Some key things I've learnt from people in my life.

1. THINGS I’VE LEARNT THAT MADE ME WHO I AM
NICHOLAS PAN
40 LEARNINGS AT 40

2. DON’T BE AFRAID
JESUS 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.
Mom
1

3. YOUR EYES IS BIG
BUT 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.
Dad
2

4. DON’T EXPLODE
My 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 PANDIAN
3

5. FILL THE PAPER AND
DON’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 GREG
4

6. TURN THE OTHER CHEEK
It is ok to be wronged. Like the bible said,
turn the other cheek.
Dad
5

7. JUST PASS CAN ALREADY
Dad never insisted on academic
performance and was stingy with toys, but
generous with anything that have got to do
with learning.
Dad
6

8. KNOW THE VICES
Our 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 KAI
7

9. BETTER TO GIVE
THAN 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.
Dad
8

10. SOMETIMES PEOPLE
JUST WANT TO USE YOU
I’m idealistic, but my wise sister told me
about realities.
SISTER MAG
9

11. GRADUATES WITH HIGH SCORES
CAN TAKE INSTRUCTIONS
SO CAN WORK FOR THE AH BENGS
Street smarts are equally or even more
important then book smarts.
Dad
10

12. 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.
Dad
11

13. PEOPLE JUDGE YOU
FOR 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.
Dad
12

14. CHOOSE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO
IF 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.
Dad
13

15. BETTER TO GIVE SALARY
THAN TO TAKE SALARY
With this non-employee mentality, I learnt
ownership and applied it to all that I do.
Dad
14

16. YOU DON'T JUST TAKE CARE
OF YOUR STAFF
BUT THEIR FAMILIES TOO
It’s not only about dollars and cents. People
are people and people have families and
things they care about.
Dad
15

17. DO THE DIFFICULT THINGS
BECAUSE OTHERS PREFER TO DO
THE SIMPLE THINGS
Don’t be intimidated or scared to the take
the road less travelled.
Dad
16

18. LEARN THE BAD THINGS
YOU 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.
Dad
17

19. DO WHAT YOU ARE GOOD AT OR
DO 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.
Mom
18

20. WORK HARD
THE 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.
Mom
19

21. IT’S BLESSED TO BE LOVED
The opposite is true. It is quite an ordeal to
love someone. But this is something my
Mom also told my very independent
girlfriend.
Mom
20

22. DON’T SULK AND ENJOY YOURSELF
SINCE 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 PEARL
21

23. THERE IS NO BONDING
WITHOUT 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 PEARL
22

24. BE FAIR TO ALL
YOUR 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 LAW
23

25. 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.
Mom
24

26. DON’T OVER ESTIMATE YOURSELF
KNOW 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 HEMSLEY
25

27. IT’S OK TO BE AN INTROVERT
BUT BETTER IF YOU CAN
SOCIALIZE 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 PEARL
26

28. SITUATIONAL LEADERSHIP
I 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 GERARD
27

29. SHIT GRAVITATES TOWARDS
GOOD 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 GERARD
28

30. 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 GERARD
29

31. 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 TRIPTI
30

32. 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 GARY
31

33. DON'T LET PEOPLE
PUSH 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 PREETHI
32

34. HOW CAN WE STILL
MAKE THIS FUN?
Organisations all face challenges, and what
is important is to make sure we still have
fun while facing these challenges.
BOSS TRIPTI
33

35. VERTICAL LINES ARE VERTICAL
Our 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 JEREMY
34

36. KIDS WON'T STARVE
I used to be very anxious about our kids not
eating properly, but honestly in Singapore,
kids won’t starve.
MOTHER IN LAW
35

37. LIVE LIFE WITH STYLE
If we are going to live life, lets do it with
style and enjoy the process.
FRIEND DESMOND KHOH
36

38. LOVE PEOPLE
REALLY 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 KHOH
37

39. ENJOY LIFE
Work 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 PEARL
38

40. 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 CLIÉ
39

41. DON'T WASTE TIME FEELING SAD
Cleo likes colourful things and being happy,
so she don’t understand why people want
to spend time being sad.
DAUGHTER CLEO
40

42. THANKS