Technology, talent and trust are redefining workplaces: IWG

2026 will see businesses doubling down their focus on their people. As not only their biggest asset, but also one of their greatest investments - companies are ensuring that their teams are being offered the wellbeing, training, development and new technology-driven learning opportunities that they need to thrive, said the International Workplace Group (IWG).

With companies increasingly prioritising their employees, they are also recognising that productivity and engagement are driven by how, when, and with whom they collaborate rather than solely where they work.

Organisations of all sizes are embracing flexible and hybrid working models to attract and retain the best talent. Recent technological advancements will further accelerate this shift, enabling smarter collaboration and more dynamic ways of working as businesses invest in data-driven workplace design and AI-powered personalised experiences. Increasingly, career pathways will be defined by skills rather than traditional degrees, and personalised human-AI collaboration will become an increasingly valuable skill for business success.

In 2026, the attention will now turn from where work happens to focus on a company’s profitability, productivity, and the wellbeing of their teams. Businesses will invest in flexible workspace memberships, allowing employees to work closer to home where they will be most productive, avoiding costly, unnecessary commutes. For most, this will mean working from suburban commuter hubs, small towns or emerging 15-minute cities, with work becoming more local, more personal and more intelligent than ever before.   

IWG's 2026 global predictions include: 

AI in the daily workflow

In 2026, hybrid teams will more regularly integrate AI copilots into their daily operations. These systems will significantly reduce the need for simple tasks such as admin, knowledge retrieval, and scheduling. Employees will find themselves with more time for creative work, able to tackle complex problem-solving tasks, and develop meaningful relationships. Moreover, this transformation will enable individuals to better manage their work-life balance, ultimately leading to increased productivity and job satisfaction.

Recognising this profound shift, Singapore is taking decisive action to secure its future as a leading AI hub and ensure its workforce is AI-ready, IWG said, pointing out that under the refreshed National AI Strategy 2.0, the government has earmarked over S$1 B for AI development and deployment over the next five years. 

Speaking at Singapore FinTech Festival 2025, Singapore's Deputy PM Gan Kim Yong reinforced the importance of upskilling in AI, urging employers to treat training as a form of investment in their workforce, and for Singapore workers to proactively seek out training so that they are “able to adapt, evolve together with the evolution of jobs.”

This proliferation of AI copilots within the workplace is being accelerated by a new wave of intergenerational collaboration. Research from IWG has revealed that 62% of Gen Z employees are already coaching older colleagues on how to use AI to boost productivity and efficiency. In turn, 77% of Directors and Senior Directors have said this has boosted productivity levels, while 80% said it unlocked new business opportunities. 

Capitalising on this trend, employers will increasingly use AI and workplace analytics to create “personalised hybrid plans” for each employee, including optimised schedules, ideal collaboration days, and preferred office or coworking locations. 

Reversing a S$73.6B productivity loss 

Unlike “quiet quitting”, where employees deliberately do the bare minimum, “quiet cracking”describes something subtler: employees who are still performing, but feel mentally and emotionally checked out, resulting in burnout, stalled progression, and a lack of purpose.

In Singapore, the related concept of “job hugging,” where employees stay in their roles despite dissatisfaction, has gained attention. Annual resignation rates hit a historic low of 1.3% in 2024, despite low employee engagement, IWG said. The country ranks second-lowest across Southeast Asia for employee engagement, with 61% of employees reporting burnout and rising stress levels. Experts estimate this disengagement is costing the nation S$73.6 B annually in productivity loss, putting Singapore’s status as a high-performance hub at risk.

With 57% of workers saying they’re more likely to disengage when they feel undervalued or micromanaged, companies will put more emphasis on employee wellbeing and flexible work options to remain competitive, IWG said. As wellbeing becomes a bigger focus, companies are also expected to move past traditional perks and start using new “well-tech” tools - like stress-tracking wearables, AI mental health reminders, and wellness challenges that gamify healthy habits and make them more engaging.

Fractional C-suites

As they navigate economic uncertainty, more companies are turning to fractional executives, opting for part-time or contract-based C-suite talent who bring in laser-focused expertise without the cost of full-time appointments.

With nearly nine in 10 (87%) CEOs and CFOs concerned about the impact of ongoing macroeconomic instability and two thirds (67%) already reducing operating costs, businesses are looking for smarter leadership models. This flexibility allows companies to secure world-class strategic insight when needed, while enabling experienced professionals to work across multiple organisations.  

The concept is only beginning to gain traction in Asia. Organisational consulting firm Korn Ferry reported six times more requests from Singapore-based firms seeking fractional leaders in 2025 compared with last year. This trend is set to accelerate with increased support for Singapore organisations exploring solutions such as fractional work. 

For example, the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore is developing a fractional talent model to help SMEs engage senior professionals on a part-time or project basis – a solution which it hopes will address SME’s challenge of attracting and retaining skilled leadership.  

Rising Gen Z workforce

Gen Zs account for nearly a third of the labour force and are projected to be the largest generation in the workplace by 2035. They come with clear expectations that go beyond pay, prioritising wellness, mental health, flexible hours and meaningful work that aligns with their core values, IWG said. 

As the global population ages, retirements accelerate and talent gaps widen, business leaders must understand and respond to these shifting priorities to remain competitive. Companies that embrace flexibility, autonomy, and meaningful work will attract and retain the next generation of leaders; those that fail to do so risk falling behind, IWG said.  

Multi-office work

Companies of all sizes are moving away from loosely-defined hybrid policies toward more structured, multi-location models, IWG forecasted. Employees are increasingly empowered to work from more convenient places closer to home. Instead of a traditional Return to the Office, the shift is now toward a Return to Several Offices. 

Microsoft recently announced that by 2026, many of its US employees will need to work from their nearest Microsoft office at least three days per week – a policy expected to be implemented across its international offices, including Singapore, IWG noted. Elsewhere, companies are enabling staff to work across a network of coworking or flexible workspace locations.

Skills stacking

Hybrid workers will stack “micro-certifications” - bite-sized, skill-focused credentials - instead of relying on traditional degrees or annual performance reviews. Employers will support this by funding on-demand learning platforms, creating more agile talent pools. This trend will change internal mobility, with skills becoming more portable and accessible.  

Fifteen-minute cities

The 15-minute city concept – where everything from work to leisure is accessible within a short walk or cycle – is entering a new phase in 2026. Until recently, this had been a story of adaptation: retrofitting existing neighbourhoods to bring work, living, and recreation closer together. In 2026, 15-minute cities will be taking an entirely new form, built from the ground up and designed to encourage connectivity, sustainability and community.

According to IWG, Singapore’s URA Draft Master Plan 2025 outlines a future built around self-contained neighbourhoods, with upcoming housing areas, parks, community hubs and local centres designed to support work-live-play needs within short distances. These developments reflect the broader move toward compact, connected urban districts characteristic of 15-minute cities.

Hybrid work is making these urban ecosystems viable, as professionals choose to live and work locally while businesses decentralise their footprints to be closer to where people are.

Hospitality-led environments

The workplace will increasingly look and feel like a boutique hotel, IWG believes. "In 2026, expect concierge-style services, curated food and beverage options, and sensory-led design that elevates comfort and wellbeing," the company predicted.

IWG’s March 2025 partnership with residential design brand YOO exemplifies this shift: by combining design-led hospitality expertise with IWG’s flexible workspace network, these new spaces will blend work, social connection and wellbeing, transforming the office into a lifestyle experience.  

