On My Way

We create rigorous training plans for our bodies — yet in an era of instant texts, social media echo chambers, and AI-generated words, we rarely have a training plan for our brains.

In this episode of The Open Loop, we unpack the hidden pre-communication thinking loop, why original thoughts are our greatest edge over retrospective AI, and how to use daily self-coaching to intentionally train your brain muscle before you speak.

Last week, a monthly hormonal low forced me to take a full week off from the gym—and after days of stressing that I was losing momentum, I walked back in and hit an all-time personal best on my power clean.

Most "always-on" success playbooks were built for a 24-hour male hormonal clock, not a 28-day wave of how a female body functions. So in today’s Open Loop, we explore why rest isn't falling behind and how to redefine high performance around our own rhythm.

Many of us are probably working on the next annual plan at our jobs. With only two months left on the calendar, it's also the right timing for us to think about our personal plan for the next year.

I've always found it hard to stick to a New Year's resolution. So instead of trying to set another year long goal and failing half way, I want to challenge myself by setting a 30-day personal challenge every month for the next 12 months.

From this episode, you will hear I share where this idea came from, what criteria do I apply to pick these challenges, and what my very first challenge will be for November!

Follow through for the next 12 month to learn about my evolving journey. It's also an invitation for you to pick your 30-day challenges alongside mine :)

I often find myself frustrated in corporate environment where smart people compete with each other in a seemingly zero-sum game. Competition creates corporate politics. Peter Thiel alluded to this: competition is for losers.

I reflected about where the zero-sum game mindset comes from (e.g., our education system), and nuance my own thinking about different career designs - to become a problem solver or a problem finder. There's no absolute good or bad career choice, I encourage you to assess your ambition and personality to find the right path for you.

Reference: Zero to One by Peter Thiel

Sometime we fall into the trap of comparison or anxiety of timeline because we treat our life as a finite game - there are fixed rules, and a clear beginning, middle, and end where someone wins and someone loses. However, life is an infinite game -there are no winners or losers, only those who stay in the game and those who eventually drop out because they run out of will or resources.

Setting a north star has allowed me to adopt this "infinite mindset" in my life journey. North star is there not to be reached, but to guide. The achievement of our milestones along the way is just a by-product of a positive, joyful lifestyle.

Reference: The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek

How many times did you try so hard but couldn't achieve certain things? But the very moments you stopped obsessing over it, something great naturally happened.

I had a similar moment today. It's a reminder for us -- sometimes maybe the universe is already ready to give us a gift, but we don't have the space to receive.

Ep 1: The "why" behind OMW and Gigi's self introduction.

OMW aims to democratize mentorship and coaching that typically take place behind the closed doors, where we ask big questions and look to find our own answer. We certainly don't have all the answers yet, but you are not alone; we are in this together. Join me on my way, and may you find your way.