A far-sighted gift from his grandfather set Maxwell Kimberley-Thompson on a technological path which could not have been conceived of at the time.
What’s your story?
Ever since my grandfather handed me a pile of papers with HTML, how to build a website, I have been hooked on digital tech and marketing. Building websites gave me a chance to build things and move into e-commerce where I learned how to make money from building or selling useful products and services. After freelancing and hustling my way through my youth, I launched my first LTD in 2012, a web design company, I haven’t looked back. I moved progressively into marketing consultancy, business development, tech startups and now I invest and grow my own portfolio of businesses with digital at the core.
What excites you most about your industry?
Designing and building tech from a young age allowed me to explore my creative side and improved my skills for analysing, problem solving while taking things apart and putting them back together again better than before. This experience has allowed me to apply the same strategy to tech businesses. Building technology is one cog on the wheel. Understanding how all the other cogs fit together is what makes a successful tech company.
What is your connection to Asia?
After a long term relationship break up I sought a change in scenery and a new adventure. Armed with what I had left in my rucksack and my knowledge I flew one way to Thailand with an open mind and a desire to explore. Asia is also where it’s all happening now in terms of tech start-ups and people here are really tapped into my world.
Favourite city in Asia for business and why?
I am now based in Pattaya, 1.5 hours from Bangkok. It has all the highlights of a happening city but the beach is just down the road. Who could ask for more?
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
I can’t recall a single piece of advice however my experience over the years has taught me to value my time, it’s finite. Work smarter not harder where possible and surround yourself with busy motivated people.
Who inspires you?
My business partners, close friends and family inspire me. I spend my time with people who are inspirational and motivated.
What have you just learnt recently that blew you away?
With everything going on in the world, not much blows me away anymore but seeing the resilience and resourcefulness of people and communities working together to get through hard times is breathtaking.
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
I wouldn’t do anything differently because I made past decisions at the time for a reason and that has led to my successes so far. I am always looking to improve everything I do because I believe that it’s important to look back and learn from history to make the world a better place.
How do you unwind?
There are many ways to unwind after a hard days hustle. I enjoy working my way through a Netflix series or a computer game just as much as heading out to a decent restaurant by the beach or rooftop bar for a relaxing evening. It’s important to spend time with people and experiencing the world just as much as working on your business.
Favourite Asian destination for relaxation? Why?
So many choices! In Thailand it’s super easy to find a relaxing resort or camping adventure. Some of the best resorts are in Krabi, Khao Sok and the stunning Islands like Koh Phangan and Koh Kut. Outside Thailand I would recommend northern Vietnam, Sapa is beautiful and also Japan is a great destination for fun and relaxation.
Everyone in business should read this book:
In my younger years I spent a lot of time reading, books like 4 hour work week and similar were always in my hand, however I found myself moving away from reading books and focusing more on reading blogs, articles and watching youtube videos for fast paced and up-to-date tips, hacks, tricks and strategies that work. It takes a while for a book to get written and published, in today’s fast paced world, that can be a long time.
Shameless plug for your business:
HashtagsForLikes was born as a list of popular hashtags that were manually updated. With 100,000s of visitors a month it was about time to make an investment into evolving this one pager into a fully fledged business with arms and legs. At the core of HashtagsForLikes is a large database of information all about hashtags. What we have built allows our community of influencers to research, analyse and track their hashtag campaigns to get more reach and grow their social media.
How can people connect with you?
I am all over social media, I am always happy to see a new connection on LinkedIn or a message on Twitter.
Social Media Links:
• https://www.hashtagsforlikes.co/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQauN5BrgmY&t=3s
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvGyVswSKy8&t=11s
• https://downloaders.hashtagsforlikes.co/youtube-downloader
—
To hear how entrepreneurs around the world overcome their challenges, search your favourite podcast platform for ‘CallumConnects‘ to hear a 5-minute daily breakdown.
Callum Laing is an entrepreneur and investor based in Singapore. He has previously started, built, and sold half a dozen businesses and is now a Partner at Unity-Group Private Equity and Co-Founder and CEO of MBH Corporation PLC. He is the author of three best-selling books ‘Progressive Partnerships’, ‘Agglomerate’, and ‘Entrepreneurial Investing’.
Connect with Callum on Twitter and LinkedIn
Download free copies of his books at www.callumlaing.com
