2018 + Beyond

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Winding down the year with a revamp to this long standing affair with travel, business, and photography. In prior years, I managed to get my creative fix in other ways, but lately I've returned back to my original passions. Perhaps its age or culmination of some life goals- whatever the reason, I'm glad they've come back with a vengeance. 

Startup Grind @ Google

The romanticism placed behind startups these days makes it easy to believe in overnight success, but anyone whose built a successful enterprise will tell you otherwise. For most it's an unforgiving grind that spits out the best of us while those who make it through each business stage attest to rarefied air that making it another year brings. At one point you look around and realize nearly everyone in your cohort didn't make it. At those points it's important to reflect and remember what it took to get to where you're at.

I was fortunate that the good people at Google Startup Grind asked me to share my journey with a group of entrepreneurs. Reflecting back on the journey was refreshing as well as eye opening. You can see the talk in its entirety below and I've summed it up here: It's been a hell of a lot of work that at times was scary, crazy, and stressful- I don't really remember those days well as much as the emotions. What outweighs it all has been the sense of purpose, accomplishment, and wonder that has come with a life lived on my own terms.

Keynote @ LevelUp KL

Southeast Asia is the fastest growing market for video games. The population has swelled to over 560 million people with the average age being 28. The regions share of global middle-class growth will be 88% within the next 20 years, according to the Brookings Institute. It's sufficient to say that Southeast Asia is an opportunity marketing that is only continuing to grow.

I was fortunate to be asked to give the Keynote speech at Levelup KL, Malaysia's annual video games conference, which has become the most important in Southeast Asia. I touched upon these themes and the excitement in the room was amazing. Incredibly young, talented, and creative these game developers are flipping the script with their actions.

It's an incredible opportunity to be present, let alone participate in this transformative time.