Chapter 1:
Universal Themes in Secrets to a Richer Life
I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only
finds that there are many more hills to climb.
—Nelson Mandela, South African leader
Therefore hold to the things which are reliable.
Look to simplicity; embrace purity;
Lessen the self; diminish desire.
—Laozi (570–490 B.C.), Chinese philosopher
I have striven not to laugh at human actions, not to weep at them,
nor to hate them, but to understand them.
—Baruch Spinoza (1632–1677), Dutch philosopher and theologian
We seek the inherent wisdom present in ordinary people. These are not presi dents, kings, leading entertainers, or Nobel Prize winners. These are people who are struggling every day to make ends meet and trying their best to provide the most for their families. Nevertheless, I am particularly impressed by the intelligence, insight, tolerance, love, empathy, perseverance, knowledge, judgment, dedication, and commitment to positive values of this group of interviewees.
The wisdom in this volume is astonishing when one considers its source. The people interviewed in this book are both ordinary and amazing. In their quiet way, they make the world function and grow with their honesty, consistency, integrity and dedication to family and society. The resulting wisdom is greater than its individual parts. In this pantheon of global citizens, we hear the words of educators, electrical and mechanical engineers, physicians, pharmacists,
financial analysts, dentists, as well as an exporter, a medical records manager, surgeon, travel consultant, pilot and zookeeper.
Across the cultural spectrum, respondents indicate that their parents influenced them in acquiring an education. As a result of this education, these individuals have realized enormous benefits and have in turn been highly motivated to inspire their children to acquire an education. This is an overarching global theme. One American said of his university training, “The university was absolutely the greatest experience of my life.” An African-American said of the university’s influence was “Tremendous. It gave me the skills but it was the relationships in the school that gave me the greatest influence.”
Many of the respondents talked of attaining their goals through hard work. An African respondent said, “It is good to work hard. If you work hard, you are going to reap hard.” An American noted, “My mother taught me hard work. She made the transition.” Although many respondents cited intelligence as important, most of them suggested that hard work was more useful in reaching goals. Regarding his parents’ influence, one Asian-American said, “It’s hard to say; they really didn’t teach me in the sense of sitting down and being didactic. Rather, they influenced me by their examples. I learned to work hard.”
Among respondents, there was universal respect and love for parents. All the interviewees had warm words for their parents and they attributed their elders’ inspirations as a key ingredient for their own success. One Indian respondent said of his father, “He did not tell us what to do, but he set a very good example. We were raised to be more philosophical than material.” A respondent from Europe observed that “If I quote my father, one of the most important things you do in life is to be honest.” All respondents were unanimous about one aspect of spousal relations: communication is vital in a rela tionship. Although some of the respondents had arranged marriages, all marriages require the same conditions: to be successful. As an Asian respon dent said, “Never to say ‘mine’ anymore, it is always ‘our.’” An African noted that “Communication is the key element to a successful marital relationship.”
Regarding the role they played in rearing children, a respondent from Egypt said, “I am very proud of my children. My role is just to guide them.”
When asked about the importance of ethics and morals, an African-American respondent said, “I don’t know how you could be a good person and not have ethics or morals. It all comes back to the way you deal with people, with situations. If you are going to be unethical, you will have difficulty in being a good person.”
Everywhere, people and families have crises and difficult times. Is there a universal reaction to a crisis? What are the strategies for dealing with a crisis? How did respondents describe their worst crises? One said, “It was a family
problem between my father and his immediate younger brother whom he loved so much; they had a quarrel. It was cataclysmic.” An Asian-American said, “I remember a Chinese saying: ‘In every adversity there lies an opportunity’”. In business, even though the stock markets go down, there is still money in it.” A European respondent said, “I never had any crises. I had tragedies. My father’s death was the most tragic thing I have gone through.” Acknowledging a problem and having the right attitude to cope with it are powerful tools in our arsenal to deal with the crisis. The Eastern view of a crisis representing an opportunity is revealing of this affirmative attitude.
When asked about travel, most of the respondents were well-traveled. The insights they gained from their travels had salient influences on their answers to many of the other questions, and indeed, in their lives and worldviews. This is evident throughout the group as their answers indicate progressive thinking. Travel and exposure to the world is known to have this influence on people
Some respondents were pessimistic about the future of the world’s youth while others were optimistic. An African respondent said, “The whole world is revolving in the wrong direction. This is my belief and I may be wrong.” A European respondent noted that youth “don’t know whether they’ll get a job or not. This is very frustrating for them. Some of the students lose perspective for the future and they become apathetic.” An American said, “I am very pes simistic about youths, about adults, about the problems that the Earth is fac ing. There is a factor involved which is not very regulating, and is called human greed.” A Middle Eastern respondent had high hopes. He said, “It will be a very bright future in the sense that these days, a lot of modern facilities have been approved here: satellites, mobile phones and beepers.”
When asked what message they wanted to convey to future generations, many had simple answers. One said, “To respect the soul more than the body. To think beyond themselves. To be altruistic and think about others.” Another said he wanted to communicate “Humility and respect for one another as human beings as occupants of this Earth. Never settle for a second place. Be at your best on whatever you do.”
This diverse array of human talent has bared their collective souls and unveiled their secrets to the world. We firmly believe that when we ask a broader and larger sample of the world’s inhabitants these questions, we will get further riches providing insights to benefit others as they grow and mature in the years ahead.
Chapter 4:
Influence of Parents on Their Children’s Quality of Life
“Everything is dear to its parent.” Sophocles (496?–406 BC) Greek
playwright.
Parentage is a very important profession; but no test of fitness for it is
ever imposed in the interest of children. George Bernard Shaw
(1856–1950) Irish playwright.
Just think, we need a license to drive a car, we need a license to fish, and we need a permit to camp in a national park. However, we do not need a license to be a parent. We do not even need basic training or any courses on parenting to qualify. Perhaps the most important function in the world is excellent parent ing, as it impacts both the present and the future well-being of people every where. With more quality parenting, our global society would be much better off, more peaceful and its citizens would live more harmoniously.
A child’s development is influenced by its genetics, as well as parents and other adults, its peers, and society. Most research indicates that of these factors, parental influence is the most significant and enduring of these influences. Parents shape their children’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in profound ways. The book Parents and the Child’s World supports the conclusion that par enting is crucial to child development. Parents have a particular perspective as well as influence, deciding in which neighborhood the children will grow up, which schools they will attend, and which foods they eat, among other impor tant factors.
Moreover, parenting is bi-directional; from the day the child is born, there is an interactive influence between it and the parent. Some say that parents raise children, but don’t forget that children also raise parents.
Children’s academic performance has been studied extensively. Some research indicates that as much as 50% of the variation between high- and low
functioning children results from influences that take place before children even enter school. After the children enter school, the remaining influences on their performances come from school, with mitigating factors from the family. For example, a child’s ability to sit still and concentrate is learned at home, but has a tremendous effect on academic performance.
Children are impacted by many influences which govern their perceptions of life, perceptions which will stay with the child for the duration of its life. Does this influence come from the parents or their peer group? The fundamentals of learning love and caring and the ethical issues of “right” and “wrong” are learned from parents. In Judith Harris’ “The Nurture Assumption: Why Children Turn,” the author notes that mothers show love to the child by holding, singing to, kissing and cuddling the baby. This love is shown continuously in these and other ways throughout childhood and has a definite positive effect on the child’s life.
Parents give their children guidance, helping prepare them for adulthood. Importantly, parents help a child develop ethics, distinguishing between good and bad, between right and wrong. While some argue that peer groups wield a greater influence, the most persuasive evidence suggests that this comes prima rily from the parents. Parents set these values which continue to impact the child throughout its life; later these core values are passed on to the next gen eration. As basketball star Michael Jordan said, “I know that no one has had a greater impact on me than my parents. Their ethics and morals are my ethics and morals. It’s funny, but you don’t realize how much they mold you until you get older and begin to see them in the things that you do.”
This book provides a collection of information showing how ordinary indi viduals perceive their parents’ influences in their lives. The answers to the question, “How did your parents influence your development?” are valuable lessons from what their parents taught them about life.
We also asked whether people remembered quotes from their parents, and used them to gain insight into life, as well as passing along these touchstones to their children. Another area of great interest is what influence our children have on parents, and the influence parents have on their children. How important is that relationship and what is its power in shaping and educating children, and determining the character of the future society on earth? When taken collectively, our parental influence is indeed profound. Just as we can pass negative and antisocial ideas to our children, we can also share positive and uplifting concepts with them, which can make not only their lives better, but also the lives of those around them. Many of the problems that we attribute to society today stem from parenting problems. Children left to their own
devices from an early age develop their own immature way of interacting and functioning in this world.
While free will is important, we should provide our children with the fertil izer and nutrients to help them develop into wonderful, productive happy members of society. This collection of thoughts from people of various cul tural backgrounds captures some key ideas in these individuals’ attempt to shape their own children. We asked general questions of how the respondents influenced their children’s development, and followed these comments with questions regarding their prognosis of future generations of children from their cultural background.
The concept of family influence was defined by each respondent, as the great number of cultures in the world all defines “family” in different ways. We always tried to gauge the importance of family; when it is of great significance it also has a profound influence on the children. We also noted that the family is strengthened when it has a defined value system.
The development of each respondent was usually in isolated geographic locations. These differences from around the world are often united when peo ple arrive in cosmopolitan countries like America, where a great variety of cul tures have settled together.
The major problems of the world can be summed up as parenting problems. The high rates of crime, pervasive war and conflict, endemic corruption, lack of ethical behavior, poor academic achievement, homelessness, drug addiction, and other social ills can all be traced to weak parenting. Where examples of effective functioning adults and high achievement are found, the precursors are successful parents who showed proficiency in raising their children. While no secret or genetic luck, this knowledge can be taught and passed on to all parents. Societies should establish effective parenting for the upcoming generations as a top priority. Training in parenting skills, including the mass-media dissemina tion of successful parenting information, as well as support for research addressing best parenting methods should spearhead the collective efforts.
Among 180,000 eighth graders from 38 countries, American student per formance in math and science was worse than nine other countries. By the twelfth grade, American students lag much further behind other countries in both subjects. What accounts for these results of the Third International Math and Science Study? Most observers blame poor schools and a deficiently pathetic curriculum, but another often-overlooked cause is weak and ineffec tive parenting. Studies have indicated that disadvantaged and poor achieving students have received weaker parenting than high-achieving students. Even in the face of poor schools, if parenting is effective, performance can excel.
To strengthen their parenting skills, parents need to get involved. Research indicates that children are more successful and have fewer classroom behavior problems when parents are involved in their learning. In an environment of unconditional love and affection, education and learning should be stressed from an early age. A well-educated society is a society with less socio-economic problems of poverty.
Parents should establish a collaborative relationship with their children and view schoolwork as a series of projects. They should expose their children to large varieties of books, reading to the child daily, establishing an early habit of extensive and broad reading. The child’s natural curiosity and sponge-like learning capabilities will aid this process, but parents need to jumpstart the cycle of learning. Different topics can be introduced in different ways: the world of science is a wonder to all children. Parents have to introduce their children to it through books and meaningful activities, such as visits to libraries and science museums. Also important is that parents instill in their children a value system and spirituality. Parental involvement is essential to the child’s formulation of an attitude and a momentum toward achieving excellence as a goal.
In our society, in which activities like sport fishing and driving a car require a license, why isn’t more attention paid to enhancing parenting skills throughout society? Is not parenting more important than sports fishing? The most effective parenting strategies need to be culled from successful parents and made into a compendium of ideas for all parents. Some cultures have strong traditions of parenting which are several thousand years old. Successful African-Americans attribute first-rate parents and a positive home life as a basis of their success. Asian-Americans families, typically, demonstrate effective parenting skills intrinsic to their ancient culture. The best concepts of parenting need to be an integral part of the culture of America—and the world—and used by all parents as they see fit. When the principles of parent ing are compiled and distributed to most parents in a systematic way through the mass media and through the educational system, the whole of the world will reap the rewards of this effort.
Recently, Oregon was given a grade of C- and D for its pre-college preparation of students and for the participation of students in college education. In this study, released by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, only 75% of the state’s young adults aged 18–24 years had a high school diploma. Although the lack of resources committed to education share part of the blame, a significant share of the problem stems from weak parenting. Not only should state resources be increased for the educational system at all levels, but resources and energies should be increased for strengthening the
institution of parenthood. While we place emphasis on students achieving more through effective parenting, Harvard University released a study cau tioning parents about over-stretching their children. The paper noted that the process of preparing children for selective colleges has become such a high-stress exercise that record numbers of students are suffering burnout. The Harvard paper stated that students “seemed like dazed survivors of some bewildering lifelong boot camp.” Between burnout from high achievement and mediocre low achievement, a parent and child should find a balance that promotes the optimization of potential while encouraging happiness, relaxation and a healthy, humane pace of life.
If parents try to shape their children into their pre-conceived images of success, they are misguided; parents cannot live their dreams through their children. True success is achieved when parents provide the resources and the milieu wherein a child can achieve his or her own personal sense of accomplishment. Moreover, through this process the child will feel the happiness that only self-determined goals can provide.
The future of our society depends on the quality of our citizens. An educated citizenry is the best protection for the well being of our civilization. The very roots of our educational accomplishments stem from confident, capable, and effective parents. In order to help prepare our youth for the rigors of the 21st century, it is imperative that excellent parenthood becomes a critical priority in our collective endeavors. Let us therefore support fiercely the institution of parenthood.
Chapter 5:
Influence of School and University on Directions in Life
“The school has always been the most important means of transferring the wealth of tradition from one generation to the next.” Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-American physicist.
