Productivity: A is for Action Plan

 

I have experimented with a variety of positions over the last 25 years or so, including administrative manager, human resources manager, secretary, and executive personal assistant/confidential secretary to becoming a Director of my own business.

 

My major objective is always productivity, but efficiency is also quite high on my list.

 

Since the beginning, I have always used the phrases "productivity" and "efficiency" interchangeably without ever stopping to consider whether or not they are the same. The difference between the two terms has only become apparent to me over time.

 

Efficiency is the caliber of the work, whereas productivity is the quantity of it. These two concepts are synonymous in every way.

 

In summary, efficiency refers to doing the same amount of work in less time whereas productivity refers to completing more work in a given amount of time.

 

As was previously noted, productivity refers to meeting deadlines, but it is also crucial to learn how to do so without compromising the caliber of the job. You must therefore be accurate in addition to being swift.

 

So how can I improve my productivity and efficiency?

 

Distractions would often be eliminated for me. And every time I do that, without fail, I increase my productivity and efficiency. I usually will start by staying away from social media and turning off personal calls in order to do that.

 

I also think that by having a tidy, well-organized office space also increases my productivity. Not to mention maintaining orderly folders, saved files, and documents on your computer, making sure they are saved in the appropriate locations. This can aid in the thought process in addition to save you time from hunting for it. We can quickly lose our train of thought when forced to halt during our most productive moments to look for a document. Additionally, it can also be difficult to regain the appropriate frame of mind after looking for that document, which then reduces productivity.

 

So what about your least favourite tasks? Do you tend to save them till last? I was definitely at fault for that! But I have discovered that doing so merely serves to undermine the goal of gaining efficiency and since I came to that realization, I have started tackling my least favorite tasks first thing in the morning, instead.

 

In the past, I believed that starting with the simple duties would make the day go by more smoothly and allow me to accomplish a lot more before devoting a lot of time to the more difficult ones. The fact is that I was actually delaying the duties that required more effort since I knew I would run out of steam by the end of the day and then would have had to postpone them until the next day. It turns into a vicious cycle, and you might never finish anything after all.

 

But each person is unique in their own right. So finding out when you are most productive is crucial because some people are not as productive first thing in the morning. When you have finally done that, arranging your work according to difficulty throughout your productive hours will now help you work as efficiently as possible.

 

In addition, using a timer and a daily to-do list will also help you make sure you are not wasting time and that the right things are being completed at the most practical of times.

 

Spending less time on projects rather than more time has been one of my favorite productivity techniques in recent years.

 

You start by assigning a specific activity to a specific time of your day by setting a time limit on how long you spend on it. This not only saves you time, but it also lets you decide how much time you want to devote to your work.

 

Did you also know that one common time-management tactic is to use a productivity timer? I have learned that setting a timer and deciding on a clear end point for the activity is one of the finest strategies to limit the amount of time you spend on a task.

 

You are now motivated to focus your attention and energy on the subject at hand when you use a timer to limit the amount of time you can work on a certain task.

 

So set a time limit to complete the task the next time you work on it. Believe me how surprised you will be by how much you can do when you set a time restriction on your workday.

 

You can then break free from unending tasks by giving yourself a time restriction. The hard stops will keep you from putting things off and help your day go forward.

 

Set a timer. Get it done. And move on to your next task.

 

Moreover, despite the common misconception that breaks are a waste of time, the truth is breaks actually assist you to focus and enable you to work more effectively. It is usually more challenging to generate fresh ideas when your mind is focused on one subject for such a long period of time without a break. This is why I think we can all be more productive if we carefully plan 10 to 15 minute breaks throughout the day.

 

Don't even start me on multitasking right now.

 

I used to think I was good at multitasking and that I could accomplish a lot in a day. Even yet, I felt proud of it and of myself for completing all of those tasks. I believed it to be a "talent" that should be listed on my résumé.

