Taboo

Nếu bạn đọc 10 bài viết về kinh tế TQ trên báo chí quốc tế, tôi dám chắc không dưới 5 bài có nhắc đến vấn đề demography và chính sách một con của nước này. Và tôi cũng dám chắc 100% các bài báo về one child policy đều cho rằng đây là một chính sách sai lầm và sẽ gây rất nhiều khó khăn cho TQ trong tương lai (gần) khi dân số già đi rất nhanh. Thêm vào đó tư tưởng trọng nam khinh nữ còn làm vấn đề mất cân bằng giới tính trầm trọng hơn và có thể còn nguy hiểm hơn cả việc dân số già đi. Ngay cả trong hiện tại chính sách này đã và đang có những hệ lụy tồi tệ như việc một số cán bộ dân số tỉnh Hồ Nam "tịch thu" những đứa trẻ của những gia đình sinh con quá tiêu chuẩn, hay như một số bệnh viện của TQ quảng cáo bán thuốc giúp phụ nữ có thế sinh đôi hay sinh ba để "lách luật" một con.

Tôi nghĩ không chỉ báo chí ngoại quốc mà ngay cả giới trí thức và policy makers của TQ cũng biết điều này. Bởi vậy tôi rất thắc mắc tại sao TQ không từ bỏ chính sách kiểm soát dân số này, nhất là khi hiện tại kinh tế TQ đã khá hơn trước rất nhiều và ít người cho rằng dân số là một gánh nặng nữa. Tất nhiên nếu bỏ đột ngột thì có thể sẽ gây ra một cú shock dân số (bệnh viên, nhà trẻ quá tải...), nhưng không khó để có thể dãn sự bùng nổ này trong vài năm. Theo một bài báo gần đây của The Economist, việc "nhắm mắt làm ngơ" trước mối hiểm họa dân số này của lãnh đạo TQ liên quan đến việc TQ sẽ có đại hội đảng vào năm sau và nước này sẽ có một cuộc chuyển giao quyền lực quan trọng giữa 2 thế hệ lãnh đạo. Điều này cũng tương tự như VN, trước mỗi kỳ đại hội thường không một quyết sách lớn nào được đưa ra.

Tuy nhiên cách giải thích này cũng chưa thực sự thuyết phục vì nếu đây là vấn đề quan trọng thì tại sao các lãnh đạo TQ không đưa vào thảo luận trong đại hội đảng hay trong các cuộc họp cấp cao? Hay ít nhất một vài vị lãnh đạo nào đó phải đề cập đến nó và nói sẽ tìm cách khắc phục? Theo bài báo nói trên của The Economist, chỉ duy nhất một quan chức cấp sở của tỉnh Quảng Đông dám nói công khai trên báo chí. Theo tôi, có lẽ vấn đề chính sách một con này là một taboo chính trị của TQ, nghĩa là politicians không dám nhắc đến nó vì dễ bị chụp mũ là không tuân theo "đường lối của đảng". Chính điều này tạo thành một cái vòng luẩn quẩn, hay theo ngôn ngữ kinh tế là "bad equilibrium", không ai dám động chạm đến nó nên càng ngày nó càng trở nên cấm kỵ. Ở VN cũng có nhiều loại taboo như thế, dù có thể cả trong lẫn ngoài đều cho rằng đó là những điều cần thay đổi.

Book Review: The Leadership Test

One of my favorite books about leadership asks its readers five powerful questions, putting aspiring leaders to the ultimate test of what it takes to be a true leader. The best thing about this book is that if you pass the test you can skip reading many of the mountains of other leadership books on the market today.

The book is Timothy R. Clark's The Leadership Test and it forces you to do some valuable soul searching.

Don't be fooled by the book's conversational writing style and story-telling approach, or by its compact 100-page size that you'll read through in less than an hour. Because, the message is powerful and the test is revealing. 

That test, which comes at the end of the book, consists of five questions, each important -- and successfully passing each becomes a collective must to ensure leadership success. Once taken, the test is your personalized assessment that you can use to chart your course for becoming a better leader.  

Clark told me that overwhelmingly, most people struggle with question four in the test, "Take The Oath."

In the book's introduction, Clark states, "all too often we see leaders intoxicated with power, thirsting for adulation, vaunting themselves as if we were lucky to have them." He says, "This type of leader leaves remains of indulgence, greed and corruption." A true leader leaves a legacy.

For less than $10 and an hour of your time, read "The Leadership Test." Make it the next leadership book you read. And, pass the test!

