JJ Loke Coaching

Lately, I’ve been thinking about a suggestion from a coworker: “be patient with non-tech people.” At first, I laughed it off because I’m usually the most patient person on the team when it comes to fixing problems and working with others. 🧘‍♂️

But after a while, I started to wonder what it really meant. If someone felt they had to remind me to be patient, then maybe there was something I needed to work on. 🧐

Looking back at my time in this job, which I think is perfect for me, hearing that I needed to “be more patient with people” was surprising. The more I thought about it, the more I realized I need patience not just with others, but with everything in life. 💡

As someone who always wants things to be perfect and efficient, I get frustrated when things don’t go as planned. 😤 But this year, I know things will be slower for me at work, so I need to learn to be patient and enjoy the quiet moments. 🙏

I have to tell myself that learning to be slow and embrace patience isn’t about being weak, it’s about growing stronger. In those moments of waiting, I will find the most important lessons and chances to become better versions of myself. 💪

So let’s welcome patience into our lives with open arms, knowing it will lead us to great things! 🌱

It’s the start of the project scoping and planning season. As a program manager who has owned this program for 2+ years now, I should already have a good planning structure in place and be ready to engage with my stakeholders. 🗣️

I do have all my documents organized, but my perfectionism and constant desire for change have driven me to always seek improvement, hoping that something better will emerge. 📝

I found myself stuck in an abundance of ideation and ended up getting no actual work done. I changed my working spot from my desk to the sofa, had coffee and snacks to freshen myself up, and even tried doing some stretching to loosen my tensed muscles. However, nothing seemed to help me put words onto a document that was supposed to be very straightforward. 😔

Eventually, I decided to just braindump everything onto a document without even trying to edit the grammar and flow. This is when my ideas started to flow naturally, and I could write “normally” again.

I realized I held high expectations of myself, striving for the best structure, perfect grammar, and correct points to influence the right audience. In reality, I just needed to let go of such expectations and put things down. It helped me unblock my writing flow; the editing can come later once I have all my content on the document. 🌊

Remember, progress is a journey, not a destination. Embrace the process of creation, and don’t be afraid to start imperfectly. It’s through iteration and learning from mistakes that true growth and excellence are achieved.

Trust in your abilities, be kind to yourself, and keep moving forward. Your willingness to take action, even in the face of imperfection, is what will ultimately lead you to success. 💪🌟

Side note: The steps you’ve taken to overcome your fears may lead you to a more fulfilling place. 🚶‍♂️💪

Last week, both my siblings visited me in the UK for the first time in 12 years. During our reunion in London, we recreated a photo we had taken in Covent Garden a dozen years ago. 📸✨ (swipe left to see the photo) 🫣

As I reviewed these pictures, comparing the past and the present, I realized how far I’ve come since I first set foot in a foreign country over a decade ago. 🇲🇾->🇬🇧

In those early days, I used to fear speaking English due to my Malaysian accent. I used to fear of being compared and judged, especially as a village boy and the first child from my family to be studying in a foreign big city. I used to worry about meeting everyone’s expectations and feared the challenges of securing a stable job and achieving financial independence. Additionally, being a quiet person, I used to fear not being recognized and acknowledged. 😬😢

Despite these initial fears, what once seemed daunting has now become part of my comfort zone. The transformation occurred because I chose to venture into the unknown areas that once frightened me. 🌟

As long as I’m not jeopardizing my life or financial stability, I see no reason not to explore those once-feared territories. After all, in the grand scheme of things, we come and go with empty hands; there’s truly nothing to lose.

Remember, the most beautiful journeys often begin with a step into the unknown – embrace your fears, take those steps, and watch as your own story unfolds in ways you never imagined. ✨

Recently, my partner brought home a Lego set, inspired by my younger brother who’s visiting. It was our first Lego adventure since childhood.

As I watched them built it, I got curious and joined in. The process was collaborative, sparking conversations and interactions that brought us closer as a family. 🏡

I enjoyed it so much that I found myself back at the Lego store the next day, buying another set for myself. 🛍️

It was relaxing and sparked my creativity. And I suppose it felt so calming because it allowed me to tap into my inner child, free from expectations, stress, and judgement. After all, there’s no wrong way to build with Lego. 🚀

It’s great to be a kid again sometimes. Maybe I’ve found a new hobby this year! 🎉

What’s your way of feeling like a kid?🎈

Reminder for myself and others to not let ego take precedence and instead, foster open and honest communication.

It's important to remember that it's okay to fall short sometimes, and it's these moments that truly shape us.

We're all human, after all, and life isn't always smooth sailing.

So let's embrace the journey, bumps and all, and continue to learn and grow together.

Ending my work week with a deep thought.

