Kensho, Anyone?

 

This is very new, very foreign to me, NOT until recently WHEN I stumbled across KENSHO, that ZEN Practice of seeing your true nature.  Before we ask if this makes sense today, do you ever feel like you just need your world shaken up a bit?  YES, sometimes this can indicate you need some kind of realization OR enlightenment in your life.  MAYBE things have been kind of dull and mundane OR that you generally feel kind of stalled OR 'stuck'?  OR perhaps you've recently undergone a big life change, a sea change in life OR maybe you've been on your own personal journey for some time now📗📙📘

To take a lift from the pages of Buddhism [WITHOUT really espousing Buddhism as a religion BUT more as a philosophy], the first ZEN experience of enlightenment is called KENSHO, which in Nihonggo, literally translates to "SEEING NATURE".  NOW, here are motherhood questions I myself initially asked myself:  SO, WHAT DOES THIS EXACTLY MEAN?  AND HOW CAN WE OBTAIN IT?  Kensho experts tell us that we often view ourselves as "I" and as a being separate from everything else and that a KENSHO experience involves the realization that there is really no "I" BUT instead, that the process of thinking brings forth the idea OR illusion of "I" as it derives from our own perceptions, feelings and memories💥💥💥

To borrow the exact words of KENSHO experts, it is defined as that 'ZEN EXPERIENCE OR ENLIGHTENMENT WHEN ONE'S OWN NATURE IS SEEN FOR WHAT  IT IS".  And we are told that once we've experienced it, we can further expand and grow upon it, leading to further enlightenment OR 'awakenings' so to speak.  I did exchange notes with those who practice Yoga and I heard many times that this experience usually arises after an intensive [and NOT a token one] meditation OR in the technical jargon of KENSHO experts, they coined it as "introspective practices".  However, some have said to have quick moments of realization leading to that enlightenment we hope no less💚💛💜

Despite all these coinages and jargons, let's dice and drill it into the simplest terms.  KENSHO can be best realized via its very three tenets and foundations namely:

• TEACHING - WHILE most of the teachings come from Buddhism, it is for us to practice and nurture it in our life journey
• PRACTICE - One of the most common practices on the path toward enlightenment OR KENSHO is meditation

Our takeaway:  Much as our communities are so deeply wired many levels deep, let us consider taking a pause, hitting the brakes and preferably lifting our car's handbrake if only we can find that time to take a deep breath, inch closer to nature, listen to the slightest ripples of peace and calmness as we search for that solitude and space to be with our own persona and find that most genuine enlightenment we deserve.  KENSHO anyone???

An Uphill Climb Can Lead To A Steep Descent

 

Nope sirrrrrs. I WON'T comment on that ill-fated Air India Flight from Ahmedabad to London where 241 out of 242 were killed.  BUT instead, let's take some time to look at our human inclinations of harnessing gravity for that speed and flow.  BUT again, conquering tough climbs takes more than just grit BUT the effort builds up the power needed even as it demands focus.  The biggest challenge we frequently face in life is HOW to stay safe [especially WHEN fatigue creeps in].  NOT known to many of us, the downside of UPHILL CLIMBS is that it can lead to a STEEP DESCENT, whoa💧💧💧

Unfortunately in our life, it takes  multiple [probably zillions] of rides that will constantly push us to our very limits so that's WHEN our endurance becomes the 'game changer' because the likelihood is we'll either succeed OR fail, depending as to HOW will the end result be.  And mastering those multiple rides that run through the most rugged terrain can be extremely challenging and anyone LESS prepared OR ill-trained to face those kinds of challenges will be having NO less than a doom-fated journey ahead.  True, every ride is a victory worth celebrating regardless WHETHER if it's a new path, a new distance, OR even just simply sticking AS PER PLAN💥💥💥

Very much akin to biking, building up that habit really takes time even as you gradually embed that level of discipline you need to ingraine deep within your own system.  And once you get acclimatize with the landscape, we are expected to have a better feel of the terrain, including its challenges and rewards, and even leading us to figure out the 'best lines' through those obstacles.  That concept of situational awareness, pattern recognition, decision-making and adaptability are the ingredients as we take that UPHILL CLIMB!!!

