THOUGHTS ON BEING A BOSS, OR A LEADER IN RELATION TO NEW GENERATIONS

By Louis Thomas

I rediscovered the following poem in a booklet of inspirational quotations recently. It was given to me as an instructor of human relations and public speaking two decades ago. I think it neatly encapsulates the little story at the end of this piece about my grandmother and a school teacher. Had it not been for their words I would ever have had the audacity to assume the ability to help people in these areas. The author of the poem is unknown, and I have taken the liberty, here and there, to slightly amend the text to make it more acceptable to this generation!

If I were boss I would like to say:

“You did a good job here today.”

I’d look for a man, or a girl or boy

Whose heart would leap with a thrill of joy

At a word of praise, and I’d pass it out

Where the crowd could hear as I walked about.

If I were boss I would like to find

The fellow whose work is the proper kind;

And whenever to me a good thing came

I’d like to be told the toiler’s name,

And I’d go to there and I’d pat that back,

And I’d say, “That was perfectly splendid, Jack!”*

Now a bit of praise isn’t much to give

But it’s dear to the hearts of all that live;

And there’s never folk on this good old earth

But are glad to be told when they’ve been of worth;

And a kindly word, when the work is fair,

Is welcome and wanted everywhere.

If I were boss I’m sure I would

Say a kindly word whenever I could

For those who give their best by day

Want more than just their weekly pay;

They like to know with the setting sun,

That the boss is pleased with the work they’ve done!

*or “Jacque”, as the case may be!!

When I was about six years old, two things happened that I can never forget. One was the praise I received from my Grandmother for some decorative art work which was well beyond my expectations. The other was when a teacher put me in front of the class for a composition I had written about wanting to be a pilot. I remember to this day that she was impressed by my mention of the responsibilities involved. Those two experiences often spur me on, even in my sixties!

I think the relevance of the poem above and my experience cannot but lead you to contemplate on the significance of this month’s theme on the New Generation and how we as persons and Rotarians should re-act to it.

Last Meeting

Technically we started at mid-day when a delegation of the BOD assembled to meet ADG Amy Ho to review KGM’s game plan for the year and other important issues.

We made it to the fellowship downstairs by about 12.51 pm and the meeting started officially at 1.15 p.m. with a welcome for ADG Amy, IPDG Dipo and the speaker Mr JP Lee OBE, or was it Mr OBE Lee JP? [J]

PP Robin introduced visiting Rotarians;  ADG Amy Ho, Admiralty and Rotn Frank Kleintied, Kowloon North (who later invited us to their next meeting of his Club to hear Christine Lo speak).

ADG Amy Lo then spoke of the expanded role of ADGs to act as a channel between Clubs and the DG thereby providing the DG time to perform  more inspirational roles during his official visits to clubs. AG Amy also mentioned how much she had enjoyed our Ball this year!

Rotn Brian Hodgson did guests of Rotarians, Eric Kwok from Hong Kong (Rtn Lal), Roland Banbilla from Manila and Grace King from Shanghai (Rtn Jane).

Next Rtn Elissa introduced the speaker Mr JP Lee, OBE who introduced us to the United Nations Volunteers which was established in 1970 to identify and place qualified people around the world as requested by countries in need. Each year about 4,000 volunteers of over 125 nationalities participate usually in two year renewable assignments but never in excess of 8 years. The Hong Kong body, The Agency for Volunteer Service in HK (AVS) was established also in 1970 and is dedicated to the same movement with the role of promoting public awareness of the UNV programme and recruiting HK volunteers for international assignments with the support of  major professional institutions here. For more in depth information  please refer to the detailed leaflet which was handed out at the meeting. Further enquiries can also be made to 2527 3825 during office hours or by visiting www.avs.org.hk.

The meeting almost finished a bit early, but as the excellent Chinese meal was still coming and many had not seen any coffee buy that time honour was saved by all.

BIRTHDAY BOYS AND GIRLS

7^th October – Rotarian Elissa

9^th October – Rotarian Balu 

ON VOCATION WITH PRESIDENT CASSIDY LAM CLASSIFICATION - INSURANCE - LIFE 

I got my two degrees – Economics and Administrative Studies from York University in Canada. I came back to HK in 1984. I was looking for a management job while my former manager convinced me that if I did a good job, I could be promoted to management level. I realized later that in the insurance business, real experience is the only way to lead and train your subordinate. So I started as an agent-salesman. This was my first job, my first company, and I am still with the same company! However, the company has changed its name three times. Now AXA China Region Insurance Co., Ltd. is the largest insurance group in the world in terms of revenue and assets under management. My role as a manager is to lead by example. Many of you think that I have a group of agents work for me so I don’t have to work as hard as I should. However, we all know there is no such thing as a free lunch. I never ask my agents to do things that I will not do myself. I‘ve been promoted to Senior business manager and now branch manager.

