Stand for something! What do you stand for?

What do I stand for?

I stand for The Happy Life Project, and all the great possibilities that it offers to people who can see, or envision, those possibilities.

I stand for the Unicity Opportunity, and its powers to Make Life Better for people all over the world.

I stand for the Unipower system for success - a system that levels the playing field, and enables people regardless of their prior capabilities and socio-economic background, to get any extraordinary results that they can freely set their minds and hearts on.

I stand for the great possibilities that I see for myself and my family - the result, the success, and the lifestyle of a Diamond-rank distributor, to be achieved before the September 2012 Korea Global Leadership Summit.

I stand for the Possibilities and the Success of everybody who choose to succeed in life through The Happy Life Project.

I am the Source and the Cause of all that matters in my life, everything that I wish to create in the days, the months and the years ahead.

I choose to be Responsible, 100%, for everything that happens, and everything that doesn't happen. I give up having anybody, anything or any circumstances to blame, whatever happens.

I am powerful, as the empowered, as well as the empowerer.

I am a Go Giver. I choose to be one, and I claim the results and possibilities of the Laws of Stratospheric Success. That means, I give great value in every human encounter - much more than I expect in payment; I serve many across many territories in our borderless world; I deeply care for others and focus on what really matters to them; I contribute the best of myself, my authentic self, in every situation; and I am ever ready to receive even as I give whatever I can.

In my pursuit of success in life, I acknowledge that I already enjoy the abundance and blessings of God, my Lord, Jesus Christ. I also acknowledge the leverage power of the 4 Partners - Unicity the Make Life Better Company, Unipower the people-enabling system, the Unipower Team, and myself. God and the 4 Partners make the Big Game, light work.

I am Lim Eng Hai, and these are what I stand for. What about you????

Let's Reach Within To Embrace Humanity

On 1st July 2011, I took on being President of The Rotary Club of Pandan Valley for the Rotary Year 2011/12. On the evening of 2nd July 2011, we had the Installation Dinner at The Tanglin Club, in the august Churchill Rooom. I shared the following thoughts with the some 200 guests at the dinner, Rotarians and their family and friends. I said ...

"Rotary, as I have come to know it through my time in the Rotary Club of Pandan Valley, is a fine fellowship of men and women of substance, pooling together time, talent and resources to do good, making a difference to humanity, locally and globally.

This is my choice of 28 words to describe what Rotary means to me personally. You can find these 28 words among other 28-word selections contributed by all our active Past Presidents featured in our souvenir magazine. Please have a good look when you can.

To be in the midst of the many fine people that make up the Rotary Club of Pandan Valley is, in itself, already, a great privilege.

To be given the opportunity to serve as your President adds great honour to that privilege.

I thank all the members for entrusting me with the leadership of this distinguished club, a club which I believe to be one of the finest of Rotary Clubs in Singapore and District 3310. If you agree, let’s have a rousing applause for that.

I accept the responsibility that comes with it. It is the responsibility to continue the good work, and maintain the happy camaraderie that the club is well-regarded for, over the past 28 years of “Service Above Self”, and by our actions and work, to promote the good 100-over years old name of Rotary.

I would like to acknowledge the 14 other Rotarians who agreed to serve with me in the Board of Directors for the Rotary Year 2011/12. I’d like to introduce them all at the end of my address tonight. The group of 14 includes 7 Past Presidents, whose wise counsel we would do well to tap.

I am heartened and encouraged by their support, so readily given when asked for. Thank You! I know that ours is not a lonely endeavor. This is no one man show, not for the President nor for any of the service directors. Instead, it is the coming together of a wealth of experience, great wisdom and diverse strengths and vocational expertise.

With our combined time, talent and treasures, we can do great things.

In the new Rotary Year, we are called by the President of Rotary International, Kalyan Banerjee, to “Reach Within To Embrace Humanity”.

If you were to “Reach Within” now, and what will we find?

I believe that when we do that, reaching within, we will get in touch with our inner man, our own humanity. We will feel our heart and rediscover in our heart a deep desire to make a difference in the life of others. We will find a great capacity to love our fellow human beings, be they family, friends or friends whom we have not yet met.

