Appreciate The Small Stuff

Have you ever been to a restaurant on weekend and waited at the counter to get a table? After 15 minutes (although it felt like forever) the waitress finally appear (you have been wondering where has she been all this while) and lead you to your table. It then take another 10 minutes (you feel like time has stop for some reason) for the same waitress to come and take your order. You then thought you can now relax and wait for your wonderful meal. You felt great that your order is recorded and food is on its way. You feel relax and started pleasant conversation with your company. Suddenly the conversation becomes less enthusiastic, you feel less comfortable as you start to wonder why your food is still not here after you have been chatting with your friends for 30 minutes. Your mind starts to fill you in with all sorts of negative hypothetical possibilities like whether your order has been passed on to the kitchen; whether your order has accidentally dropped on the floor or they have run out of food! You feel restless and you don't even want to have any conversation with your pals at all, all you are thinking is where is your food! Eventually the food comes but since you are in such an angry state you can't enjoy the meal at all. For all you know you will be cursing the dining experience for the rest of the evening!

Didn't all of us at some point in our life experience the above episode before? It may occur to some more than others. But if you think about it calmly, it is not the restaurant or the waitress or the chef that made you feel mad. It is YOU yourself that contribute to that bad experience. It is all too common that we tend to focus on the negative side of things that happen to us. That focus is so prevalent and all encompassing that we can't see any good in life. 

If we are to be happy for the rest of our lives we have to change that inherent bad habit. We have to start training our mind to search for good in everything including bad experiences. Yes, even there is good in bad things!!!

This morning after I washed my dishes I placed them on the draining basket. Underneath it is the standard stainless draining tray. I thought what a wonderful and simple idea to drain all the water from the plates and bowls. Just leave them there overnight and let gravity do the work! There was a sudden joy that I felt. It was just a good feeling that things are working the way they should.

There are many more things in life that we can feel grateful for. For example the beautiful stars that paint the sky every night or the sun who doesn't need an alarm clock to 'wake up' every morning. What about the great invention of the car where you can go anywhere by just sitting at the same spot!

It is important to keep training our mind to think in this way. If you want to have fit body you go to the gym. The same principles apply to our mind. If you wish to have a healthy mind you have to train it, exercise it by focusing on the things that can help you achieve your goal and not on negative interpretation that will destroy you. 

Great Things Take Time

It takes 2 to 5 years before an apple tree bears its fruit.

It took the Romans 1,009,491 days or approximately 2,765 years to build Rome to its glory.

It took 22 centuries across different dynasties and kingdoms to build the entire 20,000 km long Great Wall of China.

The rational part of our brain isn't fully developed until the age of 25.

Be persistent and continue to work hard as great things do take time.

10 Mindfulness Tips for Busy People

“There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way” ~Thich Nhat Hanh

Do you ever feel as though you would be happy if only things were a little different?

You know that happiness is important, but you keep putting it on the backburner because there simply isn’t enough time to prioritize your own inner joy.

And at the same time, you know that meditation would help, but you can’t even imagine where you’re going to get the spare time you need to sit still and meditate.

In an ideal world, we would schedule moments every day in which to cater to our health needs, because health and well-being are paramount. Yet despite our best efforts we will inevitably face those times when we’re busy every minute of the day. I know I’ve been there.

A few years ago I moved country while pursuing life as a freelance journalist. I was working non-stop for a less than minimum wage, and I had zero time to focus on my mental health.

Life became unbearably stressful. And while I knew that I could stop the stress if I meditated, I simply couldn’t work out how I would ever get the time to do it.

My happiness drifted further and further away. Stress built. Anxiety hit hard. And with zero free time I simply couldn’t find a way out of my misery.

I knew meditation was the key. I just didn’t have the time for it. So I made a choice. Instead of meditating the old-fashioned way, sitting still doing nothing, I would find ways to meditate while still being productive. That way I could work on my happiness while still doing everything I needed to do.

The key was mindfulness.

By simply being present and living in the moment, I could meditate while getting things done.

This was a total game-changer for me. Suddenly I had all the time in the world to practice mindfulness because I could do it while still being productive.

I was mindful day and night. I would eat meals mindfully, walk mindfully, read my email mindfully… whatever I needed to do I would do mindfully.

Suddenly I had gone from having no time to meditate to making mindfulness an integrated part of my life.

All mindful moments were helpful at this time. But there were ten mindful practices that I found particularly valuable. And even though today I keep a much healthier schedule and make sure not to spread myself too thin, I still use these practices.

