In this episode of The Executive Edge Podcast, Alex Mearns chats with Peter Douglas, a former director at Aberdeen Asset Management in Singapore, who left the corporate world to start his own hedge fund research business. Eventually, Peter made another bold move - relocating to a small village atop a mountain in Japan! Discover how leaving corporate life transformed his mindset, health and sense of purpose.
Peter shares his insights on:
- The unexpected challenges of entrepreneurship
- Why leaving corporate life was the best thing that ever happened to him
- How rural Japanese living impacted his health and well-being

🔑 Key Takeaways
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Corporate vs. Entrepreneurial Life: Peter’s candid thoughts on the risks and rewards of both.
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The Corruption of Corporate Culture: "Ultimately, a corporation will corrupt you," says Peter - find out why.
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Life in Rural Japan: The unique health habits that contribute to Japanese longevity.
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Personal Growth: How facing challenges like starting a business and even a bear attack shaped his life.
⏱️ YouTube Episode Timestamps
- 00:00 - Intro
- 00:59 - Why did Peter leave Aberdeen Asset Management to start his own business?
- 05:39 - What unexpected challenges did Peter face when starting his own business?
- 09:44 - "Ultimately, a corporation will corrupt you." – Peter’s thoughts on corporate life
- 13:00 - Why did Peter move from Singapore to a mountain village in Japan?
- 16:15 - What’s the difference between Peter’s life in a small village vs a big city?
- 20:45 - What’s it like for Peter to actually live in Japan?
- 25:26 - Why do the Japanese have one of the longest life expectancies? Peter’s 5 reasons
- 29:34 - Has the West misunderstood the Japanese concept of Ikigai?
- 31:40 - In Japanese companies, who’s more important than clients?
- 33:13 - Peter’s top 3 health and wellness tips
- 35:23 - What are the consequences of Peter wrestling with a wild bear? (Yes, he really did get mauled!)
🎧 Catch the Episode: Watch or Listen
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📄 Read the Full Transcript
For a detailed read, check out the full transcript of this episode.
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