Countdown 2012

Let's have a good laugh before the countdown for 2012....

Husband was seriously ill. 

Doc to wife :- 

Give him healthy breakfast, be pleasant & in gud mood, don't discuss ur problems, no tv serial, don't demand new clothes & gold jewels, Do this for 1 yr & he will be ok. 

On the way home.. 

Husband :- wat did the doc say ? 

Wife :- .No chance for u to survive.

Note>>>>> Is only a joke. Please ladies, don't treat us like the above. Okay?

Face to face selling

Selling tips...

Do you try to sell your products on the telephone? Don't! Cause the chances of closing the deal is extremely small. Those who work as telemarketers have to make hundred calls to close a few cases. The ratio could be 3 over 100.  Basically the telephone calls are meant for closing an appointment. The prospect could be asking about your products, you have to out smart him not to reveal what you are selling and try to request an appointment to meet. I used to say.. "Mr Prospect! It would be difficult to explain my products on the phone now. If you allow me to see you in person, my explanation is easier for you to understand. Is tomorrow or the next day at 11am or 2.30pm ideal for us to meet". 

Remember the telephone is for short and brief introduction of who you are and to make the fastest appointment to meet up. Whereas selling needs the face to face touches. On phone prospect could only hear your voice and cannot see your expression. Selling needs the sighting of emotion. Your face with your exciting eyes could change the mood of the prospect in front. Your hand with movement of illustration could interest the prospect thought. Your entire outlook could reflect your success and assurance. Your fantastic personality offers the signal buy. So! Unless you could meet your prospect in person, never attempt to sell on the telephone.

Food for thought -  "It is not your customer's job to remember you. It is your obligation and responsibility to make sure they don't have the chance to forget you" - Patricia Fripp

Speaking with the right tone at the right time

Have you got a powerful and beautiful voice? Yes! All of us have. But do you know how to make use of it. I have a sexy girl friend whose voice is sharp and clear but she doesn't know how to apply the tone of her voice. Each time when she tried to advise or to offer assistance to those who needed help, she tends to speak loud and raise her voice rapidly. Without her realising, her friends or those who were listening thought she was scolding them.

I might not be a voice expert but being a salesperson for 40 years, I know speaking right is important. Each time when we speak, we could either apply a low or middle or high pitch tone. A high tune could be useful for inspiring and motivating someone. You speak aloud with a powerful voice... "Goooooo for it!!!!!!" But when you speak to an older person who might need advice, never use the high pitch tone. The old man might think you are degrading or scolding him. Try to speak with a middle and softer note which might sound more pleasant and friendlier. To a younger or little kid, a low tone is much more approachable to them. Also remember when you are attempting to confess your love, speak confidently with a tender and low pitch tone... "I Love You".

Food for thought - "The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing in the right place, but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment" - Dorothy Nevill, writer

Don't compare with others... Be yourself.

Little darling was unhappy recently. The daughter didn't call her because she is currently staying afar abroad. Her brothers and sister aren't sharing the financial support for their ageing parents. Her car is getting old, while all her colleagues are changing to better car. Her girlfriends are all dressed in expensive fashion, while her clothing is simple and cheap. She stays in middle class apartment and most of her rich friends have bungalows. Her colleagues are going for a long vacation in style, and she is wondering whether she could force herself to follow. Pondering and more pondering she is! 

Specially for little darling - "When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or
compete, everybody will respect you" -Lao Tzu

Three types of professional you must know...

I use to advise all my friends, three types of professional they must know while they are still alive. They are a doctor, a lawyer and a life insurance agent.

A good doctor and as a friend to you could save you in any eventualities. Just imagine if you need an emergency assistance in the late night, when your life is at stake which doctor could you call. If you have a closed doctor friend, he would not hesitate to call over even if is late.

In our corrupted societies, our working world is quite uncertain and unsecured. There are too many hidden lines, rules and regulations, and laws which might be too difficult for the layman to understand. A good lawyer friend is the best recommendation to seek for enlightenment.

Please don't forget to befriend a committed Life Insurance agent. He could offer you the real peace of mind to save guide the financial uncertainties in the event of death, sickness and total disabilities in you. The man might have gone due to passing away, the faithful agent friend remains with his family to provide all financial assistance. 

Please Remember - "Worries, fears, desires, restlessness, nervousness drive peace of mind away".

What time of the day you prefer to make love?

Let's have some fun while we are all in a holiday mood. Today I would like to talk about love making. I'm sure most of you who read my blog love this title. Right?

Everyone of us who is normal and healthy makes love. To be direct I say is SEX making. Some like to make love in the night before sleeping, or mid way during the sleep, or early morning when one is awake, or in between the day. I might be wrong but with observation and understanding from my friend's behaviour and character, I notice the time you like making love could tell your personality. 

