tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post5937251970018016376..comments2024-03-19T18:44:15.041+08:00Comments on Little Stories: How To Achieve Greater Success Than You Ever Thought PossibleGilbert Koh aka Mr Wanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01027678080233274309noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-85231385041925322052007-06-01T13:19:00.000+08:002007-06-01T13:19:00.000+08:001) Become proficient in Japanese (DONE - passed my...1) Become proficient in Japanese (DONE - passed my JLPT Level 1)<BR/><BR/>2) Become proficient in French (work in progress)<BR/><BR/>3) (like Mr. Wang) Earn, save and invest enough to retire by age 40 (also work in progress)<BR/><BR/>4) Learn to play the piano (after I retire at 40 ^_^)<BR/><BR/>5) Publish a collection of my photographs someday (working on it)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11324057960841738515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-18035889225741426352007-05-31T00:11:00.000+08:002007-05-31T00:11:00.000+08:00Goodness. I'd hardly consider Steve Jobs an unsucc...Goodness. I'd hardly consider Steve Jobs an unsuccessful person. Do you?<BR/><BR/>If your idea of success is that you have to surpass everybody, then yes, I agree with you - success IS meaningless, and it cannot bring happiness.<BR/><BR/>My idea of success, however, is different. I just like to improve myself and my own situation - and yes, when I see improvement, I feel happy.Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01027678080233274309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-68055649258780553212007-05-30T23:00:00.000+08:002007-05-30T23:00:00.000+08:00How do u account for the fact that Steve Job has a...How do u account for the fact that Steve Job has a much better product but Bill Gate Eclipsed him ? Smart ? Setting Goal ? Luck ?<BR/>I am all for setting of goal to help one to stay focus. I am all for having a positive mind. However setting of goal is not the be all and end all of success. Many successes emerge from the blue. Success is meaningless if it does not bring one lasting happiness.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-42377866206765599832007-05-30T22:28:00.000+08:002007-05-30T22:28:00.000+08:00You're entitled to your opinion, of course, but I ...You're entitled to your opinion, of course, but I don't agree.<BR/><BR/>If you want an example of an empire builder, you can check out Ron Sim's story. He was a teenager from a poor family, when he decided that one day he would create products that would carry his name and sell around the world. That was why his very first company, with a paid-up capital of $2, was called Osim. "Sim" is his name, and "O" represented the world.<BR/><BR/>Bill Gates quit Harvard because he had already got much bigger goals than just being another student from the world's finest university.<BR/><BR/>Neil Armstrong was eight years old when he wrote an essay in school saying that his ambition was to travel to outer space. His teacher failed the essay because at that particular time in the history of mankind, there wasn't even such a thing as a space shuttle. Nevertheless, when Neil grew up, he became the first man to travel to the moon.<BR/><BR/>As a young man just out of his teens, Arnold Schwarzenneger could barely speak English, but he announced that he would be going to Hollywood to make blockbuster movies; and then enter politics and become the US President. Indeed his first blockbuster movie was one where he was not required to talk very much at all (he was the Terminator, in the Terminator movie). He hasn't become the US President, but he is now the Governor of California. <BR/><BR/>I know you don't mean it that way, but I actually found your post very disrespectful. For example, your comment about Bill Gates basically says that it was just mainly by luck that he became the world's richest man. <BR/> <BR/>I do understand that you probably have some positive intentions behind your post. You wish to save the average person from the disappointment of failure. I suppose we just have different philosophies in life. I've mentioned before that when I look at people, I always believe that they have great potential. The real question only is how far they are willing to go to develop that potential.<BR/><BR/>Some of my old posts on these lines:<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://commentarysingapore.blogspot.com/2006/05/on-human-potential.html" REL="nofollow">On Human Potential</A>.<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://commentarysingapore.blogspot.com/2005/09/come-on-everyone-shine.html" REL="nofollow">Come On, Everyone. SHINE.</A><BR/><BR/>In future posts, I will also comment on this point of yours:<BR/><BR/><B>"Goal must be realistic and commensurate with one's ability.<BR/>Otherwise, many will end up with miserable lives."</B><BR/><BR/>This is the fear of failure - and the single greatest obstacle to success. It shows up every day in our lives - even in school, we see little kids who dare not raise their hands to ask questions, because they are afraid of appearing stupid. Very unfortunate ....