Life is a gift...

It’s our decisions, not the conditions of our lives, that determine our destiny!

2012-02-03T11:24:00.001+08:00

Happy Friday to my dear readers...

Today I would like to share one of my life principle... or wise sayings... that I used to repeat to my own self... which may help and benefit others as well....

I always believe and even talk to myself... "It is my decisions, not the conditions of my lives, that determine my destiny!" Or in other words... "It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

It is normal that each and everyone of us, as human being, our lives sometimes can be happy, sometimes can be sad. That's the colour of life. Life can be tested with challengers as well. Be it health, money, relationship, business, career, family etc. Some people may get so stressed and feel like life is so terrible, and act negatively towards it. But for me, whenever challengers come, I deal it positively (with guidance and prayers to the Almighty God). When you decide and look the problem in positive way... things will turn out positive and great!!! (Believe me in that). Whatever you do, do your best and be sincere with the right intention.

Example of a situation to make you understand the meaning of this sayings... For example when you are in a service type industry... You received a complaint from a customer. The customer may say many bad things or express all the bad feelings about your service. So what is your decision about this situation when your customer complaint? A negative reaction... you may just ignore, hate the customer or even do something that may hurt the customer feeling which at the end of the day make things get more worse!!! A positive reaction... say "Thank you" to the customer for sharing and giving feedbacks... regards the complaint as a "GIFT" and take the opportunity to improve your service. You may also try best to understand the customer better and at the end of the day your relationship with the customer will become closer. Lastly, you will can never imagine the rewards of your good deeds, which may create great repercussion due to your excellent and quality service :)

I also would like to expand the sayings wider. Based on my experiences meeting a lot of successful people out there, which are some of my clients and friends... I found that most successful people comes from people who are strong and face their life challengers in positive way. Some they are not born rich, even in a very poor family. Not highly educated, even cannot speak English or Malay in a proper way. But they have the determination for the DECISION to CHANGE their life!!!

I have a lot more to share about the power of decision... for example when you feel sad or stressed, it is also your decision to have that feelings or decide to be happy.... You are responsible of your life! Take charge! "If it is to be, it's up to ME!!!"

Have a wonderful long weekends to everyone... Cheers :)

-Suraya-

Introduction

2012-01-29T15:20:00.001+08:00

This lovely Sunday I want to update a little bit about my achievement in my business so far after long silence. I started my part time business in 2007... promoted as Agency Supervisor in July 2007... means to achieve half million Ringgit Malaysia closed deal in less than half year.... and also as a fresh new comer in the unit trust industry... lone ranger... and part time! I joined the unit trust industry after doing some own research... and I seek "an upline" from the No 1 unit trust company... which won more than 30 awards in the year of 2006. In the year of 2007 I qualified for Vietnam trip, year of 2008 and 2009 my personal sales does not qualify me, but thankful that I managed to recruit and grow some successful agents during that years. My come back on my personal sales achievement in the year of 2010 and 2011.... Yes! In the year of 2010 and 2011 I am awarded the title as "Million Dollar Ringgit Producer" for 2 consecutive years!!! For the year of 2012... yes, strongly confident can maintain the title due to excellent investment performance that had benefited most of my clients... and of course the support from those who knows me... Sure... would love to achieve greater success in this new year 2012... in all aspects :)

I believe most people who does not really close to me may be confused am I doing this business as full time now? Or is this my only bread and butter? Let me answer... this business is actually my passion... I'm doing it because I love and enjoy doing it.... I am still a dedicated employee to a company that I still love working... hehehehe... So how I managed that? Yes... sure I have a lot to share... and I wish many more of us will benefit as well by applying the same technique.... Success can occur 'easily and effortlessy' sometimes... Sometimes need to put some simple things in our mind that will attract for success... Which is called as "Law of Attraction"....

I get to go now... will continue my sharings in my later post... this is just an introduction... I welcome feedback, comments and questions... :)

Welcome back..... 2012

2012-01-29T08:43:00.008+08:00

My dear readers all over the world and also my followers....

I am back to continue sharing information and thoughts via this blog.
I wish it will give some positive inspiration and motivation to others, whoever you are, wherever you belongs or whatever you do.
Plenty of books which I have read that excite me, I may be sharings the review or the important note from the books.
I may also share about my careers, life challengers, current global situations etc.

By the way, the photo above was taken at Saudi Arabia during my travel for umrah last year

So... to all my online friends, be ready for my next posts in 2012!!!!

Feel free to drop some comment or send me private message through my email address.... ;)

WANTED: UNIT TRUST CONSULTANTS

2009-05-08T22:57:00.003+08:00

Hi all...

I'm looking for more Unit Trust Consultants....

So.........What are the benefits of becoming a Unit Trust Consultants?

Great opportunity to earn unlimited income
The local unit trust industry is a multi-billion ringgit industry with huge opportunities in both the cash and EPF markets- For the cash market, the Bank Negara's Report for November 2008 shows individual's conventional and Islamic demand deposits and savings deposits stood at more than RM340 billion. While our national savings rate continues to remain high at 37 percent (Source: The Association Of Banks In Malaysia). - According to EPF 2007 Report, there were over 5.4 million of active EPF members as at end of year 2007.
You determine your own pay cheque. Capitalise on the huge untapped market potential, the sky is the limit for your earning potential!
You will be your own boss. - You have the freedom to build your own team and develop your own business strategies. - You have the freedom to earn as much as you want, there is no limit.

Flexible working hours
You are not tied to a 9-to-5 job and have the privilege of dictating your own working hours to suit your needs.

Why I recommend Public Mutual as the best choice?

Industry leader
Public Mutual is a leading player in the private unittrust industry in Malaysia, commanding more than 38.9%a of the market share.
Being No.1b in the industry, we manage more than 60 funds with a total net asset value of RM23.3 billionc for over 2,000,000 accountholders.
As a wholly owned subsidiary of Public Bank, Public Mutual is supported by the vast resources of the Bank.
In terms of total fund size managed amongst private unit trust companies. a & c Source: The Edge-Lipper, 19 January 2009 a & c Source: The Edge-Lipper, 19 January 2009
Award-winning track record

The most awarded unit trust fund manager in Malaysia, having received a total of 130 industry awards since 1999.
Vast experience
Has a wealth of 28 years experience in managing funds.
Extensive distribution channel
Strongest and most productive agency force in the industry. Also, the largest in terms of tied-agents,with more than 70% market share. (Source: Federation of Malaysian Unit Trust Managers). - Extensive network of 26 branches and 2 agency offices to service over 40,000 unit trust consultants and 2 million accountholders.- Supported by 242 Public Bank branches which augment our network as ubiquitous collection centres.

Reward and benefits
PM provide one of the most competitive incentives and benefits programmes in the industry.
Attractive subsidies, bonuses, awards, public recognition and more.
Go on luxury overseas trips, courtesy of our incentive scheme.
Personal development and professionalism.
We invest heavily in your agency development training to help you build a business that can provide you financial freedom and a lifestyle of your choice.

State-of-the-art tools.
Public Mutual has a comprehensive suite of sales and financial planning tools to assist unit trust consultants to service its investors better.

For details can also refer to http://www.publicmutual.com.my/

Can contact me via YM or email or hp 013-3422400.

06-02-2009: PUBLIC MUTUAL WIN BIG

2009-02-13T07:15:00.003+08:00

Hi, it has been a long time didn't update this blog. Recently again we won the most award which recognised our reputation as 'best fund manager'. We had done very very well managing funds for long-term investment... can read on....

