The Straits Times / The Business Times News on Best World

Wear a little sunshine to work

Looking good makes business sense for lifestyle boss Doreen Tan who's in the business of making others look and feel good

AS CHAIRMAN of public-listed Best World International, Ms Doreen Tan doesn't have her own office.

When Ms Doreen Tan goes to work looking good, people say sunshine is coming in. -- CAROLINE CHIA

Instead, she shares a modest-sized room on the company's 15th floor office at HDB Hub's East Wing with her group CEO, Dr Dora Hoan, where their two L-shaped desks sit side by side.

It's been a conscious arrangement since they started their skin and healthcare direct-selling, retail and export business 16 years ago. The company had earnings of $8.5 million last year, up 68 per cent from the year before.

'It's more convenient when you're in the same room, so we don't have to keep repeating ourselves. We've no secrets.'

Impeccably dressed in a crisp cream suit complemented by a trio of diamond earrings, pendant and brooch, the 52-year-old pint-sized lady boss is a sharp contrast to the towering presence of the black-suited Dr Hoan, who is the public relations face of the company.

'When you're in the limelight, you have to be out of the office often. Like a family, you need someone who goes out and someone who stays at home. I'm the Mummy, better to stay in,' says Ms Tan.

A mother of two sons and two daughters between the ages of 19 and 31, Ms Tan - whose husband is a police pensioner and also a distributor of her products - had humble beginnings as a door-to-door beautician when she needed to supplement the family's income after completing secondary school.

That soon led to a stint as a beauty trainer in a direct sales company, and subsequently, her own school, Ohio Beauty And Hair School.

Perturbed by her children's constant bouts of flu, she started researching about nutrition and later earned a degree in applied nutrition from the American Academy of Nutrition.

She tells you with pride that she does not go for facials, but is not above giving plastic surgery a try - when the need arises.

'I stick surgical tape on my eyelids,' she says, pointing to the visible tape under her lids.

At this age, skin on your eyelids often succumbs to the force of gravity, she says.

'Maybe in time, I'd go for surgery, but only for my eyelids.'

To be a good businessman, you have to be... understanding, knowledgeable and have an interest in what you do. Determination is very important. During the economic downturn in 1997, we were doing direct selling. It was quite hard to push a product. I was still doing training twice a week which I've been doing for 16 years.

I want my people to have better knowledge. After two years, we managed to pull through. I told myself, I won't give up just like that.

At that time, I was taking home half a month's salary. I told my children, I can't buy them anything. When New Year came around, they didn't have new clothes to wear. They told me, Mummy, who's to know if our clothes are new or old?

For almost a year, we didn't go to restaurants. That's why it's not that important that my children excel academically as long as they complete their studies. What's important is their attitude and character.

People ask me how I teach my children. I tell them, when children are young, sometimes you can't avoid using your cane.

In secondary school, you sit them down and talk to them. When they're in polytechnic, you become their friend.

Nothing gets my day off to a good start like... making myself look good. When I come to work, people say, sunshine's coming in. When I look good, I feel good. So I make sure I take good care of myself. I spend an hour in the room grooming myself. I'm something of a model in the company. If you look haggard, people will say your products don't work.

I'm most afraid of... my family's health deteriorating. Maybe it's because I do consultations and I see sick people whose families get affected.

Every Monday, I counsel people who are cancer patients or those who are desperate and depressed. I give them assurance. I sometimes get calls in the middle of the night. People come to me through recommendations. It's all pro bono. It's paying forward. When you bring a glow to someone's face, that's something money can't buy.

If I could turn back time, I would... study when I was young. I come from a poor family. There were five children in the family. My Mum was a housewife, my Dad was a police officer. At that time, how much could you have earned as a police officer?

And my parents not only looked after their own children, but also my cousins. My father worked to feed 13 mouths. In Secondary 1, I sold Magnolia drinks during school holidays.

I'm now taking a correspondence course, doing my PhD in naturopathy from Canyon College in the United States. People ask, why do you want to stress yourself out now? You don't depend on the qualifications to look for a job. To me, knowledge is wisdom. The more I know, the more I can help people.

The last time I got angry was... in a restaurant. I had booked a room. My son came late and was waiting to be ushered in. The manager who was there didn't bother with him.

Maybe it was because he was in shorts and sports shoes. They might have thought he was a student.

When he finally came in, I asked him why it took him so long. He said he was standing outside for 10 minutes.

We're in the service business and all customers are equal. I didn't complain to the manager. But if my staff had done the same, I'd sit them down and give them a talking-to.

If I became a Member of Parliament, the first thing I'd do is... I would never become an MP. But I would want them to have a softer approach. If you ask me, I'm very satisfied with our Government.

I appreciate PM Lee's way of doing things now. He used to come across as a results-driven person. Now his soft side is coming out. He knows how to carry himself and blend in with the rest.

People are always surprised when they find out... my age (laughs). And that I have four children. Those who fail to get back in shape after childbirth lack determination. They just give up. It's not easy but if you put in some effort, you'll get your figure back.

To me, health and wealth mean... happiness. People will say health is important. But so is wealth. There's a Cantonese saying, you can't just drink water when you're in love. You have to service so many commitments these days.

And when you're stressed with all these things, do you still have that mood to be in love?

I always believe that you should know how to sheng rou (literally translated from Chinese as grow meat), rather than wait for handouts from your parents.

I can't live without... friends. Nowadays, family units are very small. When you need help, who's going to help you? It's your neighbours and friends.

I'm very fortunate. I've lots of friends who are always beside me. I've friends who were my ex-staff and friends from secondary school. That's why to be happy you must give as much as you take.

I think about death... as something nobody can escape. But I hope to die with dignity, without suffering. I don't really think about it because there's no need to. It will happen, so why dwell on it?

But I am scared that it will come prematurely to me. I still haven't enjoyed life, to go for nice holidays, and to relax.

dawntan@sph.com.sg

'When you bring a glow to someone's face, that's something money can't buy' 'There's a Cantonese saying, you can't just drink water when you're in love'

Ms Doreen Tan, on why health and wealth are both important