Warren Buffett's right-hand man, the late Charlie Munger, once said that the best way to achieve anything is to deserve it. In other words: whatever you want, you have to work for it for as long as it takes for you to honestly earn it.
It may sound childishly obvious but given the extent of entitlement among both humans and entire nations, it is perhaps a lesson worth repeating every once in a while.
Many countries look to the second Trump presidency with anxiety. The mercurial billionaire is back in the White House and, given his age and the fact that it's his last term, has nothing to lose.
When you look closely, however, those who fear Trump simply haven't really earned the support of the United States – which may have been a little too generous for a little too long.
Europeans have spent decades dodging their defence spending commitments under NATO, relying on Washington as a deterrent to external threats, while spending their money on i.a. generous social welfare.
The same accusation can be made about America's many Asian allies, cowering in fear before the rising might of China, but often refusing to invest in their own defence.
Speaking of China, it has been freely taking advantage of the USA and the liberal global trade order it protects, in the process contributing to its many socioeconomic problems, while failing to abide by past agreements regarding opening up its economy to foreign investment (which was meant to balance the cost and benefits of bilateral exchange).
In other words, those and many other countries have been enjoying uneven benefits from American support and trade with the USA, and are now rightly concerned that the guy calling them out for it is going to want to claw some of it back.
Singapore, however, has no reason for such concerns.
Being a solid ally of the US in an otherwise volatile region, balancing the influence of two of the world's leading superpowers in a strategically critical choke point, Singapore is important and dependable at the same time.
It is the gateway for American companies into much of Asia, keeping their investments safe both from political turmoil and greedy hands of corrupt officials elsewhere.
It's a partner in defence, in business, in logistics and in diplomacy, as evidenced by the summit held between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un in 2018.
Perhaps if the city-state was a hub handling trade between China and the US it would be more exposed to indirect threats of a deeper conflict between the two, which could disrupt the flow of goods.
As it is, however, not only is it not in the way, but by being the entry point into Southeast Asia it is where American business can direct its diversification away from China from.
With the gradual demise of Hong Kong it's the only proven, trustworthy alternative – and it has earned this reputation over decades of political stability and rational governance.
It deserves what it enjoys.
Whatever Trump decides to do and however it impacts the economic and political situation up and down Asia, Singapore will remain a critical node in the middle of it, no matter which way the wind blows.
So, while others are losing their sleep over what the incoming US president is going do to them, Singapore's government gets plenty of well-deserved rest.
