Malaysia Post GE14_Tessie's Take

Fact is stranger than fiction they say. Prime Minister Dr Mahathir's cabinet is made up of prisoners and jail birds!

Show me another govt like ours. The most senior ministers have served time. The others know what it feels like to go last, be treated less than, and to have things stripped off them. Persona non grata were not given column space nor air time.

That's how opposition leaders were treated when the then ruling party Barisan Nasional was in power. Opposition leaders were persecuted for defending the rule of law and for standing up for their principles. Free speech. Free press was mere lip service. 

It was all a farce. Najib was the Prime Minister of farce. He didn't understand that his leadership was turning Malaysia into a circus. It all went terribly wrong very early in the day. Things were so distorted from the (magic) mirrors we didn't know what we were doing anymore. We needed Bersih to adjust our screens. As a people we lived in fear. We were sold down (de nile) Many are still stuck there!

Now the opposition is in power! Hah. The tables are turned. Be afraid. Be very afraid? I could carry on using more cliches. Yet it was a series of unexpected blessings. Oxymoron or what?

How nice to read truth once again! How nice to toss off the fake news spawned by those in power (previously). My eyes were already being treated as they were fatigued from all the eyerolls and glazing over... oh and the crap that was being bandied about caused them to sting.

What's worse than being lied to? Knowing we were not worth the truth. Being treated as if we were morons. Drunk on Kool-Aid? From "vote for me" to "I was dumb."

Enough with what we already know. Let's talk about what's new. What's refreshing ~ is to see Malaysians celebrate! We are out at restaurants eating and drinking and laughing again. How great it is to hear people speak of hope and togetherness and unity again! "We are Malaysian." Wow, that's bigly huuuuugggge as Trump would say.

How did we manage to speak of truth, authenticity, integrity... to our children all those years? BN forced "farce parenting."

How did we govern our organisations; how did we call people out and hold them accountable? How did we track responsibility and performance? BN forced "farce leadership."

How did we work to build culture, beliefs, and values... when the "bigger picture" was training us exactly opposite? How did we speak of empowering when everything was dis-empowering? Everything was about farce / false value? You are the sum total of your handbags. You are the sum total of your yacht, condo, or car. No lux no love. Vote for me and I will give you $2000. Plus I'll throw in the taxes ~ Pass go. Do not pay $200.

Kudos to the Malaysian people for putting up and surviving. For protecting our peace and unity. For our patriotism. The real kind. No farce this time.

Farce ~ meaning: a comic dramatic work using buffoonery. Typically using crude characterisation and ludicrously improbable situations.

Personal Power. You know how much you really have in the worst of times.

My work is to build PERSONAL POWER. To inspire courage, confidence, and freedom so we live our best life.

I work through my writing, speaking, team coachings, and trainings. I work with special focus groups, executives in corporations, and personal development centres.

Personal Power – How do we know if we have it?

We know how much we have and how well it functions in the worst of times, when we are challenged, when we face unchartered territory, when all solutions seem not to work. This is when we measure most accurately our personal power. How we perform—THINK, FEEL, SPEAK, DO and appear—that energy that propels us from each hurdle, challenge, or breakdown... to achievement and breakthrough is our personal power.

Simply ask yourself, "Can I do it?" (your desired outcome). And notice the emphasis on "I," meaning self-attained. No dependence on other factors. Pacing the issue outwards, we could ask, "What makes me happy?" "How would I define success?" And if your answer suggests the need for outside factors, then you'd be off the mark. Self-reliance is key. Self-initiated Self-defined results is what Personal Power is about. It's all about what comes out of you---- from you for a purpose.

Yes, it would be YOUR skill to have inspired others to come and support you. Yes it would be YOUR sincerity and vulnerability that inspired others to trust you. Yes, that counts. 

Different from our standing in society (hierarchy of where we are placed), personal power doesn’t come from authority, titles, experience or competence. Confidence, capability… may be derivatives of power, but doesn’t define it.

Personal power goes beyond any kind of power that is bestowed on us by outside forces. Personal power is self-made (I get it from myself), it’s acquired from within ~ our resourcefulness (beliefs and attitudes), our resilience (energy management), and our integrity (living within our principles). 

Our ability to respond to life comes from our PERSONAL POWER. How much are we “at the effect of” life? Do we see ourselves as victims of circumstance? How good is our choice-making? Can we influence? Can we collaborate? We measure personal power from here.

Funnily not all leaders have personal power. Some may have been "put there" for certain reasons. They may not have earned their place upstairs at all!

I don't like identifying with the hard times in my life; my years of professional training, my divorce, starting my own business, being robbed at knifepoint, dealing with my mother's death, caring for an autistic relative, dealing with financial losses, etc. Yet those events shaped me. Now I use those times as checkpoints of how well I've grown, evolved, and resurrected to a higher being. Yes, I've had to make peace with my past. And I have a pretty solid idea of how much personal power I have.

#Resilience                 #Fitness

#Acceptance              #Flexibility

#Self-Trust                  #Integrity

#Self-Value                 #Sensitivity

#Focus                         #Passion

#SenseOfPurpose    #Love

#Courage                    #Intelligence

#Spirituality                #Openness to Learning

#Determination        #Drive for more

#Commitment           #Protecting the Greater Good

#Influence                  #Persistence

Tessie Lim's - Peak Performance Peak Prosperity Workshop

Transformation through Coaching

“Our conference is a few days away!” 

I am calling coaches, inviting them to participate by helping the organizing committee promote the event and also to come and show support for our Chapter.

“Why be part of this?” I ask.  “What could possibly enhance your capability as a coach and leader?”  “You have experience.  You know people.  Where’s one space where if you improved, would simply open up a world of opportunities in terms of progress for you?” 

As President of the International Coaching Federation Malaysia Chapter (ICFM) I also work hard to engage businesses in Malaysia.  You can imagine, not everybody buys into a new approach for communicating that enables possibility and potential. 

“What?  Ask my staff for feedback?  Allow people to share their opinion and get involved in making decisions?  Are you out of your mind?” one executive commented. 

Other bosses are happy just to listen, observe, and stay safely within their comfort zones.  After all, leadership development involves risk.  What if things change?  Oh dear, what if people actually become powerful?

People say I’m a different type of leader than others.  Okaaayyyy… I think I’m different because I don’t settle, and because I consistently choose to speak to people’s highest and best.  That means I can see past the excuses, bad habits, and the story telling.

I believe I play a role in getting people clear and reconnected to their purpose.  Once this happens confusion and self – doubt naturally fades away.  And when I help people get what they want; they reciprocate by contributing more.  Being a coach enables me to lead this way.  I don’t know any other type of professional who is specifically trained to do this.

What other approach empowers, encourages, and enables us to feel heard and important?  What type of relationship allows us to reflect and adjust for the best way to go forward?  Unlike therapy that deals with how to heal someone, coaching is solution – oriented and designed for positive change.  Most importantly, coaching holds people accountable to… going from good to great!

Today coaching is not a perk anymore, but a necessity.  I say this because developing human potential is the defining factor for any sustainable economy.  You and I know that for success, attitude is everything. 

The more we experience the gap between gender and generation, the wider the divide between understandings, expectations, values, and objectives, coaching as a means to engage, connect, and reconcile is the most effective way to communicate for desired outcomes.

Want me to elaborate?  Think Gen – X and Gen – Y.  Try dictating terms.  Younger leaders thrive on freedom, self – expression, innovation, and free enterprise.  They are global citizens connected through technology to business in real – time.

HR is focused on training.  We have the HRDF fund for this.  While training is about imparting mind knowledge, coaching is about taking that knowledge from mind… to muscle.  Coaching is about going from knowing… to doing… and being.

Tell me if you know the difference between someone who’s BEING a leader and another merely doing leadership stuff.  The answer lies in the type of result we can expect!  When we have a successful event, we may think, “good leadership.”  When we have a significant experience, we have GRRRREAT leadership!

A leader speaks to your heart and mind.  A leader walks their talk.  A leader is about making success available to all.  When someone is being a leader, we can speak of our experience with them in tangible, well – defined ways because all parts come together as one whole.  Coaching enables leaders to BE leaders.

How to create a “coaching culture” in your organization?  Modeling this culture requires a recipe and a unique skill that enables us to take a pattern that works and teach it to many without losing any quality in translation. 

They say, what we cannot measure, we cannot manage.  For this purpose, we need a benchmark.  We need a set of standards.  We need tried – and – tested training and mentoring that has an established track record; one that delivers and will continue to deliver the desired outcome – peak performance and sustainable development.

The ICF has this.

Why come to the conference?  Come and experience possibility conversations! 

Come and experience the shift from performance to meaning that will turn change into transformation.  High – income, high value is all about this.

Register online www.malaysiacoachingconference.com 

BE the change you want to see in this world. 

PEACE is PROSPERITY

www.tessieworld.com

Certain parties may question the irregularities and violations in the electoral process but it seems the market response to the outcome of GE13 is extremely positive gauged by the demand for Malaysian assets.  On Monday May 6, the KLCI Index surged more than 7.5% while the Ringgit climbed more than 2.3% against the US dollar.

On April 7, the day Parliament was dissolved, international banks were already singing praises of the Malaysian Ringgit provided the right party comes to power.  On May 7 the Ringgit climbed to a 19 – month high, the highest since 2010.  Against the Singapore dollar, the Ringgit strengthened more than 2%.

Is this indicative of what investors want?  Aren’t people concerned about integrity, justice, and the greater good?

The Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs, a group accredited by the Election Commission to observe the vote said it was “only partially free and, not fair.”  While the campaign period proceeded “without any major glitches,” wider issues such as media bias and unequal constituency sizes gave an advantage to PM Najib’s coalition, it said.

What will protect our sustainable growth?  Does our future depend on who wins the quarrel over indelible ink?  Our future depends on global market forces and rating agencies, those that see our country and its assets with desirability and respect.

We should be thankful and proud that international players are willing to pay top dollar for Malaysian assets including Islamic bonds.  In 2012 Malaysia’s Islamic Banking assets rose to RM 494.6 billion while Islamic Insurance Assets (Takaful) grew 12.4% to RM 19 billion.  According to Ernst & Young, there will be US $950 billion of worldwide demand for Islamic bonds by 2017.

This week global market institutions have turned bullish on the Malaysian stock market and have recommended the banking, property, infrastructure, and energy sectors as the top plays.

May 7 – Moody’s said that Malaysia’s fiscal reform is still unclear after the outcome of the elections.  It added that money spent on the election campaign will add to the government’s financial burden and that the poll results may render it politically difficult for the government to implement the goods and services tax to boost revenue. 

However on the positive side Moody’s said that BN’s election win ensured continuation of pro – growth policies and was a positive for the rating of sovereign and government – linked entities.

Does Malaysia have a 2 – tier economy just like Australia’s mining and resource sectors v regular business?  In broad strokes one might describe our “2 – tier” environment like this: [1] Rural v Urban [2] Government – linked corporations v Proprietary businesses and SMEs [3] Chinese v Malaysian “tsunami.”

May 5 – Dato Seri Najib said in a press conference that his coalition had lost in Selangor because of a “Chinese tsunami.”  The PM called for “national reconciliation” while blaming the opposition for making race an issue, and said he’d implement moderate policies.

“The Chinese tsunami is all nonsense -- it’s an urban middle-class tsunami,” said Edmund Terence Gomez, a professor at the University of Malaya who has been writing about Malaysian politics and business for more than two decades.

“So long as he wants to polarize and racialize this phenomenon, then they themselves are guilty of a racist outlook and they are incapable of any national reconciliation,” Lim Kit Siang, who founded the Democratic Action Party, told reporters on May 6, referring to Najib. “It’s not a Chinese tsunami; it’s a Malaysian tsunami.”

Is it fair to assume that balance will allay tension?  When people think, “Unfair!” there is likely to be contempt, anger, and hatred.  When this is demonstrated with maturity it takes the form of organized protests and peaceful public rallies.  When negative emotion is suppressed or improperly managed, it erupts and explodes into what we know as street fighting and crime.

May 8 – Former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said in his message to the opposition, “Malaysians deserve stability and certainty that can only come with finality and closure from this election.  Let us move on in the interest of all Malaysians.”

Malaysia has a unique history.  We are a multi – faceted community; our diversity is our strength.  Calling for “national reconciliation” suggests a rift, a breakdown.  For our breakthrough… my common sense says we must find common ground.

More than just promising hope… we must stand for peace and progress; we must share the vision that ours is a story with a happy ending.  Peace is prosperity.  Unity… is everything.  Is this something we are prepared to declare and fulfill?

