Sustainable : Change In Challenging Times

trying to grip but...

Changes came swift and unexpected
COVID is the unsung catalyst of change
It's not whether you want it or not, it's instantaneous and summarily executed
Death is slow and you struggle breathelessly
Covid is the best leveler - level down
Many of the changes will be permanent

Life has to slow...slow down
The globe is spinning too fast and may spin out of it's axis
Man is unmistakenly the culprit who's destroying mankind

When Earthly activities slowed, Mother Nature regains space and control

The greens return, the sea clears, birds and animals roam freer and the air refreshes
Man pollute Earth
Greed almost deforested the skin of Earth & mining destroyed Nature's ability to self-repair
Power hungry and money grabbing politicians will lead Man to self-destruction
What is control and influences when Earth is (or becomes) inhabitable? There is no medicine for idiots
世界上没有后悔的药也没有如果 只有结果和后果

I wrote:

In 7th Jan, 2020 -
By late 2019, I postulate that in 2020, the world will remain uncertain within the first 6 months and shall see the worst by 3rdQtr, with recovery towards end 2020

In 13th Feb, 2020 -
The current 'state of siege' by coronavirus is disabling & paralyzing the community
The disruptive effects can be far and wide; isolation, quarantine, closures of schools, loss of business

Fast forward:

The opening up of Singapore and other countries will bring some semblance of life back but...
It's a rebound from under the trough - don't be too excited
While some may smile with the reopening, many businesses had 'died' during the lockdown
The freeze on rentals, debts servicing, repayments and assistance schemes will evaporate by September - more pains ahead before recovery
Will banks & highly geared property Cos be the next victims of Covid? Not surprise
For the many who can adapt, the future is less disruptive and acceptable
For those who are heavily geared & committed, getting through this storm is far from over

Change with the time and stay relevant

I have slowed down to 30% of my usual speed & had jump-started a few times
Not doing anything is tougher than doing something - remaining cool and indifference help
Conserving the little I have & hibernating to re-energise are survival skills
Learning new ways of doing things help
I can't change the storm but I can control my sail
You need not change to suit others but changing course and actions will help you survive

Watch out the stock markets; volatility is norm
Not surprised to see another major pull back, consolidation before recovery towards end year
Use less and conserve more - abundance opportunities ahead
It's not how tough and rough but the need to ride through the vagaries of time & return when it shines again
Been there, done that
It will be the same but at what price - surviving to tell the next chapter

 

Success Post-COVID

keep moving ...

The sands of time move slowly but surely & much changes have taken place, whether you are aware or ignorant
Generations come and go with some grand, old names dying by the wayside & new ones sprouting like the spring aura
There is no room for regrets 没有后悔的药 
COVID has proven that everything is possible, including leveling down
The rich cannot live in a sea of poor and new-tech will out-run the old brick & mortar concept of life and living
Tomorrow will never be the same; it's gonna be better

世上没有如果 只有结果和后果

Stockmarkets - US market (DJIA, S&P500, NASDAQ) flew high, retracing all-time highs despite 40m unemployment, protests and tradewars
Trump's diplomatic isolation strategies & withdrawals from international bodies add to US woes
Many asked then "why did DJIA gallop ahead"? It's liquidity pushed
Besides, smart monies are looking to hedge against fiat money; gold is the newfound darling
Some school of thoughts project DJIA 40,000 ...awesome heights to come
But, like all things watch out (currently about 27,000); if 23,000 is breached, all bets off

Sell in May & go away - the recent rebound stretching into June is probably a good time to "sell into strength"
Take your time to relook nearer home on weakness : Australia (ASX 5,953), HongKong
(HSI 24,625), Singapore (STI 2,715), Thailand (SET 1,415), Malaysia (FTSE Bursa 1,559)
ASEAN, riding on the divestment from China because of trade wars with the West and the restructuring of a growing China will be the new growth region
Australia will ride the commodities upswing

Young & Young-At-Heart Post-COVID, the future will never be the same
Prosperity will be delivered differently and eSolutions will dominate
eCommerce, eBanking & ePartners will dominate 
Change will be faster, swifter & sudden
Supply chain management is not just about logistics but the reliability of sources & supplies
eEducation and eSkills will speed up knowledge & skillsets
EQ & CREDITbility will determine the individual's success 先学做人 后做事

To beat the odds, you either have money or you have guts
Money can buy many things
Guts is the doing
Without money and no guts, then you better be the best academically; money buys your brain whilst the gutsy execute his plans with your guidance
Whatever it is - the future is "to each his own & speed is the essence"

You may get it wrong but if you can change fast enough, you will still win

Age is no longer a barrier

Freedom From Bondage

freeing yourself ...