“The tragedy of life is often not in our failure, but rather in our complacency; not in our doing too much, but rather in our doing too little, not in our living above our ability, but rather in our living below our capacities.” Benjamin Elijah Mays(1894–1984) African-American educator
What are the important influences that school and university provide for us in life? Surely the foundation is set in the home and school generally builds the superstructure. Of course, school can fill in the gaps missed by the family. Inspiring teachers can be very significant in planting seeds for lifelong mes sages of influence, bearing fruit among their students.
One African-American respondent talked at length about how his pivotal influence came when he was in high school. He stated, “Probably the most important teachers were those in the high school but I had a math teacher in the junior high school who had taught my brother before me and was interested in teaching me too good and spent one whole summer teaching me ninth grade algebra and at the end of the summer he went to the school board and petitioned for me to be placed in the 10th grade rather than in the 9th grade and he won and I was allowed on the basis of attending summer school again for the English course that I did not take. What he did for me was took me out of the setting that was headed for trouble. And I change very, very quickly which I had been doing which is focus on academics and choose my
own path. That was probably a change in course for me that placed me in a course that was very different and teachers just responded and motivated me.”
At the university level, many of our respondents mention particular professors who inspired them. Others mentioned peers who influenced them. Because of the formative period during which we attend school and university, it is abundantly clear that pivotal events and experiences can occur at this time. An Indian respondent said, “In the university there is a lot competition, you should be good in order not to be thrown out, so you get competitive that way. Medical school influenced a lot. There was a lot of camaraderie, everybody helps everyone else. There was a lot of sharing of information among peers and groups.”
Let’s examine African-American experiences with education. When the 19th century forebears of African-Americans emerged from the horror of slavery, they pondered their future. A large number concluded that education was the key weapon in their struggle to survive in the new world. From that conclu sion, they built the network of historically black universities and colleges that exist until this day.
These ancestors knew then what African-Americans need to know now; they knew that education was the magic carpet to success, individually and as a community. In the 21st century, more than 140 years after slavery, education is where we need to place our greatest emphasis. More specifically, making a goal of completing a college education for every African-American child is the crucial challenge ahead. Anything that can be done to enhance the chance to meet this goal is important.
There are two million people in prison in the United States, more than China. In 1997, African-Americans were 43percent of the total inmate popula tion. In the same year, nearly 60 percent of African-American high school graduates went on to college. A goal of 100 percent college completion should be established.
In 1997, only 7.8 percent of all bachelor’s degrees, 6.5 percent of all profes sional degrees, and 3.7 percent of all doctoral degrees granted by American universities were to African-Americans. A goal should be set to equal or exceed the African-American percentage of the population. This would ensure the economic well-being of the African-American community, and establish a foundation for its future development.
African-Americans spend $533 billion annually on consumer goods. It is important to utilize that vast spending power to increase the wealth of the com munity and to enhance its socio-economic status. Education is key to that power.
Between 1940 and 1975, job opportunities in the manufacturing sector were the means by which African Americans moved into the middle income levels. Manufacturing jobs have declined in the last half of the century as
opportunities have increased in the technical informational sector. Science and math education is very important for the future of African-Americans in the next century.
Between 1996 and 1999, unemployment declined from 10.4 to 7.5 percent. The median income rose, from $31,000 for high school graduates to $53,000 for college graduates. In 1998, 11.2% of African-American families used the Internet, and 23.2 % used computers. The community has to prepare for this new reality of the 20th century.
There is a need to increase educational intensity and preparation for the future. There is a need to get education fever. Check out these ideas:
- Foreign attitudes are fierce. Follow them and go for tutors, cram
schools and extra classes.
- Take the toughest courses offered in your school, advanced
placement or International Baccalaureate programs are helpful.
- Seek challenging situations and opportunities.
- Show an improving trend in your work.
- Read four books per week, minimum, which will enable you to
read 208 books per year.
- Read widely and extensively
- Write more extensively. Many careers are greatly benefited by
writing skills.
- Improve your love and skill in mathematics.
What are the skills one needs to succeed in school? Learn to manage your time, by analyzing how it is being utilized. You should use this information to focus on time and priorities. Time management effectiveness will lead to good grades and excellent performances. Devote the time you need to go to class and
to study. All else is secondary as you establish yourself. Here are a few ideas gleaned on getting the optimal school experience.
• Find a good location to study where you will be uninterrupted.
Locations like an empty classroom are excellent.
• Improve your ability to concentrate by learning to keep your
attention on the task at hand.
• Establish good work habits; break up projects and use small
blocks of time to work on each segment.
• Be an active reader. This means taking notes while you read and review topics. Passive reading leads to sleep and not using your study time wisely
• Seek help to strengthen your learning skills.
• Build listening and note-taking skills. To take good notes, you need to prepare for class, become and active listener, and learn to distinguish major and minor points. Develop a note-taking system, participate in-class discussions, and review your material often.
• Stay energized by getting adequate sleep, exercise, and a good diet. When you are tired, famished, and stressed-out, your brain will not perform as it should on exams and assignments, and you will not excel.
• Learn test-taking skills. Tests are very important at so many points during your educational journey. Not only must you know the material comprehensively, but also you must develop skill sets to take different kinds of tests: essay, multiple choice, short answer, and oral tests. Most standardized tests take place on computers and require computer literacy and speed, in addition to mastering the material.
• Have fun. Learn from your peers as well as you teachers. Ask questions and develop a dialogue with your professors. Try to grasp the global picture of the course by asking questions like, “If you were a student now what would be your strategy for succeeding in this course?”
College admission committees work hard to admit a class of students with diverse skills, interest and backgrounds. This strategy ensures that the peer influences will be significant and dynamic.
Twelve point strategy for success in school
1. Dream dreams and let your imagination soar. Set written goals and
develop a plan to achieve them. Always think positively. Start early in
life with your game plan.
2. Firmly grasp and hold on to your value system in a changing world
Develop a partnership between parents and students. Be ethically
honest, responsible and dependable.
3. Take calculated risks, be a person of action.
4. Find your hidden talents, developing and amplifying your basic skills.
Develop academic and athletic skills.
5. Prepare yourself for the change of the 21st century. Be a lifelong learner.
6. Sketch your future education strategy and concentrate your efforts.
7. Ascertain and develop your strengths, be innovative and creative.
8. Follow a challenging curriculum, focusing on details. Use higher level
thinking skills.
9. Learn test-taking skills and learn to be analytical. Take test preparatory
courses; try taking the SAT-I early, in sixth or eighth grade. Practice
the GRE.
10. Excellence is worth the cost, and persistence and hard work are
essential. No matter how difficult things are, don’t give up.
11. Market yourself: go after jobs, go after scholarships. Winners have one
thing in common: they apply. Build a theme about who you are.
12. Respect and learn from others in a multicultural world. Study what
others have done, read biographies. Communicate and interact with
people effectively. Motivate others
Tips for College and Scholarship Applications
Need-based aid generally has to be repaid; focus on merit-based aid instead. You will rewarded for any impact you’ve had on your community, and you will be encouraged you to continue that work. You should examine successful applications from the past. Previous winners created a theme for themselves, with a focus on art, community service, entrepreneurial actions. You too should make each part of your application reflect your theme. When writing the essay, make it intensely personal. For the recommendation process, seek out many letters and keep a file. You should obtain recommendations from teachers and community members. The application process will help you focus on your goals and make you a better person.
