Living in JB

[Analytical Professor]

Pleasant weather in jb now.

Yet a question. Spore heavy rain. Jb no rain at all

 

[Analytical Professor]

Black soil going for rm 1.50/3kg in tesco

usual price rm 2.90

 

[aangsc]

I was retrenched 2 times. The 2nd time my accountant purposely told me that my other Malaysian FT colleage has been very accomodating. [/B].

Sorry to hear that. What is this about 'reverse strategy' ?

The current wave are Indian, Pinoy and PRC , they are cheaper than M'sian. Now you hardly see M'sia in certain trade because they just could not go lower than the next wave of FT. For me I feel the only way is to stay in the frontline and not the backend workers that are usually outsourced/replaced. So, choosing a career is extremely important for kids but before that the course of study is the starting journey to one life destiny.

 

[Analytical Professor]

Can you believe people rob bricks? So i gotta go and buy some bricks now.

 

[Analytical Professor]

Can you believe that people wanna rob bricks?

How disgusting!

 

[Analytical Professor]

Now going to buy another 70-100 bricks

 

[mallow]

Aiyoh Cathy! What babi & ungrateful people you worked for!
Very glad all has worked out for you and that you are enjoying life here now.
Yes, we are on our own. I have always found that doing anyone a favour is risky if you hope even for gratitude. As one friend put it. "Expect terima kasut rather than terima kasih!"
Yet ... I have been blessed with amazing kindness and generosity from total strangers who had nothing to gain.
Who can fathom what this Life is all about?

 

[cathylmg]

Sorry to hear that. What is this about 'reverse strategy' ?

The current wave are Indian, Pinoy and PRC , they are cheaper than M'sian. Now you hardly see M'sia in certain trade because they just could not go lower than the next wave of FT. For me I feel the only way is to stay in the frontline and not the backend workers that are usually outsourced/replaced. So, choosing a career is extremely important for kids but before that the course of study is the starting journey to one life destiny.

They work in your country to buy up in their land. Why not you work in your country and buy up their land? I'm not only refering to JB, it could also be Thailand, China, India,...et cetera...investment is the word, making your money work harder for you is the key. Be frugal like them when your are young and single. Enjoy when your grow old. Invest as much as you can. Retire yourself. Don't wait to be fired. Thats the most simple words that I can use now. Thats my attitude now. Life is short, don't wait.

 

[wuqi256]

I am very proud that you bounced back and with a vengence Cathylmg, my wife suffered the same thing as you and was retrenched for a Chinese FT. She miscarried as well as they treated her very badly and she wanted to do the right thing by the company(i wished they did the same for her). The same Chinese FT was then retrenched a few months later for somebody even cheaper(not sure how that is possible)

I worked doubly hard, invested wisely so that she didn't have to work anymore after that. She has not been working for more than 5 plus years now. Now with regularly rental income, a company of her own, she is in a better position financially. When i pass on, at least will not need to worry for her financially.

 

[euphony]

Cathy/aangsc, this is a story I found posted on MCF. For reading pleasure which I though was relevant and close to heart about FT etc issues to strenthen some of the points you've both made. =)

My first job after graduation was with an MNC. I was paid $2.5k a month as a system engineer. It was considered average remuneration at that time. My engagement was on annual contract basis and the notice period was two weeks. For two years, I was pushing myself to learn as much as possible, not just technically but also in terms of relating to people at work, with our vendors and our customers.

Although I did not receive any pay increment during the two years, I did not feel bitter because I felt that it was more important to acquire and build up a repertoire of both technical and soft skills. I was the sole breadwinner of my family at that time but I did not feel pressured by that. As I grew in my experience and knowledge, I developed the understanding and awareness that as long as I had the right attitude and tenacity as well as the right skillsets, I could survive anywhere even if my employer terminated my contract the very next day.

During my own free time in the evenings and over the weekends, I expanded on my existing technical knowledge through books borrowed from the library and read up on the latest technological information online. I developed programming components that could be used to construct systems quickly. As my personal library of components increased in size, I could create systems more easily. Initially these were simple ones but in a matter of a year, I could put together more complex systems using these components.

