Towkay Ho Seh Boh (How Are You Boss): How to Become a Successful Boss

Goh Kheng Chuan

Description

"TOWKAY HO SEH BOH?" which means "How Are You Boss?" in English is the first straight-talking book of business lessons written in English with a good dose of Singlish, Hokkien and Chinese.

This book became a Singapore Bestseller after it was launched and was translated into Indonesian language and published in Indonesia.

The author provides readers with a realistic picture of what it means to be a towkay (meaning - boss) and tells the basic values and mindsets a needed to become a boss. Using Singlish and Hokkien expressions to drive home the lessons, readers will discover the hidden wisdom that lies in Singlish and Hokkien. Do you know what it means to: Steady Poon Pi Pi (Be Very Steady) Ai Kin Koh Ai Ho (Be Fast And Good) Wu Tao Wu Buay (Got Head Got Tail) Mia Kia Su Kia Si and more..... If Nike can say "Just Do It", Singaporeans can also say in Hokkien, "Ka Ka Lai"It is filled with nuggets of wisdom for young towkays, so don't play play with this book.

This book is timely as Singapore is encouraging more young people to become towkays. Entrepreneurship is encouraged at all levels from primary school to university. Now, everyone wants to become a towkay. But do they know the hard work and heartbreak of becoming a towkay? Do they know what are the realities of being a towkay? Newspapers and TV only show towkays driving Mercedes, wearing Rolexes, and living in big houses along Bukit Timah. But no one really tells you about the kor (difficulties) that they have to suffer. There is no shortcut to success.

A Straight-talking Book Written In English With A Good Dose of Singlish, Hokkien and Chinese

Sujets

• Southeast
• Travel
• Asia

Informations

• Publié par: eBookIt.com
• Date de parution: 15 août 2013
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9789810727703
• Langue: English

