Benjamin Loh, CSP's Linkedin Analytics

What's the best airlines in the world? It's not a question for me. 🙈 Off to Shanghai, China for work and a learning experience. (any good people to meet and connect with there?) But thankful to have spoke and presented with the Xero Beautiful Business Community (XBBC) event this morning. We shared at lengths with a full-house turnout (photos in comments): 🌟 The Mindset "Trap" for business owners starting out to build their brand (hint: it's not tactical or strategic) 🌟 Embracing the "Flow of Attention" because it's critical to know at which stages you need to operate at for your business 🌟 Implementing the right content frameworks to multiply your expertise, authority and brilliance in the market From the big trends that are emerging, we no longer can think dichotomously - company branding or personal branding. (it should be both) But more so, how do we capitalize about what shines about ourselves - and bring the relevant and authentic aspects of ourselves, out there and online! That was the gist of what we discussed. 💯 It was heartening and inspiring for me to connect with and learn from so many fellow business owners and community builders too! Big props for the Xero team -- Venus Cheung, Koren Wines and many Xero staff partners for mounting such a brilliant event this morning. Oh yes, you agree with me on the best airlines in the world? They are #topofmind for me. #branding #entrepreneurship #singapore

What if you could be 'always on' without the burnout? That’s how I built a global speaking business with 0 corporate experience. Many people ask me how I managed to create a successful speaking career selling to Fortune 500 companies without having worked a day in a large corporation. The answer lies in the power of generating attention and constantly refining the value I deliver. For over 10 years, my business has thrived entirely on organic growth. Social media has allowed me to connect, engage, and share my journey with audiences across 20 cities, even catching the eye of governments in Japan and Saudi Arabia. When I asked how they discovered me, the answer was clear: "We see you all the time on LinkedIn." This realization became my secret weapon— → Using social media intentionally to build my brand, value, ethos and beliefs. So, how can you tap into this power? 💡 Be Intentional - small habits make huge impact → I set aside 30 minutes every morning to post on LinkedIn. Not when I "feel like it" but as a non-negotiable part of my routine. → When I started, I focused on sharing one insight daily, even if it was just a simple reflection from a client meeting. 💡 Create Content That Resonates - entertain, educate or inspire! → I noticed my most engaging posts weren't polished perfection but honest reflections on my failures and learnings. → One of my earliest viral posts was simply sharing how I bombed a presentation but learned to recover mid-speech. 💡 Compete with Yourself → I made it a rule to track my growth year-on-year and it's never about unnecessary competition (which steals the joy and meaning of the work) → Content is a long-term commitment. So if you don't love the journey, you will not last. 💡 Showcase Your Trajectory of Growth → I documented my speaking journey from speaking to 5 people to audiences of 5,000+ live in Jakarta and 22,000+ (hybrid) → The raw videos of my early speeches (mistakes and all) surprisingly created deeper connections than my polished keynotes. 💡 Leverage Your Unique Strengths - different + relevant = power! → I leaned into my storytelling abilities instead of trying to sound like a pedigree corporate consultant. → My background stories and youth became my differentiator, not something to hide. With the right approach, your online presence can open doors and help you succeed without the stress of traditional networking. What strategies do you use to maximize your social media impact? I’d love to hear your thoughts! 👇 💪 Follow me for personal brand and growth insights. #topofmind #millennials #business #personalbrand

