Good Attire.....

Cannot forget this particular embarrassing incident.

It was forty five years ago, when I took up my first selling job. The office where I worked had only one lift to serve a block of 15 floors. Those days the lifts were small and they moved slower. My office was on the 12th floor, and I had to take the lift up every morning. 

That particular morning as usual while taking the lift up, I was having a slight stomach disorder. The lift was filled to the utmost, with at least 12 passengers crammed together. The minute the door was closed, I accidentally farted with a silent fart. Oh My Gosh! The fart was extremely smelly. Just imagine a tiny space tightly crammed with a dozen passenger, and without an outlet to release the foul odour, everyone in the lift was yelling madly. In the lift was one innocent Indian worker who dressed shabbily was confronted. Everyone was staring at him with a stern look. He was scolded for farting at the wrong place and time. He kept shaking his head and was trying to deny his innocent. Nobody believed him and I felt so bad for him too. The minute the door opened, everyone rushed out immediately to gasp for fresh air cause the silent fart was unbearable inside. I walked away quietly with guiltiness. 

Moral of the story: A good attire and dress up is important for a better impression on oneself. I was lucky to have escaped such rude manner done by me because my proper dressing pull me through. Though the Indian man was innocent, his untidy dressing judged him wrong. Ever since that day, I made it a point to put on proper attire when I go out.

Dress quote - "We act the way we dress. Neglected and untidy clothes reflect a neglected and untidy mind" - Unknown Source

No salary but it pays by the Millions later...

A young friend is offered a job without salary while on training. He doesn't seem interested, and not willing to take up the challenge. In order to motivate him, I gave him my story.

Thirty years ago, I took up a job without salary too. During the probational period, I had to learn and to attend endless classes. My wife was very sceptical then, cause I had to feed a family of five. How could I maintain the family without salary? I didn't give up, though the journey was tough. Day was on training and the rest of the day was working outside to see people. Within a year on this job, I was already earning much more than my General Manager of the company. Later my job allowed me to send all my children to study abroad, and I had a chance to travel round the world many times. 

What job was that, asked the young man. I told him, I sold life insurance. As an agent, we aren't paid with a salary but rather we are paid by the commission. Yes! There was no salary but the sky's the limit for us to earn. Young man, you might not be getting a salary while on training currently but if you are smart enough this training might help you to earn the millions later. So! Be patience and think about it!

Unbelievable Markup Products That You May Not Know.

Good information............

Whether you realize it or not, according to research, mark-ups happen everywhere. Let’s take a look at some of the mark-up examples:

1) Produce

Produce is often marked up as much as 75%. Some season fruits such as imported Kiwi varies in their pricing and mark-up. Some importers deliberately release limited supply into the market in order to mark-up the prices – 4 pieces Kiwi Gold could cost you RM12 but if you care to play waiting game, chances are you can get the same number of Kiwi for RM8, weeks later.

2) Cosmetics

Ever heard that the best business to do is women-related business? The average mark-up on cosmetics is around 78% (percent). Considering most cosmetics are made from various combinations of dirt, waste cooking oil, wax, chicken bone marrow, fish scales, fragrance, urine and even bull semen (*whoa*), you may be wondering why shoppers do not think twice about spending thousands on cosmetics. I supposed women are willing to rob banks as long as they can look younger and beautiful.

3) Furniture and Mattresses

If you do not already know, most furniture stores normally mark-up their inventories by 80% – 100%. That’s one of the reasons why you can see sales all year round on furniture and mattresses. Branded furniture’s mark-up is even higher so when they advertise about up to 80% sales, chances are they’re still making handsome margin even though it sounds like they’re doing you a great favour.

4) Flowers

Mention flowers and the first thing that comes to mind is Valentine. But buying flowers during such time could be the worst thing to do, with some charging RM10 per stalk of red roses. It could skyrocket to RM120 for 5 stalks with the salesgirl justifying that the flowers actually air flown directly from overseas.

5) College Textbooks

It’s an open secret that most bookstores enjoy cool profit due to monster mark-ups. In a country that doesn’t produce much intellectual books and have to rely on import, the mark-up is even insane, so much so that readers were thinking twice about purchasing a book costing hundreds of ringgit. That was why the Prime Minister gave away book vouchers to students. Nevertheless bookstores normally jacked up more than 100% mark-up on books.

6) Greeting Cards

If you think selling books was cool because of the 100% mark-up, wait till you hear how much greeting cards were being marked up. Average greeting cards normally have a mark-up tag of over 200% and if the card carries brands such as “Hallmark Holidays”, the mark-up is even higher. Of course you can always search and download cool greeting cards and print it over colour printer using quality paper. This way you can save tons of money.

7) Bakery Products

Depending on location the mark-up on bakery goods ranges anywhere from 100% to 200%, or even more. Of course you can always bake your own version at home but if the inconvenience is too much to bear, just pay for the mark-up. If you care to scout around, some bakery shops actually throw away near-expiration bakery products at 50%. Even at this mouth-watering discount, the bakery owners actually break-even.

