Leading with Purpose and Precision
I’m lying on the bed of my children’s room.
It’s wet outside—too wet for my usual walk, which is when my thoughts tend to come alive.
Lying still gives me clarity, perhaps more focus—but less vigilance. I can feel myself entering into a kind of resting mode. Not quite asleep, not fully awake. But my mind—still moving.
It’s Sunday. We tuned in to an online church service.
I felt mentally exhausted—not from stress, but from letting go. Like releasing a long-held tension in the mind. A kind of “mental muscle” finally allowed to rest. And because tomorrow is a public holiday, I gave myself permission to rest deeply.
And in that stillness, something unexpected surfaced.
A Chessboard, A Piano, and a Pattern
Today, my son had his online chess tournament.
He was nervous. Whispered things like, “I’m not good enough… I can’t do it.”
It reminded me of yesterday—his piano recital. He chose the easiest piece, not because he lacked skill, but because he feared taking risks.
I saw a pattern in him.
And perhaps… in me.
After the tournament—he won about 2 out of 4 games, not bad—we sat down together. I didn’t want to waste the moment. 打铁趁热. Strike while the iron is hot.
We watched a few chess tutorial videos on YouTube. I kept telling him, “Be strategic.”
But then the instructor said something that jolted me:
There’s a difference between strategy and tactics.
That simple distinction opened up a whole new layer of reflection for me.
Strategy is Vision. Tactics are Movement.
A strategic move sees three, four steps ahead.
A tactical move? It’s the next best step.
Strategy is the compass.
Tactics are the footsteps.
Strategy without tactics is just a dream.
Tactics without strategy is just motion.
I realized then—this isn’t just about chess.
This is about leadership.
This is about life.
The Rhythm of Our Team
Earlier this year, we appointed Samuel as our Group COO.
He’s one of those rare leaders—part eagle, part lion, part ant.
He sees the big picture like an eagle.
He leads with courage like a lion.
He executes tirelessly like an ant.
And that’s the challenge. When someone can do everything, it becomes hard to place them where they’ll create the most value.
So, we gave him the hardest seat in the house.
Today, he’s overseeing everything—from budgeting to school coaching, from HR transformation to expansion planning in Johor and KL. He even supports our creative production team while engaging consultants for our future campus. And at a group level, he still finds time to support strategic discussions and coach other leaders.
That’s why it works.
Because while I hold the horizon, he moves us forward.
This is the rhythm we’ve found:
I lead with strategic foresight. He leads with tactical clarity.
Together, we meet at the intersection.
Culture Before Strategy. Identity Before Position.
That’s the DNA of leadership at Stellar.
We don’t just appoint leaders.
We look for a Spark.
We look for FAITHful leaders —Faithful, Available, Involved, Teachable, and Humble.
Once we find that spark, we Shape—not with techniques, but with culture.
Because when storms come, it’s not your skills that hold you. It’s your values.
Then we Strengthen—from the inside out.
We equip leaders with the Stellar Leadership Dimensions, built not on external expertise, but internal clarity, resilience, and emotional strength.
And finally—we Send.
We multiply.
We raise others.
Because real leaders don’t just rise.
They raise.
A House Turned Bazaar
While all this was unfolding, my wife was home, sorting clothes.
Not for fun. Not for spring cleaning.
But for flood victims who lost everything.
She sorted them one by one—by age, gender, type—from morning until 5 p.m.
Samuel’s wife, Grace, stepped into our house and laughed, “Is this a clothing bazaar?”
Later that evening, we delivered 15 bags to a school-turned-shelter.
Over 400 flood victims, mostly Malay families, were camped in a hall.
No beds. No blankets. And it’s Ramadan.
I asked the officer, “Do I need to register these items?”
He said, “No need.”
But I still recorded them—out of a sense of respect.
Some of the clothes were used, and honestly, I felt bad. I’ve always found it hard to give away used items. But in that moment, need outweighed pride.
Within two minutes, everything was gone.
Not out of greed, but desperation.
I’m glad my children saw it.
Because they fight over toys and treats like most kids do.
But today, they witnessed something else:
That our life’s significance isn’t about what we accumulate. It’s about how we give.
The Framework That Won’t Let Me Sleep
Even on a day of rest, I couldn’t stop thinking about the leadership book we’re working on.
Not because I couldn’t switch off. But because the clarity kept growing.
Right now, this is how I see it:
- Spark – Find the FAITH. Identify the seed.
- Shape – Culture before strategy. Identity before position.
- Strengthen – Equip from within. Raise leaders from the inside out.
- Send – Multiply. Mentor. Replicate. Raise others to rise.
This is the cycle.
And it never stops.
Because leadership isn’t a chapter.
It’s a rhythm.
The Reverse That Redefines It All
One last thing.
As I reflected on chess, leadership, and the flood shelter, one realization hit hard:
The opposite of leadership isn’t following.
It’s self-preservation.
Because real leadership demands risk—
Of your ego. Of your comfort. Of being misunderstood.
True leaders raise others even if it costs them the spotlight.
It’s not about titles.
It’s not about power.
It’s about presence.
Sacrifice.
And quiet courage.
Good night.
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