The Best is Yet to Come

If I had to coach-mentor a leader of men what would I say? If leadership is about realizing a vision and making dreams actual, how would I live? Self-actualization is about living your fullest potential. So how then could I be a self-actualizing leader?
My job would be enabling and empowering all around me to be their highest and best while achieving their dream!

An observer commented about one of his peers. He said, "Your style of leadership is directional. You tell. You leave no space for creativity and personal potential. And if people should disagree, then what?"

I was taken aback. If that wasn't judgmental, what was? It seemed to me the accuser was guilty of the same!

That encounter made me think. What exactly is my leadership style - am I also directional?
Am I consultative? Or would others see me as weak --- wishy - washy. Directionless!
Worse still and heaven forbid, selfish. Was I all about ME???

So I read a "Crash Course" on LEADERSHIP by Walk The Talk, a favorite website of mine.
I learned:

The 10 most important words:
“What can I do to help you be more successful?”

The 9 most important words:
“I need you to do this, and here’s why…”

The 8 most important words:
“That’s my mistake and I will fix it.”

The 7 most important words:
“My door is always open to you.”

The 6 most important words:
“Let’s focus on solving the problem.”

The 5 most important words:
“You did a great job!”

The 4 most important words:
“What do YOU think?”

The 3 most important words:
“Follow my lead.”

The 2 most important words:
“Thank You.”

The MOST important word:
“YOU”

And so as I step back from myself and know that if my intention is all about being my best and living my highest potential, there's a dance I must do. Before I become an expert dancer, there are steps and stages, attitudes and beliefs I need to change, levels of fitness I must groom within my mind-body-emotion, that will allow me to be all that I want to be:
Flexible / Graceful / Strong / before I get to live from that Inspired platform.

Hey! I wanted to talk about leadership and I've ended up talking about myself. Odd? Not really.
For no one can really inspire leadership if one cannot lead themselves.
For who would follow anyone un-inspiring? Who would give up time for anything weaker than themselves?

Some guys have all the luck

Ever felt passed over? Like God looked and disapproved, everything about life is going so badly? Try as hard as you might, but nothing seems to be going according to plan.

At first, you're cool. It's fine. Things'll get better, you think. The Universe has a plan. Two months down the track and you're still struggling with the same stuff, only now you're worn down and your head feels like it's about to burst. You're wearing your heart around your knees at the minute and think, "heck, what the hell's wrong with me?" Only there's nothing wrong with you, it's the rest of the world.

Define "going so badly?" Well, stuff happening that doesn't fit with my self-image. I'm not Mother Teresa you know. Church says, love thy neighbor. Forgive thine enemy. Heck, that's difficult stuff. After all, I'm spirit trapped in this body so that I can experience thought as feeling and for that I've been given the physical form. Not easy Papa. (I'm looking heavenward) Can barely understand, let alone do.

Where is the guilt coming from? Who's doing the actual punishing? I'm looking around and going, How come the guys that don't have conscience are getting away with murder? Sociopaths all. They're having fun. So unfair. Steal from me. Lie to me. Bad-mouth me. Use me. And get off scott free.

If I were operating from a higher consciousness, what would I be doing/thinking? I'm thinking --- how can I be less affected by all this shit? People will be people. Crooks will do what crooks do. Is it my job to change them? Couldn't if I tried.

What then? Organize myself so I don't stress with nonsense. Allow. Let people be. Let them be who they are; express themselves in the way they best know how - even if its not like me. Go back to the place where I know all things are just. Go back to Source where all things are one.
Cease the separation of good v bad, the duality of right and wrong, light and dark, pure and corrupt.

For what is not of God is an illusion. What is not of God is unreal. So I will adjust my thoughts so that I can experience the right kind of emotion --- The definition of emotion is: thought attached to a feeling. Yes, that's what I'll do. That's what I'll work on from now on.

Madness in the Money Markets

Some people are cut out to be employed. Stability is their pace-maker.
Others need independence ~ in being their own boss, managing their own time. Independence is their adrenaline. Freedom and flexibility keeps their heart pumping; keeps them feeling alive.