Eventually I tendered my resignation after two years with the MNC. I left on amicable terms with my superiors and the company and my boss even told me that should I want to rejoin, he would welcome me back any time. The reason for my leaving was an extension of my childhood dream - to run my own IT business. At the point when I handed in my resignation letter, I had less than $3,000 in my bank account. Much of my earnings had gone to the family and also on the personal self-improvement activities that I had undertaken during employment.

Despite the little money that I had in my account, I did not feel any fear or trepidation. In fact, there was a feeling of liberation and that it was a necessary step. I felt ready because I had already equipped myself with what I had considered the essential for survival - attitude and ability. In the first month after my resignation, I incorporated a Pte Ltd company and put in almost 20-hour days for the entire month to create a software product that could be used by most businesses. I slept for an average of less than four hours per day.

In the day, I made phone calls to prospects and arranged demo sessions wherein I would present whatever I had at that point in time. The aspects which were not completed, I told the prospects that they would be ready by month-end and asked them to give me an opportunity. I priced each software license at $1,000 including one year support. In that first month, two SMEs agreed to give my product a try. It was probably out of compassion that the owners gave me the opportunity and I was (still am) very grateful to them (they are my good friends today).

With the opportunity given, I did my best to deliver the promised features by the end of the month. While the product was not totally complete, most of the features that I had promised during the presentation were working and my customers gave me more time to work on the product while requesting additional features that they had thought of during the UAT. They even offered to pay for the extra features as they knew these were not originally part of my product.

The following months were interesting. In certain months, I did not have a single sale because most of my time had been spent on the programming. In the later months of the first year, with a growing product (and more features from those customisations), I managed to secure around twenty deals. Together with the customisation remuneration, I hit $30k for the first year. It was a milestone for me because that was just slightly below what I would have drawn annually in my last job.

It was a gratifying first year because it involved a lot of blood and sweat (not much blood, more sweat actually). More importantly, it reinforced my initial belief that with the right attitude and ability, I would not need to go hungry.

Fast forward to 2011 - today I have more than twenty different products which my company sells and I have a team of ten who help me in both the sales and development areas of business. The journey had not been easy (and still is not easy) but I have never even once regretted stepping out of employment to be my own boss.

There are a few principles which I stick to today:

a. there is no point in complaining about the environment. Many people complain about Singapore being a small market and that it's impossible to do well depending on just the local market. In reality, the do-ers pull up their socks and make things happen instead of channeling their energies to complaints and grumblings. Learn the rules of the game and play the game within the regulatory framework

b. if others can do it, so can I. Whenever I come across success stories both in the media or through my own network, I do not feel jealous. Instead, I am happy for those who have achieved their success in life (whatever that may be) and I grit my teeth and work harder towards my own goals

c. always keep an open mind. The survivors in any environment are those that keep an open mind. They are open to learning; they are open to acknowledging that they may be wrong. Adaptability is a consequence of being open-minded. If you are open-minded, you will survive anything

d. financial discipline is key; many people spend beyond their means e.g. someone earning $5k a month spends as if he earns $10k a month. Someone earning $10k a month spends as if he earns $15k a month. Instead of doing that, try spending below your means. If you earn $15k a month, spend as if you earn $10k a month. If you earn $10k a month, spend as if you earn $5k a month

e. eliminate all your bad habits. This may rile some folks but I am a firm believer of abstinence from cigarettes, alcohol and other vices. These are costly financially and saps you in almost all aspects of your existenence - physical, mental, emotional.

Carpe Diem!

 

[wuqi256]

They work in your country to buy up in their land. Why not you work in your country and buy up their land? I'm not only refering to JB, it could also be Thailand, China, India,...et cetera...investment is the word, making your money work harder for you is the key. Be frugal like them when your are young and single. Enjoy when your grow old. Invest as much as you can. Retire yourself. Don't wait to be fired. Thats the most simple words that I can use now. Thats my attitude now. Life is short, don't wait.

I didn't realise we share the same thoughts on this. Yes, reversing and making their land, the new hinterland.

 

[Analytical Professor]

Good analysis. Next round africans?:p

choosin a career not easy in spore cause govt here will decide if u go jc/poly/ite/uni

not like other countries where you decide what u wanna do.