 

Although multitasking might result in immediate successes, you need to know that focusing on numerous activities continuously over time can also cause exhaustion. Burnout makes it difficult for anyone to concentrate, which increases the likelihood of making mistakes when attempting to accomplish one's goals.

 

So take note that multitasking is not the best approach to increase productivity or even efficiency, as I have learned from experience.

 

While I was juggling so many tasks at once, I thought I was accomplishing a lot. Or So I thought. But I had to learn it the hard way that I was also lowering the caliber of my work.

 

Needless to say, I will not be multitasking anymore. I aim to produce high-caliber work and I actually save time and quality by avoiding multitasking and instead to complete one activity at a time instead.

 

I credit three main things for my professional development and rise in productivity over the course of my career in so many fast-paced industries.

 

1. Accountability

 

I always hold accountability for my goals.

 

That usually makes me want to work harder and be more careful always as it would make anyone. Why, one could ponder. It is straight forward. It is because it would increase your sense of ownership and mine.

 

2. Motivation

 

Motivation, in my opinion, is a key element in increasing not just work productivity, but also people's ability to work hard and be happy, even children.

 

Unmotivated people will not like doing any assignments handed to them, and that is a reality, whether we want to accept it or not.

 

I have had the good fortune to consistently have my work acknowledged and valued.

 

A simple compliment can go a long way.

 

3. Action Plan

 

Above everything else, having an action plan would still be the most important aspect in productivity.

 

An action plan is, however, what?

 

An action plan is a list of the things you must do and the actions you must take to accomplish the goals you have set for yourself.

 

You should include the following in the action plan, for example:

 

·         An explanation of your desired outcomes

·         Actions that had to be taken in order to reach those goals

·         Set a timeline

·         Set each assignment and goal's due date

 

And the best thing about having all of your goals in one place is that it makes tracking your progress and successfully planning things out so much simpler and much more convenient.

 

The actions required for you to accomplish your goals should be laid out in a comprehensive action plan. And do not forget to set a start date and an end date as well, which will help you to achieve your goals much more quickly.

 

However, why exactly do you need an action plan and how would it really benefit you?

 

An action plan will help you stay on track and it will keep you motivated and focused throughout. It will also provide you with a clear direction, increase your productivity, and prepare you for any challenges that you may encounter along the way.

 

When you plan and write down your goals, it will help you to stay motivated and dedicated. Additionally, by outlining the steps you must take to finish your action plan, you can also prioritize your objectives according to effort.

 

How do you really construct an action plan is now the million-dollar question.

 

How would one even start constructing an action plan? What characteristics define a good action plan?

 

Although writing an action plan may appear complicated, it is actually not that difficult if you follow a straightforward and simple framework. It may take some effort, but I can assure you that it will be worthwhile because it will keep you motivated and focused while you work towards attaining your goals.

 

Really, all it takes to build an action plan are four easy actions.

 

·         Set SMART goals

·         Create a list of actions

·         Set a timeline

·         Monitor the progress

 

1. Set SMART Goals

 

Always use the SMART outline prior to writing your action plan.

 

SPECIFIC – Always have well defined goals in mind.

 

MEASURABLE – Make sure your goals can be measured by including measurable indicators in all of your plans.

 

ATTAINABLE – You must be certain that your goals can be attained given the time, experience, etc., that you have.

 

RELEVANT – Your goals should always be in line with your requirements, interests, and capabilities.

 

TIMELY – Always give yourself a deadline for completing each of your goals.

 

2. Create a List of Actions

 

To achieve each goal, you must make a list of the tasks you must carry out.

You will need to break down your key goals into more manageable objectives during this process. This helps you go toward your goals in an organized manner and makes the ultimate objectives less intimidating and nerve-wracking.

 

Always keep in mind that the actions you set down should be doable and practical.

 

If a task seems too overwhelming, break it down into two or three smaller, more manageable action items.

 

To build a strategy that will get you to your ultimate goal, clearly outline each activity.

 

3. Set a Timeline

 

Along with giving each of your goals a deadline, you should also give each job in the process a completion date. Again, in order to sustain the steady progress you are making toward your goal, you must always establish a time frame you can realistically adhere to.

