An Inspiring Story...

I received this via email this evening.

The story illustrates to me the power of a strong value system and spirit of generosity.

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Tan Sri Robert Kuok Hock Nien (born 6 October 1923, in Johor Bahru, Johor), is an influential Malaysian Chinese businessman. According to Forbes his net worth is estimated to be around $10 billion on May 2008, making him the richest person in Southeast Asia.

He is media shy and discreet; most of his businesses are privately held by him or his family. Apart from a multitude of enterprises in Malaysia, his companies have investments in many countries throughout Asia. His business interests range from sugarcane
plantations (Perlis Plantations Bhd), sugar refinery, flour milling, animal feed, palm oil and mining to finance, hotels, properties, trading and freight and publishing.

On the occasion of Kuok Group's 60th Anniversary 10 April 2009, Robert Kuok Hock Nien's notes on those sixty years provide an interesting insight in to how success comes about.

1) My brothers and I owe our upbringing completely to Mother. She
was steeped in Ru-Jiao, the teachings of Confucius, Mencius, Laozi and
other Chinese sages. Ru-Jiao teaches the correct behaviour for a human
being on his life on earth. Mother gently, and sometimes strongly, drummed
into the minds of her three boys the values of honesty, of never cheating,
lying, stealing or envying other people their material wealth or physical
attributes.

2) Father died on 25 December 1948 night without leaving a will.
Following the Japanese surrender, he had re-registered the firm as a sole
proprietorship. We went to court to get an appointment as managers,
permitting us to continue to manage Tong Seng & Co. The judge said that,
as there were two widows, the firm and the estate should be wound up.

(3) We decided to establish Kuok Brothers Limited. In mid-January 1949, five of us met at a small roundtable in our home in Johore Bahru. Present were my MOTHER, cousin number five HOCK CHIN, cousin number twelve HOCK SENG, my brother HOCK KHEE nicknamed Philip (a.k.a. cousin number seventeen), and myself (a.k.a. cousin number twenty). We sat down and Mother said, "Nien, would you like to start?" I said, "Fine, yes I will start." To cut the long story short, we got started, and commenced business from a little shop house in Johore Bharu on 1 April 1949.

(4) As a young man, I thought there was no substitute for hard work
and thinking up good, honest business plans and, without respite, pushing
them along. There will always be business on earth. Be humble; be
straight; don't be crooked; don't take advantage of people. To be a successful
businessman, I think you really need to brush all your senses every
morning, just as you brush your teeth. I coined the phrase "honing your
senses" in business: your vision, hearing, sense of smell, touch and
taste. All these senses come in very useful.

(5) Mother was the captain of our ship. She saw and sensed everything, but being a wise person she didn't interfere. Yet she was the background influence, the glue that bound the Group together. She taught
my cousins and my brothers and me never to be greedy, and that in making money one could practise high morality. She stressed that whenever the firm does well it should make donations to the charities operating in our societies. She always kept us focused on the big picture in business. For example: avoid businesses that bring harm, destruction or grief to people. This includes trades like gambling, drugs, arms sales, loan-sharking and prostitution.

(6) We started as little fish swimming in a bathtub. From there we
went to a lake and now we are in the open seas. Today our businesses cover
many industries and our operations are worldwide but this would not have
been possible without the vision of the founding members, the dedicated
contributions and loyalty of our colleagues and employees, and very
importantly the strong moral principles espoused by my mother.

(7) When I hire staff I look for honest, hardworking, intelligent people. When I look candidates in the eye, they must appear very honest to me. I do not look for MBAs or exceptional students. You may hire a
brilliant man, summa cum laude, first-class honours, but if his mind is not a fair one or if he has a warped attitude in life, does brilliance really matter?

(8) Among the first employees were Lau Teo Chin (Ee Wor), Kwok Chin
Luang (Ee Luang), Othman Samad (Kadir) and an Indian accountant called
Joachim who was a devout Roman Catholic and who travelled in every day
from Singapore where he lived.

(9) I would like on this special occasion to pay tribute to them and in particular to those who were with us in the early days; many of whom are no longer here. I have already mentioned Lau Teo Chin (Ee Wor) and Kwok
Chin Luang (Ee Luang) and Othman Samad (Kadir), there are others like Lean Chye Huat, who is not here today due to failing eyesight, and Yusuf Sharif who passed away in his home country India about one and a half years ago and the late Lee Siew Wah, and others who all gave solid and unstinting support and devotion to the Company. It saddens me that in those early difficult years these pioneers did not enjoy significant and substantial rewards but such is the order of things and a most unfortunate aspect of capitalism. However through our Group and employee Foundations, today we are able to help their descendants whenever there is a need to.