<BR/><BR/>Lest you are mistaken, I should say that I don't expect everyone to be able to become an Olympic champion, or a Bill Gates, or a Ron Sim, or a Neil Armstrong. I -do- think that the vast majority of people - that means you, your family members, your friends, your neighbours - has the potential to achieve much more success in their lives, than they currently enjoy. Simply because human potential is so vast, and every day we are already wasting so much of the resources available to us. Like time - eg on things like watching TV.Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01027678080233274309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-89142814793048435082007-05-30T21:19:00.000+08:002007-05-30T21:19:00.000+08:00Mr. Wang, for each person who made it to compete, ...Mr. Wang, for each person who made it to compete, let alone win, in the Olympics, there must be<BR/>hundreds of thousands if not million who aspire to that. It is wise for the average person to bear that in mind. Most champions are born and indentified early in life. Goal must be realistic and commensurate with one's ability.<BR/>Otherwise, many will end up with miserable lives.<BR/>The vast majority of successful business people don't set out to plan for their success. They just happen to float along and end up in the right place at the right time. Peter Fu Sn. happened to have a wife who was the secretary to the boss of caltex and he got the concession to set up shop at the Pertamina base when he befriended Ibno Sutowo. Ong Beng Send happened to be his son-in-law.<BR/>The popiah king was taking care of the machinery when the owner wanted to sell and he seized on the chance to buy it. Lien Siow Liong was selling provision in the camp whose commander was Suharto.<BR/>Bill Gate was given the contract to write the operating system for IBM. He has to buy the system from someone to get it going. I have yet to come across an empire builder who set that out as his goal early in life.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-59265753019953377162007-05-30T15:08:00.000+08:002007-05-30T15:08:00.000+08:00Goals, objective, purpose, direction - they all me...Goals, objective, purpose, direction - they all means the same.<BR/><BR/>How many people truly sit down and ponder over it?<BR/><BR/>But I can tell you that when I know that I had been a compass without a needle for many years, It's very painful and frustrating.<BR/><BR/>I don't know which is more painful: <BR/>1. Know that you do not have a goal in life<BR/>2. Don't even bother about it<BR/><BR/>Now 46, unemployed graduate, I trying to put my life together so that it can be more fulfilling with a clear direction.<BR/><BR/>Retrenched 46Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-81705640146407617052007-05-30T09:14:00.000+08:002007-05-30T09:14:00.000+08:00I am not refering to u but I do know of people who...<B>I am not refering to u but I do know of people who brag about their achievements and claimed that they set their goals before they achieve them. I really wonder.</B><BR/><BR/>Do you? Actually, to me, the bigger the achievement, the likelier to me that the person had consciously set that goal.<BR/><BR/>Eg take a sportsman who makes it into the national team; qualifies for the Olympics; goes to the Olympics; makes it to the finals; wins the finals.<BR/><BR/>Do you really think that all that happened, without him aiming for it?Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01027678080233274309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-72286979798375507832007-05-30T01:13:00.000+08:002007-05-30T01:13:00.000+08:00My own 5 goals:1. Not to be a slave to my own CPF ...My own 5 goals:<BR/><BR/>1. Not to be a slave to my own CPF (as a result of 'buying' public housing)<BR/><BR/>2. Not to contribute to CPF and have control over my own money instead<BR/><BR/>3. Start my own business before I turn 30 (I'm 27 now)<BR/><BR/>4. To visit the wonders of the ancient and modern world (achieved some.. but still in progress)<BR/><BR/>5. To work in the entertainment industry (that I've already achieved)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-71995805261865705232007-05-29T22:36:00.000+08:002007-05-29T22:36:00.000+08:00"Human unhappiness is the result of the deficit be...<B>"Human unhappiness is the result of the deficit between their goal and what they have achieved."<BR/><BR/>"So, don't let the cups drive you... enjoy the coffee instead..." </B><BR/><BR/>I will address these points in my future posts on the topic of success.Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01027678080233274309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-67327744047411134632007-05-29T22:20:00.000+08:002007-05-29T22:20:00.000+08:00Mr. Wang, Congratulations. U seem to have achieved...Mr. Wang, Congratulations. U seem to have achieved most of your goals to date.<BR/>I wonder, did u have a goal when u joined the Legal service as a DPP ?<BR/>Did u have a goal when u resigned to join a leading law firm ?<BR/>Do u have a goal in your current position ?