Monday, August 30, 2010

TUNA CHEESE CROISSANT

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
May peace and blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad, the final messenger

Salam & hi to all,

this is something to share. For busy people like me, this is easy to make and you wont be frustrated of the output. Its risk free, even if they were spoiled, they can still be eaten :p

YOU ARE GOING TO NEED THESE ITEMS :-


CROISSANT (I BOUGHT THEM READY MADE FROM THE SUPERMARKET, HAVENT LEARNED HOW TO MAKE THEM :P )


KNIFE, TO CUT THE CROISSANT INTO HALF


ANY NORMAL BUTTER


SHREDDED CHEESE


CANNED TUNA IN OLIVE OIL. YOU CAN USE TUNA IN WATER AS WELL. YOU CAN USE DIRECT FROM THE CAN, OR CAN FRY WITH A LITTLE BIT OF OIL, GARLIC AND UNION, JUST TO ADD THE NICE TASTE AND AROMA.

STEPS

FIRST OF ALL CUT THE CROISSANT INTO HALF, YOU CAN CUT COMPLETELY OR LEAVE A BIT PORTION, SO THAT BOTH PIECES STILL ATTACH TOGETHER.


APPLY SOME BUTTER ON THE INNER SIDE OF THE CROISSANT, THIN OR THICK IS UP TO YOU


SPRINKLE SOME SHREDDED CHEESE


SCOOP AND PUT TUNA ON BOTH SIDE OF THE CROISSANT AND AGAIN SPRINKLE SOME SHREDDED CHEESE ON TOP OF IT


THIS IS HOW THEY LOOK LIKE. PUT IN THE MICROWAVE FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES


WALLA ! COOKED


FOLD BACK THE CROISSANT AND THEY ARE READY TO BE SERVED.


AND THIS IS HOW YOU EAT IT :)
good luck !

Sunday, August 22, 2010

BUSINESS COACHING AND HOPE

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
May peace and blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad, the final messenger

I like the idea Dr Imad puts in his talk HOPE and i would like to relate it to business environment of understanding. This is going to be a bit technical of business issues, but i guess, my writing is not that technical therefore it is comprehensibly easy to understand (i wish haha)

As a business consultant and coach, I have witnessed horrific emotional condition of businessmen when their business empire colapse. Believe me, being there, during times of intense economic downturns, by just watching their tremendous stress, i felt the spark. Even now, looking at the economic crisis intensifies, some of my client didnt achieve any goal, whatever they name it, strategic goal, achievable goal, yearly goal etc..goals made by themselves, maybe because they were mired in micro managing their enterprises? Thats what i think, but not until i really sit down with them and listen to what they have to say. This is called a dynamic conversation. To be honest, sometimes, listening and just listening whining with the ahaa ahaa is really tiring. I might do day dreaming playing with my cats rather than to see a wreaked face in front of me, my bad haha..(just joking). Actually this is the best medium to test our skill in communication, we (business coaches) can challenge ourselves with the effectiveness and efficiency of communication and scale our performance.

How to deal with clients who seek our professional services during their despair time? Its a norm in anybody to lose their composure especially if they are faced with extreme difficulties and hardship, specifically with corporate issues. Who can help them in getting the 'idea' in order for them to have peace of mind and personal contentedness in order to stay focused on the greater tasks ahead of them?

As a business consultant, i know i am a person who gives consultancy, sits there and show sympathetic face for hours, actually, i dont have that patience haha...As a business coach, we sit there, with free judge mental attitude, 'big ears' to listen carefully, would provide the clients the right perspective not just in overcoming difficulties but also to help the clients in finding new opportunities amidst the crisis, the field that they themselves having knowledge and optimism to start venturing into. We dont suggest but we ask for their suggestions, suiting to their capabilities. Coach sees differently from what consultant can see. We ask the right question to be asked and we dont ask question that we have forcasted the answers. We act as if we dont know anything but show interest and enthusiasm in getting to know whats next and whats next with our 'weapons'. Interesting right? Thats why I love this job. Do you know that the science of business coaching began to bloom in late 90s as the world faced intense economic meltdown?

As in general, our role is to create the awareness among our clients on how to achieve their goal, using the pulling factors element around them. It other word, we are helping them to promote a well rounded psychological reinforcement for a better business environment. As for my case, i prefer the solution focus approach in coaching. It saves time and most of the coaching issues can be easily untangled.

Then, who solves the problem? We? ah aaa....not us. Business coaches are not angels who fulfill one's hope/wish to get it all over with. We just facilitate, and help using and applying our coaching techniques and methods to 'wake up' our clients' mind from being 'absent' to face the business chaos. Do you believe me, my coach buddy's told me that his client (he didnt disclose his client identity as its in the ethic of coaching) has kept his trade problems in his mind for more than 20 years but only voiced it out once being asked by that coach? How was that happened? with certain basic of listening tool technique, a coach would be given the trust he needs in order 'to dig' more. Trust between the 2 parties is important, and coaching presence with empathy is essential to be achieved in order to get this.

come back to my question just now..who solves the problem? the answer is the problem barrier would solves his or her problem with the help of others. Well, the others might just assist, but this is nothing close to predetermined succes written in anywhere. Therefore, with all the assistances and services rendered by consultants, counselors and coaches for example, the client need get up and start applying to his 'change management' and, put the hope and pray to Allah SWT to ease up the way for succes.

