Ultimate Measure of a Person

Ultimate Measure Of A Person

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

-- Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)

The Law of Seed

This is a very good piece of thought.
Read carefully and relate it to your life.

The Law of the Seed

Take a look at an apple tree. There might be five hundred apples on the tree and each apple has ten seeds. That's a lot of seeds!
We might ask, "Why would you need so many seeds to grow just a fewmore apple trees?"
Nature has something to teach us here.
It's telling us: “Not all seeds grow. In life, most seeds never grow”.
So if you really want to make something happen, you had better try more than once."
This might mean:

You'll attend twenty interviews to get one job. You'll interview forty people to find one good employee.
You'll talk to fifty people to sell one house, one car, one vacuum cleaner, one insurance policy, or a business idea.
And you might meet a hundred acquaintances just to find one special friend.

When we understand the "Law of the Seed", we don't get so disappointed.
We stop feeling like victims.
We learn how to deal with things that happen to us.
Laws of nature are not things to take personally.

We just need to understand them - and work with them.

IN A NUTSHELL :

Successful people fail more often. But they plant more seeds.
When things are beyond your control, here's something that you must NOT DO so as to avoid misery in your life:

- You must not decide how you think the world SHOULD be.

- You must not make rules for how everyone SHOULD behave.

- Then, when the world doesn't obey your rules, you get angry!

- That's what miserable people do!

On the other hand, let's say you expect that:

-Friends SHOULD return favours.-People SHOULD appreciate you.

-Planes SHOULD arrive on time.-Everyone SHOULD be honest.

- Your husband or best friend SHOULD remember your birthday.

These expectations may sound reasonable. But often, these things won't happen!

So you end up frustrated and disappointed.
There's a better strategy:

Demand less, and instead, have preferences!
For things that are beyond your control, tell yourself:
"I would prefer this, but if that happens, it’s OK too!"
This is really a change in mindset. It is a shift in attitude, and it gives you more peace of mind ...
You prefer that people are polite ... but when they are rude, it doesn't ruin your day. You prefer sunshine ... but if it rains, it is ok too!
To become happier, we either need to:

a) Change the world, or

b) Change our thinking.

It is easier to change our Thinking!

IN A NUTSHELL

It is not the problem that is the issue, but rather it is your attitude attending to the problem that is the problem.
It's not what happens to you that determines your happiness.

It's how you think about what happens to you!

My Valentine's Day 2009 (Singapore)

My Valentine's Day 2009 (Singapore)

(photo of Raymond and wife)

Like in the past, on Valentine's Day, I will arrange to have dinner with my wife and some of my friends.

This year, even it is on a Saturday, but we only have 3 couples together. Some of my friends are overseas and some not available. In the past, we usually have at least 5 couples.

(photo of Boon Jin anf wife)

Something new for me this year is that we had dinner at a Vegetarian Restaurant at Lorong 27, Geylang Road. The name of the restaurant is YES Natural and the food is also organic. It was recommended by my friend, Raymond Ong.

All of us like the food being served. After taking meat nearly everyday for dinner, it is good to have a change of food. I also find a set dinner for 6 at S$138 is quite reasonable.

Finally, I think Valentine's Day is a day to show our love ones, parents, friends, etc, we love them. Get them a gift or buy them a meal, it will sure make them happy.

About Love

About Love

I am not sure exactly what heaven will be like, but I don't know that when we die and it comes time for God to judge us, he will NOT ask,

How many good things have you done in your life?, rather he will ask,

How much LOVE did you put into what you did?

-- Mother Teresa

Change Your Perspectives

Now a days, nearly everyday when you read the papers, you see news of companies closing down their plants and retrenching staff. What was written below is that "The worst it could be is to become bankrupt". Well, just last Saturday, we are still able to get sponsor for food and hong baos (cash). Each recipients at Jln Bt Merah get about S$35 worth of things and cash. So it is not that bad. Usually during Chinese New Year period, we get more sponsors.

