Sunshine & Blues

1. No one will manufacture a lock without a key;
   similarly God won't give problems without solutions
   
   If you miss an opportunity, don't fill your eyes with tears
   It will hide another better opportunity in front of you
   
   
   
2. Mistakes are painful when they happen;
   But years later collection of mistakes is called experience,
   which leads to SUCCESS
   
   BE BOLD WHEN YOU LOOSE
   BE CALM WHEN YOU WIN
   
   
3. Heated gold becomes ornament
   Beaten copper becomes wire
   Depleted stone becomes statue
   So, the more pain you get in life, you become more valuable
   
   No one can go back and change a bad beginning
   But anyone can start NOW and create a successful ending
   
   
   
4. Every successful person has a painful story
   Every painful story has a successful ending
   Accept the pain and get ready for success!
   
   Changing the face can change nothing
   Facing the change can change everything
   Don't complain about others;
   Change yourself if you want peace
   
   
   Lastly, and my fave:
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5. If a problem can be solved, then no need to worry about it
   If a problem can't be solved, what is the use of worrying?
   
   Sweet!
   

Lean on Me

My friends, I thank you that you are with me throughout this whole period while I'm down.

I thank you for your loving support, caring attention, overstretched patience and constant encouragement.

I am only able to make it thus far because of your never-ending faith in me.

I LOVE YOU! *BIG HUGS and MUACKZ

This song dedicated for you:

Sometimes in our lives..
We all have pain, we all have sorrow
But if we are wise..
We know that there's always tomorrow

Lean on me..
When you're not strong
And I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long, till I'm gonna need
Someone to lean on..

You can call on me brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on..
I just might have a problem that you'll understand
We all need somebody to lean on..

Please swallow your pride..
If I have things you need to borrow
For no one can fill those of your needs
that you won't let show..

Lean on me..
When you're not strong
And I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long, till I'm gonna need
Someone to lean on..

If there is a load, you have to bear
that you can't carry..
I'm right up the road, I'll share you load
If you just call me..

Call me.. if you need a friend
Call me.. if you need a friend
If you ever need a friend.. Call me..
Call me..

Liberated

Couldn't bare to let these negative vibes dwell in me any longer. I felt as if I was in the verge of breaking down.. and I knew I was not stable!

I have graduated from friends counseling, self-healing to spiritual practice healing.. Now I'm moving on to professional help. I'm well aware that I need help. And it's something that I must seek. I must deal with it ONCE FOR ALL!

So I sought Nancy Ho from Silva Method, a specialist in hypno-therapy. Put it simply, it's a hypnosis session whereby she speaks to our sub-conscious mind to uncover things/feelings dwelling in us, which we may/not aware ourselves.

First session:
I was put in a relaxed state. The whole session was focused more on injecting peace and calmness into me. No talking, no counseling, just relax.. relax.. and relax..

After the session, I didn't feel anything strong in particular initially. But few moments after, I felt sense of peace in my heart and I became more calm and firm in my speech. Hard to explain, but overall I am at peace with myself.

Second session:
Again, I was put in a relaxed state, but now we did a lot of talking and uncovering of the pasts. Past incidents which I refused to uncover nor face.. mostly related to my family. It was a long hard painful session, with buckets of tears..

However, at the end of session, I felt real good and I had a big smile on my face.

I couldn't quite comprehend what was so indifferent about this session; but for the first time in 2 weeks, I saw myself in the mirror, and I love what I see. The first thing that came to my mind was 'WOW! You're gorgeous!', and I have this bright aura on my face! and yes, I'm not exaggerating.

I was full of curiosity with what Nancy did differently, because words that she said are words that I've heard countless times from others. In fact, those are words I said to myself too. So what did she do differently that created changes in me? I couldn't help but to ask her.

The difference lies in the sub-conscious mind. People speak through our conscious mind; and what she does is speaking to the sub-conscious mind and linking the sub-conscious mind with the conscious mind so that we can make the shift. Yes it's kinda complicated, but that's exactly why she's a professional. And she's the best of the best!

Well.. it's still work-in-progress.. My real issue is not knowing how to love myself. I crave for love from my external environment. It's something that I have to work on.
But I'm glad that I have walked past this state.

I am BACK! alive.. kicking.. with doubled power, energy and positive vibes!

Nothing is able to take me down now! :)

Lost

Depressed is the perfect word to describe my current state.

The challenge is to find the reason why. I couldn't rightly figure out why am I feeling depressed now... Everything in my life is going smooth and perfect, as some will say..

1) My health is back at its tip-top state.. I'm back in action like I've always been.
2) Career is on the right track.. a bit down on personal sales side, but things are coming..
3) Relationship is perfect! with my marriage on the way..
4) Family relationship is improving.. still work-in-progress.. but overall 'ok'

Looking at what I have, my surroundings, caring friends, friendly professional work environment, I am blessed! and I have no right to be depressed nor complain about who I am.. yet I am!

haiz..

