25/06/2018
We had the pleasure to talk with Mr. Rex Ma, co-founder of iGen6, last Saturday, and learnt a whole lot about how he sees life positively despite all the negativity.
The Gist
(Please skip to The Whole Kit and Caboodle for the complete coverage of the chat with Rex)
"Every time you drink tea, it cleanses your body. When you get grumpy because of work or any external irritations, you can always drink tea to calm yourself down."
"Life is just like that path (I rode), with different debris in our way. Even though the road isn’t as smooth, we still keep going."
“Always do things 101%. Never 100%. If it’s 100%, it’s usually not good enough."
The Whole Kit and Caboodle
ON A SATURDAY MORNING WHEN THE SUN WAS STILL RADIATING ITS RAYS AT OUR SWEATY FOREHEADS, the wind tantalized our faces as we talk with one of the most innovative entrepreneurs in Hong Kong while overseeing the most spectacular scenery of the city on the rooftop of his office.
MR. REX MA, the focus of today, is the proud co-founder of IGen6 越世代 - Innovation & Digi-Marcom Consultancy (http://iGen6.com), a company providing a smorgasbord of services ranging from digital marketing to digital event management, all catered in the sheer aim of enhancing the business growth of its clients.
“GOOD MORNING,” greeted Ma the second we met in a quiet train station of Wong Chuk Hang, a rare sight in the helter-skelter city we call Hong Kong. And turned out the greeting was part of a calming mantra utilized by the bright mind himself. We will see why.
“Sorry for the rush, (I) had to dress up for a meeting at 4.” Ma explained his impromptu rendezvous with a business ceremony held later that day and offered to conduct our interview on the rooftop with a breathtaking landscape devouring our breathless minds.
The calming element that brings focus to the gentleman who possesses a frantic schedule would certainly inspire the lethargic ones, one so underrated and archaic that most would not give much thought to nowadays.
Your ways to clear your mind?
“Tea,” he muttered one, single, powerful noun.
Tea. A mystical drink that prides itself on its succulent history of more than four millenniums is the main feature of Ma’s life.
“(I find it) calming. Every time you drink tea, it cleanses your body. When you get grumpy because of work or any external irritations, you can always drink tea to calm yourself down,” recommended Ma.
Indeed, plenty of research has been done and the verdicts have mostly been positive. It has been said that the beverage energizes drinkers like coffee does, helps with weight loss like exercise would, and keeps bright smiles like chemical-filled toothpaste promises.
“And you can talk a lot about tea with business companions, one more topic for mingling.”
ON SUCH A TRANQUIL MORNING, one could not resist conversing on the topic of physical activity, the leisure that has been seen as the major force to pinnacled biological health.
“I might not be the best to ask!” Exclaimed the entrepreneur as he patted his abdomen repeatedly with a light smirk stretching on his face.
Despite the imperfect physique that was humbly pointed out by the man himself, his achievements and accolades are nothing to be ashamed of, but something to be proud of.
“I’ve completed the New World Harbour Race four times, (in 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017),” recounted Ma, “and I love it! To be able to swim in our water, our local water, is something memorable and noteworthy. As a spectator, you witness the swimmers finishing the route, but as a swimmer in the race, I see the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the coastline, and the sky.”
The Race is one of the city’s most iconic events. Debuted in 1906, with a 33 year hiatus from 1978 to 2010 due to health and sanitary concerns, resumed in 2011 with each annual race demanding swimmers to complete an approximately one kilometre swim.
“I’ve been swimming since high school, (I competed in) inter school competitions, and I’m still going.”
“And the water isn’t dirty,” a slight remark spat after being questioned constantly on the cleanliness of the event.
What else? What keeps your body moving?
“The milestone of my physical activity has to be the time when I cycled in Taiwan (For 9 days, Rex cycled from Taipei to Kaohsiung to Taitung City to Hualien and back to Taipei, accumulated to 912km). What I learnt and took away from the experience was (an analogy). Life is just like that path (I rode), with different debris in our way. Even though the road isn’t as smooth, we still keep going. Every person has his own path, every city has its own character. With different soupçons of views from various places, you will be able to build your very own view on the world as you complete your journey of life.”
This spirit, this immovable spirit is probably the part of his mentality that aided the success of his business. Just keep going.
WE ASSUMED ‘JUST KEEP GOING’ WAS NOT THE SOLE PROMINENT MOTTO FOR A CHARISMATIC AND FERTILE ENTREPRENEUR LIKE MA, and we were right.
“Ever watched The Truman Show?” Asked Ma.
The movie is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and it took a second for me, the self-proclaimed movie expert, to have ‘Starring Jim Carrey’ popping in my head and to nod subconsciously.
“The iconic quote of this film, if you remember, is ‘Good morning, and in case I don't see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night!’” Added Ma after describing the plot of the movie, “I’ve always based my mindset around this quote. No matter what life throws at me, I’m always saying ‘Good Morning’, ‘Good Afternoon’, ‘Good Evening’, and ‘Goodnight’ to people. If I can do that, my life isn’t that bad after all.”
This feel-good attitude is in a declining trend in our society as the working, or more unfortunately and unwanted—studying population sulk sadly, complain constantly, and mope miserably. It is truly astonishing to observe how high the demand for the mindset that keeps Ma going and going every day is, and how low the supply is.
Four simple and short sentences sent Ma into seeing his secret to success: Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening, and Goodnight.
Ma bombed us with another quote when we were still digesting the astonishing fact that the person in front of us had found such repose from a movie tagline that was mentioned by the comic two decades ago.
“Always do things 101%. Never 100%. If it’s 100%, it’s usually not good enough…And I’m just grateful for understanding and learning it.”
As we were about to conclude the interview with Ma, unwillingly though, with the enjoyment of the immaculate view, soaking in the greenery sculpted by the mountains surrounding us, the scenery scintillated by the sparkles over the sea, and the gallery of constructions and architectures that have been blessing the land including the renowned Ocean Park and the exquisite restaurant, Jumbo Floating, he gave us one final advice of the day.
“THREE THINGS,” he said sternly, “Contemporary employers seek three things from the potential employees.”
Okay, a sudden switch of topics must prove the upcoming guidance to be of the highest importance.
“Attitude. Lack of careless mistakes. Honesty…Even the best of CVs cannot beat the mastery of these three traits,” said Ma.
The final piece of advice listed out the qualities young adults must possess in the world that is becoming more and more competitive.
And with that said, Ma urged us to take a photo in front of the breathtaking landscape of Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong, before heading to the ceremony he had planned for and crossing one more task off of his filled to-do list.
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