2014 is here. Back to work again? Wish you were not?

Understand. Travelling along the roads of the corporate world is not always pleasant. For there aren't many levelled paths, and worst --sometimes they are all dark.

How disheartening it is to feel that everything will be just the same or anything, but for the better -- especially for business professionals who have been slightest by their managers, peers or people around them. 




Returning to work would feel like walking alone in the midst of a dark forest glade. Boy! surely our spirit would be low and fear would seize us like a little worm in the mouth of an eagle. Our only hope would be that we could see even just a tiny little glow somewhere: a flicker of candle to light up our way in the dark.

In a real world, in this new year, in the midst of never ending corporate's political intrigues and fights for success -- what do we need then?

Confidence. That’s what we need.

Confidence that springs from within. Not the kind of confidence because we own the best tools in the whole office or because we know some influential people that will always stand by us -- these are external. They  come and go.

What we need is a string of confidence that springs from within: How to build such confidence?

Well, nothing is too difficult if we know how to appreciate everything around us. In facing any situation, first things first, whether as an individual or a leader of a team, know where we are going and what is expected of us (and our team).

Then prepare. Prepare well: research, study, ask people around or Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), etc -- so that we know how: How to do or deliver the work to the best of our ability --never hesitate to go beyond what have been asked of us.

Worry not the final result. Focus only what we need to do now. Believe we can do it. Season always the work we do -- the opportunity given to us-- with a sense of thankfulness: take it as an opportunity to grow and for this reason we are thankful.

Aim to impress no one. Finally, it is easy to be confident when we don’t need to impress anyone. Start from here -- this is how the inner confidence begins to grow and glow like a candle in the dark. And stay focused on doing the good work -- always, and always!

Image by Venus Shum

In 2006, a Jesuit parish in North Sydney received a financial legacy of $6 million from a very generous gentleman -- a faithful parishioner who died in the same year. The legacy enabled the parish to build a beautiful community centre and the Parish office. 

Sadly, many people in the community did not have the pleasure of knowing this generous gentleman. They wished they could have known him earlier to ever thank him in person.

Legacy.  Do we have to leave a legacy only after we've gone? Can we not leave a legacy while we are still alive, so that we can see the fruit of our legacy?

Or does a legacy have to be something big and spectacular, like this $6 million? Or as simple as beautiful smile that brighten someone's day. 

And for business professionals, what about leaving a legacy in the work place? 

Nowadays, many professionals change job and/or company, at least, every two-year. How about leaving well done achievements and great team-work memory as a legacy before moving on? 

In January 2012, in the midst of my career break, I was appointed unexpectedly as Executive Officer of a fundraising office (Appeal Office) in the same parish: a Jesuit parish with a large community that consists of three Catholic churches in the North Sydney area. My main task was to raise $2.5 million! The funds were to be used to restore a heritage-listed big building (the size of ten bedsitters): a house for the priests of the Parish and a Jesuit community. 

Raising funds, how? I've never been a fundraiser before, hence never raised funds.

When I thanked the chairman of the fundraising committee, whom I knew just for a short while, for giving me the opportunity to lead the Appeal Office despite the lack of experience I had, he replied: "I live long enough. I know who can do the job and who can't". 

Of course, he told me the truth -- in January 2012, he was 79-year old! He used to be a CEO of his own company. His intuition about people -- who can do and who can't do the job -- has been sharpened over the years. I was privileged to be chosen to lead the project. But ... how can I do the job? Where do I start raising $2.5 million funds in a year? 

Strangely, though, after I came on board officially, I didn't remember if I was thinking too much about my lack of experience and the end result -- raising $2.5 million. All I did was -- seizing my working hours with diligent and listening to my inner voice: "This is a work of heart. The key to its success is in how to touch people's hearts. Connect with them through their emotions. Treat them with respect and dignity, invite them to be part of the project and (I believe) they will contribute"

I was suggested to meet at least a dozen of people: leaders and key members of the community. "Start from them" said the then Parish Priest. 

Well, I did. I approached them with a heartfelt purpose. It worked! Fundraising is, as the then Parish Priest always reminded me, a "friend raising". 

I made lots of friends since. Beginning from befriending this suggested dozen, within weeks my knowledge and experience about the people in our community widened beyond "strictly business" only (unlike in the corporate world). These people gave me ideas and also more names to be contacted or met. Their friendship and stories became my inspiration.

Apart from solid business strategy and communication skills that I brought with me, inspiration was, indeed, my powerful tool. I communicated this inspiration back to the community through an article I wrote weekly in our church bulletin: This was my only way of knocking the door of their hearts. 

In addition, I took every opportunity to meet other people in our churches at almost every weekend after Mass. I personalised every greeting; thank-you phone calls, letters, cards, and emails. 
When only one chance to make a speech was given, I spoke from the heart. When I ran out of words, I brought music: I produced a classical music concert series (first time in my life producing anything like this) -- bringing back the music experience in the community (not since the 1940's).

The fundraising was launched in end of April 2012. Within four months, in August, we raised nearly $500,000! 

Apparently, that was enough by September 2012. There was a sudden change in the Parish's agenda: priorities were re-arranged and the fundraising was subject to be continued perhaps sometime in 2013. Alternatively, the Parish will make do with whatever we've got.

Was it a work of magic? No. It wasn't. It was the power of inspiration that moved people's hearts in the community to work together with respect. 

Had I been worried too much about my lack of experience and afraid of not being able to raise $2.5 million, I would not have the confidence as I had -- as I made the best of my time and worked with all my heart. That was all I did: Worked with all my heart, bit by bit, focussing only on what my hands needed to do -- did the right things and did them right.

And that by itself became my legacy. Now that I have left the Office, I can ponder -- what I wanted to be remembered as: Someone who was not afraid of the "unknown" hard work -- dared to embrace every difficulty and uncertainty with patience and peace; knowing that sincerity, integrity, and honesty alone will guide the way to success. 

Am I dead yet? No. Not yet. 

But I move on with ever growing confidence that I have the gift of learning (as I've learned about fundraising). And it is very powerful when I always strive to use it with humility. With humility always comes sincerity, integrity and honesty. With these I will mark my next legacy in other work place(s). Not easy, though. But, I will carry on.  

Peter Drucker, once told a story, when he was thirteen, he had an inspiring religion teacher who one day asked the class, "What do you want to be remembered for?" And if someone can't answer the question by the time when he is fifty, that person will have wasted his life. (Thank God when I read this I wasn't fifty yet. Since then on I have always been inspired by this question.)

Now, I urge you, leave a legacy then whatever life's calling you to do:  "What do you want to be remembered for?" 

Does it have to be big and spectacular? I don't think so! It can be as simple as leaving a task and job well done at all times. Start today for tomorrow's legacy. And life will be meaningful and never wasted!

God bless!