Friday, December 31, 2010

分享锦集:种植股评估四部曲

Dec 24th, 2010 | By 冷眼 | Category: 分享锦集

从一些上市公司,如吉隆甲洞、联合马六甲,具有超过一百年的历史可以印证,种植业是最经得起时间考验的企业,因为种植公司所拥有的最重要资产——土地,价值有升无降,是保值的最佳资产。
尽管原产品价格波动激烈,但棕油以其低廉的生产成本及多种用途,具有最强的竞争能力。
四十年来,棕油在食油市场所占的份额,由5%到目前的超过40%,证明其优越性。在世界人口日增,各国日益富庶(食油消耗量与国民生产总值同步增长)及用途日广的趋势下,棕油前景亮丽。

买种植股实在是最稳健的投资,只可惜大部分散户都不熟悉油棕业,没有评估种植股的能力,错过了低廉买进种植股的良机。
现在我以嘉隆发展(TDM Berhad)为例,跟大家分享种植股的评估心得,大家可以通过同样的方式,评估其他种植股的价值。
必须特别指出,这是我从商业投资的角度研发出来的评估法,以此四部曲评估,种植股只可以对其价值,得出一个初步的轮廓,如果要知道种植公司的准确价值,恐怕就要雇用估值师,加以详尽评估,才能得知。
在着手评估之前,我们应对有关公司有基本的认识。让我们就以嘉隆发展作个示范吧:
历史:嘉隆发展已有45年的历史。
园丘地点:在登嘉楼州。
主要股东:该公司为登嘉楼州政府的投资臂膀,州政府和州发展机构分别拥有此公司53%和14.9%股权。
园丘面积:
(A)该公司拥有的油棕园:2万6162公顷(6万4649英亩)。
(B)该公司代为管理的油棕园:3万2897公顷(8万1292英亩)。
(C)其他土地:6734公顷(1万6640英亩)。
业务:
⑴ 油棕园。
⑵医疗服务:拥有3间小型医院。
⑶食品业:养鸡。
油棕园是主要的盈利来源,其次是医疗服务业。
资本:实收资本:2亿2135万令吉,分为每股面值的股票2亿2135万股。
资料来源:2009年年报及到今年9月30日的本财务年第三季季报。
评估四部曲:一、每英亩买价

购买嘉隆发展的股票就是购买该公司的股份。购买股份之前,我们必须了解,我们以目前每股2.70令吉的市价买进该公司的股票,是等于以多少钱买进1英亩的油棕园。
该公司资本为2亿2135万令吉,以2.70令吉的股价计算,市价总值约为6亿令吉。
假如你以6亿令吉买完该公司的所有股票的话,该公司的6万4649英亩油棕园就是属于你的。
该公司在今年9月30日时,拥有约1亿2000万令吉的现金(已扣除负债),假如你以6亿令吉收购该公司的全部股票,这1亿2000万令吉现金就是你的。
从6亿令吉中减去1亿2000万令吉现金,所得出的4亿8000万令吉,就是购买该公司6万4649英亩油棕园的价格,故每英亩买价为7424令吉。
所以,你以每股2令吉70仙的价格购买嘉隆发展的股票,就等于以每亩7424令吉购买该公司的油棕园。
拥有医院和养鸡场
该公司还拥有医院和养鸡场,我们没有将这些资产计算在内,是因为这些资产数目不大,同时我们也无法知道他们的现有价值。
该公司也替登嘉楼州政府管理3万2897公顷(8万1292英亩)油棕园,我无法找出管理的条件及该公司从这方面取得多少利益,所以也无法计算其价值。
每英亩7424令吉,只是个粗浅,而不是精确的估值。

二、每股净有形资产价值
该公司在今年9月30日时,每股净有形资产价值为3.03令吉。
这是该公司园丘的账面价值,并非市值。
该公司的年报第129至130页,有列出该公司的园丘在账目中的价值。
根据此表的园丘面积和账面价值计算,该公司的园丘在账目中的每英亩价值约为1771令吉。
除非加以全面估值,我们无法得知这些园丘目前每英亩的市价是多少,尤其是该公司的园丘,大部分是属租期地区,多数只剩下60年左右。
但是,可以肯定的是每英亩的价值目前必然不止1771令吉。所以,假如该公司重估其园丘的价值的话,每股净有形资产价值肯定超过3.03令吉。

三、赚钱知多少?
公司的业绩纪录是公司赚钱能力的最有力证据。
每股净利是评估赚钱能力的最重要资料。
嘉隆发展五年来的每股净利及派息率见下列图表。
从纪录可以看出该公司在2007年以前,业绩平平,难怪股价长期不振。
2007年以后盈利突飞猛进,原因如下:
⑴产量增加。
2006年每公顷鲜果(FFB)产量仅为15公吨,以后逐年增加,现为约20公吨,符合全国每公顷平均产量。
⑵原棕油价格上升。
2006年时每公吨原棕油仅售1500令吉,2007年涨至2152令吉,2008年为2844令吉,2009年为2237令吉,产量与油价同步上升,盈利大增。
⑶该公司的油棕园大部分在盛产期,5年内无需翻种。
支出减少,盈利相应上升。
5年后每年需翻种5%。
⑷医疗服务组盈利大增。
今年首三季每股净利已达27.48仙。第三季净利为12.82仙,如果第四季能保持第三季的盈利额的话,2010年的全年每股净利将超过40仙。以2.70令吉股价计算,本益比仅6.75倍,只等于大型种植公司20倍本益比的三分之一。

四、成长何处寻?
该公司的成长:
⑴ 该公司已在印尼加里曼丹收购4万公顷(9万8844英亩)农业地,其中2万5000公顷(6万1777英亩)已开始种植,今年将种3000公顷(7413英亩)。预料该公司的种植面积将在未来数年中直线上升。
该公司手头有1亿2000万令吉现金,加上每年丰厚的盈利,有足够的财力发展此新油棕园,无需借贷。
⑵ 继续发展医疗服务组,目前拥有三间中小型医院,将在关丹兴建一间拥有150张病床的新医院。

总结:
⑴以2.70令吉买嘉隆发展,等于以每英亩7424令吉买油棕园。
目前油棕园的售价为2万-3万令吉,视面积、地点及素质而定。
⑵该公司油棕园每英亩的账面价值仅1771令吉,如果重估,每股净有形资产价值必然超过3.03令吉。
⑶以目前每公吨3700令吉的原棕油价格,该公司今年每股净利应可超过40仙,预期本益比仅6.75倍。
⑷印尼的新油棕园和致力发展医疗服务业,将成为该公司的成长区。
⑸该公司董事部宣布每年,最少拨出净利的30%作为股息分发给股东,以该公司的稳固财务基础,预测该公司今后将慷慨派发股息。

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Wednesday, December 29, 2010

How do you increase the rate of return?

How do you increase the rate of return? I found that this article which wrote by klcau is great enough to illustrate the mental attitude of the young people looking for high rate of return blindly without considering risk and scam.

This is the summarize main point

1. Return rate doesn’t matter when you are just starting up

When you are just starting out, make sure you learn along the way. Accumulating a useful sum of capital, getting educated about making deals, and spending time finding those deals are more important then the rate of return. Imagine that you only have one thousand ringgit investment capital. It won’t make a difference if the return rate is 5% or 20%.


2. Higher return doesn’t mean higher risk

You can in fact get high return by staying low risk. The key is leveraging and control.  

 

3. Return is not only in monetary form

Don’t ever laugh at those people who have a lot of fixed deposit in banks. You may say that they are letting their money depreciate because inflation will eat up their return in the long term. But at the time when cash is king (during recession), they are the one who have the largest amount of financial bullets to make a killing. These people are smart enough not to get emotionally involved in the market sentiment.

There are some people invest not only for monetary return. They invest for knowledge, for self development, for better relationship, and also for relaxation of mind. These people invest money by buying books, attending seminar, going oversea for vacation with the whole family. They see this kind of spending as investment too. These intangible returns are hard to be measured by numbers. Nevertheless, those items are considered investment too, even though the return is not in monetary form.

