The Famous Game of Fortune

They say that there are only two emotions that drive the human being: fear and greed. Fear of losing, being left out and not measuring up. Greed for fame and fortune, for self respect and to reach the top of the pyramid.

I don't mind fame or fortune but need to have a mission important enough to go after the twins of human productivity and competition. If the mission matters then playing the game to get there becomes natural but gaming for games sake feels like a wasted exercise.

When mission matters your heart is pure and your focus is clear. Everything becomes simple and as a player you are in the famous zone. You feel untouchable and play with both instinct, heart and mind.

What mission you choose defines you as a person. Some people thrive by reaching fame, some by fortune and some both. Well, it takes a big ego to know one and fighting that bug is only human. But for your sanity it's important to not fall in love with the game and loose sight of why the mission mattered in the first place. But that's also very easy and extremely human.

In the end of the day, time always wins over fame and fortune. You can always win the small battles but time always wins the war. Time is your most valuable asset so make sure you spend it on something worth while.

My Quest for Coffee in Taipei

IS Coffee - Always Fresh

Business trips usually means late nights and early mornings, i.e. few hours of sleep. That's when coffee makes it's great contribution. Since hotel coffee is far from great I headed out in the early Taipei morning - blue sky and 92 degrees - to find a proper made, well-tasting coffee.

Being a world traveller I had my eyes set on Starbucks since it's a well-known global brand and what I usually enjoy in the US. I went for a walk and ran into several coffee shops, both chains and one-offs - but couldn't find any Starbucks. I did find Austin Coffee, Ikari Coffee, Dante Coffe, Helen Coffee, Coffee Kings, IS Coffee and a number of smaller coffee shops. It wasn't until I was on my way back to the hotel, after a very hot and sweaty 45-minute walk, that I saw the well-known green logo across from the Taipei Railway Station.

The coffee shop looked exactly the same as in the US. It was rapped in the same very recognizable packaging. But it had made several local adaptions in their product offering to cater to the consumer needs of locals: they offered different sweets, more tea and the coffee was offered in smaller sizes (a grande in Taiwan is like a tall in the US). Everything was nicely translated with the english translation right under.

The customers where mainly taiwanese with a few exceptions - a western expat and myself. Few spoke english but knew the words 'latte' and 'expresso' which buffled me. I taught them 'no foam' and 'non-fat' and they delivered an excellent coffee.

Starbucks has been very successful in riding and partially creating the modern coffee shop trend across the world. They have been able to grab considerable market share in key markets by combining the strengths of a global brand and local knowledge. But as more companies become global, local markets become much more fragmented. The global companies that lack staying in tune with the local consumer needs and behavior and only 'export' their domestic product will die a painful death.

Playing To Play or Playing To Win

I've finally understood what a competitive workplace means. In my naive mind I thought it meant doing things a smart and efficient way so that both customers and stakeholders could feel the delight. But no, that's not the case. A competitive workplace means that there are two promotions available for every ten people. That means that you are in the game of winning a higher position and often far from delighting users or even stakeholders for that matter.

There are three secrets to ascending the greasy pole - once you have caught the career bug: manage upwards, conform and abide. And never think in strategic terms, only tacticals. Stop thinking might even be better.

The mantra is execute, execute and execute. Fast and faster. Doesn't matter which direction you are running as long as you are running and people can see the sweat on your forehead. That is called perception. As long as your work is visible to the people that matter people will percieve you as being the next big thing.

Top 5 tips on ascending the greasy pole:
1. Lube up - you'll need it
2. Network, talk the talk (I should have someone on my team get in contact with...)
3. Orchestrate and direct, avoid real work
4. Let all your seniors know what a fab guy you are by taking credit for other people's work - own their ears!
5. Smile and act the part. It's only a game!

You have been Blog'd!

My mother-in-law came up with the inspiration to the expression "You have been Blog'd". It was during the Saturday brunch when we conveyed our different opinions about something unimportant. She realized that I could use her agrument against her on my blog and broadcast it to the world. Of course, I would NEVER do that!

Anywho, I realized the brilliance in her observation and quickly blurted out: You have been blog'd!. I then went home to search for Blog'd on Yahoo! and realized that the expression probably has been in practice for longer than I have blogging. Oh well, I guess that I have to be satisfied that great minds think alike even if some are faster than others.

