September 6th, 2011 in 
Like the Chinese gentleman who shared our table for Dim Sum at Aik Hoe, everyone in Penang seems to get by in at least three languages – Chinese, Malay and English. I do admire that in a person because, like most New Zealanders, I’m a monoglot.
That wasn’t the only reason I liked him, though. He was his own man. At 87, so he should be.
Share each dish, he told us, you’ll eat less and taste more. Start the day at five. Oatmeal for breakfast keeps you young – I’ve eaten it almost every day for fifty years. No cream or sugar. Work in your business every day [he has an electrical business with 150 employees]. Exercise your brain. Sleep well. You’ll be healthy like me.
I was talking about creativity, and how it’s built on hard work, tradition and craft. Qualities necessary to creativity, but not sufficient. Our friend was a clue to something else you’ll need: authenticity.
The other day Stephen reminded me of a video from Ira Glass, about how long it took Ira to sound like Ira (listen to it here; or be a devil and listen to all four parts).
Ironic, isn’t it, that finding your own voice should be so hard?
But until you do, you sound like everyone else. Or no one.
I have no choice but to be myself. Everyone else is taken.
Cheers, Ian
PS Today’s other lesson was that I eat too much black pepper. Bad for my eyes.
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