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My mission trip reflections

The mission team… arrived and ready to serve!

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
– Mahatma Gandhi

This month I have decided to share this one blog on my mission trip reflections. My second mission trip to West Kalimantan since the last trip in 2017. There is so much things to learn as we serve others. This trip has made deeper impression on me and please find my reflections as below:

What I have learnt?

It is important to be fit and healthy to travel, how can we serve others when we are not fit. That is why we need to take care of ourselves before taking care of others. We cannot give what we do not have, in this case, strength, stamina and ability to help others in anyway that we can.

What we have planned for may not turned out as how we want it to be. We have to expect the unexpected. We can plan and prepare so much and when the rubber meets the road… the situation may differ. Just be flexible, enjoy the journey, stay calm and learn as much as we can.

Everyone has their own struggles, and what we can do is to help as much as we can, avoid judging others and do not burden others with your own troubles and hurts.

Simple actions can impact people without you knowing it. Do what we can, with what we have, wherever we go…

Be prepared mentally for unforeseen circumstances and be flexible to change. “Blessed are those who are flexible as they will not be bent out of shape!”

“Some of our finest work comes through service to others.”
– Gordon B. Hinckley

One of the workshops I helped to conduct with my mentors…
The villagers may not have much and they are devoted to worship. Really love their faith and especially the children.

Self realisation:

I really need to be consistent in my fitness regime, it may not be easy to follow the schedule… just need to be creative and do what I can to be in shape!

All the answers are in the bible; in my opinion, a lot of people are searching via worldly things and relying on other people… when all that we are searching for, is in the holy book. I will need to be more diligent in reading the bible.

Pay attention to details and the rest will be in place accordingly. It may not be easy to ensure everything runs like a well-oiled machine and when we do, all things will fall in place. Better for everyone and especially myself.

Give the best that I can; with who I can be, what I can do and what I have. The key is to giving without expecting anything in return (no expectations) and we will be happier plus meaningful.

Be generous and have abundance mentality. The more we give, the more we get… it may sound illogical… at times in life, there is no logic, no need to think too much. Just do it… Now!

Devotions as a habit… as food is to our physical body, we need food to our soul and spirit. We are what we eat… and input to our brain.

Be patient with others; never underestimate anybody. Everyone has their own strengths, talents, ability, experience and they contribute in their own ways. Who are we to judge?

Experience helps to make us better and in the know. Should any similar events happen again, we are ready for them and know how to deal with them. Life is an adventure, get as much experience as we can. Make more mistakes, learn from others and we will be wiser.

“Being of service to others is what brings true happiness.”
– Marie Osmond

This is where we conduct our teambuilding for the hospital staffs. What a view!


One of the groups for the teambuilding session. We ROCK!

There were a lot of photos and videos taken for the trip. It is not possible for me to showcase everything in this blog. If anyone of you is interested to know about the mission trip, please contact me and we can have coffee with me sharing stories with you… some are really funny.

Looking forward to serve more and may God bless the people in West Kalimantan.

“Your habits, your future!”

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Habits of Getting Organised

“Organizing is a journey, not a destination.”

The other day when I was having a meeting with my friend and also accountant, I realised that I really need to learn to be more organised. I believe there are a lot of benefits when we are more organised.

Some of the benefits of getting organised are:

  1. Reduce the feeling of having too much and overwhelmed.
  2. Get more done in less time.
  3. Having a sense of control.
  4. Better branding for self-leadership.
  5. Less clutter, less stress.
  6. Calm and more relaxed, knowing where things are.
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Then I sat down and started thinking about this topic on “Getting Organised”… And I came up with the diagram below or more of a doodle.

Let’s start from the top left…

Set up an information centre for work and family; something like a notice board to remind on certain actions or activities… road tax renewals, bills and all of that sort. It can be a magnetic white board or the pin-up type of board. At least when any of your family members want to refer to certain important information, they have a central point of information.

Remember to back up your files and important documents; photos, videos and scanned copies of documents. For photos and videos, you may consider Google Photos (unlimited space if you save to their default type or quality), if you do not mind putting in a cloud system. Some people may have the thought on privacy… or you can setup your own storage systems and make it exclusive for your own access.

