Stanley excelled in the workplace and the secret to his success was: work hard when opportunity comes, be patient when facing problems and provide practical and effective services to the customers. Through it all, bring everything before God in prayer.

I think most of our listeners are working adults, right? Don’t you sometimes feel the workplace is like a battlefield! Dear friends, how do you feel when you are in your battlefield? Is it very difficult? Do you feel lonely? Do you need any help? Where does our help come from? Today we continue to listen from Stanley's "Divine Encounters at Marketplace” how this business warrior excelled in the workplace.

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Stanley: As A C Dixon once said:  "When we rely upon organization, we get what organization can do; when we rely upon education, we get what education can do; when we rely upon eloquence, we get what eloquence can do. And so on. But when we rely upon prayer, we get what God can do.”

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In 1991, Stanley joined the Chevron International Oil Corporation as Regional Manager for the Asia Pacific Region. Chevron had fared poorly in the Asian market in the past 5-6 years before.  Its performance was particularly unsatisfactory in China's airline market. The China market was developing very rapidly and the company hoped to be part of it and that was Stanley's job. To contact the clients, Stanley travelled to many parts of Asia. He realised there was a need to create brand awareness, so that the customers can recognize the quality and benefits and equate that with price and value.

Between 1991 and 1992, Stanley visited almost all of China's airlines, both large and small. He went to 16 China provinces and 27 cities. He discovered that for decades, many Asian airlines including those of China were using aviation fluids made by Chevron’s competitors. They were unfamiliar with Chevron’s aviation fluid. Stanley was also informed that some early negotiations between the China government and Chevron had fallen through.

The issue was a delicate and complex one and needed to be handled sensitively. After a few private meetings, some China airline representatives told Stanley that they felt that Chevron's commercial practices and public relations were somewhat arrogant and difficult to accept. Stanley felt that sincerity and Competent serving spirit with Character was all-important. He thus implemented a pragmatic approach to enable each party's needs to be met and to establish a mutually beneficial relationship. He found that during the whole process, patience, persistence, flexibility and constant prayer were indispensable. After his extensive trip across China, Stanley developed a deeper understanding of the needs of his potential airline customers and partners. But the customers’ understanding of Chevron was very limited. A technical conference, Stanley thought, was therefore needed in China, so that these potential clients could have opportunity to understand Chevron better.

In 1992, Chevron held a technical conference titled “Chevron Hyjet 4A for China & World Aviation.” in Beijing. Many major China airlines were invited. An unexpected 75 China participants representing technical, operational, maintenance and management divisions, attended the conference. The bilingual conference was also reported in the public media. It was very successful and responses were positive. This resulted in a major contract being signed between a China Aviation entity and Chevron for the supply of aviation fluid to any China airline when required. Chevron brand “Hyjet 4A” became famous in China and subsequently the brand enjoyed a high market share.

Throughout the whole process, Stanley was pleased that all transactions were done without compromising his integrity.

Chevron's share in the China market rose from 0 to 80% within two years. At the same time, the Chevron aviation fluid was also being constantly upgraded. By 1994, almost every Chinese airline was using Chevron's products. Later, Stanley used a similar creative marketing strategy in the Indonesian market, to help Chevron secure 100% market share. As such, Chevron's market share in Asia increased from 12% to 52% within five years.

Chevron’s top management was surprised by this success within a short time with only one secretary to assist him. The HQ leadership asked Stanley to reveal his secret recipe for this phenomenon. Stanley said, my secret is: plan, strategize and rely on God's guidance and blessings. Stanley clearly saw that God did not only bless his business abundantly, he also blessed his personal relationships with the clients. Many customers and colleagues have become good friends with him for life. Stanley's colleagues in Singapore said that they liked to sit in Stanley's office during tea time and chat with him, because they felt that there was peace and tranquility around Stanley and enjoyed the soothing music and songs in his office in the midst of busy Orchard Road.

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Stanley: My life is a story written by God, and under the arrangement of God my family and my friends appear in this story. I am only a pencil in God’s hand, writing the special and eternal mission that God has given me.

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During his time in Chevron, besides the normal company business cards, Stanley also printed another set of calling cards. He called these cards “Kingdom Cards”. On the front of each card was a challenging question, “God has you in His heart. Do you have Him in your heart?” On the back of the cards were printed 5 Bible verses. For example:

Mark 8:36 “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their SOUL?”

Matthew 6:27 “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his LIFE!”

Matthew 11:28 “Come to ME (JESUS), all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you REST.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in CHRIST, he is a new creation: the old has gone, the new has come.”

John 8:32 “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you FREE”.

Every time when Stanley met a client and exchanged business cards, he would ask, “Would you like a Kingdom card as well?” Most of the time, the client would be curious and answer, “Yes!” Stanley discovered that the Kingdom cards always generated more questions and discussions. Through these non-business-related informal chats, he made many friends in the workplace. Many of these initial business contacts became personal friends, even up till now.