Even hawkers sell with love & passion.

In most part of South East Asia, food courts are a way of life to us. Our food is cheap, exotic, tasty and available every corner of most township. Come to our capital Kuala Lumpur, you would be amazed how our various types of food are served. Usually at most food courts or hawkers, they would be packed with customers especially during the lunch or dinner time. You can order your food from one or few food stores, sit any where you like, and they would send your dishes to the place you sit. The court could be crowded and busy but they have the skill and attention to identify each and every of their different customers. They might be just seeing you for a short moment when you order your food at their stands, they are still capable to remember your presence later. This is what I call...professionalism in their own way. Though they are only food hawkers, they are very focus, serious and know their business well. On top of it, their food and drinks have to be good before reaching your palate.

I have known one coffee shop, lady owner whom I patronize for many years, who knows my favorite drinks. If she sees me in the morning, before I could even reach her shop, my hot coffee is already served on the table for me. Or in the afternoon, without ordering, she brings over my expected tea. She knows what her customers like because she loves her business too well. Over at another Cafe Corner, Roy is the part owner who always smiles to his customers. He addresses us whenever we visit his place. We like going to Joy Restaurant who serves food with passion because Joy and her husband cook their food for the customers. They make us feel at home whenever we are at their shop.

All these food caters are doing well because they know what they are doing. Is a competitive business and to survive they have to be good in quality and services. Those who sell with love and passion will succeed and be remembered. What about our life insurance business? I strongly believe...unless those who are serious, committed, focus and love selling life insurance...you might not make it. Because life insurance deals with the understanding of lives, if you don't have the care and concern for your clients, most likely you would find it very tough to prolong and retain in our passionate business. If you happened to be one agent who doesn't know what I meant, please go out to the food courts and see how others conduct their successful business happily day after day. This is a true fact of life.

Food for the thought - "You are successful the moment you start moving toward a worthwhile goal" — Chuck Carlson

Gives a helping hand.

Are you an energy giver? I might be just an ordinary person, but I know our words and action could be inspiring to most people who are down. This morning, one of my niece who sent me a text message, saying she was lazy and might not be able to work because a friend had made her very upset and frustrated. She seek my advice as how to overcome her emotion. I replied her with this message..."Hi my dear. Is a beautiful morning. Don't you think so? Always try to think of the good side of life. If you think is wonderful...u will feel nice. Or if u prefer to look ugly...u will feel lousy. The choice is yours and simple as that! Successful people have a stronger positive mind than the unsuccessful one. I trained to be stronger and mightier. I believe u can, because you have the first name like mine, 'Foo'. Right?" This simple worded sms inspired and motivated her, she left for work willingly.

Later of the day, I spoke to another cousin, Tony whose wife was having her birthday. Tony is a car salesman, who sounded not so happy because his current sales were not so encouraging. When he asked how am I, I told him with a confident voice, "Yes! Very Good! I am on top of the world". He was taken aback with that statement. I explained to him, wherever we stood on this planet earth, we got to feel that we are actually standing on top of the world. I made him laugh which was good for him.

Not to long, another SYT, Irene called. She was unhappy with her boyfriend who tends to be very possessive. He almost tried to control her in every way, especially meeting another male clients in her business. I told her, why be bothered by one who is most unreasonable, when there is legion of lovable gentlemen around. I reminded her, she is beautiful, attractive and intelligence. These are her beauties when most men find them difficult to resist. Those sweet words melted her heart.

My belief - "Help others get ahead. You will always stand taller with someone else on your shoulders" - Bob Moawad

To buy or not to buy!

Though I am a salesman who approaches and sells to others most of the time, I also allow others to prospect and try their luck on me. I was invited by a friend to meet her upper liner who were both marketing a new Biodisc products. They claimed to be fully involved and are committed to this new marketing company. I openly allowed them to present their sales to me, insisting that I had only one hour for them. In my mind, I wanted to see how they sell and to learn something new if possible.

The two salesladies were presentable, in their mid forties and spoke well. They gave a very good explanation on the benefits of these Biodisc Products. Something I really had not heard off but sounded too good to be true. The products are helpful to personal health and could upkeep a better environment for the household needs. They talked more than one hour of the exceeded time when I had to give an excuse to leave. Leaving the sale as not concluded.

Later in my car, I was pondering over their sales presentation. I asked myself...had I been sold for the products? Yes, it was but I had two different thoughts in my mind when I was with them.