Chapter 6:
Asians Secrets to a Richer Life
“Shall I teach you what knowledge is? When you know a thing, to
hold that you know it; and when you do not know a thing, to allow
that you do not know it. This is knowledge.”
Confucius (551 BC-479 BC) Chinese philosopher,
“Non-violence is the law of our species as violence is the law of the
brute. The spirit lies dormant in the brute and he knows no law but
that of physical might. The dignity of man requires obedience to
another law—to the strength of the spirit.”
Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian philosopher-leader.
Mr. Derek Sham
What is your name and nationality?
I am Derek Sham, British, and born in Hong Kong of Chinese ancestry.
What is your profession? How did you reach the position you are in today in your profession? What is your educational background? What is the relative advantage of hard work versus high intelligence?
I am technologist in the bank. My first degree is mathematics and I have a master’s degree in computer science. I started as an office programmer after college and I worked in the UK for six years for an oil company. I gained a lot of promotions until I became a senior systems analyst. I had also an exposure in international companies, a U.S. multinational company. After that we felt that we would like to see the world a bit more outside of Europe and we started looking around and happened to bump into Citibank in Saudi Arabia. This was a change of industry, from oil to banking. We took up this challenge 14 years ago and we have been in the area ever since.
What advice would you give to those who might want to pursue your profession?
I joined the bank in Saudi Arabia 14 years ago as a project manager. It is a large organization. People who get up there are by and large hard-working people. Obviously skills, intelligence, professionalism and politics are needed to climb the ladder of advancement.
What advice would you give to those who might want to pursue your profession?
In the technology area, especially in the systems field, apart from the personal attributes required for the job, I think one has to expand one’s horizon further than the field itself. For example, if you are a systems analyst, you deal more with computers: the functions and operations of computers. However, the top management expects you to know about the products of the business as well. The people in management expect you to deal with them on the same level; they expect you to contribute something for the development of the company. One has to be well-rounded and more of a higher breed of professional, rather than a specialized professional, to be successful to management. Personally, the choice of a profession does not matter too much. Whatever you are, just be good at it. As a student, one has to take up additional courses to supplement technical knowledge as well as to provide a broader perspective. There are a lot of factors in success. One has to equip in terms of skills and aptitude, knowledge and experience. Having a good mentor is also very important.
What obstacles did you overcome to reach your professional goals? Were those obstacles internal or external? Give examples.
Looking back, the major obstacle within myself was probably partly an ego issue. In many corporations there is a hierarchy in the organization, and sometimes individuals do not see the point of obeying this structured hierarchy. One asks why things are done in a certain way, or why certain decisions are made. In doing so, myself included, one tends to get rebellious when corporate policies are concerned. We are aware of corporate politics and they are avoidable. This comes with professional maturity.
Once I saw that and started to handle it, I find that was my turning point and that I was moving from a technical person into more management work. In my personal case, my professional career could have been different. I had an obstacle when I moved to England when I was 13. I could hardly speak English at that time, so keeping up with the class was a constant struggle. Fortunately, just when I was entering the university I caught up, so to speak. That could have been an obstacle and probably would have made my entire life different if I had not been able to catch up academically.
What is your greatest achievement in your profession?
There are two aspects. One was to become an international staff member in Citibank eight years ago. That was something I had wished, I needed, and I worked for it. There was an opportunity for the recognition and I got it six years after starting. That was my greatest achievement.
What are your future goals in your career? Have you written these down?
I don’t have any clear goals as I am in a reasonable position in my field. I am still interested in what I am doing. I wanted to gain knowledge in some aspects of the business, like cutting-edge technology. Today my wishes are that if I am not too far from technology, I would be satisfied.
From a career viewpoint, I have mixed feeling since I am comfortable where I am, having gained the balance between work and family. With any change, I might sacrifice the family and that would create more trouble, dissatisfaction, more impact, and more responsibility. We are talking about a regional job, which requires travel to a number of countries. So going up the hierarchy would necessarily include sacrificing one to the other. It would be too much of a compromise.
Describe a typical working day for you in your profession.
Normally I go to work at nine. The first thing I got to do is to check my mailbox, both electronically and the paper version. I don’t normally have a meeting until 10. After that I would plan my day’s activity from the diary or from the mail, depending on the pending list of activities. Normally, it includes three central activities: one is the distribution of my department., Any projects that are not doing well, or any initiation of large projects, I go through with the team to see what the status are and get a briefing.
Later, there is usually a management meeting, either external or internal, regarding major projects, discussing introducing new technologies and potential businesses. These are the three main groups of activities that I get involved in daily. After that, I do administration work: producing monthly reports, financial budgets, and solving staffing problems. I do some reading of articles as recommended by other managers, regarding new policies and development in the field. Typically, I finish the day at eight in the evening.
What are your retirement plans and philosophy of retirement?
Ever since becoming an international worker, I had been participating in the company’s retirement plans. Frankly, I really haven’t evaluated whether that is sufficient or not. Although I should, I haven’t really been looking at retirement seriously in terms of financial aspects. At this stage, it would be very difficult; perhaps, I would look for another job. I really don’t like the concept
of complete retirement. I have difficulty with not being productive for the whole day. Maybe I need some time to unwind; I am not sure, maybe I need just a change of tempo.
How many children do you have and what are their names? Describe your children and the role you have played as a parent in their develop ment including your philosophy of parenting. Was education a special emphasis?
I have two sons, Justin and Bernard; the older one is 17 and the younger one is 15. We were rather young when we started to have kids. We were in our mid-twenties and we did not have that much knowledge on how to bring up kids.
Obviously, we tried our best, whatever was our best at that time. We read a few books but generally, we took the psychological approach on right and wrong, and we applied those ideas. Obviously, that was based on our upbringing and our sense of values. We did not manipulate how they will think, how they should be brought up. It is a very natural day-to-day thing, when they were young, but when they were in their teens, we were more concerned. We found it difficult to handle them, since at this stage they wanted to assert their independence.
Friends become more important to them and they begin to have their own way of thinking, but it turned out okay. They are reasonably well-behaved and sensible. We have instilled an emphasis on education. I hope that they learn that education is not a meal ticket, preparing them for a certain profession, but more of a well-rounded development. I wanted them to experience different things.
In my own childhood, I did not have a wider exposure to things. So for my children, I like them to learn music and the piano. But of course, they are also expected to attain certain results, for we are still in a world wherein results are the basis for progress.
Communication is not consistent. We talk about superficial things; this had to be done when they were younger. The older child is more communicative than the younger one.
How did you manage problems and crises that may have developed with them while they were growing up?
