Afleveringen
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Meet Lim Pinn Yang, co-founder of Foodie Media Berhad - IPOing today at a RM70 million valuation!
He once sold woks at the morning market with his dad, scored 1A in SPM exam and earned $0.20/day from his 1st blog
But heâd always dreamt of being a âbusiness entrepreneurâ.
And today, his dream comes true.
That little blog he started in 2016 has turned into a 46M+ follower digital media empire. And just in 2024 alone, it hit:
20+ lifestyle brands, including Penang Foodie, KL Foodie, Halal Foodie, Malaysia Homie, Car Buddie and Techie2.8B views70 peopleRM24 million in revenueBut⊠who IS Pinn Yang?
What drove him to do what he does?
How did he end up with an investor like Bryan Loo of Loob Holdings?
And⊠what does success mean for him?
Listen to find out.
Thanks Foodie for sponsoring this episode!
đ Want to support STIMY for as little as $0.10/day? https://www.sothisismywhy.com/support-stimy/
đż YouTube: https://youtu.be/lhIUOf7jSKs
đShow notes: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/155
đ Weekly STIMY Newsletter on the art of storytelling + building your personal brand (+snippets of STIMY behind-the-scenes): https://sothisismywhy.ck.page/profile
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When Vietnamese refugee Senh Duong fled after the fall of Saigon, he could never have imagined heâd one day co-found one of the most influential movie sites in the world - Rotten Tomatoes.
A kid who grew up on Hong Kong kung fu flicks, Senh was obsessed with Jackie Chan.
So when Jackie tried to break into Hollywood again, Senh went looking for honest reviews...
But couldnât find any.
Every critic said the movies were great (even when they werenât).
So Senh decided to build a site that told the truth.
What began as a side project coded through sleepless nights turned into a cultural phenomenon - one that raised $1 million (2 months before the dot com bubble burst!!), sold for $10 million, and changed how audiences everywhere judge movies.
In this episode, Senh opens up about:
đž Fleeing Vietnam and growing up in a refugee camp in Hong Kong
đž How Jackie Chan inspired the birth of Rotten Tomatoes
đž Almost quitting Rotten Tomatoes due to burnout
đž Being treated as âsecond-class citizensâ by film publicists at screenings (and when that changed!)
đž Raising $1M, surviving the dot-com crash & selling too early?!
đž Why he says heâs proud to be a âone-hit wonderâ
This is the story of how a movie-obsessed refugee created one of the most iconic brands in film history - all because he wanted Jackie Chan to get the credit he deserved.
Highlights:
2:08 The Fall of Saigon4:48 Arriving in the US6:01 Falling in love with Hong Kong movies & TV series8:55 The mafia controls the film industry?! 10:14 Studying computer science at Berkeley13:14 Dreaming of becoming a PIXAR animator? 14:00 Founding a startup design studio with friends, Patrick Lee & Stephen Wang15:52 Landing Disney as a 7-figure client due to pizza party?!20:52 Launching Rotten Tomatoes as a side project23:58 What kept you going?26:22 Leaving Design Reactor & feeling lost28:52 Rotten Tomatoesâ traffic explodes31:34 Turning a side project â company (+ raising $1 million)35:30 Building a relationship with film critics36:52 Tomatometer38:42 Investors saying, âAre you crazy?!â43:46 Internet bubble bursts, layoffs & living in the office47:02 What kept everyone going?48:49 Major turning point53:18 Selling for $10 million54:47 Whatâs next?56:03 IGN buys Rotten Tomatoes for $650 million (1 year later?!)đ Want to support STIMY for as little as $0.10/day? https://www.sothisismywhy.com/support-stimy/
đż YouTube: https://youtu.be/pWO2IVYZvlI&list=UULFSZlcS5ooyCjj_MkrmH_WhQ
đShow notes: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/154
đ Weekly STIMY Newsletter on the art of storytelling + building your personal brand (+snippets of STIMY behind-the-scenes): https://sothisismywhy.ck.page/profile
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Hui Jingâs life reads like a TVB drama.
Her mum was forced to be the sole provider for the family after her dad landed them in bad debt.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Hui Jing understood the importance of money & joined the work force young - at the below-legal age of 15 - for a mediocre RM4/hour.
It wasnât easy.
But it kickstarted a series of jobs that saw her go from working as at McDonaldâs to The Body Shop to becoming a finalist for the Red Bull Female Driver Search in 2009 (they were offering a cash prize) to becoming an insurance agent (where she learned the joys of passive income) to joining a radio station as a road runner and finallyâŠ
Co-founding one of Malaysiaâs fastest growing local convenience store chains, Bila-Bila Mart.
Which is on track to hit a whooping RM150+ million in revenue & 100 stores by the end of 2025, with an IPO on the horizon!
Not bad for a Brickfields girl who was once kidnapped & held ransom due to bad family debts.
If thereâs one thing that clearly stands out about Hui Jingâs story, itâs this: Taking risk
During the interview, she spoke of how:
âThrowing everything outta the window (i.e. leaving corporate) sounded like an adventure. I wanted that adventure.
âBecause I was just thinking, okay, now I have no commitments. I don't have a family⊠If I don't do it, if I don't risk it, I don't really see how is the world outside, when am I gonna do it?â
That said, life hasnât been without its challenges.
Once at a bar, she was told, âJing, you talk too much as a female. Can you shut up?â
And also advised to stop working and to âask your husband to feed you.â
Needless to say, that lit a fire in Hui Jing that led to the founding of Bila-Bila Mart, where she also spoke about:
âš How Dettol saved Bila-Bila Mart (they opened their first physical store during MCO)
âš Their first breakthrough (pivoting from the idea of selling hot food â kedai runcit model)
âš The process for local SMEs getting their items into Bila-Bila Mart
âš Dealing with chauvinistic men who question Jingâs very young team
âš Why you are the decision maker of your own fate
Don't forget to subscribe for future STIMY episodes!
Special thanks to Bila-Bila Mart for sponsoring this episode.
đ Want to support STIMY for as little as $0.10/day? https://www.sothisismywhy.com/support-stimy/
đż YouTube: https://youtu.be/MyM_uFevyJI&list=UULFSZlcS5ooyCjj_MkrmH_WhQ
đ Weekly STIMY Newsletter on the art of storytelling + building your personal brand (+snippets of STIMY behind-the-scenes): https://sothisismywhy.ck.page/profile
âđ» Leave a review on STIMY: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/so-this-is-my-why/id1521191442
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We're back with Part 2 with Ken Perenyi, arguably one of the art world's greatest and most successful conman?!
