Self awareness

Turning a Sticky Work Situation Into an Opportunity: Jason’s Story

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I’ve known Jason for many years. Our relationship started with me acting as a mentor to him, guiding him in his career and communication style. Over time, we’ve grown into peers and friends, and I have come to admire the executive he has become. Nowadays, I learn as much from him as he does from me. Recently, Jason shared a story about how he handled a potentially sticky situation at work, and I think his approach was brilliant. I believe it’s something anyone can benefit from, which is why I’m sharing it here. ...  read more

How to Give Feedback Using the SBI Approach

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Last month, I took a leadership training session called Feedback that Works, created by the Center for Creative Leadership. At first, I figured it would be a nice refresher for my skills, but to my surprise, I learned a lot more than I expected. The session introduced me to a new, simple yet powerful framework for giving feedback—the SBI approach: Situation, Behavior, Impact. It completely changed the way I approach feedback, making it both more effective and less stressful. ...  read more

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

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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

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

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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

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

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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

It is Time to Splurge a Little – Here is Why

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I just paid $699 for an upgrade to a business class seat from SFO to Newark.   It’s the first time I ever paid so much for an upgrade “I don’t need.”  I had a “perfectly practical” economy class window seat near the front of the cabin.    Splurging a little on myself was actually a difficult action to take for me.  I have been frugal and practical all my life. ...  read more