Saturday 28 April 2018

因果




有因,就有果。

但我们就是喜欢不用动脑,不用费体力,不用花时间。。。

就有果。




捡现成有什么不好?

那跟买 Toto 有什么不同?




运气比努力更重要?

不要看我。

我是靠一张嘴混下来的!







Thursday 26 April 2018

No such thing as "Quality Time"


Americans are great at "inventing" a lot of marketing bullshit.

So much so that if you didn't know better, you would have believed Americans were the ones who "invented" marketing!

OK, I'll concede that the modern marketing concept is popularised by the Americans. What to do? Your first marketing textbook is probably from Philip Kotler!



To encourage working parents to spend more time at work and feel less guity about it, what do you do?

Introduce the concept of "Quality Time" of course!

Come on!

Deep down you know its bullshit!

If it worked, why are we now talking about Work/Life balance?

Pause and reflect for a bit. Wink.

You want "Quality Time" or Work/Life balance?



Remember that time you got a school prize or fantastic grade for a test and you rushed home eager to tell your parents? They weren't home... How you felt?

You had your first kiss or someone held your hand for the first time. You can't wait to tell your best friends! How you feel if they practiced "quality time" on you?

The concept of best friend forever is someone who always have the time for you right? Not tell you to make an appointment first...

Those who own pets knew this already; they are always there for you. Pets can be more "loyal" than people "tio boh"?



I am closest to my Ah Ma when it comes to family ties. She was always there for me ever since I can remember. We did things together before I started school. And when I started primary school, she often visited me during canteen breaks.

I still remember crying for Ah Ma during her 2 visits back to Mainland China when mom punished me for being naughty. Ah Ma always shielded me whenever I got a beating from mom!

Yes, I still visit Ah Ma at Mount Vernon from time to time without prompting from anyone, or waiting for a reason like "Ching Ming". I always visit her during my returns to Singapore when I were working overseas.

Next time you study or work overseas, and you return to Singapore for holiday, whom you spend time with you'll know who mattered the most! Yah, track and measure your finances you do, track and measure the time you spend with people that matter you forget... 



You think why Singaporeans try to travel overseas together as a family once or twice per year? That's the best excuse for "Quality Time"!

Its probably the only time you all have the chance to be physically together. That's provided you don't keep thinking about work all the time... Work on emails during the coach rides or late at night back at the hotel...

Its same old same old. Back at hotel everyone keep to their hotel rooms. At meal times everyone stare at their own smartphones. 

But hey! Got lots of family photos to carpet bomb in Facebook! Must keep up with appearances mah!



I can count on my hands the number of times I had the most scintillating moments with mom over the last 5 years now that I'm back. These moments just came about unexpectedly. How to "plan" such "quality moments" ahead of time?

I remember vividly my younger sibling standing up and walked for the first time. I yelled at mom to quickly see! Its so amazing! 

Pray tell how you intend to make an appointment for "quality time" to catch your baby whsiper his/her first word? Or standing up and walking for the first time?

Stay at home dads and moms know this. We just have to be there. Period.



If you believe 5 minutes a day is all you need to invest or trade, then you'll believe in "Quality Time".

Then again, would you tell your child all they need is to study 5 minutes a day?

Play the violin, swim competitively, or do ballet using "quality time"?



Back at work, those once a year team building workshops or company trips, do they actually work?

Or maybe it's the face time you, your team members, and team leader have spent together, through thick and thin times, that matter more?



You know what's the best test to experience the lies of "Quality Time"?

Take note of how you felt next time others practice it on you.

Ouch!







Tuesday 24 April 2018

The Kitchen Sink


Everything but the kitchen sink!

We've heard or used this expression before.


The poor kitchen sink. It gets no love.

Quick!

When was the last time you spent any time thinking about your kitchen sink?

Maybe that one time you done up your kitchen?

Even then, its probably a cursory decision wasn't it?

You didn't visit multiple showrooms like for other home accessories or appliances, did you?






The above is an expressionist painting by John Bratby.

He founded the Kitchen Sink school of social realism painting style that depicts the working class activities of his time in UK during the late 50s to early 60s.


Who would want to paint a kitchen sink?

And from a working class household some more!?





Have you noticed many seeking to "escape" the drudgery of "work" often paint and write about an "idealistic" or "romanticised" story of their journeys or plans?

