My Best Investment

Today I conducted my last session for the TeleMastery.

TeleMastery is one of the Series of Mastery Training Programme that I teach personally in my organization every week for a period of 6 months.

I ended today session by sharing with them way on how to keep their momentum going.
Do you want to know how? the answer to that is by continuous learning.

Let me share with you this.
Many people have often asked me about investment.

What is good to invest in?
When should it be invested?
How to invest it?

But, actually, for me the most important question does not start with 'what', 'when', or 'how'. The most important question always starts with WHY.

Why do you want to invest? :)

I guess your answer will be similar like mine. I want to invest so that I can grow my resources. Which means, if I invest my money, I want to grow it to more money in the future.

Now, my next question is:

What's your best resources?
Is it your money? Is it your look? Is it your network?

I know that my money, my look or even my friends, can come and go. But, what I know will never be able to be taken away from me is my KNOWLEDGE, SKILL, and EXPERIENCE.
It's what's inside that counts, not what's outside.

So, my best investment is when I invest IN myself.

And I do it regularly.
Last year alone, I spent more than $20,000 in one overseas seminar.
But I know, my investment will bear fruits much more than that.
How about you? :)
How much have you invested in yourself? :)

Remember this:

Your formal education will make you make a living;
Your personal education will make you a fortune

Love,
Merry Riana
www.MerryRiana.com.sg
www.facebook.com/merry.riana

Busy Sunday

What a long day.. I just finished doing my photo shoot today. It started from 9.30 am in the morning until around 5pm. Total of 8 hrs non stop of smiling, changing outfit and posing. (I even have to skip my lunch). But it was definitely worth it because I am very happy with the results.

My photographer, Soo is a fantastic photographer. He was the one who took picture for my wedding and also my Christmas CD album, "A Christmas Gift".

So far all his works are above my expectation :)

And my make up artist, Candy is another great person. I knew her 5 years ago when I took my wedding photo, and until today she has been the one who always do my make up. Every time I had functions, dinner events, photo shoots, interview, etc I always trust her to make me look prettier :)

So you can expect that the photo will definitely turn out to be great !

This is the picture that I took after I finish my last shot :)

I look so happy because finally I can go and have my dinner + lunch.

By the way, if you are wondering, what is the purpose of me taking so much photo?

Well.. the photos are actually for my new website.

That's right everybody, I will have a new website soon !! Currently in the midst of designing and putting it into pieces.

I am super excited, because it will be a total new look with a new concept.

According to my website designer, it will be ready in around September (I guess good things must wait right? :) I will definitely update you guys once it is done.

In the mean time, just watch this space to know more update about me and things that is happening in my life.

Good nite everybody!

Love,

Merry Riana

http://www.merryriana.com.sg/

www.facebook.com/merry.riana

My very first business

Today, I am going to share a little bit more about one of the businesses that I manage, which is the one in the financial industry.

The Financial Services industry is very close to my heart, because this is the place where I became an entrepreneur for the first time.

Immediately after my graduation from NTU in 2002, I started my very first business in this industry by joining a leading financial services company as a Financial Consultant.
It was not an easy task for me since I have no sales background at all. Plus I can't speak mandarin, which is definitely a disadvantage for me since many Singaporeans are more comfortable talking in mandarin :(

But I knew one thing.. I knew that I shouldn't focus on my limitation, because the more I think about it, the more I couldn't do.
Since I realized that I have limitation, I must even work doubly hard compared to other financial consultants. During those time, I worked non stop 7 days a week, 14 hrs per day.
And my hard work paid off.

Within 1 year, I managed to earn in excess of $200,000! :)
I was thrilled because it was the first time in my life I saw a 6 digit figure in my bank account.
I straight away paid-off my $40,000 loan. And because at that time I didn't have a cheque book, so what I did was to pay the whole amount of $40,000 in cash. The feeling was absolutely GREAT !

In 2006, I've earned my first million, at just the age of 26. That was also another proud moment in my life. I felt it even more when I shared this good news with my parents.

At this moment, I'm leading around 60 Financial Consultants in MRO (Merry Riana Organization). And we're still growing!

I'm sharing all these to you, NOT to impress you, but to impress upon you, that if I can do it, so can you!

Love,
Merry Riana
www.MerryRiana.com.sg
www.facebook.com/merry.riana

Farewell Michael Jackson

Today, the world had just lost it's greatest entertainer, Michael Jackson.

I wasn't really a huge fan of Michael Jackson (MJ), but I don't deny that I really like and enjoy his songs. I spent my teenager life listening to his great songs, such as Billy Jean, Thriller, You are not alone, Heal the world, and many more...

I remember choreographed a dance using "Black or White" song together with my friends and performed it during my primary school graduation day ... hahaha.. I really can't believe I did that! It was 1992. I was 12 yrs old , and it was our last day of school. :) (wish I had some photos performing that dance)

I also still remember how I was always looking forward to see MJ's music video clip. If I heard that they were playing it on TV, I would run all the way from my room to the living room, cos I wouldn't want to miss it. My favorite one: ALL of them !! (How can I choose when everything is so amazingly good ??) Compared with MJ's video, others are really nothing.

