The San Francisco 49ers played in the NFC title game. If they won, they play in Super Bowl XLVI. Unfortunately, the 49ers lost to the Super Bowl champions New York Giants. Nobody expected the 49ers to make the playoffs. Nobody expected quarterback Alex Smith to comeback and perform his best season ever.
Smith was the 2005 number one draft pick overall. His seven seasons were ups and downs including injuries and losing the starting quarterback position. Fans wanted him gone. He had different head coaches and different offensive coordinators. He persisted. He didn’t give up. Smith’s strengths are intelligence and tenacity.
The 2011 season brought Jim Harbaugh, the 49ers new head coach. Harbaugh brought the best in Smith and used his strengths. Harbaugh raised Smith’s confidence. Smith worked hard and earned high respect from the 49ers fans. The following are life lessons I learned from Alex Smith.
1. Hell before you get to heaven. Everyone starts at the bottom. Nobody becomes a vice president in their first year in a company. Continue reading to understand my point.
2. Consistency is important. Smith started his first 7 seasons with a new offensive coordinator. That’s bad. Smith had to learn something new at the beginning of a new season. He couldn’t continue developing a coordinator’s style into the next year.
3. Support. Nobody becomes successful alone. Smith’s best season included support from Harbaugh and the coaching staff, former 49ers General Manager Scot McCloughan, current 49ers General Manager Trent Baalke who signed him for this season, 49ers owner Jed York (who also signed Jim Harbaugh), teammates including Vernon Davis and Frank Gore, and Smith’s family.
4. Action speaks louder than words. Smith won football games. That was how he did his talking. His modesty is another strength. He was the number one 49er this season.
5. Luck and good fortune. Always factors everywhere we do.
6. Redemption. We all make mistakes big and small. The successful people learn from their mistakes and don’t repeat them. They want a second chance to make up for their mistakes. Smith’s 2011 season was redemption after all those past bad years.
Smith's 2011 season was a season in heaven. Good things come to those who wait.
The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
There Are More Jeremy Lin People Out There
Who is Jeremy Lin? What is Lin-sanity? Here he is below:
*Graduated Palo Alto High School in Palo Alto, CA and attended Harvard University.
*Not drafted in the 2010 NBA draft, he played for the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets. Both teams released him.
*The New York Knicks signed the 6-foot-3 point guard in December and had been a bench player.
*Lin became the first American born Chinese or Taiwanese descent to start on Saturday February 4.
*The Knicks have won five straight since Lin started. Lin scored a total of 109 points, and 89 in his first three games which is the highest total for any player since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976.
* Lin has over 220,000 Twitter followers, as of this blog post.
We experience moments we overlook greatness and excellent. Sometimes a piece of paper documenting a person’s potential is not telling the entire story. Maybe the story is twisting and distorting the truth. It’s natural we seek people with past experience, high grade point averages in school, and/or knowledge in many skills. We want people who can do it now instead of starting from the beginning and training people. It’s a common catch-22 in life: how can people gain experience, learn from their mistakes, and acquire skills if we aren’t given the opportunity?
Lin’s high school coach was quoted saying, “We know what he can do and other people aren’t seeing it. Nobody game him a chance.” Average people can reach the sky for superior success. It takes hard work, practice, learning from your mistakes, and improving continuously. Timing and luck are important, too. Give that person a start. Give that person an opportunity. There is hidden talent everywhere. Thank you Jeremy Lin for reminding us hidden talent is everywhere.
The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar
*Graduated Palo Alto High School in Palo Alto, CA and attended Harvard University.
*Not drafted in the 2010 NBA draft, he played for the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets. Both teams released him.
*The New York Knicks signed the 6-foot-3 point guard in December and had been a bench player.
*Lin became the first American born Chinese or Taiwanese descent to start on Saturday February 4.
*The Knicks have won five straight since Lin started. Lin scored a total of 109 points, and 89 in his first three games which is the highest total for any player since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976.
* Lin has over 220,000 Twitter followers, as of this blog post.
We experience moments we overlook greatness and excellent. Sometimes a piece of paper documenting a person’s potential is not telling the entire story. Maybe the story is twisting and distorting the truth. It’s natural we seek people with past experience, high grade point averages in school, and/or knowledge in many skills. We want people who can do it now instead of starting from the beginning and training people. It’s a common catch-22 in life: how can people gain experience, learn from their mistakes, and acquire skills if we aren’t given the opportunity?
