Category Archives: Woman’s World

More women are working today than in the past. In today’s competitive world, the towering cost of living makes it harder for us – aspiring women, to mind our own business. We may ask ourselves, “How can we live fulfilling lives, while at the same time strive to become precious assets to our companies?”

THE ANSWER IS IN OUR BRILLIANCE.

It is my honor to be part of this great event, BRILLIANAIRE™ 2011 conference, where each programme is precisely designed to enrich aspiring women today, within & beyond.

Together with these outstanding speakers from Singapore, we will share with you real-life techniques that you can apply for success.

BRILLIANAIRE™ 2011 is a perfect opportunity to gain rare insights from a group of Iconic, International and Impressive luminaries in the marketplace today.

You will be engaged in high-calibre seminar topics that cover key aspects of what it means to be a woman who shines in society, from who you are on the outside, to a unique perspective on the biochemistry of your body.

The exciting two-day programme is designed for every woman to claim her wealth.

Men are welcome to join.

So, what are you waiting for?
Visit http://brillianaire.sg/ today to register and reserve your seat!

See you there !

8th March 2011, the world is celebrating its 100 years of International Woman’s Day. I couldn’t think a better way for me to celebrate that special day other than celebrating it with many great women. That’s why I conducted the 1-day workshop ‘I Am Woman!’

So happy to see that more than 100 women were there during the workshop. Many of them stayed back during the luch break or even after the session, just to ask more questions and also to get my advice.

There’s an old saying: “Teach a man and you teach a person, teach a woman and you teach the whole nation”

Here’s some of moments captured:

See you all in my next ‘I am Woman!’ Workshop and also my signature Woman-Only Program: ‘Woman Extraordinaire’

After months of selection and judging, finally, just a couple weeks ago, the winners of The Singapore Women’s Weekly’s Great Women of Our Time Awards 2010 were revealed.

Category winners were selected by three judges: Member of Parliament, Denise Phua, Social Entrepreneur and past winner of the Great Women Of Our Time Awards Norma Sit, and editor-in-chief, The Singapore Women’s Weekly, Tara Barker.

The Gala Dinner was held at the Four Season Hotel. I came together with my husband, Alva. We were so happy to have met many other great and extraordinary women who were also there during the award presentation. (You can see lots of our photos below)

The most memorable moment for me was when I heard my name was announced as the winner.

I’m very fortunate to have won some other awards in the past, most of them to honor successful entrepreneurs. But, I feel extremely blessed to even win this award, because it honors me as a woman, something that I feel especially proud and grateful to be.

Winning this award has also reaffirm my decision about my focus for the next 10 years, i.e. ” To create a positive impact to the lives of 1,000,000 people, especially Women in Asia”

Thank you again, Singapore Women’s Weekly for giving me this prestigous award !

Grab a copy of the latest Singapore Women’s Weekly to read more about this great event !

Here are the “Behind The Scene” Photos:

More Photos …

Are you a mother who is also a career-oriented woman?  If you are, you may have number of different issues tugging at your heart.  In today’s society, many mothers are fearful of putting their family first, especially in certain circumstances, in fear of losing their jobs.  With that in mind, there are many mothers who are fearful that their children will grow up hating them due to the amount of time they spent focused on work.

Being a mother and a career-woman at the same time, may seem like an impossible task. In the past, I used to think the same way too. Soon I realised that it is actually a very possible thing to do. 

I'm a mother of 2 year old - daughter, and at the same time I also have many other roles at work.
So how do I manage to have both? 

First thing that I do is to set your mindset correctly. For myself, I acknowledge my role as a mom, and I put that as my first priority. Having said that, that doesn't mean that you should just toss your workload to the side and not care.  There are a number of different ways that you can go about being a good parent, while still bringing home an income.  One of those ways involves spending quality time with your children when you are not working. 

For myself, I usually set aside my weekend for my daughter, or if I happened to finish my work early, I would then play with her at home, or bring her out.

Second thing that  I do is to create a schedule for yourself.  Just like you set a schedule for your appointments and meetings, you should also schedule when you want to spend time with them. This schedule can be used to outline any important events that you and your children have planned.