Well.. I guess eventhough I am not his #1 fan, I still feel sad that he is gone.
It is very rare to find such a unique, talented and legendary artist like him.

May he rest in peace.

Love,
Merry Riana
www.MerryRiana.com.sg

Someone wants you to read this message

This is interesting...

I was initially planning to share with you about my day today, and as I was thinking thru things that I was about to write, suddenly I was reminded about a story that I heard about 2 years ago. A close friend of mine in my organization actually forward this story to me. And strangely, I don't know why I felt that I have to share this on my blog today.

So.. if you happen to read this blog by chance, probably this message is for you.


Carrot, Egg or Coffee Bean?

You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed that as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She then pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me, what do you see?"

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.

The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, Mother?" Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity -- boiling water -- but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?"

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity? Do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor of your life.

If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate to another level?

How do you handle adversity? Are you changed by your surroundings or do you bring life, flavor, to them?

ARE YOU A CARROT, AN EGG, OR A COFFEE BEAN?

~ Author Unknown ~


Do you believe that everything that happens in life, happens for a reason? Well, I do.

There is definitely a reason why I felt like posting this message today,
and definitely there is a reason why you were led to read this blog.

So, for whoever you are at wherever you are, I just want to leave you with this quote:

Happiness keeps you Sweet, Trials keep you Strong,
Sorrows keep you Human, Failures keep you Humble,
Success keeps you Glowing,
But only God Keeps You Going!

Take care and be strong !

Love,
Merry Riana
www.MerryRiana.com.sg
www.facebook.com/merry.riana

How to get pay raise in this financial crisis ?

I just finished watching "The Office" Season 3. It was hilarious !!

The episode that I watch is about "Negotiation" - there is this one employee (Darryl) who is doing his best to get his pay raise. He listed down all the good reasons why he deserve the raise and really persistence about getting it. On the other hand, the boss (Michael) knew exactly that Darryl wanted to ask for higher salary, therefore he did a research in wikipedia and found 20 tricks about how to win negotiation. And as you've probably guessed, he is using those tricks to withstand Darryl's request for a raise. It was so funny.. :)

I actually searched on youtube to see whether the video is available so that I could show it to you. Bad news is I couldn't find any. But Good news is I found another clip which I found it is equally funny. It is also about an employee who is asking for a pay raise.


After watching the 2 shows, I really felt very fortunate.

Simply because I never have to face the problem of asking for pay increment. I can decide how much I want to earn and I can have control of how much pay rise I want to get since I am doing my own business.

Immediately after I graduated from my university (NTU, Nanyang Technological University) in 2002, I started my very first business. So, actually, until today, I've never had the experience of working as a 9-to-5 employee. Well, except during my Industrial Attachment period, because at that time I had to worked in an engineering company for 6 months, as part of the academic modules that I needed to pass in order to graduate from NTU.

At this moment, I actually owns and manages 3 businesses in different industries:
1) Financial Services
2) Training & Consultancy
3) Non-Profit

But no worries.. !! I am not suggesting you to quit your job and start your own business. If you are reading this blog and working elsewhere, you can be as successful or even more successful than other business owner too. Just continue to be the best that you can be wherever you are !

And if after reading this blog you are so inspired to ask for a pay rise,


well at least I can give you 1 tips from my point of view as an employer.

To me the principle is actually very simple.
As long as you can convince your boss that your value are worth more than what your boss is paying you, and that your future value will be making your boss more money than your financial package cost him/her, I believe your boss will grant your request for the pay increase. :)

But if the above tips doesn't work, well... you might want to try the other method that you just watched in the youtube video... hahahha... *lol*

Wish you best of luck ! May you get what you deserve to get.



Love,
Merry Riana
http://www.merryriana.com.sg/
www.facebook.com/Merry.Riana

Training my muscle at 3.32 am in the morning

It's 3.32 am in the morning.

If I could make a guess, probably about

96% of people that I know are currently enjoying their sleep right now,
3.5% of them are trying their very best to be able to sleep and
only 0.5% of them are totally awake
(of course those people who stay in the different time zone no count, because it's probably noon time out there!)

And here I am, writing this post.

If you think I drank too much coffee today and couldn't sleep, that's why I wrote this blog,
you are absolutely wrong!

Today was actually quite a long and tiring day for me. And in fact about 28 mins ago I almost fell asleep, but I force myself to wake up and write this post. WHY?
The answer is this word called SELF-DISCIPLINE

3 days ago when I first publish my post, I promised to myself that no matter how busy or tired I am, I MUST make sure that I keep writing my blog every single day. It is important for me because I know if I don't force myself and have this self-discipline soon there will be no more "Merry Little Notes"

What is self-discipline?
Self-discipline is the ability to get yourself to do what you are supposed to do even if you don't feel like doing it. To be able to continually taking action regardless of your emotional state.