KUALA LUMPUR: Public Mutual Bhd was honoured with the Best Overall Fund group award at the 10th edition of The Edge-Lipper Malaysia Fund awards ceremony last night.
The fund house also scooped up six individual awards, making it the biggest winner yet again, a feat it has maintained for several years now. The Edge-Lipper Malaysia Fund Awards is held annually to recognise top
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak (left) presenting the Best Overall Fund group award to Public Bank founder and chairman Tan Sri Teh Hong Piow at the 10th edition of The Edge-Lipper Malaysia Fund awards ceremony in KL last nite. Photo by Mohd Izwan Mohd Nazam performing unit trust funds in the country.
This year’s awards honour the best funds for the year ended Dec 31, 2008. Only funds that have done well over the longer time periods of three years and beyond are recognised, in line with the practice of the global Lipper Fund Awards.
Winners are determined based on the Lipper Leader ratings for Consistent Return, a risk-adjusted investment performance return measure developed by Lipper.
Twenty-four awards covering nine fund categories were given out this year, including Islamic funds that topped their respective Lipper classifications. In addition to the best overall fund group awards won by Public Mutual, three other group awards were presented for Bond, Equity and Mixed Assets.
The Edge-StarMine Malaysia Analysts Awards 2008 winners with dignitaries. Photo by Mohd Izwan Mohd Nazam AmInvestment Services Bhd grabbed top spot in the first category while OSK-UOB Unit Trust Management Bhd were the winners in the second and third categories. These two fund houses were also big winners for the night, reaping three individual fund awards each.
Commenting on the awards, Lipper chief operating officer Eric Almquist said: “The Lipper awards are based on consistently superior, risk-adjusted performance by fund companies and groups relative to their peers. We congratulate the winners, particularly given the challenging financial markets.”
Apart from recognising the top unit trust funds, this year also saw the debut of The Edge-StarMine Malaysia Broker Rankings and The Edge-StarMine Malaysia Analyst Awards, which honour the top brokers and analysts for 2008.
The Edge-Lipper Malaysia Fund awards 2009 winners with dignitaries. Photo by Mohd Izwan Mohd Nazam Maybank Investment Bank Bhd emerged among the top three in three out of the four categories of the broker rankings. It was ranked tops for earning estimates in the Malaysia Mid-and-Small-Cap Stocks category, and came in second in the FTSE Bursa Malaysia 30 (recommendations) and Malaysia Mid-and Small-Cap-Stocks (recommendations) categories.
For the analyst awards, independent analyst Andrew Lee came in tops as the overall top stock picker. Nomura Malaysia Sdn Bhd’s Eltricia Foong and Affin Investment Bank Bhd’s May Pearl Wong were ranked second and third respectively.
Iain McNeil, vice-president of StarMine Sell-side, said: “We are pleased to partner with The Edge Malaysia in rewarding the 2008 performance of the sellside brokers and analysts that continued to find pockets of value and produce insightful, differentiated research for fund managers during such an obviously difficult year.”
The Edge editor-in-chief Ho Kay Tat said the publication was proud of its partnership with Thomson Reuters and would continue to play its role in supporting the development of the investment industry and to serve its readers with in-depth and timely coverage.
“As we ride through volatile times, investors can only benefit by having more transparency and greater access to information — information that allows them to understand the risk that a fund takes to earn its return, and to identify consistent performance; information that allows them to differentiate the value of equity research. That’s where The Edge comes in,” Ho added.

30 Wise Sayings on Patience...

2009-01-25T14:15:00.004+08:00

I believe strong, great and long-lasting success requires massive actions and very important also PATIENCE. Whether in your investment and also in building business. This great evening I would like to share 30 wise sayings on patience for us to ponder....

1. I have little PATIENCE with scientists who take a board of wood, look for its thinnest part, and drill a great number of holes where drilling is easy. ~Albert Einstein

2. The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach-waiting for a gift from the sea. ~Anne Morrow Lindbergh

3. Sometimes it helps to know that I just can't do it all. One step at a time is all that's possible -- even when those steps are taken on the run. ~Anne W. Schaef

4. The key to everything is PATIENCE. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it open. ~Arnold H. Glasgow

5. Many a man thinks he is patient when, in reality, he is indifferent. ~B. C. Forbes

6. PATIENCE is the ability to idle your motor when you feel like stripping your gears. ~Barbara Johnson

7. He that can have PATIENCE can have what he will. ~Benjamin Franklin

8. Little by little, through PATIENCE and repeated effort, the mind will become stilled in the Self. ~Bhagavad Gita

9. PATIENCE is something you admire in the driver behind you, but not in one ahead. ~Bill Mcglashen

10. There are times when God asks nothing of his children except silence, PATIENCE and tears.
~C. S. Robinson

11. PATIENCE is the support of weakness; imPATIENCE the ruin of strength ~Charles Caleb Colton

12. PATIENCE is power; with time and PATIENCE the mulberry leaf becomes a silk gown.
~Chinese Proverb

13. An ounce of PATIENCE is worth a pound of brains. ~Dutch Proverb
Sayings of Dutch Origin

14. Our PATIENCE will achieve more than our force. ~ Edmund Burke

15. PATIENCE is not active; on the contrary, it is active; it is concentrated strength. ~Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton

16. PATIENCE makes a woman beautiful in middle age. ~Elliot Paul

17. Nothing great is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig. I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen. ~Epictetus

18. Who ever is out of PATIENCE is out of possession of their soul. ~Francis Bacon

19. PATIENCE is the virtue of an ass, who treads beneath his burden and complains not. ~George Granville

20. Never think that God's delays are God's denials. Hold on; Hold fast; Hold out. PATIENCE is genius. ~Georges-Louis Leclerc Buffon

21. All things come round to him who will but wait. ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

22. Every man must patiently bide his time. He must wait -- not in listless idleness but in constant, steady, cheerful endeavours, always willing and fulfilling and accomplishing his task, that when the occasion comes he may be equal to the occasion. ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

23. It is not necessary for all men to be great in action. The greatest and sublimest power is often simple PATIENCE. ~Horace Bushnell

24. There is no road too long to the man who advances deliberately and without undue haste; there are no honours too distant to the man who prepares himself for them with PATIENCE.
~Jean De La BruyLre

25. PATIENCE and the passage of time do more than strength and fury. ~Jean De La Fontaine

26. PATIENCE is bitter, but its fruit is sweet. ~Jean Jacques Rousseau

27. Inaction may be the biggest form of action.
Jerry Brown

28. Only those who have the PATIENCE to do simple things perfectly will acquire the skill to do difficult things easily. ~Johann Friedrich Von Schiller

29. Consider the hour-glass; there is nothing to be accomplished by rattling or shaking; you have to wait patiently until the sand, grain by grain, has run from one funnel into the other. ~ John Christian Morgenstern

30. PATIENCE is the most necessary quality for business, many a man would rather you heard his story than grant his request.
Lord Chesterfield

Inflation.... The Silent Threat!

2009-01-21T23:03:00.003+08:00

Inflation is defined as a sustained increase in the general level of prices for products and services, which is measured as an annual percentage increase. As inflation rises, every ringgit you own buys a smaller percentage of product or service. In other words, there is decline in your purchasing power. For example, theoretically a RM 1 cup of teh tarik will cost RM 1.05 after a year if inflation rate for the period is 5 percent.

By discovering how inflation can drastically reduce your spending power, investors should consider building some protection in their portfolio against its eroding effects. Here are some ideas on how you can mitigate the effects of inflation:

1. Get higher return and yield from your investment
2. Maintain diversification in your portfolio
3. Minimise holding large amounts of cash
4. Invest in resilient sectors
5. Manage debt

About 30 years ago, a plate of nasi lemak costs less than RM 1. Today, it has increased to RM 5, so do not be surprised to pay more than RM 10 for your breakfast in the next decade! That is simply the work of inflation over the years! Just like the power of compounding interest, compounding inflation can have a severe impact in your standard of living if left unchecked.
So, during this market downturn, how much is your savings and investment?

Lastly, let us all develop a consistant discipline to save and invest wisely!

Becoming a perpetual STUDENT of life...

2008-12-27T20:00:00.003+08:00

Yesterday I received a meaningful letter and actually today so many memories suddenly comes into my mind. The memories that I'll never forget is the memory of becoming a STUDENT. In this business, I missed those days when I know nothing about the business and looked for my upline, travel so far almost every day in the morning just to learn direct from him.