Extrait

Published By
RANK BOOKS
First Published 2008
Reprinted Feb 2008
Reprinted May 2008
Ebook Edition 2012
Published and distributed by:
Rank Books
Blk 1002 Toa Payoh Ind Pk #07-1423 Singapore 319074
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Website: www.rankbooks.com
Email: [e-mail]
Illustrator: Azlina Bte A Azez
Email: [e-mail]
ISBN 978-981-07-2770-3
Copyright © Rank Books
All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means - graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or information retrieval systems - without written permission of Rank Books.
Conditions of Sale: This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
While every reasonable care is taken to ensure the accuracy of information printed, no responsibility can be accepted for any loss or inconvenience caused by any error or omission.
Printed In Singapore
PREFACE
WHY I WRITE THIS BOOK!
One day, my primary school son came home from school and said, “Ah Pa, I don’t want to study liao , I want to be a towkay !” Surprised, I told him off, “ Si gin na , you think towkay very good to be meh ? Who told you one ?”
Of course, no one had told my son that the life of a towkay isn’t an easy one. So I decided that I die die also must write this book to tell him la . But wa si Singapore lang so must use a little Singlish, a little Chinese, and a little Hokkien to share share with you, if not bor bi sor (not tasty enough). Hope you understand, hor . But some people say like that like write rojak le , but I tell them, aiya , one type of food most Singaporeans like is rojak , that is why this book is also a bit like rojak lor . Never mind hor , as long as people like to eat can already. To me, no need to feel pai sei (embarrassed) one, if Singlish and Hokkien can be fun, then write lor ! In fact, one of the principles of a successful towkay is mai kia pai seh (never fear embarrassment), ka ka lai (be brave), pai seh jiat ka ki (if you are shy you will lose out).
This book is timely too as Singapore is encouraging more young people to become towkays . Entrepreneurship is encouraged at all levels from primary school to university. Now, everyone wants to become a towkay .
But do they know the hard work and heartbreak of becoming a towkay ? Do they know what are the realities of being a towkay ? Newspapers and TV only show towkays driving Mercedes, wearing Rolexes, and living in big houses along Bukit Timah. But no one really tells you about the kor (difficulties) that they have to suffer.
This book will provide you a realistic picture of what it means to be a towkay . It will tell you the basic values and mindsets you must cultivate to build a foundation to live the life of a successful towkay .
CONTENTS
Wu Tao Wu Buay
Got Head Got Tail = SUCCESS
Si Mi Si Business
What is the Meaning of Doing Business?
Eh Chiat Kor, Mian Kang Kor
If You Can Take The Pain, You Will Not Fear Hardships
Liu Lian Tua Liap Boh Bao Chiat
A Big Durian is Not Guaranteed to Be Ripe
Mai Zuo Lao Gao
Don’t Be a Monkey
Where Got Money?
Bak Chew Kim Kim, Kiot Tiot Kim
Eyes So Sharp They Can Pick Gold
Ji Tua Tua, Thang Dua Lui
Big Aspirations, Big Money
Tua Hai, Tua Eng, Liat Tua Hee
Big Sea, Big Waves, Catch Big Fish
Bor Han Cheng Pai
There is Never a Bad Economy
Zou Seng Li Ai Gan Dan
Business Ideas Must Be Simple
Lui Boh Pun Tua Suay
No Amount of Money is Small Money
Hor Lang Pa Buay Si, Ma Jit Ho Jit Ji
Never Get Killed by Others, for Tomorrow is Another Good Day
Mai Zuo Number One
Don’t Be Number One
Don ’ t Be a Lau Hi Loh
Don’t Be an Old Hero
Tit Tit Kia BoH Lor Kia
Walking So Straight, You Find No More Road to Walk On
Ka Ka Lai Lah!
Be Brave!
Wu Liao Mai Kia Boh Bin
If You Have Substance, Do Not Fear Losing Face
Lao Sit Si Pun Ji
Honesty is Your Capital
Don ’ t Talk Cock La!
Tae Suah Liat Boh Tua Hee
A Short Fishing Line Never Catches a Big Fish
Steady Poon Pi Pi
Be Highly Skilled and Always Steady
Think Big, Act Small
Bao Shua Bao Hai
Do Everything in the Beginning
Bian Bian Bain
Learn To Innovate Constantly
No Tissue Paper Law
Ah Tong, Ah Seng is Not King
Not every customer is King
Lang Kong GST, Wa Kong ERP
Others Say GST, I Say ERP
Gang Lang Ma Si Lang
Employees are Humans Too
Towkay Ka Gao Geng, Ma Jit Deng Liang Geng
A Boss Who Tries to Outsmart Everyone May End Up in Jail
Giah EH Ki Bang EH Lok
If You Can Lift It Up, You Can Put It Down
Ho Lang Ho Kaki
Being Good to Others is Good for Yourself
Mai Sir Lai Sir Kee But Kia Kia Kuah Kuah
Don’t Walk Here and There, Practice Walking and Seeing
Pai Lang Si Ka Ki
You are Your Greatest Enemy
Gor Tok Si Peng You
Loneliness is Your Friend
Eh Sai Yao, Mm Tang Keow
Be Hungry But Never Be Poor
Chiat Gao Lao, Oak Gao Lao
Eat Till You are Old, Learn Till You are Old
Pa Piah Ai Kian Kong
You Need Good Health to Work Hard
Mai Chuay See Lor
Don’t Look for Death Traps
Tham Sim Buay Happy
Greed Will Never Make You Happy
Li Kuah Wa Ho, Wa Kuah Li Ho
You See Me Good, I See You Good
Gao Thang Lui, Hiao Eng Liu
Know How To Make and Spend Money
Su Liu Jiu Boh Peng You
Lose Your Money and Lose Your Friends
Mai Diam Diam Komplain
Don’t Always Complain
Ai Jiat Perng, Mai Kong Seng Li
Don’t Bring Business to the Dining Table
Pak Lang Wu Eng, Wa Boh Eng
Don’t Let Others Rob You of Your Time
Bor Lui Wu Lui Jit Eh Lang
Money or No Money, the Person is the Same
Lim Chwee Ai Siew Hor Chwee Lang
When You Drink Water, Remember its Source
WU TAO WU BUAY
Got Head Got Tail = SUCCESS
Wa ka li kong a story...
A talented young man wanted to become the Number One swordsman in the world. Every time he heard about a famous gongfu master with a special skill, he would travel far to look for the master and persuade him to accept him as his disciple. But after learning many secret skills such as the “The Secret Buddha Palm”, “The Heavenly Flying Kick”, and many others from various masters, he was still not satisfied. Finally, he heard about an aging master who was Number One in the gongfu world.
He went to see the grand master and finally persuaded him to take him in as a disciple. For three years, the grand master made him do breathing exercises in the morning, meditation in the afternoon, followed by punching exercises. As time passed, the grand master never taught him anything new, but he strongly believed that one day, through showing his patience and sincerity, the grand master would impart to him his deadliest skill.
Five years passed, and when the aging grand master was lying on his death bed, the young man cried out in anger, “Why, after all these years have you not trusted me enough to teach me your special skill?” The dying master said, “I have no special skill to impart to you. Whatever I know I have taught you.”
“I don’t believe you!” the disciple said.
With a weak breath, the grand master asked, “At which moment is your opponent killed?”
The disciple was puzzled.
The grand master continued, “When your opponent’s heart stops beating. What I taught you is to practice your concentration and focus such that you will always able to strike your opponent’s chest with the one deadly blow that will stop his heart instantly. There is no other secret.”
What is the moral of the story, har ?
The moral of the story is that we always like to believe that there is some kind of secret method or strategy out there to make our life better or to become successful. But the fact is, the real secret is often plain and simple common sense. I once met a friend and I noticed he had lost quite a lot of weight. So I asked him what is his secret for his weight lost. He answered, “Exercise and don’t eat rubbish.” He didn’t tell me it was a miracle caused by some kind of new diet programme or exercise equipment he had purchased.
So, I want to tell you there are no secrets to achieving success in our lifeonly basic fundamental truths, which are often simple and logical.
So, si mi si (what is) success?
If you look at the two Chinese characters of the word “success”, you’ll find the meaning is actually there.


So, the meaning of success is simply to see to the completion of a task from start to finish, and while you’re at it, to continue adding to your effort and doing it to the best of your abilities. Through this, you will achieve success. Success is a result not measured by the amount of money you have at any point of time. The end result of everything that you create is the success you create.
If everything you do is jit pua jit pua (half done) and you always give up the things you have started without the determination to see them to completion, there is only one certainty, and that is the certainty of failure.
So, wa ka li kong , if you want to be successful, make sure that everything you do wu tao wu buay (got head got tail) and do it until very tok kong (excellent). This is the basic rule for doing anything in your life if you want to see any success in your life.
SI MI SI BUSINESS
What is the Meaning of Doing Business?
The character can mean (living) or (survival). Hence, it suggests that doing business is a way of life and survival.
(a way of life)
(survival)
(alive with energy)
Running a business is a way of life. Once you’ve decided to become a towkay , you have chosen a way of lifea life in which you derive meaning through your business. A towkay will not wake up one day and say, “ Walau eh, si beh sian la , my life no meaning one. &#x