I do not know about you… every time I do housekeeping (clean up) of my table or closet… the after effect is really fantastic! A sense of achievement and control plus getting rid of stuffs that are taking up space. At times you may find things that you thought are lost… interesting. Schedule some time to do housekeeping.

Use web or mobile Apps to help you to get organised. My favourite will be Google Calendar for all my activities, appointments and reminders. Trello as my to do and project info app and notes in my phone to keep important information that I can refer to when needed. I am sure there are a lot of great apps out there. What are the apps that you use? Please share with me, so that I can learn to use the app as well.

Certain tasks can be delegated. Before delegating, we have to ensure that the person we are delegating the task to, knows what to do and is ready to take on the load. Show concern by following up and have constant communication (not micro-managing) to see if any help is needed.

According to David Allen from his book Getting Things Done…

https://gettingthingsdone.com/books/

You can find out more about the book from the link above 🙂

Anything that can be done in 2 minutes or less… do it NOW! Be productive and just do it, not procrastinate.

Keep inventory of your stuffs… books, gadgets, cables, work props, etc. Before buying any extra stuffs, go through your inventory check list. Practice the “one in, one out” approach. Anything that you are going to buy, before buying, get rid of one item first… (I am still building my habit around this, not easy and it really make sense!)

To add-on to inventory, when you have stuffs in boxes… it will be a good practice to label the boxes on what is inside the box. Labelling can help us to be more organised and knowing how to group the stuffs that can be grouped in the same box or area.

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Make your life simpler by UNSUBSCRIBING the newsletters, emails or marketing campaigns that you do not really read or want to waste time on. Just learn to say no and you will be surprised by how much time you can save in doing that. Not to worry, you can subscribe again to any of the ones you have unsubscribed earlier, correct?

Last night, my wife mentioned to me that there is a lady (that she followed in Instagram) who practiced having a box by the door and anything that she feels she is not using often or want to give away, she will put them in the box and when the box is full, she will donate the things away. Learn to discard and donate the things that you do not really use. Make some other people who need the things happier.

There is a place for everything… make it a good habit to allocate places for your things. Example; wallet, watches, spectacles, keys… they have their rightful place. I save a lot of time and have a peace of mind, knowing where the things are…

Getting organised, in my humble opinion, starts from PLANNING. Having clear thoughts, putting it on paper (will make it clearer) and having a check list to pack for travelling helps to avoid not having important things for the travel… like one of my mentors shared with me, “a short pencil is better than a long memory…”

Anyway, as we are humans, we may some times overlook certain things… just enjoy the journey and learn to better continuously. Start with one or two tips above and discover how your life can be better by being organised. I am also learning to be more organised, let’s DO IT TOGETHER!

“For every minute spent organizing, an hour is earned.” 

“Your habits, your future!”

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Travelling Habits

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” – Andre Gide

Due to my work, people have this perception that I travel a lot… in actual fact… I do travel and not as much as some other people. My wife is the one, who loves to travel for holiday, for me… I travel when I need to.

This blog is dedicated to you if you travel often for leisure or work. I believe there are some learning and sharing here for everyone.

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 “Remember that happiness is a way of travel – not a destination.”
– Roy M. Goodman

Please find the important and good habits that I wish to share with you as below. If you have any other great habits to share, please comment. Thank you and happy travels

(1) Save a copy of your original travelling documents

Scan or photocopy your passport, identification, tickets, hotel bookings and any important documents that you need for this trip. Upload them somewhere you can access when needed; not only in your phone. Just in case if you need them.

(2) Be early

It is a good habit to arrive early. You never know, how many people are travelling that day. It happened to me at least once where I was travelling with one of my partners and due to he was late, we cannot checked in and have to buy new tickets. Be prepared for any unexpected events and when we are early, we can handle the issues with more time minus the anxiety.

(3) Bring a sweater, jacket or scarf

Bring one that is lightweight and have it with you in your hand-carry / laptop bag. At times when the airport or plane has less people, it can be cold. Be stay warm then get yourself catching cold (really hate it when I have runny nose!).

(4) Pack essential medication and vitamins

Have your supplements and medication (not asking you to pack the whole pharmacy… just the essential ones that you normally need). Stay healthy and remember to eat your vitamins… and choose your meals wisely and keep them balanced.