Having taught over 65,000 leaders to build their brand. Here’s one painful truth I’ve learned 👇🏻 The biggest barrier to building a personal brand isn’t tactical or strategic. It’s innate—your relationship with attention. When you think of being "seen and known", do you instinctively think: ❌ "Don’t put me in the spotlight." ❌ "I don’t have anything useful or different to say." ❌ "If I share too much, I might get into trouble." These beliefs dictate how you show up, how boldly you share, and whether you’ll ever be celebrated—or not. So, let me ask: How do YOU see attention? This was one of the key insights I shared during a full-day training at Asia’s Safest Bank—DBS Bank—on Building Your Personal Brand, Standing Out, and Being #TopOfMind. We also covered: 🌟 How to define your professional MVV (Mission, Vision, Values) with clarity and impact. 🌟 The 5 pillars of building a thriving personal brand. 🌟 Practical exercises for creating thought leadership and fresh perspectives. It was also beautiful to observe the dynamic exchange of ideas between emerging leaders and veterans with over 20 years in banking. Here’s what Sachin Varshney, Executive Director at DBS Bank kindly shared too, "Benjamin’s facilitation style was interactive, engaging, and structured, making the learning process both practical and enjoyable. He provided clear frameworks to help us shape our thinking into compelling writing, ensuring the skills we learned were immediately applicable." Personal branding isn’t just about visibility. It’s about showing up, owning your voice, and earning a place in your audience’s mental real estate. So… how will YOU show up today? #PersonalBranding #LeadershipGrowth #TopOfMind

Stop chasing high net worth clients. Start being a high-value advisor first. Many ask me about breaking into the high net worth market. But here's what most miss: 👉🏻 Having a million-dollar client list isn't what defines success. The truth? You need to: 👉🏻 Know their language 👉🏻 Understand their real problems 👉🏻 Match their preferences Because forcing yourself into a market you're not ready for is like wearing shoes 3 sizes too big... → You'll stumble. Focus on building relationships, not just closing deals. Ask yourself: Are you positioned to serve this market effectively? Your success in this market starts with who you become and capably serve, not who you chase. What's your take on this? Share your thoughts below 👇 P.s. ✍🏻 I am Benjamin Loh, CSP, a strategic growth coach and consultant who has taught over 65,000 leaders in over 20 global cities and constructed some of the leading icons (TOT, Award Winners) in the financial industry in Asia through the power of authentic storytelling and authority building. 💪 Follow me for personal brand and growth insights. #topofmind #millennials #business

I turned down offers from the Big Four. Everyone thought I was crazy. Fast forward today - I close 7-figure deals with corporations across Asia. I spent 18 months doing what seemed crazy at the time: → Learning everything I could about corporate challenges. ❌ Not from books. ✅ From real conversations. Three things changed everything: 1️⃣ I got clear on my goals first. → Not chasing quick wins, but building lasting relationships. 2️⃣ I learned to listen deeply. → The best solutions come from understanding their real needs. 3️⃣ I stayed curious. → Every conversation was a chance to learn, not just to sell. Simple lesson? 💡 The path others expect you to take isn't always the path you need to grow. What's the craziest career decision you've made? 👇 P.s. ✍🏻 I am Benjamin Loh, CSP, a strategic growth coach and consultant who has taught over 65,000 leaders in over 20 global cities and constructed some of the leading icons (TOT, Award Winners) in the financial industry in Asia through the power of authentic storytelling and authority building. 💪 Follow me for personal brand and growth insights. #topofmind #millennials #business

Your biggest enemy as a new entrepreneur isn't lack of capital. It's thinking you have all the time by your side. I learned this the hard way. As someone who was once bullied and naturally introverted, I thought my biggest challenge would be confidence. But I was wrong. Starting your own practice isn't about mastering one skill. You're suddenly wearing multiple hats: → Marketing specialist → Sales expert → Operations manager → Chief negotiator → Business strategist And time? It's running against you. The market won't wait while you slowly figure things out. You need to learn fast, execute faster, and build your market presence now Or risk becoming another failed business statistic. What's your biggest time management challenge as an entrepreneur? P.s. ✍🏻 I am Benjamin Loh, CSP, a strategic growth coach and consultant who has taught over 65,000 leaders in over 20 global cities and constructed some of the leading icons (TOT, Award Winners) in the financial industry in Asia through the power of authentic storytelling and authority building. 💪 Follow me for personal brand and growth insights. #topofmind #millennials #business

