Health is Wealth?

Which is more important to you: your health, or your wealth? Everyone would agree that your health is more important that your wealth.

Why? Because if you still have your health, you can still look for wealth. There is still hope.

If you have your wealth, but not your health, your wealth actually has no value to you. Of course, your wealth would be very valuable to your loving spouse and family (and long lost relatives ... hehehe!).

Haven't you had a very painful toothache, and you would give anything for it to go away? Once you are diagnosed with a critical illness (like cancer), wouldn't you give all your wealth to have your health (your non-cancer physical condition) back?

Although you may say that health is wealth, do you spend more time taking care of your wealth or your health? Think about it. Be truthful to yourself.

It appears that in the United Kingdom, research found out that that only 13% had beneficial results after going for medical attention from doctors. The majority did not have any beneficial advantage. Think about this as well.

Someone said that the dirtiest politics happens in the medical industry. Or perhaps more correctly, the drug-using medical industry. The conventional medical industry.

Not in the traditional medicine or alternative medicine or complementary medicine industries.

It is something like Western medicine as expounded by the developed countries (United Kingdom, United States of America, Australia etc) versus Eastern medicine (Chinese and Indian traditional medcine). Not too long a go, acupuncture was considered as coming from quack traditional doctors. It appears that acupunture is now available at some hospitals under the National Health Service at United Kingdom hospitals.

Someone told me that once you are sick, and admitted into a hospital in some developed countries (like Australia), you immediately lose your Human Rights. You cannot get out of the hospital without the doctor's consent. Even if you want to try alternative medicine in the comfort of your own home. Scary, isn't it?

My boss just told me yesterday that he now takes the leaves of a herbal plant, and soak them in water for 3-4 hours. He then drinks the water (now greenish). He managed to reduce his sugar level. He said that another person had been injecting insulin into his body because of severe diabetes. But after taking the drink/brew for a few months, his sugar went back to normal, and he stopped injecting insulin.

The moral of the story? First, to impress upon you the importance of taking good care of your health. Also, that you should be your own doctor, as a preventive step. Learn about foods that will kill you (some food may take years to finally have a fatal effect on you). And foods that will give you wellness, instead of illness.

Second, to let you realise that there is hope for you (if you are open-minded) if you are suffering from diabetes (or even cancer), when the conventionally trained (in Western edicine) specialists give up. Because they do not know everything (although some of them are not humble enough to admit it).

I wish you Success in your undertakings and Good Health and Wealth to you and your family. Take care!

P.S. I will be attending a part-time course for the Certificate in Applied Nutrition and Health in March. Action speaks louder than words, right?

Are You a Seminar Junkie?

Do you enjoy going to Seminars? Yes?!? Do you think that you are a seminar junkie? Yes, I know what you are thinking - "Goodness gracious me, no!"

Do you think that there's a thin dividing line, between a Seminar Junkie and an information gatherer (a knowledge acquirer)? What, in your opinion, is the difference?

Do you think that the difference is in the objective? The mission that you have in your mind when you attend a seminar?

There are so many seminars, that you may sometimes be overwhelmed. Which one to choose? Millionaire Mind Intensive Seminar? Guerilla Business Intensive Seminar? Train the Trainer Seminar? Master Your Mind Seminar? Enlightened Warrior Camp? Never Work Again Seminar? Property Mastery Seminar? Kung Fu Marketing Seminar?

Don't you think that you should gather as much knowledge as possible? Of course you should be learning everyday. Continuous learning. So that you can contribute to The Learning Organisation.

Enlightened companies, like Exxon-Mobil, Motorola, Intel etc, have policies on the number of official training days that an employee attends a year. These would normally average about 5 -10 days. The rest of the training would be on-the-job training. So this would be a good norm or standard for you to benchmark yourself, isn't it?

But the question is, what amount of training days should YOU undergo, if you do not include organisation-sponsored training? Using your own money?

It indicates what your mentality (or mind-frame or belief-system) is when you need to make a decision whether to undergo training for which YOU PAY out of your own pocket! Isn't it true?

You have an employee-mentality when you expect your organisation to pay for all your training.

You have an entrepreneurial belief-system when you pay yourself for training. Training that you feel will make you a better person. When you are a better person, will your organisation be a better one? Will your future be a brighter one (whether in your existing organisation or a new one)?

When you are thirsty for knowledge, is it not true that you may become a seminar junkie? That you may attend all the seminars that is presented, or offered, to you?

Have you attended some excellent seminar previews? The ones that know exactly how to tempt you with irresistible offers? Some even use NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) techniques, which are very effective (if you are not aware that they are using them).

