Compromised

After my trip from Japan, I found myself have been compromised on a few occasions, I shall describe briefly below, these are things which I would like to record it down for future references. 

I lost 10 days of membership, I renewed my membership for another year, and the guy who signed me up cancelled my previous membership and restarted a new one for me. Making me to lose around 10 days of membership for the transition. 

Just because I was soft, I let him to do so, and bear the consequences myself. although this had e little cost implications on me, but being short changed is not one would fancy. 

Moreover miss J whom was beside me, was trying hard to fight for the 10 days membership for me while I gave it away.After the incident, I am curious if I am really too soft standing on my own ground. 

I lost a good deal for renting a place because I gave people time to consider about renting to a couple. I should have offered options to her and kill the deal immediately. That was a deal of a life time. I would probably have to pay double the amount of rent for not able to secure the house for another 12 months. 

I lost my holiday for good Friday, as I did not booked my holiday immediately after my boss gave me a green light for the holiday. I was trying to be nice to let my boss have time to consider whether it is ok for me to go for holiday. I found people would put themselves first in front of everything. Set the rules myself and stick to it firmly. 

What I have learned from all these is that when we ourselves compromise our own standards, people compromise my requirements, time, standards and also my own life.

Trip to Osaka & Kyoto with Miss J

It was a short trip immediately after Chinese new year, this trip is to synchronise our thoughts and experience and get to know more about each other. Especially when it comes to making decisions, encounter problems, budgeting, planning and having fun together.

I must say, it is a very important trip for myself to know more about myself, and also my partner.

In the trip, I learned more about how to deal with crisis, our strengths and also our weaknesses.

We also discussed about ideas, business plan, action plans for our future. It was indeed a fruitful trip for me.

On top of that, I also managed to experience a very different lifestyle of Japanese and was very impressed with how their culture is. It was mind-blowing. Their mindsets are definitely a few decades ahead of me and it is a pleasure to be able to experience all these with miss J together. We are able to synchronise our thoughts together.

On our plane back to Singapore, we were stuck in our transit and also miss our flights, despite feeling fatigue after 5 hours flight from Kansai to Kuala Lumpur, we still have to run around in the airport, to get a boarding pass and also to board on the plane which is at the other end of the airport. We were definitely the last few passengers to board the Air plane.

We have also eaten quite a lot of extraordinary food in Japan, experience things we seldom even see in Singapore. It was lovely trip indeed.

Looking forward for our next adventure together.

Reason on why I celebrated my CNY in Singapore

Just recently, a few of my friends asked me why I didn't celebrate my CNY in KK. I would tell them this, If I would spend my 4 days holiday in KK, I would probably spent most of my time celebrating with friends.

However, If I would have spent my holiday with my family elsewhere, I could have spent hours and hours of time with them.

I just want to focus my time with the most precious people in my life.Period.

A mentor of mine

This post is about a friend I met in Urban Prototyping Hackathon 2013, whom is also a member of Pet rangers and also a mentor of mine in startup business. I felt so grateful to be able to know him in person and he is a person with integrity. He tweaked Pet rangers pitching in urban prototyping Hackaton week and managed to get us into finalists of Hackathon 2013.

Until today, I still felt that without him, I might not have a chance to explore startups, lead a group, be confident, manage a project and eventually how to kill an idea. He started off my journey in lean startup, planted the seed of thoughts in me and prepare my journey in coming years.

He guided our pitch, made it a lean start up, identifying the critical values in Pet rangers, which our messages are transferred to our fellow judges as well. He had got his own sustainable business which is called Pixaroll. Until today, he is still constantly growing and also nurturing people around him.

He has been a very motivating mentor and friend, nurturing me how to start off a sustainable business within a very short period of time and taught me about how to identify the single most valuable thing in a business.

He had given me the courage to venture into lean startup, and guidance.

His name is Ian Tay. It is a pleasure to be able to work together with him. Even for a short period of time, he has been a great support of mine.

Reading log:A gift to my Children: A Father's Lessons for life and Investing by Jim Rogers

After reading this book, there are a few things I would like to write down. Although some are for daughters, but hey I might have a daughter myself..

Never act upon wishful thinking. Act without checking the facts, and chances are that you will be swept away along with the mob.

Those who cannot change will be swept aside by it. Those who recognise change and react accordingly will benefit. Jim was saying about the great change from US to China.

Invest in China, and their future. China is commodities for now.

Learn Mandarin

The devil of life is always in the details.

Always buy quality product

Always eat before you go grocery shopping

Learn to do as much arithmetic and figures as possible

Always be early for appointments

2014 Chinese New Year in Singapore with Family

Parents touched down Singapore on 29/1/2014. There is this awkward feeling the short moments before meeting up with my parents, somehow is like you miss them a lot but they have been away, or should I say I have been away from Sabah for many many years already.

Technically, I left Sabah around 2006 to further my studies in KL, after that, never really spent solid time in Sabah. I guess probably I am not very keen with the environment there. The only thing worth mentioned is basically my parents, younger brother and aunty in Sabah. Of course, not to forget some of the few good friends I have got in Sabah. They have been very supportive all the while.

So technically, I have left KK (Kota Kinabalu) for about 7 years already. Time flies and I am still counting my years away from KK.

Back to the topic, so met them brought them around, met some relatives and have some few reunion dinner with them. I have to admit, entertaining people is not easy, in fact, it is downright tiring and cost me an arm and leg. However, I enjoyed every single moment of it. Being able to spend time with my dearest family is just pure happiness. Too bad, my younger brother couldn't join us this year. Looking forward for our next gathering in April.

I have learned a few things over the Chinese new year period, how is the family business doing in KK, how is the environment there, and how people in KK.  Catching up with parents are crucial, listening to them and most importantly spend time with them. I am very grateful to have such a supportive parents. They have been constantly nurturing me throughout, I feel very blessed indeed.

Basically, this meaningful Chinese new year is rather an enjoyable one. Of course, to add icing to the cake, we also made a bit of winnings from the casino. My dad was over the moon and brought the entire family to an expensive Korean cuisine in Vivo city.

Huat A!