TR EMERITUS

By James Oh, Lifestyle Correspondent Life is short. To live more meaningfully, we need to aim high and achieve more for ourselves and society as a whole. The million dollar question raised here is  how to  achieve this aim. The answer to the question is definitely not an easy one, but it is not impossible. I believe that most people, if not all, want to achieve that remarkable result for themselves. Below are some of the basic proven guidelines, which I found useful and believe they will benefit you too. Please do feel free to add any other pointers you may have, through the comment column so that everyone may benefit from it. 1. PINPOINT THE PRIMARY GOAL Here, your goal must be specific, measurable and within certain time frame. Vagueness is the invariable hallmark of the unfocused mind. So, define it precisely and accurately within a specific time frame so as to achieve your goal. 2. CONTINUE TO FAN DESIRE TOWARDS THAT GOAL You need more than daydreams and wistful wishes. There must be intense, burning desire that drives you to take positive action to work toward your pre-set goals.  To have a lasting effect, you need to develop it yourself by constantly, clearly imagining the benefits that achieving the goal will bring. 3. TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION Knowing is one thing but doing is another.  Here, you need to work continuously and take calculated chances, be prepared to make sacrifices and endure setbacks till you achieve your goal. You can't afford to allow the luxury of laziness or delights of frequent distraction to take over your life. In this respect, you are expected to pay what you get. The higher your goal, the higher the price you have to pay. 4. CONSTANTLY EVALUATE AND MONITOR PROGRESS We need to be aware that taking action is not sufficient. Constant evaluation and monitoring of progress are required. To ensure that we are working toward our goals, we need to obtain feedback and monitor whether we are heading toward our pre-set goals. Otherwise, adjustment is needed so that there will be no deviation from the goals. 5. SEND RIGHT MESSAGE TO YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS MIND Always remember that all the fears, worries and failure thoughts are constantly channeled into our subconscious mind, and then nothing constructive is going to be sent back. However, a clear, purposeful goal is steadfastly held in the subconscious mind, the subconscious will accept it and begin to supply the conscious mind with plans, ideas, insights, and the energies necessary to achieve that goal. As such, the right message to your subconscious mind is crucial to drive you working towards your goal. 6. NEVER QUIT Failure is the root of success. So, keep picking up and returning to the fight long after most people would have given up. Be prepared to accept adversity, bounce back and never give up. 7. HAVE FAITH IN IT We need to realise that the most powerful force in the world is the idea that has taken root in a human mind and heart. Once you have faith in it, nothing can stop you from achieving it. 8. NEVER BUILD A CASE AGAINST YOURSELF Always be positive and stop cringing. In whatever circumstance, never allow anyone to build a case against yourself if you want to succeed. It is not easy, but the impact is great. 9. NEVER GIVE EXCUSE OR BLAME OTHERS To become a focused person, get rid of self limiting thoughts. The people who get on in this world are the people who look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, create them. Always be accountable to yourselves and never blame others or give excuses. Major causes of failures on earth are due to no accountability and the desire to blame others. Trust you enjoy reading this article. James Oh   Other articles by James Oh: >> How to get faster results >> How to retire gracefully >> Steps to overcome major obstacles of staying healthy (Part 2) About the Author: James Oh is an accountant by profession and he works as a Financial Controller for more than 10 years with several companies in Singapore and Malaysia. He is a full member of the Singapore Institute of Director and he also obtained a LLB (Law degree) from the University of London in 2003. He is happily married with 3 loving kids. James blog at http://liftyouup.blogspot.com  Read More →

I refer to your report "US ties, challenges for China, Singapore's role" dated 29 Oct 2009. MM Lee was reported to have advised our neighbours not to assume that the Americans will be in Vietnam forever and to be prepared so as to avoid being overrun by the communists.  But the Americans have maintained their presence in Southeast Asia throughout the cold war with military bases in the Philippines. After the cold war, a logistics unit was relocated to Singapore.  So there is no denying that US forces have always been present and contributed to peace and stability in Southeast Asia. MM Lee was also reported to have said that Singapore is like a catalyst and a model to China, who followed the Singapore path of inviting all multinationals instead of the South Korean path of building its own champions. First, it is wrong to think of 'inviting multinationals' as a distinctively Singaporean model as South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong have their fair share of investments from multinationals, especially from the US. In fact, Dr Goh Keng Swee once said that perhaps the start of China’s Cultural Revolution in 1966 and its peak in 1968 scared investors away from countries bordering China so they avoided South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong and came to Singapore instead.  So it's hard to say whose model China is following especially when there are so many Taiwanese and Hong Kong entrepreneurs in China. Furthermore, China's approach is similar to South Korea's and Taiwan's because in addition to inviting multinationals, it has also started to build its own brands. Cherry is one such brand which even MM cannot deny. This is where Singapore's approach differs from those of China and the other East Asian dragons.  In all these years, with the exception of the SIA, the state has never been able to nuture a home grown winner like those from our East Asian counterparts. Thank you Ng Kok Lim  Read More →

From our Correspondent During a speech at the Third Children's Society Lecture yesterday, Singapore Attorney-General Walter Woon highlighted the dilemma faced by prosecutors in enforcing the law to prosecute minors for engaging in consensual sex. Titled Changing Social Mores: Protecting Children From Themselves?, it focused on how the law here dealt with the issue of underage sex. More underage teenagers in Singapore view casual sex as being normal and acceptable. Sex with a minor under 14 is punishable with a jail term - which may extend to 20 years, along with a fine or caning. The penalty for having sex with a girl under 16 is up to five years' jail and a fine of up to $10,000. Prof Woon said young people are becoming more open with their sexuality, with some even thinking that casual sex is inevitable. As such, legal cases that are emerging have become complex, with some minors even going to the extent of soliciting sexual services. Prof Woon said: "As what I see from some of the cases that come across my desk, they go out and solicit these contacts. In one case, she solicited it in her own home, not far from where I live.....It is not just the girls, but the boys (too)... male prostitute who went on the Internet, gay chatroom to earn money...." During the question-and-answer session, Prof Woon was peppered with questions about case studies and whether social workers have the responsibility to report cases of underage sex they encounter to the police. He politely declined to comment. 'The problem is, whenever the Attorney-General says something, it seems to get written in stone,' he said, to laughter. Social workers agreed largely with his comments, including his point that reporting underage sex is a delicate issue. Dr Carol Balhetchet, director for youth services at the Singapore Children's Society, said: 'It is a tough issue. If the teen told you in confidence, should you breach it? 'What we do is that we give these teens a deadline of a few days and let them make the choice between telling their parents themselves and having us bring it up.' Source: Straits Times and CNA  Read More →