Restaurant and Club review

1        Labyrinth restaurant

The feasting place of gluttons        

                              

Disclaimer: If you miss a business meeting after a sumptuous meal at Labyrinth restaurant, we are not responsible.

The price (98 SGD) for a multicourse meal is a befitting response to naysayers and their claims of Singapore being a frighteningly expensive place. Modern Singaporean, European and modern gastronomy in many dishes … The chefs seemed to have thought of cocktails while ideating the cuisines. You are spoilt for choices for good.

Open kitchen with 20 seats around it and a cool hippy crowd dressed in casual outwear relaxes you even more. After all their vocal chords know what a decent sound for the place is! There aren’t any funny scenes in the kitchen in the name of entertainment.

We would not be doing justice if we merely say that the meal is a treat. Tomato Steak’ tartare, mango yolk and soft shell crab with chilli crab ice cream and mantour crumbs… We have only mentioned starters. 

The main course dishes are mouthwatering. Few of them are superfood quinoa with a rich curry and chicken balls, or siew yoke fan with roaster pork belly and ramen-flavoured risotto. As if this is not enough, the chef Han Li Guang is  planning for more dishes and combinations.

Ample choices of wine and desert complete your fine dining experience. We bet you have already made plans to invite your clients for business lunches here. No need to worry about business appointments, anymore!

1       Rakes Club 

Las Vegas Style Clubbing Experience in Singapore  

Air carriers that fly from Singapore and other parts of Asia to Las Vegas will soon lose many customers. The newly opened Rakes Club in Singapore, a Las Vegas-styled bottle service club is to be blamed for this.

Boasting of the longest LED screens in Asia, the club’s entrance is through an experience tunnel and it is fair to say that the prayers of Singapore party goers have been answered, finally. Best international DJ’s, theatrical and exotic performances by artists can tempt you to party harder than ever. You could be in trouble for bunking office on the next day. We advise not to update social media posts on your visit here!

And the club is in a race to top many lists. Champagne room with a collection of 1100 bottles and 30-litre Armand de Brignac champagne are ‘the first-of-the-kind in Singapore.’ Get ready to sip Dom Perignon, Ruinart Blanc de Blanc and Ruinart Rose, as well as limited edition Veuve Clicquot Yellow Constellation Jeroboam and other champagnes that are served immediately upon order (sans waiting time).

A glance at the eight private VIP booths in the dance floor makes us suspicious. We are guessing that only F1 parties will be hosted here. The rich vinyl materials of the dance floor compete with the LED screen backdrops in the walls and ceilings for more attention.

Whispers tell us that the high-end partying crowds of Las Vegas have already made many enquiries about this club!

Street Smart lessons from "The Apprentice," BBC

1) Don't be like a bull in a China shop.

2) Never, ever underestimate your boss.

3) Don't have the horrible, awful look (also referred to as puppy look) in your face, when dealing with a problem at work.

4) Bullshitting or fighting like a wrestling match in the boardroom will not take you anywhere.

5) Don't be a rebellion and show disrespect for your manager. You can disagree with his or her views. But, you must finish the tasks assigned to you.

6) Do not bring personal problems to work.

7) You may be liked by your manager and team members, but when there is no spark or enthusiasm in your work, you may not last longer in the organisation.

8) Apart from doing your work , it is important to explain your achievements to your team members and manager.

9) Know and get the simple facts of business and life right.

10) Don't run hate campaigns on irritants or blame them for failures of tasks, if they have made a valuable contribution to the task.

11) If you can't help yourself, you will not be able to contribute to the business.

12) Closure is most important in any task.

13) Don't be over-smart to your manager as he or she is the judge , jury and executioner who decides your fate in the organisation.

14) Adapting to different cultures is a must to succeed in an international environment.

15) Outbursts, provocation and arguing like washerwoman will only add trouble.

16. Young people must always take the initiative to do what they are good at and not shy away from it .

17) Great enthusiasm is different from outrageous promises.

