1 year and 4 months

Last post was already made on 3rd March 2007.
Today is 29th June 2008, no matter what, I have to spare some time to recapture more about what was going on right after my LCP experience 1.5 years ago.

Since 3rd March, the followings are the countries where I have visited and experienced.
Late March 07 --> Hyderabad, India (AP XPro as delegate)
Mid April 07 --> Shanghai (National Induction Conference as Facilitator)
Late May 07 --> Penang, Malaysia (APMCTC as delegate)
Early July 07 --> Shanghai (Internship for my academic course)
Late August 07 --> Istanbul, Turkey (IC as delegate)
Early September 07 --> Greece (Traveling after IC)
Late November 07 --> Netherlands (GCC meeting)
Feb 08 --> Skopje, The Republic of Macedonia (IPM as delegate)
Early March 08 --> UK (Traveling after IPM)
Late March 08 --> Tokyo, Japan (APXLDS as Facilitator)
Mid April 08 --> Singapore (AIESEC Symposium as part of facilitator)
May 08 --> Guangzhou (APMCTC as delegate)

This is indeed a tremendous life-changing experience not because of how many countries where I have been traveling, it is entirely because the people who I have met throughout this year's experience. The diversity, the mind-blowing conversation, the challenges, the cultural differences and the talent which I am so proud of having this kind of experience in my life in early 20's.

The more I experienced, the more I want to experience. The more I know, the more that I don't know. The more people I met, the more I reflected on myself. The key learning points that I can say are:

1.) Who controls one's future?
Whatever someone told you, nothing can change your future except yourself!

2.) Take responsibility of own decision
Decision made by yourself is your future! Take it or regret about it, it's your choice!

3.) Create impact on your life and the lives of others
What made one's life meaningful and fruitful? What made yourself feel successful or satisfied?

4.) Being entrepreneurial is one of the keys to success
Asking yourself why not? Asking yourself, if others cannot do it, then does it mean I cannot do it? Risk as challenge or something to be afraid of? Who takes risk in life, who had such experience.

5.) Learning <--> taking responsibility
If someone sits here, can they learn? How a person normally learns in life?

6.) Believe or not, it's your choice!
At the end of the day, who made the choice? Who leads your life?

In the coming 13 months, there will be more amazing and challenging experience but rare opportunities in one's life. Take it or not, it's my choice and I am ready to take the challenges and create my own experience.

BE the One!

Behavior, Execution ! What we as a team treasure and persist! Who can be the ONE?

Year Of Innovation

What did I do in the entire 0607 session?

It's time to review and try to summarize about my term, 0607, in several aspects.

It is never easy to conclude and express my feeling and works done in the past session. The time in AIESEC has never been boring and easy as I take it very serious. Always keeping in mind that to strive for the best in LC and bring LC-HKU into a new level in what we wish to align in both global and national level.

• More than 70 members working in LC at the same time, until now, there are still more than 40 ppl working actively in LC, more than 200% growth in active membership.
• Increasing exchange impact to individuals
• Increasing account diversification
• Increasing possible roles of stakeholders to engage in LC
• Enhanced @XP implementation, leadership sustainability and leadership roles creation
• Increasing global positioning of LC by both exchange and global involvement
• Record-breaking national conference delegates from LC-HKU
• LC restructure in both culture and management

Yet, there are still many things to be improved. We do not contend with the results simply because we CAN BE better. Am I making a difference or differences? I think we should have an answer.

P.S. I just checked my outlook and there are nearly 1200 e-mails sent out just from outlook from 23^rd Aug 2006. I can’t imagine how many e-mails I have sent out in total in 0607 session.

What did I do and learn then?

Disciplined/ Balanced life

Finally, this is what I always tell and “educate” others. But I did not succeed it though the situation keeps improving. (but in sometime, not disciplined is quite a good idea!) My scope to define balanced life was too narrow and I did manage it quite good under my previous definition. By now, it is not that narrow already and that’s SO challenging to be disciplined and balanced. However, it is so fruitful when you feel that you really do so many things in one day. I still remember that I did it last summer and I shared this with Raymond as well. I wish I can keep doing this in the future.