Learning is how we elevate ourselves towards success. Understanding gives us strength and courage. It gives us the confidence we need to take action. Education is everywhere, in everything we do. Many people think that when school is over, so is the necessity to learn.

Through the understanding and knowledge we gain over the years, interpretations of new information become magnified. In other words, every new thing we learn stands on the shoulders of everything else we've learned before. The quest for knowledge is part of being human. We want to know how things work, why things happen, what we can do to change things. Knowledge by itself, however, is useless. It's what we do with it that counts. It's up to each one of us to put it to the best possible use.

I would like to quote from a book four ways for becoming a perpetual student of life:

1. The next time you're studying something, go all out. Push yourself. When you feel like stopping, go another hour. Do some more research. Find someone who knows about this subject. Prepare more than you've ever prepared before, and see what kind of results you get.

2. Every day, do one thing that involves risk, and study what you learn from making this effort. Step out of your comfort zone. Try a new hobby or interest that will bring value to your life. You don't have to jump out of a plane or go bungee jumping. Risk and effort are relative terms. It can be risky to make a phone call that might end up rejection. For some people, it may take a major effort to cook a healthy meal and get out and exercise. However you define it, set yourself a task that is beyond your usual boundaries, then accomplish it and use what you learn to take the next risk.

3. Look for things that amaze you, excite you, interest you and intrigue you. These are things that will motivate you to learn more about them. Don't worry about how what you're learning will fit into the rest of your life. Serendipity abounds. You never know when something you learn, just because it brings u pleasure, will be just the thing you need to know.

4. Go back to school. Sometimes it is difficult to put yourself back in the role of student, but the truth is you are never too old to learn. In fact, research has shown that although some mental processes may take longer as we get older, they don't necessarily diminish. If you want to keep your brain in good shape, you have to exercise it. In other words, use it or lose it.

Kaizen!

70 More Wise Sayings

2008-12-22T11:47:00.003+08:00

Dear friends,

Wise sayings are wise and positive. Words got power. Make it a habit to read and utter good words and sentences to yourself and others...

I got more wise sayings to share.... here they are...

1. A real decision is measured by the fact that you've taken a new action. If there's no action, you haven't truly decided.
2. Action is the foundational key to all success.
3. You might say, what if I screw up? Then screw up big! Go for it! Do a big screwup!
4. All personal breakthroughs begin with a change in beliefs.
5. Beliefs have the power to create and the power to destroy. Human beings have the awesome ability to take any experience of their lives and create a meaning that disempowers them or one that can literally save their lives.
5. Commit to "CAN I!" – Constant And Never-ending Improvement
6. Determination is the wake-up call to the human will.
7. For changes to be of any true value, they've got to be lasting and consistent.
8. Goals are a means to an end, not the ultimate purpose of our lives. They are simply a tool to concentrate our focus and move us in a direction. The only reason we really pursue goals is to cause ourselves to expand and grow. Achieving goals by themselves will never make us happy in the long term; it's who you become, as you overcome the obstacles necessary to achieve your goals, that can give you the deepest and most long-lasting sense of fulfillment.
9. I believe life is constantly testing us for our level of commitment, and life's greatest rewards are reserved for those who demonstrate a never-ending commitment to act until they achieve. 10. This level of resolve can move mountains, but it must be constant and consistent. As simplistic as this may sound, it is still the common denominator separating those who live their dreams from those who live in regret.
11. I challenge you to make your life a masterpiece. I challenge you to join the ranks of those people who live what they teach, who walk their talk.
12. I've come to believe that all my past failure and frustration were actually laying the foundation for the understandings that have created the new level of living I now enjoy.
13. I've continued to recognize the power individuals have to change virtually anything and everything in their lives in an instant. I've learned that the resources we need to turn our dreams into reality are within us, merely waiting for the day when we decide to wake up and claim our birthright.
14. If we don't see a failure as a challenge to modify our approach, but rather as a problem with ourselves, as a personality defect, we will immediately feel overwhelmed.
15. If you develop the absolute sense of certainty that powerful beliefs provide, then you can get yourself to accomplish virtually anything, including those things that other people are certain are impossible.
16. If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten.
17. If you don't set a baseline standard for what you'll accept in life, you'll find it's easy to slip into behaviors and attitudes or a quality of life that's far below what you deserve.
18. If you want to be successful, find someone who has achieved the results you want and copy what they do and you'll achieve the same results.
19. In essence, if we want to direct our lives, we must take control of our consistent actions. It's not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently.
20. In life you need either inspiration or desperation.
21. It's in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.
22. It is not what we get. But who we become, what we contribute... that gives meaning to our lives.
23. It's not knowing what to do, it's doing what you know.
24. It's not the events of our lives that shape us, but our beliefs as to what those events mean.
25. It's not what's happening to you now or what has happened in your past that determines who you become. Rather, it's your decisions about what to focus on, what things mean to you, and what you're going to do about them that will determine your ultimate destiny.
26. It's your unlimited power to care and to love that can make the biggest difference in the quality of your life.
27. Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more.
28. Live with passion!
29. Most people have no idea of the giant capacity we can immediately command when we focus all of our resources on mastering a single area of our lives.
30. My definition of success is to live your life in a way that causes you to feel a ton of pleasure and very little pain— and because of your lifestyle, have the people around you feel a lot more pleasure than they do pain.
31. Nothing has any power over me other than that which I give it through conscious thoughts.
32. Once you have mastered time, you will understand how true it is that most people 33. overestimate what they can accomplish in a year— and underestimate what they can achieve in a decade!
33. One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power. Most people dabble their way through life, never deciding to master anything in particular.
34. Only those who have learned the power of sincere and selfless contribution experience life's deepest joy: true fulfillment.
35. Passion is the genesis of genius.
36. People are not lazy. They simply have impotent goals— that is, goals that do not inspire them.
37. Personal power is the ability to take action.
38. Put yourself in a state of mind where you say to yourself, "Here is an opportunity for me to celebrate like never before, my own power, my own ability to get myself to do whatever is necessary."
39. Quality questions create a quality life. Successful people ask better questions, and as a result, they get better answers.
40. Questions provide the key to unlocking our unlimited potential.
41. Remember, the quality of your life is dependent upon the quality of the life of your cells. If the bloodstream is filled with waste products, the resulting environment does not promote a strong, vibrant, healthy cell life-nor a biochemistry capable of creating a balanced emotional life for an individual.
42. Repetition is the mother of skill. (might be someone else who wrote it).
43. Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.
Success comes from taking the initiative and following up... persisting... eloquently expressing the depth of your love. What simple action could you take today to produce a new momentum toward success in your life?
44. Success is doing what you want to do, when you want, where you want, with whom you want, as much as you want.
45. Surmounting difficulty is the crucible that forms character.
46. Take control of your consistent emotions and begin to consciously and deliberately reshape your daily experience of life.
47. The higher your energy level, the more efficient your body The more efficient your body, the better you feel and the more you will use your talent to produce outstanding results.
48. The meeting of preparation with opportunity generates the offspring we call luck.
49. The past doesn't equal the future.
Variant: The past does not equal the future unless you live there.
50. The path to success is to take massive, determined action.
51. The people who shape our lives and our cultures have the ability to communicate a vision or a quest or a joy or a mission.
52. The quality of your life is the quality of your communication. (with yourself as well as with others).
53. The secret of success is learning how to use pain and pleasure instead of having pain and pleasure use you. If you do that, you're in control of your life. If you don't, life controls you.
54. The truth is that we can learn to condition our minds, bodies, and emotions to link pain or pleasure to whatever we choose. By changing what we link pain and pleasure to, we will instantly change our behaviors.
54. The way we communicate with others and with ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives.
55. There is always a way-if you're committed.
Variant: There's always a way— if you're committed.
56. There is no greatness without a passion to be great, whether it's the aspiration of an athlete or an artist, a scientist, a parent, or a businessperson.
57. There is no such thing as failure. There are only results.
58. There's no abiding success without commitment.
59. Things do not have meaning. We assign meaning to everything.
60. To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others.
61. We are the only beings on the planet who lead such rich internal lives that it's not the events that matter most to us, but rather, it's how we interpret those events that will determine how we think about ourselves and how we will act in the future.
62. We can change our lives. We can do, have, and be exactly what we wish.
63. We will act consistently with our view of who we truly are, whether that view is accurate or not.
64. What we can or cannot do, what we consider possible or impossible, is rarely a function of our true capability. It is more likely a function of our beliefs about who we are.
65. Whatever happens, take responsibility.
66. When people are like each other they tend to like each other.
67. You always succeed in producing a result.
68. You are now at a crossroads. This is your opportunity to make the most important decision you will ever make. Forget your past. Who are you now? Who have you decided you really are now? Don't think about who you have been. Who are you now? Who have you decided to become? Make this decision consciously. Make it carefully. Make it powerfully.
69. You see, in life, lots of people know what to do, but few people actually do what they know. Knowing is not enough! You must take action.
70.You see, it's never the environment; it's never the events of our lives, but the meaning we attach to the events— how we interpret them— that shapes who we are today and who we'll become tomorrow.

