Cup of Perspective Vol2 - by Monica H. Kang

CUP OF PERSPECTIVE VOLUME 2

By InnovatorsBox® Monica H. Kang

Cup of Perspective Volume 2 Copyright © 2019 Monica H. Kang. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication shall be reproduced, transmitted, or sold in whole or in part in any form without prior written consent of the author, except as provided by the United States of America’s copyright law. Any unauthorized usage of the text without express written permission of the publisher is a violation of the author’s copyright and is illegal and punishable by law. All trademarks and registered trademarks appearing in this guide are the property of their respective owners.

For permission requests, write to InnovatorsBox, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator” at the address below.

InnovatorsBox® PO Box 73231 Washington, DC 20056-32321 info@innovatorsbox.com The opinions are expressed by the Author.

Written by: Monica H. Kang Edited by: Heather B. Habelka Illustrated by: Miranda Sofroniou @miranda_illustration Interior design by: Monica Escobar Beasley

InnovatorsBox® is on a mission to unlock creativity for all.

1

MONICA H. KANG | INNOVATORSBOX LLC © 2019. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

03 Intro: No more “Ham in the Oven” 04 Before the conclusion 05

Are you living for your resume, or for your eulogy?

06

What is your first impression?

07

Is getting there fast really that important?

08

A promise worth keeping.

09 Playing with purpose, I swear 10

The expected at the most unexpected moment.

11

Who is this for, really?

12

Pause, right there.

13

Method to the madness.

14

How inclusive is your life?

15 Tougher than you think 16

Learn how to heal so that you can stand up again.

17

You get what you put in.

18

Letting go of scarcity like a summer breeze.

19

Perfectly imperfect and dazzling.

20 To infinity and beyond 21

Lessons from mountain drawing.

22

You can never say thank you enough.

23 In closing

2

MONICA H. KANG | INNOVATORSBOX LLC © 2019. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

2

Intro: No more “Ham in the Oven” I laughed out loud the first time I heard the Ham in the Oven story from a friend. She thought it was a beautiful reminder of why my creativity work at InnovatorsBox® is needed. And also how it is impacting not only the workplace, but everyday problems that are often approached in a close-minded way.

This is how it goes: A daughter noticed how her mother always cut off the edges of the ham before putting it in the oven. One day out of curiosity, she finally asked her mother, “Mother, why do you cut the edges of the ham?”

“Oh, we always have.”

“Why?” “Well, if you don’t cut it, the ham will spoil,” replied her mother matter of factly.

“How do you know it will spoil unless you cut it?”

After a couple rounds of questioning, her mother finally blurted out, “I don’t know.

That’s how my mother has always done it!”

So the daughter went to talk to her grandmother.

“Grandmother, why do you have to cut off the edges of the ham before baking?”

She smiled, “Oh dear, I always had to because my oven was too small. If I didn’t cut the edges off, I wouldn’t be able to fit the ham in the oven.”

Do you see what just happened?

Her mother never needed to cut the edges of the ham off because she has a bigger oven.

But because she never questioned the cooking method, she simply followed the rules and for many years, wasted the edges of the ham. How

3

often do we do this? Assume that what we have been told, or instructed to do, is accurate?

Studies show there is a dramatic decline in our questioning when we enter school and the workplace. And when we stop asking, we stop learning.

Creativity is keeping an eye of curiosity at all times. When you are curious, you are hungry to learn and to improve. You may not fully know all the reasons or solutions to challenging situations, but your continuing questioning can help you discover some new and important insights.

In the pages that follow, you’ll find a selection of essays written to spark your curiosity and creativity in a new way. These essays have been published in our InnovatorsBox® newsletters and compiled into this, our second collection.

(We released the first collection in June 2019.

You can access it by clicking here.)

I hope this second collection will make you laugh, pause, reflect, and be inspired to do something new.

I look forward to hearing how these essays impact you.

Please, no more ham in the oven!

With love,

Monica H. Kang Founder & CEO, InnovatorsBox Author, Rethink Creativity

MONICA H. KANG | INNOVATORSBOX LLC © 2019. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

BEFORE THE CONCLUSION

Are you living for your resume, or for your eulogy?

March 25, 2019 How do you want to be described during your eulogy?

The truth is that whatever is said will be very different from your resume.

I’ve read many intriguing articles on this subject, but the one that particularly rang true for me was a piece written by Arianna Huffington. She wrote, ”The eulogy is the foundational document of our legacy, of how people remember us, of how we live on in the minds and hearts of others.”

