9) You've just written Your Story.

Once Stephen woke up, he found himself sitting under the tree. 'What was that voice?' He said. 'Perhaps it comes from this magical forest. All right, now I need to drop down everything I heard and remembered. I have to start creating my own dream.' Stephen then quickly took out his pen and paper and wrote down everything he wanted to be. 'When I was a child, my parents always told me that it was important to learn how to be a farmer. Most of people in our town work in farm. Managing a farm in our town is always regards as an essential skill. Being a farmer is considered as a SAFE AND SECURE job. However, it is a job I never get motivated to do. Although my education level isn’t too high, I like reading in leisure time. I love reading financial and economic books. I go to library every week and borrow books, which are related to these topics. Sometimes, I think of being a successful investor in a big city, working in the stock or property market. However, people in our town think that it is too risky to go out to do something that they’ve never known before. I was influenced by them and started working in my uncle’s farm for past 15 years. Perhaps it is the time to change my thought. By writing down my plans, goals and ideas , it MAKES THEM MORE REAL for me as well.' As he was writing, he heard a familiar voice.

'If being a successful investor is your goal, then write it down. TRY TO VISUALISE what would you like to be as an investor. You must FIRST CREATE A PICTURE OF HOW YOU WANT YOUR LIFE AND YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE TO BE LIKE BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY TURN IT INTO REALITY. It is an important step to success.' said the owl. In fact, it had already stood on that big tree for a long time when Stephen planned his first 'journey' for his life.

8) You gotta have a Dream

The voice continued, ‘Young man, try to write down everything you want in five year time. It can be anything that you can dream of. If you are thinking of becoming rich, you can write down: a big house, a healthy bank account, exotic vacations, expensive clothing and jewelry, so on. If your ambition and joy come from helping others, you may write down, a doctor saving lives in hospital, a manager teaching his employee selling techniques, so on. Try to list as much detail as possible. BE SPECIFIC.'

'If you still find it difficult, try to imagine: IF YOU WERE 100% CERTAIN THAT YOU WOULDN'T FAIL AND YOU HAD THE ABILITY TO GET THERE, what would you really want to be? There is no limitation when you do the listing. Once you have done that, you have already SET A GOAL FOR YOURSELF. You are better than those who purse goals that are set or influenced by someone else, in their whole life. IF YOU WANT TO WRITE YOUR OWN STORY, YOU GOTTA HAVE A DREAM, A BIG DREAM…’ It was still mid-night. Everywhere in the forest seemed silence, except that voice. The forest provided a place for Stephen to rest. It was also where Stephen found himself starting dreaming. Dreaming something he hadn't thought before.

7) Success starts here: Listen to Yourself.

Stephen was refreshed by that conversation. ‘Yes, it is the question I’ve never asked myself – What do I really want out of my life? I’d always love success, like most people do. But, I’ve NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT MY OWN PATH AND HOW TO GET WHAT I WANT. Instead, I am always looking for tips (fast tracks) to success, which don't help much. I’ve been lost in my life for so many years. Just like my situation here, everywhere surrounding me is full of darkness and confusion. I have no direction at all. So, I need to find out my OWN ANSWER soon.’ At the same time, when Stephen tried to figure out what he really wanted to do, he felt asleep under the big tree. It’s been a very long journey for the young man.

‘MOST PEOPLE NEVER LEARN HOW TO DEVELOP A PLAN OF ACTION FOR THEIR LIVES. As a result, most people spend years in occupations or professions that they chose at someone else’s suggestion, or because it was easy or available, or perhaps because they had ‘nothing else to do'. These people don’t know what they really want. But, they always complain because they are not getting the result they want. It is ridiculous. If you really don’t know exactly what you want, TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT, WHAT IS THE CLOSEST AND GO FROM THERE. Your life will only work when you take full responsibility for your choice. Success will come when you listen closely to yourself…’ A voice came from nowhere, but that was exactly what Stephen heard in his dream…

6) Success? Where are you heading?

‘Well. That’s strange… Anyway, it’s better for me to get hurry. I need to pass this forest soon. It’s getting dark now.’ said Stephen. As he walked, he found himself got lost in this place. Every trees and grasses around him were almost the same. He then took out his compass. ‘It's pointing to the north, where the old man told me. I must be on the right track.’ As he kept going and going, the sky started to get darker and darker and still no way out. Stephen started to get nervous and tired. He found a big, old tree, where he could sit down and take some rest. Suddenly, he heard someone talking to him. ‘Where are you going, young man?’ ‘Wonderland, ‘the place to success’ Stephen replied.

‘ O.o.o…. Everyone knows that Wonderland is at the north. You are on the right track physically. But, deep inside you, do you know WHAT DO YOU REALLY WANT TO DO in order to get there (Success)? Just like Wonderland, Success is always there for people to catch it, but you need to FIND YOUR OWN PATH to catch it. If you can’t create your path, you won’t reach Wonderland. That’s why you are lost here. This magical forest stops you from going to Wonderland, but it also helps you to be true to yourself and find your own way out! Once you know your path, this forest will show you the way. Everyone has different paths. No one can help you out here. I may provide you food and drink during the time. Don’t worry too much about it... I've got to go now. See you later!’ That sound came from the tree above. As Stephen looked up, he saw an owl. A talking owl just flew away…

5) The Pursuit of Happiness

The old man said,' Young man! I've seen lots of people, like you, searching for this place. I've met some of them after they come back. I would say around 90% of them don't become successful afterwards. I guess people are cheated by the name, Wonderland. Go back before it's too late.'

