A leader

You are a leader. I am a leader. We are all leaders one way or another.

A leader is someone brave, ploughing ahead with sweats and blood facing challenges.

A leader is someone tough, stoic and resilient, gets up and keeps going after falling down and failures.

A leader is someone vulnerable, not hiding her struggles and hurts.

A leader is someone sympathetic, opening her hands and hearts to accept others.

A leader is someone listening and watching others quietly, being there for them when need.

A leader is not someone who creates followers. A leader is someone who creates more leaders.

Leading is an act of generosity.

Leading is an act of kind.

Leading is an act for personal mastery.

Persuasive words and phrases

We live in an interactive world, and connect with people.

We need to influence others, persuade people every day, vice versa.

Certain words and phrases are powerful when you want to persuade people. And some words and phrases are effective when you refuse other’s persuasion or request.

Such as, the following Words and Phrases can be persuasive:

Because
Would you mind . . .

I have a rule . . .

I just wanted to clarify . . .

Is there anything you can do for me?

Thank you.

This is just between you and me.

The following words and phrases can be powerful to say No:

I don’t do that.
I have a rule…
Thank you.
I am not interested.

What is your phrase to push you forward?

I use the word “to produce” for my daily reminder to do something useful, because my personal value is to be a useful person.

When I think of “producing” something useful, it inspires me to initiate my action and the action gets me closer to my dreams. “Producing” has been my phrase of action and inspiration.

This weekend, Simone Biles made history at the 2019 US gymnastics Championships. She said during an interview, “I feel like you should never settle just because you are winning or you are at the top. You should always push yourself.”

“Never Settle”.

Biles revealed her internal drive and altitude that makes her a champion by this phrase.

She competes against the greatest competitor – herself.

Don’t ever compete against someone else. You are your number competitor in your life.

What is your phrase to bring you up from the bed every day?

Affirmations

What are affirmations?

According to online definition: “Affirmations related to your diet and lifestyle will help in changing you habitual patterns and thinking.”

How do affirmations work?

When you want something badly, you need to remind and tell yourself constantly, say, several times a day if that helps.

Years ago, I was getting my professional coaching skills certified. And I was asked what did I want to do with my coaching certification. I searched in my heart and was sure that I wanted to use my coaching skills together with my technical background to serve people. This affirmation kept coming back to me during that period.

Within a year of completion of my certification, I was offered a position matching my affirmation.

Scott Adams used affirmations when he wanted something happen whole heartily. And things did happen the ways he did affirmations every time.

Affirmations may bring you:

Clarity on what you want for the time being
Focus on what you do for the same time being
Energy to do what you want
Realizing your affirmation: achieving your goals, or dreams

When you make your affirmations, be clear on what you want. Let your energy flow with what you want. Do this whole heartily. Be persistent, and you will get what you want.

Life happens

Both my parents were hospitalized for the last two weeks. I was in the middle of preparing some meetings when I heard the news. I cancelled my engagements and went to stay with them in the hospital till they were checked out of the hospital.

I had been calling them once a week and exchanging messages a few times a week before this incident.

I learned from the last two weeks that they need more conversations, that make them feel loved, understood, and connected.

I realize that taking time off to take care of people in your life may sound selfish, you may feel guilty for not doing your job. However, without taking care of ourself, people in our life first, we can’t take good care of what we do.

We live life once.

“Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans.” – John Lennon.

We get to live fully and truly to ourself, live in present, embrace whatever happens to us.

The price for success

We want to do better, to be better, want to be successful.

We make goals, plans, draw our road maps, and figure out our passions.

But,

Do you really set our mind for success?

If you do, have started your step one? Step two? Step three? … how long do you prepare to go to be successful?

Deciding and wanting is the key option for you to be really successful or not.

If you decide to be successful, then you get to decide to do whatever it takes to get there.

Someone said: “If you want success, figure out the price, then pay it.”

If you want be successfully losing 20 pounds, figure out how much sweats you need, then do it.

If you want to run your own business, figure out what skills you need and hard work you get to do, then learn and do these.

If you want to have your boss’ position, figure out what skills you need to replace her, then learn and practice them.

There is no shortcut, but real work.

Metamorphosis in leadership

Leadership means you initiate, lead, and do things that may be no one dares to start yet.

Leadership means you need to connect, earn trust, lead the way without a clear roadmap, and be fearless while knowing the fear in you.

Leadership means that you are agile, empathetic, and willing to be in the shadow while your team is in the spotlight…

A leadership needs metamorphosis.

When talking about leadership in a digital world, Charlene Li said:

“This metamorphosis is not easy, comfort, or painless – if your palms are not sweat and your stomach is not churning, you probably haven’t really practicing digital leadership.”

This is also applicable to leadership in any situation.

Leadership with metamorphosis means:

Having a proactive approach
Moving on from things she can’t control
Embracing everything coming to her way and making the best out of it
Living her life
Calculating risks
No gossip
Kindness

Your number one competitor

Who is your number one competitor?

You.

You are your number one competitor. No body else is your competitor, period.

If you can win the competitions, such as put it off for another day self, lying on bed for a little bit longer self, I can do this tomorrow, I can start it another day… you will be the winner.

We very often compare ourself with others, and admire other’s achievements. Many times we compare our shortcomings with somebody’s strength. There is no comparison for this. And you, like everyone else, have your strength, which is unique to you.

As long as you grow a little bit today, learn something today, have brought some insights to your life and your community, you are a better self today than yesterday’s self.

Other’s backyard is not greener. Your backyard has diamonds yet to be discovered. Live your life to your best, not live a life according to other’s standards.

As long as you are doing better things by being a better person, you are competitive.

The power of focus

We know we need focus to be able to achieve something.

Focus is actually a power.

If we can use the power of focus deliberately, we can discover unimaginable energy, drive and determination we born with. We can be empowered with clarity in life.

Something stupendous happens when you focus. Your vision narrows, and you see only the one thing that matters. Sounds and distractions fade away, and time slows way down. There is just you and the object of your focus. There is clarity in your purpose. You are all in.

— CHARLENE LI —

Knowing the power of focus, you can exercise and increase your capacity of focus. The driver of focus is have a plan on what to focus on. What will be the alternatives if the initial plan does not work. Test your plan and find the one you can focus on that gives you the all in energy.

Value is the focus for your life and business

We are born with values.

Values are the reasons why we exist, why we are whom we are, why we live our life, why we do what we do daily.

You are successful when you demonstrate a high value to the society, to your community, to others.

When you focus on express your values, you live a rich life, a colorful life, a magnetic life. You’ll be more connected, attractive and impactful to others.

The same principle applies to a business operation.

A business exists, because it has products and service people need. And value is the reason for those products and services to exist in the marketplace. Focusing on value can help your business sustainable. Every company is in business to fulfill a need, to provide a value – plain and simple.

Value is the focus of your life and your business.