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No Raindrop Falls in the Wrong Place…
I wrapped up 2023 with this poetic thought. But after a year of reflection, I feel it needs an addendum. No raindrop falls in the wrong place, yes… but in 2024, those raindrops landed smack in a pond of my own making. And it was a tough year indeed — floundering in the pond of old approaches, old techniques, stuck like a frog unable to jump out and see the wider world beyond its little lily pad.
I really want to use Vietnamese slang “Người trong ao hồ” to address my situation in 2024.
2024 was a year of doing a lot. Some things, I didn't know how to approach. Some things, I couldn't even predict the outcome. I was like a frog stuck in a pond, obsessed with old methods, approaching problems in the usual way and not achieving truly groundbreaking results.
Fortunately, new and different areas of work have emerged that have pushed me to expand my vision and step outside my “pond.” I’ve ventured into new areas, honed my skills and mindset, learned to recognize what I’m not good at and avoid wasting time on, and capitalized on my strengths. The downside is that there have been times when I’ve lost focus and not made the best use of my personal, team, or company resources. Thankfully, both my boss and my team — bless their patience — put up with me.
