[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] hi everyone
hi everyone
hi everyone did you enjoy my parkour video hi flan
did you enjoy my parkour video hi flan
did you enjoy my parkour video hi flan to be the oldest practicing parkour
to be the oldest practicing parkour
to be the oldest practicing parkour woman in Singapore okay the purpose of
woman in Singapore okay the purpose of
woman in Singapore okay the purpose of showing that you the video besides
showing that you the video besides
showing that you the video besides feeding my ego release to let you know
feeding my ego release to let you know
feeding my ego release to let you know you know you always want to find a place
you know you always want to find a place
you know you always want to find a place to grow where you’re least expected and
to grow where you’re least expected and
to grow where you’re least expected and it really reads rich rewards for you I
it really reads rich rewards for you I
it really reads rich rewards for you I left the good corporate life for 20
left the good corporate life for 20
left the good corporate life for 20 years
years
years enjoying good money clients who became
enjoying good money clients who became
enjoying good money clients who became friends white stewardesses who addressed
friends white stewardesses who addressed
friends white stewardesses who addressed me by name
me by name
me by name I stayed in fancy hotels I couldn’t
I stayed in fancy hotels I couldn’t
I stayed in fancy hotels I couldn’t afford on my own and I climbed to you
afford on my own and I climbed to you
afford on my own and I climbed to you know they they took notes when I talked
know they they took notes when I talked
know they they took notes when I talked to them like you know just that sort of
to them like you know just that sort of
to them like you know just that sort of life was really interesting but the
life was really interesting but the
life was really interesting but the problem was when I woke up one morning
problem was when I woke up one morning
problem was when I woke up one morning and the disruption came through the mind
and the disruption came through the mind
and the disruption came through the mind first and this
first and this
first and this was the question that popped up like do
was the question that popped up like do
was the question that popped up like do you want to do the same darn thing for
you want to do the same darn thing for
you want to do the same darn thing for the next 20 years of your life and at
the next 20 years of your life and at
the next 20 years of your life and at that point I was 46 so I was thinking if
that point I was 46 so I was thinking if
that point I was 46 so I was thinking if I continue doing that I would be 66
I continue doing that I would be 66
I continue doing that I would be 66 before I realized it and was looking
before I realized it and was looking
before I realized it and was looking back and saying you know not much change
back and saying you know not much change
back and saying you know not much change in my life so no matter how good that
in my life so no matter how good that
in my life so no matter how good that right was it’s um you know the thought
right was it’s um you know the thought
right was it’s um you know the thought that the learning would be marginal just
that the learning would be marginal just
that the learning would be marginal just incremental at the very most did not
incremental at the very most did not
incremental at the very most did not sound attractive to me the vision looked
sound attractive to me the vision looked
sound attractive to me the vision looked very narrow and I thought I need to stop
very narrow and I thought I need to stop
very narrow and I thought I need to stop it then then even though it was a good
it then then even though it was a good
it then then even though it was a good run um and so then it was you know the
run um and so then it was you know the
run um and so then it was you know the discovery that I had a higher propensity
discovery that I had a higher propensity
discovery that I had a higher propensity for change and even at that age that
for change and even at that age that
for change and even at that age that sense of adventure came in and the
sense of adventure came in and the
sense of adventure came in and the willingness to be seduced into an
willingness to be seduced into an
willingness to be seduced into an unknown world became very irresistible
unknown world became very irresistible
unknown world became very irresistible so this is a picture of the food truck
so this is a picture of the food truck
so this is a picture of the food truck that we built we affectionately named it
that we built we affectionately named it
that we built we affectionately named it Kirby and I came here to share with you
Kirby and I came here to share with you
Kirby and I came here to share with you two key encounters in this journey
two key encounters in this journey
two key encounters in this journey towards building the food truck uh that
towards building the food truck uh that
towards building the food truck uh that launched me into a journey of learning
launched me into a journey of learning
launched me into a journey of learning which you know I I which I I never
which you know I I which I I never
which you know I I which I I never learned in the classroom and I never
learned in the classroom and I never
learned in the classroom and I never learned even talking to a lot of
learned even talking to a lot of
learned even talking to a lot of knowledgeable people you just really
knowledgeable people you just really
knowledgeable people you just really have to put yourself out there and and
have to put yourself out there and and
have to put yourself out there and and experience it firsthand so then the next
experience it firsthand so then the next
experience it firsthand so then the next question was of course you know if I
question was of course you know if I
question was of course you know if I didn’t want to do the corporate job then
didn’t want to do the corporate job then