Its like those Mills and Boon romantic novels or Kpop dramas that so captivate our hearts.

OK, this could be hard on you if you read books and watch movies/plays without thnking.

For those who do, try recalling those movies/plays/TV dramas/books that were in the social realism style.

And contrast the two emotions you felt when exposed to Romantism and Social Realism.


Yes, its not your fault for not taking Art or Literature in school. But hey! Art and Literature are all around us. Just take the time to smell the flowers once in a while.

What's the point?

I know some may think got money can already. 

Well, you'll have to ask yourself whether you eat to live or live to eat.

And then you'll look at the kitchen sink in another light.

Wink.







Saturday 21 April 2018

Atrocious Handwriting








Well, I don't know about the "gifted" part... But I do know my brain is definitely faster than my left hand!

Sometimes I scribble so fast until I can't even read my own handwriting!?

LOL!



I did feel embarrassed about my atrocious handwriting until I discovered the cursive script in Chinese caligraphy - 草书.

Then I heard doctors have the same "artistic" handwriting as mine.

I feel good about myself again.



So there! Those of you that have the same "talent", stand tall and keep your head high!







Tuesday 17 April 2018

新加坡女生在巴黎的咖啡店


全世界最快乐的地方


读了心中有点像喝了咖啡,温馨。(这个字笔画那么多!)

希望妹妹也会在新加坡开 "The Hood"。

大叔我可以去唱唱歌,吟吟诗泡泡妞


人生要的不是目标,而是梦想!






Saturday 14 April 2018

The blind masseur of Tanglin Halt


From my backyard:


The blind masseur of Tanglin Halt


Just sharing in case you are in need of a masseur around Queenstown.

In a few more years, this place will be torn down for en-bloc.

A lot of the shops and proprietors are here since the early 70s. Nostalgia.


This indomitable spirit of where we fall where we get is a trait amongst entrepreneurs, sales persons, investors, and traders who never give up.

Of course not every can do it.


Once we have a skill that someone is willing to pay for, we are financially free.

Investment not needed.







Thursday 12 April 2018

The Dustbin is a Commitment


Singapore is a clean city.

One of the biggest reason is we have a horde of hard working road sweepers and rubbish collectors who clean after us with stoic patience and resilience.


There are dustbins everywhere in Singapore.

Have you noticed in some overseas cities, its hard to find a dustbin when you need one?

Can you hazard a guess why?


Precisely!

A dustbin is a magnet for rubbish!!!






Yes, there are "idiot" Singaporeans who think throwing rubbish "near" a full dustbin is considered OK...

But magically, by the next morning, all the mess will be cleared.

You can't say that for other overseas cities.

That's why for cities that are not well managed or have the budget to hire a legion of rubbish collectors, they wouldn't dare put dustbins out on the sidewalks. 

To do so will bring unwanted attention to themselves...





Of course this dustbin post is just a metaphor.

You figure out for yourself what it is that applies to you.

Many people monkey; see monkey do.

But most quickly figure out if you place a dustbin out in public, you'll invite others to dump their rubbish on you...

Only the few who are committed will continue to put their dustbins out in public.

It takes commitment to clear the mess every morning.

And that's why Singapore is different.

Although we must remain humble.

This MRT thing is making us look very ordinary...






Monday 9 April 2018

2nd class jobs - gig economy


You know its bullshit right?

Everyone knows it.

Yet we pretend. We want to be "polite". Not to "embarrass" others. By our actions, we already admit its "2nd class".



Landowners and vested interest shepherds (HR recruitment agencies) spin it, I understand.

Parrots repeat what others say but no clue what talking them, that's OK too as I just ignore. They have just shown to the world how much they "know". I think that's enough "consequenses" already...



Its fun to take on part-time, temporary, freelance jobs while you are studying. Try doing so after you graduate. 

How many of you in full time permanent jobs want to switch to contractual jobs for 6 months or 12 months? Its the other way right?

Talk is cheap.



Of course nothing is black and white. There are exceptions:

1.  You retired and not working for money. You work to pass time and have fun.

2.  You are not sheep; you are entrepreneur. Its temporary until your business takes off.

3.  You have other priorities in life. Family first or those on their spiritual journeys.



I know some glib tongues snake oils will say CEO also contractual employment leh. They sign 3 to 5 years contract too! 

How about when you hire famous photograhers or interior designers for gig jobs? 

