How a Letter (and a Few Dollars) Sparked a Life‑Changing Reset
Picture this: Jonathan Quek, 47, sits at the kitchen table with a bank balance that reads $5.97. No extra cash to sauce a cup of coffee, and definitely no money for his daughter’s school fees. It’s almost enough to say, “I’m a magician – I can turn this into a loan!” No, that wasn’t the trick.
The Red‑Eye from the Ministry of Education
Just when he was about to crumble deeper into his own “I can’t even feed my kids” spiral, the Ministry of Education drops a second reminder onto his doorstep. It’s a bare‑bones, no‑frills notice saying, “You’re overdue.” The wording was language‑wise fine, but the emotional punch was enough to make him tear up while clutching the paper, feeling every little “I’m failing my father‑duties” voice inside his head.
2015: The Break‑Even of Reality
- Jonathan’s original business venture hit the ground, leaving him with a set of bruises—and a depressed 6‑month withdrawal period.
- He lived under the strain of debt, feeling “dad or not,” that battle played all night (and day).
- The MOE’s letter struck a chord so sharp it jackknifed the shame, but also lit a different kind of fire. It was the “supply of pain → motivation” switch at 12:00pm.
Think of it like this: you’re drowning in your own doubts until suddenly, the government blindsides you with one more overdue notice, and you realize that “OK, I’m done with excuses.” It motioned him to rise, sift through the wreckage, and rebuild.
From “I’m Down” to “I’m Up”
- Jonathan struggled & slid into depression for half a year.
- He regained footing by treating the MOE’s letter as a catalyst for change.
- By the time he read “you’re overdue,” the words were also a call to action: “Get the ball rolling again.”
At the moment the Parliament’s reminder made him take a stand—and that turning point, though lined by guilt, enabled a deep confidence reboot that sent him back onto the entrepreneurial track. It’s a headline-turning reminder that life’s lowest moments can spark the highest resilience.
Losing $400,000 in savings
Jonathan’s Roller‑Coaster: From Startup Hero to Bust‑Bag Hero
Picture this: Jonathan, a self‑made entrepreneur, pour half a million dollars of his life savings into an education‑tech startup with his wife Violet. Violet, a former counsellor armed with a graduate degree in psychology, was his brainstorming buddy. But the play‑out? A spectacular flop.
The Big Idea That Missed the Mark
- They rolled out an online learning platform aimed at busy parents.
- Jonathan quickly saw the snag: parents had zero minutes to slog through daily lessons with their little ones.
- Later, he realized the whole concept was a few years ahead of the curve—COVID hadn’t yet flipped the online learning script.
When the Ship Sank
Once the business dissolved, Jonathan felt like a captain lost at sea.
“I poured so much sweat into it, and when it crashed, I felt totally useless,” he confessed.
Despite the blow, he admitted, “I didn’t immediately spiral into full depression.” He was 40, had no spare cash, and job hunting felt like a full‑time anxiety workout.
The Dark, Hungry Phase
For half a year, Jonathan shut himself in his bedroom, the day slipping by with silence and skip‑on‑food vibes. He told us, “I basically gave up. I avoided everything—I even stayed away from my two daughters, 14 and 11.”
In essence, this set of setbacks ignited a storm of mental heaviness that took the long road toward recovery.
Stay tuned for how Jonathan finally broke out of the rut and started turning his life around.
Violet: The Unsung Hero of a Family Crisis
When the House Fires Up
- After Jonathan’s business collapsed, the financial torch inevitably landed on Violet, a 50‑year‑old juggling the role of a solo entertainer.
- She tapped into her savings to keep the lights on while trying to keep Jonathan fed.
- “I had to be both the daddy and the mummy,” Violet chuckled, after all.
One Man, Two Hats
- Violet’s day‑to‑day routine: work + cooking + caring + feeding.
- She watched Jonathan linger in bed, whispering, “I must get back on my feet.”
- When Jonathan resisted her gentle nudges about finding work, he would sulk and pause the conversation, only to resume later with a shrug.
The Wake‑Up Call
One crisp morning, the Ministry of Education (MOE) sent a letter that was “perfect timing,” say Violet and Jonathan. It nudged him into seeking professional help.
Violet recalls, “It was a light‑bulb moment that made him consider a psychiatrist or psychologist.”
This psychological shift also freed them from the financial stress of borrowing from parents.
Family Bonds and Financial Worries
- “Our parents were already on their knees; we didn’t want to add more pain to them,” Violet explained.
- Jonathan added, “My parents might say ‘you’re too weak,’ whereas my wife’s in it for the long haul.”