(5) Review your travel plans and packing list

Good to plan your travels and what you need to bring with you. You do not want to over-pack nor under-pack. I believe that when we plan (with the help of visualization), we can pack better. For business travels, at times, some hotels will bundle laundry services as part of the package, thus, less clothes to bring – travel light is definitely preferred. Remember your adapters, cables, chargers and battery packs / power bank (cannot check-in, have to be in your hand-carry bag).

(6) Keep your healthy and wellness habits

Travelling is not the reason for not exercising nor eating healthy. We always have the choice. Please make the right choice – this also serves as a reminder to myself… some times it gets really hard to adapt to new places and practicing our routine. Just do our best to stick to the good habits.

(7) Spend wisely

If you plan to go for any shopping, please do some research and compare pricing. Remember to give yourself a budget on how much you can spend. Prevent from over-spending and then regret later. No point crying over spilt milk! Check the exchange rate to see if the price is fair and not overdoing it.

(8) Take good care of your own personal and important belongings

Be mindful and alert, especially when taking out money and using the mobile phone in public. Use the hotel’s safe to store any additional money and travel documents. Just bring with you what you need to spend for the day or use credit card (also beware of scammers and theft) if the outlet is able to accept them.

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Everyone has their own way and preference when it comes to travelling. Experiment different ways and go with the one that you are happiest with. My style of travelling… having my music and book (e-book)… drink coffee, relax before boarding the plane and enjoy the journey.

Whether travelling for fun or work… we are still creating memories for ourselves and the journey is the reward!

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”
– Helen Keller

Have FUN!

“Your habits, your future!”

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Sleeping Habits

“Tired minds don’t plan well. Sleep first, plan later.”
– Walter Reisch

There was a time when I was sleeping very early… yeah, early in the wee hours of the morning like after 2:00 A.M. That’s early, right?

Then I developed this new habit of sleeping before 10:00 P.M. Well, this new sleeping habit definitely working for me. Not all will agree with me, there are some who prefer to sleep late as they can work better late at night or they can think better?

This is not an easy topic to write as some may or may not agree with what I am writing. I am writing for my own reference and sharing to those who can resonate with me… no offence to those who cannot agree. One man’s treasure is another man’s trash…

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Why sleep?

For me, when I have enough sleep, I felt that I can perform better the next day. I can think clearer and my mind works faster than when I am deprived of sleep. I am no professor who is doing any research on sleep. I just felt that sleeping is part of our lifestyle… anything to do with lifestyle is a journey in life and it is somehow linked to our habits.

Please take some time to read the extract below from this article:
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/sleep-deprivation-and-deficiency


== QUOTE ==
Sleep plays a vital role in good health and well-being throughout your life. Getting enough quality sleep at the right times can help protect your mental health, physical health, quality of life, and safety.

The way you feel while you’re awake depends in part on what happens while you’re sleeping. During sleep, your body is working to support healthy brain function and maintain your physical health. In children and teens, sleep also helps support growth and development.

The way you feel while you’re awake depends in part on what happens while you’re sleeping. During sleep, your body is working to support healthy brain function and maintain your physical health. In children and teens, sleep also helps support growth and development.

The damage from sleep deficiency can occur in an instant (such as a car crash), or it can harm you over time. For example, ongoing sleep deficiency can raise your risk for some chronic health problems. It also can affect how well you think, react, work, learn, and get along with others.
== UNQUOTE ==

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There are a lot of articles and sharing in the web on the health benefits of sleeping and the consequences of sleep deprivation. I will not go into the details of that… Just know yourself, in terms on how many hours will be enough for you. You will need to experiment the right amount of sleep time. I believe at different age, our needs will be different…

Can you imagine… there is a body called the “National Sleep Foundation”… I wonder what do they do there? Sleep? Jokes aside… they came up with the research on sleeping time… I am referring to the majority here, not to those super man or woman who may not need to sleep. Please refer to the link as below for more information:
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/press-release/national-sleep-foundation-recommends-new-sleep-times

About the National Sleep Foundation

The National Sleep Foundation is dedicated to improving health and well-being through sleep education and advocacy. Founded in 1990 by the leaders in sleep medicine, NSF is the trusted resource for sleep science, healthy sleep habits, and sleep disorders to medical professionals, patients and the public. For more information visit sleepfoundation.org or sleep.org.