Those who like making love before sleeping are usually the discipline and the responsible type. If you like to make love mid way during your sleep in the night, I guess you should be the fun and adventurous kind. Those who enjoy making love when they get up in the morning are usually the energetic and active people. The playful and naughty one likes the day's session. Whether what time of the day one prefers to have sex, I'm sure you  enjoy having them. Cause without sex, life is definitely meaningless. Right?

Some good tip - "A woman's appetite is twice that of a man's; her sexual desire, four times; her intelligence, eight times" -Sanskrit Proverb

What is Santa Claus?

When I was a little boy, I believe in Santa Claus. He brought me gifts and presents, and he made me so happy. Later when I went to school, getting through exams and doing well in studies was like Santa Claus to me. As I grew, attending parties and getting beautiful girl friends was Santa Claus to me as well. Finishing my education and gaining a good job was Santa Claus connection. I got marry quite young and by the time I was 35, Santa Claus gave me three grown up sons. All my children completed their decent degrees, and later they themselves got marry with six grand children for me. I believe all these were possible because Santa Claus was there to bless me with  happiness and joy.

Today, instead of believing in Santa Claus alone, I became a Santa Claus myself. I no longer wait to be given but rather I have learned to give and to share with those who need my assistance and help. For those little children that are deprived of gifts and presents, I would give mine to them. For those who are sick and jobless, I would give my hand in every way possible. For those who are down or at lost, I will try by very best to offer my advices and suggestions. For those I can't reach them, I would write in my blog to share my wisdom and knowledge which might be useful in their lives.

In the spirit of Xmas, Santa Claus has taught the world to give and to share willingly. It's by giving and sharing, we learn and to understand the truth of Happiness. The beauty of life does not depend on how happy you are but on how happy others can be because of you.

        Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year

Why is Ship called She....

Something interesting....

One explanation that I have always wanted to know is why most ships are referred to in the feminine, why they are usually always called "She."

Wily sailors many years ago came up with this explanation:

A ship should be called "she" because she...

... often has a bustle around her.

... always has a gang of men about.

... has a waist and stays.

... needs a lot of paint to keep her looking good.

... doesn't break you with the initial expense,

   rather with the upkeep.

... can be all decked out.

... needs an experienced man to handle her.

... always shows her topside, hides her bottom, and

...  when coming into port, heads for the buoys!

Now I want to know why most airplanes are also called "SHE."

A Good Handshake....

I like shaking hands with whoever I meet. All my handshakes are firm with full of warm, right from my heart. And I know those who received my hand could feel my sincerity. Through the years, I learn to feel the personalities and qualities of those individuals who allowed me to shake their hands. Each time when another hand is holding mine, I take a quick short moment to grip and to understand that particular person. Is he the friendly and approachable type, or bossy and the serious one! Take my words, the handshake tells.

A successful person has a firm and confident hand. A wealthy person has a broad hand palm with short fingers. Whenever I shake someone hand, I will add a few lines to say.."You have a powerful hand which shows your success" or "Your hand tells you are rich". All men like to hear these compliments. Ladies' handshakes are lighter and softer. My compliments to them are.. "I could feel you are a romantic lady with your tender hand" or    "Your hand reveals you have a loving heart my dear". Believe me! All women loves them too. 

So! If you want to know more about others, be more observance in your future handshakes. Don't forget all approaches start with a good handshake first. Right?

Food for thought - "Experience teaches you that the man who looks you straight in the eye, particularly if he adds a firm handshake is hiding something" -Clifton Fadiman quote

The Best Birthday Wishes.....

A touching wishes I would like to share with the world....

My friend Bob Foo,

Happy 64th b/day! Yes 64 despite everything else in your mind! 

A day that must be reflected to really have a meaningful soul in it! What really is a b/day, other than the norms of well wishes, cakes and drinks and be merry? Someone said:

• The day your Creator decided that you were finally ready to come into the world, from the world in the womb! By His Will, You have successfully come into this world, safely and with all faculties intact. A day that marked another successful year further from the beginning, and closer to the end.  All you have today are his other creations & through his kindness! That you are still breathing His air and drinking His water, all free!  So say thank you to your Creator who is also the Creator of all the Worlds. ( Have we adhered to His guidelines for us on life?) 

• The Day that your mother, after 9 months of carrying you in her body, with all the challenges of pregnancy, had to endure the tremendous pains of labor just to deliver you into this world. To care for you everyday with all her love and dedication until you are fully grown up and able to be independent. She played a large role in what you have become today. So, hug her & say thank you again to your mother.

• The day when care, services, material things, education, food with love and affection were provided to you for all the years until you are able to fend for yourself. He had to labor hard with 'blood, sweat & tears' to ensure all requirements in the house were met. He was your provider. So say thank you to your Father.

Well, my friend Bob, b/days are good days to strongly reaffirm our appreciations to those who have given us the treasures of life that we have enjoyed all these years.  To those that mattered most.

