Inspirational Men & Woman

Stacy Cohen is the wife of tech savvy entrepreneur and philantropist Mouli Cohen.  Israel born Mouli Cohen businesses created thousands of jobs in United States and generated more than $3 billion in stockholder value.  So there should be no one who don’t know the famous couple whom I heard travel with their Asus everywhere they go.  And since they are so busy - with Stacy being an author to her own book called Kosher Billionaire’s Secret Recipe - I guess it’s important to have gadgets - like skype phones and LCD monitors   around you all day eh.  Raised and born in Texas - she converted to Judaism and offers her reader her personal guidelines to living a kosher life grounded in spirituality.  There are real recipes in her book and it is said to be a well being nutritional program for all.  Overall, I think Stacy Cohen’s lifestyle may not be for all - but the philanthropy part from Mouli Cohen may be a lot more interesting to some.

What a unique name right?  Divine Lee - Oh so Divine - so appropriate?  No i don’t know her personally but I was looking for blinds & shades and came across this magazine during one of my work assignment in Philippines.   So instead of looking for unique shades and blinds I was distracted and read up more on Divine Lee - only to end up feeling really proud of this young lady.

You see she is born an heiress but nothing like a spoilt brat in the same league as Paris Hilton but someone who is passionate about fashion and design - not interior design but clothing.  She is passionate about it and someone who believes in hard work and she should know because she worked in the mall when she first started.  Divine reminds me more of Ivana Trump - who once said that she wasn’t going to be an heiress who dance on tables without underwear.   She also takes an active role in her family business and someone with her own voice. Divine Lee looks up to her father and if you don’t know by now is the daughter of Delphin Lee the heiress to real estate giant Globe Asiatique who is also a well known philanthropist.   I wished that more young, rich and famous could be more like Divine Lee - because people look up to them and use them as a model.

For those who are not aware of this - I worked in the hospitality industry for many years before migrating to Canada in the name of love.  Working a  customer service representative work -   is not as easy as you think - or see - because back home in Asia - we bend backwards to keep our in house guests happy.  So when I first came to Canada and our the hotel room wasn’t reserved for us as planned - and no apologies given - I cannot but wonder how people survive here in the hospitality industry.

Back home to work in the hospitality industry - you have to go to a school called the SHATEC - Singapore Hotel Association & Training, Entertaining and Catering for 2 years and you pay for it - thousands of dollars to get into a hotel. Of course, here in the West - you are indeed lucky - you can become a front desk clerk - without the school.   But yes - you have to admire the customer service people - because they deal with all sorts of people.  Sure we all hope for great in house guests or paying customers - but some customers can be really nasty and abusive.  Plus when you work in a hotel - and on a night shift with drunk customers coming back from night club - you really need to be very tactful - inside story.   Having said all the above - I’ve had great joy working in the hotels i worked for and I’ve gain so much experiences from them - I learned a lot and brought it a long with me - when i came to Canada.

Michelle Yeoh from Asia is older than I but definitely looks a lot better than I *sigh* - I’ve gotta work harder to get myself in shape.  But Michelle Yeoh is definitely an inspiration to Asian woman - not only is she good looking - she is famous and she is a woman who holds her own and don’t need the men in her life to buy her diamonds .  Although, I’m sure diamonds are meant to be bought by the special men in your life.

Born in Malaysia - where women there are known to be quite contented with being the best mothers and wives - Michelle is from a small town - in Malaysia - Ipoh but is now based in Hong Kong - making movies and being the 50 Most Beautiful People as said by People magazine.  Acting is her passion and she appears on all prominent functions of high society but kept a very low profile in her personal life.  But you can see Michelle shopping for the best - yet living simply.

Married to Dickson Poon a influential businessman - she retired after marrying and lived a life of a high society tai - tai - who usually shops for jewelery and have tea during the day.  But 3 yrs later after they divorced - Michelle returned to acting.   I’ve noticed she is more into American movies these days than Hong Kong movies - mostly in action roles.  So far no one in Malaysia had claimed such fame as Michelle Yeoh - will you be the next?

I have never met teachers who worked with special kids till coming to Canada and because my kid’s class has a special kid.  Having to explain why this good kid is different to my kid was a wee tough but seeing how one of her teacher dealt with this special kid was very touching.  The patience and the kindness from this teacher really taught me something - it touched a sentimental chord in me.  One can never imagine - what a teacher like that have to go thru’ daily - everyday is a new challenge - for i know one day - the kid ran outta the class into the streets because she thought that recess bell was the going home bell.

So at the end of the school year - we all decided to chip in and get this special teacher a gift - a thank you gift - even though she wasn’t dealing with my kid - but I figured it would be a thoughtful thing to do as well for a teacher so special.  So we decided to get her an ipod touch and I read up on some ipod reviews to make sure we get the right ipod for her but instead chose a ipod nano for her gift.  Why?  with an ipod touch - she needed a subscription to go online where else the ipod nano - she can just use it for her daily walking and exercises - that was all she needed according to the rest of the parents in school.  Yes ! special teachers deserve something special from parents - regardless whether it’s your special kid - we should all honor and appreciate these “special” teachers.

