Saturday, January 28, 2012

Bill Gates on Jobs...

Wanna share this article shared by a fb fren...i particularly like this quote from Bill Gates: “If you have a dream, and it comes true, it’s a very cool thing.” 

Was reading the sunday times when i saw a comment which goes somthg like "u cant become rich by being an engineer" from a person being interviewed...he has an engineering degree n went into insurance...i started to think abt the BIG engineering alumni signboard tt i saw in nus last yr...my leechie idol, mr. Liew, has an engineering degree...so did a certain ms. H Ching...n my leechie idol, ms. Olivia Lum, has a chemistry degree n she has nvr been to biz sch...well, i dont know that many insurance folks who r much richer than them! i'm not sure if the media is trying to glamourize certain industries? o.O" in my humble opinion, an education is juz trying to educate us how to learn...it's juz a starting point...which may also explain y diff ppl taking the same course can end up so differently in life?

"Sometimes things happen in our lives that tear us apart inside, but if we don't learn to look past them and see the sun shining above the clouds, we will forever be standing in the rain"

Nvr expect honesty from cheapo ppl!!!


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Bill Gates:

"One of the few people to understand his compulsions was Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, who died of cancer in October. The two men’s long and stormy relationship has been chronicled in Jobs’s latest biography, but, until now, Gates has said little about their divisions - and their bonds.

“Steve was an incredible genius who contributed immensely to the field I was in. We had periods, like the early Macintosh, when we had more people working on it than they did. And then we were competitors. The personal computers I worked on had a vastly higher [market] share than Apple until really the last five or six years, where Steve’s very good work on the Mac and on iPhones and iPads did extremely well. It’s quite an achievement, and we enjoyed each [other’s work].”

This tribute, part praise, part reminder of Gates’s dominance, is more tactful than the comments Jobs made in his lifetime. “He spent a lot of his time competing with me. There are lots of times when Steve said [critical] things about me. If you took the more harsh examples, you could get quite a litany.” In Jobs’s view, his rival was “unimaginative”, “a bit narrow” and derivative. As he once told an interviewer, “He [Gates] would be a broader guy if he had dropped acid once or gone off to an ashram.”

The atmosphere changed in 2007 when Gates left Microsoft to set up the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation with his wife. “Steve and I did an event together, and he couldn’t have been nicer…I got a fair bit of time with him in his last year. Some months before Jobs died, Gates paid him a long visit. “We spent literally hours reminiscing and talking about the future.” Later, with his old adversary’s death imminent, he wrote to him. “I told Steve about how he should feel great about what he had done and the company he had built. I wrote about his kids, whom I had got to know.”

That last gesture was not, he says, conciliatory. “There was no peace to make. We were not at war. We made great products, and competition was always a positive thing. There was no [cause for] forgiveness.” After Jobs’s death, Gates received a phone call from his wife, Laurene. “She said; 'Look, this biography really doesn’t paint a picture of the mutual respect you had.’ And she said he’d appreciated my letter and kept it by his bed.”

Bill Gates rarely talks in such human terms. As a mathematician, he prefers numbers to emotion, focusing on the billion people in desperate poverty and the money needed to help them survive and work towards prosperity. As someone on the front line of mortality, he has balanced his aims against his own lifespan and wealth. Asked about his goal by a pupil at the school he is visiting, he says: “I’m 56. Hopefully I’ll live another 25 to 30 years to see [unnecessary] deaths drop to zero.”

“It’s not about legacy,” he tells me. “I’d like to see it get done. That is my job.” He has no expectation that his three children, who will inherit only a tiny fraction of his money, will follow him. “Our foundation won’t last long beyond Melinda’s and my lifetime. The resources will last about 20 years after whichever is the last of us to go. There is no family business, and my kids will make their own careers.”

While he speculates that they will be “great doctors or great lawyers”, he admires not only entrepreneurs but the market system. “Capitalism has worked phenomenally. Look at North Korea versus South Korea, or China before and after 1979. Capitalism has shortfalls. It doesn’t necessarily take care of the poor, and it underfunds innovation, so we have to offset that. We don’t have to [ask] whether capitalism is wrong.”

Though not especially religious, and far from pious (“People on the front line are the saints”), Bill Gates is driven on by faith. “I believed in the personal computer and I devoted my life to it,” he says. “If you have a dream, and it comes true, it’s a very cool thing.” Now he extends the passion he once expended on enterprise to ending disease and starvation. The man who changed the way the rich world lives is equally determined to change the way in which the poor world dies."

Monday, January 16, 2012

Birthday Photoshoot Nov 2011 Part 1












These pics were taken in nov last year...no idea why the makeup artist used such a dark foundation color on me...it was at least a couple of shades darker than my original skin color...but too bad tt i dont have photoshop so cant adjust my skin color =.=" check out the 2nd pic...i always thought tt my left profile looked ugly...but this pic of my left profile looks pretty decent ya =) anyway, my hair color is red now...v.apt for cny ;p

Recap what Joey said: Joey said everyone judges based on looks!!! sad but true fact of life...ppl always judge u based on ur looks...looks sell n can open certain doors which could possibly remain closed to some others! Jiahui from the 11pm Channel 8 show committed suicide after losing her looks from the bomb blast! Joey said ppl fall in love or r likeable for 2 reasons: looks & intelligence! i'm too naive to believe tt there r ppl who dont judge others!!! Joey also mentioned tt ppl wont want to associate with u if u have nothing to offer or cant add value to others' life! he personally knows almost half of the most wealthy ppl in Malaysia...n has built up his biz n got to where he is today in juz 15yrs! this is life: well, we r living in a practical society n ppl r attracted to rich&successful ppl! ppl can be very practical...why would they b interested in u if u r of no use to them???!!! "Never, ever insist yourself to someone who continuously overlooks your worth."