8) Designer Jeans

While it costs only about US$50 to make True Religion’s best-selling jeans, Super T Jeans, the wholesale price reaches US$152 and the average retail price is inflated to a whopping US$335. A US$665 price tag on Gucci jeans and US$225 for Sevens can still sell like hot cakes – all in the name of premium denim. Designers and retailers say the typical retail mark-up on all fashion items, including jeans, ranges from 2.2 to 2.6 times cost.

9) Handbags

Another women product, handbags, can be very expensive especially if the production is limited and used by celebrities. If money is the least worry in your mind, The House of Mouawad in Dubai can make you a US3.8 million purse that’s decorated with 4,000 colourless diamonds. According to a poll, women own an average of 10 handbags and would not think twice about spending about $150 on a handbag.

10) Coffee and Tea

A cup of Starbucks Latte could give you a false sense of living in luxury. However considering such little luxuries actually comes with a 300% mark-up price tag, you may want to think about visiting the store too frequent. This mark-up does not stop at Starbucks but also applicable to other premium outlets such as Chatime, Coffee Bean etc.

11) Hotel Minibars

Listen to mommy and daddy – unless you do not mind paying inflated snacks or drinks with 400% mark-up, do not even try to explore what’s inside your room’s minibar. If you fancy Snickers or Coke, do yourself a favour by moving your fat and lazy arse out of the room and explore some convenience stores, normally located quite near your hotel.

12) Wine or Champagne

Unless it’s a special occasion where you must spend to prove yourself, try not to order any wine or champagne at restaurants. It’s normal for them to mark-up such items as much as 400%. If you really fancy wines, go and find distributor house which could give you great offer if you buy in bulk.

13) Soda

Again, depending on where you’re dining out, you could potentially paying 300% to 600% for a glass of Coke. You may skip and opt for water but while water may be free many moons ago, now restaurant is finding it equally profitable by charging for water as well.

14) Eyeglasses / Spectacles Frames

Just like watches, people like to show off their branded glasses. The lenses could be expensive, depending on how screw up your eyesight was, but the frame could be the most expensive part especially when you fancy branded Armani frames. Such branded frames could be marked up by up to 1,000%, no kidding

15) Diamonds

Retail jewellers mark up diamond engagement rings by 100% up to a mind-boggling 1,000%. While the mark-up guidelines are broad or rather vague – anything from 50% to 400% is normal

16) Cinema’s Popcorn

Most theatres prohibit moviegoers from bringing in outside food and drinks, for a good reason. Popcorn sold at theatres or Cineplex actually has been marked up a staggering 1,275%. Needless to say, soda or carbonated drinks sold has an unusual mark-up percentage. However, not many people complains because it could spoil the mood, not to mention the possibility of losing face and laughed at for not being able to afford popcorn.

17) Prescription Drugs

High prices of drugs are one of the factors contributing to escalating healthcare sector. The next time you visit your nearest pharmacy or hospital, chances are high you’re paying 200% to 3,000% of drugs prescribed. In fact, drugs mark-up was so serious that Arizona’s Attorney General, Tom Horne, is suing US largest drug wholesaler, McKesson Corp., for artificially inflating the prices of hundreds of brand-name prescription drugs such as Allegra, Celebrex, Coumadin, Flonase, Lipitor and Valium. McKesson, which distributes pharmaceuticals to retailers including Albertson’s, Costco, Safeway, Target, Wal-Mart and Walgreens was allegedly made US$100 million on a 5% markup of the drug Nexium alone.

18) Bottled Water

There was a time when country such as Malaysia sells bottled water at such an inflated price that it was more expensive than Middle East countries. Believe it or not, some sell bottled water at a mark-up of a staggering 4,000%, making you wanna drink (cheaper) gasoline instead (*grin*). Nowadays, water filtration system is so affordable that you shouldn’t let those parasites suck your hard-earned money.

19) SMS, Short Message Service

As much as smartphones are flourishing, the traditional SMS is not dead yet. At 20 cents a SMS, the telco could make as much as (drum please) 6,000% profit. If you’ve 3G plan, use Viber, LINE, WeChat and whatnot to chat (sort of like SMS) instead. Do yourself a favour – stop sending telco laughing all the way to the bank.


While mark-up happens almost everywhere, you can avoid being a sucker if you’re aware of the excessive profiteering. Either you boycott the products or merchants, or simply take cheaper alternatives in accessing the goods or services. Of course you may argue that some products especially drugs or medicine cost an arm and a leg because of the huge amount of investment in R&D (research and development), not to mention the cost in marketing, rental, human resources, loans and whatnot.

A playful child can be intelligence....

The husband and wife are both worried over their young child who is extremely playful and naughty. This couple is my client, whom I considered as young parents and not having the relevant experience to raise their only child who is below 10 years of age.

With my experience that I had gone through parenting my three sons when they were kids, I  gave some tips to this worrisome couple. I told them... I believe intelligence and smartness come with playfulness and naughtiness. A young child might be playful and naughty but when he is older, he is usually clever and intelligence. An intelligent child always has extra energy and is creative in thought too. The extra energy tends to make him playful and his creativeness causes the naughtiness in him. Whereas a less intelligent child might look well behave without causing nuisance to the surrounding or disturbing others, he might grow up to be not so brainy as the other playful child as mentioned.

