The Decode Diary

It is not entrepreneurship if there isn't any hardship along the journey. For Sha, a podcast hosted by three ladies quickly brewed into something they never would have expected. But Sha kind of saw it coming. She knew the importance of having contracts between the three of them in order to protect themselves.

And I think by reading this you would know what had caused the fallout.

Listen to the entire conversation to grasp the importance of having contracts when you first start running a business: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5c4BEVO9Om6rf1GoxaanV2?si=1gagwVV1RziwAh9Oe1YLDQ

When the wave of podcasting hit Singapore shores, Sha was totally not adamant about the idea of riding it. Her relentless entrepreneurial spirit helped her brave through the ups and downs of the businesses and she knew pivoting was essential at one point.

Say What SG is a podcast based in Singapore and she has her own fair share of guests who talk about life's lessons in a touching way that anyone can walk away having learnt something new. I respect that a lot.

Listen to the full episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5c4BEVO9Om6rf1GoxaanV2?si=1gagwVV1RziwAh9Oe1YLDQ

One thing I learnt from this conversation is that our friends may not be the best business partners, but business partners can turn out to be the best friends in our lives.

Sha and her business partner made this sound simple when her business partner decided to step in and hold the fort for her when she was ill.

Listen to the entire episode on how the business relationship blossomed into a friendship of lifetime: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5c4BEVO9Om6rf1GoxaanV2?si=1gagwVV1RziwAh9Oe1YLDQ

If there is one thing I learnt from Sha about starting a business, it is to start it properly with legal contracts. The contracts are there to protect us during tough times. It was a conversation I needed to really get The Decode Diary up to speed and a legal business. This conversation came in at the right time.

Sha is such a kind and lovely nanny, as she calls herself, but also a wonderful friend. If you listen to the entire conversation, you will find out how she left the Ministry of Education as a teacher to start her own business, tutoring kids in English and Science. The entrepreneurial journey didn’t just stop there, she started a pastry shop with her business partner, and immediately got out of the business when the numbers were in red. To that, I call it a smart exit.

Listen on to find out how she started her podcasting journey and how she runs this business!

Timeline:

[00:00] From being a teacher to a clinic manager and then a tutor

[08:08] Setting up systems for her business

[13:28] Holding the fort for her business partner

[14:57] How Simply Sinless Started

[18:48] When it came time to close it down

[21:42] Pivoting to survive

[25:15] The rise of Say What SG

[30:36] Realizations in the podcasting industry

[33:10] She was curious about The Decode Diary

[34:55] The reason she left the Ministry of Education

[41:34] Teaching the entrepreneur’s mindset to her kids

[49:41] The fallout of The Onion Aunties

[58:18] What is actually Say What SG

[01:01:06] How does Say What SG get sponsors?

[01:04:48] Advice for new podcasters

For many, working in the airline industry is a dream job, specifically as part of the flight crew for obvious reasons. For Prateep, however, the perks and benefits are nice-to-haves, but not the reason he would stay for. While the company is not the main reason, he saw it that he would not be in the same industry for the years to come, especially when he is entering the prime age of starting a family. Eventually, he made the decision to quit. 

He did it with no backup plan of what to do next. This topic is controversial because many would advise against quitting without another job offer in their hands. More so than ever, Prateep is preparing to start a family. I wanted to get an inside look at what it means to quit a job. If you are looking to do so, I think this conversation is for you. If you are in the airline industry and you resonate with his experience, I think this conversation is for you too.

Timeline:

[00:00] Flying with Singapore Airlines

[06:36] The best thing he got from being a flight attendant

[10:47] Going on social media is a strict no-no

[17:15] Is it wise to leave the industry early?

[22:00] Misconceptions about being a flight attendant and the airline industry

[26:58] Karen passengers

[31:02] Colleagues are harder to deal with

[38:25] Why did he quit?

[42:40] Nobody likes last minute standby call-ups

[48:42] His family supported his decision to quit

[51:20] Planning his annual leaves a year ahead but end up not getting them

[54:18] His behavior after quitting

[55:59] The balance between family and flying

[01:00:27] Financial plan after quitting

[01:04:29] Advice on job quitting

[01:06:01] Are there many flight attendants who want to quit?

[01:07:24] One thing he learnt about the industry 

I sat down with Johnny to understand if we are able to cope with traumas using mindfulness. For so long, my view on mindfulness is that it helps us detach from emotions, but more often than not, most of us are humans and cannot skip away emotions. We will feel it some day or sooner.

Johnny was spot on that mindfulness does not cure emotions, but simply it is a practice that helps us understand what is going on around us. Sometimes traumatic events happen and we can only feel the outcome. To those suffering, my only hope is that all these will pass too. If the pain is too much to take, please see a therapist.

Listen to the full conversation here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4IG2Eyh9x7QBueeY2jM13D?si=vx0kby6uS-24IA3mObLKWQ

It is ultimately how we perceive the matters around us that shapes us who we are. Depending on our mindset, an ordeal can turn into an experience that teaches you grit and persistence. On a smaller scale, if we view minor events as unforgivably serious occasions, we are likely to always feel stressed and strained.

Here, only we know our surroundings. Nobody can tell us what our world looks like, except ourselves. I think it's true, there are times I were in a situation where my friends or family told me how the outcome was not that bad but I actually turned a blind eye to it. I think we all must have been there. I also think it is time to be mindful at these times so we can tune our mind to be recognizing the right things.

Listen to the full conversation here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4IG2Eyh9x7QBueeY2jM13D?si=vx0kby6uS-24IA3mObLKWQ