Fortunately, I don’t recall having a crisis with them although there have been single incidences here and there. My approach would be a calm and collected approach. Now that they are in their teens, we try not to deal with the problem immediately, we sort of let it run out first and think it over again, before we bring the issue to them. We tend to be more analytical in our approaches and persuasive rather than confrontational.
What is your assessment of the future prospects of the current generation of Asian youth?
I think I am not qualified to answer that question since I had been away from Britain for a long time, although I go back there every year. I am more of an optimist rather than a pessimist.
Although the world is becoming more complex, the quality of living is improving all the time. The advances in technology, medicine, and science will make the future more comfortable than today. The future doesn’t look as bleak as some people think. The only area that may be worse than now, and one which we need to pay attention to, is the environmental issue. It is very important that we don’t pollute the Earth.
Living has become easier; there will be differences between the generation today as compared to my generation. The drive for success in general will probably be lesser in the new generation than in the old one. The kind of perseverance and striving for a goal is lessened because they are in a more comfortable environment. Things come easier to them than their parents, and in this electronic age everything can be accessed and obtained easily. The tolerance level and perseverance are reduced. The new generation has it easier in life than the previous generation.
What are your hobbies? How have these hobbies enriched your life?
I don’t have many hobbies, but I do like tennis and, squash. I read, but not every day.
Describe your favorite one or two vacations. Why were they special?
After living in the Middle East for 14 years, I have had a lot of vacations. I think one of the best was probably the vacation before I got married, with my wife now and her family. We were touring Malaysia and I think that was the longest vacation I had. That was 20 years ago.
At that time, the east coast of Malaysia was not yet commercialized. They have beautiful beaches, and blue turtles come to lay eggs in the summer. It was a beautiful country, now it is very commercialized. The other memorable vacation was with my family, my wife and kids, in British Columbia. We moved from place to place, coast to coast. We also went to San Francisco, California, and Washington within the United States.
What are your community service activities and what is the impact of these activities? How do you think these activities make a difference in your community?
I don’t have much involvement in the community. The only community service I had was during my previous assignment in Riyadh. I spent some time
lecturing in computer science for the University of Maryland, as a favor for a friend who asked me to give some courses. The university could not find an appropriate computer instructor. I taught there for a year on and off. That was a long time ago.
How did your parents influence your development? Was education stressed?
Frankly, I don’t know. I guess like most Chinese families, my parents taught us about values, especially Chinese values from a Chinese culture, and what a nice person is like. It is generic; I think it is very seldom that my parents would coach on specific situations. They were more general, suggesting what is expected of a good man, what is expected of a good son,.
In most Chinese cultures, they firmly believe that education is the key to success, which I also believe. We have an idiom in Chinese: you will find golden mansion as well as filth in your books. Academically, you will get fame and rewards. Most Chinese families stressed education, but I don’t see any of them push hard on it.
What are the most valuable lessons your parents taught you about life?
I think one thing that stands out is the way they handle conflicts. My mother is especially good at avoiding conflict if she ever can. A lot of things that I learned from them were by observation and example.
Describe your parents as persons you know well.
They are accommodating and friendly.
Give a memorable quote from your mother and from your father? Are there any proverbs?
Nothing comes to mind.
Tell us about your cultural background and the importance of family to your lifestyle? What are the most important components and basic characteristics of your cultural value system?
It is difficult to describe, since these come in bits and pieces. I think this depends on different aspects of things. Friendship is different from money management.
In my perception of Chinese values, integrity is very important. One should be comfortable on how one thinks and behaves, to be at peace. Arts are a very important part in Chinese culture. Personally, I feel it is nice to have an inclination for arts and music, but since I don’t have much exposure to that, I cannot really comment on that.
On money and wealth much can be said. From the scholarly and cultural point of view, money may not be that important, but from the modern-day
practical Chinese viewpoint, that is very important. Chinese are known to be capable entrepreneurs and businessmen.
How did your school and university influence your development? Were there any inspiring teachers?
The most enjoyable one, who created a big impact, was my teacher during primary school. I attended primary school in Hong Kong, and I was doing very well in school, both academically and in terms of popularity. I was the best student as well.
In secondary school, I had a tough time because of the language barrier. And of course, it was the late 60’s and there were not many foreigners in Britain. There was some discrimination, but it was not that bad then. They didn’t mean to be nasty, but it was just how they thought. I was the only Chinese person in school. The situation made me more adaptable. Discrimination was very subtle and I had to live with that. University was more enjoyable because there was an international community and people were more mature and more business-minded. Living in the campus helped as well.
What was your worst crisis in life? How did you resolve that crisis and did you learn anything that you can suggest to others who might have to endure crises?
I am fortunate enough not to have experienced any major crises yet. Answering the question is a bit difficult because it depends on what kind of crisis it would be. Crises could be taken positively.
If I lose a job, I wouldn’t lose control, but a family crisis would be more difficult to handle. In Chinese, crisis means an opportunity and that’s the best way of coping with crisis.
I am not sure about my Chinese culture, because my Chinese culture comes from a formal education. From a corporate viewpoint, we always say that there is opportunity in chaos. Sometimes it is good to be in a crisis, because it wakes you up and it changes the way you do things. When you change things around, you get improvement, and it even becomes a turning point.
How did you meet your spouse? What are the key elements to a successful marital relationship?
I met her in the university. We were both students in the university and we got married when we started working. I think I would advise my children not to marry too early. We got married quite early. It is better to have more experience in life and to do more things on one’s own. It is probably better to know more people before deciding on marriage. Whether they get married
early or late in life, communication and trust are important factors in maintaining harmony in married life.
What three ideas would you like to convey from your life experience to the next generation and your grandchildren that would enrich their life?
Work hard, life is short. There is time for everything but each has a time, work hard and play hard. The other message is that they should try to experience a full range of things in life. That is a consistent way of saying that in their education, I wanted them to be well-rounded. I wanted them to expose themselves to a lot of things, which would make them more interesting people. They should also make sure they find a good wife.
What are your major concerns for the world of the 21st century? What solutions do you propose?
Environment is my personal concern; the forest is disappearing and the ozone hole is getting bigger, the water level is rising. Man is becoming more disrespectful of nature. I don’t think science could control this deterioration of the Earth, but I hope we could find a solution to remedy the damages we have done. That is my biggest concern.
If science and technology could progress as fast as microchips have, maybe we have a chance. Natural resources will get depleted in time. Space exploration is a practical thing. Today, if you take away work, it would have an impact on our thinking, drive, and motivation. You then don’t have the drive to achieve something.
What would you like to be remembered most for by future generations in your family
I am the first one in my family line to go to the university. I would like to be remembered as a person who had established university education as a model in the family. In my environment at that time, not so many people went to the university.
What has living and working overseas away from your home country meant for your career and your family life?
