0056 - William

Interviewer's Note: Been noticing quite a lot of his works on threadless and other platforms. To me, he's the 'panda illustrator guy whose t-shirts are worn everywhere'. Really great to see amazing talents like him around, creating memorable artworks for all to enjoy!

William Chua (aka xiaobaosg) / 33 / Singapore / Freelancer Illustrator/Kidult / facebook.com/xiaobaosg . mi50.blogspot.sg / @xiaobaosg

What do you live for?
Live for a dream.

Why?

Coz you only live once. It's now or never.

What is some of the best advice that you have been given/want to give our readers?
Never underestimate yourself or your talent.

Complete this sentence. Life is too short to...
...be wasted. Make it worthwhile.

Something random you'd like to say?
"A goal is not always meant to be reached, it often serves simply as something to aim at." ~ Bruce Lee

0055 - Kexin

Interviewer's Note: Kexin describes herself as someone who sings to save her life, a diehard wanderluster and aspiring entrepreneur. She's one of the few passionate individuals I've known who is doing what she loves and pursuing dreams in the fast-paced society of Singapore. It's not easy. But if you want something badly enough, it's worth it.

Tay Ke Xin / 24 / Singapore / Singer-songwriter/entrepreneur / kexintay.blogspot.com / @kexintay

What do you live for?
I live for moments. Moments in love (with family, with partner, friendship), moments of anticipation (cos really anticipating is sometimes more thrilling than actually doing), moments when a dream is being fulfilled, etc.. 

Why?

I think we spend too much of our time regretting what we've done/not done in the past and worrying about the future. We also often get lost in and upset over what we lack. We forget to be grateful, and to cherish the moment we are living in the present. So I live for moments because they make me who I am. And if I ever find myself lacking those moments, I will create them. Because I know I'm in control of my destiny. 

What is some of the best advice that you have been given/want to give our readers?
There was a time when I was desperate for advice. I was stuck in a 9-5 job, miserable, because I couldn't pursue music. So I went all around asking for others' opinions - those who were doing music full-time, those who gave up music for a 9-5 job, etc. In the end I came to the conclusion that people always want you to be like themselves and they'll always give advice that reaffirm their statuses. So ask yourself, who do you really want to be in 10 years' time. What do you really want to do in your life/What can't you do without in your life?? I really wanted to do music, so the best advice I got were from full-time musicians who simply advised me to pursue my passion with a vigor.  

Complete this sentence. Life is too short to...
...be spent being upset over what cannot be changed. Recognize what is within your control and make the most out of them! Dare to experience, experiment and make mistakes. These are the fun bits!

Something random you'd like to say?
Go grab my EP [Get Set 就走］at all CD Rama stores! Freshly-launched last December, have a taste of one of my moments! Hopefully it'll inspire you to create yours (:

0054 - Darius

Interviewer's Note: Darius's a pretty amazing artist who is also my senior in the polytechnic I graduated from. Check out his works!  

Darius Cheong / 25 / Singapore / Concept Artist, Illustrator / www.facebook.com/dariusartshed / www.dariusartshed.blogspot.com

What do you live for?
I live to express and to experience and hopefully spread some joy and empower someone's life in the process. Caring is sharing!

Why?

I've always liked drawing as a form of expression since I was young. I would often indulge myself into the world of comics and mimic my favourite artist's characters so it just seems to be a natural progression for me to keep drawing. I hope to continue to draw be it as a profession or as a hobby. Since we only get to live once, I hope to experience and learn from people around me (there are teachers in life all around us) and hopefully impart what I learn from them to others.

What is some of the best advice that you have been given/want to give our readers?
Sometimes we might be lost in our path but as Master Oogway from Kung Fu Panda says  "One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it". So as long as we keep trying and take failures as feedback and our teacher and change our course when thing doesn't go our way, you will constantly be advancing and moving forward. Follow and embrace your dreams and you will eventually be led to a wealth of emotional riches

Complete this sentence. Life is too short to...
...brood over your past mistakes. 

Something random you'd like to say?
Stay contented and be happy!

0053 - Derek

Interviewer's Note: I came across his website via Visa's blog. It is truly heartening for me to discover great people, like him, around and already creating useful things for the world. I thank him for his permission to produce this post for my blog. And... you gotta visit his website, there are tons of great stuff to be discovered there! 