So no matter how robust his resume was, you probably aren’t going to hear your deceased Uncle described as a great salesman who ate lunch at his desk each day and worked late every night. Is that how you’d like to be remembered?

We say we care about our legacies, but so many of us are focused on rushing through life and on short term outcomes. Work, family, major life milestones, those everyday moments—what are you truly living for?

It is so tempting to want to reach for a faster and easier solution. But at the end of the day, companies like Walt Disney and Facebook do not happen overnight. You have to think of the long term and be determined to keep showing up, learning, and growing into your creativity. Our best outcomes do not happen overnight. Innovation does not happen overnight. Our best creative insights are not born overnight.

Even something good can become greater when we incubate, listen, and learn. There is always room for growth. I think a lot about this question as I work with companies, leaders, and employees, and as I build my own company as an entrepreneur.

Honestly, building my company, and this movement, has not been easy. The challenges we as a company have faced get harder, but more impactful each time.

And each moment, I think about why we choose to do this in the face of these challenges.

I know there are new challenges that we’ll continue to face but we are here for the eulogy—not for the resume. We are here to leave a longer impact on society and every step we take is a step closer to empowering one more person and one more company at a time.

5

MONICA H. KANG | INNOVATORSBOX LLC © 2019. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

What is your first impression?

September 27, 2017 I remember the days I used to be nervous about first impressions.

It felt like asking the world to judge me based on that first email, first handshake, and first greeting.

The possibility of screwing up seemed daunting—and that added pressure to how I felt about every encounter and meeting. I was also haunted by the thought of misjudging someone, or a situation, which would lead me to make a decision I would later come to regret.

Do you ever feel that way?

Today I no longer hold this fear of first impressions because over time I have learned that the biggest barriers were not external variables, but my very own self.

I also know that first impressions aren’t everything because we are not always able to correctly pick up everything about the other person or situation. But getting to this stage has gotten me thinking about the other things I may have the wrong impression of, and what my values are around those impressions.

Think about one statement you often say subconsciously and believe to be true. Ask yourself, ”Is this based on your first impression or on the real truth”?

MONICA H. KANG | INNOVATORSBOX LLC © 2019. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

6

Is getting there fast really that important?

August 13, 2018 How often do you do things or want things too fast—without thinking them through?

In entrepreneurship, we talk a lot about failing fast. In innovation, we celebrate fast success and scale. In our routines, we often want things delivered at the touch of our fingertips. Even in our dating life, we want to meet our life partner fast by swiping left or right.

Fast is something we say we want and need.

As a full-time bootstrapping entrepreneur, I understand how speed is a cost. For example, not completing product development within the original timeline creates an additional cost burden.

However, over time, I’m reminded that there is another side of the coin that is even more expensive. The cost of not thinking thoroughly and failing to make decisions based on long-term benefits. The cost of fixing things you mistakenly approved too fast. The cost of your stomach-ache for eating your lunch too fast.

I’m reminded of this as I think about how far InnovatorsBox® has come and when I reflect on the publishing of my first book, Rethink Creativity. There are so many moments every day when I wish things would go faster within my business. And each time, I would blame myself for not doing things faster.

But when I see how beautifully the book came together, and when I see what impact we have in the workplace, I remember that quality and persistence speaks volume.

People see it and so do I. We would not be here if we focused on simply rushing to win and to scale.

Fast can be good. But fast 24/7? That may lead us with regret and burnt out.

How can you live a bit more slowly today?

7

MONICA H. KANG | INNOVATORSBOX LLC © 2019. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

A promise worth keeping.

You never know what is going on behind the scenes.

January 29, 2018 Every year, when I reach the end of January, I experience a silent moment of panic.

How did I already reach the end of one month without doing all of this [a long list of things that I was planning to do]? I start becoming more aware of all the things that will be hard to accomplish, the changes I need to make, and things that are still not clear despite my best intentions. I start to rethink the promises I made to myself.

Do you ever feel that way too? What do you do when you face that?

One thing I do is reflect and ask more questions about my Dajim (다짐). English translates this Korean verb as a ‘promise’ or ‘pledge’ but it is more than that.

