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“Words of Wisdom” is an initiative to document and celebrate the stories, insights, and wisdom of Singapore’s senior citizens. It's powered by Folklory, a service dedicated to preserving stories through audio podcasts, who will collaborate with 60 seniors aged 60 and above to create a series of 60 podcasts, each capturing a unique slice of Singapore’s rich history and culture. Find out more info at Folklory.com
00:00:00:00 - 00:00:24:06
Unknown
Hello there. This is Terence from folkloric. What you're about to listen to is a podcast from the Words of Wisdom Project, where we spoke to 60 Singaporeans over the age of 64 as 60 and captured their life lessons for the next generation. We hope you enjoy it. I.
00:00:24:08 - 00:00:48:18
Unknown
And we're here today to record this glory with Casey. How we'd like to start. Casey's for you to just give a brief introduction of yourself and what you do. Yeah. So, like this, answer the question. Who I am. So I'm 17 years old. I pass to, for prime ministers radio from Mr. Lee Kuan Yew to Mr. Wooden to Mr. Listener.
00:00:48:18 - 00:01:09:12
Unknown
And now we have a new PM. So there are many changes in Singapore. So I would actually, be quite, willing to share with you, over the next 20, 20 minutes. Okay. All right. Maybe a good place that we can start that right is to talk about, lifelong learning because there's something very passionate about it.
00:01:09:12 - 00:01:46:14
Unknown
Right. Right. And like this did this, did this, love for lifelong learning. Did it start at a young age or what? So honestly, I'm a very lazy student, and I studied in, Katong Tech because, in the 1960s, our government emphasized on technical education. So after, I finished my O-level. So I asked myself, do I think I can go to the time is not known as new as this as you Singapore University, I said, I don't think so because my O-level was okay, but not that.
00:01:46:14 - 00:02:10:22
Unknown
Okay, so I decided to enter Singapore Polytechnic and the time was right. Because the top 20% continue with the diploma, the rest continue with, it e which is now it. So to finish that, after I finish my called the provide realized that my higher salary is only $2,000. If I continue so therefore I save enough money.
00:02:10:22 - 00:02:37:08
Unknown
I went to UK for my studies visit and to see the Singapore Institute. So after I finished my master's degree, I came back. I was a project manager, so I thought that I get married and then that's the end. But I didn't realize that. Then years later, my boss told me, you are fired. I said, why? They said, you always spend too much money because you always bubble the the coffee machine.
00:02:37:08 - 00:02:55:22
Unknown
We want to make money so you better go and do your MBA. So my boss, you want to keep the job? You. We want to pay for your MBA back to the UK. So when I came back to this day, after then, I do things very differently. Because now I look at the fund manager as part of making money for the company.
00:02:55:22 - 00:03:21:06
Unknown
So answer your question. Lifelong learning is actually something that the circumstances that one. What motivates you? There's one me, the other one. Like now I'm 70 years old and I just attended. Yesterday was my last day at the NTU on sustainability. The busses go back and my classmate was laughing at me and Sandy. So what do you want to do?
00:03:21:06 - 00:03:48:17
Unknown
I said, you know, I read the report that if you want to stay away from being dementia, you must do lifelong learning in make your payments. So I also bumped into my friends. They are no more with until as professors, they retire. So they are also forming their own team into, artificial intelligence for, sustainability.
00:03:48:17 - 00:04:08:20
Unknown
So, I mean, to answer your question, lifelong learning must be number one. You know, the purpose of what you want to study. The other one is, to chase your passion. If we think about money, no, there will be no, there will be no money for me because nobody is going to engage me as a consultant at 70 years old.
00:04:08:20 - 00:04:35:05
Unknown
But if this is their case, income will give one hour talk. I give you some, allowances of, of, reward for that. So, I hope that answers your question. Yeah. I mean, I do want to ask. I mean, it must be quite, takes a quite a lot of, you know, gumption and courage to, you know, pursue lifelong learning alongside much younger people, even as you're older.
