I agree that your post do have a point to some extent, however it is full of generalizations and are not substantiated properly with proper sources/ facts.

I have extremely high respect for what you do to empower the lives of so many people through your work. And i think you are an outstanding role model whom the rest of us have much (and i mean MUCH) to learn from, whether it’s in the aspects of wealth management or striving to become a better individual.

However, and i hope you don’t take any offence with this, this post has almost made me wonder if you just want some recognition from our state leaders during the National Day Rally or something. It does not sound as sincere as what you normally write in your other blog posts/ books.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Regards,
Alan

What makes you think that academic success is the final destination for everyone? Besides, you don’t know how many youths today suffer tremendously from academic stress. That isn’t the point but just to let you know…….

It’s “a lot”, not “alot”

I am an Expat (late Gen X or early Gen Y) and manage a business of about 40 staff. All local and all Gen Y. I have worked all over the world and aisa but have never seen such a poor work ethic in my life.

Most of them complain about everything, turn up late every day but cant handle being told they are doing a poor job.

I have actually started firing people and now have a turn over/replace staff policy….’hire 5, keep 2 and let the other 3 go’

By the way, this a fairly decent sales job. Easy sell and people can make $5k without too much effort.

I really worry for this great country. I am looking to fill some mid management positions at the moment but the sad truth is, I have to import from Australia, UK or USA. I simply cant find anyone local who wants to work more than 9.05 – 6pm monday to friday….There is roof for you…I am willing to pay double to import.

Most of Gen Y in Singapore are only ever competitive when they are trying to get on the MRT or lining up for free food….sad but true.

Well said Bro!

Please listen. I am a student, an undergraduate student from the Singapore Management University and as much as all you old timers, working professionals come from a viewpoint of a working professional contributing to society, to your families, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, you are not part of the younger generation of Singaporeans, the very people involved in the crux of this article by Adam.

You can go on and on and on about your observations about what goes on at your level. but you are forgetting that it is the future of Singapore you can talking about. Have you felt it as a student in this era? Have you gone through what students have gone through? Being a parent here does not entirely count. Please face it.

I will give my side of the story, an unbiased account, as a student, soon to join the workforce in a few years. And I have no doubt about what Adam mentioned; majority of our younger generation has no fighting spirit wad-so-ever.

Yes, it is true that this comes as every nation moves along the development cycle, from third world to first. I don’t deny that. It is a phase in national development. But think about it, should we left history repeat itself? Or continue to stress the importance to the next generation the values of honesty, hard work, a drive to push oneself to greater heights?

Crux, yes there are young Singaporeans who are fighting their way out of the silver spoon society of today. But it’s not substantial. I can tell you, that I have seen the world wake up to a rising China. The old continent of Europe in fact, not just foreign talent from India, ASEAN, etc. Europe!

If my friend from Belgian, recognizes that the time of London as a global financial hub is over, then why not a Singaporean? He desperately wants to come to Asia to start his career. Same for another fine young man of North African descent that I know from Paris. He is actively seeking an internship with global banks located in Singapore and he calls the HR department in Singapore himself, and perhaps more banks than most of my peers in school have bothered to do.

Competition is no longer just from our Asian neighbors. Wake up! Even the younger generation on the old continent has seen the light. When will we Singaporeans do so?

Tell me, how many students cold call firms on the street, employers, seeking for job opportunities? Or rather, they just sit and wait for opportunities to come to them! I have seen many people do just that in Singapore universities.

It has nothing to do with proving oneself, it is about being motivated to improve oneself, to not settle for second best when you know you can be the best.

Conscription in National Service was what I resented when I did my national service a few years back. But looking back, on hindsight, I realized that I learnt much more than what an education in university could ever give. The ability to connect with people of various backgrounds, to understand people, to work as teams, and most importantly, to defend what’s my home and my family.

