https://www.scmp.com/rss/281748/feed XXIV magazine brings together 24 of the region's most celebrated and influential names to discuss their concept of time. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com As one of Hong Kong's leading composers and producers over the past 20 years, Mark Lui has seen a lot of change in his profession. He's worked with some of the city's biggest names in pop, including Leon Lai, Kelly Chen, Justin Lo and Janice Vidal. With more than 900 song credits over the course of his career, Lui is a busy man - and no more so than today, when he juggles the needs of his family, his staff and the artists whom he collaborates with. Given his hectic schedule, he's come to... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344397/mark-lui-prefers-live-moment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344397/mark-lui-prefers-live-moment?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:48:06 +0000 More than imagination, showmanship or technical mastery, it is Franco Dragone's innate curiosity that can be credited for some of the most spectacular shows ever staged. The Italian-born Dragone has been fascinated by culture and music since childhood, after his family moved to Belgium so his parents could work in the country's coal mines. "I am always intrigued by people around the world - their lives, what they encounter in the outside world every day, and what they feel and think within," he... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344407/theatre-director-franco-dragones-favourite-show-always-next-one?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344407/theatre-director-franco-dragones-favourite-show-always-next-one?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:47:46 +0000 Comic artist Ma Wing-shing is no stranger to deadline pressure. "I am very aware of keeping to my schedule. My comic, Fung Wan [wind and cloud], is published bi-weekly, so I repeat the process of brainstorming, drawing, producing and printing every fortnight. I have been doing that for more than 30 years," he says. Ma's passion for comics dates back to year five in primary school. "I read a lot of comics from Hong Kong and Japan. Soon I started drawing sketches on notebooks and later found some... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344424/ma-wing-shing-time-what-it-takes-becoming-successful-comic-artist?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344424/ma-wing-shing-time-what-it-takes-becoming-successful-comic-artist?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:47:40 +0000 Award-winning creative director Alan Chan may be approaching retirement age, but you wouldn't know it from the more than 20 projects his firm has under way on the mainland. "The projects in China are very meaningful, from a small tea room to a clubhouse to a private home," says the 63-year-old founder of Alan Chan Design, a leading graphic design house and brand consultancy firm. "It's like the process I went through in the 1980s and '90s in Hong Kong. We dreamt so much about the brand in Hong... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344415/worldly-vision-creative-director-alan-chan-finds-meaning-every-moment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344415/worldly-vision-creative-director-alan-chan-finds-meaning-every-moment?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:47:40 +0000 As the director of the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA) in Beijing's thriving 798 art district, Philip Tinari believes in the right time to do things. "In art, we have the cycles of artists becoming discovered," he says. "They go from unknown artists to emerging artists and finally major artists. As an institution, we want to show artists at the right time in their career." Philadelphia-born Tinari, 33, was introduced to contemporary Chinese art in 2000 at the age of 19 when he, as a... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344422/state-art-philip-tinari-believes-right-time-do-things?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344422/state-art-philip-tinari-believes-right-time-do-things?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:47:40 +0000 If there's one thing David Yeo has learned on his journey from finance lawyer and investment banker to Indian Ocean tsunami survivor, and now owner of a growing global restaurant empire, it's "carpe diem". "We are never, ever going to be this young again, so I try to make each day count," he says. "For me that means trying to give back at least as much as I am fortunate enough to receive; letting family and friends who are close to you know what they mean to you, and not leaving till tomorrow... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344423/seize-day-david-yeo-tries-make-each-day-count?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344423/seize-day-david-yeo-tries-make-each-day-count?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:47:40 +0000 JAQUET DROZ Petite Heure Minute Relief Snake Featuring the King Cobra, a universal symbol of power, this limited-edition creation is available in red or grey gold. The grey diamond-set model features 309 gems on the case, buckle and dial - including on the snake's mouth and eyes.         CARTIER Tank MC The timeless Tank, a self-winding watch with the first movement produced by the Cartier Manufacture, is reimagined with an almost square-shaped dial. The large, masculine shape comes in... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344367/diamonds-all-shapes-and-sizes-are-sure-make-statement?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344367/diamonds-all-shapes-and-sizes-are-sure-make-statement?