didn’t want to do the corporate job then what was I going to do and just the
what was I going to do and just the
what was I going to do and just the process of getting to that answer was
process of getting to that answer was
process of getting to that answer was really interesting in itself
really interesting in itself
really interesting in itself um just sitting down and saying okay
um just sitting down and saying okay
um just sitting down and saying okay just for a moment I have no financial
just for a moment I have no financial
just for a moment I have no financial obligations that free children I’ll put
obligations that free children I’ll put
obligations that free children I’ll put aside for a while
aside for a while
aside for a while elderly parents are just put aside just
elderly parents are just put aside just
elderly parents are just put aside just for a while
for a while
for a while the mortgage the bills everything like
the mortgage the bills everything like
the mortgage the bills everything like just give yourself a clean sheet of
just give yourself a clean sheet of
just give yourself a clean sheet of paper and say you know what what do I
paper and say you know what what do I
paper and say you know what what do I really really want to do and so that
really really want to do and so that
really really want to do and so that that question and that the thing that to
that question and that the thing that to
that question and that the thing that to allow yourself to just be still keep
allow yourself to just be still keep
allow yourself to just be still keep quiet like shut out all the noise and
quiet like shut out all the noise and
quiet like shut out all the noise and clutter from society and the pressures
clutter from society and the pressures
clutter from society and the pressures that are on you always and and just
that are on you always and and just
that are on you always and and just think so actually for nine months I I
think so actually for nine months I I
think so actually for nine months I I basically just said then kept thinking
basically just said then kept thinking
basically just said then kept thinking like I never did things with my hands I
like I never did things with my hands I
like I never did things with my hands I had no output to show I had no tangible
had no output to show I had no tangible
had no output to show I had no tangible results to show um I mean we live in a
results to show um I mean we live in a
results to show um I mean we live in a world where we have even a wonderful
world where we have even a wonderful
world where we have even a wonderful tool called KPI key performance
tool called KPI key performance
tool called KPI key performance indicators Tata Tata you know show show
indicators Tata Tata you know show show
indicators Tata Tata you know show show this show that and the hands always have
this show that and the hands always have
this show that and the hands always have to be busy doing something so for me the
to be busy doing something so for me the
to be busy doing something so for me the nine months was the hands were still
nine months was the hands were still
nine months was the hands were still hence we’re not moving literally did
hence we’re not moving literally did
hence we’re not moving literally did nothing other than lift up a cup of
nothing other than lift up a cup of
nothing other than lift up a cup of coffee but just the mind was racing like
coffee but just the mind was racing like
coffee but just the mind was racing like at lightning speed and everyday ideas
at lightning speed and everyday ideas
at lightning speed and everyday ideas were bubbling the creativity was coming
were bubbling the creativity was coming
were bubbling the creativity was coming in and you know I had ideas that got
in and you know I had ideas that got
in and you know I had ideas that got myself so excited in a way my heart was
myself so excited in a way my heart was
myself so excited in a way my heart was just jumping out of my chest
just jumping out of my chest
just jumping out of my chest so lots of things happening here but
so lots of things happening here but
so lots of things happening here but just nothing here and and this is really
just nothing here and and this is really
just nothing here and and this is really against the norm in society of always
against the norm in society of always
against the norm in society of always having to show something and even a
having to show something and even a
having to show something and even a casual question from a concerned mom who
casual question from a concerned mom who
casual question from a concerned mom who you know who just walks fast it’s also
you know who just walks fast it’s also
you know who just walks fast it’s also why you’re planning to do you know that
why you’re planning to do you know that
why you’re planning to do you know that just a casual comment like this can
just a casual comment like this can
just a casual comment like this can throw you off and just shake your
throw you off and just shake your
throw you off and just shake your confidence but then you just have to
confidence but then you just have to
confidence but then you just have to again just then firm and just believe
again just then firm and just believe
again just then firm and just believe that there’s a lot of things brewing
that there’s a lot of things brewing
that there’s a lot of things brewing inside here even if you had nothing to
inside here even if you had nothing to
inside here even if you had nothing to show on him so the stubborn refusal to
show on him so the stubborn refusal to
show on him so the stubborn refusal to move the arms and the legs and my nine
move the arms and the legs and my nine
move the arms and the legs and my nine months of sitting around doing nothing
gave me actually the power to come up
gave me actually the power to come up with one big idea for myself and this
with one big idea for myself and this
with one big idea for myself and this idea opened the doors for me for the
idea opened the doors for me for the
