Déjà Vu
Fancy blogging during the last hour of the year again... Many things have changed throughout the course of one year. Somehow, I just can't write this entry with the same amount of enthusiasm and level of optimism. Nevertheless, I am still thankful and appreciative of the company of my friends for the most of the day before I book in for my duty.
Watched Yes Man with Adeline, Alvin and Shi Jun in the afternoon; I thought the movie was pretty funny and yet at the same time meaningful. I have to admit that I used to be the old Carl Allen; afraid to accept challenges or embrace changes in my life. Maybe I have improved a little bit already, I don't really know. I think it is supposed to tell us that we should say a resounding "Yes!" when we know it deep inside our heart.
Had dinner with class at a seafood restaurant near Fullerton Hotel during evening. Food was pretty okay, but nothing beats sitting down and having a nice talk with classmates. Crowds were all gathered around Marina Square for a spectacular view of the impending fireworks. Welcome to 2009! Hope everyone will have a smooth sailing year ahead:)
Just 13 more months to go!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
2008 Take-aways
2008 Take-aways
While the term "Take-away" may instill fear in every single undergraduate out there, I am relieved to declare that I am immune to this superstition.
(FYI, "Take-away", aka "Da3 Bao1" in Hokkien is defined as failing a particular module during the course of study and subsquently having to repeat it during the next semester)
Learnt a couple of important lessons in 2008.
1. The importance of time. To think I still had the audacity to waste precious time at the beginning of 2008 prior to my enlistment on unproductive leisure activities; for instance computer games. Really learnt to appreciate time after enlistment. Significance of the phrase "Time is Money" cannot be overemphasized.
2. Ability to recognise genuine friends. These are people who will stick with you even when they are in the army or universities. Frequent meetings are not an absolute necessity, occasional online chats and text messages shall do just fine. Unlike those who have disappeared without a single trace to other "high flier" friends or simply can't be bothered. Nevertheless, I will still treat them as my friends and treasure the relationship we share.
3. Become less gullible. There have been many instances when I am disavdantaged due to my gullibilty and tendency to place trust on dishonest individuals. At some point of time I almost believed in a particular idea of thinking but luckily managed to detect their hypocrisy and see through their lies. As for MLM, its a downright no-no. Trust is hard to earn and easy to lose. I can't agree more with this statement.
3. Develop an immense passion for learning. To tell the truth, I used to loathe studying since I was young. I do not find studying a mind boggling activity but the results I have achieved so far are supposedly to prove my "status" (which I find unnecessary) as the only son of the eldest son (my dad) in my family. Everything went fine until my misfortune in NJC and that compelled me to analyse the severity of the predicament I was pushed into. I straightened out my thinking after surviving this ordeal which left me pernamently scared but fret not; for it only served to strengthen my resolve and deepen my desire.
For you: I still need more time to think it through. Why me? I have nothing but only the ambition and drive to succeed, unlike those who are busy squandering money and wasting time trying to please others...
To me, 2008 was an epiphany. I have found my path. I have lost something I thought to be priceless for something which is truly priceless. I will master, no I MUST master my craft and do whatever it takes to materialise my ambition. Forbes 400, await my future arrival!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Christmas (Prelude)
Christmas (Prelude)
Somehow I feel that this Christmas will be different.
Never failed to answer any questions before but this particular one stumped me.
I realised the major things I had done in my life were for those around me. Family, friends, school, CCA and those intellectually disabled.
Completely at a loss when I knew something important was done for me.
I wish I can give you an answer.
But now, let us enjoy the ambigiuty.
Somehow I feel that this Christmas will be different.
Never failed to answer any questions before but this particular one stumped me.
I realised the major things I had done in my life were for those around me. Family, friends, school, CCA and those intellectually disabled.
Completely at a loss when I knew something important was done for me.
I wish I can give you an answer.
But now, let us enjoy the ambigiuty.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
That Thing u Do
That Thing u Do
You doing that thing you do!
Breakin' my heart into a million pieces
Like you always do.
And you, don't mean to be cruel.
You never even knew about the heartache
I've been going through.
And I try and try to forget you girl
But it's just so hard to do.
Every time you do that thing do!
I know all the games you play
And I'm gonna find a way to let you know
That you'll be mine someday.
Cause we, could be happy can't you see?
If you know me let me be the one to hold you
And keep you here with me.
'Cause I try and try to forget you girl
But it's just so hard to do.
Every time you do that thing do!
I don't ask a lot but I know one thing for sure.
It's the love that I haven't got girl.
And I just can't take it anymore.
Cause we, could be happy can't you see?
If you know me let me be the one to hold you
and keep you here with me.
Cause it hurts me so just to see you go
Around with someone new.
And to find that you, you're doing that thing.
Every day just doing that thing.
I can't take you doing that thing you do
Monday, December 15, 2008
The Case Against MLM
The Case Against Multi-Level Marketing (MLM)
As the famous saying goes: There are many roads to Jerusalem. I believe there are equally, if not more approaches to accumulating great wealth too. However, it is simply premature to assume that all methods are completely feasible and desirable. This is a rather feeble attempt to present the case against the widely popular business sales tactic, namely multi-level marketing, also known as pyramid selling. Although the altered version of MLM is legal in the context of the law and regulations pertaining to commercial affairs, its inherent exploitative nature leaves it an undesirable ploy to achieve spectacular sales. An inquiry shall be made in the paragraphs below.