Whether you’re going through a busy time or looking for an alternative to traditional seated-meditation, you can use these techniques to boost your mindfulness while saving time.

1. Walk mindfully.

Walking is one of the most relaxing exercises in the world. But it can be all too easy to ruin a good walk by thinking too much. When walking, be mindful of the world around you, paying attention to your five senses. Alternatively, meditate on the feeling of movement in your legs, which is a practice used in Zen walking.

2. Eat mindfully.

Eating mindfully is one of the most wonderful things we do for both body and mind. When we eat mindfully we become more aware of the food we are eating. This makes us more appreciative of food and of the digestive process, and also makes us more likely to eat healthily. Take time eating meals, and focus on the food.

3. In a queue? Meditate.

Here’s a great time-saving tip. When you’re in a queue, meditate. You’re standing still doing nothing anyway, and you could be there for a good few minutes, so why not make the most of the time.

Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Or, if you don’t feel comfortable with your eyes closed in public, gaze at a wall or something else that is not distracting, and focus on breathing. This is a great way to actually make use of time that would otherwise be wasted.

4. Meditate on the bus.

This is my all time favorite mindfulness practice. I’m frequently using the bus in order to help cut emissions, and my trips range from half an hour to well over an hour. That’s time that would be utterly wasted. But by meditating I actually get something out of my time on the bus.

Personally, I’m always happy to sit with my eyes closed and look a little bit funny doing so. But if you prefer not to draw attention to yourself, keep your eyes open and simply drop your gaze to a forty-five-degree angle. Now focus on your breath.

5. Exercise with body and mind.

Oftentimes when we’re exercising the body thoughts are still ruminating in the mind. Big mistake. Physical exercise can be used as training for both body and mind. All we need to do is focus while we exercise.

Some exercises are more conducive to this than others. Yoga, tai chi, and Qigong are all excellent mind and body exercises, and running can be another good choice. Other exercises such as weight-lifting and competitive team sports are less appropriate.

6. Actually watch the TV.

How often do we have the TV on without actually focusing on it? We’ve got some random show playing in the background while we’re thinking of what to make for dinner or what we have to do at work. This creates a rift between our reality and what’s occurring in the mind. And this is detrimental to mental health.

When watching the TV, actually set aside an hour or so in which to genuinely watch a show. Focus on the show. And when it is over turn off the TV.

7. Lie down in body and mind.

Lying down is, of course, an act of rest. But too often when we lie down we rest the body while still working the mind. How many times have you gone to bed worrying about the next day? Such moments are not genuine rest, and they certainly are not conducive to good sleep.

When lying down with the body, we should lie down with the mind too. To do this, focus the mind on the body. Focus on the body at rest.

Begin by focusing on the crown of your head. Notice what sensations are there. Is there any tension? If so, imagine breathing fresh air into that area. The fresh air relaxes. It carries away the tension.

Once the crown of your head is relaxed, move down to your forehead and repeat the process there.

Continue one step at a time, progressing through your eyes, nose, mouth, neck and so on, all the way to your feet.

Your entire body will now be utterly relaxed. Focus on it. Be mindful of your entire body. Particularly be aware of the sense of relaxation. Keep the mind there, your consciousness evenly spread across your whole body.

This is lying down in mind as well as in body. It is an immensely relaxing experience and one of the best ways of refreshing the mind.

8. Really listen.

Everyone loves a good listener, and listening can be an act of mindfulness too. All we need do is pay absolute attention to the person speaking. When doing this, we do not judge their voice or what they are saying, and we do not worry about how we are going to respond; we simply focus on the sound of the other person’s voice.

9. When working, work.

Let’s be completely honest, most of us do not focus on work 100 percent unless the boss is standing next to us. Instead, we’re thinking about how we want to get out of the office, how we’d rather be at home or out having fun. But dreaming about not working while we’re at work simply makes us miserable.

When we focus the mind 100 percent on the work we’re doing we come to actually enjoy our jobs. So, when writing, write. When selling, sell. And when listening to that angry customer’s complaints, listen. This will stop work from feeling like a chore and make it a pleasurable, mindful experience.

10. Listen to the kettle and meditate on the drink.

As an Englishman, my kettle is turned on far too many times throughout the day, and I do delight in drinking far too much tea. (It’s usually green, so at least I’ve got that going for me.)

