Nica is a Solution-Focused and Resilience Coach
What’s your story?
My passion lies in maximizing people’s potential. I strongly believe that everyone has a talent. You just need to spot the “Diamond in the Rough” and put the “Right” People in the “Right” seat.
What excites you most about your industry?
In my job, I get to interact with outstanding people and have conversations with the great minds of the industry. Every interaction facilitates a learning point and every conversation opens new opportunities to collaborate with these astonishing individuals. As I witness their personal and professional growth, within their respective industries, and watch them rise to the level of a superstar, it gives me a great sense of satisfaction knowing that I helped them to unleash the power within.
What’s your connection to Asia?
One of my connections to Asia is that I was born in Singapore. I also have a grandmother who is Vietnamese which has allowed me to venture into the cuisine and culture of Vietnam. And my proficiency in Mandarin allows me to work well with the Chinese community. Apart from that, I have been living in Singapore and Hong Kong interchangeably for more than a decade.
Favorite city in Asia for business and why?
Despite the current struggles in Hong Kong, it is a vibrant city with a melting pot of novel ideas from east to west. The diverse environment allows for creativity and flexibility in doing business, which allows Hong Kong to thrive.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
“Our struggles in life develop our strengths.” This advice reminds me to Stay Resilient and continually build up my grit to overcome difficult moments.
Who inspires you?
There are many mentors and people who have inspired me in my life journey. The first piece of advice, by Jim Collins, is about “Putting the Right People on the Right Bus.” This inspired me to look at everyone’s talents from a different perspective. There is a place for everyone in this world and leveraging people’s strengths in the right way is a powerful tool for business success.
What have you just learned recently that blew you away?
“This Too Shall Pass.”
We are experiencing constant change. Whether it is a bad situation like COVID-19 or a great situation like an economic boom, this too shall pass.
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
Life is a roller-coaster for me and I have enjoyed the ride so far. I have supportive family members in Singapore and Hong Kong, and great friends around the world. The only thing that I wished would be different is to have learned how to make better choices during my younger days regarding investment strategies so that I could have limited my losses during the Global Financial Crisis.
How do you unwind?
Going to the cinema to watch a movie or doing meditation helps me unwind. Having to be confined in a dark place for a couple of hours and focus on a movie helps me to mentally break away from a busy work schedule. Meditation is also a way for me to calm down.
Favorite Asian destination for relaxation? Why?
During wintertime, I loved going to Hong Kong for BBQ and Taiwan for the Hot Springs. Many people go to Hong Kong and Taiwan for shopping and food. That is part of my routine, but I really enjoy a BBQ with friends and family in Hong Kong even more. Wearing a jacket during the cold weather for BBQ, allowing the cold breeze to run through my hair, coupled with the hot blazing fire from the pit radiating heat to your face, you experience two seasons in one go.
Everyone in business should read this book:
“Winning,” by Jack Welch and Suzy Welch.
“Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t,” by Jim C.Collins.
“The Innovator’s Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail,” by Clayton Christensen.
“The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable,” by Nassim Nicholas Taleb.
“The 5 Second Rule,” by Mel Robbins.
Shameless plug for your business:
I amplify your potential so that you can amplify your rewards.
How can people connect with you?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicafoo
Twitter handle?
@nicafoo
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This interview is part of the ‘Callum Connects’ series of more than 1000 interviews
Callum Laing is an entrepreneur and investor based in Singapore. He has previously started, built, and sold half a dozen businesses and is now a Partner at Unity-Group Private Equity and Co-Founder and CEO of MBH Corporation PLC. He is the author of three best-selling books ‘Progressive Partnerships’, ‘Agglomerate’, and ‘Entrepreneurial Investing’.
Connect with Callum on Twitter and LinkedIn
Download free copies of his books at www.callumlaing.com