Some previews use peer pressure. Others (the occasional odd ones, thank goodness) use hard-selling; they may even make you feel humiliated, by decreasing your self-image, if you do not take-up their offer.

So, how to make sure that you do not become a Seminar Junkie? The answer?: Balance! Everything in life should be done in a balanced way. Everything should be done in moderation.

The moral of the story? Seek knowledge wherever, and whenever, you can.

However, to avoid over-doing the Seminar Circuit, just spend about 10% of your annual income paying for training programmes. If you can afford it, perhaps increase the amount to 20% of your annual income. This will ensure that you avoid the "All study and no action, makes you a geek" ... hehehe!

I wish you Success in your undertakings and Good Health and Wealth to you and your family. Take care!

Go Modelling To Become a Better You?

How does a very successful lady in a niche educational field sustain her motivational level? How to overcome caring and well-meaning, but totally ignorant, people who tell her, "You are wasting your time." And to say that to a person who has published three "bestseller" books, related to her field of expertise.

How is she going to take it when a very wealthy and close family member, who thinks she is not doing well financially (no big house, no big car, no big plasma TV, no big coiffeuired hairdo ... okay, that last one is just to check whether you are still wide awake ... hehehe!) asks, "Do you want a job?"

How does she keep on going, to achieve her dream (of doing something in her educational work) that will last a 100 years? That will outlive her? That will leave a legacy, not only for her family, but for humankind on planet Earth?

How does she motivate herself to still continue with her dream, after 20 years of sweat and tears? After introducing her work to three countries (Malaysia, Singapore and China), but in which only one country appears to be keen to adopt her work on a wide-scale basis?

Imagine that you were her. How do you think that YOU would proceed? How would YOU motivate yourself in pursuit of YOUR dream?

One of her secrets (other than HARD WORK), is that she uses modelling. No, she does not model herself on America's Next Top Model. She uses the founder of the Montessori educational system as her model. To know that the Montessori educational system is a success for more than fifty years, and still expanding all over the world. She also wants her method/technique of using magic to teach mathematics to children, to follow Montessori's model of being a recognised teaching methodology, all over the world. How's that?

She also models her struggles and aspirations on people like Napoleon Hill, author of the book Think and Grow Rich. Napoleon Hill took 25 years to complete Think and Grow Rich, and the book is as relevant today as when it was first published way back in 1937. She has dedicated 20 years of her life to her present work, so if she models herself on Napoleon Hill, she still has to dedicate herself for another 5 years.

From the above examples, don't you think that modelling is a powerful inspirational tool? A tool that will motivate you to keep on going. To achieve your dream, just as the special awesome lady above, does?

At another seminar, I saw a lady from South America who was modelling Singapore's ex-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's speech. The speech had to do with the politics of development.

She had watched the video presentation, and had tried to memorise the speech. The more important part was that she was doing her level best to really "act out" the speech; as though she was really Lee Kuan Yew.

All the members of the audience were spell-bound, because she was fully and emotionally appreciating (while acting out the words and the feelings) the sacrifices that Lee Kuan Yew felt he had made for Singapore. It was powerful for her. She could relate it to her own country. It was powerful for the audience.

Another participant modeled Martin Luther King's last speech. He was also truly into the speech, The audience were similarly powerfully emotionally touched.

Modelling, whether you take a person's journey through life as your model (you consider him your hero), or you model a person's speech (his words and his emotions when he gave the speech) is a very powerful learning tool. And also, to motivate you.

The moral of the story? Modelling is one of the proven ways to develop yourself. So, go find yourself a hero(ine) to be your model.

Study the lives of successful people through their autobiographies or biographies. Or simply study the videos of their speeches, and put yourself emotionally in their emotional states. And act out their physical movements and facial or verbal expressions. You will go a long way towards becoming a better you.

I wish you Success in your undertakings, and Good Health and Wealth to you and your family. Take care!

How Gullible Are You for Financial Scams?

How gullible are you? Have you been burnt by investing in a financial scam?

The newspapers in "Malaysia - Truly Asia" have highlighted, in the last few years, of people being cheated by the infamous "Nigerian email scam". This is based on paying a fee (1%?) so that you can get a very generous share (40%) of a $5 million inheritance. Or variations of the million-dollar figure. The Nigerian diplomatic mission have had to make announcements in the local media, to inform that this sort of email 'offerings' is actually a scam.

Those who have lost their shirts in the Nigerian email scam have been labeled as being driven by greed. Of wanting to get easy money. I am sure you have received such emails. You still have your shirt, so you are awesome!

