It saddens me when I heard about the passing of Steve Jobs. He was a true visionary who endured many pitfalls and adversities to become who had been and to have achieved what he had.

in 2005 He delivered  a commencement address at the Stanford University.  At the end of his speech, he advised the graduates: “Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish.”

This probably sums up the way he approached his life. He was hungry for a better way to do things. He was hungry for a better approach towards solving problems. And he kept asking and doing things that people of his time would deem foolish. Despite many criticism for his ideas and approaches, he pressed on. Despite looking foolish, he followed his heart and dreams.

The question we might like to ask ourselves is whether we are hungry and whether we are “foolish” to go achieve what we have set out to.

Steve Jobs says that we must be HUNGRY!! How true. Staying hungry need not mean being poor and deliberately putting yourself in a dire state. You can borrow that feeling, the passion you have for something that drives you to do what you have to do. Simply, if you recall a time when you were hungry for food. Nothing else would come to your mind except finding food. Nothing else matters. All you are focused on is finding ways to fill your stomach. Similarly, being hungry in the context of your life, career, business, studies, love life, means you will go all out without reservations. No more “what ifs?”. No more considering what will others think of you.

Not considering how others think of you brings me to the second point that Steve Jobs is trying to put across – Stay Foolish. For most of us, how others perceive us remains one of the most paralyzing consideration have. We begin to live with other people’s standards and other people’s expectations of us. If we grew up where everyone around us, including the ones we love, are negative and mediocre, it seems very unwelcoming when someday we announce to them that we want to be someone – someone successful, someone significant. “Don’t be a fool”, they might say. But think about it, who they are really saying that to is THEMSELVES and not you. Remember in the movie The Pursuit Of Happiness? When Chris said to his son, who wanted to be a NBA star, that “if you want something, go get it. Period.” and “people can’t do something themselves, they tell you that you can’t do it.” and “never let anyone tell you that you can’t do something, not even me.”

From today on, let us Stay Hungry and Stay Foolish. Let us press on towards our goals and dreams with full vigor. And let us remain foolish in the eyes of the mediocre. Great people never laugh at great ambition, only smaller thinking people who surrendered themselves and resigned to their fate.

I hope this message has a found a meaningful place in your heart.  Share this with your friends.  Together we can achieve more.

If you wouldn’t mind to work from home on a part-time basis, and earning $100, $200 or even up to $500 a day interests you.  You may like to check out this fantastic opportunity where you can make a full time income simply working from home.  You can even get paid to do some blog posts. You can Get Paid To Write!!!

Before we pursue the life we are seeking, we must first be grateful for the things we already have. I came across this exercise and am really glad I did it. It made me realize that there are so many things to be grateful for.

I am grateful that…

I’m alive
I’m healthy
I have hands and legs
I can see
I can run
I can read
I an write
I can speak English
I can speak confidently in front of a crowd
I have nice eyebrows
I play the guitar well
I have my own car
I have a room to myself
I can pay for my own meals
I have control over my own time
I have clean clothes to put on
I have nice shoes to out on
I have a computer
I have had formal education
I have great mentors in my life
There are many things to laugh about
There is peace in where I live
I have loving parents
I have a loving wife
Augustine is my friend
Shaun is my friend
I have the money to prepare for my wedding
All the books that inspire me
All the great authors that wrote the books
The man who invented air-conditioning
My talent in photography
My talent in writing
My talent in driving
My talent in speaking
My ability to sell
My artistic nature
My iPhone
Subway cookies
Clean water to use
The money available to attend seminars
My real estate career
Money to invest
My Playstation3
My good voice
My friendly neighbors
My newly renovated kitchen
My 40inch plasma tv
My queen sized bed
My water heater
My supportive colleagues
My hair on my scalp
My strong jawline
My language skills
My people skills
My witty jokes
My bowling balls
My nurturing ex-boss
My nice set of teeth
My good manners
The nice cool wind blowing at me now
Music
Museums
Animals
The Sun
The rain
Durians
Buffet dinners
My dentist
My sense of smell
Perfume
Having shaken hands with Jim Rohn
Having shaken hands with Brian Tracy
Being positively remembered by my ex-colleagues
Having opportunities to make money
Wendy Kwek believing in me
Having a wonderful childhood
Having spent 19 years with Grandma
The airplanes that bring me to many places
Having the opportunity to travel alone
Being to more than 3 countries
The movies
Internet
Facebook to connect with old friends
Clean and clear air to breathe
Coffee to drink
A clean bathroom to use
A good reputation
Vitamin pills
Birds chirping
Pavement on the side walk
Cafes near where I live
Refrigerators
The stove
Cable TV
Being able to swim
Being able to dress myself
Having friends in other countries
Having experienced other cultures
Having tasted food from other countries
Having 100 things to be grateful for

Here are my 100 things… What’s yours?