Timothy R. Clark, Ph.D. earned a doctorate from Oxford University, was a Fulbright and British Research Scholar, a former first-team Academic All-American football player at Brigham Young University, and is the CEO of TRCLARK LLC.

Mountain For Support in Feng Shui

Feng Shui and the mountain paintings and pictures have lots of importance. When the child or any individual does not have enough confidence and this is affecting their career and studies in a negative manner, Feng shui has a cure for this.

When you see that your child is lacking confidence to talk to others and very often is unsure of his decisions then it is clear that they lack confidence. Such children present themselves as calm and well adjusted but they are not capable of conversations alone and very often shy away from responsibilities. Their parents have to help them in home work, encourage them in projects and they avoid becoming monitors in the class. Thus it is seen that hey avoid any responsibility and also are ready to follow peers even when they are wrong.

How to help such a child who is good but lacks confidence? one of the important cures, tried and tested, is the placement of mountain painting behind the back of the place where the child studies. The images of mountains give support to the child and they gain confidence and you will see improvement in their confidence levels. Search for best seating position of the child while studying and place the study table in that area according to feng shui.

Now the paintings of any mountains will do but avoid pictures having sharp cliffs and pointed shapes of mountains. The most preferred shape of the mountain in feng shui is the one that resembles the shape of the turtle. The smooth surface and tall mountains without any sharp edges or cliffs are the right paintings to choose for the display in your child’s study room. In fact the turtle shaped mountains with resemblance to humps are also good.

Place the painting of mountains on the door or where the child sits , behind his back. This will show improvement in his confidence levels and new energy will be seen in him. People will start praising him and he will get good friends and encouraging teachers who will in turn increase his self confidence and thus help him to prove academically as well as mentally.

Success and the Phoenix Symbol in Feng Shui

In Feng Shui the phoenix is considered very auspicious. This is one of the celestial animals in feng shui which is very good to bring money luck and good fortune. How and where to place the phoenix symbol will be discussed in this post.

What is the phoenix? the phoenix is one of the celestial animals mentioned in scriptures of feng shui and Chinese culture. This symbol is used for wish fulfillment. Why is the phoenix given so much importance? because the phoenix is the one who rises from ashes when everything is destroyed and this symbolism of the phoenix makes it very auspicious and important in Feng Shui. The placement of phoenix symbol, phoenix painting or nay image of the phoenix in the home encourages good luck and prosperity. This activates the money luck of the inmates and increases flow of money to the house.

Where to place this symbol or painting of the phoenix? the best place to hang the painting or picture of phoenix is the south wall of the house or living room. This encourages increased money luck and also energises the area of fame and recognition. Placing the symbol or painting of phoenix at a distance in the south encourages far sightedness and long term thinking which is very essential for any business man to prosper in business.

The phoenix can face any adverse environment and prosper among difficulties , and so doe s the person get confidence and increased visions of long term goals which are very essential for success in any business ventures.

The phoenix does not represent any religion and can be placed by any individual of any religion. One can be of any religion to follow Feng Shui and once again I mention that Feng Shui is a science and not a religion, so it is universally accepted by all.

Horse Shoe To Ward Off Evil Luck on Main Door and Get Good Fortune

Since time immemorial people have been afraid or evil eye and evil luck to the house. People do all sorts of things for the main door to protect the house and family from bad eyes of the outside people and neighbours. This has been a universal fear among all religions and people put up symbols and also do rituals to protect the house. Even Feng Shui places much importance to the main door. Let us see what Feng Shui has for the main door.

One can put up symbols of religious sanctity on the main door. Some people like to hang torans having flowers or mirrors to ward off evil luck. In Feng Shui one can hang a mirror on the outside above the main door. This is a very effective cure to ward off evil luck and evil eye from outside. all the negative energy coming towards your house is reflected outside and does not enter your home.

One lucky charm also seen in many old home was a horse shoe that is nailed on the front door. This is very auspicious in Feng Shui as the shape of a horse shoe resembles like the ideal land shape of feng shui. In India many people fix the horse shoe for protection and luck. It is seen that the inmates get good business and increased financial incoming money if hung on the right place. Many people are very particular to search for the horse shoe of an aged horse as this indicates good long life and also prosperity for the home.

Fancy mirrors can also be hung on the door but care has to be taken that it is not on the door but outside above the door. Also please take care that this does not affect adversely your neighbours as sometimes all the bad energy is transferred to them. If the neighbours are the cause of bad energy or are negative people then you can place the mirror with the intention of letting all negative energy to go back from where it has come and not name any specific place. This will not harm anyone and the negative energy will turn into positive one outside your home, thus making the entrance appealing and inviting.

