Why I Do What I Do

Let’s put it this way. If I had to give you my business card and tell you who I am in summary, it would be this: 

I’m Irwin: A Christ-Centered Strategic Growth Architect and Cancer Survivor.

Let’s put it this way. If you ran into me at a kopitiam and asked who I am, I could tell you the professional resume: I’m a Strategic Growth Architect and Revenue Advisor who has worked in direct response since 2016, diagnosing commercial constraints and building the fastest path to 10x outcomes for businesses.

Yes, my tactical toolkit includes high-converting copy, funnel design, SEO, and systems. But my real focus is doing whatever it takes to scale commercial performance with speed and clarity.

Still, titles don’t tell you much about a person.

The real story is that I’m an Iban boy from Sarawak, a husband to my wife Jean, a cat dad, and someone who survived Stage 4 cancer twice by the grace of God.

If you are curious about how all those pieces fit together, let me tell you the story. 🙂

A little bit of my background

I grew up in a normal middle-class family in Sarawak, Malaysia. Life came with a preset menu of career options: teacher (like my mom and dad), engineer, doctor, banker, or lawyer. Basically, anything that promised a stable pension and zero risk.

Thankfully, I was a rebellious kid (sorry, Mom and Dad!). I ignored the safe path, studied business, and jumped headfirst into entrepreneurship.

Since 2016, I have ridden the entire rollercoaster. I started businesses, failed, tried again, succeeded, went back to a 9-to-5, and eventually mastered conversion copywriting and marketing systems. Over the last decade, I have built 40+ funnels, managed over $1.8M in ad spend, and helped track more than $27M in revenue for businesses.

Along the way, I met Jean. We dated for almost nine years before finally registering our marriage in 2022. She deserved stability, and I didn’t want to build a family on shaky ground.

Just as we were preparing for our church wedding ceremony, life threw in the ultimate boss fight: Cancer.

Plot twist? It became the most transformative thing that ever happened to me.

Because that journey forced me to stop chasing the wrong kind of success and gave me something far more valuable: purpose, clarity, and most importantly, faith.

Also, as a bonus reward of winning the boss fight, I’m no longer rebellious. (My parents can rejoice now!)

My Mission Today (And Probably Forever)

To grow relentlessly, live fully, and share generously—so that others can thrive in health, wealth, and purpose, all while keeping Christ at the center of their lives. 🙏

The Story Behind My Mission

Curious? Let me tell you the story:

Round One: The Fist-Sized Tumor (July 2022)

In July 2022, at age 32, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The tumor was growing on my left chest, literally the size of a fist. The doctors told me plainly: without immediate chemotherapy, I had maybe four to five months to live.

Nothing clears away superficial vanity faster than staring at a 5-month timer.

I went through six rounds of standard chemotherapy. I lost all my hair, threw up my meals, and dealt with metallic taste so bad that even water tasted strange. But in December 2022, my PET scan showed complete remission. We celebrated, breathed a massive sigh of relief, and thought the battle was won.

The relief lasted four months.

Round Two: The Golf Ball Behind My Eye (April 2023)

In April 2023, severe headaches started. A new scan showed the cancer had returned, spreading to my brain. A tumor the size of a golf ball was sitting right behind my right eye (I literally felt like Neo from The Matrix with medical gear attached to my head).

I had to face the storm a second time. More chemo. I showed up at Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) for scheduled radiotherapy, only to find the machine had broken down. Then, while my immune system was down to zero from the treatments, I caught Covid.

I was moved into an isolation ward at Sungai Buloh Hospital. I was coughing over a hundred times a day, dealing with relentless diarrhea, and feeling like my body was completely falling apart. Lying in that bed in pure agony, completely broken, I was desperately begging God for mercy: “Lord, please help me. If this is where it ends, just take me home.”

The Turning Point of Faith

At that time in my life, I still did not truly identify as Catholic. Even though I had received an emergency baptism in late 2022 (arranged as a special case by my wife so I could receive the Catholic sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick), in my heart I still saw myself more as an open spiritualist. I had spent years wandering through New Age philosophies, energy healing, astral travel, and whatever gave me a temporary feeling of control.