00:04:35:11 - 00:05:05:14
Unknown
Like, what motivates you to to want to do that and, you know, do that every day consistently. So you must first, be able to identify your passion or. So let me show you, a sample. I wake up in the morning, of course, everybody will check email. So then what I do after that? Then I will, browse the Google, and then I say, no, the richest man on earth is, Elon Musk.
00:05:05:16 - 00:05:30:18
Unknown
You know, Musk is, the richest man because, he was not, the pioneer. I mean, he's the pioneer in electric vehicles, but he was not, engineer in building electric cars. But the belief is the belief that one day the world will need to sustain the environment, less CO2 emission. And he built the electric cars, and people believe in him and supported him financially.
00:05:30:20 - 00:05:54:22
Unknown
So therefore, I ask myself, okay, that is, some, 15 years ago, when I retire at 60, oh 55 5555 because I got my CPF. That's it. Then I choose what I want to study, because sometimes when you are working for people, you they will tell you do this, do that. But now I will chose to pursue what I want.
00:05:54:24 - 00:06:23:19
Unknown
So therefore I say that this, something which means I want to be a consultant. So I went to study as a certified consultant with, Institution of Management consultant in Singapore. And then when I go back to work in, I was still 75. Right. So I realized that is not enough. So I have to study, more subjects, more subjects as some.
00:06:23:19 - 00:06:51:02
Unknown
But, in the this term is, possibly, artificial intelligence, but the term is not quite efficient. Intelligence is called automation. And then as time goes by, I realized that the net effect is towards innovation. So therefore in the last few years I study level one two level for innovation and then now I have, next week I'm going to China.
00:06:51:04 - 00:07:13:09
Unknown
So, some, businessmen from China, they read about my article. This is translated and they say, why do I want you to come to the Institute? The top. And the last two years I started and now it's almost every quarter. They want me. So this was my passion, not, after 55. It it's not really about money.
00:07:13:09 - 00:07:39:08
Unknown
It is really about my sharing of my experience. Based on the last 12 years, I was in different industries. So I think, my answer is always the same to something that you really enjoy doing. You can, touch this to passion, but I still believe that. Stop thinking about the money equation first. Do something that you will not give up.
00:07:39:10 - 00:08:06:11
Unknown
So that's something. Now I start to know better what innovation can be quantified. But as compared to the ten years ago, innovation is just a concept. But now is the standard. I associate the 6001. Which you have to accumulate over time. Oh but you cannot just study anything I say, this is lifelong and I think that one will lead you to know where.
00:08:06:13 - 00:08:32:07
Unknown
Yeah. Okay. I mean you, you, you touched on something that I think is very important for young people to think about that. Right. You know finding a passion in something that beyond, beyond money will motivate you to. Yeah. To wake up every day, you know, but there's also a lot of, young people who enter the workforce and, you know, they jump between jobs, you know, and they don't feel like they've really found a passion, even though they've tried a bunch of different things.
00:08:32:09 - 00:08:52:15
Unknown
How do you think someone can really, you know, in the 20s, you know, first jobs or everything. How can they hone in on something and discover their passion if they've never found it after 20 years of their lives? Actually, you cannot find, you know, but honestly, it's, your loved ones or your girlfriend. They'll tell you a simple lesson.
00:08:52:15 - 00:09:13:08
Unknown
I have my, know, my first date, my girlfriend. That's why do go with visit. Because they're good salesmen, you know, with some stuff, you know, to fire me up all those other people and you know how to open door for me, like you pick me up, even, like, take a taxi. I come down and open the taxi door for you to go out there, like, go, is it why are you doing all these things?
00:09:13:08 - 00:09:34:07
Unknown
I said this over many of these up to the top of the story. So therefore, a sample. I was, an engineer. I'm an engineer. So after two years, I realized that I'm not a very good engineer because my boss always, threatened me. You know, you'll take so long for the designing. I'm a precision engineer. This is hold long for you to do real time study.