idea opened the doors for me for the next four years of my life which was the
next four years of my life which was the
next four years of my life which was the last fall we found a way to be in the
last fall we found a way to be in the
last fall we found a way to be in the food and beverage industry without
food and beverage industry without
food and beverage industry without paying high rentals the landlord’s and
paying high rentals the landlord’s and
paying high rentals the landlord’s and in fact became a landlord ourselves
in fact became a landlord ourselves
in fact became a landlord ourselves renting the truck to companies who saw
renting the truck to companies who saw
renting the truck to companies who saw value in it so you know I can really I
value in it so you know I can really I
value in it so you know I can really I think stand here and tell you I am
think stand here and tell you I am
think stand here and tell you I am really the only FMB operator for is
really the only FMB operator for is
really the only FMB operator for is charging rentals which you know it’s a
charging rentals which you know it’s a
charging rentals which you know it’s a game changer for me in my little
game changer for me in my little
game changer for me in my little business so right up to last month we
business so right up to last month we
business so right up to last month we were invited to participate in an
were invited to participate in an
were invited to participate in an international food shop festival
international food shop festival
international food shop festival um and you know just Pitt we pitted our
um and you know just Pitt we pitted our
um and you know just Pitt we pitted our skills against the top ten street food
skills against the top ten street food
skills against the top ten street food truck vendors from London we were
truck vendors from London we were
truck vendors from London we were invited to the UAE for that we spent
invited to the UAE for that we spent
invited to the UAE for that we spent three cities three weekends and we were
three cities three weekends and we were
three cities three weekends and we were selling food or representing Singapore
selling food or representing Singapore
selling food or representing Singapore um against the some of the best street
um against the some of the best street
um against the some of the best street traders were talking about in the world
traders were talking about in the world
traders were talking about in the world and I’m really happy to say that you
and I’m really happy to say that you
and I’m really happy to say that you know we came out top three in terms of
know we came out top three in terms of
know we came out top three in terms of sales performance I mean this is someone
sales performance I mean this is someone
sales performance I mean this is someone with no FMB background working with a
with no FMB background working with a
with no FMB background working with a contractor who has no experience
contractor who has no experience
contractor who has no experience building a foot truck and this power
building a foot truck and this power
building a foot truck and this power really came from the wasting time
really came from the wasting time
really came from the wasting time so I mean you if you if you go away from
so I mean you if you if you go away from
so I mean you if you if you go away from this talk and say oh yeah I don’t know I
this talk and say oh yeah I don’t know I
this talk and say oh yeah I don’t know I can go very spike then of obviously
can go very spike then of obviously
can go very spike then of obviously you’re taking in the raw spirit what I’m
you’re taking in the raw spirit what I’m
you’re taking in the raw spirit what I’m saying is while the hands are not moving
saying is while the hands are not moving
saying is while the hands are not moving and resist the urge to just give in to
and resist the urge to just give in to
and resist the urge to just give in to pressures from society make sure there’s
pressures from society make sure there’s
pressures from society make sure there’s a lot of things happening in here that
a lot of things happening in here that
a lot of things happening in here that will result in finally output that has
will result in finally output that has
will result in finally output that has impact the other thing that I wanted to
impact the other thing that I wanted to
impact the other thing that I wanted to share with you that was really
share with you that was really
share with you that was really eye-opening for me is in the course of
eye-opening for me is in the course of
eye-opening for me is in the course of trying to get a food truck license and I
trying to get a food truck license and I
trying to get a food truck license and I don’t know if you are familiar with that
don’t know if you are familiar with that
don’t know if you are familiar with that you know you’re really up against the
you know you’re really up against the
you know you’re really up against the regulators and the bureaucracy in
regulators and the bureaucracy in
regulators and the bureaucracy in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore I had to deal with numerous government
I had to deal with numerous government
I had to deal with numerous government agencies whose job mainly is to say no
agencies whose job mainly is to say no
agencies whose job mainly is to say no to me if you come to them with anything
to me if you come to them with anything
to me if you come to them with anything outside the norm I had the opportunity
outside the norm I had the opportunity
outside the norm I had the opportunity to learn really more about the Singapore
to learn really more about the Singapore
to learn really more about the Singapore mindset through these interactions I
mindset through these interactions I
mindset through these interactions I found out that um to the regulator’s the
found out that um to the regulator’s the
found out that um to the regulator’s the word no are means a lot of things it
word no are means a lot of things it