One way to make a cup of tea or coffee even better is to meditate on it. Meditate on the sound of the kettle when it is boiling. Focus on the process of making the tea or coffee. And drink mindfully. This will make you appreciate the drink more, while also increasing present-moment-mindfulness.

—

Mindfulness needn’t take time. We can be mindful while doing the things we need to do. And in the process, we can boost our happiness and health without losing time.

The ten tips we’ve looked at provide ways to boost mindfulness while saving time. And there are many similar tips.

What is your favorite way of being mindful?

By Paul Harrison

Lee Kuan Yew Top Ten Rules

Obama Interviews Jack Ma

Obama interviews Jack Ma on climate change, his meeting with Bill Gates and how it all ties into his business.

Words of Wisdom from Jack Ma

Andy Lau Shares His Success and Failure

Famous Hong Kong actor and singer Andy Lau openly shared his real life story that clear the myth of his success.

He said that the media has glorified him to a certain extent as a hardworking celebrity who doesn't need to eat or sleep; as if he is a superman. However, he clarified that he is merely a normal person just like everybody else watching this video. He does have his fair share of failures in life, love and career.

He said that every morning when he wakes up he will face himself in the mirror and ask these questions?

"Who are you?"
"Have you been true to yourself?"
"Have you lied to yourself today?"

Only after you face your true self and confident that you are an honourable person, then you may go on to greet your family with a smile. When you step out of the house, greet your neighbour with a smile, greet the person on the street with a smile, greet everyone you meet with a smile. It is by sending love to the world that we produce positive energy to people around us.

He asked: "When the world has love; do you think our path to success will be far away?"

Surviving Workplace Politics

"Office politics" are the strategies that people play to gain advantage, personally or for a cause they support. The term often has a negative connotation, in that it refers to strategies people use to seek advantage at the expense of others or the greater good. In this context, it often adversely affects the working environment and relationships within it. Good "office politics", on the other hand, help you fairly promote yourself and your cause, and is more often called networking and stakeholder management.

Perhaps due to the negative connotation, many people see office politics as something very much to be avoided. But the truth is, to ensure your own success and that of your projects, you must navigate the minefield of Office Politics. If you deny the 'bad politics' that may be going on around you, and avoid dealing with them, you may needlessly suffer whilst others take unfair advantage. And if you avoid practising 'good politics', you miss the opportunities to properly further your own interests, and those of your team and your cause.

Why work politics are inevitable:

• Some people have more power than others, either through hierarchy or some other basis of influence.
• For many people, gaining promotion is important, and this can create competition between individuals, or misalignment between the team's objectives and those of individuals within it.
• Most people care passionately about decisions at work and this encourages political behavior as they seek to get their way.
• Decisions at work are impacted by both work-related goals and personal factors, so there is further scope for goal conflict.
• People and teams within organizations often have to compete for limited resources; this can lead to a kind of "tribal conflict" where teams compete to satisfy their needs and objectives, even when this is against the greater good.
  

  Making Politics Work FOR You

  To deal effectively with office politics and use it yourself in a positive way, you must first accept the reality of it. Once you've done this, you then need to develop strategies to deal with the political behavior that is going on around you. The best way to do this is to be a good observer and then use the information you gather to build yourself a strong network to operate in. Here are some tips:

  Re-Map the Organization Chart

  Office Politics often circumvent the formal organization chart. Sit back and watch for a while and then re-map the organization chart in terms of political power.
• Who are the real influencers?
• Who has authority but doesn't exercise it?
• Who is respected?
• Who champions or mentors others?
• Who is "the brains behind the organization"?

Understand the Informal Network

Once you know who's who in the organization, you have a good idea of where the power and influence lay. Now you have to understand the social networks.

• Who gets along with whom?
• Are there groups or cliques that have formed?
• Who is involved in interpersonal conflict?
• Who has the most trouble getting along with others?
• What is the basis for the interrelationship? Friendship, respect, manipulation?
• How does the influence flow between the parties?

Build Relationships

Now that you know how the existing relationships work, you need to build your own social network accordingly.

• Do not be afraid of politically powerful people in the organization. Get to know them.
• Ensure you have relationships that cross the formal hierarchy in all directions (peers, bosses, executives).
• Start to build relationships with those who have the informal power.
• Build your relationships on trust and respect – avoid empty flattery.
• Be friendly with everyone but don't align yourself with one group or another.
• Be a part of multiple networks – this way you can keep your finger on the pulse of the organization.