18) Spark of genius is equally important as great enthusiasm.

19) Don't get complacent at the later stages , even if you perform well in the initial stages.

20) Don't brag your achievements.

21) A business enterprise is not a training institution. Hence , you can't always make mistakes and then say that you will correct it, though it it is good to accept your mistakes.

22) Experience is more important than qualification.

23) Instincts and know-how are equally important as experience and qualification.

24) There is nothing called luck in the business world.

25) If you under-perform consistently, you must evaluate if it is because of an underlying reason or if you are an unlucky person.

26) Stabbing on the chest is better than stabbing at the back.

27) There is a lot of difference between sensible conversations and bullshit.

28) Be a stickler for deadlines and have a devil's eye for details.

29) Missing a deadline is unacceptable.The reason for missing a deadline is beyond the point.

30) Understand the brief clearly. Clarify it as many times as may be required.

31) Proper planning and strategy of a task is as important as executing it

32) Don't fixate academic achievements. Professional life is much different.

33) A tough work environment is like a dog eat dog situation.

34) Teacher's pet and school bullies have no place in a work environment.

35) There is no point in saying the nice and right things if you are in the firing line.

36) Don't get dirty by blaming other people for your faults.

37) Sometimes it is not about what you say, but what you don't say that can save you.

38) No point in saying "Could have , should have and would have done this," if you have not done a particular task.

39) If you don't speak for yourself you will drown in the sea and other sharks will occupy your position.

40) If you believe that you are not good or somebody else is good and do not have the confidence in your abilities, then it is time to lose the job.

41) Take on board what your manager has to say.

42) Silence will not help, be it in confronting or discussing a issue.

43) Following instructions alone is not enough. There must be value additions from your end.

44) The world is only for go-getters.

45) Don't be stressed while taking a brief , reviewing and completing the work. It will affect the quality of the work.

46) Doing work fast does not mean doing it haphazardly.

47) Don't be a lightweight. Be ruthless, if need be.

48)Your speech and actions should be incredibly credible.

49) It is not enough to have fantastic ideas. You must push it with energy, efforts and enthusiasm.

50) Be firm, but fair.

51) Follow your instincts. Stay calm and articulate.

52) Be self-sufficient and realise that the world does not owe you a living.

53) Do not use flowery words, if they are not required. Be concise and get to the point.

54) You can fool some of the people some time, but in the long run honesty and integrity will pay off.

55) Being articulate is different from being well-spoken.

56) Assert your own authority.

57) In a competitive environment, politeness alone will not help.

58) Speak for yourself. Nothing wrong in being polite. However, it is also necessary to display zeal in your words and actions.

59) Have a plan and make sure that it does not crumble.

60) You don’t have to be incredibly polite.

61) Be a forceful project manager, if need be.

62) Prepare a game plan and follow it.

63) Don’t run like a headlines chicken.

64) Priority management is very crucial.

65) Your professional achievements at former workplaces deserve to be mentioned. Do not boast about it. Your performance in the current organisation will only be taken into account.

66) An employer pays salary, allowances, bonus to an employee. The least expectation from an employee is do his or her work, in return.

67) Be ready to dirty your hands, on any occasion.

Employment in the 21st century

Multimillion dollar salaries, business travel across continents, lucrative perks and incentives, organisations with flat hierarchy, winding of big companies and unanticipated lay-offs... The employees of the current century have seen it all. There is a paradigm shift, be it the dynamic work culture, or changing technologies or in meeting the increasing demands of clients. The following sections explain some of the important trends of “Employment in the 21st century”. It also highlights the expectations of the employers and the rapid changes that have revolutionized the workplace.

A) Multitasking and multiple skills The workplace demands employees who multi task, acquire multiple and need-based skills. It is not only a question of cost optimisation, but the employer adopting a leaner, meaner and efficient operational strategy. So generalists are in high demand. Of course, specialists are still preferred for roles that require niche expertise. Employees who multi-task and acquire multiple skills add lot of value to organisations.

