The Durian Tree

Below is a story shared by a friend of mine, a mum of 2.

Born in Malaysia, she lived in a palm plantation when she was young. She had plenty of siblings, but the family had no problem with money. They were one of the richest in the village vicinity, having owned the palm plantation.

One day, her father talked to someone who suggested that the palm plantation should be turned into the durian plantation instead. Then, durians were not the in-thing. The father pondered and felt that it was a good idea, since there were too many palm plantation.

And as usual, the people around him advised him against it. They were like ducks, quacking and quacking. Giving a one-sided argument about why he should not do it. Durian trees don't grow overnight. It takes 10 POOKING years to change a seedling to a fully grown tree.

The father went ahead, getting rid of the existing matured palm trees, and replacing them with durian seedlings. The next 10 years appear to be the bleakest financial period for my friend and her family. A big family who used to lived excessively, now had to resort to stinge on spendings.

It seems the critics were right. The father died during before his dreams came true.

10 years after the seedlings were planted, the durian trees were finally up. And that is during the past few years when durians were selling like precious gems, ok almost. My friend and her family started reaping the fruits of what they sow, the vision that their father has seen many years ago.

Had they sticked to palm trees, they would never have been what they are today.
Had they listened to the critics, they would never have ventured into uncharted water, and be what they are today. They have since sold off the land (plus durian trees) and gotten a sizeable amount of money.

End of story.

The so called academically-smart people are mostly contended getting a fixed job, highly paid ones. They make good employees.
But its the risk-takers that actually suceeds.

You don't have to be academically-smart to suceed. because once you start a business, you can always get smart people to work for you.

Robert Kyosaki: "If you are afraid of risk, start early."
Brian Tracy: "The earlier you start implementing an idea, the more likely you are going to do it."


Be far-sighted, and start planting your "Durian Tree".
57% of Singaporeans will be old in the year 2050.