by Helmi Hakim | Feb 11, 2009 | Miscellaneous
As for month February, March and April, I will be reducing my posts to once a week.
This is because, I need to devote quite some time, on few projects
– passing my driving test (my lessons, almost everyday), to pass before company’s incentive trip to Australia in April.
– completing and publishing my first book (will leak the details at a later date)
– passing my AFC (Associate Financial Consultant) exams
– restructuring the my client management system using FastPro software.
– preparing materials for “Helmi Hakim’s Clients’ Testimonial” and “Whiteboard Financial Youtube” videos.
I really hope, you learnt something from my blog, as I also learnt when I share! 🙂
by Helmi Hakim | Feb 9, 2009 | Investment, Motivation
I believe, this is a very intriguing topic, for Mondays’ motivational post.
You see, many people including ME, loves to spend. Everytime, earn money, I love to splurge on everything that looks ATTRACTIVE to my eyes. nike sales @ singapore expo just over
Yes… I always advise my clients on the boundaries of “needs” and “wants”. Buy stuffs only, if you NEED it. Save 20% of your monthly income. Have 6 months savings of your monthly expenses for contingencies….Think savings as on a daily basis, makes it much EASIER for you to save….Savings is GOOD, spending is BAD…..dadadahhhh….
It is like script that I have rattled over 1001 times….preaching and at times lambasting others to do savings. Easier said than done. Period.
The question now is, “How do you exactly MOTIVATE yourself, to do more savings?”
The strategy that I am about to share with you, is a well known strategy that many who find it difficult to save money like me, contends that this is the BEST, “sure to work” strategy.
It is called “FORCED SAVINGS”! 🙂
Most people, what they do, when they get their pay, is that they SPEND their money first, and then later, they SAVES.
They spend their money, and then later at the end of the month, begin to kancheong question themselves, “Eh? Where all my money gone into?”.
Unfortunately, for many, the “balance” at the end of the month is too little or worst… they have a negative cashflow, taking GE loans, Courts loans, even worst….credit cards loans @ 24% interest per annum! 🙁 –sigh, disappointment–
What you need to do is, save your money first, and the remaining, SPEND it! Get a regular savings plan, ie endowment plan or investment linked policy. (Note: Financial Advisors like us can do a risk profile analysis for you)
The money will be deducted every month automatically from your bank account. I did this, and NOW, whenever, I spend money, I can do so without feeling guilty.
Why? Because, I know that my savings, for the basic needs have been well taken care of! 🙂
So remember, when you get your pay, SAVE your money 1st, and then later, you can SPEND the rest, without feeling guilty! 🙂
by Helmi Hakim | Feb 7, 2009 | Miscellaneous, Motivation
Yesterday, our team have our “Lou Hei” session at Melleo’s Place Cafe, East Point Mall. 🙂
Its a culture in our team, where we frequently gathered together, to build the cohesive and camaraderie, while strengthening our team spirit, in facing challenges and obstacles that fall upon us… too long winded
Btw, 20 seconds advertisements, to my friends’ blog. 🙂
Alvin Soong : www.skcagency.com/blog
Wei Liang: www.weiliangtan.blogspot.com
Thomas Ong: www.thomas-ong.com
Evelyn Cai: www.evelyncai.blog.com
Back to Lou Hei….
‘Lou Hei’ is the tossing of ‘Yu Sheng’, a colourful salad platter of raw fish and crunchy vegetables, to symbolize luck and prosperity.
This dish is traditionally served on the seventh day of Chinese New Year, which the Chinese celebrate as “everyone’s birthday.”
The 7th day of Chinese New Year is known as “yan yat” (day of humanity). Each day of the new year is named after an animal.
”Yee” means “fish” and “Sang” means “toss”. However, “Sang” as it is pronounced can also mean “rise up” or “give birth”. “Yee” can also mean “prosperity”.
The rule of yee sang is that the dish itself must be very colourful. It usually consists of coloured flour strips in red and green.
Also shredded carrot, shredded radish and ginger which has been dyed red and green. Crispy strips of fried stuff is added. This is arranged on a large plate with each ingredient seperate from the other.
When ready, you mix it up with the sauces, and use chopsticks to toss the whole thing up….while everyone “shouting sales ar, sales ar, sales ar“….
