Q&A: Team player plots a steady course
What lessons did you learn early in life that were useful for leading a company? Not long after arriving in Hong Kong from Shanghai in the late 1940s, my parents decided to send me to the Air Force School in Taiwan. There, I learnt a lot about co-operation, discipline and trust within a team. Every member plays a different role. If you don't do your part, or fail to follow orders, you can ruin the efforts of the whole team. That is also where I learnt to fly a plane and understand the importance of navigation. Provided you set the right course at the outset, it is easier to make the necessary adjustments along the way. The same principle applies to raising children or running a business.
Was financial success a driving force in your career? Money has never been my motivation. When I started Chevalier I never expected this level of success, but found that wealth and assets come naturally if you take a responsible approach to life. You should make full use of your talent, be disciplined and considerate and take opportunities when they arise. I have a more relaxed lifestyle these days with no meetings before 11am, but I still find myself involved in various business and community commitments because I want to keep contributing where I can.
What does it take to create and run a diverse publicly listed group? The key is to find talented people, take the time to train them and offer them opportunities to test their potential. You have to set clear rules and reward people according to their ability and commitment. You cannot afford to be too lax or too high-handed. Also, you should remember that business is all about relationships and having consideration for others and a sense of responsibility. In a way, it is very simple.
In the international arena, who stands out as a leader? I admire Lee Kuan Yew because he is a man of principle. When he decided to implement policies to censor or control the media in Singapore, he was subject to all kinds of criticism from people around the world. But he stepped forward and defended his actions and beliefs. I still remember how he faced the international media on his own in a press conference, taking every question and defending himself against various attacks. It is rare to find a man with such courage and strength.
Do you ever feel that life is 'too easy' for young people nowadays? All I can say is that our economy encourages speculation instead of hard work. It is far too easy to make quick money. You just have to jump on the bandwagon at the right time. It seems to me that our education system does not do enough to teach young people about moral values and having the right expectations of themselves. Too many of them just want to make money and spend it. Making money is one thing, but what you do with it reveals your moral integrity.
