This post is just to let you know that I am still around. Nothing profound or sagely to impart, just to share with you a few thoughts, a few things that I think are very important to all of us.

These are 5 nuggets or 5 tips to success I want to leave with you today.

• Believe in yourself and your God-given talents. If you don’t believe in yourself and display that belief enthusiastically, it will be difficult  for others to believe in you.
• Never give up on your dreams. If you give up on your dreams you run the risk of  living a life without direction. A “dreamless” individual is a person who lives a life without meaning or purpose, which translates to a wasted life. Keep your dreams alive.
• Think BIG. You deserve the best, so expect the best and you will have the best. If you think you are a mediocre person you will be treated like a mediocre person.
• Share your most intimate thoughts and ideas with only those whom you know will encourage you.  Too many times we open our mouths prematurely and in a wanton manner to the wrong people or around negative individuals who we allow to discourage us.  If we are not totally sold on our ideas or thoughts and we express them to people who do not share our beliefs, we run the risk of having our dreams stolen from us. This keeps us trapped in the rat-race surrounded by people going nowhere.
• Never stop learning. There are no educated individuals because no one person knows everything. If you think you are an educated individual and have no more need for continued learning then you become stagnant, full of pride which will lead to your downfall. The usefulness of a cup is in its emptiness. Empty yourself daily to acquire new knowledge, develop a burning desire to learn more so that you can be more, have more and be able to help more people in this life. When you are able to help more people, you will be positioned to earn more.

I hope you found something of value in the above that you can use to improve your life, your circumstance or  maybe you had an ”aha” moment or two. 

Life is all about relationships and if by any reason you did me the honor of reading these few lines, then I am deeply gratified and we have met through this medium.

Have a wonderful day.

Dean Wong.

HOW TO REDUCE MAINTENANCE COSTS – IN YOUR HOME / BUSINESS

Presented By: Dean Wong

Owning a home is one of the most satisfying accomplishments of anyone’s life. It is a symbol of achievement to some, peace of mind to others, and to someone else, it is an investment.

Whatever you perceive your home to be, it is a physical structure constructed of finite materials that breakdown over time. Hence the need for maintenance.

The act of maintenance should begin at the outset or inception of the thought of building a home, or any other structure. Only the best quality materials should be used. This principle is illustrated in I Kings 5:17

The built environment has a profound impact on the natural environment, the economy, and human health and productivity. Homes account for over 20% of most nation’s energy use and as a result, for over 20% of carbon dioxide emissions. Homebuilders and homebuyers are demonstrating an increased interest in “green building” – for environmental, health, and financial reasons. Governing bodies can play an important role in providing services, incentives, programs and policies that support the green building movement.

The rising level of education among builders, growth in consumer awareness and the burgeoning demand for sustainable, environmentally friendly products have accelerated the mainstreaming of green building practices. According to the Residential Green Building SmartMarket Report produced by McGraw Hill Construction and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), residential and commercial green building will grow from 2% of the U.S. construction market in 2005 to as much as 10% in 2010—representing a difference of up to $30.8 billion.

Today, more than 80 regional and local green building programs are in place in the U.S. Local governments are finding innovative ways to promote residential green building in the private sector, while also making its health and financial benefits available to vulnerable populations through green affordable housing projects.

Green Homes

A green building or sustainable building, is an outcome of a design philosophy which focuses on increasing the efficiency of resource use, energy, water and materials, while reducing the building’s impact on human health and the environment during the building’s life-cycle.

Green homes are healthier, more comfortable, more durable, more energy efficient, and have a smaller environmental footprint than conventional homes. Green homes rely upon established and proven design elements and technologies through best practice environmental features.

Components of a green home can include:

• Strategic site selection to minimize environmental impact;
• Landscaping and development designed to minimize water and energy usage and preserve or enhance the natural environment;
• Building designs that reduce waste, material usage, maintenance needs and increases durability through careful selection of building materials;
• Incorporation of salvaged, recycled and/or sustainable building materials;
• Emphasis on energy efficiency, particularly in the building envelope and the heating and cooling design;
• Use of renewable energy sources (such as solar);
• Use of ENERGY STAR – labeled appliances, light fixtures and bulbs;
• Installation of water-efficient appliances and fixtures such as low-flow toilets, water-conserving dishwashers, low-volume irrigation systems, and strategically situated water heaters;
• Protection of indoor environmental quality through selection of non-toxic materials and management of potential sources of pollution such as fireplaces, garages, kitchen appliances and mold;
• A homeowner or tenant education manual detailing optimal green home usage and upkeep.

Types of Maintenance Practices

Over the last 30 years, different approaches to how maintenance can be performed to ensure equipment / components reaches or exceeds its design life have been developed in the United States. In addition to waiting for a piece of equipment to fail (reactive maintenance), we can utilize preventive maintenance, predictive maintenance, or reliability centered maintenance.

