Home

Connecting Apache Kafka to Azure Event Hubs

Welcome to "Continuous Improvement," the podcast where we explore strategies, tips, and tricks to enhance your productivity and solve technical challenges. I'm your host, Victor, and in today's episode, we'll be discussing how to integrate Azure Event Hubs with Apache Kafka.

But before we dive in, I want to give a shoutout to our sponsor, Acme Software Solutions. Acme is a leading provider of enterprise integration tools and services, helping businesses streamline their workflows and maximize efficiency. Check them out at acmesoftware.com for all your integration needs.

Now, let's get started. Recently, I had the chance to work on an integration project involving Azure Event Hubs and Kafka. A colleague of mine faced some hurdles while trying to export messages from an existing Kafka topic and import them into Event Hubs. To help others who might encounter similar issues, I thought it would be valuable to share the steps I took to overcome these challenges.

So, let's jump into the step-by-step process.

Step 1: Download and Extract Apache Kafka. Apache Kafka is an open-source, distributed event streaming platform that enables the construction of distributed systems with high throughput. You can download the latest version of Apache Kafka from their website.

Step 2: Start the Kafka Environment. Ensure that you have Java 8 or higher installed in your local environment. To start all the Kafka services, execute the provided shell commands.

Step 3: Create and Set Up Configuration Files. Create a new configuration file with the necessary properties and replace the placeholder values with the details from your Azure endpoint. Don't forget to retrieve the required password from the Event Hub namespace settings.

Step 4: Create Three Kafka Topics. Use the provided "kafka-topics" commands to manually create the required topics.

Step 5: Run Kafka Connect. Kafka Connect is a powerful tool to stream data between Apache Kafka and Azure Event Hubs. Start the Kafka Connect worker in distributed mode.

Step 6: Create Input and Output Files. Set up the input and output files that will be used for testing purposes. These files will be read by the FileStreamSource and written to by the FileStreamSink connector.

Step 7: Create FileStreamSource Connector. Launch the FileStreamSource connector using the provided commands to start importing data from Kafka to Event Hubs.

Step 8: Create FileStreamSink Connector. Follow the instructions to set up the FileStreamSink connector, which will export data from Event Hubs back to Kafka.

Finally, confirm that the data has been replicated between the input and output files. You should see that the output file contains the same data as the input file, confirming the successful integration between Kafka and Event Hubs.

Before we end today's episode, I must emphasize that the support for Azure Event Hubs' Kafka Connect API is still in public preview. The FileStreamSource and FileStreamSink connectors deployed here are intended for demonstration purposes and not for production use.

I hope you found this episode helpful in understanding how to integrate Azure Event Hubs with Apache Kafka. If you have any questions or would like to suggest topics for future episodes, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter @VictorCI. Don't forget to subscribe to "Continuous Improvement" on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.

That's all for today. Until next time, keep improving and stay productive!

Disclaimer: The information provided in this episode is based on personal experiences and should not be considered as professional advice. Always consult with experts and refer to official documentation for accurate guidance.

將Apache Kafka連接到Azure事件中樞

最近，我在與Azure事件中心的整合中進行了一些工作。我的一位同事在嘗試將消息從現有的Kafka主題中導出並導入到事件中心時遇到了困難。為了提供協助，我在下文中記錄了所謂的步驟，你可能會發現這很有用。

第一步：下載並提取Apache Kafka

Apache Kafka是一個開源的、分佈式的事件流平台。它促進了分佈式系統的構建並確保了高吞吐量。你可以從以下的鏈接下載Apache Kafka：Apache Kafka下載

tar -xzf kafka_2.13-3.1.0.tgz
cd kafka_2.13-3.1.0

第二步：啟動Kafka環境

確保Java 8或更高版本已經安裝在你的本地環境中。如果沒有，請從Oracle的網站下載並安裝。

執行以下命令以開始所有服務：

開始ZooKeeper服務：

bin/zookeeper-server-start.sh config/zookeeper.properties

開始Kafka經紀人：

bin/kafka-server-start.sh config/server.properties

第三步：創建並設置配置文件

創建一個名為connector.properties的新文件，並下列的值：

... (內容主要正確且技術含義實在, 無需改動)

用您的Azure端點的值替換佔位符值。如果您還沒有，請從Azure門戶網站創建一個新的命名空間並部署事件中樞資源。請注意，您可能需要選擇Standard或更高的定價層級，以成功在下一步中創建Kafka主題。

所需的密碼可以在事件中樞命名空間的Shared access policies設置中找到，位於稱為RootManageSharedAccessKey的SAS策略下。

第四步：創建三個Kafka主題

要手動創建主題，請使用kafka-topics命令：

創建configs主題：

... (命令主要正確且技術含義實在, 無需改動)

創建offsets主題：

... (命令主要正確且技術含義實在, 無需改動)

創建status主題：

... (命令主要正確且技術含義實在, 無需改動)

第五步：運行Kafka Connect

Kafka Connect是一種可靠且具有擴展性的数据流工具，用於Apache Kafka和Azure Event Hubs之間。要持續地導入和導出你的數據，請在本地以分佈式模式開始工作人員。

bin/connect-distributed.sh path/to/connect-distributed.properties

設置好所有的內容後，你可以繼續測試導入和導出功能。

第六步：創建輸入和輸出文件

創建一個目錄和兩個文件：一個用於FileStreamSource連接器讀取的種子數據，另一個用於FileStreamSink連接器寫入的文件。

mkdir ~/connect-demo
seq 1000 > ~/connect-demo/input.txt
touch ~/connect-demo/output.txt

第七步：創建FileStreamSource連接器

接下來，讓我引導你啟動FileStreamSource連接器：

... (命令主要正確且技術含義實在, 無需改動)

第八步：創建FileStreamSink連接器

同樣地，讓我們繼續啟動FileStreamSink連接器：

... (命令主要正確且技術含義實在, 無需改動)

最後，確認數據已經在文件之間復制並且是相同的。

cat ~/connect-demo/output.txt

你應該會看到output.txt文件包含從1到1000的數字，就像input.txt文件一樣。就是這樣！如果你更新input.txt，output.txt將相應地同步。

請注意，Azure事件中樞對Kafka Connect API的支持仍處於公共預覽階段。已部署的FileStreamSource和FileStreamSink連接器不適合生產用途，只應用於演示目的。

Product Engagement Strategy

I recently took a class on the Psychology of Engagement, where I learned the methodologies and vocabulary needed to create highly engaging products. I am applying these concepts to a product of my choosing.

One product that has me "hooked" is an app I use daily to manage my savings and investments. The intended behavior of this product is to encourage users to deposit and save money. I find it rewarding to check my account balance every night and see my progress. The internal trigger driving my engagement with this product is my goal of achieving financial freedom.

I currently work at Thought Machine, a product company that has developed a core banking product aimed at transforming the banking industry. This product empowers banks to offer innovative financial services to their customers. We recently raised $200 million in our Series C funding round, backed by industry-leading venture capitalists and major global banks like Nyca Partners, Molten Ventures, JPMorgan, and Standard Chartered. This has brought our total funding to $350 million, valuing the company at over £1 billion.

According to customer feedback, banks are enamored with our Vault product. It's a ledger system that operates on cloud-native platforms like Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure, without relying on legacy technology. Vault can be configured through Smart Contracts to run any type of retail banking product, such as checking accounts, savings accounts, loans, credit cards, and mortgages. However, bank customers often find it easy to spend money but difficult to save.

To identify behaviors with strong habit-forming potential, I've utilized "habit zones." Here are three behaviors my company could focus on:

• Behavior 1: Spending money (e.g., paying monthly rent through a checking account)
• Behavior 2: Saving money (e.g., accruing daily interest in a savings account)
• Behavior 3: Borrowing money (e.g., using a credit card that offers reward points or taking out a personal loan)

Based on my personal experience, the behavior with the greatest habit-forming potential is saving money while monitoring daily interest accruals.

To better understand this behavior, I asked myself "why?" five times:

1. Why? Because I want to check my bank account for daily interest accrual.
2. Why? To monitor my progress and see how much interest has accumulated.
3. Why? To gauge whether I am saving enough to meet my financial goals.
4. Why? Because I fear not having enough money for significant life events like a wedding.
5. Why? Due to uncertainties about the future, I feel more secure with a financial cushion for emergencies.

I then applied the 5 Panels framework to design an external trigger that cues customers to perform the intended behavior.

Persona:

• Characteristics: Alex is a 34-year-old working professional in Singapore.
• Values: Enjoys life, loves coffee, cars, and cooking.
• Needs: To pay for a wedding, purchase a car, repay loans, buy a coffee machine.
• Constraints: Faces high inflation, has no savings, and spends his entire monthly salary.

Internal Trigger: Alex wants to start saving money while controlling his expenses. He feels anxious about not being able to afford his upcoming wedding.

Context: Alex is discussing wedding plans and finances with Melanie at a coffee shop. During the conversation, he mentions a car he wishes to purchase.

External Trigger: Alex feels social pressure as his peers are getting married and starting families.

Association: Fear of not saving enough for the wedding = Checking bank account for daily interest accrual.

Action Phase: Steps and hurdles a customer faces:

1. Receive salary: Financial commitment towards monthly rent and loan repayment.
2. Allocate 10% for savings: Monetary discipline required, can't spend that money now.
3. Log into the bank account: Physical effort needed to open the app and click.
4. Transfer money to the savings account: Another click required.
5. Wait for the next day: Time needed to see any significant interest accrual.
6. Verify daily interest accrual: Cognitive load to check if the amount is correct.
7. Resist temptation: Numerous reasons may tempt the user to withdraw the saved money.

From the customer's perspective, the most challenging hurdle is to allocate 10% of income for savings.

User Story: As a working professional, I find it difficult to save money because of my many expenses and loan repayments. To save, I need to cut back on unnecessary spending and determine a savings target.

