While it’s no secret that DBers love their wine, you may be surprised to know that there’s a world-class palate amongst us. Alexander Grasic sits down with Tim Clark, who has just received one of the most prestigious wine-tasting awards in the worldSo Tim, what exactly have you won? Well, over the past six years I have sat several exams with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET). They teach you how wine (and spirits) are made, about different varieties across the globe, and how to taste them consistently and effectively. I sat my Level 4 Diploma (the highest level WSET offers) in September of last year and, in November, I was told I had won the Vintners’ Cup, meaning that I received the highest aggregate score in my exams out of anyone in 2019. You must be following in some pretty big footsteps? Many of the most respected names in the business have won this award over the years. Jancis Robinson, a doyenne of the industry, who wrote the Oxford Companion to Wine, a reference book I used in my studies, won in 1978. Sarah Heller, a fellow HongKonger, won in 2013. You can take WSET courses in over 70 countries and there are over 50,000 qualifiers (Level 1 and up) a year. The Vintners’ Cup is sponsored by London’s Worshipful Company of Vintners, one of the oldest guilds in the city. So, you had your work cut out for you? Absolutely. It was harder than university – a two-year slog. The Level 4 Diploma course consists of six units, so that’s six written exams and four assessed tastings, plus one research paper (citations and all). I wouldn’t have been able to do any of it without the support of my wife Bethan and our daughter Stanley. Tell us more about the wine tasting, the best bit surely? I had hundreds of bottles of wine and spirits to taste, many of which are still sitting on my kitchen counter and floor. That in itself was a challenge. Many of the more recherché bottles had to be ordered in the UK and individually brought back. I bought tiny 3-millilitre commercial samples of the fine spirits so as to avoid financial ruin, and I invested in this contraption called a Coravin that allows you to siphon the wine out of the bottle through the cork via a needle. Bottles closed with natural cork reseal after accessing. Of course, the Coravin only works on still wine, not on sparkling. There’s nothing you can do to keep an opened bottle of sparkling wine fizzy beyond a day or so. How did you refine your palate? Well, practice, as they say, makes perfect… and I got some unexpected help from Dr Jackie Ng at Herbal Healthcares in DB Plaza. I found that his Chinese medicine detox, which I was on purely for health reasons, really helped heighten my sense of taste and smell. What’s next? The classic job after getting this diploma is a wine buyer but that’s not for me. I’m looking into wine education. I plan to hold formal classes as well as one-to-one sessions. But, for now, I’m hosting people at my house for informal tastings; I have to get through all those bottles somehow! Writing is another passion of mine and I plan to start a website to demystify wine. I want to write about the industry and wines in Hong Kong, and I’d like to share my experience of WSET to help others on their courses. I’m also talking to your editor about writing a series of articles for Around DB. So, wine lovers stay tuned!

Singer, yoga teacher and short filmmaker: Yana Fortep talks to Alexander Grasic about the importance of self-love and how performance has the power to heal. Photo by Baljit GidwaniHow did you end up in Hong Kong? That’s a big question; I have to go back in time a bit. Before I moved here, I was an established jazz and electronic dance music singer in Russia. I grew up in Petrozavodsk, which is quite a big artistic city, before moving to St Petersburg when I was 20. I wanted to be a star and I was quite successful: I had releases on major international music labels like Hedkandi, Clubstar and Seamless Recordings; I made a vinyl record and toured across Europe. I was at the peak of my career, but I realised I had no family, no love. Fans don’t replace normal human relationships. So, I moved to Hong Kong because of love. I got married, gave birth to a beautiful son here and now my life has changed completely. How has your music reflected this change? The songs I have created recently (yanafortep.com/new-blog) are about spiritual growth. Once I had my son in 2014, I really began to discover my spiritual side through things like Kundalini yoga, Reiki and crystal healing. It’s You, for example, is about connecting with yourself – with the real you, who doesn’t hide behind a mask. It’s about the importance of self-love. I shot the music video in DB with the help of Camilla Warburton. I got my spiritual sisters together on Sam Pak Wan and we had a great time; we really shared the love. One of my aims is to help people achieve happiness through art. So, your music has a message? Now more than ever, I’m trying to spread a message of self-love. I’m not talking about vanity or egotism; I want people to learn to accept and be compassionate towards themselves. Even my fun music is about self-love, as is my documentary and what I teach in yoga. I’ve gone from being a club diva to a ‘shamanic mum,’ and what’s important is self-acceptance. Somewhere along the line, I made up my mind to accept my many interests and simply allow myself to be. Tell me more about your documentary. Love is Inside is about my good friend Syv Bruzeau, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2009. She reveals that over the years she had lost herself and that the cancer was her body’s way of telling her that. Through meditation and Butoh, an introspective postmodern performance art, she went on a painful but ultimately life-saving journey to find herself again. She healed herself using art therapy and natural methods and by feeling unconditional love. I thought it was an important story to tell because she talks about her pain, but she also speaks of universal pain, and how to overcome it. Safe to say it’s a passion project. Love is Inside is my first complete work where I am director, composer, camera operator and editor. I needed some help with the technical stuff, graphic design and translations but I did all the editing myself on iMovie. I created some new songs, and when I dug up some old tunes, that I hadn’t done much with, I found they fit perfectly. The universe gives us everything we need if we are on the right path. So, what’s next? My current project, Art by Everyone, which I debuted at an art therapy conference in Beijing last November, involves singing interactively with the audience using different voice lines, claps and snaps. Together, we can create a beautiful harmony. People love to sing. I can help them. I teach vocals in a studio and I also lead Kundalini yoga sessions on Tai Pak Wan. We do a lot of meditative mantra singing. Come join us!

