In the moment that you think you can't, you'll discover that you can... that's the power of the DREAM

The Power of the Dream was the theme song of the 1996 Olympics at Atlanta.

That year, I was in the US pursuing my MBA, but sadly what I could remember of the Olympics was the bombing that took place. I missed the significance and the magic of this song that was sung at the opening by Celine Dion and at the closing by a 10th grader and hundreds of other students.

Tonight, on Facebook I was introduced to this song again. I listened to it twice and peered into the lyrics and found it so powerful. I especially liked this

"There's so much strength in all of us

Every woman child and man

It's the moment that you think you can't

You'll discover that you can"

There are many moments that we think we can't, people others around us say we can't but where we hold a dream, it's like what the song says "you'll discover that you can!!"

As I am writing this note, my daughter Brittney came into my room and I introduced her to this song using a video clip of celine dion's performance on Youtube. As we followed the lyrics of the song, I told her that if she has a dream of who she wants to be, she'll discover that she can. She looked me in the eye and said "Yes!" ... a moment that money cannot buy!

I am also personally encouraged by this song. The journey to set up Jurong General Hospital (JGH) is both exciting and daunting. Our vision is to create a new future for Singapore healthcare from ground up - new infrastructure, new people, new culture - to care for our Patients. There are many who said (and continue to say) that this is hard, and sometimes we too think that it is hard. BUT, guided by the possibility of co-creating a new future, our team of pioneers keep holding to our DREAM, and we will discover that we CAN!!

For the rest of us, it is my wish that your dream too will come true because you choose to believe in the strength of "I Can!" and the "One thing" that matters!

Enjoy the full lyrics of this song...

Deep within each heart
There lies a magic spark
That lights the fire of our imagination
And since the dawn of man
The strenght of just "I can"
Has brought together people of all nations

There’s nothing ordinary
In the living of each day
There’s a special part
Every one of us will play

Feel the flame forever burn
Teaching lessons we must learn
To bring us closer to the power of the dream
As the world gives us its best
To stand apart from all the rest
It is the power of the dream that brings us here

Your mind will take you far
The rest is just pure heart
You’ll find your fate is all your own creation
Every boy and girl
As they come into this world
They bring the gift of hope and inspiration

Feel the flame forever burn
Teaching lessons we must learn
To bring us closer to the power of the dream
The world unites in hope and peace
We pray that it will always be
It is the power of the dream that brings us here

There’s so much strength in all of us
Every woman child and man
It’s the moment that you think you can’t
You’ll discover that you can

Feel the flame forever burn
Teaching lessons we must learn
To bring us closer to the power of the dream
The world unites in hope and peace
We pray that it will always be
It is the power of the dream that brings us here

Feel the flame forever burn
Teaching lessons we must learn
To bring us closer to the power of the dream
The world unites in hope and peace
We pray that it will always be
It is the power of the dream that brings us

The power of the dream
The faith in things unseen
The courage to embrace your fear
No matter where you are
To reach for your own star
To realize the power of the dream
To realize the power of the dream

Investment Tips or Hypes?

I was clearing my mounting pile of mails and came across a newsletter from a local bank on investment.

The key message is: Time and NOT timing is key to successful long term investing

The article carried a chart of the MSCI Work Index and the impact on the index by missing the 30 best days each year. Through peaks and troughs, it is clear that missing out on 30 best days can be detrimental to the overall portfolio value.

The ride can be bumpy and sometimes is hard to stay the course, although the logic is clear.

What would be good investment strategy if time and not timing is key?

Reunion with the Principal who gave me a 2nd chance...

Today, after 25 years, I met up with Mr Rudy Mosbergen, the ex-RJC Principal who gave me a second chance and changed the trajectory of my life.

I am indeed thankful to my ex-colleague from SGH Mumtaj who helped made the connection through a friend of a friend who knew Mr Mosbergen's son Nigel.