Be ashamed, because I have met people in NS, who resemble the true Singapore spirit. I met a Malay guy in the medical centre, and we just talked. He was a nice chap and he spoke perfect English, not Singlish. But you know what? He did not even complete his PSLE, because his family had no money to put him through school. But did he give up? HE DID NOT! He put in the effort to learn English himself, through reading and writing, learning from his other friends, and i am ashamed, as a Special Stream Student myself, because he speaks much better English than I do, in fact better than most university students do. He wasn’t given the opportunity, but he went out to grab whatever opportunity available. And that to me, embodies the same fighting spirit our forefathers had.

If you were in EM3 as a kid, would you fight to prove yourself like the Malay guy did? Ask yourself this questions, before you give your useless talk about blaming this and that, systems and all.

If I learnt from education, the important thing to learn and to impart is not about systems, not about facts, but rather the values of being a person. For more often than not, it is the people who bring down the system, and not an implosion of the system. EG: Great Depression, Financial Crisis of 2008, etc.

Tell me, which system in the world allows a person from a middle class family to meet someone like that guy I met during my NS days. NS is not a waste of time, it is the people who attend it that make it a waste of time, because of your attitude. And that carries to your attitude in life.

It is a great pity the education system rewards those who have money for tuition to improve themselves, and not those who truly have the drive and determination to improve themselves. But you can’t blame the system. You can only blame yourself for accepting that this is the best you can do, when you know you can do much more.

People will go on and on and on about having a plate they are used to. Used to the comfortable life. Used to the education system. To me, that’s not an excuse.

I always tell my friends, shoot for the stars. It’s all or nothing. I have friends around me who are complacent about their lives. To just have a job that provides enough to maintain their lifestyles. Or to inherit their parents’ wealth. To be frank, there is nothing wrong with that. Everyone is entitled to their own choices, but as long as they are people with the right values, they will still succeed in life.

But to those, who take life as it is, not because they really considered, but rather because that is the most convenient road to take for them. Remember, there is more than one road that leads to Rome, but which road will you take? Or worse still, are you going to simply sit by the roadside and pitch a tent and give up that dream of reaching Rome?

And of course, grades. Oh Singaporean students love grades. Everyone is grade oriented. Society is grade oriented. It is a fact that is hard and cold and here to stay. We are stuck in an endless paper chase from the day we were born, fortunately or unfortunately, as a Singapore citizen. But I don’t believe that the paper chase should be a sticking point for us. It’s a fact, face it, suck it up, and if you don’t have the grades, find another route to Rome.

But it’s not the only thing people look out for in hiring employees. And wait, so are all Singaporeans only aiming to be aspiring employees of some SME, MNC, GLC?

Everyone here talks on and on about working for someone else. So we’re not going to develop any thinkers? Innovators? Entrepreneurs? Face it, we will never have a middle class as large as India or China. Singapore has to innovate, move ahead of the competition – or face the risk of being left behind.

From what I see, Singapore can remain successful, but it is the attitude that Singaporeans need to change. To realize that life is more than what it seems on the surface. To remember, money funds development, but the spirit of people was the foundation of great civilizations. Grades get you to the door, but it doesn’t keep you in the door.

I urge more young Singaporeans, especially undergraduates to speak up, because this concerns our future, and not that our the older generation. While they continue to have the right to express their views, they are not the ones who are facing these challenges directly.

Give enough for your children, but squeeze them and make them work for their own keep. Comfort is important, but imparting the right attitude in the next generation is what parenting is truly about. I appreciate what my parents have done for me, and truth be told, it was my parents who showed me Adam’s article. Yet, they did not come online and air their viewpoints here with other grown-ups.

And you know what, if you believe that Singaporeans are really starting to lose that fighting spirit, then do the younger generation a favor, tell us, enlighten us, and teach us to take responsibility for our own actions, instead of blaming everything else but oneself. If you are a parent, quit babbling here online, cos most likely, your child’s not going to come here and read all the discussions. But he/she is going to appreciate you for sharing with him/her your concerns and the importance of developing a right attitude to life.

And remember, before your finger the blame on anyone, remember that you still have 4 fingers pointing back at yourself.

