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Powerful messages from ‘The White Tiger’ we can apply in real life

Honestly speaking, while ‘The White Tiger’ has ranked its way on top 10 of Netflix’s film list… I’m not a fervent fan of it. But that’s just my personal opinion.

On one side, we’re happy that Balram broke free from his master and saw the light at the end of his tunnel. But on the other hand, we can’t seem to condone his behaviour and the choices he made.

With that said, though we’re sitting on the fence on this 2021 film that’s currently showing on Netflix, there are powerful messages to learn and apply in real life from ‘The White Tiger’.

Here’s our take on it.

#1: Poverty should not be a hindrance to one’s success

Just a few minutes into the opening, ‘The White Tiger’ opens with a weighty message. That is, “Any poor boy in any forgotten village can grow up to become the prime minister of India.” Yes, poverty sucks big time, but not being rich should not be a barrier to one’s hope and dream for success.

#2: Tap onto every opportunity to listen and learn

Balram shared that he had learned to use his time wisely to eavesdrop on customers, hoping to gain an opportunity. While eavesdropping isn’t that polite, it doesn’t hurt to tap on opportunities to listen from your neighbours and gain some insights. You never know when an opportunity will present itself.

#3: Upskill for better prospects

Balram could have settled contentedly with his brother in the poor village. But instead, his target for better prospects led him to the desire for upskilling. Instead of saying, “I can’t drive so this job is not for me,” he asked his granny for 300 rupees (S$5.47) to go for driving lessons with aims to secure a better paying job.

#4: Eat or be eaten up

Isn’t this just so true about life in general? Whether it’s in relationships or the economy, there are only two destinies. You either eat to your fill and prosper to greater heights or get eaten up by your co-workers who step on you to rise to the top. You hold the power to write your fate!

#5: Know your competition

When we say know your competition, we mean to be well aware of it. Especially to those thinking of starting their own business or entrepreneurs who are at an early stage running their start-up, this is some wise advice you ought to take. Being up to date with what’s happening within your industry can steer your business strategy towards success.

#6: Women should speak up for themselves

We know it’s the 21st century, but women still face discrimination in certain countries and cultures. Ladies, if a man ever tells you that you belong at home and have no place in a man’s discussion, speak up. There is no way you should let a person belittle you like that.

#7: Don’t underestimate the weight of kind words

Do you remember the first time or a situation where you were desperate for some kind words? “You’ll figure it out. Don’t worry,” was what Ashok told Balram in ‘The White Tiger’. This was after Mukesh slapped Balram on the head after he missed the exit. Don’t underestimate these simple words to a friend or colleague. You might touch them in unexpected ways beyond your imagination.

#8: You don’t always need a start-up business plan

It’s common for start-ups to come up with a business plan. Well, it helps to have a clear vision for the way forward and a written document to follow if there are hurdles along the way. But do you know that it’s not always necessary? Instead of wasting time on a start-up business plan, you want to do these five things instead.

#9: Spend some time in reflection

Reflections are not only for the end of the year. It doesn’t harm anyone to do a review at any point in their lives. Asking yourself questions such as “What is it that I want to do?” can direct you to a decision you might not have thought about it before. Is it a business idea you’ve been putting on hold for some time? Or a new field you’re looking to enter? Take actionable steps to achieve it in 2021.

#10: Stop searching for the key when the door is open

Balram thought he heard Pinky said to him, “You were looking for the key for years, but the door was always open.” Putting this in life’s context, do you find yourself searching for the key to open a particular door? While being stuck in this tiresome rat race, maybe you already hold the ability to unlock new opportunities. The question is, are you allowing yourself to?

#11: The early bird catches the worm

We bet all Chinese-educated peeps have heard of the phrase, “早起的鸟儿有虫吃”. When translated to English, it simply refers to how the early bird catches the worm for food. To put it in another way, it benefits one to be early in grabbing onto a chance when others are still deep in their slumber. So are you the former or the latter?

#12: Beware of yielding to temptation

When temptation knocks at the door, learn to walk away. A little moment of interest in that “red bag” will grow into an idea, and that action of folly will lead to possible regrets down the road. You will start justifying your actions as right and look for ways to continue indulging in that little secret you want to hide from the world.