Robert Kiyosaki said: "Those who are successful in life are the people who notice what's wrong or missing in the world and finding opportunity in it."

I havent had any detailed astrology or bazi reading done...cos life's unknowns pose a mystery to me n i dont want som fortune-teller to predict my future or allow my decisions to b affected by some soothsayers' opinions or crystal ball! =.=" i believe tt destiny lies in my own hands n what i believe in strongly is:
"if others dont give me the opportunities, i shall create my own opportunities!!!"

"Don't do something permanently stupid just because you're temporarily upset"

“The only real valuable thing is intuition. The intuitive mind is a sacred gift & the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honours the servant & has forgotten the gift." ~ Albert Einstein

I asked Siri if it's male or female...n the male voice responded "I was not assigned a gender!" lol ;p btw, does ur Siri have a male or female voice? ;p

Leechie did a blur thing today...i thought i fitted in my contact lens n went abt doing my usual stuff...but wondered y my contacts r not v.clear today eh...many stuff still looked v.blur...it was only later tt i found out tt the contacts in my right eye popped out right after i fitted in n blur me didnt realize it until much later =.="

I believe there can be platonic friendship between the 2 genders...even if love is outta the question, there can still be friendship ya...think the way guys n gals view bgr can be very different? some guys cant concentrate on only 1 gal n need to date sooooooo many gals n have sooooooo many options! guess most gals dont want to be Plan B...as in, perhaps gals will shy away once they find out tt they r juz one of the many, many available options! some guys focus a lot of time n energy on trying to find love...but ended up feeling emotionally drained from unrequitted love...sometimes alot of things r not what it appears to be or how u would imagine it to be...love is not the only thing in this world ya...one can survive without love...but one cant survive without $$$ in this practical society! perhaps different ppl hav v.different priorities in life...anyway, to each his/her own...do whatever u please as long as it makes u happy...love could be juz a luxury...i dont go out of my way to find love...if it happens, it's juz a bonus...if it doesn't, so be it! i'm not so desperate...there r tons of guys who approach me online everyday...sorry, i would rather focus on making more $$$ than to waste my time n energy on unappreciative ppl! =.= it's a privilege to talk to n work with smart ppl...

Birthday Photoshoot Nov 2011 Part 2











2012 has started off in a busy manner for leechie...again, i stayed in on new year's eve to write my pages n pages of new year resolutions! it was alrdy close to 6am by the time i finished writing abt 17 pages of new year resolutions! let's work towards making my resolutions n goals become reality!!! i'm busy rushing here n there...n on top of all the rushing around, i'm busy with spring cleaning these days...i've been battling urticaria so i really dont fancy all the dust n dirt from the spring cleaning...anyway, homemaker is the most under-rated profession in this world! dunno y i've been having dizzy spells recently...feeling tired n i can drop dead onto my bed before watching the 11pm show...haiz =.=" n i've started on new work projects (many exciting n exotic stuff coming up...), new biz ideas (i'm really excited abt what we r working on currently! cooler than cool manz! B-) stay tuned for somthg fun tt will jazz up ur life!), new stuff to learn (currently i'm finding time to learn VSA...dont bother asking me what VSA is...those in the know will know ;p gotta thx mr. LHY for his selfless sharing n DS for pushing me to study n ask qns...n adrian's news updates n "no crash, no crash" chants...uncle AKS indicators...analysis from mr.Hub, Kit, Andrew, Kevin, See, uncle Kuah n many many more...appreciate all ur kind sharing...who says u cant find true frenz online?), new diet plans (i muz eat more healthy food...too much crappy n sucky food at my workplace! -.-"), new exercise plans (i shld exercise more...but i dont fancy running in my polluted neighbourhood although i see ppl doing tt even at peak hour! juz look at the congested roads!) btw, i havent been to any club/party since Xmas last year and i havent had a drop of alcohol since! n i muz cut down on unnecessary expenses...all the online vouchers shopping r v.addictive manz...some vouchers expired without me being aware -.- i thot i didnt spend much last year but everything still adds up! fren's mum knows tt i have many, many bags n she was asking me the other day how i actually store all my bags...i told her tt i'm running outta space n i juz stack them one on top of another in a pile...during my spring cleaning, i found quite a few brand new Kate Spade bags which i bought but have clearly forgotten abt...my leechie mum says tt i wouldnt b able to finish using my bags even if were to carry a different bag everyday for 1 year! n all my clothes can last for years if i were to wear a different one everyday without repeating...n she has banned me from buying more clothes =.= n the list goes on n on...btw, my antique phone is dead...n i finally got my hands on iphone4s after making numerous calls to Stinktel!

Lemme confess something...i've tried time n again but failed miserably...a recent session juz confirmed this: i cant understand muchie chinese n i cant learn anything tt is conducted in chinese! my brain juz cant process information in chinese! tons of question marks will appear in my head after hearing sentences in chinese...n i always wonder how ppl can speak such perfect Mandarin...i always cant speak chinese without adding in phrases of english...n ppl like to poke fun of my spoken mandarin =.=

Guess what? sup came back for a day! saw him at the end of the long corridor n silly me actually thot i missed his reassuring presence so much tt i started to imagine things...until he waved to me! he could actually recognize me from donkey metres away...muz b my bright red hair i think? o.O somehow he knew what was happening without me saying much...but he was only back for 1 day to "play" with our half million bucks toy...leaving for US v.soon...n this could b the v.last time tt i will get to see him :'(

"Never, ever insist yourself to someone who continuously overlooks your worth."







