Be Inspired. Be a Champion.

Get Additional Discounts on Your FWD Insurance Plan on Top of their Best Online Discounts!

2020-05-21T07:25:00.000-07:00

Dear all, get additional discounts on your FWD insurance plan on top of their best online discounts by using my FWD referral link now! Wow! 🤩

https://www.fwd.com.sg/ref/cd6e2382d57fa23

By the way, the FWD maid Insurance is one of the lowest priced & has the best value in the market!

Buy your FWD Insurance such as your maid, travel, motorcycle, car, home, personal accident, health or term life insurances through my link and get even more discounts!

https://www.fwd.com.sg/ref/cd6e2382d57fa23

“We buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't like.” ― Dave Ramsey

2019-07-30T19:41:00.002-07:00

I really like this quote.

“We buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't like.

― Dave Ramsey

It really makes you put back your focus on what you really want in life. Whether it is financial freedom, early retirement or having great relationships with your family and friends.

There is no need to impress people. Just be focused on your goals and add value to others. :)

Awesome Must-Read Article: How To Make A Relationship Last. It is NOT “communication”

2018-11-10T08:40:00.001-08:00

Hi all, 

This is an awesome Must-Read article for couples (just attached or married for years). We want our passive income to last us forever, as much as we want our marriage to. Check out the article! Cheers! 👍

https://medium.com/@krisgage/how-to-make-a-relationship-last-24a82d0dc7af 

8 Steps On The Road To Wealth

2018-05-24T04:52:00.001-07:00

8 Steps On The Road To Wealth

If wealth and happiness are what you desire, follow the below steps that ouline Kenneth's noble and encouraging philosophy of financial success.

1) Develop A Mindset of Accumulation

Some people attain their wealth while displaying poor character traits, such as selfishness, which has lead to the widely held belief that a person must be self-serving -- and perhaps aggressive -- to become affluent. But there are wealthy people who give to and care about others, and selfishness is not inextricably linked to affluence.

Kenneth believes that what truly helps a person become wealthy is a mindset of accumulation. The mindset of accumulation acts as an engine that propels a person forward in his or her quest for financial success. It is a foundational principle for a person who wants to become wealthy. Without it, a person's assets will either stagnate or even begin to dwindle.

The good news is that the desire for more does not need to cancel out the desire to help people or to be fair: You can give back to your community and be a kind, caring person as you accumulate your wealth. In fact, as your mindset of accumulation helps you become more successful, your ability to help those in need will increase, too.

2) Use The Word "WANT", Not "Need"

As humans, we have an uncanny ability to ignore our needs, but our desires and wants can spur us into action with great speed.

For example, think about how often a person might postpone a task at work that should be completed as soon as possible. Or think about how easy it is to become sleep-deprived by ignoring the body's need for sleep.

On the other hand, when a person wants something, there's action. A desire could be something that requires work, like starting a business or losing ten pounds. It could also be something pleasurable, like going on vacation or out to dinner with your partner.

The point is: If you need to do something, you might do it. If you want to do something, chances are you will do it. To maintain a mentality of building up wealth, then, it is important to want to accumulate wealth.

This linguistic technicality means that a mindset of accumulation must operate on the fuel of "wants." Instead of saying "I need to earn more," we should say, "I want to earn more," because it is the urgency of wanting that keeps our mindset of accumulation running on all cylinders.

3) Know How To Accumulate Money

On the road to wealth, wanting is important -- but it's not enough. A person must first want to earn more and then also know how to earn money.

Knowing how to accumulate money is one of the most difficult challenges, because each person's approach to earning is as unique as his or her own combination of personality, creativity, passions and skills.

To start, use your imagination and ask yourself: What creative business strategies can I develop to earn money? Or, what employment can I seek to help me earn?

4) Know How To Retain Money

There are people who were once rich but became poor because of their lack of ability to retain their wealth. This means that once you've managed to accumulate earnings, you need to be able to keep -- and ideally grow -- your money. You'll need to ask yourself: How can I manage my wealth in the smartest way? What can I do to reinvest my earnings and increase my money?

5) Acquire Knowledge And Resources

People who become wealthy may or may not complete a formal higher education, but they often enhance their skill sets through study.

Acquiring knowledge is another type of accumulation mindset.

Knowledge could mean learning how to manage resources, such as time and money -- or anything you can use to advance or to make accomplishments.

Pursuing specific knowledge can translate into great learning potential, and knowing how to use resources is very significant in building wealth.

6) Plan For The Future

The mindset of accumulation is focused on actionable, forward-thinking. If you want to be wealthy, you need to plan ahead and look forward toward the future.

While the past is useful because we can look back on our mistakes, it's crucial not to get caught up in what you "could have" or "should have" done. Instead, take the lessons you've learned with you, and implement what you've learned into your plans for the future.

To get where you want to go, you will need to glance at the rearview mirror every now and then. Just remember to concentrate on the road ahead, first and foremost.

7) Be Logical

To grow your wealth, you will need to think logically and rationally. Kenneth says there's no "hocus-pocus" in earning money, but rather a "purposeful understanding and desire" to reach a certain level that is promoted with rational thought. Put simply, this means that superstitions should be set aside. Choose to rely on clear-headed thinking to make decisions as you strive toward meeting your desires.

8) Be Efficient

You might say that, in some ways, the smartest rich people are "lazy". What does this mean? It means that these smart people find productive ways of getting things done. So, if they don't have to do something themselves, they will use shortcuts, formulas, strategies and delegation -- all of which are methods of productivity.

Figure out which tasks you can outsource to maximize your time and ability to accumulate your wealth, and remember that the road to wealth isn't just about working hard. It's about being efficient.

Credits:
The article is obtained from Kenneth Kam's Kenn Magazine by Kenn Organisation.
The steps image is obtained from spotmold.com .
The purse image is obtained from Colourbox.com .

The Most Comprehensive List of Baby Freebies in SG! Free Samples of Baby Products, Diapers, Diaper Rash Creams, Formula Milk, Gift Packs, Shampoo & Body Wash! For Babies in Singapore!

2017-05-30T03:36:00.000-07:00

For The Budget, Thrifty and maybe Kiasu Moms/Mothers in Singapore! Get Your Free Essential Baby Stuff and Samples NOW!

Hi Everyone,
It has been an amazing and interesting journey over the past one year, where I got married, delivered a baby girl and staying happily under one roof in a 4-room HDB flat. Life takes a new turn, from being single for pretty long, to now becoming a mother. Oh gosh! What a big change! And now I'm also on a hunt for baby freebies in S'pore like many other typical mums I guess!😀

So, here's the deal! I have done some research, registered for some baby samples, received them and below are some of the deals that were found. By the way, baby formula milk given out free will only be for infants 6 months old and above.

An excerpt taken from Ministry of Health (MOH) website, https://www.moh.gov.sg/content/moh_web/home/pressRoom/pressRoomItemRelease/2017/response-to-competition-commission-of-singapore-s-recommendation.html ,

"Today, the Sale of Infant Foods Ethics Committee, Singapore (SIFECS)Code of Ethics covers the ethical aspects of marketing and promotion of breast milk substitutes and already restricts advertising, marketing and promotion of infant formula for infants below six months in Singapore. SIFECS will, in the third quarter of 2017, extend the coverage of the Code to all infant formula for infants up to 12 months of age. It is also reviewing its Code in line with international best practices."

So because of these crazy sky-high formula milk prices that increased over the years, our government has sprung into action and by the end of 2017, you probably be getting lesser free formula milk. What the heck, quickly sign up for your free gifts now!

But if your little one is still below 6 mths old or still in your tummy, you could still apply for and get some free stuff! Start by getting some maternal supplements for yourself! Some websites require you to create your userID and password, which I indicated below. But most sites usually don't require log-in. Check it out now!

Find The Most Complete List of Free Baby Sample Freebies in SG Here! Totally Free Baby Stuff!

Free Nutritional Maternal Supplements for Pregnant, Expecting or Breastfeeding Mothers!

- Friso - http://shop.friso.com.sg/english/sampleproduct/sampleproduct/view . There is the Frisomum.
- Dumex - http://www.dumex.com.sg/ . Get your Free sample Mamil Mama. You gotta register for your login name and password.
- S-26, under Wyeth Nutrition - https://www.wyethnutrition.com.sg/en/free-samples . There are the S-26 MAMA and Enercal Plus.
- Similac, Abbott - http://abbottfamily.com.sg/campaigns/free-samples . There is the Similac Mum.
- Anmum - https://www.anmum.com/sg/en/contactus/sample-request.html . They have Lacta (for nursing moms) and Materna (for pregnant or women planning for pregnancy).
- New! Little Treasure Infant Formula (Made in Australia) - https://littletreasure.com.sg/ .You can get free samples for pregnancy stage and there is even milk sample for the adults and elderly called Seniors Formula, that are rich in proteins, calcium with multivitamins and mineral nutrients. However, there is a one-time flat delivery charge/fee of $10 per trip. So get all the samples at one go and pay the flat fee only once. Sorry they replied me that they no longer offer milk samples anymore. But you can still check out the Pregnancy and Seniors Formula Milk.
- Nestle - https://www.starthealthy.nestle.com.sg/ . You can register for the Nestle Baby Club membership here. Sign up to enjoy member benefits worth $388 of giveaways. For new moms, they will give you a New Mommy Bag, with MOM & me sample pack inside, together with other goodies (worth $250). When the baby is 6 to 7 months old, you will receive a Weaning Bag (worth $88) of goodies. Moreover, you will receive $50 product vouchers in your monthly e-mailers or goodie bags.

Free Baby Formula Milk Samples (usually it will be for infants 6 months old and above)

- Friso - http://shop.friso.com.sg/english/sampleproduct/sampleproduct/view . There is the Frisolac Gold Stage 2 (after 6 mths), Stage 3 (1 yr onwards), Stage 4 (3 yrs onwards), Milk Cereal (for 6 mths onwards to help baby start on solid food).
- Dumex - http://www.dumex.com.sg/requestsample. In their Mamil Gold Series, they have 3 types of Step 2 Formula (6mths and up), and 1 type of Step 3 Formula (for age 1 to 3 years).
- S-26, under Wyeth Nutrition - https://www.wyethnutrition.com.sg/en/free-samples . There are the Promil Gold (6 mths to 1 year), Progress Gold (for 1 to 3 yrs), Promise Gold (for 3 years of age and above), Picky Eater Gold (for picky eateres aged 1 to 12 yrs old).
- Similac, Isomil, Grow Abbott - http://abbottfamily.com.sg/campaigns/free-samples . There are 11 types of formula milk for babies and kids ranging from 6 months all the way up to 12 years old. Too many to list each one of them here. Grow Stage 2 and Stage 3 Sample direct link https://abbottfamily.com.sg/campaigns/05711ACD-0262-438A-AA0C-D98684989D84
- NAN, Nestle - https://www.starthealthy.nestle.com.sg/samples . You can get the free samples of NAN OPTIPRO GRO 3 and H.A. 3 (for 1 year and up), and Cerelac infant cereals (for 6 months to 1 year).
- Aptamil, AptaAdvantage - http://www.aptaadvantage.com.sg/register . You will get a free Discovery pack 900g sample of Aptamil products (for children 6 months to 6 years old).
- Karihome Goat's Milk Formula - http://karihome.com.sg/req-sample.html . You can get the Follow-on formula (7 - 12 mths) and Growing Up formula (1 - 3 years).
- Enfamil/Enfagrow, Mead Johnson - http://www.enfagrow.com.sg/register/sample . Register when you are pregnant or your kid is 6 months and above.
- New! Einmilk - http://www.einmilk.com/sample.php . You can get Einmilk Stage 2 and Stage 3.
- New! Little Treasure Infant Formula (Made in Australia) - https://littletreasure.com.sg/ .~~You can get free samples for Stage 2, 3 and 4. But there is a flat delivery charge/fee of $10. So get all the samples at one go and pay the flat fee only once.~~ Sorry they replied me that they no longer offer milk samples anymore. But you could still go check out the Australia Milk from Stage 1 to Stage 4.

