Woman with 10 grown children collects recyclable items to survive..

True story from our recent local news.....

SEREMBAN: Eighty-two-year-old Gan Kein Liew’s friends used to assure her that she would be well looked after in her twilight years as she had 10 children.

When her husband died several years ago, Gan did not worry, thinking her children would always be there to care for her. “In fact, I hoped my children would also look after their two siblings who are slow learners

But sadly, it never happened,” said the frail-looking Gan when met at her sparsely-furnished home in Seremban Jaya near here.

Despite her age, Gan has little choice but to scour her neighbourhood for recyclable items every day so that she can at least buy a loaf of bread for her children Yok Ching, 51, and Lai Seng, 39.

She wakes up early to collect used plastic, tins and papers and earns about RM10 per week.

“I have no choice but to do this as I have not seen my other seven children for more than 10 years now,” said Gan.

“I cannot trouble another daughter of mine who earns very little and is a single parent with four young children,” she said, adding that the house she is staying in belongs to another daughter.

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What happened to our Empathy? Non of the children has the love for the mother! Don't they feel shameful? There is a Chinese belief... if you respect and love the elders, your children would follow and if you take care  of your ageing parents, they will  love and care for you at your later years. 

A faithful and caring son.....

KM is one of my relatives. He is ten years my junior, who has five sisters and four brothers. Among them, he is the most outspoken one and also successful in his business. We both click very well because we speak the same lingo, naughty, fun and the adventurous type. Whereas his the other siblings are serious, no none sense behaviour, religious and the typical Chinese type. 

Recently their ageing mother had a very bad fall, and has to be bedridden. Special care and attention have to be given to her. A wheel chair was bought for her to move around. Because of her inconvenience, all  the children are giving excuses that they don't have the time and place to shelter the poor old lady. Not KM! He immediately took the mother from the village and fetched her to his home in the city in Kuala Lumpur. 

Every morning he has to attend to her mum's need. He bathes, cleans, washes and feeds her with love. The first time when he bathed the mother, was the most unforgettable moment of his life. Though he had sucked the mother breast when he was a baby, and it was her who had given birth to him... both son and mother were shy and embarrassed when she was totally unclothed during the bathing. However after the first wash, both son and mother over came their shyness. Today my great KM feels honour to be able to serve and care for his sickly mother. He said.. Mum you had taken care of me when I was a child, now is my turn to take care of you. 

I was touched with this story. I could not imagine a man like KM who is being considered as playful and naughty by his sisters and brothers, but has a caring heart which non of his siblings has. KM has a so called good wife to the family but she too isn't prepared to take care of the mother in law like the husband. During our discussion, I offered my services to KM. In case no one who is willing to keep your mum, please allow me to have her because she is just like a mother to me as well.

Moral of the story: What's is the point of being living right and decent, when you don't have a caring heart?

Yes! Me & MK are playful in many ways but we do have a wonderful heart. 

One of my best collection quotes - "All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother" - Abraham Lincoln

BROTHER IN LAW......

( You don't have to be Catholic to appreciate this one. )

A man suffered a serious heart attack while shopping in a store. The store clerks called 911 when they saw him collapse to the floor. The paramedics rushed the man to the nearest hospital where he had emergency open heart bypass surgery...

    

He awakened from the surgery to find himself in the care of nuns at the Catholic Hospital . A nun was seated next to his bed holding a clipboard loaded with several forms, and a pen. She asked him how he was going to pay for his treatment. "Do you have health insurance?" she asked.

    

He replied in a raspy voice, "No health insurance."

    

The nun asked, "Do you have money in the bank?"

    

He replied, "No money in the bank."

    

Do you have a relative who could help you with the payments?" asked the irritated nun.

He said, "I only have a spinster sister, and she is a nun."

    

The nun became agitated and announced loudly, "Nuns are not spinsters! Nuns are married to God."

    

The patient replied, "Perfect. Send the bill to my brother-in-law."****

How to answer a weird question!!!

When you are confronted with a sensitive, funny or weird question, especially by a child... What is the best way to reply?? See the below to get the answer...

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Apply sense of humour and please don't get angry over it. 

Mother's food is the best.....