Homecoming King

The Pacific fog is sweaping across San Francisco this early Sunday morning. I've been home for 36 hours and enjoyed them liked childhood birthdays. I'm dead tired of living out of my suitcase and only having four shirts, two pants and two pair of shoes to choose from for over four weeks of work. Minimalism has never been my thing.

Sure, it's not the first time I've been on the road. But coming home felt different this time. It really felt like coming home to a place that you feel that you belong to and not longer just where you only lay your hat. It was a very grounded and comforting feeling. Whatever happens, my center of gravity is now my home and family and not my work. It answers all the questions in one about security, inclusion and future.

I dislike the expression "Settling down" because it sounds like you are giving up, settling for the second best and given up on the world, your passion and life. I'd prefer using "Settling in" - it's much less focused on the past, on growing roots and more on feeling comfortable and part of the community. And it doesn't necessarily only need to be a geographical community - a location-based settling in - but also a mental, a state-of-mindness that connects you with your world.

The marathon is over and I can now focus on the sprints and the occasional, sometimes accidental slacking. I'm back in the driver's seat so hold on to your knickers.

Le Boudin Blanc

Traveling over a longer period of time is nothing but pain in the arse as they would say on the British isles. It's a rather draconian experience being that long away from the missus, our home and my car. But there are highlights and pockets of great experiences as well. As tonight, when my long-time friend Manolo and I decided to try out Le Boudin Blanc on 5 Trebeck Street at Market Mews in Mayfair, London. We learned that this is a fantastic French restaurant in the midst of British pubs and Lebanese restaurants.

I started with some snails, then the rump of lamb with gratin daphnois and a fabulous chocolate tardent with vanilla ice cream. The wine was a very tasty Chianti Classico from Antionori, Tuscany. The food was superb and the service very attentative and polite without being annoying. I'm now at a stage of happiness that is hard to explain and replicate. I'm also so stuffed that I've a hard time doing anything but watching an episode of CSI on the Telly. Life can be damned good!

The Reinvention of the PJ

Eureka!

I have just discovered the pleasures that is the pyjamas or the PJ as I rather refer to it as. It happened at Harrod's in London while on yesterday's lunch break. I swung by the gents department and discovered that the Derek Rose PJ's were on sale, heavily discounted.

They usually run for more than £100 pounds (£1 = US$ 1.75) but I found one - most likely the cheapest ever - for £29.95 pounds. I didn't really realize what fantastic steal that was until I went back to the hotel and changed into something more comfortable as they say - my new and first real PJ for decades. Yeah, I haven't had a PJ since late teens; I've mostly used boxers and old worn out t-shirts.

I immediately knew that I was onto somthing once I had put the new PJ on. It felt wonderfully pampering, soulful and relaxing. I felt well-dressed - almost ready to party - but still very comfortable and content. The real benefit is that I could cruise around the hotel room without feeling that I had to go to bed or go out for that matter. I felt like Hugh Hefner without the playboy bunnies but with both the wit and the money.

A new world has opened up. A world that is between day and night that allow you to be contemplative and ponderous yet private and solitaire. I feel that I have a new goal in life when waking up in the mornings: to stay in or get back into my PJ's as soon as possible and just be until the next morning.

Tomorrow I'll head over to Harrod's again to buy another PJ and see if I couldn't find a pair of slippers. Obviously with my initials on, just like Hugh and Bond. James that is.

Life Always Takes Precedence

I often read articles about successful senior managers (they wouldn't interview failures - would they now?). They often say that work is their life. I usually think: how politically correct but how pathetic and boring. Noone would spend 12+ hours a day at work if they didn't get paid so that's most likely the most common motivator. The next is to avoid having your balls crushed which means that the higher up in the food chain the more power to crush and squeeze other folks balls. And as a bonus you make more money, might even get option packages and hefty severance pays.

I used to be really involved in work with a strong sense that fair play, personal development and value creation was the most important values and levers. I recently realized - and feel free to mock me for coming to this conclusion rather late in my 30's - that I was completely fooled. There is no way to rise beyond certain levels without being a complete ass. So you need to ask yourself: Are you ready to be an ass - Punk? If you are, keep that bat swinging and if not, let life take precedence and enjoy the wonder that it is.

