Welcome 2015

The last 4 years have been truly fun. I got to see much of Asia on four wheels (NAE 9878). 2015 will probably be a work year unless I decide to extend that 4 year holiday.

I will be 55 in 2015. I have never been healthier and I certainly feel much younger today than 10 years ago. The amazing revelation is, I feel very much in control of 2015. I am able to turn it into a work year or I could take the whole year off and explore Malaysia and Thailand by road on my trusty Land Cruiser. The question is what would make me happier? Expanding my Synergy business or discovering the world I live in. I will give it some thought. Its been sometime since I've had a work challenge and the chief motivation I guess is still more money. The question is why do I want more money, if what I already have is sufficient enough, why slough it out again. Shouldn't I be contented.
I wonder if it has to do with being the best that I can be during this lifetime. Making full use of the life that I've been given and making the utmost of it. As in the book "Conversations with God", the purpose of life is to seek happiness and experience everything. There is nothing more to achieve. Honoring your truest feelings is vitally important to discovering yourself. The question is "What do I want here?" Only those who have lived can celebrate death. And those who die do so that they may live in greater glory. For some, the purpose of life is to seek Glory whereupon glory is the seed that gives rise to true happiness. All of life is discovering "Who You Are" and then experiencing it....

Perhaps, the right answer to 2015 is to continue to celebrate life.... experience everything I want to..... enjoy and bask in the glory of living....
True Joy is in the creating. True Freedom is in the doing without the need for a particular result. We will worry less if we don't attach ourselves to results.Passion is the path, the way to self realization. Health will improve almost immediately when worry ends.

How Time Flies

WF, far right as a newly commissioned Naval officer with my 6th Midshipman Batch buddies.   

How times flies. It wasn't too long ago, when I was 18 years old, struggling to pass my midshipman course so I could be commissioned as a Naval officer. I was so very proud of my development in the Navy; from a boy to an officer & a gentleman. Well I made it and become a Naval officer at the tender age of 19. (as in the photo above). From there on, life was mostly about ships, sea routines, ceremony and growing up even more.

Funny how very difficult it was to be humble during those growing years. You felt like you knew almost everything and constantly had this on top-of-the-world attitude. Little did I know then, that I had lots more growing up to do before I would eventually discover who I really was. When I bought my first car, a Ford Escort 1.1 at a never again to be seen price of $4,500 I felt that Ford build the best cars and everything else, especially Japanese was second rate. I drove that car often into Malaysia, as far north as Kuantan to watch the turtles lay their eggs in the early mornings.

My first ship posting was a Red Wing class Mine Sweeper, RSS Mercury. I was posted onboard as an Additional Office (AO). which meant I didn't have a portfolio and has to do most anything I was called to do. I spent the good part of each day wresting with the typewriter.

RSS Mercury & RSS Jupiter arriving at Brani Naval Base in the early 1970s

The American Red Wing Class Mine Sweepers 

Most of my buddies when home after work and always on the weekends when there was no patrol. I stayed onboard 24/7. The option was an obvious one for me. I didn't have a home to go back to, having been booted out of the house at age 16 by my step father. He was a pommy. A British Bombardier who survived the 2nd World War and was commissioned in the field. He retired a Major and dedicated the rest of his life to the Ex Services Association of Singapore looking after war widows and organizing ceremonies, especially the yearly Remembrance Day Ceremony at Kranji War Memorial. He too was booted out of his home in Devon, England at an early age of 14 years. He immediately joined the Army and rose up the ranks. He was Maj (Ret'd) Derrick John Coupland. He would be celebrating his 92nd birthday in January, if cancer hadn't taken him 22 years ago. I have him to thank for, for giving me the booth 38 years ago as that was the single most influencing factor that accelerated my development.

As I look back all those years, I wonder if I would have turned out differently has I stayed in the security of my family home a lot longer. That home since 1965 was a per-war bungalow at 8 Upper Wilkie Road. The house has since been torn down and a new one build in the same fashion as the old one that stood in a bygone era of old Singapore. How I miss the place at Mount Emily and i do visit the site from time to time to reminiscence the 1960s & 70s when I young and fearless.

I am at home now with my 3 boys. They were babies not too long ago. They're in their 20s now. No. I didn't give them the booth when they arrived at 16. I kept them longer than I should. They still depend on me financially, emotionally and sometimes socially. I wonder when they will eventually leave the nest and explore the world on their own strength. Perhaps soon. Perhaps only after they marry. Perhaps never. That's a scary thought.

On Patrol off Horsburgh Lighthouse

Life is wonderful for me and my wife these days. We have everything we want and more. I am past the halfway mark at 54 yrs old and looking forward with eager anticipation for what the next 50 years will surprise me. I am glad that life is unpredictably predictable. It's full of surprises. I have only good ones in store for me.....