Lingostars provides Mandarin and Korean education services to both children (Year 1 to Year 13) and adults. If you want to learn Mandarin and/or Korean, for whatever reason, you can get help from us. Second-generation Korean kids can maintain their ties with their parents’ country by learning more about Korean culture and languages at our centre, too. My business is a success because it encapsulates my entire career. My experiences as a teacher and as a certified simultaneous/ consecutive interpreter and translator in Mandarin-Korean enable me to help anyone interested in learning Mandarin and Korean. To succeed in business, you need to be persistent and flexible at the same time. Carrying out tasks single-handedly is important, but listening to other people is even more important as it opens up new perspectives and opportunities. My advice for someone looking to start up a business is to do it now. Don’t wait for the right moment to come along – there isn’t one. And remember, an idea that seems great now might not be valid later. To start up my business I spent a lot of time brainstorming with my husband. My teaching experience gave me confidence, and I found I knew what to do every step of the way. The greatest challenge I’ve faced was when I had to delay the opening of our centre in DB North Plaza due to COVID-19. I spent four months worrying whether to keep the business or not. But I had a long-term goal and I stuck to my original plan. My plan for the future is to make Lingostars synonymous with Mandarin/ Korean teaching excellence, and I want to entice people from across Hong Kong to our DB centre. In the future, I would like to expand the business first to Hong Kong Island and eventually further afield, ideally to New York and Singapore. While online learning is becoming more popular, I believe people, especially young children, still prefer an interactive learning experience. When hiring staff, I always ask about their long-term vision and willingness to accept new challenges. The entrepreneur I most admire is Peter Thiel. His book, , awakened my entrepreneurial side and made me venture in a direction that I’d never imagined possible. The chapter “If you build it, will they come?” totally changed my approach to marketing. You need to have the right product, but you also need to know how to launch and promote it in the right way. My favourite social-media platforms are Instagram and Facebook. While Facebook is more marketing oriented, Instagram gives me a plethora of ideas about how to make my classes fun and interactive. My personal motto is to stay positive, and keep moving forward.

REPORTING BY Raphael Blet PHOTOS BY Baljit Gidwani - www.evoqueportraits.com & Raphael Blet Founded in 2012 by 18-year DB resident David Garceran Nieuwenburg, Caissa Hong Kong Chess Club is one of the oldest and largest chess clubs in the city. Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, Caissa provides training, tournaments, events and camps for its members, aged four to 60 years. Caissa launched modestly enough with just five students, providing classes out of DB Community Centre. Now, the club has over 250 members and hosts classes in DB North Plaza, Sheung Wan and schools around Hong Kong. Ask David, who was competing in tournaments in his native Holland at age eight, why he founded Caissa, and he says: “Hong Kong has no real chess scene like you’d find in Europe. I put my children into some local schools but found the teaching too random; the teachers were not rigorously trained.” On joining Caissa, students get to learn from a team of six International Chess Federation licensed coaches, two of whom, Matthew Tan and Marcos Llaneza Vega, have earned the prestigious title of International Master. “The Caissa coaches really are the heroes of the hour,” David says. “They are the professional instructors, many hired from abroad. They are the face Caissa presents to students and their parents.” Over the last 10 years, Caissa coaches have played an essential role in nurturing youngsters’ love for chess, partnering with schools from Malvern College and Harrow International School to Discovery College and Discovery Montessori Academy. Children as young as four can learn the basics of chess through workshops and game playing, and Caissa is currently rolling out a programme for kindergarten-age kids for the first time. “Chess is fun. It’s about connecting with others and exchanging thoughts and ideas,” David says. “It’s not the kind of thing you should enrol kids in because there is a gap to fill between piano lessons and Mandarin. Chess club shouldn’t be somewhere kids go simply to improve their mathematical capabilities either; that’s a side effect.” At Caissa, the coaches encourage players of all ages to experiment with alternative chess forms to keep them thinking and having fun. “We always try to do something new in Hong Kong in regards to chess,” David explains. “For instance, we hold Fischer Random events which help players stay creative as there are 960 different starting positions possible.” Among Caissa’s most widely used teaching methods is the Steps Method, developed by Royal Dutch Chess Federation members Rob Brunia and Cor van Wijgerden. “The Steps Method consists of six steps, each of which corresponds to a rating, step one equalling 800 and step six up to 2,100,” David explains. “Our Senior Trainer Matthew Tan worked very closely with van Wijgerden.” Right now, David and his team are preparing to host a series of winter camps for kids age five and up in DB North Plaza and, with borders open, they are looking forward to competing internationally again next year. For more on Caissa Hong Kong Chess Club, call 6938 7603, email contact@caissahk.com or visit www.caissahk.org .

