My Hong Kong Story: Wes Ng
By Wes Ng, Founder & CEO, CASETiFY, for HongKongEcho #100.
These days, home has taken on a new meaning. It’s no longer just a place where we retreat and recharge – it’s an entertainment center, our children’s schools, a private restaurant, and a virtual conference room. Home is where we set our intentions and plans for the future, and now, it’s where we go to execute those ideas. I feel lucky to call Hong Kong my home. During a time that certainly feels isolating and limiting for so many, we can show gratitude, and take refuge in all that this incredible city has to offer.
When I began CASETiFY 10 years ago, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that Hong Kong would provide a healthy foundation for the startup. Geographically, it’s mapped between the greatest resources in the world. From leading companies to high tech, Hong Kong attracts talent from the east and the west. On the outside, some say it resembles a concrete jungle – I refer to it as the city that never sleeps. But what people fail to see is the inspiration and beauty personified in our beaches and mountains. When we take the time to show our earth appreciation, we find peace within ourselves.
Hong Kong-raised Bruce Lee famously said, “If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done.” When I feel stuck in a thought, I often look to nature for clarity. This year showed us the importance of taking a breath, and by spending time in Hong Kong’s trails, I was able to find my focus.
Photography by Peter Parks and Anthony Wallace (Agence France-Presse)
My Object
We’ve done more than a few celebrity collaborations over the years, but this is one of my favourites. We partnered with the Bruce Lee Foundation to produce this nunchaku, which is not a real version of the weapon of course – it’s much lighter and less dangerous – but I love the look of it.
Lee’s emphasis for speed and breaking the rules is also fundamental to the startup mentality. It is easy to let our mind confine us to the status quo. The challenge is, when we lose our ability to see outside the present, we settle for only what’s right in front of us. My best mentors have led by example and shown the world what can be achieved when you don’t take no for an answer. I encourage that bravery in all aspects of life.
Hong Kong is home to millions of people. But the beautiful thing about that is, every person has their own reason for calling it home. The best lessons in both business and life come from diverse thought. Luckily for me, diversity is at the heart of Hong Kong.