 

4. Monitor your Progress

 

Make sure to explain how you will make sure each of the tasks you've written down will be finished by the deadline. By doing this, you will be able to see how far along you are with each of your goals. Always be clear about the benchmarks you'll be using to gauge progress, such as the number of jobs finished.

 

Remember that an action plan is not something that must be followed rigidly. You will need to review your action plan as you develop and as your situation changes and make the necessary modifications to suit your new requirements.

 

These are my go-to strategies, and using them should enable you to master productivity and efficiency.

 

Complete your tasks. Be effective. Realize success.

Welcome 2023

 

It's been a trying year but I am grateful for the lessons learned. Through all the experiences, I've grown stronger.

I do owe it to dear family and friends who were there helping me get through the toughest year.

After so many years, I finally let go of all the negative people and things in my life; everything that was holding me back. And I've never felt better. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulder.

Why did it take me this long to do this?

Well, no point wondering. No point looking back. I'm just going to look forward.

Aside from choosing to let people go... Without a choice, I've lost so many people dear to me. As much as I miss them and as sad as I am, it has taught me how precious life truly is, and that we should all treasure our loved ones who are still here with us. We should always remind them how much they mean to us and how much we love them.

This year has also taught me to be patient.

I've had a few close calls with a nervous breakdown but I fought through and came out of it stronger.

I've had to juggle work and had to make sure my family was okay.

Between my mum and the two kids, I've been trying to keep up with their doctors’ appointments in between work and my own personal goals.

But that is okay. I want to make sure my family is okay first.

On the bright side, I've managed to accomplish quite a bit this year and published my second book. It was a mad rush but I did it. I kept to my goal of publishing a book each year since 2021 and I hope to continue to do so.

So here we are on the last day of 2022 and I'm grateful for the good and the bad 2022 has thrown at me.

It surprised me how everything suddenly and miraculously worked in my favour when I decided to not allow negativity into my life. I realized how my then situation was only leading me to a blessing. Nothing was a mistake.

Life hits you differently when you stop trying to prove you didn't say that or you didn't do that. You can't fix every lie and rumour and neither can you defend yourself every time something is said about you. Just keep being you.

It took me a whole year to understand that sometimes a person doesn't even love you for real. They just know you're a good person and they would hate to see you loving another the way you loved them. Well? I take happiness over history and am letting that toxic shit go.

I'm proud of myself. I went through every type of pain, family issues, trust issues, heartbreak, insecurities and depression... I went through it all and never gave up.

I know I am on the right path because I feel good about moving forward and I cannot care less about looking back.

I will focus more on the people who inspire me rather than annoy me. This way, I know I will get much further in life.

Now it is time to do what is best for me. I am going to my wounds into wisdom.

I can't re-write my past but I can grab a clean sheet of paper and write my future and I sure am looking forward to 2023.

These past couple of years, there were places I thought I was destined to go, for which I was never meant. There were people I thought would ride with me forever, but at the first junction, upped and left.

There were hardships I thought would last a lifetime, but with time were swiftly swept away. There were plans I thought I had all set out, but those were not the cards of life I was dealt. There were times I thought things would end up differently, but I now understand that God always knows best.

I am now so confident about God's plan that I don't even get upset anymore when things don't go my way.

So this is me kissing the past goodbye. This is me leaving some of the baggage behind and learning how to forgive myself.

The burdens that I carried for too long, the fears that haunt me with every new exciting opportunity and the voices inside my head that cripple me from finding joy... this is me kissing them all goodbye.

I am still learning that the past don't always repeat itself, that I've grown and learned and evolved so I can trust myself to make better decisions.

And for you who are reading this; I hope you find the courage to change your life; in the small ways, in the big ways, in every way that matters. I hope you do not end this story with a heart full of regrets. I hope you do not spend 2023 just waiting for your life to begin.