Passion to step forward

To pursue many different roles in AIESEC which keep myself learning in a diverse yet excellent environment. I took up the roles as facilitator in national conference, chief internal auditor, Global LCP virtual taskforce and Global Communications Crew in 0607 session and some of the roles are still having the responsibilities at this moment. This keeps me learning continuously. This passion has never ended in the life in AIESEC and begins to spread in other areas of my life but not just confine in AIESEC.

Change

Resistance to change happens in every corner of the world. As my secondary school teacher said, “the only thing that never changes is indeed “Change””. What do we need to hesitate to change? We keep changing and improving ourselves for own good. That’s no big deal anymore if you know the reasons and rationale behind. Of course, I learnt a lot through managing this change and I believe that no one can share the same things with me and the XP that I had during that moment. This is the unique yet uncommon XP as an LCP. ^.^

Enjoying and connecting

Many people would say, “if you love or are interested in the works you are doing, then you will create good result and have a good experience.” I cannot agree more on this and last year, it did give me lots of chance to connect others in external environment, both in campus and outside campus. This connection and network inspire me a lot on many different issues like my career, goals and perspectives in different issues. I remembered the chat with Gary back to 2 weeks ago, “Socializing makes one’s learning much faster”. I can say it is really true especially to my learning style through interaction.

Positive thinking

My professor, Rich, has recently told me that forgetting things is an important part in our life. He really inspired me about the positive attitude to the future. When I looked back, this is the same attitude which I always promote. There is no excuse anywhere and anytime but it is just a matter of how we prioritize the importance of the things we are going to do and achieve.

Appreciation and action

Similar thing to positive thinking but I bet this is one of the greatest changes in last session. Not just appreciating people working with me but all the others. Not just appreciating people but the things happen around. Taking actions to appreciate and treasure the people and things around. This is a great impact to me and I know better how to deal with different people. (still learning but I believe I can learn a lot more in the coming year.)

Reflection, self-awareness and focused

Honestly speaking, compared with the role I played in 0506 session, I have relatively much less time to do reflection but I should say that it was an excuse. Realize that my self-awareness was not high enough in the past few months when immersed into loads of works. Nevertheless, I am glad that my self-awareness still made and helped me stay focused to what I want to achieve. This is an important element as a leader.

What I can say more?

Keep on learning and challenging myself become one of my core belief as a future leader, keep asking questions to status quo and find out a better and better way to achieve it is another characteristic that an achiever and executor differs!

4-Month recapture

It has been about 4 months since my last post here. What did I do, experience, learn and gain in the past 4 months? I think it gonna be 10 pages long if I mentioned one by one. Just try to conclude what I felt and experienced during this period.

It has been quite challenging to recapture the key learnings as well as experience for the past 4 months. For several points I am sure:
1. Discipline and balanced life will definitely make a person more all-rounded, healthier and focused.

2. Passion and interest towards your works, tasks, studies, or anything else weigh more important than your ability to drive results especially when it comes to surprising and impressive results.

3. Multi-cultural understanding, network or friendship will surely help somebody grow faster and think more on current reality and challenge the status quo. That's why we need people who have global perspectives.

4. Self-discovery, self-awareness and reflection mark as important elements towards one's learning curve, progress level and potential.

5. Enjoyment will make oneself think in a more positive way in terms of any aspects. Whenever a person enjoy much more into his/ her areas, he/ she will definitely learn more, gain more, experience more.

6. At the end of the day, values will make a difference on your performance, achievements, identity as well as your image or even status.

7. Once again, got the same feeling again, "Expsoure will change a person's life and perspectives maybe on identity and the World. "

8. Sometime, you never know how amazing it will be when taking a step forward and there are lots of unexpected affair which you never imagined. Never think back and be bold to take a step forward, you will gain a lot. NO ASSUMPTION anymore!

