Forward yearning

"The person who gets the farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore."

–Dale Carnegie

"Most successful men have not achieved their distinction by having some new talent or opportunity presented to them. They have developed the opportunity that was at hand."

–– Bruce Barton

“There are three ingredients in the good life: learning, earning and yearning.”
- Christopher Morley

"What you do off the job is determining factor In how far you will go on the job."
- Zig Ziglar

As i embark on my latest business venture, i cant help but look back at my life and how this has come about. In the last 2 years or so i personally feel i've matured a lot more than i have in the last 10 years or more. My take on life, especially work and the financial aspect of living differs a lot from 2 years ago. I used to dabble in a whole lot of things, every now and then drifting in and out of the advertising industry, owning a mobile phone stall, selling print solutions, and spending a year traveling with the Porsche Carrrera Cup Asia, always without a proper direction in life. It is quite amazing sometimes, if you take the time to sit down, light up and just ponder on the way things have turned out. Working beyond the stipulated hours, sacrificing quality time with the missus for work, giving up most weekends, canceling on friends at the very last minute when a client calls, driving from north to south of the peninsula in a day, paying ridiculous amounts of insurance premiums, are all part of the routine for me. 2 years ago i would've easily opted for coffee with friends than to drive 30mins to show a small sticker sample to a client. How things have changed.

The change in perception & attitude towards life could be due to a few things. I'd say 1 would be suddenly realizing that i am of age. 2 Opening my eyes and noticing everyone around me at my age are now rolling in sweet rides. 3 The lifestyles of my friends have changed, and i cant afford to join them anymore! Guess all 3 are inter-related. Shell shock!!

It was then that i guess i wanted more than what i had, and wanted more than what the average person has! Material wealth wise i mean and not the pot belly or 3 kids... a swift 180-degree turn, and today after a little more over 2-years i'm proud of where i am (*pats my own back). Besides the self-built drive and change in work attitude, some of it probably has to do with my close knit circle of friends. The quotes above best describe our group of friends. My friends are willing to dabble in any investment opportunity, are on a continuous learning path, yearn for greater wealth, seize any opportunity presented, and even on our Sunday coffee meet ups, talk about wealth creation. They are all successful in their respective fields, ranging from banking to tyreshops to a paper merchant. What keeps this circle of friends together really is the common understanding; "its no fun if you make it on your own, and your friends cant afford to play together with you", "make money, lets all make money together." That's why we're all in business together, and this new venture marks business #3 that we're all apart of.

As we move forward, new friends are made and networks grow from our relationships with new business partners. Opening doors for other friends to venture into various industries and more opportunities being presented.
Its been a fantastic journey and like most things in life..."its not the destination, but the journey." And i hope this trip is a smooth and long one...

enough ramblings about me. Have a fab-tastic weekend everyone!

"It Has Been Done..."

Stereotyping

How often have you jeered "Ah-beng" at a passing low, loud, blinking Proton or at a blonde-haired dude with bright coloured tight pants talking loudly on his mobile? i bet we're all guilty. Best bit is, up until recently (and soon again in the near future!!) i used to drive around in a low, loud Proton with trance music blaring from the stereo... i resent being called an ah-beng. Who gave us the right to judge someone anyway?. Its wise to look at things from many different perspectives i say. A recent article on "Ah-bengs" in The Star newspaper highlighted points i used to preach awhile back to my narrow minded stereotyping friends. Sadly, It's not just the chinese "ah-beng" that is plagued with this negative perception, but sometimes even an entire race is stereotyped as "lazy" or "drunks". We're all victims of ignorance.

Here's some info i gathered from the article i feel all of us need to digest, and the next time you meet or see someone who's different from you, don't judge or jump to conclusions. According to Prof.Datuk Shamsul Amri Baharuddin, Director of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Institute of Ethnic studies; "Stereotypes stem from a negative perception. From an anthropological standpoint, it is simply that in trying to define ourselves, we also reject the other."

"Stereotypes develop over time as a result of ignorance or half-knowledge about the other. What makes it worse is when it is repeated many times by many groups of individuals. What is myth, perception or illusion becomes reality."

