If Anne Can

OC32: Celebrating the Joy of a Writers’ Group! 

To celebrate International Women’s Day you are invited to listen to some beautiful and evocative readings from members of the American Women’s Association Writers’ Group. 

Hear the stories of women who came to Singapore in the 1940s and 50s, and made the little red dot their home. Listen to a searing piece bearing witness to the profound changes in women’s lives as they emerge from the yoke of domestic primary care and finally enjoy a beautiful poem celebrating change and growth.

It has been my honour, joy and privilege to have been co-chair of this wonderful, diverse and magical group!

 References
American Women's Association: https://awasingapore.org/

The Power of Your Outer Circle  

There is no doubt your inner circle of family and close friends is important but have you considered the power of your outer circle? Those people who you may not see socially but whose impact on your life can be significant.    

For the past two years, Asha Langdon and I have been attending Douglas McAndrew’s pilates class in the Momentum Studio on Monday afternoons. 

Recording this podcast was the first time we had met outside of the gym. 

Tune in to hear us talk about what a profound difference being part of this community has made to us.  

We also talk about how to make fitness a life- long commitment; the benefits of group exercise; how being part of a community will propel you to do things you would never contemplate alone; how consistency is key and how important it is to keep moving; oh and my love of Tunnocks Teacakes!     

References:

Momentum Lab; https://momentumlab.sg/

In this podcast, I celebrate my community by re-sharing an episode which was recorded at the dawn of 2020. In it @Melinda and @Alka and I share stories about starting new things; taking joy in the support of others; truly appreciating friendship and the importance of reaching out and making a human connection to as many people as possible in your community.

We also explore the magic of appreciating ‘what is;’ the loneliness of starting new things as a freelancer; the wonderful feeling that comes when people you meet truly ‘get you’  

Keep going – there are more people than you know who are cheering for you!      

References:

Celebrating The Story – www.celebratringthestory.com

The Good Habit Guide: Being a Trailing Spouse: Easy to Implement Habits to Help you Make the Most of Expat Life by Anne Morgan   Kindle Edition https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XW7KVNQ

Alka Chandiramani: linkedin.com/in/alkachandiramanisingapore

Melinda Murphy: linkedin.com/in/melinda-murphy-1473a64

American Association of Singapore – www.aasingapore.com

Career Resource Center for Excellence (CRCE) https://www.aasingapore.com/about-crce/ 

Today’s show is part of our regular writer’s series where I talk to writers about their community, practise and what it is about their particular story that makes them write in the first place. 

Liz Coward began her professional life as a solicitor and then studied for an MA in screenwriting. She is now a freelance writer and speaker whose work has been broadcast on the BBC and whose scripts have been produced and performed. In April 2017, Liz’s first book, Blood and Bandages – fighting for life in the RAMC Field Ambulance 1940 -1946, was published by Sabrestorm Publishing. It was subsequently featured on TV, radio and in the press. Most recently, the book’s star, William Earl, appeared in the documentary, Gary Lineker: My Grandad’s War for the BBC. 

We start are conversation around the theme of change and metamorphosis. Exploring how William Earl became a soldier and how Liz became a writer. Liz explains how her own experience of mental illness was the catalyst for her writing and for her philosophy on life. 

Liz covers authenticity, exposure of self, inner strength and overcoming stigma. She also talks about what she is looking for in a community and how good quality feedback is a crucial part of the writing process. 

We end our conversation by celebrating William Earl who is 105 and still living his life to the full.  

A huge thank you for listening and wishing you all some of William and Liz’s vitality, wisdom and the ability to overcome diversity.  

