- Trust in your staff that they have the abilities to handle the tasks provided to them,

- Trust in your business partners that they do the right thing and not cheat you,

- Trust in business suppliers that they are able to provide their services as and when they are required.

Recently, I have been in situations whereby trust has been damaged or tarnished. The initial reaction will always be one of hurt, denial and anger. And lets face it …. you also kick yourself saying why am I so stupid!!

What do you do? Do you stop trusting people? Do you become hard nosed and question everyone’s motive?

It’s a hard question to give an answer to.

On a side note, I was speaking to a client who does a lot of business to one customer in Japan. In fact, the business from this one customer had helped him grow his turnover from thousands to millions. One of the things he said to me was that even though he has a very good relationship (ie: trust) with this customer, he can never for once take anything for granted. He said the culture in Japan is such that this customer can and will easily decide one day not to buy, he will not provide a reason nor warning of not purchasing from you. He will just not buy end of relationship …. FULL STOP. It is with this knowledge that everyday he looks at every opportunity in building and growing the trust he has and always trying to think from the customer’s point of view to provide a better service.

Back to the question, what happens when people break your trust. Well, don’t be stupid and trust these people again. It is up to them to build trust and gain your trust. Secondly, have to be wiser in future. Cannot give 100% trust to anyone. Trust is earned not bought. It is something the other party must be prepared in fostering, not something you give.

Juen Phie

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Rob Nixon in his books lists multiple ways to look at your personal goals. Goals to keep you focused so that you live a meaningful life.

A few of his ways are as follows:-

- What do you want people to say at your funeral?
- What do you want your children to say about growing up with you?
- What legacy do you want to leave behind?

Take a moment right now, think and ponder for a second what do you want to achieve out of life? What do you want to achieve in the next 1 year, 2 year, 10 years? Now consider what you are doing now and whether your actions are bringing you closer to your goals or hindering your progress?

Remember, another day that goes by sitting in front of your computer surfing the next reading blogs like this one isn’t going to bring you closer to your hearts desires. Quick, go out, enjoy life and make most of the skills and talents God has given to you.

Juen Phie

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My mentor in Malaysia had the aweful experience of being cheated of huge sums of money from an ex business partner. Before I tell you what he did, I ask you, what would you do?

I can say for the vast majority of people the response will be one of hatred, revenge and anger. People would want justice. An eye for an eye!!

So what did my mentor do? He walked away, he turned the other cheek and he forgave. What the?? Crazy!!!

You might even say that it can’t be true. I was there when it happened and I personally experienced first hand how he rebuilt his empire from the ground up.

His philosophy was that its only money. Of course it hurts to have lost so much (a 6 figure sum!), but he didn’t want to be drawn into the bitterness and hatred that comes part and parcel of taking someone to court or even harboring vengeful thoughts.

By forgiving his ex partner he was able to let go, able to be set free. Free to grow, earn and live life without shackles.

So, when you feel life is attacking you, do you have what it takes to let the past be in the past and move on? The good book says to turn the other cheek.

Juen Phie

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Let me share with you some of the tools I use in my day to day life which I try and technology for for me, be a friend not a foe. Essentially, be a tool for me to gain productivity, make more money and spend more time with the family.

Blackberry smart phone

Ipad + tablet pcs

Wireless networking

Remote access terminal server

Screen sharing technology

Teambox online collaboration

Dropbox file sharing

Googlea pps

Skype

Mozy remote data backup

Websites / email

Online freelancers

Data securiry

No doubt there is many more that I cannot think of. Ill add to this list as I go.

Juen Phie

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To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Juen Phie

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Out of all the major tax changes, this very little one really gets up my nerve in a big way. Let me explain.

Taxpayers in Australia will receive a tax offset for medical expenses they incur equivalent to 20% of the excess above $1500 (before Rudd changed it).

Let me give you an example:-

If you spent $5,000 on medical expenses
$5,000 – $1,500 = $3,500
$3,500 x 20% = $700

So if you incurred $5,000 in medical expenses (net of any reimbursements from your private health insurance or medicare), you will get tax refund of $700.

In the 2011 tax year, the threshold is now $2,000.