Final Thoughts

We think young people should watch ‘The White Tiger’ with discernment. Robbing someone to break away from poverty and gaining monetary freedom is not morally right.

We shan’t spoil it any further for those who’ve yet to watch the film but have read up till this point. Let us know your thoughts on the ending after you’re done with your two hours?

Strategies on how to cope with someone you dislike at work

There’s always an Anson, Betty, or Christopher in the workplace. We’re sorry if those are your names, but we have no ill intentions. They are just some named references we will be using for the sake of this article.

Now, back to the topic.

It’s Tuesday, and you’re dragging your feet to work after barely getting over Monday blues. As the elevator door closes, you secretly wish that you won’t meet Delia on the way up to the 13th floor. But… we’re all aware that life’s a bitch and things don’t go our way when we expect it to.

“Oh, hi, Eric!” Delia shrieked. It was only 8.25am.

Delia went on and on about her last evening date with her boyfriend, gossips, and eavesdrops from the passengers she saw on the bus. “Another day with her,” you thought. It’s only the start of the day, but you already hate her so much, and everything just gets on your nerves.

We’ve all met that one colleague at a point in our careers, right? Have you found a way to work around it? If no, see if these tips can help you change your perspective in working with someone you can’t stand at the workplace.

#1: Admit that it’s your problem

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Never thought we would hit a home run by pointing fingers at you right from the start? This is not an attack, peeps.

Carlos Valdes-Dapena, author of Virtual Teams: Holding the Center When You Can’t Meet Face-to-Face, shares this with us. The reason why you’re finding Delia distasteful in some way is due to the judgments and reactions you possess.

Yeah, sounds about right. Feelings of a slight irritation can quickly escalate if not kept in check. He also highlights the need to differentiate between dislike and distrust. “You can work with anybody as long as they aren’t crossing boundaries or violating workplace rules,” says Valdes-Dapena.

#2: Rethink your detestation

woman sitting on a couch thinking about something

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Once you assume responsibility that your emotions are what led you to loathe Anson, then it’s time to rethink your detestation. Maybe it’s a specific behaviour that triggered your dislike? Or the way they treat others? It could also be that he is an excessive bootlicker.

Whatever the reason might be, you want to dig deep into your feelings of disgust. Valdes-Dapena reveals that he used to have a colleague he didn’t like and he later discovered it was because of how the lady tended to boast.

“Once I got underneath it, I realized that part of my feelings (was) jealousy because she had done some pretty impressive stuff,” he commented.

The person you disfavour is likely to be someone who’s on the extreme opposite end if placed on a character spectrum. Polar opposites, some like to call it. But you must learn how to separate your personal feelings from the workplace. If Anson does his work well, then you’ve got to give him the credit where credit’s due.

#3: Craft a purpose statement

Image Credits: unsplash.com

So you just got out of a department meeting, and your team leader has assigned you and Betty a project. What? Working with someone you like the least is not an easy task. That’s why Valdes-Dapena notes that this is where a purpose statement comes useful.

“A purpose statement helps you build an alliance around a shared purpose. It doesn’t mean you have to be friends. It helps you get back to the purpose of the collaboration so you can focus on doing the work.”

Very well said, indeed. Instead of focusing on those negative feelings, having a goal will help put you back on the work treadmill. Here’s your chance to show that you can function as a team player and won’t let personal emotions sabotage your workplace professionalism.

#4: Draw up a plan

Image Credits: unsplash.com

So at this point, can we safely assume that you will craft a purpose statement? If yes, we’re genuinely glad for you! But don’t exit this article just yet. As a small incident can spark negative feelings fairly quickly, you want to draw up a plan to fall back on when it happens.

“Sit down and have (a) conversation,” says Valdes-Dapena. It’s going to be a duo project with Christopher, and you want to make sure that your targets are aligned. It may also help to share your shortcomings and present an invitation for Christopher to share his. The discourse can humanise Christopher and encourage you to refashion any prejudices against him.

