Story of a Singaporean's life

Author: Chen

  • Part Time Gems And Diamond Salesman

    I have been working as a part time gems and diamond showroom salesman for around 3 to 4 months now. As i become more accustomed to the vast variety of stones, i become better at selling them. I try to practise active listening, while at the same time subliminal persuasion in order to increase my sales. Of course, you cannot sell meat to a vegetarian and i am still learning how to sweet talk the bird out of the sky.

    Some basic information about my part time job as a gems and diamond salesman:

    1. $9 per hour basic salary
    2. A percentage of all sales amount, with incremental percentage as sales volume increase

    This job is definitely fulfilling as i get to learn more about the different gems and jewelleries. I also enjoy talking to various customers from all over the world though i do wish to make an impact by using the shortest possible time to influence a customer and that is something i have to learn more. However, i sense the prospect of this job is limited as i am limited by my maximum 4 hours per day service. I did consider going up to the boss and suggesting viable avenues to increase traffic and in turn increase sales but decided against it. There are so much things to learn about gems and diamonds and i think by the time i get out of university, i basically will have a vast repository of knowledge about everything at my disposal. With that said, let me introduce some stones for you according to the birth month.

    January: Garnet

    February: Amethyst

    March: Aquamarine

    April: Diamond

    May: Emerald

    June: Pearl, Alexandrite & Moonstone

    July: Ruby

    August: Peridot

    September: Sapphire

    October: Tourmaline & Opal

    November: Topaz

    December: Lapiz Lazuli & Turquoise

    Of all these stones, the 4 most precious stones are Emerald, Diamond, Ruby and Sapphire. I have only sold ruby earrings and diamond earrings before but not emerald and sapphire yet. I am waiting for the day where i have sold all 4 stones, something to tell myself i am no longer just a salesman who want to sell, without knowing what is it i am selling. Next time, i might update the blog with what kind of stones to get for wealth, career, love, friends, family and more. For now, this post is more about my job and the experience that i am getting.

  • University Semester 1 Results Out

    Today, i got back my examination results back from the university. Basically, i got 1 A, 3 B+, and 1 B-. I scored a B- for microeconomics and to be frank, i expected myself to do better, much better for that module, maybe a B or B+. All in all, my cumulative GPA is currently standing at 4.0, just squeezing tightly into the Second Upper Class honors range. With my results out, i plan to revise what i have done wrong this semester and prevent the same thing from happening in the second semester.

    My Resolution:

    1. Around 6 weeks of my time were spent on solving personal problems that would have been put to greater use if i have been more focused
    2. Always do my tutorials and commit myself to the highest possible quality for each and every assignment
    3. Try to take a more active role in class and participate actively in discussions
    4. Always seek to clear any doubts instantly should i encounter any
    5. Allocate my time more efficiently and reduce my entertainment time to a minimum

    With that said, this is my study resolution for my education in university. Curricular activities are not included as that is something i will be delving into once i settle all my personal issues and more free time is available (currently doing 3 part-time jobs). Hopefully, i will be able to perform better in the next semester than i did this semester. I am slightly disappointed at my results, especially the B- that i received. Hopefully, next semester will be a much better one.

  • Surveying As A Job

    Recently, i have started a new part-time job with a research company in Singapore. This job requires me to be extremely independent and vocal as i have to approach random strangers and ask them to spend 20 to 30 minutes of their time with me to do a survey. Currently, we are doing a survey for a local university which investigates racial harmony among the different social groups in Singapore.

    As expected, this job is one of the toughest i have ever done. The amount of commitment you have to put in and the rejection you faced is something that will put off a weak-minded individual. This job does not pay me a basic salary though the incentives provided by completing one survey is quite attractive, in the $10+ region. However, the rejection is one that can get to you after a while. I went through some HDB flats today and managed to complete 6 surveys in around 3 hours. It was an incredibly mundane but interesting experience, the irony of this job.

    I am constantly looking out for new opportunities due to my circumstances now. To be honest, sometimes, i just feel so tired but coming back home and realizing i have to work hard, i just keep on striving and striving and hopefully, one day will be able to reach the top of whatever industry i am going to venture into in the future.

  • My Best Present

    This year, i received one of the most memorable and useful present from the most special person in my life right now. She has always been with me, through thick and thin. There are times where we severely disagree with each other, which usually ends in me taking a step back and letting her “win” the whole tug-o-war. She has put me through times of happiness, unhappiness, excitement. Simply put, being with her is like a roller coaster ride in one of the most crazy theme parks ever built or conceived by mankind.

    Yet, this is the same girl that has propelled me through incredible growth, where i cry, i laugh, seek for advice like a helpless boy crying for his mother, ponder over certain things, and simply come to terms with myself and who i am. She has made me stronger. By being with her, i learnt patience, money management, temper control, 3 of my biggest flaws. Of course, like life itself which is constantly changing, i am constantly building up these 3 characteristics of mine.

    This Christmas as i reflect on my life and looked back on my years, even though it was not the way i wanted it to turn up, i am grateful for all the events that lead up to today. She has made me a better person. I am definitely better because of her but i do not dare to foresee the road ahead of me. If we are both going towards the same goal, i believe a life of highest fulfillment will reach us. For now, i am just going to do the best i can in whatever i can, my job, my studies and my family. I haven’t spoke to my grandmother in 2 weeks, maybe its time to call her and tell her how much i love her. In case you are wondering, no, my grandmother is not the girl. As for who the girl is, someday, sometime, you will know when i am rich and famous.

