What Kind of Life Do You Want to Live?

1. If you had all the money in the world and never had to work again, what would you do with your free time?

Ans: If I have the money, I will spend time:

• Read extensively on management, sales, trading, entrepreneurship and marketing
• Traveling the world
• Spend time with my family
• Do missionary work
• Teach entrepreneurship to third world country

2. If you stopped working today, what would happen to your life? How long could you survive and still maintain your standard of living and lifestyle?

Ans: I may need to downgrade my lifestyle to more frugal. I believe that I can survive for one year without a job living frugally. The standard of living and lifestyle will become very simple.

3. At what age will you be able to retire if you are not already retired? Would you like to retire earlier? When you retire, will you be making more money than you are today or less?

Ans: At the moment, I will be able to retire by 65. I will like to retire earlier at 40 years old. With my present situation, I will not have any passive income and will definitely make less or to be exact zero income upon retirement.

4. Would you rather live a life where you no longer need a paycheck or would you rather live a life where you are always working at or looking for a higher paying job? Would you rather be unemployable or more employable? Which life are you leading today?

Ans: I have lived 3 1/2 years of work looking for a higher paying job and I feel enough is enough. I decided that I am going to live a life where I no longer need a paycheck! I will like to be unemployable. Presently, I am living a life to look for higher paying job. This will be put to a stop and I will need to revolutionize I run my life. 

5. Do you want to live a life where you work hard trying to spend more money because you have too much money or live a life working hard trying to save money? Which life are you leading?

Ans: I want to live a life work hard to spend money. I am living a life working hard to save money.

6. Would you rather live a life where you do not have to work hard to earn more or would you rather live a life where you have to work harder trying to save money? Which life are you leading?

Ans: I will like to live a life I do not have to work hard to earn more. I am working hard now to save money.

7. Do you think investing is risky? Do you think it takes money to make money? would you like to be able to invest without any money and without much risk for very high returns? If you could invest with someone else's money would you?

Ans: Invest has a certain risk. I think it does not need money to make money.  Yes, I will like to invest without money and using other people's money.

8.Who are the six people other than your family that you spend the most time around? What is their attitude toward money? Is it rich, poor, or middle class? Of those six peole, how many will be able to retire you and retire rich? Is it time for you to make new friends?

Ans: TBA

9.Would you rather live a life where you work to become rich building or buying assets, or would you rather live a life working for job security and steady pay check? Which life are you living?

Ans: I want to live a life where I work to become rich building or buying assets. I never believe in working and there is no such thing as job security. I am living the latter, living day to day on a steady pay check.

10. If you were offered a billion dollars to quit your job, would you? If a billion dollars is more important than your job,why not go for the billion dollars? What specifically holds you back? If you would not quit your job for a billion jobs...then why? Could you not use the billion dollars to do more good than you are doing now?

Ans: I will quit my job! I will go for the billion dollars! The safety net is holding me back. The fear and insecurity is holding me back. I will draft a plan and quit my job/or be retrenched. I could use the billion dollars to do more good than what I am doing now.

11. Do you live a life where you make money regardless if the market goes up or down or do you live a life where you live in fear of market crashes and losing money? Which life do you live? Why?

Ans: No, I live a life in fear of market crashes. I do not the financial knowledge.
Year 2011 Jason: I am starting to gain financial knowledge. I am reading every books on trading, attending courses to upgrading my financial knowledge. This is to equip me with new set of skills.

12. Regarding  the subject of money, if you could do things differently, what would you do differently? If there is something you would do differently, why aren't you doing it?

Ans: I will use more money to acquire assets rather than have them put in bank.

When I was still a Kid

Think when you are still a kid.

Think when you a kid, everything is POSSIBLE.
You put the blanker over your back, then you became a SUPERMAN.
You take your mom's broom and ride on it, you became a WITCH.
You climb the TREE, not knowing that you might FELL, you simply MADE IT.
You just had an IDEA and made it happened, because you BELIEVE.
You were then CREATIVE with strong BELIEF.
As you became ADULT, things seem to be a little DIFFERENT.
When you failed in your EXAM, you think," I can NEVER made it."
When you have a BRILLANT marriage proposal, then you think "maybe it is NOT the right time."
When you want to START A BUSINESS, you think "maybe it is NOT AS EASY."
When you already in the BUSINESS, you heard some says DO NOT TAKE THE RISK.
Then when you have a BRILLANT IDEA that, can create more JOBS for poorer nations, can provide a BETTER LIVING for more people, can make our nation PROUD, can help the GROWTH of our nation, and can create a BETTER WORLD and you said, "I am not sure..."
You are still CREATIVE but with more DOUBT.
Then years later, you heard...Someone had the same idea as yours, what makes him different from you?
His ACTIONS.
He put his IDEA into REALITY.
He's the most promising CREATIVE young ENTREPRENEUR of the year.
His ACTION won him this recognition.
Then you started to think, how I wished that I had taken ACTIONS that years ago...
Think when you were a kid, if that IDEA came by when you were still a kid, would you have taken ACTIONS? When back then, you strongly believe ... it is never too late... you just need to have an IDEA and make it HAPPEN.

