So what’s the next BHAG?

 

I graduated & returned to Malaysia from USA during the economic crisis in 1998 and was told by the MAS steward that I will not find a job. I got hired the next day in a reputable private college as a 25 year young lecturer. I told my colleagues then that I was going to have my own college someday and they laughed at me for dreaming out loud. I bought a college in 2012 called PORTMAN College. Struggled but made it happen with great foundation for what we have built today. I shared my vision to my ex business partners & ex employees that we will be having our own PORTMAN Education Group that consist of College, International Schools, Pre Schools, Training Academy & Edtech with just a logo. They said I lost it that it was just way too hard & most left me in the most difficult of times. Almost went bankrupt but figured it out & stayed the journey. Today we have a thriving international education business that started 21 years ago in my 2nd bedroom apartment to 8 different education campuses that serve Malaysia, China & Indonesia.

So what’s the next BHAG?

1. 100 PreSchools in Malaysia & Indonesia by 2027.

2. 1000 PreSchools in South East Asia by 2030.

3. Public Listed Billion Dollar Education Group.

And for all Naysayers that have always laughed at all my BHAGs, thank you.

And for all those that have believed in my BHAGs and have stayed with me through the ups and downs more so the downs, thank you for being there. It is greatly appreciated.

I am a first generation entrepreneur that has just started. I am grateful for the opportunity.

The biggest failure in life is regret.

The biggest failure in life is regret. Regret is the saddest thing that we will have to endure. And if you realized that we do only live once then you would want to go all out to make this life worth living. Take more calculated risk for the possibilities of achieving the unthinkable. Make the impossible possible and really live life to the fullest with purpose and meaning. That’s life. That’s a life worth doing. That’s a life worth living. I meet with my PORTMAN College students once a month on #askernie .

#PORTMAN #Education #dreamsdocometrue

Nothing come easy but everything is POSSIBLE!

With another 2 PORTMAN International Schools and 3 Little PORTMAN Pre Schools being built, it’s amazing how much more energy I get from the adrenaline of making the impossible possible. From raising funds, to structuring M&As, designing & planning to negotiating deals with property developers and planning ahead to have a PORTMAN EduCity of our own with an IPO in the pipeline. I sometimes amaze myself with having so much on the plate that keeps me even more excited to keep learning and growing. This week has been a real blessing and I give all glory to the BIG MAN upstairs! Even today, another awesome news just came in and I was just grateful. 🙏 Thank you for the trust and opportunity to make a huge difference that is impactful, meaningful and highly profitable. It’s time to go beyond 10X and make it a 100X! If you can think it, you can make it happen. 🔥💪 

#PORTMAN #Education #nothingcomeseasybuteverythingispossible

So many dreams about becoming Millionaires.

 

So many dreams about becoming Millionaires. How many are willing to do the time and pay the dues of commitment to hard work day in day out, facing failures after failures after a prolonged period of time? If you are not then don’t bother dreaming about it. You are wasting your time. And NO, successful millionaires do not waste time with people of no value and money on branded stuffs yet when they are trying to get to their first Million. They will save every last cent from everything they make to reinvest back into the business that they want to become a millionaire from. They will not waste time living work life balance. They will not be around losers that will waste your time away. We all start at different leverage points. However you can change your leverage points along the journey even when you are born into poverty or bad influence of a family or even married into a failed marriage. Yes! You can change it all. So when people ask me why do I know if someone will ever succeed? It’s a pattern. It’s not difficult to identify who will succeed and who will fail. Luck will only be with those that work hard and learn everything they can in their core competency. Life is about outcomes. Life is about results that you are happy with. No bullshit and no shortcuts. If I were serious about making more money, creating more wealth and having a much better life for the future, I will model after those that have been there and done that. Nothing comes easy and everything is possible. All the best. 😉 #nobullshit #shapeuporshutup

Many like to play “Entrepreneur” in Business Theatre.

         

So many like to play “Entrepreneur” in Business Theatre. They want to be seen & talk Entrepreneurship to be part of the Entrepreneur community. Why? Apparently it’s cool. Why? Because so many have been sold on the idea of the sexiness of financial freedom & freedom of time. Well the real truth is that Entrepreneurship is painful for most and extremely fulfilling for some. The reality is that most are just not cut out to be entrepreneurs. Why? It’s always a dream that is always more beautiful till it gets ugly with the daily challenges, obstacles and difficulties that a real entrepreneur deals with. Human issues, operational issues, sales issues, cash flow issues, and a whole lot more issues that comes with real entrepreneurship. 90% of businesses fail within the first 5 years. Can you imagine how many fail within the first year? Well then again you could be the champion that is just so damn good at making shit happen. 

So a little reminder, Entrepreneurship is not about just being seen at entrepreneur events to take pics especially if it’s the same people all the time. Building & growing real businesses requires real work and commitment. You have to meet and sell to people that do not know you. Why? You have real value that they want. And Yes that means fold up your sleeves to sell, lead, sell the vision, raise capital to grow, sell some more, hire, fire, sell some more, raise more capital, take heat from customers, strike partnerships, cut off incompetent partners, cut deals and sell even more for more growth while dealing with daily shit and making shit happen! Repeat and enjoy the process. I am grateful that I enjoy entrepreneurship as I am always curious to learn more daily and to find solutions for bigger problems. Why? The bigger the problem the bigger the opportunity for me to grow. And if it’s a big problem to solve most will probably not want or be able to do it. So that’s my opportunity. Just my 3 cents. Why 3 cents and not 2 cents? I am an entrepreneur and I decide what I want it to be. 😉🙏😎 

#ErnieChen

#entrepreneurship #PORTMAN #Education

The Secret to Achieve What You Want

 

Let me tell you the secret to achieve what you want. Know what you want, work hard for it & it’s ok to get rejected, get back up when you do fail, pivot if need be, keep at it, learn better ways to make it happen. Stay happy & healthy doing what you want to do. Just don’t stop and you will be able to get what you want. It’s just a matter of time. And yes, I am always just one day away. 😉 I am grateful 🙏. 

#ErnieChen #PORTMAN #Education #College #InternationalSchool #PreSchool #Training #Edtech #IPO

Welcome to the PORTMAN Red AI Army with heart 🔥❤️

We used to have 180 full time staffs that works 8 hours a day or less (lazy ones) and those that works a lot due to their incompetency (wasted resources) and lots of time on managing their performance for results while having to deal with unnecessary human issues. The sad thing is that we still have to pay them for the full month even with unproductive work days & sometimes with little results. 

Today I have 60 staffs with an AI Army that works 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with no holidays that I am paying less than 1% of what I used to pay these humans. It’s a no brainer for business owners to continue to leverage on AI tools to speed things up for their business as speed to market is a competitive advantage. 

So what do we want today? 

Individuals that have the following and willing to leverage on AI & Digital Technology to Enhance the speed of business execution with international outcomes & standards. 

If you want to raise your standards do the following: 

1. Positive Outlook to life 

2. ⁠Solution Focused Mindset to all Problems 

3. ⁠The Mindset to Learn & Leverage on AI Tools to get what your boss want - Results. 

Welcome to the PORTMAN Red AI Army with heart 🔥❤️.