I just received this very moving story from Crossroads Foundation, telling us how a small contribution can make such a huge difference to people’s lives.

Check it out for facts, tips, resources and action steps for creating happiness for yourself and those around you. This is one of the posters that you can download from the site.

“Western neuroscience has now confirmed what Eastern wisdom has known for a long time: happiness is a skill we can learn. Research shows that happiness, compassion and kindness are the products of skills that can be learned and enhanced through training, thanks to the neuroplasticity of our brains.”

For daily tips and resources on happiness, motivation and success, also check out Dinchack Facebook page

On 1st May at 0700, I had a small solo event: I went to the corner desk of my living room which was to become my home office, turned my computer on, declared myself an entrepreneur, and started making checklists and plans. I can’t believe it’s been a month already!

With the support and encouragement of family, friends and even strangers, Dinchack has come a long way. Most of the goals established for the first month were achieved, and then some:

• Partnered with Ariva, a training company in the Philippines, and did the first event yesterday. The next one is scheduled for August!
• Partnered with Kornerstone, a training company in Hong Kong, and started with a training session for their own in-house sales team. They are planning a launch of my sales training program for their corporate clients in July!
• Launched the CSR program by starting to support Crossroads Foundation of Hong Kong!
• Made lots of new contacts in Hong Kong; been averaging one presentation a day for the last two weeks; joined a few networks.
• Dinchack website got into the top three search results on Google! Dinchack blog averages three new posts a week!
• Dinchack FB page has over 2600 followers and reaches over 600,000 people a week, with tips and resources on happiness, motivation and success!
• Dinchack uniform t-shirts have been extremely popular – possibly another business idea!

The plans for June are looking very exciting already, starting with a 3-day training for ETL at Minor in Thailand! Joining more business networks, hiring an intern, and most importantly, getting at least two more paid events, are just some of the challenges 

Three quotes that inspire me daily:

1. “The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.” -Vince Lombardi
2. “If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way.” -Napoleon Hill
3. “I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.” -Bill Cosby

And my prospecting line: “Do you know any companies with salespeople, looking to increase sales?”

PS. It seems getting fired from ETL could be one of the best things that happened to me!

Another inspiring story of the power of dreams, commitment and perseverance! Excerpts from the article on CNN:

Many climbers dream of reaching the peak of the world’s highest mountain at least once in their lifetime. Chhurim Sherpa has done it twice – in one week.

“People have set different kinds of climbing records in Everest,” said Chhurim, sitting on her living room couch directly beneath a string of certificates hung on the wall – the Guinness plaque included. “But no one has climbed twice within a week. So I just climbed with the sole motive of making a world record.”

Chhurim made her initial ascent on May 12 and then, after a two-day rest on her return to base camp, reached the peak again on May 19, 2012. Since Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary broke barriers by stepping afoot the 8,848-meter peak in 1953, many benchmarks have been set. But for Chhurim, it was Pasang Lhamu Sherpa – the first Nepalese woman to climb Everest (she died during her descent) – who inspired the then fifth grader to sketch a future plan that most girls the same age couldn’t conceive of.

When she came to Kathmandu to visit her sister in 2010, Chhurim enrolled in a basic mountaineering training course run by the Nepal Mountaineering Association. She said it helped her get the “psychological, physical, and technical training” required to prepare for her the mission. For the next two years, Chhurim honed her skills in rock climbing and first aid and climbed the Yala Peak (5,520m) in Nepal’s Langtang region.

While parents and family members kept track of Chhurim throughout her journey, the climber said she detached herself from any emotions. ”The only thing on my mind was to successfully set the record,” Chhurim said. “I didn’t really think of anyone during the climb, not even myself.”

On May 12, when she reached 8,848m for the first time with a group of four other climbers, she stood amazed above the “layer of tiny mountain peaks blanketed by circular cloud patterns.” During the 15 minutes she spent on top of the world, Chhurim said she took a moment to thank God, her parents, and then reminded herself that she had to do it all again.

After returning to base camp two days later and resting for another two days, Chhurim made the ascent again on May 17. But this time, she only had Tshering Dhendup, her aid, for company. En route to the world’s highest peak, she also traversed the Khumbu Icefall at 5,486m as well as the steepest climb after Camp 3 (7,470m), all while carrying 15 kilograms of her expedition gear that she said seemed to weigh more like 50. ”But I did it — I reached the summit on May 19, stood there for a little longer this time, about 25 minutes, and then headed to base camp in a day and a half,” Chhurim said, describing the journey with such ease as if it were a trek for amateurs.

To date, the total number of people who have successfully climbed Everest from the Nepalese side, according to the Expedition Department at the Ministry of Tourism, stands at 3,842. Of them only 219 are women, out of whom a mere 21 are Nepalese. ”I really want other Nepalese women to get involved in mountaineering,” Chhurim said. “We should have a can-do attitude so that we can move forward and not be left behind simply because we’re women.”

