On My Own Terms: Career Change | Life Pivot | Success Redefined cover art

On My Own Terms: Career Change | Life Pivot | Success Redefined

On My Own Terms: Career Change | Life Pivot | Success Redefined

By: John Lim CY
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On My Own Terms is the podcast for career change, life pivots, and redefining success in today’s fast-changing world.

Hosted by John Lim—whose journey spans banking, entrepreneurship, tech startups, and e-commerce—it explores what it takes to build a meaningful career, especially in Asia where traditions run deep. From launching Singapore’s largest indoor laser tag business to navigating layoffs during the tech winter, John has lived the challenges of reinvention.

Each episode dives into real conversations with career changers, entrepreneurs, and unconventional thinkers, uncovering mindset shifts, strategies, and practical tips. If you’re exploring new career paths, adapting to the age of AI, or rethinking what success means, you’ll find inspiration, insights, and action steps here.


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John Lim CY Philosophy Social Sciences
Episodes
  • The ONE Mindset Shift That Turned an Engineer Into a Founder ft. Kriang Khanijomdi | Ep 9

    The ONE Mindset Shift That Turned an Engineer Into a Founder ft. Kriang Khanijomdi | Ep 9
    Dec 18 2025

    Meet Kriang Khanijomdi — a Shopify veteran turned startup founder and the creator of PuppetVendors, a multi-vendor marketplace used by e-commerce brands worldwide.

    In this episode of On My Own Terms, host John Lim explores Kriang’s journey from big tech to entrepreneurship — the pressure of being the “last line of defense,” taking risks in your 30s, and the mindset shifts needed to build beyond your comfort zone.

    💬 In this episode, we talk about:

    👉 Why solving a problem you personally experienced is the strongest foundation for a startup

    👉 The biggest mindset shift from being a corporate employee to becoming a founder

    👉 How AI is reshaping the future of e-commerce, small business, and product development

    👉 Why conviction matters more than timing, and how to stay in the game long enough to see results

    👉 The hidden skills from corporate life that become superpowers in entrepreneurship

    👉 How to manage time, reflect daily, and build momentum without burning out

    👉 What “living life on your own terms” means after transitioning out of big tech

    —-----------------------------

    Chapters:

    00:00 Why People Quit Too Early

    02:02 Introduction

    02:33 Who is Kriang Khanijomdi

    04:47 What Shopify Taught Him About Winning

    19:56 A 10-Year Problem Became His Business

    33:11 Why He Says NO to Customers (On Purpose)

    33:54 How He Levels Up

    36:18 The Toughest Part of Building

    42:31 What AI Can Do (And What It Still Can’t)

    53:51 When You Become the Last Line of Defense

    —-----------------------------

    Where to find Kriang:

    LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4rONvs4

    PuppetVendors: https://bit.ly/4acW4qB


    🔍 Scale Score™— Free Quick Diagnostic for SMB FoundersRunning a business that’s generating revenue but still feels heavier than it should?

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    🎯Find practical tools and resources to guide your journey:

    Check out: https://bit.ly/3CTMZRW


    📩 Follow us on:

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onmyowntermspodcast

    Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/on-my-own-terms-podcast/

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OnMyOwnTermsPodcast

    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UoZFflZDdk03KfafgTwQg

    Email: johnlimcy@gmail.com


    Support the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/onmyownterms

    📌 References, Recommendations & Resources:

    ✅Shopify — Where Kriang learned shipping intensity and product execution. Start your Shopify free trial here 🔗 https://bit.ly/48tXjQL

    ✅Puppet Vendors — Shopify app that helps Shopify store owners convert their store into a full-fledge Multi-Vendor marketplace. Drop-shippers, marketplaces, and consignment businesses also commonly use the app to help better manage their sales, commissions, and payout reporting with 3rd party vendors. Click link for 14-day Free trial: 🔗https://bit.ly/4oJTHz2

    ✅ AI as an Enabler — How Kriang uses AI to speed up execution and decisions. 🔗 https://bit.ly/44h6JMU

