The odd one out!

Lately I have been slightly disturbed with a decision I made... 

You see, I believe that true recognition and satisfaction comes from people that we build and nothing is more fulfilling then seeing our people grow and succeed!

Couple of weeks back I was put in a position to nominate someone from my team that is qualified for leadership recognition. After giving a real deep thought, I decided I am not nominating anyone this year...

My reasoning for this, I personally feel, this is just their beginning in their growth as a leader. It's time to get sharper, work harder and take more ownership and produce more winners in their respective teams. I also do not want to be in a position that I have to defend their nomination. If one is nominated, they should be already standing up from the rest and there will not be a need for me to defend them. 

Today I had  a chance to see other nominees from many other groups. Yes some are qualified but most are not even half-way of where my leadership is! 

At one point, I almost asked myself... did I make a mistake? How would my people feel if they find out these people are nominated and not them! There were many questions in my head... 

There was even a thought, should I try and insert their names now! All kind of thoughts... the how if and what if...

Later in the day, I got an opportunity to personally speak to some of these nominees and after that talk... I more then ever felt my decision is right!

I realized pushing one for recognition too early doesn't help them to grow in anyway. It gives them a feeling they have arrived and it can be very dangerous especially if their roots are not strong.

I realized today it is okay for me to raise my bench mark higher... If I want to be the number one team in the world, I have to do things differently...

I have no idea if all my leaders will today understand my decision but when we finally arrive at the top, it will make sense to them! My only goal now is to get my leaders to the TOP!

So, I have decided not to try and fit in but to be the odd one out!

Live Your Best Life

Undivided Faith and Intensity!

Lately, I have been talking to my team in Malaysia so much about having faith and giving 100% at what ever we do... especially if we are building a business!

Somehow, I don't think I got the message to them and I was wondering... how do I make them see, it is all about total faith and intensity! 

Today, I got a text message from someone that I have been working with closely helping him build his team last few years. The last I met him was like a month ago when I visited his country. Before I left I told him, keep your faith strong and increase your intensity...

In his message today he said... " last Tuesday I met a stranger in a cafe. She is a Finance Manager. I spoke to her and talked about the business and shared the plan with her. First she agreed to buy a vacation from me and the next day she sounded skeptical. I sat with her again and told her, I don't want to sell her anything but I want to work with her and build this empire together as I see huge potential in her. To my surprise she bought my idea and she just signed up in the business and she also paid for the flight ticket to be at Malaysia with me end of the month for the world conference! I am so excited and she is special to me!"

Success has no formula and yes, this is the way the universe rewards you for your undivided faith and intensity! 

Live Your Best Life

Quitting is not an Option!

Few days ago I was reading a text message from a friend and a business partner. As you can see by now, most of my good friends are my business partners. Nothing is more fun then building an empire with your loved ones!

Okay, now back to my story... the message said something like, I have a business partner who wants to quit or a bit shaky and I need your help to give my business partner some confidence to continue...

I sat for a while looking at that message and my mind travelled far to somewhere 2 years ago...

Exactly 2 years ago, I had a good friend and a business partner who was challenged at that time with lack of results and that made my friend question the business and came to me for clarification or can say some direction...

At that point, I didn't understand what my friend was going through and he decided to quit his business and I allowed him to do that... or even maybe, I provoked him to quit.

Today when I saw this message I understood something, quitting is not an option in the journey of success! I allowed my good friend to quit. 

I came this far because I never had an option of quitting. There was a time in my first year building my empire, I broke down and gave up. I sat in my office with a senior business partner of mine crying and saying that this will not work for me and he being my senior, he said I have 100 things that I need to change before I can become successful. It was so difficult even to imagine I was going to make it. Being a woman, I just cried... at that moment a much elderly man and a very successful person saw me weeping, came to me and told my senior partner, leave this girl to me... he took me for a coffee and he said, "girl look at you, you graduated from an engineering school, you are talented, you look good and how could you not make it in business? Be like the lotus flower, elevate yourself from the rest and the bees will look for you! Quitting is not an option!".

That day I understood, quitting is not my option! 

2 years ago I made a terrible mistake by allowing someone else to quit. To my friend, please find a place in your heart to forgive me... this will not repeat! 

To the rest, Quitting is not an OPTION! 

Live Your Best Life

A lesson from an ordinary woman!

This morning I spent some time with a new friend from Jakarta, Indonesia. She is 50 and comes from relatively a rich family. Husband is well to do and has 4 lovely kids that goes to school in Malaysia. I lovingly call her 'Ibu'.

Ibu was introduced to me by a friend and also a business partner. We are planning to set up our organization Northstar in Indonesia.

When we were talking, Ibu said " I have tried many businesses but I failed. It was my mistake. I didn't focus and not enough work was put into it. Now, I am willing to focus. 

Can you guide me?".

I was taken up by her truthfulness and willingness to learn. Ibu continued, "I can't speak much English but I want to learn. So please talk to me in English so one day, I too can speak fluently."!

Wow that is something that I haven't heard in a while! 

Oh God, she is 50! And her husband is RICH! Why she needs to learn now???

Seeing her enthusiasm for life I got excited and I had a bit of mouth diarrhea and told her everything about a world convention that is taking place in Malaysia end of the month! It is a training and a fellowship of entrepreneurs of the world! 

And quietly i told her it will cost you 320US to attend... when my Malaysian friends hear the price, they will quickly tell me it is too much! So I was expecting the same reaction from her...

With her calmness she said, "like that... I must attend... I need training!" I almost fell off my chair... and I asked again, to reconfirm what I heard and she affirmed that she wants to come!