"One doesn't know what the other's lifestyle is like, and perceived it as unusual or deviant. People only choose to see what they want to see. This is the danger of 'half-knowledge'. They don't bother to find out what the reality is."

So, as we've mentioned throughout this post.. lets not judge a book by its cover. Practice Mutual Respect.

Remember

Tie-dye t-shirts, Hypercolour t's, "Jem & The Holograms", "V" , Atari, Micro Genius, Powell Peralta, H-Street, Tony Hawk, LA Gear, Ocean Pacific, Vanilla Ice, SNOW, Paperboy, not forgeting 2Legit 2 Quit ... ring a bell?

This blog post came about after i stumbled upon some funktastic songs on you tube... Listening to songs from back in the day (especially local hits) actually puts a smile on my face and i'm engulfed in an unexplainable sense of joy, thinking of all the good times shared with friends. On the other hand, it also makes me realize how old i am, URGH!. Speaking of age, i feel that our generation (my age group) are one of the most fortunate. We were blessed to be of age, being able to absorb all the experiences growing up in an era where major changes took place in the world. We experienced life before internet (yes, to you young ones, there was LIFE before internet!!) and the dot com boom. A time where hordes of Skateboarders gathered in Damansara Jaya and the infamous IBM in TTDI, idolizing Tony Hawk and oogling over the latest Airwalk 540 and Vision Street Wear. We grew up without mobile phones. Then learnt to use phones from the very first giant Ericssons & ATURS, to the birth of first hand held Motorola flip phone - the MICROTAC, and then Ericsson 237 phones, to polyphonic sounds, slimmer phones with batteries that lasted longer than an hour, then to colored screens and now phones with WiFi and 3G... We lived through an era of safe neighborhoods where we could roam the streets at night without a care and snatch thefts were unheard of... i could go on and on, but i think i'll save it for a dedicated 'growing up' post when i find the time.

In the mean time, here are a few songs from some of my fave local artiste from the time before CD's. To those of you "blessed" souls, reminisce. To those who've never heard of these songs before, i hope you enjoy them as much i do. I heard from Point Blanc that NICO is still around in Kampung Baru, but i wonder whats happened to all of them? To those who know, do share.

4U2C - Fiona


NICO - Inilah Nasibku

FEMININ - Untukmu

NICO - Untukmu Sayang


ELITE - G.I.G.


INDIGO - Istimewa


NICO - Kaulah Gadisku

Driven

For reasons unbeknown to me, the year of the Bull spurred an unstoppable desire for business growth. Driven by an unknown force to seek not only material wealth but to charge head on into challenges and obstacles, then bask in the glory of success! From winning pitches, successfully executing events, to forging new ventures, i'm engulfed with motivation and energy. A drastic difference from this time last year, where i spent most of my time trying to avoid excessive workload. I suspect that my 30th birthday looming ahead could be a sub-conscious reason for my sudden drive, maybe, i don't know really. Or it could be my high spending habits requiring extra maintenance. More likely its purely "a body in motion tends to stay in motion, a body at rest tends to stay at rest". I pray my business partners & staff share the same sentiments, for it will lead to some major conflicts if they become complacent or are not on the same upward spiralling wavelength. I've yet to take some time or more correctly, i haven't had the time to relax and fully comprehend what the driving force is and what it is that i'm actually getting myself involved in. Growing and expanding at too quick a rate can lead to drastic consequences. I feel i need to take a step back and absorb this before its too late...

Some random updates on Three Sixty's new abode taking shape.

Dual gates and wall being erectedAdding a dash of colourIts gonna be a bright colourful facade.
hacking and smashing!

Brick partition

Malaysian Hip-Hop

I've always been a supporter of the local hip-hop scene. Together with my homeboy Azree Izuan, we used to rock the stage at I.U Nites and Installations towards the end of our high school life and early college years. Now, in a position of influence and resource, i try as much as possible to spur the growth of the Malaysian hip-hop scene by incorporating hip-hip elements into our events. Most recently THREE SIXTY had local hip-hop hero Point Blanc perform during two shows for one of our clients. F.A.M.E in Penang & HOUZ in Ipoh played host to events which saw enthusiastic responses from the crowd when Point hit the stage and belted out his hit song "Ipohmali". Especially the home town crowd. FYI, "Ipohmali" was rated as the top local-English song to hit the airwaves and almost everyone has heard it at least once before. Point made the performance a little more interesting by showing off some of his beat-boxing skills accompanied by back-up singer (and point's GF) Ms.Mandy. With such showmanship, professionalism and crowd response, it looks like we'll be working with Point a whole lot more from now on... We're also looking at bigger hip-hop events in the near future.

