Jarod Lee Notes

Today, let's explore the power of thinking beyond the ordinary – a concept often thrown around but rarely embraced when the going gets tough. Creative thinking is not a random exercise; it's that eureka moment when a solution illuminates your mind, potentially paving the way for your next financial milestone. Now, let’s delve into Design Thinking, a widely recognized method for fostering innovation. What are the steps in design thinking? There are five pivotal stages: empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test. Join me as I share how I leverage design thinking to brainstorm, offering insights into solutions that could transform your approach. Your thoughts and feedback are highly valued, so please feel free to share them in the comment section below. Empathize: Put yourself in their shoes – that's the essence. The initial stage of design thinking is to empathize with your users, comprehending their needs, pain points, and motivations. It's essential to solve problem

Have you ever found yourself stuck in a situation where either you or your entire team needs to think outside the box? If, like me, you spend most of your time working alone, you might encounter this situation frequently. Perhaps you're a team leader who has to navigate this challenge while also managing the dynamic aspects of a team, which can be hair-pulling at times. But don't worry; there are many ways to overcome these challenges and become more efficient and effective employees. I'm going to share with you a method that I regularly use called design thinking. What is Design Thinking? Design thinking is a creative and human-centered approach to solving complex problems. While it's not clear who created it, some early influences include John Dewey, Herbert Simon, Horst Rittel, and Richard Buchanan. Design thinking emerged from the fields of architecture and engineering in the 1950s and 1960s, gaining popularity in the business world in the 1990s and 2000s, thanks to

It was 6 years ago when I decided to become certified with Meta (formerly known as Facebook), and today marks the 3rd time I have recertified myself. I asked myself, why should I bother to be recertified officially, and yet, generally, what you do after what you know and deliver results is more important than what you are certified for. I also asked myself when is the time for me to move on to the next level of certification. If you have any suggestions for me, please let me know. Where to Get Meta Certified You can visit Meta's Certification Page ( https://www.facebook.com/business/learn/certification/ ), where there are 7 certifications available. For marketers, here are the recommended 3 certifications: - 100-101: Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate. - 200-101: Meta Certified Marketing Science Professional. - 300-101: Meta Certified Creative Strategy Professional. For in-house or agency digital marketing specialists planning to invest in buying ads, here are the recommend

A Reflection on HRD Corp's Certification Program I consider myself truly fortunate to have been a part of a transformative journey. As a professional working in the white-collar world for the past two decades, I believed I had left my training knowledge and skills back in 2010. However, everything changed after today – and I'm excited to share my experience with you. What is HRD Corp HRD Corp, (https://hrdcorp.gov.my/) a distinguished Malaysian government agency, is committed to providing exceptional training and development programs for our nation's workforce. Today, I proudly hold their Train-The-Trainer (TTT) certification, a credential designed to equip professionals like us with the skills and knowledge needed to conduct highly effective training sessions. If you're curious to explore this incredible opportunity further, I encourage you to visit HRD Corp's website. It's a decision that can redefine your professional journey. Completing the HRD Corp certific

You are right! LinkedIn does have scammers lurking around and hunting for potential victims. LinkedIn is also vulnerable to scammer attacks as a platform for only professional networking. Today, I want to share with you how to protect yourself and also protect others from scammer attacks. One of the ways is to apply for a verification badge. There are 3 ways you can apply for a verification badge. You can apply via identity verification if you U.S., Canada, Mexico, and India. The 2nd way is via workplace verification, which you can apply via Microsoft Entra Verified ID, LinkedIn Learning License, work email, and last but not educational institution. All these are only available for selected companies. Here is the step-by-step to do it. 1. Go to your LinkedIn profile and click on your profile “Your Picture”. 2. Under the "Profile" tab, scroll down and click on the "Setting" menu. 3. Select the “Account preference” menu  4. Select the “Verifications” menu 5. You would

2 years have flown by, and it feels like just yesterday I was... well, I don't even remember what I was up to yesterday! But you know what, 2 years is a good chunk of time, and a lot can go down in those years. Time, it's a funny thing, isn't it? It can mend, it can mess up, it can build, it can break, and it's pretty priceless. You can't buy it, and you sure can't ditch it either. The future? Who knows what it holds, but I'm stoked to find out. I'm ready to tackle whatever comes my way. I'm pumped to seize the day, live it up, and make every moment count. 😬 But, here's the twist, there are times when I can't help but feel like I might be missing out on something. You know, that good ol' FOMO - the "Fear of Missing Out." It's real, and lots of us grapple with it. Do you share the same feeling? You are not alone. What is FOMO FOMO - it's something many of us can totally relate to. In a world packed with constant updates,

