Who are the true mentors? What do they do?

In my 27 years of working life I have many friends, allies, teachers and even coaches but only a few mentors. They are hard to come by but when they do, they are gems. I do hope that a few more will be forthcoming in the second half of my career.

Most aspiring executives will go through these phases in their career. Hopefully as they climb the corporate ladder, opportunities will avail for them to lead in bigger companies with wider geographical responsibilities.

Even as I list the four steps here there are of course other factors that work for and against the executives. Factors like learning, being high touch, networking etc.

Four Possible Steps to the Top

1. Logistical and Operational Competence - ability to understand and to work and get the work done right.

2. Organizational and Tactical Competence - ability to sync and manage the company with other parts within the organization to do the right things.

3. Mobilization and Strategic Competence - ability to sync and position the company taking into consideration the competition and the environment (internal and external).

4. Creative and Imaginative Competence - ability to interpret current signs and extrapolate into the future ultimately thriving the company and/or creating new profitable products and services.

A mentor is not just a coach. He challenges and points me to the right direction. He releases dreams and visions. Nothing is impossible. But most importantly he needs to be creatively fertile that he can father many 'babies'. I called my mentor for the last 4 years as my tor-mentor. He likened our meetings as tough squash games. Drenched completely in sweat.

One very interesting meeting we have was in a coffee shop where we have chicken rice, char siew and roast pork. He was hungry when I picked him up from the KLIA. There was a lunch crowd. We ate and talked.

It went 'animated'. The decibels were rising. He told me to "Get real and grow up!!" But in between he also told that he will not start this project in this East Asian country if I am not committing myself to mentor and handhold the local partner. Such trust and honor. From one mentor to another.

In every meeting my mentor will challenged me mentally. Each meeting will moved me up the creative scale. This is what I value most. The day I lose my ability to be creative and be imaginative it will be day I become a deadwood. It is so easy for me to slipped into the paths of least resistance rather than to take the steep, narrow and winding road. It is so easy to say, "It won't work," "we've tried that before," "we can't afford it" and scores of other excuses.

Hip, hip hooray to wonderful mentors!

Breezing through Immigration

One of the hazards of traveling is being asked for money by some government officials in some banana republic. You fear being shaken down if you don't comply. For a first time independent traveller this can be intimidating business.

And for those who are male, travel alone and into the same country often, you are the perfect candidate. Some tips:

1. Keeping a straight but friendly face. Stay 'Hello' or smile. Do not be chatty. Talk only when talk to.

2. Getting your papers in order esp. your Immigration Forms. Fill up the part on your place of stay carefully and completely. Otherwise you risk being asked and you are stuck. Do your research. If for whatever reasons best known to you have not booked a hotel and want to do so at the airport counters, have a name in hand. You can change your mind later.

3. Keep all your documents ready and at hand esp. your return ticket. I have been asked many times for my return ticket.

4. The Immigration officials may not know everything. For example in ASEAN, all ten countries except Myanmar have 'no visa' bilateral agreements for each other citizens. I have been asked a number of times by Immigration officers on my visa. My answer is always a straight forward, "I do not need a visa to enter your country."

5. I observe that if you are at the end of the queue the chances of being asked a lot of questions are very high. "Why are you entering my country so often?", "You have a girlfriend here?" Are you doing a business here? You will need a business visa." Try to get a seat in the front part of the plane to facilitate your disembarkation. Try to walk briskly to the Immigration Counter and be the first in line. Facing a long line the officer is under pressure to clear the line you they will let you off.

6. What if you are asked to give money like, "Give me ten dollars." Reply with a firm, "No." It also pays (pun intended) not to lean on the counter. Keep half a step away. This way the officer has to speak up and it is embarassing if he/she is asking for money.

Time and Space - Most Valuable Commodity

It was time off from the razzmatazz. Skipped breakfast to get some perspective. I wanted to change my thinking channel to a more contemplative one. There is no better place than to be in the midst of nature. A business opportunity was presented to us and we need to inspect and then study it.

Humans are being surrounded by time and space. And we are good (and bad) at harnessing (losing) the time and space that each has. I am placing 'good' first as the human race has survived and thrive, that is till now.

Opportunities are time based and missed opportunities are also denominated in time. Space literally is like the physical land. And figuratively speaking it means any resources. In times past we have the great agriculturist and today we have the financial-Warren Buffets and new media-Bill Gates. Each harnessing both the time and space.

From the Pesta site in Sg. Nibong it took us 20 minutes to reach the turn-off from the Balik Pulau road. Here it is another 2km of slow maximum 10 degree downhill drive through the one lane macadam and cement road. Then we reached the valley. The land was blessed with a flowing stream. Despite the hot and dry weather the water is flowing. Obviously it is fertile land and we have remnants of very old trees fringing this orchard and farm that is producing veges and fruits. No pesticides and only organic fertilizers were used.

Now what can we do with this big tract of land. Plenty. Time and space have been bestowed on the human race from time immemorial. Space in the form of a tract of land is here. And when enjoined with investors of time there is a potent mixed that may yield results beyond what the piece of land can do. Time must come in the arena of creative ideas, knowledge, management and business acumen.

What will be the 'fruits' when time and space intermingled purposefully? What if the space is harnessed using sustainable practices, without greed and malice? What ifs?My stomach was growling by noon but instead of dimming my mind it only serves to fertilize it. And a dosage of the fruit from the land coming in the form of a young coconut with pandan fragrance refreshed and intensified my thoughts even more.