Investment Tips or Hypes?

I was clearing my mounting pile of mails and came across a newsletter from a local bank on investment.

The key message is: Time and NOT timing is key to successful long term investing

The article carried a chart of the MSCI Work Index and the impact on the index by missing the 30 best days each year. Through peaks and troughs, it is clear that missing out on 30 best days can be detrimental to the overall portfolio value.

The ride can be bumpy and sometimes is hard to stay the course, although the logic is clear.

What would be good investment strategy if time and not timing is key?

Reunion with the Principal who gave me a 2nd chance...

Today, after 25 years, I met up with Mr Rudy Mosbergen, the ex-RJC Principal who gave me a second chance and changed the trajectory of my life.

I am indeed thankful to my ex-colleague from SGH Mumtaj who helped made the connection through a friend of a friend who knew Mr Mosbergen's son Nigel.

It was a simple reunion today at the Delifrance of the Toa Payoh HDB Hub. I ordered a Coke-lite and a tuna puff for Mr Mosbergen and I took a regular coke. I was so happy to see Mr Mosbergen and I could tell he was happy to meet me as well. He showed me a print-out of the tribute to him that I wrote in my Teacher's Day blog in 2008, and he said he underlined the most important things in there. I took a look at the printout and found out that he highlighted in blue the following:

(a) His favourite quotes to students "The mind is a terrible thing to waste"

(b) My name

(c) ...that I am the CEO of Jurong General Hospital.

We shared anecdotes of our lives over the last 25 years. Before we departed, he handed a copy of his book "In the Grip of a Crisis" which he personally autographed. It was at that time that I realised that he is much more than most would know - he is not only an author but also a songwriter, and an ex-national olympian in hockey.

I gave him a little token in crystal of a nurturing bird looking after a younger bird. On it I engraved the words "Specially Dedicated to Mr Rudy Mosbergen, Ex-RJC Principal...Because you gave me a second chance, I could be who I am today...Foo Hee Jug RJC Class of 1984".

Let's give others a second chance, you never know the kind of impact it can mean to them...

Lonely...

A forgotten banana left perched on top of an office cabinet.

This could be the result of chinese/ asian culture of not taking the last so that others can have it. But when everyone leaves it for another, the result could be a wasted banana like the one in the photo.

Nice pic isn't it?

Other signs from my trip to Shanghai

Useless and funny signs...

This is a sign at the lift lobby of a major shopping centre. Notice how useful is this sign. Anyone looking at this sign will know exactly where they are without which we will all be lost! Thank god for such a sign.

This is a sign at a pet shop. Owner must be angry because even when you cooperate by not "trying" to put your hand in, he is only giving you a "singular" "Thank"...perhaps "You" is missing?

Not sure whether this sign says "NO! Hand Touching" or "NO Hand Touching!" or ......

Papaya in bloom

I only realised recently that Papaya trees are either "male" and "female".

The female tree bears fruits while the male don't. When my father discovered this, he propagated a whole bunch of papaya trees in my garden and some are already beginning to bear fruits. The hard reality is that the male papaya trees are quickly disposed off.

Lessons from the toilet

There is a popular toilet slogan..."We aim to please, You aim too, please"

One can tell from the level of hygiene is some toilets that aiming need more work. The amount of splatter on the floor shows that while it is easy to assume that people can aim when you tell them to, some people simply need help to focus their aim.

At Singapore's Changi International Airport Terminal 3, the management takes aiming into their own hands. In their urinal is strategically imprinted the shape of a fly (see picture above). All the user has to do is to aim his stream at the "fly" and voilla! the aim is complete! It is almost natural to do so as they have cleverly used the picture of a common enemy (the fly) for the aim. Had they used a picture of a sweet, a flower, etc it would have been less effective.

More developers can take note of this simple innovation. There is a high chance that you will find this implemented in a new hospital.

Symbolism

This is my first green, perched on my desk at Jurong General Hospital interim office at Alexandra Hospital.

It is a Money Plant. I chose this plant among many for a few symbolic reasons.

1. It has a beautiful form - it symbolises a beautiful hospital set to rise in the west

2. It has many young leaves - it symbolises the youthful nature of the hospital with many energetic staff who are ready to soar and break new grounds

3. It has strong and healthy trunk and leaves - it symbolises an organisation with strong values

4. It has branches and leaves that are spread evenly in all direction - it symbolises an openness that allows us to seek to learn from all even as we improve

Watch the hospital grow...

There is hope!

This evening, I attended the 2009 MOH Health Sciences Scholarship Ceremony.

37 scholars were selected from an original applicant group of more than 2000. They will soon head to local and overseas university to pursue their course of study in Pharmacy, Podiatry, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Dietetics and Social Work.

They took the Health Sciences Scholar Pledge and went on to put on a most impressive performance, culminating in a touching segment where every scholar had a statement on their individual goals for the patient set against Michael Jackson's "Heal The World" song.

As I watch each statement flashed across the screen, I am encouraged that each of the scholars has a dream larger than themselves and wants to make a difference to the patient and to the society.

There is hope when our bright and young have such ideals and aspirations.

I wish them well and success in their studies. May they come back and help make the world a better place.