You make a Dajim when you claim with certainty a promise you want to keep. You make a Dajim with the understanding that it takes courage because you are doing something hard, new, and challenging. But it is a promise of positive progress that will move you from where you are, to where you want to be. Stating your Dajim is a way of pledging your true priorities and holding yourself accountable. This word holds more weight than simply making promises. And because we are impacted by what we say, hear, and think, I think about the promises I want to keep, fight for, and stand for, with the word Dajim each year.

How about you? If you truly asked yourself what promise you are fighting for and working for this year, what would that be?

As we move from month to month, I encourage you to take the time to reflect on your Dajim.

This deep sense of knowing can give us the clarity and the courage when things get tough.

MONICA H. KANG | INNOVATORSBOX LLC © 2019. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

8

PLAYING WITH PURPOSE, I SWEAR

The expected at the most unexpected moment.

January 9, 2017 Best ideas come when you don’t expect one.

Best jobs come when you aren’t looking for one.

Best opportunities come when you aren’t pursuing one.

Sometimes the most expected event happens at the most unexpected time.

Those who are most open-minded and patient tend to win the day.

Ask yourself: ”How can I make the most out of the unexpected moments in life?”

MONICA H. KANG | INNOVATORSBOX LLC © 2019. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

10

Who is this for, really?

May 6, 2019 I felt conflicted as I read Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic.

When you create something, who are you creating it for? For yourself or for your audience?

Elizabeth has said that writing Big Magic was largely done for herself and not just for others.

She explained how mindset helped her create the book she wanted—not just a marketable one. The entrepreneur part of me initially felt conflicted upon reading this. One should create goods and services not for yourself, but with the consumer and audience in mind, right? How helpful will a creation or invention be if we are not thinking about how the audience will enjoy and benefit from it? What if they do not want it? You fail, right?

But Elizabeth, like many other creatives, has a good point. Transformative creations are born out of the creator’s passion, curiosity, and determination. The best versions are created because they want it—not just because the masses do.

Even in product innovation, who says the consumer is always right?

It’s a good thing Ford did not create faster horses at his customers’ request, but instead invested in inventing cars. It’s a good thing Vincent Van Gogh did not only paint commissions.

Or what about JD Salinger, the author of the famous Catcher in the Rye? He wrote extensively up until his dying day but declined to publish for 50 years—for fear of his writings being criticized. Upon his death in 2010, we were finally able to experience his new masterpieces.

Watching Chef Bo Songvisava’s interview on Chef’s Table on Netflix, where she talks about cooking quality authentic thai food in Bangkok even though her customers initially rejected it, reminds me how important it is that we have more creatives in this world—creatives who are striving for quality while staying true to their mission.

Would we have these masterpieces in this world if creatives focused solely on their audiences and consumers? I say no. So who are you creating for? Is your work for other people?

When was the last time you created something truly for yourself and poured it all in? When was the last time you created something for quality instead of for a paycheck or your resume?

What if we had more creatives at work who were creating not just for the sake of it, but because they really wanted to make a lasting difference?

11

MONICA H. KANG | INNOVATORSBOX LLC © 2019. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Pause, right there.

September 17, 2017 I want you to take a moment to close your eyes and ask yourself: When was the last time you really rested your eyes and mind for five minutes without any pressure?

When was the last time you truly paused? For many of us, the answer is, “It has been too long.” Then we shrug it off saying that we are too busy and that there is too little time. That there is no time to stop.

But let’s look at this from a different perspective.

In music, speaking, and dancing, a pause speaks volumes. Can you imagine how it would feel if you were listening to someone sing or speak, or watching someone dance without a pause? Just the thought is exhausting, yet we can see what we’re doing to our lives. By not giving ourselves any space to pause, not only are we exhausting ourselves and others, but we may also be decreasing our productivity, effectiveness, and thoughtfulness.

Take the moment when you think you cannot afford it, and press pause.

Take some time to think about that response before sending that email.

Be intentional about your breaks and take walks to give your mind a rest from your routine.

Smelling that rose today won’t delay your trip exploring that mystic jungle of life of yours.

Pause for a bit so that you can rise tomorrow.

MONICA H. KANG | INNOVATORSBOX LLC © 2019. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

12

Method to the madness.

You never know what is going on behind the scenes.

September 24, 2018 When I start setting up a conference room with my prompts, it shakes up the room’s expectations a bit. They see play-doh, colorful SPARK cards, sharpies, fidget toys, color construction paper, origami birds, and more.

This is clearly not going to be their usual meeting. Or as some have said, the tables look creative—and chaotic. The messiness makes some people uncomfortable.