 

So, exactly how can you increase the rate of return?

Ignore the return rate when you are just starting to accumulate the first significant investment capital. The key is to save hard and learn smart. With enough experience, you will learn to make higher gain without taking higher risk unnecessarily. Finally, you will get the best return not only in financial form, but also self-improvement and balance life.


quoted from kclau.com.

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School Chief Dismisses 241 Teachers in Washington

Michelle Rhee, the reform-minded chancellor who took over the District of Columbia public schools three years ago, on Friday fired 241 teachers, or 5 percent of the district’s total. All but a few of those dismissed had received the lowest rating under a new evaluation system that for the first time held them accountable for their students’ standardized test scores.

“Every child in a District of Columbia public school has a right to a highly effective teacher — in every classroom, of every school, of every neighborhood, of every ward, in this city,” the chancellor said in a statement. “That is our commitment.”
All told, the district terminated 302 employees — 226 for poor performance, and 76 for other problems like not having the licensing required by the No Child Left Behind act. Besides the 241 teachers, those dismissed were librarians, counselors, custodians and other employees.
An additional 737 employees were put on notice that they had been rated “minimally effective,” the second-lowest category, and would have one year to improve their performance or be fired.

In the years before Ms. Rhee took over the district, almost all the teachers had high performance ratings and almost none were fired, but students, on average, had low achievement levels.

George Parker, the president of the Washington Teachers’ Union, said the union would challenge the firings. The union has taken issue with the evaluation system Ms. Rhee used, saying that it was designed more for punishing teachers than helping them improve.
Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, also criticized the evaluation system and what she called the chancellor’s “destructive cycle of hire, fire, repeat.”

“Evaluations should include a component of student learning, of course, but there also has to be teacher development and support,” Ms. Weingarten said. “It can’t just be a ‘gotcha’ system, like the one in D.C.”
As part of the Obama administration’s focus on teacher effectiveness, Education Secretary Arne Duncan has pushed states to develop evaluation and pay models that link teacher ratings to their students’ test scores. States that use such models get points that increase their chances of winning part of the department’s $3.4 billion Race to the Top grant pool.
Since becoming chancellor in June 2007, Ms. Rhee has been intent on controlling how teachers in the district — known for a long history of low-performing schools — are managed, paid and, if necessary, fired.
Friday’s dismissals were not the chancellor’s first. In the 2007-8 school year, a district spokesman said, 79 teachers were fired for poor performance, and in 2008-9, 96 were. Also, after hiring more than 500 new teachers in the spring and summer of 2009, Ms. Rhee laid off 266 educators in the fall, citing budget problems. The union has filed suit challenging those dismissals.

Last month, the teachers’ union and the District Council approved a contract that weakened teachers’ seniority protection, in return for 20 percent raises and bonuses of $20,000 to $30,000 for teachers who meet certain standards, including rising test scores.
Only 16 percent of the teachers evaluated were rated in the top category, “highly effective.”

A spokesman for the district said that starting the new school year with a full complement of teachers would not be a problem because a pool of several hundred applicants had already been screened.

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等待超人Waiting For Superman

《等待超人》Waiting for "Superman")是一部关于美国教育的纪录片。影片由好莱坞纪录片导演戴维斯·古根汉(Davis Guggenheim)执导,影片记录了五名学生寻求更好教育却受挫的过程,揭露了美国公立教育存在的种种问题。戴维斯·古根海姆(曾执导过“难以忽视的真相”)认为每个美国孩子都应该有接受良好公立教育的机会;而且为了国家的幸福安宁也必须这么做;如果当今教育系统出了纰漏,也应该是我们——你、我、家长、老师、纳税人、选举人——共同来整治,事不宜迟。 

影片上映之际最受瞩目的是微软董事长比尔·盖茨。盖茨在片中接受采访时说,“我们国家谈论机会均等,但没有伟大的教育就没有均等的机会。我们国家谈论自己有多优秀、多富有,然后树立了榜样。但如果没有好的教育,我们在世界的地位就会下降”。盖茨还亲自为《等待超人》四处奔走,不仅现身脱口秀主持人欧普拉的节目,9月甚至出席了多伦多国际电影节,宣传这部纪录片。  

教育资源的差异总是客观存在的,因此无论哪个国家,教育公平都是一个问题。 对于没有得到好的教育资源的人来说,他们确实就是丧失了机遇了。

好成绩其实是附属品。 孩子们先享受学习,有了“never give up”的信念,合作的气氛,有自信,有好的身体。。。然后自然而然的有好成绩。这些FOUNDATION,看上去都跟好成绩没有关系。所以,你觉得,孩子应该先学什么呢?


影片介绍了杰出的教育改革者,包括杰佛里·卡纳达。他在纽约市创建了“哈莱姆儿童区”。这个项目为数以千计的贫民区的学生提供了优质教育。卡纳达说,优质教育的主要因素是优质教师。好的老师,有好的品格,有教学的热情,有教学的技巧,有知识储备。缺一不可。

The first two statements aren't likely to ruffle feathers. (Show of hands: Who's against literacy?) But the heartbreaking difficulty of achieving the third goal --along with Guggenheim's expert storytelling skills in the service of advocacy -- is what buoys us through Waiting for 'Superman' on waves of despair, hope, outrage, and finally, constructive, motivating anger.
The film appeals to the head in contending (often via jaunty animation, archival pop cultural clips, and similar infotainment tricks from the Michael Moore school of showmanship) that one of the biggest obstacles to educational reform is the intractability and political power of teachers' unions, which protect the incompetent and subpar among members.
电影向有关负责人呼吁,教育改革的最大阻碍在于难以驾驭的教师工会其强大的政治力量保护了那些无能以及低水平的教师。一些老资历的老师不思进取,放任学生在课堂上捣乱,也不教学,还不能被解雇。这部影片的观点是,低素质教师和麻木不仁的学校官僚主义使学生们没有得到良好的教育。影片将公立教育的问题归咎于教师工会,指责老师只顾保住饭碗,缺乏教学热忱,政府也没有监督机制来筛选淘汰不够格的老师。

But the movie goes right to the heart in focusing on the fates of some irresistibly real kids and the loving, frustrated parents and grandparents who care for them. These adults submit to dumb fate and a pathetic lottery system to determine whether their kid will be ''lucky'' enough to get a spot in an oversubscribed ''better'' public school than the one they're stuck in.
但是这部电影把目光精准地投向了一些真实得不能再真实的孩子他们的命运,以及深爱着他们却饱受挫折的父母、祖父母们。大人们屈从于沉默的命运,寄希望于可怜的抽签来决定孩子们可否“幸运”地拿到间热门公立学校的位子,起码要比他们混的那间“好”些。
You'll weep as you await the outcome. But maybe, too, you'll consider becoming a teacher, a really good one. In which case, you're the Superman these kids are waiting for. A-
你可能边等结果边掉泪。但也可能,你会考虑当个老师,一个真正优秀的老师。那样的话,你就成为了这些孩子一直在等待的“超人”。

这个世界如果有SUPERMAN的话,最有可能的是你自己。是学生,是对教育充满热情的老师,是对教育改革很有想法的那些LEADER。




文章转载自>wikipedia及各网站网友的评论。

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Monday, December 27, 2010

Paying off credit card bills is the best investment you can make

If you have credit card debts on hand, the best investment you can make is to pay off the debts. Guaranteed!

The typical annual interest rate for credit cards is around 20%. If you pay off this high-interest debt, it is as good as making a sure-win investment gain of 20%. Even Warren Buffett cannot be guarantee you such a performance.

If you prefer to let the credit card debts to rollover, please go back to school and study compound interest.  At 20% compound interest, even a tiny amount of debt can wreak severe damage to your pocket. Don't believe? Use a spreadsheet and calculate the amounts you will have to pay over the years. This is the best way to appreciate the power of compounding.

