Answers To 64 Tough Job Interview Questions

We all have been through this process except for the lucky few who do not have to work for others, or the unlucky few who are unemployable.

I have noticed that busy interviewers (usually the head of dept) don't really bother to remember the contents of an interviewee's resume. He / she will only read it just before the interview - they usually already have in mind the type of person the want to hire.

What they usually notice is the photo (so make sure you attach your best one) and highlights of your qualifications and work experience. Everything else in your resume is simply ignored or overlooked - nobody really cares if you were class monitor ("Ketua Darjah") or if you collect stamps as a hobby. Nobody also cares if you can play the piano, except if you can play it naked and with your toes.

However, if your dad is a Datuk, it does help very much. Especially if he can recommend work to the company or if he plays golf with the directors. If you're a member of MENSA, yes - in some organisations. Other than that, you better look good and have the knack of making people like you.

Lets face it, paper qualifications these days are quite generic, except if you graduated from a top university.

Because of the above, the interview process is essential for your potential boss to really access if he likes you enough to emply you. Remember, you must make him / her like you and make him / her confident that you're capable enough for the job - impression is everything. What the interviewer thinks is more important than what is the reality of things.

Here is a list of 64 interview questions (and answering techniques) that will help you ace the job interview - read the list from crackinterview

The cartoon above is from saintgasoline which has its own views about job interviews.

Good luck.

Changing Your Life

An recent article by the New York Times confirmed what most people have already heard of - we can change our lives by changing our habits. Just as Charles C. Noble said, “First we make our habits, then our habits make us.”

The article said, amongst other things, that: "Rather than dismissing ourselves as unchangeable creatures of habit, we can instead direct our own change by consciously developing new habits. In fact, the more new things we try — the more we step outside our comfort zone — the more inherently creative we become, both in the workplace and in our personal lives."

Read the full story here.

Please post your comments.

Get Rewarded By Being A Bad Employee

We all know that in Malaysia, just like anywhere else around the world, there are some employees who seem just useless or f*cked up, but yet they don't get fired. Some even get promoted, making it seem that being useless or f*cked up is actually being encouraged and rewarded by the company.

CareerBuilder.com gives 10 reasons why this is so:

1. The employee has a relationship with someone higher up - connections; those people with "ampu bodek" skills ("cable" or crony colloqually called in Malaysia).

2. The boss relies on the employee - he / she has some "special skills" or resource (whether work related or not) that the boss likes.

3. The employee brings more value to the company than he or she costs - again, he / she has some "special skills" or resource (whether work related or not) that is beneficial to the company.

4. The boss thinks it could be worse - the boss thinks that better the bad employee than nothing. This usually happen in my experience when the boss is not willing to pay market rate for top employees.

5. The boss is afraid of the employee - the employee might know some of the boss' or company's "secrets" thus can blackmail them, the employee is a thug and the boss is afraid of violent consequences etc

6. The boss feels sorry for the employee - the employee might be to sole bread winner of his family, he or his family members have health problems etc

7. The boss doesn't want to go through the hiring process - the boss is too busy or lazy to look for another employee. In some cases the boss himself have some personality defects that only this employee can tolerate. (this is related to number 4 above)

8. The employee knows something - the employee might have some connections with major customers, or have intimate information about an ongoing business of the company etc (this is related to number 1 and 4 above)

9. The employee has everybody fooled - the employee is good at playing "office politics" and is skillful at manipulating people and the work environment for his own benefit. He knows how to "play tai chi" or "main wayang kulit" (colloqually called in Malaysia).

10. He or she is not really a bad employee - the employee is only perceived as a bad employee. He / she is not a genius but is average and do perform tasks allocated to him /her.

Read the full article here.

I think whatever it is, you need some kind of advantage ("kelebihan") that the boss or the company has no choice but to keep you on the pay roll or even be forced to promote you.

The best "kelebihan" I can think of are having good connections, proficiency at office politics, being tolerant to an idiotic boss and being the cheapest (salary) in the job market (cheapskate bosses like this).

Please post your comments, what do you think ?

Free Language Lessons

Learning a new language is known to be the best way of getting acquainted with another culture. With globalisation, knowing an additional language will definitely give you a competitive advantage. Mango.com is offering free online language lessons online. There are 11 languages available (each with 100 lessons). The lessons are constructed with clear visuals, voice direction and verbal examples.

This site is perfect for Malaysians, its useful, convenient and its FREE. :) "Min Fai" "Percuma"

Go to Mango.com for free lessons.

Read also how to learn (but not master) any language in 1 hour.

Note: I was told the site does not teach swear words. But don't let that discourage you.

Getting Rid Of Telemarkers

Don't you hate receiving telemarketing calls at the most inconvenient times - they come in when you're busy at work (with crucial deadlines to meet), having dinner with friends, having sex or watching a good film etc.

Read this article for 10 ways to get rid of a telemarketer.