    ✅Calendly - Free online appointment scheduling software 🔗https://bit.ly/4pVGt31

    ✅Cursor - AI-powered code editor 🔗https://bit.ly/4aFY0YA

    ✅Notion - AI-powered workspace 🔗https://bit.ly/4rTurJu

    ✅Daily Reflection Habit — Kriang’s method to improve faster, every day. 🔗 https://bit.ly/4oIMfny (general resource for habit building)

    ✅ Entrepreneurship Resources — Guides that shaped his approach to building and validating ideas. 🔗https://bit.ly/4aE9awX


    [Mindset, Startup, AI, Millennials]

    #EntrepreneurshipJourney#StartupFounder #CareerTransition #TechEntrepreneur #EcommerceBusiness #AIinBusiness #OnMyOwnTermsPodcast
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • What Really Happens When You Leave the Military for the Corporate World? ft. Vik Zeng | Ep 8

    What Really Happens When You Leave the Military for the Corporate World? ft. Vik Zeng | Ep 8
    Nov 27 2025
    Meet Vik Zeng — a former SAF intelligence officer who walked away from a stable, structured system to reinvent his entire career from scratch.From military intelligence to consulting, leadership development, and the private sector, Vik’s story is one of courage, identity loss, resilience, and the messy reality of a mid-career switch in Singapore. In this episode of On My Own Terms, host John Lim sits down with Vik to unpack the emotional and practical truth behind a military-to-corporate transition. No glamorised story. No quick wins. Just an honest look at rejection, uncertainty, self-doubt, and the mindset needed to find clarity when your old identity no longer fits.💬 In this episode, we talk about:👉How leaving the military triggered an identity crisis — and why many mid-career professionals feel the same👉The emotional journey of starting over and facing rejection during a career pivot👉The most transferable skills ex-military and PMETs already have (but often overlook)👉Why “the problems you solve determine your paycheck”👉How to evaluate job offers without falling into fear-based decisions👉The mental frameworks Vik used to navigate a career transition in Singapore’s competitive job market👉Why taking action creates clarity — and overthinking doesn’t👉How millennials can build resilience, adaptability, and relevance in a fast-changing work landscape👉What Singapore professionals need to know about switching industries in 2025 and beyond—-----------------------------Chapters:00:00 Why This Conversation Matters02:30 Introduction03:37 The Pivot That Changed Everything10:07 What Leadership Really Looks Like16:34 Leaving the Military? Hear This First.30:56 When Your Career Hits a Crossroads32:31 Where Opportunities Really Come From35:23 Small Choices, Big Shifts45:26 How AI Is Shaping Modern Careers51:49 What It Means to Live Authentically—------------------------------Where to find Vik:LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4pt036FInstagram: https://bit.ly/3KkhTtB🎯Find practical tools and resources to guide your journey:Check out: https://bit.ly/3CTMZRW📩 Follow us on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onmyowntermspodcastLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/on-my-own-terms-podcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OnMyOwnTermsPodcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UoZFflZDdk03KfafgTwQgEmail: johnlimcy@gmail.comSupport the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/onmyownterms📌 References, Recommendations & Resources:✅ Tony Robbins Seminars: Mentioned by John as leadership and performance programs used in his previous startup. 🔗 https://www.tonyrobbins.com/events / https://bit.ly/4odSgZg✅ Rie Park Institute – OD Theories Map: Referenced for explaining the wide range of OD and leadership theories used in development work. 🔗 https://www.riepark.org / https://bit.ly/486ySc9✅ WSG – Workforce Singapore: Co-runs free career exploration workshops for mid-career and senior workers learning new skills. 🔗 https://www.wsg.gov.sg / https://bit.ly/4oZxtKn ✅ What’s Next: Reimagine Your Career Using Design AI by SUTD and WSG 🔗https://www.sutd.edu.sg/course/whats-next-reimagine-your-career-using-design-ai/ / https://bit.ly/4a8li9iAbout the host John Lim:Born and bred in Singapore, John is a husband, father and a curious business and tech enthusiast. John began his career in banking, co-founded Singapore’s largest indoor laser tag events company, led regional business development for a tech startup, and took a leap into e-commerce just before the Covid pandemic hit. Just when he thought he was crushing it at his dream company, he got laid off in the tech winter. In his journey, he's embraced uncertainty, growth, and reinvention—and he’s on a mission to help others do the same.Note:Some links may be affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you purchase through them — at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the podcast!#Podcast #Careers #OnMyOwnTerms #Jobs
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • When Your Career Looks Like a Playlist on Shuffle | Kelly Lim’s Story | Ep 7