In Part 1 of Ken's STIMY interview (do check it out if you haven't already done so), we covered his journey including how he first launched his art forgery 'career' (hint: it involves a broken bathroom that crashed through the ceiling to the restaurant below!).
In Part 2, Ken discusses his motivations, the thrill of creating and selling fake art, and how he managed to avoid capture by both the mafia and the FBI.
Highlights include a $750,000 art piece he painted, adopting his daughter due to a CNN documentary by Christiane Amanpour, and the psychological tactics he employed to fool art experts.
Despite the rather questionable nature of his work, Ken views his career with a mix of pride and reflection, acknowledging missed opportunities and his philosophical outlook on life.
He also recounts his controversial friendships with high-profile figures like Roy Cohn (the notorious lawyer/fixer who helped Donald Trump gain a footing in New York) and his thoughts on the challenges for contemporary artists breaking into the industry.
Highlights:
01:44 Ken's Artistic Journey and Motivations05:46 The Art of Deception: Techniques and Challenges10:53 Close Calls with the Mafia and FBI16:04 The Investigation and Its Aftermath33:32 Reflections on Life Choices and Missed Opportunities38:23 Rescuing a Daughter from Sex Slavery39:47 A Life Transformed by Art40:04 The Rescue Mission in Ghana43:52 Adopting Bridget and Her Journey46:02 Reflections on Life Choices01:04:28 The Art World and Its Challenges01:15:22 Final Thoughts and Legacyđ Want to support STIMY for as little as $0.10/day? https://www.sothisismywhy.com/support-stimy/
đż YouTube: https://youtu.be/MoZ5YOdHyJ4
đShow notes: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/152
đ Weekly STIMY Newsletter on the art of storytelling + building your personal brand (+snippets of STIMY behind-the-scenes): https://sothisismywhy.ck.page/profile
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Would you break the law if it made you a multimillionaire?
Thatâs what happened with Ken Perenyi - one of the most âsuccessfulâ art forgers in the world.
His works have been sold all over the world, including in Christieâs and Sothebyâs, with one painting going for as high as $717,000!
He was also close friends with Roy Cohn - the notorious lawyer who helped Trump enter the New York market. The Independent called him the evil master architect who mentored Donald Trump (to Ken, he was just a great friend and protector).
Was hunted for decades by the Mafia and the FBI.
And got away with it all without even a slap on the wrist.
When the statute of limitation passed for his âcrimesâ, Ken then published a book telling everyone exactly how he did it. đ
(Talk about giving everyone the finger!!)
And lest you wonder whether thatâs all there is to Kenâs story, believe me.
It is not.
Kenâs childhood was spent hanging out with Tony, an influential Mafia member, who introduced him to the world of fine art.
He was so enamoured with art that he taught himself to paint. To crack the paintings and mimic the black spots that flies would leave on very, very old paintings.
He was also neighbours with Andy Warhol.
One memorable incident: He was sharing a flat with Tony who found an abandoned bathtub in the streets.
They didnât have a bathtub so they decided to steal one (in a stolen car) and install it themselves in their flat.
The installation wasnât done well.
Water leaked.
The flooring cracked.
And one evening, everything - the ceiling, bathtub and all - crashed from the first floor down to the ground floor, on top of a bustling Jewish restaurant.
Needless to say, Ken and Tony were kicked out of said flat.
And he spent a miserable 2 weeks wandering around New York before eventually finding a new place that would lead him to Roy Cohenâs doors.
*
This is just the tiniest glimpse of Kenâs life and itâs so epic - we ended up having a 3 hour conversation! - that I had to split his story into 2 parts.
Are you ready to get started?
Highlights:
3:36 An Unlikely Artist growing up in the summer of love5:51 Life changed forever whenâŠ6:36 Hanging out with the real New Yorkers8:12 Being introduced to fine art world9:23 Being friends with a Mafia associate12:06 Trying out art forgery16:53 Imposter syndrome when calling himself an âartistâ19:10 Self-validation?21:53 Andy Warhol - his neighbour23:53 The bathtub26:59 His biggest regret with Andy Warhol31:15 Making fake art to survive32:46 Finding his niche in life35:24 Being evicted - another great turning point in life37:35 The notorious Mafia fixer & lawyer, Roy Cohn41:49 Donald Trumpâs mentor51:20 The greatest validation of his work56:15 âI had a fantastic careerâŠâ59:43 Entering the elite art world1:03:04 How much art isnât genuine in art galleries?1:08:05 Is it harder to sell fake art today?đ Want to support STIMY for as little as $0.10/day? https://www.sothisismywhy.com/support-stimy/
đ§ Build Your Why course: https://ling-yah-wong.mykajabi.com/joinus
đShow notes: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/152
đż YouTube: https://youtu.be/QmsqswrOCN4
đ Subscribe to the weekly STIMY Newsletter on the art of storytelling + building your personal brand (+snippets of STIMY behind-the-scenes): https://sothisismywhy.ck.page/profile
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Imagine growing up in a hair salon.
Being thrown out of the house and sleeping in an abandoned cupboard.
Being bullied in school and almost failing SPM.
But knowing deep down inside that you love storytelling.
You just⊠donât know what that means.
And how to make that dream a reality.
That was Jared Lee - one of Malaysiaâs most famous YouTubers and the founder of the award-winning production house, Grim Film.
Jared started his journey in an event company, while also freelancing as a storyboard artist and production assistant.
Being passionate about storytelling, he decided to create a short film called The Long Distance Relationship. A film that, for him, he had to make happen, no matter what.
And it blew up.
âš Within a day, it hit 10k views.
âš Within a week, it hit 70k views
âš Within a month, it hit 1 million views
This short film opened doors and led to the creation of his production house, The Grim Film.
Which has since bagged multiple awards, including Best Drama at Americaâs Soul 4 Reel International Film Festival 2013 for The Long Distance Relationship and Best Pilot and Best Special Effects at the 2018 Vancouver WebFest in Canada for The Last 7.
His most recent piece of work, Horologist, even won Best Animation at the San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) Film Festival 2023 and USA Film Festival! It was also a finalist for Poland's Animator Film Festival (Best Animation & Audience Choice Award) and nominated for the 2024 Eisner Award in the Best Single Issue/One-Shot category.
Proving how Jaredâs wild gamble has paid off.
Although⊠life wasnât easy.
