Openness as the Foundation of Growth
I have long believed that openness is the single most powerful tool for personal growth. In the context of my family history and legacy , I have seen firsthand how growth is never a solitary endeavour or a static achievement. It is a dynamic, living process.
Too often, people view development as a linear climb, the accumulation of specific skills, the acquisition of prestigious titles, or the gathering of external validation. But from my decades of experience in both the high-stakes boardrooms of Hong Kong and the transformative spaces of international philanthropy, I have realised that what truly drives sustainable growth is a mindset: a profound, unwavering willingness to see the world as it is, to listen deeply, and to embrace perspectives entirely different from one’s own.
Openness is not a passive trait; it is a deliberate and practiced discipline. It is easy to remain within the comfortable confines of what we already know, surrounded by people who mirror our own views. However, true innovation and personal evolution happen at the edges of our comfort zones.
Over the last few decades, I have observed that opportunities rarely emerge because they are handed to a person; they emerge because that person was open enough to notice them. Innovation happens when you engage honestly with a new idea, rather than dismissing it simply because it feels unfamiliar or challenges the "old way" of doing things.
In my journey, openness has been the bridge that enabled me to learn from people across vast cultures, industries, and generations. Some of my most vital lessons didn’t come from textbooks or high-level seminars; they came from spontaneous conversations in moments where I chose to listen rather than assert my authority. Whether I am speaking with a young tech entrepreneur in Silicon Valley or a student in a rural village, I find that curiosity and humility create spaces for insight that power alone cannot provide. To grow, one must be willing to admit that they do not have all the answers.
Furthermore, I believe that openness must be inclusive. Personal growth should not be a luxury reserved for those with inherited wealth or elite connections. It is a universal human right, available to anyone willing to engage fully with their environment. In my work mentoring younger generations, I always strive to demonstrate that if you adopt the right mindset, the resources often follow or can be creatively sourced.
Of course, openness is not without its challenges. It requires a certain brand of resilience because exposing yourself to new ideas often disrupts comfortable patterns of thought. It can be unsettling to realise that a long-held belief may be outdated. But the rewards are tangible.
I have seen teams become more agile, communities become more connected, and individuals lead more fulfilled lives simply because they chose openness over fear. Ultimately, openness is a way of living that allows us to extract meaning from every experience. The more open we are, the more our potential unfolds, and the more effectively we can contribute to the world around us.