How To Be A Real Man - Just Be A Cock

A cock leads the chickens (not the other way around)

A cock stands straight, walks straight, thinks straight and is straight (not bent)

A cock likes chickens (not other cocks)

A cock talks cock (but dont sing songs)

Cocks that act like chickens are not cocks. Period.


So cocks and chickens, what do you think ?....comment please

Pavarotti Died Today - A Reminder Of Our Mortality

He lived the best life he could

Famous Italian opera singer Luciano Pavarotti died of pancreatic cancer at his home in the northern city of Modena today. He was 71 years old. Pavarotti was born in the outskirts of Modena, Italy, on 12th October 1935. He was the the son of Adele (Venturi), a cigar factory worker, and Fernando Pavarotti, a baker and singer.

Read the full story in this BBC report.

As a child, Pavarotti was interested in sports; soccer above all. When he graduated from the Schola Magistrale, he faced the dilemma of a career choice. He was interested in pursuing a career as a professional soccer player, but his mother convinced him to train as a teacher. He subsequently taught in an elementary school for two years but finally allowed his interest in music to win out. Recognizing the risk involved, his father gave his consent only reluctantly, the agreement being that Pavarotti would be given free room and board until age 30, after which time, if he had not succeeded, he would earn a living by any means that he could. Read more about his life in Wikipedia.

Pavarotti sold insurance to pay for his singing lessons - MSNBC

"With the encouragement of his then fiancee, Adua Veroni, he started lessons, selling insurance to pay for them. He studied with Arrigo Pola and later Ettore Campogalliani."

Pavarotti enjoyed 40 years on the world stage and became one of the world's biggest-selling artists.

"He was one of those rare artists who affected the lives of people across the globe in all walks of life" London's Royal Opera House

Pavarotti's death reminds us of our mortality as human beings.

Everyone will have to die one day; no one can live forever. It is thus everyone's obligation to live the best life they can. To sing one' s own song.

When I review my life one day, I want to be able to say with pride, that "I have no regrets having lived; I have lived the best life I could. I have also sang my own song"

Luciano Pavarotti. Farewell.

Please post your 2 cents in the comments section.


A Related Post - Are You Fed Up With Your Job ?

Are you fed up with your job ? 5 Malaysian employees speak out

Are you fed up with your job ? 5 Malaysian employees discuss a practical way to pursue meaningful work.

This post is for those who sigh when its already Sunday evening and complain that the weekend is too short.

My friend May Yen (not her real name) and myself, met at Sri Hartamas last week for dinner and drinks. We decided to meet at a seemingly popular restaurant (and bar), but for some people, it’s a bar (and restaurant) – you can now tell the different priorities people have when it comes to eating and drinking.

As usual, parking – a headache in places like this. I parked my car about half a kilometre away and walked – fuck !. At about 7.30pm, when I arrived, the restaurant (and bar) was already moderately filled with the after office crowd, . May Yen was late as usual. So I called her on her mobile, she answered and said "Eh, sorry lah, fucking jam here !, Im almost there, just wait, gimme 10 to 15 minutes…".

I know 10 to 15 minutes for May Yen usually means half an hour. I found a table and ordered a scotch (on the rocks). I waited and read a stupid lifestyle magazine (May 2006 issue) – more than 1 year old. I flipped through the first few pages and saw a few pictures of some "Datins" (maybe old models or minor celebrities– I’m not sure) all standing in a row, posing for the camera – fuckin’ hell.

I flipped through more of the old magazine and there were huge advertisements of over-priced watches and clothes, the names of which I’ve not even heard of before. One was called, I think, "Rocco Paccoco" – something like that. Another was called Pascal Chakal – or some fuck wit name. What weird sounding names. I suppose Malaysians will buy anything with a foreign sounding name. Then, the following pages had more Datins (or old models cum mistresses etc) posing, yet again, for some obscure charitable purpose.

Bored with the pretentious magazine, I flung it aside and looked at my watch – it was already 7.55pm. I looked around for May Yen but she still had not arrived. Suddenly my mobile rang – its fucking May Yen, she said "Eh, sorry. I’m here already. Just parking my car. Anyway, two other people are joining us". Apparently, she had invited two of her acquaintances, James Lee and Paul Shanker (not their real names), to join us. James Lee is the Managing Director of a subsidiary of a PLC and Paul Shanker is her ex colleague.

When May Yen came to the table I told her that since she had invited James and Paul for dinner, I should invite our other friend, Kate (not her real name), for drinks later – for her to do some "networking" (you will know why, later).

So, there were 5 of us, as follows:

May Yen, a single 29 year old accountant and a "fuckaholic". It’s not what you’re thinking…she is not addicted to sex. She just likes to say the word "fuck !", all the time.

James Lee is married. He’s in his mid 40's and is the Managing Director of a subsidiary of a PLC.

Paul Shanker, is a single 29 year old middle manager of a PLC, and is also a "social" gigolo (so he claims).