In 2018, Jared was diagnosed with stage 1 testicular cancer. And he later found out that he could not have children.
But in spite of these challenges, Jared is someone who has always believed in pursuing his dreams and hustling against the odds.
Which is why Iâm so thrilled to share his story as the latest guest on STIMY!
If youâve ever wondered what itâs like to triumph against all odds and pursue your passion, what it takes to go from being a YouTuber to a legitimate film producer, and the personal struggles with cancer and childlessness, then this episode is for you.
So are you ready?
Letâs go.
Highlights:
2:02: Growing up in a single mum household3:45 Finding escape in storytelling5:18 Liking things that other boys donât like7:40 Worst year of my life8:52 Getting kicked out 9:40 Finding his calling11:13 A Kingdom of Paos11:55 The Long Distance13:42 YouTube14:37 Going viral17:19 There was no money!20:16 Burning bridges21:10 What itâs like to run a production company24:54 Second-guessing himself27:02 There is no joy in production?!29:34 Making the switch & losing fans32:58 The most successful work Jaredâs done34:30 Diagnosed with cancer41:34 Do awards matter?44:34 Any regrets?45:07 Is your work acknowledged more overseas?47:20 What kind of work has influenced your style?50:39 What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind?51:07 What are the most important qualities of a successful person?51:28 Sharing your private life in publicđ§ Join the Build Your Why course: https://ling-yah-wong.mykajabi.com/joinus
đ Want to support STIMY for as little as $0.10/day? https://www.sothisismywhy.com/support-stimy/
đShow notes: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/151
đż YouTube: https://youtu.be/jsbc2xuaj0I
đ Weekly STIMY Newsletter on the art of storytelling + building your personal brand (+snippets of STIMY behind-the-scenes): https://sothisismywhy.ck.page/profile
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Jonathan Mildenhall is the former Managing Director of TBWA, SVP of the Coca-Cola Company, first CMO at Airbnb and Independent Board Member at Peloton Interactive, Co-Founder of TwentyFirstCenturyBrand and current Chief Marketing Officer at Rocket Companies.
And we are back this week with Part 2 of our interview with Jonathan.
Last week, we dove deep into his childhood growing up & how everything was stacked against him: he was the only black person in his family and community, was working class and grew up in a housing estate, attended a polytechnic, experienced blatant racism and physical abuse and also had zero connections in advertising
The very industry that he rose to the very top in.
In Part 2, we delve deep into his career.
What it means to join Coca-Cola when it was creatively bankrupt, the stories behind some of his biggest and most successful advertising campaigns including have two ads being featured at the same Superbowl, why he gave it all up for a then unknown startup called Airbnb, what it takes to âmake itâ in his team and so much more.
And in case you didnât know, this interview is also available on Youtube. Check it out via the links below.
Now are you ready?
Letâs go!
Highlights:
2:17 Coca-Cola was creatively bankrupt?!7:31 Being Coca-Cola's poster child for diversity - 2014 Super Bowl [America the Beautiful]15:35 The only CMO to have 2 Super Bowl ads play at the same time16:14 How Brian Chesky convinced Jonathan to commit career suicide22:10 Building an Olympic marketing team26:08 Why 25% of people don't make it in Jonathan's team27:17 Who is Jonathan Mildenhall the leader?29:25 Launching his own company37:12 A Colourful View from the Top41:52 Advice to any aspiring CMO before they take the seat?44:20 Brand marketing or customer marketing?đ Want to support STIMY for as little as $0.10/day? https://www.sothisismywhy.com/support-stimy/
đShow notes: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/150
đż YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cumagnVOlRQ&t=1s&list=UULFSZlcS5ooyCjj_MkrmH_WhQ
đ Weekly STIMY Newsletter on the art of storytelling + building your personal brand (+snippets of STIMY behind-the-scenes): https://sothisismywhy.ck.page/profile
âđ» Leave a review on STIMY: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/so-this-is-my-why/id1521191442
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Jonathan Mildenhall is the former Managing Director of TBWA, Senior Vice President of the Coca-Cola Company, first CMO at Airbnb and Independent Board Member at Peloton Interactive, Co-Founder of TwentyFirstCenturyBrand and current Chief Marketing Officer at Rocket Companies.
In other words, someone at the very top of the marketing industry.
Who was once treated as an experiment.
Growing up in Leed, Jonathan faced tremendous physical and racial abuse. It got so bad that he once ran to his mum, telling her that he didnât want to be black!
But his mum responded by saying, âUnfortunately, there are ignorant people who will always be frightened because you look different. And they're going to say hurtful things and sometimes they will do hurtful things.
You can't change your packaging but they can never ever damage what's inside of your packaging.â
Eventually, Jonathan found his calling - in marketing!
Even though the odds were stacked against him: he was from a polytechnic, grew up in a council estate, was black and had no family name to fall back on.
But as it turns out, he had a spark.
And that spark was what drew people to him.
Allowed him to rise to the top of the London marketing scene and dominate the global scene later as he became a Senior Vice President at the Coca-Cola Company and the first CMO at Airbnb.
If ever there was a story of someone who has triumphed against all odds, it would be Jonathan.
So are you ready to learn how he did it?
Letâs go.
Highlights
3:23 The 8-year-old Jonathan8:08 Keeping a childlike wonder12:01 Show a bit of leg!15:51 Protecting his mumâs independence19:12 Advertising is NOT for you?!22:03 The awkward âoh my goodness, youâre a black guyâ24:22 The energy of the 80s advertising industry26:17 Youâre an experiment30:43 Meeting John Hegarty of BBH (Bartle Bogle Hegarty)35:35 Cindy Gallup dragged him out of the closet!43:47 Living authentically45:10 I was shit scared50:10 Phil Mooney - Director of Heritage Communications for 40+ years at the Coca-Cola Companyđ Want to support STIMY for as little as $0.10/day? https://www.sothisismywhy.com/support-stimy/
đShow notes: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/150
đż YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cumagnVOlRQ&t=1s&list=UULFSZlcS5ooyCjj_MkrmH_WhQ
đ Weekly STIMY Newsletter on the art of storytelling + building your personal brand (+snippets of STIMY behind-the-scenes): https://sothisismywhy.ck.page/profile
âđ» Leave a review on STIMY: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/so-this-is-my-why/id1521191442
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Rodney Wong is the CEO of Munchy's, one of the largest Malaysia-based snack food manufacturer with presence in over 60 countries globally.
