My First Training Session as a Learner in 2014

2014 started so fast and I spent the first month scouting for personal development programs to attend. I looked into NLP training, public speaking and even some WSQ programs. I have been so preoccupied with training programs, meetings and operations what-nots and have not been able to even complete a book, let alone attend a training session.

In January this year, I bought a ticket to the National Achievers' Congress 2014. This is going to be my first time and I am so looking forward to learning and meeting like-minded people who are goal-getters and trend-setters. Last year, I could not get a ticket so this year, I made sure I got an early bird discount.

2 weeks later, I received a call from Success Resources, the organizer for the NAC, asking if I am interested in a free ticket to 3-day Millionaire Mind Intensive. I said yes. I was at the Resorts World Sentosa from 7th to 9th March for the 3-day MMI. I was so thrilled and excited. 3 full day sessions can be very challenging for learners, and the activities, dances, games and jokes helped a lot. This program really taught me the true meaning of passion.

The MMI trainer was Robert Riopel, T. Harv Eker's lead trainer. He has been travelling to different cities conducting 50 programs. Assuming each program runs on an average of 6 days, including travelling, he works an astounding 300 days! Nothings but passion can get you there.

Before I attended the program, I was told that the program will include a lot of selling. i.e. they will sell other programs to you and there will be booths of different companies selling wealth management solutions and stuffs.

I have a few reasons why I had to attend this program;
a. I want to learn from more experienced trainers. I want to see for myself how they conduct programs, how they respond to situations, how they keep the audience on their feet etc.
b. I want to learn how to manage my money better. We think we are good managers but most of us are screwed up when it comes to personal finance. Some of us will rather leave it to the hands of financial advisors. Hey, if I do become millionaire in the process, why not?
c. I want to network. I think it takes quite a bit for a person to attend a 3-day program and I believe many people are searching for answers to whatever questions they might have. One thing we all have in common is the thirst for knowledge in success.

Guess what, I got all three objectives met. Robert Riopel, if you happen to read this, which I think is so not possible, I just want you to know that your class rocks.

One thing I learnt from the program;
1. In the program, we were taught to disperse our money according to a 7-jar system. In some methodology, it was a 5-jar system. I personally feel that the number of jars do not matter. It's the habit that is important and not easy to maintain.

Jar 1 - FFA Jar (Financial Freedom Account) - 10%
This jar is to be used in investments to generate passive income. Whatever returns are re-invested into the jar. The whole idea is that this jar is a goose that lays golden eggs. The goose must not be killed and only the eggs can be enjoyed.

Jar 2 and 3 - LTSS Jar (Long Term Saving for Spending) - 5%, 5%
This money is for big ticket expenses such as furniture, TV, car, etc

Jar 4 - EDU Jar (Education) - 10%
This is for education and personal development.

Jar 5 - NEC Jar(Necessity) - 55%
This is for daily expenses, such as petrol, food, etc

Jar 6 - PLAY Jar - 10%
As the name suggests, this money is for us to enjoy. We cannot accumulate money here for more than 3 months.

Jar 7 - GIVE Jar - 5%
This is to be given to charity of our choice

They key thing here is to make it a habit. Even if all we have is $100, we must split them accordingly. Before this, I split my earnings to my 3 bank accounts. Looks like I need to open one or two more.

Importance of a Personal Branding

One of the things I learned as a freelance trainer is this thing called 'Branding'. Wikipedia defines branding in a few ways;
1. a particular product or a characteristic that serves to identify a particular product

2. a trade name or trademark.

Then, even though I acknowledged the importance of Branding, it wasn't enough to be part of my 'To-do' list. A mistake that costs me a fortune. While Branding has been a major concern by most entrepreneurs, it is often overlooked by freelancers from various industry and one of them is writing this blog.

The old ways of doing our best work and hope for the next project to fall on our laps is becoming an outdated, not to mention insufficient, practice.