I have seen the trend that more and more people are accepting MLM businesses. Though not every company or opportunity is legitimate, I cannot deny that the opportunities that MLM give, have provided many people who seek to attain a higher income bracket greater hope and viability.

In the past, starting your own business is mostly reserved for the ones with the cash or the contacts. But with MLM business, anyone may start from scratch and reach the top income levels in several years – only if they are willing to work for it.

Though it can be for ANYONE, it may not be suitable for EVERYONE. If it is for you, I wish you all the best and may your dreams be fulfilled by your calculated endeavors.

Here you will find a respectable figure, Mr. Bill Clinton, expressing his views about direct selling and MLM business opportunities. Enjoy!

Very often in MLM or some call Network Marketing, we get emotionally excited and feel strongly that the company is right for us. We probably feel this way after we hear an influential speaker present the benefits of the company and their products.

Influence from the person who invited you, and perhaps that person is someone whom you respect very much, can have a impact on the decision you make about the MLM business.

Most people who joined out of pure excitement and hyped emotions, can’t expect to carry on these emotions for the entire period of their career in the MLM business. In order to succeed and stay long enough to see the results, one must have the perseverance and maturity to know that hard work, perspiration and inspiration work hand in hand to achieve success in this industry.

There are thousands of MLM companies offering business opportunities to people from all walks of life. These companies offer you a business with varieties of products and services and it can be extremely confusing to choose if you are unfamiliar with the industry and if you are lacking in research materials. So how shall you choose which MLM company is for you and which is not?

Well, it is true that there are countless MLM scams in the market. You might have the experience or heard about tens of thousands of people pitch their MLM business opportunities on the internet that might not be legitimate in the first place.

Here is a quick guideline on how you might want to choose the MLM company to work with.

1. Products – are the products desirable by most people? Is it value for money? Is the quality acceptable to most people? Will there be repeated sales from your customers or potential downlines?

2. Experience – The experience of your leaders, mentors, or uplines are extremely important to your success. How about the ones who created the opportunity? Are they reputable people or people you can learn from?

3. Company – Is the company strong in their finances? Are their financial statements transparent? Are they committed to stay for long? One good way to know about their commitment is to know if they have a R&D department. If they have one, chances are they have invested enough money to ensure the products you sell have the potential to progress and meet new demands of the market.

4. Compensation – To start and stay on in the MLM business, you need to be sure that you are able to make a decent profit from your sales and sponsoring efforts. Is the minimum performance requirement acceptable and achievable? Are the incentives to climb the ladder attractive? If you are not attracted, you will not be motivated to share the opportunity, and even if you do, your prospects will not get excited.

5. Training – Is the company providing adequate training for their associates and distributors? Are they committed to help you succeed?

6. Integrity – This is the most important of all! If you are to join a MLM company. You MUST know that they say what they mean, and mean what they say. In other words, they must walk their talk. Many MLM companies make wonderful promises that they can’t keep. And because you might stay for a long time, you need to know if they can be trusted. In business, it’s just like marriage.

The points I have stated above are just the basics when you consider choosing a MLM company to engage business with. It is rare to find a MLM company with all the above mentioned factors favorable. Importantly, take the courage to ask these hard questions. It is your future at stake. Not just yours but the potential of the future of your generations that are at stake. Take the time and effort to ask and find out. It is worth it. Like I said, it’s just like marriage – you got to know whom you are going to marry, isn’t it?

If you found, joined and belong to a great MLM company. Congratulations! And you may lift your head high with your chin stuck out when you go out to make your business work!

Amidst the demands of our work and the pursuit of our dreams, we gotta take a little time out for a hearty laugh.

I read on a bookmark I had. It reads, “The only way to make sense out of life, is to have a sense of humour.”

Here is a video clip of Rowan Atkinson (a.k.a Mr. Bean).  Never knew he does stand up comedies.  Love his stuff, just watch his expressions – that made it all the more challenging to make people laugh without saying a word.

