Life Lessons from the Kopitiam
I go to the kopitiam every day.
Same kopi. Same toast. Same people.
And honestly… I think I’ve learned more there than in some expensive seminars.
Before you get offended, hear me out.
At the kopitiam, nobody talks about “mindset,” “strategy,” or “scaling.”
But the hawker who opens at 6am and closes at 10pm? That’s discipline.
The auntie who remembers every order? That’s customer retention.
The uncle who survives 20 years selling the same dish? That’s business sustainability.
No slides. No frameworks. No LinkedIn posts.
Just real work.
I’ve seen toddlers grow up there.
I’ve seen old folks disappear without goodbye.
I’ve seen people who don’t fit anywhere else still find a seat.
Life is happening there. Raw. Unfiltered. No branding.
Meanwhile, we sit in aircon rooms talking about “purpose” and “growth.”
Sometimes I wonder…
Are we overcomplicating things?
I wrote this book because I think we are.
Some of the best lessons about business and relationships are not found in theories.
They’re found in places we walk past every day.
Like the kopitiam.
If you’ve ever felt that real life teaches more than textbooks, you might enjoy this:
