THINGS I’VE LEARNT THAT MADE ME WHO I AMNICHOLAS PAN

40 LEARNINGS AT 40

DON’T BE AFRAIDJESUS IS IN YOUR HEART

As a kid I was afraid to go to the kitchen at night in the dark and my Mom’s advise made me fearless in many ways.

Mom1

YOUR EYES IS BIGBUT YOUR STOMACH IS SMALL

We should never over order food. But this simple philosophy have been applied to all aspects of my life including greed and contentment.

Dad2

DON’T EXPLODEMy tutor Mrs Pandian is wise. She knew I don’t get angry easily kept things in my heart. She caringly advised me not to explode like a volcano when I eventually can’t keep it in anymore if not many people will get hurt.

MRS PANDIAN3

FILL THE PAPER ANDDON’T STOP DRAWING

I could never draw better then Greg and my friends in school and felt discouraged and kept crushing the doodles I did. He advised me to keep drawing and complete it. It was not only logical, it thought me perseverance.

COUSIN GREG4

TURN THE OTHER CHEEKIt is ok to be wronged. Like the bible said, turn the other cheek.

Dad5

JUST PASS CAN ALREADYDad never insisted on academic performance and was stingy with toys, but generous with anything that have got to do with learning.

Dad6

KNOW THE VICESOur beloved late Uncle Kai was like my older brother, he helped me overcome my curiosities when growing up and offered me my first drink and ciggy in the safe family environment.

UNCLE KAI7

BETTER TO GIVETHAN TO RECEIVE

My Dad got me a super cool digital calculator watch at the airport when we were going to Australia when I was 10, but then later gave it away to his friend’s child. I was confused, but that changed my perception of giving and receiving.

Dad8

SOMETIMES PEOPLEJUST WANT TO USE YOU

I’m idealistic, but my wise sister told me about realities.

SISTER MAG9

GRADUATES WITH HIGH SCORESCAN TAKE INSTRUCTIONSSO CAN WORK FOR THE AH BENGS

Street smarts are equally or even more important then book smarts.

Dad10

KNOW THE NICE RESTAURANTS BECAUSE YOU NEED TO BRING PEOPLE THERE

Although now we have apps to find good restaurants, there is no app that can make you be more hospitable and be a good host.

Dad11

PEOPLE JUDGE YOUFOR HOW YOU LOOK

I had my first undercut in my teens in the mid 90s and tied a pony tail, my Dad promptly told me about the realities of how people are judged by their looks.

Dad12

CHOOSE WHAT YOU WANT TO DOIF NOT PEOPLE WILL TELL YOU WHAT TO DO

Dad is an inquisitive and passionate adventurer and hoped I get to do what I liked to do. I’ve hardly asked people what I should do. With this perspective, there are simply too many things I want to do.

Dad13

BETTER TO GIVE SALARYTHAN TO TAKE SALARY

With this non-employee mentality, I learnt ownership and applied it to all that I do.

Dad14

YOU DON'T JUST TAKE CAREOF YOUR STAFFBUT THEIR FAMILIES TOO

It’s not only about dollars and cents. People are people and people have families and things they care about.

Dad15

DO THE DIFFICULT THINGSBECAUSE OTHERS PREFER TO DO THE SIMPLE THINGS

Don’t be intimidated or scared to the take the road less travelled.

Dad16

LEARN THE BAD THINGSYOU NEED TO KNOW THEM

Dad had a book called ”The Black Heart Way” which showed the schemes people have to gain an advantage for themselves. So don’t be stupid and be taken for a ride.

Dad17

DO WHAT YOU ARE GOOD AT ORDO WHAT YOU LIKE

Do what you are good at because it will be easy or do what you like because you will enjoy it even if it is tough. If you are doing something which is both, you are lucky. But first, you need to know yourself.

Mom18

WORK HARDTHE MONEY WILL COME

Don’t focus on the money when working, focus on the things you can learn, that is where the real value is and no one can take it away from you. Work hard and the money will eventually come.

Mom19

IT’S BLESSED TO BE LOVEDThe opposite is true. It is quite an ordeal to love someone. But this is something my Mom also told my very independent girlfriend.

