Antiphons.blogspot.com

2011 resolutions?

2011-08-27T04:26:00.000-07:00

Hi imaginary readers lol.. I'm really going to start blogging more ok? Well actually i might move my blog to another account. I was actually quite surprised that google and blogspot sort of merged.. and now all my accounts is attached to sctaervmeenn@hotmail.com which i do not really use anymore (for good reasons).

There has been a lot going on in my life recently.. Good and bad. So life has been exciting. (:

Let's see.. in point form here is what has been going on.

- Still working at MindChamps as a persenter for Empower U and YC
- Flew to Indonesia and Shanghai for Empower U
- Have been taking driving lessons
- Learnt about time and how easily it can be wasted
- Gamed a little (maybe to some people i gamed a lot)
- Got a little bit overweight
- Finished Sun down marathon
- Preparing for Standard Chartered Marathon
- Getting serious about Business (Network Marketing)
- Went to Train the Trainer by T Harv Eker
- Voted in Singapore for the first time
- Voted again in the same year
- Got into a relationship..

About that last point, yes i fell in love with a really wonderful girl. She is the sweetest person i've ever known in my life. I'm falling for her more and more each day because she has the biggest heart in the whole world and really cares for people. And there's just too much to say in one blog post about her. It wasn't easy though. I had to be really sincere and take it really slow. I'm glad that we are together now cos i can really see myself spending the rest of my life with this girl (yes now i know how that feels). It feels amazing.

Anyways let me think about whether i want to start another blog or totally scrap the blogging. Because it is not a bad idea to have a website of my own right? hahaha.. stay tuned imaginery readers! :)

Loves.

ONE100HUNDRED

2010-11-23T01:19:00.000-08:00

Today I'm going to revisit the events of the 100 rounds ran for Charity. The lessons, the challenges and the experiences. This is going to be mainly about the run because there are so much more things to talk about when it's about the whole journey of raising $10,000 for Charity. Also I'm still looking for more people to realize the ten thousand dollar donation so the whole story is not completed yet..

It was an amazing and very emotional experience for me. A week before the run I went to visit the home to remind myself of why I am doing this and who I was doing this for. It was only then that I realized that the idea was not only as big as the giving but the also the possible impact it could have influenced others to have the courage and ability to do the same. I went with a bigger vision: to give in a very big way and to empower others to be able to do that too.

Anyone who wanted to give in a very big way could have come up with the idea. Anyone who had prepared and planned could have succeeded in the hundred rounds.And even if they didn't run they could have come up with another idea to raise the money. Anyone who had seen the needs of these people could have wanted to help. Anyone could have weighed the options of doing something for someone against other things and decided that they wanted to do something for others. Anyone could have done it. And if more of us do it, then even more of us would do it. When everyone starts to contribute and give I think there would be more than enough for everyone. When we all become generous and give in creative ways there will be no lack. We will find homes, food and necessities for everyone. Because of that we can only become better because we have better to focus on instead of ourselves. And good giving will not even be called Charity. It would become a way of life. We would build greater civilizations and greater wisdom would flow. As old conventional resources deplete we will discover better and longer lasting resources. It would be Utopian but not impossible.

And yes on the 2nd of October, after all the planning and organizing it was finally going to happen. Close friends came to support and help.. Bao Wen came with her camera to take videos of the run, Jeraine came with her camera to take pictures, Kai came to help with the water point, Valerie came to run the last 50 rounds with me, my whole family came to support and make sure I was alright. And many more friends came: louis, Seow Wei with his two adorable kids, rachel, sherman, dax, mus who was a student of a school I went to speak in, lay ping a really nice office friend with a big heart, David who was my friend since primary school, and Kang my ns sergeant. :)

I woke up at 4am feeling quite nervous about the run. I prayed hard for it not to rain the night before and for everything to be carried out smoothly. My dad woke up early just to drive me there, yes he was quite worried about everything(which was sweet).

The thing is I've been training for the run since june but not when it was nearing the date of the run. Work has been quite busy for me to keep the training consistent. My dad would advise me on what to eat and frequently remind me about conditioning my body for the run. He believes I could have done more in terms of the preparation.

It was quite funny at the start when bao wen and jeraine were taking pictures of me in different stretching positions. It made me feel like a star and it felt so giggly. But it was wonderful.

When we were all ready, mus and me started running. It wasn't like a grand start maybe because we started slow. I figured if we ran like we could run forever we could finish it.

Round one. Probably the easiest and the fastest round to finish. Kai was already ready with a cup of water just in case I need it. I just smiled and told him that it's still really early.

By the time it was round 5 I've picked up a really good rythmn in terms of how I breathed and the pace of my steps. At this time there was a temptation to go faster but I had to remind myself that there were 95 more rounds to go. So I made sure that my optimism didn't spoil it for the rest of the run (which you will come to understand is a very wise thing to do).

The first signs of thirst came at around round 9. Kai passed me the water but I spilled most of it as I jogged and tried to drink at the same time. Most of my trainings didn't have people to pass me water so I drank at the end of my jogs. But Kai, thanks so much for your support! Really appreciate your enthusiasm and commitment at the water point;).

Everything from round 25 onwards became about taking my mind off the number of rounds left. I just needed to run like I could run forever. Friends running with me was really encouraging. Jeraine came up on one of those rounds and ran with me. :) She said that her gym sessions has really paid off. Jeraine has been a friend for very long. This friendship counts for much more than acquaintance. For jeraine and me we exchanged inspirations, support and acknowledgment. We grew through a couple of events together and this was no exception.

As I ran against the flow of the other people running, I had to side step quite a couple of times. There was this uncle who seemed like a real frequent user of the track that didn't want to compromise at all. He purposely crashed head on with me and screamed something like: please lah! Run with the flow! But that was my point. First of all I didn't mean to anger him and secondly I had good reasons to run "anti-flow". We were there to create an awareness. And if I run against the flow people would know I'm coming. Especially the later parts of the hundred rounds when I'm tired I might not even look ahead when running (even though by the time I was finished we were the only people there).

By round 30 many people were at the stadium exercising already. There were many uncles and aunties following an exercise routine with some really funny music. My parents, brother and sisters and friends started helping me clear out lanes one and two for me to run. It felt so weird at first but later on there were people smiling at me and an uncle even shouted "jiayou!" a couple of times. People started hearing that I was doing the 100 rounds for Charity.

All this while, everyone was so on the ball about knowing what I needed like water and power gel. It was so much care that people started worrying about me. Obviously the pace has slowed tremendously and I didn't want to push too hard before the 3/4 mark. Too much water was being given to me and I think I had an overdose of sugars as well.

As the 50 round mark approached, I could see Valerie preparing to join me. There something about seeing one more person that excited me. Maybe because the rounds around the same track started to take it's mundane toll on my mind. Even before before the 50 round mark I asked Valerie whether she was going to run with me(just to make sure).

Valerie's promise and addition to the run proved to be one of the more important elements to my completion. She was assuring and confident in the pace. Encouraging and never overbearing. As amazing as we all know her, she always impresses us more. With her I felt happy to start having fun again. We chatted as we jogged. I told her how much I appreciated her company and thanked her before proceeding to tell her how the run is going. Then I had a revelation. Like me the people who live in the Red Cross Home for The Disabled seem to be like running in circles. Life is quite hard when you cannot do many things that you should be doing yourself. I remembered how one of the beneficiaries smiled when we visited him. Friendship and company must have been such a big part in their life. I also remembered the Red Cross Home of the Disabled staff telling me that the beneficiaries needed many befrienders. People who could come and talk, or do little things like read to them.

That made me realize that giving in a very big way is so important not just in monetary sense of help but in spreading the word of the existence of people who need care and friendship. I've volunteered with YMCA's Minds outings to know the importance of friends to beneficiaries; actually to any human being. With disabilities it sometimes seems so hard to converse and know someone. It's like running rounds forever and hoping that the person you are running with will come by again the next round. Volunteers have such an important role in terms of enriching the lives of the beneficiaries.

At round 63, under the bright rays of the Sun it began to rain! I was shocked and speechless at the start.

This happened the first time I wanted to run the hundred rounds. It rained cats and dogs and flooded a portion of the tracks on the 17th of July; the first attempt at the 100 rounds. No, I didn't get to run. I turned to Valerie in an almost upset tone to complain. Then I decided to turn to God to stop the rain. Under my breathe I uttered: please lord, stop the rain don't do this to me. Around about this time Victoria came chasing from behind asking us to stop running. Victoria is a really nice Red Cross staff who has been liaising with me and organizing the first aid team for me to do the run. I think she had the responsibility to ask us to stop the run as it might be dangerous. I ran a little faster at first and then slowed down to tell her that I'll finish another round first. At the start I just wanted to continue and finish the run, then I realized there were people running with me. If I was the only person running and I decided to continue I guess that is alright. But I shouldn't risk anyone else getting injured; who came to support me.

As we approached the line where I started I looked around at the 3 or 4 people running and asked if we should stop. I can't say that at that point in time I didn't want to stop. There was a little voice in me that started saying: dude you're not going to make it! Give it up. Get some rest and try again another day. Look at the state you're in! The pace you're running!

While my questions of whether to stop remained unanswered from the friends that were running with me, almost magically the rain stopped. As surprising as the way it started, the rain ended quite abruptly too. There was no doubt then whether we were going to continue the run. I don't remember being drenched for very long so I guess the winds must have dried our clothes pretty fast.

We were running at a very slow and steady pace. It was really great to have company and different people running with me at different rounds. Seow Wei brought his two kids! They were so cute! :) Lay Ping came too. Her smile really brightened up the stadium. Every additional person that came seemed to lift my spirits. It just goes to show that together everyone achieves more.

There was an additional point to note though: too much worry might lead to disaster. In short there were football players who were training on the field as I ran. One of them told my parents that I wasn't sweating enough and that I should be drinking more water. The next thing I know I was being fed water at every turn! The thing is when you run it's good to sip some water but not too much. Everyone was probbing me to drink till I was almost going to vomitt water. Not only will water dilute my rate of energy production, it made me uncomfortable! I was just sharing with Valerie that the water level was coming up to my throat. So we started to reject all the water offered. My mom was the hardest to refuse because she had a worried look on her face. Bao Wen knew better than to drown me with water so she poured water on me instead of asking me to drink. But there was one point she asked me to put ice water on my head -_-!!! My dad just kept giving me some health supplement drinks.

I don't remember at which point my legs started cramping up but my left leg cramped first. And then a few more rounds my right leg cramped twice. It gave me reason to have more banana! :)

Also at that point in time I saw a group of people walking into the stadium! Actually someone alerted me of their arrival. They were the Red Cross nurses and volunteers in their white polo shirts carrying bright green pompoms. I ran a little faster when I saw them and then slowed down to rub on some Alleviate (a sort of heat rub to relax my leg muscles). I must say it really felt better after I put some of it on.

The Red Cross people cheered a couple of cheers and when all the cheers ran out they just shouted my name. The last ten rounds was easier on my mind but harder on my body. Easier because I knew that I'm going to finish it and harder because I felt the strain in my legs. But everyone's presence made me smile. At one point in time I really couldn't stop myself from smiling; which was awesome.

The amazing feeling of the final round is indescribable. Jianwei, my sister who made the round count flip charts made the 100th round like a flag which my mom gave me to hold as I ran the last round. It was finally accomplished. It was quite overwhelming for me in terms of what we have all accomplished together :) Check out the Video at www.one100hundred.blogspot.com

2010-10-08T00:39:00.000-07:00

I have so much backlog (is there what you call it?) to post on my blog. As you should know by now, I don’t post about everything that is happening in my life. Not that I don’t want to but. Most of the time nowadays even if I wanted to there is no time for me to sit down and think about blogging and put into words how I feel.

Having said that I’m going to try to “payback” everything as much as I can ok? Yups so there are a couple of events that happened but for today I just like to talk about Brent. Brent Williams, one of my most treasured and respected mentor. Recently he came to Singapore to visit the assists and do some business with me. It was exciting not just because I was waiting for him to come Singapore to see how we can partner in the property business but also just to have conversations with him for as much as I can. Every time I spent time with him I’ll be taught something that I could have never come up with myself. You know how you feel like someone is so “in bar” that you want to be around him as much as you can to learn?

Basically I set up a couple of appointments for him to connect with a couple of people so that we could have a few partners that knew about the investors market and provide us with help in terms of how we might be able to reach our potential buyers. The meetings were fruitful. We made the connections but there were no real contracts or agreements being made. I guess that’s how business looks like during first contact and relationship building. I learnt so much from just watching Brent talk.

I was tempted to describe Brent as a super salesman but he is not. He is a super communicator. Master conversationalist. He knows what to say, how to say it and when to say it. It’s like watching an architect, designing a building and then shows it to the contractor but goes on to build the house himself (if you get what I mean). And the way he debriefs how each appointment went was just mind blowing. I feel so small and worthless. But that’s the other thing. He doesn’t allow me to feel that way. He would edify me every other time. And he really means it when he says it. Like he would say something like: “Steve I really like how you said.. it just shows that..” Him substantiating his praise just makes it credible. You know like how sometimes you receive praise but you don’t feel it. Brent made me feel that I gave great value. He is my life changing friend. I’ve known him for 7 years and it seems I know less than 30% of what he is able to do.

I invited Brent for one of the talks I was doing at Junyuan Secondary School this week. And he sat at the back to listen to how I presented to the students. The reason I wanted him to see it is because I wanted him (world class speaker) to teach me how improve myself; I do have expectations. He asked me a couple of times to send him videos of me presenting but I didn’t have a camcorder (which is an excuse cos I could have just went out and bought it now that I have income).

When we finally got to sit down over dinner that night he gave me so much to think about. He had taken notes on things that I could improve. From the setup of the talk to pre-frames for each section, from emphasis of statements to commanding the interest and drawing out the curiousity. When he was telling me all that, I just had to listen intensely with eye contact and my mouth open lol.. He told me about world class presenting and what it took to be that. It was reality with magic.

Right at this moment I’m still processing the things he told me. He said he had all the notes about my presentation in his ipad and he is going to email me. When that email comes in I might just zone out from everything and go into study it lol. Yea till the next update, stay true and enjoy yourself.

(I’m going to talk about the Charity run next.. it’s mad stuff by the way)

A not so quick update

2010-09-24T05:34:00.000-07:00

Hey! Haha finally a not so rushed blog post after a not so long break from the last post. There are so many things that i haven't talked about that i should talk about. Where should i start?

There was this young man who was living my dreams. He was 18 and he owns a chocolate business. I'm not jealous or anything but i heard he was coming to Singapore to attend the What Makes a Youth Champion Forum. At this forum, they invited very young and successful people to talk about what are the most important things in their life or what made them that successful. Amongst them were a young man who climbed mountains, a little girl who started a really successful shampoo brand and the chocolatier i was talking about; and many others. But i realized that the dates of the event was going to crash with my Empower U in Jakarta!

Long story short, i chose to fly to Jakarta (i love running programs). But before i flew i wrote a letter to him to tell him i wanted to become a chocolatier and it would be fantastic if i could meet him. This guy is from the UK and her started making chocolate when he was like 12!! Yea when i got back to Singapore after the amazing program in Jakarta, i received an email from him saying he wants his chocolate to come to Singapore.

I'm now doing some chocolate research for him. Actually i'm doing this research for my own knowledge as well. But it's a magical feeling to be doing this. You know, if i didn't join mindchamps, i'll most probably missed him. Yea it's like the law of attraction. Like i was here for a reason. Like you were suppose to be reading this. And you were suppose to look back one day saying i knew Stephan before he made the world' best chocolate and i believed him! :)

Cheers to you! n_n

Quick Updates

2010-09-16T01:49:00.000-07:00

Really quick updates!

Currently i'm undertaking 5 projects:

1) one100hundred charity project
2) Chocolate research!
3) Property investment event
4) Passive Massive Residuel income business
5) $200,000 business for school programs

Everything has been great (:.

I'll give a more eloborate post by the end of this month! :)

Thoughts and Missions

2010-07-07T05:17:00.000-07:00

You don't know how happy i am about being approved to do the run by the SSC. I'm probably in cloud 10 right now. Giving in a Very Big Way (of the one100hundred challenge) has been my main concern over the past two months. In fact i've been dreaming about running that event a couple of times. Sometimes i dream of running it successfully getting the 100 donors successfully. Sometimes i have nightmares about not being able to do the run. Worries about not getting the 100 people.

I believe there are at least 46 people out there that i haven't spoken to. I'll need to get them to know about this somehow or another. I need prayers. I need strength. I need passion. And i need action.

Pray for me! :)

one100hundred Charity Run

2010-07-06T00:45:00.000-07:00

Recently my mind has been clouded with the thoughts of doing the one100hundred run. At first this idea excited me. Then it started to scare me. Then it inspired me. With the saga of permission getting in Singapore, I wasn’t very encouraged by the SSC’s decision to want me to postpone the run. I mean this is for a good cause and I was so excited to do it on the 3rd of July..

Well no point in talking about that. Pray for me everyone! We need to do this run on the 17th of July at 5am at Bedok Stadium.

Updated*

Great news! The SSC just approved the waiver for using Bedok stadium! :)

Work work work

2010-04-08T18:08:00.001-07:00

I'm sorry i haven't been updating my blog for so long for you imaginary readers lol. But life has been really great. I had been doing a lot of work lately in my journey with MindChamps. Some of the jobs mundane, but others so interesting that i could put in words for you to imagine (i guess that is an easy way to get away from really describing it properly in language).

Recently i've been reading this book entitled Winners Never Cheat by Jon M. Huntsman. Mr. Huntsman is a multi-billionaire. Yes you read it right, multi-billionaire. Every time you pick up a plastic fork or spoon or small items that is made out of plastic you got to thank this guy. He was the entrepreneur who industrialized plastics and made producing it in massive quantities possible in business. In this book he talks about how in today's society there are so many people who have left their morals and integrity in efforts of gaining the "success". Especially in courts and wallstreet whereby there is a constant look out for loopholes in law and rules to gain advantage. He has a view that in business you still can do it while being competitive but doing it fairly. There were simple ideas in the book like never take advantage at another's expense and it's ok to negotiate tough business deals, but do it with both hands on the table and sleeves rolled up; honesty. (:

This book really "flowed" with me but also made me realize some of the things i've done has not been filtered through my morals or values. You see that's the small differences that make people successful and happy; alignment of values and beliefs. Sometimes i allow too pressure to cloud what i think is right and just follow the crowd. Sometimes because i want something i take a short cut or an easier route that may not be right.

I've been giving a lot of thought about this.. alignment of what i say with what i do.. alignment of my actions and my thoughts.. alignment of my mind with my body and my spirit. How do we do that? Sometimes my mind says one thing, my body says another and my spirit says something else.

(: i need to sit down and write all this down. This is colossal information!

Revelations

2010-03-12T19:08:00.001-08:00

Today i went for my ippt test. Here are my results:

Chin up: 12
Sit up: 40
Shuttle run: 9.9 sec
Standing Broad Jump: 225cm
2.4km: 12:29

12 mins and 29 secs! Are you serious!!! i just ran a relaxed 2.4 on thursday and it was 11mins! No excuses. What the hell were you thinking! In exactly the same order as i did above i finished the test. When i woke up this morning i had diarhea.. A little nervous about the test. And then i was almost late.

I felt better when i did my chin ups because i did do chin ups everyday and therefore it was easy. When i did the SBJ my world collapsed. I needed a 234cm jump to get me a gold.. It really affected my 2.4km. I felt restless and tired. What happened to state management?

Lesson: More preparation is required. More training. More focus. More Belief. More interval trainings. More muscle building in the legs. More motivation. More discipline. Walk the talk, stay cool, manage state and emotions.

...

I'm going again next week Wish me luck!

