Life Lesson #4 – Be Sincere

Being sincere no matter what…

My dad’s and mum’s way of treating relatives and friends shaped the way my siblings and I live our lives to a large extent. My dad is an incredibly honest person who always undercharged his customers for goods sold. I remember him charging only $2 or $3 for every 50kg of goods, just enough to cover his business expenses. Back then, $2 or $3 could only afford a bowl of noodles, and I often thought they were not being ‘smart’—they could have charged $5 or even $10 to afford a better lifestyle.

However, as I started my own self-employed business, I began to understand why they ran their business the way they did. As a self-employed person and business owner, I realized that the key isn’t just profitability. Society may measure success in terms of financial gain, but it’s really up to each of us to choose the kind of life we want to lead. We can choose a more humane way of living—a life where happiness is valued more than money. It’s about getting better sleep every night and contributing to a world where everyone can live better.

We all know that it’s easier said than done. However, it’s really my parents’ beliefs and behaviors that have shown us the way. If they could do it, we can too. My parents have always been sincere people, always ready to help anyone in need. I remember how my dad never became angry or held grudges against his customers who refused to pay their debts. It wasn’t until I started working that I truly understood the value of this approach. When I was younger, I couldn’t comprehend why he didn’t raise his profit margin or chase after his debtors, especially when our family was surviving on many meals of porridge with soy sauce. I would ask why my mum bought bigger shoes so I could wear them for a few years, why my school uniforms had patched-up holes, or why I could only afford one canteen meal a week.

Being sincere, no matter the circumstances, is rare in today’s world. Many of us have become selfish, or maybe we justify it by calling it “self-centered” or “me first, no choice lah.” I was tested on this in a big way some time ago. My business shrank by more than 50%, and I invested a lot of resources to help everyone in my team. I believe that synergy, high morale, and the right attitude are the most important elements of team building. Yet, after a series of events, my team seemed to lose that attitude about two years ago.

After many feedback sessions and self-assessment, I realised that I could rebuild my team through my leadership. Leadership, to me, boils down to two things. First, I need to lead by example. About 18 months ago, I started cold calling retail shops, and after two days, I managed to sell three insurance policies. From there, I focused on high net worth clients and became one of the first in the company to sell a high net worth product. My second step was to create numerous activities for my team and engage everyone through team-building efforts. I made sure to celebrate each person’s success, ensuring that the team would continue with a positive attitude. Looking back, I realise that the values I applied in rebuilding my team were inspired by how my parents ran their business.