Having expanded their reach with a second branch in DB, the co-founders of EMS Fitness Hong Kong share the secrets of their success. PHOTO COURTESY OF EMS Fitness Hong Kong Ask a bunch of entrepreneurs what drives them and most will say their passion, their belief in whatever it is they are sharing with clients. Beatrice Chan, co-founder of EMS Fitness Hong Kong, is no exception. “I had a leg injury six years ago when I was living in Germany and it was difficult for me to do sports,” she opens. “EMS training gave me good results. I saw the impact of EMS at first hand. So, I decided to get my personal training cer tification and join an EMS studio to learn more about the benefits.” By 2021, Beatrice and her husband Simon Stoll had moved to Hong Kong and launched EMS Fitness in Central, confident that they had spotted a gap in the market. “Before we opened, I looked into the sports and health scene in Hong Kong and I saw that EMS training was not present,” Simon says. “EMS is well-established in Germany and we felt there was a place for it here.” Finding the right target audience is essential to any start-up and Beatrice and Simon were convinced they had found that in busy, of fice-bound Hongkongers. “Time is very important to people here and EMS is an effective way for them to keep fit in a short period of time,” says Simon, referring to the way a 20-minute EMS training session can deliver the same result as a two-and-a-half-hour conventional gym workout. “EMS technology helps to contract over 90% of muscles simultaneously thus providing a shortcut to strengthening, body toning and fat burning,” he adds. “It’s USP, and why it’s proving such a hit in Hong Kong, is that it works but it’s not time consuming.” Nevertheless, launching a new business during a pandemic has to be seen as a… bold move. What advice does the couple have for wannabe entrepreneurs, who are stuck on the fence, waiting for the ‘perfect time’ to start out. “You need to find the determination to go for it – even if the odds seem stacked against you,” says Simon. “We had a couple of entrepreneur friends advising us to be cautious about opening a business. But we were so convinced by our business model that despite the uncertainty, we went ahead. “If you open a new business, the important thing is to be flexible,” Simon adds. “We started on a small scale with just the one branch in Central. This really paid off. Be resilient and test the response before you invest too much, that’s important!” So after a relatively cautious start, what spurred the expansion to DB and how did the couple go about it? “Expansion of a business should align with demand,” says Beatrice. “Many customers in our Central studio wanted to work with us in DB, which is why we decided to open a branch in DB South.” Simon also did his market research, and decided that DB had the right demographic. “DB has the expat and health-conscious crowd,” he says. “It’s different from other suburbs in Hong Kong.” Supported by referrals from both existing clients and local clinics, Beatrice and Simon are happy with the way their business is growing. The question has to be asked, however: what do they say to the sceptics out there, people who find the idea of EMS too good to be true? “What we see is that once people try it, they are much more convinced,” Beatrice says simply. “And once they see the results, they keep coming back. “The 20 minutes are very tough. It’s not like you are standing there doing nothing. People are sweating within five minutes. EMS is tough but ef ficient. It’s a shortcut to fitness.” Clients are also impressed by the state-of-the-art equipment on offer, and Simon advises anyone starting out in business to invest in the best. “Our EMS machines are designed and made in Germany,” he says. “We decided to go with the market leader because of its long-standing reputation. Also, these German machines are medically certified.” Asked to share more secrets of their success, the couple are quick to point out the importance of choosing the right people to work with, in this case their five personal trainers. “Some of them have personal training backgrounds and others, like me, have a service industry background,” says Beatrice, a former flight attendant. “We look for people with good people skills because they need to give customers a pleasant experience and motivate them to stick to a routine.” Looking to the immediate future, the couple believe consistency will keep their business on track and, in terms of expansion, they have a quality over quantity mindset. “Depending on how 2023 picks up, we may set up a third branch or even move to DB South Plaza,” Simon says. Meanwhile, the couple’s endgame is to make EMS Fitness the market leader in Asia. “We’re very confident!” Beatrice concludes. EMS Fitness Hong Kong offers a range of personal training session packages and attractive membership plans. For more on the DB studio and to make a booking, WhatsApp 6200 2463 or visit www.ems-fitness.hk .