I am happy that I have worked overseas. I had greater opportunities and I have climbed into a position today that I am quite contented with. If I had stayed put in the UK, I might not have the same position I have today. It gave me a lot of opportunity to grow professionally. In terms of family life, there is a bit of mixed feeling. Living overseas has enhanced my outlook on life and my experience in dealing with different nationalities, and has definitely broadened my outlook and enriched my experience in life. From a family perspective, though, I have this little question at the back of my head, whether we are like
nomads moving around. There may be a lack of roots for my children, and they are not sure whether they belong to a specific place. Whether it will make a difference in the long run, I am not sure. From an emotional view point, they don’t have a home where they could establish their roots. I hope this doesn’t affect them in the future.
What is your definition of happiness?
There are two categories of happiness, deeper happiness, and day-to-day happiness. I find it a very emotional thing and difficult to describe. To some people a very happy family unit is the major factor in terms of the happiness of a person; in some people their career or their wealth is most important. In my case it is a balance.
My family is more important: if my family is settled and my kids are coping with life comfortably, I would be happy. From my personal point of view, if I can retain a reasonable job and create a financial safety net, that is important to me and would constitute happiness. Financial security is not a prime drive for happiness but an ingredient and I feel good to be happy.
How has spirituality affected your life?
I believe in God and I am a Christian. I think this affected me in a very positive way when I was young. When I was lost, getting involved in a Christian groups and meeting some good people actually helped me be empathic with people and things when looking at crisis. I learned the silver lining philosophy. I had been lazy and had moved away from religion and had not taken it seriously. However, it influenced me when I was young. Going to church and meeting the right people has an everlasting impact.
What are your thoughts about ethics and morality in the modern world?
Living in a changing world, my personal view is that there seems to be less now than before. I guess people are more carefree and they feel that they have more rights. They are less conforming, less institutionalized, in a way more selfish. Surprisingly, I don’t find this troubling me in terms of a decline in the standards of ethics and morality. Living in this part of the world, we are shielded from a lot of things that are happening. My perception of how bad things are is probably confined. I knew that things are not as bad as the media projected; when I go to New York and London, I don’t see people killing each other on the street. I know it happens but I would like to think that the situation is not as bad as the media projected it. I still have faith in people.
Describe your favorite five books of literature or non-fiction.
Cain and Abel, the novel by Jeffrey Archer. He is the leader of a conservative party. The Bible is a favorite book, there is a wealth of values in there. The Bill Gates book, Hard Drive, The One Minute Manager is a very effective book. The Three Kingdoms in Chinese is a classic of Asian literature.
Dr. Effie Cardosa
What is your name and nationality?
I am Dr. Effie Cardosa from India, a plastic surgeon working in King Khalid University Hospital for 15 years.
What is your profession? How did you reach the position you are in today in your profession? What is your educational background? What is the relative advantage of hard work versus high intelligence?
It is difficult to explain; I never thought of choosing this or that profession. I had to work very hard to become a plastic surgeon. I have some artistic talent. In plastic surgery, each time you do something it’s somewhat new and exciting. I enjoy this field more than any other aspects of surgery.
What advice would you give to those who might want to pursue your profession?
I think you should have a certain amount of artistic talent. The attitude is likewise important, you need a lot of patience. You have to expect the best of whatever you are doing, since the patient lives with the result. You have to make sure that your aim and expectations are quite high. A prospective surgeon has to be willing to work consistently, with high-quality work. A continued high quality of work is very important. There is an external visible component of your work as an artist, and you have to make sure that it has a high quality. Those who are willing to go into plastic surgery should have an aptitude and additionally be prepared to work hard.
What are the secrets of success?
I think you have to be disciplined, and have a lot of patience. You have to have a good background in all the other subjects, especially general surgery and orthopedics, since we seem to touch from head to toe. You should be a well-read person and gain the necessary experience before you take up plastic surgery.
What obstacles did you overcome to reach your professional goals? Were those obstacles internal or external? Give examples.
Once you have make up your mind and you possess the right attitude needed, I don’t think there will be any obstacles as such, though you may not
get what you deserve sometimes. When I was in England, it was difficult to get a position. They have their own standards and qualifications—you had to be a graduate of certain universities. I could not go back to India at that time because we were already in England. They said that I would not fit into the environment, things like that.
And now I am in Saudi Arabia and we are not staying here permanently. My family stays in a different place and that is a problem, I think. I cannot live here anymore, and I have to make a move soon. I feel that I am as good as anybody in the world as far as technical abilities are concerned.
Still, I find it necessary to get a position in a good hospital. I just don’t belong to one place at all; I move from one place to another. We have a global system of people needing plastic surgery. You find yourself looking for that place where you will fit in most naturally, to settle for a long time to practice your profession. But because of the complication that exists from country to country, you have barriers to you getting that type of position. I need to focus on the needs of my children rather than volunteer my time and do something good for a lot of people.
What is your greatest achievement in your profession?
I am more or less sort of self-made. I have had a lot of exposure but most of the things I do, it gives me a pleasure to think that I did it myself and learned them myself. To be doing something that I haven’t encountered before gives me pleasure. I like innovations that could not be found in literatures, that sort of thing.
What are your future goals in your career? Have you written these down?
It is difficult for me at this stage since I am in Saudi Arabia and my family is elsewhere. I find it difficult to live separate from them, and if I try and join them, it will be difficult for my career because plastic surgery is highly competitive. At the moment I really cannot say what I am going to do. I enjoy my career, so I’m thinking to change my specialization and do something new, just to be with my family. My goal is to integrate my professional work and living with the family in one place, perhaps America.
Describe a typical working day for you in your profession.
I like to keep myself busy. I go to the hospital for rounds and get to the operating theater and start the work. Usually, we get a full day’s list. I participate actively in each day and by the time the day ends, I am very tired. I enjoy working hard; surgery is eight hours daily. Depending on the cases, sometimes we do three hours for one case, two hours for the next and so on. Movement is quite slow in this hospital, so I make it a point that patients go in and out, otherwise there will be no schedule. I’ve got two clinics in a week; I
see approximately 70 patients a day. The other days I teach the undergraduate medical students. I teach one batch every week for two teaching sessions and have one day for research. Turnover of patients is quite fast.
What are your retirement plans and philosophy of retirement?
I find it very difficult to think of that because I always like to keep myself very busy. I hope I can keep working and do something useful. I think I would like to retire and go back to where I came from, to see if I could be of any use. Retirement implies doing continuous work at my own pace as a way of contributing to the community, not ceasing to work altogether.
How many children do you have and their names?
I have two boys; one is 22 and other is 18. The older one is finishing his undergraduate education, and the younger one is finishing high school.
Describe your children and the role you have played as a parent in their develop ment including your philosophy of parenting. Was education a special emphasis?
I think one of the things that makes me happy to think is that the children are growing and keeping the values of life. When I see them, I am very pleased to know that they have respect for other human beings, they have value for things which I think is very important. They also have humility and compassion and it’s a great thing to see them like that. They are not spoiled with the things that they have. They have seen their parents possessing these values, and this is an important part of their lives. Besides teaching them, it is by showing them that we too are doing it.
How did you manage problems and crises that may have developed with them while they were growing up?