CY is a very successful corporate legal advisor and she is a lady. When she was a child, her late mother never gave her a chance to cook or to do housework. She insisted that the daughter had to concentrate and be focused on her studies. Mum's responsibility was to be a full time housewife and the children were to do well in their education. True enough! Both the son and the daughter completed their education with flying colour.

Today CY is happily married with three handsome sons and a no nonsense husband. A good wife and a mother to her family but she doesn't know how to cook. She only knows how to cook rice but sometimes she might even overcooked it. Sad ah? Luckily the soft spoken husband could cook. If he doesn't cook at home, then the family has to eat outside. The children never have a chance to taste mother's food.

To me Mother's Food is very important. It's the mother's cooking that could draw the attention of the entire family. One day when her sons are all grown up, and they might be staying afar, the mother's food could easily attracts them to come home again. All mothers who cook, know the taste buds of their children. Money has motivation but good food is always tempting too. So! If CY doesn't cook, she has to make sure she is rich and wealthy till the end to motivate the sons to come home in future. Otherwise without wealth and no mother's food, I'm worried for her... wondering whether the children who are married then would still be attached to this old lady there after. 

Why am I so concerned for CY? Reason... Because she is one of my obedient daughter in law. 

Forgotten to write. She repeats the same mistakes of what her mother had done to her. Now her children have to concentrate in their studies as well, and leave the house work to the maids. Is she right? You tell me please!

Would you agree... "Good food and a warm kitchen are what makes a house a home."

Sedikit-sedikit lama-lama jadi bukit?

It was raining and I had to run to my car because I needed to meet another appointment. When I was about to open the car door trying to rush myself in, I noticed there was a five cents coin just outside my car. In the car, I wondered whether I should open the car door again to pick this coin or not. The road was wet and muddy. If I go out again, I was sure I would get wet much more. Pondering and more pondering inside the car, came the memories of my late mother's advices. When I was a small child, mother said... "Is a sin not to pick those coins fell over the roads. Whether is the one cent or lesser, son, you must pick it up!"

Her vision striked my thought! Though the five cents has really no value of today when one could not buy anything with it, I told myself I still had to take my mum's advice. Immediately I opened the car door, got myself wet and picked up the valueless coin from the muddy ground. Back in the car again, I felt so relieve and happy, when I murmured to myself... "Mum! Thank you for teaching me the value of life." This five cents coin is still in my car compartment.

Today if we were to walk around town, one could easily see plenty of the five cents and ten cents coins on the roads. No children would be bother to pick them up. Because to them these coins are valueless and they are not taught with 'the value of money' in the first place. 

In our Malay Language, there is a proverb which said, "Sedikit-sedikit lama-lama jadi bukit." In literal translation, it means "Bit by bit, over time, it will accumulate into a mountain.

Love what you write......

Anonymous said...

What i do not understood is in reality how you're now not actually much more smartly-favored than you may be now. You're so intelligent. You already know therefore considerably in relation to this matter, produced me for my part consider it from a lot of various angles. Its like women and men don't seem to be interested until it is something to do with Girl gaga! Your own stuffs nice. All the time take care of it up!

First off I want to say fantastic blog! I had a quick question in which I'd like to ask if you don't mind. I was interested to know how you center yourself and clear your thoughts prior to writing. I've had a hard time clearing my thoughts in getting my thoughts out. I do enjoy writing but it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are generally wasted just trying to figure out how to begin. Any suggestions or tips? Thanks! belajar sulaman manik

July 21, 2012 7:30 AM 

I told Sulaman... Three things are needed to write well. They are knowledge, experiences and plenty of passion. I was not a writer in anyway. It's was only five years ago, my eldest son instigated me to blog. I talk more than I write. One can speak well but might not be able to write well or you could write well but might not be good speaker. Is only lately I learn to write and I do hope my readers could also guide and correct me at the same time.