The 2 plus hour drive home provided some good conversations with Point, giving me a good insight into the local music scene and a greater understanding of his passion for hip-hop. Plus it helps that we're both born in the same year (yes! we're old!!) so we could relate and reminisce about 80's cartoons (JEM & The Holograms!), skateboarding, and a time before Internet & super consoles...those were the glory days. PASSION is what drives greatness, and anything done outta passion provides much greater rewards, rewards that are more satisfying than material wealth. I personally enjoy working with people who are out there doing what they do simply because they love what they're doing. Screw what other people think, they go to bed with a satisfied smile and wake up with a spring in their step, looking forward to going to work... just loving it. I envy them. Having said that, we're looking into more ways to work with Point and his affiliates to try and give Malaysian Hip-Hop its well deserved dues. Watch this space. Support your local artistes.

Spare us your ears for a moment.

Ipohmali


One-Day by Point Blanc Feat. JIN.

Life Worth Living

You only LIVE LIFE ONCE. When was the last time you took a risk?

If you have dreams and a passion for something, you best execute it when you're young or before other lives depend on your handouts. There's always two sides of a story, but here's how i view it. If you're going to venture into business then you, like all successful people know that success, like everything else in this world only belongs to the brave. If you're going to venture into a business or start something that you have a passion for, i truly believe you best do it before your commitments and comfort compel you not to (i.e. kids, mortgage, wife, etc). Its best at times to execute your own venture early in your life, before you become too comfortable chasing your pay cheque every month. Which sadly, is what most people do. Most people i speak to don't exactly enjoy what they do, and speak of interesting ideas which could be profitable but fail to act simply because they yearn for that pay cheque at the end of the month, and the ensuing potential bonus. FEAR is what stops good ideas from becoming great - FEAR of stepping out of your comfort zone. Our lives have been shaped by the "old-school" line of thought, by our parents & teachers - go to school, get a good degree, land a job in a big firm, find a nice girlfriend/boyfriend/partner, get a mortgage, settle down, etc etc. I'm blessed in a sense to have parents who's only wish was to see their children happy. A vast majority are complacent with this arrangement but if you want to live life, to feel what it's like to accomplish something that's all yours, to taste freedom, to have that "zing" in your life, then take that risk and walk the road less traveled. Truth be told, running a business opens a tough and cruel world, and it isn't for everyone. The thoughts and advice penned here today are purely my personal take on working life.

"People have a fear of failure, and while this is perfectly reasonable, its also very odd. Because it seems to me that it's through making mistakes that we learn how to do things. Watch a musician practice, watch a baby figure out how to walk, listen to a toddler speak. Skills like walking, talking and making music emerge gradually, steadily from a blizzard of mistakes."
- Sir Richard Branson

Starting early in life has its pros and cons, i stopped looking at the cons awhile ago because i'm engulfed with the pros. What i lack in experience and networking, i make up for with creativity, go-getter attitude, passion and enthusiasm. Before starting a family, i have nothing to lose other than time and maybe a car or two. Which really is NOTHING cause it does not directly affect the stomachs of other lives. I can honestly say that if i had joined the corporate world, started a family and mortgage, collect a pay cheque every moth, i wouldn't have the guts to step out on my own. sad really. Cause i currently reap the rewards of running my own business - i may not (yet!) be personally earning a million bucks, but for the hours i put in, i'd say i'm earning above average and the number of friends i've made, experiences learned, the fun i have during work, camaraderie forged, coupled with the amount of personal time i have is well justification for running my own business.
You must be prepared to jump off a building without a parachute if you choose the path i took. Cause every business isn't without risk, and not every venture is a success. In business you must be prepared to fall flat into the ground, and mistakes do happen. I don't call it mistakes anymore, i call it LEARNING. And by god, i've learnt a whole damn lot!! You just pick yourself up, dust off the dirt and grime, and start again.