"It's better to be unique than the best. Being the best is great, you’re the number one. Being unique is greater, you’re the only one."
Thank goodness i'm the one n only leechie ;p


This really sounds like me =(
"spore mentality. go up one day dun dare to buy. go up second day wait one more day to confirm, buy on third day, price drop. then decide to wait cos think will go up. drop another day. watch. then drop then instead of cashing out, "leave for next generation" haha"

Kodak seems to be a v.good example when it comes to case studies...lol...i used to insist on buying kodak films when i was a kid...it's the brand...those were the good old days of film cameras...

Interesting Quotes:

"Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is." ~ Vince Lombardi

"If you listen to so called ANALyst 100%, you'll be a bankrupt who has to eat maggie mee for your meals everyday. You may also be seen collecting cardboards for your retirement!!!" ~ Digital

"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be"

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." ~ C.S. Lewis

"Last but not least,do not forget the loved ones around you and the less fortunate that may not even know what "celebration" means." ~ Derrick

"My father was from a very humble background. Through his hardwork, he was enrolled into a rich-kids' high school in the late sixties. Back then, he helped a garun-guni auntie for a bit of money. He told me that if he takes bus to school, he will starve for recess. Things were so.

When he applied for bursary from school, the discipline master was unsympathetic and very arrogant. He could tell that the discipline master was irritated because such application means extra-work for him. He didn't care for my father's feeling and announced to the class that he was the only one applying for such grants. OK, what to do, you are poor right?

By 16, my dad left school to support the family. He went on to work hard and did better than most, if not all of his peers 40 years later. He never give up. I salute him. I hope to inspire the less-fortunate around us with this true story. 人穷志不穷 " ~ sleeplessinsg

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Must-Read for ALL Men: "If Men Had Periods: Women Would Know All About It"

I came across this article (http://thecurrentconscience.com/blog/2012/01/09/if-men-had-periods-women-would-know-all-about-it/) which i think All men or anyone who considers himself male shld read !!! many guys might not b aware of the kind of torture tt we ladies go thru every month! -.-" we ladies juz need understanding n support as with any human...

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"If Men Had Periods: Women Would Know All About It

By Yashar

Earlier this year, I was watching a repeat episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show. The guest on particular this episode was Dr. Oz, who was tasked with answering a series of health questions, many of which were related to women’s reproductive health.
After Dr. Oz answered a question about douching, Oprah turned to a gentleman who was sitting in the audience and (with some humor) apologized to him for being stuck listening to all the conversation about “women” stuff and being seen in on TV for participating in an episode that dealt with, among other topics, menstruation and menopause issues.

The gentleman turned out to be Major League Baseball player, Jim Thome, who plays for the Chicago Whitesox. He had brought his wife to the Oprah show as a gift (tickets to the Oprah Show were nearly impossible to come by).

Oprah’s interaction with Jim Thorne left me fuming. Why should we feel bad for him? Why would Oprah feel bad for him? I am an Oprah fan, but her apology was uncharacteristic for someone who spends her life advocating for and helping women.

I’m not suggesting we shouldn’t feel sorry for Jim Thome because he’s a wealthy, famous baseball player.

What I am saying is that we shouldn’t feel sorry for him because he’s a man and he doesn’t have to deal with the reality of any of the problems addressed on the Oprah show he sat in on. And instead of Oprah offering that Dr. Oz episode to Jim as an opportunity to learn more about a woman’s body, which gives him tools with which to be more supportive of his wife and women family members, he was offered an apology for having to sit in on a conversation about an issue that is so central to a woman’s life.

Why is our culture so intent on protecting men from hearing about or discussing a woman’s reproductive health?

I’ve written about this phenomena in some of my previous columns. When some of the women in my life start talking about their menstrual cycles or anything else reproductive related, they stop themselves and warm me to stop listening, “But you don’t want to hear about this…”

Meredith, 25, finds herself handling conversations about her period in a very similar way, “Anytime I talk about my period, I feel the need to begin with, ‘I’m sorry to bring this up…’ or ‘I’m sorry if this grosses you out, but…’ Why do I (and other women) feel the need to apologize for being women?”

So, why are women apologizing for their bodies or hiding their reproductive issues from their male partners or friends? I think this tendency for women to protect men from issues about their body, especially about the reproductive issues, is something that is learned. It’s not inherent. All it takes is your mother or another female relative telling you that no man wants to hear about a woman’s period or PMS issues, to begin a lifelong habit of not sharing anything related to that part of the body. Or, it’s your first boyfriend saying “TMI–gross,” when you dare say out loud that you’re dealing with a problem. It shuts you down for life.

Ultimately, it boils down to one thing: men only want to associate a woman’s vagina with sex. Anything else, despite the reality that a woman’s vagina is not created to simply function as a conduit for sex, is a disgusting inconvenience.

I get it–to a certain extent.

We have conditioned men and women to think about and to handle a woman’s reproductive health is as if it’s a curse. In fact, some women remember a time when it was commonly referred to as “the curse.” So, if men think about the vagina only in the context of sex, the introduction any other reality involving blood, bodily fluids, or anything “gross” coming from that area of the body is going to push them over the edge. It’s going to cloud their sense of pleasure.

But that’s not an excuse and it doesn’t forgive insensitive behavior.

A woman’s body, especially her reproductively system, is way more complicated than just the sex part. And the “gross parts” aren’t, frankly, gross–they are a natural cyclical reality. A woman’s body is a prominent part of her identity and when men refuse to understand the physical aspects of a woman’s period and any issues related to their reproductive health, they are essentially ignoring a (big) part of who she is.

