Love, Timidity, and Boldness

"…The first symptom of true love in a man is timidity, in a young woman, boldness. This is surprising, and yet nothing is more simple. It is the two sexes tending to approach each other and assuming each the other’s qualities."

Victor Hugo, Les Misérables

Keeping The Dream Alive

I'm grateful that by 25, I am already able to pull together some resources - which by convention would actually take quite some time to accumulate. Had I stayed on the conventional path, it would have turned out differently for me. I've always wanted to make deals. As many as possible. In fact, I am already making a lot of deals. In the Bs. In my head.

‎"Seluruh dunia termasuk Malaysia sedang bergelut dengan arus deras globalisasi. Memang tidak dinafikan globalisasi membawa peluang yang lebih terbuka yang perlu direbut untuk kepentingan negara kita. Pada masa yang sama, globalisasi juga membawa cabaran dan bahaya, lebih-lebih lagi bagi negara kecil dan sederhana seperti Malaysia. Kita perlu merebut peluang khususnya daripada proses integrasi ekonomi dan pasaran yang terbuka. Kita perlu memanfaatkan pengaliran modal, barangan, perkhidmatan, maklumat, pengetahuan dan teknologi yang berlaku dengan pantas dan berterusan untuk meningkatkan kelebihan bandingan atau 'comparative advantage' kita" 

- Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

My first deal of substance should come by 2014. Or early 2015. I haven't identified anything specific as yet. But I would like to stay in the construction business. The timing to launch something then is actually quite perfect. By 2015, ASEAN is going to form the Asean Economic Community. It is going to open up an economy of 600 million people. Many people haven't seen this coming. But it is what it is - a huge potential for those within and without.

I love to live large. That's why the next couple of months is going to be something exciting. As an update, it is highly likely that it won't be necessary for me to move to Vienna although the company which I'm working with - M*ndi AG - is actually located there. So I will still be visiting the city every now and then throughout this period. No rules shall be broken and I can be quite open about it from now on. And I'm expecting a truly international experience. Because this particular project I'm working on will require me to make travel(s) to the Czech Republic as well - in order to study a system developed by another company. I am grateful that my professor - whom I truly admire - has given me this great opportunity to grow.

While I was on my way back to Germany last September, I had a long transit in Dubai. I met a Cypriot businessman and since we both didn't know what to do, had a long nocturnal chat over Burger King. He imports poultry from Nigeria to Cyprus. Among other things. He actually advised me to work in Germany for a couple of years in order to gather capital and experience. It's a nice idea which is worth considering. What I found great was the nature of his business. It takes foresight and a view beyond the borders of your own country to be able to do that. In the ASEAN context, my eyes are set on Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia (of course), and Indonesia.

Keep on dreaming and taking actions!

Transcendence of Comfort Zone

Risk-taking is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it poses an array of possibilities which may encompass loss, the undoing of efforts, and at its most extreme, being detrimental to the whole existence of an entity. On the other hand, it offers you the chance to progress beyond your current capacities.

To remain within a familiar territory is without doubt the path with the least resistance. It is after all, something that used to be foreign - and like every other uncharted territory, was easily not the easiest to adapt to. And because the world is a big place, eternally remaining under the proverbial 'tempurung' should never be an option. There is just too much that we might miss out on.

Competitiveness is when you know you are up to the challenges that the world has to offer. But before that, the challenges themselves have to be recognized. There is no better way to recognize them than through the gift of experience.

So when my professor offered for me to write my thesis at a specific company located in a great European city last November, my imaginations ran wild. Despite of the hurdles. Which include having to keep it a highly discreet move for an avoidance of conflicts with certain parties. All because I was given an offer I couldn't refuse.

P/S: My thesis, by the way, would revolve on the topic of risk management.

The Invisible Hands

'The invisible hand' is a metaphor coined in economics to explain the self-regulating behavior of the marketplace. The term has also been interpreted in a totally different manner such as the possibility of cooperation without coercion. Since I am no Merriam nor Webster, it is however not a prerogative of mine to pinpoint an exact definition for it.

The whole point of action is so that we may eventually get results. Sometimes we can get things done in a way that is conspicuous - possibly to garner support and goodwill. At other times, we can do things silently - devoid of spectacle and hullabaloos and most importantly, free from anyone's radar.

So which is the correct route to take? If you ask me, none of them. There is only a perfect situation for each street. Or there is a perfect personality for each path.

Basically, choose your own hands.

First Property Purchase

It has always been my dream to venture out into property investment. There are many other ways how you can make or lose money out there but I think real estate appeals to me the most. As a fan of Donald Trump's business acumen, I've read most of his books. As he put it, owning a property means you can either 'live in it, rent it, or sell it'.

This year this dream of mine came true - against all odds. Firstly, I haven't started working yet so that means it is difficult for banks to let me borrow their money. Secondly, some banks that I have corresponded with are of the opinion that the property's market value is higher that what it's really worth for. Does it sound like a bad deal? In my opinion, not necessarily.

The property is located adjacent to an expanding university. In a couple of years' time, I project that the demand for accommodation in this area is going to soar. Property prices in this area are going to benefit accordingly. By that time, current circumstances will decide what course of action should be taken next.

The loan for this apartment, priced at RM 1XX,XXX, was acquired through the assistance of my mother. Even so, I take full responsibility towards the monthly installment. Since she is retired, the lending bank is exercising a higher rate of interest than the conventional home loan.

So what's the catch? My plan is to utilize the refinancing cash-out instrument to repay the loan, taken by my mother on my behalf, as soon as I start working. Until then, this property is going to generate a negative cashflow which foreseeably is going to be covered by the refinancing later.

The thing about planning is that you hope there is as little deviation on the part of execution as possible.