Think & Create

Trading stocks should be treated as a business venture – it will require time, knowledge and money to succeed. Your Financial Plan represents your roadmap to success.

Decide Your Financial Objectives.
If you are a 60 year old looking for cash flow to fund your impending retirement, your priority would be to generate an income stream rather than large asset value growth.

If you are a 25 year old who wants to begin to invest, capital growth would be the priority, rather than income stream.

Your financial objectives will determine whether you trade liquid shares or not.

Decide Your Risk Level.
Decide on your risk level and the types of investments you can afford to make will be set. Remember, the higher the return you want to achieve, the higher the risk.

Low Risk Level
I am not very comfortable with risk and will invest in fixed interest/capital guaranteed securities (government bonds, bank term deposits).

Medium Risk Level
I can take on a moderate amount of risk (blue chip Industrial and Banking and Finance sector shares).

High Risk Level
I am comfortable with risk. I am seeking a high return and prepared to evaluate companies early in their growth phase (recently listed resource companies).

How Do You Fund Your Investments?
For most of us, we do not have immediate access to a large pool of ready savings. Using the equity you have in a property to fund your share portfolio is a common approach.

EPF savings is also an effective vehicle for providing funds for investing and the majority of Malaysians have access to these funds.

Most major banks and insurance groups offer margin loan facilities. This is where you start a portfolio with savings and then use this portfolio as security to borrow further funds to buy more shares.

In most instances, the problem is not acquiring funds to start a portfolio, it is having the knowledge to invest with confidence.

In which we are reminded to confirm our clients’ listening before we start speaking.

One afternoon, early in my parenting life, I was at the wheel of the family mo-beel with my son (then five years old) in his car seat in the back and my wife riding shotgun.

It was a warm spring afternoon. We’d given my son an apple to gnaw on. ‘Midst masticating, came the question: “Dad, why does an apple turn brown?”

So, I explained. When you bite into the apple, you break some of the apple cells, and there are chemicals inside apple cells that contain iron and that react with oxygen in the air, just like when the fence railing at the front steps rusts or when scabs on cuts turn brown, and that’s called oxidation.

There was silence for a while as he thought this over. He then asked, “Dad…. Were you talking to me?”

Thought I was! Whoops! Maybe what he was really saying was, “I don’t like brown apples, how do I make it stop turning brown?” Maybe I should have asked: “Why do you want to know?”

This very same scenario unfolds when we’re in sales calls.

For example: Let’s say we’re talking about hiring sales people. We introduce the idea of an assessment process. Our prospective client expresses interest and asks, “How does the assessment work?”

One way: Steak - the answer you’d give to someone who is concerned about technical issues and implementation:

“Well it’s a 288 item online questionnaire that sometimes is 324 items if it’s for sales managers. It takes about 60 minutes to complete. It’s set up so you can be interrupted and come back to it and you pick up where you left off but, once it’s submitted, a report is generated back to your assistant who we trained to run the HR Assistant tool that handles all the data. She can then send that report out to the hiring manager and they have it in time for their next interview. Usually within 24 hours.”

Another way: Sizzle - the answer you’d give to someone who’s concerned about outcomes and results:

“Well it’s really about eliminating unforced errors in hiring. The research suggests that even the best sales managers bat around .500 in their careers and we think we can move that to 8 out of 10. That’s a significant increase in results but, more importantly, reduction of turnover. Moreover, you increase the quality of the hires you make because you know precisely the DNA of your top performers. So you upgrade the entire team’s overall performance.”

Slip them a quick assessment on the spot to understand their frame of reference. A good assessment question to ask BEFORE answering might be: “What information would help you most?” or “What are you listening for?” The answer to that question will help us understand who we’re talking to and the levels and types of information they want so that they feel we ARE talking to them.

Thanks and tip of the hat to friend and reader John Hoskins who shared his experiences selling H.R. Chally’s wonderful assessment tools.
(c) Clarity Advantage Corporation, 2009. All rights reserved.
Nick Miller
(office) 978-897-5665 (mobile) 508-631-2810
Clarity Advantage Corporation

By Brian Tracy

Fast tempo seems to go hand in hand with all great success. Developing this tempo requires that you start moving and keep moving at a steady rate.

The Key Action to Orientation
When you become an action-oriented person, you activate the “Momentum Principle” of success. This principle says that although it may take tremendous amounts of energy to overcome inertia and get going initially, it then takes far less energy to keep going.

Increase Your Energy
The good news is that the faster you move, the more energy you have. The faster you move, the more you get done and the more effective you feel. The faster you move, the more experience you get and the more you learn. The faster you move, the more competent and capable you become at your work.

Get Onto the Fast Track
A sense of urgency shifts you automatically onto the fast track in your career. The faster you work and the more you get done, the higher will be your levels of self-esteem, self-respect and personal pride.

Talk to Yourself Positively
One of the simplest and yet most powerful ways to get yourself started is to repeat the words, “Do it now! Do it now! Do it now!” over and over to yourself. If you feel yourself slowing or becoming distracted by conversations or low value activities, repeat to yourself the words, “Back to work! Back to work! Back to work!” over and over.

Get A Reputation for Speed
In the final analysis, nothing will help you more in your career than for you to get the reputation for being the kind of person who gets important work done quickly and well. This reputation will make you one of the most valuable and respected people in your field.

Action Exercises
Practice makes perfect! Pick up the tempo! Whatever you are doing, resolve to move faster than ever before.

