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2021

  • 3 min read

The Ideal Future

I aspire to be an exceptional leader in my ideal future. Serving the community not only brings immense fulfillment but also requires ongoing learning to navigate a demanding environment.

Leadership is never simple, yet it is achievable. It involves skillfully navigating politics, bridging gaps between individuals and departments, addressing sensitive issues, and exhibiting courage in risky situations. Leaders must inspire commitment, handle resistance effectively, and show up confidently in critical moments.

In this post, I discuss various roles within organizations—leaders, managers, team members, employees, superiors, and subordinates. All of these roles share one thing: they are performed by humans with different thoughts, behaviors, attitudes, and working styles, often shaped by corporate culture.

Although I have yet to reach the level of a corporate leader, I strive to demonstrate leadership qualities and earn the respect of my colleagues. In any organization, CEOs and board members set the policies and are considered the true leaders.

A key distinction between leaders and managers is that leaders have followers, while managers have employees. A successful business owner or CEO must be both a leader and a manager to guide their team toward success. Leadership involves inspiring others to buy into your vision and collaborate on common goals, whereas management focuses on the administrative side of ensuring smooth daily operations.

Leader vs Manager

Leader

  • Focuses on people
  • Does the right things
  • Inspires
  • Influences
  • Motivates
  • Builds
  • Shapes entities
  • Creates shared values
  • Sets direction

Manager

  • Focuses on tasks
  • Does things right
  • Plans
  • Organizes
  • Directs
  • Controls
  • Follows rules
  • Assigns tasks
  • Delegates responsibilities

While the roles are distinct, a successful manager also embodies numerous leadership qualities. I believe that my leadership skills can enhance my career as a manager, benefiting both my company and myself.

My Leadership Qualities

My leadership qualities include Vision, Communication, Empowerment, and Role Modeling. A leader should have a visionary perspective, inspiring others to aim high. Leaders like Nelson Mandela and Steve Jobs, who I greatly admire, have exhibited this visionary power. They were able to challenge the status quo and bring about significant changes in society and industry.

Communication

Effective communication involves more than just speaking well; it also means connecting meaningfully through various channels like face-to-face interaction, emails, and social media. Each channel requires a unique approach, but the content and structure of the message are what truly make the difference.

Empowerment

Empowerment in the workplace is increasingly becoming the norm. It involves delegation, authorization, and information sharing. However, self-empowerment is equally crucial for achieving efficiency in day-to-day life.

Role Model

A role model leads by example, exhibiting high standards of responsibility and integrity. Role models are self-aware, empathetic, and open to new ideas. They empower others by first empowering themselves.

As a new manager, I recognize that I have much to learn and that making mistakes is part of the process. I'm committed to continuous improvement and aim to positively impact society and inspire others to make the world a better place.

My journey involves developing my communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal, and building strong relationships with my team. Learning to be an effective leader is an ongoing process that requires active participation, not just passive learning. Taking on real-life challenges and practicing leadership in low-risk situations is essential for growth.

In summary, my ideal future involves being an honorable and effective leader who contributes positively to the world. I admire many great leaders in history who may not have excelled in every area but had specific strengths that allowed their teams to achieve remarkable results. Like them, I aim to make the most of my strengths to create a better future for everyone.

  • in zh
  • 1 min read

理想的未來

在我理想的未來，我渴望成為一位卓越的領導者。為社區服務不僅帶來巨大的滿足感，也需要持續學習以應對嚴峻的環境。

領導絕非易事，但卻可以實現。它涉及巧妙地導航政治，彌補個人和部門之間的差距，解決敏感問題，並在風險情況中展現勇氣。領導者必須激發承諾，有效處理阻力，並在關鍵時刻自信地出現。

在這篇文章中，我討論了組織內的各種角色 - 領導者，經理，團隊成員，員工，上級和下屬。所有這些角色都有一個共同點：他們是由擁有不同思想，行為，態度和工作風格的人執行的，這些人往往由公司文化塑造。

儘管我還未達到企業領導者的水平，但我努力展示領導品質並贏得同事的尊重。在任何組織中，首席執行官和董事會成員都會制定政策，並被視為真正的領導者。

領導者與經理的一個關鍵區別是領導者有追隨者，而經理有員工。成功的企業主或首席執行官必須是領導者和經理，以引導他們的團隊走向成功。領導包括激勵他人買入您的願景並合作實現共同的目標，而管理則專注於確保日常運營順利。

領導者vs經理

領導者

  • 專注於人
  • 做對的事
  • 激勵
  • 影響
  • 激勵
  • 建設
  • 塑造實體
  • 創建共享價值觀
  • 設定方向

經理

  • 專注於任務
  • 做事對
  • 計劃
  • 組織
  • 指導
  • 控制
  • 遵守規則
  • 分配任務
  • 委派責任

儘管角色明確，但成功的經理也體現了眾多領導素質。我相信我的領導技能可以提升我的經理職業生涯，對我和我的公司都有利。

我的領導素質

我的領導素質包括願景，溝通，賦權和角色塑造。一個領導者應有前瞻性的觀點，激勵他人設定高目標。像我非常敬佩的奈爾遜·曼德拉和史蒂夫·賈伯斯這樣的領導者就展示了這種有遠見的力量。他們能挑戰現狀，並在社會和行業中帶來重大變革。

溝通

有效的溝通不僅僅是說話能力強，還意味著需要通過面對面交互，電子郵件和社交媒體等多種渠道進行有意義的連接。每個頻道都需要獨特的方法，但信息的內容和結構才是真正產生差別的地方。

賦權

工作場所中的賦權越來越成為常態。它涉及委派，授權，和信息共享。然而，自我賦權同樣對於實現日常生活的效率至關重要。

角色模型

一個角色模型以身作則，表現出高度的責任心和誠信。角色模型具有自我意識，有同情心，並對新想法持開放態度。他們通過首先賦予自己權力來賦權他人。

作為一個新的經理，我認識到我還有很多要學習，並且犯錯是過程的一部分。我致力於持續改進並旨在積極影響社會，激勵他人使世界變得更美好。

我的旅程涉及到發展我的溝通技巧，無論是口語還是非語言，並與我的團隊建立堅固的關係。學習成為一個有效的領導者是一個需要主動參與的持續過程，而不僅僅是被動學習。在低風險的情況下承擔真實生活的挑戰並練習領導是促進成長的必要條件。

總的來說，我理想的未來包括成為一個光榮和有效的領導者，對世界作出積極的貢獻。我敬佩歷史上許多偉大的領導者，他們可能並不擅長每個領域，但有特定的優勢讓他們的團隊能夠取得驚人的成果。就像他們一樣，我也希望充分利用我的優勢為所有人創造更好的未來。

  • 2 min read

Swipe Left or Swipe Right? A Journey Through Dating and Maturity

Are you single or perhaps in a complicated marital status? Finding love can be a daunting task, whether you're single or "available."

I'm no stranger to dating apps like Tinder, Coffee Meets Bagel, OkCupid, and Hinge. Let me break down how they work: you swipe left to reject a profile and swipe right to connect. Most of the time, conversations end before they even begin, leaving me with untold stories.

On the education section of my dating profile, I mention my three university degrees, each tied to a story. It's not a big deal—just three stories, really.

First, there's my bachelor's degree in Chemistry from the Faculty of Science.

In high school, I was a dreamer engaged in student union activities while my then-girlfriend was a realist focused on academic excellence. We had divergent ambitions. After high school, we went to separate universities; I studied Chemistry, while she enrolled in business school. During a summer holiday, she broke up with me, criticizing my lack of ambition for our future. "Come on, Victor, can you be more mature?" she chided before walking away.

My second degree is a master's in Computer Science.

My first girlfriend was right. I ended up in a low-paying lab job and later went on a working holiday to Australia. Upon my return, I shifted careers to software engineering. To bridge the gap between my academic background and my new career, I pursued a master's degree in computer science. During this period, I met another girlfriend on a dating app. An extrovert, she earned more than I did and found me too controlling, which led to our breakup. "Come on, Victor, can you be more mature?" she said as she left.

Finally, there's my MBA.

Determined for a career change, I started an MBA program, stepping out of my comfort zone to network, which, yes, included drinking. During this time, I dated a Korean woman whose age I never quite determined. She left me for not being mature enough for her taste. "Come on, Victor, can you be more mature?" she advised before exiting my life.

