Food For Thought

When I was a young child, my parents found it extremely difficult to get me to eat anything that even remotely resembled a vegetable. I loved hot dogs and hamburgers and junk food, like most young children. I didn’t like carrots, and really disliked broccoli. Then, when I was nine years old, I was taken on a tour of a slaughterhouse in the Philippines. I was shocked to see a half-dead cow being hung from the rafters by a big hook, slowly bleeding to death, being kept alive as long as possible so as to keep the meat fresher for longer. I was sickened by the suffering of this animal. At nine years of age, all I could think was, “Is this what animals go through, just so I can eat them?” The reality I saw in the slaughterhouse didn’t match the hamburger commercials I’d seen on TV, where cows were happy and chickens danced around huge farms.

At such a young age, I didn’t know there was such a thing as a vegetarian. I certainly didn’t know there was a whole philosophy behind vegetarianism. But instinctively, I just felt it was wrong to take another life so I could eat. I had never before made the connection between live animals and the meat on my dinner plate. My young mind thought that if there was an alternative to killing the animals I saw in the slaughterhouse, then I would rather take that alternative. I haven’t eaten meat since then.

Being a vegetarian is a matter of choice. And there are many reasons behind why people make the choice to become vegetarian. Of course, some of these reasons are health-related. A properly balanced vegetarian diet is healthy and beneficial to the human body. Also, scientifically, the physical make-up of humans is not designed to be carnivorous. If you look at the anatomy and function of herbivores in the animal kingdom, their intestines are very long, like humans, meaning they’re not able to fully digest meat, which rots very fast in the intestines. Vegetarian animals, like cows, water buffalo and giraffes, don’t have canine teeth that are designed to rip through meat. Instead, they have flat, grinding teeth, much like that of humans, which are perfect for eating plants and vegetables. What’s more, our saliva contains a specific enzyme that has the sole purpose of digesting complex carbohydrates found in plant foods. This enzyme is not found in the saliva of carnivores. Interesting, isn’t it? We’re just not designed to eat meat.

Not only are we not designed to eat meat, but instinctively, we are not meant to either. I remember an experiment where a toddler was placed in a cot with an apple and a rabbit. The toddler ate the apple and played with the rabbit. But when a small tiger cub was placed in the cot with an apple and a rabbit, the tiger ate the rabbit and played with the apple! The meat industry and commercialisation has made it so easy for humans to eat meat, by removing from sight and mind the connection between live animals and meat we eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Our natural instincts have been diminished.

Albert Einstein once said, “Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances of survival for life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.” This quote is perhaps even wiser than the man who said it.

There are more than six billion people in this world, and according to the UN, if everyone adopted a vegetarian diet, not one of those people would need to worry about going hungry. Plus, the meat industry is one of the biggest contributors to global warming, deforestation, and water consumption; consider the hundreds of thousands of litres of water needed to rear livestock and produce meat products, the many hectares of trees that are being cut down so that cattle can graze, and the sheer magnitude of methane produced by cattle. More than any human activity, these things are slowly chipping away at the ability of the Earth to sustain life.

The QI Group is a vegetarian company, but that does not mean we try to force our employees or anyone else to be vegetarian. Everyone has a choice. As Group Managing Director of QI, the Board of Directors and I agree that the health, ethical, and environmental advantages of practicing vegetarianism is worth promoting and embodying. It is our company statement that all life is sacred.

Please take a moment to ponder… Vegetarianism is a choice we make for our own good, as well as the greater good. It is a choice we make after realising the bleakness of the consequences of the alternative. But it is a choice. And we must decide, sooner or later, what choice we are going to make.

 

Sincerely,

Joseph Bismark

 

Group Managing Director, QI Ltd

 

 

To Be Like the Bee

There are many lessons we can learn just by looking around us… from the most seemingly insignificant occurrences in nature to the most obvious of human behaviour.