My university classmate puts his money in a 'gold investment program'. He says he gets 2.5% returns per month. 30% per annum? A few of my friends and I have not invested in that program. Is it because we are not gullible? Or is it because we are ignorant? You tell me?

I know a few guys who invest in a 'property investment program'. They make 20-30% annual returns on investment. Would you join these guys?

I was told that you can invest $20,000 in another 'property investment program', which takes advantage of the U.S.A.'s sub-prime loan crisis. Your return would be $300 a month. That is $3,600 a year. 18% annual return on investment? Would you put your money in this opportunity?

Many investors have got burnt in the stock market in the year 2008. Do you think they have been cheated? Or do you think they were gullible by investing in the stock market? Ermmm ... quite tough questions?

Stephen Greenspan, emeritus professor of educational psychology at the University of Connecticut, explored how investors continue to be swindled. How he also lost money in Madoff's alleged Ponzi scheme.

In his explanatory model, Prof. Greenspan says that there are four factors which help explain acts of gullibility. The four factors are situation, cognition, personality, and emotion.

Situation occurs when you are presented with a social challenge that you have to solve. Do you believe that the investment proposal presented to you is benign, or unsafe (dangerous)? You may be pressured by social influence to be gullible (especially in Ponzi schemes, when the earlier investors have recouped their investments, and made profits).

How can you overcome this social pressure problem? By not having friends? No. Just have your own mind. Do not try to please others.

Seek advice and more information from others, especially the experts and successful investors with a proven track record. No need to re-invent the wheel. Follow the path set by the successful investors.

Cognition (or intelligence?) is deficient when you make a stupid decision (such as investing in a scam). Normally intelligent people will make defective decisions when based on intuition and impulse, frequently driven by emotion.

So, the way to avoid scams is to make rational, non-impulsive, and reflective decisions. In short: "Stay cool, man!".

Your Personality trait, that may make you a gullible person, is normally associated with your trust in others. Trusting others, such as your best friend, is good. But sometimes your best friend may not have the intelligence (or cognitive skill) to differentiate a scam from a genuine investment.

So, what to do? There's a saying, "Trust, but only 99%". What's the 1% for? For you to do your homework. To check it out. Because at the end of the day, you are responsible for your results. Not your best friend.

Emotion is the crucial factor, to see whether you are gullible or not. Emotion could be because of excitement, at finding a better investment. In the Nigerian email scam, it would undoubtedly be greed (40%, not of your long lost favourite uncle's, but of a complete stranger's, $5 million inheritance!).

How can you learn to be unemotional? Learn that you can't get something for nothing! If it's too good to be true, it is most likely that.

The moral of the story? The divide between being gullible and being ignorant, is not that clear. Perhaps Robert Kiyosaki says it best, "Know the difference between Risk and the Risky".

He wrote, "I often hear people saying. 'Investing is risky'.
"I disagree. Instead I say, 'Being uneducated is risky'".
For Robert Kiyosaki, if you want to be a successful investor, get educated in financial intelligence.

I wish you Sucess in your undertakings and Good Health and Wealth to you and your family. Take care!

P.S. After writing the above, the newspapers reported that India's fourth largest software company Satyam Computer Services went into a financial quagmire, after its founder and chairman reportedly fudged figures to the tune of $1 billion over 5 years. To show $1 billion in the company's accounts - when it does not exist - is it creative accounting? Or a notch better - magical accounting? Your comment?

But the more critical question is, how are you going to avoid such fraud, if you were an investor? Your comment?

P.P.S. On 02.02.2009, I received a special internet invitation from my best friend (whom I have never met before) Brigadier General Kamalu Chimson to share with him a $12.5 million fund (25% for me, and 75% for him!). I did not realise that there is a kind man from Africa who would like to make my life a living heaven on earth. I must be a good boy to deserve this God-given opportunity. I may not have time to write this blog again ... sorry ... I need to go shopping for a Lotus Elise immediately. You too have a great time, ok?

Do Your Shortcomings Count?

Do you have any shortcomings? Anything that acts like an obstacle for you, in your quest for success?

Perhaps you do not have enough money? Not enough experience? You do not have leadership qualities? You do not have the skills to speak in front of an audience of more than 5 people? Not enough good-looks?

Many years ago, I met a couple. I thought that the husband was good-looking. Handsome. The wife was not ugly. But I thought that they were mis-matched. You understand? Like Beauty and The Beast. He was the Beauty, and she was The Beast. Not a really accurate reflection of my thoughts then, but you get the drift?

Of course, now (with the decades of acquired wisdom ... ahem. .. errm) I realise that it was very shallow thinking on my part. To judge people by their appearances. By my own shallow standards or criteria. Beauty is not skin deep. Do not judge a book by its cover. One man's meat is another man's poison.

