I came from a low-income family. My parents were divorced when I was 18 years old and my younger brother was 9 years old then. I remember having to work a lot while studying in my poly days as my dad left us with nothing and my mum was far too depressed to work then. I did not finish my university degree because of family and financial stress during that period.
I have always dreamt about having my own business one day. But things weren’t easy for me as I have only poly education and no experience in running a business and no financial capital to start a business. I worked very hard and saved up, hoping to start a small business first to learn and get more exposure one day. I started my first business when I was 26.
Along the way, I have also started a few other businesses. I experienced business partners played me out; there were also a lot of people who tried to make things and life difficult for me. I got betrayed and made used of numerous times. I also got cheated a lot of my hard earned money too by people whom I thought I could trust. There were also times things would not work no matter what I did. I have learnt to handle tremendous amount of stress and disappointments through all these bad experiences and setbacks. I thought myself how to manage my own feelings and mind set to move on with life.
I tell myself no matter what happens, I want to maintain a good and cheerful heart. I tell myself I will never give up. I will strive and be even better. I will be stronger that nothing can stop me to the pathway of success.
This works for me every time I feel down, I will…
1. I remind myself of the people who love me and want me to succeed.
My mummy, my hubby, my son, my granny, my auntie …etc
2. I remind myself of my goals and meditate on the feeling of how much I want to succeed
I dreamt of living in a condo and driving a big car with my own effort before I am 30. I want to be financially independent so I can give my mum and my son a good life.
3. I remind myself I must be a better person for the people who looked down on me, laughed at me, cheated me, betrayed me and those who think I would not succeed.
4. I remind myself of what it was like when I was a teenager when my Dad left with the mistress and the feeling of family financial insecurity and how I never wanted my family to ever worry about money again.
5. I remind myself to appreciate everything I have so far. Take time to look back on the things that I have achieved.
When I attended World success coach Antony Robins seminar, he reminded all of us that we must love and enjoy what we have and achieved so far to get further success. If we don’t enjoy what we have now, even when we get more, we will not be happy or learn to appreciate success. I think this is so true and so important.
I now own two successful beauty parlors, a software and digital marketing company. I had achieved my own financial freedom that I wanted. What I have today is based on efforts to choose to push through all my obstacles, failures and setbacks. I faced a lot of challenges along the way but I always choose to move ahead and forward. I believe it is your own decision to choose your own desired future. I watched one of the Singapore Movie ‘Ah Boys to Men 2’ on the plane to Europe few weeks ago and one phase from the movie left a very deep impression to me. It says, ‘the only person stopping you from success is YOU’. How true! Never let any excuses, stories, reasons or blames stop you from your dream.
I don’t think I am considered extremely successful or what not now. But I hope sharing some of my thoughts and experience might help encourage someone out there to take ownership of their life. :) :) :)