(10) I have learnt that the success of a company must depend on the
unity of all its employees. We are all in the same boat rowing against the
current and tide and every able person must pull the oars to move the boat
forward. Also, we must relentlessly endeavour to maintain and practise the
values of integrity and honesty, and eschew and reject greed and
arrogance.

(11) A few words of caution to all businessmen and women. I recall the Chinese saying: shibai nai chenggong zhi mu (failure is the mother of success). But in the last thirty years of my business life, I have come to
the conclusion that the reverse phrase is even truer of today's world: chenggong nai shibai zhi mu. Success often breeds failure, because it makes you arrogant, complacent and, therefore, lower your guard.

(12) The way forward for this world is through capitalism. Even China
has come to realise it. But it's equally true that capitalism, if allowed
to snowball along unchecked, can in many ways become destructive.
Capitalism needs to be inspected under a magnifying glass once a day, a
super-magnifying glass once a week, and put through the cleaning machine
once a month.

In capitalism, man needs elements of ambition and greed to
drive him. But where does ambition end and greed take over? That's why I
say that capitalism, if left to its own devices, will snowball along, roll
down the hill and cause a lot of damage. So a sound capitalist system
requires very strongly led, enlightened, wise governments. That means
politician-statesmen willing to sacrifice their lives for the sake of
their people. I don't mean politicians who are there for fame, glory and to line
their pockets.

(13) To my mind the two great challenges facing China are the restoration of education in morals and the establishment of a rule of law. You must begin from the root up, imbuing and infusing moral lessons and
morality into youth, both at home and from kindergarten and primary school upward through university. Every Chinese needs to accept the principle of rule of law; then you have to train upright judges and lawyers to uphold the legal system.

(14) Wealth should be used for two main purposes. One: for the
generation of greater wealth; in other words, you continue to invest,
creating prosperity and jobs in the country. Two: part of your wealth
should be applied to the betterment of mankind, either by acts of pure
philanthropy or by investment in research and development along the
frontiers of science, space, health care and so forth.

Is this true?

What kind of a person are you?

Inspiring Lessons from Mayo Clinic by Prof Leonard Berry

Since the day that I have been introduced to the Mayo Clinic, I have been a fan of Mayo Clinic.

The Mecca of Healthcare, as the hospital is popularly known, holds a simple value since its founding by Dr Mayo over 140 years ago - that the "Needs of the Patient come first". This simple value of putting the patient first and team-based medicine has put Mayo Clinic at the forefront of Medicine. Many patients come to the Mayo Clinic looking for miracle because they have been to many other healthcare facilities and found no firm diagnosis for their conditions and little hope of recovery. Many at Mayo Clinic did in fact receive their "miracles" and their positive "word of mouth" has helped to build trust at mayo Clinic.

There are many Mayo Clinic lessons for us at JGH. Prof Leonard Berry's book on "Management Lessons at mayo Clinic" is such an inspirational and delightful read. Today, many of us have the pleasure of listening to Prof Berry's lecture at Alexandra Hospital. The pictures below show his summary on the lessons from mayo Clinic.

Thanks Prof Berry for bringing to us the inside story of the Mayo Clinic!

JGH - URA Centre Model Perspectives

The Transformation at Jurong Lakeside that JGH will be a part of

JGH is one of the key projects at the Lakeside transformation

Located next to IMM and close to the MRT

Another perspective of the exciting lakeside development at Jurong

For staff of JGH who have yet to make a trip to Jurong East to catch a site of where our future hospital will be located, here are some pictures taken of the masterplan model at URA Centre.

As you can see, JGH will be developed amidst very interesting developments at Jurong. One of our challenges will be to figure out how we can create a restful environment within a rather urban setting. Participants at our main consultant design competition have already given various ideas how it may be done. We will incorporate greenery into patient care areas to reduce stress of experiencing healthcare and create a sense of bringing the outside indoors.

Take a trip to the site and see for yourself!!