Withdrawal

1. Are there any exceptions to the prohibitions of withdrawals, since its inception on 1st September 1998?
A depositor shall not withdraw deposited securities from the Central Depository safe except in the following circumstances:
1. To facilitate share buy back
2. To facilitate conversion of debt securities
3. To facilitate company restructuring processes
4. To facilitate rectification of errors
5. When a corporate body is removed from the official list of a stock exchange
6. In any other circumstances determined by the Central Depository from time to time, after consultation with the Securities Commission

Electronic Share Application (ESA)

1. What is Electronic Share Application (ESA)?
Electronic Share Application (ESA) is a facility that allows for application of Initial Public Offering (IPO) through an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) of the participating financial institutions. This facility is provided by both the MIDF Corporate & Consultancy Services Sdn Bhd (MIDFCCS) and the Issuing Houses (IH), i.e. Malaysian Issuing House Sdn Bhd.

In a nutshell, ESA is a mode of applying for IPOs in a paperless manner.

2. Which financial institutions provide the ESA facility?
It is provided by financial institutions which have formulated the handling of IPO processes with the Issuing House. IN the context of ESA, these financial institutions are commonly known as Participating Financial Institutions (PFI), which are:
1. AmBank Berhad
2. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Berhad
3. Bumiputera-Commerce Bank Berhad
4. HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad
5. Malayan Banking Berhad
6. OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Berhad
7. Standard Charted Bank Malaysia Berhad (selected branches)

3. What are the pre-requisites for an IPO applicant using ESA?
All you need is:
1. A banking account and a valid ATM card with the PFI
2. ii. A CDS account directly under the name of the applicant, which is opened with any of Bursa Malaysia Depository’s Authorised Depository Agent (i.e. stockbroking companies)

4. What are the conditions governing the ESA operations?
The respective PFI will set out the procedures and instructions on the usage of the ESA facility. Similarly, the ESA Terms and Conditions can be found in the prospectus issued by the IPO Offeror.

5. How do I use the ESA facility?
Each PFI may have different procedures in using the ESA facility through its ATM. Therefore, you are advised to check with the relevant PFI for detailed procedures in using ESA facility for an IPO application.

6. How does the ESA facility function during an IPO?
In brief, the IPO applicant will apply for a specific IPO by entering the appropriate details via the PFI’s ATM. Once the details been entered successfully, the applicant’s banking account will be debited for the appropriate amount accordingly. The PFI will then collate all the ESA applications of its account holders and forward them to the relevant Issuing House for processing and balloting.

7. What will happen in the event of a successful IPO application via ESA?
Upon completion of the balloting process, the CDS account of the successful applicant will be credited with the appropriate amount of shares allotted. The applicant will also receive a Notice of Allotment from the IH confirming the quantity of shares to be credited into his CDS account.

8. What will happen in the event of an unsuccessful IPO application via ESA?
Upon completion of the balloting process, the IH will issue an instruction to the relevant PFI on all its account holders’ unsuccessful applications. The PFI upon receiving this instruction from the IH will credit the appropriate amount back into the banking account of the unsuccessful applicant.

Note: The above FAQ on ESA facility is only intended to provide IPO applicants with a brief overview on the ESA facility. The procedures and guidelines governing the operations of ESA facility may vary from one PFI to another. If in doubt, applicants are encouraged to seek necessary clarification on the usage of the ESA facility directly from the respective PFI or Issuing House.

Transmission of Title

1. Who is authorised to liaise with Bursa Malaysia Depository with regards to the CDS account(s) of a deceased depositor?
Bursa Malaysia Depository can only liaise with the following personal representatives in terms of balance enquiry, closing of accounts, and transfer of securities:
1. Beneficiary named in the Distribution Order
2. Executor/Administrator appointed pursuant to Grant of Representation

2. Can the CDS account of a deceased depositor be suspended if wanted to?
Yes, the next of kin of the deceased depositor may suspend the CDS account by carrying out the following procedures:
1. Notifying the Bursa Malaysia Depository in writing, of the death of the depositor
2. Submitting the following documents to Bursa Malaysia Depository:
1. A duly executed Suspension/Release of Suspension of Securities Request form
2. A certified true copy of the deceased’s death certificate
3. A certified true copy of the next of kin’s NRIC
4. A certified true copy of marriage certificate/birth certificate of the next of kin to prove the relationship with the deceased
The form must be executed before a Notary Public/Advocate & Solicitor/any of the CDS officers of the ADA in Malaysia. The above mentioned documents must also be certified true by the same witness who witnesses the execution of the said form.

3. What is the procedure for transferring securities in the case of a deceased depositor?
Procedures are as follows:
1. Upon the extraction of the Grant of Representation (GOP), Letter of Administration (LA) or the Distribution Order, transfer of securities from the deceased depositor’s account may be performed by the executor/administrator appointed pursuant to the GOP or the beneficiary named in the Distribution Order, who must be personally present before an officer of Bursa Malaysia Depository to execute the relevant transfer form.

Please note that the GOP/LA obtained from other countries have to be duly resealed in the High Court of Malaysia.
2. Submit the following documents to Bursa Malaysia Depository for verification:
1. Certified true copy of the death certificate
2. Original or certified true copies of the GOP/LA/Distribution Order
3. Original or certified true copies of NRIC of the executor/administrator or beneficiary named in the Distribution Order
3. Pay the RM10transfer fee and RM50 processing fee

4. What if the executor/administrator/beneficiary cannot be present at Bursa Malaysia Depository?
In the event that the executor / administrator / beneficiary is unable to be present at Bursa Malaysia Depository, they may write to Bursa Malaysia Depository for a waiver of their presence at Bursa Malaysia Depository and state the name of the ADA where they wish to execute the relevant form. Documents as per Q3 must also be submitted together with the said letter.

