Richard Yong

A Return (The Internet Never Switches Off)

The internet just doesn't turn off... everything you write, do, take pictures of, or tag becomes a permanent imprint, even if you don't want it to.

I haven't written here in over two years, but that doesn't stop both my LinkedIn page and my personal blog rising to the top of the google searches for 'Richard Yong.'

It's a double edged sword being the most popular Richard Yong in the world (feel free to email me if you think this should be your title).

The upside is that this is my personal brand. I should make the most of it.

The downside is not making the most of it! I've given up a great opportunity for capturing my learnings form the last two years. What a waste!

I've done a lot of thinking and doing in the last two years, including failures like failing to make never working again a reality, successes like finding a passion and being valued for my work, failures like being unable to keep my discipline for fitness, but also successes like building a great panel of advisers who help me with things I'm not so good at.

Highlights in the last two years include:

• Purchasing my first home with a back yard for my dogs
• Presenting to CEOs and their teams in Tokyo and Beijing
• Working as Acting Group Internal Auditor at Allianz Australia and having the opportunity to lead, shape and change a team of eight, and learning from some of the toughest and most impressive leaders I've ever seen
• Being hired as the Senior Risk and Compliance Manager, Technology for BT Financial Group at the end of 2010

Over time I'm going to share the learnings I've had and how both trying different things and a spot of luck have helped me have the best last couple of years yet. I still have steep hills to climb, and miles to go before I sleep.

I'll finish with one book I've loved the title of, 'What got you here, won't get you there,' I think it's a great thought. Just because you succeed today doesn't mean you'll succeed tomorrow with the same set of skills, so if you continue learning and changing you will always adapt to new challenges.

It's written by Marshall Goldsmith

 

You've got to find what you love.

Here are a few if's worth thinking about.

• If you were going to die in 15 years. Would you do anything different? What about 50?

• If you had a dream, are you still dreaming?

• If you  were going to be remarkable, what would you do?

• If you had the resources and the time to do anything... what would it be?

• If you could be a good person, who would you be?

• If you didn't have to please your parents/wife/children/friends/golf buddies, what would you do?

The power isn't in the if. It's in the question of the when.

I've got one more piece of advice from Steve.

Almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

Flickr credit: Voetmann

SMS and Mobile Calls. Kinda like Alcoholism.

There was a key message about my $50 a year mobile bill.

I had two bad habits that became normalised behaviour.

1. I called back any missed calls and made calls while walking between meetings or doing things I didn't need to concentrate on.

2. Replied by sms to any messages received, instantaneously.

The mobile phone companies thrive on because everyone thinks it's normal. Normal doesn't make it right. Or valuable.

The reality of communication is that almost nothing is required instantaneously. The world doesn't fall over because Bill in Accounts Receivable wanted to find out if you had the invoice for the taxi trip in your left pocket. Or your boss wants that budget sent to him ASAP.

So how do we stop normal but pointless expensive behaviour?

Habit change using filters.

Filters are quick rules to live by. Here are my filters for choosing to make a call from my mobile, and not when I reach a land line or PC.

• Can I personally do anything about it right at this very second? No? Then there is nothing to worry about.
• Even if a catastrophe has happened, could I do anything, or is it just more (useless) information?

The most powerful single change though was this question, if I'm using a mobile right now, and I've let myself be interrupted, is what I'm doing even that important? If it isn't important, why the heck am I wasting my attention, energy and ability.

These two filters mean that I don't react to missed information anymore. 99% of calls are made from home. I've had to fight the itch when I'm delayed 10 minutes by the pizza man to call my wife, because either way I'm late and if I make the mobile call, nothing changes (except i might as well have thrown some coins in the bin).

Mobile phones (and any bad habit) reminds me of the Alcoholics Anonymous Serenity Prayer.

God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change,
courage to change the things we can,
and wisdom to know the difference

Flickr cred: Kian Esquire