Simon S. Tam's Blog, page 5

Benny and the Jetlag

It’s easy to get lost in the mire of terrible news and conflict. I’m guilty of this often. But last night, I was reminded how special moments can still find their way into our lives if we let them.   While on a layover in Atlanta, an elderly pianist was playing songs in the middle of the food court. After a trailer for “Bohemian Rhapsody” came on, she switched things up and started playing “Don’t Stop Me Now” by queen. Soon, when nearby tables caught the melody, they began singing along...

To Be Seen

Yesterday, I had the honor and pleasure of speaking at Vanderbilt School of Law. I gotta admit: I do enjoy speaking to law students, more so than bar associations or at law conferences, because I believe there’s more opportunity to help them see how the deluge of legal briefs they’re reading help shape our country for better and for worse, how even laws with the best of intentions can harm the marginalized, and how they can be intentional about recognizing that. While being asked q...

Earning More Than a Vote

One of the most-used features of Linkedin Premium is the ability to see everyone who has viewed your profile. It’s always amusing to me when I get a message that’s obviously been copy + pasted saying “I saw your profile and…” or some variation thereof before attempting to sell me something or asking me to visit their website, etc.

Now if they actually took the time to read my profile and see if what they want to discuss is relevant, I would pick up on it right away. Instead, I mentally file t...

Radical Optimism Will Change Our World (An Interview/Feature)

I was recently interviewed about my life post-Supreme Court: what I’ve been up to, how I deal with failure, and why I believe in radical optimism.

Read the feature here.

Remembering Nai Nai

I recently lost my nai nai, my grandmother.

When people ask me about nai nai, I usually remember her with stories. Since my first memories with her, I can’t think of a single time where she didn’t share a little bit of her generosity by way of a hong bao. Every memory that I have of her involves her giving something to others, whether it was her advice, some of her food or those little red envelopes.

Perhaps her life was guided by a famous Chinese proverb which says:

If you want happiness f...

Paying to Play

I recently received an invitation to be interviewed for an online show that focuses on helping artists in terms of their creative process and being paid for their work. It sounded like a good fit, especially since I wrote two books and host a daily podcast show that focuses on this exact subject. I’ve done this hundreds of times before so it seemed straightforward. But then, I found a catch: as part of my commitment to the show, they wanted me to promote the appearance by instructing my follo...

One Drop of Justice

“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.”
– Dalai Lama XIV

There’s an oft-shared story about the power of small actions. It states how a small drop can shatter the perfect, smooth sheen in a pond and create ripples across the surface.   Another allegory reminds us how one degree of temperature can shift water from its liquid state to gas, simply by reaching that boiling point.   These all serve as reminders that our actions do make a differe...

The Worst Jobs I’ve Ever Had

Everyone has a story about the worst job they’ve ever had.

Working customer service at a call center. Housekeeping for a motel. Counting inventory for a big-box retailer. Sometimes these jobs are necessary for a start. Other times it’s for survival.

When I reflect on the worst job experiences in my life, the common theme isn’t menial or humiliating labor. It isn’t tied to paying the bills…it’s identity. They were the jobs that I felt proud of, that I poured my entire being into until somethin...

Civility at Work

All the worlds a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits, and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts.
– William Shakespeare

As the debates on immigration policies at the United States border heated up last week, so did several public events that challenged the notion of civility. First, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was heckled by protesters while eating at a Mexican restaurant in Washington, DC. It became news when protestors u...

On the Hugh M Hefner First Amendment Awards

My recent trip to DC was extraordinary – from enjoying Michelin starred restaurants to receiving an award from the Hugh M. Hefner Foundation for my battle to advance civil liberties, then meeting incredible journalists like Wolf Blitzer – but I don’t think I ever felt more out of place. Each of the folks standing with me in the photograph are far more deserving and exhibited much greater courage in more difficult situations.

Still, it was nice to be among people who believed in pursuing compl...