Surfing Lizard- Investing, 11 Palermo Cove, Secret Harbour (2026)

22/12/2025

📈📊 “The stock market is gambling.”
— that’s what my dad used to say.
And back then… I was really annoyed. 😤

Because in my head:
📈 meant knowledge
📊 meant analysis
🧠 meant thinking
💰 meant the future

But…
my dad only saw one thing:
👉 money that could disappear in a blink.

⸻

The stock market is a double-edged knife.
But not because of the market.
👉 Because of the person holding the knife. 🗡️

⸻

Some people:
• earn $800 a week
• save for 3 years
• go all-in on one stock “a friend recommended” 🗣️
• down 40%
• too scared to tell their wife
• can’t sleep
• start hating the stock market

And then they say:
👉 “Stocks are gambling.” 🎰

⸻

But it’s the same stock market…

Other people:
• invest 10–15% of their income
• buy consistently every month ⏱️
• choose businesses that make real money
• don’t check prices every day
• keep working, raising kids, paying the mortgage 🏠

10 years later…
not insanely rich.
But freer. Calmer. Less afraid. 🌿

⸻

A truth few people say out loud:

❌ Stocks aren’t the most dangerous thing
❌ The market doesn’t kill people

👉 WHAT DOES:
• greed to get rich fast 💥
• fear of losing money sooner than others 😰
• ego: “this time, I must be right.”

⸻

My dad wasn’t “not rich” because he lacked ability.
He stayed poor because:
👉 he had seen family members lose money by “getting rich quick.”

So in his eyes:
• no control = gambling
• no understanding = gambling
• borrowing money to invest = big gambling ⚠️

⸻

When I started buying stocks…
and still:
• paid the electricity bill on time
• supported my family
• slept well 😴
• didn’t brag about profits

He said just one sentence:
👉 “If that’s the case… then it’s probably not gambling.”

⸻

The stock market isn’t bad.
It just reveals—very quickly:
👉 how greedy you are
👉 how scared you are
👉 and how well you understand yourself 🪞

⸻

📌 If you use it as a quick escape → it will destroy you.
📌 If you use it as a long-term tool → it will quietly help you.

⸻

And maybe…
my dad was never wrong.

It’s just that:
stocks are investing…
or gambling…

👉 depending on who’s holding the money.

18/12/2025

🇦🇺🔥 WHAT I DID TO GET MY EMPLOYER TO SPONSOR MY AUSTRALIAN PERMANENT RESIDENCY

⸻

When I first arrived in Australia, I didn’t know much.
My English was only good enough for basic communication.
My experience was close to zero.

But I had one thing:
my work ethic was second to none.

And that was the reason my employer wanted to keep me — and eventually decided to sponsor me.

Here is exactly what I did, step by step.

⸻

1️⃣ Early stage – Creating a powerful first impression

From the very first week:

• I was never late.
5am shift → I arrived at 4:30am
7am shift → I stood at the door at 6:30am
(Not to clock in early — just to be ready.)

My boss once said something I never forgot:
“You make my day easy.”

That’s all a business owner really wants.

• I did every task, no complaints, no refusal.
Take out the rubbish? Done.
Carry heavy stock? Done.
Wash dishes? Done.
Help in the kitchen? Done.
Run errands for the café? Done.

(What haven’t I done? 🥹🤣)

Whenever someone was short-handed, I stepped in.
I never said: “That’s not my job.”

I also never complained about other staff.
If others didn’t do their job, that was on them.
If I could help, I helped.

➡️ This showed my boss that I was a problem solver, not a problem creator.

⸻

2️⃣ Middle stage – Becoming the “backbone” of the business

After a few months, I levelled up.

• I learned barista skills.
No one taught me? I taught myself.
Had 10 spare minutes? I asked questions.
Made mistakes? Fixed them immediately.
Got told off (right or wrong)? I accepted it.

(If I was told off unfairly, I thought:
“At least it wasn’t a real mistake — if it were, would I even deserve sponsorship?”)

• During peak hours, I worked like a machine.
When the café was busiest, I was the fastest.
No panic.
No yelling.
No blaming others.

👉 Looks don’t matter. Presence and attitude do.

Every boss watches closely during peak hours.
That’s when they know who is truly valuable.

• I never gossiped, never caused drama.
This is a huge reason many employers avoid sponsoring staff.
They fear drama and bad attitude.

(In my opinion, the person who constantly reports others is more dangerous than the person being reported.)

My routine was simple:
Work → Learn → Work → Smile → Done.

