Monopoly
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| Picture courtesy of Amazon.com |
Title: Everything I know about Business I learnt from Monopoly
Author: Alan Axelrod
Location: National Library (Bain street Singapore)
This book allowed me to reminisce the days where this game was the only source of entertainment between cousins, when we met over the weekends.
Actually I believe we were playing the cheaper Malaysian rip-off version known as millionaire.
While the main backbone of the book is truly the iconic game itself, and one does have to be familiar with the basic idea of the game. One does not necessarily have to be a "wicked sick" monopoly player to enjoy the wisdom the author tries to impart. And as the title implies most of the lessons that the book tries to share are not specifically limited to the game but to life itself.
What the book actually is, is a mishmash of management and financial literacy made easy, monopoly style. With a healthy sprinkling of anecdotes and quotes from the beyond the top executives to include famous personalities of the past, makes it a relatively easy read for even the most restless reader.
I did mention that book is not high on jargon. That said, it does contain a lot of misread rules and trivia that even a well acquainted player might not have been aware of. In fact, some of these "new" rules, would change the attitude any regular player would bring to this well worn game. The shine of this book is that everyone, novice or professional, should come away with good understanding of the concepts mentioned.
I'd like to share just two that I personally identified with and enjoyed.
1) New rules and old mindset
I don't know how many people hate playing monopoly because it's such a dreary game that requires at least 5 hours of mindless playing before a winner becomes apparent or in the case of my cousins, when we have to go home.
The truth is that the actual concept of this game, is so far from that. The reason why the game actually takes so long to end, is more often than not due to players misreading the rules or bringing the wrong playing mentality into the game.
Doing things like reminding other players to collect rent before their turn is up, or risk forfeiting the rent. Or when we choose to allow others to pass over our properties when they are close to insolvency. These actions lengthens the game, is boring and is in real life wholly untenable. Nobody, is going to give you a free meal, and we might as well embrace that.
2) The Probability of Randomness
Randomness is merely a perception of disorganisation. We don't understand it, we can't predict it, we deem that it is interminable. But the by-product of randomness is not merely fear. It is the in-action that results from it. I don't know, therefore I cannot and don't care.
Again the point about missed opprtunity arises. The random variable in monopoly is the dice, while we may be unable to guess correctly each time, what the dice will produce. We have the right and the responsibility each time it is rolled to invest in our future.
True randomness the book argues is quite difficult to achieve. While I still need to understand this point more to be able to come to a good conclusion regarding it. I think that the point about what we perceive as random is surely worth thinking about.
In conclusion
Remember the times in the game where liquidity was low, ending up in jail seemed like a good idea, not moving means not paying rent. However when we choose to play it safe, we lose the opportunity to invest and that is what pretty much life is about. Investing and I don't mean merely in dollars or prices but in value. Time we took control and invested in ours.
Labels: book review, finance, investing
Perspectives
I have decided to restart the blog. I think this word is overused in this context.
Listening to KK's blog music while doing this brings me back to the poly days when life was much simpler and easier. I wonder if I could have pushed myself harder back then, I remember fondly how getting an A was a simple task and thus bothering for an AD was deemed too much work. That applies also to the AEM that I was suppose to take up.
University life is so different. Even as I type this post so many rules about audience, context, noise and organisation keep popping into my head silently reminding me of the HW speech assignment that is still due. But still I would like to thank God that I managed to get here, knowing that by being here, someone had to be declined a place makes me want to work hard and treasure the opportunity that been presented.
So even if my grades are mediocre and life seems tougher than what it should, I must press on. If someday something gets me down and I need a perk I will definitly look back on what I wrote here in year 1.
The second thing is that I hope to start a small buisness online. I have yet to think about what the business model will be or what the renumerations will be like. But hopefully with this blog, I can sharpen my technical skills a little bit.
Hopefully if this is done well, I can put it up in my portfolio.
Musing
I was waiting a long time for the bus almost 20 minutes, boarded it. On the bus this happened..
1-stop before the incidentBus driver grumbles to himself about how
LTA manages to put 2 bus stops in close proximity to each other near the
MRT. The commuters however don't seem to notice and always seem to press the 'bus stopping' button at the wrong stop. this trip was no different, thereby irking the driver so.
IncidentThe next few proceedings happened in a matter of seconds. Lady who in one hand was holding her laptop and in the other a book, which she happened to be engrossed in. Enters the bus without tapping her card, the bus driver hollers 'OI' or 'A' or
something to that effect, above his normal voice. The lady proceeds to leave her items on the chair and scans her card. This was after all the other passengers had boarded. In the process retorting to the bus driver: "don't be so impatient, can't you be a little more gracious" or something to that effect.
EvaluationThe question here is who is at fault?