Terror on The Tube

I went to Starbucks on South Kensington at the time of the dreadful bombings in London today. Once I got back to my hotel room I turned on the TV to watch the BBC and SKY news and learned about the explosions. First, the message was that these explosions at the Aldgate tube station derived from a power surge but soon after came reports of more explosions around London. It then became clear that these were acts of terrorism. The tube was suspended and shortly after all the buses. The only means of transportation were cabs but impossible to get.

It was pretty clear to me that walking to the office which is about 2 hours away from my hotel wasn't to think about. I also felt that the city didn't need more people crowding the already packed center of London. And who knowns if they terrorists had planned more bombings. But I had to leave the hotel to check-in to another so unfortunately I had to leave the safe and comfortable haven of my hotel room. It took about 45 minutes to walk - with luggage - across most of South Kensington into the center of Knightsbridge. Man, was I happy I had booked the new hotel room for a few days. The reception had a long queue of people wanting to check-in or prolong stays due to the bombings. Many were denied.

Yesterday London was a fantastic open party, celebrating winning the Olympic Games in 2012. Today it's a chocked, angry and sad city with hundreds of casualities and over 30 fatalities. Makes you realize how fragile success is and how short happiness can be. Enjoy while you can cause tomorrow is always another day.

You have just been Punk’d!

When you first start to work, fresh out of college, everything is possible. Your passion is riding high and pure; the feeling of changing the world is stronger than ever. Ambition is pulsating through your body like a wild spring river. You volunteer for any challenge, any project and spend 18+ hours per day at the office in the belief that you will be handsomely rewarded with more money and higher corporate status.

Wake up! You have just been Punk’d! Once you realize that corporate life is more about under promising and over delivering; spending the majority of your time selling yourself and avoiding doing the real work nothing can stop you from reaching fame and fortune. Once you have learned the right business jargon, manage to avoid showing real passion and empathy at work and staying in important meetings but out of doing the work you have figured out the secrets of corporate life. The only way is up!

Lastly - being the nice, happy and friendly guy beats competence and talent anytime. If you don’t have the unique brains, cannot get away as the brilliant genius then just show up every morning with a great smile on your face, well-dressed and a compliment at hand for everyone and your future is made. Perception is everything!

Wherever I Park My Car

Three years ago I left the United Kingdom for the United States of America. I’m now back in London for a few weeks while I’m awaiting the new Visa which will allow me permanent residency in the US. My old Visa expired on June 26 and I now have to re-enter with a new petition and a new passport stamp. It’s only a few days away so I’m all good, restless but good.

I’m re-visiting my old neighborhoods Kensington and Notting Hill in London which is great fun: Waterstone’s bookstore (great books) at Notting Hill Gate; Churchill Arms Thai Restaurant (the best Thai in the world) and Rotisserie Jules (fantastic roasted chicken with potatoes au gratin). It brings back a lot of memories but also makes me aware of how much I love San Francisco where the missus and I live.

Last week I visited Stockholm where I lived for 4 years during the 90’s and I had the same feeling: great fun to visit the old hangouts but it didn’t feel like home anymore. I was surprised of how expensive everything had gotten – too expensive. I would never afford returning which is ironic since the country is driven by socialistic values.

Lots of people asked my how it felt to be ‘home’ because in Europe home is where you are born and where you are born defines your nationality – for life. You can never be a local in Europe if you are not born there. It doesn’t matter if you get citizenship – to Europeans nationality is very closely tied with language, race, social status and birth right. You will always be a foreigner if you have an accent or a different race. Not in America though, which I really appreciate.

I generally responded with saying something neutral such as “Interesting” or ‘Fantastic’ not to disappoint or create an unnecessary argument. But in my mind I don’t recognize Sweden as home anymore, nor do I recognize London as home. I’m an average foreigner on a short visit to the old playground, a mere observer. But I do feel at home in San Francisco – no one is taking me for granted or staple the epitaph foreigner to my Nordic names.

I feel equal, wanted, needed and worthy. It’s a great feeling to belong and be included. San Francisco has diversity, great attitude and in general very appreciative people. It’s a unique place where nothing is impossible and your future is more important and talked of than your past. It’s you in the context of others and not the other way around.