Casey Tan - Motley Fool. Happy to be alive
Casey was introduced by Paul Carlin and first asked us to stop him if he was going too fast! Thinking like an accountant he went through nine significant areas of his life.
1.0 My childhood - Stupid Straight
Case told us he was a sickly baby and eighth of eleven children. His nick name was “Stupid Honest Casey hated school. In retrospect thinks he had Attention Deficit Hyper Activity Disorder until he suceeded in grade four where he studied and got exam first place. From this Casey resolved that in his life, that nothing is impossible.
2.0 My Dad - Daring to Dream
Casey’s father was from Putien in the southern part of China. His dad passed away when Casey was nine. His Mum and brothers took over the family business
3.0 University – Hard Work Purifies The Soul
Casey came to Melbourne in 1975 to Study Commerce. A defining moment was when he decided to stay rather than go home and run the family business. He worked multiple low paying jobs to get through University. He trained his body and mind to do with little sleep!. Nothing was impossible with Ability, determination, time and God’s will
4.0 Career – Led like sheep
Casey said he was lucky to work with some of the best brains around town He has served on the Boards of The Institute of Management, The Institute of Public Administration. He is currently on The Board of The Australian Communities Foundation
He described successes and failures whilst working for Wesley Mission, Budget Rental, Roach Tilley Grice, Elders Finance and the Victorian Government
5.0 Unclaimed Monies – Taking on Exhibition and Collins Streets
Casey lobbied Corporations to disclose information on the Billions held and unclaimed. .
6.0 My Mum 2002 – 2010. Total Unconditional Love
During this period Casey travelled often to KL as his mother had terminal Cancer. In 2005 his mother had a stroke. During that time he discovered fraud in his LK office and ended up in dispute with The Victorian Department of Justice over m a matter involving Toll and Patrick. He had to concede defeat in these matters. His mother eventually passed away in 2010 and remembers her will power incredible love and sacrifices.
7.0 Money – Don’t care. Have enough
Casey has enough however he is not rich and has luckily always had good paying jobs. He enjoys the simple things which do not cost money like food, friends, books and walks in the park
8.0 Lucky to Be Alive – Too Lucky
Casey has been head hunted for every job he has ever had. He as always testing the limits of his luck
- Awarded first place professionally in Accounting and Financial Management
- Jumped from a roof top and lived
- Runover at the age of seven
- Sole Bother’s Norton Sports Bike at the age of fourteen
- Stopped fights between bouncers and Mafiosa
- Negotiated payments with Malaysian loan Sharks
9.0 So what is happiness – I don’t know
Abraham Lincoln expressed it, quite simply: “Folks are usually as happy,… as they make their minds up to be.