Richard started a business in 1990 selling a non-slip chemical for floors. Not only was the product unable to prevent slipping, it also ruined the floors in the process. Ultimately it cost him $600,000 in debt, and resulted in almost 20 lawsuits.

In 1993 he started Success Resources to organise conferences throughout Asia. A crucial test came in 1995. Just 6 weeks before a conference in Hong Kong, only 250 tickets had been sold for a venue that seated 6000. Richard had never canceled a seminar before and was determined not to have this one be the first.

Richard flew to Hong Kong, determined to personally sell tickets for the conference. During that time he had been recently diagnosed with colon cancer. His doctor thought he was crazy. However, seeing Richard's determination, he agreed Richard could go on the condition that he continue his treatment while in Hong Kong.

He began each day at 7.30 in the morning. One by one he knocked on doors promoting the conference. He would start from the top floor and walk down every floor of the building to promote the conference. In the afternoon, during most people's lunch break, he went for his chemotherapy.

In the video of the 1995 National Achiever's Congress in Hong Kong, he was on stage without hair, standing before a crowd of 4,000 people.

Richard said, “If I do nothing challenging, I don't leave a footprint in life by doing the very best I can. I cannot give my family the best.”

Singapore has acknowledged Richard's achievements as a model of successful entrepreneurs by awarding him the 2003 Phoenix Award. Organised by the Singapore Government, this award is given to just one successful entrepreneur in Singapore each year.

Richard was formerly the Director of Meta Group Asia Pacific, a strategic IT analysis and consultancy firm and currently sits on the boards of several international corporations.