for more.  Service, unfortunately, is another matter.

One thing that a service person should master is the art of LISTENING.  I have been in the service oriented business myself and being attentive to your customer's needs is a key factor in making them feel at home.  Sad to say, I did not feel this way at the hands of the Yellow Cab branch at SM Fairview. 

Paper napkin is an operating cost that would be hard to put a number to so it is just but natural to have an initial number to give away upon order and then give more upon request.  Based on my dining experience at Yellow Cab they give around 4 paper napkins for an order of 4pc Hot Wings, 10" pizza, and pasta.  My wife brings along Wet Ones in her person every time she goes out and that's what we use when the 4 pieces of paper nakpins cannot compensate for all the wiping done during meal time.  However, four visits ago, she ran out of Wet Ones and I needed to ask the rounding service crew for more.  He acknowledged my request politely.  The problem was---he never came back.  At first I thought it was just a matter of forgetfullness but for the same scenario to happen three times is somewhat unsettling.  The kicker came this evening when my wife and I went to dinner at the same branch.  This time I asked for two glasses with ice.  Actually, the attending service crew offered to give us glasses since she saw that we have something to drink but no glasses to drink it with.  Initially I thought that this would be different since it was the service crew who offered---I was wrong.  She did not come back with the glasses so my wife and I just chugged our drink off the bottle. 

It's really unfortunate to have such good food complemented with bad service.  Tsk, tsk, tsk.

Another Funny Bus Story

Riding the bus has been a part of my daily routine since I transferred to the corporate office in Pasig. I have grown so accustomed to the ambiance and accommodation of bus travel that I feel like it’s another home for me. The airconditioning, the soft cushioned seat, and the rhythmic movement of a bus in motion are enough to put me to sleep.

My ritual is to find a seat (usually at the left-middle part of the bus), wait for the bus conductor to get my fare, and then get my 1 hour and 15 minutes worth of shut eye. Unfortunately, sometimes (especially when I’m lacking in sleep) I oversleep and wake up beyond my SM Megamall stop. This event happened a couple of times already. The farthest I overslept was Ayala. On my way home to Lagro, I have once awoken as far as Tungkong Mangga in San Jose, Bulacan.

Anyway, this morning was one of those days. I woke up somewhere in Buendia and decided to alight at Ayala (para mas madaling sumakay). But that’s not the funny part. I took a bus again on my way back to SM Megamall. When I entered the bus, there was these two guys distributing envelopes asking for contribution to a cause (I think they were a part of striking union or something). Not wanting to be harangued I closed my eyes---when I opened it again, I was at the intersection of Robinson’s Galleria! Darn! Nawalan ako ng malay! Buti nalang at nasa bandang harap ako naka upo at dali-daling bumaba!

Nilakad ko nalang from Galleria to Jollibee Center. (Baka pag sumakay na naman ako ng bus e sa Baclaran na ako magising!)

Remembering Marilyn Monroe

The ultimate sex symbol.  A pop culture icon that was immortalized through many a different mediums. 

Last August 5, was Marilyn's 49th death anniversary. Official records said that she died of a drug overdose but there were a lot of questions that remain unanswered until today. But no matter the uncertainty surrounding her death, there is no doubt as to her lasting legacy to the social culture. She has been imitated by many but never truly captured in essence. The one and the only Marilyn Monroe (and that's coming from someone who was born in 1968).  You just can't help falling in love with this woman.

The picture gave life to the term sex symbol.

Painter Andy Warhol drew a couple of inspirations from this Marilyn photo.

Anne Hathaway as Catwoman

Here's a sneak peak at Anne Hathaway as Catwoman in the latest Batman flick "The Dark Knight Rises" to be released next year.

Is she hotter in the Cat-suit than Michelle Pfeiffer?  Hmmm...the spandex looks kickass but she seem to be missing a mask?  Doesn't seem to look like a Catwoman to me.  Nice bike though---is that Batman's?

Remembering Dana Scully

Oh man, did I have a big crush on Gillian Anderson during the 90's!  She played Dana Scully in the cult television series X-Files with David Duchovny as her FBI partner Fox Mulder.  Well at first she did not strike me as a beauty expecially in the first season where she doesn't seem to have a stylist to groom her.  But as the series rose from anonymity and hit the all time viewership polls, I guess the Fox network finally gave her the budget to hire one and that's when she started to climb the sex symbol status. 

Dana Scully 1993

She became hot as her red hair and graced the covers of many celebrity and fashion magazines.  Up until the show's demise in 2002, Ms. Anderson enthralled many male worshippers (including myself).

Here she is now 18 years later.  Still a looker but she's no Phoebe Cates.