Which makes him the Willy Wonka of Malaysia!
And he's had quite the varied career.
From tobacco to Coca-Cola, Petronas and now the world of snacks and sweets, Rodney is testimony to the fact that we all need to take charge of our own career and personal development to get to where we want.
The question is... how?
While everyone's path is different, Rodney's shared his personal journey, highlighting the people who were significant in his journey, why paying forward is so important him, what it's like working with founders on their 'baby' and his vision for the future.
Want to hear what one of Malaysia's top entrepreneurs has to say about building success career?
Stick around and you'll find out!
Highlights
2:41 Rooted in family3:18 Being an archaeologist6:21 Structured way of working7:23 Connecting the dots8:45 Take charge of your own development11:41 What success looks like13:43 I have a hard rule15:05 Paying it forward16:28 Major learnings18:35 Gen Z23:31 Being in Shanghai25:11 KOLs27:07 Do you want to expand the market or improve the bottom line? 29:03 The challenge of working with founders31:58 We're going to sell...34:50 Progression & growth36:38 Personal growth42:35 Soka Gakkai44:38 How can people help you?48:53 Do you feel like you've found your why?48:54 What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind?50:47 What do you think are the most important qualities of a successful person?đ Want to support STIMY for as little as $0.10/day? https://www.sothisismywhy.com/support-stimy/
đż YouTube: https://youtu.be/dx_ePevgoRU&list=UULFSZlcS5ooyCjj_MkrmH_WhQ
đïžShow notes/transcript for this episode: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/149
đ Subscribe to the weekly STIMY newsletter: https://sothisismywhy.ck.page/ebf231f605
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We're back with Part 2 with Dato' Sri Idris Jala - the former CEO of Malaysia Airlines, Managing Director of Shell Sri Lanka and Senator & Minister in the Malaysian Prime Ministerâs Office, and current Chairman of PEMANDU.
In Part 1 of this So This Is My Why feature, we delved into his tribal origins, how becoming top of his class was a matter of life and death, and his journey to becoming the Managing Director in Shell Sri Lanka - still his toughest gig to date. Listen here: https://youtu.be/KekuCGZJYlk
In Part 2, we go even deeper, exploring things like:
đž If Dato' Sri Idris would act the same way if he had a chance to redo everything?
đž How Shell moved Idris out of Sri Lanka because he was taking huge risks and they thought, âWe should take you out before you kill yourself!â
đž What he learned from Michael Black
đž How he put Eddy Leong as the first CEO of Firefly because âheâs a bit crazy but he has the tenacity to push itâ
đž Why he gave up the job he really wanted - to be the Chairman of Shell - to become the CEO of Malaysia Airlines
đž The advice he has for his sons
Want to learn more?
Youâll just have to tune in.
Highlights:
0:00 Introduction1:30 If you had a chance, would you redo anything?6:01 Shell was a fantastic school of management6:43 Why Michael Black left such an impact on him10:52 If you really want to do the real impossible stuff, you must put everything on the line12:06 The line between the impossible goal v being foolhardy14:54 The best way to tell you what you don't want to hear?15:39 Why did you reject your dream job?!16:46 Huge leap of faith - MNC to GLC18:46 Launching a budget airline, Firefly23:36 Common values of incredible people24:43 Making it sustainable29:07 Common issues35:27 Lessons from PEMANDU operating in other countries37:23 Check into Hotel California39:14 Having a soulmate44:16 SOW Club - Scared of Wife Club48:58 Advice to sons53:46 Legacy you want to leave behind?54:03 What do you think are the most important qualities of a successful person?đ Want to support STIMY for as little as $0.10/day? https://www.sothisismywhy.com/support-stimy/
đż YouTube: https://youtu.be/lhIUOf7jSKs
đShow notes: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/148
đ Weekly STIMY Newsletter on the art of storytelling + building your personal brand (+snippets of STIMY behind-the-scenes): https://sothisismywhy.ck.page/profile
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When Dato Sri Idris Jala became the Managing Director of Shell Sri Lanka, he wasnât expecting to hold the country on ransom.
The Sri Lanka unit had already experienced 27 years of continuous losses when he took over. And on Day 1, what Idris had to handle was: bombs strapped to his depot, the kidnapping of his transport manager, a major labour strike andâŠ
Threatening letters sent by a professional sniper who knew where he lived, where he worked, when he left each place and the exact route he took each other.
Tough doesnât even begin to cover it.
But Idris turned it around.
And in the latest STIMY episode, he shares how, why he took on such a tough gig and what continues to drive him.
There were so many gems in his 2-hour interview that itâs only right to have split it into two parts.
This is Part 1.
Which opens up with his childhood in the Borneo Highlands - where his dad would throw him into the pigsty when he misbehaved.
And also insisted that they sleep on the floor of the stinky fish market - because they were travelling with neighbouring tribes who couldnât afford a tribe and âthey shouldnât act different from othersâ.
Education, for him back then, was a matter of life and death.
His North Star then was to be the top of his class.
So he asked his dad, a teacher, for advice.
He was told, âVery simple, son. Find out whoâs currently No. 1, be his or her best friend, and do exactly what he does but put it to the power of 10.â
And so Idris just did. đ
Others highlights:
đž Surviving ghostly encounters & treacherous rapids in the Borneo Highlands
đž His spiritual awakening as part of the Bario Revival
đž The concept of âketuitâ (which is kelabit for âkiasuâ or being very competitive)
đž Why his cocky job application letters were successful - he began his letters with the words, âDear Sir, Iâm the man youâre looking forâ!
đž Why âthe graveyard is full of indispensable peopleâ
đž The impossible game
Highlights:
3:15 Storytelling culture4:33 Thrown into the pigsty!7:06 Ketuit7:40 What does winning mean?8:26 My true north then & the trick to achieving it10:05 Becoming a lawyer15:48 Walking through the cemetery 17:19 The Bario spiritual revival21:50 Not quite from God? The Gestapo inquiry25:03 Post-Revival29:08 Not able to go to New Zealand31:55 The âmagicâ in his cocky letters34:01 Wanting a free flight home42:28 Sense of curiosity47:02 Becoming Managing Director of Shell Sri Lanka & the game of the impossible51:49 He makes every big decision with his wife54:03 Never make the position become you55:22 Fear & holding the country at ransom?đ Support STIMY for as little as $0.10/day! - https://www.sothisismywhy.com/support-stimy/
đïžShow notes/transcript: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/148
đ Subscribe to weekly STIMY newsletter: https://sothisismywhy.ck.page/ebf231f605
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When Arthur Kiong, CEO of Far East Hospitality, failed his A Levels, he thought his life was pretty much over.
