Saturday, April 24, 2010

一位父亲给女儿的九条人生忠告

(受用一生)

(一)对你不好的人,你不要太介怀,在你一生中,没有人有义务要对你好,除了我和你妈妈。对你好的人,你一定要珍惜、感恩。

(二)没有人是不可代替,没有东西是必须拥有。看透了这一点,将来就算你失去了世间最爱的一切时,也应该明白,这并不是什么大不了的事。

(三)生命是短暂的,今天或许还在浪费着生命,明日会发觉生命已远离你了。因此,愈早珍惜生命,你享受生命的日子也愈多,预期盼望长寿,倒不如早点享受。

(四)爱情只是一种感觉,而这感觉会随时日、心境而改变。如果你的所谓最爱离开你,请你耐心地等候一下,让时日慢慢冲洗,让心灵慢慢沉淀,你的苦就会慢慢淡化。不要过分憧憬爱情的美,不要过分夸大失恋的悲。

(五)虽然,很多有成就的人士都没有受过很多教育,但并不等于不用功读书,就一定可以成功。你学到的知识,就是你拥有的武器。人,可以白手起家,但不可以手无寸铁!

(六)我不会要求你供养我下半辈子,同样地我也不会供养你的下半辈子,当你长大到可以独立的时候,我的责任已经完结。以后,你要坐巴士还是奔驰,吃鱼翅还是粉丝,都要自己负责。

(七)你可以要求自己守信,但不能要求别人守信,你可以要求自己对人好,但不能期待人家对你好。你怎样对人,并不代表人家就会怎样对你,如果看不透这一点,你只会徒添不必要的烦恼。

(八)我买了二十六年的六合彩,还是一穷二白,连三等奖也没有中,这证明人要发达,还是要努力工作才可以,世界上并没有免费的午餐。

(九)爱人只有一次的缘分,无论这辈子我和你会相处多久,也请好好珍惜共聚的时光,下辈子,无论爱与不爱,都不会再见。

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Green Tea Side Effects Warnings!

Green tea side effects are easily preventable. Before you begin a tea diet, read this guide first to avoid nasty surprises.

When I first started this site, I decided to investigate side effects. I promise myself that I wouldn't make any recommendation without first understanding the risks.

I felt quite stupid at first. After all, even the United States FDA categories tea as "Generally Recognized as Safe". It is the second most consumed beverage after water. What can possibly go wrong?

Tea health benefits are like 1 million times more powerful than its side effects. Observed side effects are few and far between. Discovered health benefits? There are thousands of them.

But there are a few things to be aware of. Sometimes it is better to be safe than sorry.

I have to confess I am not in anyway medically qualified. I tried my best to inform. If you are in doubt, please speak to your medical adviser or post a question at the Tea Side Effects Forum below.

Green Tea Side Effects Alert #1:
When you have too much caffeine.

Tea contains about half the amount of caffeine found in coffee, so moderate consumption of green tea is unlikely to cause problems for the majority of people.

If you are sensitive to caffeine, here are the symptoms to watch out for:
◦restlessness
◦irritability
◦sleeping problems
◦tremor
◦heart palpitations
◦loss of appetite
◦upset stomach
◦nausea
◦frequent urination
◦skin rash

How to deal with tea caffeine? It is like an onion, surrounded by layers of myths. Are you ready to peel and see what is truly inside?

Tea Caffeine
Green Tea Side Effects Alert #2:
When you have a sensitive stomach.

This is very common. Stomach upset is the second most common complaint after caffeine.

A 1984 study concluded that "tea is a potent stimulant of gastric acid, and this can be reduced by adding milk and sugar."

Discover the 10 tips of enjoying a soothing cup of tea without experiencing stomach upset.

Tea and Stomach Gastric Irritation

Green Tea Side Effects Alert #3:
When you are pregnant or are breastfeeding.

Green tea contains caffeine, catechins and tannic acids. All three substances have been linked to pregnancy risks.

In addition, drinking a large amount may cause neural tube birth defect in babies.

Moderate consumption should be okay. But one should consider avoiding it altogether during early pregnancy.

Green Tea When Pregnant

Green Tea Side Effects Alert #4:
When you suffer from, or is susceptible to, iron deficiency anaemia.

Tea is known as a "negative calories" beverage. Not only does it contain virtually no calories, it also block the absorption of certain nutrients.

One key concern is iron mal absorption. A 2001 study reports that green tea extract reduces the absorption of non-heme iron by 25%.

Amazingly, another 2005 study found that long-term drinkers develop protective mechanism by having heavier parotic glands. The protein rich saliva neutralises the harmful effect of tea tannin.

Tea, Iron Absorption and Anemia

Green Tea Side Effects Alert #5:
When you experience PMS.

This is a hard one to call. There is mixed evidence.

A 2005 study found that green tea reduces the level of estrogens in the body.

It is not clear if this aggravates hot flashes. If hot flashes is a concern to you, please exercise caution with any tea beverage.

However, a 2003 study suggests that green tea, when taken with other herbs, may alleviate post menopausal symptoms.

Tea and Hot Flashes

Green Tea Side Effects Alert #6:
When you have young children.

If you have young kids, it is advisable for them not to drink tea.

This is because tea contains caffeine that may over-stimulate. It also contains tannins that may block nutrients absorption such as protein and fats in children.

Can Children Drink Tea Safely?

For older children, it is advisable for them to avoid energy drinks such as Enviga.

According to my friend Dr. Shen, energy drinks contain chemicals such as phosphoric acid, Ace-k and potassium benzoate. They are especially bad for kids, and even adults.

Potential side effects include weak bones, bad teeth, cancers and allergies.

Green Tea Energy Drinks Dangers!

Green Tea Side Effects Alert #7:
When you suffer from or are susceptible to thiamine deficiency.

Okay, I am stretching it a bit here ...

Tea reduces the absorption of thiamine (Vitamin B).

Thiamine deficiency leads to a condition known as beriberi. Once common to sailors, beriberi is now relatively rare in the Western world except for in alcoholics.

Green Tea Side Effects Alert #8:
When you have too many green tea extract tablets.

This is a real risk.

Some people prefer consuming green tea tablets rather than brewing hot tea. That is fine. But it is dangerous to overdose.

How many tablets can you safely consume? There is no clear cut answer, but some guidelines do exist.

Supplement Side Effects

Green Tea Side Effects Alert #9:
When you drink too much.

Drinking too much tea can be dangerous. Especially if the tea is low quality.

A 2005 study raised concerns about instant iced tea.

A middle aged woman was diagnosed with skeletal fluorosis for drinking up to 2 gallons of iced tea daily. Why? Because her green tea contained too much fluoride.

Fluoride in Green Tea - Danger in Lipton Instant Iced Tea!

Want to know which food and beverage may contain too much fluoride? The USDA database, which contains the fluoride content of more than 400 food and beverages, may be just what you need.

Tea and Fluoride - What Does USDA Say?

Green Tea Side Effects Alert #10:
When you have or are prone to forming kidney stones.

This is a hard one to call.

Kidney stones are mineral deposits made up of calcium, uric acid or the amino acid cysteine. At least 3 quarters of kidney stones are composed of calcium combined with phosphate or oxalic acid. Green tea is a concern because it is rich in oxalic acid.

However, contrary to expectations, recent studies suggest that green tea inhibits urinary stone formation and prevents kidney stones...

Tea and Kidney Stones

Green Tea Side Effects Alert #11:
When you are sensitive to tea.

This is another contradicting one ...

Drinking green tea may prevent allergy. But it also contains caffeine and tannin that may cause allergy.

Tea and Allergy

Green Tea Side Effects Alert #12:
Beware of slimming and weight loss teas.

There are many kinds of Chinese slimming and weight loss teas. While green tea is considered safe for long term consumption, slimming and weight loss teas that contain stimulant laxative herbs such as senna leaf and rhubarb root are especially dangerous when consumed in large quantity.

The FDA is on red alert. There have been 4 case reports of young women who died, of which herbal diet tea may be a contributing factor.

Herbal Laxative Tea - Diet Slimming and Constipation Relief?

For an in depth review of tea weight loss properties, visit Weight Loss Tea - How To Be A Successful Loser.

Green Tea Side Effects Alert #13:
When you don't brush your teeth effectively

Drinking tea or coffee stains or discolors the dental plaque, but not the teeth itself.

If the plaque is not completely brushed and flossed away within 24 hours, it begins to harden and becomes what is commonly known as tartar. This tartar is porous and further absorbs stains from other food products.

When a dentist clean your teeth, they remove the tartar and plaque. When the tartar and plaque go away, so do the teeth stains.

Want to find out what's the best ways to prevent teeth stains? Read Tea Staining and Teeth - 5 Whitening and Removal Tips.

Green Tea Side Effects Alert #14:
When you eat lots of tea leaves

The healthiest way to enjoy tea is to brew and drink the liquor. When you drink tea, you are protecting yourself from harmful insoluble solids that may be present in the leaves (such as synthetic pesticide DDT).

Matcha green tea sellers claim that when you consume tea powder, you are maximising its health benefits. This is garbage. Drinking green tea is the safest and most proven way of ingesting green tea antioxidants.

Green Tea Side Effects Alert #15:
When you are on medication or have a medical history.

This is perhaps the most important side effect of which to be aware.

Green tea, like any other tea beverages, can interfere and interact with certain medications. It is wise to avoid drinking any tea beverages 2 hours after taking medications.

Tea and Medical Interaction

Green tea contains caffeine. Caffeine can increase heart rate and blood pressure, although people who consume caffeine regularly don't seem to experience these effects in the long-term.

Caffeine can also increase blood sugar levels. Diabetes patients should drink it cautiously.

The same applies to those with psychological disorders, especially anxiety or panic disorders, and overactive thyroid or hyperthyroidism.

Take care if you have severe liver disease, as the level of caffeine in the blood may build up and last longer.

Finally, if you have any other health concerns, play it safe. Consult with your health adviser before drinking green tea.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

How to Sell Yourself

To get ahead in life, you need to be in the business of selling. If this statement makes you cringe, it is probably because the word “sales” evokes images of annoying telemarketers and pushy car dealers. Relax, though, as this article is about a product so wonderful and special you should have no qualms in selling it. The product? You.

There are endless situations in life where the key to success is the ability to sell yourself to others. In your career, the ability to convince an interviewer that you are the best person for the job is critical. When it comes to relationships, your ability to show your best qualities can be the crucial factor in clinching a date with the girl or guy you want. When you think about it, if you cannot sell yourself as a person to others, you are going to have a difficult time selling them your ideas, your wishes, your needs, your ambitions, your skills, and your experience.

Despite the necessity of being able to sell yourself to others, for many people like myself it does not come naturally. Introversion, shyness, and lack of self-worth are just a few of the obstacles that can potentially get in the way. To overcome such obstacles, I suggest focusing on the following:

Be Sold on Yourself
This is the first, and perhaps most important, aspect to successfully selling yourself to others. Unless it comes naturally, this is probably also the hardest. Being sold on yourself comes down to this: you must be aware of your own self-worth. This means you believe in yourself, have faith in yourself, and have confidence in yourself.

Being sold on yourself is not something that usually happens overnight. For many years, I did not like myself. I can, however, personally attest that it is possible to change your life and gain a sense of self-worth when there was once none. If you struggle with your sense of self-worth, here are just 3 ideas that may help:

•Live in such a way that you would want to be friends with yourself
•Find some time to reflect on what you like about yourself. If this seems hard, start with the smallest of attributes.
•Don’t do anything that will give you cause to feel ashamed later.

Have a Saleable Package
This article is predominately about letting others know about the inner contents of your package. That being said, there is no getting around the fact that people judge others based on their appearance. Some questions you may consider asking yourself are: am I looking after my appearance to the best of my ability? Are my clothes appropriate for the image I wish to project?

Be Positive and Enthusiastic
Can you remember the last time you received poor customer service? Did the person look bored, disinterested, and as if they wanted to be anywhere but that place? Don’t be that person. Positivity and enthusiasm can both be developed, but once again it takes work. Here are a few tips to help you:

•Look for the best in people
•Associate with positive people
•Care deeply about something
•See life as an adventure
•Smile

Be Real and Authentic
Rather than being about who you appear to be, selling yourself is about letting others know who you are as a person. For this reason, lies and half-truths are a recipe for disaster later down the line. By telling the truth, you will earn both trust and respect which, in turn, will help you build a great reputation. Not only that, it will make you feel good about yourself. The last thing you want to do is sell yourself out by compromising your values and principles.

每個人都在推銷自己

很多人聽到sales(銷售員或者推銷員)的時候,或許第一個反應是這是一個沒有保障的工作,起薪不高又靠別人臉色吃飯,還經常需要到處奔波,從另一方面說,如果遇上一個保險、直銷甚至是銀行的推銷員,有時就好像沾上了一塊口香糖,怎麼甩都甩不掉似的,因此很多人在職場上的選擇,除非不得已,否則都不期望自己變成sales。

然而,在有了一定的社會工作經驗之後,面對這些有個業績甚至生存壓力的sales,不管是透過電話或者是街頭上的偶遇,總是會多給他們一點時間,聽聽他們的介紹,而從中會發現,一些sales只是一昧的恭維抬舉你,也有不少人其實對自己所想推銷的產品或者服務不甚了解,但也不乏對自己的工作懷有熱誠,且真正是抱著想把一個好東西推薦給別人的sales……

今天閱讀了一本書,《如何在人生中推銷自己》,是上個世紀全球知名的成功勵志大師拿破崙希爾(Napoleon Hill)的著作,原文名稱為《Selling yourself》,這書開宗明義提到,每個人總是不斷的對外推銷自己,無論你是誰,或從事什麼職業,每當遇見一個人、向他人解釋、和人通電話或表達自己的觀點時,你就在推銷最寶貴的財富-你自己。

這是一個很有意思的話題,而也一針見血,不管你有多高的學歷,有多麼學問淵博,如果不知道如何把自己推銷出去,那麼你就不會成功,這是不僅是一門學問,更是一種藝術,只有用心的人才能真正學會!

書中提到兩個案例,的確讓人感同身受,99%的人在購買人壽保險時不知道自己的保單上寫了什麼,更有甚者,他們看上去似乎根本就不關心這些。真正吸引他們的是保險推銷員令人愉快的個性,而這些推銷員深知養成這種個性的價值所在;此外,每一個真正精明的辯護律師都知道,任何試圖恭維法官的舉動都相當於拿當事人的案件去冒險。

那麼如何才是推銷自己的最好方式呢?

作者提到了需要遵守的28個原則以及規避的26個不良的習慣,或許這些都是人人都知道的常理,但卻從未切身注意或認真執行過的一些事項,在這些原則或者不良習慣之外,我認為書中提到最關鍵的其實是「真誠、坦承」、「個性、魅力」、「目的、驅動」。

真誠與坦誠可以說是最基本的,這關係到個人的信譽,也是能否長久經營個人或者一個事業的必要關鍵,真誠是可以讓人感覺得到你的用心,而坦誠則更能贏得別人的信任,這是莫名的恭維奉承所無法做到的,而且路遙知馬力,真誠與坦誠給人很多的收益,不只是在推銷這件事上,更可以贏得人脈、友情,並讓這個關係長久保持著…

個性與魅力則是另一個重要的環節,這關係到你的事業的發展大小,要學會建立個人或者事業的使命、魅力以及價值觀,並且樂於分享,用以影響感染別人,這有點類似洗腦,而最高竿之處就在於「對別人產生影響,而又不會激怒別人」,就像Apple的產品系列一樣,有一群忠誠的用戶,再結合了上述的真誠與坦誠,將使你成為一個受歡迎的人(或事業)。

最後一個目的與驅動,相對於前兩者是屬於對內自期許的,冷靜理性的幫自己制定一個目的遠景,不斷的提醒自己專注在你的目的遠景上,想像得達到這個目標的美好,並隨時驅動著自己保持著正面積極的熱誠,只要熱情不減,縱使遇到困難,都可以產生源源不斷的靈感,並找到突破點…

其實,多數這些勵志的圖書都在闡述這些觀念,或許真正吸引我的是這本書的書名,我們不應該排斥所謂推銷的工作,因為這不僅是個人職涯上一個重要的關鍵,也是每個事業的根本,無法把自己或者產品推銷出去,一次都是空談,所以有機會把這些相關的勵志書籍拿出來翻閱一下,搞不好會給我們更多繼續向前的動力。

我是黎智英

某天跟朋友聊天的過程,不經意又提到了黎智英的幾本書,因為對於自己的下一步選擇有所遲疑,因而再度把《我是黎智英》一書當作枕邊書,每天晚上睡前就當做看故事書一樣重新翻閱了一次,這不是一本新書,或許是因為個人經歷的關係,對於書中所描述的創業或者經營理念,突然有了一種新的體會,甚至讓我越讀越興奮…

當然黎智英先生這幾年下來經營的媒體事業之後,外界對於其人的評價褒貶不一,同時畢竟是自傳體的文章描述,或許也可能缺乏所謂的中立性,然而就事論事,純粹站在經營管理面的角度來看待這本書的內容,不談其他社會環境流傳的風風火火的八卦以及是非,我認為最起碼黎智英是一個很熱愛生活、很有熱情、也是一個擁有智慧的人…

一個從小因為家境清寒而外出闖蕩到後來白手起家的人,他一路奮鬥努力所累積下來寶貴的人生經驗,這一篇篇的看似很輕鬆的故事當中,無不透露出其人生的態度,更勝於我們在冠冕堂皇的教科書中所得到的呆板知識,甚至讓人打自內心表示認同,並且拍案叫絕的智慧理念,從中我看到了一個很真實的人生故事,沒有虛偽以及一些言不及義的言談,他甚至坦白的說出過去一些為了目的不得手段的事蹟…

書中透過不少其人生經歷過的事件,用以形容創業、創新、專注的重要性,也讓我們知道人才管理、信念、簡化工作流程的重要性,而這些理念跟我們過去所認知的事有極大的差異性的,我忍不住想節錄書中的一些內容來豐富這篇文章,如下:

「創業的人不一定聰明,也可能不太聰明…創業是從無知開始的。一盤事先便可以計畫好的生意,哪還會有發展的空間?故此一早便計畫出來的生意,是最容易失敗的生意…創業就是unexpected,創作一些原來預料不到的事…面對無知所產生的錯誤,透過解決問題,去創造一個從來沒有出現過的事情,這才是創業…」

「在創業的初期,錢其實越少越好,因為創業的過程是一個學習的過程,你開始時的事業越大,你繳的學費也越多…」

「為了分散注意力,會議的時間以四十五分鐘為限。每個參加會議的人都要預先準備好問題,而這些問題都要集中在內部運作上和顧客面對的困難,不得提出假設和預測(我從不相信預測這一回事),這樣便可以避免浪費時間、精力胡扯了。我看過太多無的放矢的胡扯會議了…」

「我相信要贏對方,最好的方法就是集中精神發揮自己的優勢。要知道自己有什麼長處與短處已經不容易,更何況要了解對方的…設想對方會出什麼招數,進而謀求對策,不是比一心二用還要艱難嗎…我不相信Michael比我聰明六倍。如果我們的經營模式比他的簡單六倍,我不是KISS- Keep it Simple, Stupid有機會取勝了嗎?」

「要發展事業、過好的生活,先便要知道自己的弱點是什麼。避開這些弱點,優點自然在工作和生活的環節中呈現出來。故此我以為做人不用總是去想自己的優點是什麼,只顧提防自己的弱點便好了…」

「維繫員工與公司的關係,不是肝膽相照的忠誠,而是秉正不阿的操守…有些老闆對忠誠的定義是:如果你真的對我忠誠,那麼少些薪水、辛苦些,你也該繼續跟我做事,不該跳槽。這不是忠誠,這是純粹佔人便宜,是百分之百的虛偽…以對待市場的方式對待員工:滿足不了好的員工,公司亦會倒閉…」

節錄了這些《我是黎智英》一書我認為經典的語錄,很多跟我過去失敗的創業經驗不謀而合的理念,可以了解黎智英是個實踐重於理論的人,邊做邊學習成長,也因此成功的快,理論需要執行力去應證,從行動中又發現新的理論,他的成功並非偶然,值得我們學習…

*本文大量節錄《我是黎智英》(商周出版,2007)的內容,也真誠推薦給對於自己的生涯、事業規劃正茫然不知所措的朋友們…

牛顿,爱因斯坦,老子为你揭示人类财富密码

第一课、300多年前,牛顿为我们揭示了股市运行3大定律

1、惯性定律:一切公司在任何情况下,在主营业务没有增长时,公司的内在价值保持不变。
2、第二定律:公司的赚钱能力(净利润) = 净资产 × 净资产收益率,净资产收益率就是赚钱加速度。
3、第三定律:公司的价值 和 公司在经营期内的净现金流入,大小相等。

课后练习题:
1、平安靠融资获得1500亿,是否可以判断平安的价值增加1500亿,请用惯性定律做答。
2、公司当期盈余 和 净资产收益率,哪个可以用作判断公司未来赚钱能力?请用第二定律做答。
3、张裕B和张裕A在的净现金流入一样,那么二者价值一样吗? 请用第三定律做答。

恭喜你,中学毕业了

第二课、100多年前,有个叫阿尔伯特·爱因斯坦的犹太小孩,20岁的时候,悟出了人类财富密码。

E=mC^2, 其中E表示你拥有的财富,m表示你的本金,C表示保住本金。如果你每一次操作都能保住本金,你就坐上了光速的翅膀,这就是“慢即是快”

课后练习题:
4、如果你的本金经常受到损失,你会很快积累财富吗。

恭喜你,大学毕业了!

