Most of what we try, fails. And these failures aren't visible.
Successes, on the hand, are highly visible. In the age of social media, even more so.
And society demands that the image that we portray is that of success.
When you apply for a position, you are rarely asked about your failures. If they do ask, you are taught, even somewhat expected, to answer in a way that flips the answer into one about success.
When you introduce yourself, you don't tell people about the number of times you've started unsuccessful businesses or the number of unsuccessful job applications you've made.
When you screen a potential business partner, you don't ask about their prior failed ventures either. It seems almost rude to do so.
And yet, so many of these stories of failures contain such valuable lessons. And there are so many more of them.
Success stories can be inspirational, of course. But the real learning is in the stories of failures.
We really need to create spaces that are safe to tell these stories, so that more people can learn from them.
We All Need Support and Teams of People Behind Us and Beside Us
The most celebrated names of today did not get there on their own.
Sure, they are likely good at something, but they can't possibly be good at everything.
They have teams of people supporting them and what they do.
Where would an Olympic athlete be without his/her coach?
Where would a world leader be without his/her support, logistics, and information supply teams?
Where would Bill, Jeff, and Mark be without their design, marketing, and sales teams?
Going it alone may sound heroic, but it's needless suffering.
And should you somehow succeed, whom are you going to share your joy with?
To My Pioneer Group of Students from Chung Cheng High (Main)
A decade has passed since first we were introduced in a smallish but, thankfully, air-conditioned room on the 2nd floor of the new(er) study block in CCHMS.
You were new to life in Secondary School and I was new to the world of training.
A number of you knew (or came to know later) that Chung Cheng High (Main) was my Secondary School. As such, I was elated to have been offered an opportunity to give something back to my alma mater. I am glad that you were the ones I could render this service to.
There were times of boring instruction, times of necessary discipline and times of intense focus. Above all, there were times of fun and sessions of learning.
Though some of you have professed to me in recent years that you had forgotten almost everything I had taught you in the DNA Hub, there were also moments that you remembered. I hope that they will always have a place in your memory.
In the past weeks, many of you have graduated from University - my heartiest Congratulations to you! - and had arranged for photoshoots in your now-alma mater. Clearly, CCHMS is dear to you. I hope that she will always be, as she is to me.
We no longer share a teacher-student relationship and I will not be presumptuous enough to assume that we are now friends, though I have at least one colleague amongst you and fairly regular correspondence with others. For that, I am thankful.
Wherever life takes you from this moment on, know that you can always count on your family and friends to support you. Though there will be down times, never feel embarrassed to reach out for help. And, of course, when times are good, share your joys with others.
To reach your goals, be resilient and always remember that a situation may fail, but that does not make you a failure. Look up and carry on. That is how success is made.
If you are able to, find a mentor, perhaps even different ones for different aspects of your life. It is true that information is readily available at your fingertips today. Nevertheless, it can never substitute real-life experience that your mentor(s) can bring.
You may not know it, but I learned from you, perhaps more than I ever taught you in return. In that vein, realise that you are an influence to the people around you and that you have an impact on them. Strive to be a positive one.
I wish you the brightest of futures, the richest of experiences and the deepest of relationships. May you discover your path early, may you find favour with those with whom you interact and may your future endeavours leave a legacy that will swell your heart when you look back upon what you've accomplished.
Here's to your journey ahead and the many adventures you will embark upon! Oh, what adventures they will be.
