July 07, 2007

By Satya Adhar

From being a multi-millionaire tycoon to becoming a bankrupt and once again a success story, life has taken a full circle for Sirivat Voravetvuthikun - a la "Ta Ra Rum Pum". It was a decade back in July 1997, the Bank of Thailand removed the Dollar-Thai peg that led to the infamous economic crisis.

Sirivat Voravetvuthikun was one of those individuals who made fortune form bourse movements. He played the stock market and invested in real estate. He then borrowed at exhorbitant interset rates to develop a luxury resort in Bangkok. Unfortunately for him, the stock market crased leaving Voravetvuthikun $30.4 million in debt.

It was definitely a difficult time for him but in order to survive he and his wife decided to make and sell sandwiches. It has been exactly a decade since the crisis and he is again a success story.  His business, which includes two coffee shops and a sushi catering service, employs 14 people. He is a living example of the fact that Tough times don't last, Tough people do.

The first day he took six and a half hours to sell 20 sandwiches. Over the years he perservered and consolidated his business. He started selling freshly-made sandwiches at crowded places in Bangkok's business areas like Sukhumvit, Silom and Phloenchit roads.

Five years ago, he decided to open the first of his new coffee-shops - Coffee Corner by Sirivat Sandwich, in BNH Hospital. Last year, another opened at Bangkok Hospital on Rama IX Road. Now he goes slow as compared to what he was used to earlier and likes to build his business step by step. Some sources say that he plans to even list his company in 2009.

With success came wisdom and he decided to share it will all. He has written a few books and is a very successful motivational speaker. He has become a symbol of optimism and perseverance.

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