When I posted my previous blog entry @ MyPaper blog about How I first met Adam Khoo, the next day I received this comment from one very special person
Reading those comments really bring back old memories of when I was still in University. And it amazed me to realised that I was really a hardworking person.
THE GAME THAT I PLAYED 9 YEARS AGO
I remembered participating in the Cashflow competition. It was back in year 2001. Eventhough it was just a simple competition, but I really took it very seriously. The competition was actually meant for the Business and Finance students. But eventhough I studied Engineering and I knew nothing about Financial stuff, I still thought that I have an equal chance of winning if I just put my time and effort to focus and learn it, and that's why I signed up.
So that was exactly what I did. I did a lot of research, getting as much information as I could just to make sure that I could have the chance to win the competition. And that has helped me to pass the SemiFinal Round. I was so excited ! While preparing for the Final, I thought that I should change my strategy. I thought I couldn't just do the normal thing that I did previously (read forum, learn from other people, etc) but I must also practice and get familiar with the real game as much as possible. So Alva (my boyfriend then, who is currently my husband) and I looked around for people who have the boardgame and see whether we can practice together. At that time, not many people owned it (because it was still new, and it also cost like $300), but we managed to find one person who has it: Donna. Unfortunately, Donna stayed very far from NTU. She stayed at Bukit Timah area. Eventhough the travelling time took us 3hrs plus, we did it anyway. So after school, we travelled to her place and practice there until late at night.
(Thank you Donna! for your generousity in helping us at that time) :)
LESSONS THAT I LEARNED
You might be thinking "Wow! so much effort put just for a simple school competition?"
Yes we did ! But that whole journey really taught me many important lessons. Yes, our group won the 1st prize during the competition, but that's really not the most important thing. I've learned that whatever we want to achieve, as long as we believe, committed and focus, we can achieve it. There are so many resources that we can always tap into, but first we must be humble enough to be willing to learn and go all the way out. We must be willing to put in the effort and the hardwork. And that winning moment, again re-affirm my belief that success is achievable.
It might just be a simple game, but how I react and view it is the same thing on how I live in the real life. Every single opportunity (whether it is big or small) that I have at that time was something that I really treasured and gave the best I could. And interestingly that simple concept has brought me to be where I am right now.
About Merry Riana
Merry Riana is a Millionaire Entrepreneur, Best-Selling Author and Motivational Speaker.In just a short period of 4 years after her graduation, Merry has earned more than S$1,000,000 through her business. This achievement is featured as an article titled ‘She’s made her first million at just age 26’, in The Straits Times on 26th January 2007. In October 2010, Merry was conferred the Great Women of Our Time Award. As an icon in the regional, financial, and educational communities Merry has broken down barriers to become one of the most admired and watched individuals in the media today.
visit www.MerryRiana.org to read more about Merry Riana
Wow, Merry. Thanks for remembering those time
Glad you benefited so much from the game 
Keep up the great work!
Hi Merry,
I was about to prepare myself for tomorrow (FYP presentation, last one!). However, I stumbled upon your update on Facebook and read on this post.
Really glad that I read this before I start preparing myself one last time and rest for tomorrow. Truly agree with your sentence, ”
We must be willing to put in the effort and the hardwork… success is achievable”. Hope that everything that we have put in so far is really worth something.
PS: Our magazine is out! I will deliver to you directly
Cheers,
Desy
Hi Donna, of course I remember !
Those were one of the moments that have eventually shaped my life.
I’m glad that I signed up for the competition when I walked pass Canteen B
hahaha..
And Desy,
All the best for your FYP presentation tomorrow. I’m sure you will score well !
Enjoy every moment that you have now, and involve as many activities as possible while you can.
As for me, those ‘extra’ things that I did during my University have really directed me and helped me to be where I am today.
Amazing, isn’t it?
Hi there Merry,
Stumbled upon this blog thru your link in facebook. Read this particular article of yours and reading of your reminiscence down memory lane brought back some memories.
Donna was one of the girls who was actively helping out Bellum and Doreen in cashflow games during those days. There was another guy with glasses, whom I can’t remember his name now. I remembered her as a very enthusiastic bespectacled girl who was very diligent too.
Are you still in touch with her? Was just wondering how is she doing now? It’s good to know that Cashflow Game has made such a positive impact for you. Congrats!
Cheers,
CK
Hi CK,
Wow! Were you there too?
what a small world 
Besides me, my husband and donna, there is another girl, that match your description, i.e. wear specs and very diligent too. Her name is Chandrawani. Unfortunately I never met her since we graduated, so I’m not sure what is she doing now.
Glad to have connect with you, C.K