Someone is going to get retrenched today — and they have no idea. After 11 years inside recruitment and hundreds of conversations with blindsided professionals, I can tell you retrenchment is almost never actually a surprise. The signals show up weeks or months early. Most people just don't know what they're looking for. This video names all 9 — and the 4 quiet moves to make before you ever need them.

🔎 Track live layoffs in Singapore → https://layoffsg.com

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

0:00 – Someone gets retrenched today (they don't know yet)

0:17 – Why it feels like a surprise (but almost never is)

1:11 – Two things to understand first

1:16 – Why the people who know aren't allowed to tell you

1:43 – Companies retrench roles, not people

2:22 – The signals are structural, not personal

2:37 – Signal 1: The hiring freeze

3:15 – Signal 2: External consultants arrive

4:01 – Signal 3: Communication becomes careful

4:44 – Signal 4: Your manager's behaviour changes

5:32 – Signal 5: You're asked to document your processes

6:21 – Signal 6: Budget quietly disappears

6:48 – Signal 7: A reorg or "strategic review" of your function

7:23 – Signal 8: New leadership with no history with your team

8:08 – Signal 9: Your scope quietly shrinks

8:54 – The two wrong responses (denial vs. panic)

9:20 – Move 1: Update your resume now

9:34 – Move 2: Activate your network quietly

9:49 – Move 3: Build visibility outside your company

10:08 – Move 4: Know what you're entitled to

10:28 – LayoffSG.com — the layoff tracker I built

10:53 – Final thought

I'm an introvert. Small talk drains me, and walking into a room of strangers is the last thing I want to do — so for years my "networking strategy" was finding the food table and looking busy with my coffee.

And yet people still walk up to me at events (and once, at a night market) already knowing who I am. That's not luck. It's reputation infrastructure — 8 specific moves that put your name into the world before you ever show up in a room, so trust is already built by the time someone reaches out. I used these moves while running my career coaching practice, and

I'm using them again now as I build my fractional career.

In this video, I break down all 8:

00:00 Intro

03:52 Move 1: Write a Book

05:57 Move 2: Speak at Events

07:21 Move 3: Academic Affiliation

08:14 Move 4: Win Awards

09:03 Move 5: Join Industry Bodies

09:57 Move 6: Get Board Positions

11:17 Move 7: Media Bylines

12:24 Move 8: Podcasting

None of this works in 30 days. But if you're moving into fractional work or self-employment, this is the difference between chasing clients and having them come find you.

My former CEO stood in front of the whole team and said: no side hustles. Too distracting. The company needs your full commitment.

He had three board directorships, two committee seats, and multiple rental properties.

He wasn’t lying to be cruel. He was protecting what he’d built — and hoping you wouldn’t notice the gap between what he said and what he did.

I noticed too late. I went all-in on one company for a decade. $5M revenue, 30 staff, everything I had in one place. Then the partners changed, the investors pulled out, and I spent three months not knowing what to do with myself at 9 am on a Monday. Then I drove Grab.

This video is what I learned from that — and what your boss already knows that nobody taught you.

What is covered:

00:00 Side Hustle Hypocrisy

00:27 Leaders Diversify Quietly

01:41 The Loyalty Deal Died

02:18 All In Then Burnout

03:04 Uber And Identity Loss

03:21 Diversify Without Seniority

03:49 Build Assets Under Your Name

04:03 Writing Builds Reputation

04:30 Fractional Work And Niches

05:43 Commitment Versus Concentration

06:06 What Equity Are You Building

06:42 Do As They Do

After my CNA article on fractional work went live, I received many LinkedIn DMs, so I’m answering the most common questions in this video.

00:00 Intro

00:37 What is Fractional Work?

01:58 Can It Work Financially?

03:14 Handling Dry Spells

05:24 Do You Need a Big Network?

05:59 Set Up a Company or Operate Individually?

06:29 How to Land Your First Client

07:35 What If a Client Wants You Full-Time?

08:11 Retirement & Exit Strategy

09:06 Which Industries Work Best?

11:51 How to Price Yourself

I reflect on Charlie Munger’s wish for more time and share three ideas from Bill Perkins’ Die With Zero that changed how I think about money and life.

First, you don’t retire with money—you retire with memories, and some experiences have real physical expiry dates, so postponing them can mean missing them forever.

Second, I reframe retirement planning by treating net worth peak as a date, not a number, and explain how dying with unspent money can represent thousands of hours worked for nothing, while the fear of running out is often bigger than the math.

Third, I walk through Perkins’ “time bucketing” exercise—mapping life in five-year blocks and assigning goals to realistic windows—plus my own buckets for travel, family, and work changes, to stop drifting and start choosing intentionally.