Free Baby Disposable Diaper Samples

- Huggies - https://www.huggies.com.sg/request-sample.aspx?icmpid=get-your-free-sample-now .
- Mamypoko / Moony - http://www.mamypoko.com/sg/en/sample_request/index.html - But if it doesn't work, you can go to their Facebook (FB) and private message (pm) them for free samples. https://m.facebook.com/MamyPokoSingapore . For Mamypoko, they offer the Air Fit Tape diapers, Pants Air Fit and Pants Standard diapers. But they only give 1 product type sample per household with repeated requests available after a 6-month waiting period.
- DIAPEX Wonder Pants - http://www.ntpm.com.my/sample.html . Sadly it's only available for Malaysia residents. But I just post it here, just in case you know of others who could benefit from it.
- Merries Kao - https://sampleform.kao.com/form/33101-10 .
- Drypers - https://drypersfacebook.wildadsapp.com/fb/tab/requesttest .
- Nepia - Some sites said you could email to nepia@yamatosingapore.com - your address with contact number and Sample size. But I still yet to receive any reply. Hmmm...
- Bosomi Korean brand diaper - http://www.bosomi.sg/freesample.htm .
- New! Sensi Baby Diapers / Pant Diapers from Diapers Direct SG - https://www.diapersdirect.com.sg/products/sensi-baby-diapers . ~~You can email or call them to request samples for their Diaper Pants or Baby Tape Diapers. No registration required. Fuss-Free!~~ Sorry, they told me that they are running low on samples, so no samples will be given out for the time being.
- Fitti / Pet pet - https://www.facebook.com/petpetMY/ . You can pm them in FB for sample, but it's only for those who have Malaysian addresses.

No Free Baby Disposable Diaper Samples 😞

- Goon - https://www.diapers.com.sg/register.php .
- KCA and Onwards are from the same company, just that Onwards carries cartoon Tom & Jerry trademark, while those with animal cartoons on the diaper represents KCA. http://fudak.gomalaysia.com.my/home .
- Pampers, P&G - https://www.everydayme.com.sg/tag/pampers .

Free Baby Goodie Bag / Diaper Bags (Great Value!)

- Cradle of Love Goodie Bag - https://www.cradleoflove.sg/ ; https://www.facebook.com/cradleoflovesg . It is supported by Great Eastern, so an insurance agent will call you to deliver the goodie bag to you.
- NTUC FairPrice FairMily Kit (worth up to $100) - http://www.ntucgoodstart.sg . It is for families with Singapore citizen babies born between 1st January 2016 to 31st December 2019. You can register as soon as you have your baby, but for parents with children under the age of six months old, do note that the redemption card will be sent to you only after your child is six months' old. You also get a complimentary one-year Health Insurance Coverage for your baby from NTUC Income. If you have requested to be contacted by Income, an Income adviser will be in touch within the next two weeks to help you register your baby for Standard or Enhanced IncomeShield.
- Nestle Baby Club Membership (worth $388) - https://www.starthealthy.nestle.com.sg/ . I mentioned about it earlier in this post. Details above.
- Abbott Family (worth up to $400) - http://abbottfamily.com.sg/campaigns/join-abbott-family .

Other Free Baby Cream / Goodies / Food

- Bepanthen (Diaper Rash Cream Nappy Rash Lotion) - http://bepanthen.com.sg/en/free-sample.php . *You need to tick to accept the Privacy Statement before you can Send the request.
- Cetaphil Shampoo and Body Wash - http://cetaphil.com.sg/babysamples/?utm_source=Bloggers&utm_medium=PR&utm_content=Baby_AsianParent-advertorial&utm_campaign=BDJ-Baby-pr .
- Heinz Baby Singapore - https://www.facebook.com/sgheinzbabies/ . Just pm them, and they will send you a link to fill a survey before providing you with some samples.
- Ceradan Diaper Cream - https://www.facebook.com/Ceradan311/ . They currently do not give out samples to consumers directly. But they could pass some samples to your child's paediatric. You can pm them in FB.

By the way, if you happen to find out about more freebies, do let me know. You can comment here too. I will input it in the post, so that more people can benefit from it! Cheers!😍💗

Thank you!

2017-02-01T05:22:00.000-08:00

Thank you!

You are taking action and be one step closer to your goals!

Any correspondence will be usually done via WhatsApp to confirm session details, date and time of the next session.

Image credited to wpforms.com .

For the Average Singapore Investor: What should the Size of your Wealth/Retirement Fund be? What is the Rate of Return from your Wealth Machines?

2016-04-30T22:34:00.001-07:00

For the Average Singapore Investor: What should the Size of your Wealth/Retirement Fund be? What is the Rate of Return from your Wealth Machines? Find Out how you can mathematically calculate your sums.

This concept was taken from either a book or a website, but unable to credit the exact source to due to unable to recall as it was quite a while back.

I will put it in a Singapore context/ SG context for more relevant understanding.

As an average investor, do we know how much a retirement sum is sufficient for us to go to retire comfortably through our golden years? Some of us may not be too sure, or may not have a valid retirement figure/sum to stand by. Below is a guideline to help you to figure out how much you need to have before you can probably call it quits at your miserable work and have the cashflow to do things/work that is much more meaningful to you.

Eventually, at the end of this article, we will finally understand how much money is required in our Wealth Fund in order to achieve our Financial Independence (FI) through simple mathematical calculation in 2 steps.

The Size of Your Wealth Fund depends on a few factors:

- Your Annual Expenses

- Your Wealth Machine Rate of Return (ROR)

- Inflation Rate, e.g. 3%

Wealth Machines could come in the form of:

- Fixed Deposit accounts

- Trading accounts

- Savings/ Endowments

- Properties

- Businesses

- Royalty

Step 1: Let's say that your retirement lifestyle requires $6,000 per month.

Therefore in one year, you will need $6,000 x 12 months = $72,000 per year.

Wealth Fund required in FI (to fund a $6k/mth lifestyle)

= Total amount required per year divided by Rate of Return to generate cash flow in FI

In this example, we shall take a decent average rate of return of 4% from our investments, also the risk-free rate if we were to put into Central Provident Fund (CPF) retirement account (https://www.cpf.gov.sg/Members/AboutUs/about-us-info/cpf-interest-rates).

Therefore,

Wealth Fund required in FI (to fund a $6k/mth lifestyle)

= $72,000/4%p.a.

= $1,800,000

Step 2: Rate of Return (ROR) of the Wealth Machine

= ROR to generate cashflow in FI + ROR to keep up with inflation

= 4% + 3%

= 7% p.a.

A rough guideline would be, for every $1,000/month in returns/payout, you will need about $300,000 of assets in your investments to support that monthly income.

Your assets should not exceed 15% in high volatility instruments, e.g. stocks.

The unpredictability of inflation ==> One can't really predict inflation as it is somewhat a function of the political climate. That is why the most appropriate instrument are those that does better in an inflationary scenario, such as TIPS in the US, which are inflation indexed bonds that track the level of inflation, and in Singapore context, it could be CPF, value of properties which moves with the inflation rate.

One word of caution: It is not about randomly finding any financial instruments and randomly investing. No it doesn't work that way. One needs to be careful with their investments and invest wisely. Be careful of mutual funds/hedge funds etc that charges high commissions and fees, which could eat into your capital and cause you to have losses instead of gains.

Investing the Right Way: Investing and choosing in the right stocks or right properties could further expedite your process in reaching your Financial Independence or Financial Freedom.

If you are keen to know how to invest well in stocks and REITs, you might be interested to attend this free investing workshop http://bit.ly/1TCWyqg .

If you have signed up for the workshop, do drop me a comment or message here, so that I can followup with you to ensure that your investments produce results. All the best in your investing journey! Cheers!

Smoking vs Exercising - Difference between "feeling good" and "being happy"

2015-06-07T02:39:00.000-07:00

Smoking vs Exercising

Do not get yourself confused with the difference between "feeling good" and "being happy".

Many people feel good smoking, but in actuality they are not happy. Many people who exercise don't feel good while doing it but they are happy because they know that this is a beneficial activity.

I believe we all aim to have a happy life. However, happiness can be tricky which might need time & effort. Instead of looking for happiness, people tend to indulge in things that make them "feel good". "Feeling good" is superficial, e.g. buying an expensive designer handbag might make you "feel good"to show it off. But it doesn't create lasting happiness.

It's not that we cannot do things to make ourselves feel good. But we shouldn't indulge ourselves to escape from the fact that we are not happy. If we are not happy with our lives, we need to look within ourselves and find out the root cause of the unhappiness.

Striving for Meaning in Life - Reasons Why We Should Strive to Find Meaning in Our Lives

2015-06-02T02:29:00.001-07:00

Striving for Meaning in Life - Reasons Why We Should Strive to Find Meaning in Our Lives

Below is an except of an article from The Straits Times.

Many people who are saddened or disquieted by a nagging sense that life in general, or their own lives in particular, lack meaning. The Austrian psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor Victor Frankl believed that a sense of meaning and purpose is essential to mental well-being.

His experiences in the Nazi concentration camps during World War II, along with his professional dealings with scores of depressed and suicidal men and women, convinced him that without a deeply felt sense of purpose, even the most comfortable lives can feel sad and empty.

But if there exists such a sense of purpose, even the most outwardly wretched lives can feel worthwhile.

- Gary Hayden article in the The Straits Times

Value Investing in REITs by Attlee Hue Book Review and Summary

2015-04-30T22:55:00.000-07:00

Value Investing in REITs by Attlee Hue Book Review and Summary

Value Investing in REITs book review:

Basically this book provides facts and figures comparison about REITs in Singapore. It will be good if you like numbers and understand how the various ratios relate to one another. Below is a summarised version which I find useful.

Summary of Value Investing in REITs book:

If I want maximum yield, I will go for REITs that generate highest yield at the expense of capital appreciation.
CapitaMall Trust and CapitaCommercial Trust, both have healthy capital appreciation and some yield.

Office REIT more cyclical and you will want a higher yield to compensate for this fluctuation.
Singapore retail REITs as being safest types of REITs. Industrial REITs are highly cyclical and you want higher yield to compensate for these cycles.

What does RevPar mean in the reports?
It stands for hotel revenue per available room.

Healthcare REITs like FirstREIT and Parkway Life REIT, have long-term leases but low capital appreciation.

Value Investors usually pay for REIT at price less than NAV.

Property Yield = Net Property Income x 100% / Property Valuation

A REIT may report a loss but this loss is really a book value loss, therefore it could still distribute returns to Unitholders.

Attlee will not invest in REITs with gearing more than 50%. The additional yield cannot be worth the risk.
If the gearing ratio (aka Debt to Equity Ratio) is more than 35%, check the credit rating of the REIT. Under Property Fund Guidelines of the CIS Code, aggregate leverage should not exceed 35% of the deposited property without a credit rating. This is because the total assets of the REIT may have depreciated resulting in the gearing exceeding 35%. Under this circumstance, the REIT need not obtain a credit rating but must cease any further borrowings.

Some of the credit agencies include Moody's, S&P and Fitch.

REIT Manager Pedigree
All REIT Managers in Singapore are incorporated companies. These manager companies themselves have their board of directors and shareholders. Not all the manager companies have the same parental pedigree. It is often helpful to find out who their shareholders are. You draw much comfort if the managers are owned by a substantial entity like Temasek or Capitaland or City Development. Often these same shareholders of the manager are also the largest unitholders of the REIT. This is not unexpected because often the REIT was formed in the first place by these companies moving their property assets into the REIT and then listing them.

