By Raini Hamdi

Vivacious, fun, and humorous Chin-Ning Chu brought PATA delegates on a back-to-basics journey yesterday from the moment she said, "I was supposed to speak on the last day, but the future is now, so I have decided to speak now."

The "heroine", who flew in several days earlier to replace Dr Buzz Aldrin as keynote speaker, created her own buzz with her 40-minute motivational speech. It was not rocket science -- "What I've said is nothing brilliant; you know it already" -- but judging from the nonstop questions from the floor following the speech, it was one that delegates could well identify with.

Perhaps many of them were just what Chu imagined them to be: busy, "exhausted" executives trying to give their clients the experience of a lifetime through travel and tourism.

Well, law number one is: stop trying too hard. Balance effort with ease. Look at the ice skaters. If they try too hard in turning, they may find themselves ending up on their butt.

"The paradox is, the harder you try, the harder your body resists. Learn the word 'contentment.'"

"Why does it always have to be that you're never good enough? You've got to learn to be kinder to yourself, accept the little achievements that you have."

Also learn the "law of barter", says Chu. "As individuals, we always want more of life. Well, you can't have more, because you already have a full life. To have more, you've got to barter or trade something in return, so that it creates the space for you to have more."

On time management, Chu says it is not time that you have to manage; it is "you" that you have to manage. "If I want to manage you, I have to know more about you. What do we know about Time? He's doing fine, and you really have to have a big ego to try and manage Time!"

"Know who you are. Maybe you are someone who does one project well, or maybe you are a multi-tasker. Don't manage time. Rather, make peace with time."

Chin also encourages delegates to engage "directed dreaming" -- start living your dreams, say "I am" and be. People need to detach themselves from fear.

And on the impact of technology on people's lives, she says, "The original speaker was going to talk about the moon. The mind is the moon. You control the mind, you control reality."

"Everything is moving faster -- I feel as if I am living in a science-fiction movie, but only you can manage you. Only you can decide how you want to alter your experiences, and how you want to relate to the working environment and the machines."

Chu, president of Asia Marketing Consultants, has published four books, including the best-selling Thick Face, Black Heart.