Mountain Before Me

Ever stood before a magnificent mountain and be at awe of it….thinking how big, how strong, how big it is? It would seem almost unconquerable.

We would individually have an encounter with a “mountain” one time or another in our lives. Is your reaction one of an adventurist or defeat? Dude, we are talking about a mountain, not an ant hill. Yeah, I heard that before. Rather my mind has said that to me many times before. Then what???

• Yes, the mountain is BIG … Fact!
• Yes, the mountain seems insurmountable … Fact!

But what are also facts are…

1. There is more than one way to tackle a mountain — over it / beneath it / around it / through it / etc
2. Conquering mountains give us a greater sense of accomplishment than an ant hill
3. Conquering mountains may seem a harder task … requires discipline, belief, tools, time, resilience, etc.

Conclusion is, mountains can be conquered! They are there to be conquered! The question to ask oneself when facing a mountain is not “if” but “how” then proceed to doing it!

There is no time for pity-party. The sooner you get onto it the sooner you conquer it.

So what is your mountain today???

Negative Fuels the Positive

Negative….the word we all dread. Negatives like fear, unknown, change, etc. If not careful, the negatives will likely paralyze many. The negative, size of an ant hill perhaps may look like Mount Everest. But is it necessarily doom and gloom?

On the contrary, the negative is one of the most, if not most powerful fuel to push us forward. Positives are good but unlike the negatives, positives may sometimes lure us into the false comfort zone, rendering us “less passionate and driven”. BUT negatives on the other hand, will cause us to be uneasy whether in sleeping, sitting, eating, etc. Yes, yo name it. It literally haunts us day and night.

So instead of crash and burn in the pity party, #leverage on it. There is so much energy in negatives that when used right, is rocket fuel pushing us towards doing the necessary and moving forward. How do I know? I experienced it. Some of my most productive and progressive moments are during the negatives period. It will undoubtedly be super uncomfortable but hey, we are supposed to be uncomfortable.

So, here are the tips on how to overcome and leverage on your negatives…

1. Recognize your negative, e.g. fear, change, etc.
2. Recognize the negative will only control you if you allow it to
3. Identify the root cause of the negative
4. Identify the remedy – overcome your negative with a positive act
5. Continue to leverage on your negative to push you forward until you have crossed the hurdle

So my friends, stay strong. Be a man and woman of capacity.

Connect Gen.YZ

Gone are the days when boss is boss and employee is employee. Whilst this culture was acceptable in the years past, it is no longer applicable.

I have always considered myself as a Hybrid Generation. I fit into Generations across the board, from baby boomers to Gen-Z. The key is understanding the culture of the respective generations and have the flexibility to adapt to it.

Treating Gen-YZ’s these days, in my opinion, require these 3 key factors:

1. Openness
2. No segregation of ranks
3. Make it fun & exciting

Generation YZ are what I call adrenaline lovers. They want everything fast, fun and exciting. So forget about beating around the bush and observe the above 3 points:

Openness

Be a friend. Communicate. Share. Take a criticism. Yes, even bosses. Take that thing on your chin (it won’t kill you, in fact it is great if they are telling you the truth). There is no holier than thou or I know better than you mentality. In all fairness, it is quite possible that Gen YZ knows more and learns faster than prior generations. So let’s sharing honestly and openly for the benefit of all

No Segregation of Ranks

Look. Gen YZ folks are not disrespectful of ranks. Rather they like intimacy and freedom to communicate and fellowship like “friends”, rather than bosses. They know ranks. They recognise ranks but they appreciate the willingness and initiatives shown by bosses to stand on the same footing as them. Just this morning, I sat on the floor with them and chatted. No boss is too big to sit on a floor 😀

Make it Fun & Exciting

Current Generation is all about instant gratification. Fast, fun, exciting appeals to them most. Do not beat around the bush. Anyway, I am with the young. Why waste time on mundane stuff. Remember YOLO? Let’s have a ball of fun since we are gonna do it anyway.

So the saying Generation YZ’s are difficult to manage or comprehend is not a fact. It is a myth. The actual issue is we are not understanding them enough and speak their language. Rather than complain about their inability to understand or work with us, let us adapt ourselves to them.

Change is good…..unless you are a tree. LOL

OPPORTUNITY : Wait or Seek

The inspiration for this post came from today’s experience at work.

The normal adage seems either one of the following:

• Be ready when opportunity comes knocking
• Opportunity does not knock twice

Today, I did the complete opposite. I have been targeting a certain country for purpose of expansion. Today, instead of waiting for opportunity to come knocking, I unconsciously went knocking on opportunity’s door instead. Yes I did. So what happened thereafter?

