Self confidence

How to Work Smart – Take Action, Self-Promote, and Network

by

Success is about working smart instead of working hard.  This is not a new concept.   I wrote about it back in 2010 when I first started this blog.  I talked about my learning at my first job at McKinsey – how I learned the hard way that hard work didn’t guarantee success. 

What Does Work Smart Mean?

There seems to be a lot of definitions out there. ...  read more

Self Confidence, Communication Tips, & How to Get to the Next Level

by

Last month, we had a great group coaching call on self confidence, how to become a better communicator, and how to get to the next level – a senior individual contributor.   Become a soft skills gym member today to get your questions answered in these monthly group coaching call.

Below is the first 9 minutes of this coaching call.   The full 54 minute call can be found inside the Soft Skills Gym, once you become a member. ...  read more

I am Enough and So are You

by

I debated whether to tell you this, as I don’t want to be imperfect in your eyes. I realized however it’s my imperfection that you can relate to. And being imperfect is what make us human and what make me, Me :-)! It’s my trials and tribulations that can help you avoid the mistakes that I have made. It’s the stories about how I learned to overcome challenges that may also inspire you. It’s my imperfections that can help you also accepts yours.  ...  read more

Impostor Syndrome – Definition and How to Use it To Your Benefit

by

I had no idea what Imposter Syndrome was for many years. However I clearly remember feeling like a fraud when I graduated from college. Even though I graduated with honors in Electrical Engineering, I was convinced someone was going to find out that I didn’t know anything. What was worse was I took a strategic consulting job with McKinsey. What did I know about strategy or business? Nothing. I believed that I passed the case interviews only because I got help from a McKinsey associate on how to ace case interviews and I read the Mind of the Strategist.  ...  read more

How to Be Self-Confident – Listen to Ted Lasso & “Be a Goldfish”

by

I am addicted to Apple TV’s show Ted Lasso. It’s about an American football coach, who moves to England to manage an Elite soccer team. Ted Lasso has no experience in soccer whatsoever. You don’t need to love sports to love this show. It’s funny, inspiring and entertaining. Most of all, every episode is a master class on leadership.  ...  read more

Why Intelligent People are Full of Doubts – 5 Tips to Improve Your Self-Confidence

by

Self-confidence is essential to high performance. When you exult self-confidence, you can better take risks, learn faster, and go beyond what you think may be possible for your career. There is only one problem – many skilled professionals have more doubts than confidence.

Why are intelligent people so full of doubts? Here is my take on why. Look at these three sentences below. What do they have in common?  ...  read more

New Year Inspiration – 5 Ways to Become a Better Version of Myself

by

Happy New Year!  Wow, its already 4th week of January.  Where did the time go?  I have been meaning to write about my new year aspirations.  I am sharing them to help me be more committed.  I hope they can also help you.

Last week, I saw this great article – In the New Year, Become a Better Version of Yourself.  It inspired me to come up with these five way to  become a better version of myself.  All of them are hard for me, but they are also great aspirations for the year – how to evolve who I am as a professional and a human being. 🙂

Be Patient with myself and others – I am not a patient person.  I tend to interrupt people in discussions.  I get impatient when people are slow to understand or respond.  I like to rush my kids when they are slow to shower, clean up, brush their teeth. You get the picture.  This will be one of the hardest one to adhere to..  I think deep down I believe if I just rush others and myself, I will get more done.   It sounds silly now that I have articulated it :-).   This year, I will try to work on the following:

  • Interrupt less and listen more.
  • Remember to pause before I react to an unexpected situations.   Let things cool.  Sometimes they resolve on their own.
  • Accept mundane things will take time.  Dedicate the time to get it done right.   This one stems from an experience I had just last week. I upgraded my work phone.  It probably should have taken about an hour.  It took me about 7 hours over 3 days instead.   It was however completely self-inflicted.  I was trying to save that hour by multitasking this while working.  Let’s just say I learned the hard way quickly rushing has unintended results :-). C’est la vie
  • Be judicious about what I must do right away.  As a productive person, I tend to want to do many things a day to feel accomplished – a “hamster” on a never-ending “hamster wheel.” Need to remember that less is more.
  • Be patient with my kids.
  • Allow myself to slow down and enjoy the journey – I am trying to ramp up on a big role this year. Even though I have until April to do it, I can tell I am rushing to do it faster.    I will enjoy this journey much more if I pace myself.

    •  ...  read more