A Place I Can Call Home Soon...

GOTTA Watch This: Third 2008 Presidential Debate (Full Video)

Wedding Shoot 27Oct'08

We had our photo shoot from 9am till 9pm...it was only on the journey home that the fatigue sets in.

It was a wonderful experience - we thoroughly enjoyed the experience, greatly attributed to having our good friends coming together with us, and also having a very experienced photographer who equally enjoyed shooting this fun couple!

Here are some raw shots taken by our friends who went with us:

Just Before I Venture Out

"Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof." - Ecc 7:8

Today is the second last day of my work before I venture out full-time with my business. Taken all the name cards, copied all the contacts, cleared all the outstanding work, emailed all my contacts to inform them of my move, packed all my belongings, guess nothing much left for me to attend to...

Feel the reluctance within me right now, because it has been my comfort zone, yet I forced myself to step out of it. Things are just going to get more exciting, more challenging, more demanding, and DEFINITELY better!

Taken several photos of my large work cubicle to remind myself that there's no turning back...

About Faith, Leadership and What We Have

About Faith

Faith strengthens our attitude.
The moment we complain, we de-energise ourselves.
Even if faith is never to accomplish something, it keeps us in a better place in life just with our attitude.
But faith is not incompetent, it WILL accomplish, and that's the greatest news of all.

About Leadership

Leaders train, not blame; they develop, not restrict.

Level of leadership (from lowest to highest):

- Positional leadership - people follow because they are under you and therefore have to
- Relational leadership - people follow because of your good rapport with them
- Productivity leadership - people follow because they can see your fruits and they want to be part of your success
- People development leadership - people follow because you've made a positive difference in their lives and they want to follow with all loyalty.

What kind of leader are you?

About What We Have

We think we have nothing. We have EVERYTHING.
The worst thing that can happen to us is when we start to feel that we are worthless.
If we think that everyone has got the real stuff, we start to think that we've got nothing.
Stop looking at what we do not have, and start to look at what we have.
When Christ is in us, we are complete - we have everything we need to make it in life.

Colonel Sanders was 65. He was sitting on the rocking chair in his porch when he received his social welfare cheque. He thought, "Is this what I want to have for the rest of my life?" With that, he made a list of what he had, and one of the items was his mother's family recipe fried chicken-with species and herbs.
He went to a local eatery and asked if he could do the dish and have it up as one of the dishes on the menu. Given the chance, his fried chicken became an instant hit and LOOK WHAT WE HAVE TODAY - a worldwide phenomenon of KFC...more finger-link'in chickens and a whole lot more fats....

We have everything we need in our hands.
The moment we change our attitude into one of faith, we start to see opportunities and resources.

What is in your hand today?

Be for me, not against me.

"It is recession time, you'll be affected."

Yes, I'll be affected, in the positive way that I believe.

Be of a different spirit. Be the Caleb, be the Joshua, lest I become like the other spies.

With every fall of empire, there will be the roar of new giants.

What appears as an adversity in one's eyes is an opportunity to another.

Rise up and be that anti-current. Why do you have to be like everyone else?

You are unique and you are able.

Be strong and of good courage.

The greater the adversities, the more others will know that it is through Christ who strengthens me that I can overcome them.

In every adversity, there are opportunities.

In every sunset, there will be sunrise.

The bigger the storm, the brighter the rainbow will be;

The One in me is greater than WHATEVER circumstances that are around me.

Will you be for me today, and not be against me?

Pray for me, shout for me, strengthens me by encouraging me, give me that extra push, would you be my cheerleader?

My Sisters

I spoke to my sisters recently - one through MSN, and the other called me from Australia.

I did a search for poem regarding sisters, found one and made slight amendments cos I think they deserve special words as my tribute to them.

My sisters are special to me.
I fought with them
I cried with them
My sisters can sometimes understand me better than anyone else (or at least they think so)
My sisters are there for me through good times and bad
As a toddler, I've seen my sisters sharing their clothes
As a little boy, I've seen them emotionally drifted apart in their rebellious teenage years
As a teenager, I've seen them becoming emotionally knitted again
And I've seen them drift apart geographically
Sometimes I may wish I can change my sisters
But if I ever change just one thing about them, it might ruin everything unique about them
They are just special as they are
and they are just as precious as they are
Some people think sisters are just sisters
But my sisters are more than that
They have showed me the way to Jesus,
showed me in their teenage years how to be passionate for Christ through their serving in church,
showed me what fighting for one's dream is by going for multiple times of English language test and saving money to live in a foreign land,
showed me what a mother's love is through their sacrifices for their little boys and girls.

Silent respect is my salute to them...

