Tan Kin Lian's Blog: Have a positive approach

Monday, November 09, 2009

Have a positive approach

Singaporeans have a critical, negative mindset. This is part of our culture and is brought about by our education system. If we see an idea, we tend to look for what is wrong with it.

I wish to encourage a positive mindset. If we see an idea, we can look for what is the benefit of implementing it, compared with the cost. If the benefit outweigh the cost, we can go ahead. If we are not sure, we can give it a try. We try and see if it works, rather than worry about what could go wrong.

We do not need a perfect solution, before embarking on a change. We only need incremental benefits. So long, as the benefit outweigh the cost of implementing the change, we can go ahead. This is how progress can be achieved.

Many people observed that Singaporeans are not entrepreneurial. They cannot think out of the box. They are afraid of trying. This is part of the mindset and culture that we were brought up with. We know how to criticise, how to find out what is wrong, but we are not bold in making a change and to make things different, to make things better.

But, culture and mindset can be changed. We can be positive. We can be bold. We can be daring to change.

Tan Kin Lian

14 comments:

Anonymous said...: being entrepreneurial means taking risk. taking risk without a safety net is suicidal.; November 09, 2009 11:49 AM
Anonymous said...: Well there are pros and cons to the "cautious" and kiasu approach mentality, particularly when applied to good governance.

You mentioned "costs" and "benefits", unfortunately these are relative. The government went ahead to build casinos. Does the costs outweigh the benefits? This is a highly complex question. You mentioned abour insurance for the sick people too. Does it result in unfairness for the healthy, what is the cost benefit analysis applied to all sectors concerned?

My view is that we must always do things which are of benefit to the majority. In so doing, some minority may not accept it. But you will lead an impossible life if you do something that makes 100% of people happy 100% of the time.

One has to analyse carefully before deciding if anything is fair, the impact to all the different stakeholders must be clearly understood.

REX; November 09, 2009 12:24 PM
Anonymous said...: Dear Mr Tan
May I sincerely commend you for your positive attitude and thoughts.

I use to believe and practise the ideas you just wrote about.

After many years of "banging my head against the wall", I came to the conclusion that:

- Singapore is not a country, it is a corporation.

- There are no citizens in Singapore, only employees of Singapore

- My fellow citizens are really my work colleagues

- the proper relationship between a corporation and employees has to be monetary. Loyalty and human feelings do not enter into the picture

I sincerely hope that I am wrong. But in order to safeguard my family from a mercenary economy, I have to likewise adopt a mercenary attitude and mindset.

a. Never volunteer.
b. Always ask "What's in it for me?"; November 09, 2009 1:16 PM
Vincent Sear said...: Who defines what's "positive" or "negative"? Who's the judge? I say in popularly debated with differing opinions, the majority wins. That's democracy.

If one feels that the government isn't right, vote against it or even stand to contest against it.; November 09, 2009 1:19 PM
Anonymous said...: Sometimes maybe it's because people think there is no point fighting losing battles.

Of course some may make it and may even become news but many more might have fallen by the wayside and forgotten.

And of course there may be some fallen ones who also make news, but for the wrong reasons.; November 09, 2009 1:32 PM
C H Yak said...: Fragmentation could be the real issue.

Quite often those who commented and have good ideas are not the party who can implement these ideas. Hence, they will wait for the relevant party to respond.

There are many written rules. And quite often the party responsible for implementation also have a negative mindset. Quite often they are reluctant or slow to refer matters up for decisions. And they are bound by in-house rules.

And if it involves spending public funds, it certainly will go very slowly.

At the end, all are exhausted or lose their keeness.; November 09, 2009 1:39 PM
Anonymous said...: We are kiasi by nature; November 09, 2009 2:19 PM
Anonymous said...: Kin Lian,

These are just a necklace of flowery words. I think the Singaporean's case to change is totally hopeless. You see you can use all kind of flowery language and words to encourage a terminal ill person stricken by end stage brain cancer to be positive. He is going to die soon.

Singaporeans are doomed to have forever what you people have voted for in the last 50 years.; November 09, 2009 2:46 PM
Anonymous said...: yes, i really feel that being positive and adventurous will always get one to greater heights. although some may see it as taking unnecessary risks, it's not necessarily true. afterall, that's how most entrepreneurs strike it big - taking calculated risks and be willing to try.; November 09, 2009 7:55 PM
Anonymous said...: Thank you Mr. Tan for this positive mentality approach.

In our line, we faced many rejections, criticisms and negative sentiments. While we don't have a perfect solution, we do want we can to address the needs of the people whom we come in contact with.

Will continue to strive to be positive, bold and successful.

Regards

An Insurance agent.; November 09, 2009 9:23 PM
Anonymous said...: I agree with your positive line of thought. We have grown cynical and always look for the negative aspect rather than the positive side. If a child were to climb a tree for adventure or a better view, the mother in us will ask him to get down because he is going to fall, instead of asking how is the view from there.; November 09, 2009 9:45 PM
Anonymous said...: Singaporeans generally have a critical, negative mindset is due to the mistrust of the government. When you have a government that keep hoodwinking and playing Singaporeans out, Singaporeans slowly bleed the culture of distrust from their family outwardly.

When Singaporeans realize that there is no justice and fairness in judiciary and PAP system when one start question the government, they start to bleed distrust.

Until Singaporeans have harboured there is hope in Singapore, they will forever be pessimistic.; November 09, 2009 11:45 PM
Vincent Sear said...: The trouble with Singapore minority is that they can't accept that the majority voted for PAP, and keep on making sidetrack noises. So clever? stand for election and see the the result. It's very clear that the majority of Singaporeans aren't stupid and they voted for PAP. It's also true that there's not much of other althernatives to choose from, given the state of Singapore opposition parties.; November 11, 2009 9:25 PM
Anonymous said...: sometimes the cost affect people, and people should not be treat as guinea pig lightly...; November 13, 2009 11:55 PM