Someone stood me up again today. In the past when this happened, I would always ask myself if the problem was me – if I was simply not good enough to be even given the opportunity to meet the other party.

But now, I have become so zen about the entire ‘flying me an aeroplane’ thing. I am no longer upset and disappointed. Rather, I know such people cannot be taken seriously. If they cannot keep their word to turn up, what more can you expect of them?

On a more serious note, I pity them actually as they have missed the opportunity to learn from me and extract maximum value. It’s their loss, not mine..hehe…

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It has become increasingly crystal clear to me in recent months who my real friends are. Those so-called friends, whom I thought were worth keeping are, for lack of a better word, masters in the art of deception. Peel away their facade and you will be shocked at the serpeant heart that they possess. They are all ready to bite you with the most potent venom and paralyse you for life.

It is this stinging scenario that made me open my eyes. And the earlier I recognise and spring clean these people out of my life, the better. There’s really no value hanging onto them as if my life depends on them. Please, I will be much better off without their existence.

You have to choose your friends very carefully. Not every friend deserves the ‘friend’ label. No wonder the term ‘frenemy’ has become the buzzword these days. A friend who is also an enemy at the same time. How so so accurate.

Frenemies include people who betray your trust. Frenemies include people who borrow money and never return. Frenemies include people who only look you up when they need your help. During other times, you simply don’t exist at all.

To hell with these frenemies. Good riddance to bad rubbish!

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It’s finally all over. Another episode in my life has ended. It’s time I move on again. Perhaps I should have known from the start what to expect. When you place too high stakes on the final prize and unexpectedly trip on the last hurdle enroute to the destination, everything you have worked hard till now evaporates into smoke.

I choke back tears, berate myself and run the “if only I had” episodes in my mind over and over again.

But in life, there is no “if only I had”. It’s either you succeed or not. There is only the victor and the vanquished. You may ask how about the congeniality prize? That’s a consolation prize, not the big one. There is no room for mediocrity in this society. It’s either you make it and become the ‘it’ boy/girl or you get forgotten in the crowd of other faces, just like a concubine banished to the cold palace, never to see the light of day again.

If you ask me how I’m feeling now, I’ll tell you I feel disappointed, down and out. That’s perfectly normal as I’m human with feelings. If I say I’m fine, you will know I’m lying. Buy give me a few days, or perhaps a week and I’ll be up and about again. I won’t be condemned for life just because I didn’t succeed. I believe I can still snare the big one one day. Watch this space.

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I’m back after a one month hiatus! And time seems to just fly by especially when you are busy with work. Some wondered if I was sick as I was away for a long time. Others enquired about my progress. Thanks to all for your concern.

Well, I’ve been busy with work this past month. There are now more new clients and workshops (which is good news certainly).  I guess all my efforts at milking my other business blog has definitely paid off as enquiries have been coming in regularly. Do check it out and continue to support me ya

And of course, there’s the demands of the competition which I had to juggle as well. It was an experience of a lifetime (let me go sort out some pictures then post here later).

Hmm…it’s strange how L is doing well in all aspects except his love life. And that’s what almost everyone is asking me now. For the record, I’m still handing in a blank sheet as far as relationships are concerned. Yeah, it’s been more than a year since I was in a committed relationship but such things can’t be rushed, can they?

Working a full six-day week now means I have less times for affairs of the heart, but there will be moments when I just so wish there’s someone who will listen and be there for me. The elusive search continues…anyone suitable to recommend?

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My little secret is out. It’s official. Yes, I’m one of the 24 guys in the August Man A-listers Competition – the search for style, substance & success!

Completely different from the other competitions I have taken part so far, this competition seeks to unearth real gentlemen who are not only stylish in their fashion sense, but also have succeeded in life.

Having done my photoshoot & video recording some weeks back, I am so looking forward to this stage of the competition.

But in any competition, there are of course rules to follow. In this case, only 12 guys will make it to the next round. And they will be determined solely by public votes. That’s why it’s important for you to cast your vote.

To everyone out who knows me or has been following my life stories in this blog, I really hope you can make my dreams come true by voting for me & sending me through to the next round.

1. Visit http://www.augustman.com/alisters & create a free account
2. Login with the password (which will be given to you) via email
3. Login with your email address & password
4. Click on the red ‘Vote Now’ button on the left
5. Look out for my name. I’m the 4th guy from the left in the first row.
6. Click on my picture & vote.

Once you have voted successfully, you will see a pop up box stating so.

Every vote counts. Help to spread the word among your friends and family as well. Many thanks everyone!

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It is a burden to carry someone else’s secret with you. And when the truth is exposed, your friend expects you to continue spinning the same tale with him to perpetuate the facade.

Many a times I ask myself where do we draw the line between maintaining the code of honour amongst friends and speaking the truth when the situation demands it? It can be mentally draining.