 Source: Mind Tools

When It Is Time To Change Job

 

Making the decision to change jobs or careers can be scary, especially in the current economy. But at times, it becomes necessary. You can be happy and fulfilled one day, but then circumstances and situations change and you're left wondering why everything suddenly seems to suck . 

If you’re in this situation, your first step should be to do everything you can to remedy your situation before seeking to jump ship. But if you've tried your best and are still unhappy, these signs may point to the fact that it’s time to find a new job.

1. You're Underpaid

Money isn't everything, but you do need to pay your bills. And moreover, you deserve to get adequately rewarded for the work that you do. When you’re just not making the money you need, it can be hard to put in the extra effort to really excel, and it can affect your motivation over the long haul—especially if it’s compounded by other less-than-ideal situations at work. So, if you know you’re being paid significantly less than you deserve—that can be a very good reason to start looking for new opportunities that’ll actually meet your salary needs.

Alternate Options: Do some research and see what people in similar positions are making (considering the cost of living in different locations). And if you truly feel you are due for a raise, ask for it. But if you’re not quite there yet, seek input and feedback from your boss or trusted co-workers on how you can further help the organization and increase your value. Then get to work.

2. You're Undervalued

Doing a great job when no one is there to appreciate it (or even recognize it) is terribly defeating. We all want to be patted on the back every now and then. And working somewhere where you aren’t getting proper recognition is kind of like being in a relationship without affection or attention—you’ll likely start to wonder if you’re valued or even liked. Not only is a place like that de-motivating—but if your boss refuses to acknowledge and commend your accomplishments, that can also be a sign that you’re not going to be promoted or given adequate opportunities to advance. If you truly aren’t appreciated at your current workplace—it may be time to go somewhere else where your contribution is valued.

Alternate Options: Seek to objectively assess your value to the organization. Are you doing work that matters to the functioning of the company? Are you doing it well? What could you be doing to make more of an impact? Look specifically for areas where you think you have special expertise, and consider if a position switch may be in order.

3. The Ship Is Sinking

When a ship starts to hit rocky seas for an extended period of time—it’s only natural to start worrying if it will stay afloat. And if you doubt the people steering the ship know what they’re doing, it may be time to get off at the next dock. In case you’re not following me here—if you think the company you’re working for may be failing and the senior leadership is driving it into the ground, it may be time to start preparing for your next step.

Alternate Options: Assess if the situation is truly dire, or if the office chatterbox is just being over-dramatic. Chum up to the accountant or bookkeeper, and be on the lookout for signs of serious distress from them or your boss to gauge the outlook. At a minimum, if you sense impending disaster, start putting your feelers out for new opportunities so you have a life raft ready. This means brushing up your contact list, LinkedIn profile, and resume.

4. You’re Not Given the Resources to Do Your Job Well

You know you could do so much more for the organization, but you simply don't have the tools, equipment, support, or opportunities to do so. This usually doesn't mean they don't see your potential, but it may mean that they can’t (or don’t want to) put in the time or money to help you help the company and therefore move forward in your career.

Alternate Options: Show how the cost of the resource you want will ultimately make your organization money. That's the real value to your boss. Will it save you hours of time, which you can use to do more projects? Will it help you deliver more, quality work that raises client satisfaction and retention?

5. You’re Not Learning and Growing

Just like not having the tools or resources to do your work can cause problems, so can having your growth stunted, stalled, or slowed down. If you're not challenged or given opportunities to learn and grow in your job, it may be time to seek employment in an organization that actually will support your personal and career growth.

Alternate Options: Learning something new is an investment in yourself and your career. If your employer isn't investing in your continued learning, take it upon yourself to find a mentor in your field, and ask them to share their expertise with you. You can also begin to teach yourself. Buy a Kindle (or dig up that library card) and start reading books recommended by thought leaders and respected colleagues in your field. You can also take classes, attend conferences, and go to workshops to continue your education on your own time and dime (or, better yet, see if your employer will help foot the bill for a conference you think will benefit the company).

6. It’s Not the Right Fit

Things change: bosses change, markets change, jobs change, and your life situation changes. What may have been the perfect job before, may not be working anymore . And that’s okay.

If you feel your job or career isn't aligning with your hopes, dreams, goals, and objectives for your life, it's time for a serious work-life evaluation (which could result in a job change).

