Author: Winnie Phon
Company: Be Active. Co Enterprise
Field: Health & Wellness
Position: Weight Management Coach
《When I Stopped Proving Myself, I Finally Began to See Who I Am》
Hi, I’m Winnie Phon. From a young age, I was used to proving my worth through hard work. Growing up in a traditional family, I constantly sought recognition through my achievements and performance. At the age of 15, I left home to pursue my studies independently. Later, due to family circumstances, I found it difficult to return to my hometown to complete my education. When my university application was unsuccessful, I worked as a temporary teacher while waiting for another opportunity, and eventually made my way into university. These experiences taught me that difficulties do not define our lives — perseverance does.
After graduation, I entered the corporate world and later moved into the banking industry. Although I had no financial background, I continued learning, embraced challenges, gradually developed my professional capabilities, and built a stable career that many admired. Yet, while constantly pursuing one goal after another, I slowly began to neglect myself. Years of working at a relentless pace taught me to place responsibility first and my health last.
It was not until the MCO period, when a hospitalisation experience forced me to truly stop for the first time, that I began to reassess my life. My body’s warning made me ask myself, “Is this really the life I want?” A course on learning to love and care for myself reminded me of something I had overlooked for years: while we spend so much of our lives taking care of everyone else, we can easily forget who we are. At that moment, I began to redefine success. To me, success was no longer only about career achievements; it was also about health, balance, and living a life that remained true to my heart.
With this realisation, I stepped away from my comfort zone and entered the field of health management. I wanted to help more people build healthy, confident, and sustainable lifestyles because I believe health is not the final destination — it is the foundation that allows us to pursue our dreams.
Looking ahead, I hope to promote the concepts of health education and preventive medicine, helping more people understand that health is a way of life that can be practised every day, rather than something we only try to restore after becoming ill. I also hope to accompany more women as they rediscover their own value, because a woman who knows how to love herself can not only transform her own life, but also positively influence her family and career.
Today, I no longer work so hard to prove myself. Instead, I hope to become someone who can empower others. I believe true leadership begins with changing ourselves before inspiring others, and true success is not measured by how much we possess, but by how many people we can help live healthier, more confident, and more meaningful lives.
Love yourself — it is the only beginning that can illuminate everything around you.
— Winnie Phon