Sensory-led design prioritises wellbeing with the use of lighting, texture and similar design characteristics. 

On-demand offices

Day offices are set to become a key part of the landscape, providing a professional and productive office space whenever and wherever it is needed. Whether employees are seeking quiet, focus rooms or collaboration spaces for ad-hoc team days, these “on-demand” options eliminate the need for long-term commitments while offering all the amenities of a traditional office. 

With wellbeing firmly on the agenda, features such as natural light and on-site wellness amenities will differentiate day offices, helping employees work efficiently, flexibly, and with purpose. 

Local loyalty

Hybrid work will foster a renewed connection to local communities, IWG predicted. Companies may encourage employees to integrate volunteerism, local partnerships, or skill-sharing into their work week, strengthening employer brands while supporting civic engagement in the communities where employees live and work.

Mark Dixon, Founder and CEO of IWG, said: “Continuous improvements in technology including AI and new approaches to training and development will be significant drivers of productivity, engagement, and loyalty, enabling companies to create a future-ready workforce and working environment that propels business growth.

"We will continue to see a fundamental shift in the geography of work with the centre of gravity moving towards local communities. The remarkable advances in cloud technology and video conferencing software – both vital to enabling effective hybrid working – mean workers no longer need to travel long distances on a daily basis. Innovations in technology will continue to advance in years to come and will radically underline and fuel the flexibility of location.

"The rising demand for more localised working has led to the majority of our new IWG centres opening in the heart of local communities, suburbs and rural areas, enabling many people around the world to say farewell to long daily commutes.”

IWG’s 23 centres in Singapore are positioned across major residential and commercial zones, supporting the city’s shift toward decentralised, close-to-home work options.  

Plant-based meat market sees 17% CAGR through to 2027

UnivDatos Markets Insights has forecast that the plant-based meat market will grow at a CAGR of over 17% from 2021-2027. Global plant-based meat sales are expected to reach around US$85 B by 2030, compared to US$5 B in 2018. 

The research firm further expects that plant-based products will account for 10% of global meat consumption within the next five years while conventional meat becomes less popular. UnivDatos Markets Insights said that the supply of conventional meat products would fall by more than 50% by 2040.

COVID-19 created increased awareness about man's impact on the environment, the company said, and has driven government policies on climate change. Consumers stockpiled food during COVID lockdowns, selling 231% more fresh plant-based products in 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. IRI data analysed by The Good Food Institute also registered 454% growth in the sales of plant-based meat over this period.

Soy-based meat is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period due to its protein-rich content. By type, plant-based chicken leads the market followed by plant-based beef. In terms of format, plant-based burger patties dominated the market in 2020 because of their low fat and gluten content, and are expected to maintain their dominance throughout the forecast period.

Although North America dominated the market in 2020, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the highest CAGR growth during the forecast period.

Major players mentioned in the report include:

- Alpha Foods
- Amy's Kitchen
- Beyond Meat
- Hooray Foods
- Impossible Foods
- Maple Leaf Foods
- Morningstar Farms
- Quorn Foods
- The Vegetarian Butcher
- Tofurky

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OTT video and video games are the winners in 2020 entertainment & media landscape

Consumer habits can take a lifetime to learn – but just a lockdown to lose, says PwC. According to the consultancy's Global Entertainment & Media Outlook 2020–2024, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated and amplified ongoing shifts in consumers’ behaviour, pulling forward digital disruption and forging industry tipping points that wouldn’t have been reached for many years.

Digitalisation, one of the major forces shaping all industries, has been intensified by safe distancing and mobility restrictions, PwC said. As a result, the entertainment and media (E&M) world in 2020 has become more remote, more virtual, more streamed, more personal and – for now at least – more centred on the home than anyone anticipated at the start of the year.

PwC has forecast that 2020 will see the sharpest fall in global E&M revenue in the 21-year history of this research, with a decline of 5.6% from 2019 – more than US$120 billion in absolute terms. In Singapore, the expected decline is 5% from 2019, valued at approximately US$274 million.

Oliver Wilkinson, Entertainment and Media Leader, PwC Singapore said: "The year 2020 presents a paradox for many Singapore media businesses. There is more consumption of media than ever before, with Singaporeans stuck at home during the circuit breaker. Yet at the same time, there has been a sharp contraction in revenue and profitability for many industry players.”

While the shockwaves from 2020 will continue to ripple through the global economy, the PwC forecast shows the industry’s fundamental growth trajectory remains strong. The projections show that in 2021, global E&M spending will grow by 6.4% (Singapore: 5.3%). Singapore E&M spending is also expected to bounce back to US$5.5 million, reaching 2019 levels. From 2019 to 2024, the outlook forecasts overall revenue growth running at a 2.8% CAGR globally and a 2.5% CAGR in Singapore.

The current pain in E&M is most acute in segments that COVID-19 literally shut down, such as events: live music, cinema and trade shows. Spending on cinemas in Singapore projected to fall by 59% in 2020 and is expected to make a slow recovery. The current forecast shows that by 2024, cinema spend will remain shy of 2019 levels (US$205 million in 2019, US$200 million in 2024). At the same time, the long-running transition in newspapers from print to digital has been fast-forwarded several years, cutting into papers’ print revenues, for example.

The ongoing decline in global newspapers and consumer magazines has accelerated sharply in 2020, with overall revenues in Singapore slumping by 13%. Consumer magazines are suffering the most. That said, digital offers a silver lining: a tipping point for consumer magazines in 2024 will see their global revenue from digital advertising overtake that from print advertising. Other important sectors will struggle to claw back the growth they lost in 2019. For example, out-of-home advertising is expected to decline by 24% in 2020 but will recover in 2022.

With people staying at home, over-the-top (OTT) video has seen global revenue surge by 26% in 2020 with the Singapore numbers climbing ahead at 32%. And it is forecast to keep rising strongly in the coming years, doubling in size from US$234 million in 2019 to US$477 million in 2024. With more people home, the video games segment has also grown quickly in Singapore amidst the crisis. The segment shows 9% growth this year will remain one of the fastest growing segments going forward to 2024.

Source: PwC. Graphic illustrating the Global Entertainment & Media Outlook.

Wilkinson added: "What is consistent with the outlook from prior years is the wide variance of performance between different segments, particularly given the acceleration of digital media adoption at the expense of traditional. It is in this sense that the pandemic has brought the future forward.

“That said, most affected of all have been the live entertainment and cinema segments. Before this crisis, experiences were amongst the better performing parts of the industry, but they have taken a large hit due to the safe distancing and travel restrictions. We still see a good future for such events and live experiences, but it may be some years before they can adapt to this new normal."

PwC’s 21st annual edition of the Global Entertainment & Media Outlook is an online source of global analysis for consumer and advertising spending. With like-for-like, five-year historical and five-year forecast data and commentary for 14 defined industry segments in 53 territories, the Outlook makes it easy to compare and contrast consumer and advertising spending across segments and territories.

Details:

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*As PwC continually updates the online Global Entertainment & Media Outlook data, the data at the time of writing may not align with the data found online. Please refer to the online Global Entertainment & Media Outlook 2020–2024 as the most up-to-date source of consumer and advertising spend data.

Dato' Joey Yap shares insights on the year of the metal rat

Source: The Joey Yap Group. Dato' Yap.

Dato' Joey Yap of The Joey Yap Group and founder of the Mastery Academy of Chinese Metaphysics, has consolidated guidance for the year of the rat on a portal, Everything About The Year of The Metal Rat 2020 All In One Place.