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:46:49 +0000 PANERAI Luminor 1950 Regatta 3 Days Chrono Flyblack Titanio Celebrating the union of Officine Panerai and the world of classic sailing, this chronograph features a regatta countdown function created for yacht-racing starts. It 47mm case is made of brushed titanium with an open back.           RICHARD MILLE RM 39-01Automatic Aviation E6-B A descendant of the RM 039 Aviation watch, this ultra-complex tourbillon flyback calibre is designed as a flight navigation instrument. It is a modern... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344382/master-sea-sky-and-track-these-multifunctional-must-haves?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344382/master-sea-sky-and-track-these-multifunctional-must-haves?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:46:49 +0000 Were it not for tea, Hong Kong, as we know it, would not exist. The world's second-most consumed beverage after water has been responsible for shaping history and continues to shape lives. Tea, besides being healthy, encourages contemplation and a slower pace of life. "Tea is all about taking your time and, as time is a luxury, tea has metamorphosed into a luxury of its own accord," says Taha Bouqdib, president and co-founder of TWG Tea. "We want to change people's perception of tea so that they... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344391/timeless-enjoyment-tea-drinking-has-made-it-fashionable-addition-any-luxury?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344391/timeless-enjoyment-tea-drinking-has-made-it-fashionable-addition-any-luxury?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:46:49 +0000 Kathleen Tan has never shied away from change. The CEO of AirAsia Expedia started her career in advertising and marketing before heading up Warner Music Singapore and serving as group head of commercial and senior vice-president of China for Malaysian budget carrier AirAsia. "I've always known that I like to challenge conventions and buck trends," says Tan, who is now based in Singapore. "Changes fuel me to constantly move forward and when the time is right to move on, I just know it." Named one... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344408/get-out-there-and-make-things-happen-says-airasia-expedia-ceo-kathleen-tan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344408/get-out-there-and-make-things-happen-says-airasia-expedia-ceo-kathleen-tan?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:46:24 +0000 Known for magnificent jewellery pieces that blend Eastern and Western influences, Anna Hu brings new meaning to the phrase "time is precious". "I try to capture the sparkle moment, or I try to freeze a certain beautiful melody feeling," says the Taiwanese-born founder of Anna Hu Haute Joaillerie. "Sometimes I feel I'm fighting with every second, and sometimes I feel, especially after I deliver a perfect piece of jewellery, as if the moment is frozen, it's timeless." Hu, who pursued a career as a... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344420/jewellery-designer-anna-hus-intricate-pieces-connect-past-and-future?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344420/jewellery-designer-anna-hus-intricate-pieces-connect-past-and-future?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:46:24 +0000 When Neil Orvay invested in a spa business 10 years ago, he had no intentions of getting involved in the industry. "I was in investment banking and an opportunity came to invest in a small start-up, so I thought I would give it a go; it was purely investment," says the CEO of Asia Spa & Wellness, which now runs six Sense of Touch day spas, Capelli Hair Salon, the time-efficient Fast Beauty and a newly opened medi-spa. Orvay, who has worked in London, Sydney, Singapore and Hong Kong, took the... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344406/value-investor-neil-orvay-meticulous-planning-his-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344406/value-investor-neil-orvay-meticulous-planning-his-time?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:45:45 +0000 Steve Leung has built his career with the same attention to detail he brings to every building and design project. "It was always my aspiration to set up my own practice, even on day one when I started my university studies," says the founder and managing director of Steve Leung Architects and Steve Leung Designers. "I'm the kind of man who likes to plan ahead - plan my career, plan my life. I always have my target for the next year. In the beginning of the year, I'll think about what I'm going... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344409/interior-designer-and-architect-steve-leung-likes-plan-ahead?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344409/interior-designer-and-architect-steve-leung-likes-plan-ahead?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:45:45 +0000 Anne Wang-Liu could be considered a master of planning. "I keep a relatively organised schedule of everybody's activities," says the mother of two young girls. "And I keep a very detailed running list of what needs to be done. For the children, I have a spreadsheet, actually, of all their activities - we try to fit in Chinese, English, music, sports, dance. They lead a very active lifestyle." Born and raised outside New York City, Wang-Liu studied economics at Cornell University before working... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344414/helping-hand-anne-wang-liu-brings-her-planning-skills-charitable-causes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344414/helping-hand-anne-wang-liu-brings-her-planning-skills-charitable-causes?