Being an entrepreneur is not easy. Surviving the early days, sustaining for stability, growing for profitability and ultimately scaling for the right exit all require different skill sets. So many give up way too easily and if you need to be motivated and encouraged then you really should not be an entrepreneur in the first place. It’s a tough and lonely journey as most will not understand it. And pls do not think that there is work life balance. That’s just bullshit some so called fake lifestyle entrepreneur telling you that there is. The truth is you just have got to work hard, smart and fast to get to a stage where you can have a better work life integration. That’s how most successful entrepreneurs really get to where they are today. It’s great to get inspired by some social media posting, at some motivational entrepreneurs convention or even seeing people in fancy business class travels. Just always remember that it takes a whole lot more and failing forward to success is just part of the process. All the best. 😉
51 comments:
A raw and honest take, entrepreneurship is grit, sacrifice, and resilience, not glamor. The point on ‘work-life integration’ really hits home. Thank you for keeping it real.
Absolutely true. Entrepreneurship is not for the faint-hearted — it demands sacrifice, resilience, and relentless effort.”
Entrepreneurship is definitely not for the faint-hearted. It takes resilience, adaptability and the willingness to keep pushing even when things get tough. Work-life balance is a nice idea but in reality it’s more about creating the right integration that works for you. The struggles and failures are part of the process and they shape the journey just as much as the wins. Thanks for sharing this reminder, it's the kind of truth that more aspiring entrepreneurs need to hear.
Thank you for sharing this. A powerful reminder that success isn’t instant, it’s about hard work, consistency, and never giving up.
Thank you for sharing such an honest perspective. It’s inspiring to see how much resilience and hard work go into building something meaningful. I really like the idea of work-life integration. It’s a real and valuable reminder for all of us. Appreciate your leadership and the wisdom you share with us.
This really resonates with me as I continue to grow in this journey. The reminder that every stage of entrepreneurship calls for different skills is very valuable, and the point on work-life integration rather than balance is something I truly relate to. Embracing failing forward as part of the process is also a great takeaway.
True words. Success really takes hard work and perseverance. Inspiration !
Noorainiazila
Business Management Lecturer
PORTMAN College
It is true. Being an entrepreneur is not easy. It takes hard work, focus, and the courage to keep going even when things get tough.
Nurul Ain Fatehah binti Baharuddin- PORTMAN College Lecturer
Thank you for sharing this honest perspective—it’s a great reminder of the reality behind the journey.
Tr. Rahimi
PORTMAN International School
Yes it is not easy but you've shown us that nothing is impossible. Your determination and drive have inspired us to go beyond our limits and to never stop striving for more.
Absolutely agree with this. Entrepreneurship is not for the faint-hearted, it takes grit, resilience and the willingness to keep going when everything feels uncertain. Work life “balance” is a myth, but like you said, once we put in the hard work and make smart choices, we can create a meaningful integration that works for us. Failing forward is truly the only way to grow. Thank you for the real talk and reminder. it’s refreshing to hear the truth instead of sugar-coated motivation.
A very honest and insightful perspective on entrepreneurship. I really appreciate the emphasis on resilience, adaptability, and the reality of work-life integration rather than balance. A strong reminder that success comes from perseverance, smart execution, and embracing failures as part of the journey.
Thank you, Mr Ernie for sharing the truth and telling it as it is. Indeed, working hard, smart and fast is essential and lays the foundation for success and resilience. Success is undoubtedly a journey.
Great message! Thank you for sharing such an honest perspective on the entrepreneurial journey. Your words truly inspiring.
Powerful reminder that entrepreneurship is not glam but grit. Thank you for sharing this perspective.
Thank you for sharing this, really appreciate the honest insights about the realities of entrepreneurship. It’s a great reminder of the hard work and resilience needed to succeed. Truly inspiring.
Wow, this really hit home sir. Thank you for being so real about the entrepreneurial journey sir. No sugarcoating, just the truth. I love how you broke down the stages and reminded us that it’s not about chasing some “perfect balance” but building real integration through hard work and resilience. It’s both inspiring and grounding to read this. Definitely the kind of message everyone needs to hear.
Well said. True success comes from persistence, adaptability, and the willingness to keep moving forward despite the challenges.
Thank you for this honest perspective, sir. The reminder that success requires sacrifice, persistence and smart hard work really resonates. A great push to keep going even when it gets tough.🙏🏻
Thank you for this honest perspective, sir. The reminder that success requires sacrifice, persistence and smart hard work really resonates. A great push to keep going even when it gets tough. 🙏🏻
HANISHA KAUR - So true, Mr. Ernie. Entrepreneurship is never an easy road, but your words are a great reminder that hard work, patience and resilience are what really matter. Thank you for sharing this!
