Books of My Choice!

GUT by Karen Salmonsohn

How to think from your middle to get to the top!

From my first impression of this book, I took it because of its price (Book Fest), second because of its short and simple writings and third because of the word "GUT". How do you define GUT?

"A gut feeling/reaction is one which is deeply felt but cannot completely be explained and is not necessarily decided by reasoning." Cambridge Dictionary

I bought about 10 books from the Book Fest in KLCC and this was the second book that I read because of the simplicity. The first one was the comic version of Tun Dr Mahathir that I recommended earlier.

To my surprise, the writer is a lady and she is a famous motivator. I seldom came accross famous female motivator and her writings is really fabulous! She has successfully expressed the inner voice of mine or maybe the voice of all women! I was so doubtful and thought this GUT and intuition in me was just not right. It is just unexplainable but she explained and expressed it well in this book! It was all in me all the while! We all have it, deep inside us if we know how to apply on it!

In the tradisional belief, it's called "LUCK" where people symbolise it with items. For example, they will use a coin to determine something to make a decission.

On the other hand, in the comtemporary belief, it's called "Law of Attraction". What you think will attract to you.

If you have this thinking of doubtful towards the process of understanding yourself better. This book has the answer to your questions and doubts!

And guess what, this book inpires me to write more books!! I'm all ready!!

Mahathir Mohamad - an illustrated biography by E.Yu

For 22 years since 1981 till June 22, 2002, he devoted his life to Malaysia. He had done more than we know by transforming Malaysia from an agricultural to an industrialised country; creating K-economy for national development, modernising Malaysia from our national car, Penang bridge, KLCC, KLIA, Sepang Formula 1 Racing Circuit, Cyberjaya, MSC to Putrajaya. He is none other than our very own Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the leader who deserves more than just respect and recognition as a former Prime Minister. He is the only politician which I admire and love very much even until today. No one is to replaced his contribution, dedicated and effort towards Malaysia.

Among some of the interesting life story of him includes:

"His first ambition was to become a clerk in a goverment office."

"After all the sour and pains during the Japanese Occupation, he decided to enter politics and do whatever he could to help his people and country."

"He realised that to be able to help his people, he must first be an important man of high standing in society. Two professions that could enable him to have his status were in law and medicine." And the story continues....

Rich Dad's Escape from the Rat Race by my Mentor Robert T.Kiyosaki

Highly recommended to all especially those who were not into reading. This was the first SELF-HELP book that I read from page 1 to the end! I have heard about Robert Kiyosaki for so long since 2003 when I involved in an MLM business. I "knew" about the cash flow (as I claimed) model stated in his book. However, I did not understand and apply the model whole heartedly. I have Robert Kiyosaki's Rich Dad's Poor Dad's book but it was read only on the first few pages. My excuse was no time to read or no mood to read. I hardly complete a book!

What really changed me was this book. Why? Because it is a comic version! This book is actually meant for kids and I am a "kid"! A "kid" with an adult appearance, I suppose! Hahaha.

My hubby knew that I was not into reading. He had tried many ways to encourage me to read! He tried for few years but failed to "force" me. We were into MLM business and we suppose to enhance ourselves with lots of knowledge. I only read quotes at that moment. I would never read a book full of words! They were just too bored! I love illustrations!

On Valentine's Day in 2005, he bought me this book. I didn't expect it was a HUGE IMPACT on me! I read this book and I fell in love with Robert Kiyosaki's model. I even managed to finished this book within one day (Of course, because it is a comic version!) The POWER of this book, I continued reading and my first OFFICIAL Self-Help book was Robert Kiyosaki's Rich Dad's Poor Dad's. This is followed by other books by Robert Kiyosaki. I had about 7 books of his! I have just received two more from my birthday and that gave me a total of 9 Robert Kiyosaki's books! That is why he is my MENTOR!

From this book, you will understand:

The concept of FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE :

"Most people think by getting a job they will suddenly become RICH" (especially fresh graduates)

As EMPLOYEES..