Known to be Asian 10 biggest philanthropist - at 57 runs Hon Hai Precision in Taiwan- also known to be Taiwan’s richest man with a fortune at $5.5 billion - is said to turn over his massive wealth to charity before he dies. His philanthropy focusing mainly on health care - last year alone funded a medical research for $500 million for the Taiwan University.  Wow! right?  $500 million is a lot of money!  for someone with that kind of wealth - i’m sure he uses some good document management software for all his work and personal properties.

His company is now the world’s largest contract manufacturer after leapfrogging Flextronics. Shares in its majority-owned international division Foxconn, have tripled in value since they were listed last year in Hong Kong. Gou’s annual salary: 3 cents (NT$1). Last year, he announced he would live off Hon Hai’s dividends, even though he is still keeps workaholic hours as chairman and president of the company he founded. Also put a chunk of his shares in a trust to pay employee bonuses. After his wife’s sad death from cancer last year, Gou has been receiving flowers and attention from hopeful women.

Shirley Douglas is the mother of Kiefer Sutherland from 24 - the tv series that had been running for years now.  It is only today that I learned about this - and what a beauty she was - i mean she still looked really stunning for her age.   I bet if she was living in Asia - her dad would need some good deadbolt locks to keep the suitors/admirers out hahahah!!   But of course in the West - things are quite different and locks are only meant to keep the crooks out and not those who genuinely admire their daughters.

Shirley Douglas, the daughter of the Greatest Canadian, Tommy Douglas carries on his legacy by being actively involved in lobbying federal and provincial government officals to retain and improve Canadians’ medicare system.

In 1965, Shirley married Douglas Sutherland - the year i was born and moved to California, where she actively protested against the Vietnam War and helped to establish Firends of the Black Panthers.  Refused a US work permit, she eventually returned to Canada in 1977.  Her had many acting role after returning home and in 2000, Shirley received a Gemini Award for Best Featured Actress in the 1999 television film, Shadow Lake, an honourary doctorate from Ryerson Polytechnic University in 2001, and the diamond award from the Variety Club.

Many people inspires me throughout my life - what about you?  many people touched my life - what about you?  I don’t know if it is an Asian thing but i love showing my appreciation with flowers - but what if you are showing your appreciation to a group of people  ?  like the people I work with from another country?  I used to love sending cookies but chocolate gift ideas seems to work a lot better and less complicated hahah!  no worries about not being fresh - chocolate last a long time.  But my ultimate favorite for the special people in my life - are flowers.  Everyone love flowers even the guys - i know so - because i sent my spouse some when i was in Asia traveling and he was in Canada then for work.   So yes - I always send flowers and chocolates what about you? for the special people in your life.

I was reading on  www.sensareviews.net about my health but instead was distracted when i saw a newspaper article on Margaret Mitchell this morning.  You see I am inspired by Margaret Mitchell - and hoped that all MPs in Canada or anywheres in the world would be more courageous like Margaret.  Margaret Mitchell is a MP for NDP in Canada and in 1982 - when she raised the issue of violence against women she was laughed at in the House of Commons but that did not stopped Margaret Mitchell there.  The outcry from women brought national attention to the issue - and Margaret Mitchell made sure - she was heard.  And heard she was because till today - there are people still going up to her and talking about that incident.

A social worker by professional -and how can i not be inspired by her when she was the only MP who was against the pay raise for MPs and then donated hers to charity and thus went to the Margaret Mitchell Fund for Women.   When I think of Margaret - what I do for my community is not even 10% of what she did. She is not only the voice for immigration, housing, status of the women here, health and welfare and multiculturalism and citizenship.  Yes - she inspires me - and i hope she will more people in the parliament and do the right thing for the people in Canada - we need more people who would do things for the greater good and not for their own good.

We all loved pilots - whether they are female or male - but i think we don’t come across many female pilot but born in 1971 - from Quebec - Maryse Carmichael is not only a pilot but a Captain. She is not a commercial pilot but one with the Canadian Air Force.  Maryse is not an ordinary pilot, she is what we called  a VIP pilot - those that flies the Prime Minister or the Governor General of Canada.  If you want a model for a top rated diet pill , Maryse Carmichael is definitely the candidate - till today - she is still as fit.

In November 2000, she became the first female pilot to fly with the Canadian Forces’ national aerobatic team, the Snowbirds.  In 2001, she was promoted to the rank of Major.  She is married to Major Scott Greenough who is also a pilot with the Canadian Forces.  By 2006, posted to 3 Wing Bagotville, she was name one of the top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada in the category of Trailblazer by the Women’s Executive Network.  I’m in awe when I hear about the Snowbirds - they were here for two consecutive years.