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:45:45 +0000 Hing Chao's concept of time can be traced to the far corners of northern China. "My parents used to tell me that the most important thing in life is timekeeping. You always have to be very aware of how you spend every moment of your life," says the Hong Kong-born Chao, whose family runs the shipping firm Wah Kwong Group. "But after I went to Inner Mongolia - not that I forgot or I disagree with what they say - the significance of time completely changed." After he graduated from the University... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344412/earthpulse-founder-hing-chao-puts-focus-here-and-now?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344412/earthpulse-founder-hing-chao-puts-focus-here-and-now?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:45:45 +0000 Forty years ago, legendary United States investor Jim Rogers stopped wearing a watch and silenced his alarm clock - for good. "I realised I was a slave to my watch, so one day I just took it off and put it in a drawer," he says. "I've never worn one since. Also, I got rid of my alarm clock because I knew that the best thing was to be rested and not to wake up tired." Rogers says he has developed a reliable body clock that wakes him up every day in time to accompany his two daughters to school,... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344410/global-investor-jim-rogers-best-advice-time-management?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344410/global-investor-jim-rogers-best-advice-time-management?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:45:45 +0000 No two days are ever the same for Kevin Yeung, chairman of Feeding Hong Kong, a charity he co-founded with two partners and which services smaller food charities across Hong Kong by providing a food redistribution network and the logistics that go with it. "We have a team of six full-time staff and we service 47 food banks," Yeung says. "We run a fleet constantly. Operational excellence is really important to me. What I hate are inefficiencies and one of the joys of Feeding Hong Kong is that... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344421/striving-excellence-kevin-yeung-believes-making-most-his-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344421/striving-excellence-kevin-yeung-believes-making-most-his-time?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:45:45 +0000 Through cycles of boom and bust, jewellery has proven to be a buoy of glamour and innovation. But, while designs and materials have evolved, the techniques used in their creation have remained the same age-old methods done by hand and requiring countless hours of a craftsman's skill. Discovering how to work metals was an important progression for jewellery in ancient times. Today, the same metal-working techniques are used, but they have become more sophisticated with more intricate... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344383/jewellers-focus-preserving-age-old-craftsmanship-while-reinventing-their-signature?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344383/jewellers-focus-preserving-age-old-craftsmanship-while-reinventing-their-signature?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:45:45 +0000 The transition from life at Goldman Sachs in the private wealth management division to heading up Sloan Estate winery in California's Napa Valley was easier than Jenny Pan expected. "I thought going from the corporate world to a family operation would be much more challenging than it was, but in reality the people who have been working on the estate since the beginning are phenomenal," says the daughter of Goldin Group chairman and chief executive Pan Sutong, who bought the estate two years... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344413/jenny-pan-time-precious-commodity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344413/jenny-pan-time-precious-commodity?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:45:45 +0000 When Kelvin Wu does something, it is never by halves. This year, he rescued the Hong Kong and Singapore branches of bankrupt British music retailer HMV. In his role as principal partner and co-founder of consumer-focused private equity firm AID Partners, Wu spotted an opportunity that was too good to miss. "With private equity it is partly about timing, but there needs to be a good story, a good brand and a good team, too," he says. All the elements were present with HMV's Asian division and Wu... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344418/kelvin-wu-life-too-short-make-sure-it-spent-well?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344418/kelvin-wu-life-too-short-make-sure-it-spent-well?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:45:45 +0000 Yang Ding-yi sleeps just two to four hours per night, but the Taipei TV celebrity and head of a health empire could hardly be in better shape. After staying up late to work on medical science papers, the 54-year-old usually rises later for two hours of body-building exercise, a topic of his dozens of television appearances. He also starts the day with at least five minutes of saying private thanks to people and to parts of his body for their years of hard work. These daily habits help Yang lead... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344416/yang-ding-yi-long-one-stays-positive-and-has-little-rituals-gratitude-time-relative?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344416/yang-ding-yi-long-one-stays-positive-and-has-little-rituals-gratitude-time-relative?