“If you want to make your first million, you cannot play it safe. Many people with cushy jobs can learn to be less risk-averse. For the sake of a stable income, they may stick with their full-time jobs and pursue their passion after work, only going all in once they’re successful. But this dilutes their time and concentration and possibly their chances of success. You have to give it your best shot so you’ll have no regrets because you tried your best.”

“To me, focus and dedication are key. While I’d still be working at 9pm or even 11pm, some friends and partners would choose a more balanced life. I find it difficult to juggle a family and social life and still be successful. The fact is, your level of success is commensurate with the effort you put in.

A woman who wants success and a family will need a very supportive spouse or very capable helpers. So I’m not saying that you can’t have work-life balance and still succeed; it’s just tougher.”

“Some people are not ambitious enough, or they’re content with what they have, so that keeps them from becoming a millionaire. For instance, they may run a successful cafe but aren’t interested in expanding. Then there are those who aim too high and give up easily. You need passion to drive you to achieve your goals, but not so much that you become emotionally attached to your product or business. Running a business requires a rational and logical mind, so it’s important to dream big but think small: Dreaming big makes you limitless and gives you a vision, while thinking small grounds you and helps you set up your operations.

Most millionaires didn’t start out thinking they were going to become millionaires; you can’t plan to become a millionaire, but you can realise your dream through hard work and proper execution.”

“Being humble is underrated. When you humble yourself, people are more inclined to offer advice when you ask for it; you’ll also be more accepting of the advice and of new information. There’s a lot of information overload these days, so it’s about filtering all of it and learning to process and apply it.”

“When you make your first $100,000, it’s probably through personal effort, but when you want to make one million, it’s about the people around you. Being in sales, I need to be friendly and service-oriented. Being knowledgeable and open-minded is also important. Being open-minded helps me relate to the other person and understand their needs, while being knowledgeable about the subject makes it easier to find a solution and close a sale.”

“Be prepared to roll up your sleeves and get involved with the nitty gritty of your business. You can’t just delegate from the office; you have to be on the frontline to see how your team executes tasks. You have to think about your finances, talk to your accountants and legal teams, and oversee everyday operations. Only if you’re familiar with your work will you win the respect of your team.”

Text: Hoe I Yune/HerWorldPlus