Genuine Fakes
About 20 years ago, we were working in Singapore. An absolutely fantastic little country at the tip of Malaysia. Some days we worked in the factory in Singapore itself, from where, at lunchtimes we could see Sentosa Island and the Lion from the canteen.
Other days we would catch one of the little boats at the port and travel the few miles across the water to one of the Indonesian Islands and spend a day or two at one of the outworker factories. There was always something to install or repair.
Weekends were often passed at a slow crawl around the town, walking on Sentosa Island or on this occasion, a visit to the indoor market. Anything could be bought at the market, absolutely anything and we could while away hours just looking at what each stall had to offer.
All of a sudden, Jaz let out a whoop. Watches, I need a watch.
Why. You’re always late.
And there on the stall in front of us was a large sign
Genuine Fake Rolex S$20.
Look at that, a Rolex for 20 Sing.
Read the sign Jazzy, genuine FAKE, the clue is in the words.
Undaunted he parted with his 20 Singapore dollar, about 10 British pounds at the time.
It was heavy like a Rolex, it had a Rolex name on it and the cheap metal plating looked like shiny gold.
I suppose, if it only lasted him the duration of the contract it was worth it. He could buy a genuine Rolex in the UK after 6 months over here.
I almost bought one, just for the prestige of owning a genuine fake Rolex, but decided not to.
Years later, just before the Covid plague, I was having a beer and curry with Jazzy,. As he reached across the table for the chapattis I noticed he still had his watch.
Nearly twenty years now he remarked and it’s never lost a minute in all that time. I’ve even been offered a few thousand pounds for it, but I have to tell them it’s fake. They still don’t believe me.
Oh how I wish I had bought a box full of those genuine fake Rolex watches.
And there is the moral. Sometimes you need to seize the opportunity when it presents itself. If you hesitate the chance is gone and all that is left is regret.
There will be times when a (genuine) opportunity presents itself and you need to act quickly. It might be some new innovation for your market niche, get it out there before your competitors websites start to push it. It might be a new product, and you can gain a month’s advantage over everybody else, or a book idea you have, or a holiday blog.
Seize the opportunity the moment you see it, write it down immediately in your notebook, like I do, and follow it through. In a few months or years you may be glad you took action.
Have you ever missed an opportunity
Bux
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Hi Dave, the lion in Sentosa Island has been relocated to the Singapore River.
And you could hardly get fake Rolex in Singapore. The authority really takes a close watch on fake products.
Anyway, Singapore is relatively the same 20 years city but many more parks connected all over the island.
Nazmi
To Our Success.
A great little tale my friend!
Who would have known that a 10 quid genuine fake Rolex would be able to outlast many genuine Rolexes!!
I bet you wish you had seized the opportunity and bought a case or two of them now..
But who knows.. the past is the past and cannot be changed, we must always focus on the future and opportunities that are before us, whilst learning from what past decisions we have made..
True Nick.
I would have been stopped at Customs.
I could always try and blague it.
One watch for each time zone.
D'you think that would work.
I take the opportunities now.
Bux
Thanks, have been in turtle mode with so much going on but that is changing. Kicking up the gears!!
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Several months ago, there was a course on how to be successful with social media.
The money was affordable, the tutor was ace.
I knew this was the course for me
I second guessed myself when another member made a negative comment
And told me we didn't need it
That was an opportunity that I am still regretting
Carpe Diem is now my motto
If its only a few pounds then what’s holding you back.
We all do it Simone, and we don’t know why.
Seizing the moment is the way, don’t wait, do it, if its sensible.
Toodle pip
That was then, Dave. :)
We all change S.
You go for it, you deserve all the success you can get.
Dave
I am beginning to think like that ;)
Keep driving forwards Simone. That's my attitude now. When I have a challenging moment I just think of my French house and how badly I want it back. That works, that makes me look for opportunities and how to move forwards.
Having said that, I'm still having a mare of a day. Everything today has either broken, jammed, gone slow or fallen over.
Well, not everything but it feels like it.
It's 8pm and I'm thinking I should do another half hour and then sit and read a novel for the rest of the evening.
😎
Yes, you need to unwind
What book will you be reading?
Unnatural Death by Dorothy L Sayers.
I’m just starting the first page now.
It’s a 1920s classic
Cup of cocoa too.
Very relaxing.
Hmm
Enjoy :)