Awaken In Clarity
Leading through frustration and the messy to get to greatness.
A tin of pineapple tarts evaporated as we chatted around a coffee-stained marble table in a small backroads town in Malaysia. I was with my wife’s family celebrating Chinese New Year. The talk turned to COVID-19 quarantine in China. It’s happening over there. We’re here, we’re ok. We returned to Singapore two days later, and had to go through a temperature screening at the border. That thing happening over there had become a thing over here.
I keep coming back to this memory bubble of Chinese New Year in 2020. If I had told that pineapple-tart-destroying Roger about the gut-wrenching experience in the months to come, he wouldn’t have believed me. Overnight catastrophic disruption of business as usual, the nationwide circuit breaker lockdown, the empty streets, empty trains, home-schooling, a complete halt to international travel, and masks.
2020 has been a tough year. If there was a white talking rabbit around, this would be Alice in Wonderland.
Another memory bubble came up that kinda surprise me. A deep sense of gratitude to my family, colleagues and clients who have held this beautiful mindset of “we are in this together,” that shone brightly. It has been a catalyst for massive change, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to get really clear about what matters most, to ask the tough questions at the core of our business, and to let go of old mindsets that just no longer work. Things that I once held as important that are no longer important. I couldn’t help asking myself: What matters most? Who matters most? What future do I want to be part of creating? What mindsets, beliefs and assumptions am I holding on to that are no longer useful and are holding me back? This work takes guts and courage. At times, I felt like I was on the edge of despair. But really, if I look closely, it’s the edge of greatness. They are two sides of the same coin.
At times, I felt like I was on the edge of despair. But really, if I look closely, it’s the edge of greatness.
They are two sides of the same coin.
2020 has been an incredible year of coping with great uncertainty. It has been frustrating and messy. But I bet there has also been some really good experiences for you too. It has the potential to really change us, if we give ourselves the space and time to reflect and learn from it. We are living in unprecedented times, and we are happy to offer POWER-BOOST1, a coaching programme to help you reflect and even celebrate 2020, crystallise the lessons that you may have learned over this last year and help you take your best step forward into 2021 with purpose and intention. We cannot predict what 2021 will bring, but we can choose how we want to face it. We have an opportunity to play our part in shaping the future.
We will get through this. Yes, It’s going to take a while for the new normal to settle. The important thing is not to give up.
And if my picky eater kids’ feedback is to be believed, I’ve mastered the sourdough bread and pizza making skills.
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Picture Credit: “On The Edge Of Despise” By Eduardo Enrique Meza. Instagram @EdwardInSpanish
PERSONNA is a leadership development company focused on the people side of transformation. We hold a simple belief that everyone is an extraordinary force for positive change, and our solutions should be as unique and agile as you and your business challenges.
We’re here to help people become better leaders, build highly-effective teams, and create a culture of trust & collaboration in their organisations. We provide leadership branding, leadership coaching and group experiences. If you are curious to learn more drop us an email to hello@personna.me.
