Adam Khoo: The expats will rule Singapore

[Parent1]

Adam Khoo: The expats will rule Singapore

28 January, 2010

I have a prediction. My prediction is that in a couple of years, the
expatriates (from China , India , US etc…) will rule Singapore . They
will increasingly take on more leadership roles of CEOs, directors, heads
of organizations, award winners etc… If you observe closely, it is
already happening now. Last year’s top PSLE (Primary School Leaving
Exam) student is a China National. Most of the deans list students and
first class honours students in the local universities are foreigners and
more and more CEOs, even that of go vernment link corporations are expats.
The top players in our National teams are expats.

As a Singaporean, I am not complaining. I think that in a meritocratic
society like Singapore , it is only fair that the very best get rewarded,
no matter their race, religion or nationality. Like Lee Kwan Yew said, I
rather have these talented and driven people be on our team contributing to
our nation than against us from their home country. The question I have
been asking is, ‘why are the expats beating the crap out of Singaporeans?’

What I noticed is that these expats have a very important quality that many
Singaporeans (especially the new Y generation lack). It is a quality that
our grandfathers and great-grandfathers (who came from distant lands) had
that turned Singapore from a fishing village to the third richest country
in the world (according to GDP per capita). Unfortunately, I fear this
quality is soon disappearing from the new generation of Singaporeans.

This quality is the HUNGER FOR SUCCESS and the FIGHTING SPIRIT!!!

Expats who come here today have the same tremendous HUNGER for success that
our grandfathers had. They are willing to sacrifice, work hard and pay the
price to succeed. They also believe that no one owes them a living and they
have to work hard for themselves. They also bring with them the humility
and willingness to learn. Take the case of Qui Biqing, the girl from Qifa
Primary school who topped the whole of Singapore in last year’s PSLE with a
score of 290. When she came to Singapore 3 years ago from China , she could
hardly speak a word of English and didn’t even understand what a
thermometer was. Although she was 10 years old, MOE recommended she start
at Primary 2 because of her lack of English proficiency. After appealing,
she managed to start in Primary 3. While most Singaporeans have a head
start of learning English at pre-school at the age of 3-4 years old, she
only started at age 10. Despite this handicapped, she had the drive to read
continuously and practice her speaking and writing skills, eventually
scoring an A-star in English!

This hunger and drive can also be seen in the workforce. I hate to say this
but in a way, I sometimes think expats create more value than locals.

Expats are willing to work long hours, go the extra mile, are fiercely
loyal to you and don’t complain so much. They also come a lot more
qualified and do not ask the moon for the remuneration. Recently, I placed
an ad for a marketing executive. Out of 100+ resumes, more than 60% came
from expats. While locals fresh grads are asking for $2,500+ per month, I
have expats with masters degrees from good universities willing to get less
than $2,000! They know that if they can come in and learn and work hard,
they will eventually climb up and earn alot more. They are willing to
invest in themselves, pay the price for future rewards. Sometimes I wonder
how some of the locals are going to compete with this. Of course, this is
just a generalization. There ARE definitely some Singaporeans who create
lots of value and show fighting spirit.

Unfortunately, I have found that more and more young Singaporeans lack this
hunger for success. Instead, they like to complain, blame circumstances and
wait for others to push them. Some hold on to the attitude that the world
owes them a living. I shake my head when I see local kids nowadays complain
that they don’t have the latest handphones, branded clothes and games.
While I acknowledge that the kids of today are much smarter and well
informed than I was at their age (my 4 year old daughter can use my Macbook
computer and my iphone), I find that they lack the resilience and tenacity
they need to survive in the new economy.
Some kids nowadays tend to give up easily once they find that things get
tough and demand instant gratification. When they have to work first to get
rewards later, many tend to lack the patience to follow through.

So, how did this happen? Why is our nation of hardworking, hungry fighters
slowly becoming a nation of complaining softies? I think the problem is
that life in Singapore has been too good and comfortable. Kids today have
never seen hunger, poverty, war and disasters. What makes it worse is that
parents nowadays give kids everything they want and over protect them from
hardship and failure. Parents often ask me why their kids lack the
motivation to study and excel. My answer to them is because they already
have everything! Giving someone everything they want is the best way to
kill their motivation. What reason is there for them to fight to become the
best when they are already given the best from their parents without having
to earn it? It reminds me of the cartoon movie MADAGASCAR where Alex the
Lion and his animal friends were born and raised in the Central Park Zoo.
They were well taken care of and provided with processed food and an
artificial jungle. When they escaped to Africa , they found that they could
barely survive in the wild with the other animals because they had lost
their instincts to fight and hunt for food. They could only dance and sing.

