Nuggets of Wisdom from the Shy Billionaire, Andrew Lim Tan, for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurship takes the adage "Nothing worth having ever comes easy" to its logical conclusion.

Why the shy billionaire?

Andrew Lim Tan has always chosen to stay away from the limelight, but his outstanding successes, of course, did not go unnoticed.

Who is Andrew Lim Tan?

​Andrew Tan, a self-made billionaire and successful businessman, was born in the Chinese province of Fijian. He spent his childhood in Hong Kong, where his family lived in a small apartment with four other families. They made the decision to go to Manila, where he completed his academic years. Beginning in a foreign country was difficult for him and his family. Having part-time work and attending college at the same time was challenging for him, but he never complained. Andrew Tan persisted until he mastered management. He discovered that giving his all, whether it be in work or studies, makes him feel happy and fulfilled. In addition, it assisted him in improving himself.

​A billionaire was created as a result. In The Philippines, Andrew Tan is a titan in a number of industries, including fast food, liquor, tourism, and real estate. When he was younger, he had the ambition of opening a grocery store, which is how he got his start in business. He was 16, and an incident opened his eyes to the importance of diligence and hard work. His father's life lesson helped shape who he is today. 

A week after arriving in the Philippines,
I happened to wake up one day at 7 o’clock in the morning.
My father got angry and he scolded me.
​As a newcomer in the country, he said, I had to work harder than the people here.
"You cannot wake up at 7 o’clock. You must wake up at 5 o’clock."

What can we learn from Andrew Lim Tan? ​ How did he achieve them? Here are some pieces of wisdom from Andrew Tan that will inspire and help you on your entrepreneurial journey.

Do not expect everything to turn out the way you want it.
Be ready for disappointments.
​You should have extra bullet to help you fight another battle.

Through the years, as my group of companies expanded,
I stuck to my success formula of hard work and luck to stay ahead of the pack.
That, basically, is the story of my life's journey.
​It has been a constant process of moving forward no matter what.​

My philosophy as a businessman is really quite simple:
Just keep working and investing whatever profit you make in new business.
That way, you generate more jobs and help the country’s economy grow.

Doing business is all about providing a good product or service to your customers.
A good businessman is one who knows that what is successful today may not be so tomorrow.
Technology changes fast, and so do people's needs and wants.
That's why it would do well for a businessman to know how to adapt to change.
He must constantly reinvent the business, or it won't last.

Do not rush into a business just because you have the capital.
You'd lose your shirt if you jumped into it recklessly.
Do your homework first. Study the market and look for that golden opportunity.

Every time I see a certain room to grow
or a new opportunity to advance further, I go out and take it.