Arrived at Colombo, Sri Lanka in 1979 onboard RSS Resolution

Conducting lectures at sea onboard the LSTs

Cycling at Bitung Indonesia with Joe Cheong

WF Sailing Larks at Midshipman School

Raymond Francis, M.Sc.

Raymond Francis: Author of Best Seller: Never be Sick Again

When doctors gave Raymond Francis only weeks to live, the chemist and MIT graduate relied on his training to formulate a revolutionary approach to cure disease. Since restoring his own health, he has helped thousands of people - including those with incurable cancer, to reclaim their lives and take back their health.
His ground breaking research reveals that every disease, including cancer has, has one simple cause; malfunctioning cells. By attacking the cancer at the cellular level where it starts, you can switch off the cancer process completely.

In his book, "Never Be Sick Again" Raymond Francis explains cellular malfunction, that there is really only one disease, 2 causes and that there are 6 pathways to health.

Gwen Olsen - Confessions of an Rx Drug Pusher

Gwen Olsen is an amazing individual. She was working for Big Pharma for 15 yrs and very successfully, when an incident involving her niece changed her life forever....

On December 2, 2004, Gwen Olsen’s niece Megan committed suicide by setting herself on fire—and ended her tortured life as a victim of the adverse effects of prescription drugs. Olsen’s poignant autobiographical journey through the darkness of mental illness and the catastrophic consequences that lurk in medicine cabinets around the country offers an honest glimpse into alarming statistics and a health care system ranked last among nineteen industrialized nations worldwide.

As a former sales representative in the pharmaceutical industry for several years, Olsen learned firsthand how an unprecedented number of lethal drugs are unleashed in the United States market, but her most heartrending education into the dangers of antidepressants would come as a victim and ultimately, as a survivor. Rigorously researched and documented, Confessions of an Rx Drug Pusher is a moving human drama that shares one woman’s unforgettable journey of faith, forgiveness, and healing.

Ema me at wf@wfmagic.com if you want to learn more and take charge of your personal health & wellness.

I'm Synergy For Life

William Francis speaking in one of many Synergy Seminars in South East Asia   

(I wrote this letter to my Synergy friends in Japan, some 4 years ago)

Dear Synergy Friends,  

My name is William Francis and I've been  a Synergy member since 2003. Today I’m blessed with good Health, Time & Financial Freedom as a result of working the Synergy business. I wish for you to receive the same blessings in Synergy as soon as possible. In this article I wish to share with you a key component of my belief system. I call it The Miracle of Retention. It may appear to be too simple, but do not underestimate the power of its simplicity.

You see, I used to think that it was okay to lose 1,000 members every month if more than 1,000 new members join my organization each month to replace the ones that leave. That erases the deficit and seems to be fine, but it’s a poor solution.

Over the years, several of my members who do not have large downline organizations discovered that it is possible to thrive financially each month. Their focus is Retention. They are able to retain customers who just want products and distributors who desire a second income. Before they shifted their focus to Retention, they used to struggle because of the high fall-out rate. Many worked the Synergy business for more than 5 years and focused on aggressive sponsoring, but could never cope financially. What’s sad is that we genuinely have a great parent company that has been around for 40 years, is totally debt free and financially very liquid. Our products are amongst the best in the world and Natures Sunshine is listed 42^nd of the top 100 Best corporate citizens of America. Synergy is her prime vehicle to advance this great company into a Billion dollar giant and leave a legacy. What more can you ask of this great company. 

           

As I worked with these distributors, I discovered that the ‘silent killer’ was ATTRITION. The opposite of which is RETENTION, which embraces the “Synergy For Life” culture. Many prospects join as a result of genuine excitement based on the testimonies of individuals who have succeeded. The cliché; “These guys made it, so can you” is true, and “If you just follow the System you’ll get there” is also true. The key here however is keeping the people in Synergy for life once they come in.

The 5 dollar question is; how do you plug up the attrition leak. The answer is simply, you cannot. I realize that no amount of convincing will make a person adopt the “Synergy for Life” commitment. Perhaps this story will help you understand better. I spoke with a hotel manager and remarked that his counter staffs were very pleasant & helpful. I asked him how he trained them. His curt answer was, he didn't He simply looked for people who loved to smile & recruited them.

Similarly, you cannot over convince a member to stay a customer or distributor for life. You simply have to search out the ones who are obsessed with Health & Time Freedom and are self-disciplined to pursue that obsession for life and leave a legacy. The first person that must make this commitment is You. Yes you. Otherwise don’t expect anyone in your organization to embrace “Synergy for Life”.

