Ramen To Riches

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This is part 1 of the series, check out part 2 here.

How did Asia’s Best Entrepreneurs, Idealists and Trendsetters make it? Hear the war-stories behind their movements. I’m your host Chris Chong, and on today’s episode, hear the biggest lessons from one of Singapore’s purveyors of high society values. For over a decade he held the controls of the pages detailing the who’s who in the richest country in Southeast Asia, as leader of the high society magazine, Singapore Tatler.

Here’s why we’re telling this story.

If you are graced with success, what kind of values should you adopt if you want to be appreciated in high society?

Is Singapore high society anything like the movie, Crazy Rich Asians?

Singapore Tatler is a well-known magazine that details the lives of the rich and famous, and if you have friends who live in the right postal code, you’ll know part of their calendar involves being featured in photo shoots for the Tatler, charity dinners and balls. I’m sure much of it is for the aesthetics but the big thing about being successful is your network, and the Tatler is the gateway to those who have made it.

He opens up about comparisons to the movie Crazy Rich Asians, which was based in Singapore, his views on materialism, social media, parenting by the mega-rich and his legacy at the Tatler,

Biography

Gilbert Cheah is Managing Director of Catalyst Communications, a strategic brand consultancy specialising in the luxury and high net worth markets. He is also a Star Editor and Columnist for Curatedition, a luxury and style website that was launched this year by actress, filmmaker and author Jeanette Aw. Cheah was formerly the Managing Director of Edipresse Media Singapore, publishers of Singapore Tatler, Tatler Homes, Tatler Weddings, Singapore’s Best Restaurants, Appetite, Best of Singapore, and other leading print and digital publications, from 2004 to 2016. In the almost 12 years he served in this capacity, Singapore Tatler enjoyed unprecedented success, winning Luxury Magazine of the Year for seven consecutive years from 2008 to 2014 and Luxury Website of the Year in 2014 and 2015. Cheah was also responsible for the creation and launch of Singa

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Hey, let’s talk about weddings and erectile dysfunction today. Firstly, weddings can get really luxurious in Singapore, one friend had a wedding in Bali and they paid the government to shoot some chemical in the clouds so that it wouldn’t rain for their outdoor wedding. They actually paid to change the environment for one day.

So I was in Singapore over the weekend for a wedding and it was one of the best time that I’ve ever had. Firstly, it was a really good friend getting married. And I’ve known him before and after he got into his relationship, and he was a great man before and now has become an even better man. Secondly, it was at Capella, that’s the 6-star hotel on the Sentosa island that just hosted the god, Kim Jong-Un, and President Trump, in their Singapore Summit. This is probably the best hotel that you can have a wedding at in Singapore, and it was just so well thought out. Lavish like you would expect, no flooding, like in the Crazy Rich Asians movie, but just as lush.

I’m so happy whenever I see a friend get married. Although I don’t see myself getting married anytime soon, I still love that moment when the bride and the bride’s dad walk down the aisle and at the end of their walk, the dad gives his daughter’s hand to the groom. I first saw this at my own brother’s wedding about 7 years ago in New York, now before, I had never wanted to ever get married, I just didn’t see it as being necessary to confirm the love of two people, I saw it more as a legal document. I guess a lot of my friends are starting to tell me they don’t want to get married, or I could just be living past that stage when everyone is getting married, now that I’m 29. When I saw my sister in-law’s dad hand her hand over to my brother’s hand it really changed my whole view of marriage. That acceptance of the responsibility to take care of one person for your whole life, and to be able to give them so much of yourself, and to enjoy the rest of your life together, suddenly made sense to me. And I saw that again last weekend at that wedding. It gets me every time.

Here’s the other unusual thing about Asian weddings, usually what you bring to the wedding as a present is an amount of money, a symbol of appreciation, in a red envelope. Some of you might know about this but for a guy who maybe goes to only a handful of weddings, I have no idea how much to put in the envelope. If you’re listening to this and you’re a dweeb like me, apparently there are a couple of websites that give you an exact amount that you should give based on the hotel that the wedding is that. Wish I’d known that earlier. I thought, this would be a great time if I had a girlfriend, I’m sure a girlfriend would be able to know about this stuff.

