Article by A Youngest Millionaire

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.

PAS beralih angin - kini yakin '16 Sept'

dikemaskini 6:44pm PAS akhirnya yakin sepenuhnya dengan "projek 16 September" Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dengan menghantar lima pemimpin berprofil tinggi parti itu menyertai mesyuarat pembentukan kerajaan baru dengan PKR dan DAP.

Keputusan biro politik parti itu minggu lalu telah pun direstui mesyuarat jawatankuasa pusat parti itu bersama ahli-ahli parlimennya kelmarin.

Selain Presiden PAS Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, pemimpin kanan yang diberikan mandat untuk mengetuai delegasi parti itu termasuklah timbalannya Nasharudin Mat Isa, dua naib presiden Datuk Husam Musa dan Mohamad Sabu serta setiausaha agung Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar.

Selain dikritik akibat berunding dengan Umno, Nasharudin sebelum ini tidak pernah dilaporkan terlibat rundingan bersama Pakatan Rakyat, manakala Mohamad menyatakan keraguannya berhubung rancangan penasihat PKR itu.

Abdul Hadi pula, walaupun pernah menyertai mesyuarat peringkat tertinggi pemimpin PKR dan DAP, dianggap menolak projek perubahan kerajaan Anwar - asalnya diuar-uarkan menjelang 16 September - selepas berkata beliau enggan menjadi "ahli politik Mat Jenin" apabila mengulas kemungkinan beliau dicadangkan sebagai perdana menteri apabila Pakatan mengambil alih kuasa persekutuan.

Rundingan dengan Pakatan sebelum ini didominasi golongan pro-kerjasama dengan Pakatan seperti Husam, Kamaruddin, ketua Pemuda PAS Salahuddin Ayub dan bendahari Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli.

Beberapa pemimpin PAS yang dihubungi Malaysiakini berkata, keputusan menghantar lima pemimpin berprofil tinggi parti dibuat kerana perbincangan ke arah pembentukan kerajaan baru "sampai ke tahap lebih tinggi" yang melibatkan perbincangan dasar-dasar dan persediaan membentuk jemaah menteri.

Salahuddin berkata, keputusan menghantar pemimpin kanan itu dibuat kerana usaha menumbangkan kerajaan BN sudah "sampai ke tahap akhir" dan "setiap tindakan memerlukan keputusan segera".

"Dulu, kita lebih kepada (hal-hal) teknikal seperti (menyusun) agenda bertindak... boleh katakan sekretariat. Sekarang kita berada pada tingkat lebih tinggi yang memerlukan perbincangan tentang dasar-dasar politik," katanya.

Dalam mesyuarat Ahad lalu, menurutnya lagi, perbahasan tentang delegasi lima pemimpin tertinggi PAS berlangsung dengan "sangat positif" dan mesyuarat bersetuju sebulat suara menerima mereka.

Suasana perbincangannya digambarkan sebagai "berterus-terang" dan dalam keadaan "bebas mengeluarkan pandangan".

Barisan pemimpin atasan PAS sebelum terbelah dua berhubung isu pertukaran kerajaan persekutuan, khususnya antara Mursyidul Am PAS Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat dengan pesuruhjaya PAS Terengganu dan juga ahli strategi parti Datuk Mustafa Ali, menjelang 16 September lepas.

Mohamad, yang pernah berkata "PAS bersikap tunggu dan lihat terhadap 16 Septermber", berkata beliau menerima keputusan itu.

"Itu keputusan parti, saya terima," katanya, yang hadir di mesyuarat itu, kepada Malaysiakini hari ini.

Ditanya sebab kelima-lima pemimpin berprofil tinggi itu, beliau berkata: "Hendak pilih lima orang, kita pilih limalah. Kalau enam, kita pilih enamlah. Kalau lapan, kita pilih lapanlah."

Husam - disebut-sebut sebagai penggerak utama dalam PAS yang mendukung usaha Anwar - pula menyifatkan barisan pemimpin tertinggi yang dipilih itu "bukan wakil baru", "tidak ada perubahan" dan "tidak berbangkit".