第三课、其实,早在2500年前,伟大的先秦思想家 老子 揭示了人类和财富的秘密:

道生一,一生二,二生三,三生万物。

你先赚到第1块钱,然后从1块钱赚到2块钱,从2块钱赚到3块钱,等你赚到3块钱后,你就知道了致富的秘密。你就可以富甲天下了。

但是第一块钱是从哪里来的,是“道”生的,“道”就是你自己。

课后练习题:

5、如果健康没了,你的财富是多少?


恭喜你,博士毕业了!

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Can You Choose To Be A Luckier Person?

Yesterday morning I was walking to work, when a crumpled up piece of green and white paper on the street caught my eye.
Money! There it was, a dollar bill that someone had accidentally tossed away – it was my lucky day!

Now, you might say – relax girl, it’ s just a dollar… But the truth is, how often do you find paper money waiting for you o n the streets of New York City? I was in the right place at the right time - just lucky, I guess!

I’ll be honest, the idea of luck has always sort of tormented me. I love the idea of just happening upon good fortune, but I’ve never liked the notion that our lives are just left to such chance. Or maybe I just hadn’t been looking at it the right way..

The more I thought about it, the more I became convinced that we could actually choose to be lucky or unlucky. Have you ever noticed that it’s always the down in the dumps people who seem to “never win anything” – you know the type! And have you noticed that some of the “luckiest” people you know are also some of the most positive people you know too? Perhaps it’s a chick en and egg scenario, but I tend to believe that it’s the person who controls the ir luck, not the ot her way around. So, here are some simple ways you ca n choose to be a luckier person!

Stay Open to Opportunity
Do we really need to remind you of the “When life gives you lemons make lemonade” cliché?! When you start seeing the opportunity that is right in front of your eyes, you’ll instantly feel like a luckier person! Feeling run-down and exhausted you have to wake up so early for work? Take a moment to appreciate the sunrise – you wouldn’t see it if you were still snoozing in bed!

Seize the Moment
Speaking of clichés, why do you think Carpe Diem is also such a popular saying? Want to compliment your co-worker on a job well done, but not sure if you should reach out? I mean, why would she care what little old you have to say? Go for it! She may just want to partner with you on the next big project!

Be Kind & Respectful to Everyone You Meet
That first impression will last, and you never know who will bring you an opportunity down the road! If you are bitchy and terse with the receptionist in the waiting room and then find out she is actually the doctor’s wife (!) is that an example of you being unlucky? Or of you being a negative person?

Positivity B reeds “ L uck”
Positive people have a magnetic pull to them – they pull goodness towards themselves, the same way negative people repel it. Karma, ladies, karma. The other day at Target a man cut in front of me to grab a shopping cart. Of course I wanted to tell him to ‘F’ Off, but I took a deep breathe and smiled instead. He paused, turned around and gave me a shopping cart first — and then went back to get one for himself. If you put positive energy into the world chances are you will receive it in return – this may appear as luck but is really just a by-product of your good energy.

Stay In The Game
Have ever noticed how so many bands, actors and other artists seem to hit it big overnight? It’s NOT true! In fact, most people who become ‘instantly’ successful have actually been working hard for that break for years.

So: DON’T GIVE UP.
Good things- aka luck- come to those who ACTIVELY wait!

So, if you want to change your luck, try changing your outlook. Who knows just how many crumpled up dollar bills you might find in the street? But, seriously, if it’s stuck in some really nasty looking NYC garbage, the luckiest thing to do may be to just keep walking!

我是黎智英

黎智英,用一元港幣從香港街頭起家,沒有受過教育,卻能靠著流利的英語闖進紐約成衣業,閱讀複雜的經濟理論。先後創立公明織造廠,佐丹奴成衣連鎖,《壹周刊》與《蘋果日報》,身價超過五億美元。
三十年的創業生涯,他說︰簡單,才能專注;專注,才能成功。

我要偷渡到香港必先進澳門,當時,進入澳門只能攜帶一元港幣,臨走前母親偷偷將一塊小金條?在我的內褲裡。在拱北關檢查站排隊等候檢查的時候,有個女人因為私藏金器而被官員押走,我驚慌之下用手指把褲袋戳破一個洞,伸手拔出金條,讓它沿著大腿滑落,再重重將之踩入泥土裡。經過檢查哨時,官員並沒有搜我的身,可是踏出關口的那一剎那,我沒有懊悔,我為自己的決定高興。因為,我要逃離貧困,去澳門是我唯一的路,除此之外我別無選擇。

一個人,只要能認清「我別無選擇」的現實,就能體悟到「謙遜」,而「謙遜」正是簡化事業和簡化人生的第一步。在構思如何挽救佐丹奴時,我不時回想走過拱北關的那一刻。面對當時競爭條件好過佐丹奴許多的對手G2000,我下定決心簡化公司的運作,我心想,如果我的經營模式比你簡單六倍,那麼,只要我不比你笨六倍,我豈會沒有贏的機會?

無論做人或做事,簡單才能專注。但是簡單令人生畏,大多數的人都喜歡保有許多選擇,愈是重要的事情便要愈多的選擇。殊不知選擇愈多,事情愈複雜,如果我們將生命裡重要的事情都複雜化,那我們必死無疑。

若你問我在近六十年的複雜人生裡找出了什麼條理,這條理便是簡單。無論經營事業還是人生,我們都要時刻提醒自己,有什麼是我們應該要放棄的?

作者簡介 黎智英
1948年出生在貧窮的廣東農村,12歲那年,他乘著舢舨船偷渡到香港,進入成衣工廠當童工,月薪8美元。他一路經營自己,做到成衣廠的經理,卻因公司的一場記過處分,下定決心自己創業。1981年,他成立佐丹奴(Giordano)成衣連鎖店,快速打響名號;1989年,創辦《壹周刊》(Next),正式進入媒體事業,繼發行量破紀錄達到15萬本的《壹周刊》後,1995年又創辦《蘋果日報》,發行量超過70萬份,此時他擁有的財富已超過5億美元。1999年6月創辦「蘋果速銷」(adMart),以線上零售為主,虧損10億港幣(台幣40億元)。2001年創辦台灣《壹周刊》,2003年創辦台灣《蘋果日報》。

Top 15 Dating Mistakes Guys Make

Okay fellas, the ladies have to hand it to you-- you do a lot of things to make our hearts swoon. You surprise us by taking the initiative to invite us out to dinner-- where we will undoubtedly enjoy a romantic meal by candlelight, talk for hours, spoon feed each other creme brulee-- wait a minute, are those your friends from college about to sit with us? And you wonder why we're mad later. Needless to say, sometimes guys trip up their own game with the ladies without even realizing it. Here's a list of the most common dating mistakes guys make-- so you can keep your game in check.

1. Overly possessive
Stop. Just, stop. If the girl is dating you, she obviously wants to be with you doofus-- there's no need to call her every hour, resort to extreme PDA to show the world she's yours, or be on her back all the time about her guy friends. It's not sweet, it's stifling, and nobody wants to date a guy like that. Except that chick from Twilight-- we guess there are a few here and there that are into that whole creepily possessive, smothering, super jealous deal.

2. Gross living space
Dorm room, apartment, house, condo, parent's basement-- wherever you live, there's no excuse for it to be dirty. No, it doesn't have to be "Suzy Homemaker" clean, but she'll notice the Doritos crumbs from last night's March Madness party, the empty beer cans, and the dreaded dirty socks littering the floor. While your lady friend shouldn't be dating you solely based on your living space, a decently clean room shows her that you not only take care of yourself, but also put in the effort to make her feel comfortable in your home.

3. Acting like a tough guy
Oh, you have muscles and testosterone? We never noticed. No, really c'mon guys-- girls know it, you know it, and other guys know it. You're a man, grrrrrr. So why do some guys start stupid, unnecessary scuffles ("Come at my bro")? News flash-- fights just make us scared, not impressed. So just play it cool and save everyone the stress.

4. Acting differently around your friends
The merging of the two worlds of friends and GF is a delicate task (one that most guys seem to bomb). Just as your main squeeze wouldn't want the 411 about the hot chick your ex-frat buddy hooked up with last weekend, the same goes for your bros not wanting to hear about your latest antiquing excursion. Play it cool, keep the conversations neutral, and your friends will like your new girl as much as you do (well hopefully not as much).

5. Saying they'll do XYZ with no follow through
Everyone has a cell phone these days. Seriously, if you haven't jumped on the 21st century bandwagon yet then you probably aren't reading this and are more likely holed up in the mountains catching fish with your bare hands and wrestling bears. Case in point-- we're betting you have access to a telephone. So stop making excuses and just call a girl when you say you will.

6. Flirting with/checking out other women
Most women have a slight case of the "green eyed monster," but it's relatively easy to keep the beast at bay-- unless given just cause. That quick glance at the waitress' cha-chas? Being overly friendly with your knockout coworker? Talking a little too much about Megan Fox? Yep, she'll notice. We get that you have hormones-- trust us we do, too (especially when it comes to anyone whose last name is Badgley, Pitt, or Damon)-- but do yourself a favor and keep them under control around us, or jealousy will rear its head. And yes, it will get ugly.

7. Baby talk in bed
Urban dictionary defines baby talk as "the cutesy gibberish spoken by 1. Babies and 2. Adults speaking to animals and babies." It's a bizarre phenomenon really, when grown adults turn into babbling idiots in the cute faces of their pets. That said, while it's endearing with puppies and bunnies, girls don't want to be spoken to like that-- particularly in the bedroom.

8. Expecting her to act like your mother
Newsflash-- women are nurturing creatures. Sometimes men try to abuse their goodwill and start treating them more like mothers than girlfriends-- especially in a cohabitation scenario. After all, she's not there to be a mommy replacement-- to clean up after you, take in your dry cleaning, or "make you a sandwich" (thanks teenage boys everywhere for perpetuating this sexist comment). In short, man up mamma's boy and get your act together.

9. Letting your friends dictate your life
Ladies get it-- your bros, brahs, wingmen, fellas, buddies, etc. are really important to you. What women find really aggravating, however, is when you let your friends dictate your life. Ever taken a friend's advice like "make her jealous to win her back?" Wow, good one man-- she just broke up with you. See, while their intentions may be good, they're not experts, and girls would prefer that you discuss your relationship issues with them instead.

10. Threatened by her job
Sometimes it seems as though the best way to test a man's commitment isn't to gauge his reaction when his significant other is down in the dumps-- after all, anybody can deliver ice cream and rented movies-- but rather gauge his reaction in the face of success. If the BF is overjoyed for his GF, he is definitely a keeper. However, far too often, men are threatened by a woman's success-- two words guys-- not cool.

11. Hypocritical standards
Nobody likes a hypocrite. That annoying "do as I say, not what I do" mentality loses its merit fast-- especially when it translates to your relationship. Either adhere to the standards you go by for her, or run the risk of coming off as controlling.

12. Not having your own life away from her
Scientifically speaking, in the first six months of dating, dopamine and serotonin levels peak, creating a form of obsession with your significant other. Once you transition out of this phase, you feel attached to your partner deeply, but often begin pursuing interests that have fallen by the wayside. Just don't forget the step where you start persuing those other interests. Nobody likes a needy guy.

13. Bringing up previous relationships
Talking about an ex a lot-- whether in a positive light, as in "I'm totally at peace with the situation," or in a negative light-- i.e. "I can't believe I dated that w----," sends one very clear, unnerving message-- he's not over his ex. Bringing up past girlfriends to use as ammo in a fight is a terrible idea-- lest you want to start WWIII. You don't have to ignore her existence, but you also don't need to bring up her name in every convo, either.

14. Treating others poorly
When men are first dating someone casually and trying to impress them, one major red flag is when they treat people poorly. While we sincerely hope he won't go as far as to put a fumbling waiter in a headlock, just being rude to a taxi driver or making a scene with the cashier worries ladies that they may be dating a narcissistic psycho.

15. Inflated ego
When it comes to dating, big ego = big turn-off. No one likes a know-it-all with an inflated sense of self. When guys talk a big game or boast about past conquests, it makes girls wonder what they're over-compensating for-- and chances are that they won't stay in the relationship long enough to find out.

从偷渡客到传媒大亨

从偷渡客到香港大亨
黎智英1948年12月出生于广州的一个大资本家家庭。新中国成立后,其父逃往香港,家产被抄没,其母也被批斗后送去劳改。十几岁的黎智英开始在电影院摆小摊或到火车站帮人拿行李赚钱养活自己和弟妹。一次在火车站,一个香港旅客给了他一块巧克力,他觉得吃到了天下美味并幻想对岸的香港必是人间天堂,于是萌发了偷渡香港的念头。
12岁时,黎智英孤身一人偷渡到香港,并找到了在香港的姨妈。但姨妈生活并不富裕,当晚姨妈甚至不能留他在家过夜,连夜送他到工厂。那晚,他睡在工厂,做了一名童工,而他也开始意识到原来香港并非如他想象中的那样美好,也有穷人。他由童工做起,逐漸获得老板赏识,20多岁便成为厂里最年轻的经理。
同许多白手起家的香港富豪类似,黎智英的第一桶金来自股市。1973年底,黎智英用公司的7000元分红进入股市,一年就赚了25万港币。接着他用这第一桶金开办了自己的工厂,做服装加工,并于1981年开设了属于自己的第一家品牌店——佐丹奴。开始几年生意不济,年年亏损,黎智英曾一度想结束此生意,但他不断从失败中总结经验,探索经营之道,几经波折和起落,佐丹奴终于成为了香港及内地的畅销品牌,黎智英也成为了香港服装界的名人。
1990年,迫于经营压力,黎智英将自己的佐丹奴股份全部低价售出,但跟着香港就爆发了金融风暴,这一看似无奈的蚀本买卖反而阴差阳错地令黎智英躲过一劫。黎智英把工作重心转向传媒业,并于1990年正式创办了《壹周刊》,1995年又创办了《苹果日报》,将粗俗轰动的坊间消息与政经新闻合刊销售,迅速在香港打开销路。《壹周刊》在港的发行量曾达到破纪录的15万份,《苹果日报》的日发行量也曾高达70万份。2001年和2003年,他又相继创办了台湾版《壹周刊》和《苹果日报》。黎智英本人也因此成为港台地区颇有影响力的传媒大亨。
  
大亨自诩的成功经验  
黎智英事业成功后,常常与别人谈论自己的成功往事。他认为自己成功的因素很多,但主要有以下两条:
  
一是深谙人生取舍进退之道。黎智英自称其对人生的取舍之度把握得很好,知道什么该舍、什么该得。偷渡香港时,妈妈缝了一块金子在他裤子里作为到香港后安身立命的费用,在排队过关时,他发现私带东西会被警察拖出队伍,无法过关。于是他便将裤子弄烂,将金子顺裤管丢在泥泞的地上,又用脚将其踏人泥中。多年后,黎智英回忆此事时,,依然印象深刻,“我一点都未曾后悔,不能为了一块金子断送我一生最关键的一次机会。”此外,尽管黎智英靠炒股挣得第一桶金,但他认为炒股只是权宜之计,不是致富的根本,之后他再不沾手股市,一直至今。
  
二是敢闯敢拼,惯出“怪招”、“奇招”。黎智英办事胆量之大、手段之怪,在业界颇有名气,他的公司文化之一就是“放胆尝试,不怕失败”。黎智英在经营佐丹奴时,为了走出困境,关闭了原先大部分零售店,解雇了70%的员工,并聘请了没有相关行业经验的人担任主管,这些被业内人士认为自毁前程的做法却使得佐丹奴起死回生。之后,黎智英以毫无经验的外行身份进入香港传媒界,在被认为“半年内必死”的情况下,通过震撼性暴料、狗仔似的采访、价格战等手段在香港传媒界打开局面,在很短的时间里就把《壹周刊》和《苹果日报》做成了台港地区最畅销的传媒刊物。他的这些做法至今还被香港业界人士视为传奇并被效仿沿用至今。

看不透的“肥佬黎”
在和黎智英有过接触的人眼中,他是一个琢磨不透、百思不得其解的“怪人”、“奇人”。
和黎智英共过事的人都知道这个人风格很果断他会不惜重金聘请员工,年终给高分红,会把25%的股权分给员工;但他也常常大规模解雇职员,甚至在几年内把手下大部分员工都替换掉。黎智英在生活上很体贴员工,但他也常常因为一言不合,在一夜之间解雇同甘共苦多年的业务骨干,即使是对那些为其打拼多年的“元老功臣”,他也毫不留情。黎智英对人性的弱点十分清楚,有一套独特的用人之术。
在香港女性眼中,“肥佬黎”却是一个爱家的好男人。黎智英经历过两次婚姻,先后育有6个子女。他自小离家,走澳门、跑香港,走南闯北,长期漂泊。他自称家庭能给他安定和温暖的感觉,对他来讲非常重要,他的第一次婚姻不顺,离婚后前妻离港出国,他竟然带着3个孩子历时半年在全球“千里寻妻”,希望挽回婚姻,但最终没有成功。之后,他又对《南华早报》的记者李韵琴一见钟情。为了追求她,黎智英暂放事业,竟跟着她旅居法国以“千里求妻”,并最终获得芳心。

吉利董事长李书福:从照相师到“汽车疯子”

吉利集团董事长李书福,不仅有着“汽车狂人”的别号,甚至被业内人士称为“汽车疯子”,他直率敢为的性格早已为外界所熟知。

十几年前,当李书福带着他的吉利汽车第一次出现在汽车市场上的时候,人们评价他异想天开,对于他的产品——吉利汽车,人们的评价是“它就是廉价和粗糙的代名词”。当时更多的人可能会这样想,让他蹦跶去吧,让他自生自灭吧。十几年过去了,吉利不仅活下来了,实力还不断壮大,吉利汽车——这个从中国农村走出来的穷小子还要迎娶世界顶级的明星——沃尔沃。

李书福是在浙江台州一个贫穷落后的山村长大的,19岁就试水商海,1982年,就拿着父亲给的120块钱做起了照相生意,掘到了第一桶金。时间到了1984年,李书福的简历,基本上都是从这一年开始写起,此时他的名头是黄岩县石曲冰箱配件厂厂长。

在吉利汽车流传的故事是,这一年前后,李书福有一次去一个小鞋厂定做一双皮鞋,发现鞋厂的4个工人都在给冰箱做一种元件。回家后,李书福也开始生产这种冰箱零部件。1986年,李书福作了个更大的决定——建厂生产北极花牌电冰箱。1989年,李书福这个26岁的北极花冰箱厂厂长,已经是一个实足的千万富翁。1991年,发现造汽车能够产生巨大利润,李书福不顾家人的激烈反对,毅然投入到他的造车梦中。

不过,由于当时国家审批的限制,李书福的汽车梦未能实现。汽车没造成,李书福开始造摩托车。他创造的全国第一家生产摩托车的民营企业取得了巨大的利润,但是李书福还是对他的汽车梦念念不忘。当时,他自己只有一辆破旧的小面包。“我不想花很多钱去买,我觉得那不值得,我觉得自己去造就行啦。”李书福说。

李书福说,最初搞汽车,他自己根本不懂,技术、人才、资金,可以说什么都没有。支撑李书福开始艰难的汽车产业之路的只有一个信念,四个字——相信未来。在李书福眼里,造汽车无非就是这样几个步骤,并不太难。“汽车是个现代工业,它必须体现模块化大生产的特征,因此四个轮子,一个车身,发动机,加沙发就构成了一辆汽车。”

一个中国最早做汽车梦的民营企业家,最终开着他的吉利轿车破冰而来,将中国车市搅的涛翻浪涌,接连引爆中国车市4次降价风潮,开创中国车市的新未来。汽车“疯子”李书福虽然一直在制造行业里摸爬滚打,他还有浓厚的诗人气质,比如他这样形容自己,形容从事制造业的同仁。

李书福:一批又一批痴心人,天天向苍穹倾诉,夜夜同月亮相约。

在决定要收购沃尔沃之后,李书福被推到了风口浪尖,他要面对各式各样的质疑。也许印证了诗人李书福的秉性,他说其实自己很孤单,吉利也很孤单。

作为一个有着7000多名员工的汽车公司的董事长,李书福是中国富豪排行榜上的常客,但有报道说,李书福会经常穿件工作服到职工食堂吃饭,不喝酒,陪客人也就两三个小菜,有人说李书福很抠门,生活上很节俭。可为了自己的造车梦,李书福愿意倾其所有,迎娶汽车豪门贵族沃尔沃。他的执著,应该是源于他的性格。

李书福:我的缺点是娘胎里给我带来的比较刚烈的性格,这种脾气不太好,性格不太刚烈,不够柔,太直白。
李书福今年47岁,退休前,他希望自己吉利汽车能进入全球汽车行业排名的前10位。

李书福_百度百科

从业经历
一不怕苦二不怕穷 浙商李书福闯荡成汽车大亨
  
有人预计,李书福的身家已经升到大陆富豪第25位,而当初他不过是一个120元创业起家、在冰箱行业赚到第一桶金、在海南地产热中摔过大跟头的年轻人。他的几次起起落落集中体现了浙商两种突出的精神气质:面对机会精明,敢为天下先;认准的事不放弃,对失败无所惧。
  
开照相馆
“我是在浙江台州一个贫穷落后的山村长大的。”李书福说:“第一不怕苦,第二不怕穷,第三当然更喜欢致富了!”他敢闯敢拼,豁得出去。
  
他最早算得上做生意,应该是1982年的照相生意。“当时就是父亲给了120元。”李书福说。那年,李书福19岁,高中毕业。
“刚开始根本不是照相馆,就是买了个小相机,骑个破自行车满街给人照相。”李书福并不愿多回忆那段历史。
会讲故事的台州人,把这段创业的故事中的李书福,说成是背着相机在公园里瞎转悠的“野照相”———“来,来,同志过来照张相。”见了逛公园的拉着照相,直到现在,一些二级城市的公园里还有这样的生意人。
李书福的照相生意做得不错,半年后赚到1000元,他正式开起了照相馆。
  
“垃圾”淘金
一年以后,李书福迈出办企业的第一步。
“我选的工业项目都是别人做不了的。”李书福说是在“垃圾”中提取金银。
李书福经常买一些零件自己组装照相机。喜欢鼓捣的李书福,在洗相的过程中发现,用一种药水浸泡,可以把废弃物中的金银分离出来。李书福开始把分离提取出来的金银背到杭州出售。后来干脆关了照相馆,专门做这个买卖。
为这个项目,李书福投资了1万元。虽然这些钱大部分来自生意不错的照相馆,但李书福还是义无反顾地把照相馆关了门。
“这个到现在别人还做不了。”李书福至今对这个生财之道感觉良好。
冰箱“逃兵”
时间到了1984年。
后来,李书福的简历,基本上都是从这一年开始写起,此时他的名头是黄岩县石曲冰箱配件厂厂长。
  
在吉利汽车流传的故事是,这一年前后,李书福有一次去一个小鞋厂定做一双皮鞋,发现鞋厂的4个工人都在给冰箱做一种元件。
  
现在看来,浙江所谓的“小狗经济”,那时就已经开始了。
  那时候,冰箱在北方一些城市还绝对是供不应求。李书福回家后也开始生产这种冰箱零部件。据说,一开始,李书福就是自己一个人生产,然后装包里,骑自行车把零部件送到冰箱厂。后来,李书福和其他几个兄弟一起成立了冰箱配件厂,他出任厂长。
  
“当时的效益非常好,一年营业额有四五千万元。”吉利集团一位老员工回忆。
  
这时李书福做出了一个更大决定———生产电冰箱。在1985年前后,民营经济还没有获得正式承认,电冰箱这种国家统一配售商品,不可能获得有关部门批准生产。
  
但李书福决定冒险。
1986年,李书福在自己研发、生产出电冰箱关键零部件蒸发器后,组建了黄岩县北极花电冰箱厂,生产北极花电冰箱。
“我们电冰箱非常成功。”6月14日,靠在吉利汽车台州路桥生产基地会议室的沙发上,李书福“吹牛”。
“到1989年5月,冰箱销售额已达4000多万元,并与青岛红星厂合作,为红星厂生产冰箱、冰柜。”有老员工介绍。
北极花冰箱当时已成为国内冰箱行业的名牌产品。1989年,李书福这个26岁的北极花冰箱厂厂长,已经是一个实足的千万富翁。
但冒险让李书福付出了代价。
1989年6月,国家电冰箱实行定点生产,民营背景、戴着乡镇企业“红顶”的北极花,自然没有列入定点生产企业名单。
后来,李书福离开北极花怀揣上千万元来到深圳,身份是学生。这是李书福第一次外出学习,到目前为止,他分别在深圳、上海、哈尔滨三地的大学进修学习过,他能说一口较流利的英语。
其实,现在国内冰箱行业的名牌美的与科龙,当时同样没有上国家的定点目录,但它们还是通过各种办法坚持生产了。这可能对后来李书福虽然没有取得轿车生产目录,却坚持要通过各种办法生产汽车是一个推动。
在深圳学习期间,因为装修宿舍,李书福发现一种进口装修材料市场前景不错。随即返回浙江台州,联合兄弟开始重新创业,生产这种材料。装修材料给李书福家族带来了巨大的成功,直到现在,这份产业每年还有上亿元的利润。
  
海南之败
李书福最大的商业失败在海南。1992年前后海南房地产热潮正猛,李书福带着数千万元赶赴海南。
“海南地产热那一段,几千万全赔了,人都回不来了。”李书福说,“这一段就不要讲了嘛。”
李书福在海南进行房地产生意不到两年,做了些什么项目,李书福很少向外人谈起,在他个人的介绍中,这一段也被省略。海南房地产的失败,李书福说,给他最大的教训就是:“我只能做实业。”
一个月前,吉利汽车实现香港上市。李书福说,有关资本市场的事,有专门的人来做。“我不懂这一块。”

足球投资
与他在海南房地产失败不太为人所知不同,李书福从足球行业仓促退出那一段时间,他几乎天天上新闻。
2001年3月16日,吉利集团与广州签署协议进入广州足球队,随后广州吉利足球队晋级甲A失败。10月4日李书福宣布退出足球行业。但他没有选择默默地退出,而是揭开了国内足球的一些“黑幕”。“足球黑幕”因为李书福的高调退出以及他点名道姓的批评而成了热点话题。之后,媒体开始了一轮又一轮的足球“反黑打假”时,被冠上“大炮”之名的李书福又选择了沉默,到现在,他几乎不再提及这段历史。

“失败,这些都是实践的过程,这些是在学校里学不到的。”李书福说。
李书福所领导的吉利集团及其整车制造产业
  
集团总部设在杭州,在浙江临海、宁波、路桥和上海、兰州、济南、湘潭建有六个汽车整车制造基地,拥有年产30万辆整车的生产能力。集团现有吉利自由舰、吉利金刚、吉利远景、上海华普、美人豹等八大系列30多个整车产品。上述产品全部通过国家的3C认证,并达到欧III排放标准,部分产品达到欧IV标准,吉利拥有上述产品的完全知识产权。
  
从福特收购沃尔沃(volvo)
2010年3月28日,中国发展最快的汽车制造商之一浙江吉利控股集团有限收购沃尔沃(volvo)签署协议公司(简称:吉利集团)在瑞典哥德堡,宣布已与福特汽车签署最终股权收购协议,获得沃尔沃轿车公司(简称:沃尔沃轿车)100%的股权以及相关资产(包括知识产权)。吉利集团以18亿美元收购沃尔沃100%股权的协议。这是中国民营企业近年来,在海外最大的一起知名企业收购案,吉利集团一举成为中国和全球汽车制造业的耀眼明星。吉利董事长李书福随后对凤凰卫视记者表示,未来的沃尔沃是吉利的、是中国的,更是世界的。[1]

社会评价
李书福先生作风民主、办事果断。决策前他能集思广益、博采众长、虚心听取专家学者和经营管理班子其他成员的意见,并深入实际搞市场调查和可行性研究,一旦决策则意志坚定、雷厉风行,不达目标誓不放弃。1995年以来他做出的重大决策很少失误,使公司始终沿着正确方向,保持高速增长。
    
获得成功的根源
李书福为什么会成功?更多的人关注李书福就是希望得到他成功的答案,因此,“李书福创业”成为百度搜索中有关李书福问题所用的最多的关键词。
  
回答这个问题,无异于回答为什么浙江商人能成功。
  
有关浙商最著名的描述:“有浙商的地方就有市场”和“有市场的地方就有浙商”。其实,这两句话从另一个角度回答了李书福他们成功的原因。
  
尽管李书福的成功可能会有很多我们外人根本看不到的原因,但如果总结李书福创业的过程中最重要因素,最起码有两条:一是敢为天下先;二是认准了就不放弃。
  
看李书福的几次成功的创业,从电冰箱到摩托车再到汽车,每一次都走在了别人的前面。全国上下还在“割资本主义尾巴”的年代,李书福他们就开始“闯红灯”按市场经济的思想做生意,这成就了“有浙商就有市场”的声誉。
  
李书福有一句名言:“少谈点金钱,多谈点精神。”这句话高度总结了他获得财富的经验。为天下之先,说来容易,横看世间人,你一生有几次敢为天下先?其实,这是精神问题,不是赚钱的技术问题。
  
李书福能走到今天,与他“偏执”的性格关系密切。李书福每次做出吉利集团重大转折性的决定后,会义无反顾地去追求,就是所谓的认准了不放弃。当然,认准不放弃,包含两层意思,首先是认准了,然后就去追求。
  
李书福8年前开始进入汽车行业,但他说13年前,他已经预测到今天国内汽车行业的市场状况。因此,在此之前他不止一次地说,吉利进入汽车行业的时机把握是最佳的,“早一年不行,晚一年也不行”。2005年,国内民营企业开始一窝蜂进入汽车行业,这其中包括已经退出的浙江企业奥克斯。“我当时就预测奥克斯进入汽车行业不会成功。”李书福为了证明他所说的准确性,给记者拿来了他前年发表的一篇有关民营造车热的文章,指着文章说,“这可不是吹呢!”可见他对这个市场了解得透彻。
  
而李书福对汽车行业的“追求”当初被说成是“李疯子”。因为市场对汽车有需求,李书福就认准了去追求,这大概就是“有市场就有浙商”理论的来源吧。

職業炒家密食當三番

上回談到 Trading for a living,即在投資市場中以買賣來賺取生活費用。記得早年在美國科網股熱潮時,美國投資市場曾一度盛行 Day Trading及相關的即日鮮訓練班,有不少投資者參加了這些訓練班,初時賺到點錢,但最後被洗袋的佔大多數。
至於單靠炒賣股票搵食是否可行(事先聲明,這個搵食是指賺取生活費用,並非致富發達)?在筆者的友儕中,也有多位朋友,多年來確是成功地單靠股市搵食,當中有些更成績不俗,近年已可在半山買樓。正如好友「二百萬」,最初是期貨市場的 Trader,筆者原本打算聘請他工作,無奈他在期貨市場工作多年後,察覺日常自行買賣已有可觀收入,因而婉拒了筆者,幸好他仍每日如常跟筆者報告期貨市場的情況。

中遠 9至 11元炒波幅
美國多本有關 Day Trading的書籍也有談到,若要靠炒賣股票賺取生活費,在心態方面便要跟投資或理財截然不同。因為當炒賣成為你唯一職業後,每月須有一定收入才能維持生活,故便要將股票視為貨物,一如貨如輪轉般,股票買入來是為了盡快在短時間內賣出圖利,更重要是此乃買入股票唯一目的,當中不宜涉及太多個人感情,例如此股基本因素好,可以長揸之類,這方面與長線投資股票抱不同心態。
正如長期持有某隻股票,雖然它可能會在 1年間由 1元升至 5、 6元,但你卻沒有這麼多時間等,否則又如何有資金繼續運作?更重要是今個月又哪裏找來錢交租及水電煤等開支。
所以在 Day Trading其中一項重點,便是不要奢望每次能獲厚利,反而是每次能夠在短時間內,在最大機會率下獲取微利,好像不少美國的 Market Maker(俗稱莊家),很多時他們僅賺幾個價位便沽貨,盡快讓資金回籠,因為資金停留在市場越久,其危險性便越高,而莊家極注重資金的運用效率。
此外,有些持續在某特定水位上落的股份,它的質素未必佳,但也是一個不俗的短線買賣對象,正如附圖的中國遠洋,由去年 6月至今,除了個別極端價位,其股價大約在 9至 11元間橫行,提供了多次短線買賣機會。
由於筆者近日工作繁忙,幸好請得黃國英兄暫時代為撰寫本欄,筆者在 4月 14日再與各位讀者見面。

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

On Saizen's income (in Saizen REIT's quarterly report, 11 Feb 10):

"Operationally, Saizen REIT is not losing money. I think this is what you are concerned about. In fact, it made more money than the same period last year. This is remarkable if you realise that it has done this after selling away five properties.

"Look at net income from operations. It is up 5.3%. What makes it looks bad is this: Net fair value loss on financial derivatives. This has a loss of JPY401.7m for the period reported.

"....... their explanation that this is for "mainly fair value losses on warrants of JPY 389.0 million, which arose due to the increase in market-traded price of the warrants."

"This really has no material impact on Saizen REIT real profitability. If you take the sum of JPY 389.0 million out, what you get is actually a profit....."

On estimating Saizen REIT's dpu (in Saizen REIT: March 2010 Presentation, 14 March 10):

"To estimate the distributable income, I look at the Income Statement. Nett income from operations in 2QFY2010 was JPY364m for the group. There was a reduction in nett income from operations in 2QFY2010 compared to 1QFY2010 due to the divestment of 5 properties by the manager.

"As Saizen REIT has defaulted on YK Shintoku's CMBS loan, I doubt it would be divesting anymore properties while seeking refinancing options. So, if you multiply 2QFY2010 nett income from operations by 4, we could estimate the full year total to be JPY 1,456m. Assuming Saizen REIT pays out 90% of its income, we arrive at JPY 1,310.4m. Please bear in mind that this is an estimate.

"At the end of February 2010, Saizen REIT had 952,799,055 units and 493,558,362 warrants in issue. Many are actually buying the warrants for capital appreciation with no intention of converting them into regular units in the meantime. So, if we do a simple division of the distributable income by the number of units in issue, we get JPY 1.38 per unit. Based on the prevailing exchange rate, we get Singapore 2c per unit. 1 JPY = 0.01516 SGD (provided by UOB). This translates into a yield of 12% based on the last done price of 16.5c.

"Of course, I expect the warrants to be fully exercised by 2012 which, incidentally, would provide Saizen REIT with more funds to bring down its gearing level or to fund yield accretive purchases then.

"Assuming that all warrants are fully exercised and nett operation income stays the same, estimated distributable income would reduce proportionally to 1.4c per unit. This translates into a yield of 8.5% on the last done price of 16.5c."

On refinancing for Saizen REIT (in Saizen REIT: March 2010 Presentation, 14 March 10):

"If I had the money, I would consider taking over Saizen REIT. It would be a steal compared to buying the underlying assets one by one as that would cost more. Buying the REIT would give me ownership of 161 apartment buildings in Japan at almost 60% discount to their current market values! Unfortunately, I don't have that kind of money.

"YK Shintoku's CMBS totals JPY 7,253.2m. That portfolio of properties is worth JPY 9,078.7m. That's a 20% difference. 7% interest is JPY 507.72m annually. YK Shintoku, with the divestment of 5 properties, would still generate a gross rental revenue of JPY 920.5m annually. Even after taking away 15% for expenses and fees, it would still have JPY 782.38m left. After deducting JPY 507.72m in interest expense (at the current 7%), YK Shintoku would still generate a nett income of JPY 274.66m! Very healthy. Personally, I do not see any reason why the CMBS loan could not be re-financed from this standpoint."