His dad even told him, "Iâm sorry, you had your shot but you missed it" and in Arthur's own words, "I was lost and I was discouraged and I was in a great deal of pain and despair."
Arthur ended up selling slimming products on the streets because it was the only job he could find before applying to Mediocorp to become a stage technician.
Things took a turn when he was asked to take a voice test and he ended up with a celebrity radio DJ because he could pronounce "Thursday the Thirteenthâ!
Overnight, Arthur found himself rubbing shoulders with the who's who and celebrities of the world and you wouldâve thought that this was where Arthurâs career was on a rapid trajectory upwards save that he gave it all up to work to become a greeter at Prego.
People were astonished.
Why would he take on such a 'demeaning' job?!
But Arthur was adamant.
And Prego signalled the first step that Arthur took into the world of hospitality, where you'll find that he's had more than his share of incredible luck, ingenuity and adventures.
Including:
Being 'saved' by a war and lauded as a geniusLanding his dream job (at Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong) because his dog, Silky, fell sick!Launching a successful marketing campaign straight after 9/11 (despite being in the thick of a fight between the head office & owner!)To find out more, youâll just have to listen to this STIMY Ep 147 with Arthur Kiong. đ
Highlights:
2:49 Adrian Tan3:52 You have to be on the right escalator6:18 Being in despair6:53 Selling Japanese slimming starch7:04 Becoming a celebrity radio DJ because he could pronounce âThursday the Thirteenthâ9:01 Giving it all up10:36 No future?12:17 Becoming a waiter at Prego12:55 Oh Lord, what have I done?!15:00 Sales wasnât easy!15:26 First big breakthrough in hospitality16:33 Interesting initiatives19:39 Being saved by a war22:35 I found nothing!23:58 That scares me⊠I like being in control!25:21 The difference between knowing and knowing26:35 Landing the dream job at The Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong because of my sick dog!28:09 It was a spooky experience30:42 Returning to Singapore31:18 The significant career break that allowed him to get into the Ritz33:42 Superman in New York36:21 When the cucumber turns green, it means the time is ripe37:43 If things go south, will the corporate body defend me? 39:37 I wanted to architect my resume41:10 Why Singapore?42:11 Building a Singaporean Hotel Brand45:18 Living by Christian Values49:05 Challenges of a CEO (that most donât see)50:23 Do you believe in God?51:32 The Second Act in your career?53:00 Biggest career advice54:23 Do you feel like youâve found your why?55:18 What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind?55:37 What are the most important qualities of a successful person?Special thanks to Limpeh Studios for making this in-person interview possible!
đ Want to support STIMY for as little as $0.10/day? https://www.sothisismywhy.com/support-stimy/
đShow notes: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/147
đż YouTube: https://youtu.be/lJkY_8igcxQ
đ Download 5 Stones & a Sling: https://www.fareasthospitality.com/-/media/StayFarEast/Five-Stones-and-a-Sling
ï»żđ Weekly STIMY Newsletter on the art of storytelling + building your personal brand (+snippets of STIMY behind-the-scenes): https://sothisismywhy.ck.page/acd5bd1062
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Official Biography
Arthur Kiong is the Chief Executive Officer of Far East Hospitality, which is part of Far East Orchard Limited, a listed company under Far East Organization.
Since Arthur joined the organisation in July 2012, he has been instrumental in growing the companyâs hospitality management business through joint-ventures and acquisitions. Over the last nine years, Far East Hospitality's portfolio grew from 18 properties in Singapore to 105 hotels and serviced residences in nine countries â Austria, Australia, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Singapore, with more in its development pipeline.
In more than 35 years of his career in the hospitality industry, Arthur has worked at prominent international hospitality brands including Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, The Ritz-Carlton (Singapore and New York), Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group (Hong Kong), Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Westin Hotels & Resort.
Arthur also plays an active role in championing change in the hospitality industry, and currently serves as First Vice President of the Singapore Hotel Association. In 2020, he was appointed as the hospitality representative in the National Jobs Council â a task force set up to establish jobs and upskilling opportunities during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In Nov 2022, Arthur received the Executive of the Year â Hospitality & Leisure award from the Singapore Business Review Management Excellence Awards for initiating transformative changes to FEHâs operations and steered the groupâs expansion in recent years despite the pandemic.
Arthur was a recipient of the Special Recognition Award from Singapore Tourism Board in 2016 for having played a key role in rallying support for driving productivity and manpower development initiatives in the hotel industry.
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âWhen people say itâs ok, I donât need a family, I donât need a partner, I say bullshit.â
Woon Tai Ho is most known for being the founder of Channel News Asia & author of prolific books like the trilogy by George Yeo (Singaporeâs former foreign minister).
But has the success been worth it?
What are some of his biggest regrets in life?
In Part 1 (which you should listen to if you havenât), we explored all of his big career achievements and the challenges that came with it, including being summoned by China to answer for their coverage of Falun Gong.
But today, we cover something very different.
Deeper.
More personal.
Starting with Tai Hoâs major pivot from broadcasting to author.
Because nowadays, itâs common to make career pivots. Itâs hard enough when itâs just jumping from one company to the next in the same industry, but Tai Ho has made that huge jump soâŠ
â How did he do it?
â How does he think about the âSecond Actâ of his career?
â How should people plan for their own Second, Third or even Fourth Act, especially when it comes to retirement?
And is there such a thing as living for too long and just âwaiting to dieâ?
We also talk about some of his deepest regrets, his relationship with success and thoughts on relationships.
His advice to people: Go marry, have kids, then go back to your career.
We donât have to be that woke. đ
Do you agree?
Time to hear from Tai Ho again in the latest episode from STIMY!