Thoughts about $$$

2010-03-06T18:00:00.000-08:00

Recently i've been having conversations with people about money. You know, just casual chats and nothing serious. These conversations struck me with new revelations about why we need more money. Most people are not comfortable talking about more money because they don't have enough of it and think that it is a scarce resource. And because they think that way, most of them stay that way. Money was never abundant to them and never enough. Money is an idea. How you perceive it attracts or repels it. Someone who is paid $100,000 a month on a job but has a $10,000 mentality about money will always end up NOT having $100,000 per month. Their thoughts, feelings and actions about money would eventually lead them to the results parallel to their values about money.

I learnt from Empower U that money is not only an idea but also a belief. So i started asking myself what are some of the beliefs i have about money that is putting me where i am now. I realized that i myself have a very limiting belief about money! I'm appalled that i'm actually not very different from everyone else! I've been following the crowd! The reason why I've gotten a job is because i wanted security and i THOUGHT i had security when at any point in time it could be taken away from me! Not that that would happen but. I'm really thinking right now about how differently Warrent Buffet, Donald Trump, Anthony Robbins, Steve Jobs, Brian Tracey and Bill Gates must think of money. hmmmss..

Not only do they have money, they increasingly attract money to them. Once Donald Trump was billions of dollars in debt after a financial crisis, and when he was walking down the street he saw a beggar sitting on the sidewalk begging for money. Then it dawned upon him that this beggar was billions of dollars richer than he was! About 2 years later he was out of debt and making millions of dollars again. These people that i think about can give away all their money and money would still come to them. So i really think money is more than money. Or rather wealth is more than money.

Some people are not comfortable when talking about money. I choose to be comfortable with money because i believe it is nothing materialistic. Some people think it is wrong to talk about money like that but i don't think so. Money cannot solve everything but money can solve many problems. I believe having more money would help a lot of people. I believe everyone should learn how to become wealthy so that we could deal with the other challenges rather than worry about money.

Last thoughts..

I was talking to an auntie one day weeks ago and it really inspired me. We were talking about relationships and girlfriends and marriage. As the topic progressed i made the statement that one day i intend to be a rich young bachelor before i think about all that. Then she said (in a "as a matter of fact" tone)

"When you're rich you'll be old already!"

Everyone else listening in to the conversation laughed; sort of like in agreement with her. I just smiled. I was so inspired from that moment. I realized i was the only person there able to make that happen (:.

Last week

2010-02-10T18:13:00.000-08:00

Just came back from Jakarta about two days ago and here’s what happened before and during the Jakarta trip. Before the trip I went out with a friend that I had kept in contact in for quite some time. We are not especially close friends but I went out with her because I thought I loved her. We met 8 years ago and it seems that I could never forget her. I never regretted going out with her on that day even though after reading this you’ll think I should. She was going overseas to study and so I asked her if she wanted to meet up for a last time. She agreed. It was actually quite a big thing for me so I planned the whole morning we were going to meet. Her birthday was coming, so in the morning I asked random people to go up to her to wish her happy birthday. Years back I wrote a piece of music for her so I decided to play it for her as well. I brought her to the explanade and booked a piano practice room to play it for her.. Yea and I hid like chocolates somewhere in the explanade so that I had nothing to take in my hands and she wouldn’t know I was going to give her anything when we met up. Handmade a notebook with the first page filled with part of the score of the music I wrote for her and a few random pages where she could scribble stuff and write down her aspirations and gratitude for things (its not that nice but I put in good effort). I also made her photo frame with 3 pictures of her; hand-drawn.. I believed her favorite ice cream was ben and jerrys’ strawberry cheesecake so I bought it for her and brought it to the Indian restaurant to chill the night before. Yea and I bought a small piece of tiramisu cake to celebrate her birthday as well. I actually stupidly went to burn the music that was on her blog and asked the Indian restaurant owner to play it; I thought it’ll be nice you know? It turns out she didn’t like me playing her music. She didn’t like Indian food.. She told me she didn’t like the attention she was getting. She was nice about it I guess; I mean she could be meaner.

In short I did quite a couple of little things to tell her that I loved her. At the end of the meet up, she looked as if she was running away from me. I think she got it, but she didn’t want me to. Love is really a choice isn’t it? Later in the afternoon I had to leave for Jakarta so I decided not to let all that affect me. I slept for an hour and woke up to prepare to leave.

At the airport, someone really sweet showed me she loved me like how I showed the first girl I loved her. I was touched but at the same time I learnt that it is time for me to let go. It is really time for me to relinquish these thoughts and feelings about this first girl and really allow a chance for myself to wholeheartedly love someone else. Someone special.

Empower U in Jakarta was fantastic. It was only me a hafiz and Gloria and Irene and a few other trainers in Indonesia. I got to know every single participant because there were only 32 of them. It was really fun getting to know them and watch them write their goals and dreams. Watching them break through their barriers and believing in themselves. Dancing in almost every dance session made me loose a lot of weight; which is really good. It was really great to know that I made a big contribution to the lives of these young people when they come up to me at the end to say thank you. There were testimonials that really reassured me that what I was doing was something worthwhile. Lives were changed. I was inspired. Can’t wait to do another Empower U program again.
EU rocks my world.

Updates on 2010

2010-01-28T18:20:00.001-08:00

The past month has been a much looked forward to time. January. The month where all the plans for the year are set and of course the much anticipated Empower U 5-day! A week in Australia has done a lot to wake me up again to the world of personal development and all the things that I want to achieve. I made new promises to myself and set some new goals. The camp was by far the best thing that happened to me for the last 5 years. I can’t really describe how happy I am to have set the intention and commitment of being there.

I’ve met a lot of great friends who were committed to getting more out of their lives and helping each other to do so. It’s a fantastic experience. Therefore no amount of words can describe what it was like for me. I feel I grew to another level never known to me. For some reason I chose not to share my experiences on this blog but I wrote them out on a journal I was given at the camp. (: If you haven’t been to 5-day you have to go there!

Other exciting updates about my life include the excitement of my network marketing business. For the first time in my life now I’m committed to spending time and effort and pride to make some real passive massive residual income. Also as well, I officially launched my first blog shop with my friend!

www.fervee.blogspot.com

I’m really happy with the outlook and design of the blog. There are other shops that agreed to link us which were great and we already sold our first shirt! Do support us by getting the news out to your friends(:.

Still exploring new businesses that I can start with little or no money as well.

Need to keep reminding myself to set aside time to make chocolate! >.<

I’m also looking forward to publishing my book this year. It’ll be fantastic. I’ve been learning more and more about public speaking and how to inspire other people with words and I feel I’m really getting better at it from the response I get from the audience.

Yes. January has been a great month to begin with. Next week (which is also next month), I’m flying to Jakarta with Hafiz to do Empower U for the first time in Indonesia! This is like living the life I always wanted. What more can I ask for? Much more actually lol. (: Hope all is going well with you. I pray God Bless you with his wonderful goodness and grace. Till next time! Take Care!

Virgin Marathon

2009-12-09T18:58:00.000-08:00

There are a whole lot of things to say about my marathon run. It all started 6 months back when i decided to tell all my friends that i was going to run a marathon. And because of that, there was no pulling out of it. I had no prior knowledge about running such a long distance and how much energy, determination and endurance it would require. Me being me told as many people as i could possibly tell about the marathon.

The opportunity came for me to sign up and i did. At that point in time, i felt excited and unsure at the same time. I imagined the thrill of finishing the run and also visualized the pain that it might put me through. One of my friends shared with me that if i have never ran a marathon, my leg muscles will definitely cramp. I clinched at the thought :s. The last time i felt a cramp was when i was swimming and it was not enjoyable at all..

As the day drew nearer i started doing little jogs in the bedok stadium. 30 rounds around the stadium was about 12km worth of jogging. Without any proper planning, i would always just jog whenever i had the time which would be either a 12km jog or a 3-4hours jog. 12km Would be the times when i could spare only an hour plus on jogging and when i had the time i'll jog non-stop for as long as i could. Somehow i believed i was ready.

The day drew nearer and nearer. I asked Thaddeus, a good friend of mine to give me some tips for running and what i should do. Thaddeus had ran marathons 3 times and just recently finished a 250km race through the Sahara desert. He was somebody whom i thought would be the best person to help me survive this run. We met up for lunch and he bought me a whole bunch of things including: power gels, blister powders, recovery drink packs, abrasion lotion. He is so generous and so nice to have not only met me for lunch to give me some advice but also gave me so many things! These items helped me a lot during the run. I really can't imagine the amount of pain i would have gotten through if i didn't have the lotions and the powder. I'm filled with great gratitude for this guy. Thank you Thaddeus!

THE MARATHON

In the morning i had to wake up at 3am because a special chartered bus was planned to send me to the start point from bedok stadium so i had to wake up shower and make sure i was there by 4am in the morning. I ate a power gel, got prepared and went out.

The first thing i did when i reached the stadium was i went looking for a toilet. My morning dump had to be taken care of! And everyone was all over the Raffles City looking for open toilets but they were all closed!!! We finally settled with the portable toilets rented to the organizers of the marathon, i didn't quite enjoy its "cleanliness" and the flushing function was no where to be found :s..

It was really amazing to see so many people there at 5am in the morning. I knew there were runners in Singapore but i didn't know there was so many runners. There was about 15,000 people running!!! My Goodness. It took me about 10minutes to walk to the start line! But before that i found a place to sit down and prepare myself, using the blister powders that Thaddeus gave me and the abrasion lotion on my body. I carried on myself nothing except two packets of power gels, everything else i left at the baggage drop off point.

As i was walking along the running route to get to the starting line, there were people in front who started going wild and clapped and cheered. I was wondering what in the world is happening.. On the other road on the other side of us were the competitive runners flying past.. It was in fact the professional runners. These guys ran like its a 2.4km run! My goodness i really wondered how they are going to maintain that speed for the entire marathon. Well, they are professionals. Suddenly i remembered what Brent always said: "Professionals Create, Amateurs Compete".

When i finally reached the start line everyone started jogging. And because there were so many people, it was a slow jog. (: i was just happy to get started. Making my way through all the little gaps i could find and passing many many runners. i felt great. Until..

Someone farted in front..

It stink real bad :s. The smell lasted for about 5 seconds. I was suddenly very inspired, innervated, roused and provoked to overtake as many people as i can and to do it quickly. (:
So i learned: Inspiration does not always come from the beautiful, the nice, the fragrant and the perfect.

Even though i was quite highly motivated to overtake people. There was always someone in front of me! There were so many people, it felt like i over took a hundred people and there were still a ten thousand i front of me. I decided to settle into cruising speed if not my fuel won't last me. I was reminded about Thaddeus advice about not "hitting the wall". Hitting the wall happens to some runners when they over exert and then they cannot run anymore.

After what seemed like 2 years of running i came to a sign that said "16km" I was shocked. It didn't occur to me that this was going to be dramatically different from when i am running on the track. My beautiful soft track.. argh! 16km only!!! The energy started depleting in me. I started breathing shorter breathes and my paced reduced even further.

Just at the 20km mark both of my legs cramped. It was so painful i had to stand still for a moment before i started jogging again. The only reason i could jog again is because i always believed that i was superman. It was painful. Every pace threatened another cramp. I learned how to relax my leg muscles while i jogged. This was an important time for me and i didn't want to start walking. Yes I'm crazy. I ran as my legs cramped again and again.

This brought back memories of the time i did expeditions with the Boys Brigade. We were walking for kilometres and kilometres. One of my friend's legs cramps up and he sat on the floor. My officer took him by the hand and asked him to continue walking because he said the only way to get over the cramp is to keep on walking until the legs get over the tension.

And so i applied that theory. I jogged and relaxed my muscles. After about 15minutes it started to work. My legs stopped cramping. Only the occasional muscle aches was because of the first few cramps. I was elated. No walking.

When you do a marathon, other than the beautiful sights that you might get to fully take in and enjoy, you will also be doing a lot of thinking. I thought about my goals and dreams. I thought about the amount of effort was i putting into my life. I thought about the promises i made to myself. I thought about the times when i have failed and the times when i have succeeded. But one thing i saw made me so emotional..

Every runner had a choice to put up a tag at the back with the encouragements of their loved ones and their friends. I didn't because before the marathon i was just so busy with so many other things that i didn't get anyone to write for me (excuses). But i enjoyed reading what other people wrote for the runners..

There was the occasional..

"My daddy is the fastest runner Go daddy!"
"Don't give up! All the way!"
"You can do it!"

And there were the funny ones like..

"Please only over take me on my right, do not tail gate, or I'll get annoyed"
"After you finished running come home for dinner!!!"

There was one particular one that made me cry. What! It made you cry?! Yar i started little sniffles because of this.

You see at this point in time it became quite tiring already. And i wanted to believe that i could do it but the difficulty was escalating. I thought about the problems in my life and how i was still unable to solve some of them. Then i read this on someone's back.

"Finish what you started."

Finish what you started period. A flood of memories came back. I didn't complete a couple of things that i began and i realized that this was going to be one of those things that if i didn't give up it would give me so much mental muscle, so much positive reference, so much strength to get up and complete all those things that i said i would do. I was not crying because i couldn't do it. I was crying because i was going to be reassured about the milestones in my life and I'm just going to stick with them until i succeed.

There were many guys running but there were a few girls running as well. And i just like to say: GIRLS ARE NO WEAKER THAN GUYS! They were all as serious and as motivated and as strong as me! In fact towards the end, there was at least 2 girls who overtook me! Kudos to the girls who ran the marathon! You go girls!

One other thing i learned about marathon was that you needed your food no matter how superhuman you think you really are. Thinking about this in the context of gaming, like playing warcraft, no matter how powerful a character you are, you need your marna. Some way or another you need to regenerate your Marna. At the marathon there are stations that appear quite frequently with water supplies, 100plus and even one with power gels. I drank water when i needed it and had my two packets of power gels at the 15km mark and the 30 km mark respectively. No matter how great i thought i was i still reminded myself to take care. It was so important.

I was jogging quite slowly during the last few stages of the marathon. My body was giving me all kinds of signals to stop running. The muscles in my legs started cramping again. I couldn't get into the flow of my rhythm of run. My chest started to hurt. My arms were heavy and shoulders tired. I did hit the wall. By that time i was at the 39km mark.

Thinking back now, it is so easy to say its only 3km away just run for it! But i remember how it felt at that time. It was not easy at all. The sun was shining proudly in the sky, everything was heavy and slow and almost everyone was walking by now. In addition, my jogging speed were equivalent to some people's walking speed already. A little while after the 39km mark i slowed down and walked. Firstly because my legs cramped up quite bad and i had to limp and secondly the electrolytes in my body had not been replaced as fast as i would have liked them to.

40 km mark..

41km mark..

i started to jog again. I recovered a little from my cramp and started to jog slowly again. By this time i drank as much 100plus as i could from the last drink station already..

Someone from the organizing group shouted to me and said, "only 1km left come on!" With that
the chariots of fire started. I spread my legs like a cheetah would stretch out forward when it was running. After about 5 minutes of running i saw the 1km left sign board come up -_-'. I was devastated. I thought it was only 300 metres left.. i slowed down a little. The person lied to me :'(. It really became a fight to the end. I was passing many runners but it was slowly killing my will because the finishing line was still no where in sight..

Finally from about 200 metres away i saw the finishing line. I almost just closed my eyes and reached for it..

I did it. It felt great. -_-' no one clapped. I guess you so have to come up a little earlier to get the more excited crowds. 5 hours 32minutes and 10 seconds.

I love my medal. I bring it everywhere to show it to everyone (:. I wear my finisher shirt as often as i can (:. It is a fantastic experience. This is such a big reference to my beliefs about what i can do if i only stick to it and not give up. If i only would keep at it. And in everything preparation and training is so important. I am proud of myself.

What is my next goal in running? I would like to run another marathon and i would like to run it under 4 hours. (:

A force that never gives up.

2009-11-13T04:29:00.000-08:00

I recently entered into a bit of a business venture buying and selling a product. It didn't go well. at least not for now. But as i was coming home today, i was suddenly so inspired...

As the wind blows against my face i started to think about forces. The power that anyone holds for success. The power that anyone holds for fighting till they get it. I was so inspired because i came to the understanding that even if i fail today, make losses and become less trustful of the world, it will not hold me down. What is there to stop me from picking myself up again and starting over? Moreover, i have a great life now. Great job. Great relationship with family. Great lifestyle. Fantastic time with friends. A little bit of setback won't crush me.

Then i began thinking. How much set backs can i actually take? That was the moment that became scarily clear to me.. There never be any setback too big for me. As long as i'm alive. Nothing can stop me from giving it another go. As long as i'm alive, i promise to show the world that has despised, cheated, and time and time again tried to kill my enthusiasm for success. How scary is that? Nothing can stop this force. I felt the power and intensity of this idea then and it inspired and frigthened me as well. I could in fact be the bull that charges through the thick and trecherous forest. When i hit a tree, i might step back for while, choose another route and charge again. When i gain momentum, you wouldn't want to be in my way.

How inspiring.

2009-10-14T18:19:00.001-07:00

In a team one of the most important aspects to get in place right at the start is trust. This might sound mundane but increasingly I can start to see how much of trust can make or break a team. If you don’t trust someone in a team how can you work together? How can there be leverage on people in the team when everyone is trying to do everyone’s job because people don’t think each other is good enough or trust that anyone else can get the job done? Worst if there is distrust then we start worrying about sabotage. Also in personal relationships, I now understand how important it is to trust and be trusted by the people you share your life with, your family and friends. Just some thoughts I had. I trust you’ll come back again to read : ) hehe.

2009-10-09T03:39:00.001-07:00

1) Edit Chapter 3 and 4

2) Come up with a business curriculum

3) Go Jogging for an hour

4) Make 5 flavors of chocolate

5) Pass a book to some new.

YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS RIGHT? n_n

2009-10-08T23:37:00.001-07:00

Having said what I said in the last post I want to just state that I also think that it is the individual’s responsibility to choose his or her references (things that we allow to hold up or destroy our beliefs whether internally or externally).

Here’s an update from my last post on things to get done:

1) Edit chapters 1 and 2 for my book

2) Find a tailor to fix my pants! (two of my pants spoiled)

3) Go jogging for at least an hour (tummy is coming out)

4) Come up with what to teach for Bernard (my own business)

5) 5 Recipes of chocolate!

Here’s what has been done (finally):

1) Chapters 1 and 2 is edited

2) Both pants are fixed

3) I haven’t went jogging yet :s

4) I haven’t met up with Bernard to discuss and teach him some stuff

5) I did start making chocolate but it was not successful :s yet.

n_n

2009-10-06T01:01:00.001-07:00

One morning that I was utterly disturbed by a TV show. This show basically brings doctors and specialists together to discuss about some medical issues. The part that really shocked me was when they brought in a 12 year old kid (I think... don’t quite remember the details). This kid was a little overweight, not really in the obese category. The reason that he was put on the show was because of his habit of playing computer games for hours and hours and not wanting to move around. And of course when you start to have that kind of lifestyle its bad because you end up with not having much exercise and you become very lazy and it’s like a downward spiral. So they were talking about all the bad things of why he should get up more and maybe go out for a bit of exercise.

Pardon me for my comments but this is just a personal opinion.. I think his situation was not that serious to be put on national television. Now his mother was also on the show as well and at the start, they played a video, sort of like a video in reality TVs where they have a short talk about people. And the mother gave this really worried and sad face and talked about the problems as if she was going to die soon. She was a scrawny sad bespectacled woman probably in her late 40s who thinks the world is going to fall apart. I mean how can you think that of a 12 year old!

The point is she doesn’t know the kind of beliefs she is passing to that young kid. If I were that little kid I don’t know how I’d feel when I grow up! Don’t get me wrong, I think all that advice about exercise and getting up and out was great but can’t you see how you are plastering a tape on the young kid’s head! He is 12 for pete’s sake.

I think many parents do not know the very fundamental issue here. How you perceive someone will eventually shape that person especially if that person is not having many other people around him to build his beliefs. If you think your child is in trouble tell him he is in trouble and then to fix the problem; not him. For that to happen, you cannot hold a perception that he is that way. Studies have now shown that even if you talk to water, it responds metaphysically. Can you imagine how you are shaping your child if you already think he cannot?

