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MERRY RIANA
WITH ALVA TJENDERASA

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From school into the business world my entrepreneurship journey

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A GIFT FROM A FRIEND

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MRO Consultancy Pte Ltd

Mailing Address: 10 Anson Road #21-02 International Plaza Singapore 079903 Tel: (65) 6325 4533 Fax: (65) 6325 4598 www.merryriana.com.sg First published 2006

Conditions of Sale: This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publishers prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Copyright 2006 by Merry Riana A Gift From A Friend ISBN 981-05-5833-3 Printed in Singapore

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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission from MRO Consultancy Pte Ltd.

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Published by

CONTENTS

DEDICATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ABOUT MERRY RIANA FOREWORD CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 3 CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 5

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MY STORY

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A NEW PARADIGM YOUR WORTH

WHAT DOES MONEY MEAN TO YOU? 35 FINANCIAL FREEDOM

43 53 63 71 79

CHAPTER 6 CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER 8

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VISION ACTION PASSION THE GOLDEN RULE WHEN OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS THE POWER OF ASSOCIATION

CHAPTER 9 CHAPTER 10

TOUCHING HEARTS CHANGING LIVES 87

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WHAT OTHERS SAY

PERSONAL MENTORSHIP EXPERIENCE IN THE EYES OF HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS

BEHIND THE SCENES AT MERRY RIANA ORGANIZATION PROJECT: A GIFT FROM A FRIEND

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PHOTO GALLERY

WHAT OTHERS SAY

In this book, Merry uses powerful and thought-provoking stories and metaphors that will get you to reflect on the way you have been living your life and how you can choose to live it instead. She shares the philosophies and strategies that have helped her to achieve phenomenal success and financial abundance within a short period of time. Read, reflect and apply what you will learn and you too can share your gift with others.

Best-Selling Author of Master Your Mind, Design Your Destiny and Secrets of Self-Made Millionaires

Refreshing, invigorating, and intellectually stimulating! Merry Rianas motivational book A Gift From A Friend is indeed what it is. An excellent gift of ideas - prodding proactive actions for achieving ones dream and financial success. Reading her extremely lively thought provoking book, her down-to-earth no holds barred style is a sheer pleasure. To me, it was like reading Napoleon Hills Think and Grow Rich again except that concepts were easier to understand and illustrated by wonderful analogies that are logical and practical. A must read for anyone who wants to achieve something great in life! Oh... As Merry said, want to is not good enough. Must do is the way to go, and Merry proves that it can be done. She did it!

ELIM CHEW
President / Founder, 77th Street (S) Pte Ltd

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ADAM KHOO

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In business, new trends are created by new blood, and veterans can excel if they listen to the voice of the youth. Merrys book not only contains old truths, but also makes my old ideas new again. I am thrilled to read it!!!

Executive Chairman, Qian Hu Corporation Ltd

Entrepreneur & Best-Selling Author of Get Rich Now

This is a good book by a young and aspiring entrepreneur who dares to dream and has the courage to do. The spirit of success is dependent on the courage to seek and to strive. Fortune favors the brave. Well done!

Group CEO, OSIM International Ltd

For anyone interested in the topic of business; theoretically and practically; Merrys book is an illuminating read. I recommend it highly.

CHARLES WONG
Director, Charles & Keith International Pte Ltd

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RON SIM

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DR DENNIS WEE

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Using simple but powerful and inspirational stories Merry gets you to think about your choices in life. The most inspirational one is her personal story. This can be life changing for you.

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KENNY YAP

Merry Riana is truly a beauty with brains. She is set to be an inspiration to many others. This is a worthwhile read if you aspire to take action and succeed in life.

WENDY KWEK

DR CLEMEN CHIANG
CEO, Freely Pte Ltd

LIM KOK HUI

CEO, Barang Barang Pte Ltd

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An excellent contribution. Merry has synthesized the fundamentals of our high achievers and presented them in an easy to read manner. This book is filled with practical wisdom for all of us to use and take control of our lives, businesses and careers. Read it, and your life will truly be enriched.

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Dont let anyone think less of you because you are young. Merry is an example to all entrepreneurs in what she teaches, in the way she lives, in her love, her faith and her purity. I am so proud of her!

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Spirit of Enterprise Award 2004 (Singapore) Co-founder of Executive Directions Pte Ltd

DEDICATION

They are the main reason why we embark on this entrepreneurship journey in the first place.