In a financial crisis where the REIT has to raise funds to pay down its loans, a REIT manager financially well supported by a strong shareholder or a "big brother" can underwrite the rights issue. If the controlling unitholder of a REIT is a financially weak player, the REIT would be unlikely to undertake a rights issue.

It is better in the long run to opt for a REIT with a high property yield. As an inflation hedge, the larger the portfolio size, the closer the capital gains will track the inflation rate affecting the economy as a whole.

Before reaching any quick conclusion on gearing alone to consider other relevant indicators associated with the level of borrowing. This includes the credit rating, interest cover, amount of short term loan (due within the year), whether any loans are in default and even blended average cost of debt. Interest cover is how many times the earnings of the company for the year exceeds the interest payable for that year.

Avoid REITs whose REIT manager are not well-known. The challenge for REIT investors is not to identify REITs that will not come down when the market does since this is not possible. It is rather to identify REITs that will recover its price when the market eventually gets over the cycle and in the meantime continue to pay a consistent yield to its investors.

Investors Returns on the REITs = Distributions for the year (aka Dividends) / Value of REIT (aka Share Price of REIT)

Price Earnings Ratio (PE Ratio) are not used as valuation, because earnings of a REIT are often distorted by the annual property revaluations.

Value Investors Quick Tips
- Singapore retail REITs as being safest types of REITs.
- Value Investors usually pay for REIT at price less than NAV.
- Refrain from investing in REITs with gearing more than 50%.
- It is better in the long run to opt for a REIT with a high property yield
- Price Earnings Ratio (PE Ratio) are not used as valuation.
- Other factors to consider other than Gearing (aka Debt/Equity Ratio), are credit rating, interest cover, amount of short term loan, any default loan.
- Use Property Yields and Return on Equity (ROE) for comparisons if the numbers are fairly consistent.

How Singapore became a rich & successful country & how you can learn from it, apply to yourself & become rich & successful too!

2015-04-13T20:45:00.000-07:00

How Singapore became a rich & successful country & how you can learn from it, apply to yourself & become rich & successful too!

The Short Singapore Reserves Story

We know that the Singapore government reserves have about $500 billion from foreign reserves managed by MAS & Temasek portfolio (obtained from MOF website http://203.211.150.164/cms-mof/reserves.aspx). But this amount still does not include government funds managed by GIC (not revealed). But we hearsay that it's probably about $1 trillion...well it could be more, but we don't know since it's undisclosed. Even so, the government is taking only about $79.9 billion for expenses in FY2015 (obtained from http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/more-singapore-stories/story/singapore-budget-2015-parliament-passes-record-799-billi). Probably about 8% or less of its total assets, & part of these expenses will contribute to even more returns for Singapore, e.g. Changi Airport development. Looking at GIC & Temasek portfolio returns, which are at between 7%-15% pa returns. Singapore is very conservative & basically spending only its interests earned on its assets.

The Strategy

Simply put, Singapore has a big mother goose (reserves & assets), that lays golden eggs (its interests & returns earned), but the government only spends the interest, & contribute the excess back to the mother goose. As long as one doesn't kill the mother goose or slowly eat up the assets, the golden eggs will keep coming.

Thus, my goal is to build my mother goose assets & only eat the golden eggs. That way I'll never have to worry about not having another paycheck, & that's when I'll be financially free. Yeah!

The Reality

Sadly, some of my friends & colleagues around me does not have growing assets. They live from paycheck to paycheck, which is very risky. Thus it seems to me, that they are far from being able to achieve their financial freedom. There would be those who make more money than me, but they probably not be able retire earlier than me due to their poor spending habits. On the other side, I do know of people who earn more than me, and invest better & more strategically than I do. These are the people who I prefer to mix with & learn more from.

The Takeaways

It definitely takes discipline to live humbly & conservatively at the beginning and practise delayed gratification, this is so that one can grow their assets sooner, & eventually never have to worry about not having the next paycheck for the rest of your life.

When talking about financial planning, insurance planning & investing, I do have much interests in it. I have picked up some skills and strategies in these areas over the years. It's important to me because it concerns my future. Just like how the government manages Singapore's reserves.

Logical Reasons To Show You Why You Can Still Put Your Retirement Savings into The Stock Market & Not Fear for it to be Wiped Out

2014-07-01T09:26:00.001-07:00

Logical Reasons To Show You Why You Can Still Put Your Retirement Savings into The Stock Market & Not Fear for it to be Wiped Out

The article is written by Teh Hooi Ling, an ex-The Straits Times newspaper writer, author was a multi-award winning investment columnist in Singapore who is now a partner in Aggregate Asset Management, manager of a no-management fee Asia value fund. There were some calculations done to prove to you that by entering at market tops, even after major crisis, as long as you do not cash out the entire portfolio at the market bottom, chances are you would see your portfolio recover back up, and probably giving you even more returns. The Straits Times Index (STI) was used as a proxy for how an all-equities portfolio would have performed. I have re-blog it here below.

The below information are credited to http://www.thestar.com.my/Business/Business-News/2014/04/26/Safe-instruments-for-retirement-myth/

In the field of investment, one wisdom often purveyed is that of life-cycle investing. The theory goes that young people should be more aggressive in their investments, i.e. they should allocate a higher proportion of their portfolios to equities for long-term compounding effect to take place. But as a person nears retirement age, the person should cut exposure to equities and hold more portfolios in bonds and cash.

This makes intuitive sense. Equity prices are more volatile than fixed income instruments, and unlike the latter, there is no assurance of regular pay-outs from equities. As such, it would be “safer” for retirees, who are dependent on their life savings for their daily expenses, to park their money in a less volatile portfolio. What if the retirees had their entire life savings in equities, and saw their portfolio diminish to less than half during the global financial crisis in 2008? That would be a nightmare scenario, wouldn’t it?

This scenario is likely to be most vivid when the stock market crash is at its worst. At that point, we see in our minds retirees with their wealth halved compared to the pre-crisis level. “Poor things!” we’d think. “That’s why retirees shouldn’t put all their nest eggs in the stock market.”

But do you know that the market recovers even from the worst of crises. As long as the retirees don’t panic and cash out the entire portfolio at the bottom of the market, there is a good chance that they would see their portfolio recover.

We did a stress test on an all-equities portfolio at each of the previous market peaks in the Singapore market going as far back as 1973. Let’s assume that there were seven retirees.

Each retired with S$1mil and decided to put the entire sum into the stock market. The bull markets at the time of their retirement gave them confidence that the stock market was a good place to keep their savings. So each of them plonked their S$1mil into the market on the last day of 1972, 1981 1983, 1989, 1996, 1999 and 2007. And each wanted to withdraw 5% from that S$1mil, or S$50,000 a year, to pay for their living expenses.

As it turned out, the years that the seven retirees put their money into the market were the years of market peaks. Soon after, major crashes or market corrections took place.

Can the S$1mil equities portfolio last them till today?

Financial crisis

Well, six out of the seven portfolios did. The initial S$1mil portfolios were worth between S$738,000 and S$3.2mil as at end-2013. For the person who retired at end-1981 with S$1mil invested entirely in the Singapore stock market, her portfolio as at the end of last year was worth S$3.2mil. This was after she withdrew S$50,000 a year for the last 32 years for a total of S$1.6mil from the portfolio.

As for the person who retired on the eve of the Asian financial crisis, her portfolio as at end of last year was worth S$1.5mil. And in the intervening years, she had taken out S$850,000 to spend.

From the table above, you can see that the two who retired on the eve of the two most recent market crashes – the dotcom bubble burst in 2000 and the global financial crisis in 2008 – still had S$738,000 and S$758,000 in their portfolios respectively.

At 5% withdrawal rate, the lowest the six retirees’ portfolios ever fell to was S$417,000. That was for the person who retired at the peak of the dotcom bubble. But as long as there is still money in the market, there is a chance of recovery.

The only retiree whose portfolio didn’t survive was the one who put her money into the market during the massive 1973 bubble in the Singapore market. At that time, according to data from Thomson Datastream, the Singapore index was trading at a price-earnings ratio of 35 times.

It was the time when OCBC was trading at S$50 a share and Metro was at S$26. In other words, there was a massive bubble in the Singapore market at that time.

At a 5% withdrawal rate, her money was depleted by end-1983. But if she had reduced her withdrawal rate to 3%, i.e. take out S$30,000 instead of S$50,000 a year to spend, she would have survived the numerous crashes that followed and she would still have an equities portfolio of S$848,000 as at end of last year.

For the above calculations, we use the Thomson Datastream calculated Straits Times Index as a proxy for how an all-equities portfolio would have performed. Dividends are added to the portfolio. No transaction costs are taken into account. The portfolios are valued once a year on Dec 31, and withdrawals are done on that day as well.

I couldn’t find Malaysian market data that go as far back. But investors here will be happy to note that over the long term, the Malaysian equities market tend to outperform the Singapore market. So the results above are applicable to Malaysia, with an even greater buffer. And if one is able to construct a portfolio of stocks that can outperform the market index over time, then there is an even greater margin of safety.

So what are the main takeaways from the above study?

Chances of an all-equities portfolio being wiped out at a withdrawal rate of 5% a year is minimal under normal market conditions. The exception is when someone buys into the market at the peak of a massive bubble, as was the case in 1973. (For readers who would like to stress-test their retirement funds over various cycles in the US going as far back as 1871, you can go check out the website <www.firecalc.com>.)

Rough ride

Another noteworthy point is that as long as the portfolio is not decimated, and so long as the money stays invested in the market, there is a good chance of recovery given time. But admittedly, the ride can be quite rough at times. The portfolio can plunge by half in a year. The key is to hang on tight.

So the upshot is that one who has S$1mil can safely withdraw S$50,000 a year to fund one’s retirement for as long as one lives, and still leaves an estate for one’s children if one puts the entire sum in the equities market.

Time to say goodbye to perpetuals, annuities and bonds – which usually form the core of a retirement portfolio!

But there is one very important caveat here. The equities portfolio must be made up of a diversified basket of stocks of real businesses, and purchased at cheap or fair prices which are not likely to result in a significant permanent loss of capital. Buying into speculative stocks which have scant business prospects and at way overvalued prices, is a sure-fire way for one to outlive that S$1mil in the shortest possible time.

The author was a multi-award winning investment columnist in Singapore who is now a partner in Aggregate Asset Management, manager of a no-management fee Asia value fund.

Are Insurance Companies Scamming Us Too?

2014-06-27T23:10:00.001-07:00

Hi all,
This article, Plight of the 'sophisticated investor', published on 27 June 2014 in The Straits Times, written by a typical investor in Singapore who has invested part of his savings in endowment insurance policies for the last 20 years, only to find out that his "profits were just a tiny fraction of what was projected 20 years ago".

Read the article, and I guess most of you will find that getting an insurance to grow your savings will sound like a scam to you. Maybe it doesn't sound that bad as Genneva gold, gold guarantee or Profitable plots scams, where you can't even get your money back.

But anyway you were still smoked by these insurance companies "rosy projections", only to find out that you were cheated of your feelings when you received miserable returns on your investment 20 years later. Moreover if you want to take out your funds midway through the insurance plan, you might even have to suffer some losses or negative returns.

This sounds to me like... if you want to grow your money or nest egg, do not put it in insurance!

I would rather put my funds into stocks, property or the STI ETF. Even putting your funds into STI ETF through OCBC, POSB or Phillip share builder plan to do dollar cost averaging (DCA) over the longer term, could give you better returns than unit trusts, plus you can liquidate it within a few days without penalty. But if you invest too small an amount monthly, the fees that you are paying for will not be worth it.

Investing into the right stocks & properties for yourself also require investment knowledge in these areas which we should continuously learn and find out if you do want to properly manage your own funds.

