Books
When I was young, my mother told me something that stayed with me for years. If I failed my school exams, my future would be bleak. Only people with good academic results would have a chance in life. I believed her. I hated school. My eldest brother once told me,
Books
Making Sense of Unemployment When Nothing Makes Sense Here is a true story. It could be your story. He was laid off after 13 years in the same company. Not because he failed. Not because of performance. Just restructuring. “When I apply for jobs, some say I’m overqualified. The
Books
Over the years, I’ve learned something uncomfortable about the workplace. Some managers are protected species. They don’t survive because they are good. They survive because they are attached to the right sponsor at the right time. They are very visible to people above them, and strangely invisible to
Books
Dear LinkedIn newbies, When in Rome, speak like the Romans. When in Malaysia, speak Manglish. In Singapore, speak Singlish. And when you’re on LinkedIn, you speak LinkedInese. Every platform has its own culture. LinkedIn is like fine dining. People speak formally and politely. Facebook is the kopitiam gossip table.
Books
I believe one reason some people are vulnerable to being scammed is not because they are foolish, but because they are too nice. When you are too nice and do not draw clear boundaries, people take advantage of your kindness. When someone borrows money, you find it hard to say
Books
Although Singapore is a wealthy country, there are still people among us who struggle with food. The good news is that help exists, and no one has to go hungry in silence. I’ve put together a simple ebook listing places in Singapore where you can get free meals. It
micro memoir
I became an entrepreneur for freedom. CEO: Me. Sales: Me. Cleaner: Me. Delivery: Me. Admin: Me. Now I work for the most demanding boss I’ve ever met. Me. PS I write books too. They live here: https://payhip.com/samchoo
micro memoir
Last Christmas, I gave you my book, and the very next day, You gave it away. PS I write books too. They live here: https://payhip.com/samchoo
Satire
I didn’t set out to become a motivational speaker. I set out to get to my office. The lift stopped between floors. Not long enough to panic. Not long enough to press any emergency button. Just long enough for everyone inside to suddenly become very interested in the ceiling.
Satire
This morning at 9am, on my usual walk to Hola for coffee, the air was suddenly filled with loud music. Next to me sat a new customer, a 70-year-old Chinese uncle. Two bottles of beer on the table. His face was red, a little dazed, completely unbothered by the world.
Books
“The most important part of a story is not how it begins, but how it ends.” Most of us were taught how to start life. Study hard. Get a job. Build a career. Save enough. But very few of us were taught how to finish. We were told that if
short story
You do not grow up silent. You are trained into it. Before anyone labels you as quiet, withdrawn, or lacking confidence, they should ask a better question: what kind of environment teaches a person that speaking is a liability? School is usually where it starts. You are told participation matters,