My CEO Journey

I saw this article from Turtle Investor on Why Pay For Panadol When Generic Paracetamol Costs 73% Less? , which brought back the memories of cheapo me and my friends when we were trying to save cost during our pregnancies and after, and checked out each others' prescription from various doctors.  Disclaimer: Hey, before you read further, do not that I'm NOT a doctor, and I have no certification or knowledge of medicines/ healthcare and whatsoever. I only know how to google and read the labels.  The reason for checking one another's prescription was due to the differences in our bills. Some of us had a sky-high bill at the first gynae visit, and the one month's worth of vitamins (note: Vitamins, not medicines) cost way more than the consultation at the first visit. On the other hand, some of us, walked off the clinic with a month supply of vitamins at a mere fraction of the cost. Also, some of us had more vitamins prescribed than others. Here are some of the typical vi

I cracked the code of how to learn fast and easily. And I am going to share this with you.  For free! Recently, I was teaching my kids _(*secret*)_, and almost puking out blood, I decided, maybe the way I taught was not good. So I went online to search and found a course that answers all the problems I wanted. It promises a method that helps us learn _(*secret*)_ in a fast and easy method with their special method. There were also raving reviews. So I bought the course and watched it, totally anticipating it to solve my problem. The course was a great one. The instructor was clear, the presentation was nice. If I didn't know the topic, I would easily understand it by watching the video, so I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn this topic ( note: learn, not teach). However, there is this problem. The special method he used was exactly the same as mine. My method is as special as his. What's special was the copyrighting. Rather it is the copywriting that was special

Singapore is a food nation. As I am not working, I try to cut down on unnecessary expenses or reduce them. Food is one of them. But instead of downgrading my food, I realized I actually upgraded my food. One thing I really appreciate about not working is Food.  There is many great food in Singapore. And when I worked, I ate at hawker almost every day. If I had the time, I will travel further from office, to eat yummy food. What happens when you eat great food every day? They become not so great because it's just normal to eat it. Sometimes, due to time, I am forced to eat nearby, just to fill my stomach.  Now, with myself based at home, food becomes great again. I visit hawker and eat really great ones, not because I have to, but only when I really want to. Not able to get what I want, at the price I like, I can make it.  Like this awesome kids friendly version of Milo "tiramisu". Chocolate Tiramisu I spend way less on food now, but the quality and the yummine

I used to work in the field as an engineer. This means being at the front end of fumes, sun, climbing up and deep below and so on. I'll say the money I earned was blood sweat money, literally. Years back, I was overseas during winter at -27oC, and was climbing a tall tower. At the top of the tower, I could feel the slight swaying of the tower due to the strong winds, while shivering in the sheer cold. Up at the tower, I told myself, I will get out of engineering. Years later, I was going deep down into the ground, into a tunnel. About 40 m into the ground. My colleague, who was close to 60 years old later also went deep into another tunnel. I looked at him, and told myself, I don't want to be like him when I am that age. I changed job, in similar field, and I realize, no matter where I go, it is the same thing. Fumes, sweat, high above or down under.  Some loved it, but I wanted an escape. Armed with 5 years of income saved up, and a working husband, I quit my job in search of

 I decided to head out for lunch with my partner yesterday. And we went to a coffee shop for our chicken curry which we hadn't  have for maybe a year? It was a nice bowl of curry with noodles, chicken, beancurd skin and potatoes, as I remember. It was great tasting, and the last time I remembered it was $4 a year ago.  I was looking for my CDC voucher in my phone without being aware of the signboard, when my partner signal me to go home. And I soon realized why.... It was $6 a bowl. And for both of us, that would be $12. While I could pay with them with CDC vouchers, (thanking myself for paying taxes), I couldn't stop but ponder, did inflation went up by 50 percent over a year, or did my memory fail me. Nevertheless, I decided I wouldn't pay that amount for my meal, particularly if it is just to make myself full. Instead, my partner cooked that day. Thanks to COVID, and working from home, he is now an excellent cook. Much better than me. I aim not to get food poisoning when

Writing this to remind myself... In the past few days, there are many reports of phishing attacks which resulted in people losing huge amount of money. I looked at the news, and I could be the one... I received that sms.... And on that day when I looked at the sms, I was in a good mind state. And did not click on the link. Today, I received another phishing sms. And I wasn't in a good mind state ( I was busy with things), and I clicked on the link. It looked real, except for (see below)... It directed me to a site to key in the details (email, name, address, etc.). Then, finally ask for a payment... I stopped. I called up the company and asked why... And they told me it was a scam. Looking closely at the website given, there was a dash! How could I have missed it! I realized I'm a reactive person. When I'm busy with stuff, or so on, and some provocative emails/ sms comes, I'll react. And this worries me...  To protect my money, I remind myself these: - stop, think, thin

Happy New Year! The start of the year is when everyone work in vigour towards their goals? What are your goals for the year? In my previous posts, I reviewed my performance in the 6 sectors: career, finance, health, family, personal development and side hustle in 2021. I also read  my goal back in early 2021 , which still resonate with me. In particular this --- when I am 40, I don't want to ask for permission to take leave. It's not I want no work, but rather I want to have the autonomy to do what I want at a time that works best for me. This philosophy guides my goals for 2022.  In this year's goals, I've set it to be action based, and hence controllable, rather than result based ( which aren't within my control). Health : - run 1.6 km for 100 times ( or 160 km in all in 2022). - eat 200 low carb lunches/ dinners - complete all 6 tiers of National Step Challenge Family : - 30 bonding activities - home improvement project (since I am home so much more often!) Finan

This is the last part of my year in review for 2021. This post is on side hustles. I tried online teaching and used the Udemy platform. I uploaded my first online course ever. I got sales, but also learn that instructors get probably $2 or so per course sale on Udemy. Total amount earned in 2021 - $5 ( for 2 sales). I did consultancy as a sub- contractor for a friend who clinched a deal. And, I earned a low 4 digit for a few hours of work. And learn that getting work done is the easy part. Getting the business is the hardest, and perhaps the more valuable part.  I then understand why Udemy pays me $2 per course sale. They did the hard work of getting me sales. I did the easy thing. I realized marketing and sales are very important processes and that's why they are worth the money. They bring in the money. The easy part is actually to do the job/ produce something, which if not location dependent is easy to outsource cheaply. Overall, 2021 was a good year in terms of side hustle. No