Part Time Scholar

I have read many personal finance books over the years.  Coincidentally, I have become quite adept at managing my finances over the years.  It made me arrogant, thinking there is nothing more to learn in this realm.  How surprised was I to pick up the Kindle version of  The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel .  I finished it in just a few hours, a record time for reading an entire book! Here are the key and refreshing takeaways from the read:  Be Humble: If you are successful, it is very likely because you got lucky despite what your altered ego may think.  Bill Gates and Paul Allen had access to a personal computer at the high school they studied - a rare gem in the 1960s.  Of course, they had the smarts to take advantage of the situation and the rest was history.  Little did we know that Kent Evans, who was Gates best friend at school and actual first partner in business, could have been a major success too had he not died in a freak mou...

Ever wonder how fresh water is processed and delivered effortlessly into your home?  Well for starters, it is not effortless! And, it is definitely not easy.  Hong Kong's Water Supply Department (WSD) H2OPE Centre  tells it all.  It is yet another hidden gem that brings a great wealth of knowledge and interactive fun to your family.  If you are visiting the city with  young ones, and have a half-day of free time, this is the place to be.   The centre covers all key topics one has to know about water.  From collection, treatment, distribution, to conservation, you can readily choose content to skim through or deep dive into.  Many displays combine visual/audio elements, along with interactive games that captivate your attention, and provide an amusing experience for children.  Depending on your interest level, you can spend easily between 1 to 3 hours in the cosy facility.  My favourite fun-fact takeaway was that Zebrafish is us...

Artificial intelligence is everywhere in our world today.  For better or worse, it is growing fast!  Children use it for school work.  Love birds plan their honeymoon with AI itineraries.  Workers rely on robo advisors for their retirement funds.  Name a daily task or chore, and chances are AI plays a role in some capacity.    This includes writing.  I have seen AI write me travel reviews, company profiles, CVs, and many other things.  Its writing techniques are sound.  This leads me to the million dollar question: Should I continue blogging on my own or through AI?   After some contemplation, I decided to use both.  I will definitely write my own mind instead of relying on ideas and arguments from AI.  Even if it means from time to time, bad logic, clumsy sentence structures, poor choice of vocab.  I will use AI to proofread and correct all those mistakes however, and make it easier on the eyes for my readers....

I am not usually a fan of biographies.  The narcissist in me says there is no one better to learn from but myself.  I have always hold in admiration for  Jeff Bezos  however, having interned for Amazon.com during my university years.   Invent and Wander , written by the man himself, is a great summary of Bezos' philosophies on running his businesses -- namely Amazon, but also The Washington Post and Blue Origin.  In particular, a few points caught my eye:  Go long: Amazon.com is focused on the long term, and I mean really long term.  Bezos even raised the eyebrows of his shareholders on numerous occasions by sacrificing short term profits for what he believed to be worthy long term investments (Marketplace, AWS, Amazon Prime)   Focus on customers: F ocus on customers' needs, sometimes even before they know it. If you are obsessed with your customers instead of your competition, you will innovate much more.  This was how volunta...

Mid-Autumn Festival is a festival that is widely celebrated in China.  It gives families a reason to get together for dinner and enjoy some mooncakes under a full moon.  This year, the festival lines up nicely with National Day to give the working class some extra R&R.  For those visiting Hong Kong during this time, I highly recommend going to Tai Hang and check out their festivities.   Tai Hang is a gem in itself, as it is a quiet corner next to Causeway Bay, Hong Kong's bustling commercial and shopping district.  The quiet neighbourhood is home to various specialty restaurants, offering cuisines from China and around the world.  There are also plenty of non-franchised premium coffee shops for locals and tourists alike.  In my eyes, Tai Hang is a sleepy child most of the year offering tranquillity to those wanting to escape from the buzz of Hong Kong.   This quiet corner comes to life during Mid-Autumn however, as a series of celeb...

I don't have a good title yet, but for now, let's go with this:  Scaling Asia and Your Life - 10 Lessons from Growing Businesses in Asia I even put together a Prologue:  In the vast and ever-evolving landscape of Asian business, a personal odyssey unfolded—a journey of discovery, growth, and unwavering dedication to scaling companies from their humble beginnings. This is the story of my own experience, a firsthand account of navigating the intricate pathways of four diverse companies, each on its unique trajectory towards unprecedented success. As the sun rises over the bustling cities and tranquil countryside of Asia, it illuminates a tapestry of opportunity and potential. Within this vibrant continent, I embarked on a transformative voyage, guided by a steadfast determination to contribute to the growth and expansion of businesses at their inception. Scaling a company is a formidable endeavor, demanding an intricate dance between strategy, innovation, and adaptability. It re...

Over the years, I kept a habit of reading each day.  This certainly broadened my horizon on the world.  I am now at an age where I think I can give back.  Instead of consuming others' opinions and research, it's time I provide my own ideas to my readers.  As such, I will write a book on a part-time basis.  The topic has been tentatively set.  It is about scaling one's life through lessons learnt from my career on scaling businesses.   More to come... Stay tuned! - PTS