Hello Reader,
I'm preparing to head off for a long-awaited family holiday next week. As such, I'll keep things brief.
It's just me
Two things happened recently that got me thinking. The first was last weekend when the deputy CEO of a listed firm in Southeast Asia dropped me a WhatsApp message. He couldn't get the WhatsApp Channel link in the newsletter to work.
I was able to share the link directly on WhatsApp, which works reliably compared to clicking the link in emails or LinkedIn posts. So that was quickly sorted.
But it was his following message that gave me pause: "Maybe you need to get your people to fix it."
The same week, someone else messaged on LinkedIn, mentioning how much they enjoyed the content I've posted and expressing appreciation to "you and your team."
You see, dear reader. My LinkedIn posts, WhatsApp Channel, Tech Stories blog, this newsletter and commentary, and Substack - it's just me.
Am I writing too much?
A balancing act
As you've probably surmised by now, writing Tech Stories isn't my full-time job but something I put together in snatches of time - late afternoons, evenings, nights, and weekends.
I write because writing is thinking, and it also compels me to keep reading and analysing. And of course, I do gain so much from experts who chime in from around the world.
Yes, AI plays a part - helping with research, minor copyediting, checking for mistakes, and finding the right words when I'm mentally exhausted. To be clear, none of my work registers on AI-detector Pangram because I wrote all of it by hand.
It's a balancing act, naturally. While I'm not bankrolled to do this, the intellectual rewards and engagement from the community have been tremendous. The challenge, as always, is finding the sweet spot between passion project and sustainable practice.
As the year draws to a close, I'm thinking about how to take Tech Stories forward in 2026. How can I deepen the analysis while maintaining consistency? What would make this even more valuable for you, the readers who make this worthwhile?
Would love to hear your thoughts.
As usual, you can reach me simply by replying to this email.
PS: I'll be taking a break from this newsletter next weekend and a hiatus of around 9 days. See you in December!
Regards,
Paul Mah
Content collaboration
Love the way I write? I'm opening up for more content collaborations. If you are looking for event coverage, brand storytelling, or a way to share your unique perspectives with a broader audience, fill in the form
here and I'll get in touch.