I believe to be a good writer, you must have a lot of knowledge in mind. I'm not a scholar but have been a salesman for 45 years, which allow me to gather so much of experiences of life. The theme and slogan from our company is "To Listen & To Understand." It really helped me to expand and to truly understand what lives are all about. Everyone is different but if you had seen enough people, you would know what I mean. Many could have knowledge and experiences too, but if they do not have a heart to share and to give, writing especially on blog here might be difficult. To write with a commercial value is different from writing for a free course. To write on blog needs passion. Without it, there is no inspiration to spur you to write with a good thought. Every night when coming to blogging time, I always feel excited because blogging is my hobby and interest. I don't need to wait or to ponder or to prepare the necessary points and facts. The flow of my mind and thought just comes naturally. Every word and sentences I wrote was a joy and happiness to me coz,  I know I have hundred of readers who are keen to read my post the next morning. Unless you have these passion and desire to write and to share without condition laid, you might find writing as tough and unchallenged my dear Sulaman.  

Food for thought - "Love. Fall in love and stay in love. Write only what you love, and love what you write. The key word is love. You have to get up in the morning and write something you love, something to live for" 

Ray Bradbury

First sight impression....

My third son who is an IT engineer would be working  for a new company tomorrow. I'm happy and proud to see him getting this key managerial job. And I'm sure he would do well.

Some advices I gave him. Son! Please be as humble as possible when you meet all your new fellow colleagues, immaterial of what rank and position they are holding. Smile to them when you talk. Shake their hands firmly with an open heart. See the good side of each of them and offer your sincere compliments. Remember the first sight impression is always the best.

My son with confidence replied... "Dad! I have your genes."

Food for thought - "We sometimes encounter people, even perfect strangers, who begin to interest us at first sight, somehow suddenly, all at once, before a word has been spoken" - Fydor Dostoevsky quotes.

Confucius advice for married men .......

Words of Wisdom

Public Hair............................

Sunday joke... Laugh please but don't get angry....

A Scottish couple took in an 18-year-old girl as a lodger. When she asked if she could have a bath the lady of the house told her they didn't have a bath, although if she wanted to she could use a tin wash tub in front of the fire.

"Monday's the best night because my husband goes out to bowl," she said.

The girl agreed to have a bath the following Monday. After her husband had gone for his bowling game, the woman filled the bath and watched the girl get undressed. She was surprised to see that the lass didn't have any pubic hair. She mentioned this to her husband when he came home.

He didn't believe her, so she said: "Next Monday, when you go bowling, leave a little early and wait in the back garden. I'll leave a gap in the curtains so you can see for yourself."

So the following Monday, while the girl again got undressed, the wife asked: "Do you shave?"

"No," replied the girl. "I've just never grown any hair down there. Do you have hair?"

"Oh, yes," said the woman, and she pulled up her nightdress and showed the girl that she was really generously endowed in the hair department.....very generously indeed.

The girl finished her bath and went to bed.

Later that night, when the husband came in, the wife asked him, "Did you see it?"

"Yes," he said, "but why the hell did you have to show her yours?"

"Why ever are you worried about that?" she said. "You've seen it often enough before."

"I know," he said, "but the bowling team hadn't!

Beautiful poem by Rabindranath Tagore!!

A meaningful poem written by the first Indian Nobel prize winner (for literature) in 1913.

Pictures To Help You Restore Your Faith In Humanity

A father and mother kissing their dying little girl goodbye. If you are wondering why all the medic people are bowing: in less than an hour, two small children in the next room are able to live thanks to the little girl's kidney and liver.

Trust has to be earned.........

Anonymous said...

Hi Pals,

I really take pity on those who buys things on trust alone. How 

many times have we heard of people being cheated by 'trusted' agents or sales people! Don't forget that as sellers, money is the biggest motivation. And in today's world, most will not hesitate to go for max gains, @ the expense of the customer. So buyers beware: know what you want, do your homework, ask right questions. Don't trust ad agree in 10 mins unless you want to give money away free.

July 12, 2012 5:00 PM

The  Anonymous posted the above comment on my recent title, "Closing a big case." Don't really know whether Anonymous  is a she or a he, but I guess is more likely a lady who could have been taken many free rides by many salespeople. She is right and wrong as well.

What she said was 'don't buy things on trust alone', is a true fact of life. Every seller who begins selling is normally driven by money. Without this motivation, no one on earth would take this challenge to sell in the first place. And when nobody sells, the world would be dead. The business world needs sales people to sell their products. Otherwise you and me would have nothing to eat cause the market has nothing to sell too. 