I hope you realize that this is not the practice run, this is not the preview. This is it. There is nothing to do but leap. There is nothing to do but allow yourself to exist as boldly and honestly as you can.

You will think you have forever, but you do not. It all happens, and it happens quickly. You are not waiting on another person, or the right timing, or for everything to fall into place. You are waiting to feel ready enough to exist within the question, to not need every answer, and to know that this life does not come to us to be perfectly understood, but to be fully experienced, in every direction we can possibly reach.

Happy New Year!

#BriannaWiest #RaniaNaim #Fairy #KristenButler #CatherinePulsifer

Minimart Charity

 

It's been more than a month since I volunteered and contributed my time to charity. It has been a while since I've been looking to adopt a charity. I've been looking to give back to society and been looking for a charity.

My sister from another Mister has looking to do the same and she found this very cool charity which is a community minimart.

We have since adopted two neighbourhoods; Chai Chee and Toa Payoh and this community minimart gives low income residents groceries.

On our end, we donate the money and get friends to help contribute. Then the organizer will get the residents to give us a list of items they may need and we will then make out a grocery list with the items needed, quantity, etc.

On the day itself, about 20 volunteers will meet in the morning, and the grocery lists will be distributed. Each volunteer will gather the items on their list. We get about 45 minutes to do that and at the check-out, the organizer will make the payment and we will then proceed to the HDB block and set up our little minimart at the void deck.

At the void deck, we each set up our tables with the items we purchased for the residents.

While we are setting up, the residents will already be forming a line. The first time I saw this, I had so many mixed emotions. I was glad to be there to help, it warmed my heart to see the many smiling and excited faces of the residents, this experience made me realize how lucky my family and I truly are to have the life we have, and it made me sad to see there are still so many people in need.

It was an eye-opener for me. I had such a feeling of satisfaction being able to do this for the less fortunate.

Anyway, when the minimart finally opens, residents will go from table to table as if they are shopping. They can select up to 8- 9 items from canned goods to instant noodles, biscuits, veggies and eggs.

We managed to serve 80 low income residents, mostly in their 70s and 80s.

To see their smiling faces and to know how thankful they were for the rations they received made the time spent that morning all worthwhile.

A big thanks to the volunteers who spent their time helping with the distribution and a big thanks to the beautiful souls who made donations to make this possible.

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So what have I truly learned from this experience?

There are lots of people in this world who live a comfortable life and some even live a luxurious life and are able to get everything they desire. However, on the other hand, there are also tons of people who do not have enough food to eat or the basic necessities of life. The poor and needy are literally fighting each day to survive.

Poverty is in many countries, striking millions of people. Many poor and needy people struggle to attain the basic necessities of life for themselves and their families. They struggle to improve their way of living. And little did I realize, we still have so many in Singapore who are struggling.

We always think the country we live in is a rich nation and there are no poor people around but boy am I wrong. 

We may be comfortably living in our apartments or houses. We may not be getting affected by hunger but there are so many people out there who may not have eaten a proper meal in the last few days. It’s been more so, since the turmoil caused by the pandemic that is playing havoc in the lives of millions of people from all around the world.

Life is not kind to all of us. We won’t be able to help everyone in need, but our gesture, no matter how small, will definitely make a difference.

We are all in this together. We all can do our bit. Let's feed the hungry and help the less fortunate among us. Together we can make this world a better place. I know we can.

These poor people cannot improve their standard of life on their own and if we have the power to help them make their life somewhat more comfortable, why not? We cannot make their lives a lavish one but can at least help them to achieve the basic essentials of life.

Helping the poor and needy people is a good deed and a noble aim. And there are many ways that we can utilize or contribute towards the cause of further eliminate poverty around the world.

For one; we can use social media as it has become one of the most used, and also the easiest and quickest way to spread the word. By the use of social media, we can raise our voices and create awareness about issues and get a helping hand in any short periods of time.