This book is dedicated to our parents: Haryanto, Estherina, Suanto, and Lynda.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To the entire members of Merry Riana Organization, Joanne Chen, Dwi Sari Dewi, Tan Si Yan, Leslie Eng, Kelvin Cheong, Eddy Wang, Aris Saputro, Adeline Lim, Jasmine Tong, Gaius Ng, Jason Chan, Peter Lim, Julie Yu, Prudence Lu, Ludy Marsono, Chan Kaidi, Joey Foo, Ivy Leow, Ashley Ng, Zheng Jinglin, Lisa, Aron Sebastian, Zhang Pinyu, Chan Mun Yee, Ivan Huang, Gary Tay, Chris Chan, Sharon Lim, Wong Hanxian, Ken Wong, Vernice Tan, Fransiska Kartawidjaja, William Yonathan, and Ong Lei Hong. Thank you for tirelessly spending all your weekends and late nights working to build our Organization at an incredible rate. To all our teachers and friends from Nanyang Technological University who have played a tremendous part in shaping the person we are today. Special thanks to Mr Soon Min Yam, Ms Chua Poh Gek, Dr Stephen Lee Siang Guan, Dr Lie Tek Tjing, Dr Chen I Ming, Dr Gooi Hoay Beng, Dr Shen Zhongxiang, Dr Jiang San Ping, Dr Sun Chang Qing, Dr Rusli, and Mr Julianto Cahyadi.

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To all who have helped in the publication of this book, Israel Cher, Jasmine Tong, Gaius Ng, Janice Soh, Tan Si Yan, Kelvin Cheong, Andreas Novio, and Aris Saputro. Thank you for a great job in putting the whole book together.

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To our parents, Haryanto, Estherina, Suanto, and Lynda, who have given us unconditional love and support throughout the years.

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To our God, Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we can do all things.

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To the management and staff of Prudential. Special thanks to Mr Ng Keng Hooi, Mr Philip Seah, Mr Kevin Wright, Mr Tan Kar Hor, Mr Charlie Oropeza, Mr Bill Lisle, Mr Ted Ridgway, Mr Lionel Chee, Mr Lai Leong Pin, Mr Rinaldi Mudahar, Mr Bernard Chai, Mr Sean Ang, Mr Joseph Loh, and Ms Rina Hiw for your invaluable support.

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To all successful entrepreneurs in Singapore who have inspired us to walk our own journey of entrepreneurship. Special thanks to Mr Adam Khoo, Ms Elim Chew, Mr Kenny Yap, Dr Dennis Wee, Mr Ron Sim, Mr Charles Wong, Ms Wendy Kwek, Dr Clemen Chiang, and Mr Lim Kok Hui, whose encouragements have motivated us tremendously in publishing this book.

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To all our mentors and trainers who have helped us discover the true power within ourselves. To our previous manager, Peter Tan, who showed us how high we can fly if only we spread our own wings. Thank you for sharing with us some of the wonderful stories that are mentioned in this book. To Dr Richard Bandler, John LaValle, Anthony Robbins, and Robert Kiyosaki all of whom have taught us the invaluable strategies of wealth and success.

ABOUT MERRY RIANA

In July 2006, Merry successfully published her first book A Gift From A Friend which subsequently made its way into the Best-Seller list in the major bookstores in Singapore. Currently, A Gift From A Friend is being translated into its Mandarin and Malay version to reach out to the regional market, such as Malaysia and Indonesia. Merry is also well-known as one of the most powerful and dynamic trainers in Singapore. Over the last 4 years, she has motivated and trained thousands of professionals, managers, executives, business owners, salespeople, and students in areas like Entrepreneurship, Strategic Marketing and Sales, Motivation, Presentation and Communication Skills, among other areas.

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In just a short period of around 4 years after her graduation, Merry has earned more than S$1,000,000 through her business. Within the last 2 years, Merry has grown her Organization, Merry Riana Organization, to a size of more than 40 people. All its members are outstanding young individuals who believed in her vision and have been working together with her to achieve their dreams together ever since.

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At her current age of 26, Merry has achieved many successes that a lot of people twice her age have never even attempted to do. She has won many awards and broke industry record time and time again.

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Merry Riana is a young millionaire, successful entrepreneur, best-selling author, dynamic trainer, and popular media personality.

