Firstly, thank you for supporting the last ten episodes of Humans of Authenticity. I am incredibly grateful for the trust my guests have placed in me by sharing their stories on this channel.
As we come to the end of 2023, I am delighted to share with you the most impactful lines from each episode that have resonated with me. These lines have profoundly impacted me, and I hope they will inspire you too.
- From Happiness with Maunda Land, MBA, CMP, CAE: “Sometimes we’re too scared about what might happen if we don’t reach a goal versus saying, you know what, I’m just going to go for it… You need to be ambitious and courageous in attempting your goals.” I love two things about this quote. Firstly, it encourages us to be fearless in pursuing our goals. Secondly, it reminds us that it’s perfectly fine to be ambitious. Sometimes, having a bold vision can be the driving force that motivates us and our team to accomplish great things. It took me a long time personally to come to terms with this and comfortably write a bold vision for myself.
- From Fullest, Discipline & Culture with Carlos Cardenas, CAE: “Chase your dreams, chase your goals, don’t ever give up on that, but don’t forget about the people who helped you get there. That’s the family. We say it takes a village, so don’t forget about that. Without support, you have to realize you probably wouldn’t be where you are.” As we reflect on a wonderful year, let us appreciate and give thanks to those who made it possible. Ancient history taught us that human societies are tribal in nature, and without the support of our village, we may not have achieved our successes. I am incredibly grateful for all the conversations I have had with you all this year.
- From Persistent with Shan Haugabrook, CNP: “Persistence means regardless of what the obstacle or the challenge looks like, you continue to push forward. Regardless of your challenges or whatever is in your way, if this is your goal, it’s part of your purpose… This is your journey.” For me, this means I’m the one who is responsible for every move. I get to walk my own journey and persistence helped me stay focused on the steps ahead.
- From Identity with Janice Haskins, PhD: “I’m like, you’re going to get what you’re going to get because this is how I naturally show up. This is part of my identity. It’s part of who I am. It’s how I was created, and that’s okay.” Nothing better encapsulates the journey of embracing one’s identity, breaking free from societal norms, and accepting oneself better than this line. Hat off to this courage!
- From Innovation with Allegra Tasaki: “Innovation isn’t always about the tool. It’s about how you use the tools and spend that time with others who also use them and how you implement the work and iterate new ideas.” I love how it goes back to human interaction, collaboration, and the thoughtful application of tools rather than machines or anything else in the innovation process. Innovation is not just about the technology or tools but how people work together, share ideas, and creatively implement solutions.
- From Communicate with Jourdie Godley: “I’ve always gone through life by being very positive. I understand this is my luck in life. I don’t cry about it. I don’t feel sad about it.” I’ve learned so much from Jourdian’s resilience and positive outlook despite facing challenges related to being a third-culture kid, having a disability, and dealing with societal perceptions. I really admire how he maintains a positive perspective and the impact it can have on those around him.
- From Brave with Samyuktha Neeraja, MPH, CAE: “Being brave is about putting myself out there, taking a risk, and doing what’s best for me, even if it’s saying goodbye to something that I’m comfortable with or familiar with.” It is really about how we show up consistently and continuously. It is about putting aside what we fear and going for it anyway.
- From Choice with Monica Sampson: “If I’m going to be judged, I might as well be judged for being who I am instead of being judged for what I’m trying to be.” This is the essence of this podcast series. It reflects Monica’s journey towards self-acceptance and the realization that striving to be herself is less taxing than trying to fit into societal expectations. A big hit to ‘judgment’ in the face!
- From Family & Language with Danielle Duran Baron, MA, MBA, FASAE, CAE (she/her): “You want to see the good boats get lifted.” One powerful mic-drop line for me. As we put aside our individuality, we can truly appreciate the goodness in others and celebrate success with them. There is enough room for everyone to succeed and help each other to succeed.
- From Failure with April Tone, MBA, CAE: “I chose failure because, one, most people don’t like to talk about it. And two, I’ve had my fair share of them. As many things that I’ve won, I failed at many more. Sometimes that failure is going to be the catalyst to bring you into something new. Sometimes that winning streak just keeps going because you’re using what you learn from your failure for your future activities and your future endeavors.” April reminds me of a Vietnamese proverb: ‘Failure is the mother of success.’ Winning is great, but learning from failures and using the lessons to drive us forward is equally important.
Would you like to join me? Which lines resonated with you the most? Do you have any questions for our guests? I would love to hear your thoughts.
I wish you the happiest end of this year and can’t wait to share 2024 with you. Until then, take care.