What is the nature of your business? (Business Profile)
Currently, I am running three businesses, namely, VPS, Global Initiative and L.I.F.E Events Management. VPS, my first venture, is a small medium enterprise, primarily engaged in consultancy work where we provide our clients with customized, integrated IT solutions. My second start-up, Global initiative, is an Original Equipment Manufacturer of premium event apparel and other event supplies. To better control and manage our supply chain, we engage in global sourcing activities. L.I.F.E Events Management, my most recent foray, is a company involved in Lifestyle Events Management and Events Planning.

What made you embark on this venture choice?
Embarking on my own ventures had always posed a challenge to me. Personally, I feel that there could be nothing more challenging than striving to be your own boss and meeting your own standards. There is not one reason as to why I chose these ventures as we focus on a variety of businesses. It is this offered variety which I embark on that forces me to constantly be on my toes and to keep thinking about solutions and ways to make things better.

What makes your business tick?
Like every startup venture, running a business requires orchestrating various types of functions, such as inbound logistics, operations, outbound logistics, sales and marketing and timely delivery of products and services to the customer. To effectively control and manage the primary activities, I have to ensure that allocation of resources is optimized in support areas, and make vital business decisions on core areas like human resource management, procurement, technology development, etc.

Did you have the capital to start the business or did you have to borrow from someone to get started?
I started out with my own capital as I felt that taking up a loan would bind me down with too many strings at one time. To me, growing slowly because of a lack of funding was an acceptable compromise, for it brought along other advantages such as learning the ropes of doing business and understanding in entirety, the whole works of how a company functions. Such is especially crucial in the dynamic environment of today.

Do your parents have their own businesses too? Have they inspired you in one way or another?
My parents do not own their own businesses, but the way they speak and their influence on me since young had always inspired me to be what I want to be, to follow my passions and my dreams. With continued exposure to them and to the people around me, these fueled my passion and drive to be something I really wanted to be and not take the conventional road.

What was your childhood dream? When did you decide that you would strike out on your own instead of working for someone else?
Strangely enough, my childhood dream was always to be a doctor or some sort of engineer. However, when I turned 17 in Junior College, I realized that I needed to do something different from what I initially wanted to do. Hence, I began looking for opportunities to strike out on my own instead of working for someone else.

Why does someone decide to be on their own rather than join an existing company?
For me, how someone decides to work for someone else or not is really an individual thing. Personally, I find a lot more satisfaction in meeting my own standards and requirements and I believe such autonomy cannot be fully granted as a hired employee. As such of the human psyche, we always strive for more and more out of ourselves, at times demanding the impossible. Perfectionism, for me, is one goal I constantly strive for. To do something not only well but to the utmost of my abilities is very important. Sometimes, when working for other people, this just is not possible, not for me in any case.

Are there at any point in your life that you experienced a significant event (WW2, racial riots of the 1960s, the Economic Crisis of the 80s or 90s, SARS, new competition or shifts in market behaviour and trends) which affected or influenced you and your business that made you change the way you think and do your business?
Although there is not one particular event that adversely affected my business, I still face numerous challenges having to deal with the ever-changing market and economic forces. For instance, market competition has been increasing steadily in the recent years, with markets becoming more so saturated and competition growing keener among the existing players. Similarly in the manufacturing sector, competition has intensified with areas like China, Russia and other countries, fast rising to power and gradually opening up their markets. Consequently, Singapore will lose our competitive edge due to our high and rising costs, vis-à-vis the above-mentioned countries. This is further aggravated by the increasing oil prices and the fragile economic climate with the United States raising their interest rates and causing wind-shear effects on regional economies and their businesses. In addition, it is crucial for us to pre-empt the changing trends and consumer demands, as consumers grow more informed and sophisticated, expecting more at a lower cost.