Secondly, you can raise awareness. If you are aware of issues relating to the poor, you can use your information to raise the awareness to those around you. If you care about the poor and needy people, you can be sure that other people do too, but may just be unaware of how they can help. So share your information and start raising awareness.

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We must never look for a reason to help others.

Self-satisfaction makes life worth living. Each person may have a different need in his/her life. While some yearn for success, some don’t have the most basic amenities such as a shelter or enough food to eat. But that’s not all; some people may be in need of mere affection, those who are longing to see smiles.

We are lucky to be living a comfortable, happy life. How good would it be if we try to bring smiles to those sad faces?

Generosity is an easy doable exercise. Helping others is a blessing in disguise because when we help others to grow; we grow in the process too. It adds value and meaning to our lives.

Helping others is not always about giving them money or material things. Some people just need a shoulder to cry on or some good advice. And you don’t necessarily have to be friends with someone to be there for them. This is simply about being human and caring about other people’s well-being.

It really doesn’t matter who you are or how much you have to offer. Be kind just for the sake of it and expect nothing in return.

Helping others should come naturally and it should never be a question of 'why should I do it?'

A little help with a little smile gives meaning to human life. Happiness doesn't result from what we get, but what we give. And if we are lucky enough to be able to afford it, why shouldn't we try to help others?

As Mahatma Gandhi once said, "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."

I sure am looking forward to the next round of our minimart charity that will be taking place the first week of January 2023. So if you would like to contribute to this course, whether it is $5 or $10 or even $1, please contact me for more details.

Things To Do When You Have A Headache

#Wellness

We all have experienced headaches at some point in our lives. Some of us get it more often than we would like. However, the good news is, we don't always have to depend on traditional or Western medicines to cure it.

There are some things you can do to ease the pain without a trip to the doctor or the drugstore.

1. Drink water

Dehydration is usually the number one cause of a headache. It's said that drinking water is shown to relieve a headache in most dehydrated individuals within 30 minutes to 2 hours.

2. Avoid foods high in Histamine

Foods/drinks such as beer, wine, smoked fish and cured meat are high in Histamine. It has been said that histamine may cause headaches.

3. Ease pressure on your head

A ponytail that is too tight of wearing swimming goggles that are too tight, or even wearing a hat may cause a headache. So try loosening whatever you have on your head to try and relieve the pressure from it. 

4. Dim the lights

Some people are prone to headaches caused by bright lights. Try dimming your phone/computer screens or lights in the room. You should also try and put on a pair of sunglass when you’re out in the sun.

5. Get enough sleep

Lack of sleep definitely triggers headaches. So be sure to sleep early and get at least 8 hours of sleep every day. 

6. Scalp massage

Try giving yourself a scalp massage. It is said that massaging the back of your head at the base of your skull can relieve a headache.

7. Stretch

Headaches are mostly caused by muscle tension, so by doing some neck stretches; it could help relieve some of that tension.

8. Hot shower

Taking a hot shower while letting the water fall on the back of your neck could help ease the tension in your head. 

9. Watermelon

Again, if you think your headache was brought on by dehydration, then eating water rich foods such like watermelon could help relieve your pain by rehydrating. 

10. Ginger tea

Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties that could alleviate some of the pain.

Happy Birthday In Heaven Godma

 Today would have been my Godma’s birthday. There are no words that would describe how much I miss her and having her around especially during parties as it has always been her “thing”. No words will ever describe how much I am still filled with regrets about what had happened and how we never made peace before she passed. But that is life. We all make mistakes and we learn from it. It is also something I will deal with for many years but I believe my Godma knows how much I truly do love her. 

Things are good with the family now … mostly.  A few till won’t talk to us because of the incident but it is not like we didn’t try. So be it. We have been spending a lot of time with Granny and taking care of her and making new memories. 

So today, the family, the few of us, got together at my granny’s to celebrate my godma’s birthday, to toast her memory. It was lovely. 

