Tip 227: Get a job in 1 month

It is sad to read about the persistently high unemployment rate in the U.S.A. These days, nothing is constant. Gone are the days of life-time unemployment and family owned enterprises with free home cooked lunches around a common dining table with the owner. Hence, daddies need to be equipped with the necessary nimble skills to search for another job if the need arises being the breadwinner of the family. I have my share of stories and tips since it must have been not easy to secure different jobs abroad in Japan, Hong Kong and now Singapore. No time was wasted when I saw signals that the job environment was not rosy. Each time, I succeeded in getting a better job within 1 month or immediately, thanks to God for His grace to accompany my applications.

One method to get a job within 1 month of resigning or being laid off from your existing job, is to prepare in advanced an online resume of your career. It takes time to update your resume and it should not be delayed till you need a job. It takes a while to start on your first thorough resume. After that, you just need to reflect on your career regularly to update new milestones and skillsets on your resume. The next step is to build a foundation of connections. Be proactive in contacting recruiters within a locale or within the industry. First, send them an email with a short introduction and if they would like to review your resume. If they respond, make a point to meet recruiters who likes your profile. Even if you do not have an immediate need for a job at that moment, it helps to be on a databank of a headhunter. Even if the recruiter is overseas, do not hesitate to reach out to recruiters there if you have preferences to work abroad.










Do not expect headhunters to hunt you down if you are not searchable. During the search process, there could be many application forms to fill as a means to knowing you. There could also be many advice to update your resume. Yet, all these processes will only improve your applications.













During my 3 month internship in Tokyo as part of my MBA program, I was determined to secure a job abroad instead of returning home to Malaysia. I spent time searching the internet of the hundreds of recruitment firms in Tokyo and contacted them. I used LinkedIn as an impersonal means to mass email recruiters who have provided their email address to be contactable. As it turned out, 50% of those contacted responded with a thank you and 20% out of those who responded were willing to meet with me. No hard work was in vain as I found out that even those who did not respond have kept my resume and contacted me later. I made a target to meet with a recruiter or any local Japanese friend every day after my job at the intern company. At the end of my 2nd month internship, I finally secured an interview and secured the job in Tokyo, a foreign land that I have only 2 months living experience. Keep applying and keep up the hard work.

Check out another blog I write: http://lifenewcreation.blogspot.sg/2013/05/how-resveratrol-and-red-wine-activate.html to find about a new opportunity to do business anywhere besides building your family's health and wellbeing.















(Photos show the family at the Universal Studios in Singapore, sponsored by AIA)

Tip 226: Live on 50% of income

I previously blogged about ensuring a cash pile of 1 year's income is available in today's volatile economic environment. I do watch The Suze Orman Show, a show about managing money. Suze like me says that she did not grow up with money. The key to managing money is to not let money manage our lives. One method is to only live on 50% of our income. This is a safety net in case one of the spouse loses his/her job, the other spouse's income will be sufficient to cover family expenses.

It is neccessary to build a strong foundation of savings and then only start spending and enjoying money after that. This can possibly go against preferences and philosophies of certain people who believe in living for the moment. But reality is that you cannot be envious of others, but build your own wealth yourself. It really is not that difficult. It just takes some determination to live within your means, or rather 50% of your means.

Be determined to settle all your existing debts with high interest rates. Also, be determined to cut all unnecessary wants and delay them till you have sufficient savings. This can be done with any amount of income. Only invest when you have sufficient savings and the investment money set aside is not for emergency use.

I still remember saving my scholarship allowances every month during my 1 year MBA stint in Hawaii. I cooked meals every day and even volunteered for events to enjoy proper meals and trips. Every month, I will set an unrealistically high target of savings and put all my income into a step up savings account, and be determined to delay my wants till the next income cheque and not withdraw from my savings account. Towards the end, I saved enough for a trip to all the islands of Hawaii and also a cash pile of savings together with a flight ticket to Japan for my next job.

Then, during my job in Tokyo, I saved enough to buy an apartment in central Tokyo within 2 years. I saved enough to get married and now being able to support a family of a wife and 2 kids. All the experiences represented in the photos on this blog are through the most optimised way of spending. I only travel when it is free or through the cheapest available means. None of my wealth is inherited either from my parents or from my spouse. I am the only one working in the family and support my wife's and kid's expenses. Anyone can do it. It is through living within your means - or rather 50% of your income.

(Photos show Haruka goldfish scooping, a traditional Japanese game and playing water at her alma mater, a Japanese playcenter near our previous home in Tokyo).

Tip 225: Fully toilet trained at 2 yrs 9 mths

Halleluyah! I did not expect that day to come so soon when I need not buy diapers anymore. Not quite though, since my diaper purchase starts again in 2011.