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Some tips on How to sleep better at night:

  1. Spend some time outdoor to get some dose of sunlight. Make time for the exposure.
  2. Reduce blue light exposure in the evening and your body may be tricked that it is still day time. Rest one hour before snooze time.
  3. Heard from some experts… less or no caffeine late afternoon or evening.
  4. Monitor your nap time. You can practice power naps… experiment the dose of naps needed.
  5. Be consistent with sleeping and awake times. You body needs time to adjust; consistency is key.
  6. Movement and exercise can help to relax those tight muscles, plus it will help to provide better quality sleep at night.
  7. Alcohol sounds good to some people to help with sleep but according to some smart scientists, it does not help but disrupt sleep patterns.
  8. Bedroom is a place for sleeping not watching movies or playing games… ensure the environment is optimized for sleeping. And not forgetting the temperature too.
  9. Avoid from over-eating or supper at night… instead of sleeping, your body is digesting the food and disturbing your sleep.
  10. Place all your worries on paper… or somewhere you can refer to the next day. Sleep is more important than your problems… you need a fresh and active mind to solve problems.
  11. Take a good, relaxing and warm shower to relax those muscles of yours to get better quality sleep.
  12. Ensure your bed is good to support you and you are comfortable with the bed… remember about those pillows and bolsters too.

Pssstt… there are also good talks from www.ted.com as below for you to learn from:
https://www.ted.com/playlists/223/talks_to_inspire_you_to_go_to

“Sleep is the Swiss army knife of health. When sleep is deficient, there is sickness and disease. And when sleep is abundant, there is vitality and health.” – Matthew Walker

Should you have any great tips to share on sleeping habits, or any good resources for reference. Do let me know… till then, I am getting ready to sleep as tomorrow is another great day. Good night!

“Your habits, your future!”

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Eating Habits

“One cannot think well, love well and sleep well if one has not dined well.”
–Virginia Woolf

This topic will resonate with most people. Do we eat to live or live to eat?

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How can we maintain a healthy lifestyle through eating? As a person who loves to eat myself, I find it hard to resist good food and especially when there is great company to eat with… I tend to eat more. Therefore, I have been thinking about whether to write on this topic or not?

There are a lot of areas to discuss when it comes to this topic on eating… this time I will focus on eating healthy as part of our daily habits and if you have any ideas, please do share and write to me, thank you.

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“The chief pleasure in eating does not consist in costly seasoning, or exquisite flavor, but in yourself.”
– Horace

I believe when it comes to eating, it boils down to making choices. It is definitely not easy as our emotions will be stronger than logic. We know we have to eat healthier food options, just that at times, the craving for not so healthy options will take over and we gave it to the craving. Then regretted for that action… who have not experienced that before?

Please find some sharing on how we can be more aware and to have better plus healthier options when it comes to eating…

It starts with WHY?

What is your compelling reason for eating healthy? Why do you want to eat healthy? First things first, it starts from within us. Who are you and what identity do you want have to embark in this journey of healthy eating?

How can it be done?

Everyone is unique and requires different calorie count per day (to lose or maintain weight). That means, you will need to do some research on your own lifestyle; what will your daily activities be and how much energy do you need to get through your day? How are you keeping track on the food that you are going to eat? What is your plan when it comes to your meals? How about rituals (drinking water, eating fruits before meals, etc.) and supplements (vitamins and minerals)? If you are cooking, how do you plan your menu… weekdays, weekends… special days.

What are some of the TIPS?

  • Research on the types of food that is good for you
  • Eat lots of vegetables (leafy ones) and fruits (I believe everything in moderation… haha)
  • Eat more fish (brain food), of course fresh ones, oily ones (salmon, sardines, mackerel) and not so oily ones (tuna and local fishes)
  • Cut down on sugar and salt intake (processed and non-processed ones as well) and especially processed food – biscuits, cakes, sausages, canned food, fizzy drinks, pastries, cereals
  • Eat whole and fresh produce / food
  • Get properly hydrated… drink that H2O and not get thirsty; water is a better option than sugary drinks even fruit juices!
  • Have proper meals and not get hungry, snack healthily when necessary (as when we get hungry, we tend to over eat…)
  • Check the nutrition label, learn how to read them
  • Eat mindfully and be aware of what you put into your mouth (this is also a self reminder to me…)
  • Just be flexible with yourself… at times we need to indulge and when we do… do it responsibly and mindfully…

Anyone who has just started will feel the difficulty to sustain as it is not going to be easy in the beginning. As what Jack Ma of Alibaba said…

Image result for jack ma on messy in the beginning

“Never give up. Today is hard, tomorrow will be worse, but the day after tomorrow will be sunshine.”