5. What if the executor/administrator/beneficiary resides outside of Malaysia?
In the event that the executor / administrator / beneficiary reside outside of Malaysia, they may write to Bursa Malaysia Depository for a waiver of their presence at Bursa Malaysia Depository. Documents as per Q3 must also be submitted together with the said letter. Bursa Malaysia Depository will then send them the relevant form for their execution before a Notary Public.

Delisted Securities

For Depositors

1. What happens to the delisted securities in my CDS account?
Delisted securities in your CDS account will continue to be deposited with Bursa Malaysia Depository Sdn Bhd.

2. Can I keep delisted securities in my CDS account?
Yes, you can.

3. What are the advantages of keeping delisted securities in my CDS account?
Your securities are kept securely by Bursa Malaysia Depository thus avoiding the need for handling physical scrip and the possibility of misplacing them. Apart from that, you will also continue to enjoy all the CDS facilities extended by Bursa Malaysia Depository to its account holders.

4. Will I incur any fees if I maintain delisted securities in my CDS account?
Presently, you are not subject to any fees for maintaining delisted securities in your CDS account.

5. Am I allowed to trade the delisted securities on the stock exchange?
No, you are not allowed to trade securities which have been delisted from the Stock Exchange.

6. Will the delisted securities in my CDS account still be reflected in the CDS statement of account?
Yes, it will.

7. Will I continue receiving my CDS statement of account if it contains only delisted securities?
Yes, you will continue to receive the CDS statement of account every half yearly.

8. Is the inactive account status applicable to CDS accounts holding only delisted securities?
Yes, a CDS account holding only delisted securities will be designated as inactive if there are no CDS activities for 36 consecutive months.

9. Am I allowed to transfer delisted securities?
Yes, you may transfer your delisted securities to another CDS account by submitting the duly completed Transfer of Securities Request Form (FTF010) to your Authorised Depository Agent (ADA), where your CDS account holding your delisted securities is maintained.

10. Will the transfer of delisted securities be subject to Bursa Malaysia Depository’s approved reasons for transfer?
No, the approved reasons for transfer are only applicable to listed securities. Delisted securities are not subject to this requirement.

11. Am I allowed to withdraw delisted securities from my CDS account?
Yes, you can.

12. How do I withdraw delisted securities?
To withdraw, you need to do the following:
1. Complete and submit the Securities Withdrawal Request form (FWT010)
2. Complete the Form of Transfer of Securities (Form 32A) with sufficient stamp duty affixed
3. Submit the duly completed FWT010, Form 32A and the appropriate withdrawal fee to the ADA which maintains your CDS account holding for further processing.

13. Where can I obtain the FWT010 Form and Form 32A?
You can obtain both forms from your ADA.

14. How much does it cost to withdraw delisted securities?
Currently the withdrawal fee is RM15 per 1000 securities or part thereof. In addition, there is a stamp duty charge for executing Form 32A. The stamp duty will be charged according to the prescribed rate in the Stamp Act 1949.

15. Will I be entitled to any corporate action announced by the delisted company in future?
Your entitlement as a shareholder will be decided by the Issuer.

16. What will happen to delisted securities that are pledged to the bank?
This will depend on your arrangements with the bank. Therefore, you should seek their advice on this matter.
17. What will happen to my unclaimed securities if Jabatan Akauntan Negara approves my claim after the delisting date?
Bursa Malaysia Depository will follow the relevant directive from the regulators on this matter.

For Issuers

1. Can we request for the Record of Depositors (ROD)?
Yes, you can. Bursa Malaysia Depository will continue producing the ROD upon receiving a formal request from either the Issuer or Share Registrar. This is subject to the requester paying the appropriate ROD fees.

2. Will we incur any fees if we maintain our company’s securities in the CDS?
The current practice will continue to remain.

by Chris Widener

Destiny. What a powerful word. And the great thing about it? Everyone has one! You have a destiny! Another great thing about destiny? We have a significant role in shaping our own destiny! In essence, you can choose your date with destiny – powerful!

Your destiny is the dream that lies within you of your desired and preferred future. And the things that we choose each day are what lead us to that destiny: Our actions, our words, our attitudes, and our relationships. They all add up to develop and shape that date on which we will reach our destiny.

Here are some thoughts to think about as you work on shaping your Date with Destiny:

The Mental Question: Do you believe that you can achieve a life of abundance? The frank truth is that many people simply do not believe that they can achieve what lies in their heart. Success is for someone else, a better person, or a smarter person. This is not true and is perhaps the greatest obstacle we face on the journey to our destiny. If we are to achieve the abundance in life we must first believe we can, or face our own continual self-sabotage of what a college professor of mine called “stinkin’-thinkin.’”

Here is the truth:
It doesn’t matter what your intelligence is.
It doesn’t matter what your current resources are.
It doesn’t matter what you currently earn.
It doesn’t matter what family you came from.

Nothing in your current circumstances matters in whether or not you can achieve your destiny! Nothing! Now, your current state may make it a longer or harder journey than someone else, but the possibility is always there no matter what your current circumstances are.

And that is the message we need to continually tell ourselves. “I can do it.” Not “I can’t do it.”

Clear vision. Do you have one of your destiny? Here are some questions to determine whether or not your vision is clear.

Can you describe it in intricate detail?
Can you “see” it?
Can you “feel” it?
Can you “hear” it?

Here are a couple of illustrations.

Perhaps you came from a dysfunctional family and your dream is to have great moments with your family. Let’s start with a Thanksgiving meal. Can you see each person there? What are they wearing? Are they smiling? What is the conversation? Can you hear the laughter? Can you experience the joy? Can you smell the turkey? Can you see people hugging each other and saying “This was wonderful,” as they leave?

