Skip to content

2022

  • in podcast
  • 3 min read

Journal of Self-Growth

Welcome to Continuous Improvement, the podcast where we explore ways to better ourselves and achieve our goals. I'm your host, Victor, and today we're going to delve into a topic that many of us struggle with: social interaction.

Socializing, meeting new people, and building connections can be intimidating for many of us. Whether it's the fear of failure, embarrassment, or rejection, it's a challenge that we can all relate to. Today, we'll discuss how we can overcome these obstacles and improve our social skills.

But before we dive in, let me share a little bit about my own experience. Growing up, I often felt lonely at school. While others were playing games, I sought solace in books and observed the bullying happening around me. This negative environment fueled my fear of social interaction, causing me to distance myself from others to avoid becoming a target.

However, as I've come to understand, building good relationships can greatly enhance our quality of life. It can lead to higher income, better career opportunities, increased self-confidence, and even reduced stress levels. So, how can we improve our soft skills and foster better interactions?

The first step is self-reflection. It's important to question some of our ingrained assumptions and differentiate facts from misconceptions. The fear of being unpopular, for example, can hold us back from reaching out to others. But let's challenge that notion. Instead of seeing socializing as a popularity contest, let's view it as an opportunity for growth and connection.

Another crucial aspect is to let go of past negative experiences. Traumatic events or instances where we felt rejected can leave a lasting impression on us. But it's essential to recognize that those moments don't define us. By embracing a more collaborative and curious attitude towards others, we can create a fresh perspective and start building healthier relationships.

Now, you might be wondering how to practically improve your social skills. One way is to actively seek out opportunities for interaction. Attend networking events, join clubs or groups with shared interests, or even strike up conversations with strangers. With each interaction, challenge yourself to be present, listen actively, and engage with genuine curiosity.

Additionally, don't shy away from learning about effective communication techniques. Books, online courses, and podcasts (like this one!) can provide valuable insights and practical tips. Learning how to express yourself clearly, ask open-ended questions, and empathize with others can go a long way in improving your social interactions.

Remember, improving our social skills is an ongoing process. It requires patience, practice, and the courage to step outside of our comfort zones. But the rewards are well worth it—greater success and fulfillment in our personal and professional lives.

That's all for today's episode of Continuous Improvement. I hope you found these insights helpful as you embark on your own journey of improving your social skills. As always, remember that progress is made one step at a time.

Thank you for joining me today. I'm Victor, your host, and I'll be back soon with more tips and strategies for continuous improvement. Until then, keep striving to be the best version of yourself.

  • in zh
  • 1 min read

自我成長期刊

我生活中一直讓我畏懼的一個區域是社交互動 - 認識新朋友，與陌生人交談，和建立連繫。我對失敗、尷尬和被拒絕的恐懼使我在這一生活方面的提高充滿了挑戰，但這是一個我決心要去面對的挑戰。

在我長大的過程中，我經常在學校感到孤獨。我在閱讀歷史書籍而不是參與同儕吵鬧的遊戲中找到慰藉。我還觀察到學校中發生的欺凌事件，學生們會因為他人的外貌或智力而嘲笑他們。我選擇遠離他人以免自己成為目標。這種逃避策略源於對我留下不可磨滅印象的創傷經歷。對不受歡迎的概念充滿了恐懼。

但是，如我所了解，建立良好的關係可以顯著提高生活質量。在線受歡迎可以帶來更高的收入，更好的職業，更高的自信心，更不用說降低壓力水平了。要提升我的軟技能並促進更好的互動，我需要釋放我的過去的消極經歷並更開放地對待社交。自我反思非常重要。我需要質疑一些我固有的假設，區分事實與誤解，並對他人采取更合作和好奇的態度。

通過提升我的軟技能，我相信我可以在我的生活中解鎖更大的成功和滿足。

  • 3 min read

FinTech - Digital Banking Overview and Market Research

In the Asia-Pacific region, large banks face challenges from emerging digital banks. The adoption of digital banking is growing globally, fueled by changing customer expectations and increased digital penetration. The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated this trend, compelling a more immediate need for change.