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:45:45 +0000 Dee Poon wears the same casual outfit almost every day: blue jeans and a loose white cotton shirt from her menswear label, PYE. The uniform matches her work ethic as CEO of China retail at textile and apparel manufacturer Esquel Group: no nonsense, no fuss, just good-quality products that speak for themselves. As a fashionista with a sense of practicality, Poon makes a great ambassador for her brand. She is one of the best-connected among her Hong Kong peers - partly thanks to her parents... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344402/dee-poon-we-have-think-about-bandwidth-management?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344402/dee-poon-we-have-think-about-bandwidth-management?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:45:45 +0000 CARTIER ID One The first watch that doesn't require adjusting throughout its lifetime, this concept piece from Cartier uses breakthrough materials (carbon crystal and Zérodur) and technologies to protect the regulating components and keep them impervious to thermal variations and magnetic fields.             CYRUS Kambys Featuring a 100 per cent in-house manufacture movement, the limited-edition Kambys features manual double-barrel winding and a seven-day power reserve. The unique piece also... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344392/groundbreaking-technologies-take-watchmaking-another-dimension?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344392/groundbreaking-technologies-take-watchmaking-another-dimension?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:45:30 +0000 GRAFF GraffStar Ultra Slim Available in white or rose gold with a 43mm case and white or black dial, this slim new model incorporates the brand's exclusive Graff Calibre 3 movement. The signature faceted case has a thickness of just 6.35mm.         VACHERON CONSTANTIN Patrimony Contemporaine Ultra-Thin Calibre 1731 A feat of watchmaking, this new minute repeater is the thinnest of its kind on the market, at just 8.09mm. The brand first produced a minute repeater in 1810 and has named this... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344354/watchmakers-shrink-movements-race-most-streamlined-model?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344354/watchmakers-shrink-movements-race-most-streamlined-model?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:45:30 +0000 For Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao, becoming a professional boxer was only a matter of time. "Boxing is my passion," says the Filipino fighter widely known as "Pacman". "That's been my life, since I was young." Pacquiao, the fourth of six children from General Santos City in the southern Philippines, started boxing as a way to escape poverty. "In our place, we had Sunday boxing every week, so my friends and I joined there and we would fight. I was 12 years old when I started," he says. "What I liked... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344394/boxing-legend-manny-pacquiaos-one-rule-about-time-dont-waste-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344394/boxing-legend-manny-pacquiaos-one-rule-about-time-dont-waste-it?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:45:30 +0000 Born in Kuala Lumpur and raised in India and England, Jane Gottschalk has always been a bit of a rebel. The founder of Jax Coco coconut water company, she is also creative director of sportswear brand Perfect Moment and director of probiotic chocolate brand Ohso. Gottschalk lived in Delhi for four years, before being sent to a "very traditional" British boarding school. "I didn't enjoy boarding school very much. I rebelled against the system and being told what to do, what to learn, how to learn... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344417/anything-routine-jax-coco-founder-jane-gottschalk-takes-opportunities-they-come?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344417/anything-routine-jax-coco-founder-jane-gottschalk-takes-opportunities-they-come?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:45:30 +0000 BULGARI Serpenti Perfectly timed for the Year of the Snake, the latest Serpenti model features two coils in white gold with diamonds, agate and a mother-of-pearl dial. Another version comes in pink gold with onyx waves and a black sapphire dial.           AUDEMARS PIGUET Haute Joaillerie With a stylised landscape dial and foliage-inspired bracelet, this symbolic timepiece celebrates the brand’s natural heritage and exquisite craftsmanship. More than 450 diamonds and sapphires are offset by... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344369/precious-gems-and-materials-make-sparkling-new-watches?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344369/precious-gems-and-materials-make-sparkling-new-watches?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:45:30 +0000 Spend a few minutes with Jason Atherton, and he'll tell you he's a lucky man. The mastermind behind Hong Kong's buzzing tapas bar 22 Ships is an award-winning chef, head of a growing international restaurant empire and happily married father of two. But it wasn't luck that got the British-born Atherton where he is today. "I never went to a private school; I didn't have the advantages kids have today. I just had a dream, and my dream was to be the best chef I could possibly be," he says. "I... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344401/globetrotting-chef-jason-atherton-likes-stay-organised?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344401/globetrotting-chef-jason-atherton-likes-stay-organised?