Mom20

DON’T SULK AND ENJOY YOURSELFSINCE YOU ARE ALREADY HERE

I used to fold my arms and put on a black face when I’m with company I did not quite feel comfortable with, but my wife taught me how to be happy and make the most of things.

WIFE PEARL21

THERE IS NO BONDINGWITHOUT FRICTION

Men and Women are two different species and its not possible to be aligned on everything. We fight. Couples fight. The outcome should be a stronger bond between the two.

WIFE PEARL22

BE FAIR TO ALLYOUR CHILDREN

My Father-In-Law have 3 children and he always makes a point to be fair to all of them and never show favouritism.

FATHER IN LAW23

IS WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY USEFUL?

My Dad speaks a lot and too fast sometimes with his passion, but my Mom always gave him feedback. I’m blessed to have worked with them for 3 years to experience this part of them. If there is no purpose in saying something, then it is better to keep quiet.

Mom24

DON’T OVER ESTIMATE YOURSELFKNOW YOUR TRUE VALUE

I asked My Dad’s business friend Mr Tan for some general advise and he said go for 3 interviews every year to know your value. You could be thinking too highly of yourself.

MR TAN FROM HEMSLEY25

IT’S OK TO BE AN INTROVERTBUT BETTER IF YOU CANSOCIALIZE WHEN NEEDED

I’m honestly an introvert. It is this advise from my wife that made me able to mingle with people I don’t normally can or naturally want to. A very valuable professional life skill.

WIFE PEARL26

SITUATIONAL LEADERSHIPI always thought there is one best way to work with people, but apparently not so as it really depends on who you are working with. Different follower maturity need different leadership styles.

EX-BOSS GERARD27

SHIT GRAVITATES TOWARDSGOOD PEOPLE

If you are good and can solve problems, you will be called upon especially during crisis. It is only logical. This allows you to stretch and also bring real value.

EX-BOSS GERARD28

EVERY NEGATIVE THING CAN BE SAID IN A POSITIVE WAY

Everyone like to hear nice things, so its always better to say things positively especially on emails which lack emotions.

EX-BOSS GERARD29

EXPERIENCE AND VALUE COUNTS NOT JUST HARD WORK

The hardest working person not necessary gets paid the most. Experience and Value they bring to the organisation is even more important.

BOSS TRIPTI30

KNOW THE PROPER WAY One late evening at a hotel lobby in Shanghai, we had some drinks and chatted about being professionals in what we do. Although intuition and creative thinking is good, there are also recognised time tested proper ways of doing things.

COLLEAGUE GARY31

DON'T LET PEOPLEPUSH YOU AROUND

No matter how adaptable and collaborative we are, sometimes we just need to stand our ground for what we believe is the right thing to do and not let people push us around.

COLLEAGUE PREETHI32

HOW CAN WE STILLMAKE THIS FUN?

Organisations all face challenges, and what is important is to make sure we still have fun while facing these challenges.

BOSS TRIPTI33

VERTICAL LINES ARE VERTICALOur dear late Jeremy San takes architectural photos and his simple tip of keeping vertical lines vertical made all the difference in photos I took.

FRIEND JEREMY34

KIDS WON'T STARVEI used to be very anxious about our kids not eating properly, but honestly in Singapore, kids won’t starve.

MOTHER IN LAW35

LIVE LIFE WITH STYLEIf we are going to live life, lets do it with style and enjoy the process.

FRIEND DESMOND KHOH36

LOVE PEOPLEREALLY LOVE PEOPLE

Words are cheap and to really love people is by doing what needs to be done and going out of your comfort zone for the people you say you love.

FRIEND DESMOND KHOH37

ENJOY LIFEWork and Life can be stressful, so learn to also enjoy life. My wife taught me how to enjoy shopping, massage, beef, wine. Now life is great.

WIFE PEARL38

THE DIFFICULT TIMES KIDS GO THRU IS NO LESS THAN ADULTS

Seeing our kids go thru their type of stress makes me realise that it is no less then the stress adults face.

DAUGHTER CLIÉ39

DON'T WASTE TIME FEELING SADCleo likes colourful things and being happy, so she don’t understand why people want to spend time being sad.

DAUGHTER CLEO40

THANKS