Stephen was shocked after hearing that, and asked,' Mm... Mr... You live somewhere nearby, right? Have you been to Wonderland before? Aren't you curious about this place?'

Old man replied,' Ha..ha.. Why do I need to go there? Am I not successful right now? Although I am not a millionaire, every morning, I wake up, I play with my granddaughters. I have a small farm, and it's now being taken care by my 3 sons. I have a lovely family. So, basically, I am ENJOYING EVERY MOMENT OF MY LIFE. I have nothing to worry about until the end of my life. Think about it, not many successful people have that sort of life. This is what I called 'success'.'

After hearing what the old man said, Stephen understood one thing,' BEING 'SUCCESSFUL' DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN TO BE RICH. It is ALL ABOUT HAPPINESS. It is ALL ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO BE.' He smiled after this conversation. He knew that Wonderland was really the place for him since he didn't enjoy his life much. He wanted things got changed soon! 'After I come back from Wonderland, I'll show you what I've learnt!' But the old man just disappeared to nowhere...

4) Fear can be a factor but it mustn't be a Barrier

'How come the boy can do that?' Stephen asked himself on his way to Wonderland. All of a sudden, he noticed something. 'When we start learning how to walk in our childhood, we fall all the time. We cry, we shout and we feel the pain. But, it doesn't make us stop! Instead, WE LEARN FROM THE FALL, WE LEARN HOW TO PICK OURSELVES UP again and again. That's why I am walking now. I don't feel any difficulties once I learn it.'

'I guess it is because the boy is a child and I am an adult. Children don't consider much when doing things. We... adult, however, always consider too much. And FEAR TO FAIL is one of the factors, which stop us from going forward.' 'If I were that boy, I might possibly feel embarrassment by selling books in the public (market)... Anyway, as I have already started this journey, I should go Wonderland to have a look to see what will happen.'

After leaving Asmati, Stephen met a old man in a place, called Perii. Stephen was told that the only way to Wonderland was through Perii. 'Excuse me, Sir.' he asked, ' Do you know where is Wonderland?' The old man laughed,' Haha, ''The Place to Success''? It is not far from here. Just cross this mountain and you will find a pier, where a small boat parks there. Ask the man there and he will guide you.' 'Thank you for your help!' When Stephen just tried to turn around and leave. The old man...

3) Be Confidence and Determined. Let the Journey Starts Here.

When Stephen Hope was on the way, struggling whether he should go back or not, he saw a boy, who later gave him confidence to go ahead. The place Stephen arrived was called, Asmati. It was not a popular place to live since it was quite far away from the City Centre. People there mainly earned their money via selling to the local people or transporting their goods to the Centre.

The boy, Stephen Hope saw, was just around 10-12 years old. He was sitting on the Market, selling used books to the local people. Stephen was curious that how come a boy at that age could earn money from selling books like that. He went to the boy and asked,' What are you doing here? You think that you can earn a living from that?' The boy replied,' Of course, these books are used books and most of them are given by my parents' friends. Since I am a little boy, people in this town are willing to give their books to me free. Therefore, even I sell only one book a day. My return is still high. Everyday, I am DETERMINED to sell a few books in order to support my family. If I can't sell any, my belly will suffer. I LOVE my family and I want them to live better. That's why I am using every minutes to sell them...'

Stephen was so surprised to hear and to see that a little boy can have such high DETERMINATION. That's let him think...

2) Should he go ahead?

Before starting his journey, he decided to quit his work at his uncle’s farm. He didn’t think much about it as he still got enough savings for later months. ‘If I am determined to change my life, I should succeed very soon. That’s what everybody says. ACT NOW. Anyway, it is not the job I dream of.’ He thought. Therefore, he didn’t plan much. He brought with him some clothes, a compass and a map. He told his family that he would go for a trip, which might change his life.

As he stepped out of his home, he took a keep breath and said, ‘Woo… Wonderland, I am coming! I should have done this long time ago!’

However, when he just started his journey for 2 hours, he stopped and started to WORRY. ‘What if I can’t find Wonderland? Even if I find it, it won’t ensure that my life will be better in the future. And now, my job is over…Just a few months left before I use up all my savings. Should I go back and PLAY IT SAFE or…? Farm work isn’t that hard, is it?’ The little young man Hope started struggling.

1) Success? Begin here...

Not long ago, there was a young man, called Stephen Hope, who wanted to seek a NEW LIFE. He found that his life was a mess and he was totally lost in his life, even he was not yet mid-aged! 'It is not my name (Hope) supposed to be', he said. People around him were happy and seemed to enjoy every moment of their lives. Therefore, he decided to start his own journey. After asking the people he known, he heard that there was a chief of a tribe in 'Wonderland' that might help. And it was that day, he started this meaningful journey and things changed since then...