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:45:30 +0000 DAVID YURMAN The Classic Ceramic Featuring a stainless steel and ceramic bracelet with enamel dial, David Yurman's popular timepiece is available in two sizes, black or white, and with or without diamonds. The versatile watch is also water-resistant to 30.5 metres.         AUDEMARS PIGUET Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph The first in its series to feature an all-ceramic case-middle and bezel, this sporting timepiece requires hours of sophisticated finishing work - the bezel alone takes eight... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344404/durable-ceramic-modern-material-desire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344404/durable-ceramic-modern-material-desire?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:45:30 +0000 HERMÈS Arceau H Cube The simplicity of straw is the inspiration for the Arceau H Cube's colourful miniature marquetry dial. The rye stems were scythed by hand and dyed before being cut and arranged in an H Cube motif designed by Henri d'Origny.       BULGARI Gerald Genta Commedia Dell’Arte Inspired by Italian theatrical tradition, the Commedia Dell'Arte series recreates the characters Brighella, Pulcinella, Harlequin, Pantalone and Columbine performing in scenes outside a 16th-century... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344357/theatrical-traditions-wild-animals-and-stalks-rye-inspire-range-embellished?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344357/theatrical-traditions-wild-animals-and-stalks-rye-inspire-range-embellished?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:45:30 +0000 Change over time is inevitable, but if one truly develops and improves, this change becomes something entirely more purposeful - an evolution. Pinky Lai left Hong Kong for Europe over four decades ago, taking the first step of his evolutionary journey. From his first days as a trainee interior designer in Hong Kong to design school in Italy and London, and on to work with some of the world's most recognisable automotive brands, Lai's aesthetic, work ethic and outlook have developed in ways that... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344405/working-strict-timeframes-helps-says-automotive-designer-pinky-lai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344405/working-strict-timeframes-helps-says-automotive-designer-pinky-lai?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:45:00 +0000 Former top international model Eva Shivdasani, née Malmström, is known more today for her creative input in some of the world's most exclusive resorts. Shivdasani and her hotelier husband Sonu founded the Six Senses and Evason resorts and spas before selling both groups last year. Eva was the creative director, and Sonu was the CEO. These days, the couple own two resorts - Soneva Fushi in the Maldives, where they live, and Soneva Kiri in Thailand, with plans to open a second resort in the... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344396/way-life-eva-shivdasanis-vision-slow-living?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344396/way-life-eva-shivdasanis-vision-slow-living?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:45:00 +0000 Even before he graduated from secondary school, Clive Owen knew what he wanted to do with his life. "I was 13 years old and performed in a play at school, and from that time I was absolutely clear that acting was what I wanted to do," recalls the British-born theatre, television and film star. "I feel very lucky to have known from such a young age. Lots of people struggle to find their vocation in life." After graduating from drama school, Owen appeared in a number of British television... https://www.scmp.com/article/1344393/clive-owen-acting-all-about-rhythm-and-timing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/article/1344393/clive-owen-acting-all-about-rhythm-and-timing?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:45:00 +0000 Pansy Leung Sun-chun wears many different hats in her career - as a solicitor, as a civil celebrant and as a mediator. "I enjoy all my roles. I am happy to be able to help others," she says. A typical work day starts at 9.30am or earlier, depending on whether she has to attend a court hearing or meetings, preside over a wedding ceremony, perform her role as a mediator or go to her office in Central. As a legal adviser to the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation and the Caring for Children... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075315/pansy-leung-sun-chun-i-make-sure-i-keep-my-diary?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075315/pansy-leung-sun-chun-i-make-sure-i-keep-my-diary?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Timing has played a crucial role in restaurateur Sandeep Sekhri's success. The managing director of Dining Concepts has established 19 restaurants in 10 years, including Lupa and Carnevino with celebrity chef Mario Batali. Despite his achievements, Sekhri admits he wasn't the most academically minded person, and realised early on that he loved the hospitality industry because he liked working with people. "Over the years, I've had to deal with everyone, from the dishwasher to general manager to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075302/rising-adversity-timing-was-crucial-building-sandeep?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075302/rising-adversity-timing-was-crucial-building-sandeep?