  Today, I want to talk about writing or publishing an ebook from Malaysia. I've been trying for a few months, and from time to time, it's more challenging than climbing Mount Kinabalu. I have a few points that I want to share with you. If you are looking to publish an ebook to build your brand name, your personal IP, or any other purposes hope this will be helpful to you. 3 Popular Online Bookstores So, let's start off with how do you publish an ebook? The first way to publish e-books is via Google Play Store. Why do I recommend Google Play Store as the first choice? Because Google Play Store are the main Android system being used worldwide. Without having a second thought, by publishing your ebook into Google Play Store, you will ultimately get the widest coverage. Even if you are an iOS user, you can still download the Google Play Book onto your phone or iPad to read it. I'll come back to the challenges related to Google Play Store later, but here you go. This is the

  Here's where I stand: I'm a modern-day guy dealing with a modern-day issue. I'm all about gaming, especially strategy and building games. But here's the kicker – I need serious computing power to make it happen. However, I'm not a fan of the incessant fan noise that usually accompanies it. My dream workspace? One that's as quiet as a whisper. Oh, and here's another twist – I like to work on one screen and keep a second screen for referencing documents and research. So, I'm a power user seeking the might of something like an Apple silicon chip like the ARM M series such as M1, M2 and coming soon M3. But wait, there's more. I'm also frequently on the move, a bit of a traveller, and I need an ultrabook by my side. And honestly, I'm a minimalist at heart – I want a single machine that does it all. Work and play, that's the dream. So, the million-dollar question: Should I gear up with an eGPU, dive into a cloud gaming service like GeForce No

We aspire to change for the better. Who we truly are stems from our actions, and action is an integral part of our habits. However, if we seek to change, we essentially don't need to undergo a complete transformation; rather, we need to cultivate a new habit. That is change. We often assume that to become a better person, we need to undergo change—like water freezing into ice or ice melting into water. Similarly, we might assume that to become healthier, we must alter our weight, which entails a physical transformation. Nevertheless, in reality, change often involves forming a new habit. The Challenge of Forming a New Habit Some claim that by repeating a new action for 21 days, a new habit can form. Others argue that change is instantaneous, negating the need for a 21-day waiting period. Regardless of which school of thought you follow, why not consider adopting a micro habit? As the name suggests, a micro habit is a small and simpler habit to establish. What Exactly is a Micro Hab

Today, I would like to discuss creativity. This word has carried much weight in my thinking process for the past ten years, thanks to Apple. How do we describe someone who is creative? Creativity is the ability to come up with new and original ideas. It is often associated with art, music, and literature, but it can be applied to any field. Creativity is essential for innovation and progress. It allows us to see the world in new ways and to find solutions to problems that have never been solved before. We often hear that organizations require current and future employees to have creativity, problem-solving skills, and critical thinking. However, during interviews, do organizations actually extract this information from candidates? There are many different ways to be creative. Some people are more creative than others, but everyone has the potential to be creative. I do not know how to measure creativity, but we can recognize it when someone thinks outside the box and goes against the n

When we talk about personal development, people often focus on instant gratification. They talk about motivation (which charges you up to take action and create results), mindfulness (a new term in a new world now), setting goals (not yearly goals, but short-term goals), managing time (because so many things pile up and everything becomes urgent and important), stress management (do I need to say more about this?), communication skills, and so on. Consistency and self-discipline are two keywords that have stuck in my mind. Today, I want to share more about these two words. Consistency Consistency is the state of being consistent, which means being constant or unchanging. It is the quality of being firm and regular in opinion, behaviour, or performance. It is also the state of being free from contradiction or variation. Consistency is often seen as a virtue, as it can be seen as a sign of reliability and trustworthiness. It can also be seen as a sign of strength and character. Consisten

Today, I will be discussing a topic that is relevant to individuals who earn income, specifically income tax in Malaysia. This article will focus on individuals who have only one source of income, specifically from a salary or similar fixed income received every month or week. If you have multiple sources of income, it can be quite complicated and would require consulting a tax expert or attending courses to understand the details better, especially for business owners, entrepreneurs, and those with various income streams like rental and partnerships. Therefore, I will share my knowledge based on over 20 years in the financial industry and how I personally optimize my taxes. Let us begin with the fundamentals. Should we pay tax? Firstly, let's address why we need to pay income tax. It's simple; if you are a citizen of Malaysia and living in the country, you are obligated to pay taxes. Different countries have different tax systems, and Malaysia is no exception. Paying taxes hel

What happens? Have you ever been stuck in a situation where you're unsure whether to continue or give up? When you find yourself making no progress or achieving any results, what should you do? You might feel like you're lacking something, but you're not quite sure what it is. You read self-help books, delve into personal development, and seek motivation to keep going on your journey. Yet, somehow, you still find yourself stuck. Life is a rollercoaster of ups and downs (or as I like to say, mostly downs with a few ups). The key is to remember to get up every time you fall. Today, I want to share a simple analogy that I often use in Training Need Analysis, which can also be applied to personal development. While I'm not the original creator of this concept, I'd love to share how I utilize it in my chart. When you're feeling stuck, lost, or aimless, whatever term you prefer, try this self-check to gain clarity. Quadrant 1: Low ability and low passion If you find y

