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DAY 82

UPDATE: Monday, 16-May-2005 7:26 PM

Once again here I am at 10,000 meters (33,000 feet) and no diapers to change. Well, I am on my way to Sri Lanka. The flight will last well over 12 hours. I am sitting here next to FiremanPete from Tennessee. FirmanPete the Tenneseean is headed to Sri Lanka to build a few houses for the Tsunami victims.

I must say that he's performing a very noble cause, even with the Bible in tow, as a few very lucky families will have a very good roof over their heads. All of this of course ended up in a conversation about the almighty -God! Yes, our conversation went that route, but no problem --I too am a true believer.

Well, now I need to explain. I say I am a true believer in a sense that my belief in God is that God is built into me. The belief goes much deeper into the soul of me and its a lot more difficult to resolve than a 'cut and dry' approach. In a sense of the word, I feel very spiritual. I must end the conversation here, although there are many out there who will "work with God" or use the power of God to uplift their lot in life. Anyway you do it is fine, as long as you do it.

Just asked my neighbor, FiremanPete "we are at 10,666 meters altitude -should I be concerned? NO! was the answer. Ok, a little joke at the expense of FiremanPete.

Anyway, it has been a good opportunity to talk in midwestern dialect about things. I miss that living in the Netherlands.

So, still more than 5 hours to go. My conversation should be about religion, but it will not go that route because religion is a *deeply* personal 'thing' and I'd like to very much stay out of it here. I will add that what ever the method you use to "uplift", "better yourself", etc. etc, as long as it is not creating a headache (tread on other people and their beliefs) for someone else is a good path.

Thus, you must use ALL available resources to better your success -personal, business and financial.

Usually, on a Monday I talk about what's in store for the week. And this week the conversations, meetings, lectures, etc. with the Staff is about how to better our work, how to avoid the problems that we have had and how to make sure that we build a business and community around our network in a manner that can help thousands of people worldwide.

Those will be the topics of conversation. Those will be at the top of every hour that I spend in Sri Lanka. The people I work with here are very smart -book smart -but when it comes to using that knowledge to design, craft, test, build and improve a product, they fall behind.

My goal has been to find out ways to help them, help themselves and that is not an easy task.

Have I succeed? I can say "yes" but then 24 hours later something will happen that forces me to shake my head.

Often I have said to the Sri Lanka staff that mistakes are inevitable -but my measure of our progress is not by the mistakes that you make, BUT by the way you address those mistakes and build a plan so that the mistake will not be repeated.

And after that there are a thousand other items that I need to talk about.

Having said that, that leads to another problem. Listening. I will test how well these guys listen. Anyway, the point is that I can do all the talking, but if there is a cultural gap and they don't understand what I am saying, none of the will work. Anyway, I must try and that is indeed what I'll do.

I do have a back up plan that has already been implemented. That is to measure productivity, timeliness, problem solving, etc. on a weekly basis.

Based on the results I'll award additional compensation.

Anyway, I'll proceed with the above route -one step at a time and see how it changes productivity and accuracy.

That's about all for today. I have no idea when I'll update the files. At this time it's around 3 AM and it's time to get some sleep.

Sam out!

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