Striking a balance in life, Joy & don’t lose yourself

At a lunch yesterday, michelle shared with me that she has a friend who achieved MDRT, but later went to quit the industry. The reason for quitting is that she (may be he) felt the stress chasing target all the times. I was pretty puzzled about the whole thing. Quit coz of pressure? Why don’t she takes it easy for a year?

Everyone starts on their journey with a reason. No matter what happen, if you started with a good intention, never lose yourself. You will never achieve everything. There is no way to achieve everything either.

In life, I will nitpick optimisim with flaws and vice versa. This is to remind everyone to strike a balance and don’t lose yourself.

In staying optimistic, I will savour on the good and treat the bad as an experience.

See the link between good/good, bad/bad, good/bad & bad/good here? Follow this and you shall not get too stressed up over unncessary stuff.

If receiving too much already and you don’t feel happy, try giving. The feeling is totally different from receiving. You may be staying in a cosy penthouse, the enjoyment will go away after a while. You may be driving the most expensive sports car, but you will get used to it. Try giving and enrich the life of others and you will be able to see different happy expressions.

Why everytime I blog something about life, the topic and content doesn’t really match 1 ah?

Making a change

I just happened to receive an email this morning and it coincides with this video somehow. You see, I am really not motivated by money, incentive trips, executive titles or anything material. I am grateful to have this thoughts because I am very comfortable in my current position.

After joining the insurance industry, I know it will be a difficult path. Most people I have met are motivated by money, some greater ones are motivated to raise more leaders, they do the right things so they have a better lifestyle. Some join insurance because they believe a lot in insurance, due to their personal experience. They want to do greater good, get their loved ones insured, more to get insured and they will be protected financially.

The current model is like this – commission base + bonus + incentives. It is not a bad one to be honest. The agents are working hard to get people to be insured. They are paid well if their performance is good. They are given more year end bonus on top of the comission and they will get to travel oversea, sponsored by the companies. The reach to public to get insured is there. Unfortunately, some went overboard by planning what’s good for themselves, some benefit for the policyholders instead of planning what’s best for the clients. This will definitely caused some fear to the consumers that they will lose trust of the agents, depriving themselves of a good comprehensive coverage. There are even a lot of “promotions” going on to push more sales in the first quarter. This model is not bad, but what if we can make it better with a radical change?

For one, the commission structure will be changed over the next few years. Lower % commission across all board. This is good, at least the agents cannot do anything to get huge comission in the first year. It will be spread across a few years to ensure the agents plan something good, sustainable for the policyholders over the next many years.

Next, won’t it be better if there is no bonus (because of the already well paying comission) & incentive trips. I’m saying this right now because I don’t qualify for all these extra goodies. (Yar, the 80% can keep thinking about this)

To be honest, this is all a vicious cycle. People are not getting insured & the compeition between all insurers is high & people generally don’t trust agents that much etc The only way for a win-win situation in the current conditions can only be more incentives. If the commission is lower, agents may just switch to another companies. Most people are really motivated by money right now. Anything lower will not be enough.

If a radical change is possible, change the whole compensation scheme. A lower % commission but something sustainable, much lower bonus, subsidised trip from tied up with travel agencies etc. Money driven people will be out, leaving people with a purpose in. People are less fearful of agents and they get insured. (Just saying)

It is inevitable that everyone I met, I am curious about your financial situation. I am good at spotting gaps and make things right. If I plug the gap, I get more income, isn’t it a win-win situation?

Sometimes, after planning. A better product (term plan) to replace an old one is out. What should I do? Don’t dare to approach you because everyone said that replacement of insurance product is bad, you will lose a lot? This is why I am already choosing my client right now, even though I am in the chart to get my contract terminated every year. First meet up is not just you choosing me, I need to choose you too. I don’t go for any business.

