"Suze Orman's 2009 Action Plan" - Free Download Online

Suze Orman is providing her latest book free online at The Oprah Winfrey's Show's Website .

The book is entitled Suze Orman's 2009 Action Plan.

This free download would be available until 15th January 2009 only.


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"Say it Like Obama" Book

Another book that I read today is "Say it Like Obama - The Power of Speaking with Purpose and Vision" by Shel Leanne.

She is formerly from McKinsey and Morgan Stanley, having worked in New York City and London. She also had spent some years being a faculty at Harvard University.

This book started with where Obama started, when he gave a speech in 2004, and it ended with his acceptance speech as Democrat's candidate for Presidential contest in 2008.

This book shared on both the speeches above, with Obama's expression in parenthesis, so that gave us a lot more "visualization" of his speech.

Some of the key ideas of this book is:-
- Earning trust and confidence
- Breaking down barriers
- Winning hearts and minds
- Conveying vision
- Driving points home
- Persuading
- Facing and overcome controversy
- Motivate others to action
- Leaving strong lasting impression

Do check out the book at Amazon or your local book stores.

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Would encourage any of my blog readers to share with me any event that you come across. As long as the event/activity/initiative is education/charity/youth oriented and is not-for-profit, I would be more than happy to post it to share!

"Corporate Confidential" by Susan A. Dephillips

Read this book "Corporate Confidential" by Susan A. Dephillips. It seems quite a good book for someone at my stage of career, where it shares with me various do's and don't for career.

What it shared is not rocket science, but it is quite a good read, to see the perspectives of those Senior Executives that she has interviewed. It was summarized as a whole, and I would say that it is quite an interesting read.

However, as I was looking through the review in Amazon, those readers are not giving as good a response. You can assess it here . Guess perhaps my standard expected is not as high, or maybe it is suitable for those who are at my stage of career.

Guess you can browse it and decide. I was reading it through at Borders at Queensbay mall.

Nearing the end of reading, I was surprised to meet Khye Theng and Victor there. :)

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Would encourage any of my blog readers to share with me any event that you come across. As long as the event/activity/initiative is education/charity/youth oriented and is not-for-profit, I would be more than happy to post it to share!

10th World of Chinese Book Fair 2008

Quoting this from evening_go_jogging from ReCom.org here

Do check it out!

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Event: 10th World of Chinese Book Fair 2008
Date: 14 - 23 November 2008
Venue: Malaysian International Exhibition & Convention Centre (MIECC), Kuala Lumpur

For further details, please log on to World of Chinese Book Fair 2008

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Click here to read more of Chen Chow's posts

Would encourage any of my blog readers to share with me any event that you come across. As long as the event/activity/initiative is education/charity/youth oriented and is not-for-profit, I would be more than happy to post it to share!

2 Books on Managers

After work just now, I went to Borders Times Square and spent about 2 hours there reading. It is always great to be spending time reading and reflecting on my mind.

Today, my pick of reading was Dream Manager by Matthew Kelly. It was a great read, of how a guy named Simon influenced his superior, Greg and they have various initiatives to stem the turnover rate of their janitor business. At one point, the turnover rate was 400%, and they managed to reduce to 12%.

They utilized various means to fulfill what the workers needs are. Sometimes, it is not about salary. Initially, they chartered vans and buses to bring them to work, because of their workplace was very hard to go, and hence truancy was very high. Even sick leave was high.

After that, they realized that these people do not manage to live their dream. Essentially, they are just living day by day on their life. So, they started this concept of having "Dream Manager", where their job is to help the employees to fulfill their dream. They work together with the employees, and it was interesting to see how the employees react to that and improved their productivity, as well as many aspects of their life.

It is a good read. So, try to get hold of it!

Another book that I read just now was The New Manager's Handbook - 24 Lessons for Mastering Your New Role .

It is a refreshing read and allows me to reflect on my past 5 months in JobStreet.com and see what I should change and improve on myself. Particularly in terms of communication, how I think, how I do my work etc. How can I get more things done, get more trust/support from others, how I learn from others etc.

And when I read those tips, I actually reflect on what those leaders/supervisors in JobStreet.com do, and I would say that many of the things they do really embody what are the advised things to do. Am fortunate to have a good place to learn, and grow myself professionally and personally.

It is a long journey, but I am keeping fingers' crossed that it would continue to be great learning ground for me, and hopefully, I am able to contribute my bits to the firm too!


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Click here to read more of Chen Chow's posts

Would encourage any of my blog readers to share with me any event that you come across. As long as the event/activity/initiative is education/charity/youth oriented and is not-for-profit, I would be more than happy to post it to share!

Hot, Flat and Crowded by Thomas Friedman

One of the books that I read today at Borders Times Square and The Curve (yeah, both borders) is Hot, Flat and Crowded .

It was by Thomas Friedman. And I would say that it is a great book for us to reflect about our earth. I have just finished about 150 pages, and I would say that it is a good book for us to reflect. If you had read "The World is Flat", then, you would like this one too.

It brought us back to senses on the climate issues that we face around the world, and the growing impact of the middle class around the world. There are a lot of people who desire to live a life, similar to the luxurious life that Americans do today.

