It’s time (to take some time off)
After five-plus years in the smartphone industry, it's time to take some time off. While I'm stepping out of the business, this is probably the first time in years I've had time to reflect, not least the lessons learned (more on that another day).
To recap my story, following a short stint in the Oil business, I arrived in Hong Kong from the UK at 26, really not knowing what to do in life. I wanted to get into a future industry, and it felt like smartphones and apps were the two most promising technologies of the time After a failed post-graduation attempt to get hired by Apple (despite being an unapologetic fanboy), I got my chance surprisingly via a city a few dozen miles to the north...
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Some years have passed since taking those first steps. As I look back, one thing sticks out a mile; the people. Great colleagues, teams, companies I've worked at, as well as industry partners and friends, more than enough for a lifetime. Something too I've noticed in life, and especially with work - we don't often take time to celebrate the good times. With the smartphone industry in the last half-decade or so, there's been plenty of those.
Today, most phones are pretty good now and have, for better or worse, become the place where we spend most of our time. Life PC's before it however, there's a general feeling the industry is a little stagnant, especially as it
. While overall fair, I still think it's a really exciting time to be in and around Technology, especially consumer electronics and the Internet, because there's always something new.
Aside from work, as we know the global pandemic has changed everything. It's hit home there's nothing more important than life itself, a reminder to take time for your loved ones, not forgetting yourself. For me personally I'm looking forward to taking some time off now to catch up with family and friends before looking at what's next.
Thanks,
Alex