10 INSPIRING PEOPLE IN THE WORLD

If I could interview successful people of ALL times (most of them were part of our world's history), it would be these people. While the list is endless, these are my top 10.

They have inspired me in one way or another. I believe some of you feel the same way too.


1) STEVE JOB (He inspires people to find their own passion and follow their heart)

2) MAHATMA GANDHI (He inspires people to lead humbly)

3) NELSON MANDELA (He inspires people to never give up on what they believe in)

4) MOTHER TERESA (She inspires people to love & respect one another - even if they have nothing)

5) ABRAHAM LINCOLN (He inspires people to promote unity & equality)

6) MARTIN LUTHER KING (He inspires people to treat each other equally)

7) BILL GATES (He donated his fortune away for a good cause from the empire that he built)

8) ANITA RODDICK (She inspires people to support ethical consumerism)

9) SUN TZU (He inspires people to think strategically and use soft tactics to win rather than force)

10) WALT DISNEY (He inspires people to believe in their dreams and pursue it)

I am also inspired by the holy Prophets like Jesus and Mohammed, both their passion & spirit to spread truth & love is truly unquestionable.

Share with me, who inspires you?

SUCCESSFUL ICON#4: DAVINA GOH aka JILL OF ALL TRADES

I met Davina very briefly during the launch of my first book ‘Silent Cries’ in Borders Bookstore many years back. I was with the late Sabrina Yeap, founder of Furry Friends Farm (May her soul rest in peace) at the launch speaking about the Animal’s Welfare in Malaysia.

At that time, Davina has just finished her dance rehearsals for the much coveted dance reality show ‘So you think you can dance?’ where she competed and eventually made it to the Top 20.

At first glance, Davina is a bubbly and highly spirited girl that is full of passion. I noticed how she listened with empathy at the launch and clapped with such gusto right after we finished.

She immediately introduced herself to us and eventually we became friends. Although I didn’t get to hang out with her and experienced her warmth in person, keeping in touch with her via the social media is enough for us to be kept updated. To sum up, she’s one of the most genuine, fun loving and talented person that I’ve ever known.

Fast forward over the years, Davina is now a successful stage & screen actress, a columnist, an emcee, a dancer, print & TVC model, voice over talent, a true blue animal lover and a joker. Oh yes, you’ll crack at her jokes and she’s a natural at it! She’s an avid traveller and philanthropist in her own rights too. She’s taught underprivileged children during her trip to Siam Reap with her sister and she’s joined several activist groups in the country in support of their work.

(Above pic) Davina & her sister with the underprivileged children in Siam Reap

I believe that there is nothing that can slow down Davina. I am truly in awe and inspired by her spirit to live and experience life. At such a young age, she has accomplished so much and I believe she will accomplish more.

(Above pic) Davina, being her usual bubbly self, goofing around.

While conducting this interview, Davina is currently based in China where she learns Martial Arts (Kung Fu). She’s really a fireball of energy!  

  

The interview:

Me: Hi Davina, could you please introduce yourself to the readers and what do you do currently?

Davina: Hi peeps, I am Davina Goh. I'm a self-employed actor / emcee / writer and currently studying at the Maling Shaolin Kung Fu Academy, China.

Me: How did you first discover your passion and what makes you want to pursue it? Did you do it full time?

Davina: The acting bug bit me in high school. I was a socially awkward kid and used acting as a form of escapism, to be someone else that people could connect to better. Somewhere down the line it helped me come out of my shell, and now I use it to develop my empathy and share good stories. It was an on-the-side thing for the past 13 years, until I quit my job in April 2013.

Me: Did you make any money from your passion so far?

Davina: To be frank, no one starts acting for money. Even as a seasoned actor, jobs are few and far between for English-speaking roles in Malaysia. Money is made from your versatility as a performer in general.  However, I have sustained a steady stream of side-income through musicals, dance, writing, spoken word, voice acting, talent work and emceeing. The perks that I got out of acting is being able to leave an impact on people - unexpectedly bringing out thoughts, emotions and memories, and being able to connect with audiences on an incredibly intimate level.

Me: What is your advice to those who wants to quit their job & pursue their dream?

Davina: One of the biggest misconceptions is that one should wait for the best time to do so. There is no such thing. There is no good or bad time. You either do it or you don't. But when you do, keep looking ahead and don't have regrets! Work hard at your dreams, and the rewards will be immeasurable.

Me: What is your future plan? Where would you like to see yourself 5 years from now?

