With the amount of PropellerFish projects on hold, we might end up the world’s busiest little consultancy when the economy picks up. But for now, the next month is looking slow. So slow that I was booking a trip back to the US to see friends and family when someone threatened to hit the play button on life. An exciting project popped up this morning that could take over most of my time over the next month or so (a good thing). But it would push pause on my first trip home in over a year. With a decision expected tomorrow, I’m looking forward to either being very busy on something interesting (and flying home in a month) or very happy catching up with friends and family in a hometown I haven’t seen in a very long time. Win/Win I say.
A man wearing a “Singapore Kindness Movement” t-shirt cut me in line at the Supermarket today and the t-shirt gave me hope that a year from now he won’t be doing that. For those of you not familiar with Singapore, let me introduce you to a philosophy of life called Kiasu. It’s a way of life centered around a fear of losing. A way that leads people to cut lines, push “close” inside elevators when others are trying to get in, pile plates high in buffets in case the food runs out, and engage in petty battles for the upper hand in nearly every human interaction. It’s a flawed and outdated philosophy, but one that exists well preserved in places like Singapore’s public transit system (hence the video above). In a society designed around questions like “can I?/am Iallowed?/Will i get a fine?” rather than “should I?/is it the right thing to do?”, the grace that comes from pondering the latter often feels absent in Singapore. But the government is on the case. From the Singapore “Kindness Movement” to the less original but independent “Gracious Movement”, it seems like Singapore has its sights set on making Singapore the most gracious place on Earth. When I first watched this video on the MRT, I laughed (mainly because it was a music video created for a soundless medium), but to be honest, I think it’s working. Fewer pushy people on the way in and out of the train and more people offering up their seats. Ye asks of Singaporean Hip Hop and Singaporean Hip Hop delivers. For more on Singapore’s quest to be the most gracious place in Asia, click on the news story below.
This week left me feeling a bit like the man in the picture. I’ve taken a few good punches but I’ve still got one good eye and enough momentum for at least another round. From clients agreeing to projects and then putting them on hold to small businesses expecting free work (which we don’t do), we’ve even run up against dodgy expat politics just to round out the experience of doing business in Singapore. It’s been one of those weeks and likely to be one of those months. But a few big trips and a bunch of exciting prospects have me optimistic about the future of the Fish. Just a question of staying on our two feet and keeping the gloves on for another round or two.
The check to cover our taxes apparently caught fire while being processed by the Inland Revenue Authority. I guess these things happen. Glad they actually took the time to send the check BACK. Note that under “we are returning enclosed check for following reasons” the words “because we set it on fire” have mysteriously gone missing.
For those interested, taxes in Singapore are unbelievably low which makes the occasional fire okay as far as I’m concerned.
Partner in crime pointed out the following video. Another brilliantly simple interface by Jonathan Harris and Sep Kavmar that makes the complex approachable (and useful) and turns data into something beautiful. Just think. If data in business was presented in such a simple and engaging way, executives might actually read their own research reports, decisions would be made with a lot more confidence, and interesting opportunities would be a lot more obvious. What a world. What an opportunity for guys like Jonathan and Sep.
On another note, it’s been yet another week of entrepreneurial happenings that I can’t talk about on my blog which is making this blog less and less interesting to read. That said, things are happening, opportunities are popping up, invoices are going out, conversations being had about interesting pieces of work that could keep me entertained until the end of the year. From training corporations on how to do innovation themselves to helping clients I like invent new products in interesting places, I’m starting to see how this thing could work.
I’m starting to realize that I reach for my Rubik’s cube when things feel less than 100% under my control and I’m seeking a bit of order in life. The more I do it, the more in control I feel, and the better I get at the cube. The better I get at the cube, the more I should probably put it down and create a bit more order in my life.
For example, just before quitting my job and taking much needed sabbatical (a peak of stress and uncertainty), I was cracking it in under 5 minutes. Post sabbatical, when I was relaxed, settling into Singapore, fully employed and in the company of old friends visiting I’d nearly forgotten how to solve it altogether. To give you an idea of where we are today, self employed in the midst of a recession: 5 minutes, 29 seconds.
“I love you to bits,” began the important man in suspenders. He was clutching an expensive pen with both hands, here on a visit from the heart of the agency empire and staring nervously at the cup of Southeast Asian tap water before him. ”There’s just one thing that’s been bothering m… lots of people.”
“What’s that?”
“You never take notes in meetings.”
“Notes.”
“I’ve never seen anyone not take copious notes in meetings. It sends the wrong kind of message. It’s says that you don’t think what I say holds value. Like there’s nothing for you to learn from my… a global marketing “guru’s” 10 years of experience in this industry…” I did a quick search for a hidden camera and wondered if this entire job was some kind of elaborate prank by my previous employer.
“I’m not the only one talking about it. Oh no…”, he was now fiddling with his suspenders like some kind of colonial sheriff confronting a tribesman.
“You do realize that I have Attention Deficit Disorder,” I said.
“Oh god I’m sorry…”
“When I take notes, I can’t concentrate.”
“Oh dear, I’m really sorry. I guess it’s just your style. You might want to announce this at the start of all meetings so you don’t offend anyone.”
“I’ll write that down.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I want to.”
Science has finally found a way to manage society’s lack of interest in caring for the elderly (see cnn coverage here). With a spiraling economy yielding a shortage of people with the time and energy to speak loudly and repeat everything they say, the breakthrough couldn’t have come at a better time. Having skimmed the research supporting the impact of this breakthrough on a vast aging population, I paraphrase it thusly: “our study, composed of a robust sample of 14 elderly, shows brain waves increasing whenever Paro is around. With the cost of caring an elderly or mentally ill person being very high, we propose replacing that human care with a robotic seal.” People seem to be buying this argument. According to CNN “Denmark is purchasing 1000 of them for its elderly”.
The new supermarket by our house is 50% market, 50% sea world. I think we’ll be having fish every night just just so I can visit the shark tank and the morays. Singapore, I love you.
For the gullible ones, the title of this entry is a lie intended to make you smile. Sorry to complicate things.
I’ve been resolving some technical issues back stage, but we’re now officially back. Here’s what you’ve missed:
I finally parted ways with an employer who tried to convince me that the SWOT analysis was their proprietary tool.
C was accepted to the Ph.D program in strategy at INSEAD that same day (possibly as a result).
I incorporated a proper business, signed a great innovation project, and decided there’s no reason to take another job just yet.
Spent a week in London with a great client, ran an interesting session, caught up with some but not all of my favorite London people, and got excited about Jean’s new book which you can pre-order here.
Spent the past week in Japan celebrating C’s birthday, her new adventure in academia, and her in general.
Wish these twocharacters could have made it for the cherry blossoms.
Landed in Singapore Sunday morning and haven’t been this happy to be home in a while.
Dying to turn my first project into a sparkly gem.
Keen to be more than just a “____________”, but to be a bit less labeled and a lot more fulfilled.
It’s a bit of a ramble, but it’s an update for you. More to come.
The check to cover our taxes apparently caught fire while being processed by the Inland Revenue Authority. I guess these things happen. Glad they actually took the time to send the check BACK. Note that under “we are returning enclosed check for following reasons” the words “because we set it on fire” have mysteriously gone missing.
Science has finally found a way to manage society’s lack of interest in caring for the elderly (see cnn coverage 