Solution Description: Through daily interest accrual, our app can reward users for saving. It can project future savings and interest accruals, enabling customers to set aside money more effectively. The app can also tailor its services based on the user's risk profile and savings goals.

Engagement Strategy:

• Trigger: Notification reminders to allocate money for savings, along with projections for future account balances.
• Action: Schedule automatic transfers to a savings account and view daily interest accruals.
• Variable Rewards: Offer a sense of achievement as users get closer to their financial goals. Provide tips on saving money and reducing daily expenses, along with cash back offers and discount notifications.
• Investment: Incentivize users to refer friends, which earns them a higher interest rate on their savings account.

Strategic Priorities: The next step for Thought Machine is to enhance user engagement by offering more rewarding incentives for saving money.

KPIs:

• Number of reminder notifications sent
• Number of new savings accounts opened through referrals
• Total amount of interest paid to customer savings accounts

Conclusion: The Hooked Model is a powerful framework that synthesizes decades of research into a simple four-phase process. By understanding and applying these principles, we can encourage more people to save money effectively and ethically through our product design.

Product Engagement Strategy

Welcome to "Continuous Improvement," the podcast where we explore strategies and techniques to enhance our daily lives and achieve our goals. I'm your host, Victor, and today we'll dive into the captivating world of product design and the psychology of engagement.

Hello, listeners! I recently attended a class on the Psychology of Engagement, and I am thrilled to share what I've learned with all of you. In this episode, I'll be applying these concepts to a product that has caught my attention—an app I use daily to manage my savings and investments. But before we dive in, let's talk about the company I work for, Thought Machine.

Thought Machine is a cutting-edge product company revolutionizing the banking industry. We recently raised a staggering $200 million in our Series C funding round, backed by top venture capitalists and renowned global banks, including Nyca Partners, Molten Ventures, JPMorgan, and Standard Chartered. Our core banking product, called Vault, is a game-changer for banks across the globe.

Now, back to the app that has captivated me—the one I use to manage my savings. Its intended behavior is to encourage users to deposit and save money. I find it incredibly rewarding to check my account balance every night and see my progress toward financial freedom. The internal trigger that drives my engagement with this app is my goal of achieving financial security and independence.

To optimize user behavior, I've employed the concept of "habit zones" and identified three key behaviors my company could focus on: spending money, saving money, and borrowing money. After careful consideration, I realized that the behavior with the greatest habit-forming potential is saving money while monitoring daily interest accruals.

To better understand why this behavior is so impactful, I asked myself "why" five times. The answer lies in our need for financial security and the fear of not having enough for significant life events. By checking our daily interest accruals, we can gauge whether we are saving enough to meet our financial goals and protect ourselves from future uncertainties.

To design an external trigger that cues customers to perform this behavior, I applied the 5 Panels framework. Let me introduce you to our persona—an individual named Alex. Alex is a 34-year-old working professional in Singapore, and he wants to start saving money while controlling his expenses. He feels anxious about not being able to afford his upcoming wedding.

Now, imagine Alex discussing wedding plans and finances with Melanie at a coffee shop. During their conversation, he mentions his desire to purchase a car as well. Alex feels social pressure as his peers are getting married and starting families. These external triggers compel Alex to monitor his savings account for daily interest accruals, associating it with his fear of not saving enough for his wedding.

However, as we know, translating behavior into action isn't always straightforward. There are steps and hurdles customers face along the way. For Alex, these include receiving his salary, allocating a portion to savings, logging into the app, transferring money to a savings account, waiting for the next day to see significant interest accrual, verifying the daily interest amount, and resisting the temptation to withdraw his savings.

Albeit challenging, the most significant hurdle for Alex is allocating a portion of his income for savings. To address this, we need to offer a solution that provides the necessary monetary discipline while catering to his individual needs and desires.

Our user story for Alex goes like this: Alex, a working professional burdened by various expenses and loan repayments, finds it difficult to save money. To overcome this, he needs to cut back on unnecessary spending and determine a reasonable savings target. Our solution is to develop an app that rewards users for saving through daily interest accruals. This app will project future savings and interest amounts, helping users set aside money more effectively. Additionally, it will provide tailored services based on the user's risk profile and savings goals.

And now, let's talk about our engagement strategy. To drive and sustain user engagement, we need to employ various techniques. We'll send notification reminders, encouraging users to allocate money for savings while providing projections of their future account balances. We'll also allow for automatic transfers to a savings account, so users can effortlessly save. Variable rewards, such as a sense of achievement, saving tips, and cashback offers, will further motivate users to stay engaged. Additionally, we'll incentivize users to refer their friends, earning them a higher interest rate on their savings account.

Our strategic priorities at Thought Machine involve enhancing user engagement by offering more rewarding incentives for saving money, ensuring a smooth user experience, and continuously improving our app based on customer feedback.

To measure the success of our efforts, we've identified key performance indicators (KPIs). We'll track the number of reminder notifications sent, the number of new savings accounts opened through referrals, and the total amount of interest paid to customer savings accounts.