Have a meaningful joyous birthday.

Maram

Hi My Good Friend Maram,

I'm indeed touched and delighted with your wisdom wishes. I had never in my life ever received such meaningful birthday wishes. You beat all the wishes, including the best of the Hallmark Birthday Cards available in town. I was once selling The Hallmark Cards in my early days. I had read all their beautiful words written by their renowned writers but you are still the best. With friend like you around who shared the wisdom of life, life is definitely worth living. I would seriously take your advices. Thank you for your wonderful enlightenment. Please allow me to post this touching wishes on my blog. May I?

Robert Foo. 

Who is the most important person to you?

Forty four years ago I attended my first exciting motivational course, namely the Dale Carnegie Class. I was only 20 years young and I was too keen to learn. On one session, our trainer thrown us a question... Who is the most important person to you at this particular moment? We had to write the person down on a piece of paper. To me, I wrote my mother. Though I was an adopted child since birth, my adopted mum raised me with love and kindness. I was so proud to mention her as my most important person. Others wrote their wives or husbands, fathers, sisters or brothers and one wrote his best friend as the most important person.

When the turn for our trainer to mention, he said the most important person at this moment were his students. All of us there were important to him. We were caught with surprise! He explained, your mother could be the most important person in your life but at this moment of time, she isn't around. If something bad happened now, your mum won't be able to save you because she is too far away currently. Whereas the person who is in front of you now, could be able to help and assist you in every way because he is nearest to you at the moment. So treat him or her important. Treat that person as though she is like your mum. Treat him like how you adore your father or treat her like how you love your best friend. 

This explanation was easy for me to understand and I hope you could as well. That class was history to me and ever since then I have had never failed to practise what I was taught. I might be served by a waitress in a restaurant. I make sure I treat him important like my brother. I might be dinning with my client's mother. I made sure she is treated as she is like my late mum. For all my readers who are reading my blog, each and everyone of you is certainly very important to me. I might be busy, I make sure all your comments and emails are answered with love.

Numbers are important in life...

Numbers are important in our lives. Our birth is determined by our birthdays and all citizens of the world are registered with a passport number. These numbers cannot be removed and they are very significance to the rest of our lives. To those who believe in Numerical Studies, certain numbers could be helpful to their businesses or careers. Chinese likes the number '8' which portraits prosperity and '4' is a negative number.

In numbering I always think of my telephone number. My house, office and my hand phones are registered with numbers specially hand picked by myself. All my friends, relatives and clients know these phone numbers because these are numbers which were set many years ago. Is easy for them to remember and I won't change them at any cost. These telecommunication numbers represent my value and identity, and it's convenient for people to contact me.

In the course of my business, if I met any new acquaintances who frequently changed their hand phones numbers, I would immediately take extra precautions in knowing them. My experiences tell that people of such are usually not reliable, tricky or problematic. Those who are still young at their early twenties might be innocent to me, but definitely not those who have gone passed the forties and above. I can't imagine why they should be changing their phone numbers so very often, unless they are up to something bad or unpleasant. When an evil person who has bad intention, he would never value an old number. However when one who has all the good thought for others, the old numbers are most valuable to him.

So the next time if you happened to meet a new friend, check on his phone number. Ask him how long has he kept this number. If the number is taken since he used the hand phone, I bet with you... you can trust this friend. Especially for girls meeting boys. 

I like this quote - 

“In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.”-COCO CHANEL

The fear of making cold calls on telephone..

Selling tips....

Most agents find difficulties in making cold calls on telephone. What about me? Yes! I face the same problems like the rest as well. The best way to overcome the butterflies in the stomach, when attempting to make the calls is made the easy one first. Warming up is important. No marathon runner would run without the warming up first. Even Thomas Cup's players need the sparring before the actual play. Yes! The warming up before the actual run or play could build better confidence later. So the next time you have the fear to call someone you don't know, call to speak to someone you know first. The friendly chat and conversation creates and develops energy and enthusiasm in you. In turn you would find it easier to speak to anyone later after this call. The best way to find out whether it works is to try it yourself. Please let me know the outcome.

Food for thought - "We should not let our fears hold us back from pursuing our hopes" - John F. Kennedy

WHO SAID MEN DON'T REMEMBER ANNIVERSARIES!

A woman awakes during the night to find that her husband was not in their bed.

She puts on her robe and goes downstairs to look for him. She finds him sitting at the kitchen table with a hot cup of coffee.

He appears to be in deep thought, just staring at the wall.

She watches as he wipes a tear from his eye and takes a sip of his coffee.

"What's the matter, dear?" she whispers as she steps into the room.

"Why are you down here at this time of night?"

The husband looks up from his coffee.

"Do you remember twenty years ago when we were dating, and you were only 16?" he asks solemnly.

"Yes, I do," she replies.

The husband paused. The words were not coming easily.