Freedom is deeply defended and reinforced

A bird in the cage, the animals in the zoo ... the people confined to their homes because of Covid - what are the difference and how awfully restrictive

囚鸟 疫情隔离 自由是无价的

Freedom comes with responsibility, empathy and respect
No one should be forced to oblige blindly

Spend within your means and chase your ideals within your capabilities
Borrowing is bondage; the more you owe, the less freedom you have
If you spend your resources recklessly, your tomorrows are shortened and debited
Debts burden the Soul & will destroy you some day soon
I want to waddle towards calmness, freedom from materialism & peace of mind
六根清净
To be totally unemotional is to be removed & relieved of temptation; the feel is 'godly' 
六亲不认
Instead of struggling within crisscrossing relationships, moving away without hurting them is heavenly


“Freedom comes from taking responsibility; bondage comes from giving it away” - Henry Cloud
When you are addicted to lust, desire, materialism, power, greed, freedom departs
The freedom is happiness & peace from within - the Soul lapses into the higher realm
When you are indifferent to the defined ecosystem & the fluid environment, your 6th sense flourish
The "purified, refreshed feel" floats above the norms of the day
You are FREE

Many are suffering from "what other's think of 'me' dilemma"
Does it really matter? Yes, to many but "NO" it doesn't
The rich will not share his wealth with you, the successful cannot give you a feel of his victory, the powerful can't & won't allow you to use his feats & when you are sick, nobody can help you suffer the sickness

Being alone is a factual journey
The pleasantness or bitterness that you enjoy & suffer along your journey is cultivated by yourself

You came alone & you shall return alone

When you dare to break free, nothing hurts
Many claim to care for you, will fight for you, stand by you - the proof is in the pudding - actions proof words
Being alone & free from all promises is the best as you cannot be influenced & can sway in the wind like the straw of grass in the storm - calmly

Be unafraid
Be alone
Be free
Be there forever...until roll call to be home again

Covid is a good teacher
When you are threatened with DEATH, everything and anything can wait
Countries lockdown, planes' wings clipped, stay at home, businesses collapsed like deck of cards
Many impossibles became possibles
Being free is Absolutely Possible if you are devoid of emotions & longings
The next time you are muddleheaded, anxious or troubled, it's probably your baggage of emotions
放不下就是还扛得起
Set yourself free

We are ...
BORN FREE
https://youtu.be/ISWOrI0WaLs

June - The Best Is Yet To Be

after half, time diminishes quickly ...

When the second half starts, time seems to fly faster
Why so? Because, 50.01% means "5" will never come back
The sands of time slip as Earth continues to go round the sun non-stop
Before 50 years old, death is distant but death is almost always sudden
I used to achieve my full year budget within 3 months and have tonnes of time to build on
Except for one year, every year was successful, for the last 40 years
I never want to wait until the 2nd half...because I would rather free myself for the unexpected

LUCK is where Preparation meets Opportunity

JUNE - this is a trying year where many things stop because of Covid
But, it is also the time where many are lost - but not me as I rediscovered myself
Doing something, rejecting some ...are easier than doing nothing as humans are social animals
My time almost stopped - but I calmly push on
Let us not let disturbances and noises distract & disrupt
It is not easy to slow down, let alone stop but reflection allows rediscovery
Flowers fade but new ones shalt re-surface; beauty is time demanding but short

活在当下 - 曾经拥有 （没有） 天长地久

Covid proves many impossibles are possibles
If it wasn't life threatening and the rich and powerful are similarly affected, it will be plain news
Covid, like death, is the leveller
The global gini-coefficient has widened substantially & the rich can never live in a sea of poor
How long can the rich rob the poor and aborigines? GOD is watching
How long can the poor remain indifference, suppressed & timid? A hungry man is an angry man
There is no safety catch when anarchy & violent erupts; emotions know no barriers

