Earlier DUI with R

DUI#133: birthday wish of Meiling
The Things : it's Meilijg's 51 years old birthday , I am out doing business as usual and receive her line message asking me for " birthday gift " the first time since we knew each other and getting marriage . The wish she want for this particular birthday is to eat Soybean Stew Pig Feet ( 滷豬腳 ).

The Why : Meiling told me she never ate pig feet as birthday meal for her life and she want to have it this year for : wish herself a longer and healer life and to spend more time with me . The lifelong commitment is so touching , lifelong commitment not only meant to be together but to take care each other till the end ... I am going to buy her my favorite stew pig fee in town : 四平街「富霸王豬腳」and to forget about on a diet today .

Take away :
1.a minor yet meaningful gesture will bring lifelong commitment to each other.
2.spouse take complementary role and only accept each other can complete our life and bring to a full circle .
3.Thank God for a best reason eating stew pig feet.

F & E : how am I suppose to live without her ?

DUI#134 : Talents Fly opening day
The Things : 2nd year for Talents Fly and featuring Sky Wu with the theme " Dream Taken Off " we open the music camp in Huilien 12:30 , I deliver a short but to me meaningful opening remark : " we aim to create a better world , by leverage music , we get a picture of better world ; talents give you confidence , only confidence change our life - music is your talent , it give you confidence and please bring it back to people surround you and make the world better "

The Why : to continue what Steve Vai kick off for talents fly last year , sky design a 2 and half days program and select 6 teams among 100 plus applicants this year , the " dream taken off " focus on identify singer / songwriter and sky make every effort to invite his fiend join the camp as coach / mentor , we have 薛忠銘 、方文山、姚小民 and Sky5 band members to support this 3 days program . The class this afternoon is brilliant .

Take Away :
1. 姚小民 on composition : to find your personality before writing songs ; feel the sweet spot ; do it again . Not good enough is the juice of creativity .
2. 方文山 on lyric writing : lyric writer is a profession , you work for someone else ; poet is a role , you serve your own ego ; there is always a design before wording ; originality in words stand out . First you find yourself in the niche with your own style , then you become someone who can lead the trend .
3. The talents fly volunteer team : in the end , people who know who do what and when , too many cooks in the kitchen spoil the soup.
F & E : no expectation is the best expectation ; music is the universal language .

DUI#134 : stuck in continuity
The Things : " Talents Fly " music camp second day@a-zone , coach and participants so enjoy the process & flow, I am overwhelmed by comments such as " we can do this ; we should do that ; how to sustain and who can be benefit others than who we select here ?...." " what can we do more ?" Questions mainly come from volunteering group .

The Why : " no expectation " is my expectation ; " explore possibility yet provide solution " is my mindset , I am doing what I am capable of doing now : there are limitation and constrain other volunteer won't know - owing sponsor , owing donor , owing so many " unknown " , to do good varies from to gain profit , there should not be any termination such as " we are not making money " or " we are short of manpower " you may end your good cause if the " cause is vanishing " or " the good " become ugly . As there's no sign of both , continuity thinking become an expectation among involve volunteers .

Take Away :
1. The doer ; volunteer learn more than the participant .
2. Even it's a music event , it can apply to many field .
3. Music Industry master willing to share and easy to co-op than other creative industry . I figure it out this might be the power of why Taiwan Pop conquer great china music market .
4. Spend decent time relax and enjoy my best love - music .

F & E : music never end . Money always run out .

DUI#135: Talents Fly Closing Day
The Things : Sky Wu brings his touring band : " Sky Five " to Huilian and performing at the closing , we didn't invite others but the participant and volunteers to the closing . intimacy is much higher , Sky Five stayed last night and we talk about doing cross over / jazz as the theme for talents fly next year , snow ball rolling when music connect people .

The why : " to seed the good " and " social relay " are aims for Talents Fly , I remember when raise fund for this good cause , some senior told me that I am bold enough to set up a NPO - yes , it's tougher than doing things for profit . I recall my mentor Mr. Han once told me , don't run a foundation over 2 decades , it will turn burepacuecy . Talents Fly its in his infant stage and we were encourage to do more .

Take Away :
1. I develop a hard to say goodbye sentiment when closing , I feel good seed is seeding now.
2. Sky's true friendship and commit to spend decent time and efforts on this program increase my trust to him.
3. Volunteers enjoy and learn not only from event itself .
4. Non pop music background can learn and ignite from the true masters - on the top , no skill involved only your heart .
F & E : know yourself , learn from others and do it again .