Alternate Options: Before making a major decision like changing jobs, take some time off. Often, rest and distance are the best things you can do for yourself and your work. So put in a request to use some of your vacation time ASAP, and go get a little R&R. Afterward, ask yourself if your job truly is as bad as you thought, or were you simply overworked and overdue for some time off? 

Source: The Muse

7 Steps To Handle Criticism Positively

Many people get defensive or sad when they’re criticized at work. In many cases, the workplace has no feedback culture in place and people are not trained to give or receive criticism in a constructive manner. Giving and receiving negative feedback constructively takes a LOT of practice!

The best way to receive negative feedback well is to follow these 7 steps:

1: Listen.
Actually hear what’s being said. If necessary, ask questions to make sure you understand the criticism fully.

Here’s an example:

I reiterate what she said so she knows that I was really listening and since my boss likes to teach and is very detail-oriented, I’ll ask her if she can give me a few tips on how to perform the task better and throw in a few suggestions as well to get her feedback.

I end the conversation by asking where I’m doing well so I can keep up the good work which is my way of helping her to remember where I excel.

This also shows her that out of everything that I do, she’s got few complaints and gives her the confidence to give me more responsibilities.

2: Assume good intentions
Unless proven otherwise, assume good intentions. Don’t automatically jump to the conclusion that the person criticizing you is “out to get you.” Of course, sometimes they are. If so, see below.

3: Do not get defensive and start making excuses.
Instead you might say what you’ve learned and what you will do differently from now on.

4: Don’t take it personally
Remember that they’re criticizing your work, not you as a person. Never take negative feedback about your work as a criticism of you as a person.

5: See criticism as help
Remember that all constructive feedback (including negative feedback) is a sign of interest and a sign that people want to help you do better. It would be far worse for people to notice you doing bad work and not say a word.

6: Don’t be too hard on yourself
Remember that everyone makes mistakes and has things to learn. Yes, that includes you. There’s nothing wrong with making mistakes, but making the same mistakes over and over because you refuse to listen to criticism and learn is not going to help you.

7: Say thank you
Thank the person for their feedback.

Never put up with attacks in the workplace

However, note that these steps only apply to constructive, well-meant criticism. Unfair and overly negative feedback is also used as a tool by bad managers and workplace bullies to demean and control others.

The wrong kind of criticism can be:

• Overly negative
• Personal attacks
• Unfair criticism for something that is not your fault or outside of your control
• Delivered in an unpleasant way

Do NOT put up with this kind of attack. If you do it will persist.

Feedback can be a gift

All constructive feedback is valuable because it gives you a chance to improve and learn. Positive feedback is easier and more fun (and sadly undervalued in most workplaces) but negative feedback and criticism can be a fantastic thing as long as we do it right.

In fact, many employees I’ve talked to simply wish for more feedback of any kind. They feel like they work in a vacuum where no one ever notices their efforts, good or bad, and this makes it almost impossible to know whether or not they’re doing good work.

Source: The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Becoming Financially Independent

Most people aspire to become financially independent, but few actually think about or take the actions necessary to reach independence.

Financial independence means having sufficient financial resources to comfortably choose whether to work or not work, or perhaps work in a highly desirable job that otherwise couldn’t support your standard of living. It means being able to withstand the inevitable financial storms along the way. But what key steps does it take to achieve financial independence?

1) Set specific goals. Goals define what financial independence will look like for each of us. Goals, particularly specific goals written out with timetables, can motivate us to initiate and stick with the other keys to financial independence.
 

2) Consistently spend less than you earn. Yes, your mother probably taught you this when you were receiving an allowance as a youngster, but so many of us forget this basic principle. Unless you spend less than you earn, it’s impossible to become financially independent — short of winning the lottery. Consistent saving is even more important than the investment rate you might earn with that savings. Aim for saving at least ten percent of your pre-tax income. If you’re unable to save ten percent now, saving a smaller percentage will help you—especially if you start saving while you’re younger and can let the power of compounding work for you.

3) Create a spending plan. The key to spending less than you earn is to create and follow a spending plan. In general, if you subtract your expenses from your earnings, the amount left should be your savings. Another way to view your savings, though, is to treat savings as an expense item and put it at the top of your budget. Simply have the money deducted from your paycheck and deposited into your savings account. You won’t miss it, and you won’t be tempted to spend it.