    When Your Career Looks Like a Playlist on Shuffle | Kelly Lim’s Story | Ep 7
    Nov 11 2025
    Meet Kelly Lim — a Singapore-based professional who’s built one of the most unconventional, fascinating careers you’ll ever hear about. From helping grieving families as a funeral undertaker to navigating the chaos of crypto and thriving in Fortune 500 tech sales, Kelly’s story is a masterclass in reinvention, courage, and finding humor in the unexpected.In this episode of On My Own Terms, host John Lim sits down with Kelly to unpack her extraordinary journey — one that proves you don’t need a perfect plan to build a meaningful career. 💬 In this episode, we talk about:How she went from the family funeral business to tech salesLessons from surviving the crypto industry and dealing with dishonestyThe real reason she started posting on TikTok — and how she turned it into a paid side hustleWhat most people get wrong about content creationWhy AI will never replace salespeople — and what humans still do better—--------------------------------------Chapters:00:00 Introduction03:10 She Chose Death Over Taxes06:45 Inside the Wild World of Crypto10:50 How Curiosity Became Her Superpower13:22 Why She Started Posting on TikTok23:11 When Work and Content Collide23:57 Her Secret to Balancing It All26:52 Can AI Really Replace Salespeople?32:35 What Real Growth Actually Feels Like—----------------------------------------------Where to find Kelly:LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4nEIRcX🎯Find practical tools and resources to guide your journey:Check out: https://bit.ly/3CTMZRW📩 Follow us on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onmyowntermspodcastLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/on-my-own-terms-podcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OnMyOwnTermsPodcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UoZFflZDdk03KfafgTwQgEmail: johnlimcy@gmail.comSupport the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/onmyownterms📌 References, Recommendations & Resources:Gong — A leading revenue intelligence platform used by sales teams to analyze calls, meetings, and emails. Powered by AI, it helps improve sales performance by tracking communication patterns, talk ratios, and deal insights. 🔗 https://www.gong.io/ / https://bit.ly/3Jq2NT3CapCut — A powerful, user-friendly video editing software by ByteDance. Kelly uses the Pro version on PC for editing her TikTok videos — ideal for creators seeking professional results with simple workflows. 🔗 https://www.capcut.com/ https://bit.ly/498qlWT Sales EQ: How Ultra High Performers Leverage Sales-Specific Emotional Intelligence to Close the Complex Deal - by Jeb Blount: https://amzn.to/3Xh2mxrPodcast: Lenny’s Podcast Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LennysPodcast / https://bit.ly/4nKAM6y Spotify: Lenny’s Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2dR1MUZEHCOnz1LVfNac0j / https://bit.ly/49H76nvPodcast: 30 mins to presidents’ club: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@30MPC / https://bit.ly/4qOoBs8Podcast: 30 mins to presidents’ club: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/28wBBJzGItlklSjZTIwqds / https://bit.ly/3Xhyhhi About the host John Lim:Born and bred in Singapore, John is a husband, father and a curious business and tech enthusiast. John began his career in banking, co-founded Singapore’s largest indoor laser tag events company, led regional business development for a tech startup, and took a leap into e-commerce just before the Covid pandemic hit. Just when he thought he was crushing it at his dream company, he got laid off in the tech winter. In his journey, he's embraced uncertainty, growth, and reinvention—and he’s on a mission to help others do the same.Note:Some links may be affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you purchase through them — at no extra cost to you. I only share tools, books, and resources I genuinely find useful or inspiring. Thanks for supporting the podcast!#WomenInTech #SingaporePodcast #DigitalCreatives #TikTokCreator #CorporateLife #ContentCreationTips #OnMyOwnTermsPodcast
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    38 mins
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