Fifteen-year DB resident Stefano Passarello arrived in Hong Kong from Italy in 2004 as an unpaid intern and quickly made his mark. You may know him as the founder of leading Hong Kong accountancy firm People & Projects (PNP), or the co-founder of ground-breaking wellness resort chain Kapuhala. Maybe you’ve heard of him as three-time local champion of the Hong Kong Marathon and marathon record holder of the AG Ironman World Championship. To celebrate the DB opening of his latest venture – fintech accounting and tax firm, Monx – Stefano provides some inspirational advice for budding entrepreneurs. STEFANO PASSARELLO PHOTO BY Beatrix Malan - www.atscollective.com Ask Stefano Passarello about entrepreneurship and he opens with something unexpected: “Top performing entrepreneurs prioritise the optimisation of their physical and mental wellbeing. Mental health, physical health and financial health are deeply interconnected. Throughout my experience in business, I have observed that individuals who consistently achieve success in their ventures are those who devote time to training and enhancing their mind, body and spirit.” Is this why you opened the DB branch of Monx right by Kapuhala in DB Nor th? “Yes, this way I can combine the elements of physical, mental and financial health in one space. I like my employees to work out and also it allows those living and working around DB to commute less and focus more on wellbeing. We support people who are looking to re-establish balance in the brain and body. Effective entrepreneurship involves actively suppor ting others. The most powerful force in the universe is to help others. If I see somebody who really needs help, I make myself available 24/7 – not only on the financial side but also on the cognitive side, showing them how to be a better business person.” Can you elaborate on that? What advice do you give someone who wants to become a better business person? Is it about drive, about passion? “Our motto at Monx is ‘Devoted to Business’ – we call ourselves Monx because we are as devoted to business as monks are devoted to religion. It’s not about passion, it’s about obsession. Successful entrepreneurs are crazy, they are obsessed; they have a hunch and they go for it. You can have a passion for golf or football but to be successful in business, you need to be a crusader, you need to have a plan and a purpose. “If you want to start a business my advice is break it into parts: one aspirational, and the other technical. If you have a dream, go and chase it. The crusade is what drives you in the morning, what inspires you. But it’s not all about vision – you need to measure everything. If you don’t have a good accountant next to you suppor ting you with your numbers, you are done. Accounting is not just compliance; accounting is the compass that drives your ship.” How important is it to have a Unique Selling Point? “The most impor tant thing is to deliver top quality. Always deliver the best and create a perception of value between your firm and whoever else. My inspiration with Monx was to establish an accounting firm that would reinvent the industry. High efficiency, extreme customer service, no ties, no protocols. In our industry, accountants are usually slow and they tend to make lots of mistakes because of tight deadlines. We solved this problem with technology. I like to believe that I’m a bit of a revolutionary challenging the status-quo. Monx is fast, committed and also per fect. Fintech is the bad boy of finance and I like it.” Is there one thing a business needs to succeed? “Success in business is a moving target but what I can tell you is that it’s about company culture, not the money. You need sustainability in your financial models, happy customers and a happy team. Money comes and goes and it will come if you have these three elements in place.” How do you go about creating a strong company culture? “I do not see my team as employees; they are my extended family, period. This is the culture we have. What distinguishes us from anyone else is that our team has free access to physical and cognitive enhancement facilities. Whoever works at Monx can leave early, work remotely and use Kapuhala’s workout space. They get to meet futuristic entrepreneurs and all sor ts of interesting people.” What do you look for when hiring staff? “I look for adaptable people who will embrace our company culture. And I look for people who have a serious hobby – runners, pianists, ballerinas. This shows consistency and obsession. We like those people; we like those people showing off.” Monx was founded in 2021 and already has a global presence with 50 people in nine offices. How do you make time for family? “The day is very long but those who say they have no time for family don’t know how to prioritise. I have time to compete in sports at the highest level. I run an organisation of amazing people and we are very successful. I have a side business, Kapuhala, with my wife and I’m very happy with that. I also spend at least two-and-a-half hours each day with my kids, more at the weekends. “There are many times I bring my kids to business meetings, they sit there, who cares? I’m not ashamed of it. I’m very proud. I show them how my business works. I’m sure that they will soon start helping with the business because they grew up with it. There is no separation for us between business and family. We run a business like a family.”For more on Monx and to schedule a consultation with Stefano, call 5286 0155, email hello@monx.team or visit hongkong.monx.team.