4) Invest. To build financial independence, you’ll need to earn a reasonable return on your savings. A savings account alone is not enough. Invest in stocks, bonds, and other assets that involve an acceptable level of risk. Yes, there’s the risk of some loss of principal, but understand that investing is for long-term goals that are at least five years away. When you are closer to reaching your goals, shift the invested funds into those lower-earning but less risky savings accounts and money markets.
 
5) Stay invested. One of the big mistakes many investors make is waiting to invest until the market is really strong—and then bailing out when it sinks. In short, they buy high and sell low. Get in and stay in — and make adjustments if necessary. Keep in mind that the bulk of the returns of a bull market tend to come early in the upswing, and people often miss out on them because they’re waiting for the market to turn “hot.”


6) Diversify. It’s important to diversify your assets. Overloading on company stock, on stock in the industry in which you work, or on other higher-risk investments is an open invitation to trouble. By spreading your investment money among several asset categories, you minimize the impact of the downturns of a particular segment.


7) Use tax-favored accounts. Retirement plans and individual retirement accounts are the most efficient way to build toward financial independence because you get more bang for each invested buck, especially if your employer matches your contributions.
 
8) Bulletproof your independence. As you accumulate money for financial independence, you need to protect it. The primary way is insurance—not just life, health, auto and homeowner’s insurance—but disability and liability coverage. Disability insurance helps offset the loss of income if you can no longer work due to a disability, and liability coverage is a cushion against lawsuits. Another form of insurance is a cash-reserve emergency fund where dollars are kept in a savings or money market account to see you through emergencies or a stretch of unemployment, so you don’t have to dip into retirement accounts or other investments. 

Source: Financial Planning Association

Li Ka-Shing Success Story

When Li Ka-Shing was just 14 years old, his father died of tuberculosis. In order to earn money for his family, Li was forced to abandon school and take a job at a plastics factory. The family was so poor that Le actually had to sell his dead father’s clothes for cash to pay for food. While most of his piers attended school or played games, Li labored away for 16 hours a day making plastic watchbands. Sounds terrible, right? Well if it makes you feel any better, today Li Ka-Shing is the richest person in Asia with a personal net worth of $30 billion. 

In fact, thanks to some extremely shrewd investments, he has been a billionaire for over a quarter of a century! Li Ka-Shing’s rise to obscene levels of wealth and power is a truly inspirational rags to riches story.

Li Ka-Shing was born on June 13, 1928 in Chaozhou, Guangdong, China. While Li was in elementary school, it was a common occurrence for the Japanese to drop bombs on Chaozhu, so his family took refuge in Hong Kong. Li’s father was a school principal, but tragically succumbed to tuberculosis shortly after the family arrived and settled in their new adopted home country.

Li was also infected with tuberculosis. The isolation during this recovery, coupled with such extreme poverty and feelings of helplessness, had a deep impact on Li Ka-Shing. Dealing with a war, the loss of a parent, severe illness, and poverty all before the age of 15, instilled a lifelong drive to succeed beyond into the future tycoon.

As we mentioned earlier, Li was forced to quit school at the age of 15 to work as an apprentice in a factory that made plastic watch straps. By the time we was 14, he had a full time job in a plastics trading company and was a big help in supporting his family. In 1950, at the age of 22, Li quit his job to start his own company that made plastic toys. The company soon changed shifted plans and instead began producing plastic flowers because he heard how popular they were in Italy. It was Li’s first savvy business decision. He named this company Cheung Kong. Fast forward to the present and Cheung Kong is one of the largest real estate investment companies in the world.

Around this same time, Li began buying apartment buildings and factories throughout Hong Kong with every extra penny he manged to save. Because this was a period of severe social unrest marked by Maoist-led riots and bombings, Li often able to purchase real estate at steep discounts. By the time the market recovered from the social instability, Li started to make a killing. In 1979 he became the first Chinese citizen to acquire a controlling stake in an old British trading house, Hutchison Whampoa. Because Hutchison Whampoa had been struggling for years, Li shrewdly convinced Hongkong & Shanghai Bank (HSBC) to sell him their 22% stake in the company for less than half the book value. Hutchison Whampoa owned shipyards, docks, vast parcels of retail space and much more, mainly throughout Hong Kong. Over the next decade, Li managed to successfully turn Hutchison Whampoa around and expand its empire throughout the world. Today, Hutchison Whampoa is one of the most valuable companies in the world with annual revenues of over $50 billion.

Fun fact: Li’s office at the top of Cheung Kong Center in central Hong Kong has a private pool and one of the fastest elevators in the world. You can ascend 70 stories in less than 45 seconds.

