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August
Issue |
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The
best way may be a different way
Have you ever seen people play
billiards?
A large table… a few balls… six
holes (pockets).
The idea is to hit the white
ball with a stick (called the “cue”)
so that the white ball will hit
a coloured ball (which can also
then hit other coloured balls),
and the coloured balls end up
in the pockets. Of course there
are a few more rules than this.
But this is the basic rule.
The game looks quite simple.
But, in fact, to win in billiards
can be quite difficult.
The player must aim correctly.
He must decide whether to hit
the white ball at the centre,
or to the left of centre, right
of centre, above the centre or
below the centre. The ball will
move in a different way depending
on how it is hit.
The player must decide how much
force to use. He must also think
where he wants the white ball
to be after it has hit the target
ball, so that the white ball
will be in a good position for
the player to hit the next ball.
The player must not move his
body. He must move only his arm.
If his body moves, his cue will
not hit the white ball at the
spot he wants.
Watch two persons playing billiards.
After every turn, you will see
the players look carefully at
where the balls are. The player
will walk around the table, looking
at various angles he can use
to hit a ball into one of the
holes. He will think about the
choices he has, and how difficult
and risky each is. He will think
about how he wants to strike
the white ball — from which
angle and with what force — so
that he will finally get his
target ball into the pocket.
Most times he cannot directly
hit the target ball. He may have
to hit the target ball at an
angle. There may be another ball
in between which he wants to
avoid. He may then have to bounce
the white ball from the side
of the table — the cushion — in
order to put the target ball
into the pocket.
Hitting the target ball in a
straight line is quite simple.
But most times it is not like
this. The challenge in billiards
is how to get the target ball
into the hole when you have to
hit it at an angle or by bouncing
off the cushion or other balls.
This is possible only with a
good eye, a lot of practice,
much patience and good concentration.
Thinking about it, we can learn
a number of things from billiards
which we can apply to our life
and our work.
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1
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Take
your time to study the situation carefully. |
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2
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Look
out for good angles and chances to make
a difference. |
| 3 |
List
out your choices: Think of the difficulties,
the risks and the rewards
for each choice. |
| 4 |
The
direct way is not the only way to get things
done. The indirect way may be the faster
way. Using the help of others (like bouncing
off the cushion or other balls in billiards)
may be the better way. |
Next time you see a game of billiards,
remember:
Think smart. Think creative. Don’t just think one way. Be innovative.
The Best Way May Be A Different Way
Lim
Siong Guan Head, Civil Service |
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