"Don't you work?"

"Don't you work?", a neighbour asked me just now as we crossed each other's path on the stairs up to my home.

"Oh yes, I do," I responded readily, and merrily, adding that "I work from home, which gives me time during the day to "kaypoh" around the place." Kaypoh is Hokkien for being a busybody :)

Given the home-based nature of my Internet-supported Unicity enterprise, I have more flexibility than the average person in his/her 40s to attend to voluntary community affairs like serving on the Management Council of the Pandan Valley condominium.

I had just come back from spending some time with a key management staff, talking through some of the many little improvements we are making and can make in future to improve the look and feel of the estate and upgrade the amenities.

For example, we have a good number of facilities spread out over the sprawling Leisure Hub in one of the 7 blocks in this 623-unit condomnium. From the outside, these facilities - the Clubhouse, the Lounge, the multi-purpose room, the reading room - all look officious, unwelcoming and "no fun". So, I thought, why not label each facility nicely and brightly. At least, residents will know what they are passing up when they are passing by.

Simple things that can do a lot for many. That's what I like to do.

That very much describes my business, my work, too: Doing simple things that can do a lot for many.

Like what? Keeping in touch with friends, listening up for problems where I can make a contribution; sharing with whoever may be looking, the better health that my products can offer, or the independence, freedom, security and future that my home-based franchise can provide.

Often, I need not spend too much time talking, at least initially, for there is always a website, a product catalog or a book I can point them to e.g. that book on How To Make $4000 A Month Working From Home. Yes, that's what I do :)

When anyone decides that they really want to do something about their wellness, or start being their own boss by learning to build and building a business of their own, that's when I will spend a bit more time talking. Actually, it's more like getting them to do the talking, engaging them in conversation. I call that coaching and for that reason, I call myself a Coach.

As Coach, I help people get in touch with their core and inner-most desires, discover and decide what's most important to them, then encourage them to look into their inner strengths and latent capabilities to break through psychological barriers and their long-established "lack conditioning".

How do I get paid? Absolutely no coaching fees. Purely performance-based. I get a 5-20% cut of the profits they make. Good money, and I do mean GOOD.

Now, don't you think that I work?

Well, it depends on how you look at it.

Did someone say, when you enjoy what you do, you won't have to work for another day of your life?

My life and work has indeed become one.

In a few minutes, wife Chris will be back with the two kids, Jia Wei and Yan Ting, and a takeaway lunch. Pan mian, Chris said when she phoned home just now. Hey, we will get to have fun eating together, before I go out in the afternoon to meet a partner and a prospective customer.

Oh yes, I do work, and I do go out when I need to. I am home-based; not home-bound ;->