Seeing the good in bad

There are people in this world who live life thinking they're invincible and that nothing they do can go wrong.

And because nothing they do has gone wrong in their young life, they think everything should be done their way. More often than not, they get arrogant and want things done their way, and only their way.

To these people, I'd usually say, I hope something bad happens so they'll realize before it's too late that they can't appreciate the good until they know the bad. And it's only from the bad that they learn the good.

Yes, I'm one of those who believe the child should touch the stove so he'll understand for himself--having personally experienced the pain--why he shouldn't play with fire. Being over-protective parents now will only do the child more harm later in life, when he realizes the world doesn't come nicely packaged with a pretty little ribbon.

My friends think I'm too harsh for wishing misfortune on someone, but I'd respond by saying I appreciate every "misfortune" I personally experienced because without these, I wouldn't be the person I am today.

If I had encountered only cheery do-gooders through the 12 years I've been in the workforce, I wouldn't have gathered the skills and experience now to better manage difficult people at work. And if I hadn't experienced sudden losses in life, I wouldn't know now to appreciate my loved ones while they're still alive and to realize there's more to life than one that's absorbed in work 24 by 7.

So, with the lunar new year looming this weekend, I thought about what the business community might have learnt from last year's dreary economic landscape.

In our Tech Outlook/Priorities 2010 special report this week, we feature findings of an online survey that polled Asian IT decision makers about their plans for 2010. One of the questions we posed looked at the impact last year's financial crisis had on their IT budgets and business plans.

A key revelation that emerged was the increased focus on ensuring new IT projects were thoroughly justified. The decision-making and approval process had also been pushed to a higher level. Decisions once made by CIOs or IT managers were now pushed to CEOs or CFOs for the final stamp of approval. IT budgets were more frequently relooked and revised, and IT contracts were reevaluated and renegotiated.

These are sound business practices that will help ensure resources are properly utilized and the greatest efficiencies are achieved. But, enterprises tend to forget to observe these policies when times are good and there are ample funds available to support any new IT project.

It is usually in harsher business climate that companies are reminded again about the importance of monitoring their tech deployments, and ensuring they get the expected returns.

It is unfortunate that we all need bad times to yank us out of complacency and remind ourselves to refocus on the big picture. But, that is human nature.

So rather than wallow in self-pity and wish misfortune would never befall us--which we all know is wishful thinking--we should see the good in bad, and soldier forward with a conviction that we'll emerge better people.

And with that, I would like to wish one and all merry Tiger year!