Skip to content

2022

  • in podcast
  • 3 min read

Reflecting on My Family

Welcome to Continuous Improvement, the podcast where we delve into personal growth, self-reflection, and the journey of becoming the best version of ourselves. I'm your host, Victor, and today we have an introspective episode lined up for you. We'll be discussing the influential people in our lives and how their legacies have impacted and shaped us.

Today, I want to start by sharing with you the most important people in my life and how their influence has left a lasting impression.

Let's begin with my mother, Tammy. She was not only my mother but also a teacher and inspiration. As an accountant, she instilled in me the importance of clear thinking and articulate expression. From a young age, she emphasized the value of hard work and taught me mathematics. But it wasn't just about numbers to her; she taught me the value of critical thinking and encouraged me to express my thoughts with clarity. Her influence shaped not only my academic pursuits but also my approach to life and morals. Through her guidance, I learned the power of articulating thoughts into words, which has become an essential part of my own thinking process.

Next, let's talk about my father, Tony, an engineer who played a significant role in shaping my interests and outlook on life. Through his readings and discussions, he sparked my passion for computer software and technology. But his impact went beyond just that. Growing up, my father stressed the importance of family and the value of discipline in all aspects of life. However, it's important to note that we didn't always see eye to eye. We have differing political views and sometimes clash on matters of opinion. This has taught me the importance of maintaining an open mind and accepting the diversity in people's thoughts and actions. It reminds me that communication and empathy are essential, even in moments of disagreement.

Now, let's move on to a person who played a significant role in shaping my emotional growth and understanding of relationships - my ex-girlfriend, Jo. While our relationship ultimately ended, the lessons I learned from her were invaluable. I experienced moments of depression during that time, which forced me to become more self-aware and empathetic towards others. I had to confront the consequences of my actions and understand the impact they had on Jo. It was a deeply transformative period that taught me the value of emotional responsibility, patience, and the ability to correct my mistakes. It was during this time that I turned to Jordan Peterson's book, "12 Rules for Life," which offered valuable insights and helped me overcome the darkness I was facing.

As I reflect upon the legacies of these influential people in my life, I can't help but feel immense gratitude for the impact they've had on my growth and development. From my mother's emphasis on clear thinking to my father's lessons in discipline and the emotional growth I experienced through my relationship with Jo, each of them has left an indelible mark on who I am today.

Thank you for joining me on this introspective journey today on Continuous Improvement. Remember, our past experiences and the influential people in our lives shape us, but it's up to us to continuously grow and become the best version of ourselves. Until next time, keep striving for improvement.

  • in zh
  • 1 min read

反思我的家庭

在這篇文章中，我想討論我生命中最重要的人，並探討他們的遺產如何影響和指引著我。

從我母親Tammy身上，我學到了清晰思考和有條理表達的重要性。她是一名會計師，教導我童年時期的數學和勤奮工作的價值。她還向我展示了如何保持積極態度，即使面對挑戰。她培養了我愛閱讀和有效自學的習慣。她會與我進行對話，談論我在學校或書本上所學到的知識，挑戰我對情況的深入思考。她的影響塑造了我的人生觀和道德觀。我發現將我的思想用言語表達是我最好的思考方式。

我的父親Tony向我傳達了家庭的價值。作為一名工程師，他從他閱讀的書籍中，激發了我對計算機軟件的興趣。他還強調了健康和生活方式選擇中自律的重要性。然而，他有時作為一個警示的例子。我們有不同的政治觀點，和我並不同意他的一些行為方式。這些差異提醒我要保持開放的心態，接受人們思考和行為方式的變異性。試圖與他爭論經常證明是徒勞的，因為他很難邏輯地表達自己的想法，也不太可能只是通過辯論就改變他的觀點。

我的前女友Jo，教導了我關於愛情和情感責任的寶貴課程。雖然我們的關所結束，導致我經歷了抑鬱，但我了解到了我傷害她的行為的後果。我被迫更加關注我的感受，以及他人的感受。這次經驗鼓勵我成為一個更好的人，培養像耐心、情緒溝通和改正我錯誤的能力這樣的品質。從我們的關所學到的課程引申到了同居和面對生活的挑戰。我們分手後，我經歷了一段特別黑暗的時期，然而，Jordan Peterson 的書 "12 Rules for Life" 幫助我克服了這段抑鬱期。

