4 Key Takeaways I Learned from Google that will help in Your Career Transition

Yesterday was a truly inspiring day for me. 

In the morning, I was the emcee for a bursary award event. The bursary award event is a community event that I have been volunteering with for some years, and it is something I enjoy doing. The event was held at the Google Singapore office where the Google team presented and shared their vision, their culture, and also some of the technology which they have developed that helps shape the world into a better place. 

In the evening, I attended a dinner with fellow community leaders, many of whom I have known for close to a decade. I enjoyed the camaraderie, fellowship, and catch-up over a wonderful dinner. 

But what truly inspired me where the stories shared, which to me hold powerful learning lessons that I think can help many who are seeking a career transition.

Here are 4 key takeaways I believe can be adapted to those who are going through career transitions. 

1. Chart Your Career Heartbeat

Like all journeys, there will be moments where your ride will be smooth, and those where your rides will be bumpy. When you come to a crossroads in your career, don't fret. Its probably a good time to take a step back, reflect, and consider where you are today, and where you wish to be tomorrow. 

I am a big believer of Experiential Learning, and to me, every day on the job is an experience that provides powerful learning moments. 

One exercise I practice yearly is to plot my career "heartbeat" as a way to reflect what I have learned, and how far I have come in my career journey. Below is an example you can follow to build your career "heartbeat". 

2. Career Innovation Can Happen Anywhere and Anytime

This brings me to my next point, that innovation in your career can happen anywhere and at any time. 

During the bursary event at Google Singapore, I heard how individuals with no experience in technology, with degrees from completely different fields, landed a job in Google, and grew into their roles and thrived. Its very encouraging to hear of such transitions, which reinforces my believe, everyone can make a meaningful and successful career transition. 

Through your career heartbeat, you will be able to identify high points and low points from the projects, tasks and work you have accomplished. Pick out those "magic moments" where an insight gives you a different perspective that you have brought to your team, your organisation and your career. These value-creating moments are the inflection points that will reveal insights how your career is transitioning and innovating. 

In the role that I am in, I am involved in combining data from different sources. I learned about databases, the nature of data constructs and its impact on data analysis. Through the projects that I am assigned, I have learned that I have an innate ability to coordinate many moving parts and join the dots into a coherent whole that helps my management in their decision making efforts. I also learned that I have a strong instinct in crisis management. All these gave me insights into how I could innovate in my career, benefit my team more, and bring value to the organisation I serve.  

3. "Think 10x"

A friend once told me...

"Aim for Moon and when you fail, you fall among the Stars". 

In Google Singapore, they shared their philosophy of "Think 10x" where incremental improvements can bring about "big side effects". You can 

I believe this to be true and important when we think about our careers. 

Never settle for average. Always see how your contributions can bring scalable benefits to your employers. In doing so, you bring profound value to your employers and in variably, become a valued member of the team and organisation. 

4. Use Technology to Solve Problems

In Google Singapore, they shared how they are constantly innovating and coming up with technology solutions that are focused on the user, solving fundamental problems users experience that bring big positive side effects. 

Singapore, because of its small size, is very well placed to leverage on technology to drive not just productivity gains, but innovation and creativity. We are perhaps at the cusp of a tectonic shift in the use of technology to solve not only business problems but also social challenges. 

This brings many opportunities for those in mid-career transitions. There are many avenues one can learn about technology. For example, attending technology conferences, reading about technology, or even taking a course on coding or robotics (if you are a Singaporean, here is where SkillsFuture can come in handy). 


Final Thoughts

I will end with this quote that was shared yesterday to employers and those in career transition. Its from J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings:

“All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,

A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be blade that was broken,

The crownless again shall be king.”

Never discount yourself or anyone. 

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Taking one little step at a time,
Aslam Sardar

Why Winning Is Important!!

Its been several weeks from the last time I wrote on this blog. 

The last few weeks were eventful. I had to deliver on a major work assignment, something I had been working on intensely for more than 4 months, with the most challenging milestone achieved in the last few weeks. The feeling of completing a major assignment, especially one where the odds seemed to be against you when you started, felt good. It felt like winning a competition.  

The Power of the "Winner Effect"

The effect of winning on an individual can be powerful. Neuropsychologist Professor Ian Robertson wrote about "The Winner Effect" and argues that winning is probably one of the most important effects shaping people's lives.

I believe winning is not only important, but also necessary if you are entering a new career. 

Defining "Winning"...

Before I start, let me first explain what I mean by winning. To me, winning takes a broad definition. It includes overcoming obstacles, be it big or small, achieving a major milestone, or simply changing your attitude and mindset, is a win. 

How to be a Winner...

1. Orchestrate Small Wins

As Professor Ian explained in his video, it is better to design and orchestrate small wins. Every time you achieve a small win, a chemical reaction occurs. Testosterone and dopamine increases, giving you that "feel good" effect. This increases your confidence and risk appetite, giving you courage to take on more challenging and important tasks, potentially bringing about larger wins in future. 

One way I have orchestrated small wins in projects assigned to me is to break up a project into small achievable chunks or milestones. Completing each milestone becomes a "win".

2. Build a Winning Team

You will notice in my blog posts that I am a big proponent of teamwork and working in teams. Find like-minded individuals who are aligned to your goals and invite them to participate in your project as a member of your team. 

3. Have a S.M.A.R.T. Plan

As the saying goes, when you don't plan, you plan to fail. Ensure that your plans are:

• Specific - clearly defined goals and outcomes. 
• Measurable - clearly identified performance indicators or outputs.
• Achievable - a goal or target that you bring to completion.
• Realistic - to be realistic means you factor in constraints you face in your plans.
• Time Bound - defined within a set period or schedule.

Everybody deserves a win. Go ahead! Plan your next WIN. 

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Taking one little step at a time,
Aslam Sardar

5 Crucial Questions You Must Ask Yourself to Make a Successful Transition

In a youth dialogue last week, I heard the presentation made by Mr. David Hoe of how he transitioned from someone who did badly in his Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) to an aspiring teacher studying Economics. You can read about this story here. 

Today, I read about Mr. Ang Kim Song, someone I know, tell his story of how he transitioned from a habitual offender to someone who aspires to graduate with a Math degree. He is now a Project Director at Aestiwood, a woodwork company that hires marginalised individuals and ex-offenders.

Both David and Kim Song successfully transitioned, and moved on to not only become productive individuals, but also change makers who are giving back to society and inspiring others. 

Their transition did not come easy, or immediately. It was a series of events that prompted them to reflect on their lives and make a determined shift in mindset to alter their trajectory in life. 

• So what can we learn from these stories? 

• How can we use these stories to think about change and transitions in our lives and careers? 

Perhaps a good way to start the journey of change and transition is to ask yourself some fundamental questions. I have put together 5 crucial questions you should ask yourself if you are seeking to make a transition, be it in your career or life in general. 

1. Why do you want to change and what are your compelling reasons?

Successful transitions start with compelling reasons. Compelling reasons usually evolve out of cathartic, inspiring, or even simple events that prompt deep introspection. The stiff sentence meted out on Kim Song was the cathartic event that prompted his re-evaluation. Turning 40 was my "cathartic" event that prompted me to re-evaluate my station in life. 

Take some time to think through your circumstances. 

1. Was there an event or an inspiration that is prompting you to re-evaluate your life or career? 
2. If so, what might that be? 
3. How important is it that it requires you to make a change from your current trajectory?

2. Do you have a network of support?

No man is an island as the saying goes. 

If you are seeking a change or transition, find good friends or family members you can trust to be a network of support you can count on when the going gets tough. Good support networks not only prop you up during periods you are down, but they can also provide guidance and help when you need it. Make a list of friends and family members you can trust, who will not judge you or your decisions. Connect with them and share your vision and hopes of transition and ask them for their support.  

3. Where Must I Start? 

As a rule, I would say start at the basics. If your dream is to be a photographer, start by first learning the basics of how a camera functions, understand the different mechanics, and master them. From there, you move on to other aspects. When I entered the logistics industry, my mentor and colleague told me the first thing I needed to learn were the Incoterms. Identify your start point. 

4. What Will My Roadmap Look Like?

Think of your transition as a "project". Like all projects, there are milestones with defined timelines for you to meet. Pen down what your change roadmap will look like. Identify the milestones you need to cross. Set realistic and practical timelines and place this roadmap someplace visible so that you are always reminded of it. 

5. Are You Prepared To Take the "Pain" of Transition?

Finally, are you ready for the "pain" that will come with the change? Invariably, you have to accept that every transition will come with roadblocks, doubts, and insecurities, all of which can become obstacles that you need to cross. There might be a period you need to suffer the change. 

Evaluate how mentally ready you are for your transition. A good way to know how mentally ready you are is to look back at turning points in your life and how you coped with it. These turning points and your reactions to them reveal a lot about your tenacity, courage, and determination, which will be critical during times of change and transition. 

I hope these 5 crucial questions will help ease your journey towards change and transition. 

SHARE THIS POST with someone you know of who is going through a period of change or transition. 

Taking one little step at a time,
Aslam Sardar

3 Areas You Should Reflect On Your Achievements Today...

Yesterday was Singapore's 50th National Day. Its a Jubilee celebration, one which all Singaporeans can be proud of. It was a day Singapore rejoiced, celebrated and took stock of how far she has come as a nation. This affectionally known "little red dot" has been described as the "Singapore exception". And indeed it has had an amazing run over the last 50 years. 

As a Singaporean who grew up since the 1970s, I have had the great privilege of witnessing this extraordinary transformation. It was not too long ago that we used to take buses with no air-conditioning. Where bus and MRT routes were not as pervasive as it is today. And where Marina Bay was nothing more than an empty parcel of land. Singapore has indeed progressed very far. 

Many have sited reasons of meritocracy, pragmatism and honesty (MPH) as credits to Singapore's success. Indeed they are important. But to me, it was how as a nation we used Knowledge to progress, how we up-Skilled the workforce to be one of the best in the world, and how we applied an Attitude centred on progress, that stand out for me. While meritocracy, pragmatism and honesty were foundational, it was the application of knowledge, skill and attitude that I think brought us this far. 

As I reflect on Singapore's transformation and progress, I take stock of how I have grown through my application of knowledge, skills and attitudes. I will share some of my thoughts on this, and tips, which I feel are important areas you could focus on so that you may progress as successfully as this amazing nation called Singapore. 

KNOWLEDGE

Knowledge refers to information, facts, concepts, that you have acquired. Knowledge is important as it provides you with the foundation to progress. Knowledge is what helps society change and transform. It was through knowledge gained that we evolved from a world of horse riding to one of driving cars. Through knowledge, we learn about the universe and technology that led to our ability to fly a man to the moon. Knowledge helps you understand complexity and solve problems. Knowledge invariably will help you learn more and faster. 

From early on, the pioneer leaders of Singapore had pushed and pursued knowledge. Singapore learned from others. We brought in talented individuals to teach us, such as Dr Albert Winsemius, a Dutch economist who gave us advise on Singapore's industrialisation efforts. Singapore is always open to learning from others and learning about new discoveries and opportunities. In healthcare, despite our tremendous progress, we are still learning (click here).

Knowledge is a powerful driver of change and progress. In the last 10 years, I've gained a tremendous amount of knowledge. I credit this explosion of knowledge to the days as a corporate trainer and consultant, my EMBA program, and to my transition into the shipping and logistics industry. I've learned about the inter-play between finance, strategy and operations. I learned about the complexity in managing global initiatives, and the challenges of aligning regions and countries towards a common corporate goal. 

Through the knowledge gained, I can today connect the dots and become effective in the challenges I pursue. 

How can you gain more knowledge?

1. Read, read and read more. Nothing beats reading widely to gain knowledge. Read beyond the scope of your work or industry. Extend your knowledge by reading topics which are unrelated to what you do daily to gain new perspectives. 
2. Watch documentaries. I love documentaries. Though I will be the first to admit that documentaries can be a little biased, but they still do pass on knowledge. I particularly like those from the BBC, Discovery Channel and National Geographic Channel. 
3. Think and reflect. It is not enough to just read. You should consider the points raised by the author, think about it, and reflect on its merits. 
4. Discuss with others. Find opportunities to discuss and chat with others. People you know have their own repositories of knowledge which you can gain from too. 
5. Study. Take a course, learn something. One of my favourite ways to gain new knowledge is to take an online course from Coursera. Try it out. Its free, unless you want the certificate. 

SKILL

A skill is the ability to perform a task or activity repeatedly and consistently. It is often something you acquire through application or experience. Skills can be general (e.g. management skills, leadership, teamwork skills) or specific (e.g. coding, graphic design, finance). 

Skills upgrading has been a mantra of this country for as long as I can remember. And rightly so. Human resource is about the only resource we have. So unless we invest and develop this human capital, we will stagnate as a nation. This investment in skills is exemplified through various schemes such as Workforce Skills Qualifications (or WSQ) and more recently through SkillsFuture.  

