Deep Water Management Limited formally launched its Hong Kong business in April 2016.

The plan was to help hedge funds & small finance firms compete with the big players: Innovation, new products, process improvement, reg compliance, internal controls…

But Mike Tyson warned me, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” My first client was a lighting company.  Then came a franchise internationalization consultancy. Then a FoodTech startup.  Then a mobile app. Most recently I moved closer to finance industry becoming COO of FinTech firm doing securities business with a blockchain angle.

Glass “Half Empty”: These were unplanned fire drills.  I found myself dealing with new roles, new industries, new challenges. Large chunks of my skills and experience were suddenly not relevant.  There was no “comfort zone”.

Glass “Half Full”: It’s been great. I cross-trained in a variety of roles and industries. I worked with consumer appliance giants, top tier banking professionals, and even cryptomaniacs.  I added new skills to my “talent stack”. Importantly, I learned to enjoy being uncomfortable.  Typical days are less about sticking to the plan and more about accelerating OODA loop.

Note: Some “fire drills” were more like “actual fires”. If your startup is running too smoothly, it might be running too slowly. The bad days generate the best stories, and the best opportunities to learn & pivot. Of course, you need to get through them with a viable business after you put the fires out.

I photographed this fire in 2015.  To be clear: This post is only about figurative fires.  Actual fires look too dangerous.  We aren’t trained for that sort of thing.  HK firefighters are.*  

*HK firefighters are also good at dragon boating.  That is something I can do well.  Pretty sure that factual tidbit is not interesting to most of you.