Tag Archives: inspirational

Episode 34: Pain Is Temporary

Today I have a very special treat for you all.

Early this year I got drafted into the Toastmasters International speech contest. I won’t name names but THANK YOU VERY MUCH LINDA GARDNER!

My challenge was to give a 7 minutes inspirational speech. It was my first time ever, and I nearly had a heart attack before I went up the stage. Public speaking was my biggest fear but fortunately, I never, ever shy away from any challenge or fear so I faced it head on. By saying that I got a lot of help from my wonderful friends, mentor and hubby and the speech was well received. I won the first two rounds and came third at Division level.

No trip to Vancouver this year, sorry to all my Canadian friends!

After each competition, people came up to me and asked if I could record my speech because they want to share it with their loved ones.

I was hesitant at first because I didn’t think it was good enough. But one day I overheard my hubby’s good mate Gary Vee saying “don’t be fancy” so here it is :)

I hope you find it useful.

Music Credits

Intro: Don’t Hold Back (Grow and Soar) by KOÄN
2010 – Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0)

Background: Hope by Borrtex
2017 – Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (4.0)

Photo Credit – Suben Subenthiran

Episode 33: It’s Never Too Late

C.S. Boag In this episode, I’m talking with C.S. Boag, whom I greatly respect, look up to and consider a dear friend.

C.S. is a talented, award-winning author. He’s best known for his wonderful, hilarious, wicked detective series called Mr. Rainbow.

At an age when most of us are ready to throw in the towel, C.S. found not only success but also true love. He is living proof that anything is possible, it’s never too late to start afresh and achieve your dreams.

I’m so grateful that he has agreed to this interview where he shares part of his journey, life principles and fabulous tips on success with us. Tune in and listen to what this wise man has to say.

Resources and Links:
Music Credits

Intro: Don’t Hold Back (Grow and Soar) by KOÄN
2010 – Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0)

Episode 32: The Most Extreme Form of Violence Against Girls

Fatu SillahToday I’m talking to a brave and determined young woman who’s speaking out against her culture and looking to make a change in her community.

Fatu was born in Sierra Leone. As a young girl, she was subjected to a cruel and brutal practice called Female genital mutilation (FGM) also known as female genital cutting or the somehow innocent sounding female circumcision.

This is by no means similar to male circumcision. FGM is the ritual removal of some or all of the external female genitalia. It involves the total removal of the clitoris and the narrowing of the vaginal opening through stitching or cutting and repositioning the labia minora or labia majora. The practice has no health benefits whatsoever. In fact, it harms girls and women in many ways and sometimes it leads to death.

It is one of the most extreme forms of violence against girls and women across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The practice has also been found around the western world, in countries such as Australia, UK, USA, Canada etc. It is estimated that more than 200 million young girls and women around the globe have been mutilated and are living in immense physical and psychological pain.

Resources and Links:
Music Credits

Intro: Don’t Hold Back (Grow and Soar) by KOÄN
2010 – Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0)

Episode 31: Life Is All About Perspective

Soness StevensSoness Stevens is the Head Speaker Coach for multiple TEDx events and has coached over 109 TED & TEDx speakers. She represented Japan for TED Worldwide, spoke at TEDxFukuoka and TEDxWasedaU.

Soness has a weekly nationwide broadcast TV show on communications and is an Associate Professor of business presentation skills at YNU. You may have seen her on NHK TV and Fox TV Japan, or heard her as the official English voice of Hello Kitty. She lives near the beach and practices Zazen Meditation at her local temple in Japan.

I’m so grateful to have Soness Stevens on the show and I’m so thankful for her willingness to share with us her intimate and very personal life journey living with a mother who was suffering from mental illness.

For a good half of her young life she lived in a car with her mother and brother. They were constantly on the move, running from landlords because her mother didn’t have a job and could not afford to pay rent. Despite growing up in such a difficult circumstance, drifting from place to place, Soness went on and became a beautiful, positive and successful individual. Her ability to see life in colours as a child is truly inspiring!

Resources and Links:
Music Credits

Intro: Don’t Hold Back (Grow and Soar) by KOÄN
2010 – Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0)

Episode 30: A Heart of Gold

Genevieve Radnan

Genna is a beautiful young lady. She dedicates her life and sacrifices her personal finances to help the poor and the underprivileged half way around the world. At the age of 19 she raised enough money to build a school for the people in a remote community in Kenya. And she has been unstoppable ever since. She has a nine to five job just like most of us and every free moment she gets she spends on raising funds to provide financial assistance, basic needs and teach the women and children in Kenya life skills so that they can stand on their own feet.

She’s full of life, passion and love. She goes above and beyond to help those in need. She’s a rare kind and such a great pleasure to know.

Resources and Links:
Music Credits

Intro: Don’t Hold Back (Grow and Soar) by KOÄN
2010 – Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0)