So where does this leave women? Unsupported. Having a rough time with your period and all the associated symptoms? Too bad–that’s for women to deal with. Going through menopause and it’s come as an absolute shock to you? Get over it.

Laura, 57, saw this type of reaction in her now ex-husband. Anytime she wanted to talk about anything “feminine,” he would respond with this comment, “Just fix it.”

“Like I could take a screwdriver, wrench, or hammer and some nails to ‘fix it.’”

It’s not just the physical aspects of a woman’s reproductive system that are unattractive and disgusting to men. It’s anything remotely related to menstruation or menopause.

Don’t even dare to ask some men to buy tampons. Ally, 29, was holed up in her house with the flu last month and could barely get out of bed. When she asked her boyfriend to get tampons, he scoffed and responded, “Anything but that.”

She was forced to have a (female) friend run out and get them.

Note to men: if your sense of masculinity depends on avoiding ever having to buy a plastic tube filled with cotton, you’ve got way bigger problems than you realize.

Beyond feeling unsupported, the idea that a woman’s reproductive health is “gross” or a topic that should be avoided has a horrible impact on some women–it detaches them from their bodies and makes them ashamed.

Alena*, age 42, is married to a man who does not want to acknowledge that she has any sort of reproductive health cycles, “It does make him uncomfortable, but I’m over trying to make other people feel better at the expense of my own mental health. But it does have a negative effect on me, knowing that he thinks it’s disgusting, because it means that for a week out of the month, I am disgusting.”

I am not attempting to victimize women. This isn’t about encouraging men to sweep in and save the day because women are weak and can’t handle their reproductive health on their own. And for the record, I’m not talking about women who desire privacy when it comes to this matter. For those who do, it’s their business. But there are plenty of women who want the outward support from their male partners, but feel embarrassed to talk about their periods, their menopause experiences, or anything related to their reproductive health.

And frankly, I’m tired of being witness to it.

This column goes back to an issue I’ve addressed my previous writing, where I explore how our culture puts forth women as totally and completely complicated–that what women need from people in their life, in this case, the men, is so complicated that it’s nearly impossible to figure out how to help them and how to talk to them about it.

It’s ridiculous.

I am never one to explain what women want–no one can do that. But I can definitively say what humans want. And every human being wants and needs support. For women, when it comes to the reproductive health department (along with many other departments), because they are humans, are lacking what they need: support.

I have no doubt if men had to deal with menstruation, menopause or anything of the like, not only would the women in their lives be intimately involved, but our armed forces would also be tasked with finding solutions to make it easier.

So the solution is simple in my mind. If women need, want support, it’s time to stop protecting men from what EVERY woman has to deal with. And it’s also time for men to stop believing that a woman’s reproductive health is one part of a her life that can be ignored, bypassed, or forgotten. A segregated support system is no support system at all. It’s time to put “TMI” to bed. There’s no such thing as too much information when it comes to the women we purport to love.

And what if the men in your life keep pushing back?

Jennifer*, 37, finally had her fill with protecting men, “After years and years of men acting like I said something obscene when I dared to mention my period, I came up with a simple policy: I don’t date anyone who gets seriously grossed out talking about basic bodily functions, including my period. It’s frankly immature and a subtle form of misogyny–Oh god, your natural, female body is so gross!”

I couldn’t have said it better myself."

*Name and age changed.

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Check out the manner in which he delivers his speech...he's a class act o.O

Friday, January 13, 2012

Grandmaster Raymond Lo: Will The Markets Rise In Waves In The Water Dragon Year?

This is the 3rd fengshui talk i've attended for the coming water dragon year...my leechie mum thinks i'm overly-enthusiastic abt fengshui =.=" anyway, the last time i attended his talk was a couple of years ago...wanted to attend his subsequent talks...but either the tix were sold out or blur me didnt know he was in town to conduct talks =.=" asked my mum to help me buy this year's tix when i saw the advertising poster as i walked past some toto outlet...sorry to say this, singapore pools...i dont punt toto or 4d so u cant make $$$ outta me! ;p

Juz found out tt Grandmaster Lo actually predicted the mkt crash in 2008 n again the mkt dip in august last year! no wonder som ladies were telling me tt he's v.zhun o.O maybe i shld start to follow his predictions instead of those from some overly-commercialized fengshui master/mistress ya? ;p he predicted tt there would b more natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, viruses this year...heard tt he's famous for his bazi course...i was thinking of signing up for his bazi course but too bad tt my bangkok trip coincides with his course dates...i pop over to ask him a quick question after his talk...one can sense the sincerity in his voice...n he didnt hard-sell any of his courses or books...v.different from those highly-commercialized fengshui master/mistress...btw, video-recording n photo-taking were banned during his presentation...

Update:

Recap what Joey said: Joey said everyone judges based on looks!!! sad but true fact of life...ppl always judge u based on ur looks...looks sell n can open certain doors which could possibly remain closed to some others! Joey said ppl fall in love or r likeable for 2 reasons: looks & intelligence! i'm too naive to believe tt there r ppl who dont judge others!!! Joey also mentioned tt ppl wont want to associate with u if u have nothing to offer or cant add value to others' life! he personally knows almost half of the most wealthy ppl in Malaysia...n has built up his biz n got to where he is today in juz 15yrs! this is life: well, we r living in a practical society n ppl r attracted to rich&successful ppl! why would they b interested in u if u r of no use to them???!!! "Never, ever insist yourself to someone who continuously overlooks your worth."

Robert Kiyosaki said: "Those who are successful in life are the people who notice what's wrong or missing in the world and finding opportunity in it."