Finally, I guess I wouldn't be opening any new endowment plans any time soon. I would rather put in other investment vehicles that I understand and have more control over my investments. But one should not be complacent as it too comes with more responsibility. But it is not too hard to do as well.

Also importantly, do make sure you have sufficient insurance plans to cover your basic needs such as hospitalisation, critical illness & disability plans. You would not want any unforeseen circumstances to wipe off your hard-earned savings & investment returns.

On another note, there is no need to over-protect, or over-cover yourself by paying huge premiums which I realised that some of my friends do. This could result in yourself having not enough left to invest in your financial future. There are ways to calculate how much you really do need to insure yourself.

Make sure you leave the rest of the money to work harder for you, which you can already start to do at any age whether you are young or old, by taking a step at a time.

Do feel free to comment if any.

The 8 Traits of Successful People (after 10 years of research and 500 face-to-face-interviews)

2013-09-27T04:02:00.001-07:00

Eight Traits of Successful People

This is a pretty good video about the 8 traits successful people have in common.
You may be...

NOT Smart
NOT Talented
NOT Lucky
NOT Privileged
NOT Beautiful
NOT Popular
NOT an Achiever
NOT Likely to Succeed

and you still could succeed! (Sounds good to me..=D)

After Ten years of research and five hundred face-to-face-interviews, basically this is the summary.

Passion - Love what you do!
Work - Really Hard!
Focus on One Thing - Not everything.
Push - keep pushing yourself
Ideas - Come up with good ideas
Improve - Keep improving yourself in what you do
Serve others something of value - because success is not about me, me, me.
Persist - because there is no overnight success

This 8 traits are the Heart & Foundation of Success. Then on top of it, you build specific skills for a field or career

Technical Skills
Analytical Skills
People Skills
Management Skills
Computer Skills
Creative Skills

And lots of other skills that you can add on top depending on our field. And no matter what field we are in, these 8 Traits will be at the Heart of Our Success.
Watch the video below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NOl0v54DaXo

Free Motorcycle Parking List, FOC Motorbike Bike Parking Guide Lists in Singapore SG

2013-08-10T08:28:00.001-07:00

Free Motorcycle Parking, FOC Motorbike Bike Parking in Singapore

Credit: http://sgwiki.com/wiki/Motorcycle_Parking
*Note: The list is quite long, so if you want to search for a particular location, you may click Ctrl+F to start a search function, and do a quick search of locations and parking from this website.
*If you spot any of the motorcycle parking locations that have changed to paid parking, or if you spot new Free/FOC parking locations, do comment or feedback on it, then we can help more of our motorbiking buddies know about it too.

Free of Charge

Map of the majority of listed locations: http://maps.google.com.sg/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=213193602903777494146.0004a4b66c2767af7ba5e&ll=1.376935,103.698235&spn=0.219663,0.41851&t=h&z=12

50 Scotts Road (WPP Building)
991 Alexandra Road (scan your IU, no charge)
Acer Building
Alexandra Technopark
Big Splash
Boon Siew Building
Botanical Gardens
Bright Centre
Caldecott Hill (Mediacorp)
Capitol Building
Chai Chee Technopark (Blk A, D & E only)
China Square Central (South Bridge Road)
Chinese Garden
Clarke Quay CP
Comtech (near Alexandra techno park)
Creative Building
Downtown East (ground floor FOC; limited lots - park on pavement at your own risk)
EMC (3 Changi Business Park Vista S486051)
Environment Building, 40 Scotts Rd (a dozen lots in the open air carpark)
Esplanade
Fuji Xerox Towers
Gateway Building
German Centre (@ International Business Park)
Great Eastern Centre (Pickering Street)
Great World City Office Building
Guthrie House (@ Fifth Avenue)
Harbourlink
Health Promotion Board
HortPark (@ Hyderabad Rd)
Informatics Education
Inland Revenue House (park @ b3 or b4)
JTC Summit
KA Centre
King Albert Park McDonald's
Keppel Digihub (Serangoon North Ave 5)
Keppel Distripark
Laguna Park (Pte Estate)
Lippo Centre
Mapletree Business City
Marina Barrage
Maxwell Food Centre (free after 2200hrs)
Mountbatten Square
Mount Faber (Go to hilltop find a empty space to park)
National Museum Of Singapore (Bike Lots located before the Carpark Gantry on the right, Carpark Warden at the booth will direct you to park behind the building)
Novena Square (bike parking lots the loading bay)
Old School at 11 Mount Sophia
Orchard Grand Court
Orion Building (Tamiya and Yamaha showroom)
Prudential @ Scotts (Newton) - entrance at Bukit Timah Road
PSA Building (460 Alexandra Road) - Go around to the back of the MSCP. There's a sign motorcycle lots.
Punggol Marina Country Club
Riverside Square (Limited)
Roxy Square opp PParade (lots at the back of the building, no indication of coupons needed)
SAFRA Toa Payoh & Yishun
SAFRA Jurong
Science Centre
Shell house
SGX Centre
SIM HQ (no charge at exit)
Singapore Art Museum (limited lots, free only for guests to the museum & outlets)
Singapore EXPO
Singapore Islamic Hub (Braddell)
Singapore Post Centre
Singapore Mandai Zoo
Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee HQ (1 Kay Siang Rd)
SLF Building (Enter via Thomson Road) [Limited Lots]
Tan Tock Seng Hospital
Tampines Concourse (Lot 11, a new building by CDL)
Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal
The Alpha (Science Park)
The Chevrons
The Concourse
The Rutherford @ Science Park
Thomson Imperial Court
Tradehub 21
Turf City

Shopping Malls/Centres

Amara Shopping Centre (No longer free. See 100AM below.)
Anchorpoint
Balestier Plaza
Beauty World Shopping Centre
Bukit Timah Plaza
~~Centrepoint (bikes normally super packed)~~ No more free motor bike parking at Centrepoint.
Central @ clarke quay (Don't go up the slope to the MSCP. Follow the Taxi sign and follow the motorcycle lane to pass the barrier.)
Central Mall (basement carpark)
Coronation Plaza Shopping Centre
Concorde Shopping Centre (Havelock)
Concorde Hotel Shopping Mall (formerly Le Meridien Shopping Centre)
Eastpoint Shopping Mall (Limited)
Far East Square
Furniture Mall
Golden Wall Centre
Great World City
Greenwich V
Hougang Point
Hougang Green Shopping Mall
IKEA (alexandra; tampines)
IMM (Toh Guan Road)
Katong Mall
Kembangan Plaza
Liang Court (Go up to the multi-storey CP. No entry for basement CP)
Marina Square
Merchant Square (next to Central Square)
Millenia Walk
Park Mall
Mustafa Shopping Center
Parkway Parade
Punggol Plaza
Suntec City
Tampines Mart
Tampines Mega Malls (Ikea, Giant and Courts)
Tampines Point
Tanglin Mall
Ten Mile Junction
Triple One Somerset (NO LONGER FREE from 01 Apr 2013)
The Verge (formerly known as Tekka Mall)
Upper Serangoon Shopping Centre
UE Square Shopping Mall (no entry to Carpark B. Go to Carpark A - parking area is just past the barriers at the bottom of the slope)
Valley Point

Hotels/Resorts/Chalets

Carlton Hotel (park @ B2)
Changi Village Hotel (Formerly Le Meridien Changi)
Costa Sands East Coast (weekdays free; weekends $1)
Costa Sand Pasir Ris
Conrad Hotel - basement with marked lots
Copthorne King Hotel (no marked lots)
Copthorne Orchid (Dunearn Road)
Furama Hotel
Furama RiverFront Hotel (Full barrier but can there's gaps in the centre kerb to bypass)
Gallery Hotel (only got 2 proper bike lots in B1)
Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel (no marked lots; enter by King's Centre)
Grand Park City Hall
Holiday Inn Atrium (Outram Road)
Hotel 81 (and most other budget hotels)
Hotel Miramar
Hotel Rendezvous (hotel guests only; treacherously tight carpark)
Hotel Royal (Newton)
M Hotel
Pan Pacific Hotel (same CP as Marina Square)
Park Royal Hotel (Beach Road) (Free parking behind - don't go up the Furniture Mall mscp)
Orchard Hotel (B2, look for motorcycle parking sign)
Raffles Hotel Basement (Enter from Seah Street)
Riverside Hotel
Robertson Quay Hotel (Limited)
Sheraton Hotel
Shangri-La (Valley Wing entrance)
Swissotel Merchant Court
Traders Hotel Shangri-la
The Regent Singapore (lots of bike park at B2)
The Ritz-Carlton (not charged at ERP gantry)

Country Clubs

Jurong Country Club
Keppel Country Club (Visitors Carpark)
NSRCC
Polo Club
Seletar Country Club (Designated Bike lots)
Singapore Recreation Club
The Legends @ Fort Canning
Warren Golf and Country Club (workers bike lots)

Hospitals

Ang Mo Kio Community Hospital
Camden Medical Centre
Changi General Hospital
Communicable Disease Centre
Gleneagles
KK Women's and Children's Hospital
Khoo Teck Puat Hospital
Mt Alvernia
National Dental Center
National Skin Centre
National University Hospital
Singapore General Hospital
Singapore Skin Centre
Tan Tock Seng Hospital (Basement 3)

Campus/Learning Centres

Bukit Batok Driving Centre
National University of Singapore (NUS)
Nanyang Technological University of Singapore (NTU)
Police Academy
Republic Polytechnic
Singapore Institute of Management (Clementi Road)
Singapore Safety Driving Center (SSDC)
Singapore Management University (SMU - Basement Parking @ Lee Kong Chien Bldg)