Here’s what I would have done if I was his parent. (Again this is personal opinion) no right or wrong only outcome. If there was a requirement to scold him, I would. If there was a requirement for a really great argument to be thought out, I would. Then I’ll make sure I’ll bring him out to exercise with me. I spend time showing him how. I believe that he in fact can. I would take full responsibility on the shaping of his beliefs his ideas and his motivations. I would know when to give him a break if he needs one.

Here’s what I will not do. I will not agree to put him on a show and get someone else to fix him in front of millions of people. Only because it will firstly (if it works that is) it will show him that if anything is wrong, don’t worry, don’t tell your parents just work it out with the real experts, your parents don’t know anything anyways. Secondly, I will not show how I’m willing to put him on the show to let someone else change him. If need be I’ll put myself on the show, if I was that incapable and then learn the skills required to built a healthy lifestyle and a great relationship with my son. Can’t you see that the mother took an easy way out? “Oh I’ve tried everything nothing seems to help.” What utter rubbish. You simply gave up on your child, just admit it.

Like seriously, I was so much fatter than the kid when I was in primary 6. GIVE HIM A BREAK. So disturbed about the parents nowadays... Imagine the kind of references people are giving to their children? Where did the “don’t worry son don’t worry daughter, mummy is here daddy is here” philosophy go to? Have we gotten too comfortable? Have we become so weak? And we wonder why there are so many troubled people around. There are less and less role model parents who are willing to pick themselves up and keep fighting.

I’d like to conclude this really soon before my emotions get out of hand. But just remember that as parents you need to view your child first as they are. If they are in a mess, tell them they messed up. Then don’t leave them in the mess. Help them out of the mess. Then you view them as more than they ever can be. You’ll find that in fact they will be bigger than your belief of who they will become, because you first believed in them. Get them to see themselves more than they can ever be and before your eyes you’ll see what magic really is- that they’ll become all of that and more…

2009-09-29T21:08:00.001-07:00

Things to get done by this week:

1) Edit chapters 1 and 2 for my book

2) Find a tailor to fix my pants! (two of my pants spoiled)

3) Go jogging for at least an hour (tummy is coming out)

4) Come up with what to teach for Bernard (my own business)

5) 5 Recipes of chocolate!

Get all the resources together and start getting something done! No more playing Dota and listlessly surfing the internet! n_n

PRAY FOR ME PLEASE :)

2009-09-28T00:37:00.000-07:00

Here’s some things to remind Steve when he does his presentations for programs and just public speaking in general..

It is important when presenting or speaking to a large group to not walk around too much. Because instead of paying attention to what I’m saying, the crowd might be more distracted on which part of the room I’m at. Standing confidently in one position might be better than looking flustered and walking around too much. Even though it is not a bad thing to walk around, sometimes it is good to stay in one position for every one idea I share. Another way of doing this is changing the position that I’m standing on only when I move on to talk about the next topic or a different idea. The difference in content sometimes can be enhanced by standing on a different area in the room. And when I want to come back to that particular idea, I could stand back into the position where I first shared the idea.

Having more ways of getting the listener’s attention especially after an activity whereby they talk is paramount for a successful and time oriented presentation. To get the participants of the talk or presentation to stop whatever they are doing, look up and listen in a short period of time is an art and a skill that is really useful especially when working with teenagers and primary school students. Playing with the volume of my voice works extremely well only if I can get the attention of a few of them really quickly who “spread” the “look”. Clapping is another way of getting attention. There are two ways in which you could do this. One is to set a unique set of beats that the participants or listeners can “complete” on. So whenever you clap that beat they’ll “complete the claps” with a unique ending. The other way is to just give instructions that when you clap, they are suppose to follow the beat which you clap by. And whenever they clap and follow they’ll have to look up and listen really carefully.

One of the more effective ways to get attention is just standing still and waiting for attention. This again uses the theory that someone from amongst the group would eventually pay attention and get everybody else to pay attention. This is effective because if you do it right the first time, it send a message that you mean business and you are not going to start until everyone gives you the attention you deserve. There are many other “tools of engagement” for me to discover yet. So please do let me know when you have any new ideas to get attention!

Lastly, the thing about presenting is, and I’m beating myself to say this: it’s ok to screw up. But it is important not to panic when you stand up and your mind sits back down. Its alright to refer to notes. Just don’t get all alarmed and frightened. Yup. Steve needs to get back to work. Share more next time! :)

2009-09-25T02:53:00.000-07:00

Steve is having an awesome time on his career. Everyday he wakes up excited to go for programs. And most of this week he was at a school presenting parts of programs. He is learning new things everyday and getting better at public speaking, organizing games and being confident in front of a huge crowd of people. The feeling is incredible. It was about 5 years ago when he first envisioned himself speaking in a school.. It is remarkable.

“You can do the most remarkable things no matter what. Humans can do the most remarkable things no matter what.”

Sharing with people the ideas that so dramatically changed my life is such a exhilarating experience. Finally found a channel to spread this love of personal development. The more you give of something, the more of it you will get.

The feeling is so fantastic that as he is typing this out now, he is smiling to himself. Its now lunch break on the last day at that school. He is sweating all over because the hall only has fans which does not quite work because it has been really hot lately. Nevertheless he is living the dream. Part of it. ;)

Thinking to himself, he got a few other obligations and things to do this week. He needs to come up with 5 different recipes for chocolate so that he could really start his chocolate business! And edit a little more of his book so that he could get it published soon! This is so thrilling. Steve is now grinning from ear to ear. In fact, he noticed across the hall now this student laughing at him from a distance.

Oh! It’s lunch! Steve is hungry now! YOU have a great day! Loves.

2009-09-18T03:10:00.000-07:00

Sometimes in life certain things come together just at the right time, certain doors open at the right moments and certain opportunities pop up to save you. And one of the things that saved me from plummeting from 15000 feet (mentally) down to the ground was this new career that I’ve taken up. The past month I’ve been enjoying myself on going out with friends, playing computer games, surfing the net and just having fun. I had it all… except purpose. I spoke about many goals and dreams that I wanted to fulfill; but had not done much towards them. I had looked for jobs whenever I can; only to either be rejected by them, or they turned out to be something that I didn’t want (or my family disagreed on). It became a time where I “spent” my life. I didn’t quite like it. Stephan needed some sort of goal and some sort of working towards that goal. For me that became a very strong and disgusting feeling. It took me quite some time to realize why I felt that way.

For a long time, like the story I told in the last post, I have been leaving things on different levels of my life.. I’ve forgotten about how great it felt to be able to do public speaking confidently and create value in someone else’s life through my favorite pedagogy- presentation with passion and style. I forgot somehow that my greatest love was for chocolate and business. I let ideas and opinions and “logical” thought come between me and my goals. On a subconscious level I started hating myself for allowing situations, things and people to shape my world. I forgot the one phrase that so inspired me to come out of my comfort zone.

“Don’t let anyone else create your world for you.. for when they do, they always make it too small.”

Somehow in all this mess I did do some thinking. Taking a look again at how my life is and what I want it to be, I decided to give my speaking dream a try again. I called a few people and looked at my options. Now I’ve got a presenting job.  I’m living the life again. Not the carefree play all day kind of life, but the purposeful life. Everyday I’m learning new things, increasing the knowledge of personal development, expanding my thoughts and extending my possibilities. It is eccentrically sensational to be living like that. Can you imagine the feeling of being able to ameliorate details of your life everyday? If you learn 20 new things a day it’ll be 7000 things you would have learnt in a year. I believe from the fibers of every cell in my body, from the ladder steps in my DNA that if I continue everyday like that I will be totally different 2 years from now. I wouldn’t be able to recognize the man in the mirror smiling back.

All the accomplishments. All the compassion. All the love. It will be spectacular.

I'd like to share a story!

2009-08-28T20:17:00.000-07:00

Here's a story i heard at a seminar this week that i think was really inspiring or rather a wake up call for me. The story goes like this..

Once there were two employees of this huge corporation. This huge corporation is located at the 80th floor of a really tall building. And one day these two empolyees was going to work. So they were in their nice suits and ties and carried their briefcase. When they reached the building, they found that the elevator was spoiled and under repair so one of them asked the other: "So what should we do now?" The second replied: "I don't know why don't you decide?" And so person A decided that they were going to walk up the stairs. Remember this is an 80 storey building that they are walking up!

And so with their briefcase in hand, they started their climb up the 80 storey building. First 5 levels were relatively easy to climb so they went past it pretty fast. But after a while fatigue set in and they were getting hotter and a bit agitated. So they climbed..

6..
7..
8..
9..
10..
11..
12..
13..
14..
15..
16..
17..
18..
19..
20..

By this time they were really really starting to feel tired and strained but they carried on diligently..

21..
22..
23..

At the 23rd storey, they decided to lessen their load if not they'll never be able to finish climbing. So both of them agreed to leave their briefcases on the 23rd floor and come back to take them when the lift was repaired. The more important thing now was to get to the office. :).

So they carried on their climb to the 80th storey..

24..
25..
26..
27..
28..
29..
39..
31..
32..
33..
34..
35..
36..
37..
38..
39..
40..

Person A: What sia damn tired sia! You lar if you didn't decide to climb the stairs we could now be at coffeebean enjoying breakfast until the lift was fixed!

Person B: I asked you how what! But you asked me to decide so i proposed to climb and you didn't object to it what!

Person A: Aiya now we are already halfway up. Not here or there. Let's continue climbing. No point thinking about breakfast or what we could have done!

Isn't it interesting how in life we sometimes find ourselves not here or there and walking back isn't an option but climbing up might be the toughest thing to do? So these two men decided to continue to climb up the stairs..

41..
42..
43..
44..
45..
46..
47..
48..
49..
50..

Damn tired..

51..
52..
53..
54..
55..
56..
57..
58..
59..
60..

feel like talking off my shirt, so hot..

61..
62..
63..
64..
65..
66..
67..
68..
69..
70..

My legs are going to cramp soon

71..
72..
73..
74..
75..

water..

76..
77..
78..
79..

air con is just one floor away..

80!

When both reached the 80th storey, both almost collapsed on the floor but still took a few more steps towards the office door. Panting and wiping their sweat, the looked at each other motioning the other to open the door..

Person A: Aye open the door leh..
Person B: You open the door la..
Person A: Aiya ok la..

Then person a felt his pockets for the keys.. it was not there..

Person A: Aye i don't have the keys.. you have?
Person B: You passed it to me and i kept it in the briefcase so we'll never loose it!

Many of us start out with a lot of big goals and dreams only to end up blaming one another for not having done something different or getting a better result. Many of us because of the burdens of life decide to leave some of our goals and dreams on the 23rd floor because it'll make life a little bit easier. Some of us will reach the pinnacle of something and find that we don't have the keys to open the door..

n_n what about you?

Sorry about the ramblings..

2009-08-23T18:54:00.000-07:00

Hello and i mean hello lol. I just felt like typing something out today so here it is hahas. Actually this is like a real update on how life is like which parts of it is rocking and which parts of it is really getting on my nerves. You know, all this was brought very gradually to my attention when i went to visit one of my friend's blog. Yar this friend of mine has so so so many posts and so much to talk about in life that i really missed out on..

You know what, each of us chose our paths. Some paths lead away and some lead towards but i can't help but feel that most of the paths that i chose has been going away from all the great people i met. I had some really happy moments and thought about some really great plans but now i'm like with so much goals and plans but little execution. Darn lol suddenly quite emo. I can't help but feel helpless all of a sudden you know. I'm the kind of person with this much of ambition and this much of plans and this much to do but looking back in the last five years, i need to do more! It's like going back to ground zero for me all of a sudden. I don't want to blame the army for this or any other person. And i want to take charge. I want to stand up and do something again. Here's what is bothering me:

1) The book Create Your World which was supposed to be a bestseller and inspire others is still in my computer in its finishing stages but i do not know what the next step is. I've tried publishers and it seems they require a lot of credits and like they need the author to be like already famous or something the like. Every time this comes to mind i become damn low. Because i've been talking about it all this while.. People ask me how my book is coming along.. haiya i what haven't i done! darn it. If i self publish i would require capital usually ranging from 15 to 20 k. If i want to publish the book, it'll take someone who doesn't know me to be impressed with me at the publishing company which i now know how hard it is to get. I need to re-edit my book and typeset it. I need to find dale for help!

2) I need to start seriously working on my network marketing business and really show the earning potential of Multi level marketing soon. I'll need to be earning linearly $40,000 per month from now on (if it deosn't grow but of course it will) to become a millionaire by 2013. This one has been on my mind every other hour. Because if this really succeeds, everything will fall in place. You see if i have 40k coming in as passive income every month i don't have to worry about capital for my publishing and so i can self publish. And if i have 40k coming in every month i could start thinking about investing in my chocolate factory business. :) This is a big one. The fact is, this is an awesome business (even my parents are in it) i just need to know who i can speak to and what to say and when to say it.

3) I want a job! This part of the worries has been tiring me out. I've been going for interviews after interviews and either i really didn't like the job or my parents didn't like the working hours. It will also help me with my bread and butter when i'm working part-time on my business! I'd like to work full-time on a job and part-time on my fortune! hahas. It'll be great! I'll work harder than anybody if i find a job that fits me and my parents are not against it... I have a couple of offers actually. I need a job that doesn't require much commitment and allows me to do other stuff at night and on the weekends..

Yar the exciting stuff of course includes the coming EMPOWER U PROGRAMS and the fact that i'm really free from the army la! hahas. Actually its more worry than excitement.. I need to raise money for my trip to Sydney for the 5-day Empower U also -_-' argh!

The cutest video ever

2009-08-16T18:11:00.000-07:00

Hey people! You have got to watch this! :) It's the cutest video i've ever seen in years! This little girl is dancing to Michael Jackson's thriller. (You should watch the real MV first so you'll understand)

She's Adorable right! >.< n_n @_@

Malaysia Trip

2009-07-31T08:52:00.000-07:00

The Malaysia trip was more that awesome more that fantastic more than anything my words now could explain :). The business seminar at Genting had me on my toes listening and watching intently. There was so much to learn and see; i was so astounded by the speakers and the awardees. One day i'm going to be on that stage and be that person giving the advise on how to built a large and profitable organization. One day i'll be the one who is going to recieve the awards, getting the flowers and the hugs n_n.

Other than that i enjoyed my time with my mother walking around shopping and watching Hairy potty lol. It was great. That's the kind of lifestyle i want, traveling for business but having a holiday at the same time. Isn't that great? One of the speakers asked how much you want to earn per month.. i wanted to scream a million U.S. dollars every month! I believe its possible!!

Anyways before i spent the weekend on Genting, i spent two days in Kuala Lumpor with my friends from malaysia! The first day i spent with a really nice girl named aurora. I met Aurora through Kai in Singapore when she came to visit. This time round, she brought me around KL:). And OMG she was so nice. She brought me to eat at old town white coffee place (which i don't think Singapore has because i've never seen one, correct me if i'm wrong) and we went shopping and ice skating before i had to check out my office in Malaysia.

The ice ckating ring was in the basement in full view of the other levels in the mall (which was really cool). During ice skating Aurora fell :s.. i was teaching her how to skate and she fell lol. She hit the ice pretty hard on the forehead and elbow. I'm sorry but i was near but not near enough to hold her and stop her fall (i was teaching her how to ice skate not helping her ice skate what! a couple of falls is unstoppable) Anyways after she fell, she had like a fear of skating already. i put plasters on her wounds and skated for a while more before we headed out of the skating ring. And oh oh oh its very cheap to skate in KL! It's like $13 and unlimited skating! Next time i'm in KL i'm going to skate for an entire day! Hahas.

After Ice skating we sort of had to part for a while because i had to attend a talk in KL and she wants to go home to finish some assignments. At this point in time i was thinking about whether to stay in her house or to find some random budget hotel to stay in. She said it was ok to come to her place so i decided to go.. (usually i try not to trouble people de la but that day she so nice so i accepted lo lol). We msged about where to eat dinner and stuff but i asked her to cook for me :). And she did..

My talk ended super late at like 11pm and i was afraid i couldn't catch the last LRT. so i had to rush to the station and figure out how to get to her nearest station. In the end i got on the last train but missed the last bus -_-'. I rode a taxi in the wrong direction because the address she gave me over msn was wrong! @_@ luckily she called and gave the taxi uncle instructions on how to get there. She waited for me at the gate leh so sweet right! Then we went to her apartment.

I realized i kana cheated lol.. she said she shared her place with one room mate. When i entered the house i saw like 3 girls on the table studying -_-'. I became super shy and not knowing what to do. What she meant when she said she shared her place with one room mate was one room mate in her room! lol.. then she also never introduce me to them the whole time. Then its like very awkward cos i know that they are talking about me in some weird language and i didn't dare to say hi lol. (i think i was too handsome).

Anyways after i entered she made me feel like her son lo lol.. she pushed me to go shower while she went to cook dinner. It was very nice of her because she was supposed to be sleeping already and she waited for me till 1230am and asked me to shower while she cooked. And then while i was showering she shouted to ask me whether i eat garlic lol.. at that time i feel so xing fu (if you get what i mean).

When i came out of the shower, i watched her cook from behind. She fried some garlic and was boiling some beehoon and had added fishballs, crab meat, pieces of hot dogs, cabbage and some other stuff i don't really remember :). It smelled very nice. She told me she cooked three servings so we could share and she poured out everything into this huge bowl and we ate from it.. n_n i joked with her that if we were not eating on the table where her friends were studying she would be feeding me already. It feels warm warm de. Got the Family feeling. hahas. Anyways we finished the whole bowl with her pushing most of the hot dog and fishballs to my side of the bowl. And i did the washing :). See, i do my part! She went to prepare the bed, putting a pillow and a blanket and bedsheets over the mattress. :p She complained that i wash very slowly -_-'' BUT I WASH CLEAN.

I couldn't sleep. Firstly because i had such a great day and was looking forward to the next day but secondly because i was very careful about not moving while sleeping. NO I WASN'T SHARING THE BED WITH HER. I was sleeping on the top of the double decker bed and her friend was sleeping below me. And the bed was kind of flimsy so when i turn the whole bed moves. So whenever i want to move, i do it in slow motion. (When i sleep i turn alot to find a comfortable position). Yar i didn't sleep much. But it was ok. She was so nice to let me stay with her so i shouldn't complain. The next day she became my mother for another half an hour giving me instructions on how to travel in the many different train lines KL has and how to get to where. She was so meticulous that she every wrote it down on my foolscap paper. (fool's thinking cap geti it) Yar everything, neatly written down in english with malay names. :)

The next day i went to walk around with another friend, a penpal before i took a bus to Genting:). That friend was nice but not as nice as Aurora. I know after reading this some people will get jealous hehehehe. Don't worry Steve loves you! :) Hahas. Yups its getting really late i better end this post.

Till next time Remember! Steve rocks!

At the Airport

2009-07-22T15:28:00.000-07:00

Hey people! Believe it or not, right now i'm at the airport waiting to board my plane to Malaysia :) isn't that awesome! I've been planning this trip for the past week and now it is going to be accomplished! This is going to be great. ;).

I'll be staying two days in KL probably staying over at my friend's place and then taking a us ride up to Genting to meet my mom for another business seminar. Traveling gives me a great sensation!!! I can't wait to board the plane. The first reason i'm going there however is to built up my business in Malaysia so lets hope that i get to meet alot of great and friendly people who are open to business!!

A couple of thoughts to pen down:

- My Mom is like the greatest Mom in the world because she woke up early in the morning to cook me maggi mee! Thank God for her (I'm not hungry!). :) She woke me up twice because i couldn't wake me up the first time whahahaha...

- My Dad is like the greatest Dad in the world because he willingly woke up in the morning at 0530am to send me to the airport! (even though i asked him not to) And he gave me alot of advise about what to do when overseas!