The Price of SUCCESS

2008-12-10T23:19:00.002+08:00

My dear readers and friends...

Tonight I want to share some insight purely and originally based on my own experiences and observations. I believe all of us wants to be successful particularly in our business. Actually in anything and everything we do, I always believe SURE we can be successful as long as we are willing to PAY THE PRICE OF SUCCESS.

The price of success requires a lot of sacrifices. Example of sacrifice that I believe a person need to pay to progress in higher level in a business is to give 'laser sharp focus', be full-time and leave the 9 to 5 job. No more steady paycheck and 'if it's to be, it is up to me'. Some people may have the difficulty to pay this price of success because of personal obstacles like not enough experience, bonded with the company, family responsibility etc. That is normal. But at least have a goal towards that and make some plans how to achieve that.

Another price of success that I believe: THE HIGHER THE RISK, THE HIGHER THE RETURN. This is the law of universe. To achieve great things, you must dare to take risks. Do not be afraid to do something you have never done before. Take the courage to do something that you feel it is tough. Think big, put high target to yourself. CHALLENGE YOURSELF.

Many more price of success, you may need to be strong to push yourself and move forward everytime negative energy comes to you. You must make sure the energy inside of you is greater than any other forces that tries to bring you down. In other words, you really have to be a strong person. I always remember a simple sms from my guru when I first join the business, "Winner never quits, quitter never wins". Never give up. "There are a lot of fish in the ocean".

Actually all the price of success are so basic. It is only the matter whether we are really willing to pay for it or not. For example the amount of hours we are comitted to spend for the business. The target and achievement we are willing to set for our ownself. All requires hard work, patience and persistency.

Beside hard work, patience and persistency, be SMART. Think out of the box. Always believe in yourself.

Together we practice all the basic principles, improve ourselves as times go by and success will be in our hand....

Kaizen!

Most Outstanding Islamic Fund Manager Award for 2nd Consecutive Year

2008-11-24T15:01:00.003+08:00

Public Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Public Mutual won the Most Outstanding Islamic Fund Manager award for second consecutive year at the 5th KLIFF (Kuala Lumpur Islamic Finance Forum) Islamic Finance Awards 2008 ceremony. The award was presented by Y.B Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, Minister of Finance II to Public Mutual’s Chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Dr. Teh Hong Piow during the award presentation ceremony which was held on 18 November 2008 at the Istana Hotel Kuala Lumpur.

The 5th KLIFF Islamic Finance Awards 2008 is organised by The Centre for Research and Training (CERT) together with the host, Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC), and in collaboration with Dow Jones Islamic Market Indexes (DJIM), the International Institute of Islamic Finance (IIIF) and Messrs Hisham, Sobri & Kadir (HSK).

Tan Sri Teh expressed pride that once again Public Mutual is bestowed this prestigous award. “This award represents the 121st award won by Public Mutual since 1999. Winning this award not only reinforces our position in the Islamic unit trust industry but also affirms our commitment to excellence,” he added. Tan Sri Teh dedicated the award to Public Mutual’s board of directors, the management, staff, agency force and the investors for their unwavering support and trust over the years.

Public Mutual is a leading player in the private Islamic unit trust fund sector in Malaysia. As at end September 2008, it manages 24 Islamic funds with total Islamic assets under management of RM8.5 billion. This represents 50.7% market share of the private Islamic unit trust industry. The company is also the most awarded Islamic unit trust fund manager in Malaysia, winning a total of 32 Islamic Fund Awards. This includes the "Best Islamic Fund Manager in Asia 2006 & 2007" awarded by Failaka Advisors, Dubai, a recognised leader in the field of Islamic fund research.

Public Mutual is Malaysia’s largest private unit trust company with 67 funds under management. It has over 2,000,000 accountholders serviced by over 40,000-strong unit trust consultants. As at end September 2008, the total net asset value of the funds managed by the company was RM24.1 billion.

Kaizen!

The Best Investment Guru

2008-11-24T03:50:00.003+08:00

Good morning :) Today I wake up early just to share some insight from my readings, seminar attended and my own analysis. Based from my own understanding and studies, I believe the best investment guru is the no 1 richest man in the world, no more other than Warren Buffet.

Widely considered the most successful investor of all time, Warren Buffett is a luminous example of the school of value investing. Starting with an initial fund of $105,000 in 1956, Buffet grew it to $45 billion over the next 50 years.

So, how did Buffet accumulate the huge fortune that he eventually gave away to the charitable foundation run by his best friend, Bill Gates? One of the greatest attractions of Buffett for investors is that his investment methodology is easy to understand.

So what are some his methodology? I will list them out here:

1. Buy the business and not the stock
2. Invest in other people successful business and that are simple and easy to understand
3.Hold for the Long Term
4. Invest for LIFE TIME

"We are willing to hold a stock indefinitely so long as we expect the business to increase in intrinsic value at a satisfactory rate . . . we do not sell our holdings just because they have appreciated or because we have held them for a long time." ~ quotation by Warren Buffett

Buffett's companies have generated enormous returns for him. For example, his investment of $10 million in 1973 in the Washington Post Company had grown to more than $1 billion by 2003. While a lot of us may be able to do this occasionally, Buffett has generated such returns with startling regularity. One of the reasons he is able to do so is because he holds for the long term and is not quick to enter or exit businesses. In fact, he stuck with WPC for two years even though its price fell below his purchase price because he understood the fundamentals of the business and believed that it was undervalued. Even once it became profitable, he was not quick to exit because he believed that it had greater potential. He held it through several bull and bear markets and no greater proof is needed than the return he achieved to show that he was right in holding it for so long.

So it is all up to you whoever the best investment guru from your opinion or point of view. For me, Warren Buffet is the best investment guru. The beautiful part of it, his investment strategy is in line with unit trust which is an investment vehicle for long-term and life time investment.

As my previous post, Study THE BEST to be THE BEST!

Kaizen!

Wealth Files to be stored in our minds....

2008-11-22T22:23:00.002+08:00

Hi... It has been quite long since I update this blog. Tonight I just finished reading the whole book by T. Harv Eker titled 'Secret of the Millionaire Mind'. I want to share with you the 17 Wealth Files:

Wealth File #1 : Rich people believe "I create my life." Poor people believe "Life happens to me."

Wealth File #2: Rich people play the money game to win. Poor people play the money game to not lose.

Wealth File #3: Rich people are comitted to being rich. Poor people want to be rich.

Wealth File #4: Rich people think big. Poor people think small.

Wealth File #5: Rich people focus on opportunities. Poor people focus on obstacles.

Wealth File #6: Rich people admire other rich and successful people. Poor people resent rich and successful people.

Wealth File #7: Rich people associate with positive, successful people. Poor people associate with negative or unsuccessful people.

Wealth File #8: Rich people are willing to promote themselves and their value. Poor people think negatively about selling and promotion.

Wealth File #9: Rich people are bigger than their problems. Poor people are smaller than their problems.

Wealth File #10: Rich people are excellent receivers. Poor people are poor receivers.