To justify a good sales transaction is to have a honest sales person plus an appreciative customer. An honest sales person might be willing to sell totally on trust but his customers are not honest and are the demanding types, sales person could be rejected. Or the appreciative customers are handled by an untrustworthy sales person, customers could be cheated too. 

In the first place for an agent to earn his trust, he has to walk the miles in order to prove his creditability. To my Anonymous reader, I wonder whether you have had been a salesperson before. It takes a long time to master our trade. Not many can stay long enough to really enjoy this career of ours. One of the main reason of our drop outs is the countless rejections in our business. This blog of mine was created for the sole purpose of helping and encouraging my fellow colleagues to walk the extra miles. So that they could understand what is the real meaning of selling, and to improve the standard of our professionalism in being a life insurance agent. They might have met prospects like you who distrusts agents but I want to inspire them, if they could work long enough like me with patience, passion, love & concern and total commitment over our career, selling on TRUST is definitely possible. 

So! My dear Anonymous reader, you are right for protecting the right's of the buyers and I have my obligation to share and to educate my fellow colleagues not to be distrusted by your kind. Thank you for reading this blog which has no commercial value but merely to touch the heart who is open minded. To criticise is easy but to appreciate is always tough.

Food for thought - "When people honor each other, there is a trust established that leads to synergy, interdependence, and deep respect. Both parties make decisions and choices based on what is right, what is best, what is valued most highly." --Blaine Lee

Think outside the box.......

Few years ago, there was a telemarketer from Citibank called my number. He was David, who was trying to promote their bank credit card loan advancement to me. Sounded excited he said I was eligible for a maximum card's loan for 150k. Out of a joke, I told him that 150k was too small for me. If the bank was to offer me a 2 million facility, I might consider taking it up.

David being young and naive said that 150k was the maximum the bank could give. I threw him a challenge! If he could take the trouble to check and verify from all sources in his bank, he would be surprised that more loans are available for me. He was still hesitating!

I gave him two choices. The first was do nothing and forget what I had mentioned, and kept calling another prospect for more sales elsewhere . The second was to seek further advices and information from other various departments for further enquiries. I gave my personal tips to this young man.. If he opted to take choice one, he would learn nothing in his work. Where else if he took the second choice which might incurred more time and effort on him, he would definitely learn much more in the process of the investigation. I gave him one week for the second task.

Tell you what! He came back in four days, full of enthusiasm and confidence to relate his story to me. Yes! The bank could offer me a combined loan value of 1.5 million from three different departments. His credit card section could only give out 150k. Though I hadn't taken up this 1.5 million from David, he was frank to tell that he really had learned so much from these four days of asking questions from various staffs in his bank. Today, David is promoted as a manager of the bank. I still haven't see him in person but he never failed to chat with me occasionally on the phone, taking me as a good friend who had shown him the way to reach success in the working world.

Food for thought - “No problem can be solved by the same consciousness that created it. We need to see the world anew.” Albert Einstein

What is a good daughter in law?

Ling, one of my readers asked this question.. "Can you share what is a good daughter in law?"

50 years ago a good daughter in law was one who knew how to love the young and also to respect the old. Being a full time house wife, she had to raise and care for the children. She had to be an obedient and faithful daughter to the parents in law, who might be old and unfriendly. Though she was fully responsible to the home, she had to take instruction from the elders in the house without complaint. 

Today might be a little change. A good daughter in law of the current is to love and care for her own children, still got to respect the parents in law but need not have to take instruction from them any more. Very seldom daughters in law are staying with the parents in law now. What is most important for her... To love and make the old folks' son the most happiest man for them. When their son was young, they were the one who cared and brought him up. Now is the turn for the daughter in law or the son's wife to take the responsibility to love him as much as possible. As long as the grand children and the son could still remember the grand father and grand mum because of her untiring effort and understanding, she would be termed as a good daughter in law to the family.

My belief - "A daughter is one of the most beautiful gifts this world has to give.... Including daughter in law."

Don't give up...................

Selling tips...

All my fellow colleagues asked me these several questions...