You still CAN... if you BELIEVE.

CREATIVITY starts from a BELIEF.

1st November 2009 to 29 years old

In one month, we will transit to year 2010. I will be turning 28 years old. In this era of constant changes, we need to embrace changes and accept it as part of life. I have a tremendous urge to succeed faster, I have the capability to suppress what I am having now. I need to heed God's words and live to bring better life to this world. The wealthy can do a lot more for the rest. Thus I need to be ultra-rich to create improvements.

From now, I need to work hard and learn something new everyday. Furthermore, I need to take steps to commencing my business. For a start, I will like to start off with part time business.

I had passed my basic Malay test. I am planning to take up Master of Maritime and Chartered Shipbroker to mark the progression of next two years.

15th March 2010

I am commencing a new job with a small company. They are paying me much better than my previous company. However it is a small setup and lacks a proper system. Therefore I tell myself that I need to bite the bullet and endure until I set up on my own! Look forward and there is no more turning back.

22nd August 2010

It has been six months since I started working with this company. There has been a lot challenges and I have learnt alot from my present company and from how the super achieving people think. My present boss advocates making deals, asking banker to lend you money to invest in deal and getting extraordinary returns.

I was offered the Master of Maritime by NTU but I had turn it down. I came to a realisation that the bosses whom I know do not have any specialised advance degree nor MBA. Further to reading Millionaire Mind, I realise there are a few factors that are critical to success.

The foundation stones of financial success are:

• Integrity - being honest with all people
• Discipline - applying self control
• Social skills - getting along with people
• A supportive spouse
• Hard work - more than most people

From now till end of 2010, there will be another 4 months. I need to set an intermediate short term goal to make this year a fruitful one. There had been a lot trials this year which makes me stronger and I have a clearer conviction in my life.

I strived the following:

• Work : Achieve US$ 1 million revenue
• Family : Dinner every sunday
• Relationship : Find a girl friend 
• Self Improvement : Finish my library of books
• Wealth : Increase by 10% 

17th January 2011
I have stepped into another new year and I am 29 years old now. Looking back to the top of the blog, I was turning 28 and the next moment you are one year older. I am self reflecting what had I achieved out of 2010? What I intend to achieve in 2011?

Review of 2010

• Work : Achieve US$ 1 million revenue => I remembered that I was close. Some of the revenues were not achieved because the contracts were dissolved due to equipment break down.
• Family : Dinner every Sunday => I try to have dinner with family every weekend and talk to parents and sister.
• Relationship : Find a girl friend => I did not achieve this. I was party too much in 2009 - 2010. My health is taking a toll and I am changing the perspective with God in my life now. I think I will get myself  ready as a God's man. He will bless me with a Godly woman, whom will walk the second half of my life.
• Self Improvement : Finish my library of books => No, I did not achieve this. The root cause is I keep buying new books. I should stop buying new books and finish existing ones.
• Wealth : Increase by 10% => I believe that through savings I have accomplished this.

New Year Resolution for 2011

• Work: Establish my network in Australia. I believe in my one month stay in January. I have met up with a few new faces and I am extremely exhilarated through the business development process. This is something which I have looking forward to. I did not like all the paper work when I was with previous company. 
• Business: I have targeted this year to spearhead my first project. I am going to start a website/internet business. I am going to learn how to trade Forex, using Metatrader for six months using a virtual account. I want to make Forex one of my business. I am interested in running an import/export business. I will research on the process and put it into a business plan.
• Family: I will try to have dinner every Sunday with my parents. I need to cast this to stone.
• Relationship: I have no problem talking to a girl on the street but I do not have the confidence to start a relationship. I need to heal myself this year and prepare for the next relationship.
• Wealth: I target to grow my wealth by another 25%!

This year suddenly seems exciting to pursue. I feel that 2010 was a real bad year and I was embroiled with law suit (non-competition clause) and car accident. I prayed to Lord that year 2011 will be the transitional year and a great one to be!  

4th Year

4th Year 2014 Jason at 31 years old


I had finally graduated from NTU with my MBA. It is my personal dream to attain this. In order to cope with my work commitment and pressure was not an easy task at all. I could remember the core modules such as Corporate Finance for Strategic Decision Making, Managing Human Capital, Crisis Management, Scenario Planning, International Finance, Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility, Sun Zi Bing Fa, Cultural Intelligence and Strategic Ledership Development Strategic Communication, Management and Growth Dynamics of the Family Business, with a Business Study Mission to Vietnam.

This was such a breathtaking scenary to attend the graduation ceremony and I know my fellow classmates share the same sentiments as well. I am sure that with the education that I received will widen my business sentiments and open up a different horizon towards how I can expand my business.

