Inspired by Other People’s Choices & Courage

'Courage is an inner resolution to go forward in spite of obstacles and frightening situations: cowardice is a submissive surrender to circumstance.' ~ Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King

I could have stayed in bed this morning, however chose instead to crawl from my somnambulistic state to make it to the start line at 7.30am. By 7.00am, the traffic on Coastal Road was already marked by dedicated cyclists training for their next triathlon. I urged my taxi-driver to slow down and give way to my fellow cyclists. I know how it feels to do this lonely ride before sunrise (which is a totally different take of riding into the sunset).

We are the choices we make.

This morning, I spent it running 10km at the Yellow Ribbon Run. 20-year-old Mok Yin Ren, our top national triathlete (who won a gold medal at the 2007 Sea Games) won the Men’s section in 32 minutes. I also met with fellow runners of Crazy2Tri, Loganathan and Reese Kwek and we stayed on to enjoy the events held, thereafter.

Overall, it was a well-organised program that was strongly supported by volunteers, staff and sponsors. The stage entertainment was provided by local deejays from MediaCorp Radio; music and songs by ex-offenders; dance performances by students; magic and balloon sculpting; and testimonials from ex-offenders. There were offstage activities like archery (which I encouraged my friends to do), carnival games, and charity and sponsors booths.

I was, particularly, inspired by the testimonials of former-inmates. Hanniel, a 48-year-old reformed ex-offender broke his 48 minutes record for the 10km. In April this year, he showed that ex-offenders could become contributing member in the community by being part of the 70.3 Singapore Ironman triathlon team to raise funds for the Yellow Ribbon Fund. The poster-boy of this inaugural sporting event also contributed his sporting talent to the Yellow Ribbon Fund and another designated charity.

How much courage and boldness did the ex-offenders demonstrate? I think that they chose to brought it with them in buckets - so that we can learn from their choices. It is not easy to address strangers and express your life lessons that you have learnt from incarceration. Too many would shy away because of the stigma associated with imprisonment. We can choose to accept them, or not. Some of us have limited choices; some feel as if they have no choice at all.

With these abstract lessons and reminders, I am glad I ran* alongside many others in a shared purpose.

*[I had another personal best in my run; unofficially, I would have placed seventh in the Women’s Open category. Thank you Executive Coach, Tony Mayo for the Dr King quotation.]

Forgive and Forget?

Does everyone deserve a second chance?

Tomorrow (Sunday, 6 September), I will participate in the inaugural Yellow Ribbon Run 2009. This run serves to raise funds for ex-offenders. This run offers participants an opportunity to run through the Changi Prison Complex while passing through historical sites such as the Johore Battery, Changi Chapel Museum and Old Changi Prison Wall. It finishes off at the new Changi Prison Complex, where participants will be able to see the development of a new generation prison designed to cater to the security and rehabilitation needs of the prisoners.

This year, the Singapore ring of the International Brotherhood of Magicians (IBM 115) will participate, with the provision of entertainment by way of about 20 magicians and balloon-sculptors. All of them volunteered themselves, for they collectively believe in the cause.

It can be very disheartening and challenging to seek jobs once your past has been revealed. As a former-convict, the second chance can still be a second prison. Society can be quite cold towards citizens with a record of crime. There is a sense of distrust over them, so hiring them can be a cautious process for employers. It is what it is.

When would you forgive somebody? When will you not? Which personal values do you live by that expresses your sense of forgiveness? When someone close to you betrays your trust, how open-minded and open hearted will you be to forgive him/her? Can you forgive your trespassers?

Those with medical conditions, and have benefitted from an organ-donor, or remission from cancer – they, too, have been given a second chance. How do they value their lives? Lance Armstrong battled cancer to win seven, consecutive Tour De France titles.

At 7.30am, I will join a few thousand runners at the start-line! Hopefully, this symbolizes a starting-point for many others.

[Results just out.]