So packets can range from $30 for your backyard, down-to-earth, simple catered humble celebration to up to $150 per person for the upmarket hotels. And if you’re a foreigner trying to find a red packet, you can f

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Listen to Part 1 of this series here.

Hi, welcome to part 2 of a series on how to crush negative emotions without using food, cigarettes or alcohol and I’ve been on every bender conceivable. And what I noticed was then when I was pigging out on one of those things, or sometimes all of them, I actually started to resemble a pig. I looked bloated, well I already had these little eyes, I just looked piggish.

So I was on a date last weekend and I asked my date, “how do you handle negative emotions without using food, cigarettes, or alcohol? And she said, “I don’t. I kinda just let them bottle up inside me until they all burst out at once.” That’s probably the worst response, I could kind of imagine her having a meltdown or suddenly exploding in public.  For example, I was working at a newspaper in Hong Kong where I was denying to myself how bad the company culture wise, everybody was treating everybody else like crap, everybody was sabotaging and throwing each other under the bus, my colleagues were resigning every month. It was very tense until one day a junior reporter sent out an email to all the management about an issue that could have easily been sent to just one person, and in defence of that person I chastised the junior reporter in public, but I lost my control and I realise now it was bad judgement to publicly scold someone. I kinda wish I had practised these skills more before joining such a negative work culture, and if you happen to join a company with bad culture,  here are some other things you can do to release steam before it shows.

When you stop taking substances to deal with negative emotions, you’ll be surprised at first by the intensity of the feelings that you have once you reduce or stop taking the substance,  but just remember that your feelings have been exaggerated because they’ve been dulled for so long, will eventually go away. Your feelings, just like the high you get from the substances, are almost equally short lived. Most negative emotions are short, they come and go. It may be that you don’t need to “do anything” in response to a feeling, other than just notice that you are feeling it and wait it out. Activities like meditation and yoga can help you develop the skill of observing and sitting with a feeling.

So that’s what I did when I was going through a down patch in my life I was searching for something new that could help replace my old ways of partying. One of my friends in the startup community in Singapore suggested that I check out this meditation retreat called vipassana, it’s quite a well-known meditation retreat that is non-religious, and it’s taken by a lot of entrepreneurs. Very quickly I’ll explain what involved, it’s 10 nights where you’re disconnected from the outside world, you don’t have any access to technology, you don’t have access to talking to anyone, you take a vow of silence and you just s

I personally admire anyone who’s willing to keep on trying to outdo themselves, especially in the daily grind when it feels like the odds are stacked against you. Regardless of whether you’re an entrepreneur or not, making your dream a reality does not necessarily require you to be self-employed, but it requires dedication, will, and effective time management.

But what happens when your chips are down? When you’re at your weakest moment when you lapse in judgement and feel the temptation to give in.

Does having a cigarette make you feel more energized and focused? Does having an alcoholic drink make you feel less anxious or help wind down tension at the end of a long day? Do you use food, cigarettes, or alcohol to handle negative emotions?

The reality is, people use substances because they have an effect that they appreciate. Right? Like, think back. I know for me, I indulged in all the above, it just felt too good not to. At work, we would go to our local KFC for lunch, even breakfast, it was almost evil to work above a mall where they had every fast food option, or I would always follow my colleagues for a smoke, and as soon as it hit 8 or 9 on a Friday, I was thinking about drinks.

The problem for me, however, is that the effect of substances is short term. Sure you can always take another vodka shot, order another chicken drumstick. You can go to a club and let your friends cheer you on as you chug down half a bottle of vodka, we’ve all been there. But once the effect has passed, you may find that you want to feel those effects again and again, because you haven’t addressed the underlying state of how you’re actually feeling.

