An email article I just read: =x Though I think that there might be a hinge of truth in it, but there are still Singaporeans out that who still have the drive to succeed. Not everyone is pampered you know...

Subject: FW: The Expats will Rule S'pore - An Interesting Article

Please take your time to read. This is true and it scary. So better
don't be complacent and wake up !

it's a good read for the younger generation, pass this to your kids,
nieces and nephew

Adam Khoo: The expats will rule Singapore

This is so true.....I hope it is a wake up call to many.

I have a prediction. My prediction is that in a couple of years, the
expatriates (from China, India, US etc...) will rule Singapore. They
will increasingly take on more leadership roles of CEOs, directors, heads of
organizations, award winners etc... If you observe closely, it is
already happening now.

Last year's top PSLE (Primary School Leaving Exam) student is a China
National. Most of the deans list students and first class honours
students in the local universities are foreigners and more and more CEOs, even
that of go vernment link corporations are expats. The top players in our
National teams are expats.

As a Singaporean, I am not complaining. I think that in a meritocratic
society like Singapore, it is only fair that the very best get rewarded,
no matter their race, religion or nationality. Like Lee Kwan Yew said, I
rather have these talented and driven people be on our team contributing
to our nation than against us from their home country.

The question I have been asking is, 'why are the expats beating the crap
out of Singaporeans?'

What I noticed is that these expats have a very important quality that
many Singaporeans (especially the new Y generation lack). It is a quality
that our grandfathers and great-grandfathers (who came from distant lands)
had that turned Singapore from a fishing village to the third richest
country in the world(according to GDP per capita). Unfortunately, I fear this
quality is soon disappearing from the new generation of Singaporeans.

This quality is the HUNGER FOR SUCCESS and the FIGHTING SPIRiT!!!

Expats who come here today have the same tremendous HUNGER for success
that our grandfathers had. They are willing to sacrifice, work hard and pay
the price to succeed. They also believe that no one owes them a living and
they have to work hard for themselves. They also bring with them the humility
and willingness to learn.

Take the case of Qui Biqing, the girl from Qifa Primary school who
topped the whole of Singapore in last year's PSLE with a score of 290. When she
came to Singapore 3 years ago from China, she could hardly speak a word
of English and didn't even understand what a thermometer was. Although she
was 10 years old, MOE recommended she start at Primary 2 because of her lack
of English proficiency. After appealing, she managed to start in Primary 3.
While most Singaporeans have a head start of learning English at
pre-school at the age of 3-4 years old, she only started at age 10.
Despite this handicapped, she had the drive to read continuously and practice
her speaking and writing skills, eventually scoring an A-star in English!

This hunger and drive can also be seen in the workforce. I hate to say
this but in a way, I sometimes think expats create more value than locals.

Expats are willing to work long hours, go the extra mile, are fiercely
loyal to you and don't complain so much. They also come a lot more
qualified and do not ask the moon for the remuneration. Recently, I
placed an ad for a marketing executive. Out of 100+ resumes, more than 60% came
from expats.
While locals fresh grads are asking for $2,500+ per month, I have expats
with masters degrees from good universities willing to get less than
$2,000! They know that if they can come in and learn and work hard, they
will eventually climb up and earn alot more. They are willing to invest
in themselves, pay the price for future rewards. Sometimes I wonder how
some of the locals are going to compete with.

Of course, this is just a generalization. There ARE definitely some
Singaporeans who create lots of value and show fighting spirit.

Unfortunately, I have found that more and more young Singaporeans lack
this hunger for success. Instead, they like to complain, blame circumstances
and wait for others to push them. Some hold on to the attitude that the
world owes them a living. I shake my head when I see local kids nowadays
complain that they don't have the latest handphones, branded clothes and games.
While I acknowledge that the kids of today are much smarter and well
informed than I was at their age (my 4 year old daughter can use my
Macbook computer and my iphone), I find that they lack the resilience and
tenacity they need to survive in the new economy. Some kids nowadays tend to
give up easily once they find that things get tough and demand instant
gratification. When they have to work first to get rewards later, many
tend to lack the patience to follow through.

So, how did this happen? Why is our nation of hardworking, hungry
fighters slowly becoming a nation of complaining softies? I think the problem is
that life in Singapore has been too good and comfortable. Kids today
have never seen hunger, poverty, war and disasters. What makes it worse is
that parents nowadays give kids everything they want and over protect them
from hardship and failure. Parents often ask me why their kids lack the
motivation to study and excel. My answer to them is because they already
have everything! Giving someone everything they want is the best way to
kill their motivation.
What reason is there for them to fight to become the best when they are
already given the best from their parents without having to earn it?

It reminds me of the cartoon movie MADAGASCAR where Alex the Lion and
his animal friends were born and raised in the Central Park Zoo. They were
well taken care of and provided with processed food and an artificial
jungle.When they escaped to Africa, they found that they could barely
survive in the wild with the other animals because they had lost their
instincts to fight and hunt for food.They could only dance and sing.

I see the same thing in the hundreds of seminars and training programmes
I conduct. I see increasing more and more expats attending my Wealth
Academy and Patterns of Excellence programme in Singapore. Not surprisingly,
they are always the first to grab the microphone to answer and ask
questions.

While many of the locals come in late and sit at the back. The expats
(especially those from India and China) always sit at the front, take
notes ferociously and stay back way after the programme is over to ask
questions.I feel ashamed sometimes when I ask for volunteers to ask
questions, and the Singaporeans keep quiet, while the foreigners fight
for the opportunity.

For my "I Am Gifted!' programme for students, I have the privilege to
travel & conduct it in seven countries (Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong,
China, Malaysia etc...) and see students from all over. Is there a big
difference in their attitude and behaviour?

You bet!

Again, I feel really sad that in Singapore, most students who come are
usually forced by their parents to come and improve themselves, Some
parents even bribe them with computer games and new handphones to
attend.

During the course, some adopt the 'I know everything' attitude and lack
the interest to succeed until I kick their butts. It is so different when I
go to Malaysia, Indonesia and once in India. The kids there ask their
parents to send them to my programme They clap and cheer enthusiastically when
the teachers enter
the room and participate so willingly when lessons are on. I still scratch
my head and wonder what happened to my fellow Singaporeans to this day.

So mark my words, unless the new generation of Singaporeans wake up and
get out of their happy over protected bubble and start fighting for their
future, the expats (like our great grandfathers) will soon be the rulers
of the country.

At the rate at which talented and hungry expats are climbing up, our
future prime minister may be an Indian or China PR or may even be an Ang Moh!