Questions to Live By (my TEDx talk, to you)

As my 29th birthday gift :-)

Hello friends,
It has been a while. A long, long while. I have been well. I am still in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, living and exploring a life that I could call my own while focusing on building the Vietnamese community here.

Today is my 29th birthday, and as I contemplate its relative (in)significance, I wish that my life continues to be a gift to you all.

On this day, as a chance to continue giving myself to the world, (hopefully to the right people, at the right time 😬), here is my recent TEDx talk on the theme of reflection. I hope you get to see it and share it with those who might find it useful.

A bit of background:
When I was asked to give a TEDx talk on the theme of pause, reflection and silence, I wanted to share something that we can all find useful at whatever stage of life, whether it is starting out or going through a mid-life crisis or even nearing the end.
I wanted fewer good answers, but more beautiful questions. From my own experiences and working with many people, I know it's the latter that will help us navigate the uncertainty in the long run. Why? Because, as the late Harvard Business School professor Clayton Christensen once said "Question is a way to organize the unknown".

His quote has stuck with me ever since 2017, and I hope the questions, stories in the talk, and most importantly the space for inquiry would stir up something much needed in you. As the poet David Whyte once put it, "if you want to live a beautiful life, ask beautiful questions".

I wasn't saying any new. Indeed, listen not to what I said, but to what comes up in you. You might find something very ancient and familiar coming up. I hope it could be something both timely and timeless.

As a last thought, the first question that anyone can use right now is "Can I give my mind a little Thank You?" It has worked very hard and thought a lot about life and the world at large. Give your mind a thank you 🙏

My book is out! And an ask of you

My book, co-authored with the respectable Steven D’Souza, has been officially out for a while. You can read more about it on Amazon here Not Being - The Art of Self-Transformation.

I am very happy with the output, and I want this “labor of love baby” to begin making its way into the world. However, since I’m still so engaged with the Vietnamese world, I have done zero on its launch. Realistically, I’d only do so once in Sept where I’ll be in London for my PhD in Management (that’s for another enzyme!)
As such, I have a direct ask if you could help with:

1. Promotion Agent: If you are or know of someone who has good experience as an agent who has done this book promotion before, please refer to me. I’d be happy to work with them.

2. Places to Share If you know of a community, organizational leaders, or podcast hosts that I could share it with, please write back to me and I’ll note them down.

3. Write a Review.
   The book is beautiful in hard copy, but for some reason you can’t have it, I’d be happy to give you a free digital copy, with an ask that you could write us a review on Amazon.
   

Last,

Kevin Kelly's 103 advice for his 70th birthday is just brilliant.
My favorite: “Rather than steering your life to avoid surprises, aim directly for them.”

Please surprise me with your message,

Khuyen