Regards
Edwin

look around you. people born in the 80′s enjoy the fruits of the labour of those born in the 70′s. people born in the 90′s enjoy those of the 80′s and 70′s and so on. it happens to be a cycle. we continuously elect the stable political parties to uphold the standard of living in our city. we are USED to having things on a platter in front of us. we were born with it.

then you have the audacity to call us spoilt? that singaporean kids have never suffered? when not given the chance to suffer, who will? you have a bus stop every 200m. there’re MRT stations everywhere. you can walk around the streets at night safely. we have a political party that never fails to use the taxpayer’s money to good use. corruption is rarely visible.

academic education is provided from a young age to all at subsidized prices. almost everyone can afford to go to primary schools thanks to bursaries and therefore benefit from basic learning.

these have become somewhat standard in the city state of singapore. and we were born into a world where having a school to go to is normal, being able to travel anywhere due to good connectivity is normal. no, you, adam khoo – you have not suffered as you expect kids today to. what you might have suffered is a minute fraction compared to those who did sweat and toil to make singapore what it is today.

so please don’t come out like a hypocrite and blame singaporeans for not having the hunger for success and fighting spirit. when i was 10, my friend, i could read the newspaper and get angry about this “foreign talent” that we so hold at high regard. why? look at our own education system. we used to have streaming right from the 4th grade! even now, apparently, this continues in many primary schools. 3 possible paths can unfold.

primary 4 EM1 – secondary school express – JC
primary 4 EM1 – secondary school express/normal – JC/poly
primary 4 EM3 – secondary school technical – poly/ITE

the system doesnt even give the chance for late bloomers for succeed, the given reason being that in today’s world only those who are immediately smart survive. right?

when a child is doomed to EM3 what more can you expect of him but to grow up out of ITE, serve the army(if a boy) and then begin to work at a pizerria or a mcdonalds at a mediocre pay? what success is that?

when the system doesnt even give you the chance to bloom?

kudos to the chinese girl who made 290 in PSLE. i always respect hard work. but she had something to prove. she proved that her journey to singapore was not futile. as a singaporean primary school kid, im happy with my PSP, my neighbourhood mall and my soccer at the void deck. i don’t have anything to prove. because everything is in front of me. it’s all there. i’m safe now, the society will keep me steady, i need not learn anything outside this litle well i live in. and i will not bother to get out because im happy and comfortable here in my air conditioned nation.

mate. if i sent you to another country and asked you to work there you would work as hard as any expat who comes to work here. don’t kid yourself. you would want to make your visit as fruitful as it could be. and thats what any foreigner does in our city with great aplomb. and what with our society making it so easy for them?

what does a male singaporean have to look forward to when all he can expect is conscription after 12 years of education in singapore – only to come out distracted, confused, and resting on his high class singapore laurels to not care about studying any further and settling to be mediocre? you dare blame the kids for their situation? when every other kid is just a brick in the wall, you have the guts to say we’re absolutely useless because we lack fighting spirit?

and you, mr khoo, you who tells parents what they want to hear – so that you can continue to make your own capital and sprout the nonsense that you do everyday! you think there are people who can’t see through what you say? i most definintely can! think back to your own life and tell me if you had it hard – yes i know you dropped out of school, but thats hardly a tragedy when it coems to being streetsmart. most people who are in school arent as successful as you are – so kudos to that as well.

but times are changing. singaporean children have had enough of their silver spoon society. the youth, at least, are learning very slowly that their air conditioned nation is not all its cracked up to be. and when that happens, the shit’s gonna hit the ceiling, and those narrowminded adults who like to blame singaporeans for being lazy and silly will take back their words. because if theres one thing singaporeans are, we’re resilient. even if we’re kiasu and lazy, we will come out through the fog that blinds us. i have confidence in my people. i refuse to stand down and let others dictate my life. i refuse to believe that we are any less better than those taking our jobs. because no matter what the system decides for us, one day, someone will be tired of putting up with the actual system where kids are being streamed all the way into national service.

and when that happens i guarantee you, mr khoo, these so called fighting-spirit less singaporeans will have the last laugh.

now i can expect you to say im in denial. why? because you’re easy to figure out. you’re just like the other adults out there who believe they had it hard.

but you tell me who has it hard – the kid who studied in the 80′s with lesser expats who had something to prove or the kids of today who have to compete with other children of all countries to even be above average.

you’re way out of your league, mr khoo. i suggest you revise your facts again before you jump to conclusions. and i leave that message with everyone who agrees with mr khoo here. review your own system before you blame its people.

regards

crux

Bro, I agree that the education system here needs a revamp. The future of a child gets decided at a very young age. The system is very good for the good and hurts a lot for the mediocre and “unsmart” kids.