Leading with Wisdom

I take pride in sharing the success strategies of my new friend, John Miranda who is all of 62 summers young. He continues to stay employed, and is a leader in his organization. His energy is highly infectious, infused with enthusiasm and warmth. In the 1960’s, he was a self-trained, national-level athlete, whose best timings were:

100 metres: Best unofficial time was 11.2 seconds (hand-timed)

400 metres: 49.7 seconds

400m Hurdles: 56.8 seconds

800m: 1minute 56.3 seconds (grass track, 1972 Police record, which still stands – the then-National record was 1minute 55.9 seconds)

I give you, John - in his wise words:

‘I started from very young to be humorous, forward thinking, and with a positive mental attitude. Most of my behaviours are the result of reading inspirational books, mixing around, observing and learning from positive people and avoiding negative people with attitude problems.

Whatever inspirational books you read the information would be recorded in your subconscious mind. When you need certain information, you will be surprised that you know them. After all, we receive information by sight and sound.

Always remain positive; avoid negative people; use positive words; be yourself; don't compare your achievement with others (you are what you are); and, compete with yourself to improve.’

Moment of Truth

Can you honestly tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?

Can you imagine laying yourself on the line, by answering questions of a very personal nature? If the question hits home, it can be revealing, demeaning and damaging. For the viewer, it can be very difficult to watch. One of the most difficult episodes actually aired, after much deliberation by the producers.

Moment of Truth is a controversial new program by Fox TV that aired, intermittently (3 episodes so far), on American television. It is a tough, quiz show that calibrates contestants’ answers to close-ended questions (yes, or no) before and during the show. Your close, family members and friends will accompany you to the studio. You will be asked very personal questions – some of which are so awkward and uncomfortable, and which you may have never told a soul before, including those present. However, the pot of gold at the end of this insane journey is US$500,000.00: Truth or dare?

A lie-detector test, measures inconsistencies on three levels: galvanic skin response, heart rate and breathing. It works on a digital process, and close-ended questions that prey on a yes/no response. Is this test reliable? There is continued controversy over its use despite overwhelming and persistent use by renowned authorities.

The main values tested in this show are honesty, integrity, trust, transparency and courage. Values are abstracts that everyone experiences and lives with, and we can get personal when these are violated or trespassed. Values can be described as ideal, expressive, shared, or value disciplines.

Would you ever consider joining such a show? Are you ready to lay your life on the line? Would you be honest just to clear the air? Would honesty be the best policy? How honest would you be in a performance appraisal? How honest are you with feedback?

On the side of the viewing fence, would you want to hear the truth?

[As an aside, one couple’s shaky marriage was wrecked by the wife's revelations on the show. No, she did not the get the half million dollars - only $100,000.00]

Thinking on the Run

When do you get your best thoughts? Which time of the day do you gather your thoughts, and reflect on the happenings? Do you do your best thinking in solitude, in a quiet environment, or on the move?

I had some of my best thinking when I exercise, especially during my run. Although after a sustained period, it is quite easy to lapse into the ‘zone’. It would be less relevant to do deep thinking during a swim or bike-ride – at least, for safety reasons. It may also significantly affect your rhythm and technique; and almost riding into a stationary car parked by the roadside (which has nearly happened on a few occasions).

Apart from the exercise you will receive during your jog or run, clarity of thought usually occurs when you are fresh into your early strides. Fatigue can impair deeper thinking, other than finding ways to reduce the strain and discomfort. After a while, pain wins over logic and rationale and creative damage control kicks in, like the final sprint towards the finish line.

Go with the flow. I believe that there is a Zen-like quality to endurance sports, especially when your mind runs free and free-associates. Therefore, an easy pace across a cross-country terrain may release freedom of thought. I have enjoyed these thoughtful connections, and transferred them to writing a training manual, business plan or designing strategies. The stimuli offered by wind, sunlight, and the salt of the sea can arouse natural, mental alertness. Perhaps, that is why some of the famous writers do their best writing by the sea.

Run, and enjoy your runaway thoughts!

[This piece was triggered off by this evening’s run, where I also set a personal best timing.]