"Do you remember when your father caught us in the back seat of my car?"

"Yes, I remember" said the wife, lowering herself into a chair beside him.

The husband continued. "Do you remember when he shoved the shotgun in my face and said,

"Either you marry my daughter, or I will send you to jail for twenty years?"

"I remember that, too" she replied softly.

He wiped another tear from his cheek and said, "I would have been out of jail today and a free man!"

DON'T MESS AROUND WITH A CHINAMAN !

Australian Supermarket
This is hilarious -- but meaningful Discrimination!!

A Chinaman goes to Woolworth's in Australia . He finds cat food at special prices. He picks a dozen cans of cat food and goes to check out. The Manager gets suspicious. He thinks that this guy might not have a cat and will probably feed cat food to his kids. He asks the China man to show him his cat before he could let him have cat food.

The China man goes home and returns with a cat and gets to buy the cat food. Next week the China man finds dog food at special prices. He picks a dozen cans of dog food and goes to check out. The Manager again gets suspicious. He thinks that this guy may have a cat but he cannot have a dog and he will probably feed dog food to his kids. He asks the China man to bring and show him the dog before he can let him have dog food.

The China man goes home and returns with a dog. He gets to buy the dog food. The following week the China man comes to Woolworth's with a bag. He asks the manager to put his hand in the bag. The Manager puts his hand in the bag, feels some thing slimy and immediately pulls it out. He shouts at the China man, "What the hell! This is shit, you Idiot !"

The China man calmly replies, "Yes, now may I buy some toilet paper?"

What is a good man and a good woman?

Little darling sent me a message.."A good man is not a perfect man; a good man is an honest man, faithful and unhesitating responsive to the voice of his woman in his life. Betul kah?"

I responded.. "Not sure love! I think the answer should be replied by women and not from man".

On the other hand, Little darling should know.. "A good woman is not a perfect woman; a good woman is an understanding woman, loving and unconditionally surrender her soul and heart to the success of her man in her life".

Never sell only for your own benefit.....

Selling tips...

Is year end closing, companies have their targets to meet and agents have also their goals to fulfill. Peng a closed colleague in our company is short of some sales. She needs the extra sales to achieve the incentives, cash and an oversea holiday for next year. Out of desperation she called me for some help. She wanted some tips and advices from me.. How to catch the late birds? She has 15 days left to make it.

Is quite a practice for most agents to force their friends and relatives to buy life insurance. Their normal ways could be.. Please help me lah! I need just one more case to achieve my target for this year. ( the one case is for every one they meet ) or unethically they lie to claim that the year end plan is a special program and only selected clients could purchase.

I told Peng this... A good professional agent sells for the benefit of his clients and not for his own personal interest. Yes! When a case is professionally sold, it justified for the agent to earn his rightful commission from it. However if the plan is sold for the sake of the agent's personal gain and interest, I termed such sales as a shameful transaction.

A good intended sale is always shown with sincerity and genuinity. Whereas a corrupted approach tends to be fade and unprofound. If an agent works with sincerity and commitment, he need not have to burn the mid nite oil to get what he wants. I have been selling life insurance for almost 30 years, there was not a single month in my career that ended without a sale. The sales just came pouring in because all my clients knew that they were buying for their own benefits and gain. As long as you have this passion and love, our clients would also know how to take care of us.

Specially for Peng -" What is uttered from the heart alone, will win the heart of others to your own" - Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe quote.

Selling is like playing poker.....

Selling tips...

To me selling is like playing a poker game, especially the Texas Hold em Poker. In this game, you might be holding a great card of a beautiful "Ace" which all poker players love to have. You start with high hope with the strong Ace in hand but at the end you realized you lost the game because the dealer won over you with a pair and you only have the Ace. Hope turns no hope eventually. On the other hand, you might start the game without any hope when you hold a small card of "2" or "5" only. With courage and skill you move on to play, when you improve to draw another pair of "2" and "5" for your cards. From no hope at the beginning, you turn the game into hope and finally you win the play.

Selling is the same. You might have a rich and successful prospect who wants to see you. Having much high hope that you could sell because the rich prospect has the financial means. However after a long session and comparison of products, prospect turns you down. With high hope at the beginning, the sale ends with no hope because of the rejection. Don't under estimate the simple looking prospect who looks poor and innocent. You might consider such prospect as little hope that he could buy your insurance. If you have the right skills and confidence, the unexpected poor prospect might purchase a size able plan from you. From no hope in the first place, it turns into a great hope.

Moral of the story; Hope can end without hope and at time no hope can change to have better hope

Food for thought - "Don't lower your expectations to meet your performance. Raise your level of performance to meet your expectations. Expect the best of yourself, and then do what is necessary to make it a reality" - Ralph Marston

Parenting.......

Pris is sending her child for her oversea study soon. She is worried whether she could be able to take care of herself in a foreign land. She knew I had sent two of my sons to study in England twenty years ago. She likes to know what advices I had given to my children before they left abroad.