Thank you Mommy and Pappy lol i mean Papa :).

Alrights that's a pretty short update but i'd like to walk around in the airport for a bit (you don't get to do much of that during departure) since it's still and hour away from taking off.

Ciao everyone! Pray for me! Loves.

Beatbox

2009-07-13T21:56:00.000-07:00

Getting over him.

2009-07-10T02:21:00.000-07:00

The Good Old Days are here and now.

2009-06-29T01:06:00.000-07:00

I've been chatting up with a couple of people lately talking about why people feel the way they do and why people act the way they do. Simply explained these feelings we feel are often times references that had been imprinted in our minds, copied into our brains, and reflected whenever something similar is detected under our 'radar'. These are the chapters of our lives, the self-wrote how-tos and the "wu-ling mi ji" (secret strategy manuals) that has or have not worked for us. Someone said that i was not human, that i was too nice and wonderful when in fact i'm not. I'm the result of my own references, and therefore the result of the choices and actions. My own wu-ling mi ji tells me react in a certain way when something happens.. Maybe mine is very different from yours.;) We need to work towards a better wu-ling mi ji kept in our minds which would help us do the things we need to do to achieve the things we need to achieve. Many people don't understand this part. For you to become successful you need to become the successful person now; not in the future:).

I'm very human and at the same time i do my best to be nice and wonderful. :) I give myself good information everyday to be happy, excited and contented. Yes the three can coincide. I remember reading from somewhere that: so many people are sad or angry or unhappy not because of the situation that they are currently facing but because of what frames they constantly live in or the time frames that they want to live in. Ah ha! The past, the present, and the future.

Being happy strategy no. 1 :)) live in the present and look forward to a happy future. I've recently come across a crazy old man. And when i say crazy i mean crazy. When i first met him, he was wearing an untidy shirt with messy folded up sleeves, glasses that are as thick as magnifying glass, untidy hair, pants worn higher than his belly button.

He does the opposite of living in the present and looking forward to a happy future. He lives in the past and looks forward to a sad hard future. I know because he first starts chatting me up and asking me about where i come from, how old i am and what i'm planning to do. And then he starts telling me how bad the economy is going to be in the future and how everything will crash and people will go jobless and light bulbs will explode and everything bad. (You know what don't get me wrong i was really listening to what he was saying - you can learn alot just by listening to someone, not what he says literally but who he is and who is going to become while he keeps saying it). That's the future part. He next starts telling me about the past, all the historical data about companies, how hard he worked last time, and how i should get another degree. (he just suddenly started talking to my dad and asking him to do a favor of paying for my second degree -_-''') How in his time things were different, better, sincere. I met him at a business meeting. He scolded my mom for trying to teach someone else what to do (when she was literally the leader there lol) Yar he is the Bu Shu Zhi Ke. Not really invited but talking about alot of things he thought he knew better. He went on to spout a whole lot of nonsense that no one really needed to hear at the meeting. (we just laughed)

I learnt alot from my encounter with him. 1) Choose your teachers wisely you don't know who is throwing toxic ideas at you. 2) You'll definitely meet crazy people in your lifetime, just know how to shut them out (my dad taught me this, he said to ignore him lol) 3) He was good example of someone with a lot of knowledge but no results.

Well critical me needs to take a back seat for while:). But just to share an excellent way of becoming positive or maybe happy person is to ensure that everyday you do at least one thing that helps you a step closer to your goals or your dream. Do something today about your finances that would make a difference tomorrow (e.g. saving one more dollar than you would usually. Read up about your dream profession or learn something about what you want to do in the future through the internet or find a book in the library that does that:). If you can't find something that you can do today, create an exciting goal that would be able to allow you to do that. :))

This allows you to do two things 1) Look forward to a positive and exciting future with the results that you are going to attain and 2) Let's you live in the here and the now. Remember that the good old days does not exist in the past, the good old days are here and now:p Get excited!

About my day

2009-06-26T00:58:00.000-07:00

Oh man every post now is about my day, how i spent my time and how everything in life is. I should include stuff like what i learnt like i used to.. but not today! whahahahaha! :)).

I mean not today for writing about yesterday. (If you get what i mean). Yar yesterday i woke up early asking wei kai how he was going to spend his day. He said something about his mom being sick and he having to go work at her shop so he did. Hahas i intended to meet him up but a series of events the night before yesterday had taken me to be with someone else the whole day. However! i did meet kai. We had bubble tea and then two egg pratas and two egg kosongs lol.. Then he wanted to go cheers?!?! to buy me Ben & Jerry's ice cream!!! :))Turtle soup flavor. (right now its still in my fridge cos i didn't have the time to go eat it after i went home last night which was quite late) Yar I AM VERY TOUCHED. SURPRISED AND TOUCHED.:)) Thanks WEI KAI! And that's one more tub to my B&J TUB COLLECTIONS! whahahaha. When i get enough of them i'll post a picture of me and all of the tubs on this blog! Whoohooo can't wait.

To explain who i spend the day with yesterday, we need to talk about the sms reply i received the night before yesterday from someone who i sent a message the Saturday the week before the day i recieved the sms. Get it? lol.. Anyways, this day happened because i'm looking for someone who is able to help me with some thing. I spent quite al lot of time looking for someone to do it for me cos i can't do it myself lol.. (its not that la). Oh yar special thanks to all the people i asked to help me find someone who could help me out with this job. So i actually wanted to ask Melissa, a FUNNY LITTLE GIRL, to help me out with this task and she fell sick on the saturday i messaged her so she conveniently only replied my message on wednesday! Yar and so i asked if she would help me on thursday and she could so we met up yesterday and she helped me!

To tell you the truth, after waiting so long for something to be done about this little goal i have, i'm glad that i actually did something about it yesterday. (I was telling wei kai that). And yar i got her to do the task for me while i went to the course on how to trade stocks online. After the course which was like one and a half hours i met up with her again. lol. She looked tired and lost. whahahas. Yar i treated her to lunch and that's when the funny period started. We started chatting about the most random things ever! It was also funny because we could have been agreeing with each other when we were talking about completely different things! I give you an example:

Steve: I want to learn the thing *two fists in the front parallel to each other*
Melissa: Yar yar i also want to learn. Its very fun de..
Steve: Yar what's that called?
Melissa: Don't know.. but i know what you're saying. *Follows the two fists action*
Steve: Yar i love to fly.
Melissa: Yar i don't what's it called. Some boarding thing.
Steve: Wake boarding? No that's not it.
Melissa: Yar that's it *still playing with the fist action* that time natalie got go with brent to do one..
Steve: *confused look* no its not called wake boarding.. wait i think we are talking about two very different things.. i was talking about *thinks hard* PARA GLIDING.
*PAUSE*
*Both laugh*

Give you another example:
We went to walk around and decided to go inside an air conditioned shopping centre and we landed up in Burgerking. I was sitting facing the burgerking counter with all the food pictures and menu etc. We bought drinks but we just had lunch not long ago so we didn't get anything to eat.

Steve: I can't sit here looking at the food!! (psychological hunger)
Melissa: Then go buy lar!
Steve: The Sundae Pie is damn good. I love the pie you want to try?
Melissa: Sunday pie? But its not even sunday?
*PAUSE*
Steve: *confused look* wait Sunday pie? no no its the sundae, ice cream sundae! (slaps hand on face)
*laughs*

Yar i had a great time chatting about alot of stuffs and just hanging out with a random assist. Well she is not really that random la but you know i'd never have known we would be able to talk so much in one day. Like never imagined. yar then we headed back to work in the evening and went home. That's when i met wei kai and had bubble tea:))

Yar maybe in the near future i'll talk about the great yesterday which happened because of the year before the week i emailed someone who replied me the night before the day i met that person. :)) hehex.. Ciao.

Updates

2009-06-25T06:57:00.000-07:00

I have been enjoying life. Hahas the past few days has been awesome. I’ve been reading this a amazing book entitled Multiple streams of income, and it has given me so much insight to what money really is and what it could do for me! I really hope I’ll apply everything continuously apply the things that I’ve learnt inside. Oh oh oh! Tonight I’m going for a course at raffles place! It’s some trading course about CFDs. When I learn what CFDs are I’ll talk about it here lol. Really excited.

7pm tonight. Will be in raffles place getting more knowledge about the stock market and moving that much closer to becoming a millionaire. Whoot! Guess what? I went jogging with my brother and sister! It was.. at a pace my brother could put in a lot of effort. J Very very proud of him. We jogged all the way to east coast till the seafoodcourt and back home! What a mean feat for my sec 1 brother:p As for me and my sister its almost like an everyday thing whahaha. Love them to bits..

Oh yar YOU have to catch the movie Dejavu! You’ve just got to go and see it. It’s now to me the greatest “investigation” genre movie I’ve ever watched.. I don’t watch a lot of these type of movies though. Nevertheless go and catch it! I can’t give you any details about this because you just have to watch it yourself and be surprised. If you can’t rent the DVD or VCD (do vcds still exist?) you should try to find it online! Watch it or wonder how much more interesting two hours of your life could have been if you just spend two hours watching the movie!!!

I Randomly watched this other movie titled Igor which I think is ok. :)

Oh yar proclamation! I won someone in DOTA lol… Don’t want to say who later he challenge me again:p whahahahaha..

Reviewing my book “Create Your World” as well..

There you have it updates on my life!

*silence*

Lol.. I think I’m telling all this to myself. But its ok! Lol..

The past two weeks..

2009-06-12T03:45:00.000-07:00

After a long long long time.. i finally went back to assist at Empower U again. If there was one word that could describe this experience, it would be: REVIVAL. I am totally blown away at how i still can CHOOSE to have so much energy to dance, laugh and cheer. I remembered how much fun it was to be an assist (and a good one too:)). Will always remember what Brent has carefully nurtured in me, the urge to do anything and everything for the success of a program and have so much learning and experience at the same time.

"Do More Than Is Asked Of You",

was all that he needed to put into perspective in this little boy's mind and poof! he became more than he thought he could be. I just want to state if it is not obvious as of yet that i LOVE the assist team. We, a group of young and crazily fun people had come time and time again for one purpose to ensure that others that go through the program got as much out of the program as we did. Many a times we were forced to be bigger than ourselves and to make certain decisions that were very adult like and mature. Some of us break down under circumstances not because we are weak but because we are, that strong. There is that spiritual power that pick us up again and again that cannot just die away. The seeds of greatness sown into us by our teachers Brent Williams and Dale Beaumont, never fails to ignite whenever there its time to come out again and make a difference.

"These are the best days, these are the best days, these are the best days, these are the best days of our lives."

I remember after the program when i was outside, i started feeling this very emotional feeling of wanting to see everyone again, wanting to feel that energy, wanting to be back with my second family. I remember times after programs that i wished everyone could just stay together and run programs all the time. Silly as it might sound, i still do sometimes wish for that. Then the weirdest revelation came to my mind.. I began to feel like the most fortunate person in this entire world.. I began to understand that no one would be able to understand our passion for each other and for the people who come to the program. I began to feel so special because no one else outside of the team would have understood this longing to be back together and doing something for others. I felt so lucky to be a person to have this family to miss (and i hope they do miss me too :))). I feel loved.

As a smile grew on my face i noticed before me the seashore that i had been standing on, contemplating about this. I looked down to my feet where there was a lining of seaweed and other little objects washed to shore by the waves. There were many little seashells that night. Slowly one by one i picked the seashells up at marveled at the sight on my palm. They were the most beautiful seashells that i have ever seen. They reminded me of each and everyone in the team, i looked down again to find that beside many of these seashells there were many other broken pieces of shells that did not make it whole after waves and waves water crashed onto them. I remember that many in the team now is still existent because they have worn out the waves. Yes they have worn out the waves, while others were worn out and broken by the waves.

Remember the seashell for they were the ones who lasted long enough so others would see their beauty, experience their passion and get inspired by their existence.

It makes a difference

2009-05-08T06:46:00.000-07:00

Don't know how many of you read my previous posts but there's this post about exercising every day.. I didn't do much this week. Because of work obligations i didn't get to run or do any weights from monday to wednesday. Not only that i actually had a couple of fast food meals (junk food meals actually). The result? A tummy in less than 4 days of not exercising (including sunday).

BUT! i ran for an hour non stop on Thursday night and it hurt big time. I started getting stitches in my stomach and aches in my calves and thighs. The only way to recover from those pains i thought was to just run until they disappear. AND THEY DID. After the run from 9pm to 10plus i went to play badminton lol..

The point is. Exercise does make a difference. The tummy subsided a little already. Feeling some fatigue right now so i'm going back to slumber. :)

Good night everyone.

Interest at a bank = Passive income, Passive income = interest at a bank

2009-04-28T06:11:00.000-07:00

You know sometimes when you come across this very great idea and you just need to talk about it? Yups this really great idea for me is passive income. Just think about this for a moment..

What would it take for me to earn $5,000 in one month, every month?

In a bank at 1 % interest rate (which is about the kind of interest rate they have in Singapore savings account right now) that would be equivalent to...

$5,000 = 1%
100% = $500,000
$500,000 x 12 months = $6,000,000

Six million dollars! So you'll need to have $6,000,000 in a bank to safely receive five thousand dollars per month. So if i earn five thousand dollars per month passively that would mean i'm equivalently having $12,000,000 in the bank!

If passive income is that great (passive incomes means getting paid long after the task is done). Why is everyone going for a salary? Why is everyone going to find a job when true wealth comes from passive income? hmmmss.. :)

Let me inspire you a little more. You see once you built a business, it doesn't and of course wouldn't go to $5,000 over night. But... here's the thing..

If you have $1000 coming in passively, it would mean you have $1,200,000 in the bank.

If you have $200 coming in passively, it would mean you have $240,000 in the bank.

If you have $20 coming in passively? it would still mean you have $24,000 in the bank!!!

hmmms.. i don't mind $20 coming in every month! :p

Cos for me it would mean...
Free Ben & Jerry's Icecream!

FFAB

2009-04-28T05:26:00.000-07:00

Randy: Come on Steve FABB!
ME: What?
Randy: For A Better Body!

We were working out when he told me this. Now i want to be a himbo lol.. I exercise almost everyday; run, gym and swim. Should look really good by the end of May @_@. Yes for a better body! It feels great actually. Working out everyday. Hahas no more fat me.

I need to run a 2.4km under 9:44mins and IT IS POSSIBLE! Every four hundred meters 1:30mins will do the job.

Would first like to thank my parents and my friends for all the support and encouragement. Wouldn't have done it without you guys:).

Hahas. *high*

Today we celebrate free cone day without the free cones..

2009-04-21T07:23:00.000-07:00

Guess what today TODAY is free cone day! It was a perfect day to try out all the flavors i didn't yet tried but.. i know that today i was at the right place doing something for the country lol. Anyways forget about the free cones!!! Who needs free stuff when i will be able to afford pints of ben and jerrys? whahahaha..

Sorry for the randomness. I believe you came here today because we are kindred spirits looking for each other so do come again! lol...

God's Beloved

2009-04-12T04:39:00.000-07:00

Today like every other day has been a very blessed day for me. And before i forget to talk about it i think i should just blog. I think that among the thousands of good things that happens to me i've only shared a few so point to remember: share all the good things in life.

Other than the most recent: buyer willing to pay me more for being late in a transaction for my phone, today i was going to exchange a free pizza from pizza hut. This is like my second time exchanging the free pizza but this time i was like a little late after i ordered the pizza. But the wonderful thing was that even though someone else took the pizza, the manager asked me if i would like to wait a while while the next pizza is cooked and he offered me pepsi. A COMPLEMENTARY drink!

I know i know you may think that i'm going a little crazy about this but don't you see?! Its favor. lol. God Loves me. period. n_n

Edited Hundred List

2009-04-10T01:55:00.001-07:00

My list of things to get done.

My list of things to get done.

1) Publish "Create Your World"
2) Learn how to cook mushroom soup, spaghetti and bake cookies
3) Learn Japanese
4) Go to the Empower U 5-day camp in 2010
5) Make $40,000 passive income
6) Get braces (have great teeth)
7) Get a pair of Nike air
8) Get a full suit
9) Get Gold for the Individual Physical Proficiency test
10) Ice Cream day every year
11) Get much more buff and lean (how might i measure that?)
12) Make my own chocolate
13) Get really great Christmas presents for my family
14) Run a Marathon
15) Learn how to play the full flight of the bumble bee on the piano
16) Win a Singing competition
17) Complete a dance class
19) Get full score for bowling (300!!!)
20) Get my very own hockey skates
21) Learn French (the language of love:))
22) Backpack to Europe, New Zealand and Malaysia
23) Purchase a right hand drive Bugatti (how do i persuade them to make one for me?!)
24) Own 5 properties in Singapore
25) Get blue color contacts >.<
26) Donate $10,000 to Charity
27) Give $100,000 tithe
28) Become a trainer /coach
29) Meet my soul mate and bring her to a candle light dinner on my bugatti
30) Bungee Jump
31) Sky Dive
32) Own a commercial building
33) Own a toll road
34) Own an island
35) My very own bowling lane in my home
36) Pay for my sibling's university
37) Bring my family on a holiday to Hawaii
38) Own a private jet
39) Finish reading the entire bible
40) Go on a week long cruise
41) Record a CD with my own soundtracks
42) Do manual on the skateboard for one minute
43) Have a small profitable high end coffee shop just for the fun of it
44) Play a whole day of bowling with my brother
45) Sell T-shirts on my blog
46) Complete a triathlon
47) Get a Six pack
48) Act in a movie
49) Meet Richard Branson, Robert Kiyosaki and Bill Gates
50) Give talks
51) Sponsor a big skate park in Singapore
52) Get pictures of doing handstands in 10 countries
53) Do 20 pull ups in one shot
54) Own a chocolate factory
55) Buy my parents a really big and cosy bungalow
56) Fly a plane
57) Learn to sail
58) Visit the moon
59) Enter a dance competition
60) Give a Christmas present to a person i don't know every year
61) Work as a tour guide
62) Make pizza from scratch
63) Built a theme park
64) Sell flowers on Valentine's day
65) Own a Lamborghini
66) Book a whole cinema have a movie marathon with friends
67) Go ski in Canada
68) Own a Club membership
69) Go overseas to do community service
70) Own a dog and a cat
71) Start a company
72) Own a Macdonald's franchise outlet
73) Become great at dribbling the ball in soccer
74) Create a full dance video with scenes in different places
75) Be on channelnewsasia
76) Write articles for the local newspaper
77) Write another book after "Create Your World"
78) Get a really cool Hoody
79) Learn how to drive (this should have come up earlier -_-')
80) Sell something successfully on Ebay
81) Start a band
82) Join a dance group
83) Go for proper vocal training
84) Learn Drums
85) Learn how to play the guitar (cos i think its really sweet to play and sing)
86) Learn professional beatboxing
87) Own a mountain bike
88) Eat all dinners on Sundays with family
89) Pay for my brother's bowling trainings
90) Play basketball with brother whenever possible
91) Sit every reputable roller coaster there is in the world
92) One day for myself every week
93) Read 3 books a month every month
94) My very own library of great books
95) Learn how to play tennis
96) Learn 10 card magic tricks
97) Learn how to jump a pebble across the water 5 times
98) Learn how to play beach volleyball
99) Plant and grow roses
100) Keep on revising the 100 list :)

That's right i just successfully sold something on Ebay! :) I sold my Samsung Ultra 8.4 phone on ebay last week for $151 dollars. It was awesome because the buyer was really nice. He paid $160 for the phone instead because he said that he kind of delayed the transaction. Whoot here's the evidence!

That's the page i 1st put up for the sale of my phone stating the damages and how much it'll cost. I started the bids at $100.

This is the page where it's sold on ebay:)

And there you have it a successful bid $151.00.

Oh yar i figured that having the 100th item on my things to do as "consistently updating the list of hundred" to not really be a goal. So my hundredth thing to get done will be

100) Try all Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Flavors!

