6 Everyday Malaysians Share How They Defied The Odds To Reach Their Goals
"Sometimes, you just gotta trust the process."
By Specials — 26 May 2023, 03:40 PM
1. "It started as a way to keep me busy, but I never thought it'd grow into a RM40,000 side hustle in just one year"
"Two years ago, during the start of the MCO, I wanted to show love to my boyfriend, and it was in the form of cheesecakes! As my love for baking grew, I decided to work on it throughout the lockdown to keep me busy.
"Within a year, I managed to grow my little side hustle to a point where I even had café and client partnerships, and managed to make RM40,000 in revenue. That's not too bad for a side hustle, right?"
- Nicole, 25 years old
2. "Defying the odds doesn't necessarily have to be something dramatic or life-changing. For me, it was as simple as being the caller through on the radio!"
"A few years ago, I would always listen to this radio station on the way to work. Once, they were running a 'guess the celebrity voice' contest. It seems crazy now that I think about it, but I started going on YouTube to listen to random celebrity videos, using the hints the radio hosts were giving.
"Eventually, I actually found the video interview where they lifted the voice line from! Since I knew who the celebrity was for sure, I spent weeks calling the radio station, trying to get through. This would happen before work, or sometimes I would take breaks from work to call them. I did this for a month, and one day, I finally heard the radio host's voice on the other end!
"I gave them my answer, and I was right of course, so I ended up winning RM6,000 from the contest. From this experience, I learnt that if you put in enough effort and set your mind on something, you have a great chance of achieving that goal. Even if it is winning a radio competition."
- Nelson, 35 years old
3. "If I didn't take up the opportunity from my friend to start teaching, I wouldn't get to do what I'm doing now"
"Heels dancing used to be a way for me to have fun and make friends. That was until I got an offer from my friend to teach. It was intimidating because I had to commit to a regular schedule of choreographing and thinking up new routines every week. It was a totally new experience for me, but I'm glad I did not shy away from it.
"To make up for my inexperience, I started dancing more regularly and watching dance-related videos every day to get inspired. Fast forward six months later, I'm still here teaching because I genuinely enjoy it and my students are the best! I have also gained more confidence, and dancing has helped me stay creative in other aspects of my life as well."
- Sharon, 27 years old
4. "Sometimes, you just gotta trust the process. And when it's time to jump... Leap!"
"I've always had the desire to work in a Western country, where the culture is different from where I grew up. Coming from an ASEAN country, not many Western companies would offer a lateral move, so I stayed around, laid the foundations, polished my skills, and added to my knowledge.
"Fast forward a couple of years, I am now in the UK and not only did I get a lateral move, but I am also regarded as someone with specialised knowledge. Looking back, I never thought that the knowledge and experience I stayed back to gain would be the gateway to me fulfilling my desire of working overseas."
- Lisa, 34 years old
5. "It was a personal goal for me to switch careers and go into IT, but it was tough because I had zero working experience"
"I graduated with a masters in mechanical engineering from the University of Nottingham under a scholarship. However, during the lockdown, with inconveniences to delivering end products and accessing sites, I decided that I needed to pivot into another field, which was IT.
"I started pursuing computer science at 42KL, a peer-to-peer learning environment, and decided to venture into data science. I also took up a machine learning course from Google, while self-learning Python and SQL programming languages in my free time.
"Getting a job in IT was no easy feat, since most companies were only hiring those with working experience. I even managed to get to a few final interviews, but lost out to other candidates. However, I kept trying and I finally did it! Now, I'm working as a database engineer with a vessel management software company."
- Jiong Soon, 30 years old
6. "For me, it boiled down to having the right connections and people around me"
"I'm a freelance colourist, which means I help to colour videos for advertisements, corporate videos, and music videos. In case you're still wondering, a colourist helps to colour grade, colour correct, and adjust footages to set the tone and mood of a video.
"I guess I defied the odds simply by having the right connections and people around me. I've learned (and I'm still learning) that I can't please everybody, and not everything will go my way all the time, but that's okay. 'Cause better days are on their way!"
- Kelson, 26 years old
Just like how these everyday Malaysians defied the odds, Tiger Beer also proved critics wrong in 1932 by showing that they can brew beer in the tropical heat
Before 1932, it was believed you couldn't brew beer in the Asian heat. Yet, Tiger defied the odds to create a world-acclaimed lager, born in the streets of Asia. Now, this boldly refreshing lager has made its mark in over 60 countries, with over 40 global awards and counting.
In celebration of Tiger Beer's journey, fans can experience the home of all-things Tiger at the Tiger Den from 15 June to 9 July!
Taking place at Pavilion Bukit Jalil, the Tiger Den will feature an immersive celebration of the Tiger Beer journey. At the Tiger Den, fans can walk through six zones that encapsulate Tiger's bold journey with engaging, immersive activities, augmented reality (AR) experiences, and T-shirt customisation.
Here's a closer look at what each zone will showcase:
Room #1 - Heritage Street
An interactive heritage street that tells the story of Tiger's bold and courageous adventures and notable early successes.
Room #2 - Tiger Brewery
Behind the scenes of Tiger's brewing process using interactive projections.
Room #3 - AR-fitti street
In an urban street setting, visitors can immerse themselves in Tiger's storytelling via graffiti art and AR technology, creating social worthy content.
Room #4 - Hype Street
Hype Street – This is where you can find iconic creations. Get your customised Tiger x PMC T-shirts here. Alongside that, you can also purchase customised Tiger Beer shoelaces and deubre here. And what's more, you can even hype up your ensemble with the limited-edition Tiger Beer x Edmond Looi shoes sold in this zone too!
Room #5 - The Crystal Cold Room
An interactive area for visitors to experience the crystal-cold refreshment of Tiger Crystal.
Room #6 - The Tiger Bar
You can end the journey with a free and boldly refreshing Tiger Beer, while enjoying some snacks and listening to DJs from SaturdaySelects.
Starting from 15 June, fans can visit the Tiger Den at these times:
Wednesdays and Thursdays: 12pm - 10pm
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays: 11am - 12am
Ready to experience it yourself? RSVP for The Tiger Den here!
That's not all. When you visit the Tiger Den, you could be in the running to win amazing prizes like a trip to Singapore for two that's worth RM30,000, woah!
One of the ways you could stand to win is by sharing your experience visiting the Tiger Den via IG Reel. Here's how it works:
STEP 1: Record an IG Reel of your Tiger Den experience, showcasing the different zones and activities explored
STEP 2: Upload your video to Instagram, tag @tigerbeermy, and add the hashtags, #tigerbeerMY #TigerDen
STEP 3: Every video entry will count as one submission, which means you'll be one step closer to that Singapore trip, woohoo!
Another way to win is when you buy Tiger Beer products in pubs, bars, hypermarkets, supermarkets, convenience stores, Drinkies, or 99 Speedmart. Learn more here.
Do one of these methods, and you'll automatically stand a chance to win exclusive prizes, like the grand prize of an all-expense paid trip to Singapore for two.
Head over to Tiger Beer's microsite now to learn more!
As a reminder, the legal drinking age in Malaysia is 21 years old. That means you need to be 21 and non-Muslim in order to buy and consume alcohol. Remember to always drink responsibly and in moderation. Don’t drink and drive. If you plan to drink, try carpooling with a friend who isn't drinking or catch a cab instead of driving.