In this century, we face global competition, companies can close down tomorrow. We are competing projects and jobs with providers from all over the world, as such we need to market ourselves strategically in order to maintain a decent market value and have a good flow of projects. Question to think about; Do we want to be a commodity or a sought-after asset?

The right branding strategy will keep us noticed
and stay ahead of the pack

Personal brand goes beyond doing an excellent work. It means we need to plan a strategy to market our excellent work. Staying employable is as important as staying employed, if not more. Personal brand represents a promise of service delivery and quality.

I spoke to several freelancers in mid 2013 from various industries. Some of those I interviewed are earning a six figure yearly income while some are struggling to make ends meet. Interesting findings, I must say..
Based on those interviews, those who have been earning a comfortable 6 figure yearly income has the following attributes;

1. besides being good at what they do, they follow up and follow through their projects. 

2. Has vested a lot of time marketing themselves as a product/service. 

3. Attended networking sessions and community of practices to showcase what they can do.
4. They have a positive online presence with lots of self promotion, testimonials and credentials.
5. They keep upgrading and improving themselves, personally and professionally.
6. Maintain themselves as a brand of service that they provide.
7. Those with personalized services tend to do a few pro-bonos while others set a premium price since they began and instead of lowering their service rates, they provide value added services.

Hey, these are attributes of entrepreneurs too, isn't it? Ahh... how interesting. What separates a top earner from the rest is really the entrepreneurship spirit and this applies not just to freelancers but to employees too. Why are some employees headhunted while others need to look for recruitment agency? It all lies in personal and professional branding. 

I.C.E Challenge 2013 - The entrepreneurship competition of the year

As most of you already know, I joined Moneytree as a trainer in 2008 when it started and came on board as a Head of Operations in 2011. After 2 years of effort in innovating and implementing processes, I left this year((2013) February to return to independent training. During those few months, I had a fantastic experience from networking sessions, forming business partnerships, providing and executing training, marketing my own programs, finding mentors and conducting interviews for my own book. I had a lot of time to spend with my lovely wife and adorable daughter.

On 26th July 2013, I received a message from the CEO suggesting a meet up. We met up, discussed for 4 hours and the meeting ended at 2am with me saying YES to his offer, with a few conditions.

Before I returned, I was awarded training assignments for 3 schools; Holy Innocent High, Unity Secondary and Anglican High. I carried on with these schools until the very last session.

This year is really a sweet year for me, as far as school projects are concerned. 2 of my schools has attained top honours in the coveted ICE Challenge 2013. ICE Challenge is an annual competition where students compete with one another on their business ideas. There were 2 categories this year. A social enterprise category was added and there were a total of 35 teams competing in the semi-finals.

This year, the I&E Category was won by Holy Innocent High and the Social Enterprise Category was won by Unity Secondary School. Anglican High won the Most Innovative Prototype Award. As a trainer, I am very proud of their achievements.

So far, I have helped 3 schools attain ICE Challenge championship.

In the year 2011, Nan Chiau High were the Champions in the ICE Challenge 2011. In addition to that, they also won the Singapore Polytechnic Business Challenge.

In year 2012, I did not train any school. In 2013, Holy Innocent High won the I&E Category

 

And Unity Secondary won the Social Enterprise Category.

And one Best Prototype Design by Anglican High School

I am joyful of the achievements. This is really something that money can't buy.

A friend asked me for my 'secret recipe'. Recapping the whole process, there really is no silver bullet. It's about completing the equation ASK - Attitude, Skills and Knowledge.

I gave them the Knowledge, they applied and practiced it into Skills. Their drive to survive/excel reflects their Attitude towards learning and applying. Personally, I feel that if the equation is complete, the sky is the limit.

Personal Challenge - Conducting Workshops for Primary One students.

I got an email from one of the project coordinators of Moneytree, asking my availability to take up a workshop for a group of students in Primary One. I checked my schedule, yes, I was available for all the sessions.I sent my availability to the coordinator.

