Business and Money Tips

How I Save Almost 90% on CHAGEE Boya Tea — and Practise Sustainability at the Same Time I love CHAGEE’s Boya Jasmine tea. At the shop, one cup costs S$5.60 . Then I discovered something interesting. I bought Boya Jasmine tea bags at S$1.80 per sachet . According to the instructions, one tea bag can be brewed three times while retaining its flavour. That means my effective cost is:  S$1.80 ÷ 3 = S$0.60 per cup.  Instead of paying S$5.60, I pay about S$0.60. I save S$5 per cup, about 89%, or almost 90%. If I drink one cup every day: S$5 × 365 = S$1,825 saved every year. And I can enjoy my favourite tea anytime, anywhere, without travelling to or waiting at the shop. But this isn't merely a story about saving S$5. It is Sustainability + Financial Governance By brewing the same tea bag three times as intended, I extract more value from the same resource instead of using it only once. That is a simple principle of sustainability: Use fewer resources to create more value, and do it...

First Principles: The Shortcut Is Not Doing Less, But Doing Less Wrong Why do some people work harder and harder, yet get further from what they want? Because they are solving the symptom, not the cause. When business is slow, cut prices. When profits fall, raise prices. When employees underperform, replace them. When competitors attack, fight back. When AI arrives, learn more AI. But first-principles thinking asks a different question: Strip away assumptions, habits and conventional wisdom.   What truly determines the outcome? That changes everything. Health is about respecting natural laws , not satisfying every desire. Wealth is about creating and circulating value , not accumulating numbers in a bank account. Getting things done is about focus , not busyness. Opportunity comes from seeing change before others do, not waiting for opportunity to knock. Competition is about differentiation , not confrontation. The best way to win is often to become difficult to replace. As Sun Tz...

真正的高手，都在寻找第一性原理 为什么有些人越努力，离目标反而越远？ 因为很多时候，我们解决的根本不是问题，而只是问题的表象。 身体不好，就吃补品。 生意不好，就打折。 利润下降，就涨价。 员工不行，就换人。 竞争激烈，就降价。 AI来了，就拼命学AI。 我们不断解决眼前的问题，却很少停下来问一句： 真正决定结果的，到底是什么？ 这就是第一性原理。 第一性原理不是问：“别人是怎么做的？” 而是问： “拿掉经验、惯例和表象以后，这件事情最底层、最不能被拿掉的规律是什么？” 一旦找到它，很多复杂的问题会突然变得简单。 1. 健康的第一性原理，是规律，而不是放纵 身体不是机器。你不能长期熬夜、暴饮暴食、缺乏运动，然后希望靠保健品把健康“买回来”。 真正的健康，是尊重睡眠、饮食、运动、压力和人体节律。 健康不是你想做什么就做什么，而是身体允许你长期做什么。 2. 财富的第一性原理，是价值流动，而不是银行里的数字 钱放在银行里，只是一个数字。 真正的财富来自价值不断地创造、交换、累积和再创造。 一个人真正的财富能力，不是今天拥有多少钱，而是： 即使把钱拿走，他还有没有能力重新创造价值？ 所以， 财富的本质不是“拥有”，而是持续创造价值的能力。 3. 做事的第一性原理，是聚焦，而不是忙碌 很多人每天都很忙，却没有真正向前。 因为资源永远有限：时间有限、金钱有限、注意力更有限。 真正厉害的人不是同时做很多事情，而是知道： 什么事情最值得做？ 聚焦不是把所有事情做好。 聚焦，是敢于放弃那些看起来不错，却不是最重要的事情。 4. 机会的第一性原理，是洞察，而不是等待 普通人等机会出现。 高手在机会还没有成为机会之前，就已经看见变化。 人口在变、科技在变、消费习惯在变、AI在变、商业模式也在变。 真正的机会，往往藏在这些变化之间。 所以不要只问：“现在有什么机会？” 更应该问：“什么正在发生变化，而大多数人还没有意识到？” 5. 竞争的第一性原理，是差异，而不是对立 这是《孙子兵法》最值得现代人重新理解的地方。 竞争不一定意味着打败别人。 如果你和别人卖一样的东西、提供一样的服务、争夺一样的客户，最后往往只剩下一条路： 价格战。 真正高明的竞争，是创造自己的不同。 最好的竞争，不是比别人更强，而是让别人很难取代你。 这才是“不战而胜”。 6. 成功的第一性原理，不是完美，而是试错 很多...