I have to admit that I was too anxious, impatient and wanting to rush Haruka to be rid of diapers. It truly is a natural process when reason will take the better of the child as the child understands that if they grow older, they would not want to wear diapers.

Now, even when Haruka has diarhea, she controls it so well that she keeps asking me to take her to the toilet. Dad's job doesn't end. When there is no longer the task of buying and carrying diapers, a new task emerges.

It seemed like only yesterday when I blogged about Haruka being potty trained at 16 months. Yet, even when she could do it, she later refuses as it is convenient when she has well absorbent diapers. Yet, after a few nags and encouragement, one day she just decides to be diaper free.

I think one breakthrough is that Haruka begins to be more comfortable with toilet seats. It may require some courage initially to reach for a high toilet seat and sit firmly on a large bowl. As she could start a habit of using toilets outside the house, she need not depend on using only the potty at home. This habit improves bowel control throughout the day. Hence, parents may be able to quicken the process by encouraging the child to use the toilet seat at home once the child is potty trained. It took Haruka just 2 years and 9 months to be 100% toilet trained and I am very proud of her.

(Photos show Haruka with new found friend, Mihiro-chan in Tokyo at Inokashira Park during her short 5 days stay in Tokyo. Mihiro-chan is exactly 1 year older than Haruka).

Tip 224: Early anticipation of new baby

I wrote in my first blog entry that a corporate welcome by the family to the baby that enters the world may be necessary animal instinct to define who family is. It is as important to the new baby to know his/her family early, as well as the other members of the family to appreciate the arrival of the new addition. A new addition in the family poses new dynamics sociologically to each member of the family. And that includes the eldest child.

It is best to start creating new pictures of loving bond of the whole family to the eldest child. I start mentioning the baby in some of my conversations with Haruka, even if the baby may arrive later 6 months in the future. I encouraged Haruka to learn to be a responsible and well behaved elder sister whom the younger baby can regard as sensei (teacher in Japanese). Haruka proudly nods and tries her best to impress me for a while and forgets after a while her role to leave a good example.

I encouraged Haruka to sing and to read near mummy’s belly, but she has not gathered enough motivation to do so yet. I would ask Haruka if she likes to play with the baby in the future and what games she likes to play with the baby. As Barney says, "With just a little imagination, you can have lots of fun."

Kids these days learn very quickly. Even children under age 2 years old can understand the concepts of baby. I took Haruka to each of Tomomi’s medical check up and she could see the fetus in the womb on the computer monitor. I now remind Haruka each time not to scream near mummy as the baby has ears inside the womb. Though Haruka never listens, but she understands. I will check with the doctor later, if Haruka can be nearby and be part of the delivery process. I was very much involved in the delivery room during Haruka's birth where it lasted more than 6 hours without epidural, but lots of hubby hand holding.

Daddy wants the best possible outcome. Now, the task of managing children is magnified. This blog now exemplifies a more authentic daddy role. Just managing one child as previously, may allow for more idealistic aspirations and little down to earth parenting.

With God’s enabling, I pray that I will be a just and loving daddy. May I learn a few tips from my Father in Heaven to share with all of you.

(Photos show Haruka at two separate medical check ups when I managed to sneak a camera shot. Also, Haruka enjoying herself when she was at Ishigaki, Okinawa in August).

Tip 223: Trust and not Judge

All of us have our preconceived judgments on people, places and things. We sometimes hold on too tightly on the wisdom that life has taught us or the familiarity that lightens our anxiety.

There is truth that a square object would not fit a circular mould. Yet, our judgement is based on a 1 dimensional flat plain of a single time horizon and a particular environment and location. Life can bring lots of beautiful surprises, as our God has a good sense of humour.

Different seasons of life can change a person. New environments can bring the best out of a person and even change them for good permanently. A square ice can certainly not enter a circular mould. But, when the ice melts, it can surely fill any mould. We just need to withhold our judgement and trust in the goodness and beauty of a person. The perfect timing of God has much in store for good to happen when it is hoped for.

I used to have preconceived ideas about the different countries I will work at, even before I step foot on them. For instance, I had thought Tokyo was a dense, crowded and polluted city. My 4 years living there have changed my impression totally. I think Tokyo is an extraordinarily beautiful place which does not feel crowded at all if you know where to hang out. Based on that decision, I even bought a small apartment in the very center of Tokyo which is being rented out now.

I have also heard lots of exciting things about Hong Kong being a nice place to work in. I later found that it can be a gloomy place when the sun cannot penetrate the thick smog and the tall skyscrapers filling the skyline. It can get disorganized in some places when quick aggressive citizens push around in crowded areas and speak loudly and rudely, though this observation came from my wife and I have learnt to see it through her eyes.