I havent had any detailed astrology or bazi reading done...cos life's unknowns pose a mystery to me n i dont want som fortune-teller to predict my future or allow my decisions to b affected by some soothsayers' opinions or crystal ball! =.=" i believe tt destiny lies in my own hands n what i believe in strongly is:
"if others dont give me the opportunities, i shall create my own opportunities!!!"

"Don't do something permanently stupid just because you're temporarily upset"

"Never, ever insist yourself to someone who continuously overlooks your worth."




"It's better to be unique than the best. Being the best is great, you’re the number one. Being unique is greater, you’re the only one."
Thank goodness i'm the one n only leechie ;p


This really sounds like me =(
"spore mentality. go up one day dun dare to buy. go up second day wait one more day to confirm, buy on third day, price drop. then decide to wait cos think will go up. drop another day. watch. then drop then instead of cashing out, "leave for next generation" haha"

Good Quote from Ronald:
"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be"

Monday, January 9, 2012

Joey Yap's Fengshui & Astrology 2012


This was the 2nd time that i attended Joey's Annual Fengshui Outlook. Silly me printed out the old version of my bazi chart...good thing tt i collected my iphone4s the day before n was able to check out my updated bazi chart on the spot with my iphone4s =)

Joey compared this year's bazi n flying stars charts with those of last year...n the new thing tt he covered this year was the 9 life star...n he talked abt smart money vs dumb money (not the usual way as how most financial folks would define it ;p)...doesnt matter as long as it's still money ya...n i ♥ $$$...who doesnt? at the v.least, i'm honest enough to admit i ♥ $ =) ppl can always donate their $ to me if they think tt $ aint impt ya...i need to slog to make my own $!

Joey said everyone judges based on looks!!! silly me was wondering why some shop owners like to ask me to juz stand in their shops...lol...sad but true fact of life...ppl always judge u based on ur looks...looks sell n can open certain doors which could possibly remain closed to some others! Joey said ppl fall in love or r likeable for 2 reasons: looks & intelligence! i'm too naive to believe tt there r ppl who dont judge others!!! Joey also mentioned tt ppl wont want to associate with u if u have nothing to offer or cant add value to others' life! he personally knows almost half of the most wealthy ppl in Malaysia...n has built up his biz n got to where he is today in juz 15yrs! this is life: well, we r living in a practical society n ppl r attracted to rich&successful ppl! why would they b interested in u if u r of no use to them???!!! "Never, ever insist yourself to someone who continuously overlooks your worth."

Joey said tt there is an intelligence star for ppl of my sign in the 9 life star astrology n we would do well to learn more to boost our intelligence...n we would do better to learn somthg which would offer better financial returns if we were to learn anythg at all...then he cracked som joke abt ppl learning to fly kites...btw, i have a fren who sells atas kites which cost at least a couple of hundreds each n have patents filed...well, what i have learnt is tt there r atas stuff for everythg...so dont look down on those seemingly low-class stuff o.O"

Robert Kiyosaki said: "Those who are successful in life are the people who notice what's wrong or missing in the world and finding opportunity in it."

I havent had any detailed astrology or bazi reading done...cos life's unknowns pose a mystery to me n i dont want som fortune-teller to predict my future or allow my decisions to b affected by some soothsayers' opinions or crystal ball! =.=" i believe tt destiny lies in my own hands n what i believe in strongly is:
"if others dont give me the opportunities, i shall create my own opportunities!!!"

I agree with what joey said abt how competency is much more impt than compatibility when it comes to looking for biz partners...what's the point of getting someone who says he will do this n tt but yet does nothing but talk crap? actually u can learn alot more abt a person juz by working with tt person...

I pop by to listen in during the lunchtime session when joey was marketing his "Riding The Dragon" seminar...not sure y but i kept thinking abt "Slaying The Dragon"...lol...pls dont misunderstand...i have absolutely nothing against ppl born in the year of the dragon...not sure y but sometimes the way joey speaks kinda reminded me of my uncle o.O my uncle has a great sense of humor too...joey mentioned abt the importance of "the secret art of common sense"...well, common sense aint too common these days ya...i rem tt my uni fren got so fustrated with me donkey years ago when what was supposed to be common sense to her seemed rather novel to me...lol ;p btw, I bought a copy of Joey's new range of books on the 9 life stars...but had to rush off right after his seminar so couldnt stay for his autograph session...

Update:

"Don't do something permanently stupid just because you're temporarily upset"

"Never, ever insist yourself to someone who continuously overlooks your worth."

"It's better to be unique than the best. Being the best is great, you’re the number one. Being unique is greater, you’re the only one."
Thank goodness i'm the one n only leechie ;p

Friday, January 6, 2012

Avoiding Mental Sabotage

Alot of thoughts went through my leechie head as i read some of the articles shared...i need to work on my psychology...fell in love with my out-of-favor stocks which have been jilted by Smart Money...think i over-ANALyze too many stuff...resulting in fear to take action...n i ended up being a stuckist...ya, u've heard of terms such as "stock operator"...well, i'm a "stock stuckist"! nothing to be proud of...but i'm juz being honest here :'( i shld juz treat trading as a biz n make rational decision n take positive action...

Words of wisdom from derrick:

"Newbies die in a trend, old bird die during sideways. There is always a way to kill you if you do not have enough knowledge."