While you can acquire knowledge through passive learning, skills can only be acquired through active application. You need to "get your hands dirty" and try it out, fail, then try again, until you get it. Its like riding a bicycle. If its the first time you are doing so, be prepared to fall, but get up and try again. Learning skills can only come from application, experimentation, and experience. 

How can you gain more skills?

Do projects. 

I like projects. They are great a learning ground. Projects are usually short-term, have a clear objective, and provide the opportunity to learn new skills. Projects also allow for failure as typically that is to be expected because some experimentation might be necessary. In the last 8 months, I've been quite fortunate that my superiors have given me challenging projects which allowed me to acquire skills I never thought of learning or could acquire at my age. In particular, skills in writing somewhat complex Excel formulas, something which had always alluded me. Doing projects have also sharpened my project management skills, which I find increasingly valuable as I get assigned to more complex tasks or projects. 

ATTITUDE

Attitude refers to your way of thinking. Your predisposition towards an idea, person or situation. Attitude is crucial as it defines how you face up to challenges, difficulties, risks and opportunities. 

People tend to forget that in the founding years of Singapore, we needed to "think out of the box" as we had practically no resources or wealth to speak of. In 1965, our per capita income was $500, the same as Ghana. Today we boast one of the highest per capita income in the world. How did we get here? Only by taking risks and being prepared to experiment, innovate, try out ways that others wouldn't. In the late 1960s when much of the world were pursuing import substitution as an economic policy, Singapore moved away from this and pursued export oriented policies. 

Singapore was prepared to change course when the reasons and rationale dictated. The two integrated resorts are prime examples of how long-standing policies against having casinos in Singapore is abandoned. Singapore is constantly looking at new ways to solve old problems. In our drive to be self-sufficient on water, we developed Newater (re-cycling water to make it drinkable). I'm confident in the next 50 years, we'll see more new innovations and solutions coming out of Singapore as it transits into a knowledge-based economy driven by creativity and innovation. 

As I transitioned into the corporate world, I had to change my outlook, thinking and ways of working. I've learned to listen more and talk less as in my current role I am required to work through multiple stakeholders across regions. I've learned to work with very limited resources and use interns as a "force multiplier" to drive my projects forward. I have developed a more global perspective and outlook in my analyses, learning how local cultures and nuances need to be accommodated for progress. I've also become a lot more flexible such that when rationale dictates, I am prepared to change course, even if it means some discomfort.

Take Stock of Your Achievements Today

As Singapore celebrates and takes stock of its achievements, it is a good reminder that as individuals, should also find some time to reflect on our achievements. 

Some ways you can take stock of your achievements. 

1. List down all the knowledge you have acquired over the years, both formal and informal.
2. List down the skills you think you posses, both general and specific skills. Rank those you think you are an expert in, those you are proficient in, and those you are generally weaker in. 
3. List down attitudes you have acquired over the years. For example, have you become more flexible as a person? Have you become more risk loving? What changed and why. In doing so, you will get a sense how your outlook have evolved, giving you some insights that may explain your achievements. 

Go ahead! Take stock of your achievements. You might surprise yourself to learn how far you have come. 

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Taking one little step at a time,
Aslam Sardar

6 Reason Hiring Managers Should Bet on Experienced and Out of Work PMETs

Recently, the main daily in Singapore, the  Straits Times  published an article (Highly Experienced and Out of Work by ST) about highly experienced, middle aged PMETs (Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians) out of work and unable to find a job.

The group most affected were the older PMETs, in their 40s and 50s. The re-entry rate of this group was 53% and more often than not, these PMETs were unable to reach the level in hierarchy or salary range they used to command.

Of the reasons provided, I find the one which says that these PMETs were "over qualified" to be intellectually complacent. Hiring managers should put more thought and consider issues such as risks, potential, costs, duration and evaluation period before writing off such candidates, which could be perceived as risky hires.

What is a "risky hire"?
A hire becomes risky when there is no way to be sure of his/her expected productivity. From this perspective, it becomes unsurprising to expect that hiring managers would typically go for "sure bets", hiring people with experience from their industry, and shun new hires with no relevant industry experience, especially if they are older and out of work PMETs.

