Think Big Dream High,E61- Be an Intelligent Person

Intelligence

1. An intelligent person is someone with a high mental capacity, with good level of understanding, good memory and able to grasp the issues in an instance, quick to analyse the underlying meaning of a particular conversation or news, rational, a good communicator and smart in making judgement and decision. 

2. A person who think big and dream high should be capable of handling any issues and problems that surfaced. The person should be able to defend his ideas with confidence backed by well researched information. The person should also be able to respond to any critics and comments with maturity and effectiveness.

Reality in Life     

1. It has become part and parcel of the culture in Malaysia, that we like to talk but lacking in action. In public gatherings, at coffee shops, at the mosques, offices, shopping malls, in the media or through the blogs, we talk non stop, giving opinions, suggestions sometimes even leading to arguments. The conversations maybe centered around politics, family matters, artists, sports, current affairs or topics of interests and once in a while on business matters.

2. As a member of the community, we like to talk since the leaders are all the time providing us insights on a variety of issues especially those relating to politics. The government and the opposition leaders are all the time teaching us to talk and deliberating on topics of interest. Most of the time, the TV and newspaper media, blogs tend to sensationalize on any hot and juicy issues to invite comments from the public. As a loyal follower, we joined in to give opinions and debate on the issues, irregardless of the actual facts.

3. Most of the issues have no intellectual elements in it, facts or truth of the matter. What is being offered is a sweetener, good to hear facts, encouraging applause from the audience and sending signals to the brain to join in the joy and laughter and making loud noises.

4. No party or person is verifying or checking all that we present. In the developed countries, the leaders cannot deliver vague statements. There will be parties researching and providing information in a transparent, intellectual and accurate manner either in support or dissenting the facts. Hence, the public cannot be deceived easily when  the leaders sensationalized hot, sensitive and interesting issues. As an example, if the presidential candidate discussed issues on family, there will be parties producing information that the candidate has an illegitimate grandchild. This is being exposed to the people. If the people are still supporting him, it goes to prove that having a child out of wedlock is acceptable and a norm. This is quite impossible as the world community still has respect for religious values and legal marriages.       

Tips

1.A professional who think big and dream high should never practiced the way of life and culture that does not accentuate having well researched information, rational and intellectual that usually cropped up in the society as reflected above. We believe in presenting the right facts, high intelligence, having integrity, less talking but love acquiring knowledge and reactive. The following exercises could help in disciplining us to continue  intensifying our thoughts, capability and intellectual capacity.

2. Strengthened our memory. Memory training can be easily done through daily activities such as reading, writing, making references and recalling things that we read and write. Memorising the Al-Quranic verses is an effective and beneficial training for the Muslims. We can start by memorizing the short verses from juzuk amal say 5-20 ayat in a day.    We can easily memorized the ayat Al-Quran we chose by reciting it about 30-60 times. Repeat this memorizing steps continuously for about 5-7 days until successful. Once we achieved our objective move on to the next ayat and  so on and so forth. The time taken will not be more than 30 minutes daily. The best time to carry out the memorizing exercise is after the solat  tahajud and solat witir at around 5 am daily.  At this time the brain is alert and fresh. 

3.Strengthened our observation. We can strengthened our observation skills by playing games such as carom, archery, walking on a tight rope, golf game, tennis etc. These are some of the  games that require our fullest attention in order to succeed. Driving a motorcycle or a car on the highway at a speed of 110 km per hour is also a form of exercise to strengthen our observation skills.

4. Elevate our level of understanding. The best exercise which might be against the road traffic law is driving as efficiently as possible  during heavy traffic by overtaking the left and right lane and cutting que to find the fastest way to reach our destination. Try to visualise or anticipate things that might happen in the future. Train yourselves to make quick and fast decisions on issues that surfaced. Have a clear goal and direction on things that you want to do and achieve.

5. Elevate the flexibility of our way of thinking. Accept the challenge to carry out multi-tasking as fast as possible. Start thinking out of the box or lateral thinking. Avoid saying “it cannot be done” but put it in another way, “this can be done using this method…”. Train yourselves not to make mistakes. These are some examples of flexible thinking training.

6. Elevate our capability in making decisions. Have a few choices and options before making any decision. Making quick and accurate mathematical calculation before making any decision. Do a quick analysis of the risk involved. Try to simplify the solutions for problems faced. Avoid getting involved in complicated, twisted and complex debate. Make the best all round decision for our stakeholders. Decisions that are fair and justifiable.