Reactive Maintenance

Reactive maintenance is basically the “run it till it breaks” maintenance mode. No actions or efforts are taken to maintain the equipment as the designer originally intended to ensure design life is reached. Studies as recent as the winter of 2000 indicate this is still the predominant mode of maintenance in the United States. The referenced study breaks down the average maintenance program as follows:

• >55% Reactive

• 31% Preventive

• 12% Predictive

• 2% Other.

Note that more than 55% of maintenance resources and activities of an average facility are still reactive.

Advantages to reactive maintenance can be viewed as a double-edged sword. If we are dealing with new equipment, we can expect minimal incidents of failure. If our maintenance program is purely reactive, we will not expend manpower dollars or incur capitol cost until something breaks.

Advantages

• Low cost.

• Less staff.

Disadvantages

• Increased cost due to unplanned downtime of equipment.

• Increased labor cost, especially if overtime is needed.

• Cost involved with repair or replacement of equipment.

• Possible secondary equipment or process damage from equipment failure.

• Inefficient use of staff resources.

Since we do not see any associated maintenance cost, we could view this period as saving money. The downside is reality. In reality, during the time we believe we are saving maintenance and capitol cost, we are really spending more dollars than we would have under a different maintenance approach. We are spending more dollars associated with capitol cost because, while waiting for the equipment to break, we are shortening the life of the equipment resulting in more frequent replacement. We may incur cost upon failure of the primary device associated with its failure causing the failure of a secondary device. This is an increased cost we would not have experienced if our maintenance program was more proactive.

Our labor cost associated with repair will probably be higher than normal because the failure will most likely require more extensive repairs than would have been required if the piece of equipment had not been run to failure. Chances are the piece of equipment will fail during off hours or close to the end of the normal workday. If it is a critical piece of equipment that needs to be back on-line quickly, we will have to pay maintenance overtime cost. Since we expect to run equipment to failure, we will require a large material inventory of repair parts. This is a cost we could minimize under a different maintenance strategy.

Preventive Maintenance

Preventive maintenance can be defined as follows: Actions performed on a time- or machine-run-based schedule that detect, preclude, or mitigate degradation of a component or system with the aim of sustaining or extending its useful life through controlling degradation to an acceptable level.

The U.S. Navy pioneered preventive maintenance as a means to increase the reliability of their vessels. By simply expending the necessary resources to conduct maintenance activities intended by the equipment designer, equipment life is extended and its reliability is increased.

In addition to an increase in reliability, dollars are saved over that of a program just using reactive maintenance. Studies indicate that this savings can amount to as much as 12% to 18% on the average.

Advantages

• Cost effective in many capital intensive processes.

• Flexibility allows for the adjustment of maintenance periodicity.

• Increased component life cycle.

• Energy savings.

• Reduced equipment or process failure.

• Estimated 12% to 18% cost savings over reactive maintenance program.

Disadvantages

• Catastrophic failures still likely to occur.

• Labor intensive.

• Includes performance of unneeded maintenance.

• Potential for incidental damage to components in conducting unneeded maintenance.

Depending on the facilities current maintenance practices, present equipment reliability, and facility downtime, there is little doubt that many facilities purely reliant on reactive maintenance could save much more than 18% by instituting a proper preventive maintenance program.

While preventive maintenance is not the optimum maintenance program, it does have several advantages over that of a purely reactive program. By performing the preventive maintenance as the equipment designer envisioned, we will extend the life of the equipment closer to design. This translates into dollar savings. Preventive maintenance (lubrication, filter change, etc.) will generally run the equipment more efficiently resulting in dollar savings. While we will not prevent equipment catastrophic failures, we will decrease the number of failures. Minimizing failures translate into maintenance and capitol cost savings.

Predictive Maintenance

Predictive maintenance can be defined as follows: Measurements that detect the onset of a degradation mechanism, thereby allowing causal stressors to be eliminated or controlled prior to any significant deterioration in the component physical state. Results indicate current and future functional capability.

Basically, predictive maintenance differs from preventive maintenance by basing maintenance need on the actual condition of the machine rather than on some preset schedule. You will recall that preventive maintenance is time-based.

Activities such as changing lubricant are based on time, like calendar time or equipment run time. For example, most people change the oil in their vehicles every 3,000 to 5,000 miles traveled. This is effectively basing the oil change needs on equipment run time. No concern is given to the actual condition and performance capability of the oil. It is changed because it is time.

This methodology would be similar in some respects to a preventive maintenance task. If, on the other hand, the operator of the car discounted the vehicle run time and had the oil analyzed at some periodicity to determine its actual condition and lubrication properties, he/she may be able to extend the oil change until the vehicle had traveled 10,000 miles.