We are at the tail end of 2nd Qtr & returning to norm is far off
The 1st half turbulence is burning towards an end but brave for a 3rd Qtr of doldrums & despair
What will see you through? Grit, adaptability, fluidity and calmness...be very calm
From zero to zero is zero; need not fret
Learn, be prepared & when the tides turn, move ahead
Dead man tell no tales

2020 is the year of opportunitie危机
It's also the year of 'abject' changes & leveling down洗盘
Fortunes favor the brave, creative and industrious
Be discrete and selective in your spendings for the dollar can stretch farther
No body owes you a living and if you are dead by the wayside, your game is over
Do not indulge is self pity and idleness for all shall pass

Soon, the world will clean up and freedom returns
Your wishes and dreams will crystalize
But, be prepared
Time and tides wait for no man
If your tomorrow comes

The world loves a winner

I'm an  incurable positive

Keeping A Clear Mind In Adversity

to fight or retreat...

If you want to do it or you desire something, you will throw in your heart and soul to get it
Nothing is beyond your reach if you so desired
Anthony died for Cleopatra, LiangSanPo and ZhuYinDai died for love
Edward VIII gave up his throne to marry his lover, Wallis Simpson
Japan's Princess Ayako of Takamado married Kei Moriya, a commoner, & gave up her title
When a woman wants to see her man, there is no chance that the man can slip away from her grasp
When a Man wants to see his woman, he will scheme to entrap her

The world's champion is not necessarily the tallest, strongest, fastest nor ablest
The champion is one who repeats his skills so many times that he perfected his moves
There is no room for error nor lapses
Champions have only one goal, that is, to win & continue winning
The guard against losing is harder that the journey towards winning

I am against giving up ... & hated most if the other person opening words are "I cannot..., no can't"
Giving up is the easiest
It is success and winning that need grit, perseverance and infinite energy
The rostrum is for winner, the leader, the achiever, the gamechanger
Sadly amidst the happiness, victory is temporary - that moment of fame is so momentary
But, success tastes sweetest

Will I fight or retreat? I fight to win as I do not "just" fight
I retreat to muster enough readiness to win - 以退为进
Why sacrifice unnecessarily when you are not ready? That's a fool's goal called martyr
Bruce Lee fought his way to stardom & paid with his life
Jet Li retreated from stardom to live a simple, healthy life
To the perfectionist, life is temporary

I am looking toward a sedated, calm, spiritual life away from material pursuit
I am training to be at ease, at peace & non-provokable - it's is harder than I thought
I am trying to cease speaking & be a "man of few words" - the less I speak, the wiser I become
I wanna spend time on self-discovery - what & who am I? To seek some level of enlightenment
Not a buddha but a budhisattva
Away from the earthly, humanly desires 

Fight or flight - I am a fighter & I fight to win
Even in retreat, I seek to achieve
My goals are within & my relationship with GOD is a one-on-one relation
I seek peace from within & lightens up all around me
Like the candle, I like up others & my surroundings will never be dark
To many, GOD is absent - HIS presence is felt not seen nor touch


Omnipotence means God is all-powerful ...HE has supreme power and has no limitations
Omniscience means God is all-knowing. ... bluff HIM not
Omnipresence means God is everywhere at the same time ...HIS presence is felt

If you do not fight for yourself, no one will
If you leave your fight to others, you will live in his shadow
Do not expect to gain from others' destiny
You cannot control Nature's wrath but you can adjust & sail along to avoid the worst
We may be in the same storm, but definitely not the same boat
Be positive for tomorrow shall come

Are Your Ready for Post-COVID19

bit by bit, a little at a time...

Mother's day is here again; is it to glorify the sacrifices that Mums had made or is it to remember her prowess to 'make another human'? The need to procreate is Nature's law
Cancer, like pregnancy, starts with a cell and multiply - this is the first lesson of Good & Bad
When the baby arrives, it cries and the world laughs with joy
When you pass on, the world cries as there is one fewer to share the sorrows of life and living
生老病死 the natural journey
酸甜苦辣 the spices of life
36,500 days is only 100 years

Few are born rich but dying poor is your own doing
Between life & death, you are the writer, actor, owner & decider
Chasing material goods are human's basic necessity but it must not be excessive
We need money to survive, to help others & ourselves as it's a means to an end
Compassion, magnanimity, "care & share" and empathy are possibles
Strangely, humans are more cooperative in natural disasters than good times
灾难见真情  your friends and foes crystalized & manifest upon calamities

