Gene by Gene’s Post

It’s been 10 months now since I moved abroad, and it’s been one of the most transformative experiences of my life. Here’s what I’ve gained: 🌐 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: Deep dive into new traditions and lifestyles. 🌱 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡: Building resilience and self-understanding. 🤝 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠: Forming a worldwide network of friends and colleagues. 🚀 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: Gaining unique skills for the global job market. 🗣️ 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬: Learning and practicing new languages. 🧭 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: Navigating and thriving in unfamiliar environments. 🌏 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞: Developing a more refined worldview. 📸 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬: Creating lasting memories. Excited for the new adventures to come! 🌟🚀

I took the road less traveled by, and that made all the difference   It’s been two weeks since I started my new role, and I’ve just completed my first business trip to Hue in central Vietnam. In this short time, I’ve met countless new people, explored 2 new cities, tasted foods I never imagined I would try, and started to immerse myself into this incredible culture and country. 🌏 Starting fresh in a new role, in a new country, isn’t always comfortable, but it’s on these unfamiliar paths that we grow the most. Each new experience, from conversations with local colleagues to exploring new food and simply listening to what local business owners told me, has broadened my perspective and deepened my appreciation for this new part of my journey ahead. When Nicolette shared the below picture with me earlier this week, I reflected on some of the choices I have made across my career and wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment of Robert Frost’s poem that it’s the paths less traveled that will ultimately shape the most who we are. Taking risks and stepping into the unknown may feel intimidating, but these are the choices that lead to the most profound growth. Whether it’s a new role, an unfamiliar culture, or simply being curious and open to new ideas, having courage and embracing these opportunities expands our horizons and helps us discover who we are beyond our comfort zones. Across my career, I’ve learned that the unknown isn’t something to avoid - it’s something to embrace. These experiences don’t just shape us as professionals; they shape us as individuals, bringing resilience, adaptability, and fresh perspectives. So, here’s to taking risks, exploring new paths, and saying yes to opportunities that challenge and transform us. After all, “I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” Here’s to taking many more roads less traveled! 🚀✨ #TheRoadNotTaken #TakingRisks #EmbraceTheUnknown #GrowthMindset #CareerJourney #NewExperiences #Vietnam #Transformation #BroadeningHorizons #RobertFrost #curiousity #neverstopexploring

🌟 Day 27: Discover new horizons! Explore a new place for Day 27 of the Stress Less, Live More 30-Day Challenge. Whether it's a nearby town, a new park, or a part of your city you've never visited, adventure can refresh your mind and spirit. Remember, exploration fuels creativity and joy! 🌍🗺️ Join in. We're making June the most enjoyable month of the year! Been following along?? Great work, keep going!! 📆 Week 4 Summary (June 22nd - 30th): Focus: Personal Growth & Celebration
Reflect on your journey and celebrate your progress. This week is about setting new goals, learning new things, and planning future adventures. You can also use this prompting to plan to explore a new place… that’s my aim for my coming travels. What will you choose? #stressmanagement #ambitiouswomen #newbeginnings #sayyestoyou #StressLessLiveMoreChallenge #ExploreNewPlaces

Grateful for the Journey 🌍🙏🏽😊 Travelling around the globe for the last 2 months, stepping foot in 10 countries, doing what I love, and meeting amazing people has been such a blessing. Each new place and person has taught me so much and added something special to my journey. From quiet sunsets on distant shores to lively conversations with strangers, these experiences have truly been priceless. What I’ve realized is that when you align with what you really want, incredible things start to happen. It’s like the universe gives you a little insight in the right direction, opening doors and creating opportunities. When you follow your intuition, that positive energy just seems to flow naturally. But let’s be real – figuring out what you want and where you’re headed isn’t always easy. It’s important to take the time to reflect on where you are and where you want to go. It’s okay to take it slow, to pause and think things through. Sometimes the best insights come when you’re not rushing. Here’s to being grateful for the journey, wherever it may lead. Let’s chase our passions, embrace the unknown, and remember to appreciate every moment along the way. Life has a funny way of surprising us when we least expect it. Sending good vibes to you all. Keep dreaming, keep exploring, and keep being you. 🚀

Two years in Australia: the best decision of my life. In October 2022, I boldly quit my job to embark on a gap year, aiming to step out of my comfort zone and reflect on my life decisions. I chose Australia for its English-speaking environment and cultural diversity, ensuring it was far from home to promote independence and resilience. My goal was to broaden my perspective on global issues and embrace new ways of thinking. In Australia, I encountered numerous situations that I never could have anticipated. I learned to navigate uncertainty on a level I never imagined. Suddenly, I found myself alone on the other side of the world, where my social status, education, or background held no significance. I had to build a new life from scratch, surrounded by people that had little in common with me. However, it was from these individuals that I gleaned the most valuable lessons. During that time, I embraced a variety of roles—from waitressing and warehouse work to gardening and housekeeping. These experiences revealed my determination to do whatever it took to achieve my goals and my drive to excel in each position. Working in such diverse jobs allowed me to enhance my customer service and communication skills in a culturally rich environment. I learned the importance of adapting to different needs and managing stress while maintaining an empathetic attitude and a strong commitment to teamwork. This journey provided me with valuable challenges and significant opportunities for both personal and professional growth. The most significant benefit of this experience has been the opportunity to enhance my self-awareness and self-confidence, while gaining clarity regarding my goals and aspirations. Looking back, I’m certain that this has been the best decision I could have ever made. Honestly, I encourage everyone to have a similar experience.

