Chic Collection

This has to be one of my latest favorite book collections – Chic – published by Editions Didier Millet. Enough to entice you to travel all over the world, the Chic Collection is illustrated with stunning photography and written by local experts on all things chic in hotels, restaurants, spas, shops, art galleries, places of interest and culture. It is the definitive guide to travel mixed with the handsome look of a coffee table book. So far I have Malaysia Chic, Spa Chic Asia, and Eco Chic… don’t worry my collection will expand!

For fellow dreamers, I present you the Chic Collection in its entirety:

PZ.

Future of tourism: ecological?

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO/OMT), a specialized agency of the United ‎Nations and the leading international organization in the field of tourism, estimates that tourism is today responsible for 5% of greenhouse gas emissions and that the situation will get worse if we don’t change our traveling habits. 1.1 billion travelers will cross the planet in 2010; 1.6 by 2020. It is now a priority to travel differently. But how?

First of all, get used to the idea that there is no ideal eco-traveler, just because taking the plane has a very negative impact on global warming. Should we stop taking the plane? Of course not. Tourism and leisure are crucial in our stressful lives to open our minds and hearts and very important for local economies. But we can improve the way we travel and become more sustainable.

The first tip to becoming a better eco-traveler is to choose modern companies with recent aircrafts. My second tip is to calculate your carbon emissions. For example, I have calculated my carbon emissions for a return flight from Paris to Kuala Lumpur (check out http://www.carbonify.com/carbon-calculator.htm). My result: 1.810 ton. Equivalent to 16,000 km driven with my car or two years of heat for my apartment in France!

 

Don’t ask us what we were doing in the tree!

To offset your carbon emissions, you can sponsor tree plantings (5,820 trees is my price to pay to visit my in-laws in Malaysia) or choose to sponsor another sustainable development program.

My third tip is to take your time and stop running. Before going overseas, prepare your journey by choosing eco-friendly tour operators, try to avoid the busiest sites and search less known places in order to balance the tourism geographical repartition around the globe.

And last but not least, help preserve the environment by visiting natural parks, eco museums, don’t buy any protected species, reduce air con in your room, water wasting etc etc…

Most of all, don’t give up, start with what you can, every detail matters in becoming a responsible tourist!

(Green) Frog.

What World Champions can teach to Entrepreneurs

 

In my career as a sports TV film producer, as well as into sports (cycling, boxing, tennis), I had the great opportunity to share the intimacy of French world-class champions. Among them:

-Bixente Lizarazu (Footballer: World Cup Champion ‘98, Euro Cup champion 2000, Champions League 2001, six-time Bundesliga champion with Bayern Munich)

-Mathieu Crepel (Snowboarder: Winner of the World Cup FIS 2005, World Champion TTR 2006, Double World Champion 2007)

-Jeremy Flores (Surfer: ASP Rookie of the Year 2007, ASP WQS Champion 2006, ASP European Junior Champion 2005)

You may think that the life of a sports star is all about partying, cars, girls and having fun. Well it is the exact opposite, as a matter of fact, none of us could support their life style. You wake up early, train for six hours, than a forced rest, strict nutrition (carbs and white meat only), go to bed early, and all this 24/7. I remember Bixente telling me that a week without training makes him lose 5% of his physical capacity. So you don’t even enjoy the annual 2 weeks holidays because you know that you are going to train even harder when you come back in order to win back the 10% lost.

These three great champions taught me lessons that I try to apply every day as an entrepreneur.

1.     Visualise your goals, and focus until you reach them: Champions never let go; it is amazing to work with them. As a producer, I know that with a champion, the job will be done, no matter what it takes. (Problems arrive when your work with actors, singers and designers!)

2.     Train hard and be prepared: Work on your weaknesses, and secure your strength. “Hard training, easy results” as Jeremy Flores, youngest surfer to have reached the WCT says.

3.     Gain in confidence is a big part of success. Victory is all in the head. In France there is a taboo in the sports world around mental coaches and psychiatrists that are surrounding athletes, but they are as important as physical trainers.

 

 

 

Going to bed early and healthy nutrition with my wife’s Malaysian dishes are lost causes for me, but I learnt that you can find valuable business lessons from people that you’d least expect and understand why champions are a rare breed!

Frog.

(Putting words into action: me training for Le Tour de Langkawi! )

 

 

 

 

 

 

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