word no are means a lot of things it means don’t ask me for something that
means don’t ask me for something that
means don’t ask me for something that I’m not familiar with don’t ask me to
I’m not familiar with don’t ask me to
I’m not familiar with don’t ask me to say yes to you when I don’t even know
say yes to you when I don’t even know
say yes to you when I don’t even know which form to pass to you to to fill up
which form to pass to you to to fill up
which form to pass to you to to fill up there’s no template there’s no process
there’s no template there’s no process
there’s no template there’s no process this is out of the norm I’m not going to
this is out of the norm I’m not going to
this is out of the norm I’m not going to stick my neck out for you just just come
stick my neck out for you just just come
stick my neck out for you just just come to me where it’s straightforward like
to me where it’s straightforward like
to me where it’s straightforward like don’t make me thing don’t make me have
don’t make me thing don’t make me have
don’t make me thing don’t make me have to answer to my boss like there are no
to answer to my boss like there are no
to answer to my boss like there are no means all those things so there is you
means all those things so there is you
means all those things so there is you know there’s really no reward for them
know there’s really no reward for them
know there’s really no reward for them for any creativity their job is to say
for any creativity their job is to say
for any creativity their job is to say no and I’ll typically tell you the story
no and I’ll typically tell you the story
no and I’ll typically tell you the story of I went to a meeting with a government
of I went to a meeting with a government
of I went to a meeting with a government agency there were four people in the in
agency there were four people in the in
agency there were four people in the in the meeting and you know after an hour
the meeting and you know after an hour
the meeting and you know after an hour of just going round and round trying to
of just going round and round trying to
of just going round and round trying to get them to give me something that I can
get them to give me something that I can
get them to give me something that I can move forward in the business and trying
move forward in the business and trying
move forward in the business and trying to get the license it suddenly occurred
to get the license it suddenly occurred
to get the license it suddenly occurred to me when I look around the room that
to me when I look around the room that
to me when I look around the room that nobody in the room is authorized to say
nobody in the room is authorized to say
nobody in the room is authorized to say yes yeah like why am i meeting these
yes yeah like why am i meeting these
yes yeah like why am i meeting these people are you I’m wasting the time and
people are you I’m wasting the time and
people are you I’m wasting the time and they’re wasting mine
they’re wasting mine
they’re wasting mine so I actually asked them like who who
so I actually asked them like who who
so I actually asked them like who who who in this room can say yes and they
who in this room can say yes and they
who in this room can say yes and they started okay I don’t like actually
started okay I don’t like actually
started okay I don’t like actually nobody so they also use delay tactics um
nobody so they also use delay tactics um
nobody so they also use delay tactics um on you and say things like why don’t you
on you and say things like why don’t you
on you and say things like why don’t you email my supervisor you know because
email my supervisor you know because
email my supervisor you know because that buys them time I said how long will
that buys them time I said how long will
that buys them time I said how long will your supervisor take the respond oh four
your supervisor take the respond oh four
your supervisor take the respond oh four to six weeks to acknowledge and then we
to six weeks to acknowledge and then we
to six weeks to acknowledge and then we don’t know once of the death so I’m like
don’t know once of the death so I’m like
don’t know once of the death so I’m like supervisor your supervisor you mean the
supervisor your supervisor you mean the
supervisor your supervisor you mean the one that’s sitting over there and I
one that’s sitting over there and I
one that’s sitting over there and I basically just got up and talked to the
basically just got up and talked to the
basically just got up and talked to the supervisor hello supervisor I need to
supervisor hello supervisor I need to
supervisor hello supervisor I need to talk to you about this like
talk to you about this like
talk to you about this like you know from the photo six weeks is it
you know from the photo six weeks is it
you know from the photo six weeks is it became for the six minutes of getting to
became for the six minutes of getting to
became for the six minutes of getting to someone who had that authority to say
someone who had that authority to say
someone who had that authority to say yes so you know just that Singapore
yes so you know just that Singapore
yes so you know just that Singapore mindset of you know I I don’t get fired
mindset of you know I I don’t get fired
mindset of you know I I don’t get fired for hiring IBM sort of mentality like
for hiring IBM sort of mentality like
for hiring IBM sort of mentality like anything that straightforward come to me
anything that straightforward come to me
anything that straightforward come to me anything that’s out of the norm I’m
anything that’s out of the norm I’m
anything that’s out of the norm I’m going to say no so that you know others
going to say no so that you know others
going to say no so that you know others so false healing and perceived
so false healing and perceived
so false healing and perceived boundaries um we had to cut through in
boundaries um we had to cut through in
boundaries um we had to cut through in this journey so we finally got our
this journey so we finally got our
this journey so we finally got our license um against a lot of naysayers