In her Personal Mentorship Experience program, Merry sets aside 2-hours of her precious time every week to mentor any young individual, aged 20-30 years old, who wants to take charge of their lives and live their dreams.

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Project: A Gift From A Friend was initiated following the success of Merrys book in making its way into the Best-Seller list. She pledged to contribute complimentary copies of her book to any institutions/schools/clubs/etc that support her Organizations cause of Youth Entrepreneurship. For every copy of her book that is sold in the bookstores, she will contribute one complimentary copy back to the society.

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Aligned with Merrys commitment to contribute back to society, she has pioneered two non-profit activities, Project: A Gift From A Friend and Personal Mentorship Experience.

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Merry has been featured regularly in many media like the newspaper such as The Straits Times, and magazines such as Your Choice, Career Central, and Cleo. She has also been interviewed on-air by WARNA 94.2FM and Radio Singapore International about her successes and achievements which she has reached in such a short period of time, around 4 years after her graduation from Nanyang Technological University.

FOREWORD

Our life paths first crossed when Merry attended one of my inspirational talks four years ago when she was a student at NTU. She recounted how my own success story of making my first million at age 26 had inspired her to achieve her own financial freedom at a young age. I am very happy to have played a very small part in her resounding success. Although I speak to thousands of people every year and share strategies about how anyone can achieve financial success, only a handful really take my advice and take the actions to make their dreams a reality. The main reason is that, to many people, success is merely a weak wish and not a strong must. Merry was one of those people who saw success and financial freedom
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The stories and lessons in this book are definitely a powerful gift that one friend can give to another. While gifts like diamonds, clothes or even money can give a friend temporary joy, I believe that the best gift that a friend can give is the gift of inspiration and insight that can change ones destiny forever. When we help someone realize their true potential and help them find their path to success, we are giving them a gift that will live on forever. This is precisely what Merry has done with the many people whom she has trained and coached. She has helped the many members in Merry Riana Organization to break free from the trappings of the 9-to-5 rat race and to embrace unlimited financial and personal success as an entrepreneur. Her ability to achieve so much success at such a young age despite all her inherent disadvantages has been truly a gift of inspiration to all those around her.

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It is with great pleasure that I write the foreword to Merry Rianas A Gift From A Friend.

ADAM KHOO

Best-Selling Author of Master Your Mind, Design Your Destiny and Secrets of Self-Made Millionaires

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In this book, Merry uses powerful and thought-provoking stories and metaphors that will get you to reflect on the way you have been living your life and how you can choose to live it instead. She shares the philosophies and strategies that have helped her to achieve phenomenal success and financial abundance within a short period of time. Read, reflect and apply what you will learn and you too can share your gift with others.

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as a must and was willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen, even if it meant throwing away her four years of education as an engineer and taking the plunge into entrepreneurship. What I believe made the difference was her hunger for success, brought on by the fact that she was a foreigner, that her family was not rich, and that she was $40,000 in debt. So sometimes, a challenging background acts as a strong catalyst that drives the fuel of hunger for success.

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Never believe that a few caring people cant change the world. For, indeed, thats all who ever have. - Margaret Mead

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My Story

Chapter One

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A Gift From A Friend

My family background I hail from Jakarta, Indonesia. Although my parents are just normal middle-class people who are not very wealthy, however I know that both of them always do their best to provide a good lifestyle for the whole family. And I am always grateful for this fact.

And here it goes

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It all seemed so incredible, and yet the thing that amazed me most was that I realized that she is me! Her story is my own.

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How was it that this twenty-five-year-old-kid, with only a basic engineering degree, could have accomplished so much in such a short period of time? After all, this was a girl, who only four years ago, had been saving money for her education by only eating bread and instant noodles for the whole day. How did she go from an extremely unhappy person, thirty pounds overweight, $40,000 in debt, with floundering relationships and limited prospects, to a healthy, respected individual with great relationships and the opportunity for unlimited success?

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I had heard about her for many months. They said she was young, wealthy, healthy, happy, and successful. I had to see her for myself. I watched her closely as she stepped out from her Mercedes-Benz, and I followed her over the next few weeks, observing her as she mentored many young people. I saw her manage managers, train executives, and work with 30 outstanding young individuals in her organization. She seemed incredibly happy and deeply in love with her husband as they travelled together around the world. And when they were through for the day, it was time to spend a lovely evening at home together in their condominium apartment in the Central Business District (CBD) area.