Same goes for hiring well known actors or singers to grace events like store openings.

See what they doing?

Its the same trick where every insider knows only 5-10% of traders make money. Yet see the way all vested interests involved spin Trading to bei kambing?



I've left reservist for a long time liao...

Do they still call our MT Line friend 3 tonner driver or spin it as 3 tonner captain?







Thursday 5 April 2018

Buddhism is a practice like yoga






That is why during my Buddhist course, our teacher makes a distinction between 拜佛 (worshipping Buddha) and 学佛 (practicing Buddhism).

Of course it does not help when some religious "shepherds" consider yoga a "religion"!?

Its awkward moments like these that I keep my mouth shut and walk away.





Having a philosophy makes life a lot easier. 

Especially when things happen and you don't know whether to cry or laugh...








Tuesday 3 April 2018

Hyflux Preference Shares - Revisited with humility


First, we learned the hard way with S-chips.

Then some understood belated why unrated corporate bonds are called "junk" bonds. 

Now together with everyone else, I am learning about the realities of perpetual securities.



Now with track record of 6 years, the water "hype" has died down together with other "thematic" investments like the China, Myanmar, O&G, commodities plays. 



Now is the rubber meets the road moment for yield hogs who proudly declare just as long got regular "passive" income, whether price goes up or down does not matter.




Time frame. Everything is about time frame.

I am not vested; but I am biased.

It reinforces my beliefs and bitter past experiences - never get suckered into the Buy and Hold spin peddled by vested interests.

Banking stocks are doing splendidly well now. But I remember during 2008 how they got clobbered.

I am not good enough for Buy and Hold. 



Yes. Time frame. Where there is time, there are seasons.

Know when to plant, when to harvest. 

Be humble.

Just like the wild gust of wind at Lim Chu Kang recently, even when I got the timing "right", I can only focus on what I can control - planting and harvesting. 

The weather and other acts of nature, they are there to remind me - man proposes, heaven disposes.



That's the realities of investing.

If one does not take responsibility for investing, one should never attempt DIY active investing.

Maybe put money in CPF would be better (that's called savings by the way)?

Anything wrong can blame big daddy!







Sunday 1 April 2018

Well, it worked this time!


Last Sunday evening, I had an interesting sales experience.

There were this big group of customers - young husband and wife, with parents of the groom, and 2 to 3 other siblings to the young couple.

In sales, we hate dealing with such a big group. Too many "cooks" with opinions.



It was clear the mother is the matriarch of the family. She was telling others what they should do or think. Wink.

So I approached them using Mandarin.

Was taken aback when the matriarch raised her voice with displeasure whether I can speak England to her or not?

I smiled.

Ah! Got chink in her armour. She got hole in her heart.

No problem, I switched from channel 8 to channel 5.



Yes, our matriarch got lots of blinks blinks on her fingers, wrists, neck, and ears. That's a dead give away of trying too hard. A noveau riche.

Difficult customer. Everything I say she challenged (which is fantastic for those competent in sales reading).

I patiently addressed all her concerns and along the way, added my usual sugar-coated pokes and insults.

Insults? 

This kind of people are used to sales people fawning over them. How will I stand out if I don't do something differently?

I must have impressed the panties off her as she surprisingly "replied" to me in Mandarin at the end???

It was a slip by her.

I pretend never hear and continued to speak in England to her. Not with Singlish accent mind you. I spoke using big daddy parliament accent. She got a hole in her heart remember?



Long story short. They were in a hurry to dinner so they didn't buy from me.

But the matriach promised to buy the next day Monday. She was visibly concerned when I told her I only worked weekends. No problem. I wrote the SKU (stock keeping unit) codes and prices for the 3 home appliances and introduced her to my other sales colleague to contact Monday. 

The matriarch complimented on my "service". 

How's that for impressing and influencing customers through pokes and insults?

LOL!



Yesterday I checked the system and she indeed bought last Monday as promised. My sales colleague happy. No need do work got sales commissions.

In our trade, we call it "durian drop".



Friend, that's the spin you often hear from snake oils. They only share the successful trades.

There is no such thing as 100% "bao jiak" techniques.

Now to counterbalance when sales through pokes and insults did not work:




Its like pickup lines. On some women, they worked like a charm! Hey! I got a date!

While on some women, they fell flatter than roti prata. I suspect these women must think I'm a pervert!

LOL!






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