Monx takes pride in being your trusted partner for all your accounting and tax needs. With a global presence and a local office right here in Discovery Bay, Monx offers a unique blend of expertise and personalised service that sets us apart from the rest. So, why is Monx special and why should we be your go-to firm for accounting and tax services? OUR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE lies in our ability to provide global services at local prices. With offices spanning the globe, we have an in-depth understanding of international accounting standards and tax regulations. This allows us to effectively assist clients with their international tax planning and compliance requirements, while also helping them achieve their global expansion goals. Whether you are a multinational corporation expanding your operations or an individual with overseas investments, we have the knowledge and experience to navigate the complexities of the global financial landscape, all while offering competitive pricing tailored to the local market. TRADITIONAL MEETS THE FUTURE. At Monx, we go beyond the traditional role of an accounting and tax firm. We believe in nurturing and mentoring companies, especially those in the DB community, exposing them to the best practices in the industry, revolutionary cloud-software solutions to improve operations and much more. Our local presence and DB team are testament to our commitment to the community. We have already established strong relationships with more than 35 clients in the area, and our client base continues to grow steadily. SPECIFIC NEEDS OF DB CLIENTS. We have a multicultural team of dedicated experts who are fluent in over 10 different languages, including Italian, Spanish, French, Cantonese and Mandarin, which allows us to serve you in the language of your choice! This is especially important due to the diversity in DB. In DB people come and go, and so we offer tailored services such as company incorporations, visa consultancy for Hong Kong and abroad, tax services and MPF declaration and withdrawals for those just arriving, or planning to leave. Our physical presence in DB ensures that our clients have convenient access to our services. We believe in building personal and responsive relationships with our clients, and having a local office allows us to do just that! BEYOND NUMBERS. At Monx, we understand that accounting and tax services are not just about numbers, they are about people and their goals. We are passionate about helping our clients succeed, and we take pride in the role we play in their journey. When you choose Monx as your accounting and tax partner, you can expect a team of dedicated professionals who will go above and beyond to understand your unique needs and provide tailored solutions. Not only that, all Monx clients receive complimentary mentorship for purpose-driven and early-stage entrepreneurship. Monx is more than just an accounting and tax firm. We are your trusted partner, offering global expertise at local prices. Our commitment to nurturing companies and supporting entrepreneurs sets us apart. We are here to serve the DB community and help businesses and individuals thrive. Choose Monx for all your accounting and tax needs, and experience the difference of having a true partner by your side. CONTACT MONX TODAY Email hello@monx.team WhatsApp / Phone 5286 0155

Insights from Thorsten Allenstein, manager of OKAY.com in Discovery Bay Ask realtor Thorsten Allenstein, manager of OKAY.com in Discovery Bay, what makes the resort such a unique and desirable place to live, and he focuses first on the strong sense of community. “Many people think of DB as a transient society but in fact there are many long-term residents, who have been living here for years. DB is safe, convenient – 25 minutes to Central – and a real haven for outdoor enthusiasts. On top of that, it’s family friendly with excellent schools, like Discovery Bay International School, ESF Discovery College and Discovery Montessori School.” All this translates into high demand and high prices for homes. “Yields in DB are double those on Hong Kong-side, so it’s a great market for investors and home seekers alike,” Thorsten says. “After prices deflating for the last two years, we seem to have reached a plateau and expect to see price increases in the second half of the year.” In DB since 2003, Thorsten is in a good position to reflect on changes in the local market, and anticipate trends. “We are seeing shifts in buyer preferences: more and more locals and mixed couples from Hong Kong Island and Kowloon are interested in DB. Importantly too, due to the population cap of 25,000 imposed by the Government on the developer, we foresee a strong increase in prices in the coming years.” So what advice would Thorsten give to someone who is considering buying or selling a home in DB? “For sellers: find an agent/agency who has the potential to market the property beyond the borders of Hong Kong. For buyers: work with an experienced real estate professional, like OKAY.com , who has in-depth knowledge of the local market.” Thorsten is quick to point out that his team of expert realtors takes pride in working with clients to find homes that satisfy their needs and desires. “We ask our clients detailed questions about their lifestyle, preferences and budget, while also providing information about the area’s history, culture and amenities. We use our knowledge of the local market and community to guide our clients to find the best fit.” Just as importantly, OKAY.com’s DB team plays its part in fostering a sense of community and helping new residents feel welcome and integrated. “We make a point of connecting clients with local resources and events, and introducing them to their neighbours – other residents that we have relocated to DB,” Thorsten explains. “We organise events like BBQs in the common areas to welcome newcomers, and we join them in communitybuilding activities like beach clean-ups and dragon boat racing. All this helps our clients settle in faster and establish immediate connections.” OKAY.com The award-winning real estate agency that focuses on accurate property listings, with property agents dedicated to helping, not hard-selling.