For example, in Hong Kong, large banks like HSBC are responding to competition from virtual banks. HSBC launched the PayMe mobile application well after the introduction of AliPayHK and WeChatPay in Hong Kong. Despite the late start, PayMe has amassed two million users and secured an impressive 68% market share. In addition to intensifying their digital transformation efforts, many of Hong Kong's large banks are eliminating or reducing fees to compete with newcomers.

In Malaysia, the underinvestment in technology by traditional banks raises concerns about their ability to compete with incoming virtual banks. FinTech developments are rapidly changing the financial sector landscape, with nearly 200 FinTech startups reported as of April 2019. The most significant growth areas include e-wallets and payment services. Mobile and internet banking penetration reached close to 34% and around 90%, respectively, in 2018.

Thailand also presents a robust digital and mobile penetration, making it well-positioned to become a key ASEAN FinTech hub. Although 22% of the Thai population is unbanked, high digital payments and peer-to-peer lending platforms target this demographic. The volume of mobile and internet banking transactions has grown rapidly, with mobile banking expanding at a 123% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) from 2014 to 2018.

Overall, the trend favoring virtual banks is extending across the Asia-Pacific region. Regulatory bodies like the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) in Taiwan and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) have recently approved new virtual bank licenses. Countries with large underbanked and unbanked populations, such as the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia, offer compelling cases for the introduction of virtual banking.

In London, JPMorgan Chase is entering the UK market with a digital-only lender, marking its first retail bank overseas in its 222-year history. Initially offering current accounts with a rewards program, Chase plans to expand into personal lending, investment, and eventually, mortgages.

In New York, Tier 1 banks dominate the market, charging high fees while showing little demand for new products and instant payments. However, the city seems to be following digital banking trends in the Asia-Pacific region, and changes are on the horizon.

In Tokyo, the Japanese FinTech market has seen rapid growth, with revenues expected to reach HKD80 billion by 2022. Most of the top-funded FinTech applications focus on cryptocurrency, investment management, and trading. Demographic trends like a declining and aging population have led to decreased profits in the overall banking industry.

In other large markets, digital banking is experiencing a period of significant growth. Traditional banks, initially slow to adapt, must navigate a highly regulated and complex landscape to remain competitive. The scarcity of digital talent has further hindered this transition, making it essential for established banks to adapt quickly to protect their market share against emerging challengers.

  • in podcast
  • 3 min read

FinTech - Digital Banking Overview and Market Research

Welcome back to another episode of Continuous Improvement, the podcast where we explore the ever-evolving landscape of the banking industry and discuss strategies for staying ahead in the digital age. I'm your host, Victor, and today we're diving into the challenges faced by large banks in the Asia-Pacific region as they contend with the rise of digital banking.

The adoption of digital banking is on the rise globally, driven by changing customer expectations and increased digital penetration. The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated this trend, creating an urgent need for change. In this episode, we'll take a closer look at how traditional banks in the Asia-Pacific region are responding to competition from emerging digital banks.

Let's start with Hong Kong. Large banks like HSBC are feeling the pressure from virtual banks. Despite being a late entrant into the digital banking space with their PayMe mobile application, HSBC has managed to amass an impressive 68% market share and two million users. To compete with newcomers, many of Hong Kong's traditional banks are intensifying their digital transformation efforts and even eliminating or reducing fees.

Moving on to Malaysia, concerns arise about the underinvestment in technology by traditional banks. With nearly 200 FinTech startups reported as of April 2019, the rapidly developing FinTech sector is changing the landscape. E-wallets and payment services are seeing significant growth. However, traditional banks must adapt to keep up with the incoming virtual banks.

Thailand is also well-positioned to become an ASEAN FinTech hub. Despite 22% of the Thai population being unbanked, digital payments and peer-to-peer lending platforms are targeting this segment. Mobile and internet banking transactions have grown rapidly, with mobile banking expanding at a remarkable 123% Compound Annual Growth Rate from 2014 to 2018.