Paid Parking

100AM (Formerly Amara Hotel) $2 per half hr Mon - Sat before 5pm. $3 per entry 5pm onwards till before 8am next day. $3 per entry on Sundays & Pub Holidays
20,26,28 Ayer Rajah Crescent ($0.65 / day per entry Cashcard)
313 Somerset ($0.50 / hour)
8 Shenton Way (formerly Temasek Tower) (1st half hour $0.60 / after half hour $1.20 full day)
888 Plaza ($0.65)
Adelphi ($1.00 from 16 nov 09)
Airport ($1.30,FOC after 2300hrs)
Airport T3 (both CP 3A & 3b $1.30; 2200hrs-0700hrs FOC)
Alexandra Hospital ($0.70)
AMK Hub ($1.20/ENTRY insert cashcard type gantry. loading bay located opposite mrt tracks. dun enter via normal CP as ground will be wet when raining)
Asia Square ($5.35 per entry)
AXA Tower (Shenton Way) ($0.60 every half hour)
Biopolis ($0.65)
Bras Basah Complex ($0.65)
Bugis Junction ($1.05)
Burlington Square ($0.80)
Bukit Merah Central HDB CP below Hawker Centre ($0.65 per entry, FREE on Sundays & Public Holidays - Insert Cash Card only upon exit)
Bukit Panjang Plaza (No longer Free Parking)
Bukit Timah Shopping Centre ($1.05)
Bukit Merah Lane 1 (EPS parking, gantry always spoilt)
Cairnhill Carpark ($1.50)
Capital Square (Got charged $8.80 for slightly more than an hour; stay away from this place!)
Capital Tower ($2.20)(7am to 7am)
Capitol Centre ($1 per entry) - the one at cityhall beside peninsular plaza
Causeway Point ($0.70)
Central Mall - multi-storey carpark ($0.85/ entry)
Centrepoint ($1.50 per hour) 20 mins grace period only for motorcyclists.
Century Square ($1.07)
Certis Cisco Centre (Paya Lebar) ($0.50)
Changi Airport ($1.30 per day (7am-10pm) by Cash Card)
Changi City Point (First 2 hours or part thereof – $1, Every subsequent hour or part thereof – $1)
CHIJMES (Basement CP - Wilson Parking by entry. Free surface parking, no shade - turn right at the entrance)
Chinatown Point ($0.70)
Civil Service Club - Tessensohn Road Clubhouse ($1.00)
City Plaza ($0.60)
City Square Mall - Farrer Park ($1.50) NEW
CK Tangs ($3.00)
Clifford Centre ($1.50)
Cluny Court ($1 before 2am, $5 after 2am)
CMPB - Opp coupon parking
Com Centre III ($0.65 by Cash Card)
Compass Point ($1.20)
Costa Sands Pasir Ris ($1.00)
CPF Building Shenton Way ($1.50 per 1/2hr from 6am to 5pm (Mon-Fri), 6am to 1pm (Sat). Closed after 5pm/1pm, vehicle remaining from close onward will be charged an additional flat rate of $5)
Excelsior Shopping Centre ($0.80)
Far East Plaza ($2.14)
Funan Centre ($1.00)
Fusionpolis ($0.65 per entry)
Garden by the Bay ($1.20 per entry)
Golden Mile Shopping Centre ($1.00)
Golden Landmark Hotel And Shopping Centre
Golden Shoe ($1.10 before 7pm $2.20 after 7pm)
Goldhill Plaza ($0.65)
Goodwood Park Hotel ($1.25 per entry)
Hard Rock Cafe opp. got Wilson Parking ($0.80)
Haw Par Centre (Coupon Parking behind the building)
Hilton Hotel ($7 for 1st hour, $3.50 for 1/2 hour or part thereof)
Holiday Inn Parkview - $2.xx for first hour, and $0.50 every additional 15mins...
Hong Leong Building ($1.10)
Hong Lim Complex (shared with Chinatown Point - see above)
Hougang Mall ($0.65)
Hyatt Hotel ($2.14)[Grand Hyatt]
IBM Headquarters @ Changi Business Park ($0.65/entry)
ICA Building (Immigration & Checkpoints Authority) - $0.65 coupon parking
IOI Plaza ($1)
ION Orchard ($4 per entry, No grace Period)
Jackson Square ($0.65 by cash card)
JB City Square (RM$3.00) need to buy BLISS CARD
JB Holiday Plaza (RM$1.00)
JCube ($1.30)
Jurong Hill ($1 per entry)
Jurong Point ($0.80 per exit)
Jurong Stadium (coupon parking)
Jurong West Stadium (coupon parking; active wardens)
Katong Shoppling Centre (ERP) (Park at Roxy (see above)
LASALLE College of the Arts ($1)
Lot1 ($1.00) (HDB Brank Office next to Lot1 $0.65)
Loyang Point ($0.65)
Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) ($1.00)
Ming Arcade ($1.00) (next to Orchard Parade Hotel)
Manhattan House ($1.00)
Marina @ Keppel Bay ($0.85)
Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 2 ($1.07/ 2 hours)
Marina South Pier (this CP says you have to pay but barrier isn't full length)
National Skin Centre ($0.65 ERP) (This one is free)
MND Complex Tower Block (coupon parking)
Mountbatten Square ($0.80 / Hour)
National Library - ($1.05 / entry or $18 monthly season)
Northpoint ($1.20 / entry)
NEX ($1.20 / entry)
New Tech Park ($0.65 by Cash Card)
One George Street ($1.20 per entry/$15 monthly season parking)
One Raffles Quay ORQ ($1.07/ 2 hours)
Orchard Parade Hotel ($4.00)
OUB Centre ($2.20 every 30 mins)
Palmer House (coupon parking, lots of lots available)
Parklane Shopping Mall ($1.30 insert Cashcard)
Pearl's Centre ($1.00)
Peninsula Hotel ($0.80)
People's Park Shopping Centre ($1.00)
Plaza Singapura ($1.07)
PSA Building ($1.30) now need to pay, free parking at keppel yard entrance opp KTM railway or park at keppel distripark
Queensway Shopping Centre ($0.90)
Quality Hotel ($0.75)
Raffles City (City Hall MRT) ($1.00 per entry, start from 1 Feb 2013)
Raffles Hospital at Rochor ($0.65 per entry start from 8AM, free entry after 6pm)
Republic Plaza (entrance at Malacca St - $1 per 2 hours or part thereof)
Rivervale Plaza ($0.65)
Robertson Walk ($1.00)
Royal Plaza on Scotts same as car rates

(Mon - Sat) 8AM - 6PM $4 per hour, subsequent half hour $1.50 additional, (Mon - Sat) After 6 PM, Sundays and Public Holidays 8 am - 8 am, $5.50 per entry

SAFRA Jurong (Member: 0.61/entry, Guest: $1.22 Guest/entry)
SAFRA Mount Faber (ERP $0.60 Member; $1.20 Guests)
SAFRA Tampines
Seah Im Foodcenter Carpark (coupon parking; a lot of lots but a lot of bikes too and very active wardens)
Sembawang Shopping Centre ($1.00 per entry)
Serene Centre ($0.80)
Shaw Towers (Beach Road) ($1)
Shenton House ($3.00)
Skytech Buliding ($0.65)
Sim Lim Square ($0.75)
Sim Lim Tower ($1.00)
Solaris ($1.07 per entry)
Standard Chartered (Battery Road - $5)
Starhub Building ($1.00)
Sun Plaza ($1.61)
Takashimaya (per hour charging)
Tampines Mall ($1.07)
Tampines One ($1/entry from Nov 1, 2009 onwards)
Tanjong Pagar Complex ($0.65)
Techlink (Kaki Bukit - $0.65)
The Clementi Mall ($1.05)
The Sail ($1.50)
The Signature - Changi Business Park ($0.65 / entry)
The Star Vista (The Star Performing Arts Centre) - $1.07 per entry
The Strategy (International Business Park) - 65¢ day, 65¢ night
The Synergy (International Business Park) - 65¢ day, 65¢ night
Thomson Plaza ($1.00)
Tiong Bahru Plaza (WEF 1st May Tiong Bahru plaza $1.07 per entry. 10min grace period)
Toa Payoh HDB HUB ($0.65 if more than 10 minutes / Sunday FOC, barrier will be opened)
Triple One Somerset ($1.50 per hour) effective 01 April 2013
UOB Centre ($3.50)
UOB Plaza ($7.00 Per Hour same charge as car)
URA Centre ($1 per entry), open air coupon parking in the streets and alleys around
York Hotel (Above Mount E Hospital) ($1.25)
Youth Park Carpark ($0.65)
Vivocity ($1 for the first 3 hours, $1 hourly after that)
West Coast Jetty $0.65(pay at kiosk, its at the barrier with one man guarding)
White Sands ($1.00)
Wisma Atria ($2.10 - parking only on top 2 levels)
Wikie edge ($1.20 per entry)
Woodlands Civic Centre ($0.65)
Woodlands Point ($0.65)

No Parking

700 Beach Road (tenants only)
AIA building (tenants only; park opposite lau pa sat at Hong Leong Building)
Allson Hotel (only for hotel staff)
California fitness (members only)
Cathay Cinema
Cineleisure - coupon parking across & besides
China Square at Telok Ayer St (Park outside CP near cargo bay, if u dont mind the garbage smell)* Comfort Driving Centre (Closed)
Cuppage
Dawson Place (park on the pavement at Blk 58 at your own risk)
DBS Building Shenton Way
DBS Tampines Centre (tenants only)
Eastpoint Mall (park at MSCP opposite)
Far East Refrigeration Building (Lavender) - No bike lots, park pavement or in front Pek Chuan building got few bike lots)
Far East Shopping Centre (opposite Thai Embassy) - coupon parking besides at Angulia Park
Fook Hai Building
Forum Shopping Mall (From 20th July 2009)
Fortune Centre
Fullerton Hotel (see One Fullerton below)(park on pavement under the trees)
Golden Mile Tower @ beach road (park at pavement)
Great Eastern Life Changi Centre (Changi Road)
Harbourfront Centre
High Street Centre & High Street Plaza (park in the back lane + lots of room on nearby sidewalks)
Heeren
Hougang Plaza (Park at the side, do not go down the carpark's down slope ramp as out of bounds to bikes and the attendant will not help you reverse out and it has no "no entry to bike" sign from what I last seen).
International Bldg
iluma mall
Jelita (Have to park further down or at the petrol station)
Junction 8 (ERP multi storey beside; EXIT USING LEFT BARRIER, THE RIGHT ONE ALWAYS JAM)
Keypoint @ beach road (season ticket holders only)
Kallang Leisure Park (URA parking outside)
Liat Tower (Level 5)
Lido
Lot 1 CCK
Lucky Plaza
Mapletree Anson
Marina Bay Financial Centre (season parking only)
Marina Bay Sands
Midlink Plaza
Monetary Authority of Singapore (tenants only)
Meritus Mandarin Hotel & Shopping Arcade S'pore
Mount Elizabeth Hospital
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Campus 1 (staff and students only)
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Campus 3
Novena Square
NTUC Income Centre (Bras Basah Branch)
Oasia Hotel
OCBC Centre at Raffles Place (Season Parking Holders Only)
Ocean Building - tenants only
Odeon Towers - season parking only
One Fullerton - season parking only
One Marina Boulevard
Orchard Central
Pacific Plaza
Panasonic Building @ Jalan Kilang Barat
POMO (formerly Paradiz Centre)
Parliament House Basement Carpark
Paragon (park at Cairnhill Place $1.50)
Park Hotel (Orchard)
Parkview Square (tenants only) [if you can convince them that you're despatching letter]
Peace Centre (Residents only)
Plaza by the Park
Prime Centre (no bike parking at building itself, park at IOI Plaza, EPS parking)
RCL Building *Park at the lane beside coffeeshop, it's a "despatch parking"*
Rivervale Mall
Rivervale Plaza
Riverwalk (For season parking only, $10 per month)
Samsung Hub
Sentosa
Shaw Centre (Lido)
SIA Building (77 Robinson Road)
Siglap Centre
Sin Ming Plaza (Residents and shop tenants only. Visitors park next to the guard room)
Singapore Conference Hall
Singapore Flyer (only for staff)
Square 2
Sultan Plaza @ Jalan Sultan Road (No bikes allowed. Open carpark only 3 lots)
Sunshine Plaza (residents only) (Nearest is M/C coupon parking along prinsep st or IOI Plaza)
Tanglin Shopping Centre
TelePark (Tampines next to OCBC) - season parking only
The Corporate Office (Season parking only)
Thong Sia Building
UIC Building
United Square
Vertex (Ubi)
Wangz Hotel
West Coast Plaza (No longer can Park at Loading bay)
West Mall (no more entry to bikes from 1st Oct 08. Park at MSCP nearby.)
Wheelock Place - coupon parking besides at Angulia Park
Yew Tee Point (but see alot of malaysian bike park at the open space next to the building.
Yishun 10 (out of bounds for bikes)
Zervex (Ubi)