Davina: If I survive long enough in my kungfu school, I hope to bring back an additional skill for my acting career. Where will that take me, who knows? I have made no specific plans, but as long as I am responsive to change in my life, have good intentions and keep an open mind and heart, I trust that I will constantly land in worthwhile places.

Me: If you could start all over again, what would do you do differently to achieve your dream?

Davina: I would have definitely started at a younger age, easily 10 years earlier. I had an emotionally oppressed upbringing, so I held back a lot of my potential due to fear. But the life I have now has happened for a reason, and I am grateful for this journey and the lessons it has taught me so far.

Me:  Thank you so much Davina and I hope you’ll have a great time in your Kung Fu school! Keep in touch!

Davina: My pleasure! And thanks so much for the opportunity.

(Above pic) Davina & her Number 1 fan! Her Mom!

(Above pic) Article on her latest stage act Ruby Moon, early this year 2013.

(Above pic) Davina's column in the local paper (The Star), The Gratitudist

So, the TAKE AWAY from this interview:

1. Never ignore your talents! Capitalise on them.

2. Do not wait for opportunity to come, be a go getter and get it!

3. There is no such thing as good or bad time to start pursuing your passion. 

     Its either you do it or not.

4. Work hard on your dreams because the rewards will be immeasurable.

Note: Follow Davina on her Twitter for her latest updates! 

WHY IS IT HARD FOR US TO QUIT OUR JOB & PURSUE OUR PASSION?

This is a question that even I asked myself too.

Often we stick to the job because of financial obligation and family commitment.

So why haven’t we started a business or pursue our passion yet? What’s stopping us? And then I realized that most of us:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.       <!--[endif]-->We are too focused on making sure that the business will make money.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.       <!--[endif]-->Too quick to assume that we are not good enough to do business yet.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.       <!--[endif]-->Are not ready to step out from our comfort zone (existing lifestyle, income, etc)

<!--[if !supportLists]-->4.       <!--[endif]-->Assumed that in order to pursue our passion, we need lots of money to start off with

It’s all the work of our mind. Yes, it’s the main culprit. It exists deep within each of us. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you are from, what your beliefs are – it exist in ALL human race.

Would our heart come out with all these? No way! Blame it on our MIND, the manipulative INNER DEMON.

To shut it down, you’ll need to work hard. It is your worst enemy as you can never tell when it will come out to belittle you and strike you out mercilessly!

Hence, it’s important to know what exactly slowing you down or stopping you. By acknowledging the fears that you have, you can LEARN on how to DEAL with it and slowly OVERCOME it.

Take each fear and face it and do this one day at a time. Never rush.

Fear #1: We are too focused on making sure that the business will ‘guarantee’ make money.

If you feel this way, then don’t leave that job yet. Reality check, there is NO business in this world that will make money instantly without you having to put some effort to it. The key point here is that, for EVERY business that you intend to do, depending on the nature of the business, some will make money in hours’ time, some takes days, months and years. 

So if you have a business that may take some time to generate revenue, be creative to explore strategies and be patient. Learn from those who have done it before, don’t be afraid to ask & experiment. 

While you are doing it, keep your day job so you can still manage your commitments and obligations. Only leave when you see a steady stream of revenue coming in. In the event that the business doesn’t work, at least you are not flat broke and homeless.

Fear #2: We are too quick to assume that we are not good enough to do business yet.

Successful business people start somewhere. They keep exploring until they get the right success formula. Practice makes perfect. Take gymnasts for example, they don’t go to gym class and instantly become Olympic medalists in 3 months. They train to overcome their fear, pain and physical limitation every day. They are trained psychologically to not give up and keep pushing. The same goes to business, don’t assume you will be the next Millionaire after working for just a month. Unless your won a lottery or robbed the bank.

Fear #3: We are not ready to step out from our comfort zone (existing lifestyle, income, etc)

Again, don’t leave that job yet until you make sure that you have enough income to back you up. We all have to pay bills. Why don’t you start, explore and grow that business while you are working? Work on it on your free time. Make time, even if for an hour every day!

If the business takes most of your time to run, you can switch your employment from fulltime to part time. You can also opt for flexi hours and be paid on hourly basis.

Ultimately, if you are not ready to give up that monthly income yet then take baby steps. Adjust your expenses each month. It’s ok to be prudent and frugal while on your way to riches. The pain of not having to splurge on Store’s season’s clearance and Starbucks fix will not cause death. Imagine that you are on sabbatical mode and you are going through this for your financials health. Reward yourself once you have successfully completed this mission.