Wealth File #11: Rich people choose to get paid based on results. Poor people choose to get paid based on time.

Wealth File #12: Rich people think "both". Poor people think "either/ or."

Wealth File #13: Rich people focus on their net worth. Poor people focus on their working income.

Wealth File #14: Rich people manage their money well. Poor people mismanage their money well.

Wealth File #15: Rich people have their money work hard for them. Poor people work hard for their money.

Wealth File #16: Rich people act in spite of fear. Poor people let fear stop them.

Wealth File #17: Rich people constantly learn and grow. Poor people think they already know.

Kaizen!

Watch your HABITS

2008-11-17T07:15:00.003+08:00

Dear friends,

I found this article produce by Burke Hedges, who is an author, speaker and entrepreneur.
Below is an article about the importance to watch your habits...

Your daily habits will decide your future. When you first look at it, habits appear like small harmless routines. They're predictable and comfort us, especially during times of stress. But not all your habits are small or harmless. In fact, when it's all said and done, who we are and what we become is the sum of our habits.

You do not decide your future. You decide your habits! And your habits decide your future! So, what is a habit, and how will it affect your success in this business?A habit is a pattern of action that is automatic and difficult to break.You can have good habits and bad habits. Constructive habits and destructive habits. The key is to choose your habits very carefully,because in the end, the habits you choose affect the quality of your life. The choice is up to you.

What are your:-
-Income producing habits?
-Work habits?
-People skills habits?
-Training habits?
-Skill development habits?
-Teambuilding habits?
-Communication habits?
-Parenting habits?

Are the habits you choose an asset or a liability? Are the small tasks you're doing everyday getting you closer to your goals or taking you away from them? Answer those questions honestly. And take a step today to become aware of how your habits are affecting your life. The best way to become aware of your habits is to sit down and take an inventory of them. Think about which habits are helping you move forward in your business and which ones hold you back.Do you spend all your spare time in front of the TV or are you taking the time to read books that will expand your mind and improve your business building skills?

Imagine if everyone on your team was doing EXACTLY what you're doing to build your business. Does that excite you, or scare you to death?

Your productive habits are like seeds planted in your life. You're not going to see a harvest overnight; it takes time for that seed to grow. But you can rest assured that the habits you have will reap a harvest. They'll either bring about positive results in your life and get you closer to your dreams, or they'll bring about misery and pain. By taking inventory of your habits, you'll see what's really important to you. What things do you really value?When you choose your habits, you're really deciding what things take priority in your life, right? When you squander your valuable time watching 3 hours of TV instead of doing activities to build your business, you are making the decision that watching TV is more important than your financial future and that of your family as well.

Once you gain control of your habits, you gain control of your life.

Be careful of your thoughts, for your thoughts become words. Be careful of your words for your words become actions. Be careful of your actions for your actions become habits. Be careful of your habits for your habits become your character. Be careful of your character, for your character becomes your destiny.

Kaizen!

8 Ways to Build Courage

2008-11-14T15:40:00.002+08:00

There are many definitions of courage. They have to do with mental and moral strength to resist danger and hardship, firmness of mind and will in the face of extreme difficulty and the capacity to meet adversity with fortitude and resilience. Other definition of courage is "readiness to deal with things fearlessly by reason or stouthearted temperament or a resolute spirit."

Courage does not mean facing danger without thinking. It does not mean that you go out looking for danger. It does not mean that when faced with a dangerous situation, you act with reason. You consider the risks. You do what must be done for your protection and survival and for the protection and survival for others.

Today I would like to share 8 ways to build courage from my reading today:

1. Understand that in difficult situations, there are always choices.
Are you going to let circumstances break you? Or are you going to break old habits and go to new heights? Your life does not depend as much on what happens to you as on how you respond to what happens to you. Keep in mind that even though an action may be scary at first, simply taking action is the first step toward building courage.

2. Have the courage to move away fom people who think negatively, who want to pull down your ideas.
Misery loves company. If there are people around you who don't give the support you need, or who consistently tell you don't measure up- walk away from them. Don't take their words to heart. It takes courage to step outside a circle of people, but if that circle is defining who you are in a negative way, it's time to move on.

3. Do not let your fears become bigger that reality.
Old definition of FEAR : False Evidence Appearing Real. Humans are extremely creative. We can think million things that can go wrong in any given situation. Use that to your advantage. If you know that a particular obstacle might rise, you can prepare yourself and guard against it. Then let go of the things that are beyond your control. If you let it, fear itself gets larger and larger and keeps you from having the courage to move forward. Use yourself as an example. We've all done things that are frightening at first (made a speech, started a new relationship, began a career). Most of the time, the result is that you realize they weren't as bad as you thought they would be, and now you can go forward and do them again. You have to believe that taking an action is of greater benefit to you than letting the fear hold you back.

4. Go back to your core values
What are your beliefs? What types of people do you want to deal with in your life? What is integrity to you? What are the values you're searching for? What keeps you going? The strongest people are those who keep their core values in mind every time they make a decision. They make decisions based not only on how they think, not only how their gut feels, but also what is inside their hearts. When you make a decision, ask yourself: Can I do this and keep my dignity? Can I do it without hurting others? If you can answer yes to these questions, you're probably on the right track.

5. Build up your courage step by step.
Courage does not always come in one giant package. Success breeds success; every time you accomplish something, your confidence increases and builds open itself. When you reach your goal, other people may look at you and say, "I can't believe what you accomplished." They see the one big event. WHat they don't see is the history of small steps you've taken, each one demanding the courage that got you to this place. Push yourself a little more every day, and your courage will be nurtured and blossom before your eyes. Try greater and greater ventures until you arebrave enough to accomplish undertakings far beyond what you thought you could. The reward will be beyond your imagination.

6. Indulge in quiet confidence.
Courage advances our skill and advances our position in life. But there's also a warning that one must heed, and that is not to get too cocky. Don't mistake hubris, pride taken to the extreme for courage.

7. Savor the struggle
Courage doesn't always come easily. Sometimes you must struggle against inertia. There are many times when we are in turmoil, when we are actively seraching deep within ourselves to find the courage we need. Courage challenges us. There's an old saying that goes, "You never see the true strength of a tea bag until it's in hot water." Anytime you're going to do something that is a courageous act in any way, small or large, there is a struggle to do it. Remember that you gain strength from that struggle. Understand that the struggle in itself will build you, not break you down.

8. Be original.
Think outside the box. Don't be afraid to be first. True, other people might not understand, or might criticize your way of thinking. But it is only when you stretch outside of your current situation that you come up with new ideas. You don't have to come with outstanding ideas or inventions that no one has ever discovered before. Being original means seeing things from your unique perspective and believing in their value. Being original means pushing old ideas into new directions. It is not easy to do; it takes courage. But the "road not taken" usually offers the best scenery and the most exciting adventure. This is the courage that drives us forward and lead us to better lives.

Kaizen!

The Miracle of Dreams

2008-11-09T07:53:00.003+08:00

My dear friends,

The latest book I am reading titled, "The Miracle of Water" written by Dr Masaru Emoto.
I found the ideas in the book is aligned with my previous post titled "Words" before.
U can click this link to refer back: http://nursuraya-pm.blogspot.com/2008/09/words.html

To share, Dr Masaru Emoto studies show that water that was shown the word "dream' formed a crystals with beautiful seven-sided shape. In Japan, it is believed that dreams transcend limitations of time and space.

Through your dreams, you are able to guide yourself. Because it is good that happy occurences take place, you should set your life's compass to move in a positive direction.

What I am suggesting here is that dreams give us the opportunity and power to control what we do. We can use this power for positive change in this world. This is the belief system that currently guides my life.

So, let us chase our dreams to make it happen!

How to handle adversity?

2008-11-06T19:41:00.004+08:00

The dictionary says that adversity is a condition marked by misfortune, a calamity, or an unfortunate event or circumstance. Adversity comes in all shapes and sizes, from life-threatening illnesses, to losing a sale, to failing in business, to rocky relationships. Adversity can be many things according to just when it hits you and under what conditions.