Surprisingly but happily the door opened, though not wide but sufficient for me to squeeze a toe in between :D. Translated, we made progress which would not have been possible had I stayed passive (wait) instead of go knock.

Heck, let’s go the distance. Go knock. If knocking on opportunity’s door does not open it, bash it, break it down…..either way just make sure it opens for you.

So there you go. Remember – proactive pays better than passive in terms of opportunity.

Call Me Spongebob Nick

For now you can call me Spongebob #NickG. Not since the day I started my 1st biz that I’ve felt this amount of energy, passion, excitement, craziness.

Entrepreneurship is a marathon, not a sprint. Thru the journey, the ups & downs, we get tired, distracted, etc. In a common scenario, sometimes unknowingly we will hit a plateau or worse, digress.

Hence, always check yourself. Check your mindset. Check your emotions. Check your energy.

Am very blessed to report that I am back to the basics….my origin where I am learning everything with super ease and everything is possible. I can even walk thru a wall! The No is replaced by the How. My brain and heart is driving me crazy.

This is my 2nd wind…..and I am enjoyyyyyying it.

INVEST in Business or Idea

As a serial entrepreneur, I started exploring investments into businesses a short few years ago. Back then my focus was towards the startup setups mainly because of

1. Our love for pioneering businesses
2. A way for us to give back to the youth community (funds, experience, network)

Fast forward to December 2016, looking back, we were definitely close to investing in a few startups, in a host of industries…. shoes, fashion, medicine, IT, ecommerce, etc. BUT why have we not thus far?

Few issues come to mind…

• Fund management
• Character of the founders/team
• Sustainability & Scalability // Limited vision

Too often, many operate on a fairy tale basis….all’s well and will continue to be well. A best case assumption is unrealistic. How about a worst case scenario too? Not pleasant to think about but necessary.

Today, we continue to receive invites and pitches countries across the globe and of variety of industries. As investors, we have ourselves matured too. The investments we have made are more matured businesses. Yes, businesses, not ideas. These businesses are at the early stage, primed for growth.

The difference is, these founders/owners have gone thru the heat and is realistic in their approach to business. Investing in a business costs significant higher compared to a startup but the risks are lower. Investments are not just ROI but also risk management. For us, RISK management is priority. Can a startup be likewise? Absolutely!

Many have asked what is it that we are expecting…

• Character
• Brave & Creative but a Realist
• Some appreciation for our funds e.g. utilization
• Business Model
• Team is super duper prepared!!!

So, while we have invested in businesses, we are still waiting for the right startup to come knock on our doors. Don’t paint us an ideal picture. Show us the REAL picture.

Crowning Glories

Titles…..from status related titles to beauty queens to bla bla bla.

Awards…collectors of awards, an unending stream of awards.

Celebrity…to be associated as as socialite, rich, famous, popular.

Public Figure…want to be gazed and adored by the masses.

Looking at the above…..just what does it all mean.

• What is the value of it all?
• What is the purpose of it all?
• Who benefits from it all?

Not too long ago, as someone who was unfamiliar with these all, I too was very tempted to pursue all of the above. Why? Perhaps it is wanting to be a ‘somebody’, wanting to feed the ego or because it gives significance to who I am.

Now that I am in this “circle”, things look rather anti-climax. Are the title holders, awards recipients, celebrities, public figures all they are made up to be or thought of? Respectfully I say, there are undoubtedly many who deserves it and is leveraging on their position of ‘privilege’ to do good for the community, I cannot think likewise of the many others.

Gone are the days where Titles, Awards, Public Figures, Celebrities…..are earned through hardwork and significant contributions. These days, money speaks! Yes, let me repeat. Money speaks. If you are willing to spend a few hundred to multiple thousands, you will get an express elevation to that ‘status’.

Question — where is the value of these all????? Bought instead of qualifying and receiving on merit. Sigh.

A number has asked questions like why am I not having a title, why not receive more awards, etc. Simple – I just do not see the importance of actively pursuing these crowning glories. My value and significance is not determined by the titles and awards. Some of the richest people and also people who gives back significantly to the community are without any titles, awards, media appearances, etc. Yet they live a life full of meaning and impacting people around them positively everyday.

Look at facebook. Have you not realized the big increase of people converting their status to “public figure”?  *shake head* …..for what I may ask.

Being an unknown person is not a sin nor is it a shameful thing. My creator created me to be me…..that’s it. Simple me. My value and significance comes in the love I receive from my loved ones and blessing the community around me.