Blessed to be blessed!

Next week is my last week of service with my current employer. Received a beautiful gift from my two AEs (Admin Execs) today. Was really touched by their effort. As I walked back from the gent to my work cubicle, I saw two of them sneakily hanging around outside my cube. Then one suddenly handed me this orange paper bag which has a nicely wrapped blue box inside.

Why is it that more often than not, it's always the ground ppl (instead of the management) who learns how to appreciate ppl?

"Thanks for your help and support all these while when you've been with us. All the best to your business." Two simple sentences, one unforgetable moment.

Thank you, Jeslin & Kamaliyah.

Peek-A-Bride!...

A peek at M.Y. bride-to-be...

What Kind of Audio Device Is This?

Those are my earpieces...given them a new twist to help stay bended. Thought it's a pretty interesting shape, so decided to snap it. Our creativity can bring us far.

Getting A Kick Out Of A Ball...

Another Step Towards Happiness

We saw those lavender-coloured wrapping papers with wedding vow on it...exactly what we've been looking for. Bought them on the spot and our Ang Pow boxes were made that night...

A Step of Faith Really...

Kissed from a "ROSE"

We went for a visit to the Asia Pacific Brewery (APB). At the end of the tour, we get to drink free flow of beer (of all sorts)...and that was where all the funny things happen.

Okie...this' gonna be shocking (at least I was so shocked...so much so that I laughed non-stop)..got kissed by my group director! Gosh!....

Multiple Identities...

Decided to do a search on my name and found the following identities...just for the fun.





Hmmm...anyone knows which one is the real me?...






Singapore Vertical Marathon 6th November 2005
Corporate Team Ranking
19 Accenture Team
3 Total Team Time: 00:25:25
Rank :1
Bib No. :809
Name: Jimmy Ong
Total time: 00:11:40.00



Chay Sing Hai Challenge Cup was awarded to Vanda Robert's Delight 'Blue' exhibited by Jimmy Ong for the best V. sanderiana or strap leaf Vanda with V. sanderiana strain.





Amos International (S) Pte Ltd was incorporated on 16th December 2003, and commenced operation on the 21st June 2004.
Amos International’s mission is to be a reliable business partner to all our valued customers. We aim to provide sound marine & offshore logistics management and supplies solutions to vessels calling at major South East Asian ports.
Operating out of a 1,800 square metre (approximately 18,000 square feet) office cum warehouse space, Amos International has the capability and capacity to handle the logistical requirements of ship-owners / ship-managers. From supplying common consumable stores to techinically challenging ship spares, Amos International has the expertise to ensure all ships’ requirements are accurately and punctually attended to.
Located in the vicinity of the Port of Singapore, Amos International can respond effectively to any urgent requirements of vessels in port with its comprehensive range of inventory items.

General Manager - Jimmy Ong
Mobile : +65 – 9388 ****








Chatterbox cafe presents "Everybody's Choice" menu.
Singaporean Executive Chef, Jimi Ong has created an innovative menu complete with 22 new menu choices from the appetizer, fresh cream of tomatoes soup or shrimp coctail, continuing with a tempting main courses deep fried dory fish with spaghetti, hainanese chicken chop with onion sauce or choices of wantan noodles with beef and end up with lovely dessert, tau san, pan cake with black cherry and apple or coconut ice cream with cendol and red bean.





Air Defence
by MAJ Chiun Koon Wee and CPT Jimmy Ong

Since the German attack on Poland in 1939, no country has won a war in the face of enemy air superiority, no major offensive has succeeded against an opponent who controlled the air, and no defence has sustained itself against an enemy who had air superiority. History has proven that air superiority is essential for winning a war. Although recent wars have demonstrated the supreme effectiveness of offensive operation in gaining air superiority, one should never under-estimate the importance of defence operation. When the Israelis parried the Syrian air offensive in June 1982 it showed that a sound air defence acts as deterrence. It also demonstrated that a well executed defence can inflict high losses to the enemy and achieve air superiority.


The University at Buffalo’s Executive MBA programme that is offered by the Singapore Institute of Management has drawn organisations like Philips and HP Singapore to enrol their middle and senior managers in it. SIM-UB EMBA Graduates 2006: Jimmy Ong, Regional Director, PSC Inc Singapore


Ventures Started by Students of Minor in Entrepreneurship Program
Company Name: Petals and Co.
Industry: Florist
Name: Mr. Jimmy Ong and Mr. Nasrul Lim
Minor Batch: 3
Appointment: Founder/Management
Website: http://www.petalsandco.com.sg
Year set up: 2005


Madam Tan Lau is a familiar sight to those who dine on the crab and frog leg porridge at Geylang's Shun Kee Eating House, on the main road between Lorongs 6 and 8. Mr Jimmy Ong, the third of her six children, has been running Shun Kee for more than 30 years. Madam Tan is the head of five generations with more than 30 grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren...She added: 'I am 100 years old.'


