The courage to do the right thing

The GPS went haywire at this critical moment and I missed the highway exit to Marina Bay Sands. Under torrential downpour, I found myself the only car driving along the entire Nicoll Highway. For a moment I wondered whether everything was just a bad dream!

I had a sudden thought of making a U-turn back home. At the climax of this national mourning time, I wanted to be with my loving husband and kids. The live broadcast of the State Funeral Service was scheduled at 2 p.m. which was exactly the start time of my speakerslot. Who would be in the mood to attend a seminar in an investment tradeshow? Who cares what Property Soul would share about “Dirty Truths and Profitable Secrets to Building Wealth Through Properties”?

But I told myself that I had to show up. And if my session really had no one there, I could go home earlier.

I began my presentation on time and was relieved to see three-quarters of the seats full. There were a few familiar faces I had seen in my previous public talks. When I was halfway through the one-hour session, we had a full house. There were even people standing behind to listen. I was deeply touched though I put on a brave front.

After answering a few questions the time was up. But what followed after I came down the stage was even more unexpected: A lady came with her two young children told me that she was a loyal reader of my blog. A gentleman commented that I made the best presentation so far (I was too ashamed to tell him that I nearly dropped out). A few people said that they wanted to join Property Club Singapore because it was the only neutral platform for fellow property buyers. A property investment author whom I admire came over to pass me his autographed book – their kindness made me speechless.

A month ago, we also ran a full house with 40 participants attending the How to Buy Good Quality Properties 1-Day Workshop. The next day a courteous student sent me a very nice message to thank me for my “generous and unselfish sharing”. What he didn’t know was that it was the participants’ warm response and active participation throughout the workshop that kept me energetic the whole day!

In late 2012, I wanted to write a property investment book to help fellow property buyers who need unbiased advice, like what I was looking for when I first started buying properties in 2002.

I spent hours every day writing non-stop until my fingers went numb and sore. I threw away two drafts and wrote a third one. It took me almost a year to finish the project.

The book was now into its third print with a few thousand copies sold. The publisher and distributor told me that the result is quite good for a first-time writer like me.

But frankly, what I’ve made from this book I can easily earn it with seven days’ work in my full time job. I can give away my books for free. But selling the book at $29.9 is the right price to make buyers read it. And as soon as people read it, I can get my messages across to the public and influence their property purchase decisions which is exactly what I want to see with this book.

It is both a privilege and a luxury to say that I don’t have to twist or tailor my message to please any audience, to target any market or to attract any buyer, but simply to say what I truly believe in.

I can share a decade’s experience investing first-hand in private properties. I can share the tricks and traps hidden from ordinary buyers in the property market. I can share my investing strategies and lessons learned throughout the years.

But please understand one thing: Don’t expect me to tell you what the next hotspot is because I am not working for any property-related company. Similarly, don’t expect me to tell you what I am buying next (unless I let slip of it during my workshop). You can’t possibly get such advice by only paying $29.9 or reading it for free in my blog. Just like no real successful investor will tell you what business opportunity he is currently exploring.

When I was much younger, I set a few goals for myself: Get that attractive title for my career by mid-30s. Own my first private flat by the age of 30. Have a personal net worth of $1 million before 35. Build a property portfolio with x percent net return …

They were all done. But after I ticked them one by one off the list, I felt increasingly at a loss. There was one question that kept flashing in my mind: What am I going to do next?

Should I sit back, relax and enjoy the fruit of my labor? Or should I go and explore other new challenges? Have I been doing the right thing or am I just wasting my time?

Do I have the maturity to think beyond goals that are just about “me”? How do they matter to the people I care? What make them relevant to the society I am in? What have I done for like-minded people who share the same interest as me?

There is a saying that money will only make you more of who you already are. This is so true. Last time I could only buy discounted stuff from Fairprice to cook a simple meal for my flatmate. Now I can afford the best ingredients from Cold Storage to cook a sumptuous meal for a group of friends. My financial situation may have changed. But I am still that same person who lives a simple life.

Money can’t buy happiness. But it gives you the freedom to choose how you want to live your life.

And finally I have the wisdom to understand one thing: Happiness in life is not about being in a position that your capabilities drive you there, that others look up to you to be there, or that the society call it an outstanding achievement to reach there.

You are happiest when you put yourself in the most suitable position where you can add the most value or contribute the most of yourself.

Like what Batman said, “It is not who you are, it is what you do that defines you.”