Let’s all start today and be rewarded tomorrow.

“Your habits, your future!”

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Essential Coaching Habits

“Coaching is leading with curiosity…”

Since I started with coaching certification training, executive coaching and group coaching journey… there are many questions on what a coach should do and what are the best practices for a coach to follow?

There are many school of thoughts when it comes to coaching and there are also many professional bodies around this subject on coaching.

I am not here to say that what I know is the best, whatever I am sharing is just my own thoughts and opinions. Please feel free to make any changes to your own styles and practices. My intention is to add value to what you have already known and practicing. Contact me and we can have further discussions and who knows, I can also learn from you as well. I have this believe that, as leaders, we are constantly learning new things in our journey in life or at work.

“It’s important to work hard, stay humble, and not let the criticism or the compliments go to your head.” – Jessica Sanchez

Anyone or any organizations that are practicing coaching, this article is dedicated to you… based on what I have learned from many gurus, practitioners and learners. Even a coach needs to be coached. As long as we are learning, we are growing, improving to be a better leader.

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I would like to make it simple for all of us to remember the key habits when it comes to coaching. Let’s focus on the three -(3) key habits, the Essential Coaching Habits…

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YES! Only three -(3) key habits and here they are;

Habit #1: INTENT

What is your intention and purpose to coach this client / coachee / person?
We can learn from Simon Sinek from one of his great books…

As a coach, we need to ensure that our intention is right. When our “WHY” is right, the “HOW” and the “WHAT” will be in place.
In my humble opinion, this Habit #1: INTENT is the starting point to any coaching success. As a coach, our main INTENT is to make our client / coachee successful. It is all about them and our role is to be focusing on their goal(s) and partnering (accountability) with them to their journey in accomplishing their goals to results realization. At the back of our head, with the INTENT, the questions that we ask will be somehow pointing to their goal(s) and that is what is we want. Then comes Habit #2.

Habit #2: CURIOSITY

“Be lazy, be curious, be often…”
– Michael Bungay Stanier

A lot of times, as leaders, we tend to tell (advise, guide, share experience) our people what to do and that is more of mentoring. Even during coaching, we have some hard time adjusting to this new habit of asking questions. We cannot stand silence and the quality of questions we asked were towards leading the client / coachee to the path that we want them to journey on.

Many of the participants who attended the coaching certification program have asked me, “What are the tip for asking great questions?”

That is why this Habit #2: CURIOSITY is the key… when we have the right INTENT and combined with CURIOSITY, the quality of questions asked will be great. As coaches, we want to help and support our client / coachee to be more successful in getting results and we are curious in terms of how they can achieve their goals and what they are going to do to accomplish them.

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YES! Leaders are learners… we want to learn about our clients / coachees. How to make them more successful. When they get the results, the will be MORE MOTIVATED! That leads us to Habit #3: OUTCOME

Habit #3: OUTCOME

Image result for success cycle tony robbins model

What we can learn from Anthony Robbins’ Success Cycle model… when the client / coachee achieve results, their belief / certainty (motivation) will increase. If you can see from the illustration above, what leads to results will be ACTION and as what Tony mentioned, “MASSIVE ACTION!!”

Then as a coach what is our role? Habit #3: OUTCOME is all about us coaches having the right INTENT with CURIOSITY, asking the right questions to assist our client / coachee to obtain the OUTCOME which will be ACTION STEPS. When both the coach and client / coachee are clear about the goal(s), the questions that we ask will point to HOW and WHAT the client / coachee will ACTION to get the results or moving them on the right path in achieving the results. Automatically when the client / coachee is moving towards their direction in achieving their goal(s) or best when they achieve results, they will be more fulfilled, motivated and happier.

