That Little Kiddo by the Name of Lin Hao

Picture Source: Saeed Kahn / AFP / Getty Images

If you managed to catch the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Olympics 2008, you would notice that little kid who marched in with Yao Ming as they led they Chinese contingent.

That little kid is Lin Hao, a nine (9) year old kiddo the quake-affected zone of southwest China's Sichuan Province. Lin Hao freed himself from the rubble of his school, risked his life and suffered multiple injuries for rescuing his schoolmates from the collapsed buildings. He was later awarded the title of "Teenage Hero in Earthquake Rescue and Relief."

I am inspired by this little kiddo ... The courage, selfless act. Remember that song, "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"?

Never Blame Others for Your Failure

"You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't 'bout how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done. Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you are because of him, or her, or anybody." ... from one of the most inspiring scene in Rocky Balboa as Rocky preaches passionately to his son.

One of the golden rules of a successful entrepreneur / leader: Never Blame Others for Your Failure. You take the hit and blow, identify the root cause, take corrective actions and you move forward!

Go grab the DVD and watch Rocky Balboa. Inspiring!

Why Start Up?

The best time to launch a startup is during a recession … Aha! I felt a little better coming across this article from Fast Company. Many of my friends, colleagues, ex-colleagues, business partners and even clients asked the same question: “Why Quit a Stable Job and Venture Out on Your Own?” and “Why Now?” … some even added some spice – “You Must Be Crazy!”

People choose to venture out for a variety of reasons. For some it will be an opportunity to escape from the "dark side". They just can’t take the same old B.S. from their bosses. They just lost their "zest". Too tired of the "politics". Some want to seek “greater happiness”. Some would like to do something closer to their heart. For others the motivation for starting up come from spotting a gap in a market they know well or they think they know well enough to make a real difference. Most would like to discover and hit the “jack-pot” and be happy ever-after.

Mine is also along these lines - a bit here, a bit there. Being an entrepreneur doesn't guarantee that the above "challenges / issues" will dissapear just like that. Hell no. But then again, this (being an entrepreneur) is one of my lifetime goals and I don’t want to look back 10 or 20 years later, and said “I should have done that-lah” … and then sulk and sit just right there in my corner cubicle or far-left North-facing room and do nothing, because I am too old to take the risks / challenges / roller-coaster ride.

So ... my answer is simple … “Why Not?” ... "Just Do It Lor"