No one told me that “collaborating” with David means having a boss – a very particular boss.

And no one warned him of how easily distracted I am. I find simple things interesting, so pretty much everything is a potential distraction. From the kids running on the street, to the expressions on the waiters’ faces, to some far-off memory popping up, my brain is always lighting up with ideas, many of which have nothing to do with what we’re doing.

“I thought we were going to have brunch? I didn’t know we were going to be so serious!“

Earlier today, David and I went to have brunch at Toby’s Estate along LP Leviste St. in Salcedo Village, Makati. I had never tried the place before but I can see why it’s quickly become a popular place to visit. The place is bright and well designed, and the food is really good (see bellow for what we ordered). We went there to work on my blog which, to me, means writing a lighthearted post over a friendly and fun brunch. To David, “working on something” means single-minded focus and distraction-less effort towards achieving something. So you can imagine how our conversation went:

David: Ok. This is the structure of your blog. You need to think of what makes you stand-out.
Me: Hey! Look at that cute kid!
David: Yasmin, can you please focus.
Me: I’m listening to you.
David: You’re not.
Me: I thought we were going to have brunch? I didn’t know we were going to be so serious.
David: I told you we were going to work on your blog.
Me: We are working on my blog.
(David saying nothing but with his face that doesn’t do too good a job at hiding frustration)

yasmin_quadblow

Making Faces at Mr. Serious

You get the point. We sometimes do things differently. I’m a free-flowing person, and I don’t mind life’s interesting distractions, in fact, I appreciate them. David is structured and disciplined, applying both to almost everything he does – including Sunday brunch!

Our differences in approach inevitably leads to disagreements and misunderstandings. It’s part of pretty much every relationship. So we do a very simple thing when we mis-understand: we make the effort to understand. This process sometimes leads to more misunderstandings but we just put more effort to understand each other. Through this process of deliberate understanding we learn to appreciate what each brings to the table. I find David brings the kind of determination, discipline, and intensity anything of quality requires. And David appreciates my lightheartedness, creativity, and sensitivity. Just like you can’t make an amazing dish with one ingredient. Many times the most amazing things come from different people with different things to contribute choosing to work together.”

Having a "serious brunch"

Having a “serious brunch”

Details:
Where: Toby’s Estate Salcedo (V Corporate Center, Shop 6, 125 L.P. Leviste St.)
Who: with David
What: Brunch

yasmin_tobys_smokedsalmongreens – Smoked Salmon Salad and Greens (shared): P325

yasmin_tobys_eggsbenedict– Eggs Benedict (shared): P325

– Gibraltar (for David): P130

I really enjoyed their Mocha– Mocha (for Yasmin): P160

– Chai Chocolate (shared): P160

“Learn to appreciate differences. You can’t make an amazing dish with one ingredient. Many times the most amazing things come from amazingly different people, with amazingly different things to contribute, choosing to work together.”