A Lion Name Christian

From the pen of Adam Khoo

Interesting insight into Singaporeans ! ! ! !

Interesting Article from Singapore (Just sharing)

Please pass on to all Singaporeans to learn a great Lessons,especially our
kids who are spoon fed and pampered........

Adam Khoo: The expats will rule Singapore
Posted by admin 28 January, 2010

I have a prediction. My prediction is that in a couple of years, the
expatriates (from China, India, US etc…) will rule Singapore. They will
increasingly take on more leadership roles of CEOs, directors, heads of
organizations, award winners etc… If you observe closely, it is already
happening now. This year’s top PSLE (Primary School Leaving Exam) student
is a China National. Most of the deans list students and first class
honours students in the local universities are foreigners and more and more
CEOs, even that of government link corporations are expats. The top players
in our National teams are expats.

As a Singaporean, I am not complaining. I think that in a meritocratic
society like Singapore, it is only fair that the very best get rewarded, no
matter their race, religion or nationality. Like Lee Kwan Yew said, I
rather these talented and driven people be on our team contributing to our
nation than against us from their home country. The question I have been
asking is, ‘why are the expats beating the crap out of Singaporeans?’ What
I noticed is that these expats have a very important quality that many
Singaporeans (especially the new Y generation lack).

It is a quality that our grandfathers and great-grandfathers (who came from
distant lands) had that turned Singapore from a fishing village to the
third richest country in the world (according to GDP per capita).
Unfortunately, I fear this quality is soon! disappearing from the new
generation of Singaporeans. This quality is the HUNGER FOR SUCCESS and the
FIGHTING SPIRIT!!!

Expats who come here today have the same tremendous HUNGER for success that
our grandfathers had. They are willing to sacrifice, work hard and pay the
price to succeed. They also believe that no one owes them a living and they
have to work hard for themselves. They also bring with them the humility
and willingness to learn.

Take the case of Qui Biqing, the girl from Qifa Primary school who topped
the whole of Singapore in last year’s PSLE with a score of 290. When she
came to Singapore 3 years ago from China, she could hardly speak a word of
English and didn’t even understand what a thermometer was. Although she was
10 years old, MOE recommended she start at Primary 2 because of her lack of
English proficiency. After appealing, she managed to start in Primary 3.

While most Singaporeans have a head start of learning English at pre-school
at the age of 3-4 years old, she only started at age 10. Despite this
handicapped, she had the drive to read continuously and practice her
speaking and writing skills, eventually scoring an A-star in English!

This hunger and drive can also be seen in the workforce. I hate to say this
but in a way, I sometimes think expats create more value than locals.
Expats are willing to work long hours, go the extra mile, are fiercely
loyal to you and don’t complain so much. They also come a lot more
qualified and do not ask the moon for the remuneration. Recently, I placed
an ad for a marketing executive. Out of 100+ resumes, more than 60% came
from expats.

While locals fresh grads are asking for $2,500+ per month, I have expats
with masters degrees from good universities willing to get less than
$2,000! They know that if they can come in and learn and work hard, they !
will eventually climb up and earn a lot more. They are willing to invest in
themselves, pay the price for future rewards. Sometimes I wonder how some
of the locals are going to compete with this. Of course, this is just a
generalization. There ARE definitely some Singaporeans who create lots of
value and show fighting spirit.

Unfortunately, I have found that more and more young Singaporeans lack this
hunger for success. Instead, they like to complain, blame circumstances and
wait for others to push them. Some hold on to the attitude that the world
owes them a living. I shake my head when I see local kids nowadays complain
that they don’t have the latest hand phones, branded clothes and games.

While I acknowledge that the kids of today are much smarter and well
informed than I was at their age (my 4 year old daughter can use my Mac
book computer and my iphone), I find that they lack the resilience and
tenacity they need to survive in the new economy. Some kids nowadays tend
to give up easily once they find that things get tough and demand instant
gratification. When they have to work first to get rewards later, many tend
to lack the patience to follow through.

So, how did this happen? Why is our nation of hardworking, hungry fighters
slowly becoming a nation of complaining softies? I think the problem is
that life in Singapore has been too good and comfortable. Kids today have
never seen hunger, poverty, war and disasters. What makes it worse is that
parents nowadays give kids everything they want and over protect them from
hardship and failure. Parents often ask me why their kids lack the
motivation to study and excel. My answer to them is because they already
have everything! Giving someone everything they want is the best way to
kill their motivation.

What reason is there for them to fight to become the best ! when they are
already given the best from their parents without having to earn it? It
reminds me of the cartoon movie MADAGASCAR where Alex the Lion and his
animal friends were born and raised in the Central Park Zoo. They were well
taken care of and provided with processed food and an artificial jungle.
When they escaped to Africa, they found that they could barely survive in
the wild with the other animals because they had lots their instincts to
fight and hunt for food. They could only dance and sing.

I see the same thing in the hundreds of seminars and training programmes I
conduct. I see increasing more and more expats attending my Wealth Academy
and Patterns of Excellence programme in Singapore. Not surprisingly, they
are always the first to grab the microphone to answer and ask questions.
While many of the locals come in late and sit at the back. The expats
(especially those from India and China) always sit at the front, take notes
ferociously and stay back way after the programme is over to ask questions.


I feel ashamed sometimes when I ask for volunteers to ask questions, and
the Singaporeans keep quiet, while the foreigners fight for the
opportunity. For my “I Am Gifted!’ programme for students, I have the
privileged to travel and conduct it in seven countries (Singapore,
Indonesia, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia etc…) and see all students from all
over. Is there a big difference in their attitude and behaviour? You bet!

Again, I feel really sad that in Singapore, most students who come are
usually forced by their parents to come and improve themselves, Some
parents even bribe them with computer games and new handphones to attend.
During the course, some adopt the ‘I know everything’ attitude and lack the
interest to succeed until I kick their butts. It is so different when I go
to Malaysia, Indonesia and once in India. The kids there ask their parents
to send them to my programme. They clap and cheer enthusiastically when the
teachers enter the room and participate so willingly when lessons are on. I
still scratch my head and wonder what happened to my fellow Singaporeans to
this day.

So mark my words, unless the new generation of Singaporeans wake up and get
out of their happy over protected bubble and start fighting for their
future, the expats (like our great grandfathers) will soon be the rulers of
the country. At the rate at which talented and hungry expats are climbing
up , our future prime minister may be an Indian or China PR or may even an
Ang Moh!

As close to fame as we can get. 40K hits

Leaderless and Headless

What happen when a chicken runs around with its head covered? It wanders here and there and to no where. What happen when high rank fails to lead and had chronic case of amnesia plus you as an employee really had no choice of leaving the job? Gang up with you fellow colleague, form a coalition and take turn leading the team. Furthermore, spoon feed the management and remember to keep names in the CC part of the e-mail to get some steam for an action from the top.

I don't like to put CC in e-mail to get things moving but sadly the truth is there are people who sit on a matter with inaction unless you are his boss or you had frightening people in the e-mail CC loop to spur actions. CC are important as well as prove of e-mailed been sent to upstairs for when they play dumb or caught a sudden case of amnesia, you can remind them that an e-mail was send before hand.

Life sux because of human :). Often dealing with marine creature are better off comforting than dealing with the dynamic of human nature.