Increase Business Drastically with Feng Shui

How can you improve your business drastically with using Feng Shui? 
Since the  principles of balancing the five elements are to be followed by Feng Shui one has to do a survey of what is place where in the house and office. When there are lost opportunities and losses in business many times one is forced to think about the other aspects of luck. Here Feng Shui helps to guide the individual to balance the five elements and leads to  good luck, prosperity and peace.

The main business nowadays comes from computers and you can see most of the offices and homes having computers and computer related work. When you observe them these individuals are cut off from conversations and engrossed with the internet and computers. 
The seating arrangement is of utmost important to improve money luck and get increased business. See that the individual working on computer is not facing the wall. Many times we see this arrangement and hence the individual is unaware of the person walking or coming from behind. This leads to feelings of insecurity and fear always about the future.

If there are many people working on computers the employer can prefer to have the computer cubicles that allow some interaction with other workers and not completely cut off from the other employees. 
The Business owner or the employer has to pay attention to office Feng Shui and keep a green bamboo plant on the office table to encourage money luck. Always be with a smiling face and allow positive energy to move in the office and with everyone. This gives positive vibes to the new customer and people will feel happy to do business with you. Also when the employees are facing out they can interact with the customer even when they are working and this way you will not lose the new opportunities coming your way.

Try using Feng Shui for offices for improving your business and also if you work from home keep the area clean and all things must be organized to allow new opportunities and increase business profits.

How to Make Money Using Feng Shui

Feng Shui is a science and there are no miracles to be expected. There is no replacement to hard work, but I have come upon certain Feng Shui cures that are really effective to trigger the money luck. Try it and may God help you.

First of all clear the area of money in your house. This falls in the south east sector of your home. There is no need to calculate exactly any specific degree but you can approximately assess and find this area. This area in Feng Shui is very important to trigger the money luck and get the money rolling in the house. There may be increase in income and also new sources of income coming in the family. Some people also reported money coming unexpectedly.

Place plants, especially the ones that have round leaves or curved leaves. These plants symbolize growth and also look similar to money, or coins. People also prefer to place silk plants that are easy to care for but importance has to be given to keep theses artificial plants clean other wise they will make way for negative energy.

People get new job offers and also increase in income by placing plants that have round leaves. Even the relationships improve and placing plants in the North West area will also encourage helpful friends to enter their lives. When the plants grow and  prosper so does the financial status of the individual. Feng Shui also encourages placement of pair of healthy Jade Plants in this area to trigger the money luck. Jade plants are a very common cure in feng shui for many reasons. They have rounded leaves looking similar to coins and money, and they are green and require less care to grow. But remember that any plants that are kept in this area need to be maintained in a healthy and clean manner. If the plant dies replace them immediately with new fresh plants, if you do not get sunlight then place artificial plants in this area for improving your money luck.

Husband Very Often Stay Out/ Wife is constantly with Parents, What Feng Shui Has to Say

In many families we observe that the husband very often has to stay out due to reasons of job. There may also be another relationship creeping up with no peace and harmony in the house. Even sometimes the wife is not living for long time and very often visits mothers place.

Due to this there is no stability in the relationship. There can be seen many effects of this in the relationship among both husband and wife and also among other members of the family. This in turn affects the house as it may be in a mess. The other family members or the husband may be busy with job or else the wife is at her mother’s. This adversely affects the house and it seems like a hostel where the family members are living as paying guests , coming and going at own will.

One of the cures that can be that the family needs to talk about it and any relationship will prosper only when the members give it time. Whether it is the cleanliness of the house or the upbringing of children or matters of infertility in the couple, all rest with giving proper time in any relationship. According to Feng Shui all the elements of the house have to be balanced and especially the bedroom Feng Shui has to be paid more attention.

One of the reasons may be that there is a calendar hanging on or above the door. Take special care top avoid placing any calenders or clocks over or above the door, be it the main door or the bedroom door. Hanging calendars above the door gives constant pressure to viewers about the date and time going on in their life. This may affect adversely the thinking of the inmates and people under pressure may feel comfortable outside the house.

If you have no other place then hang them with some good picture of birds or flowers above it. One can use thread to hang the calendar and on the same nail cover it with another painting or picture of happy couple, birds or flowers. All that symbolizes fertility and happiness in family will immediately show how the relationships improve. Place some furniture of heavy weight in the centre of the house to keep the family stable and well grounded together.