Let me talk about Adam Khoo. Before I met him in real life, all I know about him is that he is rich, he is motivated and he really know how to leverage to get himself there. I just feel that some of his ways to get richer is something that is more possible in the past, less profitable now and it is out of reach to even more people now. 1 example is property flipping. All I read online that he really know how to con people their thousands of dollars by cheating them to join his courses or something. I went to youtube and look at his video. Nothing impressive – or so I thought then.

A few nights ago, I am there at GE’s career seminar, sitting down among the crowd, waiting for his speech. He was the last speaker and I saw him walking in. There is an aura around him. He is really different from all other people. I went to do a little research on him and then realized why he is doing the things that he is doing now.

1. He used to be really bad at school, always uninterested in studying. It was when he attended some brainy course, then he started to perform really well. Now, this is the interesting part. It was because he benefitted so much from this that he went in further, got himself trained in this discipline and went on to guide others.

2. He was even willing to do it for FREE initally just to prove that his learning works. After achieving results, he went on to charge a fees and eventually start to charge more.

3. He was brought up in a well to do family (i assume). His father motivates him to do the right thing – work for your goal, instead of working for others’ goals.

4. He went on to use his skill & talent to go into more businesses.

Result? Millionaire by 26, multi millionaire before 40. That’s very impressive no matter what.

And so why are the people so negative about him online? I guess all this boil down to the 80/20 rule thingy again.

The 80% will be negative no matter what. They tend to be stubborn and will whine about pretty much everything about life.

The 20% know their purpose. They will keep going, no matter how tough the going is.

Talking about myself, I do get bored with material stuff very easily. When I was driving a van, all i want was a car. When I’m driving the swift for 5 years, all I want is an automatic car with bigger space. When I’m driving the mazda 3, all I want was a topless car that is fast. Now? Mazda 3 will do fine for me. A to B in Singapore, enough space, automatic, reliable, executive and sporty looking. I tell myself that I will never get a conti car because it will be foolish. Well unless I am earning more income from all my businesses except from insurance, I will consider max 10% of income to my next car. You get what I mean here?

In April, I have a realized loss of $12k, 0 sales from my insurance, 0 course conducted, salon not profitable and will be closing in another week. The 80% may start to suffer from depression here. I’m still feeling good. If I have not been trading for 2013, I would not been $50+k up for the year so far. 1 of the policyholder who signed in January, finally got his policies in force this month because of many issues. He got into A&E a week before he’s paying his premium, requesting all reports, waiting for underwriters, go for more test and more waiting for underwriters before his policy is accepted & of course, one fine lady who miraculously appear in my life this month.

I’m not saying there’s nothing to worry about the stock market, I still have to do my personal reflection on why I lose. More than half are due to “anyhow trade”, I add these strategies into my book so that I will never commit the same mistake again.

You see, instead of whining about the traffic jam, the ERP, why is everything so expensive? I would rather focus on being grateful that I came into this world as a complete baby, brought up with love, gain valuable knowledge and experience to become a better man. As long as you are complete and healthy, there will always be hope. You have a choice to be happy, why don’t you? As what Adam Khoo said, it’s nothing wrong to be just average.

If you want to motivate me, don’t tell me to work hard just for the money & bonuses. Don’t tell me that a certain business is profitable and let’s do it together to make money. Use this approach: if this business goes well, we can achieve xxx & yyy. The money will be something extra. I love to do this a lot, but I lack capital & people to manage the business for me. Think we will make a good combination?

If I have to choose between 5 million dollars & Kevin Chia, The Financial Fitness Coach, I will choose to be the later.

Life & Relationship & Fate

I am a sucker for fate – I believe a lot in coming together, path doesn’t cross for no reason & timing etc.

Singles are single for a reason – They are not doing anything

Many singles are single for a reason. They are not doing anything. Believe in fate? I don’t think we have fate like a pizzawoman delivering pizza to you and the 2 of you hit it off, she dropped a file that caused many papers to fly around and you went running to help her and the 2 of you hit it off or anything like this. If you believe in this kind of fate only, chance is, you will remain single for a long time to come.