7.Elevate the research capability and learn from history. Make improvements and have an integrity management. The Caliph, Saidina Umar Abdul Aziz once said, “If the leader or ruler is rich, then the population will be poor but if the leader is poor the population will be rich”. He died as a poor Caliph but in the 2 years of his reign, none of his subjects were poor and eligible to receive zakat.

8. A leader or a professional who think big dream high should look back and ponder on the history of Caliph, Saidina Umar abdul Aziz. Do it with remorse and use it as a guide in carrying out your  duties as a leader or a professional with utmost honesty.

9. The rakyat is getting more intelligent and informative. The leader should also move with times in line with the changes experienced by the rakyat. Wealth on a moderate scale obtained in a transparent way can be accepted but not otherwise. In any issues, programmes or projects priority should be given to the stakeholders or the rakyat. These are the characteristics of a professional or an intelligent leader that think big dream high. Rakyat is always the priority in reality and not just a lip service slogan.          

Think Big Dream High,E60- Be an Honest Person

Honest

1.Being honest means there are similarities between what is spoken and what we believe, similarities between what is intended and what is being done, similarities between what we preached and what is being practiced.

2.In short, similarities or conformities between the external and internal behavior. Implement what we intended or planned to do.

Reality in Life

1.Too many leaders gave promises to their followers and most of it unfulfilled. Too many of the nation’s top leaders gave promises to the rakyat but most of it unfulfilled. Too many bosses gave promises to their employees and most of it unfulfilled. Too many married couples gave promises to each other but most of it unfulfilled. Too many school going children are not telling the truth what they have been doing in and out of school.

2.It looks as though for the modern day society, there is lacking in conformity between the external behavior and the inherent belief. In other words, there is an increasing number of hypocritical behaviour, insincerity and liars among people  in the modern day society. Their main interest is only in ousting and making the other party suffer in humiliation.  As a professional who think big dream high obviously we do not want to be placed in this category. Not wanting to be dubbed as a hypocrite, liar and not walk the talk.

Tips

1. The initial bonding between the mother and her newborn up till the time she stopped breastfeeding the child has some impact towards the child’s future behavior. A baby is innocent and his character is moulded through religious belief, culture, lifestyle and the behavior of the mother. A mother who believed in honesty upholding integrity as a way of life will naturally instill the elements of honesty, respectability and integrity in the child. 

  

2. A child need to be taught and trained from an early age to be an honest person. Parents must monitor 100% their children’s upbringing before they are influenced by the environment and societal factors. This happened before the child  is sent to the day care centre, nursery or first started watching TV at around 3 years of age.

3. Being indoctrinated with the elements of honesty, respectability and integrity by the parents from an early age till the child is around 15 years of age could provide a strong defence for the child from being easily influenced  by negative elements. At the age of 15, the child started gathering the need for  passion, wants, emotions, spiritual needs and  materiality. Parents in educating the child  could add in doas as part of  the effort  in making the child be a good and honest person throughout his life. A good and honest person in whatever field he ventures, be it as a public servant, artist, entrepreneur or as a leader.

4. As a professional who think big and dream high surely we will not be able to turn the clock back to the time we were just a baby. In order to have a clear conscience, the best thing to do is to repent, improve ourselves, be regretful of the past wrongdoings and determined to be someone that can be trusted and not a hypocrite. In order to implement our repentance , we need to enhance our religious knowledge through readings of the kitab Tafsir or learning from experienced religious teachers who practiced what they preached.  

5. Every organization be it private or public should include in  their employment selection  policy that candidates vying for public servant post, corporate or future leaders should be  those with good, honest and with high integrity family background.   In the developed countries the background of the future leaders are thoroughly checked. As an example, the candidate for the post of Prime Minister of Japan, his family background, education and his past performance need to be scrutinized in detail. This goes for every candidate who offered themselves for election, their background will be thoroughly checked.

6. The background checked is done in a rigorous manner and the results are out in the open to be evaluated by the Japanese voters and the nation as a whole. The outcome, the Japanese people have as their leader a person who is respectable, honest and can be entrusted to care for the people and the country.