Everyone has investment banker friends who have to order a bottle at a club every weekend, it’s how they say they relax and blow steam, and sure, they work hard and play hard. And damn, I bet everyone knows someone who parties too hard unless that person is you. But one weekend without their outlet and I’ll be hanging with them and feeling how tense and irritable they are without partying. They just need more and more to fix their unhappiness.

If you use a substance to help you feel socially relaxed, then when you don’t use, you may find yourself experiencing withdrawal symptoms, avoiding social situations and then feeling like crawling into a ball and hiding underground. Around last year I stopped clubbing because the hangovers got so bad that I would have to spend the whole day indoors managing the pain in my brain. And I didn’t do a very good job of that either, I was grumpy and withdrawn from my friends for most of Sunday. It felt like there was construction work happening just inside my ears. But no one ever told me to slow down, so if you’re someone who feels terrible after a night out, then listen on. I’ve been there, done that. It may be that you have been using substances for so long that you feel like you have lost all the skills at managing your feelings alcohol or other compulsive behaviours like sex or buying lots of things.

Everyone has their way to release, to let steam out, and in your 20s it’s really easy to be tempted by indulgent food or alcohol that allows you to escape or cigarettes that can be a coping mechanism to stress. But at some point, you have to ask yourself is the comedown and pain worth that little high? Is your behaviour sabotaging your looks, intelligence, mental wellbeing, and friendships closest to you?

If you are trying to reduce or stop using substances you will probably find that you have to learn to deal with your feelings in a different way. So

How did Asia’s Best Entrepreneurs, Idealists and Trendsetters make it? Hear the war-stories behind their movements. I’m your host Chris Chong, and on today’s episode, hear why an entrepreneur believes getting up after a devastating loss is a narrative that’s more important than getting the prize itself. She’s a female entrepreneur, she’s fighting her inner demons, she’s fighting sexism and misogyny online, it’s Krystal Choo. This is part 2 to a series, check out part 1 here.

Here’s why we’re telling this story.

Just how badly are female entrepreneurs treated in our community?

Do you think that a person’s appearance plays a factor in their success?

How do you overcome a devastating loss like failure or bullying?

Krystal is a two-time TEDx speaker and serial entrepreneur, her latest startup Tickle, go to www.trytickle.com, is a marketplace that offers community-driven experiences, you can sign up for classes learning how to cook traditional dishes only a Mum would know, or parkour training for a zombie apocalypse, because we all know with President Trump a zombie apocalypse is probably just around the corner.

If you’re interested in building a marketplace in Singapore, curious about how one person stands up against online bullies, or you want to hear an inspiring story of overcoming huge hardship, this podcast episode is for you.

One person in Singapore who strikes me as an individual who has had an unfairly high amount of online abuse is Krystal Choo, she is a famous female entrepreneur here in Singapore who upon first glance you have to objectively admit is very beautiful. Haha ok hold your horses, she has a boyfriend, but beyond that, she also faces a lot of online criticism for just being who she is, and that is a female entrepreneur who’s trying, like the rest of us, to hustle for a better life for herself.

If I was Krystal Choo, I wouldn’t be this cool, I would have had multiple breakdowns, I would have changed my personality, I would have shied away from public, think about what you would do if there was an online forum that existed for the sole purpose of just writing degrading comments about you. Of course, you would use the internet less and try to explore your real life more, if you could take a break from checking that forum, maybe blacklisting it from a website that you’re allowed to view. I mean if it were me, I would have broken down.

