Women Who Inspire Series – An Interview With Stephanne Foong

The story below is reproduced with permission from writer Karen Chan-Hughes

There is a special lady on my Facebook whom I would like to introduce to all of you. She has constantly been an inspiration to me. Looking at her posts and photos, I knew in my heart that she would be the first person for me to interview for my ‘Women Who Inspire’ series. Though I have never personally met her, I sent her some interview questions and here is the interview.

Enjoy!

 

1. Hi Stephanne. You are one of the most inspiring women on my Facebook. Could you please tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do?

I am a Lifestyle Estate Planner. I plan for all walks of life, individuals, families, business owners, Entrepreneurs, Celebrities, High net worth. Any form of Estate planning from a Will, to all kinds of Trust, Business Valuation Planning for Business Owners, and Comprehensive Planning of high net worth individuals. I am especially passionate planning for families with minor children, business owners and high net worth as this is my forte and they have very unique needs specific to their requirements and situations. Not all individuals are the same, thus every Will should be customized and unique.

I am the Founder of Celebrity’s Will and Wasiatku, and co founder of Business Succession Planning. All on Facebook 🙂

• http://www.facebook.com/CelebWill
• http://www.facebook.com/WASIATku
• http://www.facebook.com/Business.Succession

On the personal light, I love GOOD FOOD! People often says that “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach” as they see I enjoy cooking nice food for him:) But it’s equally true of myself, I love good food and have a sweet tooth! Most people’s perception is that we get good food at restaurant. But I believe that good food should also be enjoyed at home, at least in my home! If my husband loves a dish, the top dish should be my creation:) Delicious food outside is a bonus! And I think good dining experience should also come with good service!

I love music although I was not musically trained at all. I enjoy picking up my guitar and worship, writing worship songs and singing! I love to sing, but I love worshipping more.

I have a perfectionist attitude for my work and performance. I always set a standard for myself to achieve.

 

2. I am also aware that you have accomplished many things in your business. How did you do it? What drives you everyday to do what you do?

Thank you. I have been in this industry for three years now and glad that I am already a veteran and known for COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING. I receive many recognitions every year. By God’s grace, I hope to receive more awards as a reflection of the commitment toward my work and as a motivation to do better.

I LOVE and enjoy doing what I am doing. I am the first LIFESTYLE Estate Planner in Malaysia and Celebrity’s Will is a very unique brand. I love being a SPECIALIST!

I am very privileged to have many good and appreciative clients. I appreciate this very much as I enjoyed the good testimonies and all their kind gestures 🙂

God is good!  I have enjoyed His many favors.

Besides loving what I do, I enjoy meeting people. And our businesses are also our marketplace ministry.  This business is more than just earning but also a unique positioning.

I am privileged to have an excellent Mentor who gives me higher understanding of myself and my business strategies.

 

3. How do you juggle your work life and your personal life?

My Mentor strongly advised me to have time for my spouse and family from the very beginning. No compromise on that. He said that giving time to family and putting them first should be my utmost priority and can still find SUCCESS in our business endeavours. This kind of success is far more meaningful and true. And will sustain long run. Thus, I always aspire that.

When my Mentor first told me to reduce my working days I was not too very happy to do so because I am by nature, quite aggressive and full of drive, you can say I am ambitious.

My Mentor gave me the right advice, and I appreciate His true wisdom. I think it is important that in our path to Success we must not lose ourselves and loved ones. And more importantly, I was capable of being a workaholic thus my Mentor understands me very well! He helped me avoid that.

 

4. I saw on Facebook that you love cooking. What inspires you to do so? Is that your passion?

I am glad you noticed 😉

Wow! I do. Cooking is an art and passion.

I first started cooking for myself while I was a single, cooking simple but i set the table nicely although I ate alone then. But when I started cooking for my husband, my cooking became a passion and an art. My focus was to cook something he enjoys eating! I don’t do well with recipes, I don’t follow recipes well. What started me off, was a lot imagination. I try imagining the ingredients and process to make my hub’s favourite dishes. And so far thank God it has always turns up fine at first attempt. I am always a little fussy about presentation, so I normally observe good food presentation. I admire a few chefs and emulate their creativity.

From young I have been known as a creative person, so that does add flavor to my creations. I have been quite a perfectionist since young. I still am. Above all, when I know I am cooking for my hub, I cook from my heart! Doing things from the heart makes what we do unique and different 🙂 not just in cooking but also in ministry and in business.

I must tell my first culinary experience;)

I fried my first PERFECT sunny side egg when I was 6 years old. At that time,there were no Junior Masterchefs. I was a fussy little girl who enjoys eating sunny egg crispy but not burnt, and with perfect yolk. I must have it every day. I used to complain that my eggs were either not crispy or the egg yolk broke. So my great grandmother who took care of my daily meals, told me that it’s not possible to fry a sunny egg crispy, not burnt and the yolk perfect. But in my young mind “I can imagine how it can be done”, so I gave her the specification how to do it but it didn’t happen. She got impatient and told me ‘do it yourself!’. So I DID IT MYSELF, a perfect pair of sunny side eggs and did just that for many years!

 

5. You are an excellent role model to women of all ages. What advice would you give them especially those who want to do something significant in their lives?

A. As A Christian, I believe in God. I believe in having a relation and spending time with God.

B. Have a great Mentor!

C. Do something you enjoy doing as your career is a bonus!

I see Many people don’t realize their full potential or their dreams, not because they not have it, but rather they choose to do what they don’t enjoy doing or doing just for the sake of earning a living, period.

