It was about 3 years ago when my magazine firm shut down (due to poor cashflow management and low income). I was really down at that time and it really inspired me to get up from defeat (after having 3 magazine flop) and to climb back to become a winner in life.
Recently (just last year), when I started Forex Asia Academy, many scrutinized me for being too young and inexperienced. Naturally, I felt criticized and made fun of because the forex trading market mainly are seniors mostly double my age. Now, there are some who question the scale of my ambitions, who suggest that I’m too young, too inexperienced, unable to execute big plans. I pressed on.
I have lots of friends in my life journey. Most lost their way and started blaming other things and people for their own misfortune.
But it ain’t about how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. It’s How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done.
I have found that in my life, I have met so many people who were much smarter, talented and luckier than me. What made me more successful at the end of the day was my ability to get hit again and again and to keep moving forward. I never gave up. However, I know of many friends who got hit hard by life and could never find the courage to get up again. Instead, they quit dreaming and accepted a mediocre life.
There were many times in my life when I did get hit hard and felt that I had problems I could never solve. There were times when I felt that life was unfair and too painful to live. What kept me going forward was that I knew that no matter how bad, every problem will not last forever. Every recession will end. Dawn always breaks after the darkest hour. It was this belief that allowed me to keep getting up.
- When I told my friends (at the age of late-teen), my friend scolded me ‘siao’ (i.e. crazy), I pressed on the journey of entrepreneurship.
- When I started my first magazine business, my partners left all the sh*t work to me when things went bad, I pressed on.
- When everyone looked down on me because I got poor grades in my university days, I pressed on.
- When I was cheated by some media veterans in my 2nd magazine venture, I pressed on.
- When I lost over US$18,000 in options trading market as an early amateur trader, I pressed on.
- When I said I’m going to build a forex academy one year ago, and many thought that it would be like my magazine businesses and would never make it, I pressed on.
Whenever we see people achieve great things, it is easy to think that they had less problems and less obstacles than we have. That their brilliance, luck or talent gave them super human abilities to sail through life easily. That everything always goes according to plan.
I can tell you from experience that things NEVER EVER always go according to plan. 90% of the goals I set and plans you make will never go the way I want. Things will screw up and obstacles will appear that will knock me down. It’s all part of the game of life.
Success too has a price. The price is massive rejection, frustration, and hard work, People never succeed either because they thought that success comes easy or because they are not willing to pay the price!
Time flies…
and it’s been over one year now since the establishment of my Forex Asia Academy. Things may seem to happen and move fast, I must say this is a very challenging role as a Forex Educator. I started the entire academy doing all sorts of things a company should do. With help from great people like Lowie (currently my PA, and many great friends), I have more than 300 graduates from Singapore, Malaysia, and many from all over the world (as of today).
I told myself one thing: Since I’m trading and consistently profiting from the market, I must make even more money from this education business. Otherwise, I might as well go back to trading on my own. No point making mediocre income from teaching. I pressed on!!
For whatever we’re facing in today’s forex market, the market is getting more and more unpredictable. But it’s because of these tough times, we become stronger and tougher. We are like on a slope. If we don’t move up, we move down! We must go against gravity to scale greater heights.
So, within short span of just few months in the industry, Forex Asia Academy has been ranked one of the top by ForexForum.asia (www.ForexForum.asia), the authoritative forex forum in the region. Not only that, I have been invited to many talks and featured in various media in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. As the only Southeast Asia speaker, I’m also invited to speak about the development on Forex next weekend for ForexExpo (www.forexexpo.com) organized by Russian.
I am very proud and fortunate to work with my staffs (Lowie, Sherwin and Ella), Tze Ping, Siew Fong the tutorial masters (Chee Seng, Edwin and Kit), my dear graduates and many great people. A big thank you.
- Those who didn’t think I can do these, let me prove to you once more.
- Those who seek to sow conflict or blame, bear in mind that people will judge you on what you can build, not what you can destroy.
- Those who have contributed to my small success, I will continue to work hard and won’t let you guys down.
- Those who becomes my students, you have my assurance that I will continue to upbring the forex education in Asia.
- Those who believe in me, thank you so much. I will continue to bring values to people around me.
Accordingly to sources, there are close to 30 forex trading courses in Singapore and more than 40 in Malaysia. Forex Asia Academy became one of the most recognized forex academy around in Singapore and Malaysia, in just the first year.
On this day, I stand in front of you as a 26-years old individual (at least for the last 3 months), someone with big dreams and great (yet realistic) ambitions.
I’m glad to announce my Forex Asia Academy celebrated the 1st Anniversary yesterday (4th June 2009). FAA continues to move on to the 2nd year of Inspiring, Informing and Improving and the Forex Education in Asia.
Like what I always said to my graduates, Today is still the beginning.
klchoo | 
10 13th, 2009| 