It's not just the Asia-Pacific region experiencing the shift towards virtual banks. Regulatory bodies elsewhere, like the Financial Supervisory Commission in Taiwan and the Monetary Authority of Singapore, have recently approved new virtual bank licenses. The Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia, with their large underbanked and unbanked populations, present compelling cases for the introduction of virtual banking.

Even in cities like London and New York, where tier 1 banks have dominated the market, change is on the horizon. JPMorgan Chase, for instance, is entering the UK market with a digital-only lender, marking a significant move for the bank. New York, albeit slowly, is witnessing digital banking trends similar to the Asia-Pacific region. The demand for new products and instant payments is growing, challenging traditional banks to adapt.

Meanwhile, in Tokyo, the Japanese FinTech market is booming, with revenues expected to reach HKD80 billion by 2022. Top-funded FinTech applications in Japan mainly focus on cryptocurrency, investment management, and trading. The declining and aging population has affected overall banking industry profits, prompting banks to explore new avenues for growth.

Digital banking is experiencing significant growth in large markets worldwide. However, traditional banks, initially slow to adapt, are now faced with the task of navigating a highly regulated and complex landscape. The scarcity of digital talent further heightens the need for established banks to adapt quickly to protect their market share against emerging challengers.

That's it for today's episode of Continuous Improvement. I hope you found our discussion on the challenges faced by large banks in the Asia-Pacific region enlightening. Stay tuned for future episodes where we'll continue to explore the evolving world of banking and discuss strategies for staying competitive in an increasingly digital world.

Thank you for tuning in, and until next time, keep striving for continuous improvement.

  • in zh
  • 1 min read

金融科技 - 數位銀行概覽及市場研究

在亞太地區，大型銀行面臨來自新興數位銀行的挑戰。數位銀行的採用在全球範圍內持續增長，其動力來自於客戶期望的變化和數碼滲透率的提高。COVID-19疫情更進一步加速了這種趨勢，使得改變的需要更為迫切。

例如，在香港，像滙豐這樣的大型銀行正對虛擬銀行的競爭做出回應。滙豐在香港引入AliPayHK和微信支付後才推出了PayMe手機應用程式。儘管起步晚，但PayMe已經吸引了二百萬用戶，並獲得了令人印象深刻的68％市場份額。除了加大數位轉型的力度，香港的許多大型銀行也在消除或降低費用以與新進入者競爭。

在馬來西亞，傳統銀行在科技方面的投資不足引發了人們對其是否能夠與即將到來的虛擬銀行競爭的疑慮。金融科技的發展正在快速改變金融領域的格局，截至2019年4月，報告的金融科技初創公司近200家。最重要的增長領域包括電子錢包和支付服務。手機和網路銀行滲透率在2018年分別接近34％和約90％。

泰國也呈現出強大的數位和手機滲透率，使其有望成為東盟金融科技中心的關鍵位置。儘管泰國有22％的人口未被銀行涵蓋，但高額的數位付款和P2P借貸平台則針對這一族群。手機和網路銀行交易量已經快速增長，其中手機銀行在2014年至2018年期間的複合年增長率（CAGR）達到123％。

總的來說，偏好虛擬銀行的趨勢正在擴展到整個亞太地區。如台灣的金融監督管理委員會（FSC）和新加坡的金融管理局（MAS）近期已經批准了新的虛擬銀行牌照。有大量未被銀行覆蓋的人口的國家，如菲律賓、越南和印尼，對引入虛擬銀行提出了有力的案例。

在倫敦，摩根大通將以一家僅數位的貸款機構進入英國市場，這是其222年歷史中首次在海外設立零售銀行。Chase初步提供的是帶有獎勵計劃的當前賬戶，並計劃擴展到個人貸款、投資，最終還將涵蓋抵押貸款。