If it helps, share your purpose statement and plan with a trusted coworker or your team leader to have accountability for your actions. Every single time you feel the dislike arising, refer to your goals. It also won’t hurt to set aside time for self-reflection if you need space to process your feelings.

It’s a tough challenge but pull through it, and you might surprise yourself with an achievable productive work relationship!

#5: Communicate calmly

Image Credits: unsplash.com

More often than not, unhappiness accelerates due to our communication styles. Putting work relationships aside, this is true in any social situation. Even at home, your parents shouting at you or each another can instantly put you in a bad mood.

What you want to do is to communicate calmly when a conflict presents itself. Instead of saying “Can you stop doing that? It’s irritating!” try using “I” in your confrontations. For example, “I feel annoyed when you do this, so could you please do this instead.” Being specific is also a chance for you to evaluate the underlying reason for your irritation at the other party.

According to psychologist Dr Susan Krauss, it could be wise to have a third-party function as a mediator in such discussions. That’s because as an “outsider”, they can bring some objectivity to your case.

Take a chance

The bottom line is that you don’t have to be friends to work with someone. What you need is a way to communicate your points across without being defensive.

Working with people you find difficult is not easy for sure. But if you manage to leap over the hurdle, you would be oh-so-proud of yourself! Take it as a step to graceful maturity regardless of your age.

Malaysia’s floods are bumping up fish, seafood, and vegetable prices in Singapore’s wet markets

Fish, seafood, and vegetable prices rise in Singapore’s wet markets, with some vegetables costing around two times as much as they were a few weeks back.

Sellers share that the poor weather conditions have created a shortfall in Malaysia as fields are flooded, contributing to low crop yield. Transport is also an issue considering the closure of roads due to severe flooding.

Vendors share their concerns

Mr Alex Zhou, 35, a vegetable stall owner in the wet market along Pasir Ris Drive, said: “The constant rain in Malaysia has made it hard to transport goods, and we’ve lost a lot of supply due to the poor weather. The green leafy vegetables like spinach are more badly affected because they spoil easily in water.”

Madam Rashidah, another vegetable stallholder at Geylang Serai Market, added that she had to import vegetables from Thailand and Vietnam. “This method is more expensive, causing my prices to go up as well,” the 45-year-old lady shared.

Image Credits: The Straits Times

Over the last few weeks, heavy flooding in Malaysia has resulted in significant numbers displaced from their residences. On Jan 8, nearly 50,000 people across six states took shelter in 400 relief centres.

Tomatoes and spinach among those badly affected

The cost of tomatoes has nearly doubled at the Pasir Ris and Ghim Moh Market & Food Centre, from $2/kg to $3/kg.

At the Tekka Centre, a market merchant said that his tomato prices have multiplied from $12 per 10 kg to $28. A vendor in Pasir Ris also commented that his vegetable supplies are now priced at $32 per 10 kg, increasing from $10.

Mr Jerry Tan, the vice-secretary of the Singapore Fruits & Vegetables Importers & Exporters Association, observed that owing to the rainy season, prices continued to creep higher towards the end of the year. But this year was unusual.

“Usually, some areas in Cameron Highlands that still get some sun will be able to supply tomatoes. But this year, the entire area has been raining for the past few weeks. When this happens, the tomatoes cannot ripen and the supply will be affected,” he noted.

The price of Malaysian tomatoes has soared by up to 150% relative to the previous week.

Image Credits: almanac.com

“We’ve never seen such a drastic increase in such a short time before. But suppliers are trying to get their stocks from Thailand and Vietnam, so prices should start to drop and will stabilise soon,” Mr Tan added.

As spinach is highly perishable and thus challenging to get from further away countries, such as Thailand, distribution has also been seriously hit.

Fish and prawn prices are trending up

Mr Goh Thiam Chwee, chairman of the General Association of Singapore Fish Merchants, commented that Chinese pomfret and red snapper prices have risen by around 20 per cent. It could grow to 30 per cent with Chinese New Year around the corner.

