Going Back to Basics: My Thought Process Behind This Substack Space
Hello again, dear readers!
As I venture further into using this Substack space, I wanted to take a step back and reflect on what I truly intend to accomplish here. As someone who has spent years both teaching and practicing entrepreneurship, as well as engaging many Southeast Asian startup entrepreneurs, I've learned that meaningful innovation often starts with examining the problem statement. It’s tempting to look outward for inspiration, but sometimes the most insightful breakthroughs come when we turn inward and explore our own experiences.
Starting From the Basics: My “Problem” Statement to focus on for this Substack Space
As an educator and entrepreneur, I’ve always been driven by a fundamental question: How can I better serve people while documenting my own journey of learning and growth? Instead of seeking external validation or trying to fit into a pre-defined mold, I chose to examine my own user journey.
That’s when I realized something profound.
Like many of you, I consume a lot of content. I listen to podcasts during my morning walks and hikes (Yup, In Singapore, there’s nothing much to do except enjoying hiking at the various Park Connector Networks (PCNs) brought to you by National Parks Singapore), watch/listen to insightful videos while I travel to work/commute, and absorb interviews as I wind down at night. Yet, despite all this information, I often feel a disconnect. I am inundated with ideas, insights, and nuggets of wisdom, but I struggle to retain and reflect on them meaningfully. Social media’s dopamine-driven cycle doesn’t help either, constantly bombarding us with new content without giving us a moment to pause and digest.
A Personal Pain Point Becomes a Purpose
One evening, as I flipped through my notepad filled with scribbled thoughts and fleeting reflections, it hit me: What if I used this Substack as a way to document my learning journey? Instead of letting insights get lost in the whirlwind of daily life, I could create a structured space to capture, reflect, and share what resonates.
My initial hesitation stemmed from feeling vulnerable. After all, sharing personal thoughts and interpretations can feel exposing. But then I remembered what I always tell my students: Entrepreneurship is about creating value by solving real problems — even if that problem is your own.
Listening to Your Own User Journey
It’s easy to look for solutions outside of ourselves. But sometimes, real breakthroughs happen when we look inward, paying close attention to our own challenges. I realized that the challenge of consolidating knowledge amidst information overload wasn’t unique to me. Many of us feel overwhelmed with the sheer volume of content we encounter daily.
Through this space, I aim to build a habit — not just for myself, but for my community — of reflective listening and thoughtful documentation. By sharing the distilled insights I gather from podcasts, videos, and interviews, I hope to create a one-stop station where both you and I can return to relive those moments of clarity and inspiration.
Learning to Listen Attentively
This journey isn’t just about content curation; it’s about fostering a mindset of deeper listening. Whether it’s paying attention to my own frustrations or the insights shared in a long-form conversation, I believe that truly listening is a powerful skill. It’s about tuning into the subtle signals, the small epiphanies that can spark meaningful change. It is an important ingredient for developing true Empathy!
By doing this, I hope to encourage my readers to apply a similar process in their own lives. To listen not just to what others say, but to what their own routines and habits are telling them. This process of careful listening and reflective practice can reveal untapped capacities and inspire new ways of adding value to the world.
The Journey Forward
This Substack will be more than just my thoughts on entrepreneurship and innovation. It will be a living repository of learning — a place where ideas are captured, examined, and shared openly. My hope is that as I document my journey, you too will find ways to unlock your potential, identify your own challenges, and see them not as obstacles, but as opportunities to innovate and grow.
Let’s embark on this journey together, learning, reflecting, and striving to make a meaningful impact — one thought at a time.
Thank you for being here, and I look forward to sharing more with you soon!
Dr Wilson Wang
DWR Insights Studio