Sunday, March 28, 2010

张卫健

张卫健,香港著名歌手和演员,籍贯上海,出生于香港。2009年1月12日,张卫健和张茜结束10年爱情长跑,在菲律宾圣奥古斯汀教堂举行婚礼。

家乡: 上海
血型: O
出生年月: 1965年2月8日
星座: 水瓶座

毕业院校: St. Francais Xavias College
身高: 170厘米

1984年参加新秀歌唱大赛得到金奖,也同时获得最突出台风奖,而开始他的演艺生涯。但他并没因此走红,为了生活,只好再度回歌厅驻唱,和交往5年的女友江欣燕因性格不合而分手。后凭首次担纲演出的港剧《老友鬼鬼》一炮而红。华纳唱片还推出张卫健首张个人粤语专辑《真真假假》也大卖登上排行榜冠军。但张卫健的星途就不太顺利,事业三起四落,就像坐过山车一样起起跌跌。

宗教:天主教
个人座右铭:做人好比游泳,游累了也是不能停的

从念小学开始,张卫健就发现自己很爱演戏,喜欢研究人,上中学时养成一个习惯——坐在街上看人或是坐很挤的公共汽车,他一点也不觉得闷,因为那样可以听到别人讲话。同时,学校每次办舞台剧,他总是导演、编剧、演员、道具(人扮)……一手包办,表演潜质已显露出来。

中学毕业后,视陈百强为偶像的张卫健也像对方那样,向歌星的目标迈进。

1982年,他参加第一届新秀歌唱大赛,侥幸进入前三十名,第二年他又卷土重来,这次他没参加决赛就退出了,因为当时有唱片公司与他签约,谁知最后竟是一场空,失望之余,张卫健寄希望于第三届。果然是有志者事竟成,

1984年,他凭一曲《恋爱交叉》勇夺冠军和最佳台风奖,他的名字在一夜之间令全香港家喻户晓,成功经来得如此容易!想起前两界新秀歌唱大赛冠军得主梅艳芳和吕方的不俗发展,张卫健对自己的未来充满了憧憬,但命运却跟他开了个玩笑。当时,唱片公司并没有给他出个人大碟的机会,只是让他在一张杂锦唱片里唱了两首歌。加入“无线”拍剧,由于受一张娃娃脸和1.68米的身高限制,只能演些插科打诨的小角色。

为了生活,张卫健只有到歌厅、酒廊当驻唱歌手。那些客人根本就不是来听歌的,使他在唱歌的同时还要留心茶杯、烟灰缸会随时飞上台。有一段时间,他每天早上九点开始拍戏,晚上七点完工后再搭末班车到深圳登台,可忙来忙去,他所得到的酬劳却不及其他歌星的三分之一……种种与他那冠军身份不相称的待遇只有靠他自己调整心态。那时的张卫健,远不像如今这样能客观对待名利。

就在这段失意岁月,有个人的一句话却令他铭记于心,成为他日后演艺路上的座右铭,一直支持他继续奋斗下去。

1991年,Dicky接拍香港TVB《老友鬼鬼》,并有机会在神话剧《日月神剑》中与郭晋安分饰日、月神侠,苦熬八年的他凭着搞笑手段脱颖而出,备受无线重视,终于在香港一炮打响,并创下当时香港剧集收视率的最高纪录,事业渐露曙光。

张卫健接着他担纲主演的《我爱牙擦苏》将他推上成功的舞台。一时间,他成了娱乐圈风头最劲的人物。其诙谐的表演风格被各大电影片商看中,纷纷找他拍电影。一来他被传媒封为“周星驰接班人”,但他的片酬只是周天王的1/10;二来他也有一定的票房保证,所以光是1993年,他便拍了12部电影。最让他高兴的是,连唱片公司也找他出唱片。

入行八年,张卫健终于有了自己的第一张个人专辑《真真假假》,还拿了好几个乐坛新人奖,那种喜悦的心情的确难以言表。但,这一切偏偏又好景不长,张卫健的走红只是昙花一现。由于他接戏太多,曝光率太频繁,而且接拍的多是些无聊的搞笑片,观众看腻了就不再捧场;所出的唱片也不讨歌迷的欢心,他的声势渐渐滑落。

1994年,没有人再找他拍戏、出唱片,迫于生计,他把走红时买的大房子卖了。比起以前那段未红的日子,走红后瞬间又从顶风滑落的苦楚更令人觉得难以承受。

后来,台湾现代派唱片公司看好张卫健,邀他过档发展,他的事业因此出现了转机,接连在台湾推出的三张国语唱片,平均销量达15万张,而且又拍剧又主持节目,还入选“十大偶像”。没想到,在香港倒霉的张卫健却在台湾红了起来。

重返“无线”拍《西游记》是张卫健事业的第三个高峰,这个剧的收视率高达40%,为“无线”创下广告费及版权费两亿元的进帐。张卫健功不可没。他把猴精演绎得出神入化,甚获好评。这一番重振声威,张卫健原本以为可以在续集里再次大显身手,还想了套全新的演绎方法,可事情却没有他想象中那么顺利。首拍《西游记》,张卫健忙碌大半年只赚到九万港币,因此在洽谈续集片酬时,他很自然地为自己要求了一个合理的酬金,但“无线”却接受不了,指责他“狮子大开口”。如果公司不拍这套戏,他也不可能红起来。双方闹得不欢而散。

此地不留人,自有留人处。张卫健离开“无线”后并没有进入低潮,他继续在台湾和内地发展,而且钱也赚了不少。但张卫健却觉得前两年他像没了灵魂,不知道自己在干什么,拍戏给谁看。以前他拍的影视片,整个东南亚,甚至是美国和加拿大都可以看到,但现在却没了香港这一部分。

张卫健星途坎坷,精力由外放到内敛,一切冷暖只有他明白,歌坛的发展并不顺利,并没有让他痛恨唱歌,原来他发自内心喜欢音乐,是无论如何都不会变的。他说可以为了取悦别人去搞笑去演戏,但是,唱歌来自他的内心……

1999年拍摄《少年英雄方世玉》一炮而红,成为中港台家喻户晓的港台明星,从此事业一帆风顺。如今他已成为中港台知名的歌手和演员。

感情生活
初恋情人江欣燕
张卫健和张茜江欣燕是张卫健的初恋情人,他对她是“一见钟情”。恋情维持不到四年,因为有第三者介入而分手。

那年,张卫健才18岁,作为香港无线电视台新秀歌唱选拔赛冠军的他,在为下一届新秀参赛者做“新秀”江欣燕。“第一眼看到她时,我就被电到了,从此.她走到哪儿,我的眼神就跟到哪儿。”拍了十几年的戏,也许台词背多了,张卫健口才非常好,形容自己和江欣燕“电光石火”般爱情燃起那一刹时,张卫健眼神是“亮晶晶”的,表情恨陶醉。

可惜,这段从18岁谈到23岁的爱情。虽纯真浪漫,却经不起现实的考验。张卫健在香港无线电视台混了8年还没红。江欣燕等了他多年,一次又一次给他机会,最后,还是选择离开他。两人分手时,江欣燕曾对张卫健说:“我不是要嫁一个富有的人不然我不会等你这么多年可是你实在太让我没有安全感了你连自己每个月的生活费用都搞不定,还要借钱度日……”。当时,张卫健曾恳求她再给他一年的机会,“再给你一年,你保证你会红吗?”张卫健哑口无言,就这样,他痛苦地放开了她的手。失去这段刻骨铭心的恋情后,张卫健发誓要好好努力工作,让她看看,自己也有红的一天。

最爱的女人宣萱
张卫健曾说过,宣萱是他最爱,当年他际遇不佳,造成这段感情变质,一直很遗憾。张卫健对宣萱是“曰久生情”那时,张卫健和万梓良、宣萱合拍《龙兄鼠弟》。宣萱在剧中是万梓良的女友,剧外因为工作中朝夕相处,却成了张卫健的爱侣。和宣萱分手后的3年时间里张卫健没有再谈恋爱。

绯闻女友黎姿
张卫健与另一长发靓女黎姿有段似有若无的关系,但是碰到两人都正在发展事业,因此大家都却步了。张卫健认为感情是双方的事,并没有谁追谁,那样就变得有点强求的意味,好像你拼命去拉扯对方,让对方跟你一样产生相同的爱意,那样实在没意思;而且他基本上对女追男的恋爱方式有点排斥,这会令高度稳定性的他感到不安,深怕自己的女友哪天又去追别人。张卫健说初恋让他学会一件事,那就是当他再度面临恋情时,如果发觉对方脚踏两条船,即“二话不说,马上闪。”

与张茜结婚
2009年1月12日,张卫健和张茜结束10年爱情长跑,在菲律宾圣奥古斯汀教堂举行婚礼。与周慧敏倪震的简朴低调相反,这对新人将高调与奢华进行到底,整个婚礼预计花费500万元。

婚礼所在地被安排在菲律宾历史悠久的圣奥古斯丁教堂,前往菲律宾观礼的圈中好友包括许志安和郑秀文、韩红、苏永康、梁汉文夫妇以及狄波拉等,谢霆锋和陈奕迅则因档期来不了。婚礼将于当日下午2:30在教堂举行,之后在泳池边设酒会和放烟花。张卫健透露,整个婚礼预计花费500万元。婚礼会由《超级访问》的李静主持,她也是两人的多年好友。不过最让张茜担心的还是张卫健的酒量,所以,还特别邀请了韩红帮忙挡酒:“因为她能喝啊!要找人挡酒,她绝对是第一个。”

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Hong Kong

361 Degrees 6.26
Bank of China 3.99
China Construction Bank 6.09
COSCO Intl Holdings Ltd. 4.5
HSBC Holdings plc 80.15
New World Development Co. Ltd 15.64
Singamas Container Holdings Ltd 1.39
Sino-Ocean Land 6.8
SOHO China 4.39
TENCENT 158.1
Wharf (Holdings) Ltd 45
Yuexiu Property 2.02

韋小寶

職業 : 小流氓、清廷太監、天地會香主、神龍教白龍使背景

韋小寶是市民社會中,中國遊民最惡劣分子——流氓的典型代表。市井文化與遊民文化是相輔相成的。而韋小寶就是這種市井文化與遊民文化的結合體。

毋庸諱言,韋小寶是一個地地道道的“婊子養的”。他的母親正是清康熙年間揚州麗春院(妓女院)的一個人到中年,姿色一般的妓女,名叫韋春花。

他一生最重要的機遇,便是生於妓院而遇於宮廷。倘若他不是生於妓院,“見過世面”——這一句非常重要,切記切記——練得一身無賴無恥機靈百變的功夫,就是遇於宮廷也只能是枉然,反倒會送了一條性命,早就被大太監海大富殺死了。即使不殺死也至多不過一個小假太監罷啦,到發現他是一個小太監之時便會是他的斃命之時。

可是,韋小寶偏偏生於妓院,遇於宮廷,雖不免受點小小的驚嚇,但這小驚小嚇對於韋小寶來說算不了什麼。可以說韋小寶的經歷完全是一帆風順,嚴絲合縫,命中註定要富貴榮華而又驚天動地的。

至若宮中有賭錢之樂,這可是韋小寶沒想到的,與揚州妓院就更像上幾分了。進而碰上又有“白食”可吃(原是給皇上準備的),而居然又有架可打(他那時可不知道與他打架的對手“小玄子”正是當今皇上玄燁——康熙),就使得韋小寶樂而忘返了。試想,賭錢是“樂”,白食是“吃”,而打架是“玩”,有此三種。韋小寶如何還生去意?等到韋小寶發現“小玄子”就是康熙“今上”時,他本應嚇得逃遁,然而一是他與小玄子打架已打出了交情,二是他也出不去,再次則正是他時來運轉,飛黃騰達的機會來了!韋小寶一生的“光輝業績”是從協助康熙鬥殺鼇拜開始。這一事件影響之大為韋小寶始料未及,真正是名揚天下,永垂青史。

也許這就正是宮廷朝上與妓院市井相一致的地方了:即不擇手段地達到目的,沒什麼上流下流,沒什麼有恥無恥。

自此而往,韋小寶在妓院中所學到的那一套諸如不擇手段,見機行事,撒謊行騙,

溜鬚拍馬,賭咒發誓,偷竊扒拿,落井下石……等種種功夫宮廷中居然都找到了“用武之地”並且還是無往而不利,使他逢凶化吉,左右逢源,福星高照,飛黃騰達。而這恰是因為外人看起來是神秘莊重的宮廷,其實與妓院一般是貪污腐化,卑鄙無恥,蕆汙納垢,虛偽骯髒之所。

韦小宝-基本资料

韦小宝-人物概述
《鹿鼎记》是金庸先生最后一部长篇小说,也是与以往风格有很大区别的一部作品。想必这部小说的男主人公——韦小宝大家都不陌生了。他从小在扬州妓院长大,天天耳濡目染嫖客们的各式丑态,自己沾染了满身市井之气,油嘴滑舌。他不会任何武功却敢独自一人闯江湖,虽然经历了重重的危难险阻,但凭借他的聪明才智,察言观色,每次都可以逢凶化吉。他游走于各大帮会、周旋皇帝朝臣之间并奉旨远征云南、脱险俄罗斯,……太多太多的惊险历程,却处处化险为夷。不由得让人佩服他的聪明机智。

韦小宝官场绝招
1、适度遮掩隐瞒。
请看韦小宝处理卢一峰痛的办法:官场之中,有道是‘瞒上不瞒下,天大的事情,只消遮掩得过去,谁也不会故意把黑锅拉到自己头上。再看吴三桂教韦小宝隐瞒的方法:“韦兄弟,咱们做官的要诀,是报喜不报忧。”果然韦小宝一点就透,在攻打神龙岛时,听了战报,心想:“你也来谎报军情了。神龙的少年教徒,最多也不过八九百人,那有三千多名之理?好在杀敌越多,功劳越大。就算报他四千、五千,又有何妨?”

2、牢记拉老乡关系。
请看韦小宝初见吴三桂那段:韦小宝听他说话中带着扬州口音,倒有三分欢喜,心道:“辣块妈妈,你跟我可是老乡哪。”说道:“这个却不敢当,卑职岂敢高攀?”话中也加了几分扬州口音。吴三桂笑道:“韦爵爷是扬州人吗?”韦小宝道:“正是。”吴三桂笑道:“那就更加好了。小王寄籍辽东,原籍扬州高邮。咱们真正是一家人哪。”

3、来点聚财有方。
韦小宝先以“请命费”名义,筹钱100万两给施琅带到京城打点,然后韦小宝升堂,向众官员道:“昨晚施将军启程赴京,这请命费算来算去,总还是差了一百多万。兄弟为了全台百姓着想,只好将历年私蓄,还有七位夫人的珠宝首饰,一古脑儿又凑了一百万两银子,交施将军带去使用打点。唉,在台湾做官,可真不容易,兄弟只不过暂且署理,第一天便亏空了一百万。我这可是倾家荡产,全军覆没了。

台湾府知府躬身说道:“大人爱护百姓,为民父母,真是万家生佛。除了公库垫款六十多万要还之外,韦大人这一百万两银子,自然也是要全台百姓奉还的。

韦小宝点头道:“你们每个人也都垫了银子,个个都弄得两袖清风什么的,这个我也不是不知道。你们官大的垫了成万两,官小的垫了数千两、数百两不等,大家齐心合力,为来为去,都是为了众百姓。这些垫款,自然也是要地方上归还的。咱们做父母官的,也不能向老百姓算利息,大家吃些亏,拿回本钱,也就算了,这叫做爱民如子。

众官大喜,一齐称谢,均觉这位韦大人体贴下情,有财大家发,果然是一位好上司。

韦小宝第一天署官,便刮了一百万两银子,此后财源滚滚,花巧多端,不必细表。再看韦小宝索贿的法子:先转说吴三桂想造反的传闻,然后用这里奢华已胜过当今皇帝来推定其没有造反的必要,最后说:“你做到王爷,有钱不使,又做什么王爷?你倘若嫌金银太多,担心一时花不完,我跟你帮忙使使,有何不可?哈哈!”另外,韦小宝知道想贿赂收得多,第一是要对方有所求,第二是要对方有所忌,因此,奉旨到扬州,宣旨已毕后,韦小宝说道:“众位大人,兄弟出京之时,皇上吩咐,江苏一省出产殷富,可是近年来吏治松弛,兵备也不整饬,命兄弟好好查察整顿。皇上对扬州百姓这么爱惜,咱们居官的,该当尽心竭力,报答圣恩才是。”一番话,既点明了知道本地富有的实情,又借整顿为名予以卡压,端的高明之极。

4、不妨大帽子压人。
为了见到行刺吴三桂的阿珂,韦小宝抬出了皇帝:韦小宝脸色一沉,道:“王爷遇刺,伤势很重,倘若有甚么三长两短,两短三长,那可谁也脱不了干系。本人回到北京,皇上自然要仔仔细细的问上一番,刺客是甚么人?何人指使?我如不亲眼瞧个清清楚楚,皇上问起来,又怎么往上回?难道你叫我胡说一通吗?这欺君之罪,我自然担当不起。夏总兵,嘿嘿,只怕你也担当不起哪!”