𝗨𝗻𝗽𝗼𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗢𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗢𝗨𝗗 𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀... 📢 And I absolutely HATED this. 💯 Hear me out. As an introvert and former bully victim stepping into the business world over a decade ago, I was told: → You have to blow your trumpet 🎺 → You have to schmooze and ooze with charisma → You have to be seen with the who's who 👥 It felt like a non-negotiable. But what if I prefer to think before I speak? What if I value depth over small talk? What if I choose substance over showmanship? Well, I found my answer—by being #TopOfMind. By building my personal brand with purpose and focus, I’ve: ✅ Spoken in over 20 cities (including Tokyo, Sydney, Riyadh...) and taught over 65,000 leaders ✅ Scaled a team of 7 people across Philippines and Indonesia ✅ Published and crowdfunded my first book ✅ Worked with some of the world’s most recognized brands (AIA, Prudential, JP Morgan, Porsche) Blowing your trumpet doesn’t have to be loud and flashy. Winning in business doesn’t mean selling out. Being a trusted brand isn’t about collecting name cards. But let’s be real—if you don’t put yourself out there, the loud ones will win. You heard me? 💯 #TopOfMind #IntrovertStruggles #QuietStrength #BusinessLeadership

I thought no one was listening to my stories. Until one message changed my entire perspective. When I first started sharing my story on social media, I had so many doubts. “What if no one cares?” “What if I’m just wasting my time?” “What if I’m not good enough to share anything meaningful?” That's what I thought. But I kept showing up anyway. I posted on LinkedIn, shared snippets on Instagram, and even spoke on podcasts. Some posts got a few likes. Others? Barely any engagement. It felt like I was talking to myself most of the time. But here’s what I’ve learned: 👉🏻 Your story doesn’t need to go viral to make an impact. One day, someone messaged me after hearing me on a podcast. → They told me how much my story resonated with them and asked if I offered coaching services. → Another time, a LinkedIn post led to a conversation that turned into a long-term collaboration. → And then there was the Instagram story that sparked a connection with someone I’d never met before—someone who later became a client. None of these things happened overnight. But they happened because I kept showing up. 💡 Sharing your story is a long-term investment. Every post, every podcast, every story you share is like planting a seed. You might not see the results right away, but over time, those seeds grow into opportunities, relationships, and trust. The problem is, most people give up too soon. They post once or twice, don’t see immediate results, and decide it’s not worth it. → But storytelling isn’t about instant gratification. → It’s about building connections over time. So, if you’re hesitating to share your story because you’re worried no one’s listening, let me remind you of this: 👉🏻 Someone is always listening. You might not know who they are, but your words could be exactly what they need to hear. Keep showing up. Keep sharing. Because the impact of your story isn’t measured by likes or views —it’s measured by the lives you touch. What’s the most unexpected response you’ve ever received from sharing your story? I’d love to hear how your words have impacted someone. 💪 Follow me for personal brand and growth insights. #topofmind #millennials #business #PersonalBranding #PersonalGrowth

𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀—𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘂𝗹𝘁. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩: 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘥𝘐𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥. They’re doing nothing but... Sell. Sell. And sell. Post. Post. And Post Even More. The result? They chase likes, views, and comments—kidding themselves that they’re building a brand. 😮‍💨 But LinkedIn is just a tool. A platform. An opportunity. What’s it really for? → Clarifying your identity, trajectory, and value proposition. → Communicating your unique thoughts, worldviews, and ways of working together. → Creating connections that turn into REAL business. I might offend a few here, but let’s get real: Many LinkedIn “experts” get this wrong. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩: 𝘈𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 → 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. They chase trends, celebrate over being on multiple lists, obsess over colors and hooks, and post funny videos for 6/7-figure impressions (which are flawed metrics anyway). And then they hope and pray someone buys from them. 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘺: 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 → 𝘈𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. Start by asking: → Why do people ALREADY choose and buy me over others? → How does my work truly stand out? How do you do your work in a way that's unique, different or better than your peers? → What unique relevance does my storytelling and journey bring to my ICP (ideal client profile)? Once you clarify and know that, you can build attention around it. The first approach gets you fleeting spotlight. The second attracts buyers who are drawn to your light. 🌟 That’s how I’ve grown my practice to a multiple 7-figures one, speaking across 20+ cities like Tokyo, Chicago, Sydney, and Riyadh and impacting over 65,000 leaders. Not because I’m particularly talented. But because I’ve built my brand on a grounded, authentic foundation—one that starts with clarity about YOU and how YOU serve your world around. LinkedIn isn’t your shortcut to success. It’s your platform to amplify what’s already working. (and if you aren't doing good work first -- get off LinkedIn and work on your mastery) So, which approach are you taking? P.s. ✍🏻 I am Benjamin Loh, CSP, a strategic growth coach and consultant who has taught over 65,000 leaders in over 20 global cities and constructed some of the leading icons (TOT, Award Winners) in the financial industry in Asia through the power of authentic storytelling and authority building. 💪 Follow me for personal brand and growth insights. #topofmind #professionalspeaking

Struggling to connect with your LinkedIn audience? Here's how to post authentically for deeper connections. So many people post on LinkedIn to be seen. Flashy wins, humblebrags, or curated highlights might get attention. —but they don’t build trust or real influence. The truth? Your audience doesn’t care about your achievements until they see HOW it HELPS them. If you’re serious about growing your personal brand, here’s the shift you need to make: ❌ Stop trying to impress people. ✅ Start inspiring them with relatable and valuable content. In the carousel, you’ll discover: 👉🏻 The 3 levels of self-disclosure (and which one works). 👉🏻 Simple ways to create content that connects deeply with your audience. 💡 Bonus Tip: Ask yourself this before every post: “Does this teach or inspire someone else?” → If not, rework it. The best content makes your audience feel seen and heard. 👉 Swipe through the carousel to learn how to build trust and authority that lasts. What’s one thing you’ve learned about sharing authentically on LinkedIn? I'd love to hear your thought. P.s. ✍🏻 I am Benjamin Loh, CSP, a strategic growth coach and consultant who has taught over 65,000 leaders in over 20 global cities and constructed some of the leading icons (TOT, Award Winners) in the financial industry in Asia through the power of authentic storytelling and authority building. 💪 Follow me for personal brand and growth insights. #topofmind #millennials #business

Do you wear this badge quite shamelessly (proudly, in fact) too? "𝗜'𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝗨𝗦𝗬" As an entrepreneur (or even executive), there's this real temptation: → Full-on schedules → Being always "in demand" → Appearing "highly sought after" (read: 8 coffee chats in a day) Yet, let's also not mistake productivity as... senseless activity. I shared this on my Instagram and it spoke to quite many too. And it's the Chinese interpretation of 'busy' (or grind, hustle) （忙) The constituents of the word has two more potential meaning: ☘️ 心 + 亡 - your heart, dies ☘️ 心 + 亡 = 忘 - we forget why and we lose ourselves in the chase On LinkedIn, there's always this insatiable for more. People are always trying to "one-up" each other with "Top 10 lists", "followers milestones" and more. Sounds familiar? Perhaps as we approach the mid of this work week, We should instead celebrate: 💙 Our different seasons of life - that not all of life is about the chase for more (content, leads and sales) 💙 Content creation can be without business intents too. It's about expression and connection. Or plainly, helping people. 💙 And we can live a wholly meaningful and purposeful life in the absence of jam-packed calendars and optics Don't be busy. Be one with yourself. Be at ease. Just be. #topofmind #reflections #busyness #disease