These was what I told my sons before they left for their studies. I only needed three requests from them. Two things they should not bring home. They must only bring back one. The first request, promise dad that you must not bring back HIV. Second, no bringing home a foreign wife. I only want you to bring home your degree. Unless they agreed to these terms, I would not have send them away. The rest, I wasn't bother to know because they were big enough to take care of themselves. Both my children came home after their studies with a beautiful degree for me.

Food of thought - "Don't worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you" - Robert Fulghum

Hope verses Believe....

A positive mind is one who always used the right approach and thought. The other day one of my son was facing a great obstacle which he needed to challenge himself. He did his best to make sure he could get things done properly. While anxiously waiting for his result, I called him on the phone. Later he send me this message..."Hopefully no problem!!!"

To me that wasn't a good reply. Instead I reverted him this ..."Son. Please don't hope. Believe you can". Explanation was; Hoping is half half result. You might get it or you might not. Whereas believing is certain and affirmative. Hoping might not offer you the full relieve and confidence. To strongly believe, the mind could work wonders. Making the impossible to be possible.

For any decision making, I try to avoid these words... I hope or I pray. I prefer to use... I will rather than I may or I shall. I will is assuring, while I may or I shall is subjective.

A positive mind will say..."I believe my career in selling life insurance is the best noble professional job available on earth. I will never fail those who support me in this business. I must fulfill all my promises rendered to my clients".

Power quote - "The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible"

Pregnant Wife ....

Sunday laugh......

Since the wife was eight months into her Pregnancy, the husband had to sleep on the floor to avoid any regrettable mistake, which might happen pretty easily, for he had been desperate for quite a while.

Just before lying down on the bed, the wife glances at him and sees the poor guy curls up on the floor, eyes stare widely into the empty air, filled with hopeless desire...

Feeling sorry for her husband, she opens the top drawer of the cabinet, takes out 500 bucks, and gives it to him. "Here, take this and go to the woman next door, she will let you sleep with her tonight.... and remember that this happens only once... ok?... Don't think about it again" she said.

The husband rolls his eyes in disbelief, but afraid that she may change her mind, grabs the money and leaves quickly.

A few minutes later, he returns, and hands the money back to his wife and says with much disappointment: ''She said this is not enough. She wants one thousand.....''

The wife's face slowly turns red with anger. "Damn that bitch.. when she was pregnant and her husband came over here...I charged him only five hundred..." The guy collapsed!!!

Think TWICE when your wife is over Generous.

Inspiring Story....................................

The generous vegetable seller by Esther Liang

After the morning hustle and bustle, the atmosphere at Taitung county's Central Market quietens as every stall shuts for the day and their owners return to the comfort of their homes.

Alone lamp shines on a vegetable stall. With head bowed, Ms Chen Shu-chu silently sorts out the vegetable leaves as she waits for the occasional afternoon customer.

Decades of hard work have caused the fingers on her right hand to curl and joints to swell; her feet have deformed slightly. Ms Chen leads her life with a daily routine. Waking up at three in the morning, she makes her way to the vegetable wholesaler and sets up her stall, which she tends till seven or eight in the evening. Being the first to arrive and last to leave, the other stall owners have fondly given her the title of "market manager".

In the dark and damp market, Ms Chen, nearing her 60s, holds the stall her father left her dearly.Yuan-Jin Vegetables is her everything. With her vegetables selling at "a bundle for NT$30 (S$1.30), three bundles for NT$50", she earns only marginal profits.

Yet, her frugality has allowed her to donate about NT$10 million towards various charitable causes, including helping schools, orphanages and poor children.

The selfless generosity of a woman with such humble income has placed her under the international spotlight.

In March, Forbes magazine named her one of 48 outstanding philanthropists from the Asia-Pacific region. A month later, Time magazine selected the year's top 100 influential people and she emerged under the Heroes of Philanthropy category.

Fellow Taiwanese and Oscar- winning director Lee Ang wrote her entry personally. "Money is worthy only if given to those in need," he quoted Ms Chen. He also wrote: "Amazing, but of all she has given away, her greatest gift is leading by example." KINDNESS BEGETS KINDNESS

Despite the honour of receiving the Time award in New York, gaining global recognition, and a personal meeting with President Ma Ying-jeou, all Ms Chen really cares about is her vegetable stall.

If not for President Ma and the Foreign Minister personally convincing her to go, she would not have agreed to visit New York, as she felt that "this is not a competition and I did not win anything".

Amid the frenzy of applying for a passport and preparing for the visit, her main concern was that her regular customers would not get their vegetables.

Ms Chen has become a celebrity in Taitung county. The local authorities decorated her stall with congratulatory posters and banners hailing her as the Pride of Taitung and the Model of Philanthropy.

