In the journey of entrepreneurship and the pursuit of making a difference, there are those who are driven by a profound passion that not only fuels their ambitions, but also shapes the essence of their endeavors. These individuals are not just pursuing a career; they are living out their dreams through every action they take. Their passion manifests itself in creative and unconventional approaches to problem-solving, leading to innovative solutions that defy the status quo. Even in the face of adversity, they remain undeterred, continuously finding ways to reignite their drive. Their stories are a testament to the power of passion in turning visions into reality, and they offer invaluable advice to aspiring entrepreneurs on harnessing this passion to propel their ventures forward.
Tell us about yourself and what you’re passionate about, which led to what you’re doing now.
As the saying goes, ‘The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree’. My passion was pretty much inspired by my dad. Straight after secondary school, he started working with my grandfather at his company that he started in 1943 during the war.
Cyclect had humble beginnings. My grandfather literally cycled around Bencoolen street repairing household appliances in the company’s early days. Business grew through his tenacity and Cyclect ventured into ship repairs. As our reputation grew further, Cyclect scored contracts with the Royal Navy and other large ship owners who recognized our service quality. My dad was roped in and he learnt everything from the ground up.
Today, Cyclect is a multi-disciplinary engineering company delivering sustainable engineering and maintenance solutions for over 80 years, boasting a team of over 1000 staff across nine countries.
Can you describe what passion in action looks like to you?
When I was younger, I would usually hang out with my dad on Sundays. Back then, he loved fixing his car, to the extent of changing the car’s gearbox at home. These sessions made up our father-son bonding sessions and piqued my interest and inspired me into tinkering, dismantling, and repairing whatever I could lay my hands on. I was given a nickname in Hokkien, ‘Chiu Chioh’, which means itchy hands. Eventually, I became the family handyman.
My tinkering ranged from mechanical to electrical. I was just intrigued with how things work and somehow, had the tenacity to fix things myself whenever possible if they broke down. Looking back, my dad could also have easily paid a mechanic to do the job, but his passion for engineering prevailed and I followed after him.
That very passion led to me joining Cyclect in 1999 and the rest is history. Our portfolio of services have since grown, as we continue providing reliable engineering solutions to thousands of industry clients each year, with the goal of making positive impact on society, economy, environment, and our community through our operations.
(Related: Driven by Passion - Martin Berry)
Tell us about a time when your passion led you to pursue and unconventional approach or solution. What did this experience teach you?
Funny story – in my younger days, I really didn’t like getting out of bed to turn off the lights at night. Because of that, I decided to automate my room. It was uncommon then, but I really wanted to do it. I sourced and bought parts to remotely control all the lights and projector screen.
This project was driven by interest (and frankly my laziness), but I had fun and it taught me to be resourceful and to appreciate things for its purpose.
Today, this influences the Cyclect culture as our teams are encouraged to try to review resources and ‘do what others cannot do’. Now, my residence is fully automated and controlled by newer technologies with cloud and voice (I still don’t like getting out of bed to turn off my lights at night).
How do you maintain and fuel your drive during periods of difficulty or stagnation?
Challenges and dry spells are inevitable in life. But isn’t life about balance between work and play? If you hit a wall and can’t break through, it’s time to take a step back, take a breather, and when you’re good and fresh, ideas and inspiration can flow again or even better, the answer may reveal itself right in front of you.
"Be like water", as the saying goes, to remain dynamic and flexible, but yet still true to your roots and principles and don’t worry about things you can’t control.
(Related: 5 individuals who are primed for passion)
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs when it comes to leveraging their passion effectively?
Build a team in an environment that is cohesive, friendly, and enjoyable without sacrificing quality. An average person works a third of their life – make your team one you look forward to go back to work with. As you treat them well and fairly, they will watch your back and run the marathon with you while doing something you’re passionate about.
We are taught all the time to work hard and pursue your goals, but the saying I try to cling to and remind myself constantly is to ‘Never, never, never, give up’.
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