Professional Vs Monetary Goals

There's an interesting debate on air FM83.8, choosing between professional goals and monetary goals. Which one is more important? One says monetary is important because we work because of money, while the other says if we do not have professional goals, it will be meaningless in life to move on. Its a chicken and the egg debate again :p

Let me share an incident with you:
My sister's friend was previously working in a building industry (Its a very stressful job). So she changed to a banking industry. It’s a 9-5pm job and is highly paid. For the first 3 months, it was wonderful because she can go back on time and no stress. After 1 year later, she's feel a bit bored with a job but still alright for her. After 2 years later, she felt lifeless in the job. Unfortunately, she could not go back to the building industry anymore. So, she's stuck with her high paid and yet monotonous job now.

For my 2cents worth of thoughts, I agreed that professional goal is more important than monetary. When you have passion in your work, there’s something to look forward everyday. You will not mind whether you are working, 8 or even 12 long hours. You will still feel energize, doing something that you really passion about.. When people know you are good, they will keep coming back to you. And of course, your monetary will be rewarded too..

So don’t keep thinking "I want a high paid job", rather think what do u want to achieve and working towards that goal in your life.

Porfolio Interview

It's time for me to recharge! Had Porfolio Interviews with the 2 ARTs School that i had in mind.

1ST Interview
Went to the first interview was so intimidating. 3 experienced lecturers were bombard me with questions.. And one lecturers were saying my work is too commercialise. (C'mon we are in commericalise world, must deliver something that your clients or the target audiences like, rite?)

Cant remember the exact qns they ask, but i find their qns are quite redundant haha

Qn: if you were accepted by the school, will you able to do something different from what you have been doing all the while?
Ans: I come here to learn new things, new concepts and hope that the school is able to inspires me. Of course i will want to do something different that i did in the past. And also to push my skills to another level.

Qn: If we give you a 8000 words disseration to write. Could you write and how well do you think you can write?
Ans:(Thinking to myself again: How am i suppose to know if i write well?) Well, I wont know as i never write reports or disseration before...

and all lecturers just keep quiet... !@#$%%

Qn: Well, you got yourself a diploma in multimedia. Why you did not continue to get a degree in multimedia?
Ans: I start work as a web designer. I have slowly build my passion in doing web and print media and non of my portfolios are from multimedia. So i feel that its inappropriate to continue my multmedia studies.

(Guess what the lecturer says? Lecturer A says "I think you should try and apply for multimedia degree." Have i not explain myself clearly? or they have not been listening...)

Qn: What do think about "Contemporary Arts" today?
Ans: (Thinking to myself: Is this a must ask qn) I feel that art is very subjective and these days, designs are recycled or reproduced. To create new concepts and ideas, you will have to experiments and reseach, at the same time meeting your clients tight deadline.

Good ideas are hard, great ideas are even harder.


2ND Interview
The 2nd interview was short and sweet. The 2 lecturers actually listen to what i want to say and response accordingly. At least i felt comfortable with them during the interview. I showed them my work and they did not have much issue with that.

After listen to what i say, they recommend me to consider a 2 year degree instead of one year. Reason is, the extra one year allow me to develop my thinkin skills and not to rush through it just to get a degree. Although its 2 year degree programme, i have no big issues with that as i could always work freelance at the same time, to stay in touch with the industry.

Have been thinking and thinking all over again.. but after these 2 interviews.. Yes! I have decided which school i want to go..

Wedding Dinner

Attended a friend's wedding dinner. Nothing much to talk about actually except.. last night photo session, whereby the groom and the bride have to go round every table to take photos, it was quite a hipcup.

First, the photo session was almost completed and somehow they realised that missed out our table.. never mind, then when we about to take the photo, the banquet just went out of light. It took 5-10 mins or so to get the light back.. and when i was just standing beside my friend (bridegroom), his wife suddenly asked him to swap places. She says would be better if she stands next to me.. why does she means better? I really don’t know.. and our photo is finally taken!

This reminds me of "sex and the city", i remembered that’s one part it says something like why married woman can never allow her hubby to be good friends with single woman.. is it because they are so conscious and worried that their hubbys or bfs will be snatch or stray? They should have much more faith in their the other half right? if its so easily snatch, then it will never be theirs in the first place..

Every relationship needs commitments, chemistry and understanding. If one of them fails, the relationship will simply just fall apart, even there's no 3rd party..

Hunk on my blog

Have become 2 days fan of bryan wong, whos the finalist from Mediacrop's "Star Idol". I hardly watch star idol, only watch it when im at home on wed nite. I heard he was back in the competition, after he gets out from one of the rounds. And now, hes one of the last two finalist that is vying for the Star Idol title!

