Most inspiring stories from Singapore Entrepreneurs (Finale)

***********11th September 2005 @ 1140 - 1240 Hrs***********
This book showcases entrepreneurs who are willing to do just that and who, in the process of recounting their trepidations and sweet moments while roughing it out, often end up with a chuckle or two. Enjoy!
**************************FINALE EPISODE****************
FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Entrepreneurs share their insightful values and beliefs in doing busineses. Hope their tips will help to make your entrepreneurial path a little smoother, exciting & enjoyable.

Follow your interest: You have to 1st ask yourself this question: "Do you like what you are doing? Or is it something that you do because of money?" If it's something you do for money, then you should STOP doing it!

Always set up a business to do something that you like, because it will influence your 'holding power'. It's the passion that holds you and keeps you from giving up!

Work for others 1st: (3 reasons)
1) It will allow them to test the ground in the business area they are interested in and see whether their ideas are deasible.
2) It will allow them to gain experience in seeing how other people run their business
3) Last & most importantly, it allows them to form a good network so that they can obtain the professional help fromthe right people when they need it in the future!

Know Yourself:
- Self relection is very important for the business to succeed!
- Draw a checklist of what are the five things that you absolutely hate to do but you have to do them & ask yourself if you can achieve them by next 12 months.

Doing a business is like driving a car. You need to be sure where you are heading and the paths that you are taking.

Having NETWORKING skills is something EVIDENT in every successful business person.

Don't burn your bridge: Always maintain good relationships with everyone! Its important to establish TRUST and CREDIBILITY in our business relationships with others.

Ability to keep going and keep pushing is very important. Being able to bouce back from failures and rejection enables me to move on further!

WHAT DOES NOT KILL ME TODAY, MAY MAKES ME STRONGER TOMORROW!

The 4 'F's:
1st: Forget about the past!
2nd: Flexible when doing business & prepare to change to other businesses if the business fails
3rd: Focused in what you are doing.
4th: keep the Fire burning & going in your business!!!

My Mantra
1) Be nice, it is alwis easier to get things done when you are nice. But don't forget to be firm also!
2) Be a man of word; keep your promise, don't lose credibility.
3) Be humble, always accept opinion and feedback.
4) Respect others regardless of who they are.
5) Be strict to yourself.

SIX important words: I ADMIT I MADE A MISTAKE!

FIVE important words: YOU DID A GOOD JOB!

FOUR important words: "PLEASE, IF YOU CAN...

THREE important words: " WHAT'S YOUR OPINION?

TWO important words: THANK YOU!!!

ONE important word: 'WE'

Let go of the fear of competitors. When I overcame the fear of " if I'm sharing with my competitors, then I'll be at the losing end", I felt that I was now sharingand learning new things & becoming more progressive!. This inevitably keeps me ahead of my competitors.

BE ORIGINAL: My philosophy is to be happy in whatever I do, to lead a simple life, and live by the day in honesty. Never steal other people's ideas & there must be innovation through original thinking.

MY ROLE MODELS

Values such as NEVER GIVE UP and having the WILL TO SUCCEED were inculcated not through mere words from her, but through her actions!

IT's NOT JUST DOLLARS AND CENTS

Rewarding journeys are more often than not, bittersweet!

Matching the right people to the right job!

Helping a client to gain a competitive edge.

Securing contracts with big clients.

WHEN SOMEONE TELLS YOU THAT YOU HAVE THE BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE, OR WHEN A KID TELLS YOU THAT YOUR CLAM CHOWDER IS BETTER THAN THE ONE HE HAD IN BOSTON!

If you want business, you must make sure you sell it nice & sell it cheap! Hokkien phrase which goes: AI SWEE MAI MIA (Giving up one's life to look good)!

ok... I've completed my adventure on this " More inspiring stories from Singapore Entrepreneurs" Hope my 4 episodes of findings din bored you guys. Hope these 4 episodes had benefited you in one way or another!

Nevertheless, if you have any comments & enlightements, please feel free to advice me. Or, if you want any other writeups on other topics, you may let me know and i will source for them.

That's why I'm the "Multi Service Provider"...

IMPORTANCE OF SLEEP

A MAN can go two weeks without eating. But if he doesn't rest at all, he can only survive for one week.

Sleeping provides us the time to rest our internal organs, eyes and brains. Poor sleep quality can cause internal damage to our internal organs and brains. Therefore, sleeping is very important to us.

If you wish to have a long life and stay healthy, please take note of the advice below. 5 DON'TS when you are sleeping

DON'T SLEEP WITH WATCH Watches can emit a certain level of radioactivity. Though small, but if you wear your watch to bed for a long time, it might have adverse effects on your health.

DON'T SLEEP WITH BRA Scientists in America have discovered those that wear bras for more than 12hours have a higher risk of getting breast cancer. So go to bed without it.

DON'T SLEEP WITH PHONE Putting the phone beside your bed or anywhere near you is not encouraged. Though some of us will use phones as alarm clocks, but please put the phone as far as possible. Scientists have proved that electrical items including mobile phone and television sets emit magnetic waves when used. These waves can cause disruptions to our nervous system. Therefore if you need to put your mobile phone near you, switch it off first.