This is the fundamental difference between predictive maintenance and preventive maintenance, whereby predictive maintenance is used to define needed maintenance task based on quantified material/equipment condition.

The advantages of predictive maintenance are many. A well-orchestrated predictive maintenance program will all but eliminate catastrophic equipment failures. We will be able to schedule maintenance activities to minimize or delete overtime cost. We will be able to minimize inventory and order parts, as required, well ahead of time to support the downstream maintenance needs. We can optimize the operation of the equipment, saving energy cost and increasing plant reliability.

Past studies have estimated that a properly functioning predictive maintenance program can provide a savings of 8% to 12% over a program utilizing preventive maintenance alone. Depending on a facility’s reliance on reactive maintenance and material condition, it could easily recognize savings opportunities exceeding 30% to 40%. In fact, independent surveys indicate the following industrial average savings resultant from initiation of a functional predictive maintenance program:

• Return on investment: 10 times

• Reduction in maintenance costs: 25% to 30%

• Elimination of breakdowns: 70% to 75%

• Reduction in downtime: 35% to 45%

• Increase in production: 20% to 25%.

On the down side, to initially start into the predictive maintenance world is not inexpensive.

Much of the equipment requires cost in excess of $50,000. Training of in-plant personnel to effectively utilize predictive maintenance technologies will require considerable funding. Program development will require an understanding of predictive maintenance and a firm commitment to make the program work by all facility organizations and management.

Advantages

• Increased component operational life/availability.

• Allows for preemptive corrective actions.

• Decrease in equipment or process downtime.

• Decrease in costs for parts and labor.

• Better product quality.

• Improved worker and environmental safety.

• Improved worker moral.

• Energy savings.

• Estimated 8% to 12% cost savings over preventive maintenance program.

Disadvantages

• Increased investment in diagnostic equipment.

• Increased investment in staff training.

• Savings potential not readily seen by management.

Reliability Centered Maintenance

Reliability centered maintenance (RCM) magazine provides the following definition of RCM: “a process used to determine the maintenance requirements of any physical asset in its operating context.” Basically, RCM methodology deals with some key issues not dealt with by other maintenance programs.

It recognizes that all equipment in a facility is not of equal importance to either the process or facility safety. It recognizes that equipment design and operation differs and that different equipment will have a higher probability to undergo failures from different degradation mechanisms than others. It also approaches the structuring of a maintenance program recognizing that a facility does not have unlimited financial and personnel resources and that the use of both need to be prioritized and optimized. In a nutshell, RCM is a systematic approach to evaluate a facility’s equipment and resources to best mate the two and result in a high degree of facility reliability and cost-effectiveness.

RCM is highly reliant on predictive maintenance but also recognizes that maintenance activities on equipment that is inexpensive and unimportant to facility reliability may best be left to a reactive maintenance approach. The following maintenance program breakdowns of continually top-performing facilities would echo the RCM approach to utilize all available maintenance approaches with the predominant methodology being predictive.

• <10% Reactive

• 25% to 35% Preventive

• 45% to 55% Predictive.

Because RCM is so heavily weighted in utilization of predictive maintenance technologies, its program advantages and disadvantages mirror those of predictive maintenance. In addition to these advantages, RCM will allow a facility to more closely match resources to needs while improving reliability and decreasing cost.

Advantages

• Can be the most efficient maintenance program.

• Lower costs by eliminating unnecessary maintenance or overhauls.

• Minimize frequency of overhauls.

• Reduced probability of sudden equipment failures.

• Able to focus maintenance activities on critical components.

• Increased component reliability.

• Incorporates root cause analysis.

Disadvantages

• Can have significant startup cost, training, equipment, etc.

• Savings potential not readily seen by management.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY TIPS FOR COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS

If your business operates like most, you can find many opportunities for energy-saving improvements that can translate directly to financial savings and environmental diligence. The following are some general and specific actions you can take to (i) optimize your use of energy, (ii) save money and (iii) improve your bottom line.

GENERAL TIPS

• Turn off equipment that will be idle for long periods of time.
• Maintain equipment regularly for efficient performance.
• Repair leaks in boiler systems. Steam is used in many industrial processes and is often a source of large amounts of wasted energy and money due to leaks. Industrial facilities can reduce steam energy consumption by as much as 20% through simple maintenance and corrective measures in their steam systems.
• Install Energy Management Systems (EMS). These are devices that range from simple on/off time clocks controlling a single system, to sophisticated computerized systems that monitor energy consuming areas or systems and provide control dependent on prevailing conditions.

LIGHTING

• Replace incandescent lighting with high efficient fluorescent or LED lighting. An 18-watt compact fluorescent, for instance, puts out as much light as a 60-watt incandescent. Also, good quality fluorescent lamps last almost thirteen times longer than incandescent lamps, which mean even more savings can be achieved in replacement costs.
• Increase the output of your lights by regularly removing grease, dust and other dirt from bulbs, fixtures, lenses, lamps and reflective surfaces.
• Use natural lighting wherever possible.
• Install occupancy sensors in offices and other low traffic areas that will keep lighting off when not needed.