Kate, is single. She's a 30 plus year old advertising account manager and a part time born again MLM "entrepreneur". I know she will hate it when I put the word entrepreneur in inverted commas – evil me ! hahaha.

Me, a single, 30 plus year old professional…. My name and profession will remain a secret, for the time being. I prefer to be anonymous as it allows me to write things I would otherwise refrain from writing.

So for dinner, just the 4 of us. Kate came later for drinks. I’ve only met James once before and Shanker a few times.

As we were chit chatting about the traffic, the weather, food…yada, yada, yada …hehehe…hahaha…May Yen suddenly blurted out (as if she was inspired by some unexplained spiritual intervention) that her friend’s cousin, who was only 30 years old, died the previous week of stroke. Trust May Yen to introduce such unrelated topics of conversation so abruptly. This was how she said it, "hey guys ! guys….GUYS ! listen…GUESS WHAT ? last week my friend’s cousin died lah. He’s only 30. He died of stroke." According to May Yen, the deceased had stroke because he was stressed out and overworked.

So that’s how the topic of conversation steered towards "what is work all about ?" or if you prefer, "why do we need to work doing meaningless jobs ?"

James confessed that he doesn’t particularly enjoy his work – too much stress as he has so many responsibilities. He’d rather be a photographer. He said, "Everything also you have to take care, you know ?. You have to make sure business comes in. Then you got to make sure people pay on time. You think easy ah managing a company ? you have to solve other people’s problems. What to do ? have to "cari makan"."

Paul agreed. He said, "You got to manage your staff, deal with bosses, do unending paperwork…have to "tai chi" sometimes…etc etc" He said he would rather be a professional gigolo. I’m not sure if he’s serious about pursuing this profession. He has also mentioned this before, when we met a few times. May Yen would always tease him, "You sure you qualify ah ?, you so fat, how to be gigolo ?". His reply would always be, "I’m already doing it on a social basis, but I’ve not found a way to commercialise it". Whatever it is, Paul is also not happy with his current work. He said that when he first started working after graduation, he enjoyed his work, but eventually, the work pressure became overwhelming, but his salary hasn't been as overwhelming as his work – his salary is very modest, he claims, for a person with his responsibilities and qualifications.

May Yen and myself, although not particularly happy with our current work, but do not have any particular complaints. We only wonder if there is some better way of earning a living, rather then doing a job that we don’t enjoy. We don't want to do meaningless jobs for 35 years (or more) of our lives, and then, retire. Assuming we live that long.

Every one of us just looked at each other, in silence, not knowing what else to do or suggest about this scenario. This is definitely not a very good topic of conversation to have, during a weekday. May Yen is quietly picking at her French fries ! Lil’ Bitch – all her fault for sparking off this topic.

Lucky are those who have found their true calling in life. Lucky are those who can pursue their true calling in life.

Most of us have invested time and money in pursuit of our current careers These careers, unfortunately, have turned out to be unsuitable for us, whatever the reasons. Most continue unsatisfying careers just to pay the monthly bills or to comply with society’s expectations.

We work anything from 8 to 12 hours a day, even sometimes on weekends as well. If we factor in preparation and commuting time of approximately 2 hours each day, our total daily time commitment towards work is between 10 to14 hours.

That is 10 to 14 hours everyday, for 35 years. Then retire.

If most of our waking hours are spent working, isn’t it sensible to pursue work that has some meaning to us ? – something we find enjoyable.

At some point in our lives, we may find ourselves standing at a crossroad - passion or profession ?. You will ask, which path should I take ?. Should I continue to pursue my stable and secure, but meaningless career ?. Should I continue to invest more days of my life doing something meaningless, just to survive ?

Animals are born just to survive, then they die. Are we humans condemned to live life just like animals ? – born just to survive, then we die. Isn’t there anything more to life than this ?

Animals and slaves do not have a choice on this matter – animals are limited by its intelligence and slaves are restrained by their masters.

What about free human beings ? Isn’t it our obligation, as free human beings, to live life the way we choose, by pursuing meaningful work.

Is pursuing meaningful work only an option for the privileged few ? Are the rest of us just glorified slaves ?

Is "cari makan" more important than meaningful work ? Is there a reasonable compromise between the two ?

To be continued in Part 2.

Kate joins us for drinks, and the conversation continues. Discover why we think Kate’s strategy for financial freedom is potentially flawed. Read about what we collectively found to be a practical solution to "cari makan" while doing meaningful work.

Read Part 2 - Meaningful Work Vs Cari Makan

Meanwhile, please comment on this post.

Im Nobody, But I Demand RESPECT !!!

Give us some RESPECT !!!

Respect and attention. Everyone wants it, but it is only bestowed on a few. Some are so desperate, that they will do almost anything to get it.

These people should be featured on National Geographic.


Namewee, our very own Malaysian rapper - The Malaysian Tupac Shakur.








He sang a mediocre rap song using the National Anthem and posted it on YouTube, so everyone can know who is NAMEWEE.