I disagree to your statement – “You derived your wealth from many locals who attended your trainings or seminars, so please don’t bite the hand that feed you, just because you can squeeze money out by employing FTs”.

Let me tell you this. I had just started work when I took up Adam’s POE course. I attended the preview session and when I got to know the cost, I was stunned. I could have spent that on so many things I wanted. I could have made several trips back to India. I could have got myself a laptop, pda and what not. But no – this was a personal choice and an investment I was making. I come from a middle class family as well bro. And the problem with middle class families is that you don’t have a choice. You have to stick to tried and tested methods because if you take a risk and lose, then you are doomed. So, I was sh*t scared putting that money in this course.

I finally decided to take up the course as at that moment, my guts told me that if there was someone who could help me – It was Adam and Stuart.

I took up the course on my own just as the several people who took it up with me. No one forced the other to take this up and this is how it happens for other courses as well.

Today, I am not a millionaire, I am not financially independent, BUT, Today, I have the confidence to stand up to the occasion, The course helped me earn respect in a company where I was a spec of dust. The change in attitude that this course brought about was phenomenal. They didn’t teach me how to behave, they didn’t teach me what I have to do in office… They made me “AWARE” of where I went wrong!

Now, senior managers consult me! I have driven several process changes against the will of several people – “all locals”. I spent nights awake thinking of making the system better. Now, every single person using the system finds it useful! At one stage, I was seen a one who only makes noise, now, when I speak, people Listen…

I am surprised that you – as a trainer – don’t find Adam’s courses helpful. You probably have your own problems with him, but there are several out there who can benefit from his courses.

I convinced my Vice President to take up his course. I eventually want some specific people in my company to take up this course.

To cut the long story short
- you could have given your name on the comment – instead of “Angry Old Timer”. That kind of shows you are scared and fear comes from the fact that you are doing something wrong
- not all of them come only for money. There are other factors to it as well
- I have been a volunteer for Adam’s programmes and I can tell you one thing for sure, he doesn’t make much money in his courses. The way he takes care of his volunteers is phenomenal. All expenses of the volunteers are taken care of. He makes his money with his books and internet businesses etc. Courses are just to share his success secrets
- If you take a look at the attitude changes he brings out in Children – It’s phenomenal. I had a coach who had a PSLE exam coming up in 10 days and she was volunteering with me. 80% of his coaches are ex-students who come back to ‘offer’ some gratitude
- If you play with stocks/ forex etc. you should have realized that you don’t “create” money there. Someone’s pain is someone’s gain. Adam may have become a millionaire by playing with stocks etc. he could have simply kept quiet like several other millionaires. Why should he come out and share his secrets? There is nothing wrong in him charging more for his courses. End of the day I still feel that his POE course was the best investment I have made in my life so far…

Personal commitments prevent me from going back as a coach/ asst coach. But I will definitely knock the doors of AKLTG again.

Thanks Adam for changing my course of life!
Thanks Stuart for breaking my shackles!

Refreshing because Singaporeans never used to be so vocal when I was growing up there. We just accepted everything – good to see the younger generation questioning accepted norms and conventions.

Troubling because any government that controls the Union movement is doing a great disservice to its own people. In Western countries , trade unions exist for the very reason that most of the bloggers in this site cite, namely: to protect the rights and privileges of hard fought rights and financial remuneration in the work place.

Until Singapore adopts at least a basic Union structure for all employees, it is doomed to remain camping out on the world stage.