I have been Checkpoint since 1st Nov 2008. Till date, almost a month. My personal experience is that people is friendly and there is explicit protocol need to follow. The obvious ones is to wearing long sleeves and tie for any customer's meetings; and not forgotten the suite for stage performance. Wow, a total informal culture in ex-company. However, there are alot of implicit "protocol" that need to be observed dealing with ex-company's management! Hence, I may look formal, but actually, I am more relax in dealing with peers and the management team.
So far, the pace is fast with alot of catch up with the products are necessary. Moreover, I also requested to pass my certification as well. Really hope to achieve it by Jan 2009 (looking at my overseas trip and the need to prepare the rest of the solution slides and POC, it seemed that I have lesser time for the preparation for the certification and for the family)
Time is flying @Checkpoint, but very fulfilling as there is new challenges and that keep my adrenaline high! Focus (with alot of listening & learning) will the key for my success.
I do hope that I can travel with my wife for our holiday as we have not been able to holidaying for the past 2 years. I think that next year, despite of the anticipated downturn, I can get a time off with my wife for at least a short trip (maybe Bali, Taiwan..... wow, I do have a long list of countries to visit...haha)
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Financial Lessons
Someone wrote me something @25/11/2008 that changed my view of "long-term investment". Very insightful. Here is goes:
1. Citigroup's stock quote in NYSE is C, how appropriate. If you are thinking of buying/punting into C, just remember AIG.
2. This is not the end of it. There will be more blow ups to come. More banks, GE, GM, Ford and many others. But the market may rally for a few days, just as an expression of relieve that Citi is bailed out. Yet another dead-cat bounce, in my opinion.
3. I have covered half of my shorts over the past few days, once I feel that this short rally is over, I will short again.
4. Did anyone watch last Sunday's Channel 8 gala show on 45 years of broadcasting? It brings back a number of media artistes, especially from the 1990s. Also reminds me that STI is back to 1993 level, certainly not a pleasant experience to those that adamantly believe in "long term investment". If you are into properties, you will also note that Singapore property prices are now back to roughly 1994-95 level. And still falling, if I may add.
5. I am amazed at the continued popularity of "long term investment strategy". After almost 20 years of lousy results, vast majority of people are still firm believers. When will people start to examine the basis of all the academic studies that promote "long term investment", and realize that these studies are largely based on data derived from a very unique period of ONLY US stock market from 1900 - 2000?
6. If you must make only one distinct investment, would you rather bet on China (current GDP per capita less than USD3,000), or on Singapore (current GDP per capita about USD35,000)?
Wow! Now, after the age of 42, I finally realised what is meant by Financial Cycle - definitely not 10, 20 years.... lah... but such cycle may be as short as 5-7 years. It is important to liquidate the returns and treading the market with extra care!
I realised that the best learning path is not from the text book, but rather talk to the expert. It may be confusing initially, but this will complement the text book learning... Learning commenced from a period of confusion before clarify emerged!
Let un-learn to re-learn.
1. Citigroup's stock quote in NYSE is C, how appropriate. If you are thinking of buying/punting into C, just remember AIG.
2. This is not the end of it. There will be more blow ups to come. More banks, GE, GM, Ford and many others. But the market may rally for a few days, just as an expression of relieve that Citi is bailed out. Yet another dead-cat bounce, in my opinion.
3. I have covered half of my shorts over the past few days, once I feel that this short rally is over, I will short again.
4. Did anyone watch last Sunday's Channel 8 gala show on 45 years of broadcasting? It brings back a number of media artistes, especially from the 1990s. Also reminds me that STI is back to 1993 level, certainly not a pleasant experience to those that adamantly believe in "long term investment". If you are into properties, you will also note that Singapore property prices are now back to roughly 1994-95 level. And still falling, if I may add.
5. I am amazed at the continued popularity of "long term investment strategy". After almost 20 years of lousy results, vast majority of people are still firm believers. When will people start to examine the basis of all the academic studies that promote "long term investment", and realize that these studies are largely based on data derived from a very unique period of ONLY US stock market from 1900 - 2000?
6. If you must make only one distinct investment, would you rather bet on China (current GDP per capita less than USD3,000), or on Singapore (current GDP per capita about USD35,000)?
Wow! Now, after the age of 42, I finally realised what is meant by Financial Cycle - definitely not 10, 20 years.... lah... but such cycle may be as short as 5-7 years. It is important to liquidate the returns and treading the market with extra care!
I realised that the best learning path is not from the text book, but rather talk to the expert. It may be confusing initially, but this will complement the text book learning... Learning commenced from a period of confusion before clarify emerged!
Let un-learn to re-learn.
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