在紐約，翹楚銀行主導著市場，它收取高額費用，對新產品和即時付款的需求卻很小。然而，這座城市似乎正在跟隨亞太地區的數位銀行趨勢，變革正在地平線上。

在東京，日本的金融科技市場已經見證了快速增長，預期到2022年收入將達到800億港元。大部分獲得最多資金的金融科技應用集中在加密貨幣、投資管理和交易上。像人口下降和老齡化這樣的人口變化趨勢導致整個銀行業的利潤下降。

在其他大型市場，數位銀行正在經歷一個重要的增長期。一開始適應力較差的傳統銀行，必須在一個高度監管和複雜的環境中導航以保持競爭力。數位人才的稀缺進一步阻礙了這種轉變，使得已建立的銀行必須快速適應以保護他們的市場份額免受新興挑戰者的影響。

  • 3 min read

My Hand Writes My Heart

I am writing this article in the hope of finding inner peace and self-reflection. Writing is therapeutic. At the moment, it helps me focus, gather my chaotic thoughts and ideas, and search my soul for answers to life's questions. It offers a solution to the issues that trouble me, disrupt my sleep, and rob me of peace.

Today, I lost my inner peace because it was the last day of my trip back home to Hong Kong, a place I hadn't visited for almost two years. Due to the COVID-19 situation and various government policies, I had been unable to travel freely. I stayed in Singapore, just 4 hours away by flight from my family and girlfriend, whom I hadn't seen for so long. Although I should have felt excited about being back in Hong Kong, I felt inexplicably frustrated, sad, and lost.

I should be grateful that my family is still here and my girlfriend is safe and communicates with me. However, Hong Kong has changed, and not for the better. I don't want to delve into politics, but this external change partly explains my sadness. Yet, the root cause of my emotional turmoil lies within me. I am disappointed in myself for not meeting certain expectations. Life would be simple if I were just living for myself; quarantining in a hotel for a week, away from work and others, brings me peace.

Reality, however, is unavoidable. I can't forever escape the relationships that demand my attention. Whether it's family, my girlfriend, colleagues, or friends, I have been using the pandemic as an excuse to avoid facing these responsibilities. Now that I am back home, I can no longer maintain my emotional distance, and this disrupts my inner peace.

Firstly, my family is wonderful, and it's good to be back. However, my parents are aging and heading towards retirement. I must find the courage to confront these facts. Health and financial challenges are inevitable, and I must prepare to take care of them. Though they are in Hong Kong and I'm four hours away in Singapore, it's manageable — despite the inconvenient travel restrictions.

Secondly, my girlfriend wants to get married but doesn't wish to leave Hong Kong, as her aging mother is there. We are limited by our differing perspectives, which is frustrating for me. I believe it's essential to consider emigration, especially from a political standpoint. Yet, she remains unconvinced, and I can't change her mind if she's unwilling to change her own.

Thirdly, I am dissatisfied with my own life. I'm unhappy about aging and losing hair, as well as not achieving traditional markers of success. I understand I shouldn't compare myself to others, but the societal pressures are difficult to resist, especially when old friends and classmates seem to be doing better according to Asian societal norms.

In summary, I feel like I have not reached my full potential, and this bothers me deeply. I am struggling to find inner peace, and it may be time to pause and meditate to understand myself better.

  • in podcast
  • 3 min read

My Hand Writes My Heart

Hello and welcome to "Continuous Improvement," the podcast where we explore personal growth, self-reflection, and the pursuit of inner peace. I'm your host, Victor, and today we're diving into the powerful concept of finding inner peace through self-reflection.

In our fast-paced and chaotic world, it's easy to lose sight of ourselves and become entangled in external events and expectations. But as our blog post content suggests, writing can be therapeutic and help us gather our thoughts to find the answers we seek.

Today, I'll be sharing my own personal journey, as written in the blog post, and discussing the importance of facing our emotions, taking responsibility for our relationships, and confronting the societal pressures that weigh us down.

The blog post begins with the author's return trip to Hong Kong, a place they hadn't visited in almost two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the excitement of being back home, they found themselves unexpectedly frustrated, sad, and lost.