In spore u must hv money then u can decide what you wanna do

Sorry to hear that. What is this about 'reverse strategy' ?


The current wave are Indian, Pinoy and PRC , they are cheaper than M'sian. Now you hardly see M'sia in certain trade because they just could not go lower than the next wave of FT. For me I feel the only way is to stay in the frontline and not the backend workers that are usually outsourced/replaced. So, choosing a career is extremely important for kids but before that the course of study is the starting journey to one life destiny.

 

[wuqi256]

Agree, especially with the last portion as i use these principles for my daily life, unfortunately most people cannot do C. :

b. if others can do it, so can I. Whenever I come across success stories both in the media or through my own network, I do not feel jealous. Instead, I am happy for those who have achieved their success in life (whatever that may be) and I grit my teeth and work harder towards my own goals

c. always keep an open mind. The survivors in any environment are those that keep an open mind. They are open to learning; they are open to acknowledging that they may be wrong. Adaptability is a consequence of being open-minded. If you are open-minded, you will survive anything

d. financial discipline is key; many people spend beyond their means e.g. someone earning $5k a month spends as if he earns $10k a month. Someone earning $10k a month spends as if he earns $15k a month. Instead of doing that, try spending below your means. If you earn $15k a month, spend as if you earn $10k a month. If you earn $10k a month, spend as if you earn $5k a month

e. eliminate all your bad habits. This may rile some folks but I am a firm believer of abstinence from cigarettes, alcohol and other vices. These are costly financially and saps you in almost all aspects of your existenence - physical, mental, emotional.

I know of associates who have been retrenched from jobs paying $8k a month and they wait out a year or two, turning down job offers of $5k a month because they feel they would be "short-changed". I always explain to these associates that if they feel that the company making the job offer is sound and offers opportunities for growth, take up the $5k per month offer and then demonstrate to their employers that they are deserving of $8k a month by producing returns in excess of that.

The formula is simple: companies employ because they want to make a profit. If you are paid $8k a month, you would naturally need to generate more than $8k a month for your employer. If you are drawing $5k a month and are consistently generating $10k a month for your employer, your request for a pay raise would definitely be seriously considered (and likely accepted).

 

[wuqi256]

Now going to buy another 70-100 bricks

Hi AP, bricks?? You know there is this Nusa Bestari side, near a few money changer and the Soon clinic? There are lots of bricks there? Saw people picking the other day.

 

[wuqi256]

Aiyoh Cathy! What babi & ungrateful people you worked for!
Very glad all has worked out for you and that you are enjoying life here now.
Yes, we are on our own. I have always found that doing anyone a favour is risky if you hope even for gratitude. As one friend put it. "Expect terima kasut rather than terima kasih!"
Yet ... I have been blessed with amazing kindness and generosity from total strangers who had nothing to gain.
Who can fathom what this Life is all about?

Yes, thats why help people without expectation of any return or even thanks. Gratitude is like the rare rose whereas the lack of it being displayed by most is as common as weeds. Most people teach their kids to study but not good values. Hence later in life, they either blame the schools, the government but never looked
at themselves. Education starts at home.

 

[wuqi256]

Very true prof, in SG money talks more than most realise.

 

[Analytical Professor]

Hmm in malaysia everything also can rob. Bricks also

50 bricks per trip.

Cost rm 0.44/ red brick

 

[cathylmg]

Yes, thats why help people without expectation of any return or even thanks. Gratitude is like the rare rose whereas the lack of it being displayed by most is as common as weeds. Most people teach their kids to study but not good values. Hence later in life, they either blame the schools, the government but never looked
at themselves. Education starts at home.

When the bosses keeps telling me repeatedly that company is not making money, that this line is still good money, that we must stay together to steer the ship and then we are the pioneers. Its all bullshits!

 

[cathylmg]

Hmm in malaysia everything also can rob. Bricks also

50 bricks per trip.

Cost rm 0.44/ red brick

Professor, how did you get rob of your bricks? Can pls eleborate?

 

[Analytical Professor]

I saw that one Wuqi. Asked my wife. Scolded by her he he

Hi AP, bricks?? You know there is this Nusa Bestari side, near a few money changer and the Soon clinic? There are lots of bricks there? Saw people picking the other day.