I love (hate) my job

Prepared speeches

Rebecca’s speech explored six leadership styles: affiliative, coaching, democratic, bureaucratic, altruistic, and authoritative (read the manuscript).

Susie’s speech sparked a chat thread about training family into travel companions. Stella said she had spent years turning her mom into “the perfect photographer and travel partner.” Anna added that Stella’s son was also great behind the camera. Stella’s response: the two of them have to compete for the job.

Table topics: I love (hate) my job

Eight questions, structured as a three-act play in retro pixel-art slides (download PDF).

Act I, The Morning Grind: “Monday morning. Alarm rings. What do you do first?” and “Describe your commute in three words.”

Act II, Surviving the Office: “What do you secretly do during boring meetings?” and “Co-worker’s most annoying habit?”

Act III, Getting Real: “Ever screw things up in your work?”, a nod to Shenzhen’s unofficial motto that anyone who shows up here counts as a local, asking whether guests felt it yet, plus two more.

The questions landed well. Guests rated them “really good and very encouraging.” Daniel moved to the front row early to get a strategic advantage on the prizes, then missed every single question. His excuse: a broken chair distracted him. He later offered a more noble version: “I moved to the front row so people don’t get hurt. Remember Christy tried to throw the prize to me but instead hit the girl sitting before me in the head. I tried to make SZTM a safer place.” The chair, he said, was innocent and should not be blamed for something it didn’t do. He still wanted it removed, though. For safety.

Guest feedback

Guests rated the meeting “Loved it” and said they would definitely come again. What they enjoyed most: “the people/vibe” and “table topics.” Suggestion: “Keep the good job.”