Motorcycle Parking Guide

Credit: http://www.whisperstothedeaf.com/motorcycle-parking-guide/

Credit: SBF Official “Where to park” Guide

Free To Park

28 Ayer Rajah Crescent
991 Alexandra Road (20/02/2009) (scan your IU, no charge)
Acer Building
Alexandra Technopark
Amara Shopping Centre
Anchorpoint (23/01/2009)
Ang Mo Kio Community Hospital
Balestier Plaza
Beauty World Shopping Centre (20/06/2008)
Big Splash (23/03/2009)
Boon Siew Building (20/06/2008)
Botanical Gardens
Bukit Batok Civil Service Club (20/07/2008) (Park in proper lot)
Bukit Batok Driving Centre (BBDC) (20/06/2008)
Bukit Merah Technopreneur Centre (24/07/2009) (alot of bike lots. Like couple more at the back. A gap at the entrance. to exit use the entrance.)
Bukit Panjang Plaza
Bukit Timah Plaza (07/04/2010)
Bright Centre
Caldecott Broadcast Center – Mediacorp (28/02/2009)
Camden Medical Centre (17/08/2009)
Capitol Building (20/06/2008)
Carlton Hotel – Bike parking @ B2
~~Centrepoint (18/09/2008) (bikes normally super packed)~~
Central @ clarke quay (Enter by the loading/unloading bay entrance, which is just next to the normal carpark entrance. There are proper bike lots inside there)
Central Square (saw that there is a gap for bikes at the parking barrier)
Changi General Hospital
Changi Village Hotel (Formerly Le Meridien Changi)
Chai Chee Technopark (20/06/2008) (Blk A, D & E only)
China Square at Cross Street (21/06/2009) (near cargo bay, if u dont mind the garbage smell)
Civil Service Club
CJ GLS Building (08/02/2009) (When u turn in, on ur immediate right there are m/c parking lots, if u ride further in where u can see IMM, there are also a few lots on the left after a few parallel car parking lots.)
Clarke Quay Carpark
Communicable Diesease Centre
Comtech (near Alexandra techno park) (08/02/2009)
Coronation Plaza Shopping Centre (27/06/2008) (Very limited lots)
Costa Sands East Coast (Free on weekdays, $1 for weekends)
Costa Sand Pasir Ris
Concorde Shopping Centre
Conrad Hotel (Suntec) – at basement with designated bike lots
Copthrone King Hotel (No lots..Park anywhere with space to slot in)
Copthorne Orchid (Dunearn Road) (24/08/2009)
Courts Tampines (08/12/2008)
Creative Building (02/08/2009)
Dempsey Hill (05/08/2009)
Downtown East (FOC on ground floor only – limited lots – park on pavement at your own risk)
Esplanade – Theater By The Bay (20/06/2008)
Far East Square
Furama City Centre Hotel (Chinatown)
Furama RiverFront Hotel (10/10/2008) (go thru’ kerb; parking is at the “waterfall”)
Furniture Mall
Fuji Xerox Towers (04/08/2010)
Gateway Building
Gallery Hotel (16/11/2008) (only got 2 proper bike lots at B1; didn’t see any at B2)
Giant Tampines (limited lots; very far from main door)
Gleneagles (05/04/2010) (lots to the left of A&E. Not sure about carpark at Glenegles Medical Centre.
Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel (enter by King’s Centre and slot bike in space you can find as there are no proper lots)
Great Eastern Centre (Pickering Street)
Great World City (20/06/2008)
Guthrie House (@ Fifth Avenue)
Harbourlink (14/03/2009)
Health Promotion Board
HortPark (24/12/2008)
Holiday Inn Atrium (01/08/2010)
Hotel 81 (and most other budget hotels)
Hotel Miramar (20/06/2008)
Hotel Rendezvous (only for hotel guests – treacherously tight carpark)
Hotel Royal (Newton) (10/05/2010)
Hougang Point
IKEA (Queenstown) (23/04/2010)
IKEA (Tampines) (20/06/2008)
Inland Revenue House (Park at B3 and B4)
IMM (17/08/2009) (Free if exit via Toh Guan Road) (First 3 hours Free, $1.07 thereafter.)
International Plaza (13/01/2009) (anson road turn left into wallich street at the white house, go all the way turn left at peck seah street, then turn left at choon guan street. see international plaza got carpark go up the slope. there is few marked bike lots. but u can park near the lift lobby got space which is facing temasek tower.)
Jelita (Have to park further down or at the petrol station)
JTC Summit (09/04/2009)
Jurong Birdpark (15/07/2010)
Jurong Country Club (17/08/2009)
Katong Mall (15/01/2009)
Keppel Distripark (18/09/2008)
Keppel Towers (30/09/2008)
Keppel Country Club (Visitors Carpark) (11/12/2008)
Kembangan Plaza
KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital
King Albert Park McDonald’s
Le Meridien Shopping Centre (16/04/2009) (very limited lots)
Liang Court (20/06/2008)
M Hotel
Lippo Centre
Marina South Pier (17/08/2009)
Marina Barrage (21/02/2009)
Marina Square (20/06/2008)
Maxwell Food Center (free after 2200hrs)
Merchant Square (next to Central Square)
Millenia Walk (01/10/2010) (Gap is super small at the exit, not sure how to exit gracefully)
Mount Alvernia (only 4 bike lots at entrance to sheltered carpark)
Mount Elizabeth Hospital (13/12/2009)
Mustafa Shopping Centre (20/06/2008) (Basement carpark; no barrier but there’s no proper bike lots, gotta park at spaces behind/beside the cars near the exit)
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Campus 1 NAFA (20/07/2008)
National Museum Of Singapore (25/03/2010) (Bike Lots located before the Carpark Gantry on the right, Carpark Warden at the booth will direct you to park behind the building)
National University Hospital
National University of Singapore (NUS)
NorthTech Building (Woodlands Industrial Park E1) (21/07/2010)
Novena Square (24//07/2010) (park at loading bay, mscp no entry for bikes. Go down slope to loading bay, turn right and go right in.)
Novotel Hotel @ Clarke Quay (21/02/2009)
NTU Alumni Club/One-North (04/06/2010)
NTUC Trade Union House (Next to Income Centre) (11/06/2011)
Old School at 11 Mount Sophia
Orchard Grand Court
Orchard Hotel
Orchard Parade Shopping Centre
Orion Building (Tamiya and Yamaha showroom)
Pan Pacific Hotel (20/06/2008) (Shares same Car Park as Marina Square)
Park Mall
Park Royal Hotel (Beach Road) (Free parking behind – don’t go up the Furniture Mall mscp)
Parkway Parade (got lots)
Plaza Singapura (20/06/2008) (ALERT! Theft Prone Carpark!) (Exit on LEFT side barrier gap. DO NOT exit on right side. Downslope barrier area.)
Police Academy
PSB Academy (15/06/2010)
Punggol Plaza
Punggol Marina Country Club
Raffles Hotel Basement (Enter from Seah Street)
Republic Polytechnic (02/11/2008)
Riverside Hotel
Riverside Square (Limited)
Riverwalk
Robertson Quay Hotel (Limited)
Roxy opp Parkway Parade (lots at the back of the building,no indication that bike need to put coupon)
SAFRA Toa Payoh, Yishun
Science Centre
Seletar Country Club (15/05/2009) (Designated Bike lots)
Sembawang Shopping Centre (01/03/2008) ($1.00 per entry. There are proper bike lots marked in the carpark, but they are quite narrow. Bikes with panniers will find it to be a tight squeeze.)
Shenton House (21/06/2009) ($3.00)
Sheraton Hotel
Shangri-La (Valley Wing entrance) (20/06/2008)
Shell house
SIM (Clementi Road)
Simpang Bedok (28/04/2010) (go pass the side of the barrier.)
Singapore Art Museum (limited space, free only for guests to the museum & outlets)
Singapore EXPO (20/06/2008) (Insufficient lots for bikes, especially during major shows.)
Singapore Flyer (12/02/2009) (the barrier does not extend all the way. But there are 3 yellow and black sticks on the ground, just have to manuver carefully around them. when u enter the carpark right, just follow the arrow direction at first level, look at your right side where those bulky aircon compressors are)
Singapore General Hospital (21/09/2009)
Singapore Mandai Zoo
Singapore Management University (SMU – Basement Parking @ Lee Kong Chien Bldg – Be careful! To enter car park you must go past the car park EXIT gantry – entry gantry is too narrow)
Singapore Post
Singapore Recreation Club
Singapore Safety Driving Centre (SSDC) (23/08/2008)
Singapore Skin Centre
Singapore Turf Club at Kranji (27/02/2009)
SLF Building (05/05/2010) (Enter via Thomson Road. Limited Lots)
Suntec City (20/06/2008)
Swissotel Merchant Court (20/08/2008)
Tampines Grande (besides AIA Tampines) (25/12/2009) (have 2 lanes for entrance, one of it has gap for bike to pass thru. (same for exit))
Tampines Mart
Tampines Point (28/11/2009)
Tan Tock Seng Hospital (Basement 3; Basement 2 for staff only)
Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal (06/01/2008)
Tanglin Mall
Tanjong Pagar Railway Station (02/11/2008) (gap – i think the attendant also dun mind if we squeeze. no marked lots. park behind the main building where the makan tables used to be)
TelePark (Tampines next to OCBC)
Ten Mile Junction (15/05/2009) (free parking, have proper lots, ground floor open-air lots)
The Alpha (16/07/2009)
The Chevrons (30/07/2009)
The Concourse
The Legends @ Fort Canning (07/03/2009)
The Regent Singapore (lots of bike park at B2) (17/01/2009)
The Ritz-Carlton (19/12/2008) (Scan IU but do not have to insert cashcard; barrier takes a long time to open)
The Verge (formerly known as Tekka Mall)
Tradehub 21
Traders Hotel (by Shangri-la) (09/09/2008)
TripleOne Somerset (13/06/2010) (formerly Singapore Power Building – Have to squeeze through the left side, security told me foc when i tried by main gantry.)
Turf City (20/06/2008)
UE Square Shopping Mall (29/08/2009) (no entry to Carpark B. Go to Carpark A – parking area is just next to the entry and exit barriers at the bottom of the slope)
United Square (30/03/2010)
Upper Serangoon Shopping Centre
Valley Point
Warren Golf and Country Club (22/04/2009) (workers bike lots)
West Coast Recreational Centre (29/09/2010)
YMCA Hotel (Stevens Road) (23/11/2008) (Can park, but at places where you’re not obstructing. No proper parking lots, so have to be careful not to obstruct stairways, car park, etc…..)

Paid Parking Allowed

AMK Hub (21/05/2010) (ERP $1.20 Marked Lots Available. Do not enter via normal Carpark along AMK Ave 3. Go to the bus terminal opposite AMK MRT Station (AMK Ave 8), entrance to loading bay.)

Capitol Centre (25/03/2010) ($1 per entry – the one at cityhall beside peninsular plaza)

Com Centre III (21/05/2010) ($1.05 by Cash Card)

~~loading and unloading bay~~

Eightrium (Changi Business Park) (22/07/2010) ($0.75/entry)

Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (16/06/2010) ($0.80/entry)

Lot 1 (18/04/2010) ($1.07. alternatively, park for $0.65 in the HDB Branch Office just after LOT 1.)

MacRitchie Reservoir (20/02/2010) ($0.02 / min, max $1.20 / day. From 11am to 5pm only, the first hour is free.)

Marina @ Keppel Bay (14/06/2010) ($1.28 for 1st 3 hours, subsequently $1.28 per hour or part thereof.)

National Dental Centre (21/05/2010) (ERP $0.65. coupon parking at the open air carpark beside it)

National Skin Centre (21/05/2010) (ERP $0.65)

Plaza 8 (Changi Business Park) (22/07/2010) ($1.07/hour)

SAFRA Jurong (29/03/2010) (Member: 0.61/entry, Guest: $1.22 Guest/entry)

Somerset 313 (16/02/2010) ($0.50/hr)

~~ERP~~

HDB HUB Toa Payoh ($0.65/day and $0.65/night)
Techlink (Kaki Bukit- $0.65)
Textile Centre (Jalan Sultan – $0.65 / entry)
The Arcade (18/11/2008) ($1.50/entry)
The Sail (30/09/2010) ($1.50/entry)
The Signature – Changi Business Park ($0.65 / entry) [OR can squeeze at ENTRANCE, go up curb when EXIT. curb is very small anyway]
The Strategy (International Business Park) (30/07/2009) (65¢ day, 65¢ night)
The Synergy (International Business Park) (30/07/2009) (65¢ day, 65¢ night)
Thomson Plaza (01/06/2010) ($1)
Tiong Bahru Plaza (01/05/2010) ($1.07 per entry. 10 mins grace period.)

UOB Plaza (18/07/2010) ($7.00 Per Hour same charge as car) (public parking: Lor Telok.Circular Road (back lane beside 7-11). Synagogue Road (behind the telephone exchange building) Private: Clifford Centre.)