The higher you toss the salad and the louder you shout ‘Lou Hei’ or “sales”, the more luck you will have in the coming year.
hahahhhh…Its kinda good for bonding exercises! 🙂
by Helmi Hakim | Feb 4, 2009 | Miscellaneous, Motivation
I have been attending a series of seminars these past few weeks, and what changes me on the way, I look at life is this seminar called, “Quality Leadership & Life Management Training” by Mr Sutrisna Suryadilaga, a well known motivational speaker from Indonesia.
Prior to attending this seminar, I was thinking on what life is really about. Why are we here on this planet called earth? What does it really mean by leading a “balanced lifestyle”? You know, like many, I want to be a successful person. Yet the underlying reason to “Why Be Successful” seems so weak. At times, I asked myself if, “all the decisions that I make today are the right ones?”
Why or why not? …… thank god, this purposeful seminar open up my eyes and served as an in depth, spiritual enlightenment.
Sutrisna starts of the seminar with a story and later shares practical, easy to understand life tools and methodologies that answer all my queries.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
The Story
Once upon a time, there is a well known director, looking ahead for retirement. He is rich, very successful, have lots of money and now, finally looking forward to relax, and enjoy his lifestyle. He went to the open sea, to enjoy the cool breeze….ahhhh…very refreshing.
Then he saw, a young man on a dingy boat. Lieing down, relaxing, looking at the cool, blue sky.
The director said to himself, “Gosh! Today is a weekday. Why is he not working and just lazing around lazily?”
Feeling disturbed, he approached the young man, and asked him, “Young man, why are you not working today?”
Young man replied, “For what work?”
Director feeling agitated answered, “You work so that you can earn money.”
Young man said, “For what earn money?”
Director replied, “You work hard, so that you can earn money, buy things that you want and enjoy life.”
Young man said, ” What makes a difference between you and me now? I am young and I am enjoying myself now.”
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Sutrina then left us to think about the story, and then provide us with tools on leading a fulfiling life.
There were many things that he shared with us, like, goal settings, purpose of life, etc2…… but what sticks on me till now, is making decisions based on “hati nurani”, heart voice.
There are many ways, benchmarks that we use in making decisions.
We can use LOGIC to make decisions. We can use GREED to make decisions. We can use LUST to make decisions…. yet the best decision making methodology is to use our HEART VOICE “Hati Nurani” to make decisions.
It will never misguide us and will promote ever lasting happiness. When we make decisions based on our heart voice, our conscience, we will find that whatever action steps we take are the right ones.
I will strongly recommend anyone who will like to have a better perspective on life to attend this QLM training. It will give you the direction and energy that you will need most! 🙂
by Helmi Hakim | Jan 30, 2009 | Miscellaneous, Motivation
Fridays’ Miscellaneous Post
Today’s topic is something light…. but profound. 🙂
I will like to talk to you about passion. Have you every tried doing something, you think you like doing and then later, you begin to question yourself,
Why am I doing this?
Why am I doing that?
Whats the intrinsic objective for me to do this?
Whats the intrinsic objective for me to do that?
What do I gain from here? Why am I putting in so much? Why…? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
Well… Today, I am going to let you, a little secret out. You see, the magic word of maintaining your passion, is to “outsource”.
Example: I am a financial associate. You see me talking about insurance, savings and investment because that is my core expertise.
I enjoy talking about making money in stocks, making money by investing in funds, having adequate insurance coverage for families, because that is my passion.
I can do it all day long, tirelessly because why? Because all that is my PASSION!
So…Does passion lasts forever? The answer is NO!!!!! You have to maintain it!
Now, what is the NUMBER 1 unwanted element in my perspective, that can KILL your passion?
The number 1 element that can KILL YOUR PASSION is trying to do everything yourself.
Yes…. When you try to do everything yourself, you are not cutting cost. You are increasing your opportunity cost of adding value to your business. Worst, if you do things that you are not….really passionate about, and mixed it up with doing things that you are so passionate with, the “why am I doing this question” will crop out…
As I progress with my financial planning business, there will be a lot of things that I will outsource. I am going for lots of seminars that is relevant to the “expansion phase” of my business, so when it comes to the “implementation” of my plans, I dont have to do all the “thinking” alone.
I will have the “network” of highly qualified individuals who are very, very passionate in their subject matter to assist me.
… and guess what happens when a group of highly passionate people work together? Valuable results ensued!
So, friends…I leave the small token of my well-guarded insider tips here. If you want, to maintain your passion, OUTSOURCE! 🙂