Take, for example, the predispositions of the humble bumble bee and the common fly. Think about where you normally see these creatures. You will find the bee merrily buzzing around the sweet nectar of flowers. The fly, on the other hand, is drawn to the filthy places of rubbish bins and waste. The same can be seen in people. Some people choose to surround themselves with good by seeing the positive things in others and in the world around them. They recognise there is negativity and evil, but they choose to focus on what is good and right. They do not gossip about the badness of others. They do not finger point and bring people down. These people are ‘bee-like’. Then there are the ‘fly-like’ people. Attracted to the dark side of things, these people choose to see the negative and they draw the attention of other people towards the ills of something. They point out people’s flaws to third parties and they have no interest in helping the person they are talking about.

This is not to say that we must be blind to others’ faults. But if you are to draw attention to these faults, you should do so to the person concerned, and only with the motive of helping that person to improve. It is not for you to speak about that person’s flaws with other people, as this is non-constructive and serves no purpose other than the spread of malicious rumour that will not help the person involved.

Please take a moment to ponder… do not focus on the imperfections of others. We are imperfect ourselves. Before we correct others, let us first correct ourselves. We should be humble in what we see and do. We should be bee-like, and should avoid the trappings of viewing the world through the eyes of the garbage-seeking fly.

Sincerely,

Joseph Bismark

Group Managing Director, QI Ltd

A Threatened Leader Cannot Lead

Many leaders feel worried and threatened when the people they are leading start to become independent, or start to excel. I am curious why this is. Does that not mean that they have been a good leader? The fact that the people they are leading are growing and developing is surely a good thing. Why is it that sometimes leaders feel that they must always be the ones in the spotlight?

Thinking of this made me happily recall one of my favourite verses. It is a verse that I think we can all learn from in order to better ourselves and others. Let me share parts of this verse with you.

One should think oneself lower than the straw on the street…

In many places of the world, you see bits of straw all over the street, such as in India or the Philippines. This straw is being walked on and cars are driving over it. It is flattened to the ground. Now I ask you – what could be lower than this straw on the street? And in that consciousness of feeling lower than the straw on the street, who could ever offend you? No one could put you down, as you are already lowly and humble on your own accord. Some people think being humble means allowing people to step on you and exploit you, but being humble is never that. It is a state of consciousness where you always walk on criticism and in that state, how could you even be angry? It is so fulfilling to be at this state of consciousness, where you feel at peace because you are not trying to climb on top of other people. And in this type of consciousness, you could be a king or be in high positions, but this is the consciousness you must have in order to lead people. You must think of yourself as lower than the straw in the street.

One should be more tolerant than a tree…

How could you be more tolerant than a tree? A tree is so tolerant. You can cut off its branches, it stands forever under the hot sun or torrent rains, sways with the strong winds, has ants crawl all over it… and yet it still stands, tolerant and accepting of what is going on around it. Now, this verse says we should be even more tolerant than that tree. If you are a tree – in terms of patience, endurance, fairness, and temperament –  then who could move you? You could not be pulled over. It is a great virtue to withstand any onslaught of challenges and not be swayed by the winds of emotions. This doesn’t mean you don’t feel it and that you’re numb to it. It just means you are steadfast and you have belief in what you stand for.

One should be devoid of all sense of false prestige.

False prestige is thinking, “I’m a powerful lawyer” or “I’m a successful businessperson”. We always think we have to be somebody for others to love us. We strive so much to have it all – material possessions, driving a certain type of car, having the right image, and so forth. But with this comes a whole lot of anxiety. How could there be peace and how could you be at peace if you are worried about all these things? This sense of false prestige just gets in the way. There is no criticism about the duties and titles that you have been given. Your job may be very important and you may have worked hard to get there. But that doesn’t give you a licence to be arrogant. It does not mean you can demand respect from others. But no matter what you do or who you think you are, you should always be giving your respect to others. A leader cannot lead if he is blinded by his own sense of false prestige.