Lin’s high school coach was quoted saying, “We know what he can do and other people aren’t seeing it. Nobody game him a chance.” Average people can reach the sky for superior success. It takes hard work, practice, learning from your mistakes, and improving continuously. Timing and luck are important, too. Give that person a start. Give that person an opportunity. There is hidden talent everywhere. Thank you Jeremy Lin for reminding us hidden talent is everywhere.
The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar
Thursday, February 02, 2012
Pictures From 2011
I take another break writing blogs because I’ve been spending my time on other activities. I start with January and February 2011. My daily life and observation pictures are from my old cell phone. Enjoy.
The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar
The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Stay Focus
I have been losing focus since Jan 1. I’m slightly concern. My focus lost is minor. I forget little things here and there. I drop things. I make a mistake. My concentration has been off at least once a day for most of a week. Moreover, there were a few days I felt tired. I hope my losing focus is not a serious medical condition.
It Has Happened In 2010 and 2011
I remember losing focus when I attended De Anza College in Winter ’10 and Winter ’11 quarters. I remember the campus dreaded Winter ’10 after the 2009 Christmas break. On the other hand, the campus welcomed Winter ’11 after the 2010 Christmas break. Weeks went by in both quarters. Students experienced typical stress from their classes and life outside school. I lost focus. There were days I stressed out.
I have the same feeling currently. I admit I experience some stress from job searching instead of studying for mid-terms. I experience anxiety when I send a resume and cover letter. Is the company going to call me for an interview? The job search is tough.
Optimistically, everything seems to come together and my focus comes back as the year approaches the spring season. I handle my stress very well. My senses are razor sharp. I have full control over my life. My question is why do I lose focus in the early months of the new year?
Consistency Is A Must
My daily life has been inconsistent. The gym workouts, cooking and eating meals, completing errands, and my online activity such as checking emails, social networking, and sending resumes are completed at different hours per day. I admit it is hard living with my aging parents since I help around the house. I’m doing my best to establish a consistent daily routine.
More People Are Like Me
It seems I’m not the only person losing focus. My observation skills tell me some people have difficulty focusing. I see people making mistakes, especially driving. I’ve seen people drive erratically and dangerously such as unsafe lane changes and cutting in. I see people behaving badly in supermarkets. Some people start arguments because they’re impatient. 2012 is the worse beginning of a new year since I don’t know when.
Off The 2011 And New Year’s Eve 2012 High
Let’s not get depressed. Most people had a good 2011 year. I was in San Francisco on New Year’s Eve 2012. There were huge crowds around the bay. Everyone was having a blast and partying. There were people talking, celebrating, and being loud. The happy parties and celebrations are over. 2011 is history. Let’s get back to the present moment. Focus on 2012. Make 2012 a better year than 2011. If 2011 was a bad year, then make 2012 a good year.
Relax And Take It Easy
Do everything one at a time. Relax. Take a deep breath. Concentrate on your present task. There is no need to rush. There are days when a plan is delayed or trashed. Don’t take your frustrations and stress out on other people and on the road. They’re ineffective. Just go with the flow. No matter how bad a day went, remember the world didn’t come to an end.
Side note: Winter ’11 was the worse quarter because I missed an entire week of classes due to sickness and the instructors for my classes were boring.
The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar
It Has Happened In 2010 and 2011
I remember losing focus when I attended De Anza College in Winter ’10 and Winter ’11 quarters. I remember the campus dreaded Winter ’10 after the 2009 Christmas break. On the other hand, the campus welcomed Winter ’11 after the 2010 Christmas break. Weeks went by in both quarters. Students experienced typical stress from their classes and life outside school. I lost focus. There were days I stressed out.
I have the same feeling currently. I admit I experience some stress from job searching instead of studying for mid-terms. I experience anxiety when I send a resume and cover letter. Is the company going to call me for an interview? The job search is tough.
Optimistically, everything seems to come together and my focus comes back as the year approaches the spring season. I handle my stress very well. My senses are razor sharp. I have full control over my life. My question is why do I lose focus in the early months of the new year?
Consistency Is A Must
My daily life has been inconsistent. The gym workouts, cooking and eating meals, completing errands, and my online activity such as checking emails, social networking, and sending resumes are completed at different hours per day. I admit it is hard living with my aging parents since I help around the house. I’m doing my best to establish a consistent daily routine.