I never know who he really is until yesterday i was asked to do his posters, banners, publicity in the website and make t-shirts. Have to write supportive text like "You are our star idol", "We are behind You" haha! Really done a fair bit in his publicity hehe.. Mediacorp just give us his hunkie photo.. beach boy look.. wow must admit that hes really a hunk!

First time doing designs for an idol(although he's not my idol), it's really fun experience but also a very tiring one.. have been OT for 2days because of him!

Ohh no.. gonna missed this final star idol show on sunday cos i got to attend my friend's wedding! Too bad.. Friends over rulez Hunk yah..

20 years of friendship

Everytime when people says "Wow, You knew each other since primary school?" yah yah yah.. to many people its amazing to have a friendship for so long.

19, 20, or 21 Years of Friendship huh?! Two of us cannot even count the years right ourselves, let alone other people.. always have this problem counting it right, even after so many years later, that we are giving up counting!

So how did we achieve it? I guess we just simply put ourselves in each other life. Sharing our happiness and sadness together.. tolerate each other bad habits and learning each other good habits.. sometimes taking each other for granted and before we know it.. its 20 years!!! Time really flies.. (yes i know its such a cliche statement haha...)

20 years of friendship is never enough! I wished to continue this friendship for life. This year, going back to the old school, makes us bring back some of the good, old memories. Lets us celebrate such a meaningful year together, shall we?

Walking down memory lane

Walking along the pathway of sidewalk, as the wind blew onto my face, i could feel that breeze and the rustling of the leaves on the trees seems to welcome me back to the old school :)

My friends and I were so excited as we set our first foot on the school's concrete. It has been so many years since we went back. Everything is so new and fresh. It's like going back to a new playground. There are so many new things in the school. New building extension, new chapel, extended field etc. of cos there are familiar places like the roof garden, having mirrors and wind chimes around the school and sisters bridge!

Everything seems to reduced in size and length!
Walk from pri block to sec block, seems much faster.
The railling in the spectators stand seems so much lower.
The classroom seems smaller then it used to be..

Many places have been renovated and improved. However, i felt that the school has lost some "X" factors from these changes. The classrooms no longer have plants deco in the balcony and teacher room has partitions, there were some chalk scribbling on the walls, metal railing on some of the staircases. Somehow i feel that it makes the school a "colder" place to study in.

The school still retains a fountain "Ying Shui Si Yuan". It means when u are happy, never forget how your happiness come from.

"We must never forget our root and we must love one another" - That's what my principal always says.

I will never forget how my teachers have taught me with all their hearts esp. my Pri 2 Chinese teacher. She has taught me how to appreciate mandarin which i have a strong Chinese foundation background now. I felt guilty for not being appreciative for what they have taught. Of cos, there’s no way to revert the past. I could only make myself a more useful and a better person.

My friends and I were so enthusiastic this whole trip, we were chatting nonstop. Discussing about what naughty things we have done in the past and the school myths that were passed down from batches by batches.

I really enjoyed myself on Saturday. Despite i was sick and tired, i felt that it was very fulfilling and fruitful trip and these good memories will always stay in my heart.

Donate or not?

Feeling:

Yesterday, I was sick. Had a bad sore throat so went to see my doctor. After the consultation, I walked to the nearby hawker to take my "brunch" (Breakfast cum Lunch).

While waiting for my food, a 40+ year old man came over and asked me to buy some donations coupons. Some of his coupons looked worn and crumble. As there are too many donations fraud cases going around, i do not wish to become another victim. He said that he got license to sell these tickets. I shook my head and despite im having a bad sore throat, i still told him nicely that I did not want to buy any of his coupons.

He’s quite persistent to ask me to buy. But I still turned him down flatly. He got no choice and took back the coupons and to my horror, this old man said: "Only 2 Dollar what.. What so big deal of buying two dollar coupon? Don’t buy, don’t buy lah."

I was shocked by his words. Yes, its no big deal of buying 2 dollar donation coupons. It’s way how he behaved. He was doing charity work. Shouldn’t he be humble or should not force anyone else to buy or even making such remarks. He should try to make the public understand that he or the charity organisation are truly and genuinely wants to give the donation to the needy.

I always believe that charity should always come from the sincere heart and not do it with any special motive.

PS. I cant find the Charity Organisation logo on the coupon and he did not show me his proper identification too.

Magic Numbers

What does it takes to become a millionaire? What is your magic number?

“It doesn't matter whether you earn ten thousand dollars a year or a million dollars a year as long as you've done the best you can. The essence of life is growth. It is doing the best you possibly can. Here's what is interesting: humans are the only life form that will do less than they possibly can. Humans are the only life form that will settle for less. All other life forms except human beings strive to their maximum capacity.” Jim Rohn, the world's leading motivational speaker, philosopher and entrepreneur.