“Every year, the prices will increase towards the monsoon season because of the fluctuating sea conditions. But seafood is not so badly affected because we also get our supply from other countries, and if needed, we can replace with frozen fish in the interim,” he said.

The Chinese pomfret and white pomfret were priced about 20 per cent more at Ghim Moh Market & Food Centre and Tekka Centre.

“The Chinese pomfret and white pomfret are the two most popular types of fishes during the Chinese New Year season. Due to the monsoon season, the supply of them (is) very low and that caused the price to escalate,” said Mrs Niam Leng Hwa, a fishmonger at Ghim Moh Road Market & Food Centre.

a fishmonger at Ghim Moh Market & Food Centre

Image Credits: The Straits Times

But some buyers like Madam Liu Shao Ai reacted calmly to the price increases.

The 44-year-old office worker who usually does her marketing at Chinatown Wet Market said she’s not particularly shocked or surprised. “After all, the monsoon season cannot be helped. I wouldn’t buy less, but I would try to buy more of other cheaper alternatives,” she remarked.

Look forward to 1,000 new jobs for the landscape area as NParks seeks to introduce high-tech frameworks

In the next five years, around 1,000 new and revamped jobs will be created for the landscape industry, as officials carry out a new digitalisation strategy.

Mr Goh Eng Lam, Chairman of the Landscape Industry Association (Singapore), shared that this step forward into technological implementation will help draw Singapore’s younger and better-skilled workers to a field that is typically seen as resource- and labour-intensive.

“This is a big milestone,” Mr Goh said on Monday (Jan 11) at the launch of the digitalisation plans. The event took place at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, part of a broader region where NParks launched a one year pilot to demonstrate its array of innovative emerging technology and resources.

A glance at the suite of new digital tools and technologies

Image Credits: National Parks Board

There will be room for video analytics through the facility’s security cameras. This helps the authority not only to track visitor numbers to the park and make necessary preparations but also to carry out compliance measures against persons violating COVID-19 guidelines.

For example, the technology enables NParks to identify unpermitted meetings spontaneously and send alarms via its speakers. It can also capture screenshots of guests who fail to wear a mask. This data is then used to assist NParks officials in their disciplinary activities.

Other innovations include the potential to check the condition of the park’s foliage radically. Detectors can also assess if it is necessary to clear a dustbin or thoroughly clean a washroom.

Other zones within the Bishan-Ang Mo Kio district will also be targeted by the pilot. NParks noted that these areas are symbolic of the diverse terrains it maintains.

NParks said that it would eventually carry out the new technologies to other places under its control when the trial concludes in January 2022. Opportunities to share and offer training support for relevant organisations will also be considered.

Exciting job opportunities for Singaporeans in this arena

Image Credits: National Parks Board

Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development, said that as the sector continues to grow within the next five years, he estimates 1,000 new jobs to be available for locals. This includes opportunities in arboriculture, horticulture, landscape design, as well as digital technology.

NParks did not provide specifics of how many positions will be generated in each sector. Still, redesigned responsibilities for current workers and openings for recruits will be included in these 1,000 jobs.

A new Resident Gardeners Programme will be launched in February at NParks-managed green areas in Ang Mo Kio, Punggol, and Yishun. Mr Lee said that this project would see new hires by landscape firms to take care of public gardens and parks.

“In this manner, the programme provides an opportunity for residents who are gardening enthusiasts to supplement their income, while engaging in their interests. It is an exciting time to join the landscape sector,” he added.

Reducing reliance on foreign workforce

Image Credits: The Straits Times

Mr Goh agreed that the drive for digital transformation is a step ahead for the segment very dependent on foreign labour. An increased technological implementation may help to minimise this dependency. At the same time, grow workers’ competencies and raise their wages.

Consequentially, with more young adults being drawn to it, this might lead to a revitalisation of the sector.

“This will give them (young Singaporeans) a new profile of the industry; that it is not the typical gardening, digging of weeds, but a career that they can build for themselves (by) exploring the technological aspects of it,” Mr Goh commented.

A teenager thrilled by the prospects

Image Credits: todayonline.com

Muhammad Raqibb B Mohamad R, a second-year Higher Nitec student in landscape management and design at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) in College East is glad to see the developments.