By 1987, Li had transformed himself from factory worker to full fledged billionaire. That same year, Li and his partners paid $500 million to acquire roughly half of Husky Oil, a Canadian company that consistently lost money and had been through many restructurings and mergers. The timing of this acquisition could not have been any more perfect. At the time of the purchase, a barrel of oil traded for roughly $10. Over the next thirty years, a single barrel rose from $10, to $30, to $50 to an all time high of $140. Today, a single barrel of oil sells for $93 which helps Husky Energy generate over $25 billion a year in revenue. Li still has a stake in the company which is worth over $8 billion on its own.

Throughout his life, Li continued to invest in real estate and a diverse range of other industries. Li’s companies handle 70% of Hong Kong’s port traffic, have huge stakes in the electric companies and mobile phone services—in a way, you could say he controls Hong Kong from the top of his tower. But beyond real estate, Li Ka-Shing has shown an uncanny perception for the tech-world. The octogenarian took about five minutes in late 2007 to decide to invest $120 million in Facebook. Keep in mind that back in 2007, Facebook barely made any money. It had only recently opened up to membership beyond college students, and Myspace had just proven to be a disastrous investment for Rupert Murdoch’s Newscorp. Today, that 0.8% stake in Facebook is worth $900 million.

Li also invested in Skype in 2005 when it was losing money. A year later, eBay paid $2.5 billion for it. Li also backed Siri, which, as we all know was bought by Apple in 2010. Li is also invested millions of dollars into Spotify, Waze and HzO. Oh and by the way, after he invested in Spotify, he reportedly told the company Spotify needed to be in his car. This was 2009, long before Spotify had a mobile app. Li’s technology investments display a particular brilliance with understand not just where the tech world is, but where it is going. He believes in technology that is a game changer. Things like Facebook, Waze, Siri, etc. His investments have been so savvy, that people began referring to Li-Ka Shing as “Superman”. He is even frequently depicted as so in newspapers and magazines:

But Li still invests in more traditional business as well. In fact in 2010, Li Ka-Shing’s Cheung Kong made its biggest acquisition to date when it bought U.K. Power Networks for $9.1 billion. This means that Li now supplies about eight million Brits with power. In 2011, Li bought Northumbrian Water, which ferries clean drinking water to 4.5 million people in England and provides sewerage services to another 2.7 million.

Basically, wherever you look, Li Ka-Shing is there in some way. Or so it seems. When Li’s tech investments don’t pan out, he personally takes the financial hit. When the tech investments hit a windfall, he puts the profits into his Li Ka-Shing Foundation, which he refers to as his third son. The foundation has donated more than $1.6 billion, mostly to education. He has given $690 million to create Shantou University. He donated $40 million to Berkeley for a new biomedical research facility.

At 83, he is still quite a force to be reckoned with. Every day, Li practices golf for 90 minutes and by lunchtime he has typically read through every single major international newspaper from back to front. He wakes up each morning at 5am and lives in the same home he bought more than 50 years ago. Li-Ka Shing is press shy and rarely grants interviews but his wealth is legendary in Hong Kong, and globally. He has two sons, and his eldest, Victor is the heir apparent. His younger son Richard runs his own telecom business. Li’s wife died of a heart attack in 1990 when she was 56-years old. He never remarried.

Today, thanks largely to his majority stakes in Cheung Kong, Hutchison Whampoa and various other investment, Li-Ka Shing is worth $30 billion. That’s far and away enough to make him the richest person in Asia and the 18th richest person in the world! Not bad for a former dirt poor factory worker!

Source: The Asian Entrepreneur

The Path to Success

 

Jack Ma's Advice on Being Successful in Life and Business

Billionaire Jack Ma is the the founder of Alibaba Group, as well as one of the most successful Chinese Internet entrepreneurs. He is also the first mainland Chinese entrepreneur to appear on the cover of Forbes Magazine, and is often called the “godfather of China’s scrappy entrepreneurial spirit”.

The following are some of his lessons we all can learn from:

1. On the mistake he regrets the most

In 2001, I made a mistake.

I told 18 of my fellow comrades who embarked on the entrepreneurship journey with me, that the highest positions they could go was a managerial role. To fill all our Vice President and Senior Executive positions, we would have to hire from external parties.

Years later, those I had hired were gone, but those whom I doubted became Vice Presidents or Directors.