I see the same thing in the hundreds of seminars and training programmes I
conduct. I see increasing more and more expats attending my Wealth Academy
and Patterns of Excellence programme in Singapore . Not surprisingly, they
are always the first to grab the microphone to answer and ask questions.

While many of the locals come in late and sit at the back. The expats
(especially those from India and China ) always sit at the front, take
notes ferociously and stay back way after the programme is over to ask
questions. I feel ashamed sometimes when I ask for volunteers to ask
questions, and the Singaporeans keep quiet, while the foreigners fight for
the opportunity. For my "I Am Gifted!’ programme for students, I have the
privilege to travel & conduct it in seven countries (Singapore, Indonesia,
Hong Kong, China, Malaysia etc…) and see students from all over. Is there
a big difference in their attitude and behaviour? You bet!

Again, I feel really sad that in Singapore , most students who come are
usually forced by their parents to come and improve themselves, Some
parents even bribe them with computer games and new handphones to attend.

During the course, some adopt the ‘I know everything’ attitude and lack the
interest to succeed until I kick their butts. It is so different when I go
to Malaysia , Indonesia and once in India . The kids there ask their
parents to send them to my programme They clap and cheer enthusiastically
when the teachers enter the room and participate so willingly when lessons
are on. I still scratch my head and wonder what happened to my fellow
Singaporeans to this day.

So mark my words, unless the new generation of Singaporeans wake up and get
out of their happy over protected bubble and start fighting for their
future, the expats (like our great grandfathers) will soon be the rulers of
the country. At the rate at which talented and hungry expats are climbing
up, our future prime minister may be an Indian or China PR or may even be
an Ang Moh!

[tankee]

Hi Parent1


could you kindly state the official source of this article?

this is to give credit to the official source.

thanks

[Parent1]

tankee:

Hi Parent1


could you kindly state the official source of this article?

this is to give credit to the official source.

thanks

Apparently, this is an article written by the famous motivation speaker/trainer - Adam Khoo. It was forwarded to me by my stock broker in Kim Eng Securities.

[tankee]

oic ... :oops:

[CMF]

tankee:

Hi Parent1


could you kindly state the official source of this article?

this is to give credit to the official source.

thanks

It's available on http://www.adam-khoo.com/304/the-expats-will-rule-singapore/ too.

[tankee]

Thanks CMF

[skunk]

Parent1:

As a Singaporean, I am not complaining. I think that in a meritocratic
society like Singapore , it is only fair that the very best get rewarded,
no matter their race, religion or nationality. Like Lee Kwan Yew said, I
rather have these talented and driven people be on our team contributing to
our nation than against us from their home country.

Another load of meritocratic crap. Meritocracy is not everything, which unfortunately, our country has come to worship.

Why not sack your own parents and get someone better qualified to be your parents? There are always better people out there mah LOL

I rather have moderately adequate true-blue Singaporeans running our own Motherland, than highly capable foreigners ruling our own homes. The guest, no matter how highly qualified, remains a guest, and can only sleep in the guest room, not beside my wife.

[winth]

Whatever Adam Khoo is saying, though it doesn’t sound very palatable, this trend is true.


It’s sad to know but this is really happening.

[MMM]

Thanks. The article is really interesting and it does provide some insights.


On the other hand, I was just thinking about the camps that Adam conducted. Does that mean that we should waste $ sending our kids for such program :? Instead we should create an environment that make them hunger for success.

A local context would probably means a low income family that you've to worry about the next meal on the table. So kids treasure the fact that they can continue to go to school iso being pull out because parents cannot afford to do so. It reminds me of my father who has 11 siblings. He had to stop Sec 2 at Dunman High because the family cannot afford to let him continue and he must give up so that the younger sibling can study....

[Parent1]

People tend to discover a sense of purpose & direction in life when they are uprooted form their comfort zone. They also need to work harder & smarter than the locals in order to survive. No more hotel papamama, laundry, meals & pick-up on demand.


Look at our ancestors who migrated to SE Asia from China & India. Many of them started as hard labour. Look at the Singaporeans who venture overseas. Many were average students or school dropouts in Singapore. But many of them have found the hunger & passion to make the best of a second chance.

So, may be this is one solution. Young Singaporeans, go abroad, get a sense of insecurity as a foreigner and rebuild your life.