Very thoughtful and realistic perspective on entrepreneurship. I appreciate the way you highlight the importance of resilience, adaptability, and hard work. It offers valuable insight and encouragement for anyone considering the entrepreneurial journey. 💪
Very true, the journey is tough but resilience and the right mindset make all the difference. Staying focused through challenges is what sets entrepreneurs apart. - Husna
True. Entrepreneurship isn’t easy, but with perseverance, adaptability, and a strong mindset, the struggles become stepping stones toward meaningful success.
Entrepreneurship is not an easy journey, and becoming a successful entrepreneur is even tougher. It all comes down to the amount of effort we’re willing to put in — and even that is just the baseline. Effort alone may not guarantee success, but without effort, success is impossible. We need to work hard, work smart, and act fast in everything we do to achieve our goals.
Thank you, Mr. Ernie, for the valuable lesson.
Well said, sir. A true reminder that entrepreneurship is about resilience, adaptability, and constant growth.
Thank you for sharing this. It’s refreshing to see an honest take on entrepreneurship beyond the highlight reels we usually see online. Entrepreneurship is not for everyone, and this is a great reminder that success often comes from failing forward and staying the course.
Absolutely true Mr. Ernie. Entrepreneurship is not easy, but the growth and learning make it worthwhile.👏
I really like this saying, it is not because we see hope that we persevere, but by persevering that we come to see hope. It is truly inspiring, reminding us that it’s not about searching for hope in order to persevere, but rather that we must persevere in order to gain the best hope for ourselves.
And yes, it’s true that we often feel inspired and even envious when we see the lives of those who are successful which they living seemingly perfect lives and achieving everything they desire. But we must also remember that behind every success and accomplishment, they too have gone through countless challenges and failures. Thank you, Mr. Ernie, for always motivating and inspiring us with your words that are so full of meaning.
-Lyana-
Inspiring words, Mr. Ernie. A true reminder that success comes with resilience and determination.
Such a valuable reminder. Success doesn’t come overnight—it grows through patience, persistence, learning from challenges, and seizing the opportunities that come our way.
A very real and powerful perspective on entrepreneurship. It’s such a good reminder that success doesn’t come easy and it takes resilience, adaptability, and the courage to keep pushing forward through challenges. I really value the honesty in highlighting both the struggles and the growth that come with the journey. It’s this kind of truth that makes the message not only inspiring, but also deeply relatable for anyone walking the same path.
- Aisha PIS@Akasa -
Thank you for sharing this, Sir. As a teacher, I can relate success in both business and education takes resilience, sacrifice, and persistence beyond what most people see. Your words are a great reminder that there are no shortcuts, only hard work and courage to keep moving forward. -Teacher Kirthiga-
Thankyou for sharing this. Im so inspired by you Mr. Ernie
Thank you for sharing this. It’s refreshing to see an honest take on entrepreneurship beyond the highlight reels we usually see online. Entrepreneurship is not for everyone, and this is a great reminder that success often comes from failing forward and staying the course.
-akma-
Thank you for sharing real take on entrepreneurship. A strong reminder that success isn’t built on flashy moments but on resilience, persistence, and learning from failure.
“True success comes from work-life integration, not chasing balance. 👏”
Great insight 👏. Entrepreneurship isn’t easy, but with persistence, smart work, and learning from setbacks, success will follow.
Thank you, Mr. Ernie, for the valuable lessons. I truly agree with your words. As I learned yesterday, our generation must constantly step out of our comfort zone and embrace discomfort, because staying too comfortable will only make us lazy and slow down our progress. Mr. Ernie has always reminded us that he has failed more times than we could imagine, yet he never gave up. Many people choose to quit when facing failures and challenges, but true success requires us to keep trying, break through, and continue moving forward. Stepping out of our comfort zone is the only way to grow. Thank you once again, Mr. Ernie, for the powerful reminder.
Absolutely true sir. Work-life balance is a myth at the start, but discipline and smart systems eventually create freedom. Thanks for the reminder.
Thanks for sharing such real insights Mr Ernie, definitely learned a lot from this.
A powerful and very real perspective. Thank you for the candid honesty about the different skill sets needed for each stage and especially for debunking the 'work-life balance' myth for early stage entrepreneurs. It’s a great reminder that true success is built on hard, smart work and fast to get to a stage not just inspiration. I couldn't agree more with the need for different skill sets at every stage, from surviving to scaling. That whole concept of 'failing forward' really hits home as a necessary part of the process. Appreciate you sharing this very grounded and practical view of the journey.
Indeed Sir if someone needs constant external motivation, the entrepreneurial grind will eat them alive. Discipline and self-drive are the real fuel. This reminds me of the kind of clarity that cuts through the noise of curated feeds and glossy success stories.
