Invisible

People don’t know this about me. But my name hasn’t always been Vinh. 

When I was born, my family named me Quang. And Quang grew up completely invisible; my teachers wouldn’t remember my name, I barely spoke up, I was scared to approach new groups of friends, I had crushes and never dared to tell them, I had ideas but never voiced them and this drove me crazy. I got so sick of who Quang had become that when I was 13, I asked my parents to let me change my name. They agreed. They saw how sad I had become and how shit life was for me. Damn it’s rough being a teenager, looking back on high school - I can’t believe I got through it. 

I moved schools multiple times as teenager and at the time it felt like torture but the combination of moving schools and changing my name gave me an opportunity to break the mold. This is so cheesy it makes me want to vomit, but I was the caterpillar that was becoming the butterfly. Changing my name to Vinh, and being in a new environment allowed me to explore who Vinh could become. Often I find that we are so attached to who we are, that we don’t give who we can become a chance. 

I am in the middle of teaching my STAGE Virtual Masterclass right now, and I see myself in so many of my students. So many of them trapped in their caterpillar form. And the most beautiful thing for me to see as a teacher, is seeing them turning into butterflies (if you’re lactose intolerant, you should stop reading now). To see grown adults; play, break out of their molds, being silly and just explore is one of the most fulfilling things to witness and be a part of. 

If you told me to go learn communication skills 10 years ago, I’d yawn in your face and tell you “Nah mate, that’s boring. I have more important things to work on.” 

I’ve learnt that communication skills is what made me visible. It’s the skill that brings your visions, your ideas and YOU to life. I was invisible but now I shine. 

I turn 34 this year, and I’ve finally worked out my purpose. Maybe it will change in the future but at 34, in this period of my life. I’ve realized that I am here to help the invisible become visible. One of my favorite speakers Les Brown says that..

“Imagine if you will being on your death bed – And standing around your bed – the ghosts of the ideas, the dreams, the abilities, the talents given to you by life.

And that you for whatever reason, you never acted on those ideas, you never pursued that dream, you never used those talents, we never saw your leadership, you never used your voice, you never wrote that book.

And there they are standing around your bed looking at you with large angry eyes saying we came to you, and only you could have given us life! Now we must die with you forever.

The question is – if you die today what ideas, what dreams, what abilities, what talents, what gifts, would die with you? ”

And lets end this post with the following (borrowing some thoughts from Marianne Williamson - remix time!) 

Don’t go through life being invisible. You have something special, you really do. Don’t let life pass you by and not notice your gifts and talents. Stop hiding. And realize that you playing small doesn’t serve anyone. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. 

We are all meant to shine and as you shine, you unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. Lets become so shiny that people need to wear sunglasses around us lol. 

Have a great Thursday world. 

PS. If anyone wants to join me for my next STAGE Virtual Masterclass just send me a message here on LinkedIn :)