The author delves into the external changes that Hong Kong has undergone, but they recognize that their emotional turmoil stems from within themselves. They highlight the importance of self-reflection for finding inner peace.

Our first point of discussion revolves around the author's familial responsibilities. They express their disappointment in themselves for not meeting certain expectations and using the pandemic as an excuse to avoid them.

It's important to recognize that avoiding responsibilities will only disrupt our inner peace in the long run. Taking the time to confront these challenges head-on can help us build stronger relationships and find a sense of fulfillment.

Moving on, the author explores the tensions within their romantic relationship. While the author believes in considering emigration for political reasons, their partner holds a different perspective due to their aging mother residing in Hong Kong.

This divergence in perspectives can create frustration and a sense of being stuck. We'll discuss how finding common ground and open communication is essential in resolving conflicts and finding compromise without compromising our own values.

Lastly, the author discusses their dissatisfaction with their own life and the societal pressures they face. They admit to feeling like they haven't reached their full potential and compare themselves to others according to societal norms.

This is a struggle many of us face – the constant comparison and the pursuit of traditional markers of success. We'll explore the importance of self-acceptance, embracing our own journey, and finding fulfillment on our own terms.

In conclusion, inner peace is not something we stumble upon; it's a journey of self-reflection and continuous improvement. It requires facing our emotions, taking responsibility for our relationships, and resisting societal pressures that hinder our self-growth.

Join me in our upcoming episodes, where we'll dive deeper into these topics and explore practical steps to cultivate inner peace amidst life's challenges. Remember, true peace begins within.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of "Continuous Improvement." If you found this discussion valuable, please subscribe and leave a rating or review. And as always, keep striving for personal growth and embracing the path to inner peace.

Until next time, this is Victor signing off. Remember, the journey to continuous improvement starts with you.

  • in zh
  • 1 min read

我的手寫出我的心

我寫這篇文章是希望找到內心的平靜和自我反思。寫作是有治療效果的。此刻，它幫助我專注，整理我混亂的思想和想法，並在我心中尋找生活問題的答案。它提供了一種解決困擾我、影響我的睡眠並奪走我內心平靜的問題的方法。

今天，我失去了內心的平靜，因為這是我回到香港的最後一天，這是我近兩年來沒有造訪的地方。由於 COVID-19 的情況和各種政府政策，我無法自由地旅行。我待在新加坡，距離我的家人和女朋友只有四小時的飛行時間，我已經很長時間沒有見到他們了。儘管我應該對返回香港感到興奮，但我卻無法理解地感到失落，難過，和迷茫。

我應該對我的家人仍在這裡，我的女朋友安全並和我保持溝通感到感激。然而，香港已經變了，而且不是變好。我不想深入討論政治，但是這種外在變化部分解釋了我的悲傷。然而，我情緒困擾的根本原因在於我自己。我對自己未能達到一些期望感到失望。如果我只是為自己活著，生活將會很簡單；在酒店隔離一周，遠離工作和其他人，讓我感到平靜。

然而，現實是無法避免的。我不能永遠逃避需要我付出關注的關係。不管是家人，我的女朋友，同事，還是朋友，我一直在用大流行病作為藉口來避免面對這些責任。現在我回到了家，我不能再保持我的情緒距離，這打亂了我的內心平靜。

首先，我的家人很棒，能回家真好。然而，我的父母正老去並且即將退休。我必須找到勇氣面對這些事實。健康和金融挑戰是無可避免的，我必須準備好照顧他們。雖然他們在香港，我在新加坡，距離只有四個小時的飛行時間，這是可以管理的 —— 儘管旅行限制造成了不便。

其次，我的女朋友想結婚，但不願離開香港，因為她年邁的母親在那裡。我們的觀點不同，這對我來說很沮喪。我認為考慮移民是非常重要的，尤其是從政治的角度來看。然而，她仍然不信服，如果她愿不愿改變自己的想法，我無法改變她的想法。