 

I have three good sons. Of the three, one really gave me a lot of headaches when he was a little kid. Before he could even walk, he was learning to talk as a baby. Today he is a sweet talker who could even talk until the birds come down from the tree. He was active in every things, games, societies, music and sports. He studied with music and the TV on at the same time, and yet could pass examinations with flying colours. The only way, I could control him those days was with the cane. There was one occasion that we would not forget till today, was when I stripped him naked and chase him away from our house. He was lucky because our Malay neighbour picked him up and rescued him in time for further embarrassment. His playfulness when right up to his secondary school, with his class teacher calling me for personal interviews. He was almost terminated from school when the headmaster wanted to bar him from taking his O level final examination. It was my appeal to the principle who gave him the last warning and allowing him to continue studying instead. Thanks The Almighty! He completed his schooling here and later went to London to finish his degree with a first class honour. Today he is a well recognised corporate head, representing one of the largest international company. I termed him as successful, well mannered, a good father and husband, kind, intelligence and a super smart son today. And I am so proud of him. Well! He was very naughty and playful as a child, but with a lot of attention and patience rendered to him by both the father and mother, he has developed to be a likeable and a lovable person now. 

To my friends, the father and mother of that naughty child... You have an intelligent child too, please teach and guide him to be smart and he will grow to be a successful man in future. 

Food for thought -“Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands.” - Anne Frank

This is truly a wonderful education for Japanese....

Read this beautiful Information about Japan. 
1 - Did you know that Japanese children clean their schools every day for a quarter of an hour with teachers, which... led to the emergence of a Japanese generation who is modest and keen on cleanliness.

2 - Did you know that any Japanese citizen who has a dog must carry bag and special bags to pick up dog droppings. Hygiene and their eagerness to address cleanliness is part of Japanese ethics.

3 - Did you know that hygiene worker in Japan is called "health engineer" and can command salary of USD 5000 to 8000 per month, and a cleaner is subjected to written and oral tests!!

4 - Did you know that Japan does not have any natural resources, and they are exposed to hundreds of earthquakes a year but do not prevent her from becoming the second largest economy in the world?

5 - Did you know that Hiroshima returned to what it was economically vibrant after the fall of the atomic bomb in just ten years?

6 - Did you know that Japan prevents the use of mobile phones in trains, restaurants and indoor

7 - Did you know that in Japan students from the first to sixth primary year must learn ethics in dealing with people

8 - Did you know that the Japanese even though one of the richest people in the world they do not have servants. The parents are responsible for the house and children

9 - Did you know that there is no examination from the first to the third primary level because the goal of education is to instill concepts and character building, not just examination and indoctrination.

10 - Did you know that if you go to a buffet restaurant in Japan you will notice people only eat as much as they need without any waste. No wasteful food.

11 - Did you know that the rate of delayed trains in Japan is about 7 seconds per year!! They appreciate the value of time, very punctual to minutes and seconds

12 - Did you know that children in schools brush and clean their teeth after a meal at school. They maintain their health from an early age.

13 - Did you know that students take half an hour to finish their meals to ensure right digestion. When asked about this concern, they said: These students are the future of Japan.

All successful people have positive mind....

A young friend is moving to another foreign land to seek for his fortune. Before he left, I left a few words for him to remember. I told him..."Believe you are a successful person and you would become one. Be always positive son".

Reluctantly he said..." Yes! I will be one then".

My advices... "Thoughts are important in our daily lives. From thoughts come our action. When our thoughts are weak, our action will be weak and soft as well. The smarter guys think positively and their action are much more powerful". 

With hesitation he replied again... "I know its difficult but I would try to learn and practise to stay positively". 

My final suggestions... "You have the choice to think. Is your own mind. Delete the weak thoughts and change them to be good and pleasant to feel. Mixing with negative friends would also influence your  thinking. So be smart, have positive friends like Robert Foo".

I bid farewell to him... "Son come back with the success and I know you will make it".

Positive thinking - “Some people grumble that roses have thorns; I am grateful that thorns have roses.” - Alphonse Karr quote

I LOVE YOU, SWEETHEART....

This is going to be interesting....

There was a group of women at a seminar on how to live in a loving relationship with your husband.

The women were asked, ‘How many of you love your husbands?’ All the women raised their hands.

Then they were asked, ‘When was the last time you told your husband you loved him?’

Some women answered today, some yesterday, some didn’t remember.

The women were then told to take their phones and send the following text: I love you, sweetheart.

Then the women were told to exchange phones and read the responding text messages.

Here are some of the replies.

1. Who is this?

2. Eh, mother of my children, are you sick?

3. I love you too.

4. What now? Did you crash the car again?

5. I don’t understand what you mean?

6. What did you do now? I won’t forgive you this time.

7. ?!?

8. Don’t beat about the bush, just tell me how much you need?

9. Am I dreaming?

10. If you don’t tell me who this message is actually for, someone will die.

11. I asked you not to drink anymore. I’ll leave if you are tired of me.