DUI#136 : a special coach session
The Things : 2 months window since I met this minister . And the previous 2 months is kind of his worst nightmare after invited to join Lin's cabinet and take the most difficult minister . we knew each other for more than a decade and conduct our " monthly update " breakfast ever since , now I am more or less a coach to support him ..

The Why : when learn from newspaper that he had some sleepless nights - I was trigger by the typical YPO question in mind " what wake you up in the middle of the night ?" and set up our breakfast this morning , after a few ice breaker , I saw him smile and felt that he can take it on the road ahead , then share what I experience among leaders I encounter around the world . The final session is told him how " mindfulness breathing " can resolve anxiety and bring peace of mind. I saw him walk out the breakfast restaurant and ready to fight the good fight .

Take Away :
1. On every occasion , ice breaker is so critical , it set the tone and create a safe space .
2. You can't really ask " why? " if he or she is in minister above position .
3. Sharing is a key process in solving - " have someone to talk "give you happiness .
F & E : a friend in need is a friend indeed .

DUI#137: K study center
The Things : spend another 6 hours at K study center prepare coming Liteon ( 光寶集團 ) management training program . The quiet room again give me energy of concentration , I devote decent time for rationalize the 2 days program . As usual , I sketch and illustrate a script before place slides as component to support my storyline . The principal for my workshop is " SAVI : somatic - auditory - visual - intellectual " the dynamic of worship bring a fun in learning ambience to participant .

The Why : this is another cooperation with my professor JR Lee ( 李吉仁 ）, as a non faculty members to be invited is a honor . The theme for my session is " coaching base leadership " for which I might have better experience than academic background professors - I enjoy share what I learn from my coaching practice and break it down to 3 types of coaching : I coin it as " 3P coaching : personal / pairing / peering coaching "

Take Away :
1. Translate my real world experience to skill set and break down to exercise is fun : it's a combination of right and left brain .
2. Big Class : 40 plus participants in a classroom is a challenge to facilitator - it's exciting to know how many of them will really get what I give.
3. Preparation make perfect , I cherish the opportunity to practice in every workshop , especially for non YPOer , the universal law of learning will validate .
F & E : it's like writing a song , painting a picture or performing in a drama .

DUI#138: Bio-LEAD program discussion
The Things : invite by my professor JR Lee to join a Taiwan Biotech CEO developing program initiate by Joe Chen - a bio tech veteran and turn to VC base in LA who is over 70 years old but full of passion to bring her heart to the biotech industry in Taiwan . JR invite me to formulate " forum " experience to the pool of biotech CEO in Taiwan as 99% of Taiwan Biotech CEO are scientist.

The Why : to incubate an industry which can support and be the engineer for growing Taiwan , biotech is something worth trying , JR brought me to see Joe couple of months ago . And my first impression when saw 10 biotech CEO on the same table : none of them are businessman and none of them trained to become a leader or have experience in any management role . Talents decide the success or failure of any venture . Jo and JR commit to back this industry and I am falling in the loop now ..

Take away :
1. To design a training program consist of 12 session last for one year target CEO . The ingredient should be rich , not only the teaching materials .
2. It's a huge gap or blinder between academic and practical biotech field , almost non of management field professor gain any insight about biotech Eco system and very few bio ceo ( less than 1 % ) without scientist background .
3. Mentor alway need basic training about " how to be an appropriate mentor " similar to act as volunteer , a good volunteer is a trained one.
4. Moved by Joe who still inject hope in the land and industry she love .
F & E : cross field , cross leaning ; transferring knowledge is a solid asset.

DUI #139: Acceptance : key to happiness
The things : coaching session this morning , a typical " don't get mad over trivial things " . People describe his / her tiny little thing and gradually arose emotion . You check their emotion and you learn from the observation and realize " acceptance " is the art everyone will know one day. Chemistry on top of an organization is critical , people don't argue over big issue but tiny little unpleasant things. It's not the conflict of interest but conflict of value . As the coach , I know my presence is to give them a vehicle to share , on the right time and on the right spot .

The Why : on the top , people reluctant to be direct , as there's no cursing to make up the risk of breaking up , so people keep many " I think " in mind and seldom to check the mental bias . What I do is to have them consider 2 things as prerequisite : 1) the person behind the message is with good intention or not ? 2) it's a feeling or a fact ? , the higher you are , the chance of becoming a target is high - people shoot the target no matter it's good or bed . Something " over protecting " a person just throwing a stone to a pond of organization . Only Accept the cutely situation can bail you out from the emotion tramp.