Choose wisely!

D. Whatever we do, we should do it with our “HEART” amidst other ingredients like diligence, being focused, excellence. Anything done with the HEART has X factor! I cook with my heart , I work with my heart! and I know others will be able to see the difference.

 

6. Who is your role model?

A. I admire Jesus as the perfect role model and I always try to find inspiration in other successful people’s experience.

B. I enjoy reading and learning from different authors too. One successful person I am inspired by is David Cho Yonggi from Korea. If you read his books, the Fourth Dimension (any of the 3 volumes), you will understand that this man is incredible and RADICAL!  I consider him very successful. He started with literally nothing. But today he is a Legend. And to some extent he is a good role model to me. Each time I read his book, I am inspired on something or new actions. One radical time was when I fractured my left ankle in 2010 and was immobilised for 5 months. I did not have any surgical operation but received divine healing! I am always more radically challenged in my faith when I read about his experiences and it works on me:)

Another role model is a lady, Dr Petrina Guneratnam. She is the Senior Associate Pastor of Calvary Church and wife to Rev Tan Sri Dr Prince Guneranam, the Senior Pastor.  Her life also inspires me. “Behind every successful man, there is a woman” , so they say. Pastor Petrina is such a woman. And her life inspires me to be that kind of a woman too.

And of course, MY SPOUSE is my all time inspiration. Because of him, I am always inspired to do many great things including my business and cooking nice dishes which both are equally important to me. And being a very supportive husband, it makes it easier for me to aspire and acquire, and to have visions and dreams. My husband is one of my greatest inspiration in everything I do besides God and my Mentor!

Above all, I give all glory to My Maker if my life inspires someone, if I have achieve anything worth an honor.

 

Thank you once again Stephanne! I am sure this little interview will make an impact in many people’s lives as they read it. Thank you for your time and effort in answering my questions.  Hope to be able to meet you in real life one day! 

Stephanne – In one of her photo-shoots

 

Stephanne with one of her many awards

 

Another award

 

Her hubby, Nicholas, loves her cooking!

 

She even has her own menu!

 

One of her own original compositions

 

With hubby in Korea

 

Sweet couple! Wishing you all the best in your future!

 

Doctor “Acknowledges” Your Will Be Done

Within NickG Advisory Services a.k.a NickG Financial Designer, Business Succession Planning & Your Will Be Done, we receive many compliments & testimonies from clients. We appreciate and treasure each of it because it reflects the value of our contribution to the individuals & families.

There will be too many to share with you but we wish to highlight one compliment that was made by a client who is an established and respected doctor… The compliment is directed to Ms Stephanne Foong, Founder of Your Will Be Done (Specialist in Estate Planning).

It is important that I get my WILL properly done, otherwise my beneficiaries will be scolding me at my grave, given the troubles if my WILL was done but not complete.

I am glad I appointed a trusted Corporation i.e. Rockwills Trustee to be my Executor instead of individuals as joint Executors in my previous Will.

I am glad I have now made provisions for my grandchildren who are minors.

I am glad Rockwills gives me a re-writing discounts.

I am FINALLY happy with my Will – this is my 3rd re-write, but my first Will done by Your Will Be Done.

Previously nobody advised me the disadvantages of appointing individuals to be my Executor & Trustee. Worse, I was not alerted to the high risks and dangers of appointing JOINT Executors 😦

Thank you Your Will Be Done!

To all our clients, we thank you and appreciate you for your trust in us and opportunity to serve/conmtribute to you and family. More so, we are delighted at the close friendships that we’ve established since…

Tom Dick Harry or Specialist (+ Heart)

Decisions Decisions Decisions. No offense to anyone whose name is Tom Dick or Harry ya? This blog is by no means referring to you.

Who do you look for if you need medical help for a critical health problem? Regardless of money concerns, we will insist on seeking the BEST medical professional.

What if you’re preparing your FINAL document that will decide the future of your spouse, children, parents and other loved ones? Whose help will you seek?

1. Cheapest service in town
2. Professional
3. Specialist with a Heart!

I strongly do not believe that anyone in the right frame of mind will risk the future of their loved ones by being penny wise foolish.

Speaking as a husband, future father, son and businessman, the consequences of a wrong decision is far-fetching and potentially disastrous. The impact is financial, emotional, mental, etc.

I will not elaborate on option 1 as any intelligent individual will know that if we pay peanuts we get monkeys (no offense).

What about Professional? Is it not good enough? From my perspective and experience as a professional and businessman, Professionals are good but not if it is dealing with my FINAL document that holds the key to my loved ones’ future. A Professional undoubtedly will have the knowledge and experience but as good as a Specialist? Key question is – “To what distance will this Professional go for you and family?” To some extent, “profit” is a factor.

Now about option 3 – Specialist with a Heart. Shall we refer to you per say? As a Specialist, will you do more and better with or without a heart? I am certain if you perform a task with your heart vested in it, you perform better with “profits” no longer being the primary factor. Agreed?

I refer to the firm Your Will Be Done Founder Ms Stephanne Foong. I have seen her in action many times. I classify under “Specialist with a Heart”. Though sales cycles are sometimes longer, she has to do more thinking, more time is needed for analysis/preparation, it is this “factor” that makes the DIFFERENCE in people’s lives. With a Heart, Stephanne plans everything as if she’s planning for her family. HEART + SPECIALIZATION make a very powerful combination. That is Value no money can buy.

So folks, should you require advice with relation to Estate Planning or Wealth Distribution, my vote goes to Your Will Be Done ala Stephanne. Consult her.