Without dampening our hopes, it is imperative that everyone is consciously aware of the pitfalls of that UPHILL CLIMB because in a worst case scenario, that may lead to a STEEP DESCENT.  Of course, I WON'T cite that ill-fated Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London as an example because that flight had hardly climbed up WHEN it suddenly went into a STEEP DESCENT, a tragedy that shatters logic and reason❎❎❎

Our takeaway:  Rather than having our spirits dampened by that threat of a STEEP DESCENT, psychologists have conceptualized that "UPHILL ADVANTAGE" which reminds us that even solo climbs [like those hikers to Mt Everest] can be transformative, ultimately making a person much stronger, a more capable leader once he reaches the crest.  True, he might be alone in that UPHILL CLIMB BUT the rewards will be unprecedented notwithstanding that very slim probability that IF and WHEN worse comes to worst, that UPHILL CLIMB can lead to a STEEP DESCENT.  BUT such is life.  LOW risk equates to LOW rewards while HIGH risk equates to HIGH rewards dude😌😌😌

Seizing Opportunities!

 

SEIZING OPPORTUNITIES has always to happen via the right and acceptable means.  Otherwise, as the old cliche goes, THE END DOES NOT JUSTIFY THE MEANS.  Allow me to share the Quora.com post by Pranshu Tiwari:  During a robbery in Zimbabwe, the thief shouted to everyone in the bank:  DON'T MOVE.  THE MONEY BELONGS TO THE STATE.  When a woman lay provocatively on a table, the thief shouted:  PLEASE BE CIVILIZED.  THIS IS A ROBBERY, NOT A RAPE.  WHEN the robbers returned home, the younger thief  [WHO had an MBA] asked the older thief:  BIG BROTHER, LET'S COUNT HOW MUCH WE GOT😡😡😡

The older thief replied:  YOU'RE STUPID.  THERE'S TOO MUCH MONEY, IT WILL TAKE FOREVER TO COUNT.  TONIGHT THE TV NEWS WILL TELL US HOW MUCH WE STOLE.  After the robbers left, the bank manager told the supervisor to call the police but the supervisor said "WAIT LET'S TAKE $10 million from the bank ourselves and add it to the $70 million we already embezzled!@#$%?

The next day, the news reported that $100 million had been stolen from the bank.  The bank robbers counted but only found $20 million.  Furious, they complained:  We risked our lives and only got $20 million?  And the bank manager took $80 million?  LOOKS LIKE IT'S BETTER TO BE EDUCATED THAN TO BE A THIEF!  Meanwhile, the bank manager smiled, relieved that his stock market losses were now covered by the robbery. Ouch, this is called SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITY!@#%^?

On a serious note, WHY are crows, chimpanzees, elephants, rat and even opposums are famously noted for being very sharp in figuring out and even SEIZING OPPORTUNITIES!!!  Swinging back to our lives, much as we are all self-driven by our own self-motivations towards achieving our goals, there are many times in our daily lives WHEN even positive 'wild cards' a.k.a. OPPORTUNITIES would pop-up in the midst of the most unlikely circumstances and timing.  It's then up for our taking dude!!!

Our takeaway:  Regardless of your intellectual potentials and even your standing in society all rolled into one, OPPORTUNITIES are NOT limited to a privileged few.  It's an even playing field out there.  It's for us to SEIZE OPPORTUNITIES as and WHEN they arise.  WHAT becomes key is our swiftness to validate each OPPORTUNITY and make a 'lightning quick' decision if an OPPORTUNITY is worth SEIZING pronto dude😁😁😁

Results And Outcomes Matter [and NOT Efforts]

 

YES YES yowwww, RESULTS and OUTCOMES MATTER [and NOT efforts].  So many studies have covered and deep-dived as to why making RESULTS and OUTCOMES matter the most.  In the simplest technical terms, it is defined as that process of using incentives [and even disincentives] to promote sustained activities that lead to change and improvement.  And if someone offers resistance to the glimmer of probabilities for change and improvement, then RESULTS and OUTCOMES won't become talking points at all💚💛💜

In the NBA world, much as it is the world's premier basketball league, in reality, NBA is a huge business.  For 2024 alone, it raked more than US$ 11.4 Billion in revenues and that's excluding the earnings of the ballclubs WHICH DON'T fall under the purview of the NBA's clout.  And the star players?  if they become injury-prone OR their performances dip, WHEN it's time for contract extensions, WHO cares to give them an offer sheet to be signed off?  That's WHAT happened to Jimmy Butler to whom the Miami Heat ballclub refused to offer that extension, all because RESULTS and OUTCOMES MATTER.  And at that time, Jimmy Butler was injury-prone!@#$%?