MOTORS

• Turn off motors, when not in use.
• Use timer controls to operate equipment (such as irrigation and pool pumps) at set scheduled times.
• When replacing or purchasing new electric motors invest in systems with higher energy efficiency ratings.
• Match motor size to the horsepower requirements of the task. This guarantees the motors will be operating between 75-100% of full load where they usually are most efficient.
• Improve low Power Factor (PF) by installing capacitors. Inductive loads, which are predominantly electric motors, are the major contributors to low PF. Low PF increases the demand charge on your electricity bill. A PF of 0.85 or higher is considered good.
• Use adjustable speed drives in situations where you may not need full power from the motor at all times. Variable speed drive motors allow the matching of the input power of the motor to the load requirement.
• Establish and keep up with maintenance schedules on electrical and electro-mechanical systems. This should include performing regular cleaning and maintenance on your motors, tightening belts and pulleys to prevent slippage, lubricating motors and drives regularly to reduce friction, and replacing worn bearings.

OFFICE EQUIPMENT

• Turn off computers, printers and other office equipment when you are not using them, especially overnight and on weekends.
• Use the energy saving or sleep mode on computer monitors to save energy.
• Choose the smallest computer monitor that meets your needs. Larger monitors require more power.
• Consider having employees use lap top computers, since they use up to 90% less electricity than standard desktop computers.
• Use ink jet printers for very low volume printing. They use just 4% of the electricity used by typical laser models.
• Use a multi-function printer/scan/fax machine, as it will use much less power than the three separate machines combined.

AIR CONDITIONERS

• Size or select air conditioners based on the size of the area to be cooled and schedule of operation of the area(s).
• When purchasing new air conditioning units, request the more efficient model or those with high energy efficiency ratio (EER) i.e. 10 or higher.
• Do not set air conditioner thermostats to the lowest setting e.g. 16oC but to moderate levels like 20oC to allow efficient operation.
• Occupancy sensors can be used to control AC units in areas where they may be inadvertently left on.
• Central air conditioners are typically more efficient than comparable split units, but they tend to be “operated” inefficiently by being poorly maintained or used to cool unnecessary areas.
• Keep your filters clean and maintain air conditioning units in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
• Ensure air conditioned areas are properly enclosed to minimize hot air infiltration via doors and windows, or heat gain via poorly insulated roofs and walls.
• Add or repair insulation to ducting, roofing, and other building envelope components to reduce cooling requirements.

ENERGY TIPS

You can lower your electricity bill by using energy more efficiently. First of all, you can reduce the time each electrical device is operated. Secondly, you can lower the wattage of the electrical devices you use. When purchasing, check the equipment label for wattage details.

AIR CONDITIONERS: POWER USAGE

The average 12000 BTU bedroom unit operated 6 hours a day will burn approximately 154 Kilowatt hours (kWh) a month. Cost: Approximately $3,157*

HOW TO CONSERVE

• Reduce the hours of use.
• Keep windows and doors closed when a/c is on.
• Keep condenser free of leaves, etc.
• Keep air filter clean.

ENERGY TIP

The faster a motor runs, the more power it uses.

HAIR DYERS: POWER USAGE

The average domestic Hair Dryer burns 1.8 kilowatt hours of electricity every hour. One (1) hour’s use a day would burn about 54 Kilowatt-hours (kWh) a month. Cost: About $1,107*.

HOW TO CONSERVE

Managing the use of your Dryer is a personal decision. Remember that it consumes power all the time it is plugged in.

TIP:

60 cycle appliances use power less efficiently than true 50 cycle appliances.

ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS: POWER USAGE

The average water heater operated 3 hours a day will use about 135 Kilowatt hours (kWh) a month. Cost: About $2,767.50*.

HOW TO CONSERVE

• Run the heater for half-hour intervals only: ½ hour in the morning and ½ hour in the evening. You’ll have warm water when you need it and save up to 90 kWh a month.
• If you need excessive amounts of cold water to dilute your hot water, your heater’s thermostat may be set too high and you are wasting electricity. For greater efficiency set the heater’s thermostat to 120° F for greater efficiency.

TIP:

The more heat an appliance produces the more power it uses.

CLOTHES IRONS: POWER USAGE

The average clothes iron burns just over 1 kWh of electricity every hour. 2 hours use a week would burn about 10 Kilowatt hours (kWh) a month. Cost: About $205*

HOW TO CONSERVE

Try to keep your weekly ironing to less than two hours. If you have to stop ironing to do something else, unplug the iron.