1. How to qualify The Million Dollar Round Table every year?

2. How to make clients like you?

3. How to be the million dollars producer?

4. How to make selling a bit easier?

          or even this question

5. How to make all your dears, darlings and sweetheart love you all the time?

Simple! See for yourself below......

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THE RAISE.....​.......

The Mexican maid asked for a pay increase. 

The wife was very upset about this and decided to talk to her about the raise. 

She asked, “Now Maria, why do you want a pay increase?” 

Maria: “Well, Señora, there are tree reasons why I wanna increase. The first is that I iron better than you.” 

Wife: “Who said you iron better than me?” 

Maria: “Jor huzban he say so.”

Wife: “Oh yeah?”

Maria: "The second reason eez that I am a better cook than you.”

Wife: “Nonsense, who said you were a better cook than  me?”

Maria: “Jor hozban did”

Wife increasingly agitated: “Oh he did, did he?”

Maria: “The third reason is that I am better at sex than you in the bed.”

Wife, really boiling now and through gritted teeth asks, “And did my husband say that as well?”

Maria: “No Señora… The gardener did.”

Wife: “So how much do you want?”

THE NEW SECRhETARY = MONICA....

Weekend Laugh......

GEORGE: Your new secretary is very sexy...

BILL: Thanks! She's actually a robot, named Monica ... If you squeeze her right breast, she takes dictation & if you squeeze her left breast, she types letters. Will work as long as you like, no complaining, no sick days, no medical, no dental......

 I'll lend her to you for a day & you can see how functional and efficient she is. 

Next day, George called Bill from the hospital & shouted:

Bill… You bastard! You didn't tell me that the hole between Monica's legs is a Pencil Sharpener

My daughters in law love me so much....

Mrs Rama my good friend, has two sons and no daughter. Both are very attached to the mother. One would be getting marry soon next year. And she wonders whether after the son gets marry, would he be still close to her or more to his new wife. 

I have three sons, two are married for more than 10 years and their wives or my daughters in law are very close to me. They can call me as dad or even Robert, and they know I won't mind at all. Mrs Rama asked.. How to make your daughters in law like you so much?

This is my secret... When they were not marry to my sons yet or rather they were only girlfriends to my children 10 years ago, I treated them like good friends. Every time when they came to my house, I humbled myself with them. I didn't behave like an old uncle, or an old fashion person when we met. But rather I was entertaining, humorous, kind, patience and very friendly to them. They were very comfortable with us. Later when they were about to get marry, I seek their permission with this proposal... "Please live in my house when you get marry, allow me to be your father at least for a short period of time before you intend to move out to your new house later." True enough! Both my two daughters in law were living in our home for more than a year before they bought their new houses. During that period of time when they were living with us in one roof, I promised myself that I would love them much more than their father loved them. Today I considered myself as a very lucky person, Though I had lost two of my sons to two beautiful women, I have also captured two very understanding daughters which money cannot buy.

I'm sure Mrs Rama would know what to do now. What about you there?

Food for thought - "If you would have a good wife, marry one who has been a good daughter" - Thomas Fuller quotes.

Care & Concern works well....

Selling tips,

Three years ago when Maggie signed up for her mother and herself the medical policies, she gave her brother's name to me too. Though I called her brother, James several times, we never got the chance to meet. And I never got the chance to make him as my client then.

Four months ago, Maggie's mother was admitted for a major operation to remove a tumour on her upper neck. Maggie was travelling extensively in China conducting her own business, suggested me to assist her brother in making the medical claims instead.

During these four months I had the chance to speak with James over the phone. I was providing all the necessary procedures and steps to help his mother for a hassle free admission. There was the pre-diagnosis consultation, actual admission and later the post hospitalisation. Various steps had to be taken for an easy recovery for the patient. I gave advices to him to motivate his sickly mother at the beginning. I gave encouragement to him to spur his mother on the day of her surgery. I sent constant wishes through my text messages every alternative days, making sure the mother was in good hand. My final message to him was... You had proven to me that you are truly a good and obedient son.

Last week I met James the first time, when I needed to see him to collect all the medical bills for submitting her mother's medical claims. We spoke like good friend over a cup of coffee nearby to his office. Before I left, James said, "Robert! Please work out a life insurance plan for me cause I want to buy a policy with you". I was really caught in surprise! I thought he could have bought insurance already with others.