If I get a dollar every time I hear this: "Gen-Zs are the problem"... There'll be an additional million in my bank. I "headhunted" my personal brand lead, Marsha, fresh out of university. She works with us remotely, part of a team of 8 across Singapore, Philippines and Indonesia. But she defies all the "assumptions" about Gen-Zs: → "need to be spoon-fed" - she learns through mentorship, self-led learning and AI agents → "lazy and entitled" - she's first to show appreciation and never watches the clock → "easily bruised... like a 🍓" - she's hardy and takes feedback readily So what have I learnt managing Gen-Zs in the recent 1-2 years: 🌟 Autonomy with guardrails – Give them freedom to "fail" in ways that won't jepoardize the business. And set clear expectations for what they need to learn or achieve. 🌟 Explain the ‘why’ – Purpose, not just tasks. Show how their work fits into the bigger picture. For the clients and also, themselves - internal selling is essential. 🌟  Welcome periodic pushbacks – See questioning as curiosity and courage, not defiance. 🌟  Recognize effort, not just results – Celebrate progress, not just the final outcome. 🌟 Encourage ‘job crafting’ – Let them shape parts of their work to align with their strengths and interests. In her early twenties,  she's a rare gem. Independent, highly self-driven and curious, hunger for growth and learning. From Marsha, I've learnt that age has never been a yard stick for maturity and responsibility. More so, people rise to their expectations laid on them. So why do we expect the worst out of our staff, Gen-Zs or otherwise? If we think the youths are our future leaders, we've to think and act differently today. Do you agree? #topofmind #youth #careers

"𝗕𝗲𝗻, 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿. 𝗪𝗵𝘆?" This question came up twice during two separate podcasts today. Both exploring my career paths. And yes, on paper, my decisions looked risky: → Turning down a Big-4 accounting job for a sales job. → Leaving a 5-figure monthly income in sales to start on my own. → Scaling from a solo speaker (netting $300+k/year) to building an 8-person social media growth team across two countries (with higher cash burn). Here’s what I believe: Most people misunderstand risk. They think it’s “all or nothing.” Go big or go home. (that's silly imho) For example: 😮‍💨 No cushy Big-4 job? Career doomed. 😮‍💨 Leaving a stable income? I’ll be living off my wife (yes, that thought crossed my mind). 😮‍💨 Spending on growth? The entrepreneurship "dream" will burn through my savings. But risk is just the probability of a bad outcome. And here’s the kicker—what feels “safe” isn’t always risk-free. Quite a number of my university peers in big brand MNCs have been retrenched in recent years. Risky much? So, how do I approach risk? Lessons from mentors have shaped my thinking: ✅ Maximize the upside: What’s the potential gain? What steps can I take to increase my chances of success? ❌ Cap the downside: What’s the worst-case scenario I can tolerate? How can I protect myself from total burnout? The mindset that’s helped me: I can always return to my “last best case.” ⬇️ If scaling my team fails, I can go back to being a solo speaker. ⬇️ If the speaking thing doesn’t work, I can get a corporate job. ⬇️ If a corporate job doesn’t pan out, I trust my network and skills to create new opportunities. Risk, I’ve learned, is often just the story we tell ourselves. What if we saw it instead as the price of admission to a bigger, more fulfilling life? After all, we arrive in this world with nothing—and we leave with nothing. So what is there to fear losing when nothing we have is actually ours? Do you agree? #Leadership #Risk #Growth