TIP:

Appliances that provide heat use more power. Keeping them on, if you don’t need to, is a waste of power.

HOUSEHOLD LIGHTS: POWER USAGE

A 100 Watt incandescent bulb operated 6 hours a day will burn 18 Kilowatt hours (kWh) a month. Cost: About $369*.

HOW TO CONSERVE

Switch to energy saving fluorescent bulbs ( CFL’s)

• A 25 Watt fluorescent gives as much light as a 100 Watt incandescent bulb, lasts a whole lot longer, and uses only 5 Kilowatt hours a month.
• They may cost more to buy, but will save you money in the long run.

FANS: POWER USAGE

The average standing fan running 6 hours a day will use approximately 11 Kilowatt hours (kWh) a month. Cost: About $225.50*.

HOW TO CONSERVE

• Reduce the number of hours of use.
• Turn them off when not needed.

STOPPING ENERGY WASTAGE

TV’s, Cable boxes, and other similar electronic equipment use energy even when turned off. Entertainment systems can burn up to 11 Kilowatt hours (kWh) a month. Cost: About $225.50*.

HOW TO CONSERVE

Plug your electronic equipment into a power strip and turn off the power strip when leaving home or when the equipment is not being used.

TIP:

The louder you play a Stereo, the more power you use.

REFRIGERATORS: POWER USAGE

The average 16 cu. ft. Refrigerator burns about 60 kWh a month. Cost: About $1,230*.

HOW TO CONSERVE

• Place refrigerator in a cool spot, away from heat sources.
• Do not open the fridge more often than necessary, or leave the door open.
• Organize food in the fridge to ensure good air circulation.
• Let hot foods cool before putting them in the fridge.
• Allow adequate space between the fridge and the wall, so air can flow freely around the condenser coil.

TIP:

Top Freezer models are more energy efficient than side-by-side models; however older refrigerators (10-15years) will generally be less energy efficient than newer ones.

HOW TO READ YOUR METER

The electricity meter measures exactly how much electricity you use. Learning to read your meter will help you to monitor your energy usage. Here’s what you need to do:

STEP 1 : Stand directly in front of the meter and look at it very closely.

• You will notice that it has 4 or 5 dials that resemble clocks.
• Each dial has a pointer like the hand of a clock.
• These pointers move only when electricity is being used, and they turn very slowly.
• Also notice that the pointers do not all move in the same direction; some turn clockwise, while others turn anticlockwise.
• The dials are connected to each other, so the movement of one will affect the movement of the other. As the dial to the right moves one full turn (from zero around to zero again) the dial to the left moves one full unit. Look at the example below. When the pointer on dial E goes around one full turn, D moves one digit. When D moves one full turn, C moves one digit, and so on.

STEP 2 : Now that you are familiar with your meter, you should record the readings.

• Starting with the dial on the far right (dial E), write down the number that the pointer has just passed (i.e. the lower number).
• Continue reading the last number passed on dial D, C, B, and A then record the readings in the same sequence from right to left.
• You could also record the readings from left to right, but make sure you write them down in the same sequence as they appear.
• When you have finished recording all the numbers, your reading should be 14967.

STEP 3 : Calculate how much electricity you have used since your last meter reading.

• Let’s say your last reading was 14667.
• Minus last month’s reading from the reading you recorded in Step 2.
• The result is the total number of kilowatt-hours used since last month’s reading.
• For Example,
  ..14967 (the new reading)
  - 14667 (last month’s reading
  ……300 (your usage since last month’s reading)

Sources: Operations and Maintenance Guide, Best Practices, Release 2.0

                 Green Government, Counties & Residential Green Building Standards.

                 World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 53, 2009

                 Lecture Notes.

                 Jamaica Public Service Company Limited.

                 http://wikipedia.org

8

There are articles written, news bulletins, radio announcements etc, telling us to;

• Wash our hands before eating.
• Avoid crowded places.
• Use a rag or towel to sneeze or cough.
• Wash hands after touching door knobs.
• Wash hands thoroughly before and after using the bathroom.
• Not to use an unclean hand to touch your nose or mouth.
• Ensure adequate intake of vitamins
• Etc Etc.

Very few health professionals are advocating the virtues of preventative maintenance and its associated host of benefits.

At the same that the CDC is down-playing the severity of the virus, the first documented American adult passed away as a result of the virus, after giving birth to a baby girl via c-section.

In an article entitled “Your Immune System” The rest of the story… (see article in Wellness Directory of Minnesota http://www.mnwelldir.org/docs/immune/immune2.html

It was pointed out that there are two systems of medicine that exist today. Western Civilization’s system of medicine and the Eastern (Chinese) system of medicine.

See my next post for the continuation (Part II) of this article.

Island Boy.

As disturbing as the news is I am glad that no one was hurt and the perpetrator was subdued and quickly removed from the scene and is in the custody of the security forces.

