Month February 2011

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My Read of the Month:

Title: A Gift from a Friend
Author: Merry Riana
Published: 2006
Genre: Entrepreneurship/Self-improvement
Ratings: 3.0 out of 5 stars

Merry Riana is a 30-year old Indonesian entrepreneur, best-selling author and motivational speaker residing in Singapore.

At the age of 26 years old, 4 years after her graduation, Merry became a millionaire through her financial services business. And has since clinched countless awards and accolades.

In her book, Merry shares with readers her entrepreneurial journey and how it all begun. But more than just a rags-to-riches story to impress, this book provokes one to live beyond the widely-accepted and usual route of living a life of a 9-to-5 employee.

Merry weaves in a couple of key principles she practises that has produced success for her and shares them to her readers.

For instance, she encourages readers to pursue a dream or goal in the name of love. For her, she did it in order to give her family a better life. And her stand on integrity and exercising gratitude in life.

She also explains on the power of association which states how we become like those we spend the most time with. And she encourages her readers to have as many friends as possible but to choose their peers carefully. For our key associations have great influence over our lives.  

Overall, her book is easy-to-read and down-to-earth which inspires and challenges one to consider living life more dangerously in order to achieve personal goals and financial freedom.

But as easy-to-read as it is, the lessons of this book might be easily forgotten due to its presentation of contents which borders on being messy. Nonetheless, this book is for everyone and makes a good introduction to the journey of entrepreneurship!

Who should read it: For aspiring entrepreneurs.



Ten years on…

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Ten years ago or a decade back, my life was a huge heap of a mess.

Back then

I was wasting away on party drugs.

On almost any given night, I was popping ecstasy and snorting ketamine just to chase that next thrill.

I was also delusional about the whole concept of love especially after my family broke up.

That left me incapable of love and commitment. Hence, one-night stands were my preferred way of relating to the opposite sex.

I was just some young, wayward and uneducated kid on his way to total destruction. 

I felt alone and saw no hope in life.

Here now

Ten years on, my life is full of renewed hope and purpose!

I am set free from all the vices that had a grip on me including smoking and drinking.  And the thrill I now chase is being in the presence of God.  

Now I’m committed in marriage with a beautiful lady. And the whole concept of love makes perfect sense.

God is love and only in Him can we experience and offer that true unconditional love.

Unfortunately, now I’m  no longer that young. Haha…

But He has made me forward-looking as I know that I’m an empowered child of God on his way to live his life to the fullest of his potential according to His promises.

And now with Him, I know I’m not alone as I’m part of the Church- my spiritual family and I see a great future lying ahead for me. 

God is good!

Living the abundant life

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“I am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live). He will come in and he will go out [freely], and will find pasture.

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd risks and lays down His [own] life for the sheep.”

John 10:9-11 (Amplified Bible)

Achieving our goals

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Most of us will undeniably encounter obstacles as we plan and set to achieve our goals.

More often than not, these obstacles are psychological (and spiritual) and cripple us in forms of procrastination and intimidation.

Lesson from my marathon

For instance, when I ran for my first 42km marathon last year, I was intimidated by the excruciating stretch that the extensive distance demanded of me.

That fear would also lead me to procrastinate in sticking to my regularly regime of training.

But while running, I realised that my goal of reaching the finishing line was static and was not the threat.

The actuality was that I or rather my negative thinking was the real threat coming between me and my goal of completing the marathon. 

Overcoming the barrier

Similarly, the key to achieving our goals is primarily overcoming the psychological barrier between us and our goals.

As mentioned, our goals whether to lose weight; to earn that first million bucks; to snag that promotion; to get attached or to rid off of a bad habit, they are static and just waiting for us to reach them. 

In other words, there is no reason why we cannot achieve our goals if we are willing to invest what is necessary and work hard towards reaching it.

Our goals may be static, but we are not. We have the ability or power to act and align ourselves to achieve our goals.

As a child of God, we need to know our birth right and His promises for a full life in Him. Our goals are only impossible to achieve unless we think and say it is.

Getting ready for Him

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Hello folks! I’m back!

For most of last month while away from blogging, I had been fasting and praying.

Initially, I’d planned on 7-day fast. But nearing the last day, I was led to stretch my fast to 21 days instead.

I was hesitant at first, but eventually obeyed (willingly and cheerfully… haha).

Two main reasons why I had obeyed: First was to seek Him and to be in tuned to His will in this new year; and the other was to consecrate or purify myself for His kingdom purpose.

During my fasting period, I discovered I had unknowingly picked up some ‘dirt’ which had affected my spiritual life. So it was a great time of cleansing of my soul and renewing of my mind as I drew closer to Him.

In this 2011, I’m upbeat about expecting more of God and for Him to move in an unprecedent manner. How? When? I honestly don’t know.

What I do know is He is faithful and true, I only need to trust and follow Him by faith. And that’s enough for me.

I just want to be ready when He moves and opens whatever doors of opportunities for me.