He's obviously a marketing wiz - "make it controversial". He would've made some money if he hosted some Google Adsense in his post.

"Kan nee nar !!' "Sam pat"

"Lan-jiao bin"

This Mat Rempit is risking his life to show everyone that he also has some kind of skill that is worthy of respect.




He also wants to be a somebody, even with his humble "kap cai".

"Tengok siapa ada telur !!!"

"Ko' siapa ?" "Puki mak ko' !"

This Ah Beng modified his Proton Satria to look like a homemade Ferrari.







Even he wants to be a somebody. He wants to be a Hong Kong "Ku Wak Chai" (Young & Dangerous - a movie about triads in Hong Kong)

"Thai pin-kor fai !....lei mo chun-toi, ah ?

"Tiew lei..., chow-hai !!!"

"Sor hai"

This is Kala Kawai, from Hawaii. He has 67 piercings and 75 % of his body is tattooed.

This guy wants to be an alien. He always wanted to be in Star Wars - the one that eventually kills Luke Skywalker.

Kala Kwai, wants respect, he wants attention. He wants your LOVE.


"What yo' lookin' at, motha' fucker !, eat my shit !"

Tom Leppard aka the Leopard Man

In a rare BBC television interview, Leppard remarked, “As far as I’m concerned, if there is a paradise on Earth, I’m in it. You’re welcome to what you’ve got. I’ll keep this.”

This guy wants to be a leopard - a human being who wants to be an animal.

"Grrreeeeahhhh !!!"

Hahaha. I have no comments about this one. Hahaha. Pathetic !


Stop laughing.....you bitches and bastards ! Its not meant to be funny.

Ok, I know I've left out a few others that should be included here. Maybe I will include those, if I change my mind later.

Okie, as usual, post your comments.

The power of meditation

ART OF QI
By Dr AMIR FARID ISAHAK

I HAVE often described yoga as meditation in postures; tai chi as meditation in motion; and qigong as meditation in action.

Indeed qigong has yoga-like postures, tai chi-like slow movements, and kung fu-like fast and forceful movements. If you go back to history, Shaolin kung fu was the martial arts component of qigong practised by the monks of the Shaolin temple. It is the meditative discipline of qigong that allows the kung fu exponents to do extraordinary feats.

What is common in all these arts is the power of the conscious mind. I know you are more familiar with the concept of the power of the sub-conscious mind, but in reality, the conscious mind is even more powerful.

Recent studies have shown that meditation can improve several medical conditions, including pain management and lowering blood pressure.

While so much has been talked about what the subconscious mind can do (for example, whatever the mind conceives and believes, it can achieve), the expected phenomenal results are usually subjective, and not in real-time, meaning, if 10 people are put through a test to conceive and believe in something and none achieved the results, it can be simply concluded that they probably didn’t really believe that they could achieve the desired results after all, or that they will achieve the results someday.

Nobody can delve into their minds to confirm the real situation. And nobody can prove that the results will never happen in the future because nobody knows everything about the future.

I want to bring you back to reality, that is, to remind you that by increasing the level of awareness to the actual things that are happening right now (not imagination or visualisation) – your thoughts, your breath, your body and your surroundings – you can harness much more of the power of your mind. Then you will realise that the conscious mind does not play second fiddle to the subconscious counterpart.

While modern-day prophets, clairvoyants, and psychic detectives like Edgar Cayce, Jean Dixon and others have to search into the deep recesses of their subconscious minds (often messages or visions come to them during sleep, trance or other altered states of consciousness) and they have little control over what kind of information is received.

Many years ago, one of my patients was suffering from postnatal blues and became psychotic. She threatened to kill her own baby, and was at the same time shouting “Pinatubo! Pinatubo!”

Nobody knew what she was talking about. Many months later Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines started to rumble and spew smoke. The rest is history. This is one example where the subconscious mind becomes very receptive only when the conscious mind malfunctions.

Our aim is to train the conscious mind to have the highest receptivity, and be able to receive, collate, compute, and understand all the important and necessary information received, and then translate all that to wisdom so that the best actions or responses can be made.

However, we cannot be inundated by too much information. Our minds will be overloaded, and our lives will be stressful and messy. I already have an overload of emails, but all that is in the computer. Imagine the same situation clogging up our minds.

So “important and necessary” information means these will benefit us, the society, and the environment around us.

I have previously described how my Sufi grandmaster received spiritual knowledge through direct transference from his own master’s mind, all done in the conscious state, just like transferring data by infrared or Bluetooth on your handphones!

To be ready for that, he had undergone many years of spiritual training which included many long sessions of spiritual meditation or zikr.

Qigong is meditation in action.

Most of us have heard of the amazing stunts that Yogis can do. These masters undergo years of meditation and strict spiritual or altruistic lives.

I have also described several psychics and healers who operate at the conscious level, as opposed to others who function only in altered states of mind.

