Why would a top graduate quit his lucrative and stable career in an established company to join an unknown and unproven startup? Why would someone, after slogging hard for more than 10 years, arrived at the peak of his career, enjoying the fancy expat lifestyle, quit everything and returned to his home country with his wife and young daughter with no job and no backup plan? What's technology got to do with locks, seafood and tofu? What actually goes on behind joining a startup, what's the advice for making a career switch, why and how would one start a YouTube channel while having a full-time job?  These are just some of the things you get to hear in this podcast. This is On My Own Terms podcast. And I'm your host, John Lim.  In this podcast, I speak with unconventional individuals and the risk takers who took the roads less travelled. Here I discover the why and the how of their journeys, attempt to see the world through their lenses and deep dive into how they navigate their careers and lives on their own terms. If you have ever felt nervous, jaded, or are currently languishing at your career or life, this podcast is for you.  A little about myself: currently based in Singapore, I'm a husband, a father, and a curious business and tech enthusiast. Bulk of my career so far has been centered around business development, technology, entrepreneurship, and startups. I've made rather huge career switches across diverse and unfamiliar industries: -  From starting my career in banking to starting a laser tag events company. Yes. You heard it right laser tag!  - From running Singapore's largest indoor laser tag center to manufacturing our own gaming equipment - From an entrepreneur-turned-SME employer, to joining an early stage startup where I eventually led business development across Southeast Asia - From building a business and team from ground-up with my sweat, blood and tears for six and a half years to decide on walking away from all of it  - To joining a tech startup with a really cool product, with venture capital funding, with a bigger team and working hard to help build other people's meaning AKA the co-founders' dreams - From working from a tiny office at east coast park to representing the startup on the stages and platforms in Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Manila, Jakarta, Bali, and Hong Kong -in pre COVID times of course.  Looking back now. I think I've had an incredible ride, but it was definitely not a smooth-sailing journey all the way and it's definitely not without making huge decisions and compromises. Because of these experiences, I've had friends and acquaintances coming to me, asking for perspectives on entrepreneurship, startups and making career moves and switches. And it turns out I enjoy sharing my experiences and the lessons learned. A big reason is that I could totally relate to how it feels when you're at a crossroads of your career and life. However, I wish I had more perspectives and people that I could learn from and relate to when I was at those crossroads myself.  Hence I started this podcast to make this a resource and sounding board I wished I had. I want to let you who are or could be in similar shoes to  #1 know that you're not alone  #2 gain some actionable insights and perspectives and  #3 be inspired to take action for your next steps.  I can't guarantee you immediate solutions for whatever that you are facing or feeling right now. But I promise you you will gain nuggets of wisdom and perspectives in every episode -to start making your career and living on your own terms. Whatever you're listening or watching this podcast on, hit the Subscribe or Follow button so that you won't miss out on any of the episodes. I sincerely hope you enjoy these conversations.