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

Be Demanding

I just watched Valery Gergiev, a wild eyed Russian conductor, take three talented young conductors through a masterclass. The difference between Gergiev and his young charges was immediate and distinct. Gergiev was demanding. He expects the orchestra to perform as demanded, and conducts without reserve.

Being demanding isn't about being arrogant, it is about expecting the best in people, expecting to receive what you ask for and having the gumption to ask for it.

There are a few habits that help with being demanding

1. Just ask. I recently bought a laptop using a 25% off staff discount. When I called up to make my purchase, I just asked politely, can you take any more off? The operator paused, then whispered conspiratorially through the phone, 'would 40% off suit you, Mr. Yong?' That suited me fine.

I was the only person at my old high school to hug the Prime Minister when he visited (he smells like old man, and was shorter than he looked on t.v.) I just asked him, and the point is, it never hurts to ask, people will continue to surprise.

2. Don't take no for an answer. The initial reaction to doing something that isn't in the rule book is no. Humans like to err on the side of caution. Being wild feels uncomfortable. Don't take no for an answer. ever. It took 9 years of government bodies, councils, experts and just about every dog and his bone to say no to Paul Cave before he got his one yes.

People now pay Paul to climb the Harbour Bridge.

3. Do first, apologise later. Okay I took this one from the Four Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss, instead of facing a no in the first place... just do it and worry about the no later, it will save you time and energy, and lets you skip point 2.

Be demanding.

Flickr photo courtesy of lewishamdreamer

Some things are not important.

My desktop has a background with these five simple words.

When life or work becomes habit, as it often does, we do things without thinking, robotically. The problem with robots is that they don't change, grow or ever get better. Every day we do thousands of little things that just aren't that important, as a result of habit or lack of thinking.

The corollary to realising that some things are not important, is that a lot of things that are important, and demand our attention and time, however if we let the small stuff in life get in the way (a late train, a grumpy client, a job title, 'the rules,' 'the way '), we lose focus on the important. Be focused on whatever is important, otherwise you are selling yourself short.

Are you doing something important, or is it just passing the time?

When the world is a blur of activity, noise and fury, sometimes, it's actually just running on the spot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

Photo credit - unknown, from flickr please let me know!

Hello World

It's always hard to start new things. To write a first sentence, make a first call or create a new habit.

For some reason, maybe fear, it's the first step that seems the hardest. Even with the best intentions and the best ideas, making the first move is the one most people never make.

I'm not most people.

Welcome to my personal website. I want to share insights and my personal journey across some subjects close to my heart. They all revolve around one simple powerful idea:

• Live the life you want and be happy

Some of the topics i'll explore include entrepreneurship, belief systems, society, change, money, personal branding, simplicity, conscious living and some radical life 'hacks' you can use everyday to start finding a better way to live, and a happiness that society seems to have mistaken for pace, prestige, power, pleasure and pay.

Enjoy your stay (hit the about link for more about me)

Richard