BOON'S BLOG

While reading an analysis of a fishery stock (no prizes on which one), I came across that word again, and it was used like this: "something about higher selling price... due to higher mix of value-added products such as surimi and fillets". as you may already know, those fish-related products are made from lower-quality fish; fish that are not whole and/or fresh. so they are processed to result in a higher perceived value.

translate that into the context of consultancy work, where one had to provide advice and the boss says that it should be value adding (the mystery of which is going to be revealed). therefore, it could be understood that the reports were crap, as perceived by the boss, and has to be propped up by some pretentious content. so next time if someone says to value-add, a fresh trout may be used to slap that person's face.

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on a side note, all that writing about fishery and fillet made me think of McFillet. go figure about the freshness and quality of the fish.

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on a side side note, the boss may mean that the reports should be useful to the reader. but that's a given, duh, wasn't it?

they say respect is not give but earned. but I don't see how the dangerous stuff like fire and natural gas can earn my respect.

a colleague asked me what I wanted to achieve in my career - like some kinda career consultant right. I don't know, I said, I had no idea what I want to do now, right now I am taking care of some mundane stuff and probably more boring crap to come like I allowed my boss/the-powers-to-be to heap on me. a passive office worker who had lost the light in the eyes. the colleague pressed further and I replied that I wanted my old job back but in a different format than what it was... which is some passive ops workflow bull that I am coming up with now. from some time ago, I believe I had done the "adult give up" but hopefully all is not lost. I would like to think that I had a choice, be it transferring departments, change jobs, furthering studies, or even working overseas. I could also thrash it out with my other boss, whining how this job is making me miserable and I wish to tackle some "value added" (whatever that means) work. but being a scholar-loving and degree grade-focused schmuck that he is, chances of receiving fulfiling work was slim. perhaps my colleague hoped I could strike out on my own on a cool project that everyone would want to fling their bodies on. fat chance. most people would want to fling themselves onto... themselves. by now I know I sounded negative and risk being pelted with stones but I am very aware of being self-congratulatory and not contributing to society/the bottomline. I would hate to wake some colleagues from their slumber... at least they are being paid while at it. my mind snapped back to the conversation when my colleague questioned me on a point of the bullcrap project, which I couldn't wait for it to end. then I bounced some ideas off of him and he was helpful in pointing out some weak points. then my colleague alighted me from the taxi that we were on, as he was heading for a destination near my place. I am still unclear as to what I must do, and the first month of the year is already over.

Failure to use existing, non-patented technology and knowledge to solve routine problems is anyone's failure.

Yes, I am fully aware that my parents are aging, and that being positive and happy for no good reasons would not buy me my next lunch, and I am more fortunate than the other 75% of the world.

I know. Thanks.

Over the years I've managed to meet some amazing people and some not so amazing people. sometimes, my muddled mind, due to the lack of sleep or whatnot would confuse the two types of people.

And this is where I have to borrow a term from elsewhere - Stupid Man. Yes, I believe I had became a Stupid Man from quite some time ago.

Not treasuring people whom I should have given more attention to, not appreciating what they have done for me. All the hand-written cards and notes, decorated with cute animals and smilies, which I have kept bear testament to that.

I thought and reflected... why I was not invited for their social events. Because I did not reciprocate their kind gestures. And of course they stopped doing it.

But instead I chose to stick with people whom I had to put up with their nit-picking on my looks and organisation skill, name calling, and ridiculous demands. Its like having several mother-in-laws at once.

I hope its still not too late for regrets.

I should continute to avoid people, including friends, who makes me feel like crap. I should tell them "please stop your nonsense", and that's it. Continuing to deal with them will cause me to suffer psychic disorders and surely they would not be paying for visits to the psychiatrist.

Secondly, I should be myself. Nuff said.

Thirdly, I should be more strategic at work and avoid wasting effort and my breathe, increase effectiveness (as opposed to efficiency), and aim to knock off on time, or even sooner I daresay. So I can spend more time with parents instead of the stupid laptop. And also time with friends.

I should take up courses, preferably at the expense of my company.

When I have no appointments, weekends should be spent for exploratory activities, or activities that moves me. Not brainstorming on the next big thing for the company. To quote a signature of a forum poster - "love your job but don't love your company, for your company may stop loving you".

Even on leave now and not holidaying overseas, I find myself catching up on many personal endevours that I had cast aside for more than a year.

The next might be a bit of a tumble for me and everyone else in the world, so luck to all of us.

started another unbearable (in retrospect) day at the office, but this one is a bit different. in the second half of the day, I went to the company's adopted charity to do some gardening work. I liked doing hands-on work so I would go whenever there is an opportunity.

I met this senior guy who came down from Istana, and he was pruning away when I reached. The rain came on and off, and finally there was an extended heavy downpour. one of the company's boss whom I heard would come did not turn up. probably stopped by the rain. before we went off to catch a taxi, the senior guy went to wash up, and I stood at the periphery of the garden just under the covered walkway of the single-storey building admiring our work. The rain subsided a bit and the garden looked bright and proper (probably after our pruning), and a light gust blew from behind, bringing a wind chime that hung along the walkway into motion and sound. "cling, cling, cling", it went. my spirit was lifted along with the wind and just as suddenly as it blew, the wind stopped. my heart felt heavy again and it was then that I realised that a weight was upon it.