Browse the portal to:Jo

- Watch a video about what your Chinese zodiac animal sign can expect from 25 January 2020

- Download the Thriver's Guide to 2020

- View Facebook videos of past live Q&As (click on the ingot icon on the top right)

Dato' Yap has also shared individual forecasts for each animal:

RAT

Abundance is just a matter of perception. Instead of remaining idle, try to put in some effort and begin to notice it in every aspect of your life. It has always been there. In fact, it is your birthright, but perhaps you were too busy to notice its existence due to lack of awareness.

Wealth 

While there’s no denying the Rat’s efforts can and will yield monetary rewards, he or she needs to be extra cautious of unwittingly overspending this year and thus wasting their hard-earned cash. Conceiving a budget plan and adhering rigidly to it will keep the rat’s wallet comfortably plump in the year ahead.

Career 

 A one-man-army mentality will do you no favours this year. This is a period where you’ll find people in both your social and corporate circle that will willingly help and empower you in your pursuits. Be approachable and a team player, and you’ll avoid the backlash of corporate politics while gaining indispensable allies.

Health 

 Pay extra attention to your physical and emotional wellbeing this year. The rat has a greater chance of encountering urinary system issues this time around, but this will be of little issue if you respect nutrition, healthier living and medical check-ups when necessary.

OX

This year, with the rise of three auspicious stars, worry will be replaced with optimism and fear will be replaced with hope. Although inauspicious stars are lined up to potentially derail you from your dreams, a positive and focused mind will ensure that the stars’ negative effects won’t cause tears to roll down your cheeks Wealth You’ll see many opportunities to generate wealth cross various avenues, even beyond your day job. The ox may enjoy prosperity this year, but remember to appreciate the need for rest to keep burnout and stress at bay!  

Career

Your likeability will soar this year as superior and fellow co-workers become more receptive to you this year, enabling you to achieve a harmonious working environment. Polish your communication skills and you’ll be able to expedite this process!

Health 

The sturdy ox remains relatively impervious to serious illness in the coming year, though a good diet and eye for fitness will ensure that even common health concerns will hardly ever bother you this time around.

TIGER

Good luck awaits you this year in the form of travel and money-making opportunities. While it is always good to adopt an attitude of gratitude when you come across favorable situations. It is also important to remember that these lucky chances may not come your way twice!

Wealth 

While wealth opportunities will be aplenty if you’re receptive to travelling, suppress your urge to splurge as monetary loss is a very real threat this year. Minimising the financial damage is all about being prudent and keeping close tabs on cash outflow.

Career 

While the professional road ahead is rocky, upping your communicative prowess will go a long way to ensuring your efforts won’t go unrecognised while keeping the corporate drama coming your way to an absolute minimum!

Health 

The Tiger is daring, but now’s the time to channel that trait in ways that don’t involve any grave risk to both physical and mental wellbeing. Sticking to an effective health regime will allow the tiger to stay fit enough to tackle 2020’s ample opportunities.

RABBIT

For better or worse, the theme of rabbit’s forecast in the year of the metal rat is all about relationships. Almost all of the annual stars, both auspicious and inauspicious, touches upon your relationship aspect in one way or another. Though the current is looking to be less auspicious than the previous year, how it would actually play out depends on your decisions.

Wealth 

So long as you avoid any high-risk investments, the Rabbit will be hopping towards abundance throughout 2020. Remain diligent and assume an uncompromising work ethic – this will boost your already positive wealth luck and raise your chances for a well-deserved raise. Real estate investment should also be an activity on your radar this year, though it’s best to play conservative and select only low risk investments.

Career 

The rabbit is liable to being swept up in gossip at the workplace, though prioritising work over corporate drama will allow you to minimise the backlash of the wagging tongues. Despite the rumours surrounding you, you’ll nonetheless enjoy helping hands from colleagues throughout the year. Return the favours as they come and you’ll design a better work experience for yourself this 2020.

Health 

A change of lifestyle and daily routine could be wise to preserve the rabbit’s physical and mental wellbeing. Prevention is far better than cure; the rabbit should adhere to this maxim strongly by committing to a stricter fitness regime this 2020.

DRAGON

A journey like no other is this year’s theme for the dragon’s forecast. The way you respond to a situation and the meaning you give to each moment is what really matters as it determines how your year will unfold. There will be challenging times, but remember no matter how tough a situation may get in life, you will still have the power to turn the tides in your favor.

Wealth 

It’s prudent to rely on those far superior to you in terms of financial management this 2020. The dragon should be looking at investments into fixed deposits as well as better saving plans; expert advice will certainly help with such financial strategising.

Career 

Look at the silver linings of every career-related issue that may test the dragon’s perseverance this year. Miscommunication and backstabbing may dominate your professional life this time around, but such hardships are also an opportunity for you to discover ways you can improve your interactions with those at the workplace.

Health 

This year is one where the dragon should refrain from any extreme physical activity. Exercise is of course never frowned upon, though you should nonetheless be mindful of overexertion as you’re more prone to physical injury this year. Meanwhile, pay special attention to any potential health concerns pertaining to your waist and stomach area.

SNAKE

This year presents many opportunities for you to find the silver lining in every situation. Although good luck will come to you in the form of support and new relationships, the way you approach every situation will determine its final outcome. Life can be filled with so much drama due to the presence of the inauspicious stars this year, but if you choose to look at life in a more positive away, you could turn the tides in your favor.

Wealth 

 Thankfully, there will be opportunities for the snake to accumulate, save and spend money in a more relaxed manner compared to the previous year. Nonetheless, toughen up the security around your assets if possible, to prevent any possible loss in wealth due to theft.

Career 

There are high chances of a promotion this year as your rapport with your superiors improve overall. Don’t be afraid to voice out what your contributions are; silence and false modesty are poor traits to get your talents noticed by those above you.

Health 

Cast away your frivolous attitude towards your health this year. Don’t underestimate minor health concerns; treat them before they worsen while paying more attention towards your diet. If you are not mindful enough, you could have urinary system-related issues or foot-oriented problems, so don’t let your health take the backseat!

HORSE

Your aim for this year should revolve around being patient, kind and appreciative because everything else will fall into place once you get into this type of mindset and attitude. In other words, you will step into a much more comfortable scenario even when life seems to lean towards a negative direction due to the presence of inauspicious stars.

Wealth 

Wealth opportunities will be elusive if you do not exert the necessary effort; a diligent workhorse is the best horse this 2020. Meticulous planning and heightened wariness will also save the horse from a lot of financial heartache. Be careful when signing any contracts or agreements, for instance, to avoid unwittingly losing money thanks to carelessness.

Career 

Meditation and charity work will be a source of attaining calm and appreciation for others; this is an important counter to the added stress you’ll endure at the workplace this year. Don’t allow a lack of recognition encourage you to throw in the towel. Persevere at your current workplace against all odds and your hard work may just be rewarded.

Health 

As implied earlier, stress may be a dominant issue for you if you allow work issues to cascade into your personal life. Counteract this by ensuring you have ample amounts of rest, sleep, vitamins and nutrition. Taking a much needed sabbatical every now and then can do wonders for your physical and mental wellbeing too!

GOAT 

The essence of the infinity symbol seems to have a strong connection with you this year, where issues tend to subside and absolute truths are revealed, thanks to the five lucky stars’ ability to tune you into this year’s miracles and wonders. A smooth path ahead is definitely anticipated, but if life takes a detour, it would be best to lean more towards the positive side.