Take Away :
1. In any organization . As a professional / hire gun you have only 3 mindset to adapt to new environment : " Change : see how far you can go / Accept : see how soon you adapt corporate culture / Leave : so how long you think about leaving the comfort zone.
2. Someone to talk : tiny trivia can accumulate to a certain degree and eruption . Resolve require help .
3. Don't test your counter partner , you do tangos : step forward and backward . Be sure you both dance on the same tune.
F & E : seems like yesterday , experience gain and experience count.

DUI#140: one day student
The Things : Opening day for 光寶集團 executive development program . Professor JR Lee ask me to participate as a member of " NTU teaching team " , I reset my " teaching mindset " and channel to a " learning mindset " today . It's a profound learning in a business development fundamental learning . I sit , l listen , I take note , I think , and I am willing to apply to my coaching practice in the near future .

The Way : when I am introduced as the NTU teaching team , I am a little bit proud , living in NTU nearby district , I took bus to high school , university for many years , when passing by the campus of NTU , I never thought I will graduate from this top university , not to mention to be treated as a faculty deliver knowledge to EMBA level people inside NTU . And as the non academic background teacher , I am happy to complement the gap academic professor don't experience - real world biz and varies type of leaders in the world - not been constrain with the academic framework and to feed what I lack of - the biz theory and survey to support real world cases .

Take Away :
1. At audience seat , you sense differently - I am taking 3 hats ( audience / stage / supervisor ) and observe as much as I can.
2. Too long in the people side of Business , you lose sight on business of the business - a check and balance .
3. Words of wisdom from professor lee inspired me and his 3 numbers to introduce who he is - a powerful opening .
4. The sharing of Standford 2025 is a warning bell to education industry .
F & E : if there is need , learning ignite . " FIRE " is a great interactive learning process ( Focus - Interactive - Reflection - Enlighten )

DUI#141: movie day " Me & Kaminski " " A man called OVE "
The Things : Meiling and my movie day to " wonderful theater " ( 真善美劇院at She Meng Ting , we pick 2 Europe indie films and select the Seats we love ( row 9 / number 13/15 ) and began the journey to difference culture / background / language / value derive from movies . To us , movie is a connection between us : we enjoy watching different story in the dark and holding hands , take meal after the movies and share our viewpoint to what the film / director / art want to dialogue with us . Beyond our conversation via the film. I often took lines and scenes from movie and craft them into my workshop - it's an important part to our life and it's an experience as well .. You buy tickets into the journey you wish to experiences ( /show - airplane - train - bus - examination .... ) and what left is only EXPERIENCE.

The Why : " Me & Kaminski " talk about how an art biography writer encounter with an artist and deal with many facet of an artist - life / love / friend / fame / fear ... " A Man called OVE " is a great pieces and it covers all aspect of life from a " I have no meaning to live " person's perspective to develop what else a person can reignited his fire for life ... Both were touch and inspiring films ; it's not Hollywood producing , it's not what the story line you can easily see and it's not the stunt and post production to increase your adrenaline. The memory kept is fresh and you will recall them from time to time .

Take away :
1. Many times I take movie as movie and see it a fiction only .
2. Sometimes I found movie is a reflection to life . It's so real and you are walking towards the END.
3. " if I were in that scenario " " what will I do ? " " it is possible in our life ? " why and what and how in the process of moving watching create so many "self curiosity "
F & E : living in 2 life - real and imagined ; explore in both world : actual & virtues .

DUI#142: letter from Steve
The Things : time to do our monthly update and what inspires me during the month . Steve Vai and I develop such a routine for months since last year . Differ from the DU coaching format , our exchange update is more like tell each other story happen in our life , it's a connection to old friend , and the story touch our heart . The latest letter I received this morning , he wrote it at the transit lounge at London .

The Why : my highlight to him for the month is a " Beat Generation " format of going without knowing when Meiling and discover the story about Dr. Wang and how the Black Food Disease trigger this life changing story and Sound's boldly taking the summer job at a street vendor selling goose noodle . In response , Steve's letter share a car accident in UK when having holidays with Pia and 2 other couples . The photos shows the big crash of the car and luckily Pia and Steve were no injury at all and the lesson have him wrote a 9 points of lesson learn. We miss each other and channel ourselves without any communication constrain . This is an amazing feeling to us.

