My Model...someone for me to aspire to.

I have an interesting passenger right beside me on the way back home from Shanghai yesterday. He is rather old and I notice that he shakes a little. He was sitting by the window and I had aisle (my favourite row). He was already seated when I arrived. We made eye contact and he smiled at me and I reciprocate. After the plane takes off, he took out a catalog from his brief case and started to sketch out chairs. Up in my head, I thought he may be Danish. Just back from Copenhagen, I now know that Denmark is famous for the chairs and chair design.

I cannot recall what was the first comment he said to me. However there a few key points I remember and I think he is send by God to me. He is a Swiss and speaks German and Italian(mum's Italian) He is 65 years old and he start his own business at 40 years of age. He started with 10,000 swiss francs and 6 chairs. He has been to North Pole by Russian helicopter. South Pole by Russian Icebreaker ship, been to Sahara desert two years ago...

Why do I think he is godsend? At 40, he started his own business. He learn about chairs by visiting exhibition. He first imported chairs from Italy because that is the language he can speak fluently. He learn English by watching television and talking people like me! He taught me so much and show me the way. His father is still alive and 91 years. He says until today his father still do not believe he could make so much money selling chairs!! He tells me he has Parkinson disease (now I know the shakes). He recommended I should go to Mana Mana in Bintan. He says it is like paradise. Small huts on stilts just right on the sea. He flew Singapore Airlines a lot.

He showed me the price list of his product. One cost 230 Swiss francs. He told me it cost him only 40 francs. He does not make all the profits as the retail makes 40%. Still pretty good profit! He tell me that you must be first. Then you can make product for one dollar and sell for fifty. He just introduce a new series of chairs made from Seagrass. He is the first to bring this product to Switzerland.

I asked for his name card so that you know it is real. His name is Erwin Hauser. He has showed me that it is not too late to be an entreprenuer. Thank you! Mr. Hauser.

Copenhagen - day 3

Took train to Helsingor and then by bus to museum of Technology. History of technology is right there in front of you. Old aeroplanes, old telephones, early batteries, early experiments with electricity, old apparatus. It is educational for kids except my boys do not seem to be interested. We then visited Tivoli in Copenhagen. For Singaporean in their forties and fifties, they will know what I mean....Tivoli reminds me of Great World. Rides, pay to have 3 balls to throw and get a prize if you score three direct hits, rifles with moving targets, duck fishing, etc. Tivoli also have musical fountains, roller coaster, bungee seats just like the one in Clarke Quay. We also visit the Design Center and Planetarium. Good thing we pay for the Copenhagen card i.e. train and museum fares included, though not all museum. We are a little disappointed as the museums have little exhibits and mostly Danish explanation. Not sure if you will get value if you pay to get in to see. Singapore time 2:07am

Land of expensive meals

Would you believe a McDonald meal cost S$20? A resturant meal cost average S$50 per head... A hot dog is 20 konors or S$6. I guess there are lot of BYOs (bring you own). We are lucky. My wife has read up and is ready. So she has prepared snacks, instant noodles, instant porridge, rice, etc. The challenge is with 3 hungry boys the food run out fast. We are only in day 2 and our supplies has run down quickly. Food from supermart is not cheap either. 10 eggs cost 20 konors - S$6 more expensive than during chicken and eggs ban when Malaysia had bird flu!

No wonder Copenhagen retain the honor for the most expensive city in Europe. 12:05am singapore time.

What time is it?

Time for packing and off to airport for a holiday in Copenhagen. Will be blogging the holiday trip on my return. Good Bye.

Doctor at National Cancer Center

My younger sister called this morning. She was very distressed and emotional. She was sobbing and incoherent. Her doctor just told she will die. She just finished her followup visit with her doctor at National Cancer Center. I had to calm her down before she can tell what had transpired between her and her doctor, a Senior Consultant. My sister was going for her 2nd course of Chemotherapy. She was warded to General Hospital two weeks after her first chemo for fever. Her white blood cells(WBC) count were low. She was given a drug to stimulate white blood cells production. This drug has cause lots of pain to her bones - hip, spine and all the joints.