Remember that it is this pain that you will appreciate the most later. It keeps you grounded and humbled you as you grow your empire.

Take Sir Alan Sugar. Google up and find out how he started out as a businessman. His life was not easy either.

Fear #4: We assumed that in order for us to pursue our passion, we MUST have lots of money to start off with.

We love to assume don’t we? Even before we try to explore, we give up too easily and assume that we need loads of money to start off with. We were too afraid to be creative to think of ways to start our business.

Why don’t you start small and test the market first? See if there is a demand for it. Ask yourself what other skills or talent do you have to make it work? Can you think of anyone that can partner with you to share the startup cost? Why not consider crowd funding? Have you even thought about how you derived the revenue? What is your business’s unique selling point?

You see, it all started with a passion. With passion, you will explore the possibilities and eventually you will find that ONE business that fits you like a glove. There are even people who explore businesses ended up managing and growing multiples of it!

Now, who says you need to set up a factory and hire 100 of workers immediately? Are you nuts? 

MOVING TO A NEW 'BUNGALOW'

GOTCHA! 

Sorry folks! I was just pulling your legs on this one (grin).

Don't worry, IF I ever moved to this kind of mansion, I'll definitely do the chicken dance on a video and post it on YouTube!

Anywho, in order to serve the readers better, I have decided to transform this blog to an even BETTER platform & design for ease of navigation. That's right! I am getting a new facelift for the blog so readers can straight away zoom into any topic they like whenever they are at the site.

I am super excited! It’s like building my very own private bungalow! This time using my own domain (a dot com) and no longer using the free domain that I currently use. 

In other words, soon I will own a ‘house’ and no longer ‘renting’ :-D

It all started a few days ago when I saw an attractive offer from a website designer company via a social media site (I will share the link soon, promise!). Curious about that attractive promo, I sent them an enquiry. They were super efficient that they contacted me the very next day and I was immediately smitten by the length of professional elaborations and options offered. 

Diligently, I quickly checked their company website and the works that they have done, and BAM! Decision made and work will be commencing soon!

So please be patient whenever you are experiencing the Blog’s downtime as face lifting work will be carried out in phases but rest assured you will love result as much as I will too!

Stay tune for more tips on how to BREAK FREE from the chains that binds you (aka the Job) and learn success tips from REAL successful business people and people who have been there and done that!

I honestly think that there nothing is more inspiring than learning and reading it in their own words.

SUCCESSFUL ICON#3: CHAN KEE SIAK from EXABYTES NETWORK

Now, this interview really means a lot to me because this successful individual is truly a Self Made person!

Meet Chan Kee Siak (From Malaysia), born to a hawker family, he is a self-taught entrepreneur. He started out as a child helper at his parents’ hawker store and later found Exabytes (Web Hosting company) at a tender age of 19 after dropping out of college to focus 100% on his website business.

So how did Chan came up with the name Exabytes for his business? Well, back then there this one well known company that goes by the name of 'Gigabytes'. But then Chan visualises his future business to be bigger, hence naming it Exabytes instead!

Growing the business to where it is today is not bed of roses indeed. But Chan's vision and mission never faltered. I must credit this spirit due the hard life he has when he was growing up. When he first started the business, like any other typical Asian parents, his father were not particularly supportive as he would prefer seeing his son wear office attire and go work for others, just like any other normal people.

But Chan is determined and hungry. And he's glad that he worked so hard to prove those who doubt his dream earlier that he too can be successful despite having a hard life.

Under his master command, Exabytes has since grew and specialized in providing web hosting services since year 2001. It is ranked at number 1 in Malaysia since 2005 and has served over 60,000+ customers ranging from individuals, students, small & medium businesses, to Government and Public Listed Companies in 121 countries. It also manages over 1000+ servers with 100,000+ websites and 1,000,000+ email accounts. 

Exabytes product offering includes the latest Cloud Hosting, Domain Name Registration / Renewal, Business Web & Email Hosting, Reseller Hosting, Easy.My hosted E-Commerce Solution (allows customers to instantly start their online shop and sell on Facebook and their websites), CDN (Content Delivery Network), EBuzzzz Email Marketing, Premium Business Email hosting with exchange ActiveSync, Instant Website, VPS Hosting, Dedicated Servers, Co-Location services and SSL Web Certificate. 

It is indeed my pleasure to interview such a humble and dynamic person!