7.If there happened to be  just one isolated case of irregularity, the media will highlight and exposed the issue until it brought pressure to the candidate and make him step down voluntarily. The leader himself will responsibly stepped down when criticised by the people eventhough the issue is not directly related to him. He took responsibility over the incident and seek forgiveness from the people. In Japan, within a span of 10 years there could have been 7 Prime Ministers. In comparison to some other nations, there are leaders who have been in power for over 40 years.

8. In the olden days, promises were made verbally and it can be relied on till death come by. This was built on the basis of trust, respectful of each other and sincere in making and fulfilling the promise. Today as it is, we relied on written documents when making promises. It gets thicker every day eventhough it is only a pre-nuptial agreement. The thicker agreements or manifesto, in a way is a reflection of the low level of trust between one another . Sad to say, despite the thightness of the conditions of the agreements, there are many cases of fraud and people not honouring their promises. As a result, when making promises, the agreements must be thick to cover the interests of all related parties.

9. Do not make promises if we are uncertain of fulfilling it.  A promise made and fulfilled is better than ten promises and only fulfilling one. Taking heed of the current situation, it is best that we prepare and remind ourselves not to be involved in any kinds of wrongdoings, deceit and going against ours, the public’s and stakeholder’s interest. As a member of the community, to win everybody’s heart is difficult but to destroy the public’s trust is easier. This through just one promise unfulfilled. 

Think Big Dream High, E59-Be A Trustworthy Person

Trustworthy

1.Trustworthy is an inherent characteristics in a person. It is a description of someone that can be trusted, responsible, sincere and truly honest. When we have full trust in a neighbor to care for our home during our yearly ritual of balik kampong to celebrate the Hari Raya, he or she took care of it as if it were theirs. When we ask for their help to feed our pet cat and fish, they took full responsibility to the extent that the cat looked healthier than before  and none of the fish in the pond died.

2.When we wanted to pay them for their assistance they turned it down. They offered their services out of sincerity. It is on this basis and understanding that they not only care for our home but also its compound. These are the characteristics of a trustworthy person. We are certain  that this neighbour will not lie, betray or steal our property.

3.This neighbour  never boasted of his trustworthiness and kindness. We believed that he is at ease with this trait. This characteristic is part and parcel of his wellbeing. He need not brag the fact that he is a trustworthy person. He has high regards for himself. He will not betray himself, more so to the others. The public themselves can make an assessment that this person is trustworthy.   

Reality in Life

1.A guard will also fall asleep when the supervisor is not checking on him when doing his rounds. This despite his main duty of safeguarding his place of work. The head of state after being overthrown from his position was found to have accumulated billions of USD personal and family asset throughout the world especially in Europe. These assets must have been accumulated in an illegal manner and doubtful as to the halal and haram of its source. His salary for the period of holding  the position of head of state does not warrant him to accumulate the large amount of assets.

2.His responsibility as the head of state is to safeguard his country, welfare of its population and to develop the nation’s economy and not to accumulate personal and family asset. He has betrayed the trust given by the people. 

Tips

1.As a professional in each of the  two extreme positions shown in the above example has plenty of opportunity to conduct untrustworthy  acts to gain wealth and prosperity in this world.

2.A professional who think big dream high that loves his religion, country and the people will not sacrifice his position  in the hereafter by being involved in the things mentioned above.

3.It is only the consciouness, iman and taqwa that will be our spiritual defence wall. This wall will prevent us from being involved in this untrustworthy activities. The way we work, think and make decisions will determine our sincerity. It will also determine the choice and direction of our lives. Obviously we have a choice of living in wealth now or living in wealth in the life hereafter.

4.If we set aside and bring down the spiritual wall and focus on fulfilling our wants, our children and wife’s then again we will be in same boat as the head of state above. If this is the path chosen, then in the life hereafter be prepared with the crucial key questions from Allah SWT. It will be difficult to provide justifications for all of our wealth and luxury possessions  to Allah SWT.

5.The truth of the matter, it will be difficult to give a straight answer as all of our activities in this world has been recorded accurately by Allah SWT. We cannot provide any further defense, adjustment or any corrections to  our answers. For sure we are going to fail in that cross-examination.

6.What are the consequences? For one we will be full of regrets and disappointment.  Fill with torture from Allah SWT. A grim kind of torture as in the many reminders mentioned by Allah SWT in the Al Quran. Allah SWT never stop reminding and giving warning while we are living in this world. If we continue to  ignore the warnings, then we must be prepared to face the consequences in the hereafter.