As a strong believer in systems, I will say that I find many systems fascinating, highly spirited and extremely effective in bringing people in. I do not however find them very effective in retaining members if the chief obsession is monetary success. This is because the high attrition is usually a direct response to a Lack of Results. If after many years of consistent hard work, the member still doesn't achieve the financial results to sustain his/her family’s monthly expenses, no amount of motivation will substitute the pain of many years of financial struggle with no results. Time & Financial Freedom usually belongs to the many few who made it by keeping their troops intact. Hence if we can just shift the focus from rapid sponsoring to rock solid Retention we can buck the high attrition trend.

The leader who looses more people than he can bring in will continue to struggle until the equation is reversed. The majority would be better off keeping a job whilst working the Synergy business.     

I have deliberately painted an average person’s reality of the mlm industry rather than single out the super networker who overcomes all challenges. The question therefore is, how then are we to navigate the treacherous waters of an mlm opportunity? Let us first accept the reality that it is okay that not everyone will make it, even though everyone is given equal opportunity. The more important issue is to institute a culture where people’s primary satisfaction lies with the benefits they receive from the products first & their association with this great company. Happy customers stay. Hence I would like to promote a healthy ratio of ten happy customers to one hardworking distributor. The customers should have no desire for a second income. Their only motivation is good health and the desire to share this with family & friends. They are the people who already have money from other sources & are happy with the benefits they get from taking the products & the service they receive from the professional distributors.    

So folks, may I suggest that you temporary shift your focus away from the difficult task of sponsoring new distributors if that is bugging you right now. Focus instead on the members & customers that you already have. Make a special effort to strengthen their endorsement of our company and ask them to recommit themselves to “Synergy for Life” this month. The legacy you leave behind will outlive you when you achieve the dream. Therefore you must outlast the limiting beliefs that hinder your progress. Having happy members will lift up your spirits & your heightened joy will attract the same positive people to you. Do this now and you’ll see your energy soar like the eagles.

   

I’m Synergy for Life

William Francis

Presidential Executive 2008

2014 Asian Summit at Pattaya

Roslyn & I left Singapore early on the 17th Nov. Instead of the usual route of driving straight to Hat Yai, we decided to make a stop at Ipoh to savor our favorite foods there. It would all be local fares at the open air food stalls that would only be opened at night. In the day, it's usually a car-park or a minor road. The conversion to a hawker center would take place every night subject to the mercy of the weather. If it rained heavily, the stalls would delay till the rained stopped.

My trusty 24 yr old Land Cruiser parked before the infamous IPOH sign atop a limestone hill, synonymous with the famous IPOH of old. Once a mining town, Ipoh is now a quiet town slowing emerging as a popular destination for local tourists. 

Roslyn doesn't like taking pictures. I caught her off guard this time resting inside the Land Cruiser sheltered from the heat of the day. If there's one thing she doesn't enjoy is direct sun. 

  
The journey from Hat Yai was very smooth. There was a little haze and some rain throughout which I was glad to have. Better that than the searing heat of the mid day sun. After 2 days at Hat Yai, we headed for the sleepy cowboy town of Chumphon for a night's transit before heading for the seaside tourist town of Hua Hin. What a huge difference that was, Hua Hin was bustling with everything touristy for which we were actually glad. I guess the highlight was horse riding on the beach during sunset. That was short and sweet.
We arrive at Pattaya after 4 days of smooth travelling. Total 2,100km; not a lot of distance really and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the drive.

Arrived at Pattaya on the 4th day. The Asian Summit was held at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort. The slogan for that year's event - "The Power of Change" a very fitting message for what Synergy stands for.

My Land Cruiser parked below the window of my hotel room. I paid just S$240 for the room for 2 nights and they gave me a standard room the size of a suite. I was happy that I could see my car from the room. Although nobody in his right mind would steal it, I needed to keep it safe for the journey home.

Let the 2014 Asian Summit begin.... Lights, action, camera....

Ms Jenny Chen leading the Singapore Delegation. Incidentally it was the smallest contingent there for the 7th year running. Have to do something about that soon.

Always a joy to meet up with my Indonesian customers who have become good friends with me over the years. The baby is Ibu Lisa's fourth. She & her husband brought their 2 youngest to Pattaya.

That's me looking real fat in the photo. The beautiful ladies on my left are my top customers from Vietnam. I have yet to see a fat lady in Vietnam. Ironically Slim Shakes still sell well in Vietnam. I wonder why?

William Goh, my sailing buddy of 24yrs having a heavy session with our GM Lawrence Choo who overseas Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and now Vietnam again.

Two of my very favorite people. Presidential Executive Mohd Rasyid & Indonesian GM Erwin Dumalang. We've worked together in the trenches for 10 years. From humble beginnings to a huge empire of customers & distributors spanning across the entire Indonesian Archipelago 

There were Koreans everywhere. 98% were ladies. Where have all the Korean men gone?  

