Start living life to the fullest

” Life is short, and it is here to be lived.” – Kate Winslet

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Do the following phrases sound familiar to you?

Life is short… You only live once… You have only one life, live it… never regret your life… live as if you’ll die today… and many more.

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For the past two months, I have been receiving news about people passing… some acquaintances, friends, and family members. All the bad news on death… I do not mean to be rude or inconsiderate, we know that ultimately, we will leave this world… You and I know that, I believe. It’s inevitable and we are just temporary residents of the world.

And yet, the news somehow still affected me, subconsciously. Made me think the following thoughts…

– Appreciate those people around you.
– Spend quality time with your loved ones.
– Create memories.
– Live in the moment and experience the valuable time together.
– Never regret.
– Is today my last day in this world?
– What else do I need to do for my loved ones?
– What can I do to help people around me?
– How do I want people to remember me?

Well, what I can do now is to live my life with what I have, my purpose, dreams and journey with the people I want. Making choices that is worth paying the price for.

“Life is short, and it is up to you to make it sweet.” – Sarah Louise Delany

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No point worrying and thinking too much about things that are not within our control. We can just do our best and strive for excellence. Do what we can and let God do what we cannot.

The following points will be a reminder to myself and if you can benefit from them, please go ahead to perfect practice them. Let me know how it goes and share your success with me, so that I can inspire others with your story.

Are you ready? Here they are…

How to live life to the fullest…

Focus on what you want and what’s important to you. You are the captain to your own ship called “LIFE”… you decide which way you want to go. Ultimately, you make the choices and be responsible for the outcome of your choices.

No risks, no gain. Another phrase that really sounds familiar. I just need to remember to take the risks that I am able to be accountable for. Not taking just any risks blindly. It helps to have mentors and coaches who can bring out the best in you when making decisions.

Tell your loved ones that you love them. Hug them and create memories with them. How you want them to remember you? Start doing things together, while you still can.

Wise people learnt from own mistakes, wiser people learnt from other people’s mistakes… wisest people learnt from other people’s successes. Best to live in the present (NOW) than to live in the past or future. You can do something right now (based on what you learnt in the past) to get the results you want in the future. Right here, right NOW!

You cannot please everyone all the time. At the end of the day, by trying to please everyone, you please no one (especially yourself). Be true to yourself and you choose who you want to be with, to spend time with and to create precious memories with.

Be honest with yourself, live up to your own values. People who do not have the same values, sooner or later, they will not stick around. As what people say, “birds of the same feather, they flock together…” Better to have people with the same values to be part of your life. You can then be yourself, no need to pretend to be who you are.

Find happiness and meaning in life through serving others. By helping others, you are in fact, helping yourself (to find meaning and be happy). Have the abundance mentality, the more you help others, the more you gain in return. And expect nothing… whatever comes back, it’s a BONUS.

The mind is like the parachute… it only works when it is open. When you are open to learning, you will then learn new things and find meaning. Steve Jobs also mentioned… “Stay hungry, stay foolish…” Life is a journey of learning.

Action speaks louder than words. This is definitely a strong reminder for me to take (massive) action, if I want to achieve results that I set goal for and to solve the challenges that I am facing. Like what I have learnt, as leaders, we need to “walk our talk!”. Having integrity as our character will somehow be the personal brand. (How do you want people to remember you?).

“Life is short, and you have to have fun with it, you know?” – Fabio Lanzoni

What is stopping you from living your life to the fullest?

If there is a need to talk to someone, let the someone be me… call me and we can chat over coffee. Thank you for your time in reading this blog and all the very best in your life.

“Your habits, your future!”

Life of a Trainer, Facilitator and Coach (Survey)

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” – Soren Kierkegaard

Last year I did a survey (for fun) to get some inputs from my friends who are in the professional development industry. Their experience as a trainer, facilitator and coach / mentor are ranging from two -(2) to twenty five -(25) years. I have a lot of respect for them and I am glad that they are my friends. Thank you for all your inputs… you know who you are!!

At times, I received some questions on how to be a trainer or coach and I look forward to this sharing to answer some of that questions that one has pertaining to this industry. Well, you can always invite my friends or me for coffee to discuss or brainstorm further…

Without further delay, please find outcome of the survey…

(1) Why are you doing this?

  • To leave a legacy behind that I have touched and transformed people positively worldwide.
  • As a Coach I can support young people to find their life purpose and develop their competency to success in VUCA World.
  • I love doing this because my passion is to impart knowledge in the most simple, engaging and connected manner.
  • Doable Business
  • My passion and helping people
  • Passion
  • Self-satisfaction, Giving Back to Society
  • Is something I am passionate about and a journey of learning for both.
  • Out of passion
  • To inspire people to do their best to strive
  • it fulfills my passion of helping people think better

As for me, my life purpose is “To inspire and develop leaders to reach their highest potential, for God.”