Another scenario: Your company. Can you see the large building you are in? Can you see the workers? Can you feel the positive attitude they have as they carry out their work? Can you experience the excitement as you get the quarterly results? Can you see yourself handing out healthy bonuses that bring pleasant surprises to your employees?

This is where it begins. A clear vision of your destiny.

Consider your resources. Are you aware of the resources you will need in order to set your date with destiny? Do you know how you will go about getting them? What are your natural gifts and talents that you have? How can you best utilize them in achieving your destiny?

What is your current level of resources?
Money?
Time?
Emotional health?
Help from others such as friends, family, employees or volunteers?

What will be your needed future level of resources? And have you developed a plan to achieve this level?

The last thing I would encourage you to do is fix a date in the future that you believe you could be living your destiny by. A real date. What this enables you to do is then begin to work backwards in setting goals to move you along the way, providing you with future points to strive for and an evaluation point to reflect upon.

Here are the points again:

Answer the mental question: Do I really believe?

Develop a plan to get there.

By Kelly Perdew, Trump University

By plan, I don’t mean have some idea in your head about your business or your career. When I say plan, I mean have a REAL plan. A written plan… that you work on frequently.

People always ask me how to get started on their plan. It is really quite simple. For my planning processes, I like to use what’s called heuristic, or backward, planning. I learned it in the military. Basically, you start with your objective in mind and then work back to where you are now.

Heuristic planning can be distilled down into three basic steps. Let’s take a look at each…

Step One: Identify Your Overall Objective
Hopefully, you’ve incorporated your passion into your overall objective. That objective can be anything from getting a job in a new industry or new company to owning a major league sports team. Whatever it may be, just make sure it is something you’re passionate about and that it is defined. Once you’ve identified your overall objective, you can begin the processes of achieving it!

You need to be specific about defining the objective. What constitutes success? How do you define failure? What are all of the components of the objective that you want to achieve? Truly understanding the answers to all of these questions will help you develop your plan more effectively.

Step Two: Determine Intermediate Milestones and Supporting Tasks to Reach Each Milestone
For any objective you identify, there will be many milestones. And for each milestone, there will be many supporting tasks. For instance, if your objective is to find a job in a new industry, say real estate, then you’d have many potential milestones that could include:

1. Obtaining some level of formal or informal education about real estate

2. Developing an understanding of the different jobs available

3. Conducting a self-assessment and comparing that to what you’ve learned about the industry to determine the roles for which you’d be best suited; and

4. Developing a structured network to assist you in finding, closing, and excelling in your new job.

These are just a few potential milestones. Based on your ultimate objective, there can be many, many milestones, and they need to be individually mapped out. Many milestones can be worked on simultaneously. For instance, you might be getting your formal education in real estate at the same time you are increasing the size of your network in the real estate industry.

For each of your milestones, there are supporting tasks that must be accomplished. The supporting tasks are basically all of the actions you need to accomplish in order to reach your milestone. The more specific you are in identifying tasks and timing for them to be completed, the better you’ll be able to track your progress.

Step Three: Measure Your Performance and Adjust Your Plan
Tracking your progress is critical to success. You can’t know how you’re doing if you don’t measure against your plan. The milestones act as measuring points where you can assess your development and gauge your progress. As part of the process of measuring your progress, you may find some interesting things occurring: You may learn that there are new milestones that you need to put in place to reach your objective; some of the milestones you thought you needed to reach may not really have been necessary; or you may even find out that you need to adjust your overall objective. Adjusting your plan is all part of the process and will ultimately enable you to achieve your objectives.

On “The Apprentice,” I took a lot of flak for being on the laptop a lot during the tasks. One of the interesting aspects of the show is that the complexity of each task does not come through to the viewing audience. Before we filmed the show, I remember watching a couple of episodes of season one, and I remember thinking to myself that it looked pretty easy.

Well, I’m here to tell you that it isn’t! We were given very little time and money to accomplish some very significant tasks. That required meticulous planning. Not only did we have to account for every penny, we had to manage some very strong personalities. By tracking our objective, milestones, and supporting tasks on the laptop, I was better able to lead my teammates and contribute to our ultimate success. So think about that…we created a detailed written plan for one task on a reality show. Isn’t your career, your business, your life more important than a task on a reality show!? Or course it is. Start building your plan!

Planning is one of the most critical leadership that will contribute to your ultimate success in business and in life. Remember: identify your objective, set appropriate milestones and list their supporting tasks, and measure your performance so that you can adjust your plan as necessary.

About the Author:

After winning season two of “The Apprentice,” Kelly Perdew spent 2005 as an Executive Vice President in the Trump Organization. Today, Kelly is President of ProElite.com, an online social network that provides tools for combat sports enthusiasts. He is also a Managing Director for Angel Venture Partners, a venture capital fund that collaborates with leading angel groups across the country to invest in early-stage ventures. Kelly is author of “TAKE COMMAND: 10 Leadership Principles I Learned in the Military and Put to Work for Donald Trump.” A percentage of the sales royalties from that book’s sales are donated to the USO. http://www.kellyperdew.com

No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.
- Calvin Coolidge, 1872-1933, 30th President of the United States

Knowledge has to be improved, challenged, and increased constantly, or it vanishes.
- Peter F. Drucker, 1909-2005, Austrian-born Management Consultant and Author

If we open a quarrel between the past and the present, we shall find we have lost the future.
- Winston Churchill, 1874-1965, English Politician and Author

Many years ago while in prayer, a man asked God to send him a wife, for the Bible says, “you have not because you ask not.” He not only told the Lord that he wanted a wife, but even detailed the kind of wife he was looking for.