總的來說，我父母和前女友的遺產在塑造我今天的自我方面起著無可估量的作用。我深深感激他們對我的生活所做的影響。

  • 3 min read

My Productivity Plan

Over the past two weeks, I have been learning proven, science-backed tactics to boost my productivity and performance. My aim is to achieve my goals and lead the life I've always wanted. The first key to unlocking my productivity is to strategically manage my energy according to my body's natural rhythms. This allows me to operate at peak productivity each day.

I am not a machine; my body experiences natural peaks and valleys of energy throughout the day. I have a PM-shifted chronotype, a trait shared by approximately 20% of the global population. Those of us with PM-shifted rhythms prefer to stay up late and wake up late, feeling most energized later in the day.

Here is my strategic schedule, aligned with my body’s natural energy levels:

  • 6 am: Sleep
  • 7 am: Wake up and have breakfast
  • 8 am: Commute to work while reading a book
  • 9 am: Arrive at the office and start meetings

During my recovery phase, I focus on creative work and collaborative tasks, which benefit from reduced inhibition:

  • 10 am: Programming
  • 11 am: One-to-one meetings with team members
  • 12 pm: Lunch
  • 1 pm: Design technical architecture solutions
  • 2 pm: Code review
  • 3 pm: Client meetings

During my energy dip, I focus on administrative tasks and also take breaks, naps, or walks:

  • 4 pm: Write documentation
  • 5 pm: Management meetings

At my peak energy level, I tackle my most important analytical tasks:

  • 6 pm: Commute home while reading a book
  • 7 pm: Exercise at the gym and jog for 5 km
  • 8 pm: Read at the library
  • 9 pm: Dinner
  • 10 pm: Write blog posts and journal
  • 11 pm: Review CFA curriculum

Sleep:

  • 12 am: Sleep

Rest is crucial for sustaining my peak performance and achieving my life goals.

Secondly, it's essential to connect my daily tasks with my broader goals. Understanding my "ultimate whys" enables me to break down large aspirations into smaller, achievable steps. My primary motivation for doing this is to become a lifelong learner.

Quarterly Objectives:

  • Objective 1: Pass the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Level 1 exam
  • Objective 2: Pass the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional Certification exam
  • Objective 3: Enroll in a Master's degree program in Digital Leadership at the National University of Singapore

Monthly Measures:

  • Key Result 1: Pass mock CFA exams and complete practice exercises
  • Key Result 2: Gain real-world experience in AWS architecture
  • Key Result 3: Lead and deliver technology projects, while practicing leadership principles

Weekly Initiatives:

  • Initiative 1: Complete three CFA curriculum readings
  • Initiative 2: Finish CFA exercises
  • Initiative 3: Practice exam questions to improve response time

Daily Most Important Tasks (MIT):

  • MIT 1: Read physical books and e-books
  • MIT 2: Attend in-person and online lectures
  • MIT 3: Listen to podcasts while at the gym

Lastly, to bridge my daily routines to my long-term goals, I must establish sustainable habits. Learning the science behind effective habits can help these productivity tactics stick. One behavior that aids in achieving my ultimate goals is reading more books.

Habit Building:

  • Step 1: Design the cue. When I feel bored during my morning train commute, I'll initiate my reading habit.
  • Step 2: Link the habit to a craving. I believe in continuous learning and improvement.
  • Step 3: Write down the response and eliminate barriers. I'll keep my Kindle fully charged and in my pocket, along with a list of books I want to read.
  • Step 4: Create a reward. I will apply new knowledge in real-world scenarios and share my learning on my blog.

In summary, when I feel bored during my morning train commute [cue], I'll take out my fully charged Kindle to read a book from my reading list [response]. I do this because I am the type of person who believes in continuous learning and improvement [craving]. My reward will be applying the new knowledge in real-world scenarios and sharing my learnings on my blog [reward].