October is turning out to be a special month with two things to celebrate. One, it is my birthday month and two, it has been a year since I made the big leap and relocated to a new country. Relocating to a new country for work was a major life decision and has been both exciting and challenging. Here are some key lessons that I have learnt so far: 🍂 Things will be different, from language to cultural norms, food, and even basic routines. Being open to change and being flexible in my approach has made the transition smoother. 🍂 Adapting quickly to a new work culture has helped me establish rapport with my colleagues and integrate better into the team. 🍂 Learning even a few basics of the local language has made a big difference in how easily I can navigate daily life. 🍂 There will be challenges—whether it's learning a new job or navigating the city. Accept that it takes time to adjust, and don’t be hard on yourself for not knowing everything right away. 🍂 Engaging with the local culture has helped me feel more connected to the place and has turned the experience into one of personal growth, not just career advancement. 🍂 Being away from family and friends can be tough. It's natural to feel homesick or to miss familiar things, so it’s essential to stay connected with loved ones back home. 🍂 Some of the most memorable parts of living in a new country will be the unexpected discoveries and surprises. Being open to these new experiences can make the relocation enriching. 🍂 Mistakes will happen, and you’ll likely face challenges you didn’t anticipate. Embracing these as learning experiences can help you grow both professionally and personally. Relocating for work can be a life-changing experience, and it’s an incredible opportunity for personal and professional growth. The more open you are to the journey, the more rewarding it will be! 'Njut av resan' meaning 'Enjoy the journey' in Swedish😀

Traveling around Asia and Africa for 9 months: my takeaways. I need to be honest here. I had initially prepared a text highlighting the career skills I gained during my travels. Even though those skills - resilience, problem-solving, thinking out-of-the-box, dealing with unexpected situations, creative thinking and open-mindedness - were indeed a big part of the trip, they don’t fully capture the essence of my journey over the past 9 months. What truly stands out to me is the journey of introspection I experienced: - Reevaluating priorities: Taking the time, away from my comfort zone and old routines, allowed me to critically assess my priorities and align my life more closely with my values. - Global awareness: I gained a deeper understanding of the challenges our world faces and how different cultures respond to them. This reinforced my belief in humanity’s potential to create a more mindful and caring world. - Value of great leadership: Already aware of the impact of a great leader on its people and teams, I developed a newfound appreciation for the long-term changes and contributions they can inspire as well. Full of energy, with new ideas and ways of thinking, I am excited to bring my new perspectives and purpose into my future endeavors.

What a journey… I just took nearly a month away from work to return to my home country—a cross-continental adventure with my little ones and my partner to reconnect with family, friends, and the places that shaped us. It wasn’t easy to step away amidst big projects, but here’s what I’ve learned: the world keeps turning, and sometimes, stepping back is exactly what you need to move forward. As I prepare to head back to work soon, I carry so much from this decision: ✨ Precious moments with loved ones I hadn’t seen in far too long. ✨ The joy of connecting my kids to their heritage and watching them form lifelong memories. ✨ A sense of grounding and renewed energy to tackle what’s ahead. This wasn’t just a vacation—it was a reminder of what truly matters. To anyone wondering if they can step away to prioritize personal time amidst work demands, I’ll say this: you can—take the trip, make the call, show up for what matters. And when you do, you model the very values that build resilient, high-performing teams. Have you ever made time to reconnect with your roots? 😉

Time Flies By Unknowingly, I’ve worked at WTC for more than 3 years, and now it’s time to say goodbye. It was my first real corporate job after getting laid off during Covid, and I will greatly treasure the experiences and growth I’ve had there. From: • Being scared of calling clients • Getting easily overwhelmed by the torrential new information in a new workplace • Feeling super scared of making even the tiniest of mistakes  • Not believing in myself to thrive and contribute more To: • Confidently calling clients, learning how to add value in each conversation • Being fluent with time management, handling multiple tasks and deadlines • Seeing mistakes as an opportunity for learning and improvement • Challenging my limiting beliefs and having breakthroughs in personal and work life each year And for that, I have my boss, seniors and juniors to thank. It is through standing on the shoulders of giants and working together that I have been able to reach greater heights. What I’ve learnt is that we each have the ability to do more than what we think we can, and it takes a longer time than we think it takes, but never give up in the process. Our paths might cross again in the future, but it’s goodbye for now. 😊

This post is not about “5 things I learned from my solo trip” 😄. It’s simply me reflecting on an experience that meant a lot to me. For someone like me, who has been overprotected by a single parent and still has a 9 pm curfew at home, traveling solo felt like a huge step 🌍. Recently, I took a solo trip to Turkey to break away from the usual chaos and to celebrate my 30th birthday with just myself 🎉. I expected the journey to be a learning experience, but it turned out to be so much more. Navigating new cities, languages, and cultures on my own made me more resilient and adaptable. Exploring alone taught me to embrace the unknown, it challenged me to be comfortable with uncertainty, and to appreciate the connections we make along the way 🤝. This experience didn’t just shift my personal perspective, it also changed the way I approach work. I have come back feeling more confident in my decisions. Sometimes, stepping away from our daily routines is all it takes to reset our outlook 🌅. It’s not just about seeing new places but about gaining new perspectives 🧭. ✨ Sometimes, we need to step out of our comfort zone to grow in unexpected ways(Truth I have always known but was hesitant to embrace). ✨ #TravelReflection #MindfulJourney #EmpowerYourself #SoloJourney #LearningThroughTravel #BreakingBoundaries #ExpandingHorizons