Wealth

Careful financial planning is all it takes to mitigate the possibility of minor wealth loss this 2020. Beyond this, your wealth opportunities are looking very positive, though your own negativity may make you too blind to notice how fortunate you truly are. Shift your mindset and you’ll be rewarded accordingly.

Career 

The first half of 2020 will be a crucial time for you to establish a foundation for your career. Suppress your impatience and don’t mindlessly jump at every career opportunity you see; some of these so-called opportunities won’t benefit you in the long run. Only commit to something outside your primary work after careful consideration!

Health 

Be extra careful of what you decide to ingest, especially if you are an older billy goat! You might want to consider having more homecooked meals instead of regularly eating out; this affords you better control of your food’s nutrition level and cleanliness.

MONKEY

2020 is shaping up to being the year that would truly test your resilience in life. This is a great year to learn and grow through the many challenges that may come your way. Most people take their joys and blessings for granted and start grumbling about what they do not have when they are faced with problems and troubles.

Wealth 

 Your boost in wealth will rely a lot of the assistance of others this year, perhaps in the form of expert advice on what to invest in or how to shore up your financial security. Don’t take their help for granted though; be sure to pay it forward by helping the less fortunate and the universe will have its way of repaying your kindness!

Career 

It’s in your best interest to find ways of showcasing your talents more prominently to garner the attention of your superiors or other figures of importance. At the same time, be extra careful about who you trust and what you say, as your newfound recognition at the workplace may invite jealousy and potential backstabbing.

Health 

While no major illnesses are expected to be concerns for the monkey this year, it’s still recommended to resist the allure of exceedingly tasty, yet extremely unhealthy and oily foods. Stress could also be an added issue this time around, though you can easily alleviate this by making exercise and meditation a prominent part of your routine.

ROOSTER

While many people out there are looking for ways to find the light which represents solutions, happiness and fulfilment, they often overlook the most important part of all which is to actually become a light onto others. Serving others will be much easier for you as you will be experiencing quite a smooth year in 2020.

Wealth

It’s time to diversify your options for attaining wealth. Don’t just stick to what you already know; research on various methods on how to increase your finances, then seek out professional help to pinpoint the best route toward gradually upping your bank balance.

Career 

It may not be the most smooth sailing of career journeys, but the rooster will nonetheless encounter good opportunities, such as the possibility of enrolling in a special career development programme or more company trips to improve connections both within and beyond your workplace. Be extra nice and accommodating of the people in your professional circle to keep these opportunities coming.

Health 

You may be surprised at just how much of a different maintaining a healthy diet and eyeing your eating habits can make. It’s also advised for you to embrace nature a little more than usual, since this will help you mentally and stayed energised emotionally.

DOG

Nothing is ever achieved without some trials and tribulations. The first step in moving beyond those circumstances is to remain positive. When you reverberate positivity – the quality of your thoughts and feelings improve. Remember that you can’t control everything in life, relationships or business, so embrace the adversity and dig in even further to drive a positive outcome.

Wealth 

A solid financial backup plan will be your line of defence against the constant possibility of monetary loss this year. Don’t be so quick to invest your money as a means to counter this lacklustre wealth period. Avoid high-risk investments at all costs and focus more on simply saving money.

Career 

Influential people will have your back in the professional space, deterring potential backstabbers and opportunists from fully exploiting you. Be sure to show your appreciation of the people in power who will assist you; by aligning your efforts with those who have greater authority, you stand a fair chance of turning your career prospects around.

Health 

You won’t have any difficulties finding the best medical assistance should your health deteriorate, though it’s far better if you take care of your wellbeing before it comes to that. Minor physical injuries are also more likely this 2020, so avoid extreme activities especially if you have not prepared any essential safety measures beforehand.

BOAR

A great year ahead in terms of wealth and learning a good star that would boost your monetary gain, particularly through information gained through carefully-researched investments. There are many ways of looking at your life this year and the outcome is determined by your state of mind and the actions you choose to take during every moment.

Wealth

You will see a positive shift in your wealth luck this year as more door opens for you to get better part-time jobs as well as other alternative sources of income. While none of these opportunities are particularly spectacular, effort on your part to harness these changes will be enough to afford you peace of mind.

Career 

Thankfully, you won’t be needing to struggle in your professional life too much thanks to a generally positive relationship between you and your colleagues. In fact, you may be primed to elevate yourself to a better corporate position by leveraging on the assistance of the bountiful of helping hands you’ll enjoy this year.

Health 

Don’t use your busy schedule as an excuse to omit healthy additions to your lifestyle. There are plenty of quick, cost effective ways to care for your health, nutrition and overall fitness without compromising the progress towards your goals. Find out what works for you healthwise and commit to it!

In addition to founding the Mastery Academy of Chinese Metaphysics – an education institution for fengshui, bazi, qi men dun jia, mian xiang, Yi Jing, date selection and face reading, Yap is the best-selling author of over 172 book titles published in seven different languages worldwide. He engages with students in more than 37 countries.

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Food 2030: sustainable, healthier, personalised

- Change, Incorporated: Successful companies will be those that improve the health of the planet and its population.

 - Smart diets: Technology will enable consumers to construct hyper-individualised approaches to physical and mental health.

Source: Mintel.

- High-tech harvests: Consumer trust in food science and technology will strengthen as these become vital tools to save the food supply.

Mintel, which is all about what consumers want and why, has announced three trends that will shape the global food, drink, and food service industries over the next 10 years:

Expect to see consumers further prioritise plants in their diets, with the planet's health in mind as much as their own. Food waste will lead the way for more sustainable consumption and innovation.

Consumers will gain a better understanding of what makes them unique using health-testing services, artificial intelligence-enabled apps, and increased personal data collection. Meanwhile, with consumers expected to live longer, many will want to learn how their diet can benefit long-term cognitive health.

Expect to see brands use science and technology to create new products, shorten production time, and confirm trustworthiness. Meanwhile, new ingredient-growing regions, such as those in Africa and India, and agricultural innovations, including floating farms, will emerge to tackle global food insecurity.

Alex Beckett, Associate Director, Mintel Food & Drink, says:

Change, Incorporated

“In the next decade, consumers will be hungry for leadership and demonstrable change on environmental issues, ethical business practices, public health, and other important causes. Consumers will reward brands that take action and improve important societal issues. The companies that will win in the next 10 years will be those that fuel the new era of conscious consumption. Tomorrow's conscious consumers will be looking for eco-friendly packaging and products, while also seeking guidance on how to make their diets more sustainable.”

Smart diets

“Looking ahead, more consumers will be able to gain in-depth knowledge of their biology through personal health testing kits which will empower them to personalise their diet and health regimes. Analysis of these tools will inform consumers of the steps they need to take to address every aspect of their health, including brain and emotional wellbeing. As a result, in order to succeed over the next decade, brands will need to offer more personalised product offerings, develop smart home solutions, and assist consumers in addressing mood and brain health.”

High-tech harvests

“Science will interlace with the food supply chain to boost yields and combat climate change. Celebrating the sustainable, health, and cost benefits of lab-grown food will be crucial in educating consumers about nature-identical alternatives. But the food and drink industry will be compelled to elevate the role of nature, and humans, in the storytelling of these new, modern solutions. Transparency of information is essential to building trust in a future where scientists play as integral a role as farmers. And championing the people behind the food—whether it is grown in a laboratory or a field—will remain a timeless way of building trust with consumers."

CAGR of 5% for keto diet market

The keto diet has become popular as it reduces weight and body-fat percentages more rapidly than other diets for obese and overweight consumers, says Technavio.

