For anyone in Singapore, the initials "ACS" conjure a specific image: a school filled with rich heritage, many colourful characters in business and politics, known memes of "we are not gangsters, we are ACS boys", a proud brotherhood, and—quite famously—a catastrophic relationship with the Mandarin language.
In the 80s and 90s, for me being an ACS-ian for 12 years meant wearing my linguistic struggles like a badge of honor. I remember our Chinese teacher once asking us to translate the school motto, “The Best Is Yet to Be.” Our collective, cheeky reply? 我们永远不会好 “We will forever never be good.”
In those days, hitting a 50% pass mark was cause for celebration among friends and family (our Chinese teachers heave a collective sigh of relief that they won’t see us ever again in their classrooms). We laughed it off, never realizing that the "joke" would eventually become my biggest business hurdle.
The Wake-Up Call: When Language Becomes a Ceiling
As I entered the professional world, the laughter stopped. I watched as Mandarin evolved from a school subject into the global language of commerce. Suddenly, I found myself sitting across from Mainland Chinese businesspeople, LPs, and potential partners.
We fell into a clunky rhythm: I would speak English; they would respond in Mandarin. We functioned, but we didn’t connect.
The realization hit me hardest when I entered the durian trade with Spike Durian. In the plantations and supply chains of Malaysia, Mandarin isn't just a "bonus"—it’s the heartbeat of the business. While the younger generation speaks English, the "comfortable" language—the one where the real deals are closed and trust is built—is Mandarin.
I realized that by clinging to my old "ACS boy" identity, I was voluntarily capping my own growth. I had to face my demons.
Dismantling the Barrier: My 5-Step Immersion
Overcoming a lifelong mental block doesn't happen in a classroom; it happens in the trenches. Here is how I forced my brain to rewire itself:
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Vulnerability in Business: I stopped hiding. I started speaking Mandarin to my Mainland Chinese associates. Instead of judging me, they became my best teachers, patiently correcting my syntax and cheering on my progress.
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High-Stakes Empathy: As a church counsellor, I took the leap into supervising Mandarin-speaking sessions. It was terrifying, but it forced me to listen with a different kind of intensity. I realized I understood far more than I had given myself credit for.
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Digital Literacy: I forced myself to stop using English on WhatsApp and WeChat. Typing in Mandarin (even if I had to look up characters) made the language a daily habit rather than a weekly chore when speaking to Mandarin-speaking associates.
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The Travel Stress-Test: Family holidays to China became "language boot camps." Navigating a foreign city forces you to expand your vocabulary—or go hungry or not being able to do much.
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The Soul of Language: I began singing and playing Christian songs in Mandarin. It takes me three weeks to master just one song, but music bridges the gap between the head and the heart.
The Entrepreneur’s Takeaway: Kill the "Old Version" of Yourself
Spike Durian Founders (L to R): Christopher Quek, Marcus Choy and Han Lin Loh. A mere coicidence, we discovered we were all ACS alumni.
We all have an "ACS Mandarin" in our lives—a set of beliefs, molded by our environment, that tells us "I'm just not good at this." Whether it’s a fear of public speaking, a phobia of financial spreadsheets, or a language barrier, these are often just ghosts of our younger selves. As entrepreneurs, our greatest asset isn't our current skill set; it’s our adaptability.
Today, I’m not just holding "decent" conversations; I’m building deeper relationships. I’m no longer the student hoping for a 50% pass mark; I’m a founder who realized that humility is the prerequisite for mastery.
The best is yet to be—but only if you’re willing to be a "beginner" again.
What is the one "mental block" from your younger days that is currently holding your business back? Let’s talk about it in the comments.
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