Is the grass greener on the other side? It’s a question all of us desk jockeys ask ourselves when we force ourselves out of bed each morning, jostle with everyone else on the train and then spend a carpal-tunnel inducing eight-hours pushing pencils. Yes, everyone dreams about doing something completely different. But only a few of us are willing to give up everything to pursue it. We found 10 people who did just that—dropped their old careers to start all over. Here are their stories.

Willin Low: Lawyer to chef

If there’s one contribution the English have made to the world of food, it’s Willin Low. While studying law in England, the chef of Wild Rocket started cooking for himself thanks to the less than appetizing fare there. “It was worse than army food. For lunch, they served us canned tuna that was sickly brown. My friend who was a medicine student said the food smelled like the mortuary.” With no local ingredients available, Low improvised in the kitchen. “I started off with comfort food like my mom’s chicken porridge and it soon got more complex.” The cooking bug bit, and it bit hard. Once back in Singapore, he worked for eight years as a litigation lawyer and an in-house legal counsel, but ran a catering business on the weekends cooking for friends and colleagues.

Just as he was due for promotion as a lawyer, Low said that he realized “Life was too short to do just one thing,” there were other dreams he wanted to chase. In 2003, Low quit law and became a kitchen hand at Italian restaurant Garibaldi. Starting at the bottom of the ladder again wasn’t easy. “My first job was to clean squid by removing their tentacles and soft bone. I was completely covered in squid ink and was scolded.” Keeping his background under wraps, Low ate humble pie. “One sous-chef pulled me aside and said, ‘Do you know why you’re in the kitchen?’ I said, ‘Yes, because I love to cook.’ He said, ‘No, you’re in the kitchen because you’re uneducated.’” With hard-won experience and a few hundred thousand dollars, Low started Wild Rocket in 2005. Word quickly spread about Low’s “Mod Sin,” or modern Singaporean cuisine, in particular the laksa pesto linguine.

Riding on the wave of Wild Rocket’s success, Low has gone on to open Wild Oats (a bar where you can “have a martini in slippers and bermudas”), Relish (a joint famous for its gourmet burgers) and Burger Bench and Bar. Better yet, Low gives his employees a go at controlling their own career—they are shareholders in each establishment. Looking back at his move from law to F&B, Low says, “I feel like I’ve lived life twice. But anyone thinking about a career change should think about it seriously and do their research. Just being sincere and passionate is not enough. You’ve got to make sure that you’ve got people you can trust.”
Sink your teeth into Willin Low’s mouthwatering creations at Wild Rocket @ Mount Emily, Hangout Hotel, 10A Upper Wilkie Rd., 6339-9448.

Jamie Yip: Banker to nail spa owner

Former private equity banker and one-time lawyer Jamie Yip started Polished because of her passion for nails. “My interest was always in beauty. As a banker, I used to get my nails done every three to four weeks, but I realized that the nail spas here did not maintain a high standard of hygiene.” Yip learnt this the hard way: She was infected with nail fungus and even had a friend who contracted Hepatitis B from an unsanitary foot file blade. So Yip founded her own nail spa in 2009, which places a strong emphasis on hygiene. All files and buffers are disposed after one use, and equipment is sterilized through autoclaving (that’s what doctors use). “Polished is me filling a gap in the market,” she says. “Previously, there were no mid-market hand-and-foot spas that upheld the international standards of hygiene.”

When asked if having a background in law and finance benefits the running of a business, she had this to say: “Of course it’s good if you’re good with numbers, but I think it’s more about having common sense and being service-oriented. I definitely don’t miss the rigidity of corporate life—being your own boss gives you much more flexibility.”

In February this year, Polished opened a second outlet in Chevron House, which she counts as a highlight of her new career, alongside the slew of accolades Polished has received from local women’s magazines. Of her dramatic career change, Yip has this to say: “As long as you’re passionate about what you do, you’ll never regret it. The problem is, I don’t think many people know what they enjoy. I thought hard for six to eight months before I started Polished, and prepared myself for at least a year of setbacks and hard work.”

Pamper yourself at Polished Hand + Foot Spa, #01-32 Chevron House, 30 Raffles Place, 6535-3665; 695A East Coast Rd., 6246-4256.

