Big Ego equate No Brain

This morning I accompanied a representative of an international singer from Singapore to scout for a possible distributor in Sydney. We met at 9am and soon realized that it was too early to talk to anyone. We decide to eat. Well, I am a 27 years old gentleman, and as a host, I thought I should treat this person for breakfast. However, there was a problem, I am a poor student. Breakfast for $10 each!!!! That would actually be the budget for a few days.

Thinking that I am very smart, I might at least pay for myself. Unfortunately, he rushed for the check “I will settle this”, he said. Feeling extremely uncomfortable with the idea, I FOUGHT for the change, STUFFED my share of $10 into it, and return it back to him with a SATISFIED SMILE on my face.

He twitched an eyebrow, and forced a smile. I swear it seems like eternity as he counted his money again as he forced another smile. I feel like an ostrich, burying my head. I can almost read his mind, "STUDENTS...........". What a fool I am.

So un-slick.

Well, I could have handled it in 2 ways.

1. Smile and say ‘thank you for breakfast’.
(Gracefully accepting gratitude of the person)

2. I could force myself to be generous at the expense of myself.
(Painfully generous but showed attributes of a good host)

I choose 3. Embarrass myself
(Especially with my stupid grin)

I am pretty sure he wouldn’t stay hungry for the rest of the day if he had treated me. Probably it is just part of his overseas allowance given by his company.

So un-glam.

Talk about social etiquettes.

My only consolation, my name could be on the credits in the new album.

But, I seriously doubt it.

Six - Sigma

“Anthropology is a study of culture in different social………”, this is the first lesson for the year. I look at the heavily Chinese accented lecturer, here we go again, almost monotonous presentation that reminds me so much of my undergraduate days. I did not know my eyelids could be that heavy. Trying to make sense out of what she is trying to say. Everyone else seems not to have that problem. My mind was brought back to reality when the class was given a Quiz, to my amusement I got the highest mark in the course group. That was not so bad after all I guess. Since I am that good, I will withdraw from this class and enroll into something that I can learn more from. This attitude has cost my mom to vomit blood after every semester when she see my results. It is all about learning something new right? No!!!!!! Says my mom. With hugs and kisses, bye lecturer.

It is hard work creating a popular blog. I was smacked left – right – center. Talk about all in the days' work; it is definitely bad for self-esteem. Ego battered. At least I got some compliment, thanks Ernest http://seismic.blogspot.com . Thanks to msn, the highway for criticism, people has no problems getting to you. Thank God for my enormous self-worth. I am still alive.

Lesson 1: KISS – Keep It Short Stupid
Lesson 2: Use publicly understandable English
Lesson 3: Keep the photos of books and the chocolates to myself
Lesson 4: Talk about your half a dozen children, like Karen Cheng
Lesson 5: I need photoshop *wink*
For viewers like you, Lesson 6: "Let the finger do the clicking"

Million Dollar Day Dream

The million-dollar dream. Have you ever dream of quitting your work, with enough money in your bank account to do whatever you like? Sleep in every day, go shopping in Melbourne and then catch the evening flight back to Sydney? Buy the limited edition Jager LeCoultre Master Geographic in Titanium (for those that do not know it is a wristwatch) at a stroke of a pen not even feeling the pinch.

I did a simple calculation, for an average of 15% return in investment on million dollars investments. That will allow you to spend 150,000 a year without digging into your savings. Considering I have a beautiful wife with her flamboyant spending and half a dozens of bambinos with their college education, that leaves us with only enough money for a normal lifestyle. A million dollars is no longer a benchmark of wealth like the 60s.

There are 793 billionaires in our world now. Since last year an additional 102 richies joined their ranks. Being a billionaire might just be the new benchmark for wealth now. What does it take to be among them? Since the launch of the blog yesterday, I have an amazing 73 visits and a grand total $1.31 of earnings. If the blog kept its performance, I would need only 34-thousand life times. A rather encouraging result.

However, I will not give up the billion-dollar dream. Like what the saying goes, if you aim for the stars, you will at least land on top of the Sydney opera house. Prestige is for those who work towards it. So let the finger do the clicking.