I did feel a little out of place but during dinner, I found myself seated at a table where there was a very interesting old man. He's in his 50s, talks alot and is so full of energy, passion and enthusiasm I'd seem like a fused lightbulb next to him.
He's none other than Jack Sim, founder of the World Toilet Organisation (WTO).
He seems to have dabbled in anything and everything! Businesses in roof tiles, floor tiles, ballroom partitions, office partitions, etc. He even started the Australian International School and sold it off for a handsome profit some years back. And now he's championing the right to have good, clean toilets everywhere in the world.
It's something to be proud off actually, an organisation started in Singapore but which has spawned off many similar organisations around the world. I didn't know but apparently there's a World Toilet Summit which has been taking place annually since 2004 or 2005. Different countries host it each time.
Mr Sim was rolling off nuggets of "wise words" off his tongue every few minutes. Lol, there were so many I only managed to catch and remember a few:
- We buy the things we don't need, with the money we don't have, to impress the people we don't like. Where's the joy in that? Why get caught up in it?
- What counts cannot be counted. Our kids have been taught in school about grades and marks and competition. They don't know anything about love, courage, compassion, filial piety, graciousness......
- People need to know that life is simple. Why makes things so complex and difficult? Live simply, eat simply. Treat each other well. Everybody is happy.
- How to succeed in business? You must know how to laugh at yourself. Get others to laugh with you too. Once they do that, they'll listen to you.
It's really fun meeting people like that. :)
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