<BR/>I am not refering to u but I do know of people who brag about their achievements and claimed that they set their goals before they achieve them. I really wonder.<BR/>Human unhappiness is the result of the deficit between their goal and what they have achieved. So the higher the goal they set for themselves with regards to their own capabilities, the greater the chances of unhappiness.<BR/>A little note on chasing $. There is a wise saying that man has two legs and $ speed on wheels. Is it not better to use ur brain to make $ chase after u ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-63338455196117862172007-05-29T22:12:00.000+08:002007-05-29T22:12:00.000+08:00Hi, would like to share this article: Coffee break...Hi, would like to share this article: Coffee break<BR/><BR/>A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together<BR/>to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned <BR/>into complaints about stress in work and life. <BR/> <BR/>Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and <BR/>returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - <BR/>porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some <BR/>expensive, some exquisite --- telling them to help themselves to <BR/>hotcoffee. <BR/> <BR/>When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor <BR/>said:~~ <BR/>"If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, <BR/>leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is but normal for <BR/>you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your<BR/>problems and stress. <BR/> <BR/>What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you <BR/>consciously went for the best cups and were eyeing each other's cups. <BR/> <BR/>Now if life is coffee, then the jobs, money and position in society <BR/>are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, but the <BR/>quality of Life doesn't change. Some times, by concentrating only on<BR/>the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee in it." <BR/> <BR/>So, don't let the cups drive you... enjoy the coffee instead...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-65375677673355377272007-05-29T22:03:00.000+08:002007-05-29T22:03:00.000+08:00Simple. Win the DSTA TechX Challenge.Simple. Win the <A HREF="http://www.dsta.gov.sg/techxchallenge" REL="nofollow">DSTA TechX Challenge</A>.chwyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18178043321863427481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-29833979289192946462007-05-29T11:33:00.000+08:002007-05-29T11:33:00.000+08:00Laugh at me folks; my only goal and a very big one...Laugh at me folks; my only goal and a very big one, the bigger the better, up in the mountain to live with the monkeys and the birds!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-31247988764999940962007-05-29T10:58:00.000+08:002007-05-29T10:58:00.000+08:00To be successful and happy: Good health, sufficien...To be successful and happy: Good health, sufficient money, good spouse & a happy family.<BR/>http://henryleongblog.blogspot.com/Henry Leonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06153981481480197789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-18995498051508658652007-05-29T04:31:00.000+08:002007-05-29T04:31:00.000+08:00FrauP,I agree with you totally. My goal is to live...FrauP,<BR/><BR/>I agree with you totally. My goal is to live happily everyday.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-36593102790663013712007-05-29T01:47:00.000+08:002007-05-29T01:47:00.000+08:001) To enter Parliament (and I don't mean the viewi...1) To enter Parliament (and I don't mean the viewing gallery). I'm only 19 years old and I've been attending parliament sessions on my own accord. I don't know if this is just weird, because I don't know anyone else who does and I haven't seen anybody my age watching parliament sessions except on school field trips.<BR/><BR/>2) To send my kids to Ivies, Little Ivies or just any top university in the US or UK if they want to go, and be able to pay for it. so they won't have to end up like me, getting a place in Duke and not being able to go because my parents can't afford it. (i'm still trying for scholarships)<BR/><BR/>3) which leads me to this: to earn lots of money, not for an extravagant and hedonistic lifestyle, but as you said, for financial freedom for my whole family, especially my kids.<BR/><BR/>4) to read one book a week for the rest of my life. preferably Chinese books too.<BR/><BR/>5) to somehow change Singapore for the better, whether I'm in the civil service, Parliament, or a lawyer/judge.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-51084257233048016182007-05-29T01:22:00.000+08:002007-05-29T01:22:00.000+08:00my goodness.now Mr wang sounds like Brian Tracy. O...my goodness.<BR/><BR/>now Mr wang sounds like Brian Tracy. Or Zig Ziglar. Or Tony Robbinsutwthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10077151002330545906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-36188113619768904842007-05-29T00:13:00.000+08:002007-05-29T00:13:00.000+08:00http://aks-research.blogspot.com/2007/05/101-thing...http://aks-research.blogspot.com/2007/05/101-things-to-do-in-1001-days.html<BR/><BR/>thought it would be related.