Daughters are better than sons.

Most Asian love sons more than daughters. Perhaps things have changed now. Most sons of today are playful, irresponsible and not as caring as daughters.

I had a Ceylonese friend who was so proud to have four sons at the beginning. Ceylonese are very particular with sons because when they get marry, boys would be receiving dowries from the brides. More so, if the sons are of higher status and are qualified professionals, they do receive much higher dowries and gifts. My friends sons are all doctors and when they got married, all were handsomely rewarded with gifts beyond our guesses. How I wish to be born as them!

A couple of years ago, my friend passed away. Before he left, I visited him at the hospital where I could see the only person who accompanied him then was his dear wife. Sorrowfully with a dying words the old man said, "How I wish my four sons are not sons but daughters. I would be much a happier man now."

Later from the wife, I got to know that at this moment of time, the dying father needed was love and caring. The sons had the thought for their father but they did not have the time to care for him. Their work and career had taken too much away their time to be with the father. They could send him to the best hospital and medical care but what the father wanted was the touch and words from them which they had overlooked.

Man is man! They can have the self esteem and courage to face the challenges of the world but they do not have the soft touched and care like a woman. The sons could be successful in career but to a dying father, what matter most to him at the last breath of lives was to see and feel the physical moment with their children. Could not blame him for changing his mind as to say, "How I wish to have four daughters instead of four sons."

If you have sons and no daughter, please be aware that circumstances have changed. Today daughters are more acceptable and loving than sons. If is not too late, perhaps you better try to make one now.

Agnes Repplier quote, "It is not easy to find happiness in ourselves, and it is not possible to find it elsewhere."

070707 sounds like OHeavenOHeavenOHeaven!

At the stroke of twelve mid night later of today, the date would turn 070707 or the 7th July 2007. On this 070707, I believe it is a very significant day to remember. The number SEVEN has always been related to HEAVEN in figurative term and memory. 070707 can be written as 'OHeavenOHeavenOHeaven which sounded very spiritual and holy. It is a heavenly day of luck, peace and love. Those who meet for business, would get fruitful result. Those who have misunderstanding and are prepared to meet tomorrow, would be forgiven and be better friends. Those who seek love, the man and woman who meet would be more loving and caring to each other.

Although I try to do things right on my day to day life, reaching and touching lives during these many years, perhaps I would have unintentionally hurt or offended some one without even realising and knowing. I know nobody in this world could be prefect, including myself. I take this opportunity of this meaningful day 070707, the almighty OHeavenOHeavenOHeaven, to ask for forgiveness from those I might have hurt or offended. I like to say, "I am really sorry! Please forgive me in whatever I had done wrong."

Because, "To err is humane and to forgive is divine."

Mother's food draws the attention.

Time has really changed when I remembered all girls had to learn how to cook and take care of household chores. My two sisters were taught to learn the simple tasks at home before they even went to school. There were no maid then but my mother together with my sisters helped to take care of the home. At times when our mum was away, she rest assured that both daughters would be capable to cook for the entire family. Although my sisters didn't complete a full basic education, both of them were married to be good housewives.

With the giving of equal rights between girls and boys, today women are much educated than before. I believe they are much smarter and worked harder, most women are also given better opportunity to excel in the working world. However the saddest things are, they are the least knowledgeable in household management. The higher their academical qualifications or employment status, the weaker their knowledge in home affair. It won't be surprised that the basic chores, like cooking and washing are difficult for them. I have three daughter-in-laws who are all professionals in their own careers, beautiful and intelligent but they do not know how to cook a decent meal. Can't blame them because their parents had never taught them to cook when they were children. They were told to concentrate on their studies and the rest of the household work would be taken care by the mothers.

My wife might not be working like her daughter-in-laws who earn well in the working world, but she draws a lot of attention and admiration because she is a super cook. Wherever her sons and their wives are, they would never forget her, as her mother's food is incomparable to any food available outside. I might be the master of the house, but today I can't draw such attention like her. She knows the taste and food of her entire family. She cooks with love and devotion. She cooks for the satisfaction to those she knows and she loves. She is proud just to be a housewife and the mother for her family. She is the housewife of the past, when many of today's women would find difficult to follow. Perhaps it would come a day when true mother's food is no longer available.