1) While most people would say the lady has been aggrieved. I think
culturally we tend to side with the damsel in distress. More often than not you do not use 'OI' on someone you don't really know.
2) Some would say due to the nature of the argument both were at fault. This I believe is the
nice man attitude, we don't know what exactly happened and thus decide to split the bill/blame. An even portion here and there makes US look not so judgmental.
3) Some would even go as far as to blame the
environment. Blame the
LTA who put 2 bus stops almost side by side, blame the people who didn't intervene, blame etc.. etc.. This I believe is same as (2).
4) In my opinion, I feel that the lady was at fault. Being gracious means being able to think beyond yourself. To that I believe taking out your card prior to boarding means the others after you can board smoothly as well. Knowing that you have much to carry you should also not try to hinder the way of others after you. The driver although rough in his mannerism was executing his rights to check on the ticket. And while there were better ways to do so his 'OI' was given so the commuter could spare the trouble of coming back all the way to the front just to tap his/her card.
I'm not the kind that likes to scrutinize human behavior, come to think of it I would be guilty of choosing (1) in most cases. However the more I think about it the more I've come to realize that we use more senses than logic when it comes to deducing right and wrong.
Coming to the point I think neither the lady nor the bus driver would be able to deduce all this simply because of a lack of ability to think beyond themselves. This is something we should all endeavor to do to become a true gracious society.
End Jan
Here's to the end of January! Come by tomorrow I'll have completed my fourth SOC and be a week closer to the
CNY break. I just hope I can get past tomorrow, SOC is no joke. Especially when the sand cans in front shake like
nobody's business during the run.
Talking about muscle aches and strains, I've recently been starting to take protein. In part due to my bunk mates who inadvertently bought a 10 pounds worth of the stuff. It was so large it came in a bucket. No kidding a real
KFC/ Nippon paint like bucket. Drinking it really makes the recovery go all so much faster, though I don't feel any stronger. By allowing you to do more I bet I'll get stronger in time. There is a downside though, The stuff makes you super
heaty and after awhile your pimples start to sprout pretty fast:(
I kinda feel that the weekends are getting a lot shorter. Mainly due to the hectic meet-ups and programs being planned and planning for. I sometimes feel that I rest more in camp than
outside over the weekends.
Life
I found this on a course mates journal decoration. Talks about Life and all that it is..
Life is a Challenge - Meet it
Life is a Gift - Accept it
Life is an Adventure - Dare it
Life is a Sorrow - Overcome it
Life is a Duty - Perform it
Life is a Game - Play it
Life is a Tragedy - Face it
Life is a Puzzle - Solve it
Life is a Song - Sing it
Life is an Opportunity - Take it
Life is a Journey - Complete it
Life is a Promise - Fufill it
Life is a Love - Enjoy it
Life is a Beauty - Praise it
Life is a Struggle - Fight it
Life is a Mystery - Unfold it
Life is a Goal - Achieve it
When can I have my life back?
GECKO over..
I thought I'd never say this, but I think I've had the easiest week in my whole weapon phase life. 190 pull ups in a week. Not counting the push-ups, SOC or the much dreaded helicopter exercise (that makes your neck feel like it's been twisted 360 degrees like in the exorcist) At least we haven't started carrying anything yet..
Next week and the following weeks to come are going to be so packed, I think I'll just be looking forward to ending the day and sleeping in the bunk.
Went back to NP on Saturday, quite a large number of changes have happened. Most glaring of all the entire business block along with canteen 1 has been demolished, the rooms above canteen 2 have also been ripped off to be redone and lastly the lecture theater opposite the same canteen has been demolished.
It was the first time coming to NP open house as a visitor and I did have a great time listening to everything that the enthusiastic students had to share. I hope all of them are enjoying their course as much as they seem to be sharing. And despite the competitiveness and all are excelling in what they are interested in doing.
Looking at them reminds me of the 3 years that I have spent in poly. The all the up's and down's. And while not everything was pleasant, I think I still had an awesome time in poly. The greatest lesson I think it taught me was that you can be anything you want to be, if you try hard enough and put everything you have into accomplishing that.
ATP
We had range on Wednesday and I missed the marksmanship badge by 2 shots. Quite a let down because after the day shoot I still could afford to miss 3. I misjudged that the night shoot would be a lot brighter, after all it was at BMT. But I guess it's the experience that counts and not just the money or even the badge. Which I reckon would look pretty good especially during commissioning and might gain you a little respect when at unit after that.
I guess since ATP is over I can look forward to SOC and IPPT. The training we did prior to book out kinda assured me that I will be ready for carrying the type of load that any man at unit will be able to carry. I am told that the pace over at unit is faster than here and hopefully if I will be able to experience it there for myself.
