These are stories of three dare dreamers — former lawyers stung by the Singapore entrepreneur bee.
Many of us have dreams of quitting our legal careers to engage in other pursuits. Most of us are unable to do so for various reasons or do not have the courage to live our dreams. On the contrary are three ladies featured in
this column, individuals, who I shall call the dare dreamers. They belong to a growing class of professionals who want to be different from the rest of their peers, many of whom are caught in the whirlwind of spending their waking
hours and even weekends at their well-paying jobs satisfying endless needs. These dreamers dare to turn their dreams into reality. They do not aspire to maintain fat bank accounts or own cars, houses and modern personal effects.
To these individuals, wealth is defined as being a master of their time and finding happiness and contentment in their individual pursuits. The change of these individuals’ mind-sets can be attributed to religious influence,
personal crisis and the strong conviction to live simple, quiet and meaningful lives.
Veronica Ann Joseph
Ten years in a family law practice filled with emotionally-charged clients and their demands. Fatigue. Several bouts of long-drawn illnesses. These were the reasons
Veronica Ann Joseph wanted to hang up her robes and venture into the world of business in the last few years. Her call did not come until March 2002 when she decided to go on a sabbatical.
‘At the beginning of my sabbatical, little did I know I would start the break by running around to set up a business.’ After being a client and friend of Selinna Tan of Daisy Nail Cottage & Spa, a nail bar in Orchard Road for
about four years, a thought occurred to Veronica to ask Tan to grant her a franchise of the business. The thought finally became a business venture, Tee ‘N’ Ann, by partnering with her sister-in-law, Tina. They both finally set up
shop in cosy premises in that bohemian haven, Serangoon Garden Village.
‘I finally enjoy waking up in the morning, attending Mass at my neighbourhood church, walking my two four-legged friends and then going to work’, said Veronica, a Eurasian of medium build.
‘From attending to clients’ personal problems, I am now attending to a lesser but important need — pedicures and manicures are slowly becoming a niche need of women. It is a chance for them to take a break, relax and receive
soothing treatment amidst a background of tranquil music, hot drinks and mints.’ Men are not excluded from her nail bar. Her clients’ spouses and boyfriends are willing to undergo various kinds of treatments together with their
loved ones. I had the experience of being treated to the young women’s ministrations a few months ago. Although I must admit that I initially felt uncomfortable about stretching my above average-sized legs to Tina, it did not take
long for her to make me relax and advise me on foot-care. After a long and relaxed session in the comfortable therapy chairs, all my nails looked presentable. If my male counterparts can show interest in eyebrow maintenance, I do
not see nail care as a less macho thing to engage in.
Veronica does not paint a rosy picture of being her own boss. ‘It is still work. There is still pressure of building up the business. It is important to remain focused and positive in the midst of the challenges that I face.’
Veronica’s interest in beauty care, arising since her university days, served as an inspiration to embark on this business. After having run the business for more than four months, Veronica is currently exploring the option of
being a part-time lawyer. ‘I would still like to be a lawyer but I prefer doing solicitors’ work on a part-time or ad-hoc basis in a law firm.’
Genevieve Chia
The warm Valrhona chocolate cake at Butterbean Bistro, although diminutive in size, is a truly decadent dessert, which oozes warm chocolate from its centre. Paired with
vanilla ice cream, it is a sinfully sweet delight for dessert lovers like me. The dining experience begins at Butterbean Bistro when the friendly Genevieve Chia welcomes each and every one of her customers into the simply
decorated, small and cosy bistro located on Purvis Street.
Many lawyers are great food lovers and for the majority of us, our love stops at eating it. For Genevieve, it motivated her to hang around and learn the ropes from her friend at the bistro, become a co-owner and finally give up
the law to run the place with her. I could feel the love and affection she has for the bistro, when Genevieve referred to it as ‘my home’ several times during the interview.
To my question on why restaurant kitchens are male-dominated, she said that it could be a result of our culture where women are unable to spend long hours of the night cooking in restaurant kitchens, as they are expected to be home to take care of their husbands and children. Prejudice may also play a part in keeping women out of the world of male chefs.
Besides being the director of marketing for Butterbean Bistro, Genevieve is also in charge of buying and introducing new wines to its wine menu. ‘Like many lawyers, I am an avid wine-lover and it is a great pleasure to do what
I love for a living.’
Having practised family law and later corporate law during her three and a half years in legal practice, and having done a stint as a business development executive at HSBC International Trustee (Singapore) Limited, Genevieve
yearned for freedom and autonomy in her working life. ‘I wanted to be my own boss and this business allows me to do so in an industry that I love’, said Genevieve with a smile that lights up her face. She exuded happiness, and her
blissful state of mind made this young woman appear comfortable, relaxed and beautiful.
‘I do not think you need an MBA or other equivalent qualifications to become an entrepreneur. You must, however, have a sound knowledge of the industry you choose to enter before you step into it, and of course, the willingness
to take risks and leave your comfortable job’, is Genevieve’s advice to budding lawyer-entrepreneurs.
Besides running the bistro business, Genevieve also teaches English to children to keep herself occupied. ‘I do miss the intellectual challenge that law practice offered me’, she confessed with a smile, but quickly added, ‘I
don’t miss the long hours I used to spend at work and the demands of the legal profession’.
Keng Wan Ling
In small premises situated in Tudor Court on Tanglin Road, is a Christian book store run by a young and demure woman. Meeting her, one would not guess that Wan Ling is the
owner of the business. Humility and simplicity are perhaps her middle names.
After practising corporate law in a large firm in Singapore for one year, Wan Ling realised that she was spending her days and nights in the office. She decided to close the short legal chapter of her life and embark on a
marketing job with the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board. ‘I had always enjoyed organising parties and wanted to put my organisational skills to good use.’
‘Being a Christian, I was interested in Christian literature and after realising the potential market for such literature, I incorporated a business and sold Christian books via the internet and my small shop, Mind Manna, in
Tudor Court after three years with the Board.’
Wan Ling feels that it is a challenge to remain focused in the life-path she has chosen for herself. ‘I constantly self-evaluate as to why I chose to run this business. I do get discouraged sometimes when I meet my successful
friends and hear about their new purchases. My friends always help me to remind myself of the reasons why I chose to run this business.’ Acknowledging God as her boss, she runs the shop with the support of her three-member staff.
Talking to Wan Ling reminded me of what Morris L West said in The Shoes of the Fisherman: ‘It costs so much to be a full human being that there are very few who have the enlightenment, or the courage, to pay the price. One has
to abandon altogether the search for security, and reach out to the risk of living with both arms. One has to embrace the world like a lover, and yet demand no easy return of love. One has to accept pain as a condition of
existence. One has to court doubt and darkness as to the cost of knowing. One needs a will stubborn in conflict, but apt always to total acceptance of every consequence of living and dying.’
Rajan Chettiar
Allen & Gledhill