Take Away :
1. I recall after relents fly event , Sky and I have a brief talk - he point out I am the " Jedi " from Star War.
2. For how long friend don't really write to each other ? No matter it's digital or in paper .
3. A warm greeting from a good fiend can made your day
F & E : to another good friend of mine - Royce , I wish you a good day . Love

DUI# 143: management meeting and org chart review
The Things : provide my prior expertise as management consultants to an existing coachee , I tried to rationalize the vision / strategy / org development / talent placement and talked to key stakeholders one by one . Reluctant to go this far inside an organization and refrain myself from dairy business harassment . To separate role and responsibility ain't easy .

The why: knowing my coachee so well , decided to sort things out with him and take some initiative to prevent some unpleasant consequences if business go sour . At least we have each other to rebuild a team or to think out of the status quo . In the era of nothing is normal , thinking and doing can't be routine also .

Take Away :
1. There's no 100% transparent communication between boss and management team , Bridge required .
2. The consensus and goal alignment is critical - Owner take long term view than managers .
3. No dream team existing in the world , to perfect others is the only way to complementary a better team .
4. Drown in operation details hardly can bail you out to see a clear picture .
F & E : recall the quote by Warren Bennis : " Failing organizations are usually over-managed and under-led. "

DUI 144: working on the plane
The Things : Skip movie time in the airplane and to prepare my " theatrical script " for coming Lite-on workshop - no interruption and no meals , I dive into the drama status and be the producer for the workshop - crafting my talking point to each slide I made - the image / imagination / interaction / co-creation / expedition at the workshop I hope to generate turn to vivid visual to me - to me a success WORKSHOP is a WORSHIP.

The Why : non stop flying with intensive worships will kick of from 22nd - varies topics / theme and audiences - I tried to come up with the " vital fews " before dressing on the " trivial many " into each workshop materials preparation - with a methodology of " SAVI " as backbone then design story line as the flows always give me confidence to deliver - each time I want to revamp and redo a few slides as I believe in the " better " principal.

Take away :
1. Opening slide is the igniter to every public speech - big and small . Story telling with your own touch can lead the audience into the scenes you create for them .
2. " Thy Said " and " I Live " is the tempest I knitting with : most of the time I use " quote " on they said and illustrate my one story as " I live " to create a thinner impression .
3. It's like doing art every time , you scratch and you painting and you redo it and you think next piece will be better than current one.

F & E : dive into what you passion with is your way of loving your life and live it up your way .

DUI# 145:Artist Talk
The Things: TOKU - recording artist under Sony Music Japan first introduced by Itoh 88 back to 2001, we met last year when he did a small tour to Taiwan . We connect at Kurizawa summer jazz festival at end of July and made appointment to meet this time . Even we briefly met for the last 2 session , the intimacy is quite strong due to our love to the passing Itoh-san. I secure 2 hours with him and he drove me to a quite Italian restaurant - a good sharing take place immediately.

The Why : I always feel comfortable talking to artist , and artists' feedback give me more energy to engage. For TOKU , it's no exception , I go over his career first and spot a few bottleneck he is facing now , then I share what " talents fly " is doing in Taiwan and I am thinking about next years' theme " Jazz & cross over " . To feature him as a master - TOKU happily accept it and fully understand it's a for good - non profit program . The 3rd move is he is so inspired about what I am doing for less resourceful young talent , he want to do it in Japan also and come to our synergy number 4 : why not doing a Taiwan - Japan joint talents fly event next year and roll out year by year .. And we were getting so excited.

Take away :
1. When it comes the term " Dream Big " no one can do it as perfectly as artist . Then can even Balloon the dreams.
2. It's excited for people to talk about future - and all do beginning seems to be hopeful .
3. Via a man we love , TOKU and I connect . This is the spirit of friendship .
4. Talents Fly should dream big as well .
F & E : I am an artist myself and this is why the echo can be loud and clear .

DUI#146: what you have I don't VS. what I have you don't .

The Things : this is a honest reflection on comparing me with other YPOer , while in Japan ready for my 2nd time with this 20 years old regional forum , I had this thoughts when get on the car a Japanese forum mate prepare for me and escort me to Shengasen station , it's a big BMW and the driver waiting outside at my express hotel ( budget hotel ) it's kind of contradiction - the " what you have I don't reflection traveling while I am in the car ...
And this is what comes from my reflections :

DUI#147: Tiger Forum at karuizawa
The Things : my second experience with the international forum at KZ , we did the forum at one of the member's summer house , it's a true retreat house , mix of Asia / Japan & Westerner under one forum is like a big family - it's complicate , I felt a little bit regret that 2 big typhoon hitting Taiwan and I am " retreat " in Japan.