⸻

3️⃣ Being noticed – Building long-term trust

Once I became consistent, my boss gave me more responsibility:

• I opened the shop
• I closed the shop
• I managed stock
• I handled the busiest shifts

That’s when the thought starts forming in their head:

“If I lose this person, my business will suffer.”

👉 When losing you hurts, they will want to keep you.

⸻

4️⃣ The decision stage – Talking about sponsorship

Only when everything was ready did I say:

“If you think I’m suitable, I’d love to stay long-term and be sponsored.
If not, that’s completely okay — I’ll still give my best.”

Why say it this way?

❌ No pressure
❌ No begging
❌ No entitlement

Instead:

✅ Honest
✅ Professional
✅ Respectful

My employer replied:
“We will sponsor you. You’re worth it.”

And that was it.

⸻

5️⃣ The real reason my employer sponsored me

They didn’t sponsor me out of sympathy.
They sponsored me because it benefited them.

From their perspective:

✔ Sponsoring me = keeping their best worker
✔ Saves time and cost hiring & training new staff
✔ No risk of me quitting suddenly
✔ Peak-hour operations stay stable

In short:
Sponsoring me made business sense.

⸻

6️⃣ Lessons for anyone seeking sponsorship

If you want sponsorship, don’t wait for luck.

Make your employer see that:

🔥 You are worth more than what they pay you
🔥 You are someone they don’t want to lose
🔥 You are honest, hardworking, drama-free
🔥 You make their job easier

And most importantly:

👉 Work like an owner, not like an employee.

That mindset changes everything.

17/12/2025

🧮🗯️ I don’t teach people how to get rich.
💥 I write for people who are scared of being broke.
———-

I’ve checked my bank balance
before buying food. 🥹
I’ve smiled in public
while counting bills in my head.

Money didn’t teach me how to flex.
It taught me how to survive.

Here’s what real life taught me 👇
– 💳 Cash disappears easily
– 🧠 Discipline matters more than income
– ⏳ Being prepared is quieter than being lucky

I don’t talk about shortcuts. 🚫
I talk about:
– 📉 Emergency funds
– 🪙 Real assets
– 🌿 Fear, restraint, long nights
– 🏗️ Building slowly when no one is watching

This page is not for everyone.

It’s for:
– 🎓 Students
– 👨‍👩‍👧 Young families
– 🧳 Migrants
– 💼 People earning normal money but carrying real pressure

If you’re building quietly…
If you don’t have a safety net…
If you can’t afford big mistakes…

📍 You’re in the right place.

No hype.
No flex.
Just real experience.

——————

🖍️🙏 I am not a financial advisor. I share personal experiences and interests in money and investing only. Please seek independent professional advice before making decisions.

17/12/2025

📈📊 WHAT WOULD I INVEST IN
IF I EARNED $900 A WEEK? 💵⏱️

Everyone tells you the same familiar line:
👉 “You must have an EMERGENCY FUND!”

Sounds right.
But… it’s not enough.

⸻

EMERGENCY FUND ≠ CASH SITTING IDLE IN YOUR ACCOUNT 💳😶

Money left sitting there:
– Gets eaten away by inflation 🐜
– Is too easy to overspend
– The balance looks comforting → but it’s a false sense of security

Five years later…
👉 It’s still money
👉 But its value isn’t the same anymore

⸻

A PERSPECTIVE FEW PEOPLE DARE TO TALK ABOUT 👀

An emergency fund
👉 doesn’t have to be cash

It just needs to be:
✔️ Easy to sell
✔️ Able to hold value
✔️ Not something that disappears with one click

⸻

WHY I CHOSE SILVER 🪙

I don’t call it an Emergency Fund.
I call it:

👉 A SILVER-GENCY FUND 😌

⸻

A REAL STORY FROM ME

There was a time I bought:
👉 3kg of silver for $3,300

People said:
❌ “Silver doesn’t go up”
❌ “Better keep cash, it’s safer”

Now?

👉 1kg ≈ $3,100
👉 3kg ≈ $9,300

I didn’t need to sell.
I didn’t need to show off.
I just knew one thing:

🧠 Cash sits still
🧠 Assets quietly grow

⸻

WHAT IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG?

– You lose your job
– You need money urgently
– Family emergencies happen

👉 Silver can be sold
👉 No borrowing
👉 No pressure

And most importantly:
👉 It’s not spent impulsively like cash

⸻

BUYING SILVER = HARDER TO SPEND THAN CASH 💡

Money in your bank:
👉 Swipe → done

Silver in your hand:
👉 You think
👉 You decide
👉 You only sell when you really need to

That’s discipline.