When my daughter first went to her new school, I took a time off for that 1 week to make sure that I was there to accompany her every morning. (Read my previous blog post: Alvernia's 1st day at pre-school)

I will also make sure that I attend some of her important events. One example was during last International Children's Day (1st October 2010), I was there to celebrate with her at her school.

We had fun creating cup-cakes together

Apart from those things, I also make sure I have time for her personal development. I read bedtime stories for her, teach her singing, watching Barney and Disney Channel together, and many others.

Another activity that you may want to think about doing with your children is taking them to the zoo. I love going to zoo.  Zoo trips are fun and exciting, as they often last all day.  What is nice about zoo trips is that they are fun and educational all at the same time.  (Read my previous blog post: One Day at Jurong Bird Park)

There are many other ways how you can spend time with your family. To be honest, it really doesn’t matter what you do.  To your child or children, how matter what their age, they will likely just appreciate the fact that you took some time away from work to have fun with them, no matter what the activity.

I'm not saying that it is very easy to juggle both career and family, because it is not. At the same time, it is not something that is impossible too. With a clear mind, and discipline, you can definitely accomplish both.

If I can do it, so can you!

To all the women who is reading my blog. This one is specially dedicated for you!

Affirmation for Women

I claim my feminine power now

I am discovering how wonderful I am

I see within myself a magnificent being

I am wise and beautiful

I have what I see in me

I choose to love and enjoy myself

I am my own woman

I am in charge of my life

I expand my capablities

I am free to be all that I can be

I have a great life

My life is filled with love

The love in my live begins with me

I have dominion over my life

I am a powerful women

I am worthy of love and respect

I am subject to no one; I am free

I am willing to learn a new way of living

I stand on my own two feet

I accept and use my own power

I am at peace with being single

I rejoice and enjoy where I am

I love and enjoy myself

I love, support, and enjoy the women in my life

I am deeply fulfilled by life

I explore all the many avenues of love

I love being a woman

I love being alive at this point in time and space

I fill my life with love

 I accept my gift of this alone time

I feel totally complete and whole

I givem yself what I need

It is safe for me to grow

I am safe and all is well in my world.

Very touching story about marriage.

Definitely worth your time to read.

When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I've got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.

Suddenly I didn't know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly.

She didn't seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why?

I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn't talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didn't love her anymore. I just pitied her!

With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company.

She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Jane so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.

The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn't have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Jane.

When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.

In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn't want anything from me, but needed a month's notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month's time and she didn't want to disrupt him with our broken marriage.

This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day.

She requested that every day for the month's duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request.

I told Jane about my wife's divorce conditions. . She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully.

My wife and I hadn't had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mommy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don't tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outsidethe door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.

On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn't looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her.

On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me.

On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn't tell Jane about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.

She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily.

Suddenly it hit me… she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head.

Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it's time to carry mom out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day.

But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn't noticed that our life lacked intimacy.

I drove to office…. jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind…I walked upstairs. Jane opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Jane, I do not want the divorce anymore.

She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Jane, I said, I won't divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn't value the details of our lives, not because we didn't love each other anymore. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart.

Jane seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away.

At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I'll carry you out every morning until death do us apart.

That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I run up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed – dead.My wife had been fighting CANCER for months and I was so busy with Jane to even notice. She knew that she would die soon and she wanted to save me from the whatever negative reaction from our son, in case we push thru with the divorce.– At least, in the eyes of our son— I'm a loving husband….

The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves. So find time to be your spouse's friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. Do have a real happy marriage!

If you don't share this, nothing will happen to you.

If you do, you just might save a marriage.Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

2010 has been a great year for me. Not only that I finally hit my big '3'  but it is also because I can proudly have my own Women-Only programme, called 'Women Extraordinaire"

The first run was done last August, and it was simply awesome!

Here's some of the pictures taken

After much preparation …

Many women today find themselves struggling to balance a fulfilling career with other family roles & personal responsibilities. With heavier workloads, increasing expectations & higher demands, women are realizing that life is not a bed of roses & “having it all” is not as easy as it seems.     

