The First Rule of Business

is to stay in business. Cash flow is just the commonest means to remain so. Be open and flexible to all options. Always in the market there is a short term fool willing to act in ways that make doing the business difficult and unprofitable. In such times, you cannot do well, but you must figure a way to survive. Hogging the media now, I wouldn't be surprised if BP which was out competing many of its peers crash and burn as a result.

If governments play it fair, which they aren't likely to, Goldman Sachs, Citi, Morgan Stanley etc., should also have short lives.

If the government is your enemy, you cannot win. It is better to look for some other business to do.

Thats it. It is the Idols

Ever wonder why you just can't persuade some people on certain things. Likewise they have the same problems trying to win you to their point of view. 99% of the time, it is the idols in our lives. They are the lenses we use to see the world. I was somewhat amused and disturbed as I imagine the terrible time pastors will have persuading their congregations.

There are business and political applications from the insights here. Stroke your audience "gods" and you will have your sale or vote.

Read the book if you want to understand this better. It is also available in our libraries, which is where I got my copy.

The Singapore Dream

There is the American Dream. Is there a Singapore Dream? Not there is, but there was. Too afraid to articulate it now because the future has become too uncertain, which is just simply a more positive spin to we no longer are able to look over the horizon like Dr. Goh was able. Government leaders speak of a brighter future not necessary for the people but for the country. Meanwhile the ideology here that community before the individual makes it convenient for the community, which I suspect is getting smaller in size to push ahead leaving behind many because we cannot slow down for them. Why? Because time and tide waits for no man.

Our leaders might still be good but they are also less able than those before. The trend is not encouraging. Families and individuals have to help themselves better. The government is getting less reliable. They expend the greater of their effort on Businesses, especially the MNCs with the naive belief that wealth created would trickle down. We are not many years far away to learn that is a false premise to run the economy.

A nation with a tired paradigm but unsure what to replace it with.

'Okay' for churches to go into business

What do you expect them to do? Pray? They have prayed more or less and they are convinced the way to go once they get to a certain size is to professionalize and if necessary go into business to satisfy their need for space and growth.

Between money and faith, the former usually wins. Afterward it becomes indistinguishable if it was money or faith.

Can't be helped. People are first and foremost human then Christians. If you still do not follow, i.e., unless they don't have a chance to be human, they will be Christian. In an affluent society like ours you have no lack of opportunities to be human. Once you have seized every opportunity, there is no time left to be Christian. So why pray for deliverance when you have top legal eagle Michael Hwang to act for you? Ok, may be to Mr. Hwang they also add prayer. I don't know.

Flooding more frequently

I thought it was quite an achievement as I listened to the recorded presentation on flood control at the Marina Barrage a few months ago. Forward a few months, it appeared the boast was quite empty.

The system assumes that the drains, canals and water ways would not be clogged. The PUB is in charge of the system but the NEA, a separate agency takes care of keeping our environment clean. I suppose the two do not coordinate their work.

When it floods, the PUB get the brickbats. The NEA has so far succeeded at staying invisible. The PM doesn't seem to address the issue directly. Might as well he had remained silent.

A last big flood at Bukit Timah, the Environment and Water Resources Minister spoke. This time Mr. Yaccob Ibrahim was very quiet.

One Iranian born shop keeper has $300K worth of Persian carpets ruined when flood waters entered his shop in Changi. He complained abut the useless canal at the back of the shop. I supposed he must have had so much confidence in the authorities, he didn't feel the need to purchase insurance.

In the new Singapore, we better learn to rely on ourselves a lot more than our parents lean on the government. Those who have understood Lee Hsien Loong's message of "safe to fail" a few years ago at the annual National Rally Speech are better off.

US: Double Dip?

It is getting less ambiguous: A Double Dip for the US economy. Across the Atlantic, the picture does not look pretty at all given that the Germans do not want to play ball. For now investors chose to ignore the dark clouds gathering. There has been talk of quantitative easing but I don't understand. Wouldn't this just add to a pool of trapped liquidity? What is needed is either biting the bullet (forget it) or more fiscal stimulus. Question is where is the money going to come from? I shall be watching for more wisdom on this.

Amazon.com delivers our order

We ordered a few books from Amazon.com in early May. Up till the 25th, we have not gotten delivery. Estimated time of arrival was the 16th. Two days ago we contacted customer service. The next day they responded and just now, the box of books arrived. Nice, but why it has taken so long?

Responding to my question, the delivery person told me Amazon.com has facilities in Changi South. I had thought Sing Post would make the delivery. I think our national post office has gradually been squeezed out of business.

Why all Science books? Well because they are either too overpriced or not available here. Just science books, the kids wouldn't read. It must be interesting and persuasive. That is why it is so hard to find the right books. I remember we used to own every titles of the Magic School Bus series when they were younger.