Derek Sivers / 43 / Singapore (born in USA) / Entrepreneur, programmer, avid student of life / sivers.org / @sivers

What do you live for?
Here's me in 10 seconds:

• I live by "whatever scares you, go do it".
• I'm an entrepreneur. I treat work as play.
• I'm a minimalist. The less I own, the happier I am.
• I'm a learning addict.
• I'm very comfortable being the leader and being on stage.

Why?

• Every time you're making a choice, one choice is the safe/comfortable choice - and one choice is the risky/uncomfortable choice. The risky/uncomfortable choice is the one that will teach you the most and make you grow the most, so that's the one you should choose.
• Back then, I realized why I need to start a new company. Not for the money. Not because I'm “bored”. But because a company is a laboratory to try your ideas. (The word “laboratory” is defined as a room for research, experimentation or analysis. I think of it as a sandbox or playpen.) This made me happier than doing nothing. This isn't work, it's play. It's my place to try my ideas. We all need a playground, and your own company is one of the best playgrounds of all.
• Every item I encounter is now judged harshly as a major burden that better have a damn good explanation why I should carry it around with me everywhere as I travel. Wouldn't it be more fun to never have to OWN anything, but to just have it when you need it?
• To resist the temptation to do everything myself is a HUGE challenge to me. I've always known that doing things this way would be infinitely more powerful than casually doing everything myself. I just didn't want the reponsibility. Now I do.

0052 - Fern

Interviewer's Note: When you visit Fern's website (URL available below), you'll immediately notice that she has managed to sum herself up (or at least her online persona) with just three roles - creator, thinker and lover of life. Many times I like to think of myself as a sum of those three roles too, or at least trying to be. 

Fern Lim / 25 / Shanghai, China (via the USA + Malaysia) / Contagious joy / fernlim.com / @awake_design

What do you live for?
I live for those moments when you suddenly catch a spark of childlike wonder and joy that bubbles up through the daily grind and solemnity of "adult" life. I live for times of connection between people, especially unexpected connections between strangers.

Why?

Joy is contagious and has a way of opening us up to the world and its people. That connection helps to create empathy, compassion and understanding between us.

What is some of the best advice that you have been given/want to give our readers?
Breathe. let go.

Complete this sentence. Life is too short to...
...rush through it, unaware.

Something random you'd like to say?
Stop whatever you're doing now and buy a bottle of bubbles. (I don't mean a bottle of bubbly, though that's always lovely as well.) Then go and send those soapy bubbles dancing through the air and revel in the simple pleasures of life!

0051 - Maria

Interviewer's Note: I got to know Maria a couple of years ago when I stepped into the world of blogging and blog layout creation. I've always loved her colourful layouts for her websites/blogs!

Maria Celina / 28 / Jakarta, Indonesia / Art Director / www.mariacelina.net  / @mariacelina

What do you live for?
For ways to live honestly.

Why?

It is in the nature of a human being to create. We've seen it throughout history. Destruction isn't. To me, destruction without a replacing creation is actually a mutation, a cancer. I've learned that create-ive living is honest living, because what is more raw than to look into ourselves and find out what makes us human? We are all equipped with different skill sets for this universal purpose. I found mine in design. At least, I hope I have.

What is some of the best advice that you have been given/want to give our readers?

• "Life is all about perception."
• "Don't worry about catching yourself talking to yourself. Worry when you start to answer your own questions."

Complete this sentence. Life is too short to...
...lack compassion.

Something random you'd like to say?
Create. We're all equipped.

0050 - Tommy

Interviewer's Note: Tommy is a managing editor/copywriter in Singapore who supports logic, well-adjusted people and underdogs, and also known for his irreverent, hilarious tweets. Ever wondered what a magazine editor does? Does he ONLY tweet all day long for fun? Of course not. Find out more here to understand what it is like to be a magazine editor and what it takes to be one.

Tommy Wee / In his 30s / Singapore / Managing Editor | Copywriter / thelastalphamale.com / @TommyWee

What do you live for?
I live for fresh air, laughter and good times. I live to see good triumph over evil. I live to see the industrious and just rewarded. I live to be better. To accomplish more than what I'm paid to do, expected to do and seek to do. I live to make a positive difference, no matter how small or large the impact, on lives around me. 

Why?

It just beats bumming around and wasting time gossiping, envying, feeling constantly unsatisfied. 

What is some of the best advice that you have been given/want to give our readers?
Don't compete with anyone but yourself. You know what you're capable of, which also means you know what limits you're capable of breaking.

Complete this sentence. Life is too short to...
...be complaining.

Something random you'd like to say?
Don't take my tweets too seriously.