Crossing of fate

Fate has to be created sometimes. The odds of knowing someone new while staying at home and watching TV is nil, the odds of meeting someone online is there, the odds of interacting with people out there is even more. I always like “never try, never know”. Never be afraid to try it out, trying asking her out. What’s the worst thing that can happen? It’s only a rejection.

If she agrees to your first date, we will move on.

First date

First date is the time for you to check – check on your check list. First impression counts. You don’t have to be another person to impress, but you have to be your good self. If she likes you, nothing (well, most of the things) is gonna stop you from having the next date. If she doesn’t like you,there’s really nothing much you can do to get her out again.

Subsequent dates

Though there are general rules to follow, but take note these are only general rules. Each girl will have a different set of behaviour that they like. Some like to play games, some like straightforward & no fuss kind of wooing. Again, be yourself. If thing works, it will. If it doesn’t, don’t force yourself too much.

Getting together – the checklist

In the first few dates, there must be physical attraction, then there will be your own checklist and her’s to compare.

Physical attraction – check
Personality (or what each other wants) – check
MORE
Timing (both single and ready for a new relationship) – check

If everything works out fine, then together liao lor. gxgx

Only the beginning

This is only the beginning of a realationship. Things will always be so interesting, the 2 of you cannot wait to eat each other everyday. The first argument will come later, followed by even more differences. Touches, lots of text messages & phone calls are so welcome earlier become a chore later.

If you think getting together is tough, wait about staying together. For this to happen, there must be similar goals in life. We may have different needs & wants later, but they must be somehow alined.

Remember about setting a balance.

Too much of something is bad enough, too much of nothing is just as bad. I remembered watching “My sassy girl” thrice and teared in everything I watched. That may be a perfect getting together. The lady is fierce all the times, but the guy will just melt each time she’s so gentle. This is a perfect balance.

Randoms again

1. I’m pretty lazy, some said that I’m smart. Hence, I always look to simplify things, bring it across to the mass and deliver.
2. In operation, I will skip the uncessary procedure and just stick to what’s important.
3. This may be possible in a micro environment where you can have control over many things but it will be impossible when the number gets big.
4. This is probably why I hate regimentation.
5. Try to control me with what you are doing with everyone else just Suck.
6. I hate to be under control but I can choose to be controlled for the right reason.
7. I am good at cutting loss at my trading. This may jolly well make me cut loss in certain issues of my life.
8. I don’t dare to face the difficult task in front of me, I will avoid it, make a detour or focus on taking the easy way out.
9. Everything that I do are done with a purpose. I want to find out more, I will have a lot of indirect questions that give me the answers that I want.
10. In certain situation, I will ask the most direct question for my knowledge.
11. I can make the hardest decision in the most adverse condition but I cannot make the easiest decision sometimes.
12. I have lots of great ideas, I want to blog about them, but when I try, they tend not to be organized, there will be some missing points and it may get messy.
13. If you want to get to know me, why don’t you try to absorb everything, analyze it and think how you may really know me.
14. This is how my mind works, messy stuff all over the world, i absorb them, i analyze them and i come up with something cool.
15. Can you work and think like me? Probably not because I am predictable yet random.
16. ICT doesn’t just cost me 2.5 weeks every year. The few weeks before and the few days after are scarificed too. How can an insurance agent work till the last minute, pause everything and expect everything to fall back into order thereafter?
17. I am organized at my work but if i don’t make an effort to stay organized, things will get messy.
18. In this BGR, where people think getting together is tough, they don’t know that staying together is tougher.
19. Like trading, choosing stock, when to buy what to buy and how much to buy is the easiest thing of all. Cut loss is next and taking profit is actually the hardest thing.
20. I am good at cut loss, bad at profit taking but I’m profitable.
21. I like to interact with people, but if we meet too often, I will get bored. Not because I’m sick of you, but because I feel disappointed I have nothing much to share.
22. If you find me sharing the same things over time, damm, my memory is failing me. Or maybe I want it to be drilled into your head.
23. Anything can be wrong, but I can make it right.
24. Are you able to find out what’s in my mind right now base on these 23 points?
25. I realize it is the learning points that I have learnt, applied and it become my life philosophy

Random. Out. Going to take a nap now. Food coma… zZZzzZZz

The paradoxes of life – happy problems

This is gonna be another long post which I will share some of my life philosophy.