Thought of the Day

Today I learned that when you're faced with challenges in your life, find a solution -don't just sleep on it. It's scary how time flies when you ignore your problems, and unknowingly spend countless days of unhappiness in your life..

This is what I called wasting your life away..

But again, some challenges require more solutions, and hence more time to solve.....

Tragedy to Opportunity

A good article I found to enlighten all of you on the current situation.. It's now up to you to turn tragedy into opportunity!!

Extracted from Adam Khoo: Why I Love Market Crashes and You Should Too!

The US market indexes like the Dow Jones, S&P 500 and Nasdaq have plunged more than 25% from its highs! Once revered ‘indestructible’ financial giants like AIG, Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearn, and Merrill Lynch have come crashing down. Citigroup that once traded at $50, is now down to $13. Lehman Brothers than was once $90 is now bankrupt. Merrill Lynch that was once $80, is now $20. AIG that was once $80, is now $2. Global corporate layoffs have started with HP slashing 24,000 jobs worldwide.

In Singapore, the Straits Times Index is down MORE than 30%. UOB, once at $24, is now at $15. Capitaland, from $8 is now $3+. Property prices are down 10%-20% from a year ago. Singapore has declared herself facing another 'technical recession'

While many people are panicking and fear can be smelt in the air, Far-sighted Entrepreneurs and Investors like myself are LOVING IT! (not that we ate any McDonalds’s burgers)

So Why Do I Love These Downturns?

I may sound crazy, but most people do not realize that economic slowdowns and financial crisis are where fortunes are really made.

It was the last two crashes of 1998 and 2002 that gave me the opportunity to make my first $1.5 million; by buying into great stocks at huge discounts and turning an $8,000 investment into a $30m a year business. It was the recession that allowed me to hire so may great people at such low salaries, take up a 12,000 square foot office in the heart of CBD at just $4 per square foot. It was during the crashes, when NOBODY wanted to own stocks that I bought great blue chip stocks at 50%-80% discounts below their true value. It was during the last downturn that I bought my Semi-D at $1.6m, which is now worth $3m!

Now…it is ALL HAPPENING AGAIN!!!! In fact, this crisis is turning out to be even more severe that the previous two. For those of you who know how to take advantage of this will become the next group of new millionaires once the market turns around.

How Do You Take Advantage of This?

Remember that history ALWAYS repeats itself. After every bull run (rally), there will be a pullback/correction/crash (which is what is happening now). After every crash, it will be followed by the next rally/bullrun. In other words, the market will ALWAYS RECOVER and GO EVEN HIGHER!

However, NOT ALL stocks will recover. The weak and fundamentally damaged stocks may never recover. The secret is to learn and start buying up the fundamentally strongest stocks when they are cheap & NOBODY wants them (during the downturn). When the market turns around, they are the ones will recover even stronger and make you your fortune.

Let me give you a free tip here. Before the crisis, there were Five Big Investment Banks in the US: Lehman Brothers, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, Bear Sterns and JP Morgan. Now that Lehman (bankrupt), Merrill (bought over By Bank of America) and Bear Sterns (bought by JP Morgan) are gone, guess who is going to benefit and become even stronger after the crisis… the survivors! i.e Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan.

You need to identify the strong companies from the lousy ones and to buy them up cheap, when the whole market is fearful. When the market turns eventually, they will reap handsome profits from putting their money on the strong horses.

“Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when 0thers are fearful”
-Warren Buffett, World’s Richest Man

Food for Thoughts

Two invaluable lessons I gained from this experience:

1. take a break; else your body will break you down
2. patience also means that everything has its own time

Seven weeks of recuperating with no work have not been easy for me. But I learned to be patient and I understand that healing is a process that can't be shortened..

Similarly, experience is also a learning process, just like how wisdom is a life-long process.. Sometimes, in life it's not only about doing and doing, but also about waiting and waiting..

Often than not, we're so used to our own busy hectic schedule that we forgot to slow down and recharge. Only after our body stops us that we're then forced to stop. But, it will be totally different then. Recharging your body and recuperating are two different things; and trust me, you wouldn't want to do the second.

Health is still the most precious capital that we have.. So,
my advise to you: learn to rest, put a stop and let the time takes its course

As We Grow Up, We Learn that

Even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will..

You will have your heart broken probably more than once
and it's harder every time...
You'll break hearts too,
so remember how it felt when yours was broken...

You'll fight with your best friend..
You'll blame a new love for things an old one did..
You'll cry because time is passing too fast..
and you'll eventually lose someone you love....

So take too many pictures...
laugh too much..
and love like you've never been hurt..

Because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back..

Happiness

For years I have been searching for happiness, and for years I searched at the wrong places. Until recently, I discovered that happiness is a state of mind. It comes from within and is not affected by external factors. I learned this the hard way.

