“To hell with circumstances; I create opportunities.” – Bruce Lee
If there was ever an opportune moment to quote one of my childhood heroes, this is it. Bruce Lee created a niche market for himself in the film industry by popularizing the Chinese martial art of Kung Fu. The late actor’s famous words can be interpreted as rejecting previously unchallenged assumptions and replacing them with a more desirable reality. Innovation also results from this process.
I contend that developing a comparative understanding of how people in different cultural, political, and socio-economic environments are developing new solutions to everyday problems is an effective method by which one can gain the perspective to also innovate.
Admittedly, I stumbled upon such a belief purely by accident.
After graduating from the University of Victoria in 2009, myself and other teacher-hopefuls quickly became aware that job prospects were bleak. As if my future wasn’t uncertain enough at the time, I then purchased a one-way ticket to South Korea where I would spend the next five years of my life. However, living and traveling abroad exposed me to a seemingly infinite number of instances where innovation was making life easier for people in their respective communities. Regardless of whether it involved Uber’s motorbike service in the congested streets of Jakarta or capsule hotels in Tokyo’s urban sprawl, witnessing innovation in new and previously unimagined ways stretched my imagination as to how I could challenge conventions by providing simpler and broader access to goods or services.
One example of how immersing oneself in different environments can inspire tangible change in the marketplace is Franca Ciambella, a Canadian who is currently the Managing Director at Consilium Law Corporation in Singapore. Before establishing her law firm in 2010, Mrs. Ciambella practiced law in Singapore for 20 years as well as enjoyed a wide range of international experience. Mrs. Ciambella pursued higher education in Quebec, Ontario, Virginia, New York, and, most notably, Singapore. As one of the first foreign lawyers to gain full admission to the Singapore Bar, Mrs. Ciambella further distinguished herself from other lawyers in Singapore with her ability to advise clients from several jurisdictions in both civil and common law matters. In other words, Mrs. Ciambella’s wealth of international experience contributed to her ability to drastically change the way in which legal services are provided. Clients who require legal advice for matters involving multiple jurisdictions will likely find Mrs. Ciambella’s services more expedient and likely more cost-effective.
By arming oneself with a broadened perspective and the willingness to challenge existing conventions, opportunities for ingenuity will undoubtedly become more apparent.
Sam, this post is really well done and hit close to home. While I didn’t spend five years in another country like you did, I did do my first year of law school in Australia and subsequently transferred to TRU for year two and three. I would say that while both jurisdictions practice common law, I really do have a greater appreciation for the little cultural nuances in the way certain lawyers from each respective countries, approach the practice of law.
Your example of Mrs. Ciambella not only exemplifies how important it can be to diversify your law practice; it also demonstrates that diversification isn’t rigid. It can be as unique as providing a bridge between cultures.
Overall, I really appreciate and respect this school of thought and I think you did a great job articulating it.
Great post Sam! It’s always interesting to hear the different paths people have taken to get to this point in their life. Your final statement that one needs to have a broad perspective and a willingness to challenge existing conventions is exactly the type of mentality all young people need to have. It is important to make sure you challenge yourself every day as you really won’t know what you’re capable of until you push your limits and do things out of your comfort. As with your purchase of a one-way ticket to South Korea, these spontaneous and “out of the box” decisions are what shape people’s lives for the better, and will benefit you as your legal career progresses.
Great post, Sam! International experience is so invaluable, even when one ends up working in their hometown! I have always wanted to spend some time working in Montreal, the city I was born in, but considering the differing forms of law (common vs. civil) in Canada alone, it is really daunting to think about adapting to a whole other system! It would be amazing to see a comparative course on civil and common law here at TRU!
Hey Sam, I loved this post. One of the most difficult barriers to change is our own perception of the world. This is one of the best things about travelling, as you see a side of the world that you previously didn’t even know existed, and it makes you wonder about what else is possible. With technological innovation as well, we have become ever more connected to every part of the globe, and those ideas can spread incredibly quickly. It’s not something I really considered until I read your post, but it’s amazing to see that there are those out there challenging what we see as limitations.