第三，我對我自己的生活不滿意。我對漸老和脫髮，以及未能達到傳統的成功標誌感到不開心。我明白我不應該和別人比較，但社會壓力難以抗拒，尤其是當舊朋友和同學似乎按照亞洲的社會規範做得更好。

總的來說，我覺得我還沒有發揮出我全部的潛力，這深深地困擾著我。我正在努力尋找內心的平静，也許现在是停下來冥想，更好地了解自己的时候。

  • 3 min read

Positioning for Technology Consultancy

Positioning involves applying a systematic, repeatable process to identify the unique attributes of my service, differentiate it from competitors, and articulate this positioning into an effective sales pitch. In this post, I aim to create a differentiated value proposition based on my service's unique features and capabilities.

A positioning challenge arises when some clients view me as a technology consultant while others see me as a software developer. Competing in both categories against fully staffed software vendors, I find myself without a clear positioning strategy. With a saturated market of technology consultants, even the best ones struggle to secure projects. Clients often wonder why they should choose my consultancy over the alternatives. Effective product positioning can help me stand out and capture the unique value of my service in a crowded market.

My ideal customers are those who already intuitively understand the value of my services. Specifically, CEOs and founders of growth-stage fintech startups who have a strong technical background. These individuals prioritize team expansion and product scaling, and they seek solutions to their technical challenges.

From my target customers' perspective, there are several alternatives they might consider before opting for my service:

Alternative 1: Outsourcing to consulting firms

  • Accenture
  • Deloitte
  • Capgemini

Alternative 2: Searching online for technical answers

  • Stack Overflow
  • Quora
  • Reddit

Alternative 3: Hiring in-house roles

  • Software Developer
  • Business Analyst
  • Architect

Alternative 4: Self-learning through videos

  • YouTube tutorials
  • Udemy courses
  • Online coding bootcamps

My service offers unique attributes that set it apart from at least one of these alternatives:

  • Blog content
  • Technical expertise
  • Knowledge sharing
  • Product management skills
  • Personal stories
  • Video content
  • Best practices
  • Business acumen

To identify the most compelling aspects of my service, I repeatedly ask the question "So what?" until I arrive at a value proposition that is clearly differentiated and directly beneficial to customers. Through this exercise, I've identified the following differentiated values:

Differentiated Value 1: CEOs are avid readers, often relying on recommended blogs. My blog offers:

  • 1.1 Blog Content: Condensed into an Amazon Kindle book for easy reading.
  • 1.2 Product Management Skills: Proven experience in product development.
  • 1.3 Technical Expertise: Hands-on software development capabilities.
  • 1.4 Business Acumen: Skills in stakeholder management, leadership, and communication.

Differentiated Value 2: My blog serves as an effective lead generation tool for my consultancy, particularly offering:

  • 2.1 Best Practices: Expertise in the banking industry.
  • 2.2 Knowledge Sharing: Insights into deploying new technical products in financial markets.

Differentiated Value 3: Clients can gauge my approach to business and technology before engaging my services, made possible through:

  • 3.1 Personal Stories: Revealing my experience in technology consulting in the banking industry.
  • 3.2 Video Content: Storytelling with humor.

With these differentiated values in mind, my blog aligns well with a framework that includes:

  • A. Competitive Alternatives: DIY approaches.
  • B. Unique Attributes: Concise, valuable blog posts.
  • C. Differentiated Value: Expertise and thought leadership.
  • D. Best-Fit Customers: CEOs of Series A and Series B fintech startups.
  • E. Market Category: Technology consultancy for financial companies.

As for the next steps, I plan to:

By April 2022

  • Update the landing page messages on my website.
  • Add more case studies.
  • Conduct interviews with top-five clients to refine messaging.

By May 2022

  • Create a sales pitch focused on technology consultancy.
  • Respond to Requests for Proposals (RFPs).
  • Add more technology and business content to my blog for brand awareness.

In summary, I am repositioning as a specialized technology consultant for financial companies. Leveraging a proven agile methodology, I aim to help such companies architect and develop software solutions that improve their business performance. My services range from software development for startups to consulting for larger tech companies and custom product management. To find out more, please visit https://victorleungtw.com/.

