An entrepreneurial friend and I had tea today, mapping the way forward. Our common belief in sensuous marketing first brought us together in 2013. As a Department head then, I initiated activities to promote the use of smell in marks, making Hong Kong a real "Fragrant Harbour", while he was proving the concept in his scent business projects.
"Why did I impose the challenge on myself?" - I shared my story as a summer-vacation dyeing factory worker in 1971. As high temperature heat was used to dye pigments in fabrics, workers were exposed to heat stress. Noticing others were working there, I questioned myself: "If they can cope with it, why can't I?"
"How hard should one work to make it happen?" - I shared the story of the Pakistani watchman working in the same dyeing factory back then. "He worked literally 24 hours a day!" I told my friend. "He had another two eight-hour watchman shifts in nearby factories; and I can testify that he was still doing a reasonable job!" I added.
Looking back, I would not have picked up the inspiring life lessons at the age of 17 if I did not have the courage to try. I believe we all can stand adversity and can resolve challenges if we use our will to help us. While working all day cannot be sustainable, having the right positive attitude is how we can make the impossible possible!