Jimmy & Ong Pool Services
760 Choa Chu Kang Nth 5 #10-169, 680760, Singapore
p: 67694663
Products & Service Areas : Swimming Pool Equipment, Supplies & Services, Swimming Pool Service

A Calling And The Destinies Of Many

"And in this I give advice:

It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago;
but now you also must complete the doing of it;
that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have.

For if there is first a willing mind,
it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.

For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened;
but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack,
that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality.

As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”"

~ 2 Cor 8:10-15

Steps of Faith, literally

I was very encouraged when I saw old men and women taking steps of faith yesterday during dialect church. The message was about being a new creation in God. Try telling an OLD citizen that he is a NEW creation in God, he would have looked through his blurred vision at his folded skin, degenerated muscles, clutches, and probably thought you've gone insane.

Not only they were ministered by the word, they took it a step further and received miraculous healings! One man in his 60s could not lift up his hands even before he started coming church, but yesterday he raised up both hands in testimony of God's healing!
A man, in his early 50s, could not walk and talk properly, and wasn't able to lift up his hands after he's struck with a stroke. He came forward to testify God's healing by lifting up his left hand high up without any assistance!

One Cantonese lady came forward to the stage with her clutch and declared her faith that she is a new creation in Christ, and she trusted God for her healing. She was prayed for, and then her clutch was taken away from her by the preacher. To an old lady with weak legs, the clutch is EVERYTHING to her - her independence and her strength. Initially she was shocked by the preacher's action, but nevertheless she started to lift up her knees and move her feet. The atmosphere was even more charged up with every step she took, and the band even played a praise song to encourage her to move with the rythem. Before we knew it, she's walked a good 5 meters UNASSISTED! And what's more, she actually lifted up her legs - the FIRST time she does these things! These elderlys are literally taking steps of faith!!!

So, to the many of us who need to step out in faith, what are we waiting for?! Lets go... =)

Returning to our point of reference

Was engaged in a chit-chat with a friend who was facing some challenges in his life. In our conversation, we discussed about how the passionate prayer life of an on-fire Christian, can (over time) become a religious routine. There and then, I believe it's the prompting of the Holy Spirit, I was reminded of what my fiancee shared with me about our point of reference. Each of us ought to have a point of reference in our life. We need to have a point of reference in our walk with God. After I shared that with him, not only was he encouraged, I got encouraged too by remembering that.



It's not whether challenges will happen, but a matter of time that they happen - times when we don't feel like praying, when we are discouraged because things we are working on are not happening in our life, when we don't feel the tangible presence of God. This is where our remembrance of our first love with God will be crucial. It is our point of reference. Remember how He has blessed our soul, changed us and filled our life with blessings. Same goes to the area of marriage - if we lost touch with the feeling of love with our spouse, then the remembrance of our first love during courtship, how we have been through the ups and downs together - that remembrance will be our point of reference.



It's time I return to that point of reference, how about you?





Believe the verses that I posted will encourage you, just as they did to me...

An Invitation to Abundant Life

“6 Seek the LORD while He may be found,

Call upon Him while He is near.

7 Let the wicked forsake his way,

And the unrighteous man his thoughts;

Let him return to the LORD,

And He will have mercy on him;

And to our God,

For He will abundantly pardon.”

~ Isaiah 55

“6 For there shall be a day

When the watchmen will cry on Mount Ephraim,

‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion,

To the LORD our God.’”

…‘O LORD, save Your people,

The remnant of Israel!’

…9 They shall come with weeping,

And with supplications I will lead them.

I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters,

In a straight way in which they shall not stumble;

…‘He who scattered Israel will gather him,

And keep him as a shepherd does his flock.’

…17 There is hope in your future, says the LORD,
That your children shall come back to their own border.

18 “I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself:

‘ You have chastised me, and I was chastised, Like an untrained bull;

Restore me, and I will return,

For You are the LORD my God.

~ Jer 31

For you were like sheep going astray,
but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
~ 1 Pet 2:25

Encounter with God

"One person with passion is far more influential than ninety-nine without."

Our encounter with God will give us the passion to seek our destiny, and a sense of purpose to fulfil it.

~ Our life is the result of our choices. We set our own standards. ~

Clear Violation of Privacy for Public's Pleasure...

Dear Friends,

Watch while you still have the privilege to!...before I pull this off the web to protect my dear friend, Adam Tham...