A good understanding of compound interest has convinced me to avoid all high-interest loans like unsecured personal credit lines and credit card debts. On the other hand, I have been encouraged to save and invest hard to reap the power of compounding to my favor.


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美國低調債券天王 丹佛斯:精算細節,才能比人早一步

 有多少人能在千变万化的投资市场叱吒风云半个世纪?年逾七十的丹佛斯︵Dan Fuss︶,从一名海军军官到投身金融业,一步一步踏入固定收益市场,还成为名列「美国债券分析师协会名人堂」的大师级人物,和美国债券天王葛洛斯 (Bill Gross)共享盛名。二○○八年更获︽Smart Money︾杂志选为「全球最伟大投资者之一」,与股神巴菲特齐名。

在美国波士顿高楼林立的金融区内,汇集了许多国际知名的资产管理公司。一幢矗立街口最醒目的白色建筑物,正是这位债券大师丹佛斯的办公室位置。採访时间一 到,只见丹佛斯缓缓走进来,不管随后行程安排满档,依然不疾不徐清楚地回答记者的问题。

一档打了﹁类固醇﹂的基金丹佛斯说起话来谦逊有礼,和一般和蔼的长者没有两样,让人很难联想到,这位脸上经常挂着有如肯德基老爷爷般笑容的人,正是打败九 成以上竞争对手的债券基金经理人。

截至今年十月底止,他手中掌管的债券基金已达二百亿美元,过去十年的年化报酬率接近一○%。他所管理的债券基金曾被CNN喻为一档「打了『类固醇』的基 金」,形容它的绩效超前,就像施打了特效药的运动员一样表现勇勐强劲。

或许是数十年来持续跟着市场一路前进,让他始终充满活力,除了负责管理债券基金,他还担任法储银旗下卢米斯赛勒斯资产管理公司(Loomis Sayles)副董事长,使他必须经常往返各国参与经营会议。

一日之计在于晨,用这句话表达丹佛斯的生活,或许是再恰当不过了。数十年来为了因应金融市场的起伏变化,他尽力试着让工作以外的生活归于平澹。所谓「平 澹」,在一般人眼裡看来,恐怕是无聊至极的生活。但是对丹佛斯来说,却是他掌握成功的重要关键。

精算至分钟的规律生活

尤其全球股市早已迈入国际化,身在不同时区的各国股市,每日都会轮番上阵展开金融市场交易。像是美国的清晨时分,大约已是欧洲早晨,而亚洲股市几乎全数已 经收盘。「如果可以的话,我也希望能一天二十四小时,不间断地研究各国股市。」热爱投资研究的丹佛斯说,正因市场的无远弗届,让他必须过着规律生活,随时 保持清醒头脑。

「我需要养成规律的习惯,在固定时间、做固定的事,才能好好思考其他问题。」因此,他每日准时在四点二十八分起床,「为何是二十八分?这是精算后所定下来 的数字!」用完早餐、做完运动、梳洗换装后,阅读当日报纸与晨间新闻节目,「我算过,这些事情需要耗费一小时三十八分钟,然后,我能准时在六点零六分出 门。」至于为何是「零六分」?自然也是精密计算了搭上固定班次火车、前往波士顿市中心办公室的时间。

「我知道这样的生活习惯有点异于常人,」他接着说,「但确实对我的工作效率很有帮助。」即使出差由美国东岸飞至西岸,或是去到英国伦敦,他都尽可能维持生 活作息。唯有到了亚洲地区,因为有着大约十二小时时差,「那才是我少数必须调整习惯的时候。」虽然几乎过着十年如一日,有如修道院般的规律作息,丹佛斯却 很乐在其中。「我回想过去,似乎从来没有感到无聊的一天!」在卢米斯赛勒斯资产管理公司即将迈入第三十五年的丹佛斯表示,尤其市场总是瞬息万变,「坦白 说,这是一份很有趣的工作,你永远不知道明天会发生什麽事。」他认为,很多人总是对于过去市场发生的历史事件记忆深刻,但那终究只能作为参考,不一定符合 现在事实。即使是一九五八年就踏入投资界、今年已经高龄七十七岁的他,依然每日积极接收各种资讯,了解各国市场动态。无论「守旧」或是「老古板」等形容 词,似乎都和他沾不上边。

放手让同仁从错误中学习

举例来说,他的「开放」,到了「完全容许同仁犯错」的程度,「不给同仁犯错空间,等于限制了他们的开创想法。」在他的领导之下,绝对容许错误发生。和丹佛 斯共事已有二十年的凯萨琳(Kathleen Gaffney)表示,「丹的管理很开放,他认为一位真正优秀的投资人,应该要能容许犯错。」丹佛斯灌输他们一个观念:最棒的投资决策,往往在初期看来都 不怎麽样。所以一定要学着撑住,度过大家都感到不确定的时期,就可迎接最终胜利。「他从不会主导一切决策,反而放手让大家从错误中学经验。」凯萨琳说。

「绝不倚老卖老」的作风,除了容许犯错之外,他也打从心底尊重不同的声音和看法,在他自己的说词中,这样的尊重,具有「旁观者清」的正面意义,对于投资方 向的釐清极具价值。

「就像我在波士顿工作多年,对这裡的一切事情感到习惯、理所当然,认为美国职棒的球队中就是波士顿红袜队最棒。直到遇见来自其他城市的朋友,才会一针见血 地告诉我,红袜队其实没那麽了不起。」当然,在投资市场也是一样。「无法置身事外,往往就会存在盲点,使你对某地市场过度乐观或是过度悲观。」他举例,自 己的儿子目前居住在泰国曼谷,服务于金融业,同时管理马来西亚、香港和新加坡等地业务。「从他口中,我能真正体会到亚洲经济的成长热度。」○八年遇上金融 海啸,丹佛斯管理的债券基金也伤得不轻,一口气跌了二二%。但在○九年裡,他又赚得近三七%正报酬率,更获晨星︵Morningstar︶年度最佳固定收 益经理人之荣誉。绝大多数部位放在公司债,如同股票型基金一般的报酬与操作风格,他却一点也不觉得自己是个「积极型」的投资人。丹佛斯强调,积极操作也是 必须挑选时机的,「我只不过是想成为第一个达到目标的人。」他补充,「而且,我认为最佳的避险方法,就是比别人早一步知道问题所在。」不退休,要投资到最 后一刻他认为,市场并不会事先告诉每个人接下来该怎麽走,因此经常有意外的事发生。所以市场常说:这次你又错了。「而我们要做的就是,赶在市场说你错之 前,先改正自己的错误想法。」只不过,要成为「先知」何其难?丹佛斯笑着说,「我想最好的办法,大概就是早点起来做功课吧!」事实上,丹佛斯在年轻时,不 曾想过未来的职业与志向,他在当时只是个爱打棒球的高中生而已。但他记得,自己大约从十二岁起就开始读金融产业的新闻。「不过,那是因为金融版就接在体育 新闻之后。」他幽默地说,每次看完体育新闻,记下所有关于棒球相关的赛程、数据之后,翻到下一页就是金融产业与市场动态,耳濡目染之下,他也对金融有了初 步认识。

直到高中毕业,父亲告诉他,该是时候认真读书了,他才开始思考将来,选择进入大学主修金融。「其实我原本以为自己有一天会成为职业棒球选手。」丹佛斯表 示,读了金融以后,他渐渐开始喜欢上这个行业。

初入社会之时,丹佛斯虽然自愿进入海军服役,但在一九五○年代中期,遇上二次世界大战之后的国防预算削减,因此他只待了三年就离开了海军。接着他到处找寻 工作,最后转进金融业,从银行出纳的基层工作做起,展开他与金融市场密不可分的投资生涯。

从一九五八年进入金融业算起,至今已跨越半个世纪,早已过了退休年龄的丹佛斯,却仍想无限延长自己的投资生涯。说到退休生涯计画,他几乎反射式地回答, 「我永远不要退休。」语气十分坚定。

据丹佛斯表示,他的祖父于高龄九十五岁时去世,而当下正是他祖父在工作之时。投资,就像是他规律生活习惯的一部分,旁人无法动摇。因此丹佛斯希望,自己也 可以一直守着工作岗位,为了最热中的投资坚持到最后一刻!