So here I am, back on dating apps but with more self-awareness. I used to be a dreamer; now, I'm pragmatic. I used to be introverted; now, I've overcome my shyness to share this story with you. I used to be immature in relationships; now, I strive to be a responsible adult.

So, would you swipe left or right on me?

  • in zh
  • 1 min read

向左滑或向右滑？一段通過約會與成熟的旅程

你是單身，還是處於一種複雜的婚姻狀態？找尋愛情可以是一項艱鉅的任務，無論你是單身還是“有空”。

我對約會應用程式例如Tinder、Coffee Meets Bagel、OkCupid 和 Hinge並不陌生。讓我來解釋它們是如何運作的: 你可以向左滑動以拒絕一個個人資料，向右滑動以建立連接。大部分的時候，對話在還未開始之前就已經結束了，讓我有許多未講述的故事。

在我的約會個人資料的教育部分，我提到了我的三個大學學位，每個都與一個故事相關。這沒什麼大不了的——只是三個故事而已。

首先，有我的化學學士學位，來自科學學院。

在高中的時候，我是一個夢想家參與學生會活動，而當時的女友是一個現實者專注於學業。我們的志向有所不同。高中畢業後，我們去了不同的大學；我讀的是化學，而她入讀了商學院。在一個暑假，她和我分手，批評我對我們未來的抱負不夠。"Victor，你能不能成熟一點?" 她在走開之前責備我。

我第二個學位是在電腦科學的碩士學位。

我的第一個女朋友是對的。我最終在一個待遇低落的實驗室工作，後來去澳洲做了一個工作假期。返回香港後，我轉行到軟件工程。為了彌補我在學術背景和新的職業之間的差距，我攻讀了電腦科學的碩士學位。在這段時間，我在約會應用程式上認識了另一個女朋友。她是一個外向的人，賺的比我多，並且覺得我太控制欲，這導致了我們的分手。"Victor，你能不能成熟一點?" 她在離開時說。

最後，有我的MBA學位。

為了求職場轉變，我開始進修MBA課程，跳出我的舒適圈去建立人脈，包括參與飲酒的活動。在這段時間，我和一個我從未確定她的年齡的韓國女人交往。她因為覺得我不夠成熟而離我而去。"Victor，你能不能成熟一點?" 她在離開我生活之前對我說。

所以我現在又回到了約會應用程式，但我更自覺了。我以前是個夢想家; 現在，我是實事求是的。我以前是個內向的人; 現在，我克服了我的害羞，和你分享這個故事。我在感情方面曾經不成熟; 現在，我努力成為一個負責任的成年人。

那麼，你會在我身上往左滑還是往右滑呢？

  • 2 min read

The Qualities I Admire in Leadership - Steve Jobs and Lee Kuan Yew

If I could invite anyone in the world to dinner, Steve Jobs and Lee Kuan Yew would be my top choices. While it's another matter whether they would accept my invitation, I greatly admire the quality of leadership they embody.

Steve Jobs was one of the most successful entrepreneurs of our time. His story is inspiring because he co-founded Apple, overcame numerous challenges, and disrupted entire industries with inventions like the iPhone. Jobs was a compelling leader who inspired millions globally to purchase Apple products. His exceptional presentation skills made even complex technology seem accessible. By dropping out of college to follow his interests, like calligraphy, he influenced the design of the first Macintosh computer. Jobs was unafraid to make major life decisions based on his own convictions. This led him to start Pixar, another highly successful venture. His work was remarkable because he followed his passions and had a clear vision for the future.

Another leader I deeply admire is Lee Kuan Yew, whose stewardship dramatically improved the quality of life in Singapore. Despite facing numerous challenges initially, he took responsibility for the well-being of his citizens. Lee's vision for Singapore has stood the test of time, elevating the standard of living for generations. A motivational speaker, he won people's admiration by dedicating his life to the betterment of his country. Lee demonstrated strong leadership qualities, leading with charisma and unwavering determination even amid uncertainty.

His role was pivotal in Singapore gaining independence and in successfully combating various crises and dark forces that threatened the nation. Faced with life-or-death scenarios, Lee showed extraordinary courage and instinct. His adept political skills enabled him to challenge the communist party of his era and build trust and credibility during crises.