But I think hiring managers are missing out significantly with such a risk averse approach to hiring. I would argue that hiring managers should take a risk, and bet on these older, experienced and out of work PMETs for the following reasons.

1. Maturity and Leadership

Older and experienced PMETs bring with them maturity and leadership, which younger professional may not have. Through their years of experience, they have in all likelihood gone through numerous challenges and honed their situational leadership abilities. In doing so, they provide a good ballast, which is always needed in a team. This becomes particularly important if the team has to implement a particularly challenging project or go through challenging times.

2. Good Work Ethic

Experienced and older PMETs bring with them good work ethic. In my interaction with older PMETs, I find them to be diligent, hard working, and committed to quality. In fact, because of their age and experience, they have a stronger tendency to be detailed oriented.

3. Broad Network of Contacts

Older PMETs would have, over the years, built a broad and wide network of contacts. These connections, even if they are from an industry unrelated to yours, can bring about "productive accidents" that might bring value to you.

4. Transferable Soft Skills

Unless your industry requires the use of industry specific experiences or accreditations, hiring managers should consider the transferable skills older PMETs can bring with them. Skills such as the ability to organise, project manage, communicate, and lead are vital in today's complex work environments. In fact, transferable soft skills become even more vital when the job requires a greater degree of cross-team coordination.

5. Determination to Succeed

Being out of work for some time, these experienced PMETs will be more determined to succeed and are likely to put in extra effort to do well. They would have gone through hard times, and if they have financial obligations to fulfil, are more likely to dig in and work hard to perform.

6. New Insights

Not coming from the same industry can be a bonus. Problems can be viewed in a different "lens", new perspectives can be tabled, bringing new solutions to old problems.

Go Ahead...Roll the Dice and Take the Bet

In finance parlance, older and experienced PMETs are "real options" with an upside potential. Go ahead and take the bet. You never know you may have a talent that just might produce some amazing results and performance for you. 

SHARE THIS POST with your Hiring Manager, friends or colleagues and drop a comment on your thoughts about taking a "bet" to hire experienced and out of work PMETs. 



Taking one little step at a time,
Aslam Sardar

4 Powerful Reminders from the SMRT Disruption

If you are from Singapore, then the recent SMRT disruption would be familiar news. In fact, the SMRT disruptions and the history of such disruptions have become so common place that it is fast becoming the norm. 

However, major disruptions of the magnitude that affected more than 250,000 commuters are more unusual, though not new. 

Back in 2011, two major disruptions occurred within a couple of days of each other, affecting tens of thousands of commuters, leading to a public inquiry. (Read the press release from the public inquiry). 

While complains such as "not well-managed", "no clear instructions" where to locate the free shuttle buses, were reported, I think overall, the situation was managed pretty well. If you notice the timeline of events, the free shuttle bus services were activated about an hour and a half after the first incident occurred, and probably after they realised this was going to be a system wide problem. 

7 Ways to Succeed as an Intern

I am a big fan of internships. I believe internship programs are an excellent opportunity for graduates to get a feel and sense of the working world. Further, it provides the chance to understand the culture of the company they wish to join. Over the years, I have come across many interns, seeking short-term employment opportunities to build a strong resume that they can use to look for a job when they graduate. 

Many of the interns I have come across were enthusiastic and eager to learn. They bring with them attitudes that not only make them a valued contributor to the organisation, but also a welcome member of the team they work with. 

I've been paying close attention to interns that are generally more valued by the team. I try to understand what makes them stand out. If you are an intern (or someone joining a new team or organisation), below are 7 winning ways you should adopt to be successful.

1. Willingness to Accept Tasks Assigned and Do It Better

The whole idea behind being an intern is to gain experience. Experience that you can confidently share with a future employer. What better way than to expose yourself to as many projects or tasks as possible? 

A willingness to accept tasks assigned not only conveys a positive impression to your superior, but more importantly, gives you exposure. Nothing is too small, boring or simple to do. If you are given a mundane task, find a way to do it efficiently or speedily. Recently, I assigned my intern a task to run some VLookup in Excel to match different worksheets. The data was pretty sizeable. Any ordinary intern would probably take this instruction and apply VLookup. Instead, this intern discovered that VLookup had a weakness and found a new way to match data. He Googled to learn the formula, and in no time, completed the task.  

Not only did he take on the task with enthusiasm, he came up with a better way to complete it and the team and organisation as a whole benefitted from the new approach. 