丹佛斯(Dan Fuss)

出生:1933年

现职:法储银卢米斯赛勒斯副董事长暨债券基金经理人学历:马凯特大学(Marquette University)企管硕士经历:卢米斯赛勒斯研究员、美国海军丹佛斯10年年化报酬率近10%

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從賭徒到不敗天王-債券天王 葛洛斯(William H. Gross)

曾经,他是个只有200美元盘缠,在拉斯维加斯的小赌徒。

现在,他是全球最大债券基金操盘手,手下掌控8千亿美元资金,是亚洲四小龙总预算的两倍。 巴菲特每月都期待他的投资展望报告……

他,叫做葛洛斯(William H. Gross),是太平洋投资管理公司投资长,又被誉为债券天王(the Bond King)。

四十年前,他,只是个带着两百美元盘缠,在拉斯维加斯赌桌上拚命的小赌徒。如今,他的身价近十三亿美元(约合新台币四百亿元),在美国加州的拉谷那海滩拥有两万平方呎(约五百六十坪)的豪宅。

这,是一个小赌徒变成手握二十五兆资金天王的故事。他的一生,都在与情绪作战,因为他「认识自己」、「踢掉自大」,而能站在迎风的浪头上,持续三十年。

最经典的事件莫过于二○○○年二月底。突然,华尔街一阵骚动,一连串债券买盘涌现,美林、高盛等投资银行的交易厅耳语着:「葛洛斯进场了!」如同野火燎原般,市场疯狂抢进债券,几小时后,债券价格扶摇直上。几天后,也就是三月份,美股触顶,从此未再回到高点,这就是大家所熟知的科技泡沫大崩盘。当然,股市崩盘,也揭开了债市多头的序幕。

债市与股市,就像翘翘板一样,当股市笼罩乌云时,债市便阳光普照,因此,即使葛洛斯操作的是债市,他的一举一动,仍吸引全球目光。因为部位庞大、进出快速低调,他率领的部队也被形容为「安静的巨鲨」(Quiet Sharks)。


求学时为了一个赌注
六天跑两百公里,肾破裂还是照跑


走进Pimco交易室,我们被要求禁语,交易员们紧盯盘面,空气紧张而凝结。交易室左边,就是天王葛洛斯的办公室,是个四坪不到的小房间。然而,回到最早的问题,这位容易受伤的先生,如何三十年不败?

线索要回到葛洛斯办公桌后的肖像画之一,杰西‧李佛摩(Jesse Livermore),他的投资偶像。李佛摩是史上最有名的投机客,从一个号子裡的擦黑板小弟起家,到叱吒华尔街的金融大亨,一生八次大起大落,最后自杀。

三十年来,葛洛斯的办公室裡,始终挂着李佛摩的照片,以及他的名言:「 投资人必须提防很多东西,尤其是自己。」(An investor has to guard against many things, but most of all against himself.)凡是人,都有情绪;葛洛斯、李佛摩,因为易感,甚至比一般人更容易受影响。

因此,李佛摩倡导认识自己,葛洛斯也以此惕厉自己,在生活、投资上发展出一套高度自律的系统,藉以打败情绪。

葛洛斯出生于美国中部的小康家庭,虽然内向,被人称为独行侠,内心却无比好强。大学时代,在朋友的起鬨下与人打赌,从旧金山跑到加州卡梅尔(Carmel)。为了赢得赌注,即使跑到最后五哩路时,他的一个肾脏已经破裂,他还是坚持继续跑,在六天内,跑完一百二十五哩(约两百公里),跑完后立刻被送进医院。

这股强烈要赢的欲望,让他专注的做每一件事。好友、MSN Money财经作家提摩西(Timothy Middleton)形容,为葛洛斯赢得桂冠的技术都有一个共同点:严格而专注的自我要求。 大学毕业那年,一场车祸改变了葛洛斯的命运。住院疗养时,他读到加州大学教授索普(Edward O. Thorp)所着《打败庄家》(Beat the Dealer)一书,教人用记牌方式在二十一点扑克牌游戏获胜。出院后,他带着两百美元到赌城试身手。


从赌桌悟出投资心法
短暂损失会因长期趋势有利而摊平


为了尽量保存赌本,他住进一天只要六美元的印地安饭店,每天走路到拉斯维加斯大道上的四后赌场(Four Queens),找免费食物吃。

一开始,葛洛斯受不了周围环境的菸味和酒气,经常无法集中注意力;如果运气不好,几小时,甚至一、两天都没赢,他会沮丧的不敢回到赌桌上。有时,他经常这裡玩几把,再换到另外一张桌子,或者到处观察,哪个发牌员比较会带来好运。

后来他发现,一直换赌桌,根本无法记住庄家已经出了哪些牌,也就无法预测牌盒裡还有哪些牌。而且,暂停会打断赌博的节奏和专注。

因此,葛洛斯决定长期抗战,每天在赌桌待上十六小时,连赌四个月。其间,就算他输了大注,也从不退场,继续留在牌局中,用两美元下注。就这样,当初的两百美元盘缠,竟然翻了五十倍,成为一万美元。

这个小赌徒,不只赢得大学学费,还奠定了终生受用的投资心法。

与一般赌徒不同,葛洛斯并非愚蠢、毫无纪律、纯粹赌运气。他建立起一套评估未来事件的机率(也就是投资上的风险),将其分为两种:长期与短期。如果用二十一点比喻,留在牌盒裡未发的牌,代表的就是长期机率;而庄家所发的下一张牌,则是短期机率。

当你记住庄家已经发出哪些牌,就掌握了长期机率,你可以算出,牌盒裡是点数大的牌多,或点数小的牌多。因此,庄家接下来会发出什麽牌?你猜中的机率因此提高,也可据此决定是否补牌。

「我从赌桌上瞭解,当你看到胜利机会倒向自己时,一定要持长期观点。因为短暂坏运所造成的损失,会因长期趋势有利于你而被摊平。」葛洛斯悟到,即便出错,只要对的次数加起来多于平均,你就可以打败庄家。

 葛洛斯从牌桌上,发展出的「长期观点」,也是他后来投资策略的主轴:「用长期观点打败人性中的贪与怕」。

他说:「把注意力关心未来三到五年,等于在心裡给自己打了个暗号,告诉自己投资不是赌博,而是建立长期布局,这同时也帮助你降低在进行投资决定时,产生的贪跟怕。」而且,「当机率有利于你时,要下大注」。

葛洛斯曾写道:有次我被一堆无解的难题缠住了,一个老朋友对我说:「记得两件事:一、别为小事抓狂;二、全都是小事。」这两句话已变成他一连串自我反思的源头。

凡常陷入琐碎小事泥淖中的人,不可避免总是当输家,但专注在长期趋势蓝图的投资人,可以改善投资机会的优势,甚至不输专家。早在他担任基金经理人之前,便习得此事。


交易债券第一人
将微利投资工具改造成高报酬商品


带着长期观点的思考架构,二十八岁那年,他找到第一份工作:太平洋保险公司的债券分析师。 「剪息票(clipping coupon),是我的第一份工作。我每天剪下债券的息票,贴在纸上,然后寄去对方公司,他们就会给我们利息。」

当时,债券投资被视为「孤儿寡母领取利息」的投资工具,平澹无奇。因为在那之前的一百多年,美国的通货膨胀率每年平均只有○‧六五%,债券价格从不波动。买下债券的投资人,只要定期把息票剪下来,寄回给发行债券的公司,收取利息,到期时领回本金即可。

但是,情况有了改变。一九六○年代,通货膨胀出现,从一%逐渐往上升,直到一九七○年的六%。物价上扬,债券的利息不再能支付孤儿寡妇的生活所需,债券不再保值,价格大幅下跌,甚至腰斩!