Most people fear failure. But at 60, you'll only regret the chances you didn't take. Growing up, I faced bullying from ages 7 to 17. I was far from a "stage person" and often thought of myself as plain and 'boring' As an introvert who didn't enjoy networking, stepping into the spotlight felt terrifying. But I took a risk. I turned down a safe big-4 accounting career to pursue speaking and coaching - with zero experience. Some months I had zero income! I took any work I could find - writing, hosting, and translation jobs just to survive. But I kept going. Fast forward to today: → I teach 5,000+ financial advisors across Asia → My speaking fee grew 200x since I started. → I've built a team of 8 creatives helping advisors build their brands. → We've transformed countless careers in the financial industry. Here's what I've learned from my journey: 💡 Start Small and Test → Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Start with small, manageable risks. → I began by speaking at small community events for free, testing my material and building confidence in low-pressure environments. 💡 Share Your Story → Your journey is unique and can inspire others. Authenticity connects. → I started sharing my bullying experiences on LinkedIn, and those vulnerable posts got 10x more engagement than my "professional" content. 💡 Embrace Failure as a Lesson → Don’t fear failure. Instead, view it as an opportunity to learn and grow. → I once overheard a negative comment after my first Mandarin presentation. That painful moment taught me to have better preparation before going on stage. 💡 Seek Support and Mentorship → Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who encourage you to take risks. → I found a mentor who constantly challenged me and shared insightful tips, pushing me far beyond what I thought possible for myself. 💡 Take Action Now → Stop waiting. The best time to start is today. → As an introvert, I used to avoid networking events completely. But, I started setting a simple goal - have just one meaningful conversation per event. That perfect moment? It doesn't exist. The only moment you have is now. What's one bold move you've been hesitating to make? 💪 Follow me for personal brand and growth insights. #topofmind #millennials #business #GrowthMindset #SelfDevelopment

I messed up my first 50 social media posts. Want to know something funny? I kept a folder of all my failed attempts. Each one was a lesson in what didn't work. My captions felt forced and my videos made me cringe. I had no idea what I was doing. But here's what most people don't see... Behind those 50 "failures" was a system I built through trial and error: 1️⃣ Content Research (I call it 3-3-3 method): → Read 3 posts that made me stop scrolling → Study 3 content creators I admire → Spend 3 minutes breaking down why their content works 2️⃣ Video Practice: → Record myself speaking in front of a mirror and also recording it → Watch it back (yes, it's uncomfortable) and review it 3x (audio only, visual only, all-in) → Focus on one thing to improve each time 3️⃣ Strategy Building (My ABC approach): → A - Analyze what resonates with your audience. → B - Build content around those topics. → C - Check engagement and adjust. Many think they're "not good" at social media. I hear this from my clients daily. But here's what 10 years of coaching taught me: 💡 Natural talent isn't the secret. It's about showing up consistently and learning deliberately. 👉🏻 Post #1-50: You learn what doesn't work 👉🏻 Post #51-100: You find your voice 👉🏻 Post #100-150: You build your style 👉🏻 Post #150+: Things start clicking and resonating Remember: Every "master" was once a disaster. The only difference? They didn't wait to be "ready." What's one small step you want to take today? 🤔 P.s. ✍🏻 I am Benjamin Loh, CSP, a strategic growth coach and consultant who has taught over 65,000 leaders in over 20 global cities and constructed some of the leading icons (TOT, Award Winners) in the financial industry in Asia through the power of authentic storytelling and authority building. 💪 Follow me for personal brand and growth insights. #PersonalBranding #SocialMedia #Growth

"𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝗲?" This question hit me hard many years ago. I’ve always had a quiet dreamer side. Growing up, I’d rush home after school with my grandma (to her displeasure, carried my bag while chasing after me). Why? To watch the 国际大专辩论会 (international varsity debates) in Mandarin, live on TV. I didn’t understand the philosophical or economic subject matters and much less with the complexity of the Mandarin language, but one thought stuck with me: "𝘐𝘧 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘦?" That became a core memory. 🌟 Fast forward to university. I was in Accounting school, surrounded by endless conversations about GPA, internships, and graduate salaries. Everyone was chasing the "Singapore reality." (as they should). I got caught up in it too—until I attended a motivational talk. The speaker asked: "𝘏𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘦?" It hit me. Somewhere along the way, I had. I had stopped dreaming and started grinding through a life that didn’t feel like mine. I didn't want to be a corporate CEO or be revered in my corner office. I wanted to speak, teach and inspire. That question planted a new seed. → I turned down a Big-4 accounting offer. → I did sales for my first job. → I left that job, even with 5-figure months, to start my own practice → I published my first book before 30. Now, I speak and teach for a living across 20+ cities—Tokyo, Riyadh, Sydney—with global brands like AIA, DBS, Manulife, Prudential, and Porsche as part of my growing clientele. They don't care I didn't work a single day in an MNC. 💯 Sounds like a “pipe dream”? Many think dreams are impractical or only for the privileged. I vehemently disagree. Every step of my journey, I worked my ass off—with zero parental support or "rich connections" parachutes or door openers. I survived months with plenty of rejections and no income, dipping into my savings. Dreams matter because they represent the purest version of YOU. The "you" before the world told you what was “realistic". I took this photo at Fudan University, one of China’s top three universities where students DREAM of studying here. You've to be in the top 0.1% in their 高考 college entrance exams to get a place here. It felt like a full-circle moment—a reminder of my childhood dream inspired by Mandarin debates. So, if you still have a dream, dream on. Chase it. Work wildly at it. And maybe, you’ll find yourself back where it all started. Only this time, it's real. Keep dreaming. Don't let em' die. 💙 #topofmind #professionalspeaking