5、经常心口不一,表里不一。
韦小宝对他人就不要说了,且看对师傅如何:“陈近南道:”这就是了,你如言不由衷,做了对不起大伙的事,我第一个就饶不得你。“韦小宝道:”师父你放一百二十个心。“心道:”放一百一十九个心罢!我自己就有点不大放心。“

6、巧用欲加之罪。
韦小宝看到施琅居功自傲后,先以其战船留有台湾标记为由,后又在施琅的郑成功祭文中挑刺,把施琅与伍子婿的诅咒亡国相比,并以不懂“鸟尽弓藏”的意思相问,把个施琅整治得服服贴贴。

7、一定要找对门路。
施琅为了攻打台湾报仇,想到的办法是找门路,且看索额图是如何说他的:“你甚么都学乖了,居然知道韦大人是皇上驾前第一位红官儿,走他的门路,可胜于去求恳十位百位王公大臣。”这可是官场办事的不二法门,就是耿直的施琅也慢慢参透了。

8、多多溜须拍马。
韦小宝是溜须拍马的高手,别人拍他的马屁,他的感受是:“对别人的谄谀也不会当真,但听人奉承,毕竟开心。”再如韦小宝听了施琅的溜拍,心想:“你在北京熬了三年,已精通做官的法门,老子本想干了你,瞧你如此精乖,倒有些不忍了。‘满汉第一勇士这个头衔,今日倒是第一次听见,亏你想得出。”可见,拍马的手段施之任何人都会有效。

9、巧妙推卸责任。
例如索额图回答韦小宝征求让施琅攻打台湾一事,他道:“皇上英明,高瞻远瞩,算无遗策,咱们做奴才的,一切听皇上吩咐办事就是了。”韦小宝心想:“你倒滑头得很,不肯担干系。由此可见,推卸责任实是官运长久之道。

10、千万不可傲慢。
你看:“文武百官迎接钦差大臣,或恭谨逾恒,马屁十足;或奉承得体,恰到好处,惟有一个大胡子武官却神色傲慢,行礼之时显是敷衍了事,浑不将韦小宝瞧在眼里。韦小宝大怒,立时便要发作。”所以,人在官场,就得戴一付假面皮,否则,不经意间就会结怨。再看韦小宝,性子随和,对下属也说有说有笑,所以人人愿意效力。相反,装门面、摆架子,故意制造神秘的洪教主却落得人们对他阳奉阴违。

11、用有本事而不得志之人。
韦小宝知道凡事有本事之人,不肯拍马屁,喜欢拍马屁的,便是跟他差不多。因此,水战他提携闲置的施琅,不过也是因为施琅找了他的门路。更绝的是,为了陆战,他找曾经对他不敬的一个叫不上名的大胡子军官,后来知道叫赵良栋的,帮他剿灭了王屋山的匪乱,后来平叛吴三桂,还救过韦小宝的命。可见,自己没本事,但是会用人,那也一样能成事。

12、得饶人处且饶人。
韦小宝奉旨下扬州,原想挖尽禅智寺前的数千株芍药,听了在布政司转弯抹角、大费心机的一番说话,明白了人家意在保全这禅智寺前的数千株芍药,因而按照做官的诀窍,首在大家过得去,这叫做“花花轿子人抬人”,“你既然捧了我,我就不能一意孤行,叫扬州通城的官儿脸上都下不来。”韦小宝对官场规则真是深有心得。

13、惠而不费做人情。
为了答应双儿杀掉狗官吴之荣,且看韦小宝是如何做人情的:“我须当显得十分为难,她才会大大见我的情。”又如,桑结和葛尔丹明明为神龙教所擒,幸得韦小宝释放洪夫人,将他二人换了回来,但在韦小宝说来,倒似是他二人将敌人打得大败亏输一般。桑结脸有惭色,心中暗暗感激。葛尔丹却眉飞色舞,在心上人之前得意洋洋。此乃口头人情,更是厉害。

14、切忌自居功劳。
韦小宝每次立功,都不自居,对下说是大伙鼎力相助,并大赏弟兄部下,对上大赞是皇上洪福和神机妙算。这种清醒,恐非一般人能够做得。再他是如何教施琅的:“是啊,你这次平台功劳不小,朝中诸位大臣,每一个送了多少礼啊?”施琅一怔,道:“这是仗着天子威德,将士用命,才平了台湾,朝中大臣可没出什么力。”韦小宝摇头道:“老施啊,你一得意,老毛病又发作了。你打平台湾,人人都道你金山银山,一个儿独吞,发了大财。朝里做官的,那一个不眼红?”施琅急道:“大人明鉴,施琅要是私自取了台湾一两银子,这次教我上北京给皇上千刀万剐,凌迟处死。”韦小宝道:“你自己要做清官,可不能人人跟着你做清官啊。你越清廉,人家越容易说你坏话,说你在台湾收买人心,意图不轨。这么说来,你这次去北京,又是两手空空,什么礼物也不带了?”施琅道:“台湾的土产,好比木雕、竹篮、草席、皮箱,那是带了一些的。

韦小宝哈哈大笑,只笑得施琅先是面红耳赤,继而恍然大悟,终于决心补过,当下向韦小宝深深一揖,说道:“多谢大人指点。卑职这次险些儿又闯了大祸。”敬告大家千万不要功成得意,自酿其祸。

韦小宝-七个老婆
韦小宝按照出场顺序依次是双儿、建宁公主、方怡、沐剑萍、曾柔、苏筌、阿珂 七位夫人之中,最突出的是苏荃和建宁公主。
苏荃原是神龙教主洪安通的夫人,她年纪最长,也本领最大。她的出身金庸完全没有透露,初时见她千娇百媚地傍 着老而丑的洪教主,为他暗里操练红卫兵式的少年队铲除老手下。到后来才知道她是他强迫下嫁,至于怎样强迫,她心中又有何盘算,故事便没有说出来。 她初见韦小宝时他是阶下囚,她是有权有势的教主跟前红人,韦小宝一味称赞讨好,她虽然高兴,也未必怎样动心。丽春院一场闹剧大被同眠,苏荃也怀了韦小宝的孩子,这有没有使她对他观感大改很难说,但到了最后,神龙教发生叛变,洪教主被围攻杀死,她反正没有更好的去处,跟了韦小宝,绝非下策。 苏荃是不是真心爱一个人是另一回事,但似乎她视保护丈夫、令他愉快为做妻子的职业道德,倒是个上佳娶妻人选。她最大快人心之举是制服刁蛮的建宁公主,使她不敢对韦小宝大呼小喝、拳打 脚踢。
这公主奇特之处是她的性虐狂癖好。那段她在禁宫对韦小宝施虐。激使他倒过来虐待她的奇文,真不明白金庸何处想来。建宁公主其实是韦小宝的“初试云雨 情”伴侣,竟是如此乌云暴雨,也真令人啼笑皆非。她跟随韦小宝,自是为了与他一起性生活美满了,宁愿受苏荃的气也要跟他,韦小宝想必有他令人难忘之处。双儿除外,韦小宝的其他女友夫人就没有苏荃和建宁公主那么特别了。
小郡主 沐剑屏年纪最小,最天真稚气,心地最好,开始时恼恨韦小宝胡说八道讨人便宜,后来觉得他没有恶意,也就跟他谈笑得很开心了。
方怡年纪较长,心事复杂得多,而且懂得以自己的美色诱骗人;使韦小宝两番上当,坠入陷井,但韦小宝根本不讲 究“内在美”,尽管他恼恨方怡出卖他,也不会因此而打消娶她的念头。
曾柔人如其名,是个温柔女子,心思细密,她与同门行刺韦小宝失手被擒,韦小宝看她美貌分上,掷骰子作弊饶了他们,她心怀感激,一直把这副灌铅骰子带在 身上留念。除此之外,曾柔别无可记之处。

韦小宝亲点的“元配正室大老婆”阿珂,是陈圆圆跟吴三桂所生的女儿,两岁 时被本是长平公主的九难拐去,以为日后报复吴三桂的工具。(这真是败笔。拐去仇人女儿,要她长大后行刺亲生父,桥段陈旧,加上原来并不真心传她武功,存心要她送死,使观音似贞一个白衣神尼变成阴毒的妖婆,十分扫兴。)众女之中,以阿珂生得最美,因此韦小宝一见她也是最色授魂予,不能自己,发誓不要性命也要 取她为妻。阿珂完全没有个性,她被韦小宝这市井小人非礼,急怒之下横刀自刎, 不过是一时冲动,不是因为她怎样洁身自爱,见了郑克爽那种绣花枕头的“公子” ,马上死心塌地,还不是少女的虚荣心作崇。“公子”品行下流,她亲眼所见,但全不觉不妥,证明她跟韦小宝一样,也不是个讲究“内在美”的人。 阿珂有草包公子作心上人,方怡也有少不更事的师兄为意中人,两个本来都讨 厌韦小宝,但韦氏一边气苦恼怒,一边积极施展手段夺爱,运用权势、威逼利诱、 奸计蒙骗,无所不为,结果还不是解决情敌,“桂公公双手抱佳人。”这倒十分合情理,二妞原先爱慕这二位公子,只因在她们有限的眼界之中,他二位己是高大威猛,到头来败者为寇,还有什么吸引力可言?

《易经》:怎样在绝境中寻求转机

本期主讲:张国明沈阳市历史教育研究会秘书长,沈阳市周易研究会副秘书长,北京联合大学易学特约研究员。

凝聚着中国古圣先贤古老智慧的《易经》,曾长久地被误解为一本算命的书。随着科技的发展,东西方文化的交融,《易经》越来越受到中外科学界、文化界的重视,西方学者称之为“一部奇妙的未来学著作”。

《易经》究竟是一部什么样的书呢?我们又如何才能够读懂古老而神秘的《易经》?而懂了《易经》的道理,对于我们的人生会有什么意义呢?

六十四卦代表了什么?是我们的祖先把宇宙所有的事情归纳起来,概括成的六十四种代表情境。六十四卦对我们的人生究竟有什么作用?是当我们遇到事情的时候,能够按图索骥,明白自己的处境,知道自己应把握的基本原则,清楚怎么应对。《周易》中运用八卦预测信息的方法的发明,正是我国人民具有唯物主义世界观的真实写照,他们在实践很好地认识社会、改造社会、推动社会不断的向前发展。所以,易卦及《周易》,是个储存量很大的信息库。

其实,每个人的命运都掌握在自己手里,每个人的卦也都是由自己画的。

本期开始,我们就从成语典故入手为您通解《易经》的符号,探求《易经》的生存智慧在生活中的应用法则。

易理应用
无论是老子的福祸相依还是《淮南子》中的塞翁失马,无论是老百姓信奉的“吃亏是福”,还是“冬天来了,春天还会远吗”的吟咏,都体现了大道同源的道理,它们都可以理解为是“否极泰来”“剥尽复返”的演绎版,《周易》的这四个卦构成的两个格言启迪了我们的智慧:“困难时、低谷时信心比任何东西都重要”。

那么具体说来,我们在生活陷入低谷时,应该怎样借用易经的智慧来思考呢?

应该从这样四个方面去结合自己的实际情况思考:

一、要相信物极必反,否极泰来是事物本身的规律。首先树立信心,记住“有信心就有希望赢。”
正如黑夜之后必然是黎明;严冬过后必然是春意一样,这些规律是客观的,不管你相信与否,它就是这样运行的。一走入人生严冬的谷底,距离百花争艳的春天还会远吗,失意落寞之时不妨用吉人自有天相宽慰自己,要知道,山重水复之地往往也就是柳暗花明之时。

二、不要相信运气、点子之类的东西,所谓坏运气,很大程度无非是自身不愿正视现实的一个借口,考试失利、升迁无望、生活当中诸如此类不尽如人意的地方统统归结为坏运气,反躬自省这一切不都是一个自欺欺人的托词吗。

三、要相信无论是强大的对手,还是强大的困难,总会有弱点、有漏洞。而那个弱点和漏洞,就是你绝地反击反败为胜的机会。这个时候,冷静最重要。沿历史的长河溯流而上,无数外强中干的例子将博你会心一笑,官渡之战是历史上著名的以少胜多的实例,战争之前,面对敌强我弱的局势,曹操的首席智囊郭嘉丝毫未让敌方兵强马壮的表象左右自己的判断,而是独具慧眼地看清敌人色厉内荏的本质,从而向曹操提出了“绍(袁绍)有十败,公(曹操)有十胜”这条著名的论断。

四、要准确判断自身的实力,及时调整战略,等待合适时机,做出与自身能力、客观条件、大环境相符的正确选择,要知道一蹶不振者没有机会,没有自知之明一味蛮干者同样没有机会。

否极泰来

【卦名通解】

否、泰,《周易》中的两个卦名。

否卦,上卦三阳爻为乾卦为天,下卦三阴爻为坤卦为地,天阳之气是清的,运动规律是上行的,地阴之气是浊的,运动规律是下行的,卦象显示出天地不交、阴阳不通之象。

以一个团体比喻象征团体的领导高高在上,不关心百姓生活,官民关系紧张。矛盾的双方不沟通,不交流,当然无助于矛盾的解决。否卦的卦辞说:否卦,遇到了小人,不利君子守正,好的局面过去了坏的局面到来了。

泰卦,上卦三阴爻为坤卦为地,下卦三阳爻为乾卦为天。地阴之气是浊的,运动规律是下行的,天阳之气是清的,运动规律是上行的。正是天地相交、阴阳相通之象。

以一个团体比喻象征团体的领导能够放下身姿,礼贤下士,到群众中去,关心百姓生活,倾听民间疾苦,官民关系和谐。矛盾的双方得以沟通,得以交流,当然有助于矛盾的解决。泰卦的卦辞说:泰卦,不好的局面过去了,好的局面到来了,吉利,亨通。

否极泰来寓意逆境达到极点,就会向顺境转化。指坏运到了头,好运就来了。用哲学的理论来讲,就是事物总是互相转化的:一个人不可能总是处于坦途,也不可能总是处于逆境,有失败当然也会有成功。人生总是变幻莫测的,在自己功成名就的时候,不要贪得无厌,要适可而止、见好就收;在自己遭遇挫折的时候,千万不要半途而废,轻言放弃,因为成功往往是从失败中得来的,在失败中找到失败的根源,最终会反败为胜。

【经典案例】
一个战败的将军,拖着疲惫的身体,躲进一个破旧的茅草屋里。他的军队被敌人打散,现在只有他一个人躺在地上,呆呆地望着屋顶。忽然,他发现一只蜘蛛在屋顶的一个角落里织网,风很大,这只蜘蛛费了好大劲才把两根蛛丝固定住,下面它开始进行最艰难的工作,编蜘蛛网。风太大了,每次都快结成网时,被风吹破。一次,两次,三次……将军默默数着,蜘蛛一共结了七次,也被风吹破了七次。将军自言自语:“你也是失败了七次。”当蜘蛛第八次织网时,将军说:“放弃吧,你已经尽力了。”但蜘蛛没有,蜘蛛再次仔细检查了着力点,慢慢地,将一根蛛丝再次接了起来,这一次它成功了。将军跳起来,大声说道:“它可以成功,我也可以。”于是,将军整了整衣帽,走出茅草屋,重新召集被敌人打散的兵马,与敌人再一次进行决斗,终于打败了对手,凯旋而归。他就是英国将军——威灵顿。威灵顿在不久之后的滑铁卢战役中,最终打垮了拿破仑,取得了最后的胜利.他的形象出现在5英镑纸币上,他后来又担任了英国首相、陆军元帅。

【易理启示】
作为一个身经百战的军事家,面对过于强大的对手,暂时的失利总是在所难免的,但无数次战争带来的不可复制的经验,军队中崇高的威望带来的众望所归的期许,这些资本都在己方实力上添加了无形的筹码,一方是东山再起、绝地反击的败军之将,一方是强弩之末、骄气日盛的常胜将军,短兵相接之时,昔日的败将终于一战成名,改写历史。

看似一件微不足道的蜘蛛结网的小事,激发出威灵顿战胜自我的勇气,让我们明白最大的敌人不是别人,恰恰是自己。

剥尽复返

【卦名通解】

剥、复,《周易》中的两个卦名。
剥卦,上卦为艮卦为山,下卦三阴爻为坤卦为地,山阳之气是清的,运动规律是上行的,地阴之气是浊的,运动规律是下行的,卦象显示出天地不交、阴阳不通之象。

以一个家庭比喻象征丈夫高高在上,只关心自己权益,不关心妻子生活,夫妻关系紧张。矛盾的双方不沟通,不交流,当然无助于矛盾的解决,只能使矛盾激化。剥卦的卦辞说:不利去做事情。

复卦,上卦三阴爻为坤卦为地,下卦为震卦为雷。地阴之气是浊的,运动规律是下行的,雷阳之气是清的,运动规律是上行的。正是天地相交、阴阳相通之象,以一个家庭比喻象征丈夫能够放下身姿,关心爱护妻子,夫妻关系和谐。矛盾的双方得以沟通,得以交流,当然有助于矛盾的解决。泰卦的卦辞说:复卦,亨通,出入都顺利,朋友来聚会,好的局面再次回来,前去做事吉利。

剥尽复返同样寓意逆境达到极点,就会向顺境转化。指坏运到了头,好运就来了。

【经典案例】
孙膑,战国中期齐国人。少时即显示了惊人的军事才能,不料却因此遭人嫉妒暗算。师弟庞涓把孙膑骗到魏国砍掉了孙膑双脚,并在他的脸上刺上犯罪的标志。孙膑倒卧在血泊之中,他再也站不起来了,而且,还有人时时刻刻监视着他。必须想个脱身之法才是。不久,孙膑疯了,他一会儿哭,一会儿笑,叫闹个不停。庞涓听说了这些,并不相信,便叫人把他扔到猪圈去,又偷偷观察。孙膑披头散发地倒在猪圈里,弄得满身是猪粪,甚至把粪塞到嘴里大嚼起来。庞涓认为孙膑是真疯了,从此看管逐渐松懈下来。孙膑藏身于齐国使臣的车子里,秘密地回到了齐国。公元前354年,庞涓发兵8万,以突袭的办法将赵国的都城邯郸包围。孙膑趁魏国国内兵力空虚之机,发兵直取魏都大梁,迫使魏军弃赵回救。主将庞涓被活捉。这就是历史上有名的“围魏救赵”。

【易理启示】
一个少年得志的人,本来前途无量,却突遭横祸,受尽凌辱,没有了双脚,但他能够凭借才华、谋略在人类军事史上立起一座不朽的丰碑,靠的是什么?是不屈服于命运安排的顽强的意志;是竞争激发出的无限潜能;是清醒的头脑、冷静地判断:对自己能力的自信、对对手实力的准确评估。

看起来是灭顶之灾,前路漫漫、危机四伏,胜算的几率微乎其微,但只要有冷静的头脑,清醒地分析自己的实力,然后寻找转机。记住,你只能被打败,但绝对不能被打垮。

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

需要思考的几个投资问题

1、股价的长期走势与企业的发展有关还是与“价值”投资者认为未来他应该如何走有关?

2、企业经营的过程是要尽量满足用户需求和现实的生意情况,还是要尽量附和金融投资理论?

3、企业可以通过提升核心竞争力以至于垄断市场,然后勒索社会获得长期发展吗?

4、人类社会是一个相互倾轧的社会,还是一个共存共荣的社会?社会出现的基础是什么?秦始皇集团获得了最高的核心竞争力和垄断,为什么他迅速的倒台了?社会可以被任意宰割吗?

5、股价在大幅度下跌后投资,就可以不考虑企业风险问题,跌得多了就不会再下跌,企业会因为他的股价估值低而不出问题。

6、企业通过冒险经营,急功近利获得了快速发展,投资这样的企业赚钱快,没有太大风险,我能够在企业出问题后第一时间卖出他。

7、这一次与上一次不同,投资不要过于审慎,疑神疑鬼,这一次真的不同于上一次,雷曼的股东都是傻瓜,一百多美元买入他们,跌到四美分才出局,我确实赚钱了,而雷曼的股东没有。

8、上市的企业就不是企业了,不能用生意之道来判断他们,而应该用华尔街最主流的方法,主流的方法才是最安全的方法,投资就要跟着专家走。

9、第八条不对,投资不能跟着专家走,当然巴菲特不是专家,他是外行,跟着巴菲特不是跟专家,他的路五十年前走通了,我现在也一定能走通,未来尽在我的掌握,投资要有信心,不能疑神疑鬼,看企业是多余。

10、股票市场的参与者都是低智商的散户和蠢机构,他们的交易都是投机,不值得学习,我是投资,他们赚钱了是偶然,我亏钱了也是偶然,不能总结现实,现实是虚假的,书里面说的才是真实的,写书的人都是会投资的人,他们依靠投资发了大财,巴菲特好像亲笔写过书,只是我没读到过一本,奇怪?不过以讹传讹就够了,我赚钱还没到时候,一定的,股市会照顾我。

Is The New Bull Market Just a Hoax?

By, Simon Maierhofer
Mar 04, 2010
The small shock induced by the late January decline has been forgotten. Wall Street sees no reason for stocks to decline, even though a number of key components of the economy are in bad shape. For investors right now, it’s about being in the right assets at the right time. What are those?

Have you ever been at the right place at just the right time or the wrong place at the wrong time?

Can you relate to getting upgraded to first class because the plane was overbooked or getting a parking ticket within the first minute of the meter expiring?

In day-to-day life, much depends on being at the right place at the right time. When it comes to investing, much depends on being invested in the right “stuff” at the right time. Yes, there will be second chances, but there are no do-overs.