If you do not have communications skills, just join the nearest local Toastmaster's International Club. Not only will you increase tremendously your confidence to speak to a crowd, you will also increase your leadership skills (when you fully take part in their activities). I have personally seen this transformation take place in a guy, at the club that I am a member of - The Money Mastery Kuala Lumpur Toastmasters Club.

Not enough job experience? Simple solution, ain't it? Go get it. Even for free. Some multinational companies only recruit people who have had at least a year's working experience. So even if you work for free, that is actually your investment to get a job at a multi-national company.

You can also volunteer your services to a non-governmental organisation (NGO), or any number of voluntary organisations. They desperately need a willing and friendly hand.

I just heard last Saturday (at a get-together), that a young guy increased his network through Facebook. Some of the people in his Facebook network, whom he had never met personally, accepted his invitations to an educational event.

(You may also realise that a huge network is a critical success factor (CSF) to advance in the multi-level or network marketing industry.)

Wow! This social marketing thing is powerful! As you are fully aware, it's "not what you know, but who you know" that can determine your success in life.

The success of your business venture. The success of your family life, because that nice auntie that you know, successfully helped introduce you to the love of your life.

In short, that young guy will Increase his NetWorth through his NetWork. His net will work to increase his net worth! Amazing, ain't it?

During our cycling group's "carbo-loading" stop last Sunday, some of us were discussing that those who were considered the cream at high school (winner of this, and that, academic prize), relatively did not do as well in life as those who were not considered the top of the cream. Yes, they may be doing well financially, but they did not have time (such as to cycle every Sunday with us) because they had to be on-call at the hospital. Whilst those who did not do well, were either overseas on vacation, or had all the time in the world to meet (for anything ... coffee at Starbucks, golf, teh tarik session at the mamak eatery, etc).

One friend shared his experience ,whereby two of his schoolmates who were considered "dumb" in school, are now successful businessmen, and respected leaders in their community. One even drives a Rolls-Royce. (Well, I didn't tell the whole truth. His chauffeur drives the Rolls, and he sits at the back).

The moral of the story? Your shortcomings do not count, unless you start counting them. When you have a big heart to do whatever it takes, you will succeed in whatever you do.

Furthermore, it's anytime more rewarding to count your blessings! And also to bless others. May God Bless You for Reading this Blog! ... hehehe!

I wish you Success in you undertakings, and Good Health and Wealth to you and your family. Take care!

History Repeats Itself?

Back in 1998, Robert Kiyosaki in The CASHFLOW Quadrant wrote, "Historically, if people lived to be 75 years of age, they live through two recessions and one depression. As baby boomers we have gone through two recessions, but we have not yet seen that depression. Maybe there will never be a depression again. But history does not say that."

He further said, " Just as there are waves on the ocean, there are great waves in markets. Instead of the wind and sun driving the waves of the ocean, the waves of the financial markets are driven by two human emotions: greed and fear.

I do not think that depressions are things of the past because we are all human beings and we all have emotions of greed and fear. And when greed and fear collide, and a person loses badly, the next emotion is depression. ... Economic depressions are emotional depressions."

Wow! What an explanation. Is he an economics history professor? Economics philosopher? Economics prophet, or what?

Forbes magazine wrote, "In the year 2010, the first baby boomers turn 65. In the year 2010, instead of adding money to the stock market, baby boomers will begin withdrawing money from the stock market ... if not earlier."

From the above, it appears that the present economic tsunami and financial meltdown is not something that is unexpected.

The U.S.A. is the world's number one international debtor. Numero Uno! Just servicing the debt amounts to some $250 billion! That is just the interest payment, baby! Not the principal.

The principal is some $40 trillion! People like Robert Kiyosaki have said, "The world will realise that the U.S. will not be able to borrow its way out of ... problems." It also means, without any new policy or financial invention, the U.S.A. may go bankrupt. Sooner or later. So, you better be careful where you put your money!

I attended a 4-week training program on 'Oil and Gas Accounting' in 1985. The American professor who conducted the training had a similar view.

Is 2008's global financial turmoil (starting with the U.S. sub-prime loan crisis), the manifestation of what some economists have been aware all along, all these years?

The manifestation of greed, with which the sub-prime loan crisis has been attributed to. And the manifestation of fear, which has led to the credit crunch when even banks have no trust (or confidence) in another bank's ability to pay. For fear that the other bank may collapse completely. And no wonder - 25 U.S. banks failed in 2008 compared to 3 in 2007. With even the likes of Lehmann Brothers going bankrupt, and global Citibank needing a U.S. government bail-out.