West Coast Jetty (14/03/2010) ($0.65 pay at kiosk, its at the barrier with one man guarding)

OUT OF BOUNDS FOR BIKES

Novena Square (Park at loading bay)

Pacific Plaza (03/06/2010) (Coupon Parking behind)
Parliament House Basement Carpark (05/04/2009)
Panasonic Building @ Jalan Kilang Barat
Paradiz Centre (18/11/2008)
Peace Centre (20/07/2009)
Paragon
Park Hotel (Orchard)
Parkview Square (28/04/2009) (tenants only) [FOC if you can convince them that you're despatching letter]
Plaza by the Park
Police Cantonment Complex (Open Air Only) (for staff only)
RCL Building (Park at the lane beside coffeeshop, it’s a “despatch parking”)
Rivervale Mall (21/06/2010)

Traffic Police Department (Ubi Ave 3 – Authorised Personnel Only) (30/07/2010)

Wang Hotel at 231 Outram Road (10/01/2010)

~~Loading/Unloading Bay~~

Career Lesson from CEO of IBM, Ginni Rometty (One of the Top 10 most powerful women in business)

2013-06-09T09:01:00.001-07:00

Career Lesson from CEO of IBM, Ginni Rometty (One of the Top 10 most powerful women in business):
Show grace under pressure.

I believe it is good to remain professional and calm even when things does not go the way you want it. Definitely better than being rude, speaking loudly, showing frustration, complaining and spouting vulgarities.
Stay cool, calm & professional. If you can handle it that way, you are good.

The Emperor's Seed Inspirational Story

2013-05-15T06:55:00.000-07:00

An emperor was growing old and knew it was time to choose His successor. He called the young people in the kingdom together and said, "It is time for me to step down and to choose the next emperor."

"I am giving each one of you a seed today. I want you to plant the seed, water it and come back one year from today with what you have grown from this one seed. I will then judge what you bring, and choose who will be the next emperor!"

Ling received a seed like the others. He went home and excitedly told his mother the story. She helped him get a pot and planting soil, and he planted the seed and carefully watered it. Every day he watered it and watched to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other youths began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Ling kept checking his seed, but nothing grew. Three , four, five weeks went by, but nothing sprouted. By now, others were talking about their plants. Ling didn't have a plant, and he felt like a failure.

Six months went by; still nothing grew in Ling's pot. He believed he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. He just kept hoping for his seed to grow.

After a year all the youths of the kingdom brought their plants to the emperor for his inspection. Ling told his mother that he wasn't going to take an empty pot, but his Mother said he must be honest about what happened. Ling felt sick to his stomach, but he knew his Mother was right.

When Ling arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other youths. They were all shapes and sizes. Ling put his empty pot on the floor and many of the others laughed at him.

A few felt sorry for him and said, "Hey, nice try." When the emperor arrived, he greeted the young people and then surveyed the room. Ling tried to hide in the back.

"My, what great plants, trees and flowers you have grown," said the emperor. "Today, one of you will be appointed the next emperor!"

All of a sudden, the emperor spotted Ling at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered his guards to bring him to the front. Ling was terrified. "The emperor knows I'm a

failure! Maybe he will have me killed!"

When Ling got to the front, the Emperor asked his name. "My name is Ling," he replied. The emperor looked at Ling, and then announced to the crowd, "Behold your new emperor! His name is Ling!" Ling couldn't believe it. Ling couldn't even grow his seed. How could he be the new emperor?

Then the emperor said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone here a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. I gave you all boiled seeds, which would not grow. All of you, except Ling, have brought me trees, plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Ling was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new emperor!"

Plant honesty, you will reap trust. Plant goodness, you will reap friends.

Plant humility, you will reap greatness. Plant perseverance, you will reap victory.

Plant consideration, you will reap harmony. Plant hard work, you will reap success.

Plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation. Plant patience, you will reap improvements.

Plant faith, you will reap miracles.

Habit of Going the Extra Mile - Napolean Hill "Think and Grow Rich"

2012-06-02T20:54:00.002-07:00

Habit of Going the Extra Mile - Napolean Hill "Think and Grow Rich"

- it means the rendering more & better service than one is expected of you & doing it in a positive mental attitude.

QQMA Formula:

Quality of service u render + Quantity of service + Mental Attitude of which u render your service = determines the special or chosen calling for your services.

Do it deliberately with the purpose of forethought.

Make yourself indispensable.

Excel in your line of work.

Law of Contrast

- Continuously seek new & better ways of rendering new service and will inspire you to move on your own initiative instead of being asked what to do. --> It's the first step in leadership in all callings.

Habit of the extra mile, helps you go ahead without fear confusion from others.

Definiteness of Purpose

Provides you with the one and only excuse for asking for a promotion

Maintain a Mastermind Alliance with others.

Farmer Story

Farmer going the extra mile. Once he do the job - plough the ground and put the seeds, nature will do the next step - grow the plants.

It's about you getting the first step/ initiative done first.

3 Steps to get you Going:

1st, start to render service to which you will not ask for compensation.

2nd, render it in a pleasing mental attitude.

3rd, follow and practise in 7 days in succession.

You can check out the video which I have transcribed some parts of it. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgGNTLAzulE&feature=share

Know the Difference between Innovation & Creativity?

2012-05-30T10:06:00.000-07:00

After attending Dr Geoff Nicholson Talk about innovation at Nanyang Polytechnic, I will just list down some pointers which I find quite interesting or useful.

Requirements for Innovation

Commitment
Courage
Confidence

"Innovation and Imagination give an economy or company that extra edge. Today wealth is generated by new ideas." - Goh Chok Tong, Former Prime Minister, Singapore
"Research is the transformation of money into knowledge."
"Innovation is the transformation of knowledge into money."
Innovation is the practival application and use of creativity.
"Creativity is THINKING UP new things." "Innovation is DOING new things." - Geoff Nicholson
To Activate Innovation, You Ned To...

…know where you want to go - VISION
…know where rest of the world is going - FORESIGHT
…have ambition - STRETCH GOALS

…have freedom to achieve your goals - EMPOWERMENT
…draw from and work with others - COMMUNICATION, NETWORKING
…be rewarded for your efforts - there is nothing more rewarding than RECOGNITION from your peers.

"The ordinary manager has a craving for order. The leader understands that innovation is almost always an untidy process." "The ordinary manager wants proof for an idea before taking action. The leader understands the value and power of faith." - L.W. Lehr, former CEO - 1980
Innovators are Problem Solvers.
6 Phases of a Project

Enthusiasm
Disillusionment
Panic
Search for the guilty
Punishment of the innocent
Praise and honor for the non-participant.

Final Message: No matter where you are...

Innovate for the customer
Network across the globe
Have Courage!

Napoleon Hill - Think and Grow Rich- Part 12-Accurate Thinking

2012-05-19T09:40:00.002-07:00

Napoleon Hill - Think and Grow Rich- Part 12-

Accurate Thinking

Important Fact that will aid you in your major purpose in life.

List down the facts you deal with everyday - Important & Unimportant facts.

Recognise unsound opinions from accurate thinking.

The more successful the person is, the more they won't mention unsound opinions.

They will identify the source of which they were to speak.

Ask a simple forward question,"How do you know?"

Do this no matter what his status or who you are speaking.

Do not allow anyone to do the thinking for you or control the thinking for you.

Think by the rules to save you from your mistakes.

7 Rules to follow which if you memorise & follow as a daily habit, will bring you top rating as an Accurate Thinker.

Rule #1: Never accept the opinions of other people as being facts until you have identified the source of those opinions and satisfy the source of accuracy.
Rule #2: Rmb that free advice will bear the closest of examination before it is being acted upon being deemed safe. And generally speaking, this sort of advice is worth exactly what it cost.
Rule #3: Alert yourself immediately when you hear anyone speaking to others in a discourteous or slanderous spirit. Because this should very fact should put you on notice that what you are hearing is bias to the very least about it.
Rule #4: In asking others for information, do not disclose to them what you think the information to be, because most people have the bad habit of trying to please under such circumstances. Well measured and tactful questions can be of great benefit to you in thinking accurately.
Rule #5: Remember that anything which exists anywhere throughout the universe is capable of proof, and where no such proof is available, it is safer to assume that no such thing exist.
Rule #6: One of the great unexplanable miracles consist of the fact that most truth and falsehood, no matter by what means they may be expressed carry with them a silent invisible means of identifying themselves as such. Therefore remember this truth and begin developing the necessary intuitive faculty to enable you to sense what is false and what is truth.
Rule #7: Follow the habit of asking, "How do you know?" when anyone makes a statement that you cannot identify as true.

Follow these habits faithfully and you will see many persons squirm and turn red in the face when you insist upon a direct reply. The most accurate thinkers are the scientists. They investigate with open minds and never allow their wishes to become the father of facts, but deal with each fact as it is, not as they would like it to be. Now one final word of warning I feel I should leave with you, "Study yourself carefully and you may discover that your own emotions are your greatest handicap in the business of accurate thinking. It is easy for you to believe at which you wish to believe, and unfortunately that is precisely what most people do. This is a method by which many people condemn themselves to eternal failure and defeat, and it is a method which opens wide that sealed envelope which contains the list of penalties for which they must pay for neglecting to take position of their minds and use them for constructive ends, beneficial to themselves.

The above text is extracted from the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uBFPPQ5IAY&feature=share to the best of my ability.

The Factor that Explains Most About Great Performance

2012-03-17T04:28:00.000-07:00

The factor that seems to explain most about great performance is called Deliberate Practice. Deliberate practice is hard. The chief constraint is mental, regardless of the field, even in sports where we might think the physical demands are the hardest. To excel, to do one's best, to work hard and to spend one's time constructively, we're emphasised over and over again. The great performers were just like any other persons who people did not see that they will achieve anything that great.

There is an example of a person. This person had simply one thing in his mind. His goal was to make his million. To achieve great performance, things can't be too easy, if not it will become boring. But if things are too hard, there will be no motivation. Great performers want to continually improve themselves. Once they have reached a certain level, they strive to improve bit by bit. They need to have the passion in what they do.

This is an excerpt obtained from a book.

Insightful Knowledge Applying to Universal Laws

2011-10-11T03:50:00.000-07:00

1) 2 sales person, 1 male & 1 female, Yin & Yang, both is the best formula than 1 male & 1 male or 1 female & 1 female. Everything is part of a higher order.

2) You can delegate someone to force you to read a book.

3) When your Intention is positive, the Result/Outcome will be positive.

4) Choose the words carefully when you label yourself, because it determines who you are. E.g. say, I am a friendly, happy, optimistic person with drive and energy.

5) Don't let what you think you are, determine who you are.

6) You can find peace anywhere you go.

7) If we say, "We can understand God," then it means we don't understand God.

8) Words have Power. When you say you are going to do it, within a week, you can get it done.

9) When you commit to all those small little promises to yourself, it means you are building up faith a small step at a time.

10) When you break your own promises, don't beat yourself up. Let it go, forgive yourself and don't beat yourself up.

11) Do what you need to do and don't have expectations. When you have expectations, you have pain and guilt.

12) Life is about Experiences!

13) Do different things differently and your life expands.

14) The moment you can set a goal, means there is a solution.

15) If you can think of a problem, there is a solution!

16) Most people keep changing Targets! Make a Real Decision!

17) The Law of Accumulation works. Make a decision and stick to it.

18) Once you are synchronized, then you'll attract people and energy.

Progress, No Matter What by David Cross

2011-07-26T08:37:00.000-07:00

=========================================

Article by the Expert: Progress, No Matter What
by David Cross

=========================================

I make it a point to follow up with everyone who asks me a
question about setting up an Internet business. It takes me
just a few seconds, and it usually motivates them to take
action.