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the senior guy (whose name I did not get) was kind and dropped me off at AMK mrt near where he lived. 

on the train there was three poly students (presumably from NYP) - two guys and one girl - talking animatedly. the girl looked and sounded very much like my boss and I almost retched physically when I imagined that she would grow up to be like my boss.

but later on, as I listened to them (it soon became just one guy talking with the girl), I missed my poly life where, if there was an opportunity, I could talk to a girl who looked like my boss about the most vapid things without retching at her sight.

those three students, whatever their paths are in the future, I wish them happiness.

This Current Estimate Potential (CEP) system is a totally flawed concept. How can a superior estimate the potential of a subordinate whose potential is higher than his own? How can a person see a vision higher than his own? How can a toad appreciate the size of a whale?

SMU Convocation Speech by Mr Tommie Goh (Summarised)

This is the text of the SMU Convocation keynote address by Guest-of-Honour, Mr Tommie Goh, Chairman, 2G Capital Pte Ltd, delivered on Saturday, 19 August 2006, at the Suntec City Convention Centre.

I am honoured to be with you all today at your convocation. SMU is close to me. When I decided to make a contribution to a tertiary institution some years back, SMU was my choice instinctively.

I did not make it to any university so I am not qualified to lecture or to teach. What I will do is to share my thoughts and experiences as an entrepreneur for which I have better credentials.

Entrepreneurs are people who start their business rarely wondering whether they should or should not do it. They just do it. Being an entrepreneur is a compulsion. They have been wanting to do it for the longest time. Being an entrepreneur is something that is “in your blood”.

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Be honest with yourself. Know your limitations. Believing in yourself doesn’t mean bluffing yourself. You must know what are your own strengths and weaknesses. Don’t pretend to be something you are not. When I finally passed my “O” levels, I knew that I was not academically-inclined. I know I am not “book-smart”. But I believe in my own abilities. I know I am “street-smart”

After 13 years in the army, I knew that with my “O” level qualifications, Grade 3, not Grade 1; I cannot be promoted beyond the rank of Major. That was my limitation in the Army. But my belief in myself told me that I could succeed further outside the Army. So I left the Army. I founded JIT Electronics in 1988 and when the company crossed the 100 million dollar revenue mark, I knew I needed to recruit professional managers who are more able than me in managing a company this size and growing rapidly. I know my limitations.

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I founded JIT in 1988 and sold it to Flextronics in 2000. In 1988, I invested $100,000 in JIT and twelve years later sold it for $1.16 billion; a multiple of 11,600 times. Not bad for a 100 thousand dollar investment.

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If, Tommie Goh, can be here as your guest speaker in your convocation – an ‘O’ Level graduate, of ordinary parentage and no capital advantage – just think, how much more privileged and better off each one of you here are. Treasure your studies but remember to thoroughly enjoy your time at SMU. Make it a distinctive part of your life experiences.

Make it happen!

Thank you.

At a certain starbucks in town, I had consigned an MLM'er and pushy financial consultant to the "no-sale" hell.

But really, I should just reject them outright. So here goes a simulated monologue:

No, I do not wish to buy a policy from you. I hope we can remain friends, although I know it is probably very difficult for us to be friends when I do not have a policy with you, and that you are not living off my life blood. Figuratively speaking of course.

You probably became my friend in order to make a sale, so I am absolutely cool if you wish to walk away now.

the world does not make up of four other people.

yet another person is tainted by the treachery of another.

I pity them.

dreamed of a very, very senior guy in my company asking me to change the soil "wherever" I want in a garden. Maybe something to do with the "Soil cheats polluting the ground" article.

Taekwondo / Karate - as a kid

Ninjitsu - as a adolescent

Tai Chi / Qi Gong - as a working adult, depending on whether you pass shit or take shit

Why is waiting painful? 

Because of waiting for something, someone, there is a desire.

So there is no pain without desire.

But desire is always here.

The crave for love and wanting to be loved back.

They have no redeeming points. Organising and writing stuff that people have no choice but to consume. Working in silo as a unit, and working as silos from one another. Tax money grubbers. Time wasters.

An improvished country might have benefited from this...

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Sometimes I get colleagues like - I don't wanna participate in your project but I give inputs from time to time and/or when I feel like it, and I claim credit at the end.

I also get colleagues who sits in a few committees, and make working groups or worst, a working person to produce the results.

Soldiers' eye sight not good? Give them the Manpack Camera System so the control room can see for them. Legs not good? Give them the Big Dog so the control room can walk for them!

At the ARKS Hospital, we do things differently in order to stand out from others.

When a patient comes in, instead of assigning a doctor or a team of specialists to give a full diagnosis like other hospitals, we form committees that look at ourselves first - discussing what could be wrong with us. But of course this stage ain't easy, as no-one wants to admit that they are errorous in some way.

Then we move on to the patient.

While his or her condition is deteriorating, we brainstorm and come up with fantastic ideas that are out of the box! who still needs the boring old clinical diagnosis, which looks at the complete picture in this day and age? we need targeted, quick-fix, wham-bam-thank-you-mam solutions that are economical (cheap) and give the greatest media mileage.

We at ARKS hospital look forward to improve your health, one committee at a time. If you can't last... well don't blame us cos we have so many ideas!!

2am, Sunday. looking through old photos. good time to break out "top of the world" by the carpenters :)

The project I'm working on now is like a huge piece of turd. everyone wants a piece of it to fertilise their crops but they do not want to touch it.