Jean was the devout Catholic in our home, never forcing her faith on me, but always praying for me.

Then, right there in that isolation room at my lowest point, I had an unmistakable spiritual encounter with Jesus and Mother Mary. It was an overwhelming, holy presence that cut straight to my soul and brought me to tears.

That moment stripped away all my New Age distractions and spiritual wandering. I finally understood the truth. For years, I had been trying to build and optimize every area of life (business, fitness, money, success) through my own strength, treating God like a distant backup plan. But without Christ at the center, everything eventually crumbles.

Through continued medical care (including targeted immunotherapy with pembrolizumab), combined with clean metabolic nutrition and complementary herbs that Jean and I researched together, my body fought back. By God’s mercy, I entered remission a second time.

This is AI generated, but I'm not that artistic enough to be able to draw the pixel perfect picture of my holy encounter

What I Do Today With This Second Chance

I did not survive Stage 4 twice to live a small, selfish life. Today, every project I run connects back to building systems that help people:

1. Artisan Funnels (For Business Owners & Founders):
I write copy that sells and build funnels that produce predictable revenue. If you run a business and want to grow without gimmicks or burnout, this is where I work. Funnel building kept me sane during chemo, and it is my primary craft.

2. Fight Cancer with Irwin & Dr. Jean (For Patients & Caregivers):
Jean was trained as a medical doctor before moving into tech. Together, we created this resource to provide grounded, honest guidance for families facing cancer. No false cure claims, no fear tactics, just transparent evidence, practical recovery protocols, and real hope.

3. Christian Faith Story & Catholic Unite Malaysia (For Faith & Community):
Documenting true testimonies, the lives of Catholic saints (such as Faustina and Padre Pio), and helping local Malaysian Catholics connect, find mass times, and support community initiatives.

The Weekly Letter

This website (irwinumban.com) is where I write about the intersection of all three: discerning modern life through Scripture, hard-earned business lessons, and what surviving cancer teaches you about what really matters.

Every week, I send a short letter to readers: one real story from my life, one piece of biblical discernment, and one practical lesson on business or health.

If that sounds like something you would enjoy, I would love to have you along for the ride. No spam, no hype, just honest reflections.

So you finally understand why I do what I do?

Awesome! Now time to check out how I can serve you 🙂

What people say about me

A little glimpse into my soul through the eyes of those who know me — so you get a feel for who I really am.

(I know I use cartoon image, but these are real people, it's just that some don't want to show their face, so might as well make them all cartoon face huhu)

Some fun facts about me 😗

Fun Fact #1: I'm a cat dad.

😽 I have 4 pet cats under my care now named Simba, Moo Moo, Kuro & Mario. Me and my wife also takes care of at least 2-3 community cat as well 🙂

Fun Fact #2: I'm a funny man 🙂

I’m a funny, cheerful and expressive person. And I plan to keep it that way in my writing. Which is why you’ll see me using a lot of emojis to express my emotions. 😋 

Fun Fact #3: I love fishing

Any anglers out there reading this? Hit me up to your secret fishing spot please! 

Fun Fact #4: A Huge Foodie, But Health Comes First

I love Malaysian food, but after battling cancer, I’ve become super mindful about what I eat, but I do have one or two cheat day where I eat something unhealthy like fried rice, burger, teh tarik and cham. Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing and I do regular detox as well. 

Fun Fact #5: I’m a Tech & Sci-fi Fanatic

Ai, automation, and everything digital? That’s my playground. I love helping businesses (and myself) grow online and stay competitive in this fast paced world. And I love rockets and robots and spaceships.

and last but not least...

Take a look at my side projects lah~

I know, I do a lot of stuff. And that’s because I’ve almost died while fighting cancer, and it made me realize life is just too short to be lazing around watching Netflix and playing small. So please take a look at my side projects, and contribute if you feel like God or the Holy Spirit prompt you to contribute.

Christian Faith Story: Everyday Testimonies

A collection of raw, unvarnished stories of everyday people experiencing God in hospital rooms, career crossroads, and seasons of crisis. No religious theatrics, just real faith encounters that encourage people walking through the dark.
Learn More