The Olympic style opening of the Asian Summit

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Ms Lua - Binary is a balancing act indeed. You need to balance both legs

Scott, Ms Loan, Ms Lua & David Johnson. Bigger people are more gentle? Very true of Scot & David the perfect officer & a gentlemen.

Presidential Executive Mohd Rasyid & Indonesia GM Erwin Dumalang. Always smiling & always happy no matter what. 

Pearl Executive William Goh having a heavy session with S'pore GM Lawrence Choo.

Pearl Executive William Goh. His story from Debt to Riches from sickness to health is awe inspiring. 

Road Trip: S'pore to Pattaya

Time to get on the road again. This time a shorter trip from Singapore to Pattaya, 2,000km away. I will take it slow and make 3 stops along the way. First stop Hat Yai, then Chumphon, Hua Hin and finally arriving in Pattaya on the 4th Day. Weather forecast is wet & stromy with probably flooding along the way. Good thing I'll be driving a 25yr old Toyota Land cruiser. I had the car jacked up an inch higher which should be good enough clearance for a little flood.

S'pore to Pattaya 2,000km of glorious roads

    Looking at the map, i just realized that the route is longer than the flight from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. The normal journey to Pattaya is a flight to Bangkok followed by a 2hr bus ride to the beach resort of Pattaya, a popular weekend getaway for Bangkok residents. A week ago several parts of Southern Thailand was closed to cars due to flooding. The forecast is more of the same this week. Well, I intend to enjoy every bit of the journey and take it slow and easy to be safe.
More updates after Monday.

Safety@Sea Campaign Nov 2014

I love being out at sea, especially when it rains & the wind is blowing. I would obviously seek a  sheltered bay to anchor and enjoy the rain. The air is also freshest after the rain and you could almost smell the ozone when the temperature drips. Somehow when I think about my fondest moments at sea, I always remember rainy & windy days. Now, having lived well past the half-way point in my life, I choose to continue enjoying the care-free life of a seafarer. That special freedom that the sea gives to me is priceless. I respect the sea and I have never feared her, no matter how bad a storm I've been in and no matter how dark the weather became. It is this joy that I treasure, that gave me the motivation to become a volunteer with the Power Boat Association. 

Whatever contributions I make and will make in the near future, it will all be to fuel this passion I have about enjoying the freedom of the seas as sons of an Island named Singapore.    

WF receiving an award from MPA CEO Mr Andrew Tan for contributions towards the Safety@Sea campaign

Together with 10 very senior Harbor Pilots

I Grew up with Raffles Marina

I met YP Loke, then the GM of Raffles Marina (RM) in 1994, when Raffles Marina was more construction site then a thriving Marina. I think there were a few berths housing some boats then. I was looking for a job as a PPCDL boating instructor. I got the job at a generous compensation of $70 an hour. I was very grateful. Today RM, stands as one of the better Marinas in SE Asia. Her superb architecture, by renowned Architect Alfred Wong, has stood the test of time and in my opinion, Raffles Marina is the probably the most beautiful and cleverly built Marina in SE Asia. But that's just my bias opinion.

The majority of the guests congregate at the Bistro next to the swimming pool, seen in this picture.  

Beautiful Resort Feel...

This is The Bistro. It is packed every day during lunch and pretty respectable at night. The canopy tent was build by a Singapore Salor, My Yeo Ngak Hoe

From the Bristro, you have the complete view of the Boats in the Marina

The swimming pool gives the Marina a Resort Atmosphere

The Building in the distance is the Boat House where smaller boats are dry stacked. On the 2nd floor is the office of the Marina Manager, Control Room and offices 

Talvas, one of about 150 large Yachts on the water

The Mega Yacht in the background is The Asean Lady owned by Brian Chang

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A Grand Banks 42 Classic. Restored back to her old glory

A nice looking passage maker. Practicality & reliability is her strength. 

The Boat House. Also known as the Dry Stack where the smaller boats up to 5 tons are stored

The Azimuths are probably on of the largest selling brand of boats in the world. Made in Italy, her styling appeals to many. 

Personally I have grown to like Power Catamarans. They're spacious, stable and very economical to run.

Behind the Cat is a Boat House. The 3 stories of space is equal to a 3 bedroom condo

Might prove to be a great retirement home over the water. Certainly cheaper & nicer than an apartment in Sentosa

View of the Marina from the House Boat

This is the Boat Yard at Raffles Marina where repairs, especially hull cleaning & Anti-fouling coats are applied. All Marinas need this facility as you cannot leave a boat in the water for more than a year without it picking up marine growth.

What a sight..... Marinas are beautiful in every way. Raffles is definitely there among the very best