If fact, it is always harder to even out a mistake as it takes a 11% gain to make up for a 10% loss, a 43% gain to make up for a 30% loss and a 100% gain to make up for a 50% loss. In short, it helps to be right the first time.

Wall Street in general expects 2010 to be a very positive year. All 12 strategists polled by Bloomberg and Barron’s expect stocks (NYSEArca: SPY) to be up, on average 12%. This is despite the so-called “job-less recovery.”

Job-less recovery
The idea of a jobless recovery is as convincing as a fat free McDonalds meal. Consumers are the life-blood of any economy. An unemployed worker is not in a position to consume and propel the economy. Any economy can support a limited number of jobless consumers but not 15% or above.

But some say the U.S. only has a 10% unemployment rate, so we should be fine, right? CNNMoney reports that more than a million are set to lose their jobless benefits in March alone. By June this number will jump to about 5 million.

Since the Senate failed to push back the February 28 deadline to extend unemployment benefits, jobless workers won’t be able to rely on extended federal government support.

Federal unemployment benefits kicked in after the basic state-funded 26 weeks of coverage expire. When the economy was in freefall, Congress had approved up to an additional 73 weeks of federal benefits. The average unemployment period has reached an all-time high of 30.2 weeks while the number of workers unemployed for more than 26 weeks has hit a record of over 40%.

Even worse than expected
If you think this is bad, consider the following: The unemployment number commonly publicized is 9.7%. This is the U-3 unemployment rate. The actual unemployment rate – U-6, which is a more comprehensive measure of unemployment – published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is 18% (new numbers to be released on Friday). The BLS is the government agency that tracks unemployment, CPI and many other statistics.

Falling for the hoax
Interestingly, Wall Street and Main Street in general tend to believe the notion of a jobless recovery. As long as stock prices go up, who is there to doubt? As the leading indexes were slowly grinding up to their January recovery highs, investors and investment advisors were overwhelmingly bullish.

While the Dow Jones (DJI: ^DJI), S&P 500 (SNP: ^GSPC) and Nasdaq (Nasdaq: ^IXIC) reached levels not seen in over 18 months, investor optimism spiked to levels not seen in several years, in the case of one indicator, (investors cash allocation) even decades. This kind of extreme and discrepancy provided a serious red flag for the ETF Profit Strategy Newsletter.

On January 16, two trading days before the January 19 trading high, the ETF Profit Strategy Newsletter stated that: “bullish sentiment has reached a level where it is suffocating nearly all bearish currents and undertones. We believe that every day that brings higher prices presents a better opportunity for the bears.”

Within two weeks, the S&P dropped more than 100 points. One day before the S&P dropped to its intraday low for the year, the Newsletter said that “nothing goes down in one swift move and odds that some bounce to the upside will develop sooner or later are increasing. Dow 10,350 – 10,500 and S&P 1,110 – 1,125 are preliminary upside targets.”

With the major indexes having reached those targets, what’s next?

More reason for concern
Before looking at the short-term picture, let’s take a look at another bearish discrepancy – real estate.

January new home sales were expected to clock in at 354,000 (at an annual pace). The actual numbers came in at a record low 309,000. Home prices dropped 2.4% and the supply of homes at the current sales rate increased to 9.1 months worth, the highest since May 2009.

Some 4.5 million homes are expected to hit the foreclosure market this year. As a point of reference, “only” 2.8 million homes were foreclosed in 2009. Over 42% of adjustable-rate mortgages were seriously delinquent and one in five homeowners was underwater in Q4 (according to Zillow.com).

Even the director of economics at Moody’s (the same company that rated AIG as A+) expects home prices to continue falling through the end of the year. It is no secret that Moody’s outlook is generally on the rosy side.

What are the implications of this scenario?
If real estate (NYSEArca: IYR) does not recover, neither will banks’ (NYSEArca: KBE) toxic assets. Even though most have forgotten about toxic assets, it doesn’t mean they have miraculously disappeared.

It makes sense that the FDIC has shut down over 22 banks already this year, following the 140 banks in 2009, most of which are regional banks (NYSEArca: KRE).

More directly than even the bank/financial sector (NYSEArca: XLF), real estate ETFs such as the iShares Cohen & Steers Realty Majors (NYSEArca: ICF), SPDRs Dow Jones REIT ETF (NYSEArca: RWR) and Vanguard REIT ETF (NYSEArca: VNQ) are about to get hit. The only ETFs to benefit from falling real estate prices are the UltraShort Real Estate ProShares (NYSEArca: SRS) and Direxion Daily Real Estate Bear 3x Shares (NYSEArca: DRV). Both ETFs are suitable for experienced investors only.

Analysts vs. reality
For investors, this environment is confusing. Analysts and economists predict higher prices and a general bright(er) future, while reliable long-term indicators point towards lower prices. What are those indicators?

The January S&P high came in just points below the S&P’s 2000-day moving average (MA). Additionally, the 500-day MA has crashed below the 2000 day moving average for the first time in five years (see January issue of the ETF Profit Strategy Newsletter).

Looking back over the past decade, do you remember any mainstream Wall Street analyst or economist predicting a major crash, such as technology (NYSEArca: XLK) in 2000, real estate in 2005 and financials in 2007? Did anyone see the rally from the March 2009 bottom? Analysts are always bullish (and usually bearish at market bottoms such as in March 2009). Generally, their views are proven incorrect and can often be used as reliable gauges.

Much more reliable than contrary analyst opinions are valuation metrics that reflect the intrinsic value of stocks. Like an internal thermometer they show whether the market is running hot or cold – overvalued or undervalued. You may be surprised to know that the market has registered the most overvalued readings of the 20th and 21st century.

The November issue of the ETF Profit Strategy Newsletter includes a detailed analysis of four undisputable gauges – Indicative of their implications, we’ve dubbed them the “Four Horsemen.” Each issue of the Newsletter includes a detailed short, mid and long-term forecast.

A concern for short-term investors should be the absence of volume. There’ve been ten trading days in 2010 that saw less than 1 billion shares of NYSE trading volume, eight of which occurred on days that the market closed upward. Two of them occurred this week. Conviction in this rally is drying up, will you be at the right place at the right time?

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

CHINA SHARES: A-shares may get 90 bln yuan boost from margin trading

Slow Start: The Shanghai Composite Index has lost 6.4% so far this year, one of the worst performers among 93 global benchmark indexes that Bloomberg tracks.

CHINA’S A-SHARE markets got more than a whiff of better times to come in a Securities Times report saying that a soon-to-be-launched pilot scheme for margin trading would potentially inject some 90 bln yuan into stocks in the program’s first stage.

This surely comes as good news to economic regulators and the securities watchdog as the key Shanghai Composite Index has lost 6.4% so far this calendar year, one of the worst performers among 93 global benchmark indexes that Bloomberg tracks.

The Chinese language piece cited analyst Fan Xiangpeng with Sinolink Securities as saying that brokerages would inject dedicated funds worth between 30% to 50% of their net asset value into the pilot project.

He also forecast that between 40-60 bln yuan would be injected into A-shares with the first group of six approved brokerages to be allowed participation in the pilot scheme.

And with the second batch of brokerages soon expected to receive participatory authorization, the markets would receive a total of some 90 bln yuan from the pilot program.

Margin trading is the practice of investors borrowing money from brokerages to put into the stock market.

Healthy Balance: Officials are hoping to bring more money into A-shares without getting the triple digit P/Es common on the GEM board.

The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), the country’s bourse watchdog, announced last week that the following brokerages would be allowed to take part in the pilot program for margin trading:

CITIC Securities, Everbright Securities, GF Securities, Guosen Securities, Guotai Junan Securities and Haitong Securities.

The six approved brokerages are likely to begin accepting margin trading account opening applications from investors by as early as March 29, official local media reported.

The securities regulator said last week that it would slowly broaden the pilot program, but that the pace and breadth of the expansion depended on how the market reacted.

If response from investors and brokerages is positive in the early stages of the program, this would likely result in the securities watchdog allowing margin trading to bring even more brokerages into the practice – and more funds into the A-share markets.

Eagerly waiting on the sidelines for CSRC approval to engage in margin trading are five other candidates.

The are: China Galaxy Securities, China Merchants Securities, Huatai Securities, Oriental Securities and Shenyin & Wanguo Securities.

China’s State Council, the country’s cabinet, announced earlier this year that it had also approved "in principle" the launch of index futures, while at the same time authorizing the country’s A-share markets to begin the licensing process for the upcoming margin trading pilot project.

The introduction of the two trading practices is intended to boost the stable and healthy development of the capital market, a CSRC official said at the time.

The moves come after the Shanghai Composite Index surged 80% in 2009 following a decidedly bearish 2008 in which the benchmark indicator fell 65%.

"This is a milestone in the development of the country's capital markets," said Xu Ling, general manager of Haitong Futures, adding that it would help moderate “wild fluctuations" in valuations.

Perhaps Mr. Xu’s praise for the government’s pilot program made its way to the right ears, as his brokerage has since been one of the lucky six to be authorized participation in the margin trading scheme.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

投資市場秘訣--邁向贏家之路

找一個適合自己模仿學習的“偶像”和老師
有人願意自己摸著石頭過河,有人願意交少少路費上高速公路
你選哪條路?

為什麼要向成功者學習
投資者想在投資市場成功獲利,有哪些方法?對於想成功的投資者,有兩條路可以走:
第一條路:自己埋頭苦幹,自己學習,總結,實踐再總結再實踐。
第二條路:向已經成功的人去學習,複製他們已經驗證成功的盈利模式。

“很少人能單憑一己之力,迅速名利雙收;真正成功的騎師,通常都是因為他騎的是最好的馬,才能成為常勝將軍。” ----世界第一行銷大師賴茲

第一種方法靠自己用數年的時間摸索出投資成功的方法,
第二種方法你用一個月的時間跟5位有十年投資成功經驗的投資大師學習,一個月就擁有了50年的經驗。
各位你感覺哪個方法更好更快?
當然是跟投資成功經驗的投資大師學習快。
第一種方法節省了向成功者學習的費用,但是走彎路時間和向市場交納的學費都是加倍的,中國開放以前,清朝閉關自守,自以為天下第一,付出沉重的代價。
第二種方法節省投資者在自己還處於投資運作不太熟悉的時候所走的彎路、耗費的時間和向市場交納的學費,這些投資失敗的學費都是不可控制和預算的。但是對於向成功者、投資大師學習的費用是屬於可以控制的,成功不只是要看達到自己的獲利的目標,還有看達到的時間的長短。
“股神”巴菲特在他還沒有確定自己的投資風格和交易體系的時候,他的投資經歷是和所有沒有成功的投資者一樣,真實的巴菲特是做著同樣的技術分析、打聽內幕消息,整天泡在費城交易所看走勢圖表和找小道消息,他不是一開始就會購買翻10多倍的可口可樂股票。但是如果巴菲特一直還是只靠技術分析、打聽內幕消息,或許現在還只是一名和大家一樣的小散戶或者已經破產了。幸好巴菲特沒有停下學習的腳步,他申請到跟隨價值投資大師格雷厄姆學習的學位,1957年又親自向知名投資專家費雪登門求教,在好友芒格的協助下,融合格雷厄姆和費雪兩者投資體系的特長,開始形成了自己的“價值投資“的投資體系,在實戰中不斷地摸索,成就為一代投資大師和世界首富。

6年時間由10萬增值為1000萬的崔偉宏,也是通過不斷地學習研究,他通過看《華爾街神童》這本書取經,書中介紹18歲美籍華人司徒延恩,從小用壓歲錢買股票,經常能找到漲幅一倍的股票,被華爾街譽為新一代巴菲特的接班人。還有崔偉宏不斷研究“股神”巴菲特等投資大師書籍,建立起自己有中國特色“長線是金”盈利模式。

股票、期貨、外匯交易已經有上百年的歷史,投資者可以通過在市場的隨機性的特點,讓所有的人都有可能憑運氣在市場上有過賺錢的經歷,但是在市場上賺錢的經歷並不等於有持久穩定在市場賺錢的能力,投資者很多都有過這樣的賺錢和賠錢的經歷。
市場上賺錢的方法很多種,但任何一種都不是隨手可得的,在市場上撈大錢離不開智慧和勤奮,和其他行業的成功並無不同。很多的投資者通過看很多的書籍、文章和講座試圖能來學習在市場穩定獲利的辦法。儘管成功的秘訣難以尋找,但是仍然可以通過自己在市場的磨練總結不同的技巧,需要的是要向市場繳納學費。
另外這些投資的秘訣,是可以通過學習和傳授的,最有效的學習捷徑之一是仿效榜樣------投資大師的成功方法。每位成功的投資大師都有一位或者數位的老師指導,進入投資市場的能長期穩定獲利的投資者不多,成功率不到10%,一個沒有實戰經驗的操盤新手,80%都會在3個月到一年內被淘汰掉。投資者只有放棄自己原來思考問題的方式,去學習那些投資大師的盈利模式。認識瞭解市場的特點和大師們成功的秘訣,根據自己自身情況的特點,選擇合適你自己的具體方式,按照這個方向努力。
要徹底擺脫“大眾化”的思維方式,學會像一個高水準的專業操盤手那樣思考問題。市場中充滿機會,日進鬥金的確實不少,但是都是些經歷過無數次優勝劣汰的沙場老將,要和他們競爭,別無他法,只能是加倍努力,付出更多的心血和汗水。對於初學者,唯一的方法和優勢就是要願意付出比別人多許多倍的努力。

在1994年底我有幸第一次見到我的老師美國八大期貨交易大師之一的斯坦利·克羅,他將他在華爾街的投資獲勝的秘訣傳授了給我。克羅老師說:“能夠持續不斷賺大錢的投資者,是那些建立長期持倉的人。”“錢是坐著賺回來的,不是靠操作賺回來的。”雖然我在1992年9月開始操作外匯期貨、恒生指數期貨和歐美期貨,已經有幾年的實戰經驗,但是對於克羅老師的這個理念還是用了1年多的時間才真正消化、領悟,將這個理念融入到我實戰中,在期貨、股票、外匯市場上多次交易中使用這套自己設計的中長線趨勢型交易體系,持續數月獲利每月超過100%。

1998年初指導鄭州我的一位學員操作鄭州綠豆期貨,按照我設計的中長線趨勢型交易體系進場做空綠豆,一個月時間就獲利100%,按照《投資合作協定》我們可以獲得利潤提成20%,但是當時客戶感覺錢這麼容易來,想賴帳,於是我的學員就拿著雙方簽訂協議書起訴到鄭州中原地區法院。

法官一看,白紙黑字寫得清清楚楚,不用打了,叫我們庭外和解。最後取回了我們應得的利潤分成。
在我近年來投資操作過程中,一邊操作一邊拜訪高手,每次交流後回來,都有新的提高。好的氛圍,會讓你成長的更快。深圳的股市高手崔偉宏談到他的“富裕規則”說:“寧可跟聰明人打架,也不跟糊塗人交友。因為讓他人獲得了新知,同時也會讓自己產生共鳴,有形、無形的交流,激發了靈感。在你亮出自己的觀點的同時,也會通過各種形式獲得回饋,在資訊的交流中會使人獲得更大的發展。”

“錢是坐著賺回來的,不是靠操作賺回來的。”——斯丹利·克羅

學習投資大師投資成功經驗的方法很多,可以看書、聽CD、看教學VCD、聽講座、上學習班、親自面對面和投資大師交流等。其中研究成功人士、投資大師的書籍是最節省、最容易的方法。很多投資者和我早期一樣,看了很多的書,聽了很多的股評、分析講座都沒能投資成功,原因出在哪里?

你通過看巴菲特、索羅斯的傳記,和跟你親自去請教巴菲特、索羅斯的成功秘訣,哪一個效果更好、更快?當然是當面親自請教巴菲特、索羅斯的成功秘訣效果更好、更快。就像你聽譚詠麟的CD和你現場聽譚詠麟現場演唱會哪一個感覺更加激烈?

很多投資者以為投資是自己一個人的事情,加上現在網路發達,通過網上交易,不需要到證券公司、期貨公司,缺乏了溝通學習能力。我曾經也有過這樣一個階段,但是當我認識要更快的提高自己的水準,尋找新的技術、盈利的突破口,就一定要向比我成功的人去學習、交流。對於向已經成功的人去學習,學習他們的經驗,這個就需要投資者自己具備相當地溝通交際能力和建立良好的人際關係網路。
有關如何向大師學習請看後面的專門介紹。

思考練習:
1.投資成功有兩條路可以走:1.自己埋頭苦幹2.向成功者學習,複製成功模式,讀者你選擇哪一條?為什麼?
2.你從小到現在,學習過程中有拜過明師學習?感覺自學的效果快還是跟老師學習效果更快?
3.“股神”巴菲特跟隨過哪個老師學習而確定了自己的成就一生的投資風格?
4. 深圳的股市高手崔偉宏談到他的“富裕規則”是什麼?

如何向投資大師、高手學習和學習他們的精髓?