A few days later, I was informed that I will be taking the students in the first session. I thought it was kind of exciting. Unfortunately, I was not able to prepare much because there were no information such as profile, special needs or literacy levels. I had to play it by ear and move accordingly. I spoke to my wife, who is a school teacher, and she told to take to my nephew as reference. I do have a nephew who is in primary one but I think different kids come from different upbringing and, like adults, have different strength and weaknesses. I needed that information and decided to drop by the school 3 hours earlier.

I sat at the seating area near the general office, watching, observing the students, trying to lay down a strategy in my training program delivery. I just needed to place myself as 'barney-like' as possible. Well, that's the best reference for a primary one group. With my size, being a barney-figure should not be a problem, I thought.

When we got into the class, we were told that the students will be a mixture of primary 1 and primary 2 - A last minute change of plan! I couldn't help laughing to myself on the eleventh hour change and thinking how fun the session will be. I have a few things that just slipped into my mind and it got me very excited. First thing, I got the students to introduce themselves to their counterparts. The primary 2 students were naturally more 'brotherly and sisterly' and try to coax their younger, more introvert schoolmates into the activities. The students were brilliant, playful and competitive. A few introvert ones take a bit of time  before they get warmed up but I enjoyed every moment of it. I managed to get the students to think of a few innovative ideas and present them. It is nice to take some new groups of learners.

Here are some photos of the workshop..

Training During The Month of Ramadhan

It has been quite some time since I last wrote on this blog. I have been spending time conducting workshops and meeting people for my article.Not forgetting my obligations during the month of Ramadhan such as fasting, sahur, iftar, terawih and tadarus. It is really taking quite a toll on me and whenever there is an opportunity, I will grab a wink or two.

In 1999, I was enlisted into National Service(Army) and I was posted to one of the combat engineer's battalion during the start of the Ramadhan(fasting month). As we made our way to the company line, the sight of bridges and other construction displays presents an overview to what we will be facing in the next 2-3 months. I was thankful to be surrounded by some of the friendliest group of trainees. They expressed their concern to me during those tough training as I was fasting. I assured them that I will be alright and will fall out if there is a need. One of my favorite training in those days was the Standard Obstacle Course(SOC). I remembered clocking 9minutes for my rundown. Comparing my timing to that of my non-fasting platoon-mates added rage to my commanders. While I marched to the cookhouse for my iftar, my platoon mates will pay for the consequences. They were made to march around the parade square till I returned from my iftar. When I found that out, I tried to consume my food quickly and rushed back to 'rescue' my platoon.

I was asked a few times where did we get that strength. From the deprived sleep and lack of food, we are expected to not to perform and most of us don't. Some of us outperform. I think it is about conditioning, conditioning of the mind and body. When I was in school, I will never excuse myself from strenuous physical activity just because I was fasting. In my secondary school days, we used to have a football coach. A Muslim himself, he will lead the team in runs around the Bidadari cemetery during fasting month. He was the first person to encourage us to keep pushing and not to give excuses. His training was tough, mind you. Today, some of us who trained under him are national sportsmen and some worked in the elite special and emergency response team within the prison service. Wherever we are, we just don't quit. We were conditioned to be put on a brave front and to outperform even in the lack of basic needs such as sleep, water and food. We will have football training in the afternoon after school and will get back home for iftar and eventually attend our terawih in the night. At the end of the night, the 'sweetness' of victory is indescribable.

Today, when I see students excusing themselves from physical education activities, I wish I could relate to them what they are really missing. We are strong. We just do not know how strong we are. The only way we can know, is to keep pushing our limits.

Last week on the first day of Ramadhan, I was approached by one of the students during my workshop. She asked if I fast. Apparently, she did not expect to see a trainer who fasts yet always on the toes during the workshop. Well, if she were to see my conditioning 'training', she might have understood the reason. Moreover, I loved what I do. I love running those workshops. I even have back to back workshops that starts at 7.30am in the morning.

To all my fellow Muslim readers from all over the world, Ramadhan Mubarak to you.