"They blame their boss for not paying them enough and go looking for a better job."

"They just accept a paycheck and wait for a raise, thinking that more money will solve the problem."

Definition of EMPLOYEE as described by Ernie Chen - "Walking slowly to the grave."

Don't miss out this GREAT book! This is how I started. How about you?

My "Journey To Success"

"How to start a business from a zero to a million in 3 years?" is a FREE program organized by Millionaire Business School. Ernie Chen has chosen 15 candidates with HIGH COMPETENCY, HIGH CHARACTER and HIGH COMMITMENT. Guess what? I am one of them! I was so SURPRISE and happy when Yati, Ernie's PA called me and informed me that I am one of the candidates. My response on that time of course : Yahoo!! Hurray!! Yeah!!

My story on how I met Ernie..
Ernie is my mentor! From the first time I saw him on stage at my previous working college I knew he was the ONE I was looking for! The one who can teach me to be a TOP MOTIVATOR just like him! The one who can help me to be someone successful!! I did some research on him before he came to my college for a free talk. I saw his video clips, I read his background and success story, I analysed his methodology and I could see how flexible he can be! He could capture the heart of everyone as a motivator from primary students to corporate adults, not just few but even thousands of them!! I just want to be like him!! You may log in to the following website for further info: http://www.ernie-chen.com/

I was very impressed! My plan was to propose my business plan to him on that day (24 Feb 2010). I prepared my own publishing book "Dearest Parents" to him. However, it did not go as I planned. Do you know that I was the first person to response to them among so many colleges that they approach for free talk? I just couldn't understand why people say "NO" to opportunity! Moreover, when the opportunity comes to them! At that time, I thought it is great to have someone so successful like Ernie to share his success story to students lively!! And yes he did!! Ernie has successfully conducted a talk on "The Power of Rejection" to my students even without any slides or tools! Everything was shared just like that and it was MARVELLOUS!! My students and I were so EXCITED!! He gave a HUGE IMPACT and HOPE on us!!

When he came down from the stage, the first question I asked him was "How did you do that?" "How did you do it so well even without any slides and tools?"... For me, I need to refer to slides to conduct my MOTIVATIONAL TALKS to students. Then, I passed him my "Dearest Parents" book hoping him to read and give me his honest feedback. I always pass my books to people with high profile for them to give me their honest feedback for me to improve! He then asked me if I ever think to write my own biography. I paused and I answered maybe in the future and that's how we met...

It did not stop there..

It was the 15th of Chinese New Year dated 28 Feb 2010. It was really a day of DARKNESS!! I was really really down!! Something happened and I felt like dying!! I really wanted to just leave the world like that!! But suddenly I remembered the reason I SURVIVE! My children!! They are the reason I survive and they are the reason I was still here! I made up my mind, my CLEAR mind to become someone very very successful with financial freedom and time freedom!! I want to be the ROLE MODEL of the most important people in the world, my beloved children, Ee Ee and Er Er!! I chose to be STRONGER and SUCCESSFUL!! I know NOTHING can stop me from getting what I want!! That's what I mean.. Failures is part of me life and has played HUGE IMPACT to make me to become WHO I AM today!! Every fall in my life is definitely the TURNING POINT and NEW BEGINNING of my lives!! It is the RISE of the DAWN or even DEATH!!

At that moment, all I thought was to get an opportunity! An opportunity that will help me to realize my dream! My dream to operate my own training centre and become someone successful! And the person that I could think of is ERNIE CHEN!! So, I turned on my computer and wrote a very long e-mail to Ernie! I spent almost 10 hours to write the e-mail and the content comprises my background, my experiences and all my failures on trying to build my own businesses (will share on blog next time) . The mail was sent in the midnight on the following day, 1st March 2010 and I still kept the copy with me. Everytime when I am stuck or down, I'll go back to my mail and read it back as a reminder and motivation for myself! I sent the mail without having high expectation on it! I was thinking, who am I for him to entertain an ordinary people like me! I really didn't hope much!

Miracle happened...