He told the Lord he wanted someone who was kind, tender, gentle, loving, generous, sensitive, understanding, warm, humorous, and godly. As time passed he added more qualities to this list from his heart’s desire for a wife, such as considerate, helpful, and compassionate.

Then one night in prayer, God spoke to his heart and said, “Son, I will not give you what you’ve asked for in a wife.”

“Why not, Lord?” asked the man.

The Lord replied, “For I am a just God and a God of righteousness, and all I do is just and right.”

“I know that, Lord,” the man said, “But I don’t understand why you will not give me the wife I asked for.”

“Then I will explain,” said the Lord. “It would not be just and right for me to grant you your wish, for I cannot give you something that you are not yourself. It would not be fair for me to grant you someone who is loving when you are often hateful, someone who is kind when you are sometimes mean, someone who is generous when you are often stingy, someone who is helpful when you rarely help, or someone who is sensitive when you are so often insensitive.”

“Instead of wasting time praying that I will give you someone with all the qualities you desire, or trying to find such a person yourself, you should instead allow me to make you into a man who has all those qualities himself, for I will not give you a wife with so many good qualities that you do not have.

“If you allow me to work upon your soul and spirit and mold your heart as I choose, then when you see the one that I have for you, you will be able to say like Adam, ‘She is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh,’ for you will see yourself in her.”

The man thought upon it and agreed. And God remade him and remade her, and they met, and they were joined husband and wife and became one flesh.

By Michael Masterson

Stanley Bergen has a problem. As a regular reader of ETR and a new member of the Oxford Club, he’s getting so much good stuff from us (he’s especially interested in learning how to “eliminate some debt” and retire one day) that he “can’t figure out what to read.”

“Don’t get me wrong,” he says. “I love ETR and the Oxford Club publications, and I look forward to reading them. But it’s too much information all at once.”

“What should I do?” he asks.

What should any of us do?

We live in a world that is absolutely flooded with information. Consider these facts:

* The average person receives 32 e-mail messages per day.

* There is enough scientific information written every day to fill seven complete sets of the Encyclopedia Britannica.

* The world’s production of print, film, optical, and magnetic content in just one year would require roughly 5 exabytes (5 trillion megabytes) of storage, about 800 megabytes per person.

So if you – like Stan Bergen – are feeling overwhelmed by information, you’re not alone. Information overload is a serious problem for just about everyone.

“One of the most anxiety-inducing side effects of the information era,” Richard Saul Wurman says in Information Anxiety” is the feeling that you have to know it all.” That is especially true for smart, ambitious people – people who want to improve their lives and realize that getting the right information is a big part of success.

As an ETR reader, that probably means you.

When you begin a new project or become interested in a new idea, do you have an insatiable desire to learn more about it? Do you find yourself buying – and reading – every book, report, newsletter, and magazine you can find on the subject? (That’s what I do.)

In the beginning, it feels great. You are riding high. Then, all of a sudden, you realize that you’ve become an information junkie. You’ve been spending so much time reading about whatever it is you want to do that you don’t have any time left to actually do it. You feel like crying for help.

Bob Bly calls this “analysis paralysis.”

“All the information you are taking in has overloaded your circuits,” he says. “You can’t process it all, sort through it, and figure out what to do first. So, instead, you do nothing. You take no action – other than to order yet another course or report to read.”

Does any of this sound familiar?

Bob has a formula for preventing analysis paralysis. He calls it the 25-50-25 rule. It is based on the fact that there are only three ways to learn a process (e.g., how to start an Internet business) or a skill (e.g., copywriting): studying, observing, and doing.

The 25-50-25 rule says that you must divide your time as follows:

* No more than 25 percent of your time studying – i.e., reading books, attending workshops, listening to instructional CDs in your car.

* No more than 25 percent of your time observing – watching what successful people are already doing.

* At least 50 percent of your time actually DOING the thing you are studying and observing.

For example, if you want to sell information products on the Internet, you would spend 25 percent of your time studying material on the way it’s done, 25 percent of your time observing the way other people are doing it, and 50 percent of your time creating your first product… designing your website… and building your list.

I like Bob’s rule because it emphasizes action. And when I found out about it, I wondered if it could be applied to my daily working life. In thinking about it, I concluded that it depended greatly on what sort of work I was doing. If I was learning a new skill, Bob’s rule seemed to apply. But when I was going about my normal workday activities – creating new products and growing businesses – my time was spent very differently.

My daily working life, I realized, has three common components:

* Gathering information
* Analyzing that information and using it to make plans
* Taking action

I tend to do my information gathering at specific times. I read newspapers in the early morning, magazines during breaks, and e-mail at the end of the day. I read to encounter useful ideas. I analyze those ideas both as I’m reading them and later on, at odd moments throughout the day. I spend most of my workday – about 80 percent of it – taking action. The rest of my time – 20 percent – is devoted to gathering information, analyzing it, and making plans.

I like that 80 percent number. It corresponds with Pareto’s Law – the 80/20 rule that you can apply to just about everything.

I decided to ask some of the most successful people I know (from many different industries and countries) the following questions:

1. How much time each day do you work?
2. How much of that time do you spend gathering and analyzing information?
3. How much of that time do you spend planning?
4. How much of your day do you spend taking action?

Only half a dozen have responded so far, but their answers are interesting. In terms of hours worked, it ranges from 4.5 to 12, with an average of 9. In terms of planning, the range extends from 15 minutes to 90 minutes, with an average of 45. Time devoted to information gathering ranges from 90 minutes to 3 hours, with an average of 145 minutes.

Those numbers correspond to mine. A typical workday for me is 10 hours long, with an hour and a half devoted to gathering information and 45 minutes devoted to some form of planning.