Me: Hi Chan, thanks so much for your time spared for this interview. Could you please introduce yourself and what business do you currently run?

Chan: Hi there, I am Chan, the Founder and CEO of Exabytes Network Sdn Bhd. Exabytes was formed in Year 2001, and today we specialized in Domain Name, Web Hosting, Cloud Hosting, E-Commerce Hosting, Data Centres and Digital Marketing business. 

Me: How did you start your business? 

Chan: Well, my first business was selling computer hardware as a freelancer. I started that in 1999 right after I graduated from secondary 5. I did it merely as a hobby and also to earn a little bit of side income. 

Because of the computer hardware business, I realized that I needed a website too, so in the process of setting up website, I also realized that I need to subscribe to web hosting.

At that time, web hosting is still considered very new in the market with limited local suppliers. I then saw this as a great opportunity and started as a reseller for a US hosting company, from there on everything is history!

I grew the business to a full time business complete with my own server farms with over 1000 servers and 100 employees. 

Me: Impressive! So how did you first discover your passion and how do you know that you wanted to do it as a business even at an early age?

Chan: Since as a kid, computer has always been my interest and hobby. Also, I prefer the type of business where I don't have to meet client face to face every day. Ideally, the business can be delivered over the internet, via an auto pilot system and still generate recurring income. So I figured that a Web Hosting business model seems like a right fit for me!

Me: But how do you know that this business will eventually makes money?

Chan: Well, I started the business small when I was still a student at that time, doing it part timely like a freelance. In other words, since I started with a low start up cost with a full commitment to the business, not only I manage to maintain a high margin but I still make money out of it.

Me: So you knew all along that you rather work for yourself than having a job & working for others?

Chan: Hahaha! I never really thought about that actually because things just happen. I am an accidental entrepreneur. 

Me: And how long was it (into the business) that you made your first million?

Chan: Well, just like any other businesses, it will take time to break even and make so much money. But for me, it probably took me about 3 years to grow the business revenue to over RM1million and sustaining it at the same time.

Me: You worked hard indeed Chan! So, what is your advice to those who wants to quit their job & pursue their dream?

Chan: Ah, here is something that I have shared recently. And I think these tips are relevant to the question. Feel free to check it out HERE! 

Me: Would you like to offer anything special to Quit Job, Live Life readers?

Chan: I don't mind to offer some discounts for hosting plans or some Exabytes Merchandise, let me know which one do you prefer.

(Note to readers: To enjoy this special offer, please drop a note to quitjoblivelife@gmail.com and we will forward your request to Chan personally). 

Me: That’s truly generous of you Chan! I appreciate it! And thanks again for your time, I hope we can chat again sometime soon.

Chan: Oh not a problem at all. Thanks to you too for this opportunity.

(Above pics) Chan in various media.

(Above pic) Chan's best selling book! From Zerobyte to Exabytes.

So, the TAKE AWAY from this interview:

1   Stay determined even if others does not believe in your dream. 

2   Never give up easily, even if you fall along the way, pick yourself up quickly and continue.

3   Start your business small, keep the operating costs low to enjoy extra returns.

4   Be alert to spot any hidden opportunities that you can explore & transform into a business. 

Note : You can now follow Exabytes on their latest work on Facebook or Blog. To know more about Chan's humble beginnings and how he grew Exabytes, get his book now in your local bookstores. For those who wants to order the book from overseas, you may order from HERE directly. 

HOW MUCH SWEAT DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME A BILLIONAIRE?

I find this infograph really cool to share with.

For more info on its content, head on to the site HERE.

SUCCESSFUL ICON#2 : MAY YEE & EE VEE from THE LAST POLKA

Meet the dynamic and lovely local duos from Malaysia, Ee Vee and May Yee, the masterminds behind the hot selling (and the first of its kind in Malaysia!) Artisan ice cream brand that goes by the name of THE LAST POLKA.

I always thought the name was pretty cute!

The idea to set up the business actually came about unexpectedly during their trip abroad and it is not until they returned that they have decided to explore the idea seriously.

These days, ice cream makers do not plunge their hands into a bowl to make their ice cream, most of the ice cream that you see in the Supermarkets and malls are produced in factories. 

The artisan makers were usually very ‘hands on’ using all the skills that they have learnt in making ice cream together with recipes and improving techniques from time to time.  They experiment every flavour and most of them are truly one of a kind indeed!

(Above pic) Ee Vee & May Yee at work!

But what exactly is an Artisan ice cream?