I aspire to embody the attributes of these two great men to contribute positively to the world.

  • in zh
  • 1 min read

我欽佩的領導品質 - 史蒂夫·賈伯斯和李光耀

如果我能邀請全世界任何一個人來家裡吃飯，我最想邀請的人就是史蒂夫·賈伯斯和李光耀。雖然他們是否會接受我的邀請是另一回事，但我非常欽佩他們所體現的領導品質。

史蒂夫·賈伯斯是我們這個時代最成功的企業家之一。他的故事很激勵人心，因為他是蘋果公司的共同創辦人，克服了許多挑戰，並且用發明像iPhone這樣的產品顛覆了整個行業。賈伯斯是一位引人注目的領導者，他激勵全球數百萬人購買蘋果產品。他出色的演示技巧使得即使是複雜的科技也變得容易接近。他曾經放棄大學，追隨自己的興趣，比如書法，影響了第一台Macintosh電腦的設計。賈伯斯不怕根據自己的信念做出重大的人生決定。這讓他創辦了皮克斯，另一個非常成功的企業。他的工作令人驚嘆，因為他追隨自己的激情並對未來有清晰的願景。

我深深欽佩的另一位領導者是李光耀。他的領導大大提高了新加坡人民的生活品質。儘管一開始面臨著很多挑戰，他仍然為自己的公民的福祉負責。李的關於新加坡的願景經得起時間的考驗，提高了幾代人的生活水平。他是一位激勵人心的演講者，他以貢獻自己的一生來改善國家的狀況，贏得了人們的欽佩。李的領導品質十分出色，充滿魅力，即便在不確定性中，他也以堅定的決心進行領導。

他在新加坡獲得獨立，以及成功對抗各種威脅國家的危機和邪惡力量中起著關鍵的作用。面對生死存亡的情況，李顯示出了非凡的勇氣和本能。他精湛的政治技巧使他能夠挑戰他時代的共產黨，並在危機中建立信任和信譽。

我期望自己能夠體現這兩位偉大的人的這些特質，以對這個世界做出積極的貢獻。

  • 2 min read

My Vision for Future Family Life

After expending all my energy at work, I envision my family as a sanctuary where I can recharge. On weekends, I plan to spend quality time with my partner—engaging in activities we both enjoy, learning something new, traveling, or embarking on unique experiences that create lasting memories. During these moments, we would be free from the distractions of phones and work deadlines, allowing us to be fully present both physically and mentally.

Such memories will stay with us for a lifetime, making it worthwhile to work hard and earn money to sustain our family. Living with a soulmate who supports each other's goals will bring a shared sense of purpose to our lives.

Raising children requires more than just financial support; it also entails nurturing them to become better individuals. This includes imparting valuable qualities such as kindness. The world can be a challenging place, and it would be irresponsible to bring a new generation into existence only for them to experience suffering. If I failed to lead a fulfilling life and share it with my children, they would likely resent me for bringing them into this world.

Therefore, I remain optimistic, believing that life, despite its hardships, contains beauty and significance. While my children will undoubtedly face many challenges, I intend to teach them to maintain a positive outlook and focus on the brighter aspects of life.

This philosophy guides me in ensuring that my family leads a happy and fulfilling life. I am committed to devoting my energy not just to my work but also to raising my children properly. A family is a social unit, and it's my responsibility to educate and prepare my children to be responsible citizens. In our family unit, relationships should be harmonious and respectful.

  • in zh
  • 1 min read

我的未來家庭生活願景

在工作中耗盡所有精力後，我會把家庭看作是我可以充電的聖堂。週末，我打算與我的伴侶度過高質量的時光——參與我們都喜歡的活動，學習新事物，旅行，或展開創造持久回憶的獨特經歷。在這些時刻，我們將完全擺脫手機和工作期限的干擾，使我們能在身心上都全然出席。

這樣的回憶將伴我們一生，使我們努力工作並賺錢以維持我們的家庭成為值得的事情。與一位支持彼此目標的知已共同生活，將為我們的生活帶來共享的生命目標。

養育孩子不僅需要金錢上的支持，也包括培育他們成為更好的個體。這包括賦予他們珍貴的品質，如善良。這個世界可能是一個充滿挑戰的地方，只為他們經歷苦難而生下新一代是不負責任的。如果我不能過上充實的生活並與我的孩子們分享，他們可能會對我把他們帶進這個世界感到怨恨。