  • in podcast
  • 4 min read

My Productivity Plan

Welcome to "Continuous Improvement," the podcast where we explore proven tactics and strategies to boost productivity and achieve our goals. I'm your host, Victor, and in today's episode, we're diving into the fascinating world of managing our energy and connecting daily tasks with our broader aspirations.

But before we jump into that, let me share with you an incredible blog post I recently came across. Over the past two weeks, the author has been on a mission to uncover science-backed tactics for peak performance. They believe that understanding their body's natural rhythms is the key to unlocking their productivity potential.

According to the blog post, the author has a PM-shifted chronotype, meaning they prefer staying up late and waking up late. They feel most energized later in the day. To align their schedule with their body's energy levels, they have crafted a strategic routine.

Let's take a look at their daily schedule:

  • 6 am: Sleep
  • 7 am: Rise and shine, followed by breakfast
  • 8 am: Commute to work while reading a book
  • 9 am: Arrive at the office and kickstart meetings

During their recovery phase, where inhibition is reduced, the author focuses on creative work and collaborative tasks. They engage in programming, have one-to-one meetings with team members, and design technical architecture solutions.

As their energy dips, they shift gears to administrative tasks and prioritize taking breaks, naps, or walks. Writing documentation and attending management meetings are the primary focus during this period.

When their energy is at its peak, which is the analytical phase, the author tackles their most important tasks. They use this time to commute back home while reading a book, exercise at the gym, engage in personal reading at the library, have dinner, write blog posts and journal, and review their CFA curriculum.

Sleep is crucial for sustaining peak performance, so the author ensures they get to bed by midnight to recharge for the next day.

Now, that was quite an insightful routine. But what does it mean to connect daily tasks with our long-term goals? Well, one key aspect is understanding our "ultimate whys." Our host believes that breaking down large aspirations into smaller, achievable steps is vital for success.

Let's take a look at their quarterly objectives:

  • Objective 1: Pass the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Level 1 exam
  • Objective 2: Pass the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional Certification exam
  • Objective 3: Enroll in a Master's degree program in Digital Leadership at the National University of Singapore

To measure progress towards their objectives, the host identifies key results on a monthly level. For instance, passing mock CFA exams and completing practice exercises, gaining real-world experience in AWS architecture, and leading technology projects while practicing leadership principles.

To break it down further, we have the weekly initiatives. The host commits to completing three CFA curriculum readings, finishing CFA exercises, and practicing exam questions to improve their response time.

But what about daily tasks? The host focuses on their Most Important Tasks (MITs) to further align their routines with their broader goals. They read physical books and e-books, attend in-person and online lectures, and even listen to podcasts while hitting the gym.

So, continuous learning and improvement play a significant role in the host's journey. They understand the science behind building effective habits and how it can aid in achieving those ultimate goals. And one habit they're keen on cultivating is reading more books.

To build this habit, the host walks us through the four steps:

Step 1: Designing the cue. When feeling bored during the morning train commute, they initiate the reading habit. Step 2: Linking the habit to a craving. The host believes in continuous learning and improvement. Step 3: Writing down the response and eliminating barriers. They keep their Kindle fully charged and in their pocket, along with a list of books they want to read. Step 4: Creating a reward. The host applies new knowledge in real-world scenarios and shares their learnings on their blog.

Impressive, isn't it? The host has truly embraced the power of managing energy, connecting daily tasks with long-term goals, and building sustainable habits. It's time for us to reflect on our own routines and see how we can apply these tactics to our own lives.

That's all for today's episode of "Continuous Improvement." I hope you found these insights valuable and that they inspire you to take actionable steps towards optimizing your productivity and achieving your goals.

Remember, the journey towards continuous improvement is a marathon, not a sprint. Stay tuned for more episodes filled with wisdom and strategies to help you on your path.

Until next time, this is Victor signing off.