Quite simply, artisan ice cream is ice cream made by an artisan aka a ‘skilled crafts person’. A crafts person is someone who makes things skilfully by hand.

Artisan producers produced smaller batches of ice cream that will be sold and eaten in the shortest time possible as ‘fresh’ ice cream is always the best to have!

While they also use machines to mix and blend, they still maintain the human touch in choosing and mixing the ingredients and keeping a close eye on the freezing part to make sure the ice cream is of the highest quality possible.

(Above pic) One of The Last Polka yummy ice cream!

So here goes the interview!

Me: Hi there Ee Vee. Thanks so much for your time spared in this short interview. Could you please introduce yourself and what business do you & your partner currently run?

The Last Polka (Ee Vee): Hi there, I’m Ee Vee and together with my partner May we both run The Last Polka, a hand crafted French style ice cream inspired by local and seasonally innovative flavours. Our ice cream flavours ranges from selections that brings back childhood memories to flavours that challenges your notion of what a traditional ice creams should be.

We always source out fresh ingredients for our ice creams and prefer to produce it as hand made. The idea that began at the tail end of 2009 have today, grown to a network within the Klang Valley and can be found in 15 different cafes and restaurants that we currently partner with.

Me: How did you start your business?

The Last Polka (Ee Vee): The idea was conceived over dinner that May and I shared in London in mid of 2009.  And when we both returned from our travels / work it was then where we put our idea into a practical and disciplined action. We started out working from both our mum’s kitchen and a year later moved out to a space dedicated for our own production.  

Me: Wow, that’s amazing Ee Vee! So how did you both discover this passion and how do you both know that you guys wanted to do it as a business?

The Last Polka (Ee Vee): Its funny that I was not really into ice cream as it was always May’s! And when she invited me to be part of the business, I am forever grateful with that.  I love being in the kitchen and am always passionate about food so it was easy for me to just jump in and give the business a shot. May was very convincing and then I found myself needing a distraction from where I was at the time, being at a crossroad with my career. I knew that it was a good business opportunity because the idea was novel here in Malaysia, but more than anything we wanted to challenge ourselves and know we could build something to call our own.

Me: I am glad that you guys went ahead with the plan, so how do you know that this business will make money?

The Last Polka (Ee Vee): Fact is that we didn't even know at all if the business would work initially. Both of us were enthusiastically naïve but positively hopeful. I prayed and trusted God each step of the way and together we both took tiny steps and then big leaps where the business were called for without even having a business plan or financial projection of sorts. Flash back, it does seem like a little risky, but then being entrepreneurial meant that we need to learn how to take risks positively and really, the Artisan ice cream market was indeed an untapped market back then and we were fortunate to be the sole player until a year ago.

Me: And when did you realize that you rather work for yourself than having a job & working for others?

The Last Polka (Ee Vee): Personally I don’t think that it should be a concrete decision that you have to make and then stick to it for the rest of your life. I know a handful of entrepreneurs who have left their businesses to work for other companies. The question really shouldn't be about whom you working for because obviously the grass is always greener on the side. What you need to do is to recognize what you are capable of, your strengths and what you’d like to achieve and know that your work / job will always be a responsibility and commitment if you are working for someone else.

Me: How long was it (into the business) that you made your first million?

The Last Polka (Ee Vee): We are still learning and growing, and yes we will look forward to that soon.

Me: What is your advice to those who wants to quit their job & pursue their dream?

The Last Polka (Ee Vee):  It is not necessary to over think things. Be prudent in every step that you take but most importantly, just take that leap! Every successful ideas and businesses begins with an action. Seek out mentors, learn from them and keep your support group i.e. Close family, friends and like-minded people near you always to keep you motivated along your journey.

Me: Thank you so much again Ee Vee! All the best and look forward to chat with you again sometime soon.

The Last Polka (Ee Vee): Hey, no problem! I hope what I have just shared here will inspire you and others to pursue whatever dream / idea that you and they may have.

(Above pic) Appeared on CLEO Magazine

(Above pic) On The STAR paper (Rage column)

So, the TAKE AWAY from this interview:

1    Just explore your idea and start somewhere. Your idea could be an untapped business!

2   Be prudent when you start your business. 

3   Stay close to people that can help keep you motivated and driven.

4    Being entrepreneurial means that we need to learn how to take risks positively.

5   Know what you are capable of, your strengths and what you’d like to achieve in life.

Note : You can follow The Last Polka on their latest work (and more delicious ice cream flavours on the way!) on their Facebook HERE!.