My beef is with the group of people manning the Airport. How on earth can an individual pass through Airport security, get on board an Aircraft filled with passengers with a weapon, whether it be concealed or not.

Something just does not add up and it puts the whole security setup in a bad  light, someone has some serious questions to answer for this horrible situation.

These are my suggestions to eradicate such an event from ever happening again.

1. Airport personnel are to be thoroughly trained in all forms of Anti-Terrorist strategies.
2. Airport personnel are to be transferred to random locations without their knowledge of where they will be stationed. This is to be done at the discretion of the dispatchers.
3. Special attention is to be given to identifying wrong-doers as opposed to harassing lawful visitors and returning residents.
4. All out-of-bounds areas are to be clearly identified and a security officer placed at said locations. He/she is to give a written account of all activities of his station, listing names and times of access granted to individuals who have entered these restricted areas.
5. No security officer should leave his/her post unless another security officer stands in his stead.
6. If an individual is deemed to be behaving in a suspicious manner, whether through his/her body language, or is just being plain rude. Such a person should immediately be accosted, processed to establish the facts and removed from the premises if such an action is warranted.
7. All security personnel are to be thoroughly trained in Airport security tactics.
8. The security of the Airport and its adjoining facilities, is to be stressed during the training of Airport security personnel.
9. Refresher courses are to be held quarterly during the year so that individuals are kept on top of their game.
10. Airport security personnel are to be held accountable, and severely punished for violation of any of his/her mandated duties.

I welcome your comments.

Dean Wong.

If you are not a Jamaican it will be very difficult for you to even begin to conceive the passion that we have for track & field and running to a greater extent. We grew up “racing” each other, as it was the first challenge a child offers to another, “yu waah race mi?” meaning “do you want to run against me in a race?”.

To try to describe the atmosphere at the filled to capacity National Stadium on this particular day, would be like trying to explain what it feels like to be able to see, to someone who was born blind, it was just one of those moments in time.

Quite a few performances were spectacular, events to die for as the records fell like dominoes, both long standing and recently established.

Arguably one of the best performance of the entire event, was the demolition of an entire field of Under-17s,  by a 14 year old who was making her second appearance at the championships.

Last year she won both the one hundred and the two hundred in her class, her very first year at Champs. this year she returns to out-class and out-perform older girls in both the 400 and the 800 metres events, what a performance.

The love, the passion, the fighting spirit, the need for speed on the track, is one of the in-dwelling ingredient that makes a Jamaican, Jamaican.

Since we broke on the scene in 1930 we have not looked back, taking our level of competitiveness to higher heights. The exploits of our former stars are well documented, and with the cleaning up of the sport by the world governing bodies, we are finally getting our just due.

For far too long our athletes have been at the mercy of the drug cheats, but in Jamaica we have a saying that goes like this, “evry day di buckit go a well, one day di battam mus drap out” that is “If a bucket goes to the well every day, one day the bottom will fall out”.
Meaning, a dishonest person will one day be cought red-handed, and punished.

The achievements of our former athletes have laid the ground work and framework, which is the legacy behind our current stars, Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Shellian Fraser and the others that now dominate the planet.

It’s not the Ackee and Salt Fish, the Roast Breadfruit and Yam, the Jerk Pork or the Blue Mountain Coffee. Its our system, our hard work and dedication,  our mindset, our total committment and love of sport that has brought us to this point.

Jamaica is not seen on a world map, we have little to insignificant financial resources yet the exploits of our athletes speak volumes and hence the world wants to know what’s happening in Jamaica? Who are these people? how can they do that? How can they do this?

Invasion Of The International Press.

Never in the history of our Championships has there been such an overwhelming influx of Internation Press. Representatives from media houses across the planet were at the National Stadium to capture the event, so were scores of Scouts, for the first time the world has come to see what we do.

No doubt individuals will be singled out and labeled “one to watch” but at the end of the day, the integrity of the sport is of utmost importance, so now they have seen in living colours how we do it, honestly, naturally and with a true sense of fairplay.

Talk To You Later.

Island Boy.

I welcome your comments.

One Love

Musical Icon, Bob Marley Had A Strong Positive Mindset.

So over a week ago a friend of mine was visiting from the United States and he told me he had an interest in going to the Bob Marley Museum. I told him I would gladly take him as I had some time on my hands due to a short vacation leave I had taken, and then again I thought it would be cool just to hang out out with him for a while and it was a welcome distraction from my normal routine.

Needless to say, it was a very enjoyable experience, even for a Jamaican who would be tempted to take our national treasures for granted. His music is still so potent and relevant, it continues to resound and reverberate in our minds and over the airways. We can never have too much of Bob’s music, its that good, and yes he still continues to “hit us with music”.