The Why : the forum exist for 20 years is stagnate in transitional presentation but no access to leant and experience 4 Steps , as a so call " professional in the fields " I am asked to be the temporary facilitator leading 2 - 4 steps explorations , I don't mind to help but something you can't rest at a forum setting , I see the difference on inside / outside the forum space and to quote the your word " bystander " versus " upstander " . As people respect you as professional , they put their ego down and I begin to think there must be a breakthrough thinking such as " apple vs orange " : what you have that I don't and what I have but you don't ...

Take Away:
1. Change relationship from vertical to horizontal require a master skill .
2. When people say you are professional - be professional onsite and be prepared always.
3. Yes . Forum is as complicate as family - the good thing is you can choose .
4. Dream House is not only the American Dream - it's everybody's.
F & E : forum works work.

DUI#148: 2nd day in karuizawa
The Things : learning from a new experience with new international forum : I square that multi - national forum experiment in 3 statement : AD.AD.AD : 1) accept the difference 2) Adapt the difficulty 3) Appreciate the dedication . For people living in different geographic location , it took hours to determine when to meet next and where , and the discussion alway come with someone say " I can't " people can't come from varies reason and to surface their reason you observe each values they holding on.

The Why : most of people in this forum ONLY have this forum as they can't commit to monthly gathering , and a multi background / culture and philosophy create a discussion pool - it's good to be how value alignment happening during the discussion , to learn how to accept is lesson number one - day chair can be either flexible or dictate , high EQ person have room to play tough and he won't cause people mad . We have another good day at karuizawa - the weather is too good to call it an end .

Take Away :
1. No coaching before presentation really wasting time - basic understanding and expectation wasn't clear and it bring to many offensive questions .
2. 2 to 3 generations conversation is a good exercise for everyone : to recall how your parent talk with you about one subject you about to share with your grown up bring reflection to our life .
3. Kurizawa is a nice place to be - active volcano - hot spring - hiking - nature .
F & E : it's good time to go home now.

DUI#149: session work with medical doctor
The Things : he is one of the best doctor and we knew each other back to 20 years before , I was a staff at record company and he is intern at National Taiwan Hospital - for the last 2 decades , we go our professional way and touch base from time to time . Whenever I encounter with physical issue , he is the first person I consult , whenever he develop mind issue , I am his coach and we take care of each other for 2 decades.

The why : to run a big Dept at one medical institution is not easy , especially you don't equip the background of Managment , and as a profession to manage other professions , you know how to improve their professional skill but you don't know how to lead them as human being . I was call before Tokyo trip and set up out session today . How to listen ? How to trust ? How to lead ? How to create my own vision is his main question today .

Take Away :
1. When leading professionals , don't down grade yourself to the level they are.
2. To lead , you should complement with 2 leadership influence : power of position and power of charisma .
3. To align Personal goal and Dept goals , the vision fan be generated via the process of consensus .
4. If professionals open themselves , you can easily feel their trust in you.
F & E : if you don't have passion , you don't have energy , if you don't have energy , you have nothing .

DUI # 151: orientation at Liteon technology HQ
The things : to make sure a 7 group forum can perform well , I ask them to conduct a moderator orientation before session by 25 and 26. To professional managers , soft skill is hiding somewhere and an almost forget nature to them . I need moderation to lead and to demonstrate on their group at site , and I also need to have the 7 leaders buy in today first .

The why : in a Corp . You easily guess how the moderator comes up , people reluctant to take the lead and miss the chance to learn . The orientation is to make them understand is a benefit to be moderator at their team and also to remind everyone that " the best way to learn is to teach " - a 60 minutes orientation set the tone for coming workshops and I don't mind the extra efforts as it's the better way to reach a better result .

Take Away :
1. A group of orientation blend with dial - in and onsite persons , it's difficult to hold the space .
2. CTO works again , especially you introduce the confidentiality agreement before orientation .
3. Back to human derive professional from the working place .
4. In 60 minutes , I tamed 7 professionals who will help me to tame their team in Sep. 25 .
5. Liteon HQ keep real sheep at it's back yard garden - what a scene happen in a tech company .
F & E : morning session with Royce stimulate my brains and it ripple to the afternoon session -- Connection is a wave.



Roger