“Success is a science; if you have the conditions, you get the result. “
– Oscar Wilde

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There you go… the Essential Coaching Habits. I strongly believe that if we are able to practice these three -(3) Coaching Habits;

Habit #1: INTENT
Habit #2: CURIOSITY
Habit #3: OUTCOME

We will be able to help more people to be SUCCESSFUL. Like what I normally share with my client / coachee / participants…

“When you are successful, I will be successful too…”

“Please DO NOT FORGET ME when you are successful… hahaha”

Thank you.

“Your habits, your future!”

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Learning from Microsoft’s CEO…

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“Be passionate and bold. Always keep learning. You stop doing useful things if you don’t learn.” – Satya Nadella

My ex-colleague from one of the training providers, who is based in Vietnam has introduced this book, “Hit Refresh” to me. The one that he read was in Vietnamese language. The last time he came to Penang, when we were at one of the major book stores… he said to me… “Dion, this book (where he pointed to at one of the book racks in the shop) is a good read… I read it in Vietnamese and I highly recommend it to you…”

Yup, I bought a few books that day and one of them… “Hit Refresh” by Satya Nadella. My ex-colleague was right… it is definitely a good book to read and I have picked up some key learning from the book; which I will share later in this blog.

If you are interested to know about the book review, please visit Amazon with the link below:

I have captured a few key learning from the book and I would like to share my favorites with you…

(1) Investment Strategy across 3 Growth Horizons

This model, I believe can be used by organizations to understand and strategize better. You just need a good facilitator to help with the session for your key leaders.

(2) Microsoft’s 3 C’s

Easy and straight-forward; covering three major focus for the organization’s sustainable growth. Can be a good reflection and discussion to test for readiness before implementing any new innovation.

(3) Satya’s Mental Model

How as a new CEO of a major organization focused on Value Creation. if we study the model, 3 out of 4 are focusing on people… I strongly believe that leadership is influence. How does one influence others to work with you and strive for excellence?

“Success can cause people to unlearn the habits that made them successful in the first place.” – Satya Nadella

Well, the key learning above that I have shared is important and another crucial learning that I have learnt from Satya is that, as leaders, we need to be humble and practice empathy; when we have the interest to seek to understanding others, we can build better trust that leads to strong relationship and influence.

Enjoy reading the book and let me know what you think. Looking forward to learning from you.

Have a great journey in learning.

“Your habits, your future!”

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Triggered by Coaching

“Coaching helps you take stock of where you are now in all aspects of your life, and how that compares to where you would like to be.”
– Elaine MacDonald

Good day folks!
The other day I was having a coaching session and as I was listening, asking questions then jotting down the key points the client was sharing with me… and when the session ended, it suddenly dawned upon me that I am the one needed to do what the client was supposed to carry out as the action steps.

It was like an “A-HA” moment and how the light bulb lit up! It seems that coaching has lots of benefits, not only for the client… for the coach as well. That day, I know I was the one who benefited from the session. The questions asked to the client and the responds from the client has some how triggered my thinking… the inner part of myself. The action that I was supposed to perform. It was really an exciting discovery and how I was motivated to put the action into place!

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I believe coaching can help many people to realize their goals and get the results that they want. As mentioned, coaching is a conversation and not all the time we can have such conversation. Especially when there is a crisis…

“Each person holds so much power within themselves that needs to be let out. Sometimes they just need a little nudge, a little direction, a little support, a little coaching, and the greatest things can happen. ”
– Pete Carroll

There are different school of thoughts. When I was working in my previous company, the way I did coaching was different from what I am doing today. I am more comfortable with the manner I am practicing today. Today, the definition of coaching for me is to unleash the best potential and inspiring the client to take action to achieve the results with accountability. The reason why coaching works is that the coach and the client are accountable to one another through the journey of achieving the results the client has set as the goal.

What are the benefits of coaching?

  1. Coaching draws out insights and learning from the client. This gets the client to be clearer, committed, motivated and action oriented.
  2. It is an engaging and active process to journey with the client. When done right, the client will feel good after the session with a sense of direction and clear list of action to perform.
  3. Coaching is personalized and tuned to the communication manner suited both the coach and the client. Especially when the chemistry and trust is present during the conversation.
  4. Clarity and understanding that leads to better ownership in getting results.
  5. Satisfaction of achieving the results with own hard work and time invested.
  6. The returns can be high and rewarding (although most of it is intangible).
  7. Coaching encourages for the client to be thinking deeper, more creative and with the right actions, leading to innovation.
  8. Both the coach and client learn and feel fulfilled.
  9. It can be very flexible using different channels of communication and more responsive approach to development.
  10. Coaching can be appropriate leadership style and cultivated as a good culture for the organization.