In November 2005, MSN Money published a poll about how much it took to consider yourself rich, and 11,459 people responded. Here are the results:

3% $100,000
8% $500,000
19% $1,000,000
19% $2,000,000
25% $5,000,000
26% more than $5,000,000

More than half of the respondents thought it takes at least $5,000,000 to be rich. Some one ever said that if you ever get $5,000 in the bank you would be rich.

Jim Rohn says we should earn all we can (and give away all we can). How much are you going for, and what are you doing to get it? And, the big question, why?

It’s Not Really “How Much?” But “What For?”

A book on my “must read” list is “The Number: A Completely Different Way To Think About The Rest Of Your Life” by Lee Eisenberg. I came across it at www.corecharacter.com. It has many great philosophy and interesting articles.

The idea behind the book is that our financial planning should produce a magic number – a dollar amount that would make us “feel financially secure and not worry about running out of money.” But, Eisenberg says, that’s “only half of the story.” Before determining a dollar amount, we need to know why we want it.

“It’s not really ‘how much?’ but ‘what for?’" Eisenberg says. “And if you can’t ask the two questions at the same time, first ask ‘what for?’ Then worry about finding how you need to get there.”

Perhaps that principle applies equally to all aspects of what we do, every goal we have, and not just money. “What do I need and what do I need it for?”

I want to be rich!

Theres a young man who has been complaining why he cant be rich and always blamed god for not helping him to become a rich man.

One day he was at the beach. As usual, hes complaining again. An old man heard him and tells him:"Young Man, i can make you rich within a short time but you need to give something precious from you".

This young man was thinking "This old man has nothing precious to take away from me" Of course this young man has agreed readily.

The old man starts to say: "If i give you $50,000, in exchange for your fingers, would you want?" the young man shake his head.

The old man continues to say: "If i give you $100,000, in exchange for your leg, would you want?" the young man shake his head even harder.

This time the old man says: "If i give you $1,000,000, in exchange for the other side of your legs and arms, would you want?" the young man shake his head profusely.

So the old man says "With such a gift of healthy hands and legs, You have already gained more than $100,000. If you willing to work hard. You will succeed."

With the old man words, this young man has truely understand that complaining and self-pity will not solved any problems. Only strive to work hard will lead to success!

They say there are five ways to become rich:
1. Work hard
2. Get lucky
3. Inherit it
4. Marry into it
5. Illegal activities (hey you still gotta work hard and to make sure the police do not catch you)

I'll try to stick with #1 but I'm making no guarantees.

I felt that some of us may tend to envy rich people. Dont envy them as they might have gone through lots of hardships before getting rich. If you havent succeed, you havent try hard enough..

Here's my work philosophy. Be Sensitive, Diligent and Flexible.

Sensitive - Sensitive to the market and demand
Diligent - Diligent in your work. Meet deadlines and willing to give an extra mile.
Flexible - Flexible to change yourself to suit the environment

So dont give up!

Interview Tips

Was at Career Fair 2006, i attended this interesting Seminar "Interview - Different Jobs and Different Preparation" by Mr Colin Koh who is from Singapore Professional Centre.

He quoted many interview tips.. Here are what i have digest and let me share them with you.
1) Verbal Skills - Most employers are looking for most talented employee. Therefore you need to be creative during the interview. Try not answer them with "most commonly used answers". As they might have listen too many times from the other interviewees.

2) Enthusiasm - Show the interviewer your "energy" or your passion towards your job, and you are sincere and keen about this job and what you could have contribute to the company. But do not be too carried away.

3) Be Prepared - Do your homework. Do some research on what this company does and its background.

4) Body Language - Constantly check your own sitting posture and the body language will tell your interviewer whether how confident are you.

5) Never talk about salary, incentives, benefits unless they have confirm you.

Most employers would have know what are your skills set as you would have written "black and white" in your resume. Interviews are meant for interviewer to test whether you are really suitable for the job and how comfortable they are with you when you talk to them.

So just be prepared, be natural and your dream jobs will come natural along the way. Good Luck!

Gal or Guy?

I love making myself beautiful but i hate to remove makeups
I love dishwashing but hates to cook
I love mopping but hates vacum the floor
I love to think a lot of things at one time but i cant multitasking
I love to do coding but hates to understand them initially
I love to choose but hates hassle
I love shopping but will be focus on what i want to buy
I love listening to other people comments but hates to talk
I love traveling but bad at reading maps
I love sci-fic / action movies more than romance movies

Start to ponder, am i a gal or a guy?