There are also mentalists who are gifted or have consciously trained their minds sufficiently that they can bend spoons (psychokinesis), make distant objects move (telekinesis), read minds (telepathy), predict the future (clairvoyance or prophecy) and perform other supernatural tasks in the fully conscious, normal state.

Our own Robin Lim is one such mentalist that we should be proud of.

Meditation and continuous awareness

In many previous articles I have described meditation methods and exercises (see www.superqigong.com for previous articles), including the meditation in Kundalini yoga, Chakra meditation, spiritual meditation practices, and others.

Meditation is being continuously aware of yourself and your surroundings. The more details about yourself that you are aware of, the more intense is the beneficial effect. For example, most people are not even aware of how they breathe (chest or diaphragmatic, or how deep or shallow). Breathing is a subconscious effort.

However, switching to conscious breathing, starting from being aware of the air passing into the nostrils, filling the lung spaces while expanding the chest and upper abdomen, (usually in shallow breaths, but sometimes in deep inspirations), and then slowly releasing the air, will turn the entire process into a meditative exercise.

Now the mind is fully aware of many things that are going on. Compare that with the usual situation where a person may be breathing exactly the same way without his or her mind being conscious of it at all.

The benefits of meditation

Eastern traditions have long extolled the goodness of meditation and the benefits are many. Now all these claims are beginning to be substantiated by scientific studies and I shall report some here.

Recent studies have shown that meditation can improve several medical conditions, including pain management and lowering blood pressure.

One long-term study showed that people with normal to high blood pressure who practised daily meditation were 23% less likely to die from any cause than those who did not.

This was more than that achieved by other non-drug therapies, such as exercise, weight loss and salt restriction.

Besides improving cardiovascular problems that can lead to poor brain function, meditation may also reduce levels of cortisol, the ubiquitous stress hormone. Excess cortisol can impede cognitive abilities such as memory recall.

Researchers have also found an association between meditation and an increase in the thickness of the cortex, that part of the brain that handles our higher functions of intelligence, innovation and creativity. This suggests that regular meditation may slow down the natural thinning of the cortex that occurs in ageing.

Qigong is meditation in action

By now, those of you who have been practising qigong will know that you are required to be fully aware of as much of the goings-on in your body as your mind can cope with. The level and multiplicity of awareness will improve as you practise.

Every posture and every movement is a conscious movement, much as the Bharata Natyam dancer must be fully conscious of every hand gesture and every clang of her ankle bells.

When your mind is in complete control and in full awareness of your body, you are in a higher level of meditation than just being aware of your breath or your mantra.

The next level is to connect and be aware of your life-force, the “qi” that is sustaining your life, and powering every cell in your body. This requires training of the conscious mind.

Once you can connect with your qi, then you will learn to control it and direct it to different parts of your body. Later you will learn how to direct it to other people, or other objects.

The walking meditation

The most intriguing qigong exercise is the Amazing Qigong Walk. Imagine being in full meditation, yet you are gently walking, and gracefully swaying your arms while nurturing the qi to circulate inside and around you.

When carried out in the fresh environs of a park, among the trees with birds chirping and the breeze whispering in your ears, this walking meditation is heavenly bliss.

And the qi it generates is very strong. That is why it is practised by the members of the Cancer Recovery Clubs of Shanghai and many other cities in China. Shouldn’t you try it too?

Dr Amir Farid Isahak is a medical specialist who practises holistic, aesthetic and anti-ageing medicine. He is a qigong master and founder of SuperQigong.

The views expressed are those of the writer and readers are advised to always consult expert advice before undertaking any changes to their lifestyles. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this column. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.

The Star

Malaysians talk money

DOES the DDB report truly reflect the opinions of Malaysians about money? Has our view about money really shifted towards a more caring, humanitarian stance or is it merely the wishful thinking of several working professionals? Are people really beginning to realise that there is indeed more to life than just the acquisition and spending of cash, as suggested by DDB International Malaysia’s report?

While the importance of money to everybody’s lives is undeniable, the general consensus seems to be that it would be a shallow existence indeed if money were to be the end all and be all of our lives.

Relaxing pursuit: Managing director Selinna Tan (left) and her friend, Yong Yuet Ching, during an art lesson.

While people are still prepared to work hard for their money, they also appear to be more selective about how they spend it. An increasing number chose to reject conventional choices in favour of investments that reflect their individuality.

Striking a balance

For Malaysians like Selinna Chin, a woman in her late thirties who works in the pressurised environment of the corporate world as a managing director, it’s not about how much money you have but rather what you do with it and, more importantly, how you manage it.

Away from work, Chin points to her Christian faith and her passion for oil painting as the two things that keep her energised and ready to face the daily pressures of work. While expensive five-star holidays or shopping for branded goods are great fun, Chin prefers to use her money to enrich herself in different ways, like going on DIY timeshare holidays abroad, “just to get the experience of staying as a resident in a foreign country” or helping the less fortunate through charity work.

While she recognises the importance of money, she is also aware of the fact that there are other, more important, things in life.

