"Why"

Glenda echos my sentiments. Her's is journalism, mine is Finance. I recently explained to Ruby Why. Because the exposure here is more than i can ever get in Singapore. Yes, i sell software, i have nothing to be ashamed of. Like Glenda, i graduated 3 years ago, starry-eyed and wanting to work in Front office of top I-banks. Indeed, it was not meant to be. Lehman, DBS and Citi all saw me. I dont give up that aspiration. I am still working hard for it. I am humbled, knowing you have to put yourself before others in a harsh society. I learnt that people trust me easily, and that makes it easy for me to get appointments.
Almost 5 mths into the presales role, i have to rely on my contacts and charm to get around. I have a lot to learn in terms of managing people, and this job gives me the training ground I need, with limited risk. I only have my youth to lose. It is a challenge, and i relish challenges. If someone intends to live alone in a foreign country, i will definitely advise a thinking through. It is painful. But you grow and mature. I meet people and they will be the building blocks of my career as I do see myself in finance in the long run.

Why?July 3rd, 2008 by glenda-chong
I guess the most pressing question is why I decided to transfer to Shanghai to be a correspondent. Upon graduation from Boston University, like every idealist fresh graduate, I thought I could be the next Peter Jennings or Tom Brokow. But as things always turn out, that was not meant to be. You have to work very hard to achieve what you truly want. I waited on tables in New York at a restaurant, and I realize that I can multi-task rather well without being distracted. Plus, surviving on tips alone and relying on the charity of friends, makes you a humble person.
And after almost 8 years of anchoring, I thought I’d should do field reporting while I am still young. So I hurdled, somersaulted and after a lot of convincing of my bosses, I applied for the Shanghai posting. Correspondent positions, like anchoring, don’t avail themselves very easily. Once you make a name for yourself, you hardly want to relinquish.
I am still young and healthy so what better time than now to run around getting stories, relocating to a new country where I get to challenge myself. It’s the perfect opportunity.
I love challenges and this is the perfect challenge for me. My friends tell me I am very fortunate to have known at an early age that I wanted to be a journalist. And after 10 years in the industry, I am still in love with journalism. There are so many responsibilities which forces you to learn other things besides just reporting. I also have to learn accounts, administrative work and managing staff.
Please make no mistake, I love anchoring and will eventually go back to anchoring, but for now I need to scratch this itch first.

Dinner today

Before this week I was in Beijing and Shanghai for work. Just sad to be there one week after the quake. The mood in BJ was pretty sombre. The resonance of the horns at 228 brought traffic and citizen to a complete standstill for 3 min all as a form of mourning. Tiananmen Square was at half mast. restaurants at the Shi Sha Hai used candlelights to set off paper boats, and used it to outline the date of the tragedy. All forms of foreign entertainment were also stopped during the three day period. Chinese all around the world united to raise funds, and in our hearts, we pray for the victims.

Selling SUCKS

i used to think that some people are born salesmen, or non-sales friends make judgement on whether one is cut out to be a sales person or not. like etiquette, techniques should be used as complement to one's personality and relationship with the other party. And you don’t have to call yourself a salesman.You are just one human being speaking to another, about things you both care about.

i think different people attract different crowd. ie. whites would like a certain type of girl. chinese too. and hongkongers too. whatever people think, ive got to be fearless, if it doesn't work out I would just go get a job somewhere, it wouldn't be the end of my life. It's worth taking a shot and going for everything. It is also best not to overspend, and max out the dollars and cents.

Blair Warren says:
People will do anything for those who encourage their dreams, justify their failures, allay their fears, confirm their suspicions and help them throw rocks at their enemies.

1) Show them how doing what you’re suggesting, or buying your product or service will help them achieve their dreams.

2) Give people reasons why they haven’t begun to act, or haven’t succeeded at the action. This is “justifying their failures.” Tell them about some missing thing that will make them successful in the future.

3) “Allaying fears” means acknowledging the fears and providing support to enable someone to keep going despite the fear.