It was a simple reunion today at the Delifrance of the Toa Payoh HDB Hub. I ordered a Coke-lite and a tuna puff for Mr Mosbergen and I took a regular coke. I was so happy to see Mr Mosbergen and I could tell he was happy to meet me as well. He showed me a print-out of the tribute to him that I wrote in my Teacher's Day blog in 2008, and he said he underlined the most important things in there. I took a look at the printout and found out that he highlighted in blue the following:

(a) His favourite quotes to students "The mind is a terrible thing to waste"

(b) My name

(c) ...that I am the CEO of Jurong General Hospital.

We shared anecdotes of our lives over the last 25 years. Before we departed, he handed a copy of his book "In the Grip of a Crisis" which he personally autographed. It was at that time that I realised that he is much more than most would know - he is not only an author but also a songwriter, and an ex-national olympian in hockey.

I gave him a little token in crystal of a nurturing bird looking after a younger bird. On it I engraved the words "Specially Dedicated to Mr Rudy Mosbergen, Ex-RJC Principal...Because you gave me a second chance, I could be who I am today...Foo Hee Jug RJC Class of 1984".

Let's give others a second chance, you never know the kind of impact it can mean to them...

Lonely...

A forgotten banana left perched on top of an office cabinet.

This could be the result of chinese/ asian culture of not taking the last so that others can have it. But when everyone leaves it for another, the result could be a wasted banana like the one in the photo.

Nice pic isn't it?

Other signs from my trip to Shanghai

Useless and funny signs...

This is a sign at the lift lobby of a major shopping centre. Notice how useful is this sign. Anyone looking at this sign will know exactly where they are without which we will all be lost! Thank god for such a sign.

This is a sign at a pet shop. Owner must be angry because even when you cooperate by not "trying" to put your hand in, he is only giving you a "singular" "Thank"...perhaps "You" is missing?

Not sure whether this sign says "NO! Hand Touching" or "NO Hand Touching!" or ......

Papaya in bloom

I only realised recently that Papaya trees are either "male" and "female".

The female tree bears fruits while the male don't. When my father discovered this, he propagated a whole bunch of papaya trees in my garden and some are already beginning to bear fruits. The hard reality is that the male papaya trees are quickly disposed off.

Lessons from the toilet

There is a popular toilet slogan..."We aim to please, You aim too, please"

One can tell from the level of hygiene is some toilets that aiming need more work. The amount of splatter on the floor shows that while it is easy to assume that people can aim when you tell them to, some people simply need help to focus their aim.

At Singapore's Changi International Airport Terminal 3, the management takes aiming into their own hands. In their urinal is strategically imprinted the shape of a fly (see picture above). All the user has to do is to aim his stream at the "fly" and voilla! the aim is complete! It is almost natural to do so as they have cleverly used the picture of a common enemy (the fly) for the aim. Had they used a picture of a sweet, a flower, etc it would have been less effective.

More developers can take note of this simple innovation. There is a high chance that you will find this implemented in a new hospital.

Symbolism

This is my first green, perched on my desk at Jurong General Hospital interim office at Alexandra Hospital.

It is a Money Plant. I chose this plant among many for a few symbolic reasons.

1. It has a beautiful form - it symbolises a beautiful hospital set to rise in the west

2. It has many young leaves - it symbolises the youthful nature of the hospital with many energetic staff who are ready to soar and break new grounds

3. It has strong and healthy trunk and leaves - it symbolises an organisation with strong values

4. It has branches and leaves that are spread evenly in all direction - it symbolises an openness that allows us to seek to learn from all even as we improve

Watch the hospital grow...

There is hope!

This evening, I attended the 2009 MOH Health Sciences Scholarship Ceremony.

37 scholars were selected from an original applicant group of more than 2000. They will soon head to local and overseas university to pursue their course of study in Pharmacy, Podiatry, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Dietetics and Social Work.

They took the Health Sciences Scholar Pledge and went on to put on a most impressive performance, culminating in a touching segment where every scholar had a statement on their individual goals for the patient set against Michael Jackson's "Heal The World" song.

As I watch each statement flashed across the screen, I am encouraged that each of the scholars has a dream larger than themselves and wants to make a difference to the patient and to the society.

There is hope when our bright and young have such ideals and aspirations.

I wish them well and success in their studies. May they come back and help make the world a better place.