B) Social media and adapting to technologies Social media and new technologies play an important role in many businesses. Using social media and the ability to grasp different technologies and use them comfortably have become the basic norm for employees, irrespective of their area of specialization, or the projects they are involved in. Employees who have an edge in these areas will be able to move up the career ladder, quickly.

C) Career transitions and increased aspirations Gone are the days of working for a company for 50 years or working in a particular domain or specializing in only one area of work. Employees have greater aspirations and are not hesitant to change careers, jobs and the huge employment opportunities are an impetus. Employers also prefer employees with diverse experiences. Such employees pass on the benefit of their rich experiences, sheer resourcefulness and understanding of different cultures. They are also to think on their feet in managing and solving problems. Similarly, sabbaticals and volunteering experiences are not frowned upon, even in conventional organisations, as long as they enhance the skills and employability of the employees and translate to tangible values for the organisation.

D) Cross-cultural sensitivity, EQ and IQ Business enterprises are targeting unmapped boundaries and expanding their geographical presence in all areas of the world. Employees working in the technology or client servicing or sales function work and interact with different nationalities. Be it a video conference or a business lunch, the emphasis on understanding cross-cultural sensitivity cannot be overstated. So the typical modern day employee is one who is not just high on EQ and IQ, but adopts a hands-on approach in dealing issues related to cross-cultural sensitivity.

E) Critical thinking and people management Businesses are undergoing major transformations. There are sudden and unanticipated changes, from IT to dot com to social media. So there is a huge demand for people who can think critically, analyse business challenges and scan the market and explore new opportunities. Apart from this approach to business, the employees should also be able to suggest and implement better and smarter methods to execute projects. This also calls for a high degree of people management, networking and also being able to reach to the right people at the right time.

F) Independent Employees who can think and act independently are resourceful and highly prepared, not only in meeting business requirements, but in handling crisis. They also prove to be important assets to organisations. Organisations don’t prefer people who can only carry out orders and instructions.

Conclusion: The modern day employees, many of whom are more popularly referred ‘knowledge workers,’ are an interesting phenomenon. They are a part of an ever-changing and evolving work culture. In the following years, there will be an addition of the different practices that they adapt and are expected to adapt. This will contribute to an in-depth-analysis of the topic ‘Employment in the 21st century’.

Singapore: the most happening country

Several expats and locals confess that Singapore is the preferred destination to work and transact business. Often referred as the tiny red dot, the country’s competitive advantage remains unquestioned. Despite the rating as the world’s most expensive city in ‘Worldwide Cost of Living Survey (by Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU))’ in May,2014, there is an unprecedented demand for setting up new businesses and many expats and locals prefer working here due to the diverse opportunities, excellent infrastructure and appreciation of multicultural customs.

The public transport system in the best, among most other countries. More importantly the efficient maintenance of law and order and the effective functioning of government machinery and accountability of politicians are other attractive factors. ‘A never say die attitude,’ of bureaucrats and the constant thrive for excellence in all walks of life are the other added advantages of living in this island nation. Land Transport authority’s levy of heavy penalties to the tunes of several millions of dollars (1.6 million Singapore Dollars in 2014 and 2 million Singapore Dollars in 2010) to public transport operator Singapore Mass Rapid Transport (SMRT) for delays and safety breaches is a case in point. Similarly, the low incidence of crime and suspicious activities is another favorable factor.

Singapore does not have many natural resources to boost , but the detailed planning and execution of green cover and investments on education and human resources are other factors that help the nation maintain an edge over other developed nations and the rapidly-emerging economies. The numerous tourist attractions and the recreational avenues like pubs and malls are too many options to choose from.

So if you are thinking of setting up a new business in this country or wish to relocate for better employment opportunities or higher education, it is the beginning of a new transition in life. Setting up a business is no hassle to an expat. You can also get assistance from friendly locals for business and professional endeavors and even in adjusting and gelling in the new country and culture. Locals have all the more reason to love the country for the numerous opportunities and the government’s care for the welfare of their citizens.