Please take a moment to ponder… If you want to be a good leader, should you feel threatened if those you are leading start to succeed? If you want to be a good leader, shouldn’t you rather place yourself beneath those you lead, be tolerant and steadfast, and undress yourself of all false prestige? Ponder on this. I thought of this verse as being a guide for someone who wants to be not only a good leader, but who wants to be happy and at peace.

 

Sincerely,

Joseph Bismark

 

Group Managing Director, QI Ltd

 

 

The Perfect Doctor

Last week, I shared with you the secret of real wealth: good health. This week, I would like to continue this theme. I am certainly not a doctor, but I do believe that our own good health is our own responsibility.

We are each blessed with a body that has been designed to care for itself, as long as we are there to help it. The body is the perfect doctor: The body will cure itself, but we just need to learn how to not block the process. Moreover, with so many other drugs and medicines that are introduced into our body’s system, the body loses its memory on how to protect itself. The body will always send us a signal when something is wrong. But often, we don’t pay attention or don’t recognise the signal at all.

I would encourage everyone to learn about their body and learn how to give your body the best environment in which to do its job of protecting and healing itself. I am not saying there is no need for doctors – there is – but we can make the doctors’ jobs a whole lot easier if we pay a little more attention to what our body is saying and why it’s saying it.

Things like short-term fasting, flushing, cold press, dry brushing, massages – all these things help to ensure our body is free from toxins, and clears the way for the body to get on with performing all the vital functions it was designed for. Eating well, exercising, getting enough sleep, managing your stress levels, staying away from alcohol and cigarettes, maintaining a vegetarian diet – these are all things that we have perfect control over and can pave the way for a body that is allowed to do what it was created to do – live.

Please take a moment to ponder… our body is designed to protect us. Don’t get in the way of that.

Sincerely,

Joseph Bismark

Group Managing Director, QI Ltd

The Vital Code

Many of you will already know that I take my health very seriously and I believe in looking after the body we are given.

I was recently asked to write an Afterword for a book about a revolutionary new multivitamin concept that I support, and while writing this Afterword, it made me think just how easily we confuse the meaning of success.

I would like to share this Afterword with you all.

The Vital Code

AFTERWORD by Joseph Bismark

Our bodies are like vehicles; the most advanced, superior vehicles ever made. They are also the most important vehicle we will ever own. Like all other vehicles, our bodies need regular tune-ups. They need to be purged of toxins. And they need to be nourished with nutrients and replenished with fuel to enable performance at our bodies’ designed peak.

Unfortunately, the environment we live in today is not as generous with the natural ‘refuelling’ of our vehicles as it once was. The air has been compromised with pollutants and our water has been sacrificed. The commercialisation of food, fruit and vegetables, has sapped the nutrients out of the natural sources we depend upon to sustain the well being of our bodies.

In this world, we must triple our efforts in looking after ourselves. Sometimes, people forget the importance of the physical body, opting to spend thousands of dollars on the things that adorn and house the body – clothes, cars, homes – but then balk at the idea of investing time and money in their physical self and their health.

Success is not smoking a cigar to celebrate a corporate victory, nor is success about drinking champagne to signify a promotion. Real success and real wealth is in nothing other than good health. A healthy life is a successful life.

A healthy, successful life means good, regular exercise, controlling stress levels, and maintaining a balanced diet. Regrettably, a healthy diet is not as simple as it once was, due to busy lifestyles and processed foods. Taking into consideration the pesticides and agricultural chemicals used, transport and storage processes, preservatives, and other manufacturing elements; even fruit and vegetables have become an unreliable source of the fuel needed to drive our bodily vehicles. For these reasons, dietary supplements have become the bridging gap between the foods we eat and the vitamins and minerals we need to maintain optimum health.