They want direction—clear direction on what to do next.

But I have a method to my madness.

Every item I bring and place on the table is selected with intention.

I use each element to change the pace of the room and its energy. I communicate with the participants through my items as they move through the creative mindset activities. I also know that no matter what their first reaction is, most people eventually get comfortable embracing this intentional messiness.

This exercise reminds me of situations when we work with people who are creatively different.

At times, when we do not understand how our colleagues work or think, we feel confused and uncomfortable. Why do they process things that way? They should do it my way, which is easier.

Why don’t they follow the way it has always been done? Trying something new will make more work for all of us.

How can we take space to embrace our brilliant chaos and appreciate others as well?

Remember: You probably have a method to your madness too!

13

MONICA H. KANG | INNOVATORSBOX LLC © 2019. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

How inclusive is your life?

March 25, 2019 How do you answer these questions: Who are the five people you spend the most time with?

What are the five restaurants you frequent?

What are your five favorite TV shows or movies?

What are the five things you spend the most time reading or learning about?

With my work, I have the pleasure of attending events and participating in conversations about the importance of diversity and inclusivity. There is no doubt about how important it is. But how often do we think beyond the workplace? How many truly think about diversity in thoughts and not just physical diversity?

When you take a moment to answer the questions above, what do you discover about yourself?

To be open to the diversity of thoughts, we need to start with our routine. How can we hope to see things differently if we have built a norm of doing the same thing? It is easier for us to be curious and rethink about our norms when we experience new things.

Think about food. I remember the time when Thai food was considered exotic in America. Now, it is everywhere.

What about entertainment? I remember when there were barely any non-white characters in most fiction I read or movies I watched in America—but I never questioned why. Now, it is nice to see that I can learn about different ethnicities, cultures, sexuality, and perspectives without a second thought.

If we want to talk about building a more inclusive culture at work, we have to go back to how we are being inclusive in our lifestyle.

Take a moment and push yourself outside of your comfort zone: What is one thing you can do differently that will mix up your routine?

MONICA H. KANG | INNOVATORSBOX LLC Š 2019. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

14

TOUGHER THAN YOU THINK.

Learn how to heal so that you can stand up again.

March 11, 2019 Doing anything new is risky and scary.

Even with calculated risk and good planning, you have no guarantee in the result.

Yet without change, you cannot expect things to improve. And at times, despite your good intentions, someone will disagree with you and find fault in your actions.

“That’s old news,” you may say. But how much do you know about how to heal your emotional wounds?

Rereading Emotional First Aid: Healing, Rejection, Guilt, Failure and Other Everyday Hurts

by Dr. Guy reminds me how the challenges we face to be creative at work are more than a lack of ping pong tables. While we know how to handle even a paper cut, most of us do not know how to heal our wounds from rejection or failure. We brush it off saying “it’s no big deal,” but his research shows that the emotional wound deepens, and when we do not know how to heal, we only become more defensive and protective in fear of getting hurt again.

Studies also show that pessimists tend to recall bad memories more harshly than those who don’t see the world as negatively.

So, when our idea gets rejected, when our leader walks away from their promise, or when our closest allies turn their backs on us—they all add up. And it is up to us to know how to deal, heal, and make these moments a part of a learning experience so that we can show up with courage to try again.

I’m humbly reminded of this each day as a bootstrapping entrepreneur. The highs are high and the lows are low. But if I’m letting these experiences define and limit me, not only am I staying in my fear, but I will also be less likely to want to try something new.

As you celebrate the wins, I hope you find space to heal, make those moments your lessons learned, and keep growing into your future.

The harder things get, the more creativity we’ll need. Your courage, each day, will make a difference.

MONICA H. KANG | INNOVATORSBOX LLC © 2019. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

16

You get what you put in.

June 5, 2017 It’s that simple!

You exercise and eat well because it will get you good health. You work hard and contribute to your team to succeed within your organization.

Your output is directly related to your input. Yet, we seem to forget this when it comes to long term and intangible values like innovation, culture, and even love.

We expect things to be immediate and perfect. So when there’s a glitch, error, or extra effort is needed to meet that goal, we often want to ditch it.

But the fundamental equation remains the same. The more you practice creative thinking and dedicate time to building a creative mindset, the more creative and more thoughtful leader you can be.

The more time you dedicate to working on improving your relationship and on self care, the better relationship you will have.

I challenge you to be honest with yourself.