Coaching Moments

I enjoyed two training sessions with Australian triathlon professional, Pete Jacobs in the past week. Pete won second place at Ironman Roth last month with an 8:02 timing. He is a triple threat in triathlon: fast on the swim, ride and run. We worked on my run and swim techniques, which needed corrections insofar as optimizing on my physical attributes.

What I learnt most over the two, encouraging and insightful sessions were simple, however these were leverage points. By leaning forward slightly and using my arms to swing more, I could gather and muster more speed in my run. I was already an efficient runner, however I lacked the speed required to drive my run-times lower. My swim needed the most work, yet it should deliver the most result as I need to work more on my technique: mainly coordination, utilizing my core, and rhythm.

Learning to swim within a comfortable pace and rhythm was much tougher for me. Timing and pacing are vital aspects of one’s rhythm. Ballroom dancers work on timing to get their rhythm going. So, working with a metronome teaches us different timings and rhythms. Despite having some degree of confusion to work with, I was certainly encouraged by the fact that I can be a better and more effective swimmer once I get my technique down right. My coach, Craig Holland has been driving home this point to me for a long time, and perhaps, I may have paid scant attention as I lost some focus over my weaknesses. Weaknesses have a way of rearing their heads if we allow them to develop. Certainly, when we address our Achilles Heel, we can develop this into our potential strength.

Bad habits and ignorance can reinforce our weaknesses. Be mindful of these as you engage assistance from others to give you feedback and guidance. I am passionate about endurance sports because there is always so much to learn of ourselves, and from others. Choose to change for the better.

Concert for the Masses

I attended Aimee Mann’s concert tonight; I was lucky I won two tickets from an online contest this week. Mann is an American singer-songwriter who plays guitar and bass guitar. A veteran in the music business, she is famous for having eight songs featured on the film, Magnolia (with a star-studded ensemble cast, including Tom Cruise as a motivational guru, Julianne Moore, and Oscar-winner, Philip Seymour Hoffman).

In 1999, her song Save Me was nominated for an Academy Award for Best song, which lost to You’ll Be in My Heart from the Disney-animated film, Tarzan. At her introduction to this song this evening, Mann stated: ‘This is the song that lost an Oscar to Phil Collins. I hear he is retiring, and I’m glad.’

Two hours of songs, including taking requests (from her audience) showed her comfortableness with her guitars and recorder, as her songs. What better praise for a singer than recognition for the songs which she wrote over a span of about 27 years?

As a modeler of leadership, I appreciated these values that Ms Mann projected: professionalism, performance, endurance, synergy and collaboration. She worked well with her two musicians, and at times allowed them to take the lead. Their actions were purposeful, with not a note wasted. In athletic performance terms, the band was ‘in the zone’. She was sporty, and gave her partners ‘a sporting chance’. Despite being unwell, she chose songs that maximised her voice, and delivered on verbal requests for her songs. Her graciousness and openness did not go unnoticed, for we rewarded her with a standing ovation. How often does that happen?

Even professional entertainers can demonstrate their leadership qualities on-stage, yet be as human as any one of us watching the show.

Presenting with Influence

I interviewed several presenters and speakers and asked them the $1,000,000 question: How do you prepare for a presentation? How do you stay cool? After all, public speaking has been identified as one of the top-3 fears of humans.

Canadian International Trainer, Michael Hartley-Robinson, offered additional thoughts for a formal presentation:

Preparation and Organisation: Focus on your goals and objectives. Socialise, if possible, beforehand. I walk about, and breathe deeply. Others may sit and focus/breathe. Be early and double-check everything.

Preparation and Organisation: Take your time, concentrate and making yourself heard and understood. Never try to speak a second language at the same speed as your first. Don’t worry about grammar in your speech (on your visual-aids – yes!). Instead, focus on being clear and understood. Of course, you can also practice your diction/enunciation, between presentations. Never during! Remember, this is business, not a speech festival. It’s the benefits they are there for, not a speech/diction demonstration.

Be prepared, organised, and enthusiastic. Know and set your objectives, and tailor your content, and visual aids to achieve them. Learn about and use structure and audience psychology to assist you further. You must have excellent product knowledge, and know your audience. Practise your 6W/H in preparation: Who, What, When, Where, Why, Which and How. Then make sure that you give your audience WHAT they want/need. WHEN they want/need and HOW they want/need it. And, always follow up. Know your strengths and weaknesses.

