Stepping into Silicon Valley

On 8-9 April this year, I got to take a peek at the innovation geekdom that is Silicon Valley.  As a member of LinkedIn100 - a group of customer advocates for the professional networking giant - I represented Singapore at a conference that took place at LinkedIn's headquarters in Mountain View.

Stepping into Stirling Court on a lovely spring morning, we were treated to the breakfast buffet at the staff restaurant, which had everything you'd expect to find at a professional catering facility in the heart of Silicon Valley.  Healthy, yummy and free!

LinkedIn's headquarters sits within the Google bubble and it was easy to spot all the signs of social media success.  The Toyota Priuses in the parking lot, bicycles whizzing around the campus, engineers in hoodies coding furiously on their MacAirs at picnic tables and park benches.

One of the most memorable segments was a fireside chat with Reid Hoffman, the founder of LinkedIn.   The key takeaway for me was an idea from his soon-to-be-published book entitled Tours of Duty.

What a talent or knowledge worker really looks for today is neither lifelong employment nor a freelance nation.  They are looking for tours of duty - a 3-5 year stint where they can contribute their talents towards a specific mission or goal.  At the 3 year-mark, they would welcome a "honest conversation" with their leaders to see if there are enough challenges left in the organization for them to sign up for another tour of duty.  If not, they are introduced to other teams or organizations that would provide them with other "tours of duty".

This idea really resonated with me because it's exactly what I've been doing with my own career over the last 20 years.

Thank you LinkedIn for a wonderful experience!

Hanging out with other LinkedIn100 members in front of a giant Lego logo

17 Mile Drive

On our final morning in Pacific Grove, Julie and I decided to do the 17-Mile Drive to see the lone cypress and take in more views of the magnificent Pacific coastline.  

The Lone Cypress - which I saw for the first time as a backdrop for the Karate Kid.  Remember the scene where Ralph Macchio was practising the "bird move"?

A day in the life of the rich and famous

Carmel by the Sea is the playground of the rich and famous in northern California.  Clint Eastwood was once the mayor of this picturesque little town, which could easily have been transplanted from the south of France, except for one thing.  The copious number of luxury brand-name stores that line the main street.  I succumbed to the call of capitalism and bought myself a pair of Tiffany earrings by Paloma Picasso.  The Luce earrings are a little dose of everyday chic which I shall enjoy very much.

One of my best paintings by a local artist which I saw at a Carmel art gallery.  One which I resisted buying, thank God! ;)

Julie and I stopped at a lovely little patisserie for lunch.  It was full of rich retired white folks and we were definitely the "ethnic minority".

Sunset Symphony

Watching the sun set over the Pacific. So beautiful.

Spiritual Home on the Pacific

After so many visits to California since Julie moved there in 2006, I think I finally found my spiritual home - Pacific Grove.  This beautiful piece of coastline is so inspiring that I find myself completely drawn to its charms.  Been here twice already this year - winter and spring. Perhaps I'll own a home here one day.  Where I can finally settle down to write.  After all, it worked for John Steinbeck who called Pacific Grove home and set many of his novels here.

Julie and I stayed at a cottage close to the beach and enjoyed daily walks, in the mornings and evenings. Loved the springtime blossoms that sprang up to delight the senses at every turn.