Innovation – Mining for Ideas from Within

       It used to be just another word in the Oxford Dictionary until recently became a buzz word among SMEs, startups, MNCs and even the government sector. Every department is working on ways and means to move ahead and the term status quo do not seem to be accepted by results-driven leaders anymore.

    Instilling the spirit of Innovation has yielded various rewards for many organization. Innovation has helped organizations boost revenue, reduce cost and created a more exciting workplace for staffs of all levels.

Innovation is not possible without commitment, contribution, problem solving and teamwork. Innovation is a habit that needs to be nurtured and it needs to be influenced from an environment that promotes it. A top down approach has to be enforced in promoting innovation.

   

    Every organization has their own challenges and will need their own form of innovation, either in terms of product, service or processes. Human beings do not start off with a job. We lived off the land, we grow our own food and sell the excess for cash, we design and create tools, etc. Innovation has always been within us but it needs to be reignited.

   This innovation workshop can be a platform for organization to generate ideas on how they can move forward to increase productivity and efficiency. Learners will be guided to some useful practical tools to aid idea generation and moving towards a whole new innovation-driven work environment.

   Program Objectives

• Understanding the roadblocks and highways to innovation. 
• Understand the value of innovation and idea generation to an organization and one's career progression.
• Develop a new perspective on challenges ahead.
• Create ideas within an organization's context.

This program can be packaged as either a 4-hour innovation introductory workshop or a full day program. It is designed for junior staff to middle management leaders. The sessions are designed to be high energy, activity-based.

Course Outline

• Value of innovation and idea generation in company growth.
• Value of innovation in career progression of individual.
• Teamwork in idea generation.
• Identifying Innovation Barricade, Innovation Highways.
• Relationship between food, emotion, memory and creativity.
• Using SWOT Analysis as an idea generation tool.
• Creating an environment to promote innovation.

About the Trainer

      Mohamad Faizal graduated from National University of Ireland, Dublin, in 2006 with an Honours Degree in Management. He received his Diploma in Electrical Engineering in 1999 from Singapore Polytechnic.

      Mohamad Faizal is an independent trainer and training program developer for school’s enrichment program as well as corporate programs. Some of the high profile clients include the Republic Singapore Navy and the Republic Singapore Air Force where he conducts Innovation workshop under a flagship company, Anne Leong HRD. 

Prior to that, he was the Head of Operations for Moneytree Singapore Pte Ltd and a co-founder/partner in a facilities management consultancy firm, Metropolitan FM Solutions.

A strong advocate in performance management, innovation, training and continuous learning, he lives the cliché that the right training program and an enjoyable learning experience is a bridge towards improved performance and productivity.  

To view his testimonials, click here.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Click here to request for a brochure on "Innovation – Mining for  Ideas from Within " Training Program

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

or you can send a comment on this page.

Innovation & Enterprise Workshop For Anglican High School

I started taking a batch of 40 students from Anglican High in the Innovation & Enterprise Workshop in May this year. There will be a total of about 14 sessions where these students will be innovating, researching, marketing and presenting. Personally, I love running innovation programs. And this program that I was assigned to conduct is the most comprehensive innovation program in Singapore, I dare say, where students get to learn problem identification, brainstorming for ideas, learn to analyse the competition, learn to market and present their ideas.

The first session of the program

The class is made up of secondary 1 students and they are a bright bunch of teenagers. Very driven and full of energy.

 Earlier his year, i made a promise to myself. I must have at least 5 teams from various schools under my portfolio to get into the finals on this year's ICE Challenge 2013. For those who do not know what is ICE Challenge;
I.C.E Challenge is an innovation and enterprise competition held at a national level. The acronym for Innovation, Creativity and Enterprise, this competition is in conjunction with the Global Entrepreneurship campaign. Students will be required to create an innovative product idea and present them with a business plan. The finals will be judged by a panel and all preparation is for this day.

It is not the winning of the competition. It is about competing and this brings the students to another level altogether. It is from this experience that I think will benefit them. The trophy is just a bonus.