⸻

BUY REGULARLY. DON’T WATCH THE PRICE ⏳

$50
$100
$200

Big or small doesn’t matter.
What matters is: CONSISTENCY.

Silver won’t make you feel rich overnight.
But it will give you this feeling:

👉 “If something happens, I won’t be left with nothing.”

⸻

AFTER 5 YEARS…

You may not have anything to brag about.
But you’ll sleep very well 😴

Because you know:
✔️ You have a backup
✔️ Not on paper
✔️ Not just digital numbers

👉 But REAL ASSETS

⸻

ONE LAST LINE 👇

Everyone talks about Emergency Funds.
Very few talk about:
👉 What to actually hold them in.

I chose SILVER 🪙
Slow.
Consistent.
And real.

17/12/2025

🗯️🏠 FOUR THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW —
BEFORE BUYING A PROPERTY FROM ME 🏠🧠

Not to sell fast.
Not for everyone.
But so that those who buy don’t regret it later.

⸻

1️⃣ I DON’T SELL WITH EMOTION ❄️

I don’t say:
❌ “This area is about to explode”
❌ “Buy now or you’ll miss out”

I only talk about:
👉 The price
👉 The rental return
👉 How long you can realistically hold it

If it doesn’t sound exciting,
that’s because it’s the truth.

⸻

2️⃣ I WILL ASK YOU DIFFICULT QUESTIONS 😶

– Is your income stable?
– How many years can you hold this?
– Can you handle higher interest rates?

Not to pressure you.
But to stop you from making the wrong decision.

If you need reassurance and comfort,
you probably won’t suit me.

⸻

3️⃣ I DON’T PROMISE QUICK WEALTH 🚫🚀

No doubling in two years.
No “buy and you win”.

I care about one thing only:
👉 Will you still be standing in 10 years?

Buying property with me means buying:
– cash flow
– time
– resilience

Not dreams or hype.

⸻

4️⃣ I WILL WALK AWAY IF IT’S NOT RIGHT 🛑

Having money doesn’t guarantee a deal.

If I see:
❌ your capital is too thin
❌ your mindset isn’t stable
❌ you’re buying because of FOMO

I’d rather lose a deal
than lose my integrity.

⸻

IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO…

– Doesn’t sugar-coat
– Doesn’t rush you
– Doesn’t follow the crowd

👉 Then I’m that person.

But if you’re buying for the rush or the feeling…
👉 I’m not your choice.

Buying property is a serious decision.
And I only walk with
people who think long-term 🧭

———-1

⚠️ DISCLAIMER

I am not a financial advisor.

Everything I share is based on my own experience.
Property and finance are simply my interests and hobbies, not professional financial advice.

What works for me may not be suitable for you.

Before making any decision,
please seek independent legal and financial advice.

29/06/2025

☕️ From Cappuccino… to Capital Gains 🏡💥

This morning at Surfing Lizard Coogee, I caught up with a young couple — one of them used to be my gym buddy 💪😄

They came in for a cappuccino…
But walked out with a fresh idea about stepping into the world of property investment 🏠📈

Nothing fancy.

Just a casual chat over coffee — we spoke about:
✅ Off-market properties
✅ Low deposit deals (as little as 5%)
✅ How I started from nothing… and now 13+ homes later 👀

I’m not a salesman. I’m not here to push anything.
Just a café owner who’s learnt a thing or two — and happy to share if you’re ever curious 💬

Come by. Ask questions.
Who knows… your next property move might start with a flat white ☕️😉

📍Best time? Mornings at Coogee
📲 Or message me if you want to chat.

29/05/2025

💥Q: What’s your favourite T-shirt brand?
💦A: Anko from Kmart – $4.50 for a plain black tee.

My wardrobe? 70% is just that. Black. Simple. Everyday.
No need to stand in front of the mirror wondering what to wear. No time wasted. Just grab and go.

Do I worry that people might notice I wear a $4.50 shirt every day?
Not at all. In fact, I’m proud of it.

📊💞 Because I don’t need expensive clothes to prove my worth — not to my customers, not to my staff, not to my investors or business partners. They don’t care about logos.💌

🔆🤝They care about the work I do, the honesty I bring, and the results I deliver.