:) And in the new 80th goal in place of my selling something successfully on Ebay is

80) Get a sixpack! @_@

Hahas! So exciting! Ladies and gentlemen i present to you my edited list of hundred:

My list of things to get done.

My list of things to get done.

My list of things to get done.

1) Publish "Create Your World"
2) Learn how to cook mushroom soup, spaghetti and bake cookies
3) Learn Japanese
4) Go to the Empower U 5-day camp in 2010
5) Make $40,000 passive income
6) Get braces (have great teeth)
7) Get a pair of Nike air
8) Get a full suit
9) Get Gold for the Individual Physical Proficiency test
10) Ice Cream day every year
11) Get much more buff and lean (how might i measure that?)
12) Make my own chocolate
13) Get really great Christmas presents for my family
14) Run a Marathon
15) Learn how to play the full flight of the bumble bee on the piano
16) Win a Singing competition
17) Complete a dance class
19) Get full score for bowling (300!!!)
20) Get my very own hockey skates
21) Learn French (the language of love:))
22) Backpack to Europe, New Zealand and Malaysia
23) Purchase a right hand drive Bugatti (how do i persuade them to make one for me?!)
24) Own 5 properties in Singapore
25) Get blue color contacts >.<
26) Donate $10,000 to Charity
27) Give $100,000 tithe
28) Become a trainer /coach
29) Meet my soul mate and bring her to a candle light dinner on my bugatti
30) Bungee Jump
31) Sky Dive
32) Own a commercial building
33) Own a toll road
34) Own an island
35) My very own bowling lane in my home
36) Pay for my sibling's university
37) Bring my family on a holiday to Hawaii
38) Own a private jet
39) Finish reading the entire bible
40) Go on a week long cruise
41) Record a CD with my own soundtracks
42) Do manual on the skateboard for one minute
43) Have a small profitable high end coffee shop just for the fun of it
44) Play a whole day of bowling with my brother
45) Sell T-shirts on my blog
46) Complete a triathlon
47) Get a Six pack
48) Act in a movie
49) Meet Richard Branson, Robert Kiyosaki and Bill Gates
50) Give talks
51) Sponsor a big skate park in Singapore
52) Get pictures of doing handstands in 10 countries
53) Do 20 pull ups in one shot
54) Own a chocolate factory
55) Buy my parents a really big and cosy bungalow
56) Fly a plane
57) Learn to sail
58) Visit the moon
59) Enter a dance competition
60) Give a Christmas present to a person i don't know every year
61) Work as a tour guide
62) Make pizza from scratch
63) Built a theme park
64) Sell flowers on Valentine's day
65) Own a Lamborghini
66) Book a whole cinema have a movie marathon with friends
67) Go ski in Canada
68) Own a Club membership
69) Go overseas to do community service
70) Own a dog and a cat
71) Start a company
72) Own a Macdonald's franchise outlet
73) Become great at dribbling the ball in soccer
74) Create a full dance video with scenes in different places
75) Be on channelnewsasia
76) Write articles for the local newspaper
77) Write another book after "Create Your World"
78) Get a really cool Hoody
79) Learn how to drive (this should have come up earlier -_-')
80) Sell something successfully on Ebay
81) Start a band
82) Join a dance group
83) Go for proper vocal training
84) Learn Drums
85) Learn how to play the guitar (cos i think its really sweet to play and sing)
86) Learn professional beatboxing
87) Own a mountain bike
88) Eat all dinners on Sundays with family
89) Pay for my brother's bowling trainings
90) Play basketball with brother whenever possible
91) Sit every reputable roller coaster there is in the world
92) One day for myself every week
93) Read 3 books a month every month
94) My very own library of great books
95) Learn how to play tennis
96) Learn 10 card magic tricks
97) Learn how to jump a pebble across the water 5 times
98) Learn how to play beach volleyball
99) Plant and grow roses
100) Try all Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Flavors

Till next time take good care of your goals and dreams!

Celebrate every little thing!

2009-04-10T01:55:00.000-07:00

Movies Galore

2009-04-01T06:49:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness i've become such a movie whore this week! lol.. I've watched like three movies in 4 days! The last movie i watched which i didn't bother much to want to watch it in the 1st place was Confessions of a shopaholic. It was after a friend's incessant persuasion technics that i finally went to watch it with him. It is the usual white chick bimbotic kinda show which i enjoyed only for the 1st half of the movie lol.. very critical of me but hey this is MY comment!

I think this time of the year not many good movies are in the cinemas because i was greatly disappointed by the Legend of Chun-Li. I was looking forward to at least an ok story line but it was full of loop holes and you know question marks on top of heads. I think the whole movie would do great as a story line in a game but not a movie. Too much is left unexplained and too much of it is not logical lol not that i expect it to be though. I was looking forward to lots of characters in the game i use to love so much. But the only appearances were, balrog (if that's how its spelt), bison, Chun-Li, Gan, and the masked guy.. (what was his name again?). I want to see Ken, Ryu or maybe if they would put some effort into make up, BLANKA! lol..

I think the best of the three movies was DMC!. Detroit Metal City. The lead is acted out by the actor who acted as "L" in DeathNote. You'll get to see a completely different him. I enjoyed most parts of the movie except the too often use of vulgarities and voilent and dirty language. It's a pretty smart movie.. Oh i heard it also started off as a comic strip. Awesome stuff. WATCH IT WATCH IT!

I'm going to announce sometime in the next few weeks the 1st thing in my 100 list of things i want to do that i really did complete! How exciting! Scroll down to find that post or look for it in the side bar! Can you guess which one of the 100 i already achieved! Do tag and talk about it!

How to built self reliance

2009-03-14T05:55:00.000-07:00

Recently i have been reading a really good book by Dennis Waitley entitled Seeds of Greatness. And in a recent chapter i just finished, it spoke of how our rewards in life will depend on the quality and amount of the contribution we make. And the contributions we make will depend of the amount of self reliant attitudes we built up. Ladies and gentlemen i present to you the Seven C's of Self-Control.

1. We Control the Clock. - Even though the time will keep running no matter what we do we still control what we do with it. How much and what time we spend on work, on self development, rest and all the other things that we do (or do not do).

2. We Control our Concepts. - We have control of what we think and imagine. Like Einstein said, imagination is more important than knowledge! Knowledge is power when it becomes a part of us; our concepts.

3. We Control our Contacts. - We can control who we spend the most time with or rather choose to spend more time with; even though at times we are not in control of who we are working with, we can still chose who we we mix around more with, who impact us and who we will impact.

4. We Control our Communication. -We control the way we communicate through choice of words, tone, and body language. The book also says that when we communicate, we are prepared to deliver a message that will offer value and mutual understanding on the part of the reciever.

5. We Control our Commitments. - We control what we place as more important. And with our priorities, we focus our concepts, contacts and communication on them.

6. We control our Causes. - With our Commitments comes our greater causes. What do you support or live for? What are you most identified with by others? This gives us courage and confidence to do what we do.

7. We control our Concerns. - What concerns us most is the joy of living. So what is your most prioritised concerns? To live through this month or to excel to help others this year?

Its a great read. You probably could get it at a book store or at a library near you. Go check it out! :) (I'm not in Dennis Waitley's publicity team)

Saturday

2009-03-07T16:21:00.000-08:00

The day before when i was going home someone randomly hopped on me behind my back and said my name -_-'''. And then the next day that someone's girlfriend called out my name from nowwhere when i was looking through the menu from New York New York (yum n_n). And then refuse to leave me alone and carry on their date lol. That someone was Kai.. wonder whether i'll bum into him today..

Anyways the main reason i'm posting this is because of this watch!
Damn nice right? lol.. they made it for me!!! I don't think they have it in Singapore though.. sads.

2009-03-06T19:22:00.000-08:00

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there maybe in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly and listen to the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interest in your career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of treachery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially do not feign affection.

I got these two paragraphs from an unnamed poster. These words really resounded in the way i would like to live my life. Not to interpret it but to learn from it because each person has their own insight on lessons even if they are put in the same words..

Random food day.

2009-02-28T03:13:00.000-08:00

More pictures! Sorry about the posts on pictures. I don't want you to think i'm a cam whore but i also can't help it. I've been wanting to post these pictures. :)) My mummy gave me some peanuts to eat and i found a peanut that has four inside one! whoot! hahas evidence. Seem to be some weird mutation of the species.. hmmmss.. or maybe they started pumping hormones into peanuts as well!

I'll describe my day backwards lol BEN N JERRY'S ICE CREAM STILL ROCKS! i can't believe i actually said i didn't want it when wei kai asked. STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE! The BnJ girl spent like 5mins scooping as much icecream as she could in one scoop just for me! lol.. tsk tsk self indulgence...

Before i met wei kai, i met up with university friends and had shokudo! lol.. Salmon fried rice and seasoned jellyfish! mmmmMMMMmm!

Lunch was lonely.. i called wei kai and he said he had to work at his mom's shop and my she couldn't come cos she was shopping with her mother.. i settled to eat at one of the coffee shops alone. Green tea and cai fan.

I thought i had ordered two vegetables and one meat of some sort but don't be fooled by these brown shiney pieces. They are something like fishcake but not fishcake. Definitely not meat. Yups uncle bluff me!

I still finished everything.. Very hungry.

The reason i was so hungry because in the morning i went swimming with keith (ns friend) and i forgot to bring my keys.. when i returned home my parents already left and the rest of my siblings had gone to school and therefore i was all alone and i had to wait until my dad camee home. I fell asleep on one of the lawn chairs at the pool until i was rudely awoken by the sunlight of noon shining n my face. I felt quite cooked.

Swimming time 0900-1030
Sleeping time 1100-1300
Waiting and walking around the condo 1300-1430

Dad came home and saved the day :))

Pictures

2009-02-24T16:36:00.000-08:00

Here a some random pictures i wanted to post since i came back :))
First up Wei Kai's birthday 24 February'09 bought a cake for him. Silly boy don't want to sit on the grass..

With my powerful psychic ability i made him sit down lol.

Ivan, Wei Kai and Me outside the bubble tea shop.

I was alone walking around window shopping and i ended up at Gloria Jeans one random day:p

I was just reading alone and waiting for my drink when suddenly someone shouted my name. I looked around and found the cashier at gloria jeans staring at me. Whahaha that's why they asked for my name.. Look! look! my name is even on the reciept!

Talking about nice coffee places here's my brother enjoying his classic chocolate ice blend at Coffee bean! n_n so cute right

This was the amount of pop corn i threw away after watching Benjamin Button (which was awesome). Still feeling a little guilty lol (it was half a box of popcorn left).

God's grace. The story goes that a young man who went overseas became very very thirsty after eating his Whopper burger at Burger king but had to rush for the flight so he didn't buy any drink. Low and behold when he reached his seat on the plane there was a bottle of mineral water waiting for him. It was not suppose to be there.. Thank God anyways :))
Evidence that the other seats didn't have any bottle of water but mine had :)) Its really a miracle when you are that thirsty you know. They don't

On the bed in the hotel room. HEADSTAND! >.< Randy and a guy which i do not recognize lol. :))

Cross section of the whopper i ate before the flight back to Singapore. You'll not believe how big it is. Check out the next picture of it half eaten.

Here it is the jumbo sized whopper. half eaten lol.. It tastes damn gooooooooOOood!

When cyclops lost his visors...

When Kenny lost his hoody he got a replacement of a beanie and a micro fleece. lol

LASTLY HERE ARE THE BEAUTIFUL SIGHTS.

Hahas I love my pictures! n_n sorry about the lines on them though.. n_n till next time!
I'm Stephen and you're not!

I'm now such a fan of Train

2009-02-23T06:32:00.000-08:00

I love Train's music! Here's another song i love..

My dearies here's Meet Virginia by Train

I love it >.<

Just before Church

2009-02-21T16:23:00.001-08:00

Just before going to church i would love to talk about yesterday :).

Yesterday i was suppose to meet someone and watch a movie OR go jogging OR do some cooking OR bowling. We ended up not doing anything of the latter cos SOMEONE could not stay out too long. Hahas anyways i was not really irritated or anything just had to crack my brains to do something that never crossed my mind. As i looked at the options i decided to just walk somewhere.

SHE keep asking me where we were going.. i didn't really answer her. :) i brought her to a place i used to play as a little boy where it was shady and quiet and overall very nice. Oh yar before that i bought like two bottles of green tea (i love green tea) and once we finished the first bottle we started filling up the bottle with love seeds (for those of you who don't know what they are they are red little seeds otherwise known as saga seeds). I felt like a little kid again squatting and picking up seeds and filling it into the bottle. It was quiet fun. Yes QUIET fun lol.. something that i enjoy quietly.

When we filled about four tenth of the bottle she put pieces of leaves inside the bottle and stuck a branch into it. I hope she sends the photos to me so i can post it up the next update:)). YES I WANT THE PHOTOS! Anyways i don't know why she took out the branch and leaves and we continued filling up seeds.

Didn't fill the full bottle though.. COS SOMEONE HAD TO GO. I don't blame her la.. her mom kept calling :p Walked her back to her granny's place and went home...

I think i like this post. :))

Drops of Jupiter

2009-02-20T19:59:00.000-08:00

I love this song. Its called Drops of jupiter by Train. The Singer's Pat Monahan. He's AWESOME n_n

Now she's back in the atmosphere
With drops of Jupiter in her hair, hey, hey
She acts like summer and walks like rain
Reminds me that there is time to change, hey, hey
Since the return from her stay on the moon
She listens like spring and she talks like June, hey, hey

But tell me did you sail across the sun
Did you make it to the Milky Way to see the lights all faded
And that heaven is overrated

But tell me, did you fall from a shooting star
One without a permanent scar
And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there

Now that she's back from that soul vacation
Tracing her way through the constellation, hey, hey
She checks out Mozart while she does tae-bo
Reminds me that there is room to grow, hey, hey

Now she's back in the atmosphere
I'm afraid that she might think of me as plain ol' Jane
Told a story about a man who is too afraid to fly so he never did land

But tell me did the wind sweep you off your feet
Did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day
And head back to the Milky Way
And tell me, did Venus blow your mind
Was it everything you wanted to find
And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there

Can you imagine no love, pride, deep-fried chicken
Your best friend always sticking up for you even when I know you're wrong
Can you imagine no first dance, freeze dried romance five-hour phone conversation
The best soy latte that you ever had . . . in me

But tell me did the wind sweep you off your feet
Did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day
And head back toward the Milky Way

But tell me did you sail across the sun
Did you make it to the Milky Way to see the lights all faded
And that heaven is overrated

But tell me, did you fall from a shooting star
One without a permenent scar
And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself.

Na na na na na na na na na na na na

Tomorrow never comes

2009-02-20T19:09:00.000-08:00

I've had many interesting and amazing experiences that just pop out of nowhere once in a while and last week was one such case. Basically, i was thinking about having to re-edit the book i wrote since i was 17 and never got around to publishing it. I was thinking i'll do it over the weekend or tomorrow and then it happened. A sudden conflict of how i looked at things conspired.

There was this thing about oh you know i'm tired and i'm busy for this week and it'll be great if i could just start on the book again on the weekend or the day after so that i can dwell completely in the process of doing a good job at it. And that is logical you know cos i do not want to do it halfway and then get interrupted to with something else or not being able to continue until much later. And i guess it should take quite a bit of time and so i would really like at least 5 hours to fully concentrate on the book. It was important therefore at that point in time to do something like gym or just relax and take it easy since i only had like an hour plus..

Then the word important increased in stature like a vision in my mind (i know very animated right?). It dawned upon me suddenly that the past month or the past months other then enjoying myself here and there i've not being doing anything really important or rather i've not being doing anything that achieves the results that i clearly stated in the goals that i write everytime i sit down to write them (which i do quite a bit). I've been setting all this exciting goals but i have not been doing anything about them. The excuse was always that oh you know, i can't escape this job until august and i don't want to get into trouble for not doing it therefore i that goal can wait. But those goals have waited for quite sometime now. Why can't i do them now?

These words came to mind:

"Tomorrow never comes..
When it do come, it is called today..
Don't allow your tomorrows to miss today..
For tomorrow will not change tomorrow..
It is today that makes the difference in all tomorrows."

I was dumfounded for a while. And all the mind clatter (i mean the voices, music and sounds i was listening to in my mind suddenly was focused to that idea). It was like a moment of elightenment. I know it sounds very much like one of the radio commercials talking selling the paper "Today". i guess i did listen to alot of radio the past month.

I want to do something about my life right now. I want to walk the talk. I dont' want to waste anymore time. I want an amazing life. n_n

My One Hundred List

2009-02-14T16:36:00.000-08:00

My list of things to get done.

1) Publish "Create Your World"
2) Learn how to cook mushroom soup, spaghetti and bake cookies
3) Learn Japanese
4) Go to the Empower U 5-day camp in 2010
5) Make $40,000 passive income
6) Get braces (have great teeth)
7) Get a pair of Nike air
8) Get a full suit
9) Get Gold for the Individual Physical Proficiency test
10) Ice Cream day every year
11) Get much more buff and lean (how might i measure that?)
12) Make my own chocolate
13) Get really great Christmas presents for my family
14) Run a Marathon
15) Learn how to play the full flight of the bumble bee on the piano
16) Win a Singing competition
17) Complete a dance class
19) Get full score for bowling (300!!!)
20) Get my very own hockey skates
21) Learn French (the language of love:))
22) Backpack to Europe, New Zealand and Malaysia
23) Purchase a right hand drive Bugatti (how do i persuade them to make one for me?!)
24) Own 5 properties in Singapore
25) Get blue color contacts >.<
26) Donate $10,000 to Charity
27) Give $100,000 tithe
28) Become a trainer /coach
29) Meet my soul mate and bring her to a candle light dinner on my bugatti
30) Bungee Jump
31) Sky Dive
32) Own a commercial building
33) Own a toll road
34) Own an island
35) My very own bowling lane in my home
36) Pay for my sibling's university
37) Bring my family on a holiday to Hawaii
38) Own a private jet
39) Finish reading the entire bible
40) Go on a week long cruise
41) Record a CD with my own soundtracks
42) Do manual on the skateboard for one minute
43) Have a small profitable high end coffee shop just for the fun of it
44) Play a whole day of bowling with my brother
45) Sell T-shirts on my blog
46) Complete a triathlon
47) Get a Six pack
48) Act in a movie
49) Meet Richard Branson, Robert Kiyosaki and Bill Gates
50) Give talks
51) Sponsor a big skate park in Singapore
52) Get pictures of doing handstands in 10 countries
53) Do 20 pull ups in one shot
54) Own a chocolate factory
55) Buy my parents a really big and cosy bungalow
56) Fly a plane
57) Learn to sail
58) Visit the moon
59) Enter a dance competition
60) Give a Christmas present to a person i don't know every year
61) Work as a tour guide
62) Make pizza from scratch
63) Built a theme park
64) Sell flowers on Valentine's day
65) Own a Lamborghini
66) Book a whole cinema have a movie marathon with friends
67) Go ski in Canada
68) Own a Club membership
69) Go overseas to do community service
70) Own a dog and a cat
71) Start a company
72) Own a Macdonald's franchise outlet
73) Become great at dribbling the ball in soccer
74) Create a full dance video with scenes in different places
75) Be on channelnewsasia
76) Write articles for the local newspaper
77) Write another book after "Create Your World"
78) Get a really cool Hoody
79) Learn how to drive (this should have come up earlier -_-')
80) Sell something successfully on Ebay
81) Start a band
82) Join a dance group
83) Go for proper vocal training
84) Learn Drums
85) Learn how to play the guitar (cos i think its really sweet to play and sing)
86) Learn professional beatboxing
87) Own a mountain bike
88) Eat all dinners on Sundays with family
89) Pay for my brother's bowling trainings
90) Play basketball with brother whenever possible
91) Sit every reputable roller coaster there is in the world
92) One day for myself every week
93) Read 3 books a month every month
94) My very own library of great books
95) Learn how to play tennis
96) Learn 10 card magic tricks
97) Learn how to jump a pebble across the water 5 times
98) Learn how to play beach volleyball
99) Plant and grow roses
100) Keep on revising the 100 list :)

Hey people! I miss blogging so so much. And i'm so so sorry that it has been so long since i last posted. i have so much to say and talk about that i didn't really know where to start! Well i finally decided to do up my one hundred list. The hundred list of things for me to achieve. >.< With that i will! Do stay tuned for my next post! :)

These are the best days of our lives.