I happened to see some hate messages online which implies or stated that I am a con man. As a human with emotion, I am always full of anger, thinking of my next retaliation. I will always think back of what happened in 2009 that I lost it.

After calming down, I will treasure these online hate messages . All their words are destructive comment. If there is any feedback, I would have take it into consider on how to improve myself. After months and years of doing my online business, I realized there is close to none online constructive feedbacks.

Support

I am a man who need great support from everyone. My family, friends, clients and everyone else. All your words wil be my assurance, for me to keep moving forward.

Instead of being pulled down by haters, I use this opportunity to realize why I treasure so many of my current relationships. I don’t get all my businesses by chance, all of you have to take the leap of faith and trust me. Together, we are producing the results.

Each individual has your own difficulties to reach what you have today. I am glad that none of you give up and stick with us throughout. (Though i understand some of us will stray once in a while, including myself)

Problems

Nobody will have a smooth sailing life. Everyone will have their own problems. It’s all about categoring them into happy problems or unhappy ones.

Buying a property
Happy ones: what kind of private property should i buy? which location? what size? which development looks nicer?
Unhappy ones: oh man, flats are so expensive. How can i afford? Single cannot buy BTO? Resales COV is so high!

Investment
Happy: I have limited money, what should i do with them? capital appreciation stock? dividend stock? trading? this stock is nice, that one too. (At least we have the knowledge on how to invest)
Even happier ones: I have too much money here, should i take them all?
Unhappy: No money for investment, don’t even have money to survive. How to invest?

BGR:
Happy: There are 2 great ladies. One make me a better man for a fulfilling and perfect relationship. Another will stick with me throughout and have a perfect relationship. With who will i have a happier life? (random example, not real)
Unhappy: She’s so fine, but she doesn’t love me. (Friendzoned

Princess (in the HK drama): she is unhappy because she cannot run around, jump around in the palace. She wishes to be free!

JB go-karting trip this saturday: we have 7 people. What cars to drive in?

So I have said all of us will have our problems. Taking it from Rich Dad poor dad, I would rather have rich happy problems than poor unhappy ones. We can choose what kind of problems we want! If you choose to call yourself peasant, then you shall be a peasant for your life, dreaming about striking toto.

Modelling after your idol

I still remember Joey calling himself a sinkie, poor students when he texted me 6 months ago. Look at what he has achieved in the past 6 months after meeting me. He’s earning more than a fresh degree graduate! He’s modelling after me, taking proven path that will bring him success.

I have my idol too. We may probably make fun of him by doing his signature pose in our pictures, but it’s all in good fun.

He’s bengish, he shaves his head and he has some funny habits. People tell me it’s IMPOSSIBLE to do that, but he did. So if he can, why can’t i model after him to do it too?

I shared that I will shave my head once I hit $1 million in networth. So if you see me shaven, I am offically a millionaire in Singapore. (Though becoming rich is a low priorty in my life)

And so, do allow me to share my life in 2013 so far.

I have spent a great amount of time enjoying myself.

I have many happy problems including which car to drive for the weekend. I have great friends who share our cars around. One week I can be driving my MRS, next week I can be driving my Mazda 3, on a few days I can be driving a RX8 or the MX5, cruising through the 99 bends.

On an ordinary working day, I can go KTV with my colleagues.

With me falling asleeping in the concert….

Or I can have a quick get away and have fun taking pictures, shopping, spamming my website at all computers with internet connection and eating nice food.