Fandy Razak: Teacher to photographer

After seven years as a local schoolteacher, Fandy Razak decided earlier this year to finally turn his passion for photography into a full-time pursuit. Razak, who is also the drummer for local band The Great Spy Experiment, got into photography by accident when he bought a DSLR camera in 2006 to take better holiday photos. “People started telling me they liked the photographs and someone suggested I actually charge for my services. It grew, and grew, and soon it was time to choose between photography or teaching,” he says. But it was no easy decision: “It was hard making the choice to leave teaching. Although I was dragging myself to work every day and questioning life every single morning, I thought long and hard about it. It was a ‘small iron rice bowl versus chasing dreams but might be poor’ battle.”

When the decision was made, he swiftly set up a proper photography studio along North Bridge Road last April and called it StudioDua Boutique Photography (primarily focusing on product and wedding photography). Initially troubled by his lack of a business background, he learnt quickly as he went along: “I’ve learnt to understand the industry better, to meet clients’ expectations, work smart and handle the pressure. But it was a bitch dealing with people who thought I wasn’t up to it.” For Razak, it’s all been worthwhile. “Making every client happy is the highlight of every job I do. The smiles on their faces are something I look forward to every time. Plus I got to shoot hot models. I repeat: Hot models.” His only regret? “I wish I’d started this earlier.”
Check out Studiodua Boutique Photography at 768A North Bridge Rd., 9789-1370 (studiodua.tumblr.com).

CK Koo and Kuanth: Fashion stylist and illustrator to café owners

One day they were dressing leggy models, styling fashion shoots, drawing and illustrating gorgeous graphics for noted television commercials and print advertisements. The next, they were busy behind a kitchen counter, whipping up cupcakes, pastries and pastas as owners and chefs of their new café. Former fashion stylist CK Koo and illustrator Kuanth decided that they had enough of working for the man, so they quit their successful jobs in media and design to open boutique café Caramel early last year. Two other partners (one a former advertising art director, the other a hairstylist) operate adjoining hair salon Hairloom.

Decked out in canary yellow stripes, with mix-matched furniture and an eclectic vibe, the café is a lifelong dream come true for both Koo and Kuanth. “I love food, so opening something like this has been at the back of my mind for as long as I can remember,” Koo explains. Kuanth adds: “The creative industry was facing quite a slump at the end of 2008. We decided that that was the right time to leave and start something ourselves.” Although they had zero experience in F&B, they managed to “design” some sumptuous and gob-smacking dessert creations that left customers begging for more. “I guess that the ‘creating’ and ‘designing’ aspects of our former jobs never left us. Being creative people, we make beautiful things. It’s a blessing that people love what we have to offer here,” enthuses Koo.

When asked if they miss their previous jobs, the pair responde with a loud and confident “No!” Says Koo, “Running this place may be a lot of work—we do everything from cooking, baking, bussing and cleaning up—but it’s certainly much more fulfilling than working for someone else.”
Appreciate tea, pastries and design at Caramel, #01-52 Shaw Towers, 100 Beach Rd., 6295-2188.

Moon: Event organizer to tattoo artist

Before he started inking for a living, tattoo artist Moon organized concerts for Chinese pop stars like Aaron Kwok and Andy Lau. Even today, it’s the jazz of Chet Baker, rather than heavy metal that reigns in his parlor, Moonstruck Tattoo. Born Gerald Pang, the sleek 34-year-old (who used to be rather round, thus the nickname “Moon”) co-owned an events company for the past four years. He helped stage elaborate productions, handling everything from 3D modeling to steel welding. “It was fun but it involved a lot of traveling to places like Malaysia and China. Your weekends are burnt, your relationships are burnt. I wanted to try something else,” he says.

He went on a six-month long hiatus to Europe and when he returned, was propositioned. “My ex-girlfriend’s sister is an owner of a tattoo shop in Far East Plaza. She was the one who asked me if I would like to try tattooing.” Armed with a diploma in Fine Arts, Moon began sketching again. Once confident enough, he began practicing on pig skin with a tattoo gun. “I’m largely self-taught, and I gave myself one year to make things work.”

In 2005, he started working from home and he inked his first tattoo on his brother—a portrait of footballer Thierry Henry. “It was a bit scary for my parents because all these dodgy-looking characters would come by our place.” Gradually, Moon’s reputation began to spread. With an investment of around $20,000, he started his own tattoo parlor and called it Moonstruck Tattoo, which specializes in customized designs. Yet he still cautions against rushed decisions. “Anyone thinking of changing their career should set aside some cash and set themselves a target. It’s nice to get out of the rat race, but at the end of the day if you’re not working for a boss, you’re still working for someone. At Moonstruck I’m working for my customers.”
Get celestial with Moon at Moonstruck Tattoo, #04-00, 213 Jalan Besar, 6296-3280.