My belief,"The present and future are important but don't forget the past."

Buy insurance from a competence agent.

Most of the time when those who have intention to buy life insurance, they prefer to compare products, prices and companies rather than identifying a good professional agent to deal with.

My 40 years of selling, would tell you comparing products and prices are the worst decision to be made. The minute any salesperson knows you are comparing rather than allowing him to recommend, he would be smart enough to tailor a program to counter his competitors. In do so, the plan may not suit you but rather for the purpose to compete. All sale agents would certainly want to secure sale but by honestly planning according to the prospects needs, his plan may look expensive and unattractive. In order to be impressive, unethically agents would create plans to compete. They would cut corner and add unnecessary features which may not benefit the clients in the long run. After all, how many consumers really understand and be truly knowledgeable in life insurance. So! At the end wrong plans are purchased without being noticed.

My friendly advises are to deal with professional agents. Check to see whether the agents are operating full time or part time. Evaluate and assess his seriousness, commitment, competence, responsibility and character. Once you can identify his true personality and are comfortable with him, I recommend that you should allow him to plan according to your needs and affordability. By doing so, you rest assure the agent would do a better job as he knows your trust and confidence are given to him.

I strongly believe the above dealings are applicable in all types of buying, purchases or even services. Pick the person you like to deal with and allow him to assist you sincerely. Don't ever let him knows that you are there to compare, for the loser would still be you. This is another true facts of life, which you thought you are smart but in fact you are not.

To those who sell for a living,"We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give."

Earn To sell with good faith and trust.

During one of my recent insurance review with a client, I proposed a new plan to him. As I was about to explain the program, he said, "Robert, tell me, is this the most ideal and needed plan for me at the moment. If it's a yes, which can serve me and my family, you don't need to explain. Because I trust, you would know what are required by us and we have good faith on you that you would do it sincerely."

I was so touched with his statement when I replied, "Thank you for that trust given. Don't you even want to understand how the benefits and program work?" He smiled and said, "My responsibility is to pay the premium and you are to be responsible to our needs and protection. Please don't let me understand the technical part. With your years of experience, we believe you are the expert on your profession."

With those words and appreciation, I was indeed over-joyed and felt honour to serve with pride.

Is nice, if you were to be accepted as a true professional in your own trade. You could be able to serve the best of your own knowledge and ability to your clients. You give the best of what are available without the thought of comparing and competing with your competitors. The final result, the most suitable and ideal plan with the right premium could be offered. Good faith and trust are developed within the relationship of agent and clients.

"Good faith and trust are not easily given but we have to earn for them."

Add love to our work

Whatever we do, if we do it with love, we rest assure we could do it well. Even making a cup of tea or coffee. I will never have a better cup of tea than the one make by my wife or our maid coz it is always added with some potion of love. Meaning, the tea is prepared with extra effort and attention which I will never get from the outside.

Sometimes I being asked, "How could I be able to sell for so long in this career, when most would have dropped out?" I replied, "I am not smart but I have my true heart to offer my clients that matters." I continued, "Prudential, my company offers its products but I added them with love and passion to make them irresistible to buy from me. Without love, our products would be the least saleable."

In any job or business, if we could applied the same principle, our work would be easier to manage. However the sad thing in life, is most people want the easiest and fastest ways to achieve success. Putting the effort and attention are not enough but working whole heartily with love makes the huge different.

This quote on happiness by Francoise de Motteville; "The true way to render ourselves happy is to love our work and find in it our pleasure."

Punishments In Hell

Joke provided by a young friend...

Guy goes to hell and is met by the devil, who explains that the punishments are changed every thousand years and he is to select his first punishment.
First room has a young guy on the wall being whipped. The new guy not keen on this asks to see the next room. The next room has a middle aged guy being tortured with fire.
The new guy immediately asks to see the third room. It has an really old guy chained to the wall getting a blow job from a gorgeous blondie.
The guy jumps at the chance and takes the room.
The devil walks into the room taps the blondie on the shoulder and says "okay, you can stop now. You've been relieved".

Moral of this joke; "Don't judge a book by its cover."