This impression left me thinking that all of China is the same, yet I saw the most beautiful blue skies in Beijing when I was there for a week and was wondering where was all the pollution that I was expecting to see. There were lots of green in the large parks and lakes. Now that I am in Singapore, I have thought Singapore was a very orderly and law abiding city, yet there seem to be lots of necessary improvement before it can manage an ever increasing foreign population. Through all these experiences, I have learnt to be less quick to judge, but to maintain an open mind to marvel at what life can present to me.

Yet, what does it mean to trust? To trust is not to have any worries or fear, but patiently, lovingly and joyfully hold on to goodness and whatever God has in store for us.

To judge on the other hand is to rely on our wisdom and experience to decide on right or wrong and not let go of our feelings of shame, guilt, jealousy, fear, anger, unhappiness and doubt when making such judgements. It is never easy to hold on to a piece of square ice and wait for it to melt to fill the circular mould. Yet, if we insist of pushing the square ice into the mould, there will be lots of friction and pain. We may pray that God brings out the sun to melt the ice sooner, rather than later so the waiting can be shorter, yet it is His decision. We can only wait and why not spent it joyfully.

(Photos show the latest attraction in Singapore, Marina Bay Sands Skypark where I won a one night stay. The skyline of Singapore near the bay area is catching up with Hong Kong, and the view at the top is arguably better with clearer skies. Tomomi is in her 5th month pregnancy and Haruka is enjoying swimming and is not scared of heights, but probably annoyed by the Paparazzi).

Tip 222: Living in moderation

We had a dinner at a local food coffeeshop in Singapore. Not a posh restaurant with champagne glasses. Or nice table clothes and silver utensils. Also, it was not air-conditioned. I asked Haruka if she would like to go there again and she said no.

I asked Haruka why would you not want to go there again since the food is good? She said there is no air-cond. Initially, before we sat down, Haruka did not want to settle for this coffeeshop. I had to quickly react by saying I will be ordering juice ... when I asked the coffeeshop, they had lime juice, so I managed to get Haruka seated. Do young children already know how to value ambience and the concepts of quality?

A tip to save money is to start to instill a life of moderation in the child while young, so the child will not need to only have meals in restaurants with Michelin stars. Soon, she will not have the same smile as she had at this photo at the hawker centre with ventilating fans and no air-conditioning.

Beyond saving money is dad's role in instilling in the child the ability to adapt to different places. It is also the need to instill humility and a sense of contentment in any and every situation. Paul said in the bible, "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength".

(Photos show an Easter brunch at Checkers Brasserie, Hilton Singapore complete with Easter bunny, hit the pinata donkey for candies to drop, kids play area where mummy and daddy can enjoy a glass of champagne in peace. Also showing Haruka at Sentosa Island).

Tip 221: Game of Snake and Ladder

Beyond the age of 2 years old, the kid begins to like to be involved in meaningful work or activities that allow learning. If daddy merely accompanies her to watch TV or chases and catches her for a round of ticklish play, she will find it boring after a while. When she begins to be able to count, she will find a game of snake and ladder a competitive time well spent with daddy. Since daddy plays it well with her, it is the only thing she yearns to do together with daddy. If daddy would be kissing her with an unshaven face, she would be running away from me sometimes. Daddy is not so in demand around the house. But, at least there is something that I am good at. :)

Although the child will only fully appreciate the game maybe at age 3-5 years old when he or she can count well and on her own, kids these days learn very fast. I introduced Haruka the game of snake and ladder even when she was just 2 years old. I just played a simple version of it, minus the snakes and ladders so as not to confuse her. We had a good time and she has been asking for more.

At age 2 years old, Haruka cannot count accurately. She can utter 1 to 10 accurately, but sometimes she becomes impatient to identify the objects and count them one by one, though she is getting better as we play the game. Initially, she cannot identify the number of dots and markings on the dice as it takes a careful eye to count the tiny dots. Now, she has mastered it. Then, when we start counting the steps on the boardgame, she does not move on the right boxes. She just counts and jumps the characters around and not on progressive steps on the boardgame. Yet, I noticed Haruka is trying to watch and learn how I am playing it correctly and is still trying to learn this. This is certainly a good lesson in counting and understanding the rules of a simple game. After a few more rounds of playing, when daddy finds the time to sit back and relax at home and play with his little princess, I will introduce the concepts of snakes and ladders in the game. When I am busy, I tend to just want to take the short cut of spending time with my daughter by just running to her and hugging her. She detests that now. The key is spending time with an activity that she enjoys and finds daddy most proficient in.

(Photos show Haruka immersed in the game by counting the marks on the dice and a fine day at Jurong bird park where I managed to persuade Haruka to impersonate a pig for a photo taking contest).