Is there a particular philosophy that you apply to PR?
As I tell all my staff, learning to be a good PR involves learning
how to become a good human being. It’s something that may take
you your whole life to achieve. And even then, you can never be
the perfect PR. You will always have flaws and there will always be
areas where you can improve.What was it like when you first set out on your own in
2013 and launched NumberOne PR?
I’m a firm believer that you have to take on various challenges
throughout your life. By 2013, I figured that I was up for such a
challenge. When you have been an employee for a while, it’s time
to consider whether you should do something in your own right.
Being an employer, though, is very different from being a member
of the staff. It’s a lot more pressure and you need to ensure that
you have enough business coming through to support your staff
and enough challenges to make sure you continue to develop.What quality do you think makes you best suited to your
current role?
My mentor, Pansy Ho [the eldest daughter of Stanley Ho,
the Macau casino magnate], taught me the importance of
understanding human nature. In the case of babies, for instance,
if they see something shiny, they have to go and touch it. With
adults, they are endlessly fascinated by diamonds and pearls.
So – and this what I learnt from Pansy – it’s very much part of
human nature to love beautiful things. When it comes to PR,
then, I believe you must also always seek out the shiniest and best
options on offer.What advice would you give to anyone now looking to
launch into PR on their own for the first time?
The world has changed – and continues to change – quite
dramatically, so my personal route may no longer have any
relevance. So, while my own experience may not count for too
much in today’s world, I do still recommend learning from the
past, especially from the mistakes of others. Once you’ve learnt
how to make accurate and precise decisions on the work front,
you also need to recognise that it’s a discipline you should apply
more widely. It’s part of what life is all about.On top of all that, you also seem to have a very active
social life. How do you strike a balance and stay both
energised and healthy?
Honestly? Sometimes I just fall asleep. I do, however, try my
best to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I box and do cardio exercises
at least three times a week and I also get facials and do my
best to eat well. Right now, I am also trying to watch my diet as
sometimes I tend to eat a little too well. Most importantly, though,
I try and make sure I get enough sleep. I may check my mailbox
before I sleep, but I always turn off my phone before I doze off. Interview by: Bailey Atkinson Photos: Jack Law Art Direction: San Wong Make-up: Janae Chan Hair: Vic Kwan Venue: Deluxe Suite, Marco Polo Hongkong HotelYou can’t be available 24 hours a day, as you have to take care of
yourself sometimes too.With your work often taking you far and wide across
Asia, if you weren’t in Hong Kong right now, where
would you probably be?
Well, I spend a lot of time in China as well, but I really love pretty
much every country in Asia. With Singapore and Thailand being
lucrative markets for us right now, I could well be in either of
those places...You have quite an impressive Instagram following
[34,400 and counting]. Would you say you have
an unusual affinity for this particular social media
platform?
It’s something I am very proud of. While I have little time for
fake followers and pretend likes – things that always ultimately
come to light – I think Instagram remains an important channel.
There’s something innately positive about sharing, even within a
commercial environment.You post a lot about your relationship with your youngest
nephew. How about is being an uncle to you in the overall
scheme of things?
My sister actually has three children and, while they’re all
extremely happy, mum and dad have a very busy schedule, so
I try and take the kids out maybe two or three times a month.
Spending time with them reminds me of my own childhood and
helps me better understand who I am today. It’s also a good way
of reminding myself to try and be a better person – to cut back
on the swearing, be more punctual and not spend all my time on
my phone...What is the last app you check before retiring for the
night?
Before I call it a day, I do the rounds on Facebook, Instagram,
WeChat and Weibo, as these are the four primary platforms. Of
course, I also check my own email, as I have a lot of international
clients who are at work while I’m asleep and vice versa.Thank you.“You can’t beat learning from
the past, especially from the
mistakes of others”
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