license um against a lot of naysayers
license um against a lot of naysayers you can’t really see but this is all the
you can’t really see but this is all the
you can’t really see but this is all the I mean the press was basically all over
I mean the press was basically all over
I mean the press was basically all over us so on the day we launched the foot
us so on the day we launched the foot
us so on the day we launched the foot truck Straits Times Business Times Asian
truck Straits Times Business Times Asian
truck Straits Times Business Times Asian Wall Street Journal Channel NewsAsia and
Wall Street Journal Channel NewsAsia and
Wall Street Journal Channel NewsAsia and all of them so it was a good vindication
all of them so it was a good vindication
all of them so it was a good vindication to all the naysayers even business
to all the naysayers even business
to all the naysayers even business mentors like famous business mentors in
mentors like famous business mentors in
mentors like famous business mentors in Singapore who told us this was not
Singapore who told us this was not
Singapore who told us this was not possible you know just having all this
possible you know just having all this
possible you know just having all this recognition was was a good vindication
recognition was was a good vindication
recognition was was a good vindication but I’ll tell you what the greatest
but I’ll tell you what the greatest
but I’ll tell you what the greatest reward is um in this journey and I’ll
reward is um in this journey and I’ll
reward is um in this journey and I’ll end on this note my you know we set this
end on this note my you know we set this
end on this note my you know we set this up as a social enterprise based on BAM
up as a social enterprise based on BAM
up as a social enterprise based on BAM game buy a meal give a meal so I know we
game buy a meal give a meal so I know we
game buy a meal give a meal so I know we do all the good work like sharing good
do all the good work like sharing good
do all the good work like sharing good food and bring nutrients to needy
food and bring nutrients to needy
food and bring nutrients to needy families in Singapore we also pick up
families in Singapore we also pick up
families in Singapore we also pick up excess food from a five-star hotel and
excess food from a five-star hotel and
excess food from a five-star hotel and send them to families but the real
send them to families but the real
send them to families but the real reward came for me when my daughter who
reward came for me when my daughter who
reward came for me when my daughter who is sitting amongst you today uh 18 years
is sitting amongst you today uh 18 years
is sitting amongst you today uh 18 years old she came to me saying she felt
old she came to me saying she felt
old she came to me saying she felt really suffocated living in a place like
really suffocated living in a place like
really suffocated living in a place like Singapore in tears she told me she could
Singapore in tears she told me she could
Singapore in tears she told me she could not even breathe it’s not uncommon for
not even breathe it’s not uncommon for
not even breathe it’s not uncommon for teenagers to say that but here’s the
teenagers to say that but here’s the
teenagers to say that but here’s the clincher
clincher
clincher she felt she could tell me because she
she felt she could tell me because she
she felt she could tell me because she saw how I started a food shop you know
saw how I started a food shop you know
saw how I started a food shop you know allowing ourselves to challenge the norm
allowing ourselves to challenge the norm
allowing ourselves to challenge the norm question authorities constructively
question authorities constructively
question authorities constructively responsibly that opened the door
responsibly that opened the door
responsibly that opened the door all for her to confide in her mother and
all for her to confide in her mother and
all for her to confide in her mother and reveal her innermost fear she saw mother
reveal her innermost fear she saw mother
reveal her innermost fear she saw mother who would be able to accept if she said
who would be able to accept if she said
who would be able to accept if she said something was wrong in society and
something was wrong in society and
something was wrong in society and honestly I could not ask for better
honestly I could not ask for better
honestly I could not ask for better vindication but to impact the next
vindication but to impact the next
vindication but to impact the next generation to soul a seat in her heart
generation to soul a seat in her heart
generation to soul a seat in her heart that something like this was possible
that something like this was possible
that something like this was possible such that this seat could germinate and
such that this seat could germinate and
such that this seat could germinate and impact her next generation then this is
impact her next generation then this is
impact her next generation then this is the reason why I do the work and and why
the reason why I do the work and and why
the reason why I do the work and and why I count the work that I do so with that
I count the work that I do so with that
I count the work that I do so with that I’ll end um
I’ll end um
I’ll end um I mean my daughter plans to order baby
I mean my daughter plans to order baby
I mean my daughter plans to order baby on eBay
on eBay
on eBay so I don’t know how she will impact a
so I don’t know how she will impact a
so I don’t know how she will impact a generation but I believe that with the
generation but I believe that with the
generation but I believe that with the seat in her heart there is a potential
seat in her heart there is a potential
seat in her heart there is a potential for that to grow and impact the next
for that to grow and impact the next
for that to grow and impact the next generation thank you very much
generation thank you very much
generation thank you very much [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment