If we only live once, it seems simple to spare maximum time on things we like to do. People, with a passion, are lucky; even luckier if the passion is inexpensive, universal and healthy.
Writing, about something we love to do, turns out to be pretty challenging. There is just a lot of sentiments, and so hard to organize things from the heart. And is it a passion? Is it a hobby? It seems more than something to do when there is time, so it feels more as a passion. There are often times that passion needs to give way to other responsibilities; there are times that it simply hibernates. Nevertheless, when it is a passion, there is always the joy of getting back to it.
I love tennis since high school. My relationship with it has ups and downs. It gave a good first impression as a decent sport. There were some of the biggest matches broadcasted on the television, including Wimbledon and the other 3 majors. Watching matches was actually quite boring at the beginning but I hang on to know the result firsthand. After getting used to, the full matches are as enjoyable as movies. Then I started to play and found it pretty challenging to get good at, maybe that is how I get hooked up. After a while, the top professional players became familiar names, and there were some favorite players to root for. Playing the game is about me and whoever is on the other side of the net. Most coaches would ask to play 3 times a week to mai
ntain; and more often to improve. Easier to say than declaring a pure lack of talent, I have never got close to that time commitment, and expectedly, my skills are very far from where I want it to be. Human could be strange species, sometimes, we just want to keep pounding on things that we are not very good at.
My time spent on watching tennis varies over the years. These days, I can spare a bit more time to play and even follow some full matches of tournament. Most folks are satisfied with the few minutes of highlights to know the results, and stay up-to-date; well as a passion, it is not just the final score line, it is also about how the match develops into the win/loss results. A full match shows the improvisation of the players, the match-up, and the dynamics. I enjoy the most to see the very top player works its ways to seize the important points. It parallels the life dynamic, in which not every second means the same. There are potentials of turning points, and the distance created by how those few moments, are being played out, propel a person towards very different destinies. 
From Ivan Lendl to Pete Sampras to now Roger Federer, they are all my favorite players and represent different era. there is charm in Stefan Edberg as well, but did not watch enough of his matches to develop a following. Roger Federer is my vote for the GOAT (Greatest Player of all Times) if there is such a thing. The “Most Favorite Player of all Times” can probably be more objectively measured in terms the support of the spectators, peers 
and fans around the world for all the tournaments. Peers support him to win the “Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award” for a record 10 years; Fans support him to win the “Fans’ favorite Award” for a record and consecutive 12 years; and many places he plays, he receives “home court advantage” through the support and cheering of the spectators. There are often so much things to learn from– how he plays, how he faces adversities, how he faces the press, how he manages losses and wins. All can give inspirations to other facets of lives, if we so choose.
It is hard to stop writing something about our favorite player, next time.
to a new company is no easy task, yet the experience is often among the memorable moments in our career. It feels like an exciting traveler to a foreign country of different culture and a different language. Like a traveler, there are many things that the initial impression could define the remaining journey. It may be uncomfortable, it may be surprising; yet, it is rejuvenating.
few classics, I prefer reading original novel to translated novel. Why would one want to depend on the quality of translation? Sometimes, the translated version feels like something amiss. This book “Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and his years of pilgrimage” by Haruki Murakami (村上春樹) recounts a remarkable story of Tsukuru, that shines from the original Japanese version to the English translation. And how often is a book related to such a beautiful musical piece of the “Years of Pilgrimage” by Franz Liszt?
e far.
interviewers. If again you run into unprepared interviewers or ask so general the questions, it is hard not to question that they are likely to recommend candidates with similar profiles as themselves. Unprepared interviewers are either overloaded or hiring is not their priority. Neither seems to represent the position well. And how likely would these companies embrace diversity in their core values?
e to solve.
houghts of the author along with what he thinks and feels for running It is a book where the author wants to share what running means for him as a person.
peat the process again and again to train willpower.
ion is accepted, the discussion of last day would be the final piece of puzzle. How do we settle any gaps? Guiding the discussion towards “what needs to be done?” would be a lot easier than answering “when would you leave?” It is simply a matter of writing up the areas of responsibilities and how long the transition could take if a warm body is available.
ain. A small number of phone interviews, ends up with onsite interviews, and even that often end up not going anywhere, other than another experience. In an even smaller subset, there is a call from the recruiter informing “you get it”. Like a tennis tournament, there is only one person getting the trophy; the early rounds are resumes, cover letters, email, maybe phone interviews; and the latter rounds are equated to on-site interviews. Disappointing as it may be, losing in early rounds is less damaging than losing a close final. .
ollege of the top choice. The heart would beat at a rate in par with where the position and the company rank among the wish list. The excitement is followed by a challenge to focus on the present. The mind, wonder towards the new world, presents an uneasy barrier to stay in the present. Not just that, it draws a different orbit for all future meetings and future due dates at work, with many of those futures you would no longer make happen. Along the way, there are questions and doubts too – “would there be change in the decision?”; “what would the terms of offer be?”; “what is the decision criteria to accept, negotiate or deny?”; “would the new position warrant a change”; “what are the adjustment and adaptations required?”. Until the final decision is needed, it is not always obvious on how much we fear or embrace a change in landscape.
nother human being. There is relationship with a country, with a company or with an organization. Whatever it is, it takes some courage to get out of a long-term one.
half dream comes true may turn out to be different from the imagination. There is something missing in reality, a different reason on different days. It is like a bird in a tree-hopping mode, before sensing the right place worth to settle down again. I receive a good advice to write a new description of a dream job, which I believe applies to all job seekers.
views are not only about an offer. Interviewing is finding answers to the “competence”, “compatibility” and “chemistry” between the two parties. An effective interview provides laser clarity, and minimizes ambiguity to those questions. I am lucky enough to experience this top notch onsite interview at this world famous technology company. It is revealing, energizing and opens up the window of learning.
