Weekends are all about downtime. After a week full of work to meet deadlines, everybody needs some breather to relax and recuperate. From watching a favourite web series to planning a vacation, weekends are designated as family and me time. Eric Ou, country head, ASUS India, talks to BrandWagon Online about his weekends, favourite vacation destination and more.
What is the one thing you like to do when not working?
When I am not working, I like to read books as I strongly believe that books are a source of knowledge and knowledge is power. At present, I am reading a book about a founder of a Taiwanese semiconductor company, the book allows me to understand his journey and how he established a large business. He also emphasizes on how to be a successful manager for his team which helped him grow his company to the scale where it is now.
I am also very fond of the outdoors, and I take a walk from time to time. With my work being primarily sedentary and sitting in front of the computer for a long time, I prefer having a connect with the outdoors. I like being in touch in nature, breathing in some fresh air which makes regular walks an integral part of my daily routine.
How do you spend your weekends?
I value spending time with my family and while I understand that working for a living is important, I know that my family is at the core of everything. They are the reason why I work hard and am motivated to do even better. Over the weekend, I like to have lunch or go on a trip with them as spending time with them helps us strengthen our relationship and keep it healthy.
What are your favourite gadgets?
Tablets and smartphones are my most used gadgets on a day-to-day basis. I frequently use them to watch the news, catch up on social media, YouTube and checking my emails. These gadgets are handy and very convenient for me to receive information in real-time.
Given an option to choose another career, what would it be?
Given a choice, I would like to be an AI expert as I studied mechanical engineering in university. This field requires a strong understanding of logic and mathematics which is my speciality. Nowadays, technology has advanced rapidly, especially Al, which is taking centre stage. Al has also began its integration into various technologies such as AI PCs. I am also keen on playing a part in creating such influential offerings.
Which is your favourite vacation spot?
I like to take a trip down memory lane and visit Tainan, which is my hometown. As I live in Taipei, which is in north of Taiwan but I often go back to Tainan during the holidays to meet my mother and sister. Tainan, located in southern Taiwan, is renowned for its delicious and popular street food. More importantly, it is celebrated for its rich history and is often referred to as the “City of Antiques.” Many significant historical events took place in Tainan, making it a cornerstone of Taiwan’s heritage. I am proud to call myself a child of Tainan.
Can you recommend a TV show, a movie, and an ad campaign?
A TV show I would recommend is – It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. It is a comedy, every episode is independent and has its own theme. The show is very creative, always showcases unique cinematography in its way of storytelling. At times the characters can be over the top, but it’s good for a laugh and to relax after a long day.
The movie I recommend would be “The Founder”, it reveals the history of McDonald’s. The movie describes how a salesman saw an opportunity and took it even though the rights of McDonald’s did not belong to him. The act was a little questionable, but it shows how a salesman became a successful businessman. The movie taught me that in order to be successful, you not only have to take the opportunity, but also have to leverage it and make good use of it.
As for an ad campaign, my son who is fond of video games once showed me a trailer of a game made by a new studio, the game was called The Phantom Pain. A few days later, a new trailer of the game was released it turns out the audience was fooled, we finally saw the full picture from a different perspective, the game was actually an old studio making a sequel of an old franchise. The trailer is similar to the game which taught me as a viewer that things are not always what they appear to be. People can have different perspectives, there are no facts, only interpretations. It was quite interesting as it was a twist for me and really caught my eye, teaching me to look at things from various lenses as well.