The Honourable Robert Nesta Marley O.M. had that special “mindset”, he knew exactly what he wanted and went after it with zeal and determination. He was a freedom fighter, who chose to challenge the status quo and speak up about the political issues of his time, some of them still exist today, but we have come a far way as a people.

He was selfless, fearless and a true leader who spoke with humility and a certain non-challantness that is missing from the character of  most leaders today. He never sought the limelight but he was always in it. He was deep and insightful, as deep and insightful as his songs are.

Women found his boyish charm attractive and, oh, incase you did’nt know he had twelve children, seven boys and five girls and was voted by Time Magazine as the number two Sexiest Man in the world.

The museum is the same location he called home on 56 Hope Road in Kingston and it does get its fair share of visitors both Jamaicans and Internationals year round.

Jurnalist came from all over the world to interview him, in one of his televised interviews he gave this quote “if my life is jus fi mee, den I don’t want it”. That statement epitomized the character of the man.

Here are some facts about Bob Marley and his legacy.

1. He was born in Nine Mile, Saint Ann, Jamaica on February 6th 1945.
2. His Mother’s name is Cedella Marley Booker (deceased).
3. His father’s name was Captain Norval St. Claire Marley.
4. He moved to Trench Town in 1956.
5. He married Rita Anderson in 1966.
6. A Centenary Medal was bestowed upon him by the Jamaican government in 1970 and 1979.
7. The One Love Peace Concert was staged in Kingston in 1978, to bring the two political parties togerther.
8. In 1978 he received a Silver Star Award for the album ‘Kaya’.
9. In 1978 he also received a Gold Award for the album ‘Kaya’.
10. He was presented with a Citation from the Assembly of Wisconsin on May 25th, 1978.
11. In December 1979 he was presented with a Certificate of Citizenship from the Mayor of Atlanta.
12. In 1979 he received a Gold Award for the album ‘Babylon By Bus’.
13. In 1979 he also received the German Record Award for the album ‘Natty Dread’.
14. In 1980 he received a Gold Award for the album ‘Uprising’.
15. In September 1980, he performs at Madison Squear Gardens, with The commodores.
(Lionel Richie visits the Museum from time to time on his many return trips to Jamaica, to pay his respect and reminisce.)
16. The Jamaican Government bestowed upon him “The Order Of Merit” in 1981.
17. He passed away on May 11, 1981 succombing to cancer.
18. He received a Certificate of Appreciation, post humously, from Dade County, Florida in 1982.
19. A Tripple Platinum Award was awarded to him for the album ‘Legend’ in 1984.
20. The album ‘Legend’ was also voted “Best International Album” for 1984.
21. The Bob Marley Museum was opened to the public on May 11, 1986.
22. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
23. In 1997 he received an ASCAP Award for being among the top Reggae Artistes on the Music Charts.
24. He also received an ASCAP Award for the album ‘Stir It Up’
25. In 1999 he received a Diamond Certifcate for the album ‘Legend’.
26. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award NARAS (Grammy) in February 2001.
27. On May 31st 2001, the Bob Marley Museum was declared a protected National Heritage Site.
28. In November 2004, he was inaugurated into the United Kingdom Hall of Fame.
29. In 2005 he was named the Greatest Gig by a U.K. T.V. station.
30. His album ‘Exodus’ was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in February, 2006.
31. His album ‘One Love’ was voted #1 by Conde Nest travellers Readers in 2006.
32. His home at 34 Ridgemount Gardens, Camden, London, was declared a Heritage Site in 2006.
33. A Statue of the late Raggae Icon now stands in the town of Banatski, Sokolac in Croatia. Inscribed on a plaque by the statue are the words”Fighter For Freedom, Armed With A Guitar”. The statue was created by a local Sculptor, Davor Dukic.

In December 2004, Scott Schinder of New York City wrote the following pertaining to Bob Marley.

“Although his voice was silenced at the peak of his potency and creativity, Bob Marley’s influence looms as large as ever, serving as an inspiration to fans around the world and a role model to multiple generations of younger artists. More than two decades after his passing, Marley remains one of contemporary music’s towering figures, and these songs demonstrate the timeless power of his vision.”

Yeah man, with Bob it was always about the people and music, it was always about love.

One Love,

Island Boy.

I welcome your comments.

A very popular response to any set-back in one’s life is to quit. Unfortunately this observation is true for most people, because they are “weak willed” they just do not have a “back bone” so to speak. It is said that “winners never quit and quitters never win”, this is an absolute truth. To be a winner in this life with today’s challenges, one must have a strong will, unmovable, unshakable in one’s resolve to be a success in whatever endeavour one may chose.

In my own experience I have observed that people who have never experienced difficulties in their lives, tend to be succeptible to adverse conditions when ever and if ever they occur in their lives. They give up easily because their very comfortable world has been up-rooted, most of them never recover from these adverse conditions, choosing rather to succumb to their environment or worse, to end their lives.