Friedman tries to bring forth idea of America revolutionize, by creating the example of leading a "green" life and have "Code Green". That way, the rest of the world would follow it in that manner.

Do check it out!


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Click here to read more of Chen Chow's posts

Would encourage any of my blog readers to share with me any event that you come across. As long as the event/activity/initiative is education/charity/youth oriented and is not-for-profit, I would be more than happy to post it to share!

Get Free Online Magazine

Thanks to Pei Chieng for sharing this link with me.

This post is definitely a good one for environmentalist. Zinio, the world's largest publisher and distributor of digital magazine has decided to give 1 free magazine access for 1 year digitally.

Do check it out at Go Read Green .

Hopefully that you would think of the environment when you read, as protecting our earth is the joint effort between all of us - citizen of the world.


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Click here to read more of Chen Chow's posts

Would encourage any of my blog readers to share with me any event that you come across. As long as the event/activity/initiative is education/charity/youth oriented and is not-for-profit, I would be more than happy to post it to share!

The Ten Commandments For Business Failure by Donald Keough

Yesterday, while I was at Kinokuniya at KLCC waiting for a friend, I was browsing the book. Really enjoyed the time I get to spend in book store, just that I haven't been doing that frequently.. :(

Saw a book near the entrance of Kinokuniya. The title is "The Ten Commandments For Business Failure" by Donald Keough, former President and Chief Operating Officer of Coca-Cola. You can see the book from Amazon .

Somehow this book is not even released in US yet. It is going to be released on 24th July 2008, but somehow Kinokuniya did have it already.

It is an interesting book, where Donald shared on 10 (or in fact 11) characteristics that would most likely cause business to fail. He tried to argue that there is no formula for success, but there is formula for failure.

I am going to share the 10 (+1) key points he highlighted, which is sure to doom on business.

1. Quit taking risk
2. Be inflexible
3. Isolate yourself
4. Assume infallability
5. Play game close to foul line
6. Don't take time to think
7. Put faith in consultants
8. Love bureaucracy
9. Send mixed message
10. Be afraid of future
11. Lose passion for work & life

It is interesting to read that Donald Keough actually lived across the street from Warren Buffett, both in the little town of Omaha. Two billionaires and world renowned figure across the road.

Donald talked about how he had good mentor since his early stage of career. And how his CEO (when he was President and COO), delegated task to him, but in the end, never delegated the CEO position to him...hahaha...

It is a refreshing reading for this book, and I am just half way done...So guess, this weekend, I have to get myself to book store again to read. :)

If any of you have read this book, do share your thoughts!




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Click here to read more of Chen Chow's posts

Would encourage any of my blog readers to share with me any event that you come across. As long as the event/activity/initiative is education/charity/youth oriented and is not-for-profit, I would be more than happy to post it to share!

Donating Books at Bookfest @ Malaysia

Thanks to my blog reader for sharing this with me.

This would be a good way for fellow Malaysians to help inculcate reading habits among fellow Malaysians!

And Bookfest @ Malaysia 2008 is definitely a good place to get some good books. It is amazing to read that the Bookfest has been getting very good response. Day 1 yesterday brought in about 30,000 people, and today, brought in 40,000 people. Does that mean that we have brighter day for improving the value add for Malaysians? Do Malaysians strengthen their reading habit already?

Go to the Bookfest at Kuala Lumpur Convention Center!

Full article below is quoted from The Star
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KUALA LUMPUR: A book recycling campaign will also be held in conjunction with Bookfest @ Malaysia 2008.

The campaign will see books donated by members of the public sent to selected orphanages, children hospital wards and primary school libraries.

Those who want to donate can bring them to the Readcycle for Charity counter located at the KL Convention Centre.

The counter will be open from 10am to 10pm for the duration of Bookfest@Malaysia 2008, which runs from today until June 1.

Each book donor who brings a minimum of 10 used books will be presented with a one-year Popular Adult Card, which entitles the bearer to many offers at all Popular bookstores nationwide. Only English books in fairly good condition will be accepted.
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Click here to read more of Chen Chow's posts

Would encourage any of my blog readers to share with me any event that you come across. As long as the event/activity/initiative is education/charity/youth oriented and is not-for-profit, I would be more than happy to post it to share!

Malaysian Writer on Road Show in US

Thanks to Eng Han for highlighting this. She would be having her book promotion at various areas in US, including New York City, Columbia University, Harvard University, Rochester, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

This is definitely a spirit of Malaysia Boleh!

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Dear all,

Preeta Samarasan, a new and upcoming Malaysian writer, will be hitting a destination near you soon to promote her book, Evening is the Whole Day. Do go to her events to show your support! She'll be in NYC this weekend and Boston the coming week!

Cheers,
Eng Han


U.S. Book tour, May 2008

Fri, May 9th, 7pm: Asian American Writers' Workshop, 16 West 32nd Street, 10th Floor, NYC (joint reading with Jen Sookfong Lee)

Sat, May 10th, 12:30pm: Columbia University Bookstore, 2922 Broadway at West 115th Street, Alfred J. Lerner Hall, Lower Level, NYC. Organised by the Columbia University Southeast Asian League (SEAL) and the Weatherhead East Asian Institute

Mon, May 12th, 7pm: McNally Robinson Booksellers, 52 Prince Street, NYC (Author/Editor event, with Anjali Singh).

