Post # 2000th

I have really posted 2000 posts in my blog here? Really?! Using a simple 80-20 concept, about only 400 of my posts are really worth reading, perhaps for a newbie to learn something, a novice to pick up some ideas or a trader to share some trading ideas. It could be for whatever positive things a person could get from reading 20% of my good posts. Other 80% are noises, garbage(LOL) and some BS.

I am going to write about my past Chinese New Years ... back in 2005. Yeah ... 7 years ago ... how my financial situation changed. How I have finally managed to change my financial-mindset, how a person who don't even know what inflation is ... and with zero-knowledge about anything about money or markets ... teaching trading to many now!!

2005 CNY : I was still with Inti Sabah at Putatan, and going through first CNY with my wife. I was just a simple happy-go-lucky guy riding a bike. I bought my Kancil, then.

2006 CNY : We struggled financially as we had our first baby. I was broke(marriage cost) and we were squezzing in a small back-room of my parents-in-law place. I know I need to be patient and work things out. I started a keropok business with my 2 colleagues(Inti) in Nov 2005, selling titbits in Gaya Street(like Petaling street of KL, smaller in scale). Life was tough, financially ... I was teaching full-time with small salary and few tuition classes. I was busy goreng-keropok, selling kurma(dates), kacang and raisins. My wife was selling some 'tupperware' and we have no budget for anything at all. Serious ... I have to borrow some money to meet ends as my baby boy growing.

During 2006 CNY(first day), I argued with Daniel Tan, one of my partner(was a friend too). I wanted to work ... I wanted to continue to goreng and packing my keropok. Gosh ... it was first day of CNY but I was desperate for some income and building my client-based. In short, it is one CNY I cried ... I lost a friend, I lost the dream of owning my own keropok business. I do pack keropok till midnight!! I was extremely tired but ... seeing some smiles in my new born baby boy gave me the drive!

Time passed, I carried on alone with my remaining of my small business. I know it wont work alone ... and it was not feasible anymore. All the plans and such was drained. I was really sad inside, tho I carry on the struggle. I could hardly buy a new cloth for my wife. I do not dare to tell any of my family in KL here. Hmm... reflecting on the struggle, it is a huge relief now!!

2007 CNY : I stopped my keropok business as I increase the number of my tuition classes. Yes, I have to be practical as it is a matter of survival. I have credit-card debts to deal with, accumulated due to marriage and baby-boy ... we rented a place at Damai, I have quitted Inti for a better salary teaching job with Sinaran. So, the house I rented was just a walking distance to the school ... where my tuition students could come after school. I was still an un-known Math teacher there. I was new.

I started to read about stock-market ... monitoring some counters(like Inti, Ngui Kee, AirAsia, Astro, Pos, Genting ... and few stocks which I heard of the companies) ... the charts and start reading some books about stock market. I decided to go into KLSE, and planning for my 5-year goal, including teaching trading!!

2008 CNY : I was in KLSE now ... profitting form some initial trades. But, unprepared for election-losses and my Ranhill, Jaks and LionDiv was diving ... I dont know what about ... but continue to learn some accounting and financial terms. That is another looong story which at times I shared how I struggled(giving up was NEVER in my mind) ... I really sturggled and alone!! My tuition classes are doing better now ... picking up more classes. Financially, I m recovering .. we could afford once a week to go to a simple restaurant for lunch or dinner!! Baby-girl born in July ... and we were very tight again!!

2009 CNY : Markets recovering ... yeah, I will always remember this CNY as Julian Lim, a doctor friend of mine came to me and wanted me to use him as guinea-pig to teach trading!! I was barely trading only one year in markets. This blog was barely 6 months old!! Yeah ... I was so excited as I have a good friend to discuss and talk about my favourite topic ---- stock market!!

He 'betrayed' me ... and I told myself that I will not teach trading in future and will only focus in my own learning ... yeah, that was another failed JV(we shared funds and I was so sincerely teaching him anything I knew back then). Things do not work out well as I hope for and the worst part was ... I lost a friend.

2010 CNY : I decided to come to KL ... I was alone here as my wife and two kids in KK still. But my family is here ... so, I celebrated CNY with my family after 10 years in Sabah!! I got my two new tuition classes here in KL but still flying back to KK during alternate weekends to teach my tuition students. I have started with them, and I won't stop half-way.

I was doing well in markets as 2009 into 2010 was a bull-rally. I have to sell some stocks to finance my trip back to KL, transferring my whole family to KL. Yes, I have many of my plans in tact with my 5-year old goal in min. I decided to put JL's case behind and motivated myself to go ahead with my plan. Yes, I joined Chart-Nexus course as planned and my blog attracting more viewers!! I m slightly known in CNX and presented myself twice in the meeting. It is not to show off, but training myself to teach trading!! Interestingly, I never give up ... haha.

2011 CNY : Here with my family ... I could afford to fly my parents-in-law for CNY. Situation is better and I got my first annual bonus from college. Yeah ... I was still very thrifty and reminding my wife to keep expenses to the minimal as I started to have more tuition classes. My salary was about 30% more than I earned back in KK, tuition rate here is 100% higher and the number of classes doing good!! I started my client-based for analysing charts!! Yeah ... but 2011 CNY was not celebrated.

My dad passed away. Everything seems to be dark ... I was so emotionally drained, with few(luckily only few good ones then) clients, I knew I am losing them. I 'lost' my directions and my wife was thinking of going back to KK. She missed home and wish to be with her aging parents too. Things becoming more difficult ... I was just started to improve myself to be a trainer. I have started to 'teach' my colleagues some basic about investing in KLSE. CNY 2011 will be remembered as I cried, in pain.

I do not feel so much of pain losing in stock-markets ... but losing the grip of close family may be too much for me to take. Yeah ... still very human, indeed. Good.

2012 CNY : I flew my parents-in-law here too ... I have started my trading classes, a year earlier than scheduled!! And I am excited as the reponses are quite good ... some of them becoming my friends ... they are from different lines. Interesting year ahead ... tuition classes has increased well ... my tratles are profitting well in markets, learning to trade from me and I gained their respect(or admiration?) due to my methods of trading ... which suit some of them very well. Yes, I have shown more than 30 trades in this 4-5 months with them ... with only few losses(cut if small, ya). To gain 'trust', we need to be consistent and showing results is the best way!! I am glad ... I started my stock-watch too(no more charts much being discussed here) and glad that some of them profitting from that!! Yeah ... things are looking good. Financially, I am doing good now ... and TIME becoming a precious commodity.

Today, I could afford my own place(tho small and cheap), with all rooms air-conditioned. Today ... I m just moving ahead to a NEW step into doing this year ... I am having a NEW 5-year goal ahead. I want to be financially free in 5-years time!!

2013 CNY : What will the story be? We shall check next year ... year of snake?

Happy DRAGON year all. Thanks for being supportive.

Never give up. We all struggle in life ... but I am a living example that if we take a small steps in moving towards our goal, it is not impossible. This is not a success story ... but for those who have followed my writings for 3.5 years ... will see that this 2000th post is still HERE and .. checking CNY 2020, I will still be here(unless GOD loves me more by then). Will you be here checking on me?

TEH