Christoph Bauchinger moved to DB five years ago largely to ensure his baby daughter would grow up with plenty of green space to run around on. In January this year, he decided to bring more “green” to the community, opening The Golf Bay, a top-of-the range indoor golf simulator in DB North. The former sports journalist and sometime stay-at-home dad has some inspirational advice for budding entrepreneurs. REPORTING BY Kayli Liebenberg PHOTO BY Beatrix Malan - www.atscollective.com Ask Christoph Bauchinger to name the entrepreneur he most admires and he declines with a wry grin. “I admire any entrepreneur that opens something up because they think it’s a good idea and they see an opportunity. It takes guts and it takes risk to build a business whatever industry you’re in. “With a start-up, there’s always risk involved,” Christoph adds. “You can do all the research you want, you can feel so prepared but when you open, you still can’t be sure if it will work out or not. You definitely need to be a risk-taker but it should be a calculated risk. If you’re reckless, it can work out, but then luck comes into the equation, which you don’t really want to rely on.” Can you elaborate on that, Christoph? How do you ensure you’re taking a “calculated” risk when starting up a business? “You need to factor in two things: location and competition. The main reason I opened The Golf Bay in DB is because there aren’t any indoor golf simulators here or nearby. I thought I would use a simulator if there was one in DB, and I knew that friends of mine and other people in the community would want one here too. It’s very convenient. And we opened in the winter – prime golf season in Hong Kong. “There are a lot of simulators in other parts of Hong Kong, so the competition is much tougher. Anyway, I felt I could do it better in DB. We’ve got a large space in DB North – you need plenty of room in a simulator and you especially need height, otherwise, you can’t swing the golf club.” You’re a keen golfer. Should you only open a business if you’re passionate about it? “I’m sure there are lots of examples of people who are running successful businesses that they aren’t passionate about – people who just saw a niche in the market – but it’s going to be a lot easier if it’s something you like doing as well. If it’s something you’re not passionate about, you might get into trouble if things don’t go as you expected, whereas if you’re passionate about it, you’ll be more involved and you’ll know how to move forward. If you don’t care about it, you might give up when you start facing difficulties. “At the end of the day, what’s important in business is that you know what you’re doing. I know golf. I’m not an expert but I know it well enough to make a living from it. You need to have at least a degree of interest or passion in what you’re going to do.” Does this affect who you hire? Do you look for employees who share your passion? “I look for people skills more than anything. It’s not that important to know the ins and outs of golf. My employees aren’t going to give you tips on how to swing the club or anything like that but they can show you how the systems work and they can make sure you have a good time. “What’s important is that you have staff you can rely on, which I’m happy to have. In the afternoon, my employees take over so that I can pick my daughter up from school. My wife works full-time; there’s lots of coordinating and planning.” So, would you say successful entrepreneurship involves teamwork? “Absolutely. You need to know when to let other people do things that you’re not so good at. You need to be realistic about your strengths and weaknesses. Otherwise, you’ll take on too much and that’s not going to help you. “When running a business, you also need to know how to persevere and work through difficulties. You need to be as organised as possible because there are so many different aspects of running a business and there’s so much going on in the background. If you’re not organised, things can spiral out of control.” Can you pinpoint one thing that has ensured The Golf Bay’s success? “We didn’t cheap out on the equipment or facilities. The tech that we have is very high-end, very accurate. People who train here see results – it adds to their game and improves their skill – this keeps them coming back. It’s important not to take your customers for granted. You need to make sure they have a good time and get their money’s worth.” Lastly then, what is your end game? “To make The Golf Bay as successful as it can be, so people in DB have a place to play and practice and enjoy themselves. Most of our customers are from DB. I wanted to add something to the community that isn’t just another pizza place or real estate agency. I set up The Golf Bay to give people something new to do, and to encourage kids and teenagers to get into golf.” The Golf Bay provides bay rentals and multiple bay rental packages for both right- and left-handed players in DB North. Golf lessons are also on offer. To know more and make a booking, visit w ww.thegolfbay.hk .