2008-12-25T00:05:00.000-08:00

These are the best days
These are the best days
These are the best days
These are the best days of our lives

Time is changing everything, its changing you and me
Its moving all around us, its moving endlessly
But nothing ever gonna change, the way i feel inside
And i remember how its always gonna feel like.. when i remember

These are the best times.. when i remember love
These are the best times.. when i remember how you always gave it all you've got
These are the best days of our lives.. i remember
All the good and bad times
The happy and the sad times
And how you taught me to remember
These are the best days of our lives

I will walk beside you
When i hold your hand
When i'm not sure what to do, you'll simply understand.
No matter where my life may lead, no matter where i go.
Remember we will still be there for real hope, when i remember

These are the best times.. i remember love
These are the best times.. i remember how you always gave it all you've got
These are the best days of our lives.. i remember
All the good and bad times
The happy and the sad times
And how you taught me to remember
These are the best days of our lives

Cheers to the assist team forever.

DA CHANG JING screams

2008-10-31T07:50:00.001-07:00

How to stay up 365 days a year

2008-10-12T18:25:00.000-07:00

Recently i have been attending a few seminars and its interesting most of the few programs that i went to was all about how to make yourself feel great. Its interesting because it never occurred to me that all of them used or at least not knowingly was teaching people how to feel better about themselves or having a skill set like that would make you happier because "..." . So the question comes how do we stay up every year, every month, every day, every hour, every moment?

The answer is simple, you can't. What you can do is you implement strategies and things in your life to keep you up so you are UP MOST OF THE TIME. There are somethings you cannot control but there are much you can! n_n

So what are the things we can do?

One of the programs that i attend when i was younger called the Empower U program had an entire section dedicated to the management of emotions. And in that program, Brent Williams, an amazing passionate presenter proposed three ways to changing emotions:

3WAYS to Changing Emotions
1)Physiology
2)Language
3)Focus

All three ways of changing emotions are self explanatory but i would love to talk a little about focus because that is what i see in many of my friends as the deciding factor of how long their happiness or their positive outlook/attitude lasts. This brings me to what another speaker says.

Mark Yarnell, a millionaire who made many other people millionaires made his riches through network marketing. And in one of his audio clips he talks about how many people fall victim giving up because they cannot consistently condition themselves to think positively or put themselves in a highly motivated state because of what is happening to them or around them.

He gives a few tips on how to stay up:

1) No news of any kind except once a week
2) Listen to great music
3) Stay away from negative people

No news of any kind except once a week? I remember clearly him saying: "I suppose who knocked up Anna Nicole Smith is important.. but 12 days of CNN coverage? Sorry folks what's up with that!" lol. You see, many of the things we hear and see has a very direct impact on the way we feel and think. Many people feel hopeless and helpless today not because they should be. They feel hopeless and helpless after listening and watching all those sad news on violence, poverty, the downturns, crime and their in ability to do anything to help. When it is not neccessarily true. It is important to recognise that what we put into our minds will eventually create the kind person we are and determine the kind of results we produce which, includes the way we feel.

Listen to great music this is what i think is awesome n_n >.<

Yarnell says that he never goes up the stage or to any meeting without first listening to some great music on his ipod (maybe i should get one:).

Last but not least stay away from negative people! Or mix around with highly energetic, exciting and happy people:p

Having said all that it all boils down to one's focus, what do you think about when you first wake up, just before you sleep and most of the time? Maybe its the things that you know which is manifesting in your emotions? So we should all pay close attention to the our physiology, the things we say, the things we see and listen to and the people we hang out with.

With that this is Steve. Till next time, take care and God bless you immensely! :p

Story: George Sampson

2008-10-01T00:17:00.000-07:00

He was amazing in his 1st audition..

but he didn't make it through the semis... but he came back.

He went on into the finals this time round..

Did he make it this time?

A perfect Thursday (the important lesson)

2008-06-29T04:45:00.000-07:00

Its 8:25am i lay in bed with my eyes closed awake but choosing to reflect on some things. Breathing in the cool morning air while still under the sheets of blankets, i think to myself: someone must have opened the window.. the air con is off and sounds of the water flowing from the fountain that splashes into my swimming pool could be heard so clearly that it feels as if i was already in the pool. It is great. Today there is lots of things to be done, many people to meet, much fun to be had. Going through the list of things that i have to do in my mind going something like this:

1) Meet 10 random people
2) Call 5 friends and find out how they are doing
3) Start writing the 2nd chapter of my new book
4) Go for dance class
5) Decide whether to buy that property

I remember clearly learning one of the most important ideas in my life. Much of where i am today is all attributed to the application of this one idea. Simple as it is, it is: To set daily goals. Many people set weekly goals, monthly goals, yearly goals etc etc. But Tony Gordon bet to differ. Tony Gordon a member of not just the Million Dollar Round Table but also of the Top of the Table club is one person i truely learnt to respect. In one of his books, i read about how important or rather how much more we could achieve if we actually planned to complete something on a day by day basis rather than a week by week basis or a month by month or year by year. The urgency of doing something today rather than doing something this week, propels one keep what is done today of more importance than pushing it to the next day.

Example, if i said i'm going to meet 70 people this week, it is not going to be as effective as committing myself to meet 10 people per day. If i don't have 10 people by 9pm then i better start working harder. Imagine if i had set for myself to meet 70 people this week. This would mean i can meet 3 people today and if i don't feel like it i can push it till tomorrow to cover up what i didn't do today. But if i had committed to meet 10 people today, i must do it by today. The difference between the two is what habit i was teaching myself to live by.

Daily goals require more effort, more courage, more focus, more love for what i do and definitely creates more effective results. By 26 i was already a millionaire and now i am thinking about.. becoming a billionaire. It is not the same. This would require a different strategy, a different leverage, a different kind of mindset. It scares me to think, i could actually become a billionaire.

9:30pm
In bed already, looking up at the ceiling not wanting to go to sleep just yet. Its still early but i did what i planned to do. Dinner was especially great. Had some creamy pasta (can't pronounce its name) and lots of soup. Dance class was exceptionally fun. Can't wait for the next class. Maybe i could really perform someday.

Crawling out of bed and out of my night dreaming ("day dreaming") i start thanking God for the day and the abundance that i'm experiencing right now. Tomorrow will be even better.

I go to bed without setting the alarm clock. Don't need to.

A perfect Friday

2008-06-22T00:45:00.000-07:00

8:05am Friday

I look up to the alarm clock while still in bed. Its 8:05:55am and i still want to sleep a little but decided against it. Its Friday! And Friday means.. the weekend is coming soon! Nowadays every day seems like weekends though. There was never a day that i completely didn't do anything about my business or read anything or go somewhere and try something new. This feeling is great. Stepping out from my over sized bed and into my fluffy slippers i started to wash up and prepare for the morning jog.

Jogging is one of those things that i really enjoy but at the same time improve myself physically, mentally and i guess you could say spiritually. I love long distance jogs. Its times when i jog that i really clearly think about events, ideas, emotions, actions, goals, results and everything else under the sun. At certain points during the run there will be moments that i'll want to call for a cab and go home.. but never will i do that. I remember running the army half marathon and going on to a charity full marathon.. it was awesome..

(A Marathon in New York)

After breakfast, i head on down to the show room of the company that I've worked with for almost 10 years now. There are 5 new prospects that I'm looking forward to work with. Presenting them the opportunity to grow themselves as well as their bank accounts is almost always as inspiring to myself as it is to them. Always excited and always fluent i have a great time of fellowship and fun. Its interesting though to actually find out who, in the end, will actually reach and exceed my expectations of being a business owner. Remember the times when i first started out in this: all the thoughts and feelings that ran through my mind while i was piecing together how exactly to make it work. And now here i am living the story.

4:30pm

I don't usually skip lunch but sometimes presenting just becomes so engaging and i skipped it so that i could fully give a detailed and complete picture of what my business is all about to probable partners. Its exciting. (: I decided to drop by Sake Sushi for the buffet and eat as much as i can before heading to the bookstore to buy some books.

Sake Sushi never ceased to satisfy this tummy of mine. It would have been better though if there was someone i could eat with. (i was looking forward to tonights dinner).

MPH was as crowded as ever. Making my way past the counter full of people lining up to pay for the books they chose, i proceed to the section that i wanted to read up on.. psychology, principles of success, How tos, etc. i picked out a few books and paid for them.

7:25pm
Back in my house i spend some time indulging myself with the new books that i bought. They are fantastic! Phenomenal ideas that really inspire and open my mind and how i view the world. Can't wait to know what every one of those books had to tell me. There's always something new, something motivating, inspiring, or something i could share. Looking at the time 7:25:25pm i think i better start driving to Oosh before i am late for the gathering.

8:05pm
I meet a few friends at Oosh for dinner and just to hang out for the night. These buddies of mine are a great bunch to hang out with. Lots of laughter and joking around till late into the night.

1:15am Saturday
I don't usually sleep late but just now we had lots of catching up with and it was just great fun. Coming out from the shower i looked at the time and shook my head in disbelief smiling. Really tired i prayed myself to sleep.

Didn't set the alarm.. Don't need to.

A Perfect Saturday

2008-05-16T18:48:00.000-07:00

9:05 am

The alarm clock didn't ring. I didn't set it to ring. Stretching to the right and to the left while still laying in my bed with my eyes closed, i think about the things that I'll be doing today.. a meeting with associates, bowling, dinner at a random place and movies in the night.. An amazing day ahead again i gleam to myself. Coming out of the bed that is too big for me, i remove all the layers of blanket that keeps me at the perfect temperature for sleep; not too cold but comfy. I like it that way; a feeling of having thick blankets for winter. I step out of my bed into my fluffy slippers. Some how i remembered how it felt like when i wanted to go back to sleep when i couldn't.. But this time its different, i wanted to wake up, life is so good i want to spend most of it awake!

As i look at myself in the mirror in the bathroom, i can't help but smile because its really weird that up till now i still don't need to shave that often. I guess i'll always be young lol..

After washing up and switching on my computer i look at the probable properties that i can purchase this week. Taking into consideration, the appreciation, rental, and my increased net worth when i do buy them. Not forgetting also the possible risks i'm taking. How do i buy this property with the least amount of my working income?

Yet again i smile, remembering how i bought one of the condos back in the eastern part of Singapore with no deposit and no money down. Quite an achievement. I glance at my watch and note that I'll need to get ready for the appointment i have with my business associates at 11am to talk about how to radically improve profits for the new company i just purchased. Thank God I learnt about these opportunities when i was younger.

The meeting was short but productive. I was again impressed by the knowledge and wisdom of the amazing people that I'm working with right now. All the abundance and wealth i have now is partly because of them.

There's a group of friends I'm meeting for bowling; they are also friends in business. Its great to know that your partners are doing well because in that way they'll make sure that my business will do well too! Working on my skills at bowling, i enjoyed fellowship and just having fun. The whole afternoon we bowled, game after game; laughing and cheering as we went along. Strikes became quite a norm. It so happens we not only win in bowling but also in business. One of my friends own a large plastics manufacturing facility, another a great export specialist dealing with machinery and another in the F&B making quite a name.

After all that its back home for me to prepare for tonight's big finale. Come to think of it, every night has its own big finale. Its amazing. Tonight i've invited everyone in the family, (and someone possibly coming to become a part of the family) to watch a movie over at my place.
Its a time of fun and gathering. Although we do come together a lot we still treasure our time together. Mummy brings over much food that she prepared for all to try (even though i already ordered pizza) and everyone else brought something to "show and share". An activity we do after the movie, sort of catching up with each other and maybe presenting ideas that we've learnt throughout the week.

11:30pm
I kneel down beside my bed a little tired and thank God for the day. As i climbed on the bed i remember that i have to pray about tomorrow so i kneeled down again a prayed (so forgetful). Tomorrow i'm going to church! Whoopeee! As i make my way onto my bed the 2nd time i didn't bother to set the alarm.

Don't need to.

A Perfect Sunday

2008-03-29T23:03:00.000-07:00

WHAT WOULD A PERFECT SUNDAY IN YOUR LIFE BE LIKE?

The alarm didn't ring. That's because i did not set an alarm. Its 9:08am, i wake up fully refreshed with a big smile on my face; Its going to be great day today. Stepping out from my king sized, triple mattress with many overlays of comfy blankets i switched off the air con to open up the balcony for a view. Its awesome. Just outside is the swimming pool and breakfast is already being served (just as i instructed). A funny thought came into my mind: what about jumping in the pool from my balcony before having breakfast? Rising my fingers to the knot on my robe, i gave a silly grin, shook my head headed to the bathroom to wash up; i decided against it.. maybe another day. As i come out of the hot shower i chose not to wear back the fluffy slippers but feel the rich carpet beneath my feet which covers most of my home; it feels so nice. Barefooted i walk down the twirling stairs that brought me to the living room where the entertainment system is.

Ignoring the big comfortable sofa and flat screen TV (which i would describe to you another time), i walked towards the glass doors which leads me to the swimming pool where the butler is standing. He greets me with a all too formal greeting and i invite him for breakfast with me. This is usually not the case because he doesn't like the unprofessional idea of eating with me but i insisted. Breakfast is the best. Scrambled eggs, toast, bacon, ham, coffee, fruits, and everything.

I can feel the coolness rising from the water as i walk along the pool after breakfast. No time for a swim for now, I've got church to attend. God has blessed me with all these great things in life which I'm truly grateful for, going to church is always one of the highlights of the week, i don't want to be late.

After a great session of worship and listening to God's Word being preached I'm heading for lunch meeting with an old friend of mine at Orchard road. Oh did i tell you? I don't have a chauffeur.. that's because i own a bugatti:

One of the hotter cars in my collection. Just think about it. It'll be weird if i had a chauffeur right? Well other than the capabilities i do enjoy the turned eyes when i drive.

In the afternoon after the lunch with my friend we talked about going for some massage and spa. We did. The whole afternoon we spend relaxing and "cooking" ourselves.

Its almost 7pm after i fell asleep during the massage. Me and my friend parted our ways as he has business else where but i chided him saying something about it being a Sunday. Actually, i too had a date at 8pm with.. someone. Someone special. Candlelight dinner with a bit of slow dance and a night somewhere where there's only the sky and the stars..

The night is beautiful. She is even more beautiful. I head back after sending her home to get some rest for Monday. It will be another perfect Monday again. Well there's never really a prefect day but.. this is good enough. :) As i prayed beside my bed i recount the events of today and thank God for everything good and abundant in my life now. Climbing back into bed i fell into deep sleep. I didn't set my alarm again.

Don't need to.

Hi everyone!

2008-03-27T06:50:00.000-07:00

SORRY ALL FOR NOT POSTING FOR SOOOOooooOOOoo long..
Life in the army hasn't took it all away yet!
I'll be right back but first here's a little something for yoz guys! :p

So sick...

2007-12-18T22:25:00.000-08:00

After the program i fell so sick..
I fell so sick i vomited twice while going home.
In the night i did not sleep abit.
Diarrhea and vomiting kept me busy.
All night long i felt so weak..
Not even in BMT did i meet a challenge so bleak..
Restless but faithful i prayed to him.
To make me whole and strong again.

Mom too was up the whole night.
Watching over her baby all so carefully.
In her heart it pained her to see..
her son suffering so quietly.
She felt he didn't tell her enough,
enough of how much pain he was going through.
She kept asking him, yet he wants her to go back to sleep.

"Thank you mom" he says as she rubs ointment on his head and back.
and then adds, "go get some sleep"
"I love you son", she says quietly..
"love you too" he replies weakly.

The long night was unbearable and hard to get through..
but the big man up there had watched over these two..
Now he is well and happy again. Ready for the next challenge in NS to begin..

My life in brief for the last month =)

2007-11-17T03:30:00.000-08:00

Well.. how should i put it? A month into BMT and i'm still ok i guess.
i did miss civilian life. The chocolates and cakes and sweets.
Was it though? No surprise parts of it really is tough.. there were moments when i asked myself whether the Officer Cadet Course is really worth all that effort..
BUT I HAVE COME TO A DECISION

worth it or not i'm going to be an officer. Its all i want of my two years of NS.

They say it would be tougher...

I'll be tougher than tougher!

Watch it. Sir Steve!

Untitled

2007-10-07T03:16:00.000-07:00

How have you been? Well i thought that i had been really good but then again this past few weeks has not been very fruitful. Not been doing much.. Had always has something that i was aiming for but because of the approaching National Service i don't really have anything that i could work towards that wouldn't be stopped halfway when i have to start National Service. I really hate the feeling of not completing something so i resolved it by not really starting anything and just enjoy myself with playing chess, watching movies and reading.

To tell you the truth, this is not very motivating. Even though i run 5.2k every single weekday morning and do more reading than i have ever done, i believe that something in me is telling me to wake up and do more. I guess it is also partly because i've always had this new thing in mind to do and this new project i want to launch when all of a sudden i decide to just kill time.

Well, next week is enlistment. Something to look forward to after so much quiet "desperate" nothingness lol... :) Looking forward to it..

Steve's Movie Appreciation: Facing the Giants

2007-10-04T06:02:00.000-07:00

Steve's Movie Appreciation: Pay It Forward

2007-09-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

For the river first the mountain

2007-08-26T20:35:00.000-07:00

"For the river first the mountain," was one of the quotes or rather one fo the lessons from the wealth dynamics weekend. For a river to be formed, there must first be a mountain. This was what Roger Hamilton talked about when he was trying to explain what wealth, leverage, money and value all put together in a real life example. He said that money is like water when it flows. Wealth is where money keeps on flowing. Value flows from a high value to a low value. Leverage comes with the height of the mountain which gives the river a slope so that water like money will start to flow from a high value to a lower value. And Wealth equals to Value Multiplied by leverage.

Wealth = Value X Leverage

Wealth is not equal to money, he continued to explain in fact as wealth increases, the importance of money decreases. And the importance of something else increases as the importance of money decreases.. And it is time. He pointed 0ut that Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Oprah Winfrey and many other wealthy people now value time more than money. You see even though they might have more money but they have the same 24 hours in a day that we have. The value and importance of their time is increasing as the importance of money drecreases.

So i was thinking really hard about this. How value can i provide and who or what do i have a leverage in?

One Great Idea to Remember

2007-08-24T19:02:00.000-07:00

I think the next few days of posts will all be about what i've learnt at the wealth dynamics weekend. See if you could learn something n_n

One of the ideas that everyone was saying to be something really inspiring is this quote that Roger Hamilton gave and it is this:

"Today is not the day after yesterday, today is the day before tomorrow."

Many of us when asked who we are or what we do will always say something about our past when really all that we are today is not about who we were but who we choose to be today. It is through this idea that today is the day before tomorrow that we truely aspire to become a greater us or a better us or a more successful us. Its only when we understand that today is the day that what is done or not done yesterday does not matter no more its what we do with today that really determines our future.

In my opinion why it becomes so resounding for many at the seminar because as people we always tend to bring alot of baggages and weight from our history when alot of what matters now is what you do with today. What about you? Does this pertain to you as well?

Why many people will never reach their goals

2007-08-23T18:34:00.000-07:00

I recenly went to a seminar called wealth dynamics and i learnt alot of things which had really surprised me and sort of woke me up. One of the more important revelations that i got from the seminar was when Roger Hamilton, the man who set up XL Foundation which is also the presenter of the seminar said that he was going to explain why most people will never achieve success...