Adversity is like a hurricane, and we are like trees in the storm. If we stiffen up and stand unbending when it hits, we will break in two. But if we are able to bend in the wind, to listen and learn even while a tempest rages around us, then we may suffer damage, but we will survive the storm.

We, too, need to find balance. If you look at today's high achievers, they have all experienced much adversity and kept on going. They learned its lessons and used them to move forward with their lives. At the end of our lives, what we look back on with the most pride is the way we stood up to adversity and the way we came through the tough times with grace and character. These are the times that challenge us, than can either BREAK US or make us BREAK RECORDS.

Strength comes from struggle......

Kaizen!

The Bottom Line of Success...

2008-11-03T15:40:00.003+08:00

Today I am reading a book by Zig Ziglar. In the first few pages, beautifully written,

"In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success."

The bottom line of success is pleasing God. True success, the kind of success that pleases God, can be measured in eight crucial areas of life: happiness, health, finances, emotional, security, the quality of your friendships, family relationships, your sense of hope and an overall peace of mind.

I want to share 10 inspirational quotations on belief in God from some famous people:

1. The most important thing is God's blessing and if you believe in God and you believe in yourself, you have nothing to worry about. Mohamed Al-Fayed

2. God didn't have time to make a nobody, only a somebody.I believe that each of us has God-given talents within us waiting to be brought to fruition. Mary Kay Ash

3. At a certain point, I just felt, you know, God is not looking for alms, God is looking for action. Bono

4. To have passion, to have a dream, to have a purpose in life. And there are three components to that purpose, one is to find out who you really are, to discover God, the second is to serve other human beings, because we are here to do that and the third is to express your unique talents and when you are expressing your unique talents you lose track of time. Deepak Chopra

5. We aren't engaged in any negative protest and in any negative arguments with anybody. We are saying that we are determined to be men. We are determined to be people. We are saying that we are God's children. And that we don't have to live like we are forced to live. Martin Luther King Jr

6. I always took my role as a leader, and certainly chairman and CEO of a major company very seriously as to our employees and trying to create opportunities for them and create opportunities where they could even, as I said many times, could realize their God-given potential and maybe realize more potential than even they realize they had. Kenneth Lay

7. Gratitude is an attitude that hooks us up to our source of supply. And the more grateful you are, the closer you become to your maker, to the architect of the universe, to the spiritual core of your being. It’s a phenomenal lesson. Bob Proctor

8. The highest knowledge is to know that we are surrounded by mystery. Neither knowledge nor hope for the future can be the pivot of our life or determine its direction. It is intended to be solely determined by our allowing ourselves to be gripped by the ethical God, who reveals Himself in us, and by our yielding our will to His. Albert Schweitzer

9. Those who thank God much are the truly wealthy. So our inner happiness depends not on what we experience but on the degree of our gratitude to God, whatever the experience. Albert Schweitzer

10. I try to make my life about service, and hope that one day we can all "see" a little better because God is with everyone and everywhere. Russell Simmons

Kaizen!

Tips on Persistence

2008-11-01T06:54:00.004+08:00

Dear friends,

Today is 1st November. Time is running out! Let us double our focus and effort towards greater performance.

Anthony Robbins said, "Persistence people are the most highest paid people in the world, because they can do things that many people cannot do!"

Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933) said, " Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common that unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is like a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."

I also would to share this 10 tips on persistence from a book:

1. Get back up
If you get knocked down nine times, get up the 10th. That's the key. You can't let setbacks get to you personally. People may tell you "It can't be done." Sometimes all that means is that they couldn't do it. Don't let other people's thoughts make you think differently. When you're knocked down, get backup again no matter how much it hurts you or your pride. You never know what may happen next time.

2. Chip away today for success tomorrow
One step at a time. That is how great things are accomplished. Achieving "overnight success" may take years, but it will come to those who are focused, persistent, and keep their eyes fixed on their goals. If you lay one brick each day, pretty soon you've built a foundation, then a room, then a whole house. It can only be done one brick at a time.

3. Can't get it through the door? Try the window.
If the window is locked, go down the chimney. Look for every opening, try every single possibility. Don't give up because the one way you've tried is blocked. There are many paths that lead to the same destination. As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, "If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody up."

4. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Life is full of potholes; you can't avoid them all. The one thing you can count on is that the going is going to get difficult. That's when you find out what you're really made of. That's when you realize that you can do 10 times more than you thought you could. Yes, you'll get worn down. You may have to take a break to rest and recover. But when you come back, you'll be so much stronger and so much wiser about dealing with potholes than you ever were before. Surprise yourself; surpass yourself. That's what create your inner strength.

5. Get help.
There's no reason to do everything yourself. There are lots of people around you who will be more than willing to help. Some may turn you down. Some may not believe in you and your dreams. Ignore them! Find those out there who can lend you support, whether it physical, financial or emotional. The tenacity of a team multiplies the tenacity of the individual.

6. Build fortitude with courage
Keep the body, mind and heart focused. There are things in life that may take time for you to achieve. Speed is not always the essence. Sometimes the old adage that "slow and steady wins the race" is the way the world works. It takes both courage and patience to keep going when a goal seems unattainable, but that's how the greatest rewards are gained.

7. Prepared and practice
You can become a master of whatever you pursue by practicing your craft over and over, no matter how many times you fall or fail, and by believing that in the end you will be successful.

8. Keep the faith
Ben Stein said, "It is inevitable that some defeat will enter eben the most victorious life. The human spirit is never finished when it is defeated... it is finished when it surrenders." You cannot be persistent unless you believe in what you are doing, unless you have faith even through defeat. Think of the rewards that will come your way once you accomplish your goal. Don't give up. Belief and faith are wgat make tenacity possible. Your enthusiasm and positive attitude are the momentum that makes the going a little faster.

9. Get beat up
Dive into action. You can theorize all you want, but there is nothing like being in a thick of it to teach you the lessons you need to learn. You can learn a lot by reading books and magazines, from listening to tapes, from watching what other people do. But experience is the best teacher there ever was. When you go out there, you set yourself up for scrutiny. You're going to get beat up. You don't have to go out looking for a fight, but you have to face the blows when they come. And you have to know, especially when your opponent is bigger and stronger than you are, that you have it in you to go one more round. You may be defeated, but the next time you step into the ring, you'll be a much better fighter.

10. Focus
Stay in the moment. Think about what you have to accomplish at the moment you're doing it. You can reflect upon the past and dream about the future when the project is completed, but while it's underway, keep your focus sharp and to the point. When your attention drifts, your tenacity falters and you lose sight of your goals. When your concentration is strong, however, you are so focused that nothing can distract you from your task.

Kaizen!

It's the PROCESS that makes people rich, not the money

2008-10-29T14:25:00.004+08:00

My dearest friends,

Currently I am still reading a book title "Increasing Your Financial IQ", not finish yet.
I just want to share some paragraphs for us to ponder quoted from that book:

One of the reasons people lack financial IQ#1: making more money, is because they want the money but not the process. What many people do not realize is that it's the process that makes them rich, not the money. One of the reasons many lottery winners or kids who inherit family wealth are soon broke is because they receive the money, but didn't have to go through the process. Many other people fail to become rich because they value a steady paycheck more than the learning process of becoming financially smarter and richer. They are held back by the fear of being poor. It is this very fear that keeps them from taking the chances and solving the problems required to become rich.

In order to grow wealthy, you must come to terms with the fact that problems will never go away. Each time you find a solution to a problem, a new one will pop up. They key is to realize that the process of solving those problems makes you rich. Once you start solving not only your own problems, but other's as well, then the sky is the limit.

Rich dad said, "The rich get richer because they learn to solve financial problems. The rich see financial problems as opportunities to learn, to grow, to become smarter and to become richer. The rich know that the higher their financial IQ, the bigger the problem they can handle, hence the more money they make. Instead of running, avoiding, or pretending money problem do not exist, the rich welcome financial problems because they know that problems are opportunities to become smarter. That is why they get richer."

