Just wrapping up my final week in Malaysia, spending most of it celebrating Chinese New Year eating amazing food, spending time with family, as well as chasing fireworks and dragons around the town.
Chinese New Year here is crazy!
Unlike the western countries, they don’t spend their time writing a list of New Year resolutions (which most people fail to do anyway). They instead invest it in gambling, eating, family, friends, setting off fireworks in their backyard and praying for a prosperous new year (aka having fun!).
What I learnt from the Chinese
They don’t spend their time wishful thinking.
Everything they do is in an action. Chinese people are one of the most highest gamblers in the world, yet they are also one of the most richest people. They are willing to take risks that other people are not.
They work hard, focus even harder and have lots of fun celebrating any and every occasion they can.
Giving away money, is a joy for them! They believe by wishing you a prosperous new year…they will have a prosperous new year too.
Yes, some of their rules and family expectations are high. However, they still achieve amazing things.
Abraham Lincoln once said:-
“I am a success today because I had a friend who believed in me and I didn’t have the heart to let him down…”
I am sure everybody goes through a stage in life where they know what they should be doing and are not.
We could give excuses, reasons and justifications for this – but what use does this have?
The Chinese just go out and do. We can learn a lot from this.
BJ Fogg‘s and Ramit‘s blogs, plus John Maxwell’s book Fail Forward, have taught me a lot about behavioral changes. If you are wanting a prosperous 2012, then this is where I suggest you should start. Changing your behaviors.
You know what you should be doing… so do it!
TV, Movies and the Experts Illusion
Success, prosperity and happiness is about having a fulfilling life with family and friends, they way you know how. Not how the TV, movies or other people elude to how it should happen.
Having lots of millionaire and successful business owner friends, I have been blessed to learn through them that success did not:-
a) happen overnight
b) by a one-click install
c) sitting on a beach with a laptop
For most over them, it took 3 years before they saw any real money or growth. I also learnt that it’s about tuning out the need for other people’s validation and approval, before taking the next move.
Feedback is important. However, waiting for the “right” answer, from the “right” person before moving forward is not.
Most of the time, you know what you should be doing…so you should just do it!
As I am hitting my third year in business, I look forward to getting over the hump year and cruising on through to another awesome year.
I know if I “do everything I know I should be doing” – I will get there.
Knowledge is not power, unless you do something with it!
So what are you going to do, this year?
Tweet or email me – look forward to hearing from you!
Xi Fa Chai - Happy Chinese New Year