9. A good leader can influence people not because of the position but action. LEADERSHIP is in ACTION but NOT POSITION. Once again, the greater power comes greater responsibility but NOT in position.

Recapture of last Month

It had been a month since my last post here. What did I do actually last month? It seems that my mind got messy during that month. It may be because of different scenario which I came across last month. I met quite a number of people last people which made me gain so much in terms of new insights, new perspectives in life philosophy as well as some fundamentals. More importantly, what I felt is to redefine and reconfirm very very basic principles in my life during this month due to repetitive conclusions after reflection or chatting with others. Somehow it is so good to make myself clear on what I lack, areas to improve as well as building up my strengths. Again, actions speak louder than words.

Frankly speaking, I did do quite a lot of different things last month. Let me try to conclude some here.

Examination until late May.
Meeting with different AIESECers not only from HK but different areas in the World.
Meeting with different advisors.
Meeting with my coach, Hans.
Meeting with some government officials and HKU alumnus.
Meeting with my secondary schoolmates .

All these kinds of datings made me feel so excited and I can really feel the diversity in my life. But then, on the other hand, when met with so many different people and what I experienced last month, I can only conclude that several key principles has come to a new stage in my life philosophy. Let me try to conclude here:

1. Self-awareness --> No one can make other change unless others are aware that they need to change or will to change.
2. Discipline --> To make the life balanced, having regular lifestyles is so important in one's life. You will find how amazing it is when you talk with others! Discipline is not just about having regular working schedule, like office hour, but the social life, the time control, efficiency and effectiveness in your work.
3. Walk your talk --> If talking can make things easier, will HK be even more successful in this moment?
4. Belief & faith --> Trust yourself in every aspects where you CAN DO it anytime. Do not try to put difficulties into cons which you never do this before. When you believe it is something we need to change, just go forward and try to tackle all obstacles. There is no perfect answer but the problem lies on "Which is BETTER one?"

Maybe this is some sort of self-actualization. but then this was what I came across last month which I foudn it extremely valuable to my future. I truly wish that I can make an impact on every individual who I met in order to let them understand and feel what I actually came across in an earlier stage to take a smarter step forward.

Bi-weekly Reflection

During this month, found many things to note down which I have quite strong feelings to.
There are nothing more than experiencing many other things by yourself.

Importance of Execution and Discipline
I have continuously found proved that these 2 elements are closely linked together and very important towards achieving your goals in the most clear and motivated way. Without discipline and continuous effort/execution, there will not be such a case so-called "Success". For sure, these are not the only elements to succeed but then this can greatly help one to figure out what ways to go and achieve.

Self-awarness, alert to own learning, meditation
No one can take charge of your learning but yourself. The more detailed you reflect and alert, the quicker, deeper and clearer you will learn. This was what I discover when meeting with different individuals which I found out this very clearly. A good way, may not be the best, to dig out your learning is simply to meditate or doing reflection constantly. This is not only helping increase self-awareness but also helps increase concentration. A nice article has covered a story on this issue.

Style of Communications
The ways to express myself has come to a great deals of improvements required. So often to notice that I can express well when one-to-one meeting but not in public or in group. Maybe I am too serious and nervous in most time when speak publicly. Things gotta be improved as soon as possible. Practice makes perfect. I have confidence in this.

Passion to convey
Still the same problem now, I am not able to convey my passion to my teammates which I cannot use my XP and thoughts to influence people around me. This is surely a great challenge but I have learnt a bit in these 2 months which I can make something change in terms of their works and ways to pay effort.

Efficiency
Concentration does really a matter on this issue. Everyone has only 24 hours a day but what CEO does differently than normal people is the priority and concentration. They can work very efficiently and concentratedly which things go very fast. What I learnt this month is about how to guide people work efficiently. Not much results, but then still need to learn more.