Click here if you can see the pictures: http://icansmell.blogspot.com/2009/07/jgh-ura-centre-model-perspectives.html

Jurong General Hospital July 09 Issue of Staff Newsletter

JGH has planned various ways of communicating with our staff who are nested in various hospitals currently. One of which is a newsletter - here is the first issue (July 2009). Staff can also facebook me at www.facebook.com/heejug and here about recent happenings at JGH via my postings and status updates.

In the first tea sessions that I've had with JGH staff nested at TTSH and NUH, I have come to realise that I have such a great group of staff who is excited about the hospital and making a difference to patients.

We have now started on crafting the Mission, Vision and Core Values of Jurong General Hospital. Staff can look forward to being engaged in thsi process as well.

Cheers

Public perception could hinder healthcare reforms?

The New York Times carried an article "Forget who pays the bill, but who sets the costs".

What's interesting to me is the following excerpt from the article:

"Thus the political challenge facing any effort at an overhaul: Americans say they want change, but they also want to preserve their own status quo.

The disconnect can be explained partly by the peculiar economics of health care. Because third parties — the government or a private insurer — typically pay the bill, many people miss the fact that the money originally comes from them. They see the benefits of medical care without seeing the costs.

But trust in doctors is a factor as well. Even when doctors order costly treatments with serious side effects and little evidence of their being effective, as studies find is common, patients are loath to question the decision. Instead of blaming such treatments for the rising cost of medicine, many people are inclined to blame forces that health economists say are far less important, like greedy insurance companies or onerous malpractice laws."

Obama Health Reforms Pushing the frontier to have doctors salaried instead of fee-for-service...

Some of the most prestigous names in US Healthcare eg. Mayo Clinic, Cleveland clinic have gone the way of putting their doctors on salary instead of fee-for-service. The objective is to take out any incentive for doctors to order unnecessary tests and services for patients.

In the latest drive under the President Obama Health reform, this issue is again surfaced as an appropriate approach for the rest of US healthcare to follow in their quest to control costs.

What do doctors in Singapore think?

Mission, Vision and Values of JGH

Tomorrow is yet another milestone for JGH. We will kick-off the series of conversations of what we stand for, where do we want to be, how do we get there, and values each and every staff member at the new Jurong General Hospital need to embrace.

The JGH team is determined not to allow this exercise to become mere words on the walls of hospital but living words that we will all embrace and live out on a daily basis. Our Patients, Our Community and Our Staff must become better because of the work that we do.

When I was interviewed by 938LIVE on 20 May 2009 and asked what is my vision for JGH. I said, "I'm actually looking forward to JGH being an integral part of the community in the western region, where residents can rely on for their health and fitness needs. We will work closely with the new community hospital and also the primary care clinics in our area so that patients can expect holistic care beyond the hospital into the community." I added that "... in designing the hospital's services and processes, patients' needs will be our main focus and we hope to make it hassle free for them."

However, it is not only just the patients and the community that must benefit. We must also be a hospital where staff will flourish. That's why, in the first JGH advertisement in the Straits Times on 4 July 2009, both Chairman Medical Board A/ Prof Cheah Wei Keat and I said that, "we envision an environment that fosters excellent patient care, where staff are Empowered to Excel and Encouraged to learn and grow."

Jurong General Hospital is where the birth of a new era in healthcare will take place. We want to make it a meaningful endeavour for ALL our staff, while at the same time make a difference to our patients and the community.

To ALL the Staff of Jurong General Hospital, thank you for taking part in this journey with me. I look forward to your ongoing commitment, dedication as we plan, design and build not just an excellent hospital but a healthcare institution for generations to come!

I also thank my colleagues in healthcare for backing me up in this journey.

Prof Ng Han Seong wins the National Medical Excellence 2009 Outstanding Clinician Mentor Award! Congratulations!!

Prof Low Poh Sim, NUH Paediatrics

Prof Mike Chee, Duke-NUS

Prof John Wong, Dean NUS-YLL Medical School

Prof Ng Han Seong

Prof Ng Han Seong

Prof Ng Han Seong, Chairman Medical Board of Singapore General Hospital (SGH) was awarded the National Medical Excellence Outstanding Clinician Mentor Award 2009 this evening at CHIJME's Hall. He is a very well respected doctor who is always keen to impart his knowledge/ wisdom to the younger generation. An excellent storyteller, a fountain of inspiration and an excellent leader! Above all, a great clinician! Congrats Han Seong!!

The occasional great signs...

Found at the new ION shopping centre...