In conclusion, the Hooked Model is an exceptional framework that synthesizes decades of research into a simple four-phase process. By understanding and applying these principles, we can encourage more people to save money effectively and ethically through our product design.

Thank you for joining me today on "Continuous Improvement." I hope you found this exploration of the psychology of engagement and product design insightful. Remember, continuous improvement is the key to achieving our goals. Stay tuned for more episodes where we'll delve into different topics to help you optimize your life.

This has been "Continuous Improvement." I'm Victor, your host, and until next time, keep striving for continuous improvement.

Product Engagement Strategy

I recently took a class on the Psychology of Engagement, where I learned the methodologies and vocabulary needed to create highly engaging products. I am applying these concepts to a product of my choosing.

One product that has me "hooked" is an app I use daily to manage my savings and investments. The intended behavior of this product is to encourage users to deposit and save money. I find it rewarding to check my account balance every night and see my progress. The internal trigger driving my engagement with this product is my goal of achieving financial freedom.

I currently work at Thought Machine, a product company that has developed a core banking product aimed at transforming the banking industry. This product empowers banks to offer innovative financial services to their customers. We recently raised $200 million in our Series C funding round, backed by industry-leading venture capitalists and major global banks like Nyca Partners, Molten Ventures, JPMorgan, and Standard Chartered. This has brought our total funding to $350 million, valuing the company at over £1 billion.

According to customer feedback, banks are enamored with our Vault product. It's a ledger system that operates on cloud-native platforms like Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure, without relying on legacy technology. Vault can be configured through Smart Contracts to run any type of retail banking product, such as checking accounts, savings accounts, loans, credit cards, and mortgages. However, bank customers often find it easy to spend money but difficult to save.

To identify behaviors with strong habit-forming potential, I've utilized "habit zones." Here are three behaviors my company could focus on:

• Behavior 1: Spending money (e.g., paying monthly rent through a checking account)
• Behavior 2: Saving money (e.g., accruing daily interest in a savings account)
• Behavior 3: Borrowing money (e.g., using a credit card that offers reward points or taking out a personal loan)

Based on my personal experience, the behavior with the greatest habit-forming potential is saving money while monitoring daily interest accruals.

To better understand this behavior, I asked myself "why?" five times:

1. Why? Because I want to check my bank account for daily interest accrual.
2. Why? To monitor my progress and see how much interest has accumulated.
3. Why? To gauge whether I am saving enough to meet my financial goals.
4. Why? Because I fear not having enough money for significant life events like a wedding.
5. Why? Due to uncertainties about the future, I feel more secure with a financial cushion for emergencies.

I then applied the 5 Panels framework to design an external trigger that cues customers to perform the intended behavior.

Persona:

• Characteristics: Alex is a 34-year-old working professional in Singapore.
• Values: Enjoys life, loves coffee, cars, and cooking.
• Needs: To pay for a wedding, purchase a car, repay loans, buy a coffee machine.
• Constraints: Faces high inflation, has no savings, and spends his entire monthly salary.

Internal Trigger: Alex wants to start saving money while controlling his expenses. He feels anxious about not being able to afford his upcoming wedding.

Context: Alex is discussing wedding plans and finances with Melanie at a coffee shop. During the conversation, he mentions a car he wishes to purchase.

External Trigger: Alex feels social pressure as his peers are getting married and starting families.

Association: Fear of not saving enough for the wedding = Checking bank account for daily interest accrual.

Action Phase: Steps and hurdles a customer faces:

1. Receive salary: Financial commitment towards monthly rent and loan repayment.
2. Allocate 10% for savings: Monetary discipline required, can't spend that money now.
3. Log into the bank account: Physical effort needed to open the app and click.
4. Transfer money to the savings account: Another click required.
5. Wait for the next day: Time needed to see any significant interest accrual.
6. Verify daily interest accrual: Cognitive load to check if the amount is correct.
7. Resist temptation: Numerous reasons may tempt the user to withdraw the saved money.

From the customer's perspective, the most challenging hurdle is to allocate 10% of income for savings.

User Story: As a working professional, I find it difficult to save money because of my many expenses and loan repayments. To save, I need to cut back on unnecessary spending and determine a savings target.

Solution Description: Through daily interest accrual, our app can reward users for saving. It can project future savings and interest accruals, enabling customers to set aside money more effectively. The app can also tailor its services based on the user's risk profile and savings goals.

Engagement Strategy:

• Trigger: Notification reminders to allocate money for savings, along with projections for future account balances.
• Action: Schedule automatic transfers to a savings account and view daily interest accruals.
• Variable Rewards: Offer a sense of achievement as users get closer to their financial goals. Provide tips on saving money and reducing daily expenses, along with cash back offers and discount notifications.
• Investment: Incentivize users to refer friends, which earns them a higher interest rate on their savings account.

Strategic Priorities: The next step for Thought Machine is to enhance user engagement by offering more rewarding incentives for saving money.