More People Are Like Me
It seems I’m not the only person losing focus. My observation skills tell me some people have difficulty focusing. I see people making mistakes, especially driving. I’ve seen people drive erratically and dangerously such as unsafe lane changes and cutting in. I see people behaving badly in supermarkets. Some people start arguments because they’re impatient. 2012 is the worse beginning of a new year since I don’t know when.
Off The 2011 And New Year’s Eve 2012 High
Let’s not get depressed. Most people had a good 2011 year. I was in San Francisco on New Year’s Eve 2012. There were huge crowds around the bay. Everyone was having a blast and partying. There were people talking, celebrating, and being loud. The happy parties and celebrations are over. 2011 is history. Let’s get back to the present moment. Focus on 2012. Make 2012 a better year than 2011. If 2011 was a bad year, then make 2012 a good year.
Relax And Take It Easy
Do everything one at a time. Relax. Take a deep breath. Concentrate on your present task. There is no need to rush. There are days when a plan is delayed or trashed. Don’t take your frustrations and stress out on other people and on the road. They’re ineffective. Just go with the flow. No matter how bad a day went, remember the world didn’t come to an end.
Side note: Winter ’11 was the worse quarter because I missed an entire week of classes due to sickness and the instructors for my classes were boring.
The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar
Thursday, January 19, 2012
SOMT: Kodak Declares Bankruptcy
Blogger’s Note: SOMT stands for Sign Of My Times, an occasional blog sharing my thoughts how time changes life from when I was young to today.
CNBC reported the 131 year old company Eastman Kodak declared bankruptcy. The company has no cash to continue operations, and bankruptcy provides the company with protection to survive. Kodak is shifting their business plan to printers for home and commercial use.
My dad was a good amateur photographer. He took family pictures when my siblings and I were young. He developed and printed black & white pictures from college to his young parenting years. I remember shopping at LZ Premiums, a local ma & pa discount photo store that sells photography equipment, film, development services, and photo developing equipment. LZ Premiums expanded their store selling televisions and renting VHS movies in the mid 1980s. I’m guessing the store expanded because of competition from bigger stores selling photography equipment and services such as Circuit City and a small chain of camera and video stores known today as Wolf Camera. LZ Premiums went out of business.
I took black & white photography in 1991 while I in 11th grade. I used one of my dad’s Nikon cameras to take pictures for my assignments. I purchased my first film camera in Dec 2002. Digital cameras were too expensive for me. The first time I held a digital camera was on July 2000. A friend owned a Casio digital camera that used 3.5 inch floppy disks.
I purchased my first digital camera in July 2003. The first pics I took with my Olympus were our family vacation in Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, and the Grand Canyon. I purchased my second digital camera in May 2004. It was the Canon Powershot A75. The A75 was a rock I dropped it so many times. I took many pictures at anime conventions and my vacations in 2004-2005.
Digital cameras and photography are everywhere. Cell phones can take pictures. People can take as many pictures as they want—even an ant on the sidewalk. There is no need to be picky taking pictures with film. I started my digital photography with point & shoot cameras. I use a SLR today. I consider myself an amateur below my dad’s skills. Regardless, anyone can take good pictures with today’s digital cameras.
Stubborn Is Another Bad S Word
Going back to Kodak, the company was stubborn to enter the digital market. It stayed in the film business years after digital photography started becoming mainstream. Kodak lost money staying in the film photography. They were too late entering the digital market.
George Eastman founded Kodak from his photography hobby. He found ways to make photography easy for common people including the photography paper and easily transporting camera film. Eastman debuted Kodachrome film in 1935.
The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar
CNBC reported the 131 year old company Eastman Kodak declared bankruptcy. The company has no cash to continue operations, and bankruptcy provides the company with protection to survive. Kodak is shifting their business plan to printers for home and commercial use.
My dad was a good amateur photographer. He took family pictures when my siblings and I were young. He developed and printed black & white pictures from college to his young parenting years. I remember shopping at LZ Premiums, a local ma & pa discount photo store that sells photography equipment, film, development services, and photo developing equipment. LZ Premiums expanded their store selling televisions and renting VHS movies in the mid 1980s. I’m guessing the store expanded because of competition from bigger stores selling photography equipment and services such as Circuit City and a small chain of camera and video stores known today as Wolf Camera. LZ Premiums went out of business.
