Notes from Dr. Lee

Dear Colleagues,

The year 2008 is halfway over already. As much as been accomplished in the first 6 months of the year, I hope the second half of the year will follow suit. Most notably, the opening of our new manufacturing facility in China has been our biggest, most long-awaited accomplishment. However we are proud to have grown not only our capacities, but our number of team members as well. We now are better prepared to handle more customers on a more personal level and continue to form the important and strong business relationships Biologix differentiates itself with. Lastly, and more importantly, we have gained numerous new customers since the start of this year. We are so pleased to begin working with more and more companies all around the world.

As we look to the second half of 2008, we will begin focusing on our new product development to bring many more new products to you. We will be exhibiting at more tradeshows, and hope to continue the overall growing trend of Biologix Research Company, LLC. Please do come see us at the AACC (American Association for Clinical Chemistry) exhibition in Washington, D.C. if you will be attending July 29-31 st , 2008 at Booth #2160. We will be exhibiting alongside our subsidiary company, Biologix Diagnostics and would glad to speak with you regarding your specific needs!

Sincerely,

Winston Lee M.D., Ph.D.

Do You Know Why You’re Here?

To discover your true purpose in life – not your job or your goals – you'll need just 20 minutes, says personal growth specialist Steve Pavlina (www.StevePavlina.com). What he's talking about, he says, is answering the question of why you are here on the planet.

To find your purpose, here's what Pavlina suggests: Get a pen and piece of paper or sit at your computer and write or type the question, “What is my purpose in life?” Then write whatever pops into your head. Repeat this process and keep writing answers until you hit an answer that raises your emotions. You'll know when you've got it, he says.

And Pavlina should know a thing or two about finding purpose. When he was 19 he found himself in jail for felony grand theft, and when he got out of jail he learned he'd been kicked out of school. Then, he says, something clicked. He woke up and grew up instead of giving up. He took responsibility for his actions, and he's not in jail or living a life of crime. Instead, Pavlina is helping others find their way to more meaningful lives.

Picture This

A man bought a mousetrap for his basement. But when he got home and went about setting it, he realized that he had forgotten to buy any cheese. In a moment of inspiration, the man leafed through a magazine and was delighted when he found a picture of cheese in an advertisement. He cut out the photo of the cheese and laid it in the trap.

The next day when he went to check the trap he found a picture of a mouse.

Wacky Responses

Someone compiled – or created – the following exchanges, which are maintenance complaints submitted by UPS pilots (marked with a P), and the solutions recorded by maintenance engineers (marked with an S). Compiled or created, either way – they're fun!

P: Left-inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left-inside main tire.

P: Something loose in cockpit.
S: Something tightened in cockpit.

P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on back-order.

P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200-feet-per-minute descent.
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.

P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you're right.

P: Number three engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.

P: Aircraft handles funny.
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.

The Good News About Bad News

In our professional lives it's inevitable that you're going to give someone negative feedback about an error, a rejected idea, or a missed target. When you do, consider giving the recipient time to get over the shock of the bad news before having to respond. For example, when you deliver your bad news, say, “I know that's disappointing, and I'd be glad to talk about it further. Why don't we get together later today or tomorrow after you've had time to think of some questions?” Doing this gives recipients time to collect their thoughts, and you'll receive a more rational response.

Older, Someday, Grumpier, No Way!

If you're afraid of getting older and meaner, here's some great news.

That stereotype is starting to shrivel because it's just not true, says Laura Cartensen, founding director of the Stanford Center on Longevity. Cartensen says older people have an ability to block out negative information and so are more content than younger people – even college students. There are grumpy seniors, but they were probably always grumpy, even when they were young. Older people experience less depression than their younger counterparts, says Cartensen, and when seniors do experience a negative emotion, it usually passes more quickly than it does in young people.

What's the secret? As we get older, we know our time is limited and we try to make the most of it by focusing on the positive. We get rid of the riff-raff and time wasters in our lives and spend our time with those who are important to us and doing things that matter to us. And we're happier because of it.

Quick Computer Checkup

The next time you sit down at your computer, do this quick checkup:

The top of your monitor is at or just below eye level, and the screen is away from light sources that produce glare.
Your head and neck are balanced and in line with your torso.
Your shoulders are relaxed; feet flat on the floor.
E lbows are held close to the body and supported.
When your w rists and hands are on the keyboard, they're in line with your forear ms .

How To Make The Most Of Mistakes

Have you ever made a mistake? Did you find yourself reluctant to admit it?

If you answered “yes” to both questions, congratulations! You're human.

Most of us are reluctant to own our mistakes, yet most of the time, we respect those who take responsibility for their mistakes. You're better off admitting to a mistake than spending considerably more energy trying to avoid the subject. The truth? Everyone makes mistakes. And if you take the time to learn from what went wrong, you'll be a lot less likely to make the same mistake again.

Quotes

Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.

– Truman Capote

It takes 8,460 bolts to assemble an automobile, and one nut to scatter it all over the road.

– Unknown

A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing.