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The first thing you learn in an office is that nobody says “no.” They say: “Noted with thanks.” Which roughly translates to: “I acknowledge your existence and this problem now belongs to the universe.” It is perhaps the greatest corporate phrase ever invented. Not “synergy.” Not “innovation.” Not “thought leadership.
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“I learned how to cook pork adobo from YouTube,” Ma’am once told her friends proudly during a dinner party. I was standing behind them holding a plate of sliced oranges. I almost laughed. For nine years, I was the one cooking it. My name is Teresa. I came to
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I go to the kopitiam every day. Same kopi. Same toast. Same people. And honestly… I think I’ve learned more there than in some expensive seminars. Before you get offended, hear me out. At the kopitiam, nobody talks about “mindset,” “strategy,” or “scaling.” But the hawker who opens at
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You still care what other people think of you. It is a pattern that was built a long time ago. At some point in your life, you experienced rejection, embarrassment, or not fitting in. Maybe you were judged for how you looked, how you spoke, or where you came from.
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People do romanticize the past. Nobody genuinely misses rewinding tapes or flipping through a street directory. But some things were different. The pace of life was slower. Social interaction happened more easily, because you couldn’t hide behind a screen. People don’t miss the inconvenience. They miss what the
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At 3 a.m. I went to the bathroom. I flipped the switch. Nothing happened. I flipped it again. Still nothing. On. Off. On. Off. Three times. Then I complained to my wife, very confidently, that the bathroom light was broken. Morning came. I went to the bathroom again. Flipped
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When Patrick Oh shared this, it resonates with me. Baby Boomers (1946–1964) “Work hard, stay loyal, the system will reward you.” Built the system. Now watching it change. Gen X (1965–1980) “Trust no one. Figure it out yourself.” Often overlooked, yet carrying the weight of execution. Millennials (1981–
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If you like to teach, this message is for you. TV viewership is declining. Not because people hate good programs, but because TV is scheduled. If you miss it, it’s gone. Training is heading in the same direction. People no longer want to wait for a one-hour session next
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When I was young, my mother told me something that stayed with me for years. If I failed my school exams, my future would be bleak. Only people with good academic results would have a chance in life. I believed her. I hated school. My eldest brother once told me,
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Making Sense of Unemployment When Nothing Makes Sense Here is a true story. It could be your story. He was laid off after 13 years in the same company. Not because he failed. Not because of performance. Just restructuring. “When I apply for jobs, some say I’m overqualified. The
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Over the years, I’ve learned something uncomfortable about the workplace. Some managers are protected species. They don’t survive because they are good. They survive because they are attached to the right sponsor at the right time. They are very visible to people above them, and strangely invisible to
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Dear LinkedIn newbies, When in Rome, speak like the Romans. When in Malaysia, speak Manglish. In Singapore, speak Singlish. And when you’re on LinkedIn, you speak LinkedInese. Every platform has its own culture. LinkedIn is like fine dining. People speak formally and politely. Facebook is the kopitiam gossip table.