Hi, I'm Calvin. I chose a different path.
I came to Australia looking for opportunity and a better quality of life. Along the way, I discovered that the path I expected to take wasn't necessarily the path that suited me best.
KeenDifferent is where I share what I have learned β about Australia, work, opportunity, change, and finding a life that feels more like your own.
Calvin
Founder of KeenDifferent
Replace /images/about-calvin.jpg with your photo
In Australia since
2012
Why KeenDifferent exists
Sometimes a better life begins with doing something different.
I don't consider myself someone who has everything figured out. Quite the opposite.
I've made mistakes, taken wrong turns, worked jobs that didn't suit me and spent years trying to figure out what kind of life actually made sense for me.
But those experiences taught me something important:
My journey
From Malaysia to Australia β and then from office worker to tradie.
My story isn't extraordinary. I'm simply someone who came to Australia, tried to build a good life, discovered that my original plan wasn't working, and eventually found another way.
A new beginning
I left Malaysia and came to Australia looking for opportunity and a better quality of life.
My first home was an apartment around George Street in the city. From there I lived in Pyrmont, Ashfield, Western Sydney and eventually North West Sydney.
What immediately stood out to me was the weather, the friendly people, the beaches and the beautiful scenery.
I started as a software engineer.
My first job in Australia was as a software engineer. It was a career that made sense on paper.
But eventually I realised something:
An office career wasn't really for me.
I needed to change the way I lived.
At one point, I had kidney stones, and my doctor encouraged me to walk regularly β around two hours a day.
That pushed me to spend more time outdoors and made me seriously reconsider the kind of work and lifestyle I wanted.
I tried different outdoor jobs.
For around three years, I tried different outdoor jobs. Some were physically demanding, some were underpaid, and many came with uncertainty.
Looking back, those years were difficult. But they also taught me a lot about work, people, physical jobs and what opportunities actually exist outside the traditional office environment.
Then I discovered the tradie path.
Eventually, I found that working as a tradie suited me far better than I expected.
I became more active. I had more freedom. I enjoyed working outdoors. I was able to build practical skills and, importantly, I discovered that the earning potential could be very good.
It changed the way I thought about work.
And one thought kept coming back to me:
"I wish someone had told me about this earlier."
What I learned
There are more ways to build a good life than we are sometimes told.
Many of us grow up believing that the safest path is to study, get a degree, find an office job and stay on that track.
That path works very well for some people. It simply didn't work particularly well for me.
My experience showed me that practical work, trades, small business and other less conventional paths can create opportunities that people may never have considered.
Sometimes the opportunity is there. We just don't know it exists.
The idea behind the name
KeenDifferent
A reminder to be brave enough to do something differently, because something different might happen.
I chose the name because I want it to remind me β and hopefully remind other people β that staying inside our comfort zone isn't always the best way forward.
Sometimes we need to be willing to try something unfamiliar, take a calculated risk, learn something new and see where it leads.
Seek, and you will find.
Who KeenDifferent is for
Maybe you're at a point where you need a different direction.
KeenDifferent is for people who are considering a change, wondering what comes next, or simply looking for a better quality of life.
Considering Australia?
If you're wondering which country could offer a good quality of life and new opportunities, I'll share my perspective from actually living here.
Looking for work?
If you're struggling to find work in a changing job market, especially as technology and AI reshape traditional careers, there may be other paths worth exploring.
Feeling stuck?
You don't need to have your entire future figured out. Sometimes the first step is simply being willing to consider a different possibility.
Worried about someone alone?
If you don't have enough time to accompany a parent or loved one to enjoy Sydney, my companion service is designed to help create meaningful experiences together.
More than a service
Life is short. Don't let beautiful moments pass by.
Australia is full of beautiful places β beaches, national parks, walking trails, gardens, coastal towns and countless places worth experiencing.
But I know that many parents and older family members don't get to enjoy them as much as they could.
Their children are busy. Work is demanding. Life moves quickly. It isn't necessarily anyone's fault.
Sometimes all someone needs is another person who has the time to accompany them.
That's one of the reasons I created my companion service.
I want to help people create memories β not just get through another busy week.
Explore Companion ServiceWhat you'll find here
Real experiences. Practical ideas. Different possibilities.
I'm building KeenDifferent around the things I have learned and the things I continue to discover.
Life in Australia
Everyday experiences, Australian lifestyle, places to explore, culture and things I wish I had known earlier.
Explore βWork & Opportunities
Practical ideas about careers, trades, small business and alternative ways to create an income in Australia.
Discover Opportunities βExplore & Experience
Beautiful places around Sydney and Australia, outdoor experiences and ideas for making better use of the time we have.
Explore Sydney βA little more about me
I'm not the loudest person in the room.
I'm actually quite introverted.
I don't talk a lot, and I'm not someone who naturally wants to stand on a stage telling everyone how successful I am.
What I do care about is people who are struggling β whether they're struggling with work, direction, loneliness, uncertainty or simply trying to figure out what comes next.
I've been uncertain myself.
I found my way partly through technology, partly through working with my hands, partly through getting things wrong, and partly through being willing to try something different.
Technology & people
I still have a technology mindset. I just don't want technology to be the whole story.
My background in software and technology taught me how to build things, solve problems and think systematically.
But working outside the office taught me something technology couldn't: sometimes the most meaningful opportunities are found in the real world.
KeenDifferent is where I want to bring those two worlds together β technology, practical work, business, Australian life and human connection.
The vision
I want KeenDifferent to help people move out of their comfort zone.
To seek a different possibility. To discover opportunities they didn't know existed. To create a better quality of life. And to make the most of the time they have.
You don't have to change everything.
Sometimes you just need the courage to try one different thing.
What's coming
I'm building more than a blog.
KeenDifferent will continue to grow into a platform where people can discover Australian life, explore career possibilities, learn practical skills and find experiences that make life more meaningful.
Career & Opportunity
Practical resources for people who want to understand alternative career paths, trades and opportunities in Australia.
Companion & Experiences
Helping people spend meaningful time outdoors, explore Sydney and create memories with the people they care about.
Maybe your next chapter starts with something different.
Whether you're thinking about Australia, looking for a new career direction, feeling stuck, or simply want to experience more of the world around you β I hope something here helps.