Think Big Dream High, E58- Self Interest, Public Interest And Allah SWT’s ruling

Conflict Of Interest

1.Interest by way of interpretation can mean the benefit gained by one party such as that obtained by an individual, a group, organization or for the public. Allah SWT is not looking for any benefit or kindness from His living creations. All of our good deeds, the benefits and interest will revert to us eventually.

2.All parties have the right, to care and to defend their interests. Nobody can question this. All of us work hard and put in our best effort to obtain the benefits and goodness for ourselves and our group. We work, run businesses etc to earn a decent living. All of our noble efforts will InsyaAllah be accepted by Allah SWT.

3.Issues of concern is when there is a clash of interests. For instance between self interest and public interest. Obviously the public interest must be given priority over and above self interest.  A clash of interest happens say an individual, a public servant with authority uses his position to wrongfully benefit or gain an advantage  for himself. This wrongdoing has affected the public’s interest to the extent that the public has to pay more to obtain a  certain service. The prices have to be adjusted higher to cover for the ‘under-table’ money paid to the public servant or his nominee.

4.The border between self interest and Allah SWT’s ruling is clear. Do what is asked of you based on the teachings of Islam and avoid all wrongful doings. The border between self interest and public interest is also clear. Give priority to public interest over and above self interest. The border between public interest and Allah SWT’s ruling is also clear. Those things implemented for  public interest must not be against Allah SWT’s rulings.

Reality in Life

1.The conflict of interests happens when the person approving the project or the person that can influence the decision to approve the project collude with the contractor that has been identified earlier to be offered the particular project. There is an element of graft in this case.

2.The people that can influence the decision to approve the project could be the children, son-in-law, husband or wife, relatives, close friends, cronies, nominees, proteges or any  parties related to those approving the project. There have been  cases where the nominees were found to posses various bank accounts either locally or overseas on behalf  of wife, children, son-in-law, or cronies  of the person making the decision.

 Tips

1. Avoid from the very beginning being involved in any business transactions that could possibly result in  conflict of interests. For example, do not accept any invitation for appointments out of the office with parties that have business dealings with our organization. Even if the meeting is important, its best to have a third party present.

2. Make it compulsory for declaration of assets on an annual basis for all senior or key positions in the government department or organizations. For example, Managing Director, Government Department Secretary General, Purchasing Manager etc or maybe even for all employees.

3. Those who felt they are in a situation of conflict of interests should refrained themselves from making decisions that can benefitted the parties that have connection or family relationship with them. For example, we are involved in making the decision to choose the supplier for our organization. One of the bidders happen to be our in-law or cousin.

4. Request for a third party evaluation or expert advise i.e. organization or individuals with the necessary expertise to propose the companies that are capable of implementing and developing a particular project. The final decision must therefore take into account the assessment by the third party and not for reasons of having conflict of interests.

5. Have a code of ethics that list down  clearly the things that can and cannot be done by every employee in the organization. The listing should cover various aspects of management, religion, social interaction, welfare, finance, business dealings or activities including the aspects of benefit and punishment.

6. Refrain from accepting appointment as a Board Member, Advisor  receiving lucrative benefits such as company car or allowances etc. from any companies that we have been involved in awarding a mega project or investment. For example as head of the organization, we are the key person responsible in approving the purchase of a building  owned by company A at an exorbitant sum of  RM500 million. Now that we have retired or resigned from our job with the government, Company A offered us the position of Executive Director in their organization. Declined politely the offer, no matter how tempting the offer sounds.

7. Make available an early warning system, monitoring system, immediate counseling and benchmark on the social standing, lifestyle and behavior of every employee in an organization. This system must be informed in writing as soon as the employee reported for duty. For example it is public knowledge that an employee has bought a new car, way beyond his means. The Head of department can make an enquiry as to how he can afford to purchase the car.

8.  A  person wanting to always do the right thing in life need to deepen their religious knowledge to control their willful desires in wanting to accumulate wealth, women and money. Whenever the opportunity arose for a breach of power to occur, then that person need to istighfar, zikir and doa so that  Allah SWT will protect them from being involved in any wrongful doings.

9. Those in power and with authority need to have expert advise from the Islamic scholars before making any kind of policies, programmes or public statements that might be construed as containing elements against the teachings of Islam.

10.As a professional who always think big and dream high, we must all the time avoid totally being involved in transactions or activities that have elements of conflict of interests and against Allah SWT’s rulings.