Joseph Bismark - Gems of Wisdom Blog

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 Ltd

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 Ltd