Lawyer turned thespian: Chacko Vadaketh planning his next theatre performance while enjoying dessert at one of his favourite hangouts, the Royal Selangor Club.

”You have to have a balance in your life. Work and money are important but not as important as your health and family. I’ve got a strong faith, so that’s my centre, the thing that keeps me grounded. You can’t live without money but there should be a limit as to how much it controls your life. Personally, health, family and my faith definitely come before money.”

Call of the stage

Others, like Chacko Vadaketh, have made the decision to forsake potentially lucrative careers in so-called respectable jobs in order to follow their passion. In Chacko’s case, he studied and practised law before he left it all to pursue a career in the theatre.

“I guess I followed my heart to find some joy and fulfilment,” mused the affable 40-something who has made his name in the local theatre scene as an actor, writer and director. “The joy of being on stage I couldn’t really find anywhere so the choice was quite easy in that respect.”

Like Chin, Chacko believes that it’s all about finding a balance between doing something purely for money and doing something that you are passionate about.

TV host: Nazrudin Habibur Rahman defines luxury as having a quality of life that he enjoys, and having enough time to spend with family and friends.

“Even in the arts, people have to do things, which may not be the most interesting or the most creatively fulfilling, in order to earn money to survive, a lot of the time.

“Everyone needs money to live and I guess people tend to work out what the minimum requirement (that they need to live on) is and make do with that,” said Chacko. “Over the years, I’ve learnt to live with the same car for 15 years or something. (Laughs) I also choose very carefully the type of holidays I take and stuff like that. I tend to go for something with character rather than something expensive.

“It’s easy to find out which is the most expensive hotel and stay there but it’s also nice to be creative about your holidays as well.”

To generate extra income, Chacko does a lot of voice-overs for commercials but it’s not something that’s he’s passionate about. It’s his work in the theatre that is the most important thing.

“I tend to follow what gives me the most joy and fulfilment in life,” explained Chacko. “Being creative; being part of a show that works; entertaining people and moving people either to laughter or tears is something that I really enjoy. Creating something beautiful is something I really love to do and I don’t think that’s ever going to change.

“That passion is what keeps me doing what I do.”

Beyond material possessions

Freelance writer/ photographer Summer Tan, 31, has an equally free-spirited attitude towards money. She believes that living the good life is not merely about having lots of cash but, rather, being able to do something that one enjoys on a regular basis instead.

The way she tells it, money is merely a means to afford a better quality of life, something that enables her to “get by and afford luxuries like travelling and going out to eat in restaurants without having to worry about the bill.”

“Money buys you a certain quality of life,” said Tan who recently left a secure job as a staff writer with a national daily in order to pursue her interest in photography. “But to me, that’s not defined by a diamond ring or a big car. To me, there are many more important things in life than expensive possessions.”

Tan also feels that time is far more precious than money. “I’m more keen on having more time to indulge my passions. One of my main motivating factors in earning more money is so that I can spend my own time more constructively.

“Money has never been the most important factor in my life. I’d much rather earn less and really enjoy my job rather than to make a lot of money but dread going to work each day. I’ve always been one to follow my passion.”

Shutterbug: Summer Tan left her fulltime job as a staff writer with a newspaper in order to concentrate on her interest – photography.

Job satisfaction and recognition

Nazrudin Habibur Rahman, 29, who currently hosts The Breakfast Show for ntv7, believes that although a lot of Malaysians enjoy spending their cash these days, a large percentage of them do not feel that money is the be-all and end-all of life.

Certainly for Naz, a freelancer who’s currently “collecting money to get married”, job satisfaction is just as important as having lots of money. “I came from the corporate sector where I had a regular monthly paycheque but now that I’m working for myself, I get more fulfilment and satisfaction out of my work. When you freelance, you get recognised for your work when you deliver a certain amount of quality. It’s easier to be noticed for your effort.”

However, that does not mean that Naz would rather have more time off than extra money each month.

“I’d rather work harder and earn more money. You’ve got to give your best every time because that’s what you are paid for. It all comes down to having a passion for your work. If you are satisfied with your work, I don’t see anything wrong with working hard, as long as you are expanding your knowledge and learning all the time. You can never learn enough.”

Naz’s definition of luxury is simple: “Luxury for me is having a quality of life that I enjoy, to have enough time to spend with family and friends. If you are a slave to material things, you are going to end up missing out on so many things in life.”

And would he take a pay cut to do something that he loved? “Definitely. That’s a position I was craving for (for a long time): to expand my knowledge and get better at doing what I love to do.”

For more information on DDB International Malaysia SignBank’s report Future Currency: Malaysians’ Money Stories, contact yeethong.wong@ddbint.com.my

The Star

Dealing with snobs

By MARIA DANIEL

It’s unfortunate that most people who fervently admire those they think are of a higher class or social standing aren’t content just to copy their idols, they often also feel the urgent need to put down anyone they see as a threat.