Your attitude is more important than your capabilities. Similarly, your decision is more important than your capabilities!

2. You cannot unify everyone’s thoughts, but you can unify them with a common goal.

Don’t even trust that you are able to unify what everyone is thinking; it is impossible.

30% of all people will never believe you. Do not allow your colleagues and employees to work for you. Instead, let them work for a common goal. It is a lot easier to unite the company under a common goal rather than uniting the company around a particular person.

3. What does a leader have that an employee doesn’t?

A leader should never compare his technical skills with his employees’. Your employee should have superior technical skills than you. If he doesn’t, it means you have hired the wrong person.

Leader stands out for 3 things:

• A leader should be a visionary with more foresight than an employee.
• A leader should have higher grit and tenacity, and be able to endure what employees can’t.
• A leader should have higher endurance and ability to accept and embrace failure.

4. Don’t be involved in politics

One should always understand that money and political power can never go hand in hand.

Once you are in politics, don’t ever think about money anymore. Once you are running a business, don’t ever think of being involved in politics. When money meets political power, it is similar to a match meeting an explosive – waiting to go off.

5. The 4 main questions the young generation must ponder on

What is failure? Giving up is the greatest failure.

What is resilience? Once you have been through hardships, grievances and disappointments, only then will you understand what is resilience.

What your duties are? To be more diligent, hardworking, and ambitious than others.

Do fools only use their mouth to speak? A smart man uses his brain, and a wise man uses his heart.

6. We are born to live and experience life

I always tell myself that we are born here not to work, but to enjoy life. We are here to make things better for one another, and not to work. If you are spending your whole life working, you will certainly regret it.

No matter how successful you are in your career, you must always remember that we are here to live. If you keep yourself busy working, you will surely regret it.

7. On competing and competition

• Those that compete aggressively with one another are the foolish ones.
• If you view everyone as your enemies, everyone around you will be your enemies.
• When you are competing with one another, don’t bring hatred along. Hatred will take you down.
• Competition is similar to playing a board of chess. If you lose, we can always have another round. Both players should never fight.
• A real businessman or entrepreneur has no enemies. Once he understand this, the sky’s the limit.

8. Don’t make complaining and whining a habit

If you complain or whine once in a while, it is not a big deal.

However, if it becomes habitual, it will be similar to drinking: the more you drink, the stronger the thirst. On the path to success, you will notice that the successful ones are not whiners, nor do they complain often.

The world will not remember what you say, but it will certainly not forget what you have done.

9. Advice to entrepreneurs

• The opportunities that everyone cannot see are the real opportunities.
• Always let your employees come to work with a smile.
• Customers should be number 1, Employees number 2, and then only your Shareholders come at number 3.
• Adopt and change before any major trends or changes.
• Forget the money; Forget about earning money.
• Rather than having small smart tricks to get by, focus on holding on and persevering.
• Your attitude determines your altitude.

10. Advice on entrepreneurship

• A great opportunity is often hard to be explained clearly; things that can be explained clearly are often not the best opportunities.
• You should find someone who has complementary skills to start a company with. You shouldn’t necessarily look for someone successful. Find the right people, not the best people.
• The most unreliable thing in this world is human relationships.
• “Free” is the most expensive word.
• Today is cruel, tomorrow will be worse, but the day after tomorrow will be beautiful.

11. The 4 don’ts of entrepreneurship

• The scariest things about starting up is the inability to see, to be snobbish, to be unable to understand what is going on, as well as to be unable to keep up with pace.
• If you do not know where your competitor is, or overconfident and snobbish about your competitor, or are unable to comprehend how your competitor became a real threat, you will surely fall behind him. Don’t be the “they” in this idiom: First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
• Even if your competitor is still small in size or weak, you should take him seriously and treat him as a giant. Likewise, even if your competitor is massive in size, you shouldn’t regard yourself as a weakling.

12. On starting your own company

What starting your company means: you will lose your stable income, your right to apply for a leave of absence, and your right to get a bonus.

However, it also means your income will no longer be limited, you will use your time more effectively, and you will no longer need to beg for favours from people anymore.

If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome.

If you make different choices from your peers, your life will then be different from your peers.

14. On opportunities

If there are over 90% of the crowd saying “Yes” to approving a proposal, I will surely dispose the proposal into the bin.

The reason is simple if there are so many people who thinks that the proposal is good, surely there will be many people who would have been working on it, and the opportunity no longer belongs to us.

Source: Vulcanpost