Pursuing these “crowning glories” may seem exciting to many. But in my opinion, it is also a baggage. To have to keep adding these glories to ensure we live a happy life (so we think) and make us continually look good to others….is a tiring thing. When will it end? When will it be enough?

So does this mean I will reject titles, awards, status…..? No. If it is a blessing from my Jesus, I will gladly accept it because I know I have earned it, not bought it. I receive it because not for my own benefits but so that I can use it to benefit others. But if I never receive any ‘crowning glories’ from hereon for the rest of my life….so be it. I am grateful for the blessings that I have received and is receiving in all it’s different forms.

Don’t Lose the Groove

Grooooooovy! Yeah, I enjoyed an excellent productive period when I was in the groove. Months passed….and unexpectedly (or ignorantly), I hit a speed bump mentally and physically.

I supposed I may have forgotten to go for my pit stops during my “groovy” period and coupled with some unexpected circumstances, that contributed to my speed bump. Losing my groove was tough. Lost my jive, creativity, energy, etc etc etc. Sigh!

Being the stubborn (sometimes) person that I am, well, I guess it took this “bump” to slow me down and go for my pit stop….a slightly longer one than anticipated. Being on such a high tempo for so many months consecutively, it took quite a big effort to just chill. Managing this down time was a real challenge and I had to learn to live with it.

The early days was ok…then it followed up with frustrations and restlessness. For you high performance folks out there, you would understand. Still my mind and body was having none of my attitude! It’s almost my mind and body telling me to go ahead with whatever I want to do, just leave them out of it. Oh oh 😦

No point being rebellious about it, so just embrace the down time and manage myself better. At least I do not add on to the frustration. Wakakaka. And learn to laugh while I am at it 😀

Few days ago, I thot I was recovering and was ready to drive out of the pit stop at top speed….then my engine stuttered. Arrrrrgh! Back to the pit stop. More waiting and down time. Tick tock tick tock! Reminding myself at all times to smile, laugh, rest, etc.

Today am feeling the signal that am ready to leave the pit stop. This time, am being wiser. Gonna leave the pit stop casually before gradually increase speed and momentum. So far so good…..easy does it 😀

See ya’all soon at F1 race track aka life!

 

 

The PERFECT Boss

The PERFECT boss. Wauzers! Won’t it be a dream come true (according to the minds of employees).

Wake up! There ain’t no perfect boss(es)….only bosses who think so of themselves. Hey bosses, yeah you….reality is we are all flawed. The matter is the degree of our flaw. In my opinion, bosses who think of themselves as perfect, are likely the most irritable, short tempered, unrealistic, etc. individual.

There is only one ever PERFECT being….past, today and tomorrow. That is our GOD!

So let us all just wake up and stop playing God. We are mere human beings….mortals….flawed from the day we are born. We can minimize our flaws but never be perfect. Bosses, just as you cannot find the perfect employee, neither can you ever be the perfect employer.

“PERFECT” bosses are often identifiable by…

1. Super high regards of oneself, often characterized by words like “why can’t they be like me”
2. Employees are somewhat insignificant
3. Tendency to command instead of communicating
4. Has sharp tongue (often condemning and critical) and blocked ears (never listens)
5. Lonely

All said and done, our office need not be a battleground between boss and employees. Our battleground out there….in the marketplace. Our office outta be place of acceptance, motivation, recharging, etc.

Let’s make ALL our days a little better by

• Accepting each other as we are
• Focusing on each other’s strength, rather than flaws
• Communicate Communicate Communicate
• Employers and employees is a team (don’t deny this). We are a team. Team means each of our strength helps to cover each other’s flaw.

 

 

Wall *Whack*

Conviction has driven me the past many months, accomplishing much to my surprise and satisfaction. Am most grateful for the breakthroughs. However, I have come to a realization that it is not possible for a human being, machines included to be performing at max level without needing a break or “service” period.

Of late I feel like my machine aka mind and body has hit a wall! Yes, wham! As much as I tried to push on….kinda like driving over a road hump, it is not possible. I hit a wall! All circumstances accumulated, biz and personal has had my mind and body shout “enough!”

So what are my options now?

REST! PAUSE! SELAH! … pray

So am listening to my mind and body. Taking things easy. Not gonna put too much stress or pressure on myself. Just gonna go for a stroll, not stop completely, but a stroll. Once the break or service period is over, will be able to go full speed ahead again.

Sometimes we are too ignorant of our body and mind that we stubbornly push on…..until we breakdown. The consequences can be bad… So wisdom dictates we be exercise common sense and pace ourselves until we are ready to fly again.

As someone famous once said, I will be back 😀