Mid of year 2012

The year 2012 has been a crazy year! And it is not even year end yet!

Earlier this year, Ryan got our bazi reading done and did a self evaluation fengshui of our current house. Don't quite remember what did Joey Yeap's disciple said but basically I would have some luck in networking, business and gambling/investing. Apparently business will come after us to expand our portfolio but real wealth would have to wait.

Career wise, I would have a smooth progression with potential of further promotion or increment. So far, it has been pretty good. But gotta monitor my health. Which is very true, I have been failing sick pretty often after my trip to Hong Kong last year. I have just recovered 2 months ago after a strict diet and medication.

In April, again I went to Kek Lok Si Temple for fun during my annual "cheng beng" prayer to my anchestors. Despite being born Catholic, I don't mind giving my respect at Chinese Temple, and again being superbly superstitious, I draw a divination lot and got it decipher by the monk. Apparently abundance of wealth and marriage luck in the air 0.o

Alpha also took one of the bigger step ever by organising her first and virgin property tour. It was a full 20 pax plus investors from Singapore! Definitely an honour to host them!

Marcus Chu of REIGN & Jacob Tay Co-founder of IProperty also part of the entourage. Guess what, even the Head of Wealth Management of BNP Paribas joined us and now he is our close contact! We are forever grateful to have met people like them!

There are a lot more whom we have met, Mr Ho Chin Soon, Milan Doshi, Juanita Chin, Thomas Ong, Trutz Winter and many more property investors who are very successful in their own respective way. This journey is trully a life changer!

To date, I have organised countless events thanks to great response from fellow investors. Be it property investment or gold/silver investment. My fee is very reasonable and I also work on a commission basis. SOmetimes I work for free just to get names into my portfolio.

What started as a passion has definitely grown into a business! On average I receive at least one email from client seeking my service to join them in organising or a cooperation. However, I need to be careful in who and which organisation that Alpha/MISS is associated with to avoid being seen as bias and losing our stand as an agnostic club. We don't charge any membership fee and MISS is open to everyone be it new or seasoned investor. 

One of the reason MISS is formed was to bring Malaysian investors residing in Singapore together to mingle with rest of the investors and educate those who are less familiar with Malaysia real estate. I heard too many unfortunate stories of Singaporean getting burnt in Malaysia real estate hence, being a Malaysian, I felt it was a calling to debunk the myth! You CAN make money in Malaysia! Get yourself educated, mingle with SUCCESSFUL investors who are familiar with Malaysia and take action. If you do not have enough capital, then co-invest with someone you can trust.

Sometimes you just have to put your skeptism away for a successful joint venture, if you cannot trust your partner, then do not put your money in. And do not over analyse until paralyse. Every investment has its inherent risk, if you cannot sleep then better don't invest. Investment is not for the faint hearted. 

As Ryan and myself have basically exhausted our borrowing capacity, we co-invest with other investors in commercial deal. Believe it or not, none of these investors are my friends whom I know before my real estate journey, rather, these are people whom I met at real estate event. They trust our findings and believe in us. Some merely know us for a week, and willing to join us in our investment! Isn't it amazing! One investor told me, "I don't know who is the developer, I don't know who is Thomas Ong, but if Melissa says it is a good buy, I'll buy". Like wow! Perhaps I should become a real estate agent! Trully an honour!

Another surprise came into my mail box.

An invitation to be part of SMART Expo and we get a table and publicity for free!

Usually event like this would cost S$2-3k for a booth or a table. And we are honored to get such privilege at Marina Bay Sands expo! Usually Alpha tags along with Mr Ho at his event. This time we got a direct access to go under Alpha's name!

And the last sweetener of the day!

I finally got a condo in Singapore!

Okaylah, I didnt buy myself, it is a co-investment with Ryan. Somewhere near city. Will be getting the keys in November the latest!

Thank you God for answering all my prayers and thank you fellow investors for propelling my business to another level!

Okay, gotta plan for my exhibition and redesign my website! Oh boy oh boy! It is good to be busy for your own business!

Featured in Malaysia New Straits Times Property

Patrick of Patchay.Com and myself were interviewed by Nicholas Leong from NST Property few weeks back. It was a casual chit chat rather than a serious interview.

The content are more or less repetitive of my Business Times feature, but any publicity is good for business.

There is another developer launch coming up, price is relatively affordable. Please go to AlphaMarketingSg.com for updates on the deals. You can also sign up as member to get access to the articles.