2. Willingness to Make Small Mistakes Fast

Everyone makes mistakes.

More often that not, if you are an intern (or new to the job), you will be forgiven for making small mistakes in the beginning. A small mistake is one where the impact to the completion of a task is low.  You still have time to rectify the mistake and take remedial action. 

Making small mistakes is beneficial because the cost you incur is not sizeable enough for you to be reprimanded, but the benefit you gain is a discovery of new information or new ways to complete the task. 

Go ahead. Make small mistakes fast, and early, in the task. But learn from them and don't repeat them. 

3. Having a Curious Mind

I enjoy working with interns that have a curious mind. They are the ones who ask questions, and always want to understand "why" things happen in a certain way. They don't simply accept what is given. Some even go the extra mile to do their own research to understand more. 

Internship is a great opportunity to broaden one's mind and exposure. But this benefit is only gained when you have a curious mind, and are willing to take the trouble to learn. 

Always engage your superiors and colleagues with questions. Ask "who", "what", "when", "where", "why", and "how" questions to learn. 

4. Being Mentally Agile

Globalisation, working with different cultures, and changing regulatory environments all mean today we work in a far more complex environment than before. Being in the supply chain industry, I see this complexity increasing as companies compete aggressively for market share and as technology increasingly become a competitive advantage. 

This means we face complex problems that require a mental agility to solve them. 

So what do I mean by Mental Agility?

Being mentally agile in a workplace means having the ability to connect ideas, link concepts, and be able to see the relationships between information sets, to draw a conclusion. It is not enough to just complete an assigned task. In today's world, one must have the ability to "connect the dots". 

How can you be mentally agile?

- Identify trends. Take a step back and see if you observe any trends. Write them down and consider what these trends are telling you. For example, if you are analysing data, create charts and graphs to get a visual sense of how the data is behaving. 

- Ask "what if" questions to play out different scenarios and options to solve a problem. "What if" questions are a safe and great way to think out of the box and come up with creative solutions. 

- Play the "devil's advocate". To play the devil's advocate is to come up with arguments against a generally acceptable position. The idea behind this is to test the arguments or propositions supporting a position so as to improve it. 

5. Being a Quick Learner

If you have not realised by now, our world has become smaller and is moving faster. I remember, while studying abroad, in my first year of university life, more than 2 decades ago, I used to write letters to my parents to keep in touch. Today, I can stay in touch through Facebook, and Watsapp. Email is too slow. This is an example of how our world has evolved and the speed is astounding. Being a quick learner can be advantageous. 

How do you become a quick learner? 

In school, my children have this program called the "learning journey". Its a program where the school brings you on an excursion (a journey) to impart knowledge (the learning). 

You can create your own "learning journey" in the form of a journal that records your daily learning. Break your learning journey into three parts: Knowledge, Skill, and Attitude. 

- Knowledge refers to information, data or content you have learned. For example, if you learned a new piece of information about your task, a new source of data, or a new concept, record this down. 

- Skill refers to the way of doing things. For example, if you found a new formula in Excel (Excel skills), a new way to craft an email reply (Communication skills), pen them down as new skills you have acquired. Write down what you have learned and how you can apply it in future. 

- Attitude refers to your beliefs, perceptions and response tendencies. For example, when you faced a setback, record how you reacted? Did you laugh it off? Did you feel a greater sense of determination to overcome the setback? How you react represents your attitude, and by recording them down, you gain a valuable insight to your triggers. In time, the more you learn about yourself, the more you will gain personal mastery over such triggers. 

6. Quietly Confident

Confidence is good. But quiet confidence is better. 

Why is this so? 

The problem with showing confidence is that it can be perceived wrongly by others as either arrogance, or over confidence, both of which are career limiting. But when you are quietly confident, what you are demonstrating is confidence with humility. Its a disposition of self-assurance not borne out of false confidence, but one backed by ability and positive attitude. 

Recently, I tasked an intern to build a fairly complex template in Excel. His Excel skills were not very strong. Average I would say. But he was quietly confident he could do it. Two days later, he showed me the first draft and I was impressed. With a little help, some brainstorming with me, he tweaked the template and after several iterations, we are now confident we have something to show management. 

I think what made him successful was his quiet confidence in his ability to solve problems. He is someone that will take the trouble to Google to find a solution, and when he was stuck, would reach out to ask for help. He regularly came back to me to ask questions, and was humble enough to take feedback onboard, some which required him to re-start all over. 