The writer also wrote as well how the poor and the middle class handle money problems, maybe we may not like it, but if we got desire to improve then we should start to make some change. In order to improve we must have the courage to identify and admit to ourselves of our own weaknesses and try to be better.

I wish more of you will join training next week.
Kaizen!

Study The Best, To Be The Best

2008-10-26T07:20:00.003+08:00

I believe all of us surely have desire to improve and to become our best in whatever we do. If we want to take golf course, perhaps Tiger Woods is the best guru. But when it comes to investment, the no 1 investor and most richest man in the world, no more other than Warren Buffet, is the investment guru that we should listen rather than to follow the majority and act irrationally. Warren Buffet has wisdom and courage that we should learn and observe.

Today I want to share 20 of Warren Buffet's Investing and Inspirational Quotes:

1. You are neither right nor wrong because the crowd disagrees with you. You are right because your data and reasoning are right.

2. We do not view the company itself as the ultimate owner of our business assets but instead view the company as a conduit through which our shareholders own assets.

3. When Berkshire buys common stock, we approach the transaction as if we were buying into a private business.

4. Wide diversification is only required when investors do not understand what they are doing.

5. Never invest in a business you cannot understand.

6. Unless you can watch your stock holding decline by 50% without becoming panic-stricken, you should not be in the stock market.

7. The critical investment factor is determining the intrinsic value of a business and paying a fair or bargain price.

8. Risk can be greatly reduced by concentrating on only a few holdings.

9. Stop trying to predict the direction of the stock market, the economy, interest rates, or elections.

10. Buy companies with strong histories of profitability and with a dominant business franchise.

11. Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when others are fearful.

12. It is optimism that is the enemy of the rational buyer.

13. The ability to say “no” is a tremendous advantage for an investor.

14. Much success can be attributed to inactivity. Most investors cannot resist the temptation to constantly buy and sell.

15. Lethargy, bordering on sloth should remain the cornerstone of an investment style.

16. An investor needs to do very few things right as long as he or she avoids big mistakes.

17. Do not take yearly results too seriously. Instead, focus on four or five-year averages.

18. Calculate “owner earnings” to get a true reflection of value.

19. The advice “you never go broke taking a profit” is foolish.

20. Always invest for the long term.

2008-10-24T15:05:00.003+08:00

I believe motivation is not enough without knowledge.
So today I want to share an article from The Wall Street Journal, Oct 13 2008.
Online link you can refer to here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122360251805321773.html

So here what the article says:

We Have the Tools to Manage the Crisis
By PAUL VOLCKER

Today, the financial crisis has reached a critical point. The sharp decline in the stock market and its volatility dramatically make the point. More important if less visible, the flow of credit through the banking system and the financial markets is seriously impaired -- even in part frozen.

For months, the real economy, apart from housing, had not been much affected by the developing crisis. Now, a full-scale recession appears unavoidable. Important state and local governments face deficits they may be unable to finance. Recessionary forces are apparent in other important countries and exchange rates are unstable.
Those are facts.

They are the culmination of economic imbalances, a succession of financial bubbles and financial crises that have been building for years. It's no wonder that confidence in markets, banks, and financial management has been badly eroded. Without effective action, fear might take hold, threatening orderly recovery.

Fortunately, there is also good reason to believe that the means are now available to turn the tide. Financial authorities, in the United States and elsewhere, are now in a position to take needed and convincing action to stabilize markets and to restore trust.

First of all, there is now clear recognition that the problem is international, and international coordination and cooperation is both necessary and underway. The days of finger pointing and schadenfreude are over. The concerted reduction in central bank interest rates is one concrete manifestation of that fact.

More important in existing circumstances is the clear determination of our Treasury, of European finance ministries, and of central banks to support and defend the stability of major international banks. That approach extends to providing fresh capital to supplement private funds if necessary.

In the U.S., with higher limits of deposit insurance in place, the FDIC has demonstrated its ability to protect depositors, to arrange mergers, and to provide capital for troubled banks. Most other countries now have a comparable capacity.

Recent U.S. legislation has provided authority for large-scale direct intervention by the Treasury in the mortgage and other troubled markets. Along with increased purchases by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, now under government control, means of restoring needed liquidity are at hand.

Other key sectors of financial markets are now protected or supported by either the Treasury or Federal Reserve, specifically by temporary insurance of money-market funds and by direct purchase of commercial paper.

Active efforts are underway to develop stronger netting, clearing and settlement arrangements for certain derivatives, in particular the notional trillions of credit default swaps, the absence of which has contributed to uncertainty and large demands for scarce collateral.

None of that is easy. Some of it poses risks for the taxpayer. All of it is decidedly unattractive in the sense of large official intervention in what should be private markets able to stand on their own feet. Unattractive or not in normal circumstances, the point is the needed tools to restore and maintain functioning markets are there. Now is the time to use them. To that end, the immediate and critical need is determined, forceful and persistent leadership -- extending across administrations and Congresses. Both the public and private sectors must be involved.

The inevitable recession can be moderated. The groundwork can be laid for reconstructing the financial system and the regulatory and supervisory arrangements from the bottom up. The extraordinary interventions by the government (and taxpayer) should be ended as soon as reasonably feasible.

That rebuilding will be the job of another day -- of a new administration here in the U.S., of finance ministries and central banks working together. It must draw upon the strength of the now chastened private sector. It will require more understanding of the risks embedded in so-called financial engineering and of the perverse compensation incentives that have exalted risk over prudence.

There is, and must be, recognition of the essential role that free and competitive financial markets play in a vigorous, innovative economic system. There needs to be understanding, in that context, that financial ups and downs -- and financial crises -- will be inevitable, even with responsible economic policies and sensible regulation. But never again should so much economic damage be risked by a financial structure so fragile, so overextended, so opaque as that of recent years.

Mr. Volcker was chairman of the Federal Reserve from 1979-1987.

30 Anthony Robbins Quotes

2008-10-23T00:18:00.004+08:00

Anthony Robbins is one of my favorite writer. His own inspiration to change his life came when he was facing challenges of paying his bills, being overweight, and, having no direction in his life.
One of his books that motivate and inspire me titled "Awaken The Giant Within."

Below are some 30 words of wisdom in inspirational and motivational quotes by Anthony Robbins:

1. It's in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.

2. Quality questions create a quality life. Successful people ask better questions, and as a result, they get better answers.

3. There's no abiding success without commitment.

4. Whatever happens, take responsibility.

5. Most people have no idea of the giant capacity we can immediately command when we focus all of our resources on mastering a single area of our lives.

6. To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others.

7. Your life changes the moment you make a new, congruent, and committed decision.

8. Once you have mastered time, you will understand how true it is that most people overestimate what they can accomplish in a year -- and underestimate what they can achieve in a decade!

10. Questions provide the key to unlocking our unlimited potential.

11. The higher your energy level, the more efficient your body. The more efficient your body, the better you feel and the more you will use your talent to produce outstanding results.

12. Things do not have meaning. We assign meaning to everything.

13. The secret of success is learning how to use pain and pleasure instead of having pain and pleasure use you. If you do that, you're in control of your life. If you don't, life controls you.

14. The only people without problems are those in cemeteries.

15. It's not knowing what to do, it's doing what you know.

16. For changes to be of any true value, they've got to be lasting and consistent.

17. My definition of success is to live your life in a way that causes you to feel a ton of pleasure and very little pain - and because of your lifestyle, have the people around you feel a lot more pleasure than they do pain.

18. The meeting of preparation with opportunity generates the offspring we call luck.

19.More than anything else, I believe it's our decisions, not the conditions of our lives, that determine our destiny.

20. I discovered a long time ago that if I helped people get what they wanted, I would always get what I wanted and I would never have to worry.

21. I've come to believe that all my past failure and frustration were actually laying the foundation for the understandings that have created the new level of living I now enjoy.

22. You see, in life, lots of people know what to do, but few people actually do what they know. Knowing is not enough! You must take action.

23. Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.

24. If you can't, you must. If you must, you can.

25. In essence, if we want to direct our lives, we must take control of our consistent actions. It's not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently.