I came across the below article from Edmund Ng and find it interesting. Read on :

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>>> Change Your Perspectives <<<

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You need to see things in a different light. In this crisis, people who see things differently will see it as an opportunity. As I always tells my clients and students in my workshops. Never assume. The main difference between an online marketer and an offline marketer is that we don't assume. We try to use tools to find out what people are searching from Search Engines before we decide on the products and services we want to target. I will just go straight to the point and tell you what the market is looking for right now. Things that will help reduce cost (Cost of materials, Cost of Production), improve efficiency and ways that would help to increase revenue. In case you don't get it, the shipping & logistics industry is going through a bad patch right now. I've been told that freight charges that used to cost $23 per ton cost something like $1.50, almost more than a 90% reduction. The cranes in the ports are all pointing towards the sky as they have no containers to process and lift up. Empty ships are left hanging at the docks. It's almost like a dead port with minimal activities. Soon the crane operators would probably be asked to go on a 3-4 day work week.

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>>> You Are The Result Of What You Did Previously<<< ****************************************************

I know that by now some of you guys would be grumbling about how unlucky you were to be in your current job. Oil executives that used to had their sharksfin mouth rinsing rituals had stopped doing that with oil prices dropping to record lows of 40.30 USD per barrel. Of course the upmarket restaurants are being hit badly as well. Guess what, you are to blame. Why You? Simple. You chose to be in your current job. If you are successful in your current job, it's because you worked hard academically and became a banker, lawyer or doctor. It didn't happened by chance. However, if you're really screwed up right now, it is probably that you were not listening or paying attention to what is happening throughout the world. Or you might not have received e-mails like this or have friends like me who constantly enjoy educating people even when there will always be some losers who accuses me of spamming them. Are you ready for the remedy, here it goes. Please give yourself a chance by reading further.

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>>> Taking Control Of Your Destiny <<< **************************************

Stop getting worried about retrenchments. Sometimes, it might be a good thing. It's time you control your life by probably running your own business. Let me give you a good example. Sometime back, I was watching a documentary in Singapore about how a chef who was working in Mandarin Hotel's chatterbox was laid off. If I'm not wrong the chef's name was Kiang Joon Toh. He's around 50 years old and had worked in Singapore's No.1 and most expensive Chicken Rice joint for almost 30 years. Despite his enormous experience, he was told that he was surplus to requirements and was given a golden handshake. Not perturbed by that he decided to use the money given to him to start his own "Sergeant Chicken Rice" stall. It was tough initially but with the help of his wife who quit her full time job and some family members, he was able to turn his business around and build up a successful brand name. His motto was kind of like 1st Class Chicken Rice at Food Court pricing. Of course, he understood that leveraging on the 'Chatterbox' brand was way too powerful as many overseas visitors make it their first choice destination for Chicken Rice when they visited Singapore. This is just one example of how a different perspective created an almost fairytale success. If you really understand the fact that 'You are the result of what you did previously', you will know that in order to turn your life around you need to start planning what to do and work hard at it so that over the next 6 months or 1 year, you could think back and tell yourself you need to buy Edmund a good dinner for his e-mails. That said, don't give yourself too much pressure. For those who are having credit card problems, please stop using them and take public transport if possible. Try to free yourself some time to pick up new skills that will help you make passive income. Avoid taking up 2-3 part time jobs as you'll be risking your health and it's not worth it. Trust me. That is my advice for my friend Johnny who works almost 18 hours a day doubling up as a security guard at night. The reason is simple. When you are working, you are trading your time for money. More importantly, when you do low level stuffs (things that don't require much thought), chances is that your returns are also miserable. The reason why I'm always encouraging people to start their own business is that when you really hit it, the returns are exponential when you could only hope for a 5-7% increment year on year. Here comes another group of people I'm worried about. Those who have speculated or retrenched for a long period of time that your house would anytime be repossessed. Don't worry, just be optimistic. The worst you could be is a bankrupt. If someone like Nanz Chong who screwed up badly having lost millions can write a book and teach people something, you could do the same or better. I don't claim to be the guru that can help people make millions but as long people learn something that can change their lives, I'm happy. Remember me as the Duru. I whip people into taking action. Only by doing will change take place.

