I met Mr. Lim back in 2012, when I was just starting my first small business. His little shop on a quiet street in eastern Singapore wasn’t fancy—the floor tiles were cracked, and the paint was peeling—but it was full of life. Mr. Lim, the older man who ran the small electronics shop in my neighborhood, had been there for thirty years. He had a calmness that I, a young and struggling entrepreneur, deeply craved.
I’m the kind of person who asks too many questions. One day, over tea, I asked him straight: “How do you make it work? I see businesses open and close in six months. What’s your secret?”
He laughed and said something I’ll never forget: “Most people want to win the race. I just try not to trip.”
His lessons weren’t complex strategies or formulas—just simple, timeless habits. Here’s what I learned.
He Taught Me Honesty is the Best Strategy
We all say honesty is important, but Mr. Lim lived it. I once saw him give a customer a full refund for a phone charger that broke after 8 months, even though the warranty was only for 6 months.
When I asked him why, he said, “If I don’t take care of her, someone else will. She’s been buying from me for ten years.”
That customer still shops there. And she tells everyone about it. He taught me that honesty isn’t just good ethics; it’s the most powerful form of marketing. People remember when you treat them right, and they become your loyal ambassadors. A business built on anything less is like a house with no foundation.
He Taught Me That Every Dollar Matters
One afternoon, I watched him meticulously write down every small sale and expense in a small, worn notebook. Even the cost of a roll of tape. I thought it was excessive.
He saw my expression and said, “Small leaks sink big ships.”
At the time, I didn’t get it. But he was teaching me a profound lesson about financial discipline. Most businesses don’t fail because of one huge disaster; they fail from a hundred small, unnoticed expenses that bleed the company dry. He wasn’t being cheap; he was being a guardian of his resources. That discipline is why his business survived for three decades while others disappeared.
He Taught Me the Power of Quiet Strength
This was the hardest lesson for me because I’m a natural complainer. But I rarely heard Mr. Lim complain. He acknowledged problems, but he moved on fast. There was less drama, more action.
I’ll never forget the time his shop was broken into. He didn’t spend weeks talking about how unfair life was. He spent one day cleaning up the mess and two days upgrading his security system. That was it.
He once told me, “Complaining is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but doesn’t get you anywhere.”
He taught me that energy is a resource, just like money. You can either spend it complaining about a problem, or you can spend it solving it. The choice is yours.
He Taught Me How to Speak Like a Leader
Watching Mr. Lim interact with people, I noticed he never used certain phrases that were common in my own vocabulary.
He never said, “This is too difficult.” Instead, he’d say, “This is complicated. Let’s think.” The moment you label something as “too difficult,” your brain stops looking for a solution.
He never said, “I can’t.” Instead, he’d say, “I don’t know how yet.” One phrase is a closed door; the other is an open one.
He never said, “I’m so tired.” He would simply say, “I need a break.”
He taught me that words shape your reality. The language you use, especially with yourself, determines whether you see walls or doors.
The Real Takeaway
That conversation with Mr. Lim changed how I see business. Success isn’t about being the loudest, the flashiest, or the most brilliant. It’s about the quiet, consistent, and honest habits you practice every single day when no one is watching.
The lessons he taught me weren’t secrets. They are available to anyone willing to practice them. The question isn’t about where you’re from. It’s about what you’re willing to do.
And more importantly: “What am I willing to change today?”
What’s the greatest lesson you’ve learned from an unexpected person? Share your story below.