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My Story

My studies in Nanyang Technological University

When I arrived in Singapore, one of my biggest challenges was language. My mother tongue was the Indonesian language, while English was the main language spoken in Singapore. As a result, during my first year here in Singapore, I mixed more within my circle of Indonesian friends since I guess it was more comfortable for me to speak in Indonesian with them. Looking back now, I feel that it was not a good idea, as it limited my circle of friends. I was still in my comfort zone and my English was not improving much. I studied Electrical & Electronics Engineering (EEE) in NTU. I guess the reason why I chose to major in engineering had a lot to do with my background. My father is an engineer by training. And so are my uncles, aunties, and relatives. Having the opportunity to see how my father worked probably influenced my decision too. And since I was a small kid, when people asked me what I want to be when I grow up, my most natural answer will be, I want to be like my father. I want to be an
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I moved to Singapore in the year 1998 when I was 18 years old. It was during the time of the Asian economic crisis. At that time, Indonesia was not a very safe place for a young girl like me as violence and riots were everywhere. So, I really didnt have much choice except to leave Indonesia. Singapore seemed to be the best choice because of its nearby location, safe environment, and good education system.

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My father manages a small business in the electronics industry and my mother is a very loving and caring housewife. I am the eldest of three children in the family and I have two younger brothers; both currently in Singapore. The older one has graduated from Nanyang Technological University. The younger one is still studying at Singapore Management University. So, altogether, there are five members in my family.

A Gift From A Friend

engineer. So, I guess being brought up in such a family influenced me when I was choosing which major to take. Having said all that, I was never really interested in the engineering field. I took the subject because of the very simple reason that, having a background like mine, engineering seemed to be the most natural choice I should take.

Having studied engineering for 4-years has helped me to think more logically and to be a more systematic person. I believe in a balanced lifestyle. Besides studying, I also spent my time participating in sports, joining a few club activities and being active in church. Staying in the hostels also allowed me to be more involved in such activities. I spent about 75% of my time studying and 25% of my time on the other activities. Im glad that I managed my time well. I achieved Second Upper Honors when I graduated and I believe I had made my parents really proud of me. I was heavily involved in the Christian Club in NTU. I served as one of the executive committee members in that club, which caters to all the Catholic students on campus. Other than that, I was also involved in other charity organizations and projects.

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Another reason why I chose engineering was also because to major in engineering somehow gave me the perception that I was brighter compared to the other students who study only general subjects like management, marketing, etc. Back in my senior high school in Indonesia, I took science as my major. That way, I thought that I would be categorized as a smart student. And when I entered NTU, I had the same mindset as well. To me, choosing engineering put me among the smart students. And that was how I ended up as an engineering student.

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My Story

I guess I joined all these activities for the experience. Remember I mentioned earlier about my limited circle of friends and my language barrier during my first year in Singapore? I wanted to know more people and make more friends, and through my participation in clubs, I was able to do so. To me, having a formal education is an advantage. Although it is definitely not a must to have a certain academic qualification to be successful, a formal education will still benefit you in the long run. The exact content of the subject that youre studying may not be very essential; however the years of experience of going through a formal education in school will support you in many ways in your entrepreneurship journey. So, for those of you who are still studying, dont give up your education. Finish it and only embark fully on your own entrepreneurship journey once you have finished your school.

My debts

Although I came to Singapore by chance and not by choice, I have never regretted coming here. I feel I was very fortunate, because at that time NTU was also having a reach-out program to attract foreign students to come and study in Singapore. It offered foreign students like me loans such as the tuition-fee loan and the study loan. So, based on the financial support provided by these loans, I paid for my school fees, textbooks, accommodation, food, and all of my other living expenses. My parents still gave me pocket-money whenever I went back to Indonesia during my school holidays. This so-called pocketmoney was actually my parents savings that they set aside every month from my fathers modest profit in his small

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Trust me. Its worth it.

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A Gift From A Friend

I took up the entire loan facilities that were available to me. One was called the tuition-fee loan, which paid for my entire school fees. The other one was called the study loan, which paid for my other living expenses while I was in NTU. So, I basically depended on these loans for my school-fees, my textbooks, my food, my accommodation and all my other living expenses. Thats why upon my graduation from NTU I was already S$40,000 in debt. That was the amount I owed to the banks for supporting me throughout my school days.