We will then find it only natural to willingly dig into our treasure box, tap into our time - despite our already being busy with our life and work, and draw upon our respective talents, all for the purpose of doing good and serving others who make up the beautiful Humanity that we belong to, the Humanity that is the greatest Creation of God!

That is why those of us who are already Rotarians are in Rotary.

That is why some of our guests tonight, I believe, will find their way into Rotary, and put their life into the work of Rotary.

If that’s you, please come have a chat with us. Let’s have a conversation to confirm that we have a good fit. The Rotary Club, 47-members strong right now, is open to taking on a few new members this year, just as we have done in each of the past several years. We will never have enough good people. More hands, and more hearts, will make the great work, LIGHT.

In the Rotary Club of Pandan Valley, we do not need to fear hard work. Firstly, because we are doing only our heart’s work. Secondly, because with so many good people around, everyone needs to do only a little bit, and together we can do really a lot of good.

As a fitting close to my speech, it’s my great pleasure to present to you all the good people who have agreed to serve with me in the Board of Directors for the Rotary Year 2011/12. These are the good people who have agreed to step up to the call to Reach Within To Embrace Humanity, and make a difference to our community and the world we live in, through the Rotary Club of Pandan Valley.

Please allow me to present to you …..

1. Vice President, PP Peter Yap (away)
2. President-Elect, Rtn Tan Wah Yuan
3. Immediate Past President, Michael Loh
4. Hon Secretary, Rtn Anil Changaroth, concurrently Chairman of Club Administration
5. Hon. Treasurer, Rtn Alice Yim
6. Directors, Community Service, PP Choe Peng Sum
7. International Service, PP Jeffrey Seow
8. Membership, PP Dr Richard Guan
9. Public Relations, PP Cynthia Tan
10. Vocational Service, Rtn Elsie Chua, concurrently Chairman of Service Projects
11. Club Service, Rtn Rajamohan Munisamy
12. New Generations Service, Rtn Patrick Cheo
13. Sergeant at Arms I, Rtn Dennis Wee
14. Sergeant at Arms II, PP Pang Boon Seng (away)

Please give them all a BIG HAND!

Thank You!"

Dream, Choose, Commit, Begin ... Now!

Sage advice for all of us who have chance upon a great idea ....

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. WHATEVER YOU CAN DO, OR DREAM YOU CAN DO, BEGIN IT. BOLDNESS HAS GENIUS, POWER AND MAGIC IN IT, BEGIN IT NOW."

- By William Hutchinson Murray (1913-1996), writing in his 1951 book The Scottish Himalayan Expedition, quoting the famous Johann Wolfgang von Goethe couplet at the end

Wear Your Name With Pride: You're a Designer Brand!

Gucci. Hermes. Dolce & Gabbana. Louis Vutton. Versace. Then YOU! Your Name!

Yes, you could be a Designer Brand if you want to, I told 27 student leaders at Tanglin Secondary School yesterday during a 3-hour workshop that was part of their 2-day leadership camp.

All you need to do is to live your life by design, not by default. Know where have you been, know where you are today, know where you want to go, then go where you want to go. That makes for a Designer Life.

During the 3-hour session, I got the Student Council members to work through 3 exercises.

Exercise One, think and write one-liners for 3 questions: 1) My proudest achievement todate. 2) My biggest contribution as a student leader. 3) My purpose in life.

Exercise Two, answer two questions: 1) Who is or are your role models? 2) Who or what would you like to be if you could be whoever/whatever you wanted.

Exercise Three, what do you think is the ultimate life-skill, the skill of skills, that will set you up for life. (Write it down, then let's put all your ideas on the whiteboard, and vote on them in two stages.)

So, it was not a "I talk, you listen" session. That made sure that they won't sleep on me in class ;)

The responses were interesting, naturally.

Consider these responses to One: Overcoming the "high elements" (rock climbing) after having failed the first time. Being able to understand what my grandma is saying especially because she slurs badly. Being able to pass my maths finally, after having failed it before. Scoring full marks for this or that subject ...

How about these responses to Two? My biggest contribution as a student leader is raising the flag in front of the school assembly every morning (even though I feel nervous about standing in front of everyone). I like this one - playing the national anthem during assembly. On questioning, we found that all that was involved was pressing the play button!