00:09:34:09 - 00:09:52:04
Unknown
Then when I meet my customer, my customers say, Erica, you know why buy the machine? Not because the machine is good. No, because you know how to convince us. You know how to do all the planning for us. From getting the finance and everything that means I'm a one stop person. They come to me just like a salesman selling your car.
00:09:52:04 - 00:10:14:21
Unknown
I do everything for you. So therefore I they, I think I take the advice and therefore I go into, sales and marketing for my second job. So that is what my mind tells me then my job is that because I asked my boss, I said actually last month my commission quite low you know, is it if you like money so much.
00:10:14:23 - 00:10:34:00
Unknown
I said, because I just got married, I could pay for my expenses that do business government. But you have to be aware 80% of the time. That's okay. I take it because I need the money. So earlier, use the time I just mentioned. It's really the money is the motivator. But once you get the experience, then you can sit down and ask up.
00:10:34:02 - 00:10:55:08
Unknown
Is this really what I want? Is this really what I want for the rest of my life is the answer is the use of that is the optionality. Yeah. So now you ask me on Friday, Friday because I still go to rule number one. I enjoy going from one country to another. Someone pay for me to go there after I finish.
00:10:55:10 - 00:11:18:06
Unknown
Delivering what I want, I stay one two days or longer for holidays. I say but you must always have somebody to support you be your girlfriend, your wife or your parents or your very friends who really see the potential in you or even sponsor given the Chinese is com willing to do you need, someone to coach you when you, younger days.
00:11:18:08 - 00:11:45:21
Unknown
So to the right people like people. So I think they are having a good cry for, for people to talk and then return. Maybe you from different groups for years now. Zoom. You don't need to be physically together. No. But, when people start to have a snowball effect, then I think, as, more elderly people, elderly means, who is, we are very different because we have more time to do this type of activity.
00:11:45:21 - 00:12:10:04
Unknown
Somebody last time was looking at, okay, not, there is, you know, I have to do other things. But now, yeah, this I even I don't mind the sharing and even, physically presentation about, how to implement ourselves. Sure. Okay. I mean, you touched a little bit about that, but everyone needing to find that one person who can support you.
00:12:10:04 - 00:12:33:08
Unknown
All right, how does one go about finding a love of your life? Wow. So the one must be is the right people. So I will be very serious of these. So as somebody, I go to a somebody good. I listen a some people really talk a lot of sense love. So I will introduce the person to myself.
00:12:33:08 - 00:12:55:10
Unknown
To the person. Magnetism. And actually, if you don't mind, I have a issue in this method. So what do you tell me then? I will want to know more. Why are you talking to me? So you must not be shame. You must not be shy to us. So I I've, that's what I said because of the nature.
00:12:55:12 - 00:13:14:18
Unknown
I've been a salesman so my skin already. So the most that I reject. Excuse me to waste my time but I don't know you. And then please get lost. Now you have come across that but you have to build your character so everyone has their own character. Not everybody will like the way you talk. Not everybody the like the way you behave.
00:13:14:18 - 00:13:41:14
Unknown
But you must believe in yourself. Self-confidence were important. So once overcome the fear of asking, let's ask. Maybe this is stupid. So I never think that people call me stupid. The men women, me silly old man. You know, how come he's asking me all this basic question? But because I really want to narrow the generation gap. Because if I don't talk to people who are younger than me, how can I talk to my son?
00:13:41:15 - 00:14:09:04
Unknown
Because my son. Very rebellious moment. Earlier. Yes, but now he's ten. Understand that when I a sprint. But the purpose of why I need to talk to him. So I think over time he must be a serious learner. Serious learner. And we can learn from anybody, even the unde watching the pilot also will tell you, you know, the certain things, that you may miss something in your life.