The angel of me said 'Yes', please buy because they are good ladies who needed the sales. Moreover the products are useful to you, and in the long run it benefits me more. However the devil of me claimed 'NO', don't buy...they are taking you for a ride. Don't take defeat or you would loose your pride. During the one hour with them, my mind was debating within myself. Perhaps I was at the 50 over 50% chances of buying but the two attractive salesladies were not aware of what I was thinking at that moment of thought. Should they had noticed my buying signals and body language, and knew how to subtly suppress my negative thinking, I believe the sales should have been successful. Now they had lost and I had won.

Conclusion; they were good speakers but not a salesperson. They talked more than they should be selling. They were too excited and over explained on the benefits. They had forgotten or perhaps they did not know how to conclude a sale. I was surprised, they did not even mention the prices on their products. Most sales are lost when one who do not know how to ask their prospects to buy. I hope these little points could be usefull to all sales people.

My belief - "A professional salesperson helps clients to buy".

Happy New Year 2009.

Wow!!! Is 2009 and today is the first day of the New Year. They said this year might be a gloomy year for the world...not for me. For a start, I feel younger today and I am glad to be turning 35 from 36, just one nite ago. Last nite when I met Johnny Woo, who greeted me with a warm handshake, "Uncle! A Happy New Year to you". Immediately I paused him with this reply,"Brother! I am not your uncle coz tomorrow I will be turning 35 from 36. You are 32 and tomorrow u will be 33. I am only two years apart from you. I am as young and naughty as u brother. Unless you are brave to feel excited".

Is true, no matter of what age or what year one is at, as long as the mind feel good and positive, things will work out wonderfully. I am looking forward enthusiastically for the next 365 days ahead. I believe optimism will attract goodness which ultimately triump over evil. My resolution for this new year...to be more playful with fun and to share and give more from the heart. For a start I have offered myself to one of my oversea reader, who is inviting me to share my wisdom to her people. She gives me value and I offer my heart sincerely.

By chance, I was given a playful and naughty picture which is posted on top here. You might think is crazy but it can make you laugh. Even when my little darling saw it, she said, "This is great darling....in time to come, we could have these as part of our fun exciting sexiting costume to arouse each other...what say you sweetheart? I told her, "Little darling....why wait...we start now....we start to be like teenages...when we can play play with each other".

My playfulness has just started and I feel terribly young in heart because the New Year is today. I wish all my readers can feel as sensational as us. I take this opportunity to wish everyone of you a 12 months of happiness, 52 weeks of fun, 365 days of success, 8760 hours of good health, 525600 minutes of good luck, 31536000 seconds of joy. Happy New Year!!!

Food for the thought - "I am optimistic and confident in all that I do. I affirm only the best for myself and others. I am the creator of my life and my world. I meet daily challenges gracefully and with complete confidence. I fill my mind with positive, nurturing, and healing thoughts." - Alice Potter

Appreciation not condemn.

CF, a young lad who made his first trip to Shanghai for a holiday alone to visit his elder brother. Before taking off from home, his mother who had been to Shanghai before, briefed his son regarding the China airport city transportation. Upon arrival to the airport, the best way to reach his brother house was by the official taxis piling along the front terminal. By the clocking of the taxi meter, the estimated fare should not be more than yuan 180 for an one hour journey.

The next morning, CF called home through Skype, letting his mother knew that he had arrived safely. I happened to be around over hearing the son and the mum conversation. CF sounded a bit sad and frustrated, because he was taken a ride by a con limousine claiming to be the official taxi from the authority. Instead of charging a fare of not more than 180, the aggressive Chinese driver insisted a fare of 380 from the poor innocent CF. Though CF is an oversea Chinese but he was cheated by another local Chinese.

Instead of having sympathy over the child, the mother scolded furiously over the mike near to the computor. These were her angry words, "You were so stupid!! I had told you before you left that the fare is only 180 and yet you paid 380. You are brainless. Stupid and stupid!!!"

Over hearing their online chat, I could only listen and calmed the mother down. In empathy I thought, the lad was not stupid but rather was his mum. Perhaps he wasn't smart enough to understand the canniness of the outside world. After all, he wasn't a regular traveller and the first time to this huge city. I think the mum was stupid for not being able to understand the frustration of his mind. He had been forced and cheated by a stranger. If the mother could have being a smarter mum, she should have said, "Alright son. Is ok! Now that you have arrived safely there, I will feel better for you. I hope you will learn from this lesson coz I know you are my intelligent boy."

Lesson I learned...is always easy to criticise and condemn at the slightest mistakes but not easy to offer sincere compliment and appreciation when goodness has been done.

