Hi all,
I am a soon to be ex singaporean that managed to get out of Singapore in 06. I am located in Edmonton, Canada. In the 1st couple of years, life has been a roller coaster.
When i first landed, the Edmonton Real Estate is booming so it does not takes a genius to make $$$. Here i was, instead of starting out by renting like everybody else - i went ahead to buy my 1st property(4 bedrooms a garden and attached garage) as wifey found a good job within 4 days of landing. In 6 months, the property appreciated by C$150K. By now I also work so that i can use my job to leverage and rolled what i earn into a even bigger house (4 bedrooms upper level, 1 study room, kitchen and living room with a fire place on the Main floor 1 movie threatre, 1 game room and a guest bed room - in the basement), as the property was still going up - i know that it would just a matter of time that it starts to go downhill. So I refinance the property at almost the peak and took the equity to rolled into rental houses and businesses. In a matter of a year and a half, i do not have to work anymore. My income from the rental houses and vending business covers my monthly expenses and starts to develop my most lucrative business - recruitment of filipino overseas worker to work in Edmonton.
As a gratitude to the old forum which i have gain lots of insight that has help me to make the correct decision, i have been helping fellow samster who had attain their CA PR to a "soft landing" (Apply for landing documents - SIN Card, Alberta Health Card, Child Tax Benefit, Driver License, rent a house for them and etc).
As the recruitment business grows. I reckon that i can reached my goal of C$1million in net asset before collecting my Canadian Citizenship and C$5million in 5 years when i can finally retired as my eldest 2 kids would have reached 19 and 18 years of age (out of the hands of NS).
So this is how my vision looks like, i will spend 6 months in Canada (late Spring till earlier Fall) and for the Winter months, i would like to spend a couple of months in Malaysia in my own executive apartment and a couple of months in my own properties CEBU in the Philippines. The rest of the time will be spend travelling to visit more Asia Pacific (especially China). When i have finished enjoy visiting most of the natural wonders. I will start with places like CUBA, Central America or South America. Not too keen on USA, use to work with them did not enjoy their loud, arrogant attitude towards others.
When we are too old to do that anymore, we would check myself into a retirement village for our last days. In the process, i will make sure that my 4 kids learn the life skills (Responsibility, Empathy and financial Management). If they are sucessful in their own than what we have made would go to the charity.
The purpose of sharing it with you is to inspired you rather than to put you down (like what PAP) like to do all the time. Before striking the gold mine here, i test run by working overseas in places, like Thailand, Philippines, Brunei and travel around asia pacific on business trips. From this - i learn things that are not thought in any books like being adaptable, creative, empathy and sometimes bridging the gap by see the situation from the other person perspective and unlearn the biasness that we grew up in.
The following are some of the Gems that i learn
Advise or Advice (pardon me)
When you received it from some body, listen but at the back of your mind - look for what's behind the veil. How do we do this? We qualify the person giving it. For instance, In the philippines, prior to living the country to work, the govt agency makes everyone goes through a cultural orientation course. The person conducting the course most likely have not even seen or step onto Canada. So the key words "Qualification" is the most important.
Life
In singapore, in my case - my peers, brothers, relative and friends seems to think that life is "Static" they do not realize that it is "dynamic". For instance, as a single the needs are different than a married person. Even when you are married, the different stages you have different needs.
Do think that, just by going to work and at certain point of time you move to a higher paying job. This should take care of everything the answer is obviously "NO" unless you are in the PAP Cabinet or MP? The key behind it is to have a "Vision" or mindsight of what you want to achieve. It is only when you have this Vision then who can focus your energy to achieve what is in your "Mindset".
I hope some of the Samster who have more experiences and knowledge can also share their gems of knowledge so I can learn more and improve our selves.
Next Week - i will be posting on Life on the other side of the fences. Stay tune
I am a soon to be ex singaporean that managed to get out of Singapore in 06. I am located in Edmonton, Canada. In the 1st couple of years, life has been a roller coaster.
When i first landed, the Edmonton Real Estate is booming so it does not takes a genius to make $$$. Here i was, instead of starting out by renting like everybody else - i went ahead to buy my 1st property(4 bedrooms a garden and attached garage) as wifey found a good job within 4 days of landing. In 6 months, the property appreciated by C$150K. By now I also work so that i can use my job to leverage and rolled what i earn into a even bigger house (4 bedrooms upper level, 1 study room, kitchen and living room with a fire place on the Main floor 1 movie threatre, 1 game room and a guest bed room - in the basement), as the property was still going up - i know that it would just a matter of time that it starts to go downhill. So I refinance the property at almost the peak and took the equity to rolled into rental houses and businesses. In a matter of a year and a half, i do not have to work anymore. My income from the rental houses and vending business covers my monthly expenses and starts to develop my most lucrative business - recruitment of filipino overseas worker to work in Edmonton.
As a gratitude to the old forum which i have gain lots of insight that has help me to make the correct decision, i have been helping fellow samster who had attain their CA PR to a "soft landing" (Apply for landing documents - SIN Card, Alberta Health Card, Child Tax Benefit, Driver License, rent a house for them and etc).
As the recruitment business grows. I reckon that i can reached my goal of C$1million in net asset before collecting my Canadian Citizenship and C$5million in 5 years when i can finally retired as my eldest 2 kids would have reached 19 and 18 years of age (out of the hands of NS).
So this is how my vision looks like, i will spend 6 months in Canada (late Spring till earlier Fall) and for the Winter months, i would like to spend a couple of months in Malaysia in my own executive apartment and a couple of months in my own properties CEBU in the Philippines. The rest of the time will be spend travelling to visit more Asia Pacific (especially China). When i have finished enjoy visiting most of the natural wonders. I will start with places like CUBA, Central America or South America. Not too keen on USA, use to work with them did not enjoy their loud, arrogant attitude towards others.
When we are too old to do that anymore, we would check myself into a retirement village for our last days. In the process, i will make sure that my 4 kids learn the life skills (Responsibility, Empathy and financial Management). If they are sucessful in their own than what we have made would go to the charity.
The purpose of sharing it with you is to inspired you rather than to put you down (like what PAP) like to do all the time. Before striking the gold mine here, i test run by working overseas in places, like Thailand, Philippines, Brunei and travel around asia pacific on business trips. From this - i learn things that are not thought in any books like being adaptable, creative, empathy and sometimes bridging the gap by see the situation from the other person perspective and unlearn the biasness that we grew up in.
The following are some of the Gems that i learn
Advise or Advice (pardon me)
When you received it from some body, listen but at the back of your mind - look for what's behind the veil. How do we do this? We qualify the person giving it. For instance, In the philippines, prior to living the country to work, the govt agency makes everyone goes through a cultural orientation course. The person conducting the course most likely have not even seen or step onto Canada. So the key words "Qualification" is the most important.
Life
In singapore, in my case - my peers, brothers, relative and friends seems to think that life is "Static" they do not realize that it is "dynamic". For instance, as a single the needs are different than a married person. Even when you are married, the different stages you have different needs.
Do think that, just by going to work and at certain point of time you move to a higher paying job. This should take care of everything the answer is obviously "NO" unless you are in the PAP Cabinet or MP? The key behind it is to have a "Vision" or mindsight of what you want to achieve. It is only when you have this Vision then who can focus your energy to achieve what is in your "Mindset".
I hope some of the Samster who have more experiences and knowledge can also share their gems of knowledge so I can learn more and improve our selves.
Next Week - i will be posting on Life on the other side of the fences. Stay tune