Find an area where you were expecting fast results—without putting in the effort— and ask yourself how you can put in more effort to get the results you desire.

Observe how marvelous the result can be when you put in the true effort!

17

MONICA H. KANG | INNOVATORSBOX LLC © 2019. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Letting go of scarcity like a You never summer breeze.know what is going

on behind the scenes.

July 16, 2018 Some days I feel a bit anxious about all the things I have not yet completed. About that project that took longer than I thought. Or that delayed decision that cost us time and money. Or that product that didn’t sell fast enough to balance out the cash flow. The list goes on. When I seek fault, I am good at seeing it everywhere.

The optimistic side of me says there is always room for growth. The other side of me shouts at me that I got this all wrong and that I’m not good enough.

Sounds familiar? I am experiencing a scarcity mindset.

The feeling that there is limited resources, time, and opportunities or that if I do not make a decision fast enough I am doomed to fail and the ending will be awful.

That is a zero-sum game.

Yes, the resources may indeed be limited, but in truth, a large part of the scarcity is inside my mind more than it is in reality. The haunting part is that once we let our minds dive into scarcity mindset, it’s hard to get out of it and see the opportunity—even if it presents itself.

I bring this up because I want to remind you how important it is to learn to detect, understand, and let go of scarcity mindset. It happens to most of us - but if we don’t recognize it, we can’t prevent it. The heartbreaking news of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain profoundly reminded us that wealth and fame are not everything. And that there are many causes of stress and depression lurking behind the curtain. What you see (or do not see) is never the full picture.

I know at times we may feel like we’re falling behind.

But instead of letting that scarcity mindset eat away your thoughts, how can you use it as an opportunity to make the most out of what’s being presented to you right now?

MONICA H. KANG | INNOVATORSBOX LLC © 2019. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

18

Perfectly imperfect and dazzling.

June 3, 2019 What does your perfect career look like? What about your perfect partner, perfect friend, and perfect life? Would it be a life where you have no trouble, no worries, and no struggles? A happy ending that is great to share on social media?

I think about this on days when I have conversations with friends and we start a list of “I wish” statements over grim faces: I wish my career was better. I wish I had more financial flexibility. I wish I met the one love of my life and was with that person. I wish I had sorted this stressful situation out. And the list goes on. You’ve been there too, I’m sure.

But think again. In theory, this “perfect” solution seems nice but would you really prefer to live a life that was so frictionless? Is that really perfect? Home cooked meals may not be Michelin starred restaurants but many are infinitely deep, rich, and homelike in a way that no fine dining can match. The friends that went through hard times together may share deeper sorrow but also deeper enrichment of joy. And most importantly, we as humans are the most perfectly imperfect beings. We strive to be good, optimistic, and thoughtful but at times fail to do so. We strive for effectiveness and achievement but also go back to laziness. We know exercise and sleep is good but how many of us really take it seriously in our lives?

Our life is messy and unpredictable with a lot of knowns and unknowns. And that is perhaps one of the most beautiful blessings in life. Because there is something valuable in every moment.

So maybe we should stress less about finding that perfect solution, perfect partner, or being that perfect person. Sometimes we like to sleep in, sometimes they are late, sometimes the internet fails you.

Maybe instead we can focus on what is so beautiful and dazzling about each of these perfectly imperfect moments.

19

MONICA H. KANG | INNOVATORSBOX LLC © 2019. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

TO INFINITY AND BEYOND

Lessons from mountain drawing.

June 4, 2018 How do you draw a mountain?

When I was growing up in Washington DC, I did not know how to draw it. However, my parents tell me that I started drawing mountains as soon as I moved to South Korea.

What was different? It was most likely the exposure and the experience.

DC’s landscape is mostly flat. To see any curve of a mountain, you have to drive out two hours to see the first glimpse of Shenandoah Valley. On the other hand, over 75% of Korea’s peninsula is mountain. As a child, I was shocked when I first saw mountains, as I had never been exposed to them before. In DC I struggled to draw something that I have never seen before. But as soon as I saw them with my eyes in Korea, I was able to draw them with ease.

Today I still sketch mountains.

Studies show this interesting phenomenon in every child. When you ask a child in China to draw mountains, you get a sharp tall mountain. Ask a child in Korea, and you’ll often get rounded hilly mountains. It’s not their fault for not being able to draw the other types of mountains that exist. They are just absorbing and expressing what they see and experience.