That’s not a ton of time for inputs. And that means the minutes I spend each day taking in information must be absolutely golden.

What I didn’t expect to get from my brief survey were the comments and insights my colleagues have been sharing. They’ve not only told me how they spend their time, but have offered tricks and techniques for getting more done, faster.

Responses are still coming in. When I get all of them, I’ll be sure to make them available to you. So keep reading ETR for more details.

Next week, I’ll give you a clear and useful strategy for reading all that information you’re being bombarded with, to help you sort through the clutter. While you’re waiting for solutions, compare the way you allocate your time to the numbers above that I’ve already collected.

Account Opening

1. What is a Central Depository System?
The CDS acts as a means of representing ownership and movement of securities. CDS account holders enjoy the conveniences if obtaining electronic securities transfer and trade settlement.

2. Who may open a CDS account?
The CDS account may be opened by:
1. An individual who has reached the age of eighteen (18) years as of the application date.
2. A corporation within the context of Section 4 of the Companies Act 1965.
3. Any corporate body that is incorporated within Malaysia and is by notice, published in the Gazette, declared as a public authority or an instrument or agency of the Government of Malaysia or of any Malaysian State.
4. A society under any written law relating to co-operative societies.
5. A trustee or trust corporation duly constituted under any written law.
6. Any society registered under the Societies Act 1966.
7. Statutory bodies incorporated under an Act of Parliament.

In general, a CDS account can only be opened if the persons are opening it either as a beneficial owner or as an Authorised Nominee.

3. Why do I need to open a CDS account?
You need to open a CDs account to buy and/or sell shares, and to carry out other CDS transactions on all equity and non equity counters (i.e. bonds, loan sticks, warrants, etc.) which have been prescribed into the CDS.

4. How do I open a CDS account?
You can open a CDS account with any Authorised Depository Agents (ADAs). All stockbroking companies in Malaysia are currently ADAs.

If you are an individual investor, you may go to an ADA of your choice and:
1. Complete the Opening of Account form and two (2) Specimen Signature Cards.
2. ii. For Malaysians, submit the documents together with two (2) certified true copies of your Malaysian National Registration Identity Card (NRIC). As for foreigners, you need to pay the Account Opening fee and submit two (2) certified true copies of your passport.

If you are a corporate investor, you are required to:
1. Complete the Opening of Account form and two (2) Specimen Signature Cards.
2. ii. Submit the above documents with two (2) copies of all necessary supporting documents (e.g. Certificate of Incorporation, Board Resolution, etc) together with the Account Opening fee.

Your ADA will then open the CDS account and give you your CDS account number. Bursa Malaysia Depository Sdn Bhd will send you an account opening confirmation notice by ordinary mail.

5. When do I need to formalize an account?
If you had applied for Initial Public Offering without a CDS account prior to December 2003 and was successful in your application, Bursa Malaysia Depository Sdn Bhd would have opened a CDS account on your behalf with the broker of your choice.

Bursa Malaysia Depository would have informed you of the account and the need for you to formalise the opening of the account by submitting the relevant documents and by paying the Account Opening fee. The account cannot be utilised until all these formalities are complied with.

6. How do I open a CDS account if I cannot be present in person?
Pursuant to Rule 25.01 (1A) of the Rules of Bursa Malaysia Depository, it is mandatory for an individual to be present in person before the ADA if he intends to open or formalise a securities account. In the event that he is unable to do so, the ADA may be pursuant to Rule 5.02A (2) expressly waive the requirement to be present in person. The ADA may instead permit the investor to submit the relevant account opening form (available at all ADAs) and present his documents for verification in front of any of the following people who are also required to witness or certify the supporting documents:
1. Dealer’s representative
2. Authorised Officer of an ADA
3. Authorised Officer of an Exempt Dealer
4. Authorised Officer of a Malaysian Embassy/High Commission Consulate
5. Notary Public (in the absence of a Notary Public in applicant’s country, the authorized officers of a licensed stockbroking company or the lawyers* of that country may be allowed to verify)
6. Others as approved by Bursa Malaysia Depository

*an advocate/solicitor or barrister admitted to the recognised Bar council of the respective country.

7. Can I open more than one CDS account?
An individual investor is allowed to open only one (1) CDS account with each ADA. However, a corporate investor may open multiple accounts with the same ADA.

8. Can a permanent resident of Malaysia apply for a CDS account?
Yes, they may. You may refer to Q2 for more information.

Updating Account Particulars

1. How do I change my particulars?
You may change your personal particulars (name, investor type, registered address, etc) and also your account particulars (correspondence address, account qualifier and telephone number).

All you need to do is complete the Application for Updating of Account Particulars form, and hand it over to your ADA who will then do the rest.

2. What should I do if I wish to update my signature?
Whether you are an individual investor or a corporate body, you are required to submit an official letter expressing your intention of updating the signature to your respective ADA.

Individual investors who wish to do so must be present before the ADA, bringing along the letter officially expressing the intention of updating the signature.

The letter should contain the following:
1. The CDS account number
2. The “old” and the “new” signature
3. The “new” signature’s effective date of use

For a corporate investor, a letter duly signed by the person appointed to operate the account pursuant to Board Resolution of the company or a new Board Resolution on the update, is to be submitted.

3. Why is the notice on a successful update or particulars in a CDS account sent to both the correspondence and the registered addresses?
Bursa Malaysia Depository sends such Notice to both the registered and correspondence addresses when both the addresses differ. This is one of the security measures built in the CDS to protect any unauthorised updates and also to protect the interest of the account holder.

Closing of Account

1. How do I close my CDS account?
An account may only be closed if there are no outstanding transactions/balances remaining in that account. You can complete and submit the Application for Closing of Account form or write a letter to your ADA, stating your request to close the CDS account.