I can have a poker night with my bros, a game that I sort of enjoy because they cannot predict my next move. This was a screenshot taking from a video, which I look at the camera and grin because zhilun fell for our trick!

I can be giving presentation to people with open heart and mind. Oh take note, I really love to share.

In the few weekends after that, I am sharing my knowlege with them.

And in the next 52 weeks, I will be sharing my analysis with them.

Sharing is what I do. I am not too excited by the money I’m making myself. (for your record, trading alone gave me close to $70k in 1Q2013) I am more excited by how much money CC Traders are making. As many of you know, I am a guy with lots of emotions. I am really easily touched by sweet and sincere messages like these.

How about my greatest fan who is achieving right now?

Haters may say why am I sharing all the winners. I am an honest man. I don’t like to share half truth. I also hate to lie.

I am aiming for a 80% of them to be profitable.  This is a fantastic record for CC Traders’ Club. ALL CC Traders who have been trading with us for at least a quarter are profitable. I never expect a 100% record thus far.

I am living a very purposeful life. I am creating values in my own life through enriching the lives of others’. I am too busy that I’m really sorry that I can only spare that few minutes once in a while to hate you.

Call yourself a peasant and you shall be. Call yourself a winner, work towards it and you shall be rewarded.

That’s about it for 2013. Happy life, happy problems!

Or, I may be spending the afternoon reading my books and blogging about myself!

Testimonie of Guan Yin

I had my darkest moment late last year when everything in my life (or I thought) plunged to the deepest black hole in the universal. That was the first time I experienced such pain that I feel like ending it all.

I’m glad that I didn’t.

At my darkest moment, I saw lights. I am grateful for everyone who have been there for me, even for a minute.

Nevertheless, I am still confuse on my next step.

Just a few weeks when I sensed things were going wrong, I went to pray for a lot at GY. My prayer was not heard. I was pretty disappointed.

The second time when I saw light, I got my first lot within seconds and that was it at my first try. I asked 2 questions, 1 specific and 1 general. I am so amazed that a lot can answer so specifically to both my questions. I rarely looked back since.

After resting 2 weeks, I pulled my socks and started working with everyone around me. I have never been more focus than ever.

Moving forward, looking at my 1Q2013 performance, I am really amazed by my own result. A target that was set beginning of this year that is supposed to be achieved in a year, I have did it in 3 months. I know that I am able to move on to my second conquest, one that I am always bad in.

I am grateful to have my family. I am grateful to have my friends. I am grateful to have all my clients cum new friends. I am grateful to have the everything, material and non material in my life. I am grateful to be Kevin Chia, the Financial Fitness Coach. I’m loving every of my moment!

A little gift for myself – True driving experience

After a first good quarter 2013, when I have actually realized my resolution ($huat huat huat huat huat) set earlier this year. In order to get going, I have to give myself a little reward.

I am looking for a roadster, one that is left with 1-2 years of COE with an annual depreciation lower than $9,000.

Just earlier this month, I have found it. I have a hard time meeting the seller as he was busy with many other interested buyer. I told myself to find him only after I come back from both my trips in March. The car is still available, but he is still not meeting me! Well, while shopping at AML, this guy happened to be there and this car is fated to be mine already.

The interior condition is not bad, exterior is like it’s 9 years old. I test drive it for 2 rounds and gave him an offer.

On the day of collection, I do realized there are a bit of problem. 1: no cigarette power output. 2: I don’t like the previous fragrance used. All these are easily fixed though.

Driving this roadster is truely fun, it gives me the joy of driving again. Have you went for karting in Msia? Yup, that’s the feeling on the road. It’s light and agile and it accelerates fast. At night when the weather is good, I will open the top to enjoy the wind, to mess up my hair.

“I’m still lacking something. Soul searching.— at Yishun Dam.”

This was the description I used for this picture, seems like most don’t understand what I’m searching.

Though I have many things in my life, I am still searching, or rather, I found it, waiting acceptance or that “feel”. Feel me & complete me pls!