Highlights:
3:14 Becoming a biographer by accident5:29 What makes George Yeo (Singaporeâs ex-foreign minister) so special?6:56 Transparency & Lee Kuan Yew7:53 Is living to age 102 a blessing or a curse?9:35 âIf I donât have my second act, I donât know what to do with my timeâ12:36 Is all of Tai Hoâs success worth it?15:40 Tai Hoâs biggest regret19:31 His biggest advice for people23:02 Why does Tai Ho collect bunnies?25:57 Do you feel like youâve found your why?26:51 What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind27:05 What do you think are the most important qualities of a successful person?đ Want to support STIMY for $0.10/day? https://www.sothisismywhy.com/support-stimy/
đShow notes: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/146
đż YouTube: https://youtu.be/U0_pVl_RsGM
đ Weekly STIMY Newsletter on the art of storytelling + building your personal brand (+snippets of STIMY behind-the-scenes): https://sothisismywhy.ck.page/acd5bd1062
âđ» Leave a review on STIMY: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/so-this-is-my-why/id1521191442
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Growing up, Woon Tai Ho - Channel NewsAsia founder & Bestselling Author of books like the George Yeo trilogy, Soul of Ink, Riot Green- didnât know he was poor.
Until he invited his friends over and was asked questions like:
â Whereâs your phone?
â Whereâs your sofa?
None of which he had.
Which made him realise that actually, he was pretty poor. đ
But he was never ashamed of it.
When his sister invited him to stay at the house she was working at as a domestic helper, that changed his world.
âI couldnât believe it, the way they stayed⊠these people had a dimension of luxury that I didnât know about. So I told myself, I need to work very hard.â
And work very hard he did.
We know Channel News Asia as one of the preeminent TV news channels in Asia, but that wasnât always the case. As Tai Ho shares, the earliest days of CNA was very much a âwait and seeâ game.
It was hardly easy too.
âTelevision is a very, very hungry animal. A news channel is a very, very hungry animal. Every hour, every minute, every second needs content. Otherwise it's black.â
âSo how did Tai Ho build CNA from the ground up?
âPosition CNA amidst other giants like CNN & the BBC?
â Gain support from the likes of former Singapore foreign minister, George Yeo?
âHandle challenges like when he was summoned to China for their coverage of Falun Gong?
Youâll have to listen to Part 1 of this STIMY episode to find out. đ
Part 2 will come out next Sunday!
Highlights:
3:00 Would you consider yourself successful?6:34 Family8:27 Becoming a chef?11:00 Singapore is a pretty good place!13:29 âI never thought about being the bestâ14:20 âWhen I was a kid, I didnât know I was poorâ15:50 Mediacorp16:53 Founding Channel News Asia20:48 The reality of founding a news channel (that most people donât know)23:09 How do you define âquality contentâ?24:28 Establishing the boundaries for quality26:01 Looking at competitors to figure out CNAâs value proposition28:33 No government support?!31:14 Pushing the Singapore governmentâs perspective?34:32 Getting into trouble with the Chinese government37:56 Knowing which stories and perspective to put forward40:51 Time to move on?đ Like STIMY? Buy us a âïž?: https://beacons.ai/sothisismywhy
đShow notes: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/146
đ Weekly STIMY Newsletter on the art of storytelling + building your personal brand (+snippets of STIMY behind-the-scenes): https://sothisismywhy.ck.page/acd5bd1062
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âAre you a masochist?â
âDo you love books that much?â
If you want to be a bookseller, than those are the questions you need to ask yourself - according to Kenny Chan, the former Senior Director at Kinokuniya Book Stores (Asia Pacific) - he spent ~20 years of his career there prior to his retirement!
But prior to bookseller, Kenny was a foreign diplomat at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore, where he was posted to London as their Trade and Culture Attache.
He then switched to bookselling, first at Popular Holdings Limited, then MPH Bookstores Sdn Bhd, and back again at Popular when they launched their IPO!
And finally interviewed for a position at Kinokuniya.
The President & Chairman of Kinokuniya flew from Japan to Singapore to conduct the interview and asked Kenny just one question:
âDo you love books?â
As it turns out, Kenny gave me the exact answer he was looking for!
And even after retirement, Kenny remains deep in the bookselling world.
If you havenât already guessed it, Kenny is the latest guest on STIMY!
And we dive deep into all things books & the art of evangelising.
âWhy does Kenny not judge people by their educational level?
âWhy did he initially become a foreign diplomat?
âWhat was it like opening bookstores throughout Asia Pacific, Dubai and New York?
âWhat was it like working at his dream company?
âWhat is the secret to buying books & why is bookselling a spiritual experience?
âHow can aspiring authors can get Kennyâs attention?
Are you intrigued yet?
The YouTube version is out now too. đ
Highlights:
1:01 The Punisher1:50 Donât judge people by their level of education2:59 Do your best in everything that you touch3:58 My education was a roller-coaster5:31 Didn't want to be a bookseller!7:56 Getting into foreign affairs9:51 Hunted down a book for Lee Kuan Yew & the power of connections11:35 Lee Kuan Yew was a hard task master14:54 Life isn't fair18:32 How to get rid of inventory/books for bookstores20:21 Leaving Popular for MPH21:00 Introducing comics & Sanrio (Hello Popular) to Singapore22:12 How Kenny knew it was time to bring Hello Kitty in24:07 Memorable stories26:43 What was it like working in his dream company?27:46 Becoming store manager of the MPH Stamford Bookstore28:22 You need to be a dictator32:22 A great success36:23 The IPO37:11 The secret behind buying books & working at Popular41:29 Moving to Kinokuniya43:03 Meeting 43:30 The 1 question asked by the President & Chairman of Kinokuniya from Japan44:44 Working with someone who doesnât understand English46:09 The spiritual aspect of book selling47:01 Opening a store in Dubai48:16 Love of books49:13 The Kinovirus & training to become a great bookseller50:45 The Speech52:05 Biggest achievements while at Kinokuniya54:44 Kinokuniya isnât a bookstore. Itâs a lifestyle choice56:15 The importance of building a brand58:51 The Twin Lemons Act59:50 Getting Kennyâs attention1:00:25 Ask a bookseller, what questions should you ask yourself?đ Like STIMY? Buy us a âïž?: https://beacons.ai/sothisismywhy
đż YouTube: https://youtu.be/1uCeI8LOI5Y
đShow notes: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/145
đ Weekly STIMY Newsletter on the art of storytelling + building your personal brand (+snippets of STIMY behind-the-scenes): https://sothisismywhy.ck.page/acd5bd1062
âđ» Leave a review on STIMY: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/so-this-is-my-why/id1521191442
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Gero DiMaria knows what it means to go truly viral.
He's an Italian chef & owner of Kucina - Singapore's first authentic halal food restaurant.
But he's also a bona fide Italian culinary superstar with over 500k followers on social media - 256k on Instagram & 252.6k on TikTok!
He took the world by storm with his recent series of viral reels on choosing the best pasta/cheeses in grocery stores, and that had a real trickle down effect on his business.
