maandag 14 december 2009

Quality

Just read this great text written by a college at the Bank. So no text written by me but something written about quality from someone else.

Quality

Company quality can be achieved throughout the whole organization. Imagine for example a company that has a stable and solid base for a long period of time, good saved knowledge due to lack of staff turnover and a strong positive brand that almost hasn’t changed over the years, but which is still very popular with young people.
On second hand the production is ran with a military precision; always on time, even if the circumstances are not ideal. Also peak production periods and last-minute orders will not throw them off their game; their time schedule is always met.
In this organization there is personal attention for the client as well. Despite you’re one of the few million customers, the big boss still knows you and creates a set of products that is especially put together to your personal needs. It wouldn’t surprise you to hear that there are almost no customers dissatisfied and all clients are looking forward to the next meeting.
Last but not least, in such an organization there would be excellent secondary terms of employment; working hard for just a small part of the year and the rest can be spent in a nice warm climate, relaxing, plenty of food, specially designed clothing and housing.
Utopia? I don’t think so. Sinterklaas is running this company for more than 450 years now!
Happy holidays!

Regards,
M

woensdag 9 december 2009

Impression Ubuntu party



Impression Ubuntu party, no I was not there, but who knows me will recognize the person who inspired me to work with IT and computers.
Yes, I feel a bit nerdy by posting this, but that's also me.
:)

maandag 23 november 2009

'Succes gaat altijd ten koste van iets'

Okay, following is a copy paste action from the NU.nl website. Not my own text, sorry. But it makes you wonder in what area do we/I want to have success... but maybe more important: What area do we ignore to get this succes?
For the English readers, sorry, Dutch only, maybe you can put a babelfish in your ear?
WIki on what Babelfish is.

In een vloeiend betoog - helaas per video - hield de van oorsprong Zwiterse schrijver het publiek op de TEDx-conferentie in Amsterdam voor dat iedereen krampachtig bezig is met succes. "Mensen willen overal tegelijk succes in hebben. Dat gaat niet. Als je in het ene domein succes hebt, gaat dat altijd ten koste van iets anders." Op humoristische wijze borduurde De Botton losjes voort op de voor hem bekende thema's als statusangst. Al eerder beschreef de filosoof dat mensen zich veel te veel laten bepalen door wat anderen van hen vinden. Mensen zijn verslaafd aan status, gedefinieerd door de omgeving.

woensdag 11 november 2009

The road to Japan (part 1, some thoughts before the trip)

The road to Japan, started a while ago, not sure when we took of, but I am pretty sure we are on our way now.

First something about us, me and my training buddy. We started doing iaido at the same day and are coaching each other for a few years and we did all our examans together. Although our iai looks quite different I think we are still on the same track.
This might also be the most difficult thing to handle, if one of us will fail or delay an exam. Not because of the prestige of the exam and grade. But it might loose the feeling of growing and training together.

Budo is a difficult path to walk on, I am confronted with my personal life and friends that became a part of my budo family who parted from our path. Starting and learning some new movements is/was easy, but now I am confronted with the fact that my body does not always do what I want it or I find myself in a situation that I don't understand why this week I'm not training on the level of last week.

Well, it started almost three years ago, we decided we wanted to try to pass for our fourth Dan exam in Japan and now around 9 months ago our Japanese sensei told us it is okay to come to Japan for exams and he is willing to receive us for training.

On the subject of informing or asking people if you can do shinza. This can be quit difficult because of the cultural differences, I don't necessarily mean the Dutch-Japanese relation but also within Holland. I have to admit sometimes my small ego is getting a bit enthusiastic and starts to run without realizing the situation of the people around me.
I guess working in harmony with the other practitioners is one of the most difficult thing to get in budo. All I can say, to to people around me, my sensei and sempai, I'm sorry for the last years. I'm sorry for my arrogance and thank you for all your patience, I'm learning to keep myself in check and even becoming more aware that harmony and respect starts from my inner being. I am not a perfect person yet, and nowadays I am becoming aware of my 'old' behavior and consciously trying to improve it.

maandag 6 juli 2009

Bad Coffee



I thought I liked coffee....

zaterdag 4 juli 2009

I am not pink!



Maybe you see me wearing pink...
But trust me, I am not pink!

vrijdag 26 juni 2009

Singapore



Today I went to Singapore for a presentation....