Once Upon a Time, the internet was a hurtful place, it was a place where many people’s hopes and aspirations were shot down by overly critical and harsh comments by completely anonymous people. Every day, people left the internet feeling more negative than they were before, and eventually one day, they started to write hateful comments. Because of that, the internet became a breeding ground of hate, bigotry, and dehumanized our very sense of self. Until finally, The internet was treated like a bar, if you come in and act rude or you’re too drunk, you were kicked out. That’s my dream for maintaining a respectable place where people can come, have fun, maybe flirt and dance a little bit, and then leave safely after having a good time. But someone needs to put that sign up on the bar, you know, the one

How did Asia’s Best Entrepreneurs, Idealists and Trendsetters make it? Hear the war-stories behind their movements. I’m your host Chris Chong, and on today’s episode, hear why an entrepreneur believes getting up after a devastating loss is a narrative that’s more important than getting the prize itself. She’s a female entrepreneur, she’s fighting her inner demons, she’s fighting sexism and misogyny online, it’s Krystal Choo. This is part 1 to a series, check out part 2 here.

Here’s why we’re telling this story.

Just how badly are female entrepreneurs treated in our community?

Do you think that a person’s appearance plays a factor in their success?

How do you overcome a devastating loss like failure or bullying?

Krystal is a two-time TEDx speaker and serial entrepreneur, her latest startup Tickle, go to www.trytickle.com, is a marketplace that offers community-driven experiences, you can sign up for classes learning how to cook traditional dishes only a Mum would know, or parkour training for a zombie apocalypse, because we all know with President Trump a zombie apocalypse is probably just around the corner.

If you’re interested in building a marketplace in Singapore, curious about how one person stands up against online bullies, or you want to hear an inspiring story of overcoming huge hardship, this podcast episode is for you.

One person in Singapore who strikes me as an individual who has had an unfairly high amount of online abuse is Krystal Choo, she is a famous female entrepreneur here in Singapore who upon first glance you have to objectively admit is very beautiful. Haha ok hold your horses, she has a boyfriend, but beyond that, she also faces a lot of online criticism for just being who she is, and that is a female entrepreneur who’s trying, like the rest of us, to hustle for a better life for herself.

If I was Krystal Choo, I wouldn’t be this cool, I would have had multiple breakdowns, I would have changed my personality, I would have shied away from public, think about what you would do if there was an online forum that existed for the sole purpose of just writing degrading comments about you. Of course, you would use the internet less and try to explore your real life more, if you could take a break from checking that forum, maybe blacklisting it from a website that you’re allowed to view. I mean if it were me, I would have broken down.

Once Upon a Time, the internet was a hurtful place, it was a place where many people’s hopes and aspirations were shot down by overly critical and harsh comments by completely anonymous people. Every day, people left the internet feeling more negative than they were before, and eventually one day, they started to write hateful comments. Because of that, the internet became a breeding ground of hate, bigotry, and dehumanized our very sense of self. Until finally, The internet was treated like a bar, if you come in and act rude or you’re too drunk, you were kicked out. That’s my dream for maintaining a respectable place where people can come, have fun, maybe flirt and dance a little bit, and then leave safely after having a good time. But someone needs to put that sign up on the bar, you know, the one

Welcome to part 2 in this series that looks at how entrepreneurs can date in the modern world, with a look at how apps like Tinder has changed the game for us. This podcast is co-hosted with Ayla Kremb (LinkedIn profile).

Check out Part 1 here. Also, warning that this episode contains some swear words.

Hey I hope that you enjoyed this episode on the brutally funny truths that you should know about dating an entrepreneur. If you enjoyed anything about this episode, the biggest compliment that you can pay myself and Ayla is to share this podcast with a friend family or colleague. Thanks for listening and have a great day

Why Dating An Entrepreneur Is Very Different To The Norm.

Here’s the real story. If you think it’s just about work-life balance, think again. There are a few quirks inherent in the entrepreneurial personality you should understand as entrepreneurs are their own breed of boyfriend or girlfriend.

Firstly, it’s not going to be easy. Entrepreneurs are not easy to deal after work. They can be emotional rollercoasters, they can be fragile and despondent, they can be exhausted and barely willing to invest any energy outside of their business. On the flip side, they can also be neurotic or controlling. But they’re also beautiful in their own way.