He said... I never wanted to see you three years ago when you were approaching me then. I thought all insurance agents were the same, including you as well.  All the friends who were agents were trying to force me to buy but they never stay long enough to prove that they are worthy as a committed agent. The last four months you really touched my heart. I could see your sincerity and passion over your work and I was indeed impressed over your services.

Moral of the story: Care and concern could make a lot of different in successful selling.

Food for thought - "There is a great difference between worry and concern. A worried person sees a problem, and a concerned person solves a problem." - Harold Stephens quotes.

I am motivated.....

Monday is always a blue day to start the week. Fortunately I have many readers who constantly provide me with inspiration and acknowledgement. To write is easy but to write everyday and have interesting topics to be posted is not at all easy. Especially good and humorous articles to cheer all my readers. Two days ago this special lady I love so much wrote to me. Her email was so inspiring, which I like to share. Many a time, I had almost decided to stop blogging. In fact I had posted coming to 2000 titles on this blogspot, and definitely without  the support and encouragement from you readers, I won't have gone this far. While reading her mail, I decided to continue writing again.

Mon, Jul 9, 2012 at 8:16 AM

Hi sweetheart,

Good morning my sweet loving baby. 

Just to share with you what is my feeling this morning on all emails, news and REAL news ( which happened in front of our eyes).

All news are bad news. And it is so sad that even its been a long time that i read my Gmail. Today i had a peek into it , all are bad news besides one or two.

Thanks God my baby is having his blog and he is writing it everyday. He is giving good energy out, he is brightening up lots of people lives and great booster!!!

Please please please.....continue to write love. The world needs you.

You are AWESOME my love!!!!!

Love you so much

little darling 

My reply to her...

Hi Love,

You touch my heart again. So true.. The most beautiful things in the world cannot be touched or to be seen but only to be felt. I will continue to write as long as I live.

Love you as much too.

Robert.

I strongly believe in... “Virtually everyone needs motivation of some sort, but when you are in love - that is motivation enough, it turns many into poets and painters, it spurs the creativity in you.” - Bernard Kelvin Clive quotes.

Nursing Your Lungs...

Few days ago, Sarah Wenger contacted me through my email. Together she sent me the above info graphic and requested if I could post it for my readers to read. Being that I'm a non smoker, I think this posting could be useful and informative for everyone alike.

My personal experience. When I was a young teenager, just like the rest, I was attracted to smoking as well. I believe all children feel the same, we were curious what smoking was all about, we wanted to behave like an adult, we thought smoking was Mancho and great. My father was then running a coffee shop, and it was quite easy for me to steal a few sticks of cigarette from the counter. My first experience was smoking inside the movie theatre and I accidentally burned my shirt while puffing one. Luckily my mum wasn't aware of it. That first experience was my last because I really didn't enjoy it but rather I was coughing very badly when I inhaled the puff. Whereas all my friends continued to buy cigarettes and they are still smokers till today.

Now what happened? Some of my friends had left this world, most of them had retired and few are sickly and weak. Today when we meet, they wish to be like me who is still fit and well. I could still continue to serve and in action every where. My heart is strong as ever. I could climb the three floors up the stair together with my brief case, whenever I walk up to my office block and yet my heart doesn't pound. I run on the treadmill at ease and carry the iron much heavier than most younger members of our gym. I could still fall in love and capture many secret lady admirers, while those at my age have to call it a day. They say old man are not strong on bed but little darling cries and yells when I work on her. In my career as selling life insurance, I had seen and visited countless clients and friends in the hospitals when they were sick. Thanks God! I was never admitted before because I know how to take care of myself. One of the main reason for my good health is... I am a non smoker for the past 64 years.

Yes! Dear Sarah Wenger, Thank you for sending this info graphic for us to read.

Closing a big case.....

Selling tips...

This month I closed a fairly big case. The cover is for a few millions and the premium is a sizable one. How long  it took me to wrap up the sale? It was hardly a five minute discussion and the client didn't want to listen to my presentation. Though I had brought the proposal and the details for him to understand, he just wanted to know the premium needed to effect the millions cover. He was too happy to sign under the dotted line and I was equally excited as well. 