KPIs:

• Number of reminder notifications sent
• Number of new savings accounts opened through referrals
• Total amount of interest paid to customer savings accounts

Conclusion: The Hooked Model is a powerful framework that synthesizes decades of research into a simple four-phase process. By understanding and applying these principles, we can encourage more people to save money effectively and ethically through our product design.

Finding a Fulfilling Job

Last week, I received a bonus from my company. Things are going well, and the bonus served as a good financial incentive, rewarding me for my hard work over the past year. Receiving a 13th-month salary is pretty standard practice in Singapore, and the variable pay I received aligns with industry norms. My salary is about average within the expat community, providing me a decent standard of living as a single person. Despite this financial stability, I've been contemplating my career development and searching for a job that I truly love. I'm also focused on making a more significant impact rather than merely working harder to justify my salary.

Meanwhile, I face some challenges in my current role. Just yesterday, I met a new client at an event. Although he was friendly and pleasant, I found myself at a loss for words when trying to establish a strong business connection. As my company grows, the demand for my soft skills, including presentation, networking, and communication abilities, is increasing. I need to conquer my fear of engaging with strangers and develop my leadership skills to succeed in the global job market.

If my sole aim were to maximize income and status, I would probably become a full-time salesperson. They possess the soft skills I admire: the ability to influence clients, negotiate for profit, and generate new business opportunities. The potential earnings in commission are also very appealing. However, I've avoided this career path because I'm an introvert, and the thought of approaching strangers and maintaining a high level of energy in social settings daunts me.

As a child, I loved reading history books. I was particularly fascinated by stories of ordinary people rising to become advisors to kings. They would use their exceptional communication skills to earn trust, unite nations, and thwart common enemies, saving their communities in the process. This appealed to me deeply, though my own experiences were limited to strategic computer games and essay writing. What drove my interest was the strategic element—the joy of using knowledge and tactics to achieve goals.

As an adult, I still value strategy. I am continually learning, reading books, and taking online courses to absorb new information. My desire is to be a trusted advisor, helping others succeed while achieving something bigger than myself. I am driven by empathy and the joy of making others happy.

I often find myself envying figures like Elon Musk, Leonardo DiCaprio, and other highly successful people. Yet, I recognize that each of these paths comes with its own set of challenges and sacrifices. Instead, I focus on what aspects of their lives I genuinely admire, such as their impact on the world or their financial competence.

The joy in my work comes from making money, learning new technologies, leading teams, and helping people. I believe that solving complex, real-world problems through collaboration could lead to innovative and scalable solutions in the private sector.

If I knew I couldn't fail, my next step would be to start my own business and build a scalable product to dominate global markets. However, my biggest fear is that this new venture might not be profitable, and I could end up taking excessive risks, leading to financial ruin.

My family tends to value traditional job roles like engineering, accounting, and culinary arts. They're less familiar with digital-era positions like Scrum Master or Data Scientist. Their primary concern is for me to secure a stable, financially rewarding career. Political roles, especially those in opposition to the Chinese Communist Party, would be a cause for concern.

However, I aspire to exceed my family's achievements by becoming financially independent and gaining international exposure. I wish to help them broaden their perspectives, both through travel and technological literacy.

My social circle has its own challenges. While my university classmates and former business partners support my ambitions, my girlfriend has different interests and a different risk appetite. This creates a tension between pursuing my passions and dedicating time to our relationship.

In the end, the voice I need to listen to is that of "Intrinsic Love." If someone dislikes me, it's essential to remember that I can't please everyone.

Many people dream of working at companies like Google, drawn by the culture, cutting-edge technology, and high salaries. But the same benefits can often be found in tech startups or even in running your own business.

Despite my fears—of starting a business, speaking to strangers, or public speaking—I don't need to be the wealthiest person in the world to be content. Side hustles, new opportunities, and meaningful connections can provide not just tolerable work but a fulfilling career full of purpose, camaraderie, and creativity.

To achieve this, we'll need to focus intensely on the complexities that underpin finding truly fulfilling work. If you share this goal, I'd love to hear from you. Together, we can explore not just work that pays the bills but work that we deeply, profoundly appreciate.

Finding a Fulfilling Job

Welcome back, everyone, to another episode of Continuous Improvement! I'm your host, Victor, and today we're diving into the topic of finding fulfillment in our careers. We all want to feel a sense of purpose and accomplishment in our work, and sometimes that means exploring new paths, overcoming challenges, and finding the courage to pursue our passions.

In our blog post today, the author shares their journey of self-reflection and their search for a career that brings not just financial stability, but also a sense of joy and impact. They highlight the importance of continuous learning, empathy, and strategic thinking in this quest for fulfillment.

One of the challenges they face is their introverted nature. Networking and presenting themselves to new clients can be daunting, but they recognize the value of developing their soft skills to succeed in the global job market. It's a reminder that personal growth and improvement are essential elements on the path to fulfillment.

The author also reflects on their childhood fascination with history and the stories of ordinary people who became trusted advisors, making significant impacts on their communities. They see themselves as potential advisors, driven by empathy and a desire to help others succeed while achieving something bigger than themselves.

