I have started my work for four weeks now, and things have been running smoothly. I have been stuffed my derivatives knowledge and have gone through a steep learning curve to install all the greeks, derivatives payoffs, strategies as my second nature. I have also been running a Thing Worth Reading investment newsletter to summarize and collect interesting research pieces on macro economics and financial market, and to share resources with my friends who have genuine interest in finance.
I read the book newly published by a good friend of mine from LSE, Jan, called Racing Towards Excellence. I have known Jan for more than two years, and he is one of the most amazing persons I have met in the UK. The book unveiled some of the systematic approaches he and his mentor, Muzaffar, used to excel in life and to outperform in career. I strongly recommend it to anyone who wishes to be an outperformer in life and balance achievement and happiness. Key takeaways are that in contrast to common belief, success does not have a high entry barrier, but does require a well designed, thoroughly executed, and enduringly implemented framework and approach, i.e. a collection of habits, ranging from time management, diet, mnemonics, etc and a vision. I personally find the reading exceedingly beneficial and the feedbacks on the book are a good testimony of the quality of the book. Looking back, I feel ashamed that I didn’t utilize some of the resources available and push the boundary hard enough into the unknown field possible. But you treat life as a Markov Chain, what matters is not the past, but the future, not your starting point, but the leap you make from that reference point. Inspired by Jan, and many truly extraordinary stories from my friends, I am embarking on a new journey after my 22nd birthday, a new career, and a more optimized life path. Time will tell its implication, but at least I feel I am not leaving it to chance.
I went to an photography exhibition informally sponsored by Swire Group at Asian House in London. It’s a collection of photos taken by Kate, a British photographer, under a scheme to explore the simple but also remarkable stories in normal families around China. I deeply shared their vision and truly respect the work they conducted. A book was published to immortalize all these stories that will not normally appear on national newspapers or join the catchy media headlines, but I believe that many of us have lived that or witnessed that, and the act of unveiling and documenting these bits and pieces of history itself is a moving story that should be praised and not forgotten. Our parents’ and grandparents’ generations have made the most contribution to the thrive of China, but I strongly doubt that they are the ones that are benefiting the most from the revolution, and indeed I feel that they are at the bottom of the beneficiaries list. This can be a reality of history cycles and efforts will take time to bear fruit, but in understanding and being aware of that, we should by no means ignore or underplay the fact. Humanity plays a central role in the Confucius ideology, and so should it be in today’s government policy and social norm.
I had a reunion with my friends from Stanford in London and it’s amazing to see my friends from the other side of the pond are actually settling down in the UK, in Oxford, in Stanford House, a place I have never been but surely look forward to paying a visit soon. Among many things we did on the day, we managed to get indoor of the world premier of Rautavaara's Incantations Percussion Concerto and Bruckner’s Symphony 8 under conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin. I enjoyed the concert and it brings back my memory of Peking University, where I always enjoy attending various concerts at its grand auditorium. I was culturally educated the whole day, from classical architecture to modern music, and I felt my right brain was heating up. Talking about brain, I have started reading Tony Buzan’s pioneering work on unlocking human brain’s limitless potential. I shall update you on my findings soon.
I know I can carry on with a paragraph on financial market analysis but I will leave it for email communication and call it a day.
Any thoughts and feedbacks welcome & wish whoever is reading a nice weekend and a great start of new week. Yesterday was the last day of British summer time, so all of a sudden I got an ‘extra’ hour today and it does remind me that the sunshine outside my window is merely an illusion, and the winder is quietly coming.
George
georgetanyifan@gmail.com
