A Revolution Of Love (Part 1) – Reigniting Love

On March 21, 2003, I received an interesting call, “Patrick, you better fly back right away. People are carrying things out of the office.”

This call started a series of events which changed my life forever.

Prior to that call, I had scaled down my personal involvement with the company and left its daily operations to a management team.

At the trough of the SARS outbreak, sales had dipped to its lowest point. Operational expenses were at an all time high.

Our competitors took the opportunity to head-hunt my management staff, and several of my key people literally left me overnight.

Subsequently, my colleagues, clients and suppliers began to leave me in droves. Vicious rumors circulated in the market and they were growing stronger by the day.

During that time, I lost an enormous amount of money. I was also carrying personal liabilities to the tune of millions of dollars.

I went through the darkest hour of my life.

At night, I slept with tears in my eyes, curled up like a little baby. I lived in constant fear, and anxieties cloud my mind.

I was worried about what would happen to me and my family. My life had virtually come to an end.

It was a daily torture to wake up, drag myself to the office, and face another day of pain and sorrow. I walked around like a zombie, not knowing what to do, say or believe.

I was totally helpless. I could not run away. No matter which way I turned, I would feel another huge wall collapsing on me.

I went through what the Chinese would call a half-death – 求生不得, 求死不能 – an experience which is worst than death.

I wanted to live but I could not live. I wished I could die but death was not an option for me.

It was then that I started searching my soul. I looked for wise counsel.

I looked up and asked our Creator for help. I needed a modern-day miracle to turn the tide.

In my spirit, I sensed a divine calling to rebuild my company into more than just a business, a company, or an organization. I was to go beyond personal profits and gain.

The initial instruction I received was to ‘Touch Lives’, to treat humans as humans. My job was to walk the journey of life with my colleagues and help them live a meaningful, exciting and fulfilling life.

Our company would endeavour to bring out the best from them and help them live the best life. Through them, we would touch lives, bless families, improve communities, and enhance society.

When I decided to take up this challenge, I felt our Creator saying that this step was only Part One – the easy part.

The most important and also the most difficult part of the message was to tell my people three simple words, ‘I love you.’

I knew that love is the most powerful force in business and in life. Sadly, I had barely scratched the surface to tap this awesome force.

I did not learn how to live and work with love from any business guru, school or book. (Most people would not even dare to talk about love in the workplace).

I had to learn how to rebuild my company on love and to live out the power of love.

I had to chart a new course. I had to pioneer a different way of running the business.

I decided to make my company the extended family of our people – and our office, their second home. I endeavored to transform my organization into a warm, dynamic and caring family.

Out of that major crisis, I was forced to re-create myself. I learned and am still learning to run my company with a heart and put soul back into the organisation.

Within three years, with the help of our Creator, we redesigned our company. We established ourselves as a market leader and arguably the first company in the world to rebuild itself on love.

Our company helped to win more than 40 awards and became probably the most awarded company in our industry. We are also the first single-focus agency to be listed on the Singapore Exchange.

More importantly, since 2003, our company became one of the most active companies in social contributions. Our charity missions helped us to win the Entrepreneur Of The Year For Social Contributions and the Asian Responsible Entrepreneurship Awards.

I have been humbled by my failure and the experiences that I went through. Out of that crisis, I became a lifelong student of love.

I have gone to many parts of the world and shared about the power of love.

From leaders to ordinary persons on the street, I aim to help them develop more love, compassion and kindness. I endeavour to put soul back into businesses, communities, and other organisations.

Please allow me to share heart to heart with you about love.

Love is one of the most powerful forces in life. Yet, we have barely scratched the surface to tap this awesome force.

Love really needs no definition or explanation. We are created to love and to be loved.

Love is already embedded within each and every one of us. You will know love when you feel it and you can feel it whenever you want to feel it.

You need to be mindful of love and live it out so as to edify yourself and touch others. As you do so, you will continue to strengthen your capacity and ability to love.

When you live a life of love, you will live a happy and fulfilled life.

It is sad that we do not do more to ignite and raise the level of love that our Creator has placed within us. There is every reason to spread more love to the people around us.

Love is a key ingredient to making the world a better home.

Many people never truly love or love enough. They consciously or unconsciously sabotage themselves and prevent themselves from loving and living a full life.

They do not live out love but put on a cosmetic version of love. Some are caught up with an ethnocentric feeling or a self-serving drive to acquire more material gains and that can have toxic outcomes.

Love in essence is not conceited or arrogant and do not result in people looking down on others. In fact, it is appealing and even infectious and will draw others to yourself.

Love is a healthy force that heals the emotional wounds in life. It nourishes the body, soul and spirit.

Love helps you to be at peace with yourself and be contented with your situation in life. At the same time, it spurs you to improve your lot and be a blessing to others.

The paradoxical truth is that the more we extend our love to others, the more love we will have. And the better we will become in sharing the blessing of love with others.

To love others, we need to first learn how to love ourselves. If we cannot love ourselves, we cannot love others effectively. It will be harder for others to love us too.

The questions that need to be answered are, When was the last time we tell ourselves sincerely, deeply and generously that we love ourselves? How can we do it constantly?

Without self-love, everything else will not work. You are preparing for life to be on a collision path with you.

What you think of yourself will influence what others think of you. How you look after yourself will also shape the way you look after others.

As you love yourself, you need to at the same time extend your love to others. It is a part of the same process of having more love in your life.

By firing the twin engines of love, you will enhance your love quotient and make a greater impact on others. Love can also work miracles on the people and the environment around you.

Historically, we went from an agrarian age to the industrial age. From the industrial age, we went into the information age.

It’s about time, we move into the Age of Love.

Let’s start a Revolution of Love!

Go4It!
I hope this message will find a place in your heart.

By the way, I have also recorded other reflections.

Visit my Inspiration blog at http://liewinspiration.wordpress.com/

For my opinions on current affairs, please visit my Transformation blog at http://hsrpatrickliew.wordpress.com/

Please read them and continue to teach me.

Life is FUNtastic!