因此，我保持樂觀，相信生活儘管艱辛，仍然包含美麗和意義。雖然我的孩子們無疑將面臨許多挑戰，但我打算教導他們保持積極的看法，並專注於生活的光明面。

這種哲學導引我確保我的家庭過上快樂而充實的生活。我致力於將我的精力不僅投入到我的工作中，還要正確地撫養我的孩子。家庭是一個社會單位，我有責任教育並準備我的孩子成為負責任的公民。在我們的家庭單位中，人際關係應該是和諧和尊重的。

  • 2 min read

On My Future Career in Management

My future professional path lies in management. Over the next six months, I aspire to become an effective manager—one who looks after the team, offers support, and takes responsibility for outcomes.

In my experience, I've encountered a fair share of poor managers: those who blame their subordinates, raise their voices so the entire floor can hear, and reprimand employees with baseless accusations in the middle of the night. I once had a manager who only interacted with her favorite long-term team members, rarely engaging with newcomers. Such managers may be able to complete tasks, but their ascent to higher positions often results in poor leadership. This made me question, "Can this style of management ever be effective in a leadership role?"

Within the next two years, I aim to lead a larger team and community. Many people desire leadership roles solely for the power, seeking to control others and serve their own interests. Individuals with such motives shouldn't remain in their positions for long. Sadly, no democratic system can fully eliminate this kind of bureaucracy, which often leads to corruption and the disintegration of the entire group. We should all aim to be servant leaders, understanding that our authority comes from the people, is exercised for the people, and is accountable to the people. We are nothing without those we lead, and it is our mission to improve everyone's lives and help them achieve their goals.

Five years from now, I hope to serve as a director, making an even greater contribution to society. By leveraging my knowledge, experience, and data analysis skills, I aim to make optimal decisions for our team—decisions that will put our collective efforts to good use rather than wasting them. It would be frustrating to see a team work hard only to head in the wrong direction. It's important to accomplish something that goes beyond individual aspirations, creating a culture where employees genuinely enjoy coming to work and aren't bogged down by toxic office politics.

I've come to realize that the potential for making a positive impact on a community, one that benefits everyone involved, holds greater significance in our lives than achieving personal career milestones.

  • in zh
  • 1 min read

關於我未來的管理職業生涯

我的未來專業之路在管理領域中。在接下來的六個月裡，我希望成為一名高效的經理——一名關心團隊、提供支援並對結果負責的經理。

在我的經驗中，我遇過一些不良的經理：他們指責下屬，大聲叱責，讓整個樓層都能聽到，甚至在深夜用毫無根據的指控訓斥員工。我曾經有一個經理，她只和她最喜歡的長期團隊成員互動，很少參與新來者。這樣的經理可能會完成任務，但他們晉升到更高職位往往導致領導力不佳。這使我產生了疑問，“這種管理風格能在領導角色中有效嗎?”

在接下來的兩年裡，我的目標是領導一個更大的團隊和社區。許多人只是因為權力而渴望擔任領導角色，希望控制他人，服務他們自己的利益。有這種動機的人不應該長期在他們的位置上。遺憾的是，沒有任何一種民主制度可以完全消除這種官僚主義，這往往導致腐敗和整個團體的解體。我們都應該成為僕人型的領導者，理解我們的權力來自人民，為人民行使，並對人民負責。沒有我們領導的人，我們就一無所有，我們的使命就是改善每個人的生活，幫助他們實現自己的目標。

五年後，我希望擔任總監，對社會做出更大的貢獻。通過利用我的知識、經驗和數據分析技能，我希望能為我們的團隊做出最佳的決定——這些決定將使我們的共同努力發揮作用，而不是浪費它們。看到一個團隊辛苦工作，卻朝著錯誤的方向前進，將令人非常沮喪。重要的是要完成一些超越個人渴望的事情，創造一種讓員工真正享受來上班，而不會被有害的辦公室政治壓得喘不過氣來的文化。

我已經認識到，對一個社區產生正面影響，使所有參與者受益，這種可能性在我們的生活中比實現個人職業里程碑的意義更大。