Back when I was studying in university, my dad didn’t give me any pocket money.
He told me (in Mandarin):
“I won’t be giving you an allowance. You go figure out (想办法) how to make your own money.”
At that time, I felt a bit lost when he said that.
But looking back now…
I’m VERY grateful for what he did.
It was probably one of the best lessons my dad made me learn.
Because that was the start of me thinking of ideas on how to make money…
How to start businesses…
How to solve problems and get paid.
It forced me to learn how to create value early.
That’s when I started giving private guitar lessons.
Initially, I wanted to give private tuition lessons.
But I didn’t want to screw up any kid’s academics…
So I turned to giving private guitar lessons instead.
That period planted the idea deep in me…
That if I could teach something well, and market it well…
I could make money without working for someone else.
From giving private lessons…
It led to me building a website that matches students with tutor
Then I learned to run ads to my music workshops…
Then I flew to China alone, manufactured our own brand of musical instruments…
And launched an eCommerce store to sell them so I could increase our revenue.
All these started because I had no choice but to create something out of nothing.
And now, with all the skills I’ve gained…
I’m creating even more impact by helping entrepreneurs scale through paid ads.
That’s why I truly believe this:
The future belongs to creators.
Not people with fancy job titles.
(Because you could get let go anytime.)
Not people with PhD.
(Because the job market is crazy competitive.)
But real creators…
The ones who build, who think, who solve problems.
I seriously think there is no “stable job” anymore.
Just this week, my wife told me how a few of her colleagues got let go recently.
People who worked hard and dedicated many years of their lives to the company.
Just to get let go eventually.
Which I find illogical and strange.
The total opposite of what our society has groomed us to think.
(Study hard, work hard in a good job etc…)
In fact, if you go on LinkedIn…
You’ll see post after post of people being let go.
Yet still “thanking the company” for “the opportunity” while scrambling to figure out what’s next.
I was having a chat with my church friends recently.
They are already retired – and previously held big corporate jobs.
I told her that I don’t believe in 9-5 anymore – and that everyone can actually start their own business if they want to.
To my surprise, she said she agrees.
This is coming from someone who worked corporate her whole life.
In fact, I won’t even be surprised if my kids tell me they don’t see a point in completing university.
And just want to do their own thing lol.
Because the world is changing fast.
And the people who will thrive moving forward aren’t the ones with the safest jobs…
They’re the ones with the most leverage.
And leverage comes when you can create.
Here’s what I mean by “create”.
I mean the people who can:
- Create content that gets attention
- Write persuasively
- Build a product or launch a service
- Design an offer, a funnel, a system
- Basically solve a problem someone is willing to pay for
That’s what will make you irreplaceable.
In order to future-proof myself, here’s what I’d focus on:
1. Learn how to think
Not just what to think. But how.
- How to solve problems faster and better
- How to make decisions clearly that gives the best outcome
- How can I make processes easier and efficient for everybody
- How can I use multi-disciplinary thinking to approach problems
This is why I love reading and reflecting.
It sharpens my mind and gives me insights to bring into every business, every client call, every ad I write…
2. Learn how to create
In this doom-scrolling world we live in…
Our time gets sucked into consuming a lot of content.
But we need to create > consume
This includes:
- Creating content (videos, reels, threads etc)
- Writing (ad copy, emails, sales pages)
- Creating lead magnets, eBooks, courses
If you know how to create content that builds trust…
Or products that solve problems…
You’ll never go hungry.
The skill to create is what took me from $600/month giving private lessons…
To make over 5 figures monthly.
And with so many AI tools around…
There is seriously NO EXCUSE to say “I don’t know how to do this”
It’s not whether you can or cannot.
It’s whether you want it or don’t want it.
3. Learn how to solve problems
This is the core of every business.
Every business or product solves a problem.
You see a gap. You fill it.
You see a pain. You build something to ease it.
Once you have found a way to solve a problem…
You will get paid for it.
Only after you know how to market it (so back to point 2 above on creating).
When I work with clients to bring out their messaging…
Whether it’s a gym, a music school, a real estate agent, or a beauty centre…
I ask the same question:
“What problem are you solving… and how are you doing it better than everyone else?”
We bring that message out to the world.
And attract people who are willing to pay you to solve their problems.
Wrapping up…
I know this letter is a bit long.
But if you take away one thing, let it be this:
Don’t wait to be picked. Start creating.
The economy rewards value creators.
Not passive employees.
And if you feel uncertain right now – like you don’t know what to build, or where to even begin…
You’re not alone.
But just start with something.
Your story. Your skill. Your perspective. Your framework.
Package it. Share it. Build from there.
That’s how it all starts.