"Saya ingat salah faham. Tiada yang istimewa," katanya, mengulas keputusan dalam mesyuarat biro politik parti itu minggu lalu.

Sementara itu, timbalan pesuruhjaya II PAS Selangor, Khalid Samad yang dikatakan pihak pertama mencadangkan idea menghantar pimpinan utama PAS berkata "semua khilaf dan salah faham sudah selesai".

"Sebelum ini mungkin ada yang tidak nampak bangunan Parlimen. Sekarang tidak ada khilaf lagi," katanya, yang menganggotai biro politik PAS, hari ini.

Khalid bagaimanapun mendakwa khilaf yang dimaksudkan itu hanya di peringkat teknikal akibat sumber-sumber maklumat yang berbeza antara pemimpin parti.

"Tetapi akhirnya, dengan semua sumber itu, semuanya saling melengkapi," katanya, yang juga ahli parlimen Shah Alam.

Tambahnya, salah faham dalam parti itu mula reda hasil pertemuan Nik Abdul Aziz, Abdul Hadi dengan Anwar di Kota Bharu hujung bulan lalu (foto atas, kiri).

-malaysiakini

Najib: No abuse of power in SMSes, will explain chopper deal

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today said that there was no abuse of power on his part in his exchange of text-messages with lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah in relation to the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case.

"Why must I comment on the matter? The prime minister has said enough," Najib told reporters in Parliament today.

He was responding to a report in Malaysia Today which published exchanges of SMSes between him and Muhammad Shafee over the alleged involvement of political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda in the case.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had said yesterday that he does not believe his deputy would have abused his power.

Earlier today Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim had urged the government to probe Najib for alleged abuse of power, stating that the latest development would affect the government's credibility.

Najib responded by saying that the exchange of SMSes themselves does not suggest any abuse of power on his part.

On another matter, Najib said he will soon explain in detail in the Dewan Rakyat issues linked to the Eurocopter deal which many have said is questionable.

Najib, also the finance minister, rejected the opposition's call for a fresh budget that addresses the current economic crisis.

He added that hewill announce additional economic measures next Monday to manage the crisis.

[Full report to follow]

Petrol Lagi: Yang Ni Betul Kot...

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 - Petrol and diesel will be cheaper at the pump effective tomorrow.

Petrol RON97 will cost 15 sen less at RM2.30 per litre, while petrol RON92 will be 10 sen cheaper at RM2.20.

Diesel will cost 20 sen less at RM2.20 a litre, the Prime Minister's Department announced today.

This is the third reduction since the 40 per cent hike in petrol price to RM2.70 on June 5. The price of crude oil has fallen, it was US$83.73 a barrel yesterday, in recent days due to concerns over the global financial crisis.

-TMI

TP - Malam ni tak yah isi minyak... bawak kereta pelan-pelan dengan harapan minyak dalam tangki cukup sampai esok hari...

Jangan cuba-cuba nak potong kereta depan dengan kelajuan yang tinggi kerana minyak dalam tangki anda mungkin tak sempat sampai jam doblas malam ni...

Kalau nak lagi jimat, malam ni kita pakat-pakat OT sampai jam doblas malam... amacam? dapat jimat duit minyak dan jugak dapat gaji kerja lebih masa... jangan risau... mungkin bos korang pun ikut sama OT sampai jam doblas malam ni...

Esok jangan pulak bantai bawak kereta laju-laju, sebab rege minyak belum tentu dapat stabil sampai minyak dalam tangki kering...

Jimat jangan tak jimat...

Kalau yang naik pengangkutan awam, jangan marah kalau drebar bas dan teksi bawak selor semacam je... depa pun nak jimat jugak... hangpa ingat, hangpa je yang reti berjimat?

Mana satu yang betul nih??? sposen ke duaposen???

PUTRAJAYA: Harga petrol dan diesel mengalami penurunan sebanyak 10 sen berkuat kuasa tengah malam ini.

Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi mengumumkan harga runcit petrol RON97 turun sebanyak 10 sen seliter kepada RM2.45 seliter daripada RM2.55.

Harga RON92 juga diturunkan sebanyak 10 sen kepada RM2.30 daripada RM2.40. Diesel juga turun 10 sen seliter kepada RM2.40 seliter daripada RM2.50.

berita sebelumnya :

PUTRAJAYA 14 Okt. - Harga runcit petrol RON97 akan diturunkan sebanyak 15 sen seliter iaitu daripada RM2.45 seliter kepada RM2.30 seliter, berkuatkuasa 15 Oktober ini.

Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi berkata, harga diesel pula akan dikurangkan sebanyak 20 sen seliter iaitu daripada RM2.40 seliter kepada RM2.20 seliter.

``Petrol RON92 pula akan dikurangkan sebanyak 10 sen seliter iaitu daripada RM2.30 seliter kepada RM2.20 seliter,'' katanya dalam satu kenyataan hari ini.

Mana satu yang betul ni??? diesel turun seposen ke duaposen???

Rege Petrol Turun Akhirnya... 15sen, 20sen

PUTRAJAYA 14 Okt. - Harga runcit petrol RON97 akan diturunkan sebanyak 15 sen seliter iaitu daripada RM2.45 seliter kepada RM2.30 seliter, berkuatkuasa 15 Oktober ini.

Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi berkata, harga diesel pula akan dikurangkan sebanyak 20 sen seliter iaitu daripada RM2.40 seliter kepada RM2.20 seliter.

``Petrol RON92 pula akan dikurangkan sebanyak 10 sen seliter iaitu daripada RM2.30 seliter kepada RM2.20 seliter,'' katanya dalam satu kenyataan hari ini.

'Investigate Najib over text-messages'

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has called for a probe on Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for allegedly abusing his power in relation to the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case.

Anwar’s call came in the wake of an alleged exchange of text-messages, purportedly between Najib and senior lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah over the alleged involvement of political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda in the case.


“Our allegations against Najib - from the murder of Altantuya, the submarines and Eurocopter (purchase deal) to the SMSes exchanged between him and the lawyer - there is no response, no investigation and no report,” said Anwar, when met in the Parliament lobby today.

“So you find there is a case where a public figure wants to be shielded from any investigation.”

Anwar, also the Permatang Pauh MP, said the latest development will affect the government’s credibility.

He called for open investigation to uncover the truth, saying: “How can we accept a leader who is not prepared to defend himself? (But) I am not suggesting anything except for an open investigation.”

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had said yesterday that he does not believe his deputy would have abused his power.

The SMS exchanges were highlighted on the Malaysia Today portal over the weekend.

klik [here] or [here] for more...

MCMC bans live telecast of MCA debate

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has banned the live telecast of the debate between two MCA deputy president candidates tonight.

“We have been advised by MCMC to not proceed with the ‘live’ telecast,” said ntv7 in a brief press statement.

The debate between deputy president aspirants Donald Lim and Chua Soi Lek is scheduled to take place at the Nanyang Siang Pau auditorium in Kelana Jaya at 8.30pm tonight.

"The debate will be recorded and submitted to the Censorship Board for approval for telecast at a later date,” added the three-paragraph statement.

“We apologise to our viewers and all parties involved in this project.”

Ntv7 did not give any reason for the ban.

[More to follow]

2-2 Saling Menjahanam...

Keputusan Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi tidak mempertahankan jawatan presiden Umno, dipercayai telah memberi kesan kepada pencalonan untuk menantunya Khairy Jamaluddin bagi jawatan ketua Pemuda.

Abdullah juga mengumumkan minggu lalu untuk menyerahkan kuasa kepada timbalannya Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak - dari 2010 kepada Mac tahun depan.

Tu berita dari malaysiakini...

Salah lapor... sebenarnya 2-2 individu saling memberi "kesan" antara 1 sama lain... ada Khairy, jahanam Pak Lah... ada Pak Lah, jahanam Khairy... nak lagi tepat?

