Having built his company from the ground up and now preparing to pass it to his children, he said he’s witnessed a major change in work attitudes compared to his early days. “When I first started, the pay was low, but we focused on doing our job well — not on demanding perks,” he said. “Nowadays, many young workers want high pay, flexible hours, and quick promotions before proving their worth. I always tell my staff — don’t talk about RM2,500. If you can help the company make money, I’ll gladly pay RM25,000. But you have to show results first.”
He added that younger employees often underestimate the unseen struggles of business owners — from failed deals to delayed payments. “They only see the surface — the new car, the business trips — and assume bosses are rich. But sometimes we change cars to build the company’s image, or travel overseas to learn, not to enjoy.”
The businessman shared that he invests his own money into attending expos and studying how international companies operate. “If I stop learning, the company stops too,” he said.
His message to young workers: focus on responsibility before demanding rewards. “When bosses can’t give the bonuses we hoped for, staff think we lied. But like everyone else, we face challenges too. If you truly have the ability, you won’t need to ask — the high salary will come naturally.”
A 56-year-old Malaysian business owner has gone viral after sharing a heartfelt reflection on the widening generational gap in today’s workplace. In his post on XUAN, he explained why many younger employees fail to understand the pressures, responsibilities, and financial risks of running a business.
Having built his company from the ground up and now preparing to pass it to his children, he said he’s witnessed a major change in work attitudes compared to his early days. “When I first started, the pay was low, but we focused on doing our job well — not on demanding perks,” he said. “Nowadays, many young workers want high pay, flexible hours, and quick promotions before proving their worth. I always tell my staff — don’t talk about RM2,500. If you can help the company make money, I’ll gladly pay RM25,000. But you have to show results first.”
He added that younger employees often underestimate the unseen struggles of business owners — from failed deals to delayed payments. “They only see the surface — the new car, the business trips — and assume bosses are rich. But sometimes we change cars to build the company’s image, or travel overseas to learn, not to enjoy.”
The businessman shared that he invests his own money into attending expos and studying how international companies operate. “If I stop learning, the company stops too,” he said.
His message to young workers: focus on responsibility before demanding rewards. “When bosses can’t give the bonuses we hoped for, staff think we lied. But like everyone else, we face challenges too. If you truly have the ability, you won’t need to ask — the high salary will come naturally.”