The Senior Consultant, a female doctor told my sister that she is prescribing the drug for stimulating WBC. My sister thinking of the pain she has gone through asked if possible to avoid taking this drug. Maybe if the blood test shows the WBC count is low, then she will take the drug. The Senior Consultant look at her straight into her eyes and said if you don't take this drug you will die. This is so traumatic to the patient. She is at a weak emotional state first discovering she has cancer, then having her breast removed and worrying and wandering why all this has happened to her...

I wonder what kind of doctor she is. Why is she so callous? Did she has a bad day? Why would someone who is supposed to save lives be out to cause such emotional distress? Is it because my sister is a subsidised patient? Maybe she is in the wrong profession...

My elderest sister called me in the evening. She told me my younger sister is still crying... I drop by to visit her right away. She is an emotional wreck. My heart bleeds for her. My wife and I stay with her for an hour. We talk and she improved and calm down.

I am so sorry my younger sister has this doctor.

Stress

Life is stressful, work is stressful, home is stressful, everything is stressful. Is it?? The best way to react to stress is to walk away and calm down. Easier said than done! Try taking a deep breath and hold... count thousand and one, thousand and two, thousand and three! Then breath out long and exhale completely. Repeat 3 times and let me know if this works for you...

50 Spiritual Classics

Kinokuniya has 20% discount for members. I loved books. 20%??.... time to pick up some books! Today, I pick up 50 Spiritual Classics. This is a summary of 50 books. Some I have read like Autobiography of a Yogi and others was always interested but have not read yet like Tao of Physics. I thought this book will allow me to "read" 50 books by reading on one just like Executive Summary of Business Books. It is an easy read and you can pick and choose which "book" to discover first. And if it looks interesting, another trip to Kinokuniya or Times to boost their sales numbers. There are two more companions in this trilogy - 50 Self Help Classics and 50 Success Classics. Look like I will be adding these two in my collection soon, real soon.

Chemo

Visit my younger sister in hospital today. She was warded for fever. Her WBC(white blood cell) count was low. At first glance she looks like my niece. She was slim. On closer look, I realise it was her and she looks rundown. Chemotherapy does lot of damage to the body! Yes, my sister has breast cancer and was operated a month ago. Right now she is undergoing chemo to get rid of any cancer cells that may still be lurking in her body. She has two sons, age 12 and 10. She is in good spirits when I saw her. I shall pray for her speedy recovery.

Back from China

Was travelling in China, hence did not update or read any comments that may have come in. It was a busy week...one city every day. Spend the week conducting product training for sales reps of our business partner(distributor) with a colleague of mine. My mandarin is only good for ordering food in China. This colleague has an excellent command of mandarin, at least much better than mine. She did most of the training and I answered all the queries. Good division of labor!

Sze Li - A fellow blogger...

It intrigue me that a fellow blogger put in a comment on my first day of blogging. She also give me the address of her website. I went visiting... She is a student. Today her graduation photos are there. Congratulations! Sze Li. I guess she is probably working now. Maybe studying for her masters??

Just a quick update on my troublesome tooth. I needed a root canal and has an appointment to see an Endodontist in National University Hospital in August 30...long wait. I feel dull pain every day. Sigh! Can't wait for this episode to be over.

Ever hear of the Professor who forgets his baby?

I looked at my watch. It was 1:05pm...oh! I have to pick up son up from child care. OK, one more email and I will go. A colleague called. We talked about budgets, expenses, backorders, stress in the office...whine about the workload. Finally, we decide time to get back to work on the budget. Hang up the phone and walk down for a quick drink when I realised to my horrors I have completely forgotten about picking up my son!! The time is 1:50pm!! Child care was over at 1:15pm.

I ran all the way. The child care is only 7 mins walk. My teenage son was with me and race way ahead. I was panting and totally out of breath! (Beside taking care of your teeth, exercise regularly!) The teacher brought Lucas out. He is ok...just wondering why daddy has not come yet instead of wailing away thinking he was abandoned. What a relief! We are a happy family again.