A fourthnight ago, the New York Knicks gave its coach Tom Thibodeau his pink slip.  WHY?  All because its GM Leon Rose gave a curt explanation that their organization was focused for a championship.  Whew that was NOTHING less than baloney because if every NBA ballclub will buy that line, we will see 28 or 29 coaches being fired every year because every year, there can only be one winner, one champion.  BUT obviously, this train of thought reeks with lots of holes we CAN'T plug❌❌❌

BUT dude, do we care about the NBA business?  Hell no.  WHAT we care is your own life, my own life, right?  WHAT MATTERS is that in our life, RESULTS and OUTCOMES MATTER, more than anything else.  Verily true, we would see people pounding and beating their chest because they exerted herculean efforts in pursuit of their specific goal.  And before you know it, people are into those KAMPAI's and celebrations, all because of their "A" for efforts in their own pursuits.  BUT hold on, WHERE's the RESULT? WHERE's the OUTCOMES?  Those are the very stuff that matter [and NOT efforts dude]✅✅✅

Our takeaway: That's the land mine planted and peppered in almost all the roads we travel in life. Even WHEN giving the credit WHERE it is due, we should never lose sight that it's the 1st place OR bust.  It's the championship OR bust.  It's success OR bust.  No middle-of-the-road here dude.  Because we should be driven in our momentum, focused and non-compromising that we will settle for NO less than RESULTS and OUTCOMES because they matter [and NOT just efforts]😊😊😊

Dodging A Bullet

 

DODGING A BULLET is no mean feat.  Less than a year ago, an American sniper almost killed President Donald Trump BUT by sheer luck and miracle all rolled into one, President Trump DODGED A BULLET WHEN that bullet simply grazed through his ear.  Months back, that Air India flight bound for London crashed within 30 seconds after takeoff, killing 241 out of 242.  The lone Indian survivor was seated right next to the emergency exit.  BUT the question is, HOW often should we expect to DODGE A BULLET?  DON'T even hope for it dude📘📙📗

From a philosophical perspective, life is really fundamentally chaotic.  I came across that documentary of the Stoics WHO believed that the universe operates according to its own logic, indifferent to our desires.  And that WHEN we stop expecting that life is to be fair OR the universe follows a script, the thing is, we can only focus on WHAT we can control💜💛💚

And this is WHERE that role of probability kicks in.  And here's the cold and hard truth.  Luck is often just that probability dressed in fancy clothes.  And statistically, some people are simply born into circumstances that increase their chances of success.  I remember experts calling this as the "MATTHEW EFFECT', that idea which peddles that the 'the rich get richer'.  If someone starts life with a head start, that is, good health, wealth and access to to good education, they are more likely to achieve success even with less efforts💧💧💧

And they say that 'non-prayers' might not be that 'LUCKY' from a cosmic perspective because they're just beneficiaries of a system that already works in their favor.  Meanwhile, those of us praying might be trying to overcome indemic and systemic disadvantages through sheer willpower and hope.  BUT here's WHERE it gets interesting.  Studies in quantum physics suggest that our thoughts and intentions can indeed influence reality.  The 'observer effect' as an example, shows that simply observing something changes its behavior.  so, WHILE privilege and probability play a big role, your mindset and energy can still shift the odds, if ever we're in tune them.  Sort of stars aligning in our favor💥💥💥

Our takeaway:  Having heard all these, the paradox of luck says that effort meets ease as life often rewards those WHO work smart, NOT hard.  And non-prayers AREN'T necessarily lazy, BUT it's that they just operate differently.  They trust themselves, embracing uncertainty and remain open to serendipity.  On the other hand, prayers often tend to over-exert themselves spiritually, trying to force outcomes.  BUT dude, this universe we live in does NOT work on deadlines OR those to-do lists.  Trust it OR NOT.  Either way, you'll end up exactly WHERE you need to be [all because of your efforts]💥💥💥

GENUINESS This Christmas!