Food for the thought - "Most of us, swimming against the tides of trouble the world knows nothing about, need only a bit of praise or encouragement -- and we will make the goal." - Jerome P. Fleishman

Can I ask sex directly...isn't offensive.

June is only 23, just finished her degree and is working now. She is one of my relative only daughter, simple, intelligence, attractive, and very mature for her age. As a smart girl, she always like mixing with older and wiser people for learning. Together with little darling whom she adores, we had a chance to mix freely recently on a shopping spree.

Over a chat, June who is also my keen blog reader, related my recent title, "Can I ask sex directly?" Her answer to us was a positive 'yes!' We both were stunned and surprised by her affirmation.

This was her explanation. If there is a gentleman and an admirable friend, who is brave to ask sex from me directly... in my heart, I would feel proud and excited. I feel great because I must have the sexiness and beauty to attract this man. Sexiness and attractiveness are beauty for woman. If I could not draw and capture attention on man, then perhaps I might not have the beauty of a sexy lady. Next...if the man who asks is sincere and I have the love and feeling over him, I would say 'yes' to him. To me, a sincere man must be prepared to take all responsibilities if he has the intention to have sex with me. Asking this direct question is not offensive to me. Further more, love & sex are important for couples before marriages.

WoW!!! I didn't know the younger generation thinks likewise. They have different thinking and feeling. Is a wrong to me but is a right to them. To my brother who might still be reading my blog, I think you should attempt your unoffensive sex question to the deserving lady in waiting.

To June, you are right in every sense. You have the sexiness to attract by the sight but don't forget the smell is equally important. Little darling and me could smell your body odor which you did not realize yourself. Most people concentrate the external personality and fail to adjust the inner physical. Suggest not only you buy those beautiful dresses, take a look with those body lotions or perfumes which could definitely attract more admirers for you. Remember the five senses of man; sight, hear, smell, taste and touch. You have achieved attraction from sight but overlook your smell in some way. We sincerely hope you could correct the necessary.

Food for the thought - "Sexual love is undoubtedly one of the chief things in life, and the union of mental and bodily satisfaction in the enjoyment of love is one of its culminating peaks. Apart from a few queer fanatics, all the world knows this and conducts its life accordingly; science alone is too delicate to admit it." - Sigmund Freud

Can & May!

WY Yap is an international traveller whose business requires him to work all over the world. As a man who needs to move so frequently, he has all the necessary telecommunication tools to be mobile. Over a friendly chat, he complained about the telemarketers or the marketing persons who are so unprofessional in their telephone approaches. Not speaking confidently is one issue but not knowing the different of an oversea call connected is ridiculous. Meaning... when one is calling a mobile hand phone which is roaming on oversea, the ringing tune is always slightly different from a local ringing. On roaming, the receiver has to pay for the calls received. No person will like to receive an unwanted prospecting call. Right?? (Note... for all salesperson.. please be aware of such information). If a telemarketer or marketing person is sensible, they should immediately disconnect those particular calls to avoid unnecessary disturbance to their prospects.

The saddest thing was...even WY Yap who accidentally picked up those silly calls, he repeatedly told them that he was speaking from oversea, the callers would still insist to continue talking. To make matter furious, the callers used this statement..."Can I speak with Mr Yap?" or at time "Can I speak to Mr Yap's wife?" 'Can' is a very authoritative word which is demanding and forceful. As a verb, 'can' in this application did not sound friendly and obliging. More so the callers were total strangers to him. They should use the verb 'may'..."May I speak to Mr Yap?" The may is softer to listen...with meaning like... to be allowed or permitted.

I totally agreed to Yap's explanation. Our marketing people are weak in every sense. They do not understand the ethics of telephone communication and their understanding of words application is rather weak. I hope the above could be an eye's opener to all people who handle sales and marketing.

When you are in love and have intention to date a new girlfriend, say..."May I take you for a dinner?" or "May I surrender my heart to you?" Not when you confess to her, you should say.. "Can I marry you my little darling?"

The verbs May and Can are simple words but they do have a lot of meaning in usage. Unless one uses them right, the end result might not be effective. The chat with WY Yap was definitely very fruitful and benefiting. May be some readers out there might offer some comments too!

Food for the thought - "If you can imagine it, You can achieve it. If you can dream it, You can become it. — William Arthur Ward.

"What a day may bring, a day may take away" — Thomas Fuller, (1608-1661), English clergyman, antiquarian.