Feel free to reach out to discuss how I can assist your team in both business and technology.

  • in podcast
  • 3 min read

Positioning for Technology Consultancy

Welcome to Continuous Improvement, the podcast where we explore strategies and techniques for personal and professional growth. I'm your host, Victor, and in today's episode, we'll be diving into the topic of positioning and how it can help us stand out in a saturated market.

Positioning is all about identifying the unique attributes of our service or product, differentiating it from competitors, and effectively articulating that positioning into a compelling sales pitch. Today, we'll be focusing on creating a differentiated value proposition based on our service's unique features and capabilities.

Now, let's address a common challenge many of us face when it comes to positioning. We may find that some clients view us as technology consultants, while others see us as software developers. So, how do we compete in both categories and stand out against fully staffed software vendors?

The answer lies in effective product positioning. In a market saturated with technology consultants, even the best ones struggle to secure projects. Clients often wonder why they should choose our consultancy over the alternatives. Effective positioning can help us capture the unique value of our service in a crowded market.

Now, let's define our ideal customers. We're targeting CEOs and founders of growth-stage fintech startups who have a strong technical background. These individuals prioritize team expansion and product scaling, and they're seeking solutions to their technical challenges.

To understand our positioning better, let's take a look at some of the alternatives our target customers might consider before choosing our service.

  • Alternative 1: Outsourcing to consulting firms like Accenture, Deloitte, or Capgemini.
  • Alternative 2: Searching online for technical answers on platforms like Stack Overflow, Quora, or Reddit.
  • Alternative 3: Hiring in-house roles such as software developers, business analysts, or architects.
  • Alternative 4: Self-learning through videos on platforms like YouTube, Udemy courses, or online coding bootcamps.

So, with these alternatives in mind, how can we differentiate ourselves? Let's explore some unique attributes that set us apart.

  • First, we have our blog content that is concise and valuable, condensed into an Amazon Kindle book for easy reading.
  • We also bring product management skills and proven experience in product development to the table.
  • Our technical expertise is hands-on, ensuring we have the capabilities to deliver high-quality software solutions.
  • And finally, we have strong business acumen, which includes skills in stakeholder management, leadership, and communication.

But it doesn't end there. Our blog serves as an effective lead generation tool and offers insights and best practices specifically tailored to the banking industry. We also provide personal stories that reveal our experience in technology consulting, allowing clients to gauge our approach before engaging our services. And let's not forget about our video content, where we share stories with a touch of humor.

So, armed with these differentiated values, how do we align our blog within a framework that resonates with our target audience? Here's the breakdown:

  • First, we identify the competitive alternatives, such as DIY approaches that our ideal customers may consider.
  • Second, we highlight our unique attributes, focusing on concise and valuable blog posts, expertise, and thought leadership.
  • Third, we communicate the differentiated value we bring to the table, which includes our expertise and how it benefits our target customers.
  • Next, we define our best-fit customers, which are CEOs of Series A and Series B fintech startups.
  • And finally, we position ourselves within the market category of technology consultancy for financial companies.

So, what are the next steps in our positioning journey? By April 2022, we plan to update the landing page messages on our website, add more case studies, and conduct interviews with our top-five clients to refine our messaging.

By May 2022, we aim to create a sales pitch focused on technology consultancy, respond to Requests for Proposals, and continue adding more technology and business content to our blog for increased brand awareness.

In summary, we're repositioning ourselves as specialized technology consultants for financial companies. Through our proven agile methodology, we aim to help these companies architect and develop software solutions that improve their business performance. Our services range from software development for startups to consulting for larger tech companies and custom product management.

Thank you for joining me on this episode of Continuous Improvement. If you'd like to learn more about our services, please visit our website at victorleungtw.com. And don't hesitate to reach out to discuss how we can assist your team in both business and technology.

Remember, continuous improvement is the key to success. So let's keep evolving and finding new ways to stand out in our respective fields.