I have my own blog site now sitting in my very own domain name. However, my blog archive is still available at http://mikeheah.blogspot.com
What better way to start the new blog then to share something wonderful that goes beyond my wildest dream. I had a most pleasant surprise when the nomination committee called me to inform me that I have received the BrandLaureate Icon Leadership Award 2013 for “Transformational Corporate Leader”!
As a coach I could not help but start asking myself some ‘coaching’ questions that came racing into my mind, such as: “Was there a mistake somewhere? Why me? What did I exactly do to win this?” I did not have good answers for them then as I did not zealously looked for them either. I just told myself, “Go with the flow and accept it”.
I only felt the magnitude of this award on the Hollywood-styled Award Night where I suddenly realized that I was sharing the stage with the greats and the rich and famous! They were there – the Governor of Melaka, Y Bhg Tuan Yang Terutama Tun Datuk Seri Utama Haji Mohd Khalil bin Yaacob; former Inspector of Police, Y Bhg Tun Mohammad Hanif bin Omar; sports legend, Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. M Jegathesan; world squash queen, Datuk Nicole Ann David; famous historian, Y Bhg Tan Sri Prof Khoo Kay Peng, tycoons such as Tan Sri Danny Tan, Tan Sri Dato’ Low Keng Huat, Tan Sri Dato’ Low Keng Seng, together with some other very distinguished personalities as well. Indeed I was in the company of giants!
So reality finally set in as it became very clear now that this coveted international brand award is ‘to honor outstanding brand leadership icons for their remarkable governance and leading and managing their brands and industry’. I could easily relate this award to those present and why they deserved it. But me? It took me a while to know my ‘bearing’ so that I could see this in a positive perspective. Until then I had considered myself a ‘nobody’ when compared to them when I read about them in the news. But now I am a ‘somebody’ too! I also realized that this was not only a personal award but one for COACHING itself. It significantly marked the elevation and recognition of Coaching not only as a powerful people transformation tool but Coaches who are in this profession who can now stand tall.
During the night, my mind went back to the hard times of Coaching which is now enjoying better days. It has successfully completed its 12 years’ journey and is now elevated to be in the same league with other respectable professions like law, medicine, engineering and so forth. Indeed I too feel a personal sense of fulfillment to know that my vision to ‘grow a vibrant coach community’ is on track! It is heartwarming to know that this award is not only for coaches alone but also for all forward-looking people who can confidently count on their coaches to support them to gain greater success and fulfillment in their lives!
On another count I am also proud that my work in Coaching is no lesser than the other worthy contributions by other greats to benefit the world. This experience has a very important learning lesson for me. It confirms that my philosophy is right all this while, that “what you ‘own’ of things is of lesser significance as compared to what you ‘hold’ in your beliefs”. What we ‘have’ in wealth and possessions can always be compared, even challenged and can be taken away as they are temporal in nature. However, what we ‘hold’ in our beliefs are truly ours; they cannot be compared, challenged or taken away from us. We are indeed defined by what and how we see ourselves. Now this is well proven.
I thank God for giving this towering and unshaken belief of who I am and what I do with pride and dignity. There was neither shame nor discouragement to champion the Coaching cause from ground zero 12 years ago; slowly but surely from a ‘desert land’ into an ‘oasis’ now as it continues to attract more and more people who want to be coaches as they can identify this with their love in helping people in their life mission. It is so heartening to know that humanity and the generosity of people have now a place in Coaching where their beliefs can be converted into actions to make the world a better and happier place.
Coaches, this BrandLaureate Icon Leadership Award is for all of you! Share with me your thoughts on this Award.
