Charged up

When I read about how a Shanghai lady who came to Singapore 20 years ago selling vacuum cleaners door to door has become a successful businesswoman with two companies turning over more than S$1 million a month, I know it's time for me to buck up.

The difference between immigrants and Singapore-bred citizens is this: we're too complacent and comfortable, we lose our survival instincts and we clearly lack that sense of urgency.

I can see this happening right before my very eyes. Our new business is moving at snail speed. Why is that so? Simply because both partners are not doing this on a full time basis. In other words, we don't depend on this for a living.

The scenario was very different many years ago. After I registered my company, I was desperate to see it work even if it meant working round the clock simply because I had to feed the kids. The desire to succeed gave me immense amount of courage to knock on doors and speak to people in the industry. I was a newbie but my drive and earnesty won people over.

This time, I find myself lacking the drive to push new boundaries. I give myself too many excuses and I'm procrastinating all the time. Given the rate we're working, we'll find ourselves lagging behind the competition in no time. We all know in any business, time is of the essence.

Well, it's time we get serious. Enough of pottering around like a snail, we should put on our turbo engine and charge ahead. Watch out, here comes the turbo snail!