Almost everyday, we face challenges in our daily life. When things are going great, we are worried because it seems to good for us, or we are expecting bad things to happen. When things are down, we are cursing even more. This is the puzzle of life.

I learned that struggle is part of life. We can't really control what's happening around us, but we can do something to it. I can either succumb to the bad day, or I can take it easy and move on with the next task. It is all in your mind. After all, there's no failure -it's only feedback!

I learned that the best thing I can do to improve my situation is to stop whining and make each moment as special as I can be as if it's my last moment on earth. Everything in life is about perspective -and it's your own perspective. If today you woke up knowing that it's your last day on earth, how different will you treat your loved ones? How different will you look at your deadlines? How different will you talk to your friends?

I learned that I have a choice -and it's always my choice. I can wake up early in the morning feeling grumpy, or think about what I can achieve today e.g. finish my deadlines, greet people I meet with smile, tell my loved ones how much I love them etc..

Today, you have a choice to be happy.. and NOW, you can begin living your happy life..

The supreme happiness in life is the conviction that we are loved
-Victor Hugo

Money is not Enough

"Exactly 80 years ago, a young man on a business trip to China fell ill. That young man was my grandfather. When he passed away 80 years ago, he left behind a young widow. This young widow had two children and was on the verge of delivering the third child, my mum.

You can imagine the deep grief of a young widow. Back then, there was no MCYS, no Public Assistance, and no ComCare support. Nevertheless, her two brothers gave her an allowance. She was not penniless but money was tight.

My mum had a tough life. She could never really enjoy taking luxury. She worked hard. She became a teacher. It was not easy even near the end of her teaching career. And in those days, MOE was not as enlightened as it is now.

My uncle went on to become a doctor and became a GP in Albert Street. Those of you who know him know that he never took a single day off.

Firstly, life can be tough, life can be unfair, and life is unpredictable. Bad things can happen to good, decent people. Regardless of this, we all need hope.

The second thing I have learnt is that you need family support. Who is going to be there for you when you need help?

The third lesson is that it is all about discipline and hard work. No matter how wealthy you are, if we lose that discipline or work ethic, we will fail.

At least for me, my mum has successfully transmitted those values. The question now is whether our youth, born in the times of plenty, spend more time thinking about how to spend their inheritance compared with our parents' generation.

At the end of the day, while money is important, it is also not enough. All the wealth in the world will not buy you success. Nor will it eliminate all the social problems in the world.

Is the real problem the lack of money?

Is it the poverty of material wealth or is it the poverty of relationships?

Those of us who live long enough will agree the long-term problem is a poverty of relationships.

We all need families, we need friends. And it is not just about families. We also want a caring, compassionate society. We will fail if society degenerates into nothing more than a society of selfish, successful individuals looking to spend more on themselves.

I remember Sam Tan's brilliant speech last week. I read the speech three times. I resonate with his views that it is not about the dilemma between the young and old, or between rich and poor, but between the head and heart. The head knows it cannot be overly generous, yet the heart wants the head to be so.

I believe we need a lean, efficient, rational, disciplined and competent government. There is also a need for compassion, generosity and emotional support in our society.

However, these are best delivered by community organizations rather than by a bloated bureaucracy. That is why we believe in many helping hands."

-Extracts from Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister Vivian Balakrishnan's speech

No Failure, Only Feedback

Sometimes you make the wrong choice and the result is failure. Take heart, making the wrong choice is better than not making any choices at all. At least, you take the initiative to act.

Failure is not the opposite of success, but its by-product. Inaction, apathy and tolerance of mediocrity are the opposites of success.

We learn valuable lessons from failure, such as taking the hard knocks in life. The lessons are not taught in formal universities but out in the street.

There is no such thing as "failure". Instead, failure is actually feedback that can be used to improve your performance. Failure is a necessary part of success. It is actually a step before success.

Many quit when confronted with failure, not knowing that the next step is success.

Domino theory

Tom Monaghan, the founder of the Domino's Pizza chain, was only four years old when his father died. Poverty drove his mother to place him in an orphanage. Young Tom harboured two childhood dreams - to be a priest and to play in the Detroit Tigers, an American baseball team.

However, after a year of studying to be a priest in a seminary, he left. In 1960, he started Domino's Pizza. Initially, it was very successful, but in the 1970s, he started losing control of the company because of rapid expansion. Domino's was on the brink of bankruptcy.

By 1993, Tom Monaghan had rebuilt Domino's Pizza into one of the largest pizza chains in America with a sales turnover that exceeded US$2.2 billion (S$3.15 billion).

So compelling was his dream to play in the Detroit Tigers that he purchased the entire team. He also remained Domino's president. Had he given up during his bankruptcy, he would not have enjoyed Domino's later success - and he would not have fulfilled his second childhood dream.

He chose to see his bout of failure as an opportunity to do even better. As Henry Ford once remarked: "Failure is the only opportunity to begin more intelligently."