Island Cleaning Solutions is a big hit in Discovery Bay not least because the founders are islanders and they like to recruit locally PHOTO BY Sarin Ale When Matthew Bentley and Jason Crisp co-founded Island Cleaning Solutions (ICS) in August 2020, they did not specifically set out to target Discovery Bay but the cleaning and wellness firm has quickly become a go-to for home and business owners across the community. “This has everything to do with the nature of our customer base,” Matt says. “Our services include cleaning of air-conditioning units, soft furnishings, upholstery and leather, as well as whole-home/ office deep cleaning and disinfecting. We are geared towards those who appreciate attention to detail and high standards. “I also feel like our brand image, service pillars and uniforms go a long way to getting our teams recognised within the community,” Matt adds. The fact that Matt is a DB resident and Jason is a former DB resident, now living in Peng Chau, further explains the firm’s local appeal. “Jason and I have a lot of contacts in the area and most of our first clients were DBers,” Matt says. “At the start, all of our advertising was through word of mouth. When a customer is impressed with our service and gives a personal recommendation, for instance through one of the local Facebook pages, like DB Mums, it has a big impact.” Matt and Jason also like to keep it local when recruiting staff. “When we were looking to expand our team, we reached out to the community and received a lot of interest,” Matt says. “We continue to use DB Facebook groups for recruitment: we’ve employed a lot of DB residents full-time and we also offer internships – part-time employment to DB students returning on gap years.” THE DB TEAM At the time of writing, ICS has three DB residents on staff: Andrew Escott (supervisor), Brandon Samuels (supervisor) and Jayden Gough (technician). Andrew came on board three years ago, during the pandemic, when the company he worked for was in trouble – he was recruited by Jason. Brandon, a former sports coach, joined at about the same time – his dad and Jason are buddies. Jayden was recruited just 10 months ago when he was fresh out of school and waiting tables – he and Jason got chatting in a DB coffee shop. Ask the DB trio what they get out of working at ICS and they all focus on the enjoyment they gain from being part of a dedicated team. “At ICS, we have a really good bunch of guys,” Andrew says. “We’re all striving for the same thing; we’re very ambitious about what we do and there’s great camaraderie in the company.” “We follow five core pillars at ICS,” Brandon adds. “We call it DIRTA: Development, Integrity, Respect, Transparency and Ambition. Learning these has made me more responsible, punctual and disciplined. That’s why I’m a supervisor now.” What then makes ICS so successful according to the core DB team members? “When we go to a client’s house, we explain exactly what we’ll be doing and we clean everything to our full potential; we also tell our customers if there’s a problem, for instance if an aircon needs replacing,” says Brandon. “And we always show up on time,” Jayden adds with a grin. “I think our customer service is great.” Andrew elaborates: “First of all, we take each other very seriously, and we hold each other accountable. My personal background, like Jason’s, is the British military, so we approach the job with military bearing in terms of punctuality, what we wear, the way we conduct ourselves. That, coupled with the camaraderie, makes for a very good working environment and it means we work to a very high standard.”

Sharon McEneff, director of DB-based T8 Corporate & Business Services , outlines the benefits for small businesses. Are you struggling with managing your accounts? Finding that as your business grows, you no longer have the time to manage your finances? From entrepreneurs to start-ups, this is a common issue that every growing organisation faces. Dealing with financial planning, cash flow, payroll, and other staffing issues can quickly become overwhelming, distracting you from focusing on what really matters. Here at T8 Corporate & Business Services, we know how tough it can seem, which is why we’ve taken a closer look at the biggest benefits of outsourcing your accounting. Trying to understand accounting processes and requirements can require a lot of time and effort, time that could be better spent focusing on expanding your business. Hiring an experienced professional will free up that time and allow you to focus on the things that matter most, like taking your business to the next level. Working with an outsourced accounting partner can be a cost-effective alternative to hiring a full-time member of staff. Although there is an initial outlay, an external accountant will reduce the costs that accompany payroll, as well as the costs of recruiting and hiring. Importantly, you do not need to provide an outsourced accounting partner with insurance and employee benefits. Outsourcing your accounting is also scalable; you can increase or decrease their services depending on your needs. A professional will have the experience and knowledge to meet your current demands, as well as give you the support you need as your business grows. When choosing a partner to work with, you want to ensure that they have the ability to adapt as your demands change. Technology is transforming the world the world we live in, and it is no different for your accounting partner. That is why one of the most important aspects you want to look for is the level of automation provided. The more automation you can enjoy, the less effort you need to put in, and the higher the accuracy of your reports. This will allow you to enjoy real-time insight, while also helping to reduce the risk of mistakes or fraudulent activity. Of course, that reduced risk of human error is another significant benefit. Trying to juggle managing your business and accounts can be a complex process,increasing the risk of making a mistake. Working with a proven accountant will take that pressure away from you. One of the biggest benefits of outsourcing your accounting is that you can benefit from unrivalled expertise. A talented, well-qualified accountant, with years of experience in working with small businesses, can tailor their approach to meet your exact requirements, giving you the confidence to grow your brand. What’s more, thanks to their years of experience, an outsourced accountant will be able to help answer any questions that you might have and give you the guidance you need. Lastly, there’s the full-service factor. An outsourced accountant will be able to provide you with a wide array of services that can support you in growing your business. From keeping your books and tracking expenses to managing payroll, a proven accountant will be able to support you every step of the way. So, are you considering outsourcing your accounting? Here at T8 Corporate, we pride ourselves on delivering a comprehensive and dedicated service that is guaranteed to help you take your business to the next level. With years of experience in finance, we have helped hundreds of small business owners reduce the stress of managing their accounts, allowing them to focus on what really matters. Sharon McEneff is the director of T8 Corporate & Business Services in DB North Plaza. T8 delivers business administration services including full-service outsourced accounting. For more information, email sharon.m@t8corporate.com or visit www.t8corporate.com.

