Dennis, what's your passion and mission?

[Dennis Ng]

someone asked me what is my passion and mission in another internet forum. Below are his questions and my reply for your easy reference:

Dennis,
I hope you don't find this confrontational but a chance to improve your positioning. I keep reading that you are doing what you are doing now because you are following your passion.

And the philosophy of HousingLoanSG is to put the client's interest first, providing FREE Unbiased Analysis of ALL Housing Loans in Singapore!

So, what is your passion? To provide analysis for housing loan in Singapore? Is developing your company to be a housing loan company in Singapore your passion? What about your employees' interests?
How do you manage your passion (interest) with your employees' interest, and with the client's interest first?


My reply:

I'm flattered to know that people are interested in my passion and purpose. I don't find it confrontational. In fact, I gladly shared what I am going to post at a "Polytechnic students' forum" on 30 Sep 2006 where I was invited to speak about "Company Social Responsibility vs economics and profitability"

My passion and mission in life is :"To tap on my strengths of knowledge and experience in Finance to help as many people plan their finances better to achieve their financial goals and raise financial literacy in Singapore."

I have great plans for my company. It currently already is providing other service other than Housing Loans, even though Housing Loans is the MAIN offering.

These are the Mission and Core Values of my company:

Our Mission:


To help individuals and businesses get the BEST DEAL in financial services hassle-free and always put our clients? interest first.

Our Core Values:

1. Always give clients a fair deal. Treat clients the way we would want to be treated.


2. Great client relationships take time. Never try to maximise short-term profits at the expense of long term relationship.


3. Always look for ways to make it easier and more convenient for our clients.


4. We strive to be the low-cost provider through efficient and effective operations.


5. Educate our clients to make financially smart decisions and help clients grow.


6. Contribute to raising financial literacy and awareness in Singapore and beyond.


7. Always think Win/Win.


My employees' interest?
Firstly, I choose employees mainly on factors such as integrity, work and service attitude and willingness to learn.

We only take in employees who share our company's mission and core values.

How are their interest served? I always reiterate to them this belief I have:"take good care of our clients and our clients will take care of us (by referring us more business).

My staff are rewarded for their "going the extra mile". And I find that "going the extra mile" works magic. For instance, when we go the extra mile for clients, clients woluld refer friends/relatives to us. When I go the extra mile for my team (employees), they in turn are glad to go the extra mile for the company. For instance, 1 week ago I was involved in a seminar. My staff gladly help out on a Saturday afternoon (even though our office is on 5-day week). And she did it with a smile on her face that even outsiders commented that what a great worker she is!

Once every month, we will have a lunch "gathering", where we go to a different restaurant for a relaxing 2 hour lunch and I pay the bill. This lunch gathering became something we all look forward to and an opportunity for us build rapport and bring us closer together.

Everyday I'm very busy, I work from about 10.30 am to 9.30 pm on Mondays to Fridays. Most of the time, lunch for me is a 10 min affair where I pack my lunch from nearby eatery. (I try to keep my weekends for my family). Our official hours are Mondays to Fridays. I would be the one still answering emails to info@HousingLoanSG.com everyday for 7 days.

For me, things are very simple. As I mentioned many times and I would repeat it again, "we put clients' interest first". No ifs, no buts. Some people would say they put clients' interest first, but they OPT for taking care of their own interest when they "lose" by taking care of clients' interest. To me, such people DO NOT understand what is "FIRST". First means first, no ifs, no buts.

Many people can claim to put clients' interest first. Few are really willing to do so, even fewer are REALLY doing so.

Thus, this "putting clients' interest first" becomes our company's Sustainable Competitive Edge, and one of the ways we distinguish ourselves from PRETENDERS and competitors.