I’ve been in business for the last 12 years, been through 3 recessions and now the fourth. Built the first portals before the Internet bubble started, turned down a SGD$5 million buy-out offer from a European Firm, got burnt when the bubble burst because the money from dot-com companies we were building solutions for was no longer available. Important lessons those.
I’ve taken my 3 year break and come back again, with renewed hope, serendipitiously met a bunch of great people in a supportive business network. Who you know is as important as what you know, sometimes more so. But well, some businesses get it right the first time, others take a little bit longer, but whatever the case may be, it’s always about learning and correcting without invalidating — being with the right group of people helps immensely. Sometimes the environment is not so supportive. But then again, those who learn the hardest knocks gain the most and will last the longest. There are many challenges, rightfully so. So I’m actually coaching again and creating opportunities for people who are willing, who just need that headstart. We’ll eventually be a technology angel, that’s my longer term vision.
The business environment is constantly changing, and businesses are constantly evolving. In the same way, I’m still learning and gaining new distinctions with each business that I encounter and the entrepreneur behind it. Ordinary but amazing people. There are business networks that are being created, it’s becoming so much more critical now for companies to be able to leverage and work together, it’s not just about competition anymore, it’s also a lot about collaboration. In a free agent economy, the fast with survive and the street-smart will thrive. Businesses in the current environment are taking on new forms that are very different from what we are used to, old models will soon not apply. Businesses are even started with little or no money that grow into million dollar companies within very short time-frames. All done morally, legally and ethically.
We know that entrepreneurship is becoming a critical component in Singapore development as we move forward. There are 3 critical components to a successful entrepreneur — the entrepreneur mindset, the skillset and the necessary practical streetwise experience, most of which is never taught in mainstream education.
It’s not the business plan, it’s the passion. With the right intention, the universe will conspire to help us achieve the best, but it takes a whole lot of hard work that can only be driven by passion, not academics. This cannot be communicated enough to the younger people, but they have the benefit of youth to make the most mistakes and to learn the most as well.
I am a strong advocate for entrepreneurship, but there is one segment of the populace that I feel need the exposure a lot more, and it’s becoming even more critical given the current economic situation. There’s a lot of focus now on instilling the spirit of entrepreneurship to the youth, but the group of people who will most appreciate the implications and impact are the people in their 30’s and 40’s (or older) It’s the people who are beginning to realise that there is NO security in employment, who have the largest liabilities, in an ever shortening careers if they may still be called that — with family and parents to support, who are ill-equiped to deal with the white envelops that they receive.
These are the people with the most experience, who have contributed to the economy but simply lack the know-how to be successful entrepreneurs. Most businesses that fail, fail not for the lack of effort, but the lack of practical education. It’s like letting you skydive without being taught how, rate of death will be amazingly high, that’s how it is with the business world today, you don’t need eductiond, you only need to be 18 years old and above.
I have a friend, with whom I am starting another new venture, who was just retrenched. He was one of 4 who got laid off in this American Company, but with the way the economy is going, they will not be the last. The difference is that he had already prepared himself through a couple of business boot-camps he attended in the last 12 months and knew exactly what he is going to do from now, recognising many opportunities already presenting themselves — far more than he can actually answer — and how he could capitalise on them. He could not say the same for his 3 other colleagues who absolutely do not know where to go. These are the people who need the help the most, and these are the people whose loss to the economy is a lot greater. Whether the glass is half full or empty is a matter of perspective.
Being an employee or even a CEO of an MNC ill-prepares one for entrepreneurship. It’s a different animal. It calls for such a total mindset change, there is little or no resources, a far cry from what most would be used to. There is little support today that is given to this group of people. There is a massive loss from this group of already productive people, in know-how, in skills and mostly in experience, who could have simply, if given a chance, done a lot more.