There are fans who turn up at the stall with a vegetable basket and a camera, hoping for a picture with Ms Chen.

Despite all the attention, she remains humble. "I have done nothing extraordinary and anyone who wants to can do it. There are many other charitable people; we just don't know about them," she said. Ms Chen, who is unmarried, added: "I do not place great importance on money. When I donate to help others, I feel at peace and happy, and I can sleep well at night."

She also feels for the poor, having experienced hardship in her younger days.

Born in 1950, Ms Chen lost her mother after completing her primary-school education. Her mother was admitted to hospital because of difficulties in labour and the family had to pay an insurance of NT$5,000 before medical attention could be granted.

Ms Chen saw her father asking their neighbours for money, but it was too late to save her mother. The eldest daughter in the family, Ms Chen had to grow up overnight.

She gave up her studies and dedicated her life to helping at the vegetable stall.

When she was 18, her younger brother fell sick and the illness dragged on for over a year, gradually depleting the family's savings. Doctors suggested that the family send her brother to Taiwan National University Hospital, but they could not afford the fees.

Mr Huang Shun-zhong, a teacher at Ren-ai Primary School, started a donation drive. Unfortunately, her brother could not be saved.

After experiencing the kindness bestowed upon her family, Ms Chen made up her mind to help the poor once she was able. When her father died 17 years ago, Ms Chen, a devoted Buddhist, generously donated NT$1 million to Fo Guang Shan Monastery.

In 2000, she donated NT$1 million to her alma mater, Ren-ai Primary School, to set up an Emergency Relief Fund to help poor children obtain financial help.

SIMPLE LIFE WITHOUT LUXURIES
Assisting in the setting up and maintenance of the fund is Mr Li Guo-rong, who teaches Ms Chen's nephew.

In 2001, Mr Li had a plan to build a library for the school and estimated the cost to be between NT$4 million and NT$5 million. When he approached Ms Chen, in the hope that she might contribute NT$50,000, Li was shocked when she said she would fund the entire project.

The school was sceptical, but Ms Chen was determined. In May 2005, the two-storey library was completed and named Chen Shu-chu Library in honour of the "Vegetable Market heroine" alumnus. She had donated NT$4.5 million.

Ms Chen's ability to donate such large sums of money has led many to ask: How can a mere vegetable seller earn so much?

"Spend only what you need, and you'll be able to save up a lot of money!" said Ms Chen.

Since 1996, she has donated NT$36,000 to help three children in the Kids Alive International organisation.

To achieve this, she explained that she empties her loose change into three little cardboard boxes at home every night.

"This is a simple act that anyone can do, isn't it?" she said.

Ms Chen leads a very simple life without any luxuries. She does not have any desire for material gain nor any form of enjoyment.

Work, she said, is her enjoyment. "I love my work. If I didn't, would I be able to work 16 hours a day?"

All she needs is food and a place to sleep. Everything else is a luxury. She does not buy expensive clothes as "I do not socialise much, hence, there is no need for such beautiful clothes. The clothes from the roadside stalls are good enough for me, and, even then, I like to bargain".

Her daily meals cost less than NT$100: a bowl of vegetarian rice and a bowl of noodles for NT freeze whatever that cannot be finished, spend another NT$20 on a can of gluten and add that to the rice with some hot water. "This becomes porridge and is very tasty," she said.

HER HAPPINESS PRINCIPLE
She also sleeps on the hard floor, a habit from her younger days when she started working at the vegetable stall.

The comfort of her warm bed made getting up early to go to the wholesaler very difficult, especially during the cold winter months. Hence Ms Chen made up her mind to sleep on the cold floor, where she would not run the risk of being late.

Has business improved after winning the award? "Business is as usual," she said. "I still need to sell my vegetables. Not much has changed."

Advertisers have approached her to film commercials; financial managers have offered to manage her finances and other well-wishers have offered to donate money. She rejects these advances politely.

"It is easy to return borrowed money, but difficult to return a favour," she said.

"I have to be very careful in handling money matters,"she added. Even when customers tip her, she refuses to accept.

"Buying from my stall is already a form of support," she explained. The only commercial Ms Chen was willing to take on was for the Bureau of National Health Insurance, in memory of her beloved mother. She requested all shoots be done beside her stall so as not to affect her business.

The only payment she was willing to accept was a black T-shirt given by the Bureau.

Since her return from New York, Ms Chen has been working even longer hours. She has a new goal: To collect NT$10 million to set up a Chen Shu-chu Bursary aimed at helping poor children pay for school fees and medical bills, things she could not afford as a child.

"All I need is to sell a few more vegetables, save a little more money, in addition to a number of insurance policies that are near the end of their term. A lot of people are also willing to donate. I am sure there won't be any problems," she said.

Mr Li, who treats Ms Chen like a sister, said that setting up the bursary is actually a good way to let her retire from selling vegetables and start influencing society with her reputation, in the hope that there will be more generous "Chen Shu-chus".