So we dig into all the juicy stuff, including:
â What does it mean to actually go âviralâ?
â What kind of measurable impact has social media had on his business?
â What is his advice for leveraging social media for businesses?
â What have his toughest moments been?
â And who exactly is Gero?!
The goal: To understand the role of social media today, what it really means to go viral & how one can leverage on that social media reach to build your own business.
Highlights:
1:55 Italian childhood4:11 What do Italians eat every day?5:38 People in Asia arenât taught to think?!10:58 Entering the food industry12:13 Work hard to earn your money13:33 Your first job sets the bar14:49 That English breakfast shift 16:52 Knowing that the F&B world was for him 17:33 How to cook the perfect pasta20:04 Moving from London to Singapore21:58 First job at Pasta Fresca23:19 Whatâs an authentic halal Italian restaurant?25:59 Chefs can only be chefs, they canât run a business29:43 Going into marketing & the lost $300031:22 The turning point32:39 Content strategy35:14 Going truly viral36:18 Acting debut37:58 Why accept collaborations?40:00 Separating his personal brand from his Kucina restaurant41:24 The content creation team42:48 Advice for entrepreneurs44:06 Do you feel like youâve found your why?45:25 What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind?46:15 What do you think are the most important qualities of a successful person?đShow notes: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/144
đ Weekly STIMY Newsletter on the art of storytelling + building your personal brand (+snippets of STIMY behind-the-scenes): https://sothisismywhy.ck.page/acd5bd1062
âđ» Leave a review on STIMY: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/so-this-is-my-why/id1521191442
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Would you die for your passion?
Most wouldnât but for 58-year-old Swee Chiow, Singaporeâs first professional adventurer, itâs a question he must face every day.
And it all began when he caught a glimpse of Mount Everest from a plane.
He was working in IT (Singapore Airlines) then, but he decided from that one glimpse that he wanted to climb Mount Everest - a dream that took him a mere 10 years to achieve!
The journey was hard.
He knew nothing. So he read many books & even went on a 10-day mountaineering course at Mt Cook that he flunked because he wasnât fit enough!
In 1998, he joined Singaporeâs first Mount Everest expedition. It was a disaster at first because:
â Their tent collapsed during a freak storm
â Their first attempt at the South Pole failed as they didnât have enough rope - the Singapore media hounded them & issued headlines declaring that the expedition had failed
But they didnât give up.
Their second attempt was a success!
But an exhausting one.
In the midst of the media glory, Swee Chiow knew he had to take advantage of it so he immediately launched Singapore's first Antarctic expedition.
Since then, he has:
Climbed Everest x3 and K28,000km cycle from SG â Beijing (China) = 2003Swam 40 km across Malacca StraitsKayaked 3,000km across PhilippinesBroke his first Guinness World Records for the longest scuba submergence (220 hours)Rollerbladed 6,000km from Hanoi SG in 94 days (and broke the Guinness World Records in 2008)Highlights:
3:34 Why Why Why?!4:12 Fear of heights5:00 Computer science in Kansas6:11 Saw Mount Everest from a plane6:51 Not giving up after 10 years7:24 The mountain is magical & spiritual?!9:06 Lessons learned10:27 Altitude sickness / AMS12:04 Pulling Singaporeâs first Everest expedition together13:25 You canât fail!14:19 What should people know about Everest?16:45 Quitting his day job17:45 Antarctica19:38 Commercialising his adventure business20:32 Swee Chiowâs value proposition?22:02 How he builds trust with his clients24:11 Risks & death25:11 Any trick to staying calm?25:24 Drifting to Taiwan & near certain death27:37 Never let your ego take over29:28 Dealing with the media30:55 Never doing K2 again32:19 The ghosts at Tibetâs Xishapengma36:12 Adventurers hogging the limelight37:04 Collaborating with AirAsia X40:16 How Swee Chiow decides on his adventures41:43 Advice for those in their 30s45:28 Whatâs next?46:26 The second act of his career?47:36 Leadership principles to be an effective guide for his team49:15 What drives you to push yourself to the extreme each time?50:23 Do you feel like youâve found your why?51:06 What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind?51:27 What are the most important qualities of a successful person?Special thanks to Limpeh Studios (Hepmil Media) for the studio!
đ Like STIMY? Buy us a âïž?: https://beacons.ai/sothisismywhy
đShow notes: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/143
đ STIMY Newsletter on the art of storytelling + building your personal brand (+snippets of STIMY behind-the-scenes): https://sothisismywhy.ck.page/acd5bd1062
âđ» Leave a review on STIMY: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/so-this-is-my-why/id1521191442
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Meet Lucas Lu - Head of Zoom Asia.
And also a fellow Sarawakian!
Lucas has had an illustrious career going from GM of Systems Technology Group at IBM Malaysia where they closed large deals within the first 6 months, leading to Lucas winning ASEAN Rookie of the Year - his first big recognition.
He ended up staying at IBM for 10 years and won 2 Global Golden Circle Award before moving on to become:
General Manager, AstroGM (Tech Sales Malaysia), OracleSenior Director (APAC Enterprise Commercial Sales & Industry), MicrosoftPrior to his current role heading the Asian arm of Zoom, covering ASEAN, South Korea, Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan.
While at first glance, Lucas appears to have had a very varied career, he has also been very intentional about every career move heâs made.
And has had no zero regrets with how it has turned out.
So we dive deep into this episode into all things career development:
â How has Lucas chosen the roles that he has?
â What is his secret sauce to climbing the corporate ladder?
â How should one find mentors/career sponsors?
â How does he plan his career & life (he has a plan for everything, including for his family members!!)?
Please do listen & leave a rating & review!