 

Long ago, CHRISTMAS was for Christians and Christians, period.  BUT through the years, that has been debunked.  Let's admit it, CHRISTMAS as an eventful season has been embraced across cultures, countries and even religions [of course, we respect the right of worship for each religion].  BUT otherwise, it's really heartwarming that the spirit of CHRISTMAS has been this impactful📗📙📘

I remember many years ago, WHEN I was about to spend CHRISTMAS for the very first time in Singapore, that morning of CHRISTMAS, I walked into the office of our Managing Director and presented him my simple CHRISTMAS gift.  And it almost floored him because he was totally flabbergasted because for a Singaporean Chinese like him, CHRISTMAS was just another day in the calendar.  BUT alas, here I was, totally oblivious that I was about to spend my very first CHRISTMAS in a foreign land💧💧💧

Fast-forward today, my personal take is that regardless of our faith and culture, CHRISTMAS can be celebrated across as long as there is GENUINE happiness, GENUINE forgiveness, GENUNINE acceptance and co-existence amongst us all.  Besides all the festive celebrations and gift-giving, let us hope and pray that GENUINENESS should envelope all over us every step of the way💚💛💜

For a couple of years, I had this apprehension that all the glitters and shine of the CHRISTMAS holidays was wearing off.  And yes, there was always so much to do.  Everyone of us would have suffered OR got inflicted with various severities of pain and worse, even wounds.  BUT what will be most heartwarming is that WHATEVER pains that may continue to linger within us, that PAIN should wear out and eventually dissipate.  And let us leverage on that GENUINENESS to pervade and permeate every move we may initiate NOT just this CHRISTMASbut even the months and years after💥💥💥

Our takeaway:  Wherever we may be living now, let us just to continue embracing unconditionally this spirit of CHRISTMAS regardless of our culture and faith.  And much as I can dip into the deep reservoir of adjectives, I'll settle for that more meaning of GENUINENESS because at the end of the day, let's hope and pray that GENUINENESS will continue to pervade our hearts and minds because that's the very essence of CHRISTMAS.  MERRY CHRISTMAS to you, your family and loved ones🎍🎉🎊🎅

Find Your IKIGAI [In Life]

Find Your IKIGAI [In Life]

Heard someone who admitted his perpetual struggle of feeling STUCK in a place that's NOT quite up to par.  BUT here's something I learned just of late.  THAT our brain's default mode network, WHICH is responsible for introspection and self-reflection, tends to be more active WHEN you're feeling stuck OR bored.  Probably, this explains WHY daydreaming and mind-wandering become increasingly appealing WHEN you're feeling mentally stagnant.  How about we Find Your IKIGAI [In Life]📗📙📘

One recent study even showed that a whopping 47% of our WAKING HOURS are spent on such mental meanderings, whew!  That concept of IKIGAI, a Japanese term that roughly translates to 'REASON FOR BEING' might hold some answers for us all.  Essentially, it is that 'SWEET SPOT'  WHERE your passions, skills and values intersect with WHAT the world needs.  FINDING YOUR IKIGAI can possibly bring that SENSE of PURPOSE!!!

And that SENSE of PURPOSE can even extend to that SENSE of FULFILLMENT WHICH, in turn may possibly help alleviate those feelings of depression and stagnation.  And there's another intriguing phenomenon called by psychologists as that 'HEDONIC ADAPTATION' where, essentially, it suggests that humans have a remarkable capacity to adapt to both POSITIVE and NEGATIVE circumstances, WHICH might explain WHY that initial excitement of moving to a new country eventually wears off.  I can attest to that.  WHEN I migrated to Singapore, my excitement was overflowing and ceaseless but after about less than a year, it was like BAU [business as usual] for me, that excitement eventually did wear off💥💥💥

For about almost a decade, WHENEVER I heard across IKIGAI, I [wrongly] thought that, hey that's another mandate for compliance, that's the way to go [as our boss says].  BUT alas, I was grossly wrong because WHEN I dug deeper, I learnt that IKIGAI is more than just a part of Japanese culture because it boils down to giving our life's worth and meaning, and in one word, PURPOSE😌😌😌

Our takeaway:  If the Japanese have the most well known secret, it is all about IKIGAI.  And there's nothing wrong, regardless of our culture, to consider embracing IKIGAI and even embedding it within our own life.  Talk about giving value and purpose to our life.  Those are the very core and foundational variables in our life even as IKIGAI may continue to evolve to further heights as a universal term expressing a rich and fulfilling life.  So, dude, would you consider to FIND YOUR IKIGAI [in life]💚💛💜

Risk and Success Are Like SIAMESE TWINS

 

