Dream, Believe, Persevere...

Every accomplishment starts out from a dream. A dream that we can make a difference to the world we live in. 

 

About 2 years ago, my wife and I started talking about making a difference in our respective work industries. Somehow, in our conversations, we knew deep inside that the time was right for us to venture into what we term as "unfamiliar" territory.

 

For me, it was creating a regional group of companies that can take the family business beyond the shores of Singapore. Diversifying into the field of IP management and creating a visible brand difference for our current group of companies. A clear step up the food-chain, if I may say so myself. Sounds tough? But this was not even close to what my wife was intending to do!

 

For her, it was a complete reinvention of her industry. Think of what Steve Jobs and Apple did with the iMac and iPhone and you will have an inclination as to what she plans to achieve. Only difference is that she is planning on doing this with the baby feeding industry and to "go where no man has gone before". She intends to revolutionize the world with her products that promotes breastfeeding and allows all mothers and babies to enjoy the experience while minimizing associated lifestyle obstacles. In fact, China is one of her target markets and she intends to "turn it into a pro-breast feeding country within the next 10 years!" A major feat to accomplish given that only 10% of mothers breastfeed for more than a month due to perception and lifestyle reasons. My role in all of this, is to help her turn her dream into a reality. We dubbed it "Project Neu".

 

Now, almost 2 years into Project Neu, our funding is completed, designs and prototypes are ready and even trademarks and patents are being filed as we speak. However, in recent times, the management team had started questioning her directions and overall complexity of her products. After numerous interrogations, and virtually being beaten down in the board room, her confidence is starting to shake. Her vision is now starting to waver and compromises are being considered. No my dear, do not go there. Stick to the vision, ACT upon it and PERSEVERE until you turn it into reality! The boardroom firing squad is always notorious for destroying visions and especially so when your major investors are simply looking at the bottom-line. Do not be fearful to insist on what you believe. After-all, we all bought into this because we believed in your beliefs. When it comes to your vision, let them know that it is uncompromising!

 

Follow your dreams, Believe in yourself and Don't Give Up!

 

The story about a boy named Sparky

 

For Sparky, school was all but impossible. He failed every subject in the eighth grade. He flunked physics in high school, getting a grade of zero.

 

Sparky also flunked Latin, algebra, and English. He didn’t do much better in sports. Although he did manage to make the school’s golf team, he promptly lost the only important match of the season. There was a consolation match; he lost that too.

 

Throughout his youth, Sparky was awkward, socially. He was not actually disliked by the other students; no one cared that much. He was astonished if a classmate ever said hello to him outside of school hours. There’s no way to tell how he might have done at dating. Sparky never once asked a girl to go out in high school. He was too afraid of being turned down.

 

Sparky was a loser. He, his classmates…everyone knew it. So he rolled with it. Sparky had made up his mind early in life that if things were meant to work out they would. Otherwise, he would content himself with what appeared to be his inevitable mediocrity.

 

However, one thing was important to Sparky — drawing. He was proud of his artwork. Of course, no one else appreciated it. In his senior year of high school, he submitted some cartoons to the editors of the yearbook. The cartoons were turned down. Despite this particular rejection, Sparky was so convinced of his ability that he decided to become a professional artist.

 

After completing high school, he wrote a letter to Walt Disney Studios. He was told to send some samples of his artwork, and the subject for a cartoon was suggested. Sparky drew the proposed cartoon. He spent a great deal of time on it and on all the other drawings he submitted. Finally, the reply came from Disney Studios. He had been rejected once again. Another loss for the loser.

So Sparky decided to write his own autobiography in cartoons. He described his childhood self — a little boy loser and chronic underachiever. The cartoon character would soon become famous worldwide. For Sparky, the boy who had such lack of success in school and whose work was rejected again and again, was Charles Schulz.

 

He created the “Peanuts” comic strip and the little cartoon character whose kite would never fly and who never succeeded in kicking a football — Charlie Brown.

Remember the story of Sparky and may we always look back and remember this day as "The day our Dreams prevailed over common sense (cents!)"

 

The spirit of Project Neu continues...