by mohammadalamin584@gmail.com | Aug 3, 2024 | #ICAN stories
Growing up in Marine Parade in the 80s, East Coast Park (ECP) has always held a special place in my heart.
Every evening, my caretaker (an elderly neighbour in his 60s), would bring me to ECP for his daily walk.
It was the highlight of my day, as I listened to his fascinating life stories as a sailor, husband, and father.
To this day, ECP’s nostalgia brings me back to my childhood on every visit.
Last Sunday evening, I was back at the ECP.
I sat on a bench looking out at the sea the same way I used to.
Recalling those beautiful memories I shared with my caretaker as a kid.
Not knowing, an elderly man came and sat beside me on the bench.
After 10 mins, he caught my glance at him,
“ah, beautiful, isn’t it? What do you do?”
I explained I left my corporate career to start my coaching practice Positive Minds last year.
“Why did you do that?”, he asked, looking puzzled.
Feeling compelled to justify my answer, I replied
“I want to help people who feel small and wish they could (achieve more), because that was me.”
โYouโre crazy!โ he laughed.
The old man went on,
โBut crazy is good. When you are my age, you donโt care what others think(of you). What you care about are the things you did not doโ. he said with a smile as if he was reflecting on his life.
โGo on, make stories that you can tell your grandchildren about.โ he added, which sets me thinking.
What is my story?
How would I want my story to be told?
Often, we are overwhelmed by our daily juggle between work, family and other commitments.
Not knowing, we are drafting each page of our life stories every day.
As authors of our lives, we decide how our story unfolds.
This may sound crazy.
But if I could help others start a fresh chapter in their stories, I would be glad with the decisions and sacrifices I made.
Then, my new chapter as a coach would be a story that’s worth sharing.
The old man smiled as he looked at me in the eye.
I smiled and we parted ways without another word.
That old man is ๐ฎ๐บ elderly future self.
What about you?
I’d love to hear your story. DM me or share in comment. ๐
PS: This ‘elder self’ is a self-reflection exercise as part of my Coaching development with Positive Intelligence (PQ). We are to visualize what we could discover from the wiser/elder version of ourselves.
by mohammadalamin584@gmail.com | Aug 3, 2024 | #ICAN stories
My inbox received a few pleasant surprises over the past weeks.
These were DMs from former peers in my corporate days.
Some of whom I have not been in contact with for 10 years.
They were more than a note of โhello, well doneโ.
They were heartwarming reminders of โwhat ifs.โ
Last October, I was confident my corporate experience as a client strategist would give me a good start as a solopreneur.
Years of developing business strategies and Marketing plans would prepare me for possible headwinds.
When I was hit by a force least expected, I didnโt know what struck me.
Suddenly, the path ahead seemed more daunting than I had ever anticipated.
This force would soon become a familiar visitor in the coming months.
It was that voice that questioned my ability and doubted my creditability.
An experience also known as imposter syndrome.
๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ง๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฅ.
It struck me twice, when I started coaching and when I had to put myself โout thereโ.
It struck the 3rd time when a new challenge surfaced recently.
๐๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐จ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ฒ?
While I confronted and overcame my challenges on the first 2 occasions, I chickened out this time.
Reflecting on my decision, I realized what if I hadnโt jumped over my first 2 hurdles?
This 3rd challenge would not be possible.
Yet I was sure I was confronted by mountains when faced with those 2 early challenges.
So what turned my mountains into hurdles?
Mindset.ย What we chose to see.
๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ฅ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐๐ ๐ข๐ญ.
Today, I am celebrating imposter syndrome as a sign of courage.
For scaling new grounds and pursuing things I deeply care about.
I want to embrace my initial anxiety as fuel to keep pushing forward.
This is my invitation to you:
โ๏ธThink about the times you felt like an imposter.
โ๏ธWrite down what you learned and how it helped you grow.
โ๏ธShare it with someone you trust and encourage them to do the same.
Letโs recognize imposter syndrome as a show of courage.
Not a sign of weakness.
Itโs the sensation you experience ONLY when you challenge yourself beyond your current limits.
I made a promise I would not chicken out again.
I am ready to jump my next hurdle.
How did you overcome yours? ๐
by mohammadalamin584@gmail.com | Aug 3, 2024 | #ICAN stories
As I approach my final year in my 40s, I took a mini-sabbatical this week – my first overseas solo vacation to recharge and reflect on my first half of 2024.
During my time alone, I reflected on the 10 most important insights I have gained that have shaped my journey since starting a new path last year.
It also reminded me of the many wonderful individuals I have met on this path for whom I am thankful.
I want to share my reflection with you as a reminder of what you can find when you seek with an open mind.
๐.๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ก ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐๐๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ญ.
โณMeasure perfection by what it costs instead of what it offers.
๐. ๐๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐.
โณBe the best friend with that person in the mirror.
๐. ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐๐ฌ๐งโ๐ญ ๐๐ฅ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐.
โณCelebrate your new beliefs, confidence, knowledge and connections!
๐. ๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ, ๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ก ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฃ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฒ.
โณFocus on what you can control and celebrate growth even when results donโt measure up to your efforts (yet).
๐. ๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ๐งโ๐ญ ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐.
โณBut there is a time for everything. Give yourself and the situation space.
๐. ๐๐จ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ โ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง = ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ
โณThe only way forward is by taking action, not by thinking.
๐. ๐๐จ๐งโ๐ญ ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ญ๐จ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ซ๐จ๐ฐ.
โณWhat happens tomorrow doesnโt matter today. Start today.
๐. ๐๐ง๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐.
โณIf you donโt trust YOU, no one else will.
๐. ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ .
โณAccept sometimes the best solution doesnโt involve you.
๐๐. ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ณ๐๐ง, ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐จ.
โณYou can never win alone. Build your tribe and remember those who showed up for you.
Do you relate to any of these reflections?
Share in comment how it has helped your progress in 2024.
I’d love to hear about your journey. ๐
by mohammadalamin584@gmail.com | Aug 3, 2024 | #ICAN stories
Today marks my 50th consecutive post since I became โactiveโ on LinkedIn.
50 posts may not sound like a big deal.
Yet, writing todayโs post fills me with satisfaction.
Life has a unique way of teaching us.ย โจ
You see, 50 posts ago, I felt I had nothing valuable to contribute on this platform. I was an introvert embarrassed by his writing.
Stepping out from 25 years of corporate life, expressing myself on a public platform and showing up consistently was more difficult than I had anticipated.
But I made a commitment.
That Iโll do the hard work to stop the pain.
50 consecutive posts later, it is still difficult to craft a purposeful post on some days. And that’s ok.
Along the way, I learned that โฆ
๐๐% ๐จ๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐-๐๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐๐
โ None of the criticism and trolling that I anticipated happened!
โ Fear holds a grip on you only when you allow it.
๐๐ก๐จ๐ฐ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ #๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ
โ I fought hard on days when I felt โIโm just not good for thisโ.
โ Progress is what youโll find when giving up is not an option.
hashtag#๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ข๐๐
โ I learned new skills in content creation, storytelling, and entrepreneurial mindset from engaging with other people.
โ You can, if you choose to.
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐๐.
โ The tribe is real! New connections who have shared their time, knowledge and experience so generously to wish me well.
โ Finding your tribe makes a big difference.
๐๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐จ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ
โ That I can contribute in my unique way.
โ We deprive others and ourselves by keeping silent.
What I did over the past 6 months has transformed my resistance into a unique voice on LinkedIn.
๐๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ?
An unexpected DM from a stranger.ย ๐
If you are reading this, thank you, @J.
You were the first person to reach out because of my content and not my job title.
Your message in February pushed me to pursue what I didnโt trust I was capable of. Without it, I may not have made it to #50.
I hope this post shows you can do it too.ย ๐
We get better by doing the work that we have been avoiding.
Itโs our choice.ย ๐
by mohammadalamin584@gmail.com | Aug 3, 2024 | #ICAN stories
When I started coaching last October, my goal was to bring others’ #ICAN stories to life.
This is X’s story … (shared with client’s consent)
X was a shy executive whom I used to mentor.
When we reconnected last November, I saw his pride when he told me he was the founder of a boutique Marketing agency.
As a business owner, he felt the constant pressure of โneeding to have all the answersโ.
He was exhausted from carrying the expectations alone.
He wanted to regain his confidence to lead his business into its next growth phase.
X became my first client that day.
Over the course of our 6 sessions, X and I partnered to:
โย Rebuild his confidence as a leader
โย Challenge and reframe his existing beliefs
๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฉ๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐๐๐+ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค, we began by uncovering the impact of his narratives on his decisions and actions.
๐ ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐:
1. His confidence in:
โย his ability to scale the business
โย his teamโs quality of work and capability
2. His perception of his agency:
โย not favoured by big clients
โย overshadowed by bigger competitors
๐๐ก๐๐ฌ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐-๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ค ๐๐ฒ:
โย examining the basis of his assumptions.
โย realizing how they have affected his confidence
โย understanding the reasons for his negative biases
โย realizing how that has influenced his leadership style
โย recognizing how that led to his tendencies to play small
๐๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐ฐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐-๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก:
โย the confidence to strategize and delegate
โย the clarity to optimize their unique propositions
====
It wasnโt a smooth journey.
Doubts and the pull of comfort zone hit him hard along the way.
Each time, X was committed to overcoming his obstacles to finish what he started.
Today, X has transformed from an exhausted business owner to the confident leader he aspires to be. For himself and his team.
I am proud to be part of his journey and bring his new chapter to life.
As Oprah Winfrey once said,
โWhatever your goal, you can get there if youโre willing to work hardโ
I believe WE CAN, when we choose to.๐
Donโt let ourselves tell us otherwise.
by mohammadalamin584@gmail.com | Aug 3, 2024 | #ICAN stories
The universe has a unique way of sending us messages.
This time last year, I received a message that I wasnโt expecting.
The work I invested 7 years building no longer requires me.
So when my job left me, I dived straight into searching for my next purpose and identity.
I spent weeks scouring job postings on LinkedIn to find my answers.
When I studied each impressive job description, I felt numb inside.
Each time I asked myself,
if today is my last, would I be happy doing any of those listed tasks?
By last September, I began to understand the universeโs message.
I was looking for a different answer.
At 48, it was not a decision I took lightly.
That was me finding the courage to walk away from what could be my last chance at an ideal corporate role.
I didnโt know what my future holds.
But I knew it would not be about me.
With a leap of faith, I left my comfort nest to restart from ground zero.
I made a promise this new chapter will transcend my personal story.
It will be about helping others find fulfilment and become their best selves.
This vision led to Positive Minds, my coaching practice dedicated to bringing othersโ stories to life.
In this new chapter, I want to be a Growth Mindset Coach.
I will dedicate my time to helping others find their hashtag#ICAN and thrive with confidence and courage.
hashtag#ICAN is the power of trusting ourselves.
It represents our ability to overcome challenges and thrive.
When we truly believe in our potential to grow and succeed.
Even when our world doubts us.
The same mentality that pulled me from the grasp of being labelled a โno hoperโ at 15, to overcoming many โmountainsโ in my career and personal life in more ways than I had hoped for.
Today, I am proud to invite you into the home of Positive Minds.
This is more than just a digital storefront.
It is โฆ
โ who I am and what I stand for.
โ my extended hand to join me in embracing the spirit of hashtag#ICAN.
โย my open invitation to those by the sidelines, to step into their power and rewrite their own stories
This took 7 months in the making.
The most difficult part wasnโt the technicality.
It was overcoming myself to rediscover who I am meant to be.
I choose to believe every message has a reason.
Our power is in the choices we make. ๐