The poor, less fortunate & the weak must muster all the grit, energy, be organized and stand up
Expecting others to fight your dreams is living others' dreams; his destiny is your goal
六根清净 if you can live beyond material comforts but basics, life is a joy
六亲不认 greed, power, fame, selfishness breed contempt
Politics is about popular votes & blind followings
There is no permanent friends or enemies in politics & business; all are acquaintances

Success comes ...a little at a time
Only fame comes overnight; fame is a liability & is costly - everyone wants to challenge you
Laughs at little successes & failures - it lighten the heart and make living a pleasure
If you cannot laugh at yourself, it is the beginning of sickness, downfall and death
The stresses that you build within will destroy yourself
A weakened body and mind is a sickness harbor - slowly but surely
Get up and get going; the healthy you conquer ALL
健康就是本钱 possibilities are infinite when alive
David Koch, the world's 11th billionaire died at 79
Steve Jobs money could not prolong his life
Kate Spade died at 55
Paul Allen co-founder of Microsoft died at 65, >53 years after having non-Hodgkins lymphoma

COVID is another gamechanger not unlike 9/11 and SARS
Many impossibles were made, or became, possibles in the last few months
There are plentiful to reflect, to change, to adapt, to initiate & to be prepared
Luck is where preparation meets opportunity
Nothing drops from Heaven as the fool and his wealth will soon part
In crises, conserve your resources, lie low when your chips are low
Learn, be prepared, train repeatedly & be ready; when opportunity presents, pounce
There is no better chance than when everyone is giving up or having doubts

There are >5,000 airlines worldwide & all were grounded ; an impossible previously
Countries locked down & borders were closed ; another previous impossible
Food supplies & necessities were truncated and supply chains were disrupted
Travels were decimated, celebrations ceased, eCommerce & eSolutions boomed
Working from home is a new normal
Medical supplies, accessories, personnels ...became the new found fad & necessities
As Nature reclaims superiority, Mother Earth becomes cleaner

Leveling  down defeats trickling down economics

For everyone of all ages, your opportunity is here
Initiate, adopt, adapt, revisit ideas that were ahead of the curves and stay calm & calculated
Your chance to create a niche & conquer the unknown is only possible if you push forward with zeal
Nobody but you determine your own Destiny
GOD... God is absent to allow you to play 'God' so as to strengthen your resolves
Some days soon, when you succeed, you know that GOD was watching over you
But, if you fail, don't blame HIM but seek HIS guidance

A bit at a time & that's how successes come 

Repeatedly applying the same formula to an existing problem are fools' goal
Dogmatically following SOPs are the surest way to failures as these are reactives
Commonsense is the best antidote in such acute yet fluid situation
Being proactive is being ahead of the curve; there is no "If I know..."
When COVID is over...soon, a new batch of winners will appear 

Listen Attentively

walking in the ruins...

4 months are gone and not much could be achieved as lockdown, fear and shortages are norm
The fear of sickness and deaths - COVID19 is infectious
As the world of humans stopped, Nature took over, repairs & restores the old charms
Animals multiplied, plants grew, the seas cleared, the air cleaned and the planet became greener
It is man's folly, selfishness and arrogance that choked the planet

I had 60 years of powered up body; fairly healthy and stout
Two operations in 5 months drained much of my energy and grit
But, nothing gonna stop me from moving ahead & pushing new frontiers
I have set the network running & my prints are all over
Moving ahead is the only way out

I want to pump up my adrenaline - to speed ahead
But, my body is in recess; slowed but not disabled nor immobilized
There is decidedly a restriction imposed by the Supereme being
My body proper is breaking up - i can feel the dissection if i pushed forward
Simple chores are no more simple as I feel more dispirited & less enthused

Physically, I need another 3 months before I can restart training; the push to be physically ready
Medically, 2 months should see substantial improvements
Mentally...I have been consistent; ready, willing and positive
GOD has a way of halting progress & slowing you down
We are all running toward the end of time

What else do I want? Nothing, nothing much but I just love challenges
Deep inside, I wanna give up everything and seek enlightenment - not to be a Buddha but to enjoy the peace of being free of material things
The ability to laughs, be light in my heart and to get away from human desires and follies
Meditation...forest, greens, oceans, clear blue sky...back to Nature
I guess I should begin my retreat

Money is important to me but money don't buy life - the last breathe stops, everything stop

Do I have plentiful more to do and achieve? I don't know
I am fortunate to be reasonably self sufficient, fairly healthy and mobile and a sharp mind
COVID has imposed restraints on all & I fit in well in the slowed ecosystem
I was forced to seek & refocus on my future - a very promising future which gonna be my last lap
What is it & how to achieve it? I don't know...