市场彻底改观,债券从「世界上最安全的投资」,被讥讽为「充公券」(certificates of confiscation)。

 「时势」出现了,但还得要有「英雄」才能造时势。葛洛斯回忆:「做了六个月,我觉得好无聊,我说不要再剪贴了,(我们)来交易吧。」

「我老闆说好,非常支持我。但这是很大的风险,没人这样做过。我们的竞争者认为我们疯了。」当时,这种把债券当成股票,在市场上买卖的做法,被视为异端。

「因为我很年轻(笑),想事情不一样。老一辈的人,不愿意去看新主意。」当时,一流的高手拚命往股市挤,进债券市场的人,不是二军,就是「老一辈的人」。

低度竞争的市场,碰上年轻的冒险家,以及大环境的转变,于是,债券天王诞生了。

葛洛斯,成为第一个把债券拿来交易的人,改写历史。

「他对投资界最大的贡献就是,看出债券可以拿来交易,并非只是持有。」经济学家、前联准会成员彼得‧伯恩斯坦(Peter Bernstein)评论,「当时(一九七二年)关于新形态债券交易的学理不过才问世,但葛洛斯却已开始积极的投资策略……,堪称积极型固定收益管理的前锋。」

接着,葛洛斯像在赌场找机会一样,在全球市场找寻高报酬的债券投资机会,「找到机会就下大注」。他发现有一种交易极冷清的私募配售债券,不受主管机关监督,他利用市场交易量少、缺乏公开报价平台的环境,在买卖资讯不对称的状况下套利。

有一次,葛洛斯左手拿起电话买进两百万美元公司债,每单位价格为七十九美元,右手马上电话报价卖出,但谈成的价格是八十九美元,几秒钟之内便赚进二十万美元的利润,而且风险极低。

这种新形态的债券套利模式,让葛洛斯在代操业大出风头,每年平均报酬率均超过一○%,甚至曾高达一八%,打败股票大盘。 因为成绩亮丽,他拿下第一大电信公司:美国电话电报公司(AT&T)的代操资格,让他成为市场当红炸子鸡。

 十年征战市场,葛洛斯在赌桌上得到的「长期观点」,越加成熟。他发现,「三至五年的长期观点,足以消除我每日情绪起伏,并专注于未来重要的总经趋势。」


靠作息自律控制情绪
要求员工即使交易成功也不能欢呼

为了远离情绪,葛洛斯的投资偶像李佛摩,刻意让自己「孤独」,把在百老汇的办公室搬到第五大道,「我要远离华尔街的氛围,在一个听不到任何明牌的地方。」「股市是一个需要全神贯注的大挑战,绝不能懒散。」

葛洛斯也如此。在生活作息上,他每天早上四点半起床,打开桌上的彭博系统,检视前晚行情,翻翻报纸,吃完妻子为他准备的麦片粥和水果后,六点钟准时开车十分钟到公司。早上九点,是纽约的午餐时间,葛洛斯便过马路到对街的万豪酒店,由私人教练指导他做瑜伽。

「每天我去做瑜伽,都可以自省,可以让我平静。当我回来的时候,就能使我想得更长。我相信你如果能够越平静,你就是越好的投资人。」

四点以后,东岸债市打烊,葛洛斯到乡村俱乐部练一下球,然后回家,七点半就寝,睡觉前,他会先看一小时左右的书才睡觉。这样的作息,他维持至少二十年。

葛洛斯不仅自我要求甚严,也要求旗下基金经理人跟他一样自律、长时间工作,并控制情绪,即使再大的交易成功,都不能欢呼。好友提摩斯形容:「他让办公室安静得像在办丧礼,因为他厌恶任何会分心的事,这有时会让同事抓狂。」「他直挺挺的坐着,像停在藤架上的螳螂,专注的看着电脑萤幕。」

曾在Pimco担任过工程师、现任中国皇后资本(香港)创办人粟耀莹便回忆,交易室早上四点半就有人在,到了五点半全员到齐,六点进来就算晚了。「这裡有一个非常兢兢业业的投资文化,和军队差不多,重视纪律。」

 葛洛斯的纪律也显现在长期趋势的观察。他每天花上好几小时在办公室思考、不发一语。中午,他固定与全公司一百多位基金经理人讨论全球趋势,甚至高薪聘用十四个数学博士写数学程式,计算未来趋势的各种风险,然后再根据风险程度,分散投资到公债、公司债、到各种衍生性金融商品,降低风险。

一旦确认长期趋势,葛洛斯等到机会就下大注。一九八一年九月,他就成功抓住后来二十年的债市多头,打了漂亮的一仗。

当时,石油危机后造成严重通膨,联准会连续升息超过一五%,葛洛斯判断:「未来三到五年」降息机率远高于升息,他开始逐步加码长天期债券,经过模型计算风险,确认降息机率最大时,布局完成。两个月后,联准会果真开始降息。接下来的一九九七年俄罗斯金融危机、二○○○年的美股科技泡沫等战役,都是如此。

提早布局,每次都让葛洛斯大有斩获。他回忆每次大赚,都是因为遵守李佛摩所说:「大钱不是在买进或卖出时赚到的,真正的大钱总是在等待时赚来的。」(Big money was never made in the buying or the selling. The big money was always made in the waiting.)

长期打败大盘的绩效,让欧洲最大保险集团德国安联集团(Allianz Group),决定在二○○○年买下Pimco,并以五年、两亿美元的天价「金手铐」,留住葛洛斯,他因此成为当时薪水最高的债券基金经理人。

儘管葛洛斯极度自律,三十年几乎没看错方向,但他坦承,一九八七年,道琼指数崩盘,一天跌掉二○%时,他被股市重挫震惊,忘记逢低买进公司债,错失投资机会;同样的事件,在九一一事件时重演。

 「那天我一大早五点半,飞车冲到公司,脑中唯一想到的事情就是『卖』,快点把手上全部债券卖掉,甚至想我们当初干嘛买这麽多。但我却忘记惨跌的是股市,而非债市。」「此时人们想要安全的东西,对债市根本是利多。」

葛洛斯说:「我错在太过沉浸在那天的突发事件」,「那证明了我也是人类,人类行为是不完美的,如果我能那麽完美,我的资产应该会有现在的两倍。」他笑着对我们说:「最好的教训是,不要有太情绪化的反应,应该要更冷静、头脑更中立些,虽然那很困难。」

 率先看出次贷风暴
熬过九个月同业讪笑、媒体奚落

葛洛斯用长期的观点、规律的生活,让自己三十年来,不被市场巨浪吞噬。儘管如此,看得远,也让他付出先知的寂寞代价。

二○○六年最是经典。那时,葛洛斯观察到房价涨到太高,甚至派出几十个员工,到全国各地假装成要买房子的人,查看当时房屋市场的状况,之后他决定,砍掉、也不再买进次贷商品。

然而,他当时的看法引来市场嘲笑:「我们还在赚高配息,Pimco却在赚低配息,买国库券(编按:国库券是国家发行的票券,利率低、但风险也很低)。 Pimco过时啦、Pimco错啦。」

人们说他太悲观,他的绩效也掉到同类基金排名的后四分之一。从第一名掉到后段班,葛洛斯心情不由得落到了谷底,不但上班时改走楼梯,不搭电梯,以避开人群;绩效最差的那段时间,他乾脆休长假转换心情。

「那九个月、真的、非常、悲惨。」葛洛斯加重语气,苦笑着:「每次回到家,我就跟太太讲,也许我太老,被潮流淘汰了,也许我已经丧失了手感(手抓抓桌缘)。」他当时的心境「就像洋基队没打进世界大赛一样失落。」

每一天,媒体、对手的讪笑,如芒刺在背,如何度过?