Usually. But not always. After my most recent follow-up e-mail
to "Bob," for example, I received this response...

"Hi David,

"Sorry, we've been having challenges with infrastructure here
in paradise. Internet is more off than on. Our landline was
just fixed this week. It has been down since June 22. There
was a major fire at the power plant 2 weeks ago. And to add to
the festivities, I was assaulted by a crackhead who, I am
told, was turned into a zombie by some Haitian voodoo curse.
(I couldn't make this stuff up.) I am about to leave for
Albuquerque to visit my son and grandchildren. I haven't seen
them since my son's commissioning with the Air Force 8 years
ago. I am anxious to get going with my website. But, as you
can see, there have been a few distractions."

The last time I followed up with Bob, he had a few other
"distractions" that were preventing him from starting his Web
business (though none as interesting as being attacked by a
voodoo-cursed crackhead).

What I can't seem to get Bob to recognize is that achieving
success in your Internet business (or anything else) is not a
place you suddenly arrive at. It's part of a process. And it's
formed by a habit. A habit of doing something to progress
toward your goal every day, no matter what. I am not saying
that the "challenges" of day-to-day life won't throw you
off-kilter. But in the time it took Bob to write and explain
why he hadn't yet made a start, he could have made a start.

Just Do It!

Now is the time to start anything -- not necessarily a
brand-new business. It could be starting something new with an
Internet business you're already operating. Maybe advertising
on Facebook... using video on your website... or sending a
follow-up e-mail series to your subscribers.

For the online entrepreneur, now is always the time to make
improvements. To do more of something that's working; to stop
doing something that's not.

But when you have a long list of things you want to try...
how do you know what to focus on first?

The answer to that is easy. Focus on the one that will
generate the most results that most closely match the core
purpose of your business or your stated conversion goal.

Let's say your primary purpose is to build an e-mail list and
market to that list. In that case, what would give you the
best return on your investment of time and money? Should you
do paid search advertising? Write more articles? Build a new
shopping cart? Or test landing pages?

In my experience, you should begin with a combination of paid
search advertising and writing articles designed to drive
organic ("free") search engine traffic to a simple landing
page. On the landing page, you offer a free report on your
chosen topic. People who are interested in your topic sign up.
You deliver the report. You then e-mail them ongoing
information -- and offers -- related to that same topic.

You could get all of this set up with one day of focused
effort. You could start right now by spending just one hour to
open your Google AdWords account and create a single ad.

You say you can't find even one extra hour to work on your
Internet business? What about some of the time you spend idly
surfing the Web? Or watching television? According to a recent
Veronis Suhler Stevenson's Communications Industry Forecast
and Report, the average American spends 1,745 hours watching
television in a typical year. That works out to 145 hours a
month -- more than six full days in front of the TV every
month, or slightly less than five hours a day.

You cannot alter the fact that there are only 24 hours in a
day, but you can change the way you use them. So figure out
how to use some of those hours to make progress on your
Internet business goals. Do it now. There's no excuse not to.

About the Expert:

David Cross is a veteran Internet marketing expert who has
worked closely with Early to Rise and Agora for many years. He
is also a featured expert in ETR's Internet Money Club.

Are you sure you are "nice"? Or are you just scared?

2011-07-15T00:38:00.000-07:00

Are you sure you are "nice"?

I watched X men with Joyce yesterday at Dhoby Ghaut. Being school holidays,
the cinema was quite crowded with kids. During the movie, there were two boys
sitting behind me, and two girls beside us.
One of the boys sitting behind was giving a running commentary on the show and
was disturbing me. I turned around, gave him a finger to lip motion, smiled, and
say thanks. Not sure if he saw my smile though.

After the show, the two girls beside Joyce stood up and left.

And as soon as they were out of earshot, Joyce immediately turned to me, and
startedscolding them under her breath. She kept saying that they were talking during
the show, and were disturbing her.

I watched X men with Joyce yesterday at Dhoby Ghaut. Being school holidays,
the cinema was quite crowded with kids. During the movie, there were two boys
sitting behind me, and two girls beside us.

Something like this:

SCREEN

Me - Joyce- Girl 1 - Girl 2
Boy 1 - Boy 2

One of the boys sitting behind was giving a running commentary on the show and
was disturbing me. I turned around, gave him a lip to figer motion, smiled, and say
thanks. Not sure if he saw my smile though.

After the show, the two girls beside Joyce stood up and left.

And as soon as they were out of earshot, Joyce immediately turned to me, and
started scolding them under her breath. She kept saying that they were talking during
the show, and were disturbing her.

I was quite perplexed. Why did she not tell the girls to keep quiet DURING the show,
rather than just grin and bear with it, then explode after the show?

I told her that. And she just dismissed me. And went back to ranting about the girls, and
how people in Singapore are so inconsiderate.

Nice? Or scared?

This kind of behavour is actually quite common in Singapore, and sadly, many of these
people think that they are being "nice" and "kind" not to exert their rights in public.

There is a HUGE difference between being nice, and being scared to do something.

My personal definition of a nice person is someone who is able to do something, but
resists it out of compassion or kindness. It is critical that you are able to do it if you
want to.

For example, if I am a Grandmaster world champion martial arts expert, and I am able to
kill a person with one flick of my finger. I go to a bar, and this guys tries to pick a fight.
Instead of fighting him, I walk away. Thats being nice. Thats being kind. Because I know
I can fight him, but I choose not to.

Back to the cinema scenario. I knew I could turn around and "Shhhh" those boys behind
me. If I restrained myself and let them continue talking, I would have been nice. But since
I am not a nice guy, I still "Shhhhed" them.

However....

If you are not able to do the action because of fear, and you walk away. Then you are not
being "nice". You are acting out of fear, and using "nice" to justify your actions.

It is critical to recognise the difference. Otherwise, you will live your entire life in fear, and
be disillusioned to think you are a "nice" person.

So what if you are fearful?

The most important thing to realise is that: Its ok to be scared.

Nobody popped out of their mothers womb with the courage to do everything in the
world. So if you feel the fear, and are unable to act because of it, admit it. Being truthful
to yourself is paramount. Because if you continue to hide behind the facade of
"nice-ness", you will never be able to breakthrough. Admit your fear.

Instead of being angry at others for XX action, be angry at yourself for not having the
courage to tell them off.

This article originated from CourageGym.

5 Ways to Make Hard Decisions a Little Easier - by Yanik Silver

2011-07-05T03:06:00.000-07:00

=========================================

Article by the Expert: 5 Ways to Make Hard Decisions
a Little Easier - by Yanik Silver

=========================================

Yesterday, my wife Missy woke up with her stomach in knots.
Clara, the woman who'd been cleaning our house for the past
two years, was becoming more and more unreliable. Sometimes
she called to say she'd be late - but sometimes she just
didn't show up at all. Not only that, but she was doing a
terrible job.

"I should probably fire her," Missy said. "Then again... she's
been working for us for a long time. And she used to be so
good. Maybe if I talk to her..."

Missy knew she had to do something about this problem, but had
been procrastinating for weeks. And watching her agonize over
it got me thinking about "tough" decisions - the kind we all
struggle with.

It seems to be easier to keep putting them off... but that
just prolongs the discomfort.

Whenever I've had a decision weighing on my mind, it's kept
nagging at me. But when I finally made the hard call, it was
never as bad as I had worked it up to be. In fact, I've found
that the longer you chew on it, the worse it gets.

Thinking back, there are two vivid examples that spring to
mind...

Breaking Away From My Dad's Business...

One of the biggest decisions I ever had to make was whether or
not to leave my father's business. I started working with him
when I was 14. And I fully intended to stay with him and help
grow the company - a medical equipment sales and service
business. But I got the "itch" to go on my own in 1998.

That's when I started experimenting with information
marketing.

At first, I spun off of my dad's business by selling
information to plastic surgeons on how to get more patients.
And my dad was pretty flexible. He let me use his office as my
home base while I was still working for him. Then he let me
take Fridays off so I had more time to work on my own
projects.

The idea that I was somehow "betraying" him and the family
business was eating me up. I knew my heart was no longer into
it, and I had to break away. My dad expected me to work with
him side-by-side until he retired. But I couldn't continue to
live my life based on someone else's expectations. I had to do
what was right for me. So, nine years ago, I made the decision
to leave the company.

Looking back, it was by far the best decision I ever made for
my financial future.

Attending My First Seminar...

To get my business off the ground, I had been learning a lot
about direct marketing. And when I got an invitation to a
copywriting seminar in Phoenix, I was tempted. This was back
in October 1998. But because the seminar was so expensive, I
almost passed up this opportunity that I later realized was
the turning point in my business (and bank account).

My fledging information marketing business had been pulling in
maybe $2,000 or $3,000 per month. No great shakes. So I was
understandably hesitant to spend several thousand dollars and
miss several days of work (both of which I couldn't afford) in
order to attend the seminar.

My dad thought I would be a fool to go. He chided me (in his
thick Russian accent) "Mr. Yanik, why do you want to throw
away your money. If you have so much of it, I can help you get
rid of it. Don't you already have enough of these books and
tapes?"
But I bit the bullet and went. Another tough - but smart -
decision.

Frankly, if I had listened to my dad, I know I wouldn't be
anywhere near where I am today. I can directly trace the
moment when everything "clicked" for me and I "got it" to that
seminar. That's when I discovered the power of how to use
words and turn them into cash windfalls.

I've found that people regret things they don't do much more
than things they do. That's not how I want to live my life -
brooding over "shouldas" "couldas" or "wouldas."

In fact, I believe that most of our "tough" decisions aren't
really so tough. But the longer it takes for us to get off the
fence and take action, the more we magnify them in our own
heads.

With that in mind, here are five simple things to try when you
are having trouble making a decision:

Decision-Making Method #1: Think about the worst-case
scenario.

What is the worst possible thing that can happen if you make
the wrong decision? It almost certainly won't happen - but
even if it does, you can probably live with it. When I was
torturing myself over going off on my own, for example, I had
wild thoughts of my father disowning me. Of course, he didn't
do that. He may have been disappointed, but he didn't flip
out.

Decision-Making Method #2: Listen to your gut.

This is huge! Don't try to rationalize your way out of making
the decision. You've got good instincts. Take advantage of
them.

Decision-Making Method #3: Give yourself a deadline.

If you give yourself an indefinite amount of time to decide on
a course of action, you'll never do it. Not to mention, you'll
drive yourself crazy! Think of yourself as the high-powered
CEO of your own life - an executive who MUST make decisions
quickly.

Decision-Making Method #4: Visualize your ideal

outcome.

This is an exercise I learned from my friend John Harricharan.
He calls it the "Power Pause." It takes three minutes - one
minute to think about what you want to happen... one minute to
think about how good you'll feel when it does happen... and
one minute to calm yourself down by thinking about what you
are already grateful for in your life.

Decision-Making Method #5: The Band-Aid solution.

You know how painful it can be to pull off a bandage
(especially for those of us who are kind of hairy)? Well, the
secret is to pull it off quickly. Nothing is worse than
paralysis by analysis. You'll never have all the information
you need to make the perfect decision. Do the best you can
with what you've got. Then move on.

And here's a bonus tip: When all else fails, flip a coin.
That's how I decided the time had come for me to propose to
Missy!

By the way, in case you're wondering what Missy decided to do
about Clara... she gave her a call and simply told her we
weren't going to be able to use her anymore. Much to Missy's
surprise, Clara was relieved. It seems that there's another
family much closer to her own neighborhood that she's been
wanting to work for, and she was happy to have us free up a
day for her.

There you go - all that angst and gut-wrenching turmoil could
have been avoided simply by making the decision to fire Clara
weeks ago.

About the Expert:

Yanik Silver is an established internet marketing expert,
having been in business online since 1998. He believes you can
make more, have more fun, and give more back!