I’ve sat across from brokers, accountants, lawyers, investors — wearing this same $4.50 tee — and signed contracts worth hundreds of thousands… or even a few million dollars. No one questions it. No one doubts. No one flinches.📉📈

Why?❗️
Because they know:
I choose to spend less on myself — so I can spend more on what matters.

💯Pay my team well.
Run a business built on substance, not show.✅
And stay grounded, no matter how far I’ve come.

That’s the real uniform of a builder. Quiet. Consistent. Real. 💥🖤

❤️🎋SUPPORT US

🌧️💥 WE ARE OPEN THIS WA DAY - MONDAY!
📍Both Coogee & Secret Harbour
🕖 7:00AM – 2:30PM

Even if it’s a rainy long weekend…
We’ll be here, brewing ☕️, serving smiles 😊, and keeping the lizards surfing 🏄‍♂️💨

22/05/2025

💥🎋 I AM TOO RICH - the owner of Surfing Lizard is too RICH ! 💥

But not in the way you think 📈📉

🔋🪫 Most people assume my greatest achievement at 35 is owning houses, driving a Tesla, running successful businesses, and building a life from scratch in a foreign country — with nothing but grit and two empty hands.

🛑 But that’s not it.

My real wealth? It’s not in my bank account.

It lives in the words people say — often casually, but they stay with me forever:

👨🏼‍🦳 My parents:
“Our youngest son built some big cafes over in Australia…”

👩🏼‍🦰 My siblings:
“He brought our children over to study, gave them jobs, and helped them stay permanently…”

🙍🏻‍♂️ My best mate from childhood:
“I’ve watched him hustle every day — from nothing to success.”

🙎🏼‍♂️ My brother-in-law:
“If it weren’t for Tam and my sister, I wouldn’t have the business I have today.”

🙋🏻‍♀️ My mother-in-law:
“They just made another investment… probably building more houses.”

👨🏼‍🦳 My father-in-law, proudly:
“That’s my son-in-law!”

🙎🏻‍♀️ My wife, laughing:
“I don’t know what he’s buying — I just sign the papers.”

👬 My nephews:
“Uncle Tam is amazing. Without him, we wouldn’t be where we are.”

👦🏻 My son, smiling with pride:
“That’s my daddy. He drives a Tesla.”

👧🏻 My newborn daughter:
“Oaaa oaaa.”

And then… the people I’ve never even met:💡🏖️

“Are you Tam from Facebook and TikTok?”
“I drive 45 minutes just to come see you.”
“I see myself in your story. You inspire me.”
“I love your posts — they feel so real.”
“That’s the Surfing Lizard guy, right? He’s here!”

⸻

That’s what rich means to me.

Not flashy. Not millions.

Just living in a way that…

My family feels proud,
My friends feel grateful,
And strangers feel something warm in their heart.

That’s legacy.
That’s real success.

That’s me — Tam.

🎋 Thank you.

19/05/2025

🎋🫳🏼Chapter 2: Scrubbing Dishes, Holding a Dream

A raw, real 8-part series of how I came to Australia with $180 in my pocket…
and built my first self-made million running Surfing Lizard Cafes.
No fluff. No fake flex. Just the real “how’s” — step by step.
————————

🥶❄️It was a cold, rainy Saturday night in July 2008. Northbridge was bustling with life—bright lights, loud conversations, and the comforting scent of Vietnamese food wafting through the air

I was wandering the streets, looking for a way to make a living. I had just arrived in Perth, and the reality of surviving on my own was hitting hard. 📊🎯

🌀That night, I found myself in front of a small, busy restaurant called “VH”. I took a deep breath and gently opened the door. The place was packed—full house.

The sound of chefs ringing the kitchen bell, the clattering of dishes, and the hum of conversations filled the air. I spotted a young woman weaving through tables, balancing plates with ease.

🕰️ 🪫I later learned her name was Emily—another student like me, who years later would become the proud owner of Le Vietnam, the most famous Banh Mi shop on Barrack Street in Perth CBD.👏🏻

💭 With shaky hands, I approached her and whispered in Vietnamese, “Bạn có thể nào giúp mình xin việc ở đây được không?” (Can you please help me to ask for a job?) She smiled kindly and introduced me to the manager, even speaking on my behalf ♥️

💠👩🏻‍🦱The manager eyed me up and down, almost amused. “You look very prince,” she said, sizing me up. “Why do you want to work? We have a position in the kitchen to wash dishes, but it’s not an easy job. Dare you take it?”