Did I really took five minutes to close this case? No! Certainly not! It took me exactly 30 years to develop and build my present skill and confidence, so that my client has all the trust and faith in me. 30 years ago nobody believed me. Even my friends and relatives avoided me, when I attempted to see them then. I had to work very hard to secure appointments. I knew very little on the products and I had to pretend I knew everything, when I knew nothing then. I was timid and shy but again I pretended to be brave and courageous. I thought I had presented well from A to Z and Z to A again, but yet nobody was willing to buy from me. Rather I was rejected and rejected until I almost wanted to give up selling. But Thanks God! My inner mind never wanted me to stop but rather was pushing and encouraging me to continue. 

Time has allowed me to learn, relearned and unlearned until I master my trade. I gradually had to speak less for my products, rather I spoke more about people and their lives. Perhaps you could say it, as Wisdom of Life. When one has wisdom, he earns respect and trust. When one has richness of the heart, he earns value and creditability. When one has the power of knowledge, he earns the confidence of others. Combined all these, you create the success of what you are professing. So! When I asked my client to buy, they just buy without asking. So! To be successful in selling, patience is the game. The longer you last, the better you will be in your career.

Brain Adams said:  "Learn the art of patience. Apply discipline to your thoughts when they become anxious over the outcome of a goal. Impatience breeds anxiety, fear, discouragement and failure. Patience creates confidence, decisiveness, and a rational outlook, which eventually leads to success"

The difference between CRAZY and STUPID

One truck driver was doing his usual delivery to Mental Hospital. 

He discovered a flat tyre when he was about to go home. 

He jacked up the truck and took the flat tyre down. 

When he was about to fix the spare tyre, he accidentally dropped all the bolts into the drain.

As he can't fish the bolts out, he started to panic. 

One patient happened to walk past and asked the driver what happened. 

The driver thought to himself, since there's nothing much he can do; he told the patient the whole incident. 

The patient laughed at him & said "can't even fix such a simple problem... no wonder you are destined to be a truck driver..." 

"Here's what you can do, take one bolt each from the other 3 tyres and fix it onto this tyre. Then drive to the nearest workshop and replace the missing ones, easy as that"

The driver was very impressed and asked: "You're so smart but why are you here at the Mental Hospital?"

Patient replied: "Hello, I stay here because I'm CRAZY not STUPID!"

AN IRISH GHOST STORY

This story happened a while ago in Dublin, and even though it sounds like an Alfred Hitchcock tale, it's true.

John Bradford, a  Dublin  University student, was on the side of the road hitch hiking on a very dark night and in the midst of a big storm.

The night was rolling on and no car went by. The storm was so strong he could hardly see a few feet ahead of him. Suddenly, he saw a car slowly coming towards him and stopped.

John, desperate for shelter and without thinking about it, got into the car and closed the door.... Only to realize there was nobody behind the wheel and the engine wasn't on. The car started moving slowly. John looked at the road ahead and saw a curve approaching. Scared, he started to pray, begging for his life. Then, just before the car hit the curve, a hand appeared out of nowhere through the window, and turned the wheel. John, paralyzed with terror, watched as the hand came through the window, but never touched or harmed him.

Shortly thereafter, John saw the lights of a pub appear down the road, so, gathering strength; he jumped out of the car and ran to it. Wet and out of breath, he rushed inside and started telling everybody about the horrible experience he had just had.

A silence enveloped the pub when everybody realized he was crying... And wasn't drunk.

Suddenly, the door opened, and two other people walked in from the dark and stormy night. They, like John, were also soaked and out of breath. Looking around, and seeing John Bradford sobbing at the bar, one said to the other..... 

Look Paddy....there's that fooking idiot that got in the car while we were pushing it!!!!'

Giver and taker.....

To me the best policy to live is "Give & Take".

By these two words, Give & Take, I could see four types of people that live on them. Most people like to receive (as takers) than to be a giver, and some might take first and later also give. A kind hearted person usually gives first than to receive. But rarely you could find one that only give without any intention to receive. 

The first type who only wishes to receive is usually selfish and cunning. Giving is an unhappy moment,while receiving is an asset and joy to them. I doubt they would have many friends.

