On My Own Terms is the podcast for career change, life pivots, and redefining success in today’s fast-changing world.
Hosted by John Lim—whose journey spans banking, entrepreneurship, tech startups, and e-commerce—it explores what it takes to build a meaningful career, especially in Asia where traditions run deep. From launching Singapore’s largest indoor laser tag business to navigating layoffs during the tech winter, John has lived the challenges of reinvention.
Each episode dives into real conversations with career changers, entrepreneurs, and unconventional thinkers, uncovering mindset shifts, strategies, and practical tips. If you’re exploring new career paths, adapting to the age of AI, or rethinking what success means, you’ll find inspiration, insights, and action steps here.
Subscribe to the newsletter to receive bonus content from podcast episodes, on career switch and growth in your inbox here: https://bit.ly/3VU2e47
On My Own Terms is the podcast for career change, life pivots, and redefining success in today’s fast-changing world.
Hosted by John Lim—whose journey spans banking, entrepreneurship, tech startups, and e-commerce—it explores what it takes to build a meaningful career, especially in Asia where traditions run deep. From launching Singapore’s largest indoor laser tag business to navigating layoffs during the tech winter, John has lived the challenges of reinvention.
Each episode dives into real conversations with career changers, entrepreneurs, and unconventional thinkers, uncovering mindset shifts, strategies, and practical tips. If you’re exploring new career paths, adapting to the age of AI, or rethinking what success means, you’ll find inspiration, insights, and action steps here.
Subscribe to the newsletter to receive bonus content from podcast episodes, on career switch and growth in your inbox here: https://bit.ly/3VU2e47
What happens when you get laid off from a dream job — and decide to turn that setback into your biggest leap forward?
Meet Marcus Cheu — a former Salesforce professional who lost his job during the tech layoffs and used that moment to redefine his career completely. Instead of returning to corporate life, Marcus chose to build something of his own — a startup born out of curiosity, courage, and conviction.
In this episode of On My Own Terms, Marcus sits down with John Lim to share his raw, unfiltered journey of embracing uncertainty, building from scratch, and learning to trust the process — even when there’s no roadmap. Together, they dive deep into what it really means to create a life and career on your own terms.
💬 In this episode, we talk about:
Why he left the corporate path to pursue entrepreneurship
Lessons from failing, pivoting, and rebuilding
The hardest part of building something from scratch
Why curiosity beats talent in an age of AI and change
How AI is reshaping lead generation—and what founders should focus on before automating
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Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
03:42 Who is Marcus Cheu?
04:53 When Success Stops Feeling Like Success
14:52 Would You Start a Business with Family?
26:19 How Marcus Is Building with AI — Not Against It
28:03 The Secret Signals Behind Every Great Deal
28:07 Can AI Really Understand Human Intent?
29:15 Turning Data into Real Conversations
30:27 What Closing Tough Deals Really Teaches You
37:37 Will Founders Still Matter in the Age of AI?
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Where to find Marcus:
Website: https://bit.ly/4huqK86
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/43FN9JQ
🎯Find practical tools and resources to guide your journey:
Check out: https://bit.ly/3CTMZRW
We'd like to hear from you: https://tally.so/r/OD1GNM (2-min quick survey)
📩 Follow us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onmyowntermspodcast
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/on-my-own-terms-podcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OnMyOwnTermsPodcast
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UoZFflZDdk03KfafgTwQg
Email: johnlimcy@gmail.com
Support the podcast here: https://buymeacoffee.com/onmyownterms
📌 References, Recommendations & Resources:
Salesforce: A global cloud-based software company where Marcus previously worked before transitioning into entrepreneurship.🔗 https://www.salesforce.com
OpenAI: The artificial intelligence research company behind ChatGPT — mentioned in the episode while discussing how AI is reshaping sales, creativity, and productivity.🔗 https://openai.com
Apollo.ai: All-in-one platform for B2B sales prospecting. Find verified contacts, automate outreach, and close deals faster with AI-powered insights. 🔗 https://get.apollo.io/8yponvev3s15
The Hard Thing About Hard Things (by Ben Horowitz): A book discussed in the episode — known for its honest take on the realities of entrepreneurship and leadership. Source of “If you’re gonna eat sh*t, don’t nibble”🔗 https://amzn.to/4ocYwRO
Note:
Some links may be affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you purchase through them — at no extra cost to you. I only share tools, books, and resources I genuinely find useful or inspiring. Thanks for supporting the podcast!
#CareerTransition #EntrepreneurMindset #OpenAI #CareerChange