Connection
A great success in the mentorship which I think this will be a great foundation in the coming activities or function. Again, the success lies on how much execution works you did. This mentorship program reflects a lot since no one knows what is going to be until the event happens. Just stay positive and things will go smooth. But then a strong feeling on how to leverage all these important alumni to our LC. They are going to be one of the scorecard item in the coming year, right?

Have a really nice and inpsiring chat with Thomas tonight, very glad to see so many friends from different social circles from Thomas's farewell BBQ party. Met a very nice guy from CX who is a GM in SE Asia and I saw a very old photo from him with Philip Chan as well, interesting!!!!

Have a bit chat with Thomas later and it was very relaxed and motivated to know that he supports my decision. We, as an AIESECer, always have the same values and mindsets in making changes and learning continuously in our life. These are all life values which all of us demonstrate fully which can totally be reflected by their stands and positions now. So, I have to plan for my next step as well. I should really have a deep chat with family then. Australia, UK and US should be the places I look for.

Finally, we chatted a bit on the scenery after 20 years and I keep asking myself a question. Will I still be involved into @ function after 20 years? Thomas said that I will and I have no idea now, but I think I should be. haha! Picture after 20 years, can't imagine but then exciting to see this how my mates grow differently in different places and areas. Make an effort in keeping contact is the most important thing. I have a plan on this already.

Look forward to next month. Life in AIESEC is really always amazing and enjoying especially connecting with others!!!!!

Strong feelings week

This week, I have always been thinking about many things like my goals, career, my learnings and XP in these 2 months and recapturing different things during my new official term as an LCP. So many things came up in my mind.

However, there are several things what I ascertain:
1. My value
2. My passion
3. Aware of others' and own learnings
4. My leadership style is yet to improve
5. Being disciplined and positive is extremely important
6. Having an execution plan with steps and deployment will greatly facilitate in achieving goals
7. Empowerment is more important than knowing all stuffs
8. Building a vision to everyone can help achieving the organizational goals

There are lots to write actually. Due to several impacts I had in these 2 months. I recognized that my good friends nearby are always similar styles and characteristics. I really appreciate that I have such many good friends who have strong mind in many aspects. I do really look forward to seeing all of their future and surely my future. I believe that the future is in our hands no matter which industry and where we are. I am sure!!!!!!!

Look forward to the coming challenges and this is my turn to gear up and turn on my engine!!!! There is nothing right or wrong in personal values but what I believe is that we are doing anything in an ethnical and efficient way.

Learning

To many people, learning a new thing is not a hard job, but make all learning imprint into heart is an extermely challenging task. Or put it in a simpler way, making the memories or learning sustainable is definitely a question to many people. To me, I think the best way to make learning or ideas sustainable is by picture, but many people may not agree with me. Anyhow, maybe that's the reason companies need consulting firms to resolve many simple problems or conflicts within the organization.

To hold a workshop or training session is not difficult but what makes the session valuable be the participants attention and the constant reflection from participants. Surely, the quality of training matters a lot like how much insights/ ideas bring out or impact the participants but then it totally lies on the participant's reaction or the interaction during the session.

Anyhow, let me recapture what I did learn last few days:

In training session in HKU by Hans and Benny, (16/3)
1. The power of Silence
2. Importance of Listening
3. Power of Questions (5 Wives & 1 Husband)
4. Importance of Self-discipline
5. What team work means to the team.
6. SILENT in LISTENing + not Silent when someone's asking

IS training workshop by Ken, (17/3)
1. how to facilitate the training session
2. importance of objectives
3. importance of follow-up works
4. determined in decision making (in ex-co meet template session)

Ocean Park and UST EGM, (18/3)
1. What makes the org run healthly and efficiently
2. Importance of education
3. open-minded and honest (in dept meeting)
4. priority of works and communications models
5. Learn to relax

Basketball training, (19/3)
1. Learn to be assertive ( to go on what I plan to do)
2. better manage and allocate time

Everyday experience should be a life-changing and amazing one! But more importantly, this lies on us whether we can reflect the not only big words but also minor things in everyday life.

Big words mean nothing but small actions count a lot!