  • Filial Piety

    Today, i am going to talk about the concept of filial piety. Before i was mature enough, i always blamed my mother for nagging at me, not showing me enough concern, causing me embarrassment, but after going through each and every event in my life, i understood that she was the one who was always by my side, supporting me, helping me. I feel very ashamed that i am still not independent enough that she has to keep working at the age of 55. Throughout her life, she has been guiding me subtly and helping me in whatever ways she can, yet i being the immature fool could not comprehend the various things she has done for me and continuously blamed her for every stupid choices that i made myself.

    Slowly, i am understanding the folly of my 20 years of combined brashness and insensitivity. I am determined to make sure that she feel the love her children has for her. Sometimes, when i see her working 10 to 13 hours a day, i cannot help but feel a tinge of sadness. If i was a bit more sensible a bit earlier, i could never have spent the way i did, wasted my time the way i did and continuously strives to give her a much better life than all she has experienced. She has always been the silent warrior supporting her 3 children by herself since my dad passed away. She might not know it, but my life is so much better because she was my mother. My life experiences has humbled me, and in the process, open me up to what is the most important thing in my life, my family. As we safely tide over “the end of the world”, perhaps its a good chance to ask yourself what do you hold dear to yourself?

    Thank you my mother, for you made me who i am today. Even though i might not be much now, but someday, you will enjoy one of the best life that is humanly possible. Until then, i will keep on walking and striving towards that goal.

  • The Importance Of Saving

    Today, i am going to talk about the importance of saving. For some people, the concept of saving is not too new, for others, it can be something entirely alien to you, just like how i was before i really understand what was saving at my current age of 22. Some would say i am a little late, but i am glad now that i have started saving and stop spending.

    Before i got into the notion of savings, i was spending like crazy. All my savings over the years turned into naught. I used to think i was trading meaningful and deep life experiences for money, but i could not be more wrong. Many times, i simply splurge because i felt like it. All my expenses combined accounted for loss of $30,000 – $40,000 worth of good savings. This amount includes anything that is not a necessary expense like transportation, food, water and air.

    However, my circumstances have changed. I was forced to grow up faster than anyone in the shortest possible time of a few months. My priorities shifted, my reality struck me, my finances were in a mess and my life was in a mess. I went through my spendings, and took on several healthy habits that i would advise anyone to adhere by:

    1. I am now saving 50% of all my income, regardless of where they come from (i have big plans for these savings when i graduate)
    2. Making good progress on eliminating TAXIS as a transport option (taxis, for a period cost me hundreds per month, the stupidity of youth)
    3. Saving heavily on transportation costs
    4. Food expenses are also reduced after discovering that cooking might not be the cheapest form of spending on food
    5. Entertainment expenses are significantly reduced, heck i haven’t drank a beer in 2 to 3 months
    6. Book costs are reduced from making an extra trip down to the library
    7. Using credit in a controlled and sensible manner

    Some of my habits are pretty crazy. I doubt anyone with strong commitments would be able to save 50% of their income and i might reduce that amount as time goes by but for now, it is sticking. Also, i would recommend anyone who is financially sensible to get insurance. As i begin to get older, i start to believe in insurance more and more, and i believe anyone sensible enough should feel the same as me. What about you? Have you realized the importance of saving?

     

  • Dreams

    Dreams… Every living human being has a dream they want to reach. For some, becoming rich is the dream whereas for others, to be able to help people is the dream. For me, i have always changed my dreams as i progress through my life…

    When i was young, i thought about becoming an explorer, like a real life Indiana Jones going around, exploring ruins and caves, digging treasures until my family persuaded me that much of the known world has already been explored. After that, i changed my dream. I wanted to go to Japan and live there to experience their culture, that was my dream when i was around 14. At that age, i was already fascinated by the Japanese culture. When i was 16, i thought about becoming a businessman and striking it rich. I tried and successfully for a short while, earned some significant income doing some online business. Finally, after i served in the army, with my cumulated knowledge from my years of education, interaction, thoughts, settled on creating a fund as my dream, meaning i will become a fund manager.

    However, this is an incredibly tough road that tons of other smart people from many other different countries will be competing with me. We will be required to slit each other’s throat, well not literally. There is a known fact being told around, a dollar in your pocket is a dollar lost from another’s pocket. As of right now, i am gaining momentum towards my dreams. The obstacles are abound, and you would be so surprised if i listed it down but i believe that step by step, day by day, i will simply do the best i can each day to move towards my goal.

    There are a few reason why i wanted to become a fund manager. Financial independence is one. Other reasons include that being a fund manager, i can do what i like: managing capital and making it grow. As i continue towards my dreams with student loans, debts and increasing competition from around the world, poverty and stress, the only way you can go once you reached the bottom is up… or simply just burn up and perish. Haha.

    I will go towards my dreams right now. Too often have i given up on something because it is tough or i simply lost interest and only came to regret it later. I have tons of real life experiences that i will be sharing here that i hope would benefit people who are much younger than me or even older. I believe in my dreams and will keep on moving forward no matter what people say. What about you? How old are you right now? Are you striving towards your dreams now?