"If you want to be an entrepreneur and you don't make a few errors along the way, you certainly aren't going to learn anything or achieve very much."
- Sir Richard Branson.

In the past 5-years i've gone into debt from a failed venture that took me a year to repay, i've gone without the ability to pay my car and credit card installments, and i've had one credit card canceled on me. But putting yourself in a situation that's out of your comfort zone, drives your mind into overtime and amazing things can be achieved when the situation necessitates it (with a little luck!). A small risk worth taking, whats there to lose? And when one door closes, another opens. My latest venture is a product that materialized from the previous failed business - and i'm proud to say that in under 6-months we achieved outstanding profit figures and doubled our staff count, and in 12-months or so we're expanding to a bigger premise. By the 18-month mark, we would've again expanded our team's size. During this economic downturn, we're embarking on an expansion plan and launching an aggressive marketing campaign. Screw the pessimists! The way i see it, IF this venture fails (by god i won't let it!), i can still pick myself up and try again or go back into the corporate world cause it's stil not too late, and have some wonderful experiences and memories to take with me to my golden age.

Wondering why this post? well, a friend of mine has just out-of-the-blue resigned from his very very comfortable job in one of the world's most profitable MNC's (they don't flinch even during the economic downturn!) to pursue a dream. Sacrificing his secure pay cheque, annual bonus and a myriad of benefits (incl. a neat company car) to venture out on his own. And we're backing him with everything we can to help him see his dream come through... To me, anyone willing to step out of their comfort zone and take a risk is already a success in his own right, be it if he makes big bucks or not. As the quote below holds true:-

"nothing happens unless first a dream"
- carl sandburg

Irregardless of what you do in life or how you choose to live it, always remember, "Life is not the amount of breaths you take, it's the moments that take your breath away." (Hitch).

Valentine's Day

I truly believe the Valentine's day was created by some sod named "Robert Valentine" or something along those lines...an executive who worked in HALLMARK many years ago, who now has been given a large stake in the company for creating a day that should be aptly called "pay 3 times more for the same shit...just because". Unfortunately, my other half's a romantic, so i'm slowly attempting (i'm delaying it for as long as i can) to plan and surprise her with a typically (boring in other words) V-Day... complete with Flowers, card, candle lit dinner, gifts, yadda yadda... We'll get there eventually baby!

Here's how we spent VDAY over the last couple of years, which to me was PERFECT!

2008 V-Day: Seaside seafood dinner under the stars!
2009 V-Day: Munchhaus with Vince & Pres.

Not too long ago, i received an email from my girlfriend, asking me to complete "The Great Couple Meme" and a link to a site... i opened the mail, and then closed it again, and calmly forgot about it. (Baby, please forgive me if i get some of the responses wrong, we'll sort it out in the bedroom)

Tell us about the first time you met and your first impression of him/her.
During an event... HOT CHIC!!scchhhhwwwweeeeeeeet! That was the initial impression.. then discovered she's a great person to talk to as we spent countless hours...just talking.

What’s a weird habit or quirk that s/he has?
Constantly checking herself out, wondering if there's something wrong with herself. If you look at her feet, she'll panic and continuously question you about her feet.. "is there something with my feet? stop staring!! whats wrong with my feet???! tell me!!". When actual fact is, you were looking at a coin on the floor...

What makes him/her happy?
Chocolates, food, sweet stuffs, pastries... anything hopelessly romantic.

What makes him/her sad?
Unfortunately, first thing that comes to my mind at the moment is ME. Sad but true, i have a feeling i disappoint and upset her more often than i should really. 2nd thing that comes to mind would probably be her parents, who are less open minded than they should be.

What makes him/her angry?
Most frequently, Me. News of snatch thefts & crime and occasionally her parents.

What excites him/her?
Alot actually! she gets overly excited over topics of discussion that are in-sync with her line of thought at that specific moment...usually about romantic movies, something read somewhere, or someone agreeing with her opinions.

Tell us something funny about him/her:
She's really klutzy!!walks into corners of tables, trips on steps, bumps into people... the list goes on.

What’s s/he like at home?
Boring. Stays in her room... stares at the walls, sleeps, bugs her sister, then sleeps again.