My wife played much of this role. I am much a bit strict and I want everything to be done the right way. My wife is softer. Both of us play a complimentary role in managing crisis and discipline. They go to her for comfort while I teach them reality and how to face problems. I always supported them in all their efforts. It is a good balance.
What is your assessment of the future prospects of the current generation of Indian youth?
I think that they’ve got competition with what we have had before. They always have to be better; there is a pressure for them to do a lot more, so they experience more stress too. They have to work harder to make a good living. We are getting into a world where everything becomes much more difficult.
What are your hobbies?
I am more an outdoor person. I like playing the whole day. I play tennis and I like to jog. I like to do artistic things and I like making new things. I hope that one day I could take painting lessons and work with wood and sculpture.
How have these hobbies enriched your life?
It gives a lot of peace of mind, it helps me forget stress and reduce tension.
Describe your favorite one or two vacations. Why were they special?
We have had quite a few vacations, one of which was when we went to the United States in 1981. The last two days, we decided to go to the MGM Studio and we realized that we were short of cash for the ticket. Then we saw a Burger King advertisement that said the kids could get free entry if they painted their pictures. We were laughing and we went around looking for a pen. The kids did some painting and they were able to get in free.
What are your community service activities and what is the impact of these activities?
We don’t do much community service here. I try to help some people working in our hospitals when they have problems. I try to go out of my way and help them if I can. But I am not in any sort of organizations here but if I could, I would love to.
How do these activities make a difference in the community?
I think it should make a lot of difference.
How did your parents influence your development? Was education stressed?
My mother is one of the most disciplined people I know. My father was not there all the time, but whenever he was at home, he was one of the nicest people. He never did anything bad to anybody, he seemed to be always generous. My mother was responsible for all the discipline that I have learned. She taught us that it is important to do things the right way.
What are the most valuable lessons your parents taught you about life?
My mom always told us, “Never tell anybody that you are hungry, never ever.” I think she wanted us to have self-respect. It doesn’t matter whether you eat less food, but don’t ever tell people that you are starving. Don’t ever get in that situation; one should have enough resources available.
They always taught us that education is very important, although Mama is not that educated herself. I remember there was a time when I was in college, my mama got stressed for money. She used to say, “Why don’t you get self-educated? Then when you go for work, it is much better, especially if you have a lot of stress in college.” She was not saying that education is not important,
but she felt that I really didn’t need a high degree of education in order to work and start earning money.
What made me go on in spite of financial difficulties? There was a time when I was about to give up and my teachers encouraged me, saying that I was a good student. I used to like to study and I didn’t find it difficult. My brother, he was quite smart as well, but he just gave up.
Describe your parents as persons you know well.
My father was the kindest person; he never talked bad about others. I remember this distinctively about him. He was also quite generous. My mother was totally different, she thought it was important for our family to survive. She thought of the family first, but he was the opposite, thinking more of humanity and the world. They both have discipline in their life.
Give a memorable quote from your mother and from your father? Are there any proverbs?
My mother taught us to believe in God. She said, “As long as you say ‘Hail Mary’ once a day, Mother Mary will always be there to help us.”
Tell us about your cultural background and the importance of family to your lifestyle?
I come from a very poor family. When I was a kid, we lived in a very small house and the landlord used to hassle us. Our relatives were not very far from us and we helped each other. I remember my grandmother was very old and my Mom took care of her. I was always brought up with these values, very close to the family. Each one is destined to help the other. My children also realize that family is very important. We communicated the same idea to them and they also got close with all the other family relations as well.
What are the most important components and basic characteristics of your cul tural value system?
Family ties are one of the most important ones. I feel for my brothers. I feel that they are always a part of my life, I always feel that. My brothers are doing all right, but I always think of them. Even though we are living far from each other, I feel that they are still there. Religion is another thing; I am very close to God. Spirituality is very important and it imparts discipline into my life. I believe that if someone does not believe in God, it is difficult to obtain discipline: that ability which controls one’s life. One has to have some basis of a good life.
How did your school and university influence your development? Were there any inspiring teachers?
I studied in a village school and during our time very few of us completed high school. I think those who have completed high school are those that have
some positive attitude in them. It was something they had, whether discipline or just the desire to do better. Then in college, the standard of education was something different. I am very disappointed on the whole about the education that I’ve received. I don’t remember anything important or relevant from those times. I feel that I am a self-made man.
What was your worst crisis in life?
The worst crisis in our life was one that happened recently. It impacted me as well as my family, and was unthinkable. We were not prepared for it and it just happened and we could not do anything about it.
I had a heart attack. I suffered a lot and found it difficult to sleep on the hospital beds, with so many lines into my body and God knows what. I think my wife went through a lot more than I did because she saw me dying there in front of her eyes. She just could not think how she was going to survive. She said that for the first three days, she brought the best dresses she had to the hospital because she knew that was when I was going to die. She said she wondered what she would do, Everybody was asking if I was all right. I think it frightened everybody and still created a bit of a panic in the house.
How did you resolve that crisis and did you learn anything that you can suggest to others who might have to endure crises?
The thing I’ve learned during this crisis is to take life easy. There are a lot of things in life that you may be able to change, but there are still more that you cannot change, so you have to relax and leave it to God. Things are bound to happen and you have to take it easy.
One thing I’ve learned is that I have had a lot of support from the people in the hospital, phone calls, these sort of things. I felt life was worth living. I like to be good to people in my life, to respect each individual from my heart. It makes a big difference for me, and I did not know how much people liked me until this crisis. It is worth living and if I should live, I still should do better.
How did you meet your spouse? What are the key elements to a successful marital relationship?
I met her in the hospital where I was working in Bombay and we fell in love. We courted for about four years before we got married. I think in marriage there is a lot of give and take. I think you cannot say, “she is right and I am wrong” or vice versa. As long as you are prepared for the worst, you can have a successful marriage. We fight as well, but at the end of the day, if your relation ship is built on love, it will bring you back close together. Understanding each other is important, along with loving each other and being true to each other. I don’t believe in the saying that there is an answer for everything. You just
have to accept what a situation is and try to work things out from there. There is no one answer for any situation. One should be willing to compromise with your partner.
Stress is a bad thing in life, you have to learn to reduce it. With stress, you cannot do anything. I am learning this although a bit too late.
What three ideas would you like to convey from your life experience to the next generation and your grandchildren that would enrich their life?
I think one has to think ahead, to develop a vision, to dream. If you don’t dream you cannot get things, you cannot attain anything. You have to dream first and work for it. Whatever you want to do, make sure that you get it. You always get what you want, provided you work for it. You have to have a vision of what you want to become. The other thing you have to win is respect, respect from each and every individual, even those whom we consider at the lower rank.
What are your major concerns for the world of the 21st century? What solutions do you propose?
My main concern in the world today is the rapid increase in population and the environment getting destroyed bit by bit. We need to think about this seriously. I think too many advances in technology are getting to be dangerous. I think we need to go back to a more basic life, a more simple life. In life, we need to strike a balance.