This really brightened my day.  Hope it does the same for you too

LIFE
“Don’t Let Life Discourage You;
Everyone Who Got Where He Is
Had To Begin Where He Was”
-Richard L. Evans

This saying was so apt as I read it outside the sales training seminar I was in.

Yesterday, I was at one of the power training sessions learning about how to sell real estate.   I am making a shift in my career and I have chosen to start a real estate business, and this industry is totally new to me.  I have the slightest idea about the terms, procedures and sales strategies pertaining specifically to the real estate industry.  I naturally feel discouraged and unconfident about being a success in this industry.

I thought to myself, “How am I able to be like these trainers standing up there? They are so composed, knowledgeable, and experienced.  How long and how much hard knocks do I have to get through? Is it worth it?

I was doubting myself.

There was a break in the middle of the training and I took a walk along the corridor outside the training room.  There I saw a wall with a line of beautifully put up motivational posters framed in wood.  One of the posters that bears the saying above struck me – like some form of advice from the divine source, or the Universe (if you will).

Interestingly on the same day, I was reading Jack Canfield’s & Mark Victor Hansen’s “Chicken Soup For The Soul” series – Living Your Dreams, and came across this beautiful perspective about life.

Discouraged?

As I was driving home from work one day, I stopped to watch a local Little League baseball game that was being played in a park near my home.  As I sat down behind the bench on the first-baseline, I asked one of the boys what the score was.

“We’re behind fourteen to nothing,” he answered with a smile.

“Really,” I said.  “I have to say you don’t look very discouraged.”

“Discouraged?” the boy asked with a puzzle look on his face.  “Why should we be discouraged?  We haven’t been up to bat yet.”

Jack Canfield
A 2nd Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul

Here is a little story of how we can learn from children.  I always believe that children see life from an angle most adults don’t or forgotten how to.

For me? Why should I feel discouraged?  I haven’t gone out to sell any properties yet?

Here’s a very inspiring video, enjoy

I am so moved by this video.  I am touched by his determination, his positive attitude towards life, and the emotional strength he holds.

I love the part when he asked the students, “So what do you do when you fall down?”

Get back up was the answer.

When we are exhausted and we feel we don’t have the strength to get back up, I hope we can remember this video and let’s put our situations into proper perspective – there is always a way. Our job? Is to go find it.

The question is: “Are You Gonna Finish Strong?”

Thank you for reading and have a great day ahead! Cheers!

I got this from one of my business mentors.  I find it really mind expanding! Something to think about…

Here it is, enjoy…

If your company, a comb manufacturer, assigns you to sell combs to the monks in the temples ? Can you do it ?

What is your answer ?

a) No Way , Impossible !
b) Crazy !
c) I will give it a try in order to follow my boss’instruction.
d) Well, I will try.
e) Ya, I think I can sell ??? (5pcs ? 10pcs ? 50pcs ? or more…you name it)

Pick an answer above and read below to find out if you are or are not going to be a successful person or not at all.

The Story: SELLING COMB TO THE MONK

There is one company “manufacturing combs” which intends to expand its business and therefore, the management needs to employ a new Sales Manager.

The company ADV ERTISED the vacancy in the newspaper. Many people turned up for the interview daily….adding up to almost a hundred interviewees in just few days.

The Company now faces the problem in choosing the right candidate for this position. So the Company’s HR manager sets out a task to those who wanted to come for the final interview.

The task: Selling Combs To Monks In Temples

Only 3 applicants are willing to stay on for this Final Interview challenge:- A, B and C

The HR manager instructed: “Now I want three of you to sell these wooden combs to the monks in the temples. You only have 10 days to do it and report to me.”

After 10 days, they reported.

The HR manager asked A: “How many have you sold ?”

A answered: “Only One.”

HR manager asked: “How did you manage to sell one ?

A answered: “The monks in the temple scolded me when I showed them the comb but on my way downhill, I met a young monk who bought it to scratch his head due to dandruff.”

The HR manager then asked B: “How many did you sell ?

B replied: “10 pieces. I went to a shrine and noticed that many devotees’ hair were in a mess due to strong winds outside the shrine. The monk listened to my advice and bought 10 combs for their devotees as a mark of respect to Buddha.”

Then, the HR manager asked C: “What about you ?”

C replied: “1,000 units.”

The HR manager and the other 2 interviewees were astounded.

HR manager asked: “How did you do that ?”

