Chris Hare
👤 PersonAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
And I remember that my father, when he, when he heard about, for example, Harvard, which for your average Hong Kong is like a big deal, right? You're in Harvard. He was, he thought I was going to be studying in New York. They just had no idea about where these universities were. And in fact, had very little input in me applying to the US at all.
And I remember that my father, when he, when he heard about, for example, Harvard, which for your average Hong Kong is like a big deal, right? You're in Harvard. He was, he thought I was going to be studying in New York. They just had no idea about where these universities were. And in fact, had very little input in me applying to the US at all.
I had a university spot before I applied to the US in the Netherlands. which I was happy with and they were happy with too. But more importantly for my parents were values. In particular, start something, finish something that you start was a big one. Do the right thing ethically.
I had a university spot before I applied to the US in the Netherlands. which I was happy with and they were happy with too. But more importantly for my parents were values. In particular, start something, finish something that you start was a big one. Do the right thing ethically.
That was a big one for my father, who was my first board member at 24 hour race and was always the guiding pillar in terms of its moral and ethical framework, which as a young man in my late teens and early twenties, I could often forget about what a Well, what are we doing here? And are we doing it for the right reasons? So I had a really good network.
That was a big one for my father, who was my first board member at 24 hour race and was always the guiding pillar in terms of its moral and ethical framework, which as a young man in my late teens and early twenties, I could often forget about what a Well, what are we doing here? And are we doing it for the right reasons? So I had a really good network.
Even I remember one of my first non-familial mentors was a man called Paul Salnico, who started a very successful business here in Asia called The Executive Center. It's very high end service to office arrangement. And I remember talking to him about our goal, our mission, our vision of the 24-hour race, which he was an early board member of, was to be the end of slavery.
Even I remember one of my first non-familial mentors was a man called Paul Salnico, who started a very successful business here in Asia called The Executive Center. It's very high end service to office arrangement. And I remember talking to him about our goal, our mission, our vision of the 24-hour race, which he was an early board member of, was to be the end of slavery.
And he said, Chris, if you think that you can set this kind of mission, you don't understand human nature. Humans are always going to be exploiting each other to some degree. And you need to be thoughtful and mindful of this as you pursue your journey. I remember that hit me like a ton of bricks, right, at the age of 18 or 19. But he was absolutely right. I can't change human nature.
And he said, Chris, if you think that you can set this kind of mission, you don't understand human nature. Humans are always going to be exploiting each other to some degree. And you need to be thoughtful and mindful of this as you pursue your journey. I remember that hit me like a ton of bricks, right, at the age of 18 or 19. But he was absolutely right. I can't change human nature.
And there's always going to be people willing to exploit other people for a dollar. So at best, I can mitigate it. And I think that's a nice segue into meaning and purpose in life. I go back to that analogy I said earlier, could you spend your whole life fighting for something that you will dedicate every minute you have to and still fail?
And there's always going to be people willing to exploit other people for a dollar. So at best, I can mitigate it. And I think that's a nice segue into meaning and purpose in life. I go back to that analogy I said earlier, could you spend your whole life fighting for something that you will dedicate every minute you have to and still fail?
And can you still have a smile on your face at that passing moment? I don't think that's a really easy question to answer. It really isn't. But judging your own life success based on comparisons, which are really easy to make in the digital age, because 100 years ago, you compared yourself to 50 neighbors. Today, you compare yourself to anyone who's online.
And can you still have a smile on your face at that passing moment? I don't think that's a really easy question to answer. It really isn't. But judging your own life success based on comparisons, which are really easy to make in the digital age, because 100 years ago, you compared yourself to 50 neighbors. Today, you compare yourself to anyone who's online.
And I think that creates a lot of anxiety, by the way, for young people. Look, you as an individual will always have to tread a balance between what you want to be and what you need to be. You know, I want to be an astronaut. No, no joke. For a long time, my life goal, my ultimate expedition was to become the first man to circumnavigate the moon. It still is, by the way.
And I think that creates a lot of anxiety, by the way, for young people. Look, you as an individual will always have to tread a balance between what you want to be and what you need to be. You know, I want to be an astronaut. No, no joke. For a long time, my life goal, my ultimate expedition was to become the first man to circumnavigate the moon. It still is, by the way.
I don't know how likely it is, but it still is. It's still a big goal of mine. But what I need to be is a really good son to my parents. And what I need to be is a really good partner to my girlfriend. And what I need to be is an excellent chairman for the 24 hours.
I don't know how likely it is, but it still is. It's still a big goal of mine. But what I need to be is a really good son to my parents. And what I need to be is a really good partner to my girlfriend. And what I need to be is an excellent chairman for the 24 hours.
And what I need to do is pay my electricity and gas bill, which would be really high because I've got into the sous vide cuisine recently. So I need to find constantly a balance between these two things.
And what I need to do is pay my electricity and gas bill, which would be really high because I've got into the sous vide cuisine recently. So I need to find constantly a balance between these two things.