Let me walk with you.

My first contact with Mr Jude Tan was when I applied for SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways Business HR Ready Programme by Korn Ferry Academy in January 2021. 

He is one the key facilitators in the academy, and played an empirical role in the onboarding process. He is always helpful even with the most last minute request or enquiry. I found gainful employment after  in the course, and eventually left the course after the first module. What I gave learnt has proven to be the most meaningful and useful. I often quote the lessons I have learnt in my daily and in my talk show. 

My band ESP launched a Limited Edition “The Lonely Space Monkey Part 1” T-shirt to celebrate the one year anniversary release of the compilation album in July 2021. 

Only 27 were available for sale. Jude  reacted to my request for support and he’s one of the 27 owners of this rare item. The shirt is now sold out. (Thanks, Jude!) We met up over lunch and coffee, as he wanted to personally collect the shirt from me.

Through our very meaningful catch up, I found out more about him, and eventually leading to an invitation as a guest to the talk show. Jude has such a interesting and powerful calling and I just need to have him on the show to share his ideas and thoughts with the world. 

 

Jude has an idea, he has a plan. It’s not the destination he’s after, but he’s making the best in the journey. What is it? Simple: To help ex-convicts in the Singapore prison system to have gainful employment upon release. He has an idea to find a way to help break the vicious cycle and help those in need and those who are trapped beyond hope in this stigma. He is planting one seed at a time. I believe in him. I believe he can do it. 

Proudly wearing the Limited Edition “The Lonely Space Monkey Shirt” for the live chat, Jude told us his tale, his past, his present, his future and his plan (including the “70/20/10” concept). My main take away from Jude was this: Let me walk with you. 

To find out what he means by that, please click on the link for the meaningful, insightful and inspirational episode of “In Conversation with ESP”. 

Special thanks to our sponsor for the show, City Music Singapore, our producer Joey Chin, our guest Jude Tan and our fans and friends of ESP. 

When was the last time you did something for the first time?

This is the second time we had Mr Pae Lertsavetpong (Mr. Pae) on the talk show. We caught up with him on the 7th of August 2021, and the conversation was nothing short of sensational and inspiring. 

  

The conversation started with the sharing about the latest news about Mr Pae’s two establishments: Cafe Velo Dome, a cafe for Cycling enthusiast near to Thammasat University and Grand Palace in Bangkok Thailand, and Viera by Ragazze, a leather fashion company established since 1984, where he is a Brand Manager. 

We covered a wide range of topics ranging including his leadership style in both the companies, how he and his colleagues are staying resilient in trying times during the Covid. His style is simple: Listen. 

With the same enquiries, staffs across all levels and age group would voice different wants and needs. Mr. Pae would simply listen without prejudice to each and everyone of them, offer solutions to close the gaps and trudge along as a team. This is common sense, but not a common thing. 

Mr Pae has since managed to retain most of his employees in both the business, while keeping their morales high in trying times like this. Trust me, it takes a lot of determination and self-motivation to do so. 

One of the other phrase that was absolutely note-worthy by Mr Pae was “When was the last time you did something for the first time”? Besides re-tooling his employees to prepare the business for the eventual reopening, Mr Pae took time out to fulfil a dream. 

He picked up skateboarding. 

I used to skate a little when I was a teenager, and we had some fun chatting about it. Doing something for the first time can be daunting. However, with practice and time, we all get use it and improve along the way. 

Even when I have passed 40, I am proud to share that I am picking up new things from my children, from my colleagues and from my friends. Ego is an invisible wall blocking all potentials and knowledge, best to be aware break the wall down as soon as your realise it. 

Keeping an open mind and be daring to try is how I have lived my life; it’s an absolute pleasure to be on the same page as MrPae. 

I am grateful to have Mr.Pae on the show again and I can’t wait to catch with him in person in Bangkok, Thailand. He promised that he will make a Cappuccino for me in Cafe Velo Dome. That’s a deal Mr. Pae, I hope to see you in the beautiful City of Angels sooner than later. All the best, now.

Please click on the link for full episodes. Special thanks to City Music Singapore for their kind support by loaning the Mackie EM91CU USB Condenser Microphone. I sound very good on air in that microphone. For more of City Music, please click on www.citymusic.com.sg or head on down to Peace Centre if you are in Singapore. Until next time, friends. Thank you for reading and watching. 

Planting a seed of Inspiration.

Alaric Tay is an established Singaporean Actor, Film Director, Artiste, Professional Show Host, Dancer and has been in the entertainment industry since he was 17. A household name in Singapore and in the region. 

I have known Alaric since 2001 when we were both in the army. We’re both in our early 20s then; we weren’t particularly close during that time. Through an invitation by Alaric in 2003, he asked to be his producer for a short film he was working on called “Osama’s Man”. The rest, as they say, is a mystery. 

In the latest episode of my talk show “In Conversation with ESP Season 2” I have had the pleasure of having Alaric as my guest. We spoke extensively about his journey in the entertainment industry, his ups and downs, his support for ESP and our friendship. It was a light-hearted and easy going conversation between two old pals. 

The highlight of the conversation, though, was about “planting seeds”, paying-it-forward and inspiring others. Alaric shared one incident when he was hosting a beauty pageant in his early days. He muddled up in the first half of the set, and was feeling absolutely destroyed. 

A veteran entertainer, who’s also one of the judges for the pageant, saw how he was feeling. He took Alaric to a corner, and gave him simple words of encouragement “If you love what you are doing, don’t give up.”

Those words were like elixirs; Alaric’s confidence was filled to the brim. The second half of the show was terrific. What etched in Alaric’s memory, however, was not the the details of how great the second half went. 

It was the powerful words of encouragement given to him at that time.  

It’s a little known fact that Alaric Tay is my mentor for public speaking and show hosting. I would observe how he carries himself on stage, his sweet tone of voice and just the right amount of energy. I admire how he is able to win the crowd, hold his ground, think on his feet, and speak like a smooth-operator all at once! 

Over the years, I am proud to share that I have also found my groove, but I would never be able to do it without his guidance and teaching. So in that sense, Alaric has “planted a seed” in my journey of entertainment, and have inspired me tremendously. Thank you, Alaric.

We have also invited our friend, Jameson Chin, for a special cameo appearance. He shared how good friends like Alaric and I would inspire him in the most subtle way way. Those inspiration lead to him to writing his book “Unwavering Success with Jameson Chin”, which became the No.1 Best Seller on Amazon on the first week of the launch. Congrats, Jameson. We are proud to be a part of your journey and success. 

Special thanks once again to City Music Singapore for their very generous support to ESP and our various music and entertainment projects. 

For more of the conversation with Alaric Tay, please watch the full interview with the link below. 

For more good music and fascinating conversation, please consider liking, sharing, following and subscribing to the blog and ESP’s page. I would love to extend my invitation to you, to be a part of the ESP community, by joining our Facebook group.

Until next time, I can’t wait to see you again.