I do not know what I'm getting myself into!
My whole life, I've been building something. And I have always been building brands.
There are things I've succeeded and achieved success to a certain extent while some did not.
I'll start from the first fashion brand I started at age 24-25 years old, EVOLVE. It started from the dormitory of NTU and the shirts were distributed to a shop in Queensway Shopping Centre. And then more fashion brands continued to be churned out such as SnA (Single and Available was born) sold in Bugis+, followed by EVOLVE black label.
We-man quarterly Magazine appeared online and ended just as abruptly. It was a great idea but the partnership with the editor ended.
Then, my tuition centre appeared out of nowhere at 30 years old and I must say this is the business that gave me my financial freedom.
Oh, and I nearly forgot about Sally and Son bakery which is born in 2020 during covid and this brand feeds my family during the pandemic.
This year, I started Patrick the STAR tours business at 45 years old, doing something I think I may really enjoy alot more than I thought. I thought my tuition centre will be the last business I'm building but oh boy, I'm so wrong!
There are some businesses that did not take off. And I do not consider them a failure. They are just building blocks to my next venture. And looking back at my life, I know my life is so colourful with these episodes.
Starting multiple businesses across different industries, as shared in this journey, highlights the unpredictability and excitement of entrepreneurship. Building brands like EVOLVE and SnA from dormitory beginnings to retail outlets such as Queensway Shopping Centre and Bugis+ shows how passion combined with persistence can spark growth. Launching an online magazine and then a tuition centre demonstrates the adaptability needed when facing partnership changes or evolving market demands. The tuition centre’s role in providing financial freedom underlines that sometimes unexpected ventures become the most rewarding. Opening Sally and Son bakery during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic is a vivid example of resilience and innovation in tough times, reaffirming how small businesses can support families and communities. Starting Patrick the STAR tours business at 45 proves it’s never too late to pursue new passions and evolve professionally. This breadth of experience teaches that each venture, whether it succeeds or not, builds valuable skills and insights essential for future achievements. Based on personal experience sharing, embracing the entrepreneurial life means embracing uncertainty but also embracing growth. Businesses not taking off aren’t failures but important learning blocks. The colorful episodes across fashion, education, food, and travel enrich not only the entrepreneur’s life but also offer inspiring lessons to others starting their own journeys.