What are some of the challenges in starting a business from scratch? (Modify question to what are some of the challenges in maintaining a family business if applicable.)
Regardless of whether a business has a great deal of capital funding or not, starting a business, especially from scratch, is always difficult. Firstly, you have to face up to the challenge of getting your first customers, and getting them to believe in your service and your product. And reality sets in, and you have to face up to the challenge of customers defecting to other competitors, and seek ways to ensure you retain your customers and build up your customer following. In the aspect of the supply chain management, you have to ensure that the correct resources are sourced and acquired, and issues such as logistics and guidelines are being dealt accordingly with. Often, when making decisions, one also has to stay prudent and sharp. Only through innovation, good judgment and execution, can one then find new ways to stay ahead of the competition and make new developments happen in today’s competitive environment. Additionally, when the going gets tough, it gets increasingly difficult to maintain the drive. To counter that, you must always have the passion to overcome the challenges and keep on striving to push your business to greater heights.

Who/What motivates you?
There are several factors that motivate me, namely, the constant drive for success, the constant need for me to do well in all I do and the need for change. Additionally, I also want to be able to attempt to meet and surpass my own standards, a strong motivating factor that keeps me going. As for the people who motivate me, they would be my parents, my clients, my relatives, my close friends, and also, people who try to put me down.

Do you derive any sense of satisfaction from your business? If any, what are they?
Yes, I certainly derive a sense of satisfaction from my business. To me, it is a personal achievement when I meet and surpass my preset own standards. Further, I have always been a firm believer in being able to develop your own ideas and to make things work for people on my own accord. Starting my own venture allows me that freedom, and gives me a greater sense of achievement in doing so. Being able to conceptualize my own business plans and subsequently, execute them, gives me a sense of ownership, and allows me to create something which I can call my own.

Please tell me some stories of your best day in business or your proudest achievement to date.
Strangely enough, for me, the best day of business was the day I actually registered my first company. Maybe it is because I knew that it was always going to be a perennial struggle from then on, given the state of our economy and environment these days. However, I was happy and proud that I had the courage to take the “leap of faith”. This to me was probably the best day and one of the achievements I will never forget. For me, this “leap of faith” really changed me and would in future days show me the true faces of business and the economy of this world. I can still remember the time when my company was finally registered and I was filled with exuberance. Perhaps it was the sense of ownership that made me feel a sense of happiness and fulfillment. To me, everyday in business is a good day. It really depends on how you look at it. Even deals that have fallen through have a lot to be learnt from. In fact, I feel that there is so much to learn from mistakes and problems that it continually fuels me to keep moving on. It is perhaps this that makes everyday a good day as long as we are in operation.

Do you recall your worst day in business? Have you ever felt like giving up?
My worst day in business or rather, my worst days in business is when people continually try to put you down for no reason or simply cannot wait to see you fail. As mentioned, business is so much more than just closing deals and making money. It is about finding peace about yourself and with those around you as well. However, it does irk me a little when people pass remarks or comments without much thought and hope that you will crumble and fail. I guess these people would never understand the true value and happiness of having something that you can call your own and to feel the satisfaction of seeing something grow under your wing. I have never felt like giving up, I mean, life is tough, business is competitive, but so is everything else. There are times when I feel down, but I have never thought of giving up my passion and drive and especially my business.

When was the moment you realised the business would work and support you?
I sincerely believe that nothing is to be taken for granted. The simple reason being that in business, you never know what will happen. For me to come out and say that my business is working and will support me is highly naïve because I know that the world is always changing and things happen at the snap of a finger. Rather, I work and run my business to work and support me and I put my heart and soul into it. Hard work overcomes all, whether people are willing to admit or not.

What are some of the things you have had to overcome to succeed?
This list is literally endless as everyday, there are new and increasingly difficult issues to cope with. a) Low capital – I could not expand as fast as those with large capital injections b) Manpower – Since I function on my own, it can get very overwhelming c) Costs – costs are always rising and so I have to seek ways to bring it down d) Logistics – the bane of almost any business, logistics has and always be an issue. e) Moral support – no one could understand why I wanted to start a business, everyone thought I was too young, too sheltered, too naïve. I had to convince these people that my business would work. Working without support can be really challenging at times.

What are some qualities that you feel you possess which differentiate you from someone who works for others?
Unlike the average hired employee, I am an individual who always wants my opinions to be heard. Also, I like to lead not follow, and am a strong believer in taking initiative especially when working, and to tell someone something cannot be done only when all options are exhausted. I believe that I also have the courage to take the plunge at times, to take one step forward and explore into uncharted territory. After all talking is easy but executing is difficult, action definitely speaks louder than words. Furthermore, I enjoy having a sense of ownership, seeing something through from the start to the end and am determined to make things work.