The diet recommends adhering to an extremely low-carbohydrate, high-fat for regime in order to kickstarr a metabolic state known as ketosis, which makes the body more efficient at burning fat.

The research firm predicts that the keto diet market will register a CAGR of close to 5% by 2023. One of the key drivers for the market is the availability of keto diet products across online channels, specialty stores, supermarkets and hypermarkets.

However, a keto diet can have various side effects. The effects could have a negative impact on market growth, Technavio said.

The research has been mixed. A 2017 review noted that keto diets for type 2 diabetics are associated with a better control in glucose homeostasis and a reduction in antidiabetic medications but also warned that improvements seem to be short-term.

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Joey Yap's pointers for the 12 animal signs for 2019

Dato' Joey Yap, the author, speaker and Chinese metaphysics consultant, has prepared forecasts for the 12 zodiac signs as well as a flying stars chart, based on one of the formulas used in the world of Chinese metaphysics.

Predictions for the different animal signs for the year of the earth boar, beginning February 5, 2019, running through to 24 January 2020 are as follows:

Dog

Birth years: 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018

Overall luck

Great year ahead in terms of wealth – a good time to increase monetary gain, particularly through carefully-researched investments as well as other helping hands.

You might feel a little overwhelmed with work, but this is not the best climate to venture out in search of something new.

Your words and communication might be a little misconstrued, so it is best to watch what you say to avert any possible outburst.

Wealth

The doors to wealth opportunities may open this year.

You may see yourself receiving a lot of help in achieving your desires in wealth accumulation.

Before embarking on any possible investment opportunities, research the area you wish to delve into well.

Career

You may feel a little bored at work which would greatly affect your motivation to contribute much.

Not the best idea to move jobs – be patient and make the best of the situation at hand.

You might see work stress get you into little disagreements at work, so keep calm and carry on.

Health

Some minor health dangers may be present this year.

Exercise is crucial as well as eating a healthier, more balanced diet.

Take care of yourself – indulge in some rest and relaxation to recharge your batteries.

Pig

Birth years: 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

Overall luck

Good stars will help mitigate the presence of inauspicious stars.

Great capacity for learning and chasing after academic pursuits, as well as opportunities for personal advancements.

May be some likelihood of getting into minor squabbles and disagreements at work as well as potential for office rumours.

Wealth

May be some lack of movement in terms of monetary growth this year.

Best to curtail high spending habits that may deplete gained wealth.

Increase work productivity which will in turn guide you to better savings with higher returns.

Career

Work is going to be momentous this year in terms of movement and progress.

Staying calm and focused is key to getting the attention of your superiors.

You are surrounded by strong people who will help guide you in your career quest.

Health

Unfortunate health prospects this year.

There may be some likelihood of minor accidents – be extra cautious when heading out.

You are protected from harm as long as you exercise diligently and avoid extreme activities.

Rat

Birth years: 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008

Overall luck

The perfect year to start your climb up the corporate ladder.

Great stars ahead that will aid your work performance and put you in the talent limelight.

Be proactive in your endeavours and do what it takes to succeed - use the positive energies coming your way to your best advantage.

Wealth

Prepare for some bumpiness in terms of wealth.

Opportunities abound if you keep your eyes and ears open.

Avoid risky and speculative investments this year as the outlook might not be in your favour.

Career

Practice patience and perseverance as you face some minor career challenges ahead.

Embrace help from generous people you will better guide you in your career quest.

Health

Pay extra attention to your health as some minor threats are likely to emerge.

Take prudent care of your health – exercise and watch your consumption of fatty and oily food.

Wear masks and take vigilant precautions particularly around viral epidemics that may appear.

Ox

Birth years: 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009

Overall luck

Time to introspect and retrospect and see what brings you internal happiness this year.

The pursuit of wealth and success may witness you being stressed and bogged down and this is the year to try and get your life back in traction and focus on yourself.

Time to re-evaluate your spending habits and look into saving a little more – material pursuits are only temporary.

Wealth

It would be wise to place few expectations on monetary gain.

Balance your finance outflow and inflow and check your approach towards spending on what is unnecessary – perhaps seek out financial planning advice.

There is the possibility of unwise and hasty decisions – take your time to consider any decisions made.

Career

There might be a slow decline in your progress at work.

You might need to be patient in your efforts to right the course of things.

Show loyalty and steadfastness toward your superiors, heed their advice and this will be the stepping stone for future successes.

Health

Oxen may be a little more vulnerable to viruses and illnesses. Take caution.

Use spare time to look into your health – take the time to exercise and improve your diet with better food choices.

Be vigilant when driving or undertaking high risk activities to avoid any potential mishaps.

Tiger

Birth years: 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010

Overall luck

You will be front and centre this year.

Your time has come to shine at work and the year is looking bright for you to gain the recognition you have wanting in your work.

Wealth stars will prove to be working in your favour and therefore the year is ripe for some sound investments.

Wealth

Look out for valuable tips and seek out good advice when discussing and making potential investments choices before committing to them.

Business owners should consider looking into investing in innovative technologies to amplify their business and stock assets.

Be tactful with your words as a little slip up may leave you open to malicious gossip and rumours which could affect your wealth outcome.

Career

Expect some minor disputes stemming from misunderstandings with superiors and colleagues - exercise tolerance and patience.

Helpful people will likely guide you out of sticky situations.

Be reminded that everyone has differing opinions on matters and issues and it is best to be respectful of this.

Health

Your mind and body are in prime condition to tackle 2019.

For further optimum performance, exercise, eat and rest well – these will aid you in putting your best foot forward in all areas of your life.

Consider partaking in team sports, if company is what motivates you to exercise.

Rabbit

Birth years: 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011

Overall luck

Expect to have a fantastic year – if you’re aiming for career growth, this is year you will see movement in the direction you want to go.

With auspicious stars lined up, your career and wealth  bode well with ample growth and successes on both fronts.

The presence of noble people (贵人) is likely to be the boost that you need to spur you to go further and see endeavours progress smoothly. Noble people are people who step in to provide support at the right time.

Wealth

You will get the edge that you need to enjoy better wealth prospects this year.

There's a spike in improvement to your financial management skills which in turn will see you save more.

It's best to seek outside counsel, particularly from financial experts on matters of investment before putting your money in any potential opportunities.

Career

Great developments in career this year – may be some likelihood of you getting a bigger office space.

A good rapport with your superiors is on the cards, leading to more chances to showcase your abilities at work.

Opportunities are abound and you need to be brave in capitalising the chances that present themselves to you to make a shift.

Health

Some injuries and illness may be prevalent this year – be wise to partaking in risky activities that may be to your detriment.

Pay attention to possible issues with your digestive tract – avoid excessive oil and fat in your diet.

Boost your overall wellbeing by making better diet choices and exercising sufficiently.

Dragon

Birth years: 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012

Overall luck

There will likely be an increase in socialising and meeting new people – you may receive invitations to weddings and parties which will further your chances of meeting great people for love, life and business.

Look into the health of elderly individuals - particularly elderly males who might need a little extra support this year in maintaining their health and in living life to the fullest of their ability.

Wealth

A good year for financial wealth and gain – dragons symbolise wealth and fortune and the year will further spur you.

Look out for gossips and rumours that may come your way – these rumours may have a direct and indirect impact on your finances that may need to watch out for.

Keep a close watch on your wallet as you may be susceptible to pickpockets and thieves – this might in turn cause you to lose substantial amounts of money.

