Field Notes
After a few years of working, life can feel like a hamster wheel—especially if you work for yourself and never seem to have time for the projects that matter to you. Here’s how we learned to buy time back.
There were two speakers: Chris Cheung Hon Him, a Hong Kong-based technologist and new media artist, and myself. Chris had just won the award in 2013, while I had been a recipient in 2011.
During his talk, Chris showcased immersive digital installations and audiovisual performances, captivating the audience.
Note to self: Never speak after a technologist—unless you have VR or animations. Speak first.
A show-and-tell format feels old school, especially when the audience has likely googled you. So, I focus on sharing what can’t be found online—something useful and universally understood, especially since I couldn’t speak Cantonese.
90-10 & 50/50
To explain how we work at Anonymous, I introduced two simple frameworks:
-
90-10 → We spend 90% of our effort on research and thinking, and only 10% on execution.
- 50/50 → We split our time equally between commercial work and purpose-driven studio projects.
During the Q&A, someone in the audience asked:
"Why not spend 100% of your time on commercial projects instead?"
I took a moment and replied in my limited Mandarin:
“钱是赚不完的” (You can never earn all the money in the world.)
Apple Store Causeway Bay
We have one life, and nearly half of it is spent working. If you run your own business, it can feel like even more.
We work to earn a living, contribute to society, and feel useful. But beyond financial gain, many of us also want to create things that matter—to contribute to the world in ways that don’t always have immediate financial returns.
That could mean making art, volunteering, mentoring, or supporting a cause. The challenge? Most of us feel we don’t have the time.
Many believe: "I just need to make enough money now, and one day I’ll be able to do what I love."
But time doesn’t magically appear. You have to create it.
Freedom to
It took me years to understand that money is a stored value of time.
You trade your time for money, which you then spend on things you want and need.
But if you can want and need less, money gives you something greater—freedom.
The freedom to choose how you spend your time.
The freedom to say no to projects that don’t align with your values.
The freedom to pursue work that matters, not just work that pays.
How We Buy Back Time
- Work on projects where you can create the highest value for the greatest number of people.
- Invest part of your earnings into income-generating assets.
- Use the rest to buy time—pursue passion projects, learn new skills, and connect with people who inspire you.
- Your new skills and network increase your value, leading to better opportunities.
If you keep your lifestyle simple, the returns from your investments give you a financial buffer. - Repeat.
This is in no way the only path or even a roadmap that would work for everyone. It’s simply what has worked for us, and how we work on projects where we can deliver the highest possible value for, and contribute meaningfully to the world around us.
—
Felix Ng
Co-founder, Anonymous
@felix.anonymous