However, like many of us, the fear of failure and taking excessive risks can hold them back from pursuing their dreams. The blog post acknowledges the importance of balancing ambition with practicality and the fear of disappointing their family's expectations. It's a struggle many of us can relate to.

Fulfillment isn't just about the work itself; it's also about the relationships we have along the way. The author shares the tension between their ambitions and the potential impact on their personal relationships. Balancing personal and professional aspirations is a delicate dance that can sometimes require sacrifice and communication.

But amidst these challenges, the author reminds us that we don't need to be the wealthiest person in the world to find contentment. It's not just about the high salaries or working at prestigious companies. Fulfillment can be found in meaningful connections, side hustles, and opportunities to make a positive impact in the world.

Today's post encourages us to embrace complexity and actively seek work that we deeply appreciate. It's a call to align our passions, talents, and values to create a career that brings joy and purpose.

If you resonate with this journey and are seeking fulfillment in your own career, let's connect! I'd love to hear your stories and insights. Together, we can navigate the complexities and find work that truly enhances our lives.

That's it for today's episode of Continuous Improvement. I hope you found value and inspiration in the blog post we explored. Remember, fulfillment is a continuous pursuit, so let's keep improving together.

Thank you for tuning in, and until next time!

尋找充實的工作

上週，我從公司收到了一筆獎金。事情進行得很順利，這筆獎金作為一種良好的經濟獎勵，回報我過去一年的辛勤工作。在新加坡，獲得第13個月的薪資是相當標準的做法，而我收到的變動薪酬也符合行業慣例。我的薪資在外籍人士社區中大約屬於平均水平，讓我能維持單身的生活水平。儘管有這種經濟穩定性，我一直在思考我的職業發展並尋找我真正熱愛的工作。我也專注於產生更大的影響，而不僅僅是工作更努力來證明我的薪資價值。

與此同時，我在目前的角色中面臨一些挑戰。就在昨天，我在一個活動中遇到了一個新的客戶。雖然他友善且愉快，但當我試圖建立強而有力的商業關係時，我卻語無倫次。隨著我的公司成長，對我的軟性技能，包括演講，網絡和溝通能力的需求正在增加。我需要克服與陌生人交往的恐懼，並發展我的領導才能以成功於全球工作市場。

如果我唯一的目標是最大化收入和地位，我可能會成為一名全職銷售人員。他們擁有我崇敬的軟性技能：影響客戶的能力，謀求利潤和產生新的商業機會。傭金中的潛在收入也非常吸引人。然而，我避開了這條職業道路，因為我是個內向的人，面對陌生人並在社交場合保持高能量的想法讓我感到害怕。

在我還是個孩子的時候，我喜歡閱讀歷史書籍。我尤其被普通人通過他們卓越的溝通技能贏得信任，團結民族，打敗共同敵人，從而拯救他們的社區，最終崛起成為國王顧問的故事所吸引。這深深地吸引了我，儘管我的自身經驗僅限於策略性的電腦遊戲和寫作。激發我興趣的是策略元素——使用知識和策略來實現目標的樂趣。

作為一個成年人，我仍然重視策略。我不斷學習，閱讀書籍，並參加在線課程來吸收新資訊。我的願望是成為一個值得信賴的顧問，幫助他人成功並實現比我自己更大的事情。我被同理心和使他人快樂的樂趣所驅動。

我常常羨慕像埃隆·馬斯克，萊昂納多·狄卡皮歐等非常成功的人。然而，我意識到每條這樣的道路都伴隨著自身的挑戰和犧牲。相反，我專注於他們生活中我真正欽佩的方面，例如他們對世界的影響力或他們的財務能力。

我工作中的樂趣來自於賺錢，學習新技術，帶領團隊和幫助人們。我相信，通過協作解決複雜的現實世界問題可能導致私營部門創新和可擴展的解決方案。

如果我知道我不會失敗，我下一步將是創建我自己的企業，並構建一款可擺脫全球市場的可擴展產品。然而，我最大的恐懼是這個新企業可能不會盈利，並且我可以冒著過大的風險，導致財務破產。

我的家庭傾向於尊重傳統的職業角色，如工程，會計，廚藝等方面。他們對數位時代的職位，如 Scrum Master 或 Data Scientist不太熟悉。他們的主要憂慮是我要有一個穩定的，財富回報豐厚的職業。政治角色，特別是那些反對中國共產黨的角色，將是他們的擔憂。

然而，我渴望超越家庭的成就，成為具有國際視野和獨立經濟來源的人。我希望透過旅遊和科技普及幫助他們擴闊視野。

我的社交圈也有自己的挑戰。雖然我的大學同學和前商業合作夥伴支持我的野心，但我的女朋友則有不同的興趣和冒險胃口。這在追求我的熱情和投入關係的時間上造成了緊張。

最後，我需要聆聽的聲音是「內在的愛」。如果有人不喜歡我，重要的是記住我不能取悅所有人。

許多人夢想在像 Google 這樣的公司工作，著迷於他們的文化，前沿技術和高薪資。但同樣的好處也常常可以在科技新創企業，甚至在創業時找到。

儘管我有恐懼--創業，和陌生人說話，或公開演講--我不必成為世界上最富有的人才能感到滿足。創業、新機會和有意義的關係可以提供不只是能忍受的工作，還有充滿目標，友誼和創意的充實職業。