Some people can manage life, living paycheck to paycheck. Others want more ~ more challenge, more variety, more experience, more choice. It's like a journey of self-discovery; seeing how far you can go, and how much you need to take you there.

It's more difficult for a wage earner to be wealthy. We're talking high net worth. Unless one owns stock options, has the ear of the boss, and access to the corporate jet, life would be pretty well laid out for the professional man. One needs to be an entrepreneur, investor, and risk-taker of a higher order if one wishes to live among the top 5% of society's rich and famous. Or you could marry into there.

Today the financial markets are volatile to say the least. Fear and uncertainty have wreaked havoc. The US rating downgrade, the Debt Ceiling issue, the European financial crisis have all contributed to the chaos. So how? What to do with your money? How to make some ~ at a time like this?

How to maintain calm and logic; that's how the experts say to remain in control of your (life) finances. Preserving financial independence is the objective. Too many people have "caved" and fallen victims to stress, depression, worthlessness and self-loathing because of the mistakes made. Have you suffered any of these?

In the midst of financial chaos, what factors remain certain? What can we count on? Despite the dim economic outlook, Asia and the emerging markets will lead growth and recovery.

As long as investors put their money behind companies that sell goods and services that have strong brand positioning they need not fear.

As long as investors put their money behind EU and US cos that are selling goods and services with strong branding in Asia and the emerging markets, they need not fear.

To reduce risk, investors must learn to hedge should markets drop. Here are some strategies:
(a) Buy safe haven currencies
(b) Buy precious metals
(c) Buy top quality defensive sector companies that are plugged into Asia and the emerging
markets. Essential services such as food, healthcare, and natural resources.
(d) Buy bonds - physical or ETFs
(e) Buy into the Chicago Board of Trade Volatility Index (VIX)

Why am I mad about money? No money no talk. No money no best life.

International Neuro-Semantics Conference in Grand Junction

Traveling to Grand Junction Colorado USA was an experience. Firstly we are in the throes of post 911 paranoia where security is so tight they want to squeeze you out of everything including your shoes. Then one has to remember Colorado is the mile high state because its capital Denver sits a mile high above sea level. Colorado is also tornado country. Arriving at Denver airport, I noticed their tornado shelters were also the men's and ladies' rooms!

By the time I arrived Grand Junction Country Inns, I had flown through Singapore, London, Denver, and then some. Luckily the conference delegates were warm, cool, and hot ~ this all rolled into one! *How fascinating!*

Wonderful weather. Lovely people and stimulating learning. *How fantastic!*
Looking forward to the next Int'l NS Conference ~ this time hosted by Kuala Lumpur in 2013.
So time to plan your holiday. Get ready to enjoy Malaysian hospitality ~ fine food, great adventure, and the best coach training in the world.

See pictures of Grand Junction ~ my first glimpse from inside the airport. Country Inns Conference Center. My presentation titled: Book Yourself Solid.

Going Home for the Holidays

It'll be Eid - Mubarak or Hari Raya Aidil Fitri for Muslims all over the world. It's one month of Shawal, 1 month of celebration after Ramadhan - 1 month of fasting.
What does this festival mean?
Firstly it means reuniting with spirit, after "going within" to search and connect with those who are less fortunate than ourselves. It means realizing our fallibility and forgiving those who have hurt us, as we have hurt others --- through our mindlessness. It means "going without" the things we want in honor of the things we have.

It is a time for reuniting --- with family, honoring our elders, and returning to the place from where we originated. That place is love. That place is a place of peace. Because we are spirit and spirit is about love. Spirit is about peace.

Within each one of us is that tranquil place. In the midst of chaos do you know where to go for peace and love and calm?

7-up, Coke, and Sprite will work to have you believe Raya is about quenching your thirst on your journey to there. Kentucky Fried Chicken and McDonald's will certainly have a go at pushing their finger licking goodness. But "Raya" (celebrate) is not about food and drink or money or stuff at all.

Raya is about finding oneself. It's about going home --- to Self. It's about prioritizing. Distinguishing what's truly important from what's worldly and superficial. Raya is about actualizing --- Self.

Who are you? What are you made of?
Do you know where you're going to? Do you like the things that life is showing you?
Where are you going to? Do you know?

