“My Way”

“For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught.
To say the things, he truly feels,
And not the words, of one who kneels.
The record shows, I took the blows ---
And did it my way!”                                 

--- Written by Paul Anka (1967)

If you ask me what my favorite song is, I will give you a clear answer, My Way ( full lyrics and related link see atached in the end); because never had a song like My Way can give me so deep impression, whatever the occasion that I heard, or the feeling from the philosophical lyrics.   

I went to many farewell parties in passed years, included held for me. And I will never forget the first time I attended due to it happened in the period that I worked for Gillette, which is my first job; and the leading role of the party, Henry Chen, is the first boss in my life. I heard My Way just at that time. Henry had worked for the company for more than 15 years, and established the business in the Great China. He recruited me and trained me to deal with variety business situations; he was strict with us on professional ethics, on the other side, he allowed us to make “mistakes”. He is the one of few leaders that I appreciate and admire in my career life. Just a person like him would leave from us, so sad we were; and he used the lyrics of My Way to encourage us to persevere when we meet whatever challenges. Meanwhile, he hoped we could overcome all of difficulties while keeping our integrity in the future. 

Although I had worked for different companies and taken different responsibilities after that, but I always remember what Henry said; it had already stamped on my working style. When I meet problems, I’d like to hear My Way; when I feel depress, I also like to listen it. “Did it my way,” as a creed, it supports me experience many tough periods.  

My Way

And now, the end is near, and so I face, the final curtain.
My friend, I'll say it clear,
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain.
I've lived, a life that's full, I've traveled each and every highway.
And more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Regrets, I've had a few, but then again, too few to mention.
I did, what I had to do, and saw it through, without exemption.
I planned, each charted course, each careful step, along the byway,
and more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew,
When I bit off, more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up, and spit it out.
I faced it all, and I stood tall,
and did it my way.

I've loved, I've laughed and cried,
I've had my fill; my share of losing.
And now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing.
To think, I did all that, and may I say --- not in a shy way,
"Oh no, oh no not me,
I did it my way".

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught.
To say the things, he truly feels,
And not the words, of one who kneels.
The record shows, I took the blows ---
And did it my way!

Yes, it was my way.