Reaching Out for Help
Six months of therapy slowed the drop from heart‑racing anxieties to a calmer pulse. The long‑haul anxiety was so intense that a simple haircut session required him to carry a face‑mask to avoid excessive sweating.
During this period, he also dared to pore back into entrepreneurship.
Globotix: From Luggage to Cleaning Robots
The Seed of an Idea
In 2016, with a modest investment from his parents, Jonathan founded Globotix – a smart cleaning startup – after a two‑pass at his first business.
Trust Through Shared Dreams
- Violet gave a 90% thumbs‑up, backing Jonathan’s new venture.
- She reasoned that a regular office job wouldn’t satisfy his adventurous spirit.
- He believed that mastering the mistakes of his earlier attempt meant his second shot had a higher chance of success.
Familiar Terrain
His background in facilities management meant he’d seen the high churn rate of cleaners, and he saw a golden opportunity.
Finding the Ideal Partner
He scoured the web, stumbling upon a Canadian start‑up founded by two fresh graduates. With the right persuasion, he secured the first local distribution deal for their self‑cleaning robots.
Changi Dream
- At 22 robots sold to Changi Airport in 2018, a jaw‑dropping $2 million contract took two solid years of sleepless nights.
- “I’d spend nights testing the robots after 2 am when the terminal was quiet,” Jonathan recollected.
- Even post‑deal, he still felt the tremors of anxiety, fearing he’d let the business down.
Global Shells
The success at Changi opened doors to airports worldwide. One day, he had the chance to show the robots to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at Terminal 4’s opening.
Looking Ahead
Today, Jonathan manages 18 crew members as Globotix’s CEO. He’s eyeing the next frontier: outdoor robotic cleaners. Shared Jonathan, “This is only the beginning.”
‘Be patient and persevere’
Jonathan’s Secret Weapon: Patience, Perseverance, and a Wife Who Cheered from the Front Row
When Jonathan talks about the toughest lessons he’s learned on the road to success, his eyes light up at the one simple truth that keeps him moving forward:
- Hold your horses and keep grinding.
The Power of a Supportive Spouse
His wife isn’t just a partner; she’s his #1 hype‑team. Picture this: he’s chasing the big Changi Airport contract and hits a snag. “Should I just give up?” he asks her. She doesn’t even pause—she pulls up the “patience” banner and says:
“Stick around and keep going until the day someone finally says ‘no.’ We’ll risk the whole game, but we’ll quit only when the verdict drops.”
This is the kind of optimism that fuels a marathon runner, not a sprint runner.
Two Steps Forward, One Step Back—Still Feels Right
He describes it as the classic “two‑step, one‑step” dance. You push ahead, stumble a little, but you don’t rubber‑neck. “Just grit those teeth, keep the pace, and boom—onward.”
Fear is Still There, but It’s Becoming Manageable
“I’m not one to say I’m fearless. There’s always that nagging shadow of failure closing in.” Yet, he’s learned how to juggle that fear with a big, loaded umbrella of resilience. “For now, I can handle it and keep doing what I need to do.”
Mind‑Health on the Go
Jonathan’s journey isn’t over—mental wellness is a marathon, not a quick sprint. He checks in with his psychiatrist like he checks his phone for the latest buzz:
- In 2019, after several years of ups and downs, he felt a breath of relief.
- Still, worries linger. The difference? He’s better at turning those worries into edible thoughts rather than crashing it.
In short, Jonathan’s recipe for success: Patience + hard work + a supportive spouse + mental health check‑ins. And he’s still cooking it up, one day at a time.
How One Couple Fell Through the Mental Health Rut—and Got Back on Track
Jonathan’s story is bone‑shakingly simple: he listened to his own needs, cut off meds, and felt anxiety re‑make its home in his skull.
The Secret Ingredients
- Open‑heartedness – “Don’t let anyone’s judgment stop you from hopping on the psychiatrist train.”
- Professional support – “It’s not a mental health binge‑watch; it’s a real, lifesaving decision.”
- Supportive love – “Violet, my partner in counseling, taught me that positivity + patience = smooth sailing.”
Why Getting Help Was a Beast
Even with Violet’s background in psychology, convincing Jonathan to seek help felt like pulling teeth from a stubborn cat. “People rarely get the gut‑shaken depth of depression; it’s a full‑on summit climb.”
The Twist that Re‑ignited Hope
Jonathan credits Violet and the kids for pulling him out of the depression abyss. Their bond has never been stronger—now a place where “anything goes,” including the scary stuff.
What They’re Teaching the Kids
- “Mental health isn’t a badge of shame—it’s a call to action.”
- “Talk fast, and we’ll listen longer.”
In short, the family’s new mantra is: Speak, share, and strip away the stigma. Their relationship? Upgraded from “survive” to “thrive.”