  • in zh
  • 1 min read

我的生產力計劃

在過去的兩週裡，我一直在學習經過科學證實的策略，以提升我的生產力和表現。我的目標是實現我的目標，過我一直想要的生活。解開生產力之鑰的第一步是根據我身體的自然節奏，策略性地管理我的能量。這使我每天都能在最高生產力下運作。

我不是一台機器；我身體在一天中會有自然的能量高峰和低谷。我有著一種PM-shifted的天賦型態，也是全球約20%的人口所共享的特徵。我們這一類的人喜歡晚睡晚起，覺得一天中最有活力的時候是在稍晚的時候。

以下是我根據我的身體自然能量水平安排的策略性日程：

  • 早上6點：睡覺
  • 早上7點：起床並吃早餐
  • 早上8點：通勤去工作，同時讀書
  • 早上9點：到達辦公室並開始會議

在恢復期間，我專注於創意工作和協作任務，這些任務受益於降低的抑制：

  • 上午10點：程序設計
  • 上午11點：與團隊成員一對一會議
  • 中午12點：吃午飯
  • 下午1點：設計技術架構解決方案
  • 下午2點：程式碼審查
  • 下午3點：與客戶會議

在我的能量低潮期，我專注於行政任務，並且也會休息、打盹或散步：

  • 下午4點：寫文檔
  • 下午5點：管理會議

在我最高能量水平的時候，我處理我最重要的分析任務：

  • 下午6點：通勤回家，同時讀書
  • 下午7點：在健身房運動並跑步5公里
  • 下午8點：在圖書館讀書
  • 下午9點：吃晚飯
  • 晚上10點：寫博客和寫日記
  • 晚上11點：複習CFA課程

睡眠：

  • 午夜12點：睡覺

休息對於維持我最高的表現和實現我的生活目標非常重要。

其次，將我每天的任務與我的更大的目標相連接至關重要。理解我的"最終為什麼"使我能夠將大的願望分解為更小、可實現的步驟。我做這一切的主要動機是成為一個終身學習者。

季度目標：

  • 目標1：通過特許金融分析師(CFA)一級考試
  • 目標2：通過AWS認證的解決方案架構師專業認證考試
  • 目標3：在新加坡國立大學的數字領導碩士學位課程中註冊

月度衡量指標：

  • 關鍵結果1：通過模擬CFA考試並完成練習
  • 關鍵結果2：在AWS架構中獲得真實世界的經驗
  • 關鍵結果3：在實踐領導原則的同時，領導並交付技術項目

每週行動：

  • 行動1：完成三次CFA課程閱讀
  • 行動2：完成CFA練習
  • 行動3：練習考試題目以提高回答速度

每日最重要任務(MIT)：

  • MIT 1：閱讀實體書和電子書
  • MIT 2：參加當面和在線講座
  • MIT 3：在健身房時聽播客

最後，為了將我的每日習慣與我的長期目標相配合，我必須建立可持續的習慣。學習有效習慣背後的科學可以幫助這些生產力策略堅持下去。其中一種有助於實現我最終目慙的行為是多閱讀書籍。

養成習慣：

  • 步驟1：設計線索。當我在早上的火車通勤路上感到無聊時，我將開始閱讀的習慣。
  • 步驟2：將習慣與渴望相連接。我相信持續學習和改進。
  • 步驟3：寫下反應並消除障礙。我將保持我的Kindle充滿電並放在口袋裡，還有我想讀的一些書的清單。
  • 步驟4：創建獎勵。我將在真實世界中應用新的知識，並在我的博客上分享我的學習。

總結來說，當我在早上火車通勤時感到無聊[提示]時，我將拿出我的Kindle並從我的閱讀清單中讀一本書[反應]。我之所以這樣做，是因為我是一個相信持續學習和提高的人[渴望]。我的獎勵將是在真實世界中應用新的知識，並在我的博客上分享我的學習[獎勵]。

  • 3 min read

Give and Take - Book Review

In this blog post, I will review the book "Give and Take" by Adam Grant. I believe that learning and growth are fundamental human needs. Sharing insights from this book serves as a form of active learning for me and hopefully for you as well.