Besides busy studying for MBA, I was heavily involved in setting up a joint venture for Jason Marine Equipment Pte Ltd. I had to travel regionally to source for reputable manufacturers to work with and also to visit vessel owners to network with. It was not easy as alot of the manufacturers will question on my company's financial capability. Therefore, I need to sell a vision and how our collaboration will help each other to prosper in difficult and good times. My effort was not put to waste, as I managed to secure manufacturers of work wires, winches, windlass, towing pins, karm fork, shark jaws, smit brackets, bollards, panama choke and ropes. In addition, I would be talking to deck crane manufacturers and offshore food suppliers. The best part of the maritime industry is the vibrancy and the limitless possibilities of business that you could deal with.

I had to work conscientiously to make my mark. Little achievements should not raise my ego and lower my expectations.

3rd Year

3rd Year 2013 Jason at 31 years old


I had commenced with NTU MBA and it was not an easy start. I was an engineer by training and I did not excel in business modules such as Financial Accounting and Corporate Finance when I was in university. I had to put in the additional effort to read up on business textbooks in order to match the pace of study.

At first, it was a culture shock as MBA requires a different approach. Everyone needs to do his part in the research and present to everyone in the class. There was alot of presentations and discussions such that it became a way of life. These had horne my skills in negotiation and increase my confidence towards public speaking.

I had made alot of friends from all walks of life and different countries.They had brought with them aspects of life which allowed me to reflect and sharpen my direction.

This was a fantastic year for me as I had purchased Tembeling Courts and moved in recently with my wife. We were staying in a 3 men bedrooms apartment with 1184 square feet. I used one of the bedroom as my work office and I stored all my books there. They followed me throughout these years and granted me wisdom to life. Both my wife and I have a dog as we are all dog lovers. This was the reason why I invested in a friend's business, he opened a pet cafe and it is our favourite hang out on weekend. I took it further to own a small farm from my Kopi Roti's boss friend. He rented me the space for me to breed puppies and I had hired a group of 5 experienced workers to look after them. I will visit the puppies on every Saturday. Once every three months, I will personnally see the grown up puppies been sold to the pet shops. This will always hurt me as they feel like my children. The pain of separation from the family cut me like a sword.

During the weekdays, I will work from home in the study room. With a telefax, photocopy machine, telephone, cell phone and my mac book, I was happily working from home. I was constantly doing research to understand the latest trend in the offshore industry. Most of the afternoon, I would be calling our my customers and following up on the leads. Alot of times, the effort was gone down the drain but as time passed, I felt that it was improving. I felt the satisfaction whenever I clinched a deal.

Every night I will spend some time to hold my wife in my arms under the moonlight and whisper sweet little nothings.

2nd Year

2nd Year 2012 Jason at 30 years old

This was the turning point of my life. I felt that it was enough and I had equipped myself with the necessary skills and network. With the correct attitude and appitude, I trust my sentiments to step out into the unknown. I could still remember the day I handed in the resignation letter to my director. Both of us had came a long way, I started out as a sales manager in this company and the company was growing by leaps and bound. Nonetheless, he gave me the blessing as he knew that this was what I always wanted. He gave me the blessing and would continue to support me in whatever way he could. I remembered the farewell dinners and lunches.

I set up a website to indicate all the services that my company could provide:

• 
  
  Short and Long term chartering
• Vessel Newbuilds and Development
• Sale Purchase / Vessel Valuations
• Marine Projects
• Marine Consultancy
• Technical Knowledge

As part of the complex process involved in chartering offshore vessels, I seek to perform the following chartering functions that give my customers an unparalleled service: 

• Large Diverse Market Coverage
• Extensive Market Information
• Electronic Position and Real Time Vessel Availability List
• Issue of Short/Long Term Requirements
• Preparation of Technical / Commercial Data
• Technical Recommendations
• Contract Negotiation and Charter Party Advice
• Completion / Issue of Contracts & Tender Documents
• Fleet Analysis

This was the birth of Jason Offshore Pte Ltd.

Let my faith be the light into the darkness.

I proposed and she agreed. Together we had stepped into a different phase in life.

1st Year

1st Year 2011 Jason at 29 years old


I had finally completed the Master of Maritime from NTU and obtained further to that Chartered Shipbroker after the gruelsome two years of mugging. Definitely the training provided was sufficient for me to wander the shipping industry. However, I must be humble as there are alot of experienced people in the industry whom I can learn from. Education is nothing compared to experience. Education allows one to think, learn and apply on situation.

I was constantly on the move. The air stewardesses had lost their charm on me. The airport seems to be my most familiar place and shopping was done at the duty free more often then I could visit Ion. I could still remember the excitement when I first travel overseas in my first job. It was to Banjarmasin and I simply fell in love with the traveling part.

I was traveling to other countries to meet oil and gas companies, discussing with them on their requirement of vessels. I would then gather my team to fill in the tender and submit to the oil and gas companies. Subsequently, I will negotiate with my clients on the commercial and technical issues in order to fulfill their requirement.

I love the meeting up and working with people from different countries. The different culture is simply intriguing and you can appreciate that the world is full of opportunities. People can simply set up a small stall, earning a living from selling sweets and call cards. If they can do it, so can I.