In the second part of this two-part episode Gavin is joined by Shuang-Min Chang who explains how she got into life coaching after giving up life in the corporate world as well as her views on how to live better.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS
- I gave up the corporate world 3 years ago to become a life coach. I wanted to serve and corporate life didn’t allow me to serve every day, so I needed to find a way to do something I’m passionate about while at the same time having a career. Also, I got a question in my head one day out of nowhere: Who am I in the world to have so much love and blessings in my life and what can I do to pay them forward? I couldn’t answer that question, so I knew I had to prepare myself to leave my old career and enter a new one.
- I’m very aware of all the support I’ve got, either from people that I knew or didn’t know at the beginning, and all the lucky events in my life. All those things have made me know I have a lot inside of me because I receive a lot. When we give we receive more. I always had a feeling that I had a lot to give. I’m always aware of my choices, my growth, and what I want in my life. Instead of trying to meet the expectations of others, I consciously plan each year for the next 5-10 years.
- To create clarity you first have to get clear on all the areas of your life because people talk about work/life balance, but it’s too general, there’s health, family, social life, personal growth, emotions, finance all to take care of. So, it’s not just work/life. Then look into each area and think back over the last 5 years what you’ve enjoyed and what you’re proud of and what you no longer want to carry on into the next 5-10 years. Then, the most important part is putting in place how you’re actually going to do it, how are you going to become that person living that vision?
- We need to start practising what we preach. Everyone’s saying we need to make a better world for the next generation, but what’s the proportion of our daily actions that are actually creating a better world for the next generation? I’m not perfect, I love to travel, but the intention is that I can be more aware of what I do, this is one thing we need to act on. I’m a girl, I still like beautiful shoes and clothes, but whenever I buy something I have got into the habit of asking myself is this a survival need or is this because I live in a civilised world and I have the money and desire to buy it? It’s good to have desires, but I usually tell myself, let’s wait 3-7 days. If my desire for it has increased I’ll probably buy it.
BEST MOMENTS
‘I got depressed at 23 because I’d achieved almost everything my parents and society expected of me as a Taiwanese and as a girl. I didn’t feel successful.’
‘I want to spend this life doing everything that I’m passionate about and that makes me happy.’
‘Everything we create now is an accumulation of habits. Put into place the habits that will get you to your vision, one day at a time.’
‘Passion is about something extra.’
ABOUT THE GUEST
Shuang-Min Chang: My journey as a woman finding her own place and success in her original culture and out in the world was an unconventional one.
I was born and bred in Taiwan, a pan Confucius culture and moved through my childhood into university days checking every expectation the family and society had for me as a girl and as a person who was expected to "succeed." Right after graduation, I moved to Mumbai, India to start my career with one of most reputable Taiwanese companies.
While scoring everything outside, I found no anchor and identity inside. I was rotten inside. I started doubting everything I was taught about having a success and happy life and plunged into depression at age 23.
I prayed not to wake up every single night in vain for 6-8 months till a point I told myself either to kill myself or to pull myself up because I couldn’t stand living in that black hole anymore. I chose life and this was the beginning of my pursuit and growth in personal development & spiritual realm and the beginning of knowing myself. This was when I told myself that I would never live my life for anyone else ever again.
Then, I moved to Milan, Italy to pursue my childhood dream of working in Fashion. In a country I didn't know anyone or speak the language, I built everything from scratch, the career and my own identity. There were more challenges, especially when it came to getting my immigration papers; at the same time, I had to get my ends meet. Among the beautiful Mediterranean sunshine, delicious gelato, passionate language, I had my fair share of crying on the street and handing out hundreds of resumes with no result.
To a point, I had to decide again what kind of life I wanted to lead and what the priority really is in life. I took an offer from an Italian luxury fashion house and moved to Shanghai, China. At the time it seemed to be a compromise and only later I knew this was one of the best decisions I've ever made. While climbing the corporate ladder, I learned to “hack” time and life. With that demanding and fast-paced career, I also managed to reach my first best state of health & fitness; started writing again (2 articles got picked up by a well-known platform in Taiwan); got certified as a psychology counsellor in China; and learned a bit of French.
After 10 plus years in luxury retail and reaching the goal I set out for myself at 25 to be in charge of one of the biggest markets in the world in a prominent luxury maison with USD 6-figure income, it came the question, "What's next?"
With every expansion of life experience along with my career, I want more and I know it's possible to achieve more, not just professionally but in all areas in life. Most importantly, I want freedom, the ability to own my own time fully and I want to surf everyday.
I've learned from my own life experience, every success and realised dream started with a leap of faith with a clarity. I took a leap again in 2019, quit the corporate world and started out on my currently journey as a surfer, a writer and a coach, founded Freedom to Success program and supporting driven women who have career success with 6-figure package and yet, always put their work before everything to walk on a new path in this "win or lose" corporate environment and create success in their own terms by claiming their innate freedom & femininity, show up with love and dare their deepest and boldest dreams.
CONTACT METHODS
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shuangmin/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shuangmin/
ABOUT THE HOST
Gavin Scott is a born entrepreneur with a passion for start up and scale up. He has over 20 years real estate experience in investment and development.
Gavin says: Over the years I have discovered that mindset is everything. Now, that might sound obvious, but it is! You see the number of awoken minds are very few in reality. Whilst acknowledging mindset is key it is absolutely different from utilising, influencing, impacting and effecting great change, for yourself, your loved ones, friends, colleagues and the wider public.
Why?
Like most of us I have had many ups and downs. I want to share the lessons learnt and promote a better environment for all, internally and externally!
How?
Through sharing my own experiences and hosting some fabulous individuals including some big household names to discuss key topics around mindset and the success formulas I hope the listener will become inspired to create space for change for betterment in their lives. I aim to inspire change by encouragement, not by force. I intend to inspire by education, not by regulation.
CONTACT METHODS
[email protected]