Here you go folks, the benefits of coaching… I believe many people have benefited from coaching as I am one of them.

There are many great resources as reference to better understand coaching. Should you need more information or any resources, please feel free to contact me.

Have a great week ahead!

“Your habits, your future!”

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Conversation on Positive Mindset

“Live life to the fullest, and focus on the positive.” – Matt Cameron

Happy Lunar New Year to those who are reading this blog. This year, I am taking a longer break from work to focus on one of my passion, cooking… rest, relax, cook, eat, chit-chat and repeat again for the past few days. So far, I am enjoying it.

Why writing this blog when I am on a break? I felt that I have to share this conversation / experience that I had with my father-in-law. The conversation was yesterday before dinner time.

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It is never easy for anyone to go through challenges and difficulties in life. Especially when you suffered stroke twice! I have to respect my father-in-law for being a fighter and survivor.

Compared to his first dreadful experience, where he was really determined to get back to his normal routine (walking, writing and driving). In the early of his stroke-stricken days, he was unable to perform his normal routine; where we could see and sense that he was really frustrated. That did not stop him from being determined to fully recover. He was really hardworking and disciplined to practice, go for physiotherapy and having a strong sense of purpose – to recover and get back to his normal routine. Ultimately, he was successful; being able to write (sign his name), walk and drive to his favorite food stalls and restaurants to eat.

As what Simon Sinek shared in his book, “Start with Why”… having a strong WHY will lead to the HOW and WHAT… as shared in the earlier blog on his “golden circle”… as below, just in case, you have not seen it before;

Image result for simon sinek the golden circle
https://startwithwhy.com/find-your-why/

“Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results.” – Willie Nelson

Yesterday during my conversation with him, I sensed that his enthusiasm was low, did not show any eagerness and from the feedback gotten from my mother-in-law, he is not as determined and disciplined as before… somehow, given up and letting go of his exercise. I believe that he has lost his “WHY”; no reason and real purpose for him to recover fully.

Doing my part to share with him on having a sense of purpose… to have a “WHY” is important and needed now, especially when you do nothing about the current situation, it will somehow further deteriorate. As what I have learned from Tony Buzan’s seminar some time ago… “If you do not use it, you lose it!”

I shared with him that similar to our brain power, our muscles in our bodies, when not used… will be useless sooner or later. It can be seen that immediately he was motivated and started moving his arm. Part of the advice shared with him, was to allocate a certain time to move, stretch, stand… as long as he is moving his muscles – I really pray that he does the exercises for his own good and wellness.

To learn on Positive Mindset, you can visit this site:

https://www.success.com/7-practical-tips-to-achieve-a-positive-mindset/

The behavior model from Dr. BJ Fogg is also worth learning:

https://www.behaviormodel.org/

According to Dr. Fogg, (based on my understanding), the important part of the equation for behavior change will be the “trigger”; we all have the ability and motivation to change… what’s missing is the “trigger”.

There is an urgent and important need to “trigger” my father-in-law.

“Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose.” – Lyndon B. Johnson

“Your habits, your future!”

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The Golden Rectangle of Reading Habit

“We read to know we are not alone.” – C.S. Lewis

Hello there! I have been thinking of what to share this round and this thought came to mind… we got to know from Simon Sinek on the Golden Circle from his book, “Start with Why” and how about if I come up with the Golden Rectangle of Reading Habit? I will be sharing in black and white though (haha).

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This Golden Rectangle of Reading Habit is based on my own views, observations and experience. Please contact me direct if you have any questions or need more information.

Here it goes…

“The only important thing in a book is the meaning that it has for you.”
–W. Somerset Maugham

Let’s start with “Why reading is good?” then go on to “What are the strategies?’ and finally “How to make it a habit?”

“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.”
– Joseph Addison


“A man only learns in two ways, one by reading, and the other by association with smarter people.”
– Will Rogers

So my friends, what is stopping you from starting to read?

“Your habits, your future!”