To succeed in business, what qualities are essential? What are some of the secrets in making a successful business?
To succeed, I guess one needs to have the following qualities: - Hardworking - be willing to persevere - have a sharp and keen mind - Be flexible - Quick to react - To be able to make good decisions when necessary - To be able to deal with people properly - To have a good temperament - To understand how other people feel - To understand and perceive yourself as a customer - To look at things in a different light - To have initiative - To remain calm at all times I guess if there is secret in making a business successful, I too would like to know. In reality, there is no one fixed way in making a business work. I wished that was the case, but it isn’t. Everyday, we face new challenges and obstacles that require a new solution or a new product that needs a new manufacturer or new parts. In truth, there is no secret. I guess for me, I’m also trying to find that “secret”. However, I feel that even if that secret is found, to say that your business is a success would only lead to complacency, which is the ultimate cause of a downfall.

Who or what inspires you?
I get inspired by a lot of things, my surroundings, people on the streets, daily occurrences. I simply enjoy observing the way things are and thinking of how I can make things better for people or in general. Some people call me idealistic, but it all starts with a dream. To say that just one thing inspires me would be untrue as inspiration comes from many sources. In order to make things work, for me, I simply study things in closer detail to understand things better.

Have you ever thought of expanding the business in some way or in multiple locations? How and where?
Yes, I have thought of expanding in some ways but as to how and where, I won’t comment yet.

What aspects of expansion would you like to see for your enterprise?
I would like to see my enterprise become more dynamic and customer centric. I think that is very important these days. Appealing to the customer treating them well is something we are trying very hard to achieve. We take a lot of pride in out service and our quality of products and services. We believe that without it, we are biting the hands that feed us. I would also like to see my enterprise move onwards and outwards while maintaining this level of quality of products and services.

In your opinion, how would you define entrepreneurship?
In my own words, entrepreneurship is defined as the willingness for someone to take a calculated risk and to then follow their passions and dreams, regardless of what other people say and think. It is to find yourself and your own peace in whatever you do, because you know the dream you are chasing is your own and not someone else’s. It also means being able to persevere and remain committed to the cause that you set for yourself and to see it through until the end.

To what extent does one?s educational level help or hinder entrepreneurial-ship?
I think education level and qualification has almost nothing to do with entrepreneurship. Its all about how much you are willing to take a risk and how differently you can look at everyday occurrences. It is also about implementing what you think can be done in your own way. A high educational level simply does not teach you that. It’s about creativity and being innovative in your business to stay ahead and remain competitive. A true entrepreneur would never let something like an educational level stand in his / her way. It’s all about how much and how determined you are to try.

As we try to select the final 41 entrepreneurs, what qualities would you think a person should have to inspire others?
- To show a willingness to lead - To remain positive always - To be creative and innovative - To be determined and persevere in everything they do - To lead by example - To have a certain sense of humor - To be forgiving at the right times - To be able to draw the lines clear between business and social dealings - To be decisive - To be able to deliver his / her message across convincingly

What are some of your own values in doing business and what do you like to pass down to others, particularly the younger generation?
- To be ethical in your dealings. - To respect other people and competitors - To provide a good service always - To always smile and take things in stride - Never to give up and persevere always , life is never easy - Never blame others but yourself if something goes wrong - To walk with your head high, because the fact that you are an entrepreneur means you have already achieved great things, not all things are measured in material ways.

What advice would you give to young people who want to start their own business?
I feel that I should be as truthful as I should if advice is asked of me, hence I will not paint a beautiful picture of how it might be but instead of what it really is and what they will be facing. If you really choose to take this step forward, be prepared for a lot of changes. Your time will no longer be your own as you will become a slave to your work. Expect to make sacrifices and expect to lose certain people along the way. My belief is that for everything new that you embark on, there is a balance and in order to find back this balance, something has to give. Keep on working hard and striving to reach your goals and dreams, never give up. In the end, what you have achieved will be immeasurable in material means. The lessons learnt and the wisdom gained is invaluable.