Ning-Jia.com

Nostalgia is about relevance. People who reminisce about the "good ol' days" are not truly reminiscing about the "good ol' days.". They actually are looking back to an era when they felt relevant in society—when they understood that era's technologies, customs, and society. They have lost that relevance, not through any fault of their own, but because the demographics they connected with are slowly fading away. That's the hard truth. It's sad to witness, but if we ourselves cling to that sense of relevance too far into old age, it will lead only to despair too. A more graceful way to age is to let go of the need for relevance. Embrace a quieter role in society and find contentment with the friends and family who remain by our side. Treasure every moment as a bonus to enjoy with others. It's never too late to do so anyway. Note: this was proofread by Grok AI.  P/s: I wonder how I’d feel reading this in my own old age.

As I started my career, I wanted to be an entrepreneur because it seemed they were doing so much good for the world while earning well by doing what they excelled at. But when I became one, I saw how many were just cheating and lying their way through. I dropped out. As I began consulting, I admired speakers. Standing on stage, getting paid, and sharing cutting-edge technology and ideas—what a life! But when I became a speaker, I noticed how many just recycled the same topics for years with no fresh ideas. I dropped out. As I started writing thought leadership articles, I was in awe of writers. Publishing book after book, researching hundreds of companies, and collaborating with thousands of people to share groundbreaking knowledge in the social sciences. But when I began writing my own book, I saw how many were just publishing for the sake of saying they wrote a book. I dropped out... I don’t even need to talk about titles like "Dato" or "Tan Sri." What I’ve learne...

Life’s path, cloaked in shadow, splits where we pause, caught between two currents. One road, warm with the weight of others, calls for surrender—a piece of our fire to kindle theirs. The other, stark and unshackled, glints with the lure of heights, but its steps echo alone. I’ve seen a man stand at this divide, his gaze fixed beyond the crowd. He chose the solitary climb, leaving bonds like footprints in dust. I watch, not to judge, but to ponder: what becomes of a soul that outruns its shadows? The choice is a mirror, revealing not just our intent but our mastery over ourselves. To lift others is to weave our thread into a greater design, a quiet strength that endures beyond us. Yet, to forge ahead alone is no lesser truth—it demands a ruthless clarity, a refusal to be dimmed by the weight of expectation. The man I observe moves with purpose, as if destiny carved his path. But what is purpose if it speaks only to one heart? The summit may be his, but will its silence satisfy? Freedom...

Our new manager joined us eariler this month, and I can hardly contain my excitement. Do others feel this way when they find someone so perfectly suited to their team? So today, I want to reflect on the hidden gems in the talent market and how to nurture their potential. I believe there’s a segment of the talent market—people like me—who don’t work primarily for money. It’s not absolute of course, but if the average worker labors 80% for pay and 20% for experience, I’m closer to 40% for pay and 60% for experience. I’ve found someone cut from the same cloth. Well-dressed, well-educated, slightly soft-spoken yet strikingly intelligent, they grasp my words instantly, speaking with precision. How does someone of such caliber ask for so little? I’m a touch skeptical—where’s the catch? But until it surfaces, I choose to savor this moment and embrace it. I look forward to a future conversation, perhaps over drinks, where they might share more of their story beyond the interview.  Until th...

Are you afraid of people knowing about you? I'm here to tell you that I've lived my life openly sharing who I am. From the first time privacy fears were raised with me, I dismissed them. I called them irrational fears. After all, what's rational about it? "Oh, you'll get kidnapped, your family will be extorted! There'll be identity theft, and you'll get scammed!" My response? "Okay, then how do all these famous people deal with it? There’s clearly a solution, and some handle it better than others." The answer is definitely not hiding in a cave and reducing our interactions with the world. Instead, I choose to embrace it fully and learn to navigate life as a public figure. So when that day comes, I won’t be afraid. I was born ready. Every day, I have conversations with people and, increasingly, with AI. Sometimes, AI responds with answers so eerily familiar they seem to know me better than my own wife. Am I afraid? No. I’m excited. I’m th...

When reflecting on the learning journey, we often encounter a simple yet profound framework: the progression from not knowing what we don’t know , to knowing what we don’t know , and finally to knowing what we know . This concept (see the above diagram) reveals the essence of how we grow intellectually and personally. At its heart, this journey hinges on two fundamental elements: awareness and knowledge . But what does this process truly mean? How do these stages unfold, and what philosophical insights can we glean from this interplay of ignorance, realization, and understanding? The Stages of Learning The learning journey can be distilled into three distinct phases, each marked by a shift in our relationship with knowledge and self-awareness: Not Knowing What We Don’t Know In this initial stage, we dwell in a state of complete ignorance—unaware not only of specific facts or skills but also of the very existence of our gaps. Imagine a young child who has never encountered the concept ...