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50 Coffees #27 - Maurice Li

I recently read a theory that going for 50 coffees with people you've never met is the entrepreneurs equivalent to the theory that doing anything for 10,000 hours will make you an expert on it.

COFFEE #27

Name: Maurice Li

Occupation: Photographer

Beverage: Water

I recently read a theory that going for 50 coffees with people you've never met is the entrepreneurs equivalent to the theory that doing anything for 10,000 hours will make you an expert on it. While I get the idea, 50 coffees is far easier than practicing something for ten years, and while I'm far from lazy I've decided to set out on a fairly simple mission: over the next 50 weeks I'm going to invite 50 interesting Vancouverites, most of whom I have never met before, to go for coffee. I'm going to use this as an exercise in networking for myself and for V.I.A. while also using it as a platform to introduce you to some people who are doing really cool stuff in the city you live in.

Meet Maurice Li. Venture capital guy and professional photographer, Maurice has successfully made the jump from working all day behind a desk to a more balanced lifestyle that lets him retain his role as a consultant while exploring his creative passions. His successful transition should serve as an inspiration to others thinking of doing the same. One of the higher profile gigs he's taken on recently was joining the Canadian Tourism Commission as the official lensman for William and Kate's cross Canada adventure (!!!), but he can be found all around town, and the world, shooting this and that.

We went for lunch (and of course I drank coffee) at Brixton near the V.I.A. office in Chinatown and you'll have to forgive me for the poor quality of the photo but I figure it illustrates how much better of an iPhone photographer, and an overall photographer, Maurice is. Of course as a pro he shoots on a fancy SLR but he is doing some amazing things lately with technology and the camera many of us have in our pocket all day every day. His iPhone photos are about 10,000 times better than this one I shot of him, and his photos he shoots on an SLR go beyond infinitely better than the ones I shoot. Take a peek at his PORTFOLIO for proof and be sure to follow him on TWITTER and find him on Instagram to see where his profession takes him next!