Tag: Self Improvement

Poem: Backstage to Center Stage

Transforming from reserved to resilient.

Photo by 青 晨 on Unsplash

In my school days, a quiet shadow, I’d glide,

Amongst the crowds, yet always aside.

Words were my refuge, not people, I’d say,

In the realm of silence, I’d quietly stay.

With friends few, and whispers soft,

In my comfort zone, I’d loft.

A world so small, yet deep and vast,

Where time and thoughts would gently pass.

But life, it turns, it twists, it sways,

Led me down unexpected ways.

An academic’s path I chose to tread,

Speaking out loud, my growing dread.

Photo by Miguel Henriques on Unsplash

Lectures to give, students to meet,

My heart would race, skip every beat.

Yet, with each word, each presentation,

I found a new sense of elation.

Research papers, local and global stages,

Pushed me through my self-built cages.

Speaking of findings, sharing my quest,

In every conference, I’d give my best.

Still, social gatherings weren’t my flair,

In those moments, I’d gasp for air.

But change, it beckoned, with a force so strong,

Into the world of business, I was drawn.

An entrepreneur, with a vision new,

Meeting people, my network grew.

Pitches and deals, handshakes and smiles,

Traversing through countless miles.

In this new world, I found my voice,

In vibrant dialogues, I’d rejoice.

No longer the introvert in silent retreat,

But a speaker, a leader, never to defeat.

Photo by Hunters Race on Unsplash

Now I stand, transformed, renewed,

In social realms, no longer subdued.

The journey was long, the challenges vast,

But in the art of conversation, I’m cast.

From a quiet spirit to a vibrant soul,

In every interaction, I play a role.

No longer the shadow, but in the light,

Engaging, sharing, shining bright.

This is my story, a metamorphosis rare,

From solitude to a social flair.

A testament to growth, to change, to dare,

In the dance of life, I now take my share.

Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash

Check out my other poems:

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How Medium Shaped My Voice (A Poem)

Crafting Dreams

Photo by Chris Spiegl on Unsplash

Upon the vast and endless Medium stage,

I stood, a novice, at the very edge.

English, not my tongue, a barrier it seemed,

Yet, within me, a passionate writer dreamed.

My early words stumbled, fell flat, unrefined,

In the craft of language, I was nearly blind.

My articles, brief, lacking depth or flair,

Felt like echoes in an empty square.

Photo by Amador Loureiro on Unsplash

No readers lingered, no followers to find,

Just my lone voice, in the digital wind.

Comments, claps – they were nowhere in sight,

In the writers’ realm, I had yet to ignite.

But a spark within me refused to dim,

Against the tide, I learned to swim.

With every article, every line,

I saw my own progress, a gradual incline.

Photo by lilartsy on Unsplash

Medium’s writers, with open arms and minds,

Showed me that growth is what one finds.

They shared their knowledge, their art, their soul,

In their sea of words, I found my role.

I learned to craft headlines, to allure,

To weave my words, make my voice pure.

My grammar strengthened, my vocabulary grew,

In the language of Shakespeare, I found my cue.

Photo by Peter Olexa on Unsplash

From a shaky start, my confidence soared,

With each new piece, my spirit roared.

My followers increased, claps began to rain,

No longer did I write in vain.

In this community, I found my pace,

Each helpful tip, a warm embrace.

I am a writer, no longer in fear,

On Medium’s expanse, I steer my sphere.

Photo by Mikołaj on Unsplash

From a timid voice, now clear and strong,

I share my story, I belong.

My journey, a testament to perseverance,

In the world of words, I’ve found my resonance.

So here I am, in this vibrant throng,

Medium, the place where I belong.

With every word, I paint my dream,

On this vast canvas, I now gleam.

Let this poem be my heartfelt song,

A tribute to where I’ve come along.

For in this space, I’ve found my way,

In the heart of Medium, I will stay.