References:

You can learn more about Liz here – https://www.lizcoward.com/

The Society of Women Writers and Journalists: https://www.swwj.co.uk/

ANZA Writers Group: https://anza.org.sg/groups/writers-group/#!event-register/2020/1/1/join-writers-group-2020  

AWA Writers’ Group: https://awasingapore.org/Content.aspx?cid=61  

If you would like to purchase a signed copy of Blood and Bandages you can contact Liz or buy here: 

https://expatliving.sg/world-war-two-book-by-an-expat-living-in-singapore/ 

https://www.battlebox.com.sg/

OC28: Community: Building on the Experiences of 2020 with Diana Wu David 

Diana Wu David is a strategist, innovator, entrepreneur and the author of Future Proof Reinventing Work in the Age of Acceleration. Her diverse global career includes assisting Henry Kissinger and leading executive education initiatives for the Financial Times. A super-connector of people and sought after speaker, Diana lives in Hong Kong.  

Diana likens the experience of 2020 to training at high altitude. We have all accelerated, learned a lot about ourselves and are poised to put that learning into good use in 2021.

Diana believes the experience of 2020 has elevated the importance of community. As jobs become more transient the need to invest in a community with longevity is increasingly vital. Community helps us craft our own story, try something out before launching to a wider body, celebrate wins and know there are others who will look out for us. 

Diana explores her experience of cultivating and contributing to a successful community.  She says building community takes time; there has to be a common purpose; members must contribute and champion the concept. In time the community will take on its own form and direction without the need for the originator to constantly broadcast.

Diana believes that semi-private professional networks will grow and become an increasingly important part of building a successful professional life. Building a web of support which is separate from an employer.

Diana draws on her experience with the Kissinger Institute and how this taught her the value of connection, how to learn through people, and the importance of character. 

Diana leaves us with three areas of our lives to consider as we start 2021 

Vitality: both physical and mental

Connection: Investing in meaningful relationships

Contribution: professional and community

Having something to look forward to in each of these areas will set us up for a successful and fulfilling year.

A huge thank you for listening and wishing all of you a very happy, healthy and hopeful 2021! 

References:

www.dianawudavid.com/futureproofinsider

Born at the dawn of the 21th Century in the year of the Dragon, Lydia Chen and Vihan Chandiramani are two of Singapore’s top students. This year they expected to start their university life in London; Lydia at UCL and Vihan at Imperial. Instead, they are at home in Singapore, in their bedrooms studying on-line.

We talk about attending lectures in a different time zone; how hard it is to have to reach out in the hope of establishing a friendship, and how much it is appreciated when someone reaches out to them. 

How being Gen Z doesn’t mean they don’t suffer from Zoom fatigue. 

How they are overcoming their situation, and fighting the growing realisation that they have to go backwards to go forwards.

We also explore the importance of good mental health and how the universities are supporting them. How both have been fundamentally changed by their experience but remain remarkably pragmatic and optimistic that the ‘tarnished’ start will not define the rest of their university career. 

References:

Lydia Chen on Instagram: thelidlprince

Vihan Chandiramani on Instagram: vihan55 

OC26: Paying Attention and living Life on Your Own Terms 

Today I’m talking to Jess Duff, lawyer, writer, editor and publisher. 

Jess arrived in Singapore from London six years ago with three children aged five, three and one. She has established a new life and community and in doing so, paid close attention to blending the personal and professional to create a life that chimed with her values and personality.

We talk about the feelings of bewilderment and uncertainty experienced when you are building a new life in a new country, the unpacking both physically and metaphorically, and the replicating and recreating of roles and identities. 

What do you need to pay attention to? How gender roles become more delignated and defined; the gulf between the before and after.

Accounting to yourself and choosing which opportunities to pursue. 

The joy of a creative project and the pros and cons of working in collaboration with a partner.  

We also talk about how Jess is using her skills as a lawyer to help other expats write their wills – something that is vitally important!  

Finally, we discuss balance, gratitude and reaching an understanding that being frantically busy may not make you happy.  

References

The Expats Guide to Singapore: Finding your feet on the Little Red Dot: Alison Ozawa Sanders and Jessica Duff  

https://www.amazon.com/Expats-Guide-Singapore-Finding-Little-ebook/dp/B07PK697BN

Finding Purpose in Business  

This is the first podcast I ever recorded. 