Entrepreneurship is a long-term journey that one will embark on, for if learnt right, will provide the kind of security that cannot be gotten anywhere else. It’s not a fad, and many businesses run by successful entrepreneurs are not innovative, nor glamourous, just cleverly positioned with a lot of common sense and run with a lot of streetwise practical knowledge. They will create jobs and drive the economy. What we need is to develop a deep understanding of that wisdom, to think with an abundant mind, create win-win situations and know that success is about creating massive value in whatever business we are doing. In doing so, we will create a hgh impact business community that more than just driving the economy, will value contribution back to the community as much as the profits they make.
The true purpose in our lives is to create massive value in whatever we do. Givers gain. There’s absolutely nothing we can take with us when we leave, so why take more than we need?
When it’s time for us to go, the only foot print that we’ll leave behind, is the value that we’ve created and contributed. If we are not creating value, it makes no difference whether we’ve ever lived.
The universe is amazing. I am reminded of a quote by someone whose path i just crossed recently. A quote so apt for the events that had so recently taken place.
‘Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond imagination. It is our light more than our darkness which scares us. We ask ourselves – who are we to be brilliant, beautiful, talented, and fabulous. But honestly, who are you to not be so?
You are a child of God, small games do not work in this world. For those around us to feel peace, it is not example to make ourselves small. We were born to express the glory of god that lives in us. It is not in some of us, it is in all of us. While we allow our light to shine, we unconsciously give permission for others to do the same. When we liberate ourselves from our own fears, simply our presence may liberate others.’
- Marianne Williamson in Return to Love: Reflections on a Course in Miracles
Many of us wish that once that at least once in our lives, we get a chance to do something that can touch another person’s life and possibly make a positive difference in some way, no matter how small.
Once in a while, we meet people who touch people’s lives every day, in what they do, and what they give.
ANIC 2008 is my first concert — whatever it takes, the show must go on. I don’t think I need to say that it’s an amazing effort that has been put in by everyone and words are not enough to express how happy I am to have had the opportunity to have been a part of ANIC2008.
For more than the lives that have been touched amongst the participants and the 4 organisations involved, we have touched the lives of the people who have come to watch — we’ve received feedback that has ranged from “We came not knowing what to expect and we were blown away” to “We got emotional watching the concert” and even “Thank you for giving us a chance to experience this”. People who have come from everywhere. We have a queue of new volunteers forming already.
I promised people who came to watch that it would be the most amazing two hours they will spend in 2008. I think that promise has been over delivered on.
There is a term for this — it’s called precession. When a single act sends out ripples all around and creates unplanned and unintended impact to the people and environment around us. ANIC has created tremendous precession, for the lives that were touched and lives that will change — in the vision of creating an inclusive environment for all and in celebrating diversity. To be able to stand up proud for who we are. ANIC has come a long way and will grow from strength to strength, if the response for ANIC2008 is anything to go by.
Kudos to all involved, for not only have you had the opportunity touch one life, you have touched the lives of thousands and the number will increase to tens of thousands in the years to come — for everything that we cannot take with us when we leave this planet, be glad for all that will be left behind, this legacy that has been created that will make MORE than that single difference.
To Daniel,
HK is not too far away, you are not getting away this easily! Ha, maybe you will start a HK chapter and perhaps ANIC will do an Asian Tour one day J
To everyone else,
Keep your heart and spirits up, as Madam Manta so aptly put it, “There is good work to be done”. And believe it, there IS good work to be done but it all happened because of the collective effort of every single person who has not only responded to a call but stood up for a belief and made dreams come true.
I believe in the resilience and tenacity of the human spirit, that will rise to the occasion when a call is made, when a challenge arises. What I have witnessed over the last months and especially when it all came together in the last two days has more than demonstrated that tenacity.
To many, many more years ahead and even beyond our own lives. I look forward to working with all of you again in our next concert. Thank you is not enough to express what I feel today. Tired but it’s been worth every single moment. I’m in for the next concert.
I met Jerry and his team at a networking event two months ago. He did a very short presentation on a volunteer project called “A Nation In Concert” and shared the following video clip with the group (Click on the video area to play, to enjoy the full experience, turn up your volume a little.)