If you want to achieve great success in life, this is one the most important factor that you need to have.

So how to build self-discipline ?
I can give you this analogy. Self-discipline is like a muscle. The more you train it, the stronger you become. The less you train it, the weaker you become.
And just as everyone has different muscular strength, we all possess different levels of self-discipline. If you want to have a six pack, you have to do more and more crunches every day
You should be prepared not to stay within your comfort zone, because you know that every time you feel tired and about to give up, is that extra push that you gave that build your muscle.

Start with a small step and you will begin to see the difference.

I challenge you to make small changes in your routine daily, train yourself to be in control of your actions, have self-discipline ! and I can guarantee you that it will dramatically change your life forever.

Love,
Merry Riana
http://www.MerryRiana.com.sg/

Thank God it's Monday !

I don't know whether you believe me if I said that I never felt having any "Monday Blues" at all.
Yes it is true! or at least I really don't remember having it.

To me personally I love Monday! Why?? simply because it is the start of the week, it is a fresh beginning, a new chapter and no matter how bad my previous week was.. I can always make it a better one today!

Here 5 things that I can suggest to you to make sure that have a FANTASTIC MONDAY ! (or at least you won't have Monday Blues)

1. Use your favorite song as an alarm (use it for Monday only)
You will definitely feel recharge when you wake up in the morning.
For me I like the song "The Power", it's the song in the 90's sang by Snap. Everytime I hear the music, somehow I just feel energized! Very empowering.



2. Wake up earlier than normal day, so that you are not so rushed and you can give yourself more time to prepare the day to be your perfect day.
Trust me, the last thing you want is you wake up late and rush to office with the "just woke up - look"

3. Wear your best clothes.
Amazed your boss, your colleagues, your neighbours with your best look.
For me, I spend more time on Monday to make sure I look good; wear my favorite clothes, (or if I buy a new clothes over the weekend, normally I'll wear it on Monday), get a fabulous make up and hairdo, spray nice perfume, and get ready with a perfect SMILE :) Maybe that's why normally my colleagues & staff always said I look great on Monday! hahahha... *grin*

4. Get yourself busy with activities.
I need to packed my Monday with tons of activities, because I need to get the sense of achievement. Starting from some meetings in the morning, help my mentees during our regular coaching sessions, strategic meeting in the afternoon, giving training in the late afternoon.. and the list goes on. To me, the feeling of "I'm doing something useful today" is very important to set my week right. It is a MUST !

5. Give yourself a reward for going through a Great Day
Finally, you have successfully gone thru the very important day, which is the first day of the week. You definitely deserve some good treat. Get yourself a nice dinner with your loved ones, or chill out with your friends, watch some DVD, anything! as long as it make you feel happy :)
For me, I'm always looking forward to this. My favorite one.. is to end the day with a nice supper with my loving husband and chat about how lucky we are to be able to still enjoy today, and of course we'll also plan on what we want to do for the rest of the week :)

Well, that 5 things that I just told you works for me to make my Monday a
"Merry Monday"

And I'm really curious to know whether it works for you also.
Do drop me a message or leave a comments

In the meantime..
May you have a Terrific Tuesday tomorrow!

Love,
Merry Riana

There is something about Merry

Today, I decided to share a little bit about myself, so that anyone who accidentally found this page can also know.

I am an Indonesian-born female who is currently living in Singapore.
My name -Merry Riana- actually has a very interesting meaning.

Merry means Happy
Ria --> in Indonesian means Cheerful

So by right I am supposed to be a very happy and cheerful person :) hahaha..
(next time I'll share with you the reason why my parents choose this name for me)


I am blessed and fortunate to be able to make my first million at just age 26

NOPE !! I didn't have a super rich family who supported me with a lot of capital, if that's what you think.. neither I married a millionaire guy.


Then you're probably wondering..

"HOW CAN SHE ACHIEVE HER FIRST MILLION BY JUST AGE 26?"


Well, that's the question that a lot of people asked me very often. And the answer to that question is written down in my book "A Gift From A Friend" which was published in 2006

So you see how impossible it is for me to answer your question in just one single post.

But don't be disheartened.. You don't need to buy my book to know the answer (Although you can still buy if you want, since it is also a best-seller :)) because I promise that in this blog I will share with you about my entrepreneurship journey, my book, my life stories, my philosophies in life, my business, and many more. Hopefully it will help you in your own journey towards your personal success. :)

You just have to keep reading ! ;)

Love,
Merry Riana

A New Beginning

YES, I've finally made it !!! I have been wanting to write my own blog since 2 years ago, however it has never been a reality. Probably because back then there wasn't really a compelling reason why I must started it. No urgency.

But today I've decided to make it MUST, because I know if I don't force myself to post something today, probably it will never happen. Like Lao-tzu said: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." And today, I took that step :)

So for all of you out there who read this post, I just want to say: "WELCOME TO MY BLOG"
I will do my best to write regularly on this blog, and I hope what you find here can contribute positively to your life!

Love,
Merry Riana :)