Birthdays Mean Differently To Different People

31st January was the day I turned 34. I thanked my friends and colleagues for their well wishes and cards, I really do. However, it got me thinking if i really deserved those things. Why I asked that? Let's see... I think it's because my birth into this world is not of my choice or doing. This day should belong to my mother. The lady who carried me for 9 months and with God's permission, gave birth to me, painfully, 34 years ago.

I think birthday celebrations are overated. I have never seen the whole point of celebrating a person's birthday when all effort was from a mother. I wonder how many shares my sentiments...

 On that day, I spent a lot of time thinking and pondering.. wondering what have I done to get to where I am and what I need to do to go where I want to be. It got me thinking, if I have contributed enough to make a difference to those who might need it.

Why I Choose To Leave My Job and Risk Everything?

I think the title of this post is a common question i get from my friends in the training fraternity. Especially when Moneytree is growing at a pretty fast pace and if I stayed, I could have get a taste of the fruits of labour which I planted and nurtured for 2 years. A few of my friends tried to talk me out of it.

I do appreciate all your questions and concerns, I really do. Yes, Moneytree is growing and it's growing fast. They have a dedicated team and i had fun working with them. The only thing that is not growing, professionally, is me. I am a trainer. One of the reason I left Engineering is because I want to contribute to others in the workforce, through training. In my first job, there were people of different specialities but they couldn't go further simply because of the lack life's skills; skills that you do not learn in school, at least not in those days. When my former partners and I formed up Metropolitan FM Solutions, we had the vision and every intention to move into training. When the company changed its focus, I decided to leave that company which I co-founded because I want to do training. So far, my involvement with Moneytree has been operations management and co-ordination. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I am unhappy but its just that a large part of me want to do more than just operations.


Yes, I am risking forgoing my fruits of labour by leaving Moneytree at this time. I believe Sustenance is not in the hands of mortals but decided by the Rabbil Al Amin(Lord of the Worlds). If it is meant to be mine, then it will be. If not, then it will not be. Decision on this is not mine to make. The decision that is mine to take is that I need to build up my profile as a trainer.

Its been more than a year since I been actively training. I am not sure if my ability to train has dropped. If it has, I'll ram it up again. I will need to rebuild myself as a trainer. I will take up assessment and program development projects. I would like to take up overseas assignments and extend my contribution and also to strengthen my profile.Having said that, I am not without fear. Yes, I am fearful of all the what ifs.. This road is the one less taken. Hopefully I can find a mentor.... May this road lead me to new heights and new opportunities that benefits me and everyone around me, In Shaa Allah..

Resignation as the Head of Operations & Training for Moneytree Singapore Pte Ltd

This has got to be one of the most difficult decision i had to make. Letting go was not an easy option but it is something that, i felt, had to be done.

For your general information, I submitted my resignation as the Head of Operations & Training for Moneytree Singapore Pte Ltd. I assumed that role since March 2011 and I have learned a lot. Throughout the years, I developed and customised training programs, trained batches after batches of trainers and facilitators, systemised the processes within operations division. Today, the systems are in placed. The trainers are able to deliver as far as school projects are concerned. I think my job is done.

I had a long chat with Ryan Soh, CEO of Moneytree Singapore on 31st Dec. This week, I had another round of meeting with him. I do understand that getting a replacement is not easy. Hence, I offered an extension to my notice to 2 months. Effectively, my last day of work with Moneytree as the Head of Operations and Training will be on 28th February, instead of 31st January. Ryan even offered to start a corporate training company and let me head it. From the bottom of my heart, I do appreciate his offer and attempt to keep me within the circles of Moneytree. I had to reject his offer, for now. I would love to remain as a freelance trainer, though..

I've enjoyed my work and have built very good relationships with the teachers i've met. Can you see how hard is it for me to make this decision?

 However, I think it is time to pursue my passion. After completing my ACTA, I need to restart my connections and continue where I've left off 2 years ago. While I was at Moneytree, I had a few projects, locally and regionally,  offered but had to turn it down. A lot of opportunity cost lost there. I completed my last module and now awaiting the results. I should be able to get the full ACTA certification by this month and hopefully get started with corporate program, WSQ or not, soon.

A Primary School In the North - Another Satisfied Client Gained

Today, I had a meeting with one of our clients from a primary school in the Northern part of Singapore. It was a very fruitful meeting with a few pleasant surprises here and there. I went to the meeting with our sales rep. As an operations head, my primary concern is gathering feedback on the program and our trainers. She expressed her happiness and satisfaction of our training program, quality of trainers and other administration support. When I heard to that, it really made my day. I am a satisfied person knowing i gained another satisfied customer. This is the thumbs up that I have been working hard for!