OD Consultant, Douglas O’Loughlin shared another perspective:

How do you manage to stay calm before a business presentation?

“Me calm? You must be joking. I am breaking out in hives just thinking about it. Well, I have had a couple of things that have helped me: I have used the following mantra many times:

‘I am glad I'm here, I'm glad you're here.

I know what I know and I care about you.

Let's learn and have some fun!’

(Usually best to say it a few times while waiting to start)”

As with the few busy speakers and trainers I interviewed, Douglas also uses prayers and statements like this:

"I am Receptive to today being a transformational session for everyone here, with lots of learning and insights." After saying this I tap my breastbone a few times to stimulate the energy flow*.

What contributes to a/n successful/effective presentation?

“It feels to me that what's most important is to be passionate about the subject, knowledgeable in its nuances, and able to engage people at many levels. For me, it starts with passion for the topic and how useful it can be for people. When I know that the tools/concepts/skills can add to a person's quality of life, then my only challenge is designing the session in a way that people can really experience and assimilate the power of the tools/concepts/skills. With that in place the delivery sort of takes care of itself,” said Douglas.

Different strokes for different folks - to each, his own. Find your own style. Suit your temperament if you are not the chest-thumping (Tony Robbins) type*.

* This is an effective way of staying alert during long, laborious meetings. Gorillas work up into frenzy by thumping their chests. Remember King Kong?

Creating Luck

Do you believe in luck? Can you create luck?

Luck has been described as ‘when opportunity meets preparation’. The windows of opportunity open when one creates pathways of possibility.

Once, I had a colleague in Production who taught me about luck (after I asked him about his betting habit): ‘Enrico. If you buy the lottery, you have a chance. If you don’t buy, you have no chance!’ That was my tacit knowledge and wisdom rolled into one. Since that fateful day, I occasionally make a few, albeit small bets annually. I would be closer to being a millionaire if I bought a few betting slips, then if I didn’t. It is also my scientific approach to test statistical probability, intuition and the notion of luck.

Applying this theory of luck, I participated in an online quiz a few days ago. As (my) luck would have it, I was informed by e-mail today that I won a pair of tickets to a concert this evening. This is my second time winning concert-tickets within a year. Luck? If I had not decided to participate, my odds would have been zero. Upon signing up, my chances increased. By the way, I have not been successful on a few previous occasions, too. Win some, lose some?

Is luck an important component of leadership? Perhaps, we are lucky when we inherit a team of people who are collaborative, diligent, and determined to perform well. Then again, we cannot leave it to luck by developing the collective value and potential of our team. It is great to feel lucky, however when things smoothly go our way, we can enjoy a sense of luck and fortune. Fortune favours the bold. So, be bold and decide and make things happen.

Moments That Matter

I was at the Las Vegas-McCarran International Airport; it was the day of my departure from a great vacation. The security staff smilingly asks me: Have you watched The Fly?” I replied in the affirmative as he loaded my luggage into the huge X-Ray machine.

“You look like the guy in The Fly!” he said cheerfully. “Do you get that a lot?” He was referring to the tall Jeff Goldblum.

He seemed pleased. So was I. This was a first for me, i.e. Mr Goldblum. I have been told in the past that I resembled some actors. Really. Anyway, since I did not get a troublesome time with my luggage, I flowed along in this interesting conversation.

It was a moment: A moment that meant nothing, or something. I added some value in that person’s life because I reminded him of a celebrity. I am very sure he has met many celebrities (and impersonators) in his profession. Come on – it was Las Vegas.

In the last ten years of my life, I have been told that I am a dead-ringer for celebrities. Those were my moments. These were special moments for me because I meant something to somebody. I love these moments – however strange, surreal or special - and I look forward to more of them.

Consider: How often do we create ‘moments of value’? What can we deliberately do to create a ‘moment’? When was the last time you did something special for a colleague, team-member or family? Create your Kodak Moment.