There's this challenging question that may cause one to freeze:  IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN YOURSELF, WHO WILL?  Indeed, this is a question many of us will be hard pressed to answer.  Indeed, this quote reminds us that believing in ourselves is the first and most important step toward doing anything meaningful.  Because if ever we do doubt our own strength, talent OR capability, there is very high likelihood that we will end up more likely to hold ourselves back before anyone else does.  Confidence is NOT about being perfect OR immune from failures.  BUT instead, it's all about trusting that we can learn, grow, improve and progress in our journey.  WHEN we believe in our very own potential, it is highly likely that we will be able to unlock that courage to try new things and even aim higher than we used to set our eyes ahead.  Very much akin to planting a seed, nothing grows IF we DON'T water it with our belief

There are zillions of real-life examples surely we have witnessed first hand.  LIKE a young girl WHO dreams of becoming a scientist BUT she comes from a far-flung small village WHERE no one has done that before.  BUT IF she listens to others WHO would say that it's impossible, very likely she might [easily] give up.  BUT IF she believes in her dream and works hard at school and studies, and even burning the midnight oil for that, she will be her own catalyst to give her own self that legitimate fighting chance to succeed.  WHO knows one day she will become a scientist and even inspire her other villagers/neighbors to believe in their own dreams as well

It is verily true that taking risks is damn scary.  I can attest to that during those years WHEN I decided to take that quantum leap.  Right at the airport departure area, I was asking myself "WHAT'S IN STORE FOR ME"?  WHAT's the potential I can attain?  WHAT's my realistic goals in that respect?  YES YES yow, even small, tiny, whiny steps taken with belief can lead to huge successes.  So, WHEN you feel unsure, we got to stick to our dreams

True, there are multitudes out there either observing HOW we will fare in our endeavors [BTW, ignore those kibitzers whose purpose is to monitor till you fall flat on your face].  Here's a NOT so giveaway question:  IS IT OK NOT TO AIM HIGH AND JUST LIVE A SIMPLE LIFE?  But of course that's fine BUT that is akin aiming for the tree-top and IF you fail [knock on wood], you will fall on the ground.  WHAT matters most is your approach should be 'HIGH ENOUGH' to be challenging

Our takeaway:  NOT to reinvent the wheels, so allow me to share these tips straight from lifehack.org:

• DEVELOP SMALL MICRO HABITS - BIG TIME goals are fine but starting off with 'BIG BANG' goals could stall you up front
• EXECUTE YOUR DAILY TASKS - Never forget you are NOT the pilot of an aircraft with that 'AUTO PILOT' mode option
• TRACK YOUR PROGRESS - Oooooops, NOT just your progress BUT please do track even your non-progress, if ever
• SUSTAIN YOUR SELF-IMPROVEMENT - True, you can sleep, take breaks and go on holidays BUT never stop in sustaining your SELF-IMPROVEMENTS every step of the way

This explains WHY RISKS & SUCCESS are like Siamese Twins!!!

When Do We Go in 'FLIGHT' OR 'FIGHT' Mode?

 

YES dude, that four-letter word spelled F-E-A-R is one of the most maligned, IF NOT dreaded word.  BUT WHY?  WHAT has it got to do with our daily life?  A lot though and often times, it is impactful.  True, FEAR is often seen as a negative emotion BUT FEAR serves us a very real positive purpose, albeit NOT so obvious on the surface.  As human beings, we're wired to be FEARFUL because it saves us in those dangerous and perilous situations.  I remember reading those caveman stories, if we rounded the corner and saw a sabre-tooth tiger, obviously and instantly, our brain would recognize and sense danger and then, our FEAR response will, by default, get activated.  So, WHEN DO WE GO INTO A 'FLIGHT' OR FIGHT MODE???

By then, our bodies would get flooded, in spike mode, with adrenaline, WHICH WOULD then enable us to run faster than we've ever ran OR stand and fight with more strength than we've ever had.  Then, once we escaped that looming danger, our bodies would return to its normal state and we'll then feel an enormous drain, OR that adrenaline dump, sitting in the safety of our caves, our refuge.  Thankfully, these days we DON'T have anymore those sabre-tooth tiger roaming our Planet Earth💥💥💥

BTW, psychologists are alerting us that our brains simply CAN'T distinguish between WHAT'S 'real' thought OR a 'false' thought.  Instead, our brain simply activates that FEAR switch within us depending n WHAT stimuli we provide it.  BUT just like the coin, we have choices, and that's either the TRUTH OR FEAR itself.  Most of the time, our responses to thoughts are based on those false premises OR beliefs we have😡😡😡

