The story of Ah Huat.
In the 80s, Ah Huat left school after failing his GCE 'O' level exams. He had no interest in academia, but he can certainly whip up a tasty meal, all learnt from his grandmother who was a great cook. As he had limited options, after he completed his NS, he joined a Hainanese Chicken Stall in a canteen serving JTC corp multi storey offices, with a starting pay at $1200/mth.
He met many SYT office ladies, but he fell in love with a secretary who works for a luxury watch trading firm, & often would serve her extra portions of meat just to see her smile, but realizing his situation in life, he dared not approached her or even ask her name, as she was often accompanied by her boss who wears an AP watch & with other female staff-accountants, sales, clerks, etc.
One day she was no longer seen at the canteen, & found out she had quit her job & got married to an executive in an MNC firm. He was heart-brokened, but it became a catalyst for him on his journey to entrepreneurship, to throw off his yoke of servitude that had enriched others but not himself, & make something of his life.
He successfully bided for a HDB Hawker stall in the heartlands at a mere $300/mth to serve Hainanese Chicken rice. He used every single cent had saved for his enterprise - food, utensils, contacts made from his previous job, & soon, long lines were queuing up his tasty food, even for breakfast....which he hardworkingly worked from 4am, to prepare the food, till 9pm when he closes or earlier when he ran out of food to serve...
Within months, his gross income was $50,000/mth - thru his hardwork, sweat & toil.
As he was not an ambitious man, he realized that a nett profit of $35,000 was more than enough to meet his needs, which is practically none, as he hungers for nothing, being a simple man, not a gambler, drinker or womanizer, but only dedicated to serving his patrons with good food.
He began to work smarter - shorter hrs to gain better productivity & yet derive the same income. He could afford to take 2 days off per week, & after every 3months of grueling hardwork-standing for long hrs, the heat, etc, he could afford to take a 2 week holiday, to touch base with friends & relatives, or just go on a tour to see the World. He owns a condo apartment bought at mere $300k in the early 90s & now worth $2M today.
During such times, he could dress up in suits, wearing thick gold chains, expensive watches, if he wish to, which he often does as he believes in giving back to society -thru joining Charity dinners & donating a portion of his earnings to worthy causes. Whenever he walks into luxury stores, no one looks down on him, nor any high end hotels when he travels.
When others strike up a conversation with him, he remained humble & converse in the manner that he knows best, than to pretend to be someone else. Many were surprised when he told them that he was just a mere hawker....
The point of this true life story of someone that the insignificant nobody me knew is - So long as one is smart, hardworking & able to discern one's born gift early to take advantage of it, one will be successful in life.
And it is about SELF - ESTEEM. Take pride in oneself so long as one is making an honest living & never to fear whatever nonsense others say, as they are not living another's life, but only one can live one's own life....
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