DON'T SLEEP WITH MAKE UP People who sleep with make up might have skin problems in the long run. Sleeping with make up will cause the skin to have difficulty in breathing and problem in perspiring. You will also need a much longer time to go into deep sleep.

DON'T SLEEP WITH OTHERS' WIFE!!! You may never wake up again!!!

10 Ways to Stretching Your Petrol !!!

1) Ensure your vehicle is in tip-top shape. Tune your car regularly so that the engine is performing at its best.

2) Check your tyres. Soft tyres create more friction with the road.

3) Drive gentlely. Fast starts and sudden brakes burn up more fuel!

4) Plan your Route. Avoid peak-hour traffice if possible. Driving at a constant speed on the highway usues less petrol than stop-start driving in the city traffic.

5) Travel light. Leave your golf bags and bicycles racks at home. They make your car work harder.

6) Close your windows. An open windows adds drag and increases fuel consumption by up to 5 percent.

7) Turn off the air-conditioning, unless it is sweltering. It is a major petrol guzzler.

8) Watch your speed. For most cars, travelling at 80kmh to 90kmh uses 25 to 30 percent less petrol than at 110kmh.

9) Do not idle. Im major traffic jams or when waiting for someone, turn off the engine.

10) Buy cheaper petrol. Higher octane does not mean more power. Go for what your car needs.

NONSENSE Q&A --- ANSWERS

Dear all,

As promised, after 3 threads, the answers for the 1st group of NONSENSE Q&A is here!!! Please see below for the answers and have a good laugh there!!! :)

1) A place where bees urine...Guess a place?
Answers: Hmm... It's BP petrol kisok!
---> Anybody got it right? Hmm...Must be wondering Y? Hahaha, it's becoz, Bees Pee (Pee=Urine)

2) Xiao Bai + Xiao Bai =??? Guess an animal?
Answers: Hmm... It's Rabbit!
---> Anyone got this 1 right? Hmm.. Y isit "rabbit"? Hmm... How do u read the following in mandrain: " Xiao Bai Two". Hahaha!!! :D

3) A Bald headed man. Guess a country?
Answers: Hmm... It's Scotland!
---> Any cantonese/hokkien got it right? There may be a little elements of vulgarity in this answer. "Su Ke Lan": which means, since you have no hair, for what you comb your hair!

4) The WOLF is here, (In Mandrain, LANG LAI LE). Guess a fruit?
Answers: Hmm... It's Starfruit!
---> Anyone got this correct? What's mandrain for starfruit? Yang Tao! Which oso means Sheep Escape. Hahaha, since wolf is here, sheep gota escape!

5) The SHEEP is here, (In Mandrain, YANG LAI LE). Guess another fruit?
Answers: Hmm... It's Strawberry!
---> Anybody got this correct? What's mandrain for strawberry? Chao Mei! Which oso means Grass Finished. Hahaha, since sheep is here, they ate up all the grass!

6) The WORM is here, (In Mandrain, CONG LAI LE). Guess a famous Hongkong Actress?
Answers: Hmm... It's Amy Yip! The Big Breast!
---> Hahaha Who got this 1 right? Since the worm is here, it ate up all the leaves, therefore, Leaves Finished! "Ye Zi Mei"

7) Xiao Hei, Xiao Bai & Xiao Huang went for a viking ride. Who scares of the viking eventually?
Answers: Hmm... It's Xiao Bai!
---> This abit easy right? Whoever scare of viking will vomit right? Vomit in mandrain is "Tu". Therefore, Xiao Bai Tu oso = Rabbit :D

Ok, That's all for the 1st group of NONSENSE Q&A, anyone have any more such questions, feel free to drop a couple of lines in my comments and I shall post them in the next postings!

Meanwhile, Enjoy your weekends!!!

10 Easy Ways to KEEP FIT !!!

1) Take the STAIRS instead of using the lift.

2) WALK up or down the escalators instead of keeping still and waiting to reach your destination.

3) Alight 1 or 2 bus stops away/before and walk to your destination.

4) After a healthy light lunch, take a 15-30 minute walk.

5) March on the spot, skip, or do some stretching at home while watching your favourite TV programme.

6) Park your car further away fromt he lifts or escalators and do more walking.

7) Walk to nearby shops (less than 2km away) instead of taking the car or any public transport.

8) Walk your pet in the evenings for at least 30 minutes.

9) Go for a walk, swim or cycle with your family on weekends.

10) Do leg lifts in a steated position at home or at work and hold for as long as you can.

CALORIE COUNTER

You should burn about 1,000 kcal of calories in 1 week, which is approximately 150 kcal of calories per day.
- 150-200kcal --> Walking 1 mile (1.7km) daily in 20 minutes
- 170-220kcal --> Line dancing for an hour
- 130-160kcal --> Swimming laps for 1/2 hour non-stop
- 130-150kcal --> Cycling continously for 1/2 hour
- 150-220kcal --> Taiqi for 1 hour