What’s s/he like at work/school?
I think she was a mega-nerd in school - straight A's type student. (boring..)

Describe his/her room.
Haven't seen it, but i think its nice and cosy.

What’s his/her best friend like?
I think she's got a collective of good friends... not too sure if there's a specific best friend really.

Do you know who s/he hates the most?
hmm... nope. Doubt she hates anybody.

Have you met his/her exes?
Haven't met any of her exes, but i've met many of the guy's she's dated and who's hearts she's broken.

Do his/her parents like you?
No. Dad's an accountant and i'm in events... so wadddaya think?
Her parents probably think there are only 4 types of good people in the world; Accountants, Doctors, Engineers, and Lawyers. Anyone else is a BAAAAD MAN.. :P Bah!

What’s the first thing s/he would do or say if s/he fell down and scraped their knee?
She'd quickly jump up, check to make sure nobody saw as her face turns red from embarrassment.... scurries off to where no one can see her, then squirm in pain and start crying like a baby (as in really cry!)

What would s/he do in an emergency situation with other people involved?
She'd panic, scream then probably cry.

Which shop would s/he spend the most time at in a shopping mall?
Forever21 & TopShop.

What would s/he have for a typical breakfast?
Sausages, eggs, toast, coffee.

Where would s/he want to go for dinner?
If she had her way... it would be somewhere fancy with nice decor and romantic ambiance.

What kind of movie would s/he choose at the cinema?
soppy romantic stuff.

Describe his/her taste in music.
Most mainstream genres - love songs, boy band stuff, and acoustic music to the likes of Pete Teo.

If s/he wasnt going out with you, who would s/he be going out with?
Hmmm... probably no one really.I've been told she's a real "hard to get" type girl. And treats boys likes toys.

What item in his/her wardrobe would you like to burn?
Her fashion sense is pretty good. No complaints.

What is s/he good at?
Listening. She's super patient when it comes to listening me go on and on about myself!

What is s/he totally horrible at?
Nothing that i've noticed as yet.

What’s something about him/her that is annoying/infuriating?
The fact that she's old-school when it comes to Valentine's Day, a yearly dismay for me.
Her lack of self-confidence and insecurity borders on psychologically disturbing. I.e:

Jwan: "baby..i'm meeting a friend for yum cha."

EmilyT: "WHO!!?!?! WHERE??!?!?!? WHY???? WHAT FOOOOOOORRRRRRR!!!"

even before i finish my sentence.... it usually ends like this: ".....justin and the boys at Sun Hin Loong." weirdo!

What’s something that you two fundamentally disagree on?
My exquisite, up-to-date, stylish, fashion sense.

What’s something that you two agree whole-heartedly on?
i would have to say her response to this question best sums it up.

Is s/he possessive?
Yes and very insecure too!

Why would s/he succeed in life?
She's an honest, sweet, polite, kind hearted soul. If success is measured as a journey and not a destination, she'll excel in everything she does.

What is the coolest gift that s/he has ever given you?
A scrap book that depicts the moments that dotted our relationship.

What is s/he obsessed with?
She's obsessed with ensuring every item of clothing she buys is a perfect fit and a worthwhile buy. Goes in and out of the changing room, visits the store 5-times to look at a top... and ends up buying nothing!

What does s/he avoid at all costs?
Furry animals and soft toys.

What does s/he spend the most money on?
Clothes.

Describe his/her typical Sunday.
Wakes up at noon or later, gets picked up by me, goes for lunch with me in Village Park, sits around and listens to business/share market/investment/spend money discussions, then back to my house where we usually sleep the day away...

Why would s/he be dangerous?
She has a problem processing and filtering information. Doesn't know when to NOT say or disclose something. the Chinese phrase for it would be "Mm Seng Mok".

Tell us about a time s/he looked absolutely gorgeous:
Honestly, i can't pinpoint "A TIME" cause i truly think she looks gorgeous all the time. Save for the few rare occasions where she didn't spend enough time in front of the mirror.

What’s something about him/her that would surprise all of his/her friends?
She's getting married at age 23!!!

What do you love most about him/her?
The way she looks at me and smiles for no reason. Warms me up every time...

The biggest lesson you have learnt from loving your partner.
Appreciating things. Not taking things for granted all the time. and learning to give and take. life's not just about ME...