Yes - I do feel stuck sometimes 🫣 but I recognised that there’s no guidebook in “What’s Next?” in life, so let’s take a step at a time and we’ll soon find out how to be more satisfied overtime. 😁

This memory reminded me that nothing is impossible. 💪🏻 (Pardon any errors in my English. It’s not my first language and I was in the early stages of learning it 11 years ago 🤓)

I was once facing significant financial challenges while pursuing my university studies in the UK. The thought of returning to Malaysia and abandoning my studies after just one year was terrifying. I could almost hear the inner Asian voice, telling me that I had brought shame upon my family and my late mother. 😢

Fast forward to the present, and I’m now working in the UK, financially independent from my family, and even able to support them back home in Malaysia.

This journey has been far from easy, particularly as a first-generation college student and immigrant with very limited financial support. However, looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. I have no regrets about the path I’ve chosen. Each challenge I’ve faced has only served to make me stronger.

I’m not saying this to brag, but rather to give myself a well-deserved pat on the back and to express my gratitude to those who have supported me on this journey.

Life can be tough, but it’s all about learning how to make lemonade when life hands you lemons. 🍋 My lemonade is sweet and tasty now, and I hope yours will be too! 😉

Happy 2024! 🎉

My first "failed" career switch happened in my grad role at Lloyds Banking Group. I was a competent worker but lacked passion because I always had my mind set on a different job scope. Determined to make a career switch, an ex-colleague reached out and offered me a job opportunity at their company, a job that aligned with my interest area. 🤩

However, hesitation crept in and I was fueled by worries about perceptions due to my short tenure. In my first interview for the switch, I naively said, "I'm trying to see if I'm fit for this industry." 🫠

The "trying" mindset led to interview failure, but it brought invaluable feedback—to be more decisive and prepared. "Trying" wasn't a sufficiently strong reason for a career move. 😅

It took time to shed the "trying" narrative and embrace assertiveness. Through self-discovery, and understanding of strengths, passions, and areas of expertise, I gained the confidence for decisive, successful career choices. 🚀

If you're at a crossroads, uncertain about your next move, let's chat! Book a free 15-minute chat through the link in my bio. ✨

"Friendly Reminder: You accomplished a lot in 2023. Let's take a moment to review the highlights and recognise how awesome you are." - From Meta, to me. 🫶

While this year, much like any other, has been a roller coaster, the challenges in the Tech Industry made 2023 particularly demanding. I witnessed a lot of my colleagues, friends, and managers got impacted through rounds and rounds of layoff. It has been more than 6 months now yet the feeling of unease still lingers around and I'm certain it will take time to heal.

Having said that, let's not overlook the positive strides we've made. We've managed to keep ourselves afloat during uncertainties (personally and professionally), excelled in managing work deliverables, and prioritised our mental well-being (as I did a few months ago).

So here's a friendly reminder to my followers, whatever career challenges you're facing right now, know that it will pass. Whether you stay in your current role or explore new opportunities, it's okay. A better path will awaits, so hold onto hope. Remember to celebrate the small wins along the way and you'll get through this!

Here's to overcoming challenges and embracing a promising 2024! 🚀

Reflecting on the twists and turns of my career journey is like exploring a labyrinth - initially aspiring to be a doctor, nudged into studying Actuarial Science, diving into banking risk modelling, recruited to Facebook for a role in a completely new field, and now wearing the hat of a program manager. One question always echoes in my mind: Did I make the right decisions? 🧐

In each moment of reflection, a resounding 'Yes' surfaces. At the time of each decision, it perfectly aligned with my core values and aspirations. Yet, here I am today, contemplating once again. Is it wrong to think differently now? Absolutely not! Human beings grow, evolve, and gain new insights daily. The decisions of yesterday were right based on what I knew then. 🔥

So, what's the takeaway? Look forward, plan for the next steps, and make the right decision for now - based on your current knowledge, insights, and values. Let's all embrace the beauty of evolving decisions! 🚀

A final reminder that there's a Comms Crafting Workshop this weekend and there are less than 5 spots left! Please head over to the link in my bio to sign up, and see you soon! 🤩

In my quest to become a proficient project manager, I initially wrestled with the unattainable concept of perfection. The truth dawned on me — perfection is not attainable. However, the pursuit of perfection can lead us to achieve excellence. 🌟

I embarked on a learning journey, seeking wisdom from every corner of my team, studying best practices, and learning from the most skilled individuals and stakeholders I could find. I was in search of "the best" to learn from, with the aspiration of crafting the perfect project plan. 📚

Despite my efforts, I realized that perfection remained unattainable. Instead, I found myself cultivating a working and effective project management style by absorbing insights from various sources. 💼

Acknowledging that I hadn't achieved perfection, I made the bold decision to roll out my project documents. Surprisingly, it was well-received throughout the team. I listened to feedback, addressed concerns, and iteratively improved, inching closer to my own definition of perfection.💡

You can learn from my journey of continuous improvement in communications skills by joining my free workshop coming up this weekend! Don't miss the chance to explore the nuances of project management, embrace imperfection, and discover the path to excellence. Sign up now with the link in my bio! 📆