Firstly, who is Adam Grant? He is a young professor at the Wharton Business School and is known for his insightful research and books. By his mid-thirties, he had already authored five best-selling books.

In "Give and Take," Grant challenges common assumptions, such as "winner takes all" and "nice guys finish last." These expressions reflect the perception that being too giving allows others to take advantage of you. This fear is often reinforced by TV shows and movies that suggest successful people must be ruthless. For example, the film "The Wolf of Wall Street" portrays finance as an industry where greed is good, and success requires one to be a monstrous alpha male.

According to the book, this perception is untrue. Grant outlines four pillars of success: strong motivation, capabilities, opportunities (or, in other words, luck), and the way you interact with others. He categorizes people into three types: takers, matchers, and givers.

Takers focus solely on what they can gain. Matchers give favors only when they expect something in return, adhering to a "quid pro quo" mindset commonly found in politics. Givers, on the other hand, prioritize others' interests over their own, helping people without expecting anything in return.

In real life, people often exhibit a mix of these styles, adapting to different situations. So which style is most successful, particularly for salespeople? Surprisingly, the book reveals that the top 10% of salespeople are givers. Why? One reason could be the principle of reciprocity: people are more inclined to assist those who help them.

Data also shows that givers are either top performers or bottom performers. The difference lies in setting boundaries. Givers who don't set boundaries find themselves depleted, with no time left for personal growth. Those who do set boundaries are more effective and find that helping others often contributes to their own development.

Instead of prioritizing wealth, power, pleasure, or competition, I favor and prioritize values like helpfulness, responsibility, social justice, and compassion. It may seem counterintuitive, but adopting a more altruistic attitude can result in mutual benefits in relationships. Research indicates that those who regularly give their time and knowledge to colleagues often receive higher raises and promotions.

In summary, the key principles for success are: 1) Show up, 2) Work hard, 3) Be kind, and 4) Be a giver. Striving to make people laugh, entertaining them, and contributing to a better world are crucial for building a good reputation, especially in a tight-knit work environment. It's not a zero-sum game; the goal is to help one another. If there's any way I can assist you further after you've read this blog post, feel free to reach out.

  • in podcast
  • 2 min read

Give and Take - Book Review

Welcome to another episode of "Continuous Improvement," the podcast dedicated to personal and professional growth. I'm your host, Victor, and today we have an exciting topic to explore: the book "Give and Take" by Adam Grant.

Before we dive into the book, let me tell you a bit about Adam Grant, the author. He's a young and brilliant professor at the Wharton Business School known for his insightful research and bestselling books. By his mid-thirties, he had already authored five books! Impressive, right?

Now, let's unravel the main points brought forth in "Give and Take." The book challenges the commonly held belief that being too giving leads to being taken advantage of. Grant breaks down success into four pillars: motivation, capabilities, luck, and how we interact with others.

Grant categorizes people into three types: takers, matchers, and givers. Takers are solely focused on what they can gain, matchers give with the expectation of receiving something in return, and givers prioritize others' interests over their own without expecting anything in return.

Interestingly, the book reveals that the top 10% of salespeople are givers. The principle of reciprocity comes into play here - people are more inclined to assist those who help them. However, the data also shows that givers can either be top performers or bottom performers. The distinguishing factor is setting boundaries to avoid becoming depleted and neglecting personal growth.

Instead of prioritizing wealth, power, pleasure, or competition, adopting an altruistic attitude can result in mutual benefits in relationships. Research indicates that those who regularly give their time and knowledge to colleagues often receive higher raises and promotions.

So, what are the key principles for success according to "Give and Take"? First, show up. Be present and engaged in all aspects of your life. Second, work hard. Dedicate yourself to your goals and put in the necessary effort. Third, be kind. Foster positive interactions and relationships. And finally, be a giver. Prioritize others' interests and help without expecting immediate returns.

Remember, it's not a zero-sum game. The goal is to help one another. By being helpful, responsible, and compassionate, we can build a better world and a good reputation for ourselves.

If you find this topic intriguing and want to explore it further, I highly recommend reading "Give and Take" by Adam Grant. It's a book that challenges our preconceptions and provides valuable insights into the power of giving.

