I recently received an invitation to be interviewed for an online show that focuses on helping artists in terms of their creative process and being paid for their work. It sounded like a good fit, especially since I wrote two books and host a daily podcast show that focuses on this exact subject. I've done … Continue reading Paying to Play
“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” - Dalai Lama XIV There’s an oft-shared story about the power of small actions. It states how a small drop can shatter the perfect, smooth sheen in a pond and create ripples across the surface. Another allegory reminds … Continue reading One Drop of Justice
Everyone has a story about the worst job they've ever had. Working customer service at a call center. Housekeeping for a motel. Counting inventory for a big-box retailer. Sometimes these jobs are necessary for a start. Other times it's for survival. When I reflect on the worst job experiences in my life, the common theme isn't … Continue reading The Worst Jobs I’ve Ever Had
All the worlds a stage, And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits, and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts. - William Shakespeare As the debates on immigration policies at the United States border heated up last week, so did several public events that challenged the … Continue reading Civility at Work
My recent trip to DC was extraordinary - from enjoying Michelin starred restaurants to receiving an award from the Hugh M. Hefner Foundation for my battle to advance civil liberties, then meeting incredible journalists like Wolf Blitzer - but I don't think I ever felt more out of place. Each of the folks standing with … Continue reading On the Hugh M Hefner First Amendment Awards
I'm pleased to announce that my newest TEDx talk on love and education is finally out! Please watch Once Upon an App: An Online Dating Fairy Tale filmed at TEDxDupontCircleEd below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY2QH_azjU4 And speaking of fate and coincidences, this talk was released on the one year anniversary to my wife.
This week, I had the incredible honor of speaking on a panel with Stephen Baird, the original attorney who fought with Suzan Harjo to cancel the trademark registrations of the Washington football team, and Amanda Blackhorse, who bravely continued that effort. There's no question that their efforts helped to highlight the indignity that Native Americans … Continue reading Paper Justice
I was born “Simon Hsiao Tam” on March 31, 1981…at least according to my parents. Growing up, I had a couple of different middle names. My paper trail through the public school system will sometimes list it as “Hong,” like my father’s, and sometimes “Hsiao,” from my mother’s side of the family. I didn’t really … Continue reading What’s in a Name?
Controversy and news erupted this week over a tweet sent by Whole Foods promoting their new partnership with a new, independent restaurant chain called "Yellow Fever." It's an Asian themed restaurant that operates with the tagline "Asian bowls for your soul" and run by a Korean American restauranteur. Understandably, the name gave many people pause … Continue reading On That Whole Yellow Fever Thing…
Finally back in Nashville after a whirlwind trip to NYC and DC. It concluded with an awards show from the American Bar Association in our country's capitol...just miles away from the Supreme Court where we were victorious. I was deeply humbled to receive the Mark T. Banner award though all recognition should have just went … Continue reading On Trophies and Recognition