First-Principles Thinking: The Secret Is Not Doing More, but Knowing What Really Matters Many people think first-principles thinking simply means “thinking more deeply.” It is more than that. First-principles thinking means stripping away assumptions, habits and conventional answers until you reach the most fundamental truth of the problem. Then you rebuild your answer from there. For example, conventional thinking says: “If I want to make more money, I must work harder.” First-principles thinking asks: “Do I really need to work more, or do I need to create more value?” If wealth ultimately comes from creating value that others are willing to pay for, the question changes completely: How can I create greater value for more people with less time and fewer resources? That is why first-principles thinking can be a powerful wealth-building mindset. It doesn't guarantee wealth. But it stops us from blindly copying what everyone else is doing. One Question That Can Change Your Life I sim...

什么是“第一性原理”？为什么它可能是普通人的致富秘诀？ 很多人以为，第一性原理就是“想得更深入”。 其实不完全是。 第一性原理（First Principles Thinking ）的核心，是把别人告诉你的答案、社会习惯和自己的假设暂时放下，然后追问： 这件事情最基本、最不能再拆解的事实是什么？ 我真正要解决的问题又是什么？ 然后从这个“第一点”， 重新思考答案。 例如，别人都说：“要赚更多钱，就要更努力工作。” 第一性原理会问：我真正要的是“工作更多”，还是“创造更多价值”？ 如果财富来自价值，那么问题就变成： 我怎样用更少的时间，为更多人创造更大的价值？ 思考方向马上改变了。 所以我认为，第一性原理可能是一个重要的致富思维——不是因为它保证你发财，而是因为它帮助你停止盲目复制别人，开始寻找真正创造价值的方法。 普通人如何把第一性原理用在整个人生？ 我会把它简化成一个问题： 我真正要的到底是什么？ 人生领域 我们通常追求 第一性原理 真正要问 事业 升职、头衔 我要头衔，还是更大的价值、能力与影响力？ 家庭 给家人更多钱 家人真正需要的是钱，还是安全感、陪伴与被重视？ 爱情 找到“完美的人” 我要一个完美伴侣，还是一段让彼此成长、幸福的关系？ 友情 认识更多朋友 我要更多联系人，还是几个真正可以交心的人？ 生意 卖更多产品 顾客为什么要给我钱？我究竟解决了什么问题？ 交际 让更多人喜欢我 我需要讨好别人，还是建立真正的信任？ 休闲 玩得更多 休闲的目的是什么？逃避生活，还是恢复身心能量？ 健康 吃补品、减肥 健康的根本是什么？睡眠、运动、饮食、压力和长期习惯。 你会发现，第一性原理最厉害的地方不是让我们做更 多。 恰恰相反，它帮助我们 去掉大量没有必要的东西。 第一性原理与“爱的智慧” 这与我所说的**爱的智慧（LQ）**其实非常接近。 我把它浓缩成三个C： Care 关爱——我真正关心的目的是什么？ 不要因为别人都在做，就跟着做。 Courage 勇气——为了真正的目的，我敢不敢不做那些不重要的事？ 第一性原理需要勇气，因为你可能必须挑战“大家一直都是这样做”的观念。 Connection 连接——我有没有与真正重要的人、事以及自己的内心保持连接？ 因为有时候我们得到了想要的东西，却失去了真正重要的东西。 赚到了钱，却失去健康。 事业成功，却失去家庭。 认识很多...

