Sweet Spot of Surrender: Embracing the Tension Between Control and Chaos

Looking at Friday’s Speaker’s Showcase and website launch at Media Clubroom, and I'm still buzzing from the experience! I was invited to introduce masterclasses to the audience, and I won't lie, I was nervous. Like, really nervous. I mean, who wouldn't be when you're asked to cram a ton of content into a short presentation

But here's the thing - I knew my mission was to motivate and move the audience. I didn't want to just stand there and rattle off facts; I wanted to inspire them to believe in themselves and their own potential. So I practiced hard, memorising my constantly evolving script right up until the last minute. But then I realised, if I kept worrying about the script, I'd never be able to deliver what I really needed to - a message that would resonate with them.

So I took a deep breath and decided to let go. I mean, who needs a script when you've got passion and conviction, right? (gulp) And oh man, it was liberating! I started to have fun, and I could feel the audience relaxing and enjoying themselves too. It was like we were all in this together, you know?

And that's when it hit me - this feeling of being on the threshold, where you're not quite in control but not quite letting go either. It's like that sweet spot where magic happens. Call it flow, the zone, surrender… I've seen it in art, in film production, in music, in dance, and sports... and now I've experienced it in public speaking

It's like, you can only prepare so much, and then you just have to trust that you've done enough. Trust that you know your stuff, trust that you've got this. And then, with one intentional exhale, you release it all and surrender to the universe.

It's poetic, really. Like passing on the baton, saying, "It's your turn now. I'm going to enjoy the ride. Thank you." And that's exactly what I did. I let go, and I enjoyed the ride. And you know what? It was amazing

The best part? By surrendering and connecting with the crowd through play and just being comfortable representing myself, I got to connect with some incredible speakers, experts, and thought leaders on a more intimate level. I mean, sure, I probably went over time (just a little), and I probably goofed up my script a couple of times, but honestly, no one noticed. And that's because we were all too busy being present in the moment, and mistakes just makes me human. Especially if I’m comfortable enough to embrace it

Meeting old virtual connections from LinkedIn in person was pure joy! Shoutout to Jun Yi, Michael Arief, Brent, Eldred, Yoke Leng, Eric, Ethan, Kim, Anthony, and so many more whom I've lost count of (sorry, guys!). We skipped the awkward small talk and dove straight into meaningful conversations that mattered. It was like we'd known each other for years, not just minutes.

That's the power of surrender, guys. That's the power of connection.