Glory Glory

I heard lots of cheering and shouting when I’m at the gym yesterday. A school was conducting her annual track & field event there.

I stood there and relive many moments of my life. Achieving leaders & sportsman at all level will be able to feel me here.

I’m a typical Leo who likes positive attention. Receiving such attention is one of the ways I can raise my self esteem, but I never lose myself till I lost touch with the ground.

2001@YJC 

I was Rodney house captain. I am just an average sportsman, but I am just one of the better ones there because of the smaller school population with many of the students who don’t really engage much in physica activities. That year, I won a bronze in 200m, silver in 400m & gold in 4x100m & 4x400m. Rodney also won the champ that year.

As a sportsman “wannabe”, it is not just the results, ie the winning that matters. It is the process of achieving. The hard work we put into training, the performance we put in from our training & of course, the cheering we received during the race. It is not just a factor which determine us, it is the combination of these factors mentioned and others.

At YJC Soccer, we learnt the power of visualization. We lie on the ground before our match, stunning everyone, close our eyes and visualized. We want to win, but we have to focus on the process. As the right midfielder, I visualize myself receiving a good pass, control it and sprint past my defender and put in a great cross for my striker. In our first match against TJC, I did that. We had our first goal and we went on very well to get a 2nd runner up in the tournament.

Attributes

Other than physical attributes which determine your position in the team, mental attributes matter too. I am good in attacking because I can fail in my cross, but I can keep trying till we get it. If I were to defend, I cannot fail because any failure will result in conceeding a goal and we can really lose it. I take lots of set pieces for my team, I created many good opportunities while scoring great goals myself. I just have to do it consistently and I should have my results. Once in a while, I can be really lucky by scoring directly at corner kick.

Put it in trading, it is not just the amount of capital, healthy cashflow that determine the type of traders that we are, it is the mental attributes that determine how we should trade (aggressively or what) and it can determine the our results. We just have to trade consistently and we should have our results. Once in a while, any lucky takeover or crazy rally will just give us lots of profit.

From starting to ending

I may have it easy my whole life. You may not see the effort I have put in or the difficultities I have faced. I do get tired sometimes and I gave up a lot of things in 2010 to 2011. I can never focus enough to finish major tasks. I did a personal reflection in 2011, continue to work on my strength (great start, love to focus on process and able to know what is the result that I want) and improve on my weakness (losing focus on process, giving up before the final hurdle)

I am lucky to have achieved a lot in the past 3 months, comparable to the amount of returns I had in the past 5 years. I will treasure it because… (see next)

Leopards never change their spots

you know what? We are human. We are more complicated than animials and we can change.

Take a gambling addict for example. Gambling never pays off and usually ends up in losing great wealth.

No amount of nagging from even the closest family can help to get this gambler to quit his vice. Change & motivation has to come from within. This is why we should never lend them money till they really experience great emotional trama.

Negative people are negative afterall. They are “jian”/cunning. They will use all kinds of emotional appeals, cry, beg and promise to change just to get some money to try again. Personal judgement has to come in here. If nothing bad happen to them yet, we should not help them.

It will come up many possible scenarios, not just the 3 mentioned.

1. All is loss and they lose their lives.

2. They paid a heavy price by losing their friends & family. They stood back up and learn from their mistakes and never commit again, trying hard to gain trust from everyone.

3. Just before paying the heavy price, they are truely remorse. Assistance came in and they regain their live.

I can appear cold blood sometimes when people try to borrow money from me. I am just testing your character to see how much I should help. I am also waiting for a good time to come in to help you.

I told my father last month that I want to donate some money to a family, but after seeing what they are doing right now (even though they have suffered a lot a lot in the past few years), I reckon I can do better by offering any assistance other than financial help.

I can help people, but you have to deserve it and I really wait for the right timing to make a greater impact in the hope that you will become a better person. If you receive from me, please, do all the things that you have promise. Any half hearted attempt will only make our relationship half hearted.