The moment he said that i brought all conscious senses towards what he was doing and saying (until i had really looked like i'm ready to get out of my chair). Because the last 5 years of my life it has been all about that. Why some people fail while others succeed. Roger asked all of us to imagine that the lights in the seminar room were our stars, our goals and dreams, and to start reaching for them. People started to reach up, participative ones and the ones that did not participate so much. In fact everyone was reaching up towards the really high ceiling holding the lights. Then roger asked something about why some people are nearer to the stars while others are further, is it because they are shorter? or have shorter arms? Then a few people started to stand on the chairs and tables. So now there were people much closer to the lights.

Roger explained saying that those that get closer to their goals and dreams are not the ones who is taller or smarter, they are not the ones who reach as hard as they can. He said maybe its not about how long your hands are or how hard you reach. Maybe is about where you stand, where your feet are. Lower ground will always put you further away from your goals, higher standards will eventually allow you to reach the stars. So its were we stand, our standards. What we are no longer willing to settle for is our key to success.

What about you? Are your standards allowing you to reach higher or reach harder.

Steve' Movie Appreciation: Big Fish

2007-08-13T19:03:00.000-07:00

In The Flow

2007-08-10T19:38:00.000-07:00

"Everything happens for a reason...", a phrase used so often it almost looses its meaning in the most broadest sense of the phrase. Having seen "The Secret", it has dawned upon me how thoughts, feelings, actions, results and situations all happen in alignment with each other. Everything that has been happening to me in the last few weeks has been quite amazing i must say. The way i feel, the things that is happening around me and the people that i attract all pertains to what i was thinking. Its more than just about thinking positively, it is about feeling positively as well and with that will attract the being and the situations that brings about what you want.

You see many of us (in fact all of us) want things, money and happiness, but how most of us think about it is through thoughts such as: How nice would it be if i had this. If only i were as attractive. If only i was as rich i would be able to buy... But this is not how the world or the universe works. You see when we think that way we are constantly creating the reality of us NOT having the things that we want!! When i realized what this means, i started working on what i should be thinking and feeling. You see you need to start thinking and feeling the thoughts and the feelings that you would have if you already have the things that you want. This can also be brought back to why visualization has been such a big thing in personal development seminars. Because it actually works!

Here is one of the many things that happened to me which is also one of the more significant situations which i attracted into reality.

I have been working on my business for a few weeks now and have been constantly thinking of ways to expand the number of prospects that i speak to. One of the days this week while i was going to meet one of my prospects, i was just at the MRT station and i just suddenly became conscious that i needed to think and feel right. I needed to be feeling happy and positive and i needed to already be feeling successful (so as to bring about things in my life that will lead me to being successful and being positive and happy etc). And one of the things that i really wanted which suddenly popped into my mind was to meet up with this person. How nice if i could just see this person for a while.

I was interrupted by a call from the prospect which i was suppose to meet that she couldn't meet me at the office anymore. I was already on the train... at the moment i just felt what the hell is going on? I was suppose to be attracting success and more prospects!!! I was already on the train so i decided to go to the office anyways to "look around".

I forgot to drop off at cityhall to go to orchard (that's where my office is) and came to raffles place!!! Imagine at that moment what i was feeling when less than half an hour before i was thinking positive, excited and happy; it almost came crashing down upon me that it is not going to work! The funny thing is i had an idea to go advertise about my business (which i did before) on the Classifieds at braddel so from Raffles Place i took the train not to orchard but to bradell.

At the SPH office where i placed my advertisement, i took a really long time to think about which words to use on my advert (but i settled with what i used before lol). And in addition the clerk who had finished editing my words to fit into the advert box asked me if i wanted to put an ad in newpaper as well because it would cost less ($7 discount). I agreed. And she took another 20 minutes typing computer codes to fit my advert into the newpaper display.

I was like: "Oh my goodness not only was i spending extra for an additional ad, i was wasting alot of time when i could be doing calls etc." Cut the long story short it was finally done and i walked back to the MRT.

At Braddel MRT i was just waiting at one of the doors on the platform to baord the train when there was this urge in me to look at how much time it will take for the next train to arrive. Looking towards the electronic LCD screen i noticed that on the top right corner of the screen (which was where the timing for the next train would show) was blocked by the emergency exit sign!!! I was like: "which idiot designed the layout of signs in braddel". lol Anyways i walked towards the sign to check out the time; 3mins. I walked a bit further down the platform and happily parked myself infront of one of the yellow lines designated at the doors.

THINGS STARTED TO CHANGE

Firstly, i recieved a call from a new prospect who had seen my ad (which was days before) who wanted to meet me at bedok, which was where i was heading lol. Then the event of the day happened. As the came to a halt right in front of me, separated by two pieces of glass was the person i've been wanting to meet.

I was shocked. I mean dumbfounded by what is happening. What i asked for had actually come to pass. Anyways even though there were more silence than there was conversation when we met i felt great. It seemed almost magical. Everything happens for a reason. You see, if i had not made an appointment with the prospect that was not going to turn up i was probably going to be at home, and if i had not missed cityhall i might not have decided to go to bradell, of i had not taken a long time to think about which words to use and use what i have always been using for ads, if i had not decided to accept the offer and waited twenty more minutes for the clerk to fit the advert, if i had not walked towards the LCD screen because of the person who designed the emergency sign to block the top right hand of the screen and if i had not stood at the right door just a few feet further from that LCD screen i might have never met that friend! Just one minute more or less could land me on the wrong door or wrong train!!!

Anways i had a great 5 minutes and went on to a great appointment with two more prospects before i went home to have a great night. n_n

On Goals

2007-08-07T18:39:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!!! n_n Its been a really long time since i last posted something on this blog. How have you all been? My days are getting better and better every single moment. I feel that every day i grow mentally, physically, emotionally and financially stronger. What about you? I do hope that you've had great weeks and greater weeks ahead.

I want to share something which i learnt from my father while he spoke to my brother (isn't it interesting how we can learn things). While i was still sleeping one of the mornings last week, my dad was walking my brother to the MRT so that he could go to school. My dad suddenly asked my little brother: "Do you know why we can reach the MRT without fail everyday?" And my brother thought about it and said something like because we have been there and done that. My dad then replies:

"Yes part of it is because we have done it before. But you see we have a goal every morning to walk from our house to the MRT, it is the goal that allows us to reach the MRT. Even though there might be traffic lights to wait for, cars that we must allow to past, people walking slowly sometimes blocking our way, just waking up and not really feeling that energetic to walk the distance and many other other things but we still walk towards MRT."

My brother being cute as he is added something about people farting which doesn't stop them from walking towards the goal of reaching the MRT (and alot of other stuff like people spitting and people digging their nose lol). This little conversation of course had been "secretly" passed to me and i hope you learned something from it because i did. You see we have goals and dreams, but we cannot allow people or situations that are happening all the time to sway us from the target or the direction with which we walk, run, swim, fight, work, do and think. Not only must we be focused, we must learn how to be alert like not crossing the road when cars are still moving and maybe for some of you, to walk faster just in case people
fart when they are in front of you :s.

Well till next time... Rememer Steve rocks your world. :)

Faith and passion

2007-07-17T06:51:00.000-07:00

I know I know BW, but she's great and she talks better than i type! n_n One more video post won't hurt. Just listen to her! She is passionate and powerful man!

The Secret Revealed

2007-07-14T17:44:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks i have been watching a movie called the "The Secret" which talks about the law of attraction and how it is affecting each and everyone of us. What the law of attraction states is that whatever we think and feel and experience internally or bodily will be manifested in the environment around us. This means that everything that happens to us and everything that we receive and every person that we meet is the result of our thoughts and feelings. Isn't that interesting. n_n watch the preview video

My first reaction to that is OMG! What if all i ever did was attract the wrong things into my life because of the millions of things i thought about? The things that i want and the things i don't want alike? What if all of my current success and failure is just a reflection of what is happening in my mind and my emotions?

The three step process of the secret applied:
1) Ask
2) Believe
3) Receive

I was totally blown away by the stories that were told about people who knew about the secret and used it. I want to put it to the test. Let's see if it works. :) One of the things I'm going to start doing is to think about the things that i want instead of the things that i don't want and feeling the feeling of actually having what i already want. :)

Let's see.

(Thank you Shannon for lending me the DVD n_n)

Are we sitting on our solutions?

2007-07-08T22:30:00.000-07:00

I was just waiting for my bus to come at sengkang after a hard days work at delifrance when a little boy came hopping about in front of me with a balloon. I was just sitting on the railing at the interchange listening to soundtracks when he came and had accidentally let go of his balloon. And of course the helium in the balloon caused it to float up the ceiling.

Now, i was there in a gaze while the uncle of this little boy started jumping and reaching as far out as he could to get the balloon. The trance wasn't long until i decided to help. I mean if he was trying so hard and not making it, i might do better. So without saying a word, i crouched low and took my leap of faith.

To my amazement, i didn't get it. I wasn't even close.

The ceiling was higher than i thought. I tried a few more times while failing and feeling a bit more embarrassed as the jumps attracted more attention at the interchange. It was during this time that i decided to try a different approach. Looking around me i found a wall which had a space of about a few CMs for me to stand on. In my mind i imagined the move Jacky Chan had always used at least once in every one of his movies. The move required a little bit of speed and with a gentle kick against the wall it would propell me upwards more than i could actually jump on flat ground. So i tried.

And you guessed it i didn't get it. In fact i think i did worst than i would have had jumping. I was at it again in a few moments. Then the uncle actually pointed out to me the railing that i was sitting on.

Now for all of you who knows me i think you'll agree that i'm abit of a monkey so he suggested that i climb on the railing and jump from it. It was quite a feat. I didn't really like the idea of standing and jumping off a horizontal pole. My heart stopped beating for a moment and everything became slow. I took off stepping on the first rail then the second and then my cosmo leap began.

Eyes fixed on the string which so many times deluded me, i grabbed it with intensity and confidence. I remember giving the balloon to the little boy and him showing me the "what has just happened?" kind of face; which i kinda cute.

You see the reason why i shared this was because this story reflects on many of our lives. I was sitting on my solution the whole time!!! The railing was the answer. I needed someone to point it out to me and to take that step and leap myself. Many a times when a challenge comes up we are blinded by the solutions that are around us and sometimes just below us :).

Are we sitting on our solutions?

Rocky The Story Behind the Story

2007-06-27T19:31:00.001-07:00

Steve's Movie Appreciation: The WaterBoy

2007-06-19T20:49:00.000-07:00

Great Voices

2007-05-19T11:32:00.000-07:00

2007-05-07T02:01:00.000-07:00

Its been awhile since i posted something.. learnt alot this past few weeks actually. Found out how important knowledge and contacts is. You see, i now work part time at a Delifrance Bistro, as a promoter for the promotional vouchers they sell. Each book of vouchers are a hundred dollars and the customer gets 125 dollars worth of vouchers plus a tin can of cookies.

At first i thought it was going to be really hard, i mean, this is Singapore, why would anyone want to buy (or what they call tie up their money) in vouchers when they only go there once in a while? To my surprise my perspective of many things are wrong. On the first day i sold 6 books ($600 worth of vouchers), the 2nd day i sold 9 books ($900 worth of vouchers) and i was thinking.. Singaporeans are getting richer and richer!!!

But then again when i actually started to really think about it, i shouldn't have judged or thought that it would be hard at all. On the third day i was on the job, i sold $1,300 worth of vouchers!!! And of course as i continue to present to people, i get better and better at it.

I also learnt how important a smile is. Its not just about rapport, when i smile i also made myself feel better. At the Bistro i made great friends.

I learnt how important friends are. Because the waitresses would tell me which customers would most probably say yes to the vouchers and also the amount of money the customers had actually spent. Because i was recruited from the HQ of Delifrance my main job was to only promote the vouchers, i built relationships by helping to clear some of the plates and just send some of the food that was prepared. If i had only try to sell the books and not do the little things to build trust with the waitresses, cooks and cashier i wouldn't have made so much sales. Because they started to really relate to me and also just help me in looking out for prospects.

Another thing i learnt is how important contacts and knowledge is, you see i wouldn't have known about the job if i didn't have the contact of someone. And even though i work just next to the cashier and the waitress and the cook, i get paid so much more than them. I'm not more smart or more hardworking when compared to them but i have more knowledge and contacts of where to get higher paying jobs and also how to leverage on people.

Yups it had been a great weekend too with the Young Champions progrom. I presented the story that made this blog famous and they loved it. (: Happy me. The first dance session just blew me away. This was a great bunch. I'm starting to miss them... alot..

2007-05-04T11:38:00.000-07:00

2007-04-20T21:19:00.000-07:00

I've had this video on my profile since last year, just recently i watched it again. Isn't it heart warming to know about people who accept each other? Will we ourselves be accepting of everyone else?

Procrastination...

2007-04-12T08:55:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share how 5 minutes changes my whole day. How 5minutes made me from wanting to get straight home to shower and sleep to sit up all night thinking. It is one of those things that i didn't know would occur to me. Maybe you'll understand, maybe you'll not. But i'll share it anyways...

I was on my way home today from toa payoh, just taking a train back to Kembangan when i was supposed to get off at Cityhall and change train to the east west line. Usually the wait for the next train at Cityhall isn't that long but today it was different (i guess) I had pletty of time to look around the whole platform.

I couldn't wait to get home cos i have already worked in two jobs which made me quite tired and in very much need of a hot shower. As i looked around i noticed this girl just standing next to the next platform door from where i was standing. Sneaky as i am, i noticed from the corner of my eye that she was quite pretty and all (some of you are going: as expected steve checking out girls again). Yes i admitt it. That was not important, what was important was what happened in the train on my way back to kembangan...

I almost forgotten about her when i stepped into the train and took out my phone to listen to music. So everything was as normal and i was just listening to my music until caught a glimpse of her again...

She was talking on the phone and her whole face (especially her nose) had become red. At first i was quite unsure what had happened but i finally realized that she was going to cry. I just melt at the sight. I really can't watch people, especially girls cry. It makes me sad too. I can't explain it. Its like you feel what the other person is feeling and you can't put your finger on why you are feeling that person. She hung up the phone, fighting the tears that were coming out (which she did very well at) and just started chewing some gum.

No matter how hard i tried not to look into her direction my eyes just keep shifting towards her. Then suddenly i had a flash back of myself on the train once when i had something so sad that i had begun to tear while i was on the train... I remembered how horrible it felt to be all alone half hoping someone was there and swearing that if anyone approached me i'll kill him or her. Does that make sense? Its like you want to be comforted but you don't want anyone to know you're crying?

So i digged into my bag trying to find some tissue paper to pass to her. I found some. Actually i wished i had not found any. Wouldn't it be weird to walk from one end of the car to the other and pass it to her? Wouldn't that just let her cry it all out? Would she want to cry in front of everyone? Does she really need this tissue? Maybe she just has a flu. I'm not sure if its really tears that she's fighting back or a sneeze. What if she tells me off? What if she accepts my tissue paper? What after?

I remember that feeling like i am feeling it right now. My heart was racing and i began to sweat just thinking of walking over and giving her the tissue paper. I froze in an uneasy position. I held the tissue in my hand like it was never going to leave me. Then i noticed her looking into my direction. I quickly slipped the tissue packet into my pockets. Hated myself for that.

What is there to procrastinate about? I screamed at myself in my mind. I was getting ready to give it a try again when i looked at her, she took out another piece of gum and started chewing harder. I simply frowned. Maybe she doesn't want anybody to know, maybe she doesn't need the tissue, maybe she loves gum...

The 5 minutes sent excruxiating pressure onto my whole body. Finnaly i gave up wanting to give it to her. She seemed better already. Her face wasn't red no more, she might still be trying hard not to tear but i couldn't really tell and she was getting off... Getting off at Kembangan. I reached inside my pocket to feel the plastic of the packet of tissue paper still there and i really wanted to give it to her this time; just for myself. I didn't want to stay up all night thinking about why i didn't just approach her and offer her tissue paper when i could.

Staying up thinking about why i didn't give her tissue paper is what i'm doing now...

Why did i procrastinate? What was i so afraid of? (Actually the worst case senerio that i had imagined was her slapping me) What if i did it? Would it make a difference? Maybe she didn't need someone to care. Maybe she did. Maybe she would have felt so much better letting it all out on my tissue paper than fighting back the tears which was obviously crowding her eyes.

Why procrastinate? I'm regretting it so much now. Come to think of it, how many of such things did i let go because of procrastination? I promised myself just then and there where we separated at the gates of the MRT station to never let anything like this happen again. STOP PROCRASTINATION. It sucks.

Jogging

2007-04-08T03:21:00.000-07:00

Hasn't it been a long time since i posted about something I've learnt? Yes i feel your nudge!!!

I just went jogging yesterday with one of my good friends, wei kai and we sort of not ran for a very very very long time. We usually jog from my place to the east coast where we would make a turn at the seafood court and go back to my place. This distance is approximately 5km.

What i tried to do was to run just a bit further... so instead of turning back at the seafood court, i jogged a bit further. Towards a place where people did cable ski-ing. And it was great! Even though i felt my muscles stamina failing me, the only reason why i chose to run further was to push myself that bit more. I always believe in imroving; even if it is just a 100m more. It is great at the end to know that even though i ran slower than i usually would jog, i ran further. I always remind myself to not get stuck or limit what i could do. Just think of ways to be better, run further, score higher and live a greater life.

What about you? Are you running a bit further in whatever you are setting up to do? :)

Two weeks :)

2007-04-02T09:30:00.000-07:00

All right! Here we go again!!! Two weeks of another two Young Champions Programs. Well you know what i'm going ta say... They were awesome. Even though there were lots of ups and downs in this two weeks i must say that I've grown alot. Not physically but emotionally and spiritually. Sometimes we need to see the world from different angles. Me on my head!! Whahaha

This was from the last day of all the programs when we went bowling. Look! Super BW has psychic powers too!!!

Super Bao Wen again trying out her head stand! Whooohooo ... lol sorry for not taking it properly for three times... but hey! we got it the fourth time >.<

I took some random photos check 'em out!
Li wen!! you look mystic lol n_n
Robbie, Me and Nicholas!!! At the end of the program sob sob*
The little guy all the little girls want lol nicholas again :pOh Sherlyn... Just look at her. Isn't she an angel? *heart beats fast and slow* So cute!!! @_@
Another one? lol Christine!!! The sweet sweet girl n_n.Oh did i tell you? In between two programs i went for the confident communicator course. Don't need to look for me in this picture (i was the one taking it lol) It was great, i watched the Trumen show with them and just hung out chatting to the last YC participants:). It was awesome!!!Ah Yes Ming Ni how can i forget. Thank you for your quiet and shy nature. Will miss you!!! n_n
Amelia! The one participant who got the last flipchart!!! OMG that means alot!!! n_n You were awesome i must say :)
*Heart breaks* Nigel, Jia En and me. I miss you so much!!! Come and step on my shoe now!!! Oh man you didn't come to get my blog address! i wish you could see this. Loveya jia jia!!! (Just in case we ever meet again, i was joking about the shoe stepping part>.< )Julius! haha the cool dude! Hey man i actually hope that you can become and assist. Yups that will be cool. Just imagine us and the program! n_n
I presented the emotions section!!! Oh man that is like so important to me you know? This is my very first flip chart (i wonder who took it lol)
Belly laughs has become my favourite activity now. My 2nd flipchart!!! look at how nice the stick men are lol :)
Sorry but i really can't stop myself from taking another photo of this lol :)
And another one lol... this one is like artistic. (accidentally artistic)
Denise Senior lol n_n Hey why does my hair look so flat here?!?! whahaha you look great too la n_n
Hey man, thank you so much for visiting. Its really great to just see someone who has done the program before and just remember you. Ben and me n_n.
Li Wen and me. Hey we look quite nice wo n_n wha i like your hair band. I KNOW YOU LIKE COOTIES!!! whahaha
This is like a family photo lo lol... ops someone might get jealous lol. Denise Senior, Denise Junior and me junior n_n
Me and little princess sarah n_n
Haha i love this one. Alwin, Joshua and me. Look at Alwin! :)
ooooo sarah!!!! n_n hehe don't remember if i gave you my blog or not n_n Don't you think this is a nice picture? I do!
Heehee me and pretty Amanda n_n.
I'm from the pigs team, no the bears team, no the frogs team, no the dogs team... No la I'm the zoo keeper lol.
I just love this guy! look at him. Smiling so happily because we feed him lol... still got rice on his lips de. (Just to note, this guy is a heart throb among the girls wo!)
Ok my blur and hungry look n_n cute?