"What if people are sick of reading my story on social media?" Here's the truth (and why you should still do it) 👇🏻 I felt the same—until I learned something that completely changed how I show up online. When I first started sharing my story online, I assumed everyone had already seen it. I felt hesitant to repeat myself, worrying, “What if people lose interest?” Then I learned something that changed my perspective: 💡 Most of your audience doesn’t catch your story the first time—or even the second. In fact, only a small fraction of people see your content at all. (2-5% organic exposure rate, typically, on LinkedIn) And those who do need to hear it more than once for it to truly stick. ❌ The biggest mistake we make is thinking that repetition will bore people. We assume that sharing the same story too often will make us seem redundant. But in reality, it’s not about being redundant—it’s about being remembered. Repetition is what turns your story into your signature. Someone hearing your story today might not be ready to connect with it yet. But if you repeat it, they’ll hear it when the time is right. ✨ Repetition builds familiarity, and familiarity builds trust. 1/ Share Your Story Across Different Platforms → Every platform has its own audience. → Share your story in different formats to reach more people. → What someone misses on Instagram, they might catch on LinkedIn or in a podcast. 2/ Reframe Your Story to Keep It Fresh → Retell your story from a new perspective or focus on a different lesson. → This keeps it engaging for repeat listeners while reinforcing your key message. 3/ Trust the Power of Repetition → Don’t assume everyone has heard your story. Most haven’t. → Repetition helps your audience associate you with your message and values. Also, people are at different stages of awareness when they are consuming your content! When I started repeating my story, everything changed: 👉🏻 More people connected with my message. 👉🏻 My audience started to recognize me for the values and lessons I consistently shared. 👉🏻 And most importantly, my stories finally started to stick. Repetition isn’t just retelling—it’s reinforcing. Repeat → Reinforce → Retain Your story becomes "sticky" and resonant, when you share it consistently. Do you agree? 💪 Follow me for personal brand and growth insights. #topofmind #millennials #business"

