Continuous improvement

I was taking a class in Master of Technology in Digital Leadership at the National University of Singapore (NUS) today, the professor gave a prediction of the future and a picture of technology ten years from now. This leads me to reflect on the future of work. How work is going to change and how should we better prepare ourselves to avoid being redundant? What will be the impact on society and should we worry about the advance of technology, like artificial intelligence?

It is critical to work toward the goals of being a better leader. It's not about money, strategy, or technology; teamwork, which is both powerful and rare, remains the ultimate competitive advantage. With our leadership skills, we could get everyone in our organization rowing in the same direction, and we could conquer any industry, market, or competitor. --- This is a chapter of my book: The Dilemmas of Life: How to overcome the dilemmas and live a better life Get a full copy now on Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FHXLD4G

Because our society strives for efficiency and economy, you have the opportunity to read about my essay. As our country's productivity improves, we will be able to devote more time to our hobbies. Otherwise, instead of enjoying the luxury of writing this essay, you would spend most of your time hunting and farming to provide food for survival. --- This is a chapter of my book: The Dilemmas of Life: How to overcome the dilemmas and live a better life Get a full copy now on Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FHXLD4G

Imagine being in North Korea, and how sceptical would you be of what you witness every day? Is the Kim family's rule the most powerful god on the planet? Is South Korea a bad place due to America's evil? Is it possible that people will be grateful for this dictatorship? --- This is a chapter of my book: The Dilemmas of Life: How to overcome the dilemmas and live a better life Get a full copy now on Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FHXLD4G

Curiosity awakens our mind, and being inquisitive; I want to learn and understand more. I am a curious person who enjoys learning new things. There is a huge world out there, and it is evolving all the time; if I didn’t keep pace with the change, I’d be obsolete. As a result, it's critical to pique my interest in what is conceivable instead of what I believe and see in the news every day. I need to be aware of how often my intuition is incorrect. --- This is a chapter of my book: The Dilemmas of Life: How to overcome the dilemmas and live a better life Get a full copy now on Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FHXLD4G

For my university enrolment, I faced the dilemma of whether to take academic or practical studies. I believed that a university should not be a vocational training institution when I was a teenager. To suppose that I should learn to absorb education rather than prepare for a job was a bit idealistic. As a result, I chose not to major in practical areas like accounting. --- This is a chapter of my book: The Dilemmas of Life: How to overcome the dilemmas and live a better life Get a full copy now on Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FHXLD4G

Learning new things is my hobby. There are numerous methods for learning, including reading, listening, and doing. I may study books and learn from industry professionals by visiting libraries regularly. Although some of the authors are no longer alive, I may still benefit from their historical perspectives. There are only limited things I can see and feel on my own, and the insights I gain from others are meaningful enough that I can learn from them. I may also study certain skills and topic knowledge at my own pace by reading practical books. Reading newspapers and periodicals can also help us comprehend our worlds better. --- This is a chapter of my book: The Dilemmas of Life: How to overcome the dilemmas and live a better life Get a full copy now on Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FHXLD4G

Travelling entails a great deal of uncertainty and chance. Despite my flight being delayed in Helsinki, Finland, and suffering from a stressful presentation due to jet lag, the journey was worthwhile because I gained a lot for my profession in management skills outside of the classroom. The tour was jam-packed with thought-provoking and educational talks on themes such as Germany's macroeconomics, European Unions, hidden champions, industry 4.0, and artificial intelligence. Our visits to Wattx, a deep tech business, and the Daimler AG factory, where BMW automobiles are produced, enlightened me. The most important personal takeaway from the trip to Germany is that it is antifragile. Germany's past was once fragile during World War II, but the country' current wealth is antifragile. --- This is a chapter of my book: The Dilemmas of Life: How to overcome the dilemmas and live a better life Get a full copy now on Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FHXLD4G

In retrospect, my trip to Chile was fantastic. Although flying over 30 hours from Hong Kong and dealing with jet lag was difficult, the adventure was worthwhile, and I learned a lot outside of the classroom. The tour was full of intelligent and educational discussions; I learned a lot about the startup ecosystem, B-corporations, and the entrepreneurial spirit. --- This is a chapter of my book: The Dilemmas of Life: How to overcome the dilemmas and live a better life Get a full copy now on Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FHXLD4G