00:14:09:06 - 00:14:44:16
Unknown
You know, so be open minded. Is all about, our own philosophy in life. So we have to build our own character, and be willing to let someone. Of course, it's not so easy to find out. So we are always lucky if we have somebody who is willing and sincere enough to guide you along. And I think Singapore younger generation is, a lot of, more of these people who are willing to, sacrifice their time, a good education to share the good things or not, not the bad things as a small boy.
00:14:44:16 - 00:15:17:06
Unknown
One, but for whom? Doing. Well, yeah. But, wise to how to spend the time wisely. You know, so I mean, to finding a love is one thing. How about maintaining a a relationship? Over many, many years. What's the secret to longevity in a relationship? Relationship is all about trust. Love. So, I learned to tell lies in, in the.
00:15:17:08 - 00:15:45:10
Unknown
I mean, I'm open. I need to tell lies. Lies. And this is what I tell my wife. You know, today I go here, today I go there. Then one day, she caught me drinking with my friends in the I call you tell me you are supervising students or the project. And it's called maturity. So after I, I, you know for this issue because I told my wife, you know, you are good drinking, I tell you, you also complain the whole night and also the side is both sides.
00:15:45:12 - 00:16:08:12
Unknown
So this is called maturity because both parties become mature and you are willing to share why you need drinking. And she also share with you why she need to control me. Because you are spending a lot of money. Also, don't go to pub to drink, go to coffee, shop to drink. Also can I not doing somewhere close to the house also can unless you can see all you are not doing in another room or not.
00:16:08:14 - 00:16:30:09
Unknown
So those are the very What makes a person is that we must not do silly things like, do something that is good, but be willing to try, try everything. And how do you know that? Really you are very good. Is only your friend that is not jealous of you. Will tell you it actually is better to become a chef.
00:16:30:11 - 00:16:55:18
Unknown
Our friends the tell me No more progress as I go and teach. Then they don't become the school teacher and never be the most successful. They are trying to be the salesmen, but eventually they become a chef. Look, cooking, cook and learn everything there. But they are willing to try to. So I think in society, never give up this, from, Jet Mountain.
00:16:55:18 - 00:17:20:19
Unknown
So I like the sentence simple. And then don't lose your self-confidence. And get right advice from the right person. And don't think of will or think about contribution. Contribution. Yeah. Money is important but always if you don't enjoy what you do give money is of no use. And health is also important. The true.
00:17:20:19 - 00:17:44:12
Unknown
So no this has to be integrated together. So that's why I always, teach about the holistic thinking and this change the way you think further. So once you change the way you think than anything you do, anything you study must enhance your ability to integrate. That means I put pieces together. I see a bigger picture. But we need to implement the means.
00:17:44:14 - 00:18:12:21
Unknown
People spend money. How? Those can go to, only Malaysia. I spend a lot of those. I can go further away because a friend properly of ability to implement and thinks about of ability to innovate. Always look for, improvements, not only yourself, but help other people improve them. As you reciprocate, you learn more. And last but not least, is, improve continuously, which is actually the true meaning of, building our maturity and character.
00:18:13:02 - 00:18:38:08
Unknown
The other person is mature, is not selfish, is abundant. But when a person not mature in time, they say, well, this one cannot, the one cannot, those relationship cannot last. So that's why I said, I've been married for 40 years or 40 years. And my wife called me know for hankie panky know. But once you promise and stop means you stop.
00:18:38:10 - 00:18:58:05
Unknown
Because the thing of the two. Right? Yeah. True, true. So, I mean, it also related to this, I guess. What what kind of values do you look for in the people that surround you, the friends that you have around you? What are important values in the people that you surround yourself with? All the best for me measure.
00:18:58:05 - 00:19:31:19
Unknown
But first thing is, don't talk action. Also, actions speak louder than words. Next one is make mistakes. No need to hide one say I'm sorry. Accountability. So accountability action and attitude. Attitude means that don't think you are the smartest guy in the room. It's always the one guy that within thought is smarter than you. And that is, as I said to us, our own character and also our confidence or the through the confidence and also continuous improvement.
