Aaron Lee, founder and CEO of Dash Living, one of Hong Kong’s first co-living operators, understands what time means to his generation. “Unlike any other resource, time is something that all of us are given in a certain amount. Not more, not less. It is up to us to be physically and mentally in a position to seize opportunities at the right moments,” he says.

Lee took his own advice – and the opportunity – to build a serviced co-living space project in 2014 that has since expanded in Hong Kong and now overseas. Expansion to Singapore, he says, happened despite the global lockdown, and Dash now offers more than 1,000 living spaces between the two cities.

While 2020 took an unexpectedly traumatic turn, Lee says the first half of the year saw over 90 per cent occupancy. It’s evident that being grounded has done little to dampen his keenness to move forward and think ahead. “More projects are being discussed in Hong Kong, Singapore, and more tier-1 cities in APAC,” he says.

The pandemic may have kept us indoors more than ever before, but that doesn’t mean solitude for this entrepreneur. Instead, he is taking time to give back to the community. It’s something, says Lee, that brings satisfaction and has a positive impact on those looking to kick-start ventures.

“I have integrated volunteering as part of my lifestyle,” he explains. “Since 2016, I’ve been the board director and a regular mentor at Time Auction, a charity that advocates volunteerism. I volunteer my time in private sharing sessions with the next generation, giving young people a chance at entrepreneurship by mentoring them through my experiences as a serial entrepreneur in different industries.”

When it comes to me-time, Lee is all about seizing the moment for self improvement.

“The pandemic makes us think about and reflect on ourselves,” he says. “I am spending more time on meditation and self-reflection. Mindfulness is associated with several important life domains, including mental strength and physical health, which is a powerful pillar for me on an emotional level.”

Lee’s favourite timepieces

Speaking of time, Lee is a fan of Swiss luxury watch brand Patek Philippe and owns two of their watches: the Aquanaut Chronograph and the 175th Anniversary World Time model, specially released in 2014.

“The original orange strap was a bit too loud for me,” he says of the Aquanaut, “so I swapped it for a black one to match my lifestyle. This watch goes with a suit for a meeting in the morning, and I can roll up my sleeves and get my hands dirty at a Dash construction site in the afternoon.”

As for the anniversary model, he says, “During Covid-19, with more meetings happening remotely than in person across different continents, it’s good to be mindful of the other person’s time zone.”

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