Career

Your career is a non-issue this year – you will see likely growth in some areas and an easing of workload and stress.

Relationships with your superiors will see takeup, prompting better promotion opportunities.

Do not push yourself too hard with work commitments and fall into the trap of stress-related illnesses.

Health

The year might leave you a little open to viruses and illnesses which will disrupt your lifecycle if preventive measures are not taken.

A more concerted effort needs to be made on health matters – exercise and strive to live a better, more well-adjusted lifestyle which will help better other areas of your life as well.

Follow healthy nutritional and dietary practices – as you are what you eat.

Snake

Birth years: 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013

Overall luck

A likely trying year in both professional and personal lives for snakes – it would be wise to maintain the right mindset and gaining the strength to persevere is key to triumphing over challenging times.

You may have ideas coming in on all sides on much of your work and passions but these may lead you nowhere unfortunately – your plans may go in the exact opposite from what you envisioned.

The year also forewarns that you might be tempted to spend money aimlessly and perhaps even partake in some risky investment choices - it is wise to put aside some income and money to spend with your family and friends as they will certainly be your comfort this year.

Wealth

Some uncertainty in your financial wealth – there is possibility of you incurring monetary losses potentially due to failed investments and overspending.

Not a good year for gambling opportunities with already draining financials – best to keep that to months when tides are better.

Financial losses can be cushioned by making a symbolic gesture of purchasing something of value.

Career

The year might see your work-life balance compromised by stressful work constraints that may hold you back. Exercise calm and patience when treading through work issues as these are likely not going to last very long.

Once your work life is stabilised, start making grander plans for the year ahead and you’ll slowly but surely get to execute them – your fortune lies within the industry you are based at, so persevere.

Health

There are no real cause for concerns in terms of health this year – though there may be some issues with minor colds and flu.

Employing better driving etiquette is crucial in avoiding possible accidents on the road.

Also be cautious with sharp and hot objects – try not to be distracted and overenthusiastic when preparing family meals in the kitchen.

Horse

Birth years: 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014

Overall luck

The year is expected to be bountiful and exciting with positive energies likely to surround you in areas of relationship, wealth and career.

Golden opportunities to accumulate wealth can be observed and therefore keep an eye out for lucrative investments in property or shares. Be wary of getting too excited and giving in to impulsive decisions that may lead to monetary loss.

Be cautious about the possibility of accidents– prepare adequately before you travel and perhaps refrain from activities with high physical intensity

Wealth

Wealth will bode well in 2019 but be cautious of potential extravagant spending or investments that could lead to some monetary loss.

Consider that money is likely to fall in favour with you this year – keeping close tabs on your cash flow as well as utilising the money wisely is pertinent.

Career

Great developments in career this year with developments happening closer to the post-autumn (Q3 to Q4) season.

This is the time to buck up and put your best foot forward and present yourself for that promotion you have had your eye on.

Time your execution of plans well – as this will lead the way to a better, more organised outcomes.

Health

Horses will have the ability of jumping over illnesses and injuries this year.

Senior horses need to pay closer attention to their diet and perhaps vary their exercise plan.

Avoid overindulging in late night snacks and food as this may prevent the appearance of digestive problems.

Goat

Birth years: 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015

Overall luck

2019 will leave you a little more relaxed.

You may see movement and improvement in previously stagnant areas of your life which would then lead you to attain goals and dreams.

This year will certainly work in your favour and help you finalise sidelined projects with success, bringing in more money – particularly those engaged in the field of creative arts.

Wealth

Your wealth star will be shining just a little brighter this year.

Small stumbling blocks might be placed before you but you will barrel down the obstacles – with people who will readily come to your aid should you require it.

There will be good opportunities for you to shine at work and showcase your abilities and talents to your pleased superiors.

Career

There is much need to handle workplace relationships delicately, particularly with colleagues.

Consider your thoughts and actions.

Choose your words carefully as some small miscommunications may put a damper on an otherwise great career prospect.

Health

This is year to take control of your health and wellbeing.

Perform physical activities – perhaps learn a new sport and try to keep to an exercise regime to keep your body moving.

Watch your diet and avoid food high in fats and oils and perhaps opt for leaner and greener options.

Monkey

Birth years: 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016

Overall luck

Positivity and wealth blessings will be coming your way, for professional and financial success.

Thinking outside of the box will certainly bring you much success this year - be more productive at work and you will be rewarded for your efforts.

Financially you may see better inflow of money into your account. It will be in your favour to make rational choices in any potential investment while avoiding short term opportunities.

Wealth

How well you garner wealth will greatly depend on your resourcefulness.

Steer clear of risky setups of the likes of venture capitals and high yielding bonds and your finances will be stable.

Prove yourself worthy of your capabilities this year and consider every opportunity that may yield greater returns for you.

Career

You will be surrounded by people willing to help you should you be humble enough to ask for it when you need it.

There will be possible opportunities for promotion and career advancements, so keep your mind sharp and ready for any potential appraisals and interviews.

There may be some office whispers about you so keep your head down at work and hold your tongue while it runs its course.

Health

A reasonable year in terms of health prospects – though monkeys may need to heed to issues pertaining to their stomach and indigestion.

Be cautious about what you eat and take time off work if you are feeling overwhelmed which may greatly contribute to your stomach issues.

Rooster

Birth years: 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017

Overall luck

This year will see you become the mover and shaker of many aspects of your life and you might even feel an urge to expand your horizons and build new pathways.

An excellent outlook for those wishing to conquer the world of academic pursuits and perhaps build better creative aptitude through arts, music and writing.

Be cautious and vigilant on aspects of your personal safety, particularly if you have made travel plans. Take precautions if you are planning to venture into some high risk activities or even driving.

Wealth

There might be more limited earnings in terms of income and investments and therefore spend your money wisely.

Keep your earnings from your work well documented - wait a while before embarking on big purchases and save more than you spend.

Exercise patience in certain plans – there will be a right time for it.

Career

Career cards this year might take a slight hit.

Work expectations might see you a little frazzled – so pay special heed to your needs and take time off when you need it.

Remain calm, pleasant and have an open communication with your work mates – this will see you come out of any possible tensions.

Health

Avoid involving too heavily in extreme and dangerous activities of the likes of hiking or diving. Opt instead for lighter exercise such as yoga, bicycling, or walking.

A healthy routine and physical activity should help keep you healthy.

Source: Joey Yap. Forecasts for the 12 animal signs in the year of the earth boar, 2019.

Source: Joey Yap. Metaphysical forces that affect the different zodiac signs in the year of the earth boar, 2019.

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Read Dato' Yap's predictions for the new lunar year as a whole in WorkSmart Asia

Mastercard, CrescentRating release halal travel trend forecast for 2019

Source: Mastercard, CrescentRating.

The Mastercard-CrescentRating Halal Travel Frontier 2019 (HTF2019) Report has identified 17 trends that will shape the next phase of development in the fast-growing travel sector for Muslim travellers.

The top trends include:

· The integration of augmented reality to give Muslim travellers crucial cultural insights, including eateries that are halal-certified.

· The proliferation of chatbots which are custom-designed to satisfy the cultural and religious needs of a Muslim traveller.

· Non-traditional destinations such as Japan and Taiwan will increasingly attract Muslim travellers.

Augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI), coupled with the increased penetration of smartphones, will also drive new trends that will redefine the Muslim travel experience – from planning to purchasing, and sharing travel adventures.