The 19-year-old is now in Fort Canning Park on an agricultural internship with NParks. He said the use of robotics like flying a drone has made it easier for manual labour of examining trees. Besides, the ability to track them remotely will also improve efficiency. Despite rainfall, workers can continue operating inside the office.

Technological tools NParks is using at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park

Image Credits: CNA

Remote measurement system for trees:

A device used to dynamically map individual trees’ positions and derive measurements using light detection, range scans, and machine learning.
The information is immediately transmitted to the Tree Registry System of NParks, enabling the organisation to oversee trees in the region.
The framework significantly reduces the need for landscape workers to do intensive fieldwork of inspecting trees and maintaining records manually.

Surveillance cameras, video analytics, and park visitor assessment system:

A variation of these methods was used by NParks during the pandemic to track visitor numbers in parks and gardens.
Security cameras with embedded video analytics have also been used to manage visitor compliance and safe-distancing regulation.
These techniques enable NParks to decide how best to deploy their staff.

Maven II:

This is an updated version of an electronic platform to merge both the technical and research efforts of NParks.
It holds information such as park planning and facility data, tree information, biodiversity data, and several others. This will facilitate NParks officers to obtain data on the go.
The enhanced interface provides a self-billing feature that will decrease the contractors’ payment processing period upon job completion.

Why are F&B firms like Domino’s Pizza and Hard Rock Cafe Sentosa turning to door-to-door sales amid COVID-19?

Although the pandemic has intensified the digitalisation movement for many firms, some have taken a more unexpected path to improve sales. Selected businesses have proceeded with a traditional marketing tactic of going door-to-door to sell residents discount coupons.

Companies are collaborating with Salesworks

Ohana restaurant founder, Ms Shereen Anwar, stated her company started just three weeks before the circuit breaker began. “We had to re-strategise. We cannot have dine-in customers and we had just opened,” she shared.

Therefore, they went ahead with Ohana certificates where, at a lower price, consumers can get 10 sets of foods for S$30 via delivery.

Domino’s Pizza is also collaborating with Salesworks to offer its S$30 vouchers door-to-door. The pizza chain used to distribute leaflets in busy public areas, but it was no longer appropriate because of safe distancing initiatives.

Another food business that has taken the conventional path is Hard Rock Cafe Sentosa.

Image Credits: Kkday

A company representative said it wanted to get involved in neighbourhood sales. That is their attempt to obtain a more significant share of local audiences and provide locally tailored promotions. This is due to the firm’s realisation that the brand’s fame has recently upped among locals.

Though all three food outlets said their earnings have benefited by such a traditional marketing technique, they did not convey any sales data.

“A lot of people of all races come to try our food. The reach is further,” Ms Shereen feedbacked.

Hearing from the marketers themselves

New graduates or students who are preparing to enter university are among those who help distribute these vouchers.

Ms Celeste Koh applied to be a marketer as her pet boarding company took a hit due to COVID-19. The 19-year-old shared that her commission reaches up to S$500 a week, specifically on days where there are better sales.

After graduating from the Institute of Technical Education, she originally intended to fly but had to postpone her plans because of the pandemic. Besides her part-time position with Salesworks, she also does other jobs, such as being a barista and warehouse worker.

Since August 2020, Ms Soh Xian, 21, has been working full-time for Salesworks because she didn’t want to land an office role after finishing her studies from Singapore Polytechnic.

For Mr Shan Anders, the sales job was something he decided to try since he had some free time before enrolling in college. He makes around S$300 a week.

Door-to-door marketing is challenging but rewarding

Image Credits: iStock

“When I first started, I was like ‘Oh, people are that mean.’ After a while, I got used to it. I just look forward to the next positive customer,” said Mr Anders.

The 24-year-old went on to share an incident about a client who purchased some vouchers but requested him to pass those on to someone else who requires it more.

Ms Soh admitted she encountered unpleasant people sometimes, but there were still those who addressed her with courtesy. “Some of them are very nice,” she remarked. “They give us drinks and food that they cooked.”