C replied: “I went to a famous temple. After observing for a few days, I discovered that there were many tourists. I then told the Chief Abbot there. “Sifu, those who come here are very devoted. If you could give them a gift, it will be more elating to them. I told him that I have a bulk of combs here and asked him to put his signature on the combs as a present to these visitors. He was very delighted and immediately ordered 1,000 pieces.”

MORAL OF THE STORY:

HARVARD UNIVERSITY did a research:-

1) 85% of success is due to attitude and 15% is capability
2) Attitude is more important than intelligence, specials skills or luck..

In other words, professional knowledge only constitutes for 15% success factor while 85% is due to self-cultivation, public relations and adaptability.

Still remember the story of Selling Shoes to Africans ?

When 2 Salesmen were sent to Africa , one of them reported: “Cannot do it. No one wears shoes over there !”

The second salesman said: “It is good to market. A lot of opportunities.”

Success and Failure is dependent on how we face problems.

Remember, when the economic is good, there are people going bankrupt.

When business is bad, there are many new millionaires as well. So apply the 85% of the right working attitude fully.

With this story, we learn to “think out of the box” and even with 15% capability, we are confident to solve problems as long as we have the RIGHT WORKING ATTITUDE, COMMITMENT, DISCIPLINED, DEDICATED and DETERMINED.
Every time when we watch MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, the ending is always POSSIBLE.

DO NOT FIND EXCUSES NOT TO DO THE POSSIBLE BUT INSTEAD, FIND WAYS AND MEANS TO DO THE POSSIBLE.  That’s the right working attitude !

Sometimes, the thought of doing something extraordinary scares me.

Much of the reason is because I have never done it before.  I am designing a coaching program where I could teach the public how to dress presentably and carry themselves with confidence.  My little voice seems to get the better of me at times, and it is hard to resist the idea giving up this endeavor and stay where I am, which seems more comfortable of course.

However, a moment in my car, as I was driving and listening to an audio “The Magic Of Thinking BIG” by David Schwartz.
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There is a saying by Edwin Louis Cole: “Don’t pray for opportunities; pray you’ll be ready when opportunities come.

Opportunities always come, and it surrounds us all the time.  Whether we are able to spot them and act on them is entirely dependent on the person whom the opportunities are presented to.

Most people out there don’t seem to realize the existence of opportunities because they are so trapped by their perceived circumstances and their routine lives.  What we need to understand is that if there is anything we wish to do or accomplish, the Universe will open doors for all of us if we seek for the opportunities.

We have the ability to choose every moment from the time we wake up till the time we go to bed.  When we wake up in the morning, we jump out of bed, take a bath, clean our teeth and dash out of the house to work not simply because of the need to but because we choose to.  It is fair to say that we don’t always feel this way, but the fact is that nobody forces you to do what you have been doing! Though at times we may feel that we are being forced to, but ponder for a moment – it is us who put ourselves in the situation of being “forced”

It is true that we need to go do things we don’t necessarily love doing for the sake of money and survival.  However, if you are not satisfied with the way you live your life, you may make a choice to and assume the power to make things better.

Opportunities does exist, and in fact at this very moment you are reading this, someone you know – your friend, ex-schoolmate, neighbor, teacher, or gardener for that matter, may be working on a new opportunity he or she has just chanced upon.

In order to see the opportunities that come to you, you have to be willing to change the way you see yourself and the world that is around you.

You have to relax and understand that each day you are presented new ways and opportunities to live life happily and to do the things you love doing.  You will never be stuck in a particular situation indefinitely.  It is only the lousy thoughts and feelings about yourself and your situation that makes you feel trapped and blinded to opportunities.

Rather than feeling sorry for yourself and the situation you are in, identify the things that you love doing and start getting prepared for it.  Les Brown, who is a world-class motivational speaker and author of many self improvement books including “Live Your Dreams”, dreams to be a radio DJ.  His background did not make it easy for him to be one.  He was plagued by low self-esteem, poverty and was mistakenly declared “educably mentally retarded”.  However, there was one teacher who believed in him and taught him to prepare, and work hard preparing for what he dreams of doing.  Les worked hard practicing being a radio DJ, way before he actually became one.  He is now a highly renowned public speaker, who is being recognized by Toastmasters International as one of the World’s Top Five Speakers.

What you may begin doing is to start preparing yourself before the opportunity arises.  You want to be ready when the opportunity comes, and not feel sorry for yourself with only excuses and lack.

Start today, and ask yourself what can you do to prepare for the next opportunity that comes by.  You will be thankful you did your preparations and seized new opportunities while others could only sit one corner and envy at your success.