Real stories

Epic Fail or Epic Day – Perspective Matters to Your Career Success

by

In life, the same set of events can happen to two different people, and their interpretations of those events can be completely different. This difference in perception can turn what could be seen as a failure into a triumph—or vice versa. It all comes down to how we choose to see the situation. This story, drawn from a recent real-life experience, illustrates the power of perspective and how choosing a more positive interpretation can inspire and energize us. ...  read more

Unlocking the Door to Self-Confidence: How Belief Shapes Our Reality

by

I debated whether to share this story.  It’s so trivial but it reminded me how our belief shapes our reality.  We often find ourselves in situations where a little bit of self-assurance can make all the difference.  This trivial experience revealed a profound truth. Here’s a simple story that illustrates the power of self-confidence and how it can impact our lives in unexpected ways. ...  read more

Our Pricey Yet Priceless Night at Aulani

by

I recently made a decision that had me questioning my own sanity for a moment—a lavish $921 for a single night’s stay at a hotel. It took several attempts to muster the conviction to make this reservation, but looking back, I am glad I took the plunge. This wasn’t just any hotel stay; it was a deliberate step in my new philosophy of embracing the present rather than perpetually waiting for the “right time.” ...  read more

Tip of the Week – Give Yourself Permission to Do it Imperfectly

by

I grew up believing “If I cannot do it well, I shouldn’t do it at all.”  Perhaps this is a typical Asian upbringing and teaching.   I am not even sure my parents actually said that to me.   However after receiving many “talks” from my dad about how I could have gotten a better grade on a test (e.g, 100 points vs 93), I think I told myself the above as I don’t want to “disappoint” my dad or get an extra long lecture. ...  read more

It’s Okay to “Cry” at Your Presentation

by

This is what I told my six-grade daughter while I was driving her to school last week.  She has been fretting about her science experiment presentation for about a month now.  Last Tuesday was the day for her to present.  She got up early and was preparing.  She enjoyed doing her experiment and actually seemed to know her stuff.  Nonetheless, she was still super nervous.    She knows I have a lot of presentation experience, so I took the opportunity in the car ride to school to see if I can ease her nerves. ...  read more

When Things Go “Wrong,” Can I Still be Happy & Grateful?

by

This seems like such a counter-intuitive question.  Usually when things go “wrong,” we can have a pretty negative response.  This may include anger, frustration, disappointment, fear, guilt, or any number of negative emotions.  Aren’t we justified to feel these in  a “bad” situation?  Perhaps or perhaps not.  While it’s natural to feel the sting of any unexpected situation when it first happens, how long we keep feeling that sting is our own choice.   We can keep recounting the unfairness of what happens for days, weeks, months or we can choose a different perspective – look for the gift and opportunity in the situation and act from there.   Let me explain with an example. ...  read more

How to Create New Year “Goals” That Inspire You All Year

by

I don’t know about you, but I no longer like coming up with S.M.A.R.T goals for my new year resolutions.   This is mainly because goals like “I want to lose 6 pounds in six months” or “I want to launch a product manager bootcamp by x date.” are both rigid and demotivating as the year goes on.   It also doesn’t get at the heart of WHY I want these goals. ...  read more