To Brave Adam: I love you a lot and seriously, I REALLY think you're talented!

A tribute to the Champion!

What you set your heart on something, PUSH (Pray Until Something Happens) for it!

~ Your life is a result of your choices. You set your own standards. ~

Different Perspectives, the Same Great Minds

It is often said that "Great minds think alike".

I must say that "alike" does not equate the same things. It also does not equate the same perspective, but rather a pattern of thought......

"Great minds think on a similar thought pattern."

To keep on keeping on? Or not?

Amazing how our lives can be so inter-twined by our work, friends, relationships, finance, future prospects.

I received some very discouraging comments today, followed by bad news. All these happened after a terrible weekend I had just gone through with heart-breaking setback and 5 times of diarrhea on Sunday.

Have I failed to shine?

Please don't dwell in the negativities, for God is able to turn every stumbling block into stepping stone......using our own hands (hard work).

Keep on keeping on, just as you have always been doing. Pick yourself up, motivate yourself.
It is OKIE......

Enriching Your Life with Knowledge

Just completed "Ngiam Tong Dow: A Mandarin and the Making of Public Policy" and "Goh Keng Swee: A Portrait". I personally won't recommend the book on Mr Goh Keng Swee...apart from the book being written in a monotonous historical style, many reviews have commented the incompleteness of the autobiography.
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Now halfway through "The 4Rs of ASIAN Shopping Centre Management". Gonna go on to "Innovation Japanese Style: A Cultural and Historical Perspective". Last week I went past Bras Basah and bought 2 second-hand books on the spot..."Management Consulting: A Guide to The Profession" and "Business Consultancy". Though they cost quite a bit, but I walked out of the shop feeling very satiisfied and happy...it's like you've found the keys to some locked treasures...Wohooo!
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I'm really looking forward to be enriched by these books, so that I can share the pragmatic wisdom with the people around me. My love for knowledge really originated from Mingyan, my girlfriend. It was during her NUS time when I saw how she loves the study of American films & media history and many other subjects that I was influenced to FINALLY start reading. (It was really personally challenging at that point when I was in army). More importantly, I saw how her love for knowledge has made her to become such a perceptive (the most suitable word I've come across so far to describe her) and wise person. I'm eternally grateful to her.
.
Would like to encourage you to take up reading. Bring a book with you everywhere you go - after a while, you will develop a "relationship" with it..haa. You don't have to start with a 100-pg novel. Read something that will add fire to your passion. Mine is in the areas of entrepreneurship, consultancy and personal excellence, so I read about Richard Branson's autobiography "Losing My Virginity" on how he started Virgin Records, Virgin Atlantic, and how he deals with challenges etc.
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Your life is the result of your choices. You set your own standards.
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The Story Behind

This year's V'day is finally over. Didn't sleep on 13th and drove the entire 14th. It was great experience. That's the joy of owning your own business I guess - it brings the best out of your - your every extra ounce of energy and leadership.

.

This biz originated from Mingyan and myself. She had a primary school friend who is the son of a flower importer. I was in army then. Sensing the opportunity with the readily potential customers in my camp, Mingyan got me to order some roses together from her friend, and we began collecting order from friends around. We stayed up all night to wrap bouquets - with minimal skill. We were inexperience, BUT we were willing to learn and to try. The following years were the building up years where I outsourced the production to a florist in order to ensure quality bouquets. And the branding - that's when Petals & Co. was formed, by Nasrul (my former Uni mate), Hweeting (who later opted out of the biz) and myself.

.

This is the 5th year I'm doing this. In fact, I was contemplating if I should continue with this or not. This year's planning began with some interesting collaboration, only to turn out to be some unfulfilled words and blank talk by suppliers. I learnt a great deal. Didn't want to continue the biz this year actually, but I thought I should at least use this to be a blessing and teach some ppl interested to get a taste of biz, than to just gave up the entire operation without impacting anyone.

.

Gotten Tenghui (my sec classmate and collegemate) and Jane (his gf) involved. A very interesting couple - Tenghui met Jane on the street when he was doing roadshow as a just-started-out insurance agent. He got her contact, and quitted his insurance job thereafter.

.

This v'day is meaningful - I helped an army buddy with a proposal bouquet - delivered to JAAN restaurant up at the high tower of Swissotel Stamford Hotel. Our delivery and operation went so smoothly, without late/wrong delivery. I credited that to the prayers I made. Thank God.
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I know this is good training ground. Many times I wished for my friends who have similar aspiration to join me on the road, but only to remember that everyone has their own priorities.

To those aspiring to start your own business, be far-sighted and not despise small beginning. You can make a difference if you will to do so.