你可以拒絕學習,但是你的對手不會。——前通用公司CEO 韋爾奇

成功者和投資大師在市場中是個成功者,但是對於怎樣表白自己如何在市場中獲勝的本質方面就不一定全面了。有些東西即使他們知道,但是如何通過媒體、書籍、語言傳達給投資者們,就會遇到難題。投資者很難有機會與大師深切溝通,在領悟能力上有所不同,對大師的經驗也有所偏好,導致資訊傳遞不全。投資者因此對這些大師的成功就會產生一種想法:在市場中成功是靠天分,或者特殊的技能。

對於如何去學習成功的大師們的經驗,分為4個方面:

1. 研究成功的投資者、大師投資成功的共性。
在研究這些成功投資者、大師的群體時,首先是要從研究成功的投資者、大師成功的共性開始,因為只有這些共性是所有成為成功的投資者都必須具備的和大家都能夠模仿學習到的。有些投資者剛開始的時候由於個人投資風格的某種偏好,只是研究某個自己認為很好的某個成功的投資者、大師,這樣只能發掘這個成功的投資者、大師的成長的特性,而忽略了其他成功的投資者、大師的共性。投資者只有發現和領悟了多位成功的投資者、大師的共性,發掘到他們在市場中長期獲勝的本質內涵,才達到真正學習的的。
筆者在十多年的投資過程中,接觸過很多類型的投資者,發現很多投資者,由於國內投資界的投資理論的空白,走了很多的彎路,並且形成了很多壞習慣,很難糾正。就像一個小孩在學走路的時候習慣了“八字腳”,一生都很難糾正。所以投資者在開始學習的時候一定要從成功的投資大師們的經驗入手,避免了走彎路。
例如所有的投資大師們都提到了“資金管理”的重要性,很多投資者一般都只是認識到把握市場方向和心理控制,而忽略了“資金管理”的決定性和對投資者心理衝擊的互動作用,這是投資者能否在市場中長期獲勝的中樞環節。還有這些投資大師們都具有非常強烈的“好勝心”,不斷地追求勝利。

2. 研究成功的投資者、大師如何學習這些投資技術。
最好的方法當然是有機會與成功的投資者、大師們一起交易。就像武俠小說的中的武林高手雲遊四海,尋找高人切磋武藝一樣。只有這樣,才是最好的、最快的學習方法。筆者有個朋友就是這樣,不斷地在全國各地去尋訪高手,親自向這些高手虛心學習,一年多時間學費交了上十萬元,終於學有所成,一年獲利數倍。但是前提條件是,大師們能很好的表達自己的經驗,傳授給投資者,因為有些成功的投資者、大師自己操作的很好,但是沒有上升為理論,就不可能很好的傳授給投資者。只能靠投資者自己具備相當的投資經驗和很好的領悟能力。
我曾經跟一位美國投資高手學習,在接觸後,發現他的性格非常的內向,不善言辭。我想起了世界第一推銷員——喬·吉拉德的成功秘訣:推銷的兩大秘訣是“問”和“聽”。為了把握機會,儘量學習到這位高手的投資經驗,於是我趁吃飯休息時間整理了近百個問題,通過問答交流的形式,學到這個美國投資高手非常多的寶貴經驗,對我非常有啟發。如果沒有機會,就要多看成功的投資者、大師們書籍和聽講座,參加高水準的學習班,多和高水準的投資高手相互交流。

3. 研究成功的投資者、大師如何掌握運用這些投資技術。
在學習了成功的投資者、大師的經驗後,就要將這些經驗轉換為自己的東西,這個就需要刻苦訓練。“無行則無知”,投資者只有通過一次一次不停的重複,在模擬和實戰中訓練,在模擬和實戰中掌握這些投資技術,逐步將這些投資技術養成自己穩定的投資習慣。筆者的妹妹曾是廣州市羽毛球隊的陪練,我向她請教運動員是如何訓練的,她告訴我說:“你將每個擊球動作都重複練習10萬次,就能在比賽中打好了。”投資成功就是簡單、賺錢的事情重複做。

4. 學習成功的投資者、大師如何認識自己。
在研究這些成功的投資者、大師的經驗的時候,很多投資者都忽略了一個很關鍵的要素,在這麼多的前輩的經驗中,如何認識投資者自己,然後使用適合投資者自己的分析技術。很多投資大師在他們的書籍、文獻中都沒有很明確的提到這個觀點,但是都有詳細的論述,這只能靠投資者自己去提煉。短線高手舒華茲,在他獲得了期貨比賽冠軍後,參加了年度操盤手的晚宴,非常羡慕在市場中翻雲覆雨的米高·馬加斯和他的學生布魯士·高富拿,他們操作基金的成績輝煌,以及他們搭乘私人直升飛機來參加晚宴的氣派。於是舒華茲也成立了一個8000萬的投資基金。但是由於舒華茲的操作風格是短線,對於接近上億的基金來說,是不可能進行短線操作的,導致他在操作中把盈利的交易很快平倉,但是虧損的交易就保留了下來,違反了市場贏家的“鐵率”。出現了他自己55個月以來的第一次虧損,並且把自己的身體搞垮到要住院。在深刻認識到自己的投資風格後,舒華茲果斷地結束了投資基金,重新回到自己短線操作的風格,一路保持每年獲利數百萬美元。

在學習的過程中,投資者除了要不斷地吸取前輩們的經驗,還要學習前輩們是如何認識自己的,通過認識自己的與眾不同,發掘自己的潛能,並發揮這些潛能,跟隨市場方向,和市場保持一致,在市場和自己中找到平衡點,達到“人市合一”的境界。

“世界上沒有最好的,只有適合你的才是最好的。”只有認識到這點,才能在學習中把握方向,充分的發揮投資者自己的長處。中國改革開放的總設計師鄧小平為我國設計的建設有中國特色的社會主義道路,帶領我國走向一個新的歷史臺階,取得了令世界矚目的輝煌。

投資者要想快速成功最關鍵是想盡一切辦法和投資大師、投資高手面對面的學習,這樣的效果比只是看書的速度要快幾萬倍,這也是為什麼有人成功的快,有人成功的慢最主要的原因。

思考練習:
1. 你有沒有跟隨過投資大師、高手的學習過?是沒有機會還是沒有這種方法?
2. 如何去學習成功的大師們的經驗,分為哪4個方面?
3. 成功的投資者、大師的投資成功的有哪些共性?
4. 你要投資成功需要學習這些投資技術?請寫下3項以上。
5. 掌握運用這些投資技術需要 用什麼方法?
6. 華爾街短線高手舒華茲為什麼結束了投資基金?

投資大師、高手是如何學習的?
學習成功的方法很多,可以看書、聽CD、看教學VCD、聽講座、上學習班、親自面對面和投資大師、高手交流等,其中研究成功人士、投資大師的書籍的是最節省、最容易的方法。很多人和我早期一樣,看了很多的書,聽了很多的股評、分析講座都沒有能投資成功,原因出在哪里?

股票長線高手崔偉宏在研究股票時候,非常的認真,對上千百家的上市公司的背景資料做了仔細的研究,並對重點關注的七八百個股票都都建立了卡片式檔案。付出常人所沒有的努力,當然也得到了常人所沒有的回報。

1400元十年時間增值為上億的陶先生,在1995年從股市轉戰進入國債期貨市場。陶先生做的第一個重要的事情就是用了一個月的時間泡在上海圖書館學習和研究,徹底搞清楚了什麼是通脹率、保值儲蓄貼補率、物價指數等與國債期貨有關的基本知識,憑著陶先生這些扎實的基本知識,準確的預測對國債期貨價格起決定性作用的保值儲蓄貼補率,從1994年到1995年7月,連續17個月時間裏26仗全部獲勝,使他的資金進入了第二個黃金增值期資金上升到600多萬。陶先生說:“我是每天讀書看報,研究政策,把國債現券、期券市場弄得滾瓜爛熟,考增值、考數學、靠理性、考科學、考智慧,向市場掙錢。我不會搞人際關係!知識份子,就是靠自己的智慧去闖。”

華爾街傳奇炒家江恩開始在為客戶和自己炒做的時候同樣經歷了新手必然遇到的起起落落,很快他認識到:所有的成功人士——無論是律師、醫生還是科學家,在開始賺錢以前,都對自己特定的職業和追求進行了多年的學習和研究,因此江恩決定花十年的時間研究應用與投資市場的交易法則,並將全部的精力投入到投機這一有利可圖的職業中。

江恩花了9個月的時間泡在紐約的圖書館和大英博物院,沒日沒夜的工作,大量的研究過往的股票、期貨市場的交易記錄和華爾街的大炒家的操作方法,並總結出一套以自然規則為核心的交易方法,在他的分析理論中著重分析了價格和時間的週期性關係。江恩引用聖經中的名言:“已有的,還會有;已做的,複去做。陽光之下沒有新的東西。即使我們會說,看呀,這是新的,它卻早已存在於我們之前的年代。”許多人認為江恩的投資理論和交易方法高深莫測,如圖表分析中的江恩曆法、江恩幾何角、江恩線、江恩回調比率等。江恩認為,只要跟隨固定的規則買賣,任何人都可以在期貨市場獲利,而且得勝的機會比投資股市高。江恩相信股票、期貨市場裏也存在著宇宙中的自然規則。價格運動不是雜亂無章的,而且是可以預測的。
投資者可以看到成功的投資大師並不是天生就這麼神奇就會在市場上獲利的,他們都是投入大量的時間、精力去學習,這些都是讀書、學習的基本方法,但是如何收集書中對讀者投資有幫助的精髓?這就需要讀者首先要掌握學習模仿成功人士的基本思路,按照這個思路學習、看書,就能有效的提高讀書的效率,達到讀書的目的,吸收到成功人士的經驗,同時形成了自己的投資體系。

思考練習:
1. 陶先生用了多長的時間研究什麼經濟指標,幫助他準確預測保值儲蓄貼補率,從1994年到1995年7月,連續17個月時間裏26仗全部獲勝。
2. 華爾街著名炒家江恩用了多長時間研究過往的股票、期貨市場的交易記錄和華爾街的大炒家的操作方法,並總結出一套以什麼為核心的交易方法?
3. 江恩引用聖經中的名言是什麼?
4. 每位的投資大師、高手都是通過學習而成功的,你要準備學習嗎?請制訂你最近一周、一個月、一年學習計畫。

投資成功可以學習嗎?

——你也是投資天才;每個人都是天才

有三個這樣的孩子:
一個孩子4歲才會說話,7歲才會寫字,老師對他的評語是:“反應遲鈍,思維不合邏輯,滿腦子不切實際的幻想。”他曾經還遭遇到退學的命運。
  
一個孩子曾被父親抱怨是白癡,在眾人的眼中,他是毫無前途的學生,藝術學院考了三次還考不進去。他叔叔絕望地說:“孺子不可教也!”
  
一個孩子經常遭到父親的斥責:“你放著正經事不幹,整天只管打獵,捉耗子,將來怎麼辦?”所有教師和長輩都認為他資質平庸,與聰明沾不上邊。
  
這三個孩子分別是愛因斯坦、羅丹和達爾文。
每個人都是天才,我們不能發現它,那是我們還缺少一雙智慧的眼睛和獨特的看法。

投資成功能否學習?
其實在投資市場中能成功的人如果不是只有一個人,他們的成功就是可以克隆的,美國投資大師理查·鄧尼斯憑著借來的400美元從事期貨交易,像變魔術般地變成了兩億多美元。他為了驗證投資成功能否學習,在1983、1984年在美國華爾街做過一個“海龜”的操盤手培訓課程,他的結果說明投資技能是可以學習的,他的學生在市場中成績就完全可以驗證,在4年的訓練、操作中,23名學生有3人退出,其餘20人都有上乘表現,平均每年收益率在l00%左右,而他付給這些學生20%的分紅就達3000-3500萬美元,其中最成功的一名學生,4年下來替理查·鄧尼斯賺了3150萬美元。

從上面的例子證明投資成功是可以學習的,在市場上獲勝,這無關乎聰明才智,全在於投資者的方法、原則和態度。

巴菲特曾經這樣說:“對於一個投資者來說,最重要的素質是他的性格,而非智力。你不必在該行業擁有很高的智商。你需要的是不受公眾好惡左右而能自得其樂的這樣一種氣質,你知道你是對的,這並非是因為其他人所處的地位,而是因為你擁有的事實和推理是正確的。”

1987年在為期四個月美國交易冠軍杯”大賽,創下了利潤率4537.8%的成績的瑞士籍的安得烈·布殊,十一歲時由於貪玩而觸電一度失明近3年,但是給予了他訓練感覺的機會:單憑貨幣的重量判斷幣值,感覺玻璃反射的熱量知道走過一道櫥窗,甚至練就閉目下棋,為他以後培養市場敏感的反應打下了堅實的基礎。雖在大學攻讀多年,他卻認為:一生中最大的浪費便是修讀經濟,學院應該教人如何學習便可以了,每個人都是獨特的,有其自己的個性和需要,所以應該按自己的特點去設計適合自己的投資分析方法。

“股神”巴菲特在童年經常和夥伴在家鄉奧馬哈的家門口記錄國外的車輛的車牌號碼來打發時間。還攤開報紙,計算報紙上每個字母出現的次數。他還經常找來年鑒,讀出一對城市的名字,然後保持這個城市人口的數量。就是這些童年的遊戲,不斷訓練了巴菲特對數字的喜好和敏感,以至後來巴菲特能對華爾街的所有的股票和債券都瞭若指掌,能把每一份的財務報表和企業負債表都能牢記於心。

大家看到以上的故事就知道,成功者、投資大師都不是天生的,只有大家下定決心,現在馬上行動,要成功不是不可能的。“你也是投資天才”。

思考練習:
1. 哪位投資大師在華爾街舉辦過“操盤手學習班”,後來結果如何?
2. 巴菲特為什麼對年報的資料能透徹的研究,對這些數字不厭煩,來源於什麼?
3. 看完本章書,你感覺投資成功大師是靠天才還是靠自己的努力學習?你想投資成功,要學習嗎?

環境——投資成功的首要秘訣
投資成功的首要的秘訣是“環境”。古有“孟母三遷”。比爾.蓋茲如果出生在非洲,連電腦都沒有見過,就算他有230的智商,也不可能成為電腦王國的領袖,不可能成為世界首富。

1/5法則
你的收入水準、投資水準是你平時經常接觸5位元朋友或者投資者的平均數。
百萬富翁和百萬富翁一起
千萬富翁和千萬富翁一起
億萬富翁和億萬富翁一起

那麼自然是:盈利的人和盈利人一起,虧損的人和虧損的人一起,因為他們都是相同的思維方式。乞丐們一起討論的是如何用手就摸出別人給的是1元紙幣還是二元的紙幣。虧損的人經常在一起討論的是市場多麼的不好,莊家是多麼的壞,莊家在資訊、分析工具上多麼有優勢,但是從來沒有研究對手的投資手法後,自己如何去贏錢。

日本首富系山英太郎能夠成功,他自己有一套“利益至上交友法”。在2001年秋天和2002年春天,兩度在全日本經營者舉辦研習會上,開宗明義地表示:“別和窮人交往。”也就是書中所說的“負債”型的朋友。

窮人有兩種。一種是字面上所指的“沒有錢的窮人”,跟這種人交往,只會陷入老是自掏腰包的境地。如果想要存錢,就必須節省這種不必要的花費。想找人一起吃飯、喝酒,找比自己有錢的人作伴當然更為明智。在這個世界上,有些人喜歡身邊圍繞著沒錢的人,享受他們的阿諛奉承。但是窮人只是向錢低頭而已,不論你曾經給過他們多少好處,當你沒錢時,這些人就會忘記你曾經施與的恩惠,兩腳開溜而去。

人際關係本來就是施與受的關係,如果只有施當然只有損失。而另一種窮人不只是沒錢,也缺乏有益於人的資訊和娛樂別人的才能,毫無利他的價值。雖然他說“別和窮人交往”,但如果哪個沒錢的人有值得請客的價值,那麼即使他再窮,也樂意和他交往。尤其是年輕人,他們擁有許多他不知道的資訊,花錢在他們身上絕對不會浪費。他從與他們交遊閒聊中得到的資訊,往往成為生意上的靈感。這些朋友屬於“資產”型朋友。由此看來,為他們花錢其實是很便宜的投資。也就是說,他與別人交往時,經常在瞬間計算著投資效果。

很多投資者問我如何能投資成功,在市場上獲利。我問他們,你所在的證券公司、期貨公司的周圍有賺錢投資者嗎?如果沒有,你就要換地方、換朋友了。
我在認識到這點後,不斷和行業內和其他行業的頂尖人士交流學習,參加了大量的頂尖的講座、學習班,同時大量的收集所有能找到的大師的書籍不斷研究他們的思維模式,學費交了6位數,每個月買書的費用3000元,每天用5-8個小時的看相關的影碟、CD、書籍,隨身帶著書和MP3,不停轟炸我的腦袋。後來看到李陽“瘋狂英語”的學習方法,發現都是一樣的方法。
在我的電腦左邊是比爾.蓋茲和巴菲特的照片,右邊是索羅斯,前面是喬丹。旁邊是羅傑斯、系山英太郎,並且在我手機上的待機螢幕也換了專門製作的比爾.蓋茲和巴菲特的合照,用這些世界第一的名人時刻提醒自己,回憶他們的成功秘訣和經歷,成為我追趕的目標,不斷提醒自己,激勵自己。並且不放過任何一個向成功者學習機會!

在不到兩個月時間,我身邊的朋友感覺我好像換了一個人似的。整個思維模式發生很大的轉變,投資水準也突飛猛進。

快速達到投資成功的捷徑——好教練
世界上99%的成功者都有教練、老師,有一個好的教練,好的方法,就能加快成功的步伐。

1999年美國NBA芝加哥公牛隊的教練傑克遜、天才球員喬丹都退役。這時湖人隊有三個頂級的球員,但是他們老是想比較誰是第一,結果球隊成績一直不理想。

湖人隊的老闆認識到了教練的重要性,用NBA的最高年薪600萬美元(當年在公牛隊的年薪400萬美元)聘請教練傑克遜出山。湖人隊在2000年當年就獲得了NBA總冠軍,2001、2002年也連續獲得了NBA總冠軍。教練傑克遜的年薪也遞增到800萬美元。傑克遜也成為了兩次以球員身份、9次以教練身份取得NBA總冠軍的第一人。

看看,這裏是同一樣的球員,這些頂尖的球員由於沒有頂級的教練,一直都不能成功。但是當聘請高水準的教練,獲得過6次NBA總冠軍的教練就可以很快就帶出冠軍的隊伍。所以除了自己有能力之外,好的教練的作用必不可少。有一個好的教練,好的方法,就能加快成功的步伐,善於學習別人的成功經驗。

世界上99%的成功者都有教練、老師。美國著名短線操盤手馬丁·舒華茲在他經過10年的分析師生活,下決心一定要突破時,他和太太做了一份成功的目標和計畫,其中就包括要找一位老師。
在一次交易中,舒華茲頭腦發昏,不斷地在迎頭作空了250手SP500指數期貨,一直到漲停,浮動虧損100萬美元,這是他操盤歷史以來最大的虧損。當晚他打電話給他的老師鮑伯,請教他如何處理,老師鮑伯說:“舒華茲,馬上止損,只有你回到沒有持倉的中立狀態,你才會把事情看得清楚。你不可能比市場更精明,接受現實吧。留得青山在,不怕沒柴燒。” 舒華茲經過一整晚的煎熬,接受了老師的意見,果斷止損,重新操作,並在當月彌補了虧損。

著名華人網球明星張德培青年時代和桑普拉斯、阿加西、科威爾都是同一網球教練——尼克,尼克曾經帶出了桑普拉斯、阿加西、威廉姆斯姐妹和庫爾尼科娃等世界知名球星。張德培依靠他頑強的意志和拼搏精神,打敗他的幾位師兄獲得了世界網球青年冠軍。成年後桑普拉斯、阿加西、科威爾都先後多次獲得了世界網球排名第一。但是張德培最高的排名也是世界第二,原因在什麼地方?桑普拉斯、阿加西、科威爾後來都聘請了最頂尖教練,像桑普拉斯聘請了著名的發球教練,他的發球得分率也是最高的。而張德培卻是聘請了沒有職業網球經驗的哥哥和父親做教練,結果可想而知。同樣的素質但是不同的教練、老師產生了不同效果。

美國投資大師理查·鄧尼斯培訓的“海龜幫”。經我仔細研究過“海龜幫”的教材,交易信號的方法都是以突破、趨勢型為主,最關鍵核心部分是做好資金管理,適當控制買賣單量。在後面的書籍將和投資者一起分享。

你說教練重不重要?真的很重要噢。全世界公認公牛隊得冠軍是因為傑克遜,湖人隊得冠軍是因為傑克遜。他評為全世界最傑出的教練。其他教練也是教練啊,所以你要找一個真正能幫你成功的教練,有教練也不一定會成功,你一定要找對教練。

我在小學參加了水球隊,有水球隊的教練,在中學進入了校田徑隊,有田徑隊的教練,1986年學習橋牌有當時是廣州男隊的隊長作我的教練,在1988年獲得廣州選拔賽第一名代表廣州參加1989年2月北京舉行的首屆全國青年橋牌賽,1987年學習吉他,有吉他教練,跟著當時省港澳吉他大賽的3位冠軍等學習吉他,後來還跟了他們三位冠軍的老師學習,半夜練琴被人潑水。2年後,1989年我參加廣州吉他比賽,大家猜猜我得了第幾名?1989年8月20歲獲得廣州市吉他大賽冠軍,第一名。
1994年遇到我第一位投資教練美國八大期貨大師之一的斯丹利·克羅,後來用了一年多的時間鑽研,經歷了許多的挫折,在28歲終於踏入了贏家行列。

