My Blog

A Blog Posted by Singapore ’s Youngest Millionaire

ByAdam Khoo  |

Some of you may already know that I travel around the region pretty frequently, having to visit and conduct seminars at my offices in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Suzhou (China). I am in the airport almost every other week so I get to bump into many people who have attended my seminars or have read my books.

Recently, someone came up to me on a plane to KL and looked rather shocked. He asked, ‘How come a millionaire like you is travelling economy?’ My reply was, ‘That’s why I am a millionaire.’ He still looked pretty confused. This again confirms that greatest lie ever told about wealth (which I wrote about in my latest book ‘Secrets of Self Made Millionaires‘). Many people have been brainwashed to think that millionaires have to wear Gucci, Hugo Boss, Rolex, and sit on first class in air travel. This is why so many people never become rich because the moment that earn more money, they think that it is only natural that they spend more, putting them back to square one.

The truth is that most self-made millionaires are frugal and only spend on what is necessary and of value. That is why they are able to accumulate and multiply their wealth so much faster. Over the last 7 years, I have saved about 80% of my income while today I save only about 60% (because I have my wife, mother in law, 2 maids, 2 kids, etc. to support). Still, it is way above most people who save 10% of their income (if they are lucky). I refuse to buy a first class ticket or to buy a $300 shirt because I think that it is a complete waste of money. However, I happily pay $1,300 to send my 2-year old daughter to Julia Gabriel Speech and Drama without thinking twice.

When I joined the YEO (Young Entrepreneur’s Organization) a few years back (YEO is an exclusive club open to those who are under 40 and make over $1m a year in their own business) I discovered that those who were self-made thought like me. Many of them with net worths well over $5m, travelled economy class and some even drove Toyota’s and Nissans (not Audis, Mercs, BMWs).

I noticed that it was only those who never had to work hard to build their own wealth (there were also a few ministers’ and tycoons’ sons in the club) who spent like there was no tomorrow. Somehow, when you did not have to build everything from scratch, you do not really value money. This is precisely the reason why a family’s wealth (no matter how much) rarely lasts past the third generation. Thank God my rich dad (oh no! I sound like Kiyosaki) foresaw this terrible possibility and refused to give me a cent to start my business.

Then some people ask me, ‘What is the point in making so much money if you don’t enjoy it?’ The thing is that I don’t really find happiness in buying branded clothes, jewellery or sitting first class. Even if buying something makes me happy it is only for a while, it does not last. Material happiness never lasts, it just give you a quick fix. After a while you feel lousy again and have to buy the next thing which you think will make you happy. I always think that if you need material things to make you happy, then you live a pretty sad and unfulfilled life.

Instead, what make ME happy is when I see my children laughing and playing and learning so fast. What makes me happy is when I see by companies and trainers reaching more and more people every year in so many more countries. What makes me really happy is when I read all the emails about how my books and seminars have touched and inspired someone’s life. What makes me really happy is reading all your wonderful posts about how this BLOG is inspiring you. This happiness makes me feel really good for a long time, much much more than what a Rolex would do for me.

I think the point I want to put across is that happiness must come from doing your life’s work (be in teaching, building homes, designing, trading, winning tournaments etc.) and the money that comes is only a by-product. If you hate what you are doing and rely on the money you earn to make you happy by buying stuff, then I think that you are living a life of meaningless.

when shit happens, what should i react?

I tried sit back and cried, but it’s pointless…

There are many reasons that make one fails, but if i can think of even one reason why should i be succeed, uphold it , that is enough.

Haha…I won’t give up…shits…i don’t care..

Starting to find myself…starting to focus on what i really want.

Shit can be Hits…i will prove it.

Now, i have started up my working life…pretty interesting and challenging. I am glad that i have so much.I am putting in effort,i am being a better person. Although nothing comes easy, i have to sacrifice,but i will do it… I have decided, be tougher,be stronger,i will never be afraid… Gambate…I truly wish everyone around me,can be always happy… I will do my best in every parts of my life,won’t neglect anyone,everything that is important.Though it might be very tough, what i want to do…is be tougher! "tough events won’t last,tough people do" *^_^* best of luck to everyone who drop by too Smile, Ee Ling

Yesterday…was an "acceptable" day!

The night before that,11.50p.m my friends asked me to gua tempurung.

When i first heard of it, gua tempurung…"what is that?"

Nevermind,just give it a try,they said is at ipoh,so i just went there,makan makan and jalan jalan i thought.

Next day, auntie,my classmate called me up at 5.20am.."Ee Ling,what time you are coming to pick me up?’

Auntie,it’s just 5.20am…"Wrong time ar,aiya…my clock "rosak" alr…here you go,that’s how i start my day.

Finally,we reach Gua Tempurung then.

There are 4 level,1st easy and exciting, Rm 6. 2nd ,exciting and fun rm8 3rd .Adventurous and exciting Rm11 4rd MOST adventurous and exciting RM 22

My friend and I ,two young ladies…"we shall go for easy and exciting….Auntie,the elderst in our group…"No NO No, we should go MOST adventurous and exciting…

My friend and I look at each other, we know we are in the trouble.

Then, i walk around,try to escape,i look at the picture attach…i told everyone loudly…"see..see..it’s acceptable."