Actually, business coaching isnt just important to someone's career but also for the company and to whoever 'married' to his company haha...again, a coach doesnt lead a client to succes, but help the client in getting back to the right path to recovery. We will provoke the clients' mind or pose questions which the client may like, or dislike (normally we know the constructive questions are) as we see, that most of our client who is in despair in business, actually has lost sight of the most important strategies that will rebuild the business. They know that, but kept to them and to themselves. Its good if they were to admit it, as more ideas would surface and gradually, they would see the 'light' to get out from the the tunnel named 'great mess'.

Business coaches charge per hourly basis but setting hope and tawakkal (put effort and dua) to Allah SWT, costs zero penny.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

THE MAN WHO FED AN OLD BLIND JEW

Salam & Hi to all,

it has been many many weeks i havent wrote anything, just finished my latest sports event which i've taken part, it was the Ipoh Century Ride 2010, which total distance of ride was 160km, completed within 7hours 35mins haha (the fastest was 4 plus hours only)

Anyway, i am going to write a true story tonight, about an old Jew who was blind, jobless, maybe did some beggar work near the market place to survive and also known by the public in that territory as a person whose mouthful with vulgar swearing towards the Prophet, Muhammad s.a.w. Surely he hated the Prophet s.a.w, more than he could say. Weird, he had never seen who he was swearing all those while. people who passed by would just ignore him be in his poor neglected condition. No one seemed to care of his welfare and considered as a nuisance....except to one man.

This one man, made feeding this old blind jew as his routine...until one day, this kind man stopped doing his usual feeding activity. As usual, that blind old jew would shout saying that the Prophet was the cause of his bad luck for that day and continue cursing the beloved Prophet s.a.w. as his way to throw his tantrum. He was governed by hatred which benefited him nothing.

On the day the Prophet wafat (passed away), the market place was not busy as before. After Saiyidina Abu Bakr was appointed to become the new khalifah (leader), he tried the best he could to continue what the Prophet s.a.w has been practicing during his reign. The sunnah was what the Prophet s.a.w left for us to follow were all in the knowledge of Saiyidina Abu Bakr. He felt that there was something still undone.

So, one day, he asked Saiyidatina Aisyah, her daughter and also the wife of the Prophet s.a.w, about what were the thing that the Prophet would be doing that was not known to him. He wanted to ensure the 'continuation' of the Prophet's activities during his life.

She told him that the Prophet used to feed an old blind jew at the market place. In no time Saiyidina Abu Bakr rushed to the market place and searched for the mentioned blind old jew. He saw an old blind man, sitting at a corner, busy cursing the Prophet s.a.w out loud. Realizing that there was a 'stranger' near him, the old man yelled at Saiyidina Abu Bakr asking him to go away. Saiyidina Abu Bakr told him of his purpose to be there was to feed him. The old blind jew scolded Saiyidina Abu Bakr telling him that he didnt want anyone but the only man who used to feed him daily.

Saiyidina Abu Bakr tried to convince him that he was the person who always feed him everyday. with anger he yelled 'no, you are a liar, the man's voice is soft not like yours'. Saiyidina Abu Bakr smiled and soften down his voice and tried to put the food into that blind old man's mouth.

Again he yelled saying 'the man who used to feed me, will never give me hard food, he will chew it first then slowly put it into my mouth, else i would be chocked!' in his full temperamental voice. Saiyidina Abu Bakr was saddened, his eyes were soaked with tears and ran on his cheek. he chewed the food to small pieces and kindly put into the readily opened mouth of that arrogant old man.

Then when he wanted to put another chewed food into the old man's mouth, again that ungrateful old blind jew yelled ' the man who used to feed me will never force feed me, he will wait until i swallowed the food completely...and he will do that until i am full ! '. Saiyidina Abu Bakr's hands were shaking for him couldnt bare his emotion and burst crying. It was a quiet moment, and after a while, he asked the old blind man who was the person who treated him with full of kindness and love.

with a sober tone of voice, the old blind man answered ' how would i know, he just came to me everyday, talk softly to me asking me whether i am hungry, and kindly feed me until i am full....i never asked his name anyway '. With tears and semi husky voice (due to refraining himself from sobbing), Saiyidina Abu Bakr told him that he man who fed him daily was the beloved Prophet Muhammad s.a.w., the man that he has been cursing everyday.

It was told that before his last breath, the blind old jew had converted to Islam. Islam came to him and he found Islam, through the beauty of akhlakh and sahsiyyah (attitude) of our beloved Muhammad s.a.w. The Prophet s.a.w could be praying and setting duas to Allah to give taufik and hidayah (way of truth) to the old man everytime to put food in his mouth. Subhanallah.

This story telling has no personal agenda except for educating the true beautiful character our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). we should be inspired with all actions and doings of kindness shown by the chosen one.

"..Be mindful of Allah, you will find Him before you. Get to know Allah in prosperity and He will know you in adversity. Know that what has passed you by was not going to befall you; and that what has befallen you was not going to pass you by. And know that victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and ease with hardship."(al-tirmidhi:hadith19)