If you are stuck in a room of snobby wannabes who take great pleasure in making you feel bad, there is a strategy to help you cope:

Develop ISC

Snobs are insecure people who feel they’re not quite good enough as they are. If they were happy with themselves, they wouldn’t be so desperate to compete, right?

To insulate yourself from nasty remarks, the first thing is to develop an Indelible Superiority Complex (ISC). Tell yourself 10 times every morning and evening that you are tops, and you will believe it.

Monkeys face snobbery too.

Secure in the knowledge that you are just as good as anyone you meet, the posturing of snobs around you will no longer affect you. After all, you are just as good if not better than them.

Play The Game

If you are forced to spend time in the world of one-upmanship, you might as well enjoy yourself by spinning outrageous tales and seeing how long you can have everyone going.

When the ladies talk of doing all of their shopping in Paris, mention quite casually that you like French perfume but you’ve heard real connoisseurs prefer shoes from Milan. If the gents are boasting about buying a beach house in Bali, ask if they’ve considered Marbella.

You can be sure someone will be catty and ask when you were last in either place. It’s your choice whether you laugh and admit you were only teasing at once, or whether you egg them all on with fantastic stories of buying overcoats in New York at breakfast, shawls in Cairo at lunchtime and villas in Portugal in the evening before collapsing into giggles and confessing.

Turn The Tables

When the talk is about whether pink diamonds are better than blue diamonds or next season’s luxury car model “only’’ going for the price of a house, admitting you are entirely uninterested in such things will stun the average audience of snobs.

You can take the high road and talk about the rich joys of ordinary blessings like nasi lemak and a really good chicken curry, or the pleasure you get from cooking up a meal with friends.

Alternatively, you can really stir things up by saying you can’t think why anyone would want to waste so much money on things that don’t really matter.

Throwing the gauntlet will cause one of two things to happen: they might agree, which means you can have a good chat about things everyone likes to do. Or you will receive sneers.

But while you have the protection of the ISC, these won’t dent you. Also, stirring up the group by declaring you won’t play the snob game is a great way of meeting the people at these parties who aren’t snobs and who are really worth talking to.

The Star

Stories of snobbery

By MARIA DANIEL

If you have to join the cocktail crowd and don’t know enough about finance, politics and other complicated stuff that keeps the brainy types winking significantly at each other, you can always amuse yourself by watching one of the most popular games in town: keeping up with the Joneses.

To get you in the mood, we’ve culled six stories from professional snob watchers. Enjoy!

#1 Table Manners

At the big company do’s, there’s always a table that stands out. It may simply be set a little apart from the rest of the room and boast some extra flowers, or it may be set on a stage, draped with bunting and has a waiter standing behind every chair.

However it’s done, these frills ensure that the favoured few who dine at the top table won’t be mistaken for the simple, run-of-the-mill guests. But as PR manager, a certain David, found out, even if there is no seating plan and everyone is regarded as a VIP, table-territory rules still exist.

“A year or so ago, we invited our best clients together with a sprinkling of celebrities for a celebration gala,” David explains.

“Looking around and checking everyone was happy, I saw one of our best clients standing alone.”

David went over for a chat, then invited the client to sit down for something to eat. As he seated his guest and took a chair himself, a woman tapped David on the arm.

Recognising her as a model, David was about to introduce her when she said, “You can’t sit here! This table is for celebrities only!”

#2 The Working Class

When the social lions got together under one roof, a hostess with social ambitions was keen to have the press present. Not only would pictures in the glossy society magazines announce how exclusive her parties were – but she also wanted to rub salt into the wound of her social-climbing friends who were not invited.

“I got a phone call from the socialite asking me to send a reporter and photographer in to do the red carpet thing,” says Dawn, a PA working in Kuala Lumpur.

“You know, datin such-and-such arriving in her new Gucci, datuk so-and-so looking relaxed . . . the usual stuff.”

“I didn’t like the woman but I was polite and said I would do what I can. Then she floored me completely by saying, ‘Oh and do be sure to tell them that they must do their thing and leave straight away afterwards. You know I can’t have my guests mixing with the working class!’.”

“The funny thing is that her father started his career as a truck driver.”

#3 The Ultimate VIP

“The thing about corporate events that I hate most are the VIPs,” says Milly, a lawyer working for an international media firm. “It’s always 1% of the people who cause 99% of the hassle.”

When Milly’s company decided to run a long weekend consisting of a series of back-to-back presentations, culminating in an awards presentation and dinner on the final day, Milly arranged a simple, egalitarian layout that would allow everyone to meet and mingle easily until the final big ceremony.

Unfortunately, one of the VIPs turned up two days early.

“When I saw her, my heart sank,” Milly says. “She looked all around and said, ‘Where is the VIP seating?’ When I told her there wouldn’t be any for another two days, she threw a fit saying, ‘How could this be? Do you know who I am?’.”

“The suicidal part of me wanted to say, ‘Yes I know who you are. You are a stay-at-home, bitchy wife of a sponsor. You can barely string a sentence together’. But I bit my tongue.”