CDS Account Statements

1. When do I receive the CDS statement of account?
You will receive a monthly statement of account in respect of the preceding month which has an entry in the CDS account. However, when there are no entries but there are shares in your CDS account, Bursa Depository shall issue the statement in the month of June and December.

2. What is a statement cycle?
A statement cycle is a period which is pre-determined by the system with the purpose of generating the statement of account.

Depositors’ statement of account cycles are assigned to either the 7th, 14th or 21st of each month. ADAs’ principle and nominee accounts are assigned to the 28th of each month.

3. Why are the shares I recently bought not reflected in my latest statement of account?
If the settlement date falls after the date of your statement cycle, the transaction will be reflected in your next statement of account.

4. How do I request for a backdated copy of my statement of account?
You may request for a copy from your ADA if the date of the statement is less than one (1) year from the date of retrieval. The ADA may charge you for this service.

If the date of the statement goes back to more than one (1) year from the date of retrieval, you must request it from Bursa Depository by way if letter. Charges are applicable

5. What are the possible reasons for failure to receive the statement of account?
It may be due to the following circumstances:
1. When investors’ correspondence address is not updated with his ADA
2. When the CDS account is not yet formalized
3. When there has been no debit or credit entry into the CDS account, during that particular month

Transfers

1. How limited is my request to initiate a transfer?
Effective 1st September 1998, any transfer requests must be within the approved reasons of transfer prescribed by Bursa Malaysia Depository.

2. Can I initiate a transfer of a counter which is suspended from trading?
Yes, you can, provided it falls within the approved reasons.

3. What are the changes done to the transfer process by Bursa Malaysia Depository on 30th December 2002?
The changes are as follows:
1. Introduction of new Transfer of Securities Request form which incorporates more user-friendly features and also a declaration clause.
2. The cut-off time for depositors to lodge their transfer related documents with their respective ADA/ADM has been extended form 12.00pm to 3.00pm.
3. The previous ten (10) approved reasons have been reclassified to two (2) broad categories.
1. No Change in Beneficial Ownership
This category of approved reason for transfer caters for transfers that result in no change in the beneficial ownership of securities. Under this category of approved reasons for transfer, the name of the beneficial owner is transparent and identical at both the securities accounts of the transferor and transferee, thus no supporting document is required.
2. Change in Beneficial Ownership
This category of approved reason for transfer covers scenarios such as transfers pursuant to General Offer, transfers between family members, transfers arising from pledging of securities, transfers involving Government Authorities and transfers that require prior approval from Bursa Malaysia Depository. Except for transfers involving Government Authorities, the rest of the approved reasons in this category would require supporting documents.

4. Can I still use the old transfer form to initiate transfer of securities request?
No. It is mandatory for all transfer of securities request executed by the transferor after 30th December 2002, to include the declaration clause that is pre-printed on the new transfer request form.

5. In relation to transfers between family members’ CDS accounts, what are the scenarios or relationships allowed by Bursa Malaysia Depository?
Bursa Malaysia Depository only allows transfers between the transferor (the person who initiates the transfer) and transferee (the person who receives the transferred securities), who are immediate family members. Here are the following relationships allowed:
1. Parents
2. Children/Adopted children
3. Spouse
4. Brothers
5. Sisters
6. Grandparents
7. Grandchildren

Individual depositors are also able to transfer securities from their CDS accounts held directly in the name of the individual depositor or nominee accounts held by an Authorised Nominee (where the individual depositors are indicated as beneficial owners) to CDS accounts held directly in the name of their family members. They will be required to enclose the relevant supporting documents when initiating such transfers.

However, transferring of securities from the depositors’ Pledged Securities Accounts directly to their family members’ CDS accounts are not permitted.

However, transferring of securities from the depositors’ Pledged Securities Accounts directly to their family members’ CDS accounts are not permitted.

6. When will the transfer of securities be reflected in the CDS account?
Once the transferor submits the completed Transfer of Securities Request form to his ADA, the ADA concerned will verify all the documentation to ensure that they are in order and then enter the relevant information into the CDS. Upon successful execution of the transfer request in the CDS, the transferor’s CDS account will be debited and the transferee’s CDS account will be credited immediately.

Account Balance Inquiry

1. Can I still obtain my account balance if I do not wish to pay for an ad-hoc statement?
Yes, you can by completing a Balance Inquiry Request form available at your ADA. You will be given your latest CDS account balance without the transaction details.

2. Can my dealer’s representative have access to my account balance?
IN accordance with the Rules of Bursa Malaysia Depository, you can authorise your dealer’s representative to inquire your CDS account balance for a specific period or indefinitely, unless revoked earlier by you.

3. Can I inquire my stock balance from my stockbroking company via telephone?
In the interest of protecting the confidentiality and security of your CDS account, you are not encouraged to verify your stock balance with the ADA via telephone. Instead you are required to complete and submit a Balance Inquiry Request form to your ADA, where your signature or those of your authorised signatories will be verified.

Corporate Action

1. Can I use an authorised nominee account to apply for an IPO?
No. These authorised nominee accounts are opened by the ADA’s nominee company and is effectively owned and operated by the ADA on behalf of its client. If you are an individual IPO applicant, you must use your own individual CDS account. Margin accounts are also not allowed to be used when applying for an IPO.

2. How is my entitlement from a corporate action determined?
Whenever a corporate action is announced by the relevant issuer, Bursa Malaysia Depository will provide the Record of Depositors (ROD) as of the lodgment date of the corporate action to the Issuer or the Share Registrar of the Company. The ROD contains information on the CDS account holders and the number of shares to their credit as at the lodgment date.