So finally, to those of you fools that paid 5-times more for your half-dying full bloomed dozen roses, bad service at a fancy named restaurant, followed by sex that you would've gotten anyway without having to spend a cent...my deepest condolences. Though i have a feeling i shall be joining you all next year. Here's me learning that life isn't always just about me.

EmilyT's response to "The Great Couple Meme"

The Beginning of The End.

21 is the magic number, a number of resilience. Darkness fills the air as blood vessels throb to the beat of a raging heart, a beat that resonates through to the tips of fingers spurring an uncontrollable shiver. Words exchanged carry the scent of hatred and the acrid smell of anger. Celebrated by millions, it shall be shunned till the day the brew stops flowing and separate abodes be found. Dine as you may without me for values behind the feast have long been forgotten. Lie no more we shall as the time has come for a change, a change i pray to a god who turned his back, i pray for the betterment of this union. A fire, a fire whose flames will reach for the heavens and lick the clouds above will bring peace to a troubled soul. No more shall the temper-filled heart beat be heard. No more shall there be anymore hate, no more shall there be any works of the Devil. To prevent a fire, remove the fuel. If the fuel keeps flowing, remove the spark. If the spark is imminent, remove the hand that ignites it.

"I'm going to concentrate on whats important in life. I'm going to strive everyday to be a kind, generous and loving person. I'm going to keep death right here, so that anytime i even think about getting angry at you or anybody else, I'll see death, and I'll remember."
- Dian Frolov and Andrew Schneider, Northern Exposure, Do the right thing. 1992.

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR EVERYONE!! :)

Ironic as it may seem

Meeting up with friends or if you step into a coffee shop, you're bound to overhear people whining about the economy. If you look at the global economy on a whole and what economists are saying though, you can't deny that Malaysia is well protected from the effects of the economic meltdown affecting the developed nations. But the pessimism of the Malaysian people could set the stage for a self-fulfilling prophecy. (as mentioned by Mr.Soo Ewe Jin of The Star). Keep up the selfish negative nature and we're bound to head in the direction we constantly whine about. Here are excerpts from the article in the The Star by Mr.Soo that we should all think about.

"Our individual actions to spur on the economy cannot be underestimated.... we should do our part and not just whine all the time like Chicken Little that the sky is falling."

If you've studied some sort of basic economics, you'd understand that the smallest purchase of any goods or services has a domino effect in contributing to the economy on a larger scale. Domestic demand has to increase or be maintained to compensate for the decline in international demand to cushion the effects of the global economic meltdown. I think Malaysia is doing fairly well in these gloomy times, so quitting talking about the doom & gloom and LIVE YOUR LIFE.

"Sometimes we can be too obsessed about matters far away that do not affect us that we fail to act on matters closer to home that we have control over."

"Our main business is not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do what clearly lies at hand"
- Thomas Carlyle, British Historian & Essayist.

As Mr.Soo of The Star put it, CARPE DIEM! Just seize the day!

These came back with us...

You walk pass a store and hear a certain song playing through the speakers, instantaneously you're transported to a special time or place in the past, a smirk or a hint of a smile appears across your face... you pause for a moment and your eyes appear to gaze into an imaginary world... I love how music can invoke feelings and conjure memories...

"Music Is What Feelings Sound Like"
- Author Unknown.

I've always been a fan of Indonesian music, songs by DEWA19, PETER PAN, SAMSONS, BUNGA CINTA LESTARI, SHEILA ON 7, and KRIS DAYANTI have always had a spot on my playlist. Our recent "JAKARTA JAM!" trip saw us return with the CD's of two really good Indonesian artiste. It is my great pleasure to introduce...
MARCELL and D'MASSIV!! Their songs currently fill the airwaves of THREESIXTY's office and are pumping through the Stereos of our cars all day long... bringing back memories of partying in Jakarta... aaaah.

Enjoy!

Berhenti Berharap by Marcell


Hidup by Marcell (music streaming not avaiable yet, but go google it!)

Cinta ini membunuhku by D'Massiv


Merindukanmu by D'Massiv

"Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without"
- Confucious

"Great music is that which penetrates the ear with facility and leaves the memory with difficulty. Magical music never leaves the memory."
- Sir Thomas Beecham

Like a good bottle of wine...

