Goodbye 2018, Hello 2019
As we approach the end of another year, we reflect on memories made, personal milestones attained and the challenges that we have faced – some we have overcome, others may have left their marks on us. Regardless, every new year brings renewed hope as we welcome with anticipation all that the upcoming year has in store. A fresh start. A chance to start all over again, and be even better.
Many have asked me how I have managed to achieve so much in such a short period of time. The short answer is ‘years of failure, experience and wisdom’.
My success did not come overnight. It took decades of trial and error, and couple of hard knocks for me.
I believe in staying hungry. My definition of hunger is a system where your energy is spent in the right way so that you will keep growing that capacity to store even more energy. In my journey of life, this means to do something, reap its rewards and then go do it some more. In the world of finance, you start with an amount of money, use it wisely, and look for more money in order to keep the chain going. Life is a cycle – keep on refilling.
In the past year, there have been challenges, in both my professional and personal lives. I am sure it is the same for all of you. What kept me going was pure focus, grit and determination.
I’ve emerged stronger, and I’d like to share my success manifestos with you. A reminder to start on the right track for 2019.
Stay Hungry
The journey to real world success lies in failing and bouncing back better each time, staying hungry and bringing out the disruptor in you. Adapt to changing landscapes. Find new and better ways to do old things. My mind never stops working. When ideas strike, even in the wee hours of the morning, I get up, jot them down and get to them early next day!
Be a Hunter
Choose your own adventure, train your mind, see setbacks as pit stops to re-evaluate your options, find equilibrium in life and chase your quarry with passion and persistence. Be a hunter. I believe that in life, you either hunt, or be hunted.
Own Your Freedom
Many times, people tell themselves that yes, I want to do something with my life! They decide that they want to win back their lives, chase their dreams and not someone else’s. But oftentimes, no matter how convinced you are that it’s time to make a change, you’re also scared to make that leap. You have responsibilities, a family to feed, bills to pay… you don’t have the freedom to just quit the safety of your job and go out and forge a new path. Right? But remember that freedom is but a perception of the mind. You were born free, so smash through the fears in your mind and own your freedom!
Master Your Mind
Mindset mastery is the concept that propelled me in this journey to success. The problem with having commandeered language, however, is that it’s a two-edged sword. On one hand, it allows us to learn from history and shape our future positively. It encompasses the words you say out loud, and more crucially, the voices in your head that no one but you can hear. It shapes our lives, our decisions, our actions. That means that on the flip side, language can also be our greatest enemy – it speaks for the naysayers in our heads. Use language as your superpower, train your mindset to switch off the negative and stay in the positive.
Debunk the Myths
We have language, and then we have something much more deep-seated beliefs. Beliefs based in fact are usually useful and can help us grow while keeping us safe, while others may be based in myth, thus preventing us from advancing. Debunk the myths and harness the facts – you can’t afford to let false beliefs hold you back, or the world will leave you in the dust. Play smart. Evolve with the times.
Own Your Uniqueness
Don’t sell yourself short. Take the bull by the horns and unleash your potential. We live in a time that is being upended by innovation. Take advantage of your uniqueness. There is a place for everyone in the world. Find that place, and make it work. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to conform!
Hack Your Life
Find your purpose and don’t let yourself be distracted from your quest. Begin with getting into the right crowds, nurture relationships sincerely and let them help you flourish. In my case, it was this group of ex-classmates who gave me moral support and contributed simply by being my role models. From the who’s who in the business world to ministers and even top brass in the military, all of them have been successful in life and this motivated me. I wanted to be even more successful, to repay their support by excelling in my own life. More importantly, I was backed by a community of people who cared, and I was enriched as a result. They gave me the motivation to keep on going on.
Don’t Settle to Please
Dismiss the trolls and shut out the haters. Negotiating with negativity will get you nowhere. Instead, focus on what you want to achieve. Set your mind on your end goals. Never settle for being average just so you can please people who don’t matter.
Own Your Talents
Find what you do well and do it loud and proud. Everyone has their own talents. Push yourself that bit more each day. With each milestone, repay those who groomed and encouraged you along the way. No man is an island and gratitude begets blessings.
Pay it Forward
It’s important to realise that no man is an island. You can’t be successful without that community behind you, supporting you, cheering for you. I tried to do it on my own and failed. If you are still trying to prove that you don’t need help, that you can achieve success on your own, no matter what your goals are, forget it. If what you are pursuing is something great, it will be a long and arduous journey, with many ups and downs. So nurture your inner circle, and let them support you in return. Your inner circle is made up of those you love the most, your family, loved ones, your children, and good friends. With the right values ingrained in you, of giving back, of paying forward, you will have forged the foundation on which you can build success upon. Perpetuate the cycle; what goes around comes around. Pay it forward, give as you receive.
So there you have it, my 10 success manifestos. Each of them is a distillation of my own experiences, personal insights and lessons learnt. I hope to share more of my personal stories with you in the year to come.
It is never too late to start on your personal journey to success.
In 2019, I wish you good health, strength, abundant opportunities, and much success with endless joy, fun and laughter. To quote Sir Richard Branson, ‘Have fun and the money will come.’
Kenneth Kam