26. A real decision is measured by the fact that you've taken a new action. If there's no action, you haven't truly decided.

27. If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten.

28. For changes to be of any true value, they've got to be lasting and consistent.

29. Beliefs have the power to create and the power to destroy. Human beings have the awesome ability to take any experience of their lives and create a meaning that disempowers them or one that can literally save their lives.

30. Nothing has any power over me other than that which I give it through my conscious thoughts.

Good night!

CHANGE....

2008-10-18T21:14:00.011+08:00

Everyday things are changing. As human beings, we can never run away from it. Change means life, and life means change. You can sit still and do what appears to be nothing, but change is still going on. The day changes from morning to night, the seasons change from summer to fall to winter to spring. The body changes all by itself. Blood flows through our vains, the heart beats, and food is digested and turned into fuel. Even if we do nothing, nothing ever stays the same.

I believe change is inevitable, the universe is changing everyday naturally. I believe that we need to have an open mind, learn more so that we can change wisely. If we want to have better attitude we can change our thinking. By changing our thinking, we may have a meaningful spiritual connection with the universe. By embracing change actually we can benefit a lot from the opportunities it constantly presents.

Change is difficult and uncomfortable. I do agree. Especially when it is something like a big shift for you or me. But if we are open and take it positive, our life can be more exciting and fulfilling. By constantly learning we change our minds, habits, environment and the people with whom we surround ourselves. I would describe it like mixing things up, looking for a better recipe and the best ingredients to make it the best and not settling for the same old thing.

It's easy to do things you've always done. It's a lot harder but a lot more rewarding to be proactive and constantly looking for ways to improve. To change, focus on opportunities, of a new path and not on the comfort (yeah, easy to say, so much harder to do).

Together we change to become better and better.
Kaizen!

23 Traits of Great Leaders

2008-10-17T11:23:00.004+08:00

My dear friends,

I believe all of you will also becoming a leader in order for you to grow your business. Before we become a leader for others, we need to be a leader to ourselves first. I just found this 23 traits of great leaders from a book, I like it and want to share with all. Enjoy...

1. They are realistically positive.
A great leader doesn't have pie-in-the-sky optimism, thinking that everthing will turn out for the best. But great leaders do believe in the great possibility of success and are willing to take the actions necessary to get there. They expect things to turn out well and have confidence in their own abilities to make that happen.

2. They inspire, they don't dictate
Great leaders are there to help, but they encourage people to solve their own problems. If someone comes to them with a problem, they say, "What do you think you should do?" They know how to inspire somebody to get motivated so that the person becomes excited about the possibilities that lay ahead.

3. They surround themselves with success
They create a very strong environment where they live and work. They are focuses on keeping things around that elevate their success. They also surround themselves with other successful people. They share ideas with others in their industry and welcome input from their peers and colleagues.

4. They have a passion for what they do.
Passion means having a deep love, respect and commitment for what you do personally and professionally. It's possible to be a leader at something you hate, but not for long. All great leaders eventually find vocations they truly love. They are excited and enthusiastic about what they do, and they pass that on to those around them. Once a person discovers his or her passion in life, it becomes a magnet, drawing them inevitably closer to success, and drawing others along with them.

5. They communicate and speak from the heart
They are able to connect with people. The greatest leaders are the ones who are spontaneous. They know their overall mission, they know what they want to say, and they can say it without depending solely on written script. They have a message that they want to share that comes from their passion, and they can share it without preaching or shouting. Their sincerity comes through in their words as well as in their deeds.

6. They have goals and a vision.
They focus on what they want to achieve, establish priorities and know what they have to do in order to keep moving forward. They always have a specific destination in mind. Their goals provide them with purpose and allow them to wake up each morning energized and looking forward to the tasks they know they must be accomplished that day. Leaders are part of teams, and their goals are tied in with the goals of the team.

7. They achieve plans through their people, not for them.
Leaders let their people do what they were hired for, even if it means that they make occasional mistakes. They are grateful for what they have been able to achieve, and are happy to help others do the same as well. Great leaders are able to see the potential in other people, and to allow them the time and space they need to develop it.

8. They are bone honest.
They say what they mean and they mean what they say. Jimmy Johnson, coach of Dallas Cowboys says, "Sincerity is the most important part of positive treatment. The only thing worse than a coach or CEO who doesn't care about his people is the one who pretends to care."

9. They maintain a sense of humor.
Humor break down barriers. Great leaders aren't funny all the time (they take their business seriously). They don't necessarily have a great sense of humor, but they know a little levity can ease a tense situation and make everyone feel a bit more comfortable.

10. They cultivate awareness.
Leaders concentrate on the big picture, and all their actions are geared towards turning that picture into reality. They are often visionaries, and can see the great possibilities that can come from staying on the path they have undertaken. They see themselves as successful before they ever reach their goals. They are constantly looking out for the opportunities that surround them so that they can steer their ship in the right direction.

11. Great leaders hire great people.
Great leaders know their own weaknessess, and hire people whose strenghths fill in the gaps. They're not interested in "yes men" or people who do nothing but make the leader look good. They want people who fill in any gaps and make the strongest team possible.

12. Leaders are mentors and leaders have mentors.
When leaders have problems, they have a core group of people they can call upon for help and advice. Every leader has to make a difficult decisions. It's always good to consult someone who's been there before, someone who's wiser and more experienced than you. Leaders are mentors to others. They are generous with their wisdom as others with theirs.

13. They have a commitment to service.
Great leaders take care of their employees, and their customers get taken care of in the long run.

14. They are constantly learning
Leaders are readers. They read about their industry. They read about current events. They read about history. They read about biography of men and women who have accomplished much in their lives. They learn by taking actions. Nothing teaches better than experience, and great leaders are constantly open to new experiences. They learn new skills for business and for pleasure. They practice the fundamentals of their business so that once learned, they have a skill for life.

15. They have faith in themselves first
Great leaders have to have faith in themselves and their abilities because they communicate this faith to those around them. Of course, they have moments of doubt and fear just like everyone else. But they don't dwell on them. They acknowledge those moments and let them pass. They exude confidence, and their belief in their vision is so strong that other people can't help but believe as well.

16. They deliver on promises, they don't make them
Great leaders do not make promises lightly. They know that they will remain leaders only as long as they have the trust and loyalty of their "followers". If they break their word, they break that trust. They destroy their own integrity and once destroyed, it is difficult to regain.

17. They are flexible.
Great leaders know that there are many ways to accomplish a task or reach a goal. If one doesn't work, they will try another. They adapt to changing markets, products and competition. They understand that their way isn't the only way, nor necessarily the best way. They are open to new ideas and input and listen to all suggestions come from unexpected sources.

18. They are focused.
Leaders get things done. They are people of action. Other people may say about a leader, "Sure, he can be abrasive (or whatever flaw he may have) but he gets things done." Leaders don't just jump into action without thought; they evaluate situations and take calculated risks. They know that failure is always a possibility, but they aim straight for success.

19. They are flawed, but they have diamond potential.
They know themselves. They gain respect by admitting their weaknesses and they work toward improving those areas. Leaders who think they are perfect soon learn otherwise.

20. They understand that recognition is a powerful motivator.
Everyone needs praise and recognition. Leaders, like good parents, know that paying attention to their "children", and giving out praise when it is deserved, is the most effective way to build confidence.

21. They expect excellence and push beyond.
They expect the best from their people, and gently push them toward it. We don't always recognize our own capabilities. A great leader has the ability to see what others can't see in themselves and helps them cultivate those abilities.

22. They turn adversity into opportunity
When things go wrong, and they do, they look for the lessons that can be learned. Some people see the difficulties in every opportunity, but great leaders see the opportunities in every difficulty. They experience depression and disappointment like everyone else, but they don't let those feelings overwhelm their desire to succeed. They may be down, but they'll be up again.

23. The have fun.
They know life is short, and they are determined to live life to its fullest. They enjoy playing the game, and they know that means that sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. They thrive on the exhilaration of life's ups and downs, whether they are at work or play.