Book Review in the Star

Yesterday saw the publication of my first book review in the Star newspaper. This was on "Steve Jobs - The Man Who Thought Different" by Karen Blumenthal.

The Star newspaper is Malaysia's largest circulation English daily newspaper. Recently, they invited me to write book reviews for them. The review of this Steve Jobs biography is the first fruit of that.

Originally, I wrote a review of about 1,400 words, in which I said fully what I thought. This had to be cut down to 999 words. However, this was further cut before publication, to 856 words. Tellingly, my most critical passages were cut from the piece - the parts in which I was most blunt about Steve Jobs' true character and less flattering side. It seems that the Star didn't want me to express those thoughts so clearly. What remains hints at what has been removed. From my point of view, it is a pity that I wasn't allowed to say what I really thought, because what I had wished to say, needs to be said about Steve Jobs. He wasn't what many people think - although I must say he was very good at personal PR and creating a positive image. The underlying truth was rather different, however.

Please read my review here:

http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2012/7/27/lifebookshelf/11686256&sec=lifebookshelf

Let me know, below what you think of it. I will post the full unedited version soon, to allow you to read my analysis of Steve Jobs' character in full.

Happy reading!

Thank you.

Posted by Valentine Cawley


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Unexpected entrepreneurialism in the young.

I have posted before about the lack of entrepreneurialism shown by Singaporeans in general - as evidenced by the lack of them in situations where one would expect them to be present. Once, however, I found myself surprised by an unexpected entrepreneur.

I was in a school where I had been teaching. After the class had finished I waited with one of the school's teachers, for the other teachers to convene. While I waited, a student approached the teacher and presented a catalogue to her. He then began to talk quietly to her, about a product he wanted her to buy. I studied the catalogue more closely and noted the presence of one word on the outside cover: "Amway". Ah...our young student was promoting a network marketing opportunity.

I was immediately struck by the oddness of the moment. Here was a student pitching his own teacher into a business opportunity. Somehow he had managed to reverse the roles. Though she was his teacher, he was teaching her - in this case, of the ways she would benefit in buying products through him. She listened carefully to his words. She nodded on occasions as if she either understood what he said - or agreed with him. In the end, it was clear that he had made some kind of sale, because she asked questions about the product, and indicated that she wanted some of it. It was amazing to watch, in its own way.

Then, as she left, he approached me and enquired as to my name, introduced himself and offered a card, saying: "I have my own business."

His card was coy. It didn't mention network marketing at all - and it gave the impression of being global. I did note something that explained something to me: this boy wasn't Singaporean at all - he was Malaysian, for such was the address given. He was, to be more specific, a Malaysian Chinese boy. I was struck by the entrepreneurialism he showed. I was also struck by a feeling that it was inappropriate of him to be engaging in business, on the school grounds: it seemed to transgress the sanctity of education.

I didn't comment. It wasn't my place to do so - for I was just an external consultant. His teacher hadn't seemed to mind, though.

Yet, his actions did show a certain resourcefulness. He was turning the school grounds into one big business opportunity. While others were studying - he was turning his teachers into customers - and trying to do so with any guest teachers, too.

There is, however, a danger in this boy's nascent entrepreneurial career. His attention is likely not to be so much on his academic work, but on how to persuade Teacher X to either buy his wares, or become a member of his network. This means that for him the school is no longer a place of education, but has become a marketplace. It is likely, therefore, that what he gains in personal income, he might lose in academic growth. He might swap an education, for an income, in a way that might curtail his overall potential.

It is true, however, that the kind of opportunism he is showing reveals a character likely to succeed in life, in the commercial sense, if in no other.

So, this one incident is a hint that, although Singapore might be lacking in its own entrepreneurs, some, among the imported student "talent" might very well be instinctive entrepreneurs.

This is the only time in my life that I have been given a business card, by a secondary school student. He hadn't even taken his O levels yet. It feels quite odd, in a way - for the last thing one expects in a student is for them to attempt to sell one something.

The love and pursuit of money really do seem to begin a little too early in this part of the world.

I am left to wonder one thing: does this young boy's sponsor in the Amway business know he is still in school? Does his sponsor realize the effect this distraction from the true purpose of school might have on his education? Is it the sponsor's policy and strategy to seek out schoolchildren to join his network? There is the making of a scandal here, a moral one, at the least. I wonder what is Amway's official stand on this kind of thing?

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