Rewards for my hardwork

I would have to think all these years my perserverance to work very hard and learn all these technical things have paid off. I am landed with a job that allows me to excel and work on these areas. People may have their own opinion but I stick with my principles. Nothing comes easy in this world. Just yesterday, I sit down and explain the software architecure with YH. Guess what, I enjoyed every minute of it and immediately I know I should do something I will enjoy in my next endeavour.

People ask me how I manage to have 2 private houses and 1 continental car. I told them my wife and I don't earn alot. In fact, we can't even meet the minimum household income in order to buy an EC. I told them I work very hard, nothing comes easy. I teach extra night classes and I save alot during my ITE days despite the long distance home which lasts about 1-1.5 hours. These were the days when I don't have any car on my own.

I also take risks. I remember I only have $2500 in my bank 3 years ago when me and my wife dump all savings onto our first private. We surrender all our life insurance policy in order to make the shortfall. We move in to my inlaws after renting out our HDB flat. Everything happened in a wink of an eye. In fact, after finishing 3 years of rent, we reluctantly sold our HDB and has completed the transaction just this month. It is never a good feeling to sell your property but life have to go on.

Immediately after we sold our HDB, we bought another private despite people telling us that property prices will be down due to europe woes and various economical problems. Even before taking the HDB option fee, we manage to mussle $90k to book the Treeline. We have gone through some saga when we are getting both the Treeline's loan and Ambra's refinancing. As part of risk management, we changed both loans to fixed interest rate. As a result, we are paying alittle bit more but it enables us to sleep peacefully. Ultimately, property is the safest investment in singapore and overtime it will appreciate in value over time.

2 years ago, I joined CAE from ITE which is a lucky break for me. I was attached to it during my holidays, I impressed Brian and was proached from ITE to join as Team Lead. It was a struggle in the first period, I have to fought off critics and refuse to join in the gossiping. I worked very hard and finished SMRT and NMSC. I was intending to work there for 2 years to gain exposure. After Adrian & Brian left, I tried franctically to find a job but to no avail. Thoughts of joining the wrong company comes into my mind. Just when things looks doom, I have 3 jobs offer. The one I will be joining is a promotion for all the hard works I have inputed these 2 years. It was a lucky break, the agency shortlist me for software engineer but hiring manager wants me as technical manager. What I have to say is when things don't happen, just dig in and prepare for the next oppportunity. People gave up too easily and are ever ready to accept the mediocre life they are stuck with. I am ambitious, I want to achieve! Guess now is the time I put some colors into my career, if I ever have. It may sounds weird, I have chosen a job that pays lower than the initial one because of JOB SCOPE and STABILITY. After all, age is catching up with me, I can't do programming when I am 40s and I need that job security to finance my properties. The only regret is I willput Brian in a spot if I reject his company's offer.

My next aim for the year is to find new job for Fiona and firming up Ambra's will.

Meanwhile, I am looking forward to holidays in Genting and Taiwan before I start my next job. I have succeeded in all areas except the stock market. I think I just take a long break and enjoy my holidays.