00:00 Munger’s Wish for Time

00:27 Book That Changed Me

01:05 Retire With Memories

02:06 Experiences Expire

03:19 Peak Net Worth Date

04:11 Fear of Running Out

05:09 Time Bucketing Method

06:16 My Time Buckets

07:07 Bucket List vs Buckets

07:54 Closing Takeaways

I'm back after a six-month hiatus to discuss the origin of his podcast, his experiences with imposter syndrome, and his journey in content creation.

I reflect on the evolution of content creation from blogging to contemporary practices involving AI, and emphasise the importance of maintaining authenticity in one's tone of voice.

Also, a shout-out to ⁨Typeless:⁩ to help you align spoken and written content, and announces plans for more monologue episodes. Stay tuned for a candid look into the world of content creation and personal growth.

00:00 Welcome Back: Where Have I Been?

00:11 The Journey of My Podcast and Book

01:16 Current Work and Future Plans

02:14 The Evolution of Content Creation

03:09 The Importance of Authenticity in Writing

06:03 Tools and Tips for Content Creation

07:20 Conclusion and Future Episodes

In this revealing episode, Florence Foo shares her incredible journey of quitting her corporate job while pregnant with her second child to launching four successful businesses. From starting a boutique digital marketing agency to organising large-scale events, introducing sunscreen dispensers on demand, and exploring groundbreaking LED technology, Florence navigates the rollercoaster ride of entrepreneurship. Discover her insights on time management, overcoming challenges, and the strategies behind her diverse business ventures. Don't miss this inspiring story of ambition, resilience, and innovation!

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This episode is brought to you by Deel⁩, the all-in-one platform simplifying global team management with payroll, HR, IT, and compliance solutions, trusted by over 35,000 businesses worldwide. Learn more at ⁠⁠https://deel.com/adriantan⁠⁠.

00:00 Leaving the Corporate World

01:11 Introducing Florence

01:32 Florence's Career Journey

02:12 Starting a Digital Marketing Agency

05:00 Expanding into Event Organising

08:59 Venturing into Sunscreen Business

10:26 Exploring LED Lighting

11:51 Balancing Multiple Businesses and Family

17:34 Managing Work-Life Balance

18:22 Health Impacts of Overworking

19:44 Lessons from Nine Years in Business

20:09 Starting as a Solopreneur

21:35 Dealing with Client Challenges

25:36 Prospecting for New Business

27:28 Adapting to Digitalisation

28:08 Advice to My Younger Self

28:53 Future Plans and Contact Information

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Where to find Florence Foo:

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/florence-foo/

Oakwood Media: http://www.oakwood.sg

Where to find Adrian:

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriantanck/⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠adriantan.com.sg⁠⁠

📕 No More Bosses: https://amzn.asia/d/abmPxU6

In this eye-opening episode, Eric Tan, a seasoned entrepreneur and chartered accountant, reveals the staggering realities and misconceptions of starting your own business. From the relentless grind and overwhelming stress to the illusion of having more control over your time, Eric shares his journey from working for Pricewaterhouse to running his own successful accounting and consulting firms.

Tune in to uncover the brutal challenges faced by new businesses, the importance of setting realistic goals, and why you should think twice before diving into entrepreneurship. Plus, get invaluable insights on the best business structures and tax considerations to ensure your startup's success. This is a must-watch for aspiring entrepreneurs!

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Eric Tan is a Singapore Chartered Accountant and Certified Management Consultant, best known as the co-founder and Managing Director of The Resource Group Pte Ltd. With a career spanning over 15 years in finance, business advisory, and human capital development, Eric has played a pivotal role in equipping small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with the expertise and resources needed for growth and regional expansion

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This episode is brought to you by Deel , the all-in-one platform simplifying global team management with payroll, HR, IT, and compliance solutions, trusted by over 35,000 businesses worldwide. Learn more at ⁠⁠https://deel.com/adriantan⁠.

00:00 Introduction

01:08 Meet Eric: A Multifaceted Professional

02:21 Eric's Career Journey: From Audit to Consulting

03:21 The Decision to Go Independent

04:49 Balancing Family and Entrepreneurship

06:51 The Reality of Being Your Own Boss

11:20 Navigating the Challenges of Entrepreneurship

20:24 The Changing Business Landscape

25:50 Understanding F&B Business Failures

26:12 Case Study: My Cousin's F&B Journey

27:55 Lessons from Starting a Recruitment Business

28:41 The Importance of Accurate Financial Projections

29:20 Acquiring and Retaining Consulting Clients

30:43 Networking Strategies for Business Growth

34:20 Choosing the Right Business Structure

38:12 Tax Considerations for Different Business Entities

40:19 Common Accounting Mistakes to Avoid

44:30 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

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Where to find Eric Tan:

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-tan-15034111/

The Resource Group: https://theresourcegroup.asia/

Acce Advisory: https://acceadvisory.services/

Where to find Adrian:

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriantanck/⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠adriantan.com.sg⁠⁠

📕 No More Bosses: https://amzn.asia/d/abmPxU6