The second type is a little bit better than the first, and they are... to receive first and consider to give out later. They are shrewd and witty. They prefer to gain first rather than being a loser. Usually these are the fifthly rich people in town.

The third type is one who understands and enjoys mixing with people and the surrounding. To them, happiness is to give as much as possible. They take the effort and initiative to give first, rather than to be given. They believe by the law of attraction, they would be rewarded later. They are popular and have many friends.

The fourth type is a unique kind. One who just gives without the intention and thought for any gain. They give willingly, happily and unconditionally. I strongly believe those who are of such givers, are usually protected and blessed by the Divine force and energy. I wish if I could be here.

Sorry! There is still one more type not mention. They are the one who does not give and refuses to receive as well. Are you?

Food for thought - "Real love is when you become selfless and you are more concerned about your mate's or children's egos than your own. You're now a giver instead or a taker" - Sylvester Stallone quotes.

Thinking of you.......

Have you ever being asked this question by a person you love... "Darling how many times in a day that you think of me?" And how would you reply?

I tell you, it's going to be tough. Someone might simply reply with a number, say 12 times. But why not 11 times or 10 times! Is she or him telling the truth? How could they be able to remember that exact number of times. I believe they aren't telling the truth. They just mention the number to please the other loved one.

Today, my little darling asked me this same question... "Darling how many times in a day that you think of me? My reply to her was... "All the time because you are always in my heart".

She was overwhelmed with feeling ... "Yeahhhhh!!! All the time. All the days. All my life in every way and every moment you are always there for me. I love you".

So ladies & gentlemen, if you want to know how your loved one loves you, you better be the first to ask this romantic question for the day. Good luck.

Specially for her - " If I had a single flower for every time I think about you, I could walk forever in my garden." 

MDRT for 29 years.......

On Monday, our company inserted a two full pages of advertisement in all our local newspapers recognising our agents who had qualified for the international prestigious Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT). Founded in 1927, MDRT is the US-based premier association for the world's leading financial professionals in the life insurance business. 

Many of my friends, clients and even a special blog's reader saw this advertisement. They called and sent me their congratulatory messages. One message I like to share...  "Hi young man at heart, congrats for your achievement as the 29 years MDRT qualifying. May you continuously break records after record. It's a amazing feat for a human like u to maintain and sustain effortlessly. I became envious of your success & wish to emulate you! May Allah Bless You! Have a beautiful and a wonderful day".

One called to ask, "Robert! Please tell us how you could qualify MDRT for the last 29 years consequently?" 

For the year 2010, we had 244 agents qualified for this club. Last year 2011, though we had recruited even more agents to join the company, we had only 198 qualifiers for a total agents of more than 13000 in number. In terms of percentage, 198 represents 1.5% over the entire agency force of our company. The majority of those qualifying are in the first or second years. The closest to my 29 years qualification, is one lady agent who had done for 17 years. The reason for me to show these figures is... What happen to the others?

I had been in this business for 30 years, and I had seen those who had performed extremely well but so sad to see later they are no longer in this business now. The one who could be doing  well today, are usually the beginners or the rookies or the young agents. But to be a stayer I  could see only some. Reasons could be many.

Young blood is aggressive but when they have gathered fame and success, they could turn arrogance and boastful. When they were not rich and wealthy, they could be humble and simple but when they become rich and famous, their character changes. Not forgetting selling life insurance is to serve and to assist but when you are too successful, serving and helping others could be a difficult task then.

A young agent is prepared to learn but an older agent might find learning is boring. A young agent has a lot of youthful energy and enthusiasm, but when he aged the youthfulness and drive disappear. So by the call of nature, for one agent to sell effortlessly for 30 years and more could be difficult.

In my simple term on how I could sell successfully is... have a sincere heart, be forever humble all the time, be focus on the career and never be carried away by other opportunities, be prepared to serve and don't expect to be served, don't forget to stay young even you might have crossed the retirement age, be naughty and playful to cheer others, be a giver rather than to be a taker, be rich but not filthy rich (cause richness can blind a person), be noble and be a charitable person, and be willing to walk the extra miles for others. I hope these little suggestions are useful to those who are selling as well.

Add this too - "Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion" - Hebbel Quotes.