WHAT IS YOUR PAIN THRESHOLD?

I always believe that one can pick up a lot of new perspectives as long as one is open-minded to the world at large, especially while listening to other people's ideas.

Sometimes, one doesn't even have to accept other people's ideas readily, but just remain prepared to entertain the contrasting thought(s) for a change.

Who knows, sometimes the onslaught which gives rise to the diversity of viewpoints held in your own head can trigger a new synthesis of other ideas or hybrids. Or new learning.

That's, in reality, the beauty of ideas build on ideas. This explains why I often enjoy 'pow-wow' sessions with other people.

For me, there are always new perspectives to learn as well as potential opportunities to grasp.

Ysterday late afternoon, my good friend, Dilip Mukerjea, has invited me to take part in a group brainstorming session at the Art House Complex at the Old Parliament, with two other individuals (Mr Ramachandran of The Book Council & Mr Ashok Nath of OIC Events) involved in organising an upcoming region-wide children's content conference with breakout sessions to cater to teachers as well as parents, scheduled for next year in Singapore.

The brainstorming routines went on very smoothly as both Dilip & myself served as "ideas persons". We threw up a lot of new ideas or approaches for the organisers to consider in strategising the event.

Towards the tail end of the session, a gentleman (Mr Colin Goh, CEO of the Art House Complex) came in to share his own views about the venture.

He posed two very pertinent questions to the organisers (who readily released some financial numbers), which I thought were great, as they captured very beautifully the jugular of investment decision making:

1) What is your pain threshold?

That's to say, as I interpret, how much heat, naturally in financial terms, are you prepared to take, if you lose your pants, so to speak.

2) What is your compelling reason?

That's to say, as I interpret, what's still driving you to keep going, knowing very well that the odds are not in your favour?

Wow! That's really illuminating!

So, readers, if you are embarking on new projects, give some thoughts to the two crucial questions.

Many thanks, Colin, for that great shot!