Highlights:
1:50 My first 15 years2:27 Shell City4:22 No one leaves Shell, but I didâŠ5:26 Getting the call from IBM6:05 Switching to tech6:59 Lucasâ unfair advantage over other people7:50 Lots of planning & reflections11:55 What should you do when you first take on a regional role?14:06 Career sponsors14:41 Secret to landing career sponsors15:22 The first time doors opened for Lucas?16:15 Moving on after 10 years17:14 Bringing a corporate mindset to the startup world?19:09 Measuring returns for media projects19:41 Moving to Oracle21:01 Kilimanjaro22:55 Element of luck24:16 Dealing with failure25:55 No regrets?27:37 Moving to Microsoft29:14 Takeaways from being fully immersed in a country 32:00 Did hiking change how he approaches sales and work?32:25 Why Zoom?33:43 Checklist for Lucasâ next career move (no compromise)34:24 How to determine if someone is the right person to work for?35:33 Most influential person in Lucasâ career37:28 Managing the strawberry generation39:15 What Lucas hopes to achieve at Zoom43:58 The second act in Lucasâ career46:45 What STIMY listeners can help Lucas withđ Like STIMY? Buy us a âïž?: https://beacons.ai/sothisismywhy
đShow notes: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/142
đ STIMY Newsletter on the art of storytelling + building your personal brand (+snippets of STIMY behind-the-scenes): https://sothisismywhy.ck.page/acd5bd1062
âđ» Leave a review on STIMY: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/so-this-is-my-why/id1521191442
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This episode is a compilation of 6 of the most powerful women featured on the So This Is My Why podcast, discussing the milestones that led them on their journey to success
Ep 124: Jacqueline Novogratz
Jacqueline is the founder & CEO of Acumen - a non-profit global venture capital fund that aims to use entrepreneurial approaches to address global poverty. As the OG of impact investing, she shares her experience in Rwanda and learning that the most important thing is to build something where you leave no footprint behind.
And how there is no such thing as black & white. Everyone has an angel and demon within them that comes out at different times.
đ Listen to Jacqueline's full episode: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/124
Ep 115: Lydia Fenet
Lydia is the former Executive Director of Christie's New York and for 10 years, she thought it was a privilege to be working at Christie's. She never asked for more.
Until she realised that you are just a number in the P&L, and you have to fight for what your worth. In one conversation, she managed to x3 her salary, obtain an international director designation and start a new department on strategic partnerships.
đ Listen to Lydia's full episode: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/115
Ep 125: Tanya Zakowich
Tanya has worked at NASA, Boeing and Hyperloop and shares her journey in making big career pivots which led to the creation of Pink Pencil Math with 2 million TikTok followers, 507k Instagram Followers & 99k YouTube followers.
đ Listen to Tanya's full episode: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/125
Ep 79: Nicole Quinn
Nicole is a General Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners. She's known as the celebrity whisperer who's worked with the likes of Lady Gaga, Tom Brady, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jessica Alba.
đ Listen to Nicole's full episode: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/79
Ep 77: Lily Wu
Lily is a two-time 7 figure business founder who shares how she got started on her entrepreneurial journey in Australia as a teenager
đ Listen to Lily's full episode: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/77
Ep 56: Lauren Hom
Lauren is a California-born designer, illustrator & hand lettering artist with a 250k strong following on Instagram. She is known for her use of bright colour palettes & playful letterings and has worked for clients such as Starbucks, YouTube, TIME Magazine, Google and AT&T. She has also been recognised by Communications Arts, the Art Directors Club, the One Club, the Type Directors Club and the Webby Awards
She shares how she's built her enviable artistic career including with Daily Dishonesty.
đ Listen to Lauren's full episode: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/56
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đ Like STIMY? Buy me a âïž?: https://beacons.ai/sothisismywhy
đż YouTube: https://youtu.be/ncLfbdQ7XQA
đ Website: https://www.sothisismywhy.com
đ Sign up for the weekly STIMY newsletter: https://sothisismywhy.ck.page/ebf231f605
âđ» Leave a review on STIMY: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/so-this-is-my-why/id1521191442
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Sponsor: Descript - an AI-enabled software that makes it possible to edit weekly videos efficiently because it transcribes a 1.5 hour interview in 1 minute - and allows all editing to be done via the transcript! To find out more: https://www.descript.com/?lmref=sjT9JA
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Itâs not every day that you get to inherit a 100-year-old family business, but thatâs exactly what Fong Wai Kheng has done.
Fong is the fourth generation of his family to run Tong Heng - Singaporeâs top confectionary shop most known for its trademark đ diamond-shaped egg tarts.
Ask pretty much any Singaporean (I did), and it feels like 99% of them will have heard, eaten and love those egg tarts!
So of course, I got curious.
And asked Fong if heâd be up for a STIMY interview!
After all, family businesses are tricky.
There is:
đż The legacy youâve inherited & must now maintain
đż The relationships you need to navigate (you canât split family/work)
đż The challenge of keeping your brand relevant (a huge issue for Tong Heng at one point until they went through a massive rebranding exercise)
đż All the ups and downs of keeping a business alive.
A business that first came about because of Fongâs great-grandfather who fled China in 1901 (end of Qing Dynasty) to work as a coolie in Singapore.
His great-grandfather eventually earned enough to start his own pushcart coffee business but⊠the local âgangsâ came around for protection money.
The great-grandfather had none, but promised to have the money ready next time.
Unfortunately, the gangsters wonât hear of it.
And proceeded to beat him up.
Or at least, they tried too.
Because what they didnât know was that Fongâs great-grandfather had been trained in martial arts by the soldiers in the Qing Court (+ he was also 1.87m tall!).
So Fongâs great-grandfather beat up those gangsters instead. đ€Ł
News spread.
The community gathered and gifted him with a pistol before appointing him as its protector!!
Want to know what happened thereafter? đ
Youâll just have to listen to this STIMY episode with Fong to find out.
Highlights:
2:54 Childhood 5:00 Expectations in joining the family business?6:32 Have you had enough fun?10:26 100-year-old confectionary shop - the origins of Tong Heng12:22 Tong Hengâs trademark egg tarts14:22 Gangs & protection money14:44 Martial arts16:50 After the war17:55 His two aunts20:24 Pulling a surprise25:06 A new shop27:38 Cracking thousands of eggs?!29:40 Massive rebranding exercise to appeal to the Gen Zs & Gen Alphas33:23 Tension in the family?34:41 Going viral35:00 Branding decisions behind Tong Hengâs trademark yellow packaging36:15 Tong Hengâs faithful customers - the grandmother & her grandson37:30 The future & staying in their own lane39:35 Advice for other family business owners?đ Special thanks to Limpeh Studios for making this recording possible! If you want to do any studio recordings while in Singapore, be sure to check out: https://www.hepmil.com/limpehstudios
đShow notes: https://www.sothisismywhy.com/141
đż YouTube: https://youtu.be/kSXxRHrWWas
đ Weekly STIMY Newsletter on the art of storytelling + building your personal brand (+snippets of STIMY behind-the-scenes): https://sothisismywhy.ck.page/acd5bd1062
âđ» Leave a review on STIMY: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/so-this-is-my-why/id1521191442
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