Not everyone can be an entrepreneur. The ups and downs are part of the journey, and you’ve shown how to rise above them. Very inspiring, boss!
Many people ask me why I’ve stayed in the same company for 12 years, going into 13. For someone young, isn’t it better to go out, switch jobs, and see the world? I used to just smile.
Because for some, work is just a job to make money. The way to earn more is to keep hopping. Yes, in the short term, your salary jumps. But in the long run, where is your career path? How many times can you jump?
For me, growth is not about jumping higher. It’s about building deeper. It’s about deciding what I want, preparing myself, pushing through challenges, and waiting for the right day to come. Like the bamboo story I learned in school: for years, it grows only a little underground. Then one day, it shoots up 90 feet in a single season.
I’m fortunate to have met my sifu at the foundation stage. He is the definition of antifragile, becoming stronger with every challenge, delivering results no matter what. From him, I learned that real growth is slow, painful, and invisible at first but explosive when the time is right.
I’m proud to have been part of PORTMAN’s journey since the beginning, to grow with it, fail forward, rise again, and now scale globally.
Follow the right leader. Put in the time. Persevere. Because when the compounding effect finally shows, the results will speak for themselves.
Ivy
I am so honoured and grateful that I can witness the journey of the 4 stages in business and entrepreneurship:
Surviving the early days, Sustaining for stability, Growing for profitability, and ultimately Scaling for the right exit.
I witnessed it at the closest distance and relation through PORTMAN and Mr. Ernie.
Yes, I am not the entrepreneur who personally went through this, but I am very fortunate to have Mr. Ernie so close to me, allowing me to experience and be part of this journey with him from Surviving, Sustaining, Growing, and Scaling.
The best part is, I am literally in this business journey with PORTMAN itself. I have seen the transformation of PORTMAN from the days of mere survival all the way to the current stage of scaling. It almost feels impossible for everything to have happened along this journey, but it did, and we broke through.
To withstand this process is not something an ordinary human being can do. It requires many elements, countless filtering processes, challenges, and failing forward.
Now, I have learned a new word to describe our leader, Mr. Ernie: Anti-Fragile.
It’s not about simply being strong enough to beat challenges. It’s about an inner force inside Mr. Ernie. Every time challenges come, they push him to grow to the next level. A truly unique figure and character. With that said, such a leader brings unlimited opportunities for growth and scaling. They never break. Instead, they become stronger after every single challenge.
And that also means they fail more than anyone else, and that’s why they succeed. All of us here are on this journey of unlimited growth and scaling with an anti-fragile leader guiding us.
Along the way, we learn so much, and if you can withstand the challenges together with the organisation, you will become a different human being altogether.
I am not fragile, because I don’t quit when problems come.
I am not strong, because I never thought I was so strong to be doing what I am capable of doing today.
I am simply on a journey of learning, mentored by an anti-fragile leader, constantly challenging myself to grow through every new stage of challenges.
You can be strong, you can be smart. But I still believe this: choosing the right mentor is the key to ensure you grow after every challenge. Because in the end, the reward is truly yours. You earn it. Nothing is simply given. A true mentor makes sure you grow after every challenge, and that reward stays with you for life.
My Nine-Year Journey at PORTMAN
From being a student to becoming a staff member, these nine years have truly been filled with challenges and growth.
Many people often ask me: “Why are you still at PORTMAN?”
My answer is simple — Why do I want to leave if I'm still able the learn, grow and contribute in PORTMAN?
The journey has never been easy. From the struggles during MCO, to returning to physical classes, and now preparing to move to the next level with our upcoming listing, every step has been about stepping out of my comfort zone.
To step out of our comfort zone, we need the right platform, strong execution, and decisive decision-making. Along the way, I have been constantly learning and improving. Even though I’ve made mistakes, I remind myself not to repeat the same ones.
Now, I have the opportunity to be part of Little PORTMAN. This is not a chance that everyone gets. I know the road ahead will be tough, but I truly believe that with Mr. Ernie’s leadership, Yew family can achieve it together.
Thank you Mr Ernie.
Working at PORTMAN has made me believe in the importance of perseverance. There will always be challenges and moments when giving up seems easier, but by holding on and moving forward, we eventually find hope and strength. Every setback becomes a lesson, and every step forward, no matter how small, brings us closer to where we want to be. Thank you for your inspiring sharing.
Appreciate the great sharing.
Truly inspiring words, Mr. Ernie. Thank you for always sharing real, honest insights about what it truly takes to grow and succeed. Your journey and leadership continue to remind us that hard work, resilience, and focus are what truly matter. Grateful to be learning from you. 🙏
Thank you sincerely for your selfless sharing. Although I’ve only recently joined this school, I hope to learn and grow under your guidance, and continue striving to become a better version of myself.
Post a Comment