It was so hard for me at the beginning as in 1984, no one believed in insurance. As time has gone by, people have started to believe in the value of life insurance.  But then there has been more competition. As I was away for 6 years and it was my first job, I didn’t have any one to call upon. Just when I was going to quit I asked myself two questions – ‘Have I done my best?’, ‘Do I give up this easily???’. The answers were “NO”. So I did everything that a salesman needed to do. I called on anybody that I met. I asked for referrals from whomever I met. I never imagined that I would become an insurance agent, as I never believed that I could be a salesman. Now I enjoy being an insurance agent as I believe the value of Life Insurance.

When people asked me what I do to make a living? I tell them that I sell dignity. So when they have misfortunes such as sickness, disability, dying too soon or living for too long, the money from insurance they bought will let them live with dignity. My company carries all kind of insurance from individual to employee benefit, MPF, property and casualty.

The reason why I wanted to be promoted to a manager is that by sharing my experience with other agents, they can go out and have more families being protected. My role as branch manager is to sell, supervise and recruit. And my target is to recruit more agents so they can develop their career and at the same time more families are being protected.

For the first few years, my only target is to build up my career. After a few years, when I covered my basic need, I started thinking that I could contribute myself to society. So I started to serve in charitable organizations. And Rotary is one of them. I like our club because it’s of a mixed culture and because of its goal of charity. The reason I serve as President is I believe that the more you give, the more you have to give. I believe that by serving as President, there is so much I can learn from it. With support from members and the board of directors, I enjoy every minute being President of our club.

I enjoy music, dancing, travel, water sports and reading. I believe lifetime learning is the only way to add value to yourself. So I never stop learning. From the academic side, I got my MBA degree two years ago. And I have taken many insurance courses and exams. On the non-academic side, I have taken many self-improvement courses. However, the more I learn, the more I feel I need to learn. And I believe I can learn from you all. Again, thanks for giving me this opportunity to learn!

KGM "E-Store" !!

By E-Phantom

Well folks, I am delighted to announce that KGM has earned it's first commission through our E-Store !! 

Apparently somebody placed an order for US$49.50 worth of flowers through our on-line flower merchant "1-800-flowers.com" and KGM has earned a commission of US$2.75 !!  OK, OK, it's not a lot of money, but it's a start. To whoever you are, a huge thanks from the rest of the gang at KGM. 

By the way, if you read the KGM "Privacy Policy" on the KGM web site (see next section), purchasers and the items they purchase are NOT revealed to the Webmaster or to anybody else for that matter. All we are given is a statement saying "goods sold", the value and how much KGM has earned in commission. Nobody other than the merchant knows what items you have purchased. 

Anyway, click on www.rckgm.org/estore.htm to be whisked away directly to the KGM E-Store, or you can simply click on the "Visit our E-Store" hyperlinks on the top of our web site. Now go shopping and do some good, OK ? 

KGM Web Site

By Phantom !!

Items added this week include an improved "Privacy Policy", which can be found with three (3) separate hyperlinks from the web site or lazy sods can also click on: www.rckgm.org/archives/privacypolicy.htm for direct access from this email. Perhaps KGM legal eagles would be kind enough to check it out and to recommend to the Webmaster any further improvements they feel are necessary. 

There is also a new hyperlink near the top of the page which will show you the current Rotary International theme for 2000/2001, which all good Rotarians will know is "Create Awareness, Take Action". The hyperlink will open in a new window, where you will also find further hyperlinks to the web site of RI President Frank Devlyn and the web site of RI President-Elect Rick King, which are both worth a visit. 

If you have friends, family or business associates who plan on visiting Hong Kong, suggest they spend some time on our "Hong Kong Links" hyperlink, available from the top of our web site. This is arguably the most comprehensive and up-to-date set of hyperlinks about Hong Kong. 

Finally don't forget the small "Site Map" hyperlink near the top of the page too. If there is something you cannot find (because you are an adorable dumbo !), the site map lists all documents available on the web site in alphabetical order. Quite a useful tool.

Quotations of the Week

“Keeping your clothes well pressed will keep you from looking hard pressed.”

Coleman Cox

“I have yet to find the man, however exalted his station, who did not do better work and put forth greater effort under a spirit of approval, than under a spirit of criticism.’

Sorry President Cassidy, I misplaced yours!

Joke of the Weak

From Eric Thomas, Perth, W.A.

A string walks into a bar and the bartender says "We don't serve your kind around here, so you'll just have to leave."

The string walks out of the bar and sees two young ladies walking down the street. He asked one to tie him in a knot and the other to kinda fluff him out a little with her comb. After thanking the ladies the string goes back in to the bar, sits down  and asks for a beer. The bartender says, "Aren't you the same string I just told to leave?" The string answered, "I'm a frayed knot."

Brain Teasers

What single four letter word can be placed before each of the words below to make four new words? (hyphens are allowed)

TRAP, PLACE, LIGHTER, HORSE and FLY
 

The day before two days after the day before tomorrow is Monday.

What day is it today?

URCHIN