Photo by Ian Stauffer on Unsplash

Poem: Echoes of Perseverance

Melodies from Life’s Battleground

Photo by MI PHAM on Unsplash

In shadows of failure, I once dwelled in doubt,

A journey beset with the whispers of defeat,

Yet within my heart, a resilient shout,

Whispered of victories I had yet to meet.

I failed to walk, yet dreams beckoned me on,

Stumbling steps that faltered, yet grew strong,

With each fall, a resolve was redrawn,

In the symphony of struggle, I found my song.

Photo by Vitolda Klein on Unsplash

I could not run, nor leap towards the sky,

Gravity mocked, yet spirit soared high,

From the ashes of attempts, I learned to fly,

Winning championships, under triumph’s cry.

High school’s end came without acclaim,

Paths traditional, I could not claim,

Yet, within the embers, a persistent flame,

To enter university, rewriting my name.

Photo by Albert Vincent Wu on Unsplash

Years passed, and the right job eluded grasp,

Each rejection, a serpent’s venomous clasp,

Yet within me, a vision held tight clasp,

To forge my path, my future to unclasp.

From the echoes of ‘no,’ a new idea took wing,

Entrepreneurial dreams, to life I’d bring,

In the market’s harsh arena, I’d be king,

Creating success from each failing.

Photo by bruce mars on Unsplash

Failures many, like storms, did rage,

Yet each setback scripted wisdom’s page,

Resilience, my steadfast heritage,

Crafting from losses, a victorious stage.

For in each defeat, a lesson lay bare,

A stepping stone to reach somewhere,

With each misstep, I gathered rare,

Insights, turning despair to flair.

Photo by Marc Najera on Unsplash

Now I stand, where once I fell,

A tale of triumph, I live to tell,

From the depths of failure’s well,

I rose, in success’s sunlight to dwell.

This journey, marked by time’s relentless test,

Proves within us all, lies a quest,

To turn failures into a zest,

And in our darkest hours, find our best.

So let these words, a beacon be,

For those who in their struggles, seek to see,

That every loss bears the key,

To unlock success’s vast, boundless sea.

How I Rediscovered Joy in Writing Beyond Medium’s Algorithms

Finding Fulfillment in Writing Without Obsessing Over Medium’s Metrics

Photo by lilartsy on Unsplash

Initially, I was all hyped up about cracking the code to Medium’s algorithm and figuring out how to rake in some cash with my writing.

I mean, who wouldn’t be, right? Those tips and earning reports from other writers were like a siren song, pulling me in with promises of success and visibility.

For a while, it was great.

I devoured every article about increasing traffic, boosting engagement, and maximizing earnings on Medium.

I was determined to replicate the success stories I read about, so I started churning out content focused on “how to make money on Medium” and “how to gain more traffic.”

It felt like I was on the right path, contributing my voice to the chorus of experts and enthusiasts.

Photo by christopher lemercier on Unsplash

But then, something started to shift.

After three months of reading and writing the same kind of content, a sense of monotony crept in. It was like Groundhog Day, but with articles on Medium strategies.

The initial thrill of discovery faded, replaced by a growing sense of ennui.

I no longer felt that spark of excitement when I came across yet another article on Medium’s secrets to success.

It was all becoming a bit… well, boring.

Photo by Siavash Ghanbari on Unsplash

That’s when I realized I needed a change.

I decided to break away from the echo chamber of Medium monetization strategies and traffic tips.

I wanted to rediscover the joy of writing, to explore topics that genuinely interested me, without worrying about algorithms or analytics.

So, I ventured into new territories – writing travelogues and poems, sharing my personal experiences and creative expressions.

It was like taking a deep breath of fresh air after being cooped up indoors for too long. Suddenly, writing felt exciting again.

I was no longer constrained by the need to fit into a particular niche or follow a formula for success.

I was writing for me, and it was liberating.

Reading different stories on Medium added another layer of refreshment.

I was exposed to a diversity of voices and perspectives, reminding me of the vastness and richness of human experience.

Photo by Brad Neathery on Unsplash

It was a welcome change from the repetitive content I had grown so tired of.

