It was one of those thunderstorms came on sudden-like. Before a body could cover its head it had passed on someplace else. Here, in our holler, we were used to such storms. We liked the surprise of ... [+]
When I was nine years old, I was waiting for a stranger I had met on Carousell two days prior at Tanjong Pagar MRT station after school while wearing my school uniform and carrying a plastic bag of clothes. My heart was pounding, and my hands were perspiring. I silently prayed, "Please come, please don't cheat me," as I waited. The majority of children my age were racing home to watch cartoons or finish their homework. It was my first time closing a deal. Of course, my parents were concerned. They feared I would be conned. However, they did not stop me. They hid in a corner, watching me close the first deal. I pretended not to notice, but I found out later when I turned my back after my first transaction and saw them there. I acted as if I had never seen them. That moment taught me courage and showed me that if I put effort into something, no matter how small, I could create something of my own.
That is what "All in" means to me. It's not all about gambling. It involves conducting the necessary research, figuring out the return on investment, assessing the viability of an idea, and bracing myself for the worst. I can give it my all, even when it is difficult, when people think I am too young, and when the results are uncertain, if I can accept the negative.
I did not begin with a business plan. I began out of curiosity. I operated an online store since I was in primary school. I experimented with claw and vending machines at Polytechnic. To persuade people to purchase something I had designed, I even set up booths on campus and started my own bag brand, YOUNME. It didn't all work. Some ideas barely made it. I lost money to some. However, none of it was wasted. I learned valuable skills and gained life experiences from each attempt, including how to handle money, negotiate with stakeholders, and approach strangers. Most importantly, I learned how to keep the fire in my heart burning when things did not go my way. Solving one issue in business only leads to the creation of another, frequently more significant than the first. The difficulties increase as the company expands.
Moreover, going "All in" also meant taking a chance on failure, embracing failure, and being willing to test ideas. In my third year at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, I realised I had to make a choice and focus. I could not keep scattering my energy everywhere. I decided to rebrand and take over my parents' retail store with my sister. This led to the establishment of "Happy Life," a family-friendly retail lifestyle company, in January 2024.
I still recall the initial $60,000 that we both contributed from our savings to launch the company. We lost money, incurred debt, and were unable to pay our rent during the first few months. We had no idea when we would be able to get that money back. There were times when we even considered giving up because we were lost and without hope. But since it was never just about generating profits, we decided to continue. It was about making our parents proud, establishing a legacy for the next generation, and demonstrating to ourselves that we could handle the challenge.
It was more than just a brand new logo and name. Using e-commerce platforms, social media, a business website, and live-streaming, we turned the store into a lifestyle store featuring organizers, household necessities, and beauty brands like Rom&nd and 3CE. We could have chosen something simpler, something "normal," but it was frightening, and we were still students. But we decided to go "All in." We revamped the store, achieved monthly sales of over $39,000, gained more than 3,000 new members, and kept our Google rating at 4.7 stars. I still recall spending evenings trying to study for examinations while surrounded by unopened stock cartons. Even though I felt burned out and occasionally even demoralized, every satisfied customer or positive review served as a reminder of why I was doing this.
At the same time, I continued to help with my parents' Food & Beverage (F&B) businesses known as Sin Xiong Ji and Zhong Hua Liao Li. Those kitchens are where I grew up. I used to wash dishes and wipe tables as a small child. I now manage licensing, staff training, and marketing campaigns. F&B operations are not glamorous. It means long hours, late suppliers, and a lack of employees. However, I also discovered what true resilience looks like there. This demonstrated to me once more that you cannot do this halfway. You are either "All in" or nothing works in the F&B industry.
Looking back, I can clearly see the pattern. When I arrived at that MRT station as a nine-year-old, "All in" was there. When I invested my savings in vending and claw machines, "All in" was there too. And "All in" was also there when, rather than taking the simple route, I decided to rebrand my parents' store. Going "All in" does not, in my opinion, imply knowing exactly what is going to happen. It entails deciding to commit anyhow. It entails late nights, ambiguous outcomes, and occasionally disappointment. However, it also means honoring my parents' legacy, creating something tangible, and demonstrating that young people like me can make something worthwhile. Grit was the foundation of my parents' lives.
In conclusion, "All in" means deciding to give it your all right now, not later or halfway. The decision to be totally committed and present is what gives this journey meaning. I have discovered that as long as I learn from my mistakes and know that I gave it my all, it is alright. Because when the day comes to place a full stop, I want to know I lived it all in.