This makes me wonder how we spend time understanding the world.

How would our learning be different if we focused more on experiential learning instead of memorization?

How would our understanding of diversity change if we were exposed to different cultures and languages earlier in our lives?

Would we be understanding of how everyone’s mountain drawing is different?

How do you draw mountains?

21

MONICA H. KANG | INNOVATORSBOX LLC © 2019. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

You can never say thank you enough.

November 19, 2018 Thank you. Merci. Gracias. Kamsahamnida. Arigato.

It’s a word we use at the end of an email signature. It’s an expression we say at a podium when we speak. It’s a phrase we use when we talk to new people. It’s a phrase we say out of habit.

But how often do we say it when we really need to those who would appreciate the most?

The colleague who stepped up for you when you least expected it.

That friend who showed up for you when you needed her even though you haven’t spoken in years.

That mentor who sent you the message you needed to hear.

And you who took the moment to do something new despite existing challenges and limits.

For every milestone, there is a community supporting us. For every failure, there is a village of champions cheering us on. For every moment, there is something to be grateful for. We are who we are today because of these moments.

Don’t wait until it is too late. Take a moment to say thank you to those individuals in your life, including yourself. We can never say thank you enough. And the more we celebrate and walk with gratitude, the more we may see something different.

Thank you for being you.

Thank you for sharing your gift with this world.

Thank you for being here with us.

This week, take a moment to express gratitude.

MONICA H. KANG | INNOVATORSBOX LLC © 2019. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

22

In closing

What is the perfect way to be creative?

What is the fastest way to be more creative?

When I introduce myself and my work in creative leadership and innovation culture, I get asked these questions all the time.

The human part of us likes simple answers to complex problems.

We want fast solutions so that we don’t waste our time, energy, and effort. We want one magic button that will solve our pain. Give us the pre-formulated answer so that we just plug it in easily, they ask me, because we need the ROI right now.

But in pursuit of getting something fast, we miss out the beautiful lessons and powerful insights we gain along the way.

How do you expect to know yourself if you don’t take the time to get to know yourself?

How do you expect to know what ignites you if you don’t know what inspires you be creative?

How do you expect to know what really is the bottleneck of your innovation if you don’t pause, test out, and prototype?

I know we always feel like we are short on time and resources. I’ve worked with nonprofits, government, and teams with tight budgets. I understand that. But in pursuit of getting there fast, please do not lose your beautiful gift of you as who you are.

You are a unique being.

So learning how to be creative will be different for you and your colleagues. Just like what makes you a great leader, team member, mentor, friend, spouse, and even parent is different from another person. Yes, there are certain values and patterns that may resonate but there is no one way and no fast way to get there.

23

MONICA H. KANG | INNOVATORSBOX LLC © 2019. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

It’s, in a way, how I feel about my extensive train traveling throughout Europe in 2010 and 2013. I was eager to get to Hamburg from Vienna or to Florence—as fast as possible, but train traveling takes 6-8 hours. Yes, those were long hours but those hours on the train were irreplaceable. I saw beautiful landscapes. Every time I crossed a border the city and nature environment immediately changed. I got to meet a lot of strangers, from teenagers to an 80-year-old grandparent, who shared their stories, dreams, and visions for what kind of life they wanted to live. And I learned just how much courage I had to travel alone on a train for many weeks—with no GPS, friends, and language challenges.

If I took flights to get from city to city, I would never have experienced or learned these lessons.

The trips wouldn’t have shaped me into the person I am today. Was it a long train ride? Yes it was. Was it worth the walk? Yes it was.

So get on with your journey. Ask questions. Wonder why. Try something different.

Fail. Stand up again. Ask more questions. Be curious. And take action.

Please, connect with me and share how taking the time to find your path made all the difference. Or reach out for guidance or support if you are still on your journey to self-discovery.

Thank you for helping to spread creativity for all!

With love, Monica H. Kang

MONICA H. KANG | INNOVATORSBOX LLC © 2019. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

24

Monica H. Kang, the Founder and CEO of InnovatorsBox®, is an international speaker, global advocate, and the author of Rethink Creativity: How to Innovate, Inspire and Thrive at Work.

Monica@InnovatorsBox.com monicakang monicahkang hi.mhk

25

MONICA H. KANG | INNOVATORSBOX LLC © 2019. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

P.O. Box 73231 Washington, DC 20056-3231

@InnovatorsBox

I N N O V AT O R S B O X . C O M