The Most Expensive Decision of My Life

This is the most expensive program I’ve ever signed up for in my life. Over $15,000 SGD — for just five days at Making the Stage.

Before the training, I kept wondering:
Am I crazy?
Did I just make a huge mistake?
Is this really worth it?

I couldn’t shake the doubt. What if I walked away with nothing? What if I didn’t learn anything new? What if Making the Stage was just another overhyped personal development course?

But after five days, I walked away a changed person. Not just as a better speaker — but as someone who finally saw people differently.

The Lady Who Showed Me What’s Possible

I met a beautiful woman whose story shook me to my core.

Her childhood was full of tragedies — the kind no child should ever experience. She was beaten as a child. Forced to grow up way too soon. At 13, she was married. At 14, she had her first child. Then, she migrated to a different country to start over.

All her life, she faced unimaginable struggles. But despite it all, she radiated kindness. You’d never know the pain she carried just by looking at her.

But on stage, her fear was palpable. She trembled. Her voice shook. Halfway through her speech, she broke down and ran off the stage, devastated.

But here’s the remarkable part — she didn’t give up.

She showed up the next day. And the next. And on the final day of Making the Stage, she delivered a breathtaking speech. She stood tall, spoke from her heart, and left the entire room in tears.

Afterward, she told me, “I’ve never felt so good in my life.” And you could see it — the radiance in her eyes. The confidence that had awakened within her.

The Woman Who Found Healing Through Her Pain

I also met a woman who seemed so strong and composed — until she shared her story.

She spoke about losing her mother. About the guilt that haunted her — the feeling that she should have done more. Should have saved her.

Whenever she thought about it, she would break down in tears. The regret weighed on her like a shadow she couldn’t shake.

But after five days at Making the Stage, something shifted. She realized that holding on to the pain wasn’t serving her or honoring her mother’s legacy. She started using her story to inspire others to take their health seriously — to not take time with their loved ones for granted.

Her strength was no longer in hiding her pain — it was in embracing it and transforming it into purpose.

The Brother Who Let Go of the Pressure to Be Perfect

Then there was a brother — always smiling, always positive. He was the kind of person everyone thought had it all together.

But during Making the Stage, he broke down. He shared the pressure he felt as the eldest son — the unspoken responsibility to hold everything together for his family and his company.

For the first time, he admitted how tired he was. How much he longed to just breathe.

By the end of the training, he made a powerful decision: to step back, to let others take more responsibility, and to give himself permission to just be.

That hit home for me.
As the eldest daughter, I’ve always felt the weight of responsibility too. The pressure to succeed, to care for everyone, to hold it all together. But sometimes, that pressure steals the joy out of life. And letting go isn’t weakness — it’s freedom.

Excellence Comes From Practice, Practice, Practice

I also met three incredible Thai ladies at Making the Stage who showed me what true excellence looks like.

Their stage presence was world-class — powerful, polished, and precise. But it wasn’t talent alone that got them there. It was relentless practice, unwavering discipline, and giving their 100% to everything they did.

Watching them made me reflect:
Am I truly giving my 100% in every area of my life?
Am I practicing excellence, or am I just hoping success will come to me?

Success isn’t an accident. Excellence is a choice — and it comes from the willingness to put in the work, over and over again.

If I don’t deliver with an attitude of excellence, why should success come to me?

The Power of Following My Intuition

I also met an amazing lady from China who shared a profound lesson with me — the importance of following my intuition.

She reminded me that life isn’t about just working hard or chasing goals. It’s about tuning into my inner voice and aligning with my true purpose.

“My purpose,” she told me, “is to play, to have fun, and to use my life experience to inspire others.”

That hit me hard.
Sometimes, we get so caught up in achieving that we forget how to live.
Life is meant to be experienced — with joy, curiosity, and lightness.

What if success isn’t about hustling harder — but about showing up fully aligned with who we truly are?

The Power of Trusting and Respecting My Partner

I’ll be honest — as a strong-headed woman, I’ve always struggled with truly respecting my partner.

It’s not that I don’t appreciate him. But when you’re so used to leading, making decisions, and being in control, it’s hard to let go and allow someone else to take the lead.

And that’s exactly what I realized during a simple — yet powerful — dance exercise.

I could feel the strength and steadiness of my partner’s movements — the quiet confidence of someone guiding with care. He gave me space to shine, while holding the structure to keep us balanced.

That’s when it hit me.

Men put in so much effort to support and provide — often quietly, without seeking recognition. There’s a beautiful masculine energy in that strength, one that I’ve often overlooked in my drive to be independent and self-sufficient.

I realized that respect isn’t about giving up my power. It’s about recognizing the effort, the care, and the quiet strength behind the support I receive — and allowing myself to lean into it.

It’s not about becoming less strong.
It’s about knowing when to soften — and trusting that someone else will catch me.

And that’s the true power of trust and respect.

Judgment vs. Curiosity

The biggest lesson I took away from Making the Stage wasn’t about public speaking.

It was about people.

We judge others so easily. We see someone who’s struggling on stage and think, they’re just not cut out for this.
We see someone successful and think, they’ve had it easy.
But we don’t know their story. We don’t see the pain they’ve carried, the battles they’ve fought, or the courage it took just to show up.

Making the Stage taught me that connection comes when we replace judgment with curiosity. When we listen — really listen — and give people the space to share their truth. That’s when the most beautiful connections are formed.

The People Who Made It Possible

Of course, none of this would have been possible without the incredible coaches at Making the Stage:

• Blair Singer – for helping me step into my power.
• Larry Gilman – for helping me unleash the power of emotions.

• Mac Attram – for teaching me how to improve my sales and persuasion skills.
• Zoltan Hrothko – for showing me that I am capable of connecting with others and building deeper relationships.
• Success Resources — for making all this possible. Thanks Veronica, Richard and June for being the organiser and deliver exceptional values as always!

I also want to thank every single person I met during these five days. You gave me the exact experience I needed to grow — not just as a speaker, but as a human being.

Why “Making the Stage” Changed My Life

Making the Stage wasn’t just about learning to speak on stage. It was about learning to show up fully in life.

I was surrounded by amazing speakers and leaders from all over the world. Despite coming from different cultures and experiences, we connected heart-to-heart when we let people in — when we stopped judging and started listening.

I now understand that to excel in anything in life — whether it’s public speaking, business, or relationships — it’s about giving your 100%. It’s about showing up fully, practicing relentlessly, and staying true to your purpose.

So, was it worth $15,000?
Absolutely.
Because what I gained from Making the Stage was priceless.

Arigato! ❤️