 「我只有『继续』(加重语气)不断的检视自己三到五年内的看法;『继续』研究;『继续』派人到全美国各地去假装买房子的人;『继续』去确认自己原来的观点是否很愚蠢,儘管我们对自己的看法和想法有信心。」

葛洛斯说了四次「继续」。这就是天王三十年不败的关键:持续以长期观点,维持纪律。

去年下半年,次贷风暴爆发,美股大跌,市场才证明葛洛斯是对的。也因此,他的桂冠再添一顶,二○○七年第三度赢得晨星基金固定收益最佳经理人奖,这也是史上唯一有此殊荣的人。

他描述后来居上的心情:「就像老虎.伍兹前十五洞一直落后,最后打了Birdy一样开心。」

今年四月十三日,是葛洛斯的六十四岁生日,他用披头四经典名曲「当我六十四岁时」(When I'm Sixty-four),传达心情。他说,自己也很嚮往莳花养鸟的閒情,妻子也希望他退休,「但只要想到现在全球经济如此震盪,我就觉得兴奋不已。」

战胜市场起伏的基因,就在他的血液裡。「求胜的欲望一直在那。我就是对于成功有无法满足的欲望,需要维持在不败。因为每天都是一盘新局。」他笑说。

投资市场,就像全世界最大的金矿,这个金矿天天开门,每个人都可以进场一窥究竟。然而,当某天结束的铃声响起,总是有人从乞丐变成王子,或从王子变乞丐。关键只在于:谁能战胜自己。

葛洛斯,就是那个打败自己,从小赌徒变成投资天王的人。


摘录自 商业周刊第1069期

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Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Effects of Deductions Vs Cost of Distribution

When an insurance agent try to sell you a policy, he/she will have to show you the benefit illustration (BI). Both effect of deductions and cost of distribution figures should and must be found and accurately depicted in the BI.
Most agents do not wish to talk about effects of deductions as it will always paint a very bleak picture about the real cost of the insurance policy. Most agents prefer to illustrate about cost of distribution when questioned by their potential clients.
Cost of distribution covers:
- the total commission paid out for the policy to the agent and his agency for the next 5 years(depending on commission structure)
- the underwriting and administrative fees to underwrite and prepare the policy
Effects of deductions covers:
- cost of distribution(as above)
- mortality charges and generally charges for your insurance coverage
- sales charge for ILP funds(for ILP only)
- annual management fees for ILP funds(For ILP only)
- any other fees payable on annual or monthly basis (For ILP only)
- also take into account the opportunity cost of the funds you could have grown if you leave it in an investment with the same growth minus the cost
You should now be able to realise that effect of deductions is an extremely important factor to look at when you are choosing between Investment Linked Policies (ILP).
Some are against the use of effects of deductions as it also takes into account the opportunity cost of the fees paid and year-on-year appreciation. Some financial consultants are of the views that it makes the figures seems inflated.
My view of the matter is that what you save on should be included as it will help you accumulate wealth. That is essentially what time value of money is about.
That being said, I would not advise comparing ILP with traditional policies as ILP will look unfairly expensive. There is extra annual management fees and sales charge from the underlying funds but at the same time, there is much more upside potential in comparison. In deciding between a traditional and an ILP, one should not use effects of deductions or cost of distribution but instead look at the product features.
In short:
- If you are only looking at investment, go into shares directly or Unit Trusts if you do not have much funds.Senseless to go into ILP and let insurers earn the insurance coverage and be serviced by agent who are better in insurance than investment.
However, if I am buying an insurance for my retirement and protection, I would choose an ILP over a traditional plan.
- Flexibility to withdraw from cash value if need to
- If we look at a time frame of 20 years for any period, the stock market will definitely perform better than 3-4% of a traditional policy.
So personally, I would
-use term insurance to cover my protection needs until I am 65 or when my dependents become financially independent
- ILP for disciplined savings and to grow money for my retirement needs more than 20 years later. For the last 5-10 years, I will switch to less aggressive funds and at least 50% in bonds and fixed income.
A final word of caution: Some insurers charge zero sales charge but significantly higher annual management fees than market to distract and confuse consumers. However if you are looking at effects of deductions, all are taken into consideration and you can compare costs effectively and accurately


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Tuesday, December 21, 2010

柳井正‧改变服装‧改变世界

星洲日报/投资致富‧焦点策划‧2010.12.05

全世界有很多卖衣服的,只有他卖优衣库(UNIQLO),变成了日本首富!

过去,日本人信奉:“出头钉子会被钉下去。”但在日本失落的15年裡,有一群平民企业家,没有显赫家世,却到处颠覆传统,打破成规,创造逆势成长奇蹟。

他们被形容为“出头钉”,是推动日本再起的民间力量,而他也是其中一支“出头钉”。

他的名字叫柳井正(Tadashi Yanai),曾经,他只是小服饰店的毛头小子,今天他却是日本数一数二零售控股公司讯销(Fast Retailing)的主席兼首席执行员,他的成功不时围绕着“改变”两个字,且看他如何改变服装,改变世界!

一袭黑色西装,柳井正赶在优衣库在大马分店开张前夕,踩着沉稳脚步来到大马记者会,严肃中带着隐约微笑,说话时有温雅的教授气质,却不失将军的战略思考。

在服装界翻滚多年,他曾说:“太过容易达成的目标不是好目标,最好的目标应是不可能的任务。”这一席话,让他勇敢向世界平价服装品牌宣示,誓要挑战国际平价品牌宝座。

然而,优衣库今天是否已迈向该目标?柳井正坦承,不知道,但因公司下了战书要超越其他平价品牌当“一哥”,相信在未来5至6年内必然梦想成真。

也许因为如此雄心勃勃的气势,成就了他像成吉思汗一般,攻下一座座城池,从日本到英国,再从美国到中国、韩国、新加坡,今天更登陆大马,掀起排队抢购优衣库的热潮。

这家从日本起家企图走向国际的服装公司,不时成了许多企业模彷的对象,开拓事业的步伐,总像不间断的快板,其实得归功于柳井正不随波逐流、颠覆市场的勇气,更经常把自己形容为一个有梦想的冒险家。

“我的目标很简单,任何地方、任何人都能穿上优衣库的服饰,所以,必须在各地开设分行,让客户买到优衣库。”

如此乾脆直接的目标,再度突显了他不浮夸的魅力。他进一步分析,当他说各国的目标群,非仅指大众,而是指有钱或没钱、有或没有服装触觉的人。

要所有人都能穿优衣库服饰

“至今,并没有任何品牌考虑过‘提供衣服予所有人’这样的方向!”他不讳言,他独特的销售策略只是“每个人都能穿优衣库的衣服!”

他坦言,公司不像其他服装品牌,刻意划分目标市场,公司经营哲学是在全球各角落提供好的衣服,反而不会以年龄与性别等因素划分目标群。

为达到上述愿景,讯销与Jil Sander打造了“+J 系列”高档且具负担性产品的同时,也计划在孟加拉生产1美元的T恤,期以“平易近人”的价格打入各大市场。

柳井正说,为以1美元出售T恤,製造成本必须低至50仙,儘管如此,他却不会在其他市场出售1美元的T恤,因为每个市场需求不一。

因为这些眼光独到的宏愿,他在面对平价品牌举兵抢攻市场时,却如高牆上看对手,一副处之泰然的模样,认为全球市场竞争激烈的同时,市场其实也变得更单一与相似。

他解释,某品牌在日本面临的情况,将同样在美国、中国等地发生,所以,脚步站稳,实质无须担心地位不保。

他依然强调品牌与促销的举足轻重,因为如果没有品牌,就没有人知道公司在卖甚麽,也唯有在各国设立分店,才能提供产品体验。

询及未来扩张策略时,他也没有太多不着边际的策略,仅表示公司策略与目标为在各地落实最佳管理,同时执行最佳策略,以确保按年成长。

“所以,公司不会针对今年与明年拟下特定计划,只志在把握更多市场。”

