2-3-4 Friday: On dignity

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1 thought

I often use a coworking space called WeWork.

Young people there would look at me carrying my big haversack, toting about my smashed up MacBook.

I would sit in one of the empty phone booths, often without a booking, trying to save money. When it’s time for them to enter, they would rap the glass door, staring at me. I felt stupid and ashamed sitting there.

They would hold a smirk in their eye, as they smugly wore their Revolut, Deel, Adyen lanyards, global startups looking to make a dent in Asia.

I confess. I am an asshole for sitting there without a booking.

But no one else used it, so I went in.

But recently, there was a strange act of kindness. Someone gently knocked on the door, and told me,

hey I booked this,

but the one behind is free if you want to use it.

Completely different attitude.

Completely different outcomes.

It makes me think why people here aren’t more like this.

I can’t get inside their brains, but I do confess that I used to be like this too.

I had worked my socks off to win an overseas scholarship, and when I saw the other Singaporeans in the U.K., hanging out with more Singaporeans, I looked down on them. I thought of them as weak for traveling so far to find more of the same company.

Yes, I know, I’m an asshole.

No other nicer way to put it.

But one thing I’ve realised about being on the receiving end of such treatment is that there are two ways to take it. One is to look further down on yourself; the other is to keep fighting to make something happen for yourself.

Whatever happens, you can’t look down on yourself.

Because it’s tempting to, especially when you look at the things others do. You just think whatever you’re trying to do is not as great.

1 talk

Whatever happens, don’t look down on yourself.

No matter how people look at you, don’t look down on yourself.

1 tip

5 June 2025 marked the 5th year of existence of my company. And for the most part, it’s been a grind.

I used to think that whatever we did wasn’t very important. Especially when I heard about the crypto startup, tech, and whatever newfound shit was coming out of the industry. I would go for these entrepreneur networking events, and come off thinking that I was one dumb guy.

Who would be so stupid (and old-fashioned) to start a graphic design agency, doing paper-based publications? Publishing books?

Does anyone even read?

Uh, yes.

But the biggest thing that has changed for me is learning how to appraise myself reasonably. I’m not asking you to have a big, fat ego that’s immune to criticism. Rather, it’s about being realistic and recognizing that there’s value in whatever business you do.

You may not make as much money as the newfangled technology that’s trending, but in whatever you do, as long as you don’t look down on your own work, and you have the self-respect for yourself, you will never lose out.

Self-respect and dignity for yourself is hard to find in a world where validation can be quantified by the likes you receive.

But self-respect is deeper than just having a strong ego. It’s about being able to hold your head up high and say,

I’m proud of what I’m doing.

Yes, it might not make sense to you, but it makes sense to me.

There was a long time when I struggled to tell people I wrote for a living, because my ears would turn hot and when people showed interest I would think,

stop being patronizing.

But this has improved over the years as I’ve come to see that regardless of what people think of me, it’s how I respect and have dignity for my own work that matters.

So whatever you do, however people look at you, don’t disrespect your own work.

John

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