Sheer Determination

This is a tale of a man who has been given many awards in his home country since he started his career from rock bottom and gradually worked his way up to be among the real estate industry’s mega rich. Dr Dennis Wee, chairman of Dennis Wee Realty Pte Ltd, shares his lifelong struggle that enabled him to become the successful person he is today.

When conducting my research about him, this writer expected a person who might be a little overconfident and perhaps even pompous. Instead, Wee is an extremely humble man who seems to have barely changed from the young adult he was before and did not allow fame to get the better of him.

Wee started off as a playful child who didn’t like school. He eventually dropped out while in secondary school. Subsequently, he was a rolling stone, taking on many odd jobs; he worked as a peon in the public sector. His grandfather suggested that he register at the Labour Office and as an office boy, his salary was S$140 a month. At the age of 18, Wee joined the National Service.

He elaborates: “I entered National Service in 1969 and all the recruits received S$60 but as a government servant I was paid S$140 a month. A recruit eventually becomes a private soldier and is paid a monthly allowance of S$S90 so I was still paid more than them.

“Later on, I even sold flowers to make a living. One day, I asked a friend who was an oil rig surveyor if he could recommend me for a job at a US-based company Western Geophysical. My friend declined to do so.”

Perseverance pays off

Undeterred, Wee kept persisting regarding the job by visiting the Western Geophysical office. As he talked to the receptionist, an American man walked in. Once he found out that Wee had no experience and no qualifications, he told him to leave but Wee pleaded with him, adding that he would do virtually anything. Wee was keen to travel and this is why he wanted the job so badly.

He was given the designation of helper for S$400 a month to work in the Philippines. “I even cleaned toilets, boats and did other menial tasks. I gradually started to learn about the business and after 14 years in the offshore surveying industry, I was paid S$7,000 a month. Suddenly, the economy went into a recession in 1985-1986. I was retrenched and it came as a shock, especially since I had a wife and child to support but no savings.

“I stayed home as I was unemployed. One day, a friend asked me to play mahjong but I told him I could not as I had no job or spare cash. He then asked me to work for him as a real estate agent,” explains Wee.

He accepted the offer but wondered if he had taken on the right job as he found himself bored. He spent the first day listening to the staff talking. He soon handed in his resignation letter and told his friend that he had made a mistake.

However, when he rang Mick Jones, his ex-boss in the offshore industry for a job, he couldn’t help him and insteadurged Wee to remember the early days when he had been so enthusiastic and had a high energy level. This attitude had made him a keen and fast learner.

“Dennis Wee, where is your enthusiasm and motivation?!” Jones shouted so loud over the phone that Wee almost dropped the handset.

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