Even though we celebrated my godmother today and her memory, upon returning home, I could not stop thinking about how it could have been if we just got to say “sorry” and “goodbye” to her. But I suppose that there are incidents in life when you have no real control over things that happens around you. Sometimes, in these situations, family members face issues of their own and then life sometimes does not give us time to solve the issues in an orderly fashion. Then we get mad and angry when things don’t go the way we want it to then we lash out at each other. 

When that happens, we have to always remember to calm down and learn to feel strong enough to deal with all of what is happening instead of arguing and fighting with one another. 

It is normal for us to always think our problem is the hardest to cope with but others feel the same way about their problems too. 

I realize more now that everyone is an individual with different ideas and views. The would surely be boring if we all were programmed the same way. I sure do think it is important for families to have open communication and when there are disagreements, it is also important to consider the other party’s views and try to reach a compromise.

Families are individuals forced together through blood, they are not involved by choice but by birth. They have to deal with one another and their differences. Not just that, the family have to also deal with one another’s levels of growth and maturity as well as different goals, wants and needs. 

No matter how different each family member is, every human wants to have choices and freedom, but in order to keep a family together, sometimes we have to forfeit that luxury.  Families must always work together although it often takes arguing, and even maturity before we can see one another’s perspective.

We as individuals are all so diverse and complex, our personalities clash, our opinions differ, our beliefs and morals shape us into the person we are… the same goes with families.

There are 7 billion individuals on this planet, it is natural for us not to get along with others sometimes. Same with families… it’s normal for families to argue ad disagree! Healthy even. Generally, everyone is bound to meet in an argument with someone else at some point. Just never let it drag out too long for you to have regrets the rest of your life.

Juicing Ingredients For Healthy Skin

Do you run off to a beauty product store right after leaving a facial appointment, only to spend big bucks on beauty products that you think would preserve your post-treatment glow?

 

Did you know that problems like acne or dark circles are more than skin deep? Great skin is the effect of what one puts in their body.

 

Yes, no one said we cannot use beauty products. However, we tend to forget all the natural ways of getting healthy skin. A healthy diet does not only keep our body healthy from inside but from the outside too.

 

Here are some ingredients for healthy skin.

 

Cucumber

 

Soothes skin irritations and prevents water retention. It keeps gives skin moisture and reduces puffiness.

 

Carrot

 

It gives your skin a healthy glow. The Vitamin C found in carrots also leaves you with a blemish-free skin.

 

Tomato

 

Tomato juice evens out the skin and helps revive the glow.

 

Celery

 

It prevents dehydration and the folate found in celery helps repair skin damage while keeping our skin in good health.

 

Beetroot

 

Drinking beetroot juice for skin works more than from within. It helps for the surface, too. Beetroot juice helps remove toxins and leaves you with a glowing skin. Oh, and did you know that applying the juice on your face regularly will also kill off dead cells leaving your skin soft.

 

Spinach

 

By drinking spinach juice, or even eating spinach, it helps to clean your skin from the inside out. Because of its antioxidant abilities, spinach is perfect for great skin.

Baz Luhrmann's ELVIS

 The long awaited biopic is finally here and I got to watch it. By the looks of the trailer before it was released, it had some promises of being a good film but I went without high expectations because I have watched dozens of Elvis biopics and left disappointed.

 

An ardent fan of Elvis since I was six, I remember listening to Elvis on my Walkman and falling asleep every night. I had always dreamed of visiting Graceland and that finally happened (4 times to be exact) when I lived in America. But I have been blessed that through the years, I have made great friends through Elvis, whether it is through fan clubs or what not. I am grateful to own rare memorabilia and some footage of unreleased concerts. I am even ore honoured to have had close friendships with people who were close to Elvis but who have also sadly passed. The biggest deal for me being an Elvis fan was when I was asked to assist in the promotion of the Tupelo tourism featuring Elvis. My work was recognized when I had a brick with my name engraved on, placed at the Elvis Fairpark Statue and my name engraved on the Fans Memorial Wall.

So, Elvis holds a very huge place in my heart and in my life. I only wish I wasn’t born 2 years after his passing because it would have been amazing to catch him in concert.