My ambition is to go all over the world! Yep, this is a touch too ambitious. One of the essential lessons I learned in software engineering was how to deal with complexity. We could achieve something meaningful step by step by breaking down the large challenge into smaller, manageable pieces. Travelling to Vietnam is one of those simple weekend getaways that do not need annual vacation days. --- This is a chapter of my book: The Dilemmas of Life: How to overcome the dilemmas and live a better life Get a full copy now on Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FHXLD4G

Aluum-dabbed! This is how Koreans say "lovely." Koreans use this expression to describe the beautiful scenery of Busan, Gyeongju, and Jinhae, especially in the spring, when the cherry blossoms are in bloom. Who doesn't enjoy travelling? Korea is one of those undiscovered nations where most visitors travel no further than Seoul. In the meanwhile, everyone has their priorities and travel preferences. And you're all familiar with me, right? I enjoy spontaneous travel because it allows me to get away from my regularly scheduled job life. It's a lot more exciting and hard to put yourself in a situation where you don't know the way, speak the language, and have internet connectivity on your iPhone. I dare to step outside of my comfort zone and face a new challenge. --- This is a chapter of my book: The Dilemmas of Life: How to overcome the dilemmas and live a better life Get a full copy now on Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FHXLD4G

The situation is complex. I'm in love with you because you are special. In the meantime, hate is a strong word, but I don't like you at all. I was born in Hong Kong many years ago. I was one child out of a population of seven million in a metropolis of only 1104 square kilometres. We were completely in love, but it ended in a bitter fight. There are several things about Hong Kong that I used to adore. Here, I explain why we complicate things so much. Hong Kong and I have a love-hate relationship: --- This is a chapter of my book: The Dilemmas of Life: How to overcome the dilemmas and live a better life Get a full copy now on Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FHXLD4G

Which is better, Sydney or Melbourne? This decision is yours. There is a traditional petty rivalry between the two cities. It's like comparing apples to oranges, in my opinion. Melbourne became the apple of my eye when I finally arrived. Sydney, I apologize for the choice. In July, the narrative begins. Even though it was a rainy and windy weekend, nothing could keep me from paying a visit to my best buddy in Melbourne. I don't have any plans for this trip, as with most others; I just show up and do what I want. The nicknames a location has earned may always tell you about its personality — the world's most livable city, for example. It's impossible to see everything Melbourne has to offer in a single visit, and I don't recommend attempting it. Following is a sampling of the highlights from this article in no particular sequence. These are some amusing facts I uncovered about this place if you don't know anything else about it: --- This is a chapter of my book: The Dilemmas of Life: How to overcome the dilemmas and live a better life Get a full copy now on Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FHXLD4G

If you just have a few days in Sydney, what should you do? No worries; with my advice and supervision, you'll be able to learn the greatest aspects of this dynamic city in just three days. During the long Easter weekend, I visited Sydney. There are 855 things to do in Sydney, according to TripAdvisor! Imagine being surrounded by travel destinations, abundant shops, and crowds of people. It is a location that will undoubtedly raise your heart rate. You'd like to see everything Sydney has to offer, but you don't have the time. The good news is that you may do it in just three days and not miss anything crucial. Here's how to do it: --- This is a chapter of my book: The Dilemmas of Life: How to overcome the dilemmas and live a better life Get a full copy now on Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FHXLD4G

Brisbane is a great place to visit. People are friendly. Beautiful surroundings. For price-conscious travellers, it is also less expensive than Sydney and Melbourne. I've visited Brisbane twice and stayed for a total of 18 months. Brisbane is, without a doubt, the best destination to visit. When I make new acquaintances, I always advise them to visit Brisbane. Brisbane is Australia's most amazing, hippest metropolis and a rising star by the travel bible Lonely Planet. Don't miss out on such a fantastic location! Brisbane, in my opinion, is worth seeing at least once in a lifetime. And I'll explain why. --- This is a chapter of my book: The Dilemmas of Life: How to overcome the dilemmas and live a better life Get a full copy now on Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FHXLD4G

