CHAPTER 1
The Crouching Tiger
I was once called a gold-digger back in the mid-1990s, when a business deal went sour. A well-known property developer sitting opposite me with his board member said it straight to my face.
The Godfather
We had been working together for a few months on one of the projects associated with their shopping centre in the south of Adelaide, Australia.
I was to help revive the shopping centre by designing and merging the empty shops into a local supermarket and a new pharmacy. We were near the final stage of the project, waiting for government approval for a PBS license.
One day I was called in for an urgent meeting with the team at their head office. Excited, I was thinking to myself that we might have some good news. Perhaps the project would get the green light to go ahead.
I loved design and development; besides running three pharmacies, it was my passion.
I went to the meeting alone, without my accountant, who was with me from time to time as an advisor and as a precaution when dealing with a big company.
Little was I aware that the board of directors had made a secret pact with a third party. I was offered a good lump sum of money, $150,000, as a buyout deal. They had made a deal with a bigger company to take over from there.
Little Fish in a Big Tank
I refused, as the project was almost in the final stage. I thought that I had more to gain staying in the game. Pride held me back.
The Game of Power and Greed
I didn't budge. We both played the same game, but remember that in general terms, the strong and the powerful one will generally win. I told them either they could keep me in or I would be out, taking my project with me.
Take It or Leave It
No deal, no game was the final chapter. I was then accused of being a gold-digger.
I was in shock for a moment, not one word of retaliation coming out of my mouth. That was a problem I'd had since childhood. I walked out empty-handed and never returned. The project went down with me.
The term "gold-digger" stayed with me for many years. I had heard this before and vaguely understood its true meaning in the seventies and eighties, just as some people had said "the poppy syndrome" in those days.
The Vietnam War
In the mid-1990s, Pauline Hanson's propaganda against racism, especially against Asian migrants, was at its height. Pauline Hanson, a leader of the One Nation Party, rose to power from the tide of anti- Asian and multiculturalism.
Many Australian protesters were chanting, shouting, and marching on Asian business streets around the country.
Go Back to Where You Came From
Before the Asian settlement from 1971 to 1977, British, Italians, Greeks, and war veterans from World War I and World War II were the major immigrants to Australia.
Southeast Asians refugees are made of mostly Laotian, Vietnamese and Cambodian.
The influx of Southeast Asians to Australia in the mid-1970s caused discomfort to some of the senior migrants, the blue-collar workers.
The Asians had taken up many low-paying jobs. Asian children were keen to stay in school.
Health sciences were their preferred field of interest, with many Asian doctors, pharmacists, dentists, optometrists, nurses, and engineers as the end product of that era.
The Professionals
Equal Opportunity
Up to the year 2000s, equal opportunity in Australia was also in its infancy. Professional women would not get the same fair deal as their counterparts in term of rate of pay, promotions, or equal treatment. Highly skilled intelligent women may fit the bill, but still they struggle to be noticed or praised.
The Housewives' Club
Although I had filed complaints with Equal Opportunity Commission in SA but I didn't get far as I had no connection with the powerhouse or any great lawyer to represent me at the time.
Today you can find plenty of lawyers hungry enough for clients to take up any claims.
No Win, No Charge Policy
Standing alone against the giant can only cause more trouble for you. Without a connection in high society, the chance of taking the big boy on the stand would be doomed to fail.
The Firm
Knowing your position, it is best to retreat and recoup. We need to know when to strike and when to lie low.
In today's market, if you have a great idea, follow it up with a confidante. You can sell your plan or idea for a great commission or fee. There is no need to get involved. Unless you are part of the gang, you have no role, so just roll in what you can for what you have created or invented.
The SEA Refugees
Fear of losing their jobs to the newcomers (the Southeast Asian refugees who would accept any low-paying job without hesitation) made the older group of Australian migrants nervous.
The same story now relates to the Indians, the Africans, and the Middle Eastern groups who came to Australia to work the jobs that many young Australians didn't want; they didn't want to get their hands dirty.
The current migrants and tourist backpackers are happy to have their hands on such jobs as fruit and veg farming, whether picking oranges, apples, and pears or chopping bananas and sugar cane.
The Backpackers
Fear of losing a job, fear of draining welfare benefits, and fear of competition fills the narrow minds of a few who had been brought up with insecurity.
The laid-back lifestyle, with a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other, is no longer competitive in today's society.
While we are sleeping, drinking and bingeing, moaning and groaning, the giant China has taken this opportunity to lure businesses to set up factories in their mainland.
China today dictates the world economy, so be prepared to work together or we will continue to see the influx of cheap and nasty products with the famous logo MADE IN CHINA.
The world has made many Chinese millionaires and billionaires in the last two decades while we are busy disputing social welfare, pay raises, and superannuation.
Conspiracy Theory
The Vietnam War ended in 1975, and 2015 marked forty years. It also marked my forty years of proudly living in Australia.
Home, Sweet Home
The first flood of mostly Vietnamese refugees by boat to the land down under was replayed in the last three years, with many refugees or people smugglers from Africa, Pakistan, Indonesia, India, Iran, and Iraq. They had risked their lives to find a new home in Australia or in many parts of Europe.
Boat refugees from Africa to Europe headed for Italy; Syrian and Iranian refugees went to Germany via Hungary and Eastern Europe. It raised big alarms among European authorities in 2015.
The Boats
Keep in mind that before the Vietnam War, not many Southeast Asians lived in Australia. Many died along the way in high seas, unable to see beyond the horizon. Some had been attacked, robbed, and struck by Thai, Malay, and Indonesian pirates.
Some refugees made it to the seashore; some drowned when their boats overturned. Some were shot on the spot and were thrown down the river or to the deep sea to be fed on by the hungry sharks. Others were murdered or shot for their belongings, such as diamonds and gold.
Good Day, Mate
Their hope and dream was to reach the stars, the land of opportunity of Australia and the liberty of the United States. These two great countries had given Southeast Asians a great start as the next new generation of Australia and the United States in 1990.
The Asylum Seeker
Towards the end of Pauline Hanson's campaign, she became just another puppet showcase.
The New Equal Opportunity Act 2010 had helped the new entrance of women into politics, finance, sales, and corporate levels.
CHAPTER 2
Honey Money
Money is king. The green note, the US dollar, is still the most highly demanded cash around the globe. The rise and fall of the green note affects the world economy, the imports and exports, the war and peace.
The Wall Street Market Share
Money is power. Money helps make your voice loud and get the crowd turning their heads to you. Money is the sign of success, of achievement, a sign of pride and fulfilment.
A Dream Comes True
Looking back at the offer given to me, it was a prime time for a new buyer or investor to enter new business and the property market in Australia.
The life down under was at its height, with plentiful cigars and barbecues, beers and champagne, and rock and roll.
The Land of Plenty and Wealth
In the days where properties around the city of Adelaide, South Australia, such as North Adelaide, Fitzroy, North Terrace, Hyde Park and the College Park suburbs, were valued around $200,000 to $500,000.
We bought property in the city of Adelaide for $220,000, in North Adelaide for $190,000 in the late 1990s, and five acres of beachfront land in Emu Bay, Kangaroo Island, for $30,000.
Today the land would be worth more than $300,000. We sold the land for $50,000 seven months after we bought it.
Twenty years on, these same properties have a value of a mere $1.1 to $1.2 million. With some renovation, the value may go up to $1.5 million. Looking back, I could do well with that money. $150,000 was big money.
Had I done the right thing? One of the lessons I learned was to be more cautious. I should have put more thought into things and gotten some advice first before making any drastic emotional decisions.
Who to Blame but Oneself?
Investment
In today's business world, if you have a good Idea, I would suggest that you do the following:
• Follow up by researching on Google.
• Building it up mentally for fifteen to twenty minutes while resting at night.
• Write in a notebook.
• Take a photo of what you see while going for a walk or a drive. It helps with creativity.
• Record your idea or save it on your computer.
• Test it out by chatting with trusted friends, avoiding people who would take advantage. Also avoid people who would give too many opinions that may cause further confusion.
• Call on Archangel Michael and many divinities to support you and give you a sign pointing you in the right direction. Unfortunately, I was not aware of free advice from the angels at the time.
• Carry with you a tiger-eye stone, tabular crystal, clear quartz, kyanite, or labradorite for protection and a positive outcome. It is also beneficial if you know Reiki, as you can set intention and protection before and after the meeting or planning session.
• Copyright your product, reserving all rights when possible. I did not copyright my project, which was a costly exercise; I had filed the original application only under my name and my company name. Therefore, the project went down with me. It was not wise approach.
• Associate with a lawyer and accountant, good reliable persons that you can count on.
• Keep your project under wraps, with the exception of those people who have genuine interest in supporting you and will not betray you. Your best friend can be your biggest enemy.
• Attend meetings with another person that you trust to ensure you are not alone. You will always want at least one witness. If alone against a wild shark, the chance of being bitten and taken advantage of is imminent.
• If it is out of your comfort zone, pass it on to the right person. It is not a competition; it is about sharing knowledge or handing it over to a candidate who may be interested. If it is successful. You will feel great because it was originated by you. What a feeling!