"Whatever TA method that you used to predict the market movement, it should begin with a complicated process. Try to visualize what can happen and the interaction of the various indicators. What picture is it trying to tell you. From the behavior of each indicator, try to predict the markets next move. Stream line each indicator watch its reaction. then combine them together to have stream lined answer of a simple "YES" or "NO". There cannot be guessing after you have entered a position, why it moves against or in favor of you; you must have the mental picture in place to control your emotions. Otherwise, you cannot even take the stress of 1min of movement be it big or small."

"Plan your trade, trade your plan. Study the chart at various level and link up everything. One for direction and the other for execution. This will set your mind at ease and not guessing along as the price moves.If it moves against you, you need to know why, if it moves in your favor, note down all the conditions that resulted in the move. Only then you can improve.

One thing for sure, you really need passion in everything you do. If not you will fall asleep after watching the chart for 5mins."

To be honest...i actually doze off while looking at my charts n accidentally cleared all my indicators! -.-" n i muz start to read all the many, many books tt i bought n havent read!
"Investment books that hope to teach you how to avoid making mistakes in the markets:
Do you notice that people who do read the investment books, who do show up in the bookstands reading such books, are the ones who generally do not need such advise? I just read it for fun and to see and laugh at what are the mistakes made. Ironically, folks who do need such information and advise, generally they do not go to bookshops. So, who is going to buy such books?" ~ Richchee

" In trading we cannot live in fantasy hoping our long/short position going way high/low, however once we are in a position we live in the reality to manage the risk. If we have not get into the position, yes by all mean we can dream and fantasize....lol" ~ Neo Mui Kian

"long or short dont chase, first to react wlth BB earn big time, react after BB make small time, react after BB stop die big time."

"If you listen to so called ANALyst 100%, you'll be a bankrupt who has to eat maggie mee for your meals everyday. You may also be seen collecting cardboards for your retirement!!!" ~ Digital

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"Secret Trading Tip #8 by Larry Levin
By Neo Mui Kian

Avoiding Mental Sabotage

... I have heard that 95% or more of all traders ultimately fail.

Have you ever wondered why?

Most traders will tell you it was the system or method they were using. They'll also tell you they had a few bad trades they couldn't recover from. Or their dog chewed through the telephone cord just as their computer crashed, and they couldn't get out of a losing trade.

Everyone has a different reason, but when you hear enough of them, a pattern begins to develop. I believe most traders fail because they sabotage themselves.

The markets work differently from other investing opportunities. There is probably more freedom in the trading business than any other industry in the world.

You can do what you want, whenever you want to do it. You can trade 1 contract or 100. Buy the market or sell it; it's up to you. The only thing that holds you back is running out of capital.

Most people are not accustomed to that much freedom.

If you can't control the market, the only thing you can control is yourself.

Trading is also very different than the things we do on a daily basis. In everyday life we exercise some control over our environment. If a room is too dark we turn the light on. If we want to go somewhere, we jump in the car and turn the key.

In trading you can't control what the market does.

No matter how much you want the market to go in a certain direction, there is nothing you can do to force that to happen. You can't turn a key or flip a switch. Hoping, pleading, screaming... nothing will make the market do what you want it to.

Embrace the uncertainty - plan for the best and worst cases

One of the most important things you can do to avoid the mental sabotage is to understand the lack of control you have over the market, and plan for every trade. Now I don’t mean a trading plan like buy a contract and then close the position when the market trades higher. I mean a real plan. That includes specific entry points based on certain market movements or conditions. It means exit strategies for when things go right and for things go really wrong. It means placing limits and stops and keeping your emotions in check. If you have a roadmap for your day, you are less likely to fall into that trap of mental sabotage.

Remember: if you can't control the market, the only thing you can control is yourself."

"Trading Psychology 101
by RealityTrader

This is one of those neverending debates among newer traders - role of psychology in trading. Some claim it's all there is to trading. Some argue it's nothing but red herring, and one just needs to follow his signals (system, indicators, whatever one fancies) and no psychobabble will ever be needed. Yet some say psychology is important and assign some weight to it - "80% of trading is psychology"... or 95%... Not sure how they measure it, I personally like 76.364%.

Two things must be said about this.
First, we all are different. Some simply cannot change their behavior and, no matter what system they are given, they just can't follow it. Their personality takes over pushing them into all kinds of trading No-No's. They can't enter when entry signal comes in; they don't apply stops when the trade fails; they take profits too soon or never.

Then there are others who don't seem to be influenced by their inner workings; they just see the light and follow it. Obviously, the role of psychology will be drastically different for those two types.

Second, and most significant for most of us: We go through different stages in our learning curve. As far as trading psychology is concerned, I can clearly see three stages common for the most traders.

First stage is total ignoring or underappreciation of this aspect of trading. By ignorance, by arrogance or for whatever else reason, a trader doesn't give it much thoughts while focusing on technical side of trading.

Second stage is acknowledgment. Running into troubles with their inner gear, reading books or listening to others, traders become aware of the ways their personality interferes with their trading. They have met the enemy.

Finally, third stage is dismissal of psychology again. Maybe dismissal is not the right word but that's how it feels for it's (psychology as a subject of thoughts) no longer needed. At this stage focusing on it becomes unneeded as a trader overcomes his inner barriers, changes himself, learns to behave in a right way - and this correct behavior becomes second nature. Just as learning to swim you stop thinking of how to move when swimming, in the same way you stop giving time and thoughts to psychology of your trading again - seemingly returning to a first stage, although it's obviously another level you reach. You simply mastered it and stopped thinking about it - just as learning to drive you stop thinking of switching gears, turning the wheel or pushing the pedals.

It's important to understand that this third stage exists and make it your target to achieve it. Too many traders simply get stuck at the second stage - they think of it all the time, they make it their point of focus to such degree and for so long that they just can't seem to get out of it. Their development stops, they become locked in this endless inner digging - means become the end. There is no need to rush through the second stage but to get stuck in it forever is no fun either.