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I knew that by taking all the loans to fund my studies would mean that I would graduate from NTU with a load of debts that I would need to work hard to pay off. But, I guess I had no choice. If my parents could support me financially then, of course there would be no reason for me to take up these loans, especially with their very high interest rates. However, as I mentioned earlier, there was no better choice for me. Thus, I had to take up the loans.

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In order to save more money to fund my studies, I tried ways and means to cut down on my expenses. While other students spent $3 for their meals, I probably spent only $1.50 for my meals. There were even days when I didnt have a proper meal at all. I just bought bread or cooked instant noodle myself. Through that, I managed to save a little. Of course, this kind of lifestyle is not recommended for your health. But I guess at that time, I was more concerned in saving enough money to fund my studies.

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business. Although I know that it was not easy for my parents to fund my Singapore education, they always remind me not to worry about money and to just focus on my studies, just like other students. To know this fact only made me more determined to quickly finish my formal education as soon as possible, start working, and stop depending on my parents.

My Story

My aspirations Before I relocated to Singapore, I had never really given much thought to who or what I want to become when I grow up. I guess I was still very young back then and havent started to think about my future yet.

It was also my first experience at a normal 9-to-5 job. I have to admit that this was not what I had expected. I looked at my direct supervisor. He was a nice guy who had been working in the company for about 10 years. However, from his sharing with me, his situation had not improved much since he first joined the company. He was still sitting in the same desk where he first sat on his first day in the company. His roles and responsibilities were pretty much the same. His salary had not improved much.
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I first realized that my passion was not in engineering during my third year in NTU. During my industrial attachment (IA), I was attached to an American-based semiconductor company. It was my first official job in the working world.

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I started to ponder about my future while in university. I realized I was 21 years old and my parents were already in their 50s. Looking at how hard they still needed to work in order to pay for their childrens education, to save enough money for their own retirement, set me thinking. If I were to be successful one day, I want it to be when I am still young, before my 30 th birthday, not when I have reached 40 or 50. With that, I want my parents to enjoy great food, travel to exotic countries, and live life fully. If I am only successful when I have reached the age of 40, my parents would be in their 70s by then. They would then be restricted by their health and their old age. I made a resolution, that if I am going to be successful, I want to be successful while Im still young. Its not really for me, its for my parents.

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A Gift From A Friend

I looked at his boss, who is the manager. He had been working in the company for around 20 years. I reckon that his situation had not improved much as well. This set me thinking. Would I be contented working for someone else with such grim future prospects?

Option 1. Keep my dreams intact and change my career path after graduation, from doing a normal engineering job to something that could allow me to attain my goals in a shorter time-frame. Option 2. Keep doing what my other university friends are doing, that is to become an engineer and to downgrade my goals to a more realistic one. Like to be rich and successful when I reach 55, not 30.
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There were only 2 options available to me.

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So, at that time I knew that I could never achieve my goal to be successful while Im young if I choose this path of a normal 9-to-5 job.

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Assuming that I would set aside $500 every month to pay for my outstanding study loans, I calculated that I would only be able to pay off the entire loan of $40,000 (plus interest of 4% p.a.) in a period of 10 years. By that time I will be 32 years old with no savings at all, no car, no house. Nothing!

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I knew that being a fresh graduate, I would probably be earning around $2,500 per month. Minus off the mandatory 20% contribution to the CPF, it would leave me with only $2,000. Minus off another $1,000 for my living expenses (food, accommodation, transportation, hand phone bills, etc) what is left with me is only $1,000. I had the intention to send at least $500 back to support my parents, so that would leave me with the remaining of $500.

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My Story

I chose option 1. I want to be successful while Im still young because I want to share my success with my parents at an earlier date rather than much later when they may not be healthy enough to enjoy the fruits of my hard work. As Ive said before, its not about me, its about them.

In pursuit of my goals and dreams

Well, the truth is, I did apply for a job once. I applied for a job at a foreign bank and I was accepted! I was offered a job with a good paycheck and good prospects. However, knowing that this path would never bring me to my dreams of being successful while Im still young, I rejected the offer.

Maybe thats why my friends thought I was crazy. My teachers, tutors and lecturers also thought that it was a bad idea to be an entrepreneur upon graduation from university. All of them advised me to pursue a stable career in the engineering field instead. I believe sincerely that their intentions were all good. However, I also understand that they could only advise me to have an

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My friends thought that I was crazy when I told them about the idea of being an entrepreneur immediately after graduation. Most of them, those who were not very close to me, thought that I was forced to become one because I couldnt secure a proper job. Those who knew me better understood I chose this path of entrepreneurship because of my dreams. They knew that I did not attempt to apply for a job at all.