That wraps up another episode of "Continuous Improvement." I hope you found our exploration of "Give and Take" insightful and thought-provoking. Thank you for joining me on this journey of personal and professional growth.

If you have any questions, suggestions, or topics you'd like me to cover in future episodes, feel free to reach out. Until next time, keep striving for continuous improvement.

  • in zh
  • 1 min read

給予與接受 - 書籍評論

在這篇博客文章中，我將對亞當·格蘭特（Adam Grant）的書籍《給予與接受》進行評論。我認為學習和成長是人類的基本需求。分享這本書的見解對我來說是一種主動學習的方式，希望對你也有所幫助。

首先，誰是亞當·格蘭特？他是沃頓商學院的一位年輕教授，以其深刻的研究和書籍而聞名。在他三十五歲之前，他已經寫了五本暢銷書。

在《給予與接受》一書中，格蘭特挑戰了一些常見的假設，如"贏者全拿"和"好人最後才完成"。這些表述反映了人們害怕過於慷慨會讓別人占你便宜的觀念。這種恐懼常被電視劇和電影加以強化，這些媒體建議成功的人必須無情。例如，電影《華爾街之狼》將金融業描繪為貪婪是善舉，成功需要成為一個怪獸般的領導者。

然而，書中指出，這種觀點並不真實。格蘭特列出了成功的四個支柱：強烈的動力、能力、機會（或者說運氣），以及你與他人的互動方式。他將人們分為三種類型：接受者、匹配者和給予者。

接受者只關注他們能得到什麼。匹配者只在他們期望得到回報時才給予幫助，這種“交換條件”的心態在政治中很常見。而給予者則將他人的利益置於自己之上，不期待回報地幫助別人。

在現實生活中，人們常常展現出這些風格的混合，適應不同的情況。那麼哪種風格最成功，特別是對於銷售員來說？令人驚訝的是，書中揭示了前10％的銷售員都是給予者。為什麼呢？一個原因可能是互惠原則：人們更願意幫助那些幫助過他們的人。

數據也顯示，給予者要么是頂尖的表現者，要么是底層的表現者。區別在於是否設定了邊界。沒有設定邊界的給予者會發現自己被耗盡，沒有時間進行個人成長。設定邊界的人會更有效，並發現幫助他人往往有助於他們自己的發展。

我並不優先於財富、權力、快樂、競爭，而是偏好並優先於幫助、責任、社會公正和同情等價值觀。這可能似乎與直覺相反，但採取更利他的態度可以在關係中實現互利。研究表明，那些經常將時間和知識給予同事的人往往能得到更高的加薪和晉升。

總的來說，成功的關鍵原則是：1）出現，2）努力工作，3）善良，4）成為一個給予者。努力讓人們笑，娛樂他們，並致力於創造一個更好的世界對於在緊密的工作環境中建立良好的聲譽至關重要。這不是零和遊戲；目標是互相幫助。如果在你讀完這篇博客文章後，我還有任何可以進一步幫助你的方式，請隨時與我聯繫。

  • 3 min read

Brand Strategy Recommendations

In this proposal, I'm offering strategic recommendations for Thought Machine, a fintech product company. Thought Machine has developed a core banking product that is transforming the banking industry and enabling banks to offer innovative services to their customers.

Thought Machine has experienced impressive growth, recently raising $200 million in a Series C funding round led by industry-leading VCs and global banks, including Nyca Partners, Molten Ventures, JPMorgan, and Standard Chartered. This brings our total funding to $350 million, with a valuation exceeding £1 billion. We serve a diverse set of bank clients, ranging from Tier 1 to Challenger banks, such as Atom Bank, Curve, Lloyds Banking Group, Monese, SEB, Standard Chartered, TransferGo, Arvest, ING, and JPMorgan Chase.

Our product, Vault, operates as a ledger on cloud-native platforms (including Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure) without relying on legacy technology. Vault's flexibility is powered by Smart Contracts, which can configure any type of retail bank product, including current accounts, savings, loans, credit cards, and mortgages.

