Price of books in Singapore are relatively competitive as compared to most countries. Over the last 5 years, more book warehouse sales are held in either Expo or Suntec. Depending on the types of books you like and buy, some of the books are really cheap in some of these warehouse sales. I believe I have been to all the book warehouse sales organised by the big bookstores in Singapore and below are my observations.
Borders
I went to Borders sale today and I believe this might be Borders last book warehouse sales in Singapore. It is under liquidation and is selling whatever they have from its Wheellock store. The previous Borders sales were disappointing. Most books were either old, with all the browsing or outdated. To make it more uninteresting, the books were only slightly discounted. The crowd today was great. The discount was at 50% off which was great and the main draw. The main drawback of the event was that the books are too disorientated and too messy. The books are categiorized only to Kids, Fiction and Non Fiction and are all thrown into large boxes. 90% sold are books. In any case, this may well be the last time I go into a Borders store.
MPH
I started with MPH due to a recommendation from a friend about 4 years ago. Back then, I was amazed at the steep discount this warehouse sale has. I still remembered that I bought a Lords of the Ring Trilogy book for $8 at the warehouse and the same book was selling at about $40 in a MPH store. Back then, most nonfiction books are going at $7 and fiction books are at $5(if I did not remember wrongly). That is about 60-80% off shelf rates. Since then, I have search for my books in MPH sales. MPH started with an annual sale, but they have now half yearly sales, and sometimes for whatever reason, organising one every 2-3months. Besides books, they do have a small portion for stationaries. Though prices have increased in the walehouse sales, they are still about 50% off shelf rates.
Times
I think I have only gone to Times book warehouse sales a couple of times. The only thing i remembered was that the book selection was limited and the discount was dismayed. No interesting at all.
Popular
Popular has been organising bigger warehouse sales each year. They have a big difference among all the other bog players. they have a wide selection of chinese books and stationaries. They have a small section on english books though. So only go there if you want to buy some chinese books and stationaries.
There is an annual chinese books sales, or more of an exhibition, with talks included. I can't remember what is the name of the event, so sorry.
Overall, as I am most interested in self-help books, the MPH sales has been my main source to get my books over the last 4-5 years. Each time, i spent about $200 there.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Saturday, August 20, 2011
How Successful People Think By John C. Maxwell
This tiny book measuring 6.5" x 4.5"with 124 pages took me too long to complete. I started when i went for my cruise last Nov and I just completed....after 9 long months. Anyway, here is a detailed summary.
Big Picture Thinking
Why Big Picture
A) Allows you to lead
- See the vision before others do.
- Size up situations, taking into accounts many variables
- Sketch a picture of where the team is going
- Show how the future connects with the past to make journey more meaningful
- Seize the moment when the timing is right
B) Keeps you on target
C) Allows you to see what other people sees
D) Promotes teamwork
E) Keeps you from being caught up in the mundane
F) Helps you to chart uncharted territory
How to acquire wisdom of big picture thinking
A) Don’t strive for certainty
B) Learn from experience
C) Gain insight from variety of people
D) Give yourself permission to expand your world (out of your experience and what you know)
Focused Thinking
Why focused thinking
A) Harnesses energy towards a desired goal
B) Gives idea time to develop
C) Brings clarity to the target
D) Will take you to next level
Which area to focus
A) Identify your priorities
B) Discover your gifts
C) Develop your dreams
How to stay focused
A) Remove distractions
B) Make time for focused thinking
C) Keep items of focus before you
D) Set goals
E) Question your progress
What to give up to go up
A) Not knowing everyone
B) Not doing everything
C) Not going everywhere
D) Not being well-rounded
Creative Thinking
Characteristics of creative thinkers
A) Value ideas
B) Explore options
C) Embrace ambiguity
D) Celebrate the offbeat
E) Connect the unconnected (Think – Collect – Create – Correct – Connect)
F) Don’t fear failure
Why creative thinking
A) Adds value to everything
B) Compounds
C) Draws people to you and your ideas
D) Helps you learn more
E) Challenges the status quo
How to be creative
A) Remove creative killers (“I’m not a creative person”, “Follow the rules”, “Don’t ask questions”, It can’t be done”, It’s too much work”, “Failure is final”)
B) Asking the right questions (“What is the root problem?”, “Why is this impt?”, What is the opposite?”, “Why must this be done this way?”)
C) Develop a creative environment
- Encourages creativity
- Place high value on trust among team members and individuality
- Embrace those who are creative
- Focuses on innovation
- Willingness to let people go outside the lines
- Appreciates the power of a dream
D) Spend time with other creative people
E) Get out of the box
Realistic Thinking
Why
A) Minimize downside risk (because pls for worst case scenario)
B) Gives a target and game plan
C) Catalyst for change (people rely on hope rarely make changes)
D) Provides security (because you make contingency plans more confidently and secure)
E) Gives credibility (not surprised by the unexpected)
F) Provides foundation to build on
How
A) Appreciates the truth
B) Makes one do his/her homework
C) Think through the pros and cons
D) Picture worst case scenarios
E) Align with your resources
Strategic Thinking
How to release the power of strategic thinking
A) Break down the issue
B) Ask why before the how
C) Identify the real issues and objectives
D) Review your resources
E) Develop your plan
F) Put right people in right place with right plan
G) Keep repeating the process
Question Popular Thinking
Why?
A) Sometimes means not thinking
B) Offers false hope
C) Slow to embrace change
D) Brings only average results
How?
A) Think before you follow
B) Appreciate thinking differently from your own
C) Continually question your own thinking
D) Try new things in new ways
E) Get used to being uncomfortable
Benefits from Shared Thinking
Why?
A) Faster than solo thinking
B) More innovative than solo thinking
C) More matured than solo thinking
D) Stronger than solo thinking
E) Returns greater value than solo thinking
F) Only way to have great thinking
How?
A) Value ideas of others
B) Move from competition to cooperation
C) Have agenda when meetup
D) Get right people around the table
E) Compensate good thinkers and collaborators well
Practice Unselfish Thinking
Why?
A) Brings personal fulfillment
B) Adds value to others
C) Encourages other virtues
D) Increases quality of life
E) Makes you part of something greater than yourself
F) Creates a legacy
How?
A) Put others first
B) Expose yourself to situation where people have needs
C) Give quietly or anonymously
D) Invest in people intentionally
E) Continually check your motives
Rely on Bottom Line Thinking
Why?
A) Provides great clarity
B) Helps you assess every situation
C) Helps you make best decisions
D) Generate high morale
E) Ensures your future
How?
A) Identify the real bottom line
B) Make the bottom line the point
C) Create strategic plan to achieve the bottom line
D) Align team members with the bottom line
E) Stick with one system and monitor results continually
You can see that my writings for each chapter gets shorter and shorter. I apologise for that. John Maxwell seems to be my favourite self-help(leadership) author for the moment. I ahve listened to his audio book and
Big Picture Thinking
Why Big Picture
A) Allows you to lead
- See the vision before others do.
- Size up situations, taking into accounts many variables
- Sketch a picture of where the team is going
- Show how the future connects with the past to make journey more meaningful
- Seize the moment when the timing is right
B) Keeps you on target
C) Allows you to see what other people sees
D) Promotes teamwork
E) Keeps you from being caught up in the mundane
F) Helps you to chart uncharted territory
How to acquire wisdom of big picture thinking
A) Don’t strive for certainty
B) Learn from experience
C) Gain insight from variety of people
D) Give yourself permission to expand your world (out of your experience and what you know)
Focused Thinking
Why focused thinking
A) Harnesses energy towards a desired goal
B) Gives idea time to develop
C) Brings clarity to the target
D) Will take you to next level
Which area to focus
A) Identify your priorities
B) Discover your gifts
C) Develop your dreams
How to stay focused
A) Remove distractions
B) Make time for focused thinking
C) Keep items of focus before you
D) Set goals
E) Question your progress
What to give up to go up
A) Not knowing everyone
B) Not doing everything
C) Not going everywhere
D) Not being well-rounded
Creative Thinking
Characteristics of creative thinkers
A) Value ideas
B) Explore options
C) Embrace ambiguity
D) Celebrate the offbeat
E) Connect the unconnected (Think – Collect – Create – Correct – Connect)
F) Don’t fear failure
Why creative thinking
A) Adds value to everything
B) Compounds
C) Draws people to you and your ideas
D) Helps you learn more
E) Challenges the status quo
How to be creative
A) Remove creative killers (“I’m not a creative person”, “Follow the rules”, “Don’t ask questions”, It can’t be done”, It’s too much work”, “Failure is final”)
B) Asking the right questions (“What is the root problem?”, “Why is this impt?”, What is the opposite?”, “Why must this be done this way?”)
C) Develop a creative environment
- Encourages creativity
- Place high value on trust among team members and individuality
- Embrace those who are creative
- Focuses on innovation
- Willingness to let people go outside the lines
- Appreciates the power of a dream
D) Spend time with other creative people
E) Get out of the box
Realistic Thinking
Why
A) Minimize downside risk (because pls for worst case scenario)
B) Gives a target and game plan
C) Catalyst for change (people rely on hope rarely make changes)
D) Provides security (because you make contingency plans more confidently and secure)
E) Gives credibility (not surprised by the unexpected)
F) Provides foundation to build on
How
A) Appreciates the truth
B) Makes one do his/her homework
C) Think through the pros and cons
D) Picture worst case scenarios
E) Align with your resources
Strategic Thinking
How to release the power of strategic thinking
A) Break down the issue
B) Ask why before the how
C) Identify the real issues and objectives
D) Review your resources
E) Develop your plan
F) Put right people in right place with right plan
G) Keep repeating the process
Question Popular Thinking
Why?
A) Sometimes means not thinking
B) Offers false hope
C) Slow to embrace change
D) Brings only average results
How?
A) Think before you follow
B) Appreciate thinking differently from your own
C) Continually question your own thinking
D) Try new things in new ways
E) Get used to being uncomfortable
Benefits from Shared Thinking
Why?
A) Faster than solo thinking
B) More innovative than solo thinking
C) More matured than solo thinking
D) Stronger than solo thinking
E) Returns greater value than solo thinking
F) Only way to have great thinking
How?
A) Value ideas of others
B) Move from competition to cooperation
C) Have agenda when meetup
D) Get right people around the table
E) Compensate good thinkers and collaborators well
Practice Unselfish Thinking
Why?
A) Brings personal fulfillment
B) Adds value to others
C) Encourages other virtues
D) Increases quality of life
E) Makes you part of something greater than yourself
F) Creates a legacy
How?
A) Put others first
B) Expose yourself to situation where people have needs
C) Give quietly or anonymously
D) Invest in people intentionally
E) Continually check your motives
Rely on Bottom Line Thinking
Why?
A) Provides great clarity
B) Helps you assess every situation
C) Helps you make best decisions
D) Generate high morale
E) Ensures your future
How?
A) Identify the real bottom line
B) Make the bottom line the point
C) Create strategic plan to achieve the bottom line
D) Align team members with the bottom line
E) Stick with one system and monitor results continually
You can see that my writings for each chapter gets shorter and shorter. I apologise for that. John Maxwell seems to be my favourite self-help(leadership) author for the moment. I ahve listened to his audio book and
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