There appear to be many around the world who are still in denial about the present global economy going to be in a depression. Perhaps it is politically incorrect (or dangerous) to say that you will be facing a depression soon.

Perhaps afraid of a self-fullfilling prophesy? I guess it's a little bit too late now for such a thing.

The moral of the story? Understanding history is important because it indicates where you have been. And where you will likely be going.

All indications for the year 2009 (as prophesied by Robert Kiyosaki and similar like-thinking economists and businessmen) is that you are going to experience a global depression. Maybe worse than the 1930s!?!

If you follow the Boy Scouts' motto "Be Prepared", you have nothing to worry. If not, then may the Good Lord be with you.

There is a silver lining in the clouds, though. If you are a true investor, this is the opportunity in the crisis. Everyone will be selling (stocks, real estate, etc). In a fire-sale (arising from people being emotionally depressed), the calm investor will go for the bargain.

Are you a calm investor? Then, strike when you are ready!

I wish you Success in your undertakings and Good Health and Wealth to you and your family. Take care!

P.S. It now appears that for $3000 (or less), you can buy a house in some parts of the United States. The banks have to sell the houses (almost for free) so that they are not burdened with maintenance charges and local taxes. (The other big reason is that banks are not in the home realty business, but in the money-lending business, so they do not want to keep any foreclosed house on their accounts). Of course you may need another $15,000 - $20,000 for repairs. Or you can just demolish the house and build a brand new one. The land, for one property with 0.38 acres, is certainly worth more than the $3,000 plus the demolition costs.

P.P.S. On 29/Jan/2009 I read that the International Labour Organisation (ILO) forecasts that(for a worst case scenario) global unemployment could rise (by the end of 2009) by 51 million people, to 230 million (7.1% of the world's labour force). The worst recession since the Second World War.

Your Money or Your Life?

A robber, with a gun, confronts you in a dark alley in the early hours of the morning, with no other soul in sight. "Your money or your life?", he says in that criminal voice which scares you to almost death. Classic situational scenario you are familiar with.

What would you do? Run for your life with the $1,000,000 in your pocket? Or just handover the $1,000,000?

Unless you are Superman (whereby you can catch the bullets coming towards you), or one of those sort of heroes, you would be better off to just handover the money. You can then fight (or make money) another day. Agree?

But what about in normal, everyday life? When there is no robber?

Can you still have your money ($1,000,000), and have a (happy) life? Or do you believe, that if you have money, money cannot bring you happiness?

Can you do something that you love, and at the same time make money? Or is doing something that you love, an entirely different proposition from making a living (making money)?

In this financial paradigm, if you love travelling, what you do is to work hard until you retire at 60 or 65. After you retire, you go travelling around the work (using the money you saved from working hard). That is why if you go on a tour (say, in Europe), you find that the majority who join the tour groups are in their sixties or seventies (from the U.S.A.). Some with canes to help them walk.

Isn't it possible to have lots of money (not $1,000,000 but perhaps $10,000 extra a year), to go and have an overseas holiday every year. When you are still in your twenties or thirties rather than in your late sixties or seventies?

Is it possible to never have to get a job, but still have as much money as those having a job? Without receiving government money? Such as unemployment benefit or disability payment. Or an insurance payout because you were involved in an accident? What do you think?

Well, a person like Dr Dolf de Roos is one such person. Just after completing his doctorate in electrical engineering, he was offered a job at $32,000 a year (this was a sizeable amount because it was in the last century, ok?). He rejected it.

Why? Because he had just (the week before) netted $35,000 from a real estate deal he had completed. He worked one week on the deal. He could then afford 51 weeks holiday if he wished to (compared to working for the $32,000 job offer). Does he have a job? No. Never. Does he work? Yes. Smart.

A former high school teacher gave up her teaching position. So that she could teach her passion for creativity. Of using magic to teach mathematics. She has shared the stage with professors (even of mathematics) at international fora.

Does she have a job? No. Does she work? Yes. But her work is her passion, so it is more enjoyable. It does not seem like work.

Oh yes, her income from conducting a one day training equals what she used to be paid for one month (as a teacher). Did she go into her passion because of the good money? Or did the good money follow her passion?

The moral of the story? You can have your cake and it it too! You can have both your money and your life!

You can be poor and miserable. You can also be rich and happy. The good news is: the choice is yours!

I wish you Success in your undertakings and Good Health and Wealth to you and your family. Take care!

P.S. Dr Dolf de Roos is the author of many books on real estate investment; amongst them is Real Estate Riches.