This podcast is co-hosted with Ayla (Kremb), originally from Sweden and now living in Singapore. Ayla mentors a ton of successful entrepreneurs in the startup community in Singapore. She mentors me, and she’s helped me through the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. She’s witty, she’s smart, she’s super energetic. If you’re interested in her background, check her out on Linkedin, her name is in the show notes. Welcome to a new series to help you understand us crazy entrepreneurs so that you can date one if you so choose. Just a warning that this podcast contains expletives.

Co-hosted with Ayla Kremb (LinkedIn profile).

If you’re an entrepreneur, the best thing you can do is be honest about the startup lifestyle and understand how it might impact current or potential partners. If you’re dating an entrepreneur or thinking about it, you should realize exactly what you’re getting yourself into.

Finally, remember this responsibility, you’ll be one of their most important relationships because entrepreneurship can be lonely.

Hey I hope that you enjoyed this episode on the brutally funny truths that you should know about dating an entrepreneur. Stay tuned for next week’s episode where we go into part two about the role that Tinder has played on how entrepreneurs date. I’ll be making podcasts in series so that you can check them out in different parts.

If you enjoyed anything about this episode, the biggest compliment that you can pay me and Ayla is to share this podcast with a friend family or colleague. Thanks for listening and have a great day!

Check out Part 2 to the series here.

Last week’s episode covered the type of mindset needed to be an entrepreneur, and how you have to be open to pivoting away from your old career. That can be quite a hard decision in itself when you’re thinking about all the old perks and stability that you had in your old career. I opened up about how at a very young age of 19, I made the decision to ditch a future in law and tried my luck in the modelling industry, where I learnt lessons that would mould my future entrepreneurial journey when I co-founded Groupon Singapore two years later. The podcast ended with a very funny story about me trying my hardest to pretend to be a model and involved a flirty moment with a woman in her late 40s. Check it out, part 1, if you haven’t yet.

This next episode will be about how you need to be resourceful and adaptable if you are trying to fit in a new environment. With entrepreneurship, your environment is constantly changing. Not only is your internal environment changing, your mind and your ideas, but your inner circle or startup is changing including the opinions of those closest to you like your friends or family, and then your external environment and outside players are also changing rapidly, like your allies and competitors. Obviously, you should take care of yourself first, your sanity, then your inner circle, and then your externals like partners or enemies.

When you decide to be an entrepreneur, you’re either coming as an industry Insider, or you’re coming as an outsider. As an outsider, If you’re trying to enter a new industry that you’ve never had any exposure to before, it’s going to be much harder because you’re going to have to learn about all the unique characteristics that make up that industry. if you’re coming as an industry Insider, then you’ll have the experience, the knowledge, and the contacts, to give you an edge. Regardless, you have to be extremely good at listening for the signals so that you can easily change your plan or strategy to accommodate things that you may not have thought of. Remember, your now outside of your comfort zone, so reaching so high means that you’re going to have to stretch yourself in new environments.

The famous saying goes “a Leopard Can’t Change Its Spots”, but one thing that entrepreneurs are good at is being able to change their spots to match the situation. There’s a famous quote: “You don’t have to be the man or woman you were five minutes ago.” And that applies on so many levels, not only is it referring to making errors and learning from past mistakes and being able to forgive yourself then changing how you do things moving forward, but also to a deeper level, it could mean being able to adapt your identity to fit certain situations.

Here’s a personal example. When I was 19 years old in Singapore and trying to figure out who I am, I thought how high could my aspirations take me? I was studying law but I wanted to be something so much more. I asked myself, “what else could I be?” Well the only Stakes against me was the fact that I had a law degree and I wasn’t planning to use it, but once I moved on from that I had everything to look forward to. In the last episode, I talked about how I tried to get into the modelling industry when I clearly didn’t fit, I was not tall enough or good-looking enough. But I got a lot of gigs out of it, just basically by pretending like I belonged in the modelling industry. I was looking at how other models would act, and I started to act the way they did and being a job where it’s mostly about your