👣⛑️I peeked through the kitchen window—a chaotic scene of stacked dishes, smoky hot water, and chefs tossing dirty pans into the pile. My heart pounded. I needed money. If others could do it, so could I. Summoning my courage, I nodded and said, “Dạ, cô cho con thử nhé.” (Yes, madam! Could you please give me a go?)👀

⸻

🎋📊 First Shift

Monday night—my first shift. It was quieter than expected, and I thought to myself, Maybe it won’t be so bad. The older cooks were kind, motherly even. They saw me as one of their own, encouraging me with gentle smiles and soft pats on the shoulder. One of them said, “Good job, Tam. You did well.”🌀👏🏻

😧🤯 But the real test came on the weekend. The rush hit like a tidal wave—customers swarming in, chefs barking orders, plates piling up like a mountain. 👹

I put on gloves, but hot water mixed with detergent seeped in, making my hands sting. One hour turned into two, then six. My nails were swollen, and my fingertips burned. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t afford to give up.😰

😶‍🌫️🥺 Hunger gnawed at my stomach, and despite the freezing cold outside, the heat from the sinks made my head swim. I kept scrubbing, feeling my dreams slip through the soapy water.

I miss my father… my mother… my brother and sisters.😩😤

⸻
🪫🕰️ THE LONGEST NIGHT !

At 11 p.m., the cooks and chefs left one by one. I was the only one left, save for the manager in her office counting the till. She peeked her head in, “Take your time to finish. Clean the floor before you leave.” Then she was gone. 😧👀

⌛️🌚 Midnight hit. I still wasn’t halfway done. I took the takeaway meal they’d given me and quickly opened it, starving. But in my rush, I accidentally knocked it into the greasy, murky water. My dinner—gone. I just stared at the ruined food, too tired to even cry. 📉📈

🆘 3 a.m.—the world was asleep, and I was alone in that cold kitchen. No buses were running. I thought of sleeping on the restaurant floor just to make it through the night. 🚳

🔅Then my phone rang—it was Benta - my cousin. He was worried. He drove 45 minutes just to pick me up. When he arrived, he looked at me—exhausted, defeated—and wrapped me in a hug.

“You did great,” he said softly. “Let’s go home.”

…. To be continued ! 🛑

16/05/2025

💥🎋 Seven years ago, we nearly lost her when Jasmine gave birth to Ryan ! 🫥💔

✊Today, I witnessed something that words can’t truly capture. I watched Jasmine go from smiling and hopeful to battling through every agonizing contraction. 🍂

I sat there, holding her hand so tight, feeling every bit of her pain and fear as she pushed through. I cried, not out of happiness, but out of a deep ache, knowing how much she was enduring.🪾

🕰️🪫Seven years ago, when Jasmine gave birth to Ryan, we nearly lost her. She lost almost two liters of blood, and the fear of losing her still haunts me. 🖼️

🧸This time, as Jasmine fought to bring Tiara into the world, I couldn’t help but worry again. I saw her smile through the pain, and then I saw the pain take over.

🌀🚼She screamed, she pushed, she fought. I kept whispering to her, telling her how strong she was, telling her about Tiara’s head crowning, reminding her of Ryan’s birth, trying to help her find strength in those memories.🧑‍🧒

I will never forget that moment when Tiara finally arrived, and the doctor gently pulled her out. My tears fell because I realised just how much Jasmine had sacrificed again.

⚧️🏜️ She knew the risks, but she chose to go through it all once more just to give us another beautiful child. I love her more than words can say, more than ever before.

This delivery wasn’t smooth, and while we don’t want to worry the grandparents with too many details, it didn’t go as planned. 📉📊

But we were prepared this time, with one of the most experienced obstetricians ( DR HANNAH SYLVESTER) at MURDOCH St John of God Private Hospital.

🎯❤️ Thanks to their care, we avoided the trauma we faced seven years ago. They managed Jasmine’s health carefully, and the team acted quickly to stop the bleeding, sparing us from another trip to the ICU.

☘️🎋I am beyond grateful for the incredible support from the medical team, but most of all, I am in awe of my wife. Jasmine, you are a warrior, and I am endlessly thankful to have you by my side. Your strength and love are something I will always admire.♥️

—————————————❤️———————————-

🧑‍🧒🎋 To all the dads out there – if your wife is pregnant, cherish her. That moment when she gives birth is a moment she risks her life. Be there, hold her hand, let her know she’s not alone. It’s a journey you walk together.

Jasmine, thank you for bringing our little Tiara into this world. You are my hero. I love you. 💖

♥️🎋

Surfing Lizard- Investing

22/12/2025

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