Relationships and time passing.

Why was it almost a year since my last post?

 

Time passes slowly sometimes and faster during at other times.  However, as I mentioned in my last post (a year ago) that it felt like “Groundhog Day” and this put a bit of a damper in my spirits.  

I will talk more, as I write more posts now, about what I have been doing this last year, what I felt, and how it changed me.  It is important to realize that it isn’t only about me though.  It is about each of us finding our own direction in life and pursuing that with a passion. 

Passion is a double-edged sword.  It can take us to such extreme highs, allowing us to accomplish what we once felt was an impossible feat.  But, it also can allow us to experience the same type of lows.  The only difference is how long you let yourself stay there.  They say that the only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth of the hole.  I am happy to say, that I managed to only stay in the holes for a brief period of time.  Each time exploding higher and stronger.

My driving force this last year was accomplished through sports, in particular dragon boating.  It is the “native” sport here in Hong Kong, and those that practice it find a release like no other.  Through the time spent in the boat, focusing on moving the boat faster through the water with as much speed and efficiency as possible, I learned that it is so important to recognize the power of teamwork.  Twenty hearts pumping, twenty paddles pulling, and forty legs pushing the boat further and faster to victory. It is only through perfect coordination that a dragonboat will move quickly through the water.  And only then can you hope to achieve victory.

If you were paying attention to the dates, you will notice that I am still here in Hong Kong. Yes, I made it.  It was through relationships, and the dragonboat team that I found a job.  I am grateful to my teammate for seeing that I have the passion and spirit to give to his company what I give to the boat and am enjoying pushing my limits within this new field. It isn’t totally different than what I have done in the past, but it is enough that it keeps each day exciting.

A new year starts in only a week. I will have new goals, and a new season of paddling.  I will be regular with my posts and promise that you will learn something if you follow me.  After all, I just finished some great books that I want to tell you about.

It is never too late to become what you might have been — Eliot

 

Twenty Seconds of Courage

Sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage, twenty seconds of embarrassing bravery and I promise you something great will come of it.—We bought a zoo

I watched a great movie today with Matt Damon staring as a widowed father trying to reestablish his life after his wife passed away. In this movie was the above quote, which I find very inspirational.

Each day here in Hong Kong feels like “Groundhog Day”. In as much, as I do the same thing… look online for open positions, followup on positions I have applied for, talk to recruiters, and find an event to network at.

Hong Kong is a vibrant city driven by relationships. As big a city as it is, there are overlaps and new discoveries each day. I make it a point to try to get out and meet as many people as possible, even weighing two events for the most exposure to new people. Luckily last night, as I found one was cancelled, I moved seamlessly to the next event up the road and made some good connections.

Forming relationships is important in Hong Kong, and I participate in as many events as possible. Many times, I see the same people at multiple events. This is good because they then see me as well. We get to know each other better and maybe they may know someone that needs my skillset.

Where this will lead and how it will develope… I don’t know. But I do know one thing.

That it takes that twenty seconds of courage to put me in front of the right person to make a difference in whether I find a position, or I don’t.

Wishing you a Happy Chinese New Year!

What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

Each day I wake up and think what can I do today to get me closer to securing a job in Hong Kong. I am using mind mapping software to track my thoughts and progress. I feel that the graphical representation of my to-do list is much more effective than a simple list.

So each day, I strive to move forward. I think of only one step on each of my items that will get me closer to my goal. If it is an easy step, then I add another.

Each time I am always thinking, “failure is not an option”. I am committed to making Hong Kong a home and will see this through.

Tonight I took a chance and attended an event that was held at a chamber of commerce and was told it was only for those 28 years old and younger. At least I tried.

Then a quick regroup to attend an event called “Bankers Nite”. I met 5 people in a row without w job, looking here in HK just like me. At least I tried.

I will succeed and will accomplish this!

At the first part of this week a friend reminded me of the story of Nelson Mandela, which of course brought up the poem “Invictus”. I think the most important lines are the ones at the end.

What do you think? What drives you forward? Please share your quotes.

I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Exploring the limits

It may seem like i am changing subjects when i tell you that i am now in Hong Kong, but China is a fabulous place and I will bring it up more often. I will tell you stories of my discoveries and what a genuine learning experience it was.

But I am now in Hong Kong exploring the limits again. I moved to Hong Kong three weeks ago with a plan to find employment. In the past three weeks I have found a place to live on Hong Kong Island, met many Recruiters and attended almost any networking event I could find.

From conversations at coffee shops I have found an excellent networking list of the weekly meeting here in HK, met other Recruiters, and discovered that there is much to do here.

Last night I did something that can only be unique to Hong Kong. I took a five minute subway ride to Quarry Bay MTR and in another 10 minutes of walking I was climbing a mountain. It was a full moon with a light mist in the air. The city lights was bouncing off the mist and it was possible to hike without needing a torch (that’s Brit for flashlight). The goal was a 400m peak called Mount Butler. The hike lasted about 1:40 and covered 5K, up, down, up again, and then down 700 steps in the wet mist. I felt afraid sometimes when I truly couldn’t see the trail because of the mist, but also knew that if I took my time and focused I could find the path. It was my first night hike and I am hooked.

I am still searching for a job, still meeting people everyday, and seeking to get “no” from at least 5 people a day. Only by seeking the NO will I find the YES!

Memorable quotes inspire me to excel, to push myself, to find what my limits are and then push them further. This is the quote that I am thinking about this week.

Where do you start?

By starting a blog about “running from safety”, I think that it is most important to define what I am trying to accomplish.

Let me give you a brief history on me.

I grew up in Dallas, TX, in roughly the same neighborhood that my parents grew up.  I attended the same high school as my parents, and have always lived within an hours drive of them.  My sister has 4 wonderful children and a fantastic husband and only a 10 minute drive from where I used to live.

All of my friends, my work, my life has pretty much revolved around Dallas, and then I moved….

…to China!

So this blog is about exploring boundaries of things that you
thought you could never do, about ways to do things differently
than most people think.

Nothing is out of bounds.  I plan to talk about health, technology, sports, language, books, relationships, and life.

Above all I believe this:

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways – Chardonnay in one hand – chocolate in the other – body thoroughly used up – totally worn out and screaming “whoo hoo what a ride!”