I took black & white photography in 1991 while I in 11th grade. I used one of my dad’s Nikon cameras to take pictures for my assignments. I purchased my first film camera in Dec 2002. Digital cameras were too expensive for me. The first time I held a digital camera was on July 2000. A friend owned a Casio digital camera that used 3.5 inch floppy disks.
I purchased my first digital camera in July 2003. The first pics I took with my Olympus were our family vacation in Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, and the Grand Canyon. I purchased my second digital camera in May 2004. It was the Canon Powershot A75. The A75 was a rock I dropped it so many times. I took many pictures at anime conventions and my vacations in 2004-2005.
Digital cameras and photography are everywhere. Cell phones can take pictures. People can take as many pictures as they want—even an ant on the sidewalk. There is no need to be picky taking pictures with film. I started my digital photography with point & shoot cameras. I use a SLR today. I consider myself an amateur below my dad’s skills. Regardless, anyone can take good pictures with today’s digital cameras.
Stubborn Is Another Bad S Word
Going back to Kodak, the company was stubborn to enter the digital market. It stayed in the film business years after digital photography started becoming mainstream. Kodak lost money staying in the film photography. They were too late entering the digital market.
George Eastman founded Kodak from his photography hobby. He found ways to make photography easy for common people including the photography paper and easily transporting camera film. Eastman debuted Kodachrome film in 1935.
The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar
Monday, January 16, 2012
A Brief Talk On Communicating
Good communicating or conversation skills are important to meet new people and make new friends. Socializing is simply a conversation with people. Sometimes, there is an activity before or after the conversation. Listening and talking with people are good as long as you’re not boring and have something to say. It can be current events you follow, an article worth sharing, a place you recently visited, a fun activity, or a personal story. A joke is good as long as the timing and audience are appropriate.
Here are my personal tips on communicating and conversation:
*Avoid talking and talking all the time.
*Avoid Q&A conversation as if you’re asking questions and the other person is answering your questions. It’s not an interview.
*Listening is good, too.
*You have no problems being with people and being an interesting person with stories. Observation skills are a plus.
The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar
Here are my personal tips on communicating and conversation:
*Avoid talking and talking all the time.
*Avoid Q&A conversation as if you’re asking questions and the other person is answering your questions. It’s not an interview.
*Listening is good, too.
*You have no problems being with people and being an interesting person with stories. Observation skills are a plus.
The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar
Friday, January 13, 2012
You’re Not Alone Feeling Lonely
Everyone experience feeling lonely living a life with people. Never deny feeling lonely. We experience it. I experience it. You’re never alone when you spend time with family and friends. Never take your family and friends for granted.
What is my solution when I experience the lonely feeling? I do something, anything to take my mind away from the negative, depressing, and time wasting feeling. I read a book, hike, shop or run errands, catch up with my emails, write a blog, go to the gym, watch an episode from my TV DVDs, visit a new place . . . I do something, anything.
The secondary affect doing something, anything is I’m not bored. I hate being bored. Boring is a pet peeve. It wastes my time. There is always something to do. I’m being active.
I create a story and gain new experience doing something, anything. I want a life. I must earn it. I do it. I want to be a person with a life telling stories to people. I don’t want to be a boring person. I want to be a person who done this and done that. You meet new people living your life.
In my next blog, I share a little bit about communication is important to meet new people and make new friends. You may master the art of communication and conversation; however, if you’re a boring person, communication means nothing because you have nothing to say.
The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar
What is my solution when I experience the lonely feeling? I do something, anything to take my mind away from the negative, depressing, and time wasting feeling. I read a book, hike, shop or run errands, catch up with my emails, write a blog, go to the gym, watch an episode from my TV DVDs, visit a new place . . . I do something, anything.
The secondary affect doing something, anything is I’m not bored. I hate being bored. Boring is a pet peeve. It wastes my time. There is always something to do. I’m being active.
I create a story and gain new experience doing something, anything. I want a life. I must earn it. I do it. I want to be a person with a life telling stories to people. I don’t want to be a boring person. I want to be a person who done this and done that. You meet new people living your life.
In my next blog, I share a little bit about communication is important to meet new people and make new friends. You may master the art of communication and conversation; however, if you’re a boring person, communication means nothing because you have nothing to say.
The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar
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