This seemingly profitable business transaction lands the new members (they are NOT classified as investors) into financial jeopardy by leveraging on their optimism on the positive general outlook of the business or industry. IBOs, in short for Independent Business Owner, is merely an artificial term generated by "financial psychologists" to form the illusion that one is a business owner and can receive a substantial passive monthly income without doing any productive work. Productive work here is defined as creating sales by selling products to customers, who are usually friends or relatives of the IBOs. This is what I identify as emotional selling, where the IBO intentionally or unintentionally deploys his or her relationship with another party as a marketing tool to influence him to purchase the overpriced product in order to push sales figures to new heights. Why do I mention overpriced? Direct selling provides convienence to consumers by bringing the product right in front of them but that comes with a cost. The addition of a distributor network pushes up prices due to the inclusion of a third party between the producer and the consumer. Thus, it is not surprising to find the prices of products highly inflated relative to the production costs.
Even so, it is necessary to acknowledge the fact that this marketing and sales system has proven to produce magnificent profits for the firm with its line of products. However, this delusional success has been achieved at the expense of violating business ethics and principles. Philip Fisher wrote a book called "Conservative Investors Sleep Well", while I hope I can write "Ethical Businessmen Snore Loud" sometime in the future haha..
PS: I find it a pity that due to time constraint and mental strain serving in the Army, many arguments are not thoroughly developed and elaborated with valid, compelling examples. This load of crap would have failed as a GP essay, but I think it fits the criteria as an interesting read and a time killer. Anyway there is still SO much for me to learn, any idea how to compress 12 years of academic load into 2 years of personal learning? Accounting, Business and Economics integrated in a 2 year course. How does that sound to you?
As the famous saying goes: There are many roads to Jerusalem. I believe there are equally, if not more approaches to accumulating great wealth too. However, it is simply premature to assume that all methods are completely feasible and desirable. This is a rather feeble attempt to present the case against the widely popular business sales tactic, namely multi-level marketing, also known as pyramid selling. Although the altered version of MLM is legal in the context of the law and regulations pertaining to commercial affairs, its inherent exploitative nature leaves it an undesirable ploy to achieve spectacular sales. An inquiry shall be made in the paragraphs below.
This seemingly profitable business transaction lands the new members (they are NOT classified as investors) into financial jeopardy by leveraging on their optimism on the positive general outlook of the business or industry. IBOs, in short for Independent Business Owner, is merely an artificial term generated by "financial psychologists" to form the illusion that one is a business owner and can receive a substantial passive monthly income without doing any productive work. Productive work here is defined as creating sales by selling products to customers, who are usually friends or relatives of the IBOs. This is what I identify as emotional selling, where the IBO intentionally or unintentionally deploys his or her relationship with another party as a marketing tool to influence him to purchase the overpriced product in order to push sales figures to new heights. Why do I mention overpriced? Direct selling provides convienence to consumers by bringing the product right in front of them but that comes with a cost. The addition of a distributor network pushes up prices due to the inclusion of a third party between the producer and the consumer. Thus, it is not surprising to find the prices of products highly inflated relative to the production costs.
Even so, it is necessary to acknowledge the fact that this marketing and sales system has proven to produce magnificent profits for the firm with its line of products. However, this delusional success has been achieved at the expense of violating business ethics and principles. Philip Fisher wrote a book called "Conservative Investors Sleep Well", while I hope I can write "Ethical Businessmen Snore Loud" sometime in the future haha..
PS: I find it a pity that due to time constraint and mental strain serving in the Army, many arguments are not thoroughly developed and elaborated with valid, compelling examples. This load of crap would have failed as a GP essay, but I think it fits the criteria as an interesting read and a time killer. Anyway there is still SO much for me to learn, any idea how to compress 12 years of academic load into 2 years of personal learning? Accounting, Business and Economics integrated in a 2 year course. How does that sound to you?
Monday, December 08, 2008
What's my Answer?
What's my Answer?
Frankly speaking, the subject which I am tackling now is out of my circle of competence. My concern is not how big this circle is, but rather how well I have defined its perimeter. When the people I have spoken to are obsessed with the expected profits and ways to go about spending them in terms of overseas trips and luxurious goods I know we have different goals. We should do what we love to do and every single cent earned should be saved, not spent. I am not going to participate in this venture just for the sake of doing something, as holding on to cash is the default strategy. Furthermore, when the prospective partners are reluctant to share with me the inner workings of the business model including the downside risk especially, I believe they will be less forthcoming in other areas as well. Generally, I do not work with people whom I find it difficult to trust in. Thus there is no need for any cost-benefit analysis. Well, back to my search for opportunities.
Frankly speaking, the subject which I am tackling now is out of my circle of competence. My concern is not how big this circle is, but rather how well I have defined its perimeter. When the people I have spoken to are obsessed with the expected profits and ways to go about spending them in terms of overseas trips and luxurious goods I know we have different goals. We should do what we love to do and every single cent earned should be saved, not spent. I am not going to participate in this venture just for the sake of doing something, as holding on to cash is the default strategy. Furthermore, when the prospective partners are reluctant to share with me the inner workings of the business model including the downside risk especially, I believe they will be less forthcoming in other areas as well. Generally, I do not work with people whom I find it difficult to trust in. Thus there is no need for any cost-benefit analysis. Well, back to my search for opportunities.
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