Wuqi,
You macham own a 'company of sorts' (I can't find a suitable name yet) all under one roof, taking care of insiders and outsiders, local and foreign. You are such a good friend to have...有錢出錢,有力出力, you are both, so very kind and helpful. Hard to find somebody like you nowadays. Do take care!
I am lucky to find really good friends sometimes and glad to help them out as they have also been helpful towards me. I look after some of their houses and until today, i still have keys for about 4 houses. With the keys for my existing ones, my dad was joking i could do a homestay or i am actually a chalet caretaker.
My wife says i am born to serve, some friends today joked that I was like Doraemon (probably size hahaha and liking for Tong Luo Shao). When i told my wife, she doesn't know whether its a blessing or a curse. Anyway, like she said, most times, i am treated like a serviette used and thrown away thereafter but i have many good friends as well, always appreciated them.
A few times i did inadvertently provided wrong tips on stocks as well, etc but my good pal never blamed me. Remain grateful to the friends i have/had, both good or bad. Everyone taught me a lesson in life and i am constantly learning.
A few of them i must share:
One middle age gent, 11B holder, very humble and is a well regarded and an accomplished public speaker, (unknown to him) always been a mentor to me from my early days. Still remembered the first day when he joined the company, i gave him fair warning about some of the folks in the office. Years after, he is the only one i still kept in touch with. Always patient, unassuming and remains one of the best chaps to ever talk to on finances, etc. Volunteers and helps out in charities regularly and is one of the unsung heroes of Singapore. Came out here with me when few would consider, has the ability to speak plainly and fairly and a good confidante. Went ahead to buy properties with me without ever even looking or viewing.
One learned old gent, from Malacca originally. Very unassuming and retired. Has more houses and title deeds in more than 3 countries than most of us here in this forum combined and yet never brags about it. Left ample properties to his kids and made sure they are well taken care of. Despite his age, always ready to admit his mistakes (when he rarely makes them) and has that rare ability to take criticisms on its own merit, even from a young chap like myself. Borrowed my car to KL and told me when he suspected he might get a summon and wanted to pay me in advance. He even gave me keys to his properties in Malacca for stay should i go there for holidays. Funny thing was, when we first met at a potluck event, we didn't even shake hands as he shook with everyone else but me. Took the time to listen to me when i gave my 2 cents worth about some properties and he bought some and withdrew from others based on my 2 cents worth. Always told his visitors and friends that he was the one whom inspired me to look at investing.
One young gent, from Batu Pahat, very bright and have a very good idea of how certain businesses should be run, very forward looking, humble yet smart. Honest and really a joy to work with. He mistakenly thinks i know a lot and is very open to new ideas and different angles. Has one of the rare open minds that few possesses these days. Has a keen and ready attitude to learn and a piercing mind on difficult subjects. Someone whom i look upon as a better and improved version of myself when i was at his age.
One young lady, also from Batu Pahat, the best banker i have ever worked with. Never say die attitude, is very efficient and very helpful, even going as far as to help folks when it was not even in her own interest and time. Assisted numerous times for both myself and my fellow friends even when it was clear it was not related to her field. Top banker in all the banks she worked in.
One gent, same age, 11B holder, very helpful chap and always help me and my neighbours with a lot of issues where i am unable to turn up. Rather knowledgeable and humble. Always ready to help even if clearly there was no commercial benefits. Helped a fellow neighbour in need when he was in dire straits. IMHO, he is the SG version of Q.
One gent, same age, from Kulai, above board and very good chap who knows the ins and outs of being a good company secretary as well as the responsibilities. He is also gifted with insights and has a good feel of the pulse in the market. Along with his equally smart wife, they have really made the sometimes murky world of Sdn Bhd a much clearer place. Personally feel that he is a source of pride to the people of Kulai. We were actually not friends in the beginning as he acted on behalf of the franchisor but even traded harsh words (because of the franchisor) in the beginning but is now someone i count as a close and trusted friend.
One gent, slightly younger, from Johore, pretty helpful chap and helped a lot of Singaporeans come out to Johore, even to the point that he was mistaken as an agent. Pointed him to the direction for property and insisted he buy a certain property even though the number was inauspicious which he later bought. Through his own astute investments as well as support from his very humble and super supportive wife (rare these days), have done pretty well for himself. Always a good judge of food and its quality. Though we are all busy these days, continue to wish him well on his new endeavours.
One gent, from Hong Kong originally, very trustworthy gent and always can be relied upon to speak his mind. Good buddy to talk to and like another gent(my mentor), went ahead to buy properties with me without ever seeing a picture, a plan or the actual site. It was only months later after signing the S&P that he and subsequently my mentor went to have a look.
One lady, formerly an agent who marketed for me, very good and helpful lady who has a conscience and a rare sense of fairness that many lacks these days. Despite being of very considerable background, never flaunts it and always humble. Is the boss of her own large firm but yet never shares with others and always polite and professional, almost to a fault. Crossed swords with her to help someone until i realised her actions was because of her own concerns for fairness and then she acted for me as well, helping me to get another law firm over a superbly bad one despite her losing her commissions from them.