1.781122.1

Nationality: Singaporean

Ethnic: Chinese

Gender: Male

Age Group: Mid-40s

[NFT Listing: https://opensea.io/assets/matic/0x2953399124f0cbb46d2cbacd8a89cf0599974963/92606857133730873257093297614239487190688831320231690495316773422784028082177]

A Little About Me

I have been known as a little Rebel since young. My thoughts, actions & decisions were seldom conventional. I do a lot of thinking & reading. After forming my thoughts, I am very firm on the executory plans. My childhood bestie observed that I always try to put on a front that gives people the impression that I am chill, jovial, happy-go-lucky, cannot be bothered, commitment-phobic & unreliable. In actual fact, I spend a lot of my time thinking & analyzing, debating on controversial topics, exchanging ideas to enhance the world. I stay true to my promise & commitment thus it I am very careful not to commit to things I don’t see myself doing in the long run such as having a child. However, if I do commit, I deliver.

I Don’t Fit Into Singapore

I have led a typical Singaporean life for a good 30+ years. I grew up in a Christian family, studied well to get myself a good education, worked in corporate organizations, followed their rules albeit unwillingly & stayed with my parents through to my adulthood. A decision slightly different from most people was that I started my own consultancy business from zero to fruition.

I always felt hands-strapped living in Singapore. No one around me truly cares for the people, the climate or the real world issues. I had to hold shallow conversations & constantly being judged as an odd ball if I don’t. But seriously, to live a life where you just care what your next meal will be, how much money you & others earn, what your next property upgrade should be, the scene development of K-dramas – really???

One fine day in 2014, I decided to take my consultancy business somewhere else. Maybe it will be better for my mental health. Now I know for sure it is better. I took off to Mexico, Israel then Cambodia where I am living now - there is enormous need for people to help the young adults & villagers develop a sustainable work income so that children can get their deserved education. I took a job with a NGO of which its purpose is to do just that. No doubt the salary they paid me was nothing compared to my previous glamourous corporate role, but they made up for my need to feel worthy & purposeful. They also agreed for me to continue my consultancy business at the side to supplement my lack of income (though living standard in Cambodia is more than manageable).

Things are slow to materialize here but progressing for sure. Not only did I get to work on the projects with the NGO to turn skills-to-jobs/businesses for the local community, we also managed to find a solution to manage the food waste issue in Phnom Penh & made a business out of this by converting it into animal feed for sale. I mentored a small group of locals to set up the operations, did much research on the solution, done some trial & error, mentored them on the business aspects from management, sales, accounting to operations. They are now proud owners of this scalable business bounded to be very profitable business in years to come.

Soft Spot For Start-Up Entrepreneurs

I started my own businesses before doing consultancy work. The start-up journey was tough & I always wished there were people who are able to highlight blind-spots to me, mentor me along the way. As a start-up, it is seldom you have the luxury to engage an effective mentor/consultant to guide you. So I struggled, failed, tried & tried again.

I thus have a soft spot for start-up entrepreneurs. Unlike most consultants, my goal is always to mentor them, put them on the gear till they are ready to go independent. I don’t believe in making people reliant on me so I can milk every cent for a long time. Just like a doctor, he diagnoses, cures the illness & off the patient goes. And this really sits in well with my personality where I like to try new ideas new things new solutions without having to be stuck in the 1 thing for a long time. Thus I realized owning a business is not what I was looking for. Gearing others to start up is. And if I am really good, I may get some shares of those businesses I helped start & prepare for retirement!

What’s Next

I don’t think I am ready to be back in Singapore anytime soon, maybe never. If the satisfaction from working with the NGO runs out, I will look for another worthy work in Cambodia. Cost of living here is low. It doesn’t cost a lot to work, have a drink & live comfortably. I meet with really nice people who are informed & able to discuss in-depth with me on world issues, business solutions & how we can develop a more sustainable living. This rejuvenates me constantly.

My thoughts To You

Everything in life is transient. Try not to make everything & everyone so reliant on you that they are unable to leave you. Build them so well that they can do without you, that’s when you can live in a carefree way. Despite everything that my folks at home tell me, I think it is more important to look within ourselves & ask what it is we want to do that fulfill us. Don’t be afraid to challenge social norms & status quo. Your happiness is your own responsibility.