A Good Life Philosophy For Self-Employed People

Merry Christmas to all and may the festivities bring about precious time spent in the company of loved ones.

Tis the season of giving and I thought I'd present to you a simple yet powerful phrase that a a close friend shared with me many years ago:

“吃亏一点不要紧” — being taken advantage of once in a while is okay.

A wise reminder for life and business

Over time, this idea has quietly shaped how I approach both life and business.

In a World of Constant Transactions

We live in a fast-moving, high-pressure society where almost everything feels transactional.People often expect something in return—for time, effort, advice, or help.

This feeling is even more pronounced for:

• Business owners

• Salespeople

• Freelancers

• Self-employed professionals

When your work is closely tied to your time and energy, it’s easy to feel frustrated when your efforts seem undervalued or taken for granted. That sense of “this isn’t fair” can quickly creep in.

A Shift in Perspective

Having worked in sales since 2006, I’ve experienced these moments many times myself. Over the years, I’ve learned that choosing how we interpret these situations gives us power.

Allowing yourself to be taken advantage of occasionally does not mean:

• You are naive

• You lack boundaries

• You are foolish or gullible

  
  

More often than not, it simply means: You are capable, useful, and have something of value to offer.

People don’t take from those who have nothing.

The Power of Giving First

Many meaningful opportunities in life only emerge after we give, not before.

Whether it’s:

• Sharing your time

• Offering guidance

• Helping without immediate reward

You may not receive anything tangible in return—at least not right away. But you have contributed positively to someone else’s journey.

And sometimes, those unseen seeds grow into unexpected opportunities, relationships, or moments of alignment later on.

A Thought Worth Remembering

吃亏不算傻，让人不算痴。

Translated, this simply means; Allowing yourself to lose a little doesn’t make you foolish. Giving way to others doesn’t make you weak.

It simply reflects generosity, confidence, and a long-term view of life—qualities that often lead to deeper trust, stronger relationships, and opportunities that money alone cannot buy.

Food for thought.

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Stuart Chng, Executive Group District Director at Huttons, is a renowned leader and personality in the real estate industry.

He adores music and can play a few instruments decently without upsetting his neighbours. When not doing so, he enjoys pillow fighting with his son and coming up with silly puns which barely amuses his wife. 

Professionally, he is a licensed real estate agent, avid investor in options, stocks and real estate, team leader, speaker and columnist for several property newsletters and blogs and is often quoted in media interviews on 938FM, Channel 8, PropertyReport, PropertyGuru and other publications.

Throughout his career, he has helped many clients grow their wealth through selecting great real estate investments and managing their portfolios actively. Read his clients' reviews here.

Stuart has also coached many top million dollar producing agents from top Singapore real estate agencies. Read his agents' reviews here.