Driven by Inventive Ideas: A Story of Colin Lam and His Business Endeavours

Wholeheartedly embracing creativity and actively putting it into practice can unlock pathways to achieving success. Those with a creative disposition have a special ability to imagine innovative resolutions and venture beyond; one such individual is Colin Lam.

Photo of Colin Lam (second from the left) and his lovely family of four.

Photo courtesy of Colin Lam.

“Whizz” is a word to describe 52-year-old Colin Lam Chee Siong, Co-Founder of StartHobby, a hard player who’s known for his steadfast dedication to transforming imaginative concepts into concrete achievements.

An accomplished businessman who puts his thoughts into action, Mr Lam’s life story was marked by significant challenges and an unwavering spirit.

The Early Days

At the tender age of 13, he experienced the loss of his father, which forced him to navigate the complexities of life with remarkable resilience. Mr Lam's upbringing was moulded by the presence of his mother, who took on the responsibility of looking after him and his three siblings. She is described as “loveable and dynamic”.

Despite being a playful teenager then, Mr Lam has always held on to his father’s words: “要玩就要玩到第一名” which translates, “If you want to play, you have to play to be the first.”

After graduating from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and subsequently fulfilling his national service duties, Mr Lam went on to pursue higher education at Singapore Polytechnic, where he took up a course in electronic engineering.

While he eventually dropped out of his course of study due to lack of interest, Mr Lam wasn’t too worried about how his future would unfold as he believed his determination and drive to move forward were the first steps that would lead towards his success.

His Career

Mr Lam's first employment involved him working as a technician at a telecommunications company. During this period, he realised that he disliked micro-management.

Being new to the working world, he felt unsettled by his then-employer's close supervision and lack of autonomy. There was minimal freedom for him to exercise his own initiative. “I was looking for an employer who can give me room to perform and prove my capabilities,” Mr Lam recounted his experience.

Dissatisfied with his job's lack of fulfilling experience, Mr Lam opted for a career change in 1995, transitioning into the role of a financial consultant with AIA Singapore. Things started to fall into place for him when he embraced his friend's invitation to step into the realm of financial consulting. He began enrolling in courses, such as business insurance, to acquire fresh perspectives and enhance his expertise.

Photo of Colin Lam and his various awards cumulated after many years in the industry.

Photo courtesy of Colin Lam.

Having remained active in this field for 28 years, Mr Lam has secured prestigious awards such as the Hall of Honour, Centurion Club, and membership in the esteemed Million Dollars Round Table (MDRT). This global recognition is bestowed upon the most accomplished financial services experts who showcase remarkable professional expertise.

His First Venture

Engaging in golf with the intention of broadening his network, Mr Lam’s first business idea came when he saw his car heated up in the sun. He recalled his experience as a “unique business opportunity”.

Mr Lam diligently prepared for his business venture by conducting extensive research and analysis. Spanning a year, he surveyed 13 golf country clubs in Singapore to evaluate membership numbers and location suitability. He proactively engaged with these clubs to gauge their receptiveness to his proposal. Additionally, he meticulously calculated costs and profits, demonstrating a thorough understanding of the market feasibility for his idea.

In 2007, he established his car grooming and detailing business, Sparks 'N' Shines Pte Ltd, within National Service Resort & Country Club ( NSRCC ). While many shared that they have thought of this idea, Mr Lam believed that words without actions hold no substantial value.

This venture persevered for ten years alongside his career as a financial consultant, showing his intense dedication to both endeavours. “I believe that time management is about finding a balance and utilising my 24 hours well,” says Mr Lam.

Among the difficulties he encountered were the unpredictable weather forecasts in Singapore and the balancing of managing manpower within his labour-intensive business model.

Despite these obstacles, Mr Lam remained undeterred in achieving success. Eventually, he made the decisive decision to sell the business as he could no longer foresee its exponential growth in the upcoming years.

Photo of Colin Lam engaging in table tennis.

Photo courtesy of Colin Lam.

A naturally active and athletic individual, he delights in engaging in marathons and various sports pursuits. Leveraging his passion for sports, particularly table tennis, he hatched a plan to turn his pastime into a profitable venture.

In 2013, he took a significant step by embarking on a new journey as a table tennis coach. He started another company, Table Tennis A123Z, where he transformed his expertise into a platform for coaching and guidance. Mr Lam strategically links his new ventures with his existing businesses for continuous growth.

His expertise is evident in projects such as his recent innovation, where he is working on creating specific equipment to improve players' accuracy when practising table tennis.

“I noticed sports like basketball and golf allow players to have clear targets for consistent improvement. Whereas table tennis relies greatly on muscle memory,” Mr Lam shared.

With that, he is looking to launch "Traverse," a product designed to address the sport's distinct needs and enhance skill development.

Despite Mr Lam's existing successes, his entrepreneurial drive continues undeterred and continuously innovates. In this phase of life, he aspires to infuse delight, health and happiness into the lives of those around him. Through StartHobby, he wants to help people find purpose by pursuing their interests and hobbies. Mr Lam’s ultimate aim is to see people happy and smiling and inspire them to actively pursue their hobbies.

With the motto "StartHobby, Start Happy," he envisions this venture as a catalyst for fostering connections, laughter, and delight among individuals who come together to embrace their passions.

A quote that resonates with Mr Lam is, "There are millions of business ideas out there but only a tiny percentage of businesses succeed," as articulated by Tony Robbins.

Guided by this wisdom, he imparts a crucial piece of advice to young and aspiring entrepreneurs: “You must initiate action and embark on the journey of bringing your ideas to life, as an idea will forever remain an idea if left untouched.”