The Vital Code is not a magical pill that instantly makes you healthy. Nothing is a magical pill that solves all your health woes. But after reading this book and learning about the research and discoveries that have resulted in The Vital Code, it is clear that this is one of the most beneficial tools you can introduce into your lifestyle to give you the best chance at creating a holistic and healthy living approach to your body’s requirements. The Vital Code has been so meticulously pieced together that it ‘understands’ the body and answers the body’s calls for assistance.

Any form of breakthrough in helping our body to achieve and sustain its maximum health is something that I wholeheartedly welcome. The Vital Code goes beyond platonic remedying of our bodies’ ills. The secret to the vitality of our bodies’ needs has been unlocked with this product. We have the opportunity to truly invest in our body and in our future and to achieve true wealth in the health of our vehicle.

Sincerely,
Joseph Bismark
Group Managing Director, QI Ltd

The Uncomfortable Truth

Rome was one of the founding cities of Western Civilisation. For more than a thousand years, Rome was the largest, strongest, richest and most politically powerful city in the Western World. Rome won battles. The people of Rome were prosperous. Rome was an empire.

Perhaps the only thing more famous than the prosperity of the Roman Empire is the decline of the Roman Empire.

There are many theories that have been floated since the 18th Century about why the Roman Empire ‘fell’. Almost all of them share a common denomination at their core: At the height of Roman success, the emperors thought they were immortal, undefeatable, and indestructible. They had nestled into a comfort zone at the very top of the world, and into this comfort zone crept complacency. And from complacency, they fell.

A valuable lesson can be learnt here. A comfort zone is a very scary place to find yourself in. A comfort zone is detrimental to your drive and passion. Before long, you are not as ‘hungry’ anymore to better yourself. You don’t work out as much. You don’t push yourself or challenge yourself. You procrastinate.

Nothing is permanent in this world. When you find yourself in a comfort zone, ask yourself this: “If everything I have worked hard to achieve was taken away from me, would I be able to go back and live a simpler life and cut down on my lifestyle?”

Be ready. Be introspective. We should recognise success as the place from which we can acknowledge our own accomplishments and possessions, and start looking outwards to the world. How can you use what you have achieved to help others? How can you better yourself while bettering others at the same time? How can you Raise Yourself To Help Mankind?

Please take a moment to ponder… It is scary to get comfortable. We should not be complacent because it kills us. It kills our drive, our perception and our passion. And without these, where are we? Who are we?

Sincerely,

Joseph Bismark

Group Managing Director, QI Ltd

The Truth of Loyalty

During one of my speaking engagements with the business network, someone asked me, “Are you loyal to Vijay (Eswaran)?” And to that I answered, “No.”

Yes, it surprised everyone and I know it will surprise those of you who are well acquainted with the longstanding partnership I have with Vijay.

I explained: “My loyalty is to truth. Because Vijay upholds the truth, then it follows that my loyalty is with him.”

This is where I would like to take a stand on what I see as true and false loyalty.

One of the most common misconceptions people have when it comes to faithfulness or devotion is that they think loyalty is to a person. This is not right. Loyalty should not be based on personality; otherwise, it could turn into a ‘personality cult’. A personality cult is defined as excessive public admiration for a charismatic person (usually someone famous like an actor, politician, or perhaps sportsperson). Don’t think you are following righteousness or truth when the merits of the person you adulate are not proven.

A leader must be followed not because he is famous, but because he is a follower of the truth. We have seen some people get out-of-hand with eulogising or worshipping people who are no longer on the right path and who start making their own rules for their own vested interests. A classic example of this is the cult following of evangelist preacher Jim Jones who was preaching in the name of Christ in a small community he founded called Jonestown in Guyana, USA. Power began to corrupt him and after allegations of human rights abuse were beginning to be investigated against him, Jones led his followers – about 900 plus – to mass suicide. The extent of this action now constitutes one of the greatest single losses of American civilian life in a non-natural disaster.