In simpler words, to translate this in its simplest form, the story that we seem to tell our own selves about something can dictate WHETHER we feel FEAR OR NOT.  Studies proved that almost all FEARS are based on false premises.  So, WHEN we seem to think about growth, anything pushing against our beliefs is going to feel uncomfortable before there's an ease to it.  Indeed, to overcome FEAR is really about expanding our own comfort zone WHICH explains as to WHY we need to 'level up' as we grow.  So, HOW much do we challenge ourselves to explore outside of our comfort zone?  I'm afraid it is a less than a plurality and likely more of a minority amongst us.  So, HOW often do we face a challenge and then fold because we FEAR judgment OR FEAR NOT being NOT enough to overcome it???

Our takeaway:  I am NO expert in this feel BUT my strong take is that fundamentally, every FEAR we have is based on our respective personality types.  We all have personality-based triggers that, even without our consciousness OR awareness, will tend to govern OR influence every move we make, and NOT always in a way that will get us WHAT we truly want.  WHEN we understand WHAT our underlying FEAR is, experts assure us that it will help us to evolve and grow way beyond it.  True, it may sound cryptic BUT the stark truth is that understanding WHO we are and WHY we do WHAT we do can trigger massive advantages to us.  One unknown author was widely quoted:  FEEL THE FEAR AND DO IT ANYWAY'.  So, WHEN DO WE GO IN 'FLIGHT' OR 'FIGHT' mode dude???

Know Your Craft!

Allow me to share this Quora.com post by Rebecca:  A priest offered a nun a ride.  As she got into the car, she adjusted her habit, revealing a part of her leg.  The priest, startled, almost lost control of the car.  After regaining control, he discreetly allowed his hand to creep up her leg.  The nun gently reminded him:  FATHER, REMEMBER PSALM 129".  Embarrassed, the priest pulled his hand away.  BUT as he shifted gear, his hand wandered AGAIN.  The nun repeated:  FATHER, DON'T FORGET PSALM 147.  The priest apologized, "I'M SORRY SISTER, THE TEMPTATION IS STRONG".  When he reached back to church, he checked PSALM 147 and it says "CONTINUE YOUR SEARCH, FOR FURTHER UP, TRUE REWARDS AWAIT".  That's WHY, you must Know Your Craft📗📙📘

WHAT's the moral of the story?  YES dude, KNOW YOUR CRAFT.  Even at the workplace, that is imperative to KNOW YOUR CRAFT.  Try leading a team WHERE your core knowledge is significantly less than WHAT your team has.  Even within the short-term, you will be hard pressed to gain their TRUST [and eventually respect].  And by not KNOWING YOUR CRAFT, as this story about the priest tells us, YES you will likely miss out on opportunities, BIG TIME!@#$%? At the workplace, things could initially become sticky if you just came in straight from the cold.  And this is WHERE your transitioning comes into play.  BUT that transition phase will be short.  WHAT will become a materially important variable in your equation is your EQ, your ability to interact and engage with others💧💧💧

And this is WHERE your NEVER GIVE UP mindset should come into play.  Because if you're the newest member in a team, your capabilities and competencies is only one half of the equation as internal processes will be materially knew to you.  Hitting the wall over and over again is something you need to anticipate.  I went through that wringer a zillion times each time I got onboarded in a new organization.  And WHAT makes things murkier is WHEN your job role requires engaging and interacting with clients and third-parties💥💥💥

You might ask, WHAT happens if your learning curve to LEARN YOUR CRAFT in that new organization takes longer than WHAT is the median?  Dude, I can guarantee you that you'll be sailing through 'rough seas' much longer and that does NOT augur well for you because that means, those pent up pressures will spike more frequently than WHAT is normal.  This is a common narrative if you hear someone WHO recently onboarded but suddenly offboards OR gets offboarded❎❎❎

Our takeaway:  BTW, to KNOW YOUR CRAFT is just one side of the coins.  Never forget the other side, those inter-personals, your engagements with your new team.  I remember WHEN I was a 'road warrior' based out of India [criss-crossing Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad], outside and beyond work, I was with my Indian teams enjoying Indian food [and even drinks].  The only time I had to part ways with them was WHEN they were about to watch Hindi movies @cinema.  So, just like what the priest said, YES, KNOW YOUR CRAFT!!!