It’s a little daunting to realize Elvis was only a year younger than I am now when he passed. Nevertheless, in my opinion, and I believe many would agree with me, that there will only ever be one Elvis. Also in my opinion, Elvis’ shoes are big ones to fill and so many have tried to impersonate him or to portray him and although I wouldn’t say they failed at it…. they did not meet expectations or they did not have that WOW factor.

 

Think about this… how many singers have really accomplished what Elvis had in such a short span of time? How many singers you know, that when you mention their name and anyone would know who you are talking about? Whether someone is 6 or 99, whatever language they spoke or whatever religion they belonged to, if you mentioned Elvis, I can assure you 80% will know who you are talking about.

 

That theory of mine was proven correct when I sat in the cinema last night with my mother and looked around. There were people who were much younger than I was, people of different races, and who probably spoke different languages…yet, they were all there to watch ELVIS.

 

Anyway, let’s talk about the movie.

 

As I mentioned, I did not have very high expectations as I have been disappointed many times before. However, Baz Luhrmann’s biopic sort of promised he will explore the real life of Elvis, his rise to fame and his undesirable relationship with Colonel Tom Parker.

 

It was amazing how much was put into this 2.5 hours movie, from the very young Elvis, finding his way into Sun Records, to the time Colonel Tom Parker discovering Elvis as well as the demons Elvis faces throughout his life and career and not to mention having to deal with Colonel Tom Parker’s control over him. It also covered Elvis’ army life, marriage, Comeback broadcast, residency in Las Vegas, divorce and death. But the best part about the movie was the stellar soundtrack covering lots of Elvis hits.

 

To be honest, I still cannot find the right words to describe what I felt or still am feeling. Yes, the movie was that powerful! It was heartwarming, funny, sad and there were also moments that could make you so upset.

 

I believe, many Elvis biopics showcased Elvis’ rise to fame but this one in particular somehow showed us what really went on with Colonel Tom Parker.

 

They started the movie with Colonel Tom Parker introducing himself and saying “I didn’t kill Elvis” though the movie implies otherwise. The Colonel went on to say, “I made Elvis.”

 

So is Colonel Tom Parker a bad person? After watching the movie, I am left wondering. I also thought he used Elvis and because of his citizenship status and did not own a passport that he stopped Elvis from touring the world and being bigger than he was. I believe Elvis could have been more if the Colonel wasn’t so selfish. But Colonel Tom Parker was also a very smart and manipulative man.

 

Would be still have enjoy Elvis is not for Colonel Tom Parker and his amazing business ideas? Who knows?

 

I guess he did have a part to play in Elvis’ unhappiness and later part; death.

 

Oh I don’t know. I have been told by some of the people close to Elvis that Colonel Tom Parker was well liked by many and he could brighten up any room. But they won’t deny he was a little dodgy when it comes to money and who took advantage of Elvis. So I guess even people close to Elvis were not too sure what they thought about the Colonel.

 

Going back to the movie and how they portrayed Colonel Tom Parker…

 

Colonel Tom Parker was colourful, controlling and clearly had a huge influence on Elvis since becoming Elvis’ manager in 1955.

 

In my opinion, I think Elvis was partly afraid to lose Colonel Tom Parker because in Elvis’ mind, the Colonel got him to where he was and that if he fired the Colonel that he would mess everything up.

 

I read somewhere years ago that the Colonel did not even like music yet her profited disproportionately from Elvis’ record sales and concerts taking a bigger than normal cut. If I am not mistaken I think he started out at twenty-five percent while the norm, was fifteen percent.

 

And apparently the Colonel had massive gambling debts which got him into trouble in Las Vegas which made him hike his percentage to fifty percent. Then I wonder, how the hell did Elvis agree to that!?

 

Don’t forget that because of the Colonel not having a US passport, Elvis missed out on global tours.