==> http://www.internet-empire.com/special-testimonial.htm
I hope you've enjoyed this article. I've got to end here because I have to catch a plane to Indonesia tomorrow.

P.S. - We came with nothing, so if you're really bankrupt or on the verge of being bankrupt just remember you're the cause of it. You could jump out of it by just follow some of my advice diligently.
P.P.S. - I'm going to warn you that something very bad will happen before 20th Jul 09 that would send the whole world in panic. If there's a time to take action, this is the time. Trust me, when it happens, a lot more people would be retrenched.
P.P.P.S. - The SingaporeSeminars.com is undergoing some revamp so there will be no posting until the new site is up.
P.P.P.P.S. - I sincerely hope you will change your perspectives and change your life. Learn to be optimistic like me and enjoy life. Focus on the positives e.g. How to Make More Money rather than the debts you have to pay. Trust me, it works!

Regards,
Edmund Ng
CEO, President
http://www.blogger.com/www.Internet-Empire.com

Be Prepared

Be Prepared

2 Days before Chinese New Year

What I like to share here is something which people may not expect it to happen, but it happened.

On 24 Jan 2009, 2 days before Chinese New Year, as I was driving to MacRitchie Reservoir for a jog, I received a phone call at my mobile. It was my mother (sitting at the centre in orange) on the other side of the line. She asked when am I and said she was lying on the floor at home. She also asked me to come home immediately. I told her I am coming home now and hanged up the phone.

Guessed what has happened ?

When I reached home, I saw my mum lying on the floor side way in her room. I started to ask her if she is alright. She just said she cannot move. I tried to help her to lie flat on the floor but she complaint pain and asked me not to move her. I told her to relax and called for ambulance immediately. The number to call is 995. Before the ambulance arrived, my mum said she wanted to drink water. I brought her a glass of water but she cannot drink. She then asked for a spoon to assist her in drinking but still cannot drink because she was lying side way. Finally, I got a straw for her to drink water. Then she asked she need to urine. I then brought her a container and helped her to sit up resting beside her bed and help her to pass urine.

After awhile, I heard the sound of the ambulance outside our main gate and went down to the ground floor to taken the paramedic to my mum. 3 paramedics came with their standard equipment. I assisted the paramedics to put my mum on the strecher for them to take her to hospital.

My mum was hospitalised for one night and she asked to go home before Chinese New Year. I spoke to the doctor on 25 Jan 09 and he allowed my mum to discharge. My mum need to go back to the hospital for a thorough check after Chinese New Year.

Finally.....

What I like to share here is nobody expect such thing to happen just before Chinese New Year. I knew my mum has history of back pain and leg pain but I do not expect the pain to hit her so suddenly until she cannot move.

Anything can happen any time. We just got to be prepared and act accordingly.

Hotel Mexico

Hotel Mexico

Since I set up my blog last year on my sharing, I have received quite a number of e-mails from overseas "friends" whom I do not know or met.

Two of my "friends" are from Malaysia. They are interested in the qi gong (see photo attached) which I practice and published. Qi Gong is an exercise I practice once a week for 90 minutes. This exercise is originated from China. After about a year since I started, I never go on MC (absent from work due to sickness). What more worth mentioning is it is FOC. You just need to make your way to the practice location nearest to your home or work place. To date, I have not taken any MC for 3 years.

I also received an e-mail from Kathy. She is all the way from Mexico.

The URL to what she like to share is as shown below :

http://www.mexicovacationtravels.com/
Description : A travel information website for visitors interested in Mexico vacation destinations.

Take a look at their interesting web. Even if you do not get to go to Mexico, it is good to know more about their food, culture, etc. Who knows, you may be in Mexico one day. Enjoy.