00:19:31:22 - 00:19:58:06
Unknown
So, that's where I really, really, hope, those people are listening. Nobody can choose the future as you. So you can decide on your own future. But by taking the right person, by looking at this person, is it real or is it just bullshitting? We use big story no doubt. Big story, but actually come to nothing.
00:19:58:08 - 00:20:18:12
Unknown
And the Google is the best friend. Also, the only thing we want to learn, we want to do you can go Google or not. Be clever. ChatGPT also find. Yeah. Yeah. Don't, stop learning, until you can position yourself and you really, really every morning you wake up this is the thing I want to do.
00:20:18:12 - 00:20:36:12
Unknown
You can become a coffee boy, know, like run your own coffee shop. There are people like that, and they're successful, you know? Not because you want to take over from your father, but actually you enjoy making coffee for your friends and things like that. And then you start. There's more coffee. So imagine you must innovating bigger ideas.
00:20:36:14 - 00:21:00:24
Unknown
And then, like donkey, right? It was from a small to the, stall at the rats, but at the roadside. And you become so because you go into franchising etc.. Yeah. Those who, those you need the people who starts up and those are where I can come in to give you advice, but money is still you need the right financing.
00:21:01:04 - 00:21:34:01
Unknown
So just do something that, fellow, rich people must have this, like, platform to invest, and they tell the younger generation of young people. Yeah. Okay. I mean, we're also recording this to celebrate SG 60. Yeah. I didn't want to ask you. What do you wish for the younger generations of Singaporeans for the next 50 or 60 years ahead for Singaporeans?
00:21:34:03 - 00:22:02:03
Unknown
Well, my wish is how can I first, as a personal, contribute to the success of all these people? So I also try to, look for, resources that I can teach free of charge and then help these people to groom them to get certified, though, in things that, to be relevant to what they want to learn and do.
00:22:02:03 - 00:22:34:24
Unknown
The Singapore society and outside the region know that they just like teach a man to fish he fish for his lifetime. But fishermen think he can think not just lifetime. He can think how to make and do great things. So this a paradigm shift. So I, actually, if government gave me even the platform that, the committee because, the train people how to think holistically of the means for types of thinking skills.
00:22:35:01 - 00:22:59:16
Unknown
Then I think from there they can position themself because it's just like a, a town for down do like the chow, learn how to stand up and walk again. So this but I always tell people action learning and this is not taught in school. Yeah. So this is something I think as a nationwide building divide the platform I love the sentencing.
00:22:59:16 - 00:23:19:18
Unknown
One time he said come back to me by never come back. Now he's become even his reasoning is also clear because I, he actually wrote back and said, my doctor will talk to you. And now nothing happened and no change the Desmond needs. I hope Desmond is listening. Give me the platform. Right. I'm very qualified. You look at my background.
00:23:19:18 - 00:23:42:14
Unknown
I got, 2 or 2 PhD from recognized good universities, and then I want to share this because how come. And sir, in China, people can invite me there all the way to, thing like. No, but yet over here, when I want to bring this thing up, then nobody interested then now I have to find friends who say, now my new the room free of charge.
00:23:42:14 - 00:24:07:24
Unknown
Then your ten people. 20 people who interested, listen to you and apply. Yeah. So I, I don't mind to do that. Okay. Yeah. So my thing is, share something that is useful for the new generation and let them think for them. So this is where the paradigm shift change the way you think. Then you change the way you do your work, change the way you behave, and eventually change the way you perform.
00:24:07:24 - 00:24:29:23
Unknown
I think this is much better than fish teach a man how to fish because these only, very specific skills. So I think that thinking two miracles herself. No, I hope you will materialize. Yeah. I.
00:24:30:00 - 00:24:59:20
Unknown
Hello again. I hope you enjoyed listening to that for query. Words of wisdom is a project by Charlotte Go, powered by folklorist and supported by our Singapore Fund. To find out more, please visit our website at Aecom. That's f o l k o r y a.com. Goodbye.