It’s
been muggy weather in Hong Kong lately, with a number of typhoons passing the
region causing air pressure to fluctuate and bring some severe rain. Whilst
Hong Kong does a great job of covering most outdoor paths through either
rooftops from shops and buildings that come out onto the pedestrianised parts
of the road which helps cover people, there are inevitably some stretches of
pavement which will be open. In torrential rain, many will wait until it slows
before exposing themselves to such stretches of rain. With the sheer numbers of
people in the busy areas, it’s rare to bump into people who aren’t in a
relatively “busy” or “rummaging” state of mind in such a moment. Yesterday I
was in such a spot, and from a few meters away, caught a glimpse of a man who was
working in an industrial job cutting sheets of steel with heavy duty machines.
I had just finished training, had a big wet bag on my back, but was feeling
calm and refreshed (unlike what I felt like before the class!). The man was
sitting back keeping dry from the rain, but surrounded by people in the
pigeon-like panic caused by rain. When our eyes met, there was a calmer
connection, and slowly but surely it ended with a smile that carried with it benevolence
and good will. After many exchanges in a busy morning, I can comfortably say that
in that moment, more qualitative meaning and value was expressed than the
entire day. We speak different languages, have entirely different things we do
in lives, our heritage and culture is totally different. There may not be much
we have in common at all. Such a moment made me feel a glimpse of humanity that
we have for all others when we are in a state of mind of simplicity, where we
are not only considering ourselves and engrossed in personal or even collective
selfish ambition. When we have something to gain, or something to loose in an
interaction, it is spoiled. This is linked to expectation. It is exactly the
reason why people often like to travel. People you meet on travels, you do not
expect to meet. Therefore when we see
goodness unexpectedly, it is extremely refreshing. The closer we “become” to
people through expectation, this may not be healthy. It is also exactly the
reason why we need to take time out from work; it (hopefully) brings about more
appreciation for those you work with after we take a break. Being in each
others’ faces, doesn’t tend to. The man in the steel factory didn’t expect to
see me, I didn’t expect to see him. And we didn’t expect to reciprocate each
others’ mutual benevolence; and so they were all the more refreshing.
Rather
than read about someone who was an amazing person or character, or even watch videos of such people, it is always
experiencing yourself which is most powerful. When I was completing my
dissertation at University, I was attending seminars and speaking was the head
architect at Microsoft. His technical grasp was something incomprehensible to
everyone listening. Also on the panel was the Chief Technology Officer at Cap
Gemini, Andy, who was a slightly older gentleman, perhaps in his 50’s, who had worked
in some incredible roles in the past. He was very inspiring and full of knowledge, insights and outlooks. I approached him
after his address, as an MSc student who was inspired and in all-honesty
looking for someone like him to provide some input in my thesis. It was an area
I was very passionate about; how behaviour is regulated through the
architecture of the environment. The same theories are transferable for individuals
and corporates. I explained to him some of the research I was doing, and almost
immediately I had his attention. He asked me to come to his office in the same
week. He spent a few hours with me passionately scribing on a huge whiteboard
his thoughts and where this could be used. I vividly remember walking back to
Oxford Street station feeling very energised and directionally aligned with
something I believed in. The following month as my research matured, I had a
Partner from the place I would go on to work also endorse my research which
ended up coming in the top five percentile in the LSEs research that year. Andy
did not need to listen to me, he did not need to meet me, and he certainly did
not need to inspire me in the way he did. I did not expect it, and it was
indeed one of the most memorable experiences in my earlier life.
Around
13 years later, in Hong Kong standing in the lobby of the regulators office
with a group of representatives from the biggest banks in the world, debriefing
from our meeting where we discussed proposals for changes in the market structures
that shape finance globally, it is appreciation for those who inspired so many
years ago that comes to mind. Those unexpected people I continue to meet who
teach through their example, benevolence and good will in powerful ways always
gives promise. Hard work becomes beautiful over time. Ex Navy SEAL and
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt Jocko Willink put it well in his book saying that
discipline equals freedom. Without hard work and discipline, those who have integrity,
will not feel freedom. There are of course many who will want to escape from
discipline and hard work, because it’s easier not to do something than do
something in the beginning. But longer term, once one builds a taste, it is
easier to do it than not to do it. I read a quote today from a jiu jitsu black
belt saying he hates jiu jitsu, but will never quit. Whilst on an extreme end
of the scale, and am sure he must not hate every single moment of it all the
time, he is making a statement he would not change it. We often call this a “love-hate”
relationship, and can be the basis of so many things that are ultimately of
immense value to us in our lives from working out to, familial relationships,
to our jobs. In conclusion, it is important we take time out to appreciate
small things in life, the benevolence of those certain people around us and who
have inspired us causelessly, whilst at the same time applying ourselves with
discipline and rigour in what we are doing.