Because of the programs i've not been home for all the weekends of march!!! oh man me and mei mei when we had the time together. I miss my family sooooOOooo much. lol it looks like my nose bled while taking this picture lol..

Didn't i tell you i was Superman? Now you believe lol n_n. One finger balancing the car!!!

All that holding up kind of made me a little tired (not alot) I think that's all then! See you next time!!! Love Love Love!!!

2007-03-25T18:30:00.000-07:00

EU MARCH 9th 10th 11th

2007-03-13T09:52:00.000-07:00

Empower U has always been an awesome event in my life and this march EU is in so many ways the similar but different in itself. The same because we had again lots of break throughs and fun but different because of the different participants and the role i took this Empower U. Firstly i just want to say to my dear stephanie that I'm so very proud of you. I knew you had the potential to lead the team and you did it. In many ways i needed you to become the leader you already are deep inside. Love you lots stephy!!!!

And also to my team of assists. Through all thick and thin we have survived the greatest challenges and proved to be a great team all in all. Love all of you so much! I believe we'll take this to another level everytime we run a program. Great Job everyone.
Haha... Now for the few participant introductions:)
LiXin one of the outstanding leaders in the group. I believe that you'll go far in life. Keep the passion burning.

Ahkila (is that how i spelt it) I understood how you felt at the end of the program i felt the same way too!! We might not come together as an entire program again but remember every single one of us shared an Empower U together.
Angeline, from the first time i set my eyes upon you i knew there was something i was going to have to say to you. I will always remember your board break, our coversation about what you saw in the visualization and the time i fell asleep accompanying you when you had fever. You are special. Remember that. And go out there and make the world a better place.
Ashikin (did i spell that correctly again?) lol You're the best la. Everytime see you then you smile :) Thanks for being a part of this EU. I know you got alot out of it:) live life with passion!

Haha Supergirl!!! How can i leave out your photo? lol why do you smile until like that in the picture? lol Superman and Supergirl look so cute in the photo whahahaha... n_n I'm starting to miss calling you supergirl le leh.. How i wish we had like a one year Empower U lol... Joking Joking

Why do i have a feeling that you are smiling wide when looking at this photo? Lol Jia Hui!!! the cutest girl at the program. Going to miss teasing you and your tickles (which by the way does not tickle but hurt) hehe... you look like a mouse in this picture!!! i look shady lol... Love Ya!!!

And how can i forget Bao Wen? Haha the performance was great gurl! You Rock!!! haha.. Hey we both look so cool in this pic.

And of course what beats a great game of bowling after Empower U? haha... Nigel and Brent's 5s.

2007-03-04T23:42:00.000-08:00

My Besties at YC Darren and Gabriel!!! You guys rock my YC!!!

(Missing you already!!!)

Yan Ting and me! :0 we are both pretty!

The most active participant i have ever met WENG IP!!!

And of course the coolest girl in the program!!!

(I forgot her name -_-')

Happy Chinese New Year Everyone!!!

2007-02-18T20:56:00.000-08:00

Well its the chinese new year again. Other than receiving all the ang baos and eating the delicious goodies, remember that there is always a new beginnings, new changes and the opening up of new opportunities.

Remember never to give up when you meet with challenges and keep loving what you're doing.

Wishing you a prosperous and Blessed New Year

Love,
Steven

Realizations....

2007-02-06T23:16:00.000-08:00

Again i have been really busy with work and all those odd jobs that i do. But just to share one of the moments when i was sitting on the train travelling from one place to another (from one job to another) i had, you could say a realization which sparked many many other things which i hope that you can actually get a portion of. I was thinking about how much change there has been in my life, my time and my focus. It was at that point in time that i relaized how much more geared up i was towards what i want.

While all these changes and happenings happened around me, my single and most important passion never died. It was at that point that i realized that all that i have been doing was a preparation to becoming the person i was going to become. Even during the job of distributing newspapers. I was learning how to give and smile and not give.

Not give? you ask. Yes not give. The job really tests how strong your values are to get teh job done right. I was not supposed to be giving more than one per person, even if they asked. At times i was just so propelled in giving because of the unhappy faces or uneasy smiles that comes with not giving when people ask. But I've learnt to do the job right, even if it means upsetting some people.

Other Jobs like the coordinating job also teaches me things. Things like to always remember to have a detailed account of every single thing that is put in yout charge. And to make sure that at the end of the day they are still safe with you. Immense concentration and clarity because at one time i could be given 20 items to distribute to the various people and collect it back at the end of the day.

And the other job of Surveying on the street taught me that rejections are a norm. Whatever you ask for, you'll have some form of resistence and rejection. I learnt to not take it personally and move on to the next opportunity. It might sound simple and easy on paper but when you really get rejected 80 percent of the time, you will start to understand what i mean.

And I'm also often reminded of why I am doing all this. Why? There are many reasons but the most important is that i choose to do it. I choose to work and work hard.

The person that i need to be is getting clearer and clearer in the mirror.

How about you?

Odd Jobs

2007-01-23T18:48:00.000-08:00

I guess it is about time to have a new post!!! :) How are all of you? The first month of the new year is almost coming to an end now, what have you accomplished and learnt? Have you set goals and started to work towards them?

I have been working many many odd jobs and i have learnt so much from the little lessons that these jobs provided me. At one point in time, believe it or not, i had four jobs in a week: class coordinater, newspaper distributor, student aid and street surveyor. I actually started school so i kinda stopped my street survey.

One of the more interesting jobs was the newspaper distribution. I went for this interview at recruit express and the employee asked me alot of questions about where I'm studying (Singapore Institute of Management), what degree I'm doing (Bachelor of Science in Business Adminstration), when I'm finishing (this year), and the subjects that i studied (HR, Sales force management, finance etc etc.). And then she said, "So basically, this job is newspaper distribution..." I just smiled. :) Sometimes its not what you say but how you say it.

And so... i got the job n_n. What this job requires is actually the distributer to pass out the chinese newspaper (which i don't know how to read), only one per person, to only chinese (unless asked for) and to count the number of bundles distributed. Like every job that i do, i always apply one of the most effective quotes that was given in the Empower U program: DO MORE THAN IS ASKED FOR YOU. So instead of standing there distributing. I started walking around, actually very proactively giving it out. What happened was it was ok for the first few minutes, but carrying one whole bundle is quite tiring when you walk around (It really is!). So starting from a really energetic butterfly distributor, became a really tired slouching distibutor.

Then, i was thought by the SPH personell that i actually did not need to run about like that.

"Just stand beside the paper stand, people want this paper. They'll just come to you. We pay you to ensure each one gets one."

And then the "Ah-ha" point came. i just stood beside the newspaper stand and waited. I waited and waited... and waited... then it happened. Like a swarm of bees people just started coming. I couldn't even distribute fast enough for everyone. That moment i just felt SooooOOOoo attractive:). Not that i was though but you see where ever you want to go or whatever you want to do chances are there is already someone out there who has been there and done that. Why not just learn from them.

One other thing that i learnt is that it doesn't cost anything to smile but it reverberates good energy. I was smiling as wide as i could and being sincere at the same time to each person that came along. I've been approached twice, by two people who said that i was the most smiley person they have ever seen, which really made me happy because every single day i distribute 1000 papers. If my smile had made a difference to one hundred, it is enough. It is enough. It makes my day just to know that people appreciates smiles.

Really great to be back having some free time to blog:) Do tag if you can!

"Keep on smiling, because you'll never know which person is falling in love with that smile."

-not known-

Happy Birthday to me lol

2006-12-31T02:23:00.000-08:00

I'm finally ninteen! lol... I mean i wasn't like dieing for this age to come but hey i grown a year older! This year has been a a great year. I think i learnt more from this year than any other year; which is a good thing because you always need to increase your capacity to learn. Well it has been great and i want to just thank all you readers for being here reading my posts and tagging. Love you all.

2006-12-30T04:15:00.000-08:00

"If you don't stand for one thing, you will fall for anything."
-Les Brown-

Many i times i find myself wondering what do i live for. What do i stand for? What do i wake up every morning hoping to change or make better? What do i truely believe and fight for? Isn't that important to know? So do start to understand what you wake up every morning to do. What kind of difference you want to make. We will find in ourselves so much more purpose when we understand this.

I still have lots to learn

2006-12-22T03:04:00.000-08:00

Hey people, so sorry about not having posted for a very long time. It has been a great time of hanging out with friends (old and new) and just reflecting and thinking about what my life is all about and what I'm doing with it.

One of the more significant events was with a friend and teacher who reminded me to be aware of my actions and the way i present myself. Thank you Adri for being there and reminding me about who I want to become and how i was doing in that. Well its great to have people like that always there because you can never be fully aware of what you're showing or the kind of person you are from the outside. Yes I'm back on track working hard towards my goals and dreams.

Will update again soon. See you!!!

2006-12-10T22:02:00.000-08:00

Wooot! At the airport.

Can you find me? lol n_n

Passion in its entirety

2006-12-06T15:29:00.000-08:00

As alot of you know i go to a number of programs to volunteer helping out. This is not only because i could get the most out of the refreshing of the course that i went through but also to always be in that environment of positivity and motivation and passion. As a result i built lots of strong friendships and attachment to a teams of really amazing people. One of the biggest and more exciting events had been the Empower U program.

Recently we had another Empower U program as well as a "Empower U" for kids... Many were skeptical about how EU would turn out when it was employed on a younger group of children but there was something that changed everything. I remember when i first did my revisit of the program (which was a pre-requisite to become an assist), we did the first EU over a 180 people for a school of primary 5 and 6s and a few other people. It didn't turn out as well as we thought every EU will turn out. One of the reasons why it happened was because it was for a school but up till this week we had never really had a program that was fully for kids 12 and below.

You should have been there to see how amazing this little kids were (no actually how amazing they ARE). I dare say that it was the best program that i ever went to. All the assistants were like in love with these cute little angels. Some of them were just amazing, it was so easy to be their friends and just have fun together with them. And you could feel that they were very accepting of each other and very accepting of all the ideas that Brent (the presenter of the program) were communicating to them.

I was impacted the most at the debrief, where all the assistants and the presenter would sit down at the end of the day to talk about the program and how it went. Brent Williams has been one of my mentors for about 3 years now and he never ceases to amaze me with his perspective of things and how he says what he says to impact and challenge people. He asked one question which totally blew me away and it is was about why we never saw this kind of a team for the program that we did for the teenagers. What i saw was how amazing the participants were but i never saw the big difference in what my team was doing. Thinking back there was a major difference in how the team worked.

It was at that point where i felt the tingle down my spine that this was something very exciting. You see, we cared and loved the little ones more than the big kids, we were more warm and smiley and loving than we were in the normal EU programs, we were in fact more motivated and passionate about the program than ever. The sharing was just so beautiful. Assists started talking about how great and cute children are and how they would want to have lots of children in the future. n_n

Deep down many of us understood why this turned out to be this way. Not because they were the cutest cuddly little things but because our start out point, our framing and our thinking when we started out was to care and care alot. This is passion in its entirety. The team grew stonger more than ever and I'm glad I'm in the team to see this historical moment and its implications.

What implications? This team and this program is developing at an exponential rate spiritually and emotionally. Now that we felt what a great team we could be, we could be this great a team for many other things.

I love EU and YC and the assist team!!!

Wealth of Words

2006-11-15T06:25:00.000-08:00

I recently was in a conversation with a few people, which i really enjoy because i love talking to people, and observing people. And there was like a flash back to what i've learnt 4 years ago.. What happened was one of the persons in this conversationkept coming up with an idea and then say: "But... i don't know... if it'll work...that is just what i think" and then motioned the idea away. What happened just then and there was that she suddenly appeared to have such a low perspective about her very own ideas and very own opinion. Therefore, i told her it was not good to say "i don't know" all the time and that her idea was very sound and in fact useful to what we were saying. I do not know why she always say what she says but i know that everytime she talks like that, she is falling bit by bit.

What i learnt 4 years ago was that there are certain words which we say every single day that defines who we are and whether we will succeed in everyday situations AND also in everyday problems. You see, words affects our everyday life. What you say is what you think and what you think is what you'll get. Recently i read from one of my university assignments about a quote said by Ralph Waldo Emerson which went like this: "With his will, or against his will, a man reveals himself with every word."

Now is not that very true? Many people are not aware that what they are saying affects their perspective of the world AND their living in the world. You see, there is Wealth in your words. If you speak words that are motivating, exciting or empowering, you will most probably be living it! If you do otherwise, you'll most probably be living according to it as well.

So, what is the kind of life you want to live? And how do you want to be seen by others, more importantly how do you want to see yourself? Remember this is not about who you are now, but what you want to become; that you want to change the way you speak or you want to increase your awareness of how you speak. It is through your wealth of words that you'll obtain your wealth in life.

Broadly defined, this could mean that if you say the right things you'll succeed in the right areas. I'm not perfect, i choose the wrong words everyday! But I'm increasing that awarenbess and changing for the better.

Thinka about it. n_n

Perspectives

2006-11-12T09:27:00.000-08:00

One looks through the mirror,
one sees it this way.
One looks through the tunnel,
one sees it both ways.
One looks in one direction,
and don't see many ways.
One talks about it,
one keeps it that way.

Reasons for choice, Choice for reason?

2006-11-02T18:10:00.000-08:00

I found myself to be quite contradictory when i was talking to people because of two conflicting ideas of my strongest beliefs about motivation an how one achieves what he or she wants. Basically these two ideas form the basis of what makes a person do what one does.

The first idea is that of how strong we have to make reasons for the things we need to do something for us to do well and succeed in it. It is the illustration i described about a guy jumping out of the dug grave? Yes. It is about how much emotion and importance we associate something with what we need to get done.

The conflicting belief on the other hand was that of not having a reason to do something. Success in most cases did not come out of reasons, success comes out of choice. Why did you succeed? Because you chose to. In fact i think to choose, one has more power to do what one needs to get done than to give a reason for doing it, no matter how strong it is.

So effectively, i was teaching people these two different conflicting idealogies!!! It did take sometime before i finally understand how it really works. So here is my revelation！！！ n_n

I found out when teaching certain people, when talking to certain people, i'll tell them to associate reasons but for others i teach them the power of choice. Only up to a certain stage of maturity or understanding of life can we start to understand the need for reason and the power of choice. It is not up to the coach to chose which is best for the coachee but it is up to the design of the coachee's make of motivation for the success of each different method. You see, i was not really contradicting myself when i teach these two ideas, because they both work! But different people will need a different method of empowerment. This means that it is up to you to understand which you should be for and against.

Up to now, i will not give anyone the idea of the power of choice in doing something if they had reached a certain understanding of the inner motivations acting upon us. The fact is, for someone to will the power of choice, one must truely understand that reason don't matter. It is in the choice that makes a success.

Note to self: Many readers might not be getting this post very well. But for those that do it will make great changes in their life;)

n_n

Marshall Stewart Ball

2006-10-25T06:09:00.000-07:00

This week i decided not to put on my thoughts, but someone whom I've been inspired by, Marshall Stewart Ball. Marshall is a 13 year old boy who began writing when he was 5 years old. Without the use of speech, he points to the letters on an alphabet board in order to spell each word he writes. Here are some of my favorite quotes and poems n_n:

The Likely reason

I clearly think I really start to realize life's

sweet, lovely, fine freedom frees like the

will of the filtered sunlight through free dreamy clouds.

Altogether Lovely

God is good and merciful

because He is also bright and intelligent.

Seeing, feeling all that is true.

Clearly He feels and listens

to all our desires.

Clearly He has everybody's

dreams in mind.

I see God altogether lovely.

Understanding takes a dear good

listening thinker.

Peer pressure is going to others for the answer

Feelings Happy

Happiness begins when

we agree to love.

Each day the answers come

to a good listener.

Make each day a happy one

and go to a good God.

Angel messengers

begin to answer your questions

and name you happy.

Answers come when we are in our right

place.

Perfect love

kindly will give each thought

special direction.

Giving can be a loving great answer.

Hope you guys are as inspired by him as I am. Tagg!!!

Students of life

2006-10-17T19:25:00.000-07:00

In view of the coming exams for the O'level and A'level students and the pending results of the secondary school students I've decided today to talk about focus. Focus has been discussed on antiphons before, but let us try to view it from a different perspective. I've once said that if you focus enough energy and mind into what you aim to achieve you'll most probably be able to get it, no you'll most probably amaze yourself about what you can do. Now, if you focus enough to be able to get something, is it also right to say that you can focus enough to feel something? Can focus be a way of controlling how we feel each day? Or even better can it be a way of positive enforcement in our beliefs at the same time inspire us to do better? Would it also be possible for our focus to be an inspiration to others?

Now as you all know i'm a big fan of stories so here's one pertaining to our discussion today. It is a true story which happened in China...

There was a little girl who had 80% disfunctional hearing. This means that since young 80% of the time she cannot hear properly or clearly. At the age of 7, probably during her primary one year, she had her first test. She went home with the test paper results in her hand and showed it to her father.

She got 1/10 for that test.

Her father, looking down at the paper smiled with the most warming and loving manner and said, "This is great!!! Look at this you got it correct!!!" Giving her hugs and kisses as rewards for that one correct answer.

She was inspired by what happened that day.

At the age of 10 that young girl was measured to be in the top ten academic students in the whole of China (just imagine the millions of children in China, it is really something to be in that top ten). At the age of 16, she graduated from university. Do you see what a difference in focus can do? What if her father had chosen to frown at the nine questions she had wrong instead of smiling at the one she got right? Wait there's more...

At the age of 17, she was invited to speak in the Congress in China (17, as guest speaker in Congress?!?!?!). And at twenty, she's already studying for her Phd.

What can we learn from this? When you do look at something, what do you focus on? Do you look at the many things you haven't studied and stress up or do you look at the things that you can finish and work on them? Do you look at wrongs or the rights? The ugly or the many nice and wonderful things in your life? Do you celebrate your successes or dwell in your failures?

What you focus on expands.

All for love...

2006-10-06T04:48:00.000-07:00

It was and is and is still happening. The greatest inspirations and the greatest stories and the biggest encouragements stem from one word. This word has been undermined, abused and misused. But over time, only people who truely understand and treasure what it is in essence gets it back tenfold. It is much bigger than the word itself.

love.

In every sense it is a word that lays the life that we now live today. How sweet and beautiful, marvelous and meek, courageous and valiant, nice and wonderful it is. How much each one of us need it and want it and long for it. But there is and was and will always be something that many of us forget and not understand. And that one thing has justified the many pained and lost and embarassed feelings we have.

The answer lives not in the someone in your life. The answer lives not in what we feel for others or what others feel for us. Neither is it in what we do nor what we say. The answer... The antiphons... Somehow hard to put in words, is how much you understand and how much you know love. Your love, your very own giving fills up the greater good of yourself. And somehow it also lives in the understanding that there is a greater love that is ever loving you and that is always there. For me that greater love has always been God, the one and only living God. It might not have occurred to you yet, but you'll eventually come to notice, there is love greater than that of loving someone or something, it is love for the world and the love for the life which is given to you.

Love is love greater than love. More than what words can say. I have this new found revelation that no matter how hard we try to love or not love, it is up to our understanding of love and how great it can be to be able to experience its greatness. I finally start to understand what love is...

"I hope to gather great thinkers

to give them my thoughts about Love.

Love to clean their ideas.

That cleaning might loosen the love

in their hearts.

Good thinkers take LOVE to heart

like gold in the evening, wild sun."