In the end, this journey taught me an invaluable lesson: writing should be a source of joy, not just a means to an end.

It’s important to stay true to oneself and explore various avenues of creativity.

After all, the beauty of writing lies in its infinite possibilities and the unique stories each of us has to share.

So, here’s to new beginnings and the endless joy of writing about what truly matters to us!

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Poem: Rising Phoenix

Verses of triumph over adversity

Photo by Olhar Angolano on Unsplash

In the gloom of my darkest days, under life’s relentless haze,

Where shadows loom, and spirits fray, hope seems to lose its blaze.

Beaten down, with failures rife, I trudge the weary path,

Tired soul, burdened life, succumbing to despair’s wrath.

Yet in this abyss, I pause, feeling life’s unyielding jaws,

Grappling with my silent cause, fighting without applause.

Amidst the turmoil, a spark – a flicker of inner might,

Whispers, “Stand up from the dark,” urging me to fight.

Photo by sebastiaan stam on Unsplash

From the depths of my despair, where hope seemed bleak and rare,

Emerges strength from nowhere, born from sheer will to dare.

In my heart, a flame ignites, dispelling fears and plight,

Guiding me through the nights, with newfound courage, bright.

With resolve, I rise again, shedding past pain and stain,

From the ashes, I refrain from succumbing to the bane.

Renewed, with vigor found, I stand on solid ground,

In my soul’s depths, profound, a resilient spirit is crowned.

Photo by Caleb Ekeroth on Unsplash

The journey’s scars, etched deep, are lessons that I keep,

Reminders of the steep climbs, the valleys oh so bleak.

Yet, here I stand, revived, from trials, I’ve derived.

Strength, from woes survived, in triumph, I’ve arrived.

For every tear that’s shed, for each night filled with dread,

There’s a brighter path ahead, where hope and dreams are wed.

I rise, a phoenix free, from despair’s dark decree,

Embracing life’s decree, to be all I can be.

Photo by Harnoor dhaliwal on Unsplash

So when days are grim and dire, and I’m walking through the fire,

I’ll remember my inner spire, rising ever higher.

With each fall, I’ll rise, more wise, and fiercely apprise,

That within me lies the prize of tomorrow’s bright sunrise.

In every beaten, failed state, when I’m feeling far from great,

I’ll recall my power innate, to change my destined fate.

For in my heart, I know, no matter how low I bow,

I possess the glow, to rise, to conquer, to endow.

Photo by Rahul Dey on Unsplash

Poem: Journeys of the Heart

Travel Poem

Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash

In lands afar, across the sea and sky,

I ventured forth, my spirit riding high.

Each distant shore, with stories all its own,

In every face, a new world was shown.

From cobblestone streets bathed in history’s light,

To towering peaks under the stars at night,

Each journey taken, a brushstroke on the soul,

Painting a picture that makes one whole.

Amongst ancient ruins, under foreign suns,

I walked where empires’ tales were spun.

In bustling markets, scents and sounds entwine,

A symphony of life, uniquely divine.

Photo by NEOM on Unsplash

Meeting eyes that spoke of untold tales,

In every smile, a friendship that prevails.

Language barriers, merely a thin veil,

Through genuine gestures, understanding would sail.

From the hush of deserts, vast and wide,

To verdant jungles, where mysteries reside,

Each landscape whispered secrets of its past,

In every moment, memories to last.

Learning cultures, rich and profound,

In every custom, common ground was found.

Dances, rituals, the pulse of life,

Amidst all differences, harmony was rife.

Breaking bread, in warmth and hospitality,

Shared human essence, transcending reality.

Seeing reflections of self in foreign eyes,

Realizing we share the same blue skies.

From icy fjords where silent waters speak,

To mountain villages, where peaks meet the meek,

Every sunset shared, a bond so deep,

In the tapestry of memory, woven to keep.

Through travels wide, understanding grew,

The beauty of diversity, ever true.