𝗨𝗻𝗽𝗼𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗢𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 - 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗰 🤮 (and that's also how it's designed - from an Algorithm Engineer) I recall I once posted a photo of my toddler and I. It was an experience waking up to this comment from a random Oz dude: "Two ugly people. What's the point of this post?" It was visceral. Thankfully, being a practitioner for over a decade. I made "lemonade out of lemons". With a re-post, I made a point and also saved it in my 'teaching file' Interestingly, I also reported it to the LinkedIn team in charge of safety and censorship. Unfortunately, I didn't get any responses. Now watch this clip from Nick Hsu, AI algorithm engineer at RedNote (Xiao Hong Shu). And further, 🤬 "Social media platforms use variable rewards, like likes and comments, to trigger dopamine release, creating addictive behaviors" (Harvard University, 2021). 🤬 "Algorithms prioritize sensational or polarizing content because it drives higher engagement, even if it fosters negativity" (Nature Communications, 2020). 🤬 "Endless scrolling and autoplay features are designed to hijack attention through the same mechanisms as slot machines" (Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 2019). What's the point here? ☘️ Use Social Media, Don't Let It Use You - at the end of the day, your worth is not measured in metrics ☘️ Learn Healthy Detachment - it's truly hard (even for me). But know how to detach yourself especially when you receive vile comments or nasty attacks from trolls ☘️ Maintain Good Frames for Management - play the game and don't let the game play you. I use batched social media updates at fixed timings of the days to be not spiked by constant "engagement" ☘️ Let Data Speak - contradicting but when people get too riled up by emotions, mange the efforts by data. So long it gets you towards your professional goals, you're on to something ☘️ You are ENOUGH - don't get swayed by marketers or "LinkedIn coaches" to be on the senseless journey for more and more. No, you don't need 100,000 followers to be "someone" (or to be profitable) -- I love LinkedIn for what it has done for my career. It has opened up global markets for me to teach over 65,000 leaders in over 20 cities and be paid to do what Iove - teaching. But never will I allow myself to be measured or defined by this platform and my "performance" on it. Are you with me? 👋🏻 #topofmind #socialmedia #mentalhealth

Who’s the last person that reminded you to not settle for less? For me, it’s Jade. 💯 You might know her as a Singapore-based media personality and content creator. I first "met" her on the big screens (Point of Entry). But what truly inspired me was her boldness to keep reinventing herself: → From mainstream media to building her own media presence on social, she never dials down her potential → During the pandemic, she pivoted into livestreaming—a completely new frontier for her with good 5-6 figures revenues and opportunities → Her zest for life is unstoppable. As a high introvert, I joked that just watching her Instagram Stories—filled with livestreams and outdoor expeditions—was already exhausting for me! Recently, I had the privilege to help her with a keynote speech for a financial services client. 🌟 As an experienced media professional and presenter, I initially wondered how much I could contribute to her craft. Thankfully having taught in this industry for past 7-8 years helped: "𝘐 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘉𝘦𝘯'𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦-𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘦 𝘢 𝘬𝘦𝘺𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦. 𝘏𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥. 𝘐 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐'𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯. 𝘙𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘴, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺-𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥. 𝘈𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳, 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘻𝘦𝘳𝘰 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴 𝘐 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘥. 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵-𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘐 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘪𝘵, 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘉𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘧𝘵." This says so much about Jade’s humility and openness to learning. 💪🏻 And yes, it’s always a bonus to connect with a fellow Singapore Management University alum! 💙 So, who’s inspired you to push your limits recently? #TopOfMind #Coaching

I paid someone to shoot me in Shanghai. Yes, I’m dead serious about it. 💯 When you travel, what do you spend your hard-earned money on? I’ve never been a huge fan of material goods (okay, I do have a luxury bag collection for "investment"—don’t tell my wife 🤫). But I’m a big believer in 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜. The idea is simple: How do you invest in an activity that gives you multiple returns? This morning, I booked a photography package with a local studio in Shanghai. It included the full works—makeup (yes, even for men), outfits, a photographer trailing me along The Bund, and post-edited photos. Here’s how it stacks up: 📸 Core memories of my time in Shanghai. 🚶🏻‍♀️ Exploring the city on foot with a local guide. 🗣️ Conversations with a 00-后 Gen-Z photographer about life in China and perspectives from a youth 🗂️ Building my media portfolio. 📲 Sharing reflections and content on social media. Most importantly, it’s a way to capture myself at this age and time. After all, I’m only this young (and old) once. Bill Perkins, author of Die with Zero, reminds us that money is a means, not an end. We save, hoard, and save some more—but what’s the point if we don’t use it to create meaningful experiences? He says: "𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴, 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘵, 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦. 𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴. 𝘚𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳?" There’s a time premium for creating memories. So, spend wisely on the present—for the people you love and for yourself. Make memories now so you don’t regret it later. Are you in the same "money camp" as me? How do you spend your dollars after taking care of the essentials? #topofmind #travels #professionalspeaking