How I've Benefited from Learning from the Best Teachers and Original Geniuses around the World

Social media has democratises expression, and almost anyone can call themselves a thought leader on something on LinkedIn, Instagram and Tik Tok.

Being constantly bombarded with tips, tricks and quotes, we come to accept that as the norm. The danger of that is that we process things at a more superficial level and think that we're learning.

Just like being raised on a diet of fast-food, we lose our ability to appreciate world-class cooking (and it does not have to be expensive, or Michelin-styled fine dining).

But I've been extremely fortunate that in my life, I've had the privilege of learning from some of the OGs in different domains.

Note: Here's a screenshot from Dictionary.com on the meaning of OG:

For me, I prefer to think of OG as "Original Genius."

These are people who are trailblazers in the industry, the brains behind some of the revolutionary ideas that's popular in the modern world.

Their teachings have also transformed my life immensely.

Here are some of the OGs I've learnt from:

1) Marshall Thurber

Marshall Thurber is one of the pillars of personal development circles. He was the one who developed the original "Money and You" program, and counted Tony Robbins and Robert Kiyosaki among his earliest proteges. He, in turned benefited from being directly mentored by the famous architect, designer and philosopher Buckminster Fuller, and William Edward Deming, an engineer behind the rise of Japan's quality manufacturing movement.

In 2017, Marshall was in Malaysia to teach a 7-day "Future of Business" seminar, and I knew I had to learn from the man himself. Being in his group mentoring program, I also had the chance to learn from his wisdom.

I remembered once I was struggling with a keynote and I emailed him, and he arranged to get on a Skype call with me to coach me how to storyboard the whole speech

Marshall's ideas about the psychology of business, management and communications transformed the way I approach my business. One example of which I shared here (Click on this link).

2) Claudio Naranjo

Widely regarded as the founder of the Modern Day Enneagram. The late Claudio Naranjo has taken the ancient wisdom passed down from ancient and medieval roots to spiritual teachers and integrated them with psychology to make it more accessible and relevant to modern personality development.

In 2015, I flew to California to attend a 9-day Retreat called "Seekers after the Truth." In fact, I thought I was going to learn the Enneagram from the grandmaster himself, but what I got was even more than that.

He was instrumental in my healing journey, especially in helping me to deal with and heal from my anger issues. I wrote about it here:

3) David Cooperrider

David Cooperrider is the founder of Appreciative Inquiry, a revolutionary approach to change management build on positive psychology and strengths.

In 2018, at the urging of my mentor Avi Liran, I flew twice to Cleveland Ohio to the Case Western Reserve University, where Professor Cooperrider teach the Certificate in Appreciative Inquiry Program.

I thought I've gone to learn about appreciative inquiry so that I can better help my corporate clients manage change and create engaging work cultures and bring out the best in their people, but beyond that, what I've learnt transformed me inside out.

Before attending Appreciative Inquiry, I used to see the world through more pessimistic lenses, especially with my past life experiences of suffering from abuse and bullying. However, Professor Cooperrider's teaching of seeing the world through "appreciative lenses" really changed my worldview and transformed my life.

4) Keith Johnstone

In 2018, I flew to London for 10 days to learn Improv from the late Keith Johnstone. I had ZERO theatre, acting or even Improv background, and there I was learning from the original founder of Improv and Theatre Sport.

I simply thought I was going to learn about how to be able to think-quickly on my feet, and be able to perform in Improv Theatre, but I didn't bargain for some the most profound personal learning I've gotten.

From the program, I've learnt profound lessons on:

• How to accept making mistakes and fail gloriously
• How to be a great team player, it's not ALL about me
• How to be present and be a great conversationalist
• How to trust others, ask for help, and to also support others
• How to let go of being the "smallest" in the room

I've written extensively about my lessons from learning Improv. Here are some of my previous posts and articles:

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/how-learning-improv-profound-improved-me-coen-tan/

https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/coentan_growthmindset-wholehearted-happyteachersday-activity-7103546332648243200--6b2?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/coentan_wholeheartedliving-improvtheatre-makingchoices-activity-7188688096656343041-5Tma?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

5) Simon Bowen

In the service and education business, one of the hardest conundrums is this question "How can you make the invisible visible?"

This is where Simon's genius comes in. The founder of the Models Method, Simon Bowen was instrumental in teaching me how to codify the wisdom of what I do in visual models, which also forms my curriculums and the book I am writing.

It's been a game-changer! I now no longer present my profound genius, only to be met with blank looks from my prospects, clients and participants. They intuitively understood me.

But more than that, Simon also challenged me to think deeper about my business in all ways.

Why I Embrace Deep Learning

Many people have asked me "Coen, how did you turn your life around, going from Depressed to Expressed, Silenced to Spirited?"

I can share tips and advice with them, but these are just scratching the surface.

I can tell them stories of moments in my life when I had powerful discoveries, but these stories are just snapshots.

To fully transform your life requires commitment towards the process, the willingness to play the long game, as well as the mental stamina to dive deep into really learning and mastering the fundamental essence of things.

Otherwise, we're left with bunch of seminar notes, random musings, and superficial self-mastery.

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