Let me show you the effect of this little change:-

If you spent $5,000 on medical expenses
$5,000 – $2,000 = $3,000
$3,000 x 20% = $600

The net difference of this small change is that the same taxpayer loses out on $100.

SO WHAT??

You might say $100 so what!

Let me put it another perspective. Take the time and add up all the medical expenses in your household. The majority of families will not ever exceed the $1,500 threshold.

Yeah, so what??!!! You might ask again.

I put it simply, if the normal taxpayer will never exceed $1,500 in net medical expense in a year, who would? That’s right, people who are genuinely sick or need medical attention.

If someone needs to spend more than $1,500 in a year, this person is sick and needs help. They will also need as much financial assistance as possible and ever dollar they can get back in their tax return is what they need. If you have family or friends who are sick you will totally agree with me.

I believe this revenue grabbing change to the tax system is below the belt. It is below the belt for the Australians who are sick with life threatening illnesses, sick with life long illnesses, sick with illnesses which no one really know what the cure is.

Unfortunately, the threshold is set to rise in the next few years and there is nothing we can do about it – just hope you don’t get sick and need to spend on doctors or medicine!

Juen Phie

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Names are withheld to protect the innocent.

My wife loves to cook, in fact she is a pretty good cook. When I was younger, I loved to cook. I would love to throw things in and make a creation. It wasn’t until I got married to my wife that I realised how bad of a cook I really was!! Not only was I a pretty bad cook, I was also a very messy cook.

Nowadays, my wife pretty much bans me from the kitchen. Simple reason, I make a mess and don’t clean it up. hahahah

My eldest daughter is one of the most amazing creatures ever born. She has a very bubbly personality, she is easily likable and makes friends very easily. She is fast. Fast talker, fast runner, I just wish she would east faster .

Currently at school she is excelling in writing and reading. I am very proud of her that she can read pretty well. It sometimes scares me how much she can read….. no more secret notes to my wife

My youngest daugther is starting to come out of her shell. She is starting to talk a lot more and be a lot more active. Last weekend I took my 2 princesses to the play ground and it was the first time my youngest daugther went up and down the slide all by herself. She is normally very timid and always wants daddy to slide down the slide with her. But this time she was up and down like a mouse on a drain pipe. I was proud of her.

My child to be will be born in December 2011. It matters not whether it is a boy or a girl. I just pray that she/he is born healthy.

My little pet dream that I harbour is to get my kids into tennis and be able to have family tennis matches. Games where my kids looks me in the eye and screams YEAH, or THAT WAS IN!! I would book out some courts for an afternoon and we would take in turns having round robbin games. I would bring a potable BBQ and my mother, brothers and sisters would enjoy themselves having a steaks and sausages.

One day it will happen. Who knows, one day the tennis court may even be in my own backyard.!

Juen Phie

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This friend got married in the small chapel in my old high school (St Peter’s College). It was a simple, beautiful wedding. Lunch was fantastic, it was yum cha at the Citizen Restaurant in Adelaide. Dinner was at a function center called San Giorgio La Molara. Stupid me, I thought we were going to have an Italian dinner for an Asian wedding reception!!

The food at the dinner was far beyond excellent, I can’t find words to express my satisfaction. It was a traditional 9 course Asian wedding dinner. Every dish had a seafood element. This shows that no cost was spared!

All in all the whole day is a day to remember on many grounds:-

- I reconnected with some old lost friends,
- I communicated with some old friends like I never had before. There was one in particular who I remembered from high school that I didn’t really communicate much with. Not sure why, but tonight we talked and talked and it was great to have finally connected with him in this way.
- Spent some meaningful time with my children.

I realised today that no matter what you go through, the business partnerships that fail, challenges that you face. Friendships which were forged during your youth, relationships which are pure can never be broken by time.

My friend who got married today knew me when I was a young punk kid, a no one, no money, no career, an unknown future. We were friends at a time when friendship was just pure friendship. A relationship built on helping one another for no reward just the satisfaction of helping out a mate.

We have gone different pathways, infact, he now lives in Brisbane. But the friendship we had back then, is still the friendship we have now. We are now older, wiser, more mature. But its good to know that I have someone I can call and good old friend.

Juen Phie

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