Introduction: When it comes to finding answers or information, do you rely on traditional search engines like Google or YouTube? Or perhaps you have alternative methods? In this article, I will explore the use of AI in personal development and share some valuable tools that can enhance your learning and productivity. The Rise of AI: Since the beginning of this year, AI has gained tremendous popularity, with Chat GPT leading the way. This AI revolution has attracted the attention of investors, developers, and individuals claiming to generate significant income using AI technology. Considering the possibilities: As you read this, you may wonder about the truth behind these claims. Could it be time for you to leave your job and venture into this exciting field, utilizing your own creativity and business ideas to enhance your income? Before making such a decision, allow me to share my insights and notes with you, so you can evaluate the potential of your brilliant ideas. Understanding AI:

Regarding hiring, the challenge often lies in prioritizing between technical skills and personal qualities. Should you hire someone with exceptional technical expertise but lacking interpersonal skills, or someone with great people skills but limited technical abilities? In other words, do you hire a brain with limbs or limbs with a brain? The Importance of Technical Skills: Technical skills are undoubtedly essential for many job roles. They enable employees to perform tasks efficiently and contribute effectively to their team and organization. Hiring individuals with strong technical abilities leads to increased productivity, innovative problem-solving, and smooth workflow execution. However, in today's rapidly advancing world, it's crucial to ask ourselves if we have upskilled ourselves to utilize new technologies that can automate routine tasks. The Power of Soft Skills: Soft skills, on the other hand, play a critical role in effective communication, collaboration, and teamw

It can indeed be a challenge to measure the impact of training classes on business sales results, especially when multiple variables are involved. Here are two suggestions out of many that may help you address this struggle: Clearly define goals and objectives. Usually, this is the easy part. You can work with your stakeholders to clearly define the desired outcomes of the training classes. Identify specific metrics or key performance indicators (KPIs) that can be linked to business sales results, such as improved conversion rates, increased customer satisfaction, or higher average order value. However, sometimes, the goal may not be equal to the result or the result may not be equal to the goal. Here, the concept of cause and effect comes into play. The effect is the result of a cause—something you did or did not do. For example, if we set a goal to have a body weight of 80kg, that is the result and the effect. BUT that is not a goal. Instead of setting a weight goal, you can set a go

It feels as though it happened a lifetime ago (or at least, that's how it feels to me). Three years have passed since I built my desktop back in 2020, just before the global pandemic engulfed the world and thrust us into a new reality of remote work. Sharing this story fills me with deep emotions, for this humble desktop setup holds within it a treasure trove of memories. It's not just about the hardware; it's about the moments shared and the people I encountered along the way, especially during those moments of upgrades and improvements. As I bid farewell to this customized workstation, I embark on a new chapter with different tools for my work-from-home journey. I meet a solder in person One encounter stands out vividly in my mind—a chance meeting with a soldier at an army camp who possessed a knack for setting up desktops. It was his hobby, his passion. It made me realize that there's something innate in many of us, particularly men, that drives us to tinker with har

Who is James Altucher? James Altucher is an entrepreneur and angel investor who has started 20 companies, 17 of which have failed. He is also the author of the Wall Street Journal bestselling book "Choose Yourself." What are the 20 Habits of Eventual Millionaires? You can read it yourself, can't you? Download the PDF file here , or you can just read his LinkedIn post from 7 years ago here . What do I think about it? I totally agree with the saying "No." There are so many things that we want, and we are driven by unlimited desire. But actually, we only need a few things. In order to focus on what we truly need, we have to say "No" to so many things. That is the art of staying focused, being mindful, and achieving what you really want. Other than that, you can read it yourself and get your own inspiration."

How many slides do you have? That's a common question in the office environment. After spending more than a decade away from official training and development roles, I'm back where I started, now developing training programs. Today, I want to share my ideology in training program development. But before we dive into that, let's address the slide count. Determining Slide Count When asked about the number of slides, my response varies. For a 3-hour session (excluding break time), I typically have around 30 slides. For a 6-hour session (excluding 2 break times and a 1-hour lunch break), it's closer to 50 slides. This allows for an average of 5 to 7 minutes per slide, a rule of thumb, is not set in stone. Effectiveness Beyond Slides However, the true effectiveness of a training program isn't measured by slide count alone. It depends on the effort participants put into extracting knowledge from the trainer, conductor, coach, and learning catalysts. I firmly believe in th

This is not a trick question; it's something you need to answer before reaching age 60. Mr. A is 45 years old, and it's common for people to start thinking about retirement planning at this stage. One day, Mr. A made an appointment with his financial advisor to discuss retirement planning. After a two-hour discussion, Mr. A was shocked to realize that he only had 15 years left before reaching his official retirement age. From age 60 onwards, he would have no more income from employment. Considering the average life expectancy in Malaysia, he could live up to age 74, which means he would still need to cover his daily expenses, including health insurance premiums. So, what can Mr. A do now to truly retire? Where are you right now? This is a typical story for many Malaysians. When Mr. A started working in his early 20s, retirement planning was far from his mind. He was focused on building his career and managing his hard-earned money to meet daily expenses. In his 30s, he had addi