To Inspire Courage Confidence and Freedom

What is the vision? The vision is to reach as many people as possible.
The vision is so that people everywhere have access to this human technology that allows them to live their best life. Yes, it is our singular purpose in this life to be happy. Yes, that technology is available. And yes, we all can be happy as long as we choose to. Just as soon as we know how to access that state. Or gestalt of states that = happy ;-)

What is the mission? To inspire courage, confidence, freedom.
Courage as opposed to fear. Fear as opposed to lack of love.
Confidence as opposed to playing small, staying weak, apathetic. Confidence for stepping out as we are. Just the way we are.
Freedom from what? Freedom from our upbringing, our conditioning, our past, our limitations. Freedom to choose the life we want. Freedom to sing our song. Our song.

The goal, the objective, is to go among the masses. The work is to bring the message to everyone --- men, women, children and everyone in between. Just as fear does not discriminate, love must not discriminate. The challenge is to give love unconditionally. The job is to include and embrace and distribute.

When? As soon as possible. We are faced with unprecedented economic chaos. This has upset the family dynamic where men who have been breadwinners are now facing psychic, not just emotional and financial upset --- because their ability to provide and protect is challenged. So family systems are being overturned. Families are suffering loss, grief, separation --- from Self --- when needs are not sufficiently met.

Apart from financial struggle, emotional and psychic disturbance, relational upset, our world is under attack from the flagging ethical and moral fiber that threatens to break up social structure, law and order, and on a larger scale, the health of the human spirit. In this case, fear spreads. Fear is the opposite of love. Fear is the result of the separation from Self.

There is much work to do. For this work we need all hands on board. Women and children, pick up your tools. Even if this is the warmth of your embrace, the calmness in your voice, and the softness of your bosom.

What work exactly? Go out into the cities and towns and make every soul feel like they are important, make them feel like they belong.

This is the work. This is the calling. This is our purpose.
Beyond this, nothing matters.

Proud to be Malaysian

When S&P downgraded the US from AAA to AA, Moody’s defended the US’ triple-A status. Fascinating. I think this presents Malaysia with a unique opportunity to lead. I think it’s time for Asia and the emerging markets to combine forces and expertise to create our own neutral rating agency.

America didn’t confront their problems sooner and now the gap seems too wide for any single president to fix. Europe is stressed and in disarray. Do we want to wait for crisis levels before we act? Why not start now to increase domestic – led consumption and exports to Asia, the emerging, and frontier markets. Buy Malaysian. Promote Malaysian – made. Act now.

Let’s you and I stand up for our economy. Let’s champion Brand Malaysia.

Let’s collaborate with China, India, Africa, and our Latin American friends. Let’s form joint venture alliances to scour the planet for products and services that these huge consumer nations seek and desire. When companies see demand surging for Malaysian – made goods and services will they be inspired to produce more, and produce quality. Everybody wins.

Under the US Dodd – Frank law that was proposed on 2 Dec 2009, there’s the Volcker rule. By this rule, depository banks are prohibited from proprietary trading, meaning they can’t trade with their own funds, only with clients’ money.

Banks forced to curb trading means money looking for new places to go… This gives Malaysia a brilliant opportunity to attract global funds. It’s time for us to modernize our trading systems. We’re well – poised as one of the world’s foremost Islamic Banking centers.

“In the near future I envisage that the Yuan will become the safe haven currency of Asia. Later, the Yuan together with other emerging market currencies such as the Brazilian Rial, Russian Ruble, Indian Rupee, and South African Rand will be in one big gold – backed basket,” predicts Ashwin M Binwani Wealth Strategist at Peak Prosperity Consulting Hong Kong Ltd.

(That means Americans can’t simply print money; create Quantitative Easing 2 and 3 without backing it with a measure of gold!)

Malaysia is in a sweet spot as our Ringgit is the proxy currency for the Chinese Yuan. In fact when the Yuan appreciates, all Asian currencies follow suit.

The entire matrix of business and finance has shifted to the East. It’s time for Malaysians to develop more courage and confidence. Why not use this time to perfect our systems and take measures to decouple from the West. For this to happen our financial and political groundwork must be honed and refined.

Malaysia has a lot going for itself. At this point the stakes are high and primarily we’ve got 2 choices. We can work to do ourselves proud. Or we can let ourselves down. I say we stand for unity. Think National Pride.

I say peace will secure prosperity.