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-54561919214925217542007-05-29T00:10:00.000+08:002007-05-29T00:10:00.000+08:00Recently my daughter was called to the Bar. I am a...Recently my daughter was called to the Bar. I am also aiming to be a practising lawyer one day. Well, she felt I have what it takes to get through law school and offered to sponsor me through. You see I am 53 an age most are thinking of retiring and relax a little. I have only a Poly diploma and am now working as a Tour Guide. Mr Wang, when Ive achieve my aim, you will be the first I will inform.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-77172828256854539372007-05-28T22:32:00.000+08:002007-05-28T22:32:00.000+08:001) Transfer to Tokyo. (halfway there)2) Enter Hond...1) Transfer to Tokyo. (halfway there)<BR/>2) Enter Honda 2wheels R&D.<BR/>3) Internal transfer to HRC, work on motoGP bikes.<BR/>4) Leave and open my own consultancy.<BR/>5) Start up a toy company. (halfway there)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-3098029512669053052007-05-28T22:16:00.000+08:002007-05-28T22:16:00.000+08:00My big goals...1. Earn SGD50K or more per year (go...My big goals...<BR/><BR/>1. Earn SGD50K or more per year (goal set as when I was a young grad). Done in mid-20's.<BR/><BR/>2. Become a project manager. Done in late-20's. Then I realized I did not enjoy the work, quitted within half-a-year, took stock and decided to eventually... (see goal #3).<BR/><BR/>3. Have a second career more in-line with my value system. Working on it.<BR/><BR/>4. Own my home fully paid up. Done, albeit a small and old HDB.<BR/><BR/>5. Emigrate. Working on it.<BR/><BR/>6. Do business. Tried MLM, partnership with friends, own consultancy, etc. Made some, lost some. Can consider it done, but will come back to it again when goal #3 is more stablized.<BR/><BR/>7. Have a 3rd career related to using my other creative skills. KIV after emigration goal.<BR/><BR/>Other goals of learning various stuff, travelling are not quite major but plays a part in making my life interesting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-28325950542435940762007-05-28T21:37:00.000+08:002007-05-28T21:37:00.000+08:00i wanted to be one of the best in sg in my niche a...i wanted to be one of the best in sg in my niche area of IT work, i've done that but alas didn't pay me well enough. now i just want to earn more $. so sad...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-77562814759849684802007-05-28T21:00:00.000+08:002007-05-28T21:00:00.000+08:00hey mr wang, do you mean to say that you believe i...hey mr wang, do you mean to say that you believe in reincarnation? I'd be very surprised to hear that from such an analytical person.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-55215503335564248732007-05-28T20:42:00.000+08:002007-05-28T20:42:00.000+08:00Academic/Work:1) Graduate summa with a double degr...<B>Academic/Work:</B><BR/>1) Graduate summa with a double degree (on-going, not looking too good :( )<BR/><BR/>2) TA and RA for awesome professors <BR/><BR/>3) Work overseas upon graduation (good progress :) )<BR/><BR/><B>Physical:</B><BR/>4) Develop upper body maintaining weight, completing a half marathon (partial success, back injury healing slowly)<BR/><BR/><B>Fun:</B><BR/>5) Pass instructors examination for classical guitar (first try not too successful, perhaps next year)<BR/><BR/>6) Perform solo at a major event (DONE!) and for a major personality (DONE! - in ensemble but I'm counting it anyway ;)<BR/><BR/>6) Live independently overseas (DONE - in Vancouver and New York, self-funded :))<BR/><BR/><I>If the opportunity presents itself - not actively seeking it:</I><BR/>7) Drive from Singapore to Paris, documenting south asia, the middle east and eastern europe (incidentally, discovered my dad wants to do something like this too!)<BR/><BR/>8) drive the great ocean road and the big sur<BR/><BR/>Look like most of my goals are <I>fun</I> based. I'm an escapist ;) It's weird, I like (the rigour of numerical) accountancy (where I am studying at right now), but at the sametime I'm sure I would be satisfied doing a course in music (performance or theory), geography or computer science. <BR/><BR/>Wonder if Mr Wang has any advice on how to narrow your personal scope and still stay satisfied? ;)<BR/><BR/>I probably have to sit down and re-evaluate my realities one of these days, and prioritize... honestly I'm always scared to set myself big goals and try not to tell people about them because I feel kinda loser-ish if I miss my goals... Heh.Rushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09091199958215749452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-92220522555763386582007-05-28T19:33:00.000+08:002007-05-28T19:33:00.000+08:00Aha ... That is going to be Part 5 of my upcoming ...<B>Aha ... That is going to be Part 5 of my upcoming series of articles on Success.</B><BR/><BR/>Mr Wang, can you please fast forward to part 5? lol<BR/><BR/>I am thinking of starting a self-help blog. But you are doing such a decent job that I'll leave it to you for the moment hehehAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com