We use the Clock Mode framework to evaluate every interaction between the brand and the consumer across three phases: pre-purchase, purchase, and post-purchase. The pre-purchase phase includes elements like social media, fintech events, partnerships, and responding to RFPs (Request for Proposals). The purchase phase involves enablement, API, self-service, and product service. The post-purchase phase includes support services, certification programs, training content, and newsletters.

We conducted a brand audit to identify immediate, visceral associations people have with our brand. Positive associations include terms like "modern," "smart," "technology," "trustworthy," "lean," "innovative," "scalable," "configurable," "performance," "security," "reliability," and "quality." Negative associations may include complexity, not being a "bank in a box," friction during integration, and a limited local market presence.

Building on the brand audit, we created an aspirational brand identity. The core essence of Thought Machine's brand is aspirational, simple, and visceral, serving as the foundation for modern banking. Our extended brand identity encompasses a range of features, from being a technology-focused, slightly geeky person to symbolizing cloud technology and a product-first approach.

Below are my strategic recommendations for Thought Machine:

  1. Differentiation: Focus on standing out from traditional vendors by building a high-quality cloud platform. Emphasize the unique capabilities of Smart Contracts, which offer unparalleled configurability. Strengthening this aspect of our identity can boost awareness and accelerate growth.

  2. Relevance: Offer cloud platforms that banks won't or can't build internally. Many banks are burdened with complex, siloed legacy systems. We should aim to deliver products reliably and efficiently to become an integral part of the banking industry.

  3. Sustainability: Maintain a competitive edge by offering to replace outdated mainframe servers with more modern, cloud-based solutions. Build long-term relationships with banks and integration partners to ensure success at scale and speed.

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about this proposal: Victor Leung on LinkedIn.

  • in podcast
  • 2 min read

Brand Strategy Recommendations

Welcome to Continuous Improvement, the podcast where we explore strategies and insights to help companies thrive in today's dynamic business landscape. I'm your host, Victor, and in today's episode, we're diving into a strategic proposal for Thought Machine, a leading fintech product company.

But before we jump into the recommendations, let's take a closer look at who Thought Machine is and what they've achieved so far. Thought Machine has revolutionized the banking industry with their core banking product called Vault. This innovative solution enables banks to offer cutting-edge services to their customers while leaving behind legacy technology.

Recently, Thought Machine raised an impressive $200 million in a Series C funding round, led by prominent VCs and global banks. Their list of clients spans from Tier 1 to Challenger banks, including renowned names like Atom Bank, Curve, Lloyds Banking Group, Monese, and many more.

Now that we have a better understanding of who Thought Machine is, let's explore the strategic recommendations for their continued success.

First off, we propose focusing on differentiation. Thought Machine already stands out from traditional vendors by delivering a high-quality cloud platform. However, it's crucial to emphasize the unique capabilities of their Smart Contracts, which allow for unparalleled configurability. By strengthening this aspect of their identity, they can further raise awareness and accelerate growth.

Next up, we recommend Thought Machine to become the go-to solution for cloud platforms that banks won't or can't build internally. Many banks are limited by complex and siloed legacy systems, and Thought Machine can offer them reliable and efficient products that seamlessly integrate into their existing infrastructure. By positioning themselves as a crucial player in the banking industry, they can enhance their relevance and become indispensable.

Lastly, sustainability is paramount. Thought Machine should continue to maintain a competitive edge by replacing outdated mainframe servers with more modern, cloud-based solutions. By building long-term relationships with banks and integration partners, they ensure success at scale and speed.

And that wraps up our strategic recommendations for Thought Machine. Their cloud-native core banking product, Vault, already boasts an impressive track record, but by focusing on differentiation, relevance, and sustainability, they can further solidify their position in the industry.

If you're interested in learning more about this proposal or have any questions, feel free to connect with Victor Leung on LinkedIn. You can find the link in the show notes.

Thank you for joining me on this episode of Continuous Improvement. Stay tuned for more valuable insights and strategies in our upcoming episodes. Until then, keep striving for excellence and embracing continuous improvement.