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:00:00 +0000 For Boby Chan Yum-kit, building a fashion empire all came down to timing. The chairman and managing director of Moiselle International Holdings and his wife Shirley saw their opportunity in 1997 and seized it. "It was easy to build the brand in the late 1990s because many fashion stores had to shut down due to the economic tsunami," he says. "Positive thinking is important to being a success in life - it makes you notice and seize opportunities when they pop up." The brand, which is also the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075310/divine-inspiration-drives-fashion-mogul-boby-chan-yum-kit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075310/divine-inspiration-drives-fashion-mogul-boby-chan-yum-kit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:00:00 +0000 The middle of the Asian financial crisis may not seem the best time to start a luxury lifestyle business in Hong Kong. But that didn’t stop Wendy Siu, a former corporate executive with a passion for dressing up her home. “It’s never the right time,” says the founder of Heather & March. “I think it was persistence. Once I set the goal, I said, ‘just do it’. We were just a small speciality store to begin with, so I thought I’ll just give it a go.” Fourteen years later, Siu’s business is thriving... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075319/wendy-siu-not-making-drama-out-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075319/wendy-siu-not-making-drama-out-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Paul Pong thrives on the excitement of chasing a rapidly moving target. “The financial markets are changing very fast and it’s very challenging,” says the founder and managing director of Pegasus Fund Managers. “You never get bored.” In his more than 20 years in the fund management business, Pong has been through several boom and bust cycles. One of the most profitable was the Asian financial crisis. “In 1997, we held more than 85 per cent cash in our portfolio. We locked up the profits, so we... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075320/risky-business-not-lose-money-very-important-says-paul?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075320/risky-business-not-lose-money-very-important-says-paul?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Being one of the world's most renowned conductors, Jaap van Zweden is well aware of the difference even the slightest change in timing can make. "If you walk on stage and start too early, you can destroy a whole evening. If you wait too long, you can also destroy a whole evening. Everything is in the timing," says the newly appointed music director of the Hong Kong Philharmonic, who started his four-year contract with the 2012/13 season. "If you have a climax and the climax comes too early, you... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075305/setting-stage-conductor-jaap-van-zweden-timing-everything?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075305/setting-stage-conductor-jaap-van-zweden-timing-everything?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Popular South Korean historical television drama Jewel in the Palace has Ji Jin-hee playing an intelligent scholar, a role that catapulted him to international stardom. Off screen, the Korean heartthrob takes an intelligent approach to time management. “I try to manage my time by the minute. Depending on how I manage and plan my time, I can live one day with 24 hours like [I have] 12 hours or 48 hours,” he says. Ji got his start in show business by appearing in a music video at the age of 28.... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075317/scholarly-advice-try-your-best-and-do-not-regret-says-ji?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075317/scholarly-advice-try-your-best-and-do-not-regret-says-ji?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:00:00 +0000 You will never find time for anything. If you want time, you must make it,” said English philanthropist, author and MP Charles Buxton. This adage applies perfectly to Dr Marc Faber, well-known investment adviser and publisher of the monthly Gloom Boom & Doom Report. “I am on time whenever I have to be, like boarding [flights], attending conferences and at meetings,” says the contrarian investor often called “Dr Doom”. But he adds that he never sets an alarm clock and works only when he has to,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075327/ups-and-downs-investment-adviser-marc-faber-shows-no-sign?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075327/ups-and-downs-investment-adviser-marc-faber-shows-no-sign?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:00:00 +0000 The son of a gynaecologist and a hand surgeon, Gordon Hui Yip-wang would seem to have his path determined from an early age. But the chairman of Sunseeker Asia has enjoyed a varied career that began with designing buildings and continues in his present role dealing in luxury yachts. “I’m happy-go-lucky. I just see what happens next,” he says. “Your instincts tell you what your priorities are. And you don’t really know how important something is until you’re doing it.” Born in Hong Kong, Hui... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075309/gordon-hui-yip-wang-your-instincts-tell-you-what-your?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075309/gordon-hui-yip-wang-your-instincts-tell-you-what-your?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Sharon Kwok may be best known for her roles in dozens of Hong Kong movies in the 1980s and 1990s, but these days the former beauty pageant contestant is acting on a much bigger stage – planet earth. “When I got into movies, I was a teenager. I never studied acting, so it was just like a roller-coaster ride,” says Kwok, who was born in Hong Kong and moved to the United States when she was 10. “I’m actually a fine arts student and teacher, so my true calling would either be fine arts or maybe... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075313/deep-feelings-we-still-have-time-make-difference-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075313/deep-feelings-we-still-have-time-make-difference-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:00:00 +0000 When Emma Sherrard Matthew joined Quintessentially, the luxury lifestyle group and concierge service, there were only a handful of offices worldwide and a staff of four in Hong Kong. Seven years later, Matthew is global CEO, overseeing more than 60 offices and a Hong Kong headcount of 55. Born in Singapore and raised in Hong Kong and Britain, she admits it took her some time to understand the concept of a concierge service. "In my previous role in Asia, I was promoting British business, taking... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075314/lifes-priority-time-precious-ceo-emma-sherrard-matthew?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075314/lifes-priority-time-precious-ceo-emma-sherrard-matthew?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Known for his striking recreations of historical photographs, painter Li Songsong set the bar high with his first solo exhibition at New York’s renowned Pace Gallery in 2011. But the Beijing-based Li never seriously considered becoming an artist until his 30s. “Childhood dream and reality are two entirely different matters,” says Li, who studied at Beijing’s Central Academy of Fine Arts. “It’s not about whether I want to be an artist but whether I’m able to be. And it’s not as easy as choosing... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075324/artistic-touch-seize-life-because-you-only-have-it-once?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075324/artistic-touch-seize-life-because-you-only-have-it-once?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:00:00 +0000 On paper, Dr Ken Chu comes across as having an almost superhuman ability to control time. The chairman and CEO of Mission Hills Group completed university in two years, can play a round of golf in an hour and helped establish the world's largest golf club in just 10 years. In reality, Chu is an incredibly efficient multitasker who has no time to waste. "I've always lived my life at a fast pace," says Chu, who along with his late father Dr David Chu has been named one of the "Most Powerful People... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075316/life-fast-lane-leisure-guru-ken-chu-why-time-youth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075316/life-fast-lane-leisure-guru-ken-chu-why-time-youth?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:00:00 +0000 There are some things that you just cannot hurry in this age of instant gratification. In the world of fashion, that is haute couture. It is remarkable in the modern day that haute couture exists at all because it is the very antithesis of fast fashion. Nevertheless, far from having its obituary written, interest in couture has started to grow again in recent years. Haute couture is founded on a way of life belonging to the last century. It evolved in an era when women travelled to Paris to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075300/haute-couture-way-life?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075300/haute-couture-way-life?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Rainer Becker’s leap from respected hotel chef to wildly successful restaurateur didn’t happen in the kitchen, the boardroom, or even through a fateful phone call. “It was a particularly funny incident, really,” says the German-born former executive chef of Park Hyatt Sydney and Tokyo. “It’s all about timing. I had returned to London and was looking to open Zuma. I was looking for the perfect site and also an investor. I was getting my hair cut one morning and the [hairdresser] was asking me if... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075306/stroke-luck-how-time-has-been-restaurateur-rainer-beckers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075306/stroke-luck-how-time-has-been-restaurateur-rainer-beckers?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Legacy is a theme that runs through the illustrious career of designer and artist Kan Tai-keung. Lauded for his work that fuses elements of traditional Chinese culture with Western influences, “Uncle Kan” is a dedicated educator who has been an inspiration to the new generation of Chinese designers. “I believe that in each era certain things can be appreciated for a very long time, even after the passing of that period. The Chinese culture is rich and deep; there are so many different layers to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075322/familiar-pattern-how-tradition-has-influenced-artist-kan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075322/familiar-pattern-how-tradition-has-influenced-artist-kan?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Doctor, artist, scientist, inventor, entrepreneur, philanthropist – Dr Dominic Lam Man-kit is living proof that time and circumstance don’t have to be barriers to realising your dreams. “I describe myself as somebody who has been extremely fortunate,” says the Hong Kong-based founder and chairman of the World Eye Organization. “Because I’ve been so fortunate, I have had the courage and curiosity to pursue what I like to pursue. And I think if one is lucky enough, one can do anything.” Born into... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075307/eye-discovery-why-dominic-lam-man-kit-considers-himself?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-watches/article/1075307/eye-discovery-why-dominic-lam-man-kit-considers-himself?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:00:00 +0000