Ada Pak Lah dan Khairy, jahanam negara Malaysia... nak yang lagi tepat dan bernas?

kalau nak negara Malaysia selamat dari dijahanamkan... tumbangkan UMNO/BN yang ahli-ahlinya terdiri dari orang-orang yang bernafsu macam Pak Lah dan jugak Khairy...

--- TammaT ---

kontroversi terbaru Najib beserta dokumen

Timbalan perdana menteri kini berdepan dakwaan berhubung perolehan peralatan pertahanan baru selepas isu kontrak pembelian kapal selam Scorpene dan pesawat pejuang Sukhoi yang menjadi isu politik besar tahun lepas.

Datuk Seri Najib Razak, sewaktu menjadi menteri pertahanan, didakwa mengendalikan usaha mendapatkan helikopter Cougar EC 275 (lihat jadual) yang dibekalkan oleh syarikat Eurocopter dalam "keadaan meragukan".

Dalam suratnya kepada Najib, sebuah syarikat yang terlibat dalam tender tersebut Mentari Services Sdn Bhd mempertikaikan keputusan kementerian itu yang didakwanya "tanpa menemui wakil penjualnya dan (tanpa) melakukan ujian penerbangan."

"Lazimnya, seseorang yang ingin membeli kereta berharga satu juta ringgit pun akan bertanya berbagai soalan kepada jurujual dan membuat pemanduan uji dua atau tiga jenama kereta sebelum memilih kereta yang paling sesuai," kata pengerusi syarikat itu Kapt (B) Datuk Zahar Hashim.

Menurutnya lagi dalam surat 7 Oktober, proses mengeluarkan surat hasrat (LOI) kepada Eurocopter "agak luar biasa dan bertentangan dengan prosedur yang telah diamalkan selama ini."

"Kami difahamkan bahawa proses penilaian belum selesai tetapi dengan secara tiba-tiba arahan diberi oleh pihak tertentu supaya LOI dikeluarkan kepada Eurocopter," kata Zahar lagi, yang juga ketua bahagian Umno Petaling Jaya Selatan.

"LOI tersebut ditandatangani oleh seorang pegawai paras menengah di Kementerian Pertahanan dan bertarikh 15 September iaitu dua hari sebelum Datuk Seri (Najib) berpindah dari Kementerian Pertahanan ke Kementerian Kewangan."

Dihubungi Malaysiakini hari ini, Zahar berkata tindakannya itu "tidak bermotifkan politik."

Dalam surat tersebut, Najib juga didakwa "menyampaikan laporan yang kurang tepat kepada Yang Amat Berhormat (perdana menteri) Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi."

Selain Mentari Services yang bertindak bagi pihak satu daripada empat penender Kelowna Flightcraft Ltd, kontrak pembekalan helikopter itu turut disertai Sikorsky dan Agusta Westland, selain Eurocopter.

Menurut Zahar dalam surat keduanya kepada Najib pada 9 Oktober lalu, Kelowna menawarkan 12 model Kazan MI-172 KF dengan harga RM898 juta, Sikorsky (RM1.45 bilion) dan Eurocopter (RM2.32 bilion).

Dalam pilihanraya kecil Ijok, Selangor tahun lepas, isu pembelian Scorpene dan Sukhoi SU30MKM menjadi begitu hangat sehingga memaksa kementerian mengeluarkan kenyataan menjelaskannya.

Kementerian berkata semua perolehan peralatan berkenaan mengikut prosedur yang ditetapkan dan tidak membazir.

Ia juga menafikan dakwaan kerajaan membayar komisen RM540 juta kepada penganalisis politik Abdul Razak Baginda, seorang kenalan Najib yang kini menghadapi tuduhan bersubahat dalam pembunuhan wanita Mongolia.

Najib setakat ini belum mengeluarkan sebarang ulasan berhubung dakwaan dalam surat Zahar.

Kepilan dokumen asal :