Then,i look…we have a RANGER somemore,acceptable la

there you go, a small and thin malay guy,perhaps smaller than me,coming out from the RANGER room,he said…he is the ranger..OH MY GOD, i think i am going to pick him up in emergencies,instead of him being the ranger…

There we go…we start our journey.When we go into the Gua,he shows us the staircase…"yeah..there is a staircase…is just like visitng museum…i told again, ACCEPTABLE.

Then, the RANGER justnow..He said "Sekarang ada hujan,nyawa lebih penting,kita guna anti clockwise ,kita terjun ke dalam air …

Huh??>?:>L:<.we have to go inside the smelly ,dirty,dark water..It’s UNACCEPTABLE!!!

Not only that…i don’t what is caving until that day…basicly,i taught me how to swim like the crocodile…2 eyes above,whole body wet,including bra and pantis,keep crawling,if you slightly put your head higher,it hits you…

We crawl and crawl…In my heart,i feel like i am joining "survivor"( malaysia version)

It’s about do it now or never.

I keep crawling…when i reach the so called mountain,i have to climb..i climb and climb…it’s so tiring.

It’s so muddy/….another friend of mine says..it’s not muddy,it’s something else…shit…

then,we reach a place where we need to slide down…chet……

i slide down…i heard…."chekkkkkkk…."what is that sound…i touch my butt…Oh My God,my pants..

where is my towel….i use the towel to cover my butt…wrapping it up…my friends asked me why…i even gave them a lame answer,,,it’s cool :p ( i told them afterwards though)

My friends then tease me …who says acceptable….huh..Ee Ling…that is my unforgetable,"acceptable" day..

My lovely pants……bye bye

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of
wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it
was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the
season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of
despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were
all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way–in
short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its
noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for
evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

…when i read the book,i ask myself …what’s going on? Myammar..Si Chuan..My deepest blessing …

what can i do? DO MY BEST..My family,friends..we are the lucky one

Why i say so?

sometimes i may be guilty of not studying hard enough,working hard enough but i realise…just be my best

In the process of being the best,i might lose the thing that i am not afford to lose..and there is no turning back.

Life is once…My friend asked me..What is successful to you?To me,successful is to do my best in the things that i have strong passion ..including my family,friends,my career,my social life,my studies etc.

I told my friend,i am a bit greedy,not trying to be the best in one area,but to be a Master Of Nothing..may be degree for a few things :p

With that, my tension is release ..when you think in a different perspective..Who knows,it’s good or bad…but i know life is flexible..as flexible as water..can be vapour,liquid,or ice…You make the decision

When everyone thinks what you are doing …is a wrong step,wrong choice,will you still continue to do so?

I will,i definitely will,it’s all or nothing…

If i lose,i lose with my own choice,i have faith in my choice,i will work on it…even tougher,even i cannot see the fruits of my choice,i will see the leave,haha…

It’s just a little frustration that i would like to express it out..Haha,happy will definitely go lucky..

Some say Aries lady is very stubborn,once they have made up their mind,they will continue to do the thing that she believes,nothing can make her change…Funny description that i have read in one of the e-mail.

Yes,may be the article is right,all or nothing..*^_^*

Yesterday was a sweet memory…I went to eat the fish that i wanted to eat..wahaha…I am very contented with whatever i have now…happy life?i guess this is the way i want to live my life..Okay,everyone who feels sad?you will be happy like me very soon…gambate..*^_^*

Exam is coming…11 days left excluding classes..

I appreciate this moment that i have to work hard(although this year i am a bit slack)…a lot of things are going on…people talking about where to get the notes,peer pressure…make me wonder why should we do that?

Kia su?It really not suppose to be like that…when we are brought up in a situation that some taught us to be caring to other people while others taught us to protect ourselves…I guess it is just like the studies of philosophy of law…a balance between both…I have to agree to what Hart commented-we have limited altruism…what we can do …i guess…is to create more blessing along the way…

Because of the exam,i have to sacrifice…i accept it…after all,may be,i will just get a cert…a sheet of paper …

Thought of my day:know the blessing,cherish the blessing,create more blessing…

A sincere wish from the bottom of my heart,to my coursemates or whoever that sitting for the exam…All the best…try your best…believe you are the best…examiner will think the same then

Happy and successful…*^_^* cherish the blessing

very good news…i think i was too short-sighted.

I ain’t greedy…it is a process and discovery.

I am glad i know where to go,what to do…

Excellence is achieved through continuous discovery.

I am glad that God knows what to motivate me at the right time.

I am glad that things go so smoothly,i have the best life now…I don’t aim to be perfect,bacause i am having the perfect life i want now…to continue my sharing..my cheese,rich?beauty?No No No…

My cheese is that everyday i can do the thing i want,meet the people i want to,to share my feeling to my loves one,to make my parents proud,to be able to believe that i can do the things i want to,to be able to sleep and wake up at the time i want..^_^ isn’t it amazing? Freedom is my cheese..when i go to work,i might lose this..but i am not afraid,i have the freedom to control my thought…Cheers,happy go lucky…that’s why i am so lucky,don’t read this ,start do the things that you like..You have that freedom!