Author: Oliver Foo
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“What You Say When You Listen”
Tom Friedman is a political commentator, journalist and 3-time Pulitzer Prize winning author. I like reading/listening to him – he has a way with words and his analysis is equal to most tasks. Interviewed recently about the current state of affairs in the world, he was asked about the most important skill for a journalist.…
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“Of life, leadership and bridges.”
I recently ticked off a bucket list item – visiting the Demilitarized Zone that separates North and South Korea. The guided tour brought us to a bridge spanning a beautiful gorge near the DMZ. I love bridges. I especially love it when I get to walk across one. 👉 The outdoor junkie in me appreciates…
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“Managing Change … and Loss”
Mid-2006: 3 weeks after my first child was born, I had to bring an important client to our Paris HQ. 3 days into the trip, my mother-in-law passed away. Between the joy of a new-born and the sorrow of her mom’s departure – simultaneously “managing the bookends of life” as an ex-colleague calls it –…
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“In case of emergency, lean in.”
I flew to Paris on Sunday for work. At Singapore Changi Airport, shortly after pushing back from the gate, we had to turn around due to a technical issue. 30 minutes later, the dreaded announcement came: no fix possible, we had to switch planes. What happened next was impressive: 👉 Immediate update: I received an…
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“Leadership and Social Norms”
My 15-yr old daughter made me happy to no end when she asked me last weekend to pick up a McDonald’s job application form for her. I’ve long encouraged my children to seek holiday jobs once they are past 16. I want them to learn the value of hard work and money. In prior conversations,…
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“The one skill I wished I’d learned years ago.”
Once every few years, I like to learn a new soft skill. I’m intentional about it and follow 3 steps.I learn it, internalize it, and apply it till it’s a habit. Throughout my career, I’ve learned how to:👉 Listen Actively Before I Speak👉 Present to the Needs of the Audience👉 Lead Authentically and Wholeheartedly👉 Lean…
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“Perception vs Reality”
Five months ago, my annual blood test revealed an unexpected result: I am now pre-diabetic. Wow!I exercise ~4x a week, and have a healthy BMI.I eat healthily (or so I thought), and have an only mildly sweet tooth.I don’t smoke, and drink alcohol ~2x a month. Yet, there it was – my blood sugar level…
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Embracing Failure
Original LinkedIn post: Are you afraid to start something because it may not work out? Or fearful of speaking up, in case you sound silly? Or worried about looking like you’ve failed? Our fears of “failure” keep us from trying, experimenting and learning. Certainly, some fails are at bigger risks than the rest… but what…
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“The Exhaustion Funnel”
Everything we do falls into one of 3 categories: 👉 It nourishes us (exercise, an exciting project etc)👉 It depletes us (late night calls, 24×7 emails etc)👉 It’s neutral (running errands, driving kids to school etc) When we have too much on our plate, the category most likely to give first is … the things…
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Gratitude: /ˈɡratɪtjuːd/, noun — the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness
Absolutely thrilled that my book “Head to Heart to Habit” topped the Singapore Straits Times’ Weekly Bestsellers list this past week. That this came to be is only because of the wonderful support I got along the way. To everyone who turned up for the launch a week ago, my heartfelt thanks. To everyone who…