Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Quick Quiz: Are You A Game Changer or Just a Player?




In the game of life, we are all participants.  While most of us are just regular players of the sports; however a few are definitely game changers.  After spending a week talking to over a hundred young adults in Saigon, I started to see a pattern of characteristics that strikingly differentiated one group from the other.  If you have a moment to reflect, see how you respond to this Quick Quiz and eventually your future:

1.       Do you think ahead of what will happen in 3-5 years?
2.       Do you act decisively now to guide your life to a different path in 3-5 years?
3.       Do you clearly live life with a purpose beyond your own happiness?  

If you answered “yes” to all three questions, then congratulations… you are a game changer!  Let’s examine three case studies and see how much you can relate to these individuals.  Ready? 

Case 1: Vision
Let’s begin with Hai Nguyen who quit after first year at the University of Economics (UEH) and attempted to take his study abroad.  In our conversation, Hai confined not wanting to repeat the trend of his two older brothers who graduated in consecutive years at the same university with no employment offer.  According to Hai, 60-70% of Vietnam graduates are unemployed, and he didn’t see any reason to believe his fate would be improved.  With this clear vision, he made a bold move to quit school and pursue a better education overseas.  Keep in mind he has neither offer nor guaranty from the alternative.  To beat the odd of being unemployed 2:1 upon graduation, he changed the way he plays the game.

Case 2: Action
I first met Tom Le in November of 2013 when I spoke at his Saigon Toastmasters Club.  Later he shared that my “D.R.E.A.M” speech gave him a stronger belief of what a Vietnamese can do.  So, he quit an engineering firm and pursued his dream job.  When we met again last month, his first remark to me was, “Like you, I quit my job.”  All I know is now he seems much happier, and isn’t that what we're all striving to achieve: happiness?  Note the similarity in Tom and Hai’s decision in Case 1, they both quit what was not working for them.  This action set them apart from the majority of folks that I conversed – most of them did nothing.

Case 3: Purpose
The most fascinating person I met on this trip was Cuc “Cu” Nguyen who quit UEH in favor of the University of Architecture.  I was invited to be a judge in a Toastmasters humorous speech contest, and Cuc easily rose above other four contestants.  While others were hilarious with the typical college-life conundrum of “Boys from Mars and Girls are Diva” plot, Cuc made us laughed so hard with her “Cuc-cu-pedia” of being true to herself.  Her body language is so natural for her carefree personality that the thought of her having Attention Deficit Disorder (not true) crossed my mind.  Once I had a chance to interview her for this blog, and learned her desire to become an Art teacher and use creative thinking to educate kids; I knew this gal is special as a game changer under proper mentorship and with the right opportunity.

In conclusion, should you rush out of college or quit your job now?  Maybe if it doesn't fit in with your “Vision – Action – Purpose”. I know we aren't Bill Gates or Steve Job, but we don't know that if we don't even try.  Once you find the courage to do what Hai, Tom, and Cuc did, you will never look back.  I also talked at length with many working professionals on the subject of change, and three persons helped me seeing three more virtues in their thought process and daily actions: Leadership with Phong Huy Tran of Intel, Passion with Chau Hong Anh of Choson.com.vn, and Compassion with Lan Pham of Bayer.

Action Plan: You can focus on the Vision-Action-Purpose in your late teen/early 20’s, then develop Leadership-Passion-Compassion in late 20’s/early 30’s, and you will change the game in VN soon.  Best of luck.



Blogger Bio

Jimmy Thai, DTM founded the Leadership Foundation Academy to develop future leaders with passion and compassion.  He speaks and coaches Fortune500 companies to re-infuse the American Pride in corporate America and the American Dream to the world.  He went to prison twice before turning 17, and today lives in American Finest City – San Diego, California.  Jimmy earned 2 Master’s degrees MBA and MSEE from California State University, and BSEE degree from the 20th best university in the world - University of California San Diego.  He welcomes your comments and loves to collaborate with you on Change Leadership, Motivational Management, Decision Analysis, the ABC Secrets of Appearance - Body language - Conversation, and Asian Business Development. 


In 2015, Leadership Foundation Academy has donated over $10K USD to its Build a School – Leave a Legacy program, which built 2 kindergarten schools in Ha Giang and Yen Bai provinces.  Our 3rd project is to construct a 30-m bridge in Tran Van Thoi district, Ca Mau to save little students from drowning on their way to school.














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