2024 - Your year of being courageous

We are a few days into the new year and I hope you are still brimming with excitement about those resolutions you pledged to on 31 December 2023. Did they dare you enough to make you a little nervous?

One of my resolutions for 2024 was to get my first book published. Now that is daunting. Especially for someone with no experience as a writer.

But I'm thrilled to let you know that my manuscript is with the editor and 6 February is the expected publication date. This exercise has been a remarkable journey. I'm absolutely over the moon.

To celebrate completing the writing stage, I have decided to share an excerpt from the book to whet your appetite.

Enjoy.

Chapter 18: Being Courageous to Change Direction

The early morning air was warm against my skin as I strolled down the main road in Senggigi.

Tall palm trees lined both sides of the street, providing me with welcome shade from the rising heat.

Scooters passing by occasionally interrupted the peaceful atmosphere's tranquility. The birds chirping filled the air, a soothing melody that blended with the distant sound of the ocean.

The locals were just beginning to open their family-owned warungs. As I passed by, smiling faces greeted me with a friendly "Selamat pagi." Most of the warung owners know me, the tall foreigner who looks like an Indonesian. 

The sun was rising, bringing with it a gentle warmth. The sights and sounds of tropical island life surrounded me, and it felt like home.

Suddenly, I heard the screeching of an air brake.

I whipped around to see a huge vehicle towering behind me. It was a gleaming, modern tourist bus, stretching out to be almost 40 feet long. The sleek machine gracefully made a sharp turn across the street. It took up the entire width, from sidewalk to sidewalk.

The sound of the engine reverberated around the area, creating an auditory spectacle.

The bus driver had blocked the entire road. He was attempting to make an impossible U-turn on the narrow street.

I was astonished, wondering how he would pull it off.

I watched in awe, expecting this to take a while. But to the bus driver, it was a simple 3-point turn. In a matter of seconds, the bus was facing the opposite direction.

Before I could even catch my breath, the bus was already speeding away. I let out a sigh of relief, thankful that the driver had managed to make the turn without any issues.

While walking back home, I had a realization. Sometimes our lives resemble a long, cumbersome tourist bus.

We speed down the coast of life, maneuvering tight bends and heavy traffic. We hit the brakes hard as if every turn could be our last.

But then there are times when we need to completely change direction. We know we're heading the wrong way; we took the wrong road. These moments can be difficult and even seem impossible. Turning around will cause some unrest amongst those accompanying you.

But if you're not willing to alter your course or take a U-turn, you'll soon be faced with a disaster.

Your desired destination becoming out of reach is a terrible possibility. It could completely upend your life. The consequences will be severe, and the repercussions felt in your later years.

A heart attack left me teetering on the brink of death. It shook me to the very core, a near-death experience.

I knew I was heading down the wrong road, but I had the skill and knowledge to make the necessary changes that would turn my life around. I had the tools to manoeuvre my bus and turn it around, like an experienced bus driver.

You too can become a master of changing direction by embracing this way of thinking and getting comfortable with the tools in this book.

If you are questioning the direction of your life, it takes courage to make a change. Taking responsibility for your future can feel daunting and overwhelming, but it's important to be honest with yourself.

No one is coming to save you if you are on the wrong path.

This book provides you with the mindset and tools to help you make a U-turn. Take a bold step and trust in yourself.

It takes an immense amount of bravery to break away from the status quo and forge a new path. Don't be scared to take risks and challenge yourself.

Believe in yourself and start the journey to create the life you desire.

An extract from my book: “From Suits to Sandals – A futures roadmap to help professionals live a simpler life.” 

As loyal subscribers to my newsletter, I will keep you updated with launch details.

PS If you would like some help with turning your bus around reach out for a chat.

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Over the past three months that I have been working on the book, you may have noticed that you did not receive my monthly newsletter.

Besides being busy with the book, there was something else that was weighing heavily on me - the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Over this period, I have found it incredibly difficult to promote my brand on LinkedIn (my primary social media platform) and through this newsletter.

This tragedy has allowed all of us to reflect on the state of humanity and has shown us the importance of standing up for justice.

In light of events in Palestine, I have decided to donate all proceeds from the sale of my book during the launch month to Gaza. This is the least I can do.

I will continue to speak up against genocide across my channels.

Here are some of my LinkedIn posts related to Gaza:

Take a stand against genocide- A LinkedIn guide

Elon Musk has gone to the dark side.

I do not support a two-state solution in the Middle East.

The uncomfortable truth that Piers Morgan must accept.

Please UNFOLLOW me.  I haven’t posted in the last 2 weeks.