For every departure, an arrival within,

In the journey of life, we all kin.

So here’s to the roads, the seas, the skies,

To the endless horizons where our future lies.

May we carry the lessons from lands we roam,

And cherish them deeply, in the heart we call home.

Photo by Mesut Kaya on Unsplash

Poem: Chapters of the Heart – A Lifelong Love

A Poem of Love

Photo by Artur Tumasjan on Unsplash

In the halls of youth where our journeys began,

Among the echoes of laughter, a timeless tale ran.

From the first shared glance in a crowded room,

We nurtured a love that would endlessly bloom.

Through the scribbled notes and stolen looks,

We wrote our story, not found in books.

With every passing day, our bond grew strong,

In a world of our own, where we belonged.

From the rush of youth to the calm of age,

Our love was the constant, through every stage.

Through triumphs and trials, joy and despair,

Our hearts remained one, an inseparable pair.

In the golden years, with our hair turned gray,

We reminisced about that first day.

The spark that ignited, so bright and warm,

Survived every storm, every reform.

With hands intertwined, we walked the path,

Guided by love, no aftermath.

From the bloom of youth to the autumn of life,

We stood together, husband and wife.

Our children grew, with wings to soar,

Leaving echoes of laughter, memories galore.

And then came the day, a new chapter to start,

Grandchildren arrived, joy of our heart.

Photo by Jessica Hearn on Unsplash

In their eyes, we saw our past,

A love so profound, built to last.

Through their laughter, our legacy lived,

A testament to the love we always give.

Now here we sit, under the twilight sky,

Watching the stars, time passing by.

From the schoolyard days to the golden years,

Our journey was filled with shared cheers.

For in every wrinkle, every line,

Lies a memory, distinctly thine.

And as we gaze into the sunset, bright,

We know our love will endure the night.

So here’s to us, from start to end,

Lover, soulmate, and best friend.

From the moment we met, to our last breath,

Our love remains, beyond life, beyond death.

Photo by bennett tobias on Unsplash

Breakfast with Keropok Lekor

Malaysian traditional dish

This morning was a bit special, you know. I decided to kick off my day with something uniquely Malaysian – keropok lekor.

For those who might not know, it’s this amazing traditional snack from Terengganu.

It’s fish sausage, but not your average kind, made from fish paste mixed up with sago or tapioca flour.

They season it just right with salt and sugar before shaping it into these long, enticing rolls or even slicing it up, and then they deep-fry it till it’s perfectly golden brown.

So there I was, sitting at my kitchen table with this plate of keropok lekor in front of me.

I had mine fried because I absolutely love that crispy texture on the outside, but it still keeps that slightly chewy goodness on the inside.

And you can’t have keropok lekor without its trusty sidekick – the dipping sauce.

It’s this tangy, spicy, sweet concoction made from chili, vinegar, and sugar that just elevates the whole experience.

Eating it, I swear, you get this burst of flavors that’s just so satisfying, especially with the contrast of the crunchy outside and the chewy inside.

It’s not your typical breakfast, I’ll give you that, but man, it was a delightful change from the usual.

Plus, starting your day with something so flavorful really sets a positive tone for the rest of the day.

And even though it’s traditionally a snack, I think keropok lekor can make any meal a bit more special.

Definitely a breakfast to remember! 😊

Feeling of Being Ghosted — After Pouring Heart and Soul in Project

Startup Journey Stories

What will you do if you encounter this?

Where do I even begin with this one?

Picture this: you’re all jazzed up about a potential partnership, right?

You’ve got this IoT solution that’s like the Swiss Army knife of tech solutions — versatile, innovative, the whole nine yards.

You dive headfirst into the deep end, doing your homework, crunching the numbers, and basically bending over backwards to tailor-make this solution architecture.

You’re talking pricing, materials, the works. And not just any materials, but the crème de la crème, sourced after what feels like a million discussions with various companies who, bless their hearts, took the time to entertain our endless queries.