There are other disturbing similarities with our present day leaders. Let us not have this blind allegiance to cult personalities. Loyalty must be to broad principles; to universal truth that applies to all and not to a particular sect, religion or group; to basic truth such as refraining from lying, killing, or exploiting. You should be on a constant guard with your leaders, no matter who he or she is. And because we are not perfect and we make mistakes when we are on the wrong path, we must have the willingness to be corrected.

Please take a moment to ponder… The only influence people are open to having is the truth. The truth is always logical, and anyone who follows the truth is consistent. This is the power of the truth.

Sincerely,
Joseph Bismark
Group Managing Director, QI Ltd

 

Character Building is Integral in the Journey of Life

During the recent V-Convention last month in Malaysia, I had the privilege to address an audience of over 6,000 people. One of the topics I spoke on was ‘character building’, which I have also occasionally touched upon in my previous Gems of Wisdom posts.

What is ‘character’? Character is the most fundamental definition of any person. It is what differentiates us as humans. It is our very essence. It is what guides us in our journey from being a ‘nobody’ to a ‘somebody’.

How then does one build character? Character building begins with our thoughts. Thoughts translate into words. Acting on our words forms habits. And over time, habits shape character.

Character development is a continuous process and is so important in our lives. Be it the business of life or the business of work, the reality is, our journey is all about relationships and teamwork. Remember, you are the leader of the team you build. And if you seek to build a team that lasts, as is the goal of every leader, it is important to have a rock solid foundation of good character.

True, every person is unique. We are all born under different circumstances; go through different life experiences, all of which contribute to shaping our character. While some take on leadership roles effortlessly, there are many who feel they lack in the qualities of a good leader. This is where character building helps.

Generally, every human being is unconsciously attracted to people with good qualities. Virtue, compassion, goodness… these are just some of the qualities people seek in others.

Remember, whether we want it or not, our character comes across clearly and transparently to anyone tuning into us, consciously or otherwise. So avoid falling into the trap of pretentious behaviour just to impress someone or achieve short term gains. To be really successful, be honest to yourself, and to your team.

To be a successful leader, build that character in yourself that you would like to see in your leader. Ask yourself, “Would I actually like to follow a leader like myself?”, “Am I not a leader?”, and “Should I not have the qualities that make one?”

Your character determines your destination. If you don’t like where you are headed today, create your path towards your desired destiny. Character is what will help shape that path.

It is no secret. There are many ways to build your character. One way is to conquer your fears. It is one of the biggest tumbling blocks in developing character. Be confident!

Talking about a good thing also leads to it. Constantly associate with people who carry good qualities or are successful. Learn, adopt and absorb their positivity.

Refrain from doing what is not good for you. Control your senses. Weak morals point to a weak character. If you allow yourself to be swayed by simple things, how can you expect to be trusted? Practise strict discipline. If a person is not hard on himself, the world will be hard on him; if he is hard on himself, the world will be easy on him.

Last but not the least, in your journey from being a ‘nobody’ to a ‘somebody’, find someone who will be a contrarian to you; someone who will challenge you just when you think you have found the easy way to success. By doing so, you will find yourself sharpening your skills, wanting to learn, focussing on building yourself and making the necessary changes to be better. This is the fastest way to build your character.

Please take a moment to ponder… Character building is not a one-off attempt. It is a continuous process in the cycle of life. Once we have traveled the path from being a ‘nobody’ to a ‘somebody’, we have to start all over again. We have to step back into the shoes of other ‘nobodies’ in our team and lead them through the same journey. And that is the true test of character.

Sincerely,

Joseph Bismark
Group Managing Director
QI Group

Trust Your Anchor

Like a boat being battered about in the open sea amidst a raging storm, we too are sometimes caught rocking about in our own ocean of uncertainty and doubt. In times like these, it helps – just like the battered boat – to have an anchor.