Come the 26th day of August 2008, Jwan Heah would have been on this planet for 29 years. As age catches up with this big-kid, i've constantly pondered on how things and life in general have changed and how easy it is to loose your life. In an age group where life is focused constantly around chasing material wealth, i took a step back to look at life in itself..looking back at all the good and great times i've had, the friends i've made, friends who lost theirs lives, places i've been, and the things i've done... i've realised that in this life we're blessed with, the most valuable asset we'll ever make, own and that nobody can take away from us, are memories and life experiences. if you feel like doing something, take that first step and go out and do it. Brush away what ever discouragements from people around you, if you're going to be happy doing something, go ahead and do it. Its great to be blessed with memories than to sit around in your old age wondering "what if i..." and "i should have..."

Life is short...LIVE LIFE.

Needy...

Here's some snippets from an article a colleague of mine came across recently from Yahoo! Personals, makes me wonder what he was doing surfing Yahoo! Personals though...
The article written by David Wygant highlights points in courtship and relationships in general that i have been preaching & practicing for years! So, for all the men who are having problems "holding on" to their partners, read and learn. If you're doing the same thing as you've always done in your previous relationships, you're gonna be faced with the same problems again... So i leave you with a quote my mum uses very frequently on me... "For Things to Change, I Must Change First". Try out some of these pointers, you've got nothing to lose.

10 Signs you're being needy:
by David Wygant.

1. You just walked a woman to her door at the end of a date. Instead of kissing her, you ask her if she had a good time. Women are attracted to confident men. They don't want to have to tell you that they had a good time on a date... they want you to be secure enough in yourself to assume that they had a good time.

2. You called a woman last night and she has not yet called you back, so you either email her or call her again to ask her if she received your message. If you want to push her away, this is one of the best ways to get her to quickly run away from you.

3. You start texting a woman you just began dating five or six times a day. You are over-texting her. You don't need to check in every two hours. That's a sign of neediness and clingy behavior that turns women off.

4. You miss a call on your cell phone from a phone number that you don't recognize. You call the woman you're dating, and to whom you talked just two hours before, and ask, "Did you just call me?" This kind of behavior is going to push and scare her away.

5. You agree with everything the woman you're dating says. Women are not looking for a man who agrees with everything they say. Women want a man who challenges them and from whom they can learn. When a man agrees with everything a woman says, he is telling her that he'll do anything to have a relationship (which is another sign of being needy).

6. The woman you're dating is out for the evening with her friends. She promised to call you when she got home. It's getting late and you haven't heard from her. You just can't resist and you call her cell phone several times until she answers it. This is a sign of being needy and insecure. She's out with her friends... not out with another guy. Let her have some personal space and she'll respect you more.

7. You are too available. If you have plans with a friend, keep those plans even if the woman you're dating asks you to do something that night. Women don't want men who are like a 7-Eleven -- convenient and ready 24/7.

8. You try to please a woman all the time. I'm all about men doing nice things for women, but she has to earn it. Some men will let a woman walk all over them, and then continue to be a sponge and allow it over and over again. Stand up for yourself and she'll respect you more. Letting a woman walk all over you is a clear sign to her that you're needy.

9. Don't be afraid to challenge a woman. If you don't agree with something a woman says, don't just sit there and agree with her thinking it's what she wants. Women are looking for someone who is going to stimulate their mind... not bore them. Women are not turned on by men they can completely control.

10. Be the man! Have a plan and stick with it. Women like men who plan out evenings of fun. Don't always ask a woman what she wants to do. Listen to what she likes when you're having conversations with her, then come up with a fun plan that you will already know she'll like. A needy man will do whatever a woman wants. A man of action will create plans for what they will do. Being a man of action will lead her to find you a lot more attractive in the long run.

For the complete article, which i personally recommend.. visit:

http://dating.personals.yahoo.com/singles/datingtips/81390/10-signs-youre-being-needy

To all the men/boys out there, good luck! on a closing note, i leave you with a quote by David Wygant:

"NOTHING TURNS A WOMEN OFF MORE THAN A GUY WHO IS REALLY NEEDY"