Gib Bulloch consults, writes and speaks on a range of topics relating to the role of business in society. His first book: “The Intrapreneur: Confessions of a Corporate Insurgent” (2018) is a personal story of his 15-year journey to create and scale Accenture’s global "not-for-loss" consulting business.

Gib believes passionately in the power of business to change the world and in the power of the individual to change the world of business and he is in the process of creating a business ‘decelerator’ on the Isle of Bute in Scotland where he was born.

Two years ago I heard the inspirational Gib Bulloch speak at a conference in Singapore. I was interested in starting a podcast but at the time had not actually recorded any episodes. 

I didn’t know Gib but with help from Martin Ryan plucked up the courage to speak to him after his talk and with huge grace, Gib agreed to record a podcast in the only 30 minutes he had free the next day.

So why has it taken two years for me to publish our episode? 

Mainly because of a crisis of confidence which stopped me recording anything.

This year I started the Our Community podcast and when I re-listened to this conversation I was stunned by the relevancy of the content. In life, things sometimes unfold at the right time and the time to hear Gib’s wise perspective about community is certainly now.      

We talk about being part of a remote rural community on the isle of Bute and civic engagement; following your purpose inside big business; asking deeper questions and following your heart; conquering your fears and facing mental illness; Gib’s dream of a rural business decelerator and the probability of location independence and global economic affordability. 

 Huge thank you to Gib and to Martin Ryan.   

 References:
Keep up to date on Gib's activities by subscribing to his monthly blog, The Bullog at: www.gibbulloch.com/bullog/
 
 or on Twitter: @gibbulloch

The Intrapreneur Confessions of A Corporate Insurgent: https://www.amazon.com/Intrapreneur-Confessions-corporate-insurgent/dp/1912618400 

My guest today is Lara Quie and Lara has earned a special place in many people’s lives as a trusted advisor, mentor and executive coach to ultra-successful lawyers, leaders and founders.   

Lara’s daring journey through life has taken her into many diverse communities. She is a former corporate lawyer, a business development professional, an entrepreneur and maker; founder of a successful textile business and recently she has become a member of the coaching community 

We talk about the value of taking a pause to evaluate your direction in life; Lara’s belief that you don’t have to be the only one in your space but you do have to do things better; making your own luck by cultivating a positive mindset; the power of intuition and its importance in shaping your relationship with yourself and others.

We explore overcoming shyness and making sure your voice is heard. Lara references Rich Litvin’s work and the importance of business development if you are in an entrepreneurial or coaching space. 

Lara has an indomitable spirit and is a huge force of nature. She is endlessly curious and can teach us all a great deal about being the master of your own destiny.  

You can find out more about Lara here laraqassociates.com 

Or contact her here; [email protected]

Lara also has a podcast called Coach Potatoes you can subscribe to here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/coach-potatoes-podcast/id1529949563

Rich Litvin;  https://richlitvin.com/the-prosperous-coach/

My guests today are Kym Sng and Souhair Wahba; two exceptional young women who are channelling their zest for creating content into the heart of their community.

Kym and Souhair are young Singaporeans who met at the Crane, a community for lifelong learning. They bring a fresh perspective to the definition of an active community, and during this podcast, they brilliantly illustrate the philosophy of less thinking and more fearless action. 

Both are independent thinkers who spend time unravelling things until they understand them. They are brave and are used to threading the less conventional path. 

Their new project at the Crane is the launch of Crane Radio a platform for people to record a wide diversity of content.

We talk about overcoming apprehension and trying new things; the joy of intergenerational connection; breaking barriers, and the power of friendship. 

You can contact Kym at [email protected]   or on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kymberly-sng-7296681b7

You can learn more about the Crane here: https://www.wearecrane.com/

You can learn more about the Our Community Podcast here: https://ourcommunity.buzzsprout.com/