Social interactions drain my energy as an introvert. I was exhausted and surrounded by friends the last time I attended a farewell party. Before the event began, the organizer requested that everyone bring food to share. I purchased a French baguette roll and alcoholic beverages such as vodka and tonic, Kenmore whiskey, and ginger ale. I bought this western style of food because I wanted to be different from others. But, at the end of the day, the bread roll and alcoholic beverages were left untouched. I was not sure if I should be ashamed of my purchases and take them personally. I should know the culture; we live in a Chinese culture country like Hong Kong.  People prefer Chinese food to the western style of dining. --- This is a chapter of my book: The Dilemmas of Life: How to overcome the dilemmas and live a better life Get a full copy now on Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FHXLD4G

I offered to go on stage at a Toastmasters meeting at the Sheraton Tower to challenge myself in Impromptu Speaking. The Table Topics Master chose a topic for me at random, and I had two minutes to speak about it. This type of communication entails speaking spontaneously and without preparation. About 50 individuals were staring in front of me. A timer in front of me was timing my speech. I started by posing a question. "Let's see how many of you think you're a leader, ladies and gentlemen." If you are a leader, please raise your hand." About half of the audience raised their hands. --- This is a chapter of my book: The Dilemmas of Life: How to overcome the dilemmas and live a better life Get a full copy now on Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FHXLD4G

When I was in a leadership training course, the lecturer asked us to consider how we could better our community in light of the present covid19 problems. It might be anything from urging folks to keep their distance in social situations to wearing masks and exercising more frequently. He encouraged individuals to get up and express their opinions after five minutes of silence, during which everyone thought about the subject separately. As a result, there was complete silence. There was no one willing to volunteer. We tried to avoid making eye contact with the instructor by looking away. After several failed attempts to obtain a speaker, the instructor finally gave up and began the debriefing of the session. It was a moment of self-reflection that the students in the class were attending a leadership training course, but no one chose to speak up and lead. When asked why they didn't speak up, some stated they were afraid of misinterpreting the presentation topic, some said they didn't know what to say, and others indicated they were bashful. It was an opportunity to take a stand, speak up, and put my leadership talents to the test. Still, I didn't seek out the instructor to clarify the topic because I was too isolated; I didn't fully utilize all of the available resources, such as books, because I was too remote. I didn't put theory into practice when it came to leadership. Ironically, we aspire to be leaders but are hesitant to lead. --- This is a chapter of my book: The Dilemmas of Life: How to overcome the dilemmas and live a better life Get a full copy now on Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FHXLD4G

I am often too quiet to speak up in front of strangers when I am sitting in front of them. During company meetings with senior management and various stakeholders, many coworkers dial into the virtual call. The director would frequently ask everyone if they had any questions by the end of the meeting. The majority of the time, everyone falls silent. Even in a physically friendly gathering, the situation will not improve, as the boss will dominate the conversation, telling us all of his anecdotes without anybody daring to interrupt him. As a leader, I sometimes have to speak up rather than remain silent, but words are difficult to come by. If a government official said something that displeased the Emperor in ancient China, customarily, the Emperor immediately ordered the guards to execute him, as well as his family. As a result, we must exercise caution when speaking inside a social hierarchy and respect authority. This mentality is unsuitable for a startup since feedback is necessary to assist top management in making the best decisions. I won't be a better leader around strangers if I'm too quiet and nice. --- This is a chapter of my book: The Dilemmas of Life: How to overcome the dilemmas and live a better life Get a full copy now on Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FHXLD4G

I was surrounded by strangers the last time I went to a networking event in a hotel as a guest, and I didn't know anyone there. Some people appeared to know one another and continued to chat, while others stood around playing with their phones. My intention in attending the event was to meet new people and extend my social circle. Instead of attempting to approach people, I sat in the corner, distant and quiet. A couple sat next to me later, and I felt both excited and relaxed. Perhaps I should introduce myself and strike up a conversation with them. But, because I didn't know what to say, I remained silent, thinking about initiating the conversation. The longer I stayed quiet, the more difficult it was to start the engine of networking, and the longer I waited, the more anxious and socially awkward I became. Time seemed to have slowed to a halt. --- This is a chapter of my book: The Dilemmas of Life: How to overcome the dilemmas and live a better life Get a full copy now on Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FHXLD4G