Walk the Talk

It is always so easy to talk about Walking the Talk. But how many of us can really do it?

Well, I have been a long standing member of the Lions movement for more than 30 years, and have observed many leaders who have done well, as well as, many who have not. Some have even been outright non-committed. Many, especially the newer ones, tend to feel that fellowship is more important than service. Fortunately, the majority still subscribe to the We Serve philosophy on which our organization was built and have grown into what it is today.

When entrusted with the responsibility of leadership which we seek for, we must remember that what we do is more important than what we ask others to do as leaders. This bring me to Dr. john Maxwell's philosophy that "it is good to lead people to do good, but better to do good and than lead people to do the same." This is walking the talk.

I am always amused when I noted that leaders keep on asking members under their leadership to recruit new members but they themselves do not recruit any. We have much to learn from the multi-level marketing companies when leaders always recruit new members and then ask their downlines to do what they have done if they want to be successful like them. Thus, I have confided to many of our leaders that to have good membership growth, the secret is to have the leaders do it first. The members will follow automatically. I speak from experience as I have fantastic growth during my term as District Governor. I have, if my memory doesn't fail me, 12% nett growth and charterd 8 new Lions Clubs and 1 new Lioness Clubs during the year. My home club, the Lions Club of KL North, has also experienced healthy growth over the last five years. thus, walking the talk is a good phylosophy to practice, not talked about.

Apart from growth, leading in other areas are equally important. The practice of fairplay and integrity are what people look for in their leaders.

Imagine, practicing nepotism and bias in selection of members for leadership training where qualifying criterias are set. Applying such criterias to certain applicants and waiving them for another group of applicants would bring unhappiness to those who have not been selected. Worse still, the integrity and good will of the leaders would be compromised and lost! This can be a lose-lose situation instead of a win-win. thus, where criterias are set, they must be applied to all concerned without fear or favour. Leaders must maintain their integrity as once lost can be very, very difficult to rebuild. Again walking the talk is so crucial for leaders at all levels.

thus, in wahtever we do as leaders, it is important to go back to the priciple of walking the talk. Leadership by example is still, in my humble opinion, the most effective leadership model to adopt.

Thus, to lead, serve first.

As Time Goes By

today I had the good fortune of having lunch with my fellow District Governor, SG Chin, who served as my counter-part in district 308, covering Singapore, Southern Peninsula Malaysia, East Malaysia and Brunei, during the year of 1996/97.

Since the day we were elected as DGs for our respective districts which were within the same Multiple District 308, we have had a strong relationship serving together. We have great satisfaction as both of us were, from feedback, serving very well during our term. Personally, we found much similarities in both of us and a strong bond was thus, built. Since then, we have kept in touch and shared views and experiences.

While having lunch (I took to to one of the best Yong Tau Foo, his favourite, in Kepong), it suddently dawned on us that we were advancing in our age, SG was nearing 70 while I was nearing my 60th birthday. We were philosophical that all of us will have to go one day. Thus, it was important that we should do whatever we love and can do while we still can. It so happened that both of us believing that the best thing we can do is to contribute our talent and time to service through our Lions Clubs.

We also had time to remineise on our time as District Governors and how things have changed over the years. How the newer generation of leaders do things which seem to be different from the way we were used to. But then, it is their turn to lead and it would be they who would earn the respect if they perform well or get the blame, if they don't. The responsibility fall on their shoulders and thus, they must ensure that they understand the way their members think and look for at the current moment. Never easy to lead, but as long as sincerity of purpose is there, we won't should be able to sail through successfully. Our focus should always be on our members'
desire and needs. After all, we are servant leaders with plenty of responsibility and very little authority. Influence and persuasion are our tools as the position has no real power in a voluntary service organization.

We also shared our admiration of our Past International Director, Douglas Lee, who despite of his 85 years of age, continues to be strong and still moving about. We felt that if we keep ourselves active and sustain our level of exercise daily, we should be able to share experience of living a longer and healthier life.

By the way, SG lover the Yong Tau Foo, especially the white tau foo. He loved the soup too and commented that it was one of the best he has tasted. He specially loved the "sayor manis." Afte the food, I took him to one of KL's best "tong sui" in Kepong Baru. Again, he enjoyed himself on the sweet potato tong sui. While having the tong sui, his mobile phone rang. It was Lely. Time was up and sent him back to the hotel.

How time really passed us by so very quickly.

As I was driving home, I thought to myself, that we must really live our lives as best as we can while we still can. Never know what will happen. Do all the good that we can do and when we are gone, at least, we will be remembered, hopefully, for the little good that we have contributed to this much abused world.

I pass this world but once. I will not pass this way again. Thus, any good that I can do, let me do it now. Good night.

HELPING TO EDUCATE MORE DESERVING STUDENTS

Extracted from Success Principles








HELPING TO EDUCATE MORE DESERVING STUDENTS
Wednesday, May 27, 2009 11:43 AM

One of the most life transforming endeavour is to educate the people of a nation. This, I am sure, has the support of every right thinking people.



In this respect, I am most proud of my good friend, Andrew Chua, from Singapore who has kindly volunteered to make available 300 scholarships for deserving students to study for degrees with the University of Wales Institute Cardiff or Queen Margaret University, both, highly regarded UK-based universities.



Not only has Andrew contributed to award these scholarships (EASB-Lions Higher Education Scholarship Awards)to Malaysian although he is a Singaporean, he has also made US$20 million worth of scholarships for deserving students in Asia! Andrew is truly a man of great compassion and vision for educating people. He is really contributing to educating the youths of the world!



I am confident that his contributions will not only transform the youths of our world but also transform his own life to one of joy, satisfaction and fulfillment. As you sow, so shall you reap. Give, and you will receive.



As one approaches one's 60th birthday, the feeling of usefulness and being able to contribute to our communities become more important than enriching oneself financially. Enriching one's life of purpose becomes more fulfilling and rewarding. I trust my good friend, Andrew, is at this stage of his life.



During our recent road-show in Penang to promote the scholarships to ensure that more deserving students get to know of their availability, we shared with the headmasters, student counselors,students and members of the press, that some parents actually sacrificed their retirement savings and may even, re-mortgage or sell their house to finance their children's higher education! Thus, Andrew's contribution will help not only the students, but also their parents to retire more comfortably with the knowledge that a substantial financial burden has been taken care of.



Personally, I feel a great satisfaction that Andrew has entrusted the responsibility of promoting these scholarship to me. It is a trust I find very heavy as I have to make sure that the objectives are met so that more deserving students can avail themselves to these scholarships. Thus, although I may not be in a position to offer such a large number of scholarships, I have gained the trust of my good friend to deliver his contributions to qualified students. Each of us has a role to play in this world and our different roles are just as important to make sure that the full impact of the well-intentioned gesture becomes a reality.



In this respect, I feel grateful that my involvement with the Lions Club has come in handy. As Lions' purpose is to serve, we can serve together and my home club, the Lions Club of KL North, has adopted this as its major project. We are also working with Lions Clubs and other service organizations to help deliver these scholarships to students who qualify.



Being in a position to be able to give and serve is indeed a life enriching experience and I definitely look forward to serving more in the remaining years of my life.



In closing I would like to quote Helen Keller, "I know I am one, but still I am one; I know I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do."