In the life-changing 5-minutes, I was touched by the spirit demonstrated by this group of people who saw that they could make a difference. I was moved at their ernestness and I got involved.
A Nation In Concert started several years ago very modestly, as an effort to work with a very special group of people, who do not need our sympathy but our support. The momentum grew and a musical-concert was born, an amazing performance that involved the physically handicapped, the visually challenged, the hearing impaired and people with special needs, from the Handicaps Welface Association (HWA), Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH), Singapore Association for the Deaf (SADeaf) and Association for Persons with Special Needs (APSN), in a production of song and dance.
This will be the third concert, the first two were held in 2005 and 2006. After a break in 2007, it is back by popular demand this year, “Wish Upon A Sea Star” promises no less than two-hours of wonderment as these very special group of people perform with a cast of professionals, also volunteers of their time and energy.
In a couple of rehearsals during the last couple of weeks, I seen the faces of the participants from the organisations involved, and I understand now why we have to go on — and more than ever, why we need to support this effort. The smiles and enthusiasm, the merriment and their more than willingness to commit time and energy. In the own special way, reaching out to the world in the best way they know how.
A Nation In Concert gives me hope, it demonstrates the tenacity of the human spirit — that the awesome life that we live, can only be marked by not only what we create in our lifetimes, but what we leave behind. It is the lives we inspire and touch along the way, through our support and what we can give back to society — “Service is the rent that we pay for living in this world of ours”, could not be more aptly said by Nathan Eldon Tanner. For all the lives that will be touched and changed by this small group of volunteers who are sacrificing time and energy, because of the greater purpose that they will fulfill, whether they realise it or not, I salute them. What little we can do to play our part in making this effort a bigger one, we can because that little contribution makes a difference.
“You have not done enough, you have never done enough so long as it is still possible that you have something of value to contribute” — Dag Hammarskjold
The concerts (three this year) will be held on the 11th and 12th of October at Victoria Theatre. More information can be found at www.anationinconcert.com and tickets are available from SISTIC (www.sistic.com). It is not just a concert, it is an experience. Bring your friends and family, invest two hours with us. I promise it will be the best two hours that you will remember for a very, very long time.
I believe that everything happens for a reason. The universe is strange, amazing in countless ways that I cannot even begin to understand nor fathom. It’s all good.
I’m a strong advocate for entrepreneurship.
I believe in creating opportunities.
When we can change a life, we should.
I shall come this way but once, what good I may, let me do now, for I shall not pass this way again.
Ask not for recognition for anything we may do, neither for appreciation nor gratitude — whatever good we may, do it anyway.
There’s been a wave of connecting dots, and stars that have moved into amazing alignment. I am at a loss of words to describe events that have taken place in the last 3 months. Amazing things.
I thought that I’ve long stopped being amazed at how amazing life can be, with all the surprises that are thrown at appropriate junctures of our lives. Amazing not because everything that is thrown is good — there’s a fair share of challenges as well — but amazing because of how in the end, everything works out.
Then again, a large part of it is very much determined by how we respond to each circumstance that we encounter, and how determined we are to come up on top, to overcome the most difficult of challenges. But more than that, how we have to continue to acknowledge with humility, that we cannot get complacent either when we have overwhelming success because as much as it may be what we think we deserve, it’s definitely a lot more than we need. In either case, count each as a blessing and another lesson in life, preparing us for far greater things to come.
Along the way, we meet great people along the way who will spur us on — nay-sayers who will provide the challenges and supporters who will keep us going. And recently, inspiration in the form of Jerome Tan and Wendy Kwek who run the EAP (Entrepreneuer’s Action Program) and people I met at the program that I will like to acknowledge — there’s always so much to learn.
Amazing things happen everyday. Sometimes when you think that something is too good to be true, it will be too good to be true. And you don’t belief that good things can happen for you.
So the secret is believing that good things do happen and that they can happen for you, and they will happen.
“Look at what’s happened to me. I can’t believe it myself. Suddenly I’m up on top of the world. Could have been somebody else…”
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