 

In the movie, it showed that Elvis’ long-term deal performing in Las Vegas was because the Colonel had made a deal to keep Elvis there in repayment for all his own debts to be wiped out. But that killed Elvis’ momentum and broke his spirit. He became unhappy, overworked and exhausted. That was heartbreaking to watch.

 

They showed Elvis collapsing from exhaustion and Colonel continuing to push him to perform. It was madness.

 

There was a part where they showed Elvis looking high and strung out and cussing out Colonel Tom Parker on stage. Many would think it was exaggerated or there was no truth in that but I can say I have many clips that were shared with me through the years when Elvis did just that. Can you blame him? I am sure he felt so trapped.

 

Elvis did try to fire, or leave the Colonel on a couple occasions but the Colonel was a smart, manipulative man who used Elvis own words, fears and feelings to control him.

 

Anyway, moving on to the star of the show… AUSTIN BUTLER.

 

OK. Before I get into Austin, I have to say this…

 

Before you see Austin Butler’s portrayal of Elvis, you have to watch other actors who played Elvis in the past, in previous biopics.

 

Actors like Jonathan Rhys-Meyers who wasn’t that bad but not that good, Tyler Hilton, David Keith, Kurt Russell, Don Johnson (how the heck did they cast him?), … just to name a few.

 

Austin Butler earned praises from Presley’s own family so that should tell you something.

 

I am not surprised by how many actors have tried their turn at playing Elvis and donned the Elvis jumpsuit.

 

As I mentioned earlier, Elvis’ shoes are BIG shoes to fill and I can only imagine the task it takes to portray an iconic figure like Elvis in a biopic. Any actor can be given tons and tons of Elvis references from photos to videos but if an actor cannot nail their impersonation or interpretation to the audience who are so familiar with Elvis, then all the magic is lost!

 

Well, you do not have to worry about that when it comes to Austin Butler. He was mesmerizing!

 

He faced a tough challenge and he nailed them all! From getting Elvis’ voice and mannerisms almost close to perfection, to the vocal cords when singing some of the songs and recreating some if Elvis’ dance moves!

 

Austin Butler captured the smoldering physicality of Elvis, as well as the playfulness and vulnerability.

 

Any doubts I had going about whether Austin Butler could fully capture Elvis was evaporated almost instantly. Austin has the moves, the mannerisms, and the voice. He sang about a third of the songs himself, especially the early ones. I did not feel he was trying too hard to impersonate Elvis but inhabiting him.

 

The truth is Elvis’ voice cannot be imitated and this biopic wisely did not try to and instead what they did was genius; remixing the actual Elvis recordings with Austin’s voice, rather than trying to replicate them.

 

I guess it was a bonus that Austin Butler could sing to begin with. As part of his audition, he actually sang his own rendition of Elvis’ Unchained Melody. Oh did I also mention that Austin has been playing the guitar since the age of 13?

 

Truly, Austin brought Elvis back again. I also loved how they had actual footage of concerts together with that of Austin Butler’s performance and at times, even the biggest of fan could be confused as to which was Austin’s portrayal and which was Elvis himself.

 

Well, the chose the right actor for sure and Austin Butler’s efforts put into studying Elvis over a one year period sure did pay off. I am pretty sure Elvis would finally be smiling knowing someone finally did a great job at portraying him.

 

The details in most of the performances were close to perfection. Let me name a few examples;

• The details to the jumpsuits Elvis wore.
• The things that was said on stage in Vegas (funny moments).
• The hilarious Elvis character was also portrayed when Elvis put the mic in his mouth during performance.
• The details of Elvis’ last performance, seated at the piano, singing Unchained Melody. I am talking about even the little details of what was placed on the piano!

The final touches put towards the end just made it perfect. They showed actual footage of Elvis during his Vegas performance, wedding, etc.

 

If you have not seen the movie yet, GO GO GO! You will not be disappointed. This is coming from a lady who always had very high expectations for any Elvis biopics!

 

By the way, I forgot to mention how I loved the bejeweled Warner Brothers logo that was shown at the beginning of the movie. That was so very Elvis like.