什么样的老板会把6,000万人民币的现金堆在桌上，并鼓励员工多拿一些？ 他就是河南矿山起重机的创始人——崔培军。他的慷慨之举，与胖东来老板于东来一样，都非常值得关注。 河南矿山起重机究竟有何特别之处？ 河南矿山成立于2002年，主营起重机制制造。崔培军表示，这种发放现金的传统早在2004年就已开始，远早于近几年在社交媒体上引发轰动的年会发奖金风潮。2025年，该公司报告的净利润为2.7亿元人民币。 而其年终奖总额达到了约1.8亿元人民币，相当于报告利润的三分之二，其中约6,000万元是在年会上以实物现金形式发放的。 这种福利贯穿全年： -妇女节福利、 -中秋节福利、春节福利，以及麦收补贴 -在2026年，员工们不仅收到了1,000元的麦收补贴，还获得了带薪假期以回家收割小麦 -还有各种自发的关怀：员工父母能收到节日礼物，并享受公司出资的旅游机会。 据报道，许多员工在扣除社保和公积金后，月纳税后到手收入可达7,000至8,000元。要知道，河南的员工平均月薪约为3,500元，因此河南矿山的薪酬轻松高出平均水平的60%以上。 供应商也同样感受到了这份关怀。在2026年9月的中秋庆祝活动中，据报道有四家获选的供应商各获得了20万元人民币的奖励。 崔培军将这些奖励与拒绝供应商的礼品和现金（反商业贿赂）联系在了一起。客户也能从促销活动中受益，例如2026年2月推出的“签单即送红包”活动。虽然这些都是有据可查的例子， 但它们并不能证明该公司已经建立起了一套等同于胖东来的客户补偿系统。 尽管崔培军出手阔绰，但熟人眼中的他却保持着非常朴素的个人生活习惯。在《环球人物》的一次采访中，有人回忆道，他经常吃馒头配咸菜，一张掉皮的办公椅用了20多年，而且出门旅行时经常坐夜班火车吃方便面。 崔培军和于东来都有着一个强烈的信念：创造财富的人应该享受财富带来的回报。两人都将慷慨的员工回报与对质量、贡献的高标准要求相结合。他们也都建立了规模庞大的企业：河南矿山2025年的产值达到112亿元人民币，同比增长8.7%；而胖东来报告的2025年销售额则接近390亿元人民币。他们的成功令人鼓舞，尽管慷慨本身并不能完全解释这一切。 他们两人与那种典型的“榨干所有人以致富老板”的传统模式形成了鲜明对比。我们知道，压榨每个人虽然能在短期内榨取利益，但会使员工精疲力竭、削弱供应商并侵蚀客户信任。 而他们的方法提示...

What kind of boss puts RMB60 million in cash on tables and encourages employees to take more? Meet Cui Pei Jun (崔培军), founder of Henan Mine Crane . His generosity deserves attention alongside Pang Dong Lai’s boss Yu Dong Lai (于东来). But one clarification matters: public figures do not establish that Henan Mine Crane pays more per employee. What they reveal is an extraordinary commitment to sharing success. What's so Special about Henan Mine Crane? Founded in 2002, Henan Mine Crane manufactures cranes. Cui says its practice of distributing cash began in 2004, long before these celebrations became social-media sensations. For 2025, the company reported RMB270 million in net profit. Its year-end bonuses totalled approximately RMB180 million, equivalent to two-thirds of that reported profit , including around RMB60 million distributed physically at the annual celebration. The rewards extend throughout the year:   Women’s Day payments, Mid-autumn payments, Spring Festival payments,...

Mindfulness can help you win without fighting. Be mindful, not mindfull.  Yes, you do not need to sit down to meditate to have Mindfulness, which can be easily achieved daily in the following 7 ways: 1. Minding the mind: what is the mind doing now? Watch your emotions, instead of being the emotion. You do not have to own your thoughts and emotions.  Tap into a calm state of mind amidst the emotions.  Eg when you feel angry, experience the anger and let it pass.  You are not anger. 2. Practise kindness when you don't feel good, "May I be happy and well" 3. Watch your breathing  4. Mindful walking: walk and let your mind go at ease, and just be aware of your steps. 5. Mindful eating .  Just eat, notice the taste of food 6. Mindful talking : speak with kindness even when you need to be harsh. Don't react 7. Meditate before sleep : just 5 to 10 minutes of following your breath going in and out. Turn your attention inwards. 

When You Are Not Getting What You Want, Go Back to the 3Cs Many people become frustrated when they don't achieve what they want. So they look for someone who has succeeded before them. They ask:  “What's the secret?” “What strategy did you use?” “What am I doing wrong?” My answer is often much simpler: Go back to basics. And my basics are just three things: Care. Courage. Connection. 1. CARE — Do You Care Enough About the Purpose? Care doesn't mean working harder. It doesn't mean spending more hours preparing or making everything perfect. It means:  Do you care enough to understand WHY you are doing it? Imagine you are organising a reunion for old classmates.  You can spend weeks designing the perfect poster, choosing the best restaurant and planning entertainment. But what is the real purpose?  To eat?  To be entertained? Or to bring old friends' hearts together again? Once you understand the purpose, suddenly you know what really matters and what doesn't. That...

