REFLECTION OF YOUR ATTITUDE AND CHARACTERS

Kiasu (overly competitive) is good when it is manifested into competitiveness, a strong sense of pride and a drive for improvement.  But almost everywhere it is expressed along the lines of indignance, defensiveness and stifling progress due to fear of somebody else being better.

Culture is largely formed on values, mindset, education, attitude and upbringing.  Cultures do not establish themselves overnight.  It takes years and generations of cultivation.  Similarly, mediocrity is shaped from the time we are born.  We are influence by what we have observed.

For example, drying the dishes, the choices are:

• leave to dry haphazardly on the drying rack
• arrange nicely on the drying rack
• wipe dry and pot them all into the cupboard immediately

Either choices doesn’t portray that you don’t have the talent or ability.  It just means that you can’t be bothered because it is not that important to you.  Every action or inaction at work is a very clear reflection of your attitude and characters.  A person may have the most amazing personality but the results of the work will determine if you’re mediocre, remarkable or exceptional.

Different people have different definitions of what is ‘good’.  The best definition of remarkability is doing your best and stepping it up twice.  It simply means that after finishing the work/task, sit back and ask yourself how you make the work/task different or more impressive/unique.

Most of the time, the differences between mediocrity and remarkability are the little touches that make your work stand out from the rest.  Doing something just because that’s the way it’s always been done is the exact opposite of innovation.  When you’re feeling disgruntled, ask yourself, have you actually attempt to do any better than average?

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Sights and sounds by Xandra Ooi

StarMetro, Wednesday 27 March 2013