Like most Singaporeans, Michael Lee is no stranger to hustling in life. When he was in university, Lee had to take on a slew of side hustles, including selling SIM cards to migrant workers, working in the kitchen of his uncle’s restaurant, and becoming a relief teacher in his alma mater just to pay his fees.
But even when life got a lot rosier after he became a teacher, the man threw it all away—much to the chagrin of his parents—to become an entrepreneur.
“I had a comfortable job and a lot of fun teaching. I was a civil servant, which meant job security and fixed bonuses. So yeah, my parents thought I was out of my mind,” he quips.
For Lee, the prospect of running his own business was irresistible. But it wasn’t because that meant being the boss of people and raking in big money—he simply wanted to do what he loved for a living. And just like that, he restarted his career and made the move from education to events planning by setting up Hustle & Bustle in 2018.
He says this passion for planning events dates back to his days in secondary school, when he developed an interest in not only organising class gatherings and birthday parties, but doing so with panache. As an example, he would plan water games and night walks to complement the usual class gathering at the chalet during the holidays.
“I guess I just love bringing people together, putting a smile on their faces and creating amazing memories,” he adds.
“Then there’s the part about leaving a legacy. I wanted people to remember me as the planner of that crazy orientation back in school. These days, I hope people will remember me as the guy who planned that crazy exhibition amid the pandemic.”
Recognition is something Hustle & Bustle didn’t take long to earn. In August 2022, just four years after it was founded, the company took home the Singapore Good Design Award in the Experience Design category for its visually arresting exhibition Dale Chihuly: Glass in Bloom at Gardens by the Bay. Other notable events by the company include Fashion Odyssey 2021, a virtual showcase done in collaboration with Harper’s Bazaar Singapore and automotive brand Lamborghini.
Hustle & Bustle has also gone regional, having set up satellite offices in Kuala Lumpur and Ho Chi Minh City.
Given these achievements, few would disagree that Hustle & Bustle has rather emphatically beaten the odds of failure that most new companies face. Despite the abyss greeting him after that big career decision, Lee insists he would still feel fulfilled.
“I always knew that jumping into this career was going to satisfy me. Even if I failed, I would’ve learned valuable lessons along that would’ve helped in my next venture. Sometimes to learn and succeed, you have to fail,” he muses.
“As long as you’re able to enjoy what you do in your career, you’re not really working. You’re living. And that’s happiness right there.” Isn’t that what we all want?
Photography: Mun Kong
Styling: Chia Wei Choong
Hair: Jenny Ng, using Schwarzkopf Professional
Makeup: Priscelia Wong, using Estée Lauder
Photography Assistant: Hizuan Zailani