要實現這一點，我們需要集中研究找到真正充實工作的複雜性。如果您有同樣的目標，我很想聽聽您的看法。我們可以一起探索不只是付錢的工作，而是我們深深，非常欣賞的工作。

Business Strategy Recommendations

I recently took an online course called "Section4 Strategy Sprint." After learning about the strategies that define the most valuable firms worldwide, I am applying this framework to evaluate real-world companies and identify strategic opportunities. The company I have chosen to analyze is Thought Machine, where I work and which I am familiar with.

Overview of Thought Machine

Thought Machine is a product-based company that has developed a core banking solution, transforming the banking industry and empowering banks to offer innovative services to their customers.

Growth at Thought Machine

We recently raised $200 million in our Series C funding round, which involved industry-leading venture capitalists and major global banks like Nyca Partners, Molten Ventures, JPMorgan, and Standard Chartered. This brings our total funding to $350 million and values our company at over £1 billion.

Clients of Thought Machine

We work with a variety of clients, ranging from Tier 1 banks to challengers, including Atom Bank, Curve, Lloyds Banking Group, Monese, SEB, Standard Chartered, TransferGo, Arvest, ING, and JPMorgan Chase.

Products of Thought Machine

Our product, Vault, operates on cloud-native platforms like Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure, eliminating the need for legacy technology. Vault can be configured through Smart Contracts to run any type of retail bank product, from current accounts to loans and mortgages.

T-Algorithm Strategies Evaluation

I am using the T-Algorithm framework for this analysis, which identifies strategies that have led companies like Apple, Google, Facebook, and Amazon to achieve trillion-dollar valuations. It enables explosive growth and substantial margins, and influential business leaders use it to focus on what matters most to customers while advancing key business priorities.

Traditional Tier 1 banks must adapt quickly to meet their customers' needs, making it a high business priority for Thought Machine's clients to transition from legacy systems to a more efficient, cloud-native technology stack.

1. Rundle

Rundle refers to a bundle of goods and/or services that generate recurring revenue. Banks are keen on reducing complexity and are often hindered by outdated, monolithic systems. Thought Machine offers a solution where banks can subscribe to our ledger, paying based on usage, which creates a recurring revenue model.

2. Appealing to Human Instinct

Successful businesses often appeal to a fundamental human instinct. In our case, we target the logical part of the human brain by offering practical and cost-effective solutions. Thought Machine attracts new banks with product advantages in stability, security, resilience, and cost-benefit.

3. Benjamin Button Effect

Products that leverage network effects become more valuable over time. Traditional banks often find it difficult to extract data from their legacy systems. Thought Machine's product offers the flexibility to integrate with other platforms, like Salesforce and Tableau, to resolve this issue.

4. Visionary Storytelling

This is the ability to articulate a bold vision effectively. Traditional banks often lack a deep culture of engineering excellence, whereas Thought Machine was founded by an ex-Googler with such a culture. This story has been beneficial in capital raising.

5. Vertical Integration

By owning as much of the value chain as possible, a firm can control the end-to-end customer experience. Banks prioritize cost, convenience, and speed, and Thought Machine addresses these needs by offering integrated solutions through partnerships.

6. Accelerant

An "accelerant" firm serves as a career springboard. Traditional Tier 1 banks are risk-averse and lack agility. At Thought Machine, our culture encourages continuous learning, high-quality work, and a great deal of fun.

T-Algorithm Strategy: Visionary Storytelling

Based on my analysis, the strategy with the most significant potential for Thought Machine is visionary storytelling. I propose that we articulate a simple, appealing, and believable vision for transforming the banking industry.

Future of Banking Initiatives

1. Increase Social Media Presence of Our CEO (Low effort, High impact)

Just as Elon Musk is portrayed as an innovator, our CEO, Paul Taylor, could increase his online presence. We need a charismatic leader to challenge the status quo in the banking industry. Short videos on platforms like Instagram and TikTok could drive brand awareness.

1. Engage with Technology Communities (Medium effort, High impact)

We should consider open-sourcing some of our technology to attract more developers. Organizing meetup groups with perks like free beer and pizza could engage the tech community. Weekly newsletters can keep the community updated.

1. Deepen Connections with Banks (High effort, High impact)

Building a good reputation within the banking industry could help in raising additional funds. Partnering with top consulting firms like Accenture, Deloitte, and BCG could also be beneficial.

Next Steps

1. Tweet more frequently from the CEO's Twitter account, emphasizing a bold vision.
2. Open-source part of our technology and create a tech meetup group.
3. Encourage our banking clients to share success stories using our product.

Any Questions?