车资上涨7%，我反而要省14%——这就是超级我 新加坡公共交通车资将从 2026年12月26日 起上涨约 7% 。 一般人的第一反应可能是： “又涨价了，我还能怎么办？” 但超级我会问另一个问题： “环境我控制不了，但我可以做什么，让自己的交通费反而下降？” 这就是超级我 SuperME 与一般思维最大的不同： 不是被改变牵着走，而是利用改变，让自己变得更好。 车资 +7%，我的目标却是 −14% 假设你现在每个月花 $100 在交通上。 车资上涨7%，同样的生活方式，交通费可能变成约 $107。 但 SuperME 可以给自己一个挑战： 不是接受 $107，而是把原来的 $100 降低14%，变成 $86。 怎么做到？ 短程能走就走；一次出门完成几件事，减少不必要的来回；善用转车和非繁忙时段优惠；如果经常搭车，也比较一下月票是否更划算。 但是，释放超级我 真正要改变的，不是这 $21。 而是你面对问题的方式。 这就是 Purpose、Love、Gratitude——目标、爱与感恩。 Purpose 目标：省钱，也让自己更健康 不要只是为了省几毛钱而走路。 把它变成一个更大的目标： 我要省钱，也要更健康。 原本令人不开心的车资上涨，反而成为改变生活习惯的推动力。 问题没有消失，但你把问题变成了价值。 Love 爱：从超级我 SuperME 到 超级我们SuperWE 走路时，可以陪伴家人。 出门时，可以约朋友一起走一段路。 看到长辈不知道有什么优惠，也可以主动帮他们了解。 当你的改变不只是帮助自己，也让身边的人生活得更好， SuperME 就开始变成 SuperWE。 Gratitude 感恩：看见自己已经拥有的财富 感恩不是假装车资没有上涨。 而是在上涨之后，仍然看见自己已经拥有的东西： 可以走路的身体、方便的公共交通、陪伴家人的机会，以及重新规划生活的能力。 感恩不会让7%的涨幅消失，却可以改变你面对这7%的方式。 这就是超级我 不是人生没有问题。 而是： 问题来了，你不只是问“为什么是我？” 而是问：“我可以把它变成什么？” 车资涨 7% ？ 我挑战自己省14%。 生活成本上涨？ 我创造更多价值。 环境改变？ 我先改变自己。 这就是释放超级我  SuperME U...

Three Big Problems. One Human Response: Love Intelligence. We are living through three powerful sources of anxiety: Rising cost of living. In Singapore, consumer prices were 2.3% higher year-on-year in August 2026, with recent energy and transport-related increases adding pressure.  Fear of losing jobs to AI. The evidence is more nuanced than “AI is taking all our jobs”: the ILO says large-scale displacement remains limited so far, but AI is reshaping work and increasing the importance of higher-order cognitive, socio-emotional, adaptability and human-agency skills.  War and geopolitical uncertainty. The Iran conflict continues to affect energy, shipping and businesses globally, while diplomacy remains uncertain. These look like three completely different problems. But perhaps they share one question: How should human beings respond when the world becomes more uncertain? My answer is Love Intelligence: Care, Courage and Connection. CARE when costs rise. Don't simply complai...

Singapore's public transport fares will rise by 7% from 26 December 2026 . Adult card fares will increase by 12–13 cents per journey. Most people will ask:  "Why are fares going up again?" A SuperME asks a different question: "What can I do so that I actually spend less?" That is the difference between reacting to change and unleashing yourself through change . Don't Accept +7%. Turn It into −14%. Suppose you currently spend $100 a month on transport.  A 7% increase could turn that into $107. But instead of accepting $107, set yourself a SuperME Challenge : Reduce your original $100 spending by 14% to $86. That means finding $21 of smarter choices compared with simply continuing your old travelling habits after the fare increase. How? Walk instead of taking a bus for short journeys.  Combine appointments so that you make fewer trips.  Use Singapore's distance-fare transfer rules intelligently. Travel before the morning peak when practical—commuters tapp...

When President Donald Trump states that the U.S. will hit Iran "very hard" but that the conflict will end "very soon, one way or the other", it sounds like typical political bluster. However, viewed through the lens of Sun Tzu's The Art of War , this dynamic actually reflects classic strategic principles of endgame pressure, economic strangulation, and forcing an opponent's collapse. Translated for a layman, here is why a strategic analysis using Sun Tzu suggests the conflict is nearing a tipping point: 1. "All Warfare is Based on Deception" (The Strategy of Maximum Pressure) Sun Tzu’s Principle: Sun Tzu teaches that when you are strong, you should appear formidable, and you must break the enemy’s resistance without actually having to destroy everything, if possible. The Layman Translation: Trump’s public declarations and military positioning (such as moving additional carrier groups and threatening severe strikes) are designed to convince Tehra...