(2) What is the most memorable experience in training or coaching? (feel free to share more than one)

  • After more than 15 years people still remember on the impact I created in their life
    When people say that I make them feel great about themselves
    When people say that they become better because of my teachings
  • I helped an entrepreneur of a construction company to turnaround his business by just developing the leader inside him (learn how to lead self, influence people, listen more and treat employees the way they want by learning their love languages). And this is a volunteer project for SME community.
  • When your participants give you a round of applause not only at the end of the training (usually 2 days) but at the end of the first day! Nothing beats that feeling of satisfaction.
  • The feeling of HIGH @ the end of program
  • When participants/clients change for the positive, and appreciative of our coaching/training
  • Seeing lives transformed for the better
  • Your participants remembering you , when it has slipped your memory
  • When I know I have made some difference in the organization striving for betterment
  • I remember the first time my participant told me that it made his life better, at work and with his family… the joy I had to continue my journey as a trainer/coach/sharing/mentor was a breeze.
  • 1. The person coached performed outstandingly and received a double promotion.
    2. The whole branch performance turned around from red to black within 3 months when the HQ management gave them 1 year.
    3. 14 bank branches increased sales in all their identified weak portfolios in less than 2 quarters with a minimum increase of 25%. The list goes on……..
  • Participant remembered what you taught them and applied practically in life and workplace
  • When I got feedback from a participant how she applied the insights and also share the insights with her colleagues who also benefited from the learning

As for me, all of the above and more, when you know are able to make a difference in lives… every session is different and not everyone in that session will apply what they learned. I am just looking for one person, one life to inspire… I trust there will be one every time!

(3) What is your favourite quote?

  • Choose to Lead, once a while learn to follow
  • “Live a life you want. Do not care too much on how people think about you”~ my quote:)”
  • “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment” Jim Rohn
  • Knowing is not doing
  • For things to change for you, you have to change first yourself.
  • The purpose of life is to live a life of purpose.
  • “We are all learners, and that is the way to grow positively”.
  • Too many to recall. 8 truth of life by Abdul Kalam is a good guide for me
  • All that is not given, is lost!
  • Follow Your Passions And Success Will Follow
  • The purpose of the body is to carry the brain

My favourite quote will be the quote I share with everybody… “Your habits, your future!”

(4) Who are your role models?

  • Jesus Christ, MGR, Konosuke Matsushita, My Parents, My wife
  • Jeff Bezos; Warren Buffet; Steve Jobs
  • Barrack Obama – His Leadership Traits Anyone with patience and perseverance
  • Myself
  • Mother Theresa, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jack Ma
  • Jack Canfield, John Maxwell, Robin Sharma, Marshall Goldsmith, Dr Peter Chee and others.
  • My First Head of Department (1977)
  • My prophet
  • I am my own
  • Tony Robbins
  • My parents

I have many role models, Jesus Christ, my parents, my mentors, coaches, my wife and even my kids… I am really learning from them!

(5) What are the titles of your favourite books?

  • How to win friends and influence people
    How to stop worrying and start living
    Think and Grow Rich
  • Coaching & Mentoring for Breakthrough Success; Value Investment; The Power of Think Difference; Sapiens.
  • The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen Covey
    How Successful People Think: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life – John Maxwell
  • Purpose Driven Life
  • Simplify, The Power of Habits, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Mindset…etc
  • Too many to recall….To Kill A Mocking Bird . My Family & Other Animals.
  • Quran
    A balance life Nutrition immunology by Dr Chen
    Art of war
  • You’ll See It When You Believe It.
  • Change your habit Change your world
  • Mindset, Start with Why, Leaders Eat Last, Rewire

Mine will be… easy… all of the above, haha!

(6) Any advice or tips for one who wants to start as a trainer or coach?

  • Pursue excellence in training by being a role model
  • You must love what you do and do what you love.
  • Be genuinely passionate about everything you do… and you will see the miracle happen.
  • Be transparent and creative
  • If you aren’t passionate enough, and wanting to be a coach or trainer because you see/admire/envy others having the income or the lifestyle, then don’t do it. You must have the love for people in order for you to go far in this industry. Also, it starts from yourself. You need to keep learning, improving and change. Role modeling and walking the talk is very important.
  • Educate yourself first.Open Minded, Live Long Learning
  • Match it with your passion. Training can be in many areas
  • Have a whole lot of passion.
    Love what you do and do what you love!
  • Doing what you are passionate about is more important
  • Know what you want to focus and excel in and why you want to do it

If you do it as your work, it will be tedious… if it’s play… everyday is a fun day!

“Difficult and meaningful will always bring more satisfaction than easy and meaningless.” – Maxime Lagacé

“Your habits, your future!”