In the following articles we will go over each of those three stages a bit deeper - and make one step beyond that, defining a fourth stage which I don't want to define before we are done with first three. If you are lucky to belong to that second type that needs no stinkin' psychology, skip these series but do check out that fourth stage for it's the highest craftsmanship of this side of trading.

To conclude the series, we are going to go over some particular and very common problems traders tend to have and show what causes them. We are going to keep it strictly practical - no academic stuff, only the things with which every trader will identify"

"Analysis Paralysis - Part 1
by Janice Dorn, M.D., Ph.D

The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so
that the necessary may speak…
Hans Hofmann,
Introduction to the Bootstrap, 1993

E-mails from traders and investors of every ilk come to me daily. I am grateful, and urge you to keep them coming, as you inspire me, challenge me and force me to think. Everyone has a different way of being in the world and, as a logical corollary, in the markets. I get charts, graphs, opinions, links to articles, and more opinions. There has been so much speculation lately about what the Fed will or will not do and how it will affect precious metals and the dollar, that I must work hard to prevent my head from spinning, to keep it attached firmly to the neck area and to attempt to filter out the signal:noise ratio."
Did I mention that people send me charts? They range from the utterly and overly simplistic, to something that might be considered a Rorschach test gone bad. I respect those who can trade from intensely complicated (to me anyway) charts that contain 10 or more different technical indicators plus at least three colors. If that is what works for your particular brain structure, then that is what works.
Over many years of trading and experimenting with more systems and indicators that I care to recall, I have come to the conclusion that, in trading, less is more. For my own purposes I like to see price, volume, and a couple of moving averages and then draw trend lines. For me, the simpler, the better. It helps me block out noise, obviates conflict when indicators are not in synch or are giving different messages, and allows me to be definitive with what I do.
Trader Alex (name changed to protect the innocent) sent me a batch of charts the other day. The charts were in several different time frames, and were loaded with so many indicators that I was barely able to make out what Alex wished to trade. Worse still, I could not figure out HOW Alex was trading. In this situation, one does the logical thing. One asks Alex. The response I got was quite revealing and, perhaps you can find a trading lesson in it.
Alex told me that he lived his life by making flow diagrams. Everything he did or planned to do, he diagrammed beforehand in order to prepare himself for any eventuality. For example, if he was invited to a party, he would do the following: starting a week before, he would map out (on paper) everything he had to do to prepare for the party, including selection of clothing, washing his car, telling selected people where he would be during those hours, finding out who would be at the party and how they would be dressed, how they would be arriving, how they would be mentally (good or bad moods), what they would be bringing to the host and hostess and on and on. Sometimes, he would wake up in the middle of the night to expand the flow diagram as new thoughts and possibilities crossed his mind. A day or two before the party, Alex began to be infused with doubt. Had he thought of everything? What could happen that he had not anticipated? Would be go into a state of social paralysis if someone was at the party whom he had not expected or if someone said something to him for which he did not have an answer? If you think this sounds a bit whacko, you are correct.
In Part 2, we will see how Alex carried his desire to be prepared for every possible eventuality in his life into his trading activities. And how these complicated measurements hampered his ability to actually make the trades he so conscientiously analyzed."

"Analysis Paralysis - Part 2
by Janice Dorn, M.D., Ph.D

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication…
Leonardo DaVinci
... In Part 1, we saw how Alex created overly-ordered charts and diagrams with many different indicators and contra-indicators and extended his OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) from every aspect of his life into complex trading charts and diagrams.
Nonetheless, to Alex, this was his modus operandi. It began in his early childhood when he felt his life careening out of control after the divorce of his parents. He took almost complete responsibility for the divorce and vowed that he was going to do everything possible to ensure that he did not make the same mistake again. Alex's response to what he perceived to be HIS problem (the bitter divorce of his parents) was to develop OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder). The manifestation of this was the development of increasingly complex flow charts and diagrams which he believed would allow him to control every aspect of his life through prediction.
Now, take this one step further. Alex enters the financial markets and attempts to trade. Before he is able to place a trade, he makes the equivalent of a life pattern flow diagram. He adds technical indicators, one after the other and intersperses them with every possible news development or economic report that could possibly impact the trading on any particular day. Alex is ready, so he thinks. Alex is prepared, so he thinks. Armed with a total overload of information and unable to sort out what is real and what is not, Alex is set to trade.
Why is he writing to me? Because he is totally unable to execute. Alex suffers from trading paralysis. He has done all of the work, yet he feels that something is wrong. It is not the right time to make the trade, more news will come out which will affect the trade, he decides to wait for a better entry, he thinks he should do an option spread, just in case. Alex finds every conceivable excuse for not trading: It's the wrong time. There is too much risk. Maybe if he just waits a little bit. Something just doesn't look right.
Alex will not get through this situation easily, as it is a modus vivendi for him, which is transferring to every aspect of his life, including trading. What can you do ? Learn from this. To risk means taking chances in the face of uncertainty. We cannot control what the markets will or will not do. We cannot map everything out on a neat flow diagram, expect things to go our way and then panic when they do not.
The best traders are flexible, adaptable, embrace uncertainty and get out quickly when they are wrong. The best traders do not make excuses and do not blame others. The best traders do not get themselves into states of analysis paralysis. They keep it simple and remain fluid.
Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler…Albert Einstein"

"On Track Towards Your Better Self
by Adrienne Toghraie
In order to put your trading on the right track, the rest of your life must support that direction. Here is a success model for giving you a good foundation for becoming a profitable trader. All aboard.

