Rajen_Devadason

ONLY God knows the number of years we’ll live on Earth, yet we can choose to live well by proactively charting the course of our lives, while delighting in our journey’s twists and turns, setbacks and celebrations, crashes and crescendos.

HOW much do you know or remember about libraries? I adore them and try my best to visit one each time I spend more than just a few days in any developed foreign city. If you’re like me, you might even vaguely remember that the name “Dewey” has some bearing on how all modern libraries stock the shelves of their various sections.

WE live in the K- or Knowledge-Economy, where what we know and, frankly, how we communicate it determines whether we stagnate, rise or fall through the seven socio-economic strata of our respective home countries (which is Malaysia for most of me and my readers):

THERE are some wealthy people sitting atop their respective family food chains who honestly think it is acceptable and perhaps even appropriate for them to control others through the power of their money. It isn’t.

WHEN we focus on the laudable financial goals of wealth-generation and wealth-retention, we understand the importance of making money, not spending all of it, setting aside a portion of our regular earnings in savings and investments, and — through intelligent capital allocation — overcoming the steady erosion of money’s purchasing power.

THERE are many parts to a strong retirement foundation. Three of them are good health, great relationships and strong cash flow. Our capacity to move around easily and safely throughout our later decades affects our quality of retirement.

WE stand at the brink of another New Year. As I wish you a happy one, let me say I suspect it will be our best year in a long time.

AS you read this column, you’re utilising the singular super-skill that separates the wheat from the chaff, the winners in life from the also-rans, and the thoughtful and erudite from the milling mass of hapless humanity.