Diane Lee: Marketing consultant to yoga guru

Before she taught yoga asanas at her studio Bikram Yoga, Diane Lee was a hot-shot marketing consultant in Toronto. She was bitten by the yoga bug in 2003 when the demands of her job left her with a host of health problems. “I took up hot yoga when a studio opened in my neighborhood and I got my health back after practicing it,” she says. After three years of practicing, she decided that she wanted to do more and decided to undertake the yoga teacher training course a year later, and then plunge into teaching yoga full-time. “Working for a studio was something I was thinking about as the more relaxed hours back then gave me time for myself, unlike my previous job,” she explains.

The opportunity to start a hot yoga studio arose when she moved to Singapore to be closer to her parents in Taiwan. She set up Bikram Yoga with her savings at Raffles City Shopping Centre in 2006, and had to do everything herself—marketing, sourcing for suppliers and looking for staff. “It was also hard at first as nobody knew what Bikram Yoga was,” she says, adding that most yoga studios were contracted to fitness centers and the idea of an independent studio was quite rare back then. But soon enough, people heard about her studio and it boasts 8,000 members today. Later this year (Oct 30) her company will host the 4th Annual SIngapore Bikram Yoga Championship; proof that her perseverance has paid off.

Her advice for people looking for a career switch: Don’t jump the gun. “Don’t just change your job because you hate what you’re doing now. Talk to the people who are doing the things you want to. Some people switch jobs because they think that industry or field is promising and I don’t think that’s a good idea. Only when you find something that you love, will you keep doing it and do it well.”
Bikram Yoga at #02-14 Raffles City Shopping Centre, 252 North Bridge Rd., 6339-6639.

Lee Weiling: Animal lab technician to NParks officer

Lee Weiling has gone from experimenting on animals to protecting them. The 25-year-old graduated with a Diploma in Biotechnology in 2005 and then literally went underground to work at a scientific research facility’s laboratory. “We had to wear scrub suits and gloves, and you couldn’t leave or bring anything in. There was no music, no nothing and there were periods when I wouldn’t see the sun for days.” Although she is not a vegetarian and doesn’t even own a pet, animal testing soon got to her. “I worked mainly with mice, and once the experiment was over we had to cull them in a gas chamber. I couldn’t convince myself that culling was OK.”

In 2008, she made the jump to National Parks. The avid trekker and rock-climber embraced her outdoorsy nature and now works at the historic Fort Canning Park by promoting Singapore’s city and heritage parks. “You can spend all your time outdoors. The satisfaction is much more direct, and there’s much better work-life balance.” One of the things Lee enjoys most is the “active hour” of her new employer. That’s when NParks employees get together weekly to do sports. “You get to meet a lot of people from different walks of life. I used to be scared of talking to people, but this job has made me more outgoing.” Most importantly, Lee sees the sun again.
Try spotting Lee at Fort Canning Park, 51 Canning Rise, 6332-1200/1302.

Stanley Tan and Antoinette Wong: Designers to gallery shop owners

For couple Stanley Tan and Antoinette Wong, dreams consist of little knicks-knacks, 10-cent sharpeners, design magazines and other bric-à-brac that they’ve lovingly bookmarked and doggy-eared from websites they’ve visited over the years. Hoping to share their enthusiasm with the world, the pair left their jobs as designers and created their very own special nook, The Little Dröm Store, in a corner of Ann Siang Hill Park. “Dröm means ‘dream’ in Swedish and being in the corporate industry for so long, our dreams and passions got drowned. We became disillusioned with what we did,” says Tan.

Opened at the beginning of this year, the store sells a wide range of quirky curios, objet d’arts and books sourced from just about everywhere. The pair even produce design and photography books of their own. “Even though we’re running a store, we never really left our design roots. Now we have the freedom to design our own products and then sell them. It’s a different kind of fulfillment altogether and truer to what we had in mind,” Wong says. The pair find their new career just as taxing as the old and are also quick to brush off any indication that it’s a cushy job. “It’s hard to compare sitting in the office eight-hours a day to running a business 24/7. The hours are just as bad, but the end result is very rewarding.”
Check out The Little Dröm Store, 7 Ann Siang Hill, 6225-5541

I-S uncovers people's hidden ambitions