Go ahead and be confident. But at the same time, have the humility to ask and receive feedback. Even if the suggestion goes against what you think might be the right approach, sometimes it is better to take a step back, listen, and consider the message behind the feedback. 

7. Attention to Detail

Last but not least, an attention to detail is important. 

A person who shows an attention to detail conveys to others that he/she is a mindful person that is conscientious in his/her job. 

Why is this important? 

This is important because having someone like this on the team means your colleagues can trust you to get a job done and they don't have to worry about dealing with carelessness. Further, if you pay attention to details, you don't have to re-do your work. The opportunity cost of rework can sometimes be high for the organisation in terms of lost productivity. Worse at a personal level, you may have to stay back to re-do the task, eating into your personal time, which you can spend with your family. 

How can you pay attention to detail?

- Start slow, check frequently. Every time a portion or part of a task is complete, check for accuracy before continuing. In this way, if a mistake is made, you can remedy it immediately, and lower the cost of an error. 

- Create a step-by-step workflow to complete your task. Before starting the task, identify the steps. For example, if you are doing data entry work, organise your data into one single worksheet, label your worksheets / columns / rows appropriately so that you don't forget what they are meant for. 

- Be mindful. This is important. If you are performing a task that requires an attention to detail, remove as many distractions as possible so that you can concentrate and be mindful. Find a quiet spot to do your work. Do not respond to emails whenever you see the prompt that a new email is received. 


While I write this post as a reflection of how an intern can succeed, the ideas can also be applied to individuals who are joining a new team, entering the workforce, or joining a new organisation  

Go ahead! Try the 7 ways mentioned above and take that little step to be a valued contributor. 

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If you are an employer or if you work with interns, share this post with them and make a difference by helping them to succeed. 

If you are an intern, share this post with your friends who are also interns and let me know some of the winning ways you employed to succeed in your internship. 

Taking one little step at a time,
Aslam Sardar

Discover Good Luck!!

A few days ago, I was having a chat with a friend and we spoke about work, career change, and life in general. As we chatted, our conversation moved to the topic of LUCK!

He asked "why are some people so lucky?" 

I thought it was a good question to write about.

The Story of "Good Luck"

This is a picture of a book given to me by my former employer, as a parting gift. A simple-to-read book about luck. 

Its a story within a story of how 2 friends met after many years by chance. One had achieved great success while the other did not. The secret to success is told within a fable about a Magic Clover, with two knights vying to find it. The book is peppered with valuable gems about creating your own luck.  


Serendipity Is All Around

Everyone we meet, every conversation we enter into, every situation we face present a chance that could have a potential impact in our lives. 

Some years ago, a chance conversation at a BBQ dinner opened the door to training opportunities in South Asia, that became a multi-year engagement. A phone conversation that started out as nothing more than a casual remark proved the opening for me to switch careers. More recently, the types of projects I have been assigned led to the discovery of capabilities unknown to me and my superiors, opening doors to further new opportunities. 

On hindsight, I think a lot of the lucky breaks I experienced came about through such chance moments. I believe you can increase your propensity to be "lucky" in life if you apply some "lucky" lessons.

"Lucky" Lessons!!

1. Be Observant

Sometimes it pays to take a step back, observe, and seize the lucky breaks that come along. Keep your eyes open, pay attention and you will be surprised what you can find.

In a famous research by Richard Wiseman, a psychologist from the University of Hertfordshire and author of The Luck Factor, he asked 2 groups of people, one who said they were generally lucky and another generally unlucky, to count the number of photographs inside a newspaper. In the 2nd page of the newspaper was a huge message that said "Stop counting - There are 43 photographs in this newspaper". 

The lucky people spotted it and stopped counting when they saw this, but the unlucky people continued counting and on average took 2 minutes to complete the count. Somehow, despite the information staring in their face, the group that said they were generally unlucky either missed this or didn't quite trust this information enough to use it. Or perhaps they felt they should "stick to the rules" which was to count the number of photographs. 

When an opportunity presents itself, take a chance. Investigate it, understand it, and find a way you can leverage on it. And sometimes, a little faith can go a long way. 

2. Be Curious

Keep an open mind. Welcome new ideas that might not fit into your world view. Don't just accept wisdom from traditional sources you are comfortable with. Have the intellectual curiosity to learn from a variety of sources. 