4) Talk about things that people believe or suspect to be true, yet they are rarely spoken about or acknowledged.

5) A common enemy creates a strong bond.

What do i like about HK

Well, its really hard to say. I wonder if i like my independence more than hk itself.

none of the singaporeans i know actually like hk. i wonder why.

It could be the pollution. it could be the language. it could be the people. it could be the work.

for me, its all about food, and variety right? i find the people okay. they are funny people actually. shopping's pretty decent. and i love my apartment, and the hiking here. it's not half bad, from the 7 months i have been here.

Durian Puff which i made on Sunday

April and May.. and the rest came tumbling out...

April
Paul's Birthday Month. Other than that .. most was pretty uneventful. Plum crumble, apple crumble, Chocolate Cake (Failure), Blueberry Muffins, Chicken Rice, Ba Kut Teh, ate at Satay Place at Mody Road. Shenzhen Massage on 19th, Met with Judy for Brunch at Bricolage 2 on 27th, Jay Chou filmed his MTV outside my home. Forbidden Kingdom is a lousy film.
Workwise, was a bit hard, still struggling. Down to doing more "sales" as opposed to "support". I found it hard to pick up the phone. Still trying to gain confidence. Eric was very helpful. But he said i was pessimistic about long term, and that should not be. I have to stay positive and never give up.

May
Drinks at Lotus was great but expensive. Started off the weekend with 2 seafood meals featuring lobster and scallops for a total of 500HKD. Cheung Chau Island is great. Discovered the value of renting just a room, the points system, and keeping to a budget. HKD500pw. I should keep running at the gym.
Workwise i hope to have a successful BJ & SH trip, and keep working on my product knowledge. Close the E*** Bank deal, chase up on B**, C**** SM. Things are fine, building up my pipeline. I will be patient, humble and proactive.
i should finish watching S&TC, readings on Sales.

June
Paula's birthday Month. Aim to clear Sg CC by June, leaving me with only Education Loan, which i need another 6 months to finish. May return for Julie's wedding. Expecting Paula, Hozen, Jill, Serene, Antz here. Q2 should very quickly fleet by. Aim to say hallo in BJ last week in June. I should finish reading Derivatives by Alan Hicks. June 24 marks my 1st year in the company.

July
Dad's birthday Month. Expecting visitors as this is the shopping month in HK. Evans should be coming. I could try Wakeboarding and more climbing, even if it means doing it alone.
Restriction on Sg Visa begins here. I expect to do more cold calls in HK, and followup on Chinese clients from here probably till Olympic Fever is over in August. I should be reading the Hull's Derivatives.

August
Mom's Birthday Month. I should start looking for a room/apartment as my lease runs out in October. I am looking forward to paying less rent and saving more in anticipation for the double whammy taxes come April 2009.

September-Oct
Paul's Commissioning. I have to plan the London trip, and book my tickets to get home for my 26th birthday and F1!
I should visit China again first week in Sept. Q3 is up. I hope to have met my sales targets. Argh.
Oct-Dec 08
I have to build my pipeline for the next year 2009. Beijing Forum in Oct. Shanghai Forum in Nov.
I have to research for my Masters in F. Engin for Mar 2010, C++ programming. I may go home for Xmas.

Thoughts

Imminent
1. Tmr is a HK Holiday Ching Ming, 4 April 08. Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car.
2. Pay bills - Sg and HK
3. Timeline: April 08: air tickets, May: Shanghai Beijing, June 08: trip back home. Take leave. July-August 08: Normal work, Sept 08: London Trip, Oct: Beijing Forum, Nov: Shanghai Forum, Dec: Home for Xmas
5. Plan Sept 08 London trip
6. C++ Programming for Financial Engineers

Sometime later...
Masters in Financial Engineering http://mfe.haas.berkeley.edu/index.html
March 2010 - 2011. Bonus payouts in March 2009 & 2010. Enter 28, grad 28. 41/2 yrs exp
Or enrol for Sept 2009-Sept 2010 intake. Enter at 27, grad 28. 4 yrs exp