The wisdom of GOD will fall onto my mind when I am sufficiently relaxed, cool and calm
The calling is near but the powered up adrenaline is a hurdle
Nothing gets into our mind until we can listen - listen attentively
To receive, you need to recede into the abyss & Nature returns
I shall put aside my emotion - the adrenaline remains

Someday, we will be called upon to take up our role play

Listen.. listen attentively.. the quietness is not complete silence

I shall return victory again



 

May Day, May Day

time is finite and all shall leave ...


Whatever you want to do, do it now. There are only so many tomorrows - Michael Landon
If tomorrow comes but it shall never just as yesterday will never comes back
Your currency is today
You are as good as before your last breathe; status, wealth, power...nothing goes with you upon death

A notable humor "Tell Bill Gates to give $50bil to us to safekeep for he has more than enough to use currently. After his death, he may be reincarnated & return as a pauper and we will let him draw $10bil upon his return. This is our Post Inter Life Perpetual Bonds (PILPB)"  


Turn your wounds into wisdom - Oprah Winfrey
Betrayals can only come from those closest to you & unquestioned trusts
Many are blinded by emotions and sweet nothings/whispers
You may be sold, maimed, enslaved, abused or deprived - the pains are emotional, seldom physical
Physical scars remain and will fade over time but not emotional ones
All shalt pass only if you wise up and regain yourself & self esteem - fighting back & resist is the antidote for those who betray & take advantage of you are cowards-within 


The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection - Thomas Paine
I had gone through life threatening phases in remote places, alone like a lone dove
My assets were almost stolen by scams
I was betrayed & thrown under the wheels but returned barely alive
The journey back wasn't easy but through a healthy self, grit and perseverance, bathe with plentiful of smiles, I came back wiser, smarter and more determined
Nonetheless, every time I fell, it's because I was emotionally influenced
 
May...May Day - may day is a scream for help - SOS
It is a third off 2020 and little could be done as Covid19 restrained the entire ecosystem
I am like a 6000cc engine raring to go, with a powered up engine but cannot leave the pitstop
Not that everything will be successful but without a chance to put into action, the answer is nil
Slowly but surely I will return with a vengence
No time is lost during this lockdown; I have been rolling our the 'possibilities and solutions'
Come whatever may, I will charge ahead into a new frontier without borders

Waliking Towards Success

win, winning...arrived

It's not the size in the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog
It's the Covid19 imposed quarantine that will allow leveling down to seep in at ease
Never believe that the politicians will flatten the curve in income disparity
The silver spoonists will never understand the aspirations of the massive poor
Sadly, the many who benefited from meritocracy chose to slumber from within 
Their safe harbor is an ivory tower that's pretty, comfortable and fairy-taled

My life is as  chequered as it is colorful
My fit & healthy body is punctured by medical deficiency; physically fit may not mean medically fit 
Well, well...it's mind over body
There's nothing that can stop you from achieving whatever you set out to do except yourself
At 20yo, I was a lost person with entry level education when I started working出道
With a focus goal, I went on to achieve ...a little at a time

A little at a time
Be prepared to fail but always inch forward the tiny bit of success
Seek guidance from books, experts and mentors
Adjust, adopt and adapt to mesh into the ecosystem
Hone your skills and add-on knowledge - no body has a monopoly of ideas
Take problems 'by the horn' as solutions lie with the problem
Enjoy the taste of victory but do not bask into the sunset for all shalt pass

I am into my next wind - the goal is not set by me but by a calling
I fill deep in me a certain calling - what's it I don't know - I shalt be lead by a higher Order
There is nothing that I can bring along after my spells of journey on Earth
My calling is to alleviate the sufferings of the people - a little at a time within my means & abilities
Gaining materially is a bonus for I still need to live - living is never free
Save one, that's one. Save two, that's a double...