On 2nd March 2010, I received a reply from.. guess who?? It's a reply from Ernie Chen!! I was so happy and excited too!! No one knew how I felt at that time! I was in my office and I cheered and said Yes!! Yes!! Luckily I have a room of my own! Receiving his reply was a blessing for me!! He replied my mail, do you believe it? I could't believe it! In his mail, he asked me to wait for his PA Yati to call and not long later, I received a call from her and we fixed an appointment. Yati told me that she saw my mail and I said "OMG, I felt so embarrass because it is so long". Both of us ended up laughing. The appointment is fixed on 5th March 2010 (Friday) at 6:00 pm.

5th March 2010 (Friday)

I told myself that "This is the GOLDEN CHANCE of the lifetime! I already achieved 50% because Ernie is willing to see me! The other 50% is really depends on me!" I ultilized my two days well. I even took half day to complete my Business Proposal on time. Actually I already had in mind what I want to do, just that I didn't really do it in a proper way or put it into writings. Everything was in my mind! I spent my days burning the midlight preparing to meet him! I do not want to waste my time and his precious time either! I even prepared a slide to propose my proposal!

That day arrived, I was really nervous and excited!! I had finally completed my proposal and I rushed to the nearby bookshop to complete the final touch. I left my home in Klang at about 5 pm. It was my FIRST time driving to Damansara. I got the location map from Yati and I had checked with my sister to confirm the location. I was READY! However, thing was not smooth as I planned. I was LOST not just one time but few times before I reached my destination! It was 6 pm but I was not arrived yet! I sent a SMS to Ernie telling him that I might be late. Hey, I was really nervous and panic because I really wanted to leave a GOOD IMPRESSION to him. I wanted to show my PUNCTUALITY and sincerity to him. I was very dissappointed to myself. I am really LOCATION BLIND!! Finally, I had no choice but to call the HQ and looked for Dessy, I only knew her at the moment. She gave me the direction and I was still LOST. It was almost 6:30pm, I calmed myself down and told myself that I must arrive not matter what! And somehow, somewhere.. I did! I arrived only after 6:30pm! In my mind, I thought my chances is low because I didn't keep my promise well! It was a BAD IMPRESSION! However, I told myself to do THE BEST!!

Meeting Ernie..

I was not really in a mood and I didn't realize how did the company look like! All I concerned at that time is to CONVINCE Ernie!! I was brought to see Ernie by Dessy. The company is called Outloud, a sub-company owned by ATCEN. Ernie is the GROUP CEO of it. I apoplogized to Ernie because I was late, half hour late! Gosh! I hate to say that because I am someone who is concern about punctuality! I value people's time very much moreover successful people's time! He said it's okay with a smile and he asked me not to repeat it. Of course I said okay and I felt so much relief seeing him smiling. (Hey, he's not as "Scary" as I think most of the successful people will. He's quite friendly, I think to myself). I had another 30 minutes to propose what I want because he has some appointments after that. I passed a copy of my proposal to him and I began to share my ideas through the slides. I tried to keep is as simple as it can since I only had limited time! He stopped me in the middle of the presentation and gave me some comments on my proposal. He continued to ask me questions and clarified with me on the statements that I made in the long e-mail that I wrote to him. I asked him why he was willing to see me and he said because in my e-mail I mentioned that I'm going to CONQUER Klang as he wanted to operate a business in Klang for quite some time and the second reason was I am someone who are not afraid of FAILURES! These are the reasons that he said on why he chose me! I was quite PROUD of myself!

He continued by asking me to do few things before the next meeting:

1. Find a STRATEGIC LOCATION with the following criterias:

- near busy area, schools

- 1st floor

- existing renovation (carpeted and partitions)

- open space

- convenience

- safe

- food store

2. Rent out my own premise

- It is not suitable for time being

- It takes between 3 - 5 years for a new area to develop

- Ensure the rental is higher than installment to achieve passive income

3. Do not attend Master course

- Stay FOCUS in business

- Postpone it

He told me not to meet him until I've done all these three requirements.

(To be continued..)