The Concoction
In early 2005, the owner/director of a finance broker invited me to a Greek dinner at Glenelg, South Australia, to overlook a business deal worth over five million dollars. I enjoyed the chat about how the funding would come about, with which banks, their services, and various charges. His service fees would be around two to three per cent of the loan, so it would be a good commission if the deal went ahead. Penalty charges would also apply if either party decided to back off.
The four big banks in Australia are CBA, NAB, Westpac, and ANZ. The banks make the most money from house lending, not business lending. Business lending is more risky, as fitting and fixtures lose face value with time. The stocks may have to be sorted between the landlord, the insurance company, and the lenders, should the business go astray.
Assets such as home and land are a bank's money-back guarantee. Banks love luring young couples to invest in property. The young couple with little knowledge in accountancy and money matters will fall into the trap.
The Land Mines
If money is tight, spend money wisely to educate yourself while still young. Perhaps take a basic accountancy course, real estate course, and business management course — or consider a new venture in an alternative career to improve financial position.
Rich Dad, Poor Dad, bestselling book
Knowledge is the key to money.
Avoid forcing yourself into debt to keep the salesman and the banker happy. Be prepared to know the way out without affecting your personal life.
Business Proposal
Back to the meeting with the finance broker, after more than an hour of fine dining that included delightful red wine, the finance broker presented me with a legal document to sign to accept the bank offer. The fine writing was nowhere to be seen in the dim light of the restaurant. I refused to sign without going through it once again with my professional team. The gang man was not happy, as his trick had failed him. I had been well trained how to drink wine with my father-in-law, so a few glasses of wine wouldn't be enough to override my precaution.
The Italian Mafia
Some things worth considering:
• Stay focused and alert in the game.
• Be sure not to become carried away with good food and wine. Excessive alcohol consumption can impair your mental alertness, causing you to make bad business decisions. Disagreements and fights may be the result from excessive drinking if not careful. You may not remember what you have said, but your opponent will.
• Be prepared and expect the unexpected.
The Bad Boys
• Be alert and sensible when dining out with other business associates.
• Discuss the subject, but agreements or signing any legal documents should be undertaken in the office with witnesses if possible.
Many businesses use tactics to win over their clients, whether by blackmailing, discounting their service fees, or making a real deal that one cannot resist or refuse. Dealing and wheeling are part of the game to keep the business afloat, to earn another dollar above the other.
The Salesperson of the Year Award
Sell, sell, and sell, just as the sailor sets sail into the unknown horizon to break the world record. Remember that the buyer or the borrowers will pay for all the costs and service fees incorporated in the sale or services price.
The Seller and the Crook
I have learnt drinking alcohol from marrying into an Italian family.
My in-laws and their relatives introduced homemade Italian wine to me during the course of my seventeen-year marriage. Italian migrants of the post–World War I and World War II eras were handymen and hard workers. They still have close-knit family traditions. They also love their bread, their cheese and Salami, and pasta dishes along with their daily homemade wine.
The Greek Wedding
Keep in mind that homemade wine has a high alcohol content, with more than 20 and up to 40 per cent. Homemade wine must be consumed within a year; otherwise, it will turn into vinegar. Homemade wine does not contain any preservatives, unlike commercial wines.
The sulphites and sulphur drugs can cause severe skin reaction, itchy skin, anaphylaxis, swollen face, swollen tongue, swollen knees, and swollen ankles. Over time, the body can also develop metabolic syndromes and other medical conditions.
CHAPTER 3
The Killing Fear
There is so much pressure today in society to live well, to be the winner, to get noticed and get attention, to be better than others, to make big dollars irrespective of the harm done to others, to be accepted in the eyes of friends and family, to be silent. This may cause many to live in denials in the fear of losing position and status.
The Barbarians and the Reptilians
The person can become aggressive or oppressive, loud-mouthed, or speechless.
The Grumpy Old Man
Fear is one of the biggest killers within oneself. Fear can create a massive volcano's eruption within the heart and mind, causing delays in a person stepping forward.
Fear
• Fear of not making enough to survive
The Survivors' Race
• Fear of not making enough sales to meet the quota as set by the company
• Fear of being beaten
The Titanic
• Fear of losing, whether a deal or a contract
The Apprentice
• Fear of losing a child, an item, or a competition
• Fear of not having attention or being praised
Marilyn Monroe
• Fear of blames and shames
The Winners and the Losers
• Fear of being accused for being weak and incompetent
The Accused
• Fear of upsetting others, whether friends, family members, co-worker, or teachers
The Family
• Fear of the inner child shadow
Fear of Personal Failure
Fear of failure has forced many people to do things that are not in their highest good, but they are pressured to do them for the sake of the following:
• Keeping a job
• Making a living (live to work or work to live)
• Keeping a relationship
• Keeping a business afloat
• Retaining sanity
• Keeping welfare alive