And that's the very reason why I created this Women Extraordinaire Programme. It is a 4 days progamme which is designed to help you master the most important areas of your life:

      your emotions, your time, your relationship, your career, your money and yourself!

Day One:

Reconnect With Your Deep Inner Life & Recharge Your Energy 

·         Clearly articulate the most important forces that drive your life

·         Identify your values, passions, and purpose

·         Create and experience a deeper sense of meaning in your life

·         Experience a stronger sense of seIf

·         Boost your self-esteem

·         Live your life on your own terms

·         Experience personal growth

·         Experience more happiness and feel more fulfilled

·         Learn how to love yourself

Day Two:

Discover The Ultimate Success Formula in Relationships

·         Understand the differences in Masculine and Feminine Energy

·         Identify what makes a relationship work

·         Discover the tools for finding and creating a passionate relationship or reigniting passion in your current relationship

·         Master the tools to create the ultimate relationships with your spouse, your family, your children, and your colleagues

·         Become an active listener and how to move from hinting and hoping to actually Saying It!

·         Understand the effective way to understand and expressing love

·         Revolutionize your relationships

Day Three:

Design & Achieve Your Financial Destiny

·         Understand why women, like you and me, love to shop

·         Learn how decisions – both big and small – can help you reach your personal and financial goals or sabotage your best intentions

·         Understanding what does money mean to you

·         Eliminate the ‘impulse-spending’ habit in you

·        Learn how to take control of your finances

·         Identify practical tips to improve your current financial situation

·         Learn steps to achieve your financial freedom

Bring Your Career To The Next Level Through PERSONAL BRANDING 

·         Learn where things are already working for you in your career, and where they’re not

·         Identify your own personal power

·         Leverage on your strength

·         Overcome burnout and over-commitment

·         Make yourself standout from the crowds

·         Increase your credibility at work

Looking Great And Feeling Confident

Learn how to look and feel your best, make a great impression everywhere you go and feel confident in every situation.

        • Your personal identity

        • The key to personal branding

        • How you are perceived by others

        • How your style can support your career

Day Four:

Live The Life You Deserve Anytime, Anywhere!

·         Learn how to use affirmations, daily reflections, and how the law of attraction can be applied in your discovery work

·         Craft your Mission Statement for a Life of Purpose

·         Designing you life full of fulfillment

·         Creating your own map

·         Where are you going? Discover and write your life story

·         Plan more effectively and set appropriate goals for yourself

·         Stay motivated

Last but not least, it's our GRADUATION Day !

I had fun interacting with all the participants, and it really a great joy for me to be able to see how these women has 'transformed' in that 4 days.

If you have missed this event, make sure you attend the next one

COME AND DISCOVER HOW YOU CAN IN FACT CREATE A LIFE YOU LOVE AN DESERVE !

I feel exceptionally honored to be nominated for the Great Women Of Our Time Award by Singapore Women's Weekly .
This is an annual initiative to recognise excellence, leadership and performance in a new generation of women, all of whom they believe are leaders of tomorrow. To be nominated for the same award with these extraordinary women is truly a privilege and a dream come true for me.
 

I’m especially happy when I know that a few of my friends were also being nominated together with me for this award. I’m grateful to have them as my friends and I’m flattered to be nominated together with these outstanding women, many of whom have inspired me in my own journey.

I’m very fortunate to have won some other awards in the past, most of them to honor successful entrepreneurs. But, I feel extremely blessed to even be nominated for this award, because it honors me as a woman, something that I feel especially proud and grateful to be.

The Great Women of Our Time Award is a wonderful concept. While there are many other awards that recognize successful women, this special award honor outstanding women who are making significant contributions to society.
 

The panel of judges include: Member of Parliament, Denise Phua, Social Entrepreneur and past winner of the Great Women Of Our Time Awards Norma Sit, and editor-in-chief, The Singapore Women’s Weekly, Tara Barker.

And the best part is …

                      You can be part of this prestigious event too !

