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 It’s a flawed and outdated philosophy, but one that exists well preserved in places like Singapore’s public transit system (hence the video above).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.
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.