Crossfitter and father of three Nicholas Worley was born and bred in Hong Kong and moved to DB just four years ago. A family man first and foremost, Nicholas launched Inalife in July, a digital family legacy platform which allows subscribers to share memories and time delayed messages with their loved ones and descendants. The former PR consultant turned tech start-up founder has some inspirational advice for budding entrepreneurs. REPORTING BY Kayli Liebenberg PHOTO BY Sarin Ale Nicholas, what’s the single most important thing to consider when setting up a business? “You need to ask yourself, does something like this already exist in the universe, or can I do it better than someone else. That’s what I admire about Steve Jobs. He changed the world with the iPod, Mac, iPhone, all that stuff, now everyone uses it. The impact he’s had on society is amazing. “I created Inalife specifically because there was nothing in the market that could do what I wanted. So, having an original idea is the thing, that and passion for what you are setting out to achieve.” You should only start a business if you’re personally invested in it? “Yes, 100%. There are always going to be challenges along the way and if you’re not passionately committed, you’ll just stop… you’ll take the easier, softer option, like going back into corporate. To make a success of a start-up, you also need patience, because things are never going to go exactly the way you want them to. And you have to be adaptable, you have to be willing to power through and make alternative plans. “One of my favourite quotes is Dulcius Ex Asperis – “sweeter after the struggle”. It’s one of the mottos I live by. If you achieve something really easily, that’s fine. But if you work really hard at something, like I do with Olympic weightlifting, and all the work pays off, it’s truly gratifying. If you’ve put the effort in, you feel like you deserve your success.” Do you have other motivational maxims to share? “Yes: “this too shall pass” or to put it another way, “you can’t stop to smell the roses”. Once you start something, you have to keep moving; you have to keep thinking about the next step. If things aren't going well from a business perspective, don’t dwell on it. Think: What’s next? How do I move on?” Do you need a business plan in place to help with that? “Yes, the launch of a business is one thing but when you reach the end of your first year, you should have already planned for the second and third year, and figured out your long-term objective. Your plan should be flexible, but if you have something mapped out, you can constantly look back and ask yourself: have I hit my objectives? What do I have to adapt here? What’s missing from a short-term and long-term perspective?” Looking back, how did you find the courage to launch your own business? “It was hugely personal. The idea for Inalife first came to me when my grandparents passed away in 1999 and, on and off through the years, it’s always been in my thoughts, driving me a little bit. Should I do this? Maybe I'll give it a try. How do I do it? When my mother-in-law passed away last year, leaving next to no digital legacy, I finally decided that I wanted to go full-forward with the start-up. I saw it firstly as a platform for my family to use and, of course, I hoped it would interest and benefit other families. My sister provided me with some great advice in the early stages: she told me to start making Inalife real – to choose a website name and get a logo done. “You really need your family behind you to make something like this work. My wife and kids are constantly supportive, as are my sister and parents who live in in South Africa. They check in all the time, they call, they WhatsApp; they’re very involved in the site. And this works both ways: I always put my family first. Here’s a tip my former boss gave me – no matter how passionate you are about work; you need to prioritise family. This will make you happier and want to work more and better.” So what’s your definition of entrepreneurial success? “If you create something that you want to use and others want to use it too, that to me is success. You need to define what success looks like for you. If your goal is entirely to make money, then that’s your success aspiration. If it’s to create the best fish and chip shop in town, then that’s where you’re headed. And finally, what’s your endgame? “My ultimate goal is to raise the profile of digital legacies. To me, success would be having everyone in the world really thinking about their digital legacy and working out how they want to be remembered. Inalife will grow, subscribers will go up, but for me that’s what success would be. Obviously, I’d like everyone to use our site and platform, but I’m also very keen to educate people because, especially post-COVID, there’s been a huge uptick in interest. I want to get people to stop and think about their legacy: you’ve got 100 gigabytes of data or whatever, what do you want to record?” Inalife allows users to connect with family members on a safe and secure interactive family tree, share personal memories on a personal profile page for loved ones now and in the future to learn about them, and record Time Delayed Messages for loved ones to receive in the future. It is available on desktop and as an app. To know more, visit www.inalife.com .