Tue, May 13th, 7pm: Harvard Bookstore, 1256, Massachussetts Avenue, Boston (Joint reading/signing with V.V. Ganeshananthan, followed by a conversation on political identity). Co-sponsored by the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Sat, May 17th, 6pm: Rochester Contemporary Art Center, 137 East Avenue, Rochester, NY. Reading and reception sponsored by Greenwood Books

Mon, May 19th, 7:30pm: Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 South Main Street, Seattle

Thu, May 22nd, 6pm (note changed time & location!): Book Passage, San Francisco Store, 1 Ferry Building, #42, San Francisco, CA

Tue, May 27th, 7:30pm: Barnes & Noble - The Grove, 189 The Grove Dr., Los Angeles, CA

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Click here to read more of Chen Chow's posts

Would encourage any of my blog readers to share with me any event that you come across. As long as the event/activity/initiative is education/charity/youth oriented and is not-for-profit, I would be more than happy to post it to share!

Seminar for Lifelong Learning Reading Club

This would be an interesting talk to sign up! I will be there too!

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Greetings from Centre for Extension Education, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman.

Thank you in registering for the talk entitled “Our Iceberg is Melting: Changing & Succeeding Under Any Conditions" and your support for our continuing effort to promote awareness of Lifelong Learning Reading Club among Malaysians.

"Our Iceberg is Melting: Changing & Succeeding Under Any Conditions" is a book written by Professor John P. Kotter, a world-renowed expert on Leadership and Change Management from Harvard Business School. This book talks about how organisations and individuals can effect positive change under any conditions with the right strategy. The talk will benefit managers who find it difficult to effect change at workplace. It is also for the staff member who can't understand how and why change takes place in corporate organisations.

Details of the talk are as follows:

Title : Our Iceberg is Melting: Changing & Succeeding Under Any Conditions
(programme information enclosed)

Date : 24 May 2008 (Saturday)

Time : 9.45am to 12.00 noon

Venue : Centre for Extension Education
UNIVERSITI TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN
11 Jalan 13/6
46200 Petaling Jaya

Kindly contact Ms Eileen / Mr Ooi at 03-79555181 / 03-79572818 ext 8666 / 8611 for enquiries.

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Click here to read more of Chen Chow's posts

Would encourage any of my blog readers to share with me any event that you come across. As long as the event/activity/initiative is education/charity/youth oriented and is not-for-profit, I would be more than happy to post it to share!

Lifelong Learning Reading Club

After a recent MCA Lifelong Learning (LLL) Reading Club launching, the club has taken an important first step to recommend 6 books for reading for January to June 2008. The focus on the Reading Club would be on 5 areas, Life & Health, Parenting Skills & Education, Literature & Classics, Business & Management and Social Science.

LLL is looking for those who are interested to become mentors. There will be a training session provided on 17th December 7:30pm at Wisma MCA, Jalan Ampang. To get more info, go to Lifelong Learning's Website or call 03-21618044.

As Mr. Quek Ngee Meng, Acting Director of Lifelong Learning mentioned, "Reading need not be a solitary activity any more. It can be a social activity where different people can share similar interests and their thoughts on different books.

The 6 books recommended are:-
1. (Literature & Classics) - For One More Day by Mitch Albom
2. (Literature & Classics) - A Thousand Splendid Sons by Khaled Hosseni
3. (Life & Health) - You're What You Eat: Your Healthy Lifestyle Guide
4. (Parenting & Education) - How To Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adela Faber and Elaine Mazlish
5. (Business & Management) - Build To Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies by Jim Collins
6. (Social Science) - The Man and His Ideas by YB Dato' Seri Ong Ka Ting

Recommended Books by MCA

The following are few of the books recommended in Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) website. MCA has played a very crucial roles in promoting lifelong learning among fellow Malaysians, especially among Chinese community. I have found the recommendations of the following few books been very apt.

The 5 recommended books are:-
1. The Making of the Malayan Constitution - Joseph M. Fernando
2. The Price of Peace: True Accounts of the Japanese Occupation - Foong Choon Hon
3. The New Villages in MalaysiaL The Journey Ahead - Lim Hin Fui and Fong Tian Yong
4. Tun Sir Tan Cheng Lock - MCA Publicity Bureau
5. Valley of Hope: The Sungai Buloh National Leprosy Center - Phang Siew Sia and Wong Chau Yin
6. God of the Earth - Ho Thean Fook

The links are at MCA Website

Book Fair at Mines International Convention Center

From today to 25th November 2007, there will be a Chinese book fair at Mines International Convention Center. There would be a bunch of interesting talks as well. I do not have the list of seminars with me, but do try to check it out.

I believe there is a nominal entrance fee of RM2 or so. It is to be donated to about 10 schools in Malaysia from all medium of instruction.

Hope to see more people inculcate a reading culture!

Enjoy! Happy Weekend!