As for Ms Chen, she said: "My philosophy in life is simple: If doing something makes you worried, then it must be a wrong thing. If it makes you happy, then you must have done the right thing. What others say is not important."

She is content with what she has and feels that as long as she "lives a life she wishes for and does the things she wants, that is good enough".
A MOST INSPIRING TRUE STORY OF A HUMBLE, SELF-SACRIFICING COMMON WOMAN......A RARE BREED IN THIS MODERN RAT-RACE WORLD OF OURS!

IT IS SUCH HEART-WARMING ACTS LIKE THIS THAT GIVE THE HUMAN RACE HOPE ...
" Life is a bunch of experiences and I am going to make it as incredible as possible"

Be generous in paying....

Selling tips...

One of the finest point of being a most likable salesperson is to be a generous and a willing bills payer. I have been a habitual payer whenever I go out to dine and drink with friends. I always made it a practice to feel proud and honour to feed the bills, no matter who are with me when we are out. As long as I could afford the amount, I would attempt to take the initiative to pay first. Sometime I might even instruct the waiter or the cashier of the restaurant that I'm the host who is responsible to pay for the final billing, even before our food is served. My sincerity and generosity of being a willing spender for my guests could always be felt and appreciated. You might say some could be taking an advantage over my generosity, but as long as I could make my friends happy, I would still continue to pay these bills without any ill thought over them. I always tell my clients... When you allow me to pay the food bills, indirectly you are giving me value and respect. These value and respect inspire me to do well in my career. Thank you for letting me pay this little amount to entertain you.

Generosity quote - "We cannot do great things on this Earth, only small things with great love" - Mother Teresa

The reasons why man lives a shorter life than woman.

My personal observation why most aging men failed to stay in their career, or had little drive to live or not happier in their golden age are mainly due to four reasons.

The first is... They spent too much time with their old folks friends or buddies who had no personal drive themselves. Their friends discouraged them to work further. They influenced each others to do nothing, except talking old mother stories. You could see them at old coffee shops, sipping tea and reading newspaper most of the time. Avoid them!

Second... The aging men have no younger friends to spur them. They are too prideful and too proud to mix with their younger generation. They aren't aware that the younger people are also afraid to approach the older folks. Yes! The older mind has experiences and wisdom but they lacked the youthfulness and strength. Suggest... Befriend the youngsters.

Third... They are too lazy to exercise. The vitality and health for any age is still regular exercising.

Fourth... They are afraid to fall in love again. In fact the fourth reason is most important. The logic is... Woman can live without man but man can never live without woman. Some might still have wives around but being stubborn and arrogance, they turn enemies or have misunderstanding with their the other half. They quarrel and fight more then they make love. In the heart and mind, they might still have thought to seek for another woman, but not many would darn to fall for another woman again. They are afraid the families, relatives and friends might disrespect their wrongful involvement with another lady, while their wives are still alive. With a sorrowful and lonesome heart what do you expect out of these aging men. I always said.. A happy heart sees a beautiful world but when your heart is unhappy, the whole world seems ugly and uninteresting anymore. That's why woman usually out lived man wherever they are.

I strong believe - "If women didn’t exist, all the money in the world would have no meaning".

Discipline..........

Selling tips...

I used to be asked by rookie agents this question..."What is the toughest part in selling life insurance? My reply is always the same... To discipline oneself!!!

A paid job is one when someone controls and manages you. There are rules and regulations you have to be abide. You have to clock-in and clock-out each day when you need to go to work. You have to report to your immediate boss who instructs and delegates work to you. As long as you follow rules and be able to fulfill all obligations and responsibilities, your salary or income is assured at the end of each month. Simple as that!

Not in selling life insurance. The day I became an agent thirty years ago, I knew I had to set my own destiny. Previously when I was working for someone, other people dictated my future. If they like me, I might have a chance to progress and improve. Otherwise my destiny is more or less under their hand. However an agent is considered a self employed professional. A job or a career without a basic or a salary. Our income is derived from our commission and incentives. As a professional agent, we don't need to report to anyone, and we have no specific time to start and to end our work. Sounds nice! Yes! At the beginning everday is like a holiday. Nobody or a boss to jump on you and you are free to start the day as when you like. Not so nice at the end of the month when you realised that there is no commission in your statement. So! The only way to do well and to see a big fat cheque towards the end is to work hard and see as many prospects as possible. To say it is also easy but to do it is actually difficult to most agents. The reason is... They lack discipline.

A sincere and frankly advice to those who have intention to take up this career... Unless you are a well disciplined person and have self determination, selling life insurance in the long run might be tough.

Something I learned - "One-half of life is luck; the other half is discipline ? and that?s the important half, for without discipline you wouldn?t know what to do with luck."- Carl Zuckmeyer

A picture can make you laugh.....