This contribution reminds me of the story of the New York taxi driver in the book, You Inc, who does his work with so much pride and class and style, unlike the "typical New York taxi driver", that he becomes rich on the generous tips his customers give to him. He is also a happy man on the job.

Some said their biggest contribution as a student leader was to help clean up the Student Council room. Earlier, I had seen a number of them carting old sofas, chairs and even tables to a dumpsite behind the carpark.

I invited the students to think broader, deeper. What do you think about your biggest contribution as a student leader being none other than being "Me" or "The Best of Me". Imagine, my biggest contribution as student leader is Me and what I am, what I stand for, how I live and how I'd like to live out my future today.

Being a "better you" in whatever you do would already be a big contribution, and the beautiful thing is everybody is different. That way, everybody gets to make a unique contribution to whatever they are doing :)

My favourite response to Three, What is your purpose in life, is: "Make people happy in all that I do and put a smile on their faces."

Among the few that needed help were vague responses like this: To achieve my ideal dream. To achieve my goals.

The ideal dream and the goals were unspoken, also unwritten on checking. Hey, boys and girls, if you don't dare speak them out, you won't ever get them. When you do speak them out, be sure to make it specific, make it real, make it heart-felt. Make it sound like something you really like. Then, you are more likely to achieve your dreams or goals.

I was glad to have had this fun opportunity with the student councillors of Tanglin Seconday School

This has been a Service to New Generation project of the Rotary Club of Pandan Valley project. The group of 27 included a number of Interactors i.e. members of the Interact Club of Tanglin Sec. The teacher advisor, who sat through the session with a view to implementing this as a regular feature in the future, is Mr Tan Puay Eng.

Stroke patient Alvin stages remarkable recovery

Alvin Chan, a 31-year-old stroke patient, shows how he is now able to lift his left hand without the struggle, the pain and the contortions of the recent past. It's been just over two weeks since he was introduced to the rejuvenating powers of Unicity's anti-aging drink Enjuvenate.

Within these few weeks, his mobility has improved so much that the nurses at his stroke rehabilitation centre are sitting up and monitoring his progress closely, inquiring about the reason behind his accelerated recovery.

Alvin Chan suffered a stroke in Jan 2008. The blood vessels in his brain burst in three different places. Surgery helped, and another surgery is due soon - to patch back a hole in his skull.

By Alvin's own admission, the stroke was the result of neglect of underlying conditions such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure. He has a sordid family history punctured by similar episodes. His mother died of stroke while his father was disabled by the same disease and is now being cared for in a nursing home.

"I used to think stroke or heart attack happen only to old people. Now, I know better."

He is being proactive now to make sure it doesn't happen again. He wasted little time putting himself on Enjuvenate after being introduced to it by Ms Yap Wee Cheng (seated next to him) who had been volunteering at his rehab centre and giving him free Yoga Therapy. He is also using Bios Life with a view to weaning his body off the dependence on three different medications for high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Alvin is not only enjoying the first fruits of the better health that Unicity's products offer. He has also seized upon the economic lifeline that comes with membership in Unicity.

He used to be a Yong Tau Fu hawker before stroke felled him. Unable to continue with his business or to get a job, he has been living on public assistance and running down his limited personal savings. Then, one day, in a private conversation, he told Wee Cheng he was looking for a way to make money.

He didn't have enough money to open a S$1,000 Bios Life Franchise account. But he trusted and believed us enough to cough up the cash to buy Enjuvenate for immediate use. He also listened well and took action quickly.

In the two weeks that his body has been healing fast, Alvin wasted no time to share the products with his friends - in the home and outside. By Oct 14, he has generated enough sales of Enjuvenate, Bios Life Slim and other products (like SGGC) to upgrade his Unicity account into that of a Bios Life Franchise.

In the short time that he has been with us, Alvin has been a great inspiration.

His experience has also strongly validated a few of the central themes of our business:

1. Our products work. They do for people what we said they'd do.

2. Having no money is not a good reason to not get started. Those who do not have the S$1,000 to buy the products first can always sell S$1,000 of products before signing up for a franchise.

3. Using the products out of understanding and belief in what "trusted others" say, and then believing the products even more out of first-hand personal experience, is a necessary and powerful first step in our business of word-of-mouth marketing.

