And 54 hours later…

I came out of Startup Weekend, feeling exhausted and just slightly insane.

Going in, I wasn’t sure what to expect of the weekend, and from the pitches, it was clear that there were quite a large number of tech genius in the crowd so I might feel a little out of place but it was all good in the end. I was hoping to hear more ideas more in the social innovation space but was slightly disappointed that most of them were only ideas that we want, not need.

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Lessons Learned Part 2: Doubt

People often ask, when and how did you get over your fear? I often answer, I don’t think I ever got over my fear. I just became comfortable with them because they never really went away. As I look back now, they have always been there and still is there but they keep me accountable and if anything, force me to be thorough and detailed because I am scared shitless of failing and also maintain my friendships with utmost respect.

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Lessons Learned Part 1: Fear

I remember sitting at a coffee shop outside Central with Kerry, just slightly under a year ago when I told her everything that I wanted to do and all this big dream I had. Kerry being Kerry, she nodded, listened and gave me advice with much patience and very carefully encouraged me but subtly telling me to be careful about dreaming too big and start nowhere.

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You learn to live when you learn to die

About a month ago, I was invited to contribute to a US-based campaign, ‘What’s your calling?‘ – and without realising how busy life would become, I said yes, but I have to say it is good to be able to reflect on all the important stuff amongst all the clouds.

The question asked is exactly what the title of the campaign is, “What’s your calling?”. I’m not at all a religious person, so a calling to me is really a very personal thing. It all started when I stared death in the eyes even if not quite literally or directly.

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Soften The Fck Up

7 years ago, my best friend died of drowning. For 3 months, I questioned about life and how can I live a conscious, fulfilled life. It was the hardest thing I had to go through, and I vowed that no one should go through the death of a loved ones.

For a young person to lose their life due to a car accident or disease, its the failure of the medicine or the system, or pure carelessness or stupidity, but for a young person to die of suicide, its a failure of humanity.

Two years ago, I sat down with a typical Aussie bloke – a popular, high-achieving young men who were both good in academia and sports – who shared with me his silent struggle with mental illness since he was in high school. He did not get a diagnosis for at least 4 years because he never would have thought that a man can get a mental illness.

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What’s Stopping You?

This post is inspired by Jenny’s recent post on being awesome in life. It’s funny that I can laugh at this now but if you have shown this to me last year, I would have given you a smirk, agreed with what you said and thought in my head, “easier said than done, amigo”. I seem to be able to [...]

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Youth Leadership and the University

This is an interesting and highly relevant workshop especially for those who are working in the university. As more and more university increase their community engagement strategy, this talk might shed some light on how universities can optimise the potential of the incredible amount of young people in their institutions, and the leadership and awesomeness (for lack of better words) [...]

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Queensland Flood: What You Can Do

I got a call to inform me that my god mother has passed away peacefully, although unexpectedly last night. The pain of losing someone you love doesn’t get any easier. If she had waited for another 2 weeks, I would have been able to see her for the last time, but alas, I sit here, mourning my loss with the [...]

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