积极扩大东盟版图

优衣库在国外发扬光大多年后,今天终来势汹汹进驻大马,在柳井正眼中,多元化与多元种族的特色让吉隆坡不折不扣成为潜力蓬勃的市场,也因吉隆坡靠近新加坡,自然成了该公司继续新加坡后放眼的东盟市场。

他笑着分享,17岁来马时,看到的是一座又一座的森林,但44年后,大马现在已经不一样,取得很大的发展。

随东盟区域各国潜力十足,他预计在1至2年内在该区域扩大事业蓝图,进驻菲律宾、越南、印尼与泰国。

由于吉隆坡分店才刚起步,未知市场反应,他无法披露未来在大马开拓的分店数量,惟将确保品牌进驻东盟各国的主要城市,以最快步伐拓展优衣库。

不过,他坦言,当地生活水平与需求是公司考量因素,进军的东盟市场必须具一定生活水平,且能够负担衣着的国家。

或在新加坡设旗舰店

随该公司早在大坂开设全球旗舰店,他未来也希望在东盟设全球旗舰店,新加坡可能是目前放眼的据点。

针对大马市场策略,他重申,没有针对大马市场的特别策略,只是如一贯的理念,即在世界各地出售产品予任何人。

日本迅销公司与龙凤控股(DNP, 2976, 主板产业组)联营,以在东南亚经营Uniqlo分店。迅销在联营公司持股55%,其馀由龙凤控股子公司龙凤服装公司持有。

柳井正表示,并未限制未来在东南亚拓展业务的方式,将依市场与国家需求来决定直接持股或全面持有子公司等的扩张方式。

正视问题调整突围

金融海啸使全球许多富豪资产大缩水,富豪哀鸿遍野,日本却因此出现新首富柳井正,资产逆势增加两成,他创造的优衣库品牌成为日本人的骄傲。

究竟是甚麽样的耐力,让柳井正不仅未被海啸淹没,还能趁浪爬上霸位?柳井正自觉自己没作甚麽,因为金融风暴主要打击涉足金融游戏的人,公司只是认真地追求事业,所以,未受风暴影响。

据悉,经济低迷之际,讯销公司平价服装的定位,让利润反市场而行,而在柳井正的强人意志下,顺利交出亮眼的成绩单,营收增幅不仅超越其他着名平价品牌,分店更如雨后春笋在各国一间接一间。

不过,该公司近期却面临销售上升但收入减少问题。对此,柳井正也没有故意迴避,且无丝毫畏惧,他不把这挫折归咎于市场竞争,反而是内部因素。

听到业绩没有很乐观,他彷彿急着灌入企业佈局,自认公司商品规划未专注加强盈利是祸首,相信明年销售将迎头赶上,更看好2011年春夏期间,公司将回到以往的优势。

失败中看到成功影子

常听人言:“先有风雨,才有饱经风霜的舵手,唯有饱经风霜的舵手享受在风雨中前行。”眼前的柳井正果然具备了这样的条件,因为,改变与不畏失败,让他总是安然地度过风雨。

提起失败时,今天风光的柳井正有不少失落的经验,只是每一次他都学习冷静看待自己,坚信成功中潜藏失败的芽。

就像优衣库在2002年后曾一度进入停滞期,当时,柳井正未因此沮丧,反意识到需要为优衣库融入品牌元素。设计部门于是第一时间收集来自东京、纽约、巴黎和米兰的前沿风尚,融入自家产品的开发和设计的环节。

调整和摸索中,优衣库逐渐形成一种关于时尚美学的“零件理念”:衣服是配角,穿衣服的人才是主角,所以,优衣库服装风格务必简洁,能与其他品牌世界顶级奢侈品牌自由搭配出谐调的风格。

柳井正早期创业的自我解读当中,也曾提到最奔波劳碌的创业心路历程,成了他日后成功的最大关键。

当年,年轻气盛的的他接管家业--小郡商事不久,即进行一场改革,使他陷入一场信任危机,其父亲那时雇佣的8名员工,一两年后,只有一个留下来,其他人都认为他是个没经验、鲁莽的年轻人,让他不得不一个人扛起从採购到销售所有的环节,包办从进货、整理库存、销售、打扫的所有工作。

大小事亲力亲为

由于所有大小事都亲力亲为,自己思考、自己行动,让他瞭解到做生意的基本原则,也奠定了他对时装的敏锐度,看一个人的穿着,即可探出他衣服的尺寸、腰身。这种功力,他自认是不断尝试错误、并记取经验后的结果。

“创业不需要甚麽特质,几乎所有人都能创业,重要的是自己做做看。不论失败几次都不气馁地持续挑战,这样的过程,就能培养出一位经营者。”

也基于这些失败,他把自己的着作列名为《一胜九败》,强调“重点在于尝试,错了没关係,错九次,就有九次经验。”

他的观察中,一些成功经营者甚至尝试一百次只有一次成功,经营本身就是错误尝试的累积,失败是家常便饭。

父亲是最大竞争对手

柳井正曾在撰写的《一胜九败》中提到,父亲是他一生中最大竞争对手,父亲一直向他灌输要当第一,如今他已做到两个第一:日本首富与日本第一大的休閒服装品牌,但他却始终自命“永远都无法超越父亲。”

柳井正曾说,以前觉得父亲只会骂他,但现在回想起来,父亲可能是在激励他。从小他父亲就要他“当第一名,甚麽第一都可以”,这个观念对他日后拓展事业有很大影响,因而,当年父亲去世时,柳井正在丧礼上泪流满面地对着遗照说:爸爸是我这一生最大的竞争对手!

望着今时今日的成就,柳井正笑言:“看来,他其实已超越父亲,只是若他在世,他不会承认。”

儘管如此,他指出,父亲的经营哲学是,相比1到100或1到1万,从0到1更艰难,因此,他自觉永远无法超越父亲,因为从0到1的创业理念是父亲,而他的经营理念却是从1到1万。

“钱仅是一个结果”

虽然贵为日本首富,但有人发现,柳井正总是刻意回避“日本首富”的称呼,关于金钱,他曾以一句名言概之--“钱仅是一个结果,所以大多数成功人士并不是为挣钱而工作,某程度上,他们是想做生意,然后金钱随之而来。如果你只是追逐金钱,金钱就会躲开你。”

经历金融风暴的洗礼后,“利”在柳井正心中,依然只是悬在驴子眼前的胡萝卜,即使在企业不断探试成长极限、社会价值不断流失的年代,他彷彿仍在淨淨保留一颗素直的心。

当记者问及财富定位时,他一副笃定地回应,金钱或财富只是经商结果,也是他成为首富的原因,更重要的是,大家最终仍得回馈社会。

企业应留住有干劲年轻人

人才往往是经营资产中最宝贵的资源,面对全球人才瓜分,柳井正却顺利为企业留住有干劲年轻人,原因是他清楚知道,今天的年轻人要的是国际化成长机会,只要在私人领域达到工作无国界,就能把握一批能在全球移动的国际人才。

柳井正说,大部份传统公司倾向将人才安顿在出生地,但世界已经变了,国际化的机会才是今天年轻人放眼的目标,所以,公司在各地“招兵买马”时,强调提供全球化的就业机会。

“言下之意是,那些来自大马的人才有机会在各国工作,他们还可以学习到,未来成为经理人的领导力与技术。”

柳井正在人才管理上也有很多独到见解。首先,是实力主义至上,大胆打破日本社会一般“头上不能开长角”的氛围。

他也曾在书中开宗明义谈到自己对人才的重视,指他要的不是“来干活”的人,而是要具备经营者潜力的人。

谁是优衣库需要的人才?他直言:“对优衣库抱有新鲜感与好奇心!我们要的是有独立思考和判断力的员工,要经常问‘为甚麽?’,对每件事追根究柢。”