Clean out the clutter
Start with the immediate environment of your trading area and work outwards from there. When you have too much clutter, your focus will be disrupted from clear thinking. So give it away, throw it away.

Decide to listen to positive minded people
It is easy to fall into the trap of all of the negative media on the state of things. While you are getting back on a positive track, stay away from those people who encourage negative thinking and therefore negative emotions.

Take a walk or sit quietly where you will not be disturbed
A clear mind is a mind without stress. When you start out on a new or improved path, you are more likely to get there when you have a clear mind.

Ask the creative part of you to come up with ideas and actions that will take you towards your goal.
We have many parts of ourselves that are both negative and positive. When you focus on the positive side of yourself, you will discover within you actions that you can take to lead you in the right direction.

Make a list of all of your resources
It is important to feel good about yourself and your accomplishments. Every book you have read, every positive action, every teacher has given you the best of who you are. List those resources as if someone were challenging your value in life.

Collaborate with alliances
Positive people who care about you are your strongest resource. Keep in contact, share ideas, ask questions and ask for assistance.

Create new alliances
Create a situation to give value to others who you seek out to know. While you might not benefit directly from those people, just being in a prosperity mind set will attract goodness towards you in ways you did not imagine.

Allow others to do good things for you
By allowing others to do good for you, you give them the opportunity to draw good towards themselves.

Create an optimistic environment
Direct conversation to positive thinking with significant people in your life as well as all those you come in contact with. Refuse to participate in negative conversation by redirecting conversation to positive, optimistic points of view.

Write an action plan of simple tasks that you can do the next day
Along with your master plan, you should also have a daily plan that is drafted the day before. This allows your mind to work on how to accomplish your actions in the most efficient and effective way. It also allows you to motivate yourself as if you are playing a game that you want to win.

Note the tasks that will inevitably present themselves
The momentum you get from completed tasks will lead you to other tasks. Each new task will bring new resources and that creates the new and improved you.

Keep your mindset on the goal
Every good book has a main theme, and all of the characters must have actions that go towards that theme. And so it is true for anyone who wants to have a continuously growing and successful life. Know what you want and direct all of your actions towards that goal.

Conclusion
To be the best trader you can be requires that you become the best person you can be. Look to improve all areas of your life and you will reap the rewards in your ability as a trader."

"‎100 Percent Returns In The Futures Market - How You Can Do It
by Kevin Davey

Don't let anyone ever tell you the futures game is easy. I've been speculating in futures for 18 years, and it took me most of that time before I had any degree of success. I attribute successful futures trading to following certain steps. My guess is that these steps will work for you, too.

Step 1: Have a Plan
I've never seen someone build a house without detailed drawings, and I bet you haven't either. To build a house, you need a plan. The same holds true for speculating in the futures market. Your opponent, the market, has a plan - to take all your money - so you need one, too.
There are 3 major pieces to a good plan. First, you must be specific with your investment goals. Second, you must determine what you are willing to invest to get it, by identifying the amount of time and money you will invest. Finally, know what you'll risk to reach your goals. Are you willing to spend a year learning, or lose thousands of dollars before you start winning? Better to find that out now, upfront, before you invest the time and effort.

Step 2: Find a Strategy
Finding a viable strategy is the most difficult part of developing a trading system. You might not think that's true, based on ads and infomercials you see, which show you how easy picking a strategy is. Alas, if it were only as easy as going to a free seminar in a hotel or visiting a website! In reality, finding a good strategy involves 3 main areas: skill assessment, research and detailed development.
The first part of determining how to reach your plan is to do an accurate, honest skill assessment. Done correctly, this will point you in the right direction. If you don't do this assessment, you'll be doomed to wander the "land of the losers."
The second component of your strategy is research. Before you settle in on a strategy, you need to see what is out there, what is working today, etc. Keep your mind open, and you'll soon find something that you like, and that has potential.
Finally, it's time to get your hands dirty by doing detailed development. Whether you create a system yourself, or sign up with a service or an advisor, the key is to perform "due diligence." Make sure you learn all you can, before you put real money on the line.

Step 3: Check and Double Check
Remember when you were in school and the teacher always said "check your work?" If you were like me, you thought checking it was something you didn't need. Well, if you avoid checking your work before trading a strategy, you can easily fall into trouble.
Depending on the route you choose, there are many ways to double check your work. It might be as simple as checking your strategy code for math errors, or asking an advisor to back up claims with brokerage statements, or simply asking for references. Remember, it is your money, so take the time to thoroughly check everything out.

Step 4: Execute Your Strategy
At this point, you are ready to pull the trigger, and trade your strategy with real money. The key here is to plan your trade, and trade your plan. Simply put, once you develop a method or select an advisor, stick with it, without deviation, for at least three to six months. Anything less, and random chance could make a good strategy look bad. Give a strategy time to show its long term potential.
Step 5: Monitor and Adjust as Necessary
Once you start trading, it is essential that you monitor your results. One way is by keeping a trading log. Recording the details of trades, along with your thoughts and feelings, can be very helpful when you review your system performance. This log is especially powerful when you violate your system, as you likely will at some point. Reviewing why you violated your system may help you refine your signals to more closely match your psychology. The key here is to keep close tabs on your trading - otherwise, it can quickly get out of control.

Conclusion
So there you have it - the five steps to trading that I have used in my own trading. Don't be surprised if it takes a year or more to move through the steps. My advice is to not rush through them. I obviously can't guarantee that you'll have favorable results, but I can tell you the steps work, and work well."

OverANAL-yze =.="




This is sooooooooooo good!