Two Saturdays ago, we went out fishing on a lake near us.

We went for the first few hours to the favorite spot where we usually, I would say 75% of the time catch fish. There were bites but nothing moved much. We got one fish, that's all.

So we decided , us ladies to get to the next part of the lake, where the guys were not that keen. But of course, having been out for a while, we wanted to get more action. So we went, and after another hour or so, no bites, no fish, nothing.

My father-in-law said that maybe we should just trawl and see what's inside these waters. So we did, and we caught two by just crisscrossing the lake going back to the same old original spot that we had earlier. 

Back to the same spot, we waited for an hour and a half. No bites, no fish this time.

Everybody immediately agreed, that maybe we should just trawl. Trawling is an accidental success that we should maximize. 

Sure thing, we trawled to the farthest left and to the farthest right section of the lake, but lo and behold, no fish. It was getting late and it was time to go home.

Positioning is important. I recall what one business trainer would lecture that, "It's all about positioning." 

What do you do when there's no bite?  Do you move around to get to where your customers might congregate, perhaps a watering hole or a hub? Do you modify your strategies for outreach? Do you sit tight until new opportunities arise for you to take advantage of? 

Patient waiting, positioning, and creative outreach. That will get you your fish and lots of them. The key is to move around and not get stale. 

Do you know that you can enjoy being in a community despite being an introvert? 

Yes, I'm basically an introvert, although a lot of people will not believe when I say that. I have to get over the introversion because my work dictates that I should be outgoing, energetic, and open.

But introvert leaders must be able to be respected for who they are. In my community that I'm building, The Provocateurs' Nexus, this online community could be something different to different people.

To the overachievers and action-oriented leaders, a space to run their ideas and expand their professional network;
To the dreamer and visionaries, a space to experiment on different models of operating and different knowledge bases they can tap on;
To the change-makers and catalysts, a space to learn, laugh, and build the next systems change tools and techniques;
To the young and inexperience, your Kuyas and Ates (older brothers and older sisters in Filipino) can guide your way so you can avoid the mistakes they made;
To the silent and introverts, you can be lurkers, observers, and quiet support but your presence and impact is felt nevertheless.
To the empaths, you engagement this community by volunteering and leading with your thoughts and prompt and ensuring that everyone is feeling safe and valued will be appreciated. 

You bring your whole being here and we respect and value that here.

​Of course, if you're not part of this, how would you know the difference? 

My friend and publisher is a certified Global Nomad. He's travelling now for two years all over Europe and apparently now in Mongolia with his partner while working on his businesses. He writes for Medium and will get his book published soon on the same topic.

He's not rootless as what it seems like. Global nomadism is not place-centric but lifestyle and values-aligned life design. Designing this kind of life requires an intentional and deep way of honoring your truest desires and bringing them to life in a way that  supports yourself and your needs, the environment, for long term.

Who is this for? For those who are not adhering into  'living and dying in one place' where there are choices that lie open wide and are taking it. Cyber work propels and invigorates this culture shift. Globalization in ICT power charges it. Culture shift in this area is taking place. The exodus has just begun. More and more people are moving not just for greener pastures but to elect a different life. 

For sure this is not for everyone. But some people are not troubled by lack of security, lack of social ties in one place, or lack of family supports and other familial things when they're life is in flux. Some people flourish in that kind of mobility and dislocation. They take the road as their offices and cubicles and learn the ways of the people they meet and share coffee with on a train, bus, tuk-tuk, or tourist tram. 

My friend is living the life that he desires and not flinching about it. We can be nomads in your town as well. We can exist in one area but totally isolated from the rest of its current realities. This is not about travelling and moving but deciding to not participate with life in all of its dynamism. 

Nomadism is a choice, by far a choice that creates its own limits as well as possibilities. If you elect to be so, where would you go and what would you like to learn in the process. 

I had a great time decluttering these past few weeks. First, I tackled that big box when I moved here in the province in 2015 containing all my files, Knick knacks, and mementos stored from my previous job and life for five years and more. 

It was amazing to see that some of those stuff I have brought from the Philippines. Clearly, I'd like to keep a lot of stuff that for "some day" I might find useful. But that 'some day' didn't come. The old toothpaste, bottle of medicines, and broken eye glasses were never useful at all. The old files since 2010 didn't prove to be worth for anything except my files from old clients that I kept to document the work that I have done before. There were old books and magazines in French language that I thought I would be able to revisit when I had the time. That time didn't come even.

Decluttering frees up the space but also the mental space for which most precious real estate resides. If you focus and emphasize on the past, you will end up in a divided and distracted perspective. We can win some but we can also lose some. That's part of the trade-off. We leave behind what's to be left there so we have the energy for today, which is a gift in itself. Tomorrow has its own worries to be bothered by it now.

What's eating up your office space and organizational mental space? old politics and enmities that do not die down, grudges and personality clashes, petty squabbles and vain competition for recognition, one-upmanship, or perfectionism? As a leader, decide now to abandon these silly and toxic culture and just focus on getting things done well and pulling everyone together as a team.

For the past few weeks, I have been busy preparing my community for its first beta program. I know I have a few interests but as I looked at their profiles in their application, I noticed a few things.

These are the people that are undermarketed, under-reached, and would be unable to respond to any North American programs unless, these programs are totally free or heavily subsidized. 

Some of them do not have a credit card system or functional online payment system in their countries.

Some have no means whatsoever to afford any continuing education or coaching support.

Some have a variety of outstanding responsibilities and will not have the time.

Some will have it for later and for next year.

This is the reality of the market. I am continuously listening and reiterating to determine what seemed to be the best course of action, the best product, and the best market and for the right value.

If you're not listening to your market, you're listening more to yourself, which is the default position.

There is no first-time got-it-right kind of way. Everybody's adjusting and reframing.

​What are you reiterating today? What is this reiteration based from?