By making it easier for others, my paths toward my goal is made easier & nearer

I am not holy, magnanimous or overly wealthy
I have enough to sustain myself towards the Calling
Everything will come naturally
Fame, money and power will flow again
The price of a simple life is peaceful coexistence
Difficult at times but a worthy towards enlightenment - a fulfilling life

I Am The Winner

looking into the end of the day ...

Do you know when your life will end or when your good or bad luck will end? No
No body can know the absolute final answer; not even the finest soothsayer
What are forecasted, foretold and predicted has an even chance of not happening
Other than uncertainties, it's emotion
The same given situation will be managed differently by different persons as character, attitude & aptitude differ
The cool guy and the impulsive chap reactions are two ends of the pendulum

Death is never by choice if your time is not due
Even during misfortunes, a person can be very ill but strike it rich & similarly another who recovers from acute illnesses may go broke   
Money (wealth) and luck are distinct

It's a lockdown - movements are restricted
The norms yesterday are bottled
Everything is immobolized except for essentials
Man has never been caged and "ZOOed in"; restriction of movements affect everyone
Nature reclaims and the environment becomes cleaner
The impossibles became POSSIBLEs
Simple acts become difficult as restrictions cause rebellions

What will the future - post Covid19 - be? Nobody knows but it will definitely be different
Covid19 can lead to, amongst many things, war - the War of Attrition
Thucydides Trap is aggravated further by Covid19
Regrouping of nations against nations is potently explosive
An accidental shot will lit up the nuke stockpile

I am least disturb by the underlying uncertainties and substantial changes
 
I am rearing to go
I have sprinkled my efforts & acted on my plans the e-Ways
I just couldn't wait any longer but I will obliged the locked down ecosystem
Dead man tell no tales & brilliant ideas remain buried when you are gone
Pace, slow down, be cool, calm but prepared ... pounce when time is ripe
There is no guaranteed outcome but be there when the tides turn
GOD rewards the prepared, the brave and the diligent

Nothing ends until you end

Don't worry about dying for you will not know
You need not worry about the outcome of your efforts - if it must come, it shall
Have enough for the journey towards success as any shortages trigger stress and anxieties
You need not be overwhelmed by success or failure as "all shalt pass"
Put in all you can within your abilities - every outcome surprises
All are possible only if you are healthy, ready and committed
Why bother with others gossips and laughs for many will come to you when you are the WINNER

I  ... & I alone determines my Providence

My Goal, My Dream

running towards the goal...

Our goal was to stay healthy & keep fit

We are as fit and healthy as we are today
Sickness is the results of aging, not physical deficiency
Medically unfit and physical fitness are two vastly different issues
Fandi Ahmed was PES C in the army but he was a striker in the national team then
My fellow army mate could swim 60 laps and run 5km with ease; he was also PES C
I guess, you need to be physically fit in order to stall any potential sickness - health deficit

健康就是本钱 

If you know what you want to achieve, half the victory is already in hand
If you want to be a Chef, kitchen is the right place to start
If you wanna set up a motor car repair shop, you start as a mechanic
As for professions, you need to acquire the necessary qualifications in order to start
However, to be a businessman, the best start point is to be in sales & strategic planning, with plentiful of EQ and commonsense

At 10yo and 60yo, all goals are distinct & achievable
Your early goals are to achieve qualifications, name, status, recognition and loadful of monies
You mid-age goal is to "make it big" in your career and business, with a house, a family and smart kids
By the time you reaches 60, it's about having a healthy life, quite contrary to material pursuits in early life, blessed with peace and comforts

The young have strengths, energy & speed
The old have experiences
When young, many use health to chase wealth
When old, most will use wealth to recover healthLife is about attitude and age is just a digit
The evergreen life is one that ages slower with positivity & accumulates knowledge expeditiously, bathe with grit

条条大路通罗马 必须少走冤枉路

Everyone has a different dream 戏如人生 人生本来就是一场戏
Who dares win
If you never try, there's nil chance of succeeding
If you try and fail, you gain experiences; nothing goes to waste
Solutions lie within the problem
心有多大 舞台就多大

Set your goal
Act on it; action it
Review it periodically
Change course if necessary
Arrived - no arrival is by coincidence nor effortless