Soft Skills - Ask a Wharton MBA
Develop Soft Skills – Work Smart & Live More
Let’s face it—life can be a bit of a rollercoaster. We all have those moments where things just don’t go our way, and it’s easy to get stuck in the unfairness of it all. But here’s the thing: how we react to these bumps in the road can make all the difference. We can either sit and sulk, or we can pick ourselves up, dust off, and keep going with a bit more grit and determination. ...
Last week, I came across a piece of wisdom in a newsletter that struck a chord with me during a pivotal time in my life, and I felt compelled to share it with you, believing it might resonate with you too.
Recently, I embarked on a new journey in a strategy role, filled with uncertainty and undefined goals. The ambiguity of what’s within my control and what achievements are attainable this year had started to weigh on me. However, the story I’m about to share has offered me a new perspective on focusing on what I can influence rather than what’s beyond my reach. It’s my hope that this story might offer you a similar sense of relief and renewed focus in your endeavors. ...
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. ...
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. ...
It is the season to be thankful. However, I felt far from it a few weeks ago. I woke up sick one morning. It was not COVID (at least according to my rapid test) and I didn’t have a fever. I had everything else though – body aches, headaches, sore throat, etc.
I thought I would recover in 48 hours. I mean most common cold only last that long, right? Boy was I wrong. I felt worse after 3 days. I started coughing and at night, my throat felt like I was swallowing glass. :-(. It was worse than any common cold I have ever had. I lost my voice almost completely and all my energy as well. It felt like it would never end. ...
On March 10, my employer, silicon valley bank, collapsed overnight. I was dealing with it okay, but I guess the universe thought I could take on more. There is a common saying, “trust that the universe will only give you what you can handle.” I hope so, but I am not as sure as I go through this next wave of personal challenges on top of the work ones. ...