The Power of "Why"
"Why" is my favourite question. Its a good way to get to the reasons behind a comment, suggestion or solution to understand the intricacies. Always ask "why" to gain better insights. 
  

3. Don't Wait - Create New Conditions 

Lucky people are prepared to take chances, try new things or explore new ideas. They create the conditions for good luck. 

Here are some ways I created conditions that worked for me that I hope will bring you luck:  

a. Take a new course of study. When you take a course, you get exposed to new ideas that can open new avenues. 

b. Help others. Rather than think only about yourself, see if you can be of help to others. They will remember you and in time, should they feel an opportunity might be useful to you, you will be top of mind. 

c.  Reach out to different people. In my second post, I wrote about reaching out to your networks. I'm a firm believer of the power of networking. Meet different people because through such meetings, an opportunity may arise. 

Luck Is In Your Hands

Sometimes, it takes a little bit of luck to successfully transit to a new career, new role, or a new opportunity. I hope with this post, you will see that you can create your own luck. 

Before I end, I'd like to share a video I stumbled upon. I won't say its a scientific experiment of any sort about luck, but I did enjoy it and I hope you do to.  

Derren Brown - The Experiments: The Secret of Luck (Full)

Good luck!!

Taking one little step at a time,
Aslam Sardar

Build Your Adversity Quotient

In Remembrance!

I wish to start this post with my personal note of condolences to all the families of the recent Sabah earthquake tragedy. As a parent, of primary school going children, I am particularly heart broken to read about the tragedy of the Tanjong Katong Primary School (TKPS) pupils and teachers. 

I used to organise corporate team building programs, some with adventure themes. I can attest that safety is always of upmost in the minds of organisers, and I believe every conceivable safety measure would have been taken by those organising such programs. 

I'm in no position to comment what the authorities or the school should do in light of this tragedy. It is an act of God that we really don't have control over.

Rather, I am in a position to share that it is through such programs that one will build one's Adversity Quotient (AQ), which can be useful during transitions and periods of change. 


So what is Adversity Quotient (AQ)?


Adversity Quotient (AQ) - The Muscle of Determination

Adversity Quotient refers to the ability one has in dealing with challenges, set-backs and difficulties. Its is premised on the idea that the higher your AQ, the greater will be your ability to deal with life's challenges. 

It adopts the C.O.R.E. dimensions that measures your response pattern towards difficulties. C.O.R.E. refers to:

• Control - determines resilience and tenacity

• Ownership - sense of accountability, responsibility and engagement

• Reach - impacts your perception of how the difficulty will affect your stress level

• Endurance - willingness and drive to persevere 

You can learn more about AQ here. 



Strengthening Your AQ...

Like muscles, I believe you can strengthen your Adversity Quotient (AQ). From my experiences having run many team building engagements for clients in the past, I have seen first hand how individuals who had doubts overcome them and develop determination and resilience they didn't realise was within them. 

Below are 3 thoughts I hope to share:

1. Take small steps

Strengthening AQ is like weight training. Start with light weights, but as you get stronger, put on incrementally heavier weights, and in no time, you will be surprising yourself with some real heavy lifts. 

When you face an obstacle, break down the challenge into small parts. Tackle them in small parts and as you overcome them you will find that you would have out performed yourself. 

2. Don't be afraid to try new things - Build Adaptability

Every time you try something new, you will invariably have to deal with setbacks and challenges. But the more you put yourself up to try something new, the more you will be used to uncertainty, discomfort, and difference.  In time, you will become more adaptable and respond well when change comes around. 

3. Re-frame your beliefs about yourself. 

Credit: The Death Crawl Scene from the movie "Facing the Giants". 

I've watched the "death crawl" scene (click on the link above) many times and every time it strengthens my believe that if we ever wish to achieve our dreams or goals, we must believe in ourselves and our abilities to achieve it. 

Re-frame the perceptions of your own limitations. Recall the achievements you have accumulated in the course of your career and life's journey. They tell a story of someone who can do more than what might be possible. Identify the emotions, motivations, drive and causes of your success. List them down and find the common themes behind them. These themes tell your story, and will be the compass you can follow towards your goals. 

Stay Strong

I end this post with a word of encouragement to Stay Strong in the face of adversity. And to the families of the Sabah earthquake victims, we grieve with you. 



Taking one little step at a time,
Aslam Sardar