As the unexpected guest fumed and ranted, Milly persuaded someone to throw some material over a few chairs and put a Reserved notice on one of the tables.

“It’s stupid, but there it is. Once she saw the table, she cooled down. She thinks she’s too important to sit with the rest of us, but everyone knows she was just an ordinary kampung girl until she managed to marry a rich man. Just shows you, doesn’t it?”

#4 The Latest Is Greatest

As every good snob knows, buying the latest trendy gear isn’t enough. To be really snobby, you have to get your hands on goods before they go on sale.

Says Vincent, a jeweller and keen socialite: “All the ladies love to see what’s coming into fashion, so designers and jewellers have these private little parties where they invite their best (or potential) customers to look over new arrivals a week or so before it goes on sale.”

Seated between two ladies at a party hosted by a designer, Vincent admired the watch his neighbour was wearing. “After admiring it, asking the price, and saying all the usual things one says to be polite, she glowed and said proudly, ‘It’s part of Cartier’s latest collection, you know’.”

Before Vincent could draw a breath, the woman on his right broke in with the crushing put-down, “It’s hardly new dear, I saw that model in Hong Kong a month ago.”

#5 The Reverse Snob

If you’re not in the mood to compete by outsnobbing everyone else, you can turn the tables on the in-crowd by making a big point of not joining in.

“My husband has to socialise as part of his job, but some of the Datins really get me down,” confesses Tilly, a Datin herself.

“There’s a silly set who can only talk about their hair, make-up, clothes, nails and cosmetic surgery, all things that bore me to tears.”

Unwilling to jump on the bandwagon, Tilly has found herself on the sharp side of a few comments. “They were looking down on me but I absolutely refuse to win their respect by buying Louis Vitton purses, Dior handbags, manno-what’s-his-name shoes, and other supposedly vital accessories priced at RM1,000 or more an item,” she says, scandalised.

Rather than compete or feel intimidated, Tilly resorted to psychology.

“I buy my handbags at the pasar malam, my shoes in the shop down the road, and I’m really upfront about it,” she laughs.

“I say, yup my bag cost me RM20 and it’s going to last me all year. Isn’t it great? And you know what? They don’t know what to say! Reverse snobbery really works; I think it’s the shock factor.”

#6 Better Than White

People still living in colonial times provide some of best snob stories. But colour snobbery isn’t always what it seems to be.

Says John, a housepainter, “My local pub is run by a Mat Salleh and I must confess that I get this extra pleasure from placing a drinks order from him. There’s something about ordering white people about that makes me feel very successful. Quite superior, actually.”

Interestingly the drinks pourer in question is fully aware of this.

“I hear this all the time and I think it’s a great thing,” he enthuses. “John and his mates spend a ton of money here because of it, so it’s making me rich. Also, they buy me drinks, so I get the profit and a free beer! Frankly, I don’t give a toss about who is better than whom. All I know is it’s working for me.” – By MARIA DANIEL

Note: in order to prevent our sources from being ostracised, all names have been changed.

Do you have a great snob story? Share it with us at weekend@thestar.com.my

The Star

Million Dollar Baby

My Ratings: Very Good

Release Date: 2004

Lessons: This movies teaches you about self determination. It also shows you how this far this girl will go for her family to love her. and always...always watch your back !

Released a little over a year after the grand success of his Oscar-winning feature MYSTIC RIVER, Clint Eastwood returns to the director's chair for MILLION DOLLAR BABY. Eastwood also stars, in the role of Frankie Dunn, a down-on-his-luck former boxing manager who spends the twilight years of his life running a small, dilapidated gym in downtown Los Angeles. Frankie's previous career was blighted by an injury to one of his prize fighters, Scrap (Morgan Freeman), who lost the sight in his right eye during a particularly brutal bout; Scrap now wiles away the hours working as a cleaner in Frankie's gym. Wary of similar occurrences being inflicted on the prestigious young talent that passes before him, Frankie lets a succession of great boxers slip through his fingers. But when the brash, confident young boxer Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) strides into the gym, Frankie's life is irretrievably altered. Initially refusing to train Maggie due to her gender and age, Frankie relents when faced with her tenacity, spirit, and burning ambition. The combination of Maggie's talent and Frankie's tutelage paves the way for the adroit fighter to rise steadily through the ranks of women's boxing, with the unlikely coupling forming a genuinely touching bond in the process.

Clint Eastwood has crafted a boxing film fit to stand alongside classics such as RAGING BULL and ROCKY with MILLION DOLLAR BABY. The scenes between Eastwood and Freeman are a delight to watch, with the two old hands pulling off masterfully understated performances as a couple of men teetering on the brink of failure. Likewise, Swank puts in a powerful turn as Maggie, further emphasizing her penchant for unusual roles, and perhaps even bettering her incredible, Oscar-winning showing as Teena Brandon in BOYS DON'T CRY.