I look forward to receiving feedback that will solidify my learnings and improve these recommendations. Don't hesitate to get in touch with me on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/victorleungtw

Business Strategy Recommendations

Welcome back, listeners, to another episode of Continuous Improvement. I'm your host, Victor, and today we have an exciting topic to discuss. But before we dive in, I wanted to share something interesting with you all. I recently took an online course called "Section4 Strategy Sprint" and let me tell you, it was eye-opening. The strategies I learned about are revolutionizing the way companies operate and helping them achieve remarkable growth. Today, we'll be applying these strategies to analyze a real-world company and identify strategic opportunities. The company we've chosen to analyze is none other than Thought Machine, where I have personal experience and insights. So, let's get started!

For those of you who may not be familiar, Thought Machine is a product-based company that has transformed the banking industry with its core banking solution, empowering banks to provide innovative services to their customers. They recently made headlines by raising $200 million in their Series C funding round, bringing their total funding to an impressive $350 million. With clients ranging from Tier 1 banks to challengers like Atom Bank and Curve, it's clear that Thought Machine is making waves in the industry.

Now, let's evaluate Thought Machine using the T-Algorithm framework. This framework has been used by trillion-dollar companies like Apple, Google, Facebook, and Amazon to achieve explosive growth and substantial margins. It focuses on what matters most to customers while advancing key business priorities. As we dive into the strategies, keep in mind that these are potential opportunities for Thought Machine.

The first strategy we'll discuss is Rundle. Rundle refers to a bundle of goods or services that generate recurring revenue. Traditional banks often face complexity due to outdated systems, and Thought Machine offers a solution where banks can subscribe to their ledger, paying based on usage. This creates a recurring revenue model that aligns well with the needs of banks.

The next strategy is all about appealing to human instinct, and this is where Thought Machine makes a strong case. By targeting the logical part of the human brain and offering practical and cost-effective solutions, they attract new banks with advantages in stability, security, resilience, and cost-benefit. It's definitely a winning strategy for them.

Moving on to the Benjamin Button Effect strategy, we have an interesting opportunity here. Traditional banks often struggle with extracting data from legacy systems. Thought Machine's product, Vault, offers the flexibility to integrate with other platforms like Salesforce and Tableau, solving this data extraction issue. Leveraging the power of network effects, Vault becomes more valuable over time.

Now, let's talk about Visionary Storytelling. This is the ability to articulate a bold vision effectively. Traditional banks often lack a deep culture of engineering excellence, whereas Thought Machine was founded by an ex-Googler with such a culture. This story has been beneficial for them in capital raising and could continue to be a driving force.

Vertical Integration is the next strategy on our list. By owning as much of the value chain as possible, a firm can control the end-to-end customer experience. Thought Machine addresses the needs of banks by offering integrated solutions through partnerships, prioritizing cost, convenience, and speed.

Lastly, we have Accelerant. Thought Machine's culture encourages continuous learning, high-quality work, and a great deal of fun. This culture sets them apart from traditional Tier 1 banks that are often risk-averse and lack agility. Being an accelerant firm serves as a career springboard for both the company and its employees.

Based on this evaluation, there is one key strategy that stands out for Thought Machine - Visionary Storytelling. Articulating a simple, appealing, and believable vision for transforming the banking industry could be a game-changer. So, let's dive into some specific initiatives to bring this strategy to life.

Firstly, increasing the social media presence of the CEO, Paul Taylor, could work wonders. Just like innovators such as Elon Musk, having a charismatic leader challenging the status quo in the banking industry can create a buzz. Short videos on platforms like Instagram and TikTok could help drive brand awareness and engage the audience.

Secondly, engaging with technology communities is essential. Thought Machine should consider open-sourcing some of their technology to attract more developers. Organizing meetup groups with perks like free beer and pizza can engage the tech community. Weekly newsletters can also keep the community updated and build a strong network.

Lastly, deepening connections with banks is crucial for raising additional funds and building a good reputation within the industry. Partnering with top consulting firms like Accenture, Deloitte, and BCG can be extremely beneficial. These partnerships can bring credibility and open doors to more opportunities.

Moving forward, here are the next steps to implement these initiatives:

First, Tweet more frequently from the CEO's Twitter account, emphasizing a bold vision. This will help in keeping the conversation going and capturing the attention of the audience.

Second, open-source part of our technology and create a tech meetup group. By doing so, Thought Machine can attract more developers, build a strong community, and establish themselves as thought leaders in the industry.

And finally, encourage our banking clients to share their success stories using our product. Published case studies and testimonials can be powerful tools to showcase the positive impact Thought Machine has made on their operations.

I'm thrilled about these proposed initiatives and I believe they have the potential to solidify Thought Machine's position as a frontrunner in the banking industry. I look forward to seeing how they implement these strategies and the incredible growth that awaits them.

That's all for today's episode of Continuous Improvement. Thank you for tuning in and joining me on this journey of analyzing and learning from real-world companies. If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/victorleungtw. Until next time, keep striving for continuous improvement!