Then the next surprise came in... 3 of her colleagues came and joined in the meeting. They wanted Moneytree Singapore to conduct social enterprise and financial literacy programs as well. In total, we will be working with this school for 3 programs! Alhamdulillah! It is definitely good news. If you have just read this, do note that this is not a fluke. You have no idea how much tears and sweat I shed and the number of sleepless nights i had in the last 3 months. I am no sales person. I am an operations head. My job is to deliver. When schools talk to me, I can only share with them what my team and I can deliver. If it is something beyond our capabilities, I will let them know. I will not sell something I do not have or able to do. I am just glad that the trainers and facilitators are behind me. They are an adaptable, responsible and flexible bunch of trainers that took us years to build.

to a member of my training team, Christine - Good job! this one is dedicated to you!

ACE Entrepreneurship Week and I.C.E Challenge 2012 video

Heard of ACE Entrepreneurship Week? Heard of ICE Challenge? Here is a compilation of photos of those event.

 Enjoy..

Busy Post Exam Period

Every year, we have always been the busiest in September, October and November. This year was exceptionally busy. It is a good sign for the company. However, to me, it will be a good sign only when we complete the job well and the teacher or principal gives us a thumbs up. Am I setting to high a standard? Maybe. Am I such a sadist and perfectionist that will go all the way just for that thumbs up? I am not a perfectionist, honestly. If you guys know me or have read my earlier entries, I am actually passionate about education, be it for kids or adults. Joining the Ministry has always been at the back of my mind but a lot of time, I feel that I may not have the flexibility to let my ideas flow. Pls do not get me wrong. I believe MOE advocates innovation and creativity but it's just that I need more flexibility. Moreover, as a private trainer, I have the flexibility to train adults.

Back to the topic; this year Moneytree has worked with 60 schools in Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Enterprise and Financial Literacy programs. Recently, we completed a test run of our Co-operative module, which was a great success. The students at Orchid Park Secondary were simply awesome. My hope for all the students in our program is that we have put you though a series of workshops and activities. Most of it are fun activities with lessons behind it, some of it will grill you and teaches you the meaning of perseverance and the importance of not giving up. Success has never given up people. It is people who gives up success. I hope that those lessons will equip you with the necessary lives' skills and may it be useful wherever you go.

Just to share, Moneytree has a few programs;

1. Innovation & Enterprise
2. Social Enterprise Program
3. Financial Literacy Program
4. Blogshop and Online Business
5. Co-operative Program

For item 1 & 2, We've worked with Science Dept, D&T, Pupil Development, Student Leaders, Green Club and I&E Club. We've also done a full cohort program, say whole of Sec 1 or 2 and then select 40 students to form a focus group.
For item 3, we have it in 2 structures,
a. full cohort program. usually this is taken by teachers overseeing Humanities, Student Leadership and Maths
b. elective module - We have a Financial Literacy Board game this year as an elective module for NT classes.

For item 4 and 5, we have it for Elective Modules and Clubs.

There are fundings available for schools to tap on. So that makes it more affordable for schools to bring lives' skills to students from Primary, Secondary and Tertiary(ITE Included)

In November this year, Moneytree and ACE organised the ACE Entrepreneurship Week and the ICE Challenge. It was a tremendous success.

We hope to see more schools taking part. It is not about winning or losing. I think its about an opportunity for the students to be exposed and gain an experience that will last their lifetime.

Awarded 3-year Exclusive Training Contract and a Successful Co-operative Pilot Run

Photo taken from SNCF website. Team from Moneytree is represented by CEO-Ryan Soh, Moneytree Asia-Pac Director- Michael Reyes, Program Development Manager-Swati Arya and Head of Projects - Faizal
SNCF is represented by CEO- Dolly Goh, Senior Manager - May Ling and Relationship Manager - Williams Goh

We were awarded an exclusive 3-year contract from Singapore National Co-operative Federation to develop and run co-operative programs in schools. 

http://www.sncf.org.sg/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79&Itemid=49

In October 2012, We have just successfully completed a pilot program for Cooperative Program. The school, Orchid Park Secondary sent a group of students and the top team were invited to the ACE Entrepreneurship Week for a showcase.

This program was intended as an elective modules, promoting Co-operative spirit in entrepreneurship, rather than the usual money driven entrepreneurship program.
If co-operative seems familiar but not sure what, let me give you an example of co-operative in local context;
a. NTUC Fairprice
b. Singapore Malay Teachers' Co-op.

What is a co-op? 
According to Wikipedia,  a co-op is an autonomous association of persons who voluntarily cooperate for their mutual, social, economic, and cultural benefit. It is owned and managed by the people who use its services (a consumer cooperative) and/or by the people who work there (a worker cooperative) or by the people who live there (a housing cooperative)
It is very common for an agriculture society or country where farmers pull their resources together for a common goal. With combined resources, farmers could afford to improve productivity and earn better returns for their yield.

NTUC has played a major role in controlling the prices of necessities such as rice and sugar. With the financial power to purchase goods by the masses and investment in logistic infrastructure, locals are able to enjoy affordable supplies while other countries suffer fluctuating prices, especially when they lack the muscle to mass purchase.

In general, Co-operative program is an entrepreneurship program but rather than focusing on making money, our program focuses on meeting unmet/insufficient social needs, values and teamwork. Co-operatives can never be born without teamwork.