So there we were, practically oozing optimism, dreaming about the hundreds of sites we were going to revolutionize in 2024.

And then, out of nowhere, radio silence.

Crickets.

Photo by Wolfgang Hasselmann on Unsplash

It’s like sending a text to your crush and watching that ‘read’ notification mock you without a reply.

So, what do I do? I chase them down, of course, because hey, maybe they’re just playing hard to get, right?

Wrong.

Cue the next meeting, where I’m hit with the kind of plot twist you’d expect from a telenovela.

Not only have they not decided to go ahead with us, but they’ve also got their eye on other solutions, and — get this — our meticulously crafted, bespoke solution apparently doesn’t meet their ‘standards.’ I mean, ouch.

Talk about a blow to the ego.

But here’s the kicker: there was zero feedback.

Nada.

It’s like our proposal was a free sample they snagged while window shopping. And that’s when it hit me — our proposal was probably used as a bargaining chip or, worse, handed over to their preferred partner on a silver platter.

Talk about feeling used.

Trust me, the frustration was real.

It’s one thing to lose out on a project, but it’s a whole other ballgame to feel like your hard work was just a means to an end for someone else’s negotiations.

It felt like our proposal was hijacked, and not in a cool, action-movie kind of way.

Photo by Jose P. Ortiz on Unsplash

So, what’s the moral of the story? I’ve learned the hard way that not all partners are created equal.

Trust is like that favorite hoodie of yours — comfortable, hard to find, and easy to lose. And once it’s gone, well, it’s pretty darn hard to get back.

The experience was a wake-up call.

Sure, it’s a bummer to realize that not everyone plays fair in the sandbox, but it’s also a reminder to guard your sandbox a little more carefully.

And maybe, just maybe, to not get too attached to potential partners until they’ve proven they’re not just in it for a free ride on your coattails.

So, to all the would-be partners out there, let’s keep it classy, shall we?

Because nobody likes feeling like they’ve been ghosted after pouring their heart and soul into a project.

Photo by Šimom Caban on Unsplash

From Today Onwards, I Will Stop Following Others (Using This Method)

Writer’s Dilemma

How I tried to balance my followers and following ratio.

You know, I’ve always been kinda baffled by how some folks on Medium rack up followers like they’re collecting stamps or something.

There I was, stuck in the 200+ followers limbo for what felt like an eternity.

Then, one fine day, I stumble upon this article that’s all, “Hey, wanna boost your followers? Just start following people back!”

Medium lets you follow up to 100 folks a day, and I’m thinking, “Why not give it a whirl?”

But hold up, I didn’t just dive in willy-nilly.

Nope, I had a game plan. Instead of following every random person, I zeroed in on the clappers.

Yeah, you heard me right.

The clappers.

Those lovely souls who clap for articles.

My logic? If they’re clapping for stuff I like reading, chances are, we’ve got similar tastes.

Plus, hitting up the recent clappers meant they were active users.

Bingo!

Fast forward a bit, and boom — I’ve clocked in over 1,700 new followers.

But here’s the kicker: to get those numbers, I had to follow over 4.4K peeps.

Talk about a reality check.

Suddenly, my profile’s looking a tad lopsided.

More following than followers?

That’s not the writerly image I had in mind. It’s like walking around with a “Desperate for Attention” sign taped to my back.

So there I was, moseying to my office, coffee in hand, when it hits me.

Why not switch up the strategy?

From now on, I’ll cool it with the follow frenzy.

If someone digs my vibe and hits that follow button, sure, I’ll follow back. But initiating the follow? That’s on pause for now.

Let’s see how this plays out. Will my followers-to-following ratio start to look a bit more respectable? Only time will tell.

But hey, I’m all for experimenting.

After all, isn’t that what social media’s all about?

Finding your tribe, connecting over shared interests, and maybe, just maybe, not having to follow a small country’s worth of people to feel like you’re part of the club.

Thanks for tuning in, community.

Here’s to hoping my little epiphany pays off.

Cheers to balance, both in followers and in life.