Morning from Dubai - the winter is getting really beautiful here! Hi friends, I hope you are well. I have been well, adjusting to this new quest here in Dubai - looking for the next work opportunities that better fit. Which brought me to some reflection. In the last two days, I was asked about what success looks like (by two admirable Serbian ladies in fact.. funny how that goes) Over the summer, I listened to Cal Newport’s podcast where he breaks down 5 common social types of success we see...
14 days ago • 3 min read
This week has been rough. Job hunting feels like watching paint dry. Progress crawling at a snail's pace. But something saved my soul. I opened Kahlil Gibran's "The Prophet" Thanks Rainbow for giving me this 3 years ago! "You are good when you walk to your goal firmly with bold steps, yet you are not evil when you go thither limping, even those who limp go not backward. But you who are strong and swift see that you do not limp before the lame, deeming it kindness." It struck me like...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hello friends, hope everything is well. I am doing okay. I've been late in my writing because of some interesting life updates, and now I am back. This episode is about dating scene here, and some thoughts on marriage. First, a nice full moon shot from Dubai. I’ve been hitting Dubai meetups and dating apps lately. Met some interesting people. Everyone’s got the same complaint: “People keep ghosting.” So I started introducing myself differently: “My name is Kasper, like Casper the Ghost, but...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Two years ago, at Emergence Foundation retreat near London, I had a moment that struck me to the core. Sitting around the circle sharing about our culture The facilitator of a session asked about culture: “Who are your people, and what do you value?” Being the youngest among a group of social entrepreneurs and activists from 40-60 years old, I was surprised to find myself sharing something deeply personal. I shared something every Vietnamese student learns from Ho Chi Minh (“Uncle Ho” as we...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hello everyone, Happy September, Hope you are well wherever you are. Here in Dubai is getting slightly less hot. Hot BUT the sunset is super nice though Speaking of hot topic, have something to share today. -- You know how growth mindset people like us often say, "Everything has something for you to learn from?" I thought about that nice-sounding quote, and it turns out to be not what most of us think. Here's a bit of a story. -- I used to work with somebody who was so driven by his goals...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
photo from 2 weekend ago in Promtep Cape - what a beautiful sight Last weekend I almost put my phone away for almost two days. I was present for a human connection instead of work. You know that feeling when you’re fully engaged? When your nervous system is actually processing real connection instead of the constant ping of notifications? That’s what I had. — Why does it matter? Because work is important. Earlier last week, I read this piece by a Buddhist teacher, Ken McLeod, about right...
2 months ago • 2 min read
Yesterday I went for a walk with a colleague. Smart, strong work ethics Asian lady. The kind any team would fight for. She’s looking at opportunities in other departments. But she’s carrying this weight. “I feel terrible,” she said. “My team invested so much in me. They’ve been good to me. How can I even think about leaving?” I’ve watched this play out dozens of times in my years working with people. Good people staying in situations that don’t serve them because they’ve confused loyalty with...
3 months ago • 1 min read
I try to make people talk about feeling at work, and here is what I am learning… (cringe warning) — As the People & Culture role, I’m the guy who is trying to create more appreciation culture at work. Among a bunch of people (mostly highly intelligent men) who don’t express their good feelings. Things like “When you responded to my travel crisis at 11pm, I feel so cared for. “When you spent so much time walking me through the entire database on day 1, I feel so supported. (caveat: this is not...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Hello friends, hope you are well. Work is good and challenging and rewarding. I've been enjoying going for walks on the sunset with colleague to do deep chats on work & life. A lot of conversation happened here that I thought of sharing. View like this everyday WHILE WORKING .. I'm grateful -- A colleague just got promoted. Confident guy. In a new, stable relationship. Spend weekend with his serious golf hobby. “Happy, no?”, I teased. “Yeah, it’s nice… and “ I can notice some consideration on...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Hello from Phuket. Can't resist some wings :-) Had a chat with a colleague yesterday who is wrestling with some doubt about his performance. As trader, he makes bets on whether certain moves will profit. Essentially, it's educated gambling. He wanted to feel more confident. So I asked him what a confident person would think, say, and feel. He said "They'd know what they think is right. They'd be sure of themselves." I waited, and asked: "So a confident person knows they're always right?" He...
3 months ago • 2 min read