Iris is a qualified nurse who always wanted do something bigger and better, something that helps the community. So she founded Dookaz a few years ago, with a promise to:

• make changes to our environment by doing what is right
• encourage and conduct fair trade, fair business, equality and justice
• encourage and protect our environment
• spread positive messages all round

That’s quite an undertaking for a t-shirt company. After the initial challenges of any new business, her work became known in Hong Kong. They were the first company to offer anyone to print their own design, logo or message on t-shirts, without any minimum quantities – as long as the message was positive. Iris started teaching under-priveleged children and adults to learn how to make t-shirts and make a living. Business expanded to printing bags and shoes and labelling services, but still ensuring that none of the material or process would cause any harm to the human body or the environment. Her team grew to over 20 designers and workers, all of them as passionate as her to do good.

Then few months ago, her machinery broke down. With no money for repairs, business depended on handmade stuff only, and soon started to decline. She lost the entire team one after the other, but continued working all by herself to serve her existing clients as best as she could. Then last week, she broke her arm. All her family and friends told her this is a sign that she should finally close down the business. But Iris said, ‘I still have one arm, and the other will be ok soon’. And there she is, making t-shirts all by herself, with just one arm, serving her clients with a smile, and making a difference!

Iris is likely to read this piece, so please feel free to share your comments with her.

Today is a celebration of Buddha’s birthday in Hong Kong. And here’s a collection of the shortest but very inspiring quotes by Buddha. Each one seems so simple, yet is so deep.

1. You have no cause for anything but gratitude and joy.
2. What you are is what you have been. What you’ll be is what you do now.
3. Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.
4. Until he has unconditional and unbiased love for all beings, man will not find peace.
5. We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think.
6. Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.
7. Always be mindful of the kindness and not the faults of others.
8. It is a man’s own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways.
9. Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.
10. Live every act fully, as if it were your last.

Do you have a favorite Buddha quote, or any other short inspiring quote to share?

[Photo of a wall hanging in a store - probably unauthorized]

For daily tips on happiness, motivation and success, join the Dinchack Facebook page.

“Losing a battle or losing everything we thought we possessed will bring us moments of sadness. But when those moments pass, we will discover the hidden strength that exists in each of us, a strength that will surprise us and increase our self-respect. We will look around and say to ourselves: ‘I survived.’ And we will be cheered by our words. Only those who fail to recognise that inner strength will say: ‘I lost’, and be sad.”

“Defeat ends when we launch into another battle. Failure has no end; it is a lifetime choice.”

“Stay close to those who sing, tell stories, and enjoy life, and whose eyes sparkle with happiness. Because happiness is contagious and will always manage to find a solution, whereas logic can find only an explanation for the mistake made.”

“Anxiety was born in the very same moment as mankind. And since we will never be able to master it, we will have to learn to live with it – just as we have learned to live with storms. For those who cannot learn to do so, life will be a nightmare.”

What’s your favorite Paulo Coelho’s book? Or any inspiration book. Please share through comments.

Dinchack Facebook page crossed 2500 fans! Check it out for daily tips on happiness, motivation and success.

1. Dinchack website shows up in the top three search results on Google! Very exciting indeed, considering so many other dinchacks out there.
2. Dinchack website has been viewed 1,937 times during the week. That’s fantastic, without any online marketing.
3. Dinchack Facebook page now has 2,389 fans, in less than three weeks since launch! Overwhelming.
4. And here’s what I am most thrilled about… Dinchack got it’s first client!

I have my first speaking assignment at the ’4th Annual Summit for Leaders and Managers’ on 31st May in Manila, organized by ‘Ariva! Events Management’. Hoping to get at least one more in May.

I am happy with the progress, and looking forward to a dinchack future ahead. Thanks to everyone’s encouragement, support and good wishes!

First, a confession: I am very scared, though I keep telling myself ‘failure is an option, but fear is not’.

When I lost my job, I had two choices. On one hand, there were bills and mortgage, and the need to quickly start earning a stable income. I had been used to the comforts and securities of a ‘job’ for 27 years, so looking for another job seemed like the obvious choice.

But on the other hand, there was a dream and an option to finally pursue it. An opportunity to use my training skills to make a difference in many more lives, outside of one company. And to increase my income to match my dreams.

I chose risk, insecurity and uncertainty. I launched my training company, Dinchack. And today is officially the first day of operation. I started working at 0600 this morning, and I am very tempted to take the rest of the day off

What a great day to start a new venture. 1st May symbolizes a change of season in most countries – either the start of spring or of summer, depending on where you are. For me, it’s the beginning of the much awaited new chapter in my life!

1st May is also known as Labor Day, May Day or International Workers’ Day that’s celebrated in more than 80 countries. What better way to celebrate workers’ day than to start working for yourself!

You may check out Dinchack website here. And join Dinchack Facebook page for daily tips on happiness, motivation and success. Please feel free to leave any comments, good wishes or questions about Dinchack.

My new Facebook page just crossed 1000 fans in the first week! Check it out for latest news on Dinchack (my new company) and tips on happiness, motivation and success.