More Than Just Melissa

The second round of IDRINK outdoor event was a great success. The crowd loves the drink, and one of the customers who happened to own a cafe asked if I supply the banner and all the ingredients! He loves my design and offer to buy my concept (He thought that I own this franchise!).

Mr Geh (Director of Sunway Lagoon Club and HR) even offered me a position in Sunway Group because he admired my entrepreneurial spirit and dedication! He insisted that I submit my resume and will pull some strings to get me in. I do have thoughts of it, but coming back to Malaysia is not part of my plan unless they offer me double of what I am earning now, slim chance though.

Plus, the only thing I know is AUDIT and doubt I am qualified enough to manage a full set of account. Nevertheless, it is great to know that people do see more than just Melissa.

Sunway Flea Market

Are you looking for opportunity to expand your current online business into retail?

I have an avenue for you!

Sunway Flea Market!



Date: Every first Sunday of the Month starting from 6th Sept 09.
Time: 10am to 7pm
Venue: Sunway Lagoon Club House

Package: RM100 per day (One day only), RM80 (3 days), RM60 (6 days)
Inclusive of One Table 5'x2', One Chair, One commercial fan (to be shared ), Half Canopy (Around Swimming Pool area).
Extra: RM10 for electrical point per day.

I am one of the vendor there, and sold out within 6 hours!


(Oh yeah, I look very haggard in this picture, only had 4 hours of sleep the night before).

Email me for more info
chess_gal@hotmail.com

New Logo

One month ago.......


One and a half month later.....
Step by Step.... and I will be there....

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Just now I went out for a business discussion and a round of golf with my ex-colleague (driving range only nia). He was involved in a lot of business venture before joining audit (to kill time, i presume). So he showed me sooo many SOP (Some real franchise... read Mc ....) for all the other businesses that he did and wow, I am IMPRESSED how a REAL franchise is run.

Now am having second thoughts of my plan in Singapore. Too much capital involved and too risky and the return may not justify my time and capital. ROI is too marginal.

Then I came back home and keep on talking about business with Alec.

He was annoyed, initially I thought he was angry cause i went out with a male friend.

BUT, he wasnt.

He was annoyed cause I have been talking business with him for the past 2 weekends. (>.<)

Good Staff

Rule number one of doing business, hire competent and good staff.

Thankfully I only have 1 staff under me who is very competent of course, so not ranting on my own staff but rather on others.

Yesterday, I approach a small and medium size outlet and asked if they wholesale/supply certain products to me on a long-term basis. I am very sure they do cause gut feelings told me so and being a retail outlet, generally they are more than happy to do long term business because there is where the money is.

But this supervisor aunty whom I spoke to, gave me a blank and unapproving look. Seriously if you are the owner of the place, you would have welcomed me with open arms and say YES We do, though sometimes they don't. Anyways, she firmly said they don't, so I demand for the boss's number cause I know she is trying to minimise her responsibilities. More orders, more work for her.

Then this morning, another supplier replied me via email and said, they only supply to events but not to retails on a daily basis. I was erm..., you do delivery, but you only do one off, where your sales will only be worth one day of sales rather than everyday sales. And she doesn't even provide me with solution or alternative.

For a typical business owner, you would have suggested other ways, like supplying for alternate days or come up with some arrange for both parties. Or at least have the courtesy to apologised for not able to help.

So, rule number one, always, always hire staff who can perform despite having to pay them more.

P/S: I realised Msian suppliers are more accommodating and would try their best to close the deal, very different with Singapore based companies.

My Drinkz Bubble Tea

I have been so busy lately that I entirely forgotten about my blog, well, as above, you could have guessed what has been keeping me occupied. And of course with my ACCA exam in 7 days time, I am doomed!!!!

Yup, latest venture, F&B. It was a roller coaster ride, from the very beginning, strong resistant from parents and a partner who has entirely different view from me, dont ask me who is my partner but definitely not Alec. Anyways, I dont wish to dwell further on the partnership. Trust me it was full of dramas.

Today was the first day and honestly there were several hiccups, I forgot to add sugar into one of the customer's drink (My mistake) and the drinks were slightly too sweet.

Reason why it was successful today mainly due to contacts and relatives, so pray there will be repeat customers. Managed to hit my target today but there are still more rooms for improvement, among feedbacks were too slow, too sweet and less varieties.

Wish me well people, and of course plenty of luck. I dont usually rely on luck, but later realised after reading a book, luck is the result of opportunity plus hard work. So Good Luck Melissa!