When I think back to my school days, one encounter stands out more than any other. It wasn’t in the classroom. It wasn’t about exams. It was a simple invitation from a classmate named Marcus that would leave a lasting impression on me for the rest of my life.

I met Marcus when I was studying at Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC). He came from a very different background than mine. His father was a radiologist, his mother was also well-educated, and the family was clearly wealthy. Marcus even had a younger brother, and the two of them lived in a bungalow - a world I had never experienced.

He was polite, well-spoken, and confident. He didn’t show off, but it was clear that his life was comfortable. One day, he casually told me he enjoyed bowling and invited me to join him after school. I’d never bowled before, but I said yes.

At the end of school, Marcus said, “My chauffeur is here.” I was stunned. At the time, I didn’t even know what “chauffeur” meant. I took the public bus every day. Owning a car wasn’t even a thought, let alone having someone drive me around.

The car that picked us up was a Mercedes. As we pulled up to his house, I realised—it was a bungalow. The first I had ever stepped into.

Marcus welcomed me in. “Just take off your shoes,” he said. “No need to remove your socks.” I did as he said and followed him inside. The living room was massive. And there, sitting in front of the TV, were two Nintendo consoles.

I couldn’t help but ask, “Why do you have two?”

“One is for me,” Marcus said. “The other is for my younger brother.”

At that point, I was stunned. I didn’t even have one. In fact, owning a Nintendo was a childhood dream I could never afford.

Then Marcus said something I’ll never forget.

He meant it sincerely. But as much as I wanted to accept it, I just couldn’t. Something inside me told me I had to earn it myself. I didn’t want to take something I didn’t work for. So, I politely declined.

Marcus then said, “Let’s grab our props.” I didn’t know what he meant—until I saw he had his own bowling ball, neatly packed in a bowling bag, along with custom bowling shoes. His younger brother had the exact same set.

That day, I made a promise to myself:
I would study hard. I would get into university. And one day, maybe, I could be as successful as Marcus.

Marcus eventually went on to study medicine, while I failed my A-Levels. Three times. It was painful. The gap between us seemed unsurmountable.

But I didn’t give up.

That story is one of the reasons why I started ViA Atlas, and why I continue sharing these personal experiences. Because I know someone out there is feeling like I once did. Maybe you’re comparing yourself to others. Maybe you’re feeling like you’ll never catch up.

I want you to know: Don’t quit.

Despite everything, I eventually made it into NUS. I graduated with two bachelor’s degrees and a master’s. I found my path, just like Marcus found his.

We walked different roads, but we both worked hard in our own way.

There will always be people who are richer, smarter, or better-looking. That’s life. But don’t let that stop you. Stay focused. Surround yourself with people who value you—not for what you have, but for who you are.

In the end, it’s not about being Marcus.

It’s about becoming the best version of yourself.

Looking back, my experience with Marcus was a defining moment for me. Seeing how different our lives were, the luxury car, the bungalow, the Nintendo consoles, made me realize how much I had to work for my own success. That feeling of being “less than” fueled my determination to push forward, even when I faced setbacks like failing my A-Levels multiple times.

But my journey didn’t stop there.

After graduating from the National University of Singapore, I landed a decent job. When it came time to finance my wedding, I decided to start investing in stocks. At first, my investments seemed promising and I made some gains. However, without proper knowledge, I soon racked up losses. I found myself gambling more money, hoping to turn things around, but the losses only grew.

Then came the dot-com crash of 2001 and I was wiped out, losing $50,000 almost overnight. I had to work two jobs just to stay afloat. It was a tough period but instead of letting bitterness take over, I was inspired to find a better way.

I knew the world’s wealthiest people built their fortunes through investing, so I dedicated myself to finding a reliable system. After extensive research, I discovered value investing, Warren Buffett’s secret, taught by only two professors in the world. I traveled to the United States to learn directly from them.

That knowledge changed everything. With value investing, I went from broke to a seven-figure net worth and have never looked back.

Today, I’m proud to be a very successful investor with a multi-million dollar portfolio. But life wasn’t always smooth. I traveled a rocky road to get here and that is why I want to help others make a similar transformation.

I founded Mind Kinesis Investments and the Value Investing Academy with a clear vision to help people become better investors through proven, practical strategies. Over 50,000 students across 11 cities in Asia have learned this methodology, even if they had no prior investing experience.

Alongside my investing career, life threw me the toughest challenge. In 2010, I was diagnosed with stage 4 renal cancer. Fighting that illness changed my perspective on everything. Even through treatment, I launched charity projects and wrote books to support cancer research and hospice care. Surviving this battle strengthened my mission to empower everyday people to take control of their financial futures through smart, disciplined investing.

If you relate to feeling behind or overwhelmed like I did when I saw Marcus’s world, it’s okay. You’re not alone. I started from uncertainty and setbacks and with the right mindset and guidance, I created a life I’m proud of.

That's what I do and continue doing to be 1% better every single day. 

• A deep dive into a fast-growth company case study.
• The key financial metrics used when evaluating whether a stock has strong growth potential
• Step-by-step guide on how to apply the Value Investing Methodology on real-life companies
• The exact criteria that successful investors use when evaluating any company
• How to determine the intrinsic value of a stock so you will know exactly when to enter or exit the market
• How ViA Atlas Intrinsic Value (IV) Directory can get you started on building your own portfolio of superhero stocks, even for busy professionals without much time to spare.

• If you are worried about market volatility and are looking for insights
• If you have already started investing, but lack a clear action plan
• If you want to fast-track your learning curve in investing
  

• Learn real, actionable strategies you can apply right away
• Get clarity on what to expect moving forward in a Trump market
• Walk away with a clear action plan for this year