We need an anchor that we can hold onto when there are challenges. The reason we need anchors in general is so that we will not be swayed or distracted when challenged. We should be able to drop our anchor into the troubled sea to stable ourselves and remind us of certain things. In this way, an anchor is a sort of ‘point of reference’.

One such anchor is trust. With a friend or partner in life, it is easy to get through each day without much trouble. But when conflict or uncertainty arises, without the anchor of trust, there will be nothing to which you can both cling. Let me explain with an example. Think about two police partners. They go in for a raid and they ‘have each other’s backs’. One sees what’s ahead, and the other watches out for what could be coming up from behind. They trust each other, so if one partner yells out “Duck!”, the other partner is not going to question why. They drop their trust anchor and they duck without question. This is important: to be able to trust someone not only in the good times, but also in the tough times, without question.

Another anchor is being able to trespass and not allow that trespass to become personal. If my friend is doing some wrong – perhaps they have a bad attitude at work and it is causing others to not want to work with him – then I would tell him, because I care about that person. My friend should be able to drop his anchor and believe me, even if he can’t see it for himself. If he is not able to do this, then he will resent me for pointing out something that is not necessarily positive about him. This could do damage to the friendship.

Please take a moment to ponder… Anchors are a way for us to rely on ourselves and on others. They are an important part of relationships and a vital part of our own development. If someone tells you something that may be hard to hear, you should not be angry with them. You don’t get angry at a mirror when you look at it and it shows you that your hair is messy, now do you?

 

Sincerely,

Joseph Bismark
Group Managing Director
QI Group

The First Mentors of Society

The month of May is a month for mothers, and this past Sunday was the day on which we should all have taken a moment to realise the huge role that mothers play; for mothers play one of the most significant roles there are – not just in the formation of the personality and values of their children, but also in the formation of society as a whole.

So, to all the mothers and the future mothers, I say to you that your role is honoured. You are the first teachers and mentors of society. It is from you that we first learn about morality and from whom we form our beliefs and our principles. It is the mother who first teaches each of us – as eventual members of society – about compassion, strength, humility and honour. Mothers are the embodiment of compassion, patience and tolerance.

Women in general are given a special ability to withstand pain more than men; the pain threshold of a woman is amazing. Mothers withstand the heartache of seeing a child make mistakes and they persevere as they watch a child learn from those mistakes. Women can bear the pain of giving birth and they willingly endure this pain. A man could not. Despite the pain and risks involved with childbirth, women lovingly and willingly give birth to children and nurture them through good and bad. In this way, women are giving birth to society at their own expense. Mothers have a natural affinity and affection to having children.

Above the pain, the risk and the heartache of being a mother, above all else, mothers sacrifice themselves for their children. Mothers have great responsibility because they’re the teacher of the child and with great responsibility comes great sacrifice. All mothers should realise this. It is their duty to ensure their child grows up honourable and develops to be an active, valuable and socially conscious member of society. It can be hard for a woman, who becomes a mother, to find the balance between her career and her bound duty to her role as a mother. Women in general have to understand how important this balance is. This is part of the sacrifice of being a mother. Once you have a child, that child becomes your priority and this is not something to be ashamed of. A woman can still be ‘corporate’. But she will realise from the moment she becomes a mother, that her most important and most rewarding job is to love, teach, nurture, support, guide and raise her child. There is a balance to be found between being a ‘corporate woman’ and a mother. This balance may be hard to find, but it is important to us all that the mothers of the world find this balance. And the rest of us must support her as she walks this delicate line.

Please take a moment to ponder… a mother must always be respected because of the ‘services’ she has ‘rendered’. This service is un-repayable. A child, in every aspect, owns his or her life to their mother. A mother should never be undermined or belittled. A mother should be cherished, loved and remembered for the pain and the sacrifice she made. Most importantly, she should be honoured for the love and care she has given us and for her role in creating society.

 

Sincerely,

Joseph Bismark

Group Managing Director, QI Ltd