What would you like to be remembered most for by future generations in your family?
I’d like to be remembered as a nice and humble person who always respected other people. I believe in this.
What has living and working overseas away from your home country meant for your career and your family life?
I worked abroad to make a better living and we got caught up in it, since we get to provide a better education for our children. We still continue working outside and it became a vicious circle. Now we don’t know what to do about it anymore, since we feel that we still need a lot more money, So we have to still keep working outside, thinking of money first before anything else.
Describe your favorite five books of literature or non-fiction.
I always enjoy basic medicine books. I enjoy anatomy, physiology, biochem istry and genetics.
Based on what you have been reading, what breakthroughs in medicine do you expect?
I think that a lot of diseases are related to our genes. Our genes have become more and more susceptible to particular problems, and I think this will make a lot of difference. We can change our genes, take out this particular gene and so on and so forth. If this is good or bad to humanity, I have no idea. But this will be very, very interesting.
Professor Arup Das
What is your name and nationality?
My name is Arup K. Das. For the time being my nationality is with the U.S., but I am formerly from India. I am a Professor in Oral Medicine at King Saud University, Dental College, Department of Oral Medicine. I was trained as a physician first, then as a dentist, then I specialized in pathology and tropical medicine.
What is your profession? How did you reach the position you are in today in your profession? What is your educational background? What is the relative advantage of hard work versus high intelligence?
When I graduated from medical college, it was during the depression days, after the Indian partition. We did not have any job openings, and there was a shortage of residencies and internships, so I joined the Tropical School for a degree in tropical medicine. For a few years, I did a residency in surgery. As part of the residency, I rotated in the dental department. I talked to people and they said that there were openings in dentistry for qualified people. From the British influence, you should have both medical and dental degrees. I joined the public health school, but I left before exams since the dental school was starting.
I joined dentistry for two years and finished the program. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, maybe oral surgery. I did one year of orthodontics and then I became a lecturer in pathology and microbiology. I later came to Boston as a resident in pathology and then moved to the University of Illinois in Chicago, where I took my masters and finished my training in pathology and oral med icine. I taught there for three years.
I immigrated to Canada and moved to Dalhousie University in Halifax as an associate professor and the head, of oral pathology. I wasn’t expecting to be the head of the department, but being a Canadian who has British influence, they considered everything. After two or three years I got a post in India as a dental school dean. Against all advice from my friends in Canada, I went back as dean and head of oral medicine, pathology, and radiology. I spent five years
there and then came back to Chicago, where I took the oral medicine board, the oral pathology board, and received dental and medical licenses. I should have left Chicago but I stayed on. This was a wrong move; if you stay in the same place, you don’t progress. I finished high school in 1944, graduated from medical school in 1952, and was in Boston in 1959.
What advice would you give to those who might want to pursue your profession?
First of all, you must have an inherent liking of the subject. Otherwise, you will not be happy and successful. Motivation comes from a lot of things. In my case, my father and my grandfather were both physicians, so I decided to be a physician no matter what.
Those days, my father was practicing in the evening so I always saw him. My daughter is a physician, we never told her what to do. Success depends on opportunities, sometimes we call it luck; it is being present at the right moment, at the right place. People should put more importance on their future, and avoid being obliged to the university. Avoid staying there if they are not progressing. Early planning is also important, setting long-term goals, doing long-range planning.
This should start at home. Parents should discuss the future with their children, encouraging them and discussing the positive and negative points. They have to emphasize that the children should enjoy their careers. This is a stressful world; doing something that you don’t like makes a tremendous stress inside you. Managing inner stress is very important.
What obstacles did you overcome to reach your professional goals? Were those obstacles internal or external? Give examples.
Dentistry is always considered inferior to medicine. When I decided to go into dentistry, my friends said, “What? Dentistry?” I had to convince myself that it was the right move, so there was an inner struggle. My teachers also gave me a hard time since they thought that I was a superior student, but I never thought of myself that way. I always had to struggle by hiding my medical background, even when I was in the States. When people know you are a dentist-physician they think you are an extraordinary person. I took two difficult exams, oral pathology and the medical license. As a foreigner, we were not allowed to take the national board.
What is your greatest achievement in your profession?
Financially, I was the loser. When I went back as a dean, I resigned the post in Canada. I had big plans that did not succeed because of the local political situation. Students got involved in pro-Mao Tse Tung politics, destructive pol itics, rather than their studies. My achievement here is a change of attitude,
that there is something more to life than politics and jobs and studies. Of course my American training influenced me that way.
What are your future goals in your career? Have you written these down?
When I was the dean in India my life was miserable. Just to get out of this situation, I started writing a book on dental anatomy and histology. That’s how I escaped. The book was published in 1972 and it has not been revised since then. I would like to write few simple books for students, which they can read without much effort and can understand without needing reference. As under graduate students, they don’t need to know the particulars, they should just know the mainstream ideas. I have written this goal down. I plan every week and change plans sometimes, so it is good to write down goals.
Describe a typical working day for you in your profession.
It is different here from the States. I get up early and do some stretching for about 15 minutes, then I meditate for 20 minutes. I go to school between seven and eight. In school, we have the routine of teaching, clinics, and meetings. Sometimes I do some stretching in the afternoon, and before I used to walk. I’ve stopped since I developed a knee problem. I prepare lectures in the after noon or pursue my written goals. I listen to music or open a TV program just for the sound. In the U.S., teaching is relaxed; here you have to account for every minute.
Teaching in America is evaluated on a year’s achievements, not on the day-to-day activities. In the U.S., I don’t have to write what I do daily. If I disappear one day, the next day I stay all the time; as long as I do my duties, I’m okay. I can go there at six and stay late, up to nine at night, and it is all right—here there are plenty of time restrictions.
What are your retirement plans and philosophy of retirement?
If a man gets old and doesn’t do anything, he also gets old mentally. I want to visit a few places. One of the reasons we moved to Saudi Arabia was to escape the violent life in India. We thought that our children would have a better future in a peaceful world. Also, I wanted to do some traveling and writing. The Indian experience was so traumatic for us, I wanted to write a satirical book and name it “The Holy Cow.” I have never started it—a lot of that anger and heat has gone. I did want to start writing, and I told my children that we would make it a joint venture.
I also wanted to write a small booklet about Saudi Arabia. I want to write about my experience and the ideas of the Saudi people. I also do wood carving and like to do figures and masks. I want to venture into silk painting.
How many children do you have and what are their names? Describe your children and the role you have played as a parent in their develop ment including your philosophy of parenting. Was education a special emphasis?
I have two children, my daughter is a physician, an internist. Later she did a master’s in public health at the University of California, Berkeley, on scholar ship. She is specializing in industrial medicine. My son wanted to be a rock musician, which we opposed, so he selected electrical engineering. He finished his master’s of science and doctorate in computer graphics and is now working in a private firm in San Francisco.
He changed his job and joined someone who is connected with a movie. He is different. I don’t know if I should start all over again, I think I would have done things differently; my son is brilliant. He cou