Driven by the demand for more authentic, affordable and accessible experiences, more Millennials and Gen Z travellers will book “instant noodle trips” - affordable, impromptu short trips.

In addition, heightened awareness on social causes and the rising authority of female influencers when planning trips, are also expected to result in changes in the way that Muslims travel.

The report also foresees non-OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) destinations, such as Japan and Taiwan, will change the Muslim-friendly narrative. Competition and dynamism are expected lead to innovations and developments that will benefit both destinations as well as Muslim travellers.

Finally, the report foresees the consolidation of Muslim travel service providers that will potentially result in the emergence of stronger Muslim lifestyle and travel brands.

"We hope this motivates all players to embrace and further benefit from the growth.” said Fazal Bahardeen, CEO of CrescentRating and HalalTrip.

“The Halal Travel Frontier 2019 Report gives businesses, governments and other stakeholders in the travel sector an overview of the trends sweeping the fast-growing halal travel industry and how they can maximise opportunities in this fast growing travel sector,” said Safdar Khan, Division President, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, Mastercard.

The global Muslim traveller expenditure is projected to reach US$220 billion in 2020 according to the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2018. It is expected to grow a further US$80 billion to hit US$300 billion by 2026. In 2017, there were an estimated 131 million Muslim visitor arrivals globally - up from 121 million in 2016 - and this is forecast to grow to 156 million visitors by 2020, representing 10% of the global travel segment.

Explore:
 
Read the Halal Travel Frontier 2019 report

Check out the WorkSmart Asia blog post on digital halal travel trends

Read the Suroor Asia blog post on the Japan Muslim Travel Index 2017

Hashtag: #HTF2019

Dato' Joey Yap shares predictions for Year of the Earth Boar, 2019

- Five thousand participants attended Dato’ Joey Yap’s annual Feng Shui & Astrology seminar in January 2019

- Dato' Yap shared forecasts for the Year of the Earth Boar and shed light on the global economic landscape of 2019.

- Auspicious dates to start work in 2019 were also highlighted – 8 , 11 and 12 February

- Yap collaborated with EZ-Link to release a series of limited-edition EZ-Link cards

Source: Joey Yap Group. The event in Singapore was sold out.

On 13 January 2019, global best-selling author and fengshui expert Dato’ Joey Yap shared forecasts for the upcoming lunar new year with 5,000 people at his annual Feng Shui & Astrology seminar in Singapore.

The straight-talking expert engaged the audience at the fully-sold out ticketed event – where people were still asking about buying tickets during the breaks – with lots of practicality, humour, pithy Cantonese phrases and insights from fengshui, qimen philosophy, face-reading as well as his own experience of running a business.

According to him, the Year of the Earth Boar can be summarised into two words: stable progression. On a grand political and economic scale, sluggish development will likely be the theme for the first half of the year. However, things are anticipated to pick up towards the latter half of 2019, as investments in time and resources during the first half start to show tangible results.

Given that the vibrancy of the year favours the fire and water elements, industries that will do well include online retailing due to the mixture of fire element (technology/online) and water element (retail). Industries that emphasise high mobility including the water, hospitality, tourism and fast-moving consumer goods sectors, will see growing potential while the property market will face stagnation.

Prices are forecast to remain sticky while loans from financial institutions are scarce, impacting property purchases negatively. Technology companies are advised to work on securing their customer base in light of the tighter controls and governance being introduced to the industry.

With all these in mind, he advised participants to always fall back on their individual bazi (八字, literally eight characters) charts* so as to discern all obstructions in the next twelve months. The bazi chart shows the potentials possible, and is a guide on how external energies interact with personal characteristics.

For example, the Year of the Earth Boar is a vibrant year and the market favours the new and risky. If a person's bazi chart is dominated by the water element, the person will be able to handle the new, bold and risky. However, those that has little or no water at all will feel lost or umcomfortable. This can nevertheless be managed by an increase in self-awareness and willingness to accept change.

Dato’ Yap further highlighted auspicious dates for the year. Starting up the business in the new year is best on 8, 11 and 12 February.

Certain dates and times are considered more auspicious than others for beginning work for the first time in the year of the pig. However, these dates may be ineffective for those who have specific animals in their bazi charts.

The Year of the Earth Boar is especially good for those who can provide clarity, associated with the fire element. Dato' Yap recommends thinking along the lines of a technology or framework that can help consumers verify a provider via their online footprints. Those born in the years of the monkey, horse, tiger and rabbit will also be exceptionally fortunate.

General predictions for 2019, the Year of the Earth Boar included:


Those who have pigs as part of their bazi

“Everyone is paying attention. This is your year to shine,” Yap said.

He explained that existing problems from the year before will see resolutions in the Year of the Earth Boar. “You're not going to have a year without problems,” he said. “As long as you are alive there are problems. But you want to have better-quality problems than the year before.”

An example of a better-quality problem, Yap said, is when he began his seminars in 1999 with an audience of eight – including himself, and a friend. This year, his seminar in Malaysia saw thousands of people and Singapore's event was sold out.

“Next year's problem is that I need a new place,” he said. “I'd rather have this problem than an eight-person problem.”

“(Pigs) need to be more forgiving, more compassionate - “then your problems are released,” Yap added.

Pigs could become famous or infamous in their year. “Be careful of your posts,” he warned.

Those who have snakes as part of their bazi

They will see change no matter what they do. Female noble friends (贵人), or people who are in a position to help them, such as a boss or a business partner, will be particularly helpful. Noble people, sometimes called benefactors, are able to provide invaluable help to individuals.

Monkeys

Monkeys should just eat and enjoy the year. If they do not, they lose out on the opportunity to meet people. “Make as many contacts (at this event) as possible – but (get in touch) only after February 4,” Yap told the audience, stressing that the predictions only take effect from the first day of the year of the pig, and will not have the same effect before.

Monkeys will attract a lot of people who are generally jealous of their good lives, Yap added. “Since you know that, you might as well party to the max,” he commented.

Rats

“Your job is to be used by others,” Yap said. “You can choose to be useful or useless. Which one do you prefer?

“If you are useful you are the noble person to other people.”

Rats will also be able to buy good properties and cheap, but at the standards of those who are billionaires or multimillionaires. Those who are not can still benefit. Yap said, “If you work for them you can fish these deals for your bosses, take a small cut; you know what to do.”

“Forgetfulness” is also something to watch in 2019, at least for rats. Those who are salesmen or brokers should be careful of ove-rpromising and under-delivering, Yap said.

Horses

Horses will be able to spot good deals for property. “(Whether you) can or cannot buy depends on whether you have enough funds,” Dato' Yap noted, advising those with horses in their bazi to work on partnerships so they can be in the best position to grasp a deal.

Rabbits

People will recognise rabbits for their expertise, if they are in the right place at the right time. “Do something that allows you to be famous, be seen,” Dato' Yap advised. As an example, if a rabbit posts a YouTube video, it has a higher chance of going viral, he said.

Roosters

Roosters will suddenly understand complex things more easily, Yap predicted.

For roosters, things will also tend to break down. “You conflict with items and equipment,” Yap said. “If your job and work heavily depend on tools, you should be careful.”

Goats/sheep

“If you want to learn anything associated with art, this year is the year for it,” Yap said.

Art does not necessarily mean the fine arts alone. Yap suggested that marketing, public relations, networking, presentations, and deal-making can also be arts. “You will master it this year,” he said.

Catching the opportunity is crucial mainly because the stars will not be aligned this way again for another 12 years, when the year of the pig returns, he said.

