We can all agree that the Covid-19 pandemic was the toughest period for many, especially financial-wise.
For this local engineer, it was no different for him as he had to hunker down not long after leaving his job of 11 years. However, he didn’t let the pressure break him and instead turned his life around.
Here’s Danny’s story.
From engineering graduate to corporate veteran
Danny’s journey began after earning his degree in Mechanical Engineering (Hons) from Universiti Tenaga Nasional, where he got his first job as a design engineer at Sony.
Later, he joined Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as a sales engineer, specialising in Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) and commercial air conditioning systems.
“Whenever there was a breakdown on-site, I’d be the one heading over to check it out and fix the problem. My role blended technical skills with client-facing work, eventually leading me to land a Sales Manager position.
“After 11 years, I was earning a five-figure salary at a relatively stable and respectable place. But I still felt something was missing,” he said.
A leap into the unknown
While renovating his house in 2020, Danny stumbled upon smart home gadgets which he described as “super easy, no hacking needed and just plug and play.”
“That’s when I thought to myself that these gadgets could be the next big thing as I saw a gap in the market for affordable systems and decided to take a leap of faith.
“Despite having no background in smart homes, I registered a company with just RM10,000 in capital and began part-time work. In April 2021, I made the bold decision to resign from my stable job and pursue the business full-time,” he said.
Little did Danny know that disaster was just about to knock on his door.
‘For the first time in my life, I had zero income’
Just two months after launching his business, Malaysia went into its second Covid-19 lockdown and Danny was forced to put everything on hold as it was considered a non-essential business.
For the first time in my life, I was completely jobless with zero income. Bills started to pile up. House loan. Car loan. Insurance. Utilities. Stress was an understatement,” he recounted.
Danny tried selling stock online and pitching products over Zoom, but it wasn’t enough. “It was one of the most challenging times I’ve ever faced,” he said.
The phone call that changed everything
During this tough period, a friend—also an air cond contractor—offered some crucial advice: “Why not make use of your 11 years of experience in the air conditioning industry?”
From that moment on, Danny acted on that piece of advice and pivoted back to what he did best— VRF air conditioning.
He also went through his phone and messaged nearly 200 former clients, letting them know he was back in business. Out of the many clients, a boutique hotel owner from Klang responded and met with Danny.
“When we met, he was a bit hesitant as I had no staff and no project references. But the hotel manager saw potential and convinced the owner to give my a chance.
“That one contract has since turned into three years (and counting) of partnership, as well as opening the floodgates,” he said.
Soon, Danny’s company was installing and maintaining systems in office towers, luxury condos throughout Bangsar and Damansara Heights, and commercial buildings. Additionally, his company even became a preferred vendor for major property management firms.
Today, his company boasts of 10 employees and raked in millions of Ringgit in revenue last year.
Not looking back
Despite experiencing immense growth, Danny’s company still continues to face various challenges, notably on the financial end.
“Even though we agree on terms, a lot of the time payment still comes in late. It really messes with cash flow. But with help from industry mentors, I learned to manage things professionally.
“Many also told me that business will be slow and that I’ll need huge amount of savings. But I’ve come to a point where I told myself that I must try. Even if I fail, at least I tried.”
In a full-circle moment, Danny was eventually invited to give VRF training sessions to lecturers at vocational schools and industrial training centres.
“It was a pretty cool experience, being able to share my knowledge with educators and help them understand the real world side of the industry,” he said.
When asked whether he’d consider going back to the corporate life, Danny replied with a laugh:
“Probably not. While the corporate life gave me great experience and stability, but running my own business gave me a different kind of freedom and satisfaction.
We always say YOLO (you only live once), right? Don’t wait for the ‘perfect’ time. Just do it. Whether it works out or not, at least you gave it a shot.”
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