Stretching tuition dollar to the Max(Case 1)

Posted by on Sep 4, 2010 in Blog | 38 comments

My banner in front of a stationery shop

Boss cum my ex-student's father

Let me explain what is going on.
Last year, I used to teach his (man in the photo) son math to prepare him for O level. Every lesson costs him $90. Not cheap!!! (It is cheaper if he had called me earlier.)I started teaching the boy in … around early July. I only had about 12 lessons before his prelim exams. Long story short, he got an A for both E & A math. I couldn’t remember A1 or 2. Not too bad for a student who barely passed for his mid year exam. 
Next, I did something very STUPID. I reminded the parents that prelim papers were generally harder than O level. Since he has done well for prelim, he doesn’t need me on a regular basis anymore. I had only 2, max 3 lessons before O level. That’s it. I could have made more $$$. If you were to do a bit of math, I cost the family slightly less than $1500.
Months passed, he got his results. Well, it was so good that the mother would give me a call to invite me to Swenson (Thomson) for a sumptuous dinner. We were chit-chatting and I got to know he owns a shop at Bishan. Immediately, I gave him this idea of putting up a banner for publicity. Since he was on clould 9, he agreed. I understand nobody would do anything for nothing long term. I promised to offer him a commission. He just smiled, maybe thinking that I was joking.
Till today, I paid him about less than $300.  (BTW, I used this example to teach win/win to all my students.)
You maybe thinking ‘I don’t have a shop.’ Well, you don’t have to have a shop. You need a child who is determined to do well for exam. Good results, distinctions wouldn’t be possible if the son hadn’t been trying before I appeared. I merely provided the understanding, nothing more. $1500 bought 2 distinctions without the son wasting time on transport. Is that expensive? Why don’t you be the judge?
Some of you may be thinking, ‘Why don’t I look for you last minute, at the 11th hour, I can save more?’ Wrong!!! I will reveal to you how you can even stretch your tuition more if you call me earlier. Watch out for the next 2 blog.
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Is tuition too expensive? Yes, if you’re just buying a false sense of security.

Posted by on Aug 26, 2010 in Blog | 9 comments

Let’s take a look at these 2 newspaper articles.

Students who can't afford tuition won't lose out.

Tuition too expensive, let's ban it at pri level?

 

Is tuition too expensive? Why don’t you think about it? One thing is for sure. If you paying tuition for a (false) sense of security, you are as good as throwing $$$ into the sea. In my next blog, I will be sharing with you how to stretch your tuition dollar to the MAX!

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We raised fund for the unfortunate too.

Posted by on Aug 18, 2010 in Blog | 8 comments

This news led us to raise fund for needy for the 1st time.

In 2002, YMCA & Citibank joined hands to organise a fund raising program known as Citi Youth for Causes. Instead of donating money to the various organisations, ‘seed money’ is given to various teams to run business to raise fund. Isn’t this idea very cool?
At that moment, we just published our book “The Einstein Factor”. We were thinking ”Why don’t we sell our books and give all the proceeds to charity.” In this case, we don’t even need the seed money from the bank.
We signed up immediately and we were accepted!!!

A letter from AMP to assist us to open doors for opportunity to raise money.

AMP stands for Association of Muslim Professionals. As the name suggests, it is an organisation assisting Malay disadvantaged families. Readers need to know this. They didn’t choose us. We chose them. The reason- we firmly believe in Racial Cohesiveness.
There are 2 speeches that made a very deep impact on my life.
1)’I have a dream’ by Rev Martin Luther King Jr
”I have a dream that one day my four little children will grow up in a country where they will be judged NOT by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.”
2)Pardon me I could not remember the name of the Australian pastor. He said something like ‘Take note that the bible describes people from different countries not by their race. That is because there is only 1 race and that is the HUMAN RACE.’

Our fund raising result after 2 months.

You can’t see clearly. Furthermore, you may not understand Malay. Why don’t I tell you the result? We just managed to raise $1,100. Looking back, we have done our very best. No regrets. If we can do it today, the amount would be very different.
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Voluntary Work Works

Posted by on Aug 17, 2010 in Blog, Uncategorized | 14 comments

In our website, I mentioned about how I highly recommend children to be exposed to unfortunate people. To lend a helping hand when ever possible to our needy in Singapore. Doing voluntary work is nothing new for Unusual Ideas. You can take a look at some of the pictures below.

My students and I donated some towels.

Imagine that there are children in Singapore who need towels. Imagine there are children in this home who need to share towels. If our students can get to see and serve this group of unfortunate children from broken families on a long term basis, they don’t stand a chance to feel sorry for themselves.

With my bro & Thomas Chua (author of Beyond the Fall)

 Sometimes, I think it is really God’s will that I have to do something for the unfortunate. As mentioned in my website, I read his book (recommended by a book supplier). Almost at the same time, I was searching SGcares website to do voluntary work. Guess what? I met the author, Thomas Chua on my very 1st day of work. 

I have a very, very selfish reason to lend a helping hand. These special group of people really gives me the DRIVE to run my business, giving my BEST in my life. I hardly wallow in self pity. On a daily basis, I count my blessings, I plan my day and execute my plan. I know what I want in life and I will do whatever it takes to achieve. Because I am not very sure when ill fortune will strike on me. The best time to do anything is NOW.

This is message that I want ALL my students to know.

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I have good role model to look up to.

Posted by on Aug 16, 2010 in Blog, Uncategorized | 23 comments

Look at these 2 pictures carefully. One is clearer than the other. They feature the same person. Can you guess his age?

A stationery shop owner

 

 

The same gentleman (clearer version)

I am not going to reveal his age yet. I can give you a clue. He is not young. He revealed to me he has a ‘fountain of youth‘ in his kitchen.

1)He eats home-cooked food most of the time. Very hardly oily food. Drinking soup is very much part of his diet since he is a Cantonese.

2)He loves exercise. If you patronise his shop, don’t ever forget to shake his hand. He is a martial art expert. The blade of his palm is HARD! He runs very often too.

3)He has good genes. He told me he inherited his mother’s features. Even at very old age, his mother, as he can remember, still had very dark hair.

4)Lastly, he works. He used to be a teacher. Talking to him will expose the fact that his command of the English language is excellent. He offers friendly service. He has a lot of good ideas to run his stationery shop. I will tell you one. His shop perhaps is the only one that offers thumb drive printing in the West Coast area. I sincerely think that it is such love and pride in his work that immensely gives him the job satisfaction that nourishes his soul.

This is his shop

If you stay in the west and need some stationery,  do consider to patronise him. His address is Block 727, Clementi West St 2, #01-276. His shop is closed on Sunday.

Now, are you ready for his age?

His IC will tell his age

Since I am a math tutor, why don’t you do a bit of substraction to get his age this year?Amazing, isn’t it?

I include this in my blog for all my students to read. I really doubt some of them can live near his age. Isn’t it sad? This is the last message that I have to appeal to ALL my students to look after their health.The body that we have is the only vehicle that carries our mind, spirit and soul. I will keep everyone updated about my adventure of losing inches off my tummy.

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