(This blog was written in a new development area of 东莞 Dongguan, a new first-tier city (新一线城市) in China due to its economic growth)
Imagine celebrating Chinese New Year’s Eve with your family, finally reunited after a long year. You’ve dipped a delicious piece of meat into the steaming hot pot, ready to savor it with loved ones, when your phone starts buzzing with a relentless barrage of calls from an unknown number. Who on earth would dare disrupt a Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner? After all, for us, it’s the one holiday where we expect complete peace.
Out of frustration, you answer the call. The voice on the other end informs you of an outbreak of an unknown disease in a city on the other side of the world. Seriously? You hang up, wanting to enjoy your dinner. But the calls keep coming, each person relaying the same concerning news.
That year was 2020. The unknown disease was called COVID-19, and the city was Wuhan.
“What on earth is the Wuhan virus?” you thought. “Why is everyone so anxious? We have the flu, which is contagious too. What’s the big deal?” It was hard to accept this news, especially during such a festive season. We weren’t prepared for this reality, nor could we have predicted its impact on our health, the global economy, and our livelihoods. In fact, I even naively considered volunteering in Wuhan without understanding the full scope of the situation.
How Naive We All Were
This experience taught me a valuable lesson: sometimes, we’re chasing after illusions, and disappointment sets in when we don’t get what we expect. A chase after the wind.
One of the key decisions that shaped Stellar since an infant international school was converting entirely to online learning during the pandemic. We became the first school in Johor to take this step. As a result, our parents were incredibly grateful that their children’s education wouldn’t be disrupted. While most of us are familiar with the events of the pandemic, that was four years ago.
The world has evolved rapidly since then. By 2022, as we entered the endemic stage, Stellar’s leadership team began to look beyond traditional education. We started connecting with entrepreneurs and coaches. I recall traveling to Kuala Lumpur at 4 am to meet with entrepreneurs at 8 am, followed by a full day of meetings before returning home late at night. This grueling schedule became a regular occurrence, happening almost weekly.
Fast Forward to Today
On April 21, 2024, we launched an initiative in China called the Global Chinese Alliance for Industry Value Creation (全球华人817产业增值联盟启动会). This initiative aims to build an ecosystem of support, resource sharing, and best practices, starting in three cities: Guangzhou, Singapore, and Johor Bahru. I feel incredibly privileged to be part of this because collaboration and trust form the foundation of this alliance.
Building Trust: A Key Ingredient
The foundation of this trust can be traced back to a key person: Dr. Elias, a master coach and corporate mentor from Singapore with decades of experience coaching leaders in China. He only recently returned to Singapore before the pandemic. I realized a common thread: their lives had all been positively impacted by Dr. Elias in the past. This shared experience fostered a strong sense of trust within the group.
My Journey with Dr. Elias
I met Dr. Elias at a 1000-person conference back in June 2023, where he was the opening speaker. His teachings resonated with me, and I wanted to connect with him. Unfortunately, with such a large crowd, reaching him proved difficult. Thankfully, I wasn’t alone. With the help of some key Stellar leaders, and after a lot of persistent effort, I finally had the opportunity to speak with him one-on-one via Zoom a month later while I was on a school excursion in Malacca. Dr. Elias’s insights were so profound that I decided to join his coaching training program to learn his skills. After six months, I finally grasped the true essence of coaching. It’s not just a technique; it’s a unique language and a way of life that can lead to breakthroughs in many areas.
Following Dr. Elias’ teachings hasn’t been easy. My schedule has always been packed, not necessarily due to the common myth of “not having enough time,” but because it’s a contributing factor. In life, we often fall into the trap of equating busyness with productivity. The statement “I’m busy enough” is often a way of justifying not seeking self-improvement. This self-centered thinking can lead to complacency and a resistance to taking responsibility, or an unwillingness to admit shortcomings that hinder growth.
The Power of Investing in Yourself
Last year, we visited UCSI Hotel in Kuching, which is connected to the UCSI University, a renowned establishment for its hospitality programs. The professor there explained that with the right methods, their cleaning staff could clean a hotel room in just 15 minutes, no matter how messy. But achieving this level of efficiency required a year of dedicated training.
Think about the contrast in output: a cleaner who can clean 24 rooms daily compared to one who takes an hour per room, managing only 6 in a day. Training translates to a fourfold increase in productivity. The investment of a single year of training saves you four years of work in the long run.
The Cost of Self-Centeredness
Everything in life has a price tag, and we choose what we’re willing to pay. Self-centeredness carries a hefty cost, especially for leaders. The worst part is that you’re not the only one affected; your entire team suffers alongside you. For a leader, self-centeredness is almost a sin.
It’s not necessarily bad if you’re aware of this cost. The real danger lies in being completely oblivious.
What if you’re the only leader still asleep?
Imagine having the foresight to see a different outcome or the true impact you could have on your team. How would your response change?
As an edupreneur, I believe in the transformative power of education. We have a responsibility to empower others, and that starts with leading by example.
Leaders can’t afford complacency. If you’re the only one unaware of challenges your team faces, it’s time to wake up. Are you missing crucial information due to a lack of self-improvement?
The choice is clear: stagnation or unlocking your full potential. Learning and growth can be uncomfortable, but the benefits are undeniable. When leaders prioritize development, everyone thrives.
By continuously improving ourselves, we’ll not only enhance our own life but also empower those around us. May God guide every leader to overcome self-centeredness and lead their teams with wisdom and dedication.
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