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Your life is a result of your choices; You set your own standards.

Part of the Harvest

Suggest to them that they should take some all-families photos...and that came to past...

Reading Ngiam Tong Dow: A Mandarin and the Making of Public Policy

Recently I chanced upon the name Ngiam Tong Dow through a businesss owner whom I was chatting with, and somehow repeated saw this name overs newpapers. I was never interested in public policies or politics and such, yet I made the unusual move to google this name and read a profile of this great man.



I set out this year to read a certain number of books, with a specify number for each genre, so that I can enrich my knowledge and deepen my insight. One of these genres is to read memoirs of leaders. I took the deliberate act to visit Popular to get this book by Ngiam Tong Dow, yet it was out of stock. I was determined to get it somehow - went down to Borders and took me a while before I got the book - cost me $38 (one of the more expensive ones I possess), yet it is all worth it!



When you read the life journey of great men and women, you start to realise that they are just as ordinary as us. Many of them rose to the occasion out of the pressing need leadership in their situation.


On being a Christian
"I must tell you that wherever I am posted in my service career, I have always regarded each posting as God's will for me. I will do my best in each job and through my work shine for Him.
I must confess that I had hoped to be given certain appointments, doing my will. And each time I set my heart on something, my will, I have been disappointed. At every fork on the road the Lord, on looking backm has always provided a better alternative for me, doing His will, not mine...We should be as gently as a dove, but be as wise as a serpent."

On Singapore being a gem after a blessing-in-disguise separation from Malaya
"Singapore, like other developing countries, adopted a policy of import substitution. Politically, Singapore merged with Malaya, Sabah, and Sarawak to form the Federation of Malaysia. We had hoped that a Malaysian common market would be formed to provide the economies of scale for out manufacturing industries. A common market never came about...The Tengku was alarmed that the PAP's campaign for a 'Malaysian Malaysia' was the wedge that would threaten Malay supremacy. No Malay leader can forsake Malay supremacy.

In political history, Singapore must be the only country in the world that sought survival by merger with a bigger neigbour, only to be expelled to become an independent nation. It could almost be said that Singapore gained independence not by choice, but by chance.

In industrial policy, we made a virtue out of necessity by switching from an inward-looking import substitution strategy to an international export-oriented policy. All at once we had to learn how to swim in the deep oceans of global competition"

Guess where our CPF system originated from?
"(During the colonial times)..the Singapore civil servants, we all were entitled to pensions, So when we retired, we would all exoect a pension from the British Government, I can imagine somebody in the British Treasury thinking, ' Why should Britian keep a pension fund for all these chaps (colony citizens)? Why should we fund them? We better make them pay for themselves.'

So they started a Singapore Central Provident Fund. So all us civil servants had to save our own money for our pensions. So the British started this CPF because they didn't want to have the burden of caring for our old age..The British imposed CPF system on the colonies.

By the way, they never imposed these measures on themselves. They imposed a Currency Board for the colonies, but they never imposed it on themselves. So theit own sterling pounds went haywire, and they could never get it under control..But for these two measures, we have to credit the British. They really instilled strict discipline on the colonies. This was to our overall benefit; our great benefit."



One book leads to another - I'm now con-currently reading Dr Goh Keng Swee: A Portrait.
A quote from him during his younger days as a student...

"Anybody who want to prosper in this world must have ambition, ambition comes from a thought and the enthusiasm and determination to carry out that thought."



Start reading.

Your life is shaped by the words you speak,
the books you read,
and the people you associated with.

Without Shame

It's a NEW YEAR, and yes, I sat down to make plans and goals - both the major and the minor ones, the certain and the uncertain ones.

I decided to have a fresh start by re-reading the bible from Genesis. Took a little time to check out simple words that I didn't pay attention to in the past.

"The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it...Then the Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.'...Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man...Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame."

I checked out on the word 'shame'. It means, "disgrace, which gives the definition as loss of respect, honor, or esteem"

Understand and remember this: That nothing, absolutely nothing, can crush our value or self-esteem; not pressure of work, not criticism from people, and not ourselves definitely!...because God did not make us to be with shame (loss of esteem and respect).

We are nothing if we look at our own strength, but we will realise that we have everything if we see ourselves in Christ.

By the way, I tried to make a subtle positive difference in my office with this message board...

It reads:

“…speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you'll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind.”
~ Anonymous author.


It's a NEW year!...Amidst our busy schedules,
lets determine in our hearts this year to make a positive difference to someone’s day.


Can ONE man make a difference?
YES you can!!!
By starting your simple notes of encouragement here…

AND the beautiful thing is, that you can too! Good day ahead to you!