The publishing industry might be going through turmoil right now but the market for quality writers has never been stronger. The medium might be changing but the ability to move people with the words you write is still a timeless and much sought after skill. Great to see Jamie driving this forward!
What’s your story?
I used to be a writer for luxury lifestyle magazines and enjoyed the high life, which included travelling all over the globe for editorial assignments for about five years. In 2006, I made the “insane” decision to leave that world to start my own business, Wildfire Communications, which provides marketing communications, public relations and copywriting services for corporate clients – while freelancing on occasion for various publications.
By 2012, the yearning of my soul grew too intense and I decided it was time to return to my true passion – but taking it a step further to do something greater for the community.
I founded The Writers Club as a platform to give other writers a voice. We have a dynamic and highly engaged online following and we hold writing workshops and community engagement events for anyone with an interest in the literary arts.
What excites you most about your industry?
There is just so much potential and latent talent in Singapore waiting to be discovered. It is exciting times for the industry as more attention and funding has been given to the arts scene in recent years. The majority of The Writers Club’s fans and followers are the youth and I find their passion very inspiring. Our mission is to establish a sustainable platform and create opportunities to bring this talent to the fore.
What’s your connection to Asia?
Born and bred in Singapore. I’m of Eurasian descent; Portuguese, Dutch, English, Armenian and a smidgeon of Chinese. Lived briefly in Australia during my undergraduate studies.
Favourite city in Asia for business and why?
- I don’t travel for business at the moment.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
In the course of my work for Wildfire Communications, I have had the privilege of working directly with the head honchos of corporate entities; founders/entrepreneurs and chief executive officers.
Through my close interactions with them over the years, I have gleaned many illuminating and inspiring insights that form the cornerstone of their success. These are some of them:
- Never give up; no matter how many times you may fall, always pick yourself up and persevere
- Failure is never fatal; it is one’s resilience and the ability to bounce back from adversity that will determine your success
- Have integrity in all you do
- Be true to yourself and follow your passion
Who inspires you?
Oprah Winfrey. She’s the first self-made black woman billionaire in world history. And she did it by building a media empire from scratch. She also overcame much adversity in her youth to rise to where she is today. More significantly, she has achieved such phenomenal success through a very holistic focus on personal development and the message of hope she champions, which has inspired thousands over the years.
What have you just learnt recently that blew you away?
It’s never too late to completely change your course and align your choices towards fulfilling your life’s purpose. Same goes for business: If something’s not working, it’s not too late to reinvent and redesign your business model.
It’s not so much a recent discovery but a timely reminder that marks a new chapter my own personal journey, encapsulated in this quote: “For what it’s worth, it’s never too late to be whoever you want to be. I hope you live a life you’re proud of, and if you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start over.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald.
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
It’s hard to say. Because I believe that every chapter in our lives, every fork in the road, every path we choose, adds to our experience and shapes who we are today. I’m grateful for all the experiences I’ve had – good and bad – as they have certainly enriched my journey in some way or another and taught me important lessons.
If there’s one thing though, it would probably be striking more balance in my life. I’ve been going at a ridiculous pace the last few years and it caught up with me this year when health challenges had forced me to step back, take stock and reassess my priorities and life purpose.
Having said that, I’m still young and I believe my time is now 🙂
How do you unwind?
Frankly, I still don’t have much of a “life” outside work. These past few months, I’ve been trying to institute more work-life harmony not by choice but am forced to due to the recent health challenges. Now, I try to make time to exercise at least every other day. Social outings with old friends are a treat and I enjoy the occasional movie night out. I always wish I had more time to read.
Favourite Asian destination for relaxation? Why?
The islands of Thailand. The beaches are beautiful and I love the culture; the people have a genuine warmth and hospitality.
Everyone in business should read this book:
“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey.
Shameless plug for your business:
As evangelists of the written word, The Writers Club aims to inspire, engage and entertain – by making writing fun and accessible to all.
Our mission is to spread the love of writing via our constantly growing online community and nurture aspiring writers through our writing workshops and other events.
We aspire to eventually play a significant role in Singapore’s literary scene.
How can people connect with you?
For enquiries on Wildfire Communications’ marketing, PR, copywriting services: [email protected]
For enquiries on The Writers Club: [email protected]
This interview was part of Callum’s Connect found on The Asian Entrepreneur:
