Part Time Scholar

Towards the end of 2024, I left the 9 to 5 routine given my financial goals were achieved.  It felt great not needing to hug my phone to sleep and being able to wake up at whatever godly (or ungodly) hour desired.  Fast forward six months, the retirement routine became mundane.  I needed to find meaningful use of my newly found time.  Between street and league soccer, writing a book, exotic getaways, relocation back to my adopted home country, all the while taking on advisory gigs with interesting companies, life seemed like a handful.  Somehow, I managed to find time to study various topics of interest.  One topic that really caught on was game theory.   Learning game theory was a self-improvement initiative.  I wanted a life broader horizon and be better equipped when when dealing with others.  My definition of game theory is the study of interactive decision making of more than one party, where the outcome of each particpant or player...

I have long wanted to study Buddhism, because its teachings are quite cryptic in nature and to me, thought provoking.  In fact, I took a trip to China's Shaolin Temple in recent weeks to soak in some zen.  Shaolin is also known for its Chinese kung fu, so I also signed up for a private martial arts lesson with a warrior monk.  That was a great experience in itself, but the story will have to wait for another day.  Instead, I wanted to share a great read called Think Like a Monk  by Jay Shetty.  It portrays a few keystones of Buddhism and how a purposeful life can be led without subccumbing to the distractions we encounter on a daily basis.  Reading the book provided an egaging experience as it uses real life examples to illustrate its points.   Here is what I learnt:  We are what we think people think we are: we often project the "right image" to impress others.  This is the direct result of us overthinking our importance in t...

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

Geeking out is something I yearn to do from time to time. Having seen a documentary on infinity from Netflix last year, I decided to pick up a book on the topic.  Beyond Infinity , by  Eugenia Cheng , is an excellent guide delving into this mind-boggling notion. In this book, Cheng explores some key aspects of infinity that challenge our intuition and understanding of mathematics: Numbers Numbers Numbers, natural, rational, irrational and real:   Cheng explains that these number sets are infinite in nature but some are "more infinite" than others.  For instance, the set of natural numbers are smaller than its superset of rational numbers, which in turn are smaller than the set of real numbers.  So far so good?  But...  Infinity is but an abstract notion: It certainly is not a number   to which the rules of arithmetics apply: ∞ + 1 = ∞ (addition/subtraction does not apply) 2  ⋅  ∞ = ∞ (neither does multiplication/division) 1/∞ =...

As Hong Kong is now fully re-opened to travellers, it is time to introduce yet another hidden gem in the city.  Hong Kong News Expo  (HKNE) is located in a unique neighbourhood in Mid-Levels .  It is a multimedia exhibition that showcases the history, evolution and current state of Hong Kong's news media. The establishment features a wide range of interactive exhibits, historical artifacts, and multimedia presentations.  It is a great niche gem for those interested in the news industry and the role it plays in shaping the city.  The exhibition is divided into several sections, each focusing on different aspects of Hong Kong's news media. For instance, one section is dedicated to the history of newspapers in Hong Kong, featuring how they have evolved over the years -- from the early days of colonial rule to the present day. Visitors can also learn about the development of radio and television news, as well as the rise of digital media and social media platforms....

I recently finished a good book,  Atomic Habits , by James Clear.  It is clear by now that my book reviews have also been doubling as book summaries for future reference.  This is a delightful read as the author uses his personal experience to illustrate his theories.  The arguments are logical and generally well explained.  Here are some key points to note:   What is a habit? It is a solution to a recurring problem in life. A habit helps us solve problems with as little energy as possible.  Habits consist of four parts: cue, craving, response and rewards.  To create a good habit, make the cue obvious, the craving attractive, the response easy and the reward satisfying.  To lose a bad habit, simply do the reverse Never underestimate the compounding effects of habit : Habits are usually small changes in our behavior that may not bring immediate benefits when deployed.  However, just like compound interest for your money, when ap...

Today is the last day of 2022.  To me, this is an unprecedented year of bad fortunes.  Record financial losses, career regression, business blunders, feeling "meh" in life, just to name a few.  I thought 2021 was my worst year, but somehow managed to find a new rock bottom.  It is not all bad as I also managed a couple wins, most notably receiving my first paycheck for blogging.  It is definitely a shot in the arm to continue what I love but often lack the time doing.  Can't wait to wave 2022 goodbye and not look back.  What is in store for 2023?  My resolution has never been simpler.  REDEMPTION.   Happy New Year! - PTS       

The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) owns all government approved sports betting and lottery stations in Hong Kong.  These establishments normally offer few reasons for me to visit.  But I recently ventured into one HKJC venue.  This Stanley Street branch in busy Central has won the title of the luckiest (or most unlucky if you are the HKJC) betting site in recent years.  Quite a few have won the grand prize in lottery, known locally as Mark Six, from this premise.  The shop has recently undergone a major facelift.  It now houses two restaurants, various horse racing and lottery artefacts, along with fun facts showcases.  Upon entry, there is an unexpected caravan setting that provides a homey feel for visitors.   A real lottery ball drum machine is also on display.  Opposite it is a historical wall detailing the evolution of Mark 6 over the years.  Did you know that the lottery went from thirty-six numbers in 1976 to forty-nine in 20...

I recently finished a self-help book called  The Magic of Thinking Big ,  by David Schwartz.  The title caught my attention as I have had first-hand experience on the topic.  My expectation from the book was to see if there are consistent means to induce big thinking and in turn, derive its benefits.  It turned out there is no magic pill on how to think big. Instead Dr Schwartz provided a few lifehacks that resonated with me:  Believe you can and so you can. Self belief is key to success.  If you believe you are good enough, then you are on the right track to attaining results.  This message reminded me of Morpheus telling Neo in the Matrix , "Don't think you are. Know you are." This has been my mantra for some time so the chapter served as a good reinforcement on self belief. On the flip side, if you believe you cannot, that is equally self-fulfilling    There is no excuse for mediocrity.  Whether it is health, intelligen...

COVID-19 has certainly taken much lustre out of Hong Kong's star on the world stage.  Travelers into the city still require a 3-day compulsory hotel quarantine at the time of writing, leaving many holding off on a trip to the Asian hub.  Shame! In view of this, I have decided to use this blog to occasionally showcase Hong Kong to the world.  Feel free to use these posts as a guide to plan your future travel here.  Even if you don't have plans to come, my hope is the introduction of these sights will offer unique perspectives on the buzzing city.   To start us off, we have a boutique but interesting information centre in Hong Kong's Central Bank.  The Hong Kong Monetary Authority ( HKMA ) Information Centre is one of a kind.  It is located in Two IFC , arguably the most iconic skyscrapper in town.  That said, it is certainly off the beaten path and not very well known to even the locals. Visitors information can be found here . This gallery c...