My Newspaper Vendor

My newspaper vendor, Jack, sends newspapers to my house every morning around 7am, rain or shine. A week ago, I noticed a young Indian boy riding on a motorcycle accompanying Jack on his rounds throwing the daily newspapers into my car porch. I though Jack is going to retire from his newspaper business.

Jack told me that he has just hired this Indian boy to deliver newspapers to his existing clients and he is going to invest his time to develop new clients in a nearby new housing estate.

To become more successful, we too have to move on into a bigger playing field from time to time, engage others to help expand your business.

Love What You Do

Ah Teik is the owner of a florist, a successful one. He hires Patrick to help him man his shop. Everyday Ah Teik takes orders from his customers and delivers flowers personally to them.

I though he should man his shop and requests Patrick to run around delivering flowers to the customers. Lately, I learned from Ah Teik that he likes to delivery flowers to his customers because he loves to see smiling faces of his customers when they receive flowers from him.

Love what you do and you don't have to 'work' another day.

Golden Age

Todd recently retired from his employment at age 57. I have the opinion that he should have a lot of time to do those things he could not do when he was in his employment, like traveling and enjoying life.

Todd said, "On the contrary, now I am not able to do a lot of the things you think one should do at retirement."

"I have to live with the RM230,000 EPF I saved, I am a heart patient and a diabetic patient. I cannot eat some of the 'good food'. I cannot travel much as I
get tired easily. I have to make choices. I have to choose my lifestyle base on the money I have saved with EPF."

One can only enjoy his golden age if only he has time, money and health. Don't live your life in regrets.

Save A Fraction Of Your Income

Very unlikely you may use a same cell phone for 5 years, use your computer notebook for 6 years, use your same car for 10 years....

Always save a fraction of your income. In life there are many stages that you need money. Buying a new car, buying your first house, getting married and having children, just to name a few, not to mention about retirement.

I have heard enough about people telling me that they are not getting married, not buying a house because they don't have money. It's not true. They just don't have savings.

Always save a fraction of your income. You may need it some days, just because you don't know when your car needs a major repair or when some one you love needs an expensive medical treatment.

Always save a fraction of your income.

New Year Resolution

Do you have a new year resolution 2009? Fred walked into my office and shared with me his resolution, "I want to make RM100,000 income this year."

I quipped, "If I am not wrong, that's your resolution two years ago."

Making a resolution is all about making a decision. A decision to achieve a goal, learn a new skill or maybe quit a bad habit. If a decision is made and not being carried throughout the year, than your resolution loses it's purpose, it's merely a wishful thinking.

George made his resolution: "I drink no more." I know, I know, neither is he going to drink less.

Mere Justification

"Rich people are greedy, they are mean and they are those not doing honest things to become financially successful." Sounds familiar?

This is not true. This is the excuse used by the poor to justify themselves for not being successful....and therefore they remain poor.

Uproot this thought in your mind is your down payment to your financial success.

In Hot Water

Think about this. When you put a tea sachet in a tea cup and pour water into it, do you pour hot water or cold water?

Of course, hot water! The hotter the better, usually we pour boiling water into the tea cup, because tea expresses its' strength in hot water!

Therefore, don't blame it on the financial meltdown if you are not doing well. It's the meltdown (hot water) that gives you the opportunity to show your leadership, your skills and your business acumen.

When the time is good, nobody knows you are good. People who are still able to do well in challenging times will do even better when financial meltdown is over.