Based on this information, the issuer will determine the entitlement of each of its shareholder and instruct Bursa Malaysia Depository to credit the relevant CDS accounts with the appropriate number of shares.

3. When will my CDS account be credited with securities arising from corporate actions, i.e. Rights Issue, Bonus Issue, etc?
These securities will be credited into your CDS account on the eve of the listing of the underlying securities on the Stock Exchange or on any other date as instructed by the relevant authorities.

4. Can I request for the underlying securities due to myself, arising from a corporate action exercise to be issued in the form of certificates?
No. Under Section 38 of Securities Industry (Central Depositories) Act 1991 (Amendment 1998), securities due to you as a result of any corporate exercise will be credited into your CDS account. There will be no issuance of physical certificates.

Dormant Account

1. What is a dormant account?
An account is designated as dormant when there is nil balance in the account and there has not been any debit or credit entry in the depositor’s account in the 36 months after the date of nil balance.

2. Why does Bursa Malaysia Depository designate an account as dormant?
Bursa Malaysia Depository is continuously striving to enhance the security of your CDS account. Designating relevant accounts as dormant will restrict unauthorised transactions.

3. What is the effect of my account being dormant?
Once your account is designated as dormant, you will not be able to use that account to perform any kind of CDS transactions under the Rules of Bursa Malaysia Depository. However, you may use your dormant account in your application for Initial Public Offering (IPOs) and corporate actions. You will not receive any Statement of Account until your account is reactivated.

4. Can my dormant account still be used to apply for IPOs or corporate actions?
Yes, you may use your dormant account to apply for IPOs. The same also applies for corporate actions. However, the status of your account will remain as dormant until you reactivate it.

5. Will I be notified before my CDS account is designated as dormant?
Yes, one month prior to the designation of an account to dormant status, Bursa Malaysia Depository will issue a notice to inform you.

6. When I receive the notice, what steps may I take to prevent my account from being dormant?
To ensure that your account remains active and is not designated as dormant, you may perform any CDS transaction which involves any debit or credit book entries in your account, prior to the effective date of dormancy.

7. Will I be notified again once my CDS account has been designated as dormant?
No, Bursa Malaysia Depository will only be sending a one-time notice to you one (1) month prior to the effective date of dormancy.

8. If my CDS account is dormant, can I still request to update my particulars?
Yes, you may update your particulars in your CDS account by completing the Application for updating of Account Particulars form and by submitting it to the ADA where your account is maintained.

9. How do I reactivate my dormant account?
To reactivate your account, you are required to submit a written request or the completed Application for Reactivation of CDS Account form with supporting documents (if any) to the ADA where your dormant account is maintained.

10. Must I be present before the ADA to reactivate my dormant account?
No, you don’t have to be present.

Inactive Accounts

1. What is an inactive account?
An account is said to be inactive when there are deposited securities in the account but with no debit or credit entries in the depositor’s account for at least 36 consecutive months from the date of the last entry made.

2. Why does Bursa Malaysia Depository designate an account as ‘inactive’?
Bursa Malaysia Depository is continuously striving to enhance the security of your CDS account. Designating relevant accounts as inactive will restrict unauthorised transactions.

3. What is the effect of my account being inactive?
Once your account has been designated as inactive, you may continue to perform all forms of CDS transactions which are available to the depositors except for outward transfers and trade activities.

4. What will happen to the securities held in my CDS account after it is designated as ‘inactive’?
Your securities will still remain in your CDS account after your account is designated as inactive.

5. Can I still use my inactive account to apply for IPOs or corporate actions?
Yes, you may use your inactive account to apply for IPOs. The same also applies for corporate actions. However, the status of your account will remain unchanged.

6. Will I receive any statement of account after my CDS account is deemed inactive?
Yes, Bursa Malaysia Depository will continue to send the Statement of Account on a half-yearly basis after your account is designated as inactive.

7. Will I receive entitlements such as Dividends or Bonus Issues after my CDS account has been designated as ‘inactive’?
Yes, if you are eligible to receive any entitlement, the entitled securities will be credited into your inactive account.

8. Will I be notified before my CDS account is designated as ‘inactive’?
Yes, one month prior to the designation of an account to an inactive status, Bursa Malaysia Depository will issue a notice to inform you of the same.

9. When I receive the notice, what steps may I take to prevent my account from being deemed inactive?
The designation of an account to an inactive status is to provide added security and protection to long-term investors. However, if you wish for your account to remain active, it will, if there are debit or credit entries in your account, prior to the date of inactivation stated in the notice sent to you.

10. Will I be notified again once my CDS account has been designated as ‘ inactive’?
No, Bursa Malaysia Depository will only be sending a one-time notice to you one month prior to the date of inactivation. Nevertheless, the half-yearly Statement of Account sent by Bursa Malaysia Depository will indicate the status of your account as ‘inactive’.

11. If my CDS account is deemed inactive, can I still request to update my particulars?
Yes, you may update your particulars in your CDS account by completing the Application for Updating of Account Particulars form and submitting it to your ADA where your inactive account is maintained.

12. How do I reactivate my account?
To reactivate your account, you are required to submit a written request or the completed Application for Reactivation of CDS Account form to the ADA where your inactive account is maintained.

13. Must I be present before the ADA to reactivate my account?
No, you don not need be present.

14. How long does it take to reactivate my inactive account?
Your inactive account will be reactivated within two (2) market days from the date of application.
15. Will there be a fee for reactivation?
No, there will be no fee imposed.

16. Will I be notified after my CDS account has been reactivated?
Yes, after your CDS account has been successfully reactivated, Bursa Malaysia Depository will send you a notice to inform you.