Keep it Under Your Hat

Last Thursday, for the first time in my entire life, I spent two hours, forcing myself to shop in Borders, The Gardens. I've never a shop-in-bookshop person, I don't buy books, and I forgot the last time I walked in any bookstores to buy my favourite books. In fact, I don't even have any favourite books, if I were to name one, I would probably say True Singapore Ghost Stories by Russell Lee? Which I read when I was in Primary School. Ahh I am just embarrassing myself. 

So I spend my RM 100 book vouchers to buy a book (YES A BOOK!), a birthday card, stationary and also a water bottle. 

I was cursing why did the Government giving us RM 200 book voucher, not some RM 200 Zara vouchers, I would definitely feel grateful for having such considerate government if I am given that, but RM 200 for BOOKS? Are you kidding me?

Yeah back to the book I bought- It's entitled "The Rules of Wealth" which I just started reading today during lecture. It was interesting and inspiring! 

I have yet to finish it but it has already inspired me to blog something about it. 

The Rules of Wealth are the guiding principles that will help you generate money, handle it more wisely, grow it more effectively and know how to use it to live a happier, more fulfilling, more comfortable life. 

There are a total of 107 rules, I am currently reading rule 9 now- but I would like to share with you guys RULE 4!

Which is 

KEEP IT UNDER YOUR HAT

I don't know it happens to you guys or not, but it definitely happens to me almost ALL THE TIME. Whenever I've plans or I'm on progress of making decision, I will tend to broadcast what I am doing. I don't have the intention to go round showing off or making big announcement of my big plans, but I just love to share what I am up to.

Which is not good. 

I realized there're several decisions which are wrongly made in my life and conflicts which were caused by myself broadcasting what I am doing and what decision I am making.

Here are few examples:

1# 

I was having a hard time making decisions on where to pursue my study after A Levels- either study locally or to Singapore. 

I told people around me about these two choices I have and I started asking them for decisions. And I don't know why, their decisions somehow were negative- asking me to study locally- and that actually put me off and influence me to study locally! Which was a total wrong decision in my life. 

I am not trying to blame them for influencing me on what I am doing. I am just saying that, if I were not going around telling others about it and if I were to independently making my own decision, I would have already doing my degree in Singapore, which I reckon would be much better than where am I now.

2#

I have a very best friend that I knew in university, and due to some conflicts and arguments- we are no longer talking now.

Of course we're no longer friends was because of the argument that we had- but I realized that it was somehow my fault to actually tell him what I'm doing (which are not even necessary). We came from totally different family backgrounds. I myself to be honest, came from a wealthier family, where I don't have to worry much about financial problems. Oh well, I can't have all the luxuries that the rich have, but I am satisfied with what I have. So this friend, lets call him "Sam", came from a family where his mum died of cancer when he was still in Primary School and his dad is a hawker. He has always been depending on scholarship as his dad never gives him any pocket money. On the other hand, I am way luckier if I were to compare to him. My parents still give me pocket money, and I could actually save quite a big sum of money from my scholarship. Hence, my savings allow me to buy things that I wish to buy. Since he is my good friend, I always tell him my plans of buying some luxury items that he never could afford, eg. cameras and some branded items, this causes him to get jealous and starts to back stab me, like spreading around that I only know how to spend my parents money, but never been a filial son- which is totally bull shit!

As he couldn't overcome his jealousy, he constantly compete with me (indirectly) for instance, when I have a camera, he will buy a camera (but a lousier one); when I get myself a smartphone, he will too (a lousier one too)! Annoying much. I've never thought of winning this game, oh well, even I would want to win, I would effortlessly win. *flicks hair*

So now I am blaming myself for not keeping stuffs under my hat.

Nah, I am not trying to be selfish, but well, it's true- what is the benefit of informing people around you about some good stuffs you have, say you gonna set up a business which will earn you huge sum of money? If everyone is doing the same business as you (after you have broadcasted it), there will be less opportunities for you and you gonna lose in this game. They are not going to thank you for that, but if they do, it's only words- which not gonna lead you any further- you just gonna loose what initially belonged to you. Right or not?

And well, not everyone is interested in what you're doing, so don't have to tell others your plans, keep it to yourself and work hard to achieve your goal! Sometimes things are just best to be done alone. =) 

Good luck and all the best if you're on the way to reach your goal of success!