In the latest Women's Weekly (September Issue), you'll see this whole page advertisement, stated on how you can start to vote for the women who have inspired you … and stand to win prizes :)

Vote for the women who inspire you and hey, you might win yourself some lovely prizes over SGD1,778!
One lucky winner will win an exclusive prize, comprising:

 -  Dr. Brandy hamper worth SGD500.00
 -  Award-winning J’s Kérastase Hair & Scalp Ritual & Gemstone Massage worth SGD308.00
 -  Jacob’s Creek hamper worth SGD500.00
 -  Poh Heng diamond pendant with chain worth SGD470.00

HOW TO VOTE ?
SMS to 79797: SWW09G*Code*Name*NRIC*Address*Email.
(Example: SWW09G*Code03*JanTan*S1234567A*Blk123 #01-15 ABC St S807123*jane@hotmail.com)

–>  You may vote as many times for as many nominees as you wish
–>  Readers’ votes plus the judges’ decisions will be used to decide the final six category winners
–>  The nominee with the most SMS votes from readers will win the Most Inspiring Award

I turn on my laptop and about to write my blog, and accidentally I come across this very interesting interview about Miss Universe 2010. So I decided to post about it instead.

This impromptu video interview is done for all the Miss Universe 2010 Finalist. And I've listed down some of our fellow ASIAN Contestants. Here it is …

From Indonesia 

From Singapore

From Thailand

From Japan

From Korea

From China

Although the way their answer the question might not be perfect, but I still salute them for still being able to represent their country at the Miss Universe 2010. It's definitely not easy to be interviewed with such impromptu questions like that, especially knowing that for some of them, English is not their everyday language.

So for that I've decided to comment for every good thing that I saw in them.

Here's what I like the best:

Miss Indonesia: Love the way you imitate the sound effect. You are very creative and animated. Hahaha ..

Miss Singapore: Smart answer and no singlish

Miss Thailand: Best gift received so far? "Miss Thailand Universe". Great Answer!

Miss Japan: Wow! you really speak very well. Confident, Elegant, and yet still Friendly.

Miss Korea: Love your answer about your worst date. It's so funny And you are really beautiful.

Miss China: So young!  you are only 19 and yet you already went so far. Can see that you really like to smile a lot.

  Do you want to be successful ? I bet your answer to that question will be YES !

But do you really know WHY you want to be successful

Well, if you don't have a firm YES to answer my 2nd questions, then I suggest that you really take a moment to really think about it.

 WHY you must be successful? 

Start with WHY !  

Because like it or not, but only when you know exactly why, then you’ll eventually will find the answer to how.

Let me give you this analogy

Imagine I have a suitcase for you. In that suitcase there is $1 million in cash. The suitcase is placed in a building that is about an hour’s drive from where you are now.

Here is the deal: All you have to do is get to this building in the next two hours. If you get there before the end of the two hours, I will hand you the suitcase, and you will be a million dollars richer.

There is one catch, however. If you are even one second late, our deal is off, and you will not get a any single cents at all. No exceptions!

So with that in mind, what time would you like to leave? Most people would respond to that scenario by saying that they would leave right now. Wouldn’t you?

So off you go. You jump into your car and start driving for the building. On the way there you are excited and are already starting to plan how you are going to spend your million dollars. Then, suddenly, the traffic comes to a complete stop. You turn on the radio and find that there has been a series of freak accidents between you and the building and there is no way to get there! 

Now what would you do? Would you give up and go back home? Or would you get out of your car and walk, run, hire a helicopter, or find some other way of getting to the building on time?

I’m sure you won’t just give up easily right?

Now let’s suppose for a minute that you are driving to an appointment at your dentist’s office. The traffic again comes to a stop. Amazingly, there have been freak accidents between you and your dentist’s office. What would you do then? Probably give up, go home and reschedule!

What is the difference between these two situations? It all comes down to why. If the why is big enough; the how is usually not a problem.

I am the real living example to that statement. How I was able to turn my self from a girl who used to survive with just $10/week to a millionaire entrepreneur today, simply by me started with WHY.

(Click on the link to read more)

Truly motivated people are able to identify and tap into the power of a compelling why in everything they do.

     Start with WHY today !