Alvin, Congratulations! And Thank You!

The future is now bright and exciting!

Bangla Maths grad sweeps floor in Singapore

I recently became acquainted with a Bangladeshi worker who sweeps the floor in my apartment block. His name is Rahul.

I was getting out of my flat and calling out loudly to wifey inside to tell her that I was leaving when Rahul looked up and answered, "Yes Sir?"

I smiled and explained to him that I was talking to someone inside. He continued to look my way as I was putting on my shoes and as I waited for the lift to come up, seemingly eager to strike up a conversation.

So, I asked where he comes from (Bangladesh) and his name.

Then he asked me if I am a teacher and I said, yes. But how did you guess, I asked. He pointed to the book that I had pressed against my body under my arm, and read "The Secret ...?".

So, I showed him the cover with the title, The Secrets to the Millionaire Mind, by T Harv Eker, adding that I teach business, show people how to set up their own businesses and how to make their life better.

I asked him what he studied in school. He said that he is a graduate in Mathematics from Bangladesh's Dhaka University! (I thought to myself, "A Maths grad!!!!") My lift came. I excused myself and wished him a good day.

The little chat left me wondering .. How did a highly-educated Maths graduate from Bangladesh end up sweeping the floor in Singapore's HDB flats? ... Is this a problem of a poor country providing too much higher education and not enough economic or employment opportunities? Is this a problem with universal University education, like what seems to be happening in Malaysia and what I think has been happening in The Philippines? Think graduate maids.

Or is Rahul doing a cleaner's job in Singapore because he gets to make more money this way here than if he tried to convert his Maths degree into a job back home? Which, if so, is kind of a good thing for him, and his family.

Before long, my thinking turns positive and creative as it is conditoned to do, and I am wondering ... Perhaps, Rahul's is a long convoluted journey with many twists and turns which may possibly lead to something great and inspiring for his family, his countrymen and even mankind.

Let me tell you what else I'm thinking ... I want to lend him a little book. Yes, a book. The same book that opened my eyes 7 years ago to an exciting new world of incredible possibilities that I didn't up to then realize even existed. The same book that has since changed my life forever.

But first, I've got to find Rahul - at the right time and the right place with the book on hand.

Strange ... I haven't seen him outside my door again since ... except yesterday morning when we crossed each other's paths in the lobby downstairs, both in a hurry going in different directions. He recognized me, and said, Hello Sir.

Maybe, it's not yet the time for him. I do believe that if what I have in mind is meant to be, Providence will take care of it.

"Welcome to New Hope Thrift Shop"

That's Ms Lilian in the photo, the very pleasant and friendly lady who helps New Hope Community Services run its Thrift Shop, located behind Sembawang Shopping Centre, on a little road named Jalan Serengam.

I dropped in at the shop yesterday as part of our tour of New Hope's shelter and services, and found it a very interesting place, worth a repeat visit, even with family.

Thanks to the contributions of donors, the shop is well stocked with decorative knick knacks, posters and paintings, toys, books, clothes including designer wear, even a set of brand new dining chairs - all because the couple who bought it decided they didn't like it after all. So, they gave it away .... for a Good Cause.

If you're in the Sembawang area, or planning a weekend at the water-fronting Sembawang Park, do make arrangements to stop over at this Thrift Shop. All for a good cause :)

To find out more about New Hope Community Services, go to www.newhopecs.org.sg

Check out this Thrift Shop

Ever heard of Jalan Serengam? Or Jalan Jeruju? This New Hope Thrift Shop is located at the junction of these two roads. Acrosss the road is the Sembawang Presbyterian Church. Not far from it is the road-fronting Sembawang Shopping Centre, your landmark along Sembawang Rd, on the way to Semawbawang Park.

The premises used to be New Hope's shelter for men in crisis - men who have come out of prison or drug rehab, and have nowhere to go, and need a temporary shelter where they can sort out their lives and prepare for their Second Chance. When it became too small, New Hope found a new shelter located very near Sembawang Park, in a good, friendly and understanding neighborhood. That's another story.

If you're reading this article, please accept my invitation to check out this Thrift Shop. Go see if there isn't something you could pick up for a good cause.