By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Oct 28: With a bold decision to quit his 9 to 5 job, 28-year-old Chai Yi Yang is part of a new generation of young business owners who believe the culinary trade is an investment that yields good returns.
The friendly Chai opined that investing in a small food business could give him a prudent return on investment (ROI), adding that investing in the food business now is ideal as it is not as capital-intensive and stressful as his previous job.
“Before, I got involved in a lot of figure-crunching and adhering to the government’s policies. It was not for me, so I followed my instinct and got involved in the culinary industry.
“No regrets and I just have to work hard on the principle of investment. If you believe you want to earn a living, you will not pursue what you want and could stop anytime.
“But if you invest in something that could have ROI, you stick to it. So, to begin with, I delved into a manageable small food business,” he said.
Chai told DayakDaily that he preferred to be his own ‘boss’ and be involved in a business where he could see cash daily.
“Cash is ‘king’. Everything we do now needs money. I would rather invest in something that could give me cash and make me my own ‘boss’,” he said with a chuckle.
With that in mind, Chai decided two years ago to quit his white-collar job and donned an apron to sell pan mee and meat and dumpling dishes.
He elaborated that his interest in the food business started while he was studying in college, where he worked part-time at a food court to supplement his income.
“That is where I learned the culinary trade and saw ‘cash’ daily. If the owner could do it, I could, provided we have the right attitude,” he said.
“The pan mee I serve does not have any extravagant taste, but if you want to try it, feel free to do so. I have different styles to offer, including the regular, spicy, sour, and chef special pan mee.
“As for the dumplings, they are either boiled or pan-fried. Both are great options, but in my opinion, you can never go wrong with dumplings as they are a comforting dish.”
That being said, Chai encourages young people to get involved in a business or a profession they see as an investment in the long term.
He said apart from having a food stall business selling pan mee and dumplings, he also has another form of financial investment portfolio to enhance his income.
“It is good to have a widespread investment portfolio at a young age to face the ‘rainy days’ ahead. For me, this small pan mee and dumpling business is just the beginning. It gave me satisfaction.
“They said that success comes a day at a time, but we must work for it. I believe I am investing in the right portfolio—pan mee and dumpling for the moment, ” he said
Chai’s pan mee and dumpling stall is located at Thompson Corner Food Court at Tabuan Jaya. It is open daily from 7am to 2pm except on public holidays. For more information, call 019 859 0662. — DayakDaily