To develop a strong will, there are three character traits that one must possess.

1. Commitment.

A person must become committed to the task or tasks ahead if he/she intends to be successful at any challenge, and there might be many. If one is not committed to the task it makes no sense to even begin because you will quit at the first sign of trouble. Your level of commitment determines your ability to “stick around” in the tough times.

Be committed to the task and your decision to play a meaningful roll in the accomplishment of the goal and you are on your way to becoming a winner.

2. Remain Focused.

Distractions come in many forms and types, if one is easily distracted then that person is setting himself/herself up for a fall sooner than one may imagine.
In thoroughbred racing an equipment called a “blinker” or sometimes a “visor” is placed over the horse’s head, its sole purpose is to keep his attention on the path ahead of him, to get him to the finish line, in front of the other horses in the race. He must not be distracted by what the other horses are doing.

We must adopt the same “equipment” or principle in our endeavours to remain focused on the goal, thereby accomplishing what we set out to do.

3. A Calm Disposition.

Calmness of mind is extremely essential as it allows for the effective use of ones energy. A person who is not easily disturbed by the things around, the distractions, the negative personalities, the environment, circumstances, the media etc, has mastered himself. This person will never be in reaction mode because he has learned that he/she is the creator of circumstances.
With this calm disposition, ideas begin to flow, solutions to problems are realised and challenge after challenge are subdued.

These are just a few of the fruits of the strong will.

I welcome your comments.

Regards

Dean Wong. (Island Boy)

THE MINDSET

So what is this “mindset” that everyone is talking about? It seems to me to be a word that is being used more frequently in today’s society, all over the world, or is it just another cliche?  what is it? does this “right mindset” have a description?

As a result of my observation and study, I have come to the understanding that a person’s “Mindset” is an indication of future success or failure.

Henry Ford once  said that “whether a person thinks he can or he can’t he is right. ” Now there was an individual with the right mindset. He would never accept defeat, the word “impossible” was not in his vocabulary, hence he was able to accomplish what most men would not even attempt to dream about.

Mindset Ingredients

In order to have this right mindset, three things have to be in the mix.

1. Ground yourself in the fact that you will accomplish what you desire.

2. You must be willing to “pay the price” to accomplish your desire.

3. See yourself as already having accomplished your desire.

The first ingredient pertains to having the knowledge that come “hell or high water” you will succeed. Whatever it is that you truly want in your life be it personal, physical, emotional or spiritual, you must and will attain it.  Removing all doubt and fear from within and focusing all your energy on the prize. Having the faith which is the substance of things not seen and the evidence of things to come, in your God given ability to be, do and have all that you want to be, do and have. Know that YOU create your own circumstances, as Napoleon Bonapart rightly said “circumstance, I create them”.
The second ingredient involves being willing to do not just your best, but whatever is required, ethically, to succeed. You may need to find the right people who can assist you in accomplishing your dream, find them, you will be led to them. This is one of the “secrets” in the Law Of Attraction.

It is more than just “thinking” of something and believing it will come to you automatically. There is some “doing” involved and when you begin to do what is required of you, then the people who can assist you and guide you into the path of your success will suddenly come into your life. This is an absolute truth as it has happened to me time and time again, and each time I am amazed at the outcome.

You may also have to remove yourself from the company of negative individuals, whether they are friends or family members, which may make it even more difficult but that is a part of the “price” you must pay.

Negative and positive energy can never and will never coexist. You must find yourself in the company of like minded individuals who can brainstorm with you ideas that come to you, these people will be your mastermind group. If you surround yourself with negative thinking people they will “suck” the life out of you and lead you into a depressed state, you then become as negative as they are, they are poison to your bones so remove yourself from their atmosphere, immediately.

The third ingredient involves “seeing” yourself as already having, doing or becoming whatever it is that you want. You must be able to see yourself achieving your goals, feel it, smell it, taste it and begin to “live it”.

Visualize your triumph with passion. If you need help, get pictures of the things you want to have, cut them out and create a “vision board” and keep it close to your work station or someplace that you can easily and readily see it.

Your intention must be clear as this will solidify your goals. Write them down and begin to take the necessary steps to accomplish each goal. This may probably be one of the more difficult aspects of the whole process as you will need to have a “pit bull” tenacity to stick to the process, this is the “mindset” which I call your level of “stick-to-it-tive-ness” where the rubber meets the metal.

Your actions may be slow, but they must be deliberate, no matter how small they are, stay the course. Keep your goal in front of you, if you run into an obstacle, refine and re-define your action steps and act accordingly.

Falling does not make one a failure, it is one’s failure to get up from a fall, that makes him/her a failure.

I hope these few words make some sort of sense, to someone.

I welcome your comments.

Regards,

Dean Wong.