Am I obliged to help you keep your dirty little secret so you can carry on your daily activities as per normal? Or am I supposed to be the one who spills the beans because of circumstances?

Regardless of keeping or telling, I have to live with my conscience. Tough choice to make.

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I can’t help but feel I’m living in cougar town. What is it with these older women? Don’t they have anything better to do than try to get fresh with younger men?

It’s not funny at all. In fact, it’s tiring having to fend off attention from the cougars. The cougars, thus nicknamed, are older women who prefer younger men. Like or unlike the ‘Cougar Town’ series screening on Channel 5 now, they may start a relationship or just stop after having hot sex in bed.

I’m lamenting coz it’s not a television series you watch on the telly anymore. It’s happening to me. OMG! Give me a break!

I don’t need older women in my life. Do I need another mother? Nope! Do I need someone to breast feed me? Nope! Do I need more maternal love? Nope!

The next cougar who comes along, I’ll ring the Singapore Zoo to rein you in.

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Most people, in fact, almost everyone I know, starts a business because they believe they can add value to other people’s lives and by doing so, make money from it. This is completely legitimate as there is exchange of energy  – products & services for monetary income. Nobody in the right frame of mind would start a business in order to do charity. That should be left to the charitable organisations.

Being able to charge a fee, albeit nominal one for providing goods & services is the expected norm. If you can charge yet insist on giving it for free, then I think you must get your head checked. Checking your head will help ensure you don’t encourage the continued mass proliferation of criminal activity by virtue of your act of giving free. When you give something out for free, chances are that people are not appreciative of it at all. They feel they deserve it. Because it is free, you have planted the seed of thought in their head that you are not an authority in that field. Neither are you confident of what you have to offer. That’s why you are doing it or giving it out for free!

I’m not saying you can’t give things out for free. Yes, you sure can. But very often, there are strings attached for such freebies. In this internet age, nobody would voluntarily give you his/her email address unless he/she knows there is some soundbite size information that is useful and will help improve the quality of life. That’s why he/she chooses to subscribe to a newsletter for such free news. Similarly, nobody would deliberately give out free product samples on the streets without attaching a coupon saying “try me first before buying…”

Recently, we held an event which I was initially very much against. Yes, you guessed it right. It was a free event. Having done my stint in strategic planning in corporate before, I knew instantly that turnout would be bad. After all, it would not hurt people a thing NOT to turn up as they did not pay a single cent for it. All they had to do was to register interest to indicate they would be attending. This certainly wasn’t good enough.

On the event day, the actual turnout was pathetic. Only two people made the effort to make it for the free event. I cringed silently and shook my head. For the sake of just two people, was it even worth the time and energies to galvanise the entire team to action? Just imagine, the poor suckers like me had to sacrifice my sleep and wake up at 5am just to get to the venue, only to be disappointed from the lacklustre turnout. This is to be expected, my friends. If only people had heeded my advice prior to it. Charge a nominal fee for the event if you don’t want to make too much from it. At least, it helps to cover the cost of transportation, logistics and our team breakfast later.

Fast forward to March 2010. There are plans for another similar indoor event in an attempt to bring more awareness. And again there are suggestions to do it free.  Some people don’t learn, do they? But because I am in the driver’s seat this time round, I insisted on charging. If they don’t pay, I won’t do it. Period.

There is no free lunch in this world. Even if you want to pack some food home from the buffet for the evening or for your family, you still have to pay for the buffet meal first before proceeding to surreptitiously steal food home.

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There are some men whom I think should not be labelled as men at all. Their words are like hot air. Good to hear but full of fluff. It impresses at first sight but sucks at the end. After being taken on a ride prided to be the THE ride of your lifetime, you feel so cheated after the ride is over as it didn’t get moving at all.

A real man honours his word. He keeps to all his promises. When he promises to deliver the heavens, he makes sure he does that regardless of how ardous the process is. Even if it means having to sacrifice his beauty sleep or socialising time, he’ll do anything to get the job done.

But sadly, not everyone thinks this way. That’s why I say they are fake men. I don’t care if your Grandmother is pregnant or remarrying. Enough of such excuses.

I think I’ve seen enough people to distinguish the real from the fake. Just like how Skeletor created a Faker (a fake He-Man) in the Masters of the Universe series to confuse everyone with the real He-Man. I’m done with the honey-coated candy lies. I want to see results.

I don’t even know if you have the balls to finish what you claim you will finish. Stop paying lip service. Step up and be a real man.

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I don’t know how to explain this but I think there indeed exists a special ability that some of us possess. It allows us to complete someone else’s sentence or second guess (with utmost accuracy) his or her feelings. It’s called telepathy.

Telepathy is a wonderful gift that the universe grants to two very special people. It can be between a parent and child or between a couple or between close friends.

I think I have a special telepathic ability with certain people. I morph into this mind reader and go into their world, experiencing the same emotions that I too experience. When I return to my world, it reinforces my own emotions.

I’m grateful for this gift

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