As a business leader, every season seems to bring a new challenge. Once we overcome one, another appears. A difficult staff issue is resolved… then product issues surface. A product stabilises… then sales slow. We hit a sales milestone… only to realise profitability still needs work.
Go-Life
Losing the Tender, Keeping the Lessons
Last month I went through one of the worst setbacks in my professional life. We were bidding for a major tender—a supply contract that would have secured business for the next two to three years. We had run the numbers, factored in historical data, and made what I believed to be a calculated pricing strategy.
But we were wrong.
The 4Fs that Keep Me Grounded
There was a time when I believed life would feel complete once I had “arrived”—whatever that meant. Maybe it was achieving career success, earning financial stability, or crossing the finish line of a 100km race.
Conquering a 100km Trail Race with Confidence
It has been a year since I last toed the line at a trail ultra, and in that time, my focus has shifted toward my business in Kuala Lumpur and my family who now resides in Singapore. When I started this blog back in 2020, it was a way to chronicle my journey toward completing a 100km trail ultra. Now, having achieved that goal and successfully finishing six of them, I find myself at a crossroads, uncertain if I will chase more of these races in the future. This may very well be my final blog post on ultra racing.
Continue reading “Conquering a 100km Trail Race with Confidence”
More than just a Building
Last month, we took a significant step forward as we moved into our new building. This physical upgrade is more than just a change of address—it’s a symbol of our business growth and the exciting future that lies ahead.
Experience Matters More Than Achievement
Achieving a goal can be exhilarating. Crossing the finish line of a 100km trail race, hitting a career milestone, or reaching a long-desired target is rewarding. But after the initial thrill wears off, the feeling of achievement seems fleeting. You may relish it for a few days or weeks, but eventually it fades into the background. In the long run, the impact of the achievement itself rarely endures.
The Grandmaster Quest
The Asia Trail Master – Grandmaster Quest is a challenge for trail runners to complete six different Asia Trail Master certified races of 100km and above within a period of two years. Runners who complete the Grandmaster Quest receive a place in the Asia Trail Master Hall of Fame, a specially designed Grandmaster Shield and other benefits.
Leaving the Comfort Zone
19-22 October 2023: Ultra-Trail Chiang Rai (UTCR), highly regarded as one of the most challenging and rewarding trail running events in Asia. It takes place in the northern Thai province of Chiang Rai, known for its stunning mountain scenery, lush rainforests, and diverse wildlife.
The Most Beautiful Thing
2-3 September 2023: Instinct – TMBT Ultra-trail Marathon 2023 – Sabah, Malayisa. This year I returned to take on the 109km category. The race started from Lingkubang and finished at Kundasang, making you climb a total elevation of 5,700m. The TMBT acronym stands for ‘The Most Beautiful Thing’ referring to the majestic Mont Kinabalu. The race course is set over forest ridges, river valleys and village trails around the base of Mont Kinabalu.
Bitter with a Sweet Finishing
The 7th edition of the Ultimate Trails of Penang ECO 2023 took place over the weekend of 18-20 August 2023 at Bukit Mertajam, in the state of Penang, Malaysia. The inaugural edition of the Penang ECO 100km was the first ever ultra-trail event in West Malaysia back in 2015.
The Trade-off of Success
This picture only tells half the story. You may see a moment of triumph through the smile and raised hands as I crossed the finish line. A successful outing.
Investing as a Way of Life
One of the best assets your money can acquire are businesses. And a good place to do so is by buying company shares in the stock markets. Now everyone wants to make money from the stock market. But it is risky to invest on your own?
What Pains do you want in your Life?
This is perhaps one of the most important questions you need to ask yourself. Everyone wants the good stuff – success, riches, fitness, happiness, an easy life or just feeling good. Everyone knows what they want out of life. And it is easy to understand why.
Don’t Look for Happiness
Judging by the number of ‘How to be Happy’ books published over the last decade, everyone must be looking for it. I, too, once wrote about finding happiness not too long ago. Since then, my perspective on this has somewhat evolved, and refined.
Conquering the Mountain in Me
THE NORTH FACE® Malaysia Mountain Trail Festival 2022 (MMTF) took place in Taiping over the weekend of 25-27 November 2022. It was an international trail race with over 1,500 runners from 31 countries participating in 5 categories – Vertical Kilometre, 13KM, 25KM, 50KM and 100KM.
You will Never be Ready
The 2022 Ultimate Trails of Penang (UTOP) was held over the weekend of 8-9 October at the Northern part of the beautiful Penang Island. The top category 100km, with a total elevation gain of about 6,000m, has the reputation of being the toughest 100km trail ultra in Malaysia.
Brutal yet Beautiful
The Most Beautiful Thing – TMBT Ultra-Trail Marathon was successfully raced on the weekend of 17-18 September 2022, after a two years postponement due to COVID-19. This was the 10th Anniversary chapter. I had the privilege to be a part of this wonderful yet challenging race experience.
Celebrating a New Milestone
More than two years ago, before Covid-19 hit us, I set out a goal to complete a 100km ultra-trail race within 24 hours. Today I can humbly say that I have accomplished that.
Age is More than Just a Number
It was my birthday yesterday. It was a simple affair of dinner and cake just for our family of four. During the day, I worked in the office as usual. No celebration or fanfare, no one noticed that I aged another year that day.
Running and Your Knees
Recently my wife organised a nice island vacation for the family to celebrate our anniversary. We were looking forward to some quality family time together, just the four of us, away from immediate family and friends. We arrived, checked in and promptly made our way to check out the pool and beach when whoa… I bumped into my ex-boss!