Globevisa Interview with CEO – Henry’s Insights from the World Marathon Challenge

Photo Credit: World Marathon Challenge

Siren: Hi, Henry! It’s a great honor to have you here for this interview. Could you please tell us a bit about the World Marathon Challenge, 7 Marathons on 7 Continents in 7 Days, that you recently participated in?

Henry: Hi, it’s a pleasure to be here. The World Marathon Challenge is an incredibly demanding event where runners complete seven marathons across seven continents in just seven days. The schedule was intense—we started in Ushuaia, Antarctica, on January 31st and finished in Miami, North America, on February 6th. In between, we ran in Cape Town, Africa; Perth, Australia; Dubai, Asia; Madrid, Europe; and Fortaleza, South America.

This event is more than just a test of physical endurance—it’s a journey of self-discovery. Every day, you’re pushed to your limits, both physically and mentally. You’re battling fatigue, different climates, and constant travel, but at the same time, you’re gaining incredible insights about yourself.

One of the biggest realizations I had during this challenge was about the journey itself. I’ve always believed that the journey is the reward, but this experience deepened my understanding of it. Running has no shortcuts—only accumulation. This applies not just to sports, but to business and life. There’s no overnight success, only small, consistent efforts that eventually lead to transformation.

Siren: Why did you decide to take on such an intense challenge?

Henry: I’ve always believed in doing the right thing and embracing change by stepping out of my comfort zone. This marathon was an opportunity to challenge myself and push my limits. In business, we often face uncertainty and change, and only by daring to step beyond our boundaries can we truly grow.

But beyond that, I also came here to find something I didn’t know I didn’t know. In the past, I always thought I wasn’t good at socializing. I preferred reading over small talk and never felt the need to engage in casual conversations. My usual social approach was simple—if I found a discussion uninteresting, I just stopped talking. I wasn’t afraid of awkward silences, and I didn’t care much about how others perceived me.

Interestingly, during this marathon, a fellow runner described me as a social butterfly. That completely surprised me—it was the first time in my life someone had said that about me! It made me reflect: Why did this happen?

The answer was obvious: everyone here was energetic, interesting, and shared a common passion. In this environment, I found myself naturally engaging in conversations. I realized that socializing isn’t about forcing yourself to talk—it’s about connecting over shared interests.

So, this marathon gave me an unexpected realization: I can and want to socialize under the right circumstances. It wasn’t something I deliberately set out to learn, but I discovered it along the way.

Photo Credit: World Marathon Challenge

Siren: That’s a great perspective. So, how did you feel after completing the challenge?

Henry: The biggest takeaway for me was the power of consistent effort. Training for this marathon required daily runs, even when it felt repetitive. This “boring training” reinforced the idea that success—whether in sports or business—is built on small, continuous actions.

At Globevisa, we follow the same philosophy. We focus on every detail in our daily operations, knowing that long-term success comes from persistent efforts. This marathon reinforced my belief that persistence pays off and that there’s no such thing as an overnight breakthrough—only long-term accumulation leads to real results.

Additionally, I gained another important insight—the value of meaningful conversations.

I’ve never enjoyed large gatherings because they usually involve superficial discussions. I prefer smaller, more intimate conversations where you can truly dive into a topic. During this event, I had several deep conversations—some by pure coincidence—with Brother Bian, Chen, and Charles. Each of these interactions helped me understand them better and left a lasting impression. The same happened with Megan—our three separate conversations made me appreciate different sides of her personality. During a casual chat on the bus, left me with meaningful takeaways.

Coincidentally, I recently came across a post that echoed the same thoughts. Going forward, I want to be more intentional with my interactions—focusing on deep, long-form conversations rather than surface-level small talk. It’s similar to my recent shift towards long-format podcasts (1-3 hours), which offer depth and substance, unlike short videos. In fact, this ties back to another recent realization—I recommended a book to a fellow runner Mengfei, and she said she’d share her favorite books with me. It’s the same concept—investing time in meaningful exchanges.

Siren: You’ve gained a lot of insights that you can apply to your business. What are your plans for 2025?

Henry: This experience has given me a lot to reflect on, and it’s shaping my plans for 2025. We have several key initiatives:

1. Compliance and Stability – Ensuring that every step we take is rock-solid and reliable.
2. Market Expansion – We’ll invest more in exploring new opportunities and reaching a broader audience.
3. Operational Efficiency – Optimizing our internal processes to maximize performance.
4. Community Building – I plan to host the Globevisa Global Citizen Conference in Singapore in October this year, providing a platform for networking and learning.

This marathon reminded me that success is a long journey, not a single moment. Every improvement we make at Globevisa follows the same principle—gradual accumulation leading to major breakthroughs.

Photo Credit: World Marathon Challenge

Siren: Do you have any long-term visions, say, over the next 20 years?

Henry: My long-term goal is to make Globevisa the best immigration company in the world. I aim to serve one million clients within the next 20 years and establish offices in every country globally.

It’s an ambitious goal, but I believe that by staying true to our principles, focusing on details, and taking steady steps, we can achieve it. This marathon strengthened my conviction that with determination, we can overcome any obstacle.

Siren: Finally, when you were in Antarctica with the Globevisa banner, was there any special meaning behind that?

Henry: Absolutely. Antarctica is one of the purest and most untouched places on Earth. Carrying the Globevisa banner there was a symbolic moment—it represented our commitment to our mission.

No matter where we go or what challenges we face, we must stay true to our values, do the right thing, and provide the best service to our clients. Just like this marathon, even though the journey is long and tough, we can reach the finish line if we keep going. This is the mindset I bring to both running and business.

Siren: Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, Henry! We wish you all the best in your upcoming marathons and your journey with Globevisa!

Henry: Thank you!