近年又跟隨美國、港臺等多位國內外的投資高手學習、交流。我現在有這些的成就都非常感謝這些教導過我的這些老師、教練,如果你想在短時間內的成功,就必須學習頂尖人士、行業第一的成功經驗和學習的方法,因為他們都需要一個好教練。

下面是介紹你需要教練的理由、如何找好的教練以及如何與教練溝通相處:

1. 首先寫下你需要教練的理由。只有當你充分的明確了需要教練的原因之後,你才有真正需要教練的動力,這樣才能有目的、有方向的選擇你需要的教練。否則找錯了教練,錯誤發生在起跑線,就像一路向西跑永遠不能看到日出,看到的只是垂暮的夕陽。

2. 教練的選擇。首先是要比你成功的人,比你高的級別越多越好,沒有過成功經驗的人是不可能成為你的教練,因為他自己都不知道如何成功,沒有品嘗過成功的辛酸苦辣,他又如何教導你成功。

3. 表現你的企圖心。好的教練能教出好的學生,好的教練也是需要選擇學生的,因為他沒有太多的時間去教所有都想來的學生,他只是選擇有天分的、夠格的、有強烈的成功企圖心、有持久熱情的學生。在學習前和過程中教練會測試你的資質,會刻意給你施加壓力,這個時候就需要表現你自己的資格、能力、毅力、熱情和耐性,否則教練怎麼會浪費他寶貴的時間去教一個半途而廢的學生。

4. 完全的信任。一旦選擇了教練,首先你要考慮是否信任他,否則你就不要找這個教練了。一旦你選擇你的教練,接受他的教導,就必須完全的信任,這樣你才能全身心的投入學習中,接受教練的思維方式,才能真正學到教練的真本領,否則浪費雙方的金錢和時間。

5. 與教練保持合作關係。世界首富比爾·蓋茲,他只是擁有微軟公司18%的股份,就擁有800億美元的財富。這個道理是:“與其你擁有100%的100萬,不如擁有20%的1000萬。”無論你和教練的私人關係多麼好,如果能通過合作關係,對你自己和教練都一件非常好的事情,你的事業持久發展有很大的助。

6. 教練的思考方式。在剛開始學習的時候,學生總是感覺教練的思想怪怪的,這是你需要沒有懷疑的心態去傾聽,相信教練的想法和行動,因為就是這些一般人感覺怪怪的和感覺沒有邏輯的思維,使他們成為市場中3%的成功者,市場中只有3%的成功者,他們的思維模式就是和一般的常人不一樣,

7. 贏得教練的心,模仿的同時逐漸形成自己的風格。人類學習的過程就是模仿的過程,在學習的過程中要像海綿一樣放鬆自己,儘量去吸收教練的精華,只有尋找和結合自己個性的風格才能成為成功者。

8. 尊重教練,不看教練的缺點。將注意力焦點放在教練的突出優勢上,而不是他的缺點。否則你只能學到他的缺點不是令教練成功的優點,畢竟你是向他學習,而不是來做裁判,因為教練能把你訓練成功就足夠了。你要記住,你的目的是來學習的,而不是來證明你自己的觀點是正確的。

9. 馬上行動反應教練佈置的作業、資訊。很多人有這樣的經歷,發個電子郵件、短信的重要消息,但是不知道對方有沒有收到,是你感覺不知道對方收到沒有,心情很著急。十個想法不如一個行動,只有大量的行動才能導致成功。對教練的佈置的作業、工作要以最快的速度回復,給教練增加印象,對你學習產生很大的幫助!

10. 回饋教練、回饋社會、回饋大眾,用成功來報答。任何一個成功人都是一個感恩的心,任何一個好的教練都是一個喜歡幫助別人的人,教練他自己就是遇到一個樂於幫人的教練,才能得到現在的成功,這樣形成了一個相互幫助,良性迴圈的環境,才能使更多人走向成功。最好的學生也是最好的教練,你不必等到自己完美後才去教導學生,你可以用你自己的成功和幫助別人成功來回報你的教練。

我最初幾年在通過看書學習,水準逐步的提高,進入盈家行列,水準上升出現了瓶頸,自己不斷的分析,如何去突破這個瓶頸,又再次去買書.看書,還是感覺水準提高不明顯,我在想,重復舊的行為,只能得到舊的結果,於是我想到應該換一個角度去突破。

我嘗試去請教練、請老師,我想這個方法在提高我投資水準上是有效的,於是花了大量的金錢、時間去和投資高手學習,和他們交流,有省內的、省外的、國內、國外的,發現看書只能領悟到30%,但是通過面對面的學習和交流,領悟迅速提高了幾倍,並且從不同的角度印證了自己平時模糊的想法。這些收穫是很難從書中體會到的。

思考練習:
1. 華爾街短線操盤手舒華茲在浮動虧損100萬美元,通過什麼放過將自己在不理智的虧損中拉出來?
2. 桑普拉斯、阿加西、科威爾都先後多次獲得了世界網球排名第一。但是張德培為什麼一直最高的排名只是世界第二?
3. 有一個好的教練,好的方法,就能加快成功的步伐,你想快些投資成功還是想慢些投資成功?
4. 寫下你需要教練的理由?
5. 教練、老師有這麼好的作用,你想選擇誰做你的投資教練?請列出他們的名字。
6. 快速成功的四大方法:
a. 學習:學習成功者
b. 偷師:給成功者打工
c. 合作:與成功者合作
d. 請成功者幫你打工

Monday, March 15, 2010

5 Great Tips to Handle Stress

Stress has always been a part of our lives. In this hectic time, people lead an increasingly stressful life. Experts state that a little stress can be good; it keeps you sharp and ready to move forward, and is sometimes vital for achieving optimum performance. However, medical research has determined that prolonged stress is very bad for the body, and can block the body's natural ability to repair, regenerate and protect itself. Over 90% of disease is caused by stress. Stress is both a physical and psychological response. It can lead to chronic disease, obesity, insomnia, deteriorating relationships, depression, and more.

Stress is such a powerful and harmful force that it is vital that you learn effective stress management techniques to live a successful, happy, and healthy life. We must remember that we will always come across inevitable factors that cause pressure and anxiety on us. What we do not know is that it is not really the problems that are difficult to deal with, but our attitude towards them. So basically, the cause of stress is your attitude toward these things. What, then, is an effective way to deal with stressors?

Below are 5 great tips to handle stress.

1.Identify what makes you stressful and uneasy. Making a list of your stressful experiences is useful. Immediately deal with the issues that you can change, for instance waking up earlier for work in the morning, not leaving things till the last minute, and delegating tasks in case you are taking responsibility for everything. Forget about the issues that you cannot influence like being stuck in a traffic jam or not getting into the elevator because there is no room for you.

2.Calm down. A few minutes break would do you good. Wash your face, breath slowly and deeply, and notice if there is tension in any part of your body and release it. You can also listen to relaxing music, or call a friend. Releasing your inner feelings to a friend is healthy option.

3.It will pass and it will be over before you know it. Remind yourself that the stressful event will end sooner or later can make you see the positive sides of things. At the same time, calm down your emotions and think of what is the best thing to do rather than take your energy away from what needs to be done.

4.Know yourself. Ask yourself: What triggers your anxiety? If for example it is your job, then maybe it's time for you to reconsider whether it would be best to find a less stressful job. You can also make your job more tolerable by allowing yourself to get that needed vacation or leave.

5.Learn to use your relaxation response. Just as we all have within us the stress response, we also have an opposite response, which is the relaxation response. A person should elicit that on a regular basis. The relaxation response involves two steps. Repetition, the repetition can be a word, a sound, an expression, or a repetitive movement. The second step is to ignore other thoughts that come to your mind while you're doing the repetition, and come back to the repetition. The technique should be used once or twice a day for about 15 minutes. Sit quietly and choose a suitable repetition, like a prayer, the sound Om, or the word love, or calm. Or you can do a repetitive exercise, for instance yoga, jogging, Reiki. Additional repetitive activities are knitting or handicraft. When you incorporate this into your everyday life, you become calmer and better able to handle the stressors. Practice makes perfect and the more you practice relax your mind, the easier it gets.

The true causes of stress are not the problems or negative experiences that you encounter in your life; but your attitude toward them. So, the trick is to change your attitude and to develop a relaxed state, because you cannot be stressed and relaxed at the same time. It is important to understand that what we focus on, we energize. The more you continue to think about the factors that cause your stress, the more energy you give it. So it is vital to let go and focus on relaxation instead. Consequently, you're less likely to be upset by a stressor, and thus less likely to have its harmful effect occur. Eventually, it is your choice. You could either continue to react in the same stressful way, or you could choose to improve your life by changing your attitude and becoming relaxed. There's no other way around it.

Best stress relievers

The more successful one is, the more stressful one's life becomes. Every new promotion means added responsibility and added stress. The challenge is how to handle that stress.

"Every successful person has learned to handle stress well," says Dr. Woodson Merrell, of Beth Israel Hospital in New York City. "It's those with a positive outlook on stressful situations who decrease their risk of heart disease, whereas those with increased rage from stress have increased risk of heart disease."

Unless one is a newborn infant or a Buddhist monk, to greater or lesser degrees one has stress in one's life. In school, it is the stress of a big test, pimples and finding a prom date. In college, it's about the big test, pimples, prom dates and getting a decent job after graduation. And while at the time it all seems very stressful, one finds out later that they were only on a nodding acquaintance with stress. It isn't until you get a job, start earning your own way and, eventually, supporting a family and moving up the career ladder, that you not only get to know stress, but stress moves right in, takes your favorite chair and even raids your refrigerator in the middle of the night.

Yet most people, whether they realize it or not, need a certain amount of stress. In the right amount, it can give people an edge. Keep them sharp, awake, alert. After all, imagine a stress-free life. Rocking in a hammock somewhere, feeling the ocean breeze waft over you as you sip a fruity rum drink. Sounds pretty good, right? Maybe. Imagine living like that all the time. Being that laid-back will not help you succeed, pay your kid's college tuition, get you that corner office or that black Porsche 911 you've always wanted.

Conversely, living in a constant state of aggravation isn't such a hot idea either. Constant stress produces high levels of cortisol, which has been shown to impair cognitive functioning and weaken the immune system. Not only will it have a negative effect on one's health, but it can also make one a real jerk. What's the point in living a permanently stressed-out, albeit successful, life, if one drives away friends and loved ones, and dies of a heart attack at an early age?

The ideal, then, is to have just enough stress that one stays focused; but to also have an outlet that can regulate it and keep it from overtaking one's life. The problem is that many so-called stress reducers can do more harm than good — especially if, like stress, they are not taken in moderate amounts.

Avoid drinking, smoking
One of the most common and easiest stress relievers is alcohol. While many gourmets happily choose a vintage Bordeaux to accompany a fine meal, or a wedding may call for a glass or two of champagne, most people consume alcohol after work either as a way to unwind or as a social lubricant. Excessive consumption, of course, can lead to health and, in many cases, domestic problems. Similarly, to many people regardless of age or income, legal and illegal drugs as well as cigarettes are an all too prevalent and dangerous way of dealing with stress in the short term.

Drinking and smoking to excess is not the only potentially harmful way of coping with stress. Many people also find relief in over-eating, trying to numb their anxiety with too much ice cream or smother it in cheese sauce.

That is not to say that the occasional drink is bad for you, nor is the odd cigar or slab of chocolate cake. Again, it is a question of moderation. If, at the end of a long day, a glass of decent Scotch or a good meal restores your equilibrium, go for it.

But there are more effective and more healthy methods for combating stress. One of the best ways is through meditation. Merrell suggests that his clients take two minutes to meditate by concentrating only on a single word during the most stressful time of the day — the morning, which, not coincidentally, happens to be the same time of day that has the highest incidence of heart attacks.

"When you wake up, you're trying to solve the stresses of the dream stage and then subconsciously being bombarded with real worry," he says. That's why it's important to meditate. When you're literally sitting there with no conscious thought it's a powerful, peaceful state to be in, because it doesn't happen during the day naturally."

Other doctors agree that meditation is a great way to combat daily stress, but also say learning any type of technique that relaxes the body and mind will reduce worry — which in the end, is the goal: learning to cope with stress by learning to manage the mind.

"One of the more common techniques I suggest is progressive relaxation," says Dr. Ernesto Randolfi, who runs a private business in stress-health promotion in Billings, Mont. "It involves contracting and relaxing muscles around your body so that people develop the ability to relax at will. It's a strategy that takes a lot of learning."

11 Easy Ways to Handle Stress

One of the most singificant problems human beings face as a general population is how to handle stress. As a life & career expert, and an acclaimed advice columnist, I have compiled eleven of the most significant ways that you can reduce stress in your life. You may not always be able to make stress dissappear, but you can manage it with some very simple techniques.

1. Talk! Don't hold all your feelings within! Discuss your stressful feelings with someone you trust who will listen without being judgmental or pressuring you to their own point of view. Even if you can't change the immediate situation, talking about it helps alleviate some of the tension you may be feeling. Supplement the verbalizing with something physical: write it out, exercise or hit a pillow.

2. ACT! Be willing to take risk and make change, no matter how small. Try to change the stressful situation, or at least some part of it. Moving forward in small ways helps you feel empowered and in control. Put one foot in front of the other to move in a positive direction. Soon, the stress will lessen.

3. LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! If you learn about how your body reacts to stress, you can also learn how to counter that stress. Learn to listen to your body's signals and find ways to reduce your stress, even if it's just "taking five" to clear your mind. Relaxation exercises (E.g. Yoga, meditation, physical exercise) help, too.

4. BE IN CHARGE! Discover what you need to feel good about yourself and get your needs met. Another way to reduce your stress is to find an interest, hobby or activity where you feel in charge and call the shots. If you really feel out of control, don't stay silent and alone! Seek guidance from someone who is qualified to help you get through the obstacles, and move forward again. If you can't find someone qualified in your neighborhood or you don't feel as though you can talk to someone "in person" try a qualified internet counselor. If you would like to talk to ME (Advice Sister Alison) you can find information at http://www.advicesisters.net/getpersonaladvice3.html

5. DON'T OVERWHELM YOURSELF: If you are stressed and overwhelmed, perhaps you are trying to handle too much. Rid yourself of extra duties that aren't necessary or important. Learn how to delegate and how to say "no" without feeling guilty. Ask for help if you need it.

6. GET AWAY: Sometimes a change, however small, can do wonders for your spirit. Forget it all for a while--escape! Go somewhere new for a few hours, or a few days if you can afford to. If not, it may be helpful just to "get away" to a warm bath for a little while! A good article on how to create an easy spa experience at home is at: http://www.advicesisters.net/WWarchives/wwarcspa3.html

7. PRIORITIZE: You may not be able to avoid all the responsibilities obligations you currently have, but you can learn how to complete them without resentment and consciously choose how you will handle them.

8. EXTEND YOURSELF: Make your own life better by making someone else's life better. Give of yourself. Volunteer! You will feel empowered, positive, important...and you will be! Visit http://www.volunteermatch.com and choose an organization you believe in!


9. MAKE SUCCESS HAPPEN! If you can't change the world, change yourself! Learn how to love yourself as you are, while you work towards your goals. Then, make a commitment to yourself to start improving the things about yourself and your life that (you believe) need it. Instead of immediate, dramatic change, learn to enjoy the journey of lifelong self-improvement. You are always a work in progress. For life & career advice, visit ASK ALISON - Managing Your Life & Career at: http://www.metrotribe.org/askalison.html for love and relationship advice, visit THE ADVICE SISTERS Relationship Tools For Winners Web Site http://www.advicesisters.net/

10. SOCIALIZE: Spend time with family and friends for love and support. Don't be afraid to enjoy yourself! Appreciate friendship and let others know you care about them, too. Love may not conquer all, but it's a great start!

11. LEARN HOW TO BE HAPPY: One thing all of life's winners have in common is a sense of well-being, a positive attitude and realistic goals. Focus on the good things about yourself, and in your life. Nobody's perfect. Learn to enjoy the "little things" that make you happy. Count your blessings. Every day, write down on a slip of paper one thing you are grateful for, even if it's just a sunny day, a friend's phone call, your cat's happy purr. Put this "blessing" in a jar along with a dollar or more. Do this for one month. At the end of the month read all those slips of paper and you will realize that life is better than you think! Use the money to do something really special for yourself, or donate it to charity.

LEARNING TO HANDLE STRESS

Everybody experiences stress. A certain amount is even good for you. Too much stress can damage your physical, emotional, and mental health. Since it is not always possible to prevent stress, we all need to learn how to reduce it. Choose among the following techniques what you think will work best for you. Make them part of your everyday life.

1. PREVENT IT. How much stress do you cause just by putting unnecessary pressure on yourself? Do you over react to little things that annoy you? Every time you let anger or frustration take control, it drains away good energy and sidetracks you from more important things. Obviously, you can't always control what goes on around you, but you can control how you respond. Try a little more patience next time you get caught in traffic and you'll avoid unnecessary stress.

2. SET GOALS. Some people drift through life going from crisis to crisis letting stress build up. If you set goals, you can take better control of your life. Think where you'd like to be in 1 year or 5 years. Be realistic by starting with small, daily goals, then build up from there. Re-evaluate your goals from time to time and be prepared to adjust them as changes occur in your life.

3. ESTABLISH PRIORITIES. Do you often feel rushed because "there's no time"? Why not regulate the pace of your life? Plan ahead. Make a list of tasks in order of priority. Concentrate on what's really important to you and drop those things that only waste your energy.

4. TAKE TIME OUT. Spend a few minutes alone each day to break the routine. This helps ease stress and gives you a better perspective of what's around you. Set aside time during the week for recreation, hobbies, or exercise. Regular exercise is an excellent way to reduce stress. Physical fitness gives you a feeling of well-being by relieving tension and increasing productivity.

5. HAVE FAITH. Peace of mind comes to those who trust in God's power to lessen life's burdens through prayer.

6. THINK POSITIVELY. Having a positive attitude will help you assert yourself and feel more in control. You waste energy if you constantly criticize yourself or set unrealistic goals. Negative thoughts generally produce negative results. Instead of saying, "I can't," practice saying, "I can." You'll be surprised how much more you can accomplish.

7. HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR. Laughter can be one of the best medicines for stress. Being able to laugh at yourself and the world can break tension and give you some relief from stress.

8. COMMUNICATE. Suffering in silence only increases the stress you build up inside. Talk over your feelings and concerns with your family, a friend, counselor, preacher, or health professional. "Thinking out loud" like this not only relieves stress, but may also shed new light on your problems. Learn to listen and consider suggestions with an open mind.

9. MAKE DECISIONS. Most people have no idea how much stress they create for themselves by resisting change. They wait, hoping a situation will go back to the way it was. Why wait when you have choices and could make a decision? When it's time to change old habits and move forward, make your own change for the better.

10. GET SUPPORT. Do you sometimes find problems too personal to discuss? Or feel they may be too much of a burden on others? Find a support group in your community. Remember, you're not alone. Other people with similar problems understand what you're going through without the need for lengthy explanations. They share your concerns and they want to learn how to cope with stress, too.