I'm a cartoon's collector, especially the naughty and the cheeky one. They make us laugh.

Look at the one I am posting today. If you happened to be that naked guy, would you yell or to hold on to your breath? The lady on the top floor seems playing innocent, while the pussy on the lower floor is cheeky as ever. Right? Do you consider that guy as brave? He is brave to hold his body with all his fingers clinging to the edge of the outside window. Not brave to face his wrong. The picture relates the real part of our life. If you have a sense of humour, I'm sure you would laugh together with me.

Do you know... "A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs. It's jolted by every pebble on the road" - Henry Ward Beecher

HONESTY......

There was a farmer who sold a pound of butter to the baker. One day the baker decided to weigh the butter to see if he was getting a pound and he found that he was not. This angered him and he took the farmer to court.

The judge asked the farmer if he was using any measure. The farmer replied, "Your Honor, I am primitive. I don't have a proper measure, but I do have a scale." The judge asked, "Then how do you weigh the butter?" The farmer replied, "Your Honor, long before the baker started buying butter from me, I have been buying a pound loaf of bread from him. Every day when the baker brings the bread, I put it on the scale and give him the same weight in butter. If anyone is to be blamed, it is the baker."

What is the moral of the story? We get back in life what we give to others. Whenever you take an action, ask yourself this question - Am I giving fair value for the wages or money I hope to make?

Honesty and dishonesty become a habit. Some people practise dishonesty and can lie with a straight face. Others lie so much that they don't even know what the truth is anymore. But who are they deceiving? Themselves - more than anyone else.

Honesty can be put across gently. Some people take pride in being brutally honest. It seems they are getting a bigger kick out of the brutality than the honesty. Choice of words and tact are important.

Why we should not flirt !

A Sunday laugh....

A couple was invited to a swanky family masked fancy dress Halloween party. The wife got a terrible headache and told her husband to go to the party alone. He, being a devoted husband, protested, but she argued and said she was going to take some aspirin and go to bed and there was no need for his good time to be spoiled by not going.

So he took his costume and away he went... The wife, after sleeping soundly for about an hour, woke without pain and as it was still early, decided to go to the party. As her husband didn't know what her costume was, she thought she would have some fun by watching her husband to see how he acted when she was not with him.

So she joined the party and soon spotted her husband in his costume, cavorting around on the dance floor, dancing with every nice' chick' he could and copping a little feel here and a little kiss there.

His wife went up to him and being a rather seductive babe herself, he left his new partner high and dry and devoted his time to her. She let him go as far as he wished, naturally, since he was her husband.

After more drinks he finally whispered a little proposition in her ear and she agreed, so off they went to one of the cars and had passionate intercourse in the back seat. Just before unmasking at midnight , she slipped away and went home and put the costume away and was sitting up reading when he came in, so she asked what kind of time he had.

'Oh, the same old thing. You know I never have a good time when you're not there.' Then she asked, 'Did you dance much?' He replied, 'I'll tell you, I never even danced one dance. When I got there, I met Pete, Bill Brown and some other guys, so we went into the spare room and played poker all evening.'

'You must have looked really silly wearing that costume playing poker all night!' she said with unashamed sarcasm. To which the husband replied, 'Actually, I gave my costume to my Dad.... apparently he had the time of his life'.

A pussy sees another wild pussy.....

When a pussy sees another wild pussy... This would what happened! If you can't see the other pussy, something must be wrong with your brain!!!

Faithful dog stays at masters grave .......

In a tear-jerking display of loyalty, a faithful dog in China has refused to leave his late master's graveside even after going seven days without food. Just like Edinburgh's legendary Greyfriars Bobby, the little Scottish terrier who visited his master's grave every day for 14 years, the faithful yellow dog simply cannot bear to be parted from his friend.

His owner Lao Pan, who died aged 68, earlier this month, lived alone in a little house in the village of Panjiatun in the Liaoning Province with just the dog for company. After seven days without a meal, concerned villagers begun bringing food and water to the graveside and even plan to build a little kennel for the dog to curl up in at night.

One villager told how he decided to adopt the dog and brought him back home but he immediately escaped and rushed back to be close to his late master.

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How true is .. "The dog is a yes-animal, very popular with people who can't afford to keep a yes-man" ~Robertson Davies

Words have double effects.....

Follow from yesterday title......

A week later, a top manager trained by the speaker tried to crack this good joke at home. But he was already a bit foggy after a drink. He said loudly to his wife who was preparing dinner: "The greatest years of my life were spent in the arms of a woman who was not my wife!" The wife went: "Huh??!" with shock and rage. Standing there for 20 seconds trying to recall the second half of the joke, the man finally blurted out: "....and I can't remember who she was!" By the time he regained consciousness, he was on a hospital bed nursing burns from boiling water.

Moral of the story: Don't copy if you can't paste! Remember words applied wrongly can cause terrible consequences.