I asked her again, you want to register now or later, and she said, "Now can... I have 300US in my wallet.. 20US I give you tomorrow ok?"!

I smiled and said OK!

Guess this attitude of hers that has given her everything that she owns today! My hats off to ibu! To all the young Malaysian who ask me the favorite question, must I spend money or must I come for training??? Yes, you MUST!! 

Live Your Best Life

Learn to follow before you lead!

I have a team of people that I work closely across the globe and they are the leadership of my organization, NorthStar. End of this month, we are participating in a world conference hosted by the training giant, The V. 

Usually, it has been our tradition for my leadership to serve as in-service ( crew ) in conferences like this. This year, I made a bold decision and to ask some of them not to serve and just to participate. 

My reasoning for that was, I needed them to go back to basics and learn how to take care of their smaller groups so that they will know how to handle them in real situation. I also felt this will be a good time for them to bond with their respective teams as they will have to spend 5 solid days together. What has worked for me so far is my relationship with my leadership and I need then to do the same with their teams.

Those that I asked them not to serve at this particular conference are either experiencing lack of results or they are at a very important curve of their growth. I am also a strong believer, if they do not know how to care for their 10, they will never manage 100 and so on.

Interestingly, everyone except 2, agreed to follow what I had planned for them. At that point, I didn't say anything and I allowed the 2 to have it their way. 

Today, while I was driving back, somehow it came to me... the 2 that made decisions for themselves are the 2 with least results and most stubborn! Hhhmm... very interesting, could it be it is because of this they are struggling so much, not even knowing that their attitude is stopping them from getting their desired results! 

I remembered so well when I began this journey and till today... if someone is more successful then me, tells me to do something... I will follow! In fact, many times i have gone to my senior leaders and asked them, just tell me what I need to do and I will do!

For the 2, sadly they need to learn to follow before they can lead! 

Yes, one needs to learn to follow before they can be an effective leader!

Live Your Best Life

I am ready for the fun!

When I started building my organization, NorthStar 2 years back, I strained my relationship with couple of people. I really do not know why it happened that way.

At that time, my only consolation to continue my journey was, maybe at this point I have to take the walk without them. Lately, for some unknown reason I have been put again in front of them. Maybe God decided to give me a second chance...

What surprised me was the meetings went smooth and I don't see any reason for me to stay away from them and my heart suddenly just opened up to receiving them again in my life! I was puzzled... why is it what was so difficult before became so easy today...

Today while talking to my best friend, I found my answers. It is me who changed! I started believing my self more then ever and I started standing up for what I believe in. The moment I did that unknowingly the world reacted positively to me!

I am more then ever now ready to take my journey into the next 5 years phase and yes I am ready for the fun! 

Live Your Best Life

Thank you God for my best friend!

Today my best friend invited me for a charity event for single mothers hosted by his mom in her club. Inertially I wasn't sure if I wanted to go with him for this event. Yes, I am passionate about single mothers and one day I do want to own a foundation for single mothers but this morning wasn't exactly what I wanted to do right now but since it was my best friend and he only does the best for me I decided to go with him.

As I predicted it wasn't exactly what I wanted this morning but it is really not an issue... i got a chance to support my best friend's mother's mission and she looked happy and that is what maters at the end!

After the event, we went for coffee and to do our usual chat sessions! We talked many many things... from work to life to our love lives and to our future! We had good time and I got into my car to head home... hmmm... it was another good day with him! 

When I got home, I took my sister out for a coffee chat as she is also my business partner and I wanted to solidify my this month's plans. 

We were in a intense discussion when I screamed and almost took the entire attention in the restaurant! "We got what we were looking for... that is what our next two years mission will be!", thats exactly what I said! And my sister said, "It's a brilliant idea! How did you arrive here?".

I smiled and my heart cried out, thank you God for my best friend! 

Finally I understood, the event this morning, the coffee and the outing today with my best friend is to define my next 2 years! 

And I can say this one more time... Thank You God for my best friend! 

Live Your Best Life

Finally it made sense...

Two days ago, I was on the phone when I heard a voice said, "I thought so it was you... I thought I heard you!" 

I recognized that voice immediately! Yes he is the one... he is the man that sold me the idea to live my best life 8 years ago and the man who mentored me in my first 5 years of this journey i have embarked! 

I turned back and he gave me his usual loving smile that I still remembered very well... My heart was beating fast...

I have not spoken to this man in this close distance for the last 3 years... and now you understand my reaction! 

He politely asked me, " you have time for tea?" and I quickly without thinking said, sure!

We spoke a lot of things... basically we filled up the gap of the 3 years! I listened to his reasons why I interpreted things the way I did! And funny enough.. suddenly everything he said sounded logical! It made much more sense today then it ever did before!

You see 3 years ago I got upset with this man for many reasons and I concluded my life was better without him and if he brought me this far... now I would be able to walk the rest of the distance on my own! I heard many times, your strength are also your weakness but little I understood that time... My strong personality and stubbornness asked me to walk away and figure the rest of my journey without my mentor!

While talking to him, something hit me... that little voice inside me said, "hey girl, guess you finally grew up! You understand him today! It makes total sense... so 3 years ago, not that he had bad intentions but you were not at his growth level to understand what he was saying!".

Phew! That was a blow... hard hit on my head! 

I spent two hours talking to him and it was like the best conversation I had in last 3 years and he said something that captured my heart all over again... "you are still a part my 12 chosen individuals that I truly want to make them wealthy! Your name is still there...".

I realized... when I don't understand someone who is more successful then me, chances I am just not there yet and I need to grow up! 

 

Live Your Best Life