“Pick up a new skill or research. If you learn something new this year you get maximum benefit from whatever you learn. Learn something beneficial for your career; you can increase your income, your success rate,” he said.

Dogs

Dogs may become depressed, but can banish depression with forgiveness and kindness, Yap said.

“If you can forgive yourself and be kind to yourself, you will free yourself from inner drepression and unhappiness.”

“Karma is cause and effect. If you don't want the effect, remove the cause lah,” he advised.

Dogs will have to deal with above-average amounts of pettiness. “A lot of people will come in and they harbour hatred for you. You should also learn to forgive them in order to move on,” Yap advised.

Tigers

Tigers should learn something to do with business, though learning how to manage a business is important for anyone. “If you rise to (a) very senior (position you) have to know business...(this is) the best time to acquire knowledge about making money,” he said, pointing out that anyone who has to make decisions has to have business skills.

Those whose bazi contain all four animals – rooster, goat, monkey and tiger – will have to pay particular attention to personal safety, Yap said.

Roosters will find themselves near natural disasters, so should avoid dangerous places, while goats may see more physical injuries. Tigers will smash into things while monkeys will suffer cuts “here and there”.

On the subject of health, dogs will tend to be the first to get sick, while pigs may need surgery. Oxen should not attend funerals – not because they attract evil spirits as traditionally believed, but because they will likely catch any viruses that are going round.

“If you don't have the ox in the chart you can attend as many funerals as you want,” Yap said to laughter.

Snakes will be able to solve problems with existing illness. “This is the best year to do (surgery), it reduces potential problems at least by 50% or more,” he said.

In terms of directions, illness is based in the northeast in 2019. “If there are two or more illness stars in your (bazi) I would not suggest sleeping in the northeast sector. You could have a very long downtime,” Yap said. If however a bedroom is in the northeast but the sleeper does not have any of the illness stars, that is fine, he added.

Getting rich is easy, but staying rich is difficult. In the new year, monkeys can lose money, snakes have to spend money and rabbits should save money.

Yap said monkeys should be concerned with losing what they have obtained easily, in trade, partnerships and so on. “On the flip side you have something to lose,” he said.

Snakes should be prepared to spend a lot of money up front. Yap advised them to spend on experiences, but only after February 4.

Rabbits must save money. “It's good if you save 70% but 30% should be actively working hard for you,” he said, noting that it takes a long time for a nest egg to grow from savings alone.

Dogs must use money to serve others, so could serve the community by becoming a community leader, while dragons will be compelled to buy what they do not need. “It's going happen anyway - you might as well do it,” he said. “It doesn't mean you don't have money, (it's just that) there's a different way to treat your money.”

Questions at the event focused mainly on career choices, running the business and investments, though audience members also asked about improving health. Some of the insights Yap shared included:

Improving work-life balance – balance means stasis, while not being balanced means that there is progress towards a desired destination. “Balance is no good,” he said, illustrating his point with a stationary marker standing vertically versus one which is rolling on its side.

Yap advises getting paid more for work or being able to complete the same work more quickly by improving your value instead.

Relationship problems – these occur when you expect the other person to do something and they don't. Yap said that while such problems can be blamed on other things, such as a clash of bazi between a dragon and a dog for example, it is actually about unmet expectations.

“If your expectations are met, you will have longer-lasting relationships,” he said.

Social media – On a related note, Yap observed that “it's all so perfect on Instagram and on Facebook”, while viewers may wonder why their relationship and life is so much worse.

'(It) gives you an unreal expectation of what life should be,” he said. “The whole idea of Instagram and Facebook is to make other people jealous...but in reality their life is not like that.”

“If you want to make things good, be your partner's noble person,” he said, in a take of 'do unto others what you would like others to do unto you'.

Fame – Dato' Yap is a big believer in becoming more well-known. “If you can capitalise on your fame you save on many years of marketing,” he explained. “Fame allows you to enter into the minds of other people and own real estate space...if you own that space in other people's minds, you literally carve out your market.”

Academic merit – Academic prowess does not only refer to studies. For Yap, it is about graduating from the university of life and not “the university that you're studying in, with straight 'A's”.

“It's harder to graduate from life,” he said. “If you knew what you need to know, you'd already be there.”

As an example, he pointed out that the full-house event the audience were at required a lot of effort in the background, from building mindshare to having expertise to share. “To make this happen, (to get from) where you are to where you want to be, (this) needs knowledge,” he said.

Offerings to the god of wealth - the god of wealth is actually a star in the south, personified, Dato' Yap said. While the traditional way of welcoming the god of wealth is with a table of physical offerings, Yap says that it is all about balance.

“If you make a wish, ask for something, the spiritual contract says you must offer something,” he explained.

To request a specific outcome, such as to see sales increase by 30%, there must be efforts to get that 30% such as attending sales classes, or calling 10 people a day.

“Everything you put on the table is an offering.. you offer what you intend to do,” he said.

The idea is that while you can strive to conduct five meaningful conversations with people in a week to increase sales of a product, you are unlikely to be able to control whether they are fertile ground – people who like the product, or may be interested in it. This is where the god of wealth could come in.

“If you don't do your part then the god of wealth will not do their part,” he said. “If you intend to do nothing, I guarantee you won't get anything. Everything is an exchange of energy. Get something that the universe can provide you with.” 

Part of signage that shows the Business
Academy logo and event details.

In 2019, Dato' Yap will be sharing his own experience in running a business for the first time. While the theories will still be based on Chinese metaphysics, he will be including a lot of business principles, and bringing in billionaires to share their experiences with participants. The event will be held in Malaysia.

The Joey Yap Business Academy is Yap's take on getting started and winning in business, targeted at those starting out or thinking of going into business, or who have not yet broken free of the S$5 million mark.

“Getting real estate in a client's mind, it's what I actually do,” he said.

The first Business Academy will be from 18 - 20 May, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The gold places were sold out at a soft launch in 2018. Twenty silver places went for S$2,997 at the event.

Dato’ Yap’s first limited-edition Mythical Twelve Chinese Zodiac EZ-Link cards were made available during the seminar. These will be on sale at River Hongbao as well. The series is a unique collaboration between Dato’ Yap and EZ-Link. 

Personally designed by Yap, the series of cards feature individual Chinese zodiac signs as well as his 2019 Chinese zodiac predictions for that animal. At the seminar, the full set of 12 in a presentation pack cost S$120, and S$12 for a single card housed in a presentation card.

The world’s largest fengshui organisation saw 15,000 sell-outs over two days in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia alone. Over the next two months, the seminar will continue its run around the world. In the Asia Pacific, it is due to take place in the Philippines, Malaysia, Australia, and Cambodia as well.

Explore: 

Get personal bazi charts 

Check out seminars for other countries in the global series 

Download the Thriver’s Guide 2019. This document contains predictions for individual animals of the zodiac.

Hashtags: #joeyyap, #fsa2019

^This writer attended the event gratis.

*According to the Chinese, fortunes are governed by the date and time of birth. While the animal zodiac is the most well-known aspect of this, the year is not enough – there are actually eight parameters derived from the date and time of birth, or bazi (八字, literally 'eight characters'), including the hour, day, month and year which affect a person's life. Four of these characters involve animals.

A person's future depends on the prevailing forces for a particular year and how those forces interact with a person's bazi and their existing circumstances, such as the industry they are working in, directions they plan to go into and the people they encounter. The fortunes of one person can clash or be enhanced by the fortunes of others as well; it typically takes years of study to make sense of all the interactions.