Since the start of the Movement Control Oder (MCO) many individuals had lost their main source of income, as businesses were told to either stop or pause their operations. That said, the MCO had also taught all of us a lesson on hard work and determination.
Datuk Redzuawan Ismail, popularly known as Chef Wan, recently shared a story on his personal Instagram account about how he became one of the most sought-after chefs not only in Malaysia but also abroad.
Photo: Tatler Malaysia
Inspired by an article he read on The Star, of a fitness trainer, Chin Jie Xun, who worked at a wet market during MCO to make ends meet, Chef Wan advised the youngsters with a few anecdotes on how to become a successful person before sharing his own personal journey.
“People who want success must first change their own attitude, get up, and realise they need to make changes to their lives,” he wrote in the post that was liked by more than 6,000 users!
“I know what I am talking about as I was there making changes in my own life (having a) direct selling business when I was in ITM.”
Chef Wan did not stop there as even when he was abroad, he continued to fend from himself and his family.
“Then, when I went abroad to further my studies in Sydney, I did part-time (job) waiting tables as well as working in the Paddy wholesale market on weekends selling Lebanese kebab, ”
“When I decided to go to my Chef school in San Francisco, I was also waiting on tables in the evenings with a part-time jobs as a gardener to housekeeping jobs within my neighbourhood and a private chef job to several wealthy families around Pacific Heights to help me pay for my school fees and still supporting my ex-wife and both of my 2 children at the same time!”
Chef Wan said that his experience working odd jobs in between schools had taught him many valuable lessons as well as developed his confidence and self-esteem to become a successful person in life.
“As I say what doesn’t kill u will always make u stronger multiple times!”
“Life is a huge challenge and there are always sacrifices to be made. Had I not gone through all that tough journey I would have not opened my bloody mouth this morning!” he jokingly added.
Chef Wan also shared the hardship he went through when he was little, working in the orchards and plantations to help feed his family of nine. Every income he earned at the time, he gave it to his mother just to help with the family.
“That hard life taught me to always be responsible for my entire family and be proud of what I have achieved.”
He went on to remind others to pay forward, in kindness and compassion, once you are successful and can afford to share what you have.
“That is why I always believed in sacrificing for others because it teaches us human beings to be compassionate, emphatic, to love and be kind towards others.”
“When u can learn to put others ahead of u first then you begin to realise that God will bless you with many more greater things in life.”
Continue...Patut la NST writer once wrote a big article on me... Siap title nya..."CW jack of all traits trying to master them all.. Wan for all, all for Wan" Dia nak jadi Celebrity chef, pelakun, comedian, Food Ambassador to Tourism Msia, Ahli usahawan sampai la being a motivator. Di rumah dia la house keeper, tukang masak sampai la tukang kebun, sekejap jadi emak nak jadi bapak, tok or nenek pun semua jawatan boleh saya usahakan dgn baik dan berjaya. Manusia yg tegas, happy go lucky serta rajin berusaha pintu rezeki kita akan sentiasa Allah buka kan. Apa tah lagi rezeki nama kita itu hari ini memberi makan dan juga kepada ramai chefs2 dan pekerja kita untuk menanggung keluarga mereka yg ramai juga. I didnt started my life from the top! Wasnt born with a silver spoon or turn to be a spoilt brat either. I knew if i wanted to have a fabulous lifestyle and a jet setter then i need to work super hard. Rezeki kita tak kan tergolik sahaja mcm tu Allah nak beri pun dia pilih pilih juga orang nya. With that rezeki dia pulak duga kita. Ada ke kita jadi manusia yg tamak, kedekut, sombong, lupa diri dan riak. Are we using our wealth to also reached out to others around us etc. That is why i always believed in sacrificing for orhers because it teaches us human beings to lahir kan sifat2 compassionate, enpathy, love and kindness to wards others. All this life experiences and respect u only can earned by doing it your self. When u can learn to put others ahead of u first then u begin to realised that Allah will blessed u with many more greater things in life. All this lessons in life tak akan merugi kan kita langsung. Infact dia nya akan bentuk perbagai keperibadian kita sendiri. Yang cemburu dan sakit hati pada kejayaan kita will continue to buruk dan sebar kan mcm2 fitnah untuk memuas kan hati mereka masing2. Yg itu semua kita cant control as they are your challenge laid by Allah daily. Dia duga hati kita dan hati busuk mereka. So what do u do? Kita maaf kan mereka dan kasihan kan mereka sudah lah. Jangan layan, move on as Allah have a better place for us for having kesabaran dan memaafkan mereka. Berbakul eaok pahala kita di akhirat esok dgn umpatan mereka. Let go!😂👍
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We hope everyone will be inspired by Chef Wan’s story and remember that a little hard work goes a long way.
By: Siti Farhana Sheikh Yahya