Oh! I forgot about the title. This incident brought memories of an old news that a professor brought his baby and was supposed to drop off to child care as his wife was busy and unable to send the baby as she usually does. Well, it was a sad story. The professor forgets that about his baby and left the baby in the car. It was summer and the outcome was tragic. I think it happened in Europe.

What time is it?

10:43pm

Want to know pain?

If you ever need to know pain, do not take good care of your teeth. I had nagging headaches for weeks. Recently, eating become painful as my teeth get more sensitive. I went to the dentist and had a filling done. Thinking it is ok now, I had food and an intense shooting pain went right through my head. My greatest regret is not taking good care of my teeth. Pain is unbearable and debilitating. Back to the dentist again and found a bigger hole that does not show up in x-rays.

Janice Wong

I wrote an email to Janice Wong, the journalist with her blog and she replied!! I have written to her once before and she did not reply. The other who reply to my email was Sumiko Tan. Sumiko reply only once and on the first time I wrote to her on the tragic event of my sister-in-law.

When journalist/author replies to mail, it bring him/her to life. Otherwise, it is like a phantom, you are not sure if it is really a warm body like you and me writing the articles.

Janice, thanks a lot. You made my day!

P.S. Janice website url is: www.janice-wong.com

Performance Review

It is all about work. My boss gave me a performance review this evening. Yes...evening. This is best time. Of course we did it by phone. It is nice to get a pat on the back. He is in good mood and is pleased with our performance. I was surprised to find out at the end of the call that he is on holiday and take time from his holiday to do my review. Thank you, Randy!

Presentation

Was in Chicago Business School for Strategic Marketing course. Presented a small section and had a couple smart ladies giving positive feedback on my presentation. Made my day! My ego is on its way to the moon...

When is the movie starting?

My 4 year old boy wanted to watch the Fantastic 4 movie after seeing the trailer repeatedly in the Kids Central TV program. In the movie theater, he was more interested to eat his Twisties, Popcorn and cookies. Half way through the movie, he asked "daddy, when is the movie starting?" This is his first movie experience...er rather non-experience.

Son, why are you so impatient?

Half asleep in bed feeling the nice cool air caressing my naked chest, my cellphone rang! "Daddy, my tuition is over. Come pick me up!" the voice in the phone pierce into my half concious mind. "Can you take the train and come home yourself" I asked. "Huh!! It is so late..." "Ok, wait for Daddy at the entrance of Junction 8 where I drop you off". I shake off my lethargy and put on a T-shirt, pick up the car keys and drive off to pick him up.

He saw my car and ran to open the door the moment I stopped for him. I noticed his hand is holding some notes that has almost been torn into 2. "What happened to your papers?" I asked. "Every min past 9:20, I tear a bit" he replied angrily. "You took more than 20 mins to come!!" he chided.

Did I have an ungrateful child? Did I not inculcate the right values? Is he naturally selfish and self-centred? I wonder.

Leadership

What is a leader? I just spent two days teaching Fundamentals of Leadership to a group of manager. Management and leadership are distinctly different and yet intertwain. Does a title make you a manager? Do you need to have people reporting to you to be a leader?

A leader is someone whom others look to for directions, to consult and one who can work independently. Included in this course is a tool called "Communication Styles at Work". This tool categorise 4 different styles and every individual has exhibits preference for certain styles and when stress may change styles. It is a mirror for your self and a window to the others. Once you know your styles and the styles of your team mates, you understand the differences and can now be more effective and reduce the inevitable conflicts that occurs. Bring forth leadership that produces results...

Jul 4, 2005

Today I met up with a new colleague and discuss about business and selling successes or the lack of. We are experiencing great growth in our business. So we are busy. I have to the train back and took the wrong train. Ended up in Bugis and decided to alight anyway and visit the Goddess of Mercy Temple. Have wanted to go last weekend but was too sick to go. So it may be God's asking to fulfill my wishes and send me to visit the temple.

So did I take the wrong train?