What we are about
Months ago, I met the cofounder of Friendzone, a community initiative in Singapore that started off by organising little gatherings at the bottom of our 14 storey apartment blocks in Singapore, to solve the problem of neighbours not knowing each other.
They would shape a conversation around questions like,
- What’s one challenge you’ve recently faced?
- How have you overcome those?
So deeper, more meaningful conversations at the bottom of the block, in the open-air, sitting on plastic picnic mats.
The funny thing is, whenever he greets people, rather
than saying ‘hi!’, he would say,
Welcome!
So today, I too wanted to say,
Welcome!
For those who are new to this newsletter, we wanted to share what
this newsletter is about, what it gathers, and why you should read it.
If there was one goal to why I pay to do this (that’s right, there are no sponsors that fund this newsletter, and we have to pay for the costs of this email newsletter subscription software), it’s because I believe:
we can all be more effective in work, life
and play,
through stories.
Every week, we share
- One thought from an anecdote that impacted the way we think and do things
- One talk from something we read, or or heard or
saw
- One tip that you can implement in your own life.
These anecdotes are largely from the people we interview and meet over the course of our work. They might also be from key leaders during the networking sessions we attend.
Some of those we’ve shared in the
past include President of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, and many more.
Some people say
I love this newsletter because of how diverse the stories are - from finance, to social work, to the personal anecdotes of leaders - that I never expected. The story of President Tharman using a $1.80 pen,
despite earning millions, was really interesting.
If there was one reason you should read this, it’s because of how focused it is on personal development from a Singaporean lens, and a young person’s lens. I’ve known John for some time, and despite being 28, he blends his inexperience with the expertise of others, and makes it easily
understood.
Favourite stories
Of course, others share some of their favourite life changing moments with us. Like
one idea that changed the way I think was when John shared the Thoreau quote - that the things we own end up owning
us.
It made me think a lot about whether I needed that fancy new iPhone, and to approach my consumerism with a newfound lens.
One story that changed me? Probably the story John shared of his personal journey being poor - eating baked beans (and farting a lot), and it encouraged me to do my own thing, even though I was incredibly
scared.
We’d love your suggestion!
Your suggestion, isn’t just a suggestion. We take it seriously.
We reply every question, suggestion or comment.
If you’ve suggestions you’d
like us to write on, please let us know here.
Thank you!
John