谈到接班人时,他也再度打破日本传统做法,公开传贤不传子,将来将王牌交出时,绝非给自己的孩子。

他强调,接班人必须是那些能够管理并确保公司成长的人,必须懂得管理团队,同时与公司价值相辅相承。

“公司希望在各地聘请最佳人才,提供他们培训,让他们学习管理技巧,以在全球执行管理职责。”

该公司除在瑞士与美国展开培训计划,也与新加坡、上海等地的机构展开合作,以培训更多人才,这些计划不时突显柳井正对人才的重视。

不自满于眼前成功

从小服饰店老闆到优衣库创办人,再晋身成为日本首富,柳井正即使站在事业的巅峰,却不自满于目前的成功,反认为“成功之时,就是失败起点。”,所以并没有因此放慢攻城掠地的步伐,而是紧握一套三年理论,若同一套逻辑无法成功,即改变模式。

人生事途中,有人在顺境时平步青云,逆境时却跌落云端,有人不管在景气荣或枯,都能不断战胜自我,随时把自己的脑袋调整为航海者的脑袋,看风使舵,而那个人看来非柳井正莫属了。

柳井正简介:

柳井正生于一个服装世家,1971年,从早稻田大学政治经济学部毕业,后因父亲突患脑溢血,不得不接手父亲的西服零售店—小郡商事,专卖男士正装和便服。

为具体表现行动方针,柳井正后来把公司名改为日本讯销,于1994年在广岛证券交易所上市,同时开创休闲服装品牌“优衣库”。

他靠着优衣库经营成功致富,在2009年崛起成为日本首富,根据2010福布斯全球富豪排行榜,61岁的柳井正,以76亿美元排名第89。

精彩语录:

● 太过容易达成的目标不是好目标,最好的目标应是不可能的任务。

● 创业不需要有甚麽特别的资质。我认为几乎所有人都能创业,重要的是自己做做看。不论失败几次都不气馁地持续挑战,在这样的过程中,就能培养出一位经营者。

● 重点在于尝试,错了也没关係,错九次,就有九次经验。

● 畅销商品不是一朝一夕就产生的,而是经过多年改良而得的。

● 成功会让人变得胆小、保守,这也是企业走向僵化的开始。

● 不断的变化以求发展,比在稳定中求发展更有挑战性,但也更能证明公司有存在的意义。


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Interview with Mr. Lim Chung Chun :IFAST CORPORATION PTE LTD

Business Profile: iFast Corporation is one of the largest unit trust distributor in Singapore. Their dual growth drivers from B2B and B2C business platforms have made it easy, efficient and informative for investors globally to make wise decisions on investments. They have recently expanded to Hong Kong and are seeking further expansion to Malaysia and India by the end of the year.
1. What is the nature of your business? Well we are essentially a distribution platform for unit trusts. There are 2 main parts to our business. Firstly, we act as a platform that supports various companies which are in the business of unit trust distribution and advisory. Most of them are Independent Financial Advisers (IFA) firms that use our platform to handle transactions as well as engage in a holistic range of services that allows them to operate in their business efficiently. Secondly, we provide online distribution of unit trusts. This is the B2C channel where we distribute unit trusts directly to investors via fundsupermart.com.

2. Can you remember your worst day in business or a time when you felt like giving up? What happened that made you feel that way and how did you triumph over it? There was not a point when I have ever felt like giving up. My belief is that it is important that that situation never exists. You must never accept the possibility of failure because if you give up mentally, that is one of the worst things that can happen to any business. The reality is that if you believe you cannot do it, then you probably will not succeed. But if you believe that you can, it remains to be proven whether you can. In our case, throughout the years through good and through bad times there has always been the belief that we will succeed and take off. The only question was when, how soon, what does it take and measures that they need to adopt to succeed.    

3. Can you share some of the lessons you learnt from overcoming your own business challenges that you think will help other businesses? You have to believe that your business will take off. If you believe it will fail, you probably will because all it takes is for the driver of the business to enter into a patch where they feel like giving up and then they will find that their business could take a bad turn and it might be very difficult to recover from it subsequently. Other lessons will be for example, in our case, we have been very consistent in the direction that we took. We generally take a medium to longer term approach in our thinking. We plan out where we need to head and move into that direction - through good and through bad times. That is how over the years we have differentiated ourselves from our competitors. Some companies actually will be very excited during good times. While during bad times they get demoralized and cut back on various activities that they do. That actually has a very long term cost to the business. On the other hand, we have been very consistent in our approach, be it SARS, Iraq War, we continue to push forward.   

4. What are some of your business values and what would you like to pass down to others, particularly the younger generation? Internally we actually have set our mission statement: To help investors around the world invest globally and profitably. To me that is one of the values that helps us believe that we are continually trying to help the end consumer achieve good returns on the money that they put in. This value is important with regard to our business. In the investment world you will find that you can have situations that in the short term, the objective of the business could conflict with the objective of the consumer. The objective of the business is to generally try to increase sale and profitability. So if you are in the unit trust business, generally you want to sell more. The objective of the consumer on the other hand is to achieve a good return especially in the long run. To us the challenge is matching the 2 objectives. The investment world is such that very often the easiest way to drive up sales could actually be ways that are not good for consumers. For example you sell products that are 'flavor of the month', which will probably do poorly for consumers in the long run but in the short term you find that it is actually the easiest thing to sell. These are values that may not actually be there in some financial institutions. The short term goal of achieving revenue and profitability overrides the long term principles that ought to be there. On our part we like to think longer term so that the objectives can be matched easily. We need not worry about month-to-month sales or quarterly sales. The products that we recommend are those that we believe are generally good for the long run. So if it is good for consumers in the long run, they come back again to us. This naturally grows the business in the long run. But if you take the short sighted approach of pushing sales over the quarter because it is easier it may actually hurt your business in the long run. This is a very important value that we embrace.   

5. With the changes in the market today, do you think it has become harder or easier to succeed in business? Why do you say so? When we say succeed I am referring to succeeding over time and not in 1 year because there are shifts in demand and supply which can affect the business. In view of that angle, I personally think that succeeding in this market today is the same. I do not think it has become harder. Ultimately, the fundamental economic rules still apply. To succeed in a business, you need to be among the better ones. You have got to be the top. Conditions will change but they way to succeed is to be better than your competitors. I do not think this fundamental rule has changed.  

6. What advice would you give young people who want to start their own business? Be mentally prepared to cope with the mental stress of not having regular income in the short term. Actually this is something that a lot of people find difficult. It is more psychological than financial meaning some people might have lots of money in the bank but they do not feel safe and psychologically they feel difficult. For example someone has $5 million in the bank but if he is not getting $250,000 in annual income they will feel poor, vulnerable and disheartened. If he always feels that way then it is very difficult to run a business properly. The amount of money is of course in some way a factor especially in startup companies. But I do not think that it is one of the ultimate determinant because we ourselves have been up against competitors with far more money than us. But it did not stop us from doing much better than them. So it is actually a mental challenge rather than the challenge of having more money at that point of time.

7. What would be the most important strategic management concept to you? (E.g. SWOT approach, Organizational approach) One of the important factors that has been our priority all these years is the ability to align the interests of as many stakeholders as possible - the shareholders, employees, suppliers and customers. Align these well and you will find that the ability of the business to grow will surprise you. All too often there are businesses out there spending on various strategies and schemes to pull the business together. But since there does not exist alignment of interests, the day to day tasks will seem to require huge effort and they may have to constantly pump in extra energy to do the tasks. For example, when it comes to employees it is a HR consideration. To me one of the key things is to have various company policies that will make the employees feel that they are part of the whole system and are excited to see the company grow. In some businesses you may find that the company can grow a lot but the employees may not necessarily feel excited about this growth because it does not concern their personal growth. That is a problem if we cannot get the two parties aligned together. Hence various policies will needs to be in place to make the employees feel motivated. The best way is to make them feel and believe that when the company does well long term, they will see tremendous personal growth as well. We have been sufficiently able to do so, that is why for me, the CEO, my job would be easier because I need not spend time giving pep talks. In practice they are willing to think long term for the company.  

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