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A Gift From A Friend

engineering career because thats the only field that they understand and the only career they have ever had themselves. I was not really bothered by my friends and my teachers resistance to my idea of being an entrepreneur. After all, this is my life and I am free to live it the way I want it. However, I still needed my parents consent over my choice of career.

I promised my parents that I would only try this entrepreneurship idea for a period of 3 months. If at the end of the 3 months there were still no signs of success whatsoever, I would stop whatever Ive been doing and start looking for a normal 9-to-5 job with a stable pay, just like what my parents had always wanted. They agreed, and with that, I took the plunge into the world of entrepreneurship.

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Eventually, I came to a compromise with them.

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That was a difficult period for me. The main reason why I wanted to be an entrepreneur is because of my dreams to be successful while Im still young so that I could share my successes with my parents. But now, they were also the ones who were uncomfortable with the whole idea.

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They were not very comfortable with the idea of me being an entrepreneur just after I had graduated with $40,000 in debt to clear. Having graduated would mean that the school will not offer me study loans anymore, which means I must start paying for all my living expenses myself. To be an entrepreneur would indicate less stability in terms of my income every month. There was also no guarantee that I would be successful eventually. My parents preferred me to look for a stable job with a fixed pay instead.

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My Story

I refused to conform to the majority. I knew I would have much resistance in the beginning, but I believe I would prove them wrong about their skepticism eventually. Besides, if I really wanted to be an entrepreneur, the best time to do it is NOW! Being young and without any dependants yet, there was nothing to lose for me even if I failed. In fact, I would gain valuable lessons and experience regardless if I failed or if I succeeded.

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I guess the answer to that question is how important your dreams are to you. To me, my dream of sharing my success with my parents, while they still can enjoy it, is very important. I knew that if I took a normal 9-to-5 job, it would lead me to nowhere. I knew that if I took a normal 9-to-5 job, I would be feeling unhappy every single day, waking up early in the morning to go to a place where I know what I would be doing most of the time is waiting for knock-off time to come. I would be starting the week on Monday, knowing that I would spend the whole week hoping that Friday would come soon. That is definitely not the kind of life I want to live. I deserve better than that.

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Many asked me what gave me the courage to take that first step into the unknown, even though there was not much support from anyone initially.

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I was fortunate enough to have done well and cleared all my debts within the following 6 months. With that achievement, my parents were not only feeling more comfortable with me being an entrepreneur, at the same time I also managed to fulfill my dream of sharing my success with them. I was really blessed that this chapter of my life ended with a happy ending.

A Gift From A Friend

Of course, I did have my own fears and doubts of becoming an entrepreneur myself. I always thought that in general, to build a successful business, you must have 3 components: capital, contacts, and skills. At that time, I did not have any of those.

Despite all these, I decided to take the first step anyway. All it took was just courage. Nobody can teach you how to have courage. Courage must come from within.

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The world can supply you with capital, contacts or skills. However, courage can only come from within yourself.

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***
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Of course, there are some business opportunities out there where you can still become successful without much capital, contacts or skills. I will share this with you later in the following chapters of this book. But for now, just focus on that one thing I mentioned earlier: courage.

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For capital, I was $40,000 in debt. For contacts, all my friends were also students who had just graduated and still unemployed, just like me. For skills, I only have engineering skills, no business nor communication skills. In short, my resources were very limited.

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My Story

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The point of my story is simple. By applying the principles in this book, you will be able to replicate the accelerated success that I have managed to achieve in my life, in a major and measurable way. The purpose of this book is to share with you what made the difference in changing my life for the better. It is my sincere hope that you will find the strategies, skills, and philosophies shared within these pages to be as empowering for you as they have been for me. The power to magically transform our lives into our greatest dreams lies waiting within us all. Its time to unleash it!

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I am certainly not saying that my life is what success is all about. Obviously, we all have different dreams and ideas of what we want to create for our lives. In addition, I am very clear that who you know, where you go and what you own are not true measures of personal success. The meaning of success holds different meanings to different people. To me, success is the ongoing process of striving to become better, to achieve more. It is the opportunity to continually grow emotionally, socially, spiritually, physiologically, intellectually, and financially while contributing positively to others.

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