Mr Fong’s Core Principles and Insights: From Passion to Perseverance

Recently, participants had the incredible opportunity to walk alongside Mr. Fong Chi Chung, Founder of the renowned Putien restaurant chain, as he shared his inspiring 24-year journey in the food and beverage industry. Mr. Fong’s down-to-earth insights and passion for his work left an indelible mark on all who were present. Here are some of the powerful lessons drawn from his sharing:

1. Passion is Key

Mr. Fong emphasizes the importance of loving what one does, believing that success is a byproduct of passion. His statement, "If I didn't love the food I served, I wouldn't be where I am today," serves as a powerful reminder that work should resonate with one's heart. Whether in a 9-to-5 job or building a business, aligning with one’s passion helps foster resilience and humility through both successes and challenges

2. Hard Work Beats Intelligence

The entrepreneurial journey is anything but easy, as evidenced by Mr. Fong’s story. He started in Singapore in 2000 with no prior experience in the F&B sector, yet his dedication and perseverance helped him overcome initial hurdles. "Never look down on any job or business. Nothing is impossible with passion and hard work," he noted. His story illustrates the power of diligence over mere intelligence—success is built on sustained effort and steadfast commitment.

3. Focus, Focus, Focus

In today’s fast-paced world, staying focused is more crucial than ever. Mr. Fong captured this concept with a simple analogy, noting that just as a ray of sunlight concentrated through a magnifying glass can ignite wood, disciplined focus on what truly matters can ignite great success. This serves as a reminder of the need to direct energy effectively toward core goals and purposes.

4. People Are Everything

Mr. Fong spoke candidly about the impact of nurturing dedicated teams. He credited his employees as pivotal to Putien's resilience, especially through challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic. "Take care of your people, and they’ll take care of your business," he shared, highlighting the importance of valuing and investing in teams to ensure long-term success and adaptability.

5. Learning and Growth

Adapting to change is essential in the dynamic F&B industry. Mr. Fong continues to emphasize ongoing improvement and staying ahead of trends. He gratefully acknowledged the support from various board initiatives that facilitated Putien’s expansion into international markets such as China, Taiwan, and the Philippines.

6. Generosity and Shared Success

A statement from Mr. Fong that truly resonated with participants was, “分得越多 赚的越多" ("The more you share, the more you gain"). It's a profound reminder of the value created through collaboration and generosity. He demonstrated this ethos by absorbing the 9% GST and waiving the 10% service charge from August 20, 2024, showing his commitment to customer satisfaction and community support.

Special thanks are extended to Mr. Fong Chi Chung for his insightful and impactful sharing, and to the Singapore Mentorship Committee (SMC) for organizing such a meaningful event.

Editorial by Glen Chan